Chapter 54 Don't be sad. Your heart may not remember him, but your body hasn't. ...
There was a sudden knock on the door.
"Young Master, Miss Zhuyin has arrived."
"Let her in," Xiao Heng said, glancing at Gu Xi who was still in a daze.
The door creaked open, and Gu Xi instinctively turned her head to look. Suddenly, a figure in emerald green rushed over and hugged her tightly.
Zhu Yin buried her face in Gu Xi's arms, her voice trembling with sobs: "Miss, you're finally back. Zhu Yin thought... thought she would never see you again!"
Gu Xi's body stiffened slightly. The unfamiliar intimacy made her subconsciously want to dodge, but looking at the woman's trembling shoulders as she cried, her heart softened inexplicably.
Without realizing it, she raised her hand and gently patted her back, softly coaxing, "Zhuyin, don't cry, don't cry..." The action was so natural, as if it were etched into her very bones.
Zhu Yin suddenly looked up, her tears instantly stopping, her swollen eyes filled with surprise, and she asked in a choked voice, "Miss, do you still remember me?"
On the way, Zhao Fuquan told her that Gu Xi had amnesia and didn't remember anyone.
But the young lady had done this to her countless times before. When she was scolded by her mother in the Gu family, or when they were humiliated in the palace, the young lady had comforted her in this way.
Xiao Heng and Bai Xingzhi, who were inside the room, were also staring intently at her.
Gu Xi's hand froze in mid-air. Looking at the expectant eyes, she bit her lip helplessly and said apologetically, "I'm sorry... I don't remember you."
The light in Zhu Yin's eyes dimmed suddenly, but the next moment, her gaze fell on Gu Xi's cheeks. Looking at the scars of varying depths, tears welled up instantly, and her voice trembled even more violently: "Miss, your face... how did it get so badly injured?"
Seeing her sobbing uncontrollably, Gu Xi was momentarily at a loss. She quickly comforted her, "Don't cry, it just looks scary, it doesn't hurt..."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yin's tears flowed even more profusely.
Xiao Heng stared at her without saying a word.
He remembered the day she was kidnapped by Black Stone Village. When she returned, her wrists and ankles looked terrible. She had told him the same thing: "It looks scary, but it doesn't hurt."
But he saw her secretly applying the medicine alone, and tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.
At that moment, his heart felt like it had been clenched tightly by something, and he couldn't stay any longer.
Xiao Heng strode out of the room. When he reached the door, he turned back to look at Bai Xingzhi, who understood and followed him out.
Outside the door.
"Whom do you suspect?" Xiao Heng asked.
Bai Xingzhi said a name.
Gu Xi relaxed completely after seeing Xiao Heng leave.
"Your name is Zhuyin, right?" Gu Xi asked.
“Mmm…” Zhu Yin replied, wiping away her tears.
Are we close?
Zhu Yin nodded vigorously.
Upon hearing this, Gu Xi took out a handkerchief from her bosom, stared at it blankly for a moment, and then asked, "Do you recognize this handkerchief?"
Qing'er said that she had been clutching this handkerchief tightly in her hand when she was unconscious, and she saw that it was covered in blood, so she washed it clean for her.
She had a feeling that the handkerchief must have been left to her by someone very important, but she couldn't remember who. She asked Young Master Bai, but he didn't know either.
Zhu Yin stared at the handkerchief and tears welled up again. It was a birthday gift from her mistress to Cai Lian, but Cai Lian was no longer there.
“I recognize...this handkerchief is...it belongs to Cailian…” Zhuyin replied, her voice choked with emotion.
“Cailian…” Gu Xi’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she asked, “Where is she?”
Zhu Yin lowered her head and said, "She went to a very far place."
Gu Xi was taken aback and asked, "Is she dead?"
"Um......"
Gu Xi murmured unconsciously, "Is he really dead?"
Zhu Yin hugged Gu Xi and cried for a while, then told her many stories from her past.
It turns out her feeling was right; her parents and brother really loved her. Was that sentence that lingered in her mind referring to them?
