When the Tsundere Rival Turns Into a Cat - Chapter 45

Outside the door, Li Xingcan was utterly perplexed, while inside, Jiang Qingyue was equally baffled. There was a strange sense of familiarity about something, yet she couldn’t quite place it.

By the time Jiang Qingyue finished freshening up and stepped out, Li Xingcan was already waiting by the door.

The earlier incident had left both of them feeling somewhat awkward. Their eyes deliberately avoided each other as Jiang Qingyue grabbed her things and headed out.

Li Xingcan followed a step behind.

The two walked toward the teaching building in silence, surrounded by chattering groups of students. Only they remained wordless the entire way.

Li Xingcan wanted to ask Jiang Qingyue if she had experienced the same strange sensation, but the question stuck in her throat. No matter how she phrased it, it would only make things weirder.

When they reached the second floor—where Jiang Qingyue’s classroom was—Jiang Qingyue paused for just a moment before continuing forward without looking back.

Li Xingcan stopped at the stairwell, watching Jiang Qingyue’s retreating figure. Just as Jiang Qingyue reached her classroom door and stepped inside, Li Xingcan thought she glimpsed her casting a fleeting glance in her direction—but it was gone in an instant.

Only after Jiang Qingyue disappeared into the classroom did Li Xingcan finally look away. Before she could collect herself, someone unexpectedly clapped her on the shoulder.

Startled, she whipped around to find Fu Duosui and Lin Xie standing behind her.

Clutching her chest to steady her racing heart, Li Xingcan shot them an exasperated look. “Do you have to scare people like that?”

“What are you doing just standing here?” Fu Duosui eyed her suspiciously. “And you didn’t even tell me you were leaving! I went to your dorm looking for you, but both of you were gone. Some friend you are!”

“Prioritizing love over friendship, ungrateful and forgetful,” Lin Xie chimed in, studying Li Xingcan with equal curiosity. “You’re acting really strange today.”

Only then did Li Xingcan remember these two. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she deflected, “No, I was just waiting for you guys here. Actually, there’s something I can’t figure out—maybe you can help me.”

With some time left before afternoon classes, the three headed to an empty activity room to talk. Li Xingcan explained the odd feeling she’d had earlier.

“Have you ever felt like a scene is eerily familiar, but you just can’t remember where you’ve seen it before? Like the exact same thing has already happened?”

The moment Li Xingcan finished speaking, Fu Duosui eagerly nodded. “Yes, yes! I get that all the time. Sometimes it feels like I’ve experienced certain things ages ago, even though they just happened. It’s so weird.”

“Right? Me too!” Li Xingcan’s eyes lit up in agreement.

Lin Xie leaned against the table, arms crossed. “It’s a common phenomenon. Scientifically speaking, it’s called—”

“Hold on,” Li Xingcan interrupted, waving a hand. “I don’t want the scientific explanation. Because I don’t think this phenomenon is scientific at all. And there’s something else.”

Lin Xie and Fu Duosui turned to her, waiting for her to continue.

Li Xingcan organized her thoughts before speaking. “So… I remember there was a period when Jiang Qingyue and I had a really bad relationship—we were constantly at each other’s throats. Do you know what changed later that made us get along better? First, let me clarify that I do think she’s a good person, but how did we go from being hostile to resolving our misunderstandings? I can’t recall any of it at all.”

Hearing this, Lin Xie and Fu Duosui exchanged glances. “We have no idea either. It was like after a break, you two suddenly became like this. We were totally shocked. When we asked you about it, you didn’t explain much—just said you thought she was alright.”

Li Xingcan clutched her head in frustration. “Why does it feel like I’m missing a chunk of my memory?”

“First, you thought you had extra déjà vu memories, and now you’re saying you’re missing some. What’s going on? Did someone edit your memories?” Lin Xie suspected Li Xingcan might just be overthinking things from playing too many video games lately.

It was meant as an offhand remark, but Fu Duosui nodded in agreement. “Who knows? Maybe someone really can edit memories. Xingcan, you’d better check if anyone copied your safe’s password!”

Li Xingcan: “…”

“Forget it. It must be this school’s weird energy messing with me. Let’s just go back.”

Seeing no point in discussing it further, Li Xingcan waved her hand dismissively and headed back to the classroom on the fourth floor with Fu Duosui.

The afternoon classes were as dull as ever. During a moment of distraction, Li Xingcan vaguely heard Old Yang passionately talking about mock exams and ambitions, his voice full of fervor. Meanwhile, her gaze drifted out the window to the clear blue sky and bright sunlight—a rare beautiful day in winter.

As the sun began to set, it was time for dinner. Before the bell even rang, Li Xingcan noticed Fu Duosui poised to bolt. Feeling lazy, she said, “Just grab me a meal. I’m not going to the cafeteria.”

“No way! You expect me to carry four meals by myself?” Fu Duosui widened her eyes in refusal.

“Four?” Li Xingcan was confused.

“Lin Xie and Jiang Qingyue too. You’re just gonna let them starve?” Fu Duosui reminded her.

