Chapter 466 Awkward

Gu Jiayue did not hide anything from Kangzi.

She sat on the pearwood chair in the private room, her fingertips lightly resting on the edge of the table. Her tone was calm but a little confused as she told him everything about how she had lost her memory over the past two years.

As Kangzi heard this, his eyes widened, his mouth slightly open, and he froze in place.

After I realized what was happening, my heart was instantly filled with guilt.

If he had known this would happen, he should have personally escorted the young lady back to the inn last night and made sure she was safe before leaving. Even after sending her back, he should have arranged for someone to accompany her closely. How could he have left the young lady alone in the inn?

He thought of Hu Zi who had been following the young lady, and felt even more angry.

Hu Zi usually follows the young lady everywhere, so why didn’t he follow her this time?

When he writes a letter back to Kyoto at the end of the month, he will definitely accuse Hu Zi in the letter and let the prince have a good talk with him!

"Miss, please don't panic." Kangzi calmed himself down, leaned forward, and spoke in a serious tone. "I followed you from Kyoto to the southwest. I know everything you've done and the people you've met in the past two years, much more detailed than Miss Song. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I'll tell you everything I know."

After all, most of what Song Yao knew was what he had said during casual chats before.

Moreover, he was very careful not to mention anything about the lady's privacy or important decisions.

This is also the reason why Gu Jiayue specifically sought out Kangzi for a detailed discussion.

She needs someone who knows her inside out and can tell the truth.

The private room on the third floor of the milk tea shop is exclusively for Gu Jiayue and is elegantly decorated.

There were light green gauze curtains hanging on the wall, a pot of blooming orchids stood by the window, and a clean white tablecloth was spread on the table.

Song Yao was very tactful. She took the snacks and milk tea that had just been served, quietly walked to the small table in the corner, picked up a piece of strawberry cake and stuffed it into her mouth.

She didn't care about the cream on the corner of her mouth. She was holding a cup of pink milk tea in her hand, looking like "I didn't hear anything" and just focused on eating.

Gu Jiayue and Kangzi sat at the main table, their voices lowered.

The details Kangzi described were far more detailed than those Song Yao gave.

For example, Gu Jiayue’s previous guess that “the store’s recipe was found by Kangzi” was completely wrong.

The recipes for milk tea, cakes, hot pot, as well as the techniques for glass-making and papermaking were all invented by Gu Jiayue herself.

The novel decorations in the school, such as desks with drawers, tiered bookshelves, and the vernacular novels and strange stories in the library that even Gu Jiayue had never heard of, were all arranged by her.

"Did I really make these?" Gu Jiayue frowned, her fingers unconsciously stroking the tablecloth, her eyes full of confusion. "But I have no recollection of this at all. I don't even know how to make these things."

Seeing her confusion, Kangzi stood up and walked to the bookshelf in the corner of the private room. He pulled out two bookcases with exquisite covers and handed them to Gu Jiayue. "Look, Miss, these books were found when you first opened the shop. Many customers were attracted by these novel bookcases."

"And those novel entertainment games on the first floor were all invented by you, young lady."

After all, not everyone likes sweets. The store’s good business is also due to the novelties and games.

Gu Jiayue took the storybook and ran her fingertips across the yellowed pages.

The stories inside were novel and interesting, but she was sure that she had never read them before.

But she also knew that Kangzi would never lie to her.

She closed the book and placed it gently on the table, her doubts growing even stronger.

Did I really lose my memory?

Why are my memories of the past sixteen years so vivid? I even remember clearly what my father said when I broke his favorite glass peach blossom cup when I was ten, "Be more careful next time. It's okay if the cup breaks, just don't hurt your hands." But why is there no trace of what happened in the past two years?

"Miss, please don't be anxious or afraid." Kangzi felt bad seeing her lost in thought, and said quickly, "I'll send someone back to Taohua Village to fetch Madam Cai, Hua Chao, and Hu Zi. They are the people closest to you, and perhaps with them around, you'll slowly remember something."

Gu Jiayue shook her head. "No need. The kids will be out after their college entrance exams today, and we should be able to return to Taohua Village tomorrow. It would be troublesome to go back and forth."

Kangzi thought about it and it made sense.

It takes a day to get back to Taohua Village from Juzhou City. Even if someone is sent overnight, Madam Cai and the others won't arrive until the morning of the next day. By then, the young lady might have already returned to the village, and we would miss them.

He frowned and suggested again. "Then why don't you stay at the inn tonight? Why don't you stay at the courtyard I bought in the city? The inn is crowded and I'm worried about it."

"Nothing." Gu Jiayue smiled and waved her hand, her tone a touch of familiarity and liveliness. "Master Jiang has already arranged for people to guard the inn. It's safe. Besides, if I stay in your yard, what if I get into trouble with you? You're my money bag, I have to protect you well."

