After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 19

Jiang Xuehe was momentarily stunned.

Faint sobbing sounds were already coming from Qin Xiangxi’s direction.

Jiang Xuehe snapped back to reality but made no move to comfort her, only offering a few gentle words of advice.

“You’ll meet someone you truly like someday,” Jiang Xuehe said. “Go home early and be careful.”

With just these two lukewarm remarks, Jiang Xuehe gestured to Yan Guiqiu and walked past Qin Xiangxi, heading out.

Once they were a bit farther away, she called Zhong Heyi and asked him to help see Qin Xiangxi home.

“Since she likes women, she probably won’t be too interested in you anyway. Besides, I trust your character,” Jiang Xuehe said. “It’s late, and if something happens on the way, I won’t be able to explain it clearly.”

Zhong Heyi grumbled a bit on the other end, but Jiang Xuehe promised to treat him to a meal next time as an apology and got him to agree.

“Just take her to the main road outside the school. It wouldn’t be good if her classmates saw her,” Jiang Xuehe added.

“How pitiful,” Zhong Heyi feigned sympathy.

Jiang Xuehe didn’t respond.

Zhong Heyi wasn’t sure how long he’d be back this time and had only arranged for a car. The driver had just arrived, so he signaled for him to wait and then turned to walk in the direction Jiang Xuehe had left.

Only after seeing Zhong Heyi approaching from the other side did Jiang Xuehe circle back.

Yan Guiqiu and Song Anchen were still in the same spot, one standing, the other crouching.

Song Anchen’s expression was somewhat ambiguous, hard to tell if it was hostile or not, but upon seeing Jiang Xuehe, she stood up properly and greeted her respectfully.

Technically speaking, Jiang Xuehe was her distant cousin.

“Have you had dinner?” Jiang Xuehe asked.

“We just ate,” both nodded.

“Then let me take you back,” Jiang Xuehe said.

“What about your friend?” Yan Guiqiu glanced into the distance. “Is it alright?”

Zhong Heyi had already reached Qin Xiangxi’s side and was speaking softly to her. Qin Xiangxi probably recognized him as Jiang Xuehe’s friend. Though they had only met once, she didn’t seem too guarded and, after a moment’s hesitation, followed him.

“It’s fine,” Jiang Xuehe said. “He knows the Qin family too; he won’t take advantage of the situation.”

That wasn’t what she meant.

But judging by Jiang Xuehe’s attitude, Yan Guiqiu understood and swallowed her unspoken question, nodding.

Song Anchen looked back and forth, hesitated for a moment, and then took a step back.

“Then, Xuehe, could you take Guiqiu back?” Song Anchen said. “I still need to get my car; I’ll head back in a bit.”

The parking lot wasn’t far. The three of them walked in a line before parting ways midway.

Zhong Heyi had already left with Qin Xiangxi. Jiang Xuehe opened the car door for Yan Guiqiu and then glanced back, faintly seeing Song Anchen still standing there.

As if noticing Jiang Xuehe’s gaze, Song Anchen finally turned and continued toward the parking lot across the street.

When Jiang Xuehe got into the driver’s seat, Yan Guiqiu beside her was still struggling with the seatbelt.

She released the key, took the seatbelt from Yan Guiqiu’s hands, and clicked it into place in the middle of the seat.

“Anchen seems to have some thoughts about me,” Jiang Xuehe said.

“No,” Yan Guiqiu replied. “She’s definitely straight.”

“I didn’t mean that kind of thought.”

“…” Yan Guiqiu came back to her senses and responded stiffly, “Oh.”

“Did I do something to upset her?” Jiang Xuehe asked.

“It’s not your problem,” Yan Guiqiu said. “It’s my first time liking someone, and I don’t have any experience, so she’s just worried.”

But it definitely wasn’t just that simple.

“They’re worried I might take advantage of your feelings,” Jiang Xuehe said calmly.

“…” Yan Guiqiu turned to look at Jiang Xuehe.

Jiang Xuehe didn’t seem upset.

“If it were me, I’d probably worry too,” Jiang Xuehe paused, then added, “Maybe I’d even imagine worse scenarios.”

It’s only natural to worry about someone close to you getting hurt.

Jiang Xuehe was very understanding or rather, she didn’t really care about Song Anchen’s negative impression of her.

Song Anchen had known her longer, yet their relationship remained lukewarm, no different from strangers who happened to be acquainted.

Because of Yan Guiqiu, Jiang Xuehe could get along with her just fine, but that didn’t mean they’d suddenly become like sisters, nor would she be hurt by a little suspicion.

“They care about you a lot,” Jiang Xuehe said. “That’s good.”

“She didn’t think that deeply about it,” Yan Guiqiu explained. “She’s just afraid I’ll dive in headfirst and get no response, and end up heartbroken.”

“Are you afraid too?” Jiang Xuehe asked.

