Transmigrated Into the Stand-In of the Tragic Novel’s Heroine - Chapter 60

Moonlight, pine branches, accumulated snow.

It was still a cold winter day, and no one knew when spring would arrive. Chang Yishao met Xie Qingtang’s gaze, taking in the bright sparkle flowing in her eyes. The initial feeling of grievance suddenly vanished, and her restless heart abruptly settled.

Xie Qingtang was the spring breeze, the beautiful spring day.

The filming and editing of Artisanal Heart were proceeding on schedule. The promotion of handicrafts had continuously dominated the top recommended slots, though now, no one mentioned it anymore. The number of people coming and going in the live-streaming room was constant, but the views of the Artisanal Heart video series were steadily climbing.

Before the arrival of spring, good news came first. Artisanal Heart won a national-level award. The folk handicraft museum in Shen City had long been designated with various demonstration area plaques, classified as a key project, but previously it was quiet and unknown. The award for Artisanal Heart added luster, promoting handicrafts to a wider audience. The number of visiting tourists, as well as artisans and scholars coming for exchange and study, suddenly increased.

This was what Elder Jiang had originally intended to do, and Xie Qingtang’s appearance helped him solve the problem.

As the end of the year approached, various sections of the museum gradually closed, with only the exhibition area still receiving visitors from all over. Xie Qingtang became free, sometimes staying in the dormitory and occasionally helping Elder Jiang entertain guests, and other times staying at Chang Yishao’s place, routinely teasing the gradually growing Little Moon. The little dumpling, taking small, short steps, no longer stumbled and fell, and its sharp claws could snag threads from clothes. Xie Qingtang often patiently combed Little Moon’s fur and trimmed its nails, as if she could no longer be without it.

Xie Qingtang had no relatives, so she naturally didn’t need to consider how to spend the New Year.

But Chang Yishao was different; she had a large family waiting for her to return for the reunion. As New Year’s Eve rapidly approached, she finished posting the “Fu” character and couplets in the house and prepared to pack her things to return to Yu City.

“Are you really not coming with me?” Chang Yishao asked seriously. If Xie Qingtang were willing, she would naturally be happy to introduce her to her friends and relatives.

“No,” Xie Qingtang shook her head, her eyes bright and her smile gentle. In the eyes of Chang Yishao’s elders, she might already have a girlfriend, but the truth of their relationship was something only they knew. The contract had ended, and the strange relationship they had initially agreed upon naturally ended with it.

“I will take care of Little Moon,” Xie Qingtang smiled with her eyes, stood up to tidy Chang Yishao’s white scarf, and added, “Advance warning, Teacher Chang, Happy New Year.”

Chang Yishao pursed her lips, looking at Xie Qingtang, she said, “It will be spring soon after New Year’s Eve.”

Xie Qingtang blinked, seemingly not grasping the deeper meaning in her words, stretched, and said, “Yes, it’s going to get warm soon.”

The day Chang Yishao left, Xie Qingtang did not go to see her off. She stayed overnight at Chang Yishao’s house, but slept until Little Moon woke her up by stepping on her. The meowing sounds seemed to complain about her irresponsibility. Xie Qingtang glanced at the empty pillow beside her, her gaze darkening slightly. After a long moment, she finally stretched, flicked Little Moon’s head with a bent finger, and sighed, “All you know is eating… It’s just that Teacher Chang isn’t here, so we’ll have to make do.”

Xie Qingtang couldn’t even sort out her own food, let alone prepare a delicious cat meal for Little Moon.

New Year’s Eve was quiet. The sky was gray, the clouds like lead blocks, suggesting another heavy snowfall was coming. There were fewer cars on the roads, the jarring sound of car horns subsided, and only the occasional “bang bang” could be heard—the distant sound of fireworks.

In daylight, the brilliance of fireworks was less than that of fireflies, disappearing in a blink.

Xie Qingtang had spent many years alone, and she didn’t have much expectation or emotion for this holiday. It was like any other day, sunrise and sunset, passing in an instant. This time, however, looking at the not-so-empty room and the traces of another person’s presence, a sense of anxiety and loneliness slowly rose in her heart.

New Year’s Eve was just an ordinary night; nothing surprising would happen.

The coffee table was covered with food delivered from a private kitchen—Chang Yishao had probably prepared in advance for fear that she would starve.

Xie Qingtang sat on the sofa holding the cat, the TV screen filled with cheerful laughter. She felt grateful for Chang Yishao’s thoughtfulness, but suddenly, other emotions surged up.

She began to cling to the vibrant life of two people, finding it hard to retreat to the lonely existence of one.

Around 8 o’clock, Chang Yishao sent a video call. The background was a cool-toned room, suggesting she had already broken away from the environment surrounded by the whole family.

Xie Qingtang leaned lazily against the sofa, her eyes slightly narrowed, responding half-heartedly to Chang Yishao’s words.

Banal phrases like “Have you eaten?” or “What are you doing?” turn from nonsense into valuable caring when spoken by someone she holds dear.

“I’ll be back in Shen City on the second day of the new year,” Chang Yishao looked at Xie Qingtang and added. She had only stayed in Shen City for less than a year, but it had already become her second home.

Xie Qingtang was slightly surprised. She sat up straight, looking at the person on the screen, the return time was earlier than she expected. She couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you need to visit relatives and friends?”

Chang Yishao shook her head, saying, “No need.” She didn’t particularly like such activities, and her family had always indulged her, never forcing her to socialize. As for her several older brothers, the outcome was different.

