The Movie Queen’s Charming Little Wife: Feigning Amnesia Online - Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Seeing Lin Mo blush, Xue Luhe’s expression suddenly turned solemn.

She pondered for a moment and said seriously:

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say those things. Let’s change the subject.”

Lin Mo looked up in astonishment, forgetting her embarrassment because she was so bewildered:

“What is there to apologize for?”

Xue Luhe hesitated before saying:

“I thought you didn’t like me saying that.”

Lin Mo was momentarily speechless.

Did she… like it? She certainly didn’t like it, but it wasn’t enough to make the other person apologize.

Why was Xue Luhe being so cautious now?

“No… you don’t need to apologize. I’m not going to do anything to you.”

Lin Mo nervously toyed with her collar.

Xue Luhe fell into silence.

Looking at her, Lin Mo also fell silent. She felt like these matters were a tangled mess of yarn; she couldn’t even find an end to begin unraveling it.

The air in the room felt a bit stifling, so Lin Mo stood up and went to the window to let in some fresh, cold air.

The snow had stopped. Outside was the hospital garden. Because it was early morning, no one was out yet. The entire ground and the surface of the bushes were covered in a perfectly pristine layer of silver-white snow, looking like a special kind of carpet.

Lin Mo admired it for a while and wanted to call Xue Luhe to look, but then remembered she couldn’t get out of bed. Instead, she took out her phone, snapped a few photos, and closed the window.

She brought the photos to the bedside and showed them to Xue Luhe excitedly:

“Look, look! The snow scene! It’s so perfect, not a single footprint. It’s really beautiful! You don’t see snow like this in Su City.”

Xue Luhe looked seriously at the phone and gave a shallow nod.

Lin Mo suddenly realized this might be inappropriate—after all, Xue Luhe’s injury happened because of the snow. She tucked her phone away and apologized awkwardly:

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have provoked you. I just saw something pretty and wanted you to see it too.”

Xue Luhe froze for a second, then smiled faintly:

“It’s alright. I understand what you meant. I don’t mind.”

Lin Mo bit her lip nervously:

“You really don’t mind? I was afraid it would make you sad.”

Xue Luhe shook her head and smiled again:

“There’s nothing to be sad about. I can feel it—the injury isn’t that heavy.”

Recalling the medical record, Lin Mo’s heart grew heavier. She felt that she had indirectly caused Xue Luhe’s harm and wanted to find a way to compensate her.

After thinking it over, Lin Mo tapped her head:

“Right! Your injury is still fresh today, so you can probably only eat hospital food. After a while, I’ll cook for you, okay?”

Xue Luhe’s beautiful but dull eyes instantly lit up at her words, like yellow streetlights being turned on at dusk, giving off a very warm feeling.

“Are you really willing?”

Xue Luhe asked a somewhat strange question.

Lin Mo scratched her head and gave a silly laugh:

“Why wouldn’t I be? This injury was caused by me, so I should take responsibility for you. I don’t know how to do much else, so I can only cook. My skills definitely can’t compare to your family chef, but I’ll work hard!”

The light in Xue Luhe’s eyes grew brighter, filled with emotion and tenderness:

“It wasn’t caused by you. It was the snow; the road was slippery. Also, I’ll love whatever you make.”

Lin Mo felt a bit embarrassed hearing this. She cleared her throat, turned to get some warm water, and placed it on the nightstand:

“Drink some water… Oh, right. Since it’s a femoral neck fracture, you shouldn’t get out of bed. So, I… I’ll help you with the bedpan…”

Xue Luhe’s expression changed instantly. She said vehemently:

“No need! Just give me a hand, I’ll go to the bathroom myself!”

Lin Mo looked back blankly:

“Wait, really? The doctor said it’s best if you don’t step on the floor. You’re already in the hospital, why are you afraid of using a bedpan? They are medical grade and sterilized… Or are you shy? There’s no need! Everyone has to use one at some point!”

In her previous life, Lin Mo had indeed used many bedpans, urinals, and catheters. She used whatever was convenient; when things were urgent, she couldn’t care about dignity.

