After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 17

“Then do you believe me?”

“Believe what?”

Yan Guiqiu couldn’t quite explain herself after throwing out such an abrupt question.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Xuehe smiled gently and said, “I believe you.”

It sounded like she was humoring a child.

Yan Guiqiu wanted to argue, but by then her earlier boldness had completely faded. Worried that saying too much might make things awkward, she swallowed the rest of her words.

What was Jiang Xuehe really thinking?

Yan Guiqiu often pondered this question, and every time she did, the conclusion was the same: she didn’t want to put Jiang Xuehe in a difficult position, nor was she willing to give up easily.

So, until Jiang Xuehe was ready to open up, she could only make her presence known, being good to her, and even better.

“Let me take you home,” Jiang Xuehe said.

She had driven over, so it was naturally more convenient to go back and forth.

The road to Yan Guiqiu’s apartment was one Jiang Xuehe had grown familiar with lately she didn’t even need to use the GPS.

Jiang Xuehe parked the car downstairs and called out to Yan Guiqiu before she got out.

“Today,” Jiang Xuehe hesitated briefly but ultimately maintained her gentle and understanding demeanor. “I know what you wanted to say, but I also want to tell you, please think it over carefully.”

Yan Guiqiu’s heart sank a little was this a rejection?

Jiang Xuehe saw through her thoughts and shook her head, speaking softly, “It’s not because of you. It’s not because I think you’re being frivolous or because I’m impatient with you. The reason lies with me.”

Yan Guiqiu turned to look at her.

Up close, the softness on Jiang Xuehe’s face was even more captivating when she deliberately softened her tone and expression, it was hard for anyone to refuse her.

Yan Guiqiu belatedly realized that when they were together, Jiang Xuehe rarely adopted that kind of expression. She smiled more often, which made her seem more approachable, but when she deliberately softened her tone, it felt more like she was placating someone.

“I’m not the saint people say I am, and I might not be as good as you imagine,” Jiang Xuehe said. “I’m afraid you’re making a decision too hastily, and once you truly understand what kind of person I am, you might regret it.”

She looked at Yan Guiqiu, and her sincerity was palpable.

Yan Guiqiu wanted to say, “I know.”

But the words stuck in her throat, with no evidence to back them up.

The plot was the most crucial proof, but it was something she couldn’t talk about. Besides, most of the events in the plot hadn’t even happened yet, how could she bring them up?

All that remained was the less than a month they had actually spent together.

In the end, Yan Guiqiu asked instead, “During this time, have you found my presence annoying or bothersome?”

“Of course not,” Jiang Xuehe answered honestly. “I’ve been very happy.”

In fact, it was a rare kind of happiness that made her smile just thinking about it.

Yan Guiqiu asked, “Then, when you smiled at me, was it fake?”

Jiang Xuehe was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head. “Of course not.”

Yan Guiqiu said, “Then that’s enough.”

Before Jiang Xuehe could say anything more, Yan Guiqiu had already pushed the car door open and stepped out, her movements so swift it seemed she didn’t want to leave any room for deeper reflection.

After getting out, she paused by the car, leaned down slightly, glanced at Jiang Xuehe through the window, smiled, and waved.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Jiang Xuehe nodded, swallowing the rest of her words, and said, “See you tomorrow.”

Jiang Xuehe watched Yan Guiqiu go upstairs.

Usually, once Yan Guiqiu entered the stairwell, she would linger for a moment before leaving, but today she waited until the light on Yan Guiqiu’s floor turned on.

The streets were unusually quiet tonight. The roadside lamps had just lit up, and the shadows of trees swayed faintly in front of the car.

Jiang Xuehe looked up at the building ahead, the dim yellow light reflecting in her eyes. Finally, she let out a soft sigh, restarted the car, and slowly drove onto the main road.

What should she do now?

Jiang Xuehe suddenly felt a sense of conflict.

It was precisely because she had realized what Yan Guiqiu wanted to say that she had impulsively responded the way she did.

It wasn’t a rejection.

Instead, she found herself thinking more seriously about the future.

Jiang Xuehe had likely fallen for Yan Guiqiu earlier, longer, and even more deeply than Yan Guiqiu had for her. She never dared to deny that her so-called admiration was mixed with feelings of affection and love.

But back then, it was only a perception built through words and images. The admiration for Yan Guiqiu’s abilities naturally gave rise to a hazy filter.

