Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Taste of Sunshine

As soon as Qiao Xi emerged from the room, she was greeted by the smell of food. She saw Shen Ya sitting at the dining table, eating dumplings. Qiao Xi felt like she had discovered a new continent. She quickly walked over, exclaiming, “Did Teacher Shen make these dumplings yourself?”

“They’re frozen.” Shen Ya was too busy every day to make dumplings. She put down her chopsticks and asked, “What do you want for breakfast? I’ll make it for you.”

Qiao Xi had initially intended to come out and say goodbye to Shen Ya, but hearing that Shen Ya was going to make her breakfast, she gritted her teeth and decided to eat first. Even if she had to face the judgment of two mothers and two sisters later, she would do it as a full ghost!

“Then I’ll have dumplings too.”

“Mm.” Shen Ya stood up, then suddenly remembered something. She walked to the sofa, picked up a shopping bag, and returned to Qiao Xi, handing her the bag: “My clothes won’t fit you, and the ones you washed last night haven’t dried. These are new. Even if you don’t like them, you have to wear them.”

Afraid Qiao Xi might refuse, Shen Ya directly tucked the shopping bag into Qiao Xi’s arms, giving her no chance to decline, and then walked toward the kitchen.

Qiao Xi stood there dumbfounded, hugging the shopping bag. She never dreamed that Shen Ya would go out early in the morning to buy her clothes, and that this item would be the same brand as the one she had washed last night. The brand was expensive. Normally, she would just use her sisters’ or mother’s cards, but now, Shen Ya had gone to such lengths just because of a joke request to stay the night.

This garment was too valuable. She absolutely could not accept it with a clear conscience. Qiao Xi carried the shopping bag to the kitchen entrance. Shen Ya was already boiling water to cook the dumplings for her.

Qiao Xi, abandoning her usual humor, spoke with unusual seriousness. Looking at Shen Ya’s back, she stated directly, “Teacher Shen, this clothing is too expensive. I can’t accept it.”

“Only you can wear this outfit.” The implication was that if Qiao Xi didn’t take it, the clothing would just go to waste.

Qiao Xi didn’t take Shen Ya’s hint. She took out her phone, opened Shen Ya’s chat window, and, looking at the price tag, transferred the money to Shen Ya: “So, consider this my own purchase. The money has been transferred to Teacher Shen. If Teacher Shen doesn’t accept it, I’ll ask my sister to transfer the money to you.”

Shen Ya took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She replied flatly, “I’ll accept the money once the dumplings are cooked. Go wash up.”

“Then that’s settled. I’ll remind you, Teacher Shen.” Qiao Xi’s usual smile returned. She happily hugged her new clothes and returned to the room, completely forgetting the phone call from her mother urging her to hurry home.

Shen Ya had good taste. Qiao Xi loved the new clothes. After getting dressed and washing up, when she returned to the dining room, Shen Ya was just bringing the dumplings out of the kitchen.

As soon as Qiao Xi sat down, she urged Shen Ya: “Did you accept the money, Teacher Shen?”

Shen Ya was tired of the nagging and could only take out her phone and click ‘Receive.’ The money was finally collected, and Qiao Xi felt relieved.

“What are your plans for today, Teacher Shen?”

“Working from home.”

“Cough…” This answer made Qiao Xi choke. Shen Ya poured her some water. Qiao Xi grabbed the cup and gulped down a large mouthful. After calming down for a while, she said, “It’s a holiday. Why aren’t you going out, Teacher Shen?”

“It’s crowded outside, and there’s nothing interesting to do.”

“You can’t say that! It’s fun precisely because there are so many people! How about I…” Qiao Xi spoke quickly, but just as she was about to suggest she take Shen Ya out, she remembered she had to go home soon. “How about I take Teacher Shen out tomorrow?”

“We’ll see.”

Shen Ya neither agreed nor refused. Qiao Xi couldn’t figure out her meaning. Perhaps it was the imminent separation from Shen Ya that filled her with a sense of reluctance, as if once she left, Shen Ya and she would never cross paths again.

After that, neither of them spoke. Qiao Xi quietly finished all her dumplings. She woke up late today, and it was nearly noon after breakfast. Her sister had already texted her, asking where she was. Qiao Xi knew she had to leave.

Before leaving, Qiao Xi collected her dishes. She didn’t let Shen Ya help clean up, but the other woman stood nearby, watching her, as if afraid she might drop the dishes.

“Teacher Shen, I’ll be leaving soon.”

“Alright.”

Qiao Xi rinsed the foam from the bowls: “I’ll be taking the university entrance exam this year, but my grades are pretty good. My teacher said I can choose any of the top universities as long as I perform consistently.”

“Mm.” Shen Ya didn’t know why Qiao Xi was telling her this, but from a teacher’s perspective, she said, “Then study hard. You only have a few months left. Choose the school you truly love in the future, and don’t change your mind because of what others say, so you don’t regret it later.”

Qiao Xi turned off the faucet. She turned her head and asked, “Then, if I have any questions I can’t answer, can I ask Teacher Shen?”

Shen Ya crossed her arms and leaned against the refrigerator. The corners of her mouth curved slightly, as if mocking herself: “Both of your sisters are more educated than I am. I probably can’t teach you anything.”

