Obsessed with Cleanliness Chapter 26: Guarded

After dinner, Jing Xing offered to wash the dishes, but Xiao Tong turned her down. She told Jing Xing to go watch TV in the living room while she cleared the table and washed up herself.

"Xiao Tong, you worked hard to cook all that delicious food. It’s only right that I help clean up. Don’t be so polite with me," Jing Xing said, rolling up her sleeves and heading for the kitchen, but Xiao Tong stopped her at the door.

"There’s really no need, A-Xing. It’s just a small task, I’ll be done in no time. Go sit in the living room for a bit. I’ll bring out some fruit in a while."

"No way! If I eat and drink here for free and don’t lift a finger, I’ll feel too guilty to come over next time," Jing Xing laughed, thinking Xiao Tong was just being overly polite and tried again to enter the kitchen. That’s when Xiao Tong said:

"I don’t like other people touching my things."

Jing Xing froze, and after Xiao Tong said it, she froze too.

The air instantly turned awkward. Jing Xing stood at the kitchen doorway, sleeves rolled high. She couldn’t go in, but backing out felt just as awkward. She stood there not knowing what to do, before finally mumbling, "Xiao Tong... I’m not ‘other people’…"

Xiao Tong realized she’d said the wrong thing and rushed to explain, stammering, "I didn’t mean it like that! I just… A-Xing, just take it as me being weird, okay? I…"

"I get it, you’re a neat freak," Jing Xing smiled, rescuing her from the awkwardness. "People with OCD always have some quirks. So I’ll leave the dirty dishes to you. I really got a great deal tonight, ate for free and didn’t even have to help. At this rate, I’ll be over all the time!" she laughed.

She didn’t wait for Xiao Tong to respond before turning around and walking back to the living room. Only when she was out of Xiao Tong’s sight did a hint of sadness appear on her face.

Xiao Tong was too guarded. It was so hard to get close to her. After being around her for so many years, Jing Xing thought they were already very close, but clearly Xiao Tong was still keeping her at arm’s length.

Of course, Jing Xing knew Xiao Tong hadn’t said it on purpose but that’s exactly why it hurt. It showed that, deep down, Xiao Tong had never truly considered letting her in.

Still, when she thought about it again, Jing Xing felt a flicker of hope. Back then, it was because Xiao Tong’s heart was completely filled with Yu Qinghan. But now, she’d decided to give up on her. That meant there was finally space left in her heart and Jing Xing might have a chance to enter it.

Yu Qinghan had no idea how good Xiao Tong was, but Jing Xing was different. When she first agreed to become Xiao Tong’s manager, it was because she was drawn to her work. After all these years together, she’d come to see all of Xiao Tong’s strengths and her flaws too. Jing Xing loved Xiao Tong’s determination, and she loved her stubbornness along with it. She loved her seriousness, and even found her occasional rigidity endearing.

To Jing Xing, those flaws only made Xiao Tong’s strengths more lovable. What started as admiration for her talent had turned into affection for her as a person.

That’s why, when she saw the vulnerable, fearful side of Xiao Tong later on, it made her heart ache even more.

Jing Xing didn’t know when Xiao Tong would finally be able to move on, but she was willing to walk that road with her, to step out from the overwhelming shadow of Yu Qinghan.

What she didn’t understand was just how deep that shadow really was.

Washing the dishes was far more complicated than just cleaning the kitchen. Xiao Tong separated the dishes Jing Xing had used from the serving ones and washed them all several times. She was about to put them back in the cupboard, but felt they still weren’t clean enough, so she washed them all over again.

In the end, she didn’t return any of them to the cabinet. Every bowl, along with the chopsticks and spoons used that day, was neatly stacked in the corner beside the trash can, hidden behind it so Jing Xing wouldn’t see.

Xiao Tong knew this wasn’t right. Jing Xing wasn’t an outsider, she was one of her own. But knowing that was one thing; being able to accept it emotionally was another. Ever since her grandmother passed, the only person in the world Xiao Tong could trust wholeheartedly was Yu Qinghan. No one else.

After washing the dishes, Xiao Tong sliced up some fruit and brought it out. She and Jing Xing chatted for a while. Jing Xing had chosen her words carefully, deliberately avoiding anything related to Yu Qinghan. She kept talking about her trip home to Shangrong County for the New Year, but Xiao Tong wasn’t interested in that place and gave distracted responses. Noticing her disinterest, Jing Xing shifted the conversation to next year’s work plans, and that finally got Xiao Tong’s attention.

Dinner was over, the fruit was eaten, and they’d chatted enough. Xiao Tong glanced at the clock, it was past 9 PM so she stood up to see Jing Xing out.

But Jing Xing stayed seated on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, clearly not planning to leave. She even started playfully whining, "Xiao Tong, it’s so late, and it’s cold and dark outside. You really have the heart to kick me out? Why don’t I just stay here for the night?"

In truth, she was afraid that if she left, Xiao Tong might do something foolish again.

Xiao Tong frowned the moment she heard that and hesitated. "I… don’t have a spare room."

"That’s okay! I can sleep on the couch or even on the floor! Xiao Tong… Tongtong… Let me stay just one night, please?" Jing Xing sat up straight, uncrossed her legs, and looked up at her with a pitiful pout. "Tongtong, you’re not that heartless, are you?"

If it had been anyone else, they probably would’ve caved the moment they saw her like that. But this was Xiao Tong.

She seemed gentle and easygoing on the outside, but once she made up her mind, no one could change it, not even ten bulls could drag her back. Especially when it came to her personal space. That was her territory, and no one else was allowed to set foot in it.

But Xiao Tong didn’t know how to turn Jing Xing down without hurting her feelings. Her emotional intelligence wasn’t great, and when something exceeded her ability to handle it, she just went silent. She stood there gripping her pants awkwardly, saying nothing for a long time. Jing Xing’s neck was sore from looking up at her, but still no answer came.

Jing Xing realized she had pushed a bit too hard.

"Alright!" she said, giving herself an out when Xiao Tong wouldn’t. She slapped her thigh and stood up, pretending it was no big deal. "I was just kidding, you know? Did you really take me seriously? Xiao Tong, you’re way too easy to tease."

She didn’t try to push it anymore. She put her shoes back on, opened the door, and waved as she stepped outside. "I’m heading out now, Xiao Tong. I’ll come visit again tomorrow."

"No need. I’ll be going to work at the company tomorrow."

"Oh, that’s good! Since you’ve been gone, everything’s been on hold. Now that you’re back, those young folks at the studio are probably thrilled. Alright, see you at the office tomorrow then?"

"Yeah. Be careful on your way back."

Jing Xing smiled at her, then suddenly opened her arms wide. "Tongtong, how about a goodbye kiss?"

Xiao Tong froze.

"Just kidding! Hahaha…" Jing Xing laughed, waving without turning around. "Bye~"

Once she was gone, the string in Xiao Tong’s mind finally loosened a little, and the smile on her face disappeared.