Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 43

Chapter 43: The Encounter

Having moved to a new residence, Shen Ya found that she was indeed living a comfortable life. Perhaps Qiao Xi herself was full of magic, so when Shen Ya moved in, that magic accompanied her, providing strength and warmth.

Shen Qiuyu had contacted her, of course, but dared not go to the old apartment and therefore still didn’t know she had moved. Then, one day after work, Shen Ya ran into Shen Qiuyu at the unit entrance. As soon as Shen Qiuyu saw her, her face hardened, and she walked up to question her: “Why didn’t you contact the person I sent you?”

Shen Ya walked around Shen Qiuyu toward the subway station. She hadn’t logged into the account that had Shen Qiuyu’s contact details for a while, so she naturally didn’t know the person had messaged her. “I told you, from now on, mind your own business.”

“I’m your mother! Am I not allowed to control you anymore?!” Shen Qiuyu grabbed Shen Ya’s arm: “That person said, just meet him once, and if it’s not a good fit, then so be it. Although the land their family owns is scheduled for demolition, it won’t be that soon. You should spend more time with him now. Maybe you’ll develop feelings. When you get the money, if there are truly no feelings, you can just divorce. What’s the big deal?”

Shen Ya shook off Shen Qiuyu’s hand and sneered: “So, in your eyes, human feelings are completely worthless? It’s okay to sacrifice even me for money?”

“What kind of sacrifice is this? I’m your mother! I raised you through hardship, and now I’ve found someone with such good conditions for you. Why are you so ungrateful!”

Shen Ya maintained a distance of two fists from Shen Qiuyu. She was alert, like a hedgehog raising its quills in front of the other woman: “If you think it’s so great, then you marry him.”

Shen Qiuyu raised her hand again, wanting to strike Shen Ya. Shen Ya simply took a step back, her eyes casting a chilly gaze: “This place is full of people and surveillance cameras. Think carefully before you hit me. Go ahead and make a scene. But if my job is affected, then don’t expect to receive any money from me each month from now on. You have no shame, so don’t blame me for being heartless. My reputation has already been ruined by you anyway. At worst, we’ll both go down. Do you think I’m still afraid of you?”

Shen Ya ignored Shen Qiuyu, walking past her and heading straight forward. Last time at the apartment, she and Shen Qiuyu had a huge fight. Some of the things were broken by Shen Qiuyu, and some by her. Every argument left both her and Shen Qiuyu wounded.

Qiao Xi’s accidental intrusion that time gave her some new ideas. She had indeed been too passive before, always letting Shen Qiuyu gain the upper hand. While she couldn’t master Qiao Xi’s playful badgering, she could at least learn how to make threats.

Shen Qiuyu’s thinking was rigid and old-fashioned. She had no real ability in this life, only resorting to parental authority when dealing with Shen Ya. Shen Ya had been bullied by Shen Qiuyu since childhood. Completely changing her psychological response would not be easy, but now she seemed to see a flicker of hope.

Perhaps Shen Qiuyu was only passing by and hadn’t come specifically to find her. The woman didn’t chase after her. After walking some distance, Shen Ya secretly looked back. Shen Qiuyu was nowhere to be seen.

Since then, Shen Qiuyu seemed to have vanished, no longer harassing her. Chen Qian, however, used a secondary account to add her as a friend. She first apologized and then updated her on the recent situation at home. Shen Ya didn’t reply initially, but Chen Qian occasionally informed her of Shen Qiuyu’s movements. She didn’t know why Chen Qian had changed so much, but it wasn’t a bad thing.

The weather became warmer day by day, and the college entrance examination date drew closer. Every time Qiao Xi visited, her smile was less frequent, and a sense of anxiety that Shen Ya hadn’t seen before occasionally crossed Qiao Xi’s face.

Even without asking, Shen Ya knew it was because the Gaokao was fast approaching, and even an optimistic person like Qiao Xi couldn’t help but feel nervous.

She bought a small cake today, from Qiao Xi’s favorite bakery. When Qiao Xi came home and habitually took out her test papers to work on at the coffee table, Shen Ya brought out the small cake from the refrigerator, which was not much bigger than her palm.

“Huh?” Qiao Xi stopped writing, looking at the small cake placed in front of her. Her emotions were like a shaken cola bottle; the bubbles rushed out as soon as the cap was opened: “Is this for me?!”

“Mhm.”

Qiao Xi put down her pen and moved the cake closer, hastily unwrapping it: “How did Teacher Shen know I wanted cake?”

“Have you been in a bad mood recently?” Shen Ya sat down behind Qiao Xi. She watched Qiao Xi cut a piece of cake onto a disposable plate and hand it to her.

“Not necessarily bad.” After handing the cake to Shen Ya, Qiao Xi added a small white fork for her: “It’s just that I’ve been too tired lately. There are endless problems to solve and books to read every day. The countdown clock in the classroom keeps ticking down, and the class is so quiet. It feels stifling every time I enter the room.”

“So, the oppressive atmosphere is still affecting you.”

