Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Home

Shen Ya sat on the sofa cradling the little white cat. After Qiao Xi moved everything in, she started sorting out the cat supplies. Shen Ya wanted to help, but Qiao Xi insisted she just relax and give instructions.

Watching Qiao Xi slowly arrange all the items under her direction, that strange feeling surfaced in Shen Ya’s heart again.

“Teacher Shen, I’ll put the bowls next to the TV cabinet. Where do you think the litter box should go?”

Shen Ya looked around, finally settling her gaze on the balcony: “Put it there for now.”

Qiao Xi moved the empty litter box to the edge of the balcony, then came back, picked up the cat litter, and went back to the box. The cat litter had a pleasant scent and little dust. After pouring it, Qiao Xi temporarily organized the rubbish near the front door to take down later.

When she returned after washing her hands, Shen Ya had set the kitten down. Qiao Xi sat on the rug, resting her head on Shen Ya’s thigh. Both watched quietly as the little white cat explored the room with curiosity. The kitten sniffed as she walked, both curious and wary of the new environment and things. Her steps were slow, taking a few forward steps before retreating again.

Neither Shen Ya nor Qiao Xi made a sound, afraid any noise might startle the little white cat. Small animals have keen senses of smell, and the kitten had been hungry for a long time. She caught the scent of food in the air and followed the smell to the food bowl. She sniffed it first, looked around, and then lowered her body to tentatively take a bite of the cat food.

Qiao Xi finally let out a sigh of relief. She lifted her head and mouthed a message to Shen Ya with a smile: “She’s eating.”

“Mhm.” Shen Ya’s hand touched Qiao Xi’s face: “I’ll go cook. You play with her here.”

When did Shen Ya’s hand stop being cold?

Qiao Xi looked up at Shen Ya from this angle. She noticed the woman’s curled eyelashes and eyes filled with a gentle light. Her amber pupils were completely filled with Qiao Xi’s reflection. Being looked at by Shen Ya like this, Qiao Xi felt like she was being brushed by the fragrant wind of spring, wanting only to immerse herself in this gentle feeling forever.

Just Shen Ya’s gaze made her heart beat erratically. Inside the house already saturated with Shen Ya’s scent, those previously uncertain feelings reemerged. She didn’t want to release her hand and let Shen Ya cook. She wanted to lean on Shen Ya and prevent the other woman’s gaze from leaving her.

“What is it?” When Shen Ya noticed an unusual intensity in Qiao Xi’s eyes, her own heart skipped a beat. She wondered if she was overthinking, but she felt a hint of affection in that gaze. She withdrew her hand, her mind in turmoil, instinctively wanting to flee from this unfamiliar emotion. Shen Ya pulled her hand back, forcibly suppressing her inner unrest. She stood up, not daring to look at Qiao Xi again: “I’ll go cook first, or it will be too late.”

Qiao Xi sat up straight, watching Shen Ya’s retreating figure. She bit her lip, regretting her lapse. She hadn’t controlled her emotions well. More accurately, she didn’t know how to control this strange feeling. This emotion had never appeared before, so all her usual tricks seemed to fail.

Shen Ya was smart; she would definitely notice the poorly hidden emotions. What should Qiao Xi do to dispel Shen Ya’s doubts?

She needed to carefully confirm this feeling. Perhaps she should seek advice from someone experienced. Qiao Xi sat on the rug, hugging her knees, deep in thought. She couldn’t ask her sister, so she could only talk to her mothers.

That’s right, her mothers adored her. Even if they knew she liked someone, they wouldn’t object. With a plan in mind, Qiao Xi felt like she had grasped a piece of driftwood in the sea. But before she could get too excited, another thought struck her: even if she confirmed her feelings, what about Shen Ya? Did Shen Ya feel the same way about her? And would she be willing to give her a chance?

The kitten, having finished eating, returned to her side, circling her and getting familiar with her scent. An idea sparked in Qiao Xi’s mind. She stroked Eleven’s head, picked up the kitten, and went to the litter box area first. “Little Eleven, this is where you go to the bathroom, okay?”

After letting Eleven familiarize herself with the litter box, Qiao Xi continued carrying the kitten around the house. She pretended to let Eleven get used to the house layout but quickly circled all the rooms before stopping at the kitchen doorway.

Shen Ya, wearing a cute apron, expertly wielded the spatula. The aroma of the food wafted out, making Qiao Xi’s stomach rumble. She carried the kitten into the kitchen, pinched the kitten’s paw, and said in a high-pitched voice: “Little Eleven, come see what yummy things Mommy is cooking.”

