Fantasy Novel:

Paradise Hotel  12

【Eleven】Investigating Annie’s True Identity

37

At noon, Lin Xiaoyang and Huang Minhwa chose a quiet little restaurant for lunch. Sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the restaurant with the aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread. The two sat by the window, where they had a broad view of the lively street outside.

After ordering, Xiaoyang handed the menu to the waiter. Huang Minhwa looked at him somewhat eagerly and asked, “Which hotel did you stay at last night? Give me the phone number. I’ll come find you when I have some free time.”

Xiaoyang lowered his head somewhat awkwardly and rubbed his fingers together, answering with a hint of uneasiness, “I stayed at a friend’s place last night.”

Huang Minhwa frowned, a trace of suspicion flashing in her eyes. “Give me the address.”

Xiaoyang paused slightly, then looked up at her, his heart tightening. “I didn’t let my friend know beforehand, so it wouldn’t be very convenient…”

Huang Minhwa looked at him in confusion, her tone carrying a hint of challenge. “I’m your girlfriend. What’s so inconvenient about me coming to see you?”

Her words came somewhat hurriedly, as if she did not want to let any detail slip by. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and her tone turned teasing. “Unless your friend is a beautiful woman. Is that it?”

Xiaoyang looked at her, his expression somewhat embarrassed, but he answered honestly. “She is a woman, actually. She’s from Shanghai. We only met two months ago. She came to Paris on business and happened to run into me.”

Hearing this, Huang Minhwa’s expression suddenly darkened. She frowned and asked, “Then… are you two living together?”

Xiaoyang hurriedly waved his hands, his tone flustered. “No, we’re not living together. I’m just temporarily staying at her apartment.”

Just then, the waiter brought over their food, interrupting their conversation. Xiaoyang sighed softly and began to compose himself. After the waiter walked away, Huang Minhwa looked directly at him, her tone displeased. “A man and a woman alone together in the same room, and you don’t call that living together? What do you call it?”

Xiaoyang became slightly agitated and quickly took a photograph from his wallet, handing it to Huang Minhwa. “This is my missing girlfriend.”

Huang Minhwa looked at the photograph, her eyes lighting up. Her tone immediately turned questioning. “You found her?”

Xiaoyang opened his phone and showed Huang Minhwa another photograph. “This is a picture of the friend who let me stay at her place.”

Huang Minhwa carefully compared the two photographs, then suddenly frowned. “Other than the different hair color, they’re basically the same person!”

Xiaoyang was silent for a moment before sighing. “At first, I thought the same thing. But you know, there really are people in this world who look remarkably alike. This girl’s name is Annie. She hasn’t told me her real name. She only said that she’s from Shanghai and studies fashion design.”

Huang Minhwa’s curiosity was completely aroused. She lightly tapped her fingers on the table and reasoned in a low voice, “Could this Annie be your girlfriend’s twin sister?”

Xiaoyang’s gaze was firm, and his answer was unequivocal. “Impossible! I’ve never heard that she had a sister.”

Huang Minhwa thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped the table, her eyes lighting up. “Wait! There’s only one possibility. Annie might actually be your missing girlfriend. Something may have happened to her, and she lost her memory!”

Xiaoyang remained silent for a moment before saying softly, “What you said actually reminds me of something, but she seems completely unfamiliar with me. She doesn’t have the slightest sense of déjà vu…”

Huang Minhwa raised an eyebrow, lifted her hand, and snapped her fingers, a mysterious smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. “I have a way to verify Annie’s identity!”

A trace of curiosity flashed in Xiaoyang’s eyes. “What way?”

Huang Minhwa looked directly at him, her tone serious. “Does your girlfriend have a birthmark or mole on her body?”

Xiaoyang thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, a birthmark. But it’s in a private area.”

Huang Minhwa glanced at him and gave him a mischievous smile. “Then it’s simple. Just install a hidden camera in the bathroom. That should let you see it clearly, right?”

Xiaoyang’s face instantly flushed red, and he hurriedly waved his hands. “I… I can’t do that.”

Huang Minhwa smiled softly, her tone teasing. “Can’t do it? Then your intimate relationship before must have been fake, right?”

Xiaoyang looked somewhat embarrassed and lowered his head. “Huijun is a Catholic. We never did that kind of thing.”

Huang Minhwa raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, “But didn’t you say the two of you had talked about getting married?”

