After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It - Chapter 34

Jing Xiao carefully applied a band-aid for her. Fan Qingyu leaned into her shoulder, a hint of coquettishness in her gesture: “I’m going to take a shower soon. Why put on a band-aid now?”

“Leave it on while you shower. A fresh wound will hurt if it gets wet.” Jing Xiao thumped the medicine box heavily and said generously, “It’s just a few band-aids.”

Fan Qingyu’s smile deepened. The moon hung high, its crescent gleaming brightly. Moonlight poured down, fragmented by the tree shadows and settling into Fan Qingyu’s eyes. She lifted the corners of her lips in a beautiful arc: “After all this talk, you still care about me.”

Jing Xiao let go of her leg and stepped back to create some distance, joking: “Caring for you, my ex-girlfriend.”

Fan Qingyu pouted: “Hmph.”

Perhaps because they had made their presence known strongly on the way back, the housemaid pushed the food cart in but didn’t dare to enter the room. Jing Xiao dragged the tray to the bedside table, added pickles to the clear soup noodles, and then served a bowl of noodles with pickles for Fan Qingyu.

Fan Qingyu wasn’t very hungry at first. It was only when everything was arranged in front of her that she felt the need to eat.

She ate slowly, small bites at a time. Even the simplest noodles tasted surprisingly good today, though they were a little bland. She added some pickles: “Xiao Xiao, when are you going back to the company?”

Jing Xiao served herself a bowl of noodles: “In a few days. Grandpa asked Jing Lan to hand over part of the work to me.”

Fan Qingyu asked with concern: “Do you have any plans?”

Jing Xiao remained guarded: “I do, but I can’t talk about it yet.”

Fan Qingyu continued: “Do you think your plans can keep up with the pace of society?”

Jing Xiao bristled slightly but answered briefly: “Yes.”

Fan Qingyu asked further: “Do you think your project will succeed?”

The tone didn’t sit well with Jing Xiao, who misunderstood her intention: “Yes.”

Fan Qingyu immediately interjected: “Then… can you sleep with me tonight?”

“Yes—” Jing Xiao realized Fan Qingyu was trying to probe her and, laughing, flicked her forehead with two fingers, half teasing, half scolding: “You want to sleep with me?”

Fan Qingyu fiddled with her fingers, seeming a little embarrassed: “I do.”

Jing Xiao felt she shouldn’t keep crossing boundaries. Just as she was about to refuse, she caught those wet, pleading eyes and couldn’t help but give in again. However, if they were to share a bed, it couldn’t be too close.

“I’ll think about it,” she said.

Fan Qingyu let out a disappointed sound, putting down her bowl. Jing Xiao stacked the two used bowls together: “Are you full?”

After receiving confirmation, she dragged the tray back to the food cart for the maid to collect, then locked the door.

The night was quiet and dull. Stars fell like grains of sand, the moonlight blindingly bright. Jing Xiao couldn’t bear to hide the view and left the curtains wide open, letting the light fill the bedroom.

Such an atmosphere seemed perfect for something refined. Jing Xiao remembered the Go board left in the corner. She placed the folding table on the bed, the board covering much of it, with the Go pieces nearby. She let Fan Qingyu take the first move.

The sound of stones hitting the board was constant. Towards the end, careful thinking was required. Fan Qingyu hesitated, uncertain where to place her stone.

Jing Xiao smiled slyly: “You lost.”

Fan Qingyu protested: “One more round.”

Since it wasn’t a competition, they played three rounds. The atmosphere gradually relaxed. Fan Qingyu stretched, thinking about something else.

She recalled this afternoon and felt uneasy: “Watch out, Jing Lan will probably try to trip you up.”

“It’s not probably, it’s certain,” Jing Xiao said with a sly smile, unusually gentle. She made a strategic move on the board: “I’ll strike first, give her a lesson.”

Hearing their conversation, Fan Qingyu didn’t mind Jing Xiao’s scheming. She supported all of Jing Xiao’s choices: “Just make a small move. You’re just back; anything big will attract attention.”

“I understand. I’ll deal with it once I’m back at the company.”

Fan Qingyu lost again, leaning back and pretending not to care about her defeats. She then turned over: “I’m going to take a shower.”

Jing Xiao reminded her: “It’s cold at night. Turn on the heater.”

Fan Qingyu had brought up the topic of “care” earlier. Jing Xiao, in her proud way, teased: “Got it, ex-girlfriend.”

The bathroom gurgled with water and the heater hummed. Jing Xiao returned to her thoughts, remembering that the first time she came to this world, Fan Qingyu was also showering.

At first, she had liked Fan Qingyu’s face. Later, she realized Fan Qingyu excelled in all aspects—except for being cold and calculating—making her an almost perfect partner.

Jing Xiao wasn’t sure if Fan Qingyu’s change would last, so she decided to observe for a while.

Fan Qingyu’s voice suddenly changed: “Xiao Xiao, your water isn’t hot anymore. It’s cold.”

Jing Xiao wasn’t sure what had gone wrong. She changed into summer slippers and reminded her: “Wrap yourself in a towel. I’ll check.”

Fan Qingyu’s hair was wet, her body radiating warmth, flushed pink. Jing Xiao averted her gaze and began checking the heater near the bathroom fan.

After trying for a while without result, Jing Xiao turned on the shower: “Strange… it seems fine.”

But the water was indeed ice-cold. Fan Qingyu shivered, her nose twitching.

Jing Xiao shook her head: “Call someone to fix it tomorrow. For now, just wipe off?”

