After Becoming Roommates with My Flirty Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 40

Zheng Yun never cooked for Yu Xia again, nor even for herself. She started going to bed early and waking up early, arriving at work each day looking radiant and refreshed.

When her colleagues pressed her about her skincare routine, Zheng Yun simply replied, “Early to bed, early to rise.”

Her colleagues shook their heads. “You must be getting cosmetic treatments.”

For office workers who only had personal time after dark, getting enough sleep was a luxury.

Without the special, lovingly prepared breakfasts, Yu Xia reverted to her old routine of grabbing a quick bite—a bread roll and milk—from the downstairs convenience store.

Xiao Zhou teased her, “Finally tired of the fancy meals?” Just then, Zheng Yun arrived with Cen Xue to deliver lunch. Yu Xia casually remarked, “Sometimes you just need a change of pace.”

Xiao Zhou unwrapped the lunch Cen Xue had brought, retorting, “Changing your taste after just a few days?”

Yu Xia looked up, her gaze meeting Zheng Yun’s.

“I can’t keep eating her food forever,” Yu Xia said, averting her eyes. “What if they close down one day?”

Xiao Zhou nodded in agreement. “Oh yeah, oh yeah! Before I joined the company, there was this amazing coffee shop downstairs. I drank there every day for like half a year? Then it closed and moved away. I was so sad going to work every day, like I was going to a funeral. It took me a whole month to get over it.”

“Yu Xia, you’re so rational!” Xiao Zhou concluded with a compliment.

“Her family’s been running that place for seven or eight years? It’s pretty stable,” Zheng Yun interjected. “It’s not going to suddenly go out of business.”

Xiao Zhou, ever the weathervane, swayed with the wind. “True! It was already open for years? before I started working here.”

Cen Xue flicked Xiao Zhou’s forehead from behind. “Eat your food.”

Even the bickering couple couldn’t resist joining in.

Cen Xue had long sensed the tension between the two women. She understood the situation perfectly and refused to get involved in their subtle power plays.

But Xiao Zhou was like a block of wood—no, a block of stone. Wood can at least absorb water, but stone is impervious to everything.

Thanks to Xiao Zhou’s generosity, the four of them ate lunch together in the break room again.

Yu Xia and Zheng Yun occasionally traded barbs, but Xiao Zhou remained oblivious, while Cen Xue pretended not to notice.

Xiao Zhou devoured her lunch like a whirlwind, then patted her stomach and casually remarked, “Zheng Yun, haven’t you been eating pineapple lately?”

Yu Xia and Zheng Yun froze mid-bite.

“I couldn’t find any,” Zheng Yun replied.

“That pineapple you bought last time wasn’t good either,” Xiao Zhou frowned. “It was like it was trying to bite me.”

“But it was sweet,” Zheng Yun countered.

“Can’t you just buy from that shop again?”

“They don’t have any sweet ones left,” Zheng Yun shrugged helplessly. “The shop stopped selling them.”

“Ah? Did they sell out?” Xiao Zhou rubbed her round belly and sighed.

“Not exactly,” Zheng Yun glanced at Yu Xia’s expression. “The shopkeeper said they were selling at a loss due to the low price, so they kept them for themselves.”

Xiao Zhou let out a long “Oh.” “Then it must not be a very big orchard.”

Yu Xia finished her meal, picked up her lunchbox, and stood up, interrupting the pineapple debate. “I’m full. I’ll head out first.”

After washing her lunchbox and returning it to Cen Xue, Yu Xia left the break room.

Sitting there felt less like eating lunch and more like being in court. Zheng Yun was the plaintiff, she was the defendant, Cen Xue was the court clerk, and Xiao Zhou was the judge.

Yu Xia had the unsettling feeling that she might be arrested at any moment.

By Friday, Xiao Zhou’s cold had nearly cleared up, and she insisted on going downstairs for lunch. Cen Xue hadn’t brought her lunch that day, and Zheng Yun excused herself by claiming she hadn’t slept well the previous night and needed a nap, withdrawing from the usual quartet.

Yu Xia, citing a stomachache, left the table early and returned to the office.

As she passed the Writing Team’s area, she glanced over. Zheng Yun was at her desk, slumped over in sleep.

