The three people in the Mu Yun Pavilion remained silent for a moment. Finally, Hua's father was the first to speak: "Go back to sleep for a bit, I'll call you when it's time for dinner." As he spoke, he looked at Hua Yan with a doting expression, while Hua Yan, feeling a bit embarrassed, rubbed her nose.
Actually, Hua Yan didn't regret slapping Hu's mother earlier. However, facing Hua's father, who pampered her, she felt a bit guilty, like a child caught doing something wrong.
"Yes, yes, Miss should get some more rest. You've got dark circles under your eyes," Chang Ma said joyfully, unable to hide her smile. She had long harbored resentment towards the Hu family. If it weren't for her position and not wanting to cause trouble for Hua Yan, she would have scratched Hu's mother herself. In her younger years, she was unbeatable in fights.
Surrounded by her family's love, Hua Yan's earlier anger gradually subsided, and she happily returned to her bedroom to sleep. She silently thought to herself how wonderful it was to have family. These days were vastly different from the difficult times she recently endured, sleeping in alleys and pretending to be mute.
Looking around her bedroom, she couldn't find a speck of dust even in the corners or under the dressing table. The clean bed sheets, the new stuffed bear, and the bunny toys all spoke of her family's love and longing for her.
Although she still couldn't remember the details of her past life with them, she could now fall asleep easily under the sunlit pillow, no longer living in fear or plagued by nightmares.
"Miss Hua Yan seems particularly strong now," Chang Ma said happily while making tea for Hua's father.
Hua's father looked at the closed bedroom door with a helpless smile. "Yes, her temper has indeed become more fiery, and she's quite eloquent. She really gave Hu Li's mother a lesson."
Chang Ma's smile faded as she carefully asked, "Master, you're not angry with Miss for what happened earlier, are you?"
Hua's father laughed heartily, "Why should I be angry? Nothing is more important than Hua Yan being free and happy. People may talk about righteousness and morality, but in reality, they often act shamelessly. Although Hua Yan embarrassed Hu Li, Hu's mother should have been prepared for a lesson when she came here to cause trouble."
"Exactly. We tried not to wake Miss up because we didn't want to argue. But she mistook our patience for fear and became more arrogant, even accusing Miss of pursuing her son. She never asked who was pursuing whom! I can't understand what they're thinking," Chang Ma said indignantly.
Seeing Chang Ma's righteous indignation, Hua's father's anger dissipated. He said gently, "Don't let insignificant people affect our good mood. Let's go buy some groceries and make a sumptuous dinner for Hua Yan."
Chang Ma listened at Hua Yan's bedroom door and, not hearing any unusual sounds, gave Hua's father a reassuring look. The two elders then slowly left the house.
The next morning, Hua Yan didn't wake up until the afternoon. After washing up, she left her bedroom and heard Hua's father and Chang Ma chatting downstairs, occasionally accompanied by the sound of the door opening and closing.
The contrast between the quiet second floor and the bustling first floor made Hua Yan feel completely at ease. She realized she had an inexplicable familiarity with this place. For example, she knew exactly where the bath oils were kept and where her pajamas were stored without much thought.
Standing at the top of the shiny, polished staircase, Chang Ma spotted her immediately.
"Miss is awake. You must be hungry. The food is still warm. I'll set the table right away," Chang Ma said, her voice filled with delight. She rushed upstairs and, within minutes, a delicious meal was laid out on the table.
Hua Yan sniffed the air, smiling brightly. "Chang Ma, aren't you and my father eating?"
Chang Ma teased, "Miss, it's already almost two o'clock. The master and I have already eaten."
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Blushing, Hua Yan quickly started eating without saying another word.
A moment later, Hua's father also came upstairs, smiling, to sit beside Hua Yan, serving her soup and adding more food to her plate as if he was afraid she might disappear.
Hua Yan accepted their care without protest, quietly appreciating it. After the meal, Hua's father told her some stories from the past.
As she listened, she realized these were her own experiences. Each story brought corresponding images to her mind.
An hour later, Hua Yan's head was filled, and she began to feel a slight headache. Fortunately, Hua's father noticed her discomfort and stopped.
"The past can't be explained all at once. You should rest for a while. I'll go downstairs to tend to the business."
"Okay," Hua Yan replied. Lying on the chaise lounge by the floor-to-ceiling window, she dozed off for a while. When the sunlight shifted onto her face and woke her up, her headache had subsided. She took out a book from her bedroom and began to read slowly.
