Chapter 57
His tone was not casual but serious.
It was quiet here, the Sunset lights were off, and pedestrians passed by in small groups from behind, with the light reflecting on the nearby ground. Ji Ting heard his words.
She felt a bit confused, rarely seeing him so serious.
But she heard his words very clearly, and her heart began to race. She took a few steps forward, closing the distance to half a meter from him. “What is there to consider between us?”
Her eyes remained bright.
Tan Yucheng lowered his gaze, meeting her eyes, and his voice was still very low. “You’ve never considered me.”
Ji Ting was still somewhat confused, looking into his eyes. “I don’t understand. What is there to consider between us?”
Tan Yucheng tightened his jaw, gritting his teeth.
“Indeed, there isn’t.”
He raised his gaze, staring intently at her eyes. “You called it off temporarily, that’s fine. Within a week, you started going on blind dates and even planned to develop a relationship with that overseas student. Now, you’re ready to give Long Kong a chance.”
He took a step forward, closing in on Ji Ting. “And me? What do I count as?”
Ji Ting instinctively took a step back. He raised his hand to grip her neck, forcing her to tilt her chin up. Tan Yucheng stared at her eyes, which shimmered with a hint of moisture. “Tell me, what do I count as?”
Ji Ting looked up, feeling the wind slightly ruffled her hair as it brushed past his fingers.
She gazed at him. “When I called it off, you agreed.”
Tan Yucheng’s expression grew colder. “Agree? If I had known that agreeing would lead to this result, I wouldn’t have agreed.”
Ji Ting pressed her lips together.
Tan Yucheng’s grip tightened.
Ji Ting had to move closer, their eyes reflecting each other’s. Her heart was in turmoil. She gritted her teeth and said, “Since you agreed, don’t regret it so easily, Tan Yucheng.”
Tan Yucheng’s hand was marked with veins extending to his wrist. He smirked slightly, and a cold smile appeared as he said, “Do you know how surprised I was when you said it could be called off that day?”
“But seeing your serious expression, I could only agree.”
Ji Ting’s body trembled slightly. She bit her lip, looking at him. “What did you want that day?”
Tan Yucheng looked into her eyes. “Does it matter?”
Ji Ting instinctively moved forward, but the roses in her arms were still in the way. She loosened one hand, grabbing Tan Yucheng’s sleeve. Tan Yucheng seized the roses and threw them forcefully away.
With a thud, the roses fell behind them, and a few petals scattered.
Ji Ting looked up.
She stared at him and asked, “What did you want that day?”
He looked down, focusing on her eyes. “I wanted you.”
Ji Ting shook her head; that wasn’t the answer she wanted. She pursed her lips, their gazes entangled. “Not a temporary relationship, but what kind of relationship?”
Tan Yucheng’s fingertips brushed her neck and ear. “A boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.”
All the chaotic thoughts and guesses in Ji Ting’s mind suddenly stopped at that moment. The whirlwind of thoughts calmed, but just as she hesitated to stand firm, the image of Shu Xiao appeared in her mind, forcing her to retreat from standing up.
That night was Shu Xiao’s birthday, and her ex-boyfriend was at the bar and she, Ji Ting, stayed with him to drink.
The next day, after that incident, he came to Sunset to seek a resolution; everything seemed so coincidental.
In the game.
He agreed to join Shu Xiao’s team, turning two into three.
Ji Ting lacked confidence.
In any situation, she could be calm, but this was one matter where she couldn’t be at ease. She placed herself in a defined space, where she felt safe with Tan Yucheng. She didn’t want to and couldn’t dare to step out of it, because stepping out meant she would have nothing left, and once emotions were poured out, they couldn’t be taken back. It would end up as mutual destruction.
Ji Ting lifted her eyes.
Her long lashes fluttered, her eyes shimmering. She said, “Let me think about it.”
Tan Yucheng tightened his grip on her neck, his voice cold and low. “Sure.”
Then he asked, “And him?”
Ji Ting blinked.
She asked, “Who?”
“Who do you think?”
Ji Ting realized he was referring to Long Kong.
She pressed her lips together. “I need to think about him too.”
