Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Qiao Xi still didn’t know the next day…

Qiao Xi still didn’t know the next day what the family had discussed after sending her away last night. After her mother came home, Pangpang no longer bothered her. She slept until noon and only got up then. Shen Ya had sent her quite a few messages, which she only got around to answering when she went downstairs for lunch.

Last night, Jiang Yunyi told the family that Fang Moyao already knew Qiao Xi was a child of the Fang family. Jiang Yunxi didn’t say much at the time, but later she privately sought out Jiang Yunyi, asking her why Fang Moyao would have met Qiao Xi.

Jiang Yunyi withheld the information about Shen Ya and Qiao Xi, only asking Jiang Yunxi in return if she hadn’t properly hidden the information related to ‘Blank’. Jiang Yunxi denied it at the time, but later, when she went back to her room and saw the items on her bed, she suddenly remembered that she and Qin Shuyao had stayed up all night before the New Year and hadn’t had time to tidy up. Since Qiao Xi came back early, she might have entered her room and seen things.

These items all had the ‘Blank’ logo printed on them, and her membership card for ‘Blank’ was also on her desk. With Qiao Xi’s intelligence, she had probably searched for it, and finding the address of ‘Blank’ wouldn’t have been difficult.

She began to blame herself, feeling that the whole thing was her fault.

Jiang Zhiqing and Qin Yunxin had thought about Qiao Xi and the Fang family before. Adopting Qiao Xi was indeed the last wish of Qiao Xi’s birth mother, Qiao Qianrou. Now that Qiao Xi had grown up and the Fang family had completely gotten rid of those troubles, it was only right for Qiao Xi to acknowledge her relatives. However, they needed to give Qiao Xi time to process and accept it.

The two elders decided to invite Fang Moyao’s mother out for a meal first, to clarify what had happened back then. As for Qiao Xi, they finally decided to have Qin Shuyao find a time to talk to her.

After all, Qiao Xi was closer to Qin Shuyao and Jiang Yunxi, but Jiang Yunxi, while gentle, was also strict, and Qiao Xi tended to hide things when she was alone with her. Qin Shuyao, however, was different; she was the one who spoiled Qiao Xi the most in the family.

Qiao Xi, who still didn’t know the truth, was fully focused on Shen Ya. After lunch, Qiao Xi rested for a while. It wasn’t until three or four in the afternoon that she found an excuse to leave home. She told her two mothers that she would be eating out with friends tonight and probably wouldn’t be back.

Qiao Xi left home and arrived at ‘Blank’. Zhou Ziqian had given her access last time, so she wasn’t stopped when she entered. ‘Blank’ was quiet during the day, with only two employees inside. One of the girls was named Mumu, the same one who had stopped her last time.

Mumu greeted her warmly and asked: “Do you want anything to eat?”

“No, thank you, Sister Mumu. I wanted to ask if Sister Qianqian is here.”

Mumu replied: “Both bosses are out right now. They have their own work to attend to and probably won’t be back until the evening.”

“Their own work?” Qiao Xi was surprised: “I thought they only ran this private club.”

Mumu laughed at her: “How could that be? Both bosses have their main businesses. This private club is just a side venture. Sister Qianqian is very busy. Boss Fang is a hands-off boss, so Sister Qianqian does most of the work.”

So that’s how it was. She thought so. This private club only catered to women with niche tastes. With such a strict client selection, how could it make so much money?

“Would you like something to drink? Although I’m not as good at making cocktails as Sister Qianqian, my drinks aren’t bad. Would you like to try one?”

Qiao Xi waved her hand: “I got drunk last time.”

Mumu covered her mouth and laughed: “The cocktail Sister Qianqian made for you last time had a high alcohol content, and I saw you drink it too quickly. Have a low-alcohol one. If you drink it slowly, you might not get drunk.”

This…

It sounded somewhat logical. She was an adult. She should be able to drink some alcohol, right? She couldn’t always watch Shen Ya drink milk when they went out. That was too childish.

Qiao Xi asked: “Then, what does Teacher Shen usually drink when she comes here?”

“Teacher Shen?” Mumu paused briefly before connecting the dots: “Oh! You mean Shen Ya, right? We’re so used to calling her by her name that we sometimes forget she’s a teacher.”

Qiao Xi pulled out a high stool at the bar and sat down: “Did Teacher Shen come here often before?”

Mumu nodded first, then immediately shook her head: “Not often, I wouldn’t say. She used to come and go with Jiang Yunxi, but later, after they reportedly broke up, she came less often. She stayed here for half a month before the New Year. I heard she had someone she liked but couldn’t make up her mind.”

As Mumu spoke, she suddenly thought of Qiao Xi’s state the first time she came to ‘Blank’. She pointed at Qiao Xi and realized: “So, the person Shen Ya likes is you, right?”

Although it was a question, Qiao Xi felt a rush of joy. She and Shen Ya were finally being linked together. Now, she could openly admit it: “It’s me.”

