Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 23(2.2)

Chapter 23(2.2): The Secret Base

Chen Xi saw the money, and her anger immediately dissipated. She didn’t want tutoring anyway. Since Shen Ya gave her money, she would certainly take it. A smile replaced her previously sullen face.

She clicked to accept the transfer and nodded quickly: “Got it, got it. I definitely won’t say anything about today. If Mom asks, I’ll tell her to find you directly. I understand.”

“Mm.” Shen Ya said no more. She grabbed the door handle and was about to close the door.

But Chen Xi suddenly remembered something. She blocked the door before Shen Ya could shut it: “Oh, right, Mom told me to tell you to come home for dinner on New Year’s Eve, the day after tomorrow.”

“Then you tell her that if she doesn’t want an unpleasant New Year’s Eve dinner, she should stop provoking me.”

With that, Shen Ya slammed the door shut, regardless of whether it might hit Chen Xi.

The hateful presence was blocked outside, but a lingering scent remained in the room. Shen Ya closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths to slowly regulate her emotions. She didn’t want Qiao Xi to see her losing control.

But when she turned around, she saw Qiao Xi standing not far behind her, her bright eyes fixed on Shen Ya with a gentle smile.

“Teacher Shen, if you don’t come back, the dumplings will get cold.”

Shen Ya clutched her phone. The warmth made her eyes sting. She didn’t know when Qiao Xi had started standing behind her or how much of her conversation with Chen Xi she had overheard.

But when she looked at Qiao Xi, the girl didn’t mention anything about Chen Xi. It was as if Shen Ya hadn’t opened the door, hadn’t spoken to anyone, and hadn’t exposed her vulnerability and loss of control with harsh words.

Jiang Yunxi truly raised a good sister. In that moment, Shen Ya was profoundly envious of her.

Qiao Xi was, of course, curious about the girl outside. She couldn’t control herself. After swallowing the first dumpling, she put down her bowl and chopsticks and tiptoed closer to Shen Ya. She hid around the corner, unable to see outside but able to hear the voices clearly.

She learned the girl’s name, heard her call Shen Ya “sister,” and overheard the word “Mom” in their conversation. Qiao Xi confirmed that this girl must be Shen Ya’s biological sister.

She had never heard Shen Ya talk about her family. Of course, she didn’t know much about Shen Ya herself yet. But those details weren’t important. The atmosphere between Shen Ya and Chen Xi was tense.

Just looking at Shen Ya’s attitude, it couldn’t just be described as coldness. It was like hatred accumulated over generations. No wonder Shen Ya never spoke of her family and was alone on New Year’s Eve.

She didn’t know why Shen Ya had such deep conflict with her family, but she firmly believed Shen Ya was a fundamentally gentle person. Such a gentle Teacher Shen would never initiate conflict, so Shen Ya must have been bullied to feel such animosity toward her own kin.

Qiao Xi wondered how she should comfort Shen Ya and how to ask about the family conflict without making Shen Ya sad or angry. But after careful consideration, she realized that any mention of Chen Xi or family would inevitably cause Shen Ya pain.

So, when she heard the door slam shut, her legs reacted instinctively.

She didn’t bring up what happened. Seeing the sorrowful look on Shen Ya’s face, she knew she had guessed correctly and made the right choice.

Qiao Xi smiled, deliberately changing the topic. With surprise, joy, and a noticeable hint of pride, she told Shen Ya: “The dumplings taste great! This is my first time making dumpling filling, Teacher Shen. Don’t I have a special talent for cooking?”

Shen Ya hadn’t yet recovered from the shock, so she didn’t respond immediately. Qiao Xi, like a cheerful puppy, took a couple of steps toward Shen Ya, then intimately linked her arm through Shen Ya’s, pulling her forward.

“Teacher Shen, teach me to cook some other dishes next time, okay?” Qiao Xi praised herself: “I really do have a talent for cooking. Maybe I can start a side career as a chef someday. What do you think, Teacher Shen?”

Shen Ya finally couldn’t help but laugh. She quickly suppressed the sound, and by the time Qiao Xi turned her head to look, she had already returned to her usual calm demeanor: “Later, I’ll take that flat dumpling out of the freezer and take a picture for you as a souvenir. When you become a great chef, you can look back on it.”

Qiao Xi knew this was blatant teasing. She cried out in embarrassment: “Teacher Shen!”

“Mm.” Shen Ya gave a lukewarm response. They sat down at the dining table. The dumplings in the bowl were now warm. Amused by Qiao Xi’s words, the frustration in her heart was indeed dispelled.

