The world faded away.
As she wrapped her arms around Qin Yanzhou, Wu Mei lifted her face and pressed her lips to his.
The crowd gasped. The cameras clicked like wild.
Even he, the cold and unreadable CEO of the Qin family, froze for a moment. His hand had instinctively grabbed her wrist earlier, but now, as she kissed him in front of everyone, his brows slightly furrowed in surprise.
This wasn't the Wu Mei he remembered.
Her lips trembled slightly against his, but her kiss was genuine—soft, warm, filled with something unfamiliar: longing.
He didn't respond immediately. But he didn't pull away either.
When the kiss finally ended, Wu Mei looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"A Yan…" she whispered, her voice fragile yet clear, "I love you."
The crowd erupted into hushed whispers.
"Did she just say that to him?"
"It's a well-known fact the CEO of the Qin family isn't fond of women…"
"She must've lost her mind. Wu Mei's done for."
"All I know is… that's not the Wu Mei from before."
But Wu Mei didn't care about the stares or the rumors. Her eyes stayed locked on his face. Qin Yanzhou's fingers gently touched her cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear.
He frowned.
"Why are you crying?" he said softly. "You're so ugly when you cry."
His words were cold, almost cruel—but his touch was gentle. And Wu Mei knew. She remembered. That was just how he was—sharp-tongued, guarded, but fiercely protective beneath the surface.
"I'm crying because I missed you," she said, her voice trembling. "A Yan… I really missed you."
His heart jolted.
Was she serious?
More murmurs rippled through the crowd, but this time, with a different tone.
"They… actually look good together."
"They've got chemistry."
"They're like a movie couple."
As if claiming her completely, Wu Mei wrapped her arms tighter around him. Qin Yanzhou turned his head slightly, glancing at the cameras and people around them.
"Come with me," he said simply.
He reached for her hand to lead her away, but Wu Mei didn't move.
Instead, she clung to him, burying her face into his chest.
"Don't go away," she said. "Don't leave me. I'll listen to you from now on. I really will."
He lowered his gaze to her, his usual stern expression faltering.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "Get in the car first."
Wu Mei shook her head slightly. "I'm afraid… I'm afraid you'll disappear again."
He let out a breath and leaned closer. "What do I have to do?" he asked. "Will you let go of me if I do?"
Wu Mei smiled faintly through her tears. "A Yan… give me a kiss. Let me know you're real. Okay?"
For a second, he just looked at her—confused, intrigued… maybe even enchanted. Then he gently took her chin between his fingers and lowered his head.
He kissed her.
It was slow, deeper this time. More intimate. The noise around them vanished again.
That little mouth of yours, he thought as he kissed her, it's really soft and sweet. You're using beauty tricks now… but in the end, you're the one who'll lose.
The kiss ended, but her hold on him didn't.
They stepped into his sleek black car, the driver immediately pulling away from the crowd. Inside the quiet space, the tension shifted.
Qin Yanzhou turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Tell me," he said. "Have you lost your memory? Or is this just a temporary lapse? You've mistaken me for someone else."
Wu Mei leaned against his shoulder, her eyes half-closed.
"There's no mistake," she whispered.
He looked down at her—this strange, familiar, utterly unpredictable woman in his arms.
And for the first time in years, Qin Yanzhou felt… uncertain.