Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: The Warmth She Couldn’t Accept

In that instant, Shen Ya felt as if the surrounding time had been paused. All the noisy sounds vanished, and she could only see the smile on Qiao Xi’s face and hear her own heart beating faster.

“Teacher Shen?”

Qiao Xi waved her hand in front of Shen Ya’s face: “Teacher Shen?”

Shen Ya’s vision refocused. She saw Qiao Xi holding two more burning sparklers. “Teacher Shen, don’t space out! We have a lot of fireworks left to set off.”

“Mhm.” Shen Ya took a sparkler from Qiao Xi’s hand and casually waved it in the air. “What else is fun?”

“We have more! We have more!”

By the flowerbed stood two cylindrical firework canisters thicker than Qiao Xi’s arm. Qiao Xi picked one up from the ground and handed it to Shen Ya. “Teacher Shen, play with this. This is very exciting.”

The firework canister looked like a Gatling gun she had seen on TV. Shen Ya gripped it firmly. Qiao Xi then held her hand to adjust the angle of the canister: “Teacher Shen, make sure to aim this at the sky and hold it steady.”

“Okay.”

Seeing Shen Ya’s expression suddenly turn serious and nervous, with her shoulders stiffening, Qiao Xi secretly laughed under her breath. Fortunately, it was loud outside, so Shen Ya wouldn’t hear her laughter.

The fuse was lit. Qiao Xi immediately hid behind Shen Ya. The moment the fuse burned down, the Gatling firework’s barrel suddenly shot a stream of fireworks into the sky.

The fireworks were dense. With every shot, Shen Ya’s hands trembled slightly. Warm breath brushed past her ear: “Teacher Shen, look at the high altitude the fireworks are reaching, and imagine those smoke clouds are people you hate. The Gatling in your hand is your weapon.”

To Shen Ya, Qiao Xi seemed to have activated her magic again. The smoke clouds in the sky instantly condensed into blurred human figures. Shen Ya moved her hands left and right. With every firework shell that exploded, the shadows hidden in the mist were scattered.

Every shot from the Gatling firework was wrapped in the indignation in Shen Ya’s heart. As she followed Qiao Xi’s method to vent, her inner sorrow was being replaced by joy.

Shen Ya’s brows relaxed. Her usually cool face showed a smile free of any burden or pressure for the first time. Her previously stiff body also loosened up. This firework was extremely stress-relieving, blowing all her worries into the sky.

When the last of the shots faded into the night, the gunpowder smoke had yet to dissipate. Shen Ya’s heart took a long time to calm down. As the wind lifted her stray hair to her lips, she lowered her eyes, her fingers brushing her hair, and her light laughter was buried in the wind.

Looking up again, she had composed her emotions, but her lips remained slightly turned up. In Qiao Xi’s eyes, Shen Ya’s smile was like a thin sheet of ice melting on a snowy mountain. Though still clear and sparse, a hint of tenderness could be caught within it.

“That was truly interesting.”

“Shall we continue??” Qiao Xi handed Shen Ya a new firework.

“Mhm.” Shen Ya’s emotions were completely carried along by Qiao Xi. She had never imagined she could also be one of those who played, laughed, and enjoyed the start of the New Year outdoors.

Shen Ya found all the fireworks novel. Qiao Xi’s head was full of fun, random facts about fireworks, but Qiao Xi was a naughty child. She would often pique Shen Ya’s curiosity and, after Shen Ya listened intently, would immediately tell her that everything she just said was a lie meant to tease her.

At such times, Shen Ya would raise her hand and, with lightning speed, flick Qiao Xi’s nose. Qiao Xi would cover her nose and retreat a few steps, then dramatically beg for mercy.

It had been chilly when they first went out, but now, even with the cold wind still howling, Shen Ya did not feel cold.

The last firework was finished. The two collected the trash and placed it next to a rubbish bin. Qiao Xi dusted her hands, took her phone out of her pocket, and seeing the time displayed on the screen, realized how long they had been playing.

Qiao Xi saw that Jiang Yunxi had called her, and she had two unread messages. Her two older sisters were asking when she would be coming home, saying they were going to pick her up since it was late.

