After Stealing a Kiss from My Sponsor Sister - Chapter 30

The alarm rang, and a hand reached out, slapping it silent.

After dozing for a few more minutes, Jiang Ya threw off the covers and pushed aside Xiao Huang, the eager little troublemaker waiting by her bed, before getting up.

Her slender, pale ankles stepped into slippers as she strode ahead, while four enthusiastic dog legs happily chased after her.

She scooped a small spoonful of freeze-dried treats onto the slow-feeder mat. Xiao Huang, finally getting what he wanted, wagged his tail and started eating, no longer clinging stubbornly to Jiang Ya.

After getting herself ready, she heated up breakfast while preparing Xiao Huang’s meal with dog food and vegetables.

Jiang Ya ate at the table, while Xiao Huang, as usual, devoured his food by her feet.

“Let’s go for a jog today.”

“Woof!”

With the harness secured and her hair tied into a neat ponytail, Jiang Ya began another ordinary day of her life.

A University had a rubberized track where Jiang Ya ran in the early morning, with Xiao Huang tagging along to burn off his excess energy.

Compared to four years ago, Jiang Ya had grown taller, her limbs long and lean, her hair now just past her shoulders. She personally found it a bit troublesome, but Yu Shuang had complimented her hair several times, saying it was smooth and straight like satin, so she kept it at a length that was aesthetically pleasing yet not too high-maintenance.

After two laps, she wiped her sweat and leaned forward, hands on her knees to catch her breath. Xiao Huang panted heavily beside her, tongue lolling.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

She clipped on the leash and took him out.

After bringing the dog home and changing clothes, she stepped back onto campus. The main road of A University was sparsely populated.

Summer break was approaching, and most seniors had already left. Colleges with earlier exams had already seen their students depart after finishing. Jiang Ya was set to start graduate school next semester, but she’d been working for her advisor since this term—research assistants didn’t get summer breaks.

With light steps, she entered the lab building. Before she could reach the lab, a massive bouquet of roses blocked her path.

Jiang Ya sighed inwardly but put on a polite smile as she approached the nervous-looking boy.

Five minutes, seven minutes… ten minutes—her limit.

“Sorry, I already like someone.”

Jiang Ya cut off the classmate’s rambling confession, getting straight to the point.

The boy froze, wanting to ask more, but Jiang Ya ruthlessly steered the conversation elsewhere, sticking to the facts.

The dejected classmate left, but the exquisitely wrapped bouquet remained.

When Jiang Ya pushed open the lab door, her seniors, juniors, and peers all shot her covert, gossipy glances.

Jiang Ya: “The advisor wants progress reports tomorrow. Is everyone done with their own work?”

The room erupted in groans, and no one had the energy for gossip anymore.

Jiang Ya: Photo
Jiang Ya: “Want it? If not, I’m tossing it.”
Jiang Ya: “@Mu Xiaoxiao”

Shu Tianxin: “Looks like another heartbroken boy at A University.”

Mu Xiao: “That’s a huge bouquet!”

Pangpang: “Wish I’d been there to see it.”

Xiaohua: “I want it! Send it to me via same-day delivery! I just got rejected two days ago!! Comfort me.”

Jiang Ya: “Sure, it’s yours.”

Xiaohua: “Wuwuwu, could you…”

Jiang Ya understood: “Write a fake confession note for you to save face in front of your crush?”

Xiaohua: “You’re the best, fairy, I love you~”

Jiang Ya: “Then transfer me the delivery fee?”

“Wuwuwu, you’re so mean!”

With the troublesome bouquet taken care of, Jiang Ya relaxed, poured herself a cup of coffee, and got to work.

During a break, Senior Sister called Jiang Ya over to debug some code. Jiang Ya skimmed through the lines swiftly and quickly pinpointed the bug. Overjoyed, Senior Sister exclaimed, “Yaya, what would our team do without your memory?!”

“It’s fine. You’ll manage on your own after graduation,” Jiang Ya reassured her.

Senior Sister: “Wah!”

Jiang Ya was the deputy leader of the group. The leader was another senior sister about to graduate, who had joined the professor’s team earlier, so it wouldn’t have been appropriate to bypass her. But Jiang Ya’s abilities were too outstanding—within just one academic year, everyone in the group had grown accustomed to calling her over to review their code whenever they ran into issues. Eventually, she was promoted to deputy leader.

Senior Sister was graduating this year and wouldn’t be pursuing her Ph.D. at University A. The professor had already privately mentioned that once Senior Sister left, Jiang Ya would take over the group.

There wasn’t much to celebrate—being in charge was exhausting.

But the professor was generous, and the leader got a larger share, so Jiang Ya was happy to take on the role.

The lab had no strict clock-in policy; everything depended on the students’ own schedules.

Those who arrived later heard the gossip about a confession from the morning crowd.

“He’s a really nice guy, from the School of Economics and Management next door. He’s been quietly asking about you for ages. Still not tempted?” A close junior sister came chattering.

“No interest,” came the icy three-word reply.

Followed by a ruthless reminder: “What about the part you promised me yesterday?”

The junior sister yelped and ran off.

This drew a round of laughter in the lab.

“Fairy Ya is above worldly desires. Since freshman year, I’ve lost count of how many bouquets in all colors have come her way, yet not a single one succeeded.”

“Hahahaha, I told you not to ask. She won’t let you off today until you hand it in.”

