Chapter 17
The zipper of her skirt wasn’t completely pulled up. Ji Ting blushed as she hurriedly zipped it up and stuffed her shirt messily into her waist. Then she realized her underwear was missing. Feeling a slight ache at her temples, she searched around and found it at the end of the sofa, quickly putting it on. Grabbing her car keys from the entrance. She carefully opened the door and softly closed it behind her.
It was quite windy, and the sky outside was still dark. Ji Ting checked the time; it was a little after four in the morning.
She straightened her shirt, hurried downstairs, and drove back to Zhuoyue.
Inside the house.
Ji Ting collapsed onto the sofa, pulled the air conditioner’s blanket over herself, and the soft incense in the room helped her regain some composure and relax a bit.
She had liked Tan Yucheng since high school. Back then, while he playfully teased Shu Xiao, she sat beside him, watching him joke without reservation, seeing his nonchalant demeanor, his unruly arrogance, and his carefree laughter as he bit his lollipop like a cigarette. She witnessed him successfully winning Shu Xiao’s heart, and in those moments, she gradually fell for him.
In that summer of climbing walls and falling down, more than just them tasted the sweetness of summer candy.
She did too.
But theirs was sweet, while hers carried a hint of sourness.
And so, she liked him for two years, witnessing their bitter breakup. In that new summer, she entered a university in Beijing and coincidentally encountered him in a city.
Just as her mother had coincidentally become best friends with his mother.
She had a bit more involvement with him. Throughout her university years, as the relationship between their two mothers quickly developed, she gradually grew closer to him as well. Of course, Class Monitor Long Kong played a part in this. Long Kong loved organizing various student gatherings, pulling them together including him, who came from Nan’an. Slowly, she became part of Tan Yucheng’s circle.
She was on his side.
But precisely because of this, over these years, she saw clearly.
In his eyes, there was no room for her, not even a shadow blooming with splendid colors, no amazement, not even a second glance. She was just a good friend by his side.
A closer friend, regardless of gender.
Even if they spent the night together, there wouldn’t be any such thoughts.
And now, this balance has been disrupted by her actions last night.
The chaotic alcohol and initiative now hung over her head like a sword, ready to tear apart the mask at any moment.
Ji Ting collapsed on the sofa, covering her face with a pillow.
She hoped everything would return to normal.
She really wish, she wish to go back to the moment before she got carried away, perhaps she was really harboring some hope and a bit of greed. Shu Xiao’s love was a bomb that blew her completely apart.
She was like Meng Jia.
Having extravagant hopes.
It’s really quite laughable.
At some point, dawn broke. Ji Ting curled up on the sofa without moving. Xiao Wan sent her a message, saying she forgot her keys and asked if she was awake. She would come up to get the keys.
Ji Ting gradually woke up from her half-asleep state and replied to her: [I’ll bring them down.]
Then she moved the pillow aside, got up barefoot, grabbed a set of clothes from the room, and went into the bathroom to take a shower. The hot water washed over her body, making her aware of the many marks on her body.
Ji Ting’s skin had always been prone to leaving marks, like strawberries blooming where his lips and teeth had grazed.
Ji Ting’s fingertips trembled as she took a towel to wipe off the water droplets.
Coming out of the bathroom, her skin was not only reddened but also flushed. She quickly applied some concealer to her neck, tied up her still damp long hair, clipped it with a shark clip, grabbed the keys, and went downstairs.
She opened the shop door.
Zhang Yang took off his mask and entered the bakery to make desserts.
Xiao Wan stretched lazily and yawned, saying, “Sister Ting, I feel like having McDonald’s breakfast. Do you want some?”
Ji Ting placed her phone in a corner of the counter, tied on her apron, and replied, “Sure, go ahead. I’ll pay. Also, order one for Zhang Yang.”
“Alright, love you, Sister Ting. Oh, Xiao Zhou said she’s taking leave today. Did you get her message? She was worried you didn’t check your phone, so she asked me to tell you.” Xiao Wan pressed on her phone as she spoke.
Ji Ting was sorting coffee beans. “Yes, I received her message. She sent it yesterday when I was leaving the shop.”
