The CEO Sent Me to the Love Addiction Center, Then He Went Crazy - Chapter 1

I was sent to the Love Addiction Center. Luo Yan said I loved him so much I’d gone mad. To avenge his moonlight, he resolutely made me quit my dependence on him. For more than two hundred days, I cured my love-struck brain. I no longer loved him. I got sick. I developed androphobia. I rejected him from a thousand miles away. But Luo Yan went crazy, vowing to awaken my deeply hidden love.

On May 1st, I was finally freed. I walked out of the Love Addiction Center. The smell of sunshine was so good. Dazzling and fervent. The person who came was Secretary Wang. So disappointing. I hadn’t seen Luo Yan in a long time. Looking back at that hell-like place, I never wanted to come again.

Luo Yan and I had been childhood sweethearts for twenty years. The engagement since childhood, only I had taken it seriously. I loved him. But he had his own moonlight.

His moonlight was his junior schoolmate. For him, I worked hard to get into Beicheng University of Science and Technology, just to be his junior. But fate played tricks on us. In his first year of graduate school, he fell in love with Ming Xi, a freshman.

Countless times, I held onto Luo Yan’s sleeve at night, begging him to look at me, who had been by his side for twenty years.

I complained to Gu Yue countless times, who made the rule that freshmen had to be welcomed by first-year graduate students. The previous rule was only changed for our generation.

The way Luo Yan looked at Ming Xi was a brilliance I had never seen before. The boy in the blue shirt had found the moonlight in his heart.

All this time, whenever someone asked for his contact information, I would use the clumsy excuse that I was his girlfriend. That time, he voluntarily opened his QR scanner and introduced me as his neighbor’s sister.

At that second, there was no more between him and me. I stood at the door, hesitant to speak, the wind moistening the corners of my eyes.

I dragged my socially adept friend, Gu Yue, to get Ming Xi’s phone number. Without a moment’s hesitation.

“Hello. I’m Gu Wanwan.”

“Mmm, hello, Senior. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Tomorrow, Saturday, shall we meet at noon?”

“Oh, I don’t know if Brother Luo Yan will ask me out tomorrow.”

It almost made me furious. Was this a date? No wonder Luo Shen, who was usually immersed in the lab, had been faking illness at home for the past week. Turns out he was hooking up with a junior.

“I’ll send you the address, see you at noon.” I don’t like to beat around the bush.

After hanging up, the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I dragged Gu Yue and a group of friends to sing karaoke. I invited Luo Yan. Again, he said he was unwell. I really wanted to rush to Luo Yan’s side and see if his brain was fried from studying.

I sang until 2 AM, and on the way back, I passed Villa No. 8. The lights were still on. I felt relieved. Luo Yan, that old stick-in-the-mud, probably wouldn’t act impulsively. However, there’s always someone to curb another. What if?

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, and I couldn’t sleep even at 5 AM. I called three delivery riders and arranged breakfast for him. And checked up on him, by the way.

Sure enough, a call came at 6:30 AM.

“Gu Wanwan, are you out of your mind? You called me to eat breakfast at 6:30 AM.” He sounded displeased. Our CEO Luo’s sleep was very good. He always hated getting up early since childhood. I remember from first grade, the old class teacher would make latecomers clean the trash cans. Luo Yan would always pay me 10 yuan to clean it for him. Was it the money I cared about? What I wanted was for Luo Yan to trouble me with everything.

After a series of apologies, our relationship was still as usual. I fell asleep peacefully, wishing that when I woke up, Ming Xi would no longer exist. I don’t believe in these things; I can buy whatever I want with money. It’s always been like that. But Luo Yan’s heart is priceless.

My alarm rang at eleven. I used three layers of concealer to cover the dark circles under my eyes. My aura could not be defeated. Learning from Luo Yan, who had a strong presence, I wore all black. I made an appointment at the villa by the river, wanting to show her my strength. To show that the people around Luo Yan were not to be trifled with.

I ordered takeout and let Wang Ma bask in the sun by the window. Wang Ma was also curious about what Luo Yan’s moonlight looked like. She had seen me over the past twenty years. She also understood the gloom in my eyes. Luo Yan was my light. I relied on him even more than I relied on my parents. A pursuer of light. No one would let go.

Ming Xi stepped out of the taxi in a white dress. It was Chanel’s latest seasonal collection. I found it too ladylike and wasn’t interested. The white dress was a limited edition Chanel. There were only two sets in Beicheng. One of them was in my closet. When she entered the school, Ming Xi also walked in slowly in a white dress. When shopping, I wouldn’t usually buy it. But Luo Yan liked girls in white dresses. If he liked it, I was willing to change. My heart sank halfway. This outfit, it spoke volumes.

We sat opposite each other at the dining table, silent. I took out a blank check. “Within 50 million, fill it in as you please. Leave Luo Yan.” I threw it in front of her with what I thought was a dominant gesture.

