Chapter 37
“Quite a coincidence,” Tan Yucheng spoke. Now that he was an adult, his voice carried a casual indifference, with a touch of emotionless coldness. At this moment, that was exactly how he sounded.
In this bustling environment, his voice stood out, making it impossible not to hear him. Especially for Shu Xiao, who was watching him with a timid and somewhat fragile gaze.
Her fragility seemed to hold a thousand emotions in her eyes.
After speaking, Tan Yucheng turned his suitcase and walked towards Ji Ting.
Ji Ting was standing by the car, watching him approach. He was wearing a suit that was dusty from all the travels. He had to come to socialize all night, and the winter’s harshness gives him a fatigued and cold look.
Shu Xiao didn’t immediately follow. She turned to look, naturally seeing Ji Ting as well. She still clung to her suitcase, with the little red sandalwood box and the bruises on the back of her hand, just watching them, standing still in the bustling crowd, as if forming a ghostly figure.
Ji Ting saw him approaching and pressed the car key in her hand.
Beep.
The trunk opened. Tan Yucheng walked to the trunk, placed his suitcase inside, and the trunk closed automatically. He unbuttoned his tightly-buttoned cuffs and walked towards the passenger seat. Ji Ting’s eyes didn’t meet his, like a dutiful driver, she walked around the front of the car and got into the driver’s seat.
Tan Yucheng also got into the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt.
Ji Ting started the car.
She was driving his car, the car he had left in her garage last time. The steering wheel felt cold and hard, and a faint scent of ebony wood lingered in the cabin.
Tan Yucheng loosened his collar a bit, making himself more comfortable.
He turned his head slightly to look at her. “Ji Ting,” he suddenly called her name.
Ji Ting’s fingers paused, and she turned her head to meet his gaze. His voice was very low. “What do you want to eat?”
Looking into his eyes, Ji Ting thought for a moment. “Shall we go to Yonghe?”
Tan Yucheng nodded. “Sure.”
Ji Ting returned her gaze to the road ahead. When they left, there had been some sunlight, but now it was gone. The sun was hidden behind by dark clouds, creating a misty feeling. Many cars had turned on their headlights, and it felt as if night had fallen suddenly. Ji Ting turned the steering wheel, watching the distant traffic. Neon lights on both sides of the road started to glow and flicker.
Some of the lights reflected onto the car, sliding across the passenger seat.
At a red light, Ji Ting turned to look at him.
His eyes were closed, resting. The light gently slid across his face, paused for a few seconds on the tip of his nose. This man always had an exceptional face, no matter his age or stage in life.
She couldn’t understand his feelings after seeing Shu Xiao. It seemed as if they were all covered by his travel-weary appearance.
The girl who used to stand by his desk, always smiling shyly and as beautiful as a flower, now stood before him covered in bruises.
How did he feel about that?
Ji Ting didn’t dare to ask. She lacked the courage and had too many concerns. She had initiated their relationship, wanting to keep her feelings hidden and to leave an exit strategy for this entanglement. She had negotiated terms with him.
That was how it all began.
It wasn’t love, it wasn’t feelings, it wasn’t mutual affection—just a way to help each other in their loneliness. For instance, that day, from the start, he had said, “I haven’t prepared anything.”
“We can only help each other.”
He didn’t know that when she looked at him, it was with attachment. He didn’t know that every moment she spent with him made her heart race. He was unaware of her years-long secret love for him, which had persisted from university to graduation. It was deep, yet it had become a part of her life—needing no exposure and expecting no outcome.
If not for that day’s accident and her impulsiveness, a bit of luck.
This secret love would probably have accompanied her to the grave.
For someone she had liked since youth and still felt moved by later, she saw things clearly and understood well that fulfillment didn’t require possession. That’s why she had left herself an escape route first.
They arrived at Yonghe Private Kitchen.
Ji Ting parked the car in the underground garage of Zhuoyue and took the elevator upstairs with Tan Yucheng. The elevator was quite crowded, and Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng stood at the back. When she looked up, Tan Yucheng happened to lower his head.
Ji Ting’s lips curved into a slight smile.
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over her crimson lips.
Yonghe Private Kitchen was on the twelfth floor. Ji Ting wasn’t a regular here, but Tan Yucheng was a VIP. With a phone call, he reserved a window seat that overlooked the commercial plaza below.
Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng sat facing each other.
The menu was on a tablet with a stylus pen. Ji Ting took the pen, swiped it open, and looked at the menu. She ordered soup and vegetables, then handed it to Tan Yucheng. He took it, ordered two main dishes, added some meat, and also ordered an extra fruit plate for Ji Ting.
