Running Towards You - Chapter 56

The room was neatly arranged, with everything in its proper place. The living room was free of any clutter.

A vase adorned the table, deliberately filled with a few flowers to set the mood.

“Did you tidy up yourself?” Lu Jiahe asked with a smile.

“No, I hired a cleaning service,” Ji Yin admitted sheepishly.

“Did it cost much?”

“Yeah.”

Lu Jiahe sighed inwardly. She hadn’t intended for Ji Yin to spend so much just because they were dating. After a moment’s thought, she said, “I know a reliable cleaner. Next time you need one, let me know, and I’ll send her over. She can give you a discount.”

“That’d be great!”

Ji Yin had brewed a pot of floral tea. “Try this, how does it taste?”

Lu Jiahe took a few sips. “Not bad. Sweet and tangy quite appetizing.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Ji Yin grinned. “Next time, we can try a different flavor.”

Lu Jiahe wasn’t fond of cold drinks, but Ji Yin’s fridge was practically stocked with them. So while out on business, she had picked up several boxes of floral tea, each with a different flavor.

“Sure.”

Lu Jiahe settled onto the sofa and noticed a basket full of snacks tucked under the coffee table.

Ji Yin pulled the basket out and placed it on the table. “These are all your favorites. Help yourself.”

Lu Jiahe glanced at her in surprise before scanning the snacks. Sure enough, every single one was something she loved.

“How did you know I liked these?”

“You’ve eaten them before.”

During her previous visits, Lu Jiahe had only tried a few snacks, but Ji Yin had remembered and set them aside in the basket, ready for the next time she came over.

A smile tugged at the corners of Lu Jiahe’s lips. “You’re something else. You remember every little thing I eat, yet you miss the most important details.”

“What details?” Ji Yin frowned in confusion.

“Nothing.” Lu Jiahe shook her head with a faint smile.

“Come on, tell me!” Ji Yin felt like she was missing something crucial, but no matter how she pressed, Lu Jiahe wouldn’t budge. Growing impatient, she leaned in closer, her questions relentless. Lu Jiahe laughed and tried to dodge, but Ji Yin cupped her face and turned it back toward her.

“Tell me, tell me!”

Lu Jiahe gazed at her, eyes sparkling with amusement. “I don’t talk to silly people.”

Ji Yin held her face tighter. “Please, just tell me!”

Lu Jiahe’s lips curved upward.

Staring at her smile, Ji Yin froze, suddenly realizing just how close they were their faces nearly touching.

She didn’t dare move, her gaze drifting from Lu Jiahe’s brows down to the bridge of her nose before finally settling on her full, rosy lips.

Slowly, she inched forward, her heartbeat pounding so loudly it echoed in her chest.

Ding

The microwave beeped abruptly, startling Lu Jiahe, who turned to look.

Ji Yin immediately pulled away and retrieved a bowl of popcorn from inside. “I put this in earlier. Try it it’s sweet and crispy.”

“Okay.” Lu Jiahe popped a few pieces into her mouth and nodded. “This is good. Where’d you get it?”

“Free samples. I thought this one was the best.” Ji Yin munched away, then asked, “Want to watch a movie?”

“Sure.”

Ji Yin turned on the TV, and the two of them settled in, munching on popcorn as the film played.

However, Ji Yin still wasn’t someone who enjoyed watching movies. After half an hour, she couldn’t focus at all and her mind wandered to other things.

She looked at the remaining half bowl of popcorn, then at Lu Jiahe, who was completely absorbed in the screen. Picking up the bowl, she fed a few pieces of popcorn to Lu Jiahe’s lips.

Lu Jiahe turned to her in confusion.

“It won’t taste as good when it’s cold,” Ji Yin said.

Lu Jiahe opened her mouth, and Ji Yin smoothly fed her.

Seemingly having found a new pastime, Ji Yin fed her one piece after another, thoroughly enjoying the sight of Lu Jiahe distractedly eating popcorn, her eyes still fixed on the TV while her mouth instinctively caught the popcorn from Ji Yin’s fingers in her peripheral vision.

Lu Jiahe was far more captivating than the movie.

