The Genius Female Forensic Pathologist, The Psychological Anatomist

Although Director Chen's case had concluded, they did not stop their investigation into the "Neural Rose."

The next day, Fang Rui received a call from Zhang's Mother: "Fang Rui, Zhang's condition has improved a lot today. He can speak now."

In the past few days, Zhang's condition had already been improving. He had gradually regained the ability to breathe on his own and had been moved out of the ICU. The doctors said there was a high probability he would recover.

Zhang's parents had been afraid of disturbing Fang Rui and the others at work, and even more afraid of raising false hopes, so they hadn't informed them earlier. Only when Zhang was able to sit up today did they finally notify Fang Rui.

"By the way, Fang Rui, do you know where Chen Xue is? I haven't been able to reach her on the phone. If you can get in touch with her, please let her know."

Fang Rui was both happy about Zhang's recovery and saddened by Chen Xue's death. His voice choked as he replied, "Auntie, Chen Xue... she won't be able to come."

"Why? Is she sick? Then she should rest well. She can come whenever she's ready."

"Yes."

Fang Rui didn't tell her the truth.

When their colleagues at the police station heard that Zhang had woken up, they all bought flowers and fruit baskets after work—the largest fruit baskets in the store and the biggest, most beautiful bouquets. They went to the hospital together to visit Zhang.

Mu Mian's eyes were swollen from crying. She said to Fang Rui, "If Officer Zhang finds out about Chen Xue's death, he'll be heartbroken."

"Let's not tell him for now."

"But he'll find out eventually."

In the end, they all decided to keep the news of Chen Xue's passing a secret.

Zhang had now been moved to a general ward. When they entered the room, he was sitting there, staring blankly into space.

Seeing so many people come in, he glanced at them, then looked away and continued to stare blankly.

Their hearts sank. Could Zhang have lost his mental faculties? But they quickly reassured themselves—at least he was alive.

Zhang's parents greeted them warmly as they entered.

"Officer Zhang, this is a gift for you," Mu Mian said, placing a beautifully wrapped present on the bedside table.

Zhang glanced at the gift and asked in a hoarse voice, "Who is Officer Zhang?"

Mu Mian replied, "It's you."

"Am I called Officer Zhang?"

"Don't you remember your name?"

"No. My mind is completely blank."

Everyone turned to Zhang's parents.

Zhang's Mother sighed and explained that Zhang had lost his memory.

After Zhang woke up, the doctors had conducted tests and quickly reached a conclusion: "This patient is likely suffering from retrograde amnesia. He has forgotten his past. His temporal lobe is damaged, and since the temporal lobe is associated with memory, this injury could lead to memory loss."

Retrograde amnesia typically refers to the loss of episodic memories—memories of past events—while procedural memories, such as learned skills, remain intact.

"Will his memories come back?" Zhang's Mother asked, her voice trembling.

"Probably ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‍not. If the amnesia were caused by a concussion, there might be a chance, but his is due to brain damage. The likelihood of recovery is low. However, we will arrange for him to receive relevant treatments."

"Will his ability to form new memories be affected?"

"It's hard to say at this point. But based on our experience, there will likely be some impact."

Mu Mian felt deeply saddened. If Officer Zhang no longer had his past memories, was he still the same Officer Zhang?

Zhang looked at Mu Mian and Fang Rui. They seemed familiar to him. He asked, "Are you all my good friends? Did I have so many friends before?"

Everyone replied, "Yes, we're your good friends and colleagues."

Mu Mian introduced herself, "Hello, Officer Zhang. My name is Mu Mian."

Fang Rui said, "Zhang, I'm Fang Rui."

Wang Yu joked, "I'm Wang Yu. You used to call me 'Little Wang.' You can still call me that."

Zhang couldn't help but laugh. "Your name is 'Little Turtle'? That's such a funny nickname."

"Hey, Zhang Qiang, it's 'Little Wang'! 'Little Wang'! Zhang Qiang, you have to remember me, okay? We're good brothers. You can't forget me again."

"Got it, Little Turtle."

"It's 'Little Wang'! Fine, call me whatever you want. But you have to remember me."

"Okay, I'll remember you, Wang Yu."

"I'm Li Weiyi, the one you always teased for being single. Once you're out of the hospital, we'll play video games together on weekends like before. I promise I won't call you bad at it."

One by one, the others introduced themselves. They were reintroducing Zhang to their lives.

Zhang carefully studied each face, trying to commit them to memory so he would recognize them the next time they met. He looked at them over and over, but he felt like someone was missing.

Who was missing?

Zhang asked Li, "Why was I able to tease you about being single? Did I have a girlfriend? Where is she? Why hasn't she come to see me?"

Li's eyes reddened, and he quickly covered, "No, we always teased each other. If you had a girlfriend, would you still be playing video games with me?"

Zhang asked again, "So, I'm single too?"

"Yes."

"That's so sad."

"Yeah. Me, Little Wang, and you—we're all single and miserable."

Zhang pointed at Fang Rui and Mu Mian. "So, are they a couple?"

Wang teased, "Zhang, you're still such a shipper!"

Zhang looked down at the mark on his ring finger, a circular indentation where a ring might have once been. His head started to ache, and his heart felt hollow, as if a cold wind were blowing through it.

He felt like he had forgotten someone very important, but all his friends and family were here. Who could be missing?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zhang asked, "How did I get hurt?"

"A car accident."

"Ah, let me guess why. You said I'm a police officer. Did I get into a high-speed chase with a criminal, and then we crashed, which is how I ended up in the hospital?"

Mu Mian's eyes welled up with tears, but she didn't speak. Even though Officer Zhang had lost his memory, he was still the same goofy, imaginative person he had always been.

Fang Rui said, "Yes, you're a hero."

"Wow, was I really that amazing?"

"Very much so."

"Why are your eyes all red? I'm awake now. Shouldn't you be happy?"

Mu Mian said, "We're happy but also sad."

"Hahaha, how can 'happy' describe sadness? Your grammar isn't great."

"I never studied grammar."

Zhang looked at the huge bouquet in Fang Rui's hands and laughed. "You didn't have to bring such a big bouquet! But I guess this means you're my best friend."

"Yes."

Mu Mian added, "I'm also a very good friend of yours."

"I can tell. You're the one crying the most. Your eyes are all swollen. I must be your best friend."

"Yes."

Since Zhang had just recovered, they couldn't stay too long and disturb his rest. After chatting with him for a while, they left the hospital.

Outside the hospital gate, Wang and Li crouched by the roadside, silently crying.

Zhang had lost his memory. He had forgotten everything, but he was still the same Zhang they had always known—their dear colleague, forever.