Chapter 35: I Have Lost My Memory

Yun Zhao subconsciously checked Qi Yan’s... favorability rating.

Very good, it hadn't dropped.

She decisively abandoned Song Zhiyuan and trotted over to Qi Yan’s side. "A-Yan, you’ve finished your seclusion!"

"Indeed," Qi Yan replied, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "If I hadn't come out, who knows what would have happened if you were stabbed in the back or locked in the dungeon again?"

He emphasized the word "again" with particular weight.

*Fine, fine, fine.* This man was bringing up old grievances again.

Yun Zhao gave a sheepish smile and quickly changed the subject. "I felt at ease once you left seclusion. This man claimed to have something to tell me about you, so I let him approach, but he started spouting all this nonsense."

Pouting, Yun Zhao continued, "I’ve never heard my Martial Uncle mention that I was betrothed to anyone. He must be taking advantage of my lack of family to lie and deceive me!"

"However," she shifted her tone and tugged at the corner of Qi Yan’s robe, "I have a backer now. A-Yan, hurry and chase him away!"

Hearing her say this, Qi Yan’s brows finally softened. He lifted his gaze to Song Zhiyuan. "Did Senior Brother Song hear what Zhao-Zhao said? Will you leave on your own, or shall I see you out?"

Song Zhiyuan’s expression turned ugly. "Yun Zhao, you don’t believe me?"

Yun Zhao expressed her stance through action: she covered her ears and began chanting, "I’m not listening, I’m not listening, it’s just a toad croaking sutras!"

Qi Yan glanced at Song Zhiyuan, whose face looked like a lump of coal.

Song Zhiyuan took a deep breath and said coldly, "Yun Zhao, what I said is the truth. If you don't believe me, you can go ask the Sect Master or the other peak masters."

He gave a light chuckle. "Oh, right, the Sect Master is my master, so it’s normal if you doubt me, but surely you don’t think I could get all the other peak masters to lie as well?"

"Peak Master Lu and True Person Hanyue are your own martial uncle and aunt; you should believe them, shouldn't you?"

Seeing Song Zhiyuan speak with such certainty, Yun Zhao’s heart sank.

Could it be that he wasn't making it up? That this really existed?

But the original host’s memories contained nothing of the sort—this was going to be the death of her!

Still, that wasn't the priority. The priority was to kick Song Zhiyuan out and appease Qi Yan.

Yun Zhao poked Qi Yan. Although she didn't speak, Qi Yan understood her intent immediately.

He stepped forward. "Senior Brother Song, do you need me to see you out?"

Song Zhiyuan looked at Qi Yan and said coldly, "No need."

He looked at Yun Zhao again, his tone softening. "Junior Sister, come back once you’ve had your fun. I’ll be waiting for you to come to your senses."

"You are still young and have been blinded by the novelties of the outside world; I don't blame you. You and I are a match made in heaven. Don't let someone with such filthy blood stain your hands."

With that, Song Zhiyuan turned and left. Yun Zhao was so angry that steam was practically rising from her head, but Qi Yan held her back, and she could only watch helplessly as Song Zhiyuan departed.

"Why did you stop me?" Yun Zhao fumed. "He said those things about you, and you aren't even angry?!"

"If we teamed up, we could definitely knock all his teeth out!"

Yun Zhao was a person of great professional integrity and was very protective of her own. Since her target was being insulted, she would have retaliated if not for Qi Yan holding her back!

Qi Yan lowered his eyes. "He wasn't wrong."

"What do you mean, he wasn't wrong?"

Yun Zhao frowned and cupped Qi Yan’s face in her hands, forcing him to look up.

The girl’s palms were warm, and that heat spread from his cheeks throughout his entire body. Qi Yan felt as if he were warming up.

"Qi Yan, I'm telling you," Yun Zhao said earnestly, "ever since I brought you out of that dungeon, no one is allowed to bully you anymore."

"If anyone tries, I will protect you!"

"No one is allowed to use your background against you. You are not to belittle yourself ever again. The next time someone says something like that, I order you to hit back!"

Yun Zhao looked fierce. "Do you hear me?"

The words echoed in his ears, and Qi Yan remained stunned for a long time.

Then, he let out a low laugh.

This left Yun Zhao completely bewildered. "What are you laughing at?"

"It’s just... I suddenly felt like laughing," Qi Yan’s gaze softened abruptly. "You remind me of someone."

Yun Zhao paused for two seconds before retorting, "What do you mean, I remind you of someone? I *am* someone!"

Why was he insulting her?

Qi Yan: "..."

Seeing his speechless expression, Yun Zhao realized belatedly that he probably wasn't insulting her.

She coughed. "So, who do I remind you of?"

Qi Yan took Yun Zhao’s hand, and they sat down on the stone stools in the courtyard. "You remind me of... the first person who was ever kind to me."

He curved his lips, appearing to recall some beautiful memories.

"She was a fool, but whenever I was being bullied, she would always protect me. Even if it meant sacrificing everything, she wouldn't let anyone hurt me in the slightest..."

Qi Yan spoke of the past in a low voice. Yun Zhao listened quietly, sighing inwardly at the thought that the great villain still harbored such kindness in his heart.

No wonder that in the original plot, when Qi Yan went on a killing spree later, he never slaughtered the innocent indiscriminately.

He only killed those who had wronged him, albeit with extreme methods.

Of course, it was also possible that the great villain simply disdained taking the lives of ants.

Wait—

Yun Zhao suddenly realized: Qi Yan said she reminded him of the person who protected him—was he treating her... as a substitute?!

*Fine, fine, fine.* So we’re playing the "substitute" trope, are we?

Yun Zhao stiffened her face and pulled away from him.

Qi Yan: "?"

He looked very confused. "What’s wrong?"

Yun Zhao kept her face stern. "May I ask who that person was?"

Qi Yan was startled. After a long pause, he said, "She was... my mother."

Ah...

Yun Zhao slapped herself on the forehead, feeling a flush of shame.

What on earth was she thinking just now?!

Qi Yan was used to Yun Zhao’s sudden shifts in mood. "By the way, about your betrothal to Song Zhiyuan..."

For some reason, Qi Yan didn't like the sound of those two words. He paused and asked, "Are you going to seek confirmation from someone?"

Yun Zhao was conflicted. "Should I go ask Martial Uncle Lu? Even though it’s likely Song Zhiyuan is just spouting nonsense, if it’s true, I should start planning ahead."

Meeting Qi Yan’s eyes, Yun Zhao spread her hands. "Qi Yan, do you believe me? I have no idea about this; no one has ever told me anything."

Qi Yan produced a tea set and poured her a cup. "I believe you."

Yun Zhao felt that he didn't truly believe her, but his expression remained unchanged, and his favorability showed no signs of dropping.

She reluctantly accepted that he believed her, picking up the teacup without actually taking a sip.

Not having complete memories was truly a nuisance. Who knew when some old acquaintance or story might pop up to cause her trouble?

The system had yet to reply as well. Otherwise...

Yun Zhao’s eyes darted around, and she suddenly sighed.

"Why are you sighing?" Qi Yan asked.

Yun Zhao’s eyes flickered. She slumped dejectedly onto the stone table and muttered, "Qi Yan, did I ever tell you that I lost my memory?"

Qi Yan’s movement with the teacup faltered. "What?"

Yun Zhao shifted her posture, resting her chin on her hand, looking troubled. "After I saved you from the dungeon, I seem to have lost some of my memories."

"For instance, some things from my childhood—it feels as if I never experienced them at all."