Xiaoyang nodded, his tone firm. “Yes, we did talk about getting married, but we never had that kind of relationship.”

Huang Minhwa asked provocatively, “Then how do you know she has a birthmark in a private area?”

Xiaoyang’s gaze became somewhat distant as he answered quietly, “When we went swimming at Baisha Beach in Kenting together, I happened to notice it. It was below her navel.”

Huang Minhwa could not help laughing. “Oh, come on! How is below the navel considered a private area? Anyway, this makes investigating her identity much easier!”

Xiaoyang’s eyes lit up. “Oh? You have a way?”

Huang Minhwa smiled triumphantly. “The old-fashioned way! Give her a chance to wear a two-piece bikini.”

Xiaoyang frowned and asked worriedly, “But what if she wears a one-piece swimsuit? And if the bikini material is water-permeable, wouldn’t it be impossible to see clearly?”

Huang Minhwa smiled slightly and said provocatively, “Then you need to act first! Find an excuse to give her a two-piece bikini!”

Xiaoyang froze and asked blankly, “What excuse could I use to give her something that personal? Besides, I’m not even that close to her.”

Huang Minhwa smiled triumphantly. “Valentine’s Day is coming in a few days. Use that as your excuse!”

Xiaoyang frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy. “Wouldn’t giving her that kind of gift seem too strange? Wouldn’t Annie feel uncomfortable?”

Huang Minhwa said confidently, “No. When a girl receives an intimate gift from a guy, she’ll usually think, ‘He’s interested in me.’ Unless she has absolutely no feelings for you. Otherwise, this trick will definitely work!”

Xiaoyang looked deeply at her and finally sighed. “All right. I’ll give it a try.”

Huang Minhwa raised her hand and pointed at the soup on the table. “Then let’s eat first. The soup is getting cold.”

At this moment, Huang Minhwa was actually feeling somewhat uneasy. She was worried that if Annie really was Xiaoyang’s missing girlfriend, and had merely become completely different because of amnesia, then once Annie’s identity was confirmed, Xiaoyang would certainly do everything he could to help her recover her memories. And when that happened, she might become the true “other woman.” What would she do then?

Lin Xiaoyang’s heart was wavering as well. “If Annie really is the missing Xie Huijun, should I really take this gamble? Should I wait for Huijun to recover her memory, and in the end let Minhwa go? But if Annie isn’t Huijun, why do her voice and eyes look so much like hers?”

38

At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the high-rises and cafés along the Champs-Élysées in a warm golden light. The air was filled with the aroma of coffee and desserts, while the bustling crowd, footsteps, and traffic merged into a symphony of the city. Lin Xiaoyang and Annie stood outside a small café. A gentle breeze brushed past, causing Annie’s long hair to flutter softly. She wore a peach-red dress whose fitted cut perfectly outlined her graceful figure, radiating youth and vitality. Her smile was bright, and a unique charm shimmered in her eyes, as though she were herself a part of the city.

Lin Xiaoyang stood beside her, his gaze somewhat shy, holding an elegant shopping bag in his hand. The coolness in the air made him slightly nervous, yet surprisingly, his heartbeat remained steady.

He took a deep breath, moved slightly closer to Annie, and said softly, “Annie, Valentine’s Day is coming in a few days. This is a gift for you.” As he spoke, he handed the shopping bag to her, his eyes filled with anticipation yet also tinged with uneasiness.

Annie accepted the bag, curiosity showing in her eyes. She glanced down at what was inside, then looked up with a smile and asked teasingly, “Oh? We’ve only known each other for a short time, and we’ve only just started dating, yet you’re already in such a hurry to give me a gift?”

Xiaoyang nervously rubbed the back of his head. A blush appeared on his face as he cleared his throat and gathered his courage. “I… I just wanted to know whether you’d be willing to spend Valentine’s Day with me.”

Annie froze for a moment. Her eyes softened, and a warm smile appeared at the corners of her lips. She blinked lightly and asked teasingly, “Brother Lin, does this count as a confession?”

Xiaoyang’s heart suddenly began pounding. His face turned as red as if it had been brushed with rouge, but he still nodded firmly, wearing a shy smile as he slightly avoided her gaze. “Yes, I suppose it does.”

Annie smiled, a hint of appreciation seeming to shine in her eyes. She said softly, “All right! But let’s be friends first. Let’s spend some time getting to know each other and see whether we’re a good match before deciding whether to become a couple. Would that be okay?”

