After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 23

Jiang Xuehe gazed at the overhanging branches and leaves above, remaining silent. Her reaction wasn’t one of surprise or speechless shyness, but rather a quiet bewilderment as to why such words were spoken at this moment.

After a brief silence, as if realizing it wasn’t her imagination, Jiang Xuehe turned to Yan Guiqiu and asked, “Have you thought it through?”

Yan Guiqiu replied, “I have.”

In truth, she had made up her mind the moment she fell in love at first sight.

But just now, seeing Jiang Xuehe standing alone in the hospital room, questioned from both sides, she couldn’t help but think, why couldn’t she simply walk over and stand by her side?

Even if it meant standing before Mrs. Jiang and declaring boldly, “I am her girlfriend,” Yan Guiqiu felt no fear.

She had seen and experienced far more than Jiang Xuehe.

She understood the struggles and the hidden pain Jiang Xuehe had endured over the years, and she was unafraid to stand before her, straight-backed, ready to weather any storm by her side.

Yan Guiqiu was someone who dared to dream and dared to act, but she didn’t know how to prove her sincerity with words in such a short time. So, “a sense of ceremony” became her aid.

Yet, the moment she stood outside the hospital room, filled with regret, all thoughts of “the right day” or “ceremony” were completely cast aside.

The only hesitation that remained was how to make Jiang Xuehe believe her.

Yan Guiqiu took a deep breath, sifting through the dating advice she’d read long ago, preparing to answer any questions Jiang Xuehe might have as perfectly as possible.

Jiang Xuehe studied her for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, “Alright.”

Yan Guiqiu nearly choked on her breath. “…Huh?”

She stood frozen in place, blinking repeatedly, only snapping back to reality when she heard Jiang Xuehe laugh, certain it wasn’t her imagination.

For the first time, Jiang Xuehe wore an expression of playful triumph as she asked, “Surprised?”

Yan Guiqiu nodded dazedly, then, after a moment, managed to ask, “Is it real?”

Jiang Xuehe said, “It is.”

But which “real” did she mean?

Yan Guiqiu felt as if her mind had been tangled into several knots, thoughts crashing chaotically, impossible to unravel.

Even after getting into the car behind Jiang Xuehe, Yan Guiqiu remained in a daze. She turned to the woman beside her and asked, “Which one is real?”

The prank, or the willingness to give her a place in her life?

Seeing Yan Guiqiu fumbling with the seatbelt, unsure what to do, Jiang Xuehe turned away, covering her mouth as she chuckled. Once she’d composed herself, she turned back, reached over to fasten Yan Guiqiu’s seatbelt, then gently lifted her chin, making her meet her gaze.

As Yan Guiqiu focused on the face before her, her senses slowly returned. Just as she was about to ask something, Jiang Xuehe leaned in slightly.

A kiss landed this time, on her lips.

It was just as light and fleeting as before, but its meaning was unmistakable.

Jiang Xuehe settled back into her seat and, seeing the blush spread across Yan Guiqiu’s face, asked, “Is that real enough for you?”

Yan Guiqiu covered her face and nodded.

Jiang Xuehe rolled down both car windows, letting the cool breeze drift in. Gradually, Yan Guiqiu’s heated mind began to calm. In the ensuing silence, Jiang Xuehe couldn’t help but cough lightly and ask, “When are you planning to go back?”

Yan Guiqiu’s ability to process information lagged slightly. It wasn’t until they passed the second traffic light that she finally registered the question.

“Tomorrow?” Yan Guiqiu’s mind finally started working again. After a moment’s thought, she shook her head. “Tomorrow would be too soon to book flights. How about the day after? That’ll give me time to inform Sister He.”

It felt like she was forgetting something.

But Yan Guiqiu didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“What about your parents?” Jiang Xuehe asked.

“Huh?”

“Aren’t your parents busy with work?”

“They’re doing fine. As long as they’re not on business trips, they usually come home every evening. Last time my mom visited, she mentioned they haven’t been too busy lately. If my sister has time, she might even come see me.”

“Then why don’t you go home?” Jiang Xuehe asked.

“Well…” Yan Guiqiu hesitated.

“Should I not have asked that?”

“It’s not that,” Yan Guiqiu said. “It’s just for reasons that might seem unbelievable to most people.”

