Running Towards You - Chapter 58.1

Ji Yin began carrying breath freshener with her at all times. Every time she met Lu Jiahe, she would spray it beforehand. If she had eaten something, she would find an opportunity to secretly spray it again.

Despite all these covert preparations, who would have thought that she’d nearly finished the entire bottle without Lu Jiahe ever parting her lips? Each time, he would only give her a light peck on the mouth before letting her go.

Yanzi came to ask her about it: “So, how does kissing feel?”

“…” Ji Yin whispered back, “What does kissing feel like?”

“Why are you asking me? Don’t tell me your breath spray still hasn’t been put to use?!”

“Shh! Do you want me to get you a megaphone with how loud you’re being?” Ji Yin snapped irritably.

Yanzi gasped in disbelief, lowering her voice. “It’s been half a month, and you still haven’t properly kissed your boyfriend?”

“We have kissed.”

Yanzi gave her a skeptical look. After a long pause, Ji Yin finally admitted honestly, “It’s just… lips touching lips, that kind of thing.”

“How long have you two been together?”

“A little over a month.”

Yanzi sucked in a sharp breath. “A whole month and it’s still just lip-to-lip… Is he not capable?”

Ji Yin thought about it and realized that this answer wasn’t actually that hard to accept. In fact, it was even better than the possibility that Lu Jiahe didn’t like her.

“Maybe he’s just… not that into physical stuff?” Ji Yin speculated.

Yanzi’s expression turned complicated. After a long silence, she patted Ji Yin’s shoulder with a pained look. “Well, it’s only been a month. If it’s not working out, you can always break up. There are plenty of other ”

“Shut up, I’m not breaking up with him.” Ji Yin said calmly. “So what if he’s not into physical stuff? What’s the big deal?”

“You don’t mind?”

“Why would I care? I like him for who he is.” Besides, she had never even thought about dating before and had zero interest in physical intimacy. In fact, she had once suspected that she might be the one with no interest in it.

After getting into a relationship, she had assumed Lu Jiahe would have normal needs. But if he didn’t, she genuinely didn’t mind, as long as it wasn’t because he didn’t like her.

She pulled out the breath spray and tossed it away, finally feeling at ease. Turning on the TV, she nudged Yanzi with her foot. “Go mop the floor for me.”

“I just got here a few minutes ago?”

“You’re already here, might as well sweep the floor to celebrate.”

“…”

Grumbling, Yanzi went to mop the floor while Ji Yin lounged lazily in front of the TV. A variety show was playing a talk show, unlike the noisy reality shows. This one was calm and composed.

A few experts from different fields sat at a table, discussing current trending topics and sharing their perspectives, each with a unique viewpoint.

Ji Yin found herself drawn in, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the short-haired woman who hadn’t spoken yet looked familiar.

Then the host called out, “Liu Jia,” and asked for her opinion.

Ji Yin bolted upright, leaning toward the TV to get a closer look. Sure enough, it was Liu Jia.

The photos in interview magazines had been of a younger version of her, and the last time Ji Yin had accidentally run into her outside a bookstore, Liu Jia had still had long hair. That was why Ji Yin hadn’t recognized her immediately.

“Yanzi! Yanzi! Come here quick!” Ji Yin called excitedly.

“What’s up?”

“Look, it’s Professor Liu Jia!” Ji Yin exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the person on TV. “She’s Dr. Lu’s biological mother!”

“No way, seriously?!” Yanzi dropped the mop and rushed over, staring at Liu Jia with wide-eyed curiosity. “She’s really Dr. Lu’s mom?”

“Absolutely!”

“She’s actually on TV? That’s insane!” Yanzi said in disbelief.

To ordinary people, those who appeared on television were incredibly impressive. Yanzi couldn’t believe someone connected to their lives had made it onto the screen.

In the world she was familiar with, Ji Yin was already remarkable, yet even Ji Yin had never been on TV but Dr. Lu’s mother had!

The two of them watched the entire program with excitement and curiosity. By the end, Yanzi couldn’t help but sigh, “So Dr. Lu comes from such an impressive family!”

“Of course.”

“Wow, what kind of person could ever be worthy of Dr. Lu?”

