Running Towards You - Chapter 68

Ji Yin didn’t understand a word of it, but that didn’t stop her from giving her nails a beautiful trim.

“How do they look?” Ji Yin flashed a look that begged for praise.

Lu Jiahe examined her fingers neatly filed and rounded and nodded with satisfaction. “They look quite nice.”

Pleased with the compliment, Ji Yin couldn’t help but show off. “Of course! I can even do nail art. Want to give it a try?”

“You know how to do that too?” Lu Jiahe couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Yeah, I learned it for a while before. I even thought about opening a nail salon, but I just couldn’t stand sitting around all day. It got too boring when there were no customers, so I gave up on the idea,” Ji Yin explained.

Lu Jiahe pictured the scene and chuckled. “Doesn’t really seem like your thing.”

“But it’s been years since I last did it, so I’m not sure how good I still am. Do you have any nail polish? Want to give it a shot?”

“No, my job doesn’t really allow for that kind of thing.”

“Right.” Ji Yin had to give up on showing off her skills and ended up trimming her own nails with the clippers.

Lu Jiahe watched her every move with a meaningful look. “What are you doing?”

“Cutting my nails. It’s been a few days since I last did them anyway.”

“And after that?”

“After?” Ji Yin was puzzled for a moment before it clicked. She glanced down at the nail clippings on the floor. “Oh, I’ll sweep the floor afterward. Don’t worry.”

“…” Lu Jiahe rubbed his forehead and laughed.

“By the way, I saw a lot of your old photos at your parents’ place today. Can you give me one?”

“Sure, which one do you want?”

“I’d like one from your high school days, but it seems like they’re all group photos.”

“There are some individual ones too, they’re just not displayed. I’ll look for them next time I go back.”

“Okay.”

“It’s getting late. You should go take a shower.”

“Alright!”

After her shower, Ji Yin saw a message from Yanzi asking how the meeting with the parents went.

[Ji Yin]: Everything went smoothly!

[Yanzi]: Nice! I could tell just from Dr. Lu’s parents’ faces that they’re good people. Looks like I was right!

[Ji Yin]: They’re amazing! They even invited me to visit often!

[Yanzi]: Congrats! Oh, by the way, the manager’s been acting a bit weird lately.

[Ji Yin]: What’s wrong?

[Yanzi]: During dinner, he kept staring at me but wouldn’t say anything. You don’t think he has a crush on me, do you?!

[Ji Yin]: His kid is already in kindergarten.

[Yanzi]: A man’s heart can wander even if he’s married. Besides, I’m young and gorgeous [cool emoji].

[Ji Yin]: He probably just wants to ask you about me and Dr. Lu.

[Yanzi]: He knows? How did he find out?

[Ji Yin]: Don’t worry about that. Just don’t tell him too much about us.

[Yanzi]: Got it, got it.

Ji Yin put away her phone and noticed that Lu Jiahe had already gone to the bathroom, so she wandered into the study.

Seeing so many books at the Lu family home had reignited her determination to read more.

After traveling thousands of miles, one must also read thousands of books. She wanted to live up to the Lu family’s standards.

She lingered in front of the bookshelf for a while until her eyes landed on Lu Jiahe’s high school textbooks tucked away on the bottom shelf. Curious, she pulled out the Chinese literature textbook and began flipping through the pages.

She had never touched high school textbooks before. The book was light, yet every word on its pages carried a profound weight.

She read the classical Chinese passages inside, trying to understand their meaning through the annotations. Unfortunately, she soon grew dizzy from the characters and had to speed up her flipping.

The book contained Lu Jiahe’s notes clear, neat handwriting that was a pleasure to look at.

“Yu Lin Ling, Liu Yong.” She recited the titles of each piece but paused when she flipped to this one, finding a photograph tucked inside.

In the photo were two girls in school uniforms, discussing something, both wearing bright smiles.

One of them was Lu Jiahe. The wind from outside the window lifted her ponytail, and her innocent face was captivating anyone who saw it would be drawn to her.

It wasn’t just her who liked it; the other person in the photo probably did too.

