This was the first sound Jiang Xiao made after entering the room.
“What’s wrong?”
Song Qiuyu pushed her suitcase inside, her tone a bit dissatisfied.
“In my opinion, this place isn’t even as good as the rental room I had before!”
Jiang Xiao spoke with disdain.
“And it’s costing you six thousand a month! You’re definitely getting ripped off. You should just return this place—six thousand a month, that’s at least sixty thousand a year. Just thinking about it makes my heart bleed!”
“Thanks, but even if it’s bleeding, it’s still my own heart that’s bleeding.”
Song Qiuyu pretended to be annoyed, giving Jiang Xiao a sidelong glare. She pushed open the bedroom door and put her suitcase inside.
“But we’re friends, aren’t we? My heart’s connected to yours—if you’re hurting, then my heart’s definitely going to hurt too.”
Jiang Xiao said it earnestly.
Song Qiuyu was caught off guard, not knowing what to say for a moment.
At first, the words sounded fine, but if you thought about it, there was something off.
Jiang Xiao didn’t give her time to dwell on it. After putting down the other suitcase, he checked the time on his phone and set the groceries he’d brought on the table.
Rolling up his sleeves, he said, “Because every time you come back, we’re too busy doing that sort of thing, you probably haven’t even eaten dinner yet, right?”
“Mm.”
Responding, Song Qiuyu picked up a broom to do some light cleaning on top of what the Landlord had already tidied up. The rest, she’d leave until after she got back from the Exam tomorrow.
“I’ll take care of the kitchen cleaning. Once I’m done, I’ll make you something to eat.”
Jiang Xiao picked through the groceries.
The moment he said this, Song Qiuyu froze. It was already shameless enough to have her ex-boyfriend help with the move right after breaking up, and now she was letting him clean and make her dinner—was she going too far?
She owed Jiang Xiao, her Boyfriend, so much already.
Thinking of this, she wanted to step forward and say something to stop him.
But at that instant, a wave of soreness suddenly swept through parts of her body, making her stop in her tracks.
Jiang Xiao had definitely gone overboard taking care of her.
He’d really left a mess behind.
Come to think of it, why did she feel so refreshed when she woke up?
She was puzzled.
Watching Jiang Xiao enter the kitchen and start cleaning with practiced ease, her brows knit together and her gaze fell on his hands.
That’s right—the doctor said Jiang Xiao’s right arm wasn’t supposed to do any strenuous work.
Which hand did Jiang Xiao use back then?
Song Qiuyu tried to recall.
But she couldn’t remember.
She scratched the back of her neck, opened her mouth, wanting to gather the courage to ask, but after struggling for a long while, she decided to keep quiet.
What was done was done—there was no point in asking about it now.
Still, she forced herself to call out to him: “Jiang Xiao, remember, don’t overwork your right hand!”
“Alright!”
Jiang Xiao answered energetically.
A moment later, with the main cleaning done, Song Qiuyu washed her hands on the balcony and headed to the kitchen to help. There, she found Jiang Xiao already finished, holding up the food and turning around.
“Looks like my timing’s just right.” Jiang Xiao smiled at her.
Song Qiuyu was momentarily dazed, and after a pause, she shyly turned away, biting her lip gently.
She took a deep breath and grasped her hands. “Let me serve the food.”
“Mm, then take your time eating.”
Jiang Xiao walked over and carefully handed the dish to her.
“Hm? What about you?” Song Qiuyu looked at him, puzzled.
“I’ll just go home and eat something simple.”
Jiang Xiao took off his apron.
Song Qiuyu couldn’t help but feel moved. Judging by the time she’d gotten home, Jiang Xiao probably hadn’t eaten either. And after doing that sort of thing, he was probably more tired than she was. By all rights, she should invite Jiang Xiao to stay for dinner!
But she found herself unable to say the words. Still, she gritted her teeth and said, “Let’s just eat together. After all, you made the meal.”
“That’s not really appropriate.” Jiang Xiao sighed.
“What? How is it not appropriate?”
Song Qiuyu pouted, unable to help acting a little spoiled.
“A man and a woman, alone in a room, and not long ago we were doing that sort of thing together,” Jiang Xiao said frankly. “If you insist on having me stay…”
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu’s heart skipped a beat.
“It’ll give me the illusion that you’re giving me a signal that I can keep crossing the line, that you might change your mind.” Jiang Xiao stared straight at her, his voice low.
Song Qiuyu’s lips parted slightly.
“But it is a bit troublesome, you know. Where am I supposed to get two hundred million dollars?”
Jiang Xiao deliberately sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead. “Xi’er, that kind of penalty fee is way too much, so please, don’t tempt me on purpose.”
“Who’s tempting you on purpose?!”
Song Qiuyu, still holding the dish, couldn’t help but give him a kick.
After that, she carried the food to the living room.
“Then I’m heading out.”
Jiang Xiao’s voice came from behind her.
“Go on, go on. Remember you have an Exam tomorrow morning—finish dinner and get to sleep early, don’t oversleep!” Song Qiuyu put the food down gently, reminding him.
“Mm, you too.”
