Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Interrupted Conversation

The candy in her palm still held Qiao Xi’s body warmth, just like last time. How could she forget the lively girl in front of her? She just hadn’t expected to run into her here. Shen Ya glanced around, finding no sign of Jiang Yunxi. Only then did she speak, asking, “Alone?”

“Yes! My sisters have their own things to do, so I slipped out to have some fun.” Qiao Xi thrust the moon-shaped lantern into Shen Ya’s other hand: “Is Teacher Shen alone too?”

Shen Ya lowered her head, looking at the moon lantern and the candy in her hands. A complex emotion arose in her heart. She didn’t answer but just nodded, tucking the candy into her coat pocket and switching her bag to the other hand.

“That’s great! Since we’re both alone, why don’t you explore with me, Teacher Shen?”

Shen Ya turned her head, looking Qiao Xi up and down. Although the girl was wearing a jacket, she only had two layers of clothing in total. She had no backpack, and the lantern that should have been in her hand was now in Shen Ya’s.

She was highly suspicious that Qiao Xi had snuck out of the house, so she asked with doubt, “Do your sisters really know you’re out?”

Qiao Xi guessed what Shen Ya was asking as soon as she heard the question. She immediately raised three fingers to the sky and swore, “I promise, my sisters know I’m out. Teacher Shen, you have to believe me.”

Seeing Qiao Xi’s earnest appearance, a fleeting smile flashed in Shen Ya’s eyes, too quick for anyone to notice. Qiao Xi carried the aura of the sun. Every time they met, she seemed to sweep away the gloom in Shen Ya’s heart.

“Have you eaten dinner?”

The topic changed so abruptly that Qiao Xi’s quick thinking saved her. She immediately swallowed the “I’ve eaten” that was about to escape her throat. When she spoke again, the answer changed: “No, I haven’t. My sisters aren’t home tonight, so I figured I’d come into the city to find something to eat and join the excitement.”

Shen Ya had just finished work, so naturally, she hadn’t eaten dinner either. She usually ate irregularly, grabbing something quick in the evenings. But tonight, with Qiao Xi joining her, she couldn’t be so casual.

She asked Qiao Xi, “What do you want to eat?”

Qiao Xi had already eaten dinner and a piece of cake; her stomach was still full. But she was afraid that refusing Shen Ya would prevent her from joining her. She could only bite the bullet and agree: “Is there anything Teacher Shen would like to eat? I’m not picky; I can eat anything.”

Whenever Shen Ya ate with others, the restaurant was always decided by the other person; she just had to show up at the address. Tonight, Qiao Xi handed the choice to her. She thought about the restaurants her colleagues usually recommended, considering Qiao Xi’s age. With some uncertainty, she suggested two words: “Hotpot?”

Qiao Xi’s eyes lit up, and she quickly agreed: “Sure! I know a really delicious hotpot place nearby, but we might have to wait for a table right now. I’ll check how busy it is.”

With that, she took out her phone, opened a mini-program, and quickly clicked on the online queue. Although it was past the main dinner hour, there were still many people. Qiao Xi held up her phone for Shen Ya to see: “We still have to wait for more than half an hour. Is Teacher Shen hungry? Do you want to eat something else first to tide you over?”

“No need.”

Qiao Xi breathed a sigh of relief. She then suggested, “Then let’s walk over slowly. Maybe when we get there, it will be just our turn?”

“Mm.”

Perfect, Qiao Xi thought. This is a good chance to digest. The hotpot place wasn’t far, but she deliberately slowed her pace so she could save room in her stomach for a couple more pieces of meat later.

Shen Ya remained cool and indifferent, like a piece of jade. The noise and bustle of the world could not encroach upon her, leaving her with an aura of mystery and self-contained charm that Qiao Xi couldn’t help but be drawn to.

But this time, her gaze was no longer blatant; she only dared to secretly let her peripheral vision linger on Shen Ya for a moment.

Qiao Xi and Shen Ya maintained a distance of about a fist’s width. Qiao Xi thought she was being subtle enough today, but she was still caught red-handed by Shen Ya. When their eyes locked, Qiao Xi recoiled like a startled rabbit, and her immediate withdrawal of sight became the best proof of her guilt.

“Is there something on my face?” Shen Ya’s tone was colder than the north wind, sounding as though she was annoyed.

Qiao Xi waved her hands frantically: “No, no, no, it’s my fault. It’s just that Teacher Shen is so pretty, so I always… I always…” Her voice became softer and softer, and the rest of her words were swallowed up by the surrounding laughter.

Qiao Xi felt her face burn again. She wanted to slap her own eyes. How could she be caught staring again? This was too embarrassing. Would Shen Ya think she was some kind of hooligan?

Shen Ya’s silence made Qiao Xi nervous. What she didn’t know was that Shen Ya wasn’t speaking simply because this was the first time someone had complimented her so directly and sincerely. She didn’t know how to respond or what expression to show.

Qiao Xi thought she was about to face Shen Ya’s judgment, but the other woman simply looked away, acting as if nothing had happened. Unable to deduce Shen Ya’s mood from her expression, Qiao Xi nervously picked at her palm, then leaned her neck closer to Shen Ya, humbling herself, and quietly asked, “Is Teacher Shen angry?”

