After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 18.2

Jiang Xuehe felt too embarrassed to admit that this left her feeling somewhat uneasy and lonely. Before this, she had never imagined she would one day find herself so caught up in the uncertainties of affection. But the initiative had already been handed over to Yan Guiqiu. If the other party decided to turn away, there would be no room left for Jiang Xuehe to pursue or mend things.

So, all she could do was wait.

Perhaps it was still her own preoccupation with “face” or similar concerns, but overall, their current interactions weren’t too bad. Yan Guiqiu would be staying in Yunhua City for at least three or four more years, and they still had plenty of time to slowly adjust to each other. When it came to matters of the heart, nothing could instill more confidence and security than the passage of time.

“Love is such a complicated thing,” Zhong Heyi remarked with a sigh, inwardly relieved that he had no interest in such matters and resolving to keep his distance from them in the future. If even someone like Jiang Xuehe could be troubled by love, it truly deserved to be called “terrifying.”

A few seconds later, Zhong Heyi looked up and spotted a furtive figure in the distance, which only reinforced his conviction. “That person over there,” he lowered his voice to alert Jiang Xuehe, “behind the red sports car, do you know her?”

The parking lot was dimly lit, with only a few overhead lights. The person behind the sports car stood in the shadows, making it hard to see their face clearly, but there was a vague sense that they were staring in their direction. Judging by the petite figure, it was undoubtedly a girl. She didn’t seem like the type to be a robber or a stalker though the latter was debatable but she clearly wasn’t a criminal.

Although Zhong Heyi lived abroad, he was well-informed about domestic affairs, especially those related to Jiang Xuehe. After a moment’s thought, he guessed who it might be. “Could it be that young lady from the Qin family?”

Qin Xiangxi.

The moment that name crossed her mind, the smile on Jiang Xuehe’s face faded by a third. She wanted to pretend she hadn’t seen the other person and simply walk away, but just as she turned her head, their eyes met.

Qin Xiangxi’s eyes lit up, and she started to run toward them.

Noticing the change in Jiang Xuehe’s expression, Zhong Heyi was surprised. “Do you dislike her that much? It’s not just to avoid misunderstandings, is it? Is it really necessary to go to such extremes?”

Jiang Xuehe replied, “No.”

Even without Yan Guiqiu in the picture, she had never liked Qin Xiangxi.

Everyone who knew both of them was aware that Qin Xiangxi had a crush on Jiang Xuehe, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an open infatuation. Whenever Jiang Xuehe attended a banquet, Qin Xiangxi would always find a way to approach her. Yet, when they met, they rarely managed to hold a proper conversation. Qin Xiangxi would stand to the side, blushing and staring at her, and if their eyes met, she would stammer through some trivial or irrelevant topic.

From the time they first met when they were under ten years old to now, in their twenties, over a decade had passed, and her “affection” had never changed.

Many people disliked Qin Xiangxi’s personality, yet even more said she was indeed “deeply affectionate.”

But it was precisely this that made Jiang Xuehe increasingly averse to her.

It wasn’t because Qin Xiangxi’s affection caused her trouble, but because that so-called “affection” felt too hollow.

Jiang Xuehe was someone highly sensitive to emotions. Even though everyone claimed Qin Xiangxi liked her, she remained unmoved.

To call that kind of chasing emotion “deep affection” was almost an insult to the phrase.

Especially after meeting Yan Guiqiu.

A person she had just met carried such fervent and genuine emotions. In comparison, that years-long “deep affection” felt hypocritical, almost like a joke.

To put it bluntly, Jiang Xuehe once thought it was merely Qin Xiangxi’s way of seeking attention. Being forced by rumors to confront that hollow emotion only made her dislike it even more.

She knew she was biased against Qin Xiangxi and understood that, given Qin Xiangxi’s personality and intelligence, she probably hadn’t thought of such a way to attract attention. But that didn’t mean Jiang Xuehe forced herself to change her opinion.

Of course, she also had no intention of bothering to argue with her or embarrass her, which would only invite more trouble.

Treating her as an ordinary acquaintance, occasionally exchanging polite greetings when they met, and otherwise staying out of each other’s way was more than enough.

Now that they had run into each other, Jiang Xuehe couldn’t just put on a cold face. She maintained a polite smile, nodded slightly at Qin Xiangxi, and greeted her distantly.

It was only when Qin Xiangxi ran up to her that she noticed the man beside her.

Earlier, the two hadn’t been standing too close, so she hadn’t thought much of it. But now, as Jiang Xuehe stopped, the man beside her also halted and looked over, his expression carrying a hint of amusement.

Qin Xiangxi’s face stiffened, and after a long pause, she stammered, “Is this your boyfriend, Sister Ahe?”

