When the Heartthrob Meets the Cold-Hearted Ex - Chapter 38

Just like that, Tang Yeran gained a new neighbor. Whether it was due to poor feng shui in the neighboring apartment or not, ever since Su Yang moved in, something in her home seemed to break every single day.

Day One

“Ranran, my hairdryer broke. Can I borrow yours?”

Day Two

“Ranran, my air conditioner remote stopped working. The landlord said ours are the same model.”

Day Three

“Ranran, my scissors aren’t working anymore. Do you have?”

Tang Yeran was speechless, but these were such trivial items that even if it were just any ordinary neighbor, she couldn’t very well refuse.

If Su Yang had merely borrowed things and left it at that, it would’ve been fine. But each time, under the guise of gratitude, she would bring a small gift and then linger for a while.

As the saying goes, “One can never be offended by too much courtesy,” and “Prompt return of a borrowed thing makes it easier to borrow a next time.”

Tang Yeran eyed the tiramisu from a trendy bakery that Su Yang had brought over and thought to herself: With the money you spent on this, you could’ve ordered express delivery and bought ten pairs of scissors.

Truth be told, Tang Yeran saw right through Su Yang’s little schemes.

This woman must never enter the entertainment industry her acting is far too clumsy.

The only reason she hadn’t called her out yet was to see what other tricks Su Yang might pull.

But after just three days, she had already figured out all of Su Yang’s tactics.

It was nothing more than using the excuse of returning borrowed items to shower her with little gifts and flattery, without taking any further steps.

Su Yang probably thought she was being subtle, but she was actually painfully transparent her thoughts were written all over her face.

Tang Yeran couldn’t help but wonder: How did I ever find someone like this hard to read?

Ever since their heart-to-heart at the hotel in City Y, the three days they had lived together as roommates and now as neighbors had revealed sides of Su Yang that she had never seen in the past three years.

Had time truly changed a person, or had she simply been too young back then, blinded by her own emotions?

In the end, the rights and wrongs of the past no longer mattered. Watching Su Yang place the little cake down with feigned restraint her face polite and composed while her wagging tail might as well have been visible, Tang Yeran suddenly realized that this version of Su Yang really was different from before.

And somehow cuter.

Now, it was as if their dynamic had flipped. Su Yang, with her carefully maintained air of restraint, was finding every excuse to dote on her.

Though Tang Yeran still wore an expression of polite resignation on the surface, inwardly, she had already gushed “So cute!” countless times.

Just a few days ago, she had found this clingy woman rather annoying.

Ah, women their hearts change in the blink of an eye.

Not only do their hearts change quickly, but they soften just as fast.

She decided that in another couple of days, she’d tell Su Yang: If you want to come over, just knock. No need to keep bringing gifts as excuses.

Back when she had been the one pursuing Su Yang, that prideful woman had kept her waiting for a full five months.

So letting Su Yang fawn over her for five days now, that wasn’t too much to ask, was it?

Another New Day

Tang Yeran picked up a package from the nearby courier station, but on her way back, the sky suddenly opened up with rain.

She dashed through the downpour to her doorstep, keys in hand, when the door next to hers swung open first.

Su Yang stood in the doorway, greeting her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Ranran.”

Tang Yeran glanced at the power bank in Su Yang’s hand and instantly understood. “Today, it’s the power bank that broke?”

Su Yang, unfazed at having her line stolen, nodded with practiced restraint.

Tang Yeran fought hard to suppress her laughter. “Then wait a moment. Let me open the door first.”

She rummaged through her pockets but couldn’t find her keys after searching for a while.

Did I forget them when leaving? Unsure, she checked again.

Su Yang noticed Tang Yeran’s expression shift from relaxed to grave and asked considerately, “Forgot your keys?”

This time it was Tang Yeran’s turn to nod reservedly.

For some reason, Su Yang felt inexplicably happy, though she knew it wasn’t very kind.

She showed great concern, “Why don’t you come sit in my place for now?”

Sitting wasn’t a problem, but the immediate priority was finding a locksmith to open the door.

Tang Yeran opened an app to look for someone, only to realize her phone was down to its last two bars of battery.

“Give me that broken power bank of yours.”

Seeing Tang Yeran’s outstretched hand, Su Yang hesitated for two seconds before obediently handing it over.

Tang Yeran plugged the power bank into her phone and, as expected, it started charging.

She didn’t have the mind to tease Su Yang about it right now.

Watching the charging status on the phone screen, Su Yang suddenly felt her heartbeat quicken for no reason.

Did Ranran figure out I lied? Her expression hasn’t changed, so she must be too preoccupied with the lock situation to notice yet.

Wait, Ranran has an excellent memory. She’s probably just busy now and hasn’t had time to bring it up. But later…

Then again, power banks can be unreliable sometimes, right?

Yeah, this thing is years old. It’s perfectly normal for it to malfunction occasionally!

Su Yang thought it over and nodded solemnly to affirm herself.

After charging her phone for a while, Tang Yeran managed to contact a locksmith through the app.

Because of the rain, many weren’t taking orders. The nearest available one was 3 km away, so they’d have to wait a bit.

Tang Yeran put her phone away just as Su Yang was still lost in her thoughts, when a hand landed on her shoulder.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you up on that offer to sit at your place.”

Truth be told, this was Tang Yeran’s first time entering Su Yang’s new place since she moved here.

