After Becoming Roommates with My Flirty Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 27

As the moon took over, its silvery light bathed the earth.

The living room remained dark, save for the heart-shaped glow cast by electronic candles in the corner. A flower wall adorned the space, and Zheng Yun stood nearby, holding a bouquet, ready to hand it to Xiao Qi at any moment.

Xiao Qi slowly led Xiao Jiu, whose eyes were closed, into the room. Normally, Xiao Jiu was lively and carefree, sometimes even falling asleep at the front desk after playing hard, waking up with her hair in a tangled mess and not caring in the slightest.

Seeing her suddenly dressed in such elaborate finery, Yu Xia felt a pang of unfamiliarity.

The intricate layers of the purple tulle gown shimmered with scattered diamonds, reflecting light like a flowing galaxy. Xiao Jiu, wearing small heels, had her hair curled and her eyelids dusted with pearlescent powder. With her eyes still closed, she glided forward like a princess from a fairy tale.

Xiao Qi guided Xiao Jiu into the heart-shaped circle, accepted the bouquet from Zheng Yun, and the moment Xiao Jiu opened her eyes, presented her with a massive bouquet of roses.

“Happy birthday,” Xiao Qi said, holding out the roses.

Though flowers and gifts had been a tradition every year, Xiao Qi had never skimped on the ritualistic aspects of their celebrations. Yet this year, with two friends by her side, she found herself unexpectedly moved.

Xiao Jiu wanted to rub her eyes, but as she raised her hand, she remembered her elaborate makeup—a complex combination of double eyelid tape, false eyelashes, colored contacts, eyeshadow, and highlighter—and forced herself to resist.

Yu Xia stood a few steps away, facing them. Xiao Qi had entrusted her with filming, saying she trusted her aesthetic sense. Yu Xia had indeed found the perfect angle, capturing both of them clearly in the frame.

They didn’t stand for long. Xiao Jiu’s beautiful high heels were starting to hurt her feet. Xiao Qi lit the candles and told Xiao Jiu to sit down and prepare to make her wish.

Yu Xia remained outside, adjusting the camera angle. Zheng Yun consciously moved further away, leaving the center of the frame to the two girls.

Xiao Jiu clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and suddenly remembered something. She stood up, gathered her skirt, and awkwardly hurried over to Yu Xia in her high heels, nearly twisting her ankle. Yu Xia steadied her, and Xiao Jiu instinctively grabbed Yu Xia’s wrist.

“What are you doing here all alone?” Xiao Jiu asked, blinking her bright, sparkling eyes.

“Filming. The lighting is best here,” Yu Xia replied earnestly, still processing the situation.

“Stop filming! I’m about to make my wish. Come join us!” Xiao Jiu tugged Yu Xia forward.

Yu Xia followed her, dazed.

Zheng Yun was also pulled over, and the four of them gathered around the cake. The electronic candles flickered out, leaving the room illuminated only by the soft glow of the real candles.

Yu Xia asked, “Isn’t it a bit of a shame not to record this?”

Such a beautiful memory deserved to be captured. How much would they regret it later when they looked back?

“Not at all,” Xiao Jiu replied, lighting three more candles. “Recording with a tripod would be awkward without you here. That would be a real shame.”

Xiao Qi had already set up the tripod and added another camera angle. When he returned, he praised Xiao Jiu for her thoughtfulness.

“It’s your birthday,” Yu Xia said, her eyes lowered as she watched the candle flames dance.

“It’s all of you celebrating my birthday together! That’s why none of us can be missing!” Xiao Jiu pulled out her phone from behind her back. “Let’s take some pictures!”

Zheng Yun leaned in, her cheek pressed against Xiao Jiu’s. The four of them squeezed together, Xiao Jiu beaming, Zheng Yun wearing her perfect smile, Xiao Qi gazing at Xiao Jiu’s profile with a fond smile. Only Yu Xia’s lips remained a straight line, making it impossible to tell if she was smiling or not.

“Xiaxia,” Zheng Yun called out.

“Hmm?” Yu Xia tilted her head, confused.

“3!” Zheng Yun began the countdown.

“2!” Xiao Qi and Xiao Jiu joined in.

“1!” Yu Xia hesitantly followed suit.

“Eggplant!” The voices blended together as the live feed captured the four women’s vivid expressions.

