A soft, warm body entered the sleeping bag. He heard that woman’s voice again, followed by her scream. He quickly crawled out of the sleeping bag and saw a pair of eyes.

This woman’s eyes were so bright, he thought. Like clouds on the plateau, open and pristine.

Every person he met afterward lacked eyes like hers, didn’t have her soft, fragrant, huggable body, wasn’t like her who, amid so many hostile gazes, still chose to look at him carefully, showing reassuring glances, even letting him hold her hand.

The person who called himself an assistant told him many things. Told him what his name was, how old he was, what a famous writer he was, how successfully he’d built his career empire. But he felt that all of that, even the name “Yin Feng,” was distant to him.

Then that feeling would come again, the world around him vast and hazy, like a cold sea about to drown him. He’d immediately think of You Mingxu, think of how she knew everything, how she could overcome anything. Even that bad person who caught him and robbed him was defeated by You Mingxu—although Gu Tiancheng wetting her pants was quite funny. So now, he just wanted to be with her, had to be with her. He’d been thrown from that completely forgotten world into this strange, frightening one. You Mingxu was the only magical weapon he could find, able to sweep away all monsters and demons, so no one could laugh at him or bully him anymore.

—

You Mingxu had no idea this simpleton, in his confused state, could think so much. She’d slept like the dead, her scattered soul finally reuniting. When sunlight forced her eyes open, it was already the next morning. The room’s curtains were drawn, and two nurses working silently.

The person in bed…

You Mingxu looked over and smiled. Yin Feng was sprawled out sleeping, arms and legs spread wide, blanket kicked to the foot of the bed, though nurses had probably covered his stomach with another blanket. He was snoring loudly; even from several meters away, You Mingxu could see the drool stain on his pillow.

His physique was tall and strong. His face, too, was as handsome as an angel’s. Thick black eyebrows, red lips, and even his Adam’s apple had a certain masculinity to it.

But his overall demeanor and manner were truly unbearable to look at.

You Mingxu turned to look at the assistant sitting by the window, who wore a crisp shirt and dress pants today, with gold-rimmed glasses, and smiled at her.

You Mingxu got a disposable toothbrush and towel from the nurses and went to freshen up in the bathroom. When she came out, the nurses had left, and Yin Feng was still sleeping foolishly. You Mingxu walked over and sat in front of the assistant: “How should I address you?”

The assistant said: “I’m Chen Feng, Miss You can just call me Xiao Chen.”

You Mingxu said: “Tell me, what’s going on?”

Chen Feng glanced at the person on the bed, his gaze calm and determined, saying: “I used to be Teacher Yin’s devoted reader, then earned his recognition and became his assistant. We’ve worked together for three years. No one expected something like this would happen to him. He’s very dependent on you now, and his words and actions might seem willful and absurd, please don’t take offense.”

You Mingxu waved it off, asking: “What exactly happened to him?”

Chen Feng showed a bitter smile, saying: “When Gu Tiancheng was committing his series of crimes, Teacher Yin was very focused on the case and even created a psychological profile of the criminal. He’s always done things his way, wouldn’t even let me follow him, and went to Tibet alone, probably wanting to get firsthand material. I know he was following the police search route before, who’d have thought he’d encounter the suspect.”

“What do the doctors say?”

Chen Feng answered: “His physical injuries aren’t serious. The problem is his brain. Doctors have already tested him—his intelligence hasn’t changed, it’s still very high. But his emotional intelligence and psychological age are equivalent to a seven or eight-year-old child. He might recover in the future, or he might not.”

You Mingxu asked: “What kind of person was he before?”

Chen Feng picked up a folder from the table, took out two photos, and handed them to her. You Mingxu took them, startled.

Chen Feng said: “Teacher Yin graduated from Peking University’s Psychology Department, and still holds a researcher position, while also writing books. To be honest, Teacher Yin used to have a very strong personality, with a powerful need to control everything. He had a bad temper, was very shrewd, always clear about what he wanted and how to get it. Forgive my directness, but in his writing empire, he was like a god. He achieved it. Not only were his books extremely successful, but his business development was also very aggressive. He was my idol.”

This meant that this man had once been not only highly intelligent but also emotionally intelligent, talented, a very powerful, and mature man. You Mingxu looked at the photos in her hands—indeed, she was clearly seeing a different man.

The photo was taken just as he was getting out of the car, wearing just a simple gray T-shirt showing strong, lean arms. He wore sunglasses, his hair stylishly arranged, and stubble around his mouth and chin, like a cool model straight out of a magazine.

You Mingxu looked for a few seconds, then turned to look at the person on the bed. Yin Feng had somehow rolled onto his stomach, spread-eagled like a frog, face pressed against the pillow, a thread of drool at the corner of his mouth.

Chen Feng also watched his boss.

After both were silent for a moment, You Mingxu returned the photos: “Why haven’t I seen his family?”

Chen Feng answered: “Teacher Yin cut ties with his family years ago.”

You Mingxu said: “I should go. When he wakes up, you should be able to keep him here, right? Don’t let him sneak out again.”

Chen Feng quickly said: “Wait, Miss You. Teacher Yin’s stubborn personality hasn’t changed one bit from before. I’m afraid if he wakes up and doesn’t see you, he’ll do anything to find you. He’s so clever, playing a few small nurses like puppets would be a matter of minutes.”

His expression was serious, but his voice had gotten louder. You Mingxu glared at him angrily—this guy was too crafty! Sure enough, Yin Feng on the bed frowned, smacked his lips, kicked his legs a couple of times, and opened his eyes groggily.

Chen Feng said softly: “You two talk. You can leave anytime once you can settle him down.”

You Mingxu: “Get out.”

Chen Feng smiled, waved for the nurses to leave too, and thoughtfully closed the door.

Yin Feng suddenly sat up in bed, staring at You Mingxu. Looking at his messy hair and innocent, clear eyes, You Mingxu found it impossible to connect him with the man in the photos.

Before she could say anything, Yin Feng had already broken into a smile, big and bright. His snow-white teeth showing, eyes full of brilliant light.

“You didn’t leave!” he said, “The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was You Mingxu, the very first thing!”

You Mingxu was taken aback, avoiding his sparkling gaze, feeling something strange in her heart, thinking to herself: What’s he so happy about, I’m leaving right away.

But Yin Feng sat cross-legged on the bed, looking up at her. His skin was so fair, his eyes so beautiful, smiling like this, his whole being was just impossibly, boundlessly sweet.