Transmigrated Into the Stand-In of the Tragic Novel’s Heroine - Chapter 59

Chang Yishao didn’t dare to try; she deeply knew that Xie Qingtang was also just indulging in a verbal spar.

The relationship between them seemed to be covered by a thin membrane, they could clearly see the outside world, but they lacked a chance to tear the membrane.

The strategists in the group chat were still causing trouble.

“You invited her to your house just to stay for two days? Truly a rare innocence in an adult.”

“An absurd beginning, an absurd end. It’s truly miserable. Who is the tool person?”

“Yishao, be bold and go for it, okay?”

…

Chang Yishao thought of Xie Qingtang’s words, and a slight annoyance rose in her heart. After tagging Lu Li, she retorted impolitely, “Aren’t you all single too? No one will take you for a mute if you don’t speak.”

There was a moment of silence in the group. Qi Yu, the mute who rarely had any activity, popped up: “The fact that I haven’t blocked you means there’s a chance.”

Chang Yishao understood that she had a chance.

She felt like a kite that had been released, and the string was held in Xie Qingtang’s hand. Perhaps it was because of the previous “teasing,” and now she had to face Xie Qingtang’s “retaliation.”

Her “retaliation” wasn’t to completely stay away, but to be intermittently close and distant, like a faint bell chime in the night. You thought you could touch her, but at that moment, she would smile gracefully, her fingertip just skimming past your sleeve, and then you would watch her walk away.

How could this not be intentional!

The pressure on Chang Yishao was greatly relieved with the addition of Moya’s team to the editing of The Artisan’s Heart. She had more time to appear in the craft area, learning various skills from the master craftsmen with Xie Qingtang. Their cooperation was tacit, and all emotions were merged into their eye contact.

The master craftsmen naturally liked these two young women. While teasing them, they often acted as “matchmakers,” introducing sons of the East, daughters of the West, covering quite a range. Chang Yishao politely declined, while Xie Qingtang only turned her head and smiled.

The wind entering winter was no longer desolate and bleak, but a bone-scraping knife.

Xie Qingtang’s face was enveloped in a scarf, revealing a pair of bright eyes. She looked at Chang Yishao and chuckled, “Teacher Chang is quite popular?” She didn’t refuse Chang Yishao’s invitations, which were under the pretense of “Little Moon,” and both knew the real reason. The ornaments in the house mixed with their daily necessities, making it seem like they had returned to Yu City.

Xie Qingtang was a frequent visitor, but not quite a “guest.” She had stepped into Chang Yishao’s domain, no longer bound by that contract, yet she still hadn’t truly entered, always staying adrift at both ends.

When Chang Yishao was washing dishes, she was dealing with the litter box. She was already quite familiar with this task and consciously included Little Moon in her caretaking responsibilities. She felt that Chang Yishao was deliberate. She had never heard of her desire to keep a pet before, but now she was raising a lovely little cat. If it were just Chang Yishao raising it, it would be nothing, but it happened to be something they looked after together.

Chang Yishao added another layer to her attachment.

Xie Qingtang felt like a villain; she preferred not to let Chang Yishao have it too easy. Their relationship was maintained in this strange manner, relying on silence or pretending to be naive, stubbornly maintaining that thin membrane.

To persist or to give up? Xie Qingtang’s movements paused for a moment, then she curved her lips into a nonchalant smile.

Even if there was no result, the experience in between was worthwhile.

She would not back down because of a possible bad outcome.

But she would—Hearing the sound, Xie Qingtang turned to glance at Chang Yishao, her eyes curving, her smile flowing like moonlight.

But she would “retaliate.”

“Has Teacher Chang’s strategist stopped offering advice?” Xie Qingtang stood up, looking at Chang Yishao with a gentle smile.

Chang Yishao: “…” She pursed her lips. Leaving aside the fact that people like Lu Li only offered bad advice, even if it wasn’t bad, it seemed ineffective against Xie Qingtang. She couldn’t find a suitable reference, so she could only choose to stick with the “close proximity” method. Her gaze fell upon Little Moon, and she thought to herself, maybe there was also “love me, love my cat.”

“Teacher Chang, do you need me to help offer advice?” Xie Qingtang chuckled again.

