《天堂旅館》長篇奇幻愛情小說

【十一】調查安妮的真實身分
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中午，林曉陽和黃敏華選了一家安靜的小餐廳共進午餐。陽光透過窗戶灑進餐廳，空氣裡彌漫著咖啡和烤麵包的香氣。兩人坐在靠窗的位置，視野開闊，可以看到外面街道的熱鬧。
點完功能表後，曉陽把功能表交給服務生。黃敏華有些急切地看著他，問道：「你昨晚住在哪家旅館？給我個電話，我有空就去找你。「
曉陽有些局促地低下頭，搓了搓手指，略帶不安地答道：「昨晚住在一個朋友那兒。」
黃敏華皺了皺眉，眼中閃過一絲疑惑，「地址給我。」
曉陽微微頓了頓，抬頭看著她，心中一緊，說：「我沒事先和朋友打招呼，所以不太方便……」
黃敏華不解地看著他，語氣略帶挑釁：「我是你女友，去找你有什麼不方便的？」
她的語氣有些急促，似乎不想放過任何一個細節。突然，她靈光一閃，語氣轉為戲謔：「除非你那個朋友是個漂亮女孩，是不是？」
曉陽看著她，表情有些尷尬，但依舊誠實地回答：「對方確實是個女生，來自上海，我們兩個是兩個月前才認識的。她來巴黎出差，碰巧遇上了我。」
黃敏華聽到這裡，臉色突然一沉，皺眉問：「那你們……是不是住在一起了？」
曉陽急忙擺手，語氣慌亂：「不是同居，只是暫時借住在她的公寓。」
服務生正好把餐點端了過來，打斷了兩人的對話。曉陽輕輕地歎了口氣，開始調整情緒。等服務生走開後，黃敏華直視著他，語氣不善：「孤男寡女共處一室，不叫同居叫啥？」
曉陽稍微有些急躁地從皮夾裡拿出一張照片，遞給黃敏華：「照片裡的這個，是我失蹤的女友。」
黃敏華看了看照片，眼睛一亮，語氣迅速轉為疑問：「你找到了她？」
曉陽點開手機，展示給黃敏華看另一張照片，「這是給我借住的朋友的照片。「
黃敏華仔細比對著兩張照片，突然皺了皺眉頭：「除了頭髮顏色不一樣，根本是同一個人吧！」
曉陽沉默了片刻，歎了口氣：「最初我也這麼覺得，但你知道，這世間真有這麼相似的人。這個女孩叫安妮，真名她沒告訴我，只說她來自上海，學服裝設計。」
黃敏華的好奇心被完全激發了，指尖輕輕敲打著餐桌，低聲推理道：「這個叫安妮的，會不會是你女友的孿生姐妹？」
曉陽眼神堅定，語氣毫不猶豫：「不可能！我從來沒聽說過她家裡有姐妹。」
黃敏華思索片刻，忽然拍了下桌子，眼睛一亮：「等等！只有一種可能，就是那安妮其實就是你失蹤的女友。她可能出了什麼事，失去了記憶！」
曉陽沉默了片刻，輕聲說道：「你這麼說，倒是提醒我了，但她對我完全陌生，沒有任何似曾相識的感覺……」
黃敏華挑了挑眉，抬手彈了下指尖，嘴角露出一抹神秘的笑：「我有辦法驗證安妮的身份！」
曉陽眼中閃過一絲好奇，「什麼辦法？」
黃敏華直視他，語氣認真：「你女友身上有胎記或黑痣嗎？」
曉陽沉思了一下，點點頭：「有，胎記。可是它在私密的部位。」
黃敏華瞥了他一眼，壞笑道：「那就簡單了，乾脆在浴室裡安裝一隻隱蔽的攝像頭，應該能看得清楚吧？」
曉陽的臉瞬間漲紅，急忙擺手，「這……我做不來。」
黃敏華輕輕笑了笑，語氣挑逗：「做不來？那你們之前的親密關係是假的吧？」
曉陽神色有些尷尬，低下頭：「慧君是天主教徒，我們從來沒有做過那種事。」
黃敏華挑了挑眉，好奇地問：「可是你不是說，你們談到過結婚嗎？」
曉陽點點頭，語氣堅定：「是的，我們確實談到過結婚，但我們從未發生過那種事。」
黃敏華有些挑釁地問：「那你怎麼知道她私密處有胎記？」
曉陽的眼神有些恍惚，低聲答道：「我們一起去墾丁白沙灣玩水的時候，我不小心發現的，在她肚臍下方。」
黃敏華不由得笑了出聲：「哇哩啦！肚臍下方哪算私密處啊？不過，這下要調查她的身份就容易多了！」
曉陽眼神一亮：「哦？你有辦法？」
黃敏華得意地笑了：「用老辦法啦！讓她有機會穿上兩截式比基尼。「
曉陽皺了皺眉，憂慮地問：「可是如果她穿的是連體式的，比基尼材質又透水，那不就看不清楚了？」
黃敏華微微一笑，挑釁地說：「那你就先發制人！找個藉口送她一套兩截式的比基尼！「
曉陽愣了一下，傻傻地問：「什麼藉口送她這麼貼身的東西？而且，我跟她又不算很熟。」黃敏華得意地笑了：「過幾天就西洋情人節了，你就拿這個當藉口！」
曉陽皺了皺眉，心裡有些不安：「送這種禮物會不會顯得太奇怪？安妮不會覺得不適應嗎？」
黃敏華自信滿滿地說：「不會，女孩收到男孩的貼身禮物，通常都會覺得‘他對我有意思’，除非她對你完全沒有感覺。否則這招肯定管用！」
曉陽深深看了她一眼，終於歎了口氣：「好吧，試試吧。」
黃敏華抬起手，指著桌上的湯：「那先用餐吧，湯都涼了。」
此時，黃敏華心裡其實有些忐忑。她擔心如果安妮真的是曉陽正在尋找的失蹤女友，而她只因失憶而變得面目全非，那麼一旦安妮的身份確認，曉陽肯定會盡一切努力幫助她恢復記憶。而到時候，自己也許就變成了那個名副其實的「第三者」，這該怎麼辦呢？

