Burn Out - Chapter 72
Watching the gray ride-hailing car drive away, a slight breeze blew, ruffling the collars of both people. Ji Ting turned to look at Tan Yucheng, who met her gaze and tilted his head to glance at her.
Ji Ting gave a slight smile, her eyes also filled with warmth.
Tan Yucheng made a soft sound, taking her hand as they walked into the shopping mall inside Zhuoyue to buy some daily necessities.
Ji Ting lifted her other hand to link it with his arm. As they walked past the Sunset, Xiao Zhou and Xiao Wan at the counter saw their silhouettes outside the store, exchanged glances, and secretly covered their mouths with smiles.
Sister Ting and Brother Tan are such a perfect match.
After opening the store here for a few years, Ji Ting hadn’t visited Zhuoyue’s mall much. It was still somewhat busy at night. Ji Ting, holding onto his arm, thought about his series of actions today.
She looked up and smiled, “You’ve been quite considerate today.”
Tan Yucheng tightened his grip on her hand and looked down at her. “Have I?”
Ji Ting smiled again.
Tan Yucheng observed her smiling face and raised his lips in response. Ji Ting asked, “How did you know my senior brother was coming today?”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond.
Ji Ting softly said, “Did Xiao Zhou tell you?”
Tan Yucheng looked up and still didn’t respond.
Ji Ting smiled and said, “You just know how to win over the people in my store.”
Tan Yucheng’s voice was low and lazy, “Do I need to win them over?”
Ji Ting clicked her tongue lightly.
As they turned into the mall, they needed to go down the escalator. Tan Yucheng wrapped his arm around her waist. Ji Ting rested her hand on the handrail. At the mall entrance, Tan Yucheng grabbed a shopping cart. Ji Ting took his coat and held it in her arms while walking beside him. Tan Yucheng picked up a box of blueberries, glanced at it, and put it in the cart. These were fruits that Ji Ting liked.
Tan Yucheng put the box down and said lazily, “Remember to send him a wedding invitation and ask him to give a gift.”
Ji Ting was selecting fruits, picking ones he liked. Hearing this, she looked up at him. Their gazes met, and Ji Ting understood he was referring to Zhou Hui. She softly asked, “Do you need his gift?”
Tan Yucheng watched her for a few seconds, recalling the rumors about her and Zhou Hui. He raised his tone slightly and said, “Yes, I do.”
He pushed the cart forward and continued, “It would be even better if you could invite someone you once liked.”
Ji Ting put a box of cherries into the cart. Hearing his words, she glanced at his broad back. She pressed her lips together, hiding her smile, and followed his steps.
Tan Yucheng was picking out salad ingredients.
He glanced at her.
Ji Ting met his gaze and said, “Let’s talk about it later.”
Tan Yucheng gave a light snort.
Ji Ting smiled and reached for the salad as well. Then she realized he was already thinking about the wedding.
Her eyes curved with a smile.
After choosing the salad, they went with the old brand, fearing she might not like the new one. They finished shopping, buying fruits, salad, and some daily necessities.
After paying, Tan Yucheng carried the bags and took Ji Ting to the delivery station to collect the package. Once they returned to the apartment, Tan Yucheng took the items from the mall to the kitchen to wash them.
He also made a fruit salad for her.
Ji Ting sat cross-legged on the carpet, unpacking the delivery. The afternoon package hadn’t been delivered to the store but had been left at the delivery station. Inside was a box of high-end face cream.
The price was considerable. Ji Ting had just finished her bottle and hadn’t ordered a new one online yet, but Tan Yucheng had already bought it.
Ji Ting opened the lid.
Tan Yucheng placed the fruit plate on the table. He rolled up his sleeves, with his shirt tucked into his waistband, his broad shoulders and long legs casting a shadow as he set the plate down. Ji Ting looked up and shook the jar of cream, asking, “How did you know I ran out?”
Tan Yucheng sat down on the carpet, bent his legs, and used a fork to place a blueberry near her lips while leaning on the carpet. He said lazily, “The lid wasn’t on properly. I saw it.”
Ji Ting responded with an “Oh” and ate the blueberry.
He had bought a full set of skincare products where he lived, so Ji Ting only needed to buy what she was missing.
