Chapter 55
He leaned against the wall of the convenience store with his arms crossed and continued listening.
Shu Xiao asked, “Is it really possible? You think there’s still a chance, right?”
Ji Ting looked at the faint glimmer of hope in Shu Xiao’s eyes, tears swirling in her eyes like shattered crystals, yet filled with uncertainty as if desperately seeking a bit of encouragement from someone.
If this were back in high school, seeing Shu Xiao like this would have made him feel very heartbroken—this girl he had once protected and kept close.
“Ji Ting, there is a chance, right?”
Shu Xiao reached out to hold Ji Ting’s hand, asking with a pleading tone.
Ji Ting’s fingers slightly retracted. Her voice was very soft as she responded vaguely, “Maybe there is.”
“Maybe there is.”
The words reached his ears.
“That’s great, thank you, Ji Ting.” Shu Xiao held Ji Ting’s hand tightly. “That gives me more courage. Even if he ignores me, I can still keep going.”
Ji Ting pressed her lips together, her fingers retracting. “It’s very cold out here, and you’re only wearing a sweater. You should go back to the hotel early.”
Since both of their fingers were cold—Shu Xiao’s and hers—their joined hands didn’t warm up. Shu Xiao still wanted to stay with Ji Ting, but a gust of cold wind blew through, making her shiver. She noticed Ji Ting’s lips were pale and felt she might have dragged Ji Ting out of her warm home into the cold.
Feeling very sorry, Shu Xiao stood up, grabbed the bag, and said, “Well, this…”
“For you.”
Ji Ting glanced at her and said, “Take it back. We’re not at home.”
Shu Xiao, realizing the situation, nodded and carried the bag of food towards the ride-hailing car parked at the entrance of the neighborhood. After she left, Ji Ting, feeling the biting cold wind, turned and walked back. Today, the Tianyu neighborhood had only opened a small gate. Leaning against the wall of the convenience store, Ji Ting wrapped her arms around herself and headed towards the shadowy area, preparing to go through the small gate.
As she looked up, she came face-to-face with Tan Yucheng, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
She stepped closer and asked, “When did you arrive?”
Tan Yucheng looked down at her face. The cold wind had tousled her hair; she was cold, her lips were pale, though they still had a hint of color. She had removed her sweater because it was warm at home, leaving only a fitted base layer and her outer jacket. The wind made her shiver. His gaze was deep and cold, and he had understood the implication of what she had said.
She was pushing him away.
Seeing that he hadn’t responded for a while, Ji Ting felt a bit uneasy and looked up, wanting to say something more.
Tan Yucheng straightened up and threw the scarf he was holding into her arms, saying in a low, somewhat somber tone, “Put this on.”
Ji Ting was caught off guard by the scarf. It was warm from his hand. She unfolded it and wrapped it around herself, looking at him with some hesitation. Tan Yucheng shot her a cold glance, “Just arrived.”
“Where is Shu Xiao?”
Shu Xiao—
This seemed to be the first time Tan Yucheng had spoken Shu Xiao’s name since her return.
Ji Ting walked through the small gate with him, pausing briefly before replying, “She left. It’s too cold outside, and she was only wearing a sweater.”
She looked up at him.
In the beautifully landscaped neighborhood, the tiny lanterns and lights cast shadows on his features. Ji Ting looked at his profile but saw nothing conclusive. Tan Yucheng didn’t look at her, his hands were in his pockets as he walked towards his building.
If observed closely,
His eyes were deep and cold.
Unfortunately, Ji Ting couldn’t see much from his profile. She wrapped the scarf tightly around herself, which made her feel a bit warmer. The two of them went upstairs together. When the door was pushed open, the warmth from the heater enveloped them, combined with the sound of her parents playing mahjong and the Spring Festival Gala on TV, creating a cozy and warm embrace inside.
It dispelled the cold and exhaustion from outside.
Ji Ting entered the room.
Qiu Dan, who was about to get some water, saw her come in and called out, “Ting, pour a glass of water for Mom.”
Ji Ting responded, took off her scarf, and draped it over the armrest. She took Qiu Dan’s cup and filled it with water from the cabinet, handing it back to Qiu Dan. Xiao Xi also held up her cup for water. Ji Ting was about to reach for it when Tan Yucheng, having taken off his coat, revealed his broad shoulders and long legs in a white shirt. He came over, took Xiao Xi’s cup, and walked to the counter, brushing past her shoulder lightly as he poured the water.
Ji Ting listened to the sound of water and Tan Yucheng’s noticeable presence behind her. She set down her hands and stood next to Qiu Dan, watching her arrange the tiles.
Tan Yucheng returned with the water cup, handed it to Xiao Xi, then stood behind Tan Hui, watching his tiles. His hands were in his pockets, and he leaned casually, staring down at the game.
