Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Who is he?"

Aide Wen had already answered three times, yet Huo Sicheng remained sullen, unsure if he couldn't hear clearly or found it hard to believe, he kept confirming with Aide Wen.

Aide Wen, holding onto his patience, repeated for the fourth time: "Chairman Huo, he is your husband, Mr. Zhong."

Huo Sicheng looked towards the man sitting silently at the foot of the bed, his back slender, his profile fair and delicate, dressed in a khaki linen shirt and white trousers. He looked like a comforting cup of hot milk coffee on an autumn day.

His hair, as soft and smooth as the fabric of his clothes, with the ends likely trimmed not long ago, looked clean but also revealed his secondary sexual characteristics.

The absence of a gland at the back of his neck confirmed he was a beta.

Huo Sicheng did not believe he would marry a beta.

Aide Wen glanced helplessly at Zhong Xi, who had not spoken. He had been sitting rigidly for a long time, like a three-dimensional relief at the foot of the bed, motionless.

Aide Wen could understand; the incident had happened so suddenly, Zhong Xi probably hadn't recovered yet. As someone who witnessed the entire process of Huo Sicheng's injury, he hadn't fully regained his composure yet.

The son of the Alliance Governor, Huo Sicheng, was involved in an accident while flying over Junshan Forest in an unmanned helicopter, which caused a traumatic brain injury and left him unconscious.

This news spread like a tsunami across all the Alliance's television stations and headlines. As the only son of Governor Huo Zhenlin and the future Governor of the Alliance, Huo Sicheng's well-being was tied to the fate of the entire Alliance. His injury was no small matter.

That night, all top brain specialists rushed to the base military area. Huo Sicheng's residence was under tight security, and every change in his condition sent ripples of concern throughout the Alliance.

Two days later, amidst the eager anticipation of the entire Alliance, Huo Sicheng finally opened his eyes.

Apart from minor fractures and soft tissue contusions on his arm, his vital signs had basically returned to normal, a stroke of luck in the midst of misfortune.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, something unexpected occurred.

When the beta partner, rumored to be doted on by Huo Sicheng, sat by the bed, holding Huo Sicheng's hand, gently asking him where he was in pain, Huo Sicheng coldly asked, "Who are you?"

The room instantly fell silent, so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Huo Zhenlin's port inspection work was not yet over, and he couldn't make it back right away. Only his second wife, Ruan Yunzheng, came to visit Huo Sicheng. Besides her, the room also had Huo Sicheng's personal aide Wen Ze and the deputy chairman of the base. Everyone hearing Huo Sicheng's words exchanged surprised glances.

Especially Ruan Yunzheng; her sharp eyes were deep in thought.

Seeing this, Aide Wen quickly brought over Huo Sicheng's child. Facing the little bundle of joy sleeping soundly, Huo Sicheng's eyes showed no trace of paternal love, only unfamiliarity and rejection.

He asked, "Where did this child come from?"

Everyone couldn't hide their surprise, whispering among themselves.

Who in the Alliance didn't know that Huo Sicheng was renowned as a doting husband? Initially, Huo Zhenlin threatened to sever ties, but couldn't stop Huo Sicheng from marrying a beta from an ordinary family. Huo Sicheng never hesitated to express his love for his wife and baby in public. At home, he was even more devoted, indulging them without limits.

Now how could this be—

The neurologist provided the diagnosis: "It should be cognitive dysfunction caused by traumatic brain injury leading to memory decline. The initial two weeks should focus on medication to promote the recovery of neurological functions."

It's not uncommon for traumatic brain injury to cause memory loss. The problem is Huo Sicheng seems to have forgotten only his wife and child.

They were his two most beloved people.

Huo Sicheng's beta partner was probably the calmest person in the room. He took the baby from Aide Wen's arms, his expression remained calm, just asking, "Is this selective amnesia?"

"There have been such cases," the doctor replied.

"Will he recover?"

"In theory, yes, but there are exceptions. Some recover quickly, some take five or six years, and some take even longer."

He nodded politely and said, "Thank you."

After the doctors and visitors left in a flurry, only Aide Wen remained by Huo Sicheng's bedside. Aide Wen had followed Huo Sicheng since military school and knew almost everything about him. Huo Sicheng trusted him the most.

