After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 58

Jiang Xuehe’s praise was sincere, and although it made Yan Guiqiu blush, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.

She finally stopped overthinking and turned to the shop assistant to have the clothes packed.

“Just the outfit you’re wearing?” the assistant asked.

“No.” Yan Guiqiu glanced back and pointed to several others—all pieces Jiang Xuehe had praised earlier. “Pack these as well. All of them. I’ll pay by card.”

The assistant was stunned for a moment, then broke into a wide grin. Nodding frantically, she hurried to gather the items.

“Let’s go eat first,” Yan Guiqiu suggested to Jiang Xuehe. “If we have time after lunch, we can come back down and look around some more.”

Restaurants started at the other end of the same floor, with even more options on the floor above.

Jiang Xuehe nodded. While Yan Guiqiu went to the front desk to settle the bill, she asked to leave the bags at the store to be picked up after lunch. The assistant, naturally, agreed immediately.

As Yan Guiqiu turned to leave, she saw Jiang Xuehe staring blankly at something outside.

“Sister Xuehe?” Yan Guiqiu called out.

“Hmm?” Jiang Xuehe turned back. “All done?”

“Yes, we’ll pick them up after we eat.” Yan Guiqiu paused, then asked, “What were you looking at?”

“My brother,” Jiang Xuehe replied. “And Qin Xiangxi.”

She gave a small smile, appearing not to care much, and simply said, “Let’s head the other way.”

Yan Guiqiu glanced in the direction Jiang Xuehe had been looking. She didn’t press for details, merely smiling and agreeing.

Qin Xiangxi instinctively looked back, catching sight of Yan Guiqiu’s figure walking away with her arm linked through Jiang Xuehe’s.

From her angle, she could see their profiles. Both were smiling, appearing to be in high spirits. Seeing this, however, sent a sharp pang through Qin Xiangxi’s heart.

In her past life, she had never seen Jiang Xuehe smile like that at anyone, let alone allow someone to get so close, lean against her, or hold her arm so intimately.

Yan Guiqiu was the same.

In the past life, the “Yan Guiqiu” she knew had been good to her—so good it was meticulous, giving her everything. Yet, she always had a habit of furrowing her brow. When facing Qin Xiangxi, she habitually lowered her posture; it wasn’t quite groveling, but one could easily detect the underlying cautiousness.

When she was with Qin Xiangxi, “Yan Guiqiu” never laughed out loud. When she wasn’t in front of her, she maintained a cold expression from start to finish. Aside from Qin Xiangxi, who had proactively approached her, “Yan Guiqiu” never had anyone else by her side.

Only now did a realization dawn on Qin Xiangxi.

She seemed to have never looked into why “Yan Guiqiu” had become that person who kept everyone at a distance. How much did her mother’s death affect her? What was her relationship with her family like? How much effort had she poured into the family business?

…And how much had she sacrificed for Qin Xiangxi?

She knew none of it.

At that time, all of Qin Xiangxi’s thoughts were on Jiang Xuehe. Not a single fraction of her attention was spared for the “Yan Guiqiu” who stood silently behind her. Naturally, the answers to those questions remained unknown.

It was only at this moment that Qin Xiangxi realized Yan Guiqiu was capable of being such a relaxed, happy, and ordinary student. By the time Qin Xiangxi became aware of these questions, she had already lost the chance to find the answers.

“What’s wrong? Don’t like this place?” Jiang Xueyang’s voice came from beside her. “Should we try somewhere else?”

When Qin Xiangxi snapped out of it, Jiang Xueyang had already turned to leave.

“No, no need,” Qin Xiangxi said quickly. “This place is fine. It’s good. I… I just thought I saw someone I knew.”

“A classmate?” Jiang Xueyang asked.

“No, it wasn’t.” Qin Xiangxi instinctively turned back to look again. Yan Guiqiu and Jiang Xuehe were nowhere to be seen, as if that glimpse had merely been an illusion.

“I probably saw wrong.” Qin Xiangxi withdrew her gaze, dazed. She forced a small smile at Jiang Xueyang.

The hostess at the door asked for their party size, and at Jiang Xueyang’s request, they were led to a private room.

