A/N: This is actually my first work ever that I’m putting out on to the internet. If anyone has any constructive criticism about the writing/novel or ever want to chat about plot, please comment for me to see!

  —

  It was the sound of soft cries that woke Ling Jiu up from her slumber.

  Postured at her bedside was a beautiful middle-aged woman, her eyes red-rimmed with tears. She was dressed in a pin hanfu, her hands csped tightly together as if in prayer. “My Jiu’er…”

  Ling Jiu was groggy. She blinked several times, trying to adjust to the light as she took in her surroundings. The room was oddly decorated, like it had come out of a costume drama, and not at all reminiscent of a hospital, but perhaps that was just the design of the room. Holding her head, Ling Jiu sat up and let out a light groan.

  Her temples throbbed in pain. Ling Jiu felt like her perspective had warped in some way, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She somehow felt taller and her vision almost seemed clearer, but surely that was just the after effects of falling down the stairs, right?

  The sudden movement from the bed armed the older woman at Ling Jiu’s bedside. The woman shot up, hurriedly gesturing towards the servants: “Go summon Physician Zhang!”

  A maid scrambled off to get the physician.

  Turning back to Ling Jiu, the woman reached out, eyes filled with a deep concern that made Ling Jiu weirdly uncomfortable. She didn’t know why this stranger was so distressed about her or why she was touching her face. Ling Jiu raised her hand, pushing the woman’s hands away. “Don’t touch me.”

  Ling Jiu’s voice came out harsher and hoarser than she would’ve liked, but she really didn’t want to keep being touched by a weird woman.

  “Jiu’er?” The woman paused, her voice wrought with confusion. Seeing the startled, uncomfortable look on Ling Jiu’s face, the woman panicked. “Are you alright? Do you remember who I am? I’m your mother.”

  “You’re not my mother.” Ling Jiu shot back. Ling Jiu remembered her mother. She was a fierce, plumper woman who would chase her around with a coat hanger whenever she misbehaved, but then secretly brag about Ling Jiu’s achievements behind her back.

  The woman in front of her was the exact opposite in both appearance and personality. She was more delicate and significantly better looking than Ling Jiu’s jolly mother. And from what Ling Jiu could tell, she was a lot more vocal about her concern than her mother had ever been. These qualities only cemented the thought that she certainly wasn’t her mom.

  But upon taking a closer look, Ling Jiu did find some simirities in their features. Yet still, though they shared simir features.. this was still not her mother. “I don’t know what scam you’re pying at, but I won’t fall for it. Get out of here or else I’ll call the police.”

  Physician Zhang entered before the situation could escate any further. Ling Jiu’s ‘mother’ wiped at her eyes, trying to combat tears, “Physician Zhang, come quickly! My Jiu’er has lost his memory.”

  “I haven’t lost my memory. You’re not—” A sharp pain pierced through her skull, causing Ling Jiu to double over, holding on to her head. Physician Zhang sprang over, immediately checking her pulse.

  The st thing Ling Jiu saw before the world went dark was that strange woman’s teary eyes.