After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It - Chapter 13

Ouyang Fei stopped at a distance, forcing out two dry laughs at Jing Xiao while nervously tugging at the hem of her clothes.

Pei Lü quickly regained her usual demeanor. She gazed affectionately at Fan Qingyu, even throwing her a flirty wink before turning to loop her arm through Ouyang Fei’s:
“It’s fine, let’s go.”

Fan Qingyu scooped a spoonful of fruit bits, staring fixedly at Pei Lü’s retreating back.
“How do they know each other?”

Jing Xiao answered with natural composure, her face full of innocence:
“No idea.”

It was far too much of a coincidence. Fan Qingyu was about to say you’d better not know, but she had already doubted Jing Xiao once. She didn’t want uncertain suspicions to ruin the fragile trust she had just begun to place in her. With countless thoughts swirling in her mind, she instinctively chose to believe Jing Xiao’s words.

The meat on the grill was sizzling, juices dripping down as Jing Xiao deftly turned it with the tongs. It would still take a while before it was ready to eat.

The sweet soup in front of Fan Qingyu contained fruit bits, taro balls, and a big piece of milk pudding. She was slowly savoring it in small bites, her lips glistening with moisture, looking soft and sweet enough to melt someone’s heart. Jing Xiao had to suppress the sudden impulse to kiss her right there in public. Clearing her throat, she spoke with a hint of playful whining:
“Xiao Yu, my throat’s so dry.”

Fan Qingyu didn’t catch her meaning and poured her a cup of chrysanthemum tea.

Jing Xiao shook her head.
“I don’t want that.”

Her gaze fell pointedly on the sweet soup, eyes full of a reproachful sorrow as if silently blaming Fan Qingyu for not understanding her intentions.

Fan Qingyu hesitantly pointed at the dessert. After Jing Xiao confirmed with a nod, she stood up to straighten her dress.
“I’ll get you one.”

Jing Xiao’s mouth twitched.
“I want yours.”

“Why? I’ve almost finished it.” Fan Qingyu pushed her own bowl toward her.
“I’ll just go get another one.”

Jing Xiao sighed helplessly, finally speaking her mind directly:
“I want you to feed me.”

Fan Qingyu froze. She lowered her head slightly, fingers nervously twisting together until Jing Xiao prompted again. Only then did she scoop up a spoonful of taro balls and bring it to Jing Xiao’s lips.
“You’re not a kid, you know.”

Jing Xiao happily ate the taro balls, then leaned down to plant a quick kiss on Fan Qingyu’s hand.
“Thank you, wife, it’s delicious.”

The spoon nearly slipped from Fan Qingyu’s fingers. She blurted out quickly,
“Don’t do that in public.”

There weren’t many people in the barbecue shop, and their table was by the window. The only others nearby were a couple acting equally intimate. Jing Xiao calmly placed a freshly grilled piece of meat on Fan Qingyu’s plate.
“Relax, no one’s watching us.”

Fan Qingyu glanced around before finally easing her tightly pressed lips.

Jing Xiao teased with a smile:
“Xiao Yu, you get shy so easily.”

Fan Qingyu turned her gaze aside.
“I do not.”

After finishing their meal, the two strolled leisurely through the mall. A milk tea shop was offering a buy-one-get-one promotion for couples. Jing Xiao squeezed Fan Qingyu’s hand.
“Want to grab some milk tea to pass the time?”

Fan Qingyu was about to decline, but instead let out a little hiccup.

Jing Xiao laughed.
“Guess not, then.”

Fan Qingyu lightly punched her.
“You didn’t hear anything.”

“Alright, alright.”

Passing a boutique store, a large mirror by the entrance reflected their figures together. Jing Xiao paused, resting a hand on Fan Qingyu’s side waist.
“Your outfit looks gorgeous today.”

Fan Qingyu turned slightly, her skirt swaying with the movement.

