After Becoming Roommates with My Flirty Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 1

Mid-July, scorching summer.

Layers of orange and tangerine hues painted the horizon as the setting sun hung between skyscrapers, refusing to fully sink. The scalding crimson heat burned through Yu Xia’s skin, making her whole body ache, as if even the ends of her hair were singed.

Emerging from the subway station, Yu Xia was met by a blast of scorching wind that made her wince.

She never particularly liked summer. Sometimes she felt like a computer component; when overheated, she overloaded, and her emotions would subtly spiral out of control.

It was an unpleasant sensation.

Normally, she would still be working overtime at the office at this hour. But today, Ms. Ke Qian had insisted on an early appointment, forcing Yu Xia to meet the daughter of Ms. Ke Qian’s college classmate to discuss a potential co-rental arrangement.

After graduating, Yu Xia had come straight to Nanqiao City and found a summer sublet from a college student as a temporary arrangement, planning to find a permanent place once her probationary period at work ended.

She had been perfectly content with her living situation until Ms. Ke Qian learned her daughter was living in a sublet. Displeased, Ms. Ke Qian arranged this meeting.

On the way, Yu Xia’s friend Chen Zhu had already devised eight rejection strategies, including absurdly plausible ones like, “Mom, I’m a lesbian. Living with a female roommate would make me fall in love with her.”

Yu Xia had no intention of coming out to her family yet, so Ke Qian’s “terrorist attack” plan was out of the question. Yu Xia glanced down at the address Ke Qian had sent her—a chain restaurant.

It was Yu Nian’s favorite place.

Though it was already evening, Yu Xia felt even more restless. Her fair cheeks flushed pink, losing some of their usual coolness.

When she arrived, Ke Qian was already waiting at the entrance.

To be honest, judging by their outfits alone, it was impossible to tell that Ke Qian and Yu Xia were mother and daughter.

Ms. Ke Qian always presented herself impeccably in public. Today, she wore black high heels, a knee-length skirt, and carried a luxury brand bag worth more than a year’s rent for a downtown apartment in Nanqiao City. A green emerald ring adorned her finger, radiating wealth and sophistication.

In contrast, Yu Xia wore a discounted white t-shirt and jeans from a fast-fashion brand. The most expensive item she owned was the tablet in her crossbody bag. Her entire outfit cost less than her mother’s skirt. With her aloof demeanor and distant gaze, the two standing together resembled a wealthy woman asking directions from an unfriendly college student.

“Why didn’t you dress up a bit?” Ke Qian sighed as soon as she saw Yu Xia. “Are you short on money?”

Yu Xia shook her head and followed the waiter’s directions deeper into the restaurant, replying as she walked, “Just got off work.”

“Be sweet when you meet her later,” Ke Qian said, gently taking Yu Xia’s hand. “I’ve heard Auntie Zheng’s daughter is very gentle and a college professor. Living with her won’t lead to any arguments.”

Yu Xia had no interest in sharing an apartment. She was only here because Ms. Ke Qian had pulled out her moral blackmail card, claiming it had been half a year since they’d seen each other and this was a chance to reconnect.

Ultimately, discussing co-living arrangements and reconnecting were both torturous. Perhaps the pain of one plus one would be less than two—either way, it was just a single cut.

“Oh, right, Niannian’s here too…” Yu Xia’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Niannian. Before Ke Qian could finish, the waiter opened the door, and Yu Xia’s eyes met those of the person at the far end of the room.

Zheng Yun’s face still held a smile, her eyes curving gently when she smiled, her light-colored pupils radiating an unyielding warmth.

But when that warmth touched Yu Xia’s face, it shattered like a mirror, breaking into jagged fragments. Through the cracks, one could faintly glimpse the molten fury churning beneath the surface.

She wore a long white cotton dress, her raven-black hair cascading down her back, her skin as pale as snow, resembling the gentle, ethereal “white moonlight” senior from an old-fashioned campus drama.

