Burn Out - Chapter 67

It took a moment for Shu Xiao to react, she bent down to pick up the beads on the floor. The sales assistant beside her also squatted down to help. Shu Xiao noticed that the edge of the spiral gemstone button on her sleeve was extremely sharp, and the string had been frayed into small threads. She immediately pulled at the gemstone button, which still had some thread caught on its sharp edge.

Pressing her lips together, Shu Xiao seemed to be venting some frustration as she tried to pull off the gemstone button, making a final effort.

Meng Jia looked at the beads scattered on the ground and said with a smile, “Broken? Just like that?”

“Some people even cut their hands on this gemstone button but you like them.”

Shu Xiao raised her eyes, her face turned pale while looking at Meng Jia.

Meng Jia smirked and glanced at the beads on the ground. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, with a hint of schadenfreude in her eyes. Turning to the sales assistant, she said, “Don’t you have jewelry here? Bring some over for me to see. Also, pick out a set for Miss Shu. I’ll give it to her.”

The sales assistant, who had been helping Shu Xiao pick up the beads, paused and handed the beads to Shu Xiao.

Shu Xiao, looking very pale while she reached out to take them. The beads had scratches on them from the buttons on her dress.

Sunset Café

Around 1:30 PM.

Ji Ting was washing cups at the counter when her phone rang. She took a look at it and it was a WeChat message from Meng Jia.

Meng Jia: Two iced lattes, delivered to Zhulin Bay, No. 04.

Zhulin Bay was a villa area. It’s also the house Meng Jia’s mom bought for her. There is still quite a distance from there to Sunset. Ji Ting wiped the water from her hands and picked up her phone to reply.

Ji Ting: Place an order online.

Meng Jia: No.

Meng Jia: Tell your manager to deliver it, and I’ll give a tip.

Ji Ting: …..

Ji Ting felt a bit helpless. After putting down her phone, she prepared two iced lattes and, after some thought, she took out two portions of mousse from the cabinet. She called Zhang Yang over. Zhang Yang wiped his hands, and Ji Ting handed him the car keys along with the packed lattes and mousse, saying, “Deliver these to Zhulin Bay, No. 04.”

Zhang Yang accepted the items and, realizing what was happening, asked, “Is the young lady back in the country?”

Ji Ting nodded.

Zhang Yang acknowledged with an “Oh” and headed out. Ji Ting continued washing the cups. After a moment’s thought, she looked up and told Zhang Yang, “Don’t accept her tip.”

Zhang Yang nodded in agreement, saying, “Got it.”

Then he pushed the door open and left.

Xiao Zhou, who was wiping tables nearby, walked back and leaned against the counter, looking at Ji Ting. She said, “Sister Meng Jia sure has a comfortable life. She visited several countries just for the New Year, didn’t she?”

Ji Ting placed the washed cups in the drying rack and replied, “Yes, it’s quite comfortable.”

Xiao Zhou nodded, her eyes still on Ji Ting. Today, Sister Ting looked particularly beautiful, with her slender neck resembling white jade. Yesterday, both she and Xiao Wan saw Ji Ting wearing that pretty dress.

They guessed that Sister Ting and Brother Tan were probably together now.

If she wasn’t interested, why would she wear such a beautiful dress?

Xiao Zhou smiled as she waved her cloth and returned to wiping the tables.

During dinner time.

The delivered meal was a huge portion, including a luxurious seafood set. They even ordered special expensive drinks for Xiao Zhou, Xiao Wan, and Zhang Yang, enough to pair with the seafood set for a feast.

The generosity of the person who placed the order and their affection for the whole team were very obvious.

Xiao Wan and Xiao Zhou ate happily, their hands covered in oil.

They were overjoyed.

Ji Ting sipped her drink, sitting on the sofa by the window. She opened a pack of tissues and handed them to the others so they could wipe their hands. Zhang Yang stood outside the break room, eating his seafood rice while keeping an eye on the store.