Mumu instantly showed an expression of excitement and envy: “Then I wish you both a long and happy life together.”

“Thank you.”

“Since you asked me, I’ll make you a drink that Shen Ya usually enjoys. However, Shen Ya has a high tolerance, so the alcohol content will be higher. Do you want to try it?”

“Try it!” Of course, she wanted to try it. She wanted to understand, experience, and see everything related to Shen Ya, even the past she wasn’t a part of.

Mumu’s cocktail-making posture was very cool. Her movements were so smooth that Qiao Xi was dazzled. Only when a glass was placed in front of Qiao Xi did she close her surprised mouth.

The drink looked more like a coffee ice cream. There was a creamy whipped topping, and below it was the same color as the coffee Shen Ya usually liked. Mumu said the drink had a strong kick, but Shen Ya could hold her liquor and rarely got drunk.

“Sister Qianqian adjusted this drink, so the one sold outside should taste different from ours.”

Qiao Xi first leaned over and sniffed it. Probably because of the cream on top, she didn’t really smell any alcohol. She took a bite of the cream first. The creamy sweetness made Qiao Xi lower her guard.

Taking a small sip of the drink, the creamy flavor masked the bitterness of the alcohol. It tasted better than the fruit wine Zhou Ziqian gave her last time. Qiao Xi exclaimed: “The taste is good!”

“Mm, but it has a strong kick, so drink it slowly.” Mumu instructed her, then added: “I’ll go make you some snacks to go with the drink.”

Mumu went to the back kitchen, leaving Qiao Xi alone at the bar. Because the drink did taste more like a beverage and was highly deceptive, Qiao Xi took a couple more greedy sips despite Mumu’s warning.

Mumu first brought out a plate of French fries. With the food available, Qiao Xi shifted her attention away from the drink. Just as she picked up two fries and dipped them in ketchup, she saw Zhou Ziqian enter, hugging Fang Moyao’s waist and laughing playfully.

“Xiao Xi?”

Fang Moyao’s voice made Zhou Ziqian stop the gossip she was just telling. She turned her head towards the bar and saw Qiao Xi munching on fries like a little hamster. The expression on her face instantly changed.

Zhou Ziqian released Fang Moyao’s waist, then bent down and slowly crept up behind Qiao Xi. She put two fingers together and, while Qiao Xi wasn’t paying attention, quickly poked Qiao Xi’s waist.

“Ah!!”

Qiao Xi, who had already taken off her jacket, was wearing thin clothes. The sudden attack made her jump off the stool from ticklishness.

Zhou Ziqian, having succeeded, laughed heartily, her laughter echoing throughout the first floor.

Fang Moyao shook her head and walked over. She gave Zhou Ziqian a look, then stroked Qiao Xi’s head, saying gently: “Xiao Xi, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“Sister Moyao.” Seeing Fang Moyao again, the other person’s attitude had done a 180-degree turn. Why did she look at her so much like her two sisters? “…Uh, I just came to chat with Sister Qianqian.”

“Alright, let Qianqian keep you company.” Fang Moyao turned her head and told Zhou Ziqian: “Put all her spending on my tab.”

“How can I accept that?”

“Oh, little sister Xiao Xi, it’s rare for our Sister Yaoyao to be so generous. Why would you be embarrassed?” Zhou Ziqian hooked her finger under Qiao Xi’s chin, smiling like a temptress: “Besides, who knows, maybe you and your Sister-in-law will be family soon.”

There she goes again. Zhou Ziqian always said such inexplicable things. Qiao Xi took a step back and glanced at Fang Moyao. The other person wore her usual fake smile, obviously plotting something mischievous.

Zhou Ziqian pulled Qiao Xi back onto the high stool. Mumu also brought out a plate of chicken wings. Zhou Ziqian pulled out another stool and sat down, naturally putting on a glove, picking up a chicken wing, and holding it to Qiao Xi’s mouth: “Come on, little sister Xiao Xi, let your sister-in-law feed you.”

Qiao Xi dodged to the left, and Zhou Ziqian’s chicken wing poked her mouth to the left. She moved to the right, and the chicken wing closely followed her. Fang Moyao, who hadn’t left yet, sighed inwardly. She slapped Zhou Ziqian’s waist: “Stop it. Don’t tease her.”

“Fine, fine. I won’t tease your blood sister.”

What blood sister? She understood every word individually, but when Zhou Ziqian put them together, she couldn’t understand.

Fang Moyao left and went to another table where guests were seated. Fang Moyao sat next to another friend, her gaze still fixed on Qiao Xi. Seeing that Qiao Xi was now talking to Zhou Ziqian, she took out her phone and sent a message to Shen Ya.

“What did little sister Xiao Xi want to chat about with your sister-in-law today?” Zhou Ziqian took off her glove, leaning sideways, supporting her chin with one hand, and asked with a smile.

Qiao Xi automatically ignored Zhou Ziqian’s ‘sister-in-law’ comment, as the other person never spoke seriously. She didn’t look at Zhou Ziqian, only lowering her head and picking at her fingers. After much hesitation, she said: “I… I know what ‘Blank’ is.”

