Chapter 6

Night had fully fallen. The light of the waxing moon slanted in through the window. Naze sat quietly at the bedside, his brows tightly furrowed. At this moment, Momo, lying on the bed, was lost in her own nightmare, cold sweat trickling down her delicate skin, her teeth chattering with a “da-da-da” sound.

“Mama, Mama!” Eight-year-old Momo was jolted awake from her dream by a violent shake. Why was her mother lying on top of her?!

“Momo, my sweet Momo.” Her mother’s face suddenly turned pale, and she showed a gentle smile to her child who was so close, her posture unchanged, only softly calling out to her husband who had been driving just before the loud crash, “Jiawei?”

“Pfft, cough, cough,” From somewhere Momo couldn’t see, there came a rustling sound accompanied by coughing: “Mm, I’m here.”

“I, and Momo,” Her mother’s lips trembled uncontrollably, a dark liquid slowly seeping from the corner of her mouth, yet her words remained gentle and steady, “are both fine.”

After a moment, Momo heard her father’s reply: “Me too.”

“Momo’s not afraid.” Momo would always remember how warm and beautiful the smile on her mother’s face was. “Papa, Mama, are both here.”

“You’re lying, you’re lying!” In her dream, Momo accused them, her small body gradually growing, but bright red blood soaked her entire being. “Waa, you both left, you both abandoned me!”

Amidst the wreckage of the car, just as her whole body was sinking into a sea of blood, a warm palm gently stroked her cheek, again and again, softly calling her name, “Momo, Momo, Momo’s not afraid.”

Hearing someone call her, Momo struggled to run toward the green sun, her body jolted as if shaken, and she suddenly opened her eyes wide: “Don’t go!”

Naze hadn’t expected her to open her eyes so suddenly. His hand was still in the motion of wiping away her tears, but his body instinctively leaned back, trying to avoid her.

Momo reflexively grabbed his hand: “Try running away from me again today, see what happens! Is hiding from me fun?!”

Naze opened his mouth, then closed it, looking at Momo’s serious expression as if to confirm, before nervously speaking: “I thought you wouldn’t want to see me.”

“I’ve been awake for two days since my coma, and you haven’t shown up. How do you know I don’t want to see you?!” Momo rolled off the bed, slapping the mattress forcefully, clearly determined not to let him go until he gave her an explanation.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?” Naze recalled the scene of her fainting at the banquet, and his heart ached again.

Momo gazed at Naze for a long time, her eyes focused and brave. Then, she reached out and gently touched the ends of his hair. It was the first time she had ever initiated physical contact with Naze. Seeing his look of surprise turn into delight, she felt a moving sense of being needed.

“Yes, I’m afraid of the Blood Clan. No one isn’t afraid of things they don’t understand. But,” In the darkness, Momo lifted her head slightly, the pain and warmth from her dream gradually growing clearer. After so long, her conflicted feelings began to ease. Her dark, bright eyes, outlined by moonlight, appeared especially vivid. “But I’m even more afraid of meaningless loss and separation.”

“Momo?!” Naze’s hand began to tremble unnaturally.

“Listen carefully, Luerkenaze Van Zhuo, I’ll only say this once.” Momo half-knelt on the bed, her waist-length hair half-tangled in her milky-white nightgown, possessing a breathtaking beauty. “I don’t remember how we came to be together, but I think it must have been a wonderful story; I don’t remember the reason we are together, but I believe there must be a reason.”
I admit, I am not untouched by worldly desires. When I woke up, I was moved by your outward qualities, but that is not the reason I wish to continue with you. What I believe in is the choice we made ten years ago, the life we have lived over the past decade. Do you know, I once looked at our photos from the past ten years-they are so full of happiness. Even though I have no memory of them, I am still deeply moved.

I believe we will be happy, regardless of the fact that you are of the Blood Clan.”

After hearing her words, Naze could not stop trembling all over. His heart, which had begun to sink into despair and coldness, was now overflowing with warmth. Although things had taken an unexpected turn, his Momo had once again chosen him without hesitation! He reached out both hands, wanting to hold the person before him tightly in his arms, but Momo stopped him.

“But ever since I lost my memory, your behavior has greatly disappointed me!”

“Did I do something wrong?!” Naze, frightened, grabbed Momo’s shoulders. “Have I not treated you well enough?!”

“Tell me, why didn’t you talk to me at home, but instead brought me to the banquet to make a spectacle of me?!” Momo broke free from his grip, her expression serious. “Is it because that’s how I discovered you were of the Blood Clan in the past? Are you trying to reenact it all over again?!”

Naze’s handsome face showed hesitation. “Momo, before you lost your memory, you said that you wanted to understand everything for yourself-”

“Enough, don’t bring up that line again. I am sitting right here in front of you, alive. Is there any need to treat what I said before as a last will and testament?!” Momo angrily grabbed Naze’s hand, grinding her teeth. “Just tell me, is it true or not?”

Naze nodded instinctively.

“You-” Momo took a deep breath, trying to soften her tone. “I don’t mind you taking me to places we used to go, doing things we used to do, in hopes of helping me recover my memory. But memories are not meant to be repeated, especially not with this kind of probing reenactment. It makes me feel as if you’ve betrayed my trust. I’m really sad.”

“Momo, I’m sorry.” Hearing Momo’s explanation, Naze buried his head in his hands.

Seeing how remorseful he looked, Momo couldn’t help but reach out to pull him up. Naze slowly lifted his head from his hands and gave her a tired smile, which made Momo’s heart ache. “I know you’ve always tried your best to treat me well, I can feel it. But I can also sense how cautious you are, almost to the point of trying to please me. I don’t think that’s normal. Just treat me as you did before, okay?”

Naze gently held Momo’s hand in return, unsure whether his heart was filled with sweetness or pain. His Momo still moved him in unexpected ways, just like before, but something was different. Without her old memories, she was no longer proactive, no longer relied on him as a matter of course, and he found it hard to adjust. He held Momo’s hand for a long time, then finally let go, picked up the quilt beside her, and tucked her in. “Get some sleep. I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”