林曉陽的內心也在動搖：「如果安妮真的是失蹤的謝慧君，那我究竟該不該下這個賭注？等待慧君恢復記憶，最終放手讓敏華離開？但如果安妮不是慧君，怎麼她的聲音和眼神這麼像呢？」

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傍晚的香榭麗舍大道，夕陽的餘暉灑在大街兩旁的高樓和咖啡館上，給街道增添了一層溫暖的金色。空氣中彌漫著咖啡和甜點的香氣，人群熙熙攘攘，腳步聲和車流聲交織成一片城市的交響樂。林曉陽和安妮站在一家小巧的咖啡館門口，微風拂過，安妮的長髮輕輕飄動，她穿著一襲桃紅色的洋裝，洋裝的貼身剪裁完美勾畫出她玲瓏有致的身形，青春與活力的氣息撲面而來。她的笑容明媚，眼中閃爍著一種獨特的魅力，仿佛這座城市的一部分。
林曉陽站在她的旁邊，目光有些羞澀，手裡拿著一個精緻的手提袋。空氣中的涼意讓他有些緊張，但他的心跳卻出奇的平穩。
他深吸一口氣，微微靠近安妮，輕聲說：「安妮，過幾天就是西洋情人節，這是給你的禮物。「說著，他把手提袋遞到她面前，眼神期待卻又帶著幾分不安。
安妮接過袋子，眼中流露出一絲好奇，低頭看了一眼袋裡的東西，又抬起頭，帶著一抹微笑，調皮地問：「哦？我們才剛認識不久，才開始交往，你就這麼著急給我送禮物？」
林曉陽有些緊張地摸了摸後腦勺，臉上浮現出一抹紅暈，咳了一聲，鼓起勇氣說：「我……我只是想知道，你，願意和我一起過情人節嗎？
」
安妮頓時愣了一下，眼神柔和，嘴角勾起一個溫暖的笑容。她輕輕眨了眨眼睛，帶著戲謔的語氣問：「林大哥，這算是向我表白嗎？」
林曉陽的心跳驟然加速，他的臉紅得像是塗了一層胭脂，但他還是堅定地點了點頭，帶著一抹羞澀的笑容，目光微微閃避：「嗯，算是吧。」
安妮笑了，眼中似乎有一種欣賞的光芒，她低聲說道：「好吧！不過，我們先當朋友，交往一段時間，看看是否合適再決定是不是情侶，這樣可以嗎？」
林曉陽微微松了口氣，露出了一個輕鬆的笑容：「當然可以，我很願意。」
兩人並肩走在人行道上，偶爾有幾輛車駛過，帶起的風輕輕拂過安妮的發梢。街道兩旁的精品店櫥窗裡，燈光璀璨，五光十色，仿佛是一個不夜城的誘人景象。走著走著，他們來到了一家高端男性精品店前，安妮忽然停下腳步，轉向林曉陽，笑著說：「我們進去看看吧！挑一件你喜歡的，我送給你。」
林曉陽看著她那期待的眼神，心中一陣溫暖，點點頭，帶著些許驚訝和感動：「你真要送我禮物？」
安妮輕輕拍了拍他的肩膀，眼神中滿是玩笑：「你也該有點心意吧，情人節嘛。」她說著，便率先走進了店裡，身姿輕盈而自信，仿佛這個世界的焦點就是她。