Ming Xi snorted. “Gu Wanwan, I want both the person and the money.” Her face was full of confidence, definitely not someone to be messed with. Harmless little white flowers are all disguises.

I opened the door and asked her to leave. I didn’t want to continue. Unexpectedly, she pulled out a lighter. “Gu Wanwan, I’m determined to have Luo Yan.” Her eyes were incredibly resolute. I froze. She set my villa on fire with one strike. In an instant, I was pushed out the door.

Blazing flames. She used her burned arm to gain Luo Yan’s pity. When Luo Yan arrived, he saw her charred and begging for mercy. Luo Yan yelled at me for the first time.

At the hospital, Luo Yan gently stroked Ming Xi’s hair. But he said to me with cold eyes, “Leave immediately for the Love Addiction Center. From now on, quit your love for me.” No matter how much I screamed, I was still taken away. In despair, I took one last look at the boy I loved most. It felt like another lifetime.

Villa No. 8. The house was cold and empty. Secretary Wang sent me to the company again. I knocked lightly on the door. “Come in.” A deep, rich male voice.

A full 298 days. It felt like an eternity. I recalled his desperate and furious expression when we parted. I hesitated. But I couldn’t disobey orders. The instructors at the Love Addiction Center had taught me: “Orders cannot be disobeyed. Disobeying will lead to suffering.” That devilish voice echoed in my ears again, like a heavy cloud pressing down for days. I couldn’t breathe.

I entered. My eyes instinctively looked at Luo Yan at his desk. His chiseled face, with a furrowed brow as he stared at documents, exuded an imposing presence without anger. His high nose bridge and fair skin. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. It was the familiar yet unfamiliar him.

He looked up and gazed at me. I quickly lowered my head, leaning against the corner of the wall, not daring to meet his gaze. His eyes were full of gentleness, which made me tremble.

The Love Addiction Center, dubbed “Overcoming Desires” by the outside world, I successfully quit him. No, not just him, but all men. Now, I am afraid of all men. I dare not look directly at them. The instructors at the Love Addiction Center were all men. If I made eye contact with one of them for even 1 second, I would be punished by being deprived of a meal. If it exceeded three seconds, I could only have plain water for three days.

Most of the instructors were sunny, tall, and clean-cut men. They had universally appealing looks. In reality, it was to make you conquer your desires. You couldn’t look, and you certainly couldn’t think. Once the heart rate monitor fluctuated, you would be dragged to the black room to be tortured. No less than what happens in real prisons. All kinds of tortures, each designed to break your spirit and kill you.

I once looked at the inspecting instructor a few too many times. His profile resembled Luo Yan. I was then submerged in cold water for a full 18 hours. When I came up, no matter how handsome the face, I dared not look up again.

I didn’t know when, but Luo Yan walked up to me. He reached out and touched my face, “You’ve lost a lot of weight.” I was so scared that I hid in the corner of the desk, trembling with my head in my hands. I was afraid that the whip would mercilessly strike down the next second.

“Wanwan, are you not feeling well?”

My name is Wanwan, but I only remember being called Number 81. I shook my head violently. All those bloody nights, I endured them. My heart, riddled with holes, no longer felt pain.

“Let’s go eat, your favorite restaurant.” He reached out and touched my hair again. I screamed and ran away, head down, not saying a word.

How long had it been since I had eaten properly? The old me would have eight dishes and one soup. For more than two hundred days at the Love Addiction Center, almost half the time, I survived on cold buns or cold water. No food, but heavy labor. Everyone had daily tasks: carrying water, washing clothes, mending clothes, and so on. Fifteen hours without rest. If you didn’t finish, you had to work overtime. But working overtime meant no dinner.

Every day, dinner was distributed with numbered tags. Red meant going to the black room, yellow meant a cup of cold water, and only green meant you could eat that meager and pitiful dinner.

I shook my head. Luo Yan thought I resented him. He called Gu Yue over. I chatted happily with Gu Yue. He felt relieved. He invited a few old friends to gather. Pushing the door open, there were four or five men. They all stared at me.

I pulled Gu Yue and ran away. “I don’t want to see any men.” I was stopped. “Gu Wanwan, have a drink before you go.” “Yeah, it’s been so long.” Everyone raised their glasses. I drank it all in one gulp. The baijiu went down my throat and burned into my stomach. It hurt so much I clutched my stomach and writhed.

No one comes out of the Love Addiction Center whole. Luo Yan was terrified. He picked me up and ran out. I was even sicker. The smell of hormones, the touch of his hands. My breathing almost stopped. All the way, Luo Yan drove fast. I only heard Gu Yue constantly saying to slow down.

“Don’t talk.” Luo Yan shouted impatiently. Gu Yue held me tightly in her arms. I was in so much pain that large beads of sweat streamed down. Fortunately, the nurses’ station at night was all girls. I clutched Gu Yue tightly, pointing at Luo Yan. “Make him leave.” My voice was so small that Gu Yue had to ask three times. After confirming she hadn’t misheard, she had a puzzled expression, muttering, “But that’s Luo Yan.”

