Chapter 137: It Will Definitely Get Better

After Lin Wanbai returned to Beicheng, Lin Zhouye first had her rest at home while asking Anning to help her study up on the Lin Group so she wouldn't feel flustered when officially taking office.

Lin Zhouye also brought Yang Ryuyue back to resume her role as Lin Wanbais executive assistant. In addition, Lu Mian, the private detective and friend of Han Chen, was assigned to Lin Wanbais side to assist her.

These two worked as an inside-and-outside team with exceptional efficiency.

Even Anning was placed at her disposal.

Among the three, Yang Ryuyue had been with her the longest and understood her preferences and past the best.

Before sending Yang Ryuyue to Lin Wanbai, Lin Zhouye had a private half-hour conversation with her, instructing her to avoid mentioning past events in front of Lin Wanbai, especially the tribulations the Lin family suffered three years ago.

She was told to steer clear of unpleasant matters and keep negative news buried.

Afterward, he took her to meet Lin Wanbai.

As it happened, Lin Wanbai had just returned from the hospital with Lin Jingyu.

Seeing Lin Wanbai again felt like a lifetime away to Yang Ryuyue. The moment she laid eyes on her, her eyes welled up with hot tears, and she broke down crying.

Lin Zhouye introduced them, "This is Yang Ryuyue, your former assistant. She will stay by your side and help you from now on."

Lin Wanbai extended her hand toward her, "Hello."

Swallowing hard, Yang Ryuyue stepped forward and grasped her hand with both of hers, "Long time no see. I never thought I could return to your side and work for you again."

"It must be fate then. But I have amnesia and don't remember anything from the past. Youll probably need to guide me through a lot of things."

"Youre too modest, Miss."

After the introductions, Lin Zhouye asked, "How is Eldest Sister doing? What did the medical report say?"

Lin Jingyu replied, "Very well. The doctor said my recovery is going splendidly. Now that my daughter is back too, things will only get better."

Lin Wanbai nodded, "Yes, they definitely will."

Looking at her, Lin Jingyus eyes heated up, and tears threatened to fall once more. She averted her gaze and muttered, "My goodness, it's so windy today."

Knowing she was about to cry again, Lin Wanbai stepped forward and gave her a hug, "We're inside the house, where would the wind come from?"

"I say there is, it's leaking in through the window." Pointing at the open window in the living room and turning her back, she quickly wiped away her tears. When she turned back around, a smile hung on her face, and her expression was normal.

Over the next few days, apart from staying home with Lin Jingyu and listening to tales of her childhood, Lin Wanbai was taken out by Yang Ryuyue alongside her mother to walk around and sightsee. It was meant to help jog her memory, though carefully avoiding heavy topics.

Lin Wanbai could sense their protectiveness, as if they wanted to prevent her from plunging back into past memories and enduring that agony once more.

Everyone believed her memory loss was a blessing in disguise.

Even if she didn't recognize any of them, not even her closest kin, as long as she could live happily and peacefully, anything was fine.

Lin Jingyu understood it all too well. She remembered everything, every single detail etched into her heart like nails that couldn't be pulled out—or if they were, they would leave deep, gaping holes.

There is nothing more agonizing than plummeting from heaven to hell.

She didn't want Lin Wanbai to suffer alongside her. There was a long life ahead of her, and starting anew from this moment was not too late.

Ever since Lin Wanbais return, Lin Jingyu slept in the same bed with her every night to find peace of mind.

Because of her amnesia, Lin Wanbai felt somewhat unaccustomed at first, but blood runs thick, and maternal intuition bridged the gap. After two or three nights, all awkwardness vanished completely.

Lin Jingyu was deeply considerate and seemed to understand her intuitively. After all, she was her birth mother, capable of guessing most of her inner thoughts at a glance.

Every night before going to sleep, mother and daughter shared a heart-to-heart conversation.

Lin Wanbai briefly shared what Chen Songyuan had said. Lin Jingyu remained calm and even smiled.

