Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Qiao Xi’s energy is ultimately limited…

Qiao Xi’s energy was ultimately limited. Even though she wanted to continue clinging to and even bullying the “dream” Shen Ya, she lacked the strength to do what she wished.

After repeatedly nibbling on Shen Ya’s chin several times, drowsiness overtook her brain, and she fell asleep in Shen Ya’s arms.

Shen Ya held Qiao Xi, gently patting her back like she was soothing a child. Each stroke was rhythmic. She would occasionally lower her head to kiss Qiao Xi’s hair and ears.

Once Qiao Xi was fast asleep, Shen Ya gently placed her flat on the bed. Qiao Xi was frowning and wasn’t sleeping as peacefully as Shen Ya had imagined. She suspected it was because she hadn’t changed into pajamas, but Qiao Xi was already asleep. Could she take off Qiao Xi’s clothes without permission?

Shen Ya rubbed her temples. Forget it. Only she and Qiao Xi were in the room right now, and Qiao Xi was drunk and probably wouldn’t remember much. Even if Qiao Xi found out tomorrow, the deed would already be done, and it would be too late to object.

Shen Ya reached out and slowly unbuttoned the remaining buttons of the shirt one by one. When Qiao Xi’s body was completely exposed to her view, even she, who was usually so composed, felt her heart, like a boulder dropped into a pond, lose its calm.

Ripples of desire spread through her heart. Recalling the kiss just moments ago, her heart was beating so fiercely in her chest that it felt like it would burst through her ribs.

Shen Ya suppressed her fierce desires. She placed both hands on Qiao Xi’s pants, took a deep breath, and slowly pulled them off.

Qiao Xi was very fair and slender. No wonder she felt so light when held. But she recalled Qiao Xi eating quite a bit in the past. Why hadn’t she gained any weight?

She decided that she would make more delicious food in the future to see if she could nourish Qiao Xi to be healthier.

Shen Ya pulled the quilt over Qiao Xi first, then got up and walked to the bathroom. She found a towel, dampened it, and returned to the bedside to wipe Qiao Xi’s body. This would also help Qiao Xi sleep more comfortably.

Just as she finished rinsing the towel, she heard a phone ringing. It wasn’t hers. She put down the towel and quickly walked out of the bathroom. Qiao Xi was sleeping soundly and hadn’t been woken by the ringtone. She found the vibrating phone in Qiao Xi’s clothes pocket. Seeing the caller ID, she thought for a moment before pressing ‘answer’.

“Xiao Xi, what time are you coming back tonight?” A mature female voice came through the phone.

Shen Ya wasn’t as composed as she had been when facing Qiao Xi moments ago. She looked at Qiao Xi sleeping on the bed, her free hand clenched nervously into a fist. She spoke with a serious tone: “Auntie, this is Shen Ya. Xiao Xi is drunk and probably won’t be able to return tonight. Please don’t worry, I will take good care of her.”

Qin Yunxin heard the familiar yet unfamiliar voice. She was silent for over ten seconds before asking again: “So, the person Xiao Xi went out to see today was you?”

“Yes.”

She raised her voice slightly, her tone somewhat stern: “My Xiao Xi never drinks. Why did she get drunk?”

This was a question from Qiao Xi’s mother. Shen Ya’s heart instantly jumped to her throat. How would Qiao Xi’s elder view her? They probably thought she was a hooligan who lured their child out to drink and then got her drunk.

“I apologize, Auntie.” Shen Ya explained the situation as clearly as possible: “Xiao Xi went to a friend’s private club. By the time I arrived after work, she was already drunk. I am truly sorry. I failed to look after Xiao Xi properly.”

“Xiao Shen.” After hearing Shen Ya’s explanation, Qin Yunxin understood that it wasn’t really Shen Ya’s fault. She softened her tone and said to Shen Ya: “Since this is Xiao Xi’s own issue, you don’t need to apologize to me. I’m not a rigid elder. I was just worried that Xiao Xi might be in danger if she were drunk alone outside. Now that she’s with you, I feel relieved.”

Hearing Qin Yunxin say this, Shen Ya also breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could fully compose herself, she heard the other person ask: “During the New Year’s Day, Xiao Xi came back and told us she had failed at confessing. Auntie wants to know, what is your relationship now?”

So Qiao Xi had mentioned their situation to her elder. Her rejection at the time must have made Qiao Xi sad for a long time. Would Qiao Xi’s mother blame her, and would she agree to let Xiao Xi be with her?

“Xiao Shen, please speak frankly. We won’t interfere with the issues between you and Xiao Xi. Whether you end up together or not, Auntie knows you are a good child.”

Shen Ya wasn’t sure if this was a trap, but since the elder asked, she could only bite the bullet and answer: “I’m currently trying hard to win Xiao Xi back.”

Qin Yunxin understood everything after hearing this. A clear smile entered her voice: “Then Auntie will wait for Xiao Xi to bring you home.”

Shen Ya was stunned. Did this mean that Qiao Xi’s elder had already approved of her? “Thank you.”