As she spoke, Yan Guiqiu kept her head down, checking flight tickets on her phone.

“But we have a good relationship overall. Relying on my family for a living won’t be a problem in the future, Oh, there are only morning flights available the day after tomorrow. Departing at seven in the morning, arriving at Ningcheng Airport around nine. Would that work for you, Sister Xuehe?”

Jiang Xuehe didn’t press further and nodded. “That’s fine.”

By the time the car pulled up downstairs, Yan Guiqiu had just finished sending a message to Ms. Meng. The other party was probably busy and didn’t reply immediately.

Jiang Xuehe didn’t rush her to get out of the car.

At this moment, both felt somewhat reluctant to part, yet neither knew what to say.

“Want to come up to the gallery.”

“Shall we get something to eat?”

They spoke almost simultaneously, then looked up at each other and laughed in unison.

The subtle awkwardness vanished instantly.

It’s best to just continue interacting as we always have, they both thought.

Though perhaps with a bit more intimacy than before.

Jiang Xuehe refastened her seatbelt, her fingers brushing against Yan Guiqiu’s hand. Yan Guiqiu blinked, then pressed her hand against Jiang Xuehe’s fingers, rubbing them gently. Jiang Xuehe didn’t pull away.

Encouraged, Yan Guiqiu hooked her fingers around Jiang Xuehe’s.

Jiang Xuehe glanced at her.

Taking this as further encouragement, Yan Guiqiu quickly lifted Jiang Xuehe’s fingers to her lips and gently kissed her knuckles.

After letting go, the instigator acted as if she were suddenly shy, turning her head to look out the window, her ears flushed red.

Perhaps it was her fair skin that made the blush more noticeable, giving Yan Guiqiu the appearance of someone who flustered easily.

Maybe she really was prone to shyness.

After all, this was her “first love.”

Jiang Xuehe recalled what Yan Guiqiu had said earlier and couldn’t help but smile. It occurred to her then that Yan Guiqiu was four years younger than her.

An age gap that would have made it impossible for them to meet even if they had attended the same school.

But perhaps this was what “fate” meant they had still found each other elsewhere.

Jiang Xuehe glanced at Yan Guiqiu’s profile and felt an inexplicable surge of affection. She reached out and gently stroked the ends of Yan Guiqiu’s hair. Her pinky accidentally brushed against the nape of Yan Guiqiu’s neck. Her hand was slightly cold, and Yan Guiqiu instinctively shivered, turning to look at her.

But Jiang Xuehe had already turned back, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“Let’s go eat first,” Jiang Xuehe said.

Yan Guiqiu pinched the back of her neck as she gazed at the passing street scenes outside the car window. After a moment of contemplation, she murmured, “I feel like I’ve forgotten something…”

Jiang Xuehe didn’t quite catch her words and asked, “What?”

Yan Guiqiu stroked her chin, muttering to herself, “What were we planning to do this morning?”

Just then, her phone chimed with a “ding-dong,” automatically displaying a delivery notification.

The conversation with Song Anchen from last night resurfaced in her mind.

If it hadn’t been for Tan Xiangxi’s sudden issue this morning, she had originally intended to debate with Song Anchen about the psychological comfort of that item.

Oh, Song Anchen.

Yan Guiqiu lifted her head blankly, and after a moment, her expression twisted almost into a grimace.

She remembered what she had forgotten.

She had left Song Anchen in the hospital parking lot!

“Anchen…” Jiang Xuehe realized it almost simultaneously, her smile barely holding on.

Even the ever-composed Jiang Xuehe had completely forgotten about it.

It was clear that the impact of the confession wasn’t solely directed at Yan Guiqiu.

Yan Guiqiu trembled slightly as she picked up her phone, took a deep breath, and dialed Song Anchen’s number.

Song Anchen was still in the hospital parking lot, playing games on her phone.

She had assumed Yan Guiqiu and Jiang Xuehe would have a long talk, and if they happened to run into Mrs. Jiang, the situation would only get more complicated.

But in the end, it was a family matter, and she didn’t feel it was her place to interfere.

When she received Yan Guiqiu’s call and checked the time, she realized two hours had already passed.

Song Anchen was a bit worried: “Where are you? Finished talking? Everything okay?”

