Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Shen Ya Received a Video While Eating…

While eating, Shen Ya received a video and photos from Zhou Ziqian. These photos and the video weren’t of the current events. She clicked on the first photo.

The photo showed a baby in swaddling clothes surrounded by four people. She recognized Jiang Yunxi’s youthful appearance, so the baby in the center must be Qiao Xi when she was little?

[Zhou Ziqian: Complimentary gift. If you must thank me, call me Sister-in-law.]

Shen Ya first saved all the photos and videos, then replied to Zhou Ziqian: [Is the dinner party over?]

[Zhou Ziqian: Almost. Boss Shen, I’ll also kindly send you some small items to enhance your relationship. You’re welcome.]

She didn’t know how Qiao Xi had provoked Zhou Ziqian again tonight. Fang Moyao and Zhou Ziqian were two people who would never let themselves suffer a financial loss unless they encountered something they were truly interested in. These two money-lovers had been giving her a few too many things recently.

Even though Qiao Xi was Fang Moyao’s sister, Shen Ya didn’t believe these two were being so kind.

However, judging by Zhou Ziqian’s demeanor, Qiao Xi probably hadn’t suffered a loss either. Since that was the case, she would pretend not to know anything. If Zhou Ziqian wanted to send them, she would accept them. It was a good opportunity for her to explore new knowledge with Qiao Xi.

The question was, when would Qiao Xi return?

While Shen Ya slowly enjoyed looking at the photos and videos, Qiao Xi was pulled aside by Fang Hongjing and Fang Lianxin to talk. Qiao Xi exchanged contact information with them and added Fang Hongjing as a friend. Although Fang Hongjing knew Qiao Xi lacked nothing, she still gave her a sum of money.

“I can’t accept this,” Qiao Xi refused. She felt embarrassed to accept money right after meeting them.

But Fang Hongjing insisted: “This was originally saved for your mother, Lanxi. Take it. Consider it a small token of the Fang family’s appreciation. We owe you for not being able to raise you all these years.”

Qiao Xi shook her head: “Aunt, please don’t say that. Mom and Mommy are very good to me and have always treated me as their own child, so I’ve been very happy all these years. Aunt and Grandma don’t need to feel guilty. Now that I know I still have a Grandma and an Aunt, I’ll visit you often.”

With that, she accepted the money, giving the elders peace of mind. She could repay the people who loved her in other ways in the future.

Fang Lianxin and Fang Hongjing smiled kindly and affectionately when they saw her accept the money. One stroked her head, and the other patted her hand, as if a great weight that had been pressing on their hearts for years had finally been lifted.

Fang Lianxin held Qiao Xi’s hand and kept talking to her. The elders’ concern made Qiao Xi’s eyes sting. When bidding farewell, Qiao Xi said to them: “I’ll be starting school in two days. Aunt and Grandma, if you have time, could you take me to school?”

“Of course, we can!” Fang Hongjing said: “Then Xiao Xi, will you come and stay at our house for one night in two days?”

Qiao Xi didn’t hesitate. She nodded: “Yes, I’ll stay at Aunt’s house the day after tomorrow.”

“Good, good, good. Just bring yourself. I’ll have Yao Yao pick you up. I’ll buy you clothes over the next two days. Just bring the luggage you need for school.”

Qiao Xi didn’t refuse her family’s kindness, because what the elders wanted was very simple. She would fulfill everyone’s wishes and take care of the remaining family members on behalf of her mother.

Tonight’s dinner was drawing to a close. When her two mothers asked her where she was going tonight, she said: “I’m going to my sister’s house. I haven’t been back for a long time.”

Qin Shuyuan was surprised and delighted. She immediately hugged Qiao Xi from behind: “Then Xiao Xi, you’ll sleep with your sister tonight.”

“Okay!” Qiao Xi glanced at Jiang Yunxi, who was still chatting with Jiang Yunyi, “Then Doctor Jiang tonight?”

“Let her sleep by herself.”

Qiao Xi understood. It seemed Doctor Jiang still hadn’t successfully won her sister over.

