After Becoming Roommates with My Flirty Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 35

It was past eleven when Yu Xia got home. The living room was quiet; her young friends, who usually loved to party, weren’t throwing one tonight. She should be able to get a good night’s sleep.

She went to her bedroom, turned on the light and air conditioner, washed up, and got ready for bed. By the time she was done, it was already midnight.

Outside the window lay the night of the university town. It was summer vacation, and the surroundings were eerily silent. In the distance, a dark expanse stretched out. Yu Xia’s frosty face was reflected in the glass, almost overpowering the sweltering summer heat.

Staying out in this heat for too long can’t be good for you, she thought.

Yu Xia slipped under the covers. A desk lamp cast a soft glow on the wall, strikingly similar to the streetlights outside her office building.

Many large companies were located near her workplace, with employees leaving work at various times between 6 PM and midnight. Security guards patrolled the area, ensuring good public safety…

She curled up tighter, thinking about this.

The soft, comfortable bed had absorbed the air conditioner’s chill. Yu Xia frowned, drifting into an uneasy sleep.

At three in the morning, the sound of shattering glass jolted Yu Xia awake from her restless sleep. She sat up, her anger simmering.

The people outside showed no remorse, continuing their raucous behavior. They disregarded Yu Xia, who was sleeping in the master bedroom, and indiscriminately assaulted the neighbors above, below, and to the sides with their noise.

Yu Xia suppressed her anger, straightened her clothes, and decided to investigate.

Just as she opened her bedroom door, the front door began to rattle violently. The most sober person in the living room grinned and went to answer it, muttering, “You’ve brought the neighbors again.”

The door swung open to reveal a police officer in uniform, who flashed his badge and announced in a stern, booming voice, “Police!”

Yu Xia locked eyes with the officer.

After two failed complaints to the property management, the neighbors had finally called the police. Originally intending just a warning visit, the officers arrived to find bottles strewn across the floor, immediately suspecting drug use.

Unfortunately, Yu Xia happened to emerge from her bedroom at that moment.

Due to her strained relationship with the group, no one was willing to vouch for her. Yu Xia had no choice but to change her clothes, grab her phone, and ride in the police car to the station for a urine test.

By the time this ordeal ended and she returned home, dawn was already breaking.

The group had simply drunk too much; there were no serious issues. After the tests, the police even drove them home, warning them to behave and go their separate ways that night, rather than causing a ruckus in the residential building.

They nodded obediently, but the moment the police left, their true colors emerged.

Having barely slept for two days, Yu Xia’s mood was dark. Yet her young friends made no attempt to hide their malice, crowding around her with feigned concern. “We’re so sorry for dragging you into this,” they said insincerely.

“If you’re so sorry, get out,” Yu Xia snapped coldly. “The lot of you couldn’t even scrape together enough for a table at the bar.”

She had initially planned to avoid conflict, reasoning that living under the same roof meant they’d inevitably cross paths. She knew she couldn’t take on the whole group alone. But today’s incident had changed her mind.

“Sister, you got money?” The man didn’t seem offended, reaching for her phone. “Lend your little brother some, huh?”

“Let’s go!” someone called out. “You just got out a few days ago! The cops were just warning you not to cause trouble.”

The man clicked his tongue, glared at Yu Xia, and left.

The neighborhood was already bustling with early morning joggers. Yu Xia crouched by the building entrance, pondered for a moment, then texted her Team Lead to request two hours of leave.

The Team Lead was still half-asleep when Yu Xia finished explaining the events of the night with remarkable clarity. Only after approving the leave request did she fully register the news: “You found a place already?”

“A friend happened to be looking for a roommate,” Yu Xia replied, leaving it at that.

“Two hours? Is that enough?” the Team Lead pressed.

“It’s enough,” Yu Xia insisted, unwilling to let these interruptions delay her work progress.

The Team Lead, who always kept her inquiries about employees’ personal matters brief, didn’t press further and hung up.

With the keys to her new apartment in hand, Yu Xia texted Zheng Yun to pack her belongings.