Yan Guiqiu replied with a guilty “Mm-hmm”: “Y-yeah, everything’s fine.”

Having known Yan Guiqiu for so many years, Song Anchen could tell whether she was angry or guilty just by the tone of her voice. The moment she heard Yan Guiqiu’s response, she paused, fell silent for a moment, and then asked, “Where are you now?”

Yan Guiqiu glanced at a passing road sign and slowly recited the name: “Nanxi Road.”

It sounded vaguely familiar.

Song Anchen’s eyelid twitched involuntarily.

She moved the phone away, exited her game, opened the map app, and typed in “Nanxi Road” in one swift motion.

Scanning the landmarks around the address that popped up, she froze.

Song Anchen: “…”

“Isn’t this right outside your house?” Song Anchen couldn’t hold back. “When did you go back?”

“About… fifteen minutes after you went to the car,” Yan Guiqiu replied honestly. “Xuehe-jie brought me back.”

“Jiang Xuehe is with you too?” Song Anchen was taken aback, then thought it over and understood. “Don’t tell me you two…”

What else could make someone like Yan Guiqiu so excited that she’d forget a whole person like her in the hospital parking lot?

“Right,” Yan Guiqiu confessed very frankly. “I confessed to Xuehe-jie, and she said yes. Then we accidentally forgot about you.”

Song Anchen: “…”

Was it not enough to remind her once? Did she have to loop it two or three times?

Yan Guiqiu’s voice was brimming with excitement: “You’re the first person I thought of telling about this. Touched?”

Song Anchen: “…Not touched. Get lost!”

Then she decisively hung up.

Yan Guiqiu: “…”

Jiang Xuehe glanced at her expression and asked, “Is she really angry?”

Yan Guiqiu snapped back to reality, smiled at her, and shook her head. “No. Probably just too happy for me so excited she couldn’t speak.”

Jiang Xuehe, who had clearly heard every word from the phone: “…”

That was certainly one way to be “excited.”

“Just kidding.” Yan Guiqiu didn’t seem too concerned. “She wouldn’t get angry over something this trivial. Anchen has a straightforward temper once, when we were bored, we spent an entire night arguing over the phone.”

“…Your hobbies are quite unique,” Jiang Xuehe remarked, somewhat speechless.

But on second thought, Song Anchen was, after all, a childhood friend who had grown up with Yan Guiqiu. The time they’d spent together might even surpass that with her own parents. If they were the type to hold grudges over minor issues, they would’ve fallen out long ago.

Sure enough, within two minutes, Song Anchen had likely calmed down and called back.

Yan Guiqiu put the call on speakerphone.

Song Anchen said, “Wishing you and Sister Xuehe all the happiness.”

Jiang Xuehe followed Yan Guiqiu’s lead and said, “Thank you.”

Song Anchen wasn’t particularly surprised to hear Jiang Xuehe’s voice and simply added, “Sister Xuehe, if you have time, let’s go out for a meal. My treat to celebrate. I’ll call A Luan and Yuyin later to see if they’re free.”

Yan Guiqiu proactively declined on Jiang Xuehe’s behalf: “No time for the next week.”

Song Anchen paused, her tone tinged with horror: “You’re not going on your honeymoon already, are you?”

Yan Guiqiu: “…”

Yan Guiqiu: “Thanks for speeding things up for me. But this time, it’s to meet the parents.”

Song Anchen sounded a bit surprised: “You’re going back to Ningcheng?”

Yan Guiqiu: “Yeah, and I’ll take Sister Xuehe to relax while we’re at it.”

Song Anchen gave an “oh” and didn’t press further: “Then we’ll talk after you get back.”

Jiang Xuehe chimed in from the side: “Anchen, why don’t you join us for lunch? My treat.”

Song Anchen firmly declined: “Next time, maybe. I don’t want to be a third wheel.”

She paused for a moment, her voice fading slightly as if she’d switched to check messages, then returned to say to Yan Guiqiu: “Something came up at the studio. I need to head back this afternoon. You and Sister Xuehe should go enjoy your date, don’t worry about me.”

Whether it was a genuine coincidence or a last-minute excuse, no one pointed it out. After a few pleasantries, they hung up.

