What If I Ended Up Marrying My Enemy? - Chapter 17

Chapter 18: Gaze

 

The café was noticeably more crowded than usual on the weekend. Fortunately, they had made a reservation in advance and didn’t have to wait.

 

Today’s outing hadn’t gone entirely smoothly. Just as Yu Zhixue finished dressing and was about to head out, he was spotted by Yu Wenxuan.

 

“You have plans with someone?” Yu Wenxuan asked after taking a sip of water.

 

Yu Zhixue instinctively felt it wasn’t the right time to tell the truth, but when faced with Yu Wenxuan’s gaze, he ended up staying silent.

 

Sometimes, silence is an answer in itself.

 

As the other moved closer, Yu Zhixue figured today’s outing was probably going to be a bust.

 

Unexpectedly, Yu Wenxuan merely reached out to zip his jacket up a little more and—out of nowhere—produced a tiny, delicate hair clip, using it to pin up some of his stray bangs.

 

“Come home early,” Yu Wenxuan said softly, eyes lowered. “I heard there’s a fireworks festival tonight, but I’m not familiar with the area.”

 

Yu Zhixue suddenly remembered that Yu Wenxuan had lost the memories of the past few years. It hadn’t just affected their relationship—it also disrupted parts of his daily life.

 

Thinking about it carefully, aside from the company and grocery runs, Yu Wenxuan really hadn’t gone anywhere else.

 

He thought it was because Yu Wenxuan didn’t want to go out, but it turned out he simply wasn’t used to the current environment.

 

That realization made his heart soften immediately. “I’ll be back soon. I’ll go with you tonight.”

 

So when Yu Zhixue left, he ended up signing several sticky notes as “guarantees” before walking out the door.

 

Standing at the entryway, Yu Wenxuan’s earlier fragile demeanor had completely faded. He held the sticky notes for a moment before sticking them on the wall.

 

“……”

 

When Yu Meng saw her cousin sitting across from her, she almost spat out her coffee.

 

He hadn’t changed much since they last met, but…

 

She couldn’t help staring at the kitten-shaped hair clip on Yu Zhixue’s head. Voice trembling, she asked, “Zhixue, did you buy that hair clip yourself?”

 

Yu Zhixue touched the clip and shook his head. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Does it look bad?”

 

Now that the weather was getting colder, even speaking seemed to leave a visible mist in the air. His typically cold and refined face remained unchanged—but that pink cartoon hair clip gave him a strangely cute look.

 

The contrast was almost disarming—this was what they called “gap moe.”

 

“It actually looks pretty good,” Yu Meng said, gripping her coffee cup a bit tighter. So Yu Wenxuan does have a sense of style, huh.

 

She cleared her throat and asked, “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

 

Yu Zhixue skipped over the memory loss part and went straight to Yu Wenxuan’s strange behavior recently, finishing with his own suspicions: “I just get the feeling he’s trying to seduce me.”

 

Yu Meng: “…”

 

Yu Meng was absolutely floored.

 

After hearing about Yu Wenxuan’s little “operations” this morning, she had to mentally give him a thumbs-up.

 

This man really tossed away all pride for his wife.

 

When Yu Zhixue saw she hadn’t responded for a while, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

 

Yu Meng didn’t bother to hold back. “Do you even have to ask? If that’s not seduction, then my name spelled backward isn’t Yu Meng.”

 

Yu Zhixue: “But I don’t understand why he’s doing this.”

 

“There are two possibilities,” Yu Meng said, raising two fingers. “First, he’s playing out some weird little fantasy.”

 

She continued seriously, “Everything you described—wasn’t he acting like a college student the entire time?”

 

Yu Zhixue thought about it, then nodded.

 

“Well, there you go. He’s probably just trying to live out some first-love campus fantasy as a newly graduated college boy. Just go along with it,” she said.

 

Yu Zhixue fell silent.

 

Although… if we’re being honest, right now his cognitive state really does match a freshly graduated student.

 

“And the second possibility?” he asked.

 

Yu Meng lowered one finger and replied, “Let me ask you something first—”

 

…

 

Yu Wenxuan sat on a bench across the street from the café, propping his chin in his hand as he watched the two through the window.

 

He had followed Yu Zhixue not long after he left home. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but at some point, Yu Zhixue’s ears had turned red, and he subtly pinched his earlobe.

 

Just as Yu Zhixue got up to leave, Yu Wenxuan stood and relocated, then sent him a message.

 

Yu Wenxuan: “Are you done?”

 

Yu Zhixue paused just outside the café when he felt his phone buzz. He pulled it out, read the message, and stopped walking.

 

Yu Meng asked, “What is it?”

 

As he typed, Yu Zhixue replied, “He messaged me asking if I’m done.”

 

Y: “Just finished, heading back now. What’s up?”

 

Yu Wenxuan: “Send me your location. I’ll come pick you up.”

 

Y: “You’re outside? I thought you were waiting at home.”

 

Despite saying that, Yu Zhixue still sent his location, then turned to Yu Meng. “You go on ahead. I’m waiting for someone.”

 

Yu Meng frowned. “Why does he message you the second we finish talking? Don’t tell me he’s been tailing you this whole time?”

