Before Going on a Variety Show, the Actress Lost Her Memory - Chapter 5

The warmth of spring always made Yu Wenyu feel lazy. After seeing Lin Yiqiao off, she began her two-hour skincare routine—perhaps this was the burden of being a “wealthy lady.”

As Yu Wenyu was applying a face mask while watching her wife’s newly released film, Aunt Chen entered with a fruit platter.

“Miss, I’ve prepared a platter of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with some juice.”

Yu Wenyu’s expression stiffened. Aunt Chen is home? Shouldn’t she be out playing with her friends at this hour?!

Nervously, Yu Wenyu asked, “Aunt Chen, when did you get back? Didn’t you go out with Aunt Zhang and the others?”

Having watched Yu Wenyu grow up since childhood, Aunt Chen knew exactly what the clever girl was thinking.

Aunt Chen teased, “I just got back twenty minutes ago. Miss Xi called and asked me to come back and prepare some fruit for you to soothe your throat.”

Yu Wenyu’s face flushed crimson, as if she were blushing so hard her face was about to burst. Her eyes welled up with a misty, pitiful, yet bashful look. She could only murmur a soft, pleading, “Aunt Chen,” as if begging for mercy.

This was Yu Wenyu’s go-to tactic when dealing with elders, from Aunt Chen to her own parents and Xi Xiuyun’s parents.

Without fail, whenever Yu Wenyu wore that expression, even those who knew she was faking it couldn’t resist. Parents always fell for it.

Xi Xiuyun! How could she say such things so openly in front of Aunt Chen?

Aunt Chen, being a woman of experience, knew exactly what was going on. She chuckled, “Oh, Miss, stop flattering me! Miss Xi will get jealous again. She’ll be back in about an hour. I’ll go prepare dinner for you both.”

Yu Wenyu watched Aunt Chen’s retreating figure, pursing her lips. She speared a piece of snow pear with her fork and carefully placed it in her mouth.

Jealousy… that blockhead would never get jealous. No matter what happens, she always remains calm and composed.

Once, Yu Wenyu had desperately wanted Xi Xiuyun to feel jealous. She even resorted to childish antics, but the other woman never reacted. Over time, Yu Wenyu had resigned herself to the belief that Xi Xiuyun was simply wired that way.

If it weren’t for the overwhelming tenderness and affection in Xi Xiuyun’s eyes whenever she looked at her, Yu Wenyu might have doubted whether she truly loved her at all.

Yu Wenyu rose and went to the bathroom. She removed her face mask, washed her face, and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The woman staring back seemed increasingly unreal.

Her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, and droplets of water clung to her skin, making her appear even more alluring, captivatingly beautiful.

Those upturned, peach-blossom eyes seemed to hold a hint of affection, inexplicably captivating her.

In a daze, Yu Wenyu recalled how Xi Xiuyun would always lose herself in those eyes whenever passion stirred between them.

Yet in her memories, Xi Xiuyun’s gaze, when aroused, always carried a mix of restraint and madness.

What exactly was she restraining…?

The more Yu Wenyu pondered, the clearer her memories of high school became. The Xi Xiuyun she knew then was utterly different from the Xi Xiuyun she had married.

The high school Xi Xiuyun… always maintained a cool, composed demeanor in public.

But with Yu Wenyu, she was always gentle, like a living masterpiece. This vibrant, tender side of Xi Xiuyun stole Yu Wenyu’s heart amidst the youthful exuberance of their days.

Xi Xiuyun would tend to Yu Wenyu during her menstrual cramps, when she was bedridden and drenched in cold sweat.

Despite her noble status, she performed these tiring tasks, urging Yu Wenyu to give up cold drinks.

To ensure Yu Wenyu avoided ice, Xi Xiuyun agreed to many unreasonable requests.

She accompanied Yu Wenyu through traditional Chinese medicine treatments to regulate her body and held her close when she was sad or discouraged.