林曉陽一時愣住，緊跟在她身後，心中卻不禁升起一股暖流。他從未想到過自己會如此輕易地被一個女人吸引，尤其是像安妮這樣獨立又帶有神秘色彩的女人。走進精品店的那一刻，空間的靜謐與店內豪華的氣氛讓他稍微放鬆了些許。他看著安妮挑選衣服的身影，突然覺得，她對自己的好意，似乎比任何華麗的禮物都更讓他感動。
「你喜歡這種風格嗎？」安妮回頭望著他，眉眼間透露著一種似乎在考量他的喜好。
林曉陽笑了笑，輕輕搖了搖頭：「我喜歡簡單一點的，你挑的就好。」
安妮沒有再多說什麼，轉身走向一排西裝。她的手指輕輕拂過每一件衣服，仿佛在挑選的不只是衣物，而是一個與林曉陽的未來。她知道，這個男人的心思已經被她捕獲，只是時間，能否讓他們真正走到一起？
林曉陽站在一旁，看著安妮熟練地挑選衣服，心中暗自想著，也許他們的故事，才剛剛開始。

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夜晚，安妮的公寓裡，昏黃的台燈光斑斕地灑在白色沙發和木地板上，空氣裡彌漫著淡淡的香薰氣息，安靜而溫馨。林曉陽坐在沙發的邊緣，目光緊緊鎖定著眼前的安妮。她穿著一套藍色和白色相間的兩截式比基尼，鏡子中的她身材曲線優美，陽光透過窗簾的縫隙灑在她的皮膚上，增添了一絲柔和的光澤。林曉陽的心跳不自覺地加速，眼前的她，仿佛讓他看到的是多年前失蹤的慧君。每一個細節，都讓他心頭一陣陣的悸動。
安妮轉身面對著他，微微一笑，語氣中帶著一絲挑逗：「怎麼樣？很合身吧！而且這是我最喜歡的顏色。」
林曉陽的眼神柔和且深情，他的聲音低沉而帶著一絲顫抖：「安妮，你一直都喜歡桃紅色，不是嗎？你曾經說過，桃紅代表著溫柔的幸福。」
安妮愣了一下，眼中閃過一絲疑惑，微微傾頭問道：「林大哥，你怎麼知道我這麼喜歡桃紅色？」
林曉陽的目光不離她，他的臉上帶著淡淡的微笑，但眼中卻有一種深沉的情感：「我當然知道，因為你是我的女友，慧君。你一直是。」
安妮的眼神瞬間變得複雜，眉頭微微皺起，搖了搖頭，試圖將這種情感拉回理智：「大哥，你可能認錯人了…我不叫慧君。」
林曉陽的心一沉，他的聲音更加堅定，幾乎帶著一些懇求：「慧君，我不在意你是否記得我，因為我依然深深地愛著你。」說著，他不自覺地伸出手，似乎想要抱住她，然而就在此時，安妮後退了一步，她的身體有些僵硬，眼中閃過一絲警覺。
安妮低聲說：「大哥，別這樣…我們已經約定好，先做朋友。「她的語氣沒有絲毫做作，而是帶著真切的拒絕，臉上的表情複雜而難以捉摸。
林曉陽的臉色微微一變，他意識到自己的舉動讓她產生了不安。他停下了動作，眼神中有一絲遺憾和深沉的痛：「慧君，我不知道你失去記憶之前發生了什麼事情，但我願意和你重新開始，無論從哪裡開始。」
安妮緊皺著眉，眼中閃爍著困惑與掙扎：「為什麼你一直堅持把我當作你失蹤的女友？難道你只是把我當作她的替身嗎？」她的聲音低沉，帶著一種難以言喻的情感，似乎有些心疼，也有些憤怒。
林曉陽見她如此反應，心中一陣疼痛，他深吸一口氣，走近她一步，語氣溫柔卻帶著歉意：「安妮，對不起，剛才我失態了。請原諒我，我只是太想找回她，也太害怕失去你。」他停下腳步，靜靜地看著她，眼神中充滿了悔意。
安妮輕輕搖了搖頭，沉默了片刻，才開口：「我明白你的心情，林大哥，但你必須明白，我不是她。」她的語氣柔和，卻堅定。
兩人靜默對視，空氣中似乎充滿了未說完的話和未解開的結。

