After Becoming Roommates with My Flirty Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 24

Zheng Yun quickly changed the subject, holding up her phone. “Xiaxia, let’s go eat preserved mustard greens with braised pork belly.”

The screen showed a Cantonese restaurant, with preserved mustard greens with braised pork belly as its cover dish.

A dish featured on the cover is naturally a specialty, and the picture looked mouthwatering. Yet Yu Xia had lost her appetite.

Zheng Yun was in high spirits, and Yu Xia couldn’t bear to dampen her enthusiasm. She simply asked, “Why preserved mustard greens with braised pork belly all of a sudden?”

“You’ve been dreaming about eating it,” Zheng Yun said, heading to her room to change. “How could a girlfriend not satisfy your cravings?”

Her tone was light and playful, as if their earlier conversation had been nothing more than sleep talk, forgotten upon waking.

Yu Xia wanted to drop her chopsticks and leave, just like she would at home. But meeting Zheng Yun’s eager gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. With a soft sigh, she gently declined, “I’m already full.”

Zheng Yun paused, then exclaimed with delight, “Xiaxia, you’re even saying things like that now!”

“…Like what?”

“You know…” Zheng Yun stroked her chin, searching for the right word. “R-rated stuff.”

Zheng Yun’s playful banter had nearly dispelled the earlier gloom, leaving only a layer of stubborn grime clinging to the ground, its removal an uncertain prospect.

Zheng Yun took a screenshot of the page to save the restaurant address before looking up, her eyes sparkling. She tapped Yu Xia’s lips. “This place satisfied my cravings here,” she said, “but my stomach’s still empty.”

Yu Xia could almost feel the shape of Zheng Yun’s fingerprint on her soft lips as she pressed down. “Only children make choices,” Zheng Yun continued. “Adults want it all.”

She withdrew her hand and went to her room to change.

Yu Xia watched Zheng Yun’s retreating figure, the hem of her skirt swirling where it had blossomed beneath her legs. Her slender silhouette, framed by freshly blow-dried, voluminous hair that curved in the same arc as her skirt, resembled a white-clad maiden encountered on a journey in a medieval oil painting.

Composing herself, Yu Xia replayed their earlier exchange, her heart twisting into knots.

Zheng Yun quickly changed into a light-colored spaghetti-strap dress, her lips slightly swollen. She applied lipstick to conceal the aftermath of their passionate encounter, though a lingering trace of desire still lingered in her peach-blossom eyes. The dusty rose lipstick muted her flushed lips, and when her eyelids drooped, they revealed a subtle allure even Zheng Yun herself seemed unaware of.

Yu Xia pursed her lips and silently took her hand.

She had originally planned to eat alone, but as she came downstairs, she ran into the newly washed and dressed couple, Xiao Qi and Xiao Jiu. Xiao Jiu, now fully awake, grinned and leaned in. “Just finished eating and drinking? Where are you off to now?”

“To eat and drink my fill,” Yu Xia replied.

“Quite the appetite you have,” Xiao Jiu teased. “Take us with you!”

“You want to join a couple’s date?” Xiao Qi gently patted Xiao Jiu’s head. “Yu Xia’s about to dig a hole and bury you.”

Yu Xia hadn’t actually considered that.

Her mind had been in turmoil, but Xiao Jiu’s antics had calmed her down, distracting her from the earlier incident.

“We’re going for braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens,” Zheng Yun chimed in. “Xiaxia’s been craving it so much she’s even talking about it in her sleep. You guys coming?”

And so, the four of them set off for dinner amidst laughter and chatter.

The sky was now completely dark, the daytime heat having dissipated considerably. Streetlights illuminated the concrete paths beneath the trees, where pedestrians strolled in droves. Cicadas buzzed in rhythmic waves, competing with the hawkers’ loudspeakers from the nearby night market and the thumping beats of square dance music—a typical night in this small town.

The restaurant Zheng Yun had chosen wasn’t far from Chuntianli. She had made a reservation in advance, and the four of them strolled leisurely over.

