Li Lei, a thick-skinned and naturally sociable rich second-generation, finished his “chat” with Xiao Man, stood up, and draped his arm over Lin Ci’s shoulder, leading him inside.
He then turned back to call out to Han Shuangshuang,
“Sister Xiao Bai, we’ve bought plenty of delicious food and drinks. The fireworks show is still a while away, let’s have something to eat first!”
Being called “Sister Xiao Bai” in real life made Han Shuangshuang blush slightly.
She followed with Xiao Bai and softly said, “Just call me Han Shuangshuang.”
Li Lei smiled, “Alright, is there anything specific you’d like to eat? We can order now and it should arrive before the fireworks show.”
Han Shuangshuang politely declined, “No need, I’m not picky.”
Lin Ci’s thoughtfulness was also evident as he brought two bottles of red wine as gifts for them.
They weren’t expensive, but it was the thought that counted, ensuring they didn’t appear inconsiderate.
Seeing the wine, Li Lei laughed, “Ah Ci, your memory is impressive. I only mentioned it once, and you remembered what I like to drink.”
Lin Ci joked, “With the way you were at that time, I doubt I’ll ever forget.”
Li Lei quickly laughed and begged for mercy,
“Oh, don’t bring up my embarrassing past in front of others, let’s go inside. Eat and drink as much as you like, make yourselves at home.”
The living room already had several people, some of whom Lin Ci knew.
After introductions, the young people quickly became acquainted.
Han Shuangshuang was the only “celebrity” present, but Xiao Man, who appeared the most in videos, was the one surrounded.
They were curious if she was really as smart as she appeared in the videos—even if they hadn’t come across the account “Xiao Bai and Her Sister” before, a quick look at a few videos now gave them a good idea why the account was so popular.
Xiao Man wasn’t keen on engaging with them, but to maintain her online persona, she showed a bit of her intelligence.
Otherwise, they might spread rumors online about her persona being fake.
The young people were amazed, clearly not expecting a dog to be so smart.
Han Shuangshuang sat beside Lin Ci, her eyes constantly on Xiao Bai, ready to step in if the dog showed any signs of discomfort.
Fortunately, aside from appearing a bit lazy, Xiao Bai was fine.
The group ate, drank, chatted, played games, and browsed their phones without any strict schedule, just enjoying themselves.
As the time for the fireworks approached, Li Lei clapped his hands and said,
“Everyone, come over here, it’s about to start!”
The floor-to-ceiling windows in Li Lei’s house were enormous, and when the fireworks exploded, the view was spectacular.
The position was perfect, making it feel like they were watching the show live.
Lin Ci was quick, pulling Han Shuangshuang to the center spot.
Slightly tilting their heads, they could see clusters of fireworks shooting into the sky, bursting, and then slowly fading into silence.
Xiao Man, who couldn’t squeeze in, thought, “……”
Doesn’t a dog deserve to watch fireworks too?
Even if she’s colorblind, she still wants to see!
Han Shuangshuang picked her up, and the fireworks filled Xiao Man’s eyes.
After the fireworks show, it was still early.
Lin Ci and Han Shuangshuang stayed a bit longer.
Lin Ci didn’t drink as he had to drive, and Han Shuangshuang, being new to these people, only had a little, not even enough to feel tipsy.
Xiao Man, tired of playing with the lively Huan Huan, lay down ignoring both the dog and the people, and soon her breathing became deep and steady.
Miles away in a hospital, the person on the bed opened their eyes.
She felt the heaviness and weakness in her limbs, and it took her a while to realize that she seemed to be in a hospital.
What had happened?
Struggling to sit up, she found herself face to face with a handsome man by the bedside.
They stared at each other for a moment before she politely spoke up,
“Do you know what happened to me?”
Xu Yan looked slightly surprised, but that didn’t stop him from leaning over to press the call button.
Until he returned to his original position, Xiao Man remained motionless.
Did he think she would take the opportunity to hit him?
Just recalling her question, he raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t remember who I am?”
Xiao Man hesitated for a moment.
She remembered her name was Xiao Man, and she had all sorts of common knowledge in her mind, but her past seemed a bit hazy.
She glanced at the sky outside—it was already late.
A man appearing in her hospital room at this hour must have some close relationship with her.
She tentatively asked, “Brother? Younger brother? Boyfriend? Husband? Lover?”
Xu Yan first chuckled, then, as if thinking of something, fell silent.
At that moment, doctors and nurses rushed in, surprised to see Xiao Man awake and sitting up, and quickly sped up their actions.
They had thought Xiao Man would wake up briefly and then fall unconscious again, so they hadn’t come as quickly as they might have initially.
Xu Yan stepped aside for the doctor and said,
“It seems there’s something wrong with her brain.”
The attending doctor: “……………..?”
Why does it feel like Mr. Xu is insulting someone?
Fortunately, Xu Yan continued, “She seems to have lost her memory.”
Xu Yan turned off the audio playing on his phone, put it away, and stood aside as the doctor examined Xiao Man.
During this time, she didn’t fall unconscious again, though she seemed a bit sluggish.
It was as if she were still dreaming.
Xu Yan recalled earlier, when despite her weakness, Xiao Man had struggled to lunge at him…
That lively demeanor was far more pleasing than her current half-dead state.
After a brief examination, the attending doctor said to Xu Yan,
“It might be temporary amnesia caused by prolonged unconsciousness. We’ll need to investigate further.”
He paused, a smile spreading in his eyes,
“I need to inform Miss Han immediately. She’s been hoping for Xiao Man to wake up.”
Xu Yan asked, “Will she fall unconscious again?”
After all, in the past, this person had woken up briefly only to fall unconscious again too many times.