“Oh?” Zhou Ziqian licked her lips: “Then tell me, what kind of place is our ‘Blank’?”

Even though it was a serious counter-question, Qiao Xi’s ears turned red. Naturally, she didn’t answer Zhou Ziqian’s question directly, but said: “I, I saw my sister, I mean, Doctor Jiang, her room has, has…”

“Has what?”

“Hand, handcuffs, whips, and, and a blindfold. I, I want to know, did Teacher Shen, did she, did she, also like these activities before?”

Qiao Xi spoke softer and softer. By the end, Zhou Ziqian had to lean close to her mouth to hear what she said.

Hearing gossip about Jiang Yunxi, Zhou Ziqian desperately wanted to call Fang Moyao over to listen, but unfortunately, she not only had to hide her extreme excitement but also had to patiently help this little sister.

“You came to find me just to ask about Boss Shen? Why don’t you ask her directly?”

“I…” Qiao Xi’s head was almost touching the tabletop.

“Oh~” Zhou Ziqian drew out the last syllable: “I see. Little sister Xiao Xi is shy, right?”

Qiao Xi stopped talking, her head still down, tacitly confirming what Zhou Ziqian said.

“Although Boss Shen is a regular here, I can’t possibly hide under the bed and eavesdrop, right? So, little sister Xiao Xi, you’ll have to ask Boss Shen about this yourself.”

Zhou Ziqian’s words sounded crass, but they weren’t illogical. Even if Shen Ya was a member of ‘Blank’, Zhou Ziqian couldn’t know such details. Doctor Jiang probably knew more than Zhou Ziqian, but how could she possibly ask her?

“Little sister Xiao Xi, is it because Boss Shen won’t tell you, or did you secretly come to ask?”

Qiao Xi clutched the cocktail glass with one hand and pressed the marble bar with the other. Since the conversation had gotten this far, and she had already embarrassed herself, Qiao Xi simply went all out: “I’m afraid, afraid that when I’m with Teacher Shen, I won’t be able to satisfy her needs, so I…”

After saying that, Qiao Xi picked up the glass and took a big gulp to muster courage. Mumu moved her laptop to the other end. Although she wanted to listen to the gossip, she knew the boundaries when it came to private matters. Therefore, she specifically played a piece of lyrical music, hoping to add a bit of ambiance to Qiao Xi and Zhou Ziqian’s conversation.

“It’s a good thing little sister Xiao Xi is thinking this way. There’s nothing to be shy about. If you can’t ask, why don’t you try it out?”

The gentle music, the sticky yet slightly bitter cocktail, and Zhou Ziqian’s bewitching voice made Qiao Xi more relaxed than before. She finally looked up at Zhou Ziqian: “How do I try it?”

“Why don’t you buy some things from our circle? When the items arrive, pick a lucky day and casually place them in a noticeable spot, just like this. Build up the atmosphere, and Boss Shen will naturally tell you what she likes.”

This sounded reasonable. Since she couldn’t ask, perhaps with Shen Ya’s intelligence, if she saw things related to this circle at home, she would understand what Qiao Xi meant.

Qiao Xi took another sip of the drink to bolster her courage: “Then, then does Sister Qianqian have any recommendations?”

“You’ve come to the right person for that.” Zhou Ziqian took out her phone, found Qiao Xi’s chat box, and sent her a link: “Here, buy from this place. New registrants get a 30% discount, and your first order comes with a gift. The items in this store are good quality and effective. I guarantee your Boss Shen will love them.”

Why was Zhou Ziqian so enthusiastic, like a salesperson in a mall? Perhaps the alcohol was starting to kick in. Qiao Xi’s head felt a little dizzy, but it was better than last time. At least her thoughts and actions were still under control.

This appeared to be a mini-program. The store was named ‘Indulgence’, with a black and white color scheme. The first thing that caught her eye was a woman whose eyes were covered by black sheer fabric, biting a red rose.

The woman looked somewhat familiar. Qiao Xi felt like she had seen her somewhere. The store had many types of products: small paddles for foreplay, small toys to heat things up, plus clothes that could make the other person’s eyes light up. Just browsing the pictures made Qiao Xi feel thirsty.

“Little sister Xiao Xi, do you want to choose yourself, or should your sister-in-law help you?”

Qiao Xi immediately covered her phone to her chest: “I’ll do it myself.”

Zhou Ziqian tapped the air with her fingertip: “Then little sister Xiao Xi, register first.”

Qiao Xi picked up her phone again. She followed Zhou Ziqian’s instructions and clicked on the registration information. She knew the phone number and password, but what about the last field for the membership number? “What’s the membership number?”

Zhou Ziqian clasped her hands together under her chin. Her smile was like a fox enticing a little lamb into its den. Her bright red lips spoke out a few numbers. Watching Qiao Xi fill them in one by one and a “registration successful” message pop up, the corners of her mouth nearly split to her ears.