The moon was beautiful tonight. Qiao Xi sat in the back seat of the car, propping her face up and enjoying the slowly receding streetscape. A major matter had been resolved. Even though she was not far from home, her heart still couldn’t settle down.

The car passed the neighborhood opposite the all-girls high school. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see her building from the outside. She wondered what Shen Ya was doing. She wouldn’t have time to chat with Shen Ya tonight. Her sister hadn’t seen her for so long and would definitely want to talk to her.

As the car pulled into the parking lot, Qiao Xi took a moment to send a message to Shen Ya: [I’m going back to Doctor Jiang and Sister’s house tonight. Can’t chat.]

Closing her phone, the car was parked in the spot. Qiao Xi was the first to open the door and get out. Qin Shuyuan got out of the car and led her toward the house.

“Xiao Xi, go take a shower first when we get upstairs.”

“Okay.”

Qin Shuyuan rubbed her head: “Xiao Xi, don’t forget your sister now that you have more family.”

“Of course not.” Qiao Xi rested her head on Qin Shuyuan’s shoulder: “Didn’t I come back with my sister?”

“Tomorrow is my day off. Shall your sister take you out shopping and to see a movie?”

Qiao Xi: “Sounds great.”

Jiang Yunxi, who followed closely behind, overheard their conversation. She came to Qiao Xi’s other side and put her arm around her waist: “I’ll go with you two tomorrow.”

Qin Shuyuan opened the front door: “You’re working tomorrow. Why would you go?”

Qiao Xi smelled the gunpowder between the two sisters. She shut her mouth and pricked up her ears. Just as she was about to continue listening, Jiang Yunxi patted her waist and said: “Xiao Xi, go back to your room and shower first.”

They wanted to send her away again! Qiao Xi wouldn’t have it. She wasn’t a child anymore. Besides, the matter between the two sisters was no secret in her eyes. After all, besides her, who else in the family knew these two were dating?

The moment the light was turned on, Qiao Xi hid on the other side of Qin Shuyuan. She hugged Qin Shuyuan’s arm: “Did Doctor Jiang do something to upset my sister, and that’s why she needs to send me away to talk?”

Jiang Yunxi scolded her: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’m not talking nonsense. It must be that Doctor Jiang made a mistake and upset my sister. It’s been so many days, and she still hasn’t won my sister over.”

Jiang Yunxi let out a breath. Frowning with a dark expression, she was about to continue lecturing Qiao Xi, but Qin Shuyuan shielded Qiao Xi from her gaze: “Xiao Xi finally came back. Why are you yelling at her? Where is she wrong? It’s been so many days. Have you thought clearly, Jiang Yunxi? Why are you always hesitant and worrying about everything?”

“Shuyuan, don’t say these things in front of Xiao Xi.” Jiang Yunxi reached out, trying to grab Qin Shuyuan’s arm.

“Why shouldn’t I say it? She’s our sister. What can’t she know?”

Although Qiao Xi wanted to hear the gossip, she was genuinely afraid the two sisters would start arguing. She was used to being the peacemaker in the family. It was better to separate the two sisters and talk to them individually now.

Qiao Xi held onto Qin Shuyuan’s hand: “Sister, let’s go back to the room first. I haven’t been back for so long. Do I still have clothes to wear?”

“Of course you do. Let’s go. I’ll get them for you.” Qin Shuyuan glared at Jiang Yunxi before turning around and leading Qiao Xi upstairs.

Watching them walk away, Jiang Yunxi shook her head and sighed.

Back in Qin Shuyuan’s room, as soon as the door closed, Qiao Xi asked: “Sister, what exactly happened between you and Doctor Jiang?”

Fearing Qin Shuyuan wouldn’t tell her, she added: “I’m all grown up now. Just tell me. Maybe I can help my sister think of a solution?”

“Our Xiao Xi is still the sweetest and most sensible.” Qin Shuyuan cupped Qiao Xi’s face with both hands, smiling gently: “I want to make our relationship public, but Yunxi refused.”

“What?!”

