Hearing Li Jia say that, Ye Chengxing let out a sigh of relief.
“Like this,” she laughed. “As long as it’s not bad.”
Li Jia lowered her gaze at those words, the odd glint in her eyes growing even more intense.
Bad? How could it possibly be bad?
Cuisine at this level could leave even the most renowned Gourmet Chefs in the dust. Forget anything else—these few dishes on the table alone could shatter auction records if put up for sale.
Yet Ye Chengxing’s expression just now had seemed utterly genuine, as if she were truly worried that Li Jia might find it unpalatable.
She could now be certain: the Ye Chengxing sitting across from her was absolutely not the one from her previous life.
If it had been that Ye Chengxing, she never would have acted this way.
Doubts multiplied in her mind, but Li Jia picked up her chopsticks once more. She would find the answers to these questions herself. She couldn’t yet gauge what was truly going on with this “Ye Chengxing,” and any rash display of her inner thoughts might tip her off prematurely. Verification would have to come slowly.
Those “old acquaintances” from her previous life—she would need to pay them a visit too, in time. She had to determine if everyone had changed or if this anomaly was unique to Ye Chengxing.
Watching Li Jia resume eating, Ye Chengxing could still hear the echo of the Omega’s words in her ears: “It’s too delicious.”
So… had Li Jia frozen up earlier not because the food was bad, but because she had been blown away by Ye Chengxing’s cooking?
The thought had barely surfaced in Ye Chengxing’s mind before she hurriedly batted it away.
Cough, cough. Blown away? Get over yourself, Ye Chengxing. Don’t be so full of it.
It was just one meal, after all. No way could finishing a single dinner make Li Jia completely rethink her opinion of Ye Chengxing on the spot.
Still, seeing how clearly Li Jia was savoring every bite put a smile on Ye Chengxing’s face too.
She had come to truly regard Li Jia as her own little sister. Once Li Jia had nearly polished off her plate, Ye Chengxing smiled warmly and spoke up again. “Want some more? There’s plenty left.”
The dining table sat near a floor-to-ceiling window, far enough from the direct sun to avoid glare while still bathed in pleasant light.
The young and beautiful Alpha propped her chin on one hand as she sat across from Li Jia, watching her. Long, wavy hair spilled down her back, each strand seemingly gilded with a soft glow from the sunlight. Concern laced every word she said.
This sensation… felt unfamiliar.
Or rather, far more than unfamiliar—it was profoundly strange.
Li Jia felt a faint prickle at the tip of her heart.
The realization that this Ye Chengxing was not the one from her previous life had sparked a moment of panic in her.
Never mind those enemies from before. If this wasn’t that Ye Chengxing, then there was no cause for revenge. The woman knew nothing of the past and deserved no punishment for it.
Moreover, so far, this Ye Chengxing had done nothing harmful—quite the opposite, in fact. Everything had benefited her.
“No need. I’m full,” Li Jia replied to Ye Chengxing’s question.
She paused for a beat before continuing. “This meal today, and all the help you’ve given me—I’ll repay you one day.” No matter what schemes this Ye Chengxing might be hiding or what motives she harbored, Li Jia would show no mercy if she sniffed them out. But if there were no hidden agendas… if it was simply genuine kindness…
Li Jia faltered for a second at the thought before pressing on.
If it truly was sincere, with no strings attached, then she would repay it in full. She would owe her nothing.
But that was mere fantasy. No one offered kindness without wanting something in return.
Li Jia’s lips curved in a wry, self-mocking smile.
Ye Chengxing had been smiling, waiting expectantly for Li Jia’s response. The answer she got instead made her eyes widen just a fraction.
Why had sharing one meal only driven a bigger wedge between them? Hadn’t she heard that eating together was supposed to bring people closer, make them feel more at ease? Here, not only had it failed to bridge the gap—it had widened it. Li Jia wasn’t even calling her “sister” anymore.
Ye Chengxing had no idea that Li Jia’s earlier friendliness had been a deliberate probe, designed to draw out any slips. Now that she knew this wasn’t the old Ye Chengxing, those feigned overtures had naturally ceased.
Precisely because Ye Chengxing was in the dark, she felt bewildered and confused.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she pondered for a few seconds.
Could it be that all this was putting too much pressure on Li Jia?
That made sense. From Li Jia’s perspective, Ye Chengxing’s actions must seem awfully abrupt.
Ye Chengxing racked her brains for a way to ease the tension, then launched into earnest nonsense. “No need to repay me… Look, I’ve got more money than I know what to do with. I just love sponsoring people. The better they do, the happier it makes me. If you really want to thank me, then study hard and ace your college entrance exams.
“If you score top marks, I’ll cover your tuition and living expenses, no question. Don’t feel awkward or pressured about it—you’ll have earned it, and it’ll make me happy too.”
Ye Chengxing finished her solemn ramble and reflected on it. The logic held up, she thought.
This way, it wouldn’t feel like a one-sided handout. The pressure on Li Jia ought to lighten.
Li Jia stared at Ye Chengxing, convinced more than ever that this woman stood apart from everyone else.
How could anyone like this exist?
She could easily claim the moral high ground, lording her generosity over Li Jia like a benevolent patron. Instead, she stumbled through awkward excuses to level the playing field—all to spare Li Jia any guilt.
As she watched, the scene began to blur and overlap with a deeply buried memory.
In that faded, yellowed recollection, a newly Differentiated Omega girl gazed at her agent with heartfelt gratitude, vowing to repay the kindness. The agent had only gently stroked her hair. “If you want to thank me, just take good care of yourself.”
“If you want to thank me, just take good care of yourself.”
“If you want to thank me…”
It was only a memory, yet it crashed over her from every direction, as vivid as if it were happening now.
Stop. Don’t think about it.
Stop it.
Li Jia squeezed her eyes shut, desperate to shove the image away, but the recollections replayed relentlessly, impossible to escape.
Her fingertips dug into her palm with unconscious force, delivering a sharp, almost self-inflicted pain.
Her hesitation stretched on too long. When Ye Chengxing received no reply, she glanced up.
That single look propelled her to her feet. Her gaze traced downward to where the Omega clutched her palm fiercely, lost in some dark reminiscence. Her face had gone pale; blood trickled between her fingers and dripped onto the floor, but she seemed utterly oblivious.
In her haze, Li Jia registered Ye Chengxing’s voice.
The Alpha appeared to sense something amiss, yet she showed no urge to recoil or disgust like those from her past life. Instead, worry drew her forward.
The stark reversal wrenched Li Jia back to the present; only then did the pain in her palm register fully.
She watched Ye Chengxing approach and suddenly wanted to hide her hands behind her back. But before she could, a warm hand closed around her wrist.
The heat seeped from her wrist, and Li Jia’s eyelashes fluttered. She clenched her fist even tighter.
Seeing Li Jia’s unyielding grip and the blood now spotting the floor, Ye Chengxing’s earlier suspicions solidified. She coaxed gently, her voice soft and soothing like a spring breeze. “Li Jia, can you hear me? We’re out of that place now—this is our home. Those people won’t come back. So open your hand, okay? Let your sister take a look.”
She coaxed with endless patience, refusing to give up.
Li Jia remained seated in her chair, gazing down at Ye Chengxing, who had half-kneeled before her. The Alpha held her hand, tension and concern plain in her eyes.
Memories and reality intertwined, overlapped, then tore apart in a rush.
Abruptly, she unfurled her tightly clenched fingers.
In that instant, Li Jia realized it didn’t matter if Ye Chengxing’s kindness was genuine or feigned.
She had long since lost the ability to trust anyone.
