Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”Taken away by someone?” Yan Huan looked at Ji Chuan with confusion, ”Could it be that I was taken away by someone before?”

”You have no memory of it at all?” Ji Chuan frowned.

”No. It’s impossible that I was taken away. I’ve always been with my parents since I was young. Wherever they go, I go.” Yan Huan said truthfully.

”Are you lying? Are you trying to hide something?” Ji Chuan recalled what Jason had told him.

”Hiding? Lying?” Yan Huan’s face turned grim upon hearing this. ”What do you mean by that? Why would I hide anything? Why would I lie?”

”Then you really can’t remember anything?”

”That’s right!” Yan Huan finished speaking, and his gaze at Ji Chuan became distant, ”I’m really not lying. But sometimes I dream, and strange things always appear in the dreams. These dreams have haunted me for many years. Sometimes when I wake up, it feels like the dream really happened.”

”I... I think I know.” Ji Chuan said thoughtfully.

”What do you know?” Yan Huan looked at him with anticipation.

”I know why you have these nightmares. I know why you have no memory of the past.”

”Why?” Yan Huan asked urgently, ”Are these things related to my illness?”

”I think they might be.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Huan suddenly reached out and tightly grasped Ji Chuan’s hand, ”Then I beg you, please help me figure this out.”

”Don’t worry. I will! I will definitely ask Jason to help you come out of this deep psychological shadow.”

.........

Ji Chuan returned to the hospital dormitory, where Jason was drinking coffee in the living room.

”Hey, Ji! You’ve totally ditched me for a whole day, you know? I’ve almost starved to death.” Jason complained, full of grievances.

”I’ve brought back some new information.” Ji Chuan sat down beside Jason and took out a piece of paper from his pocket, ”It’s all written here! These are the dreams Yan Huan has been having. I think you might be able to find some clues or inspirations from them.”

”Ji, could you please cook something for me first?” Jason couldn’t be bothered to look at the paper, as his stomach was growling loudly.

”Are you a fool? Outside this hospital, there are restaurants everywhere. Can’t you just find one to eat at, instead of waiting for me to cook?” Ji Chuan looked at Jason as if he were an idiot.

”Hey, you brat! Who was it that told me before leaving to not eat anything, promising to bring back the best honey-roasted duck from Nancheng? Where’s the food?” Jason said angrily, his tone changing.

Ji Chuan then remembered that he indeed made such a promise when he left.

”Sorry, I really forgot!” Ji Chuan said with an embarrassed smile, ”Since I promised you, I’ll make sure you have honey-roasted duck today, but you need to help me interpret this dream first.”

”You’re such a guy who values romance over friendship. I haven’t eaten anything from morning till now, please consider my fragile stomach.”

”I already have.” Ji Chuan said with a grin, ”After much consideration, I figured you must want to eat freshly cooked, hot roasted duck, and for that, I must have enough patience to wait. But if this matter keeps lingering in my mind...”