It was Luo Yan. Even Luo Shen wasn’t allowed. I couldn’t see any men. I was afraid one of them would lash me ten times and send me to my grave. Every word, every movement, tormented me like a hundred needles scratching my heart. I couldn’t even feel a man breathing.

“Gu Wanwan, you have androphobia?!” Gu Yue asked loudly, as if something suddenly dawned on her. I squeezed her palm, giving her the answer.

Luo Yan stood at the door, clutching the diagnosis report tightly. “Gu Wanwan, your stomach is riddled with holes. Do you know why you drank?” He was furious, punching the cold wall repeatedly. I gave a bitter smile. You made me.

I was so tired, the long-lost familiarity made me very sleepy. The next day, I was woken up by Luo Yan’s voice. He was cursing and swearing about how the Love Addiction Center had been exposed by paparazzi, claiming that the instructors used various inhumane methods, even private torture, to make people break free from emotional attachments. Word by word, I had already curled up in the corner of the closet, tears streaming down my face. Those weren’t instructors, they were the grim reapers. Every night I endured, I was grateful to live another day.

Luo Yan recalled all my unusual behavior since we met. He then ordered Secretary Wang to handle it, while rushing over to me. From the corner of my eye, I saw his clenched fists, wondering if they would fly towards me the next second. He bent down with gentle eyes. I hugged my knees even tighter.

“I’m sorry, Wanwan.”

I was so scared I ran out of bed. “I’m sorry,” was a phrase repeated during torture at the Love Addiction Center. The instructors said every lash should be a lesson. Later, 50 lashes meant only 50 apologies. I was still glad I had grown. It was my fault for loving the wrong person. I deserved it.

Luo Yan stood there, stunned. I repeated “Go away” over and over again. He apologized repeatedly. “I was a scumbag! If I had known, I would never have let you drink!” I trembled and snorted coldly. Too late.

Gu Yue chased him away, then held my hand tightly. “Gu Wanwan, is it worth suffering so much for him?” I bit my lip. This was a habit I developed at the Love Addiction Center to stay awake. The Love Addiction Center had no proper medical facilities. Wounds were only simply disinfected. “Pain will keep you absolutely awake,” was one of the mottos of the Love Addiction Center.

Several times, I was so hungry I convulsed and writhed on the floor, relying on memories to hold on. When I was little, I loved to eat cake. I often got cream on the corners of my mouth. Luo Yan would always carefully wipe it away for me. I would always push him away and argue, “Eating cake is about devouring it with gusto.” He would always laugh at me for not being ladylike. “Then you have to spoil me too.” Whenever I acted spoiled towards him, I would bite my lip. He said that the curve of my lips was perfect, the most beautiful he had ever seen. Over time, this habitual action formed into muscle memory.

The rooms at the Love Addiction Center were incredibly dim, with only one light bulb. I would bite my lips until they bled, to feel the taste of life.

Every day, Luo Yan would have a delivery rider send flowers to the hospital room. They were my favorite sunflowers. When I was ten, during a school outing, I passed a flower shop, and a bouquet of blooming sunflowers seemed to beckon to me. I secretly slipped out of the group and lingered at the flower shop entrance for a long time. I was hit by a speeding car and my ankle instantly bled profusely. I was stunned in place, then burst into tears. The flower shop owner was a beautiful older sister. She called her staff to pick me up and rushed me to the doctor. My teacher arrived, frantic and sweating profusely, clutching her chest and gasping for breath. Luo Yan came with her. That was the first time I saw him cry. He held my ankle and cried very sadly. I thought it was sincere heartache and was moved to tears. Until he apologized to my parents: “Uncle and Auntie, I didn’t take good care of Wanwan, will you still buy it for me?” He pouted, looking well-behaved.

It turned out he liked a racing car. Because he was really playful, the Luo family feared he might drive it out of the courtyard and cause danger, so they refused him. But he used the excuse of protecting me on the spring outing to ask my family to buy it.

I held the flower shop sister’s hand and wouldn’t let go. “Buy me that sunflower,” I cried, tears streaming down my face. Luo Yan laughed at me for crying over a flower worth a few yuan. In his eyes, only expensive things were worthwhile. He might never understand. A glance of adoration is priceless.

The nurse sister often praised Luo Yan for being good to me. Fifty-two flowers every day, without fail. I explained he was my brother. “We understand,” she said, with eyes full of envy and gossip.

All this time, Luo Yan referred to me as his sister. I often played in his family’s courtyard. Aunt Liu would always tease and say the little daughter-in-law had arrived. Luo Yan would pretend to be an adult and constantly emphasize, “She’s my sister.”

Books always say that family ties last a lifetime. At that time, I thought “sister” was the most intimate relationship. Luo Yan did indeed protect me with his actions. When we went to the store, he would make me walk on the inside. When we went to the park, he would buy me ice cream. I actually don’t like sweets. He would pretend to be disgusted and say, “Other people’s sisters like sweets.” I took it seriously and went to Hu Jie to ask about things other sisters liked to do. Hu Jie complained that his sister cried and fussed all day, not even half as good as me. “Don’t listen to Luo Yan’s nonsense. I’d rather you be my sister.” Hu Jie’s sister was 9 years younger than him, still a baby in his arms.

