Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: The Gift of Fear

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Qiao Xi and her family boarded a plane destined for a tourist city in the south. The itinerary for the trip had been discussed during dinner the previous evening.

Her eldest mother and eldest aunt had already booked plane tickets to go abroad for the second day of the New Year, so they would not be participating in this family activity. Jiang Yunyi, being alone, would join them.

Originally, they had planned a road trip, but both mothers felt it would be too exhausting, so they ultimately decided to travel by plane.

Qiao Xi was surrounded by her sisters and couldn’t even manage to check her phone to send a message to Shen Ya. Fortunately, their time in the air wasn’t long, and they landed at their destination by noon.

The advantage of traveling with her sisters was overwhelming; Qiao Xi didn’t have to worry about a single thing, as her sisters would arrange everything.

However, something unexpected still happened. Since their decision to travel was last-minute, and the city they were visiting was a particularly hot tourist spot right now, hotels were difficult to book. After filtering their requirements, they finally managed to reserve three rooms.

This was one of the best hotels in Zhoucheng. The hotel had a private beach, an excellent location, and was perfect in terms of both privacy and service. In Qiao Xi’s eyes, it had no flaws, apart from the expensive price.

She had stayed at this hotel before when visiting Zhoucheng, but this time, they only secured two double rooms and one twin room.

Qiao Xi didn’t think much of it at the time, but watching the room cards for the two double rooms being taken by her mothers and sisters respectively, she realized something was amiss. Sure enough, the room card for the twin room was handed to Jiang Yunyi, and she was pushed by her two mothers toward Sister Yunyi.

Qin Yunxin: “Then we’ll trouble Yunyi to look after Xiao Xi for these two days.”

“No trouble at all. Xiao Xi is well-behaved, and staying in the same room with me is fine.” Jiang Yunyi put an arm around Qiao Xi’s shoulder. Ignoring the fact that Qiao Xi’s smile looked worse than a cry, she led Qiao Xi to their room after stepping out of the elevator.

The door was opened. Jiang Yunyi first pushed Qiao Xi inside, then pulled both of their suitcases in. It was a twin room, but the decor was luxurious, and the area wasn’t small. After the door closed, the suitcases were placed in the small walk-in closet. Jiang Yunyi then said to Qiao Xi: “Xiao Xi, pick a bed first.”

Since Jiang Yunyi said so, Qiao Xi didn’t hesitate. She pointed to the inner bed and said, “Then I’ll sleep over there.”

“Good. Rest a bit. We’ll go out to eat soon.”

“Okay, okay.” Qiao Xi grabbed her phone and immediately hid in the bathroom. As soon as the door closed, she opened Shen Ya’s chat box and sent a string of crying dog emojis.

Shen Ya happened to be looking at her phone, so Qiao Xi’s message popped up immediately, and she tapped on it. Seeing the familiar crying puppy emojis, she replied: 【?】

Qiao Xi: 【Teacher Shen, do you know who I have to share a room with on this trip?!】

【Who is it?】

Qiao Xi sent another crying puppy before replying: 【It’s Sister Yunyi…】

Shen Ya asked her: 【You don’t like Jiang Yunyi?】

【No, no, no, it’s not that I don’t like her. I’m a little afraid of Sister Yunyi, because there’s a big age gap, and we don’t have much to talk about when we’re together. Also, I always feel like Sister Yunyi is a little intimidating.】

Jiang Yunyi? Shen Ya knew her but wasn’t familiar with her. Their interactions were always minimal at Blank. She only knew that the person was Jiang Yunxi’s older sister and the best friend of Blank’s boss, Fang Moyao.

There was a rumor at Blank that she was a “social butterfly” with countless romantic interests, but Shen Ya had never heard anyone say anything negative about Jiang Yunyi. So, she wasn’t sure what kind of person the other woman was.

While Shen Ya was contemplating how to reply to Qiao Xi, she received another message.

Qiao Xi: 【What is Teacher Shen doing? Have you eaten yet?】

【I have. Reading at home.】

Seeing this message, Qiao Xi was filled with regret. If she hadn’t come on this trip, could she be reading with Shen Ya or going out to play somewhere else right now?

She sighed. Since she was already here, she could only wait a few days until she returned home to see Shen Ya.

She was about to say something else when Jiang Yunyi knocked on the bathroom door. Qiao Xi only managed to tell Shen Ya: 【I have to go eat now. Teacher Shen, talk to you next time.】

Qiao Xi put her phone away in her pocket. She washed her hands before leaving the bathroom.

As soon as she came out, she saw Jiang Yunyi leaning against the closet door, looking at her phone: “Yunxi is asking if we’re all ready. Time to go eat.”

“Ready, ready. I can go now.”

Jiang Yunyi nodded. Before leaving the room, she quickly used the bathroom herself, then led Qiao Xi out of the room.

While Jiang Yunyi and Jiang Yunxi looked very similar, their personalities were completely different. Jiang Yunyi appeared more aggressive. Her already tall stature, combined with her presence, gave others a strong sense of pressure when standing next to her.

Qiao Xi felt like she was being kidnapped, constantly held by Jiang Yunyi’s arm as they walked.

Not far away, Qiao Xi saw Qin Shuyao and Jiang Yunxi holding hands, whispering intimately as if no one else was around. Seeing this, Jiang Yunyi suddenly stopped and covered Qiao Xi’s eyes: “Do those two do that often at home?”

Qiao Xi pulled down Jiang Yunyi’s hand while speaking: “Sister Yunyi, I’m almost an adult. There’s nothing shocking about that. I’ve even seen my sisters kiss…”

She abruptly swallowed the rest of her sentence because she heard Jiang Yunyi “tsk” in disapproval. “How can those two be so tactless?”

