Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Deal and the Distance

When they emerged from yet another residential complex, the heavy rain had stopped. After viewing houses in two different complexes, each with its own set of issues, Shen Ya had expected this outing might not be smooth, so she remained composed.

The agent stopped the car near the complex entrance, planning to go to the convenience store to buy three bottles of water. Qiao Xi knew her opportunity had arrived. She claimed that riding in the car made her feel a little stuffy and wanted to go along and stretch her legs.

The agent didn’t lock the car, meaning someone had to stay behind. Shen Ya had no intention of getting out. She only instructed Qiao Xi not to wander off and to be careful.

Qiao Xi caught up to the agent. The agent enthusiastically waved at her: “Sister, help yourself to whatever drink you want.”

“Then I won’t be shy.” Qiao Xi grabbed a bottle of juice for herself and a bottle of coffee and a bottle of water for Shen Ya.

While the agent was checking out, Qiao Xi asked her, “Miss, do you have many property listings?”

“Of course I do.” When talking about her work, the agent looked a bit proud. “I’m not bragging, but see that car? I bought it with my own savings.”

Qiao Xi was impressed and sincerely praised: “Then you’re very capable, Miss.”

The woman handed the drinks to Qiao Xi and boldly asked her: “Do you know if your sister has any other requirements for an apartment? Or any specific complexes she likes? Give me a hint.”

“Miss, would you mind having an extra property listing on hand?”

Seeing the agent look puzzled, Qiao Xi quickly pulled her back before they stepped out of the convenience store. She led the agent to a spot hidden from view and whispered: “Here’s the thing. I actually have a vacant apartment that I want to rent to Shen—my sister, but if I ask directly, she’ll definitely feel awkward. So, could you persuade her to rent my apartment? If you succeed, I’ll give you double the commission. How about that?”

Seeing the agent hesitate, Qiao Xi opened her phone, pulled up the map, and continued: “My apartment is in this complex, across from the Girls’ High School. The subway station is right outside, making travel easy. Plus, it was handed over only a few years ago, so the environment is great. Have you heard of my complex, Miss?”

The agent naturally knew the complex, but the property prices in that area were not cheap, and the rent would be much higher than the apartments she was currently recommending. Furthermore, she asked with uncertainty, “Little sister, you haven’t come of age yet, have you?”

“Yes, I know what you’re worried about.” Qiao Xi found the property deed she had deliberately photographed yesterday and showed it to the agent: “Don’t worry, this apartment was bought for me by my mom. They won’t interfere with my business. As long as you persuade my sister, I can have my mom sign the lease agreement on my behalf. Does that address your concerns? I’ll set the rent at half the price of comparable apartments in the same area, but I’ll only rent it to her. If she asks why it’s so cheap, you can tell her the landlord has a few requirements and is only renting it out to someone she feels comfortable with.”

“How about this? Why don’t you add me as a friend first? I’ll send you the basic information about the apartment.” Qiao Xi held up her QR code, looking at the agent with anticipation.

“Since you put it that way… alright.” The agent added Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi copied and pasted the apartment information she had stored in her notes and sent it to the agent. “Thank you. After this is done, I’ll definitely give you double the commission. Thanks for your effort.”

With the deal settled, Qiao Xi was half-relieved. She could indeed have talked to Shen Ya directly, but based on her understanding and interactions with the woman, doing so would likely be mistaken as pity. Shen Ya possessed a certain inherent pride, hidden though it was, and Qiao Xi didn’t dare gamble with Shen Ya’s reaction.

She knew this was essentially deception, and if Shen Ya found out, the consequences might be unbearable for her. Therefore, she had to find the right time to confess and minimize the risk.

Back in the car, Qiao Xi showed no signs of anything being amiss. She simply placed the coffee, water, and her juice in front of Shen Ya for her to choose from.

Shen Ya, as expected, picked up the bottle of coffee.

“Teacher Shen, this water is for you too.” Qiao Xi placed the water in Shen Ya’s lap, then unscrewed her juice bottle and took a large gulp.

“Sister, here’s the thing.” The agent in the driver’s seat turned around with the same courteous smile. She said, “I have another apartment listing, but it’s a little further away. However, the subway station is right outside the complex, and the environment is also good. Crucially, the rent is not high, but the landlord has a small requirement: they only rent to women, and they must feel comfortable with the person. Don’t worry, the landlord is also a woman. Because she cherishes this apartment, she wants a tenant who will take good care of it. Would you like to go and see it first?”

Shen Ya lowered her eyes in thought. Would such a landlord be too difficult to deal with? But the places they had seen so far weren’t satisfactory. Since the day was still long, perhaps they could try their luck. She looked up and asked, “Where is it?”

