After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 51

The planned square dancing activity for the evening never came to pass.

The owner of the farmhouse stay had enthusiastically offered some of his homemade fruit wine for the guests to try. However, it was accidentally mixed with the fruit juice. Not paying enough attention, Jiang Xuehe drank two glasses of the mixture and quickly felt her head spinning.

 

Since Yan Guiqiu didn’t have a driver’s license, they had to rely on Jiang Xuyu, who hadn’t been drinking, to drive them back.

 

“Are you sure you don’t want to go?” Jiang Xuyu was still preoccupied with the square dancing. “You didn’t drink that much. We could take a stroll around the riverside plaza to sober up. A bit of exercise helps digestion and makes for better sleep.”

 

Yan Guiqiu sat in the back seat. Jiang Xuehe had her eyes closed and was resting her head on Yan Guiqiu’s lap, looking quite unwell.

 

“Next time.” Yan Guiqiu rhythmically patted Jiang Xuehe’s back. Seeing her furrowed brow, Yan Guiqiu felt a pang of sympathy and reached out to crack the window open.

 

As the cool night breeze drifted in, Jiang Xuehe’s expression softened slightly.

 

The ignored Jiang Xuyu mumbled a few more indistinct words. Only when they stopped at a red light did he turn his head to look back. “I thought she’d made some progress over the years, but I didn’t expect her alcohol tolerance to still be this poor.”

 

Yan Guiqiu spoke up for the incapacitated Jiang Xuehe. “It’s just that the fruit wine has a strong kick.”

 

Jiang Xuyu curled his lip. “Do you know what you look like right now?”

 

“What?” Yan Guiqiu asked.

 

“One of those ‘monster parents’ who goes around bragging that their kid is number one in the world,” Jiang Xuyu replied.

 

Yan Guiqiu: “…”

 

“This is the first time I’ve seen her so quiet while drunk,” Jiang Xuyu continued. “In the past, at parties or dinners, I’ve never seen her collapse on the spot like this, even when her mind was a total blank.”

 

It was clear that Yan Guiqiu’s presence made her feel safe enough to let her guard down.

 

“But then again, she didn’t drink much before; her parents didn’t allow it.” Taking advantage of the fact that Jiang Xuehe couldn’t get up to stop him, Jiang Xuyu rambled on. “Has she ever told you about her family?”

 

Yan Guiqiu shook her head. “I never asked.”

 

“She’s actually had a hard time these past few years,” Jiang Xuyu said. “You’ve probably heard the rumors about why she went abroad?”

 

Yan Guiqiu nodded and said tactfully, “I’ve heard bits and pieces.”

 

“Normally, no one would just give up their position like that.” Jiang Xuyu glanced at Yan Guiqiu in the rearview mirror, suddenly remembering that she was also someone who had stepped away from her own inheritance. He paused for a moment before continuing, “But Xuehe was holding onto old sentiments.”

 

Yan Guiqiu listened as Jiang Xuyu delved into the history of the Jiang family.

 

Jiang Xuehe was clearly still awake; she shifted slightly but didn’t sit up, nor did she stop him from talking.

 

Sometimes, hearing a story from someone else is easier than telling it yourself.

 

Jiang Xuyu and Jiang Xuehe were third cousins. Because the elder Mr. Jiang had been a sentimental man who helped his relatives find fortune alongside him, the extended family remained quite close. During the holidays, their gatherings were more frequent than those of most families.

 

Naturally, gossip traveled faster as well.

 

For example, the love story between Jiang’s father and mother had once been the talk of the entire family.

 

When Jiang’s father reached marriageable age, the family company was still in a period of instability. The elder Mr. Jiang had selected the daughter of a business partner as a potential match, hoping a marriage alliance would bolster the company.

 

However, at the last minute, Jiang’s father refused to meet her, claiming he already had someone he loved.

 

That woman would later become the current Mrs. Jiang.

 

Her family had no influence and certainly no business ties. Her parents were middle and elementary school teachers. It was a respectable, scholarly family, but nothing more.

 

Though the elder Mr. Jiang was dissatisfied, he eventually relented in the face of his son’s persistence. He had to personally apologize to the business partner, nearly causing a permanent rift between the two families.

 

After a period of turbulence, things seemed to settle. The elder man assumed his son would bring the girl home, get married, and start a family.

