Li Shenyu

"When you can’t sleep at night, which of the following would you fantasize about?"

[A. A chubby, bearded man in white socks]

[B. A Komodo dragon]

[C. The exhaust pipe of a 1.5T black Volkswagen Sagitar]

[D. The black-and-white mural of Black Cat Detective on the back wall of the children’s park]

???

Jiang Liu stared blankly at the question on the whiteboard, then glanced around the consultation room.

Is this even a legitimate hospital?

"Doctor, sorry, but I can’t choose any of these."

"Congratulations, your amnesia hasn’t affected your sexual orientation."

"Is this question even related to sexual orientation?"

What kind of orientation is "the exhaust pipe of a black Sagitar"?

Jiang Liu gave Doctor Lin—a round-faced, bearded man whose sock color was unclear—a look of utter bewilderment.

The doctor sighed and put away the whiteboard.

"Whatever. This was the last test anyway. You can notify your family to prepare for discharge."

Discharge?

Jiang Liu fell silent.

It had been ten days since he was hospitalized.

Ten days ago, on a dark and windy night, he was riding his electric scooter when a car plowed into him at an intersection.

Up to that point, it was just like any other traffic accident—an unconscious Jiang Liu, a kind passerby who called 120, and a drunk hit-and-run driver.

The only unusual part was the diagnosis.

Aside from external injuries and a concussion, Jiang Liu had developed another problem.

Amnesia.

At first, no one noticed. It wasn’t until the police came to take his statement after he woke up that Jiang Liu suddenly realized something was missing.

For someone with amnesia, it’s hard to immediately figure out what’s been forgotten.

With the doctor’s help—using reference points like family, upbringing, friends, romantic partners, and timelines—Jiang Liu slowly pieced together his memories.

His name was Jiang Liu, he was twenty years old, and his mother worked as a supermarket cashier.

He was a sophomore at Nanjiang University but had a part-time job outside school.

When it came to the part-time job, Jiang Liu looked up at his tearful mother and swallowed his words.

His answers about romance were even more hesitant.

He told the doctor he had no memories of dating.

The doctor said it was normal not to have been in a relationship.

But surely there were women he’d been fond of during his formative years?

The girl next door, the class beauty, the stylish English teacher, the young widow...

Jiang Liu shook his head again.

He knew there must have been women he’d liked, but he had no memories of them.

If the brain were an ocean, memories would be the fish swimming in it.

People are the fishermen casting nets, trying to catch whatever they want to recall.

Memories of goofing off with friends are bluefin tuna, family matters are marlin, annual birthday memories are hammerhead sharks—

But Jiang Liu’s romantic memories?

They were the elusive male colossal squid.

By all accounts, any straight adult male should have such memories.

Jiang Liu didn’t.

The only traces he could find were faint shadows in other memories.

Like how evidence of male colossal squid in Antarctic waters can only be found in the stomachs of sperm whales.

Honestly, this feeling of not remembering was unbearable.

The doctor sighed and crafted a customized memory recovery plan for Jiang Liu.

Unconventional problems require unconventional solutions.

The bizarre whiteboard questions were the final attempt.

If even Komodo dragons were on the list, it meant the doctor was out of ideas.

Doctor Lin patted the despondent young man on the shoulder.

"Don’t lose heart. If you can’t remember on your own, try asking others—visit familiar places or talk to old friends."

"Maybe I really just had no luck with women," Jiang Liu said optimistically. Surviving a crash with all his limbs intact was already a win.

Even if the memories were lost, they might come back someday.

"From what I’ve observed during your hospitalization, that does seem to be the case. Aside from your mother and one male visitor, no one else came to see you."

At this point, Doctor Lin pulled out the whiteboard again.

"That’s why the first option exists, you know."

"No way. I’m certain I’m not into men."

"Who can say for sure?"

Doctor Lin stroked his beard and gave a knowing smirk.

...

Back in his room, Jiang Liu sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.

The doctor’s question haunted him.

The more you dwell on amnesia, the easier it is to spiral.

Could he live without those missing memories? Of course.

But losing something always feels terrible.

When people get sentimental, they overthink. And when they overthink, they desperately search for answers.

For Jiang Liu, the most authoritative answer came from Doctor Lin.

And the doctor had said...

"Wait, could I actually be—"

A cold sweat broke out as Jiang Liu froze mid-packing.

He plunged back into his memories, casting net after net into the ocean of his mind.

Trying to find even the tiniest clue to prove or disprove the theory.

But the more he searched, the more dire the situation seemed.

He found no evidence that he was gay.

But he also had no proof that he wasn’t.

"I can’t tell."

"Can’t tell what?"

Jiang Liu was too deep in his frantic mental fishing to notice who had spoken.

He answered reflexively.

"I can’t tell what my sexual orientation is."

"That’s easy. Just open an adult website and see if you get turned on."

"Holy crap! You’re a genius!"

Jiang Liu looked up excitedly, expecting to see the doctor.

But instead, his eyes met those of a girl in white.

She stood two steps away, her long ponytail accentuating her delicate jawline, her white dress hugging her figure, and her slender legs slightly tilted forward.

Her face was full of youthful vitality.

And her eyes—they sparkled with mischief.

"Did the crash really mess up your orientation, Jiang Liu?"

"No, I was just joking."

"Nobody can lie to me. But since you’re a patient, I’ll let it slide."

"Um, who are you...?"

Jiang Liu studied the radiant girl but couldn’t recall her at all.

Yet her tone suggested they were close.

"First, guess what I brought you as a gift."

"No need to spend money, I'm about to be discharged anyway."

"Hurry up and guess!"

"A fruit basket? Milk? Nutritional supplements?"

"Ugh, how basic! You think I'd give such a cliché gift?"

The girl pulled out a food container from behind her—apparently containing homemade snacks.

"Here. People who’ve been stuck in a hospital bed are always weak. I made you my signature 'Yang Peak' special—

leeks, lamb stew with kidneys. Eat up and save your vitality. And no sneaking looks at sketchy websites, got it?"

???

What kind of nonsense are you spouting?

Jiang Liu couldn’t reconcile the girl’s bright, innocent face with the words coming out of her mouth.

This woman was beyond absurd!

"Thank you, but... I don’t actually know who you are. Could you—"

"Demon! Get out of Jiang Liu’s body right now! The real Jiang Liu would never dare forget his sworn godfather, Li Shenyu!"

"Sorry, I really have amnesia. You can check my medical records."

"Heh, just messing with you. I know you lost your memory."

Li Shenyu leaned in, studying Jiang Liu’s face with intense curiosity before locking eyes with him.

Their faces were barely ten centimeters apart.

Jiang Liu could even see the faint pores on her fair skin and the gradual shimmer of tears welling up in her wide eyes.

She stared at him, misty-eyed and full of emotion—

so intently that Jiang Liu instinctively held his breath.

Was she about to plant a dramatic, tearful kiss on him?

"Remember me now?"

"Nope."

"Ugh, romance dramas lied! The amnesiac male lead always gets a lightning-bolt memory rush when the heroine cries into his eyes."

"Are you always this... abstract?"

To his surprise, Li Shenyu suddenly jerked back, putting distance between them.

Her expression turned deadly serious.

"Say that again."

"Sorry, didn’t mean to offend."

"Say. It. Again!"

"You heartless jerk, Jiang Liu! You really forgot me!"