Chapter Seventeen: Uncovering the Problem

Yin Nian followed Yuan Yi’s advice and took leave to rest at home for two days.

During those two days, Yin Nian proactively admitted her mistake to her son and explained the situation to her parents. However, she was not yet ready to reveal the truth to the outside world; after all, telling others that she had amnesia and could not recall the accident would likely be met with disbelief.

As for Granny Yang, Yin Nian planned to arrange a meeting in a couple of days, hoping to settle matters privately. Within reasonable compensation, she was willing to accept, since life had to go on and it was impossible to stall forever. A private settlement would be the best solution for both parties. But if the other side demanded an exorbitant amount, she would resolutely take it to court; she would not surrender easily. Causing the accident was one thing, but she would not allow herself to be extorted.

Even though Yin Nian explained things to Yang Yang, the boy still harbored some resistance toward her. Yin Nian tried several times to communicate, but received no positive response. Liang Zhicheng advised her not to rush—some things could not be achieved in one go, especially emotional bonds, which needed to be built slowly, starting with the details.

In these two days, besides a trip to the hospital for a brain exam, Yin Nian stayed at home. The results showed her brain was in perfect condition, with no signs of injury.

Han Duoduo visited twice during this period, keeping Yin Nian company. Yin Nian shared her amnesia with Han Duoduo, who was surprised but understanding, recognizing it as a psychological defense mechanism beyond Yin Nian’s control. In a sense, Yin Nian herself was a victim.

The nightmares ceased, though she still dreamed strange and uncanny dreams. One dream left a deep impression: she was fleeing endlessly in a dense fog, pursued by a monster whose form she could not see, though its low, muffled growling echoed behind her.

This dream revealed Yin Nian's sense of urgency and oppression, perhaps tied to her anxiety about work. She had struggled to reach her current position, and many eyed her spot hungrily. The accident had already tarnished her reputation, and if the board learned she suffered from selective amnesia, not only would she never advance, but even keeping her current post would be difficult.

On the third day, the rain fell ceaselessly from morning. Liang Zhicheng took Yang Yang out, leaving Yin Nian alone at home, sitting on the balcony, staring into the gloomy sky.

After the brief peace of the previous two days, anxiety returned. Something felt wrong—as though something was missing. She tried to recall the accident, but her memories remained shattered and indistinct, more like scenes from a movie than her own life.

Yin Nian realized she still doubted Yuan Yi’s account of the truth.

Though Yuan Yi had helped her reconstruct the accident, several details remained problematic. She had been too grief-stricken to notice before, but now, calm and rational, she saw those details were critical.

Sometimes, a change in detail can overturn the entire event.

First, the issue of the bloodied towel remained unresolved. The towel was hers, and she had indeed wiped the car with it—but not after hitting Granny Yang. She clearly remembered wiping the fogged mirror with a tissue, then with the towel, before placing it on the back seat.

Second, whether before or after regaining her memory, she recalled that Granny Yang was already lying on the road when she hit her. When she checked, most of the blood on Granny Yang was dried—proof that Granny Yang had been injured for some time already before Yin Nian struck her.

Finally, and most importantly, after checking Granny Yang’s breathing, Yin Nian was startled, stepped backward, and tripped over a stone. Yet she remembered not landing on the back of her head; she merely sat down abruptly. Afterward, she had a bump on her forehead, from hitting the steering wheel, but felt no pain or injury on her occiput. If she had hit the ground with the back of her head, there should have been some sensation.

These doubts seemed minor, but each was crucial.

Through hypnosis, Yin Nian recalled some events, but she did not experience a sudden, clear realization of the truth. The confusion lingered, though Yuan Yi’s analysis blurred its edges. She trusted Yuan Yi, and thus trusted his explanation, but now, in calm reflection, the problems seemed even more prominent.

With so many unresolved doubts, why was Yuan Yi so sure she suffered selective amnesia after the accident? Was his conclusion too hasty?

She remembered the disk Yuan Yi had given her, containing video of the hypnosis session. She hurried to watch it on her computer, twice. She could not find answers to her doubts in the recording; whenever she approached the core issues, she did not respond directly. Yuan Yi did not press further, but shifted to other topics.

Moreover, Yin Nian noticed Yuan Yi’s guidance during hypnosis was highly suggestive, almost prompting her toward predetermined conclusions. In the confined thinking of hypnotic trance, how could she refute or question such strong guidance?

At the end of the hypnosis, she suddenly became agitated and slapped Yuan Yi. What did that mean? Why was she so emotional? What had she seen in her hypnotic state that frightened her so deeply?

Yin Nian closed her eyes, trying to recall the scene. She vaguely remembered seeing a blurry shadow, but could not recall its form.

She then documented all her doubts, gathering them together for her meeting with Yuan Yi the next day—the fourth day, her scheduled consultation.