Although she didn’t really feel that way inside, she wanted to say it like this.
Tan Yucheng’s expression grew even colder, his gaze sharp as a sword. Ji Ting could truly see his appearance now. Was he jealous? The hostility seeped from his eyebrows. Ji Ting tightened her grip on his sleeve.
Tan Yucheng stared into her eyes. “Long Kong knows too little.”
Ji Ting pressed her lips together.
He was subtly indicating that Long Kong could also know about what was going on between them.
She looked up and said, “Aren’t you ashamed?”
Tan Yucheng glanced at her. “I’ve never been.”
In the past, Ji Ting would have kicked him, but she held back. Her mind was in chaos, and she stepped out of his embrace. Tan Yucheng released her as well. Ji Ting’s bun had come undone, and the elastic band wrapped around her hair was messy, sticking to her cheeks in the wind. She still had a work bag on her shoulder, and her phone was vibrating inside.
She looked at him and said, “I’m going back.”
Tan Yucheng, standing backlit, opened his mouth to suggest going for a late-night snack.
But as she spoke, he fell silent and responded with a simple, “Hmm.”
Ji Ting met his gaze for a second before turning away from him, forgetting the roses left behind. She rounded the corner and headed towards the apartment elevator. Tan Yucheng remained where he was, and as he looked up, he saw the pink roses on the ground, fluttering in the wind. After Chen Fei ran off, a black car approached and saw Tan Yucheng left alone, so it quickly drove over.
Tan Yucheng walked to the black car, passing by the roses. He bent down, picked them up, and tossed them into a nearby trash can.
Chen Fei blinked in the car.
Cough.
Brother Tan had calmed down and still cared about the environment.
After getting into the car, Tan Yucheng’s calmness remained.
Chen Fei glanced at him and asked, “Brother Tan, aren’t you inviting Sister Ting for late-night snacks?”
“Next time.”
His voice was low.
“Okay.”
Back at the apartment, Ji Ting sat on the sofa, feeling somewhat dazed.
She dared not think about it, but the thought kept jumping into her mind: if their relationship had started as a romantic one, what would it have been like? But then she thought of the scene outside the airport—if they had been a couple back then, her pain would have been doubled. The pain from their gaze at the airport would have also recalled high school times.
In that case, a breakup would have been inevitable.
She felt trapped.
No one to talk to.
Over the years, as she grew up and tried to be respectable, she gradually started to show only 70% of her happiness while concealing 30% of her pain. Running a store required a calm mindset, dealing with countless customers daily—some malicious, some looking for trouble—so she had to ensure her emotions were always stable to avoid being overwhelmed.
The same went for facing Tan Yucheng.
That temporary relationship was the best fallback she had devised for herself.
In the end, she still didn’t believe he could like her.
Because his past with Shu Xiao was so profound, so vivid that every scene felt like a high-definition replay, clear and detailed.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
Ji Ting snapped back to reality and looked at the door. She composed herself, stood up, and walked over. She peered through the peephole and saw Chen Fei’s distinct buzz cut. She opened the door, and Chen Fei held up the takeout bag, saying, “Good evening, Sister Ting.”
“Good evening,” Ji Ting replied.
“Brother Tan ordered this for you.”
Ji Ting hesitated and asked, “Where is he?”
“Have a call downstairs, a client is looking for him.” Chen Fei opened his phone and showed Ji Ting a photo of Tan Yucheng in the car, going through documents and answering a call.
Ji Ting was momentarily stunned and quickly averted her gaze. Why the detailed report?
She took the takeout from Chen Fei and said, “Please thank him for me.”
Chen Fei gave a sly smile. “No need to be polite.”
Ji Ting replied, “I’m going in now. You should get some rest too.”
“Alright.”
Ji Ting closed the door, and Chen Fei smiled and watched her go. Once the door was shut, Chen Fei headed towards the elevator. Ji Ting stood by the entrance, glanced at the takeout in her hand, and then walked to the coffee table to place it down.
It was rice rolls and stew from a nearby place.
It’s run by people from Nan’an.
Ji Ting often went there for late-night snacks.