Besides, everyone in the ward used them; it was just a matter of being behind a blanket. What was there to care about?

Furthermore, this was a private room. There were no strangers. Why be shy?

Lin Mo truly couldn’t understand.

A rare flush appeared on Xue Luhe’s paper-white face. Humiliation flickered there, which then turned into a sort of fierce determination:

“No. Impossible. Help me to the bathroom!”

Lin Mo watched Xue Luhe’s expression for a while, then suddenly “pfft” and burst out laughing. Once she started, she couldn’t stop. She laughed so hard she fell back onto the attendant’s bed.

“Hahahaha…”

Xue Luhe looked mortified and angry, but lying in bed, she had no way to go over and stop the little girl. Finally, she just shouted:

“Stop laughing! Hurry up!”

Lin Mo laughed until tears came. Wiping them away, she walked over and extended both hands, teasing:

“So our Great President Xue was shy just now! It’s the first time I’ve seen you shy; it’s so rare, hahahaha… I used to think you were just an emotionless pervert. I didn’t expect you to get shy. Isn’t this quite ‘girly’? You should act more like a girl in the future—be shy, act spoiled—it would make things easier for everyone!”

Xue Luhe raised her hands and proactively wrapped them around Lin Mo’s neck. Using the strength in her legs, she endured the pain in her hip to shimmy down the bed, unwilling to let Lin Mo touch her injured area.

Lin Mo reached to the other side to help support her hips, but was dodged. Clenching her teeth, Xue Luhe relied on her leg strength to move her body off the hospital bed. With her feet on the ground, she didn’t dare put weight on her injured hip, her hands tightly clutching Lin Mo’s neck.

This posture caused the majority of Xue Luhe’s body to be pressed against Lin Mo. Her head rested on Lin Mo’s shoulder, her breath brushing against the back of Lin Mo’s neck like a feather.

This made Lin Mo feel sensitive all over. She quickly stood up straight, letting Xue Luhe drape her left arm over her, while using her right hand to assist her in standing, letting the taller woman lean most of her weight on her.

Xue Luhe’s jaw was tight and her face was pale; she was clearly in immense pain, yet she refused to compromise. She took a tentative, trembling step.

Lin Mo’s heart tightened along with her movement. She couldn’t help but whisper:

“Slow down, be careful. Don’t pull on the injured area…”

Xue Luhe gave most of her weight to Lin Mo, but what remained was still a great torture. Every step felt like treading on knives.

Even in this state, to keep Lin Mo from worrying, Xue Luhe forced out a lighthearted remark:

“Am I… experiencing what the Little Mermaid felt when she walked?”

It took Lin Mo a moment to understand, making her even more anxious:

“You mean every step you take feels like walking on the edge of a blade? Heavens…”

Seeing the pea-sized beads of sweat on Xue Luhe’s face, Lin Mo wished she could become a giant and just carry her.

Every step felt like an eternity. Finally reaching the nearby bathroom, both let out a long sigh of relief.

Lin Mo pushed open the bathroom door, supporting Xue Luhe and letting her sit gently on the toilet. She hesitated before asking:

“Do you need me to help… take off your pants?”

Xue Luhe, who was covered in sweat from the effort, couldn’t help but glare at Lin Mo. She “bang”ed the door shut and shouted:

“You! Stand further away!”

Lin Mo, of course, didn’t listen. She guarded the door, standing by the sink and waiting, fearing an accident inside so she could rush in immediately.

However, just as Xue Luhe was finishing up, Xu Lu walked in carrying two large bags of food boxes.

Consequently, the subsequent tasks were handled by Xu Lu and the caregivers she brought. Xu Lu was thorough as always; she brought four caregivers—all middle-aged women, each disciplined and highly professional.

The “Aunties” likely already knew the patient was Xue Luhe; they showed no surprise. They expressionlessly pulled out a simple folding hammock, moved Xue Luhe from the bathroom door onto the hammock, lifted both sides, and carried her back to the bed. After setting her down, they pulled the hammock out from one end. Done.

The maneuver was so slick it left Lin Mo dumbfounded!

