Chapter 16: Humiliation

‘My legs are so sore.’

‘They feel weak and achy.’

‘I’ve broken out in a sweat, too. I need to take a shower as soon as I get home.’

As she walked alone on Stargazing Avenue after school, Li Xingya’s expression was quite bitter.

Since Meng Yiqiao was a boarding student, she wasn’t by Li Xingya’s side right now.

When Li Xingya exited the school gates, the black stretch limousine was already waiting on the road.

She got in and collapsed onto the seat, letting out a long sigh. Her face visibly soured.

“Putting on a fake smile all day—my face is sore,” Li Xingya muttered to herself.

As she spoke, she opened StarJoy again, and as if possessed, tapped back into the post that was related to her.

“Meng Yiqiao?!”

“Meng Yiqiao?!”

“Meng Yiqiao?!”

***

“!? Qiaoqiao?!”

“Is that Meng Yiqiao on the side? No way?!”

Watching the cascade of “shocked” messages that started from the first person who noticed Meng Yiqiao, Li Xingya was starting to get confused whether this post was about her or about Meng Yiqiao.

But then again…

If she had to say it…

“Maybe I’m just riding on big sis’s popularity?”

Although Li Xingya couldn’t care less about the Starlight Ranking or anything.

Her goal wasn’t to become an Outstanding Graduate, nor did she care about joining a good agency later.

After all, the only reason she entered Starseeing Academy was for the diploma. As for what happened afterward, Jiang Chiyue would probably find a way to handle it.

“Just get through three years, graduate, debut as an idol… and finally pay off the debt. Then I’ll be free.”

It sounded like it would take a long time.

But for Li Xingya, who in her previous life had faced debt from the time she could remember until she was twenty-five, these few years were nothing.

What’s more, Jiang Chiyue as a creditor never hit people.

‘At worst, she just shoves her fist in my face and gives me a few fierce warnings.’

‘As long as…’

‘As long as I don’t get scared into crying again, it’ll be fine.’

‘Tch.’

Li Xingya recalled the scene on the track field.

Crying because she didn’t want to run? The tear ducts of this body were utterly embarrassing.

Li Xingya absolutely refused to believe that was her fault.

From beginning to end, she had always been the strong-hearted, resolute adult worker.

When the car stopped outside the house and Li Xingya got out, the driver’s window rolled down.

“Miss Li, Miss Jiang asked me to inform you that the door code is 060915. She said she has work matters to handle and will be back late tonight.”

“Thanks,” Li Xingya replied, watching the car disappear around the corner.

‘So Jiang Chiyue actually has work.’

‘I thought she was just a rich young lady with too much money.’

‘…Even though she works,’

‘she’s still a bit childish in some ways.’

As she thought this, the corners of Li Xingya’s mouth lifted slightly.

This time, her smile was genuine.

When she left this morning, Jiang Chiyue was sleeping. When she came back, Jiang Chiyue was working.

If every day could be like this, Li Xingya would have trouble not being happy.

She entered the code, opened the door, and stepped into the vast, empty house. Li Xingya took a deep breath.

‘It feels kind of free.’

‘But also quite lonely.’

‘Doesn’t Jiang Chiyue feel creeped out living here alone?’

Li Xingya looked around the living room.

When she lifted her head and saw the gilded chandelier on the ceiling, she suddenly felt inexplicably suffocated.

Then she looked at the huge floor-to-ceiling window leading to the backyard, and the empty yard outside… Even though it was September, Li Xingya couldn’t help shivering.

Being home alone, if a stranger suddenly appeared in the yard, that scene would be pretty scary, right?

‘Tch.’

‘I’d better go upstairs and shower first.’

‘I sweated a lot today.’

‘My skin is all sticky and uncomfortable.’

Li Xingya’s mind began to wander to unpleasant thoughts.

But even when she was showering, she couldn’t calm down.

Patter, patter, patter.

Barefoot, dripping wet, Li Xingya hurried out of the bathroom.

‘What’s going on?’

‘What’s going on?’

‘What’s going on?’

***

Her steps stopped at the top of the stairs.

Li Xingya didn’t dare go down.

Even though the living room lights were still on, even though she could vaguely see the light from downstairs around the corner of the staircase.

But Li Xingya just didn’t dare go down.

For some reason.

Today, being home alone for the first time, her mind started flashing back to the horror movie she had watched with Jiang Chiyue two days ago.

That third-rate film that had made Li Xingya feel sleepy—now that she thought about it—the plot actually scared her a little?

‘My heart… is beating so fast.’

‘Don’t be scared.’

‘Movies are all fake.’

Li Xingya, at sixteen, had the mature soul of a twenty-five-year-old. How could she be scared of a horror movie?

And one she had already finished watching two days ago.

But Li Xingya had to admit one thing.

When she was the only one left in the empty house, she really did start to get scared.

Just like she couldn’t control this body from crying when frightened.

She also couldn’t control her emotions right now.

“Huff…!”

Li Xingya let out a long breath.

She forced herself to calm down and lowered her voice: “Let’s just go back to my room first.”

Why did she lower her voice?

Because Li Xingya felt that besides herself, there seemed to be someone else hiding in the house.

She cautiously turned her head and looked down the dim hallway.

‘Go to my room.’

‘I just… just have to make it to the end of the hallway.’

Li Xingya swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

How come she had never felt before… that this hallway… was this long?

‘Compared to my room, Jiang Chiyue’s room seems closer.’

‘Maybe I should hide in Jiang Chiyue’s room for a while?’

‘…No, I’d better go back to my room!’

After a moment of inner struggle, Li Xingya’s emphasis on “dignity” won over her fear of the movie.

To ask Li Xingya to take refuge in her creditor’s room? She’d rather die.

Patter.

Li Xingya moved.

When she started moving, she felt something behind her moving along with her.

When she was fast, it was fast.

When she was slow, it was slow.

“Eek—!”

Li Xingya opened the door to her left—it was Jiang Chiyue’s room.

With an embarrassing cry, Li Xingya slipped inside and slammed the door shut as fast as she could.

‘S-safe?’

The strong scent of lilac and mint in the room finally allowed Li Xingya’s tense nerves to relax.

Compared to the living room, in the relatively cramped room, Li Xingya’s legs gave way, and she slid down slowly against the door behind her, landing on the floor.

‘The smell of Jiang Chiyue is everywhere.’

‘It smells so good.’

Since her rebirth, Li Xingya had cried and been scared, but she had never blushed.

Now she was blushing—ashamed of her own thoughts.

‘I want to see Jiang Chiyue.’

‘I really want Jiang Chiyue to come home soon.’

‘I don’t want to be alone here.’

“…Jiang Chiyue,” Li Xingya murmured.

She silently climbed onto the bed, hugged Jiang Chiyue’s blanket, buried her face in it, and took a deep breath.

“Jiang Chiyue—

Come home soon.”

Even though her mental age was twenty-five, why was she acting like a little kid?

‘How embarrassing.’