A thin blanket draped over her slender shoulders, the light illuminating the soft fuzz of her hair. To make her waist-length hair more manageable at work, Zheng Yun had recently cut it in half, leaving it to fall straight and neat down her back—smooth and silky, it must feel wonderful to the touch.

Yu Xia averted her gaze, nodded to a passing colleague, and returned to her own desk, pulling out her phone.

Zheng Yun slept soundly until Cen Xue returned. When a colleague approached her desk, Zheng Yun startled awake, her heart pounding uncomfortably.

It was her period today. Perhaps due to recent lack of rest and emotional turmoil, she was experiencing what felt like a construction excavator tearing through her uterus—something she’d never felt before.

“Are you on your period?” Cen Xue asked in surprise, setting down the coffee she had just bought.

“Huh…?” Zheng Yun, still groggy from waking up, was momentarily taken aback by Cen Xue’s sudden question.

“Brown sugar water, painkillers,” Cen Xue pointed to the items on Zheng Yun’s desk. “Do you have period cramps?”

“A little,” Zheng Yun replied, frowning as she examined the medicine box. This wasn’t something she had bought herself. Cen Xue had even thoughtfully included a heated sandwich, knowing she hadn’t had lunch.

“You should have said something earlier,” Cen Xue sighed. “The company offers menstrual leave—paid time off. I always take it every month when I’m not too busy.”

Zheng Yun already knew this. When she signed her contract, she had thoroughly inquired about all the benefits, and the HR representative had specifically emphasized the importance of taking one paid day off each month.

“Don’t worry about taking time off affecting your internship conversion,” Cen Xue reassured her, assuming Zheng Yun was concerned about her job. “Our company only evaluates character and work performance for conversions. Reasonable leave requests won’t cause any problems at all.”

Zheng Yun wasn’t worried about that.

She simply didn’t want to be alone at home. Coming to the office, no matter what, gave her more opportunities to spend time with Yu Xia, especially now that their work overlapped.

She refused to give up any chance to mend their relationship.

“Did you see who bought this for me?” Zheng Yun touched the cup wall; it was still warm, meaning it had just been delivered.

“You didn’t buy it yourself?” Cen Xue shook her head. “I don’t know. I just saw it when I got back.”

But Zheng Yun had a suspicion.

Her heart fluttered like wild grass in February, swaying in a boundless green sea with every breeze.

After finishing her sandwich, she took another painkiller. As the medication took effect, the pain gradually subsided. Zheng Yun dozed off briefly, and when she woke up, her energy and spirit had returned.

By the time the normal quitting time arrived, Yu Xia had stayed late to work on additional tasks assigned by the Team Lead, finally leaving her desk after eight o’clock.

At the subway station, she ran into the lunch trio waiting for their train.

Xiao Zhou’s elevator was on the opposite side, so she arrived first. Waving to the group, she even included Yu Xia, who had just come down the escalator: “I’m off! Bye!”

Yu Xia nodded in acknowledgment.

Yu Xia glanced up at the electronic signboard. Judging by the time, a train had just departed, so the platform wasn’t too crowded.

Objectively speaking, Cen Xue had always been considerate and helpful to Yu Xia, both as a colleague and a neighbor. Because of this, Yu Xia couldn’t simply ignore Cen Xue and distance herself from Zheng Yun.

Yu Xia moved to Cen Xue’s other side, placing Cen Xue between herself and Zheng Yun. The three of them formed an awkward, uneven line, with Cen Xue positioned slightly behind the other two.

Standing at just over 165 centimeters, Cen Xue felt dwarfed by the two women, both over 170 centimeters tall. Staring at their reflections in the glass, she couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

It’s like a family outing with two moms and a child, she thought. Or maybe a couple having a fight.

When Xiao Zhou was around, her remarkable obliviousness had allowed the four of them to maintain a strange equilibrium, oblivious to the undercurrents between Yu Xia and Zheng Yun.

But without Xiao Zhou, the dynamic shifted. It felt like a child insisting on going to the amusement park while their two mothers were arguing. The mothers would reluctantly agree, putting on strained smiles, determined not to take their anger out on the child, but still seething at each other.