A gentle evening breeze brushed against her cheeks on this midsummer night. Families strolled through the streets after dinner, their voices rising and falling in lively chatter about everyday matters.

In a moment of absentmindedness, Yu Xia suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of happiness—a feeling she had never experienced even at home.

Evening walks were a familiar routine from her childhood. The four of them would hold hands and stroll through the park outside their residential complex, with little Yu Xia and her even younger sister, Yu Nian.

Perhaps her parents were overly concerned about Yu Nian’s health, or perhaps the young parents, drained by work, struggled to care for two children. Or perhaps they simply took Yu Xia for granted.

She was always the one overlooked.

Worried that Yu Nian might become depressed after multiple hospitalizations, her parents constantly urged Yu Xia to introduce Yu Nian to her friends and encourage them to play together. Anxious that Yu Nian would feel sad seeing Yu Xia’s healthy body, they even restricted her from excessive exercise.

Yu Nian thrived under the family’s care, which eased her suffering from illness, and the warmth of her friends filled her with anticipation for each hospital discharge.

Meanwhile, Yu Xia gradually retreated into silence, day after day, slowly growing into an unlikable version of herself.

“Yu Xia!” Xiao Jiu reached past Zheng Yun and patted her shoulder, jolting Yu Xia out of her reverie.

“Hmm?”

“What get-rich-quick scheme are you daydreaming about?” Xiao Jiu pouted, her eyebrows dancing with mischief. “You’re so lost in thought you’re not even listening to your girlfriend.”

Yu Xia pressed her lips together, glancing apologetically at Zheng Yun beside her. She was about to apologize when Zheng Yun cut her off.

“I can make decisions for her,” Zheng Yun said. “My consent is all that matters.”

She was referring to an event happening next door in mid-August, asking if they wanted to go out together.

“Ew, ‘I can make decisions for her’?” Xiao Jiu mocked in a sarcastic tone. “Hey, remember when you first moved in and I asked how long you’d be staying? You said you had to call your mom to ask! I was thinking, ‘How can someone so grown-up not even make their own decisions?'”

“Watch the road,” Xiao Qi said, tugging Xiao Jiu back from the curb with a playful flick of her wrist. A smile tugged at the corner of Xiao Qi’s lips.

Now it was Yu Xia’s turn to be surprised.

“It’s just polite to check with family,” Zheng Yun said, still smiling. “To avoid them calling all the time asking where I am.”

Yu Xia held her hand. Zheng Yun’s fingers tightened slightly, squeezing Yu Xia’s hand until it ached. Yu Xia remained silent, catching a glimpse of Zheng Yun’s lips out of the corner of her eye.

Another perfect, fake smile.

Xiao Jiu’s attention was quickly diverted by other things. By the time they crossed the street and reached the restaurant entrance, she already had a handful of fried snacks from a street vendor.

Having just recovered from her illness, she occasionally coughed. Xiao Qi kept a close eye on her, warning her not to eat too much, and the two bickered like elementary schoolers.

Zheng Yun and Yu Xia chatted idly, both clearly distracted. Zheng Yun was the first to snap out of it, the aroma of food wafting from the restaurant. She tilted her head, smiling slightly, and asked, “Still hungry for anything else?”

Even though it was past 8 PM, well past the typical dinner hour, only a few tables were empty. A server led them to the innermost seats. As times had changed and technology advanced, Zheng Yun ordered braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens on her phone, then asked Xiao Qi and Xiao Jiu about their preferences, adding a few more dishes.

“Why Cantonese food in Yuncheng?” Xiao Jiu asked, skillfully rinsing the bowls and plates with tea. “It’s probably not even authentic.”

“Xiaxia might be homesick,” Zheng Yun replied, rinsing Yu Xia’s dishes for her. “She’s even craving it in her dreams.”

Yu Xia wasn’t sure whether to deny it or go along with Zheng Yun’s words.