“That’s different. Teacher Shen is a teacher, after all. Specialized professions have their own expertise. Besides, no matter how highly educated my sisters are, they don’t use high school textbooks often. They might not be as good as Teacher Shen.” Qiao Xi felt extremely guilty after saying this, apologizing to both of her sisters a hundred times in her heart.

Simultaneously, far away, Jiang Yunxi suddenly sneezed. Qin Shuyao handed her a tissue. The two whispered, “Where is Xiao Xi, anyway? Why isn’t she back yet?”

Hearing Qiao Xi’s words, the amusement in Shen Ya’s heart crept up to the corners of her eyes. She said, “Does your sister know you speak ill of her like this behind her back?”

“Uh… well…” Qiao Xi was embarrassed. She cleared her throat, deciding to double down: “I’m telling the truth. How can that be considered speaking ill of my sister?”

She finished putting away the clean dishes and wiped her hands: “Then can I assume that Teacher Shen agreed to help me?”

“Mm.”

Qiao Xi was now relieved. She was afraid that once she left this door, Shen Ya would become distant again. She had initially wanted to probe Shen Ya about the secret between her and Doctor Jiang, but after their contact last night, she realized that Teacher Shen had traces of her own past self. The woman was not as aloof and distant as she appeared on the outside.

Compared to what happened between her sister and Shen Ya, she was now more curious about Shen Ya’s past. What exactly had the woman encountered to become this way? Shen Ya seemed to have trapped herself on a deserted island. She was clearly a very gentle person inside, so why did she deliberately wrap herself in cold armor?

Before Qiao Xi left, she asked Shen Ya, “Can I come and see Teacher Shen again in the future?”

“You’ll be busy with your studies, and I expect to be moving soon. You probably won’t have many chances to find me.”

“No, no, no! As long as Teacher Shen agrees, I’ll come even if you move to the ends of the earth!”

Shen Ya changed her shoes, then raised her hand and flicked Qiao Xi on the forehead: “If you mess up your studies, your sister might come looking for trouble with me.”

Qiao Xi rubbed the spot Shen Ya had flicked. It didn’t hurt, but it tickled a little: “No, I promise my grades won’t drop. Besides, I’ll have Teacher Shen to help me, right?”

Shen Ya tapped her forehead again: “Alright, we’ll talk about it later. I’ll walk you to your car.”

It was another ambiguous answer, but that was okay. As long as she didn’t refuse, it meant Shen Ya didn’t resist her closeness. She had already secured many guarantees from Shen Ya and shouldn’t be too greedy.

This time, Qiao Xi called the cab herself since Shen Ya didn’t know where she was going. While waiting for the car, Qiao Xi went to the small convenience store near the entrance and bought two tea eggs. She placed one in Shen Ya’s hand: “Teacher Shen treated me to so many good things. This is a little interest I’m paying you back.”

The tea egg, just taken out of the pot, was hot to the touch, but in the winter, it served perfectly as a small hand warmer. Shen Ya did not refuse. She held the tea egg with both hands and instructed her, “Text me when you get home safely.”

“Got it.”

The black sedan stopped by the roadside. Qiao Xi checked the license plate, then opened the car door. Shen Ya took a picture of the license plate. Seeing that the driver was a woman, she felt slightly reassured, but still reminded Qiao Xi, “Be safe on the road. I’ll keep your clothes for you for now and give them to you next time we have a chance.”

“Okay, thank you for everything, Teacher Shen.”

“Alright, go on.”

The driver started the car, and the wheels began to turn forward. At that moment, Qiao Xi leaned half her face out of the window and yelled to Shen Ya: “Teacher Shen, I will definitely come find you!”

Shen Ya was startled by her action. How dangerous was that! She waved her hand dismissively at Qiao Xi and silently mouthed a word, knowing that Qiao Xi’s intelligence would allow her to understand what she meant.

The car drove away, and Qiao Xi quickly pulled her head back in. Soon after, Shen Ya’s phone chimed. She opened it and saw an emoji of a little dog saying ‘Sorry’ sent by Qiao Xi.

The tea egg in her hand was still warm, even a little hot from being held for so long. She wondered if Qiao Xi had left it for her in advance to cheer her up. She typed a few words with one hand: “Don’t do that next time.”

A few seconds after sending it, she received a reply. Qiao Xi sent back a few words: “I promise I won’t do it again next time!”

This was followed by an emoji of a little dog wagging its tail.

Shen Ya shook her head, put her phone in her pocket, and turned to walk back into the complex.

It was still the same home, but returning to it, she found the house terribly silent. The house was exactly as Qiao Xi had left it. Perhaps because Qiao Xi was so noisy, even though their time together was brief, she still remembered every little thing that happened while the girl was there.

With Qiao Xi around, the house felt more alive. Although she spoke nonsense, the warmth and joy she brought made Shen Ya’s heart feel briefly alive.

Oh, the tea egg…

She walked back to the sofa and sat down. On the walk back, the tea egg had cooled considerably due to the north wind. She peeled off the shell bit by bit, then put it into her mouth, chewing slowly.

Today’s tea egg seemed much tastier than usual. It was the same item, yet it seemed to have an extra layer of something else.

Shen Ya pondered what the tea egg was missing until she finished eating it. Then she understood: It had an extra ray of sunshine.

She took out her phone, opened Qiao Xi’s chat box again, edited a message, and pressed send: “The interest was delicious.”