The Lady I Flirted With Is Here - Chapter41

Chapter 41: Renting

Lin Xian’s plan to rent a room couldn’t be kept secret from Daiyu. Out of a mix of privacy and convenience, she had posted a “room wanted” request on Weibo specifically for the Haidian District. However, she had once accidentally liked one of Daiyu’s posts; following the notification, Fang Daiyu had curiously crawled across the network cables and discovered Lin Xian’s account. Innocent Lin Xian still thought her previous investigation of Fang Daiyu’s Weibo had been stealthy and undetected, but Daiyu had seen right through her long ago.

Xianxian is looking to rent? Fang Daiyu hadn’t heard a peep about this, let alone the fact that she was looking in Haidian. Her first instinct was to call the girl directly: “I have a spare room right here, do you want to move in?” But she paused. Lin Xian was about to start her exam prep; why would she leave a perfectly good school dormitory to squeeze into Haidian? Could it be… for her?

Due to work requirements, Daiyu had multiple phone numbers. Driven by a desire to figure out what her girlfriend was up to, she registered an “alt” account and sent Lin Xian a private message: I saw your request in the Beijing Super Topic. I have a two-bedroom loft in Haidian, guest room is 25 square meters. Interested?

That evening, when Lin Xian returned from the study hall and checked her phone, she was overwhelmed by messages from agents. After a chaotic night of browsing, she faced the reality of the rental market: a mediocre shared apartment, barely ten square meters, cost two or three thousand a month—and that was in a flat shared with four or five others. With agency fees, deposits, and “pay three months upfront,” her “full” ideal met a “skinny” reality.

She had previously rented near the school because her friend Jingjing happened to have a three-bedroom flat and gave her a fair price with monthly payments, which never felt like a burden. Her rent was usually covered by her mother’s monthly allowance. Looking at the few tens of thousands she had painstakingly saved from part-time jobs, she suddenly felt out of her depth.

She began to waver on the Haidian plan. Maybe she should just stay put and review properly. At most, she’d just see Daiyu a bit less often.

While Lin Xian was abandoning her plan, Fang Daiyu noticed she hadn’t received a reply. She realized she hadn’t mentioned a price or specifics, so Lin Xian had likely ignored it as spam.

How to lure a tenant? Fang Daiyu did some research on market data and meticulously crafted a new message for Lin Xian: Exquisite two-bedroom loft in [Name] Neighborhood, Haidian. Total area 100sqm, guest room is 25sqm. Currently only the landlord (me) lives here. No pets, no bad habits. I’m just looking for a clean girl to share the space with. I’m female, work in IT, born in the 90s. Rent is negotiable, monthly/quarterly payments okay, utilities and internet included, no agency fee.

Just as Lin Xian was about to put her phone down to study, she received this message. She clicked it, intending to politely decline another agent, but froze when she read the details. Staying cautious, she replied: Are you the primary landlord?

The other side was honest: I’m the secondary landlord; I’ve leased the entire place for a year.

This was common enough. Lin Xian asked tentatively: What is your ideal monthly rent? Two-bedroom lofts were rare; most single rooms in Haidian were four or five thousand. Lin Xian decided that if the person asked for under four thousand with monthly payments, she’d grit her teeth and do it. There were only two months left until the exam; she just wanted peace and quiet, and to be closer to Fang Daiyu.

Monthly rent? Fang Daiyu wasn’t sure of the exact market rate for a guest room, but remembering Lin Xian mentioned her previous rent was 3,000, she hesitated and typed a trial amount: 2,800?

Lin Xian took a sharp breath: Are you sure?

Such a low rent… did the landlord make a typo? Did she mean 3,800?

Is that too high? Worried Lin Xian would find it expensive and go elsewhere, Fang Daiyu quickly lowered it: 2,600 is fine too. If you’re willing, the price is negotiable.

Fearing Lin Xian would get suspicious, she added: I work long hours and leave early. I just want a companion at home who can help keep the place tidy once in a while. (Even though her housekeeper came twice a week.)

“When can I see the place?” At this price, Lin Xian decided it was worth the risk even if it turned out to be a scam.

Fang Daiyu thought for a moment: “Saturday?”

Lin Xian didn’t hesitate: “Deal.” As soon as she closed Weibo, she sent a WeChat message to Fang Daiyu: “Sister, I have something to do in Haidian on Saturday. I’ll come find you afterward—and I have a surprise for you!”

Once she moved to Haidian, she could see Daiyu every day. Plus, she noticed the address the “landlord” gave was on a street very similar to Daiyu’s. They might even be neighbors! She was overjoyed.

…

On Saturday morning, Lin Xian set out for her 10:00 AM viewing. As she exited the subway and followed the GPS, the route became increasingly familiar. Isn’t this Fang Daiyu’s complex? No way, what a coincidence! The “landlord” messaged: I’m waiting at the gate, wearing a gray coat.

Lin Xian replied “Okay.” As she neared the gate, she saw a slender figure with her back turned. Her first impression was good; a landlord like this probably wouldn’t be difficult. She tapped the person’s shoulder. “Hello, are you the landlord? I’m here to see the room.”

The figure in gray turned around. Lin Xian had her professional smile ready, but it froze instantly. “Sis… Sister?”

Fang Daiyu’s expression was soft as she looked down at her.

Lin Xian thought it was a coincidence and began scrambling for an explanation for what she just said. She scanned the area, and after confirming there were no other potential “landlords” nearby, an incredible thought struck her: “You couldn’t possibly be…?”