Cen Xue forced herself to make conversation, desperate to ease the tension. “Zheng Yun, is your stomach still hurting?”

Yu Xia lowered her gaze and texted Chen Zhu, who had been messaging her since she left work, venting her nervousness about meeting her crush.

Yu Xia finally had a moment to reply. Her slender fingers tapped the screen, typing out a jumble of gibberish.

Zheng Yun replied with a smile, “It doesn’t hurt anymore, thanks to the pain relievers from a kind person. They were so thoughtful—they even knew ibuprofen shouldn’t be taken on an empty stomach and prepared food and drinks for me.”

On the other end of the phone, Chen Zhu sent a string of question marks.

What are you typing over there? It’s been three minutes! Have you changed your ways? Are you finally writing me a little essay?

Yu Xia happened to hear Zheng Yun’s words and accidentally sent the gibberish message.

Cen Xue finally realized who had bought the medicine.

She hesitated, then blurted out, “Well, she seems like a really nice person.”

Zheng Yun smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “She is.”

Hearing Zheng Yun’s praise, Yu Xia’s hand trembled, accidentally changing “withdraw” to “delete.” Chen Zhu stared at the incomprehensible string of characters, typed for half a minute, and sent back a single sentence.

Xiaxia, did you leave your phone unlocked in your pocket?

Just then, the subway arrived with a whoosh. Yu Xia bit her lip, pocketed her phone, and finally escaped the awkward situation.

Unfortunately, there were empty seats on the train.

The three of them ended up sitting together again.

Cen Xue sat in the middle, oblivious to the world around her, her entire focus on replying to Xiao Zhou’s messages.

After finally enduring the subway ride, the three women disembarked one after another.

What a coincidence! They all lived in the same residential complex, the same building, the same unit, and even the same floor.

Cen Xue clutched her bag tightly, suddenly regretting her choice of residence for the first time.

They swiped their faces to enter the complex, the building, and the elevator together.

As they stepped out of the elevator, Cen Xue let out a long sigh of relief and hastily bid them farewell. “Good night! Have a pleasant evening.”

She practically fled into her apartment, fearing she’d catch a cold from Yu Xia’s icy demeanor if she stayed any longer.

Yu Xia had barely spoken throughout the journey. Her face remained cold as she pulled out her keys, unlocked the door, turned on the lights, and held the door open for Zheng Yun. Without a backward glance, she hurried toward her room.

“Xiaxia,” Zheng Yun called out before Yu Xia could quicken her pace, thwarting her attempt to escape.

Yu Xia already knew what Zheng Yun was about to say.

She didn’t stop walking, but just as she was about to reach her room, Zheng Yun asked the question:

“Did you buy me the medicine?”

“No,” Yu Xia denied.

“No one at work knows about my period,” Zheng Yun insisted, her tone unwavering. “Except you. No one else could have known.”

“I don’t know anything about it,” Yu Xia repeated her denial.

“Xiaxia,” Zheng Yun’s voice turned teasing, “your ears turn red when you lie.”

Yu Xia instinctively touched her ear, finding it ice-cold.

Zheng Yun smiled slyly.

Yu Xia lowered her hand and asked, puzzled, “What kind of answer do you want to hear from me?”

“Do you want me to say I’ve been thinking of you constantly since we broke up? Three years? And that I still remember your menstrual cycle? Or do you want me to say—” Yu Xia’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile—”that I’m so pathetic I’m chasing after my ex-girlfriend who dumped me?”

Zheng Yun’s tense shoulders relaxed.

The day Zheng Yun suddenly disappeared remained an insurmountable barrier between them. Every time Yu Xia brought it up, the memory stabbed at her chest like a sharp blade, reminding her not to repeat the same mistake.

Reminding her that if it happened once, it could happen again.

“Xiaxia,” Zheng Yun pleaded, her voice softening, “don’t talk about yourself like that.”

“Nanqiao is a good city, Fengyin is a good company. I’ll stay here forever…”

“What does that have to do with me?” Yu Xia interrupted impatiently. “I don’t need to know your future plans.”

She turned to leave for her room, tossing over her shoulder, “You’d be better off planning which days to take off so it doesn’t interfere with my work with Cen Xue.”

