Secret Lover Who Stealthily Fell in Love with My Older Sister - Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Jiang Yunxi and Qin Shuyuan clearly knew…

Jiang Yunxi and Qin Shuyuan clearly knew where Qiao Xi was but couldn’t go there because their mother had issued an absolute order, forbidding them from disturbing Qiao Xi. Therefore, even though they were very close, they had no way of going.

It wasn’t until Jiang Yunxi received Fang Moyao’s photo that she became unconcerned about the bottle of wine in Qiao Xi’s arms. Instead, she only cared about who Qiao Xi had gone to after running away from home. Who was it that they didn’t know yet Qiao Xi thought of first?

What made Jiang Yunxi most uncomfortable was that both mothers seemed to know who Qiao Xi had met, and she and Qin Shuyuan were the ones being kept in the dark.

This feeling was unpleasant, so when Fang Moyao proposed exchanging the expensive wine for the photo, she agreed without hesitation. She needed information about Qiao Xi. Even though Qiao Xi had grown up, she and Qin Shuyuan still worried about Qiao Xi’s safety.

However, Fang Moyao wouldn’t get the wine so easily. While Fang Moyao was on her way, Jiang Yunxi had already moved her real private collection, leaving behind only a few less expensive bottles.

When Fang Moyao arrived, she didn’t need any greeting from Jiang Yunxi and went straight to the wine cellar on the basement level. Zhou Ziqian followed behind, plastering a smile on her face: “Please understand, General Manager Jiang.” She pointed to her head and whispered: “That wine has been at Blank for so many years. She didn’t get a sip before it was snatched away, so she’s a bit agitated.”

Jiang Yunxi didn’t pay much attention. She was only concerned about one thing: “Where’s the photo?”

“Please wait a moment, General Manager Jiang. Sister Yaoyao will naturally give you the photo you want once she finds the wine.”

Fang Moyao paced around the wine cellar several times. She returned to Jiang Yunxi empty-handed, her face sullen, and her tone unpleasant: “Where did you hide it?”

Jiang Yunxi feigned ignorance: “Hide what?”

“Don’t pretend. You absolutely have more wine than this.”

Jiang Yunxi spread her hands: “Recently, there have been a lot of New Year’s events and parties. The good wine is all drunk. I only have these left now.”

Fang Moyao wouldn’t believe such a perfunctory lie, but since Jiang Yunxi insisted on hiding it, she couldn’t actually go as far as having Zhou Ziqian search the house: “Since General Manager Jiang is reluctant, I’ll take three bottles of this wine.”

Jiang Yunxi’s eyebrow twitched, but facing Fang Moyao’s outrageous demand, she could only accept: “Fine, but you have to give me the photo.”

Fang Moyao turned to leave. She had already memorized the location of the three most expensive bottles in the wine cellar. She took them down one by one, packed them, and handed them all to Zhou Ziqian to carry. With the wine secured, Fang Moyao took out her phone and sent the complete photo to Jiang Yunxi.

Jiang Yunxi received the photo, opened it, zoomed in, and carefully observed the surroundings of Qiao Xi: “Who took this photo for her? And who sent it to you?”

Fang Moyao initially wanted to tell her, but the next moment, she thought of something interesting: “That’s not within the scope of our transaction. However, this person is very interesting. General Manager Jiang, just wait slowly.”

Fang Moyao came only to get the wine. Although the wine wasn’t entirely satisfactory, the quantity made up for some of the loss.

“No need to trouble General Manager Jiang to entertain us. Qianqian and I will be leaving now.”

Fang Moyao and Zhou Ziqian came and left quickly. They only exchanged a brief greeting with Qin Shuyuan. After they left, Qin Shuyuan asked: “Why were they in such a hurry?”

“Don’t mind them. They just came to rob us.” Jiang Yunxi clicked on the photo and handed her phone to Qin Shuyuan: “Did Xiao Xi tell you who she got close to after starting university?”

Looking at the photo, Qin Shuyuan also noticed something amiss. She zoomed in with two fingers, trying to find anything familiar in the photo: “Where was this taken? A hotel? Or someone’s house?”

“I don’t know.”

Qin Shuyuan asked again: “Who took it for her? Xiao Xi didn’t contact Xia Cong’an or go to see Yu Tiantian. Could it be a high school classmate or a new friend from university?”

Qiao Xi never hid anything from them. They knew all her friends. But now, for the first time, the two of them truly realized the fact that Qiao Xi had grown up and had already broken free from their control, not only having friends they didn’t know but also harboring many secrets in her heart.

They had watched Qiao Xi grow up, treating her like half a daughter. Before they were ready, Qiao Xi had already grown full wings and could soar freely without their guidance.