Qin Shuyuan put down her hands and pulled Qiao Xi’s wrist, leading her into the walk-in closet: “She’s afraid Mom and Mommy won’t be able to accept it. But she never considers that we are not related by blood at all. She’s always overthinking and hesitating to make a decision.”

Qin Shuyuan took a deep breath: “Does this mean my relationship with her can never be made public?”

“This… I don’t think Doctor Jiang means that either.” Qiao Xi hadn’t expected the two sisters to be arguing over this. As an outsider, she instantly understood the thoughts in both sisters’ hearts.

Her Sister Shuyuan needed a sense of security, but Doctor Jiang wanted to offer a perfect solution. Yet, there were no such perfect things in the world. Doctor Jiang had too many burdens. Perhaps, having been the eldest sister for so long, she wasn’t as carefree as Sister Shuyuan. Any decision required a lot of thought before she dared to confirm it.

“Of course, I know she doesn’t mean that. I just can’t accept her constant indecision.”

The main issue here was with Doctor Jiang. It seemed she needed to approach Doctor Jiang about this. Qiao Xi hugged Qin Shuyuan: “Sister, don’t worry. I’ll talk to Doctor Jiang. Give Doctor Jiang some more time. She loves her sister the most and definitely won’t let her be sad.”

Qin Shuyuan embraced her waist, rubbing her back back and forth just like she did when comforting Qiao Xi when she was little: “Our Xiao Xi is the best. Don’t worry, Xiao Xi. We can solve it ourselves. Alright, go shower first. You must be tired after a long night.”

“Okay.”

Qiao Xi had an idea. The two sisters were just too involved to see clearly. Her Doctor Jiang just needed a little push to fully understand and make up her mind.

When Qiao Xi came out after her shower, she saw Jiang Yunxi wearing a deep blue pajama set and holding a pillow, standing in front of Qin Shuyuan. “Uh… you two continue. I didn’t see anything.”

Qiao Xi couldn’t stand Jiang Yunxi’s freezing gaze. She quickly climbed onto Qin Shuyuan’s bed, pulling the covers over her head, pretending she wasn’t there.

“Shuyuan.”

“The bed is too small to fit you.”

Jiang Yunxi rarely acted spoiled: “It’s fine. I only need a tiny bit of space. I won’t crowd you.”

Qin Shuyuan still maintained a stern face and didn’t even want to look at Jiang Yunxi.

“Shuyuan.” Jiang Yunxi held the pillow with one hand and reached out with the other to hook Qin Shuyuan’s pinky finger: “It’s rare for Xiao Xi to come back, and I miss her very much too. Besides, I’m even more reluctant to be too far from you.”

Qiao Xi, hiding under the quilt, shivered. So her Doctor Jiang could even say such cheesy things. Listening to the two sisters talking about their relationship, she started to miss Shen Ya again. No chance tonight. She didn’t even get Shen Ya’s goodnight message.

Tonight, Qiao Xi felt like she was back in her childhood, with her two sisters sleeping on either side of her. Their sisterly conversation continued late into the night. None of them brought up any bothersome topics. It wasn’t until Qiao Xi became drowsy and fell asleep in Jiang Yunxi’s arms that the two sisters stopped talking and turned off the light in the room.

Qiao Xi had a pleasant weekend. Jiang Yunxi and Qin Shuyuan took her out to play all day, but Qiao Xi didn’t forget the real reason she returned home with her sister.

She was going to see Fang Moyao tomorrow, so the wine she promised must be secured tonight.

Qiao Xi didn’t intend to be a third wheel to her two sisters tonight, so she returned to her room early and took a shower. Afterward, she knocked on Jiang Yunxi’s bedroom door.

Luckily, Jiang Yunxi was still busy with some work in the room. Qiao Xi smiled like a little fox. She leaned against the door frame and asked: “May I come in?”

Jiang Yunxi grabbed her arm, pulled her into the room, and locked the door: “Speak. What is it?”

“Hehe, I knew I couldn’t hide it from Doctor Jiang.”

