Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Secret Base

After New Year’s Day, Qiao Xi returned to her usual routine, a life centered around school. The learning atmosphere in Qiao Xi’s class was quite intense. They had finished the textbook content long ago, and with only a few months left until the university entrance exams, they spent their days drilling practice questions, filling in knowledge gaps.

Although there are now twelve years of compulsory education, the college entrance examination remains the top priority for students. However, Qiao Xi was not nervous. Her grades had always been stable. Under the reduced-burden education policy, even in the final year of high school, they didn’t have too many extra classes.

Every day, Qiao Xi emerged from the school gate, looking across the road at a residential complex. She had an idea brewing in her mind, but she hadn’t contacted Shen Ya much these days, so she didn’t know if the other woman had found a satisfactory apartment.

After evening study hall ended, Qiao Xi didn’t plan to rush home. Both of her sisters had a dinner engagement tonight and would be returning late. Therefore, she decided to go to the apartment her mother had gifted her.

“Qiao Xi, want to go for a late-night snack?” a girl tapped Qiao Xi on the shoulder from behind.

Qiao Xi turned her head and saw two people standing there: one with a clear, beautiful appearance, and the other handsome and spirited. They were her two closest friends. Normally, she would have agreed, but today, she shook her head and said, “Not going. I have something to do.”

“What is it?” Xia Cong’an’s eyes darted around. She was certain she had guessed the answer. She said confidently, “Don’t tell me your sister is strict, and you’re too scared to go?”

Qiao Xi rolled her eyes at her, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes: “Among the three of us, you’re the only one with a strict sister. I need to go back to my own apartment for a bit. No late-night snack tonight.”

Yu Tiantian lazily rubbed her neck, covering her mouth with a yawn: “Your own apartment?”

“Mm. My mom bought an apartment across from the girls’ high school in my name after I graduated from junior high. I go there when I want to paint or don’t want to be disturbed.”

“Well, look at that! Our Qiao Xi is so young and already owns property!” Xia Cong’an’s interest piqued. She clamored, “Then let us come with you! Anyway, Song Wanning is on a business trip, so she can’t control me.”

“Sure.” Qiao Xi agreed, then turned her head to look at Yu Tiantian.

“I’m fine with it too.”

Xia Cong’an hooked her arm through Qiao Xi’s: “Alright, let’s go!”

Although Qiao Xi said she wasn’t eating a late-night snack, she couldn’t stop Xia Cong’an’s craving. At this hour, the school gate was crowded with vendors. The three of them walked along, the fragrant smells slowing their steps until Xia Cong’an stopped in front of a barbecue stall.

Qiao Xi and Yu Tiantian couldn’t do anything but accompany her to buy some skewers. But Xia Cong’an was generous, waving her hand and declaring, “Order whatever you want! My treat!”

Qiao Xi and Yu Tiantian exchanged a look and both chose the most expensive items.

In the end, Qiao Xi and Yu Tiantian each carried a box of spicy crayfish, and Xia Cong’an carried the barbecue skewers. The three stood in front of Qiao Xi’s apartment. After Qiao Xi entered the code and opened the door, the two friends walked in. Seeing the huge screen in the living room and the game console on the TV cabinet, Xia Cong’an immediately dropped the barbecue and rushed into the embrace of the game console.

Without Qiao Xi having to say anything, Xia Cong’an had already turned on the screen and the console, and found Qiao Xi’s unopened game cartridges in the cabinet drawer.

She tore off the packaging as she spoke: “You never told us about this great place before!”

“This is my secret base!” Qiao Xi untied the plastic bag and took out the barbecue and crayfish: “Tell me, if I rented this place out, how much rent could I charge?”

Yu Tiantian and Xia Cong’an looked at her simultaneously. They stared at her, sizing her up with an indescribably strange look, as if Qiao Xi had been possessed in their eyes.

“Are you… short on money?” Yu Tiantian guessed: “Did your sister and mother cancel your allowance?”

“No, that’s not right,” Yu Tiantian refuted her own answer: “Didn’t you save some money from your painting before?”

Compared to Yu Tiantian, Xia Cong’an was clearly less sharp. She said, “Why would you do that? If you’re really short on money, just call me ‘Sister,’ and I’ll give you half of my allowance. How about that?”

