After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 52

Yan Guiqiu’s gaze swept across the room and back. After a moment of silence, she realized the implications, and her ears turned a subtle shade of red.

Fairly speaking, this renovated two-bedroom apartment was quite spacious, boasting two bathrooms alone. However, since moving in, Jiang Xuehe hadn’t put much effort into furnishing it. Aside from the master bedroom, there was only a study and a small storage room.

 

The storage room was too cramped, and the study was filled only with bookshelves and a desk. While there was enough floor space for a single bed, Jiang Xuehe simply hadn’t prepared one. She could hardly ask a guest to sleep on the floor.

 

“And I only prepared one set of bedding; the spare set is still drying,” Jiang Xuehe said, pointing toward the balcony to prove she wasn’t just making excuses. “There isn’t enough to make a pallet on the floor, either.”

 

Not only did the living room get cold at night, but the sofa was far too small to accommodate the frame of a full-grown adult. With Jiang Xuehe’s thorough explanation, Yan Guiqiu had no choice but to nod in agreement.

 

Her glass of water was already empty, yet she kept raising it to her lips. “I didn’t bring a change of clothes, though. Are there any shops nearby that are still open?”

 

“No need,” Jiang Xuehe said as she poured the porridge into bowls. “I have plenty of new clothes I bought that are still in their packaging. There’s a washer and dryer on the balcony, and new toothbrushes and toothpaste are in the bathroom cabinet.”

 

She had thought of everything. She looked Yan Guiqiu up and down briefly. “Our builds are similar; my clothes should fit you well enough.”

 

Yan Guiqiu let out a soft “oh,” unsure of what else to say.

 

Though they had shared a bed once before, that had been at her parents’ house with her younger sister in the room next door; naturally, there was no room for any “extra” movements then. Even under those circumstances, Yan Guiqiu had been so nervous she suffered from insomnia, let alone now.

 

This was Jiang Xuehe’s home.

 

Even if it was just a temporary residence that looked cold and lacked a “lived-in” feel, it was still Jiang Xuehe’s private domain. Being in Jiang Xuehe’s territory, sleeping in Jiang Xuehe’s bed… the mere thought was incredibly stimulating.

 

Yan Guiqiu fidgeted restlessly with her cup until Jiang Xuehe reached out to take it from her, snapping her back to reality.

 

“Drink some porridge first.” Jiang Xuehe set the cup aside and placed two small bowls of millet porridge on the dining table.

 

With a click, the dining room lights came on. Yan Guiqiu noticed a decorative vase in the corner of the table along with some delicate, hollowed-out ornaments. Under the light, they sparkled brilliantly.

 

“They’re very beautiful,” Yan Guiqiu couldn’t help but remark.

 

“You like them?” Jiang Xuehe followed her gaze. “Want to take them back with you?”

 

“No, no,” Yan Guiqiu said, shaking her head quickly. “I just think it’s a bit of a pity.”

 

Jiang Xuehe looked puzzled. “A pity?”

 

Yan Guiqiu let her gaze wander again, this time focusing on the corners and edges of the apartment. Whether it was the meticulousness of a part-time cleaner, the original interior design, or things Jiang Xuehe had slowly added out of boredom, the house was actually full of these exquisite little decorations.

 

Unfortunately, the owner didn’t seem to value them much; they looked neglected. Then again, living alone, Jiang Xuehe might not have the heart to focus on the little details in the corners.

 

Yan Guiqiu pulled herself together and let out a slow sigh.

 

Jiang Xuehe pushed a bowl toward her. “What’s wrong?”

 

Yan Guiqiu patted her own cheeks and asked seriously, “Am I worrying too much?”

 

“About what?”

 

Yan Guiqiu took her chopsticks and slowly stirred the porridge. The consistency was perfect. Jiang Xuehe clearly knew Yan Guiqiu wasn’t truly hungry, so she had served only small portions—just enough to warm their stomachs and settle the burden of the heavy dinner they’d had earlier.

