Chapter 1
“Tingting, we’re only 28 years old, but our parents talk about us like we’re already 38,” Yu Xi said on the phone, squatting in the corner of the village and munching on sunflower seeds.
Ji Ting walked out of the elevator with a pot of chicken soup and asked, “Your mom set you up on another blind date?”
“Exactly, she’s been finding me annoying lately, calling me an ¹old maid. Hey, where are you going?” Yu Xi asked as she noticed the silence on Ji Ting’s end.
Ji Ting stood outside a dark-colored door, raising her hand to press the doorbell.
Hearing Yu Xi’s question, she paused and said, “Tan Yucheng’s place.”
Yu Xi understood. “Bringing him some food?”
“Yeah.”
After answering, Ji Ting pressed the doorbell. Two minutes later, the door opened.
Tan Yucheng stood there, damp, with a gray towel draped over his head, while water was still dripping from his hair.
Ji Ting looked up and met his eyes. She asked softly, “Stayed up all night?”
“Yeah.”
Tan Yucheng leaned lazily against the door, with slight dark circles under his eyes and water droplets sliding down his prominent nose.
Ji Ting averted her gaze, walked inside, and bent down to change her shoes. “Your mom called my mom to make you something to eat so you won’t starve to death in here.”
Tan Yucheng closed the door with a backhand and chuckled at her words.
“It’s just a few extra days of work. I won’t die.”
“What did you bring?” He followed her, casually drying his hair, the defined lines of his bent arm and visible muscles showing. Ji Ting walked around the coffee table, placed the thermos on it, and opened the lid. “Chicken soup, with chicken drumsticks and wings saved for you.”
“Oh.”
Tan Yucheng sat down next to her, moved the thermos closer, and took out a pair of chopsticks from inside. He started with the soup.
They were close.
The steam from his body and the faint scent of his shower gel wafted over.
Ji Ting paused slightly, noticing the dirty laundry basket by the door. She stood up, avoiding the dampness of his body, picked up the basket, and walked out to the balcony.
Last year, Tan Yucheng had moved into a new apartment, switching his large flat for a smaller but more centrally located one. The old place was left empty, and according to Aunt Xiao, it was going to be renovated.
She dumped all the clothes into the washing machine, threw in a laundry pod, closed the lid, and stood there enjoying the view. From this apartment, she could see Zhuoyue, where Tan Yucheng worked.
After finishing the chicken soup, Tan Yucheng carried the thermos and chopsticks to the kitchen, grabbed his lighter and a cigarette, lit it, and walked out. The wind was strong, blowing the hair of the woman standing by the washing machine.
Leaning against the wall, while cigarette dangling lazily from his lips, Tan Yucheng asked in a low, and lazy voice, “Your family arranged a blind date for you?”
The sudden sound startled Ji Ting. She turned, leaning against the washing machine, and met his eyes.
She shrugged and said, “Yeah, my mom’s arranging it. Aunt Xiao must have heard too.”
Tan Yucheng nodded.
With the cigarette still in his mouth, he looked relaxed. “Give it a try, anyway…”
He paused for a few seconds, locking eyes with her. It only dawned on him then that she seemed to have no boyfriend.
He raised his eyebrows. “Ji Ting, don’t tell me you have someone in your heart? After all these years, you’ve been single.”
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
She smiled softly, and gently pushed aside the strands of hair that blew onto her face. “You’re thinking too much. I just haven’t met anyone I like.”
Tan Yucheng crossed his arms, took a drag of his cigarette, and grunted in acknowledgment, not pressing further.
“Oh, by the way, Meng Jia’s birthday is coming up. Are you going?” Ji Ting looked at him closely.
Tan Yucheng still had that post-work fatigue. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and nodded. “Yeah, I’ll go. If I don’t, she’ll cast a spell on me at the doorstep for not going after sending her dozens of messages a day.”
Ji Ting laughed at his remark.
After laughing, she remembered Meng Jia’s recent declaration. After so many years, she realized she still couldn’t forget him. So she decided to take action. After all, he would eventually get a girlfriend, whether it be an older student, a younger one, a classmate, or a colleague. And perhaps, it could be her.