Yu Nian, seated beside her, leaned in to whisper something, casting only a fleeting glance at Yu Xia. A flicker of annoyance crossed her face before she quickly switched to an animated expression as she resumed speaking.

Ke Qian nudged Yu Xia.

“Greet her,” Ke Qian whispered.

“Hello, Auntie Zheng,” Yu Xia said after a moment’s hesitation. Zheng Yun promptly added her name, “Hello, Zheng Yun. I’m Yu Xia.”

Their gazes brushed past each other, as if the earlier tension had been a mere illusion, their emotional shifts so rapid that only they themselves noticed.

“Ke Qian, come sit here. Let the young ones sit together,” Zheng Yi called out. Ke Qian nudged Yu Xia, urging her to take a seat.

Yu Xia desperately wanted to avoid sitting with either of them. One was her twin sister, with whom she’d shared a lifelong mutual antipathy, and the other was her ex-girlfriend, who had vanished without a trace three years ago.

Every seat felt like a bed of nails, and she longed to flee immediately.

In the end, she chose the seat to Zheng Yun’s right, leaving her right side unoccupied and allowing her to distance herself slightly.

Once everyone was seated, the dishes were slowly brought out.

The room had floor-to-ceiling windows, and the evening glow slanted against the backyard wall, making her eyes blur if she stared too long.

While waiting for the dishes to arrive, Yu Nian kept pestering Zheng Yun with questions. Zheng Yun answered patiently and softly, answering each question with a gentle smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Yu Xia sat one seat away, keeping her distance and avoiding interaction with anyone in the room. She ignored Ke Qian’s glances and buried herself in her phone.

Ke Qian noticed Yu Xia’s behavior and frowned almost imperceptibly, deeply displeased by her rudeness.

“Old classmate, your daughter has such a lovely temperament,” Ke Qian said, shifting the conversation to Zheng Yun. Out of sight, out of mind, she thought, deciding to focus on getting to know Zheng Yun better.

“Our daughter has always been good-natured,” Zheng Yi replied, basking in Ke Qian’s praise. Complimenting Zheng Yun’s temperament was, in essence, praising her parenting.

“Yes, yes! Zheng Yun-jie’s temper is so wonderful. I wish we were a family!” Yu Nian’s adoration practically overflowed from her eyes.

Yu Xia reluctantly put away her phone, finding the scene grating on her nerves.

She knew she and Yu Nian weren’t close.

But she couldn’t stand the way Yu Nian looked at Zheng Yun.

Throughout her life, Yu Xia had seen that look countless times, especially when she liked something. Even if Yu Nian didn’t care for it, she would use that look when trying to snatch it away.

Zheng Yun was remarkably gentle. When overcome with emotion, she would stifle her sobs, crying softly like the most docile rabbit—even when frantic, she would only hop around in place.

Yu Xia yawned and slumped wearily onto the table.

In just half a month at her new job, she had already worked an additional half-month’s worth of overtime, even spending Sundays at the office to finish her drawings. She was eagerly awaiting the launch of the new campaign so she could finally take a few days off.

“Where does your Xiaxia work?” Zheng Yi interjected smoothly.

Ke Qian mentioned the company’s name.

“That’s a good company,” Zheng Yi said, her impression of Yu Xia improving. “Must be a demanding job, right?”

Now that the conversation had turned to Yu Xia, she had to rouse herself and respond.

“Not really,” she replied flatly.

As soon as she finished speaking, a glass of water appeared beside her hand on the table. Zheng Yun had offered it.

Zheng Yun avoided Yu Xia’s gaze as she refilled the tea cups for Zheng Yi and Ke Qian.

“Zheng Yun-jiejie, don’t mind her,” Yu Nian huffed. “She has no manners at all. I could go to Fengyin too, but Mom won’t let me.”

Yu Xia didn’t retort to Yu Nian’s words, ignoring the tea beside her just as she had ignored Zheng Yun since entering the room.

“You’re truly amazing,” Zheng Yun praised.

