They had indeed grown up together, childhood sweethearts. In the photos, she always smiled naturally and happily. But why would he do this, making her permanently forget her past, even without regard for her health?
No, she couldn't continue living in the world Yang Sijie had woven for her. She had to reclaim her past and understand everything.
"Susu, Susu, what's wrong? Are you listening to me?" Sophie asked, seeing her lost in thought.
Gu Susu looked at her and held her hand on the table. "Sophie, I want to go back to Lancheng. To find my lost memories."
Sophie's heart fluttered, and she glanced around.
Although she was an outsider, she could now vaguely sense Yang Sijie's terrifying nature. Everything about Gu Susu was under his control.
She felt uncertain herself. Could she afford to provoke someone like him?
Thinking of Susu's current predicament, she still felt compelled to help. "It's easy to book a ticket, but do you have your passport and other documents?"
"At my place." Gu Susu remembered Yang Sijie kept her passport in a safe, and she knew the password.
Sophie asked again, "What about that personal nanny? You're leaving Paris for Lancheng, such a big move. She's bound to notice."
Gu Susu realized this was indeed a major problem. How could she leave without Wendy noticing and go to Lancheng?
Sophie comforted her, "Don't rush. You still have a lot to do right now. Focus on Teacher Emma's work. We'll think of a way, there's always a way."
All she could do now was this. Gu Susu wished for a miracle, for her memory to return instantly.
"Oh, and don't take this medicine anymore," Sophie added. "I asked the doctor. As soon as you stop taking it, you won't have headaches or insomnia, and you won't need sleeping pills."
Gu Susu nodded firmly. Now that she knew the problem, she certainly wouldn't take the antidepressant anymore.
But she couldn't go to Lancheng for now. What if Yang Sijie came back to Paris? If she didn't take her medicine in front of him and he discovered her thoughts, what would he do?
She dared not imagine. She wanted to ask Sophie if Qin Tianyi was still in Paris.
But remembering how much Qin Tianyi had hated her that time, she dared not provoke him again. Suddenly, she thought of someone.
Huo Jin, whom she had met at the exhibition hall. Since she claimed to be her friend, she must know a lot about her past.
"Sophie, can you do me a favor?"
"Tell me, as long as I can do it." Sophie felt it was her duty as a modern woman to help Gu Susu. What era was this? Men still kept women by their side in such ways.
She, a girl who grew up in a country with extremely high female status, could not tolerate such things.
Gu Susu was immensely grateful. She leaned closer and whispered something in her ear.
...
On the streets of New York,
Mark admired the falling snowflakes outside the car window, lost in thought. The rear door was suddenly pulled open, and he quickly looked back.
Yang Sijie got in with a cold expression, his brows furrowed. "Drive."
"Where to?"
"The airport," Yang Sijie said coldly, his face grim.
"To see Miss Gu in Paris, Mr. Yang?"
Yang Sijie irritably loosened his tie, exuding a dangerous aura.
Mark cautiously shut his mouth, afraid of touching his sensitive spot, but he felt Mr. Yang's mood was off.
Every time he flew to Paris before, Mr. Yang was always beaming and in a good mood.
But today, he didn't know what had happened. He only knew that Mr. Yang had just visited a private detective agency alone. He must have received some definite news, likely related to Miss Gu.
Yang Sijie had his secretary book the earliest flight to Paris. As he expected, Qin Tianyi had been in Paris recently, traveling back and forth twice in a short period, visiting the school Gu Susu was currently attending, and even appearing at that fashion show.
He had a hunch that Susu had met Qin Tianyi. He didn't know what Qin Tianyi had said to her that made her speak to him like that.
He couldn't risk letting Susu stay in Paris any longer. This time, he would take her back to New York, hide her where no one could find her, and if she couldn't remember her past, he would forever be her only one.
...
Gu Susu quietly dialed the number Huo Jin had left. The call was answered quickly.
On the phone, they only chatted briefly.
When Gu Susu learned that Huo Jin had not left Paris as she was still negotiating an agency right for a top brand, she felt incredibly fortunate.
She arranged a meeting time with Huo Jin and asked Sophie to bring Huo Jin to Teacher Emma's studio.
Whenever she worked alone in the studio, Wendy would wait in the reception area. So, only in the studio, where no unauthorized personnel were allowed, could she avoid Wendy and talk with Huo Jin.
After finishing the call with Gu Susu, Huo Jin was also looking forward to seeing her again and talking properly.
In fact, after leaving the show and returning to the hotel, she had sent a current photo of Susu to Chang Qingchuan.
Late that night, Chang Qingchuan video-called her and spoke for a long time.
According to Chang Qingchuan, he knew Susu wanted to study abroad, but he didn't know when she left or which school she attended.
What was even stranger was that Susu hadn't contacted him for more than half a year, as if she had vanished into thin air, and he couldn't reach her.
This time, Huo Jin told him she had seen her at a niche fashion show in Paris, which gave him an indescribable surprise.
But when Huo Jin told him that she had lost her memory and completely forgot people and events from her past, he found it unbelievable.
He had originally intended to go to Paris to see the current Gu Susu and try to figure out the cause of her amnesia.
However, Huo Jin stopped him, saying that she had also encountered Qin Tianyi there and advised him not to get involved for the time being, suggesting that Qin Tianyi was likely connected to the matter.
Huo Jin also assured him that she would find Gu Susu again before leaving Paris and help him understand Gu Susu's current situation.
She hadn't expected that while she was trying to find Gu Susu's contact information, Susu would contact her proactively.
But when Susu arranged to meet her, she didn't tell her the meeting location, only saying that a girl named Sophie would pick her up, which made her feel strange.
When Sophie came to pick her up at her hotel, the instructions she gave her in the car made her even more puzzled.
"Hello, Sophie. Forgive me for asking, but why, upon arrival, do I have to pretend to be a designer who is good friends with you, and not show that I know Susu?" she couldn't help but ask. "What kind of trouble is Susu in?"
Sophie couldn't explain it all at once. She said, "It's a long story. For now, you just have to trust that there's a reason for this. Susu can explain everything to you when you meet her."
"Okay." Huo Jin didn't ask any further questions, thinking that everything would become clear when she met Susu.