Ji Ting’s smile faded slightly.
She turned to look at the clothes still rolling in the dryer, stood up straight, and said to him, “You can hang the clothes yourself later. I’m leaving.”
Tan Yucheng finished his cigarette just in time. He followed her into the living room and said, “Drive slowly.”
“Find some time to return the thermos and chopsticks I brought to your place. Don’t make me remind you. We need them at home.” Ji Ting changed her shoes, fixed her hair, and looked at him.
Tan Yucheng nodded. “Got it.”
“I’ll bring them to you tomorrow.”
Ji Ting smiled, opened the door, and walked out.
He didn’t come to see her off, just casually moved a notebook and started typing on the sofa.
The door closed.
Ji Ting withdrew her gaze. Even his posture sitting there seemed indifferent, while leaning against the armrest, and typing away.
She descended the stairs.
Ji Ting drove back to the store, parked the car, and was about to enter when Yu Xi called again. Ji Ting pushed the door open, and Yu Xi sighed on the other end, “Life in the hometown is so boring.”
“Then come back soon.”
Ji Ting casually placed the car keys into the drawer, took off her apron, and put on another one. Yu Xi sighed again, “I do want to come back. My mom told me to finish meeting the last one before leaving. If I had known I’d come back to meet these ugly men, I wouldn’t have returned. People are strange sometimes. In big cities, they think about home, but when they come back, they feel bored. I even planned to use up all my annual leave this time, but it seems like I won’t be able to.”
“Are they really that ugly?”
Ji Ting glanced at the order list. There was a customer asking for tiramisu. She opened the glass door and took it out, placing it on a delicate plate.
Yu Xi said, “It’s not that they’re physically ugly, it’s their mindset. I remember back in high school, we could still find some decent guys. How come at this age, we can’t find any?”
“Or is it because the best ones are already around us? Like Tan Yucheng?”
As the tiramisu was taken away by an employee, Ji Ting wiped off the condensation on the counter with a cloth. She paused upon hearing Yu Xi’s words, about to respond.
Yu Xi quickly continued, “Setting aside his playboy nature, inability to commit, and wildness, he’s pretty outstanding in other aspects. He’s definitely a gem.”
Ji Ting listened and smiled.
She wiped the table and walked over to make coffee.
At this time, around three in the afternoon, there weren’t many customers in the store having coffee or afternoon tea. It was a bit quiet. Ji Ting leaned against the counter, watching the coffee flow into the cup, and said, “You better come back soon. Meng Jia’s birthday is approaching, and you won’t be able to resist her bombardment.”
“Oh, I almost forgot to mention, this little miss is not easy to deal with. I’ll pack my bags and leave in the next two days, and then the last one will be gone.”
Ji Ting nodded and said, “Yes, hurry back.”
“Understood.”
After hanging up the phone, the coffee was ready. Ji Ting picked it up and walked out from behind the counter, sitting on the sofa outside, and drinked her coffee. Her phone beeped, and she slid it open to check.
It was a message from her mother.
Lu Hai.
Twenty-nine years old, an interior designer, quite handsome, and seemed to be quite cheerful.
Ji Ting stared at the photo, and was lost in thought.
She didn’t intend to stay single, but somehow, as she got older, she became more lazy about socializing, let alone committing to a boyfriend. It’s like there was always a figure blocking her path, and she couldn’t move it.
She went home in the evening, and Qiu Dan was busy in the kitchen, the sound of chopping vegetables filling the air. Ji Ting walked in, washed her hands, and Qiu Dan looked at her. “You saw the information I sent you during the day, right?”
“I saw it.” Ji Ting picked up some celery and started cutting.
“So, what’s the situation? Have you contacted him?” Qiu Dan covered the pot and began mixing the egg mixture, while looking at her.
Ji Ting’s vision was filled with the verdant green of the celery. She cut carefully. “Not yet.”
Qiu Dan wiped her hands with a cloth. “He’s probably been busy these days, but he’ll add you tonight. Once he does, chat with him. He’s your father’s supplier’s nephew. Both his parents are in Licheng. Don’t you have a branch of the family business to open? Let him help with the design then. Spend more time together. After all, we’re mainly looking at his character.”
