The layers upon layers of mist filled her vision, leaving her like a lost child wandering in the smog—stumbling, bumping into things, unable to find her way. Many times, she wanted to cry despairingly, yet no tears would come. She was on the verge of giving up.

Only his whispers by her ear could inexplicably dry her tears and reignite her hope.

Until one moment, her steps faltered—a barrier appeared in front of her.

She raised her hand and placed it on the obstacle ahead, pushing.

It seemed to be a door.

The door opened, and sunlight streamed in brightly.

The mist dispersed completely.

Before her eyes, she saw faint outlines of a forest with a mountain in the background.

Faint voices of people could also be heard.

The scene was oddly familiar.

She couldn’t help but step forward.

A young girl sat on the ground, looking utterly disheveled. Her face was dirty, with tears left behind by a panicked expression, yet she stubbornly declared:

"I am not a paparazzo!"

She froze—this young girl before her was none other than herself, only much younger, her eyes brimming with naïve innocence.

"Young Master Huo, don’t frighten the young lady."

A handsome young man whose features were as dazzling as a television star’s spoke gently to the man at his side.

No, he wasn’t "like" a television star—he truly was.

It was Xue Jingchuan.

Following Xue Jingchuan’s gaze, she looked over.

Huo Zhenyang was holding a robust hunting dog on a leash, dressed in an impeccably expensive hunting outfit. His tall, commanding figure stood before her, staring coldly at the disheveled version of herself lying on the ground.

After a moment of contemplation, his tone, regal and authoritative, cut through coldly:

"Bring her back to the villa. Search her thoroughly and see if she has any cameras or eavesdropping equipment!"

She saw her "younger self" scrambling to get up, trying to escape.

Huo Zhenyang took a long stride forward, raised his hand, and delivered a sharp neck chop.

Without a sound, the young girl collapsed.

He smoothly scooped her up, cradling her like a hunter carrying captured prey, slinging her over his shoulder and striding toward the villa.

...

Her heart pounded furiously. Sweat unknowingly soaked her palms.

That familiar sensation—like a warm current—flowed through every part of her body.

She understood that what was unfolding before her were scenes of her own life.

Pieces from the year she had lost.

This was her first encounter with him...

She had tried so many times to recall the year they had met, but she never expected her memory would return during an injured dreamlike slumber.

Her emotions surged and churned, overwhelming her.

She walked forward, wanting to call out to the man carrying her younger self.

But no matter how hard she tried, no sound came out.

...

The scene before her shifted again, changing to a new setting.

This time, it was already his Huanglong Mountain Villa.

She struggled; he restrained. She evaded; he tore away.

It wasn’t until he finally discovered that she wasn’t a paparazzo sneaking into the hunting grounds to take photos but merely a pitiful girl who had somehow fallen down the mountain that he waved her off impatiently, motioning for her to leave. However, just as she was about to step out the door, her injuries, fear, and exhaustion culminated in her collapsing onto the carpet with a thud.

...

Following this, events from that year flashed by her eyes like a carousel.

Everyone seemed unable to see her, merely reenacting the life she could no longer remember.

He grew frustrated with Jian Meiyi’s relentless pestering and had her temporarily stick around to act as a shield...

She accompanied him to Huo Mansion in the city to meet his grandfather, sharing their first meal with the old man...

During the company’s anniversary celebration on the island, he proposed to her; the sweet smile on her face...

The Xuan family mother and daughter came looking for her—she discovered her true lineage...

He learned that Chu Xinyu bullied her, held her hand, and taught her how to fight back...

For her mother, she hid the truth from him and followed Xuan Yu back to S Country...

During her engagement party with Ya Chen, he descended from the sky...

Every single moment...

Every day, every hour, every detail of her life by his side surfaced before her eyes like a film.

Under hypnotic sessions with Dr. Ann, she had occasionally recalled fragments, but never as vivid and clear as this.

Dr. Ann was right—human memory and the brain’s capabilities are truly enigmatic.

One can never predict when lost memories might suddenly resurface.

And so, she quietly watched the life she once had with him unfold.

Sweetness, heartbreak, joy, anger, fights, reconciliation, tenderness...

Their first kiss, their embrace, their convergence as one.

Every single detail, it felt as though she was living it anew.

...

Until Chu Xinyue, in a frenzy of disordered thoughts, drove straight at her—

Bang!

As if the gates of memory had burst wide open, everything connected seamlessly.

In a rush of sharp, splitting pain, crystalline tears slid down her cheeks as she let out a trembling cry: "Ah..."

In the room where she lay unconscious in bed, a maid who had entered with Sister Hui to bring Miss Chu water froze in disbelief. With a clatter, the glass of water she held nearly slipped from her grasp. "Sister Hui, did you hear that? Did Miss Chu make a sound?"

Ever since Jiayi came to LA for recovery, the staff at Huo Mansion in America had been meticulously attentive in caring for Jiayi.

Sister Hui, however, had become a source of unease.

Back when she had served Huo Zhenyang at Yunling, Jiayi, in order to repay car fare, worked as a temporary maid at Disheng—and Sister Hui constantly clashed with her.

Later, when Su Yan arrived at Yunling, Sister Hui firmly took Su Yan’s side, believing she was the rightful match for the young master.

Subsequently, when the young master finally recognized Jiayi and they got married, Sister Hui was sent back to Huo Mansion in America by the young master.

Sister Hui had remained uneasy ever since, afraid the new young mistress would retaliate against her now that she held authority. Fortunately, the couple lived in their homeland and rarely crossed paths with her.

However, two months ago, when Huo Zhenyang brought Jiayi to America, Sister Hui had been on edge, fearing Jiayi would wake up and avenge old grudges.

Now, Sister Hui’s face changed dramatically as she rushed to the bedside to examine Jiayi.

That faint moan just now—it was too clear to ignore.

On the bed, Jiayi let out a soft groan, then fell silent once more, sleeping peacefully like an infant.

"Sister Hui, I’ll tell the young master right now..." The maid came back to her senses and eagerly prepared to go downstairs to inform Huo Zhenyang. The young master had been guarding Miss Chu for over two months, cherishing her as if she were a priceless treasure. Yet all he got was an empty shell as Miss Chu showed no signs of life, leaving him in despair.

Now, suddenly, Miss Chu had shown a response—the young master would surely be overjoyed!

Perhaps there was hope of Miss Chu regaining consciousness!

"Wait." Sister Hui interjected instinctively, stopping the maid.

The maid halted in her tracks, looking at Sister Hui in confusion.

"You must have heard wrong. There was no sound; I didn’t hear anything. Don’t go getting the young master’s hopes up, only to bring him greater disappointment. Don’t stir up false joy."

The maid glanced at Jiayi, still sleeping soundly on the bed. Doubtful, she bit her lip. Was it really just a misheard sound?