After dinner…

The shop was quite busy, with many dine-in customers and several nearby companies working overtime, resulting in a lot of delivery orders. Ji Ting was busy all night and finally took a break to check her phone.

The black avatar had sent her a WeChat message.

Tan: Working late tonight. Close the shop at 9:30 PM and bring over eight cups of coffee. Wait for me to get off work.

Tan: [Transferred 2000 yuan]

Ji Ting: With you ordering so much coffee, it’s like our shop serves premium-priced coffee every day.

Ji Ting: I won’t accept the money. Deduct it from the previous amount.

Tan: Tsk?

Tan: Ji Ting.

Ji Ting ignored him. Across from her, the lights in the Zhuoyue Building were bright, with two floors still lit. Ji Ting put down her phone and continued to handle the shop’s tasks. Around 9 PM, she cleaned the shop, packed up, and made eight cups of coffee before closing up. After Xiao Wan, Xiao Zhou, and Zhang Yang left, Ji Ting carried the coffee and locked the door, heading to the underground garage to get her car.

She drove to the Zhuoyue Building.

After parking the car, Ji Ting carried the coffee upstairs. Many companies were still working overtime. Ji Ting got off the elevator and walked into Yanchun. Many people were still working. Zhou Xiong, with a U-shaped pillow around his neck, was typing on his computer. Seeing Ji Ting enter, he immediately stood up. He had heard some things from Chen Fei and had a sense that Sister Ting had been won over by Brother Tan.

Zhou Xiong smiled and said, “Sister Ting, Brother Tan is in a meeting.”

He pointed inside.

Ji Ting saw the lights in the meeting room and also saw Tan Yucheng standing by the table, hands on his hips, listening to the others.

Ji Ting glanced and then looked away. She handed the coffee to Zhou Xiong and said, “He asked me to bring these.”

“Alright,” Zhou Xiong said as he took the coffee. As he walked back, he pushed open Tan Yucheng’s office door and said to Ji Ting, “Sister Ting, please wait for Brother Tan in his office. He should be done soon.”

Ji Ting paused and looked at the office.

She could also sense that Zhou Xiong was looking at her differently than usual. She nodded and walked into the office.

She had been here a few times before.

The office was spacious but primarily black, including the desk. The floor-to-ceiling windows were large, but he didn’t seem to use them much, so they were only halfway down.

The cabinet behind the desk was suspended.

The items displayed were minimal. Ji Ting sat down on the chair in front of the desk, fiddling with her phone. Feeling a bit bored and yawning slightly due to a late night, she leaned forward and decided to take a short nap.

A few minutes later, several people emerged from the meeting room.

Tan Yucheng was walking in front, with Chen Fei talking to him. Tan Yucheng raised his hand and opened the office door. He immediately saw Ji Ting sleeping with her head resting on the desk. Chen Fei, still talking. When he turned his head and his voice trailed off to a whisper.

Tan Yucheng took off his black suit jacket, carefully put it over Ji Ting’s shoulders. The office’s blinds were closed, so people outside couldn’t see in. The quiet environment seemed to have contributed to Ji Ting’s nap.

Chen Fei’s words were still stuck.

Some things couldn’t be said outside the office.

He signaled to Tan Yucheng with his eyes.

Should they continue the discussion?

Tan Yucheng nodded, picked up a black earphone from the desk, and gently placed it on Ji Ting’s ears. She looked very peaceful while sleeping, and he watched her for a few seconds before straightening up.

Seeing Ji Ting with the earphones on.

Chen Fei’s voice was slightly raised but still extremely soft as he gestured with the documents.

Tan Yucheng leaned against the desk, arms crossed, and listened.

The earphones played very soft instrumental music, a top-quality lullaby. With this soothing music, Ji Ting slept even more deeply, completely unaware of how Chen Fei’s voice was barely contained. Eventually, Chen Fei finished the discussion, sighed in relief, put down the documents, and Tan Yucheng glanced at the time and said, “Let’s clock out.”

