Chapter 96: The Amnesiac

The lake’s surface mirrored the colorful lights from the opposite shore, and stirred by the breeze, it rippled like fish scales—one wave after another, playfully flickering. Yet, beneath the opulence and excess, the scene carried a hint of indulgence that left a slightly greasy impression.

This night market, though lacking the lavish scale and sophistication of a metropolitan nightlife, and missing the refined taste and romantic atmosphere sought by urban belles, nevertheless brimmed with a rich pastoral charm in the sweltering summer nights, becoming a beautiful, indelible sight in people's hearts...

“This place is quite lovely!” Ye Chen smiled faintly.

“Of course!” Li Ruo nodded. “The style and taste here are excellent. That’s why they have so many regular customers!”

Ye Chen followed Li Ruo toward a restaurant on the island. The establishment was truly innovative—surrounded by white European-style garden fences, with trees and flowers trimmed to specific standards, lending a special freshness to the place. The pathway was paved with gray tiles, reducing the risk of slipping. The two walked hand in hand inside and chose a spot near the lake. The tables were spaced out to preserve a certain degree of privacy, so conversations rarely disturbed other patrons. The layout was both reasonable and considerate.

Li Ruo ordered a fruit salad and a drink. Naturally, Ye Chen was not shy and ordered a French steak, a serving of foie gras, and a glass of red wine. Just Ye Chen’s order alone cost more than five hundred, but Li Ruo wasn’t fazed in the slightest.

When the dishes arrived, Li Ruo ate her fruit salad slowly with a fork, while Ye Chen devoured his steak ravenously. The foie gras tasted good, and as he ate, Ye Chen praised, “The environment here is nice, and the food is really not bad. The steak is cooked medium rare, and although the foie gras isn’t authentic, it’s far better than some of the inferior versions I’ve tried!”

“Strange, how do you know all this? Being able to tell the foie gras isn’t authentic means you must be quite the connoisseur!” Li Ruo curled a smile.

“I’ve done a bit of research on this stuff,” Ye Chen replied with a faint smile. In truth, these thoughts had just popped into his mind.

As they ate and chatted, Li Ruo grew increasingly interested in Ye Chen. Especially after today, a deep impression of him was etched in her heart; Ye Chen had taken up half the space in her inner world. She didn’t understand why she showed such vulnerability in front of him today. In fact, she didn’t realize she had unknowingly fallen for Ye Chen, but she was too afraid to confront the feeling. Every time she thought about it, she would avoid dwelling on it.

“Ye Chen!” Li Ruo suddenly looked at him seriously.

“Hmm?” Ye Chen wiped his lips with a napkin and smiled at her. “What is it? After a romantic dinner, are you about to give me a romantic confession?”

“Get lost!” Li Ruo blushed and gave him a glare. “I want to ask you a question. Is that okay?”

“Go ahead!” Ye Chen nodded.

“What kind of person are you?” Li Ruo asked curiously.

“Well…” Ye Chen was taken aback. To describe what kind of person he was was actually difficult. Since he could remember, he had no memories of his past. He shook his head. “I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. I know nothing about my past!”

---

“Oh, you have amnesia!” Li Ruo leaned closer, eyes shining brightly. “They say people with amnesia suffer a lot. I’m curious—what were you like before? Did you have a wife or children? A girlfriend?”

“I don’t know!” Ye Chen shook his head, his eyes filled with regret. Being amnesiac was a curse.

“Ye Chen!” Li Ruo called softly, cheeks tinged pink. Ye Chen paused and smiled. “What is it?”

“I… I want to…” Li Ruo blushed deeper, took Ye Chen’s hand, and whispered, “I want us to have a love before memories.”

“Huh?!” Ye Chen was stunned, looking at her in disbelief. “What do you mean, a love before memories?”

“It means after you recover your memories, we break up,” Li Ruo said with a mischievous smile.

“Why would you want that?” Ye Chen asked curiously.

“Because I know nothing about your past. Maybe you had a wife and kids, or a girlfriend. Once you regain your memories, you’ll be the person you used to be, and we’ll have nothing to do with each other.” Li Ruo smiled at him. “Besides, after you recover your memories, you might not even be yourself anymore. And I only like the you that exists now.”