Yu Nian chirped like a magpie, flitting around Zheng Yun and chattering endlessly.

Yu Xia suddenly felt like laughing.

Having been entangled with Zheng Yun for two months, their intimacy was undeniable. She knew all too well the insincerity behind Zheng Yun’s smiles—her soft tone masking empty words.

The real Zheng Yun, perhaps, few had ever seen.

Certainly not Yu Nian, who sat propping her chin, idly wondering: If Yu Nian knew how often her beloved “Zheng Yun-jie” had spoken ill of her behind her back, would she still call her “Zheng Yun-jie” with such sweetness?

Zheng Yi dismissed Yu Nian’s words as a joke. She had long heard that Yu Nian’s grades were mediocre and her health poor, so her parents hadn’t dared send her abroad to study. Instead, she attended a local university, which wouldn’t lead to a job at any prestigious company.

But with Ke Qian present, Zheng Yi couldn’t afford to offend her old classmate.

The more she considered it, the more she saw the merits of co-living. More friends meant more opportunities, and having a powerful friend meant gaining access to a powerful network.

As for Yu Nian’s earlier warnings about Yu Xia’s difficult personality, Zheng Yi paid them no mind. No matter how difficult Yu Xia might be, she hadn’t disrespected them by storming out.

“I heard Xiaxia graduated with honors. That’s truly remarkable,” Zheng Yi said sincerely, her voice full of genuine admiration.

“Just lucky,” Yu Xia replied, propping her chin in her hand, her thoughts drifting back to her workstation.

“Sister Zheng Yun, who do you think is more impressive, Yu Xia or me?” Yu Nian interrupted Zheng Yi, clearly annoyed that the conversation wasn’t focused on her.

Yu Xia glanced at her indifferently, her eyes like ice that never melted, utterly devoid of warmth. She looked at Zheng Yun as if she were a stranger. A faint, almost imperceptible curve tugged at the corner of her lips, a hint of mockery that would have gone unnoticed by anyone not paying close attention.

Everyone’s attention was fixed on Yu Nian, so no one noticed Yu Xia’s expression—except Zheng Yun.

Just as Yu Xia knew her well, Zheng Yun was equally familiar with every nuance of Yu Xia’s tone and expression.

She sighed softly, resisting the urge to rub her temples.

“Sister Zheng Yun?” Yu Nian pressed, growing impatient when she didn’t get the answer she wanted immediately.

“Yu Xia is slightly more impressive,” Zheng Yun replied gently, her voice as warm and soothing as ever. “Fengyin is an exceptionally prestigious studio.”

Her gaze turned to Yu Xia, sincere and earnest.

Yu Xia’s heart jolted, and she nearly lost control of her carefully maintained composure.

Forcing herself to speak, she managed a stiff “Thank you.”

Yu Nian grew even more dissatisfied, practically clinging to Zheng Yun as she whined, “Why not? I could get in too! It’s just my weak body holding me back. Otherwise, I could have gotten into a company even better than Fengyin’s!”

Yu Xia’s stomach churned with discomfort. She instinctively reached for the warm tea beside her, hoping to soothe the nausea.

This was how Yu Nian always operated. Whenever someone praised Yu Xia, she would play the victim card, claiming her poor health was the only thing holding her back. To spare her feelings, people would invariably retract their praise and compliment Yu Nian instead.

The thought of Zheng Yun doing the same was unbearable. Yu Xia stood up, meeting the gazes of the four people at the table, and said coldly, “I’m going to the restroom.”

As she turned, she caught Yu Nian’s smug expression.

Their lives had always felt like a series of competitions. Before the starting horn even sounded, the winner had already been declared.

And it would never be her.

Yu Xia left without hesitation, missing Zheng Yun’s response.

Zheng Yun smiled, speaking with the same clear, deliberate enunciation she used in class: “That’s precisely why Yu Xia is so remarkable. Her acceptance into a top university and her success in securing a position at a prestigious company are undeniable facts.”