Not exactly the reunion you would have hoped for, and that was an understatement.

While you had no idea how Tingyun would react upon discovering her after all those years since her death, what happened was nothing short of heartbreaking. Instead of pleasant surprise, you saw bewilderment. Rather than joy, there was awkwardness. Everything that you never wanted to happen, did, as soon as you found her in the Xianzhou Luofu.

For a moment, there was a flashing urge to chase after Ruan Mei and ask her the extent of her memory loss, but…Tingyun’s presence drained you of the ability — and the desire — to say anything. Not to mention the unfamiliar stare she was giving you. The door closed with a low clang, its sound echoing through a room so silent, a pin drop was an explosion…

…Tingyun was…

…in the room, well and alive. Tingyun had resurrected from the dead itself. The pasts you had with her, the desire to touch and feel her had fueled you to step forward. Tingyun recoiled and backed away a little, holding her hands in front of her, her expression close to confusion. You flinched at the abrupt expression, feeling your heart twinge. Determined, you stepped forward again. At last, you could see her once more. Now you could glimpse at the person you had lost. You closed within two steps; you were so close...all you wanted to do was hold her.

Chaos ruled in your mind at each step. A complete upheaval of everything you thought you knew. This couldn’t be right — she must still be the same. Yes, that would be it. Tingyun would never knowingly move aside with the look that killed you and your heart. Never. Phantylia must have taken over her body, the first person to have their memories erased, and the Genius Society member kept her away from you.

…but there was a voice in the back of your mind, one that had been present ever since her death and now her resurrection, and had been slowly gaining strength with each passing day, a voice that reminded you that the experiment must have changed her.

Tingyun turned away. Bowing her head, her arms wrapped themselves protectively around her chest. You wanted nothing more than to close the distance with her and sweep her up in your arms...but the way she was holding herself gave you pause. Her entire stance seemed to relax slightly, but you could easily pick up on both the bewilderment and defensiveness exuding from her. Tingyun was not familiar with you, that much was certain, and it hurt. One day, you and her were embracing and giggling. Capturing her lips. Letting passion and drive roar. Now, she was maintaining a healthy, distrustful distance between you and her.

Yearning and longing for the foxian, regret at never being able to find her until now…

But oh, how she had changed. Looking at her was like looking at the passage of time as a reminder of how much you had lost and could never gain — this foxian lady was your girlfriend, you were sure of it. Certainly her recoiling at the sight of you was bewildering enough and added a sharp knife to your heart, but...how could she not remember your face or name at all?

‘Tingyun’s’ head moved left-and-right as she drew her head back slightly, scanning the room — ostensibly for security cameras as she believed this was one of Ruan Mei’s cognitive therapies, you quietly assumed — before settling her gaze back onto your expression of hurt beseeching, wearing a mask of mild confusion on her pale face. “I’m sorry,” she offered apologetically, “I don’t…I don’t remember your face, at least Ruan Mei never mentioned someone like you. Have we met somewhere before?”

Have we met somewhere before. Have. We. Met. Somewhere. Before. Five words that felt like a high-speed slap in the face. Your heart clenched, accompanying the sharp gasp of shock, and it was no surprise that your eyes welled up with hurt.

Fugue spoke once more in that smooth soprano you knew and loved. “…are you okay? I’m not the person who you think I am. My name is Fugue, not Tingyun. You must have mistaken me for someone else. What is your name?”