Yu Xia rarely smiled, but when she did, the corners of her lips curved upward, revealing a genuine warmth. Her smile was like melting ice and snow, a refreshing blend of coldness and nascent warmth.

Xiao Jiu meticulously reviewed the photos before saving them with satisfaction. “See? You look so much better when you smile,” she said to Yu Xia.

Zheng Yun, sitting beside Yu Xia, couldn’t easily see Xiao Jiu’s photos. Curious, she leaned closer, burying herself in Yu Xia’s embrace. Yu Xia wrapped her arm around Zheng Yun’s waist, allowing her to lean in comfortably.

“What do you think? Pretty, right?” Xiao Jiu asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Beautiful,” Zheng Yun replied, her eyes crinkling with a smile. She turned to Yu Xia. “Don’t you think so?”

“Beautiful,” Yu Xia agreed, her cheeks suddenly flushing. She rarely complimented her own appearance, feeling a little embarrassed.

Zheng Yun straightened up and leaned close to Yu Xia’s ear, whispering playfully, “My Xiaxia is so beautiful.”

Yu Xia’s already flushed cheeks burned even hotter, the blush spreading to her earlobes. She glanced nervously at Xiao Jiu, relieved she hadn’t heard. The dim candlelight helped conceal her embarrassment; only Zheng Yun noticed.

Xiao Jiu was asking Xiao Qi if she looked pretty when Zheng Yun’s fingers quietly scratched Yu Xia’s palm, like a kitten’s gentle paw. Yu Xia’s throat tickled; she swallowed and glanced sideways at Zheng Yun, who caught her signal and blinked softly, ceasing her fidgeting. Their fingers intertwined.

Xiao Qi and Xiao Jiu agreed that Xiao Jiu looked as beautiful as a celestial being descended to earth and began preparing for the wish-making and candle-blowing ceremony. With one hand held captive, Yu Xia used her free hand to grab her camera, ready to capture the moment up close.

“Even for just a little while, you have to hold hands?” Xiao Jiu pouted, extending her hand toward Yu Xia. “Give me the camera.”

Assuming Xiao Jiu wanted to review the earlier footage, Yu Xia handed it over without question.

Xiao Jiu scrolled through Yu Xia’s photos, beaming with satisfaction. With a grand gesture, she declared, “Now, you can all make your wishes!”

Yu Xia was puzzled.

Why is the birthday girl telling us to make wishes instead of making her own?

“Aren’t you going to make a wish?” Zheng Yun asked, equally perplexed.

“All my birthday wishes have already come true,” Xiao Jiu replied, her almond-shaped eyes widening. The pearlescent blush on her cheeks shimmered under the candlelight, outshining even the diamond tiara atop her head. “But I can’t waste my three annual wishes, so I’m giving them to you! These are my birthday wishes, so they’re guaranteed to come true. Make them count!”

“Let’s start with my baby!” Xiao Jiu gently removed the diamond crown from her head and placed it on Xiao Qi’s.

“You’re willing to let me wear such an expensive crown?” Xiao Qi teased, cupping her face.

“It’s mine now,” Xiao Jiu pouted, adjusting the crown’s position. “My precious things are meant to be shared.”

Xiao Qi, with her ruthless businesswoman’s face, looked like an empress leading her troops into battle, yet the tenderness in her eyes remained unwavering. After adjusting the crown to her satisfaction, Xiao Jiu patted Xiao Qi’s shoulder and urged, “Make a wish quickly!”

“My wish is for all your wishes to come true,” Xiao Qi said, cupping her face as she watched Xiao Jiu’s movements. “That way, Yu Xia and Zheng Yun’s wishes have double the chance of being granted.”

Xiao Jiu covered her ears, protesting, “Wishes lose their power when spoken aloud! And are you saying my wishes can’t come true?! Make another one!”

Under Xiao Jiu’s glare, Xiao Qi smiled, clasped her hands together, and made a new wish.

At that moment, Yu Xia realized she could occasionally read people’s hearts. For instance, the look Xiao Qi gave Xiao Jiu before closing her eyes made it easy to guess the unspoken wish.

Xiao Jiu gazed contentedly at the photos on her camera, savoring her girlfriend’s beauty. She gestured for Xiao Qi to hand the crown to Zheng Yun.

Their clasped hands parted as Zheng Yun reached for the crown.

The crown was worth at least seven figures, and Zheng Yun was so nervous taking it that she feared her hands might tremble and drop the delicate piece.