She wore an ivory dress with a beautiful drape that made her appear both refined and professional. The waistline was accentuated with sheer mesh fabric, highlighting her delicate figure.

But a moment later, Jing Xiao’s attention was caught by the pastel-pink trinkets displayed inside the shop. She tugged Fan Qingyu’s hand.
“Let’s go take a look.”

The shelves brimmed with bracelets and cosmetics, dazzling to the eyes. Fan Qingyu, long used to luxury goods, wasn’t particularly interested. Jing Xiao skipped past the everyday items and went straight to another rack, picking up a furry keychain.

It was shaped like a rabbit, pure white with soft pink accents on its ears and paws, about the size of a palm. Jing Xiao pressed the keychain into Fan Qingyu’s hand.
“What do you think? Cute, right?”

Fan Qingyu spoke sincerely.
“Quite cute. Do you want it?”

“Of course. I think you’re way too serious in daily life.” Jing Xiao playfully brushed the trinket against Fan Qingyu’s nose.

Fan Qingyu asked curiously:
“What’s that got to do with me? And I’m not that serious.”

Jing Xiao explained:
“You always go for the best of everything, but sometimes that means you miss out on the little fun things.”

Once she picked out what she liked, Jing Xiao didn’t linger. She quickly paid, then clipped the keychain onto Fan Qingyu’s set of keys.
“My gift to you.”

“I like it.” Fan Qingyu rubbed the rabbit’s fluffy face, her smile genuine.
“You rarely buy things like this.”

Leaving the mall, the outside air felt heavy and stifling, as if pressing down on their lungs. A few dragonflies hovered calmly, heralding the storm about to break.

Summer weather was fickle. In the next moment, thick clouds covered the sky. The rain that had held off in the morning was now about to pour. Fan Qingyu urged:
“Let’s hurry, it’s going to rain.”

By the time they reached the parking lot, raindrops had already begun to fall. Fan Qingyu felt lucky they’d made it just in time—until the downpour suddenly intensified, drenching her in seconds as she reached for the car door.

Her lips twitched.
“Talk about bad luck.”

Jing Xiao, safe inside, rolled down the window.
“Not getting in?”

With a loud thunk, Fan Qingyu slammed the door shut behind her. She wiped her face, pushing her dripping hair to one side. Her ivory dress was soaked through, clinging to her pale skin and outlining her slender waistline.

Her delicate figure shifted faintly with every movement, tempting to the touch. Jing Xiao couldn’t help staring, entranced.

Fan Qingyu gave her a light slap on the forehead.
“I want to take a shower.”

Jing Xiao, though dry herself, was sweating from the rush. She quickly shut off the air conditioner so Fan Qingyu wouldn’t catch a chill, handing her tissues.
“Here, dry off.”

Fan Qingyu looked disheveled. With her prideful nature, going back to the office like this was out of the question. Taking that into account, Jing Xiao muttered thoughtfully:
“My house is closer than going back to yours. There’s also a spa nearby where you could bathe. Where would you rather go?”

Fan Qingyu crumpled the tissues in her hand, hugging her arms for warmth.
“Your place. I want to stay with you for a bit.”

It was just past lunch, most people home for their midday rest. With the rain keeping cars off the road, traffic flowed smoothly. Fan Qingyu sneezed a few times, the clammy clothes clinging unpleasantly to her skin. She opened her GPS to check the estimated arrival time at Jing Xiao’s villa.

At a red light, Jing Xiao reached over to ruffle her hair.
“We’ll be there soon. Don’t worry.”

Fan Qingyu quietly switched off her phone.

In truth, Jing Xiao’s words were just comfort. The rain was coming down so heavily she could barely see ahead, forcing her to drive cautiously. Still, once they passed the city limits, the roads cleared and she sped up.

Reaching the underground garage of her villa, Jing Xiao didn’t even bother to park properly. She jumped out to open the door for Fan Qingyu.
“Go shower quick, or you’ll catch a cold.”