She sat cross-legged on the carpet and stared at the takeout without moving.
The night was destined to be restless. Early the next morning, while brushing her teeth, Ji Ting had a thought that cleared her mind a bit, and decided to return to the store.
Xiao Wan and Xiao Zhou were already there. Xiao Wan was saying, “This morning, the sanitation auntie found a beautiful bunch of pink roses in the trash can.”
Xiao Zhou looked at Ji Ting upon hearing this.
Ji Ting, who also heard, turned around and remembered the roses. She asked Xiao Wan, “Did the worker take them?”
“Yes, she said she liked them and wanted to put them in a vase at home.”
Ji Ting paused.
She glanced at the now-empty trash can.
Well, it’s really gone.
She turned away and called Zhang Yang and the others to come out for a morning meeting. Xiao Wan was back today, and the staff from the main store were due to end their shift.
It’s around 7PM.
Ji Ting glanced at the towering Yanchun Building across the street, picked up her phone, and sent a message to the black profile picture.
In the Yanchun building.
The meeting had ended.
As others filed out of the meeting room, Tan Yucheng remained seated, leaned back in his chair, and reached for his phone. He switched it from silent to vibrate, and saw a WeChat message waiting on the screen.
The message was from Shu Xiao.
Tan Yucheng initially intended to ignore it, but the message was right there in front of him.
Shu Xiao: Are you free? Want to play the game for a while?
Tan Yucheng looked at the message, and after a few seconds, his long fingers typed a reply and sent it.
Tan: Who told you about this game?
Shu Xiao had not received a response from him in a long time. When she got this message, she couldn’t believe it and was nearly in tears. She edited her reply.
Shu Xiao: Tingting.
Shu Xiao: I heard you also play this game, so…
When Tan Yucheng saw this he curled his lips slightly. He tossed his phone onto the table, causing it to thud on the wooden surface. He leaned his back and loosened his tie. Just then, his phone vibrated again, with a new message popping up. Tan Yucheng glanced at the screen and saw a familiar profile picture.
Ji Ting: Working late tonight? Want to chat?
When Ji Ting’s phone rang as she was locking up the shop, she checked it.
Tan: Sure.
Ji Ting headed back to her apartment and typed her reply.
Ji Ting: Where should we chat?
Tan: You choose.
Ji Ting glanced around. At this time, only the late-night food stalls were open, but they were not suitable for a conversation. Her phone beeped again, and a message from the black profile picture appeared.
Tan: I’ll come over to your place.
Her apartment was indeed more convenient and quieter. Ji Ting thought for a moment and replied: Okay.
Tan: I’ll be there in half an hour.
Ji Ting looked at the Yanchun Building; the fourth floor still had its lights on. She didn’t respond immediately, withdrew her gaze, and entered the elevator. After going upstairs and returning to her apartment, she noticed that the quilt from last night had fallen to the carpet. Ji Ting picked it up, folded it neatly, and draped it over the armrest of the sofa. She then went to wash her hands and face, and tied up her hair. At that moment, the doorbell rang.
She paused for a moment before walking over and opening the door.
Tan Yucheng stood there in a suit, with his tie loosened. He glanced at her and handed her a box of cream puffs. Ji Ting took it, stepped back, and Tan Yucheng entered, changed his shoes, and walked inside.
Ji Ting asked, “Would you like some water?”
“Okay.”
He responded and walked towards the sofa, taking off his coat and draping it over the back of the chair before sitting down. Ji Ting carried the water to him, handed it over, and Tan Yucheng took a sip before placing it on the coffee table.
Ji Ting sat cross-legged on the carpet.
She looked up.
Tan Yucheng looked down at her, his hand resting on his knee.
Ji Ting prepared to speak.
But Tan Yucheng spoke first: “You’re quite considerate.”
Ji Ting was slightly taken aback and looked at him, “What do you mean by considerate?”
Tan Yucheng looked at her clear and delicate features. She hadn’t showered yet, wearing a sweater and a long skirt. Her hair was messy, and she wasn’t wearing makeup today. Her skin is also pale.
Tan Yucheng watched her for a while and said, “Did you teach Shu Xiao how to pursue me?”