Transmigrated Into the Stand-In of the Tragic Novel’s Heroine - Chapter 57

Chang Yishao didn’t know Xie Qingtang’s thoughts. She couldn’t suppress her own tumultuous feelings, and on this night, she was inevitably sharper than usual. She was waiting for Xie Qingtang’s answer, but only received her smile. The words at her lips were momentarily blocked by that pure, genuine smile.

Xie Qingtang took a step to the side, bypassing the wall mottled with shadows, and stood before Chang Yishao. “Teacher Chang, we started out as just a transaction.” Her eyes were bright, and though she stood close, she seemed as distant as the moon in the sky. Hearing this, Chang Yishao felt as if a needle had pierced her heart; she’d have rather Xie Qingtang had just smiled than said such a thing.

The surge of passion gradually cooled. Chang Yishao’s muddled and confused mind cleared, and she followed Xie Qingtang’s words with a quiet, “Yes.” After a pause, she added, “But that was before. I want to terminate the contract with you.” She had long known that with the contract, it would be difficult for their relationship to get on the right track.

Xie Qingtang raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Teacher Chang changes her mind quite fast.” She wondered who it was that had insisted on continuing the contract even at a higher price.

Chang Yishao pursed her lips, reading the unspoken meaning in Xie Qingtang’s words. Her previous refusal was only because it diverged from her plan; terminating the contract before securing the person was undoubtedly severing the usual excuse for her to interact with Xie Qingtang again. Xie Qingtang’s intention was clearly different from hers.

But no matter what, she was still forced to this point, and the current situation seemed not much better than before. She felt a mix of annoyance and frustration, suddenly realizing that her actions were useless. She resented her own inadequacy but also felt angry at Xie Qingtang’s unyielding heart.

“Have you thought it through, Teacher Chang?” Xie Qingtang’s tone still held a hint of teasing, as if she didn’t take the matter seriously. Her eyes were clear and gentle, like a crescent moon on a spring willow branch.

Yet, facing her gaze, Chang Yishao felt little comfort. She replied sullenly, “I have.” Even if she didn’t propose it, Xie Qingtang would have; her feelings wouldn’t be constrained by that contract.

Xie Qingtang smiled leisurely, her demeanor unchanged, showing no sign of distress. Chang Yishao, however, was shrouded in a shadow of loss and dejection.

This mood seemed to only last for one night. The next day, Chang Yishao was back to her usual gentle self. Only… Xie Qingtang sharply noticed that a line had been drawn between her and Chang Yishao. The distance, which was never too close, suddenly seemed to have become even more remote. In Chang Yishao’s absence, Xie Qingtang also revealed a sense of melancholy.

They shouldn’t have any further connection, and yet, at this moment, they were like intertwined vines.

Chang Yishao had found a place to live, and her promised “leisure time” arrived quickly. The night before she moved out, Xie Qingtang was suddenly informed. After a moment of stunned silence, her eyes swept over Chang Yishao’s not-too-many belongings, and she opened her mouth, finally only saying, “Do you need help?”

Chang Yishao gazed at Xie Qingtang, wanting to politely refuse, but the words were held back. “Sure,” she replied softly, with little of the joy of moving into a new place. Xie Qingtang suddenly felt uneasy too, closing her eyes and imagining the bleak, lonely scene of a drizzling autumn rain falling on wooden leaves.

One person, two people… slowly turning back into one person again.

The layout of the house—the entryway, the living room, even the bedroom—was no different from the one in Yu City, yet it lacked the filling of many household items, appearing somewhat empty. It hadn’t seemed large before, but after getting used to the dormitory, she suddenly realized the house felt a bit cold and lonely.

Xie Qingtang placed the suitcase aside and instinctively looked towards Chang Yishao, only to see her lowering her eyes to tidy things up. She was unhappy, and a sense of loneliness always lingered around her. Xie Qingtang’s eyelids twitched, and she suddenly spoke, “Let’s get a cat.” The silence in the room was broken by her voice, and she was startled by herself. Seeing Chang Yishao not respond, she pursed her lips, then looked away, pretending nothing had happened.

Chang Yishao raised her head at this moment. She looked at Xie Qingtang and gently asked, “What kind of cat should we get?”

“Blue and white,” Xie Qingtang blurted out without thinking. Seeing Chang Yishao looking at her with a half-smile, she added, “Of course, it depends on what you like.”

Adjusting back to life alone takes a process.

Moving day was a rest day, and with few belongings, it didn’t take much time to pack. Xie Qingtang left early, and Chang Yishao watched her receding figure without trying to stop her.

The relationship between them was like an autumn frost, only showing signs of melting when the workday arrived.

Autumn nights came earlier and earlier. The lights drove away the darkness, but the shadows of the night still lingered on the avenue, seeming to claw at the air. Xie Qingtang rode her bicycle to the foot of the tall office building only to be suddenly struck by the realization: Chang Yishao no longer needed to return to the dormitory, so she naturally didn’t need her to pick her up or drop her off.

