Chapter 41
That person.
Ji Ting realized immediately that it was Shu Xiao’s ex-boyfriend. He had sent Shu Xiao a message. In fact, Ji Ting had been surprised when she saw Shu Xiao at the airport and on Fenghuang Road. The girl who was once a bit shy, somewhat introverted but overall loving, smiling, and gentle, had lost her light in just a few months. She seemed withdrawn, timid, and frightened.
Her face was shattered, the result of experiencing something truly terrible.
The black car was still speeding along. Ji Ting had her phone on speaker and asked Shu Xiao softly, “What did he say?”
Shu Xiao was crying on the other end, tears streaming down. She looked at the text message, “He sent me the address where I’m currently living, saying he knows my building number, floor, and room. He told me to wait.”
Ji Ting asked, “Was it very detailed?”
“Yes, very detailed. Ji Ting, I’m scared of being alone. I’m really scared…” Shu Xiao cried with her face covered, her voice weak and helpless.
The soft sound of her sobs echoed in the car. Ji Ting, being a woman, could feel her helplessness. She tightened her grip on the phone, glanced at Tan Yucheng beside her. Tan Yucheng gave her a sidelong glance, his brow still furrowed, but he remained silent.
Ji Ting pursed her lips.
She thought to herself, ‘Why don’t you say something?’
She’s the girl you once liked.
She was your first love.
But he just didn’t say anything. Ji Ting truly couldn’t read his emotions. She thought to herself that if it were her alone, she would have to deliberate a bit longer. But since he was there in the car, Ji Ting felt secure.
He often engaged in some pastimes, including boxing.
She had seen it once before, during the summer of her sophomore year. Yu Xi had come to find her, and they had joined a group chat to catch up on the latest updates. They were eating late-night barbecue at a shop behind her school. Because of the heat, Ji Ting was dressed lightly in a white top and gray shorts. Her fair skin and sandals made her a noticeable presence in the noisy barbecue shop.
At that time, five men came over to ask for Ji Ting’s WeChat and to offer to buy her barbecue. Ji Ting refused, and the men became enraged, blocking her from leaving.
Ji Ting asked Yu Xi to call the police, but Yu Xi remembered that Tan Yucheng and Long Kong were nearby at a pool hall and immediately called them.
In less than five minutes, they arrived. Ji Ting and Yu Xi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they could finally leave. However, the five men, seeing just two college students, felt they had nothing to fear and started to provoke Tan Yucheng, refusing to let Ji Ting leave.
They even said Ji Ting was dressed provocatively.
Ji Ting felt a chill and instinctively tightened her grip on Yu Xi’s hand.
Long Kong stepped forward to demand an apology from the men, but they refused and continued with their verbal abuse. Tan Yucheng picked up a chair and slammed it down on one of the men’s heads, then kneed him. The man immediately knelt, and Tan Yucheng pressed his head down, insisting on an apology. The man still refused, and his companions fiercely charged forward.
Long Kong cursed and joined the fray.
Tan Yucheng stepped on the man’s face, dodged another’s attack, and grabbed the attacker’s wrist, twisting it with a loud crack, dislocating the man’s hand on the spot.
He easily dealt with four of the five men, his strikes quick, ruthless, and precise, with every move perfectly executed.
Later, the five men kept apologizing to Ji Ting.
Tan Yucheng stood to the side, casually wiping some dust from his sleeve, showing no sign that he had been the most ruthless in the earlier confrontation.
With him around, Ji Ting thought it would be helpful to check on Shu Xiao’s situation or have her report to the police. Ji Ting was not a heartless person.
She and Shu Xiao had a decent relationship during high school, aside from the faint rivalry.
She snapped back to reality.
She looked at the man beside her and said softly, “Shall we go check on her?”
Tan Yucheng glanced at her and replied, “It’s up to you.”
On the phone, Shu Xiao was still crying. Her sobs were soft and subdued, more of a curled-up kind of cry. She might have paused slightly when Tan Yucheng spoke, but the fear quickly overtook her, and she continued crying, waiting for Ji Ting to decide her course of action.
Ji Ting tightened her grip on the phone and said, “Shu Xiao.”
“Report to the police first. We’ll come over now.”
Shu Xiao held onto the phone tightly and cried, “Okay.”
“Make sure you call the police first.”
Ji Ting reminded her.
“Okay.”
Then Ji Ting ended the call, put down the phone, and continued driving the same route. After all, Shu Xiao’s neighborhood was directly across from Tan Yucheng residential area, so there was no need to change routes. The black car arrived at Fenghuang Road in the old city late at night. The flower covered wall still looked beautiful in the dark, and Fenghuang Road was still brightly lit. The old city had many newly renovated houses, and the residential area was quite convenient.
The various late-night eateries and convenience stores outside the old city were open 24 hours, and the old city was still bustling with nighttime activity. Finding a parking spot was even more challenging than during the day, but Ji Ting got lucky and found a spot.
