Running Towards You - Chapter 16

Under the kaleidoscopic, dreamlike lights, Lu Jiahe curled her lips slightly in a charming yet mischievous smile.

Ji Yin knew she was joking, so she asked, “So, have you thought about it?”

“Haven’t decided yet.” Lu Jiahe took a sip of her drink, set the glass down, and looked up at her teasingly. “I’m afraid if I kiss you back, you might get angry.”

“How could that be? Dr. Lu, why would you think that of me?” Ji Yin said. “It’s just a kiss, it’s not like I’ll lose a piece of flesh.”

Lu Jiahe chuckled.

Seeing her silence, Ji Yin was certain she thought she was being conservative, so she added, “Seriously, if you feel it’s unfair, you can always kiss me back. I promise I won’t get mad.”

Lu Jiahe glanced sideways, reached for Ji Yin’s glass, and placed it on the table before leaning in slowly.

Ji Yin froze for a moment before realizing, she was about to kiss her.

This wasn’t what she had imagined. She’d thought a kiss would be like before just a quick peck, barely noticeable.

But now, Dr. Lu was approaching deliberately, her gaze intense, the lights and music adding an air of intimacy, as if foreshadowing something more a proper kiss.

The thought startled Ji Yin, but she’d already made her bold claim. She couldn’t back down now.

And, she didn’t dislike the idea. Instead, a strange emotion welled up inside her, making her unable to look away.

So she simply closed her eyes and slowly, very slowly, puckered her lips.

Then she heard a soft laugh.

Her cheek was lightly patted.

“You’re blushing,” Lu Jiahe pointed out.

Ji Yin opened her eyes, confused, and touched her face. “Blushing?”

So that strange feeling was, shyness?

“Look at how red your face is. Never kissed anyone before?” Lu Jiahe teased.

“I’ve kissed money, but never people,” Ji Yin said.

“So it was your first kiss too. We’re even.” Lu Jiahe smiled and handed the glass back to her. “But a first kiss can’t be returned. Even if I kissed you ten more times, it wouldn’t count.”

For some reason, Ji Yin’s mind conjured up the image of Dr. Lu kissing her ten times, and her face flushed again. “So, Dr. Lu, do you have a first-kiss complex?”

“No, I just find it amusing,” Lu Jiahe said. “Did you ever imagine what your first kiss would be like?”

“Nope,” Ji Yin shook her head. “I never thought about dating. I just wanted to make money.”

Lu Jiahe, recalling her background, said gently, “Money is important, but don’t let it make you reject other beautiful things in life.”

Ji Yin countered, “But Dr. Lu, you’re not dating either, right?”

“I don’t reject dating, I just don’t have the time. I’d love to, actually…” Lu Jiahe laughed.

“Then what’s your type? I know a lot of people, maybe I can find someone suitable for you.”

“It depends on the connection.”

“What if their eyes are long?”

“Try telling another bad joke, I dare you.” Lu Jiahe playfully pushed her head.

Ji Yin shielded her glass, laughing, then added, “Actually, now that I think about it, even though I know a lot of people, I don’t think any of them are good enough for you.”

“Thanks for the flattery.”

“You’re welcome. Just don’t be ungrateful.”

“…” Lu Jiahe raised her hand and ruffled Ji Yin’s hair again, making her giggle and shrink away.

After finishing the drinks in their glasses, Lu Jiahe turned her head. Whether it was an illusion or not, she felt an intense gaze fixed on them.

But after looking around, she didn’t spot any suspicious figures. Assuming it was just those who had been sneaking glances at Ji Yin earlier, she decided to leave with her.

Ji Yin charged the bill to her friend’s tab, sent them a message, and then walked outside. Glancing back at the signboard, she declared confidently, “This place must be hosting a ladies’ night tonight. I saw several handsome short-haired guys, but when they spoke, they were clearly girls.”

Lu Jiahe found it amusing but didn’t expose the truth. “Probably.”