 

No one anticipated the series of setbacks that followed.

 

First came the issue of Mrs. Jiang’s age. At the time, she was still in university. Counting back, it turned out Jiang’s father had set his sights on her when she had barely turned eighteen. By the time the drama with the failed marriage alliance concluded, she was still two years away from the legal marriage age.

 

Once the elder Mr. Jiang realized the situation, he summoned his son and gave him a severe beating. Jiang’s father was eight years older than her.

 

Furthermore, she was a female university student, a rarity in those days.

 

The elder Mr. Jiang had grown up in poverty and was forced to drop out of school halfway through, which was a regret he carried his entire life. In his eyes, his son interfering with a student’s education was a cardinal sin.

 

But since they had already pledged themselves to one another and her classmates knew about the engagement, the old man had no choice but to turn a blind eye, decreeing they wait until she graduated to marry.

 

Those two short years provided plenty of entertainment for outsiders.

 

Mrs. Jiang’s ex-boyfriends and secret admirers came out of the woodwork to cause trouble. Then, her parents were exposed for owing astronomical debts for unknown reasons. After losing their jobs, creditors even blocked her school gates, suggesting she “work off” the debt herself.

 

During this time, Jiang’s father and Mrs. Jiang broke up and reconciled at least three times due to various misunderstandings. Their final reconciliation happened because Mrs. Jiang discovered she was pregnant during her senior year.

 

At that time, Jiang’s father wasn’t even certain the child was his. But seeing her exhausted and broken, he decided to set aside all resentment and doubt. He proposed again, stating clearly that regardless of whether the child was his, he would treat them as his own.

 

Touched by his sincerity, she finally agreed.

 

However, when the elder Mr. Jiang found out, he was furious. He refused to let his son marry “that woman,” even threatening to disown him.

 

To build a life with his pregnant lover, Jiang’s father compromised. They didn’t have a wedding or register the marriage, but they moved in together.

 

It wasn’t until the first child, Jiang Xueyang, was born and Mrs. Jiang took him for a paternity test that it was confirmed he was indeed the biological son of Jiang’s father.

 

She explained that throughout those years, she had never been with anyone other than her ex-boyfriend and Jiang’s father. Even the ex-boyfriend had been an arranged match from childhood; they had only held hands when they were young and naive, and his family had cut ties once they became wealthy.

 

Filled with guilt and gratitude, Jiang’s father went back to the old man to plead his case with logic and emotion.

 

It was only when Mrs. Jiang became pregnant a second time that the elder Mr. Jiang finally relented.

 

That second child was, of course, Jiang Xuehe.

 

Because her arrival signaled the reconciliation of the family, everyone, from the grandfather to her parents, regarded her as a lucky star. Growing up, Jiang Xuehe was incredibly pampered.

 

Compared to her older brother, Jiang Xueyang, Jiang Xuehe was the family favorite.

 

Beyond the perfect timing of her birth, Jiang’s father adored her because she was a daughter and reportedly looked just like her mother had as a child. Mrs. Jiang doted on her because her life had finally stabilized, and the grandfather favored this younger granddaughter above all.

 

During New Year visits, Jiang Xuehe’s red envelopes were always thicker than her brother’s. She was usually the only one invited to stay overnight with the grandparents.

 

It was no exaggeration to say she was the center of the universe.

 

Recalling Jiang Xuehe’s childhood, Jiang Xuyu couldn’t help but marvel. “Calling her a princess back then wasn’t hyperbole. If she wanted the moon, they would have found a way to pluck it from the sky.”

 

“Unlike us kids from ordinary families, if we sneaked two pieces of imported chocolate, our parents would catch us and give us a thrashing,” Jiang Xuyu said sourly. “But Xuehe? She had them by the crate.”

 

“You only ate two pieces?” Jiang Xuehe cut in with her eyes still closed. “You ate half a box of chocolates intended for a major client. Anyone would have hit you for that.”

 

“Oh, you’re still awake,” Jiang Xuyu said, sounding a bit guilty. “I wasn’t saying anything bad about you.”

 

“Mhm,” Jiang Xuehe replied lazily. “I’m listening.”

 

After that, she went quiet again.

 

Yan Guiqiu gently massaged her scalp and asked in a low voice if she felt unwell anywhere else.

