Running Towards You - Chapter 53

On her way over, Ji Yin had prepared countless scenarios in her mind, even rehearsing how to brush off potential rejection with a joke.

Of course, among all the possibilities, she had also considered the chance that Lu Jiahe might say yes, though that outcome had seemed so slim she hadn’t dared to hope too much.

Yet that tiny sliver of hope had actually come true.

When Lu Jiahe agreed, Ji Yin didn’t react with the elated cheers she’d imagined, nor did she embrace her as she’d practiced in her head.

She just froze.

She couldn’t believe this stroke of incredible luck had actually landed on her.

Overwhelmed by joy, she felt almost lightheaded, reduced to stammering like a fool, “Really? You really mean it? You’re willing to be with me?”

“Really. I do. Very much so.” Lu Jiahe smiled brightly.

It was unbelievable. Ji Yin hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. She was so excited she didn’t know what to do, but then a wave of shyness washed over her.

She had a girlfriend now!

Lu Jiahe was her girlfriend!

Did this mean they were officially together?

Shouldn’t there be some kind of ceremonial moment?

What should she do?

Just as Lu Jiahe opened the door, she felt a sudden softness against her cheek.

Ji Yin had quickly planted a kiss on her face.

By the time Lu Jiahe turned to look, the other woman was already blushing furiously, avoiding eye contact as she stepped inside with the mooncake box, grabbed the disinfectant from the cabinet, and headed toward the living room.

Finally, she glanced back at Lu Jiahe, who was still standing at the door. “Aren’t you coming in?”

“I wanted to watch you.” Lu Jiahe’s smile deepened as she observed Ji Yin’s smooth, practiced movements, it felt like a glimpse of their future life together, one that promised to be lively.

“Watch me for what” Ji Yin felt oddly embarrassed and instinctively tried to change the subject. “Do you want some mooncake?”

“Sure, I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

They sat at the table, and Lu Jiahe picked up the plastic cutter to slice the mooncake. When she looked up, she found Ji Yin staring back at her, already biting straight into hers.

“I’ve always wondered, why do you all insist on cutting it first?”

“I was going to share it with you.”

“We just got together and you already want to split?”

“…”

Lu Jiahe raised a hand to flick her forehead, but Ji Yin dodged with a laugh, catching her wrist and holding on tight.

Looking down at their joined hands, Ji Yin grinned foolishly. “I still can’t quite believe it that we’re like this now.”

“You’d better get used to it. We’ll be like this a lot from now on.” Lu Jiahe’s voice was soft.

Ji Yin smiled, lifting her gaze to study Lu Jiahe’s face. “Do you like me?”

“I don’t like you.”

“Huh?!”

“If I didn’t, why would I agree to be with you?”

“Don’t pause like that! You nearly scared me to death.” Ji Yin exhaled sharply, then chuckled. “Why do you like me? What do you like about me?”

“What about you? What do you like about me?” Lu Jiahe countered.

Ji Yin: “I like everything about you!”

Lu Jiahe: “What a coincidence me too. Guess we’re just meant to be.”

Ji Yin couldn’t stop grinning. She absolutely adored Dr. Lu’s deadpan humor.

“Stop smiling and go wash your hands you’ve been touching the mooncake,” Lu Jiahe said.

“…” Ji Yin raised her paws and followed her to the kitchen to wash their hands.

Lu Jiahe turned on the faucet, washed her own hands first, then took Ji Yin’s hand under the running water to scrub it clean.

Ji Yin glanced at her from the corner of her eye, unable to control her expression as the corners of her lips curled up again.

“Dr. Lu, I think I fell for you a long time ago.”

“I know.”

“Huh? How did you know?” Ji Yin was stunned.

“Do you think everyone is as clueless as you?” Lu Jiahe turned off the faucet, picked up a tissue to dry Ji Yin’s hands, then looked up with a smile and asked, “But I am curious, why the sudden confession?”

“Because, I missed you,” Ji Yin murmured.

She had never missed someone so intensely before.

During these days apart, she had been restless, moody, tossing and turning, plagued by uncertainty. All these emotions piled up, impossible to ignore.

Last night, after hours on the phone with Lu Jiahe, she stared at the light outside her window, wishing she could fly over immediately to be with her.

In the quiet of the night, sleep eluded her. Memories of their time together flickered through her mind like a revolving lantern.

