After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 18.1

Wealth, power, and beauty, these are the few things most people pursue.

Yan Guiqiu possessed neither of the first two, so wasn’t it only natural that she was left with the last one?

Song Anchen looked Yan Guiqiu up and down for a moment before shaking her head and dismissing the thought herself. “Impossible!”

Yan Guiqiu asked, somewhat indignantly, “Why is it impossible?”

Was she not good-looking enough?

Though she wasn’t exactly the type to topple cities and kingdoms, at the very least, she could be considered delicate and pleasant-looking. The compliments of “pretty” she had received since childhood couldn’t all have been insincere flattery, could they?

Song Anchen said, “If she really liked you for your looks, wouldn’t it be simpler to just confess? Why bother with all these games of playing hard to get?”

In other words, she felt Jiang Xuehe wasn’t proactive enough.

If it was about physical attraction, there shouldn’t be all that hesitation and second-guessing.

Lust, to put it bluntly, is about craving someone’s body. Among adults, it’s an unspoken “game.” To engage in the coy, shy back-and-forth of teenage girls would be nothing but unnecessary.

Yan Guiqiu: “…”

Yan Guiqiu: “I understand the logic, but why are you so well-versed in it?”

Song Anchen rolled her eyes at her and said with the tone of someone who had seen it all, “I’ve seen plenty of people like that.”

Yan Guiqiu, the only one in their group who had been single since birth: “…”

Song Anchen continued to ponder, still unable to figure out why Jiang Xuehe had taken such an interest in Yan Guiqui back then, or what exactly that interest entailed.

Yan Guiqiu offered a new perspective: “Maybe, just maybe, she genuinely likes me as a person?”

Song Anchen: “Love at first sight across the Pacific, followed by deep, unwavering affection?”

Song Anchen: “Do you even believe that yourself?”

Yan Guiqiu: “…”

“Do you really think she’s that bad of a person?” Yan Guiqiu sighed, feeling the need to have a proper conversation with Song Anchen. “Has she ever done anything bad, or used anyone around her for her own gain at their expense?”

Song Anchen faltered. “Well, no.”

Putting aside her business acumen and excessive “kindness,” Jiang Xuehe maintained a gentle and magnanimous image in public. The few who called her scheming were likely just reacting against the overwhelmingly positive reviews.

But when it came to her actions, there truly wasn’t a single instance where she had harmed others.

It was a fact that she had stepped down to make way for her less capable brother.

When her mother asked her to clarify rumors of family discord, she had complied without resistance.

Her friends, regardless of their family backgrounds, were never treated differently by her.

Looking back at reality, it seemed quite the opposite.

Not only had Jiang Xuehe never done anything bad, but she was also a remarkably accommodating and good-natured person.

Being in conflict with someone like her would almost feel unbelievable.

Song Anchen couldn’t help but reflect had she been overly paranoid?

“I know you’re worried about me,” Yan Guiqiu said. “And I appreciate it.”

Song Anchen knew a “but” was coming.

“But,” Yan Guiqiu said, “I want to believe in her.”

Not “I have to” believe, but “I want to” believe.

It wasn’t about trusting based on facts and evidence, but about offering trust and respect first.

Song Anchen understood. She fell silent for a moment, then sighed and finally sat down across from Yan Guiqiu, conceding.

“Fine,” she said. “Do as you wish.”

Yan Guiqiu smiled.

Song Anchen rubbed her temples. “And here I went through the trouble of asking around for you.”

Yan Guiqiu quickly offered the snacks she had just bought. “You’ve worked hard, you’ve worked hard.”

Song Anchen picked a bag of chips and tore it open, but after a moment’s thought, she decided she couldn’t be appeased so easily. “No way. Before I leave, you absolutely have to treat me to a proper meal!”

Yan Guiqiu nodded repeatedly. “Of course, of course. Before you go back, we’ll eat out every day. I just did a round of tastings recently, and there are a few places that are pretty good. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

Song Anchen felt a bit more mollified. “That’s more like it.”

At a certain restaurant.

Jiang Xuehe set down her chopsticks and spaced out for a moment. Her friend across the table glanced at her.

“What’s wrong?” Zhong Heyi asked. “Not enjoying the food?”

“No.” Jiang Xuehe snapped out of it and shook her head. She reached up and touched her eyelid. “My eyelid’s twitching. I just feel a bit unsettled today.”

Zhong Heyi half-jokingly complained, “Seriously? You feel unsettled as soon as we meet? Should I just leave and call Miss Yan to come keep you company instead?”

Jiang Xuehe smiled faintly but didn’t respond. She stood up and said, “I’ll go settle the bill.”

Zhong Heyi wasn’t offended. He and Jiang Xuehe had known each other for years and were business partners. He was one of the few people who understood her true nature, so their interactions were usually quite casual.

He had been abroad for several years and had only returned a couple of days ago. Feeling a bit nostalgic about being back on home soil, he had mustered the courage to ask Jiang Xuehe to treat him to a meal.

Of course, the more important reason was to discuss business matters.

By the time the meal was over, they had mostly finished their discussions. The rest of the conversation had been personal, but Jiang Xuehe had clearly been distracted.

Jiang Xuehe pulled open the private room door and went to the front desk to pay. Zhong Heyi wiped his hands and hurried after her.

“Got any plans tonight?” Zhong Heyi asked as he followed. “Want me to drive you back?”

“No need, I drove here myself,” Jiang Xuehe said. “The hotel you booked isn’t far from here. You can just use your navigation, no need for me to take you, right?”

Zhong Heyi thought for a moment before catching on, his expression turning knowing. “You have other plans, huh? Then I won’t bother you two.”

As he spoke, he exaggeratedly took a step to the side, leaving at least a meter of distance between them.

“My mistake, I should’ve invited Miss Yan along,” Zhong Heyi said, realizing belatedly. After a moment’s thought, he added, “If she happens to misunderstand, just tell her I have a boyfriend.”

Watching his overly dramatic display of chivalry and sacrifice, Jiang Xuehe felt her eyebrow twitch.

This straight male friend of hers had decent manners and was quite considerate toward women, consciously keeping his distance. Moreover, he was more obsessed with his career than with romance, making him a good choice as a business partner.

His only flaw was that he sometimes overacted.

“Yan and I aren’t together yet,” Jiang Xuehe said.

“How come?” Zhong Heyi sounded surprised. “I heard you two have been getting along really well lately love at first sight, captivated at second meeting. If one of you were a different gender, wouldn’t your kid be old enough to run errands by now?”

“Because of various reasons.” Jiang Xuehe took her card back from the front desk and turned to walk outside. “Maybe it’s just not the right time yet.”

Zhong Heyi stepped ahead to hold the door open for her.

The spring evening breeze still carried a chill, and Jiang Xuehe shivered slightly from the cold. She paused for a moment to recover before continuing toward the parking lot.

The cool air had cleared her mind a little.

Since their last movie outing, Yan Guiqiu still visited her at the gallery from time to time, but she never again spoke words resembling a confession. Perhaps she had taken Jiang Xuehe’s words to heart and was now contemplating things more seriously and carefully. Or maybe she was simply worried that repeating “I like you” too often would come across as frivolous, so she suppressed the urge to say it.

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