Xiao Jiu remained silent, beckoning Yu Xia closer. Zheng Yun closed her eyes, her long lashes casting shadows beneath them. Her flawless skin held up perfectly under the camera’s scrutiny, an otherworldly beauty.

Xiao Jiu mouthed to Zheng Yun: Your wife is so beautiful.

Yu Xia struggled to suppress her smile, nodding with feigned composure.

Zheng Yun quickly finished making her wish. The moment she opened her eyes, her gaze instantly shifted to Yu Xia, prompting knowing laughter from Xiao Jiu and Xiao Qi.

Zheng Yun remained unfazed. She gently removed the crown from her head, and Yu Xia lowered her head, allowing Zheng Yun to adjust her hair.

As the heavy crown settled on Yu Xia’s head, her heart felt lighter.

This crown was far grander than the one she had never possessed. Though it wasn’t hers, its owner was willing to share this moment of joy with all those she cherished, including Yu Xia.

Xiao Jiu was just a friend she’d known for a month.

She clasped her hands together and greedily made another wish:

May Zheng Yun and I be together forever.

May the four of us always remain the best of friends.

When she opened her eyes, all three were watching her, their gazes burning with anticipation. Even though she wasn’t good at reading minds and often missed subtle hints, she understood the undisguised hope in their eyes:

They wished for her wish to come true.

It wasn’t her birthday, yet she truly experienced the joy of being the birthday girl.

The crown was returned to the birthday girl’s head. Xiao Qi smoothed her stray hairs, and Xiao Jiu clapped her hands, calling out:

“Time to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and blow out the candles! I’ll count down, then we all blow together!”

The four clapped in rhythm as they sang the entire birthday song. At Xiao Jiu’s countdown, they prepared to blow out the candles.

“3!”

“2!”

“1!”

As the last note faded, the four simultaneously blew out the candles, plunging the room into darkness. Xiao Jiu shouted, “Let’s be best friends forever!”

Xiao Qi flipped the master switch for the electronic candles, instantly illuminating half the room. Xiao Jiu squinted and grinned as she began unwrapping her gifts.

Knowing what Xiao Qi usually gave her each year, she didn’t open Xiao Qi’s present first. Instead, she asked Yu Xia and Zheng Yun what they had brought.

Xiao Qi sorted through the pile of gifts, found the two that weren’t hers, and handed them to Xiao Jiu.

“Yu Xia definitely gave me a painting,” Xiao Jiu declared confidently. “Let me see!”

She tore through the wrapping in a flash, untied the silk ribbon binding the scroll, and carefully unfurled it.

Yu Xia, sitting beside her, could clearly see the expression on her face shift from anticipation to delight. “Yu Xia, you never told me you painted so beautifully!” she exclaimed.

Xiao Jiu was truly skilled at providing emotional validation, quickly soothing Yu Xia’s lingering anxieties.

“Do you have a digital version, or should I take a photo later? I want to use this as my profile picture! A ready-made couple’s profile picture!” Xiao Jiu scrutinized the painting, but the dim light made it hard to see clearly. She smacked her lips and added another compliment, “Getting a free painting like this feels like I just made ten thousand yuan!”

Yu Xia pointed out the obvious: “I’m not that expensive.”

“You’re not now, but you definitely will be later,” Xiao Jiu chuckled. “My judgment never fails.”

After unwrapping Yu Xia’s gift, Xiao Jiu moved on to Zheng Yun’s present. The small box contained a sandalwood bracelet.

“I bought this at a temple last year,” Zheng Yun explained. “I volunteered there for a while, and the abbot blessed it for me. I never wore it for various reasons, so I’m giving it to you now. May it bring you peace and joy.”

The gift had to be thoughtful without being too extravagant. After much deliberation, Zheng Yun remembered this forgotten bracelet.

Xiao Jiu immediately put it on. “You know I’ve been praying to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas since I was a child. I love this gift!”

The wooden bracelet clashed with her luxurious dress, but Xiao Jiu didn’t care.

“Gift time is over!” the birthday girl announced dramatically.

“Aren’t you going to unwrap mine?” Xiao Qi feigned disappointment.

“Yours would take two hours to unwrap! By the time I finished, it wouldn’t even be my birthday anymore,” Xiao Jiu retorted mercilessly.

Xiao Qi wasn’t really bothered by this part of the tradition. Every year, after finishing everything else, they would sit on the sofa and slowly open their gifts.

