Even though he had fainted and was unconscious, Shi Youxi's hand remained fixed there, clenched into a fist. Some of the fabric threads were torn open. Mu Yiran slowly pried his fingers open and pulled out his clothes.

She tucked Shi Youxi in and silently put all her belongings in the room into a bag. Guan Shiyan would arrange for someone to remove them without leaving a trace.

Mu Yiran left the room. In the living room, Guan Shiyan was already waiting. He glanced behind Mu Yiran, sighed, and after thinking for a long time, finally asked:

"You didn't give me away, did you?!"

"..."

Guan Shiyan's face turned grim. "If he remembers and finds out that I did this for you..." He slashed his own neck. "If I'm dead, I'll say you threatened me!"

Mu Yiran smiled dismissively, "No, don't worry."

"So, you're all packed. Where are you planning to go? Do you need me to help you with your documents and stuff? I'll take care of that for you, otherwise you won't be able to go anywhere. Oh, and one more thing!"

Guan Shiyan took out a wallet from his pocket, pulled out a bill and stuffed it into the bag she was carrying, very ostentatiously, "Swipe as much as you want!"

Mu Yiran took out the card. "Thank you, but I don't need it."

"You need what you need! Running away isn't an option; the one thing you can't do when you're traveling is lack of money!"

"Or are you worried it won't be enough?!" Guan Shiyan pulled out another black card. "This one will definitely be enough! And I'll know where you are as soon as you swipe it, and it can ensure your safety—"

Mu Yiran laughed: "That's why I don't want to."

Guan Shiyan was taken aback: "...Why?"

“I don’t want him to know where I am, and I don’t want you to know either.” Mu Yiran pursed her lips. “Thank you very much for helping me, for whatever reason. But… I don’t want Shi Youxi and the people around him to know about me.”

"No...do you really hate him that much?" Guan Shiyan was a little upset.

He agreed to help this woman not only because of Shi Youxi, but also because of the phrase "Little Guan, classmate".

He indeed had no memory of this woman's past.

But those gaps in memory don't exist because of forgetting.

It was so that he would remember that such a person existed.

There was someone who helped him, who stood in front of him when he was being bullied at school, and who pulled him back when he was almost arrested.

Previously, Guan Shiyan had always thought that these people whose faces he couldn't see were Shi Youxi.

What did Shi Youxi say when she heard those words back then?

Oh, he said—"If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have met you, and we wouldn't have had a chance to talk. You are my first friend, a friend she brought to me."

In short, Guan Shiyan owed this woman a life.

Twice!

We have no choice but to help!

Guan Shiyan didn't know if doing this was for the good of both of them, but at least for the moment, it seemed like there was no better way.

Just like restarting a computer when it freezes, maybe separating them completely and starting over would be different...?

Guan Shiyan is now hesitating again. He has been torn between "betraying his brothers" all day long.

"I'm helping you because I think you might need some time, but the way you are right now, it seems to me that you really hate him and don't want to see him again at all!"

“It’s not that I hate him, but I’m afraid that before I even leave England, you’ll be unable to resist secretly telling Shi Youxi.”

Mu Yiran saw through his fluctuating attitude throughout the day.

They're practically allies who could betray us at any moment!

Guan Shiyan's thoughts were exposed, and his face was full of "How could you think of me like that!"

"Am I such an untrustworthy person?!"

Guan Shiyan immediately feigned sincerity, "Then how about I give him some more medicine—"

Mu Yiran laughed out loud, "I'm afraid you'll add more medicine to my medicine later."

The two joked awkwardly. Seeing that he was still blocking the doorway, Mu Yiran sighed, "...You said that the medicine would only have a short-term effect on his memory, but he would eventually remember, right?"

The medicine given by Guan Shiyan is for patients who have experienced severe psychological trauma and pain but cannot forget it. It artificially establishes a protective mechanism for the brain, but the effect is very short-lived.

Guan Shiyan took good care of Youxi's health and prescribed a very small dose of medicine. He estimated that Youxi would regain his memory in just one or two months.

but……

"If he's doing well during the time he hasn't remembered, or if he's met someone more suitable, then maybe when he does remember... he won't necessarily look for me."

Mu Yiran looked up at Guan Shiyan, her eyes filled with a deep struggle and a confusion she herself didn't realize: "This little bit of time is giving him a chance... and also giving myself a chance..."

Perhaps after this period of time, she will have a clearer understanding of what she really wants, and what she wants from Shi Youxi. Or perhaps after this period of time, Shi Youxi will indeed find someone she likes more.

But at least for now, rather than continuing to hurt each other like this, separating is the only solution Mu Yiran can think of.

…

Guan Shiyan still handed the card to Mu Yiran before letting her leave, and Mu Yiran turned around and threw it in the hospital lobby.

She only had a cell phone and a bag of cash on her, and Mu Yiran looked around in the dark.

How can she put it back on?

After thinking for a while without coming up with anything, Mu Yiran walked to the side. She needed to find a place to stand and think about it slowly. Before that, she wanted to call Candice.

I wonder what has become of the Stuart family, who were implicated by her, and what has become of that sunny British boy.

Mu Yiran walked out on foot, slowly leaving the area illuminated by the official lights. The dial tone rang for a long time. Just as Mu Yiran was about to hang up, the call was connected. Before she could even speak, her mouth was covered from behind.

The phone fell to the ground, and the caller ID showed Candice calling incessantly.

"...Ran? Is that you?"

"Hey?! Ran!"

——

"It's Ranran!"

In the embassy's conference room, Mo Mumu and Lin Nian squeezed behind Li Bingcheng, their eyes glued to the surveillance footage from the police station on the computer.

"Ranran did enter the academy, but why hasn't she come out?"

The three of them watched almost all the surveillance footage outside Qiao Lisi's door, but they didn't see any footage of Mu Yiran coming out.

“That would be at school,” Li Bingcheng said in a deep voice.

Lin Nian: "Then let's hurry over to the school. This time it should be easy to check the surveillance footage, which is a good thing! At least we'll know where she is!"

"Is this a good thing..." Mo Mumu unconsciously lowered her eyes and met Li Bingcheng's gaze for a moment. They both knew that this might not be a good thing.

What could cause someone to stay in one place and remain out of contact?

What else could it be!

The expressions on their faces darkened simultaneously.

Li Bingcheng pondered for a moment, then rubbed his face with both hands before standing up. "Let's go find Ranran."

Lin Nian nodded and bowed: "Okay, let's go!"

Just as they reached the door, the secretary rushed back. "Chairman Li! It's been confirmed that no one is actually using the current phone number, so the person who turned it on and sent you the message is probably the same person. Plus, the phone signal is still working at Guan Yi. Shall we go now?!"

"No, go to school."

Zhan Jie didn't quite follow his train of thought, but still replied, "Okay, then do we need someone to go over and make the arrangements first?"

“Go ahead and call out, just in case…” Li Bingcheng’s face turned cold, and he didn’t want to say another word. He frowned and raised his chin. Zhan Jie immediately went to get the car. Just as the group was about to leave, Li Bingcheng was suddenly pulled from behind.

He thought it was Mo Mumu who had something to say, but when he turned around, he saw a dark-skinned, thin boy.

Lin Nian immediately called over a staff member, "There's a lost child here!"

The boy ignored him and only spoke to the person he thought looked the smartest:

"I know where she is!"