Suddenly, she realized Lu Jiahe was the most special person in her life.

Yanzi was her closest friend, yet she hardly missed her even after weeks apart. But with Lu Jiahe, just a few days of separation had her longing unbearably.

Even after Lu Jiahe told her she was boarding the plane, her heart refused to settle. The thought of seeing her in just a few hours filled her with uncontrollable anticipation. She couldn’t wait to embrace Lu Jiahe warmly, to kiss her…

Ji Yin closed her eyes, resigned.

In front of Lu Jiahe, she had always felt insecure. Subconsciously, she had avoided confronting her feelings, masking them with friendship, but it was impossible to hide forever.

Repressed emotions were like water held back by a dam. Eventually, they would accumulate into a flood and break through.

She decided to take the chance.

“I missed you too.”

Hearing Lu Jiahe say those words, Ji Yin was overjoyed, so happy she didn’t know what to do with herself. She wanted to jump around but reminded herself to keep her composure!

Instead, she ended up looking like she desperately needed to pee.

“If you need to go, just go. Don’t hold it in,” Lu Jiahe teased.

“…”

Ji Yin didn’t stay much longer because Dr. Lu promptly escorted her back to the hospital. TAT

Nurse Qiu, upon seeing Ji Yin brought back by Lu Jiahe, didn’t mince words and scolded her outright. After shooing her into the ward, she couldn’t help but vent to Lu Jiahe: “With a patient like this, you must be exhausted, right?”

“Sometimes happy, sometimes worried,” Lu Jiahe sighed.

“Sneaking out at night was bad enough, but now she disappears first thing in the morning? If something happened, who could take responsibility?”

“Right. Make sure to scold her more later,” Lu Jiahe said with a laugh.

“What if she holds a grudge?”

“She won’t. She knows you mean well.”

Nurse Qiu gave her a surprised look. “You know her pretty well, huh? You two are that close?”

Lu Jiahe smiled without answering, then turned to see Ji Yin sitting cross-legged on the bed, staring straight at her.

She walked in and said, “I’m heading back now. Get some sleep.”

“You’re leaving already?” Ji Yin gazed at her reluctantly.

“If I don’t leave, can you sleep?” Although Lu Jiahe also wanted to stay with her a little longer, the most important thing right now was rest, especially for Ji Yin, who had barely slept all night.

“I’m not sleepy yet,” Ji Yin said.

“Go to sleep. I’ll come see you this afternoon,” Lu Jiahe replied.

“Okay!” Hearing that she would return in the afternoon, Ji Yin quickly lay down, eager to catch up on sleep.

After returning home, Lu Jiahe also took a short nap before heading to her parents’ place for a meal.

Her parents had already finished eating, so she ate alone, quietly listening to the elderly couple discuss work matters. Once their conversation ended, she slowly spoke up: “Mom, Dad, there’s something I want to tell you.”

“What is it?” Liu Jia picked up the remote from the coffee table and turned on the TV.

“I’m in a relationship.”

“What?”

The TV had barely displayed an image before the screen went black.

Though they had mentally prepared themselves, Liu Jia and Professor Lu hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

“When did this start?”

“Just today,” Lu Jiahe said with a light laugh.

“Is it really with Ji Yin?” Liu Jia asked.

“Yes.”

Liu Jia exchanged a glance with Professor Lu, both their eyes filled with resignation. After a long pause, Liu Jia finally spoke: “Love is free we won’t stop you. Besides, her circumstances are truly heartbreaking. But have you considered whether your feelings for her are more about love or sympathy?”

When Lu Jiahe entered the hospital room, Ji Yin was engrossed in a book.

“Working so hard?”

Ji Yin looked up, smug. “Of course. All I need now is to tie my hair to the ceiling, jab my thigh with an awl, and bore a hole in the wall to borrow some light.”

“Don’t listen to her, Dr. Lu. It’s been half an hour, and she hasn’t turned a single page,” the college student in the next bed immediately exposed her.

Ji Yin raised her fist in frustration, but the distance was too far she could only feign intimidation. “Just you wait, kid. When your girlfriend comes, you’ll see what happens.”

“I was wrong, Sister Ji! Please don’t rat me out later!”

“You exposed me first. Why can’t I do the same?”

“Dr. Lu and your girlfriend aren’t the same.”

“What’s the difference?” Ji Yin shot a glance at Lu Jiahe, thinking to herself Lu Jiahe is my girlfriend.