Xiaoyang breathed a slight sigh of relief and gave a relaxed smile. “Of course. I’d be happy to.”

The two walked side by side along the sidewalk. Occasionally, cars passed by, stirring the breeze that gently brushed the ends of Annie’s hair. The display windows of the upscale boutiques along both sides of the street glittered with dazzling lights and vivid colors, creating the alluring scene of a city that never sleeps. As they walked, they arrived at an upscale men’s boutique. Annie suddenly stopped, turned toward Lin Xiaoyang, and said with a smile, “Let’s go in and take a look! Pick something you like, and I’ll give it to you.”

Looking at the anticipation in her eyes, Xiaoyang felt a warm sensation in his heart. He nodded, slightly surprised and touched. “You really want to give me a gift?”

Annie lightly patted him on the shoulder, her eyes filled with playful teasing. “You should show a little thoughtfulness, too. It’s Valentine’s Day, after all.” As she spoke, she walked into the store first, her movements light and confident, as if she were the center of attention in the whole world.

Lin Xiaoyang stood there for a moment in surprise before quickly following behind her. Yet a warm feeling rose in his heart. He had never imagined that he could be so easily attracted to a woman, especially a woman like Annie, who was both independent and shrouded in mystery. The moment he entered the boutique, the quietness of the space and its luxurious atmosphere helped him relax somewhat. As he watched Annie skillfully choosing clothes, he suddenly felt that her kindness toward him seemed more moving than any extravagant gift could have been.

“Do you like this kind of style?” Annie turned back to look at him, her expression seeming to consider his preferences.

Lin Xiaoyang smiled and gently shook his head. “I prefer something simpler. You can choose for me.”

Annie said nothing more. She turned and walked toward a row of suits. Her fingers lightly brushed across each garment, as if she were choosing not merely clothes, but also a future with Lin Xiaoyang. She knew that this man’s heart had already been captured by her; the only question was whether time would allow the two of them to truly come together.

Lin Xiaoyang stood nearby, watching Annie skillfully choose the clothes. He thought to himself that perhaps their story had only just begun.

39

At night, inside Annie’s apartment, the dim light of a table lamp fell in soft patches across the white sofa and wooden floor. The faint fragrance of aromatherapy filled the air, creating a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Lin Xiaoyang sat on the edge of the sofa, his eyes fixed intently on Annie standing before him. She was wearing a blue-and-white two-piece bikini. Her graceful curves were reflected in the mirror, while sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains and fell across her skin, adding a soft glow. Xiaoyang’s heartbeat unconsciously quickened. Looking at her before him, he felt as though he were seeing Huijun, who had disappeared many years ago. Every detail stirred a wave of emotion in his heart.

Annie turned to face him and smiled slightly, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. “Well? It fits perfectly, right? And this is my favorite color.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s gaze was gentle and affectionate, and his voice was low, with a slight tremor. “Annie, you’ve always liked peach pink, haven’t you? You once told me that peach pink represents gentle happiness.”

Annie froze for a moment, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes. Tilting her head slightly, she asked, “Brother Lin, how do you know that I like peach pink so much?”

Lin Xiaoyang’s eyes remained fixed on her. There was a faint smile on his face, but his eyes held a deep emotion. “Of course I know, because you are my girlfriend, Huijun. You always have been.”

Annie’s expression instantly became complicated. She frowned slightly and shook her head, trying to bring the emotion back under the control of reason. “Brother Lin, you may have mistaken me for someone else… My name isn’t Huijun.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s heart sank. His voice became even more resolute, almost pleading. “Huijun, I don’t care whether you remember me or not, because I still love you deeply.” As he spoke, he unconsciously reached out, as though he wanted to embrace her. But at that moment, Annie took a step backward. Her body stiffened slightly, and a trace of wariness flashed in her eyes.

Annie said softly, “Brother Lin, please don’t… We already agreed that we would be friends first.” There was no affectation in her tone, only genuine refusal, while her expression was complicated and difficult to read.

Lin Xiaoyang’s expression changed slightly. He realized that his actions had made her uncomfortable. He stopped, his eyes filled with regret and profound pain. “Huijun, I don’t know what happened to you before you lost your memory, but I’m willing to start over with you, no matter where we have to begin.”

Annie frowned deeply, confusion and inner struggle flickering in her eyes. “Why do you keep insisting on treating me as your missing girlfriend? Do you see me as nothing more than her replacement?” Her voice was low, carrying an indescribable emotion, as though she were both hurt and angry.

