*Chapter 54: Flickers of Memory*
Li Xue sat alone late at night, recalling moments before Zhao Liang's accident. His gentle smiles, whispered promises, the rare warmth that had existed before contracts and fear.
Now, every memory was tinged with anxiety. The contrast between who he was and who he had become under the shadow of amnesia and contract rules made her ache.
School offered brief respite. Classmates didn't know her struggle, didn't see the panic in her eyes when a teacher praised her work too loudly or when classmates approached too closely. Every small action was filtered through fear of Zhao Liang, of penalties, of humiliation.
Mei Yan and Shen Wei discussed options quietly, planning small ways to support Li Xue without antagonizing Zhao Liang. Even as they laughed over trivial things, the underlying tension of their friend's suffering pressed on them.