Over at the Lu family residence, Madam Lu sat on the sofa, brewing tea while chatting with Lu Jingyan.
"That eldest daughter of the Gu family is decent enough to look at, but having been raised away from her parents, she clearly hasn't received a proper education."
Madam Lu was not someone who looked down on the poor, but she did care, to some extent, about educational backgrounds. In Beicheng, the Lu family’s status was second to none; no one dared claim the top spot before them. She didn't mind the family background of her future daughter-in-law, but if there was too great a gap in their cultural levels, life would inevitably be difficult. Recalling that Gu Qing had claimed to be a Yale University graduate at the restaurant, Madam Lu felt indifferent.
"That girl from the Gu family did tell quite a tall tale, but it doesn't matter. Once she marries into the family, we can discipline her and set her straight."
She handed a cup of tea to Lu Jingyan, who took it and rested it on his lap. Supporting the bottom of the cup with one hand and the lid with the other, he spoke in a low, slow voice: "She wasn't lying."
Hearing this, Madam Lu’s tea-pouring motion faltered. She set down the teapot and asked, "What do you mean? How do you know she wasn't lying?"
Lu Jingyan didn't speak again. He lowered his eyes, his gaze resting on a droplet of water on the rim of the teacup. In his mind, he saw the image of Gu Qing as she had spoken to him. She had knelt before him, looking up, her slender hands resting on his unresponsive legs as she promised earnestly, "I will help you."
Before this, he hadn't known her; this was their first meeting. Yet, some people seemed to possess a special magic—a very small but resilient kind of magic—that made one truly want to believe them. Gu Qing had that power. From the moment she said she was a graduate of Yale University, he had never doubted her. With eyes that clear and a gaze that sincere, he felt she was above lying.
Seeing Lu Jingyan’s silence, Madam Lu suddenly remembered that Gu Qing had spoken with him alone earlier. Perhaps she had said something to him then. Since the car accident, Lu Jingyan’s temperament had become increasingly reclusive and indifferent. She often heard him say only a word or two before suddenly losing interest and falling into a brooding silence.
Madam Lu opened her mouth but didn't know what to say, eventually letting out a sigh. *Fine, fine.* Regardless of whether Gu Qing was lying or not, since she was destined to be her daughter-in-law, she would just have to educate her properly later. Naturally, Madam Lu did not believe the claim. After all, when the girl had said she was a Yale graduate, Ye Zhixue’s reaction of surprise had been far too obvious. With Ye Zhixue’s penchant for showing off, if Gu Qing were truly a Yale graduate, it would have been common knowledge long ago. She wouldn't have let such an outstanding daughter out of her sight.
She wondered what the girl had said to her son to make her sharp, intelligent boy believe her.
***
Gu Qing lay on her bed, looking at the WeChat contact she had added for Lu Jingyan not long ago. Without much hesitation, she tapped into the chat and sent a message:
【Did you get home safely?】
Seeing the message, Lu Jingyan frowned. After a moment of thought, he replied with a single character:
【Yes.】
Seeing this, Gu Qing couldn't help but laugh. Back when he was courting her, he had been far more talkative. Her profile picture was pure white, while his was pure black. For any other man, such a reply would seem like either feigned aloofness or impatient indifference. But that was just how Lu Jingyan was—always cold to those he had no interest in. Gu Qing knew his character well.
She asked: 【Send me your medical records so I can take a look.】
Lu Jingyan’s fingers tightened around his phone. The Lu family had hired countless renowned doctors for him, but none had been able to cure his legs. It wasn't that Lu Jingyan lacked the desire to walk like a normal person again, but he had experienced too many failures. He lowered his head, his gaze falling on his legs hidden beneath a thin blanket, his brows knit tightly. *Should he try one more time?*
Just as he was caught in his dilemma, the phone in his hand vibrated. He tapped it open to see three words from Gu Qing: 【Trust me.】
It was such a simple phrase, yet it flooded Lu Jingyan’s chest with a surge of warmth. His eyes darkened. *Could he truly stand up again?* He rubbed his thumb gently against the armrest. He thought that, having failed so many times already, perhaps… one more time wouldn't hurt. He should give it a try.
Gu Qing lay on her bed for about five minutes before finally receiving a document from Lu Jingyan. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she replied: 【Give me some time. After I review the records, I’ll discuss a treatment plan with you.】
Lu Jingyan replied: 【Okay.】
After this, Gu Qing didn't reply, and Lu Jingyan said no more. Gu Qing stared up at the ceiling, thinking of everything in the past, and couldn't help but ask: 【Do you really not remember me?】
Back then, she had been on the verge of accepting his pursuit, but then many things happened that caused them to lose touch. Seeing this message, Lu Jingyan recalled their private conversation at Xiangfeng Pavilion, where she had also asked if he didn't remember what happened in the American Chinatown.
Lu Jingyan frowned and thought hard, but he truly had no impression of Gu Qing. He asked hesitantly: 【I’m sorry, I have no recollection. Did we know each other before?】
*As I thought.* That was Gu Qing’s first reaction upon seeing his question. The car accident had caused Lu Jingyan to lose his memory, but in his own mind, he didn't know he had memory loss. So, he simply assumed she had seen him before, but he hadn't seen her. The situation was complicated; it was as if he had forgotten only her. It seemed she would have to treat him step by step.
【Never mind. We’ll talk about it later.】
Gu Qing was busy reviewing the medical records; the main issue right now was his legs. As for the memories, they could wait.
Lu Jingyan stared at the message in the chat window, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.
***
In the evening, Gu Ruo returned home. She was followed by two servants carrying a stack of books that nearly reached their heads—all works by world-renowned medical masters. She herself held an eight-centimeter-thick medical text in her arms; it was her favorite, the only one she trusted herself to carry.
Seeing Ye Zhixue sitting on the sofa, Gu Ruo hurried over to share her excitement.
"Mom, look! I’ve been waiting for so long, and finally, the latest book by my idol, Evelyn, has been published!"
As she spoke, Gu Ruo opened the book to show her: "Evelyn's work is truly incredible, and their insights are always brilliant. I think they could be called the Hua Tuo of our time!"
At this, she frowned and sighed: "But they are just so mysterious, never showing their face. Aside from an English name, we know nothing about their nationality, gender, or appearance. If only I could meet such a remarkable person."
Gu Ruo had been a top student since childhood and never needed Ye Zhixue to worry. Seeing her daughter study so hard, Ye Zhixue was very gratified, patting her head with a smile: "Our Ruoruo is so good. Not only are you diligent in your studies, but you're also obedient and sensible."
The family business was meant for her son to inherit, so her daughter didn't need to learn how to manage the company. As long as she gained some fame in a certain field and brought honor to the family, that was enough.
She paused, then thought of Gu Qing’s cold face, and added coldly: "Unlike your sister, who finds every way possible to irritate people."
It was fortunate that her son had only suffered minor injuries; had he been seriously harmed, she would have made Gu Qing pay.
Hearing Gu Qing being scolded by Ye Zhixue, Gu Ruo felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.