Running Towards You - Chapter 74

Lu Jiahe touched up her lipstick and smoothed Ji Yin’s hair. “Are you free at noon?”

“I have a few long-time clients to treat to lunch. Do you two want to join?” Ji Yin asked.

“Never mind, you should focus on entertaining them properly. Otherwise, you won’t be able to host either side well.” Lu Jiahe then asked, “What about tonight? Do you have time to come over for dinner at home?”

“You mean your parents’ place?”

“Yes.”

“I do!” Although she wasn’t entirely sure if other matters might come up in the evening, she could definitely spare the time for a meal.

“Good. My mom bought the fish you love.”

“Teacher Liu is so wonderful!”

The two left the office. Lu Jiahe went to pay, but just as she was about to, Ji Yin had already pulled up her payment code.

“Scan mine.”

“Huh?” Li Fang looked at her in confusion. “Sister Yin, this is”

Ji Yin held her phone up to the scanner, and the payment went through successfully. “Bag it up.”

Li Fang, still a bit dazed, quickly packed the items and watched them leave.

During her break, while sitting with her colleagues for a meal, she couldn’t help but bring it up. “Just now, Sister Yin came with that beautiful friend again and paid for her. I wasn’t even sure if I should scan it.”

“Of course, you should scan it. Everything has to be accounted for. Even Manager Ji pays every time she buys something you know that,” the manager said.

“True, but she’s so generous with her friends. She just paid for thousands without batting an eye.”

Others couldn’t help but envy, “I wish I could be good friends with Sister Yin too!”

The manager chuckled dryly to herself, thinking, Friends? That’s her girlfriend! Our boss’s wife!

Outside the entrance, Cheng Jingwen parked her car and hesitated as she watched people coming and going from the supermarket.

When she had compensated Ji Yin for the car repair costs last time, the two had exchanged WeChat contacts.

Over the past couple of days, she had seen posts on her feed about Ji Yin’s new store opening. Coincidentally, she had the day off today and found herself driving here almost unconsciously.

She rolled down the window but didn’t get out, staring blankly at the entrance and debating whether to go in.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared at the door. Lu Jiahe walked out carrying a bag, glanced back, and then Ji Yin stepped out, holding four or five bags in her hands.

After loading the items into the car, the two stood nearby chatting about something. Ji Yin threw her head back with laughter, and Lu Jiahe reached out to pinch her cheek.

Ji Yin, with her hands in her pockets and her coat open, pulled Lu Jiahe into an embrace, her face full of smiles.

A moment later, Li Chenyao and a middle-aged couple also emerged, carrying numerous bags.

The couple bore some resemblance to Lu Jiahe they were probably her parents.

Ji Yin immediately went to help them with their things. Whatever she said made the elderly couple laugh.

Everyone gradually got into the car, and Ji Yin stood outside, waving to them.

“Ji Yin, remember to come over for dinner tonight.”

Cheng Jingwen heard Lu Jiahe’s mother’s voice.

“Okay!” Ji Yin agreed readily.

The car slowly disappeared from sight, and Ji Yin walked back into the supermarket with light, brisk steps.

Cheng Jingwen sat there in a daze for a long while.

She could hear the sound of her heart breaking.

After witnessing such a warm and happy scene, any lingering resentment she had completely dissolved.

Jiahe is truly happy now.

Friends, family, and loved ones surrounded her, filled with laughter and joy.

This crush that began in adolescence had finally come to an end.

“Huh? It’s you?”

Suddenly, a familiar face appeared before her someone she vaguely recognized as the friend Li Chenyao had brought along last time Ji Yin treated everyone to a meal.

“Why are you crying?” Le Qin bent down and asked.

Cheng Jingwen touched her face and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe her tears. “The wind is a bit strong, I tend to tear up when it blows in my face.”

Le Qin looked at her with a mix of skepticism and amusement, then suddenly smiled. “Have you finished your shopping? Where are you headed next?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m going to People’s Park. Are you passing by there?”

“What are you going there for?”

“There are a few stray cats over there. Since Ji Yin’s shop is running a promotion, I bought some canned food for them,” Le Qin explained.

“Hop in.”

“Thank you!”

Cheng Jingwen stared in surprise at the four large bags of canned food she was carrying. “Aren’t there just a few cats? Do you need to feed them that much?”

