After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It - Chapter 42

Jing Xiao narrowed her eyes, a cold chill rising within her. She threatened in the same tone, “You’re in my house now, so think carefully about what you say.”

Xu Jia seemed genuinely intimidated for a moment. Then, after a flustered pause, she smiled faintly, placing a hand on Jing Xiao’s shoulder. “How about this: you get along well with me for two weeks, I’ll destroy the evidence, and then I won’t bother you again. How does that sound?”

It had to be admitted, the condition was tempting. Jing Xiao’s anger lessened slightly, though she didn’t appear overly eager. “Get along well… what exactly does that mean?”

“The standard is low,” Xu Jia said, proudly smiling as she plated some freshly made food. “You don’t need to betray Fan Qingyu in any way. I just want you to ignore her.”

Ignore.

Jing Xiao repeated the word in her mind. Fan Qingyu, thinking she hadn’t heard, raised her voice in calling her.

Knowing there was no better option, Jing Xiao opened the kitchen door and whispered back, “Starting tomorrow.”

Xu Jia had already expected Fan Qingyu’s arrival. When she came out carrying two plates of breakfast, her hostility was obvious.

Jing Xiao had already anticipated this. She pushed the plates away and said perfunctorily, “I’ve eaten at the hotel. You can eat it yourself. Don’t touch things without permission next time.”

Fan Qingyu acted as if Xu Jia didn’t exist. She took a withered rose in hand, carefully plucking its petals one by one. “This flower looks cheap. Where did you get it?”

Jing Xiao thought for a moment and replied truthfully, “Bought it casually on the street. Yeah, not expensive.”

“Keeping cheap flowers in the house affects the taste. I could tell at a glance,” Fan Qingyu said, slamming the rose on the table despite the thorns piercing her palm, leaving streaks of blood. She lifted her chin, glancing pointedly at Xu Jia. “People are the same. Cheap ones—you can tell immediately.”

Xu Jia’s smile did not fade. “Really? Then could Miss Fan help us pick a few higher-quality flowers?”

Fan Qingyu flipped the vase, letting the dead flowers fall into the trash. She exhaled with satisfaction. “Of course. Let’s get something valuable, something rare. It looks nice and feels good.”

Jing Xiao had never seen Fan Qingyu speak so fluently. She knew Fan Qingyu would never ridicule any flower for being inferior. Anyone could tell that she was indirectly referring to Xu Jia.

Xu Jia didn’t rush. After finishing breakfast, she collected the plates and leaned toward Jing Xiao, whispering, “Don’t forget what you promised me,” before slowly heading upstairs.

“Still whispering secrets?” Fan Qingyu’s nail polish had mostly chipped away, leaving only a few specks. She looked uncomfortable and finally picked off the rest.

Jing Xiao shook her head. “We didn’t say anything. Don’t overthink it.”

Fan Qingyu exhaled like a breeze, blowing away the dried residue on her nails. She didn’t dwell on what had been said and moved to the kitchen to wash the fresh blood from her hands. Her palms became smooth and fair again as she shook off the water, clasping her hands behind her back.

Jing Xiao noticed but didn’t bring it up again. She grabbed a black coat from the hanger. “Are you going to paint your nails?”

“I’ll do it when I get back. I only brought ingredients this time,” Fan Qingyu replied, her eyes narrowing slightly. She remembered that Xu Jia’s ingredients had been bought by her, which annoyed her further.

The coat’s fabric was stiff and flawless. It made her shoulders broad and legs long, showing her tall, slim figure. Only the hem of her loose jeans peeked out. The outfit complemented Jing Xiao’s alluring appearance.

The combination was visually pleasing. Fan Qingyu calmed down slightly, patting Jing Xiao’s prominent shoulder and proposing, “Want to go out for a walk later?”

Jing Xiao held a vase and smiled gently. “For example, pick out some expensive flowers?”

Her joke was interpreted by Fan Qingyu as defending Xu Jia. She snorted and sarcastically said, “Yes, don’t let cheap goods ruin my good mood.”

Jing Xiao bent slightly to meet her gaze. “Cheap goods? You mean Xu Jia?”

A soothing scent of Darjeeling tea filled the air, neutralizing the bitterness with subtle sweet notes, calming Fan Qingyu’s restless mood.