This time, Qiao Xi didn’t hesitate. She nodded and admitted: “Yes. Also, my score was a bit low in the last exam. Even though my sisters praised me as usual, I still feel a little uneasy inside.”

“Teacher Shen, were you affected by your mood during your Gaokao?” Qiao Xi always thought a person with Shen Ya’s cold personality would be difficult to disturb by external factors.

It had been a long time since Shen Ya’s Gaokao, but she wouldn’t forget how desperately hardworking and diligent she was then. Because she was different from others, she needed a good university to change her destiny. She had carried heavy pressure since childhood, so the pressure of the Gaokao itself wasn’t much to her.

However, since Qiao Xi asked, she nodded and replied: “Mhm, this is a normal phenomenon. Just maintain a relaxed mindset, and you’ll be fine.”

“My teacher and sisters said the same thing.” Qiao Xi scooped a bite of cake into her mouth. The sweet, rich flavor spread in her mouth. The frustrating mood she had been in was immediately dispersed by the sweetness: “This is so good. Teacher Shen is great at picking things.”

A single cake could make Qiao Xi forget her worries. The little rascal was easily appeased. “Then, after you finish eating, bring the test papers over, and I’ll take a look.”

Qiao Xi ate her cake quickly. When she put down the empty plate, Shen Ya’s cake was only half-eaten. Shen Ya wasn’t fond of sweets, and too much at once felt cloying, so she placed the remaining half back on the coffee table.

Qiao Xi found the test papers in her backpack. Before handing them to Shen Ya, she climbed onto the sofa, then suddenly lay down, wrapping her arms around Shen Ya’s waist and resting her head on Shen Ya’s lap: “Teacher Shen, let me lie here. I’ll take a nap. I stayed up late studying last night, woke up early today, and I’m a little sleepy after eating the cake.”

Shen Ya glanced at the wide sofa. Qiao Xi could sleep there even without touching her, yet the little rascal chose to hug her waist and bury her head in her lap.

Through the fabric of her clothes, Shen Ya could feel Qiao Xi’s breathing. Each exhalation caused a slight contraction in her abdomen.

Shen Ya’s movements became stiff, yet she indulged Qiao Xi to sleep in this position on her lap. She initially thought Qiao Xi was just being playful again, but soon, the steady breathing let her know that Qiao Xi was truly asleep.

She picked up the test papers and reviewed them carefully. With Qiao Xi’s ability, she would definitely achieve an excellent score in the Gaokao. After reviewing each page, she set the papers aside. Even in her sleep, Qiao Xi was still holding onto her waist.

From this angle, Qiao Xi looked incredibly docile, tempting Shen Ya to gently stroke the young face.

Qiao Xi’s skin was smooth and elastic, clearly well cared for by her family. Shen Ya poked Qiao Xi’s cheek with her fingertip. Qiao Xi mumbled in her sleep, seemingly annoyed by the disturbance.

Shen Ya’s mouth lifted into a smile, no longer hiding the amusement in her eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the day of the college entrance examination arrived. Shen Ya had also been busy these days. Among the students she taught were some repeating Gaokao candidates. Coincidentally, one of her students was assigned to the same exam hall as Qiao Xi.

Last night, when Qiao Xi learned that Shen Ya would also be coming today, she repeatedly emphasized that Shen Ya must wait for her in the morning.

Shen Ya knew that Qiao Xi’s entire family would be coming out to send Qiao Xi off to the exam. She initially wanted to avoid Jiang Yunxi, but then she thought, they no longer had any ties, so why should she hide from her?

Although many parents were seeing off their children, she still spotted Qiao Xi’s family in the crowd. Through the gaps between people, she saw Qiao Xi surrounded by her family. The elders were embracing her, and Jiang Yunxi, Qin Shuyao, and Jiang Yunyi stood nearby, smiling and talking to her.

Qiao Xi, wearing a clean blue and white polo shirt, hugged the woman who must be her mother and gave a mischievous and adorable smile. Just watching from afar, she could feel the heartwarming atmosphere of Qiao Xi’s family.

Jiang Yunxi’s hand patted the back of Qiao Xi’s head, gently stroking her hair and giving soft instructions. Qiao Xi lifted her head, listening intently, her eyes blinking as if they could speak. Suddenly, Shen Ya felt a familiar gaze on her. She looked around, searching for the source of the gaze.

Qiao Xi let go of her mother and squeezed into the crowd. Jiang Yunxi and the others, unsure where Qiao Xi was suddenly going, followed behind her until a familiar figure appeared before them. Jiang Yunxi frowned, looking at Shen Ya with confusion.

Shen Ya was also surprised. She hadn’t expected Qiao Xi to be like a small dog, finding her location purely by acute intuition. Before she was mentally prepared, Qiao Xi excitedly rushed toward her. Shen Ya instinctively raised her hands and caught her.

Shen Ya nodded to Jiang Yunxi and the others, momentarily unsure how to introduce herself.

“Teacher Shen!”