When the agent mentioned the complex’s name and location, Shen Ya turned to look at Qiao Xi. If she remembered correctly, this place was across from the Girls’ High School, where Jiang Yunxi lived nearby, and where Qiao Xi was currently studying.

But why was Qiao Xi so calm about this? Shen Ya vaguely sensed something was wrong, but Qiao Xi reacted quickly, joyfully exclaiming, “Huh? Isn’t that across from my school? I know that complex. The environment is pretty good! Teacher Shen, do you want to go and see it? If Teacher Shen can actually rent a place there, then can I come and visit you often?”

“Let’s go take a look first.” Shen Ya didn’t hold high hopes for this trip. Firstly, the landlord might be too demanding. Secondly, she didn’t know the specifics of the apartment. Most importantly, if she did live nearby, what if she ran into Jiang Yunxi? Would the other woman overthink things?

She had indeed been unable to forget the four years they spent together, but she also knew she couldn’t hold onto hope. She wanted to hide now, but why did fate insist on pushing her closer?

The air in the car suddenly became heavy. The agent was still chatting with Qiao Xi in the front, but Shen Ya had been frowning and staring out the window since the conversation started, carrying an unspoken sorrow. Qiao Xi keenly sensed this change. She kept talking to the agent, but her eyes kept glancing back at Shen Ya.

The closer they got to the Girls’ High School, the more uneasy Shen Ya became. Her silence turned into aloofness. Even when she looked at Qiao Xi, her eyes lacked their usual warmth.

Qiao Xi wanted to say something, but she saw the undisguised resistance in Shen Ya’s eyes. Her momentary hesitation cost her the chance to speak. She tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but forcing a smile in front of Shen Ya felt difficult.

She had to wonder, Did I do something wrong?

Something must have happened between Shen Ya and Doctor Jiang’s family, and now she was deliberately leading Shen Ya closer to them. How could she have overlooked this fact? Perhaps the reason Shen Ya wanted to move was precisely to avoid everything related to her sister.

And her apartment, located near where she lived, was less than ten minutes away by car. Shen Ya knew where her family lived, so was the other woman distressed because of this?

After guessing the change in Shen Ya’s mood, Qiao Xi wished she could travel back in time and cover her own mouth. She had been too impulsive and hadn’t thought things through from Shen Ya’s perspective. She wanted to call off the viewing, but the car had already driven into the complex.

She had messed everything up. Not only was she wasting Shen Ya’s and the agent’s time, but she was also causing Shen Ya pain again.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing Qiao Xi hesitate to get out of the car, Shen Ya walked around to the other side, opened the car door, and asked Qiao Xi: “It’s close to your home here. Do you want to go back?”

“I…” Qiao Xi struggled internally. She wanted to expose her lie, but when she looked up and met Shen Ya’s gaze, she shamefully backed down. Moments ago, there was an unresolved sadness in Shen Ya’s eyes, but now, upon noticing her abnormality, the woman patiently and deliberately relaxed her demeanor to inquire about her.

If she spoke the truth now, what would Shen Ya think of her? Would she still be gentle with her as before? Or would she abandon her here and never contact her again?

“If you’re tired, I’ll send you home first.” Shen Ya looked at the agent. “Let’s send…”

“No need!” Qiao Xi grabbed Shen Ya’s wrist. “I feel like, Teacher Shen, maybe you don’t like this place. After all, it’s very close to my home, and you… you and Doctor Jiang… If this makes you uncomfortable, we don’t have to look at this complex.”

“Nothing happened between your sister and me. Don’t overthink it.”

Qiao Xi wouldn’t believe that for a second. If truly nothing had happened, why would her sister always avoid the topic of Shen Ya, and why would Teacher Shen constantly emphasize that they had no relationship?

Such a blatantly self-deceptive explanation was clearly a way to fool people.

“Teacher Shen, I’m not a child anymore.”

“Are you not?” Seeing Qiao Xi’s rare serious expression, Shen Ya actually felt better. She smiled faintly: “When did I say I was uncomfortable coming here?”

“But just now, clearly…” Qiao Xi couldn’t finish her sentence. Shen Ya had indeed not said a word. Qiao Xi had completely deduced her distress by observing her changes in expression, and such a deduction couldn’t be counted as evidence.

“Clearly what?” Shen Ya reached out and tapped Qiao Xi’s head again: “So, according to you, I should remain stuck in the past forever and never move on, is that right?”

“N-No… I didn’t mean that.”

“Regardless of what may have happened between your sister and me, in the future, we will definitely have no more connection.” Shen Ya spoke seriously. While seemingly telling Qiao Xi not to overthink, she was also speaking to herself.

Her relationship with Jiang Yunxi was a mistake from the start, a hidden relationship based on mutual need. She had violated their agreement, and now that she was facing the consequences, she had no one to blame but herself.