Fang Daiyu nodded. “It’s me.” She held out a hand. “Welcome, little tenant, to the viewing.”

Daiyu expected a joyful surprise, but in that moment, Lin Xian’s smile vanished. “Daiyu, this isn’t funny. You’ve known about my Weibo for a while, haven’t you?” Connecting the dots, Lin Xian figured it out quickly. She wasn’t exactly “angry,” but she felt a sting of resentment at being toyed with. Daiyu knew she was looking for a place and played along on Weibo just to tease her.

The “surprise” she thought she’d kept so well hidden was a joke to Daiyu. Lin Xian instinctively turned to walk away, but a hand caught her wrist. Fang Daiyu’s voice was laced with regret: “I admit, I discovered your Weibo a long time ago.”

Lin Xian turned back. “Then why didn’t you tell me?”

Fang Daiyu smiled and pulled Lin Xian to a secluded spot. “Xianxian, do you know why I found your Weibo?”

How? Contacts? Recommendations? No, she had disabled those. They had no mutual friends.

“You were the one watching me first. If you hadn’t liked my posts, how would I have found you?” Fang Daiyu countered gently. “Now, shouldn’t you be the one explaining why you were secretly stalking my Weibo and trying to move out on your own?”

The air felt heavy, like a gathering storm.

How could Lin Xian explain? That she suspected Daiyu was cheating? Or that she wanted to move because she didn’t want her schoolmates eyeing her girlfriend? She looked at the ground, silent, her toe tapping restlessly, betraying her internal panic.

Seeing her fear, Fang Daiyu sighed. “Never mind.”

She took Lin Xian’s hand. “I’m not interrogating you, I’m just worried. Xianxian, in the future, can you please discuss things like this with me?”

Guilt at being so easily forgiven washed over Lin Xian. She realized how naive she had been and gave a muffled nod.

…

Knowing Lin Xian was coming over, Fang Daiyu had gone to the market early for fresh meat and vegetables. Upon entering the house, Lin Xian smelled the savory aroma of yam and pork rib soup simmering on the stove. Daiyu turned off the heat, gave Lin Xian some fruit and snacks, said “I’ll get to cooking,” and busied herself in the kitchen.

Lin Xian rolled an apple back and forth in her hands anxiously before finally standing up with determination. She walked to the kitchen door and watched the busy figure through the glass, suddenly hesitating.

Daiyu hasn’t spoken much since we came in. Is she disappointed in me? Will she stop loving me after this meal?

She knocked, but Daiyu seemingly didn’t hear her over the noise.

She pushed the door open. As Fang Daiyu was lifting vegetables from a basin, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Lin Xian pressed her soft body against Daiyu’s back, rubbing her cheek against her shoulder.

She took a deep breath of the light, crisp woody scent of Daiyu’s skin—the familiar fragrance brought her a moment of peace. Lin Xian began to mutter, “I’m sorry.”

Her voice was soft, filled with remorse. “Are you very disappointed? That I’m such a coward?”

Bit by bit, Lin Xian let the hidden truths spill out. “A while ago, I suspected you liked someone else. I didn’t dare ask you, and I was angry. I was afraid you’d break up with me, but I was even more afraid you’d discard me for someone else. To find the truth, I searched for your accounts. I found your Weibo through my contacts, and then I found Zhang Ying.”

“That day, Zhang Ying posted a photo with you. She’s so beautiful, and her affection for you was obvious in her writing. I thought you liked her. No, I saw how long you two had been interacting—since college—and I was even afraid I was the ‘third party.’ I’m so glad you told me the truth later.”

“Daiyu, I’m not some extraordinary or beautiful person. I don’t have a prestigious family or impressive skills. I’m just an ordinary person who gets insecure, jealous, and envious. Since I’ve been with you, I’ve never envied anyone else’s girlfriend—you’re so good to me, and you’re so amazing—but I still hesitate and get scared. I’m afraid you don’t love me enough, or that you’ll leave, or that I’m just not worthy of your love.”

“Maybe I’m just petty. It sounds funny now, but the reason I wanted to move to Haidian was entirely because of the campus gossip. Everyone is interested in my love life. I’m afraid of people noticing you, and even more afraid of them taking you away. But I know that a love based on restriction is deformed. So, to prevent my ‘neurosis’ from acting up, I chose to distance myself from everything.”

After this long confession, Lin Xian felt as though her feet were finally on solid ground. That grounding gave her the courage to drop the final bombshell. “Actually, since the very beginning of our relationship, I’ve hidden one thing from you. Daiyu, I suffer from moderate depression. When I’m normal, I’m sunny and cheerful like everyone else. But when it hits, it’s like a curse—I’m filled with gloom, negative energy, and paranoia. Are you afraid of someone as ugly as that?”

As she mentioned the depression, Lin Xian felt the back beneath her go tense for a moment. Her heart felt bitter. Of course. How could a sick person deserve a beautiful love?

She hated her own darkness; why should she tie someone else down to accept it?

For a long time, even as the water in the pot began to boil over, Fang Daiyu didn’t speak.

Lin Xian felt her heart gradually grow cold, yet it also felt harder, numbed by the silence. Her gaze shifted from soft to a mix of irony and desolation. She slowly loosened her embrace and pinched her palms, forced a casual smile, and laughed. “It’s okay. No one is obligated to stay with a depressed person. You probably think it’s funny… even I hate myself, hahaha…”