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深夜，安妮輕手輕腳地走進林曉陽的臥房，室內僅有檯燈發出的微弱光亮，四周籠罩著一層寧靜的氛圍。桌面上散落著幾本書，最顯眼的是一本厚重的日記本和一本相冊，安妮好奇地走近，坐在桌邊的椅子上。她輕輕翻開那本相冊，看到裡面是林曉陽與謝慧君的畢業照，以及幾張兩人出遊時親密無間的合照。每一張照片都顯得溫馨而真實，眼中不禁湧上了一股難以名狀的情感。
她輕歎一聲，接著打開日記本，字裡行間透露出林曉陽深沉的情感。她讀到一段話：「從肚臍下的胎記，終於證實安妮就是失蹤的慧君。慧君到底發生了什麼事，竟然完全失憶，對我毫無感應，我到底該怎麼辦呢？上帝！為什麼你出了這道難題給我？」
安妮的目光停留在這些文字上，心中不禁泛起陣陣波瀾。她將日記本輕輕放回桌面，望向正在熟睡的林曉陽，眼神複雜。她看著他安靜的面龐，心中微微動容。輕輕走到窗邊，安妮低聲自語：「看來林大哥心裡依然牽掛那個叫謝慧君的女孩，那個和我一模一樣的女孩。林大哥如此用情至深，即便我真的是失憶的慧君，如今人鬼殊途，我怎麼能利用他對慧君的深情呢？」
她站在窗前，凝視著遠處的夜空，深深吸了口氣，做出了決定。她回到桌旁，拿起筆，在日記本的最後寫下了一段留言，字跡清晰而堅定：「林大哥，不小心翻閱了你的相冊和日記，你一直在尋找的失蹤女友，若安妮不是失憶的那個人，安妮想要對你說：感謝你對慧君的深情！但安妮的真實身份其實是一隻被賦予任務的吸血鬼，我不忍心利用你或傷害你。請你徹底忘記安妮吧！安妮走了，大哥保重身體。」
安妮寫完後輕輕合上日記本，深吸了一口氣，輕輕走出房間，緩緩關上門。空氣中彌漫著一股無法言說的沉重。
次日早晨，林曉陽從睡夢中醒來，伸了個懶腰，準備開始整理桌面。他的目光落在了那本日記本上，微微皺眉，似乎意識到什麼不對勁。他打開日記本，翻到最後一頁，眼睛迅速掃過安妮留下的字跡，心跳驟然加速。
他的手指停留在字跡上，似乎有些愣住了。然後，他猛地站起身，臉色蒼白，眼中閃過一絲痛苦與不解。他飛快地沖出房門，走向客廳，發現一切都已經被安妮整理得整潔如新。沒有一絲雜亂，仿佛她從未存在過。
林曉陽的心猛地一沉，幾乎無法呼吸。他沖進安妮的臥房，眼睛迅速掃過床鋪和梳粧檯，卻發現那些熟悉的物品早已不見，仿佛她從未住在這裡過。床上空無一物，梳粧檯上也只是一些寂靜的空白。
一陣涼風吹過，林曉陽突然跪倒在地，雙手撐地，心中的痛楚與無助瞬間爆發。他的喉嚨裡發出低沉的嗚咽，聲音顫抖：「慧君！慧君……」他仰天大喊，淚水不自覺地湧上眼眶，卻又無法發出更多的聲音。

整個房間陷入一片死寂，只有林曉陽的呼吸和心跳在空蕩的空間裡回蕩。他緊緊抓住自己臉上的淚水，低聲喃喃：「你在哪裡？為什麼不再告訴我一切？」

【Eleven】Investigating Annie’s True Identity

37

At noon, Lin Xiaoyang and Huang Minhua chose a quiet little restaurant for lunch. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and the air was filled with the aroma of coffee and toasted bread. The two sat by the window, with a wide view of the lively street outside.