After hanging up the phone, Shen Ya felt like she was dreaming. She had expected Qiao Xi’s mother to call to demand an explanation, but unexpectedly, before she even had to declare her true feelings, the other person had already accepted her relationship with Qiao Xi.

This was the best news she had received tonight. Shen Ya placed the phone on the bedside table and bent down to poke Qiao Xi’s cheek with her fingertip: “Thank you, you little rascal.”

Thank you for having such a wonderful family.

Thank you for bringing me into a whole new world.

It wasn’t too late for Shen Ya. Sure that Qiao Xi wouldn’t wake up anytime soon, she quietly slipped out of the room.

Downstairs at ‘Blank’, it was the busiest time. Shen Ya looked around but didn’t see Zhou Ziqian or Fang Moyao. She went to the bar and found Mumu, asking her for a drink out of habit.

Mumu looked Shen Ya up and down, finally stopping at the right side of her neck. Her smile became ambiguous, and her tone was teasing: “Wow, Boss Shen, was it that intense earlier?”

Shen Ya frowned. At first hearing, the tone made her think she was facing Zhou Ziqian. Mumu had clearly been at ‘Blank’ for too long, having picked up most of that irritating tone.

Shen Ya pulled out a high stool and sat down: “It’s not what you think.” Not wanting Mumu to gossip further, she immediately added: “Give me a meal, and a box of hangover medicine.”

“Oh, so little Qiao Xi fell asleep.”

“Mm.” Shen Ya watched Mumu preparing the drink. She asked: “Why did you make that drink for Qiao Xi?”

Mumu’s movements suddenly lost their smoothness: “She was asking about you. I told her you liked this drink. I warned her before making it that the alcohol content was high, but she insisted on having it, so I mixed one for her. Who knew she was a little alcoholic.”

Qiao Xi wasn’t an alcoholic. After figuring out Qiao Xi’s true feelings and thoughts earlier, she understood why Qiao Xi insisted on drinking the one she usually ordered—she simply wanted to understand her better.

Shen Ya asked: “What did she talk to you about?”

Mumu continued with her task: “She was just about to start chatting when the boss and Sister Qianqian arrived.” Mumu paused for a moment, looked around, and, making sure no one was listening, she leaned closer and whispered: “I faintly heard little Qiao Xi ask Sister Qianqian what activities you liked when you were at ‘Blank’.”

Shen Ya’s face stiffened, suddenly feeling awkward: “She really asked that?”

“Yes, but Sister Qianqian didn’t say anything and told little Qiao Xi to ask you herself.”

Shen Ya massaged her forehead. Should she be grateful that Zhou Ziqian kept her mouth shut, or should she worry about Qiao Xi’s curiosity? This little rascal pretended to be angry and unforgiving, but secretly ran off to ‘Blank’ to find out these things. What was Qiao Xi thinking? If Qiao Xi really asked her when she woke up, how should she answer?

The drink with the cream topping was placed in front of Shen Ya. “I’ll go check the back kitchen to see what’s good to eat.”

The plan to take Qiao Xi out for dinner was foiled because she got drunk. Shen Ya casually ate a meal at ‘Blank’. After eating, she borrowed the back kitchen from Mumu. She had to go to work tomorrow, and Qiao Xi might not wake up until later. She cooked some porridge, thinking that if Qiao Xi hadn’t woken up before she left for work, she would ask Mumu to give it to her.

At night, when Shen Ya lay down in bed, Qiao Xi had already warmed the sheets. She hadn’t changed Qiao Xi into pajamas, so Qiao Xi was only wearing underwear and nothing else.

Shen Ya turned to face Qiao Xi and reached out to put her arm around Qiao Xi’s waist. Qiao Xi’s skin was soft. She couldn’t resist secretly poking the soft flesh on Qiao Xi’s waist.

The Qiao Xi in her dreams was oblivious. Even with Shen Ya pinching and stroking, she didn’t wake up.

With her beloved person in her arms, Shen Ya slept soundly.

Before dawn, Qiao Xi’s shoulder twitched in Shen Ya’s arms. Not fully awake yet, she felt like she was lying on a comfortable cloud, but as her consciousness gradually returned, hunger also set in.

Qiao Xi opened her eyes and realized she wasn’t at home. Although the room was dim, she recognized it as a room at ‘Blank’. An arm was resting on her. Qiao Xi looked up and saw Shen Ya, who was sleeping peacefully with her eyes closed.

Memories slowly returned. She seemed to have had an ambiguous dream last night. She dreamt that she and Shen Ya were kissing passionately, and Shen Ya, contrary to her usual self, indulged all her childish antics.

Qiao Xi shrunk her neck. Thank goodness it was a dream. That behavior was too reckless and completely inconsistent with her usual persona. Thank goodness it was just a dream.

Feeling terribly hungry, she wanted to go downstairs to find something to eat. After all, ‘Blank’ was open 24 hours. Even if no one was downstairs, Fang Moyao said yesterday that she could use the back kitchen freely. If all else failed, she could order takeout.

