After Stealing a Kiss from My Sponsor Sister - Chapter 4

The mountain town after the rain was steeped in a cool, refreshing air, with crisp breezes weaving through, gently lifting the ends of the girl’s hair like a tender kiss.

Yu Shuang wasn’t sure if Jiang Ya was actually of age, but judging by her face alone, she looked young.

Her long, straight hair was soft and smooth, catching faint traces of moonlight that reflected a muted, satin-like sheen. Her eyebrows were delicately arched, exuding a hazy, mist-like quality. Her eyes were round, slightly upturned at the outer corners, with inner epicanthic folds, yet her pupils were large and full—creating an innocent, almost naive purity that carried the subtle grace of Eastern beauty.

Ignoring the emotions in those eyes, Yu Shuang lowered her lashes slightly.

Her nose was straight—fine from the front, but strikingly sharp in profile. Her cheeks were plump, bearing the youthful fullness unique to adolescence, the abundant collagen tightly wrapping the contours of her face, almost to the point of excess.

Her features adhered to the classic “three divisions and five eyes” standard, approaching the golden ratio, with inward-tapering jawlines and a high facial fold.

Her face had character, and her figure was elegant.

Standing before Yu Shuang, she seemed to blend seamlessly into the rain-soaked landscape behind her—unadorned yet radiant, serene and understated.

Like…

Countless flowers and vines flashed through Yu Shuang’s mind before settling on a single, ghostly white image—

Like a night-blooming cereus, quietly unfurling.

Yu Shuang quirked a faint smile at the peculiar metaphor.

Her appraisal lasted only a moment before she lifted her gaze to meet those eyes again.

Round, dark pupils glinted with highlights, lips pressed slightly together, the emotions burning in her gaze impossible to ignore as she stared Yu Shuang down.

Honestly, Yu Shuang felt nothing.

“Are you interrogating me?”

She took half a step forward in her flats, the cold light sharpening the angles of her eyes and brows.

The innocent round eyes before her widened involuntarily, pupils trembling. “I’m not—”

“Think carefully before you answer.”

Yu Shuang took another half-step, the soft tap of her heel against the ground sounding light, yet landing heavily in Jiang Ya’s ears.

Leaning slightly forward, her gaze never wavered from Jiang Ya’s.

She didn’t like being questioned.

“Regardless of whatever social relationship we might have had before, even after today’s meeting, I think we’re still well within the boundaries of strangers.”

“And within those boundaries, I’d like to know—what identity or position are you speaking from, kid, to ask me these things? And in that tone?”

“…”

Yu Shuang’s gaze bore down with tangible weight.

Jiang Ya’s lashes trembled in response.

Her breathing grew uneven, unseen beads of cold sweat trickling down beneath her hairline.

The girl’s shoulders tensed slightly, looking so fragile it seemed she might retreat at any moment.

But she didn’t. To Yu Shuang’s surprise, after a brief flicker of hesitation, Jiang Ya met her gaze again.

Those beautiful eyes now brimmed with even richer emotions.

Yu Shuang couldn’t decipher them,

but they were undeniably captivating.

“I mean no offense, Miss Yu.”

Each word was enunciated clearly.

Jiang Ya took a deep breath. “Perhaps I was too hasty, and my tone was off, but this isn’t an interrogation.”

“Then what is it?”

The light in Jiang Ya’s eyes flickered. “A question.”

“You could also treat it as… a request from me.”

Her brows slightly furrowed, Jiang Ya took a small step forward, tilting her head up to gaze at Yu Shuang. Under the moonlight, her face was free of any adornment, and her tone was almost pleading as she said, “If possible, I hope you can give me an answer.”

This is very important to me.

But Jiang Ya swallowed those words.

Perhaps afraid of frightening someone.

Her expression was utterly sincere. As Yu Shuang watched quietly, for a fleeting moment, she had the absurd notion that if she were to say no, Jiang Ya might tear out her own heart to prove her sincerity.

Didn’t you already have an answer earlier?

The sarcastic remark lodged in Yu Shuang’s throat as she took in Jiang Ya’s forced smile.

Not even an adult yet.

Just lost her closest family.

Dropped out of school.

And Yu Shuang had been so harsh with her…

How awful!

Letting out a long sigh, Yu Shuang pressed a hand to her forehead and glanced upward briefly before taking a small step back.

Better not play the villain in front of a minor!

“Well…”

She had barely started when a loud voice from behind drowned her out. “Sorry, everyone, so sorry!”

“Today’s a special case—our hotel is fully booked.”

Yu Shuang turned around.