Jiang Xuehe had just parked the car in a spot near the mall. Before getting out, she remembered something and asked, “Who is Yuyin?”

Yan Guiqiu was momentarily taken aback before recalling the name Song Anchen had mentioned.

“She’s also a friend of mine,” Yan Guiqiu replied. “But she’s been pretty busy lately and probably won’t have time to hang out for a while.”

“The one who stood you up last time?” Jiang Xuehe asked.

“Yeah.” Yan Guiqiu nodded, mulling over the question and finding it a bit odd, but ultimately deciding Jiang Xuehe was likely just curious. She added, “She’s an actress. The filming schedule changed last minute there wasn’t much she could do.”

Jiang Xuehe gave an “oh” and didn’t ask further, as if it really was just idle curiosity.

Two days later.

Song Anchen was jolted awake by the insistent ringing of her phone.

She buried herself deeper into her pillow, but eventually, worn down by the caller’s persistence, she painfully opened her eyes and groped for her phone on the nightstand.

Squinting at the screen for a long while before it finally came into focus, the last page before the lock screen was a group photo sent by Yan Guiqiu.

Yan Guiqiu and Jiang Xuehe had gone out for meals together for two consecutive days, under the guise of a date, but in reality, they hadn’t even dared to hold hands.

The group photo taken during the meal captured Jiang Xuehe’s profile, with the two sitting opposite each other, and only Yan Guiqiu’s fingers forming a V-sign visible in the frame.

Reading Yan Guiqiu’s nervous and excited ramblings, Song Anchen just wanted to roll her eyes.

The photo flashed by, quickly replaced by the incoming call screen.

Song Anchen rubbed her temples, sat up, and answered the call.

“Yuyin?” Song Anchen couldn’t help but yawn. “Why are you calling me all of a sudden? Is something up?”

“Nothing much, just wanted to ask where Guiqiu went,” the person on the other end said.

Gu Yuyin’s voice was unique abstractly described, it was like a clear mountain spring in the early morning, crisp and pleasant, and particularly refreshing.

Song Anchen jolted awake instantly, no longer yawning.

“Aren’t you on set?” Song Anchen asked. “Did you go looking for Guiqiu?”

“Mm, I’m at her school gate right now,” Gu Yuyin said. “But her classmates said she hasn’t been back to school recently.”

And there were rumors that she was chasing after some woman to the point of losing her mind, right?

Song Anchen didn’t dare say that out loud.

“She went back to her hometown,” Song Anchen said, glancing at the time. “She’s probably in Ningcheng by now. I think she’ll be back in a few days.”

“Oh.” Gu Yuyin drew out the syllable slightly.

“Do you need Guiqiu for something urgent?” Song Anchen felt inexplicably uneasy.

“Not really,” Gu Yuyin said. “I just heard Guiqiu got a girlfriend, so I wanted to congratulate her.”

Song Anchen: “…”

I don’t believe a word of that.

“Don’t you believe me?” Gu Yuyin seemed to guess her thoughts and said leisurely, “Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like you’re the one who got a girlfriend.”

Song Anchen: “…”

Song Anchen: “I’m straight, thank you.”

“Oh.” Gu Yuyin sounded as if she’d just found out, though she clearly didn’t care much about Song Anchen’s orientation, and steered the conversation back to Yan Guiqiu. “The production team had some issues, so we’re on a break for a while. I’m off for the next couple of days, so I thought I’d go check on them.”

Song Anchen paused. “Are you serious?”

“Mm.” Gu Yuyin hesitated for a moment, then added, “I’ve already bought the tickets for tomorrow morning.”

“…” Song Anchen suddenly felt a headache coming on again. “Guiqiu’s dating someone, why are you butting in?”

“It’s precisely because Guiqiu’s dating someone that I’m worried,” Gu Yuyin said.

“Worried about what?” Song Anchen asked.

“Worried her girlfriend might not be able to handle it and run off.”

“…”

Can’t you wish them well for once?

Song Anchen didn’t get to say the last part out loud, Gu Yuyin had already hung up.

Probably off to film some weird new scene again.

As Song Anchen exited the call screen to send a text to Yan Guiqiu and give her a heads-up, she let out a deep, weary sigh.

Being the only “normal” person in this group was truly exhausting.

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