Chapter 59: A Troubled Heart
Xu Si felt the small hand tightly gripping his clothes. Thinking she was scared, he slowed down and looked back: “Too fast? I can slow down.”
Jiang Qiao gripped his clothes tighter: “No need to slow down. Go faster.”
Xu Si chuckled lightly. He’d thought the little bookworm would be scared, but it seemed he’d underestimated her.
Under the streetlights, the young man rode his motorcycle, his hair flying in the wind. Behind him sat the girl wearing a helmet, tightly holding onto his clothes.
Jiang Qiao had never experienced anything like this before. The motorcycle was fast. Her heart was racing too. Below the streetlights were bustling streets. In front of her was a carefree, bold young man.
Xu Si suddenly turned back and gave her a mischievous smile. She felt the speed increase, and she hugged the young man tighter.
Xu Si felt her soft arms wrap around his waist. His heart inexplicably began racing.
The motorcycle stopped below Jiang Qiao’s building. She let go of him and got off. The high speed had left her feeling a bit dazed, but exhilarated – she wanted to do it again.
Xu Si bent down to help remove her helmet. Seeing her expression, which seemed to suggest she wasn’t quite satisfied, he laughed: “What? Not thrilling enough?”
Jiang Qiao answered honestly: “I want to ride again.”
Xu Si held the helmet: “Next time. It’s late now, go up, little bookworm.”
Jiang Qiao, carrying her teddy bear and popcorn, walked a few steps, then turned back to wave at Xu Si: “Bye bye.”
Xu Si watched her leave, smiled slightly, and waved back. He waited until he saw the lights turn on upstairs before riding away.
Jiang Qiao opened her door and saw three people in the living room. She paused, then politely greeted: “Hello, Grandmother.”
Cui Shumei looked her up and down, her tone unfriendly: “What kind of girl comes home this late? It’s past eight, can’t you see?”
Jiang Qiao remained silent.
“Raised like a mute, won’t even speak when spoken to.”
Tian Zhien was somewhat displeased: “Mom, don’t talk about Qiao Qiao like that. Eight isn’t late, and she’s in high school with so much pressure. There’s nothing wrong with going out to relax.”
Cui Shumei glanced at Tian Zhien, her words tinged with sarcasm: “You just keep spoiling her. She’ll be ruined eventually.”
Jiang Qiao held her things: “I’m going to my room.”
With that, she left.
Cui Shumei continued behind her: “Gets angry at the slightest criticism. Such a petty temperament. It’s all because of how you’ve spoiled her.”
Jiang Qiao placed the teddy bear on the windowsill, planning to wash it tomorrow before putting it on her bed.
Hearing a knock, she opened the door to find Tian Ling: “What is it, Mom?”
Tian Ling wrung her hands awkwardly, unsure what to say: “Don’t take your grandmother’s words too seriously.”
“I don’t mind.”
“We were supposed to stay at her place for a few days, but she said she needs to visit your uncle. She’s taking a train the day after tomorrow morning. She’ll stay here for two days and leave early that morning.”
Jiang Qiao responded with a simple “mm,” indicating she understood.
Tian Ling noticed the bear on the windowsill: “Did you buy that with friends?”
Jiang Qiao shook her head: “No, won it at the shooting game.”
“Alright, I won’t disturb you then. Get some rest early.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Qiao went to the bathroom to shower. About to brush her teeth, she noticed her toothbrush had been used – there was toothpaste residue on the cup rim and water marks on the body, which weren’t from her morning use.
She took the toothbrush cup to the living room: “Did someone use my toothbrush?”
Cui Shumei glanced at the toothbrush in her hand, unconcerned: “What about it? I used it.”
“Mom, that’s Qiao Qiao’s. Didn’t I give you new toothbrush and cup? Why use Qiao Qiao’s?”
Cui Shumei suddenly raised her voice: “Don’t new cups and toothbrushes cost money? Using hers is more sensible. What, now that I’m old, you’re disgusted by me?”
Jiang Qiao said nothing, silently taking her toothbrush back to the bathroom.
“Doesn’t know how to be economical.”
She took out a new toothbrush and cup, then brushed her teeth and washed her face.
Halfway through her shower, she felt someone pushing at the door.
Cui Shumei called from outside: “I need to use the bathroom, open up quick! Why are you locking doors in your own home?”
She heard Tian Ling’s voice: “Mom, we have another bathroom, use ours.”
After finishing her shower and drying her hair, Jiang Qiao took her new cup and toothbrush to her room.
She poured some warm water and took a few sips.
Opening her phone, she saw messages from Xu Si.
[Xu Si]: Not even saying you got home? Little bookworm has no manners.
Then another message twenty minutes later.
[Xu Si]: I’m home.
Xu Si was drying his hair when his phone chimed. He checked it, then casually ran his fingers through his hair and unlocked his phone.
[Little Bookworm]: Got home, went to shower, forgot to tell you.
[Xu Si]: So ill-mannered.
Xu Si watched the “typing” indicator for a while before Jiang Qiao’s reply came.
[Sorry, and thank you for today.]
Normal words, but he somehow sensed she wasn’t happy.
[Xu Si]: What? Angry because I called you little bookworm? Unhappy?
[Little Bookworm]: Not angry.
[Xu Si]: Look at my cat. [Xu Si]: [Video]
Jiang Qiao watched the cat eating fish, couldn’t help smiling, and replayed the video several times.
[Xu Si]: Really not happy?
[Little Bookworm]: Not unhappy, watching your cat. Very cute.
Xu Si sent a few more videos.
Before Jiang Qiao could reply, her doorknob rattled.
Cui Shumei’s voice came from outside: “What are you doing in there? Why is the door locked?”
Jiang Qiao opened the door: “What is it?”
Cui Shumei looked around her room, trying to enter: “Using two rooms wastes electricity. I’ll sleep with you tonight.”
Jiang Qiao neither agreed nor refused, just stood in the doorway watching her.
Tian Ling heard the commotion and opened her door: “Mom, why are you out here?”
Cui Shumei pointed at Jiang Qiao: “Using two rooms wastes too much electricity. I want to sleep with her, but look, she won’t let me in!”
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