“Mm-hmm, did you forget to reply to her?”
“Yeah.”
At that time, she was buying groceries at the supermarket downstairs from Tan Yucheng’s apartment complex. She had intended to reply later but ended up forgetting entirely. She wore a mask, occasionally brushing the edge of her eyelashes against it.
Around 9:30 in the morning.
Orders were gradually coming into the shop: deliveries, pickups, and dine-ins.
Busy with these tasks, it wasn’t until noon that Ji Ting finally had a moment to pick up her phone and glance at it. Besides app notifications, there were no other messages. Ji Ting stood by the counter, staring at her phone for a moment before slowly setting it back down.
At the entrance facing Zhuoyue’s building, Ji Ting took off her mask, adjusted her bangs, and glanced at the sunlight reflecting off the glass of the building. She slowly withdrew her gaze.
It was past two in the afternoon.
Ji Ting received a message from Lu Hai, asking if the branch was currently demolishing walls.
Seeing Lu Hai’s name suddenly, she paused for a moment before realizing that while they had discussed matters openly, she was still his subcontractor, and there would be future work-related interactions.
She replied, [Yes, we are demolishing walls.]
Lu Hai: [I happen to be nearby. I’ll come over to the branch and take a look. Are you free? Let’s discuss the renovation issues.]
Ji Ting: [Sure, wait for me.]
She removed her apron, informed Xiao Wan that the shop was short-staffed, and if she felt too busy she could call Zhang Yang out. Xiao Wan gestured with an OK sign.
Ji Ting took the car keys, left the shop, and headed to the cultural community.
Many shops here were still under renovation. Ji Ting’s branch wasn’t the busiest, but some two or three-story buildings were still being painted and glass installed. Ji Ting walked in, where walls were being demolished, creating a lot of dust.
Lu Hai stood on the side holding design drafts, the lighting dim around him. He looked over.
Ji Ting smiled. “You’ve been working hard.”
When signing the contract, Ji Ting had entrusted the renovation work to Lu Hai’s studio. As a designer, Lu Hai didn’t necessarily need to oversee it personally, but he chose to do so, indicating it was his own decision. Ji Ting felt guilty in her heart, even more so now.
“What are you saying? This is my first time involved in designing this type of shop. I also hope to see the Sunset of its completion,” Lu Hai said, looking at her in a long dress, exuding an elegant demeanor, with beautiful features that still made his heart skip a beat. However, he was rational and knew they couldn’t be together.
But being friends in the future should be fine.
Pointing at a wall, he said to Ji Ting, “Take a look. I’ve made some changes. I had the craftsmen leave a space. I have a new idea.”
Following his gesture, Ji Ting saw where a space was left for placement, originally flat but now with potential after demolition. Her eyes softened, and she smiled. “Sure, for such a small space, your arrangement will work.”
Lu Hai looked at Ji Ting. “Then I’ll make the decision. Also, I think it’s better to have a ceiling for that column. We’re not aiming for a Syrian style. Exposing columns isn’t ideal here in Li City; it’s bad Feng Shui to have columns pressing on people.”
Ji Ting nodded. “Alright, I originally wanted to keep it to see, but now it seems the area is too small. Keeping it would be more of an obstruction.”
“Exactly.”
Ji Ting smiled.
At that moment, a craftsman called Ji Ting and Lu Hai came over. Lu Hai coincidentally received a phone call at the same time, with poor signal inside, so he walked out to take it. He happened to see Tan Yucheng standing at the intersection, holding a cigarette between his fingers, having just closed the door of a black Porsche that drove away, leaving behind a trail of dust.
Tan Yucheng put the cigarette in his mouth, turned towards them with his long legs, and locked eyes with Lu Hai.
Lu Hai ended his call just as this happened. He lowered his arm and greeted, “Mr. Tan, what a coincidence.”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow, glancing at the slightly twisted “日落” (Sunset) written above. Then he looked back at Lu Hai. “Mr. Lu, what are you doing here?”
“Checking on the renovation,” Lu Hai replied with a slight smile.
Tan Yucheng looked at Lu Hai’s smiling face, understanding his implication – designer, renovation. He nodded while flicking his cigarette. “Oh, I see.”