The young men, exhausted from their all-night revelry, were sprawled haphazardly across the sofa when Yu Xia returned. Pinching her nose against the stench, she navigated through the mess to her room.

Having only lived in this city for a month, Yu Xia didn’t have much to pack. Within an hour, she had gathered her belongings, double-checked for any forgotten items, and hauled her two suitcases out the door.

The living room was a chaotic scene: uncleaned liquor bottles and greasy takeout containers littered the coffee table and floor, mingling with the fermenting stench of vomit.

Yu Xia snapped a few photos and fled without looking back.

On the way, she sent all the pictures to the girl who had sublet the place to her. Perhaps it was too early, as she received no reply.

As rush hour approached, the roads grew congested. Feeling drowsy, Yu Xia dozed off briefly, waking only when the driver called her name.

She paid, thanked him, and got out of the car.

After the stop-and-go journey, Yu Xia recognized several familiar faces near the residential complex entrance. She entered the building, took the elevator, and arrived at her new apartment door.

She and Zheng Yun had barely communicated, so she didn’t know if Zheng Yun had moved in yet.

Standing at the door, Yu Xia stared down at the handle, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face.

It was like that spring day on the third floor, when she had hesitated before pushing open that door.

“Hey, Yu Xia?” Cen Xue’s voice startled her from behind. “Is this your new place?”

“Yeah,” Yu Xia replied, turning to meet Cen Xue’s gaze.

“How convenient!” Cen Xue grinned brightly. “I live next door. Need any help?”

Yu Xia shook her head almost instinctively. “No thanks. I took the day off. You should get to work.”

Cen Xue didn’t press the matter. She waved goodbye. “I’ll see you at the office, then.”

“See you at the office,” Yu Xia replied.

Cen Xue’s interruption cleared the jumble of thoughts from Yu Xia’s mind. She pulled out her keys, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

The apartment was empty and spotless. Zheng Yun must have either visited or hired someone to clean it. The living room was dust-free, the marble dining table gleamed, and the windows stood bare. The balcony, where withered flowers had once filled the pots during Yu Xia’s last visit, had been completely cleared, leaving nothing behind.

With no time for sentimental brooding, Yu Xia refocused her attention and retreated to her own room to get down to business.

After tidying up, she headed to the office, checking her phone during the crowded subway ride.

Zheng Yun still hadn’t replied to her message.

Yu Xia put her phone away and began her workday.

At lunchtime, Cen Xue came over from the neighboring department. It was then that Yu Xia’s colleagues learned that, although the two weren’t roommates, they lived across the hall from each other. Cen Xue winked at Yu Xia. “Lunch together?”

Eating with anyone was just eating, so Yu Xia had no objections.

At the dining table, Cen Xue mentioned that her team had interviewed a new candidate that day. The candidate was strikingly beautiful, and according to the Team Lead, her skills were also up to par. Although the Writing Team wasn’t short-staffed, the Team Lead was still considering whether to hire her.

“Really? Is she prettier than you?” a colleague casually asked. “You’re the belle of the Writing Team, after all.”

Cen Xue paused, then smiled. “She’s far more beautiful than me. Just walking past her felt like my soul was being purified.”

Yu Xia took a few bites of her meal. It was noon, and the younger sister who had sublet the apartment to her finally replied. Apparently, she had been arguing with her roommate because the roommate had sublet the apartment without vetting the new tenant, resulting in Yu Xia’s early departure. The roommate should compensate Yu Xia for the losses she incurred.

Still, the younger sister refunded part of Yu Xia’s deposit.

Yu Xia kindly warned her that if the apartment was damaged, she would ultimately be the one to lose her security deposit.

After careful consideration, the younger sister realized Yu Xia was right and went back to pressure her roommate to resolve the issue.

As for Zheng Yun, she finally replied just as lunchtime was approaching.

ZY: I’ll be waiting for you to come home.

Yu Xia hung up, wondering what “waiting for you to come home” meant.