After knowing each other for nearly a year, Lu Jiahe only grew more beautiful in Ji Yin’s eyes, and she never tired of looking at her.

Just as Ji Yin was lost in thought, her finger was suddenly licked.

Lu Jiahe chewed the popcorn and looked at her innocently. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Ji Yin said, blushing. “I’m not germaphobic.”

“Stop feeding me for now, I’m about to burst,” Lu Jiahe chuckled before turning back to the movie.

“Okay.” Ji Yin set the bowl aside and glanced down at her fingers. Her gaze then drifted sneakily toward Lu Jiahe’s hand, which was resting on the sofa.

Quietly, she inched her fingers closer, little by little, until they brushed against Lu Jiahe’s. When Lu Jiahe turned to look at her, Ji Yin grinned cheekily, hoping to get away with it.

Lu Jiahe smiled at her, neither stopping her nor refusing.

That meant tacit approval!

Encouraged, Ji Yin boldly intertwined their fingers, sliding between the gaps until their palms pressed together, sharing each other’s warmth.

By the time the movie ended, Ji Yin, who hadn’t absorbed a single thing, was still reluctant to let go. She finally released Lu Jiahe’s hand and checked the time. It was already half past midnight. “It’s too late, just stay over,” she immediately suggested.

“But I have work tomorrow,” Lu Jiahe said regretfully.

“I’ll drive you to work first thing in the morning you won’t be late. You stayed over last time too,” Ji Yin coaxed.

“Alright then.”

Delighted, Ji Yin jumped up and hurried to boil water before rushing off to change the bedsheets.

Lu Jiahe watched her bustling around, her eyes filled with amusement. She glanced down at her hand, as if the lingering warmth of Ji Yin’s touch still remained so comforting and warm.

She loved the tenderness of these quiet moments.

“Dr. Lu, you can go shower now,” Ji Yin said, handing her fresh clothes.

“Okay.”

Lu Jiahe took a long shower, soaking until her skin turned pink. When she stepped out, she spotted an air-conditioning blanket on the sofa and asked curiously, “What’s this?”

“A blanket,” Ji Yin replied, still mopping the floor as she looked up.

“You’re sleeping here?”

“Yep, I’m used to it, don’t worry. This way, I won’t disturb your sleep or affect your rest. You’ll definitely make it to work tomorrow,” Ji Yin said considerately.

Lu Jiahe: “…”

Her heart sank.

Expressionlessly, Lu Jiahe walked toward the bedroom. “Be careful not to catch a cold.”

“Got it. Goodnight, Dr. Lu.”

“Goodnight.”

After finishing the mopping, Ji Yin took a shower and lay down on the sofa. The thought of her girlfriend sleeping in her bed made her too excited to sleep.

The bedroom was completely silent.

She tiptoed to the door, pushed it open quietly, and paused to listen to Lu Jiahe’s steady breathing before carefully approaching the bedside.

The curtains weren’t fully drawn.

By the moonlight streaming through the window, she slowly lowered her head and planted a very light, very soft kiss on Lu Jiahe’s cheek.

Then, like a wildcat that had stolen a bite, she guiltily slipped out of the room.

Only after the faint sound of footsteps had completely faded did Lu Jiahe turn over, curling the corners of her lips.

The next day, bright sunlight filtered into the room.

Lu Jiahe opened her eyes, yawned, and dozed for a few more minutes to shake off the drowsiness. When she heard furtive noises outside the door, she was fully awake, but she kept her eyes closed.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and Ji Yin tiptoed to the bedside, silently staring at Lu Jiahe.

Who knew how much time passed? Just as Lu Jiahe was about to lose patience and get up, Ji Yin finally moved.

The little wildcat bent down again, stealing another quick kiss before putting on an act and calling out, “Dr. Lu, time to get up! You’re going to be late!”

Lu Jiahe bit her lip to suppress a smile, then drowsily opened her eyes and grinned at her. “Good morning.”

“Good morning!” Ji Yin immediately beamed.

The two took turns washing up in the bathroom. Pointing at the shower gel and shampoo on the shelf, Lu Jiahe remarked, “These are the same as the ones I use at home.”

“Yeah, you smelled so nice after using them, so I, copied your homework,” Ji Yin admitted sheepishly.