Ye Chen’s eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. He could hardly believe Li Ruo would choose to be with him. This was a dangerous game. Whoever got involved would end up hurt.

“Li Ruo, are you the daytime you or the nighttime you?” Ye Chen looked at her in astonishment.

“Hehe, it’s eight-thirty at night now. What do you think?” Li Ruo pinched Ye Chen’s nose, then called the waiter over to pay the bill. She grabbed Ye Chen’s arm and said, “Come on, let’s go to the bar and dance!”

With that, she immediately pulled Ye Chen, running wildly toward the city center. Li Ruo hardly waited for his answer before sealing their relationship. At twenty-three, she was neither too young nor fully mature; her temperament was unstable, and her personality still undefined.

The car raced straight to a bar in the city. Li Ruo chose a place called Rolling Stone Bar. Even before entering, the loud, almost deafening noise spilled out. A few thugs loitered by the entrance, holding tin foil sprinkled with white powder. One man used a lighter to heat the foil, while the others huddled around like hungry rats scavenging in the dark.

“Drug use…” Li Ruo froze.

“A bunch of addicts,” Ye Chen shook his head helplessly. “Drug use is spreading rapidly in Jiangbei City. If this problem isn’t addressed properly, trouble will come sooner or later.”

Li Ruo was frightened and clung to Ye Chen as they entered the bar. Inside was a cacophony of sound. A wave of heat hit them as they stepped in. The roaring rock band on stage seemed to shake the entire bar. On the dance floor, a crowd of men and women swayed with their eyes closed, nodding incessantly.

---

“Eight out of ten people here are on drugs!” Ye Chen pointed to the crowd on the dance floor. Li Ruo held his hand and ordered two drinks at the bar. The bartender grinned at Ye Chen and gave him a knowing look. “Hey, buddy, looking to score?”

“No, thanks!” Ye Chen shot the bartender a glance. “Aren’t you afraid the police will catch you? Where do you get your supply?”

“Hehe, don’t worry, our sources are rock solid!” The bartender smiled broadly. “In all of Jiangbei City, who’s stronger than Yan Bu’er? Besides, we’ve got informants inside the police force. If the police make a move, we have countermeasures. So, just enjoy yourself!”

Ye Chen took his drink and, holding Li Ruo’s hand, settled onto a sofa.

Bars were always prime hunting grounds. A crowd of sultry women drank or waited for men to approach and buy them drinks. The men sat in corners, eyes hungry as they ogled the women. Any woman they could get their hands on, they would try. Once successful, the next step was a hotel room.

Li Ruo’s arrival electrified the men in the bar, who seemed suddenly energized, while the women waiting to be approached glared resentfully at her, as if she had stolen their husbands.

“Li Ruo, someone’s coming to hit on you!” Ye Chen observed carefully. His sharp eyes took in everything the moment they stepped in. At one o’clock, a man’s gaze never left Li Ruo. At eleven o’clock, another man appeared to have finished his conversation with friends, seemingly betting on something—and Ye Chen was confident their wager involved Li Ruo.

The man at one o’clock stood up. He was about five foot nine, not tall, but strong, with pale skin and the potential to be a pretty boy. Step by step, he approached.

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes, watching the man’s every move.

The man arrived before Li Ruo and flashed what he thought was a charming smile. “Miss, may I have the honor of a dance?”

Li Ruo was surprised, glancing at Ye Chen in disbelief at his accurate guess. She smiled widely. “Of course, but only if my boyfriend agrees to it!”

The man was taken aback, then stared at Ye Chen. “Buddy, you’re not really that stingy, are you?”

“I’m not usually stingy!” Ye Chen’s first words stunned Li Ruo and the man alike. The suitor smiled slyly, thinking, Is today my lucky day? Could I really win over such a perfect woman? But Ye Chen continued, “However, a man should never lend two things: his girlfriend and his money.”

“You!” The man glared coldly. “What if I insist on dancing with this lady tonight?”

“Then you’d better ask my fists if they agree.” Ye Chen grabbed a crystal ashtray on the table and, with a forceful grip, shattered it into dust. The man’s eyes widened before he slunk away in defeat.

Li Ruo immediately leaned against Ye Chen, pressing her rosy lips to his cheek. “Well done, this is your reward from me!”

“Ha ha…” Ye Chen grinned broadly.

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