 

Jiang Xuehe might have been raised like a princess, but she was surprisingly capable when it came to these small life skills.

 

“I don’t know why, but I always worry that you won’t live well on your own,” Yan Guiqiu said, thinking to herself that this was clearly just her own misconception.

 

Jiang Xuehe froze for a moment, quickly realizing what Yan Guiqiu was getting at. This apartment was indeed a bit too cold; it didn’t quite feel like a home.

 

“Living alone is indeed a bit difficult,” Jiang Xuehe admitted after a pause. “But not because of work. Perhaps I’m not as strong as I imagined. Sometimes, coming home alone at night to a cold, empty house makes me feel quite low. I used to think about getting a pet.”

 

Yan Guiqiu understood that feeling. She continued stirring her porridge and followed up, “Then why didn’t you?”

 

“I thought about how if I got busy one day, I wouldn’t be able to take care of it, so I gave up on the idea,” Jiang Xuehe said. “Now, though, there’s no need.”

 

She gave Yan Guiqiu a meaningful look.

 

Yan Guiqiu puffed out her cheeks slightly, pretending to be annoyed. “So my existence is equivalent to a pet, then?”

 

“Of course not,” Jiang Xuehe laughed. “With you here, I’m not afraid of loneliness. You are far more precious than any pet. No matter how much money I spend or how many people I meet, I’ll never find another Yan Guiqiu who makes me feel this way.”

 

Yan Guiqiu felt like a balloon that had suddenly been deflated. She uttered a soft “oh” and buried her head in her porridge. Seeing Yan Guiqiu’s reddened ears, Jiang Xuehe’s mood lifted significantly.

 

She had initially wanted to take the opportunity to ask Yan Guiqiu to move in so she would never be lonely again. However, considering Yan Guiqiu’s low resistance to “straight balls,” she decided to let it rest for now. She was a little afraid of scaring her off.

 

Yan Guiqiu had been so bold when confessing, acting as if she feared nothing, yet after getting together, she blushed at every turn and acted so shy. This contrast was incredibly cute. And surely, no one else had ever seen this side of her.

 

Thinking of this, Jiang Xuehe felt satisfied. Waiting a little longer wouldn’t hurt.

 

After finishing the porridge, Yan Guiqiu volunteered to wash the pots and bowls. Jiang Xuehe didn’t fight her for it; she went to the wardrobe to find clothes, told Yan Guiqiu they were ready, and went to shower first.

 

Yan Guiqiu had to wait for the clothes to dry. While washing the dishes, she heard Jiang Xuehe call through the bathroom door, telling her to go to the bedroom to rest first.

 

The only bedroom was quite large; the bed was spacious enough for two people to roll around comfortably. Near the window sat a simple desk and bookshelf, with an open notebook lying on the desk. It was clear the bedroom was where Jiang Xuehe spent most of her time when she was home.

 

Yan Guiqiu didn’t touch anything on the desk. She dragged a chair out from the corner but accidentally kicked something on the floor.

 

When Jiang Xuehe finished her shower and came out drying her hair, she was met with the sight of Yan Guiqiu crawling under the bed.

 

Jiang Xuehe: “…”

 

“Guiqiu, what are you doing?”

 

Yan Guiqiu crawled out, blew the dust off the tip of her nose, and showed her what she was holding.

 

“I accidentally kicked this under the bed just now.” Yan Guiqiu looked at the cover with curiosity. “What is this?”

 

The cover was hard, with a navy blue book jacket featuring a gold-stamped floral pattern that felt heavy to the touch.

 

“A childhood sketchbook,” Jiang Xuehe said, glancing at it before continuing to dry her hair. “Before I went abroad, I sent some of my old things to a younger cousin. She’s moving recently, so she sent them back to me. This part only arrived this morning. You can look through it if you want; it’s not exactly a state secret.”

 

She smiled and added, “But my skill level wasn’t very high back then; you might be disappointed.”