“These are for the ones at home. I really can’t take in any more, or I would have adopted them.”

“How many do you have at home?”

“Six cats and two dogs.”

“Are you running an animal shelter?”

“Exactly.” Le Qin glanced at her still slightly red eyes and chuckled. “I don’t just take in injured cats I also offer free therapy sessions.”

Dusk had fallen.

Ji Yin had been managing the shop all day, and everything had gone smoothly. Aside from being extremely busy, there were no other issues.

She hurried off to have dinner at the Lu family’s home.

Li Chenyao answered the door, a lollipop in her mouth, and mumbled, “You’ve got great timing dinner’s almost ready.”

Ji Yin smiled. “Where’s Zaozao?”

“Washing her hands. It’s been two minutes already you should go wash with her.”

Ji Yin paused mid-step. “I’ll wait until she’s done.”

Li Chenyao burst out laughing and gave her a knowing look, whispering conspiratorially, “Her obsessive cleanliness is such a hassle. Are you scared of it too?”

Ji Yin nodded. “Terrified.”

“Ji Yin, you’re here. Come in and wash up dinner’s ready.” Lu Jiahe suddenly appeared at the doorway.

“Coming.” Ji Yin strode in confidently, holding out her hands pitifully. “I’m afraid I won’t wash them thoroughly enough. Can you help me?”

Lu Jiahe took her hand and led her into the bathroom.

Li Chenyao: “…”

Tsk.

So much for being scared! Look at that blissful expression on your face!

With Ji Yin and Li Chenyao both chatterboxes at the dinner table, the atmosphere was lively and noisy.

Not daring to challenge the elders to a drinking contest, Li Chenyao focused all her efforts on Ji Yin. “Come on, let’s have another drink.”

After Ji Yin had downed four or five glasses, Lu Jiahe’s gaze toward her shifted noticeably.

“No more, no more,” Ji Yin quickly covered her cup, preventing Li Chenyao from pouring more.

“What are you afraid of? Someone will take you home later. It’s rare to have so many people together for a meal, and it’s the first day of the new year. Don’t you want to drink a little more?” Li Chenyao tempted her.

Ji Yin instinctively glanced at Lu Jiahe, who said, “One last glass.”

“Okay.” Ji Yin clinked glasses with Li Chenyao. “One last glass no more after this.”

Li Chenyao teased, “Since when are you so obedient?”

“You too last glass,” Lu Jiahe said.

Li Chenyao: “…”

Both of them silently slowed their pace, taking small, careful sips, afraid they’d run out of alcohol too soon.

Seeing this, Liu Jia laughed heartily: “Alright, Zaozao, since they’re both off tomorrow, let them drink.”

“Yaoyao can handle it, but Ji Yin can’t. She’ll definitely have to go to the supermarket tomorrow.”

Ji Yin nodded: “Right.”

“Besides, she can’t hold her liquor well she blacks out.” Lu Jiahe gave her a meaningful glance.

Ji Yin guiltily lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed.

After the meal, everyone sat around chatting. Before long, the mattress delivery personnel contacted Lu Jiahe.

The two returned to let the workers in. After the new mattress was set up, Ji Yin lay on it, rolling around.

“So comfortable.”

“Let’s put the duvet cover on.”

Ji Yin got up and helped her put on the new bedsheet and duvet cover. Shaking out the duvet, she suddenly said, “This is so fun. Let’s always change them together from now on.”

“Only you would find chores fun,” Lu Jiahe chuckled.

“Because when I do chores with you, it feels like home. When I do them alone, it’s a burden I don’t want to do anything.” Ji Yin said.

“Then from now on, we’ll do all the chores together.”

“Okay!” Ji Yin was already looking forward to their daily routine of cleaning and sunning the quilts together.

“Good girl.” Lu Jiahe patted her head, gave her a kiss, and then pushed her away. “Go take a shower. You reek of alcohol.”

Ji Yin immediately went to wash up until she was fresh and clean. Worried there might still be a lingering smell of alcohol, she sprayed a bit of Lu Jiahe’s perfume.

When Lu Jiahe returned to the room after her shower, she immediately took three steps back: “Did you drink perfume?”

“No, I just sprayed a little of your perfume.”

