Chapter 26: A Sister’s Intuition and a Counselor’s Guise

The luggage was not extensive, though the books comprised the heaviest portion. What she had brought from the villa felt more like a travel bag, with most of its contents being personal items such as clothes and jewelry.

Qian Xidong labeled the neatly sorted storage bags, then pulled out the orange women’s wallet Qian Surou had given her as a Christmas birthday gift, catching a glimpse of the photo on her ID card.

It showed a fourteen-year-old girl with an ear-length bob and a sullen expression.

Inside the wallet also lay a bank card she had acquired, holding accumulated pocket money totaling around five million.

Although she had considered offering it to her sister, the thought of them living together in a small apartment made her keep it hidden for now.

Even so, knowing her sister’s nature, Qian Surou would never accept her money unless they were truly at rock bottom.

A pang of guilt struck her as she noticed her sister’s personal belongings steadily dwindling.

Yet, in their new family life, these were unnecessary luxuries; rather than preserving them as memories, it was better to sever all ties.

Unlike herself, a “young miss” who had only recently adopted this lifestyle, her sister had been born with a silver spoon, and despite not being loved by that man, she had never experienced ordinary life.

It was imperative for her to finally taste it.

Nevertheless, her excellence and adaptability were beyond doubt; after some guidance, she now understood everyday life better than Qian Xidong herself.

“Can I sleep back home tonight?”

Still fussing with the luggage in the storage bags, she noticed her gentle sister had already made her bed, thoughtfully positioning Aldrich to lie relaxed in the center, as if settling into a new home.

Though the room had grown large and bright, she couldn’t fathom the emptiness she would face alone.

From the cruel perspective of stifled childhood, she had long passed the age of needing toys for company.

The tense atmosphere created by the silence became unbearable.

Her initial, foolish babbling shifted the topic to forgetting her school bag and then to cursing the summer homework she had long dismissed, but her sister, with a captivating smile, granted her request.

The catch was that she would have to sleep on a small bed, making Qian Xidong wonder if it was a reward in disguise.

Her movements quickened, her arms light and strong; she felt like a donkey with a carrot dangling before it, capable of giving her all with just a small promise.

Watching her sister busy herself, beads of sweat forming on her brow, Qian Xidong inexplicably grinned, gently brushed aside the strands of hair clinging to her forehead, and placed a tissue over her beautiful brow.

Though these were somewhat intimate gestures, they were entirely innocent between sisters, and she found herself suddenly grateful for this bond.

They drank their first cup of tea in the new home.

The tea leaves were a specialty blend her sister had been convinced to buy from a stall, though neither of them could discern its quality.

Just then, her sister received a call, likely related to her current part-time job, responding with a professional air.

“I’m sorry, Xidong. I won’t be able to have lunch with you.”

After apologizing, Qian Surou mentioned she needed to use the bathroom.

Qian Xidong naturally surmised her sister was going out, then received a rather speechless message on her phone: a hundred-yuan transfer telling her to eat out, as if to say, ‘Eat something good, don’t subject yourself to my terrible cooking.’

The sound of water in the bathroom ceased.

The situation seemed unusually suspicious, as her sister was meticulously getting ready at the bedroom vanity.

She looked as though she were preparing for a group event or meeting someone special, and a sudden thought arose in Qian Xidong’s mind: ‘Could she be doing some strange part-time job?’

Unable to hold back, she spoke—

“Is the money still enough?”

Qian Xidong’s gaze sharpened.

The bank card, clutched between her fingers, slid from the corner of the table towards the affordable cosmetics in the center, her mind set on handing it over, no matter the outcome.

“Still in the honeymoon phase, aren’t we?”

Qian Surou chuckled like an elder.

She took the bank card and tucked it into the space between Qian Xidong’s shoulder and T-shirt, much like an irreverent parent providing ‘pursuit funds’ to their child.

“Don’t worry, my own savings and what Mother gave me are more than enough.

Xidong, keep your money to pursue Xiao Yuqin.

Be a brave, principled, and responsible good girl, and take good care of her, okay?”

“Who knows, I might even get to attend your wedding before I graduate.”

Qian Surou nudged her sister with an elbow.

It wasn’t that she was so keen on matchmaking them, but she knew the Ji family well.

While Xiao Yuqin had some personality quirks, her devotion to Ji Yushu was unwavering, and if that affection could transfer to Xidong, at least their relationship wouldn’t be a concern.

Moreover, if it were Xidong, she would surely protect Xiao Yuqin.

The world was undoubtedly harsh for people with disabilities.

Qian Xidong, with a wry smile, retrieved the bank card, and offered one final admonition:

“Just don’t take on any strange part-time jobs, okay?”

‘How perceptive she is.’

Qian Surou thought to herself, ‘It’s a little too late, unfortunately.’

Though she had already decided to resign, it wouldn’t exactly be a shining entry on her resume.

Still, compared to those forced into this line of work, she considered herself fortunate enough.

“I know!”

“No nightclubs, no modeling, and definitely no mixing with the entertainment industry.”

“Xidong, you sound just like Mother! Relax, someone like me could never be a celebrity.”

As she spoke, Qian Surou made a camera gesture and playfully hunched her shoulders.

“You clearly have a face that talent scouts would obsess over.”

Qian Xidong couldn’t help but retort.

