Running Towards You - Chapter 28

Lu Jiahe woke up a bit earlier than usual today and opened her door at the same time as the one across from hers.

The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Ji Yin looked at her with newfound curiosity. “Dr. Lu, I didn’t know you wore glasses too?”

“Isn’t it normal for me to be nearsighted?” Lu Jiahe chuckled.

“Well, yeah, but I’ve never seen you wear them before.”

“I usually wear contacts.”

“But you don’t wear them much after showering either.”

“My prescription isn’t that strong, so I just don’t bother.”

They walked one after the other toward the living room.

“Wouldn’t wearing contacts with a low prescription affect your vision more?” Ji Yin asked earnestly.

“Not sure. It’s possible.”

“Then why do you still wear them?”

“They look better than glasses… You’re right, I’m just a bit vain.”

Ji Yin laughed, studying her glasses for a while before commenting, “They’re not ugly at all. Wearing them or not just gives off slightly different vibes.”

“Oh? So which way looks better on me with or without?” Lu Jiahe asked.

“Both look good.”

“Straight girl.”

“How am I straight? I’m telling the truth, not just humoring you,” Ji Yin argued.

Lu Jiahe grinned. “Fine, you’re not straight, okay? What do you want to eat later?”

“How about we go out together?”

“Sure.”

As the city gradually reopened, more and more people returned to work, and the streets grew busier. Some electric scooters weaved recklessly through the sidewalks, making it hard for pedestrians to walk in peace.

Beep beep

Ji Yin, walking on the outer side of the sidewalk, was thoroughly annoyed by the honking behind her. She’d spent the whole morning yielding to vehicles. She turned around and snapped, “What’s with the honking? Got two eggs hanging under your eyebrows, know how to blink but not how to see? Can’t tell this is a sidewalk? Oh, wait, you can’t see you’re riding on the damn blind path meant for you!”

“Fuck, what a psycho. What a shitty way to start the morning,” the rider muttered darkly before speeding off.

“Who the hell are you cursing at? Come back here if you’ve got the guts, you bastard!” Ji Yin kicked at the air.

“Alright, alright, don’t waste your energy on someone like that.”

Only when she heard Lu Jiahe’s voice did Ji Yin remember that the doctor was right beside her.

So embarrassing!

Ever since becoming friends with Dr. Lu, she’d made a conscious effort to refine her words and behavior, as if only by elevating herself could she measure up to someone as poised and dignified as Lu Jiahe.

But habits formed over years weren’t so easily changed. She’d started running with a rough crowd during her rebellious teenage years, picking up all sorts of unsavory language and attitudes along the way.

Not to mention, she was practically a dropout when it came to proper education, she hadn’t even completed the standard nine years of schooling.

If Lu Jiahe hadn’t spoken up, she might’ve cursed even worse.

After all, she had nothing to lose no attachments, no obligations. She lived this life for herself alone.

If someone made things difficult for her, she’d make sure they didn’t have it easy either.

But…

Now that she’d done it right in front of Dr. Lu, she felt utterly ashamed.

She had no idea what Lu Jiahe must think of her now.

Throughout breakfast, Ji Yin remained sullen.

“Still upset?” Lu Jiahe slid a red bean pastry in front of her. “Eat something. Don’t let it ruin your mood.”

Ji Yin took a couple of bites of her red bean pancake, then cautiously glanced up. Seeing that Lu Jiahe’s expression was as calm as ever, she hesitantly asked, “Dr. Lu, did you ever go through a rebellious phase?”

“I did.”

“Really? Did you ever swear at people during your rebellious phase?”

“Why would I swear at people during a rebellious phase?” Lu Jiahe looked puzzled.

“Huh?”

Of course. Someone as gentle as Dr. Lu wouldn’t even swear during her rebellious phase, so different from delinquents like her and Yanzi. When she and Yanzi cursed together, it was a full-on mosaic of expletives.

“Then, Dr. Lu, what’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever done?” Ji Yin couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Lu Jiahe thought for a moment, then smiled. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay.”

