Running Towards You - Chapter 41

Ji Yin chuckled and was just heading to the bathroom when she heard the question from behind: “Where did this candied hawthorn come from?”

“Someone gave it to me,” Ji Yin replied.

“Who?”

“Li… You wouldn’t know them. A good person.” Ji Yin answered vaguely.

“Hmm?” Lu Jiahe picked up the candied hawthorn stick and smiled. “Are you going to eat it? If not, can I have it?”

“No.” Ji Yin turned back, snatched the candied hawthorn from her, and took it into the bathroom. “If you want some, I’ll buy you one later.”

Watching her close the door, Lu Jiahe curled her lips slightly, took out her phone, and opened her chat history with Li Chenyao.

The last message was from over ten minutes ago.

[Li Chenyao]: What was her reaction?

[Lu Jiahe]: Who bought that candied hawthorn for her?

[Li Chenyao]: My colleague. They bought too many and couldn’t finish them, so they gave her one.

[Lu Jiahe]: I asked her for it, but she wouldn’t give it to me.

[Li Chenyao]: How stingy! She won’t even share a single candied hawthorn with you, why are you still chasing her?

[Lu Jiahe]: She must not want me eating something from someone else, especially not from my blind date. [dog head]

[Li Chenyao]:

[Li Chenyao]:

[Li Chenyao]: Ugh, hopeless lovesick fool. Get out!

Half an hour earlier.

Lu Jiahe had just returned home when Li Chenyao dropped by.

Knowing she wouldn’t visit without a reason, Lu Jiahe cut straight to the point as soon as she opened the door: “State your business or leave.”

“Your Majesty, today I ran into Ji Yin at the supermarket. She actually works there,” Li Chenyao reported.

Lu Jiahe laughed. “Did you think I was joking with you?”

“How far along are you two, really?” Li Chenyao pressed.

“Focus on your own classes and stop gossiping. If there’s any major progress, I’ll tell you myself,” Lu Jiahe said.

Li Chenyao hesitated before finally speaking. “I was with a colleague when I saw her. I told Ji Yin that she was your blind date.”

“Blind date?” Lu Jiahe was confused.

“That colleague I introduced you to before. The dinner was all arranged, but then you caught Ji Yin running out of the hospital, and the whole thing fell apart because of her,” Li Chenyao explained.

Lu Jiahe remembered and couldn’t help but laugh. “Ah, fate.”

Li Chenyao rubbed her hands together and said casually, “I couldn’t hold back, so I told Ji Yin a bit about my colleague.”

“What did you say?”

“Just that she comes from a good family, has a high education, a great personality, things like that. I even asked Ji Yin if she thought you two were a good match, and she said yes.” Watching Lu Jiahe’s expression darken, Li Chenyao muttered, “I really think she doesn’t like you. Maybe you should just let it go. There are plenty of fish in the sea, why torture yourself?”

“Li Chenyao.”

Seeing Lu Jiahe’s unusually stern expression for the first time, Li Chenyao felt a pang of guilt. “I just wanted to test her feelings for you. If she liked you, she wouldn’t have said you two were a good match.”

“How much of what people say in matters of the heart is truly sincere? Forget emotions, can you even guarantee that every word you say is what you truly mean?” Lu Jiahe challenged.

Li Chenyao fell silent.

“You actually brought up family background and education in front of her? All these years of schooling have clearly been wasted on you, they’ve only inflated your sense of superiority!” Lu Jiahe snapped in a mix of anger and embarrassment, jabbing a finger at her head as she scolded.

Li Chenyao had no retort and obediently admitted her mistake: “I was wrong, I was wrong! It just slipped out in the moment, and I only realized afterward that it might’ve been too much. That’s why I came to tell you right away, I was afraid she might take it too hard. What should we do now? Should I go apologize to her in person? But what reason could I even give?”

Outside, heavy rain suddenly began to pour, raindrops pounding against the windows.

Lu Jiahe stood up and said coldly, “I’ll go check on her. If anything’s wrong on her end, you can prepare to atone with your life.”

Li Chenyao watched her retreating figure and wailed pitifully, “Your Majesty, this humble concubine admits her wrongdooooing”

After finishing her shower, Ji Yin noticed Dr. Lu was still there. She bounded over in a few steps and plopped down beside her, cheerfully asking, “Have you eaten yet?”

“No.”

“What do you feel like having? I’ll take you out.”

“I already ordered takeout it should be here soon,” Lu Jiahe replied.

“You’re way too thoughtful!” Ji Yin propped her legs up on the armrest of the sofa. “This feeling of not lifting a finger and just waiting for food after a shower is amazing.”

Lu Jiahe chuckled. “Don’t get too smug.”

“Right, right.” Ji Yin suddenly stood up and turned to leave. “Wait here I’ll go buy you some candied hawthorns.”

“It’s not that urgent.”

“No, it has to be now.” Ji Yin dashed out without delay, only to realize upon arriving that the treat wasn’t as easy to find as she’d thought.

She circled the neighborhood on her bike several times before finally spotting a candied hawthorn vendor near a school.

When she pushed the door open upon returning, the aroma of food greeted her, the takeout had already arrived, and Lu Jiahe was sitting at the table, leisurely sipping soup.

“You’re back. Come eat I’ve already started,” Lu Jiahe said with a smile.

Standing in the doorway, Ji Yin took in the scene, and an image from a public service ad suddenly flashed through her mind a heartwarming family moment that had left a deep impression on her. Now, it felt like it had materialized right before her eyes.

Ji Yin placed a bundle of candied hawthorns on the table.

Lu Jiahe counted them there were ten. “Why so many?”

“Ten for perfection enough to last you several days,” Ji Yin said.

“What else are you hiding behind your back?” Lu Jiahe noticed that ever since entering, Ji Yin had kept one hand tucked away.

With a grin, Ji Yin revealed a bouquet of bright red roses. “I saw a flower seller on the way back and remembered you really like roses.”

Surprised, Lu Jiahe took them and looked down at the flowers, smiling. “Thank you.”

“Do you like them?”

“I do.”

In high spirits, Ji Yin sat down to eat. Finding the food a bit bland, she rummaged through the fridge and pulled out a jar of chili sauce to mix with her rice.

Watching this, Lu Jiahe asked, “Can you not handle anything mild at all?”

“Of course I can. I just think spicy food tastes better otherwise, I lose my appetite. No spice, no joy,” Ji Yin said.

“Let me try your chili sauce.”

“It’s pretty spicy, just so you know.”

“I’ll just taste a little.” Lu Jiahe dipped her chopsticks into the sauce and took a tiny bite. Instantly, her face scrunched up, and she stuck out her tongue. “So spicy!”

Ji Yin burst into laughter and quickly handed her a glass of water. “I warned you it was spicy, but you didn’t believe me.”

“Is this a bit spicy?” Lu Jiahe clutched her cup, nearly finishing the entire glass of water.

Ji Yin realized belatedly, “Uh, that’s actually my cup.”

Lu Jiahe took a few more sips. “I’m about to die from the spice. Can’t I borrow your cup?”

“Sure, of course you can. Use it however you like. I don’t mind I was just worried you might, given your germaphobia,” Ji Yin said.

“Between life and death, there’s no time for that.”

Ji Yin smiled at her, noticing how her lips had turned noticeably redder, glistening with moisture, like the bouquet of roses on the table vibrant and dewy.

Somehow, the dream she should have forgotten surged back into her mind. The once-blurry image of lips became sharp and vivid, impossible to shake off.

Her throat tightened, and she grabbed the cup, downing the last sip of water.

“I just drank from that,” Lu Jiahe reminded her.

“I don’t have germaphobia,” Ji Yin retorted matter-of-factly.

After dinner, it started raining again outside.

Lu Jiahe stepped onto the balcony, where the rain drifted in, dampening her sleeves.

“Come back inside, it’s pouring,” Ji Yin said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into the living room before shutting the balcony door. “With rain this heavy, you should stay a bit longer before heading back.”

“Fine by me.”

The two sat idly on the sofa, the TV playing to no one in particular. Ji Yin picked up Rural China and pretended to continue reading.

After a while, she glanced at Lu Jiahe, who was engrossed in her phone. “What are you doing?”

“Arguing with Li Chenyao.”

Seeing the faint smile on Lu Jiahe’s lips, Ji Yin knew it wasn’t really an argument. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy at their relationship.

But speaking of Li Chenyao.

“I ran into them at the supermarket today,” Ji Yin said.

“Them who?” Lu Jiahe turned to ask.

“Li Chenyao and your blind date.”

Lu Jiahe put her phone away and looked at her. “You met my blind date?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s she like?”

“Why are you asking me? Haven’t you met her yourself?”

“No, just curious,” Lu Jiahe said. “Didn’t you say you’d help screen potential girlfriends for me? What do you think of her?”

“I didn’t interact with her, so I don’t know if she’s good or not.” Ji Yin lowered her head to flip through her book.

“Then based on your first impression, how is she?”

“She seems nice, but it’s a shame.”

“A shame about what?”

“She’s a bit short. You two would struggle to kiss.” Ji Yin analyzed earnestly.

Lu Jiahe burst out laughing. “I can always bend down.”

“But wouldn’t that be exhausting for your back? What about your neck?”

“We could just kiss lying down. No strain on the neck.”

“…”

You’re really something, huh? Full of tricks lying down to kiss? Why not try upside down while you’re at it?

Ji Yin pursed her lips, suddenly recalling that hazy dream she’d had. Could it have been Dr. Lu kissing that woman?!

She quickly shook off the thought. After a moment’s consideration, she added, “Still a shame, though. She has a bit of an accent.”

Lu Jiahe chuckled. “That’s adorable. Don’t you have an accent too?”

“I have an accent?!” Ji Yin was stunned. “I don’t recall havin’ no accent!”

Lu Jiahe doubled over laughing.

“Stop laughing and messin’ with me. Tell me, do I really have an accent or not?”

Lu Jiahe was laughing so hard she nearly keeled over, her body tilting to the side as she leaned against Ji Yin, utterly unable to contain her mirth.

“Is it really that funny?” Ji Yin silently vowed to practice her Mandarin pronunciation diligently starting tomorrow.

It took Lu Jiahe a long while to finally stop laughing. “How can you be this adorable?”

“Sorry, but I don’t want to hear that kind of compliment right now.”

Lu Jiahe burst into laughter again.

Outside, the rain fluctuated between heavy and light, showing no signs of stopping. Ji Yin glanced at the time. “It’s getting late. Why don’t you just stay here tonight? I’ll take you to work tomorrow.”

“It’s barely even 10 o’clock,” Lu Jiahe said.

“Who knows when this rain will let up? It’s dangerous out there. It’s not like you haven’t stayed here before. I’ll just go change the sheets for you,” Ji Yin insisted.

“Alright then,” Lu Jiahe replied, feigning reluctance.

Ji Yin found her a T-shirt to use as pajamas. “Go take a shower now.”

“Okay.”

Ji Yin returned to her room and had just finished changing the sheets when she heard Dr. Lu calling her name.

“What’s wrong?”

“The water temperature is hard to control it’s either too cold or too hot,” Lu Jiahe said, poking her head out from the bathroom door.

“Let me see.” Ji Yin pushed the door open without hesitation. Lu Jiahe stood to the side.

Only then did Ji Yin realize Dr. Lu had already undressed, wrapped in her bath towel, hands covering her chest, her skin still damp.

“See for yourself if you don’t believe me,” Lu Jiahe said.

Ji Yin picked up the showerhead, turned on the water, and adjusted it to a suitable temperature. “How’s this?”

Lu Jiahe extended a hand, and Ji Yin let the water run over it.

“A bit cold.”

Ji Yin turned the knob toward the hot water side and tested it on her hand again. “Now?”

“Still a little cold.”

Ji Yin adjusted it even hotter.

“Too hot,” Lu Jiahe said, pulling her hand back.

After over a dozen adjustments, Lu Jiahe finally said, “That’s good. Thanks for your help.”

“No problem. Let me know if there’s anything else.” Ji Yin placed the showerhead back and turned around, only to find herself face-to-face with Lu Jiahe.

The bathroom was small, and both of them were tall, making the space feel even more cramped.

Ji Yin lowered her gaze and inadvertently caught sight of the faint line between Lu Jiahe’s chest, suddenly realizing just how stunning Dr. Lu’s figure was up close.

Flustered, she quickly looked up. “I’ll leave you to it then. Take your time.”

“Okay.” Lu Jiahe lowered her head and rubbed her eye.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just now, when you put the showerhead back, something flicked into my eye. Not sure if it was water,” Lu Jiahe said.

“Let me see.” Ji Yin immediately grabbed her wrist to stop her from rubbing it.

Lu Jiahe lifted her head.

Ji Yin leaned in close, examining her eyes. Her lashes were wet, glistening and slightly clumped together, and the corners of her eyes were a little red from rubbing, giving her a fragile look.

Still holding Lu Jiahe’s wrist, Ji Yin felt as though the slightest pressure could make her cry.

The thought startled Ji Yin, and she quickly let go, afraid she might lose control and hurt Lu Jiahe.

“Probably just water. It’s fine just don’t rub it.”

“Okay.” Lu Jiahe nudged her toward the door. “Go on, get out. I need to shower.”

“Mm.” Ji Yin hurried out, her face burning red, though she didn’t even notice it herself.

Lu Jiahe closed the door behind him, turned to look at his reflection in the mirror, curled his lips slightly, then turned down the scalding temperature a notch.