Then, sighing softly, she looked at Lin Wanbai and said, "You take after me in most aspects of your personality. If only you were more like your selfish father."

"Wouldn't people despise me then?"

Lin Jingyu laughed, "You're born so pretty, who would despise you? Only when a woman is a bit wicked do men keep her on their minds. Xiaobai, don't dwell on the past anymore. Even if you remembered everything, you would still have to pull yourself together and greet a new life. Instead of that, it's better to be like this, wiping the slate clean so you can embrace the future all the better. People must look forward; no matter what, one must look forward."

"But my memories hold far more warmth than pain. Life is never smooth sailing, and we must accept both the good and the bad. I cannot let my warm and beautiful memories vanish just because of a minor setback—the price for that is simply too high. I yearn to know what kind of person I used to be; whether happy or painful, those belong in my life. I also want to remember what my grandfather, who loved me the most, was like."

Taking a deep breath, Lin Wanbai said, "I have mentally prepared myself, and I have the courage to face my past. Only by rising from setbacks can one truly start anew, rather than hiding behind amnesia and forgetting the past. That isn't a real beginning; it's escapism, and I don't want to escape. I want to confront my past and know everything firsthand, rather than hearing it from you all."

"You're still thinking of Fu Yingxing in your heart, aren't you? You can't fully believe what they say about him, can you?"

Surprised that she saw right through her, Lin Wanbai met her gaze for a moment, then lowered her eyes with a smile, scratched her head, and said, "Everyone has their own views and biases. I just want to make my own judgment, and I want to know every little detail between him and me."

Leaning closer and resting her head on her mother's shoulder, Lin Wanbai asked, "Mom, you'll support me, won't you?"

"Your uncle won't agree. You'll have to convince him first."

Presently, the head of the Lin household was Lin Zhouye, and the people around Lin Wanbai all took orders from him. If she wanted to find a good hypnotist, she indeed had to rely on him, though besides him, there was someone else who might help her.

Lin Wanbai said, "Come with me to talk to him, and he'll definitely agree. Even though he's the head of the household now, by seniority, you are the elder, and you're my real mother. If you give the word, could he possibly refuse? So you have to help me with this."

"Alright then, I'll find an opportunity to speak with him."

Lin Jingyu took the matter to heart. She knew Lin Wanbians temperament well; though she had lost her memory, her stubborn nature remained unchanged. Whatever she set her mind on, she would achieve it no matter what.

Now determined to retrieve her memories, she would exhaust every method and seize every opportunity to recall everything, even if everyone else opposed it.

With this thought in mind, Lin Jingyu woke up at the crack of dawn the next day.

When she woke, the sky was still dim, and half of the household staff had yet to rise.

Uncle An was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast and looked surprised to see her up so early, "Miss, why are you up so early? It isn't even fully bright yet."

"I just figured Xiao Ye has been terribly busy lately, and since I can't help much, I thought I'd cook him breakfast. What's on the menu today? He's always working from dawn till dusk, he needs more nutrition." Rolling up her sleeves, Lin Jingyu walked over to the counter and inspected the ingredients Uncle An had prepared."

Uncle An assured her, "Rest assured, I have it all under control. Ah, it's such a blessing that the old master adopted such a child back then; otherwise, who knows what would have become of you and young miss."

Lin Jingyu smiled, "It's also a blessing that the boy turned out conscientious, exceptional, and smart."

"Yes, indeed, absolutely. Raised by the old master himself, I'm sure he wouldn't stray far."

"Who says so? Xiaobai and I are exceptions."

Uncle An chuckled, "You and young miss possess true spirit; you just didn't cross paths with good people."

Mentally calculating Lin Zhouye's age, Lin Jingyu asked, "Come to think of it, Xiao Ye is in his thirties now. Does he have a girlfriend?"

"I haven't heard of any, nor have I seen him go on dates."

"It's about time he considered it. I must keep a sharp eye out and scout around."

