Chapter 20
Ji Ting liked the taste of cream puffs from this brand, which was famous in Li City and only available at Superior Times in the CBD area. Tonight, Tan Yucheng bought her various flavors. Ji Ting stuffed one into her mouth, then took another and turned around to feed it to him. Tan Yucheng was adjusting his laptop, just opened on his lap.
Without a word, he held her waist, kissed her lips, and his tongue directly took away the cream puff from her mouth.
Ji Ting was caught off guard, her face instantly flushed red, with only a hint of sweetness and his breath left in her mouth.
She glanced at his laptop and asked, “You still have work?”
“Yeah, fixing a bug.” His slender fingers casually pressed on the keyboard, chewing on the cream puff he took from her, appearing nonchalant yet absorbed in his task. His tongue still tasted sweet.
Seeing him focused on typing, Ji Ting didn’t say anything else. She turned to her own computer, opened her work notebook, and entered today’s inventory data into the system. A series of digits flowed onto the screen.
The overhead light was dim, and the curtains were closed. Apart from the ticking of the smart clock in the living room, the only sound was the clicking of keyboards. Ji Ting was focused, typing away, but suddenly paused, her mind drifting to her own palm lines.
As she paused, she sensed that the sound of his keyboard seemed to stop as well. She turned her head and saw Tan Yucheng sitting with legs stretched out, closing his laptop. In the dim light, he glanced at her.
Coincidentally, his collar was slightly open, hinting at defined abdominal muscles beneath his shirt, almost visible.
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat. Her gaze shifted to his hand resting on his knee. Without thinking, she reached out, grasping his hand where veins were slightly visible, and turned it over. The joints of his fingers were distinct.
“What are you looking at?” he casually asked.
Ji Ting murmured softly, “Reading palm.”
She lowered her head, examining his emotional line under the dim light, tracing the palm lines from the base of the little finger upward… His palm lines were deep, the emotional line continuous, though interrupted in the middle and then connecting beautifully towards the end. Ji Ting’s fingertips stiffened slightly, her heart beating faster. Did this mean…
He eventually reconciled with Shu Xiao, achieving a satisfying conclusion.
She stared at the palm of his hand, unmoving.
Tan Yucheng asked, “What do you see?”
His voice casually echoed overhead. Ji Ting snapped out of her thoughts, lifted her gaze, and met his in the dim light. She remained silent for a few seconds, then smiled and said, “Romantic encounters. You seem to have quite a lot recently.”
Upon hearing this, Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow.
“Romantic encounters?”
“Do you believe in it?”
Ji Ting was momentarily stunned. She blinked, contemplating if she counted as one of his romantic encounters after all these years by his side.
She shifted her gaze, lowered her head, and pointed at the crisscrossing lines on his palm, saying, “You truly have many romantic opportunities. Look at these branches—they represent your romantic debts.”
Tan Yucheng’s eyes shifted to his palm in the dim light. Ji Ting, with a serious expression, traced his palm lines with her fingertips. Her nails were neatly trimmed and painted with a transparent color, gliding over the lines on his palm.
He glanced up slightly.
She saw her disheveled hair, the faintly slipping shoulder strap, the delicate black strap contrasting against her collarbone like a shimmering pool of water. Tan Yucheng reached out, his fingertips lightly tracing from her right collarbone to her left, as if casually, like a breeze passing by. Ji Ting felt that breeze.
Her fingertips paused as she glanced up slightly.
Her neck was then held by Tan Yucheng, his fingertip under her chin lifting it, their eyes meeting, and he leaned down to kiss her.
Ji Ting shivered.
The shoulder strap slid down, and she was trapped in his palm, kissed by him, breathless, and his large hand gently rubbing her neck.
At that moment, the phone on the coffee table behind them started ringing incessantly, accompanied by slight vibrations. Ji Ting’s hand, just about to climb onto his knee, paused. Tan Yucheng exerted some force with his fingertip, biting her lip slightly, and they both opened their eyes at the interruption of the ringing phone.
It was quite a mood killer.
Ji Ting looked at him.
Tan Yucheng left her lips, brushing against her lip color. “Answer it, let’s see who it is.”
Ji Ting regained her composure, swallowed nervously, and pursed her lips before responding. She turned around, reached for the phone on the coffee table, and glanced down. It was a call from Yu Xi. Instantly more alert, she answered.
“Hello, Yu Xi.”
“Hi, I’m Yu Xi’s colleague. Are you Ji Ting, her best friend?” It was a male voice. Ji Ting furrowed her brow slightly and replied, “Yes, it’s me. What happened?”