So, she thought, he wanted her to move in, and in the end, she was the one who moved in first.

“Yu Xia,” a colleague called out, “do you think Cen Xue is pretty?”

Yu Xia snapped out of her daze and instinctively glanced at Cen Xue.

Cen Xue was indeed beautiful—calling her the “flower of the Writing Team” wasn’t an exaggeration.

Their game project, Journey of Dreams, was almost entirely staffed by women, from concept art to writing to programming. The work environment was very relaxed, and few people wore makeup.

Yet Cen Xue looked like a goddess descended from the heavens even without makeup. Her colleagues in the Writing Team joked that just a glance at her made work feel less painful.

Yu Xia replied politely, “She’s pretty.”

Her colleague raised an eyebrow. “See? Even the ‘flower’ of our concept art team thinks you’re pretty. You must be even more beautiful than her.”

Cen Xue smiled and shook her head. “Let’s not talk about that. I overheard your Team Lead chatting with HR in the break room today. Yu Xia should be getting her full-time position soon.”

Yu Xia took a few more bites of her meal, then excused herself. “I’m going back to catch up on sleep. Enjoy your lunch.”

With that, she left.

Perhaps it was the two consecutive nights of poor sleep, or maybe the sweltering heat, but Yu Xia felt dizzy. As she walked back, a colleague at the front desk called out to her.

“Yu Xia, there’s something for you.”

Yu Xia turned back and retrieved a bag.

Puzzled, she pulled out a thermos from the bag. A sticky note was attached: To prevent heatstroke.

It was Zheng Yun’s handwriting.

Her colleague, who had just picked up takeout, asked, “What’s that?”

“I don’t know,” Yu Xia replied, shaking her head. “I haven’t looked yet.”

“When I picked up my order, the front desk told me there were things for other members of our team too. They said not to call you and asked me to bring it up since you were here,” her colleague chattered on. “Could it be from a secret admirer?”

“…No,” Yu Xia said, shaking her head.

The elevator arrived, and the two rode up together. Her colleague was incredibly talkative, reminding Yu Xia of Chen Zhu, who could talk for an entire night even when alone. By the time they exited the elevator, Yu Xia had already learned how delicious her colleague’s takeout was—she’d been ordering it for weeks, and even the owner now knew exactly how much chili to add.

Yu Xia carried the bag back to her office. Most of the other workstations were still empty; at this hour, people were either out for lunch or chatting over meals in the break room. Having slept poorly, Yu Xia had little appetite and originally planned to catch up on sleep, but now she found herself staring blankly at her thermos.

She couldn’t fathom Zheng Yun’s intentions or when she had delivered the gift.

Yu Xia carefully unscrewed the lid—it was chilled sour plum soup.

In Yuncheng, after suffering from heatstroke, she had only drunk warm water with wolfberries or, during her free time, chilled sour plum soup.

The sweet-tart aroma wafted out, clearing Yu Xia’s foggy head slightly.

The office blinds were drawn open, revealing a cloudless azure sky. The sun shone brightly, its halo making Yu Xia’s head spin even more.

The icy liquid melted in her mouth, its sourness balanced by a hint of sweetness, dispelling the nausea in her stomach.

It was a familiar sensation.

Like the year Zheng Yun had rushed to embrace her, appearing just when she needed her most.

That year, Zheng Yun had caught her, only to let go.

Just like this cup of sour plum soup, it was a timely comfort in her distress.

But who could know if she would disappoint her again?

Yu Xia twisted the lid back on, returned the cup to the bag, put on her eye mask, and drifted off to sleep.

Whether it was the sour plum soup or the sufficiently cold air conditioning, Yu Xia woke up feeling much better.

Having taken two hours off in the morning, Yu Xia worked overtime that evening, leaving the office building close to midnight.

She hailed a taxi, her head still foggy and dizzy, and nearly gave the wrong address.

Even in the elevator, she paused for a few seconds to remember which floor her new apartment was on.

Standing at the door, she still felt a sense of unreality.

But when she opened it, the emptiness behind the door was gone.