Chang Yishao’s heart stirred. She stared fixedly at Xie Qingtang until her figure disappeared into the kitchen. The gurgling water sound went from starting to stopping, just like Chang Yishao’s restless heart, which slowly moved from trembling to calm. This was something Xie Qingtang often did, intentionally or unintentionally teasing, making her attitude appear even more unpredictable. Chang Yishao sighed, wondering if she was being too hasty. But if she proceeded step by step, she didn’t know when she would be able to see through that stone heart. She sighed and looked up, gazing at Xie Qingtang, saying, “Then you teach me.”

Xie Qingtang: “…” She looked down at the drops of water falling from her hand, which reflected her expression, bearing three parts helplessness. Chang Yishao truly dared to take any bait. After a long moment, she said, “Perhaps it’s love blooming over time.” A person who is aging has a leisurely heart and naturally yearns for a long, slow-flowing connection. She had seen too many storms and didn’t want to become one herself.

Chang Yishao’s eyes dimmed a bit. She scrutinized Xie Qingtang, seemingly weighing the truth of her words.

“Chang Yishao,” Xie Qingtang suddenly sighed. She said carelessly, “You are the closest person to me right now, isn’t that enough?” In this world, she came alone and was aging alone—that was the plan, but something went wrong midway. She had no relatives or friends, and her social circle was simple. Objectively speaking, Chang Yishao was indeed the person closest to her.

Chang Yishao did not feel happy because of her words; instead, she frowned.

If it was “right now,” what about the future?

“Not enough,” Chang Yishao said softly. Her voice was not loud, but in the quiet environment with only two people and one cat, it was still clearly audible. She walked toward Xie Qingtang, stopping just before colliding with her. She looked at Xie Qingtang and said, “Besides the present, I also want your future.”

Xie Qingtang tilted her head. She blinked and said, “Teacher Chang, you are truly greedy.” Even she wasn’t sure about the future.

Just as the barrier was about to be broken, Xie Qingtang took a step back again. She refused to speak openly, and Chang Yishao had no other option but to hope that prolonged cohabitation would make the iron tree bloom.

The anxiety she felt at the beginning slowly transformed into calm.

“I see, co-eating, co-dwelling, co-traveling, but she just hasn’t given you a title.”

“You must have offended her somehow.”

Lu Li hit the nail on the head.

Chang Yishao pursed her lips, unsure how to answer.

“Good luck, slowly try to melt that stone heart.” This was the strategist’s last but most reliable piece of advice.

In the dead of winter, the weather in Shen City grew colder and finally, a heavy snow fell.

The snow stopped in the evening, and a silver moon appeared on the horizon. Moonlight and snow flowed between heaven and earth, like a sharp sword, cutting through the chaotic night. Chang Yishao and Xie Qingtang walked side by side in the snow, the thick snow crunching under their feet.

The freezing snow made the ground a bit slippery. Children playing in the neighborhood shouted excitedly, occasionally falling into the snow, looking like big snowballs.

It was at this moment that Chang Yishao grabbed Xie Qingtang’s cold hand.

Xie Qingtang stopped and looked at her, asking, “Are you absorbing my warmth?”

Chang Yishao was used to Xie Qingtang’s way of speaking. She nodded, “Yes, it’s a bit cold.” As her words fell, the shivering wind carried snow chunks from the treetops down to the ground, scattering sprays of crushed snow.

Xie Qingtang ‘oh’ed and said, “Wear more clothes. It will only be colder tomorrow.” The cold air moving south showed no mercy, regardless of whether you were cold or hot.

There was a hint of perfunctory in her words. Chang Yishao looked up at the vast expanse of heaven and earth, and a sense of loneliness and grievance suddenly arose. “What if the heart is cold?” Chang Yishao sniffled, her voice lowered. She kept her gaze fixed on Xie Qingtang, her pupils reflecting the breathtaking scenery between heaven and earth.

They had walked from spring to winter, and the contract had ended. If there was any connection, it was their professional collaboration—but if it were merely a professional relationship, they shouldn’t have this kind of intimacy.

Xie Qingtang was taken aback. Crushed snow fell on Chang Yishao’s hair and scarf. She reached out and gently brushed it off. The words that had reached her lips changed as they circulated, turning into different words.

“Then…” Xie Qingtang paused deliberately, as if speaking to Chang Yishao, and also to herself.

Her eyes flickered, full of vitality, and the remaining half of the sentence was carried into her ear by the wind, then flowed down the veins into her heart.

“Then let’s wait for another spring to arrive.”

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