My Roommate Lover - Chapter 9 - One Kiss, Just This Once

For Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi, the price was one thing, but the key issue was transportation. From the western suburb to the city, transportation alone would cost a considerable amount. Li Ergou’s offer hit the nail on the head, solving their major problem. Moreover, Li Ergou didn’t require them to pay upfront; they could pay him after selling the watermelons.

Country folks are truly straightforward.

There was no need to deliver them home, as such transport vehicles were prohibited from entering the city. As long as the watermelons could be transported to the Fruit Wholesale Market in the West District, Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi could pick them up there.

The two had a meal there, and though the food wasn’t exactly gourmet, it was made with sincerity. Fortunately, neither of them was picky. After eating their fill, they leisurely strolled back to the bus stop in the western suburb. By the time they returned to the ancestral house of Jia Family, it was already past seven in the evening.

“What have you two been up to?”

Tang Ziyu and Shen Jun’ao had already finished dinner. They sat on the sofa, looking at Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi with a peculiar gaze, as if the two had been up to something scandalous.

Jia Simiao chuckled awkwardly, “Oh, nothing much, we just…”

“Jia-Ge, don’t say a word,” Zhang Xixi quickly interrupted, pulling on Jia Simiao’s sleeve. This wasn’t something to be casually mentioned. She wanted to surprise Tang Ziyu and Shen Jun’ao, to show them that she, Zhang Xixi, was quite capable.

Even the way she addressed him had changed!

Shen Jun’ao and Tang Ziyu sensed something was off. Zhang Xixi’s mysterious demeanor made it obvious that she and Jia Simiao were hiding something. Could it be… had they rented a room together? It was only the second day, wasn’t that a bit too fast?

Tang Ziyu glanced at Zhang Xixi’s belly with a serious expression, “Xixi, let me tell you, you need to take precautions, understand?”

“What precautions?” Zhang Xixi was puzzled, then laughed, “Don’t worry, Jia-Ge and I have discussed it. To ensure better prospects for the future, we must take precautions. If something goes wrong, our futures would be ruined.”

“Ah? It’s true?” Shen Jun’ao’s eyes widened, “Xixi, come to the room with me, I have a few words to say to you.”

Jia Simiao panicked, “Xixi, you need to explain to them, what precautions?”

Zhang Xixi smiled mysteriously, “Jia-Ge, let’s not tell them.”

If they didn’t clarify, the others might really think they had done something. Jia Simiao quickly said, “Jun’ao, Ziyu, let me explain. Today, Xixi and I went to check out some projects, planning to start a business. It’s not what you think.”

Shen Jun’ao glared at Jia Simiao, “Xixi, what did you and Jia Simiao do today?”

“Nothing.”

“Jia Simiao said you were doing business?”

“Oh, we were just looking around.”

“You two… didn’t do anything else, right?” Such matters couldn’t be asked directly, and Shen Jun’ao felt a bit embarrassed.

Zhang Xixi asked, “What else?”

Shen Jun’ao said, “I mean, did you two do anything inappropriate, or fall in love with each other, you know?”

Zhang Xixi’s eyes widened, “Jun’ao, what are you talking about? How could a girl like me fall for Jia Simiao? You’re insulting me.”

Jia Simiao smiled bitterly inside, am I that bad? He signaled to Zhang Xixi and coughed, “Xixi, let’s sort out the warehouse issue, shall we? Let’s go take a look.”

Zhang Xixi laughed, “Alright, alright, we’re leaving, not telling you.”

Shen Jun’ao was genuinely worried, “Ziyu, since you have nothing else to do, why don’t you go with Xixi and Jia Simiao?”

Tang Ziyu was reluctant, but she still tagged along behind Zhang Xixi and Jia Simiao.