 

Yan Guiqiu shook her head with a solemn expression. “How could I be? This is a precious treasure recovered with great difficulty.”

 

She hugged the sketchbook tightly to her chest, looking for all the world like a righteous guardian protecting a priceless artifact. Jiang Xuehe couldn’t help but laugh. She reached out to wipe the dust off the tip of Yan Guiqiu’s nose, then walked past her to find the hair dryer.

 

“Then take your time looking at it.”

 

Amidst the whirring of the dryer, Yan Guiqiu sat cross-legged on the floor and opened the sketchbook. Jiang Xuehe’s warning hadn’t been an exaggeration; the first few pages were filled with simple drawings at an elementary school level. Some were cartoon characters drawn with a ballpoint pen; others were large scribbles of crayon.

 

In the bottom right corner of several pages, the date was written out stroke by stroke. Yan Guiqiu did the math; it was from nearly twenty years ago. Calculating further, Jiang Xuehe must have been only three, four, or five years old to have that kind of skill. Other children that age could barely hold a pen steady.

 

As expected of the person I love, Yan Guiqiu thought happily.

 

She wanted to turn around and praise Jiang Xuehe, but given the noisy dryer, she swallowed her words and turned back to the sketchbook.

 

The beginning was filled with cartoons, flowers, birds, fish, and insects. Further in, there were people. At first, Yan Guiqiu didn’t realize the drawings were of specific people until she caught sight of the notes written on the back in shaky characters.

 

Some had pinyin written first, which was later crossed out and replaced with kanji: “Mama,” “Papa,” “Gege,” “Grandpa,” “Grandma”…

 

There were drawings of two people, three people, and “family portraits.” There were still some cartoons mixed in, but a quick flip revealed that these crude portraits of family members took up the most space—nearly a third of the thick book.

 

Some of them even detailed specific events that had happened at the time; rather than mere doodles, they were a sort of alternative diary. A few pages even had comments written underneath by others—nothing but words of encouragement and love.

 

Looking at those old records, Yan Guiqiu suddenly felt a lump in her throat. She instinctively glanced back at Jiang Xuehe.

 

Jiang Xuehe had just turned off the hair dryer. Sensing her gaze, she turned around. “What is it?”

 

Yan Guiqiu shook her head quickly, snapped the sketchbook shut with a loud thud, and scrambled up. “I’m going to shower first!”

 

Jiang Xuehe gave a soft “mhm” and looked at the sketchbook Yan Guiqiu had left on the desk.

 

By the time Yan Guiqiu finished her shower, it was quite late. The steam from the bathroom had made her feel a wave of fatigue. When she entered the bedroom, Jiang Xuehe was already lying in bed, tucked toward the inner side, leaving a large space for Yan Guiqiu.

 

Yan Guiqiu stifled a yawn and climbed onto the bed somewhat stiffly, shrinking into her small portion of the mattress. But as soon as she pulled up the covers, she felt a hand reach out and pull her closer.

 

Having been outside the covers, Jiang Xuehe’s hand was a bit cool. Against Yan Guiqiu’s skin, which was still warm from the hot water, the cold was particularly noticeable.

 

Yan Guiqiu sat up with a start and looked at Jiang Xuehe. “Sister Xuehe? Not sleeping yet?”

 

Jiang Xuehe moved closer and pulled her toward her side. The distance between them vanished instantly.

 

“Upset?” Jiang Xuehe asked, propping her head up on one hand to look at her.

 

“No…” Yan Guiqiu mumbled, shrinking into the quilt. In her mind, she thought Jiang Xuehe looked like the one who was upset.

 

She wondered if some unhappy memory had suddenly resurfaced. After guessing aimlessly for a bit, Yan Guiqiu finally asked, “What’s wrong, Sister Xuehe?”

