Burn Out - Chapter 75

Yu Xi also joined in on the excitement in the Moments.

In the comments section of Tan Yucheng’s post, right after Asan.

Yu Xi commented: Get married soon, get married soon.

Long Kong saw her post and laughed out loud. The Moments feed was filled with continuous updates, comparable to a university forum, with so many mutual friends and classmates commenting, the comments were abundant.

The number of likes is also rising.

This public announcement was like a grand feast. Much like the last time Long Kong posted about Tan Yucheng’s secret crush on Ji Ting, which revealed many lurking classmates. This public announcement felt quite natural with Long Kong’s previous setup.

Ji Ting saw many classmates she hadn’t heard from in a long time commenting. Their profile pictures, marked with names, felt like a summer breeze, bringing back memories of their school days and every detail of their interactions.

She scanned the comments below, finding jokes, well-wishes, and surprise.

Seeing their comments, she could almost picture their expressions when they spoke. In the era when they wore blue and white school uniforms, their expressions and tones were vivid in her memory.

But at this moment, not even a hint of Shu Xiao was mentioned.

All the names and profile pictures seemed unchanged, but their words felt as if they had crossed into a new era, as if that high school period was a distant past.

The most important parts of life had been broken apart, fragmented, and reassembled into new combinations.

Ji Ting instinctively glanced at Tan Yucheng beside her.

He sat with his long legs apart, one arm resting on his knee, peeling peanuts for her and occasionally taking a sip of beer. After posting, he hadn’t looked at his phone at all, unlike others who were still eagerly watching.

Tan Yucheng noticed her gaze, lifted his eyes, and popped a peanut into her mouth with a lazy tone, “What are you looking at?”

Ji Ting chewed the peanut, her eyes sparkling. After a few seconds, she leaned in as if to speak. Tan Yucheng slightly turned his head, preparing to listen, but Ji Ting kissed his cheek instead.

Tan Yucheng’s Adam’s apple moved, and he lifted his gaze.

The night breeze was gentle, and with so many people around, his eyes, as dark as ink, met hers. Ji Ting’s cheeks flushed slightly. Tan Yucheng watched her for a few seconds, then leaned his head to her ear and whispered something.

Ji Ting’s cheeks grew even warmer.

Meng Jia had similar thoughts. Leaning back in her chair with her long legs crossed, she deliberately went into Shu Xiao’s WeChat and took a screenshot of the public Moments posts where Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng were together.

Meng Jia sent it and then edited her message.

Meng Jia: Don’t see you liking or congratulating?

Meng Jia: Don’t be so petty. You troubled Ji Ting a lot in high school. Isn’t it just a blessing?

Shu Xiao still didn’t reply.

Meng Jia sneered and continued: Look at your classmates, who even remembers you? Idiot.

After sending that, Meng Jia was blocked. She laughed, threw her phone on the table, and felt pleased.

Even though she didn’t win this battle herself, she was extremely satisfied with the result. She glanced up and saw Ji Ting talking to Tan Yucheng. Ji Ting was speaking while he was listening, still holding her hand.

Meng Jia raised an eyebrow.

Seeing this, she seemed to feel a lot more relieved.

She and Ji Ting had both once liked this person, sharing a common fate, but now that Ji Ting had found happiness, it was a satisfying conclusion. They could drink to celebrate.

Ji Ting was asking Tan Yucheng, “Where did that photo of me come from?”

Tan Yucheng played with his wine glass and countered with a question, “And what about your photo?”

Ji Ting’s heart raced. She bit her lip and replied, “It was taken by Xiao Wan.”

In reality, she had taken it herself. That day, after he had finished meeting with clients in the upstairs tea room and had seen them off, he was standing by the roadside in the fading sunlight before the sunset store. As he took off his tie and lit a cigarette, he answered a phone call. With the dim twilight, his broad shoulders and long legs, he looked exceptionally handsome.

It just happened to be captured by her camera.

The sunset was particularly gentle, and everything felt romantic.

Tan Yucheng glanced at her, clearly unsatisfied with this answer.

Ji Ting leaned in closer and asked, “What about my photo?”

The angle of his photo was quite special, almost like it was taken from a different perspective. Tan Yucheng, in a low, lazy voice, said, “I took it.”

Ji Ting was slightly stunned and looked up at him.

Tan Yucheng, looking into her beautiful eyes up close, said, “You were so focused on your photo that you didn’t even notice when I came in and took it.”

Ji Ting responded with a soft “Oh” and said, “You took it really well.”

Tan Yucheng chuckled, still staring at her without moving.

At this moment, Ji Ting’s phone rang. She picked it up and saw a message from Qiu Dan. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it to read that Qiu Dan had invited her home that evening for some crayfish.

Qiu Dan: The supermarket got a fresh batch of crayfish today. After the store closes, come home and have some with Mom.

Ji Ting paused.

She held her phone up to Tan Yucheng’s line of sight.

Tan Yucheng looked up and met her gaze, asking, “Do you want to go?”

Ji Ting hadn’t had Qiu Dan’s crayfish for a long time, it was incredibly delicious, unlike the ones you can buy outside. However, since everyone was gathered together tonight, they would definitely drink a lot.

Ji Ting typed a response to Qiu Dan: Mom, let’s do it tomorrow night. I have something going on tonight.

Qiu Dan: Tomorrow night?

Qiu Dan: There are more than 20 pounds of crayfish. It might not be fresh by tomorrow.

Qiu Dan: [Sigh]

Qiu Dan: Your dad and I won’t be able to finish it. Isn’t your car still at home? Can’t you come and take it away? How have you been going out recently?

Qiu Dan rarely used emojis, so it was quite amusing when she did. But Qiu Dan also seldom insisted on Ji Ting doing something, she mostly respected Ji Ting’s decisions.

