After Stealing a Kiss from My Sponsor Sister - Chapter 15
Petting Xiao Huang steadily, Jiang Ya’s hand was calm, but her heart was anything but.
Was it?
Or wasn’t it?
If statistics were anything to go by, the odds were high…
Jiang Ya hugged Xiao Huang tightly.
The warm fur of the dog’s head pressed against her neck, and she realized she felt a little sad.
Xiao Huang seemed to sense her emotions too. Its wet nose nuzzled against her, and the once-excited puppy now lay quietly in her arms, resting its head on her shoulder.
“Am I asking for too much?”
Jiang Ya’s voice was so soft only she and the dog could hear it.
The answer was obvious.
When had it started?
Jiang Ya didn’t know.
Maybe it was because Miss Yu was too good to her—spoiling her.
Greed was like that; the appetite grew bit by bit, and Jiang Ya knew it well.
But if she were rational, perhaps she didn’t even have the right to feel sad.
What sponsor would want the child they supported to harbor such feelings for them?
Miss Yu simply didn’t know.
Always calling her “kid” or “little one”—the way Miss Yu saw her was already clear enough in that term alone…
Jiang Ya closed her eyes.
Her lashes trembled slightly.
One by one, she pushed away the tangled thoughts—both logical and emotional.
She just needed a little more time to sort herself out.
She could handle her emotions.
She wouldn’t let Miss Yu regret anything.
She wouldn’t let things spiral into something awkward.
Just a little more time…
A little longer.
–
Half a month later, Yu Shuang felt she had made up her mind, even drafting several versions of what she wanted to say.
He Minqian didn’t take her back to the He family villa. Instead, he led her to a wooden pavilion in the garden area, secluded among trees and flowers, utterly quiet.
After pulling her by the arm just long enough to get her out of Jiang Ya’s sight, He Minqian let go.
He walked ahead, his back turned to her, before finally spinning around.
When Yu Shuang saw the expression on his face, her words caught in her throat.
“You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”
Before she could answer, He Minqian laughed—a bitter, pained sound.
“Did I ruin everything?”
Her throat tightened, but when she opened her mouth, no words came out.
She realized she still couldn’t face it—
Not emotionally.
–
Jiang Ya steadied her emotions and took Xiao Huang for another couple of laps. After the dog had taken care of its business, she picked up after it, tossed the waste, and washed her hands at the public faucet.
Just then, Miss Yu returned.
Alone.
“Miss Yu, Xiao Huang’s been walked. We can leave now.”
Jiang Ya reported dutifully.
Yu Shuang gave a faint nod in acknowledgment.
Her mood was clearly off.
Jiang Ya sensed it immediately.
And she was right.
From the moment they got the dog into the car to the drive back to the garage, Miss Yu spoke very little.
Only when parking did she seem to remember something and instructed, “I’ve packed all the dog’s essentials. There’s a playpen and toys at home—I’ll show you later.”
“It’s a duplex. I live on the second floor, but I wasn’t sure if Xiao Huang would adjust, so I set up a guest room for you on the first floor. If you don’t like it, you can ask the housekeeper to change it.”
“My assistant is handling your school transfer. With your grades, you don’t have to worry about finding a place, but you’ll need to decide which school you prefer. We’ll figure that out later.”
“My walk-in closet has plenty of unworn clothes. Pick a few to wear for now, and when we have time in a couple of days, I’ll take you shopping for more.”
“Don’t refuse. I want to try styling you for practice—I’ve never dressed someone with your aesthetic before. Consider the clothes payment for being my model.”
“Lastly, once I get busy, I probably won’t have time to look after you. When school starts, you’ll be boarding there.”
“That’s about it. Any questions?”
Jiang Ya shook her head.
It was pretty much what she had expected.
In fact, if Miss Yu hadn’t brought it up, she might have chosen to board at school herself.
…To give herself some space.
“Alright, let’s go upstairs. Xiao Huang, follow.”
“Yip yip!” The spoiled dog wagged her tail and dashed ahead, tongue lolling.
The leash tugged Jiang Ya forward.
“Oh, by the way—has she been spayed yet?” Yu Shuang asked, referring to Xiao Huang.
Xiao Huang was female.
“No, she’s only nine months old. It’s still early.”
“Mm, as long as you’re aware. Once you start school…” Yu Shuang paused, realizing that given her current workload, she wouldn’t have time to care for Xiao Huang in the next month or two. “We’ll figure it out then.”
Once inside the elevator, Jiang Ya caught on. She patted Xiao Huang’s head and offered, “If it doesn’t work out, we can find her an adopter.”
Yu Shuang gave her a surprised look. “You’d be okay with that?”