Just as Huo Sicheng was about to speak, Zhong Xi walked in.

Huo Sicheng instinctively went quiet. For some reason, the sight of this unfamiliar young man unsettled him, his emotions inexplicably chaotic, and he couldn't explain the strange sensation.

After settling the baby, Zhong Xi returned to the master bedroom. He walked to the diagonal corner of Huo Sicheng's bed, lifted a corner of the blanket without permission, and sat down, completely unfazed by Huo Sicheng's intense gaze.

Huo Sicheng asked impatiently, "Who is he?"

Aide Wen answered again, "Chairman, he is your lover, your legally recognized partner, Mr. Zhong Xi."

Huo Sicheng didn't believe it.

He had no memory of such a person, and as an alpha with an exceptionally rare level ten pheromone, in his understanding, only low-level alphas with no competitiveness in the marriage market would reluctantly marry a beta.

Sensing Aide Wen's helpless plea for help, Zhong Xi finally responded. He slowly raised his head and looked at Huo Sicheng expressionlessly, his voice, clear and cold as a spring, carried a chill.

"Huo Sicheng, do you really not remember me?"

In the entire alliance, apart from Huo Zhenlin, no one else would dare to address Huo Sicheng by his full name. Even Huo Zhenlin had become somewhat cautious of him after he came of age.

Huo Sicheng was slightly stunned. Zhong Xi's voice made him thoughtful, as if a fleeting beam of light had flashed through his mind, carrying fragments of memory. But before Huo Sicheng could grasp it, the light had already disappeared.

No impression, but his heart ached.

Huo Sicheng attributed it to nerve damage.

·

As soon as Huo Zhenlin finished his inspection work in the port area, he rushed back to the main base day and night. His secretary followed behind him, reporting, "The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an overnight investigation. The preliminary conclusion is that the turbulence over Junshan Forest disrupted the rotor airflow, causing the tail rotor to break. The helicopter went into autorotation and descended. The Chairman was forced to use autorotation to avoid danger and managed to escape."

"Is there any possibility of human involvement?"

"The fault experts believe that human factors can be ruled out."

"There have been several incidents in Junshan Forest over the years. Issue my directive to the aviation control department to designate Junshan Forest as a no-fly zone for low-altitude flights."

"Understood," the aide recorded it and followed Huo Zhenlin's pace. "Governor, there's no need to worry too much. The Chairman's body is fine, but—"

Huo Zhenlin suddenly stopped, "But what?"

"His memories of Mr. Zhong and the child appear to have been erased. He now has no recollection of Mr. Zhong and has no reaction when he sees the child."

Ruan Yunzheng emerged from the Governor's mansion, wearing a white Chinese-style long dress, graceful and tender, her eyes filled with softness. She stood at the foot of the steps, welcoming Huo Zhenlin's return.

"Governor, because of Si Cheng's incident, I've been feeling anxious these past few days. I’ve been checking with Secretary Dong hourly about your flight status. Only when you were before me did my heart finally calm." Ruan Yunzheng's voice was gentle as she took Huo Zhenlin's arm and glanced around. The aides and servants all retreated.

"Don't worry," Huo Zhenlin patted the back of her hand and asked, "How is Si Cheng now?"

"Since waking up, his condition has greatly improved, except that he doesn't remember Zhong Xi and the child," Ruan Yunzheng said softly. "Governor, haven't you always been dissatisfied with Zhong Xi? This could be an opportunity."

Huo Zhenlin's expression shifted suddenly.

After graduating from the military academy and several years of practical training, Huo Sicheng took over the Blue Rock Base, the largest and most resource-rich of the alliance’s three major bases, becoming the youngest chairman in history at 27.

The more pleased Huo Zhenlin was with his career success, the more he disapproved of his marriage, to the point where his blood pressure would spike at the mere mention of it.

"How is Zhong Xi reacting now?"

Ruan Yunzheng looked slightly puzzled, "He... he doesn’t seem to care."

"What?"

"It’s strange. He acts like Sicheng’s amnesia doesn’t matter at all. After taking care of the baby, he just retreats to the study to do his own thing, no matter how Sicheng treats him."

"I’m heading to Blue Rock now."