The attending doctor was momentarily stumped, “It’s hard to say for sure.”
The attending doctor was busy, and Xu Yan didn’t press further.
Soon, the room emptied out, and he returned to sit by the bedside.
Xiao Man was sitting on the bed, flipping through her medical records.
She looked up at Xu Yan, who had sat back down, and said,
“The nurse said you’re just my boss.”
Xu Yan nodded, then corrected, “To be precise, your former boss.”
Xiao Man: “You also sponsored my medical expenses… So, did you cause my coma?”
Xu Yan: “Of course not.”
Xiao Man hesitated, then with difficulty asked, “Do we have any emotional entanglements?”
Xu Yan felt an impulse to admit it, but the words that came out were a denial,
“No. Before your coma, we didn’t even know each other. I sponsored you because one day after your coma, you suddenly woke up, learned about my danger from dozens of kilometers away, and called to save me.”
Xiao Man’s face showed surprise.
Xu Yan said, “I’m really curious about how you figured it out. But I guess even you don’t know now, do you?”
Xiao Man nodded approvingly, “That’s right.”
“Then I suppose you also don’t remember why you woke up last time and immediately lunged at me?”
Xiao Man: “?”
She was incredulous, “I actually did something like that?”
Although she couldn’t remember her past, she always felt she wasn’t the violent type.
Seeing Xiao Man’s astonished expression, Xu Yan felt a bit mischievous and smiled,
“Don’t worry, you didn’t succeed. You just ended up in my arms.”
Xiao Man: “…………”
It’s even more awkward now.
Xiao Man averted her gaze, slid down, and lay flat, her tone indifferent,
“Thank you for letting me know. This newly awakened coma patient feels tired and wants to sleep for a while.”
Xu Yan wanted to say, “You’ve been asleep for three months, and you still want to sleep?”
But seeing her thin facial profile and overly sharp jawline as she turned her head, he swallowed his words.
A new question arose: Did she wake up naturally, or… was it because of the audio he played?
Seeing Xiao Man close her eyes, Xu Yan left the ward.
Awake.
It was New Year’s Day, and he had no interest in going home to participate in those boring activities, so he came to Xiao Man’s place.
Little did he know he’d witness her awakening.
This New Year’s Day was somewhat interesting.
An hour later, Lin Ci accompanied Han Shuangshuang to the hospital.
However, since there were two dogs in the car, Lin Ci didn’t go upstairs, while Han Shuangshuang rushed to the hospital ward.
Hearing the commotion, Xiao Man opened her eyes.
She wasn’t sleepy; she had just been thinking with her eyes closed.
Seeing Xiao Man awake, Han Shuangshuang’s eyes instantly welled up, and she lunged over, saying, “Sister Man, you’re finally awake!”
Xiao Man carefully and gently hugged Han Shuangshuang, softly asking, “You know I’m a bit amnesiac now, right?”
Han Shuangshuang nodded, her voice muffled, “I know.”
She finally let go of Xiao Man, her eyes red as she comforted her,
“It’s okay, Sister Man. I can help you remember. If you can’t recall, it’s fine. I’ve gotten the hang of my job now, and I don’t need you to teach me step by step anymore………….
Han Shuangshuang choked up again.
Xiao Man instinctively raised her hand and patted Han Shuangshuang’s shoulder, as if she had done this many times before.
She smiled, “If the company hasn’t fired me and doesn’t plan to, I might still need you to teach me step by step.”
Han Shuangshuang nodded vigorously, “I definitely won’t hold back!”
Seeing Xiao Man smile again, she was momentarily stunned before saying,
“Sister Man, you should have smiled more in the past.”
Although Xiao Man had always been kind to her, she wasn’t one to smile often.
Xiao Man touched her cheek, puzzled, “Was I really that cold and expressionless before?”
Han Shuangshuang laughed, “No, Sister Man, you were just too serious.”
She felt that the awakened Sister Man, though seeming a bit dazed, was much more cheerful than before.
Xiao Man smiled, “You really know how to talk.”
Seeing the attending doctor at the door, seemingly wanting to speak with Han Shuangshuang, Xiao Man patted her, “The doctor is looking for you.”
Han Shuangshuang said she’d be back later and went out with the doctor.
Xiao Man watched as Han Shuangshuang left the ward.
Although she couldn’t recall the little girl’s name, the emotions she felt upon seeing and encountering her suggested that she had once been quite fond of the child.
Xu Yan appeared at the door.
Xiao Man waved at him.
The gesture somewhat resembled calling a dog, and Xu Yan paused for a moment before walking in.
Xiao Man smiled at him: “Thank you.”
Xu Yan: “For what?”
Xiao Man pointed at the phone in his hand: “Thank you for playing something for me to listen to.”
After saying that, she yawned: “I think I’m really tired. Could you please tell the little girl that I’m going to sleep first?”
With that, Xiao Man lay back, and her breathing pattern changed instantly.
Xu Yan:”…”
Why did he have a bad feeling about this?
Was she really asleep or had she passed out?
Given Xiao Man’s “glorious track record,” Xu Yan immediately stepped forward and shook her.
Seeing no response, he turned around to find a doctor.
In the hospital parking lot downstairs, Lin Ci was playing with his phone when he suddenly heard a noise behind him.
He turned around and smiled: “Xiao Bai, you’re awake? Your sister went to see a patient. Don’t worry, she’ll be back soon.”
Xiao Man’s mind was still slow from just waking up, and she didn’t quite catch Lin Ci’s words.
Instead, she was reminiscing about the dream she had just had.
She seemed to have had a good dream just now?
Too bad she couldn’t remember it.