Jiang Xueyang didn’t particularly like these “low-end” restaurants. It wasn’t that he looked down on the food, but since he had taken an interest in Qin Xiangxi, he naturally wanted to display his status and resources, much like a peacock spreading its feathers.

Left to his own devices, he would have chosen a high-end restaurant requiring days of advanced booking. But Qin Xiangxi told him there was no need to be extravagant and suggested a mall nearby. Having finally secured an invitation under the guise of an apology, Jiang Xueyang could only agree, subsequently picking the restaurant with the highest average spending.

As the waiter led the way, Jiang Xueyang gestured for Qin Xiangxi to go first.

Qin Xiangxi instinctively gripped her bag, trying to maintain her smile, but her mind was in turmoil. She wasn’t a naive girl who understood nothing. She knew that look in Jiang Xueyang’s eyes all too well.

In the past life, Jiang Xueyang had mistakenly believed Qin Xiangxi was interested in him and pursued her relentlessly. Qin Xiangxi, having waited in vain for Jiang Xuehe to change her mind, had accepted Jiang Xueyang’s invitation out of spite.

She had thought he would tire of her quickly, but instead, he became more passionate over time. Before the Jiang family business ran into trouble—before they began fighting and eventually divorced—Jiang Xueyang had always looked at her with that same intensity, giving the impression of deep affection.

The longer they were together, the more fervent the emotion in his eyes became. He was almost entirely at her beck and call.

It was ironic. Two siblings related by blood: one as cold as frost, a stone that could not be warmed even after a decade; the other deeply infatuated, protecting her in every way.

Once, Qin Xiangxi had only used him as a tool to provoke Jiang Xuehe. But in the end, she found herself in a difficult position. Combined with Mrs. Jiang’s constant accusations, she had truly developed a sense of guilt.

If Qin Xiangxi had to name the person she owed the most in her past life, she might only think of Jiang Xueyang. If she had a chance to do it again, she would never accept his confession; she would stay as far away from him as possible.

This thought had frequently occurred to her since her past life. Yet, now that she truly had a chance to start over, everything else had changed—except Jiang Xueyang. Upon seeing her, his face still held that familiar fervor.

“Familiar.”

That single word made Qin Xiangxi feel an urge to cry. So, when Jiang Xueyang invited her, her resolve wavered uncontrollably.

The waiter presented the menus, served tea, and stepped outside to wait. Jiang Xueyang browsed the menu, not forgetting to ask about Qin Xiangxi’s preferences. It wasn’t until the dishes began to arrive that Qin Xiangxi gradually relaxed.

Jiang Xueyang had been watching her expression closely. Seeing this, he struck while the iron was hot. “My flight was cancelled, so I won’t be leaving until tomorrow afternoon. But my sister has already left. I’m a bit unfamiliar with the area here; I wonder if I might have the honor of asking Miss Qin to be my guide if you’re free? I’d love to treat you to another meal tomorrow as a thank you.”

Qin Xiangxi was picking up a shrimp when she heard this, and she inevitably stiffened for a split second. But she quickly recovered, lowered her head, and said slowly, “Okay.”

She didn’t need to look up to imagine the sheer ecstasy on Jiang Xueyang’s face.

“Then tonight…” Jiang Xueyang tried to push his luck.

“I don’t have anything tonight,” Qin Xiangxi said softly. “But I have to go back to school to rehearse this afternoon. I won’t be finished until 4:00 PM.”

Jiang Xueyang was too happy to care about such a minor detail. Afraid she might change her mind, he settled it immediately: “Then I’ll pick you up from school this afternoon.”

Qin Xiangxi nodded. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt, but at the same time, she felt a strange sense of security.

After lunch, knowing she had rehearsals, Jiang Xueyang didn’t force her to stay. He considerately drove her back to school. Worried she might mind being seen, he even parked early at a quiet intersection.

After getting out of the car, Qin Xiangxi didn’t dare look back. She walked stiffly back toward the campus. She went to her dormitory first. Her roommates had their own rehearsals and were almost never in the dorm these days.

The room was empty. After dealing with several phone calls from her parents asking for updates, she slowly slid down the door and sat on the floor, burying her face in her knees. Her phone fell from her limp hand with a thud onto the floor.

