Running Towards You - Chapter 72

“Just keep the card. I’m not good with romantic gestures, so if you want to buy anything, just use this card.” Ji Yin returned to the main topic, looking at her earnestly. “Please take it, I’m begging you.”

Lu Jiahe couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re giving me money, yet you’re begging me?”

“It’s my heartfelt intention. I don’t know what else to give you,” Ji Yin said pitifully.

“You don’t have to feel obligated to return the favor. That bracelet was just sitting around anyway, and it suits you well.” Lu Jiahe placed the card back in the box. She knew Ji Yin’s frugal nature this card was undoubtedly one of her most important possessions. How could she accept it so casually?

“If you really want to give me a gift, just get me a bouquet of flowers,” Lu Jiahe suggested.

“This card is way more valuable than flowers.”

“But I want flowers. Right now, immediately, right away.”

Ji Yin immediately stood up, grabbed her coat, and hurried out.

Leaning on the balcony, Lu Jiahe watched her figure dash across the snowy ground like the wind, a smile spreading across her face.

Ji Yin visited several shops before finally finding red roses. She rushed back home, only to discover that no one was there.

She quickly called Lu Jiahe. “Where are you?”

“Yanzi just came by and said the hotpot is ready, so I went down with them first,” Lu Jiahe replied.

Ji Yin made her way to Yanzi’s doorstep and rang the doorbell.

“Coming!” Yanzi opened the door and was greeted by a vibrant bouquet of roses. Delighted, she reached out. “Wow, you didn’t have to bring anything”

“Move aside,” Ji Yin said bluntly, squeezing past her and heading straight to the living room, where she presented the flowers to Lu Jiahe.

Lu Jiahe was in the middle of opening a wine bottle. She turned to look at Ji Yin, smiling as she pulled out the cork and accepted the flowers. “They’re beautiful. Thank you, I love them.”

“As long as you like them,” Ji Yin replied, beaming with joy.

Witnessing the entire scene, Yanzi exclaimed in surprise, “Wow, you’ve really stepped up your game! Dong Xiang, you should learn from her!”

Dong Xiang was equally stunned. “Is this really the Sister Yin I know?”

“Whoever you are, please get off my sister’s body,” Yanzi joked.

Ji Yin couldn’t be bothered with their theatrics. Glancing at the wine bottle Lu Jiahe had opened, she remarked, “Is this the wine you’re serving?”

“This is all we have at home. If you’re willing, why don’t you bring out that treasured bottle of yours?” Yanzi challenged.

Without another word, Ji Yin turned and went home to fetch the wine.

“Oh my god!” Yanzi exclaimed in disbelief, turning to Lu Jiahe to share her astonishment. “She’s been saving those fine bottles for important clients and never lets any of us touch them. And today, for no special occasion, she’s actually willing to bring one out!”

“It must be because Dr. Lu is here,” Dong Xiang chimed in.

“Jiahe, we’re totally benefiting from you today!”

The two of them bantered back and forth, making Lu Jiahe laugh. “Alright, alright, I get it. I know how much your sister likes me.”

Yanzi grinned. “She really does. She never cares about the sense of ritual and is even stingy with herself.”

Lu Jiahe thought to herself that if she told them about Ji Yin offering her the card, they would definitely be shocked.

She pictured the scene in her mind and chuckled to herself.

As soon as Ji Yin’s liquor arrived, Yanzi and Dong Xiang eagerly opened the bottle, afraid that Ji Yin might change her mind and take it back.

The table was laden with dishes, and as soon as the hot pot started boiling, Yanzi raised her glass for a toast. “Cheers! Welcome, Jiahe, to our group!”

“Please take good care of me,” Lu Jiahe said with a smile, lifting her glass.

“You’re being too modest, sis. It’s us who need you to look after us,” Yanzi replied cheerfully.

“Then let’s take care of each other!” Ji Yin declared, downing her drink in one go.

Lu Jiahe glanced at her glass. “Don’t drink so recklessly.”

“I won’t get drunk, don’t worry. Besides, it’s just us here even if I do get drunk, it’s fine,” Ji Yin said casually.

“Exactly! Today is a happy day let’s drink until we drop!” Yanzi cheered loudly.

The table was filled with laughter and joy, and it was clear everyone was genuinely happy. Dong Xiang and Ji Yin, being the best drinkers among them, unknowingly started competing with each other.