She hadn’t developed a similar habit back in Yu City, but here—Xie Qingtang’s brow couldn’t help but furrow.

She recalled the message she had sent Chang Yishao earlier: “I’m heading out.” Chang Yishao hadn’t replied. Had she seen it, or not? Her gaze drifted toward the high-rise building with people constantly coming and going, but her internal struggle didn’t last long—when she saw the familiar figure emerge, she couldn’t bring herself to turn and leave.

The night wind blew on her face, carrying a chill.

Xie Qingtang’s expression was normal; as long as she wasn’t embarrassed, it was fine. But… where was Chang Yishao going? From here, it wasn’t far to Chang Yishao’s new home or the museum.

“Have you had dinner?” Chang Yishao’s voice rang out. It wasn’t until those hands naturally wrapped around her waist that she suddenly came back to her senses and replied, “No.”

“Then let’s go to the supermarket downstairs first,” Chang Yishao said softly.

The dormitory by the museum didn’t have a “downstairs.” By the time Xie Qingtang carried the large bags into the house and looked at the familiar furnishings, she had a momentary illusion that she was back in Yu City.

“Meow—” A kitten’s soft cry shattered Xie Qingtang’s delusion. She looked at Chang Yishao in surprise—who, in turn, took the bags, turned, and walked into the kitchen, leaving a light comment behind, “Call it Moon (Yueliang).”

Little Moon was a blue and white male cat, almost two months old. It wasn’t timid around strangers and was very cute and clingy. It staggered on the sofa, then climbed onto Xie Qingtang, stretching out its paws to scratch the drawstrings of her hoodie. Xie Qingtang was just marveling at Chang Yishao’s speed when the tumbling kitten distracted her. The kitten’s meow was delicate, and it stubbornly pulled at Xie Qingtang’s clothes, determined not to stop until the drawstring was pulled off. Xie Qingtang tapped the kitten’s head with her finger, gently pushing it aside. When she saw it fall backward onto the sofa, she chuckled, letting it climb back onto her lap.

One person, one cat, enjoying themselves tirelessly.

It wasn’t until she heard Chang Yishao’s voice that Xie Qingtang finally freed her drawstring. She stroked Little Moon’s head and slowly got up to enter the kitchen. As the water ran, Xie Qingtang thought she heard Chang Yishao ask, “Do you like it?” But when she met Chang Yishao’s eyes, she saw her expression was as calm as ever, as if she had never spoken.

Xie Qingtang was very fond of the little cat, holding it on the sofa and refusing to let go. But Little Moon had its own ideas, flopping onto the sofa and soon purring. “Moon, that name—”

“A bit casual?” Chang Yishao finished Xie Qingtang’s thought. Xie Qingtang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“I saw it in The Remarkable Rocket. Romance will never die; it is like the Moon, eternal and undying.” Chang Yishao paused, looking at the kitten with a gentle smile, “Little Moon is good.”

Xie Qingtang was momentarily stunned. She thought of terms like “Peace” (Ping’an) or “Longevity” (Changshou), which would imply a wish for the cat to grow up healthy. She looked up, meeting Chang Yishao’s gaze, yet felt that her words were incomplete, as if there was more to it than just the name.

Chang Yishao didn’t say anything more, as if she had only intended to mention the origin of Little Moon’s name.

Xie Qingtang’s gaze occasionally rested on Little Moon and then shifted to Chang Yishao’s face. After a long while, she finally said, “Riding the bike is getting colder and colder.”

Chang Yishao nodded silently.

“I…” Xie Qingtang hesitated for a moment, finally sighing inwardly. She looked at Chang Yishao and said, “I won’t come to pick you up anymore.” But before Chang Yishao could respond, she became distressed again. After the last incident, she still felt that this area wasn’t completely safe. Her thoughts were racing; she felt like she was being pushed into a dilemma. After a long pause, she struggled, “I’ll walk over then, it’s not far.”

Chang Yishao only gazed at her gently, listening quietly to her murmurs, seemingly oblivious to her contradiction and struggle.

“It’s getting late,” Xie Qingtang glanced at the time.

Chang Yishao slowly opened her mouth, “Yes, it’s too late and unsafe. Stay here tonight.”

Xie Qingtang: “…” She tried to read Chang Yishao’s emotions from her face, but everything was deliberately concealed. She had “shared a bed” with Chang Yishao many times, so staying the night was nothing new. But there was always a feeling of awkwardness in her heart, which she didn’t want Chang Yishao to notice. “Okay,” she replied softly, her gaze already drifting to Little Moon, who was sound asleep.

Xie Qingtang realized something was not quite right as she sat on the bed after drying her hair.

The inexplicable nervousness and awkwardness had long dissipated. She suddenly turned to look at Chang Yishao, who was reading quietly, trying to find some sign of “bad intentions” on her calm face.

Chang Yishao had moved into her new home, so how did her personal belongings get mixed in? Had she not paid attention when packing? Xie Qingtang frowned in thought.

Their relationship was somewhat ephemeral, the distance constantly shifting between near and far, seemingly tied by an invisible thread.

Who is the kite?

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