Zheng Yun murmured, “Cen Xue said I should rest tomorrow. That would give me three days off in a row.”

She couldn’t tell if Yu Xia had heard her. The door closed in her face.

Yu Xia lay on the bed, touching her ear. It was already burning hot.

Some things never changed with time. For example, Zheng Yun’s menstrual cycle still fell in the last ten days of the month, and she still couldn’t lie.

Chen Zhu called early Sunday morning.

On a normal weekend, Chen Zhu would sleep until noon at least. But today, she was up before seven, rushing to her pre-booked appointments at the beauty salon and hairdresser.

Yu Xia answered the phone, glanced sleepily at the time, and frowned. “I thought you had dinner plans?”

Chen Zhu fidgeted. “I’m just nervous, okay?”

“You didn’t even make this much of a fuss for the college entrance exams,” Yu Xia said, curling up and replying casually. “It’s like you’re getting married.”

Chen Zhu, fresh from washing her hair and waiting for the stylist, heard Yu Xia’s words and her leg began to tremble with anxiety. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, she whispered, “This is my first time feeling this way, okay?”

Yu Xia hummed softly. “I hope it goes well for you.”

Then she hung up abruptly.

After hanging up, Yu Xia couldn’t fall back asleep.

The air quality in Nanqiao City was worse than in Yuncheng, so the morning scenery couldn’t compare. Towering skyscrapers, stacked like a jagged skyline, obscured the sky.

The media hailed Nanqiao as a rising economic star on the global stage, but the workers who toiled to build the city felt only exhaustion.

Yu Xia yawned and got out of bed.

Today was Chen Zhu’s meeting with her secret crush, not Yu Xia’s. She didn’t share Chen Zhu’s complicated emotions. After washing up, she grabbed one of her usual work outfits.

The living room was so quiet that the only sound was the rhythmic thump-thump of a neighbor chopping vegetables upstairs.

Since their argument on Friday, Yu Xia and Zheng Yun hadn’t seen each other for two full days.

Zheng Yun had taken time off work, extending her weekend. Without Yu Xia deliberately creating opportunities to run into her, their schedules kept them apart. Despite living under the same roof, they managed to avoid each other completely.

Yu Xia knew Zheng Yun was home. She could sense her presence through subtle clues: the damp bathroom floor or the sudden click of a light switch in the middle of the night.

Yet they never crossed paths.

Yu Xia glanced at Zheng Yun’s closed bedroom door, then looked away and left the apartment.

Chen Zhu’s chosen location was quite far—a high-end Western restaurant. To make things easier, Chen Zhu had booked a beauty salon in the same commercial district.

Yu Xia stared at the subway route on her phone, which showed a nearly two-hour commute. For once, she felt like backing out.

After three transfers, a half-hour walk, and a two-hour subway ride, Yu Xia’s face was as cold as a glacial peak when she finally emerged from the station.

Chen Zhu had better not have misjudged this person, she thought, or all this effort will have been for nothing.

When Yu Xia arrived at the salon, Chen Zhu was clutching a cup of coffee, grimacing at the bitter taste.

“Xiaxia,” Chen Zhu said, her face crumpled with distaste, “this iced Americano is even more bitter than my life.”

“You chose to drink it,” Yu Xia pointed out.

“I know,” Chen Zhu sighed dramatically. “It tastes awful, but it reduces bloating.”

After curling and blow-drying her hair, Chen Zhu touched up her makeup, transforming into a dazzling magazine cover star. She winked at Yu Xia. “Well? Am I irresistible?”

Yu Xia remained unmoved. She glanced at her phone—less than half an hour until the meeting.

“Not bad. Let’s go.”

Chen Zhu wasn’t offended. Yu Xia’s standards were notoriously high. She had remained single throughout college, and even during their graduation photo shoot, a freshman girl had tearfully asked for a photo as a keepsake.

Yu Xia had, of course, refused outright.

Chen Zhu asked, “Why did you reject someone’s sincere affection? Yu Xia, your coldness is like the iron railings in a northern winter.”

“Later, when she starts dating, her partner will find my photo and they’ll argue. She’ll probably even curse me as bad luck.”