Xie Qingtang didn’t speak anymore, only a faint smile flickered at the corners of her eyes and brows. Little Moon, dissatisfied with being ignored, climbed up Xie Qingtang’s jacket, its small paws appearing on the camera. The meowing was still soft and babyish, not as strong as that of a stray cat outside.

“Little Moon has grown quite a bit,” Chang Yishao chuckled.

“Yes,” Xie Qingtang narrowed her eyes. The weight gain was visible to the naked eye. She extended a finger to flip Little Moon over, preventing it from obstructing the camera, and laughed, “In a little while, we’ll have to take it to be neutered.”

Chang Yishao’s heart stirred. The word “we” made her inwardly happy. In a little while, spring would also arrive. Would the spring breeze, meant exclusively for her, arrive as promised?

Xie Qingtang didn’t mention it, and Chang Yishao also kept silent, maintaining an unspoken understanding between them.

Their current life closely resembled that of a couple, but the lack of a definite word was what made her uneasy.

With the coming of spring, all things bud.

The roadside peach and plum trees were the first to compete for spring.

The museum’s opening time was later than usual, and Xie Qingtang naturally had more clear and sunny spring days to go out.

Her face was no longer unfamiliar to many. Not to mention the glances she attracted while walking on the street, occasionally a few brave people would approach her for an autograph or take pictures with their phones. However, compared to those highly famous celebrities, she had very little to deal with.

“Will you have to wear sunglasses and a mask, pulling your cap low from now on?” Chang Yishao smiled gently at the sight.

Xie Qingtang shot her a side glance, deliberately leaning closer to Chang Yishao, and whispered, “In that case, Teacher Chang will probably be in the frame with me.” She paused, then added, “There might also be endless gossip and scandals.”

Chang Yishao took the opportunity to hold Xie Qingtang’s hand and laughed, “Is that so bad?”

“It is not good.” Xie Qingtang shook her head like a rattle, eyeing Chang Yishao, she dragged out her words, “If you read too much gossip, it might turn into the truth.”

Chang Yishao was choked by her words, and she looked down, clasping their intertwined hands, which made her feel a little better. Her gaze no longer lingered on Xie Qingtang but drifted past the red and white blossoms on the treetops. “Look at the peach and plum,” she said softly.

The spring breeze has arrived.

“Is Teacher Chang feeling poetic and about to recite a poem?” Xie Qingtang feigned surprise.

Chang Yishao pursed her lips, knowing Xie Qingtang was doing it on purpose.

“Spring has arrived, but you still owe me a spring,” Chang Yishao said softly.

Xie Qingtang chuckled upon hearing that. Spring had indeed arrived, and she had thought Chang Yishao would wait until the next spring to ask.

She didn’t answer, but as they passed a flower shop, she bought a bouquet of fresh flowers for Chang Yishao and responded, “Spring is in the wilderness. Take this bouquet back and put it in a vase, and your spring will arrive.”

Chang Yishao pursed her lips. Xie Qingtang’s expression was normal, but her heart was full of apprehension.

Perhaps only the one waiting for the outcome would suffer the torment.

The bouquet was neatly trimmed, containing plum blossoms, peach blossoms, plum flowers, and some unknown branches. They were mixed together and had no specific language of their own; they were truly, as Xie Qingtang had said, flowers meant for a vase display.

She was casually affectionate, never making her intentions clear.

The vase in the room had been empty all winter. Fearing Little Moon might knock it over, it had been placed high up.

Chang Yishao sat on the sofa, slowly placing the bouquet into the porcelain vase. Her lips were slightly pursed, an expression that was neither happy nor frustrated.

Xie Qingtang took in her expression. Another self seemed to split off in her mind, loudly complaining about her own ruthlessness and heartlessness—Chang Yishao was good in every way, and hadn’t done anything wrong, so why torture her? Xie Qingtang couldn’t explain. Perhaps it was a rebellious impulse caused by her past avoidance. This was her first relationship, full of bumps and stumbles, and she didn’t want to start it easily, nor did she want to think about it ending.

While she was lost in thought, Chang Yishao had already finished arranging the flowers. Little Moon curiously came closer but was mercilessly pushed aside by Chang Yishao.

“Xie Qingtang.”

Chang Yishao called her name, startling her out of her contemplation.

She looked up, meeting the pair of eyes that were sparkling brightly, yet tinged with a little grievance, and her heart trembled. That last bit of stubbornness was swept away. “I’m here,” she cleared her throat, but her voice was not loud, instead a little low and husky.

“What do you want me to do?” Chang Yishao still gazed at her, her lips tightly pressed together.

Xie Qingtang’s eyelids jumped. After a long while, she looked up at Chang Yishao and replied, “Chang Yishao, let’s make another contract.”

Chang Yishao’s heart sank, the bright light accumulating in her eyes almost spilled over her lashes.

“We will enter into a contract to be long-term lovers, but we must maintain our mutual independence,” Xie Qingtang paused. She leaned closer to Chang Yishao, her fingertip brushing the corner of her eye, and continued, “We can separate briefly, or we can stay together forever. If that day arrives that we don’t want to foresee, there’s no need to force it. [1]”

Chang Yishao was stunned, not expecting Xie Qingtang to propose such a contract. Was she worried about an unpredictable future?

She would not, and did not want that day to happen.

Xie Qingtang’s hand was still resting on her face. The person in her sight, her eyes and brows, conveyed the love and tenderness that had been hidden in the past.

Chang Yishao nodded softly and said, “Okay.”

As long as she is still willing to come in the spring, that is enough.

The author has something to say: [1] Adapted from a line in the play The Second Sex; just focus on the literal meaning.

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