Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: The Unspoken Bond

By the time Shen Ya realized she had fallen into Qiao Xi’s trap, it was too late. The scene of Qiao Xi in tears had long vanished. Qiao Xi had displayed her instant change of face, and the sun that had been covered by storm clouds now shone with dazzling light again as Qiao Xi lifted her smiling face.

“I just moved here not long ago, and besides, I haven’t found a suitable place.” She hadn’t planned to stay here indefinitely, but being asked to move now left her wondering where she could go.

“There is a suitable place!” Qiao Xi pulled Shen Ya’s wrist towards her and leaned her head closer to Shen Ya: “There is. There’s a place that’s perfect.”

“Hmm?”

“My home.”

Shen Ya froze. She hadn’t expected Qiao Xi to bring this up again. She had moved into this apartment precisely to turn down Qiao Xi’s house, wanting to avoid anything related to Jiang Yunxi. Now, even though she no longer felt much emotion toward Jiang Yunxi, Shen Qiuyu’s disturbance made her more resolute: she absolutely could not rent Qiao Xi’s house. She didn’t want to drag Qiao Xi into her family’s mess.

“No,” Shen Ya refused.

“Why? Is Teacher Shen going back on your word?”

Shen Ya pulled her hands free from Qiao Xi’s grasp and shifted her body to face the television directly. She kept her head down, her gaze fixed on her palm but unfocused. “I’m not going back on my word, but I need to change the request.”

“No change. Since Teacher Shen agreed just now without any added conditions, why can’t it be this request?” Knowing Shen Ya was avoiding the issue again, Qiao Xi got off the sofa. She squatted in front of Shen Ya and looked up. Even though Shen Ya was avoiding her gaze, Qiao Xi stared intently into her eyes: “What exactly is Teacher Shen worried about?”

Her question naturally received no response. Only now did Qiao Xi truly realize that Shen Ya was as aloof as she appeared on the surface. Her previous willingness to talk and let Qiao Xi get close might have simply been a stroke of luck for Qiao Xi.

It seemed that even tears couldn’t unlock the door in Shen Ya’s heart.

Qiao Xi stood up. “Alright, I understand.” She picked up the gift bag from the coffee table and pulled out the gift box she had carefully packaged last night. She placed the box in Shen Ya’s lap. “This is the gift I promised Teacher Shen last time. Please open it after I leave.”

“Teacher Shen, today I should be the one apologizing. I got involved in the conflict between you and your mother without understanding the full context or asking for your opinion. I was also being unreasonable just now, making Teacher Shen comfort me.”

Qiao Xi paused, then continued: “Teacher Shen probably wants to be alone now, right? It was thoughtless of me to cling here stubbornly. Teacher Shen, I’ll go now. The medicine and the cleaning service will arrive soon. Your hand is injured, so don’t try to overdo it. The money is already spent, and I can’t help with the cleanup anyway. Please don’t worry about this small amount of money.”

Qiao Xi picked at her fingernails. She no longer expected a response. The armor Shen Ya had donned was too sturdy; she couldn’t break it open quickly. Forcing the issue might open Shen Ya’s mouth, but it would likely cause Shen Ya more distress.

Forget it. There would be plenty of time. She could slowly inch closer to Shen Ya.

“Well…” Qiao Xi turned one foot towards the door: “I’ll be going now. Teacher Shen, please rest well.”

She took one last look at Shen Ya before turning away. Just as she took a step, her right hand was suddenly grabbed. She heard a helpless and sorrowful voice from behind: “Don’t go.”

Qiao Xi stopped, but didn’t turn around.

Shen Ya briefly explained: “My mother is an expert at being difficult. If she becomes obsessed, life won’t be easy later.”

But those words were enough for Qiao Xi to understand the real reason for Shen Ya’s refusal. In fact, when Shen Ya told her not to leave, the suffocating feeling in Qiao Xi’s heart had already dispersed. Now, recalling the previous moments, she realized that Shen Ya was actually a contradictory and easily embarrassed adult.

Figuring this out, Qiao Xi couldn’t help but smile, but she kept her back turned and didn’t make a sound, so Shen Ya wouldn’t know.

When she was done smiling, she composed herself, suppressed the curve of her lips, and turned back to face Shen Ya. She returned to Shen Ya, this time sitting cross-legged on the floor. She gripped Shen Ya’s hand, noticing the faint blush that had appeared on Shen Ya’s face.

“Does Teacher Shen want to hear my thoughts?”

Shen Ya raised her head. She was like someone who had been floating alone on the sea for a long time, spotting a small island ahead that seemed like a place to rest, yet fearing it was a hallucination from floating too long. She was hopeful but dared not harbor too much expectation, so she only tried hard to see and listen.

“I don’t know Teacher Shen’s mother well, but from our brief encounter, I’ve noticed that she is likely very fond of money, very concerned with appearances, and perhaps a bit of a bully to the weak?” Qiao Xi said: “If you think carefully about what I just said, you’d find many flaws, yet your mother didn’t question it at all. Or maybe she did, but she was afraid to gamble or verify, because she has more to lose than I do.”

“The security here is too poor. Anyone can get in. And since your mother has come once, she will probably come a second and third time. I don’t know what happened between Teacher Shen and your mother, but to get rid of her for now, moving to a more private place might be better. If Teacher Shen lives in my family’s house, I can more confidently say I’m the landlord and I have the right to throw her out. If we want to completely escape Teacher Shen’s original family, we can slowly figure out a way. What do you think, Teacher Shen?”

