Running Towards You - Chapter 44

Ji Yin rubbed her sore cheek with a pout, her eyes brimming with grievance. “A whole week apart, and the first thing you do is pinch me.”

“Can’t blame me you provoked me,” Lu Jiahe chuckled.

“You made my face swell,” Ji Yin grumbled.

“Really? Let me see.” Lu Jiahe ran her fingers over Ji Yin’s face. “Nope, not swollen. You’ve just always had thick skin.”

“Hmph.”

“Here, use this to soothe it.” Dong Xiang brought over a can of chilled cola and placed it on their table.

The two sat in the adjacent lounge. Ji Yin touched the can and said, “Get Dr. Lu a room-temperature one too.”

“I don’t want room-temperature,” Lu Jiahe replied.

“But you can’t drink cold stuff, can you?”

“I don’t drink cola either. Just pour me some warm water, thanks.” Lu Jiahe smiled.

Dong Xiang promptly turned to fetch water for this lone warrior.

After sitting for a while, the two headed out to play.

It was mid-afternoon, and the place wasn’t too crowded.

As usual, Ji Yin guided her hand-in-hand, now accustomed to Lu Jiahe’s scent.

Lu Jiahe’s jet-black hair cascaded down her back like an unfurled ink-wash mountainscape. When she lowered her head, strands fell beside her face, strikingly beautiful.

Several male customers kept sneaking glances their way.

Ji Yin couldn’t resist whispering, “That guy in yellow is staring at you again.”

“Any pretty girls checking me out?” Lu Jiahe asked, unruffled.

Ji Yin: “Why do you sound so eager?”

“Of course I’m eager! Pretty girls, staring at me!”

“…”

Ji Yin pursed her lips. “Never realized you were such a lecher before.”

“Before, you didn’t know I liked women.” Lu Jiahe bent down, casually pushed the cue, then straightened up and grinned at her. “Besides, I’m not a nun having desires is normal.”

Ji Yin recalled their earlier discussion about kissing, how Dr. Lu was even willing to bend her neck for a shorter blind date!

A total lecher!

With a huff, Ji Yin half-heartedly continued the lesson, prompting Lu Jiahe to notice. “Teacher Ji, you’re slacking today.”

“I’m not a nun either I get tired too,” Ji Yin mimicked her tone.

Lu Jiahe chuckled softly, then said breezily, “Go rest then. I’ll leave after this round.”

Ji Yin thought for a moment and held her wrist. “Only one game? What a waste of the trip.”

Lu Jiahe obediently bent down, letting Ji Yin guide her through the shot. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone watching, though it was hard to tell who they were looking at. Maybe both of them.

“I want cake,” Lu Jiahe murmured, turning to Ji Yin’s ear.

Ji Yin stood up. “They don’t have any here. Want to order delivery or go to a shop?”

“Let’s go to a shop. It’s too noisy here.” Lu Jiahe glanced around at the lively atmosphere, preferring somewhere quiet to chat.

“Sure.”

Ji Yin rode her bike, taking Lu Jiahe to the nearest bakery. They picked three cakes and sat by the window to eat.

Lu Jiahe sampled each one, favoring the sea salt flavor. Noticing Ji Yin had only taken a few bites, she asked, “Don’t like it?”

“It’s just okay, not as good as spicy hot pot,” Ji Yin said.

“Have you tried this?” Lu Jiahe pointed to the sea salt cake.

“No.”

“Try it.” Lu Jiahe scooped up a spoonful and held it to her lips.

Ji Yin took a bite sweet and salty, cutting through the richness. She nodded. “This one’s not bad.”

“Let’s share it.”

“Forget it, it’s so small. You have it.” Ji Yin could tell she really liked it.

Hearing this, Lu Jiahe immediately got up and bought two more, placing them on the table with a flourish. “Eat!”

“…” Ji Yin picked up a fork, taking a bite before remarking, “Dr. Lu, you’re really throwing your money around, huh?”

“Just a few cakes I’ve got money.” Lu Jiahe blinked at her, smug and playful.

Ji Yin laughed. “How much money?”

“Enough to support another wife, no problem.” Lu Jiahe raised an eyebrow.

“…”

A few more customers entered the shop, one of them a woman in a baseball cap and casual clothes, her cropped top revealing a glimpse of her waist and a belly button piercing.

Lu Jiahe couldn’t help but stare curiously.

Ji Yin: “…”

After the group left, chatting and laughing, Ji Yin finally said, “Snap out of it, the beauty’s already gone.”

Lu Jiahe reluctantly pulled her gaze away and looked at Ji Yin, suddenly asking, “Hey, do you have a belly button piercing?”