The speaker was immediately swarmed by the queue of people.

“Don’t panic, don’t panic, listen to me!”

“There’s another hotel at the end of the street—they still have rooms. You can head over there now.”

“Really sorry about this, it’s so late already. Best to hurry over.”

Yu Shuang: “…”

So much for not being the villain!

Turning back, she caught sight of the girl hesitating, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

“What is it?”

Jiang Ya’s eyes flickered uncertainly.

“Speak.”

Irritated, Yu Shuang realized too late how sharp her tone had been. She pinched her brow, forcing down her frustration. “Sorry, didn’t mean to snap. It’s just been a long day…”

Jiang Ya murmured, “That hotel… has some hygiene issues.”

“……”

Yu Shuang: “…………”

In recent years, hotel hygiene scandals had erupted one after another. With just that one sentence, Yu Shuang’s mind conjured up headlines—kettles used to boil unmentionables, showerheads hiding horrors, and the creative misuse of plumbing fixtures.

Ah.

Slapping a hand over her face, Yu Shuang’s mind went blank.

She stood there dazed for a few seconds before pulling her suitcase in front of her, gripping the handle, and plopping down onto it. Her forehead thudded heavily against her hands.

Screw it. Whatever happens, happens.

Her cascading hair tumbled forward with the motion, instantly shrouding her face completely.

“Miss Yu?” Jiang Ya ventured cautiously.

“Aren’t you going to the other hotel?”

“Nope.”

“?? Then what will you do tonight??”

“Sleep on the street.”

“……”

“Xiao Ya, I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Why did you come back?! And… Miss Yu? What’s going on here?”

Feng Gu, realizing halfway that Jiang Ya had disappeared, had retraced his steps and finally found her at the hotel entrance.

Along with a very peculiar-looking Yu Shuang.

Yu Shuang: “Dead.”

Feng Gu: “?? Miss Yu, what are you talking about? You’re clearly… alive?”

Yu Shuang: “A walking corpse, then.”

“……”

Jiang Ya quickly summarized the situation, omitting the specifics of her conversation with Yu Shuang.

After hearing it, Feng Gu said, “That place at the end is no good. Just last month, someone filed a complaint about their hygiene.”

Yu Shuang: “……”

Jiang Ya: “……”

Realizing his misstep, Feng Gu hurriedly backtracked. “Miss Yu, don’t worry—let me think of something.”

Yu Shuang finally lifted her face, elegantly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “No rush,” she said.

“Worst case, we can go back to the car.”

“That won’t do. What if there’s a landslide tonight…?”

Yu Shuang: “Then we’d just solve the problem at its source.”

“…”

The venomous woman strikes again!

While Yu Shuang remained unhurried, Feng Gu was growing anxious.

The director and the notary had already checked in, but both had single rooms, and the notary was a woman. Squeezing into one room with Yu Shuang wasn’t practical. Miss Yu seemed like someone with high standards—suggesting she share a room with the notary… Feng Gu tentatively floated the idea, then mentally crossed it out with a big red X.

After making a round of calls with no luck, Feng Gu finally said helplessly, “How about… you stay at my place for now?”

Yu Shuang thought she’d misheard.

Feng Gu: “My parents are home. I’ll have them clean up my room for you to stay the night. I’ll squeeze in with our director.”

It was the only solution left.

Yu Shuang: “I’ll think about it.”

“You…”

“Hmm, I’m a bit of a clean freak.”

“…”

“I’ll have them put on fresh bedding.”

Yu Shuang: “Psychologically, I’m also a bit…”

“…”

The woman sat on her suitcase, brows furrowed in genuine contemplation—it didn’t seem like an act.

By now, the hotel entrance had emptied out. Jiang Ya glanced down the street, her gaze landing on the damp, deserted stone pavement. Most of the dispersed crowd had probably settled in.

Yu Shuang was still thinking.

Feng Gu stood by, waiting.

The world fell quiet again.

“Otherwise,” Jiang Ya spoke up under the warm glow of the streetlamp, “Miss Yu could stay at my place.”

The empty street suddenly felt crowded with the sound of her own heartbeat.

Yu Shuang looked over.

Swallowing hard, Jiang Ya met those mesmerizing eyes and said, “I have a guest room that’s only used when relatives visit. I can clean it up for you.”

“Of course, if you don’t mind.”

Jiang Ya laid it all out: “My grandmother passed away at home two weeks ago. Her ashes are still at the funeral home. I don’t know if that’s something you’d want to avoid.”

Yu Shuang tilted her head. “What about you? Doesn’t it bother you?”