If it really is them, then she absolutely cannot go back; she must find a way to escape.
It turns out she really did get married. The man she just saw was indeed her husband. He seemed to treat her well, but why did her heart ache when she saw him?
Was her fall off the cliff related to him?
It turns out that she and Young Master Bai met before their marriage. He had saved her and helped her before, which explains why he always gave her a sense of trustworthiness.
But he seems to be in cahoots with her husband, so he probably won't help her escape; she has to rely on herself.
Zhu Yin continued to talk to her for a long time until Xiao Heng returned, at which point she reluctantly left.
Gu Xi remained huddled at the foot of the bed, watching the man standing beside it undressing. She swallowed hard and stammered, "Young Master Xiao...you're not going to sleep with me tonight, are you?" She was interrupted before she could finish.
"Young Master Xiao?" Xiao Heng said through gritted teeth, "Gu Xi, I am your husband!"
"But I don't recognize you!" Gu Xi roared.
How could she sleep with a strange man?
"You'll recognize me soon enough." Xiao Heng ignored her and continued taking off his clothes until he was only wearing an undergarment.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, scooped the person up from the corner of the bed, and lay down in his arms.
Gu Xi struggled desperately in his arms: "Get away from me! I don't want to sleep with you!"
Xiao Heng rolled over and pinned her beneath him, staring intently at her, and asked, "If you won't sleep with me, who will you sleep with? Bai Xingzhi?!"
Whether what he said was true or false, he wanted nothing more than to kill him, but he couldn't kill him right now.
He could tell that she trusted him now, and that she still needed his help.
"Don't talk nonsense!" She and Young Master Bai are completely innocent; how could he speak of her like that?
Gu Xi continued to resist with all her might, but her strength was like a tickle to Xiao Heng. He easily restrained her hands and raised them above her head.
Gu Xi looked at him in panic, terrified that he would do that to her. Seeing his face drawing ever closer, she resignedly closed her eyes, letting out soft sobs: "You...you mustn't touch me..."
But he simply leaned down and gently kissed her eyelids, without making any other moves.
Then she heard him ask in a hoarse voice in her ear, "Gu Xi, what were you thinking when you went blind? Were you very scared?"
Gu Xi almost blurted out, "I'm scared." There was a hint of grievance in her voice.
She was startled by her own answer and suddenly opened her eyes.
Bai Xingzhi and Qing'er also asked her if she was afraid. She said: No.
She was actually very scared. Not only had she lost her sight, but she had also lost her memory. She didn't know who she was, why she was alive, or where she could go in the future.
She can't see anything. When Bai Xingzhi isn't around, she even falls down when walking from the inner room to the outer room of the clinic. She can't take care of herself by herself.
She was afraid that her eyesight would never recover, and that she would have to live in darkness forever, confined to that small room.
She didn't understand why she had unconsciously blurted out what was on her mind, as if she wanted to tell him all the grievances and fears in her heart.
Did she ever love him very much?
Xiao Heng released her hand, pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly until he felt that the person in his arms was real, and then gently let her go.
He got out of bed, dressed, and walked towards the door. When he reached the door, he turned around and said, "I'm in the next room. Come find me if you need anything." Then he closed the door.
Gu Xi stared at the closed door, slightly taken aback.
He didn't force her, and the man didn't seem as scary as he appeared.
The next day, Gu Xi got up very early.
She tiptoed to open the door, looked around, and then gently closed it without making a sound.
She turned and walked downstairs from the inn, her steps very light, but after only two steps, she heard Xiao Heng's voice behind her.
"Where are you going?" The voice was slightly deep.
Gu Xi stiffened, turned around stiffly, looked into his deep eyes, and said in a flustered tone, "I woke up this morning with an empty stomach, so I thought I'd go downstairs to find something to eat to fill my stomach." After saying that, she nervously clenched the hem of her clothes.
Xiao Heng stared at her silently for a moment, then walked towards her, took her hand, and led her downstairs.