Since Lu Jiahe had to work the next day, she didn’t dare drink too much, only taking occasional sips. Still, the liquor was truly excellent, and if not for her reservations, she would have loved to indulge.

The table was a mess by the end, and Yanzi, though a bit tipsy, managed to stay sober enough to move everyone to the living room.

Lu Jiahe wanted to help clean up, but Ji Yin grabbed her arm, snuggling close and refusing to let her go.

Lu Jiahe gave Yanzi an apologetic smile.

“It’s fine, Jiahe. Just sit tight. I’m just moving these to the kitchen washing dishes is Dong Xiang’s job,” Yanzi said, then glanced at the two dazed drinkers. “Oh no, these two are really drunk.”

“Does your sister act out when she’s drunk?” Lu Jiahe asked curiously.

As the saying goes, one’s drinking habits reflect their character. Since Ji Yin often attended business banquets, Lu Jiahe was quite curious about how she behaved when drunk.

“She rarely gets drunk these days. If she has a business dinner, she brings Dong Xiang along to drink on her behalf. If she’s alone, she controls her intake and almost never blacks out,” Yanzi explained, looking at the person leaning against Lu Jiahe. Suddenly, she grinned mischievously. “Even when she’s drunk, she hardly ever acts out she just becomes very prone to crying.”

“Prone to crying?” Lu Jiahe laughed. “She’s already a crybaby even when she’s sober.”

“Really? Are we talking about the same person?!” Yanzi said in disbelief. “Since we were kids, I’ve only seen her cry once, when my mom passed away.”

Lu Jiahe’s smile faded slightly as she gently patted Ji Yin’s back. “Maybe it’s because she’s taken on the family’s responsibilities and has to pretend to be the strong, unbreakable parent.”

Yanzi sighed. “We all know how much she’s suffered, but she never talks about it. After I found out she cries when drunk, I tried several times to get her drunk, but I never succeeded. She never even gives us the chance to see her like that.”

“I really envy you all for having such a wonderful sister.”

“Yeah, The thing I’m most grateful for in my life is having this sister who’s not related by blood. Jiahe, you two must take good care of each other,” Yanzi said sincerely.

“Mm, we will. Everything will be fine.”

The two of them helped Ji Yin back home, and Lu Jiahe stayed behind to take care of her while Yanzi headed back.

Ji Yin lay face down on the bed, and Lu Jiahe turned her over, using a warm towel to wipe her face and hands.

Ji Yin groggily opened her eyes, her vision taking a long moment to focus. “Mmm, Dr. Lu, you’re here.”

“Indeed. Am I welcome?”

“Of course, of course. There’s nothing special to offer at home, so make yourself comfortable…” Ji Yin rolled over, and her clothes slipped down again.

As the warm towel wiped her body, Ji Yin felt ticklish and giggled while trying to dodge. “Dr. Lu, what are you doing?”

“Cleaning you up. Take off your pants yourself.”

“Okay~” Ji Yin sluggishly removed her pants and glanced at her. “Why am I the only one undressing?”

Lu Jiahe continued wiping while holding her legs, noticing a few small scars on them. She couldn’t help but ask, “How did you get these scars?”

“Mmm… I forgot.” Ji Yin racked her brain but ended up falling asleep on the bed while thinking.

Seeing this, Lu Jiahe felt relieved it seemed she wasn’t the type to get rowdy when drunk. So, she dressed Ji Yin in pajamas and went to take a shower.

When she returned to the room, she found the bed empty.

Panicked, she rushed out and heard noises from the next room. Turning to look, she saw Ji Yin squatting on the floor, struggling to pry open a metal box but failing no matter how hard she tried.

“What are you doing?” Lu Jiahe squatted beside her and asked.

“Looking for a card,” Ji Yin replied without looking up, gritting her teeth as she tugged at the lid.

“What do you need the card for?”

“To give to someone.”

“Who?”

“My girlfriend.”

Lu Jiahe’s lips curved into a smile. “Do you have to give it to her?”

“Yes,” Ji Yin nodded. “I have to give it to her.”

“Why?”

“I have to be good to her.”

Warmth spread in Lu Jiahe’s heart. She took the metal box from Ji Yin’s hands, held her hand, and said, “No need to look. She already knows how good you are to her.”