She almost wanted to applaud the Aunties. Indeed, the wisdom of the people is infinite; she had been too clumsy!

The Aunties, having completed their mission, began cleaning the room. One swept and mopped, one organized belongings, one set up the dining table to serve the patient, and another took care of Lin Mo.

Lin Mo: ???

She took a lunch box handed to her by a warm and enthusiastic Auntie and looked at Xu Lu with a head full of question marks.

Xu Lu pushed up her glasses, looking enigmatic:

“Taking care of you is also our duty. After all, you are the family.”

Xue Luhe suddenly spoke up:

“Xu Lu, don’t be like that.”

Xu Lu immediately turned around and bowed deeply:

“Understood. That was a slip of the tongue. I will be careful in the future.”

Watching this made Lin Mo nervous. She empathized with Xu Lu; this is the life of a corporate slave—one word from the boss and you have to apologize. Xu Lu has it much worse than me.

But then again, to stay under the “perverted” Xue Luhe… who knows how long she’d been there, but she certainly had skills. Her basic “corporate slave” training was top-notch.

While eating, Lin Mo couldn’t help but poke at Xue Luhe:

“Why are you always so harsh with your employees? Look how scared she is.”

An Auntie was feeding Xue Luhe chicken and egg porridge spoonful by spoonful. After taking a bite, Xue Luhe turned her bright eyes toward Lin Mo, her mood clearly very good:

“I am just telling her to be cautious in word and deed. This is a good thing for her too.”

Lin Mo curled her lip, thinking this woman was a tyrant who couldn’t be reasoned with. She turned to Xu Lu and said:

“Lulu, you work too hard. How have you worked under this kind of person for so long? If there’s another good opportunity, just jump ship!”

Xu Lu lowered her head and moved silently to the door, saying respectfully to Xue Luhe:

“Boss, I’m heading to the branch office to work. Contact me if you need anything.”

Xue Luhe gave an “mm.” Seeing Xu Lu about to open the door, she suddenly added:

“Notify the finance department to increase your bonus for this quarter by 20%.”

Xu Lu turned back. Even her perennially cold poker face showed a smile. She glanced at Lin Mo before thanking Xue Luhe and walking out with a light step.

Lin Mo couldn’t help but peek at Xue Luhe and whispered:

“Why the bonus? Is it… because of me?”

She now felt that the things Xu Lu told her yesterday weren’t just casual talk, but a strategy to make her pity Xue Luhe and change her impression of her.

She had to admit, Xu Lu’s strategy was very successful. Xue Luhe’s image in Lin Mo’s heart had shifted from “Crazy Perverted Demon King” to “Uncontrollable Poor Thing.”

So, was Xue Luhe rewarding Xu Lu now because she had cleverly won her over?

Lin Mo felt a bit reluctant. She had no issue with Xu Lu revealing the medical history, but if Xue Luhe rewarded her for it, it would leave a bad taste in her mouth.

Wouldn’t that make it seem like Xue Luhe was still calculating against her? Giving an “NPC” a bonus because the “Favorability Meter” went up… what was the difference between this and a dating sim?

Lin Mo had played her share of Otome games; the favorability and affection points increased with events. But real life wasn’t a game; she didn’t want to be calculated like this.

Xue Luhe sighed softly, her voice tender:

“No. Xu Lu has been working extremely hard lately. Because I had some issues, she took on almost all the work. Plus, my sudden injury is a huge drain on her. So, I increased her bonus; it’s a normal management strategy.”

Lin Mo nodded, indicating she understood. After a pause, she added:

“Actually, I thought you two were friends. Do you still just see her as an employee?”

Xue Luhe swallowed another spoonful of porridge and said softly:

“I have no friends.”

Lin Mo let out an “Ah.”

She had been someone with many friends everywhere since she was a child. She knew how important the support of friends was. She could hardly imagine how lonely a state it must be to have no friends, like Xue Luhe.

If she had a mental health issue and had no one to talk to, no wonder her temper got worse and worse.

Xue Luhe took her last bite of porridge and waved her hand to signal she was finished, letting the Auntie take the dishes away.

The Aunties silently packed up and left as quickly as they had arrived.

