Chapter 22
Suddenly, a tapping sound came from the window sill, very faint, piercing through Ji Ting’s eardrums. Startled, Ji Ting snapped back to reality, lifting her gaze. There, she saw Meng Jia standing outside the window, arms crossed.
In one hand, she held a bottle of mineral water, her eyes were calm. Their gazes met midair. Ji Ting’s face flushed red to the ears, her heart racing with a hint of panic and a sense of being exposed, as if a secret had been torn open.
She was too late to feign composure.
Meng Jia gently gritted her teeth, leaned in from outside the window, and said, “Ji Ting, why don’t you wake him up? I brought water for him.”
The sudden request made Ji Ting feel somewhat embarrassed. She quickly left the cramped space, causing Tan Yucheng to stir as soon as she moved her legs. Ji Ting sat down, and Tan Yucheng woke up, startled by her sudden movements. He leaned back, looking sleepy and tired.
Meng Jia called out to him from outside, and he looked up. Meng Jia tossed the bottle of mineral water into him, and Tan Yucheng instinctively caught it.
Soon after, Meng Jia left.
Meanwhile, Ji Ting pressed the postcard under her textbook, picked up her pen, and started her homework in a distracted manner.
It was an unexpected day.
It was also the day her secret unexpectedly leaked.
Later, Shu Xiao returned to school and paired up with Tan Yucheng. Meng Jia occasionally came to find Tan Yucheng, and sometimes she came to find Ji Ting. They watched basketball games together, squeezed between Ji Ting and Yu Xi, linking their arms to buy ice cream. Meng Jia never mentioned that day to Ji Ting, nor did she inquire about anything.
There were no arrogant interrogations or anything of the sort; they coexisted peacefully.
Perhaps at that time, Meng Jia also knew that Ji Ting liked Tan Yucheng, but so what? Tan Yucheng didn’t like her back; he liked Shu Xiao.
There would be no issues with Ji Ting.
Nor would there be any issues with her.
—
“It’s your turn, Tingting,” Yu Xi reminded from the side. Ji Ting took the bottle of juice, spun it around, and by a stroke of luck, it landed on Long Kong this time. Long Kong looked at Ji Ting and opted for truth first.
As they grew older, they weren’t afraid of truths but were more cautious about dares. Adults needed dignity.
Ji Ting smiled and asked a relatively safe question, inquiring about their most desired wish in recent years.
Long Kong thought for a moment and said, “To get married, find a suitable person to marry.”
Yu Xi clapped beside him, saying there was no need to ask her; she had the same wish. Meng Jia sipped her coffee and muttered, “What’s so great about getting married? Why are you all only thinking about marriage?”
Yu Xi said to Long Kong that she didn’t understand.
She glanced lightly at Tan Yucheng, “Why don’t I understand… You have to find the right person to get married.”
Unfortunately, Tan Yucheng leaned against the chair back, drying his hands while texting on his phone. He didn’t participate in this topic, perhaps because he didn’t feel the need to.
He was accustomed to being unrestrained, and even Mrs. Xiao couldn’t do anything about him.
At the end of supper, just past midnight, several offices in the Zhuoyue office building still had their lights on, while the rest were completely dark. The streets of Li City also entered into the silence of deep night, sparsely populated with pedestrians.
Among the shops, only “Sunset” still had its lights on. Yu Xi and Long Kong helped Ji Ting tidy up the table. Meng Jia’s family car came to pick her up, stopping on the driveway not far from the entrance, hazard lights flashing.
Meng Jia carried her expensive bag, pushed open the door, and walked out. She met Tan Yucheng, who had just returned from taking out the trash. Meng Jia stood in front of Tan Yucheng, her curly hair falling to her waist. She looked up through the glass, unsure of what to say to him.
Tan Yucheng had one hand in his pocket, his eyes dark as ink in the late night, yet slightly cool due to the backlight.
Yu Xi leaned closer to Ji Ting and said, “Tonight was organized by Meng Jia. She said she wanted to apologize to him. Truth or dare was also suggested by Meng Jia. She wants to know Tan Yucheng’s current attitude towards Shu Xiao. Looks like Meng Jia really hit a nerve this time.”