On the back of the photo was a line of text:

I’m sorry, Jiahe. Forgive me for hiding my cowardice and insecurity by running away. When I have the courage to stand before you again, I will come to see you Jingwen.

Ji Yin repeatedly examined the photo and the message, then carefully read this Song dynasty poem.

“Ji Yin?” Lu Jiahe, having just finished her shower, didn’t see anyone in the living room and came looking in the study.

Ji Yin glanced back at her but said nothing.

“Looking for books on your own?” Lu Jiahe walked in with a smile and glanced at the book in her hand. “Why are you reading a Chinese textbook?”

“Just browsing, and I accidentally found this. Sorry.” Ji Yin handed her the photo.

“What is this?” Lu Jiahe took the photo, looked at it for a moment, and asked, “Where did you get this?”

“It was tucked inside the book. You didn’t know?”

“I had no idea. I’ve never seen it before.” Lu Jiahe flipped the photo over in disbelief, saw the message on the back, and after a moment, looked up. “I really haven’t seen this photo and have no idea why it’s here. Maybe she slipped it in secretly when we graduated?”

“Now that you’ve seen it, what do you think?” Ji Yin asked cautiously.

“Think about what?” Lu Jiahe countered.

“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking you.”

“Probably just a sense of regret,” Lu Jiahe sighed.

Ji Yin’s eyes trembled slightly. “Regret that you two missed out on each other?”

“Huh?” Lu Jiahe looked into her eyes, as if seeing that lost and panicked little stray cat again, and understood her worry. Shaking her head, she said, “I meant our friendship, not romance. If she had been willing to reconcile back then, we might still be good friends.”

“Then, is it possible that good friends could turn into ”

“Not possible,” Lu Jiahe interrupted her. “Before she confessed, we were already good friends. If there was any possibility, we would have been together long ago.”

Ji Yin’s pupils flickered, and she gazed at her intently.

“Don’t you want to see this photo?” Lu Jiahe made to throw it away, but Ji Yin stopped her.

“Keep it. It’s a memory of your youth.” Ji Yin took the photo back from her and tucked it into the last essay. “You two were good friends back then. Keep it as a memento.”

Lu Jiahe wrapped her arms around Ji Yin’s neck. “You’re not jealous anymore?”

“I’m envious, and I’m jealous,” Ji Yin lowered her eyes. “I envy that she got to go to school with you, and I’m jealous that she liked you so early on.”

“There’s no such thing as too early or too late for love. The moment you appeared was the perfect time.”

Ji Yin was visibly moved, holding her tightly as the tranquil, enchanting scent of the forest filled her nostrils.

Ji Yin tilted her head, nuzzling into the crook of her neck, breathing in her fragrance. Recalling all that had happened before, she finally understood the meaning behind Lu Jiahe’s earlier words about doing everything possible to attract her.

Lu Jiahe believed she had deciphered her hints, yet she made no move, only continuing to nuzzle against her neck, stirring Ji Yin’s restless heart even more.

This woman was definitely doing it on purpose.

Ji Yin was a quick learner and had now picked up her little tricks, turning them back on her.

Unable to hold back any longer, Lu Jiahe pulled her back into the room and pushed her down onto the bed.

Ji Yin laughed as she fell into the soft bedding, gazing up at the person leaning over her. “So this is what it feels like.”

“What feels like?”

“I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s just amazing.” Ji Yin said proudly.

Lu Jiahe smiled knowingly. “There’s even more amazing to come.”

“Really?”

Lu Jiahe lowered her head to kiss her lips, her fingers tugging at the belt, revealing a glimpse of spring.

Ji Yin’s cheeks flushed warm. She curled her legs and instinctively reached to turn off the light, but Lu Jiahe pressed down on her wrist.

“Look at me,” Lu Jiahe said softly.

Ji Yin obediently met her gaze. In those gentle eyes, ripples had formed, and after a long period of restraint, they finally surged into waves, threatening to engulf her.

“Are you scared?” Lu Jiahe asked.

Ji Yin shook her head, propping herself up on her elbows, declaring proudly, “I, Ji Yin, have never once in my life uttered the word ‘scared.'”