Jiang Xiao replied, lingering for a moment and looking at her twice before turning to leave.
Right after, Song Qiuyu called out to him again.
“Jiang Xiao, good night in advance—sweet dreams!”
“Mm, you too, Xi’er.”
Creak—the door opened, then softly closed. But even as the person left, traces of them remained, unable to be erased.
After washing the dishes, Song Qiuyu pulled out a chair and habitually searched for the missing bowl—wanting to fill it first.
When her little hand came up empty, she was only dazed for a moment, then calmly served herself. But as she ate, she couldn’t help glancing at the empty seat across from her, and picking up food for a bowl that wasn’t there.
Song Qiuyu’s mood was utterly miserable.
It was as if the habit of looking after Jiang Xiao had been etched into her very bones. Now that he wasn’t there, everything she did seemed to lose most of its meaning.
Jiang Xiao had made the food, so the taste should have been the same, but somehow, eating it, it felt like something was missing.
Halfway through, Song Qiuyu couldn’t eat anymore. But remembering that Jiang Xiao had made it just for her, she forced herself to finish every last bite.
Although—
The real reason, actually, was that she couldn’t waste food.
After finishing and washing the dishes, she unintentionally remembered how, back when they were housemates, Jiang Xiao would always rush to do the dishes at this time. She couldn’t help but smile.
Back then, she’d found it childish and silly. Now…she still found it childish and silly.
Especially when their fingers brushed by accident, and he’d look so embarrassed!
He really was a pure, innocent guy!
Not that she was much better—in fact, all Jiang Xiao had to do was whisper in her ear and she’d be a goner.
In the past, it was men led astray by women; now it was women led astray by men.
But at least now, she wouldn’t have to see Jiang Xiao deliberately showing off his muscles, and her ears were safe.
With the dishes done, Song Qiuyu rummaged through her suitcase for a change of clothes, then headed straight for the bathroom.
The bathroom mirror in this apartment was a bit bigger than the one in Jiang Xiao’s old place.
Absentmindedly undressing, halfway through, she caught sight of her own messy body in the mirror. Her fair, jade-like skin flushed pink, even her small, round feet turning red.
Apart from the marks of embarrassment, her body was otherwise spotlessly clean. Suddenly, a thought sprang to mind.
Could it be…?
Did Jiang Xiao wash her?
Her face burning, she quietly finished undressing, changed into fresh clothes, and left the bathroom.
Three showers in one day was way too much.
Might as well go straight to bed.
With that, she lifted the covers and lay down, but no matter how much she tossed and turned, she couldn’t fall asleep, always feeling like she’d forgotten something. She slapped her head and, remembering something, picked up her phone and checked Jiang Xiao’s QQ Number.
The recent chat history was filled with messages reporting in to her Boyfriend and her reporting to him as Girlfriend.
She’d forgotten yesterday’s report, but now it was the eighth day—there was no need for those Girlfriend Report messages anymore.
Curled up under the covers, Song Qiuyu clutched her phone, her chest heavy with discomfort. She didn’t know why, but her mind wouldn’t stop wondering about Jiang Xiao, wanting desperately to type something and send it to him.
Any meaningless topic would do, as long as she could chat with Jiang Xiao for a while…
Only then could she sleep tonight.
What a strange feeling.
Song Qiuyu squeezed her eyes shut, gripping her phone tight, but as time ticked by, sleep didn’t come—instead, she only felt worse.
It was as if, with Jiang Xiao not by her side, she was truly lonely.
She opened her eyes, staring at the unchanged wallpaper on her phone, a little lost in thought.
Maybe she really was losing her mind. For a second, she even felt jealous of herself during that week spent happily dating Jiang Xiao.
Jiang Xiao had clearly seen through her little schemes, but he’d still smiled and gone with her to film the Haunted House Promotional Video, never showing anything out of the ordinary from start to finish.
That week might have been, since she became a girl, the happiest time she’d ever had.
Or rather, in all her life, it was one of her happiest memories.
No, no!
She still had the Exam tomorrow—go to sleep, now!
Song Qiuyu bit down on her lip.
Just then, her phone screen flashed with an incoming call.
Along with a cheerful ringtone, the caller’s name appeared on the screen.
Jiang Xiao.
Song Qiuyu’s brain hadn’t caught up, but her body shot upright, breathing heavily, her eyes wide.
Why was Jiang Xiao suddenly calling—was it a mistake?
She hesitated for a second, but answered the call anyway.
“Xi’er, you left something behind. I’m at your apartment door now—can you open up? I’ll give it to you.”
Jiang Xiao’s deep, slow voice came from the other end.
Huh?
Left something behind?
Song Qiuyu was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, said yes, hung up, kicked off the covers, put on her slippers, and hurried to the entryway—before she knew it, she was running.
Even she didn’t know why she was so flustered, why she was in such a rush. All she knew was that her heart was pounding wildly, and it definitely wasn’t the suspension bridge effect.
Stopping behind the door, Song Qiuyu took a deep breath, instinctively trying to appear normal, calming herself down. Pressing her lips together, she reached for the door.
Creak—with her most natural speed, she opened the door.
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