Chapter Eleven: In Truth, I Really Like Him

After returning home, Ye Mengxia went straight to her room to take a shower. She had barely lain down when a commotion erupted outside. Annoyed, she got up and found the kitchen in utter chaos. She had to stifle her anger and asked as calmly as she could, “Ye Xingchen, what are you doing?”

Ye Xingchen was startled by her stern tone and quickly explained, “I just wanted to make something to eat. I haven’t eaten all day—my face has gone pale from hunger.”

Ye Mengxia took in his pallor and her tone softened a little. “Wait a little longer. Aunt Yu will be here soon to cook.”

“No, I’m too hungry.”

“Then order takeout.”

Ye Xingchen rejected the idea without hesitation. “Food from outside isn’t clean.”

Ye Mengxia couldn’t be bothered to argue any further. “Fine, do as you like. Just don’t disturb me before I wake up.”

“Oh, I already messaged Su Yichen to come over. He cooks really well.”

“Ye Xingchen!”

The doorbell rang just then. Ye Mengxia eyed Ye Xingchen suspiciously. “How can Su Yichen get through the main gate?”

“I gave him an access card,” Ye Xingchen replied breezily, cheerfully heading over to open the door.

Su Yichen entered carrying a bag of groceries. He wore a black cap over slightly tousled black hair, his thin lips pressed into a straight line. He bypassed her without a word and went straight to the kitchen.

“Hmph, serves you right,” Ye Xingchen gloated at Ye Mengxia. “Who told you to be so hot and cold with him? Now he’s mad at you, and you won’t be able to coax him back.”

Who wants to coax him anyway?

In fact, this was even better; she could just go to sleep.

No, wait—she couldn’t sleep yet. She’d better wait until he left.

“Why are you sitting on the sofa? Are you waiting for someone to make food for you?”

“Well, you should have Lu Chengze cook for you instead.”

Ye Mengxia, annoyed by his jabs, retorted, “What does he have to do with this?”

“Oh? Don’t you like him?”

“Who said I like him?”

Just then, Su Yichen came out and set a dish on the table. Ye Mengxia’s expression turned awkward, and she shot Ye Xingchen a fierce glare.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Ye Xingchen pressed on. “If you don’t like Lu Chengze, do you like Su Yichen then?”

“Shut up.”

“Oh, so you dislike him instead?”

Locking eyes with Su Yichen as he set the table, she averted her gaze and mumbled softly, “No.”

“No? What does that mean?” Ye Xingchen pressed.

Today, Ye Mengxia was completely exasperated by Ye Xingchen. She raised her voice, “No means I don’t dislike him! No means we’re just friends, isn’t that enough?”

She swore to herself never to let Ye Xingchen come over again. He talked way too much.

Su Yichen glanced at her where she sat on the sofa, his expression gentler now, though still tinged with distance. “Let’s eat.”

Ye Mengxia bristled under his gaze. “No need. I’m not hungry.”

“Fine, if you won’t eat, we will.”

Fuming, Ye Mengxia turned to head upstairs but was stopped by Su Yichen’s hand on her wrist. “I made plenty. It would be a waste if you don’t eat.”

Fine. Not eating would only make her look worse. She gently pulled her hand free and uttered a single word, “Alright.”

Su Yichen’s cooking truly was delicious. She ate one and a half bowls of rice. In the past, she would have thought such a scene impossible.

After dinner, Ye Xingchen went off to rest. Su Yichen even cleaned everything up. Watching his back as he worked, Ye Mengxia took out her phone, snapped a few photos, then set a password to hide them.

She also sent a message to Aunt Yu, telling her not to come—she had already eaten.

Lost in thought, she barely noticed when the sofa dipped beside her. Su Yichen had sat down next to her, making her heart skip a beat.

“Ye Mengxia, you said we’re friends. So, as your friend, could you help me review my homework right now?”

His light brown eyes were beautiful, and when he spoke, he always looked at her intently, making it hard for her to refuse.

Besides, the monthly exams were in two weeks, and she genuinely wanted to help him. She led him to the study and pulled out some math materials. Su Yichen was fine in other subjects, but struggled with math.

“The function problem you asked about last time—I’ll give you a comprehensive explanation.”

Su Yichen sat beside her, his eyes gentle and smiling. He liked her, wanted to protect her, and knew she was always kind—though sometimes her words could sting.

Ye Mengxia turned to him. “Did you understand?”

“Mm, but this part…”

Their study session lasted until seven in the evening. By then, Ye Mengxia was truly exhausted. Before leaving, Su Yichen made her a fruit salad and left it on her desk.

“If you get hungry later, have some of this.”

She pressed her lips together and thanked him softly.

When he reached the door, she called after him, “I’ll tutor you on weekends from now on. Come early tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Su Yichen left with a smile on his face.

Back in her room, Ye Mengxia lay on her bed. She realized she shouldn’t have said what she did earlier, but a slight deviation shouldn’t matter too much.

And really, she wasn’t that important—perhaps she was just a side character in a novel.

Back in her first year of high school, she’d noticed something strange: she often did inexplicable things, and they all seemed connected to Ye Xingchen.

As time went on, the feeling grew stronger, almost overwhelming her ability to control herself.

Until that morning—she had been holding a box containing two handmade necklaces, each adorned with a tiny violin motif.

She and Su Yichen had been together for a month, so she’d crafted the necklaces herself to give to him.

But on her way, a speeding car came hurtling toward her.

When she woke up, everything was gone. All the messages she’d exchanged with Su Yichen had vanished, and even at school, everyone spoke as if nothing had happened.

It was as if the accident had been nothing but a minor interlude. Yet at that moment, as the car struck, she’d distinctly felt every bone in her body shatter.

When she awoke, there were only minor scrapes.

She had tried messaging Su Yichen after waking, but the messages wouldn’t send. She fell apart, but it was useless.

No one noticed that she had changed.

With her memories lost, Ye Mengxia had no defenses left. Even the martial arts she’d trained in for years had disappeared.

To be bullied was never her way.

But breaking the rules meant a harsh beating, so she chose to face difficulties head-on, just along a different path.

As for Su Yichen, she couldn’t bear to hurt him.

So she kept her distance with cold indifference.

But now, she realized—even after losing her memory, she couldn’t truly push Su Yichen out of her life.