“No.” She just didn’t know how to reply. Shen Ya didn’t want Qiao Xi to keep asking, so she abruptly changed the subject, asking, “Do you love eating candy?”

“What?” The topic shift was so fast that Qiao Xi didn’t immediately react. She stared blankly at Shen Ya, blinking, before suddenly remembering the candy she had just given. “Not really. Actually, it’s my sister… Does Teacher Shen know I have another sister named Jiang Yunyi?”

Shen Ya naturally knew her. She was one of the Blank company boss’s friends, a woman who looked very similar to Jiang Yunxi. However, they had little interaction. When Jiang Yunxi asked if she had a wish, Shen Ya had intended to ask her to set her up with Jiang Yunyi, but Qiao Xi had interrupted her before she could finish. After that, she completely abandoned the idea. She let out a short, clipped sound from her nose: “Mm.”

This answer wasn’t surprising. Qiao Xi thought that since Shen Ya and Doctor Jiang had known each other for so long, they must have heard of the close relatives and friends. She explained: “This candy is Yunyi Sister’s favorite. She gives me a lot every time we meet. Sometimes when I’m bored in class, I’ll eat one, so I always carry some candy with me.”

So that was it. Shen Ya nodded and fell silent again. She wasn’t the only one carrying a lantern on the street, but this ordinary lantern was the first one someone had ever handed to her. She hadn’t thought much of it earlier, finding it novel, but now that she came to her senses, she felt awkward. Such a toy should be carried by Qiao Xi.

Shen Ya handed the lantern back to Qiao Xi. This gesture, however, made Qiao Xi mistakenly believe that Shen Ya was angry and therefore refusing her gift. Qiao Xi’s eyes suddenly became misted with unshed tears, as if she were about to cry the next second: “Does Teacher Shen not like the lantern I gave you?”

She gave this lantern to her?

Shen Ya was surprised. Faced with Qiao Xi’s pitiful look, she felt awkward and could only soften her voice as she told Qiao Xi, “No, it’s not that. This lantern is just more suitable for you.”

“But I think this lantern is more suitable for Teacher Shen.”

Shen Ya froze. She stopped walking and stared intently at Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi met Shen Ya’s gaze. Perhaps because of their significant age difference, or maybe because they were still unfamiliar with each other, Qiao Xi couldn’t discern the emotions hidden behind Shen Ya’s complex gaze. She could only use her own sincerity to tell the other woman: “I saw Teacher Shen from afar just now and thought Teacher Shen was as elegant and pure as this moon, so I bought it.”

The intense gaze was so hot it made Shen Ya immediately look away. Her flushed ear tips were hidden in her hair. She started walking forward again, reprimanding in a low voice, “Sweet talk.”

Shen Ya walked quickly. Qiao Xi hurried to catch up. The tears that threatened to fall just moments ago were now replaced by a smile in her eyes that seemed to annoy Shen Ya. She turned sideways to face Shen Ya, skipping and walking, “I really mean it!”

“Teacher Shen isn’t unhappy anymore, right?” Qiao Xi then deliberately blocked Shen Ya’s path and leaned in to check her expression. Her smile was bright, like a small sun suddenly rising in the north wind.

“Noisy.” Shen Ya used the lantern to push Qiao Xi gently aside and continued forward.

After walking a distance, she noticed Qiao Xi hadn’t followed her. She had to stop and turn around, only to see Qiao Xi still standing in the same spot, watching her with a smile.

Shen Ya truly didn’t know how the gentle yet ruthless and indifferent Jiang Yunxi could raise such a little rogue. She didn’t intentionally raise her voice, nor did she care if Qiao Xi heard or understood: “If you don’t come over, I won’t take you with me.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Qiao Xi running toward her. As the girl approached, the area around Shen Ya felt like a barrier had been erected, keeping the cold wind out.

But Qiao Xi truly was a little rogue, and much more familiar than her sister. Shen Ya’s arm was linked. The fist’s distance that had been between them was now gone, and she could feel Qiao Xi’s body warmth pressing against her.

“I knew Teacher Shen wouldn’t hold a grudge against me.” Qiao Xi asked Shen Ya, “Is Teacher Shen in a hurry to go home tonight?”

“Why?”

“After the hotpot, let’s go watch the fireworks! How do you usually spend New Year’s Eve, Teacher Shen?”

Shen Ya shook her head: “Alone, at home.”

Qiao Xi gained a lot of useful information from Shen Ya’s answer. It was clear that Shen Ya was lonely. She had sensed the woman’s solitude in the private room last time. If Shen Ya hadn’t been Doctor Jiang’s girlfriend, then why had the two of them had such intimate contact?

Now was not the time to probe for secrets. Qiao Xi realized that the current Shen Ya resembled her own younger self. She wondered what Teacher Shen had gone through to be so guarded, always giving off an air of detachment.

Qiao Xi tucked this small pang of empathy away. Her sharp eyes noticed someone selling dog-shaped tanghulu (candied fruit skewers) dolls nearby. She released Shen Ya’s arm and walked toward the small vendor. She paid the money and took the dog tanghulu in one smooth motion. Returning to Shen Ya, she held the dog tanghulu in front of her, shook the candied dog, made two “woof woof” sounds, and said: “Then tonight, let me be the one to spend New Year’s Eve with Teacher Shen!”