Chapter 24
Ji Ting’s heart was pounding, her body trembling slightly as she leaned against his shoulder, tilting her head softly while he kissed her.
There were only the two of them in the corridor.
The dim light above their heads cast shadows intertwined at their feet.
Click.
The door next to them clicked softly.
Ji Ting’s nerves jumped, and Tan Yucheng heard it too. He released Ji Ting, her lips tinged red from kissing. She clung to his shoulder, meeting his gaze for a brief second. Her voice soft and low, murmuring, “Someone who doesn’t know might think you’re jealous.”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow and lightly pressed her waist.
The voices of a man and a woman talking came from next door. They walked out one after another, and at the moment the man stepped out of the door, Tan Yucheng completely let go of Ji Ting.
Ji Ting’s ears felt warm, she turned around, pushed the door open, and walked in, leaving Tan Yucheng to meet the eyes of the couple who had just stepped out. Tan Yucheng remained as steady as a rock.
The couple paused for a moment, remembering that the next door was run by a very beautiful coffee shop owner. Who was this man? Tan Yucheng wore a black shirt and pants, with the collar open and sleeves rolled up, giving off a somewhat sexy vibe in the darkness. He nodded to the couple, then took a long step and followed Ji Ting into the room.
The door closed.
Ji Ting had already changed her shoes and her cheeks flushed. She walked to the coffee counter, then glanced back at him, “Do you want coffee? I suddenly feel like having some.”
Tan Yucheng unbuttoned the cuffs on his elbows, loosened them, and looked up, “Sure, let’s have some.”
“That’s fine, you sit down for a bit,” Ji Ting said, then lowered her head to open the coffee machine.
She hadn’t used the home coffee machine much lately, and the coffee aroma had mostly dissipated. Ji Ting took out the coffee beans, sniffed them. The weather in the south was prone to humidity, these days were alright, but during spring, one had to be careful with these coffee beans.
Ji Ting scooped out a handful and put them into the coffee machine, took out two cups, wiped them clean, and above, a small orange light turned on.
After unbuttoning his cuffs, Tan Yucheng looked at her. A few stray hairs fell on her cheek. Along the long counter, her figure was slender, her skin fair, and her shirt had just been ruffled by him a bit.
He walked over and embraced her waist from behind.
Ji Ting’s fingertips paused, her body unexpectedly feeling a bit soft, and her heart racing even faster. Yet, her fingertips remained focused on grinding the coffee beans in the machine. Tan Yucheng held her lazily, watching her work under the dim light.
Ji Ting’s fingertips were slender, and despite her racing heartbeat, her movements were precise.
Tan Yucheng followed her actions, watching attentively. They were quiet with each other. His phone occasionally rang, and he glanced at it before setting it down again. It was a rare and cozy moment.
At this moment, Tan Yucheng received a new message on his phone from Xu Xu, about a new game for him to help beta-test. Ji Ting noticed and looked over. Tan Yucheng casually replied to Xu Xu, saying he could help.
Xu Xu quickly sent a link.
Tan Yucheng clicked on it.
It’s a game similar to parkour in the sky. This game can’t be played with just one hand; you need both hands. Tan Yucheng released Ji Ting’s waist, leaned to the side and tapped on his phone. Ji Ting listened to the music and found it quite fun and thrilling.
She picked up her own phone and said, “Send me the link, I’ll give it a try too.”
Tan Yucheng made a sound of agreement and sent her the link.
So, while waiting for the coffee,
Both of them were testing this game for Xu Xu.
After a while, the coffee was ready.
Two cups of coffee were placed on the coffee table, and the light aroma of coffee filled the room. Ji Ting sat cross-legged on the sofa, not far from Tan Yucheng. She played several rounds and managed to grasp the tricks of the game.
Tan Yucheng reached for the coffee, took a sip, and glanced at her. Ji Ting happened to pause the game, looked up, and their eyes met. The living room had wall lamps on, casting dim light.
A slight smile curved Tan Yucheng’s lips as he leaned closer to Ji Ting and whispered in her ear, “Let’s make a bet, one piece of cloth per round.”
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat. Subconsciously, she glanced at the shirt Tan Yucheng was wearing, then thought about her own. Just then, she noticed the master bedroom door was open.
A spark of inspiration lit up in her mind as she bit her lip lightly. “Sure, why not,” she replied.
Tan Yucheng leaned back on the sofa, observing her with interest.
Ji Ting smiled mischievously. “Wait for me then,” she said.
With that, she got off the sofa and walked towards the master bedroom.
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow, leaning against the chair back. “Cheating?” he mused aloud.
Ji Ting couldn’t be bothered with him. She opened the wardrobe, rummaging through it piece by piece. Summer clothes were thin, so wearing a few more layers was no problem. She could choose items of varying lengths. Coming out of the master bedroom, Ji Ting, while not exactly bulky, visibly had a bit of padding on her shoulders. She tied up her hair and sat down beside him.
Tan Yucheng leaned his elbow on his knee, holding his phone, and glanced at her.
Ji Ting cleared her throat. “I remember you have a jacket here at my place. Do you want to wear it?”
