The Devious, Seductive Older Woman Has Been Plotting to Get Me for a Long Time - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Pulling Her Hand in a Pitiful Manner

Back in her room, Xiang Shuxing leaned against the door, feeling conflicted.

Only today had she realized that she didn’t truly understand Chu Yingqiu at all. She had only lived in the Xiang household for a year before going abroad; now, she had suddenly returned and willingly taken on the responsibility of managing and caring for her.

Why? She had never thought about the reason until now. Chu Yingqiu seemed abnormally familiar with her and the Xiang household, even knowing her various little habits. It was an uncomfortable feeling. Xiang Shuxing curled her lips; she didn’t like the feeling of being controlled by someone else. She knew she wouldn’t get answers from Chu Yingqiu, so she had to look elsewhere.

She scrolled through her contacts, her eyes landing on several familiar names. First was Auntie Wu, a long-time employee who had been there when Chu Yingqiu first arrived. She dialed the number, and Auntie Wu answered warmly. After a brief greeting, Xiang Shuxing asked, “Auntie Wu, has the matter at home been settled?”

“Huh? Miss Xiang, did you remember wrong? There’s nothing going on at my home.”

Xiang Shuxing paused, confused. “But weren’t you on leave?”

“Miss Xiang, you must be mistaken. I haven’t been coming over because President Chu told me that she didn’t need me while she was at home.”

Xiang Shuxing realized everything instantly. Great, even about such a small thing, Chu Yingqiu lied to her. She noted it down mentally and continued, “Auntie Wu, do you remember when Chu Yingqiu first came to the Xiang family? Do you know why she suddenly went abroad?”

“That…that was all arranged by President Xiang herself. I don’t know the specifics.”

“Do you remember why I lost my memories back then?”

“Oh my, didn’t President Xiang tell you? You had a high fever, and no medicine worked. It was a miracle your temperature finally went down, but you ended up losing a part of your memory.”

It was the exact same story her mother had told. After hanging up, Xiang Shuxing tried to recall that time, but her mind was filled only with fragmented, blurry scenes. Her head began to throb, and she had to give up for now. Her gaze drifted to “Secretary Xu,” her mother’s confidante.

She dialed, but the phone rang with a “number is out of service” message. Secretary Xu had even changed her number after leaving Mingchen.

Xiang Shuxing felt a wave of frustration. Every time she asked, her mother would brush it off, and Auntie Wu would be evasive. What was there to hide? She walked to the window, opened it, and let the cold night air rush in. She liked looking at the distance when she was troubled; eventually, it helped her calm down.

After a while, shivering from the cold, she closed the window and grabbed her clothes for a shower. As she walked to the end of the hall, she noticed the bathroom light was on and heard running water. She turned back, and inevitably, she passed Chu Yingqiu’s room. The door was open again.

She slowed her pace. She was certain Chu Yingqiu was hiding something; if she could identify those medicine bottles, she might uncover a clue. She retreated, stopping in front of the door. She pretended to glance inside casually, but her eyes locked onto the bedside table. This time, the medicine boxes were ordinary, common cold medicine. Was she overthinking it? Was Chu Yingqiu just down with a cold like her?

As she leaned in, trying to get a better look, a voice spoke coldly beside her: “What are you doing again?”

Xiang Shuxing jumped, startled. She turned to see Chu Yingqiu. “Why don’t you make any sound when you walk?”

Chu Yingqiu laughed. “A thief with a guilty conscience blaming my footsteps?”

“Who’s a thief?”

“You tell me,” Chu Yingqiu crossed her arms. “What were you snooping around my room for?”

“I… I had something to talk to you about and was waiting here.” She added, “Can we talk inside?”

Seeing through her charade, Chu Yingqiu said calmly, “Say it here.”

Xiang Shuxing stuttered; she had made it up on the spot. Seeing her struggle, Chu Yingqiu turned away, intending to enter her room. Fearing the opportunity would slip away, Xiang Shuxing grabbed the woman’s arm. “Actually, I saw the medicine boxes the other day and thought you had a cold, too. I…I’m a little worried about you, that’s why I came to see.”