Yan Guiqiu shook her head. “If I had to consider all the possible consequences before acting, the opportunity would be long gone. Would I spend the rest of my life regretting it?”

She paused, then continued, “If there’s something you can resist with reason and not fight for, you might still regret it even if you get it. Or even before you act, you’ll start thinking even if I succeed, I might regret it later or lose it, and you’ll keep weighing whether it’s worth it.”

And then the chance slips away.

At the same time, it means you’ve already placed it on one side of the scale, with “benefits” and “gains and losses” on the other.

Feelings born from such calculations might sustain a respectful and warm family life, but they’re definitely not what she was hoping for.

If that were the goal, it didn’t have to be Jiang Xuehe.

She had plenty of other options, even multiple “optimal solutions.”

But marriage, relationships, none of these were essential to Yan Guiqiu.

If it weren’t for Jiang Xuehe, such things wouldn’t even exist in her life plans.

The cause was Jiang Xuehe, the process was Jiang Xuehe, and the result could only be Jiang Xuehe herself not “is it worth it” or “will it succeed.”

Jiang Xuehe gave a helpless, bitter smile. “Feels like I’ve been thoroughly lectured.”

Yan Guiqiu was taken aback, then realized what she meant and chuckled awkwardly. “I didn’t actually think that deeply. It’s just that I’ve been talking with Anchen these past couple of days, and we ended up discussing a lot.”

“I know,” Jiang Xuehe said, not truly upset. “Some things can’t be understood from an outsider’s perspective.”

“Mhm, mhm.” Yan Guiqiu leaned in and whispered, “You’re not mad, are you?”

“No,” Jiang Xuehe said. “Didn’t I tell you? I trust you.”

Yan Guiqiu immediately fell silent, the tips of her ears turning slightly red.

As Jiang Xuehe had said, some things could only be understood by those involved.

These feelings lingered in the hazy, ambiguous space between clarity and uncertainty. Even without words, a single exchanged glance could convey everything, making words unnecessary.

Yan Guiqiu recalled what Jiang Xuehe had said to Qin Xiangxi earlier.

That was practically an explicit statement.

The silence seemed to last only a moment. By the time Yan Guiqiu snapped back to reality, the car had already arrived at her apartment building.

Song Anchen hadn’t returned yet who knew where he had wandered off to this time.

The two of them sat quietly in the car for a while, then spoke almost simultaneously.

“So now, I—”

“You should go back and rest first.”

Yan Guiqiu’s words were cut off mid-sentence. She looked up at Jiang Xuehe, who wore a faint smile on her face.

“Let’s talk about it next time,” Jiang Xuehe said, as if she already knew what Yan Guiqiu wanted to say.

Yan Guiqiu acquiesced but couldn’t help asking, “Sister Xuehe, is there something about me now that you’re still not satisfied with?”

After all, Jiang Xuehe had already said “I like you” right in front of her though it could also be interpreted as an excuse to reject Qin Xiangxi.

But Yan Guiqiu didn’t care. She believed those words were sincere, so they must be sincere.

“No,” Jiang Xuehe replied, her tone tinged with amusement. “I’m just a little worried.”

“Worried about what?”

“Worried that if you say it, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“…”

Yan Guiqiu fell silent for a moment, then hunched over slightly, covering her face with her hands and resting her head against the car door.

Through the gaps between her fingers, a deep blush spread across her cheeks.

Was she really this easily embarrassed?

Jiang Xuehe thought to herself, coughing lightly and instinctively turning to look out the window. The rearview mirror reflected the lower half of her face, and without her even realizing it, a faint blush crept from the base of her ears to her cheeks.

The car felt a bit stuffy. Jiang Xuehe reached over to turn off the air conditioning, then rolled down the window and pushed the car door open.

Yan Guiqiu, sitting in the passenger seat, took a moment to compose herself. She lifted her head and stared blankly ahead, as if suddenly realizing something.

“Right, this kind of place really isn’t solemn enough,” Yan Guiqiu nodded seriously, seemingly relieved by the interruption.

If, in the future, they were to reminisce about their anniversary, and the story went like this after rejecting someone who had harbored a long-time crush, accidentally being overheard by that person, and then impulsively accepting the confession.

It wasn’t exactly unlucky, but it certainly wasn’t the kind of memory one would cherish.

Even though they weren’t officially together yet, Yan Guiqiu was already thinking about how they should celebrate their future anniversaries.

First and foremost, they had to create a beautiful memory.

Jiang Xuehe clearly hadn’t followed her train of thought. Pausing mid-step as she got out of the car, she turned back to look at Yan Guiqiu. “Hmm?”

Yan Guiqiu continued, “A sense of ceremony is still very important.”

Jiang Xuehe finally caught on and couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. But seeing how serious Yan Guiqiu was, she found herself considering it as well.