She slowly moved Shen Ya’s arm from her waist, and cautiously moved her butt outwards. Although she made no noise, the bed produced subtle vibrations with every movement.

She moved while observing Shen Ya’s reaction. The other person seemed to frown slightly, but before she fully woke her up, Qiao Xi successfully reached the edge of the bed and slipped out from under the quilt.

Putting her feet on the floor, Qiao Xi finally breathed a sigh of relief. But before she could fully catch her breath, she suddenly realized that she was naked!

No, rather, she was only wearing a set of underwear, and all her other clothes were gone! She had been held like this by Shen Ya all night!

Qiao Xi’s face was burning. She felt as if she had been suddenly thrown into scalding boiling water. It must have been that Shen Ya helped her take off her clothes when she was drunk last night. It’s over. She had absolutely no memory of her clothes being removed.

Shen Ya had seen her body. She must have seen it. How utterly embarrassing.

Qiao Xi covered her face. She wished she could crawl under the bed right now. They say drinking leads to mistakes, and she was experiencing it firsthand.

“Xiao Xi?”

When Shen Ya’s voice rang out in the darkness, the room was instantly filled with light. The incandescent light shone on Qiao Xi, locking onto her as if countless eyes were watching her. Her shoulders shook, and she instantly squatted down, curling herself up: “Don’t look at me!”

Shen Ya, who was still sleepy, was also amused by Qiao Xi’s reaction. She moved to Qiao Xi’s side. As she got closer, she saw Qiao Xi squatting on the floor like a despairing mushroom.

Shen Ya reached out from under the quilt and placed her hand on Qiao Xi’s shoulder. She felt Qiao Xi’s body faintly trembling: “I already saw it last night. Don’t be shy.”

These words made Qiao Xi even less able to look up. How could Shen Ya say such things so naturally? Did she have any shame left? “Even so! Teacher Shen, don’t look at me!”

Shen Ya’s lips curved slightly: “Okay, I won’t look. I’ve closed my eyes.”

Only then did Qiao Xi lower the hands covering her face. The priority now was to find clothes to change into. She stood up and turned around, her eyes meeting a clear pool of shimmering water.

Shen Ya hadn’t closed her eyes at all. She was sitting on the bed like a hunter waiting for her prey. Just as the prey noticed the trap and tried to escape, she reached out, wrapped her arm around Qiao Xi’s waist, and pulled her back into her embrace.

Qiao Xi’s mind crashed. Her whole body became incredibly stiff, like she had turned into a living fossil.

“You kept saying you were hot last night when you were drunk and kept pulling at your clothes, so I took off your shirt and pants.”

Hearing this almost made Qiao Xi faint. She wished she could just stay asleep. She should have woken up after Shen Ya went to work. Qiao Xi closed her eyes in despair, hoping that if she didn’t see it, it didn’t happen.

Shen Ya loved this ostrich-like behavior. Her lips landed on Qiao Xi’s face, lightly brushing it like a feather.

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?” Shen Ya decided not to tease Qiao Xi further, but she didn’t let go of her embrace: “Do you have a headache? I’ve prepared hangover medicine.”

“No headache.” Just as she finished speaking, her stomach grumbled shamelessly. Qiao Xi thought she had completely lost all face in front of Shen Ya.

Shen Ya didn’t laugh at her, only saying: “I borrowed the kitchen downstairs last night and cooked some porridge. It’s been kept warm. You can eat it after you wash up.”

Qiao Xi nodded with her eyes closed. After waiting for a while, Shen Ya still hadn’t let go. She had no choice but to tap Shen Ya’s arm with her finger: “Teach-Teacher Shen, can you let go of me now?”

Shen Ya didn’t want to let go. The atmosphere felt exactly like they were already living together, but she knew that once she released her, their intimate contact for the day would probably end right here.

But rationality wouldn’t allow her to do this. Before letting go, she still kissed the corner of Qiao Xi’s mouth.

The shallow kiss made Qiao Xi almost steam up. When Shen Ya released her, she immediately darted into the bathroom like a rabbit.

Shen Ya smiled and shook her head. She threw off the quilt and got out of bed. She found a set of clean shirt and pants in the small closet. Zhou Ziqian had sent them over last night, in Qiao Xi’s size. The two bosses of ‘Blank’ seemed very concerned about Qiao Xi.

Although she had doubts, she guessed it might be because Qiao Xi was Jiang Yunyi’s sister, which was why they were taking such good care of her.

She knocked on the door: “Should I bring the clothes in for you?”

Qiao Xi only opened a gap the width of her arm. She reached out a fair, slender arm, one eye alertly and cautiously glancing outside the door: “Please give me the clothes. Thank you, Teacher Shen.”

After Qiao Xi finished changing and came out, Shen Ya had also changed out of her pajamas. She tied up her long hair and entered the bathroom to wash up after Qiao Xi came out.

In the mirror, she saw that the bite marks on her neck were still obvious. She had to go to work today. She would have to find a place to buy a scarf later to cover them up.