“Well, we’re having a company gathering at a bar. Yu Xi has been drinking and got quite drunk. Now she’s crying. We tried to calm her down and persuade her to leave, but we’re not succeeding. We don’t know why she’s crying. You’re the recent contact in her phone, so I’m calling you. Could you come over and check on her, or maybe talk to her?”
Ji Ting’s heart raced with nervousness. “Okay, can you please keep an eye on her for now? I’ll come over right away.”
“Sure, we won’t leave her. We’re worried about her like this. Please come quickly.”
“Alright, thank you, thank you.” Ji Ting hung up, looked up at Tan Yucheng. Tan Yucheng, elbow resting on his knee, had overheard their conversation and raised an eyebrow.
Ji Ting tightened her lips and said, “I need to go check on her.”
“Yeah, I’ll go with you.” Tan Yucheng buttoned up his shirt, reached out to pull her up, and Ji Ting took a deep breath.
She hurried into the house to change clothes, opting for a simple T-shirt and shorts. She tied up her hair, looking more neat and tidy. Despite nearing the end of October, the weather in Li City was still hot and humid. Tan Yucheng opened the door and tossed the car keys to Ji Ting.
Ji Ting caught them.
The two walked out together, Ji Ting closed the door behind her, and they headed towards the elevator. He walked slightly ahead of her. Ji Ting’s lips were slightly cracked from where he had accidentally bitten her earlier. She couldn’t help but touch it and let out a soft hiss. She remembered how forcefully he had kissed her earlier, and if it hadn’t been for the phone call, her shoulder strap would probably have been torn off by him.
This incident happened at her home, which was just right in every aspect.
Her heart thumped. Glancing at him from the corner of her eye, her ears burning, she asked softly, “Are you prepared tonight?”
As his fingertips were about to press the elevator button, he turned his head to glance at her, expressionless. “Nope.”
Ji Ting paused, her face burning even more fiercely.
The elevator arrived just in time, and the two stepped in. Tan Yucheng withdrew his hand and casually slipped it into his pocket. His long fingers inadvertently touched some hard edges. Ji Ting stood beside him, feeling embarrassed about everything she had just asked. It was quiet now.
They reached the ground floor.
It was his car they were taking.
He had been drinking, sitting in the passenger seat. Ji Ting was in the driver’s seat, starting the car. There was a faint sandalwood scent inside the black sedan as it swiftly drove off. Tan Yucheng leaned back, fastened his seatbelt, and propped his elbow on the armrest while scrolling through his phone.
They arrived at the bar.
It was quite familiar, the place where Ji Ting had nearly been exposed last time. She didn’t have time to dwell on the embarrassing past as she stepped into the bar. The lights were colorful and dazzling, the stage was rocking with deafening music, and there was a woman leaning against the bar with a guy by her side. The guy wore glasses and immediately waved when he caught sight of Ji Ting.
Ji Ting hurried over and took Yu Xi’s arm. The guy said, “It’s good that you’re here. I’ll leave first.”
“Thank you, little brother.”
“You’re welcome.” The young man blushed a bit when he looked at Ji Ting’s face, adjusted his glasses, and left.
Ji Ting lowered her head to look at Yu Xi, who was already sitting up. Tears were indeed in her eyes. She looked up at Ji Ting, and a pang of heartache surged through Ji Ting. Just as she was about to speak, Yu Xi’s phone rang.
She reached out and answered it, saying sharply into the phone, “Let me tell you, I’m not someone no one wants. If you dare to go on another blind date, I’ll fucking find someone to marry right away!”
Ji Ting didn’t know what was said on the other end, but she knew it was Zhu Zhan. She was surprised. How long had it been since he returned, and now he was already being set up on another blind date?
Yu Xi rarely met a man she liked.
“I’m not listening. I don’t want to hear a word from you. If you dare to sit at that blind date table again, we’re done!” After saying that, Yu Xi harshly hung up the phone.
Ji Ting pressed her lips tightly together and helped her to stand up.
Yu Xi gripped her phone tightly, turned to Ji Ting. She was tipsy but not completely drunk, gritting her teeth with tears in her eyes. “Listen, that scumbag Zhu Zhan is going on another blind date. What does he think I am, a dish on his table?”
Ji Ting gently smoothed her hair and said, “Let’s go home first.”
“Wuwuwu, that scumbag, really isn’t a decent person.” Yu Xi cried aloud, tears streaming down her cheeks. Ji Ting softly coaxed her to stand up. Yu Xi wanted to get up but lacked strength. Ji Ting had to look up at Tan Yucheng beside her.
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow, cigarette in his mouth, reached out and firmly grabbed Yu Xi’s arm, exerting a bit of force to help her stand up.
Ji Ting supported Yu Xi’s shoulder.