 

Yu Zhixue replied, “Just a coincidence.”

 

But out of sisterly duty, Yu Meng stuck around and waited with him for a while longer.

 

His phone stayed quiet.

 

Since they were just standing there, she took the time to comment on his long hair. “Can’t believe you’ve stuck with it this long.”

 

The image of the tearful boy who once clutched his hat tightly after his hair was cut flashed through her mind. That boy had grown into someone who could braid his hair long.

 

Yu Zhixue touched his hair at the mention.

 

“So you haven’t told him?” Yu Meng asked, watching his movements. “I don’t really get it. Zhixue, what are you hesitating for?”

 

He looked up. “It’s not hesitation. I just haven’t forgiven him yet.”

 

Yu Meng couldn’t help but laugh. Knowing how stubborn her cousin was, she suddenly felt a little sorry for the future Yu Wenxuan.

 

A few minutes later, Yu Wenxuan appeared in front of them, holding a small, beautifully wrapped cake.

 

He walked up to Yu Zhixue, placed the cake in his hands, then adjusted the slightly crooked hair clip on his head.

 

Yu Meng felt her teeth ache just watching and decided not to disturb the couple. She waved goodbye to Yu Zhixue.

 

Yu Zhixue raised a hand to wave back, but before he could, Yu Wenxuan had grabbed his hand and waved for him.

 

Once Yu Meng’s figure disappeared, Yu Wenxuan said, “Let’s go inside.”

 

They re-entered the café, found a seat, and ordered two coffees. Then he took the cake and began unwrapping it.

 

Inside was a small orange-flavored cake, very appetizing.

 

While handing him a fork, Yu Wenxuan casually said, “There’s a fireworks festival later—best to head there a bit early, so let’s eat out today and walk around.”

 

Yu Zhixue looked at the fork in his hand and simply asked, “Why’d you buy me a cake?”

 

Yu Wenxuan opened his mouth, just about to say “I passed by and bought it,” when Yu Zhixue cut him off with another question.

 

He looked straight into his eyes and asked gently, “…Was it because you saw I didn’t eat anything?”

 

During the chat earlier, Yu Meng had ordered desserts and coffee, but Yu Zhixue had barely touched them.

 

Yu Wenxuan had seen it—and bought something he knew he’d like.

 

Yu Zhixue wasn’t dumb. He knew it wasn’t a coincidence that Wenxuan messaged him right after he got up. Of course he’d followed.

 

Yu Wenxuan’s voice came out hoarse. “Sorry.”

 

Yu Zhixue: “Where were you watching me from?”

 

“……”

 

After a pause, Yu Wenxuan casually pointed in a direction. Following the line of his finger, Yu Zhixue saw the bench clearly.

 

He’d just been too focused earlier. If he’d looked over even once, he would have seen him.

 

Yu Zhixue held his cold hand and placed it against his cheek, seriously saying, “Next time, find a warmer spot to watch me.”

 

“…Okay,” Yu Wenxuan replied.

 

…

 

After finishing the cake, they postponed lunch and took some time to stroll around. Yu Zhixue asked if there was anywhere he wanted to go.

 

Yu Wenxuan thought about the usual weekend spots for couples—amusement parks, movie theaters—not really his thing.

 

Then something clicked. “You went to high school around here, right?”

 

Yu Zhixue blinked. “Yeah.”

 

It wasn’t surprising. Most of the local rich kids had grown up and studied in the area.

 

But Yu Wenxuan hadn’t. He’d attended high school elsewhere.

 

“Can we visit your high school?” he asked. “What was it called again?”

 

Yu Zhixue named the school, and Yu Wenxuan thought hard—but no bells rang.

 

“You really want to go?” Yu Zhixue asked.

 

“Is it far?” Wenxuan replied.

 

Zhixue glanced at the nearby sign. “Won’t take long.”

 

“Then let’s go.” Yu Wenxuan locked their fingers together. “Which way?”

 

When they arrived, it happened to be dismissal time. Students in sapphire-blue uniforms trickled out through the gates.

 

Yu Wenxuan had always thought their high school uniforms looked great.

 

As he thought that, he paused—Why did I think ‘always’?

 

Yu Zhixue noticed something was off. “What’s wrong?”

 

Wenxuan snapped out of it. “Nothing. Just thought your uniforms look really good. Too bad I can’t see what you looked like in them.”

 

He was only making conversation, but saying it made him feel genuinely regretful. “You must’ve had great grades. Were you on the honor wall?”

 

“I did okay,” Yu Zhixue answered. “But I didn’t like taking photos in high school. So, no, you won’t see anything.”

 

Wenxuan suddenly remembered: Yu Zhixue hadn’t liked taking pictures in college either. During group celebrations, he always sat quietly in a corner.

 

He liked leaning against the wall, playing with his hair—or doing nothing at all.

 

“That’s a shame,” Yu Wenxuan said, lowering his gaze.

 

Yu Zhixue remembered what Yu Meng had said about the first possibility and decided to test the waters.

 

“I still have my high school uniform at home,” he said. “I never threw it out.”

 

Then, after a pause, he added, “If you want to see it, I can put it on.”

 

Another pause. Then one last word:

 

“Senior.”