Chapter 304 - Heading To China

After Jayden Stanford ended his lunch meeting with the Knightley family, he escorted them out of the restaurant and bid them farewell. 

"Young Master?" 

Jayden Stanford expression turned cold and menacing, the charming and gentle man from earlier soon vanished. "Prepare everything, we're heading to China."

...

Meanwhile, Elizabeth just finished her last class when she felt an omen, a really bad one. She froze on the spot as she ponders on what could be causing her to feel such feelings.

"Lizzy." 

"Lizzy."

The girl looked towards the people calling her name. Walking down the hallway was Liu Yifie and Xian Weiru. Surprisingly, it seems they've been looking for her and came running towards her. 

"Lizzy, how are you?"

"Lizzy, is it true? About you taking in those people? Lizzy..." 

Elizabeth had her breath taken from all the sudden questions hailed upon her. Her mind was not prepared for any Q and A that it shut down on her. She looked at them in a daze and only snapped back when they started tugging her hands. 

"Lizzy, are you alright? You look pale?" Liu Yifie inquired worried. 

Xian Weiru knew her cousin's personality very well. But the fact that she is a celebrity means anything going on about her life couldn't be kept a secret. The news about her last night shocked the entire family that her grandparents stayed up all night calling all the other elders. The family were upset that she acknowledged an unknown family which tried to use her fame and fortune, and yet she chose to continue keeping her identity a secret. 

"Lizzy, we need to talk." Xian Weiru spoke directly at the girl prompting that they'll be having a long conversation. 

"Why don't you stay at my place for tonight? I do need some company." Elizabeth suggested as she felt that the company of a friend would do her good. Right now, her heart's aching in so much pain and she was unbearingly suffocated at the moment.

The three of them headed to the supermarket after Lui Yifie and Xian Weiru confirmed that they will be staying over at her home for the night with her.. After they brought the necessary ingredients they need for preparing dinner, they went straight to the girl's apartment. 

"Lizzy, your dad sure designed your apartment well." Xian Weiru praised the effort of Elizabeth's father in arranging everything for the girl despite the fact everyone disagreed with the idea of her living alone. 

Elizabeth could only put a slight smile on her face for she never thought much of the efforts her father has made in preparing the apartment for her. She hardly spent any time in her apartment anyways, she only used it to rest at night. 

All three of them went ahead and worked together to prepare dinner. Of course, Elizabeth took charge since it was her kitchen and even insisted that she'll cook for them. But the two girls insisted on cooking together with her, and since they are older, she had no choice but to let them be.

Thanks to the three's effortless teamwork in cooking, it was not long before a feast was prepared for them to partake in. The whole table was covered with different dishes, all of different colours and aroma but mouth-watering all the same.

"Let's dig in." Elizabeth announced. 

The three of them happily seated themselves together at the table as they talked about their school life and the current situation in the family. They filled her on what happened during the Mid Autumn Festival and showed her pictures of the celebration since she was too busy to even check on social media. 

It was a light, cheerful conversation, one she really needed most to take her mind off the things troubling her.

After dinner, Liu Yifie went ahead and cleared everything off the table, leaving Xian Weiru and Elizabeth to themselves. 

"Lizzy, tell me what's on your mind right now?" 

Elizabeth didn't bother to hold back, she took a deep breath before expressing all the fears contained in her heart and poured her the burdens she shouldered. "Did you know, at that time... I thought, I really thought she found out who I am, but who would have thought she actually had something else in mind. Back then, I didn't have a choice... I wasn't ready... There were so many people back then that I didn't want to hurt." 

"But it's fine for you to hurt you family?" 

"Sis Weiru thats..." Elizabeth's mind was all muddled up as she tried to gather her thoughts and arrange her words well before responding, "When I made my choice back then, I know how it seemed and I thought the family would understand me. But I didn't think I'll be hurting them. I know you're all proud of me and I know, you wanted to be there, cheer for me and announce who I truly am. I know that... And I'm sorry..." 

Liu Yifie just finished all the washing and brought some tea for them as she sat down on the empty couch, "Lizzy, do you remember the reason why I didn't want to marry your brother? That was mainly because of my family, I was not proud of them but Xinyi accepted them no matter what happened. But you, you came from the most respected and privileged family. Not just in the Imperial capital but in the whole world. Yet, tell me Lizzy... will announcing who you are cause harm to the people that care for you?" 

