After Becoming Roommates with My Flirty Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 39

When Yu Xia woke up that morning, she saw a message from Cen Xue saying that since Xiao Zhou was sick and couldn’t go out to eat, Cen Xue would bring lunch for four today. She reminded Zheng Yun and Yu Xia not to bring their own meals.

Yu Xia had never brought her own lunch before, so Cen Xue’s reminder was likely only meant for Zheng Yun.

Last night, after their passionate kiss with Yu Xia’s ex-girlfriend, Zheng Yun had made her a bowl of hangover soup after they showered, insisting she drink it all.

As Yu Xia drank the soup, she looked at Zheng Yun’s tired expression and her lips, which were covered in small cuts, and felt a pang of guilt.

That guilt melted away as quickly as ice in summer. After all, Zheng Yun had provoked her in the first place. If they had remained just occasional roommates who only saw each other after work, none of this would have happened.

Yu Xia had assumed that after their exhausting night, Zheng Yun wouldn’t get up to cook today. But when she woke up, she found Zheng Yun’s slender figure already busy in the kitchen.

Frowning, she asked, “How many hours did you sleep?”

The slender figure paused, then turned with an impeccable smile. “I got enough sleep.”

If Yu Xia hadn’t shared a bed with Zheng Yun for over two months, she might have actually believed Zheng Yun’s nonsense about getting enough sleep.

“Your homemade breakfast tastes no different from takeout,” Yu Xia said flatly. “We might as well just order takeout.”

Zheng Yun handed her the neatly packaged breakfast, her voice soft and gentle. “No one understands your eating habits better than I do.”

Yu Xia fell silent.

Zheng Yun wasn’t exaggerating; it was the truth. Usually, parents know their children’s tastes best, but Yu Xia’s family situation was unique. Only Zheng Yun had meticulously studied her preferences, as if researching the tastes of a direct superior.

She didn’t take the bag, retorting mockingly, “Self-pity gets you nowhere.”

Zheng Yun took her hand and firmly placed the bag in it, saying earnestly, “How can it be useless? Aren’t you rewarding me right now?”

She called the way Zheng Yun’s lips felt—like they had been dragged across a knife—a reward.

Yu Xia glanced down at the distinct wound, at a loss for what excuse to make.

“I’m leaving now,” she said, averting her gaze and hurrying out the door.

Xiao Zhou had come to work, carrying two packs of tissues.

Her fever had broken, but her cold hadn’t cleared. The moment Yu Xia entered the office, she heard Xiao Zhou’s thunderous sneeze. When Xiao Zhou saw Yu Xia, her eyes welled up with tears.

“Stop acting cute,” Yu Xia remarked, her tone less than friendly.

“Acting cute my ass,” Xiao Zhou retorted, wiping her nose. “My nose is just stuffy.”

She wiped her tears first, but as soon as they dried, they started flowing again. Then she wiped her nose, only for it to start running again immediately.

“I want to get a new air conditioner,” Xiao Zhou grumbled fiercely. “This one isn’t smart at all.”

“The air conditioner couldn’t have guessed that setting it to 16 degrees Celsius in the middle of the night wasn’t your own doing,” Yu Xia replied, setting down her bag, washing her hands, and opening the box. The aroma of congee wafted out.

Xiao Zhou leaned closer, about to speak, when she turned away to let out an enormous sneeze.

“Ordering takeout from them every day—are you in love?” Xiao Zhou asked, her voice muffled and slightly nasal from her stuffy nose.

“Yeah,” Yu Xia replied. She couldn’t exactly admit this was Zheng Yun’s handiwork. “Their food is just better.”

Xiao Zhou leaned in to sniff the congee, muttering, “It doesn’t smell quite right…”

“Can I have a taste?” Xiao Zhou asked.

“No,” Yu Xia refused without hesitation.

Not to mention this was made by Zheng Yun…

No, she just didn’t like sharing food from her bowl.

“Hmph,” Xiao Zhou sniffled, rubbing her nose. Just as she was about to speak, Cen Xue arrived.

Cen Xue entered the office, her jasmine-scented fragrance lingering in the air. She walked straight to Xiao Zhou and set down a bag. “Breakfast,” she said.

Xiao Zhou eagerly hugged the bag, turning to Yu Xia with excitement. “See? Cen Xue brought me breakfast! This is a heartfelt breakfast filled with colleague camaraderie!”