Shen Ya finished the wine and rested for a while. The restlessness in her body still hadn’t subsided. Helpless, she had to find her laptop and work in the living room for a bit. Work was indeed the best antidote. No one could be busy working and still have distracting thoughts.

When the lights outside gradually dimmed and only scattered houses in each building remained lit, Shen Ya closed her laptop and rubbed her eyes. It was getting late. After working late, her heart was now calm, without a single distracting thought.

Before going back to the room, Shen Ya went to the cat room. She initially thought Qiao Xi had shut Shi Yi in the room so as not to be disturbed during dinner, but now, considering Qiao Xi’s mind, she was probably contemplating something and had locked Shi Yi up before coming over to test her.

After playing with Shi Yi for a while, she tore open a bag of freeze-dried food and put it in the cat bowl, then placed a new toy on the floor before leaving the cat room.

The room was quiet. Qiao Xi was still sleeping soundly. Her hands were resting outside the quilt. Although she was lying flat, one foot was stretched out to the side where Shen Ya usually slept.

Shen Ya walked into the bathroom. The bathrobe was still on the countertop, and one area was completely wet. She put the clothes into the laundry basket and took off her own clothes, tossing them in as well.

When she came out again, she was only wrapped in a white bath towel. She walked into the walk-in closet, took out a black sleep dress from the cabinet, and changed into it. She hung the bath towel casually on the hanger when she came out, walked to the bed, and sat down gently. The bed slightly sagged. She moved slowly, pulled a corner of the quilt, and lay down, scooting closer to Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi had made the quilt very warm. Shen Ya turned over and took Qiao Xi into her arms. The soft skin tempted her to pinch it. If she weren’t afraid of waking Qiao Xi, she certainly wouldn’t stop so quickly. Her heart, which had been devoid of desire moments ago, rekindled the moment she touched Qiao Xi, but she closed her eyes and suppressed the palpitation.

Tonight, some were happy, others were sad. Qin Shuyuan and Jiang Yunxi stayed at home with furrowed brows, thinking about the photo all night.

Fang Moyao, having secured three bottles of wine, returned to Blank and placed the wine in the wine cabinet. The combined price of the three bottles exceeded the one Qiao Xi took, which offered her some psychological comfort. She hadn’t even chatted with others for long before Zhou Ziqian’s vixen tail lured her back to the bedroom on the third floor.

Shen Ya didn’t know when she fell asleep. When she opened her eyes again, it was already daytime outside. Her phone alarm rang the next moment. She let go of Qiao Xi in her arms, reached for the phone on the bedside table, and turned off the alarm.

Qiao Xi was not awakened by the ringtone. Shen Ya sighed in relief and kissed Qiao Xi’s cheek before getting out of bed.

After taking care of herself, Qiao Xi still hadn’t woken up. Shen Ya left the house with her black handbag. When the door closed, the house became quiet again.

Qiao Xi slept soundly until her stomach ached with hunger. She opened her eyes on the bed. For a moment, she felt disoriented, not knowing where she was or what year it was. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, she finally flipped over and hugged the quilt when the familiar scent filled her nostrils.

Shen Ya wasn’t in bed, and there was no one else in the room besides her.

Qiao Xi yawned. She hugged the quilt and flipped over again, one hand reaching out from under the quilt for her phone on the bedside table.

The unread messages included messages from Shen Ya and her two sisters.

Qiao Xi first opened Qin Shuyuan’s messages. Scrolling up, the messages started with apologies, then asked where she was and who she was with. By morning, her sister’s attitude had softened, asking cautiously: [Xiao Xi, when are you coming home? Sister bought you the latest game cartridge. How about Yunxi takes leave in a couple of days and we take you to a hot spring?]

[I’m not going.]

Closing Qin Shuyuan’s chat box, she opened Jiang Yunxi’s message. Compared to Qin Shuyuan’s gentle coaxing, Jiang Yunxi was more serious: [Who are you with outside? Xiao Xi, are you safe alone outside? Even if you don’t want to come back, you must tell us who you are with so we can be at ease.]

[Doctor Jiang, don’t worry. Mom and Mommy know who I am with. While I’m not home during this time, Doctor Jiang should try harder to coax Sister to be happy.]

After replying to these, she finally opened Shen Ya’s message.

[Teacher Shen: Take the medicine on the table when you wake up. I made congee in the kitchen. Text me when you wake up.]

Qiao Xi didn’t rush to reply. She got up, washed up, and went to the kitchen. She found a clean bowl from the dish cabinet. The congee had been simmered all day—it was light, lean meat congee. Next to it, there were chopped green onions in a small saucer, which Shen Ya probably intended for her to add herself.

