He suddenly laughed. "I bet you've always doubted his feelings for you. You feel like a substitute living in the identity he gave you. Many of his actions puzzle you deeply. And he's such a clam—won't tell you anything. But you can still find many coincidental anomalies in life, right?"
Chang Xuyu's heart felt like it had been struck.
She slowly raised her eyes to look at Song Shuheng, a hint of surprise and conflict in her gaze.
Yes, she was indeed puzzled by this feeling. Every time she woke up beside him, she felt like she had been dreaming for a very, very long time—dreaming that they had known each other for ages. But in his eyes, she couldn't catch any trace.
Was it that Yi Zhuo was too good at hiding, or that she simply didn't take it to heart? She herself was confused.
She frowned slightly at Song Shuheng, feeling he was acting strange.
How did he know so much?
"Xuyu, I'm his only friend, and I'm a doctor. Aren't you curious about who he pays me extra each month to treat?"
Chang Xuyu had a relapse every month. It was a familial mental illness and psychological disorder that caused her to forget the world at certain moments, selectively avoiding and repressing memories, forcing her body into a deep sleep or coma.
Regarding this matter, he knew that Chang Xuyu's aunt was aware of it.
The two of them had teamed up to deceive Chang Xuyu.
Chang Xuyu's face suddenly turned pale. She looked flustered and helpless, clenching her fists by her sides, unconsciously swallowing saliva.
"I, I don't want to know..." She averted her eyes. "Dr. Song, it's getting late. Let me see you out."
In truth, she was really afraid of doctors. Firstly, doctors understood people too thoroughly. In front of them, one had to stand there unreservedly, like a statue, every nerve and vein already mapped out. The difference between them and art students was that doctors could wield a scalpel at any moment—
But he blocked her way.
She staggered back a few steps. Though her vision was clear, it felt like an infinite abyss, endless day and night.
Song Shuheng raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on her without any emotion.
If his calculations were correct, today was the second time this month she would have a relapse.
Coincidentally, Yi Zhuo was too sick to stop him.
A couple of days ago, he had tried to contact Yi Zhuo, suggesting that they awaken some of her memories during this time, but Yi Zhuo had even blocked his number.
Now, it seemed heaven was helping him—
Song Shuheng narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to her step by step.
"What are you going to do?"
She was terrified.
Song Shuheng silently pulled out some tools from his pocket. His voice was as cold as an ice cave. "Aren't you always curious about what he's been hiding from you? I'll help you find out."
"This is between him and me. It has nothing to do with you. Please leave now..."
Song Shuheng ignored her words. He just placed the things in front of her, then grabbed her wrist and pressed her down onto a soft chair—
His face kept zooming in and out before her eyes. The world around her spun, and everything began to blur...
"Have a good sleep, Xuyu. I'm sorry."
A hint of guilt flickered in his eyes. Just as he was about to proceed, a pair of strong hands pushed him away.
He stumbled back and turned around—it was Yi Zhuo.
"Song Shuheng, if you still consider me a friend, get out."
The man's growl was like that of an adult tiger or leopard, full of blood and vigor. His eyes were filled with a fierce aura, as if he would pounce on an intruder trying to invade his territory at any moment.
Song Shuheng became furious. He pushed back with one hand, but it didn't budge Yi Zhuo at all.
"Are you really that sick, Yi Zhuo?" Song Shuheng asked incredulously, but then he laughed angrily. "Wake up! Do you think I don't know what's going on between you two? She's going to divorce you. Isn't that why you beat someone up? Hah, and then what? She's still going to leave you. You're just being delusional, thinking that by respecting her and letting go, you can get some pity from her. Yi Zhuo, don't you think you're being childish?"
"She treats you like this because she doesn't remember you. I'm helping you, let me—"
"I don't need it!"
Yi Zhuo angrily interrupted him, his expression cold and harsh. The veins on his forehead bulged and then receded, the temples throbbing with pain.
The man slowly scooped the woman from the soft chair into his arms and warned him flatly, "I've been polite to you before. Now, take your hypnotic memory-reviving methods and get out. We can still salvage our friendship."
Outside, a strong wind was blowing. Even through the window, it was clearly audible.
Song Shuheng stood there stunned, thinking he had misheard.
"You're going to break off our friendship for a woman who doesn't even care about you?"
"Wake up, Yi Zhuo. She doesn't love you at all. Protecting her now is stupid. You're just humiliating yourself."
Song Shuheng clenched his fists and shouted angrily.
Why couldn't he understand? What was so good about Chang Xuyu that he would give so much for her? His whole life had been lived chasing after her footsteps. Had he ever truly been himself?
"You've lost your mind! The once genius sculptor from CAFA now has not a shred of rationality. Yi Zhuo, if you go on like this, you'll be the one to go mad!"
The man paused in his steps, gritted his teeth, and slowly turned to look at him.
"Shuheng, it's not that I've been living for her. It's because of her that I've managed to survive," he said hoarsely. "I've thought countless times about jumping off a tall building. Until one day at dusk, she found me, followed me to my rented place, and told me she really needed me."
She needed his company, his care. She considered him a very, very important companion, wanted to be with him day and night, to share every joy and sorrow.
That was her. No matter what she became, she would always be his sun that never set.
So, he didn't want to lose her. But the only way not to lose her was to let go.
He was probably just out of his mind from the fever. He shouldn't be clinging to her. If she wanted to become a bird soaring in the sky, he would open the iron gate—
Song Shuheng frowned.
"I don't expect her to love me. I just hope she can smile every day... Even if she never remembers me again." The man's tone was very light.