Luo Yan proudly put his arm around my shoulder and showed off, “My sister is the most obedient in the world. You’re not allowed to think about her.” He had the demeanor of an older brother. I often got along well with them. They would affectionately call me their little tag-along sister.

When Gu Yue arrived, the nurse was still chattering endlessly. “Throw it away,” I said, pointing to the bouquet. The nurse and Gu Yue both widened their eyes, looking incredulous. “What a waste to throw away such beautiful flowers.” The nurse’s eyes were full of admiration. “It’s yours.” I wasn’t joking. The nurse quickly took it away, afraid that if she was a second late, I would regret it. Gu Yue sighed, very puzzled. “But that’s Luo Yan’s intention.” “I only used to like sunflowers.” Fresh flowers wither easily, fleeting like clouds. Now I want to grasp every real day.

Since leaving the Love Addiction Center, my father transferred money to me every day. But with my illness, going shopping was a luxury. I often thought about the future. During these few days in the hospital, he only briefly stood at the door and made eye contact with me. I would then hide. Text messages became our usual communication. My dad said it was Luo Yan’s fault and demanded an explanation from the Luo family. I refused. Actually, I was also at fault.

My mistake was following in his footsteps. I couldn’t continue studying research. With my condition, there was no all-girls university in the country. I was afraid to call the department head. In the computer science department, there was only one female intern teacher. I tried to communicate, but she politely refused. She couldn’t make the decision.

My parents told me not to worry. They would handle the withdrawal. “Are you really going to drop out? You’re the only young lady in our circle who got into Beicheng University of Science and Technology.” Gu Yue tried to dissuade me repeatedly when she found out. Beicheng University of Science and Technology’s flagship major. I entered with the second highest score in the department. Luo Yan and I were known as the two most hardworking second-generation rich kids in Beicheng. From freshman year to senior year, my major GPA was always only 1 point lower than Luo Yan’s. But he never got the first-class scholarship because my social practice score was perfect. The content of the social practice was service at an orphanage. Luo Yan’s cold face was not popular, causing the children to often cry and fuss. I would take care of everything. The price was being 2 points lower than me.

Every year at the company’s annual meeting, the family had to listen to my father boast once, “My daughter got the first-class scholarship again this year.” The company’s veterans’ ears were almost calloused. At banquets, they would always tease me, “Get a second-class this year and see what Chairman Gu’s reaction is.” Coincidentally, my dad, with his keen hearing, immediately responded, “Even if Wanwan doesn’t get a scholarship, she’s still my darling.” I am my dad’s apple of his eye. From childhood to adulthood, he never raised his voice at me, except for that time.

My illness flared up again. Too many memories also made me feel the oppression of men. I clutched my chest, trembling as I sought help. “Yueyue, medicine.” The doctor prescribed many pills. They were of various colors. Whenever I wanted to know the name of the medicine, I would be stopped. As if by agreement, a pill box was delivered every day, containing a day’s worth of medicine.

After taking the medicine, I would always sleep. Before falling asleep, I was often afraid. Afraid that past torments would enter my dreams and drag me into darkness. Every night at the Love Addiction Center was hard to bear. Perhaps someone had “given a heads-up,” but my room was very close to the black room, and the soundproofing was terrible. I would always be woken up by wailing. There was no humanity there, only lessons.

When I woke up, I happened to see a beautiful sunset with red clouds. Gu Yue was still sound asleep. The large white walls of the ward seemed a bit desolate. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a dark figure standing in the corner. Instantly, I screamed in fright.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s me.” I hid behind Gu Yue. “Wanwan, I just missed you.” I could feel Luo Yan’s immense grievance, but I couldn’t control my fear. “Go!” I tried hard to control my volume. Only when the dark figure disappeared did I lower my guard.

Gu Yue relayed that he saw the sunflowers at the nurses’ station and his eyes dimmed as he asked if I disliked him very much. “Tell him not to come again in the future.” I didn’t know how to respond. The old me would cherish every gift he gave.

On my coming-of-age ceremony, the bouquet was from him. A bouquet of white roses. I meticulously cared for them every day until they withered. I even washed and dried each petal and sealed them in a transparent glass jar. Inside, there were five-pointed stars filled with my secrets. The pink dress for my coming-of-age ceremony was chosen with him. I pestered him to pay for it. The sales assistant joked that we were a match made in heaven. Although he argued that I was his sister, my heart was sweeter than honey.

My parents often said I was spoiled; I could have anything I wanted. Yet, I treasured Luo Yan’s gifts. I only said thank you for the villa my parents gave me. The same for the sports car Hu Jie gave me.

The next day, Luo Yan had Gu Yue give me a note. He said it was the best way to communicate now. Only one line: “Sister. Did I lose you?”