“Homesick already after just a few days out?” Xiao Jiu scoffed. “Must be living the dream life.”

Yu Xia couldn’t even get a word in, unable to explain.

“…No,” she mumbled, denying it vaguely. “I just suddenly remembered… preserved mustard greens with braised pork belly.”

She suddenly realized that Zheng Yun might be the same way.

Revealing one’s past was even more private than exposing one’s naked body. Knowing someone’s vulnerabilities meant grasping their deepest, most hidden weaknesses. No one willingly surrenders their soft spots easily.

“I haven’t been home in two years,” Xiao Jiu suddenly sighed. “I cried so hard when I first left, but after being away for so long, I don’t miss home at all anymore.”

“That’s good,” Xiao Qi said, wearing gloves as she peeled boiled shrimp for Xiao Jiu. “Eat up.”

“Not even for the New Year?” Zheng Yun asked.

“I’ll go home for the New Year, to my house,” Xiao Qi sighed. “My mom dotes on my sister. When I go home for the holidays, I’m just a guest, while she’s the beloved daughter.”

“So you only go home once a year too?” Zheng Yun asked curiously. “Don’t your family pressure you to come back more often?”

“No pressure. My parents are busy traveling the world every day, only spending about a month at home each year. They’d rather I didn’t come back at all, to avoid Grandma nagging them about meals,” Xiao Qi said irritably.

“Doesn’t your grandmother miss you?” Zheng Yun asked, her tone as calm as usual.

“I have a younger sister,” Xiao Qi replied.

Yu Xia had been eating with her head down, but she suddenly looked up at these words.

“Her sister is incredibly smart,” Xiao Jiu praised generously. “She’s brilliant.”

“My sister is five years younger than me, but she skipped grades and already graduated from university,” Xiao Qi said slowly, watching Xiao Jiu eat the shrimp in her bowl. “She’s the family’s chosen successor. My grandmother started grooming her the moment she could speak.”

“Training a successor is exhausting,” Xiao Qi said with a smile. “It’s already a miracle she finds time to call me.”

“Does your family only care about your sister?” Yu Xia asked, pushing the vegetables around in her bowl.

“Academically, yes,” Xiao Qi explained. “My parents are unreliable, and my grades were average. The family’s only expectation for me was to get into university—or not, if it came to that.”

“Not bad, though. We both ended up at the same university,” Xiao Jiu interjected.

“What about other things?” Yu Xia asked casually.

“Pretty much the same—food, clothes, everything,” Xiao Qi replied after a moment’s thought.

“Doesn’t your family expect you to defer to your sister?”

“Why would they?” Xiao Qi chuckled. “It’s not like we’re short on resources.”

“…Then your sister never tries to take your things?”

“My sister is so busy she barely touches the ground,” Xiao Qi exaggerated. “Even on vacation, she’s networking with people in her circle to expand her connections. Since she was little, she’s only ever snatched one thing from me, and she still considers it a dark stain on her history.”

“What was it?” Xiao Jiu asked, leaning forward curiously. She’d never heard this story before.

“A Barbie doll bag. She loved it when she was three, but that model had been discontinued, so you couldn’t buy a new one. Mom said she could trade something with me for it, if I agreed.”

“What did she trade?” Xiao Jiu raised an eyebrow, forgetting about her food.

“A pure gold mooncake that the family relatives gave her for her third birthday,” Xiao Qi said, barely suppressing a laugh. “She thought it wasn’t as pretty as the Barbie doll bag.”

“That’s a terrible deal!” Xiao Jiu clicked her tongue.

“Exactly! The future businesswoman still grinds her teeth in regret over that terrible bargain she made at three years old,” Xiao Qi said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “She swore she’d never make another deal with me again.”

Thanks to Xiao Jiu’s lively presence, Zheng Yun and Yu Xia managed to finish their meal despite their private worries. Yu Xia excused herself to the restroom, intending to settle the bill for the dinner she’d caused. But when she asked, she learned that Zheng Yun had already paid through her phone.

