Chapter 7
Lu Hai went to the restroom. Ji Ting finished his drink and turned to watch the singer on stage. A couple of men approached her while Lu Hai was away, asking for her WeChat.
Ji Ting declined them all. Just as she placed her phone on the table, she suddenly heard a faint sound behind her, like the zipper bursting open.
She stiffened.
She was wearing a strapless dress with only breast pads inside. Ji Ting quickly grabbed her phone from the table, got off the high stool, and prepared to go to the restroom. As she turned around, she saw Lu Hai returning.
Someone at the booth also stood up. It was Tan Yucheng, wearing a white shirt and black pants. Their eyes met, and Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow, while he put one hand in his pocket.
Just a second ago, he was calling her, and the next second, he met her at the bar.
Ji Ting wanted to say something, but before she could, it was too late. The zipper sounded like it was tearing apart. Lu Hai also came to Tan Yucheng’s side, about to call Ji Ting. With no other choice, Ji Ting stepped forward, burying her head in Tan Yucheng’s chest, using his tall figure to shield her wardrobe malfunction.
The booth fell silent.
Tan Yucheng froze, then, the next second, he lowered his head to see the zipper on her back split open. The dress was too tight, so after the zipper burst, it just ran forward. Her situation was self-evident.
Tan Yucheng immediately reached out and hugged her, his voice was low and hoarse, “What’s going on? How dare you wear this dress.”
Ji Ting felt helpless, and leaned against him, “Gained weight.”
Tan Yucheng’s Adam’s apple moved as he chuckled lightly, pushing her hair to her back, then turning to the people at the booth, he said, “Jacket.”
Chen Fei and the others didn’t understand, but seeing the situation, they immediately scrambled to find a thin jacket and tossed it to Tan Yucheng. After shaking it out, Tan Yucheng wrapped it around Ji Ting. But Ji Ting’s situation was not optimistic. She was wearing a dress, and underneath were tight-fitting clothes. If the dress wasn’t held up properly, it would slide down, exposing everything underneath.
She would be exposed below.
After wrapping her up, Tan Yucheng said, “I’ll take you home.”
Ji Ting nodded.
Under the dim light, his thin shirt was pressed against her chest, and because of the breast pads, her chest was lifted, making it almost impossible to hide. Tan Yucheng noticed this too.
He tightened his arm around her waist.
He raised his eyes and glanced at Lu Hai.
Lu Hai was puzzled at first, but he quickly realized that Ji Ting was in trouble. Although he didn’t understand why she didn’t come to him in her time of need, he could see that Ji Ting knew this man, and their relationship wasn’t shallow. Moreover, he recognized this man as the owner of Another Restaurant.
Tan Yucheng’s voice was low, “Could you please call a driver.”
Lu Hai snapped back to reality. Tan Yucheng’s attitude made him feel that their relationship wasn’t romantic; otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked him to call a driver. After all, they were supposed to leave in his car.
Lu Hai immediately nodded, “Okay.”
He took the car keys and turned to leave first.
Chen Fei and a few others stood up, and turned around. They give Ji Ting some privacy to tidy herself. Ji Ting moved away from Tan Yucheng for a moment, and zipped up the jacket, then tied the skirt underneath, securing it with a knot at the back.
After this ordeal, her face was flushed.
She glanced at Tan Yucheng.
Tan Yucheng lowered his gaze to look at her, raising an eyebrow, “Haven’t seen each other for a few days, and he was able to fatten you up?”
Ji Ting listened and pushed him lightly.
Tan Yucheng chuckled and asked, “Can you walk?”
“Yes.”
Although there was nothing inside the jacket, this black jacket could cover up. After the skirt split open, and tied up like this, although it was unconventional, it could still provide coverage. Tan Yucheng escorted her downstairs.
Ji Ting hurriedly greeted Chen Fei and the others.
It was windy outside.
Lu Hai had already called a driver to bring the car over, parked outside the Clear Bar. He got out of the car and opened the door for Ji Ting.
Ji Ting bent down to get in the car, tugging on Tan Yucheng’s sleeve. Tan Yucheng glanced down at her, then bent down and followed her into the car.
Lu Hai glanced at them, closed the door, and went around to the passenger side. Then the car started.
Ji Ting sat beside, clutching the jacket. This situation didn’t feel very secure.
Tan Yucheng sat beside her, tilting his head to look at her.
Ji Ting met his gaze, feeling a slight warmth in her ears.
Tan Yucheng smirked, “Don’t eat so much next time.”
Looks like this topic wasn’t going to be dropped easily.
Ji Ting kicked him lightly.
Lu Hai glanced at them through the rearview mirror, hesitated for a few seconds, then asked, “Do you two know each other?”