After parking the car.
It was quite cold outside, so Ji Ting wrapped her coat tightly around herself. She glanced at Tan Yucheng, who had gotten out of the car with his tie loosened. Ji Ting checked the location Shu Xiao had sent her on her phone.
Walking ahead of him.
Tan Yucheng had his hands in his pockets, following behind her, occasionally stopping to block the electric scooters passing by her.
Ji Ting didn’t pay much attention to this. The old city had many houses, and it was hard to find the right path in the alleys, so she had to look at the signs. Soon, she spotted the building Shu Xiao had sent her.
Shu Xiao lived on the second floor, and the lights on that floor were on.
Tan Yucheng’s voice came from behind her: “Make a call.”
Ji Ting understood what he meant. She dialed Shu Xiao’s number, and Shu Xiao answered quickly. Ji Ting asked, “Is it door number 338?”
Shu Xiao immediately responded, “Yes.”
Then, Shu Xiao quickly made her way to the balcony. Standing there like a wisp of wind in her sweater, she looked as fragile as the wind. Ji Ting hesitated for a moment, instinctively wanting to look at the man behind her.
But she suppressed that impulse.
Seeing Ji Ting and the man behind her, especially Tan Yucheng, Shu Xiao’s fingers paused slightly, but she soon looked at Ji Ting and said, “Tingting, I’ll go downstairs. I’ll be at the milk tea shop over there.”
Ji Ting nodded, “Alright, come down.”
“Okay.”
Shu Xiao seemed to gain strength in an instant. She turned to get her coat and soon came downstairs wearing a long coat, holding her phone and a packet of tissues. She ran towards them.
To be honest, Shu Xiao was not the same as the poised and spirited person she appeared to be on social media. She seemed to have lost a lot of weight. She stood in front of Ji Ting, looked up at her, and her eyes sparkled with gratitude.
“Ji Ting, thank you.”
Ji Ting glanced at her and then at the nearby milk tea shop, saying, “Let’s go.”
The three of them walked to the milk tea shop. It was empty at that time, but the lights were on inside. The sofas were quite spacious, and Ji Ting and Shu Xiao sat at a table near the door.
Tan Yucheng did not come in immediately. He sat at a table outside, lighting a cigarette and holding it between his teeth, while pressing on his phone. The wind blew his collar around, making a rustling sound.
Ji Ting ordered two cups of hot milk tea from the shop owner and then looked at Shu Xiao. Shu Xiao tightly held her phone with her eyes red, showing that she had been crying heavily.
She bit her lip and handed the phone to Ji Ting, saying, “This is from him.”
Ji Ting looked down at the phone.
The message from the person included Shu Xiao’s detailed address and then added: You can’t run away. Wait for me.
Shu Xiao shrugged her shoulders slightly, her eyes reddening again. “I’m so scared.”
Ji Ting looked at her and asked, “Did you report it to the police?”
Shu Xiao nodded. “I did, but since he only sent a message and I haven’t seen him in person, the police told me to call them if anything happens.”
Ji Ting put down Shu Xiao’s phone and said, “That means he might not have returned to the country. He’s just trying to intimidate you.”
Shu Xiao looked up, tears welling in her eyes. She nodded and said to Ji Ting, “I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure if he’s coming back, but he already knows where I live.”
Ji Ting thought for a moment and said, “In that case, you’ll have to move.”
“It’s so late now. Where can I move to? I’m too scared to go back there,” Shu Xiao said, tears falling again onto the back of her hand. The bruising on her hand seemed to be fading a bit, and there was a medicinal smell. Her bracelet was still hidden in her sleeve.
Ji Ting noticed the bracelet, then looked at Shu Xiao and asked, “If I may ask, how long have you known this person you’re talking about?”
Shu Xiao pressed her lips together, holding her wrist. “We’ve known each other for over two years. He’s younger than me. We’re at the same school, and he pursued me for quite a while. Eventually, I agreed because I felt there was no other way.”
“At first, he was quite nice, but a bit obsessive. He wanted me to make our relationship public on social media, which I didn’t mind, so I did. Later, he organized some nice things for my birthday and other occasions, and I was quite happy.”
“Until one day, when I was leaving class with a male colleague, he saw us and started arguing with me. When I told him to stop, he slapped me.”
Shu Xiao bit her lip and lowered her head.
Ji Ting looked at Tan Yucheng, who had finished smoking and was leaning against the door with his arms crossed. He hadn’t said a word but had listened to Shu Xiao’s story. Ji Ting wanted to understand his thoughts through his eyes.
But this man was inscrutable.
Ji Ting turned back to Shu Xiao, wiped her tears with a tissue, and said, “You’re right. Since he knows your address, you can’t stay here anymore. You need to find a new place.”
“How about you staying at my place tonight…”
“No,” Tan Yucheng interjected at that moment.