The waiter stood by, adding bowls, chopsticks, and ladles for both of them, and provided hot towels for hand wiping.
After the waiter left.
Tan Yucheng wiped his palms.
Ji Ting also wiped her palms and the backs of her hands. They were both quite silent, perhaps because he was still tired. Ji Ting looked up at him and suddenly didn’t feel like asking any questions or probing. She asked softly, “Have you been drinking a lot these past few days?”
Tan Yucheng nodded. “Yeah.”
“Fu Yan was busy, so I had to go.”
Ji Ting smiled.
Tan Yucheng looked at her eyes, and her smile. A hint of a smile appeared in his own eyes as well.
Propping her face with her hand, Ji Ting said, “Last time we went to Yanchun, Nanxi was there eating java apples while heavily pregnant. Now she’s given birth—a winter baby.”
Tan Yucheng’s tone was casual. “Just like you.”
Ji Ting retorted, “I’m a winter adult.”
Tan Yucheng raised his eyebrows.
He made a hum sound, with a bit of amusement. Ji Ting kicked him lightly, and he smiled without saying anything. Just then, their phones on the table rang. Someone in their class group chat started a conversation. A male classmate, who was going abroad and had found a school, asked Shu Xiao for some materials she had given him. He was asking in the group if he could add her privately to ask some questions.
Shu Xiao graciously agreed.
Ji Ting’s phone was not set to mute notifications for this group, so messages kept coming one after another. Tan Yucheng, on the other hand, had muted the class group notifications, but Shu Xiao’s name still appeared on the screen from time to time. He opened the work group chat to check the messages.
Ji Ting glanced at the class group chat, then looked up at the man across from her.
Tan Yucheng was looking down, replying to work messages.
Ji Ting then muted the class group chat as well.
After a while, the food arrived.
Ji Ting ordered soup. Tan Yucheng served her a bowl of fried rice and pushed it to her; it was eel fried rice, which Ji Ting liked. She picked up her spoon and started eating while he dealt with numerous work messages. Occasionally, when Chen Fei sent a voice message, he had to pick up his phone to listen.
In the voice message, Chen Fei said, “Brother Tan, remember to return to the company after dinner. There are a ton of things that need your decision. Brother Fu has vanished like a ghost, my goodness.”
Tan Yucheng replied in a low, lazy voice, “I’ll head back after eating.”
Chen Fei sent another message, “Where are you eating? Can you pack something for me? I had instant noodles tonight.”
“Oh, Zhou Xiong wants some too.”
Tan Yucheng snorted lightly, “Fried rice.”
Chen Fei said, “Fried rice is fine. It’s better than instant noodles. My mouth tastes like pickled mustard right now.”
Tan Yucheng put his phone down without replying.
Ji Ting laughed from across the table, picking at her chicken with chopsticks. “How about we order another portion of fried rice?”
Tan Yucheng took the tablet and added another order of fried rice to go. Ji Ting peeked over, “Is one portion enough?”
Tan Yucheng looked at her, “You’re quite good to them?”
Ji Ting blinked and met his gaze. Today, she wore a white sweater coat and white tailored pants, giving off a lazy winter vibe. Tan Yucheng stared at her for a few seconds before looking away and tapped the tablet, “Just one.”
Ji Ting pouted and sat back on the sofa.
After dinner, Tan Yucheng reluctantly carried the takeaway as they went downstairs. Ji Ting could get off on the first floor, so she pressed the button for the first floor, but Tan Yucheng canceled it and pressed for the basement level.
Ji Ting glanced back at him.
Tan Yucheng looked at her calmly, “We haven’t seen each other for a few days. Don’t you want to talk?”
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
After getting out of the parking garage, Tan Yucheng opened the passenger door, placed the takeaway bag on the seat, and turned to look at Ji Ting.
Ji Ting stood in front of him, dressed all in white, her hair tied in a bun and her skin fair. They gazed at each other for a few seconds before he grabbed her waist with one hand and lowered his head to kiss her.
Although Ji Ting had guessed his intention, she was still slightly stunned. A few seconds later, she stood on tiptoe and tilted her head to kiss him back.
His kiss tonight was fierce.
Instinctively, Ji Ting supported herself on his shoulder, her soft tongue subtly soothing him.
When they parted, Tan Yucheng bit her lip gently and whispered, “Rest early tonight.”
Ji Ting’s voice trembled slightly as she agreed.
He then let go of her waist, and she took a step back. Her skin was flushed, and her lips were beautifully red. She raised her hand to wave goodbye before turning to walk towards the elevator.
As she entered the elevator, there was a clatter.
