After Becoming Roommates with My Flirty Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 2

Yu Xia dry-heaved several times at the sink, but nothing came up.

It belatedly occurred to her that she hadn’t eaten lunch, having only nibbled on some crackers to stave off hunger. It was no wonder her stomach was protesting now.

The cold, white light accentuated her pale skin, making it appear almost translucent with a hint of purple. In the mirror, she remained strikingly beautiful, like the frigid rain on an early spring night—icy and piercing, her lips pressed into a thin line, the corners of her eyes tilting slightly upward. She possessed a distinctly cold demeanor, far from the endearing, approachable look favored by elders.

Yu Xia and Yu Nian looked nothing alike. Biologically, they were fraternal twins. Yu Nian resembled their father more, with a round face, almond-shaped eyes, and faint dimples when she smiled.

Throughout their lives, people had constantly compared them, and Yu Xia had always received the negative evaluations. After hearing it so many times, she had grown indifferent.

If Zheng Yun hadn’t been sitting next to Yu Nian, she would have dismissed the conversation as usual, letting it wash over her.

The faucet gurgled as water swirled around the white porcelain sink before rushing down the drain. Yu Xia stared at the water, her hand pressed against her stomach, lips pursed. After a moment, she turned off the faucet, judged that enough time had passed, and turned to rejoin the others.

When she pushed the door open, the earlier conversation had ended. The four were now chatting and laughing animatedly. Only Zheng Yi called out to her as she entered. Yu Xia nodded in acknowledgment and returned to her seat.

Yu Nian’s incessant chatter filled Yu Xia’s ears. One moment she was showing Zheng Yun photos of her newly purchased dress on her phone, asking if it looked good, and the next she was asking Zheng Yun what TV dramas she liked to watch.

For every question, Yu Xia could answer it in her mind.

She maintained a flawless facade, occasionally taking a bite of food while suppressing the discomfort in her stomach. She listened silently as Zheng Yun patiently answered each of Yu Nian’s questions.

Zheng Yun was an excellent listener, a fact Yu Xia had known long before Yu Nian.

Just now, Zheng Yun was praising Yu Nian’s new dress, complimenting her taste and saying she would look radiant wearing it.

Yu Xia couldn’t help but subtly turn her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zheng Yun lean in to look at Yu Nian’s phone screen, her hair brushing against her cheek and swaying gently with the movement.

Yu Xia clicked her tongue softly, feeling her stomach churn even more. She wanted to leave early.

The sound was barely audible amidst the laughter and chatter of the four friends, so faint that even Zheng Yun, sitting closest to her, didn’t seem to notice.

“Oh, Xiaxia, what do you think about the co-living arrangement?” Zheng Yi finally remembered the purpose of their gathering after they had nearly exhausted all the gossip about their classmates.

Yu Xia’s thoughts swirled like water in a basin, circling around and around before finally finding an outlet.

She forced a smile, ready to decline.

Seeing Zheng Yun today was unexpected. Three years ago, Zheng Yun had left without a word, and Yu Xia had no intention of rekindling their past connection, wanting nothing to do with her.

“Why don’t you ask Zheng Yun-jie’s opinion first?” Yu Nian retorted, looking up with a frown. “Who would want to live with Yu Xia? She’s so boring.”

She turned to Zheng Yi and Ke Qian, her eyes sparkling. “How about I move in with Zheng Yun-jie instead? It’s the same thing, right?”

Ke Qian’s brow furrowed instantly.

Yu Xia wasn’t worried about Ke Qian agreeing to Yu Nian’s request. Yu Nian’s delicate health meant they treated her like a porcelain doll, indulging her every whim except for leaving home.

Just as Ke Qian was about to scold Yu Nian, Zheng Yun spoke up.

“I’d be happy to,” she said, her eyes curving into a smile as she rested her chin on her slender wrist. “I think Yu Xia must be a very interesting person.”

Yu Nian pouted, dismissing her with a wave of her hand. “Interesting? She barely said a word since she got here. Zheng Yun-jie, you shouldn’t assume everyone is so wonderful.”

