After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It - Chapter 51

After sending Fan Qingyu off, Jing Xiao sat alone in the car for a long time. The night sky seemed like a vast abyss, swallowing all her emotions, until the burning tears finally traced down her cheeks, and her consciousness gradually cleared.

Jing Xiao parted her thin lips slightly, her hoarse voice frightening in its intensity: “Take me home.”

Fan Qingyu was probably too exhausted; she only sent a single punctuation mark to signal she was safe, and then there was no further response. Jing Xiao propped her jaw with her hand, watching the scenery blur past outside. She felt dizzy.

She had come into this world, inexplicably tasked with cleaning up a mess, all while constantly weighing her relationship with the one she loved.

It was frustrating. Jing Xiao still felt that her usual methods could solve things.

The night was dense. The mansion, along with the courtyard, had lost all its former vitality. The surrounding silence was eerie, and Jing Xiao’s footsteps felt unusually heavy.

The main hall was empty. She checked her phone again; at this hour, Fan Qingyu had probably already fallen asleep. Jing Xiao tiptoed upstairs. At the staircase corner, a cold, piercing gaze made her shiver.

Jing Lan crossed her arms, her tight clothes outlining her sexy curves. A smile curved her lips as she slowly said: “The secret meeting is over?”

Jing Xiao kept her eyes on the floor, stepping past her: “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“You’re amazing—keeping one at home, dating another outside,” Jing Lan leaned against the doorframe, her legs crossed, clearly having figured out everything about Jing Xiao. Disdainfully, she said, “Tomorrow, you’ll receive a big gift.”

She knew Jing Xiao was sharp-tongued and hard to sway. After saying this, she left the hallway for her own room.

Jing Xiao’s thoughts were in chaos. She closed her bedroom door heavily, feeling a momentary sense of relief, then took her change of clothes to the bathroom. She didn’t turn on the heater, letting her skin be exposed to the cold air, giving her goosebumps.

What would happen tomorrow?

She had no way of knowing.

The next day, near lunchtime, Jing Xiao finally got out of bed. Her secretary reported that the tasks she had instructed were already underway, and Jing Xiao responded briefly.

She remained anxious. From family chatter to lunch gatherings, Jing Lan’s so-called “big gift” had yet to appear. As night fell, Jing Xiao realized and immediately asked the driver to take her somewhere, then hailed a taxi.

Meeting with Fan Qingyu went smoothly. Fan Qingyu was still staying at a hotel. Jing Xiao knocked for a long time before she finally opened the door in just a bath towel.

“Not even wearing something proper?” Fan Qingyu had just showered, her wet hair resting on her shoulders. Jing Xiao pushed her back and, stepping inside, added in annoyance: “Why didn’t you turn on the air conditioner?”

“I didn’t know if I’d need to go out with you tonight, so I didn’t turn it on,” Fan Qingyu replied from the steamy bathroom, her voice low and muffled, as if chilled from earlier, having run the shower a bit more.

“You should have just told me,” Jing Xiao’s forearm ached as she shook the sleepwear in her hand, urging Fan Qingyu over.

Fan Qingyu let out a soft laugh, supporting herself on the sides of the bathtub, slightly lifting and then sitting back down, causing the water to splash: “I’m taking a bath.”

Jing Xiao’s cheeks flushed. Clearing her throat, she said, “Sorry.”

She couldn’t help but look up. A slender, curved leg emerged from the water. Fan Qingyu was focused, seemingly applying something, and said without looking up: “Xiao Xiao, can you help me?”

“Help with what?” Jing Xiao’s voice was hoarse.

Fan Qingyu’s tailing tone dragged, full of a playful, almost coquettish appeal: “I can’t manage it lying in the tub.”

Jing Xiao’s heart raced. Her breathing became rapid, unsure if it was the heat or the hormonal rush. Her body trembled.

Fan Qingyu was always like this—seductive without realizing it.

Jing Xiao’s nose tingled, fearing a nosebleed, and instinctively wiped it.

Nothing.

She exhaled in relief.

Fan Qingyu seemed unwilling to miss this opportunity, insisting, hands clasped: “Please, Xiao Xiao.”

Jing Xiao steadied herself, took a deep breath, went to the washbasin, and squeezed some hand soap, rubbing it to create foam: “Okay, stay in your usual position.”

Instinctively cleaning her hands, she was careful not to dirty Fan Qingyu’s hair. After rinsing off the foam, Jing Xiao moved to the bathtub’s edge.

Ripples in the water blurred Fan Qingyu’s body. Jing Xiao forced herself to focus entirely on the hair.

“Why are you afraid to look at me?” Fan Qingyu tilted her face, her fox-like eyes moist with water vapor, the palm-sized face full of mischief. Her long lashes, wet, drooped in clusters.

With her movements, the scene in the bathtub was fully exposed.

Fresh red droplets fell into the water, spreading like ink flowers. Jing Xiao’s lips tingled as if something had brushed past.

A delayed nosebleed.

Pain prickled in her nose. She stepped back, hurriedly wiping the blood with a towel.

Fan Qingyu laughed, covering her mouth. Perhaps she hadn’t seen Jing Xiao laugh so unrestrainedly for a long time. Jing Xiao couldn’t look away, saying flatly, “Don’t laugh at me.”

Fan Qingyu, realizing the moment, quickly offered: “Are you overheated? There’s chrysanthemum tea outside; you can make some.”