After a while, she heard Chang Ma's footsteps on the stairs, but they were light and slow, indicating she was checking on Hua Yan quietly.
Without turning around, Hua Yan continued reading her book.
Seeing Hua Yan so at ease, Chang Ma quietly went downstairs to report to Hua's father.
"Is Hua Yan still having headaches?" Hua's father asked, pausing while explaining a jade necklace to a student.
Chang Ma smiled like a blooming flower and said, "Miss is fine now, lying on the couch reading a book."
As the sun hung low in the western sky, Hua Yan decided to take a walk around H University, which had been open for a month.
The moment she stepped onto campus, Hua Yan felt a gust of wind at the back of her neck. She turned around swiftly and kicked the person behind her, hitting them squarely in their vital spot.
Hu Li was shocked and quickly stepped back. He thought to himself, "Her move is perfect. She can catch her target with just a turn."
"Why are you following me?" Hua Yan's face turned dark as soon as she saw it was Hu Li.
Hu Li felt a pang of sadness but forced a smile and said, "I wanted to see you."
After returning home yesterday, he endured hours of his mother's ranting and crying before he could escape. Thinking about his mother's increasingly swollen face made his temples throb. He was caught between his mother and the woman he loved, not knowing how to resolve the situation. Reed, that guy, even found joy in his misery, making him even more frustrated.
"Now that you've seen me, don't follow me anymore. Otherwise, who knows how many more women will come to my house looking for trouble," Hua Yan said sarcastically, showing no sympathy for the pain in Hu Li's eyes.
"Xiaoyan, my engagement with Li Jiaojiao isn't what you think," Hu Li tried his best to explain.
But Hua Yan, having lost her memory and grown cold, immediately sneered, "An engagement is an engagement. What's there to explain? If you're not tired, I am."
Hu Li felt a mix of emotions. Her words had become sharper, and she seemed increasingly indifferent to him, even avoiding him. He couldn't remain calm any longer. Quickly, he grabbed Hua Yan, carried her out of the campus, and shoved her into his car, drawing exclamations from the students nearby.
"Get out," he ordered Hu Er, who was in the driver's seat, while holding Hua Yan down as she struggled.
After Hu Er got out, Hu Li looked at Hua Yan, who was glaring at him like a wild animal, with a mix of pain, helplessness, and anger. He shouted, "Don't think you can push me away just because you've lost your memory. I won't let go. Never...
And do you know, the Li family never stopped targeting you. Even after you escaped Haibin City, Li Dong continued to investigate you. Your subsequent mission was a key assignment not just because of Lao Qiao's recommendation but also due to the Li family's manipulation.
They planned to treat you well, weaving a web so tight you couldn't escape their grasp. The Li family dares to mess with my woman. Shouldn't I teach them a lesson? Giving them what they desire only to take it away would hurt them more, making them taste the fall from heaven to hell.
I admit, getting engaged to Li Jiaojiao was a poorly thought-out move. You can hit me, curse me, but you can't coldly erase me from your life, treating me like a stranger!"
As he spoke, tears welled up in Hu Li's eyes. He was a man who rarely cried, but now he couldn't hold back. His heart ached, his whole body felt as if it was bleeding internally.
Staring into Hua Yan's eyes, he saw her indifferent, mocking expression, which worried him deeply.
Fortunately, Hua Yan's eyes held a hint of amusement and even a touch of admiration.
"Can you let me get up first?" Hua Yan asked calmly.
"You..." Hu Li was taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor, unsure of what to say.
"What do you mean, 'you'? You're heavy. Get off me," Hua Yan rolled her eyes and pushed his body off hers.
"Oh, where does it hurt?" Hu Li quickly stood up, carefully helping Hua Yan up, fumbling with her shoulders and arms like a clumsy boy.
Hua Yan, annoyed, said, "I'm not a porcelain doll. Sit properly." She gave Hu Li another push and sat up.
Instead of being angry, Hu Li felt a sweetness in his heart, his eyes filled with joy.
Seeing this, Hua Yan couldn't help but roll her eyes again, thinking to herself, "Idiot."
After all these events, Hua Yan found herself feeling more favorable toward Hu Li. In a calm tone, she said, "Tell me, how did I get so entangled with the Li family?"
From Hu Li's earlier words and his hatred towards the Li family, Hua Yan discerned that her past self had quite a few grievances with them. As for the tasks and this Lao Qiao, she would inquire about them later.