She had come to Yunhua City for Yan Guiqiu. Not refusing the other’s advances was both giving Yan Guiqiu a chance and giving herself one.

The reason she didn’t rashly agree was that she feared the filter would shatter, and she would grow tired of the reality beneath the surface.

Yan Guiqiu had told her many times that she liked her. At first, Jiang Xuehe could respond with ease, but now, she felt a sudden panic.

Yan Guiqiu was a selfless person, but Jiang Xuehe was not.

Jiang Xuehe had her own selfish desires, hidden beneath her gentle and magnanimous exterior. She also possessed the inherent flaws of human nature, ambition and ugly desires.

No matter how well she concealed them, when faced with Yan Guiqiu’s selflessness, she felt her own desires were unworthy.

A-Luan had said that Yan Guiqiu would treat Jiang Xuehe even better.

Jiang Xuehe believed it.

Yet it was precisely this “better” that made her worry.

She was afraid that in the future, she would never be able to let go.

She was afraid that Yan Guiqiu would come to dislike her.

Before, even though Yan Guiqiu was more passionate and proactive, Jiang Xuehe had always held the reins firmly in her hands. But in that brief moment of distraction, she had voluntarily handed the initiative over to the other side.

Yet she felt no trace of regret or resentment.

When the car stopped downstairs, she sat alone in silence for a long time, resting her head on her arms. Only with her eyes closed did she dare to truly face her own heart.

This time, she was truly caught.

Jiang Xuehe smiled bitterly. Only when she felt her strength return did she push the car door open, get out, and walk home alone.

Pushing the door open, she was met with a room shrouded in darkness. A sliver of light slipped through the curtains on the balcony, making it even dimmer than usual.

It was a scene she was used to, but tonight, it felt so empty that it made her uncomfortable.

If only there could be one more person here.

When Jiang Xuehe collapsed onto the bed, she closed her eyes but couldn’t sleep. Her mind was filled with images of Yan Guiqiu.

Now, she suddenly regretted what she had said to Yan Guiqiu.

Because she realized that, more than fearing Yan Guiqiu’s future dislike, she was even more afraid that Yan Guiqiu would waver because of those words and turn away without looking back.

A “ding-dong” sound came from the nightstand, startling Jiang Xuehe awake. It took her a moment to realize it was her phone notification. She reached out, grabbed it, and glanced at the screen, it was a message from Yan Guiqiu.

“I won’t regret it.”

Jiang Xuehe stared at the message, momentarily lost in thought.

Soon, another message followed: “Good night.”

Jiang Xuehe was reminded of Yan Guiqiu’s last words, “See you tomorrow,” and the turmoil in her heart gradually settled. Slowly, she tapped on the keyboard and replied with a “Good night.”

The glow of the phone screen illuminated her face, revealing a faint smile.

The following week, Jiang Xuehe mentioned she had something to attend to and needed to go out.

Song Anchen had arrived in Yunhua City around the same time as her. With the holidays in full swing, she came to visit Yan Guiqiu, hoping to catch up and chat.

But it was only after arriving that she learned Jiang Xuehe wasn’t around recently.

Yan Guiqiu sat on the sofa flipping through a book, occasionally glancing at Song Anchen’s expression out of the corner of her eye. It was hard to tell whether she felt relieved or displeased.

Song Anchen asked another question, “What is she doing?”

It seemed displeasure outweighed any other emotion. Yan Guiqiu averted her gaze and replied, “I heard she went to pick up a friend. I didn’t ask for details.”

Song Anchen let out a drawn-out “Oh.”

Yan Guiqiu glanced at her again, “Why have you been so critical of her lately?”

This had started around the time A-Luan visited.

Back at the welcome banquet when they first met, Song Anchen had been quite enthusiastic about offering advice and strategies for Yan Guiqiu.

Song Anchen’s expression turned conflicted, as if unsure whether to speak up. She kept stealing glances at Yan Guiqiu, as though afraid she might be hurt.

Yan Guiqiu sighed, closed her book, and sat up straight. “Just say it. I can handle it.”

Only then did Song Anchen speak, “Did you know Jiang Xuehe had someone investigate you?”

Yan Guiqiu let out an “Oh,” seemingly unfazed. “Wouldn’t it put her more at ease to know I come from a clean background?”

Song Anchen frowned slightly, “It wasn’t just about checking your background!”

It was more like turning someone inside out, leaving no stone unturned almost to the point of digging up their ancestors for generations.