Long Kong shook his head beside them, glancing at Ji Ting.
Ji Ting pursed her lips and still didn’t meet Long Kong’s gaze, lowering her head to tidy up.
Meng Jia detained Tan Yucheng at the door for quite a while, saying a lot of things. Yu Xi and Long Kong helped Ji Ting clean up the table, took their things, and then left through the door. Yu Xi needed Long Kong to drive her back since she didn’t bring her car. As they pushed the door open to leave, Meng Jia’s curly hair fluttered as she walked away. She stepped delicately in her high heels, her chopstick-like legs heading towards the nanny car.
Long Kong waved goodbye to Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng, who was lighting a cigarette and nodded.
He stood outside Sunset’s glass, his back to Ji Ting, broad shoulders and long legs, surrounded by smoke. Ji Ting returned to the lounge, grabbed his coat, then went to the counter to pick up her small bag. She happened to see the one Meng Jia had sent as well. Lifting the white shopping bag, she turned off all the lights in the shop. With the streetlights outside providing some illumination, Ji Ting pushed the door open and locked it after stepping out.
After locking it, she glanced over and saw Tan Yucheng leaning against the glass, casually scrolling on his phone with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
Ji Ting’s heart suddenly thumped loudly. She walked towards him. “Aren’t you going back yet?”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow. “Go where?”
Facing him directly, Ji Ting still held his coat in her arms, her heart pounding hard. “Where do you want to go?”
Tan Yucheng pocketed his phone and looked at her. “What do you think?”
They stared at each other, seeming to read each other’s thoughts. Tan Yucheng straightened up. “To your place, how about that?”
Ji Ting tightened her grip on the suit jacket, which exuded the scent of ebony. She took the lead and walked forward. “Let’s go.”
She turned into the stairwell, with Tan Yucheng following behind. Before entering the elevator, he stubbed out his cigarette. Inside the quiet elevator, Ji Ting stood in front of him, somewhat curious about what Meng Jia had said to him. It had taken so long, yet she seemed reluctant to know, perhaps afraid of adding unnecessary worry to herself.
They entered the apartment.
Ji Ting changed her shoes, placing her small bag and the shopping bag on the shoe cabinet. Turning around, she saw Tan Yucheng had just finished changing his shoes. He looked up, fingers undoing his collar, and the next moment he placed a hand on her waist, guiding her forward.
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat as she leaned on his shoulder. The light in the entrance hall was dim, their eyes meeting. The muscles under her palm felt firm and steady, while Tan Yucheng’s hand gradually moved upwards, gripping her slender waist.
“We haven’t seen each other in a few days?” he asked softly.
Ji Ting couldn’t help but swallow. “Three days, right? Weren’t you working overtime?”
“Mm.”
He nodded and lowered his gaze to her eyes and brows. Ji Ting leaned against his shoulder, feeling both guarded yet eager and resistant. Suddenly, Tan Yucheng exerted force with his arm, pulling her into his embrace. The next moment, he lowered his head and kissed her red lips. Ji Ting lay in his arms, engulfed by his fiery breath, her chin tilting up, revealing her slender and fair neck.
He kissed her lips fervently.
His other hand lifted, sliding over her neck, then down to touch her buttons, effortlessly slipping inside.
Ji Ting shrugged her shoulders as Tan Yucheng’s kisses gradually moved downward, nibbling on her earlobe and whispering something in her ear. Ji Ting’s ears burned hot, then he lifted her up.
They moved to the sofa, Ji Ting’s knees against the cushions as she sat on his lap.
Tan Yucheng straightened up, kissing her passionately.
She trembled all over, her eyes filled with mist. The A-line skirt stretched tightly over her legs, revealing her fair and long legs. Tan Yucheng seemed constrained by something in his pants. He reached into his pocket and casually tossed aside a small hard object, then used his hand to press against her neck, capturing her lips. Ji Ting’s fingertips trembled lightly as she reached out to unbutton his shirt collar.
Tan Yucheng noticed and slightly parted from her red lips, looking down at her as she undid the buttons.