His expressionless face conveyed a sense of aloofness and added an air of coldness.
There was an undeniable sense of arrogance about him.
Ji Ting glanced at him.
Since tonight, he had been in a low mood with a consistently poor expression. Ji Ting pressed her lips together, withdrew her gaze, and looked at Qiu Dan’s tiles. Qiu Dan, while playing, occasionally turned to instruct Ji Ting, “You should play it this way.”
Ji Ting met her mother’s gaze, nodded, feeling somewhat distracted.
Qiu Dan didn’t notice anything amiss and continued to teach her from time to time.
Ji Ting nodded, behaving like a well-behaved girl.
That night, the four parents played mahjong all evening, and the Spring Festival Gala was on TV the whole time. At the end, Tan Yucheng was the one who cleaned up the mahjong table.
The live-in housekeeper had also gone home for the New Year.
Xiao Xi pulled Ji Ting’s hand, opened the master bedroom door, and urged her to sleep inside. Ji Ting hesitated and indicated, “I can stay in that room.”
“That room is occupied by Yucheng. Just like last time, you’ll stay here,” Xiao Xi insisted, pushing her into the room. “The pajamas, toothbrush, toothpaste, and skincare products are all prepared by the aunt. Go to sleep now. Goodnight.”
Ji Ting entered the room, feeling resigned, and nodded to Xiao Xi. “Goodnight, Aunt Xiao.”
“Goodnight,” Qiu Dan added with a smile.
Ji Ting glanced at Tan Yucheng’s figure still tidying up the mahjong table. His black belt was tucked into his shirt as he swept the tiles into the box, his tall figure evident from the back. Ji Ting withdrew her gaze, gave a final nod to the two mothers, and closed the door.
Turning around, Ji Ting saw a set of pajamas laid out on the large bed. Xiao Xi had chosen a black satin set for her, which Ji Ting picked up. She went into the master bedroom’s bathroom, where Tan Yucheng’s items were neatly set aside in storage boxes. The remaining items, including skincare products, toothpaste, toothbrush, and towels, were prepared by Xiao Xi.
Ji Ting took a towel and went into the shower. Xiao Xi had even provided a bottle of pink cherry blossom-scented body wash. After showering, Ji Ting emerged with a light floral scent on her collar. She dried her hair with a blow dryer until it was slightly damp, then walked over to a comfortable single armchair by the floor-to-ceiling window.
The Tianyu area was quiet and well-landscaped. From this high floor, she could see the distant lights of some busy areas. Ji Ting sat there for a while, lost in thought, then drew the curtains and went to bed.
But her thoughts were restless, and she tossed and turned, buried in her pillow. After a long time, past one in the morning, she sat up, decided to get a drink from the living room, and opened the door.
She saw the small living room lit up and Tan Yucheng, his hair still damp and slightly misty, sitting on the sofa in black clothing, his slender fingers tapping on his phone.
Ji Ting was momentarily taken aback. She approached and asked, “Aren’t you asleep yet?”
Tan Yucheng glanced at her and replied in a low voice, “Not yet.”
Ji Ting responded with an “Oh,” then picked up a cup from the table and poured some water. The gentle sound of water filling the cup filled the room. She drank from the cup and put it down, while Tan Yucheng continued to look down at his phone.
After a few seconds, he said, “Come over and play a round of ‘Punk Thug’.”
Ji Ting paused, turned around, and looked at him, but he didn’t look up.
Ji Ting acknowledged with another “Oh.” She finished her water, set the cup aside, took her phone out of her pocket, and sat down at the edge of the sofa armrest. He was not far from her, and she tapped on ‘Punk Thug’ on her phone.
Ji Ting opened the game as well and leaned against the armrest.
The small living room was somewhat quiet. Ji Ting’s feet, painted with pink nail polish, were in his slippers and visible within Tan Yucheng’s line of sight.
He was focused on controlling his character, assembling guns.
Once Ji Ting entered the game, she was on the same map as him but was slower in completing tasks, needing to finish earlier objectives first.
As she was working on her tasks and heading to various locations, she saw the mission involving ceiling monsters and asked him, “Doesn’t this require two people? I see you’re stuck here.”
Tan Yucheng responded, “Mm.”
Ji Ting acknowledged with an “Oh.”
She quickly completed those tasks and locked several task windows.
Soon, her character returned to the task hall. Her character, wearing a black top and very short shorts, displayed her healthy thighs. Tan Yucheng’s character, wearing a hooded cloak, was waiting outside the task hall. When Ji Ting collected her tasks and stepped out, Tan Yucheng’s character was approached by a female character, who invited him to her birthday party.
In this game, there are also high-end features. Once you spend a certain amount, you enter the elite circle, which unlocks more maps to play. That female character is likely someone from the elite circle.