Yu Xia almost laughed at the thought, but remembering her image, she quickly smoothed her skirt and casually asked, “If a great beauty like me is just ‘pretty good’ in your eyes, what kind of beauty do you consider truly stunning?”

Sometimes, Yu Xia resented her own quick thinking. Before Chen Zhu’s words had even faded, a face flashed before her eyes.

“Xiaxia,” Chen Zhu asked again while they waited for the bus, “have you ever seen a woman so beautiful that even you thought she looked like a celestial being?”

“Yes,” Yu Xia admitted.

“She must have been breathtakingly beautiful,” Chen Zhu said wistfully. “I’d love to meet her. Do you think there’s any chance?”

Yu Xia didn’t know if there would be another opportunity. Thankfully, the bus arrived, and Chen Zhu, whose mind always jumped from topic to topic, didn’t press the matter. They boarded the bus and headed toward the restaurant.

As they approached the restaurant, Chen Zhu grew increasingly nervous, muttering to herself the entire way. They got off the bus across the long street from their destination.

The traffic light glowed a vivid red as the two women stood across the street, peering through the glass windows into the lavishly decorated restaurant.

“She told me to turn right after entering and look for a table by the window,” Chen Zhu said, glancing at the figure by the window. Among the row of empty tables, only one was occupied. Chen Zhu squinted and saw a balding middle-aged man in a suit, seemingly waiting for someone.

“What? That’s my boss!” Chen Zhu nearly dropped her phone in shock. “Xiaxia, did I accidentally catfish my own boss?”

The thought of fleeing this world flashed through her mind. She desperately wanted to hail a taxi and go home immediately.

“That’s turning left after entering,” Yu Xia said coolly. “Turning right leads to the other side of the street.”

“…Oh, right,” Chen Zhu exhaled in relief, her racing heart returning to its normal rhythm. “I’m just too nervous.”

Chen Zhu suggested checking out the place first, but Yu Xia pointed out that their reservation time was approaching. With the traffic light changing every 60 seconds, they might be late if they lingered.

After a moment’s hesitation, Chen Zhu gave up.

First impressions were crucial when meeting a crush. She couldn’t afford to be late.

As soon as they entered, someone greeted them. After confirming their names, a waiter led the two women deeper into the restaurant.

Chen Zhu’s hands clenched tighter and tighter. The moment the waiter stopped, she looked up and met a pair of smiling eyes. Without a word, she knew this was the gaming partner who had cleared obstacles for her.

“Xiao Zhu?” The woman tilted her head, confirming her identity. “Come, sit down.”

The person beside her had been gazing out the window and only turned around at the sound of their voices.

It was hard to say whether Nanqiao City was too small or if the two women were destined to cross paths. Even on such a niche occasion—accompanying Chen Zhu on her first real-life meeting with her online crush—they ran into Zheng Yun.

The two women exchanged a glance before deliberately looking away, following Qi Shu and Chen Zhu to greet them.

Qi Shu’s neatly trimmed hair fell just past her ears. Her voice was deep and authoritative as she offered a polite and measured greeting.

“Hello,” Qi Shu extended her hand, her tone polite and restrained. “I’m Qi Shu, and this is my good friend, Zheng Yun.”

Chen Zhu only then noticed Zheng Yun sitting beside Qi Shu. She glanced at her and grew even more nervous, her fingers beneath the table nearly crumpling her skirt.

Yu Xia sighed inwardly.

At school, Chen Zhu acted like a little tyrant, so it was rare to see her so anxious and uncertain.

“Hello, Yu Xia,” Yu Xia turned to Zheng Yun, her tone neutral. “Are you feeling better?”

Her tone was casual yet familiar. Qi Shu turned to Zheng Yun, surprised. “You two know each other?”

“It’s nothing,” Zheng Yun replied, still a little stunned. She had expected to play the familiar stranger with Yu Xia again, but Yu Xia had initiated the conversation. “Yes, we’re colleagues.”

“Xiaxia,” Chen Zhu whispered, “you know her?”

Yu Xia nodded. “She’s the new roommate I told you about.”