Something had fallen to the ground. Ji Ting instinctively turned back and saw a girl holding many items, with a bracelet dropping near the elevator. The bracelet was the type made of little red sandalwood beads. Ji Ting instinctively looked at Tan Yucheng. He was straightening up, about to return to the driver’s seat, but his gaze inadvertently fell on the bracelet near the girl.
He paused for a second.
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
A second later, Tan Yucheng looked up towards the stairwell to check if she had entered the elevator. Ji Ting snapped out of her thoughts and quickly stepped inside. From the small gap before the doors closed, she saw him walk around to the driver’s side and get into the car.
The girl who had dropped her bracelet hurriedly picked it up and rushed to the elevator, asking Ji Ting to wait. Ji Ting held the door open button, and the girl entered the elevator, panting and saying, “Thank you.”
The black car drove away. Ji Ting released the door button and then asked, “You’re a resident here?”
The girl nodded, carrying tissues and similar items. “I just moved in. Do you live here too?”
Ji Ting paused for a moment and said, “Sort of.”
She glanced at the girl’s bracelet made of little red sandalwood beads. “That bracelet is quite pretty.”
The girl looked at her own bracelet and said, “Oh, yes, I really like it. It’s a bit expensive. My boyfriend has one too. They’re a couple bracelets.”
Couple bracelets.
Ji Ting’s expression froze briefly, and she gave a slight smile and murmured an “Oh.”
At that moment, the elevator reached the first floor. She nodded to the girl and stepped out. Night has fallen, the gray haze of the day is gone. Replaced by twinkling lights everywhere. Ji Ting turned a corner and headed back to the shop.
It was past ten at night.
Ji Ting returned to her apartment, took a shower, dried her hair, and went straight to her room to rest. She leaned against the headboard, she flipped through a book she had been reading for a long time but hadn’t finished. The orange light from the bedside lamp wasn’t harsh, but Ji Ting wasn’t fully focused. Her mind kept drifting back to their meeting earlier that day, Shu Xiao’s little red sandalwood bracelet, and the bruises on her hand.
These were all very noticeable, and if she could see them, Tan Yucheng certainly wouldn’t miss them.
That winter.
She remembered that the weather was very cold. They wore thick hooded jackets under their school uniforms, and some wore sweaters, making them look puffy; most of the girls were dressed this way.
Shu Xiao was no different.
During the physical education class, they had free time on the playground. Long Kong was demonstrating his skills with a badminton racket, while Tan Yucheng stood by with his arms crossed, watching. Shu Xiao, wrapped in a scarf, and Zhong Yu were also standing there. At some point, someone pushed Shu Xiao forcefully. Tan Yucheng, who was standing behind her, reflexively tugged at her scarf, pulling her to a position in front, and then turned to look at the person who had bumped into Shu Xiao.
That person was the biggest troublemaker in Meng Jia’s class.
At that time, Ji Ting had her hair in a high ponytail, exhaling as she leaned against a wall while talking to Yu Xi. She saw the whole scene as she looked up. She focused on Tan Yucheng’s actions and expression. Her fingers tightened. At that moment, she recognized that Tan Yucheng was protecting Shu Xiao. The weather that day was gray and gloomy, just like today’s weather.
He would protect Shu Xiao.
Snapped.
Ji Ting closed the book, reached out to turn off the bedside lamp, and snuggled into bed.
The room was quiet, with only the dehumidifier softly blowing mist. Ji Ting soon fell into a deep sleep.
Early the next morning, Ji Ting was awakened by her phone ringing. It was a call from Qiu Dan. Still little drowsy, she answered with a “Hello,”
Qiu Dan responded with, “Are you still asleep?”
Ji Ting, resting her head on the pillow, asked, “What’s up, Mom?”
“Well, your Uncle Gan ordered a lot of things on my phone, but your dad is busy today and I can’t get away. Can you run an errand? Your uncle’s home has only elderly people and children, and you know he and his wife have been away on a business trip for over a month. I wanted you to deliver the things for me and check on Xiao Wanzi. How is she doing now?”
“Xiao Wanzi has also prepared a birthday gift for you.”
Ji Ting glanced at the time; it was just past eight in the morning. After a pause, she replied, “It’s still early. I’ll get up now.”
“Did Xiao Wanzi tell you?”
“Your Uncle Gan did.”
Ji Ting smiled and said, “Okay.”
She then got up. Uncle Gan was someone Ji Ting’s father, Ji Lindong, met at the supermarket. He married and had children late, so his child is still very young; the little girl is only six years old. After Ji Ting finished washing up in the bathroom and changed into a long dress and a long, thin coat, she took the car keys and went downstairs to drive. She first went to the supermarket to pick up the items, then drove towards the old town.
