Burn Out - Chapter 77

The sleep was deep and restful.

When Ji Ting woke up, she was still drowsy and not fully awake. She instinctively picked up her phone to check the time—it was just past eight. She put her phone down, intending to sleep a bit longer. The bedding was very comfortable, and she reached out to hold his wrist, feeling his breath against her neck. She closed her eyes, trying to fall back asleep.

Then she remembered something and tugged at his wrist. “Don’t you have work today? It’s past eight.”

Tan Yucheng stirred a little, snuggling closer to her neck, and said lazily, “It’s Saturday.”

He was still sleepy and drifted back to sleep after speaking.

Ji Ting realized, “Saturday?”

Weekends used to be days off, but since the second half of last year, when Fu Yan stopped going to the company, Tan Yucheng’s time off had become almost nonexistent. She smiled and said, “You finally have a day off.”

Still half-asleep, Tan Yucheng responded by pulling her closer.

Ji Ting felt ticklish and laughed as she moved to lie on her side. Tan Yucheng, now fully awake, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and her skirt had already slid up to her thighs.

He easily slid in.

Ji Ting struggled slightly, but soon found herself held tightly in his embrace. The neckline of her top had inevitably shifted, and her heart raced in his hands. Tan Yucheng’s arm was under her head as a pillow.

His palm slid down, propping himself up as he kissed her neck.

Ji Ting felt flushed all over. Tan Yucheng buried his face in her neck, kissing and saying, “I’ve left the store to Zhang Yang today. We’re going out on a date.”

Ji Ting’s voice trembled, “Where are we going?”

“Anywhere you like. Fu Yan said he’d treat us to a meal.”

Ji Ting’s voice was barely audible as she trembled and replied, “Okay, I’ve been wanting to see Wen Nanxi.”

“As you wish.”

His voice also became hoarse.

An hour and a half later.

Ji Ting walked out, drying her hair. Tan Yucheng was fastening the buttons of his shirt and had plugged in the hairdryer he took from the drawer, which was connected to a socket under the side table. He took the towel she had used and started drying her hair.

Ji Ting sipped on her milk and turned to him, saying, “Shouldn’t we buy some things to take there?”

Tan Yucheng glanced at her and replied, “We’ll go there in the afternoon.”

Ji Ting responded with an “Oh.”

After her hair was dried, she went to the bathroom to change clothes. Tan Yucheng put the hairdryer back in the drawer and turned on the smart robot vacuum to clean up the water stains and some stray hairs on the floor.

The vacuum got stuck under the table, and Tan Yucheng nudged it with his foot while checking his phone, which made it work normally again.

It was rare to have a daytime date.

Ji Ting chose an outfit from her wardrobe. Since the weather was warm, many of her clothes were suitable to wear. She selected a black, pleated, spaghetti strap dress. Her hair, now dry and cascading, and her light makeup made her look striking. She also brought a thin outer jacket, picked up a small bag, and walked out. Tan Yucheng was sitting on the sofa, responding to messages, and looked up at her.

Ji Ting stood at the door of the master bedroom, their eyes meeting.

When she dressed up seriously, she looked exceptionally beautiful. Tan Yucheng stood up, reached out to take her hand, and she smiled as she linked her arm with his. Tan Yucheng glanced at her, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, and said, “You look truly beautiful.”

Ji Ting’s cheeks flushed at the compliment.

She looked up at him and asked, “Do you like me because I’m pretty?”

Tan Yucheng took the car keys, glanced at her, and smiled, “Isn’t there a bit of it because of how I look?”

Ji Ting pressed her lips together, then turned away and smiled.

Tan Yucheng’s eyes also held a smile as they left. Ji Ting informed Zhang Yang via her phone that she wouldn’t be going to the store today and ordered two coffees, so Tan Yucheng went to the underground garage to get the car.

Ji Ting went to Sunset to get a coffee.

When Xiao Zhou, Xiao Wan, and Zhang Yang saw her, their eyes lit up, and they exclaimed in surprise.

“A woman in love is the most beautiful.”

Ji Ting picked up the coffee, gave them a mock scolding, and said, “Keep an eye on the store. Call me if anything comes up.”

“OK, OK.”

Xiao Zhou gave an OK sign, and she and Xiao Wan smiled as they stood close together. Ji Ting, helpless, smiled and carried the coffee to the roadside. Tan Yucheng’s black car was parked there, waiting for her. Ji Ting approached, opened the car door, and sat inside, handing the coffee to him. Tan Yucheng placed the two coffees in the center console, and Ji Ting fastened her seatbelt.

Tan Yucheng drove off with one hand on the steering wheel.

They wanted to buy gifts.