Ji Yin froze for a moment, her expression gradually dimming. “What do you think?”

“At the very least, they’d have to be from a similar background, right? Otherwise, would her parents even approve?” Yanzi said admiringly. “If I were her mom, I wouldn’t let my daughter marry just anyone. I’d make sure to pick the very best.”

Ji Yin leaned back on the sofa and looked up at the ceiling. “Yeah.”

“Didn’t she mention she was dating someone recently? Have you met her boyfriend? Is he tall, handsome, and rich? What does his family do?” Yanzi gossiped.

“Why do you have so many questions? Go finish mopping,” Ji Yin said, sounding utterly drained.

After a while, she turned back to Yanzi and asked, “Is matching social status really that important?”

“Of course! People are realistic. Back in middle school, I dated this guy whose family ran a small shop. His mom actually looked down on me because I was an orphan and tried to stop us from dating.” Yanzi said. “If I had really married into their family, do you think I’d have had a good life?”

“What about Dong Xiang’s parents? Did they ever look down on you for being an orphan?” Ji Yin asked.

“They were probably secretly thrilled. I don’t even have the burden of supporting elderly parents, plus I have an older sister like you who’s making big money. Every New Year, you let me drive your car back home, and they’re so proud of it they practically beg me to take them around the village every day. They’re always asking me to invite you back for the holidays too.”

Ji Yin smiled, unsurprised.

It was precisely because she understood human nature that she made a point of avoiding the chaos every year. Since Chen Yanhua’s death, she had hardly ever visited Yanzi’s hometown it wasn’t her home to begin with.

But if she didn’t go back, Yanzi would be all alone. So Ji Yin spent money renovating Chen Yanhua’s old house, giving Yanzi a place to stay when she returned.

She rarely drove the car herself anyway, so she might as well let Yanzi take it back it at least helped her save face.

Ji Yin checked the time. “I need to go for my follow-up. While you’re at it, clean the windows for me too.”

“You’re such a slave driver!”

Ji Yin left with a laugh amid Yanzi’s protests, knowing she’d do it anyway.

The follow-up meant she’d get to see Lu Jiahe again. She arrived at the hospital an hour early and waited outside, feeling as though she was keeping Lu Jiahe company in some small way.

Finally, her number was called. She walked in with her scans in hand.

Lu Jiahe went through the routine. “Everything looks fine. Just take care of yourself.”

“Got it, Dr. Lu.”

Lu Jiahe glanced at her a few times and smiled, “If there’s nothing else, you can leave now. There are other patients waiting.”

“Alright, Dr. Lu.” Ji Yin reluctantly picked up the scan results and suddenly asked in a low voice, “Will you be able to leave work on time tonight?”

“I could, but today’s my dad’s birthday.”

“Oh, I see. Happy birthday to your dad.”

“Thanks.”

As Ji Yin walked downstairs and waited for a ride at the entrance, she ran into an acquaintance.

“Hey, little sister.”

She turned around and saw the smoking guy she hadn’t met in days. Noticing he wasn’t wearing a hospital gown, she smiled and asked, “You’ve been discharged?”

“Yeah, I could’ve left a while ago, but I just stayed to enjoy the peace and quiet,” the guy said.

“How’s your situation going?”

“Divorced. Just finished the paperwork this morning.” He sighed.

“Don’t worry, you can always find someone else,” Ji Yin comforted him.

“Easier said than done. At my age, I don’t have the energy to start over. What if it all falls apart again?” He instinctively pulled out a cigarette pack. “Want one?”

“No, thanks.” Ji Yin quickly declined. She had developed a strong aversion to cigarettes lately and added, “Just because it failed once doesn’t mean it’ll fail every time. Don’t lose hope.”

The guy lit his cigarette gloomily. “One failure is enough to scare me for life. We were the kind of couple who eloped, you know.”

“Eloped? That sounds intense,” Ji Yin chuckled.

“Yeah.” He exhaled smoke, his gaze distant as he reminisced. “I was dirt poor back then, with only a disabled mother at home. Her parents were dead set against us. But she insisted on marrying me, so we ran away together. I swore I’d give her a good life. Now that life’s better, she’s gone.”