Her heart ached, but she maintained a calm expression. “And? So what?”

“Dummy, it doesn’t mean anything,” Jing Xiao tapped her forehead, thoroughly enjoying Fan Qingyu’s jealousy. She reassured her, “Don’t worry. After she leaves this time, I’ll never contact her again.”

Fan Qingyu wouldn’t admit she was upset because of Xu Jia. Jing Xiao’s answer put her at ease. She shifted the topic. “Your perfume smells really good. Is it custom-made?”

Jing Xiao teased her. “No, I’ve just been drinking a lot of tea lately.”

“Hmm?” Fan Qingyu seemed to believe her. “Where did you get the tea? Does it really have this effect?”

Jing Xiao chuckled and tapped her head. Her pheromones had indeed smelled similar to the tea, so she had bought the perfume without hesitation.

“Just kidding. This is from the store,” Jing Xiao said.

Fan Qingyu leaned closer to smell it. “I knew it. What you said just now was interesting.”

At that moment, the doorbell rang urgently. Jing Xiao, curious, asked, “Who could it be this early?”

Fan Qingyu smiled happily, arms crossed and leaning against the wall, eager to see who it was. “Go check.”

Jing Xiao opened the door, greeted by a strong floral fragrance. The reds of the flowers were vivid, and she didn’t react immediately. The deliveryman awkwardly read the small card: “Flowers for Miss Jing.”

Floyd roses and Ecuador roses. The Floyd rose had a purple hue—rich and seductive, the cup-shaped stems unfurling. The Ecuador rose was red on the outside and black inside, layered and exotic.

Valuable, yes, but a bit extravagant for a dining table.

Jing Xiao reached out to accept them, noticing Fan Qingyu beside her, she paused, hands frozen in mid-air. “Flowers for Miss Jing?”

The deliveryman, respectful, read the full name on the card: “For Miss Jing Xiao.”

Jing Xiao was incredulous. She pulled back her hands and carefully asked, “Can I know who sent them?”

The deliveryman shook his head. “Customer information is confidential. Please understand.”

Fan Qingyu stood quietly, watching the scene with a typical smile, emotion unreadable.

Jing Xiao hesitated. The deliveryman prompted, “Miss, please sign. I have more deliveries to make.”

Fan Qingyu tilted her chin with a playful tone: “Jing Xiao, your charm must be considerable if someone sent you flowers so quickly.”

“I’m not that charming,” Jing Xiao said nervously, waving to the deliveryman. “Sorry, I don’t want the flowers. Take them back to your girlfriend.”

The deliveryman looked embarrassed. Company rules forbade refusing packages, especially such expensive ones. He shook his head politely: “I don’t have a girlfriend. Please just sign.”

Fan Qingyu, thinking it was time, stepped closer. “Ecuador roses… seems like someone with taste sent them.”

Jing Xiao almost shook her head like a rattle. “I haven’t had much contact with anyone. I really don’t know who sent them.”

“Why so nervous? I won’t eat them,” Fan Qingyu said, propping her chin on her hands. She touched the petals delicately. “Why not accept them?”

Jing Xiao answered honestly like a bullied worker. “Because you’re here. I don’t accept flowers from anyone else when you’re around.”

The roses still had dew. Fan Qingyu sniffed them. “Why wouldn’t you accept them just because I’m here?”

Jing Xiao stammered, “I just… I won’t accept other people’s flowers with you here.”

“Ah, so you’d accept them if I weren’t around?” Fan Qingyu glanced at the deliveryman’s cart, realizing the standoff was pointless. She signed the receipt in Jing Xiao’s name. “Don’t make it hard for the poor delivery guy. I’ll take them.”

“Don’t, how am I supposed to explain this?” Jing Xiao clutched her thigh, panicking.

If the sender liked her and knew she accepted the flowers, they would surely expect more. One Xu Jia was enough to give her headaches.

After waving the deliveryman off, Fan Qingyu naturally carried the roses inside. “Guess why I accepted them. What did I say today?”

Jing Xiao finally understood the flowers’ origin and her heart finally settled. “You scared me.”

“Dummy.” Fan Qingyu said casually, handing the roses to Jing Xiao. Her eyes sparkled. “Jing Xiao, do you like the flowers I sent you?”

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