Chapter 4

In comparison, I was much more ordinary. Average looks, average family background, raised by my mother alone since I was young. The only thing extraordinary about me was probably my consistently top-ranking grades.

I don't know what about me attracted Lily, but one day, I inexplicably became Lily's boyfriend.

When I tried to explain to others, Lily would suddenly appear by my side, link her arm with mine, and say with a smile, "Adrian is shy, don't tease him."

At that time, I hated Lily to the core and wanted nothing more than to stay far away from her.

Until one day, I saw her at my home. She was munching on a pancake, waving at me happily.

My mom told me that if it weren't for Lily's help, her street stall would have been confiscated by the city management that day.

In her haste, Lily had even scraped her hand, which my mom had carefully bandaged. But Lily acted as if it didn't hurt at all, smiling carefreely as she said, "Classmate Chen, your mom's pancakes are so delicious!"

That was the first time I felt that Lily wasn't so annoying after all.

Later, we gradually became closer. We promised to apply to universities in the same city and to get married after graduation.

"Will you agree? Will you agree?" Lily tugged at the hem of my shirt, whining. Suddenly, I had an idea. I nodded and said okay.

Lily smiled somewhat mischievously and threw herself into my arms. She was about to say something when there was a knock at the door.

I opened the door, only to be knocked down by Jake's punch.

"Adrian, seducing a married woman? Have you no shame?" Jake yelled.

If it weren't for my weakened body due to illness, I would have taught Jake a lesson. But now, I could only lean against the doorframe, taking a long time to recover.

Lily rushed out, standing in front of me, pointing at Jake and cursing, "Are you fucking crazy? I've told you I don't like you. Why are you still pestering me?"

As soon as Jake saw Lily, his aggression diminished considerably. He put on a placating smile and said, "Lily, you've lost your memory. You have no relationship with him now. I'm your boyfriend."

Lily crossed her arms, looking Jake up and down, then snorted coldly, "I may have lost my memory, but I haven't lost my mind. Me, like you? A toad yearning for swan's flesh, what kind of dream are you having? Get lost now, or I'll call a whole group of people to beat you up."

For a moment, it felt like we had truly returned to the past. When Lily's admirers came to cause trouble for me, she would shield me just like this.

Jake glared at me hatefully and sneered, "Adrian, you coward. You can only hide behind a woman for the rest of your life."

I retorted, not backing down, "Jake, you're not a coward. You're brave enough to climb into your boss's bed."

The poor soundproofing in the old neighborhood meant our quarrel had attracted many onlookers. People were curiously pointing and discussing us. Jake's face reddened, and with a "You just wait and see," he hurriedly left.

I coughed lightly and closed the door.

Lily looked at me with starry eyes and said, "Wow, Adrian, you're so cool. You made him run away with just one sentence."

I chuckled and patted Lily's head, then took out my phone. In Lily's memory, we were still using Nokia phones. She had no idea how to order takeout or call a ride-hailing service.

I wonder how this little girl managed to find me across half the city.

After an afternoon of learning, Lily was already able to play games on my phone. Feeling pleased, I made her a bowl of wonton for dinner.

Focused on her game, Lily didn't notice the bloodstained tissues in the trash can, nor did she see me swallow a handful of pills.

My home didn't have an extra room, so I gave the master bedroom to Lily and made do with the sofa for the night.

And so, Lily and I began an odd cohabitation. Jake would come by from time to time, but without exception, he was always scolded away by Lily.

Lily and I seemed to return to our passionate dating days. Her eyes no longer held resentment and disgust when she looked at me, but instead overflowed with love.

Everything seemed to go back to how it was when we first got married.

In the morning, I would get up first, prepare breakfast for Lily, squeeze out toothpaste for her, and then wake her up. She liked to sleep in, and I would patiently carry her to wash up every day.

During the day, we each went to work. She was busy with business negotiations, and I was even busier with surgeries. We could hardly speak a word to each other throughout the entire day.

Only the time after work was truly ours.

We were no different from ordinary young couples. We shopped at supermarkets together, bought groceries together. At home, I was the chef, and she was my assistant. Though calling her an assistant was generous; it was more like causing trouble. She would eat the tomatoes I had cut, or insist on tasting the soup before it was ready. When the kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking, she would pull me close and exchange a tomato-flavored kiss with me.

I was afraid that hot oil might splash and hurt her, or that the smoke would taint her skin. Every time I told her to leave the kitchen, she would hug my waist and say with a grin, "I'm not afraid. Wherever Adrian is, that's where I'll be."

Back then, Lily's heart and eyes were full of me, and so were mine of her.

I thought our days would continue like this forever, but when did things start to change?

It was when Lily stopped mentioning Jake in front of me, when Lily secretly changed her phone password; when Lily began to resist intimate gestures with me.

It was when Lily's work became increasingly busy; when Lily's gaze towards me gradually became cold and distant; when Lily made excuses about work and stopped coming home.

Lily and I were like two intersecting lines, briefly touching before heading in different directions.

I watched all of this happen before my eyes, powerless to change it.