On Xuefu Road, with several universities around, shops were as valuable as gold. Finding a place to store fifty watermelons was no easy task. What if they expanded the scale? Jia Simiao and the others walked up and down the street twice, but renting a shop was impossible. Luckily, there were cheap hostels available for 60 yuan a day. Zhang Xixi and Tang Ziyu teamed up, and under the charm of beauties, they managed to haggle down 10 yuan.

At 50 yuan a day, they paid for a week in advance, which made Zhang Xixi grumble about having less cash flow.

Then, they set their sights on a flower shop in a prime location right next to the school. The owner, He Runxi, a chubby man with a cheerful demeanor, greeted everyone with a smile. They didn’t need his shop, just his electricity for a freezer, offering him 20 yuan a day.

He Runxi agreed with a smile. After all, chilled watermelon and flowers didn’t clash at all.

On the way back, Zhang Xixi exclaimed, “Jia-Ge, you mean I still have to shell out a few hundred for a freezer?”

Jia Simiao laughed, “To make money, you have to be willing to spend.”

Zhang Xixi said, “Those small accessories, including the cost, total over 800 yuan, that’s all my savings.”

“You’ll earn it back in a few days.”

“I… sigh, why did I partner with you in business? It’s such a loss.”

Tang Ziyu didn’t care about any of this, encouraging Zhang Xixi to buy the freezer. Without it, how could they sell chilled watermelon? Buy it, buy it, and when your money runs out, I’ll buy pretty clothes and snacks, and eat them right in front of you to make you envious.

Zhang Xixi muttered, “Fine, when the money runs out, I’ll sell Jia Family’s ceramics.”

As luck would have it, they found a note on a shop’s door offering a cheap freezer for sale. For 300 yuan, and in good condition, Zhang Xixi finally bought the freezer and moved it to the hostel.

Back home, Tang Ziyu immediately reported to Shen Jun’ao, while Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi took an early bath and went to bed. In these two days since returning home, Jia Simiao didn’t have much money but felt fulfilled. The key was his mindset; without the previous entanglements, he felt at ease and full of energy.

The next morning, at dawn, Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi arrived at the Fruit Wholesale Market in the West District. Li Ergou was already waiting, having set aside 250 kilograms for them. Ergou was familiar with the market vendors and borrowed a tricycle for them. After a few trips, they finally moved all the watermelons to the hostel.

With a thud, after moving the last watermelon, Zhang Xixi plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, “Jia-Ge, this is hard work, I’m out of breath.”

Her cheeks were flushed, sweat trickling down her forehead, but she looked invigorated and excited. Jia Simiao was surprised, not expecting her to be such a determined and hardworking girl. In today’s society, such girls were rare.

Jia Simiao laughed, “You rest for a bit, I’ll go buy some food. Around nine, when the sun is strong, we can start our business.”

Zhang Xixi cheered, “Yay.”

In the freezer, about twenty watermelons were already chilling. In a while, they’d be perfectly cool. Jia Simiao smiled, turned, and went downstairs. He returned quickly with two bowls of wonton. Opening the door, he saw Zhang Xixi sprawled on the bed, already fast asleep.

Her posture made her modest chest rise high, the hem of her T-shirt slightly lifted, revealing a flat belly and a gently rising and falling navel with each breath. Her long legs dangled over the bed, sneakers tossed aside, her socks with cartoon pandas, making one want to hold them playfully.

Most endearing were her slightly parted lips, thin and rosy, exuding a fragrance like orchids and musk, with a strange allure tempting one to taste them.

Jia Simiao felt a dry throat, genuinely tempted to lean down and kiss her.

Wasn’t that too beastly? Jia Simiao’s mind wrestled, persuading himself, just once, just this once, never again. If he didn’t hurry, she’d wake up soon. After a few deep breaths, he slowly leaned down, inching towards her lips.

Closer, closer…

Just as he was about to kiss her, she suddenly opened her eyes, startling Jia Simiao so much that his soul almost flew away. He quickly said, “Xixi, you’re awake. I was just about to call you for meal.”