PSMD – Chapter 23

Qiu Yang and Tao Sixian had been in a relationship for three years, so Tao Sixian definitely knew her company’s address. However, Tao Sixian had rarely waited for her outside her company before.

That’s why Qiu Yang found Tao Sixian’s current behavior so shocking.

She licked her lips, her brows furrowed, but ultimately didn’t ask for the specific times. Asking wouldn’t do any good, as it all happened after Tao Sixian got married. Thinking this, Qiu Yang’s earlier tension immediately dissipated, and she began to reflect on herself, wondering why she still hadn’t completely let go of Tao Sixian.

It was time to let go.

Time to move forward.

She needed to reach a point where seeing the name “Tao Sixian” wouldn’t stir any ripples in her heart.

The flight attendant reminded passengers to switch to airplane mode or turn off their phones. Qiu Yang replied to Qu Jie with a “Thank you, Qu Jie,” then switched to airplane mode and put on her headphones to listen to music.

The clear skies of Xicheng soon said goodbye, replaced by the gloomy weather of Yuncheng.

A week had passed, and Yuncheng was still very cold. Qiu Yang put on her jacket and followed the crowd off the plane.

Miao Yi had asked last night if she needed a ride, but she refused. It was a rare weekend for a working person, and she didn’t want to take up Miao Yi’s time, so she hailed a taxi back herself.

Around 3:20 PM, she arrived at the entrance of her residential complex.

The security guard recognized her: “Miss Qiu, back from your business trip?”

“Yes,” Qiu Yang didn’t explain further, pushing her suitcase into the complex.

Miao Yi hadn’t gone to the airport to pick her up, but she still came down to the building entrance.

They were university classmates and now neighbors, with their companies also close by, so their relationship was quite good. Qiu Yang now mostly kept in touch with Miao Yi; most other classmates were basically inactive contacts. In fact, many friends had invited her out before, but Tao Sixian wouldn’t let her go, claiming she was worried about her being coveted by others.

So, after one or two times, her relationships with everyone else had faded considerably.

But now Qiu Yang knew that it wasn’t about worrying about her being coveted; it was just that Tao Sixian herself couldn’t go out to meet her fiancé at that time.

She had only valued Tao Sixian so much because she had believed she had found a rare and precious love in the world.

Miao Yi was wearing pajamas but had a jacket draped over them. Seeing Qiu Yang return, she smiled and pulled Qiu Yang’s suitcase. “You got tanned, Yangyang.”

People close to Qiu Yang called her “Yangyang,” only Shen Ningruo called her “Xiao Yang.”

But Shen Ningruo wasn’t really close to her; they would have no relationship from now on.

Qiu Yang suppressed the unnecessary thoughts, glanced at Miao Yi, and said with a hint of helplessness, “Do you have to say such hurtful things?”

“Was Xicheng fun?” Miao Yi stuck out her tongue and changed the subject.

Qiu Yang entered the elevator with her. Hearing the question, she thought for two seconds before answering, “It was okay.”

“Alright.”

“I’ll see if I have time to go sometime. You can recommend some places to me then.”

Qiu Yang watched the floor numbers light up, absentmindedly humming a response, Shen Ningruo’s face flashing before her eyes.

It was only for a moment before her attention returned, because the elevator door opened.

Miao Yi laughed from the side, “Pingzi really likes me. I wonder if it still remembers you.”

“My cat,” Qiu Yang took out her key, inserting it into the lock while letting out a confident little hmph . “I’ve raised it for two years.”

Fortunately, Pingzi didn’t disappoint her. After the door opened, Pingzi heard the noise, came down from the cat tree, poked its head out, and stared at Qiu Yang for two seconds.

Qiu Yang waved at it, “Xiao Pingzi.”

Pingzi’s ears were perked up, as if confirming Qiu Yang’s identity. Only then did it slowly walk over, rubbing its head against Qiu Yang’s calf and meowing a couple of times.

Miao Yi was speechless. “It wouldn’t even look at me when I called it before.”

“Thank you,” Qiu Yang picked up Pingzi, her expression and tone serious towards Miao Yi. She was thanking her for taking care of Pingzi during the week she was away.

Miao Yi immediately waved her hand, her lips curving upwards. “You’re too polite, Yangyang.”

She hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand and patted Qiu Yang’s shoulder. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes, friends,” Qiu Yang showed a smile.

Miao Yi’s mission was complete once she got Qiu Yang home. She yawned, “Alright, Yangyang, you can unpack. I’m going back to catch up on sleep. I stayed up late watching dramas last night.”

“Okay.”

“Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

Miao Yi gave an “OK” gesture, went out, and closed the door behind her.

The room immediately fell silent. Qiu Yang lowered her head to look at Pingzi, stroking its forehead. “You’ve gotten fatter.”

Pets can sometimes heal the soul. Qiu Yang played with Pingzi for a while before starting to unpack.