“But it seems you bought a counterfeit.”

“What?”

Lu Jiahe pointed at the English label. “This word is missing a letter.”

“Damn it!!!” Ji Yin was furious, she had finally splurged on expensive shampoo, only to find out it was fake. She wanted to storm back and confront the seller immediately.

“Swearing first thing in the morning? Is your mouth itching for trouble again?” Lu Jiahe shot her a sidelong glance.

“…”

Ji Yin brushed her teeth vigorously, avoiding eye contact, wishing she could vanish into the floor.

After breakfast, Ji Yin took her keys and drove Lu Jiahe to work.

“Are you free tonight? Li Chenyao wants to treat you to dinner,” Lu Jiahe said.

“Tonight?” Ji Yin thought about her schedule. “But I already have plans with a client.”

“Another client meeting?” Lu Jiahe turned to look at her. “Your job keeps you so busy, how much do you actually earn?”

“It’s not stable. I don’t get a fixed salary,” Ji Yin glanced at her. “Actually”

“Eyes on the road, not on me!”

“Oh! Right!” Ji Yin snapped her attention forward, not daring to relax for a second.

“Do you enjoy your current job?” Lu Jiahe asked.

“Yeah, I do.”

“If there was a stable, easy job, would you take it?”

“Does it pay well?”

“Probably around three to five thousand?”

“Then no way.”

Lu Jiahe sighed inwardly, confirming once again that Ji Yin was the type to endure hardship for higher pay.

But then again, her current earnings were surely more than three to five thousand, and with frequent business trips, her commissions must be decent. For someone with only an elementary school education to afford a three-thousand-a-month apartment was already impressive.

Maybe she had underestimated Ji Yin’s capabilities. For now, she let go of the idea of finding her a stable, low-paying job, Ji Yin probably wouldn’t want it anyway.

The morning rush hour traffic was a bit congested, with cars constantly cutting in. Ji Yin, afraid of delaying Lu Jiahe’s work, couldn’t help but curse at the offending drivers: “What kind of dumbass tries to squeeze into such a tiny gap? Why didn’t you go patch up the sky when Nüwa was fixing it?”

Lu Jiahe gave her a helpless look. “It’s fine, we still have time.”

“No idea how long this jam will last,” Ji Yin muttered, glancing irritably at the cars behind her honking incessantly in the rearview mirror. “Honking like that is useless, traffic’s still stuck, idiots.”

Lu Jiahe picked up a water bottle from the car, unscrewed the cap, and held it to Ji Yin’s lips. “Have some water.”

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Drink more. With all that yelling, your throat’s going to give out sooner or later.”

Ji Yin chuckled sheepishly, took a few sips, and her road rage subsided. She bit her lip the rest of the way to the hospital.

“Finally made it and not late!” Ji Yin leaned back in relief.

“Thanks for driving. You can take my car back.”

“But how will you get home after work?”

“It’s not far from my place. I’ll walk good exercise.”

“You’re so nice” Ji Yin gazed at her with puppy-dog eyes.

“Don’t try acting cute. Punishment’s still due.”

“What punishment?” Ji Yin blinked in confusion.

“The swearing tab you’ve racked up, plus this morning’s nonstop outbursts.”

“…” Ji Yin pouted pitifully. “What’s the punishment?”

“A 3,000-word self-criticism.”

“Ugh! Just kill me instead!”

“You’re too skinny. I’ll fatten you up first wait till New Year’s.”

” Ji Yin laughed. “You’re the pig here!”

Lu Jiahe raised an eyebrow. “Besides the essay, there’s one more punishment.”

“There’s more?!” Ji Yin gasped. “What is it?”

Lu Jiahe unbuckled her seatbelt, pinched Ji Yin’s chin, leaned in, and bit her lip hard.

Ji Yin’s eyes widened in shock. She touched her lips, still tingling faintly, and instinctively licked them, her cheeks flushing instantly.

“Next time you curse, I’ll bite your tongue. See if that helps you remember,” Lu Jiahe said.

Ji Yin stared at her in disbelief, then cautiously tested, “Holy shit?”

Lu Jiahe: “…”