At half past five, Liang Zhicheng and Yang Yang returned, laughing as they entered. But when Yin Nian stepped in from the balcony, Yang Yang immediately fell silent. Already feeling anxious, Yin Nian’s anger flared at the sight, and she strode over, grabbing Yang Yang’s hand: “Yang Yang, tell me clearly—what did Mom do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?”

Yang Yang hung his head and said nothing.

“These past two years, Mom was busy with work and had no time for you, but I know I was wrong. Why do you keep acting like this?” Yin Nian’s tone shifted, speaking as though to an adult rather than a child.

Yang Yang glanced at Liang Zhicheng.

Liang Zhicheng crouched, speaking gently: “Yang Yang, if you have a problem, say it. Keeping it inside isn’t good. Your mom isn’t wrong, and neither are you. It’s just a communication issue. Can you tell Dad why you don’t want to talk to Mom?”

Yang Yang kept his head down, speaking softly: “I’m scared…”

Liang Zhicheng asked, “Scared of what?”

Yang Yang replied, “I’m scared of Mom… She doesn’t seem like the mom I used to have…”

Yin Nian’s brow furrowed, about to snap, but Liang Zhicheng tugged at her sleeve and asked Yang Yang, “Why?”

Yang Yang closed his mouth, refusing to answer.

Liang Zhicheng pressed, “Do you not know, or just not want to say?”

Yang Yang shook his head. “I don’t know…”

Liang Zhicheng looked at Yin Nian: “Maybe your mood swings lately have frightened him. Give it time. Don’t take it too hard.”

Yin Nian opened her mouth to say more, but Yang Yang had already retreated to his room. She sighed, swallowing her words, her anger and frustration turning into sorrow and melancholy. She did not know how her relationship with her son had become like this. Was it her shouting at him that day, or her repeated absence from important celebrations over the past two years?

“Don’t be too anxious,” Liang Zhicheng said. “Yang Yang is different from other children; he’s not good at expressing his feelings. We need to spend more time with him—especially you. A mother’s love is crucial in his growth.”

“But I…” Yin Nian wanted to argue, but stopped herself, knowing she had indeed fallen short.

Yang Yang’s silence was like a thorn in Yin Nian’s heart, making her feel choked and uneasy.

She realized her dissatisfaction was not only with Yang Yang’s silence, but also with his earlier words. After her afternoon analysis, she found several doubts—these conflicted with Yuan Yi’s account, and thus with Yang Yang’s, meaning Yang Yang might have lied.

Furthermore, observing the family over the past two days, Yin Nian noticed that Yang Yang was cheerful around Liang Zhicheng and her parents, and smiled when Han Duoduo visited, playing games and interacting. Only with Yin Nian did he remain cold and distant, as if she were a stranger—leaving her both hurt and bewildered.

Yin Nian distinctly felt the alienation from Yang Yang, as though it were deliberate.

That evening, while sorting through clues in the living room, Yin Nian encountered a minor issue and went to the study to consult Liang Zhicheng. Standing outside, she heard voices within—soft speech, catching a few words. When she pushed open the door, Liang Zhicheng was just placing his phone on the desk.

“Who were you calling?” Yin Nian asked casually.

“The editor at the publishing house…” Liang Zhicheng replied. “My snowman fairy tale series might be published as a collection.”

“Really? Congratulations.” Yin Nian remembered her purpose. “Let me ask—when you saw the dashcam footage, was Granny Yang standing or lying on the road?”

“I didn’t see clearly… Maybe standing,” Liang Zhicheng said. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing.” Yin Nian glanced at him, said no more, and left.

Before leaving, she noticed a black coat draped over the nearby chair, but thought nothing of it and walked out.

At eleven, Yin Nian went to bed. Liang Zhicheng was still in the study, writing his novel.

At midnight, Liang Zhicheng got into bed. Yin Nian was awake, lying on her side, unmoving.

She opened her eyes slightly, seeing Liang Zhicheng typing on his phone, apparently messaging someone. Who could he be texting at this hour—the editor? Would an editor not be asleep?

Yin Nian was not a suspicious person—not before, at least—but since the accident, she had become wary, her trust in others diminished, because they no longer trusted her.

Trust is mutual.

Soon, Liang Zhicheng turned off his phone and went to sleep, his gentle snoring soon filling the room.

Yin Nian drifted into a fitful sleep in the latter half of the night.

She dreamed again, but this time it was not a nightmare, nor a chase by wild beasts, but a dream of the accident scene.

In the dream, she discovered a shadow hidden in the gloom, indistinct and unclear. After she drove away, the shadow emerged from the bushes, stood in the middle of the road. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of the shadow’s form and clothing.

The shadow wore the exact same black coat as the one in Liang Zhicheng’s study!

And its build matched the shadow seen in the hospital’s underground garage, the one whose footage had been deleted!

Yin Nian woke abruptly, her eyes wide open in the darkness.