Standing at the front desk, she couldn’t see Zheng Yun and her companions seated at the innermost table. After asking for a pack of tissues, she turned back to the dining table.

They had nearly finished eating. The three were chatting casually, waiting for Yu Xia to return so they could leave together. Zheng Yun rested her chin in her hand, a gentle smile playing on her lips, her demeanor warm and harmless. Though her gaze was fixed on the chattering Xiao Qi and Xiao Jiu, her eyes seemed to drift into a distant reverie.

Yu Xia sensed that something was amiss.

As she approached, the three rose simultaneously and headed for the exit. “Let’s go for a walk by the river,” they suggested.

The streetlights along the riverbank were dim, barely illuminating passersby. As they strolled, the crowds thinned, and soon Xiao Qi and Xiao Jiu had vanished, leaving only the two of them alone.

The streetlights stretched their shadows long and slender. Huddled together, they walked slowly, as if by prolonging their pace, the path might never end.

“Xiaxia,” Zheng Yun suddenly spoke, “let’s have a race.”

“What kind of race?” Yu Xia asked.

“The end of this path is about a hundred meters away. Let’s see who reaches the finish line first. If you win, the loser has to grant the winner one request. Deal?” Zheng Yun asked.

“Okay,” Yu Xia agreed without hesitation.

Zheng Yun always took the time to enrich her life, making it more vibrant and beautiful. Yu Xia found it impossible to refuse her.

“Xiaxia, don’t lose! I might make a very demanding request,” Zheng Yun encouraged her. “I’ll count down, and then we start!”

“3!”

“2!”

“1!”

Before Yu Xia could even fully grasp what kind of demanding request Zheng Yun might make, the countdown was over. The moment the final second echoed, she sprinted toward the finish line with almost superhuman speed.

She had run countless times before—for school-required fitness tests, for 50-meter and 800-meter trials, and for sports meets where the physical education committee had repeatedly begged her to participate. Most of the time, she had simply jogged through the motions.

But this time, she was giving it her all.

The wind roared past her ears, deafening her to the surrounding sounds. A few green leaves lay scattered on the ground, barely illuminated by the streetlights. As her shadow raced past, they swirled up briefly before lazily settling back down.

With her long legs, running was her forte. She was confident she could beat Zheng Yun.

Reaching the end of the bend, she braked sharply and saw Zheng Yun jogging slowly behind her.

A radiant smile lit Zheng Yun’s face as she chased after her, her footsteps closing in. Without slowing down, she ran straight into Yu Xia, who instinctively opened her arms to catch her. The force of the impact sent Yu Xia stumbling back two steps before she managed to stop.

“Is this how you’re going to make your request?” Zheng Yun’s eyes sparkled under the streetlight, brimming with affection, never blinking.

“I could have won even without your help,” Yu Xia said, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice.

She had given her all, only to discover that Zheng Yun had already predetermined her victory.

“I know, but…” Zheng Yun paused, “you’re just so incredibly cute. So cute that I wanted to steal a few more glances, which made me miss the starting signal.”

She stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Yu Xia’s neck, and shared a slightly breathless kiss. The midsummer night was lush and romantic, like a dream. Zheng Yun had reapplied her lipstick, and Yu Xia could taste its sweetness—like her burgeoning feelings.

“Now, can you tell me what your request is?” Zheng Yun cradled Yu Xia’s face reverently, her long, dark hair cascading down her back like a succubus emerging from the night.

Her request was—

While waiting for Zheng Yun to arrive, Yu Xia had considered many requests. Those desires that her parents had always dismissed—the longings she yearned to have heard.

The things she wanted to eat, the clothes she wanted to wear, the hobbies she wanted to pursue—all these were now relegated to memories.

In the vast, starry night of their small town, amidst the glow of countless windows, the chirping of cicadas, the croaking of frogs, and the rustling of leaves—a midsummer night’s dream under the watchful gaze of the stars—Yu Xia spoke softly but firmly:

“I want to be with you forever.”