Seeing her reaction, Xiaoyang felt a sharp pain in his heart. He took a deep breath, stepped closer to her, and spoke gently, his voice filled with remorse. “Annie, I’m sorry. I lost control just now. Please forgive me. I just want so badly to find her again, and I’m also so afraid of losing you.” He stopped and quietly looked at her, his eyes filled with regret.

Annie gently shook her head. After remaining silent for a moment, she finally said, “I understand how you feel, Brother Lin, but you have to understand that I’m not her.” Her tone was gentle, yet firm.

The two stood silently facing each other, the air seemingly filled with unspoken words and unresolved knots between them.

40

Late at night, Annie quietly slipped into Lin Xiaoyang’s bedroom. The room was illuminated only by the faint light of the table lamp, and a peaceful atmosphere enveloped everything around her. Several books lay scattered across the desk. Most noticeable were a thick diary and a photo album. Curiosity drew Annie closer, and she sat down in the chair beside the desk.

She gently opened the photo album and saw Lin Xiaoyang’s graduation photos with Xie Huijun, along with several intimate photographs of the two of them traveling together. Each photograph looked warm and genuine, and an indescribable emotion welled up inside her.

She sighed softly, then opened the diary. The words revealed Lin Xiaoyang’s profound feelings. She came across a passage:

“The birthmark below the navel finally proved that Annie is the missing Huijun. What exactly happened to Huijun that caused her to completely lose her memory and have no reaction to me at all? What am I supposed to do? God! Why have you given me such a difficult problem?”

Annie’s eyes lingered on those words, and waves of emotion rose within her heart. She gently placed the diary back on the desk and looked toward Lin Xiaoyang, who was sleeping soundly. Her expression was complicated. As she gazed at his peaceful face, her heart was touched.

She quietly walked to the window and whispered to herself, “It seems that Brother Lin still has feelings for that girl named Xie Huijun, the girl who looks exactly like me. Brother Lin is so deeply devoted to her. Even if I really am the amnesiac Huijun, we now belong to different worlds, between the living and the dead. How could I take advantage of his deep love for Huijun?”

Standing by the window, she gazed at the night sky in the distance and took a deep breath before making her decision.

She returned to the desk, picked up a pen, and wrote a message at the end of the diary. Her handwriting was clear and resolute:

“Brother Lin, I accidentally looked through your photo album and diary. Regarding the missing girlfriend you have been searching for, if Annie is not the person who lost her memory, Annie wants to tell you: Thank you for your deep devotion to Huijun! But Annie’s true identity is actually a vampire who has been given a mission. I cannot bear to take advantage of you or hurt you. Please forget Annie completely! Annie is leaving. Take good care of yourself, Brother.”

After finishing the message, Annie gently closed the diary, took a deep breath, quietly left the room, and slowly closed the door behind her. An indescribable heaviness filled the air.

The next morning, Lin Xiaoyang awoke from his sleep and stretched, preparing to tidy up the desk. His eyes fell on the diary, and he frowned slightly, as if sensing that something was wrong.

He opened the diary and turned to the final page. His eyes quickly scanned the words Annie had left behind, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

His fingers stopped over the handwriting, and he seemed momentarily stunned. Then he suddenly stood up. His face turned pale, and a flash of pain and confusion appeared in his eyes.

He rushed out of the room and into the living room, only to discover that everything had already been cleaned and arranged by Annie, neat and spotless. There was not a trace of disorder, as though she had never existed.

Lin Xiaoyang’s heart sank, and he could barely breathe. He rushed into Annie’s bedroom, his eyes quickly scanning the bed and vanity, only to discover that all the familiar belongings were already gone, as though she had never lived there. The bed was completely empty, and the vanity held nothing but a silent emptiness.

A cold breeze swept through the room. Lin Xiaoyang suddenly collapsed to his knees, bracing himself with both hands against the floor as the pain and helplessness in his heart erupted all at once.

A low sob escaped his throat, his voice trembling. “Huijun! Huijun…”

He raised his head and cried out toward the sky. Tears involuntarily welled up in his eyes, yet he could no longer force out another word.

The entire room fell into absolute silence. Only Lin Xiaoyang’s breathing and heartbeat echoed through the empty space.

He tightly wiped the tears from his face and murmured in a low voice, “Where are you? Why won’t you tell me everything anymore?”