Yu Xia lowered her head, remaining silent.

Cen Xue squeezed her shoulder. “Eat quickly. A little sweat after eating will help your cold.”

Xiao Zhou huffed as she tore open the packaging. “Yu Xia’s been obsessed with the congee from that shop on Peace Road lately. She has it every morning.”

Zheng Yun, who happened to be passing by with her coffee, caught Xiao Zhou’s words. The rich aroma of coffee beans mingled with the breakfast scents as she chimed in, “Is it really that good?”

Yu Xia glanced up. Zheng Yun subtly tried to hide it, but the split on her lip was still visible.

Before Yu Xia could answer, Xiao Zhou nodded enthusiastically. “She says it’s amazing!”

Zheng Yun smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Yu Xia remained silent throughout, pretending not to hear the conversation.

I would never say something like that, she thought.

Throughout the morning, Xiao Zhou sneezed intermittently, the frequency gradually decreasing until it was just an occasional sneeze.

At lunchtime, Cen Xue texted Xiao Zhou and Yu Xia to meet in the break room for lunch.

The four of them ate together in the break room, colleagues coming and going without much conversation.

Xiao Zhou finally noticed Zheng Yun’s lip and frowned. “What happened?” she asked.

Yu Xia kept her head down, focused on her meal. While Cen Xue’s cooking skills were arguably superior to Zheng Yun’s, Zheng Yun had a knack for hitting Yu Xia’s sweet spot.

When Xiao Zhou’s question came, Yu Xia’s attention was diverted. She was curious to see how Zheng Yun would answer without mentioning her, how she would conceal the truth. Would she fabricate a new romantic interest out of thin air, or claim she’d reconciled with her ex, to maintain her facade of sentimental longing?

“I was greedy,” Zheng Yun admitted candidly. “I ate two pieces of pineapple before they were properly soaked.”

“……” Xiao Zhou was incredulous. “You’re the greedy one? It sounds like the pineapple ate you!”

“What can I say?” Zheng Yun replied pointedly. “It hurt, but it was so delicious, so sweet.”

“That pineapple must be cursed,” Xiao Zhou said, completely missing the subtext. “It’s not normal pineapple.”

Yu Xia, feeling inexplicably targeted, was speechless.

She interjected, “If the pineapple hurt your mouth, you should have stopped after one bite.”

Zheng Yun feigned innocence. “But it was so good! A little pain is worth it.”

Xiao Zhou buried her face in her food, devouring it with gusto. Cen Xue watched their back-and-forth, then gave up trying to dissuade them.

“Are you into pain?” Yu Xia blurted out, unable to hold back any longer.

“I’m into pineapples,” Zheng Yun chuckled lightly.

“Aren’t you guys eating?” Xiao Zhou looked up. “Cen Xue’s cooking smells amazing! Even with my terrible sense of taste, I finished everything. Don’t leave any leftovers!”

Cen Xue couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you full?” she asked.

“Stuffed!” Xiao Zhou patted her stomach and nodded vigorously.

The pineapple and pain enthusiasts ceased their battle and began eating seriously.

That afternoon, Cen Xue, Yu Xia, and Zheng Yun held a brief online meeting to brainstorm ideas for the birthday card designs.

Journey of Dreams was a yuri-themed game set in the entertainment industry. It followed the protagonist’s journey from an unknown extra to a world-renowned award-winning actress. The game featured a wide range of romanceable characters, including her manager, the company CEO, a top-tier actress, a junior artist from the same agency, a popular idol, and more. Almost any character with a storyline could be romanced.

The latest chapter advanced the plot to the protagonist’s first leading role.

The team was responsible for the birthday card design for the popular idol character. While moderately popular, this character ranked lower than the CEO and top-tier actress, placing them in the mid-to-upper tier. As such, the task was assigned to the two newcomers, Yu Xia and Zheng Yun, with Cen Xue overseeing their work.

The afternoon meeting lasted two hours. After brainstorming, Cen Xue had a rough idea, but the specifics would need to be fleshed out in writing. Yu Xia sketched a preliminary draft and planned to consult the Lead Artist for feedback once the draft was complete.

After finishing her assigned tasks for the day, Yu Xia clocked out and left work.