“I’m not sure exactly when it started, but at least three years ago, do you remember last month when I attended a class reunion? Several of our middle school classmates were asked about you around that time. They even thought you might have gotten into some kind of trouble.”

By middle school, Song Anchen and Yan Guiqiu were no longer at the same school. Yan Guiqiu had moved to another city, while Song Anchen went straight from a nearby elementary school to middle school. Most of her classmates knew each other, and many still remembered Yan Guiqiu.

The class reunion happened not long after Yan Guiqiu and Jiang Xuehe met. Some classmates who lived nearby ran into each other and spontaneously organized a dinner.

At the time, Song Anchen found it a bit odd but didn’t connect it to Jiang Xuehe. Later, she recalled the incident and asked Yan Guiqiu’s middle school classmates about it.

Sure enough, as expected, Yan Guiqiu’s classmates had also been questioned about her, with particular emphasis on the period when she frequently skipped classes.

Even if someone were investigating her background, why would they obsess over such trivial details and repeatedly press for answers?

It was then that Song Anchen fully realized something was off.

Even the police don’t interrogate suspects with such meticulous detail. Although the investigation was conducted behind their backs and nothing substantial came of it, the very act of being scrutinized so thoroughly was unsettling enough.

And this was only the part she managed to uncover, who knew how much more went unnoticed in private.

Yan Guiqiu’s expression finally shifted at this point, though she didn’t seem particularly angered. “Quite impressive,” she remarked.

Song Anchen had no idea what Yan Guiqiu had been up to during her middle and high school years, only vaguely aware that she was busy with family matters. She assumed the investigation was just a way to harass her, like checking her household registration.

Yan Guiqiu, however, was genuinely surprised probing into her middle school days clearly pointed toward Xinglan.

Even if someone were interested in those events now, connecting them to her without any prior knowledge did require some skill.

Song Anchen glared at her, reminding her, “That person was investigating you! How can you still find it in you to compliment them?”

“Gathering information isn’t illegal, and going through it person by person like that does show perseverance. Alright, it’s not exactly pleasant.”

Under Song Anchen’s watchful gaze, Yan Guiqiu straightened up and followed her lead. “So how did you figure out it was related to Sister Xuehe?”

Song Anchen replied, “Someone happened to take a photo. I saw it, it was Jiang Xuyu.”

“Jiang Xuyu?” Yan Guiqiu found the name somewhat familiar.

“Jiang Xuehe’s cousin. They’re not closely related by blood, but they’ve always been on good terms. They were even classmates at one point, and he’s always supported Jiang Xuehe’s rise in the family. After Jiang Xuehe went abroad, he left the company too, saying he didn’t want to work under Jiang Xueyang. When Jiang Xuehe returned, he personally went to pick her up.”

Yan Guiqiu recalled in the storyline, he was one of Jiang Xuehe’s most capable allies in her future power struggles, just as Song Anchen described.

But Jiang Xuyu had no connection whatsoever to the Yan family. In recent years, he had started his own tech company, and there were no overlapping interests. Moreover, it was rumored that he was gay, so it was unlikely he’d investigate Yan Guiqiu for something as trivial as romance.

Considering his close relationship with Jiang Xuehe and Jiang Xuehe’s inexplicable warmth and leniency toward Yan Guiqiu since returning to the country, it was hard not to draw connections.

Yan Guiqiu, however, focused on something else: “Is he that free?” To personally go around asking about her?

Song Anchen said, “He seemed to have a lot of free time during that period, and he didn’t question everyone himself. Wait, is this really the time to be discussing this?!”

Yan Guiqiu asked, “Then what’s the issue?”

Song Anchen exclaimed, “She’s investigating you! What if she’s deliberately getting close to you with ulterior motives? Aren’t you worried?”

Yan Guiqiu replied, “And then?”

Song Anchen asked, “What do you mean, ‘and then’?”

Yan Guiqiu said, “If she has ulterior motives, she must want something from me. What could I possibly have that she’d want?”

Song Anchen hesitated, “Your family background?”

Yan Guiqiu countered, “The Jiang family isn’t lacking in that regard, and I’ve practically left my family with nothing.”

Song Anchen ventured, “But what if she doesn’t know that?”

Yan Guiqiu replied, “She does know. She even said that even if I had nothing, she’d be willing to support me in the future.”

Song Anchen fell silent.

If it wasn’t for money or power, then what else could it be?

After a long pause, Song Anchen trembled as she guessed, “C-could it be for your looks?”

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