“What about you? What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?”

“See these sesame seeds on this pancake? They’re like all the outrageous things I’ve done too many to count.” Ji Yin pointed at another pancake in her hand.

Lu Jiahe laughed. “But these sesame seeds are fragrant. You entered society at such a young age. No matter how outrageous the things you did, they were probably just for self-preservation.”

Ji Yin froze, quickly took a few more bites of her pancake, then suddenly stood up and ran outside.

Baffled, Lu Jiahe chased after her and found her squatting by the roadside. She bent down and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ji Yin looked up at her, then quickly turned her face away.

Lu Jiahe was startled. “Why are you crying?”

“The pancake was too spicy. It stung my eyes.” Ji Yin turned her back to her.

Lu Jiahe reminded her, “You were just eating a red bean pancake.”

“Too sweet. that stings the eyes even more.” Ji Yin wiped her tears with her sleeve and stood up as if nothing had happened. “Let’s go, back to eating.”

“What’s really going on?” Lu Jiahe grabbed her arm, unwilling to let it go.

“It’s nothing. I was just touched.”

Lu Jiahe looked at her in confusion. After they sat back down, she asked incredulously, “Was it because of what I said earlier?”

Ji Yin nodded sheepishly. “No one’s ever said anything like that to me before. What if I lose you as a friend someday.”

“Why would you lose me as a friend?”

“I’ve had friends before, but every time I moved somewhere new, I slowly lost touch with all of them.” Ji Yin had finally met someone so kind, and she couldn’t bear the thought of how heartbroken she’d be if they ever drifted apart.

“Then we’ll stay in touch,” Lu Jiahe said.

A smile immediately spread across Ji Yin’s face. “Okay!”

“But, are you definitely leaving this place?”

“I don’t know. It depends on how things go.” Ji Yin looked at her, leaving one thought unspoken.

At this moment, she was already starting to feel reluctant to leave. This city was making her feel warmer and warmer.

This city had Dr. Lu.

After their meal, Ji Yin went to Lu Jiahe’s place to pack her things, said goodbye, and returned to her own rented apartment.

The house suddenly felt much quieter. Lu Jiahe meticulously cleaned the guest room, disinfecting everything. When she turned around, the room felt emptier.

The house was quieter too.

No one was calling out “Dr. Lu” every now and then, or following her around like an excitable puppy.

Lu Jiahe sighed. When she entered the study, she noticed a gap in the magazine shelf.

Before leaving, Ji Yin had taken several magazines with her, unusually mentioning that she wanted to read.

She stayed at home for a while but still couldn’t quite get used to being cooped up in her own house, so she headed to the gym.

Around noon, she suddenly received a call from Cheng Jingwen.

“Jiahe, I’m leaving.”

“Safe travels.”

“Do you have time now? I’m at the airport, can you come see me off? There’s something I want to tell you.”

There really wasn’t anything else on her agenda today. After a moment’s thought, Lu Jiahe turned her car around and drove to the airport.

Seeing her arrive, Cheng Jingwen was overjoyed. She rushed over in a few quick steps: “I knew you’d come. This is for you.”

Lu Jiahe stared at the bouquet in her hand but didn’t take it. “What did you want to say?”

“This is the key to my new place.” Cheng Jingwen pulled a key from her bag. “I bought an apartment in Shanghai. It’s not big, just a small unit, but it’s more than enough for two people. If you’re willing, you can come anytime.”

Lu Jiahe lowered her gaze to the key. “What, are you trying to say?”

“I also bought a car, Jiahe. Now I can give you a good life too. You once said that if I ever succeeded, I should share it with you first. Well, I’m sharing it with you now, and I want you to share it with me.” Cheng Jingwen’s eyes burned with intensity as she looked at her.

Lu Jiahe sighed softly. “I’m sorry, but my life is here. You should take the key back.”

The light in Cheng Jingwen’s eyes dimmed. Then she asked, “Did I overstep again?”

