Chapter 20: The Mystery Unfolds

Liu Wei sat in his dimly lit office, the soft hum of city life filtering through the large windows. Documents and photos were spread across his desk, a tapestry of clues and connections that he had meticulously pieced together over the past months. He picked up a photograph of Lin Yue, her serene expression contrasting sharply with the whirlwind of questions swirling in his mind. He was increasingly convinced that Lin Yue was indeed Xiaoyu, the girl from his past who had saved him and given him hope.

He reached for the crescent moon pendant hanging around his neck, its familiar weight grounding him. Each time he touched it, memories of his childhood with Xiaoyu resurfaced, intensifying his determination to uncover the truth.

With a sigh, Liu Wei leaned back in his chair and reviewed the information he had gathered. Lin Yue's past was shrouded in mystery, especially the years before she became the formidable businesswoman leading Phoenix Enterprises. There were gaps, inconsistencies, and the faintest traces of a life she had tried to leave behind.

He had learned that Lin Yue had taken on her new name shortly after a tragic car accident. The timing aligned too perfectly with the day he was taken from Xiaoyu. Yet, Lin Yue had never mentioned her past, and her new life was meticulously crafted to keep her history hidden. Liu Wei knew that the only way to confirm his suspicions was to dig deeper, even if it meant unearthing painful memories for both of them.

His investigation led him to a small, nondescript office in an old building on the edge of the city. The sign on the door read "Private Investigator"—a far cry from the sleek, modern facades of the corporate world he was accustomed to. He knocked, and a grizzled man with sharp eyes and a knowing smile opened the door.

"Mr. Liu," the investigator greeted him, extending a hand. "I've been expecting you. Come in."

Liu Wei followed the man into the cluttered office, feeling a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The investigator had been working tirelessly to uncover any details about Lin Yue's past that could confirm her identity as Xiaoyu.

"Have you found anything?" Liu Wei asked, unable to mask the urgency in his voice.

The investigator nodded, handing him a file. "I believe so. It wasn't easy, but I managed to track down some records from a small town on the outskirts of the city. It seems Lin Yue was indeed Xiaoyu, the daughter of a wealthy family who met with a tragic end. After the accident, she was sent to live with relatives, but she disappeared from the public eye shortly after."

Liu Wei's heart raced as he flipped through the documents. Birth records, photographs, and a faded newspaper clipping about the accident confirmed what he had long suspected. Lin Yue's parents had died in the crash, and she had been left alone, vulnerable, and in hiding. The girl he had been searching for was right in front of him all along.

"Does she know?" Liu Wei asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The investigator shook his head. "It's hard to say. She's kept her past well-guarded. But based on the evidence, I'd wager she remembers more than she lets on."

Liu Wei stared at the documents, a wave of emotions crashing over him. The pain of their separation, the years of searching, and the joy of finding her again mingled in a confusing, overwhelming mix. He needed to confront Lin Yue, to tell her what he had discovered and to see if she would confirm the truth he now held in his hands.

Thanking the investigator, Liu Wei left the office and returned to his car. As he drove through the city streets, his thoughts were consumed by the girl he had known as Xiaoyu and the woman she had become as Lin Yue. He had found her, but now he faced the daunting task of helping her reconnect with a past she had tried so hard to forget.

When he arrived at Lin Yue's apartment, he found her waiting for him. She looked up as he entered, her eyes searching his face for answers to questions she couldn't yet voice.

"Lin Yue," he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I need to talk to you about something important. It's about your past."

Her eyes widened, a flicker of fear and recognition passing through them. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Liu Wei took a deep breath, stepping closer and taking her hands in his. "I believe you are Xiaoyu, the girl who saved me when I was lost and scared all those years ago. I've found evidence—birth records, photos—that link you to that past. I think you've always known, but you've tried to move on. I need to know the truth, Lin Yue. Are you Xiaoyu?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him, the walls she had built around her past beginning to crumble. "I... I don't know," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I've tried so hard to forget. But yes, I remember being Xiaoyu. I remember you."

Liu Wei's heart soared at her admission, a sense of relief and hope flooding through him. He gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing away her tears. "We've found each other again, Xiaoyu. And we can face whatever comes next, together."

Lin Yue nodded, a tentative smile breaking through her tears. "Together," she echoed, finding strength in his words and his presence.

As they stood there, the mystery of their past unraveling before them, Liu Wei knew that they had a long journey ahead. But with Lin Yue by his side, he was ready to face the future, piece by piece, one fragment of memory at a time.