At that moment, a slender figure emerged from the shop. Ji Ting, holding up her skirt, walked out and asked Lu Hai’s back, “Finished your call?”
Her voice came out with the figure.
Ji Ting glanced up and saw Tan Yucheng standing behind Lu Hai, a tall man holding a cigarette, looking at her calmly with no visible emotion. Ji Ting’s heart trembled.
Lu Hai smiled. “Yes, I just finished. What a coincidence to meet Mr. Tan here.”
He gestured towards Tan Yucheng behind him. Ji Ting was caught off guard, her palms sweaty. The scenes from last night forcefully entered her mind. She composed herself and asked Tan Yucheng in a calm voice, “What brings you here?”
“Just meeting a client,” Tan Yucheng replied casually, flicking his cigarette. He glanced at the words above them. “You chose this place for the branch?”
Ji Ting nodded. “We haven’t tried a cultural community before, so we thought we’d give it a shot.”
“I see,” Tan Yucheng said, bringing the cigarette to his lips and biting it. He glanced at Lu Hai in front of him and then back at her, locking eyes. “I’ll be back at the office tonight. Let’s find some time to talk.”
Ji Ting’s fingertips remained tense.
She nodded. “Sure.”
Tan Yucheng took out his car keys, turned, and walked towards the temporary parking lot.
Drip, drip.
The sound of his car door opening snapped Ji Ting back to reality. Lu Hai walked over to her and asked, “What did the craftsman want from us just now?”
Ji Ting quickly glanced towards the direction of the parking lot, then withdrew her gaze and followed Lu Hai inside. She replied, “He was talking about the plumbing and electrical work.”
“Oh, I see. Plumbing and electrical work must be done properly.”
After discussing the renovation with Lu Hai, it was already dark. They decided to have dinner at a nearby wonton noodle shop. This time, Lu Hai didn’t choose a fancy restaurant, and Ji Ting appreciated this simple, homey dinner.
During the meal, Lu Hai’s phone rang a few times. His mother sent him photos of a girl for a blind date. He glanced at Ji Ting, and flipped his phone shut, while Ji Ting pretended not to notice, scooping soup with her spoon.
After dinner, the cultural community was lit up with lights. One shop’s decoration stood out—it had reserved space outside with huge colorful lanterns, stacked one on top of another like smokestacks.
This area was the focal point of the cultural community.
Ji Ting and Lu Hai stood there for a while. Lu Hai commented, “I reckon many events will be held here in the future.”
Ji Ting nodded. “I heard they’re preparing for a New Year’s Eve celebration.”
“Indeed,” Lu Hai said, glancing at Ji Ting and smiling. “Come by on New Year’s Eve.”
Ji Ting smiled faintly. “Sure.”
Afterward, the two walked back to Sunset. It wasn’t suitable for construction work at night, and most of the craftsmen had already left. Ji Ting and Lu Hai sat on chairs at the entrance, chatting for a while before leaving the cultural community.
Ji Ting and Lu Hai went in different directions. Their cars—one forward, one turned around. Ji Ting drove back to Sunset, entered through the door, and glanced up at Xiao Wan, who mischievously pointed towards the lounge area, saying, “Someone’s looking for you.”
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
She placed her car keys on the counter, walked towards the lounge, stood at the door for a few seconds, then pushed it open.
Inside, Tan Yucheng leaned against the counter, flipping through a book she had left there, while a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He had rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-defined arms.
Hearing the sound, he raised an eyebrow slightly but continued flipping through the pages of the book.
Ji Ting pursed her lips, closed the door behind her, walked over, and closed the only small window in the room. Her hair was slightly messy and loose; she raised her hand to tie it up and turned around.
Snap.
Tan Yucheng closed the book, lifted his gaze to look at her.
“Have you eaten?”
Ji Ting stood not far from him. Her hair tied back with a few stray strands falling on her cheek. She responded with a soft “mm-hmm.”
She stayed quiet for a moment before asking, “And you?”
“I’ve eaten,” he replied casually, leaning against the counter.
