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Less than two weeks after being discharged from the hospital, Suning had mastered all the basic skills of taking care of herself.

In the morning, she would fold her quilt and tidy up her room; at noon, she could cook rice in the rice cooker and even stir-fry a plate of vegetables with little oil and salt; in the evening, she would take the initiative to bring in Wang Xiuying's dried clothes, fold them according to size, and put them in the wardrobe.

This speed of learning warmed the hearts of Su Daqiang and Wang Xiuying, making them feel both touched and bittersweet.

One morning, as soon as Wang Xiuying entered the kitchen, she saw Su Ning standing in front of the stove, holding a spatula and skillfully flipping the eggs in the frying pan.

The golden egg liquid gradually solidified, with the edges curling up slightly, emitting a faint fragrance.

"Looking at the way he fries eggs, it's as if he's never forgotten how to do it," Wang Xiuying said softly to Su Daqiang behind her, her voice slightly choked with emotion.

Suning used to occasionally fry eggs, but he always burned them. Now he can do it so well, but he doesn't remember it at all.

Su Daqiang sighed and shook his head: "Never mind, it's fine this way. At least he can take care of himself."

Hearing their words, Su Ning turned around, put the fried eggs into a plate, and handed it to them with a slightly uncertain smile: "Dad, Mom, would you like to try some? I think I'm... quite good at making this."

That "it seems" was like a fine needle, gently pricking Su Daqiang and Wang Xiuying's hearts, making them speechless with pain.

Suning's room was piled high with old textbooks that he had dug out of the storage room.

From first-grade pinyin flashcards to junior high school Chinese textbooks, and then to high school physics and math textbooks, he laid them out on his desk, as if studying the life of a stranger.

Every day after dinner, he would go back to his room and sit at his desk to read.

Sometimes when he stayed up very late, Wang Xiuying would knock on the door to remind him to go to sleep, and he would say, "Mom, you guys go to sleep! I'll wait a little longer."

One evening at dinner, Su Ning suddenly put down her chopsticks, her eyes sparkling, and said, "Dad, Mom, I looked at the trigonometric functions in high school math today, and I suddenly understood them all. It felt like seeing an old friend; it was so heartwarming."

Wang Xiuying's heart skipped a beat, and she asked cautiously, "Then... do you still remember Teacher Li? He was your high school math teacher. He used to praise you for being good at math and said you had a talent."

Su Ning's smile slowly faded. He frowned and thought for a moment, then finally shook his head: "I don't remember. I can't recall such a person. But these formulas and theorems seem to have always been in my head. I know how to use them at a glance."

"I'll take you to visit them later."

"Never mind! It would be embarrassing if I couldn't remember anything."

He not only likes science textbooks, but also loves reading literature.

Those Tang and Song poems, essays, and novels were all completely new content for him, but sometimes, while reading them, he would be inexplicably moved.

Once, when he read the line "Right and wrong, success and failure, all turn to nothing," tears suddenly streamed down his face.

At that moment, even he was stunned. He didn't know why this was happening. He just felt a tightness in his chest, as if something wanted to come out but couldn't find an outlet.

Then Wang Xiuying found her laptop and taught Suning how to turn it on, connect to the internet, and use video software.

She originally thought it would take a long time to teach him, but to her surprise, Su Ning was already able to skillfully search for documentaries and watch science videos on the spot, and could even adjust the playback speed and cache videos himself.

"Ningning, how did you learn so quickly?" Wang Xiuying asked in surprise.

“I don’t know. These operations seem very simple, you can learn them at a glance.” Su Ning said, while clicking on a documentary about computer principles. “I like watching real things. Those TV series and movies always feel like dreams made up by other people, not real. I want to know what this world is really like.”

Sometimes while watching videos, Suning would suddenly pause, stare blankly at the screen, as if recalling something.

"Mom, isn't that strange?" he asked Wang Xiuying, turning to her. "I know how computers work, I know how code is written, but I just can't remember what it was like to program. It's like I know how raindrops are formed, but I don't remember what it felt like to be soaked in the rain."

"This is a good sign! Perhaps one day you will really recover."

……

Autumn comes early to Qingdao, and the sea breeze carries a slight chill.

Whenever Su Daqiang and Wang Xiuying went to the seafood market to do business, Su Ning would walk alone to the seaside park not far from their home.

He always liked to sit on a huge rock and watch the tides rise and fall, sometimes for an entire afternoon.

The sea breeze brushed against his hair, carrying the unique salty smell of the ocean, which made him feel particularly comfortable, and his inner turmoil would gradually disappear.

Sometimes he would close his eyes and let the sound of the waves drown out all his thoughts, as if that would allow him to hear a little bit of the past.

One day, an old man who often came to the beach to fish walked up to him and asked with a smile, "Young man, I see you come here every day, do you also like to look at the sea?"

Su Ning opened her eyes, looked at the distant sea, thought for a moment and said, "I don't know if I like it or not, but this place feels very familiar. It's like the sea breeze can blow away some of the fog in my mind and help me clear my head."