She’s my girlfriend!

Ji Yin screamed internally, itching to tell everyone, especially that guy across the room who had his eyes on Dr. Lu Dream on! She’s mine now, haha!

Noticing the ever-changing expressions on Ji Yin’s face, Lu Jiahe chuckled. “What are you thinking about?”

Ji Yin, of course, couldn’t admit her thoughts out loud. She set the book aside, got out of bed, and slung an arm over Lu Jiahe’s shoulder to lead her outside. “It’s too noisy in here. Let’s talk outside.”

“Where to?”

“Anywhere.” Ji Yin thought for a moment. “The osmanthus in the garden behind the building is blooming it smells amazing. Want to take a walk?”

“Sure.”

Quite a few patients were strolling around the garden, some of them familiar faces. Ji Yin greeted them before sitting down on the edge of the flowerbed.

“Why didn’t you turn a single page in half an hour?” Lu Jiahe asked.

Ji Yin hesitated, then admitted honestly: “I was too excited. I thought reading would calm me down, but I couldn’t focus at all.”

Lu Jiahe smiled. “That excited?”

“Yeah!” Ji Yin fidgeted with her fingers discreetly. “It’s my first time being in a relationship and it’s with you. Who wouldn’t be excited?”

Lu Jiahe let out a soft laugh.

“Moreover, falling in love was completely outside my plans. I never imagined I’d be in a relationship either.” Ji Yin turned her head, her eyes sparkling with a radiant smile. “Dr. Lu, thank you.”

Lu Jiahe was taken aback. “Thank me for what?”

“For helping me, understanding me, and accepting me.”

Ji Yin had never considered love before, partly due to her distrust in romance and marriage, but also because of her own lack of confidence.

Given her past experiences, she had only encountered rotten luck in love people who were either after her money or her looks.

As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Every time she thought about these disappointing individuals, it gave her the illusion that she was only worthy of such people’s affection.

Her background and education were, to put it mildly, a mess. It was obvious she wouldn’t meet someone who could accept her with complete equanimity.

Until she met Lu Jiahe.

Lu Jiahe gazed at her, recalling the conversation she’d just had with her parents.

How had she responded again?

Oh, right

“Does sympathy not count as a kind of emotion? I was genuinely moved by her experiences. Being with her makes me realize how fortunate I am, and it makes me cherish my own happiness even more. I also want to make her happy. Though her past brought her pain, it shaped who she is today. I love her precisely because of how she’s grown through adversity. My sympathy is real, and so is my love.”

“Because you deserve it,” Lu Jiahe said, reaching out to tuck a windblown strand of hair behind Ji Yin’s ear.

Ji Yin’s heart melted into a puddle, enveloped by the sweet, honeyed fragrance of osmanthus, as if it were about to crystallize into sugar.

Eager to express her feelings, she mustered her courage and boldly took Lu Jiahe’s hand, letting it drop between them. Her fingers slightly parted, slipping into the gaps between Lu Jiahe’s.

Lu Jiahe looked down at their intertwined fingers, then at Ji Yin, who was too shy and nervous to meet her eyes and instead stared elsewhere. She couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

This was their first time being in love, but Lu Jiahe had imagined it countless times before, so she remained relatively composed.

In contrast, Ji Yin was especially adorable.

Someone who had never been in love before blushed particularly easily.

Lu Jiahe tilted her head to observe Ji Yin’s flushed cheeks and decided to tease her. “Isn’t this a bit too fast for us?”

“Ah? Really?” Ji Yin looked at her in panic, immediately letting go of her hand and asking cautiously, “Is holding hands like this on the first day of dating moving too quickly?”

“Yep,” Lu Jiahe nodded.

Ji Yin hurriedly apologized, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep! I’ve never done this before, I don’t know the right way. Could you tell me the proper steps?”

“Sure,” Lu Jiahe said, glancing around. “There are too many people here. Let me whisper it to you.”

“Okay,” Ji Yin quickly leaned in.

Lu Jiahe covered her hand and brought her lips close to Ji Yin’s ear.

The next moment, a warm, wet tongue grazed Ji Yin’s earlobe.

Lu Jiahe had taken her ear into her mouth. The realization struck Ji Yin like lightning, her pupils dilated instantly, her body trembled uncontrollably, and blood rushed to her head, turning her neck and ears a deep crimson.