Zheng Yun reached for her water glass to hide her nervousness, but Yu Xia’s words caught her off guard, nearly causing her to choke.

She set down the glass and forced a smile. “Nice to meet you.”

The four fell into awkward silence.

Qi Shu wanted to ask Zheng Yun about her situation, while Chen Zhu wondered how Yu Xia knew her.

But as adults, maintaining appearances was paramount.

After taking their orders, Qi Shu asked Chen Zhu as the waiter left, “Xiao Zhu, are you satisfied with what you see?”

The earlier awkwardness had eased Chen Zhu’s tension.

Facing Zheng Yun, she suddenly felt a pang of inferiority. She had never felt insecure about her looks before, but today she felt self-conscious.

Only later did Chen Zhu realize this was the subconscious insecurity that comes with falling for someone.

“Satisfied,” Chen Zhu replied brightly. “I never expected you to be so good at gaming and so beautiful.”

“You too,” Qi Shu said, resting her chin in her hand. “I always imagined you as a pure, fresh-faced college girl, maybe even a freshman. I never expected you to be like this in reality.”

Yu Xia listened quietly.

Today was Chen Zhu and Qi Shu’s show, after all. She had only spoken earlier to ease Chen Zhu’s nervousness. Now that the two were chatting comfortably, there was no need for her to say more.

Zheng Yun remained equally silent.

The piano music flowing through the Western restaurant soothed the atmosphere. Yu Xia’s thoughts drifted back to Yuncheng, recalling the times when she, Zheng Yun, Xiao Qi, and Xiao Jiu would often gather around the dinner table, chatting about everything and nothing.

“Are you and Yu Xia college classmates?” Qi Shu asked casually.

“Yeah,” Chen Zhu nodded. “Same class, same dorm.”

“You two must have had tons of admirers in college, right?” Qi Shu pressed, subtly fishing for information.

“I was alright,” Chen Zhu wrinkled her nose, hesitant to mention her past as the campus queen. She quickly shifted the focus to Yu Xia, “But Xiaxia was the most popular girl in our faculty. She had to skip class on Valentine’s Day every year to avoid the endless gifts people kept sending through classmates.”

“So popular,” Qi Shu murmured, tracing circles on the table with her finger. “Never considered dating anyone?”

“My standards are too high,” Chen Zhu shrugged. “No one at school catches my eye.”

Yu Xia didn’t stop Chen Zhu from talking about herself; these things weren’t secrets.

“Do you like pretty girls?” Qi Shu asked, suddenly understanding. “It’s true, someone prettier than her is rare.”

Chen Zhu actually continued the conversation, saying, “At least someone like Zheng Yun in terms of looks.”

Yu Xia: ……

Zheng Yun: ……

Qi Shu, suppressing a laugh, quickly changed the subject. “Let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s eat.”

This Western restaurant was indeed delicious, with the only downside being its high prices.

Qi Shu didn’t ask any more about Yu Xia. Instead, she inquired about Chen Zhu’s work, her favorite foods, and her hobbies, filling the half-hour mealtime.

Yu Xia sat beside them, listening to their back-and-forth banter, feeling like she was watching a blind date unfold.

As they were finishing their meal, rain began to fall in drought-stricken Nanqiao. The raindrops blurred the glass, making the streetlights and pedestrians outside appear hazy.

Based on Yu Xia’s understanding of Chen Zhu, she was already head over heels for the person across from her, completely smitten.

Yu Xia had only vaguely heard Qi Shu’s self-introduction: a second-generation wealthy heir who owned several dental clinics, with loving parents and a seemingly well-adjusted personality—not bad at all.

Yu Xia lowered her gaze, stirring the soup in her bowl.

Zheng Yun’s friends couldn’t be too bad, right?

After the meal, Zheng Yun got up to go to the restroom, and Qi Shu followed, finally getting a chance to exchange a few private words with their respective friends.

Neither of them spoke about their own affairs.

As Qi Shu washed her hands, she teased Zheng Yun, “Is this the one you chased down at her company?”

Zheng Yun didn’t reply, neither confirming nor denying it.

“She’s definitely beautiful and has character,” Qi Shu said, drying her hands. “But judging by her attitude toward you, your goal seems distant and arduous.”