It was clearly a sad sentence, yet my heart felt no ripples. My eyes, however, couldn’t help but well up. Sister. Who would have the heart to send their own kin to such a purgatory? After all, it was just a layer of blood relation. Sister was just a title, unrelated to feelings.

I still remember when I was twenty. The Luo family came to our house to discuss the engagement. That year, our family and the Luo family jointly acquired a local chain supermarket. The sweet taste of strong alliances made both families happy. Uncle Luo proposed that the birthday banquet and engagement banquet be held by the Luo family. I would make my first appearance as the Luo family’s future daughter-in-law. Sitting aside, playing on my phone, I flushed with shyness. Every time it came to a crucial point, I would look up and smile, afraid of missing a single word, focusing with all my attention. Until Luo Yan arrived, gloomy-faced and smelling strongly of alcohol, tearing the documents on the table to shreds. As the paper confetti fell, my tears streamed uncontrollably. He roared, “Gu Wanwan is just my sister. I can’t marry her!”

Both families fell into an awkward silence. As he left, I cried, tears streaming down my face, clinging to Luo Yan’s sleeve, repeatedly asking, “Why can’t you marry me?” I begged bitterly, not caring about my image. Until he completely shook me off. At that moment, it felt like ten thousand arrows pierced my heart.

I didn’t leave my room for three days and three nights. My father was so angry and heartbroken that he was hospitalized. With red eyes, I promised him by his bedside that I would never be a tag-along again. But I changed my mind very quickly. On the day I returned to school, I ran into Luo Yan in the cafeteria and still sat right next to him. It had become a habit.

When my father found out, he wanted to send me abroad. “Luo Yan’s determination won’t make you sober.” “I’m trying.” I pleaded bitterly. I didn’t want to leave home. “I’ll give you three months. If you can’t do it, then you’ll follow my arrangements.” That night, my father smashed many vases in the study. I had never seen my father like that. It was the only time.

My father withdrew his capital and exited the partnership. The Luo Group then faced a shortage of subsequent funds. Luo Yan was sent to mediate. I stood outside the study, peering through the crack in the door. I admit I was Luo Yan’s doormat. My love-struck brain was incurable. I would protect him even at the risk of being sent away tomorrow.

I had never seen Luo Yan humble himself before. He was the leader of our group, always playing the role of the commander. The sight of him holding the contract, bowing his head in apology, and his pleading words, pierced my heart. One gesture from my father, and I rushed in. “Dad, agree to him.” My father looked disappointed and helpless, which was rather amusing.

“Wanwan, don’t interfere.”

“Dad, Luo Yan’s business is my business.” I linked my arm through his. Just one smile from him, and my world would blossom. I couldn’t bear to see my Prince Charming suffer. My father finally compromised for my sake.

Luo Yan agreed to take me out for three meals. He chose my favorite revolving restaurant. That was a holy place for couples’ dates. A sky-high restaurant 100 meters above the ground. Only ten spots were available each day. Luo Yan made many frantic calls to coordinate two spots. I didn’t care about that. What I wanted to eat, I had to eat. My heart could be hurt, but not my stomach.

Perhaps it was out of guilt, but Luo Yan treated me exceptionally well that night. He even accompanied me to the night market. In the night, his figure stretched, appearing even fairer. If only we could hold hands. Watching the couples come and go, Luo Yan leaned down and whispered “I’m sorry” in my ear. It’s okay, my prince. There’s still a long way to go. A small, transparent me, maybe one day you’ll see my light.

In the evening, Gu Yue and I chatted a lot. As night fell, I needed company even more. Before, I loved being alone, writing in my diary, listening to piano music. A quiet environment was good for thinking. But that could never go back. Now, I needed someone to talk to me until I fell asleep. Suddenly, a name from my memory came to mind. I abruptly asked, “How are Ming Xi and Luo Yan doing?” Gu Yue said it was a long story.

These past few days, I always felt something was stuck in my chest. It was hard to remember. After Ming Xi set my villa on fire, my father called the police. The police took her from her hospital bed. Luo Yan didn’t dare to stop them. She was detained for a period on charges of malicious destruction of property. Lawyers tried to get her to go through the compensation process. She refused to see them. Ming Xi’s family was well-off, but her family was even more shameless. They said they had a rich son-in-law and told them to contact the Luo family to handle it. Luo Yan was pushed to the forefront.

Luo Yan initially agreed to mediate in person, and Ming Xi kept saying it was an accident. Only after seeing the surveillance footage retrieved by the police did he believe she had set the fire. It was all a scheme orchestrated by Ming Xi herself. He was completely disheartened. The Ming family refused to compensate; they simply couldn’t afford it. Luo Yan was a discerning person. He had been rational since childhood. No matter how much he liked Ming Xi at the time, he wouldn’t be a foolish victim. Besides, he couldn’t afford the compensation for my villa at that time.

