Chapter 296

Si Chengyou felt somewhat relieved after getting Shen Yue's unambiguous response, but he wasn't completely letting his guard down.

He didn't even forget about his persona and pretended to have no idea where Shen Yue was, asking again, "Which of my friends are you with?"

Shen Yue knew about Si Chengyou's little tricks but was happy to play along with him. She chuckled and answered, "It's your designer friend. I'm at his shop. You told me the address of his shop in passing when you introduced him to me on our engagement day. I remembered it."

When Si Chengyou heard Shen Yue mention their engagement and how she remembered something he had casually said, the nervousness he felt when he first heard Shen Yue was with Tang Yi finally dissipated.

But he was still a little confused and didn't understand why Shen Yue, who had no contact with Tang Yi in this life after their reincarnation, would suddenly go out alone with Tang Yi.

Si Chengyou thought it over carefully before tentatively asking, "If I ask you now who you're with, would you find it annoying?"

By this time, Tang Yi had already sat down on the long sofa in the private room. Seeing this, Shen Yue sat down on the sofa opposite him. After putting down her bag, without hiding anything from Tang Yi, she directly said, "I'd find it annoying if I actually did. I wouldn't have come to your friend's place otherwise. I'm with Tang Yi now. Do you want to come over?"

Neither asked confrontational questions, and neither gave unsolicited explanations. But in the course of this seemingly ordinary chat between a couple, the situation was made clear.

Si Chengyou understood that there were issues Shen Yue and Tang Yi needed to resolve. Shen Yue didn't want him to overthink, so she deliberately came to his friend's place to let Si Chengyou know.

Shen Yue also indicated she was completely innocent with Tang Yi. Si Chengyou could come to find her anytime, but she needed some time to resolve things with Tang Yi.

Although Si Chengyou was still at a disadvantage compared to Shen Yue because of what he had done before, his intelligence and emotional quotient were fine. What's more, he was the one who understood Shen Yue best now.

Soon, Si Chengyou gave his answer, "However long you need. I'll come get you when you're ready."

Shen Yue looked at the time but didn't reply. She asked first, "Don't you have something important to do today? Finish up what you need to do first before coming over. I'll wait for you here. It's your friend's shop anyway, so you can rest assured."

This time, Si Chengyou answered very quickly, and there was clear delight in his words, "Okay, I'll come over as soon as I can."

Hearing that Si Chengyou had cheered up after previously sounding dejected, Shen Yue couldn't help smiling too. "Alright, I'll be quick too."

Having reached an understanding, there was no more beating around the bush. They both started on their tasks at hand. Si Chengyou did an abrupt turnaround, radiating optimism as he worked, lightening the mood of his subordinates as well.

As for Shen Yue, she looked to Tang Yi again.

Although Tang Yi looked very calm now, Shen Yue knew he must have thoughts about the phone conversation she just had without hiding anything from him. Since Tang Yi didn't take the initiative to speak, and considering that Si Chengyou would arrive soon, Shen Yue took the lead to bring it up. "What did you want to say just now?"

Before seeing Shen Yue, Tang Yi had wanted to know her opinion of him. But after listening in on Shen Yue's phone call just now, he suddenly felt that the question was no longer important.

He asked a question to which he already knew the answer. "May I ask who you were on the phone with just now? Was it Si Chengyou?"

Shen Yue nodded. "Yes, my fiancé."

This was also to emphasize to Tang Yi that she was not available for ambiguous relationships with other men given her current status―yet another rejection directed at Tang Yi.

But Tang Yi seemed to not pick up on Shen Yue's subtext. A look of shock gradually appeared in his eyes as he stared at Shen Yue's phone and asked word for word, "Why only him?"

Shen Yue took note of Tang Yi's choice of words―only.

It was at this point that Shen Yue finally understood what Tang Yi had actually come to find her for today.

Perhaps even Tang Yi himself didn't know what he wanted.

Shen Yue thought about it and decided to ask directly, "Do you know what you're doing right now?"

"I do."

"Then tell me what you're trying to get from me."

Tang Yi's eyes bored straight into Shen Yue. He could clearly distinguish between the Shen Yue from the memory of Purgatory and the Shen Yue right before him now, yet he still couldn't help but thirst for Shen Yue as an existence herself.

A pure, simple thirst.

But if you asked him to explain why he felt such thirst for Shen Yue, he wouldn't be able to articulate it either, except to say it was a feeling.

Tang Yi briefly examined his inner world but failed to arrive at a clear answer. So he decided to go with his heart's desires.

He etched Shen Yue's visage deep in his mind, as if wanting to use her image to fill a void within him. Then slowly, word for word, he said, "I want you."

The shop assistant who had just knocked and opened the door a crack with men's earrings and ear piercing tools in hand heard this. The door that had been pushed open just a sliver swiftly closed again. The shop assistant pretended he had never been there and heard nothing. Even the door pretended it had never opened.

Shen Yue naturally noticed the movement by the door. She sighed inwardly, knowing it would be impossible to avoid a stir once those words got out.

But chasing after the assistant now to explain would seem like protesting too much, so she could only let it be for the time being.

Besides, Si Chengyou's matter was easy enough to resolve―some coaxing would do. The more serious situation right now was Tang Yi's side.

Having gone through Tang Yi's current state herself, Shen Yue naturally knew what was going on with him.

Tang Yi was teetering on the blurry line between reality and illusion, unable to distinguish which side he truly belonged to.

Shen Yue had been through a similar period herself.

Right after she first regained her memories, she would unconsciously calculate and classify everyone's value into numbers, categorizing them based on usefulness for when she had need.

But she hadn't been alone at that time.

She had family.

Especially her big brother. He had noticed her abnormality and pulled her back from the void of memories, telling her what was real.

What Tang Yi needed now was also someone like that.

From Shen Yue's understanding of Tang Yi's current interpersonal relationships, the only person who could take on that role was herself.

Moreover, given Tang Yi's character, his blurring of reality would only worsen. If he didn't make it out of the memories, he would only make the wrong choices again.

Having reasoned this out, Shen Yue also knew she could no longer continue to turn a blind eye. She had to make things clear directly for there to be room left to maneuver this matter.

She casually left her phone on the side table next to the sofa. Her hands were casually crossed over her lap, fingers interlaced. She stated her conclusion definitively.

"You've remembered everything."

Hearing Shen Yue say this, Tang Yi's first reaction was ecstasy.

The joy surging from the depths of his heart engulfed his entire being in intense emotions the likes of which he had never experienced before.

In an instant, only one sentence filled his mind.

She recognizes me.