The chosen destination was the Gemini Shopping Center near the Luxury Building. This shopping center is connected to the Luxury Building.

Inside, there was a huge maternity and baby store occupying an entire floor. Tan Yucheng held her hand as they entered, and after the sales assistant’s introduction, Ji Ting went to the baby section to browse.

The baby clothes and items were much smaller.

Previously, before Wen Nanxi gave birth, Ji Ting had given a set of newborn clothes. Now, she intended to select a few more items. She was very focused on choosing, and the sales assistant, holding a pink basket, waited nearby. Tan Yucheng also picked suitable items and added them to the basket. The sales assistant blushed when she saw his looks.

Looking at his beautiful girlfriend beside him, she thought they made a great match.

Ji Ting was so absorbed in selecting that Tan Yucheng wrapped his arm around her waist, patiently watching her.

Her dedication to choosing gifts was beautiful.

Tan Yucheng, with his hands in his pockets, saw that the sales assistant had added another basket. He gently reminded Ji Ting, “That’s enough.”

Ji Ting came to her senses and saw that both baskets were full.

She had to stop.

They had indeed bought quite a lot. As they left, Tan Yucheng carried a huge bag with a baby logo, and Ji Ting smiled as she asked him to drop it off first.

They then bought some toys.

Next, they went to the Luxury Building to pick out gifts for Wen Nanxi.

Ji Ting chose a beautiful set of branded loungewear for Wen Nanxi, a branded laptop bag, a luxury handbag, and added some skincare products and perfume.

She arranged everything clearly from home to outside.

Tan Yucheng helped carry the bags.

Ji Ting had a good eye, selecting items that were comfortable and suited Wen Nanxi’s personality.

After buying the gifts, it was around noon. Tan Yucheng took Ji Ting upstairs to a private kitchen restaurant. This restaurant had private rooms for two, making it perfect for couples. After their meal, Tan Yucheng took Ji Ting downstairs to watch a movie. They sat in the last row in the dim light, with Ji Ting holding popcorn and watching the romance film on the big screen.

As she ate, she also fed some popcorn to Tan Yucheng.

Tan Yucheng looked down at her feeding him.

He sat up straight, and she had to lean on the armrest to feed him. She was very focused on feeding him. Tan Yucheng smiled, leaned down, and kissed her lips, taking the popcorn from her mouth. Ji Ting let out a soft sound, her lips warm, but the popcorn was eaten by him.

She looked up at him, half glaring, half scolding.

After finishing the popcorn, Tan Yucheng lowered his head and sealed her lips with a kiss.

In the movie, the characters were crying uncontrollably, and the scene was dark. The two in the last row were too absorbed in each other to pay attention to the film. The man kissed the woman deeply, drawing them both into the moment.

When they left the cinema, Ji Ting completely forgot about the movie’s plot.

It was the first time she had kissed in a cinema, and her heartbeat hadn’t calmed down yet.

Outside the cinema was a 5C game arcade.

Ji Ting pulled Tan Yucheng inside. She chose a zombie-themed game for two players. Tan Yucheng put on the VR headset and stood behind her. Ji Ting put on her headset, immediately immersing herself in the game, with him right behind her. She noticed that his character was a knight and hers was a queen. She laughed and used the controller to manipulate her character to smash the approaching zombies.

Tan Yucheng held the controller and played as well. Whenever Ji Ting took a step back, she ended up in his embrace. His character was devoted to protecting the queen, so when the final bullet came, the knight stood in front of the queen and was blown to pieces.

Ji Ting let out a sigh, and saw him take off his glasses. Tan Yucheng looked handsome even in glasses. Ji Ting completed the final step, jumping to the high platform to get the serum.

They won.

She removed her glasses and looked at him. “What time is it?”

Tan Yucheng brushed the hair that the glasses had messed up, his voice lazy, “Three thirty.”

“Mm.”

Not far from the arcade, Zhong Yu was standing there with Shu Xiao’s arm linked, watching the two people at the first game station. Tan Yucheng was smoothing Ji Ting’s messy hair. Though his face wasn’t fully visible, his actions were gentle. Ji Ting was looking up and talking to him. He smiled and held her hand, leading her outside. Ji Ting, wearing a beautiful spaghetti strap dress and high heels, was being led out by him.

Zhong Yu glanced at Shu Xiao instinctively.

Shu Xiao’s face was very pale, but her expression was blank.

Seeing them in person made it clearer how real the photo of Ji Ting on her phone was.

The impact was even greater than the public photos in the moments shared on social media. Their private interactions were even more intense than they appeared on the surface.

—

Fu Yan and Wen Nanxi had originally lived in Tianyu, on the same floor as Tan Yucheng. Later, they moved out to renovate their place and bought a new one in Lanwan Peninsula.