Ji Ting’s heart thumped wildly, feeling flustered and disoriented inside, yet maintaining a calm exterior on her face. In her mind, a flurry of scenes flashed by—a mix of moments where she had once liked him, and the image of Meng Jia’s call being ignored by him. How should she act to appear unaffected and hide her true feelings?
Tan Yucheng rested one hand on the counter, lifting his eyes to glance at her.
Ji Ting focused, meeting his gaze.
Tan Yucheng appeared even more relaxed, his fingertips tapping the cigarette lightly. He spoke up, “What’s the deal between Lu Hai and me?”
Ji Ting was briefly stunned, even the fingertips resting on her skirt hem beside her paused for a moment.
“Or are you planning to act like nothing happened?” Tan Yucheng lifted his gaze slightly, his posture almost like crossing his arms, showing even more relaxation. His eyes revealed no emotions, but Ji Ting could sense that his relaxed demeanor indicated he wasn’t deeply concerned about this matter. He was asking for her choice.
The crux of the matter didn’t lie in whether she liked him or whether he liked her, but rather in her decision—between Lu Hai and him, or perhaps just pretending nothing had happened.
Ji Ting’s heart trembled.
So, the initial impulse had brewed into a major predicament, leading her into a dilemma. Over these years, she had rarely encountered such a difficult choice.
Her eyes drooped slightly as she contemplated.
There were still faint red marks left on her neck from last night, the lingering scent in the air, and the sensation of their kiss. Tan Yucheng’s eyes dimmed slightly, observing her contemplative expression.
His slender fingertips, clearly defined joints, held the cigarette loosely, yet there was a hint of restlessness in his throat.
Does it really require this much thought?
The cigarette butt fell and dropped into the nearby trash can.
Ji Ting’s eyelashes fluttered. In her mind, for some reason, emerged Meng Jia’s words: “It’s not about how long it lasts, but about having had it.”
A timeless sentence, yet with profound meaning.
Ji Ting looked up.
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow slightly, locking eyes with her. Ji Ting pursed her lips and said, “I quite liked last night.”
“Oh?” Tan Yucheng responded.
Ji Ting continued, “I’m also not in such a hurry to get married.”
A faint smirk appeared on Tan Yucheng’s lips. He gazed at her intently. His voice low and husky, “Come here.”
Ji Ting suppressed her racing heart and stepped towards him, standing between his long legs. Tan Yucheng tilted his head slightly and kissed her red lips. Ji Ting shivered, closing her eyes as he sucked on her lips. Initially gentle, he then began to kiss more passionately, teasing and enticing her to part her lips. His tongue gently slipped in, pressing against hers in a passionate kiss.
Ji Ting’s heart raced out of her chest, unsure how to react. Her hand lifted subconsciously, supporting his shoulder. At this moment, it felt like she was back to last night again. He lifted his hand, his large palm pressing the back of her head, pulling her towards him, kissing her more fiercely.
Ji Ting’s fingertips clutched his shirt.
His kisses left her weak in the knees.
When Tan Yucheng pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers, his gaze soft and gentle as he looked at her reddened lips from his kisses. Ji Ting lifted her eyes, mist forming in them. He gently bit her lip, his voice low and husky, “Remember to clear things up with him.”
Ji Ting nodded.
Tan Yucheng smiled, brushing his lips against hers again, whispering softly, “Ji Ting.”
“Yeah?” she softly responded.
But Tan Yucheng didn’t continue. He straightened up, checking the time, “Let’s go home.”
Hearing this, Ji Ting glanced at him playfully. Tan Yucheng loosened his collar, noticing her gaze, a hint of mischief in his eyes, “I still wasn’t prepared today, or do you want it like last night?”
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
She shook her head.
Tan Yucheng smiled and released her. Ji Ting took a step back, adjusting her dress, her ears tinged with red. She heard the sound of someone outside cleaning the floor, preparing to open the door to leave, but paused. Her hand rested on the doorknob as she turned to look at him.
Tan Yucheng extinguished his cigarette.
Ji Ting hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, “We can stop this anytime, right?”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow, looking at her. They locked eyes for a moment, both quiet. After a brief pause, he nodded slightly, “Of course, we can stop anytime.”