Those slender white fingertips, flipping over the buttons, made Tan Yucheng’s lips curl slightly. His hand hooked around her waist, leaning in close to her lips and murmuring, “Tit for tat.”
Rip—
Later, Ji Ting was laid down on the sofa, gripping his neck. Water droplets rolled down the man’s abdominal muscles, dripping onto her delicate skin. He lifted her waist, leaned over, and once again sealed her red lips. Her fingertips involuntarily squeezed his shoulders.
The sofa’s soft cushions sank to the bottom.
She couldn’t catch her breath, her lips not only bitten by him but also by herself. Tan Yucheng pressed against the tip of her nose, squinting as he asked, “Have you liked anyone before?”
“Do I know them?”
Ji Ting’s body instantly tensed up, facing him in the dim light, her eyes filled with tiny drops of moisture.
They locked eyes.
Tan Yucheng couldn’t hold back anymore. As he continued his attack, he nibbled on her earlobe and asked, “Then let me ask again, do you still like him now?”
Ji Ting hooked his neck, unable to answer, only trembling and tightening further. He couldn’t resist, gritted his teeth, and muttered under his breath, “Relax a bit.”
Ji Ting’s voice was fragmented, “I’m trying very hard to relax.”
Tan Yucheng squinted his eyes as he kissed her lips, his hands soothing her further down. He faintly smelled the fragrance by her ear, the rich and captivating scent of perfume. He nibbled on her earlobe, leaving an imprint.
“You’re still using the perfume Lu Hai gave you?”
Ji Ting was in a daze, drowning in his embrace, unable to answer properly and just nodded.
Tan Yucheng used his fingertip to press against the spot on her neck and earlobe where the perfume lingered, lightly rubbing it. He lowered his head to leave marks on her neck. Combined with her soft and gentle touch, he gradually lost some of his strength, stroking her wet hair, watching her cling to his neck even when exhausted.
Droplets of water slid down his neck and shoulders, dripping onto her lip. She leaned softly against him, her lips marked with her own bites, her voice gentle yet incredibly pleasing.
Tan Yucheng’s Adam’s apple moved, sharp against her lips, kissing her again and again.
She scratched his shoulder fiercely, leaving deep and crisscrossing nail marks. She held tightly onto his neck, tears and sweat streaking down his neck.
He grasped her wrist firmly, leaving marks with his grip.
The night deepened.
Ji Ting spent this night in a daze, instinctively tilting her neck when kissed, sensing his intense breath countless times. She slightly opened her eyes in the dim light, looking at his features. This time, he caught her gaze, and Tan Yucheng leaned close to her ear.
“Shall we take a shower?”
Ji Ting nodded.
In the next moment, Tan Yucheng got off the couch, lifted her around the waist, and headed towards the bathroom.
The man turned on the overhead shower head, placing her beneath it against the wall. Ji Ting was exhausted, clinging to his shoulders as hot water poured down on them both. Tan Yucheng lowered his gaze to look at her, then lifted her face and kissed her lips again, effortlessly invading once more.
This bath.
They showered until late.
Afterwards, Ji Ting was too tired to move. After Tan Yucheng carried her out and sat her down on the couch, she lazily said to him, “I want to eat something.”
Tan Yucheng put back on his shirt and buttoned it up. “What do you want to eat?”
Ji Ting shook her head. “I don’t know, I’m just a bit hungry.”
Tan Yucheng poured a glass of water and handed it to her, then sat beside her and picked up the phone from the table to order food for her. Ji Ting sipped the water, watching his profile, feeling her face heat up behind the glass. At that moment, she was dazed, but thinking back now, all she could remember was the heat from his body and the sweat, the water droplets trickling down his abs.
She drank the water slowly.
Tan Yucheng finished ordering and looked over at her. Their eyes met, and Ji Ting gripped her cup tightly. She was wearing a loose nightgown, the neckline unable to hide the marks he had left.
Ji Ting’s face grew even hotter. “What are you looking at?”
“Aren’t you looking too?” Tan Yucheng’s lips curled into a slight smile.
