Long Xiao placed her hand over her heart. She let out a self-deprecating chuckle. “So what if it hurts? As long as we can be together and love me as much as he loves her, even death could not make it any less worth the while.”

Yang Jin’s smile froze, a mockery of its true form. He stared at the woman before him. How could she willingly sacrifice her body and endure such unfathomable pain? Going so far as to pledge her life away to the one she loved… He could not understand.

Was this the power of love?

If so, why did it seem closer to stupidity to him?

In Yang Jin’s eyes, Long Xiao’s love was irrational. She had sacrificed so much for a man who did not love her. If that was not the height of folly, then what was?

“If you had lied to that man from the beginning, you could have pretended you were husband and wife. He wouldn’t have known any better since he remembers nothing of his past. He might have even treated you as he would his real wife had you done so. Yet…”

Yang Jin smiled and shook his head. Long Xiao had missed her chance.

Long Xiao clenched her teacup. She recalled the days when he had lain unconscious, only to wake up not knowing a thing about his past. If she were honest with herself, the thought of telling him they were married had crossed her mind on more than one occasion.

She could not accept it.

How was she any worse than Qin Shu?

Why did he treat Qin Shu so disagreeably while studying on Mount Qi? Why did he always fight her every step of the way, or was he a glutton for punishment?

How could he love someone he found so disagreeable and shun another who shared a vision so similar to his?

So she took a gamble.

Long Xiao believed Yang Jin would come to love her given enough time, that he would fall in love and discard the past he could not remember.

She sacrificed so many things for this, going so far as to dress up the way he liked, all for it to come to nought. How could she have known he would fall for a woman he scarcely knew, one he met just a few days ago? To make matters worse, this woman was painfully average. Yet, Yang Jin instantly liked her, wanting to marry that woman. He adored her so much that he was willing to do anything for her, even if it meant he had to suffer through hard labour.

It was at this moment she remembered an interesting piece of news. Qin Se was very likely Qin Shu in disguise!

It was not easy for her to get this opportunity, and Long Xiao was not ready to give up without a fight. For as long as Yang Jin had amnesia, she still had a chance. After all, she was his only good friend.

She vowed she would do anything to get this man before Qin Se or Qin Shu or whoever else could lay their hands on her prize.

Long Xiao finished her tea in one gulp, the scalding beverage sliding down her throat. Though it was hot, almost uncomfortably so, she bore with it through gritted teeth. Turning to Yang Jin, she said, “Help me out one more time.”

“It’s too late,” Yang Jin murmured.

Long Xiao trembled in shock, reacting slower than she normally would. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? There were two ways, but you deliberately said nothing so that I would miss the opportunity, didn’t you? How could you treat me so cruelly? You won’t have a good end,” she screamed angrily.

Long Xiao was truly angry this time. The most precious thing in the world had been exchanged for such a measly outcome. Furious, she threw her empty teacup with all her strength. The celadon tea set shattered with a bang, sending its contents splashing out everywhere.

Yang Jin sat still, calmly observing her reaction.

Long Xiao grabbed her handbag and stood up, but a wave of dizziness hit her as she turned to leave. She felt her limbs grow numb. Before she fainted, the last thought that entered her mind was a sudden realization that she had been drugged.

Her body collapsed limply against the sofa, a puppet with its strings cut.

Yang Jin picked up his teacup and took a sip, a smile ghosting over his lips. As he drew closer to Long Xiao’s prone form, his eyes never left her.

He bent down and picked her up, carrying her in a bridal hold. Staring hungrily at the woman in his arms, he whispered wolfishly, “I’m reluctant to let you stay by another man’s side. What’s wrong with staying with me? I’ll give you whatever you want.”

Ever since he had tasted the forbidden fruit, it had become an addiction. How could he stop when he had never truly begun?

He carried Long Xiao up to the second floor with a playful smirk.

–

In a certain private villa…

Not long after Long Xiao left, the Ye brothers barged in. They had followed Long Xiao’s car all the way here.

When they saw the Fourth Young Master, they felt that Young Madam Fu’s guess was right. She had said they would find the Fourth Young Master if they followed Long Xiao.

The four of them stepped forward and greeted respectfully, “Sir Four.”

When the man saw the four strange men suddenly appear in the villa, he said coldly, “You’re trespassing on private property. Get out of here. Now!”

Ye Qing stepped forward with his head bowed, “Sir Four, Young Madam Fu is looking for you. Please come back with us.”

The man’s gaze turned cold. “You want to force my hand?”

Ye Fu moved closer to Ye Qing’s ear. “Sir has lost his memory. He won’t listen to us.”

“…”

Ye Qing: “You talk as if Sir ever listened to us in the first place.”

Ye Fu: “…”

Now that he thought about it, Ye Qing was not wrong.

Ye Qing looked like he was about to cry. Pleadingly, he said, “Sir, please come back with us. Madam Fu is still waiting for you.”

At this moment, ten guards suddenly appeared from the shadows and surrounded the four men.

Ye Qing’s expression changed. Four Silver-level and six Platinum-level guards were surrounding them. Even though the four of them possessed strength in the middle-upper stage of the Platinum level, it was not enough if a scuffle ensued. The difference was too great.

“Ye Fu, call Young Madam Fu and tell her that the Fourth Young Master won’t listen to us. We can’t bring him back.” Ye Fu immediately used his mini communicator to make the call.

The Ye brothers stationed at the hotel received word from their counterparts, and a general idea of the situation became clear.

Yang Jin was surprised by the sudden appearance of these ten guards. When he shook free from his reverie, he realized he did not need to take care of the situation with those ten guards around. Instead, he headed for the living room.

Hiding behind a pillar in a corridor nearby, the maid saw the strange men who had barged into the estate and hastily dialled Long Xiao’s number. From time to time, she would look in the direction of the courtyard, nervously wringing her apron.

Yang Jin propped one hand on the bed and leaned over Long Xiao, who lay under him. She was beautiful. Her long eyelashes quivered, showing signs that she would regain consciousness soon. He caressed her cheeks with his slender fingers, drinking in the flush of excitement colouring her cheeks. He brushed against her lips, teasing them gently as he waited for her to awaken.

Just then, a phone rang. It pierced the silence and seemed particularly loud in the quiet room.

Yang Jin glanced at Long Xiao’s handbag resting on the bedside table. He hesitated but eventually gave in to curiosity. He picked up her handbag and fished her phone out of its messy maw, answering the call.

“Miss Long, there’s a situation! Intruders have broken into the villa, and their goal is Ah Yu. They want to bring him away. The guards are keeping them busy, but I don’t know for how long. What should we do?!” The maid babbled anxiously.

After listening to the maid’s words, Yang Jin roughly guessed what was happening. “I’ll send someone over to pick up Ah Yu.”

When the maid heard a man’s voice answer the phone, she was stunned, “Who are you? What have you done to Miss Long?”

Yang Jin’s lips curled into a smirk as he said, “I’m her man. Someone will contact you later.”

After saying that, he hung up the phone and looked at the phone number. After throwing the phone back where he had gotten it, he picked up his phone and dialled a number. “Have someone pick up that man and give him this number.”