Qin Xiangxi froze. After a long time, she curled into a ball, covered her face, and couldn’t stop herself from crying.

By the time Yan Guiqiu and Jiang Xuehe landed, it was already dark. The Jiang family lived in Yanling City, where the headquarters of the Jiang Group was located. However, Jiang Xuehe’s parents lived in the west of the city, while the elder Mr. Jiang’s residence was on the eastern outskirts, near the border with the neighboring city. Traveling between the two took quite some time.

Before arriving, Jiang Xuehe had agreed with her parents that they would stay at their house for the night. Since Jiang Xueyang hadn’t returned, Mr. Jiang sent his assistant to pick them up.

Compared to Ning City, Yanling was a bustling metropolis. High-rises dominated the skyline, and at night, the city was ablaze with lights. Aside from the moon, not a single star was visible in the sky.

Yan Guiqiu pointed at a nearby skyscraper and asked Jiang Xuehe about it, but Jiang Xuehe looked even more lost than she did.

“I haven’t been back in nearly six years,” Jiang Xuehe said. The street views looked unfamiliar to her now. Before she left Yanling, there hadn’t been nearly as many high-rises as there were today.

“It seems much more crowded than before,” Jiang Xuehe said, slowly withdrawing her gaze and looking down to fiddle with the fingers of the person beside her.

The car sat motionless in traffic. Outside, there were only tall buildings and nothing particularly interesting; they soon lost interest. It was peak rush hour. Despite the driver’s skill, they were stuck in traffic for a full two hours before finally reaching the Jiang villa.

The location was within the city limits, but the surrounding area was clearly an upscale neighborhood. It felt like stepping into another world; the roads became smooth and spacious.

The Jiang villa was easily twice the size of the Yan family home. The driver didn’t leave immediately after dropping them off; he helped with the luggage and entered the house with them.

The door was opened by the Jiang family’s housekeeper. She didn’t look particularly old, perhaps in her fifties, but she had clearly been with the family for a long time. Upon seeing Jiang Xuehe, she appeared more affectionate than the girl’s own mother, even tearing up.

This was the first time Jiang Xuehe had set foot in the house since going abroad. The housekeeper took Jiang Xuehe’s hand and studied her for a long time, murmuring that she had “gotten thinner,” “grown taller,” and “become more beautiful.” She wiped her eyes and led them inside.

“And this must be Miss Yan. You are truly beautiful.” The woman didn’t neglect Yan Guiqiu, offering praise from head to toe.

There was no one else in the living room. The driver was already carrying the suitcases upstairs.

The housekeeper said, “Miss Xuehe’s room is the same one as before. Miss Yan’s room is the guest room right next to hers. I’ll take you up after dinner. If you need anything, just let Xiao Zhu know.”

Faint steam was visible from the dining room; someone was likely cooking inside. But that person certainly wasn’t Mr. or Mrs. Jiang.

“Where is my mother?” Jiang Xuehe asked.

“The mistress is sleeping upstairs. She hasn’t been feeling well lately; she’s had terrible insomnia. She finally fell asleep this afternoon, so I didn’t dare wake her.” The housekeeper added, “But Miss Xuehe, the mistress personally decorated your room. She’s been looking forward to your return these past few days.”

Jiang Xuehe gave a soft “mhm,” her expression unreadable.

Mr. Jiang was working late at the office. The assistant had already explained that he would likely return late and told them to eat first. Although they hadn’t taken them to a high-end hotel for a welcome dinner, they had hired a hotel chef to cook at the house; it wasn’t a deliberate slight. As for Jiang Xueyang, he would rather push his work aside and was likely still in Yunhua City pursuing his romance.

When all was said and done, only three people were left for dinner, and it was uncertain if Mrs. Jiang would even get out of bed. The housekeeper looked troubled and asked, “Should I go up and wake the mistress?”

Jiang Xuehe shook her head. “No need. If she’s tired, let her rest. Guiqiu and I can just have a simple meal. There’s no need for such formalities between us.”

The housekeeper turned to Yan Guiqiu, who naturally nodded. With Mrs. Jiang there, she would feel more constrained. If she were being honest, she wasn’t particularly keen on dealing with her.