After ordering from the menu, Xiaoyang handed it to the server. Huang Minhua looked at him somewhat anxiously and asked, “Which hotel did you stay at last night? Give me the phone number. I’ll come see you whenever I have some free time.”

Xiaoyang lowered his head somewhat awkwardly and rubbed his fingers together, answering with a hint of uneasiness. “I stayed at a friend’s place last night.”

Huang Minhua frowned, a trace of suspicion flashing in her eyes. “Give me the address.”

Xiaoyang paused slightly and looked up at her. His heart tightened. “I didn’t let my friend know in advance, so it wouldn’t be very convenient...”

Huang Minhua looked at him in confusion, her tone slightly provocative. “I’m your girlfriend. What’s so inconvenient about me coming to see you?”

Her tone was somewhat hurried, as if she did not want to let any detail slip by. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and her tone became teasing. “Unless your friend is a beautiful girl. Is that it?”

Xiaoyang looked at her with a somewhat awkward expression, but he answered honestly. “She is a woman, actually. She’s from Shanghai. The two of us only met two months ago. She came to Paris on business and happened to run into me.”

Huang Minhua’s expression suddenly darkened. She frowned and asked, “Then... are you two living together?”

Xiaoyang hurriedly waved his hands, his voice flustered. “No, we’re not living together. I’m just temporarily staying at her apartment.”

Just then, the server brought their food over, interrupting their conversation. Xiaoyang sighed softly and began to compose himself. After the server walked away, Huang Minhua looked directly at him, her tone displeased. “A man and a woman alone in the same room, and you don’t call that living together? What do you call it?”

Xiaoyang became slightly agitated. He took a photograph from his wallet and handed it to Huang Minhua. “This is my missing girlfriend.”

Huang Minhua looked at the photograph, her eyes lighting up. Her tone immediately changed to one of surprise. “You found her?”

Xiaoyang opened another photograph on his phone and showed it to Huang Minhua. “This is a photo of the friend who is letting me stay at her place.”

Huang Minhua carefully compared the two photographs, then suddenly frowned. “Other than the different hair color, they’re basically the same person!”

Xiaoyang was silent for a moment, then sighed. “That’s what I thought at first, too. But you know, there really are people in this world who look incredibly alike. This girl’s name is Annie. She hasn’t told me her real name. She only said she’s from Shanghai and studies fashion design.”

Huang Minhua’s curiosity was completely aroused. She lightly tapped her fingertips on the table and reasoned in a low voice. “Could this Annie be your girlfriend’s twin sister?”

Xiaoyang’s gaze was firm, and his answer was unequivocal. “Impossible! I’ve never heard that she had any sisters.”

Huang Minhua thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped the table, her eyes lighting up. “Wait! There’s only one possibility. Annie is actually your missing girlfriend. Maybe something happened to her and she lost her memory!”

Xiaoyang was silent for a moment before saying softly, “What you said does remind me of something. But I’m a complete stranger to her. She doesn’t have any sense of familiarity with me at all...”

Huang Minhua raised an eyebrow and flicked her fingertips, a mysterious smile appearing at the corners of her mouth. “I have a way to verify Annie’s identity!”

A trace of curiosity flashed in Xiaoyang’s eyes. “What way?”

Huang Minhua looked directly at him, her tone serious. “Does your girlfriend have a birthmark or mole on her body?”

Xiaoyang thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes, a birthmark. But it’s in a private area.”

Huang Minhua glanced at him and gave him a mischievous smile. “Then that makes it easy. Just install a hidden camera in the bathroom. You should be able to see it clearly, right?”

Xiaoyang’s face instantly flushed red, and he hurriedly waved his hands. “I... I can’t do that.”

Huang Minhua smiled softly, her tone teasing. “Can’t do it? Then your intimate relationship with her before was fake, wasn’t it?”

Xiaoyang looked somewhat embarrassed and lowered his head. “Hui-jun is a Catholic. We’ve never done that kind of thing.”

Huang Minhua raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, “But didn’t you say the two of you had talked about getting married?”