The day after she broke up with Tao Sixian, Qiu Yang had used her organizing skills to pack up all of Tao Sixian’s belongings into boxes and left them outside the door for Tao Sixian to pick up. Tao Sixian came, called her name a couple of times at the door, but got no response, so she dragged the boxes away.

However, even though Tao Sixian’s things were gone, many memories remained here.

Qiu Yang felt a bit lost while putting away her luggage, but quickly firmed her resolve.

It was fine to have just her and a cat in this room; she didn’t need anyone else to be okay.

Besides, Tao Sixian hadn’t paid a single cent; Qiu Yang had paid all the rent.

There weren’t many things in the suitcase. Qiu Yang put her clothes into the closet, then saw the little lamb plushie lying in the corner of the suitcase.

Qiu Yang remembered the message Jin Yuan had conveyed—

Don’t throw away the little lamb plushie.

What was there to “don’t”? Qiu Yang picked it up and couldn’t help but think. She and Shen Ningruo wouldn’t be in touch anymore, so even if she threw it away, Shen Ningruo wouldn’t know.

Of course, Qiu Yang didn’t actually intend to throw it away, but she also didn’t put it on the bed with her other two plushies. Instead, she put it in a drawer, where it wouldn’t be seen unless the drawer was pulled open.

And she wouldn’t think of it.

Just like the trip to Xicheng.

After drying her hair, Shen Ningruo checked the time. The tour group’s flight back to Yuncheng had landed long ago. She scrolled through her phone, only seeing messages from Zhao Mingfen and Wu Xiaoqiong asking when she had time to visit their homes.

It wasn’t what she was waiting for.

She pushed her hair back, then let out an annoyed sigh.

Yao Yao’s call came through at that moment: “Ruoruo, it’s about time. Come out for dinner. I’m almost at your complex’s underground parking lot.”

“Okay,” Shen Ningruo collected her thoughts. “I’ll change and be right down.”

Ten minutes later, Shen Ningruo appeared in Yao Yao’s sports car. Her elbow rested on the window, her gaze fixed forward, expressionless. The streetlights shone on her face, flickering between light and dark, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Yao Yao drove, “What’s wrong? Such a sour face.”

“Nothing.”

Yao Yao clicked her tongue, “How about I take a guess?”

“Okay,” Shen Ningruo wasn’t in the mood, giving a reluctant response.

Yao Yao put on a thinking face, and in a few seconds, gave her answer: “Is it about that girl?”

She hadn’t forgotten Qiu Yang’s name, but was afraid of upsetting Shen Ningruo by saying it directly, so she just used that term instead.

“Like, you thought sleeping with her was really good, so you got a bit addicted and carried away, but now you’re separated, and you can’t sleep with her anymore.”

Shen Ningruo: “…”

Yao Yao’s eyes and mouth were sharp.

The traffic light ahead turned red, and Yao Yao stopped the car. She looked at Shen Ningruo’s expression. “Guessed right again?”

Shen Ningruo didn’t reply.

Yao Yao then took out her glasses from the side and put them on, even pushing them up, like a detective from an anime. She smiled and continued, “I can understand you, Ruoruo, so I’ve thought it through, and I don’t think this is a bad thing.”

“You didn’t have any relevant experience before, but now you’re so happy with a girl. For you, a straight woman, it might be a bit shocking, but in life, just enjoy yourself! Why worry so much?”

Shen Ningruo listened to her rapid-fire output, watching the red light countdown ahead with thirty seconds remaining. Qiu Yang’s obedient and striking face appeared before her eyes again.

Qiu Yang had shallow dimples when she smiled, but Shen Ningruo had only occasionally caught a glimpse of her smiling once.

“See, it’s perfect.”

“She needs to distract herself from her breakup right now. You’re better than her awful trash ex in every way, you’re the best tool.”

“And you, you’ve opened a new world. You don’t want to cut ties with her, and you want to continue doing things with her.”

“So why don’t you just ask her if she’s willing?”

Shen Ningruo turned her head and poured cold water on the idea, “I don’t have her contact information.”

Yao Yao’s open mouth was suddenly hit by a stone, and the rest of her words went back into her stomach. She instantly found herself at a loss for words, finally sputtering out two words: “Awesome.”

“However…” Shen Ningruo’s eyes curved slightly, and a hint of a smile was added to her clear, gentle voice. “Coincidentally, our company is signing a contract with her company the day after tomorrow. Maybe I’ll see her then.”

Shen Ningruo wasn’t entirely sure, but that didn’t stop her mood from improving.

She had been caught in conflicting emotions these past two days, sometimes wanting to stay away, sometimes wanting to get closer.

Now she understood a lot more.

Yao Yao immediately understood, saying “Oh” with an “I know” expression. “Office play, right?”

“…”

---

If you’d like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the full novel as an EPUB.