The new place was larger and more secluded, quieter than Tianyu.

Tan Yucheng and Ji Ting went upstairs. Tan Yucheng was carrying bags with both hands, while Ji Ting helped with one of them. She rang the doorbell, and soon Wen Nanxi, wearing a light blue dress, opened the door.

Ji Ting’s eyes curved into a smile, “Long time no see.”

Wen Nanxi also smiled, “It’s been a while, Tingting, come on in.”

Tan Yucheng and Ji Ting entered together, placing the gifts on the long sofa. The kitchen was busy, with Fu Yan working inside. Wen Nanxi took Ji Ting’s hand and led her to the sofa.

Tan Yucheng went to find Fu Yan in the kitchen.

The baby was sleeping in the crib, a very beautiful little girl.

Ji Ting peeked at the baby. Wen Nanxi’s eyes were gentle, her previous sharpness greatly softened. Ji Ting smiled and said, “She looks like you.”

Wen Nanxi laughed, “I think she looks more like Fu Yan.”

“More like you is better.”

Ji Ting said softly.

Wen Nanxi laughed again. Her appearance had a more aloof quality, but after having the baby, she had gained some weight and appeared much gentler. She took Ji Ting’s hand and said, “I should congratulate you too.”

Ji Ting paused and smiled, “Thank you.”

She had met Wen Nanxi a few times, after the establishment of the company. Wen Nanxi was a prominent figure in her field, impressive for a woman. Ji Ting was also aware of the entanglements between Wen Nanxi and Fu Yan.

After truly getting to know Wen Nanxi, Ji Ting felt that she was indeed admirable.

Initially, Wen Nanxi only knew that Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng were very close. At that time, she thought Ji Ting was Tan Yucheng’s girlfriend. Of course, there were rumors that Tan Yucheng and Ji Ting from Sunset were a couple, but these rumors were only later discovered to be untrue. In reality, the two families were close, and the two had been classmates since high school.

Wen Nanxi also knew that Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng had been desk mates.

She vaguely remembered meeting Ji Ting at No. 1 Middle School and also at Nan’an.

Ji Ting was a beautiful and gentle girl, and Wen Nanxi had occasionally run into her at the convenience store in Nan’an. They had brushed past each other, and Wen Nanxi later recalled these details.

Over the years, their relationship had always seemed good, but there was never any real development.

Wen Nanxi once thought that some relationships were just this pure—companionship without necessarily being together. It was a pity because she also felt that they were well-suited for each other.

Now, seeing them together, Wen Nanxi was genuinely happy for them. This was the ending it should have been.

Ji Ting tightened her grip on Wen Nanxi’s hand and asked softly, “How about you? How have you been lately?”

Wen Nanxi came back to herself, looked at her, and smiled, “I’m doing well. I’ve moved on.”

Ji Ting nodded, “That’s good.”

She held Wen Nanxi’s hand tightly.

Wen Nanxi smiled.

She said, “I saw a doctor. The doctor said it was due to prolonged suppression and past experiences, which caused a sudden release of hormones after childbirth, leading to depression.”

“Fortunately, Tan Yucheng helped me, and Fu Yan was able to stay home with me, so I was able to get through it.”

Ji Ting nodded in agreement.

She reached out and hugged Wen Nanxi, softly saying, “Everything will get better. You’re already doing well. Fu Yan loves you very much, and you have such a lovely daughter.”

Wen Nanxi smiled and blinked, “Yes, when she was a daughter, I knew I had to treat her well and guide her on a beautiful path. I’ll be with her.”

Ji Ting laughed, “Of course, she’s the little princess of the Fu family.”

Wen Nanxi smiled, “Yes, the little princess.”

The little princess who is loved by thousands of people.

In the kitchen.

The nanny is cooking.

Fu Yan was serving bird’s nest porridge to Wen Nanxi, and Tan Yucheng stood by his side with his arms crossed, asking, “How has Wen Nanxi been recently?”

“She’s fine now.”

Tan Yucheng responded with an “mm,” noting that Wen Nanxi had also been involved in some work recently. Fu Yan gestured for the nanny to bring over a bowl. The nanny handed the bowl to him, and Fu Yan then passed it to Tan Yucheng.

“Serve some for your wife.”

Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow at the term “your wife” and took the bowl, picking up a spoon to serve the porridge.

Fu Yan was no longer wearing his beads, and the tattoo on his wrist became visible with his movements. Tan Yucheng glanced at it and remarked nonchalantly, “Your tattoo is actually clearer now.”

Fu Yan responded, “Yes, I had it touched up last year.”

Tan Yucheng raised his eyebrows and acknowledged with an “mm.”