Hearing the sound of the door opening, both Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao froze.
The incident had happened so suddenly that neither of them had time to react.
By the time they collected themselves even a little, the door to the bedroom was already open.
“Brother, you guys…”
Jiang Li stood at the doorway, eyes wide in astonishment, staring at the two people on the sofa.
At that moment, Song Qiuyu’s mind crashed, going utterly blank, not even understanding why she’d suddenly wanted to kiss Jiang Xiao just now!
Now this was serious trouble.
How was she going to explain this to Jiang Li?
Then, she suddenly felt a gentle weight on her head, a comforting warmth—Jiang Xiao was ruffling her hair.
It was clearly an act meant to calm her, and it worked wonders, slowly setting her thoughts back into motion.
She couldn’t help but wonder if Jiang Xiao really did possess magic or could read minds.
Whenever she needed help most, he was always there to give her just what she needed—even before she herself realized she wanted it.
With a soft sigh, she clenched her fists, deciding she wouldn’t run away in cowardice.
She summoned her courage, ready to face whatever questions Jiang Li was about to ask.
So, the three of them—she, Jiang Xiao, and Jiang Li—sat down around the dining table and began their own Round Table Conference.
“Ah Li, we can explain what happened,” Jiang Xiao said first, his voice steady.
Song Qiuyu didn’t speak immediately.
She still had her hands clenched on her lap, doing her best to look as serious and proper as possible.
Every word she was about to say would be crucial; she couldn’t speak carelessly!
Jiang Li glanced at Song Qiuyu, thinking for a moment.
“Brother, could I trouble you to step out for a bit? I want to talk to Qiuyu-ge alone.”
Song Qiuyu was stunned for a moment and looked across at Jiang Li, who was staring at her intently. Song Qiuyu couldn’t help but break into a sweat.
Yet, her mind was unexpectedly clear at this moment.
Was Jiang Li suspecting she liked men and wanted to warn her to stay away from Jiang Xiao, but wanted to spare her some dignity by speaking privately?
If that was the case, she could just admit it according to Jiang Li’s words, then use that as an excuse to move out of this rental tonight!
The situation had reversed in an instant—being caught by Jiang Li like this might not be entirely a bad thing.
With that thought, she took a deep breath and said to the person beside her, “Jiang Xiao, would you mind stepping out for a bit?”
Jiang Xiao turned to her, looking thoughtful.
She looked just like a professional Mediator, frowning with such confidence… but her forced serious expression made her look just a bit less professional.
“Trust me, I can handle this.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Xiao narrowed his eyes, nodded, and instinctively patted her head again.
Then, lowering his voice, he said slowly, “I’ll go wash my pants, then.”
At that, Jiang Li’s eyes went wide as she watched Qiuyu-ge’s face inexplicably turn bright red, as if her mind had been flooded with too much information to process, leaving her frozen in her seat.
Jiang Xiao stood up and walked to the balcony.
The two left at the table couldn’t help but watch him go.
Until Jiang Xiao started drawing water into a basin and picked up the corner of a white piece of fabric from the basin…
“Jiang Li!”
Song Qiuyu suddenly turned away.
At her call, Jiang Li immediately turned her attention back to the person opposite her.
“If you have something to say, just say it directly.”
Song Qiuyu sneaked a glance toward the balcony out of the corner of her eye, secretly relieved.
She really wanted to rush over and stop him, but there was no time to worry about her underwear now—she could only let Jiang Xiao help with the wash.
Just thinking about her worn female underwear being washed by Jiang Xiao, and that she’d have to wear it again later, made her dizzy.
That dizzy feeling was tingling and numbing, leaving her somewhat tortured.
“Qiuyu-ge, do you like my brother?”
Jiang Li asked seriously, “By ‘like’, I don’t mean the way you like classmates, friends, or roommates.”
So it really was this!
Song Qiuyu clenched her fists tighter. With the sound of water splashing from the balcony, her body felt like it was burning up, even in the dead of winter.
“Yes, it’s just as you think.”
Song Qiuyu closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them, speaking earnestly: “Actually, I’ve liked your brother for six years. Ever since we became classmates and roommates in junior high, I’ve had my eye on him.”
Jiang Li was so shocked she couldn’t speak.
Apparently, when someone is overwhelmed with shock, they really can forget their own language.
Sometimes, though, random foreign phrases pop into your head.
Like… Gua, your circle is so messy, and it started all the way back in junior high?
“I’m sorry for keeping this from you. Don’t worry, this has only ever been a one-sided crush of mine,” Song Qiuyu sighed on purpose, launching into a performance.
“Jiang Xiao has never had any feelings for me. Today, I just couldn’t hold myself back and kissed him.”
She sighed again, pressing a hand to her forehead, looking deeply regretful.
“Please forgive me for liking your brother without permission. I’ll move out immediately…”
Jiang Li’s pupils shook, but as her shock settled, a clever idea suddenly occurred to her.
“Qiuyu-ge, please steal my brother away from that woman.”
