The Devious, Seductive Older Woman Has Been Plotting to Get Me for a Long Time - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Something Kept From Her

The night deepened.

In the distance, someone seemed to be setting off fireworks. Bright, gorgeous colors filtered through the window frame, scattered and flickering, illuminating their faces in turn.

They had never been this close before, nor had she ever had the chance to observe the other person’s eyes and brows so carefully. Under the dim, slightly shadowy night, the expression on the face before her seemed to carry a hint of illusory gentleness.

Xiang Shuxing’s gaze didn’t know where to rest. She wanted to look away, but remembering her jaw was still being held lightly, she could only give up. Chu Yingqiu watched her rare, dazed expression and curled her lips in a smile. “Why no reaction?”

What reaction was she supposed to have? Oh, right—Chu Yingqiu had said she wanted to check if her throat was inflamed.

Xiang Shuxing closed her eyes in embarrassment, her mind racing to find a retort. She had no intention of actually going along with the woman’s wishes and doing something so strange. Before she could find the right words, the woman’s cool fingertips moved, releasing her jaw and sliding up to her cheek, lingering near the corner of her mouth.

Her heart hammered. Xiang Shuxing shivered, and the next moment, she swatted the woman’s hand away and took a half-step back, widening the distance between them. She looked like a startled rabbit, facing Chu Yingqiu with an inexplicably defensive posture.

She didn’t know why she was so nervous, but every time Chu Yingqiu drew near, the heart in her chest was far from the calm she pretended to have.

“No need for you to look. I’ll… no, I’m going to go take my medicine now.” Her brain was nearly stalling, and her words were chaotic. Xiang Shuxing couldn’t be bothered with anything else and fled in a rush.

“Wait.” Chu Yingqiu’s gaze touched the pillbox on the table, and she wanted to call her back. But the girl was so determined to escape that she didn’t notice the reminder. Chu Yingqiu looked on, helpless. The pillbox is right here on the table in this room. She rushed out of the room, so how is she going to take the medicine? The excuse was far too clumsy.

She didn’t stop until she reached the living room, where the frantic beating of her heart finally began to steady. Xiang Shuxing poured a glass of cold water and took a small sip. The chill down her throat helped clear her thoughts, and she gradually regained her composure. Only then did she remember that her medicine was back in the room.

She had used taking medicine as a pretext for her hurried escape, and it had certainly been seen through by Chu Yingqiu. Regret washed over her. Xiang Shuxing bit her lip. She had never been one to show weakness in front of others, and yet today she had made such a fool of herself in front of Chu Yingqiu. Moreover, Chu Yingqiu hadn’t done anything inappropriate, she had merely leaned in close.

Well, anyway, she reasoned, it’s not the first or second time I’ve made a fool of myself in front of her. I’ll just pretend it never happened. She could only console herself with that thought.

As her palm gradually covered the edge of the glass and finally closed around it, she felt the chill transfer to her skin, and she couldn’t help but associate it with the temperature of Chu Yingqiu’s fingertips. They were just as cool, yet not unpleasant. When Chu Yingqiu had leaned toward her, her heart seemed to have skipped a beat.

Now that she was sober, Xiang Shuxing realized how ridiculous that thought had been. The word “kiss” could never possibly apply to the two of them. Not to mention that Chu Yingqiu was her “sister” in name, their current relationship was like fire and water, how could they possibly have any intimate interactions?

Perhaps it’s because I’ve been reading too many romance novels lately that I’m having these delusions, Xiang Shuxing thought, her lips curving into a slightly stiff smile.

Just as she was about to set down the glass, footsteps sounded from behind her. They were steady and unhurried, as if the person had caught her in some blunder and was coming to interrogate her.

“Didn’t you say you were going to take your medicine?” Chu Yingqiu leaned against the kitchen door frame with her arms crossed, a teasing look on her face.

Xiang Shuxing shot her an annoyed glare. “I’m going to my room to get the medicine right now.” She made to walk past her.

Just as she was about to brush past, her arm was pulled back. Her stride was forced to a halt, and her voice couldn’t help but carry a hint of irritation: “What now?”

“Were you just drinking cold water?” Chu Yingqiu’s eyes fell on the glass. There was no steam rising from the rim; it was clearly water that had gone cold.

“None of your business,” Xiang Shuxing huffed. In reality, she had only taken a small sip and hadn’t drank much, but at this moment, she just wanted to talk back to Chu Yingqiu. It was a way to vent her inner dissatisfaction.

Looking at the bristling, cold-faced girl before her, Chu Yingqiu smiled and released her arm. “Go get your medicine. I’ll pour you a glass of warm water.”

The tone was gentle, appearing exceptionally thoughtful. Xiang Shuxing froze, not expecting this reaction. She had assumed the woman would harden her expression, warn her not to be intentionally difficult, or frown and lose interest in teasing her. But this—a gentle, breeze-like warmth, only made her feel more at a loss. It was as if her counterattacks were all hitting cotton.

Xiang Shuxing stared at her for a moment, then turned and headed back to her room to get the medicine.

It took only a few minutes, and when she returned, the warm water was already poured, and Chu Yingqiu, having pinned up her long hair, was busy preparing dinner. Xiang Shuxing looked at her suspiciously, taking a tiny sip to test the temperature. Finding that the woman truly had no intention of teasing her further, she obediently took the medicine.

Feeling bored, she wandered around the living room and then headed upstairs. Her room was at the very end of the hall, and Chu Yingqiu’s was to the right, so she inevitably had to pass it. Usually, the door to that room was always shut tight, but today it was strangely ajar. Xiang Shuxing coughed lightly, glanced around, and stopped by the door to peek inside.

She was familiar with the original layout of the room, but things had clearly changed since Chu Yingqiu moved in. The desk inside, which she used to practice calligraphy on when she was a child, was now piled high with stacks of documents, presumably related to work. Aside from that, there were scattered miscellaneous items that had previously been stored here, now all neatly organized.

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Xiang Shuxing leaned against the door frame, pretending to glance inside casually. Her gaze swept over the room, and suddenly, it caught on a small medicine bottle sitting on the bedside table.

What are those? Xiang Shuxing craned her neck, but the distance was too great to tell what they were. Is Chu Yingqiu sick, too?

She was deep in thought when a cool voice sounded from behind her: “What are you doing?”

Xiang Shuxing straightened up and raised an eyebrow, putting on an air of complete indifference. “Just passing by.”

Chu Yingqiu stared at her for a few seconds. “I’ve never seen anyone ‘pass by’ while stopping at someone else’s door, snooping and peeking around.”

Snooping? Xiang Shuxing countered immediately: “This is my house. There isn’t a single place in this house I’m not familiar with, so why would I need to ‘snoop’?”

“Don’t worry, I have zero interest in your room.” After dropping that line, she gave a cold snort and walked away without looking back.

Chu Yingqiu watched the girl’s retreating back, deep in thought.

The two rooms weren’t far apart. Xiang Shuxing intentionally slowed her pace, pretending to return to her own room. Just as she expected, a moment later, the sound of a door being shut reached her from behind. She stole a backward glance; the door that had been wide open without a care a moment ago was now firmly locked.

That action only confirmed her suspicion.

Chu Yingqiu definitely had something she was keeping from her.