Shen Ya noticed Qiao Xi standing by the side, looking down at her phone, her finger hovering over the screen for a long time. She saw the change in Qiao Xi’s expression, so she also took out her phone to check the time. Understanding the situation, she walked over. Without looking at Qiao Xi’s screen, she asked, “Time to head back?”

Qiao Xi, who was previously debating, quickly closed her phone and put it in her pocket when she heard this. When she looked up, her smile was back on her face. “No. Can I stay over at Teacher Shen’s house again tonight?”

Seeing that Shen Ya didn’t answer, she hooked her arms around Shen Ya’s arm and swayed back and forth: “Please, Teacher Shen. My mothers are out playing, and my sister isn’t home either. It’s just me left. Can Teacher Shen bear to let me be all alone during the New Year?”

These words sounded familiar to Shen Ya; Qiao Xi seemed to have used the same excuse to stay at her place on New Year’s Eve. In fact, she guessed Qiao Xi probably should go back, but she indulged her selfish wish.

Even if Qiao Xi didn’t use an excuse, she would have agreed if the other person asked to stay, but the “grudge” from being teased by Qiao Xi earlier hadn’t been settled yet. She raised an eyebrow and deliberately said, “I need to think about that.”

“Don’t be like that, Teacher Shen.” Qiao Xi started to act spoiled. She released Shen Ya’s arm and proposed: “How about this, if Teacher Shen lets me stay, I’ll give Teacher Shen a gift. How does that sound?”

“What gift?”

“Hehe-he~” Qiao Xi was building suspense. She intentionally didn’t say clearly, only stating: “So, will Teacher Shen agree to my request?”

This time, Shen Ya didn’t think much and readily agreed: “Alright.” She was now extremely curious about what Qiao Xi was plotting and also began to anticipate what the “gift” Qiao Xi mentioned would be.

Qiao Xi’s boldness grew. After linking arms with Shen Ya, she didn’t intend to let go. The two left the noisy square and walked back along the road. It was deep into the night, and there were fewer people on the streets. Shen Ya was waiting for the gift Qiao Xi mentioned, but all along the way, Qiao Xi was chatting about other topics.

They walked past the place where they bought fireworks; the two girls were gone. Stepping into the community, they could still occasionally hear the sounds of firecrackers from a distance, and there were still young people playing inside the complex.

Only the two of them were in the elevator now. Watching the numbers slowly ascend, the excitement brought on by the fireworks gradually receded in Shen Ya.

The two arrived at the apartment door. The neighbor’s hotpot next door had long been finished. The door was tightly closed; they were either out or already asleep.

They consciously softened their footsteps. After entering the apartment, the coldness they carried was left outside the door.

As soon as Qiao Xi got back and changed her shoes, she dashed to the sofa before Shen Ya. She stretched: “Finally back. Setting off fireworks was fun, but it gets tiring after a while. Is Teacher Shen tired? Should I give you a massage?”

“No need.” Shen Ya turned on the living room heater and then came over to take off the scarf around Qiao Xi’s neck. Qiao Xi was obedient, lifting her chin, her eyes smiling, as if she had put the stars back in them.

“Does Teacher Shen not trust me?” After the scarf was removed, Qiao Xi took off her jacket. She rolled up her sleeve to show Shen Ya her non-existent muscles: “I’m really good at massaging! My sisters always ask me to massage them when they have headaches, shoulder pain, back pain, or leg pain.”

Shen Ya hung Qiao Xi’s jacket on the rack, placing the scarf beside Qiao Xi’s clothes. She just looked at Qiao Xi’s thin arms, then gave a light “Mhm” as a reply.

This was blatant disbelief. To prove herself, Qiao Xi decided to let Shen Ya experience it firsthand.

The small apartment was quickly filled with warmth from the heater. Qiao Xi waited until Shen Ya took off her down jacket, and when Shen Ya was completely unprepared, she grabbed both of Shen Ya’s arms.

Shen Ya frowned. She lowered her head, her gaze fixed on Qiao Xi’s hands: “What are you doing?”

“Come on, come on! Teacher Shen, lie on your stomach. I’ll massage your lower back.”