Later, the Ming family held banners outside the Luo Group, calling many media outlets. They said all sorts of nonsense, claiming Ming Xi was already pregnant with the Luo family’s grandson and even faked several pregnancy test reports. For a time, hot comments attacked Luo Yan as a scumbag, causing fluctuations in the Luo Group’s stock price.

At that time, the Gu family already knew I had been sent to the Love Addiction Center by Luo Yan. Luo Yan personally came to the door and guaranteed that he could cure my love-struck brain and that I wouldn’t suffer any harm. My parents also always hoped that I could have my own life and not be Luo Yan’s follower. They acquiesced. The Gu family helped Luo Yan issue a clarification statement and submitted strong evidence, proving that he and Ming Xi had not had such a relationship. The dream of marrying into a wealthy family was shattered. The compensation was astronomical. Ming Xi’s parents published a newspaper announcement severing ties with her, making her bear the consequences alone.

Ming Xi had a crooked thought. She bought forbidden drugs and asked Luo Yan to drink with her, apologizing. In reality, she wanted to force herself upon Luo Yan. She was caught red-handed by Hu Jie. Luo Yan, in a fit of anger, asked his lawyer to add more compensation. Ming Xi went crazy overnight. She stood in the middle of the road, screaming, repeatedly asking why the wealthy family abandoned her. After the incident subsided, no other female appeared around Luo Yan. Everyone said he had gynophobia.

After we broke up, why didn’t he come to see me? But if he had seen me covered in scars, he would have saved me. How heartless must he have been to…

“Yueyue.” My eyes were full of tears, and I kept mumbling.

Today is my discharge day. Uncle Wang came to pick me up. He said Chairman Gu was abroad and couldn’t make it back. Mom said that ever since Dad saw the news expose, he has been visiting famous doctors, sometimes flying to two or three cities a day. He’s personally committed to curing me.

Gu Yue suggested taking me out for a walk to clear my head. But I joked, is there any airline that limits boarding to only females? Leaving home, I would encounter men everywhere I went.

My father had moved all his belongings out. When Dad was on a business trip, Mom took over the company. Back home, only Wang Ma had prepared a table full of delicious food to welcome me. Her simple words, “Wanwan, you’ve suffered,” completely broke down my defenses. The hospital food was also meticulously prepared by Wang Ma every day and suited my taste perfectly.

In the evening, Wang Ma and I sat in the courtyard, enjoying the breeze, swinging on the swing, and counting stars. Wang Ma wanted to hear about my experiences at the Love Addiction Center. I didn’t want to hurt her. She had taken care of me since I was little. My experiences, just mentioning them once, would be multiple harms to myself. “From now on, it will be good days,” I tried to smile brightly.

Dad sent me a message saying he had arranged flights for the day after tomorrow, only for Gu Yue and me. “Ding.” Another transfer. “Take care of yourself, Dad.” He really works hard. At his age, he still has to worry about me. Dad replied “Thank you” after a long time. I used to think family love was taken for granted and never proactively cared. After all this, I realized I was really too willful before.

It was past eleven, and Mom was still busy and hadn’t come home yet. I suddenly had the idea to create something. I couldn’t go to the company. So what could I do? Tossing and turning, I came up with an idea. I sent Gu Yue a checklist, calling it “travel essentials.” “Miss, we’re going to your family’s mountain villa. Why are you buying so much equipment?” “Just buy it and pack it.” “I really can’t do anything with you.”

For an entire day, I buried myself in my desk. With my illness, I couldn’t be around crowds. But I could edit. I set my sights on becoming a self-media creator. I wrote a script all day and was very satisfied. I sent it to my dad to show off.

“I’ll buy you a media company.” Dad replied instantly. “No. I haven’t even uploaded a single video. I’m just trying it out. Don’t be impulsive.” “I’ll get you a good team. You don’t need to write the scripts yourself.” “There are many people in this world who write better than me. But in my world, only what I write exists.” He only stopped after a series of rejections.

I love writing and want to record what I see and hear. Beautiful things shouldn’t be seen and then forgotten. The scenery at my family’s mountain villa is beautiful. Many people don’t know that place. It’s perfect for promotion. If possible, I could also develop related industries like guesthouses. The plan is good; it just depends on the ability. We’ll see.

Gu Yue was full of motivation after listening to my passionate speech at the airport. She patted my shoulder and confidently said, “For something this good, I want to invest.” “Just provide moral support.” I said with a look of disdain. Gu Yue’s photography skills were like a defect in Nuwa’s creation. Even with the latest iPhone, it was common for her to take photos with 80-year-old pixel quality. I remember in high school, she said she took a picture of a very handsome boy at the sports meet. She bounced and cheered all the way, eager to share it with me. Three consecutive photos were so blurry that you could barely tell it was dark hair.

After graduating from high school, Gu Yue bought a DSLR camera, saying she wanted to take more commemorative photos of the whole class. Everyone cooperated, striking various poses. The package of photos she sent in the group chat that night had 80 photos, but only 8 of them were barely clear enough to see everyone’s faces.