Chen Fei nodded, his voice barely audible, “Then I’m leaving!”

Then he turned and immediately walked out.

After Tan Yucheng finished looking over the documents, placed them on the desk, and then glanced down at Ji Ting, who was lying beside him. He gently moved her hair aside, grabbed the car keys, and then carefully picked her up by the waist.

Ji Ting woke up abruptly in his arms and saw him walking out.

Tan Yucheng instructed Zhou Xiong to remember to turn off the lights.

Zhou Xiong agreed.

Ji Ting looked at him for a few seconds and said, “I’m awake.”

Tan Yucheng glanced at her and replied, “Even if you’re awake, you can’t get down.”

Ji Ting: “….”

She noticed something in her ears and touched it—it was the earphones playing soft, gentle music. Tan Yucheng carried her to the elevator and down to the parking garage, where his black car was parked.

After opening the car door, Tan Yucheng placed Ji Ting in the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.

Leaning on the car door, he asked, “Are you coming to stay at my place tonight?”

Ji Ting looked directly at him and replied, “My car is still upstairs.”

“Drive it tomorrow.”

Ji Ting pursed her lips and said, “What about a shower? Clothes? It’s inconvenient.”

Tan Yucheng’s lips curled into a slight smile.

“Just wear mine.”

After saying that, he stepped out of the car, closed the door for her, and went around to the driver’s side. Ji Ting, feeling helpless, watched him get in and gave him a glare. Tan Yucheng seemed to ignore her and started the car, his rolled-up sleeves revealing his well-defined arms. Ji Ting decided not to argue; she did want to be with him, and she lightly touched the earphones.

The soft music was pleasant.

It was also a bit drowsy, with a soothing, therapeutic quality.

The black car sped through the traffic and reached the underground parking garage. After parking, Tan Yucheng took Ji Ting’s hand and led her upstairs. She draped his coat over her shoulders. Wearing a long-sleeved fitted dress and low-heeled shoes for driving, the skirt swayed as she moved. At the door, Tan Yucheng unlocked it, and Ji Ting followed him inside.

They changed their shoes.

Ji Ting sat down on the sofa.

Tan Yucheng unbuttoned his collar and poured her a glass of water.

As Ji Ting reached for the glass, her eyes noticed that the sofa cabinet was covered with a thin film and that its edges were not pure black but had a hint of gray. The film on the lampshade had not been removed yet, indicating that it was new.

Ji Ting hesitated, then turned to look at Tan Yucheng.

Tan Yucheng moved his tablet aside, working on some tasks. Noticing her gaze, he looked up at her. Ji Ting looked at him for a few seconds and asked, “Did you replace the sofa cabinet?”

Tan Yucheng followed her gaze and nodded, “It was replaced this morning.”

Ji Ting’s eyes remained steady as she looked at him, “Do you know there was a bracelet in the old one?”

Tan Yucheng met her gaze, “I knew.”

Ji Ting replied, “I didn’t want you to misunderstand, so I just got rid of it.”

Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat. For the first time, she felt that he would deal with some old things for her. Her eyes were emotionless, but she continued to look at him. Tan Yucheng leaned in and kissed her lips, saying, “I told you, she’s not an obstacle.”

His gaze was deep as he looked at her.

Ji Ting looked into his eyes.

Suddenly, she remembered the Qingming Festival during her senior year in college. She had returned to Nan’an for ancestor worship. Qiu Dan and Ji Lindong were extremely busy at the supermarket, so she had to go back alone. That year, a mentally unstable person had been locked in a house behind her family’s home, screaming every day. The proximity frightened Ji Ting.

The person’s voice was sharp and mournful.

Ji Ting had been woken up twice by the noise.

