Chapter 11

Zhang Qiufeng was startled when she saw Ye Yao covered in mud.

She had left the house perfectly fine just a while ago.

“Yao Yao, what happened?”

“Mom, can you get me a basin of water?”

Ye Yao first took off her dirty clothes and began cleaning herself.

Watching the water in the basin quickly turn murky, her gaze deepened.

Of all times, she had to run into that man while looking so disheveled.

She didn’t even need to say anything—Li Cheng would likely end the engagement soon.

To be honest, she still didn’t understand why the original Ye Yao had suddenly gone to the Li family and insisted they honor the engagement. Her memories were complete, except for this one event, which left no trace at all.

That in itself was unusual.

“Yao Yao?”

Zhang Qiufeng’s concerned voice interrupted Ye Yao’s thoughts. She looked up at her, droplets of water still clinging to her face.

“Yaoyao, what exactly happened?”

Zhang Qiufeng couldn’t bear to see Ye Yao looking so miserable. Every time she came home like this, it meant she had been bullied outside.

Ye Yao took the towel from her mother’s hands and dried herself off.

“Mom, do you know why I went to the Li family?”

Zhang Qiufeng visibly stiffened for a moment before lowering her gaze guiltily.

“You don’t remember?”

Ye Yao shook her head. “Ever since I fell into the water, some memories have been unclear.”

Hearing this, Zhang Qiufeng actually sighed in relief.

“Over the years, you’ve lived a hard life with me, and now that you’re getting older, you probably started thinking about the engagement… It’s my fault. I should have stopped you back then.”

Ye Yao frowned. For some reason, she felt like her mother was hiding something from her.

“Um… I’ve already made dinner. Go eat after you clean up,” Zhang Qiufeng said, deliberately changing the subject before turning to enter the house.

A short while later, Ye Yao looked at the two boiled eggs in her rice bowl, her expression filled with surprise.

She knew their family’s situation well. It was already lucky just to have food to eat, let alone something as luxurious as eggs.

Zhang Qiufeng called her over, peeled one of the eggs, and handed it to her.

“Hurry and eat.”

“Where did these eggs come from?”

Before taking a bite, Ye Yao felt she needed to ask.

“I went out and bought them for you.”

Last night, Ye Yao barely ate anything, and this morning, she went running, claiming she wanted to lose weight. Her sudden change in behavior made Zhang Qiufeng uneasy.

“You used the betrothal money?”

Ye Yao’s face tensed. Though it was a question, her tone was one of certainty.

Zhang Qiufeng lowered her head, peeling the second egg with a guilty expression.

She had never dared to touch the betrothal money before, thinking they would have to return it to the Li family eventually. But last night, Ye Yao had been so firm in saying she wouldn’t break off the engagement, so today, she spent a little—just enough to buy a few eggs.

Even though Zhang Qiufeng said nothing, Ye Yao immediately understood.

“Mom, I’ll just eat one. You should have the other.”

Although she often disagreed with her mother’s way of thinking, she couldn’t deny the love and care she received.

Zhang Qiufeng was completely caught off guard. In the past, if there was ever anything good to eat, Ye Yao would take it all for herself. This was the first time she had ever shared.

But soon, worry crept in again. Ever since Ye Yao fell into the water, her personality seemed to have changed completely.

Something about this just wasn’t normal.

“I already ate. Don’t worry about me—just eat.”