Running Towards You - Chapter 51.1

Ji Yin found herself sleepless again. Out of sheer boredom, she opened the memo app on her phone and started drafting a self-criticism.

Typing with one hand was tiring, though. After just over a hundred characters, her hand went numb.

She got up and walked to the fire escape, where she caught a whiff of cigarette smoke. Following the scent up one floor, she suddenly coughed.

The man puffing away was startled, dropping his cigarette in surprise. He quickly stomped it out twice before recognizing the person who had walked up. He let out a long sigh. “It’s you again. You nearly scared me to death.”

“If you’re so afraid of getting caught, why do you keep sneaking up here to smoke?”

“The doctors and nurses nag too much. I only hurt my arm, not my organs, why shouldn’t I be allowed to smoke?” the man argued righteously.

“They’ll let you smoke all you want once you’re dead. By then, it’ll be too late.”

“Damn, girl, your mouth is as foul as if you’ve been smoking for thirty years.” The man pulled out another pack of cigarettes from his pocket, struggling to open it before shaking one out. In an instant, Ji Yin snatched it away.

“Got a light?” Ji Yin asked.

“What kind of question is that? You gonna light it just for fun? These aren’t cheap don’t waste it. If you’re not gonna smoke, give it back,” the man grumbled.

“Should I call the nurses?”

“Fine, fine! Here’s your damn light!” The man irritably lit her cigarette before expertly lighting one for himself, taking deep, satisfied drags.

Ji Yin waved away the smoke in front of her, shifting slightly to the side. She sniffed the cigarette in her hand curiously. “This doesn’t even smell good. What exactly are you guys smoking?”

“We’re smoking life,” the man said with a world-weary expression.

“Since when did this turn philosophical?” Ji Yin laughed.

The man flicked ash off his cigarette. “So, how’s your situation? Figured it out yet?”

“I thought I had, but then I got confused again. Now I’m even more lost,” Ji Yin admitted.

She had never intended to sleep with Lu Jiahe at least, two hours ago, she could’ve sworn to that.

But.

When her palm brushed against Lu Jiahe’s neck, a thrilling thought flashed through her mind, she wanted to lean down and bite it, to graze her teeth against that fair skin, to run her tongue over the veins beneath, to tangle her fingers in her hair.

“Honestly, you’re overthinking it. You two aren’t a good match,” the man said.

Ji Yin snapped out of her thoughts, frowning. “How would you know we’re not a good match?”

“I saw you two today. He doesn’t really suit you.”

Ji Yin pondered for a moment. “You’re right we’re not a good match. Our lives are worlds apart.”

“He’s rich?”

“Not filthy rich, but comfortably well-off. Good family, great job, great personality practically perfect!”

“No wonder, then. If he’s that great, what’s there to agonize over?”

“What if I’m just insecure?”

“Pfft. A knockout like you, insecure? You should see my wife so ugly it’s a miracle, yet she’s ridiculously vain,” the man scoffed.

Ji Yin couldn’t help but laugh. “And yet, you still love her.”

“Who said I love her? I’m just pissed she cheated on me!”

“…”

The older brother waved the smoke toward the window: “Why do you feel inferior? With looks like yours, you must’ve been praised since childhood shouldn’t you be confident?”

“I only have an elementary school education.”

“Uh. Well, that is something to feel inferior about. I’m a bit better off at least I managed to get a vocational school diploma.”

Ji Yin sighed and fell silent for a long while. Seeing his cigarette was almost finished, she said, “Big bro, you’ve been through a lot. Can you give me some advice?”

“What do you want to know? Just don’t ask me how to wear a green hat.”

Ji Yin laughed. “I’m not interested in your green hat. I just want to know, if you feel the desire for physical contact, does that mean it’s definitely love?”

“Not necessarily. Some people can have endless physical desires for others without actually falling in love,” the older brother said with a profound expression.

“How is that possible? There are people like that?”

“Perverts, obviously.”

“You’re a real philosopher.” Ji Yin handed him the half-smoked cigarette and gave him a thumbs-up.

Back in the hospital room, she fell asleep with a mind full of thoughts, drifting in and out of fragmented dreams. In her half-awake state, she thought she heard Lu Jiahe’s voice.

She heard Lu Jiahe calling her to wake up by her ear and mumbled in response, “So sleepy. just a little longer.”

Then, she heard Lu Jiahe ask, “Is the wound acting up?”

For a moment, she couldn’t think of any wound, so she didn’t answer. Only when a hand pinched her arm did she slowly open her eyes.

Lu Jiahe’s delicate face was the first thing she saw.

She startled. “Why are you here?”

The laughter around her answered the question, she realized she was still in the hospital room.

“Awake?” Lu Jiahe smiled.

“Yeah, When did you get here?”

“Just now.” Lu Jiahe asked again about her condition and, confirming she was fine, turned to leave for another ward.

Ji Yin watched her white coat disappear, thinking back to the brief dream she’d had upon waking.

In the dream, she was helping Lu Jiahe put on her white coat, then they sat on the sofa reading and eating cake. She accidentally stained the coat, so Lu Jiahe took it off then proceeded to remove her jacket, vest, thermal shirt, and another thermal shirt underneath…

It was like peeling layers of an onion it never ended. Ji Yin grew so impatient she started helping, but before she could finish undressing, she woke up.

What kind of ridiculous dream was that.

Ji Yin closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

This time, she dreamed she went bankrupt.

She woke up in a panic and saw Dong Xiang sitting beside her playing on his phone. “Is the supermarket okay?” she blurted.

“Yeah, why?”

“Good. When did you get here?”

“A while ago. You were asleep, so I didn’t wake you.” It was rare to see Ji Yin sleep in, so Dong Xiang hadn’t dared disturb her.

“Any takers for the pool hall?”

“It’s only been listed for a few days no one’s reached out yet. How’s the rent negotiation going on your end?”

“We’ve chatted on WeChat he’s almost ready to agree.” Ji Yin pulled out her phone and invited the guy to dinner.

“He’s free tonight. Pick me up this afternoon take my car. Let’s go check out the place. If it looks good, we’ll seal the deal over dinner.” Ji Yin said.

“Alright, but can you go out right now?”

“No problem. I even went out for dinner with Dr. Lu yesterday. I’ll try to get the contract signed tonight the sooner it’s settled, the sooner we can start renovations.”

“Got it.”

Lu Jiahe had an unexpected surgery that delayed her, and by the time she got off work, she was starving.

Glancing at the time, she figured Ji Yin had already eaten, so she decided to head home for dinner. Tomorrow was the weekend anyway she could visit then.

“Mom, is there any food left at home?” she called Liu Jia after getting in the car.

“There’s a little. Are you coming back to eat?”

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

“Then hurry back. I’ll heat it up for you.”

“Okay.”

Lu Jiahe hung up and drove home quickly. While parking, her dad suddenly called.

“Hey, Dad, what’s up?”

“I’m out having dinner with some colleagues, and I saw your friend.”

“Which friend?”

“Ji Yin.”

“Really?” That girl went out again?

“Yeah. Isn’t she supposed to be in the hospital? Why is she drinking with two men?”

“What?”

“No mistake. They’re in the private room next to us, and it’s pretty lively.”

Lu Jiahe immediately turned the car around. By the time she reached the restaurant, Professor Lu and his colleagues were just leaving.

“Dad.”

His colleagues chuckled when they saw her. “Lao Lu, your daughter’s so filial she even came to pick you up.”

“She’s not here for me. Kids these days have their own lives they don’t have time for us anymore.” Professor Lu smiled at them before turning serious and pointing upstairs. “Second floor. Go see for yourself.”

As Lu Jiahe passed him, she caught a whiff of alcohol and handed him her keys. “Wait in the car for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

“Mm.”

She rushed to the second floor and pushed open the door of one of the private rooms, just in time to see the three of them clinking glasses.

“Now that the contract’s signed, we’ll be counting on your support from now on,” Ji Yin said with a smile.

“Of course, as long as you don’t suddenly shut down like the last place.”

“Dr. Lu?” Dong Xiang exclaimed in surprise.

Ji Yin turned her head and, upon seeing Lu Jiahe, looked momentarily startled before resigning herself to the situation.

Every time she sneaked out, Lu Jiahe always managed to catch her.

Ji Yin grinned. “Dr. Lu, have you eaten? Want to join us?”

Lu Jiahe scanned the room, her expression darkening. “Come out. I need to talk to you.”

“Just a sec.” Ji Yin excused herself to the landlord before stepping out and closing the door behind her. “What’s up?”

“Do you not realize you’re supposed to be avoiding alcohol right now?” Lu Jiahe demanded. “How many times do I have to tell you?”

“I know, I didn’t drink much just a glass or two,” Ji Yin said.

“Just a glass or two? You couldn’t even resist that much? Are you trying to kill yourself? Do you think everything we doctors say is just nonsense?”