When she got to college, Gu Yue said that girls who take beautiful selfies have many admirers. She posted selfies on Tieba for half a year. Not a single like. Gu Yue was actually very beautiful. But her selfies were really exaggerated. She always pouted her lips or made a twitching face. She said no one understood her uniqueness. The brightest star in the night sky. I retorted, “The darkest star.” Her camera work was increasingly dark and blurry. Only her ID photos were barely normal.

“What are you daydreaming about?” Gu Yue reminded me to board. “I’m recalling your glorious history of photography.” “People always grow up,” Gu Yue said with a confident face. She snapped a picture in the air and eagerly showed me the composition. Well, another blurry one. If she invested, my company would go bankrupt in three days.

At the villa, I set out every morning to find material. The morning dew, various birds, and babbling streams were all captured by me. I was busy for two days, working late into the night to finish the voice-over. I registered a new account on Weibo. The verification passed: Gu’s Young Lady, Gu Wanwan. Everything was ready.

Gu Le and I nervously counted down 3-2-1 and uploaded it. We waited for two hours, and only got 8 views. Not giving up, I paid for promotion. In the family chat group, I lamented that my entrepreneurial venture had failed and fell asleep. Before falling asleep, I vaguely posted a message: “Making money is really hard…”

The sun was high in the sky when Gu Yue shrieked, her hair disheveled, bursting into my room and shaking me awake. “Gu Wanwan, this time, I demand half the shares!” I forced my eyes open, a string of question marks in my head. “Shares in what?”

She held out her phone to show me the trending topic: “Beicheng Gu Family’s Only Daughter Gu Wanwan’s Weibo Account Exposed.” I rubbed my eyes and snatched the phone. 155,000 likes, 83,000 hot comments. I could understand the video being so popular, but why did my casual sigh get 100,000+ hot comments? So strange.

The pinned comment was a post from the “Beicheng Prodigal Son” saying, “Hello everyone, this is my fiancée.” Below it were all comments like, “Ahhh, I’m shipping them! Rich young lady and handsome CEO, a perfect match.” “Waiting for wedding candy. So they were already married.” “Young Master Luo and Miss Gu’s true love confirmed.”

…What was all this? The name “Prodigal Son” did suit Luo Yan. And when did I get a fiancé?

The shocking things didn’t stop there. Netizens revealed that all employees of both Gu and Luo corporations had reposted my video. Insiders said my father invested, offering 200 for each repost.

“Dad, your daughter is starting a business, not throwing money around. What’s with that 200 yuan per person?”

“To help you promote. The team will be at the villa this afternoon. The company will be renamed ‘Wan Yan Media Co., Ltd.’ Everything’s arranged, just do your best.”

“Dad, didn’t we agree not to waste money?”

“I agreed. But the company isn’t from me.”

“Luo Yan?” My dad coughed, clearly trying to suppress a laugh.

“When did I get a fiancé?”

“Oh, he sent the betrothal gifts. We’ve temporarily accepted them. If you don’t like them, we can return them.”

“Dad, accepting them and then returning them, doesn’t that mean losing face for the Luo family?”

“Dad, you know about my illness.” I listed many reasons, trying to dissuade him. “It’ll be fine soon. The doctor will be here next week.” He hung up on me with lightning speed.

Me??? I looked at Gu Yue, who was scrolling through Weibo with a beaming smile. I almost wanted to kick her.

“How did CEO Luo get enlightened?”

“How would I know?” I was very puzzled. For two whole days, my popularity didn’t drop. I sighed deeply. I just wanted to quietly start a business. The team was great though. The scriptwriting and editing were very satisfactory. All girls, but there was a strange point. After re-evaluating, I made a call.

“CEO Luo, where did you find these girls?”

“Not satisfied?” He frowned on the other end of the line.

“Why aren’t there any beautiful girls?”

He coughed twice, “Afraid you’d get jealous.”

“Boring.”

I hung up and told Gu Yue this nonsensical reason. Gu Yue laughed so hard she couldn’t stand up. It was getting more and more ridiculous. “I was still thinking of finding a beautiful girl to increase popularity. This is good. It’ll cost more money.”

Years later, Luo Yan often took me to banquets. I was his exclusive female companion. Once, I had a high fever and couldn’t endure it. Luo Yan found a junior schoolmate from somewhere to replace me. That night, it made headlines. The title was very eye-catching: “Luo Group Heir Attends Banquet with Fiancée for the First Time.” I was so angry I dug three feet deep to find that editor. I ordered him to write a clarification news article and publish it within an hour. In the middle of the night, I rushed to Luo Yan’s house, furious, and woke him up from his dream. I warned him that if he ever brought another beautiful girl to a banquet again, I would beat him up.

Luo Yan, with sleepy eyes, raised an eyebrow and asked me, “What’s your standard for ‘beautiful’?”

“She can’t be prettier than Wang Ma!” We both laughed. He asked with interest, “What’s the extent of the beating?”