Though Xi Xiuyun was clearly worried, she always made Yu Wenyu feel utterly safe.

In Xi Xiuyun’s presence, Yu Wenyu felt she could always be helpless.

Yet the Xi Xiuyun she knew back then was far from the gentle, sunny person she appeared to be on the surface.

Despite her parents and those around her being gentle and refined, Xi Xiuyun was not conventionally virtuous.

Her actions sometimes carried an inexplicable air of malice and coldness.

Even the Xi Family struggled to understand why someone born into such a proper and upright lineage would possess such an enigmatic personality—moody, capricious, and prone to violent outbursts.

Yet, even at her worst, Xi Xiuyun remained fundamentally detached, never interfering in others’ affairs.

Her boundaries were clear: she would never stoop to undignified behavior.

The few times she indulged in recklessness or lost control of her emotions were solely due to conflicts with Yu Wenyu.

It was precisely this stark contrast in Xi Xiuyun’s behavior—her overwhelming possessiveness toward Yu Wenyu, coupled with Yu Wenyu’s clingy devotion—that caused both the Xi and Yu families considerable concern.

The Xi Family, with its century-old legacy, was renowned as a scholarly lineage. Its members either dedicated themselves to scientific research for the nation’s benefit or served as lawyers and judges, upholding justice for the people. The Xi Family enjoyed immense prestige in the capital.

Old Master Xi had been a distinguished judge, renowned for his lifelong integrity and impartiality.

However, before Old Master Xi’s father, the Xi Family’s ancestors had been merchants. Over a century of accumulated wealth had made their fortune immeasurable.

With such a broad perspective, how could they possibly be confined by narrow-minded debates about whether same-s3x love was acceptable?

The Yu Family, with nearly a century of accumulated business wealth, were pure capitalists and deservedly considered commercial titans.

The Yu Clan’s industries spanned nearly every corner of the globe, making money and power mere fundamentals for them.

How could such a family possibly be shortsighted?

Their families had been close for generations, which led to Yu Wenyu and Xi Xiuyun becoming childhood sweethearts, innocent and inseparable.

Originally, everyone believed their friendship was a bond that moved heaven and earth. But later, their friendship transformed into something more. Fortunately, while the two were blinded by their own feelings, those around them saw clearly.

Even before either girl had fully acknowledged her feelings for the other, their families had already kicked down the closet door and begun matchmaking.

Beyond these secondary reasons, the primary reason was that Old Master Xi, who had watched Xi Xiuyun grow up, understood his granddaughter intimately.

He was convinced that if Xi Xiuyun missed out on Yu Wenyu due to societal norms, she might do something unconventional or even rebellious.

Xi Xiuyun was no pushover—she was an ambitious woman who balanced madness and reason.

The moment Old Master Xi first saw the emotions in Xi Xiuyun’s eyes, he knew it.

But later, the Xi Xiuyun whom even Old Master Xi had written off changed one day without a sound.

Those cold, malevolent glares never reappeared. The faint possessiveness and indelible madness that had once flickered in her eyes when she looked at Yu Wenyu vanished without a trace.

She became gentle, considerate, and never again acted “childishly” with Yu Wenyu.

In Yu Wenyu’s presence, she was always the same aloof, self-possessed, refined, and understanding elder sister next door.

Thinking about this and comparing it to the Xi Xiuyun she knew now, Yu Wenyu frowned.

She was certain that something had been forgotten or overlooked—or, more likely, deliberately concealed from her.

The doctor had said Xi Xiuyun hadn’t lost her memory, only that parts of it had been replaced.

If that were true, perhaps the current Xi Xiuyun could tell Yu Wenyu the answer to her question.

However, since Xi Xiuyun had managed to deceive everyone for ten years, she would undoubtedly continue to hide the truth even after her memories returned.

Yu Wenyu had to find the answer before Xi Xiuyun remembered.