Gu Xi instinctively tried to break free, but he held on even tighter, and in the end, she had no choice but to let him lead her.
When they arrived at the private room, Lu Xiao and the others were already seated. They all stood up to greet them.
"Why are the young master and young mistress here?" Lu Xiao asked in surprise. Xiao Heng usually ate breakfast in the private room, so why did he suddenly appear in the private room today?
Xiao Heng ignored him and sat down to order food.
Gu Xi didn't recognize him, so she just smiled at him.
Lu Xiao finally couldn't contain his curiosity and asked, "Are you really the young mistress? Why do you look different from before?"
Everyone present probably had this question. The only one who knew, Zhao Fuquan, was sent to find Gu Xi's master and senior brother before he could tell them, in order to cure her amnesia.
"And you really don't recognize me? I'm Lu Xiao!"
Gu Xi was taken aback. Something was different? Did they mean she had more scars on her face?
She replied apologetically, "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're saying, and... I really don't recognize you." She silently repeated his name in her heart.
Lu Xiao wanted to press further, but a single glance from Xiao Heng silenced him, and he sat down dejectedly.
When they were searching for her, Xiao Heng did not give them a portrait of her true appearance, fearing it would attract thieves and increase their danger.
He simply instructed them that if they heard of any extremely beautiful woman, they should report it immediately. Although they did not know why, they reported it to everyone, but none of them were her. They never expected that she would be hiding in this bustling city, and... her appearance was ruined.
Not long after they sat down, Bai Xingzhi arrived. He paused slightly when he saw the two people in the private room.
Gu Xi spotted him immediately and greeted him with a smile, "Young Master Bai, over here!" She pointed to the spot beside her.
She thought to herself that he had finally appeared. She didn't recognize anyone here, not even her husband. Moreover, the sight of them all in the dark made her heart tighten.
Bai Xingzhi glanced at Xiao Heng and sat down beside her as instructed.
Breakfast was served quickly, and Gu Xi was surprised to find that it was all her favorite food.
She took a bite of the steamed chestnut with osmanthus sugar, turned to Bai Xingzhi with a smile, and said, "Young Master Bai, this snack is delicious, would you like to try some?"
Bai Xingzhi smiled and replied, "Okay."
Gu Xi turned to look at Xiao Heng again, only to see him staring at her with a gloomy expression, and her heart began to pound.
Actually, she wanted him to try it too, but he looked so fierce that she didn't dare. In the end, she had no choice but to swallow her words and look at him timidly.
Seeing her looking at him with such fear, as if she had returned to the time when she first entered the palace, Xiao Heng felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
Gu Xi, how could you forget me again?
Looking at his increasingly sorrowful eyes, Gu Xi felt as if something in her heart was about to break free from the shackles of her memories. She couldn't help but raise her hand and gently stroke his brow, comforting him, "Aheng, don't be sad."
Xiao Heng was slightly taken aback, then his eyes suddenly lit up. He grabbed Gu Xi's wrist and asked in a trembling voice, "Gu Xi, you remember now, don't you?"
Bai Xingzhi tightened his grip on the teacup, his fingertips turning slightly white.
Gu Xi was startled, her eyes darted around, and it took her a moment to come to her senses before she shook her head blankly.
She didn't know what had just happened to her. She seemed... unable to bear seeing him sad.
The light in Xiao Heng's eyes dimmed instantly, and he slowly lowered her hand.
*
At lunchtime, Gu Xi went downstairs alone to the private room.
She can't run away now, or she'll be caught easily like she did this morning. She plans to observe for a few days before planning her escape route.
Upon arriving at the private room, they found Xiao Heng and Bai Xingzhi already seated there, but Lu Xiao and the others were nowhere to be seen.
The two seemed to be talking about something, so she found a seat a little further away so as not to disturb them.
Bai Xingzhi changed into his own clothes and leisurely sipped his tea, exuding elegance in every gesture. Gu Xi thought he looked even better than when he was at the manor.
The thought that she was married but still living in the same room with him every day was really unreasonable, and she couldn't help but blush slightly.