As she was striking up a conversation, Ji Ting happened to walk out.
The female character, dressed out in exclusive items, glanced at Ji Ting and then asked Tan Yucheng: Are you not agreeing because you’re afraid she’ll get jealous?
Tan Yucheng’s character only had the chin visible under the hood. He slightly raised his face.
He typed a message: Jealous? She’s very tough.
Ji Ting, standing next to him, saw the message and was momentarily stunned. She glanced at the man beside her, but Tan Yucheng didn’t look at her. After sending that cryptic message, he directly clicked to form a team. Ji Ting’s character was swiftly pulled to his side, and their tasks were now linked together, with a new mission starting.
Ji Ting had no choice but to follow him down the stairs, leaving the elite woman behind.
Waiting for the hover car took some time. Ji Ting noticed his character had already assembled the gun, while hers had not. She quickly began assembling hers in the task bar when another female character appeared beside her, dressed in a white tank top, black shorts, and carrying a knife on her thigh. She had a high ponytail and a cool look. Ji Ting glanced at her nickname.
Shu Xiao
She was momentarily stunned.
Shu Xiao messaged in the public chat: Tingting, what a coincidence.
Ji Ting saw the message but did not respond.
Shu Xiao’s character turned to Tan Yucheng and said: I’m just one step away from completing this task. I’ve been stuck here. Can I join you? If you need any gear, I can give it to you; I just need to finish the task.
Ji Ting instinctively looked at Tan Yucheng.
He had no particular expression.
Ji Ting looked back at her phone.
On the screen, Tan Yucheng had agreed to Shu Xiao’s team request.
The team went from two members to three.
Ji Ting was momentarily surprised.
But she quickly felt that it seemed appropriate and normal.
Shu Xiao was very pleased and had her character spinning in circles. She switched to a much larger gun and immediately looked ready. Tan Yucheng’s character led the two of them onto the hover car. Ji Ting, who had not yet finished assembling her gear, continued working on it while in the car. Tan Yucheng leaned against the door, holding his gun, while Shu Xiao sat not far from him.
She sent a message to the team: Tingting, this monster has a disgusting skill where it possesses us after shrinking. It likes to attach itself to us when it’s small.
Ji Ting was still busy assembling her gear and couldn’t find the time to reply. She hadn’t played for a while and was short on materials, so she had to spend some in-game currency to buy ammunition from the black market. After finally finishing, the hover car arrived at the task level. Tan Yucheng’s character jumped in, with Shu Xiao closely following. Ji Ting kicked through the glass and leaped in.
The task began, and shield mode was activated.
The large monster was clinging to the ceiling, with countless tentacles extending out.
Once inside, Tan Yucheng’s character started shooting immediately.
Ji Ting did the same, quickly finding the attack points due to their practiced coordination. Shu Xiao’s character had to use her own methods to shoot.
Usually, Tan Yucheng would send messages to communicate with Ji Ting, but tonight he didn’t send any. There was no need; he could speak directly since he was right next to her.
After a while, Ji Ting realized how difficult the monster was to defeat. She couldn’t handle it alone. Just as she was struggling, the monster suddenly flickered, seeming to shrink. It then launched a shower of silver needles.
Shu Xiao warned: Be careful.
Before Ji Ting could react, both she and her character were hit by the needles.
These silver needles weren’t present before, but after forming a team, the monster became stronger and added this attack. At this moment, the monster shrank and prepared for a new round of attacks.
Tan Yucheng had a revival potion. He used his character to pull Ji Ting’s arm and administered the potion, reviving her character.
Tan Yucheng only revived Ji Ting and did not revive Shu Xiao.
Shu Xiao’s character was silent for a few seconds before using a revival potion and standing up again.
The new round of attacks began.
Ji Ting immediately jumped up, holding down the monster to prevent it from possessing, and fired her gun at the monster’s head. Tan Yucheng, seeing the monster was nearly defeated, seized the opportunity to take it out with a precise shot, finishing it off on the ceiling.
The disgusting ceiling monster was finally eliminated.
Rewards scattered everywhere.
The task shield mode was also lifted, and they could leave the window at any time.
After collecting the rewards, Shu Xiao’s character turned to Tan Yucheng and said, “Thank you~ I’ve fought this monster so many times, and it’s been really tough.”
Tan Yucheng didn’t respond.
The next moment, the team was disbanded.
Ji Ting’s fingers were a bit sore from playing. After collecting the rewards, she was free. A hidden quest was flashing in her task list, and she needed to complete it immediately. She glanced at the two people still standing there and then leaped out of the window, descending from the high level.
Tan Yucheng looked up and turned to her, asking, “Where are you going?”
Ji Ting, controlling her character, met his gaze and replied, “To complete a hidden task.”
Tan Yucheng stared at her and gave a cold snort.