“There is no way.”

“What?”

Shen Ya shook her head, repeating: “There is no way to escape.”

“How is that possible?” Qiao Xi didn’t believe it: “In this society, how can there be a situation you can’t escape?”

Shen Ya took a deep breath. Perhaps everything Qiao Xi had done today brought her an unusual comfort. So, she decided to reveal a little of her past: “I broke off contact with my family when I graduated from university, but my mother reported me as missing to the police. When the police came to the door, she distorted the facts, and I couldn’t argue my case. I became the ungrateful wretch who abandoned her mother in everyone’s eyes. Since then, I haven’t been able to escape her control.”

The brief two sentences held years of Shen Ya’s pain and grievances. No wonder she always carried an unresolved sorrow. No wonder she kept her heart closed, preventing others from getting close. No wonder she was so calm, as if accustomed to the woman’s verbal abuse today.

Qiao Xi’s body reacted first. She hugged Shen Ya’s waist, burying her head in her lap. These two sentences made her feel like she was witnessing all the injustices young Shen Ya had experienced. The tears she had suppressed earlier poured out again.

She hugged Shen Ya tightly, crying as she spoke: “There will be a chance! I will definitely help Teacher Shen escape her family’s bondage. Please trust me this once, okay? Let me help you. Aren’t we friends?”

Afraid Shen Ya would refuse again, Qiao Xi, in a rare moment of childishness, wiped all her tears on Shen Ya’s clothes: “I don’t care! Teacher Shen already promised me! If you go back on your word, I’ll… I’ll… I’ll just stay here and never leave!”

The heavy atmosphere was shattered by Qiao Xi’s temper tantrum. Shen Ya saw her resorting to shameless tactics again, finally showing the typical mannerisms of a child. She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. One hand gently touched Qiao Xi’s head, and the other slowly stroked her back: “Let me think about it again.”

“No! You can’t think about it! Last time, Teacher Shen lied to me and said you’d think about it, but what happened? I don’t believe you. Teacher Shen is just lying to me.”

It was always Qiao Xi who was acting shamelessly, and Shen Ya was merely giving the little liar a lesson, yet in Qiao Xi’s telling, their roles were reversed. Qiao Xi became the one being “bullied.”

Shen Ya felt helpless but also slightly amused. After Shen Qiuyu’s scene today, she genuinely couldn’t stay in this small apartment for long. But could she really temporarily settle in Qiao Xi’s house?

“Teacher Shen can modify that house however you want. You can even install a security camera at the door. Your mother can distort the facts, so why can’t we collect evidence and turn the tables?” Qiao Xi lifted her head, persistent and stubborn: “Teacher Shen, if one person’s strength is limited, what about two? I believe there are always more solutions than problems.”

Qiao Xi’s words were too enticing, shaking Shen Ya’s resolve. Yet, she still didn’t want Qiao Xi to get caught up in her family’s troubles. But Qiao Xi’s eyes were too piercing, seemingly able to see right through her thoughts. She heard Qiao Xi say: “Teacher Shen, I’ve already met your mother today and added Chen Qian as a friend. In their eyes, we are already on the same side. Even if you push me away this time, I will still find a way to help you through Chen Qian.”

“Why?” Shen Ya couldn’t understand Qiao Xi’s wholehearted goodwill towards her. They hadn’t known each other for long. Why was Qiao Xi so kind to her?

“If everything needed a rational reason, wouldn’t we be too tired to live?” Qiao Xi released Shen Ya’s waist and took her uninjured hand: “Then can Teacher Shen explain why you refuse everyone else’s closeness, but only allow mine?”

Shen Ya naturally couldn’t answer. And Qiao Xi had already anticipated this: “Because we both have feelings, and we both play favorites. I only do what I want to do and only treat the people I want to protect well. Whether it’s my sisters, my mothers, my friends, or Teacher Shen, I will treat all of you with my whole heart.”

Qiao Xi’s words finally moved her. Or perhaps it was because she was inherently inarticulate and couldn’t win against Qiao Xi, nor could she handle her shamelessly. She thought, then let’s try it. To explore a possibility she had never considered before, to step onto a different path, one filled with warmth yet unknown.

“Alright, I agree.”

Qiao Xi’s eyes filled with light. She jumped up from the floor excitedly, nearly wanting to hug Shen Ya and kiss her cheek, but realizing that would likely result in Shen Ya’s rejection, she suppressed the urge.

“Then I’ll tell Teacher Shen the password now! That house has cleaners come regularly. Teacher Shen can use all the rooms and things in the house. Oh, and the app! Teacher Shen, download it now. You can unlock the door with your phone later. Or how about Teacher Shen changes the password right now? I promise I won’t peek. I’ll delete my fingerprint immediately.”

Qiao Xi said as she fumbled for her phone. She was so excited that her hands were trembling. Shen Ya watched her and covered her mouth, chuckling softly. But she quickly composed herself and pulled Qiao Xi back down to sit beside her: “Slow down. That can wait. Renting a house requires a contract. I’ll modify the contract based on this current apartment’s terms. As for the rent, I…”

“The rent will be half, of course. We’re friends, and friends get privileges. Please don’t refuse me, Teacher Shen, okay?”

Shen Ya sighed and nodded gently: “Mhm.”