"Is there any need to worry? The young master is talented and handsome, possessing everything one could ask for. Countless young ladies throw themselves at him, there's no need to rush."

"There are plenty of women, yes, but finding a good one who matches him well is no easy task."

Uncle An laughed, "With you around, I'm not worried at all."

As they spoke, breakfast was finished, and the sky outside the window had grown much brighter, though today was overcast with thick, grey clouds.

Lin Zhouye woke very early. Finishing breakfast preparations, he came down from upstairs at six-thirty.

Neatly dressed and having just finished a phone call, he pulled out a chair and sat down upon seeing Lin Jingyu, "Eldest Sister."

"You certainly wake early."

Lin Zhouye replied, "I had some matters to attend to this morning, so I got up earlier. Do you need something from me?"

Lin Jingyu handed him a glass of milk, then sat down and said, "There is something I'd like to discuss with you."

"What is it?" He took a sip of milk.

"It's about Xiaobai."

"Looking for a hypnotist?"

Liang Zhixia had actually mentioned it to him. In truth, Xiaobai didn't lose her memory from a head injury; rather, upon waking up in such an uncontrollable, highly agitated state, Fu Yingxing had hired a master hypnotist to seal off her memories.

Once all her memories were wiped, she woke up completely calm.

Only because she remembered nothing did she harbor vigilance toward those around her, appearing slightly neurotic.

Therefore, bringing in a master hypnotist truly would awaken her memories instantly.

Yet Lin Zhouye recalled how resolutely she had chosen to jump from the building back then—she must have reached a state of utter despair. Forcing her to remember now would only inflict more suffering.

"Eldest Sister, didn't we agree on this before?"

"We said so, but you know Xiaobai's personality. Besides, I can see she's extremely determined. You can stop her for a moment, but not for a lifetime. I believe in Xiaobai. After this buffering period, even if she remembers everything, she won't do anything foolish. Aren't we all still by her side? To let her live in such a vague state forever—even with amnesia, I feel she could never truly find peace. To truly find peace, she must face everything firsthand."

Smiling gently at him without evasion, Lin Jingyu continued, "Look at me; didn't I too have to pass through the gates of death to realize how foolish I was back then, and to completely give up on that man? Xiaobai is just like me, someone who refuses to turn back until she hits a brick wall, and even bleeds from hitting it before she wakes up. She still can't let go of Fu Yingxing, and besides, the two of them share a child. No matter what, this matter is something they must resolve themselves."

"Fu Yingxing sealed her memories in pursuit of a fresh start, so we should help her recover them and make Fu Yingxing face the consequences himself. If he truly has feelings for Xiaobai, he should have the courage to face it. In the end, whatever choice Xiaobai makes will be entirely up to her."

Clearly disagreeing, Lin Zhouye shook his head and said, "Back then, Father yielded to her decisions, which led to today's disaster. I won't let a second time happen. I will deal with Fu Yingxing personally; that man will either die or rot in prison for the rest of his life. I won't give him any chance."

Lin Jingyu wanted to say more, but Lin Zhouye set down his glass of milk and said sternly, "Eldest Sister, just listen to me on this. I know you have a soft heart, but you cannot soften this time. Do as I say. If worst comes to worst, you and Xiaobai can emigrate abroad later."

Lin Jingyu insisted, "I think you should reconsider what I said and not rush to a conclusion."

"There's no need to discuss this further."

Finishing his breakfast and wiping his mouth with a napkin, Lin Zhouye said, "I'm off to work. Rest well at home."

With that, he stood up to leave.

Lin Jingyu followed him to the door, and as he stepped out, she said, "I don't want family discord. This time is different from before; I believe Xiaobai knows what she's doing."

Without a word, Lin Zhouye merely glanced back at her before getting straight into his car.

...

Macau, Mid-Level Villa.

Yuan Yujun was packing belongings for Fu Yanchuan in his room.

Fu Yanchuan said, "Just pack the essentials. I've already had people prepare everything else."