 

Jiang Xuehe kept her eyes closed, took Yan Guiqiu’s hand, and gave her palm a squeeze, but said nothing more.

 

Yan Guiqiu looked up and asked Jiang Xuyu, “And then what happened?”

 

Jiang Xuyu glanced at the rearview mirror. “After? After that, she became the child no one loved.”

 

Jiang Xuehe did not stop his nonsense.

 

“No one can say for sure what happened later; maybe Xuehe knows herself?” Jiang Xuyu said slowly. “By the time we noticed, her parents were guarding against her as if she were a thief. Maybe they felt a daughter would eventually marry out and wouldn’t be as reliable as a son.”

 

In the face of profit, anything is possible.

 

“A few years ago, when Xuehe went abroad, rumors were flying that she had made a mistake. But in reality, Jiang Xueyang had made a bad executive decision, and Xuehe covered for him. Her father was the truly ruthless one; he used that opportunity to…” Jiang Xuyu paused. “The old man certainly still trusted Xuehe, but feelings, well, they aren’t as straightforward as simple math.”

 

The love they once gave was real, and their bond was once closer than most families. The young Jiang Xuehe thought her family would be her ultimate support, never expecting the first knife to be plunged into her back by them.

 

Perhaps older people with more life experience find it easier to discard the emotional portions of a relationship, but for the Jiang Xuehe of that time, it was incredibly difficult.

 

Whether from the perspective of “affection” or “gratitude,” she could only choose to yield.

 

If the family she once cared for most insisted on having those things, she didn’t mind stepping back.

 

To her, material interests could be earned back through her own ability, but the weight of gratitude and family ties was as heavy as a mountain. Whether she wanted to save the relationship or repay her debts, external possessions were expendable.

 

Jiang Xuyu felt her family wasn’t worth such a sacrifice, but he could understand her choice.

 

If he had faced the same situation, he probably would have collapsed more spectacularly than she did.

 

If you believe the only people in the world you can trust and rely on are untrustworthy, what else is left to believe in? It was no different from the entire world crumbling down.

 

The fact that Jiang Xuehe could withdraw so quietly was enough to earn anyone’s admiration.

 

Jiang Xuyu stopped talking. Jiang Xuehe didn’t interject again. He glanced at Yan Guiqiu, wondering if he had said too much. “You probably can’t understand that kind of pain, but you’re quite impressive yourself.”

 

She had simply discarded all interests from the very beginning, cutting off the possibility of such a betrayal at its root.

 

Throughout history, sibling rivalries have been common.

 

He wasn’t sure if Yan Guiqiu had been farsighted or if she simply found those matters troublesome and let go. But that level of boldness was enough to make people see her in a new light.

 

When he first researched Yan Guiqiu, he was more shocked by her unhesitating decision to walk away than by her brilliant talents at such a young age.

 

Initially, he thought she was a fool. But looking at Jiang Xuehe now, he had to admit it was likely a very wise choice.

 

From another angle, it proved Yan Guiqiu was a person who valued sentiment deeply.

 

“…I feel relieved leaving Xuehe in your hands,” Jiang Xuyu couldn’t help but sigh at last.

 

He sounded more like a protective guardian than Jiang Xuehe’s own parents.

 

Yan Guiqiu gave a small laugh and looked out the window, her hand stroking the ends of Jiang Xuehe’s hair. It was hard to tell what she was thinking.

 

By the time they reached the bottom of Jiang Xuehe’s apartment building, she was fully awake.

 

“Remember to drive the car back to me tomorrow.” Jiang Xuehe unbuckled her seatbelt and took only her house keys as she got out.

 

Jiang Xuyu didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he leaned out the window and asked Yan Guiqiu, “What do you think?”

 

“Think about what?” Yan Guiqiu asked back.

 

“Xuehe,” Jiang Xuyu said. “Don’t you think she’s quite pitiful all by herself?”

 

Yan Guiqiu looked back at Jiang Xuehe beside her, reached out to take her hand, and clarified seriously, “She’s not pitiful anymore.”

 

“…That’s not what I meant,” Jiang Xuyu said dryly. “While it’s great she has you now, she’s fighting a lonely battle within the Jiang family. Don’t you feel bad for her?”

