King of the underworld

Mana was already waiting for Lina at the café.

Since she was the only one there, it was easy for Lina to catch a glimpse of the anxious girl from outside.

Mana was a serious-looking, lean, athletic girl with straight brown hair and a worried expression on her face. She was wearing a simple white shirt and dress pants, continually checking her phone for the time.

It looked like she had rushed out of work, or from the middle of something.

Lina's heart softened as she looked at the stressed out woman waiting for her. Naturally, she didn't remember Mana either, but she could tell that her best friend really cared about her.

She had researched her background by talking to Mei about her.

"Boss, Ms. Mana doesn't know about your marriage to the master but she has known you as Ms. Mito since you were in University together here in the capital city. She also knows about your work at the consultancy and comes by occasionally."

Mei had also given Lina some additional information about Mana's likes, dislikes, habits and family and work.

She was the same age as Lina, 26. She had graduated with a degree in law and Lina had graduated with a degree in political science. Mana now worked as a junior associate at a major law firm in the capital city.

But it was up to Lina to decide how much information she wanted to divulge right now.

Her amnesia was a well kept secret, from everyone at work and her social circle. The less people that knew about the amnesia, the safer she was from being duped.

As she walked into the café, Mana's worried, darting eyes changed. She leaped out of her chair, but stood frozen, standing as if she had seen a ghost.

It looked like she wanted to approach Lina and hug her but was slightly lost and awkward.

"Lina..."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

Lina's face broke into a smile, thinking about how much this woman had worried and cared and hoped for her recovery through the text messages on her phone.

She walked towards Mana and instinctively hugged her without a word.

As soon as she did, Mana hugged her back tightly, suddenly breaking into tears.

"Li, you idiot. Why did you disappear on me for so long! I was so worried, I don't even know what to say right now!"

Mana was speaking between sobs and smiles and she alternated between hugging Lina and inspecting her, as if to check that she was really there.

Lina laughed.

"Mana...I'm really here and I'm really okay. There's a lot to discuss. So much has happened."

As they sat down and ordered their drinks, Mana's teary face started to brighten.

She reached across the table and held Lina's hand, her gaze scanning Lina intently.

"Li, what the hell happened? We're hanging out one day, and the next you've just disappeared. All I heard from Mei was that you had been in an accident and had been taken to some private facility for treatment! I couldn't even visit you!"

Lina thought about what Mana said. It all made sense now, how quietly Shen had protected her. He had taken her away to an inaccessible place, under his careful watch, to make sure not even the people closest to her would find her.

After all, they still didn't know who had attacked her.

What's more, there wasn't just one attacker -- there were two!

Naturally, anyone close to her would be at risk, or would have put her at risk.

Lina felt awful that Shen may have suspected the people close to her, but also realised that protecting her at that time was necessary.

"Mana, it's really complicated. It wasn't as simple as an accident."

Lina thought for a minute before she decided to be honest with Mana.

She was getting tired of hiding behind glass doors, waiting to see if something happened.

If someone wanted to attack her, she was now prepared. They could come meet her head on. But she was tired of keeping track of her secrets from everyone she was around.

The employees of the consultancy didn't need to know details. They just needed their boss to remain competent.

But she had a long standing, personal relationship with Mana. She desperately needed people she could trust, besides always relying on Shen.

"Actually, what happened was no accident. Two parties tried to assassinate me. I was in a coma for the last three months. I woke up just a few weeks ago."

Mana's expression turned stony.

And then her eyes slowly widened, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Lina decided to offload everything together.

"That's not all. I'm also suffering from amnesia. I don't remember anything about my life at all. I don't remember you either."

Mana looked like her soul had left her body. There was pure shock written across her face.

Lina sighed.

"That's still not all."

Mana almost choked.

"Really Li?! What other crazy shit will you spout next? That you're married to the king of the underworld?!"

It was Lina's turn to choke.

"Who told you that!"

Mana face almost smashed into the table at this point.

Lina grinned sheepishly.

"Well, do you consider Shen Moshi the king of the underworld?"