While it would probably be a loss for self-media, it would be better for her sister, with her personality, to simply find a reliable girl to spend her life with.

“You’re going to make me get carried away with myself if you keep talking like that.”

“Come home early.”

Qian Surou confidently agreed.

After finishing her eyebrows, she lightly patted Qian Xidong’s shoulder, assuring her that tonight’s menu was already planned and to look forward to it.

Qian Xidong didn’t press further about her destination; she herself disliked intrusive questions, as they often felt like a relentless pursuit.

***

For this date, the other party was a woman with a sweet and charming appearance.

Her youthful face made it hard to discern her age, but her gentle voice reminded Qian Surou of a fairy from a children’s story.

Upon meeting at the cafe, the woman immediately stated that she already had a girlfriend.

However, her girlfriend was quite young and came from a wealthy family; there was nearly a ten-year age gap between them, and often, she couldn’t keep up with her girlfriend’s topics and interests.

Thus, she had chosen Qian Surou, hoping to converse with a younger woman.

Qian Surou felt as though she wasn’t interviewing for a temporary girlfriend position, but rather engaging in a psychological counseling internship.

Having had experience with therapy herself, she knew that treatment often involved listening to a patient’s worries, conversing, offering advice, and providing comfort.

Frankly, it wasn’t much different from what she was doing now.

Still—

‘I know this one!’

“When she discusses those topics with you, does she seem very enthusiastic?

If she truly felt disappointed, she wouldn’t keep bringing up new subjects.

Let me make a hypothesis, Miss Xu: between the two of you, are you the one who prefers to take care of others?”

Xu Xiaoxiao was a teacher, and her current girlfriend was a former student.

However, for a serious-minded teacher, even with budding affection, she would never agree to date her much younger student.

Consequently, she had rejected the girl’s first confession, only yielding to her persistent advances last month, when the girl had just come of age.

Qian Surou couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy for someone who could bravely and steadfastly pursue the person they loved.

Had she not known from the start that Ji Yushu wouldn’t choose her, she might not have let go so easily herself.

Even though Ji Yushu was younger than her, she was a stronger fighter, sharp and witty.

“Hmm, perhaps,” Xu Xiaoxiao replied, lacking confidence.

“As a teacher, it’s my duty to care for students, so I might have adopted that mindset.

Emotionally, though, Xiao Xue always takes care of me more.”

‘That’s it then.’

Qian Surou took Xu Xiaoxiao’s untouched coffee and added some sugar cubes for her.

The warmth of the sunlight outside the window gradually diminished, likely squeezed out by the encroaching autumn.

The sky grew overcast, and the patter of rain replaced the cicadas’ chorus, yet it brought no clamor.

Her eyes swept over the red velvet cake roll Xu Xiaoxiao had eaten, allowing her to deduce that Xu Xiaoxiao had a strong preference for sweets but only ate a little out of fear of gaining weight.

While Qian Surou didn’t consider herself particularly perceptive or detail-oriented, she was very confident in her ability to care for others.

She believed she had the right to speak on the matter.

“It seems, Miss Xu, that you’re not entirely at ease with me, specifically ordering an Americano to project an image of maturity.

Furthermore, I’ve mostly had to initiate questions before you respond, and on topics concerning emotions, you seem to spill everything like a triggered defense mechanism, perhaps fearing I might misunderstand you.

If I were Xiao Xue, I would certainly keep seeking out topics, and in moments of high spirits, I’d inevitably talk about things I love…”

Qian Surou, the impromptu advocate, slowly pushed the cup towards Xu Xiaoxiao—

“Had you not tasted a bite of cake and glanced at it several times, Miss Xu, I wouldn’t have discovered your preference for sweets, nor would I have been able to add sugar for you.

Therefore, at its core, you are too preoccupied with your identity, Miss Xu, refusing actions that don’t align with a mentor’s role, and feeling guilty about dating a former student, which makes you unable to truly relax.”

“So that’s how it is…”

Xu Xiaoxiao lowered her head in shame.

With a sunny smile, Qian Surou stirred her spoon, making an impolite clinking sound, drawing Xu Xiaoxiao’s gaze to her.

“Everything I just said was complete nonsense!”

“Eh?”

“Haha, you fell for it, didn’t you?

I just wanted to get your attention, and I’m sure Xiao Xue feels the same way.

Moreover, it’s a truly happy thing to have an audience for the things you love, and Miss Xu, you are precisely that kind of listener.

If you show appropriate interest and agree to try things together with your girlfriend, she’ll be even happier, you know…”

“I’ll try it if I get the chance.”

The serious analysis had merely been a facade; only the playful advice held true meaning.

Hearing this, Xu Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but smile, her face alight with sudden realization.

“Hmm, but there’s one more thing I’d like to say, from a personal perspective—”

After a moment of hesitation, she ultimately couldn’t hold back.

“In my opinion, there are only two scenarios for someone to persistently love another person across time and identity.

One is a complete lack of understanding of the other person, and the other is a complete understanding of them.

Clearly, Miss Xu’s girlfriend is not the former.

I am certain that she simply loves your gentleness, your worrying nature, your integrity, and the fact that you, despite being so cute, insist on acting mature.”

Qian Surou blinked, and Xu Xiaoxiao’s face flushed at her words.

“Thank you, I was a bit too anxious.”