“No need.” Shen Ya tried to pull her hands away, but she underestimated Qiao Xi’s mischievousness. Her wrists did slip out of Qiao Xi’s grasp, but the next second, Qiao Xi wrapped her arms around Shen Ya’s waist and buried her head in Shen Ya’s embrace.

The sudden intimacy caught Shen Ya off guard. Her cheeks flushed with Qiao Xi’s enthusiasm, but the more this happened, the colder her expression became. Her eyes held a subtle hint of embarrassment and annoyance: “Let go.”

“I won’t!” Qiao Xi not only acted spoiled but feigned grievance: “Teacher Shen just doesn’t trust me. I’m so sad.”

Shen Ya tightly pressed her lips together. Faced with Qiao Xi’s behavior, she was helpless and could only let the fuzzy head rub and nuzzle against her abdomen through her clothes. She wasn’t ticklish, but when this fuzzy head rubbed and nudged, she felt a tingling sensation deep in her heart.

She thought that if she didn’t agree to Qiao Xi today, this little mischief-maker would probably refuse to let go. She sighed internally, then raised her hand and gently patted Qiao Xi’s head: “Alright. Then just massage my shoulders.”

Qiao Xi immediately looked up. The girl who had been speaking with a tearful tone now had a sly smile, like a little fox, curving on her lips. “Then Teacher Shen, sit facing away from me.”

Qiao Xi released Shen Ya’s waist, took off her slippers, and knelt on the sofa. She stared intently at Shen Ya, waiting for her to get ready.

Shen Ya wanted to rub her forehead. She had no choice but to comply with Qiao Xi’s request and turn around. With Qiao Xi’s personality, she wondered how Jiang Yunxi managed to put up with her at home.

“Teacher Shen, shall I start?”

Although Qiao Xi didn’t get a direct response from Shen Ya, she saw the sudden tensing of her shoulders and knew Shen Ya was ready. Her hands gently rested on Shen Ya’s shoulders, and she could feel the tension in the body beneath her hands.

The muscles on both sides of Shen Ya’s neck were taut like a drawn bowstring. Qiao Xi gently kneaded without applying much force, yet she still heard an extremely faint muffled groan. But the sound only lasted for an instant, so quick that she wondered if she had imagined it.

From the moment she started massaging Shen Ya’s shoulders, the other person became completely silent. Even though the distance between them was minimal, she could barely hear Shen Ya’s breathing.

At this moment, Shen Ya truly resembled a glass sculpture, enduring the discomfort and relief brought by the massage, completely suppressing any sound in her throat.

But Qiao Xi was determined to be mischievous. She asked, “Teacher Shen, does my massage feel good?”

Shen Ya remained silent, holding her breath for a moment.

Qiao Xi’s palms slowly pushed down along Shen Ya’s trapezius muscles. She did frequently massage her two older sisters at home, so she was experienced. Shen Ya’s body was much more fatigued than her sister’s. Even the massage couldn’t make her relax. How many heavy shackles did Shen Ya carry on her shoulders?

“Stop.” Shen Ya suddenly turned around and grabbed Qiao Xi’s hands. “That’s enough.” She immediately stood up, taking two steps back as she released Qiao Xi’s hands: “It’s late. I’ll get you clothes. Go take a shower first.”

Qiao Xi’s hands remained where they were. She had only just started, but Shen Ya had fled. She watched Shen Ya quickly walk upstairs, emanating an aura of resistance and awkwardness. Did she do something wrong?

Shen Ya returned to her room. Only after escaping Qiao Xi’s sight did she let out a complete sigh of relief. Qiao Xi’s hands truly relieved the fatigue in her body and soothed her spirit, which had been tormented to its limit.

But precisely because of this, she didn’t know how to accept this gentleness. What Qiao Xi offered was exactly what she longed for, yet she fled in panic, like a startled rabbit, due to fear and apprehension.

Shen Ya leaned back against the door. Her fingertips cautiously touched the spots where Qiao Xi had just touched her. The warmth belonging to Qiao Xi seemed to still linger on her shoulder. She clenched her fist, capturing the last trace of the warmth in her palm, and secretly hid this unique warmth deep within her heart.