Mrs. Huo leaned on Huo Zhenlin’s shoulder, smiling softly, "I’ll come with you."

From the heart of the Blue Rock Base, you can see the most stunning sunset. Against the blue sky, crimson clouds catch fire, and the orange glow holds onto the last light, turning the sky gold before it fades.

Zhong Xi stood on the second-floor balcony, quietly taking in the sunset.

Suddenly, he heard a baby crying. Zhong Xi snapped back to reality and turned to enter the nursery. The baby, who had been wailing, stopped the moment he saw Zhong Xi, clinging to the crib’s railing with red eyes, sniffling as he waited.

The tiny mole on his nose matches Zhong Xi’s, making him look even more pitiful when he cries.

The nanny apologized awkwardly, "Sorry, Mr. Zhong."

"It’s okay," Zhong Xi took the toy from the nanny’s hand and smiled, "He’s just a tough one to calm down."

"Mrs. Huo came in and woke him up," the nanny added quickly, seeing Zhong Xi frown, "But she just stood by the bed and looked."

"Are the Governor and Mrs. Huo gone?"

"Yes."

Huo Xiaobao reached out with his chubby hands, his words still a little slurred, "Mommy, hold me."

Zhong Xi pulled him out of the blanket, put on his vest, and, giving in to his pleading eyes, sighed and picked him up.

The little one tightly hugged Zhong Xi's neck.

A sweet, milky scent filled the air.

"Are you hungry? Want some food?" Zhong Xi asked.

"Want Daddy."

Zhong Xi paused, "Daddy’s sleeping. Let’s eat first, okay, Xiaobao?"

The little boy looked anxious. From the time Huo Sicheng had the accident until now, Huo Xiaobao hadn’t seen his father for three days. He desperately needed his father’s scent for comfort.

"Want Daddy," Xiaobao insisted.

Zhong Xi sighed, "Xiaobao, Daddy’s hurt and needs to rest for a while. Let’s eat first, and then Mommy will take you to see Daddy, okay?"

"No."

Zhong Xi put his favorite bear next to him, but Huo Xiaobao ignored it, insisting, "I miss Daddy."

"Daddy’s sleeping, Xiaobao. Be a good boy."

Huo Xiaobao pouted and reluctantly said, "Okay."

Zhong Xi had no other choice but to go along with it.

He got up and went to the kitchen to prepare Xiao Bao's favorite baby food. While removing fish bones, the babysitter suddenly rushed in, breathless and panicked, "Mr. Zhong, Mr. Zhong!"

Zhong Xi looked up.

The babysitter pointed upstairs, "Xiao Bao climbed, climbed onto the Chairman's bed—"

Zhong Xi's mind went numb. After washing his hands, he quickly went upstairs.

The worst-case scenario had still happened.

He could bear Huo Sicheng's amnesia, but how could the child bear his father's unfamiliar gaze?

Zhong Xi's heart was in turmoil. He missed a step, and his knee slammed into the edge of the marble staircase. The pain shot through him, but before the babysitter could help, he stood up without a word and headed straight for the main bedroom.

As soon as he entered, he saw Huo Sicheng impatiently push Xiao Bao away.

Huo Xiaobao didn't know that his father had already forgotten him. He thought Huo Sicheng was playing a game of tag with him. He crawled into Huo Sicheng's arms while giggling.

After Huo Sicheng pushed him away again, he rolled over, belly up, and said in a small milky voice, "Daddy, look, little turtle."

Seeing that Huo Sicheng ignored him, he silently rolled back, his smile slowly fading. He stared at Huo Sicheng, blinking in confusion, not understanding why his father was ignoring him.

He thought for a moment, then suddenly turned around and stuffed his teddy bear into Huo Sicheng's hand, "Daddy, bear."

Huo Xiaobao's eyes were filled with hope.

Zhong Xi's heart ached.

This teddy bear was Huo Xiaobao's favorite, always by his side. Normally, no matter how Huo Sicheng tried to coax him, he couldn't get the bear.

But Huo Sicheng, annoyed, tossed the toy aside.

Xiao Bao watched as the bear flew past him, rolled to the foot of the bed, and then fell to the floor with a soft thud.

Huo Xiaobao's tears fell, one after another.