 

He blinked frantically at Yan Guiqiu, hinting at something.

 

Yan Guiqiu looked at the sky, pretending not to understand. “Aren’t you a person? Don’t you count as help?”

 

Jiang Xuyu: “…”

 

Jiang Xuehe chimed in at the right moment. “That’s enough. Go home and rest. Guiqiu is still a student.”

 

She was rejecting him on Yan Guiqiu’s behalf.

 

Jiang Xuyu was somewhat indignant. He thought to himself, Who do you think I’m working so hard to play the sympathy card for? He had even studied the dramatic principles of “subduing before rising” just for this.

 

Yan Guiqiu had such incredible abilities and so many resources at her disposal; even a fraction of that support would make Jiang Xuehe’s life much easier.

 

But Yan Guiqiu had to be willing.

 

Just as it looked like Yan Guiqiu might be wavering, Jiang Xuehe stepped in to block him.

 

What a mess. This was meant to be a mutually beneficial arrangement, not something that would hurt their relationship.

 

Jiang Xuehe’s protective intent was clear and her attitude firm. Jiang Xuyu eventually realized he couldn’t say more and sighed in defeat.

 

“Fine, fine. As long as you two are happy.” Jiang Xuyu waved his hand weakly. “See you tomorrow.”

 

“See you tomorrow.” Jiang Xuehe and Yan Guiqiu stood on the steps, watching the car turn around and drive off before turning to head inside.

 

The elevator on the first floor had a “Maintenance” sign on it. The other elevator was a bit far, and Jiang Xuehe didn’t live on a particularly high floor, so they decided to take the stairs.

 

“Do you think I’m being too much?” Jiang Xuehe asked slowly, voicing the question that had been lingering in her heart.

 

“Why would you be ‘too much’?” Yan Guiqiu asked.

 

“They are my family, after all. We share the same blood, and they did their best to raise me. They were once very good to me.” Jiang Xuehe thought of the atmosphere in Yan Guiqiu’s family, and her voice softened. “Do you think I’m being too ruthless?”

 

“No,” Yan Guiqiu said without hesitation. “Once they stop acting like family, they become enemies. There’s no need to show mercy to an enemy.”

 

Yan Guiqiu shifted her gaze to the last two steps on the floor and continued, “If it were me, I might be even more cold-hearted than you.”

 

Her tone was casual, but Jiang Xuehe felt she was being comforted and tightened her grip on Yan Guiqiu’s hand.

 

Yan Guiqiu didn’t feel the need to explain further; she simply gave Jiang Xuehe a reassuring smile and asked, “Why were you so quick to turn down your cousin just now? He’s worried about you, and… who knows, I might have changed my mind?”

 

She was joking, and Jiang Xuehe smiled back, though her stance didn’t soften in the slightest.

 

“I don’t need him using these methods to ‘persuade’ you for me,” Jiang Xuehe said. “Today he can ask you to help because I’m ‘pitiful’; tomorrow, he could use some other excuse to make you do something you don’t want to do.”

 

“I’m not that foolish,” Yan Guiqiu argued. “If it’s something I truly don’t want to do, I wouldn’t do it even if you held a knife to my throat.”

 

“I know.” Jiang Xuehe paused and then continued, “If you want to understand me more deeply, I would be very happy. But I can’t let others demand things of you just because of my existence.”

 

That was why she had let Jiang Xuyu speak tonight but ultimately gave him a clear answer: No.

 

“I don’t want you to suffer even a bit of grievance,” Jiang Xuehe finished.

 

They stopped at the door of Jiang Xuehe’s apartment. The hallway lights were bright, and the corridor was empty. Yan Guiqiu met Jiang Xuehe’s gaze and could only hear the sound of her own heart beating.

 

Behind that calm tone was an affection that held her in the highest regard.

 

Yan Guiqiu didn’t want to admit that her eyes were stinging and her heart was racing just because she was so easily moved.

 

She instinctively looked away, and before she could process her reaction, the words tumbled out of her mouth.

 

“I’m hungry,” she said.

 

As soon as she said it, both of them froze for a second. Then, Jiang Xuehe burst out laughing, instantly breaking the heavy, romantic atmosphere. She took out her keys, opened the door, and fumbled for the light switch. A click echoed as the lights came on.