"No, I know that now." Elizabeth answered without any hesitation since it was already proven earlier during her take for . "The cast already knows who I am, Lu Han and her team also knows who I am. Yet, not a single one of them cared for they said I'll always be the Li Zi they've known, I'll always be their big sister." 

"Then, Lizzy... Why? Why is it so hard for you to announce your identity?" Xian Weiru inquired for what her cousin is doing is breaking everyone's heart.

"For I lost someone so important to me back then because he found out who I am..." 

Both Liu Yifie and Xian Weiru were taken aback when they saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. Her eyes were expressing so much sorrow and pain as if it's been a burden she has been carrying for a long time. 

"Lizzy, what do you mean?" Liu Yifie inquired, wondering who this person could be that left the girl after knowing who she is. 

"Lizzy, don't tell me..." Xian Weiru expression was dead pale. She looked so stunned at the revelations she was learning.

Elizabeth smiled bitterly and gave the answer to her curiosity, "Yes, I've gained a fragment of my memory." 

Xian Weiru lost her balance and almost collapsed on the coffee table but was lucky enough to be caught in time by Liu Yifie. Her expression paled the more she realises that their family's greatest fears bloom into reality. Her father has explained the situation about her cousin's memory being altered with some being locked and others transplanted. They young ones in the family always thought of it as an old tale the family used to scare them if they don't obey the family rules. But to think it was true and now, her dear cousin is regaining her horrid memories. "Lizzy, have you told anyone of this?"

"Mom knows, since it seems something happened during take earlier. Based on what they said, it seemed as if I was talking to someone else. I'm sure she'd informed everyone..." Elizabeth answered as she wiped the tears on her face. 

"Lizzy, tell me... This person, if you announce who you are now. Will it still affect you? Lizzy, be honest with me... Could you possibly still long for this person in your memory? I thought you like the Young Master of the Yun family?" Xian Weiru's mind was going haywire at the moment. She has so many questions to ask the girl and did not know where to start. 

"Lizzy, I thought you liked Shen. Didn't you like Little Yan as well? If Shen accepts you for who you are, will you then announce who you are?" Liu Yifie added curiously.

"That's right, does gaining your memory have anything to do with Shen then? If he accepts you for who you are, will you announce announce your true identity then?" Xian Weiru continued to repeat the same question about revealing the girl's identity. 

"I'm sure you all know already that the family is against me being with Shen, you don't have to lie for I have gained a vivid memory that explains why they despise him." She spoke without beating around the bush. 

Both girls looked at each other and sigh, they was no point in keeping secrets from the girl. Sooner or later, she will know eventually since she's slowly gaining her memory. 

"Since you know, then let me be frank. I heard rumors of you and the Young Master of Stanford. What about him?" Xian Weiru inquired for she knows the young man was one of the men the girl has taken into fancy. 

"He's history now, and a mystery..." Elizabeth answered half-heartedly. 

Liu Yifie then took the opportunity to ask as well, "Then, what about Young Master Feng?"

"President Feng?" 

"Yes, doesn't he feel the same way for you. I mean, he gave way because of his friendship for Shen." Liu Yifie explained her question further. 

"Xiaotong," Elizabeth face lit up in a smile, "He'll always be my friend." 

She thought back of the time Feng Xiaotong comforted her by the seaside during their holiday. Feng Xiaotong promised back then to always support her as long as she is happy. But if the time comes when Shen is unable to make her happy, then he'll forget about their friendship and step in. 

He said then: "I'll always be one of those supporting characters in the movie who's happy enough as long as you're happy. I'll be here no matter what, but remember, not all movies does the female lead get together with the male lead at the end, for in reality a lot of things can happen, anything is possible." 

"After gaining my memory back, I realize why mom suggested me to be with Xiaotong. To be honest, if the family does force me to be with him, I don't know why, but I'm somehow willing to be with him for the sake of the family. But, in doing so... I won't only be hurting myself, but also Xiaotong and Shen, as well as Little Yan." 

Her words brought silence in the room, for they both didn't know how to respond to the girl's words. Marriage arrangement is something normal for their family, if they do go back and inform the family about the girl's declaration. The family, will surely go ahead and call the Feng and arrange the marriage just to keep her safe. But doing so means throwing away so many people's happiness aside. 

"Don't worry, we won't tell them anything you said something about marrying Young Master Feng. You fought for mine and Xinyi happiness so of course, I'll be by your side." Liu Yifie said, beaming her declaration that she'll be standing by her side no matter what.