On her way home, she received a message from Chen Zhu.

Chen Zhu had woken up in the middle of the night with a splitting headache because no one had made her hangover soup. After a shower and another nap, she felt somewhat better. She messaged Yu Xia to tell her that the person they were looking for was from Nanqiao and asked if Yu Xia was free any day that week to meet.

Yu Xia replied that she was available all day Sunday.

Zheng Yun had prepared dinner as usual, waiting for her to return.

If they could ignore everything from the past, Yu Xia and Zheng Yun would almost resemble an old married couple.

But she couldn’t ignore it.

“Xiaxia, dinner’s ready,” Zheng Yun called out, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Okay,” Yu Xia replied, washing her hands and sitting down.

If it weren’t for the absence of Xiao Qi and Xiao Jiu’s usual chatter, and the towering skyscrapers outside the window instead of the low-rise buildings of Yuncheng, Yu Xia might have momentarily imagined she was back home.

This was the first meal the two had shared at home.

“Are you still in touch with Xiao Qi and Xiao Jiu?” Zheng Yun asked cautiously.

“Yes,” Yu Xia replied.

“Have Daguai and Xiaoguai found adoptive families?”

“Yes.”

Yu Xia answered every question, her composure as unwavering as a mortal who had endured three days of interrogation, offering only factual responses.

“After I left, did you stay in Yuncheng for your birthday?”

“No.”

Zheng Yun fell silent. After a long pause, she finally spoke, “I’m sorry.”

Yu Xia finished her meal and set down her chopsticks.

“There’s no need to apologize,” Yu Xia said, lifting her gaze to meet Zheng Yun’s. “I’ve already forgiven you.”

Zheng Yun looked at Yu Xia with uncertainty.

“From now on, we’re just ordinary colleagues and roommates. You don’t need to cook for me to curry favor, nor do you need to try to get close to me at work.”

“I remember your mother’s vision for you was to become a teacher at a public school. I don’t know if you joined Fengyin for me or for other reasons. Fengyin is one of the top-rated internet companies in the industry. Now that you’re here, you should focus on your career, not your colleagues.”

Yu Xia spoke with cold detachment, her voice as flat and mechanical as a robot’s, each word delivered with precise, emotionless precision.

“I will forget everything that happened between us, including your sudden departure. I hope you can do the same and stop interfering in my life.”

“I’m full. Thank you for the meal. Please don’t cook for me tomorrow.”

Yu Xia stood up.

She was taller and thinner than when she was nineteen, a fragile figure like a cactus covered in dense thorns, impossible to touch. She was colder and more aloof than before, keeping everyone at arm’s length.

Zheng Yun called out, “Xiaxia.”

Yu Xia ignored her.

Zheng Yun hurried after her, grabbing her wrist.

“Do you have any other questions?” Yu Xia asked with rare patience. “You can ask them now, and we’ll resolve them today.”

“Does it have to be this way?” Zheng Yun asked, looking up at her.

“What other way is there? Your meals are quite expensive. After a few more, I’d have to repay you with my body. I can’t afford that,” Yu Xia said, her words laced with malice, causing Zheng Yun to lower her gaze.

Yu Xia pressed further, “Yesterday you only wanted a kiss. If I eat a few more meals, will you expect me to sleep with you?”

Zheng Yun’s face turned pale, and she swayed as if about to collapse.

Yu Xia glanced at Zheng Yun, guessing she was exhausted from days of relentless work without rest, her body nearing its breaking point.

“Any other questions?” Yu Xia asked, withdrawing her wrist from Zheng Yun’s grasp.

“If eating together isn’t an option, what is?” Zheng Yun asked.

For a moment, Yu Xia didn’t react. When she finally understood, she nearly laughed in exasperation.

“Absolutely not,” Yu Xia said, staring intently at Zheng Yun, each word deliberate. “We’re just roommates and colleagues.”

Zheng Yun sighed deeply, her voice earnest. “But I really love pineapple. Is there any way I could have just a few more bites?”

Yu Xia suddenly spoke, “The year you left, I asked the sunset countless times if we would ever meet again.”

Zheng Yun had once told her that making a sincere wish to the sunset would bring good fortune.

Even someone as proud as Yu Xia had moments of devoutly questioning nonexistent gods.

“But this is the fourth year now.”