The dumplings might not compare to an external restaurant, but they were the most delicious, heartwarming, and comforting dumplings Shen Ya had ever eaten.

The two were tacitly understanding at the dining table, neither mentioning the incident. After breakfast, Qiao Xi voluntarily took on the chore of washing dishes. After confirming Shen Ya was full, she immediately grabbed her chopsticks and bowl and took them to the sink.

“Just leave them there. I’ll wash them later.”

Qiao Xi hugged the dishes like a mother hen protecting her chicks, clearly afraid they’d be taken away: “No way! Teacher Shen already cooked the dumplings for me. I should do the dishes. Don’t you believe I can wash dishes, Teacher Shen? Don’t underestimate me! I’ve done chores before.”

Shen Ya wasn’t underestimating Qiao Xi. Those tender hands clearly showed she had never done housework. Qiao Xi was well protected, so she shouldn’t have to suffer here.

Shen Ya reached out, but Qiao Xi turned her body, using her shoulder to block the hand. Qiao Xi held the dishes with one hand and turned on the faucet with the other. The water flowed down, and the clever Qiao Xi found the sponge without needing instruction.

Shen Ya stood nearby, watching Qiao Xi’s movements. Although she was a bit clumsy, she eventually managed to wash every bowl until it was sparkling clean. Despite her affluent background, she didn’t have the bad habit of wasting water. It was clear Qiao Xi was well-raised from a young age. Shen Ya really had ‘underestimated’ Qiao Xi.

“Look, Teacher Shen.” Qiao Xi held up a clean bowl, waving it from side to side in front of Shen Ya. The white porcelain bowl reflected the light. “Is this acceptable?”

Shen Ya calmly took the bowl from Qiao Xi, inspected it carefully, and finally, under Qiao Xi’s expectant gaze, she nodded and gave her review: “Acceptable.”

Qiao Xi’s expression changed instantly, becoming sweeter than candy.

…

Full and satisfied, Qiao Xi finally had time to properly tour the apartment. Knowing the upstairs was the bedroom, she didn’t go up but wandered around the small living room before settling onto the sofa.

Shen Ya poured Qiao Xi a glass of water, and took a bottle of coffee from the fridge for herself. She sat down next to Qiao Xi and asked: “You said you were buying books near my previous apartment, so how did you get here so quickly?”

Shen Ya had been wanting to ask this, but her thoughts had been interrupted since Qiao Xi arrived. Now, she finally remembered.

“Teacher Shen, would you believe me if I said it was a coincidence?” Qiao Xi opened her backpack and pulled out a newly bought workbook. “I really was buying books nearby, but when I called you, I was already walking over here. I was planning to go eat at a trendy snack shop nearby if you were busy today. I bet you didn’t know there’s a really delicious snack place near here, did you?”

The workbook Qiao Xi had was indeed new; even Shen Ya had only received hers a couple of days ago. If Qiao Xi wasn’t lying, it was quite a coincidence. Shen Ya raised an eyebrow and said, “And the dumpling wrappers and meat filling?”

“The meat filling was delivered by the supermarket early this morning, and my mom guided me through video call to mix the filling. The wrappers, of course, I bought at the nearby supermarket just now.” Qiao Xi giggled, a little embarrassed by the questioning. Lying had annoyed Shen Ya before, and she didn’t want to be misunderstood again: “I really didn’t lie, Teacher Shen. You have to believe me.”

“Mm.”

This answer left Qiao Xi unsure of Shen Ya’s meaning. She could only secretly observe Shen Ya’s expression. The other woman was looking through her new workbook, focused and serious, occasionally frowning at a certain page.

Shen Ya was wearing no makeup today, her black hair naturally falling behind her. Her distinct features were clean and sharp. When her lips were pressed together, she had a slight sense of pressure.

Qiao Xi didn’t interrupt Shen Ya’s focus. While the other woman studied the questions, she secretly admired Shen Ya’s beauty.

“Are you not spending time with your sister today?” Shen Ya’s question came out suddenly, but her gaze didn’t leave the workbook.

Qiao Xi almost told the truth but remembered the scene of Dr. Jiang and her sister intimately embracing when she got up for water late one night. She immediately swallowed the truth.

Shen Ya must have had some history with Dr. Jiang, likely an emotional conflict. So, she absolutely couldn’t expose her sisters’ current relationship, lest she remind Shen Ya of painful memories.

“It’s the holiday, so my sisters don’t interfere much with my private schedule. I just have to tell them before I go out. They only come to pick me up if I’m coming home too late.”