Seeing this, the housekeeper relented. She went to the kitchen to have the chef serve some food for Jiang Xuehe and Yan Guiqiu first. After all, they had traveled a long distance; it wouldn’t do to have them wait on an empty stomach.

Formalities aside, the chef’s cooking was very sincere. Although Jiang Xuehe said they couldn’t eat that much and asked for smaller portions, the table was still covered with an array of dishes. The spread was quite impressive.

“Now I believe you really lived like a princess before,” Yan Guiqiu whispered to Jiang Xuehe. Materially, Jiang Xuehe had certainly never been lacking.

Yan Guiqiu followed up by asking, “Will it be like this at your grandfather’s place too?”

Jiang Xuehe laughed helplessly. “At the very least, they shouldn’t make guests wait.”

While Yan Guiqiu certainly didn’t mind the small matter, Jiang Xuehe felt a twinge of guilt. Her parents maintained a high profile, yet their actual attitude was one of extreme neglect and lack of importance. Yan Guiqiu didn’t think much of it, but Jiang Xuehe was already feeling uncomfortable.

However, they weren’t truly back as guests. Staying for one night was merely for the sake of appearances, to avoid any public embarrassment and unnecessary trouble later.

“We’ll stay at the old residence tomorrow,” Jiang Xuehe said. “It’s also closer to the airport.”

Yan Guiqiu nodded. Regarding the Jiang family, she left everything to Jiang Xuehe. She knew Jiang Xuehe wouldn’t let her suffer.

By the time they finished dinner, Mrs. Jiang was still sleeping upstairs. Jiang Xuehe didn’t ask the housekeeper to wake her again. She only told her to let her mother rest and took Yan Guiqiu to the rooms.

Their rooms were next to each other, both large south-facing rooms, though Yan Guiqiu’s guest room was closer to the end of the hallway. Yan Guiqiu only had time to peek into her assigned room before Jiang Xuehe pulled her into her own.

To Yan Guiqiu’s surprise, Jiang Xuehe’s room was decorated quite warmly. A plush rug covered the floor, and the curtains and bedding featured simple yet cute patterns. The desk was fully equipped with a pen holder, lamp, and ornaments. Several green plants decorated the windowsill and various corners; they were all thriving, and the vibrant green was a pleasant sight. A piano stood in one corner, and paintings hung on the walls, giving the room an artistic atmosphere.

Yet Yan Guiqiu felt the style didn’t quite match Jiang Xuehe herself.

Jiang Xuehe looked at the pen holder on the desk; from the side, it was shaped like a cartoon pony—her zodiac sign—but it wasn’t something she actually liked.

“My mother probably added these later,” Jiang Xuehe explained. “When I first went to university, I wanted to live independently, so I moved a lot of things out and set up a separate apartment. I moved again before going abroad and threw many things away. The rest I left with my cousin.”

Her room at the Jiang house had been empty. What she hadn’t taken were things she felt she didn’t need. The current room must have been furnished by Mrs. Jiang according to her own tastes. Jiang Xuehe felt a bit awkward looking at it, but considering they were only staying for one night, she said nothing.

“Make do for tonight,” Jiang Xuehe said to Yan Guiqiu. “I’ll take you to Grandpa’s tomorrow morning. He’s not going to the office tomorrow. Some other cousins might be there too; you can just say hello when we get there. Don’t worry about anything else; I’m here.”

Yan Guiqiu nodded. “Mhm, I trust you.”

Jiang Xuehe felt a sense of relief. Her mood finally improved. She touched the ends of Yan Guiqiu’s hair. “Go shower first. I’ll bring your luggage over.”

There was no need for such a large suitcase for a two-day trip. Aside from clothes and daily necessities, the rest were specialties from Yunhua City. Some were intended as gifts for Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, though they hadn’t had a chance to present them upon entering.

Jiang Xuehe set some aside, planning to give them to the housekeeper to hand over. If they left early tomorrow, they might not even run into Mrs. Jiang.

After telling Yan Guiqiu, Jiang Xuehe went down to find the housekeeper. Shortly after descending the stairs, she heard movement at the door and instinctively looked up. Mr. Jiang was taking off his coat and handing it to his assistant. He froze for a moment when he saw Jiang Xuehe.

Jiang Xuehe called out “Dad” and greeted him.