“And who might this be?” Qin Yunxin smiled, asking Shen Ya.

Jiang Yunyi, standing nearby, glanced at Jiang Yunxi out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that Jiang Yunxi had no intention of speaking, she took the initiative to explain: “She’s a friend of mine. She’s a high school teacher and tutored Xiao Xi for a few lessons before.”

“I see.” Qin Yunxin said warmly: “Your surname is Shen, correct? May I call you Xiao Shen?”

Shen Ya nodded: “You may.”

“So you tutored Xiao Xi. We never heard Xiao Xi mention it before. Are you here today to see Xiao Xi off to the exam?”

Being stared at by so many pairs of eyes made Shen Ya extremely uncomfortable. She wanted to smile, but her body wouldn’t obey. “In a way, yes. I also have a student taking the Gaokao here today.”

“What a coincidence then.” Qin Yunxin patted Qiao Xi’s head: “Go inside, it’s getting late.”

Qiao Xi let go of Shen Ya and waved to the group: “Okay, I’m off to the exam hall then. Goodbye, Mom. Goodbye, Sisters. Goodbye, Teacher Shen.”

After watching Qiao Xi walk away until she entered the school gates, Shen Ya wanted to leave. She felt immensely uncomfortable being there.

Just as she was about to find an excuse, Jiang Yunyi stepped forward and stood beside her: “Do you have any plans later?”

Shen Ya shook her head: “No.”

“Shall we have lunch together then?”

“I…”

Jiang Zhiqing noticed Shen Ya’s discomfort, so she invited Shen Ya to join them in a gentle tone: “Since you’re friends, come with us. We’ll be here for all three days to send Xiao Xi off to the exam. There’s a restaurant I know nearby. We can rest there while Xiao Xi takes her exam.”

Shen Ya clutched her bag, her fingers constantly picking at the leather. The courage she initially had not to avoid Jiang Yunxi had drained away after Qiao Xi left.

Jiang Yunyi must have noticed something. She glanced at Jiang Yunxi, smiling, but her words carried a secret known only to the two of them: “Yunxi, you’ve known Shen Ya the longest. Why didn’t you even greet her when you met?”

Jiang Yunxi nodded and then spoke: “It’s been too long since we last met. I didn’t expect to run into her here. Let’s go, have a meal together.”

In truth, whether Jiang Yunxi spoke those words or not, Shen Ya knew she would have to eat with Qiao Xi’s family today. She didn’t want to reject the elders’ invitation, and she genuinely wanted to know Qiao Xi’s exam status as soon as possible.

It was just that this was the first time she had faced such a situation, and she felt overwhelmed. Since Jiang Yunxi offered a way out, she followed her lead: “Okay.”

After the exam officially began, Shen Ya walked away from the examination site with the group.

Qiao Xi brought the fountain pen Shen Ya had given her to the exam today. Although she wasn’t in a familiar classroom or school, looking at the pen made her feel that Shen Ya was right there with her.

Only then did she realize the meaning behind Shen Ya’s gift of the fountain pen. The test paper wasn’t difficult. After realizing she knew all the answers, her pressure completely vanished. However, she had forgotten about the incident between Shen Ya and Dr. Jiang just now. Bringing her entire family to meet Shen Ya so suddenly—she hoped she hadn’t caused Shen Ya any trouble.

On the way to the restaurant, Jiang Yunyi and Shen Ya walked at the back. The two were not actually close, but the people ahead were all paired up, leaving them as the only two walking alone.

Jiang Yunyi spoke first to Shen Ya: “I haven’t seen you at Blank for a long time. Have you been very busy?”

“Mhm.”

“You seem to be in much better spirits than before.” Jiang Yunyi’s words carried a hidden meaning, seemingly inquiring indirectly about something.

Shen Ya pretended not to notice: “Mhm, perhaps.”

“When do you have time to come to Blank? I’ll buy you a drink.”

“We’ll see.” She had no desire or time to go to Blank now. She found that her previous life was drifting away from her. Even without frequenting Blank, she could find warmth without resorting to pain.

Shen Ya’s aloofness didn’t deter Jiang Yunyi. The other woman maintained a polite smile, and when she spoke again, the topic suddenly shifted: “Your relationship with Xiao Xi seems quite close.”

This made Shen Ya’s heart tighten. She subconsciously looked at Jiang Yunxi walking ahead.

Her reaction did not escape Jiang Yunyi’s eyes. The curve of Jiang Yunyi’s smile widened, and she added: “Don’t worry. Regardless of whether you meet privately, I won’t tell Yunxi. I don’t see any problem with you meeting Xiao Xi.”

“Thank you.” Shen Ya averted her gaze, her non-bag-holding hand subtly clenching.

Jiang Yunyi gave a slight laugh. In just two sentences, she had figured out the recent movements of Shen Ya and her little sister. She didn’t know why Qiao Xi was in contact with Shen Ya, and seemingly so intimately. However…

“Shen Ya, changing your way of life might show you a broader world. Life is short, live it as you please.”