Only then did Li Xingcan remember. She stretched lazily. “Since the four of us are eating together now, wouldn’t it be easier if I had my family driver deliver meals every day? Our cook’s food is way better than the cafeteria’s.”

“That makes sense,” Fu Duosui agreed immediately. “Your place is only five minutes from school—the food would still be fresh when it arrives. Definitely beats the cafeteria.”

“Then it’s settled. Starting tomorrow, lunch and dinner will be delivered. Breakfast is too early, so we’ll just eat at the cafeteria.”

Li Xingcan finalized the plan, and Fu Duosui nodded. “For breakfast, we can either go to the cafeteria or order takeout.”

With future meals sorted, tonight’s dinner still depended on speed.

The moment the bell rang, Li Xingcan and Fu Duosui were already at the stairwell, racing downstairs in under thirty seconds and heading straight to the cafeteria—barely needing to wait in line.

By the time Jiang Qingyue and Lin Xie arrived, all four meals were already set out, making things incredibly convenient.

Li Xingcan then discussed meal arrangements for the future with the two of them. Lin Xie had no objections, but Jiang Qingyue seemed hesitant.

Seeing Jiang Qingyue hesitate, Fu Duosui immediately chimed in to persuade her, “The auntie at Xingcan’s place is an amazing cook, Jiang. Don’t worry, the food will definitely suit your taste!”

“I know, it’s just…” Jiang Qingyue wasn’t sure how to explain.

Li Xingcan’s fingers tightened around Jiang Qingyue’s campus card in her pocket. When Jiang had asked her to help with meals, she’d also handed over the card—she didn’t want to take advantage financially.

So now, seeing Jiang Qingyue’s hesitation, Li Xingcan understood she was struggling with how to settle the accounts fairly.

Before Jiang Qingyue could stammer out an explanation, Li Xingcan cut in, “There’s something I need to clarify upfront. Since we’re adding two extra meals, my auntie’s salary and grocery expenses will increase—let’s say an extra 2,000 a month. That’ll cover 500 per person for meals. How’s that?”

Fu Duosui, completely oblivious, scrunched her nose at Li Xingcan. “Wow, you’re stingy—only 2,000 for the auntie? I’ll just transfer you 2,000 myself.”

With that, Fu Duosui immediately sent Li Xingcan 2,000 yuan.

Li Xingcan was both amused and exasperated—this wasn’t about the money!

After accepting the transfer, she added, “Fine, 2,000 covers you for four months. I said 500, so it’s 500. No arguing.”

Lin Xie glanced between the three of them, then pulled out her phone and transferred Li Xingcan 500. “500, sent.”

Li Xingcan nodded approvingly. Beside her, Jiang Qingyue opened her smartwatch, but she felt 500 was too little—monthly meals couldn’t possibly cost so little.

Thinking this, she transferred Li Xingcan 1,000. It wasn’t much, and she knew Li Xingcan didn’t care about the money, nor did the others. But it eased her conscience.

Li Xingcan glanced at the notification on her phone, then pocketed it without a word.

After dinner, they still had some free time—a rare chance to relax.

Li Xingcan and Fu Duosui suggested taking a walk around the track to digest. Jiang Qingyue wanted to go back to study, while Lin Xie was indifferent either way.

“Majority rules—we’re going to the track,” Fu Duosui cut Jiang Qingyue off before she could protest. “You can study anytime. Your brain needs a break—it’s been running nonstop.”

Lin Xie also chimed in, “Think of it as balancing work and rest. A clear mind means better efficiency later.”

It made sense. Jiang Qingyue nodded, and the four of them headed to the track together.

Winter days were short. By 5 p.m., the sun was already dipping behind the western hills, casting a golden glow across the sky.

They crossed the field, climbing the bleacher steps one by one until they reached the top tier. The view opened up, and the wind brushing against their faces carried the last traces of the winter sun’s warmth—comforting.

“This is nice…” Fu Duosui sighed lazily.

Li Xingcan watched the sun sinking rapidly, as if in a hurry to clock out, and felt her own heart settle. For a moment, she wished this could last forever.

Taking a deep breath, Li Xingcan let the cool breeze fill her lungs as her body relaxed completely. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Jiang Qingyue beside her, gazing absently at the distant sunset, lost in thought.

As the sun completely disappeared below the horizon, the clouds in the sky seemed to lose their color in an instant, turning into deep purple shadows that slowly merged with the darkening sky.

“Let’s go.”

Li Xingcan glanced at her watch—five minutes until class. They would have to run back.

As they ran, the wind brushing against their faces, Jiang Qingyue watched Li Xingcan and Fu Duosui playfully chasing and teasing each other, still finding time to fool around. It was as if the world had shifted from quiet to lively, revealing something more vivid and tangible beyond textbooks and exams—a reminder that school wasn’t just about studying, but also about living.

Even Jiang Qingyue herself didn’t realize that, in this moment, a relaxed smile had also appeared on her face.