“Then who was the coward at my parents’ doorstep earlier, saying ‘I’m so scared, I’m so scared’?”

“I don’t know, I don’t recognize her, I’ve never seen her. It definitely wasn’t me.” Ji Yin shook her head emphatically.

“But I know her.” Lu Jiahe chuckled, her fingers tracing Ji Yin’s nose bridge. “You little coward.”

“I am not.” Ji Yin lifted her chin, her expression haughty.

“Good, then.” Lu Jiahe slowly lowered herself, like a child eagerly welcoming spring, capturing one cherry and greedily grasping another in her palm.

Ji Yin’s body went limp, collapsing back into the bed. A flush of crimson spread across her face as if she were floating among the clouds.

Outside the window, snow fell, but inside the room, it was a scene brimming with the vitality of spring.

Ji Yin opened herself to the wind, stretching out to welcome the love that belonged to Lu Jiahe.

For as long as she could remember, Ji Yin had grown accustomed to being alone, solitary and walking her path by herself.

But as she offered her most intimate territory to Lu Jiahe, a tangible thought suddenly took shape in her mind.

She was no longer alone.

From that moment on, a part of her life was filled with something she had never possessed before something soft, sweet, and entirely new to her. The scars of her emptiness were slowly healing.

The voids that time could never mend were being filled by Lu Jiahe.

Lu Jiahe leaned down to kiss her ear. “Do you like it?”

Ji Yin suddenly felt another emptiness and grabbed her hand. “Don’t pull it out.”

Lu Jiahe chuckled softly. “Alright.”

Snowflakes drifted down, settling on the branches and accumulating on the ground.

Yet, the warmth of Ji Yin’s body continued to rise. Gazing at the equally impassioned Lu Jiahe, the words of love she had been too shy to voice naturally escaped her throat.

“I love you, Lu Jiahe , I love you so much.”

“I love you too, can you hear me?” Lu Jiahe whispered.

“I heard, Can you say it again?”

“I love you, Ji Yin.”

Ji Yin’s emotions surged to their peak, trembling uncontrollably. In that moment of distraction, her mind was filled entirely with Lu Jiahe’s face, unable to calm down for a long time.

The snow had unknowingly stopped, reflecting a faint light.

Lu Jiahe turned off the lamp, pulled the quilt over both of them, and they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

“You’re done for, Lu Jiahe.” Ji Yin wrapped her limbs around her, speaking from beneath the covers.

“What?”

“I’m sticking with you for life. I hope you’re not scared.”

Lu Jiahe chuckled softly. “I, Lu Jiahe, have never once in my life said the word ‘scared’.”

Ji Yin thought for a moment it was true she’d never heard Lu Jiahe express fear and curled her lips into a smile before falling asleep peacefully.

The next morning, Lu Jiahe slept in unusually late. When she woke up, she saw Ji Yin propping her head up and watching her, unsure how long she’d been awake.

“What time is it?”

“Ten thirty.”

Lu Jiahe yawned. “I’m a bit hungry.”

“The congee is ready. I’ll go dish it out.” Ji Yin threw off the covers and got out of bed.

“You made congee?” Lu Jiahe asked in surprise.

“Yes, and boiled eggs. Or do you prefer fried eggs?” Ji Yin inquired.

“Either is fine.” Lu Jiahe watched her dress efficiently and couldn’t help but wonder, “What time did you wake up?”

“A little past seven.”

“Wait, We slept so late last night, and you woke up after seven?” Lu Jiahe found it hard to believe.

“Yeah, I was too excited to sleep.” Ji Yin chuckled twice, noticing Lu Jiahe still looked drowsy, and said cheerfully, “You don’t have to get up if you don’t want to. I’ll bring the congee in. You can eat and then go back to sleep.”

Hearing this, Lu Jiahe lay back down, dozed for a couple of minutes, then heard her footsteps. Soon, Ji Yin helped her sit up and even held the bowl to feed her the congee.

Lu Jiahe: “…”

Lu Jiahe: “???”

As she drank the congee, Lu Jiahe felt perplexed this wasn’t how she’d imagined the scene playing out.

Who was the one being pampered like a princess last night?!