“No,” Ji Yin replied flatly.

“Hmm, so is there anything else on you that I don’t know about?” Lu Jiahe eyed her tattoo.

“Nothing else.” Ji Yin smirked. “Disappointed? Want me to go get one right now?”

Lu Jiahe chuckled. “No need, just curious.”

“Seems to me you’re just being a horndog, unable to look away from a pretty girl.”

“Don’t exaggerate, it’s not like that,” Lu Jiahe said with a smile.

“Really?” Ji Yin set down her fork, eyeing her coolly. “Lu Jiahe, you’re a bit contradictory.”

Lu Jiahe paused, this was the first time Ji Yin had called her by her full name.

Usually, it was always “Dr. Lu,” so obedient and polite. Hearing her name spoken so bluntly left Lu Jiahe momentarily stunned, followed by a perverse thought the way Ji Yin said it, cold and sharp, was kind of thrilling.

“How am I contradictory?” Lu Jiahe’s smile didn’t waver.

“You act like you’re desperate to find a wife, yet you’ve been single for thirty years. With your qualifications, those two things shouldn’t coexist. What, are you all talk and no action? Or is it because you’re just, incapable?”

Lu Jiahe nearly choked on her cake. Coughing twice, she managed, “People change. Spring’s here, can’t I be feeling a little. restless lately?”

“Fine.” Ji Yin had no rebuttal for such bluntness. People’s mindsets do shift with their surroundings otherwise, why would there be so many regrets in the world?

“So, you’re looking to date now?” she asked again.

“Yeah.” Lu Jiahe nodded, taking another bite of cake and licking her lips. “Really want a girlfriend,” she murmured.

After a pause, Ji Yin pressed, “Got anyone in mind?”

Lu Jiahe calmly finished the last bite. “Didn’t you say you’d help vet candidates? Got anyone to introduce?”

“No.”

There were a few cakes left that they couldn’t finish, so Lu Jiahe asked the owner to pack them up to take back for Shuangshuang.

As they stepped out of the shop, Ji Yin looked at the sun outside and asked, “Where do you want to go next?”

“I should head back. There’s a little girl waiting for me at home,” Lu Jiahe said.

“Who?” Ji Yin turned to her in surprise. “Your girlfriend?”

Lu Jiahe laughed. “Don’t be so sensitive. She’s my cousin’s niece.”

Ji Yin let out a long breath and straightened her back. “Who’s being sensitive? Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Alright, my bad.”

“What do you mean ‘my bad’? It was nonsense!”

“Fine, fine.” Lu Jiahe patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, when I get a girlfriend, you’ll be the first to meet her.”

For some reason, though it should have been a happy statement, Ji Yin felt a twinge of resistance. “Depends on my schedule. I’m not that free, might not have time to meet her.”

“Oh, so the big shot is busy, huh? Then go ahead and get to work.”

“…” Ji Yin turned and walked away. After a few steps, she glanced back. “I’m really leaving now?”

“Go on, go on.” Lu Jiahe waved her off.

Ji Yin strode away, turned a corner, and disappeared from sight.

Lu Jiahe walked up to the corner and peeked her head out. “Hello.”

Ji Yin, who had been leaning against the wall, jumped in fright. She hadn’t even lasted a minute before being caught. Regret washed over her, she should have gone farther.

Lu Jiahe grinned. “Want to grab coffee?”

“Aren’t you going home?”

“It’s too hot. If I go back now, I might melt.”

“You’re paying.”

“Deal.”

The two ended up at a café, where a couple on a blind date sat behind them, exchanging details about their lives.

They exchanged a glance and immediately slid into the same booth, huddling together to eavesdrop on the gossip.

When the woman mentioned she had seven ex-boyfriends, Lu Jiahe covered her mouth to stifle a laugh while Ji Yin gave a thumbs-up.

Then the woman clarified that she had dated all seven at the same time. Their expressions grew even more animated as they excitedly smacked each other’s thighs.

Soon after, the man left.

“Incredible. A true role model. Taking notes,” Ji Yin chuckled.

“Why would you need to learn this? Are you planning to go on blind dates?” Lu Jiahe asked.

“Definitely not. But you are, right? Better study up,” Ji Yin teased.

“Had enough fun eavesdropping, you two?” A playful voice suddenly sounded behind them.

They turned to see a woman standing over them, smiling down.

Lu Jiahe froze in embarrassment, but Ji Yin unexpectedly said, “It’s you?”

The woman also paused before recognition dawned. “Oh, it’s you! Li Chenyao’s friend!”