“?”
Song Qiuyu’s words caught in her throat, and she froze.
“A woman’s intuition tells me that my brother’s current girlfriend, Shen Xi, is absolutely not a good person!” Jiang Li clenched her fists, her brows furrowed.
Absolutely not… Song Qiuyu… A bead of cold sweat slid down Song Qiuyu’s cheek.
If Jiang Li knew that the “bad woman” she spoke of was sitting right across from her, who knew how furious she’d be.
“Qiuyu-ge, I know you’ve done a lot for my brother. I think, except for the fact that you can’t have children, you’re better than that woman in every way!”
Jiang Li’s eyes were full of trust for Song Qiuyu.
Song Qiuyu pressed a hand to her forehead, seriously considering whether to come clean.
“Qiuyu-ge, think it over. If you’re willing to stand with me, I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Jiang Li’s gaze was determined.
“I think I know what you’re getting at, but I refuse.”
After careful thought, Song Qiuyu decided not to reveal everything. After all, she’d only just met the girl across from her—not someone she could trust completely.
“I’ll go back to my room first.”
With that, she deliberately put on a stern face, got up, and walked back to her bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Jiang Li gazed at the closed door for a moment, then looked to her brother, who had just returned from the balcony.
Sure enough, the sound insulation wasn’t great—her brother must have heard everything, judging by the redness of his ears.
However, Jiang Xiao would never tell his sister that his ears were red not because of Song Qiuyu’s words, but simply because he had just washed the pants—and the most private underwear—of his favorite person.
“Ah Li…”
Jiang Xiao hesitated.
“Brother, was your first love Qiuyu-ge or Shen Xi?”
Jiang Li never doubted her memory; her brother had known Shen Xi since junior high.
Coincidentally, today’s Shen Xi was very similar to Qiuyu-ge.
She couldn’t help but suspect that things between the three of them might be more complicated than she’d first thought.
For her brother, maybe Qiuyu-ge and Shen Xi were like the red rose and the white rose, the mosquito blood and the cinnabar mole…
But sorry, as his sister, she wouldn’t just sit by and watch such greed in human nature. She couldn’t bear to see her brother give in to despair a second time.
Her parents couldn’t stand it anymore, either.
Seeing his sister looking as if she could see through everything, Jiang Xiao was full of thoughts.
He pulled out a chair and sat down opposite his sister, watching as she calmly continued:
“Brother, there’s still Jiang Yu at home, and me, too.”
Jiang Xiao lowered his eyes and stayed silent, feeling that his sister was becoming less and less like the girl who’d always followed him around.
“So even if you don’t have children, our Family Incense Lineage won’t be broken.”
Jiang Li was testing her brother’s reaction, not sure if he was turning to someone like Shen Xi only because Qiuyu-ge was a man.
Of course, Jiang Xiao saw right through his sister’s thoughts. He glanced twice in the direction of Song Qiuyu’s bedroom, thinking.
Having his younger siblings around clearly added to Xi’er’s pressure and guilt, and made her realize she could run away. He needed to chase her a little more closely.
It was only the first day. If he let Xi’er move out now, all his efforts would be wasted.
He lowered his voice so only he and his sister could hear, “Ah Li, do me a favor?”
“Brother, just say it.” Jiang Li was momentarily surprised.
“In a bit, send me into Song Qiuyu’s room and block the door.”
Jiang Xiao continued.
Jiang Li was surprised again, but only for a second. Then a smile spread across her face—she’d bet right.
Her brother really did love Qiuyu-ge, not that wicked woman Shen Xi.
At that moment, Song Qiuyu was pressed up against her door, ear strained, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation in the living room.
At first, she could hear everything clearly, but then, right at the crucial moment, it suddenly went quiet.
She pressed her lips together, racking her brains, and pondered the seemingly random words Jiang Li had said.
Jiang Li would never have guessed that this Qiuyu-ge could actually have children!
No matter how you looked at it, it was shocking for a high school girl to try and talk her brother into it, or even get her brother’s roommate to steal her brother.
It seemed Jiang Li really disliked Shen Xi.
That was fine, too. Maybe it would make Jiang Xiao back off, realize that both Song Qiuyu and Shen Xi were trouble, and let go sooner for his own good!
At this point, she should’ve smiled in relief, but no matter what, she couldn’t. Her chest felt stuffy, and she could only sigh.
Today felt like a dream, but she’d truly experienced the joy of being a little girl.
She was deeply grateful to everyone who’d made her happy today—especially Jiang Xiao.
But then, thinking about the sanitary pad Jiang Xiao had bought for her, she scratched the back of her neck, at a loss for words.
What Chasing-Wife King? Really, no girl could handle that!
Most would surrender in seconds, not even struggle, and just get coaxed by Jiang Xiao straight into bed.
Luckily, I’m not…
Suddenly, two sets of footsteps sounded outside her door.
Hearing them, Song Qiuyu’s thoughts were cut off. Flustered, she hurriedly took two steps back, putting some distance between herself and the door.