She’d visited Su Yang’s previous residence a few times and had always thought it was arranged too simply, as if the occupant was ready to move out at any moment.

But this new place felt different.

In reality, both places were about the same size, but this one didn’t give off that same empty, cold feeling at all.

Not only was it fully furnished, but there were also many more plush decorations around.

Since when did Su Yang develop such girly tastes?

Tang Yeran’s gaze fell on the living room sofa, where she saw Yuanbao rolling around with a plush toy, and suddenly understood.

Maybe the girly one was Yuanbao.

The apartment had two bedrooms and a living room, with Yuanbao having one room to itself. But since the cat often ignored its own space, Su Yang had added a cat bed next to the living room sofa.

Seeing a familiar face, Yuanbao rolled over cutely on the sofa, then sprawled out on its back, belly completely exposed.

Tang Yeran was about to pet the kitten as usual when she remembered she’d just been out in the rain and was still damp.

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she sneezed.

“Are you cold? You should take a shower first, don’t catch a cold.” Su Yang practically jogged over to drape a dry towel over her shoulders, genuinely worried now.

The two had already cohabitated several times, so Tang Yeran didn’t stand on ceremony with her. She handed her phone to Su Yang, saying, “I’ll be out soon then. Keep an eye on my phone for me, and answer if the locksmith calls.”

When Tang Yeran said she’d be quick, she meant it. In just twenty minutes, she emerged from the bathroom drying her hair.

Su Yang sat on the sofa with a laptop in her lap, working with one hand while petting a cat with the other.

Such a comfortable work environment was truly enviable.

A thought flashed through Tang Yeran’s mind: Maybe she should suggest the magazine provide each staff member with a cat tomorrow, claiming it would boost work efficiency?

Amused by her own sudden inspiration, she chuckled aloud. Su Yang looked up to see her beloved standing there in her pajamas, fresh as a lotus flower emerging from water, graceful and elegant. A glimmer flashed through her eyes.

The flicker passed too quickly for Tang Yeran to notice, and Su Yang soon resumed her usual dignified and reserved demeanor.

“That was fast. You washed your hair too?”

As soon as she said it, Su Yang realized it was a redundant question having been caught in the rain, of course she had to wash her hair.

“Mhm.” Tang Yeran finished drying her hair and ran a comb through it. “Lend me that broken hairdryer of yours too.”

Only then did Su Yang realize Tang Yeran had twice asked to borrow things with the prefix “broken.”

She felt a pang of helplessness but could only comply.

“I fixed it yesterday. It’s safe to use.”

It wasn’t until she placed the hairdryer in Tang Yeran’s hands that Su Yang managed to come up with an excuse. The other woman let out a soft scoff to show she understood.

They sat side by side on the sofa, one focused on drying her hair, the other pretending to work.

Tang Yeran only took a few minutes to blow-dry her hair halfway before noticing Su Yang’s distracted expression as she held the laptop. “Am I disturbing you?”

“Not at all!” Su Yang snapped out of it. “I was just thinking about what details to add for next month’s Shining Candy fan event. Oh, by the way, the locksmith never called.”

Tang Yeran took back her phone and opened the app, only to see a message from the locksmith: The rain’s too heavy, traffic’s jammed can’t make it today.

Tang Yeran: …

Su Yang held her laptop but kept stealing glances at the person beside her.

Seeing the resigned look on Tang Yeran’s face, she could guess what had happened.

Though summer was approaching, the heavy rain outside and the evening breeze drifting in still carried a chill.

Tang Yeran had rushed through her shower and grabbed the first pajamas she saw, a lightweight set that left everything above her collarbones exposed. She shivered slightly from the cold.

Noticing this, Su Yang hurried to close the window, then turned back to see Tang Yeran rubbing her arms for warmth.

“Is the air conditioner remote fixed? Can we turn it on now?”

Su Yang pressed her lips together, her expression serious and earnest. “Yes.”

The room soon warmed up, and Tang Yeran decided to make the best of the situation.

Since she couldn’t go back for a while, she might as well work on her figurine here.

She brought over a newly delivered package and asked Su Yang for scissors.

If Su Yang had still harbored any illusions before, she had now completely surrendered to reality.

This time, Tang Yeran didn’t emphasize “broken,” nor did Su Yang feel the need to add “just fixed.” Both understood the situation and knew the other understood as well.

Tang Yeran opened the cardboard box, took out the figurine materials, pulled up the design on her phone, and began assembling the pieces.

Earlier, she had used her private Weibo account to handle PR for Su Yang, promising to give fans a treat once the likes reached 100,000.

Now that the goal had long been surpassed, she decided to fulfill her promise by personally crafting a few Tang Dynasty figurines, taking a set of photos to post, and then holding a giveaway for fans.

Su Yang, having just been exposed and feeling guilty, proactively asked if she needed help, hoping to “redeem herself.”

Tang Yeran thought that this laborious task should indeed involve Su Yang’s contribution, so she didn’t hesitate to put her to work as an assistant.

Though Su Yang had never made this kind of figurine before, she was quick to learn. Under Tang Yeran’s guidance, the two worked together efficiently.

Before long, the basic form of a swordswoman clad in Tang Dynasty rogue attire had been assembled.

Tang Yeran looked at her half-finished work and nodded in satisfaction.

Su Yang followed her gaze.

Why did this little swordswoman figurine seem somewhat familiar?

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