Tan Yucheng ate a blueberry himself and then fed another one to Ji Ting, saying, “Find some time to go shopping at the World Trade Center and stock up, so you don’t have to buy it box by box.”
Ji Ting rarely stocked up on skincare products and replied, “I’ll see when the time comes.”
After finishing the fruit, Tan Yucheng replied to emails from work, leaning against the armrest of the sofa and typing on the keyboard.
Ji Ting remained on the carpet, leaning against the sofa near his legs, sliding through her tablet. Since yesterday, the WeChat group has exploded with messages again.
Many were tagging Long Kong, wanting details about Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng.
Long Kong responded quite frequently.
As a former suitor who had now become a top journalist, this change of status allowed him to speak more freely.
Long Kong: Yes, Ji Ting went on a blind date with someone, but it didn’t work out.
Asan: Tsk, tsk.
Long Kong: Also, Tan Yucheng once sent 999 Floyd roses, which made the entire CBD aware of it. The funniest part was that it was delivered right in front of Ji Ting’s store, and he became famous for it.
Jiang Li: What? 999 Floyd roses? Is Brother Cheng really that romantic?
Long Kong: Yes, even I was surprised.
Long Kong: Oh, right, last time, when Ji Ting’s branch store opened, he sent a fortune cat that was about as tall as a person. You guys haven’t seen it, have you? It even made it to the New Year’s Eve hot search.
Long Kong: [Video]
Long Kong: [Image]
Jiang Li: …I saw that on the hot search last time. Was it really Brother Cheng who sent it? It must have been custom-made in advance, right?
Long Kong: Of course, you guys can’t buy one that big now, can you?
Feng Yingying: I heard about the 999 Floyd roses. Did he really give them to Ji Ting?
Long Kong replied to Feng Yingying: Yes.
Feng Yingying: …..
Zhong Yu: …..
Jiang Li paused for a moment and tagged Ji Ting in the group: @Ji Ting, come out and chat.
Ji Ting, seeing the chat records and being tagged by Jiang Li, pretended not to see. Just as she was about to leave, Yu Xi sent her a message in the group, tagging her.
Yu Xi: @Ji Ting, listen, tomorrow our hotel is having a team-building event at the tea house on top of Zhuoyue. We’ll order a few cups of coffee from you.
Ji Ting didn’t pay much attention and directly replied in the group: Okay.
As soon as she responded, other classmates in the group started tagging her and chatting with her.
One female classmate asked with a smile: Ji Ting, what’s it like being pursued by Tan Yucheng?
Another female classmate asked: Did he confess to you?
Ji Ting’s fingers paused.
She put down her tablet, unsure how to respond, and simply leaned back against the sofa. Tan Yucheng’s gaze shifted from the computer screen to her face.
He reached out and pinched the tip of her nose. “What’s wrong?”
Ji Ting looked up at him and said, “Everyone in the group is asking, thanks to Long Kong’s big mouth.”
Tan Yucheng, having finished pinching the tip of her nose, rested his hand on her cheek and leaned in to look at her closely. “Answer honestly.”
Ji Ting blinked and looked at him.
“Too lazy to answer.”
At that moment, Ji Ting realized how strangely wonderful it felt to be bound together with him. As she was pondering this, Tan Yucheng leaned in and kissed her lips.
They continued kissing in that position, gently and tenderly. When Tan Yucheng reached to undo her button, the phone rang, vibrating on the sofa. Tan Yucheng paused, pulled back slightly, and Ji Ting, her ears reddening, sat up and reached for the phone to check the call.
It was Qiu Dan.
Tan Yucheng straightened up, leaning back against the chair, glancing at the computer screen, and resumed typing, continuing his work.
Ji Ting answered the call, saying, “Mom.”
Qiu Dan responded, “Have you been very busy lately?”
Ji Ting paused, thinking that it had been a while since she bought the concert tickets and attended the concert. She replied, “A little bit.”
“Come home for dinner tomorrow?”
Ji Ting agreed, “Okay.”
Qiu Dan continued, “The landlady will be free, and Fang Yu will also be there. Be prepared.”
Ji Ting remembered this and agreed, saying, “Got it.”
Qiu Dan then asked, “What were you doing just now? Didn’t you go back to the store?”
Ji Ting, leaning against the sofa and glancing at the man beside her, who was typing on the keyboard with his collar slightly open and his features handsome, replied, “I came back to the apartment, eating fruit.”