Shu Xiao, caught off guard and with tears in her eyes, looked up abruptly. Ji Ting was also surprised and glanced at the man at the door. Tan Yucheng’s eyes met hers, his voice low and lazy, “Haven’t you seen the details?”
“She can’t stay at your place.”
Ji Ting was stunned for a few seconds, her heart racing so fast that she almost asked out loud if she could stay at his place instead.
Tan Yucheng looked at Shu Xiao as if he were seeing her seriously for the first time tonight. Shu Xiao met his gaze and instinctively clutched the bracelet in her sleeve. Time had changed him significantly. His features had become more defined, and his eyes no longer held the same playful glint. His smile was no longer casual but carried a more serious tone.
He was broader-shouldered and taller, with a more intense gaze.
Tan Yucheng spoke calmly, “Pack your things. You’ll stay at a hotel tonight. We’ll find a new place for you later.”
His tone was flat and commanding, with no trace of additional emotion.
Shu Xiao hesitated for a moment.
Ji Ting realized that this was a viable option.
After a brief pause, Shu Xiao nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll stay at a hotel.”
Ji Ting turned to Shu Xiao, “Then pack up now. I’ll help you find a hotel. It should be further away, in the central district where the security is better.”
“Thank you, Tingting.”
Ji Ting replied, “You’re welcome.”
At that moment, the milk tea arrived. Ji Ting took a sip through the straw. It was quite hot but didn’t taste very good. Shu Xiao took her cup, needing to pack up. She stood up, and Ji Ting also stood up with her. Shu Xiao headed towards the exit and back to her place. Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng waited for her downstairs. The stairwell was dimly lit.
The orange lights in the old city’s alleys were somewhat similar to those in Nan’an alley.
Ji Ting pinched the straw between her fingers, reflecting on what he had just said. She looked up, and Tan Yucheng glanced at her, asking, “What are you looking at?”
Ji Ting held the straw tightly, meeting his gaze and shaking her head without replying.
He had insisted that Shu Xiao stay at a hotel for her safety.
“Is it good?” Tan Yucheng asked lazily, with a hint of mockery.
Ji Ting was taken aback and looked at him. “You’re asking about this?”
She pointed at the milk tea.
Tan Yucheng nodded slightly.
Ji Ting immediately made a pained expression and shook her head. “It’s terrible.”
Tan Yucheng watched her shake her head and said flatly, “Really?”
Ji Ting nodded, raising the cup as if to offer him a taste, but then hesitated and put the cup down. At that moment, Shu Xiao came downstairs with her suitcase. The light outside was quite dim, and the stairs were also dark, but she could see the two people standing at the door. While this reassured her, she also noticed the tall man seemingly looking at Ji Ting, who was chewing on the straw.
Shu Xiao’s steps faltered for a moment.
Tan Yucheng then looked up.
Shu Xiao met his gaze and quickened her pace. She pushed open the door and walked out.
Ji Ting looked up and asked, “Are you ready?”
Shu Xiao nodded.
Unable to tolerate the milk tea any longer, Ji Ting threw it into the nearby trash can and said, “Let’s go, stay at the WH Hotel.”
Shu Xiao followed Ji Ting with her suitcase, whispering, “Thank you.”
Ji Ting glanced at her. Shu Xiao had indeed lost a lot of weight. Her sweater was oversized, making her shoulders look very narrow. However, her skin remained very fair, and her features were still delicate. Even though she had slimmed down, she was still beautiful.
The alley here was too narrow for rolling luggage, so Shu Xiao had to carry it. Ji Ting glanced at Tan Yucheng, who had his hands in his pockets and was looking down, replying to messages.
His tie was loosened to the point of almost falling off.
In the past, Ji Ting would have stepped forward to help him with it.
She withdrew her gaze and helped Shu Xiao with the suitcase, sharing some of the weight. Fortunately, Shu Xiao’s suitcase was quite light, probably because she was rushing back to her home country and had packed very little.
After Tan Yucheng placed the suitcase in the trunk and closed the trunk door. Shu Xiao got into the back seat, Ji Ting took the driver’s seat, and Tan Yucheng settled into the passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt.
Ji Ting started the car.
The interior of the car was clearly designed for a man. Shu Xiao, sitting in the back seat, could see the side of Tan Yucheng’s face.
She remained quiet.
Ji Ting focused on driving.
Tan Yucheng closed his eyes wearily, the collar of his shirt emitting a faint scent of alcohol and ebony.
Soon, they arrived at the WH Hotel in the central district. The area was brightly lit, and the car drove straight to the entrance. A valet came forward to take the car keys. Ji Ting helped Shu Xiao with her suitcase and led her inside to check in.
Tan Yucheng did not go in; he stayed in the passenger seat, resting his eyes.
The car was parked aside.
Ji Ting took the key card and led Shu Xiao upstairs.
Shu Xiao followed Ji Ting to the elevator, glancing at the late-night sky outside. A few seconds later, she withdrew her gaze and entered the elevator with Ji Ting.