Warm yellow light filled the living room, clothes hung drying on the balcony, and several plates sat on the dining table.

Hearing the door open, footsteps approached from the sofa. Zheng Yun, rubbing her eyes, greeted her like she used to when Yu Xia had to go out alone in the spring and Zheng Yun couldn’t accompany her.

Standing before her in a loose-fitting camisole nightgown that revealed her smooth shoulders, her long, dark hair draped down her back. Her peach-blossom eyes, flushed with sleepiness, carried an unconscious allure as she smiled gently. “You’re back, Xiaxia.”

Yu Xia handed her the bag she was carrying. “Your things. I didn’t touch anything.”

Zheng Yun’s smile didn’t waver, as if she had anticipated this. She accepted the bag. “I made you a late-night snack—your favorite dishes. Eat something before you go to bed.”

Yu Xia stared into Zheng Yun’s eyes. Zheng Yun had always been like this, even when they first met—like a mannequin, devoid of temper, simply executing a pre-programmed routine.

Just as Yu Xia was about to speak, the doorbell rang.

Zheng Yun’s expression slowly shifted.

Yu Xia turned around warily.

They had only just moved in. Who would be knocking at this hour?

Frowning, Yu Xia went to the door and asked impatiently, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Cen Xue.”

Yu Xia finally remembered their neighbor next door. Her tense nerves relaxed as she opened the door, asking in confusion, “What is it?”

“I heard from a colleague that you just got off work. Since you barely ate lunch and had such a small dinner, I thought I’d bring you a late-night snack…” Cen Xue’s voice trailed off, perhaps startled by Yu Xia’s earlier fierce expression.

Just as Yu Xia was about to decline, Zheng Yun walked over. “Xiaxia, who is it?”

Cen Xue looked up and met Zheng Yun’s gaze.

“Are you Xiaxia’s colleague? Hello, I’m Zheng Yun,” Zheng Yun said with a gentle smile, reaching out from behind Yu Xia.

“Hello,” Cen Xue replied, her ears flushing slightly. She suddenly remembered their conversation during lunch today, never imagining that the beautiful woman she had praised lived right across from her. “I’m Cen Xue.”

“Did you bring Xiaxia a late-night snack?”

Before Zheng Yun could finish, Yu Xia took the bowl from Cen Xue herself. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow. It’s getting late, you should get some rest.”

Cen Xue said goodnight reluctantly and left.

Yu Xia placed the bowl on the table. “You should get some rest too, if you have nothing else to do.”

Zheng Yun pressed down on Yu Xia’s hand as she tried to withdraw it, frowning. “You don’t like fried mushrooms. Why did you accept them?”

“What’s it to you?” Yu Xia didn’t pull her hand away, letting Zheng Yun hold it.

“I made all your favorite dishes…” Zheng Yun choked up, her voice softening.

“What I used to like, I might not like anymore,” Yu Xia said, finally pulling her hand free. “And what I used to dislike, I might try to like now.”

Standing in the shadows, Yu Xia’s expression was difficult to discern, but her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Have you always been so eager to force your ‘goodness’ on others?”

Zheng Yun stepped forward and reached for her hand. “I haven’t been good to anyone else…”

Yu Xia’s pent-up frustration, fueled by days of sleepless nights, exploded like a bucket of oil thrown onto a fire. She grabbed Zheng Yun’s wrist, forcing her back several steps until she was pinned against the cold wall, forced to look up at Yu Xia.

Yu Xia had grown two centimeters taller since they were nineteen, now completely blocking the light above. With one hand gripping Zheng Yun’s wrist, she pinched her chin with the other, the pressure so intense that Zheng Yun winced and tried to pull away, only to find herself firmly restrained, leaving her no choice but to submit.

They were so close their breaths mingled, their chests pressed together, their hearts resonating in unison as they had in the past.

Meeting Zheng Yun’s anxious gaze, Yu Xia asked through gritted teeth, “Or perhaps you’re planning to deceive me again, just like you did three years ago?”