My Roommate Is a Dirty Talker (GL) - Chapter 50

Shi Xuan’s home.

In the adjacent bedroom, her oldest brother was passionately strumming his guitar. The smooth melody was abruptly interrupted by a deep, authoritative female voice. Without even looking, Shi Xuan knew it was her mother. She quickly put on her headphones, seeking refuge in her own world.

But thinking about her brother’s miserable state, she couldn’t resist the urge to watch the drama unfold. To avoid getting caught in the crossfire, Shi Xuan wisely decided to sit back and observe the impending clash like a spectator at a tiger fight.

Removing her headphones, the voices outside became much clearer.

Whenever her mother returned from abroad, her old friends would always find excuses to drag her out. They were clearly bored out of their minds. As for her mother, she seemed to relish the freedom. Every day, she either schemed to take Shi Xuan and her brother to visit other families to strengthen bonds, or she pressured them to find partners and start families.

Huanhuan, hurry up and get ready! We’re visiting Aunt Liu’s tonight, the woman said, already dressed. Despite her elegant, figure-hugging sheath dress, she exuded no hint of extravagance, only a serene and dignified grace.

Ji Wen was forty-five years old, but her work environment had imbued her with an elegant and refined air. Like many mothers, she never stopped worrying about her child.

Shi Xuan knew this all too well.

Ever since her father’s death, her mother had made it a point to visit home frequently each year. This time, she was only staying for a month, but upon learning that Shi Xuan had moved out on her own, she began to nag incessantly.

I wouldn’t stop you from working, even as a girl. I supported your dreams of studying design and post-production. But why leave our perfectly good home to live elsewhere?

Shi Xuan knew her mother had misunderstood, but upon reflection, she realized her mother wasn’t entirely wrong. So she kept her head down and remained silent.

Later, when the topic came up again, Shi Xuan confessed, Mom, I’m living with another girl.

Ji Wen’s initial shock was predictable. But instead of surprise or reproach, her reaction was one of deep guilt and worry. This repetition of history was another painful blow for her.

Listening to Ji Wen’s gentle guidance of Shi Huan, Shi Xuan suddenly regretted her harsh words from that day. She had undoubtedly reopened a deep wound in her mother’s heart, causing her pain.

Huanhuan, you lazy child, why aren’t you up yet? Ji Wen urged repeatedly, but Shi Huan ignored her, meticulously tuning his guitar string by string. Growing impatient, Ji Wen strode over in three quick steps, snatched the guitar, and placed it on the bed beside him.

This boy truly takes after his father’s stubborn nature, Ji Wen thought, tugging at his arm. Shi Huan stared blankly at the guitar that had vanished from his grasp, as a torrent of nagging rained down on him.

You stubborn child! All my efforts are for your own good! Aunt Liu’s daughter is quite impressive—pretty, and already the editor-in-chief of a magazine just two years after graduating. Why are you so dead-set against it?

Shi Huan, disheveled from Ji Wen’s tugging, stood up resentfully, grabbed a jacket from the closet, and muttered, How many times have you said this? I’m still young. Look at Shi Xuan—she’s practically ancient, and even she’s not in a rush.

Shi Xuan moved to lean against the doorway, her gaze fixed on Shi Huan. With a cold roll of her eyes, she snapped, Older Sister!

Shi Huan jumped up, stuck out his neck, and made a face at Shi Xuan, pointing at her with disdain. Shi Xuan’s almost thirty! She’s always out gallivanting around, who knows what she’s even doing. Mom, why don’t you keep her in line?

Ji Wen blocked Shi Huan’s path, refusing to be distracted. Don’t change the subject. Your sister already has someone. Worry about yourself.

Before she could finish speaking, not only Shi Huan was stunned, but Shi Xuan froze in place as well. What? Did I hear that right? Mom agreed? Does this mean she’s finally acknowledging Xiao’s existence?

Hurry up and get ready. We’re eating at Hai Sheng at 730, Ji Wen ordered Shi Huan in an authoritative tone. As she passed the doorway, she glanced at Shi Xuan and added, Don’t get too excited. I’ll decide after I meet them.

Shi Xuan was astonished. She swore this was the biggest concession Ji Wen had ever made! After all, being threatened by her own daughter with past secrets would inevitably provoke any parent’s anger and embarrassment. To maintain such composure and handle the situation with such detachment required extraordinary magnanimity.

Shi Xuan had anticipated Ji Wen’s reluctance and preemptively brought up her mother’s past with Aunt Xue, details her father had shared before his death. Her mother had spent years abroad, returning home only a few times a year. From childhood until graduation, Shi Xuan and her younger brother had relied solely on their father for support.

Though not related by bl00d, the father and daughter shared an unbreakable bond, confiding in each other without reservation.

Mom, Shi Xuan said, gripping Ji Wen’s hand and offering a grateful smile. Thank you.

Ji Wen gazed quietly at her daughter, momentarily lost in thought as she saw a flicker of Xue Min’s spirit in her eyes. Yet lingering doubts remained. Even after more than two decades, the past still haunted her, a memory she dared not revisit.

Shi Huan, trailing behind Ji Wen, missed the unspoken exchange between mother and daughter. Noticing Shi Xuan’s pale complexion, he clapped her on the shoulder and whispered curiously, Hey sis, when did you get a boyfriend? Why haven’t I heard about this? Did you block me on social media?

Shi Xuan glared at him, crossing her arms and sneering coldly, Want me to smash that stupid guitar of yours?

Shi Huan still vividly remembered the time his older sister nearly burned down the house when she was eighteen. He dared not provoke Shi Xuan, instinctively retreating to his room to retrieve his precious guitar before reluctantly following Ji Wen out the door for his blind date.

Ah, the fate of the unfortunate child is always a failed blind date.

Only after hearing the downstairs door close did Shi Xuan rush back to her room to call Shen Weixiao. The phone rang three times before she heard the connection.

Hello? Xiao? Shi Xuan sensed something was off and repeated, Xiao, are you there?

She could hear Shen Weixiao’s heavy breathing, each breath pressing down on her chest until she could barely breathe herself. Just when she was about to blame the poor signal on a passing train, Shen Weixiao’s voice, trembling slightly, finally broke through.

Xu Sheng came to see me.

Shen Weixiao sighed heavily, burying her face in the quilt, desperate to hide her slightly reddened eyes.

She had always believed that her connection with Shi Xuan was destined, that they were meant to be together. But when Xu Sheng confronted her, she found herself utterly without argument.

Perhaps Xu Sheng was right. Shi Xuan had been with her only to test her, to make Xu Sheng jealous and force her to confront her true feelings.

How dare you say she never loved me? If she didn’t love me, why would she resent me so deeply now? Why hasn’t she come to me about you, begging me to let you go?

They had once been the closest of friends, for so many years.

Xu Sheng’s words struck Shen Weixiao’s heart like hammer blows. Yes, she was fragile, suddenly overwhelmed by insecurity. All their promises of mutual trust had crumbled before an unproven suspicion.

In that moment, she was terrified.

Shen Weixiao closed her eyes, tears clinging to her lashes as she waited for a response from the other end of the line, for an explanation.

Even if it’s a lie, just tell me something. I’ll believe it.

Xiao, Shi Xuan said, her heart pounding faster than it had when she first confessed her feelings to Shen Weixiao.

Do you trust me, or a stranger?

Shen Weixiao’s body stiffened. A flash of lightning seemed to illuminate something she had been too afraid to acknowledge.