Seeing the door close, Xue Luhe turned her gaze back to Lin Mo’s face and continued:

“I’ve been too busy. I’ve been busy since I was a child; I never had time to make friends. The only friend I ever had when I was little was… you. But it was very brief. Later, my father discovered your existence. He thought I was wasting energy on useless things and punished me by making me stand in the summer noon sun for three full hours to understand how precious time is. Since then, I’ve never made any friends, nor do I know how to.”

As she said this, her eyes were cold and her gaze was a bit vacant, as if looking through distant time and space to see her young self.

A small, stubborn eight-year-old girl, wearing only a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, standing under the scorching midday sun of a southern summer. Her teeth were clenched tight, her face full of hatred as she stared at her front door.

So many people passed by, and everyone pointed and whispered. A young, beautiful woman even came over to wipe her face and tried to take her home for a popsicle, but she couldn’t budge the seemingly frail little girl.

Xue Luhe had been stubborn since she was a child. Her father said she had to stand for three hours, and if she couldn’t, she was useless. She was determined to stand for the full three hours; she would never be useless!

The sunlight that day was extremely fierce, like buckets of molten steel being poured over the little girl.

The girl’s body wavered, her mind blurred, her hands began to shake, and her arms and legs turned red.

But she still tried to keep her eyes open. Sweat stung her eyes like fire. Everything under the sun had distorted curves. After just one hour, the little girl could no longer see clearly.

Yet she still stood deathly still, her expensive sandals gripping the ground. Her toes pressed so hard they dug a hole in the sole of the shoe, but she remained standing.

Only a meter tall and thin as a budding willow, yet she stood as if she held up the heavens.

After two and a half hours, Xue Luhe fainted.

However, no one saw her faint. The girl lay on the ground for a while, then crawled back up. She rested for a minute with her hands on the ground and then stood up again. Her eyes, which could no longer see anything, stared dead ahead, her hands covered in mud.

Finally having stood for three hours, the string inside Xue Luhe snapped, and she collapsed on the ground to crawl home.

In the end, it was a family servant who couldn’t bear it anymore and came over to pick the girl up and take her inside.

Xue Zhong—Xue Luhe’s father and the head of the Xue family—saw the girl whose entire body was swollen and red from the sun. He only raised an eyebrow and asked calmly:

“Do you know your mistake?”

Xue Luhe was semi-conscious, but she still turned her head from the servant’s arms, glared at Xue Zhong, and said in a torn voice:

“I am not wrong.”

Xue Zhong walked over, his oppressive gaze fixed on her, his tone devoid of emotion:

“You are the future heir of the Xue family. You have no time to be friends with ‘stray cats and dogs.’ Remember: in the world you will face in the future, there is no true emotion, only interests. Remember these words. When you grow up, you will thank me.”

The little girl, in the servant’s arms, watched her father’s tall back. Although she was still roaring “I am not wrong!”, a seed of confusion was planted in her small, bright eyes.

The world the so-called Xue family heir had to face…

Xue Luhe drifted off into her thoughts for a long time. Lin Mo was completely stunned. After thinking for a while, she felt this made sense.

Xue Luhe becoming like this definitely couldn’t be separated from her childhood. It was clear that her father’s educational methods were flawed.

“Your dad was really something. How could he torture a little girl like that? Wasn’t he afraid something would happen to your health? If there was a problem, he could have just talked to you. Why do that?”

Lin Mo grumbled in complaint.

“He said it. He said in my future world, there would be no sincerity, only interest, and told me to remember those words. I remembered them. But now, I feel like what he said was completely wrong.”

Xue Luhe’s voice was somewhat ethereal, and her eyes lacked focus, as if facing that powerful person from the other side of time—the person she had fought against for the first half of her life.

That was her father, yet not a true father; an enemy, yet also a teacher.

Xue Luhe was both confused and lost. After years of struggling, she was finally certain.

Xue Zhong was wrong.

Her gaze gradually became firm, and her voice grew softer yet more fluent:

“I think I have sincerity. I am willing to exchange heart for heart. That is the true law of the world.”

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