“What a coincidence. Why are you here. on a blind date?” Ji Yin asked, puzzled.

“Family arrangements,” the woman sighed helplessly before circling to their table and sitting across from them with a bright smile.

“And this is?” Lu Jiahe turned to Ji Yin.

Ji Yin turned to introduce her. “Oh, she’s Li Chenyao’s colleague, and also”

Your blind date!

Ji Yin abruptly stopped. From her expression, Lu Jiahe guessed the woman’s identity. For a moment, their faces were once again a picture of sheer drama.

The other party clearly still didn’t know Lu Jiahe’s identity. When Li Chenyao had introduced them, she had been afraid that photos would create unrealistic impressions, so she hadn’t shown either of them pictures, only saying that they’d surely be satisfied once they met in person.

The woman gave Lu Jiahe a friendly smile, then turned to Ji Yin: “What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to run into you here again. I’m Le Qin. What’s your name?”

“Ji Yin.”

“Ji Yin…” Le Qin repeated her name twice and smiled. “Did you eat the candied hawthorn I gave you last time?”

Lu Jiahe’s gaze drifted silently toward Ji Yin, who took a long moment to recall the incident before awkwardly replying, “Sorry, I don’t really like candied hawthorn.”

Lu Jiahe subtly averted her eyes, wordlessly lifting her cup to hide the slight curl of her lips.

“Well, it seems my good intentions led to waste.” Le Qin didn’t seem bothered as she took out her phone. “Since fate keeps bringing us together, and we’re both friends of Li Chenyao, how about we exchange WeChat?”

“Sure.”

After adding each other, Le Qin stood up to leave. “Sorry, I have to get back to school for evening self-study, so I’ll take my leave now. See you next time.”

“Mm, bye.”

Once she was gone, Ji Yin immediately turned to Lu Jiahe, only to find her expression somewhat indifferent. She pressed, “What do you think of her?”

“What do you think?”

“What does it matter what I think? She’s the one here to meet you.”

“But she seems interested in you.”

“Huh?” Ji Yin froze. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

“I’m not.” Lu Jiahe had seen it clearly that woman, Le Qin, had looked at Ji Yin differently, with curiosity and intrigue. She’d even added her on WeChat, clearly planning to stay in touch.

“No way! I’ve only met her twice, and we barely spoke!” Ji Yin, still in shock, took a sip of coffee to steady herself.

“Don’t you know?” Lu Jiahe studied her carefully. “You’re exactly the type that attracts women.”

“…” Ji Yin pointed at her phone in horror. “So she added me to.”

“Yes, to pursue you.”

“…”

Ji Yin was speechless. She held up her phone screen like a mirror, scrutinizing her reflection but failing to find anything particularly appealing. She was more inclined to believe Lu Jiahe was teasing her.

Dr. Lu loved to tease her.

“No way, no way. She’s a top-tier university graduate student she wouldn’t just go for looks, right?” Ji Yin fretted.

“Why not? No matter how high someone’s education, they still have personal preferences. And someone like you is very appealing to our community very likable.”

“What about you?” Ji Yin blurted out.

The moment the words left her mouth, she froze.

But,

A part of her was glad she hadn’t held back, as it gave her the chance to ask the question that had been lingering in her mind for so long.

Ever since that dream and especially since Lu Jiahe hadn’t distanced herself afterward her thoughts had been in turmoil.

She wasn’t a narcissistic person, but whenever she reflected quietly, she couldn’t help but recall the many intimate details between them. Were they, too close?

If Dr. Lu were straight, she’d have dismissed it as normal closeness between good friends. But Dr. Lu wasn’t straight.

So those moments of intimacy suddenly seemed more like. affection.

Moreover, Dr. Lu had been mentioning his desire to find a girlfriend lately, which inevitably made her wonder if he already had someone in mind.

However, during this period, it seemed like she was the only one who had been spending more time with him.

Yet, she was afraid of misreading the situation. Apart from seeing each other more often on weekends, they rarely met otherwise. What if Dr. Lu was also close with other colleagues or friends during work hours?

She kept thinking and guessing, her mind nearly exhausted from the effort, but she couldn’t find an answer. In the end, she simply buried the thought and pretended not to notice, just to avoid any awkward misunderstandings.

“What did you say?” Lu Jiahe asked.

Ji Yin rubbed her hands together, nervously meeting his gaze. “Then. what about you? Do you like me?”

A long silence followed. Ji Yin grew so tense she almost felt the urge to excuse herself to the bathroom just to escape the awkwardness. But just as she was about to use that excuse, she heard Lu Jiahe suddenly chuckle.

“You’re such an idiot.”