After cleaning her nose, Fan Qingyu lay back in the tub, scooping a large piece of scrub and gently massaging her elbows: “I didn’t mean to make fun of you. I just thought it was funny.”

Jing Xiao reassured her: “It’s fine, it really is funny.”

It was Jing Xiao’s first time washing someone else’s hair. Her movements were clumsy. She first applied shampoo at the tips of Fan Qingyu’s hair, lathered it, then gradually worked upward.

Her fingertips massaged Fan Qingyu’s scalp. Fan Qingyu let out a soft moan, praising: “Your technique is not bad—like a spa.”

Jing Xiao laughed: “It’s nothing special.”

Her fingers ran through Fan Qingyu’s nape, gently lifting the hair: “Raise your head a little. I’ll wash the back.”

Fan Qingyu leaned back, water splashing, wetting Jing Xiao’s clothes. Flustered, she tried to wipe it: “Sorry.”

The wetness made the area feel even more intimate, and Jing Xiao inadvertently touched something soft, blushing.

Jing Xiao grabbed the rogue hand, laughing: “Fan Qingyu, was that on purpose?”

Fan Qingyu’s voice lowered: “I didn’t mean to.”

Jing Xiao’s outfit today differed from her usual style—fitted blouse with a small silk bow at the collar, now wet and drooping: “Fine, I’ll reluctantly believe you.”

“I’m telling the truth.”

“Okay, okay, truth.”

Jing Xiao slid half a palm into the bathtub: “Hurry, I’ll wash you quickly, then you can get out. The water’s cooling.”

Fan Qingyu became more reserved, quietly holding her knees while Jing Xiao applied the scrub. Her arms, softened and cared for, felt like jade.

Jing Xiao retrieved the shower head, carefully rinsing the foam from the top. Despite her care, some got into Fan Qingyu’s eyes, reddening them.

Jing Xiao quickly handed a clean towel.

Fan Qingyu blinked sharply, tears streaming before she felt better. She sniffled: “Help me wipe it.”

Jing Xiao cupped her face, treating it like a treasure, gently wiping her eyes, occasionally blowing cool air to ease the pain.

Jing Xiao was about to grab the bath towel: “That should do it.”

“Of course not. Now put some hair oil on.” Fan Qingyu pointed to a small bottle on the washbasin, its colors standing out against the hotel’s decor—it was clearly purchased by Fan Qingyu herself.

Jing Xiao squeezed some into her hand. The steam released a faint plum fragrance throughout the bathroom. Her eyes lit up: “This is your regular hair oil?”

“Correct. I remembered you liked this scent, so I bought it especially,” Fan Qingyu shook her hair in front of Jing Xiao.

Jing Xiao inhaled deeply twice, almost choking from the overwhelming fragrance: “Yes, I really like it.”

After the chaotic bath, Fan Qingyu dried off and fiddled with a shopping bag: “Are you going out?”

Jing Xiao, standing under the heater, quickly dried her clothes, smoothing the folds and the bow: “Just going out for a bit, nothing else to do.”

“What are you wearing today?” Fan Qingyu looked at Jing Xiao’s coat hanging on the hanger—a pink woolen long coat.

Jing Xiao put it on, adjusted it, and twirled to show Fan Qingyu.

Fan Qingyu’s lips curved into a beautiful arc. She tugged the bow at Jing Xiao’s collar, the bell jingling: “You look really cute today.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” Jing Xiao opened the shopping bag, clearly with clothes Fan Qingyu had bought today, and picked out a matching small Chanel-style jacket: “Do you want to wear this? It looks nice.”

Fan Qingyu had already dressed in a base layer, hesitating: “The jacket is over a skirt. Won’t it be cold outside?”

“Yes, let me check.” Jing Xiao pulled out all the clothes and paired them with jeans: “Bell-bottoms should look good too.”

“Alright, I’ll follow your advice.” Fan Qingyu agreed. She wore a white lace top and a tailored blazer. Although formal in style, the bright color gave her a soft, gentle aura.

Jing Xiao praised her: “Not bad, very elegant. What do you want for dinner tonight?”

She cut off the tags from the new clothes.

Fan Qingyu, still carrying the bath scent, shook her hair, sending a few drops onto Jing Xiao: “I want cream pasta and cheesy baked lobster.”

“Which restaurant?” Jing Xiao instinctively checked her phone for high-end restaurants.

Fan Qingyu turned on the hairdryer, its low hum filling the room, and shrugged: “Doesn’t matter. The closest one will do.”

The makeup bag on the dresser was bulging with skincare items. Fan Qingyu, freshly bathed, barefaced, opened it. Jing Xiao asked: “Are you putting on makeup?”

Fan Qingyu patted her cheeks: “Just skincare. My face is too dry.”

Jing Xiao naturally took the hairdryer, guiding her to the dresser: “I’ll help you dry your hair.”

“You seem a bit…” Fan Qingyu started to speak but swallowed the words, quietly applying skincare.

Her hair gradually became dry and fluffy. Looking in the mirror, Fan Qingyu inspected herself, slightly helpless, and then applied some lipstick.

The bright red lipstick came out slowly. She dabbed a little on the center of her lips, blending it gently with her fingertip, resulting in a lighter effect.

She stood up, rubbing the remaining color onto Jing Xiao’s lips: “Xiao Xiao, I’ll help you too.”

Jing Xiao turned off the hairdryer: “Today, you are very…”

Like the old Fan Qingyu.

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