Only then did Zheng Yun’s expression soften.

In the mirror, she saw her reflection—just a light base makeup and a touch of color to compensate for the pallor caused by her period. Yet she looked effortlessly radiant and captivating.

“As long as she stays where she is, I’ll keep walking this path.”

Meanwhile, Chen Zhu leaned conspiratorially toward Yu Xia and whispered, “Xiaxia, spill the beans! Is this the stunning beauty you mentioned when we got in the car?”

Yu Xia nodded.

Chen Zhu nodded in agreement. “She’s breathtakingly beautiful. When she first sat down, I thought a major celebrity had arrived.”

She continued, lost in her own thoughts, “If I’d seen her when I was young, I’d never forget her, even in old age.”

Yu Xia considered this. That would be terrifying, she thought. To be dumped by someone and never be able to forget them for the rest of your life.

When the four of them emerged from the restaurant, the rain hadn’t stopped. Zheng Yun immediately suggested, “Qi Shu, why don’t you take Chen Zhu home?”

“Can’t we all go together?” Chen Zhu asked, reluctant to part with Yu Xia and eager to chat with Qi Shu a bit longer.

“She drove a two-seater today,” Zheng Yun explained. “You two go ahead. I’ll take Yu Xia home.”

Chen Zhu cast a lingering glance at Yu Xia.

Yu Xia nodded and leaned in to whisper in her ear, “Go straight home. Don’t stop anywhere else.”

Chen Zhu’s ears flushed crimson as she nodded eagerly.

“I’ll see you later,” Qi Shu called out as a car approached. She pushed open the door against the torrential rain, holding up an umbrella to escort Chen Zhu. “Drive safe, you two.”

“Xiaxia said she’s really happy living with you!” Chen Zhu shouted from under Qi Shu’s umbrella, waving goodbye with a fond look. “I’ll come visit you both next time!”

As the car pulled away, Yu Xia remarked, “I didn’t say that.”

Zheng Yun nodded. “I know. Taxi or subway?”

The downpour was relentless, as if the sky had sprung a leak. Sewers struggled to swallow the deluge, and passing cars splashed through the overflowing streets, sending up sprays of water.

The subway would undoubtedly be crowded with drenched commuters.

Yu Xia made her decision. “Taxi.”

Since hailing a cab was difficult on this side of the street, they had to cross over. Zheng Yun rummaged in her bag and pulled out a small sun umbrella, barely large enough for one and a half people.

She opened it, leaned closer, and invited Yu Xia to share it. “Let’s go.”

Yu Xia pulled an umbrella from her bag and opened it.

“Let’s go,” she said.

The rain pattered against the umbrella, mingling with Zheng Yun’s clear, pleasant voice: “Do you always carry an umbrella now?”

“Mm-hmm,” Yu Xia replied, tilting the umbrella slightly. The green light blurred in the rain. “It’s better to rely on yourself than others.”

Zheng Yun’s hand tightened around the umbrella handle.

The crowd waiting for a ride was overwhelming, and the two women waited endlessly. Zheng Yun’s umbrella barely covered them both, and Yu Xia sighed softly.

“Come under my umbrella,” she offered.

Might as well go all the way, she thought. We’re colleagues, after all, and she’s on her period. Getting chilled would be bad for her.

As Zheng Yun ducked under Yu Xia’s umbrella, the familiar scent filled her nostrils. Yu Xia tilted the umbrella, her gaze fixed on the approaching ride.

Zheng Yun stood obediently beside her, pressed close to Yu Xia’s arm, trying to keep both of them dry.

The ride arrived.

Yu Xia shielded Zheng Yun as they boarded, then squeezed in herself.

As the vehicle left the bustling city center, the scenery shifted from towering skyscrapers to the residential districts of Nanqiao City. The rain-blurred greenery was lush and vibrant, and the radio broadcast the evening news.

The citrusy fragrance hung heavy in the air. Beside her, Zheng Yun sat silently, accompanying her home.

Everything felt eerily like three years ago.

Yu Xia closed her eyes.

If only we could go back to three years ago…

But the past was forever just that—the past.

She opened her eyes. This was Nanqiao, not Yuncheng.