Shen Ya closed the workbook and turned her head, her eyes fixed on Qiao Xi without much emotion: “Your sister treats you very well.”

“She does…” Qiao Xi’s mind raced. She hadn’t forgotten that Shen Ya also had a biological sister, unfortunately with a terrible relationship that couldn’t be peacefully resolved. She looked directly into Shen Ya’s eyes. Though her smile didn’t fade, her gaze was serious: “But being good to someone is mutual, not a one-sided contribution. My sister is good to me, so I naturally return the favor to her.”

Shen Ya suddenly curved her lips. Qiao Xi was indeed likable. She was smart and perceptive, and she had set a line of appropriateness for herself early on in her interactions with people. She contained herself within that line, never crossing the boundary to cause trouble for others.

Shen Ya understood the meaning behind her words, but judging by Qiao Xi’s look, she clearly had more to say. Shen Ya decided to give her a chance, considering it a reward for her… good sense: “So, what are you trying to tell me?”

Qiao Xi seized the hook: “So, the people who are not good to you, Teacher Shen, don’t need to be kept in your heart. There will naturally be people who want to be good to you who will come to you.”

“Come to… me?” In this moment, Shen Ya’s pupils were completely filled by Qiao Xi’s reflection. Was the person Qiao Xi was referring to herself?

Qiao Xi was so young, yet so adept at sweet-talking. Who knows how many people she would charm with this mouth in the future?

Shen Ya raised her hand and flicked Qiao Xi’s nose. The force was not held back. Qiao Xi’s head snapped back in pain. She quickly covered her nose and cried out: “Ouch!”

“Slick talker.”

“That’s unfair, Teacher Shen! I’m speaking from the heart, truly!” Qiao Xi protested innocently.

At Qiao Xi’s age, what sincerity could there be? Perhaps she was just curious about her now, which was why she liked sticking around. But once the novelty wore off, how much of these so-called sincere words would be remembered or believed?

Shen Ya didn’t believe in inexplicable kindness or unprovoked goodwill. Even with Qiao Xi, it might be because Shen Ya possessed something worth getting close to, which was why she wanted to stick to her. She would never place hope in anyone or anything, because only then would she avoid disappointment again.

“Since you bought a new workbook, write two pages for me to see first.” Shen Ya opened to the page she had just browsed and placed the workbook on the coffee table.

Hearing this, Qiao Xi’s face instantly went green. She first paused, thinking she had misheard. When she realized Shen Ya wasn’t joking and was serious, her expression turned to astonishment. She loudly emphasized: “Teacher Shen! I’m on holiday!!”

“Mm.” Shen Ya replied matter-of-factly: “But you’re taking the university entrance exam soon. Shouldn’t you prioritize your studies?”

“I…” Qiao Xi couldn’t argue with that. How could she forget that Shen Ya was a high school teacher!

Qiao Xi tried to bargain. She resorted to her usual trick, tentatively reaching out to grab Shen Ya’s robe. She gently tugged and used a sweet, coaxing voice: “Teacher Shen, I just started my holiday today. Let me rest for a day, please, please.”

Her voice was so adorable it made Shen Ya want to pinch Qiao Xi’s cheek, but she resisted, maintaining her serious, unchanging expression.

Shen Ya was unmoved, giving her a cold, emotionless glance. Even without saying anything, her look provided the answer.

Qiao Xi let go and leaned back, sinking half her body into the sofa. She stared at the ceiling, looking completely defeated and pitifully crying out: “Heavens, please send someone to beg Teacher Shen for me!”

She had planned to happily make dumplings with Shen Ya today, relax a bit, and then find an excuse to drag Shen Ya out for snacks in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, plans changed. She never expected Shen Ya to make her study here. Qiao Xi didn’t know what karma she had to be supervised while studying on the first day of her holiday! This was completely different from the scenario she had envisioned!

…

While Qiao Xi was immersed in the sea of knowledge, Shen Ya turned on the heating. On the first day she moved in, she found a small stool in the room, perhaps left behind by a previous tenant. It served as a perfect chair for Qiao Xi right now.

Sending Qiao Xi away was merely due to her timidity and self-consciousness. She didn’t want Qiao Xi to witness anything about her family. Qiao Xi was indeed considerate and intelligent, but Shen Ya feared that at the start of a certain topic, she might inadvertently talk about her family. She needed a little time to alleviate the annoyance from today’s disturbance.