Lu Jiahe didn’t answer.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why, but every time I see you, I lose control and mess up my plans.” Cheng Jingwen tugged at her hair in frustration. “I thought you’d be happy for me for us.”

“Jingwen, I am happy for you, but only as a friend. I wish you all the best, and may all your dreams come true.”

“My dream is you.”

Lu Jiahe fell silent for a moment before replying, “No, it’s not. You just happened to rediscover me as a friend in the hospital and remembered that you once had feelings for me, feelings that didn’t work out the way you wanted. In all the years we lost contact, did you ever truly think of me? Maybe you were working overtime, striving for your future. Whatever it was, it proves you never seriously thought about me.”

“I did think of you.”

“But you never once reached out.” Lu Jiahe said. “Today, someone told me they were afraid of losing touch with a friend like me. And we’ve known each other for less than three months. Meanwhile, we were classmates for three years, and you still.”

“I wanted to contact you so many times! but I couldn’t swallow my pride.”

“In the face of your pride, I wasn’t worth the effort.”

“That’s not true. Ugh, after all these years, I still can’t win an argument with you.”

“Because I understand you and I know you.”

Cheng Jingwen bit her lip, her expression pained.

She still remembered how deeply she had loved this woman back then so intelligent, so gentle, yet so clear-eyed. She had seen right through her facade but still chose to be her friend, to exchange sincerity, yet never reciprocated her feelings.

A few days later, her parents finally returned, and Lu Jiahe went back to work.

Life returned to its usual rhythm just work, home, and meals at her parents’ place.

Everything remained uneventful, with the only change being that she found herself checking her phone more often.

Ever since Lu Jiahe had mentioned keeping in touch, Ji Yin had indeed been in frequent contact with her.

Every day, she would send good morning and good night messages, along with little anecdotes, like breakfast prices going up, gossip from the supermarket, or massive discounts on promotional items.

“Honestly, eat your food properly. What’s so important on your phone?” her mother scolded. “Is it something from the hospital?”

“No, just a friend,” Lu Jiahe replied, setting her phone down and continuing with her meal.

“What kind of friend has you glued to your phone like this?”

Just then, her phone beeped. Lu Jiahe immediately picked it up, only to find it was a spam message. Sighing, she put it back down and looked up to see her mother’s silent disapproval.

“Alright, alright, I won’t look anymore,” Lu Jiahe promised.

“Eat properly.”

“Got it.”

At that moment, another message popped up this time, a long voice note from Ji Yin, over forty seconds.

Glancing at her mother, Lu Jiahe quickly shoveled the last of her rice into her mouth, set down her bowl, and grabbed her phone before darting off. “I’m heading back.”

Liu Jia eyed the leftover grains in her daughter’s bowl and nudged her husband. “Your daughter’s definitely got a love interest.”

Professor Lu chuckled. “You really think so?”

“Of course! She’s acting exactly like I did back then completely distracted.”

A few days later, as Lu Jiahe was leaving work, she saw a message from Ji Yin saying she wanted to return some magazines to her at home.

She immediately called her mother. “I won’t be coming over for dinner tonight.”

“Fine,” Liu Jia agreed without hesitation.

Professor Lu asked, “Did she say why?”

“What else could it be? She’s probably going on a date. Don’t pry she’ll tell us when she’s ready.”

Lu Jiahe arranged to meet Ji Yin for dinner at an affordable restaurant, not wanting her to feel pressured to reciprocate.

She noticed that Ji Yin and Cheng Jingwen had some similarities, both felt compelled to return favors, unable to accept kindness without repayment. But they were also very different.

Cheng Jingwen was guarded, only accepting goodwill from specific people. If someone unfamiliar showed her kindness, she’d grow suspicious, wondering if they pitied or mocked her.

Ji Yin, on the other hand, was open-hearted. She kept a mental ledger of every kindness shown to her, often magnifying small gestures. Many times, Lu Jiahe had done something trivial, only for Ji Yin to remember it for ages. It wasn’t just with her even Li Chenyao, after their trip together, had earned Ji Yin’s praise multiple times for being “so nice” and someone she wanted to hang out with again.