Yuan Yujun replied, "Let me go with you, so I can take care of you."

"No need. With so many people around me, you needn't worry. Just look after Fu Miao and stay in Macau to watch over the company."

"I'm worried about you returning to Beicheng alone."

"There's nothing to worry about, I know what I'm doing."

Sighing and shooting him a sideways glance, Yuan Yujun said, "Tell me, why on earth are you going back to Beicheng?"

"Because I am always a member of the Fu family. I heard Grandfather isn't doing well, so I should go back and take a look."

"What's there to see? That old man was never that good to you."

"The only one who was good to me is gone."

He was referring to Jiang Shuzhi.

Yuan Yujun pressed her lips together and whispered, "The old lady wasn't good to you either. Frankly, she's to blame for all of this—just for the sake of a mistress, she tore a perfectly fine family apart. If she truly felt resentful back then, she should have divorced! Since she didn't divorce, she should have swallowed her pride. Now that the older generation is dead, she still had to torment the next generation and the generation after that. What was the point? To think she chanted Buddhist scriptures every single day for half a lifetime, only to understand nothing in the end. I wonder if she regretted it when she died."

Fu Yanchuan said, "People are already dead, there's no need to dwell on it."

"It's precisely because no one speaks of it that things turned out the way they are today. If someone had scolded some sense into her long ago, would a capable old lady like her have met such an end? She was a prominent figure after all, yet look at her passing—there wasn't a whisper of it, and who knows how she was even buried. So in life, one must not stubbornly trap oneself in a dead end. Once you do, you destroy not only yourself but also the next generation."

Fu Yanchuan merely looked at her. Catching his gaze, Yuan Yujun straightened her back and said, "Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong? We can't just stop talking about things because she died a miserable death; we must trace the root cause. Fu Yingxing is evil, but his evil is understandable. In anyone else's shoes, they would seek the same revenge after having their mother imprisoned in a narrow tunnel and tortured for decades until she was barely human. He never knew a single good day growing up, bullied daily, bitten by dogs, and trampled into the mud by servants' children. A child raised like that could never have a normal mind even upon growing up."

"To be frank, the old lady lived a comfortable life. She lived past ninety. Fu Yingxing's entire family was tormented by her for a lifetime. Though Fu Yingxing took his revenge, she was already old, and no matter how he tormented her, she only had a few years left anyway. Of course, I'm not condoning Fu Yingxing's actions, let alone forgiving him. I'm simply saying we should live our own lives here. As long as Fu Yingxing doesn't provoke us, we have no need to provoke him."

Putting down the items in her hand, Yuan Yujun walked over to him, squatted down, took his hands in hers, and earnestly advised, "The grudges and rights and wrongs of the Fu family have nothing to do with us. Right now, I only care about you and Miaomiao. As long as the two of you are well, that matters more than anything."

Fu Yanchuan said, "Mom, in a life like this, the only reason I have to live is to fight Fu Yingxing. Before I die, I want to see his downfall."

"But..."

"Don't worry about me. No worse outcome could be worse than my current state. Just humor me."

In the end, Yuan Yujun gave in to him.

The next day, Fu Yanchuan boarded a private jet to Beicheng.

...

Fu Yingxing lingered in Shenzhen for several days.

Perhaps frightened, Fu Linsheng ran a high fever for several consecutive days, crying and throwing tantrums whenever he couldn't see him. Fu Yingxing stayed by his bedside day and night to care for him. Under his meticulous care, the boy gradually improved. Xu Chuan had even invited a master from Hong Kong to examine the place, set up a Feng Shui formation, and perform rituals.

After two or three days, his condition improved, and the fever finally broke.

Regaining his appetite for food meant he was recovering.

Previously, even food couldn't comfort him, and this illness had caused him to lose a lot of weight.

Sitting beside him, Fu Yingxing picked up food for him, "Eat slowly, nobody is fighting you for it."