Noticing Ke Qian’s darkening expression, Yu Nian quickly changed the subject, pushing the wooden lazy Susan to bring her favorite dishes closer to Zheng Yun. “Zheng Yun-jie, eat up. Let’s not talk about this anymore.”

Yu Xia noticed that Yu Nian seemed reluctant to have her share an apartment with Zheng Yun, perhaps because she didn’t want her “favorite toy” falling into Yu Xia’s hands, just like before.

“Xiaxia, what do you think? If it works for you, come sign the lease in a couple of days when you’re free,” Zheng Yi said, ignoring Yu Nian’s protests. She was eager to finalize the arrangement.

Yu Nian continued talking to Zheng Yun, confident that Yu Xia would refuse. Even though they rarely communicated, she knew Yu Xia was fiercely independent and disliked sharing living spaces.

Yu Xia paused for two seconds, then looked up, offering Zheng Yi a faint smile. “It sounds good. I have tomorrow off, so I can sign the lease then.”

Yu Nian’s head snapped up in disbelief. She stammered, struggling to find her words. “But… you hate living with people!”

Yu Xia nodded calmly.

“Then why are you agreeing?” Yu Nian frowned. “What are you trying to do?”

The atmosphere grew tense. Ke Qian, growing impatient, interrupted Yu Nian’s interrogation. “Alright, Niannian, if you want to hang out with Zheng Yun, just visit her more often. Why are you being so harsh with your sister?”

Yu Nian rarely faced such reprimands. She knew her reaction was excessive, but an inexplicable frustration made her unusually irritable.

She mumbled her acknowledgment.

While pouring water, Zheng Yun glanced at Yu Xia. Yu Xia’s face was pale, her thin upper lip pressed into a tight line.

Still looks quite fierce, Zheng Yun thought.

She pushed the freshly poured warm water toward Yu Xia and continued smoothly, “Perfect timing! I’m free tomorrow too. Pick a time to come see the place. If you like it, we can sign the contract right away. Does that work for you?”

Yu Xia stared at Zheng Yun’s face, the cramping pain making her thoughts slightly scattered. Zheng Yun’s exquisite features hadn’t changed at all in the past three years—no trace of time’s passage, no hint of their past connection.

Zheng Yun was so composed that Yu Xia almost doubted she had mistaken her for someone else. Or perhaps those months together had been nothing more than a fleeting dream.

Would any normal person want to live under the same roof as their ex?

She couldn’t understand Zheng Yun’s eagerness to live together and began to question whether she had made the right decision.

“Zheng Yun-jie is asking you something,” Yu Nian said impatiently, noticing Yu Xia’s prolonged silence.

“Yes, I can come by at three in the afternoon,” Yu Xia replied.

Halfway through the meal, Yu Xia’s team leader called, urgently requesting a graphic. Yu Xia, already wanting to leave, agreed, apologized, and left immediately.

When Yu Xia went to pay the bill, the receptionist told her it had already been settled.

“That young lady over there paid it,” the receptionist said, gesturing toward Zheng Yun, who was approaching from the hallway.

Yu Xia glanced at her and put away her phone.

It wasn’t surprising that Zheng Yun had paid. She was always considerate of others’ feelings.

“My mom asked me to see you off and add you on WeChat. Is that okay?” Zheng Yun said, weaving past a waiter carrying dishes and hurrying to Yu Xia’s side, as if afraid she might slip away.

“My mom made me come too,” Yu Nian grumbled, clearly reluctant. “You’re not a kid. Why do you need someone to see you off? It’s so hot outside.”

Yu Xia shot her a sidelong glance. “You can go back now.”

“No way!” Yu Nian retorted, glaring back. “I want to add Zheng Yun-jie on WeChat too.”

Zheng Yun opened her WeChat QR code. “Scan me?”

Yu Xia scanned first.

Actually, Yu Xia already had Zheng Yun’s WeChat, but she assumed it was no longer in use. After all, she had sent so many messages that vanished without a reply. Even Zheng Yun, with her thick skin, wouldn’t be brazen enough to ask her to scan a QR code if they were already connected.