The old man smiled and pointed to the sea, saying, "The sea has an excellent memory; it remembers everything, much better than humans."

Gazing at the boundless blue expanse, Su Ning softly asked, "Does it remember me? Does it remember what I used to look like?"

The old man was stunned by the question, opened his mouth, and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

He gave an awkward laugh, packed up his fishing gear, muttered under his breath, "This kid's a bit silly," and hurriedly left.

Su Ning watched the old man's retreating figure, then turned to look at the sea, her eyes filled with confusion.

……

At first, Wang Xiuying was particularly worried that Su Ning would get lost when he went out. Every time he went out, she would repeatedly remind him: "Be careful on the road. If you can't find your way home, call your parents or ask the police patrolling the roadside."

One day, Wang Xiuying returned from the market early and found no one at home. She panicked and rushed out to look for them.

But as soon as I reached the entrance of the residential area, I saw Suning leisurely walking out of the supermarket across the street, carrying a bag of fruit in his hand.

"Ningning! Where did you go? You scared your mother to death!" Wang Xiuying ran over, grabbed his arm, her voice trembling.

Su Ning smiled and waved her phone, the screen displaying a map with "home" marked on it: "Mom, I told you not to worry, I set home's location on my phone. Even if I forget the way, I can follow the map back. And..."

He paused, as if searching for the right words: "And my body seems to know the way on its own. When I'm walking on the road, I know which way to turn, and I don't get confused at all."

Wang Xiuying was finally relieved.

She discovered that although Su Ning had forgotten his past, his sense of direction was exceptionally good. Even in the intricate old alleys, he could easily find his way and had never gotten lost.

This skill, etched into his body, became his only, faint connection to the past.

In the evening, the family of three sat down at the dining table for dinner.

Su Ning suddenly looked up and said, "Dad, Mom, I met someone on the street today. She called out my name and said she was my high school classmate. She even talked to me about the past."

Wang Xiuying paused, her chopsticks still in her hand, and asked nervously, "And then? Did you remember her?"

“No, I have absolutely no recollection of her.” Su Ning calmly picked up a bite of food. “I told her I didn’t remember her and I was sorry. She looked very sad after hearing that, but I didn’t feel anything. I wasn’t sad, and I didn’t feel guilty either. Mom, am I… being a bad person?”

Looking into her son's clear yet bewildered eyes, Wang Xiuying felt a lump in her throat. She shook her head and forced a smile, saying, "It's not bad, Ningning. You've just forgotten the past. It wasn't intentional. It's okay."

Outside the window, the night deepened, turning the sky a deep purple.

The sea breeze blew in through the cracks in the window, carrying the sound of distant tides, and gently brushed across the dining table.

This little home, once filled with laughter and joy, may have fewer memories of the past, but it now holds a warm, carefully cherished feeling.

And Su Ning, this big boy who has lost his past, is gradually learning to find his own path again in his present life.

On a sunny afternoon in Qingdao, the sun warmed the beach.

Su Ning walked barefoot on the beach, the fine sand flowing slowly between his toes, carrying a slightly warm touch, so comfortable that he couldn't help but slow down.

Then I lay on the beach like a complete idiot, and for some reason I felt really refreshed and relaxed.

The waves surged onto the beach again and again, then gently receded, leaving behind a trail of tiny bubbles.

Just then, a slightly old white van slowed down and stopped on the side of the road not far away.

The car window rolled down with a "whoosh," and a man of about thirty years old leaned out. His gaze fell on Su Ning, and he was stunned for a moment before his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Su Ning? It really is you!" The man hurriedly pushed open the car door and jumped out. His chubby body was a little out of breath as he ran to Su Ning, a familiar smile plastered on his face. "I heard you came back from Hangzhou. I was thinking of finding time to visit you. I didn't expect to run into you here!"

Su Ning stopped and looked at the man in front of her...

She was slightly chubby, her skin was rough from the sea breeze, and when she smiled, several obvious lines appeared at the corners of her eyes. She also had a faint fishy smell.

But he had no memory of this person; his eyes held only a calm unfamiliarity.

"Excuse me, may I ask who you are?" Su Ning turned slightly to the side, her tone polite yet distant.

The man's smile froze instantly. He paused for two seconds before tentatively saying, "I'm your older cousin, Chen Tao! Don't you remember? When you were little, I often took you to the dock to watch the fishing boats and even helped you catch small crabs. When you got into Jiangsu University, I gave you a laptop, and you said you wanted to use it to learn programming!"

Chen Tao spoke while gesturing, trying to evoke Suning's memory.

Su Ning simply shook his head slightly. The sea breeze ruffled his hair and eased the awkwardness in the air: "I was in a car accident before, and I can't remember many things from before."

"Car accident?" Chen Tao's eyes widened suddenly, and he subconsciously looked Su Ning up and down, from her hair to the soles of her feet, as if trying to find any signs of injury.

In his memory, Su Ning was the pride of the entire family.