“Time to cut the cake!”

With that, she began slicing the cake.

The sweet cream melted in Yu Xia’s mouth, but before she could swallow, Xiao Jiu had a sudden inspiration. “The mood’s right! I’ll sing a song for everyone!”

She stood up, and Xiao Qi, who was sitting beside her, quickly made room. Watching Xiao Jiu gather her skirt and dash over to stand amidst the floral decorations, phone in hand to choose background music, Xiao Qi hurriedly repositioned the tripod, adjusted the angle, and pressed record again before Xiao Jiu could select her song. She then turned on the Bluetooth speaker, and after hearing the connection confirm, retreated to her original spot, ready to enjoy Xiao Jiu’s performance.

Xiao Jiu chose an upbeat song to start, aiming to liven the atmosphere.

As the intro began, she bounced in place to the rhythm. Finding the crown too heavy yet afraid it would fall off, she took it off and handed it to Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi carefully set the crown aside, and the song transitioned into its main verse.

Xiao Jiu’s voice was sweet, perfectly suited to the sugary-sweet song she’d chosen. Her pitch was spot-on, and Xiao Qi listened with a radiant smile for half the song before suddenly turning to Yu Xia beside her. “See? I told you, you might not wear all those pretty dresses, but you absolutely have to have them!”

Yu Xia glanced over. Every item Xiao Qi had chosen for Xiao Jiu fit her perfectly, as if Xiao Qi had rehearsed Xiao Jiu wearing them in her mind a thousand times. Xiao Jiu sang with complete absorption, the stage idol bathed in the spotlight, microphone in hand, singing for every fan who loved her.

Zheng Yun praised, “A dazzling superstar.”

As the song ended, everyone erupted into enthusiastic applause. Xiao Jiu, holding her skirt, curtsied gracefully and bowed modestly, though her words were anything but humble: “I sang way too well!”

Yu Xia’s clapping faltered.

Zheng Yun laughed, turning her head to hide her face.

Not yet satisfied, Xiao Jiu sang song after song. Yu Xia finished her first slice of cake, then the second slice Xiao Qi offered. Finally, Xiao Jiu grew tired of singing and, regardless of how expensive her dress was, flopped onto the sofa.

Gazing at the ceiling, she murmured softly, “This is the happiest day I’ve had in years.”

Xiao Qi stopped the recording and turned on the lights, saying as she walked over, “So you weren’t happy when you were with me?”

Having spent so much time with Xiao Jiu, Xiao Qi had picked up a trick or two of her playful teasing.

“What do you mean?” Xiao Jiu rolled over, climbing off the sofa. Her voice was hoarse from singing, but her tone remained playful. “Being with you is wonderful, but having more friends means more happiness.”

Xiao Qi didn’t take her seriously, teasing her for a few moments. The lights flickered on, illuminating the hall with a bright glow. Xiao Jiu’s magnificent gown still shimmered brilliantly as she stood up and smoothed her skirt.

“Let’s interview you two,” Xiao Jiu said, holding up her phone. “Are you both happy today?”

Zheng Yun nodded first, elaborating on her impressions: “High guest participation, top-notch performances, delicious cake, and even extra gifts. Five-star review!”

Xiao Jiu then turned to Yu Xia.

This was indeed one of the happiest moments Yu Xia had experienced in recent years. It felt almost surreal, something she hadn’t even dared to dream of, yet it was actually happening.

Surrounded by loved ones and friends, even though she wasn’t the birthday girl, everyone seemed to want her to be happy. This unprecedented sense of fulfillment and being valued made the seed long buried in her barren heart suddenly sprout. She finally realized:

It wasn’t that she didn’t want it; it was that no one had ever given it to her before.

She suppressed her emotions, striving to have no needs within this family. That way, she wouldn’t lose her dignity when those needs went unmet.

Then, suddenly, a few people barged into her world, forcefully fulfilling her unspoken desires and then gazing at her expectantly, asking, “Are you happy?”

Yu Xia pursed her lips, met Xiao Jiu’s eager gaze, and said softly but firmly, “Yes, I’m happy.”

“Oh yeah!” Xiao Jiu beamed with satisfaction.

As if remembering something, she turned to Yu Xia and asked, “Your birthday is on the 25th, right? Do we have time to throw you a party?”

Her eyes darted between the two women, seeking their opinions.