Kangzi looked at the lady in front of him with mixed feelings.

The Gu Jiayue before him seemed to have returned to her days in the Marquis' Mansion overnight. She was innocent, gentle, and a little playful. However, she had lost the decisiveness and courage she had gained in the past two years in Taohua Village.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he only said, "Then if you have any problems, please come to me first."

When the two of them finished chatting, Song Yao was so full that she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her stomach with one hand and holding half a piece of cake in the other. Her face was full of confusion: "Sister Gu, can we go to the street to digest the food first? I really can't eat anymore!"

She muttered, a hint of grievance in her tone, "The food in Brother Kangzi's shop is so delicious. There are so many flavors of milk tea, I couldn't help but try a sip of every cup. There are also small cakes... If my mother sees my belly when I get home, she will definitely scold me again!"

She knew she would be scolded if she ate too much, but she couldn't help herself when faced with delicious food. This feeling of happiness and pain made her frown and sigh.

"Okay, I'll do as you say." Gu Jiayue couldn't help but smile as she looked at her cute appearance.

Such a lively little girl is really hard to refuse.

"Miss, shall I ask some people to follow you?" Kangzi was still worried, afraid that they would have another accident.

The person who kidnapped her seems to be from Kyoto. I have to write a letter back to Kyoto quickly and ask the prince to find out who wants to harm the young lady.

"Then thank you for your help." Gu Jiayue did not refuse.

As soon as she left the shop, the nanny sent by Madam Song came to greet her. Her tone was respectful but a little urgent. "Miss, Madam asked you to return home quickly, saying there was something urgent."

Song Yao became anxious when she heard this. She grabbed Gu Jiayue's hand, her eyes instantly reddened with tears welling up inside. "Sister Gu, please don't leave first! Wait for me tomorrow, I will definitely find a way to get out and go eat hot pot with you!"

Seeing her tearful face, Gu Jiayue couldn't bring herself to refuse. She quickly patted her hands and soothed her softly. "Go back first and listen to your mother. When you're free, come find me in Taohua Village. I'll write to you as soon as I get there, okay?"

After Gu Jiayue's consolation, Song Yao finally followed the nanny reluctantly, turning back every two steps to remind her, "Sister Gu, you must write to me!"

There was no movement until the figure disappeared around the corner.

Seeing that Song Yao had left, she definitely couldn't go strolling around the street anymore. However, she had asked almost everything she wanted to ask, and since there wasn't much to do alone, Gu Jiayue asked Kangzi to arrange for her to return to the inn.

When they arrived at the inn, Gu Jiayue was about to go upstairs when she saw Jiang Luli walking down the stairs from the second floor.

He walked lightly, standing two steps away from her, not moving any closer, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes. He was obviously afraid of getting too close and being mistaken for a scoundrel.

"Miss Gu, did you think of anything today?" Jiang Luli spoke first, trying to keep his tone gentle.

Gu Jiayue quickly took a half step back, bowing slightly, her tone a little reserved. "Master Jiang, thank you for your concern. I'm fine, but... I still can't remember anything about the past two years."

Looking at her unfamiliar attitude and her proper manner of greeting, Jiang Luli felt as if something had pricked his heart, which was strange.

The person in front of him looked exactly like Gu Jiayue, but he always felt that this was not the Gu Jiayue he had known for more than two years.

He shook his head and suppressed the strange thought.

It must be because of her amnesia. When she slowly remembers things, she will return to her previous state.

"It's already noon. Have you had lunch yet?" Jiang Luli asked again, his tone a little tentative. "I just cooked a few dishes in the kitchen. If you don't mind, why don't we have lunch together?"

Gu Jiayue subconsciously wanted to refuse.

She had just eaten a lot of snacks in the milk tea shop and was not hungry at all. Moreover, for an unmarried girl like her, eating alone with a man was really against the rules she had learned since childhood.

But then she thought again, Song Yao said that when she was in Taohua Village, she often ate with the teachers and children in the school.

Maybe doing more "familiar things" can remind her of something.

She raised her head, her tone a little hesitant, but she nodded. "Then I'll trouble you, Master Jiang."

The two walked to the pavilion in the backyard of the inn.

There is shade here and the wind is cool.

There were three dishes and a soup on the table, all of which were home-style flavors.

Stir-fried vegetables, braised pork, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and a bowl of egg drop soup were all steaming. The aroma that wafted in the wind was quite fragrant.

"please."

Jiang Luli set the table for Gu Jiayue.

Both of them were well-educated and adhered to the rules of not talking while eating or sleeping, so the pavilion suddenly became quiet.

Deep in Gu Jiayue's consciousness, the system was huddled in the corner of her brain, motionless.

In front of it, a dark soul was quietly suspended. The two looked at each other without moving for a long time.

There was no dialogue, no movement, just a silence so awkward it looked like it could produce ash.