Jiang Ya shook her head. “You sponsored me before. I think Grandma would be happy to help you.”

Yu Shuang exhaled, eyes fixed on the ground.

Jiang Ya watched her intently.

“Alright, I’ll stay at your place,” Yu Shuang said, standing up. “I’ll pay you the same rate as the hotel.”

“No charge.”

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. Jiang Ya added firmly, “If you insist on paying, you should stay at Feng Gu’s instead.”

The girl’s resolve was unshakable.

After a brief standoff, Yu Shuang relented. “…Fine.”

A faint smile touched her lips. “Which way?”

Jiang Ya felt like her own heartbeat was deafening.

–

The mountain path wasn’t easy to navigate, but with Feng Gu carrying her luggage and Jiang Ya pointing out the puddles, Yu Shuang’s shoes stayed relatively clean.

“This is it.”

Jiang Ya stopped in front of a small courtyard.

They had already passed Feng Gu’s house. After exchanging goodbyes, he headed home first.

Fumbling for her keys, Jiang Ya said, “This area’s pretty remote. It’s fine during the day, but don’t wander around at night—there are stray dogs nearby.”

As if on cue, barking erupted from inside the house.

The girl smiled. “We have a dog too. His name is Xiao Huang.”

The door opened, and an enthusiastic yellow dog bounded toward Jiang Ya. She scooped him up, laughing as he licked her face excitedly.

“Miss Yu, wait outside for a bit. I’ll go tidy up first.”

Watching Jiang Ya about to tie up the dog, Yu Shuang tilted her chin toward the little yellow pup and asked, “Does it bite?”

“No.”

“Then just leave it outside. I’m not afraid of dogs.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Can strangers pet it?”

“If it wags its tail, then yes.”

Jiang Ya went inside, and Little Huang trotted after its owner, disappearing from sight.

When the courtyard was finally empty except for her, Yu Shuang finally looked around.

A small yard with stone-paved bricks, still damp from the rain. Under the eaves, she spotted a rattan chair. Yu Shuang sat down and tilted her head back, gazing at the vast, dark sky adorned with a huge white moon.

It was beautiful. Unfortunately, Yu Shuang was too troubled to appreciate it.

She sat there for a while, mindlessly soaking in the chilly mountain air, when suddenly something nudged against her foot.

Looking down, she met a pair of bright, sparkling dog eyes staring up at her.

“Little Huang?”

Yu Shuang tentatively called out.

The little yellow dog wagged its tail furiously, nudging her ankle repeatedly.

Yu Shuang reached out and patted its head. “Good dog?”

“Woof~!” The puppy responded excitedly in a soft, happy whimper.

Its soft fur brushed against her palm, and soon it flopped onto its back, rolling around playfully, tongue lolling out in carefree delight.

Yu Shuang scratched its head, and before long, she found herself smiling along with it.

“Cheeky little dog!”

“Pant, pant~” The pup could only wag its tail and grin.

Yu Shuang’s mood lightened considerably.

“Miss Yu, your room is ready.”

Jiang Ya stepped out just in time to see Yu Shuang crouched down, with Little Huang sprawled on its back, belly up.

Jiang Ya paused mid-step. “It really likes you.”

“Does it?”

Yu Shuang neither confirmed nor denied it, standing up and pulling her suitcase along. “Please show me the way.”

Jiang Ya pushed open the door to reveal a modest-sized room with a window, a wooden bed, and freshly changed bedding. The air carried a faint, musty scent of a space long uninhabited.

Not bad.

Yu Shuang thanked Jiang Ya.

“Let me know if you need anything else. I’ll go change Little Huang’s water. Call me if you need anything.”

Being alone in the room together suddenly felt awkward, and Jiang Ya hurriedly excused herself.

Just as she turned to leave, Yu Shuang stopped her.

“Maybe there was some misunderstanding earlier, or something didn’t come across right. It doesn’t matter. To me, no stranger is worth liking or disliking—I don’t let those feelings take root.”

Jiang Ya closed the door behind her, belatedly realizing Yu Shuang had just answered the conversation that had been interrupted earlier.

Miss Yu hadn’t forgotten.

Nor had she brushed it off.

Outside the door, Little Huang started rubbing against Jiang Ya’s legs again.

Jiang Ya crouched down to pet it, and as she did, her neck flushed red. Slowly, her ears followed suit.

She really was a kind and gentle person.

And she… had brought someone like Miss Yu home…

“Be good,” Jiang Ya whispered to the dog. “To the person I brought back.”

After saying that, her entire face turned red.