Chapter 45: Misplaced Love

“It’s actually pretty.”

Li Xingya looked down at the necklace.

She glanced at the star-shaped accessories in her hand.

“I’ll give these to Sis.”

Li Xingya tossed the little stars to Lin Jin’an.

“…Xiaoya.”

“What?”

“Doesn’t this make me your complete tool person?”

“Yeah.”

Li Xingya nodded.

“You’re a tool person.”

‘After all, it’s useless to act in front of you.’

‘You saw right through me when I tried to seduce you before.’

‘At the end of the day, what kind of person I am…’

‘You understood it perfectly the first time we met, didn’t you?’

Lin Jin’an just smiled at Li Xingya’s blunt attitude.

“That might be true, but you’re way too open about it. Aren’t you afraid Sis might suddenly come to hate you one day?”

“Hate me?”

Li Xingya tried to imagine that scenario.

In the end, her lips just curled up slightly.

“If that day ever comes, you have to tell me early.”

“Why?”

“So I can hate you first.”

Imagining a scene where Lin Jin’an loathed her, Li Xingya was reminded of her biological mother abandoning her in her previous life.

‘Being abandoned is painful.’

‘So I don’t have to experience that feeling again. If that day really comes, I have to abandon Lin Jin’an first.’

A faint “death intent” hid in Li Xingya’s amber eyes.

That fleeting anomaly was keenly detected by Lin Jin’an.

She hid her worry without a change in expression, simply pulling Li Xingya into a gentle embrace.

“Don’t worry. With how adorable Xiaoya is, Sis won’t hate you forever.”

“Forever?”

“Forever!”

“…I see.”

Li Xingya savored Lin Jin’an’s promise.

She reached out her hand and, with an adult mentality, did something extremely childish.

“Then let’s pinky promise. Whoever lies will swallow a thousand needles.”

“Xiaoya doesn’t believe Sis?”

“Mm.”

Li Xingya answered with a blank face.

Having been abandoned by her biological mother, Li Xingya couldn’t truly trust anyone.

‘But, if it’s you?’

Li Xingya looked at Lin Jin’an.

She slowly lifted her head and gazed absentmindedly into Lin Jin’an’s dark eyes.

Inside those eyes was nothing but pure love and pity.

‘If it’s you looking at me like this…’

‘Maybe I can try to believe.’

‘Of course,’

‘Even if you’re lying to me, it’s fine.’

‘I won’t be that sad anyway.’

Seeing Li Xingya’s unknowing, almost pleading gaze, Lin Jin’an extended her pinky.

“Okay. Let’s pinky promise.”

“We have to seal it too.”

Li Xingya raised her thumb.

“Mm. Seal it.”

A unique agreement was quietly made between the two.

It was at that moment Li Xingya noticed the unfamiliar scenery outside the car window.

“So, where are you taking me, Sis?”

“Oh my, Xiaoya finally calls me Sis?”

“Mm.”

Li Xingya withdrew her hand and gently placed it on the pendant on her chest.

“Where exactly are we going?”

“To my house, of course.”

‘Huh?’

Li Xingya blinked.

The look in her eyes toward Lin Jin’an changed.

It was a look reserved for a “pervert.”

‘Waiting outside a minor’s school gate…’

‘Just to take her home… huh.’

“Sis, are you planning to commit a crime?”

Li Xingya leaned toward the car door.

“Even if it’s you, I’ll call the police afterward, you know.”

“X-Xiaoya, you’ve misunderstood.”

Faced with Li Xingya’s gaze, Lin Jin’an explained flusteredly,

“I just wanted to take you to my place for the night… I even bought a cake to celebrate you passing the test.”

“Then what if I hadn’t passed, Sis? Wouldn’t the cake be a waste?”

“If you hadn’t passed, the cake could still comfort you.”

A confident smile appeared on Lin Jin’an’s face.

“Besides, I specifically asked Principal Lu to do everything possible to make sure you passed the first test. Sis wouldn’t just go to the school and hold a performance for nothing.”

Li Xingya tilted her head as she looked at Lin Jin’an.

‘So…’

‘From the day she came to school for the performance, Lin Jin’an was already preparing for today’s test?’

‘That means Lu Wanting appearing in the recording studio was more because of Lin Jin’an’s request.’

‘Hmm.’

‘I’ve unknowingly owed a huge favor.’

‘I’d better pay back this favor debt as soon as possible.’

Thinking this,

Li Xingya took out her phone.

“Xiaoya, what are you doing?”

“Texting my sister to let her know.”

Li Xingya found Jiang Chiyue and silently typed six characters.

[Not coming back tonight]

[?]

Beep beep beep beep—Jiang Chiyue.

After a single question mark, Jiang Chiyue called directly.

Li Xingya exchanged a glance with Lin Jin’an and warned,

“Sis, don’t say anything.”

Li Xingya still didn’t want Jiang Chiyue to know about her relationship with Lin Jin’an.

She was afraid it would involve the date she was going on with Lin Jin’an this weekend.

“Got it.”

Lin Jin’an nodded, then reminded,

“Put it on speaker.”

“Mm.”

Li Xingya acknowledged, pressed the answer button and turned on the speakerphone.

“Li Xingya, where are you going?”

From the other end of the line came Jiang Chiyue’s icy voice, so cold it chilled the atmosphere inside the car.

Lin Jin’an couldn’t help but shake her head.

‘So harsh.’

‘Looks like Xiaoya has a lot of pressure at home.’

“I want to stay at a friend’s place for a night.”

Li Xingya said calmly, before adding,

“Don’t worry, Sis. It’s a friend from school, and she’s a girl. I’ll come back after one night.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“No reason. I’m your guardian. If I say no, then it’s no.”

In the living room, Jiang Chiyue adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses.

Li Xingya had only been in school for a week, and already she said she wanted to go to a female classmate’s house and not come home for the night?

Could that possibly be a proper classmate?

As a victim, Jiang Chiyue knew too well about Li Xingya’s charm.

Even if Li Xingya had no such intentions, Jiang Chiyue was certain that her “female classmate” definitely had ulterior motives!

That wasn’t a female classmate.

That was a lesbian!

“…Sis.”

“Stop it. Where are you right now? I’ll have the driver pick you up immediately.”

Li Xingya: “…”

She silently exchanged a glance with Lin Jin’an.

Finally, she sighed.

“No need. I’ll come back on my own.”

Without waiting for a response, Li Xingya hung up directly.

“She keeps a tight leash on you.”

“Mm.”

Li Xingya nodded.

Right now, she couldn’t say she felt sad, but there was a vague, stifling feeling in her chest.

“Forget it. I know Jiang Chiyue’s temper too. Let’s go. At least come to my place and take the cake.”

“Okay.”

Li Xingya closed her eyes and leaned against Lin Jin’an’s shoulder.

Right now,

more than Lin Jin’an, she hated Jiang Chiyue.

Not that she hated Jiang Chiyue as a person.

Not that she hated Jiang Chiyue’s possessiveness.

She just hated that Jiang Chiyue placed her possessiveness over “Li Xingya” onto her.

And from start to finish, Li Xingya had never thought of inheriting the identity of “Li Xingya.”

‘When I get back tonight,’

‘I’ll confess to Jiang Chiyue again.’

‘About me being a reincarnator…’

Li Xingya and “Li Xingya” had never been the same person.

Li Xingya didn’t need Jiang Chiyue’s love for “Li Xingya.”

In contrast,

Lin Jin’an, who could see through her acting—she was the one who loved the real her.