But Shen Ya underestimated Qiao Xi’s quick mind. The two pages of exercises were finished in a very short amount of time. Qiao Xi triumphantly held the workbook up to her: “I’m done, Teacher Shen.”

The emotions that hadn’t yet been fully regulated rippled again. Shen Ya took the workbook, patiently and carefully checked the answers, and the result was indeed surprising.

“Your grades are excellent.”

“Of course! Don’t underestimate me, Teacher Shen.” Qiao Xi was very confident when it came to academics. She never needed supervision concerning her studies. She moved from the stool back to the sofa: “Do you take on extracurricular tutoring, Teacher Shen?”

“Why?” Shen Ya turned a page, continuing to check.

“Junior students often ask me where I take tutoring classes. They don’t believe me when I say I’ve never taken any. Can I recommend you, Teacher Shen, if someone asks again?”

Shen Ya didn’t answer. If anyone else had asked her this, she would have agreed without hesitation, but it was Qiao Xi. She was too observant; every word she said might hide other intentions.

“Teacher Shen, please,” Qiao Xi suddenly wrapped her arms around Shen Ya’s arm and began shaking it. “Just do it to help me. You know the university entrance exam is only a few months away. More and more people are asking me for tutoring recommendations, including the parents of those junior students. They’ve asked me so many times, Teacher Shen…”

“Alright, do as you wish.”

Shen Ya’s ears were hurting from the commotion. Qiao Xi was acting spoiled and relentless again. Shen Ya couldn’t handle it and could only sigh and accept.

“Yay!” Qiao Xi let go of her arm, cheerful as a little puppy: “Teacher Shen, do you want to go out with me this afternoon?”

Shen Ya closed the workbook, answering her question with a question: “Where do you want to go to play now?”

Qiao Xi curved her lips, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Like a good yet naughty little fox, she leaned her head close to Shen Ya, smiling slyly: “That’s a secret.”

Though it was clearly meant to keep her guessing, Shen Ya’s interest was piqued. She thought that her interest wasn’t in the words but in Qiao Xi herself. She wanted to see what kind of trick this little rogue would pull next.

…

After the noon break, Shen Ya changed into warm winter clothes. When going out, she was used to gathering her long hair and tying it into a low ponytail, which made her look more energetic and capable.

Dressed in all black, she held a dark purse in her left hand, while Qiao Xi clung to her right arm. This little rascal was naturally friendly. After the first time, she had no shame about it afterward.

The streets were adorned with festive red lanterns. In previous years, Shen Ya was always alone in her rented apartment; the joy and excitement of others had nothing to do with her. But now, led by Qiao Xi onto the festive street, she found that this cold winter was actually becoming a little warmer.

She didn’t know where Qiao Xi was taking her. The surrounding scenery kept changing. They turned into one alley after another. Emerging from the alleyway, Shen Ya was surprised to find they seemed to have stumbled into a fantasy world.

Her eyes saw many young people dressed in unique costumes. Laughter and chatter filled the air. Everyone was confident and vibrant, like countless delicate flowers blooming after a spring thunderstorm.

“This way, Teacher Shen.”

Qiao Xi led her through the crowd, past shops filled with cartoon figures. Unfamiliar terms slipped into her ears one after another.

Until they stopped in front of a hand-painted wall. Shen Ya watched Qiao Xi push aside a hidden panel on the wall and input her fingerprint. To her surprise, she heard a ‘click’ sound, and a door popped open in the wall.

Qiao Xi pushed open the invisible door and immediately pulled Shen Ya inside. After the door closed again, light reappeared.

It was a small room: warm lighting, a soft sofa, and a large projection screen. Beverages were neatly arranged in a light blue mini-fridge. Cabinets against the wall held many cartoon figures. The room was decorated very cozily, and a faint lavender scent slowly wafted into Shen Ya’s nose.

“Teacher Shen, I don’t have coffee here. Is juice okay?” Qiao Xi opened the fridge, first taking out a can of cola. After seeing Shen Ya nod, she took out a bottle of juice.

“This is my secret base. Even my sisters don’t know about this place. Teacher Shen is the first person to come to my secret base.” Qiao Xi seemed completely relaxed after entering the small room. She immediately collapsed onto the sofa and patted the space next to her: “Come sit down, Teacher Shen. This sofa is so soft. It took me a long time to find it.”

“Secret base?”

The location was indeed hard to find, and once inside, it gave a feeling of comfort. Combined with the incense Qiao Xi lit, the fatigue in Shen Ya’s body was eliminated as she sank into the sofa.