This time, it was Zhong Heyi’s turn to look stiff.

Jiang Xuehe said, “No.”

Qin Xiangxi didn’t seem entirely convinced, her expression hovering between relief and subtle dissatisfaction. After hesitating and fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, she stammered again, “Then, why are you two out together so late at night.”

Jiang Xuehe replied, “We had dinner.”

Her tone cooled noticeably, and anyone with a bit of sense would have taken the hint to stop talking.

Unfortunately, Qin Xiangxi clearly didn’t.

Qin Xiangxi looked hurt, biting her lip with red-rimmed eyes as if she had been wronged.

Jiang Xuehe remained unmoved, merely trying to maintain a calm tone. “It’s late. It’s not safe for a girl to be out alone. Miss Qin, you should head back soon.”

Qin Xiangxi didn’t move, lowering her head in silence. After a long pause, as if she had made up her mind, she looked up at Jiang Xuehe and whispered, “I, I have something I want to say to you. Could you come with me for a moment?”

Then she quickly added, “I’ll go back right after, I only came out to look for you because I heard someone say they saw you here.”

Her voice grew softer toward the end.

But Jiang Xuehe’s heart skipped a beat.

She had a feeling she knew what Qin Xiangxi wanted to say.

Zhong Heyi was still standing silently nearby, watching the scene with amusement.

Once Jiang Xuehe realized what was happening, she made a decision and nodded in agreement.

Since Qin Xiangxi was finally ready to lay her cards on the table, she might as well take this opportunity to make things clear once and for all.

“Okay,” said Jiang Xuehe.

“Really?” Qin Xiangxi abruptly looked up at her, her eyes sparkling with joy and excitement, like a child finally getting the toy they’d been longing for.

To a stranger, her smile might have been enough to soften their heart, but Jiang Xuehe felt nothing.

Truth be told, she had always been this cold-hearted.

Jiang Xuehe’s thoughts drifted as she maintained a polite smile on her face, already planning how to turn Qin Xiangxi down.

Meanwhile.

Yan Guiqiu and Song Anchen walked out of the mall together, each holding an ice cream cone.

The weather was still chilly this season, and today was particularly cold, but there was a unique thrill to eating frozen treats in the cold.

The two had forgotten to check the weather forecast before heading out and hadn’t brought extra coats. Now, they were bravely shivering while licking their ice creams.

In the end, it was Song Anchen who couldn’t hold out any longer. She suggested turning back to find shelter in the mall, wandering around a bit before catching a taxi home.

But after only a few steps, she suddenly paused.

Yan Guiqiu was looking at a flower shop across the way and, caught off guard, bumped into her.

“What’s the ” Yan Guiqiu started to turn around.

Before she could finish her sentence, Song Anchen covered her mouth and dragged her behind a small shrub nearby.

“Shh, keep it down,” Song Anchen gestured for silence. Once Yan Guiqiu quieted down, she crouched slightly and whispered into her ear, “I think I just saw Jiang Xuehe.”

Yan Guiqiu froze for a moment, then quickly stood up to look across the street. Song Anchen couldn’t hold her back in time.

Jiang Xuehe was relatively tall, making her stand out at a glance.

When Yan Guiqiu looked over, her gaze shifted downward slightly before she noticed Qin Xiangxi standing opposite Jiang Xuehe.

The two were at a crossroads behind the mall, next to a dimly lit small park. Only two streetlights stood at the intersection, and there were hardly any passersby around.

Though Yan Guiqiu was several meters away, when she held her breath and focused, she could clearly hear their conversation.

“I’ve liked you for a long time,” Qin Xiangxi said, managing to speak smoothly for once before stumbling over her next words, “It, it’s true!”

Has this part of the plot started so early?

Yan Guiqiu was stunned. Beside her, Song Anchen tugged at her several times, but she didn’t budge.

Qin Xiangxi began recounting all the kindness and gentleness she had felt from Jiang Xuehe over the years they’d known each other, as well as her own constant thoughts and affection.

Even Song Anchen, who had recently held a grudge against Jiang Xuehe, listened intently, her mouth slightly agape with the shock of stumbling upon such juicy gossip.

Unfortunately, Yan Guiqiu was still in a daze and didn’t notice at all.

The calmest person in the scene was probably Jiang Xuehe, at the center of it all.

She didn’t interrupt Qin Xiangxi, quietly listening until she finished and was racking her brain to add more evidence. Only then did Jiang Xuehe speak.

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Xuehe said, “but it’s impossible between us. I already have someone I like, and that person isn’t you. It will never be you.”

Qin Xiangxi was clearly taken aback and seemed on the verge of tears again. Jiang Xuehe instinctively averted her gaze.

Yan Guiqiu hadn’t managed to crouch down in time and ended up meeting her eyes directly.

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