Xiao Heng was furious and wanted to drag her into the room and punish her on the spot, but he was afraid of scaring her.
Bai Xingzhi also noticed her gaze, paused slightly, then continued drinking his tea as if nothing had happened.
Seeing Gu Xi's increasingly flushed face, Xiao Heng finally stood up in a fit of rage, strode towards her, grabbed her wrist, and said coldly, "Come with me!"
Gu Xi was dragged away by him. Coming to her senses, she struggled and said, "Let me go...please let me go..."
Xiao Heng pulled her directly into the room, led her to the edge of the bed, supported her waist, and forced her to straddle his lap without giving him a chance to explain. His movements were so fast that Gu Xi had no time to resist.
His palm was pressed against her waist, and his other hand held the back of her head, forcing her to kiss him.
The warmth emanating from his waist made Gu Xi tremble slightly, and her hands, which had been resisting, unconsciously tightened around his clothes. The moment their lips touched, she subconsciously parted her red lips slightly, and he took the opportunity to pry open her lips and tongue, teasing her with kisses that were sometimes deep and sometimes shallow, determined to kiss every inch of her.
His fingertips ran through her hair, drawing her closer, ever closer.
Gu Xi instinctively responded to him, until she felt her breathing become shallow and rapid, then she realized and pushed him away.
She looked at him shyly, unable to believe that she had actually... actually let him kiss her like that.
Looking at the shimmering tears in her eyes and her blushing face, Xiao Heng smiled wickedly. Even if her heart didn't remember him, her body hadn't.
He freed one hand and deftly pulled her wrist together, holding it firmly behind her back. With his other hand, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to his chest, giving her no room to resist, and lowered his head to kiss her again.
As he continued his caresses, his hand, which was holding her wrist, gently stroked her skin, sending shivers down her spine. His hand on her waist slowly moved upwards, the warmth of his palm against her fabric making her tremble uncontrollably, her fingertips curling slightly as she passively endured his kisses.
He only released her when she let out a very soft groan.
His fingertips traced her swollen, red lips as he asked in a hoarse voice, "Did you two kiss?"
Gu Xi was already lost in the kiss, her mind was foggy, and she couldn't hear what he was saying at all. She only unconsciously hummed in agreement.
Xiao Heng paused slightly, then continued, "Who is closer to me, him or me?"
"Huh?" Gu Xi hadn't reacted yet.
"I'm asking you, who's closer to me, me or Bai Xingzhi?" Xiao Heng asked, enunciating each word clearly, his face grim.
Gu Xi suddenly snapped out of her daze, and said, both embarrassed and angry, "You...you're talking nonsense!"
She and Young Master Bai were both self-disciplined and respectful, never overstepping the bounds of propriety, and yet this man could so openly discuss such intimate matters.
Xiao Heng stared intently at her, trying to discern the truth in her words.
Seeing his disbelieving look, Gu Xi felt not only angry but also inexplicably sad, and struggled to get off him.
How could this person think of herself like that? Even if she had amnesia, she wouldn't kiss a man casually.
But what happened to her just now...?
It must be because he's her husband, that's for sure!
Looking at the handsome man in front of her, her heart suddenly started pounding uncontrollably.
Gu Xi instinctively knew she couldn't stay here any longer. She couldn't wait a few more days; she would escape tomorrow!
No! I'm escaping tonight!
Gu Xi lowered her head and walked towards the door, almost bumping into the waiter outside. After realizing what was happening, she hurriedly went downstairs.
She was supposed to have lunch, but he dragged her here and bullied her, so she's starving now.
When they arrived at the private room, Bai Xingzhi had almost finished eating, while Lu Xiao and the others had just sat down. It seemed they had just returned from doing some business, which explained why they hadn't been seen earlier.
Gu Xi sat down next to Bai Xingzhi and began eating her lunch in silence, looking preoccupied.
Bai Xingzhi's gaze fell on her slightly swollen lips, then he looked away.