Ji Ting finished cutting the celery and put down the knife.
Leaning against the dresser, Qiu Dan started stir-frying beef. Ji Ting watched with a bit of distraction. She wasn’t very enthusiastic, but she understood Qiu Dan’s urgency. Holding the spatula, Qiu Dan swiftly glanced around the kitchen, her domain, and hastily asked, “Tan Yucheng’s thermos and chopsticks haven’t been brought back again?”
Hearing his name, Ji Ting snapped back to attention. “No, he washed them in the dishwasher, and I didn’t wait.”
Qiu Dan opened the cabinet above her head. “See, all our thermos flasks are piled up there. Your dad will be having dinner later. What should we send over?”
Although it wasn’t her concern, she felt a bit guilty. “I’ll take it to Dad later.”
Qiu Dan glanced at her, closed the cabinet, and scooped the beef out of the pan. “Your Aunt Xiao is also worried, but Yucheng doesn’t listen to her advice. She can’t do anything about it. Since you’re often with him, see if there’s any situation over there.”
Ji Ting nodded in agreement.
After serving the food on the table, realizing that the last thermos flask was also with Tan Yucheng, Ji Ting had to use a large bowl for the dishes. Qiu Dan called from the kitchen, “We’re also out of chopsticks. Remember to bring them back from Yucheng’s place next time.”
“I got it.”
After dinner, Ji Ting didn’t return to the store. She rested at home directly. After taking a shower in the evening and drying her hair, she went back to her room, sat down by the bedside, and turned on her phone.
There was a new red dot in her contacts.
It was Lu Hai adding her.
Ji Ting accepted the request. A few seconds later, Lu Hai sent a message.
Lu Hai: [Good evening, Ji Ting, I’m Lu Hai.]
Ji Ting: [Good evening.]
Lu Hai: [Last time I went to Zhuoyue to meet a client, we discussed something at “Sunset.” I didn’t expect it to be your store. The coffee there is really good.]
Ji Ting was slightly surprised, but not too much.
Sunset had a decent flow of customers every day. It wasn’t uncommon for Lu Hai to have been there as a customer.
She replied: [Thank you. Feel free to offer any suggestions.
Lu Hai: [No suggestions, the coffee is really delicious. I’m not just flattering you.]
Ji Ting listened and smiled.
She replied with a simple “okay.”
Lu Hai also sent a smiling emoji, then followed up with another message: [I’m done with my busy days these past few days. Let me treat you to dinner.]
Ji Ting hesitated for a moment.
She played with her soft, semi-dry hair, looked at the chat page for a while, and realized there didn’t seem to be a reason to refuse. She had already started chatting with him through his friend.
Ji Ting replied: [Sure.]
The next day, after having breakfast at home, Ji Ting went to check out the location of the branch store, which was almost settled, but still needed further discussion. After lunch, she returned to the store.
At noon, Sunset only served simple meals, and there were still a few customers dining. Ji Ting placed the cheesecake she bought near the branch store on the counter for the staff to enjoy. Xiao Wan was a new employee. With a wow, she grabbed a piece and put it in her mouth. Ji Ting glanced at them as they were preparing takeaway orders, with a long list. She tied on her apron and was about to walk in when she accidentally kicked a delicate bag, making a clatter.
She lowered her head to see it was her family’s thermos flask, which had been delivered.
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up and asked Xiao Wan, “When was this delivered?”
Xiao Wan blinked, gesturing towards the lounge inside.
Ji Ting made a sound of acknowledgement, helped pack up the takeaway orders, and after about ten minutes had passed, she finished washing her hands and headed towards the lounge. She pushed open the door and was about to speak when she saw Tan Yucheng, dressed in all black, lying on her lounge chair, asleep.
His long legs were awkwardly sprawled out, his messy hair covering his eyebrows, and his hands rested on the armrests, loosely clasped.
Asleep, yet impossible to ignore.
—
¹”Old maid” is a derogatory term for an unmarried woman considered past the usual age for marriage.