She lowered her eyes, her fingers twisting nervously. After a long silence, the woman finally responded: “Come in.”

Xiang Shuxing’s lips curved in a small, hidden smile. She followed Chu Yingqiu in, focusing on the medicine boxes. They were indeed just ordinary cold medicine. She didn’t see the small bottle from before. Was she really overthinking it?

“Oh, you have a cold too. Rest well, I’m going now.” She turned to leave, but felt her collar being pulled.

“Leaving so soon after claiming to be concerned for me?”

Xiang Shuxing stiffened and turned back. She caught a fleeting glint of a faint smile in the woman’s eyes. Chu Yingqiu had just showered and smelled of a pleasant, light lime scent. She was wearing gray cotton pajamas, the top buttons undone to reveal fair skin. It was awkward to stand face-to-face. Xiang Shuxing looked away, noticing Chu Yingqiu’s damp hair. She must have skipped drying her hair to talk to me.

Guilt pricked her heart. “Damp hair is bad for your health. Let me help you.”

Chu Yingqiu stared at her for a long moment, then sat down. “Okay.”

Xiang Shuxing grabbed the hair dryer and stood behind her. She rarely observed her from this angle; the long, silky hair looked like soft silk spread across her back. She leaned in close to her ear, whispering, “Tell me if it feels uncomfortable.”

The voice flowing past her ears was soft and agile. Chu Yingqiu curled her lips and looked back at her. “Okay.”

Xiang Shuxing was startled by the sudden turn; the proximity was dangerously intimate, filled with the warmth of their breath. She retreated slightly, her heart hammering. She focused on her hands, feeling the cool, damp hair. As the heat from the dryer dissipated the moisture, the hair became warm and soft, the sensation tingling against her palms.

“Chu Yingqiu.”

“Mmm?”

Hearing the gentle response, Xiang Shuxing felt tongue-tied. She didn’t know why she had spoken up; she just wanted to call her name.

“Have you ever dried anyone else’s hair before?” Chu Yingqiu asked suddenly.

“Why? Did I hurt you?” Xiang Shuxing asked nervously.

“No,” Chu Yingqiu smiled, turning her head slightly. “You did a great job.”

Why did she turn around? Xiang Shuxing looked away and pushed her shoulder. “Turn back, I’m not done yet.”

“I only did this for my mother before.” She answered as the woman complied.

Chu Yingqiu remained silent. Xiang Shuxing slowed her movements, lost in thought. If Chu Yingqiu hadn’t gone abroad, maybe they would have been as close as a normal family. She could feel Chu Yingqiu’s care; after her mother passed, Chu Yingqiu became her only reliance. But there were secrets, a missing Secretary Xu, and fragmented memories, she found it hard to truly trust anyone.

She switched off the dryer. “Done.”

“I have some work to finish. Go rest, and remember to take your medicine.”

Xiang Shuxing didn’t leave. Instead, she circled the chair and crouched down in front of Chu Yingqiu. “You chose to stay at the Xiang house to care for me, is it because of my mother’s request?”

Chu Yingqiu looked at her and looked away. “Not entirely.”

“Then what other reason is there?”

Chu Yingqiu lowered her head, biting her lip as if recalling a memory. “The year I planned to go abroad to study, someone pulled my hand in a pitiful manner and made me promise to come back early.”

Xiang Shuxing froze. She couldn’t believe someone as cool and rational as Chu Yingqiu would abandon a hard-earned foreign market just because of a simple promise. That person must have been very important to her…Xiang Shuxing felt a sour sensation in her heart. “Isn’t that just something you say to coax a child? I bet that person has forgotten all about it.”

Chu Yingqiu whispered: “She really has forgotten.”

Glancing at the woman’s lowered gaze, Xiang Shuxing asked, “Just who is that person?”