“You call that a little?” Lu Jiahe leaned in to sniff and laughed so hard her whole body shook. “You’re practically marinated in it.”

Ji Yin sniffed herself: “Is it too strong?”

“Yes, you should go outside and air out.”

Instead of being seductive, Ji Yin ended up on the balcony, braving the cold wind pitiful indeed.

Just then, a blanket was draped over her.

“What are you doing out here?”

“I’m airing out.”

“I meant the living room.”

“Ugh!” Ji Yin hurried back to the living room and lay down on the sofa. “Maybe I should just sleep here tonight.”

“Don’t you want to try out the new mattress?”

“The smell is too strong. I’m afraid you can’t stand it,” Ji Yin said pitifully.

“Maybe sweating will help.” Lu Jiahe leaned over, sniffed her, and began unbuttoning her pajamas one by one.

Slightly tipsy, Ji Yin didn’t black out but became more uninhibited than usual, especially when it came to speaking. Those terms of endearment she was usually too shy to say started tumbling out one after another.

“Zaozao, if I call you ‘darling,’ will you call me ‘darling’ too?”

“Baby, slower faster.”

After working up a sweat, the fragrance hadn’t faded much. Lu Jiahe suggested taking another shower.

Ji Yin pulled her in together. While washing, she suddenly looked up: “Wait, I think I remembered something.”

“What?”

“That day when I was drunk, did we do it here?”

“…”

The blurry images gradually cleared. Ji Yin hugged her, licking her earlobe: “But I forgot how it felt. Let’s do it again, okay?”

“What if I say no mmph.” Before Lu Jiahe could finish, Ji Yin found her sensitive spot. In her daze, Ji Yin turned her around, and they both looked into the bathroom mirror together.

“This time I’ll definitely remember, I want to keep my eyes on you.” Ji Yin hugged her from behind, whispering in her ear.

Lu Jiahe looked at her own increasingly flushed cheeks, turned her head away, revealing even redder ears, which only made Ji Yin’s heart race even more, unwilling to end this pleasure anytime soon.

“Hurry up.” Lu Jiahe trembled uncontrollably, her voice tinged with desire.

“Hurry up with what?” Ji Yin asked knowingly.

Lu Jiahe refused to answer, growing so anxious that the corners of her eyes began to moisten. She tilted her head back, panting, “Ji Yin, I’m begging you, hurry.”

“Who is Ji Yin to you?”

“My girlfriend, my baby, my darling!”

“And what else?” Ji Yin watched her current state with indescribable satisfaction while slowly fulfilling her needs.

“Ha, my wife.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ji Yin finally relented. Lu Jiahe’s body began to tremble, almost unable to stand, but fortunately, Ji Yin held her firmly in her arms.

After taking another shower, Ji Yin lay on the sofa, laughing uncontrollably: “Hehehe, wife you called me wife!”

“How silly.” Lu Jiahe sat down beside her, propping her legs on the coffee table and leaning back against the sofa to catch her breath.

Ji Yin stared at her long, fair legs for a moment before saying, “I just remembered something else.”

“What?”

“Come sit here, and I’ll tell you quietly.” Ji Yin patted her own lap.

Lu Jiahe pulled her legs back, turned around, and sat on Ji Yin’s lap, crossing her arms. “Go on, what is it?”

“We did it here last time too, right?”

“…”

Lu Jiahe bit Ji Yin’s shoulder.

“Ah, so that’s how the bite mark from last time got there.” Ji Yin smirked.

Lu Jiahe lifted her face, tears dampening her eyelashes, but her breath was scorching hot. “Hurry up.”

“You can try taking control yourself.” Ji Yin whispered.

Hearing this, Lu Jiahe moved up and down with her emotions before collapsing onto Ji Yin as if losing her balance.

The two embraced silently for a while before Ji Yin murmured softly, “Zaozao, you’re so beautiful.”

Without lifting her head, Lu Jiahe pinched her arm.

Ji Yin chuckled softly, her gaze sweeping around. “I just remembered didn’t we also do it in the kitchen and on the balcony ow ow ow!”

Her ear was pinched.

“Try making up another lie,” Lu Jiahe gritted her teeth. “Tonight, you can sleep in the kitchen and on the balcony.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, wuwu.”