Without speaking, the boy buried his head in his porridge, eating even steamed white buns with great relish.

Just then, Yu Zhi and Ke Nian returned from a mission. Arriving in Shenzhen first, they hurried over to check on the father and son.

After Xiaobai finished eating, Fu Yingxing had Xu Chuan take him to the children's room to play and watch television for a while.

Being quite obedient, Xiaobai left with Xu Chuan.

Lighting a cigarette, Fu Yingxing began to smoke slowly, "How was it? Did you complete the mission smoothly?"

"Very smoothly."

"That's good." Nodding, he gently exhaled a ring of smoke.

As his voice trailed off, the atmosphere suddenly dropped.

Xu Chuan had already mentioned what happened in Hong Kong to them earlier. Stealing a glance at him, Ke Nian hesitated before asking, "Brother Xing, what are your plans next?"

Fu Yingxing didn't answer immediately. Narrowing his eyes and fixing his gaze on a spot, he waited until the cigarette burned down before slowly speaking, "Go to Pinghua Peak. I'm going to stay on the mountain for a few days."

"What about the young master?"

"Naturally, he comes with me. Go arrange the vehicle, we leave tonight."

"Yes."

Driving all the way, they arrived at Pinghua Peak some three or four days later.

Fu Yingxing brought Fu Linsheng up the mountain. The temple gates were closed as the monastery was not receiving visitors these days. As a lay disciple of the elderly monk, Fu Yingxing had called ahead, and a young monk opened a side door to let them in.

Fu Linsheng wasn't unfamiliar with the place; he had lived here for a period before and shared a certain fondness for the old monk.

Incense smoke burned perpetually within the temple. Even without patrons, the incense money Fu Yingxing alone contributed was enough to sustain the monastery for many years.

Deals of pilgrims were absent, leaving the temple grounds exceptionally serene. Several sweeping monks greeted the father and son amicably as they passed.

The young monk led them to the scripture library, where the old monk was practicing Zen meditation inside.

The young monk remarked, "The master's friend has been visiting the past two days, and the two of them have been meditating in the library."

Entering the library, they heard the sound of hearty laughter. Though separated by a screen, Fu Yingxing recognized that the old monk's friend was none other than Wang Mingchen.

At that moment, Fu Linsheng let go of his hand, ran over quickly, and called out, "Grandpa."

"Ah, Linsheng is here." The old monk was very benevolent. Setting down his Go stones, he picked Xiaobai up, weighed him in his arms, pinched his little nose, and said, "You've gotten heavier than when you left."

Xiaobai giggled, tugging playfully at his white beard.

Wang Mingchen looked past them and saw Fu Yingxing walking slowly with a cane, greeting the old monk as master.

He had changed again.

With a faint smile, Wang Mingchen said, "Long time no see. How did you end up like this? Is your foot never going to heal?"

The young monk brought a chair in from outside and placed it behind Fu Yingxing, who sat down, "It won't heal. Why are you on the mountain too?"

"Knowing you were coming, I specially rushed here to see you." Chuckling, Wang Mingchen also set down his Go stones and remarked, "The political landscape in Beicheng has changed now. I heard Lin Wanbai has returned to the Lin family?"

Fu Yingxing remained completely composed, his expression calm, "So what?"

"Did the two of you separate?"

After a silence of several seconds, Fu Yingxing said, "No."

"Then why aren't you together?"

"You talk rather too much."

Far from being offended, Wang Mingchen laughed heartily, "Are you staying here for a few days?"

Fu Yingxing didn't answer, but the old monk had already told him.

Wang Mingchen continued, "That's good too. After spending so much time out there, it's about time to calm your mind before the Buddha, settle down, and summarize yourself. As a person, one must occasionally look back, examine one's shortcomings and mistakes, reflect, and correct them moving forward. Only then can you progress and gradually change the impressions of those who were disappointed in you."

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; vast rivers accumulate from tiny streams. Don't be impatient for success—as long as your heart is in the right place, everything will turn out fine."