The next few days weren’t particularly auspicious.

Either they fell on dates with the number “4,” or they were forecasted to be overcast and rainy.

And soon, it would be Qingming Festival.

Jiang Xuehe fell silent for a moment, murmuring softly to herself, “Do we have to wait that long?”

Yan Guiqiu’s face flushed again, and she whispered, “I’ll do my best.”

It was unclear exactly what she intended to put effort into.

Jiang Xuehe pushed the car door open and got out. Usually, she would just wait in the car for Yan Guiqiu to go upstairs, but this time, she accompanied her all the way to the building entrance.

The two paused at the stairwell, gazing at each other quietly as they listened to the wind outside.

“Would you like to come up for a bit?” Yan Guiqiu asked.

“No,” Jiang Xuehe replied. “I have things to do tomorrow morning.”

“Then be careful on your way back,” Yan Guiqiu said, mustering her energy. “Send me a message when you get home.”

Jiang Xuehe nodded. “Okay.”

Yan Guiqiu didn’t head upstairs immediately but stayed where she was, as if waiting to see Jiang Xuehe leave before going back inside.

Jiang Xuehe thought for a moment, then took a step forward.

Before Yan Guiqiu could react, Jiang Xuehe had already grasped her wrist, leaned in slightly, and pressed her face close.

Her lips lightly brushed against Yan Guiqiu’s cheek.

Soft and warm, like a dragonfly skimming the water gone as soon as it touched.

But it was unmistakably a kiss.

Fireworks exploded one after another in Yan Guiqiu’s mind. She stood there frozen, while Jiang Xuehe had already retreated to her original spot.

“Go back and rest early,” Jiang Xuehe said, her gaze drifting slightly, though Yan Guiqiu clearly didn’t notice.

Jiang Xuehe took another step back. “I’ll head back now.”

Yan Guiqiu nodded mechanically. Only after Jiang Xuehe cleared her throat and turned to get back in the car did she take two clumsy steps forward, then crouched down, covering her face.

So pathetic.

Yan Guiqiu inwardly scolded herself harshly.

But the heat in her cheeks had a mind of its own.

After looking up and confirming Jiang Xuehe’s car was gone, Yan Guiqiu stamped her numb feet and limped upstairs. Even as she reached her door, she felt as if she were treading on clouds, floating and spinning in the sky.

Meanwhile, Song Anchen had deliberately taken a detour and stopped by another supermarket in a different mall. By the time she parked downstairs with snacks in hand, Jiang Xuehe’s car was long gone.

Song Anchen felt a twinge of worry for a moment, but when she instinctively looked up and saw the light on in Yan Guiqiu’s apartment, she breathed a sigh of relief.

After reaching the door, Song Anchen knocked several times before Yan Guiqiu finally dragged herself over to open it.

Recognizing the person outside, Yan Guiqiu forced herself to perk up and greeted, “You’re back. Why so late?”

Song Anchen set the snacks on the cabinet and changed her shoes while replying, “I went to the supermarket.”

Yan Guiqiu let out an “Oh” and slumped back onto the sofa, engrossed in something on her tablet.

Song Anchen contemplated whether things had worked out between her and Jiang Xuehe and was about to ask when she passed behind her and caught a glimpse of the promotional image on the tablet.

“You and Jiang Xuehe.” Song Anchen paused mid-step and took a closer look.

“Me and Xuehe-jie? It’s going well,” Yan Guiqiu said, still focused on the screen, clearly not just casually browsing through random ads. “I’m thinking about which day would be best for a formal confession.”

“Then what’s this?” Song Anchen asked, standing behind her.

“Huh?” Yan Guiqiu glanced back, realizing she was referring to the ad on the tablet, and held it up for her to see. “A time acceleration device.”

The slogan read: “Let you truly experience what ‘time flies like an arrow’ means.”

Below it was an illustration of a device that looked like a CD player.

Scrolling further down the comments, they were either filled with memes or uniform positive reviews accompanied by template images, but mixed in with all the sarcastic remarks, it was hard to tell much of a difference.

This thing couldn’t even be called an “IQ tax” anymore, it was more like “Jiang Taigong fishing,” where there would always be overly curious humans providing a market for such business.

Song Anchen glanced at Yan Guiqiu: “Are you bored?”

Yan Guiqiu stroked her chin, looking as though she had given it serious thought: “I just checked the almanac, the earliest auspicious day for discussing marriage this month is still ten days away.”

She sighed: “I think that’s just too long.”

Song Anchen: “So?”

Yan Guiqiu: “Maybe, possibly, by some chance, it might be just a tiny bit useful?”

Song Anchen: “…”

Song Anchen: “Whether this thing is useful or not, I don’t know, but I’ve confirmed one universal truth.”

Yan Guiqiu: “What?”

Song Anchen: “People in love have negative IQs.”

Yan Guiqiu: “…”

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