Qiao Xi completely ignored Xia Cong’an. Of course, she wasn’t short on money, nor was she being melodramatic. She simply didn’t want Shen Ya to continue living in that old, dilapidated complex. Although this place might be slightly farther from Shen Ya’s workplace, there was a subway station just outside the complex, and the environment was incomparable to those places. Most importantly, it was safe, perfect for Shen Ya to live alone.

But what excuse could she use to rent the apartment to Shen Ya?

“Are you really planning to rent it out?” Yu Tiantian intuitively sensed that Qiao Xi definitely had an underlying motive. She put down the gloves she was about to put on: “Do you already have a tenant in mind?”

Qiao Xi lowered her eyelids slightly, concealing the cunning in her eyes from the other two. She curved her lips into a faint smile and denied it: “If I had someone in mind, wouldn’t I have rented it out already? Why would I be asking you? I was just thinking that we’ll be going to college in the second half of the year, and I won’t be coming here often. So, why not tidy it up and rent it out? I could earn some extra pocket money every month.”

Xia Cong’an, holding the game controller, scooted toward the coffee table and sat cross-legged. She picked up a skewer of lamb and nodded: “That makes some sense.”

“The place is so nicely decorated. Aren’t you afraid someone will damage it if you rent it out?” Yu Tiantian still felt that Qiao Xi’s proposal wasn’t that simple.

“Exactly. So, I need to find a woman. She has to be clean, a good person, have a legitimate job, won’t bring any shady people over, and, most importantly, she can take good care of the apartment.”

“Your requirements…” Xia Cong’an bit off a piece of meat, found it too hot, and jumped up to find water before finishing her sentence.

Qiao Xi pointed toward the kitchen, feeling a little helpless: “Drinks are in the fridge.”

Xia Cong’an quickly ran off, hopping. Yu Tiantian sat nearby, laughing at Xia Cong’an’s foolishness. She put her gloves back on and picked up a crayfish: “The requirements seem like a lot, but for a woman, most people should be able to meet them.”

“Right. I’m going to find someone to clean up tomorrow night, so I won’t be attending evening study hall.”

Yu Tiantian swallowed the shrimp meat and nodded without saying anything. It wasn’t the first time Qiao Xi had skipped evening study hall. Since her grades were good, the teachers usually turned a blind eye. If Qiao Xi wanted to take leave, it was always approved.

Xia Cong’an returned with three bottles of drinks. She handed them to Qiao Xi and Yu Tiantian, sat down, and picked up the half-eaten lamb skewer: “Where were we?”

Yu Tiantian summarized for her: “Qiao Xi has decided to rent out the apartment, hiring someone to clean tomorrow night, so she’s skipping evening study hall.”

“What about all these games?” Xia Cong’an’s focus was different from theirs. She was simple-minded and well-protected by her family, always doing what made her happy since childhood. She loved playing games, so she was worried the game console and cartridges would be damaged by a tenant.

“I’ll lock them in the room first. If I actually rent it out, I’ll move them back home.”

Qiao Xi had a plan, and she immediately started executing it. She first booked a cleaner for tomorrow night, then downloaded a rental app to check the prices of nearby rentals. She knew the rent here wouldn’t be cheap, but she hadn’t expected it to be so expensive.

It didn’t matter. She had her ways. Next, she needed to ask Shen Ya if she had found a suitable apartment yet. She hoped she wasn’t too late.

Qiao Xi picked up her phone and backpack and stood up: “I’m going to make a call in the room. Don’t worry about me, and don’t save any barbecue for me.”

She left in a hurry, not even taking her drink. The two friends exchanged glances, both seeing something unusual in the other’s eyes. This Qiao Xi was definitely hiding something.

Back in the bedroom, Qiao Xi closed and locked the door. She hadn’t contacted Shen Ya much these days. After all, she was busy with classes from early morning until late at night. She was afraid contacting Shen Ya would disturb her, so she had restrained herself every day.

It was late already tonight. She decided to leave a message first to see if Shen Ya was asleep or busy with something else.

After some thought, she opened her backpack, pulled out an unfinished exam paper, took a picture of the last question, and sent it to Shen Ya: 【Teacher Shen, are you there? My sister isn’t home today. Could I ask for your help on how to solve this problem?】

After hitting send, she was filled with both anticipation and nervousness. Would Teacher Shen be looking at her phone right now, and would she reply?