She hurriedly closed the balcony and windows to block any drafts. Though it wasn’t cold, Fan Qingyu might catch a chill from the cold shower. Jing Xiao reopened the heater and turned up the temperature.

She blocked the bathroom door: “Wait until it warms up before you come out.”

Fan Qingyu’s voice, muffled by steam, sounded a little aggrieved: “I don’t want to stay here. It’s stuffy.”

Jing Xiao had no coaxing words, only blocked the door until the room warmed up. Then she let go.

Fan Qingyu angrily threw off her towel. The sleepwear didn’t fit, forming a deep V on her figure.

Jing Xiao turned her head: “If you get sick here, I won’t care.”

After staying in the warm room, Fan Qingyu’s face dried and itched again. She cupped her face, examining it in the mirror, complaining: “Where’s your skincare?”

“In the cabinet. Get it yourself.” Jing Xiao hadn’t showered yet. She tried a few times and confirmed the heater was broken.

Fan Qingyu finished her skincare, gently massaging her eyes. The heater’s warm air dried her hair almost completely. Feeling the hot air on her calves, she teased: “Xiao Xiao, are you worried I’ll catch a cold? Want to sleep with me tonight?”

Jing Xiao finally relented, opening the bathroom window and finishing her quick wash at the sink: “Okay, you can.”

Fan Qingyu spun around, ecstatic: “Really?”

Jing Xiao spoke through foam: “Really. I wouldn’t lie about this.”

Excited to sleep with Jing Xiao tonight, Fan Qingyu got into bed early, imagining countless scenarios. Jing Xiao’s steps were calm, and Fan Qingyu tightly shut her eyes to prolong the suspense.

However, Jing Xiao didn’t lie down next to her. She placed a long hot dog plush between them, then grabbed a blanket to cover herself. She watched TV and ate a late-night snack.

Fan Qingyu turned her head and saw the ugly-cute hot dog plush: “This is what you meant by sleeping together?”

Jing Xiao tore open a snack packet: “Otherwise?”

“Oh.” Fan Qingyu punched the plush in frustration. All her expectations vanished, and the snack aroma made her swallow hard.

Jing Xiao offered her some chips: “Eat?”

Fan Qingyu stubbornly: “No, I’m dieting.”

The drama on TV was a widely known palace intrigue series, complex and exciting. Jing Xiao watched attentively. She noticed the chips bag moving and quickly pulled her hand back, pretending nothing happened.

Jing Xiao shook the bag. Much of the chips were gone. She teased: “Not dieting anymore?”

Fan Qingyu said stiffly: “I didn’t eat.”

They bickered back and forth. Night deepened. Jing Xiao turned off the TV and was about to get up to brush her teeth. Remembering Fan Qingyu had eaten some chips, she kindly asked: “Are you going to brush too?”

Fan Qingyu continued her denial: “I didn’t eat.”

“Alright then.” Jing Xiao reached to tuck the blanket when she suddenly remembered something. She shifted and lifted Fan Qingyu’s blanket from below.

Her white, slender legs were smooth, with a few dark band-aids soaked by water. Jing Xiao scolded: “Fan Qingyu, you really don’t think about your own body.”

“I didn’t feel pain. I forgot,” Fan Qingyu said, peeling off the band-aids. The wounds were red, clearly infected.

Jing Xiao tossed her the medicine box: “Disinfect it quickly.”

Fan Qingyu bent her knees, sitting on the bed, looking helpless. Her watery eyes stared at Jing Xiao: “Can you help me?”

Jing Xiao smirked coldly: “Do you think you’re royalty?”

Fan Qingyu sneezed several times, her nose and eyes red. She reached for the medicine box alone.

“I really can’t with you,” Jing Xiao said. Her words were harsh, but her body was honest. She knelt on one knee in front of her and repeated the afternoon’s procedure.

The wounds steamed from the water, making the iodine sting even more. Fan Qingyu almost cried out, her pain spilling from her throat in small gasps: “Don’t disinfect… it hurts.”

The pain was real, not an act. Jing Xiao’s heart ached, sensing her unwillingness. Her voice softened involuntarily: “Be still.”

Fan Qingyu gripped the sheets tightly, teeth gritted.

Finally, the procedure was complete. Jing Xiao applied a band-aid and smiled faintly: “Good, you were very obedient today.”

Fan Qingyu negotiated: “Can I hug you while sleeping tonight?”

“No.” Jing Xiao brushed her teeth, leaving Fan Qingyu messy but compliant. She didn’t insist and slept obediently beside the long hot dog plush.

Jing Xiao initiated conversation: “The past few days were so busy. Now you’re free?”

“Because the project is under my responsibility. This was my oversight. Management is displeased, and I have no remedy now. Grandpa asked me to rest for a while.” Fan Qingyu’s voice carried sadness. She understood this choice had effectively demoted her.

Jing Xiao was surprised: “All for this one thing? What about your previous efforts?”

Fan Qingyu smiled bitterly: “Our family’s values are different from yours. There’s nothing else I can do.”

Jing Xiao felt the same regret.

Fan Qingyu shrugged: “It’s fine. It’s a good chance for me to take a break.”

After the heavy topic, the room fell into a short silence.

Fan Qingyu, probably exhausted from poor sleep and the day’s fatigue, quickly entered deep sleep. Jing Xiao watched her without blinking. The boundary between them prevented her from getting closer, so she adjusted slightly.

Fan Qingyu’s breathing was even, lips closed, slightly chapped. The bedside nightlight cast a dim glow on her face, making her serene and beautiful.

Jing Xiao whispered: “Fan Qingyu… how could I ever truly not care about you?”

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