“Oh, okay. Your dad has prepared a box for you. Bring it back when you come over tomorrow night.”
Ji Ting acknowledged, “Okay.”
Qiu Dan continued to chatter on the phone, and when Ji Ting hung up, her phone was a bit warm. She lay on the sofa feeling a bit lazy. Tan Yucheng, noticing her state, slightly curved his lips and asked, “What did you talk about with Aunt Qiu?”
Ji Ting replied casually, “She asked me to come home for dinner tomorrow night and mentioned that the landlady would be there.”
Tan Yucheng’s eyebrows raised slightly, and he squinted his eyes, “Oh? Fang Yu?”
The jealousy was palpable.
Ji Ting paused, looked up at him, and explained, “I need to explain things to the landlady.”
“What’s there to explain? Just say her son is planning to deceive her into marriage?” Tan Yucheng’s tone was cold.
Ji Ting shot him a glare.
Tan Yucheng tightened his jaw, met her gaze for a few seconds, then looked away and continued typing, “I’ll pick you up after dinner tomorrow night.”
Ji Ting thought, “That’s more like it.”
She said, “Okay.”
She got up to take a shower. Seeing his rebellious side profile, she hesitated, leaned in, and kissed the corner of his mouth. As she was about to leave, Tan Yucheng reached up, grabbed the back of her head, and turned it to give her a deep kiss.
Things quickly escalated from there.
Buttons were undone in a few swift moves, and the sofa became a mess.
Ji Ting felt a twinge of regret.
She decided to avoid provoking him in the future.
The next afternoon.
Ji Ting finished arranging things at the store and had Zhang Yang send some cakes up to the tea room where Yu Xi’s team-building event was taking place. Then, she went to the underground parking garage, got in her car, and headed home.
Lately, Tan Yucheng had been driving most of the time.
She hadn’t used her own car much recently. When she arrived downstairs at home, night had fallen. Ji Ting went upstairs, and as soon as she opened the door, she met Fang Yu and the landlady with her gaze. Fang Yu, dressed in light-colored sportswear today, smiled and said, “I hope you don’t mind us coming over to your place.”
Ji Ting heard the sound of cooking coming from the kitchen. Ji Lindong came out with dishes and said, “What are you standing there for? Come in quickly.”
Ji Ting snapped out of it and smiled at Fang Yu, “Of course not. It’s better when there’s more noise and company.”
“Hello, Auntie landlady. Long time no see.”
The landlady, still with the same smile, asked, “I heard from your mom that you’ve been very busy lately. How’s business at the store?”
Ji Ting changed her shoes and walked in. She placed the fruit that Ji Lindong had brought on the table and replied, “It’s okay, just a bit busy with the new branch.”
“I see.”
The landlady smiled and glanced at Fang Yu.
Fang Yu, still smiling brightly, looked the same as ever.
Qiu Dan called Ji Ting from the kitchen, and Ji Ting hurried in to help. She approached Qiu Dan and said, “I thought we’d be eating out or meeting after the meal?”
Qiu Dan glanced at her and said, “The landlady wanted to try my cooking, so we had to arrange it at home.”
“Don’t worry, after asking a couple of times, the landlady didn’t bring it up again. She probably understands a bit,” Qiu Dan said, handing Ji Ting some shrimp.
Ji Ting took it with a nod and went back out.
During the meal, the landlady and Qiu Dan chatted continuously, with a hint of regret in their tone. Ji Ting focused on eating, enjoying the meal with Fang Yu, while Ji Lindong played the role of serving food, using chopsticks to help everyone, making the atmosphere lively.
After dinner.
Ji Ting and Fang Yu exchanged glances and walked out to the balcony, closing the door behind them. Fang Yu glanced around and said with a smile, “Your house is quite old, isn’t it?”
Ji Ting nodded, “It was over twenty years ago when we bought it.”
“That makes sense. But living here is convenient, buying groceries and such is better than living in a residential community.”
Ji Ting replied, “Yes, and it’s close to the supermarket.”
“Mm.” Fang Yu leaned against the railing.
Ji Ting stood beside him, watching the bustling street outside.
After a moment of silence, Fang Yu looked at her and said with a smile, “Actually, when you sent Wang Zengqi’s collection, using a local courier, I guessed that we probably wouldn’t have a chance.”
