Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Sihan opened his tightly-clenched fists. His palm was facing up as he stretched his fingers out in front of Nan Zhi.
Nan Zhi looked down at his large palm.
A white and exquisite shirt button lay there, quiet and unassuming.
It was a button whose design, pattern and size Nan Zhi had seen for about nine years.
She was very familiar with it.
It was her lucky button.
How?
Nan Zhi wanted to take the button instinctively. However, the man clenched his hand into a fist before she could react.
He did not let her take another look.
No. The button he was holding did not have the smiley face she had drawn on it.
But why was it exactly the same?
Nan Zhi’s brain was a mess…
Why?
Mu Sihan did not say anything more at the sight of her tightly furrowed eyebrows, as he noticed her long lashes trembling slightly. He walked in front of his luggage and took out a few boxes from inside. He changed the conversation. “There are many mosquitoes on this mountain. You should keep these.”
By now, the sun had already set completely. The facilities in the fortress’ hostel was simple. For lighting, they still retained the light bulbs used during the 80s and it was dim. Not to mention that he had his back facing her, she could not see his expression at all.
Although she could hear his voice, the words did not penetrate her messy thoughts and her face was listless and confused.
All of her attention was on that button.
Then she seemed to have thought of something. Her body shook a little before she rushed out of the room.
Xia Xi was discussing what to eat for dinner with Zhang Yijun, when she was startled by Nan Zhi rushing over all of a sudden.
“Sister Zhi, what’s wrong with you?”
“Xiao Xi, where’s my bag?”
Judging from Nan Zhi’s panicked expression, Xia Xi thought that something had happened and answered hurriedly, “I put the bag in my uncle’s room. I’ll take you to get it now?”
“Okay, let’s go.”
…
Xia Xi passed Nan Zhi’s bag to her and Nan Zhi scrambled around inside frantically, before she finally took out her lucky button from the inner pocket.
The smiley face was still there.
Why would Mu Sihan have a button that was exactly the same as hers?
Countless memories flashed past in Nan Zhi’s mind.
‘Are you a pig? You’re a stupid and ugly pig!’
‘Why are you so heavy? Can’t you just eat less?’
That big brother had piggybacked her after he saved her from the kidnappers. She had a high fever and heard him scolding her in her fever-induced daze.
Now that she thought about it, those words did not seem like they would come from brother Gu Sheng.
It felt more like that overbearing man…
No…
Nan Zhi wrapped her arms around her head. Her temple was jumping as she felt a prickling pain in her temple that stabbed at her like needles.
“Sister Zhi, what’s wrong?” Xia Xi asked worriedly as she stared at Nan Zhi’s pale face.
The scene in Nan Zhi’s mind changed again to when she had placed the lucky button in front of brother Gu Sheng in the western restaurant.
‘Why did you give me a button?’
At first, she had thought that brother Gu Sheng could not remember his button after nine years, as it had already been a long time. She never thought about a possibility that the button did not even belong to him.
Because he was the one next to her when she had woken up.
Nan Zhi felt like she had run headfirst into a brick wall. Her body swayed unsteadily and Xia Xi was quick to support her before she collapsed to the ground. Seeing Nan Zhi’s unresponsive state, Xià Xi was panicking. She did not know what happened to Nan Zhi. Her face was actually as pale as a sheet of paper!
“Sister Zhi, are you alright? Answer me! Don’t scare me!”
Nan Zhi’s lips moved wordlessly, feeling dry and hoarse as she stared at Xia Xi blankly. “Xiao Xi, what do I do? I might have mistaken another person as my life savior…”
Xia Xi did not understand. She was about to clarify, when Nan Zhi suddenly pushed her away and ran outside.
In Xia Xi’s mind, Nan Zhi was always calm and intelligent in any situation. She was one of the brightest among the young females of the new generation. She had never seen her be so distraught and bewildered.
Xia Xi rushed after her in a hurry, worried that something might have happened.
After bursting out of the room, Nan Zhi ran to the big room that Mu Sihan had occupied.
It was empty except for several of her female colleagues unpacking their luggage.
Nan Zhi’s throat was a little tight as she asked hoarsely, “Where is Young Master Mu?”