Chapter 24

Upon returning to the dormitory, Ye Chunxi found her roommates already there. They turned at the sound of the door opening, freezing the moment they saw her.

One of the roommates, who was sitting closest to the entrance, poked her head out and asked, "Ye Chunxi, why haven't you been to school lately?"

Ye Chunxi had already familiarized herself with the details of her roommates when she arrived at the dorm that afternoon. Looking at the girl speaking to her, she identified her as Fang Li.

"I was hospitalized."

"Hospitalized?" Fang Li had not expected such an answer. "Did something happen to you?"

Ye Chunxi replied with a look of indifference, "Nothing major."

It was just a car accident, a bout of amnesia, and a month-long stay in the hospital, that was all.

A girl inside the room let out a soft sneer, her tone sharp and biting. "You took such a long leave for nothing? If I didn't know better, I'd have thought something truly serious happened to you." Shen Danxue’s eyes were filled with disdain.

Another roommate sat at her desk, fussing over her cosmetics. She didn't bother to acknowledge the roommate who had been away for so long; she had only glanced over when Ye Chunxi entered, and her impatience was plain for all to see.

Within less than a minute, Ye Chunxi had already grasped her roommates' attitudes toward her. They really didn't bother to hide it at all.

As she passed Ren Lingwei’s desk, her peripheral vision caught the expensive skincare products and the Louis Vuitton designer bag casually hung to the side. She immediately understood Ren Lingwei’s stance. A wealthy young lady and an orphan raised in a welfare home belonged to two different social classes. It was inevitable that the former would be arrogant; why would she ever think highly of her?

Ye Chunxi walked past Shen Danxue, who rolled her eyes and shifted away, though she couldn't help but keep sneaking glances at Ye Chunxi’s face. Ye Chunxi figured the hostility was likely born of jealousy. She touched her own face briefly, set her things down, grabbed her pajamas with a languid air, and went to take a shower.

Watching her back, Shen Danxue waited until the door clicked shut before leaning in toward Ren Lingwei. "Lingwei, what kind of thing could keep someone away from school for so long? She looks perfectly fine now. Who knows what she was actually doing all this time?"

Ren Lingwei frowned slightly, finding it suspicious as well. But then her brow smoothed, and she went back to her skincare routine. It had nothing to do with her. She was just a minor character; Ren Lingwei felt it would be beneath her to even concern herself with such a person.

***

The next day, Ye Chunxi finished her morning classes with little interest. The doctor said she had amnesia, but while her original skills remained, she had no memory of them. She had hoped that attending class might trigger some memories of what she had learned before, but only two minutes into the lecture, she found she could already predict everything the professor was about to say.

Ye Chunxi began to doubt her own identity as a high school student.

When she went to the school canteen for lunch, Butler Kong sent a message right on time.

[Miss Ye, have you eaten?]
[What are you having?]
[Are you eating at the school cafeteria?]

Ye Chunxi rubbed her temples as she replied to each one. The image of the doting elderly gentleman was deeply ingrained in her mind. It made her wonder if her brother was also subjected to a dozen concerned inquiries every day.

In reality, he was not. Jin Yuchuan was busy with work, yet he was extremely disciplined in his personal life and paid great attention to nutritional balance. Even when he had no time, he would consume high-quality nutritional supplements. Ye Chunxi, on the other hand, was young and somewhat headstrong, prioritizing her own whims in all matters, which was why Butler Kong was so worried.

Upon learning she was eating at the cafeteria, Butler Kong breathed a sigh of relief. [Miss Ye, you are too frail; you must eat more.]

Ye Chunxi looked down at her slender, straight legs and ran a hand over her waist, where she could clearly feel the outline of her abdominal muscles. To an elder, such a fit figure was undoubtedly seen as "frail."

She replied with an obedient acknowledgment and went to join the lunch line.

She had poor relationships with most of her roommates. While Fang Li was somewhat friendly, she was intimidated by Ren Lingwei’s family background and dared not offend her. Though she was polite to Ye Chunxi, she would never invite her to join them if it could be avoided. Thus, on her first day back at school after losing her memories, Ye Chunxi was effectively ostracized by her entire dormitory.

She didn't care much, however, and sat alone to eat. A few boys approached to strike up a conversation midway, but they were all deterred by Ye Chunxi’s coldness.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, and a lunch tray was slammed onto the table with a loud clatter.

"We want this table. Move somewhere else."

Ye Chunxi looked up to see three or four women standing before her, looking aggressive, clearly determined not to leave until she vacated the seat. Being disturbed while eating made her feel quite impatient.

"Are there no other seats?"

The woman in the lead stared at Ye Chunxi, eyes glinting with jealousy. She wore a Chanel suit, a Tiffany watch that shimmered under the lights, and her perfume radiated an aura of opulence. Clearly, she was a wealthy young lady. Unfortunately, her arrogant and mean-spirited expression cheapened the luxury brands she wore.

Shi Miaoqing narrowed her eyes. She glanced at Ye Chunxi’s clothes, which lacked any recognizable brand, and her gaze turned dismissive. She had to admit, seeing this girl’s face made her feel deeply jealous, but so what? No matter how pretty she was, she was just an ordinary person who couldn't break into the upper circles and would never reach her level, no matter how hard she tried.

A sense of superiority welled up, and Shi Miaoqing’s expression softened slightly. She hid her inner turmoil and said, "All the other seats are taken. Yours is the only one with space."

Ye Chunxi, who had been ostracized by her own roommates and rejected by anyone else she tried to sit with, thought: *Is being alone a crime, too?*

The women behind her were dressed in equally luxurious attire but clearly followed Shi Miaoqing’s lead. Seeing no reaction from Ye Chunxi, one of them stepped forward to urge her, "Our Miaoqing told you to move. Are you deaf?"

Ye Chunxi set down her chopsticks and crossed her arms, looking them straight in the eye. "Is this table absolutely necessary for you?"

They were all children of wealthy families, having been ahead of most of their peers since birth, and were inevitably obsessed with "face." Shi Miaoqing, who came from the most prominent family, was the worst of them.

She pointed at the seat, enunciating every word with force. "I want it, so it’s my seat."

Many people nearby had noticed the commotion. Upon recognizing Shi Miaoqing, they began to whisper among themselves.

"Is that Shi Miaoqing? Didn't she go abroad for a piano competition?"
"Yeah, why is she back so soon?"
"Looks like she's giving that girl a hard time. I have to say, that girl really is stunning!"
"What good is being pretty? Shi Miaoqing is a young lady from one of the Four Great Families of Haicheng. It won't be pleasant for anyone who crosses her."

Since returning to school, Ye Chunxi had felt hostility from many people, though she didn't know why. Having so much trouble just trying to eat a meal made her feel incredibly irritated.

"Qing'er."

Just as Ye Chunxi was considering how to resolve the situation, a man walked over. The affectionate nickname made Shi Miaoqing turn instinctively, and her arrogant demeanor dropped away.

"Brother~"

The melodic lilt in her voice gave Ye Chunxi goosebumps.