Chapter 20: Actually, I Have Face Blindness

Upon hearing her words, Shen Linyan paused, his first instinct being to deny it.

Angry?

He never felt like he was angry. How could he possibly be angry over such trivial matters?

But catching the word "secret" in her sentence, he ultimately swallowed the denial that was at the tip of his tongue.

"What secret?"

An Ling didn't answer immediately. Instead, she spoke slowly. "Before I tell you, I have a condition. You cannot tell this secret to anyone. If you let it out..."

She paused, staring at the man as she enunciated every word. "I will make sure you never get what you want for the rest of your life."

Whether it was the female lead or the family fortune, she would not let Shen Linyan succeed.

Her tone didn't sound like she was joking. Shen Linyan’s expression shifted slightly. "I promise you."

An Ling stared at his face for a few seconds before sitting up straight and turning her face toward the window.

"Then I'll tell you when we get home."

She needed some time to calm down and think about whether this plan would actually work.

As it turned out, she thought about it all the way until they had both finished their showers, and even then, she hadn't brought it up again.

She had tried to ask Jiang Mai for an opinion, but Jiang Mai hadn't replied.

Curled up on the sofa in her pajamas, she was feeling drowsy. Having had a few drinks that night, she was already sleepier than usual, and with so much on her mind, her head felt increasingly heavy.

When Shen Linyan came out of the shower, he saw the girl nodding off on the sofa.

He paused, then lightened his footsteps as he walked over. He picked up a blanket and gently draped it over her, then squatted down, his voice soft and tender. "Why don't you go to the bedroom to sleep? Hmm?"

An Ling opened her eyes, pulled the blanket tighter around herself, and simply leaned over to lie down on the sofa. Her dark hair spilled out messily behind her as she let out a long, lazy yawn, her eyes watering slightly from the fatigue. "I haven't told you the secret yet."

"It's the same if I hear it tomorrow."

"What if I regret it tomorrow?"

"That's okay too."

"But weren't you angry?"

Shen Linyan paused for a moment, then stood up and sat down beside her. He gave a soft, warm chuckle. "I'm not angry anymore."

After hearing that she had a reason for her behavior, he didn't actually care as much as he had before. Whether or not he knew the secret wouldn't change much for him, and seeing her hesitation, he felt there was no need to pressure her.

Shen Linyan didn't go back to his room. Instead, he stayed on the sofa to keep An Ling company. He took out his phone and saw that Gu Xiaochi and that group of friends had tagged him in their WeChat group.

He ignored them, simply clicking on the day's news to read as was his habit.

Hearing his response, An Ling blinked and looked up at the man's sharp jawline. Her gaze lingered on the ring between his long, pale fingers, and she realized that he had likely worn it all day.

She withdrew her gaze and lay on the sofa with her eyes closed, her voice slow and relaxed.

"Are you really, truly not angry?"

"Truly."

"Do I need to pay you back that two million?"

"No need. It's the same whether the money is with my wife or me."

The man looked away from his screen and said with a smile, "Though if Madam insists on giving it back, I would find it hard to refuse such a generous offer."

An Ling let out a couple of hums and kept her eyes closed, remaining silent as if she were rejecting the proposal without a second thought.

The warm glow of the floor lamp made the living room feel cozy and serene. A silence fell between them, but it wasn't the oppressive silence from the car earlier; it was more like a comfortable peace.

Holding his phone, the man's gaze drifted uncontrollably toward the girl lying by his legs.

Under the play of light and shadow, her eyelashes cast shadows like butterfly wings beneath her eyes. Her profile was soft, her nose petite, and her lips looked full and inviting.

Sleeping peacefully like this, she didn't look at all like the person who had been bullying others in the bar.

A faint, barely perceptible smile touched the corners of his mouth.

As he was staring, the girl suddenly opened her eyes.

Caught off guard, their eyes met. Shen Linyan froze for a second, about to look away.

Suddenly, her voice sounded in his ear.

"Shen Linyan, the truth is, I have face blindness."

His expression stiffened instantly, and he instinctively gripped his phone tighter. "...What?"

An Ling sat up with a yawn, tilting her head as she looked at him with a smile.

"The secret. This is my secret, and it's why I didn't recognize you at the bar."

She paused and pointed to her own eyes.

"Whenever I drink, I can't recognize anyone. No matter who it is, as long as they change their clothes and hairstyle, I can't tell who they are."

An Ling still didn't tell the complete truth.

It wasn't that she couldn't recognize people after drinking; she had been face-blind since birth.

She cleared her throat and blinked at the man.

"You believe me, right? I'm not lying to you."

Shen Linyan didn't speak. He just quietly watched the girl's clear, soulful eyes.

Face blindness...

This distant, rarely-heard-of condition actually afflicted his wife.

But how was that possible? An Ling clearly recognized...

In an instant, the surveillance footage from the bar flashed through his mind.

Shen Linyan’s pupils contracted slightly. No wonder An Ling hadn't recognized Lu Jingshen back then—it was because her face blindness had kicked in after she drank.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed. He opened his mouth, his voice sounding strangely hoarse for some reason. "Not a single person... you can't recognize anyone?"

An Ling nodded. "I can only tell that you look familiar, but I can't quite put a name to the face. I have to rely on your voice and the scent of your cologne to be sure."

Shen Linyan wanted to take back everything he had said before.

Knowing this secret changed everything for him.

His jaw tightened as he gripped his phone, only to slowly relax his hold.

An Ling blinked at him, repeating herself earnestly. "You can't tell anyone, okay? Not even Zhou Wen. Aside from my family and Jiang Mai, you're the only one I've told."

Hearing this, the man's eyes crinkled slightly, a deep intensity swirling within them. His voice was soft yet solemn.

"Alright. I won't tell a soul."

This was a secret known only to him.

Click.

The door closed. Shen Linyan stood there in silence, his tall silhouette like a statue in the darkness, his gaze deep and quiet.

After a long while, he slowly covered his mouth, hiding the irrepressible curve of his lips.

The phone in his hand was still vibrating. In a small group chat with Gu Xiaochi and the others, he was being tagged incessantly.

Gu Xiaochi: @Shen Linyan, I’m reporting Liang Chen. The brat took a photo of you carrying your wife princess-style.

Liang Chen: (Image) What’s wrong with it? Doesn't he look cool? Our CEO Shen looks absolutely stunning, doesn't he?

In the photo, the man held the woman steadily in his arms. She was petite, the hem of her white dress brushing against his black suit. Her beautiful face was buried against his shoulder, her cascading hair spilling over her back to reveal a glimpse of her snowy, graceful neck.

Shen Linyan looked at the photo and hit save.

The messages in the group continued to pour in.

Gu Xiaochi: But seriously, Shen Linyan’s wife has completely transformed. She’s nothing like the person I remember.

Wang Yihong: You guys have no idea. I was standing right next to her and I was floored.

Liang Chen: So the talk about An Ling being the one to initiate the clarification... it looks like it’s true.

Gu Xiaochi: So An Ling is on Shen Linyan’s team now? Does that mean we’ll be seeing her when we hang out?

Liang Chen: I don't know. If we do, what are we supposed to call her?

Wang Yihong: What are you two on about? Why would we meet her? There’s no way Shen Linyan would actually bring that woman out. It’s not like he actually likes her.

Liang Chen: Hehe ⌓‿⌓

Gu Xiaochi: Hehe ⌓‿⌓

Wang Yihong: ? You guys are being weird. You know that, right?

A second later, a new message appeared in the group.

Shen Linyan: Call her Sister-in-law.