Tan Yucheng didn’t respond immediately, examining her outfit. His shirt collar was slightly open, revealing a glimpse of skin and his Adam’s apple. He scoffed lightly. “No need.”
Ji Ting cleared her throat again.
Picking up her phone, she reasoned, “Clearly, you’re better than me. I need to be cautious.”
“Is that so,” Tan Yucheng responded casually.
He had already opened the game and started playing.
Ji Ting also entered the game. In the beta test, both of their IDs were rough, without set names, but their scores would show up on the leaderboard. This game’s final score was determined by the number of steps taken.
The farther, longer, and more one ran, the better.
There were many obstacles set up, each more bizarre than the last. Xu Xu clearly aimed to design a parkour game that surpassed traditional ones.
Tan Yucheng’s previous scores were on par with Ji Ting’s. He would study these obstacles carefully, while Ji Ting would try to avoid them as much as possible. That’s why her scores could keep up with Tan Yucheng.
However, when Tan Yucheng got serious,
Ji Ting found it difficult.
First round.
Of course, Tan Yucheng won.
Ji Ting took a deep breath.
Tan Yucheng looked up at her, gesturing.
Ji Ting’s cheeks flushed red. She met his gaze for a few seconds before raising her hand and removing her thin jacket.
Inside the thin jacket was a long shirt. She had layered several shirts underneath it. Tan Yucheng saw this and lightly tugged at the corner of his lips. “How long are you going to keep taking off?”
Ji Ting stared at his black shirt defiantly and challenged him, “You only have one, so take it easy.”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow.
The two of them were exchanging tough words.
Ji Ting had a simple goal: to leave him with just one shirt.
Tan Yucheng, on the other hand, remained calm, watching how she put on and took off each piece of clothes.
Tan Yucheng’s score kept breaking records, reaching over a million steps. He glanced sideways.
Ji Ting’s ears weren’t the only thing burning; her neck was also flushed. With only two pieces of clothing left, her fingertips trembled as she reached for the buttons.
Before long,
The apricot-colored shirt fell to the ground, revealing her cool skin.
Her breathing almost stopped.
She gripped her phone tightly, deliberated for a moment, considering the importance of face. She brushed herself up to prepare to leave, but her wrist was firmly grabbed by him, pulling her back, and with a push, she was gently pushed down onto the sofa by Tan Yucheng.
He propped himself on top of her head and looked down at her. “You’re going to run now?”
Ji Ting blushed, biting her lip. “Do you always play like this?”
Tan Yucheng chuckled softly, lowering his head to kiss her lips, one hand pressing against her delicate waist, slowly undoing the last restraint. Ji Ting trembled all over, tilting her neck to meet his kiss, her hands climbing up his broad shoulders, feeling his sturdy muscles.
Once was not enough.
Last night seemed like opening floodgates, and tonight was just the afterglow of last night. Ji Ting’s hair was soaked and draped over her back. Impatiently, she hugged his neck, her soft voice falling into his ear. He brushed aside her damp hair, devouring her lips, swallowing her sounds but occasionally letting some escape.
For a while,
She whispered softly, “The sofa.”
Tan Yucheng glanced at it and turned back to kiss her. “Let me change it for you.”
Ji Ting raised her eyes and met his gaze, somewhat accusingly. Tan Yucheng smiled in his eyes, kissing her lips without responding.
She liked the sofa because it was gray, which complemented her porcelain-like white skin. However, she might need to change the sofa cover frequently.
The night grew deeper, shadows dancing in the living room. Ji Ting’s long hair cascaded down her lower back as she leaned against his shoulder, her lips a deep red. His palm pressed against her lower back, the veins on his hand bulging up to his wrist against her fair skin, creating an enticing contrast.
After a while,
He finally carried her into the bathroom.
After showering, Ji Ting lazily leaned against the sofa armrest in her soft pajamas, casually flipping through the remote control. Meanwhile, Tan Yucheng was in the bathroom, buttoning up his shirt. As he turned around, he accidentally knocked over a bottle on her vanity with a loud “bang.”
The bottle hit the floor, releasing a strong fragrance of perfume.
Ji Ting paused, looking towards the bathroom. “What fell?”
Tan Yucheng bent down to pick up a fragment, showing the perfume’s name on it. Leaning against the door frame, he lightly shook it towards her. “The bottle that Lu Hai gave you.”
Ji Ting hesitated for a moment, then looked at him. “Oh.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow.
He turned back and tossed the fragments into the trash can, then grabbed a broom from nearby and returned to the bathroom to sweep up the pieces on the floor. He also removed the handheld showerhead to rinse away the sticky perfume residue from the bathroom floor.
Ji Ting sat for a few seconds, then gathered her pajamas and walked barefoot to the bathroom door to watch him clean up.
After tidying up the floor, Tan Yucheng glanced at her teasingly. “What’s wrong? Can’t bear to part with it?”
Ji Ting blinked slightly, then replied, “No.”
Tan Yucheng placed the broom back and advised, “Be careful in the bathroom these days and wear slippers.”
Ji Ting acknowledged with a soft “mm-hmm.”