Qiao Xi became Jiang Yunxi’s little shadow. She followed Jiang Yunxi into the small study room. When Jiang Yunxi sat down in the chair and looked back at her computer, Qiao Xi put her hands on the desk and said: “I know why you and Sister are arguing.”

Jiang Yunxi paused her typing, her gaze turning back to Qiao Xi.

“Doctor Jiang, I’ll be direct. I can accept your relationship, and naturally, Mom and Mommy can too. Doctor Jiang, are you afraid Mom and Mommy won’t allow it, or do you fundamentally not trust their feelings for you?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Jiang Yunxi looked away, staring at the computer screen again, but she wasn’t reading a single word. “I can handle this. Xiao Xi, you don’t need to worry.”

“Really?” Qiao Xi’s tone was unconvinced: “But it’s been so long. Has Doctor Jiang never considered whether Sister is still willing to wait for you to figure things out?”

“Sister is so excellent. There must be many people pursuing her, right?” Qiao Xi fearlessly continued: “Although Doctor Jiang has an advantage, Sister constantly lacks a sense of security. Isn’t that just wearing down the affection between you two? When the affection is all gone, will Sister completely abandon Doctor Jiang?”

A sharp gaze pierced into Qiao Xi like small knives. Qiao Xi shrank her neck: “What I said isn’t impossible. Doctor Jiang, good sister, this is what you taught me: the longer anything is dragged out, the more variables there will be. Especially with Sister Shuyuan.”

Jiang Yunxi leaned back against the office chair. She rubbed her temples, her tone less aggressive: “Give me some more time. I need the right moment to come clean to Mom and Mommy.”

“Doctor Jiang, you’ve been given enough time. Sister told me yesterday that she was very sad, feeling like she had to hide in a cave and couldn’t be seen. She doesn’t know how long this life of hiding has to go on.” Seeing Jiang Yunxi’s tightly furrowed brow, Qiao Xi leaned in and lowered her voice: “Sister even cried yesterday. But she told me not to tell you. Alas, I don’t want to interfere with my sisters’ business, but I really can’t bear to see my sister shed tears.”

Jiang Yunxi’s hand gripped the armrest of the chair. Although she was mentally distressed, her expression remained composed: “You go back to your room and rest. I will talk to Shuyuan properly tonight.”

“Then I’m leaving. Doctor Jiang, don’t let Sister be sad alone.”

Jiang Yunxi waved her hand: “Go back.”

Qiao Xi took a few steps, looking back repeatedly, pretending to be hesitant and worried. Only after she left Jiang Yunxi’s room did she take a deep breath.

Afterward, she hid in her own room, intentionally leaving the door ajar, waiting for Jiang Yunxi to go to Qin Shuyuan’s room.

She waited until midnight.

Another half hour passed. Certain that neither of them would emerge from the room, Qiao Xi opened her bedroom door and quietly slipped away.

Qiao Xi had already changed into her outdoor clothes and was wearing her backpack. She went down to the negative first floor to Jiang Yunxi’s small wine cellar. Although she didn’t know much about wine, she knew where Jiang Yunxi kept the most expensive bottles.

Opening the transparent cabinet door on the far side, she took a bottle of red wine from the very top shelf. The price of this wine was similar to Fang Moyao’s bottle. Qiao Xi remembered the temperature of the wine cabinet, then took an outdoor wine carrier from the bottom and carefully placed the red wine inside.

After doing all this, she felt a little nervous. After all, if Doctor Jiang caught her red-handed, her butt would probably be bruised. Also, she was afraid Jiang Yunxi might have a heart attack right there.

It was not advisable to stay here long. Qiao Xi didn’t use the front door to leave the house. She climbed out of the large window on the first floor, slowly closing it, and finally climbed over the wall from the small garden.

Before leaving, she looked up at the direction of her sister’s bedroom. The room was dark. She wondered if the two were already asleep.

Qiao Xi carried her backpack and the wine carrier, walked for a distance, and then hailed a ride-share car. She couldn’t go back to her mothers’ house. She only had one place to go now.