 

“It’s late. I’ll make you some millet porridge,” Jiang Xuehe said, placing the keys on the entryway cabinet. She swapped her shoes and went straight to the kitchen.

 

Yan Guiqiu closed the door behind her and mumbled an “Mhm” in response.

 

Truthfully, she wasn’t hungry at all; they had just finished dinner. She had only said it to escape that speechless state she was in. Now that Jiang Xuehe was already opening cabinets, she couldn’t exactly take it back.

 

This wasn’t Yan Guiqiu’s first time at Jiang Xuehe’s place. The last time was when she had just returned from Ningcheng to pick something up, and she had gotten a general sense of the layout and decor.

 

It clearly wasn’t a place where someone spent much time. The decorative flowers in the corner were slightly withered, and while the rest of the place was clean and tidy, it felt empty. Aside from the cups on the dining table, there was almost no clutter. The scene was nearly identical to what Yan Guiqiu had seen on her previous visit.

 

It wasn’t surprising, though. Jiang Xuehe hadn’t been in Yunhua City for long. This apartment was likely a temporary arrangement she had furnished upon arrival. Yan Guiqiu had forgotten to ask if she was renting or if she had bought it outright.

 

Most of the time, Jiang Xuehe stayed at the gallery. There was a two-bedroom suite behind the gallery with a full kitchen and bathroom. When she worked late, she would often just stay there for the night.

 

She probably hadn’t spent much time here.

 

Even so, it felt a bit too desolate, Yan Guiqiu couldn’t help but think to herself.

 

While she was lost in thought, Jiang Xuehe had already started the porridge and was coming out with two glasses of warm water.

 

“Do you want to watch TV?” Jiang Xuehe asked. “The porridge will take about half an hour.”

 

Yan Guiqiu nodded.

 

Jiang Xuehe seemed quite sober now. Aside from a slight flush on her face from the indoor heat, her speech and movements showed no signs of intoxication. She picked up the remote to turn on the TV while taking small sips of her water.

 

Yan Guiqiu took a sip as well. It was sweet; honey must have been added.

 

The TV was on a news channel. Yan Guiqiu heard the anchor announce the time and looked up at the corner of the screen.

 

It was exactly 10:00 PM.

 

For many young people, the nightlife was just beginning, but those were usually indoor activities. By all accounts, it was the time when people should be heading home.

 

So, why had Jiang Xuyu sent her here?

 

Did he think she would take a taxi back herself, or did he think they were a couple?

 

While drinking her water, Yan Guiqiu’s mind began to wander again as she stole occasional glances at Jiang Xuehe.

 

Jiang Xuehe was flipping through channels.

 

Prime-time dramas were airing on various stations, ranging from family ethics shows to historical political dramas. Jiang Xuehe cycled through them all, but Yan Guiqiu didn’t express interest in any of them, so the TV was eventually tuned back to the news.

 

The news was reporting a sudden, large-scale explosion in a small country, listing the number of casualties and those still being rescued.

 

Neither of them could quite remember where that country was located on the globe, but they watched the report intently anyway.

 

When the next time-check chime sounded, they both seemed to snap out of a trance.

 

Jiang Xuehe got up to check the porridge in the kitchen. Having no interest in watching commercials alone, Yan Guiqiu followed her.

 

When the lid was lifted from the pot of millet porridge, a cloud of hot steam billowed out, instantly hitting the kitchen ceiling.

 

Yan Guiqiu’s eyes followed the steam as it swirled across the ceiling and out toward the living room. It was only then that the place finally seemed to have some life in it, Yan Guiqiu thought, perhaps a bit out of place.

 

Jiang Xuehe turned off the heat and looked back at her.

 

When Yan Guiqiu turned her head, she met Jiang Xuehe’s somewhat hesitant gaze.

 

“Tonight…” Jiang Xuehe hesitated, checked the time again, and then said, “It’s too late, and it’s not safe for you to go back alone. Why don’t you stay here? Once Jiang Xuyu brings the car back tomorrow morning, I’ll drive you home.”

 

After a brief pause, Yan Guiqiu realized why Jiang Xuehe was being so hesitant.

 

“But there’s only one bedroom here,” Jiang Xuehe said apologetically. “I’m afraid you’ll have to make do and sleep in the same bed as me tonight.”