As expected, a new WeChat account popped up.

She pressed the “Add Friend” button and subconsciously tapped on the profile picture to take a closer look.

The WeChat ID was unfamiliar, but the profile picture was one she recognized.

Among all the things they shared, Zheng Yun had only taken one painting.

The painting depicted a slender woman in a white dress, her long hair dancing in the breeze beneath a vast expanse of orange-yellow clouds.

“Zheng Yun-jie, did you paint this yourself?”

“No, it was painted by someone… someone I really liked,” Zheng Yun replied, her voice softening with a hint of a smile.

Yu Xia stared down at her phone as the friend request confirmation popped up, feeling a sense of absurdity.

In the past, when Zheng Yun spoke like this to others, Yu Xia would suppress her laughter and listen to Zheng Yun’s veiled declarations of affection.

But what did it mean now that Zheng Yun was saying such things right in front of her? Was she trying to rekindle their old flame?

“Why does this painting style look so familiar?” Yu Nian muttered.

“Hmph,” Yu Xia scoffed coldly.

Yu Nian, mistaking the scoff as directed at her, bristled like a cornered cat. “What’s that supposed to mean, Yu Xia?”

“If you’re feeling unwell, you should go home early. It’ll be a hassle if you get heatstroke later,” Yu Xia said, putting away her phone and turning to leave.

“This painting looks just like something you’d draw,” Yu Nian suddenly realized. “Do you know Zheng Yun?”

“No,” Yu Xia replied without hesitation. “Any classically trained artist could paint in this style.”

Yu Nian had only mentioned it casually. She had been chatting with Zheng Yun for a while before Yu Xia arrived. Zheng Yun’s university was in the north, while Yu Xia’s was in the south. Zheng Yun had only moved to Nanqiao City after graduating, making it impossible for them to have known each other.

Having successfully added Zheng Yun as a friend, Yu Nian eagerly pulled her away.

“Let’s go, Zheng Yun! She can get a taxi herself.”

Zheng Yun, her arm held by Yu Nian, glanced back at Yu Xia.

Tall and straight-backed, Yu Xia moved against the crowd, like a lone ice cube melting in a wine glass.

“By the way, Zheng Yun, can I come visit you sometime?” Yu Nian asked.

Zheng Yun looked away.

“I can’t just say yes. You’ll need to ask your sister first,” Zheng Yun replied with a smile. “Most roommates don’t allow guests.”

Yu Nian dismissed the remark. She always got what she wanted, one way or another.

Half an hour after Yu Xia returned to the office, a delivery driver called to say her order had arrived.

Puzzled, she took the elevator down to retrieve it. There were two separate packages.

One contained several common stomach medications, while the other held a loaf of bread.

As she rode the elevator back up, she realized it must be Zheng Yun.

Fengyin’s address was easy to find online, and her phone number was listed on her WeChat profile. The bread was her favorite kind, and even the medication was the brand she usually took.

Zheng Yun knew her so well that she could identify who had placed the order without even needing to check.

After returning to her desk, Yu Xia set the items aside and immediately messaged Zheng Yun.

Yu Xia: I got the stuff. You don’t need to do this again—we have everything at the office.

Zheng Yun: Keep the medicine handy. Do you still like that bread, or have your tastes changed?

Yu Xia leaned back in her chair, the computer screen glowing with clean, crisp lines. It was a new card illustration for the company’s yuri-themed game, a project that had fallen into her lap when the original artist fell ill. This assignment was practically a tacit confirmation of her permanent employment.

After taking the medicine at the office, her stomach had calmed down, leaving only a faint ache—whether phantom pain or genuine discomfort, she couldn’t tell.

The black-and-white draft seemed to leap from the screen, its lines flowing, shattering, and reforming like a dream. The illusion persisted until a colleague walked past behind her, jolting her awake.

Yu Xia roused the darkened screen and typed coldly:

Yu Xia: I don’t need it now.