Chapter 10: Do you Really Not Remember Me
[System Warning: Virus detected. Antivirus protection program initiating in 3… 2… 1…]
Before I could even react, Sysi the ever present voice that had been guiding me let out a faint crackle and then disintegrated.
The last trace of it vanished, leaving only a soft static that faded into silence. I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly."Sigh… Just what I needed."
Of course, I didn't have the time or energy to unravel whatever this was.
The system vanishing was bad, very bad. but I had more pressing concerns.
The world was changing, and I couldn't afford to be distracted. Still, without Sysi, things suddenly felt heavier.
I shook the thought off. "Focus, Yun Xia. You still have a plan."
The first step was to secure land.I'd already contacted a few of this body's so called friends, pretending I was still the same person they knew.
They had started to suspect something was wrong, that the world wasn't quite right anymore, A few even spoke about preparing, just in case.
I almost laughed, they wouldn't remember their own warnings in a week.
Their priorities were laughable currently obsessed with how to crash Yu'er's wedding after finding out what happened between us. More drama…I closed the group chat without another word and focused on my objective, In the coming months, when the world became overrun with mutants, the concept of ownership would mean nothing.
But until then, land especially secure land was power. and this body well, it came with assets and connections. enough to get things moving.
Finding a land broker wasn't hard. a quick call, a few pleasantries, and I had an appointment scheduled.
That was one thing off my list.
The next task, however, was harder finding an architect who specialized in bunker design.
By the end of the day, I had met fifteen different architects.
None of them were what I needed. Elegant villa designs? Yes. Luxury apartments? Plenty, but a fortified, sustainable underground survival shelter?
Apparently, that was too much to ask. I was growing frustrated, and without Sysi's constant support, the irritation weighed on me more than I liked to admit.
Finally, I decided to call Madam Li.
She listened to my request quietly, then, with a soft laugh, told me she could help… but only if I agreed to do something for her in return.
Classic human behavior nothing for free.
The address she gave led me to a modern building in the city, i was still wearing the same clothes I had left the hospital in, and the faint bloodstains hadn't exactly made me more approachable.
The receptionist's eyes narrowed the moment she saw me." I'm here to meet Mrs. Li Meiyun," I said, brushing off her stare. "Room 456."
Before the woman could answer, a soft, cheerful voice called from behind me."There's no need for that!"I barely turned before someone grabbed my wrist.
The next thing I knew, I was being dragged away quite forcefully by an enthusiastic girl with black and red ponytails, Her grip was strong, her pace fast, and my brain scrambled to place her face.
She looked familiar.
The kind of familiar that nagged at you without revealing why."You're coming with me, Yunyun!" she announced like it was the most natural thing in the world.
That was how, just minutes later, I found myself doubled over, puking my guts out. When I could finally breathe again, I shot her a flat glare. Sigh Could you at least introduce yourself? You can't just drag people around like that. She blinked at me innocently."And stop calling me Yunyun. My name is Yun Xia. Yun Xia. Are you some kind of stalker? If you need money, get a job. Don't follow me around and disturb me."I turned to leave.
But then I saw her. The girl had curled up into a small ball on the floor, hugging her knees, tears streaking down her face.
For reasons I didn't understand, the sight made my chest ache.
[Enthusiastic Girl's POV]
She scolded me again. Just like when we were kids. her voice sharp, her words fast. I'd gotten used to it back then.
But this time it felt different. Why didn't she seem to remember me? Did she lose her memory? Was that why she was in hospital clothes? And was that blood? Had she been injured before I found her? Had I made it worse by dragging her here? Tears stung my eyes.
I didn't mean to hurt her. I just wanted her to myself again, especially after hearing about what that jerk did to her.
Thinking about it made my blood boil.
But it wasn't fair. She still remembered Aunty Li… but not me."Do you really not remember me, Yunyun?" I asked quietly, my voice trembling. Maybe, just maybe, she had remember at least a little.
Her brows furrowed. "I told you to stop calling me Yunyun. It's Yun Xia. I've told you many times are you even listening?"My chest tightened, The words slipped out before I could stop them.
"Waaaaaaaah!"I dropped to the floor, rolling back and forth dramatically. "Big Sister Yunyun really doesn't remember meeeee! Whyyyyyyy meeeeeee!"
The tears wouldn't stop.
Had she truly forgotten me because I left the country for five years? Or was it because of how we parted? Was she just pretending?Sniffling, I pulled out my phone and shoved it toward her.
"See, Yunyun this is us when we were kids."
The screen displayed a smiling girl with messy pigtails and a slightly older one standing beside her me and her, back when things were simple.
"I'm Mei… your mei mei. Do you really not remember me?"