Ji Ting turned the car into Fenghuang Road. The flowers covering the walls on Fenghuang Road were in full bloom in this weather, covering the entire street. It was a very beautiful street, though parking was a bit difficult. Ji Ting parked the car at a distant mall and walked over slowly.
She turned into a small alley, went upstairs, and saw the elderly and Xiao Wanzi. Xiao Wanzi handed Ji Ting a drawing she made, saying it was a birthday gift. Ji Ting smiled, bent down to hug her, and gave her a little cuddle.
Xiao Wanzi grinned widely.
Her grandmother said, “She refused to go to school today and cried when she got up. I couldn’t bear to make her go.”
Ji Ting sat down with Xiao Wanzi and chatted with her, asking why she cried about going to school. Xiao Wanzi said she wanted to stay at home and wait for her.
Ji Ting was delighted by the little girl’s response.
After spending some time with Xiao Wanzi, Ji Ting had to leave. She said goodbye to the elderly couple and chatted with Xiao Wanzi for a bit more. With the grandmother and granddaughter watching, Ji Ting left, holding Xiao Wanzi’s drawing—a girl in a dress holding flowers, with large eyes that did resemble Ji Ting. Ji Ting smiled and went downstairs. As soon as she was just about to turn out of the alley, she ran into someone.
Shu Xiao.
She was carrying a bag from a nearby store and was heading inside.
Ji Ting and Shu Xiao met face-to-face. When their eyes met, Shu Xiao stopped and softly said, “Ji Ting.”
She instinctively tried to hide her hands and the shopping bag, but Ji Ting noticed that there were also medicine packets in her bag. Ji Ting paused and asked, “Do you live here?”
Shu Xiao nodded.
“This place is very close to Li University.”
Ji Ting looked past Shu Xiao’s head towards the nearby building complex, which was the residential area where Tan Yucheng lived. She withdrew her gaze and confirmed that it was indeed close to Li University, right at the end of Fenghuang Road.
Ji Ting nodded and asked, “Are you shopping? Would you like me to carry your bags?”
“No need, Ji Ting, thank you.” Shu Xiao’s voice remained gentle with a hint of fragile sweetness. Ji Ting responded with a soft “mm” and was about to part ways with her.
At that moment.
Shu Xiao turned her head towards the opposite side.
A black car was coming out of Gate B and was about to reverse, stopping right at the bus stop. The car window rolled down, and inside was Tan Yucheng, who was on the phone, casually picking up documents from the passenger seat and looking at it with a slightly furrowed brow.
Ji Ting followed Shu Xiao’s gaze.
It then occurred to her that the direction the car was coming from was the direction of Tan Yucheng’s garage on Fenghuang Road. She had been here a few times and mentioned how beautiful the flowers covering the walls were. She instinctively looked back at Shu Xiao.
Shu Xiao looked at her, hesitated, and for some reason, explained timidly, “I accidentally saw his car last night.”
Ji Ting remained silent, watching her.
Shu Xiao, holding her bag, said, “Ji Ting, would you like to come over to my place for a bit?”
Ji Ting shook her head and replied, “I need to go back.”
Shu Xiao nodded, gave her a brief nod, and walked inside. Ji Ting prepared to leave but, upon raising her gaze, she saw that Tan Yucheng had gotten out of the car, talking on the phone and about to light a cigarette. His gaze focused sharply on them, and upon seeing Shu Xiao’s slender figure walking inside, he paused for a moment, glanced at her for a second, and then turned his attention back to Ji Ting.
Ji Ting’s mind flashed back to the little red sandalwood bracelet bracelet.
She stood by the wall covered in flowers, paused for a moment, and dialed his number.
On Tan Yucheng’s end, he had just hung up a call when his phone rang again. Seeing that it was Ji Ting calling, he raised an eyebrow and answered, “Hmm? What are you doing here so early?”
From a distance, Ji Ting looked across the street at the man. Her voice was very soft, “Tan Yucheng.”
“What?”
Ji Ting watched him as cars sped by in front of her. She said, “I mentioned before that I could call it off anytime, and you agreed. I want to call it off now.”
Tan Yucheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent.
He stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at her from across the long street.
It felt like they were staring at each other through the air.
Everything else seemed irrelevant.
He did not respond.
Ji Ting asked again, her voice even softer, “I want to call it off.”
Tan Yucheng still did not speak, watching her intently. After a few seconds, he finally replied, “Alright.”
Ji Ting nodded.
Before she ended the call, she said, “Goodbye.”
Tan Yucheng tightened his grip on the phone, he naturally heard her clearly.