 

Jiang Xuehe moved even closer. Yan Guiqiu felt something hit her calf. She looked up and saw it was the sketchbook from earlier. It had rolled a few times with Jiang Xuehe’s movements before slowly sliding down.

 

With a thud, the sketchbook hit the floor and splayed open. From Yan Guiqiu’s angle, she could see a corner of one of the family portraits she had looked at earlier.

 

Yan Guiqiu realized it immediately.

 

Jiang Xuehe’s expression was indifferent, as if she didn’t care much, showing no sign of sadness or distress. But seeing her like this made Yan Guiqiu’s heart ache even more.

 

Yan Guiqiu stopped worrying about Jiang Xuehe’s odd behavior. She reached out to tug on Jiang Xuehe’s pajama sleeve. She opened her mouth but found it hard to say anything, so in the end, she simply reached out and hugged her.

 

“…I’ll stay with you from now on,” Yan Guiqiu whispered. “I’ll be your model for free.”

 

“Okay,” Jiang Xuehe whispered back. She held her for a long time, unwilling to let go. After a moment of silence, she added, “I thought you were going to try and comfort me properly.”

 

Her tone sounded a bit hurt.

 

Yan Guiqiu immediately threw her nervousness and shyness to the wind. She patted Jiang Xuehe’s back and said, “Of course. All that is in the past, and those people aren’t worth your sadness. You’ll meet many more and better people in the future—though none will be as good as me, of course. I’ll always be by your side…”

 

She racked her brain for words of comfort, completely forgetting that before entering the house, Jiang Xuehe had been talking about taking action against her family.

 

Jiang Xuehe’s kisses fell on the top of her head, her forehead, the corners of her eyes, and then her ears and cheeks. Yan Guiqiu was completely oblivious. The hug was too tight, and her mind was so focused that her other senses were dull.

 

It wasn’t until the kiss landed on her lips that Yan Guiqiu felt she couldn’t breathe.

 

Jiang Xuehe was clearly still drunk. How on earth did she manage to act so normal?

 

Feeling the faint scent of alcohol passing between their lips, Yan Guiqiu had the fleeting thought to wonder about it. The next second, her face flushed deep red, and she instinctively struggled.

 

However, whether it was due to a lack of oxygen or Jiang Xuehe’s surprising strength, Yan Guiqiu couldn’t break free. She could only turn her face away.

 

The kiss landed on her cheek.

 

“Didn’t you say you wanted to comfort me?” Jiang Xuehe asked in a low voice. After a pause, her hurt tone was tinged with disappointment. “You’re unwilling?”

 

“N-no…” Yan Guiqiu managed to squeeze out the words.

 

She wanted to explain. But she truly didn’t have the face to admit she had been so startled by the kiss that she thought she was going to suffocate to death. Since the other woman had been drinking, she couldn’t exactly expect her to have perfect self-control.

 

Yan Guiqiu glanced at Jiang Xuehe’s face, which was full of hurt and dejection. After asking that question, she hadn’t moved again, but her pathetic expression made it impossible for Yan Guiqiu not to be moved.

 

It should be said that when facing Jiang Xuehe, most of Yan Guiqiu’s rationality had long since abandoned her. Yan Guiqiu didn’t want to see Jiang Xuehe sad and instinctively wanted to say it was fine.

 

But the stinging pain at the corner of her mouth brought her back to her senses. Her lip had probably been nipped by a tooth just now. She was being quite rough.

 

Yan Guiqiu thought that if she was the one to take the lead, it should be fine.

 

“I’m not unwilling,” she said, pressing her hands against Jiang Xuehe’s shoulders. “But don’t move. Let me do it.”

 

Jiang Xuehe watched her quietly, gave a soft “okay,” and slowly backed away a little. But her gaze remained fixed on Yan Guiqiu’s face, so intense it felt like it could burn right through her.

 

Yan Guiqiu touched her burning cheeks, not daring to think any further. She grabbed Jiang Xuehe’s collar, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips against the other woman’s with the resolve of someone facing their fate.