To avoid making Ji Yin feel obligated, Lu Jiahe deliberately chose a cheaper place.

After nearly ten days apart, Ji Yin was as talkative as ever, keeping the conversation lively throughout dinner. Lu Jiahe laughed heartily more than once at her stories.

After the meal, Ji Yin returned the magazines and asked, “Dr. Lu, can I borrow some more books?”

“Of course. What kind are you looking for?”

“Anything, really. After reading these magazines, I realized books aren’t as hard as I thought. I want to try something else.”

“Sure, you can pick whatever you like from my bookshelf.”

“Great!”

But standing in front of the bookshelf, Ji Yin hesitated sometimes, too many choices weren’t necessarily a good thing.

“Dr. Lu, can you pick a book for me?”

“Do you read novels?”

“Yes, find me an interesting one nothing too difficult, please.” Ji Yin clasped her hands together pleadingly.

Lu Jiahe’s fingers trailed over the spines of one book after another before pausing on a particular one. His eyes flickered slightly as he pulled it out. “This one. It’s straightforward and easy to understand.”

“Great, I’ll start reading it tonight!”

Ji Yin happily hugged the book to her chest, feeling like a cultured intellectual already. She snapped a photo of the bookshelf and sent it to Yanzi to show off.

“Alright, I’ll head back now. Once I finish the book, I’ll come see you again.”

“Sure. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me.”

“Mm!”

A day later, Ji Yin called with a question: “Dr. Lu, this book doesn’t seem to have a male lead?”

Lu Jiahe: “Who said a book must have a male lead?”

Ji Yin: “Damn, that’s an eye-opener! Yanzi used to read those domineering CEO novels all the time, so I thought every book had to have one! You really do read a lot, Dr. Lu!”

Lu Jiahe pressed his lips together, suppressing a laugh.

On the third day, Ji Yin called again: “Wahhh, Dr. Lu, these two girls are so good together! They’re practically each other’s salvation! What happens to them in the end? No one dies, right?”

Lu Jiahe replied, “Don’t worry, no one dies.”

On the fifth day, Ji Yin: “Dr. Lu, you’re such a liar! Wahhh, they might not be dead, but they can never see each other again in this lifetime!”

Lu Jiahe: “Read the afterword again.”

On the sixth day, Ji Yin stormed straight to his door.

“The afterword is the author’s own words it turns out this was based on her real-life story! She and Miss Zhao never saw each other again in their lives, which is even sadder!!!” Ji Yin’s heart suffered a double blow. At first, she had only cried for the story, but now, knowing it was real, she couldn’t handle it she couldn’t even sleep properly.

She hadn’t cried this hard in her entire life, except when Chen Yanhua passed away.

Lu Jiahe smiled as he took the book from her hands. “So, did you like the story?”

“I liked it, but I also didn’t. It’s too tragic I can’t take it,” Ji Yin admitted. “Why couldn’t they see each other again?”

“Because of the times, because of the devouring judgment of the world.” Lu Jiahe placed the book back on the shelf.

Ji Yin fell silent for a moment before hesitantly asking, “Dr. Lu, the bond between them was so deep. While reading, I kept feeling like there was something between them.”

“Something like what?”

“Love.” Ji Yin scratched her head. “Just a wild guess I don’t know if I’m right.”

“It was love,” Lu Jiahe said.

“Really? I guessed right?” Ji Yin brightened.

Lu Jiahe leaned against the bookshelf and looked up. “Yes, it was love between them. Does that bother you?”

“Why would it bother me? Actually, yes it bothers me to death that people kept them apart!” Ji Yin fumed indignantly.

Lu Jiahe chuckled softly and beckoned her closer. “Then let me tell you a secret.”

“What?” Ji Yin eagerly leaned in.

Lu Jiahe whispered, breath warm against her ear: “Your zipper’s undone.”

Ji Yin: