Running Towards You - Chapter 49

As for why she felt so upset, it was a secret Yanzi couldn’t pry out no matter how hard she tried.

After coaxing and persuading for what felt like ages, Ji Yin still refused to get up. Yanzi thought for a moment and decided to play her trump card: “If you don’t get up now, I’m calling Dr. Lu and letting her scold you.”

Sure enough, Ji Yin scrambled up immediately and lay down properly on the bed.

Yanzi couldn’t help but sigh, her own sister didn’t listen to her as well as she did to the doctor. “I really wish Dr. Lu could keep an eye on you all the time. Then you’d behave.”

“Dream on. She won’t come she’s busy with a blind date,” Ji Yin muttered.

“A blind date? Dr. Lu went on a blind date?” Yanzi perked up with gossipy curiosity.

Ji Yin rolled over.

“Goodness, be careful! Don’t just roll around like that!” Yanzi said, her heart in her throat as she steadied Ji Yin’s shoulders. After finally getting her settled flat again, she noticed Ji Yin’s gloomy expression and asked, puzzled, “What’s got you so upset anyway?”

“I don’t know.”

Logically, she should be happy. If Dr. Lu really found a good match, she ought to be genuinely glad for her.

But every time she thought about it, her chest tightened uncomfortably, making it hard to breathe. Her mind went numb, unable to process anything properly.

“Let’s eat first,” Yanzi said, adjusting the bed to prop Ji Yin up. She had bought some of Ji Yin’s favorite dishes today, but the other girl barely had any appetite.

After picking at her food absentmindedly for a while, Ji Yin suddenly asked, “Who was your closest friend growing up?”

“Lulu. We went to and from school together every day. After graduation, we barely saw each other, only during New Year when I went back home. Why do you ask?”

“Is she dating anyone?”

“Her kid’s almost three now.”

“Did it upset you when she started dating?”

“Why would it? By then, I’d already left to work with you. Who knew when she even got together with someone? Besides, after she got married, she barely kept in touch. Her whole life revolves around her family now. Every time we try to meet up, she says she’s too busy with the kid.”

“…”

Ji Yin poked at the food in her bowl. “Dr. Lu might start dating soon.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s great! Shouldn’t we congratulate her?” Yanzi said cheerfully.

“Why are you so happy about it?” Ji Yin glared at her unhappily.

“Damn, are you even human? Dr. Lu’s been so good to you, what’s wrong with congratulating her on finding someone?”

Ji Yin irritably continued stabbing at her rice, nearly mashing it into paste.

“If she starts dating, will she still hang out with me?”

Yanzi studied her for a long moment before finally understanding. “So that’s why you’re upset?”

Ji Yin stayed silent.

“It’s a little dramatic, but I get it. You don’t have many people who care about you, so you treasure the few good friends you have. Now that she might start dating, you’re afraid she won’t treat you the same as before, right?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Did I befriend her just because she’s good to me?”

“Just answer me has she been good to you or not?”

“Too good.”

“Exactly. I’d be upset too, especially thinking she might end up like Lulu, barely able to meet up anymore. Ugh.”

Ji Yin’s face darkened even more as she put down her chopsticks and lay down on the bed. “I’m not eating anymore. I’m tired.”

“Alright, alright,” Yanzi said, placing the food in a thermal container. “I’ll leave it here on the cabinet. Eat it later if you get hungry.”

After the lights went out that night, Ji Yin tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Afraid of disturbing her roommate, she got out of bed and decided to take a walk in the hallway.

Pushing open the door to the emergency stairwell, she caught a whiff of cigarette smoke.

“Who’s there?!” A middle-aged man turned around in alarm, then relaxed when he saw her hospital gown.

“Smoking here in the middle of the night, huh, big bro?” Ji Yin said with a chuckle.

“Can’t help it. Life’s got me down,” the man replied, running a weary hand through his hair.

“What’s got you so down?”

“My wife. She’s taken up with another man, insists on divorcing me, and keeps yammering on about love. Love my ass! I work day and night just to give her and our kid a better life, and now suddenly it’s all my fault?”

“Ah,” Ji Yin watched as he exhaled a cloud of smoke. “Hey, big bro, got another cigarette?”

“Here.” The man handed her one and even lit it for her, flicking the ash. “You’re young, what’s got you down?”

“My friend might be falling in love,” Ji Yin said, staring at the glowing ember of her cigarette.

“Hmm…” The man waited, but when she didn’t continue, he frowned. “That’s it?!”

“That’s it.”

He took a deep drag. “You youngsters you haven’t lived enough. A friend falling in love has you this worked up?”

Ji Yin smirked. “Big bro, did your wife ever give you an answer?”

“What answer?”

“What is love, really?”

“Love my ass!” The man lit another cigarette, exhaling a thick, world-weary cloud. “If I understood it, I wouldn’t be here smoking. I’ve figured one thing out if someone doesn’t love you, nothing you do is right. When I was broke, she said I was useless, so I went out and made money. Now that I have money, she says I don’t spend time with her. Some other guy cooks her a couple of meals, and suddenly that’s love?”

Ji Yin turned to look at the moon outside the window. “Love. sure is exhausting.”

“You people talk about love like it’s something special. I just wanted a decent life.”

“I don’t know the first thing about love,” Ji Yin murmured, watching the cigarette burn. “I can’t even tell if what I feel is love or not.”

“Now that’s messed up,” the man laughed.

“Our relationship is too good so good I can’t tell if it’s just possessiveness from friendship or something else.”

“Isn’t it simple? Just ask yourself do you want to sleep with them or not?”

“Big bro, you’re the messed-up one here.”

He gave a bitter laugh. “Don’t act like it’s crude, that’s just how it is. My wife won’t even sleep with me anymore. Says my breath stinks, that it disgusts her.”

“You smoke of course it stinks.”

“I smoked before, and she never complained. But this time when I came home, I could tell she was repulsed by me. That’s when I knew something was wrong.” Finishing his last cigarette, he rummaged through his pockets, muttering, “Kid, love is bullshit. Just ask yourself do you want to sleep with them or not? That’s all there is to it.”

“Here, take this one. I haven’t smoked it,” Ji Yin offered her cigarette.

“If you weren’t gonna smoke it, why’d you ask for one?”

“Fun.” Ji Yin smiled. “I’m heading back first. Finish that cigarette and go back too, or I’ll report you.”

“Hey, you”

Returning to the ward, Ji Yin finally fell asleep.

She woke up groggily in the morning, still drowsy, listening to the idle chatter of her fellow patients.

“Is that beautiful doctor coming for rounds today?”

“She should. The pretty girl across from you is Dr. Lu’s patient she’ll definitely come.”

“She’s really good-looking. I wonder if she has a boyfriend.”

“What, you wanna chase her?”

“Kinda. Just don’t know if she’d be interested in me.”

“You won’t know unless you try. When she comes, we’ll help you ask around.”

“That’d be great, thanks, Auntie!”

Before long, a few doctors entered for rounds. After the routine check-ins, the auntie called out, “Hey, Lu ”

“Dr. Lu! My wound hurts a bit!” Ji Yin suddenly interjected.

“Let me see.” Lu Jiahe lifted her sleeve and examined her arm, the swelling had already subsided quite a bit. “Where exactly does it hurt? What kind of pain is it?”

“Hard to say. Maybe because I forgot to take my meds last night.”

“…” Lu Jiahe shot her an exasperated look. “If you don’t take your meds, don’t complain about the pain.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Noticing the eager gazes of the young man and the auntie across from her, Ji Yin tugged at Lu Jiahe’s sleeve, signaling her to lean down.

“What’s up?” Lu Jiahe bent over and whispered.

“That guy over there wants to pursue you. They’re about to ask about your relationship status you should leave now,” Ji Yin murmured.

Lu Jiahe chuckled. “That’s it?”

“Isn’t that a big deal?”

“Not really. People ask if I’m single all the time.”

“…”

Fair enough. During both of her hospital stays, discussions about the doctors were inevitable. Lu Jiahe was especially famous not just for her skills but also for her looks. The auntie had even called her “the flower of the hospital.”

Corny nickname, but fitting.

As Lu Jiahe and her colleagues prepared to leave, the auntie seized the moment to ask, “Dr. Lu, do you have a boyfriend?”

“Not yet.”

“How about I introduce you to someone?”

“No need. There’s already someone I like,” Lu Jiahe replied with a smile before walking out.

She left behind a room full of disappointed patients and a completely stunned Ji Yin.

She had someone she liked?

Was it Le Qin?

Why hadn’t she told her?

Or was it just an excuse to reject people?

Ji Yin’s mind swarmed with questions, too many things she wanted to know. But Dr. Lu was so busy at work; she couldn’t just call and ask.

She opened WeChat and checked Le Qin’s Moments, where she had posted a photo of a play.

She went to see a play last night, was it with Lu Jiahe?

Ji Yin had never been to a play in her life, and the disparity made her feel a pang of frustration.

When Dong Xiang came to visit, he found her buried under the blankets, assuming she was still asleep, so he stepped out to smoke a couple of cigarettes.

By the time he returned, Ji Yin was drinking water. He approached and said, “Sis, as you asked, I”

“Let’s talk outside.”

The ward was too crowded for serious conversation. Ji Yin led him to the fire escape.

“I went through the supermarket in that mall again, along with a few smaller community grocery stores nearby. I took photos of all the produce prices take a look,” Dong Xiang said.

“Mm.” Ji Yin took the phone and began flipping through the images one by one.

Since she couldn’t check in person and having Dong Xiang photograph every section would be too time-consuming, she focused mainly on the prices of vegetables and fruits. That alone was enough to gauge the market positioning of each store.

The community stores had more affordable prices and a limited selection, while the supermarket in the mall offered both high and low price points, similar to their own store’s strategy.

Coincidentally, she had recently negotiated with some hydroponic suppliers, which could help differentiate their store’s customer base from the mall’s.

Chain supermarkets had their advantages, and independent stores had theirs. She could always adjust inventory based on market feedback.

Besides, the new location was four kilometers away from the mall not a problem.

“Let’s go with this one. I’ll message the landlord later to negotiate the price and finalize it as soon as possible. When you get back today, post the notice about transferring the pool hall. We’ll need a big cash flow soon.”

“Got it.”

After wrapping up, the two stepped out of the corridor one after the other and nearly bumped into someone.

Ji Yin looked up. “Oh, big bro, sneaking out for a smoke again?”

The man startled, quickly stuffing the cigarette into his pocket. “Shh! Shh! Life’s tough, don’t rat me out!”

Ji Yin chuckled and pulled Dong Xiang away.

The man glanced back at them and muttered, “You two don’t look like you’re in love.”

After work in the evening, Lu Jiahe saw a message from her mom the old couple were out having dinner with friends, so she’d have to handle her own meal.

She turned and headed toward the inpatient building. As soon as she reached the hallway, she spotted Ji Yin.

Restless as ever, Ji Yin was leaning against the wall with one arm in a sling, chatting away with a group of people.

“Dr. Lu,” Nurse Qiu passed by and smiled. “You’ve been coming around here a lot lately.”

“Yeah,” Lu Jiahe nodded toward the group. “What are they talking about?”

“Where to buy groceries cheap,” Nurse Qiu laughed. “Ji Yin’s really hit it off with these aunties, she’s practically made her way through every auntie on this floor.”

“A touring chitchat session, huh?”

Nurse Qiu burst into laughter, drawing Ji Yin’s attention. When Ji Yin turned and saw Lu Jiahe, she immediately spun around and bolted toward her room.

“Stop.”

Ji Yin skidded to a halt.

“Why are you running?” Lu Jiahe walked up to her.

“Just exercising. Didn’t you say moderate activity helps restore muscle strength?” Ji Yin retorted stubbornly.

“Did I say to exercise your legs?”

“Working them out together isn’t a waste.” Ji Yin mumbled.

Lu Jiahe sighed helplessly. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. You?”

“Me neither.”

“Then let’s eat together!” Ji Yin blurted out.

“Isn’t Yanzi bringing you food?”

“I’ll tell her not to come.” Ji Yin quickly called Yanzi and canceled the delivery. “Come on, let’s go to that Hunan restaurant. I haven’t had it in over half a year I kinda miss it.”

“You want Hunan food? Should I wash your face with chili peppers?”

Ji Yin grinned hurriedly. “You pick, you pick! I’m fine with anything!”

The two walked toward the elevator when they ran into the older brother emerging from the fire escape, reeking of cigarette smoke.

“Seriously, bro, how much did you smoke?” Ji Yin covered her nose and frowned. “If you keep this up, I’m really going to report you.”

“Ah, I don’t want to either, but I can’t help it. I’m so frustrated I could die. Little sis, you just don’t understand my pain,” the older brother lamented. “You think everyone has simple worries like yours?”

“What worries?” Lu Jiahe asked curiously.

“She just can’t tell if what she feels for a friend is love or not. But me, I ”

Ji Yin:

Lu Jiahe could no longer hear what the older brother was saying. Slowly, he turned to Ji Yin, his eyes bright. “Which friend?”

Ji Yin stiffened, then turned and walked in the opposite direction.

“Where are you going?” Lu Jiahe asked.

“To report him! I’m telling his doctor he’s smoking himself into insanity!”