Running Towards You - Chapter 48.1

Ji Yin’s usually silver tongue seemed to have malfunctioned.

She wanted to change into a nicer set of underwear, purely to save herself some embarrassment. But if she really thought about it, why did she feel embarrassed in the first place?

She had undergone surgeries before, and stripping down for routine check-ups was nothing new. Even tonight, it was the nurse who helped wipe her back, yet she hadn’t felt the slightest bit awkward.

The only difference this time was Lu Jiahe’s presence.

There was no denying it, she had impulsively wanted to swap out her frumpy underwear specifically because of Lu Jiahe, just to avoid looking ridiculous.

But she had always been the type to do as she pleased, never caring much about appearances or fashion. Since when had she started caring so much about what Dr. Lu thought?

Before she could figure it out, the nurse grew impatient. “Goodness, how long are you two going to stand here chatting? Put your clothes on first, aren’t you cold?”

“Are there any other changes?” Lu Jiahe asked with a smile.

“There’s a white one in the cabinet. Could you grab it for me?” At this point, Ji Yin decided to just roll with it. Once she retrieved her usual underwear, she closed the door to get dressed.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, Lu Jiahe said, “Since you’re mostly lying in bed and not moving much, you don’t need to shower so frequently. It’s better to avoid irritating the wound.”

“I know. I just wiped myself down with water, didn’t dare take a full shower. I skipped it yesterday and was already feeling gross,” Ji Yin muttered.

“Alright, as long as you’re being careful.”

Ji Yin nodded, her gaze flickering to the black underwear. She picked it up, ready to toss it into the trash, but Yanzi swiftly intercepted her.

“Why are you throwing it away? I deliberately picked an expensive one, what a waste!” Yanzi protested.

“Then take it back and use it yourself,” Ji Yin retorted.

“I’m too much of a country bumpkin for that, heh heh heh.”

“Then what do you suggest? Nail it to the wall as a family heirloom?”

Lu Jiahe chuckled. “Give it to me.”

The two sisters stared at her in shock, looking utterly dumbfounded.

“Guess I’m just more fashionable,” Lu Jiahe said calmly, taking the bag. “Alright, I’m heading back to eat.”

“You haven’t eaten yet?” Ji Yin asked blankly.

“Nope, just got off work.” Lu Jiahe was genuinely starving. After saying goodbye, she left.

“City folks sure know how to have fun,” Yanzi mused, never imagining that someone as proper as Dr. Lu would wear something like that.

Following her train of thought, Ji Yin pictured Dr. Lu in that outfit.

“…”

Forgive me, forgive me.

Feeling guilty, Ji Yin walked to the window, watching as Lu Jiahe exited the inpatient building and hurried across the parking lot, her gaze lingering.

She must have been really hungry.

Lu Jiahe was just too good to her so good it was starting to make her imagine things.

“Now that you’re done washing up, hurry up and lie down,” Yanzi called out.

Ji Yin turned and took in Yanzi’s makeup, then pulled out her phone to record a video.

“What are you filming? Does my makeup look good today?” Yanzi flashed a peace sign at the camera.

“Looks like you slathered on several pounds of white powder, and the wrong shade at that,” Ji Yin said.

“You just don’t get it. I deliberately used a darker foundation I’m trying out a Euro-American look.”

“Oh, I thought you were preparing to beg in India.”

“You’re so annoying!”

After recording the video, Ji Yin registered a new account and casually uploaded it to a short video platform. She even spent a little money on promotion, just to see how it would perform.

Yanzi had no idea what she had done and continued to come to the hospital room every night to put on makeup, only to be met with another round of discouragement.

Quite a few people came to visit. Employees dropped by from time to time to check in, and some friendly suppliers also paid visits.

The college student in the neighboring bed couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Sis, what exactly do you do?”

“Me? I work with missiles.”

“That’s so impressive!”Yeah, I spend all day making trouble.””

The student froze for a second before bursting into laughter. “You’re hilarious! If you’ve got any money-making opportunities, take me along, will you? I’ve been job hunting for two months now.”

