Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: The Promise of Joy

The moment the doorbell rang, Shen Ya truly thought Shen Qiuyu had found her, but thankfully, it was just a false alarm. That embrace only lasted for a short time, but only she knew how much she yearned for the warmth of that hug.

Qiao Xi did not ask Shen Ya why she had such a strong emotional reaction just now. She had clearly heard the words spoken after the door was opened; it was obvious Shen Ya was afraid of the person behind the door.

Considering the situation today, Qiao Xi had reason to suspect that Shen Ya’s family situation was worse than she had imagined.

Shen Ya was about to clear the dining table, but Qiao Xi stopped her. She dragged Shen Ya by the arm to the sofa. The medicine and water were placed on the coffee table. Only after seeing Shen Ya obediently take the medicine did Qiao Xi reach out like a little adult, boldly pat Shen Ya’s head, and say: “Teacher Shen is so obedient.”

The consequence of this was a glare from Shen Ya, followed by a reprimand: “Watch your manners.”

Qiao Xi, having been scolded, only laughed happier. She hummed a tune Shen Ya didn’t understand as she went back to tidy the dining table.

Although she hadn’t visited many times, Qiao Xi was already familiar with the routine. She wrapped the unfinished food in cling film and put it in the refrigerator, then found a rag to wipe the table clean. Throughout this, her eyes occasionally drifted toward the sofa, catching a glimpse of Shen Ya leaning back with her eyes closed.

She thought that perhaps Shen Ya was completely exhausted today. Should she still take Shen Ya out to set off fireworks later?

Shen Ya didn’t hear any movement or footsteps. Seeing that Qiao Xi had not responded, she opened her eyes and asked, “Are you done tidying?”

“Done, done.” Qiao Xi quickly washed her hands and walked towards the living room. “Is Teacher Shen tired? Maybe we should rest at home today?”

Shen Ya shook her head. She had been physically and mentally drained on the way back, but now, with Qiao Xi’s company, she had regained some energy.

“Shall we go out now?”

“Mhm.”

Shen Ya stood up. She noticed Qiao Xi had neither a hat nor anything on her neck. It was colder at night than during the day. She took a black scarf from the small wooden clothes rack beside the sofa and called out to Qiao Xi: “Come here.”

Qiao Xi walked over with blinking eyes. Shen Ya put the scarf around Qiao Xi’s neck from behind. She didn’t use any complicated method, just a simple double loop, and then used her hand to test the tightness of the scarf. Only after ensuring it wouldn’t choke Qiao Xi did she adjust the flatness of the scarf.

“All set.”

Qiao Xi lowered her head and gently held the scarf. The black scarf had no pattern and no discernible brand, but it felt immediately warm the moment it touched her neck. Qiao Xi brought her nose closer to sniff it. She knew Shen Ya didn’t wear perfume, so the scent must be from the laundry detergent—very fresh and light, similar to Shen Ya’s own scent. This made Qiao Xi cling to it.

“Thank you, Teacher Shen.” Qiao Xi looked at the scarf around her neck, then at Shen Ya’s thin down jacket: “You gave the scarf to me, but what about you, Teacher Shen?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not afraid of the cold.”

“Really?” Qiao Xi doubted.

“Mhm.” Shen Ya was unwilling to waste words on such a question. She walked past Qiao Xi towards the front door.

Qiao Xi quickly followed behind her. After changing their shoes, the two walked from the warm indoors to the outside.

…

Midnight had long passed, and the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers outside hadn’t stopped. Not many people lived in this apartment building during the New Year. By the time the two finished eating and went out, the neighbor’s hotpot next door was also winding down.

The outgoing female neighbor saw them and greeted them again. Shen Ya just nodded slightly, without speaking.

Qiao Xi, however, responded with a smile.

After leaving the apartment complex, Qiao Xi felt the power of the north wind. Fortunately, the scarf around her neck helped, blocking the cold wind while carrying the scarf’s fragrance into the air.

Since putting on the scarf, Qiao Xi felt as if Shen Ya had opened her arms and was embracing her from behind. She didn’t reject Shen Ya’s scent; in fact, she liked it very much. Fearing the other person would think she was strange, she only secretly sniffed the faint aroma of Shen Ya in the air.

The sky, constantly being washed by fireworks, was covered with a thick, inseparable fog. Qiao Xi linked arms with Shen Ya, looked up at the sky, and said, “These fireworks will probably be set off all night. Tomorrow morning will definitely be hazy. Does Teacher Shen have any plans for New Year’s Day?”

“None.”

“Then you can rest for a whole day.” Qiao Xi finished speaking and sighed: “I have to go to the temple with Mom and Sis in the morning to pray for blessings.”

Shen Ya asked her: “Shouldn’t you go back earlier then?”

“That’s not necessary. The family is used to staying up late for New Year’s Eve, so we often stay up all night on the thirtieth. We usually only catch up on sleep after returning from the temple on the morning of the first. Teacher Shen doesn’t need to worry.”

“Mhm.” Shen Ya’s family didn’t have so many customs. When she was little, she would go back to her room to sleep after watching the Spring Festival Gala with the family. They never went to temples, but Shen Qiuyu liked to take her to visit relatives during the New Year. Shen Qiuyu would never give her the red envelopes she received during these visits.

…

As soon as the two stepped out of the community gate, they saw two girls across the street holding cardboard boxes. Qiao Xi led Shen Ya across the road. Only when they got closer did Shen Ya realize that the boxes contained fireworks.

Qiao Xi exchanged a signal with the two girls, then tugged on Shen Ya’s clothing: “Teacher Shen, come quickly and choose.”