Xiaoyang nodded, his tone firm. “Yes, we did talk about getting married, but we never had that kind of relationship.”

Huang Minhua asked provocatively, “Then how do you know she has a birthmark in such a private place?”

Xiaoyang’s gaze became somewhat distant as he answered quietly, “When we went swimming at Baisha Beach in Kenting, I accidentally noticed it. It’s below her navel.”

Huang Minhua could not help laughing out loud. “Come on! How is below the navel considered a private area? Anyway, now it’ll be much easier to investigate her identity!”

Xiaoyang’s eyes lit up. “Oh? You have a way?”

Huang Minhua smiled triumphantly. “Use the old trick! Give her a chance to wear a two-piece bikini.”

Xiaoyang frowned and asked worriedly, “But what if she wears a one-piece? And if the bikini material becomes transparent when wet, wouldn’t it be impossible to see clearly?”

Huang Minhua smiled slightly and said provocatively, “Then take the initiative! Find an excuse to give her a two-piece bikini!”

Xiaoyang was stunned and asked foolishly, “What excuse could I use to give her something that personal? Besides, I’m not even that close to her.”

Huang Minhua smiled triumphantly. “Valentine’s Day is coming up in a few days. Use that as your excuse!”

Xiaoyang frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy. “Wouldn’t giving her that kind of gift seem too strange? Wouldn’t Annie feel uncomfortable?”

Huang Minhua said confidently, “No. When a girl receives an intimate gift from a guy, she’ll usually think, ‘He’s interested in me,’ unless she has absolutely no feelings for you. Otherwise, this trick will definitely work!”

Xiaoyang looked deeply at her and finally sighed. “All right. Let’s give it a try.”

Huang Minhua raised her hand and pointed at the soup on the table. “Then let’s eat first. The soup is getting cold.”

At this moment, Huang Minhua was actually feeling somewhat anxious inside. She worried that if Annie really was Xiaoyang’s missing girlfriend, and had merely become completely different because of amnesia, then once Annie’s identity was confirmed, Xiaoyang would certainly do everything he could to help her recover her memories. And when that happened, Minhua might become the true “third party.” What was she supposed to do?

Lin Xiaoyang’s heart was wavering as well. “If Annie really is my missing Xie Hui-jun, should I really take this gamble? Should I wait for Hui-jun to recover her memories and eventually let Minhua go? But if Annie isn’t Hui-jun, then why are her voice and eyes so much like hers?”

38

In the evening, the setting sun cast its afterglow over the high-rise buildings and cafés lining the Champs-Élysées, bathing the street in a warm golden light. The air was filled with the aroma of coffee and pastries. Crowds bustled along the street, while footsteps and the sound of traffic blended into an urban symphony. Lin Xiaoyang and Annie stood outside a small café. A gentle breeze blew past, lightly lifting Annie’s long hair. She wore a bright pink dress whose fitted cut perfectly outlined her graceful figure, radiating youthful energy and vitality. Her smile was bright, and a unique charm sparkled in her eyes, as if she were part of the city itself.

Lin Xiaoyang stood beside her, looking somewhat shy, a delicate shopping bag in his hand. The coolness in the air made him somewhat nervous, but his heartbeat was surprisingly steady.

He took a deep breath and moved slightly closer to Annie. “Annie, Valentine’s Day is coming in a few days. This is a gift for you.” As he spoke, he handed the shopping bag to her, his eyes filled with anticipation yet also carrying a hint of uneasiness.

Annie took the bag, curiosity showing in her eyes. She looked down at what was inside, then raised her head with a smile and asked playfully, “Oh? We’ve only just met, and we’ve only just started dating, yet you’re already in such a hurry to give me a gift?”

Lin Xiaoyang nervously rubbed the back of his head. A blush appeared on his face. He cleared his throat and summoned his courage. “I... I just want to know, would you be willing to spend Valentine’s Day with me?”

Annie froze for a moment. Her expression softened, and a warm smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. She blinked lightly and asked teasingly, “Big Brother Lin, does this count as a confession?”

Xiaoyang’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated. His face turned red as if covered with rouge, but he still nodded firmly, a shy smile on his face as he slightly avoided her gaze. “Yes, I guess it does.”

Annie smiled, a trace of appreciation seeming to shine in her eyes. She said softly, “All right! But let’s be friends first. We can spend some time getting to know each other and see whether we’re a good match before deciding whether to become a couple. Is that okay?”