This year, he was admitted to the Computer Science Department of Jiangsu-Zhejiang University with a score among the top ten in the city. Every time there is a family gathering, he is surrounded by elders who praise him for being "promising". When talking about algorithms and programming, his eyes light up.

But the Su Ning before me had lost that sharpness in her eyes, leaving only a kind of bewildered clarity, like a child who had just come to know the world.

"Sigh, what a mess this has become..." Chen Tao sighed, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.

The words that were on the tip of my tongue got stuck in my throat. I didn't know whether to say something comforting or to avoid the topic altogether.

The two stood on the beach, speechless for a moment.

The sound of the waves remained, but it seemed somewhat quiet.

Chen Tao scratched his head and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, I'm no longer a seafood wholesaler. I've switched to providing logistical support for film and television production crews."

He spoke with a hint of pride, as if he were talking about something remarkable, "Actually, I was just responsible for delivering boxed lunches to the crew and managing props and stuff, but I often got to see celebrities, so it was quite interesting."

Su Ning listened quietly, her gaze occasionally drifting to the distant horizon where the sky and sea merged, a dazzling blue.

Chen Tao suddenly slapped his thigh, as if he had remembered something good, and his eyes lit up. "A film crew is shooting in Qingdao recently, and I'm in charge of their logistics. They just happen to need an assistant. Do you want to give it a try? It's better than just wandering around the beach all day, and you can earn some pocket money."

Seeing Su Ning frowning and hesitating, Chen Tao quickly added, "Don't worry, the work is all simple. It's just helping to move light things and distributing boxed lunches to the actors and staff. It's not tiring at all. Even though you... even though you can't remember things from before, you'll definitely be able to do the work, right?"

Suning was indeed tempted.

Since being discharged from the hospital, he has spent his days either reading at home or daydreaming by the sea. His days are peaceful but also empty.

He always felt empty inside, as if something was missing. Subconsciously, he longed to do something, to reconnect with the world, instead of being a bystander like he was now.

“Sounds good.” Su Ning paused for a few seconds, then finally nodded. “But I need to discuss it with my parents first. They might be worried about my current situation.”

"Of course, of course!" Chen Tao nodded quickly. "Your parents raised you with great difficulty, so we definitely have to tell them. You used to be the pride of our whole family..."

He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, realizing he had brought up "the past" again, and quickly shut his mouth, his eyes darting away.

Su Ning just smiled faintly and said calmly, "It's okay. Many people have told me about my past. Although it sounds like someone else's story, I know they all mean well."

The two agreed to contact each other again after discussing the matter, and then they parted ways.

Chen Tao watched Su Ning's retreating figure slowly walking along the beach, and couldn't help but shake his head, muttering to himself, "What a genius, how did he turn out like this... From 'little prodigy' to 'big fool Ning,' the world is truly unpredictable..."

……

That evening, the family sat down at the dining table for dinner.

Su Ning ate a couple of bites of rice, put down her chopsticks, and brought up the matter of meeting Chen Tao and the work invitation during the day.

Wang Xiuying stopped eating abruptly, her first reaction being worry: "Going to work on a film set? There are so many people and such a complicated environment. You don't remember things. What if you get separated from someone or get bullied?"

“Mom, although I have amnesia, I haven’t lost my intelligence.” Su Ning looked at her mother and said calmly, “Dr. Liu from the psychology department also said that I should try to experience new things and make new friends, which may help my recovery.”

Su Daqiang didn't speak, but just held his wine glass, sipping his wine one sip at a time, his brows furrowed as if he were thinking seriously.

After a long while, he put down his wine glass, looked at Su Ning, and asked, "Do you really want to go?"

Su Ning nodded vigorously: "Yeah, it's better than staying at home all day. And..."

He paused, trying to describe the inexplicable feeling in his heart, "I feel like I need to do something, I can't just sit around like this. Although I don't remember what the past was like, I want to try to create a new present, to try to know what I can do now."

These words brought tears to Wang Xiuying's eyes.

She looked at her son and suddenly felt that he had grown up.

No longer the child she needed to worry about all the time, but beginning to learn to make her own decisions and face this forgotten world.

She wiped her eyes, sniffed, and didn't object anymore.

In the end, Su Daqiang and Wang Xiuying reluctantly agreed.

The next morning, Su Ning couldn't wait to call Chen Tao.

The phone was answered after just one ring, and Chen Tao's cheerful voice came through the receiver: "Ningning? Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes, cousin, my parents have agreed. When can I start working?"

"That's great!" Chen Tao's voice was even happier. "I'll pick you up from your house first thing tomorrow morning. Remember to dress casually, it's windy at the film set, so bring a light jacket too."

After hanging up the phone, Su Ning walked to the window and looked out at the distant sea.

The morning sunlight sprinkled on the sea, creating a shimmering, silvery glow, like a handful of stars.

He didn't know what he would encounter working on the film set, nor what the future would hold, but for the first time, he felt a sense of anticipation.

It's not about hoping to find the past, but about hoping to see what kind of person I can become now.

...(End of chapter)