Waiting was the most prolonged torture. Every minute and second was excruciating. She held her phone, her gaze fixed on the screen, afraid she might miss Shen Ya’s immediate reply. So, when the screen dimmed, she immediately lit it up again, worried that Shen Ya wouldn’t bother with her, and tried to console herself, Maybe she’s already asleep.

When her picture scrolled up a few lines, Qiao Xi’s suspended heart finally found its footing. Shen Ya had indeed replied to her message. The detailed solution showed how much thought Shen Ya had put into it.

Teacher Shen is truly a gentle person. She held her phone and replied: 【Is Teacher Shen busy? Can I call you?】

This time, Shen Ya replied very quickly: 【You can.】

Qiao Xi was flattered. She had been full of anticipation moments ago, but now that permission was granted, she felt shy. She shook her head, telling herself she couldn’t be timid anymore. What if Teacher Shen was about to rest? Her hesitation was only wasting Shen Ya’s time.

Realizing this, she didn’t delay, tapping the voice call button on the screen. The next moment, the long-unheard voice came from the other end: “Qiao Xi.”

“T-Teacher Shen.” After a few days apart, speaking to Shen Ya again, her original courage seemed to have vanished. Listening to the woman’s cold yet gentle voice, her body felt numb.

“Mm, what other problems do you have?”

So Shen Ya thought she wanted to continue asking questions. If she told the woman now that she had something else to ask, would Shen Ya think she was being deceitful?

Qiao Xi reached under the desk and pinched her thigh. The pain made her mind spin quickly. After calming down, she decided to talk to Shen Ya about her studies first: “Yes, yes, Teacher Shen. Do you mind if I turn on the camera?”

“Good.”

Qiao Xi quickly turned on the camera. Her face suddenly appeared on the screen, her flustered appearance fully seen by Shen Ya on the other end.

Watching Qiao Xi hurriedly adjust the camera, Shen Ya covered her phone with one hand and silently laughed into the other, hiding her amusement.

“Alright, Teacher Shen.” Qiao Xi placed the exam paper under the camera, ensuring Shen Ya could see clearly: “Can you see it, Teacher Shen?”

“Mm.” Shen Ya looked at the question, then habitually shifted her gaze to other parts of the paper. With this look, she caught Qiao Xi’s poorly hidden tail: “Are you sure you don’t know how to do this question?”

“Y-Yes, I am.” Qiao Xi hadn’t even had time to read the question.

“What about the question above that one? You don’t know that one either?”

Above?

Qiao Xi pulled the paper toward her. Only after reading the question did she realize she had been exposed. These questions were too simple. She had told Shen Ya last time that her grades were excellent. Not knowing these questions would be contradicting herself. “I…”

“Little liar. Tell me, what do you really want from me today?”

Qiao Xi moved the exam paper away and switched the camera back to the front-facing mode. She sat upright at the desk, looking like an elementary school student in class. Qiao Xi didn’t dare to look straight ahead. She only whispered sheepishly, “I didn’t mean to lie to you, Teacher Shen.”

“Mm.” Shen Ya held her phone, resting her chin on her other hand. Where Qiao Xi couldn’t see, a smile was lighting up the corners of Shen Ya’s eyes.

Qiao Xi couldn’t quite grasp the meaning of Shen Ya’s response. She picked at her fingers and stammered, “Teacher Shen, I… I wanted to ask you, have you… have you found a new apartment yet?”

“Not yet.”

Hearing this answer, Qiao Xi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed she wasn’t too late.

Shen Ya didn’t wait for Qiao Xi to continue asking. She chose to continue proactively: “But the agent scheduled a viewing for the day after tomorrow.”

The day after tomorrow? Qiao Xi quickly slid her phone open and checked the calendar. The day after tomorrow was the weekend. She had time!

“Then can I go with Teacher Shen the day after tomorrow?”

Shen Ya didn’t agree immediately, instead asking, “Don’t you have classes?”

“No, I don’t.” Qiao Xi immediately denied: “It’s all about balancing work and rest.”

Qiao Xi heard Shen Ya chuckle. The sound was very, very light; if one wasn’t paying attention, it might be missed. But she heard it and didn’t point it out. She listened secretly, as if Shen Ya’s happiness also brought her joy.

“Finish this exam paper and send it to me tomorrow. Then I’ll consider whether to take you.”