Lin Xiaoyang breathed a slight sigh of relief and smiled easily. “Of course. I’d be happy to.”

The two walked side by side along the sidewalk. Occasionally, cars passed by, their breeze gently lifting the ends of Annie’s hair. The windows of the upscale boutiques lining the street glittered with colorful lights, creating the alluring sight of a city that never sleeps. As they walked, they came to an upscale men’s boutique. Annie suddenly stopped and turned toward Lin Xiaoyang with a smile. “Let’s go inside and take a look! Pick something you like, and I’ll buy it for you.”

Seeing the anticipation in her eyes, Lin Xiaoyang felt a warm feeling in his heart. He nodded, somewhat surprised and touched. “You really want to give me a gift?”

Annie gently patted him on the shoulder, her eyes full of teasing. “You should show a little thoughtfulness, too. It’s Valentine’s Day, after all.” As she spoke, she walked into the store first, light and confident in her movements, as if she were the center of attention in the entire world.

Lin Xiaoyang stood there stunned for a moment, then quickly followed her inside. A warm feeling rose in his heart. He had never expected to be so easily attracted to a woman, especially an independent and mysterious woman like Annie. The moment he entered the boutique, the quiet space and luxurious atmosphere helped him relax somewhat. Watching Annie choose clothes, he suddenly felt that her kindness toward him seemed more touching than any extravagant gift.

“Do you like this style?” Annie turned back to look at him, her expression seeming to take his preferences into consideration.

Lin Xiaoyang smiled and gently shook his head. “I like something simpler. You choose.”

Annie said nothing more. She turned and walked toward a row of suits. Her fingers lightly brushed over each garment, as if she were choosing not merely clothes, but a future with Lin Xiaoyang. She knew that she had already captured this man’s heart. The question was whether time would allow them to truly come together.

Lin Xiaoyang stood to one side, watching Annie skillfully choose clothes. He thought to himself that perhaps their story had only just begun.

39

That night, in Annie’s apartment, the warm light from the table lamp fell in scattered patches across the white sofa and wooden floor. A faint fragrance of aromatherapy filled the quiet, cozy room. Lin Xiaoyang sat on the edge of the sofa, his eyes fixed intently on Annie before him. She was wearing a blue-and-white two-piece bikini. In the mirror, her graceful curves were clearly reflected. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains onto her skin, adding a soft glow. Lin Xiaoyang’s heartbeat unconsciously quickened. The woman before him seemed to make him see Hui-jun, who had disappeared years ago. Every detail caused a wave of emotion to stir in his heart.

Annie turned to face him and smiled slightly, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. “How is it? It fits perfectly, right? And this is my favorite color.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s gaze was gentle and affectionate, his voice low and slightly trembling. “Annie, you’ve always liked bright pink, haven’t you? You once said that bright pink represents gentle happiness.”

Annie froze for a moment, confusion flashing in her eyes. She tilted her head slightly and asked, “Big Brother Lin, how do you know that I like bright pink so much?”

Lin Xiaoyang did not take his eyes off her. A faint smile rested on his face, but his eyes held deep emotion. “Of course I know, because you’re my girlfriend, Hui-jun. You always have been.”

Annie’s expression instantly became complicated. She frowned slightly and shook her head, trying to bring the emotion back under the control of reason. “Big Brother, you may have mistaken me for someone else... My name isn’t Hui-jun.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s heart sank. His voice became more determined, almost pleading. “Hui-jun, I don’t care whether you remember me, because I still love you deeply.” As he spoke, he unconsciously reached out, seemingly wanting to embrace her. But at that moment, Annie took a step back. Her body stiffened slightly, and a trace of wariness flashed in her eyes.

Annie said softly, “Big Brother, don’t... We already agreed that we would be friends first.” There was no affectation in her tone, only a genuine refusal, while the expression on her face was complicated and difficult to read.

Lin Xiaoyang’s expression changed slightly. He realized that his actions had made her uncomfortable. He stopped and his eyes showed a trace of regret and deep pain. “Hui-jun, I don’t know what happened before you lost your memory, but I’m willing to start over with you, no matter where we have to begin.”

Annie frowned deeply, confusion and inner conflict flickering in her eyes. “Why do you keep insisting on treating me as your missing girlfriend? Am I just a substitute for her to you?” Her voice was low, carrying an indescribable emotion, seeming to contain both hurt and anger.