Yu Xi had not returned that year. Qiu Dan told Xiao Xi about it, and that evening, Tan Yucheng came to pick her up. Ji Ting, frightened and with reddened eyes, met him in the courtyard while pulling her suitcase. After being scared for two days, seeing him again made her tears flow, which had been just at the corner of her eyes.

Tan Yucheng immediately wiped away her tears with his fingers, picking up her suitcase, and said in a low, lazy voice, “You should have said something two days ago.”

Ji Ting followed him with red eyes, quietly wiping her tears, not wanting him to see her in a messy state. However, the spot where his fingers had touched felt warm. He took her hand and led her out of the long alley, leaving the mournful voice behind.

Later, when she went to worship her ancestors.

Tan Yucheng accompanied her.

Reflecting on it, she had spent a lot of time with him, and over the years, those moments accumulated into memories.

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang.

Ji Ting snapped back from her memories as Tan Yucheng stood up, put away his tablet, and went to open the door. After a while, he returned with a bag in hand and handed it to Ji Ting. She took it, puzzled, and opened it to find lingerie inside. She quickly closed the bag and looked at him.

Tan Yucheng smiled lightly.

Leaning in, he said, “Go take a shower. You can pick any of my clothes.”

Ji Ting’s face turned red. She stood up, gave him a look, and then went into his master bedroom. His room was dimly lit but carried a faint, pleasant fragrance. She opened the wardrobe, randomly chose a white shirt, and came back out. The bag also contained a towel, toothbrush, and face wash. Ji Ting went into the bathroom and took a quick shower.

Soon, she emerged with her hair still damp.

Tan Yucheng finished replying to emails and looked up to see her, his gaze never leaving her.

Feeling a bit thirsty after her shower, Ji Ting picked up a glass and went to get some water. Tan Yucheng watched her for a few seconds with a smile in his eyes, then got up and went to take a shower himself. As Ji Ting realized he was going to shower, the redness in her ears subsided a bit. It was the first time she was so openly wearing his pajamas. She sat down on the sofa, drinking water and checking her phone.

The sleepiness she felt from the car ride was gone.

About twenty minutes later, Tan Yucheng came out of the shower, his hair still damp, with a few droplets sliding down his Adam’s apple. He sat next to Ji Ting, took the tablet, and wrapped his arm around her waist, opening an app for her to see.

Ji Ting leaned against his chest and looked down.

It was a recording of Eason’s concert.

Tan Yucheng swiped through and whispered in her ear, “There’s a nationwide tour this year, and there’s a show in Li City. Would you like to go together?”

Ji Ting turned her head. The man’s face was very close to hers. He looked up and met her gaze. He continued, “You didn’t get to see it last year, did you?”

Ji Ting thought for a moment and nodded, “Yeah.”

“This year’s show is just right.”

Ji Ting paused.

Last May, there was a concert in Hong Kong. She bought the tickets online, but when it was time to go, she lost her permit and couldn’t get it replaced in time.

She even posted a small regret about it on social media at the time.

But he still remembered.

Ji Ting’s eyes curved into a smile, “Okay.”

Tan Yucheng saw her smile, tightened his arm around her, leaned in to seal her lips with a firm kiss. As they both grew warmer and the collar became hot, he loosened his hold slightly, opened the tablet, and purchased VIP seats for two.

Just then, Ji Ting’s phone rang.

She had a message pop up from the group chat with Meng Jia, Long Kong, and Yu Xi.

Long Kong messaged: Eason’s concert is in Li City. Do you want to buy tickets?

Yu Xi responded: Buy them, Ji Ting likes him.

Meng Jia: Need tickets? I have four VIP tickets here.

Yu Xi: Wow, Miss Meng Jia, you’re back?

Meng Jia: Do you miss me?

Yu Xi: Not really.

Meng Jia: [Get lost]

Long Kong: @Ji Ting. Are you going?

Ji Ting was about to reply when Tan Yucheng pressed a button, opening the group members list and sneered, “Since when did you start leaving me out and start a group?”