“You’re back,” Mr. Jiang said, recovering and nodding slightly. “Have you had dinner?”

Jiang Xuehe nodded. “I’m about to go to sleep.”

Mr. Jiang explained, “I was busy with meetings at the company. Your brother had something come up and couldn’t make it back. It took longer than expected.”

He was clarifying that he hadn’t intended to be neglectful. He glanced around the living room and then at Jiang Xuehe. “Where is your mother?”

“I think she’s still sleeping,” Jiang Xuehe said.

The housekeeper happened to walk out after tidying up. She explained to Mr. Jiang that Mrs. Jiang had been suffering from insomnia and had just fallen asleep that afternoon, so she hadn’t dared wake her. Mr. Jiang raised a hand to cut her off before she could finish.

“I see. It’s good that she’s sleeping. Don’t disturb her rest. I’ll go up and check on her in a bit. She’s suffered some grievances lately and has been in a bad mood. She hasn’t been able to sleep for entire nights, but medication hasn’t helped. Since she’s finally asleep, don’t wake her.”

The latter part of his words was directed at Jiang Xuehe. Mr. Jiang had already eaten at the company. He dropped his briefcase, gave a final instruction to his assistant, and headed upstairs without even looking at the food on the dining table.

As he passed Jiang Xuehe, he remembered to ask, “And that… friend you brought back?”

Jiang Xuehe hesitated for an imperceptible moment. “She just went to bed.”

Under those circumstances, it wouldn’t be appropriate to wake a guest to say hello. Mr. Jiang seemed to ask only in passing. He nodded perfunctorily, told his daughter to get some rest as well, and walked past her to head upstairs.

By the time Jiang Xuehe returned after speaking with the housekeeper about the gifts, Yan Guiqiu had finished her shower and was drying her hair. Unable to hear over the noise of the dryer, Jiang Xuehe made a gesture and went to shower first.

When she came out, Yan Guiqiu was sitting on the bed playing on her phone. Seeing Jiang Xuehe emerge, Yan Guiqiu set the phone aside and volunteered to help dry her hair. Being closer, their voices were clearer.

Jiang Xuehe told Yan Guiqiu about Mr. Jiang’s return. Even if it was an excuse, it was a reasonable one.

Yan Guiqiu knew what she meant. As she ran her fingers through Jiang Xuehe’s hair from root to tip, she said, “I don’t feel aggrieved. They have nothing to do with me. I only feel bad for you for being treated this way.”

Jiang Xuehe grabbed Yan Guiqiu’s hand. Something invisible seemed to strike her heart; a bittersweet feeling surged up, and she truly felt a sense of grievance. She closed her eyes. When the sound of the dryer stopped, she could still feel the warmth of Yan Guiqiu’s palm.

When it came time for sleep, however, a small disagreement arose.

“Actually, it’s fine for me to sleep next door. I saw that the room was quite tidy,” Yan Guiqiu said, looking at the large bed beside her. Memories flickered through her mind, and she finally said tactfully, “After all, we’re at your parents’ house. It wouldn’t be good if we made any noise.”

Jiang Xuehe raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at her with a faint smile. “What kind of noise do you want to make?”

She made it sound as though Yan Guiqiu was the one who couldn’t wait.

“…” Yan Guiqiu shut her mouth. After a long silence, she couldn’t help but say, “What if your parents run into us tomorrow morning? You only come home once in a while. You’re not a child anymore, Sister Xuehe. Are you still afraid of ghosts?”

“No,” Jiang Xuehe shook her head.

“Then…” I’ll head out.

Before Yan Guiqiu could finish, Jiang Xuehe suddenly reached out and pulled her into her embrace. A wave of warmth hit her, and Yan Guiqiu instinctively closed her eyes in nervousness. Yet, nothing happened.

Jiang Xuehe simply held her quietly. The only thing that could be considered out of line was her burying her face in the crook of Yan Guiqiu’s neck. Her back curved slightly as if in exhaustion, and she leaned half her weight onto Yan Guiqiu.

Yan Guiqiu stopped struggling. After a pause, she asked worriedly, “Sister Xuehe?”

“Stay here with me tonight, okay?” Jiang Xuehe whispered against her clothes, her voice muffled. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep if I’m lying here alone.”

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