Fan Qingyu hesitated, embarrassed. She’d never spent the night here, and had no idea where the bathroom was. Seeing her confusion, Jing Xiao guessed the problem and locked the car.
“I’ll take you upstairs first.”

“Okay.”

They went up the spiral staircase and entered through the back door. Jing Xiao led her straight to the second floor, but Fan Qingyu suddenly stopped, eyes widening at the hallway lined with neatly arranged photographs.

The colors in the photos were still vivid, as though newly printed, clearly well-preserved with great care. Each one was in a different frame, showing Jing Xiao’s thoughtfulness.

As Fan Qingyu scanned through the various ages and moments, the floodgates of memory opened—crying, laughing, all their shared times. Through it all, they had never parted.

Jing Xiao truly treasured their past.

Fan Qingyu’s eyes grew moist. Looking closer, she noticed objects set into the frames—hair clips, hair ties, pens, even hotel key cards.

Her tears stopped as she laughed in exasperation, pointing at one.
“How on earth did you get a Platinum Hotel room card in there?”

Jing Xiao cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Wasn’t that our unforgettable first time? I wanted to commemorate it, so… I pulled a few strings.”

Fan Qingyu’s brows softened as tears slipped down again, though she was smiling now.

Outside, thunder cracked and lightning flashed, but the hallway felt warm and cozy. She lingered, studying each photo over and over, leaving a trail of water droplets behind her, forgetting she was still wet.

Jing Xiao nudged her arm and started walking forward.
“Come on, time to shower.”

Snapping back to herself, Fan Qingyu followed to the bathroom door, where Jing Xiao suddenly stopped short. Fan Qingyu’s nose bumped into her back.
“What is it?”

Jing Xiao recalled the bottle of hair oil—Fan Qingyu’s exact brand—that she had purposely left out last time. Feeling guilty, she squeezed inside first.
“Wait a sec, I’ll run the hot water.”

Though suspicious, Fan Qingyu patiently waited outside. Soon, the sound of rushing water came from inside, and Jing Xiao emerged with a towel and clean clothes.
“Water’s ready. Go on in.”

Fan Qingyu tugged at the robe in her hand.
“Xiao Xiao, I need to get back to work this afternoon.”

Leaning against the wall, Jing Xiao reassured her:
“I know. But this is all I have here. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

Fan Qingyu nodded, half-convinced.

As soon as the door closed, Jing Xiao scrambled to grab her phone, calling Sarah. After a few rings, Sarah’s voice came through:
“President Fan, do you need something?”

“Sarah, I need you to bring a set of clothes to my place. I’ll send you the address.”

Sarah perked right up. Her job usually just involved ordering food, booking tickets, and hotel reservations—far easier than most assistants. With President Fan having few social events lately, she’d been bored stiff. Now, with Jing Xiao’s call, she suddenly felt she had a mission.

“I’ll head out right away! Please send me the address.”

Problem solved, Jing Xiao then made ginger tea in the kitchen, figuring it would be ready for Fan Qingyu after her shower.

But Fan Qingyu’s muffled voice came from inside:
“Xiao Xiao, have Sarah bring clothes over. Don’t go out yourself.”

Jing Xiao chuckled.
“What a coincidence—she’s probably already on her way.”

Fan Qingyu said nothing more. The sound of running water gradually faded, and soon she emerged wrapped in an oversized robe, loosely tied around her. Breathing a long sigh of relief, she dried her hair, freeing a few strands caught under the towel.

A warm cup pressed against her cheek. Jing Xiao’s voice was gentle.
“Here, drink some ginger tea to keep from catching cold.”

Fan Qingyu backed away.
“It’s summer rain, it’s nothing. I don’t want it.”

Jing Xiao pressed further.
“You don’t like ginger, do you?”

Fan Qingyu stayed silent. Jing Xiao pinched a piece of chocolate between her fingers.
“Then here—chocolate instead.”

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