Ji Ting thought about it and looked up at Tan Yucheng, her heart racing. “Do you think my mom might…”

Know about us?

Tan Yucheng’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He said, “Just go for a visit.”

With some anxiety, Ji Ting replied to Qiu Dan.

Ji Ting: Mom, I’m with Tan Yucheng and the others.

The term “and the others” indicated that it wasn’t just the two of them alone.

Qiu Dan understood immediately. She hesitated for a moment and replied: “Great, then let Yucheng come along too. He hasn’t had my crayfish in a long time.”

Ji Ting saw the reply and, sitting next to Tan Yucheng, responded: “Okay.”

Another half-box of beer was bought out. As night fell, the place was even more crowded. Long Kong and Yu Xi were drinking and using the bottle as a microphone, singing. Meng Jia, who had also had quite a bit to drink, recorded their amusing antics with her phone. Yu Xi pulled Ji Ting up to duet, and feeling somewhat embarrassed, she hesitated and tried to retreat. However, Tan Yucheng reached out, pulling her onto his lap.

Seeing this, Yu Xi didn’t dare to pull Ji Ting any further.

Meng Jia, still wanting to pull Ji Ting up, saw that Ji Ting had drunk quite a bit but wasn’t drunk. Ji Ting picked up her glass and said to Meng Jia, “Come, drink.”

“No singing, just drinking.”

Meng Jia smiled, picked up her glass, and bent down to clink it with Ji Ting’s. Ji Ting tilted her head back and drank it all in one go. Tan Yucheng, holding her waist, watched her drinking style and cast a quick glance at Meng Jia.

Meng Jia understood to stop while ahead. After putting down her glass, she sat back down.

Fortunately, it was just beer.

At most, a few trips to the restroom.

Since Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng still had to return to Ji Ting’s home, the gathering ended around 9:30 PM. Meng Jia’s nanny car arrived. Meng Jia, finding her high heels too high, took them off and carried them along with her small bag and phone, walking down the slope and getting into her car. Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng saw Long Kong and Yu Xi into their car.

They called for a designated driver.

As the two cars left, the place remained lively behind them.

Tan Yucheng handed the car keys to the designated driver, took Ji Ting’s hand, and walked toward the black car. Ji Ting looped her arm through his. She wasn’t drunk, and the night was beautiful.

Here, the moon was visible.

They got into the back seat of the car, and the designated driver started the engine.

About half an hour later, the black car stopped downstairs at Ji Ting’s home. Qiu Dan had apparently returned, as the lights on the balcony were bright. Ji Ting got out of the car and looked at Tan Yucheng. Tan Yucheng paid the designated driver, took the car keys, and walked over, taking her hand.

Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat.

They both climbed the stairs.

Ji Ting’s home was in an old-style community, so it mostly had stairs. The stairwell was dimly lit, with each step feeling like a wait for judgment. But they had already blocked out their parents’ view.

At the door, Ji Ting subconsciously let go of Tan Yucheng’s hand.

Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow but held her hand, slipping it back into his pants pocket. Ji Ting used the key to unlock the door. The room was brightly lit, and Qiu Dan was standing by the table, pouring cola. She turned around and smiled at them, saying, “Come in, you arrived just in time.”

Ji Ting walked in and immediately smelled the aroma. She went to the table, picked up a dish of food with her hands, took a bite, and asked, “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s not coming. He’s at the supermarket.”

Ji Ting said, “So it’s just the three of us?”

“Yes, is that a problem?” Qiu Dan glanced at her.

Tan Yucheng rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and came over, calling out, “Aunt Qiu.”

“Oh, Yucheng, it’s fragrant, right?” Qiu Dan asked with a smile.

Tan Yucheng smiled back, sat down at the table facing Ji Ting, took a small bowl, peeled the shell, and replied, “Yes, it’s very nostalgic.”

Qiu Dan was very satisfied and sat down beside them.

Ji Ting used her teeth to peel the shell.

Tan Yucheng peeled the shrimp and put it into the bowl, glancing at her to indicate she should eat.

Ji Ting took one and ate it, then went back to peeling her own.

Qiu Dan also helped peel shrimp for Ji Ting, telling her not to use her teeth. Ji Ting’s initial messy thoughts were driven away by the aroma of the shrimp, and since Qiu Dan didn’t say anything more, she chatted and ate while peeling shrimp. Tan Yucheng changed his gloves, his arm muscles defined, peeling shrimp and placing them into the bowl while drinking cola.

Qiu Dan glanced at them and asked, “Did you go drinking?”

Ji Ting looked up and said, “Yes, a gathering with some classmates.”

Qiu Dan nodded and advised, “Drink less.”

Tan Yucheng replied, “Okay.”

Qiu Dan had finished peeling and eating most of the shrimp. She removed her gloves and used a wet tissue to clean her fingertips. She glanced at Tan Yucheng and asked, “Yucheng, have you told your mom about your girlfriend?”

Ji Ting, who was sitting across from them, was momentarily taken aback.

Tan Yucheng glanced up and leisurely wiped his fingers. He met her gaze and calmly replied, “Not yet. I plan to wait until they come to Li City before I tell them.”

“Hmm, it’s important to handle this seriously.”

Ji Ting kicked Tan Yucheng under the table.

A hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.

Qiu Dan cleaned her hands, picked up her phone from the side, opened a photo, and handed it to Ji Ting, saying, “Since Yucheng has a girlfriend, you shouldn’t fall behind. Take a look at this person, he looks pretty good.”

Ji Ting was stunned.

She saw another elite man in the photo, who indeed looked quite decent.

The smile in Tan Yucheng’s eyes faded somewhat as he leaned back in his chair.