💥 CHAPTER ONE: "Welcome Home, Stranger"
> Ten Years Ago – Beijing, Rainy Night
The city lights blurred in the downpour as Chen Yuyin laughed breathlessly, holding onto Lu Chen's wrist like her life depended on it. They were soaked from head to toe, standing under a tiny awning, but her smile outshined the storm.
"I'm going abroad for the tech summit," she said between giggles, her fingers lacing with his. "Only for a few months."
Lu Chen stared at her, dark eyes unreadable. "You promise you'll come back?"
She nodded. "Of course. You're the one thing I never want to forget."
He leaned down, brushing a kiss to her forehead. "I'll wait."
—
> Three Years Ago – Paris Outskirts
A loud crash. Screeching tires. Blinding headlights.
And then… darkness.
—
> Hospital Room – France
The beeping of machines was soft, almost comforting.
Chen Yuyin blinked at the sterile white ceiling, throat dry. A doctor appeared beside her bed, gentle and cautious.
"You were in an accident, Miss Chen. A serious one. You're stable now, but… we ran a series of scans. You've suffered memory loss."
Her brows creased.
"How much memory?"
"Ten years," the doctor said carefully. "You might not remember anything from your late teens until now. You may recognize people, or places. But others… may feel like strangers."
Yuyin stared at the ceiling, numb. "So everything from the last ten years… is gone?"
"I'm sorry."
—
> Present Day – Beijing International Airport
"Flight B178 from Paris has landed. All passengers proceed to customs."
Yuyin stepped off the plane with oversized black sunglasses, hoodie over her head, and luggage rolling behind her. The airport buzzed with life—paparazzi, businessmen, students, the whole world rushing past.
But she wasn't rushing. She paused in the middle of the terminal and sighed.
She looked around like she was searching for something familiar. But nothing came. No spark. No flash. No deja vu.
"So this is home," she muttered, chewing on strawberry gum. "Weird."
Her phone buzzed.
📞 Incoming call: Shen Yinyin
"Yinyin!" she said, chipper. "I just landed. Where are you?"
A soft, calm voice answered. "At the apartment. Want me to come get you?"
"No no, I'll grab a car," Yuyin smiled. "I missed your boring face so much."
She hung up and turned around to exit—when she stopped dead in her tracks.
A man was walking in her direction.
He wasn't walking. He was gliding. All-black suit, tailored to perfection, tall frame, cold, emotionless eyes. His presence drew the eyes of every woman and camera in the room.
And somehow, he was walking straight toward her.
Yuyin blinked. Her voice came out in a small, awed whisper.
"Wait… you're Lu Chen?"
He stopped. His eyes flickered in surprise.
She giggled nervously. "Wow. Sorry, I—I just… wow. I really admire your company. You're, like, the definition of billionaire fine."
Lu Chen's brows furrowed.
"Yuyin…?"
Her head tilted, confused.
"Wait… how do you know my name?"
Silence.
She stepped back a little. "You okay?"
Lu Chen swallowed. He didn't speak. Couldn't.
"Anyway," she said, still chipper, "I'm just here to visit my best friend. I used to have a company here, weird right? I don't really remember much about it though. Crazy story—" she leaned in and whispered, "—I was in this freak accident a few years back. Doctor said I lost my memory. Ten whole years wiped like poof."
Lu Chen's throat tightened.
Her smile didn't fade. "So I'm here to try and remember stuff. My bestie says this place was everything to me."
He took a long breath.
"You don't… remember me?"
She blinked.
"We've met before?"
His heart cracked.
He turned away quickly. "I see."
She tilted her head. "Wait. Do we—? Did I…?"
But he was already walking past.
—
> Meanwhile – Shen Yinyin's Apartment
Phone ringing.
Shen Yinyin, in a silk robe, answered the call.
"Hello?"
A voice crackled through. "This is Assistant Tao. Miss Chen is back in the country."
Yinyin sat upright. "She is? Already?"
"She's… also lost all memories from the past ten years. Including you. But she mentioned coming to you because she feels… familiar."
Yinyin froze.
"What?" she whispered.
"She has no idea who Lu Chen is."
Yinyin stood slowly, eyes wide. "Oh my god…"
—