Ji Ting couldn’t help but kick him lightly. He laughed softly, making her ears burn even more. At that moment, the phone on the coffee table rang—it was Ji Ting’s phone. The screen lit up, showing an incoming call. Ji Ting said, “Can you get that for me?”
Tan Yucheng picked up her phone and handed it to her, glancing at the screen to see that it was Yu Xi calling. Ji Ting took the phone and quickly pressed the green button to answer. On the other end, Yu Xi said, “You’re still up?”
Ji Ting felt a bit guilty. “Yeah, you’re not sleeping either.”
“I can’t sleep. I wanted to chat with you, so I decided to give it a try.” Yu Xi sighed on the other end. Ji Ting heard her sigh and worried she might be thinking about Zhu Zhan. Over the years, he was the only person Yu Xi seemed to care about.
Ji Ting hesitated for a moment. “Are you thinking about…”
Zhu Zhan?
“A little.” Yu Xi turned over and sighed again, hugging a pillow to her chest.
At that moment, the doorbell rang. It must have been the delivery. Ji Ting saw Tan Yucheng get up to answer it. Yu Xi asked over the phone, “Who’s ringing your doorbell this late?”
Ji Ting replied, “It’s the takeout I ordered.”
“Oh.”
Tan Yucheng took the takeout and placed it on the coffee table, then sat down on the sofa and started unpacking it. Inside was porridge and some side dishes, just what Ji Ting wanted. Feeling even hungrier, Ji Ting prepared to eat while chatting with Yu Xi, but Yu Xi spoke up.
“Tingting, you said tonight that you had someone you liked. Who is it? I’m so curious.”
This question not only came through the earpiece but also inadvertently through the speakerphone, amplifying the sound. Right in front of her was Tan Yucheng’s profile, his elbow resting on his knee as he held the porridge and ate with a spoon.
Yu Xi continued, “Is it one of our classmates or…”
Ji Ting quickly interrupted, “It was a long time ago.”
Yu Xi paused for a moment, then responded with an “Oh.”
Ji Ting swung her long legs off the sofa and leaned closer to the coffee table. “I’m a bit hungry. The late-night snack just arrived, so I need to eat. Can we chat another time?”
“Alright, go eat.”
Ji Ting hung up the phone and, trying to stay composed, bent down to pick up the bowl of porridge. A hand with distinct knuckles appeared beside her, tearing open a packet of side dishes and pouring it into her bowl. Tan Yucheng’s nonchalant voice sounded from behind, “I’m curious too.”
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat, and she turned to look at him.
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow. His shirt collar was open, revealing scratch marks she had left. In the dim light, his fingers grasped the edge of the bowl, and he was watching her.
In the dim light, Ji Ting’s fingers tightened around the spoon. She met his gaze. “What?”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow.
Ji Ting pursed her lips and asked softly, “Is it that important?”
Tan Yucheng picked up the spoon, his voice indifferent, “Not very important, just curious.”
“What? That person isn’t in Li City?”
He picked up the spoon and started to drink the porridge. The steam rose, enveloping his eyes, neck, and collar with a lazy warmth. It seemed as though he was merely curious about Ji Ting’s past crush, his gaze calm, much like when he had teased her about Lu Hai. Ji Ting looked at him, emotions swirling within her. She was afraid of him knowing the truth.
The person she used to like was him.
This unexpected development, she wanted to define as a temporary entanglement, free of any other bindings, something that could be stopped at any time.
If he knew, it might end this entanglement prematurely, and the balance would surely be disrupted. Her standing in his life would change significantly, so he couldn’t find out.
Ji Ting wasn’t good at lying, but she maintained a calm expression as she said, “I don’t know if he’s still here or not. It’s been a long time since we last contacted each other.”
He drank the porridge, not responding.
Seeing him like this, Ji Ting leaned closer, deliberately asking, “Could it be that you’re jealous?”
Tan Yucheng looked at her as she approached, her collar sliding off her shoulder, revealing fair skin marked with hickeys. He remained motionless, staring at her eyebrows.
After a few seconds, he said, “What if I say I am jealous?”
Ji Ting’s fingers tightened on the edge of the sofa.