“Three months in the hospital, the kind that doesn’t get compensation.” After saying that, I turned and left. My anger lingered for a long time.

Later, he used the same reason to restrain me. After he didn’t intend to get engaged to me, I always brought Hu Jie to attend banquets. Hu Jie was handsome enough, and his family background wasn’t bad. Being my male companion also earned me plenty of face. Another boring editor wrote a trending topic: “Gu Family’s Eldest Daughter, Gu Wanwan, Attends Evening Gala with Fiance.” Seriously, which eye saw us get engaged? But it was indeed unlucky to run into Luo Yan’s crosshairs.

I heard Luo Yan also found the person overnight. Within an hour, he issued a video, an apology letter, and a resignation letter. What’s ridiculous is that the editor later became a judge and thanked Luo Yan, specifically writing an article expressing gratitude for his heartfelt words back then. Luo Yan himself was puzzled. He was clearly verbally abusing him, how could that inspire him? After that, someone interviewed him and asked if he was getting married to me soon. After all, those actions would make people who didn’t know the truth wonder. He still said I was his sister. It was only natural for family members to help each other.

After working for a week straight, it was time to go back and get treated. I gave the team paid leave, but they firmly refused. They said they couldn’t take my salary for nothing. They were enthusiastic and didn’t want the account to stop updating. I granted their wish and left them the villa keys. They confidently promised me that the account would definitely become popular once I recovered. I was very pleased. The drive of young people should not be underestimated.

On the day I flew to Linjiang, it was pouring rain. I arrived at a private hospital, which was very secretive. As I entered, I saw a tall, dark figure in the distance, holding an umbrella. His gaze was fixed on me. Although the umbrella obscured his face, I still recognized him. Actually, these past few days, I had calmly accepted my illness. The worst outcome would only be maintaining the current situation. After starting a career, love was no longer a necessity for me.

The attending physician, holding a large bouquet of sunflowers, greeted me with a bright smile. I seemed to see the ten-year-old boy running towards me, handing me a blooming sunflower. That sunflower was also dried and preserved by me. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, fluttering the white curtains. I gradually lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I was already on the plane back to Beicheng. Luo Yan’s fingers were intertwined with mine. My right hand wore a very large diamond ring. My parents, Uncle Luo, and Aunt Luo were all there. “Are we going back to Beicheng?” I had no memory of how I got on the plane. “Yes, my dear.” Everyone smiled and nodded at me. I leaned on Luo Yan’s shoulder, feeling my head heavy and wanting to sleep. How I got back to my room, I had no impression at all.

When I woke up, Luo Yan had just finished showering. His bathrobe was loose, only tied at the waist. Water droplets still dripped from his hair. Water beads clung to his collarbone and exposed chest, making it impossible to look away. “You’re awake?” he asked softly, his eyes full of tenderness.

“I remember just being on the plane. When did I get home? Why do I have no memory at all?” I tapped my head a few times, trying to recall memories. Then I rubbed my temples vigorously. My memory was very empty, missing several chunks. He took my hand away. “It’s okay if you can’t remember. You just need to know that I’ll bring you home safely.” I nodded and didn’t struggle. “Today, I slept exceptionally well.” He smiled, “You’ve been sleeping well lately.” Yes, it felt like just the day before yesterday was early spring, and after just one sleep, it was already midsummer. The lotus flowers in the courtyard were all in bloom.

The next day. When Gu Yue came to find me, I mentioned my doubts. But she said I was mistaken. “You’ve mixed up dreams and reality.” But I always felt like I was missing a few months of memories. I wanted to send photos of the new country, but Luo Yan said the camera was lost. Those were the first photos of our two families traveling together, worth treasuring. I didn’t believe it. I searched my phone, camera, and even checked immigration information, but there was no trace. But I clearly remembered that day, our two families sitting happily on the plane going home. My sleep has been very long recently. I’m only awake for about five hours. When I wake up, Luo Yan is always home with me.

Red “囍” characters were pasted all over the villa. In another week, it would be our wedding. Luo Yan said getting engaged at 20 and marrying me at 26 made his life complete. But I remembered we hadn’t had an engagement ceremony. There were no photos, no reports to prove it. Yet the whole family said it was a grand and romantic engagement. I wore the custom-made dress by Luo Yan and exchanged rings.

Lately, when I’m awake, Luo Yan is always by my side, hugging me from time to time. He often whispers in my ear, “Wanwan, it’s so good to have you back.” His expression was as if he had lost me before. But we had never been apart since we were little…

Postscript:

A week later, the Luo family held a grand wedding for me in Beicheng. My Wan Yan Media company is growing strong, and that group of young people has fulfilled their promise. They even hired several outspoken girls to operate the account. Although my memories are all happy and beautiful moments of Luo Yan and me growing up together, I always feel like we encountered some setbacks in between… The doctor said it’s a miracle that my illness has recovered this way. But I don’t remember being sick… But to be able to marry Luo Yan, my life is finally complete. After marriage, I want to have two children to be models for my videos in the future…