Hearing the word “Mommy,” Shen Ya was slightly stunned. She wasn’t used to this new title, but she knew Qiao Xi wasn’t wrong. She had seen pet bloggers online refer to themselves as the cats’ and dogs’ mothers. But hearing Qiao Xi say it so naturally, she felt something was off.

“It’s smoky here. You should go wait outside.”

Qiao Xi stepped out of the kitchen and set the kitten down: “Go play, Eleven.”

Watching Eleven start to explore her surroundings, Qiao Xi felt completely at ease. She returned to the kitchen and washed her hands: “Teacher Shen, let me help you.”

“No need.”

Qiao Xi, however, resorted to her usual trick: “Is Teacher Shen looking down on me, thinking I can’t do any work?”

Shen Ya shot her a look, then instructed her: “Then go get me a plate.”

“On it.” Qiao Xi immediately opened the cabinet after receiving the instruction. Inside were various dishes and bowls, mostly styles she liked. Some she had never seen before. It seemed Shen Ya had been taking good care of the house even when she wasn’t around. Did these dishes imply that Shen Ya also kept her in a very important place in her heart?

Qiao Xi took out a new plate she hadn’t seen before. She placed it next to Shen Ya and casually asked, “Did Teacher Shen just buy this? I don’t think I’ve seen it before.”

Shen Ya glanced at it: “Mhm, I saw it online and bought it because it was cute.” She didn’t tell Qiao Xi that she had actually bought the set of dishes printed with a puppy motif after accidentally seeing them while scrolling through videos, and Qiao Xi immediately came to mind.

The puppy on the plate had its tongue sticking out, its white fur soft and fluffy, looking warm and adorable, just like Qiao Xi, who was always smiling, like a little radiant angel.

The stir-fried dish was put on the plate. This time, without being asked by Shen Ya, Qiao Xi carried the plate to the dining table. She went out and looked around. Eleven had disappeared somewhere. Qiao Xi walked toward the sofa and, getting closer, realized Eleven had hidden inside the semi-enclosed cat bed. Seeing her, Eleven, who was cleaning her fur, suddenly stopped and watched her warily.

Qiao Xi didn’t disturb her. After knowing where Eleven was, she felt completely settled. Back in the kitchen, Shen Ya was already preparing the second dish. Qiao Xi quickly grabbed a plate and waited nearby: “Eleven is back in her cat bed. She’s so smart.”

“Mhm.”

“Teacher Shen, how about I buy an automatic litter box?” Qiao Xi asked: “Teacher Shen is usually busy with work, and now there’s a little cat. Using an automatic litter box could save some time.”

Shen Ya had considered this when they were buying cat supplies. She had seen people online buy automatic litter boxes for their cats, but Eleven had just come home after being a stray. She might be frightened by the automatic litter box, and Shen Ya was afraid Eleven might get stuck in it when she wasn’t home: “Let’s not buy one yet. She just came home. We’ll wait until she gets used to things.”

“You’re right. Teacher Shen is so thoughtful.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Go get the rice, and then come back to carry the dishes.”

Qiao Xi cheekily replied: “Yes, Teacher Shen.”

Time was short today, so Shen Ya didn’t have time to cook complicated dishes, making some simple home-cooked meals instead. But these were all Qiao Xi’s favorites.

Qiao Xi ate heartily, praising the food even before swallowing: “I finally get to eat Teacher Shen’s cooking again. Although the school cafeteria and nearby restaurants are okay, I’m tired of them. Besides, who else would spoil me so much and only cook my favorite dishes if not for Teacher Shen?”

Here she goes again. After some time apart, Qiao Xi’s flattery skills had improved. No matter what Shen Ya did, Qiao Xi would praise her to the heavens. This playful manner felt familiar to Shen Ya. She thought maybe she had been wrong just now, or perhaps it was her own hidden desires that amplified and misunderstood Qiao Xi’s behavior.

Even though Qiao Xi had grown up, she still acted like a child who liked to be spoiled in front of her. She was pure, and perhaps Qiao Xi’s mind was only occupied with academics, and she likely hadn’t even thought about feelings like love.

Shen Ya picked up a slice of beef from her plate and put it into Qiao Xi’s mouth: “Eat properly. Eleven is much better behaved than you.”

With the sudden piece of beef in her mouth, Qiao Xi felt her emotions threaten to overflow again. Shen Ya had clearly noticed the fleeting emotions Qiao Xi failed to conceal, yet she still used her own chopsticks to feed Qiao Xi. Did this intimacy mean that Shen Ya wasn’t resistant to her affection?

No, no, no, I shouldn’t overthink. It would be embarrassing if she was wrong.

