Running Towards You - Chapter 19

The moment Ji Yin let go, she heard a soft exclamation: “Wow.”

Puzzled, she turned to Li Chenyao, who was covering her mouth with a cryptic smile before chuckling twice. “Not bad, Lu Jiahe.”

Lu Jiahe shot her a nonchalant glare, the warning in her eyes unmistakable.

Li Chenyao, thoroughly amused, reined in her teasing look and stretched out her hand with mock seriousness. “Alright, let’s have Teacher Ji guide you for the next ball.”

“Come here.” Teacher Ji had already dutifully pulled Lu Jiahe by the wrist to the other side, positioning her just right. “Stand here and hit that ball, just use the same force as before.”

“Mm.” Lu Jiahe adjusted her stance, aimed at the ball in front of the cue ball, gave the cue a light test stroke, and then struck.

“Hahaha, another graze! How come your strength’s so weak now? Weren’t you the one who could lift legs weighing dozens of pounds during surgeries?” Li Chenyao laughed.

“If I use too much force, the ball flies off. This game isn’t as easy as it looks,” Lu Jiahe sighed.

“Exactly. Watch me.” Li Chenyao climbed onto the table, placed the cue behind her back, struck a flashy preparatory pose, and gave the ball a sharp poke.

“The ball only got a scratch. Dr. Lu, laugh at her,” Ji Yin immediately chimed in.

Lu Jiahe burst into laughter while Li Chenyao awkwardly protested, “Oh, Teacher Ji, not only do you refuse to teach me, but you also mock me? I’m still Lu Jiahe’s friend, you know.”

“But you’re not her,” Ji Yin retorted matter-of-factly. “And you’ve laughed at her plenty too.”

“Exactly,” Lu Jiahe agreed, picking up the cue for the next shot.

After observing for a moment, Ji Yin stepped behind her, adjusting the angle of her arm. “Why are you so tense, Dr. Lu? Relax a little.”

“…” It’s hard for me to relax.

Lu Jiahe couldn’t shake the feeling that Ji Yin was about to embrace her from behind.

Nearby, Li Chenyao started snickering again.

Realizing Ji Yin wasn’t making any further moves, Lu Jiahe secretly exhaled in relief, steadied herself, and recalled the earlier instructions. “How much force should I use?”

“About eighty percent.” It was only after Li Chenyao’s reminder that Ji Yin remembered Dr. Lu wasn’t exactly lacking in strength.

Lu Jiahe held her breath, focused, and struck forward. The crisp sound of collision rang out as two balls dropped into the pocket.

Just as Lu Jiahe’s lips curled into a smile, she watched the cue ball follow suit.

“…”

Li Chenyao openly laughed at her again.

“Seems eighty percent was still too much,” Ji Yin said with a chuckle. “Try sixty next time.”

Through continuous guidance and experimentation, Lu Jiahe gradually grasped the technique and finally managed to pocket a ball on her own, a remarkable achievement.

Of course, some physical contact along the way was unavoidable.

But Teacher Ji remained entirely focused, and Student Lu dared not let her thoughts wander.

Once all the balls were cleared, Li Chenyao was still raring to go. “Another round?”

“No, I’m heading back to sleep,” Lu Jiahe said.

“It’s not even midnight yet. What’s with the early bedtime?”

“Unlike you, I’m not on vacation. Play by yourself if you want.”

“Playing alone is boring. Let’s all head back.”

As they put away their cues, Li Chenyao went to settle the bill at the counter. When she turned back, she saw Lu Jiahe and Ji Yin standing behind her, whispering to each other.

After stepping out the door, Li Chenyao nudged her shoulder: “Hey, what’s the deal between you and that beauty?”

“What do you mean, what’s the deal?”

“You were so close just now, didn’t your heart skip a beat?” Li Chenyao asked suggestively.

“Boring.”

“Oh my, ‘Two orioles sing amid the willows green,’ yet you still haven’t found a girlfriend,” Li Chenyao teased with a chuckle.

“‘Swallows that skimmed by painted eaves in bygone days’ someone better watch their mouth,” Lu Jiahe shot back.

As the two walked toward the parking lot, a voice called out from behind.

“Dr. Lu, wait a moment!”

They turned to see Ji Yin running toward them. Li Chenyao said, “She’s here for you. I’ll head back first.”

“Mm.” Lu Jiahe watched her get into the car before turning to Ji Yin, who had already reached her. “Is there something else?”

“I just remembered, my follow-up appointment is on New Year’s Eve. Won’t you be on holiday then? Should I reschedule?” Ji Yin asked.

“No need, I’ll be at the hospital that day.”

“You’re seeing patients even on New Year’s Eve?” Ji Yin exclaimed in surprise.

“And you’re coming in for a checkup on New Year’s Eve?” Lu Jiahe mimicked her tone.

After a moment of staring at each other, Ji Yin was the first to laugh. “Alright then, see you on New Year’s Eve.”

“Mm, see you then.”

On New Year’s Eve, it snowed lightly in the morning.

Lu Jiahe sat in the examination room, blowing on the steam rising from her thermos as she watched the snowflakes outside the window. She prayed silently that there wouldn’t be any accidents on the roads, just let her finish her shift peacefully and go home.

After work, she planned to crash Li Chenyao’s family reunion dinner and needed to bring gifts for Uncle Li and the others. What should she bring?

“Dr. Lu, I’m back. I feel almost fully recovered, running and jumping are no problem. Here are the scans I just got,” said a student athlete as he walked in.

“Have a seat, let me take a look.” Lu Jiahe set down her thermos, carefully examined the scans, and had him perform a few squats. “You’re healing well, but don’t overexert yourself for the next eight months. There’s still time before the college entrance exams, moderate exercise is fine.”

“Got it. Thanks, Dr. Lu.”

Hours passed, and the water in her thermos gradually cooled. Too busy to refill it with hot water, Lu Jiahe took a few thirsty sips and glanced at the clock.

Almost there, almost time to clock out!

She looked out the window, the snow had stopped at some point, lifting her spirits.

The patient queue was empty, and she was about to pack up and leave when she suddenly remembered someone.

Pulling out her phone, she dialed Ji Yin.

“Hello, Dr. Lu.”

Hearing the noise on the other end, Lu Jiahe asked, “Weren’t you coming in for your follow-up today?”

“I’m almost at the hospital entrance now!”

Lu Jiahe set down her phone and turned to the window. A few minutes later, a stumbling figure rushed through the doors.

Wait stumbling?

Soon after, Ji Yin appeared at the doorway, panting heavily as she leaned against the frame to catch her breath before limping inside. A gust of cold air followed her as she took a seat.

“What happened to your leg this time?” Lu Jiahe asked.

“It’s a long story. Got any water here?”

Lu Jiahe stepped out to fetch her a cup. While Ji Yin drank, she observed her leg. “This time it’s the other one?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Speak after you finish drinking.”

“Glug, glug, glug.”

“…”

Ji Yin downed the entire glass of water before setting it down. When she looked up and saw Dr. Lu’s expression, like he was about to pass judgment, she instinctively grew as guilty as a criminal and forced an awkward smile. “Long time no see, Dr. Lu. It’s New Year’s Eve today, anything you’d like to do?”

“Get rid of you.”

Ji Yin stood up, leaned over the table, tilted her head, and stretched out her neck. “Go ahead. Please, don’t spare this delicate, fragile flower.”

“…”