Gu Xi had only been sitting down for a short while when she felt someone staring at her from behind. When she turned around, she saw Lu Xiao and the others eating with their heads down.
After Gu Xi ate about half a bowl, Xiao Heng came downstairs. Just as he sat down next to her, she suddenly jumped up as if pricked, immediately put down her chopsticks, and walked upstairs with her head down.
Xiao Heng glanced at the half-eaten bowl of rice she had left, his eyes darkening slightly.
Lu Xiao, who had been observing silently from the side, asked, oblivious to the danger, "Young Master, did you and Young Madam have a fight?"
Xiao Heng's face immediately darkened, and he said coldly, "Go down and get your punishment."
Lu Xiao's face turned green with regret.
*
That night, Gu Xi packed her bags in the side room, waiting for the right opportunity.
She didn't know when it started, but two people named Wei Ran and Wei Lin were guarding her door, making her escape much more difficult.
Just as she was feeling troubled, there was a knock on the door. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly hid her bundle.
"Miss, it's me." It was Zhu Yin's voice.
Gu Xi breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door to welcome the person in, and secretly glanced at the two people guarding the door.
Before closing the door, she asked, seemingly casually, "Do you know where my husband went?"
"Your Highness, the young master is in Mr. Bai's room discussing important matters."
Gu Xi said "Oh" and closed the door.
He thought to himself, "Perfect, their room is far from Bai Xingzhi's."
Inside the side room.
"Zhuyin, what do you want from me?"
"Miss, I went back to the villa today to get your things." As she spoke, she opened a bundle and took out the items inside.
Gu Xi's gaze fell on a jade hairpin. She picked it up and asked, "Is this my hairpin?"
"Yes, Miss, this is a gift from the young master."
This reminded her of the hairpin she had lost, which had her name engraved on it. She loved it very much, but she had been searching for it for several days without success.
She felt a sense of familiarity with the hairpin in front of her, as if it were very important to her, so she secretly hid it in her sleeve, thinking that she would take it with her when she ran away.
Zhu Yin noticed her actions and looked at her suspiciously, but then she inadvertently noticed a bulge on the brocade quilt on the bed.
She hurried over and lifted the blanket, seeing Gu Xi's bundle. With tears in her eyes, she asked, "Miss, where are you going? Don't you want Zhu Yin anymore?"
Gu Xi was caught off guard and panicked. She calmed herself down and said, "Zhu Yin, I can't go back with you. If I go back, I'll hurt people. Can you just pretend you don't know anything?"
"Miss, I want to go with you!" She didn't know what Gu Xi meant by "it will harm people," but she was determined to follow her.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Xi said, "Okay."
"Miss, where are we going?"
Gu Xi's eyes darkened. She didn't know where she was going. She couldn't go back to Shuangxi Manor. Bai Xingzhi would definitely find her there.
"Let's talk about it after we leave the inn," Gu Xi said casually.
"Zhuyin, go back to your room and pack your things now. In a quarter of an hour, set off from the back door of the inn and head east. I'll be waiting for you there."
"Okay! I'll go right now!" Zhu Yin nodded vigorously and walked towards the door.
Before leaving, Gu Xi touched the top of Zhu Yin's head and whispered in her heart: Zhu Yin, I'm sorry, goodbye.
She can't take her with her; she'll suffer if she stays with her.
Fifteen minutes later, the sound of a flowerpot falling came from Gu Xi's room.
Hearing the noise, Wei Lin and Wei Ran knocked on the door and asked, "Young Madam, what's wrong?"
No one answered from inside. The two looked at each other and then suddenly kicked the door open.
They saw that the window in the side room was open, and the flowerpots on it had fallen down, leaving several footprints on the window frame. They quickly looked out the window and saw a slender figure walking briskly eastward downstairs.
"Oh no! The young mistress has run away! Quickly inform the master!"
Gu Xi hid behind the bed and heard a chaotic noise outside. After things gradually calmed down, she quietly came out and walked westward from the inn's main gate.
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Author's note: I should regain my memories in the next chapter. [Thumbs up]
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