“Maybe if you buy Fairy Ya a coffee now, she’ll grant you mercy.”

The person in question paid no attention, fully absorbed in the endless lines of code on her screen.

At noon, Mu Xiao came to find Jiang Ya for lunch.

Jiang Ya was busy replying to messages, so Mu Xiao took the initiative to get her food.

While queuing, Mu Xiao overheard someone discussing a beauty and, turning around, realized they were talking about Jiang Ya. She shook her head and chuckled.

Over the years, Jiang Ya had shed her youthful awkwardness, blossoming into an even more striking figure.

Combined with her sponsor’s impeccable taste, her appearance had increasingly aligned with her old high school nickname—like an ethereal fairy untouched by mortal concerns, cold and aloof, giving off an unapproachable vibe at first glance.

But this was all surface-level.

In private, Jiang Ya was the most money-driven among their group.

“Time to eat,” Mu Xiao said, tapping the tray as she sat down.

“Almost done. Just finishing up a freelance job.”

Mu Xiao wasn’t surprised.

When Jiang Ya finally put her phone down, Mu Xiao asked, “Didn’t that corporation offer you a high-paying job before? If you love taking side gigs so much, why not go for it?”

It wasn’t like Jiang Ya had loftier academic ambitions—Mu Xiao didn’t buy that.

Jiang Ya didn’t brush her off. “Not the right fit.”

“In what way?”

Jiang Ya: “The hiring corporation.”

“???”

Jiang Ya didn’t elaborate further, instead asking about Mu Xiao and Shu Tianxin’s graduate school plans.

Mu Xiao bit her chopsticks, hesitating. “If he proposes, do you think I should say yes?”

Jiang Ya: “…”

Jiang Ya: “You’re already at that stage?”

“He’s been acting weird lately, and he’s been browsing a lot of gemstone websites…”

Jiang Ya raised a hand, cutting her off. “Break up. Don’t ask why. No time to explain. Just break up.”

“.”

Mu Xiao lunged to pinch Jiang Ya, who immediately bolted. The two ended up playfully chasing each other all the way out of the cafeteria.

–

Ding.

Jiang Ya: “Miss Yu, remember to take your supplements.”

“And make sure to space them half an hour apart from alcohol~”

Yu Shuang: “…”

Tan Xiao craned her neck to peek at the message, holding her drink and laughing uncontrollably.

Yu Shuang shot her friend a sidelong glance, pushed her away in mock annoyance, and fished out a pillbox from her bag. When she opened it, the colorful little pills inside looked suspiciously like contraband in the dim light of the bar.

Shu Wangyou returned after ordering drinks and took in the scene. “Your little human alarm clock went off again, huh?”

Tan Xiao: “Of course. It goes off like clockwork every day, time zones be damned.”

She collapsed against her partner, giggling.

Shu Wangyou chuckled too. “Honestly, she’s more attentive than a significant other.”

Yu Shuang, mid-sip of water, choked.

Tan Xiao chimed in, “More than that, I’d say it’s practically like having a little girlfriend. Texting every day, reminding you of everything, clingy and pretty, and always keeping you in mind. Tsk. Did she really not like the girl I introduced last time? Ningning?”

Yu Shuang: “Don’t stir up trouble.”

She gave Shu Wangyou a meaningful look and warned, “You’ve settled down yourself, and now you’re out here corrupting the youth, huh?”

“Unfair! I was genuinely trying to set her up. Besides, she’s not that young—she’s already 22, past the legal marriage age, and she’s outstanding with those long fingers—”

“Cough!”

Yu Shuang couldn’t hold back and spat out her water.

Professor Shu was also on high alert. “You’ve been paying attention to those details?”

Realizing her slip-up, Tan Xiao quickly turned to soothe her partner.

After catching her breath, Yu Shuang said, “You can say whatever you want in front of me, but don’t spout nonsense around her. The kid’s got thin skin.”

She snapped a photo of the pillbox and sent it to Jiang Ya.

Tan Xiao picked up her freshly served drink and suddenly remarked, “You know, the way you’re acting, it’s like you’re reporting to your significant other.”

Yu Shuang nearly dropped her phone.

Through gritted teeth: “No. It’s. Not.”

“Alright, alright, it’s not, it’s not. Want a drink?”

“Took my vitamins. It’ll interfere with absorption.”

“Tsk tsk tsk. No~~t at all~~”

“…”

This conversation was hopeless.

Rolling her eyes, Yu Shuang checked the time and decided not to indulge the couple’s antics any longer. She got up and headed back to the hotel.

The sound of waves crashing against the shore was soothing to the soul.

She’d been invited by Tan Xiao for a two-week vacation, partly to help her friend—who had finally decided to tie the knot—pick a wedding venue.

The seaside was beautiful, the moonlight scattering like crushed silver, but the wind was too strong. Not ideal.

Her body, worn out from relentless work, had succumbed to a minor illness the moment she slowed down. Nothing serious—the doctor said she just needed rest and prescribed a heap of vitamins and supplements.

Now Jiang Ya treated it like an alarm clock, reminding her to take them on schedule.

And it wasn’t just this one thing. Jiang Ya kept track of countless details in her life.

Tan Xiao had joked long ago that Jiang Ya was her real life assistant, the one she relied on heavily.

Yu Shuang couldn’t argue. She wasn’t the type to remember things.

Back at the hotel, her phone buzzed with Jiang Ya’s reply:

“^_^”