Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love

Yu Kexin’s kitchen was quite cramped, but fortunately, it was kept very tidy. On the stovetop sat a black induction cooker, a purple rice cooker, and an assortment of kitchen knives and spoons.

No doubt about it, there’s no way Kexin was responsible for this cleanliness. A person who can’t cook would never even bother setting foot in the kitchen. She also wouldn’t need to hire a part-time cleaner. The only explanation is that whenever Mother Yu visits, she not only fills the fridge but also tidies up the whole apartment. So, while Kexin seems a bit disorganized, her place isn’t messy at all. In fact, it’s even cleaner and neater than my own place. Wu Xiaoya thought to herself as she began to cook.

The refrigerator contained beef brisket and tomatoes, so she decided to make tomato beef brisket. She skillfully washed and chopped the brisket, then put it in the pot to cook. Once that was done, she started preparing the other ingredients. Her practiced movements made it clear she was used to cooking at home.

Kexin watched from the side, her eyes full of admiration.

People who can cook are so amazing. Especially the boss. I can’t believe someone like him knows how to cook. I always assumed Xue Yang was a disaster in the kitchen, just like me. Sigh, it seems I really am the most useless person in the company.

"Senior, I can wash and chop the vegetables. You go watch the brisket," Kexin offered. Luckily, I learned how to wash vegetables from my mom back home, otherwise I’d be even more helpless.

"Okay."

And so, the two girls divided the labor. One chopped scallions, her fingers gently gripping the knife handle as their sharp fragrance gradually filled the air. The other stirred the brisket in the pot, adding the pre-portioned seasonings and spice powders. This beautifully brought out the rich aroma of the beef.

Both of them moved with practiced skill. Apparently, even though Kexin doesn’t cook at home, she must help her mother with the prep work. Their mother-daughter relationship must be wonderful, Wu Xiaoya mused.

Once Kexin had all the ingredients ready, she stood aside and watched Wu Xiaoya cook. This is just like at home, cooking in the kitchen with Mom.

When the brisket was nearly done, Wu Xiaoya added the tomatoes and onions to the pot. Instantly, the enticing aroma of tomato beef brisket wafted through the apartment.

"This one dish should be enough for the two of us," Wu Xiaoya said.

"More than enough! Any more would be a waste since we wouldn’t be able to finish it."

The two girls sat down at the table, ready to eat, when Wu Xiaoya’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and saw a message from Chen Ying.

"Xiao Ya, did you really move out?"

She didn’t want to reply, but after a moment’s thought, she typed back, "Yes, I moved. I’m staying at a junior’s place now. I’ll still pay my half of the rent for this month, but after that, you’ll have to cover it all yourself."

The reply was almost instantaneous.

"Xiao Ya, that’s not what I meant. I..."

Chen Ying paused, realizing she didn’t even know what she wanted to say. "Can we really not go back to how things were?"

"I’m not leaving my current company."

Just by reading those words, Chen Ying could imagine the cold expression on Xiao Ya’s face as she sent them.

"..."

Chen Ying fell silent. It’s true. Xiao Ya has found something so good with Xue Yang, why would she ever want to leave? Even I wouldn’t, if I were in her shoes.

"I know, I’m not trying to pressure you. I’m sorry, Xiao Ya. I didn’t mean to say those harsh things this morning. Can you forgive me?"

After sending the message, Chen Ying felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. It was the first time she had ever apologized to someone like this. In the past, no matter how terribly Xue Yang had treated her, she had never once said she was sorry.

Xiao Ya knows all of this. When she sees me saying this, surely she’ll understand how much I want to preserve our friendship.

A moment later, however, she received just two words.

"It’s okay."

It was a far cry from the lengthy response she had been hoping for. Chen Ying should have been happy to see those words, but she felt no joy at all. Because she knew that departures were always silent affairs. Just like when Xue Yang was preparing to leave her, she had been completely oblivious. By the time she realized what was happening, it was already too late.

Wu Xiaoya waited for a while, but when no further reply came from Chen Ying, she decided not to wait any longer. Better to just enjoy a happy meal. Then, I’ll work hard, buy a house, and live the life I’ve always wanted.

「Several days passed.」

The date for Xue Yang and Lin Xi’s engagement party was set. It would be held at the Lin Family Villa. Xue Yang wasn’t surprised when he received the news.

"Dad said that if you have any objections, you can bring them up," Lin Xi told him.

"Hmm, I do have an objection."

Lin Xi grew a little tense. "What objection?"

"It’s just that... since we’re getting engaged, does that mean you have to go back home again?"

Lin Xi froze, having completely forgotten about that detail. That’s right. With the engagement coming up, I’ll have to go home beforehand. Her initial excitement suddenly faded, replaced by disappointment.

During this time, she and Xue Yang had been living together in Tongfang Residential District. Every morning after Xue Yang left for work, she would go down to the local market for groceries. After returning, she’d spend the morning drawing her comic before starting on lunch around noon. Since they lived so close to his office, Xue Yang always came home to eat with her. After lunch, they would rest for a bit—or rather, Xue Yang would rest while Lin Xi continued to write beside him.

Sometimes Lin Xi would wake up late, but that was never a problem. There was always at least a two-day supply of food in the refrigerator, so she could just start cooking whenever she got up. As for breakfast, they still ate out for convenience.

Lin Xi found these days incredibly fulfilling. She loved this life. But now, it was about to be disrupted again. She was on the verge of tears.

Seeing Xiao Naimao’s sorrowful expression, Xue Yang chuckled softly. "Silly girl, we’ll only be apart for a few days. Just use that time to get all dolled up."

Lin Xi put her hands on her hips, her brows furrowed in mock anger. "Hmph, are you saying I’m not beautiful now?"

At that moment, Lin Xi was a vision. Her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her eyebrows were as elegant as distant mountains, and her eyes shimmered like autumn pools. She was dressed in a silk nightgown, its hem fluttering around her light and graceful figure, making her look like a fairy descended to earth. With every move, she exuded a combination of a young girl’s coyness and a sophisticated elegance. The soft curves of her chest shifted with her every move, like a flawless work of art.

If Xue Yang weren’t already accustomed to such a breathtaking sight, he would have been utterly spellbound.

"Beautiful. Very beautiful. Incredibly beautiful," he said earnestly. "You’re going to be the most beautiful bride in the entire world."

Hearing such straightforward praise, Lin Xi’s pretty face flushed red. She lightly punched his firm chest with her small fist. "You’re teasing me again."

Someone’s been getting more and more... lately.

Thinking of certain things, Lin Xi buried her face in his chest.