Chapter 11: Conflict

“Li Xingya.”

“Hmm?”

“You seem really happy?”

“Yeah, I’m really happy.”

Inside the car, on the way back, Li Xingya replied while shaking her head.

Passing the interview smoothly—it was definitely something to be happy about.

But Jiang Chiyue—why did she look so strange?

Being able to notice Jiang Chiyue’s specific change wasn’t because Li Xingya had learned to understand others, but because the change was directly reflected in Jiang Chiyue’s expression.

To Li Xingya, Jiang Chiyue was currently looking at her with a “meaningless” expression.

‘What does that expression mean?’

‘Why is she frowning slightly and staring at me?’

‘But… those eyes are unexpectedly gentle.’

‘And her mouth, slightly open, as if she wants to say something, but in the end nothing comes out.’

‘What does that expression mean?’

Jiang Chiyue cares about Li Xingya.

Or rather, she’s worried about her.

Li Xingya’s acting was really good—no, too good.

That crying expression didn’t seem fake; at least… she must have had similar experiences in the past to be able to act so convincingly.

Now Jiang Chiyue only became more concerned about what this sixteen-year-old girl had gone through in the past that Li Xingya never talked about.

When they got home, probably to celebrate passing the interview, Li Xingya rarely extended an invitation to Jiang Chiyue:

“Want to watch a movie?”

The TV at Jiang Chiyue’s house was huge.

Lying on the sofa watching a movie felt like being in a real theater.

Although Li Xingya didn’t like watching movies, she wouldn’t dislike this free way to celebrate.

“What genre do you want to watch?”

That question wasn’t from Jiang Chiyue, but from Li Xingya.

She was very proactive today.

Li Xingya handed the remote to Jiang Chiyue:

“Don’t pick horror, okay? Last time we watched one, it was kind of scary.”

‘Last time, I found it pretty boring. I almost fell asleep.’

Jiang Chiyue looked at the black remote in her hand, thought for a moment, then said,

“How about a romantic comedy?”

Jiang Chiyue chose the genre that “Li Xingya” liked.

Li Xingya nodded and smiled:

“Sure, a romantic comedy it is.”

‘Still haven’t given up on forcing a substitute, huh?’

‘Miss Jiang, aren’t you being a bit too stubborn?’

Jiang Chiyue said nothing.

‘Elder Sister always looks so beautiful when she smiles.’

‘This clueless girl, always tempting me with that smile.’

When the movie started, Li Xingya skillfully leaned against Jiang Chiyue’s shoulder—Jiang Chiyue’s face reddened a bit.

Li Xingya didn’t notice; her attention was entirely on the movie plot.

The movie Jiang Chiyue chose was simple in content: it was about how a couple with amnesia fell in love again.

‘Is she deliberately hinting at me?’

Li Xingya thought.

‘But this movie is even more boring than a horror movie.’

Li Xingya held back from yawning.

‘If you like someone, get together. If not, break up. What’s the point of all this back and forth?’

‘Ah… but my relationship with Jiang Chiyue is a bit like that too.’

Just as Li Xingya was thinking that, Jiang Chiyue suddenly hugged her from behind.

“Huh?”

Li Xingya felt her body lighten.

By the time she came to her senses, she was already sitting on Jiang Chiyue’s lap.

‘What is she doing?’

“Li Xingya.”

Jiang Chiyue’s voice sounded in her ear, soft and warm.

Li Xingya’s body tensed up instantly.

“Yes?”

‘This… what is she doing?’

Li Xingya nervously clenched her fingers.

“Can you tell me… about some things from your past?”

Jiang Chiyue probed.

“Things from the past?”

“Mm.”

“This… haha.”

Li Xingya laughed awkwardly.

“You know, I have amnesia after all.”

‘How would I know anything about Li Xingya’s past? You might as well say you want to sleep with me right now—that sounds more realistic.’

But her response seemed different to Jiang Chiyue:

“You don’t want to talk about it?”

“…It’s not that.”

“It’s fine. I won’t force you.”

Jiang Chiyue hugged Li Xingya tighter.

“When you’re willing to talk one day, you can tell me then.”

‘That day will never come.’

Li Xingya blinked, watching the protagonists kiss in the movie.

‘Really—what a boring movie.’

***

Night.

Having washed up, Li Xingya lay in bed.

She had set an alarm today.

It was for 7:00 AM.

Tomorrow she would officially start classes at Starseeing Academy; she couldn’t afford to sleep until 10:00 AM anymore.

“Ugh, I’m so tired.”

She sighed.

Ever since they got home, Jiang Chiyue had been glued to her side all day.

She even wanted to be together when going to the bathroom.

Like a child unwilling to leave its mother… What was wrong with this miss?

Something was off in a scary way.

Was it her period?

Li Xingya wasn’t sure; she didn’t know much about girls.

‘Come to think of it, will I get my period too?’

‘After all, this body is already sixteen.’

‘What will it feel like when it comes?’

Li Xingya imagined it and couldn’t help but shiver.

‘I hope it doesn’t hurt too much.’

‘Otherwise, even I might not be able to hold back my temper.’

Thinking and thinking, when the time reached 10:00, Li Xingya yawned and fell asleep involuntarily.

Half an hour later, Li Xingya’s room door opened.

It was Jiang Chiyue, visiting on time again.

She stood by the bed, took a deep breath looking at the sleeping Li Xingya, and said,

“Sister Li Xingya.”

‘Sleeping Elder Sister is beautiful too.’

‘This face is perfect from every angle.’

‘Even her crying expression… is beautiful.’

‘Not like when I scared her into crying—that fragility, like an ice flower ready to shatter.’

‘I want to see it again.’

Jiang Chiyue clearly didn’t realize what she was thinking.

When pure love intertwined with twisted possessiveness, conflict began to breed.

She wanted to pin Li Xingya down.

Wanted to see Li Xingya beg and cry.

The more majestic and pure “Sister Li Xingya” was in her heart, the more she wanted to defile this Li Xingya.

As if possessed, Jiang Chiyue reached out.

She carefully poked Li Xingya’s cheek.

‘Such smooth skin.’

‘So soft to poke.’

‘Only I can see Elder Sister so defenseless.’

Jiang Chiyue bent down slightly, carefully sniffing the scent around her nose.

‘Smells nice.’

‘It’s the familiar scent of body wash. Elder Sister bathed well tonight.’

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Jiang Chiyue’s mind.

‘Elder Sister’s changed underwear—is it in the washing machine right now?’

‘No, what am I thinking?!’

Jiang Chiyue suddenly realized how offensive her thoughts had been.

‘…What’s wrong with me?’

Her face reddened at a visible speed.

Even the tips of her ears turned red.

Li Xingya—this girl was just like a succubus.

Even when she was asleep, she tempted Jiang Chiyue to think all kinds of strange thoughts.

But… that was exactly what Jiang Chiyue was afraid of.

Because these thoughts of hers didn’t all come from the identity of “Sister Li Xingya”; a large part came from the current Li Xingya.

For some reason, this Li Xingya, who pretended not to know her, had an inexplicable charm that attracted Jiang Chiyue.

‘Tch.’

‘Little green tea bitch.’

‘Liar!’

‘The only one I love is Sister Li Xingya.’

Jiang Chiyue furrowed her brow.

As if trying to deny her out-of-control thoughts, she quickly left Li Xingya’s room.

Tonight, Jiang Chiyue would probably be unable to sleep again.