“Just bad timing, really. Back when I had short hair, there weren’t such fun places around, not that I had the money to go even if there were,” Ji Yin sighed.

As they walked along the street, Lu Jiahe casually asked, “When did you have short hair?”

“Right after I started working. I had two jobs back then, sales at a clothing store during the day and working at a pool hall at night. For convenience and safety, I cut my hair short,” Ji Yin explained.

Lu Jiahe turned to look at her face, imagining her with short hair. “You must’ve looked pretty cool.”

“Of course,” Ji Yin said, smoothing her hair with a laugh. “All the girls who had crushes on me back then mistook me for a guy. Yanzi even had me pretend to be her tough-guy boyfriend once to show off in school. She was so proud of it.”

Lu Jiahe chuckled but suddenly grabbed Ji Yin’s wrist.

Ji Yin whipped her head around. “What’s wrong?”

“Red light.”

Ji Yin looked up. “Oh, right. Got so caught up in talking I forgot to watch the road.”

“Caught up in talking, or caught up in drinking?” Lu Jiahe remarked, eyeing Ji Yin’s flushed cheeks.

“I just flush easily. I’m perfectly sober, this little bit of alcohol can’t faze me,” Ji Yin waved her hand dismissively, then noticed Lu Jiahe was still holding her wrist.

Lu Jiahe realized it too and let go nonchalantly.

“Dr. Lu, why did you let go?” Ji Yin asked.

“Huh?” Lu Jiahe was puzzled. “Why shouldn’t I?”

“They all walk arm in arm,” Ji Yin whispered, discreetly pointing at two girls ahead.

“They’re friends.”

“Dr. Lu, can we be friends?” Ji Yin asked, staring into her eyes.

Lu Jiahe paused for a moment before smiling. “Aren’t we already friends?”

Ji Yin beamed at her. “So you agree?!”

“We’ve had several meals together, and tonight we even drank together. Aren’t these things friends do?”

“I often have meals and drinks with people for work, but none of them are really friends, just professional connections,” Ji Yin said.

A flicker of doubt crossed Lu Jiahe’s mind, but before she could ask, Ji Yin pressed on, “So, Dr. Lu, are we friends now? Can you give me a clear answer?”

“Yes,” Lu Jiahe said.

Ji Yin brightened. When the light turned green, she straightened up and lifted her arm with a theatrical cough. “Ahem, ahem.”

“What’s wrong?” Lu Jiahe glanced at her. “Catching a cold?”

“Ahem, ahem!” Ji Yin nudged her with her elbow and tilted her chin toward the two girls ahead.

Lu Jiahe couldn’t help but laugh as she linked arms with her. “Like this?”

Ji Yin nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, exactly like this! Back in middle school, all the girls in my class used to link arms like this, they’d even go to the bathroom together like this. I was so jealous.”

“You didn’t join them?”

“No, I, ” Her voice trailed off.

Lu Jiahe changed the subject. “Where are we going?”

“No idea. Aren’t I just following you?”

“What a coincidence, I was following you.”

They both stopped in their tracks, exchanged a glance, and burst out laughing.

“Where did you park your car?” Ji Yin asked.

“At the bar’s parking lot.”

Lu Jiahe let go of her hand and turned to retrace their steps. After just a few paces, she heard a soft cough and slowed down, waiting for Ji Yin to catch up before naturally linking arms with her again.

Ji Yin grinned and happily clasped her hand. Seeing the traffic light about to turn red ahead, she tugged Lu Jiahe along and dashed across the crosswalk, continuing to sprint toward the parking lot.

“Slow down. Your knee hasn’t fully recovered yet, try to avoid unnecessary movement,” Lu Jiahe called from behind, a step slower.

“I know, but I just can’t help it,” Ji Yin replied, turning back with a bright smile. “The thought of being friends with Dr. Lu makes me so happy I could run a marathon on the spot.”

“Go ahead and try it. See if I don’t snap your kneecaps in half.”

“…”

Ji Yin immediately froze in place, obedient as could be.