Jiang Ya wasn’t.
But—”As long as it’s good for Xiao Huang.”
Yu Shuang was silent for a moment. “Senior year of high school—do you really have the bandwidth to take care of a dog?”
“The school wouldn’t allow pets anyway.”
“Just answer the question.”
Jiang Ya wasn’t sure what Yu Shuang was getting at. After a moment’s thought, she answered honestly, “It was manageable in my hometown school. I’m not sure about the new environment, but… I think I could handle it?”
“Got it.”
She didn’t say anything more.
Jiang Ya’s thoughts drifted briefly until the sight of Miss Yu’s home stunned her into silence.
So big. So clean. So… expensive.
Just like Miss Yu herself.
Yu Shuang showed her to her room, then took her to see the supplies prepared for Xiao Huang. The playpen was already assembled—spacious, with pee pads neatly laid out by the housekeeper.
But there were signs of wear. Jiang Ya ran her fingers over the bite marks on the pen’s bars as Yu Shuang explained, “This was used by my old dog. After she passed, most of her things were thrown away, but this was bought right before I went abroad, so it stayed. Figured I’d put it to use.”
“When did you have a dog, Miss Yu?”
“Years ago. Back in high school.”
That really was a long time ago.
Her fingers lingering on the teeth marks, Yu Shuang’s expression—previously unreadable—softened into a smile.
Her lashes lowered slightly, her features relaxed and serene.
Gentle. Nostalgic.
“I didn’t know anything back then. After getting her, I took so many training classes. It was inconvenient in China, but once we moved abroad, she lived freely—traveled to a lot of places. All in all, she had a happy life.”
“A big dog?”
“Mm, a golden retriever. Very gentle, very attuned to people’s emotions.”
Yu Shuang crouched to pet Xiao Huang, who wagged her tail obliviously.
Watching Yu Shuang’s tender fingers, Jiang Ya thought, No wonder Miss Yu isn’t afraid of dogs—and knows all the commands.
“Did she… not come back to China with you?”
“She didn’t make it.”
Jiang Ya’s heart sank. She realized she’d asked the wrong question.
Yu Shuang rested her face against Xiao Huang but spoke nonchalantly, “She lived to thirteen. A tumor took her. We did multiple surgeries, but in the end, seeing how much she suffered, we chose euthanasia. She passed in my arms.”
Her gaze momentarily lost focus.
Suddenly, Yu Shuang remembered that when she first met Su Shu, she had been walking a dog.
Later, after the dog passed, it was Su Shu who stayed by her side during that time.
Perhaps from the very beginning, this relationship had been tangled with too many things, making it impossible for her to see clearly.
These thoughts lasted only a second. Yu Shuang quickly composed herself, patting Xiao Huang’s head. “Alright, you tidy up down here. I’ll go upstairs and get my things sorted too. Come down for dinner when you’re done.”
“I’ll cook.”
“Auntie made lunch earlier—it’s in the fridge. Just cook some rice and reheat the dishes.”
“Message me if you don’t know how to use any of the kitchenware.”
Jiang Ya placed Xiao Huang inside the pen and nodded. “Got it.”
By evening, when Yu Shuang came downstairs again, she handed Jiang Ya a few unworn clothes and pajamas—enough for the girl to wear over the next few days.
She added the housekeeper’s WeChat on Jiang Ya’s phone and told her to ask the auntie for any daily necessities she needed.
They ate dinner quietly, but then the phone calls started pouring in.
After teaching Jiang Ya how to use the dishwasher, Yu Shuang took her incessantly ringing phone upstairs.
The calls lasted all night.
She ignored only her father’s calls—everyone else, she answered.
Yu Jiao praised her for having guts.
Yu Shuang told her aunt not to just watch from the sidelines.
Most relatives were just calling to confirm the news. Once they got their answers, even if they had a thousand thoughts in their minds, they wouldn’t say much outwardly.
Except for the matriarch of the Yu family—Yu Gaoyun, Yu Shuang’s grandmother.
“Was Mrs. He angry?” Grandma asked.
Yu Shuang answered honestly, “If I said she didn’t seem to be, would you believe me?”
Grandma: “Then it means you haven’t crossed the line yet.”
“…”
Fine. People like them could indeed interpret it that way.
“Have you thought it through?”
“Mhm.”
“Won’t you regret it?”
Yu Shuang: “Not right now. All I feel is relief.”
“Alright. Come back tomorrow. We’ll talk in person.”
That was the only crucial line in the entire call.
As much as she wanted to refuse, Yu Shuang knew this wasn’t a request—it was a command.
“Okay,” she replied.
The call ended—the old lady needed her rest.