“A college student like you probably wouldn’t be interested in the jobs we offer,” Ji Yin said with a smile.

“Why not? At this point, I’ll take anything that pays.”

“Really? Would you work as a cashier?”

“A cashier. I’ll think about it. It’s not that I look down on the job, but I feel like food delivery might earn me more?”

“No worries, take your time.” Ji Yin knew he was just talking big. Most people with a college degree weren’t willing to start from the bottom at her shop.

“Yin-jie, let me wash an apple for you,” Li Fang said, having arrived during her shift handover. She wouldn’t be able to stay long.

“Sure, wash it and then head back early for dinner.”

“Yan-jie will be here soon. I’ll wait until she arrives before leaving.” Li Fang cheerfully went to wash the fruit, then grabbed the thermos to fetch hot water, bustling around diligently.

“This must be the place, Ji Yin! ”

Turning her head, Ji Yin was surprised to see Li Chenyao standing there. “You came?”

“I was meeting Zaozao for dinner, but she’s still at work, so I thought I’d visit you first. What happened this time?” Li Chenyao asked.

“Ah, got into a fight and ended up here.”

“You’re unbelievable.” Li Chenyao stared at her in disbelief. “Does Zaozao know?”

“Yeah, she was right there when it happened.”

At a loss for words, Li Chenyao switched to asking about her daily needs. They chatted for a while until her phone suddenly rang.

Stepping aside to take the call, she explained she was visiting a patient. “You’ve met her before that person from the supermarket, the one you gave candied hawthorns to.”

“Ji Yin?” the voice on the other end asked.

Li Chenyao paused. “How do you know her name?”

Hanging up, she was still a little dazed. “My colleague happens to be shopping nearby and wants to come see you too.”

“Le Qin?”

“How do you know her name?”

“We met once after that,” Ji Yin said.

“Oh, no wonder.”

Li Chenyao thought for a moment. This might actually work out she could let Lu Jiahe meet Le Qin while she was here. Who knows?

Forget the gap between Ji Yin and Le Qin just the fact that Le Qin was also into women already gave her a huge advantage over Ji Yin. At least Lu Jiahe wouldn’t have to work so hard to get through to her.

She didn’t dislike Ji Yin, but from a friend’s perspective, she still hoped Lu Jiahe would choose her partner carefully.

If it were just a fleeting fling, fine. But Lu Jiahe was clearly looking for something long-term.

In this regard, Li Chenyao had never been very optimistic about Ji Yin, finding it hard to believe that two people who were worlds apart could stay together for the long haul.

In the long run, of course, those who were well-matched in social status, shared similar mindsets, and were evenly matched were more suitable.

“You’d better not let her come. I’m not familiar with her, and it’d be awkward,” Ji Yin said.

“If she wants to come, let her. It’s no trouble she’s just warm-hearted. She’d even greet a stray dog on the street. She’s already taken in seven or eight stray cats and dogs at home,” Li Chenyao replied.

Ji Yin chuckled. “That’s really kind of her.”

Before long, Le Qin arrived, holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a fruit basket in the other. After stepping into the hospital room, she greeted Li Chenyao first before turning to Ji Yin. “Hello, we meet again. What happened to you?”

“I hurt my arm in a fall. You didn’t have to bring so much it’s making me feel embarrassed,” Ji Yin said.

“I wasn’t sure what to bring. The shops downstairs only sold flowers or fruit, and I didn’t know what you liked, so I got a bit of both,” Le Qin replied with a smile as she prepared to set the gifts down, only for Li Fang to take them from her.

“Let me handle it.”

“And this is?”

“My colleague,” Ji Yin answered.

“How adorable.”

Li Fang blushed shyly, flashing her a bashful smile, though inwardly, she was over the moon.

“So how did you get hurt?” Le Qin asked again.

“I got into a fight.”

“With who?”

Ji Yin wasn’t sure where to begin, but Li Fang, standing nearby, was more than happy to chat with this pretty older sister. “With some jerk. That guy insulted me before, and Sister Yin stood up for me. This time, we ran into him again, and apparently, he was harassing Sister Yin’s friend too, so she couldn’t hold back and fought him.”