Shen Ya had never played with fireworks. She fell into contemplation, looking at the boxes filled with similar packaging but countless types of fireworks. She didn’t know which were fun or which Qiao Xi liked. Therefore, she said to Qiao Xi, “You choose.”

“Then let’s take one of every kind.” Qiao Xi thought that since they were going to play, they should make the most of it. Knowing Shen Ya would surely try to pay, she immediately added: “You guys calculate the cost and send me a message later. I’ll just transfer the money directly.”

“Sure thing.” The girl in the white clothing cleared out another cardboard box and picked out one of every type of firework to put inside.

Shen Ya’s lips just began to tremble before Qiao Xi, by her side, noticed and interrupted: “Teacher Shen, don’t argue with me about this. We kids are the richest during the New Year! I received a lot of red envelopes today. Give me a chance to treat you to fireworks, okay, Teacher Shen?”

With the argument laid out this way, contesting it would make her seem like a wet blanket. Shen Ya nodded slightly, accepting Qiao Xi’s request.

The variety of fireworks the two girls sold wasn’t extensive in Qiao Xi’s opinion, but it was enough for them to play for a while. Once the items were packed, Shen Ya proactively took the cardboard box and held it. Qiao Xi carried some of the longer fireworks. The two sellers also gave them a lighter and told them where the best place to set off fireworks nearby was.

After parting ways with the firework sellers, Qiao Xi and Shen Ya strolled down the street. The cold wind slightly flushed their cheeks. The spot the girls had indicated was behind a large building, a small commercial square that was quite busy, mostly with people like them who had come to set off fireworks.

Qiao Xi found an empty space. She first took out several sparklers and put them into Shen Ya’s hand. A windproof lighter kept the faint flame steady. She brought the flame close to the sparkler, and tiny specks of light quickly illuminated the darkness around them.

The sparks danced in Shen Ya’s eyes. Feeling the warmth brought by the light, she stood still, her hand suspended in the air, motionless. Seeing this, Qiao Xi quickly withdrew the lighter. She grabbed Shen Ya’s other wrist and brought the unlit sparkler closer to the ignited one. Countless tiny stars boiled in Shen Ya’s hands. She felt as if she saw a ray of hope-giving starlight in the vast Milky Way.

“Teacher Shen, do you want to try waving the sparkler?”

Qiao Xi had already released Shen Ya’s wrist. She took out her phone and started recording a video. Shen Ya’s expression remained composed, but she waved the light in her hand under Qiao Xi’s direction. The specks of light drew arcs like shooting stars at Shen Ya’s command. These subtle glows reflected in her eyes, igniting clusters of cold flames.

When the sparklers burned out, Qiao Xi pressed pause: “Teacher Shen, come on, try this one. Let’s take these few fireworks and place them on the ground.”

Shen Ya first put the spent sparkler rods on the edge of a flowerbed, intending to take them away to the trash bin later. Qiao Xi then took out a square-shaped firework and placed it on the ground. She bent down close to Shen Ya and asked, “What is this?”

“Three-minute fireworks. Because they really burn for three minutes, that’s what everyone calls them.” Qiao Xi bought three. She placed the fireworks in a straight line, took out a sparkler, lit it, and then handed the lighter to Shen Ya: “Teacher Shen, let’s light them together?”

“Mhm.”

The two simultaneously brought fire close to the fuses and turned their heads to look at each other. Qiao Xi’s eyes were sparkling under the firelight, and Shen Ya’s eyebrows moved slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching her lips. Qiao Xi said to her, “Then I’ll count down to three, and we’ll light them together.”

“Okay.”

The wind carried their voices. After Qiao Xi’s last syllable fell, they lit the fuses. Shen Ya stood up and pulled Qiao Xi up by her coat. Three wisps of white smoke ascended, and crimson and azure burst forth, like climbing fire trees, shaking out a multitude of splendid branches and leaves. The sparkler in Qiao Xi’s hand was burnt out. After setting it down, she naturally linked arms with Shen Ya again.

She led Shen Ya to turn their backs, raised her phone, and framed the continuously blooming fireworks as the backdrop. Their figures were enclosed in the square screen. Qiao Xi adjusted the angle: “Teacher Shen, smile.”

Shen Ya was infected by the warm atmosphere. Just looking at the fireworks and Qiao Xi’s smiling face had largely dissolved the unhappiness in her heart. Starlight touched her eyes. Though her smile was not as bright as Qiao Xi’s, the happiness was visible enough for the camera to capture.

Joy was frozen in this instant. Qiao Xi stared at the photo on the screen and exclaimed, “So beautiful.”

A nearby firework suddenly exploded in the sky. Shen Ya hadn’t heard Qiao Xi clearly. “What?”

Qiao Xi suddenly looked up and hugged her again: “I said, Teacher Shen is like a beautiful, cold, and luminous glass statue!”

The wind, smelling of gunpowder smoke, blew Shen Ya’s stray hair that was tucked behind her ear. In the light, one could see her ears were turning red. Qiao Xi was becoming increasingly outspoken in front of her. She felt embarrassed and indignant, wanting to lightly tap Qiao Xi’s head, but before she could move, Qiao Xi released her and took her hand instead.

“Teacher Shen, look, happy things, beautiful things, and joyful things are far more numerous than sad things, aren’t they?”

Qiao Xi picked up a few more sparklers and shook them in front of Shen Ya: “Teacher Shen, help me out.”

Shen Ya took out the lighter and ignited the sparklers in Qiao Xi’s hand. As the silver light flared up, Qiao Xi waved the sparklers in the air, writing a few words.

“May Teacher Shen have eternal peace and joy in the future.”