Just as she scooped a bowl of congee and carried it out, the sound of the front door opening came. Qiao Xi stopped and turned her head, meeting the gaze of Shen Ya, who had just walked in. In that instant, the scenes from the bathroom last night flashed before Qiao Xi’s eyes.

The cool and detached Shen Ya of the moment completely overlapped with the slightly assertive and playful Shen Ya of last night. A blush spread from her cheeks down to her neck. She hadn’t felt shy when looking in the mirror after waking up, but now, seeing Shen Ya walk towards her, she wished she could hold the bowl and shrink into a hole.

Shen Ya took the bowl from her hand: “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

A normal smile, yet Qiao Xi felt something was different. She stammered: “N-no.”

“Did you just wake up?” Shen Ya took her wrist and led her to the living room. The congee was placed on the coffee table, and Shen Ya pressed her to sit on the sofa.

“Mm.”

Qiao Xi pressed her legs together and lowered her head, her back slightly curved. Her two hands were on her thighs, awkwardly and helplessly fidgeting with her fingers.

Shen Ya picked up the bowl and stirred the congee with a spoon. She then scooped up a spoonful, blew on it by her lips, the spoon lightly touching the fragrant, meaty congee. Once the temperature was right, she brought it to Qiao Xi’s mouth.

Qiao Xi’s gaze moved inch by inch from the white congee upwards: the light, elegant wrist, the distinctly jointed fingers. It was this hand that gave her an unprecedented experience last night, leaving her wanting more. Each recollection felt like a relived pleasure.

But how could she recall it in front of Shen Ya? Where would she put her face!

“What are you thinking about?” Qiao Xi hadn’t opened her mouth. Shen Ya had to take the congee back: “Did you sober up and get angry at me?”

In an instant, Qiao Xi panicked, looking up to deny it: “I’m not angry!”

“Then you keep ignoring me and won’t eat what I feed you. Do you feel that the experience last night wasn’t good?” This was what Shen Ya was most worried about. It was also her first time being the dominant one. She had no practical experience and could only judge by Qiao Xi’s reaction at the time.

If last night hadn’t been pleasurable for Qiao Xi, would Qiao Xi resist doing this with her again in the future? Would their relationship be affected?

“Of course not.” How could Shen Ya discuss such a thing? It was too embarrassing. Seeing Shen Ya’s lips move, Qiao Xi was afraid Shen Ya would mention it again. She quickly raised her hand to cover Shen Ya’s mouth, blushing and scolding loudly: “Stop talking!”

Shen Ya blinked, her gaze slightly stunned.

“I, I didn’t say the experience wasn’t good.”

Shen Ya put down the congee, pulled away Qiao Xi’s hand, and said seriously: “So the experience last night was very good.”

What in the world!

Qiao Xi felt her head steaming. It seemed if she didn’t admit it, Shen Ya would never let it go. How did she not know Shen Ya could be so persistent? “Yes, last night’s experience was very good. I, I was quite comfortable. Teacher Shen, you… you…” Qiao Xi’s voice became softer and softer, until it was swallowed by the air.

Shen Ya understood. Qiao Xi was very satisfied with what happened last night. So she had indeed given Qiao Xi a wonderful night. She could finally relax. Thrilled, she hugged Qiao Xi and lowered her head to kiss Qiao Xi’s mouth.

Without the aid of alcohol, Qiao Xi was much more reserved and not as bold as last night. In broad daylight, she didn’t want to continue discussing this with Shen Ya. She wisely changed the subject and asked: “Teacher Shen, why did you come back so early today?”

“You didn’t text me, and I thought you were angry, so I swapped my afternoon class with a colleague.”

“I don’t get angry that easily.” Besides, she was too happy to be angry: “I just woke up, that’s why I didn’t text Teacher Shen back.”

“Mm, I know now.” Shen Ya let go of her and placed her palm on her waist: “Does it hurt here?”

Qiao Xi shook her head and said: “No pain. I don’t feel anything.”

“That’s good. If anything feels uncomfortable, you must tell me.” Shen Ya picked up the bowl from the coffee table again: “Drink the congee first.”

“I’ll do it myself.” Qiao Xi tried to take the congee from Shen Ya’s hand, but Shen Ya didn’t let her.

Every spoonful of congee Shen Ya offered was filled with soft tenderness. The green onions enhanced the aroma. Even before the spoon reached her mouth, she could clearly sense the food’s fragrance. Her stomach was rumbling and urging her on. Qiao Xi could only open her mouth and drink the congee.

The plain lean meat congee was comparable to the finest delicacies. This experience of eating warm food right after waking up was not new. Her mothers and sister also took care of her this way at home, but the feeling Shen Ya gave her was different. She could taste a lover’s affection in the congee—a sweetness that penetrated her heart, making her linger and become increasingly immersed in the sensation.