Feeling the strength, Yu Xi turned her head and saw the tall Tan Yucheng. She looked at him swaying and asked, “Why are you and Ji Ting together? What are you doing together so late?”
Tan Yucheng had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and couldn’t be bothered to reply.
Ji Ting’s ears burned as she helped Yu Xi out, also grabbing her purse.
Seeing Ji Ting could handle her, Tan Yucheng let go of Yu Xi’s arm. However, the server approached them to pay the bill. Yu Xi had drunk two expensive drinks. Tan Yucheng took the bill, glanced at it, and finally signed it, adding it to his tab.
They exited the bar.
The weather was hot and dry, without a breeze. Ji Ting helped Yu Xi down the steps, Yu Xi leaning on her shoulder, still cursing, “What kind of person is he, playing two sides.”
Tan Yucheng took the car keys handed by Ji Ting, glanced at her, his voice low and lazy, “Heard that?”
Ji Ting was momentarily stunned, looking at him. “Heard what?”
“Playing two sides,” Tan Yucheng said.
Yu Xi stood between Ji Ting and him. She was still a bit dazed. When she met his gaze, Tan Yucheng casually held the cigarette between his fingers and replied lightly, “Lu Hai.”
Ji Ting finally reacted, her face instantly flushing red. She said, “I’ve made myself clear.”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow, walked down the steps, and headed toward the parking lot. Ji Ting bit her lip, stood still for a few seconds, and then followed him.
Tan Yucheng’s voice came from ahead, “If you want to, it’s fine.”
He said, “I’m easygoing.”
Ji Ting suddenly felt an urge to kick him to death.
When they reached the car, because Tan Yucheng had been drinking and couldn’t drive, he leaned against the car door. Ji Ting struggled to push Yu Xi into the back seat, straightened up, and slightly out of breath, she brushed her hair aside and met his gaze for a few seconds.
Tan Yucheng’s lips curled slightly, and he reached back to close the door.
Ji Ting pursed her lips, feeling that urge again. She walked around to the driver’s side and got in.
Tan Yucheng swung his long legs in and sat in the passenger seat.
Ji Ting started the car, and the black sedan backed out. In the back seat, Yu Xi fastened her seatbelt, fumbling with it, feeling constrained.
She leaned forward into the front seat, gripping the rear of the driver’s seat, her face close to the leather, saying, “Tingting, where are we going? I’m not going back to Nan’an, I don’t want to see Zhu Zhan.”
She was a bit confused and spoke nonsense.
Ji Ting glanced at her in the rearview mirror as she drove. “We’re not going back to Nan’an, we’re going to your apartment.”
“My apartment?”
“Yeah, your nest, okay, we’re going there,” Ji Ting replied, while Yu Xi was still in her professional suit slightly wrinkled and loose.
Fortunately, her colleague was considerate. Ji Ting asked Yu Xi to sit properly, but Yu Xi refused and insisted on leaning against the back of the seat, her arm stretching forward enough to almost reach Ji Ting.
Yu Xi looked at the man in the passenger seat again and repeated her question, “Tan Yucheng, why are you here?”
Tan Yucheng unwrapped a lollipop, put it in his mouth, and chewed, dispersing the nicotine taste. Without answering Yu Xi, she turned to Ji Ting and asked, “How come he’s here?”
Ji Ting gripped the steering wheel tightly and said, “This is his car.”
“Oh, I see,” Yu Xi replied.
Ji Ting’s nervous mood suddenly lightened. She glanced at the man in the passenger seat, Tan Yucheng, who seemed a bit tired, eyes closed, lollipop in his mouth, his jawline sharply defined. Ji Ting’s ears flushed slightly. She withdrew her gaze and focused on the road ahead.
After driving for a while and noticing Yu Xi had quieted down, Ji Ting asked softly, “Yu Xi, are you asleep?”
Yu Xi tapped the back of the seat, answering a bit grumpily, “No, I’m not asleep.”
“Okay, please sit properly,” Ji Ting reassured her.
There was no response from Yu Xi in the back seat. Ji Ting could feel her hand touching her shoulder. Outside, the night was deep, with occasional cars speeding by in the adjacent lanes, their headlights bright and casting light into the car.
“Ji Ting.”
Yu Xi suddenly called out.
Ji Ting responded, “Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“If I choose to go back to Nan’an to develop my career, what do you think I could achieve based on my abilities?”
Ji Ting was momentarily stunned.
Subconsciously, Ji Ting wanted to dissuade her, but the next moment she remembered Yu Xi’s unusual behavior tonight and the phone call with Zhu Zhan. There’s always a reason behind every thought.
She looked at the road ahead, pondered for a moment, and earnestly suggested, “There are many good hotels in Nan’an. You can transfer there and continue in this line of work. According to your abilities, any level there would be higher than in Li City.”