“Of course,” Zheng Yun assured her. “I’m not in a hurry to leave.”

“I’m fine with it too,” Yu Xia nodded. She was going straight to school anyway.

Satisfied with their answers, Xiao Jiu leaned back, adjusted into a somewhat comfortable position, and locked eyes with Yu Xia, murmuring, “We’ll definitely make it a lively one for you.”

She seemed about to say something more.

Then, with astonishing speed, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Yu Xia turned to look at Zheng Yun beside her, and for the first time, Zheng Yun saw disbelief in Yu Xia’s usually calm eyes.

It was indeed hard to believe. Just moments ago, Xiao Jiu had been excitedly asking them how they felt, and now she was sleeping soundly, her breathing even.

Xiao Qi had just finished throwing away the cake boxes when she returned to find her two friends staring at her wife. A second glance revealed Xiao Jiu sleeping like a little pig.

Xiao Qi glanced helplessly at Xiao Jiu and explained to the others, “She’s exhausted today. Her energy reserves are completely drained, so she just shut down.”

Yu Xia and Zheng Yun nodded in understanding.

They helped clean up the gift boxes and the trash scattered on the coffee table.

Xiao Qi patted Xiao Jiu’s cheek. “Baby, wake up and eat your longevity noodles.”

Xiao Jiu was so drowsy she could barely focus. She’d been particularly tired today, and after a night of lively celebration, her energy was completely depleted. She struggled to open her eyes. “Can we just eat them tomorrow?”

Xiao Qi, unusually firm, replied, “I didn’t make much.”

Xiao Jiu nodded vaguely, wrapped her arms around Xiao Qi’s neck, and let herself be carried princess-style to the dining table.

As they walked upstairs hand in hand, Xiao Jiu murmured sleepily, “Baby, today I love you another year more.”

Xiao Qi watched her eat, patting her head and saying, “There are many more years to come.”

When they reached the third floor, they usually slept in Yu Xia’s room. Yu Xia instinctively headed to her own room, but Zheng Yun stood her ground and hooked her arm around Yu Xia’s. “Xiaxia, I have a gift for you too.”

Yu Xia followed Zheng Yun into her room.

“Many years ago, when I volunteered at a temple, the abbot said we were destined to meet and gave me a bracelet. Later, when I returned to the mountains, I asked for another one to give to my family,” Zheng Yun said, mentioning her family for the first time. “But we had a fight when I got back, and I never gave it to them.”

She pulled a box from her closet. Inside lay another bracelet, different from the first. “I’ve worn this one for many years. Now I’m giving it to you. May you always be safe and happy.”

She looked up, half-joking, half-earnest. “I’ve worn it for so long, it’s filled with my karma and fate. If we ever get separated, maybe the Buddha will guide you back to me.”

Yu Xia was a staunch materialist, believing only in human agency and rejecting gods, spirits, and notions of karma.

She put on the bracelet and said firmly, “I’m going to Nanqiao after graduation. We won’t get separated.”

Zheng Yun raised an eyebrow. “Then I’ll be waiting for you, my little girlfriend.”

After turning off the lights, the two women clung together as they made their way to another room.

“Hey, Xiaxia.”

“Hmm?”

“After all this time, you’re still calling me by my given name?” Zheng Yun asked, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction.

“What should I call you then?” Yu Xia asked, puzzled.

“Something more affectionate, something we only use when we’re alone together,” Zheng Yun replied.

The door closed, plunging the corridor into darkness. Their voices drifted faintly through the walls.

“I don’t know what to call you.”

“How about…?” Zheng Yun paused, as if struck by an idea. Her tone shifted. “Call me ‘wife,’ Xiaxia. Would you do that?”

Zheng Yun pleaded softly.

“…Wife,” Yu Xia whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Can you say it louder, Xiaxia? I can’t hear you,” Zheng Yun said, feigning frustration.

“Wife!” Yu Xia exclaimed, her voice now tinged with embarrassment and annoyance.

“Xiaxia, your ears are turning red!” Zheng Yun teased, her playful tone abruptly shifting to a startled gasp.

A muffled thud echoed from the room as something heavy landed on the bed. The corridor floor seemed to tremble slightly.

Outside the corridor, on the expansive balcony, the boundless night sky stretched out, the dark clouds that had obscured the moon vanished without a trace.

Tomorrow would be another clear day.