Tan Yucheng also met Lu Hai’s eyes through the rearview mirror. He leaned back in his seat without answering. Ji Ting leaned forward and said to Lu Hai, “He’s my classmate. We’ve known each other since high school.”
Lu Hai suddenly realized, “So you’re classmates.”
“So, the last time we had dinner, the fruit drink you sent wasn’t part of the restaurant’s promotion, but rather a special consideration for your classmate?” Ji Ting smiled, glanced at Tan Yucheng, and said, “Right?”
Tan Yucheng lowered his gaze, looking at her bright smile, and raised his eyebrows slightly.
Lu Hai asked softly, “May I ask for your surname?”
Tan Yucheng raised his gaze and replied to Lu Hai, “I’m Tan Yucheng.”
“Hello, Mr. Tan.”
Tan Yucheng nodded, which was considered a greeting.
The white sedan arrived at Zhuoyue. The car stopped, Ji Ting got out, followed by Tan Yucheng and Lu Hai. Ji Ting looked disheveled in her mismatched attire; she needed to hurry upstairs.
She turned around and waved to them.
With one hand in his pocket, Tan Yucheng watched her leave.
Lu Hai stood beside Tan Yucheng, slightly shorter than him. He said to Ji Ting, “Take your time.”
Ji Ting smiled.
Feeling a bit awkward, she turned and entered the elevator.
After that beautiful figure disappeared.
The atmosphere between the two men who remained in place turned cold.
Lu Hai still felt a bit bothered by Ji Ting’s recent interaction with another man. Although they were classmates, there was still a distinction between men and women. In his heart, he felt that he should have been the priority choice.
“Mr. Tan,” Lu Hai said.
Tan Yucheng turned around as he walked away. He lowered his head and lit a cigarette. He glanced over.
The night at Zhuoyue was illuminated by starlight, and the wind was strong, tousling the man’s hair, making him seem somewhat enigmatic, unlike the man who had just teased Ji Ting.
Lu Hai remained silent for a few seconds, then smiled and asked, “Is Ji Ting always this adorable?”
“More or less,” Tan Yucheng replied.
Lu Hai smiled again, “She looks beautiful tonight in this outfit. Who would’ve thought of such a mishap? She must have been flustered. You’ve known each other since high school so it should be almost ten years, right?”
“Yeah,” Tan Yucheng nodded.
Looking up, Tan Yucheng said, “Just say what you want to say.”
After hesitating for a moment, Lu Hai continued, “Your relationship…”
“We’ve never been together,” Tan Yucheng interrupted him.
Upon hearing this, Lu Hai instantly felt relieved. Just as he was about to ask more, a black SUV drove up, honking twice at the intersection. It was the car coming to pick up Tan Yucheng.
Tan Yucheng looked at Lu Hai, “Anything else?”
Lu Hai hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, “No, thank you for tonight.”
“Okay.”
After Tan Yucheng responded, he walked towards the SUV, opened the door, and sat in the passenger seat. As the car window rolled up, he extinguished his cigarette. Chen Fei hadn’t even taken a sip of his drink yet when he turned the steering wheel, the car already drove off.
Lu Hai stood still for a few seconds, looked up at the apartment building of Zhuoyue, then got into the car.
Although he felt a bit uneasy.
He wouldn’t give up easily.
He really liked Ji Ting.
Once inside, Ji Ting finally breathed a sigh of relief. She closed the curtains in the room, then slowly took off her jacket. It was a thin jacket in the style of a windbreaker, smelling faintly of smoke and alcohol.
After taking it off, her figure underneath was fully revealed, tall and straight. Just a moment ago, she was standing in front of Tan Yucheng, and when her skirt slipped off, she was even leaning against his chest.
For two or three seconds, she was almost at zero distance from his chest.
Ji Ting couldn’t help but blush. She turned sideways and draped the jacket over the sofa, then went into the bathroom to take a shower. Her skirt slipped down to her waist. Her waist was slender, and her skin was fair. Ji Ting stood under the showerhead, letting the water wash over her.
Her wet hair clung to her back, and droplets cascading down.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, the mist obscuring her reflection, and her skin flushed to red. She averted her gaze, closed her eyes, and tilted her head back, allowing the hot water to cleanse her. In her mind, she recalled his expression and demeanor under the dim light tonight.
There seems to be no change, not even a hint of surprise.
After being friends for so many years, she knew he wouldn’t spare her a second glance.
Ji Ting’s whole body turned red from the shower, feeling a bit dizzy, she reached for the skirt and walked out of the bathroom. Sitting on the sofa, she dried her hair, while her emotions gradually calmed down.
She flipped through the skirt, then picked up her phone and took a picture to send to Yu Xi.