Ji Yin frowned, turned to look at her, and after a dazed moment, her eyes suddenly lit up with an unusual sparkle. “You look just like my girlfriend!”

“That’s right!”

“Zaozao!”

“It’s me!”

“I like you!”

“Me too!”

Their voices grew louder and louder until Lu Jiahe burst out laughing first, then gestured for her to lower her voice so as not to disturb the neighbors. She took Ji Yin’s hand and said, “Come on, let’s go back to sleep.”

“Okay!”

Once they were in bed, Lu Jiahe looked at the smiling Ji Yin and thought to herself that this didn’t seem like the crying type.

“Time to sleep. Goodnight,” Lu Jiahe said as she turned off the light.

“No!”

“What’s wrong?” Lu Jiahe immediately turned the light back on.

“I want to look at you, keep looking at you. Don’t go.”

Lu Jiahe turned on her side, resting her head on her arm, and met her gaze with a soft smile. “I won’t go.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ll stay here with you.”

“Not even in the future?”

“Not even then.”

Ji Yin’s nose tingled, and tears began to fall, pattering down.

Lu Jiahe’s brow twitched the tears had come so suddenly. She hurriedly wiped them away. “What’s wrong?”

Ji Yin buried her face in Lu Jiahe’s shoulder and cried silently.

Lu Jiahe patted her head and asked, “Are you moved again?”

Ji Yin didn’t speak, only nodded slightly.

Lu Jiahe thought for a moment and then asked, “If there were another woman who was also very good to you and moved you deeply, would you fall for her?”

Ji Yin seemed to ponder this seriously. After more than ten seconds, she shook her head.

“Why not?”

“You’re the best in the whole world,” Ji Yin mumbled tearfully.

Lu Jiahe chuckled softly, cupped her face, kissed her tear-streaked cheeks, and then pressed a kiss to her lips.

Who knew that single kiss would ignite like fireworks, spiraling out of control. Ji Yin flipped over and kissed back fervently, her hands roaming all over. Even drunk, her performance was unimpaired if anything, she was overachieving.

By the time Lu Jiahe realized what was happening, she was powerless to resist.

When tears welled up in Lu Jiahe’s eyes from the intensity, Ji Yin looked at her in confusion and asked, “Why are you crying too? Am I not doing well enough?”

After saying that, she expressed her affection even more passionately.

Lu Jiahe’s breathing grew increasingly ragged, unable to form a complete sentence, until a series of escalating gasps finally caught Ji Yin’s attention.

Ji Yin looked down at her weakened state and asked, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I’m more than fine.”

Hearing this, Ji Yin grew even happier. “Then let me make it even better for you!”

“No, right now? At least let me catch my breath Mmph!”

The next day, Ji Yin sat up and rubbed her head, still feeling a bit dizzy.

No one was beside her, but she remembered Lu Jiahe bringing her back and had a vague recollection of them showering together.

She must have already gone to work.

She glanced at her phone no urgent messages so she lay back down and slept a little longer.

When she woke up again, it was already noon.

It had been a long time since she’d slept in so late.

While getting dressed, she suddenly noticed a bite mark on her shoulder.

Ji Yin became even more convinced they had done it last night.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look how excited Dr. Lu was she even resorted to biting.

In the afternoon, she spent some time at her new shop before heading to the hospital to pick up Lu Jiahe after work.

The car door opened, and Lu Jiahe got in. Ji Yin smoothly handed her a thermos. “You worked hard last night.”

“Glad you noticed.” Lu Jiahe took the cup and started drinking.

“My whole body feels like it’s falling apart today,” Ji Yin said with a grin, looking at her. “I was drunk last night you must’ve taken advantage of me, right? How many times did we do it?”

“Pfft!” Lu Jiahe spat out her water.

“Don’t get so worked up. I’m just asking,” Ji Yin said, wiping her mouth with a tissue.

“I wish I could just spit this water at you,” Lu Jiahe retorted.

Ji Yin hummed. “So heartless. Last night, you wore me out till my back ached and my legs went weak, and today you want to spit on me?”

“Was it me who made your back ache and legs weak?!” Lu Jiahe didn’t even want to argue.

But Ji Yin wanted to hear it. “Then who was it?”

“Who else could it be? It was you.”

Ji Yin was stunned. “I did it to myself?!”

“…”