Jiang Yunxi and Qin Shuyao turned their heads toward them after hearing the noise. “Xiao Xi, Yunyi.”

Jiang Yunyi led Qiao Xi forward. After handing Qiao Xi over to Qin Shuyao, she tapped Jiang Yunxi’s shoulder and told her, “Come here for a moment.”

Jiang Yunxi didn’t know what Jiang Yunyi wanted to say. The two walked one after the other to the stairwell. Only when they were out of sight of Qin Shuyao and Qiao Xi did Jiang Yunxi ask, “What is it?”

“Can you two please have some sense of propriety?”

“What?”

The two had similar faces, and even their dressing styles were almost identical. Strangers would think they were twins.

Jiang Yunyi’s expression darkened slightly. She looked serious and deliberately lowered her voice with some displeasure: “It’s fine that you two are dating, but when Xiao Xi is home, you don’t even try to restrain yourselves. How old is Xiao Xi? It’s not good for her to keep seeing things like that.”

“Did you call me over just to say that?” Jiang Yunxi didn’t take it seriously. She patted Jiang Yunyi’s shoulder and said, “Shuyao and I are discreet. Don’t worry.”

Qiao Xi saw her two sisters emerge from the stairwell. She smiled and waved at them: “Sisters, hurry up!”

The two elders were already standing behind Qin Shuyao. Seeing them emerge, they all headed towards the elevator.

Zhoucheng was in the far south, and the winter here wasn’t cold. The family of six didn’t leave the hotel but ate at the hotel restaurant, which had a direct view of the sea outside. It was only when Qiao Xi admired the beautiful view of the seaside that she finally felt this trip was worthwhile.

Over the next few days, Qiao Xi took many photos. She would avoid her sisters and tell Shen Ya about the interesting things she encountered. She knew Shen Ya was always alone, so she hoped these anecdotes would keep Shen Ya from feeling too isolated.

Sharing a room with Jiang Yunyi wasn’t as difficult as Qiao Xi had imagined. She hadn’t been very familiar with her before, but now she found that Jiang Yunyi was a very gentle and easygoing older sister.

Even Doctor Jiang would rarely show her childish side in front of her. Jiang Yunyi was like the head of the family. This entire trip was arranged by her, and she took excellent care of the two elders and her three younger sisters.

Time flew by, and soon it was time to return. Qiao Xi had genuinely had a blast during these days. She had been reluctant to come but felt a little sad to leave. She bought local delicacies and had the store ship them back for her. Qiao Xi avoided her family and filled in Shen Ya’s address. She estimated that Shen Ya should receive the package after she returned home.

She had planned to go see Shen Ya today right after getting back, but the weather was poor. The flight was delayed, and it was nearly dark by the time they arrived in Jianglan City. Reluctantly, she had to change her plans.

That evening, after dinner, Qiao Xi shut herself in her room. She found the beautiful little gift boxes she had previously stocked up on. She put the safety charm she had bought on the first day of the New Year inside, and then added the painting she had framed, frame and all.

She opened the drawer, found some stickers to decorate the gift box, and carefully selected a sky-blue ribbon to tie a beautiful bow around it.

Since she had promised a gift, it needed to look like one. Qiao Xi was very satisfied with her creation. She took many photos from different angles with her phone, but she didn’t send them to Shen Ya to maintain the mystery.

Everything was ready. She just had to wait for tomorrow to go see Shen Ya.

Qiao Xi didn’t tell Shen Ya she was coming today; she wanted to surprise her. She had subtly checked with Shen Ya before going to bed last night, so she knew Shen Ya definitely wouldn’t be going out today.

She wasn’t in a hurry and left home only after having breakfast. Her two sisters routinely asked where she was going. She just said she was going to buy books and would eat dinner with a classmate before returning.

Successfully leaving home, Qiao Xi got into a car bound for Shen Ya’s apartment. She was full of excitement the entire way. It had been a week since she last saw Shen Ya. She wondered if Shen Ya was even awake yet.

She got out at the community entrance and gave the driver a five-star rating. Compared to New Year’s Eve, the community was a bit more crowded; most people were starting to return as the holidays were nearing their end.

She got into the elevator, still thinking about the first thing she would say when she saw Shen Ya. When the elevator doors opened, she turned towards the familiar direction, but before getting close, she heard people arguing.

And that direction seemed to be Shen Ya’s apartment?

Qiao Xi’s smile vanished. Ignoring everything else, she tightened her grip on the gift bag and ran toward Shen Ya’s apartment. She hadn’t misheard. Shen Ya’s front door was completely wide open. Her neighbor, the one who had greeted her, was blocking Shen Ya’s way and arguing with a middle-aged woman.

She recognized Chen Qian, who she had only met once, standing behind the woman with her neck shrunk and face flushed.

Shen Ya stood at the doorway, her pale lips tightly pursed, the line of her mouth a sharp blade. Her eyes seemed to be laced with frost. Every time her eyelashes fluttered, a sense of detachment emanated from her. When Shen Ya looked at the woman, her eyes held anger, hatred, and disgust, as if she were looking at a generations-long enemy.

Before Qiao Xi could get closer, Shen Ya’s gaze briefly caught sight of her. In that instant, a crack appeared on the iceberg. Shen Ya pushed the female neighbor aside, grabbed the woman’s wrist, and dragged her into her apartment.

Before Qiao Xi could reach the door, Shen Ya kicked it shut. The deafening slam shook Qiao Xi’s heart.