Qiao Xi didn’t dare to be distracted anymore. She bit down on the meat on the chopsticks, chewing slowly. The thought that this was meat Shen Ya had actively fed her made her feel like she was consuming Shen Ya’s essence. Therefore, she was reluctant to swallow the meat, wanting only to savor the intention sent over by the other woman.

Seeing Qiao Xi quiet down and keeping her head bowed, the atmosphere around the dining table became somewhat strange. Shen Ya couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong. Not wanting the table to fall silent, she proactively asked, “Are you staying here for these two days?”

This simple question made Qiao Xi start overthinking again. Had Shen Ya already considered this place “home?” And had she become a member of Shen Ya’s home? Then, in Shen Ya’s mind, what was her identity within this home?

Qiao Xi didn’t dare to ask and couldn’t ask. She could only pretend to be oblivious. “Yes, Teacher Shen, please don’t kick me out, or I’ll be forced to live on the streets.”

This playful remark amused Shen Ya again. Facing Qiao Xi’s vivaciousness, she simply couldn’t keep her smile down. Perhaps it had genuinely been too long since they last met, or perhaps the home had become warm again, Shen Ya even learned to use Qiao Xi’s teasing tone: “That depends on your performance.”

Qiao Xi put the largest chicken wing from the plate into Shen Ya’s bowl: “Teacher Shen, I’ll be a very good girl. I’ll clean up the dining area later. I’ll perform so well that Teacher Shen will be the one to ask me to stay.”

Listening to Qiao Xi’s entertaining words and seeing her smile brighter than the sun, Shen Ya felt the house come alive again. When she was alone, the house was cold and silent. Even turning on the TV didn’t manage to drive away the loneliness surrounding her.

But Qiao Xi was like a beam of light. She didn’t just make the house lively; she reignited Shen Ya’s heart. Shen Ya was starting to feel reluctant to let Qiao Xi leave.

After dinner, Qiao Xi voluntarily took over the remaining chores and chased Shen Ya to the living room sofa. Fearing Shen Ya couldn’t sit still, she found a cat treat tube and placed it in Shen Ya’s hand: “Teacher Shen, now is a great time to bond with Eleven.”

Shen Ya looked at the cat treat tube in her hand: “Giving treats is enough to build a bond?”

“Of course. Who can resist the temptation of delicious food? I can’t, and Eleven definitely can’t.”

Shen Ya pondered this. So, was Qiao Xi getting more attached to her because she had captured Qiao Xi’s stomach? Could delicious food build affection and help her keep her little sun?

Shen Ya felt like two small figures were fighting in her mind. One side believed she shouldn’t harbor inappropriate feelings for Qiao Xi, but the other side couldn’t bear to create distance between herself and Qiao Xi. Shen Ya was troubled. Until a winner emerged, she could only maintain the status quo—neither advancing nor retreating—trying her best not to overthink the emotions hidden in Qiao Xi’s eyes or the deeper meanings in her words.

Qiao Xi went to clean up. Shen Ya moved to the rug. Eleven was still lying in her bed, curled up and still on guard. Seeing Shen Ya approach, Eleven retreated slightly inwards. Shen Ya tore open the cat treat tube and extended it into the cat bed. Eleven’s pink nose sniffed the air first. Presumably, upon discovering the delicious food, she immediately reached out her tongue and licked the treat.

Eleven made strange noises while eating. Although Shen Ya didn’t understand, she felt Eleven was excited to eat the food, much like Qiao Xi always found ways to compliment her cooking whenever she ate her meals.

Shen Ya reached out and stroked Eleven’s head. This revealed another similarity between Eleven and Qiao Xi: both Eleven’s and Qiao Xi’s fluffy heads felt incredibly satisfying to her touch, making her unable to resist petting them again and again.

Qiao Xi, having finished her work, didn’t approach. She stood a short distance away, watching Shen Ya and Eleven interact. With the kitten’s company, Shen Ya was smiling more. Her gaze seemed to melt into a pool of water, gently flowing into Qiao Xi’s heart.

She desperately wanted to record this scene. Her hand reached into her pocket for her phone. She turned off the sound, opened the camera, and quietly pressed the shutter button. Shen Ya’s face held a clear smile, her eyes curved like crescent moons. She tilted her head slightly, one hand holding the remaining cat treat, the other gently stroking the little white cat’s head. A warm glow seemed to emanate from her.

Shen Ya, captured on the screen, was no longer cold. The spark sealed inside the glass sculpture had gradually turned into a blazing fire, melting the icy mountain that once encased her from the inside out.