“Mm,” Qiao Xi said. “A friend of mine moved abroad, and they rented this small storefront to me. When I’m in a bad mood or need a break, I secretly hide here. I’m sharing this secret base with you now, Teacher Shen.”

At this, Qiao Xi jumped up from the sofa. She ran to a cabinet and pulled out many items to show Shen Ya: “I have lots of games here, and vinyl records. We can watch a movie too.”

Perhaps the light here was too soft, or perhaps the room isolated the outside noise. As the melodious music flowed from the black and red record player, Shen Ya leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes.

Qiao Xi quietly returned to the small sofa. She whispered, “Why don’t you rest here for a bit, Teacher Shen? I’ll go out for a moment and be right back.”

“Where are you going?” Shen Ya opened her eyes. “I’ll go with you.”

“No need. I’m just going to buy some snacks. Can I invite you to watch a movie with me later, Teacher Shen?”

“Watch a movie?”

“Mm.” Qiao Xi scratched her head: “It’s okay if you don’t want to watch. You can rest well here. I’m just craving some snacks.”

Shen Ya picked up her purse and stood up: “Let’s go together.”

“Don’t you want to take a nap here, Teacher Shen?”

“No need. I’m not sleepy.” She only felt that this place genuinely helped her brain relax, but being left alone here right now might turn that relaxation into discomfort.

Qiao Xi reconsidered: “Then let’s rest here for a bit, and go out a little later. We can have dinner too, how about that?”

“You don’t need to go home for dinner?”

Qiao Xi shook her head: “As long as I don’t come back too late, my sisters won’t ask too many questions. Rest assured, Teacher Shen.”

“Your sister is quite lenient with you.”

Qiao Xi took off her shoes and kneeled on the sofa. “It’s not that they’re not strict. I was mischievous when I was little. I think it was when I was five. It snowed very heavily. The nanny who took care of me picked me up from kindergarten and took me home. I saw lots and lots of children building snowmen in the complex. I forgot my sister’s and mom’s instructions and secretly ran out of the house alone to play in the snow. Later, my sister came home, couldn’t find me, and was frantic. Finally…”

At this point, Qiao Xi became self-conscious.

But Shen Ya was waiting for the rest of the story and asked: “What happened in the end?”

“In the end…” Qiao Xi pretended to cough, and her voice became barely audible: “In the end, my sister found me, brought me home, and gave me a good talking-to.”

Just hearing the words “talking-to,” Shen Ya could guess the way Jiang Yunxi educated her sister. Qiao Xi’s face was flushed after speaking. The fact that she remembered a five-year-old event so clearly meant that “talking-to” left a deep impression on her.

“Ah, anyway, since then, no matter where I go, I always tell my sister. Besides, I’m all grown up now and about to become an adult, so my sister doesn’t interfere much anymore.”

From Qiao Xi’s words, Shen Ya realized she grew up in a harmonious and happy family. Qiao Xi was truly the opposite extreme from her—favored by her mother, protected by her sister. She must have never tasted bitterness since childhood.

She envied Qiao Xi. Perhaps only by growing up in such a family could one possess such a sun-like, warm personality.

The secret base wasn’t spacious, but it gave both of them a complete sense of security. Upon realizing Shen Ya was also interested in her stories, Qiao Xi shared many amusing anecdotes from school.

Neither of them expected time to pass so quickly. When they emerged from the secret base again, only the last trace of sunset lingered in the sky.

Qiao Xi took Shen Ya to a highly-rated restaurant. After the waiter led them into a private room, Qiao Xi explained to Shen Ya: “This is Xia Cong’an’s family restaurant. We don’t have to wait in line here, and Sister Wanning gives us a discount.”

She had specifically checked with Xia Cong’an beforehand to confirm that neither Xia Cong’an nor her sister were here before bringing Shen Ya.

“Their food is really delicious. Order whatever you want, Teacher Shen. We’ll just put it on Xia Cong’an’s tab.”

“Is that okay?” Shen Ya wasn’t sure if Qiao Xi was joking or serious.

“It’s fine. Xia Cong’an won’t mind.” Fearing Shen Ya’s unease, Qiao Xi took out her phone and sent a message to Xia Cong’an right in front of her.

Xia Cong’an replied quickly, generously stating: 【Put it on my tab. Eat whatever you want!】

“See, I told you so,” Qiao Xi said, showing the chat history to Shen Ya. She added: “It’s fine to comfortably enjoy what someone gives you, and when they need something, you can help them wholeheartedly. Isn’t that what friends are for?”