Seeing her reaction, Xiaoyang felt a pang of pain. He took a deep breath and stepped closer, his tone gentle yet apologetic. “Annie, I’m sorry. I lost control just now. Please forgive me. I just wanted so badly to find her, and I’m also so afraid of losing you.” He stopped and quietly looked at her, his eyes filled with remorse.

Annie gently shook her head. After remaining silent for a moment, she said, “I understand how you feel, Big Brother Lin, but you have to understand that I’m not her.” Her tone was gentle yet firm.

The two stood silently facing each other, the air seemingly filled with unfinished words and unresolved knots.

40

Late that night, Annie quietly entered Lin Xiaoyang’s bedroom. The room was illuminated only by the faint light of the table lamp, and a peaceful atmosphere enveloped everything around her. Several books were scattered across the desk. Most conspicuous were a thick diary and a photo album. Curious, Annie walked over and sat in the chair beside the desk. She gently opened the photo album and saw graduation photographs of Lin Xiaoyang and Xie Hui-jun, along with several intimate photographs of the two of them traveling together. Every photograph looked warm and genuine, and an indescribable emotion welled up in her eyes.

She sighed softly, then opened the diary. The words revealed Lin Xiaoyang’s deep emotions. She read a passage:

“From the birthmark below the navel, it was finally confirmed that Annie is the missing Hui-jun. What happened to Hui-jun that caused her to lose all her memories and have no response to me at all? What am I supposed to do? God! Why have you given me this impossible dilemma?”

Annie’s eyes remained fixed on those words, and waves of emotion rose in her heart. She gently placed the diary back on the desk and looked at Lin Xiaoyang, who was fast asleep, her expression complicated. She gazed at his quiet face, her heart moved slightly. Then she quietly walked to the window and murmured to herself, “It seems that Big Brother Lin still cares deeply about that girl named Xie Hui-jun, the girl who looks exactly like me. Lin truly loves her so deeply. Even if I really am the amnesiac Hui-jun, now that humans and ghosts belong to different worlds, how could I take advantage of his deep love for Hui-jun?”

She stood by the window, gazing at the night sky in the distance. She took a deep breath and made her decision. She returned to the desk, picked up a pen, and wrote a message at the end of the diary in clear, firm handwriting:

“Big Brother Lin, I accidentally read through your photo album and diary. Regarding the missing girlfriend you have been searching for: if Annie is not the person who lost her memory, Annie wants to tell you this: Thank you for loving Hui-jun so deeply! But Annie’s true identity is actually a vampire who was given a mission. I cannot bear to take advantage of you or hurt you. Please forget Annie completely! Annie is leaving. Big Brother, please take good care of yourself.”

After finishing, Annie gently closed the diary, took a deep breath, quietly left the room, and slowly closed the door behind her. The air was filled with an indescribably heavy feeling.

The next morning, Lin Xiaoyang woke from his sleep, stretched, and prepared to tidy the desk. His eyes fell on the diary. He frowned slightly, as if realizing that something was wrong. He opened the diary and turned to the last page. His eyes quickly scanned the words Annie had left, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

His fingers stopped over the handwriting, and he seemed stunned for a moment. Then he suddenly stood up, his face pale, pain and confusion flashing in his eyes. He rushed out of the room and into the living room, only to find that everything had already been tidied by Annie and was spotless. There was not a trace of disorder, as if she had never existed.

Lin Xiaoyang’s heart sank, and he could hardly breathe. He rushed into Annie’s bedroom, his eyes quickly scanning the bed and vanity, only to discover that all the familiar belongings were already gone, as if she had never lived there. The bed was completely empty, and the vanity held nothing but silent emptiness.

A cold breeze passed through the room, and Lin Xiaoyang suddenly dropped to his knees, bracing himself against the floor with both hands. The pain and helplessness in his heart erupted instantly. A low sob escaped his throat, his voice trembling. “Hui-jun! Hui-jun...”

He raised his head and cried out toward the sky. Tears involuntarily welled up in his eyes, yet he could not produce another sound.

The entire room fell into complete silence. Only Lin Xiaoyang’s breathing and heartbeat echoed through the empty space. He tightly wiped away the tears from his face and murmured softly, “Where are you? Why won’t you tell me everything anymore?”