It seemed like something very important, right on the tip of her tongue, something she had cherished and longed for. Why couldn't she remember it?
What was it?
An overwhelming sense of unease enveloped her. Gou Wen felt a tightness in her chest, a foul sweetness surging up her throat.
She slammed a fist onto the marble bay window, her expression growing increasingly grim. "Why can't I remember... why..."
Gritting her teeth, Gou Wen pounded the marble surface of the bay window again and again.
The pain brought a quiet to her mind. A hazy figure in her memory began to clear.
It was the person she held in her arms, the person she had been searching for desperately.
"Shen Ying..." she murmured the name, her eyes shifting from confusion to clarity.
She turned abruptly, breaking out in a cold sweat.
She had almost forgotten her sister!
"Such potent poison..." Gou Wen muttered, her panicked eyes filled with fear and tension.
Earlier, Tang Ruiyang's medicine had suppressed it, using poison to counter poison, forcefully helping her retain her memories.
Now that the medicine had run out, the poison was retaliating so violently.
Not only had it cost her half her life this time, but it was also ruthlessly attempting to strip away the most precious things from her memory.
Cruel, insane.
No, she absolutely could not forget everything like this.
Gou Wen stumbled from the bay window, supporting herself against the wall as she headed towards the bathroom. Facing the mirror on the bathroom wall, she pulled open her collar.
Flipping her right wrist, she grasped the short dagger she often used.
Staring into the mirror, Gou Wen plunged the tip of the dagger into the skin below her collarbone, carving two characters with each stroke.
SHEN YING.
Without a sound of pain, Gou Wen stared blankly at the marks she had carved into herself.
Blood soaked her collar, her already sickly pale skin now appearing as fragile as paper, as if it could be torn apart with little effort.
"Time is running out," Gou Wen's lips trembled with pain. "I... I might not live to see the plan through."
This surge of poison had almost made her forget Shen Ying. The next time it struck, would it make her forget who she was, or even who her enemies were?
Thinking of this, Gou Wen's gaze turned grim.
She would take a desperate gamble. Tomorrow would be the death of Xia Qingtian and Ling Lan!
Meanwhile, Song Junhan was bathing.
Su Wan, listening to the splashing water outside the bathroom, tiptoed back into the bedroom and called her father. She couldn't help but complain, "Dad, honestly, don't give Junhan such messy jobs in the future."
"What?" President Su frowned. "Are you already feeling protective of him after just arriving?"
"Not at all," Su Wan said, puffing out her cheeks. "I don't know where this client came from, but they're so strange. They refuse to stay in a hotel and insist on staying at Junhan's place..."
Recalling Gou Wen's appearance, Su Wan's heart churned with jealousy. "She looks like a temptress, a real bad sort!"
"Hm?" President Su's first thought was that Song Junhan had cheated on her, keeping a mistress at home and deceiving Su Wan. He placated her with a few words, saying he would look into it and wouldn't cooperate with them in the future if necessary.
But then, Su Wan continued to complain dismissively about Ah Long. "That tall guy, he looks terrifying. I wouldn't be surprised if he were a fugitive murderer!"
"Hm?" Hearing this, President Su immediately became suspicious, his gaze shifting. "What did you say? What tall guy?"
"Just a tall guy. He looks so strong, at least 1.9 meters, with a rough face," Su Wan shivered as she recalled. "He doesn't look like a good person."
"Describe that woman to me again," President Su's gaze turned dark.
Su Wan gave a brief description, and then there was silence on the other end of the phone. "What are you saying? What's wrong?"
Just then, Song Junhan's voice sounded from behind Su Wan. "Who are you calling?"
Su Wan yelped, nearly dropping her phone. She then forced a laugh. "No one, I... I was just letting my dad know I'm safe."
Seeing Su Wan's slightly unnatural expression, Song Junhan didn't entirely believe her but didn't pry further.
"Dad, I'll hang up if there's nothing else. Don't worry, everything is fine here with Junhan. My..." Su Wan's words were cut off by President Su.
"Have him pick up the phone," President Su's voice was low.
"Dad!" Su Wan's eyelids twitched. Was her father planning to deal with Song Junhan right now?
Wouldn't Song Junhan know it was her complaining?
That wouldn't do at all!
At this moment, President Su repeated himself coldly.
Only then did Su Wan hand the phone to Song Junhan. "My dad wants to talk to you."
Song Junhan hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take the phone and bringing it to his ear. "Hello."
Skipping all pleasantries, President Su got straight to the point. "Gou Wen is with you."
Song Junhan was startled, then glanced at Su Wan.
Seeing Su Wan guiltily avert her eyes, as if she had told President Su everything, Song Junhan cursed Su Wan as an idiot in his mind, though he didn't show it. He hesitantly replied, "Yes."
"Closely monitor Gou Wen's movements," President Su's gaze darkened. "Report her every action to me."
"President Su, she..." Song Junhan broke out in a cold sweat. Monitor Gou Wen?
He had personally witnessed Gou Wen's ruthlessness. Those who betrayed her met with increasingly tragic fates!
If he did the same, then...
"Gou Wen's desertion is a capital offense. You harboring her won't save you either," President Su's words stunned Song Junhan.
"What!" Song Junhan's face turned pale, his ears ringing.
"Cooperate in eliminating Gou Wen, and I can still find a way to save your life. Otherwise..." President Su didn't finish his sentence. "Don't mention this to Su Wan."
"Okay." Song Junhan's hands were shaking. He didn't know what else he could do but agree.
His mind in turmoil, Song Junhan was still trembling even after hanging up President Su's call.
How could this have happened?
"Junhan... did my dad scold you?" Su Wan couldn't hear President Su's conversation with Song Junhan, but seeing Song Junhan's state, she knew she had likely made a mistake.
Her issues with Song Junhan were theirs to resolve; she shouldn't have complained to her father.
Now, Junhan had been scolded, and her heart ached terribly.
"Junhan?" Seeing Song Junhan staring blankly and ignoring her, Su Wan stepped forward to touch him. Suddenly, she saw Song Junhan holding his head, collapsing to the ground in pain, whimpering and groaning.
This terrified Su Wan. She called out to Song Junhan several times, but he didn't improve. Frightened, she burst into tears.