Yu Shuang’s mind was in turmoil, and Yu Mingyuan’s calls kept coming through. Annoyed, she blocked her father.
There was nothing left to say between them anyway.
Soon, another number rang. Yu Shuang glanced at it and laughed before answering, “Old classmate, what do you want to say?”
The woman’s voice was as poised and gentle as ever. “Did you block your dad?”
“Are you calling me as my stepmom now?”
“…Mhm.”
“Blocked.”
“Alright, I’ll try to talk him out of calling you again.”
“You can also tell him I blocked him.”
“I’d rather not stir up trouble for myself.”
Yu Shuang chuckled. “Don’t call me in this capacity for the next three months, okay?”
The other woman was even more pragmatic. “I won’t for the next six months.”
A pleasant agreement reached.
Call ended.
Her ears were finally quiet, but her mind refused to settle. Too many thoughts surfaced, impossible to suppress.
After a shower, Yu Shuang went downstairs in search of alcohol.
There was still some low-proof ice wine left—perfect for her current mood, too lazy to mix a proper drink.
The golden-hued wine swirled in the flute glass as Yu Shuang gently swayed it, perched at the bar counter. If only some music could be playing…
“Miss Yu, can’t sleep?”
Oh, Jiang Ya was still awake.
Yu Shuang: “Mind if I put on some music?”
Jiang Ya shook her head, and Yu Shuang played a soft melody, slow and soothing.
Only a few small pendant lights illuminated the bar counter, casting a warm, cozy glow that made the atmosphere feel inviting and relaxed.
Yu Shuang took another sip of wine, feeling much better.
Her gaze landed on Jiang Ya, and she suddenly asked, “Are you actually of age?”
“By birthdate, yes. The ID registration date isn’t accurate.”
“Then let me pour you a little. It’s sweet—want to try?”
Jiang Ya looked at Miss Yu in her robe, her heart fluttering at the smile on Yu Shuang’s lips. Unable to refuse, she murmured, “Okay.”
It was sweet. And cold.
Miss Yu had added plenty of ice to her glass, diluting the alcohol to a faint whisper.
So it really was just a taste.
Yu Shuang swayed slightly to the music, her robe slipping off one shoulder to reveal skin like polished jade and a delicate silk spaghetti strap.
The flash of bare skin sent Jiang Ya’s pulse racing, forcing her to lower her eyes to the table.
“Miss Yu, aren’t you going to sleep yet?”
After a while of drinking, the clock on the wall ticked past eleven. Jiang Ya finally spoke up.
“Can’t sleep. My mind’s a mess.”
“Is it because of that gentleman from this afternoon?”
Jiang Ya saw a flicker of confusion cross Miss Yu’s face before she seemed to seriously consider the question, then threw her head back with a laugh.
“Yes and no. It’s related, but not really about him personally.”
Then, as if lost in thought, she murmured to herself, “Though maybe that’s not entirely true?”
“Or… maybe it is, a little.”
Jiang Ya: “Is he… a friend of yours?”
Her palms grew damp with sweat the moment she asked.
She knew Yu Shuang disliked prying questions—private matters were almost always off-limits. But Jiang Ya just… couldn’t help herself.
Yet the current Yu Shuang, slightly tipsy and in a talkative mood, answered, “He will be, from now on.”
“He… wasn’t before?”
“Ex-fiancé.”
Thud.
The words struck Jiang Ya like a physical blow, freezing half her body stiff.
“Oh. Oh, boyfriend, then.” She had no idea what she was saying, stumbling over her words.
But Yu Shuang didn’t confirm it. “No.”
“?”
“Ever seen those dramas? The kind where two people have little personal connection, but their families acknowledge an engagement?”
Jiang Ya had felt like she’d been handed a death sentence with the previous statement.
Now, it was commuted to a suspended sentence.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Jiang Ya decided silence was the best strategy and clamped her mouth shut.
“Hey, kid.”
“Hmm?”
Yu Shuang suddenly leaned in, tilting halfway over and closing the distance between them. Jiang Ya could even catch the scent of shampoo and body wash lingering on Miss Yu’s skin.
Her breath hitched, body tensing.
“Ever had a teenage romance?”
Those red lips parted, the question slipping out abruptly.
Her collarbones, exposed by the movement, looked like a pair of butterfly wings poised to take flight. The robe slid down a little further, revealing more of the champagne-colored silk beneath the strap.
Gulp.
Jiang Ya swallowed hard.
From her angle, she suddenly realized—Miss Yu didn’t seem to be wearing anything beneath that spaghetti strap.
“N-no.”
Only an unspoken crush. That didn’t count, right?
Besides, technically, she was already past eighteen.