Tan Yucheng tied up the trash bag containing the fragments, washed his hands, and walked out of the bathroom with his shirt unbuttoned, revealing a red mark where she had bitten him. Ji Ting stifled a yawn. Seeing her tired expression, Tan Yucheng picked up his phone and car keys, his voice low and lazy, “Go to sleep, hmm?”
Ji Ting looked at him without moving.
With both hands occupied, Tan Yucheng approached her, lowering his gaze as he instructed, “I’ll close the door and lock it for you.”
Ji Ting raised her eyes and met his gaze for a few seconds before nodding.
Tan Yucheng looked at her for a moment longer, then stood up, turned around, held the door handle, glanced back at her, and gestured for her to go to bed.
Ji Ting looked at him, feeling a desire to keep him with her, yet hesitating. In the end, she didn’t say anything. She feared forming a habit and also feared his rejection. After all, these past two nights, he hadn’t shown any intention of staying.
She nodded.
Tan Yucheng took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it. His jet-black hair fell across his brow, his eyebrows carrying a hint of laziness. Coupled with the bite mark on his collar, he exuded a rebellious yet handsome charm. He gestured to her again, then pulled the door shut with a slam.
The sound of the lock clicking echoed—click, click, click.
Ji Ting’s heart trembled. She stood in place for a moment, then picked up her phone, turned off the living room lights, and walked into the master bedroom.
Leaning against the headboard, Ji Ting didn’t immediately fall asleep. She casually browsed through some apps, watched coffee vlogs, scrolled through casually, and also checked her friends’ updates on social media.
The first one that caught her eye was Shu Xiao’s moment.
She was wearing a long black down jacket because it was cold there. Her hands were in the coat pockets, walking with her boyfriend. The photo showed her holding her boyfriend’s arm; he wasn’t showing his face, only her own was visible, with a sweet smile at the corner of her lips, her eyes twinkling.
Ji Ting looked on, her face supported by her hand.
Zhong Yu commented, “She’s in love, Xiao Xiao has become even more beautiful.”
Feng Yingying replied, “Must be really cold over there.”
Zhong Yu responded to Feng Yingying, “Definitely cold. Unlike here where we’re still wearing short sleeves.”
Feng Yingying said, “Yeah, today I went on a business trip and saw Tan Yucheng. He was wearing a black shirt while talking to clients…”
She suddenly brought up Tan Yucheng.
Zhong Yu was stunned.
The other classmates were also stunned.
Ji Ting raised an eyebrow slightly.
At this point, Long Kong messaged her: “Feng Yingying’s words, I really don’t know what to say.”
Ji Ting: “…. Maybe it was unintentional.”
Long Kong: “Could it be unintentional?”
Long Kong sighed: “Meng Jia has returned to Hong Kong. She said Brother Cheng clearly rejected her, so she probably won’t come to Li City for a long time.”
Ji Ting was slightly stunned. So, that night Tan Yucheng talked with Meng Jia for so long, was it about this?
Long Kong: “Meng Jia also regrets it a bit, but now just being classmates again is also good.”
Ji Ting: “Hmm.”
After looking at the chat for a while, Ji Ting felt a bit tired, so she put down her phone and lay down to sleep.
The next morning, Ji Ting woke up to find Qiu Dan had shared a business card with her. When she opened it, she realized it was from Mu Yang. She didn’t reply to Qiu Dan, but Mu Yang added her. Ji Ting thought for a moment but didn’t immediately accept the request; she needed more time to consider.
After getting up and freshening up, Ji Ting tidied up the living room a bit before changing her clothes. The weather had turned cold, so she needed to wear long sleeves. Ji Ting wore a camisole inside, topped with a light suit jacket and a pair of trousers, looking neat and tidy.
Once she finished, she went downstairs to the shop.
As she pushed open the door, a local express delivery arrived. Ji Ting took it, feeling it wasn’t quite right—her dad would usually send a cantaloupe, not something so small. She walked to the counter, opening the package as she went.
Inside, she found a high-end brand of perfume.
[Pure Scent Imprint]
This perfume was luxurious and captivating, with fruity and floral notes dominated by magnolia and peony, followed by vanilla and musk in the base notes. It wasn’t cheap, but it did smell really good. Ji Ting had been eyeing it online before but hadn’t bought it yet.
She opened the perfume bottle to see if there was a card inside.
Xiao Wan leaned over to look, “Sister Ting, someone sent you a gift again.”
Ji Ting hummed quietly, still searching for a gift card.
Xiao Wan picked up the delivery slip nearby, opened it, and handed it to Ji Ting, pointing at the name “Tan” below. “Wow, Sister Ting, it looks like it’s from Brother Tan Yucheng!”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Ji Ting paused, taking the delivery slip and giving it a glance.
The black inked characters for “Tan” were quite clear. She remembered the perfume bottle he knocked over last night, feeling a slight warmth in her ears. She picked up her phone and messaged him.
Ji Ting: Did you send the perfume?
Tan: Compensation for your loss.
Ji Ting: It’s quite expensive.
Tan: Do you like it?
Ji Ting: Yes.
Tan: That’s all that matters then.