After Becoming a Spare Tire, I Got Together with My White Moonlight - Chapter 9.2

Yan Guiqiu thought for a moment and recalled a few suitable places: “There are several well-known Western restaurants in the eastern part of the city, it’s a more upscale commercial area. If he prefers Chinese cuisine, there’s a local restaurant about two kilometers from here.”

Jiang Xuehe nodded, taking note of each suggestion, and then asked, “Would you have time to accompany me? My treat.”

Yan Guiqiu was taken aback.

Jiang Xuehe explained, “That friend is quite particular about food and has many dietary restrictions. I’m worried the restaurant might not suit his tastes, so I’d like to try it out first.”

“If it’s not convenient for you, then never mind.” She glanced at Yan Guiqiu’s surprised expression and was about to retract the invitation.

Yan Guiqiu quickly agreed, “It’s no trouble at all!”

“Won’t it interfere with your own plans?”

“Not at all. I haven’t had much going on lately. I originally planned to travel to the south with a friend after submitting my thesis, but my friend had some matters come up and couldn’t go, so I’ve been free recently.”

“That’s good.” Jiang Xuehe breathed a sigh of relief and said a bit sheepishly, “I don’t really know many people here, so I always end up troubling you.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Helping a friend is just what one does,” Yan Guiqiu replied.

Inwardly, she thought, I’d be more than happy if she relied on me even more.

Feelings develop gradually through time spent together. The fact that Jiang Xuehe didn’t seem to mind her closeness was a good sign.

After sharing so many meals together, could this count as a date?

If only I had recommended a few more restaurants. Yan Guiqiu felt a twinge of regret but knew she shouldn’t be too greedy overdoing it could backfire.

“If you’re free today, how about we try the nearby restaurant tonight? Consider it my thanks for all your help recently.” Jiang Xuehe glanced at the time and said, “Why don’t you go back and rest for a bit? I just have some paintings to tidy up here, and there’s nothing else for now. I’ll call you tonight.”

Yan Guiqiu nodded and said, “Okay.” As she turned to leave, she felt so light on her feet it was as if she were floating. She brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek and heard Jiang Xuehe chuckle.

“Little smudge-face.” Jiang Xuehe pointed to her own cheek with a fingertip.

It took Yan Guiqiu a moment to realize that she had smudged dirt from her hand onto her face. Embarrassed, she rubbed her nose, only to leave another smudge.

Now she looked even more like a smudge-face. Jiang Xuehe laughed again.

Yan Guiqiu’s ears turned red.

Just then, the girl managing the front shop knocked on the door and said someone was looking for Jiang Xuehe. Jiang Xuehe acknowledged her and pointed Yan Guiqiu toward the restroom.

“Go wash your face first. I’ll head to the front to see who it is.”

Jiang Xuehe’s good mood lasted only until she opened the door. As she walked through the corridor to the small exhibition hall at the front, she saw Qin Xiangxi hesitantly standing there.

When she saw her, Qin Xiangxi’s eyes instantly lit up: “Sister Ahe.”

Jiang Xuehe gave a faint smile and greeted her: “Miss Qin. Is there something you need?”

Qin Xiangxi froze. She had come on impulse, wanting to ask Jiang Xuehe what exactly was going on between her and Yan Guiqiu, and to persuade her not to be deceived by Yan Guiqiu. But standing in front of Jiang Xuehe felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, washing away all her impulsiveness.

It was as if a clear dividing line lay between them.

Jiang Xuehe had always been like this gentle and polite, considerate and graceful. She never lost her temper with anyone, nor did she joke around. Standing there quietly, she was like a painting, calmly greeting every passerby.

This was exactly the version of her Qin Xiangxi liked the most.

“I just wanted to see you,” Qin Xiangxi stammered. “That welcome banquet, I originally planned to go, but there was a school event, and I really couldn’t get away.”

“It’s fine, it wasn’t anything important anyway,” Jiang Xuehe said indifferently.

“Really, I’m not lying,” Qin Xiangxi insisted, afraid Jiang Xuehe wouldn’t believe her, her voice tinged with grievance. “I just got out of the hospital a couple of days ago, so I didn’t know you had opened a shop here.”

Jiang Xuehe gave a soft “Mm” and asked how she was feeling.

She was neither deliberately cold nor overly concerned or enthusiastic, just like a casual chat with someone she happened to run into on the street.

When Yan Guiqiu came out after washing her hands, she picked up a fallen picture frame from the floor.

“Sister Xuehe, this fell on the ground. Should it be placed outside or in the studio.”

As she stepped out and saw Qin Xiangxi outside, Yan Guiqiu’s voice abruptly stopped. She glanced at Jiang Xuehe.

Jiang Xuehe smiled at her and pointed toward the back. “Just put it in the studio.”

Yan Guiqiu nodded, then glanced back again. Qin Xiangxi’s eyes were full of shock, along with a hint of wariness and hostility.

Yan Guiqiu ignored her and turned to walk toward the studio in the back.

By the time she came out again, Qin Xiangxi had already been sent away.

Yan Guiqiu was about to leave when Jiang Xuehe called out to her: “Want to try this?”

It was a small box of cookies that had just been delivered, with two packets inside. Jiang Xuehe opened one and handed it to Yan Guiqiu.

She remembered Yan Guiqiu had mentioned before that she liked sweets.

The small cookie, about two fingers wide, could be half-eaten in one bite. It was crispy and filled with a sweet, milky fragrance.

Yan Guiqiu unconsciously showed a satisfied expression. “It’s delicious.”

Jiang Xuehe smiled and handed her the remaining packet. “Take this one back with you.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t really like sweets.”

“Ah, okay.” Yan Guiqiu took it and blinked. “Thanks, Sister Xuehe.”

“I have things to do here, so I won’t see you out. Be careful on your way. See you tonight.”

“Mm, see you tonight.”

Yan Guiqiu walked out of the studio with light steps. The apartment she rented wasn’t too far from the studio only about a ten-minute walk. In her good mood, even the hustle and bustle of traffic along the way sounded pleasant.

Qin Xiangxi was waiting for her at the corner.

Yan Guiqiu frowned and tried to walk past her but was stopped.

“What exactly are you trying to do?” Qin Xiangxi demanded.

Yan Guiqiu paused in her steps.

“Sister Ahe is such a kind person, she’s not someone for you to toy with.” Qin Xiangxi put on a stern face and warned, “I might let other things slide, but if you dare lay a hand on Sister Ahe, I will definitely make you regret it!”

“That’s exactly what I should be asking you.” Yan Guiqiu turned her gaze to Qin Xiangxi.

With a faint, ambiguous smile, her height allowed her to look down on Qin Xiangxi. When she narrowed her eyes slightly, there was an intangible pressure about her, a side of her that never surfaced in daily life.

She rarely got angry, but right now, she was clearly displeased.

“Wh-what?” Qin Xiangxi instinctively took a step back, her confidence wavering.

“And what identity are you using to speak to me like this?” Yan Guiqiu asked.

“I I’ve known Sister Ahe for many years. I care about her, and I don’t want her to be hurt by someone like you. Is that not allowed?”

“Care about her?” Yan Guiqiu raised an eyebrow. “What does your affection have to do with her? Are the two of you that close?”

Qin Xiangxi was momentarily speechless, her face flushing bright red.

Half from embarrassment, half from anger.

The corner of Yan Guiqiu’s lips lifted as she twisted the knife further: “Besides, don’t you think your sister Ahe clearly likes me more?”

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