“But the salary would definitely be lower, right?”
Ji Ting paused briefly and said, “Not necessarily. With a higher level, the salary will definitely increase.”
Yu Xi suddenly let out a short, bitter laugh.
“But everything I’ve worked for here in Li City will all be in vain. Besides, from what Zhu Zhan’s parents imply, they still hope to find a woman who can take care of the family. If not for this, why would he start arranging blind dates when things were going well between us?”
Ji Ting’s fingertips felt a slight chill, and she was somewhat surprised. “What did he say then?”
That man with glasses who seemed polite and stable clearly listens to Yu Xi.
“He said he’s just dealing with it. Dealing with one, then another, and then another. In the end, what am I to him?”
Ji Ting squinted slightly.
She didn’t say a word.
No wonder Yu Xi was angry.
She said Nan’an men are good, but she didn’t expect they would be this kind of good—clearly a form of abandonment, yet Yu Xi still waited, which was shameless.
Therefore, cross-city blind dates are unreliable, only adding to her troubles. Qiu Dan had foresight; whenever she arranged blind dates for Yu Xi, she never chose places outside Li City.
Ji Ting pursed her lips, steering the wheel, and asked, “Yu Xi, what do you think?”
Yu Xi shook her head from the back seat, her voice low, “I don’t know. Let me think.”
Ji Ting acknowledged with a hum. Subconsciously, she glanced at the man in the passenger seat, Tan Yucheng, arms crossed, eyes still closed, adjusting his lollipop stick. His features were distinct in the night.
Actually, there should be quite a few single men in his company.
If only she could introduce someone.
She hesitated, withdrawing her gaze, thinking she should bring it up another time. Otherwise, it might seem like Yu Xi had no one interested in her. In reality, Yu Xi had quite a few pursuers, and her hesitations stemmed from various considerations. No one would have expected that Yu Xi would take a year off to visit Nan’an and succeed in a blind date.
The black sedan entered the apartment complex where Yu Xi lived. Her apartment was also in the central area of Li City, with excellent amenities, although the rent was not cheap.
The car stopped.
Yu Xi was already somewhat drowsy, tears still lingering in the corners of her eyes. Her eyeliner had smudged a bit, giving her a panda-like appearance, adding a hint of cuteness.
Ji Ting helped her out, and Yu Xi clung loosely to Ji Ting’s waist, burying her head in Ji Ting’s embrace. Tan Yucheng, lollipop in mouth, closed the door with a backward motion, hands in his pockets. He took the car keys, pressed the elevator button, and glanced at Yu Xi leaning against Ji Ting.
Tan Yucheng narrowed his eyes slightly, then looked away.
After getting off the elevator, Ji Ting held Yu Xi’s hand and opened the door with a click. A two-bedroom apartment came into view. Yu Xi’s apartment was decorated in a creamy style, somewhat pinkish and girlish. Even the cushions on the sofa featured SpongeBob SquarePants. Pajamas and the like were casually strewn on the tatami mats, and there were plenty of items on the carpet, including recently opened blind boxes and unopened ones, giving the room an extremely anime-inspired feel.
Tan Yucheng didn’t enter but leaned against the door frame, clearly waiting for Ji Ting.
Ji Ting first helped Yu Xi into the bathroom, helped her remove makeup and wash her face. As for taking a bath, that was probably out of the question. She then guided Yu Xi back to the bedroom, dressed her in soft pajamas, tucked her into bed, ready to leave. But Yu Xi grabbed her arm suddenly, clinging to Ji Ting like a bear.
“Ji Ting, stay and sleep with me,” Yu Xi pleaded.
Ji Ting was momentarily taken aback, pulled onto the bed by Yu Xi, who clung to her eagerly.
Ji Ting struggled briefly, but seeing Yu Xi’s swollen eyes, she hesitated, picked up her phone, and dialed Tan Yucheng’s number. He answered quickly, cigarette just lit.
Ji Ting hesitated for a moment and said, “Maybe you should go back first. She wants me to stay and sleep with her.”
Tan Yucheng sighed lazily on the other end, “Why is she so troublesome.”
Ji Ting’s voice was gentle, “You should go back. She’s not in a good state tonight.”
There was a hint of soothing in her tone.
Tan Yucheng listened quietly for a few seconds and then replied with a simple “Hmm.”
“I’ll leave the car keys with you,” he added.
Ji Ting was about to say it wasn’t necessary when she heard the door close outside. The man had already left. Ji Ting realized he couldn’t drive because he had been drinking, so she said, “Make sure to call a taxi then.”
“Okay, goodnight,” Tan Yucheng said.
“Goodnight,” Ji Ting replied.