Ji Ting paused, looked up at him, feeling somewhat embarrassed. She didn’t want to say much more and simply said, “Did you do some research on your mom’s behalf?”
Fang Yu nodded, “Yes, she kept asking about us, and I told her I wasn’t that interested.”
Ji Ting sighed and said, “I’m sorry. It’s my own issue, I might… have someone I like.”
Fang Yu nodded, “That’s a coincidence.”
He added, “I’m not really into your type of woman. At first, I wanted to give it a try, but after sensing your reluctance, I quickly let go.”
Ji Ting heard this and felt relieved. She smiled slightly, “That’s good, no pressure on either side.”
Fang Yu agreed and said, “So you don’t need to worry about my mom having any thoughts about it. I’ve explained things clearly to her, and she understands. I’ll handle it.”
Ji Ting looked at him with gratitude and said, “Thank you.”
In retrospect, she and Fang Yu had indeed had a good conversation.
Fang Yu looked at Ji Ting and asked with a smile, “By the way, did you accept that man who sent you a lot of flowers?”
Ji Ting was momentarily taken aback.
She smiled and replied deliberately, “Guess.”
With a smile in her eyes that sparkled like stars under the night sky, Fang Yu knew from her demeanor that the answer was obvious. He didn’t need to guess.
After chatting on the balcony, they returned to the living room. Meanwhile, the landlady and Qiu Dan had also finished their conversation, both in good spirits. Knowing that their children hadn’t worked out, the landlady didn’t bring it up again. The family of three saw them off, and the landlady, linking arms with Fang Yu, said, “The meal tonight was delicious. Qiu Dan, your cooking lives up to its reputation.”
Qiu Dan smiled slightly, “I’m glad you liked it. Let’s get together again next time.”
“Sure.”
The landlady nodded, leading Fang Yu downstairs. After they left, the family of three closed the door, and Qiu Dan took off her apron and handed it to Ji Lindong to wash the dishes.
She looked back at Ji Ting.
Ji Ting walked back to the sofa and said, “I’ve spoken with Fang Yu.”
Qiu Dan sighed in relief, took a chair, and sat down. “In the future, we should be more cautious about these things. We’re renting someone else’s house, and if things go wrong…”
It’s hard to find a new supermarket location, and moving a supermarket is a major hassle, which is more trouble than it’s worth. Ji Lindong had already mentioned this to Qiu Dan several times, so it was fortunate that it was resolved smoothly.
Ji Ting nodded with her chin resting on her hand, “Indeed.”
Qiu Dan agreed, “Thankfully, Yucheng is considerate…”
Hearing his name, Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat. Just then, a black WeChat profile picture popped up on her phone, he had sent a message.
Ji Ting checked it.
Tan: I’m almost downstairs. Do you want to come down, or should I come up?
Ji Ting paused for a moment and replied: You come up.
After sending the message, Ji Ting looked at Qiu Dan and said, “Mom.”
Qiu Dan, holding a fork and eating fruit, responded with a hum and then looked up. Ji Ting took the fork she handed over, put a piece of cantaloupe in her mouth, and casually asked, “Mom, what kind of boyfriend do you think would suit me? Is someone like Tan Yucheng okay?”
Qiu Dan looked at her and asked, “Yucheng? Have you met a man like him?”
Ji Ting nodded.
Qiu Dan was incredulous and said, “A man like him? Are there even more like him?”
“I wouldn’t really recommend it. I think Yucheng is too wild and unpredictable. Plus, so many women like him that you’d probably struggle even before marriage, and it might not even make it to the wedding.”
“You’ve known Yucheng for so long. Don’t you know about his romantic entanglements?”
Ji Ting blinked, remaining silent.
Her heart felt a bit shaken.
Qiu Dan continued, “You know, last time when Yucheng came to the supermarket to play chess with your dad, after he left, both your dad’s and my phones were flooded with messages from female staff at the supermarket asking for his contact information…”
Ji Ting: “…..”
“In short, it’s better to steer clear of men like him. Yucheng is great, but he’s not right for you.”
Ji Ting: “…..”
A few seconds later, Ji Ting picked up her phone and sent a message to the black profile picture.
Ji Ting: Don’t come up. I’ll come down.
Tan: Hmm?
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