Burn Out - Chapter 78

The two of them walked out carrying the porridge. Ji Ting and Wen Nanxi were playing with the baby. The baby had woken up, her eyes very much like Wen Nanxi’s, and she gently sucked her thumb while resting in Wen Nanxi’s arms. Ji Ting was amusing her with a small toy, calling her by her nickname, “Yuzu, Yuzu.”

Little Yuzu blinked her eyes, reaching out with one hand to touch the toy in Ji Ting’s hand, interacting with her, and trying to grab the collar of Ji Ting’s dress.

Tan Yucheng observed how Ji Ting’s voice was softer than usual, her expression filled with smiles, making her look extremely beautiful. He stood aside, holding the porridge, not interrupting her.

It was rare to see her playing with such a small baby.

Little Yuzu grabbed the strap of Ji Ting’s dress, trying to snuggle into her arms. Ji Ting, nervous as she had never held such a small child before, quickly set the toy down. Wen Nanxi, standing nearby, guided her, saying, “Just support her…”

Following Wen Nanxi’s instructions, Ji Ting cradled the soft little girl.

Wen Nanxi smiled, adjusted Little Yuzu’s clothes, and removed Ji Ting’s strap from the baby’s grasp. Little Yuzu rubbed against Ji Ting’s collar, as if sensing a pleasant scent.

Ji Ting, feeling ticklish, tried to move away.

Turning around, she saw the two men coming out and standing by. Tan Yucheng, with one hand in his pocket and the other holding the porridge, was watching her. Ji Ting was being nuzzled by Little Yuzu, their eyes meeting.

Tan Yucheng glanced at Fu Yan and said, “Your daughter is quite good at picking who to snuggle with.”

Fu Yan coughed and replied, “She does the same with my wife.”

Wen Nanxi smiled and said, “Who told Ji Ting she smells so good?”

She stepped forward, smiling, to rescue Ji Ting. Ji Ting actually enjoyed the soft little girl’s presence. If the men weren’t around, she might have let Little Yuzu continue snuggling. But with Fu Yan present, she felt a bit embarrassed and handed Little Yuzu back to Wen Nanxi. Little Yuzu happily returned to her mother’s arms and resumed snuggling, which made Ji Ting smile.

So she really does snuggle everywhere.

Until Fu Yan took Little Yuzu, she finally settled down, resting lazily on Fu Yan’s shoulder and no longer nuzzling.

Tan Yucheng handed the porridge to Ji Ting.

Ji Ting took it and chatted with Wen Nanxi while eating. Fu Yan put a bib on Little Yuzu, who would be having milk soon. Tan Yucheng leaned against the counter with his arms crossed, talking to Fu Yan while exchanging glances with the little girl who was kicking her legs in Fu Yan’s arms. Ji Ting and Wen Nanxi found the scene quite amusing.

Once the bib was on Little Yuzu.

The meal was ready.

The housekeeper wiped her hands, indicating that it was time to eat.

She was about to take Little Yuzu, but Fu Yan said, “No need, I’ll feed her myself. You can take a break.”

“Alright.”

The housekeeper took off her apron and went to rest.

Wen Nanxi led Ji Ting to the dining room, where Fu Yan was preparing formulas for Little Yuzu with one hand. Tan Yucheng helped by opening and closing the lid.

Fu Yan was quite the hands-on dad, able to handle all these tasks, and his white T-shirt made him look very refined.

Tan Yucheng, with his shirt sleeves rolled up, stood by the table pouring wine. The child had milk, while the adults had wine.

After Little Yuzu was fed.

The four of them sat down to eat. Little Yuzu was sleeping soundly in the crib, and they drank wine and chatted. It had been a while since Tan Yucheng and Fu Yan had gathered.

During high school, the two of them were often inseparable.

In the two years that Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng were desk mates, Fu Yan sat behind Ji Ting.

However, Fu Yan had a more aloof demeanor compared to Tan Yucheng. He rarely engaged in casual banter and was the type of cool, distant guy.

At the dining table.

Tan Yucheng and Fu Yan were chatting.

Ji Ting and Wen Nanxi were chatting when Wen Nanxi learned that Ji Ting lived in Nan’an Alley. She quietly said, “I live just in front of you.”

Ji Ting blinked and quietly asked, “Wasn’t it your building that got struck by lightning during a thunderstorm one year?”

Wen Nanxi looked up and replied, “Yes, it was our building, and we had a power outage.”

Ji Ting laughed, “I was watching the rain from the windowsill at that time and was scared.”

Wen Nanxi said, “No wonder I often saw you in Nan’an Alley.”

Ji Ting smiled with her eyes crinkling.

It was only after knowing each other for so long that they discovered they lived in the alleys just in front and behind each other.

—

After leaving Fu Yan and Wen Nanxi’s home, it was already late. Tan Yucheng had drunk quite a bit, so they didn’t rush to get the car. Instead, they walked down the slope to the parking lot. Tan Yucheng unbuttoned a few buttons and held Ji Ting’s hand as they strolled, helping to dissipate the effects of the alcohol.

Ji Ting held his hand and naturally leaned against him, tilting her head to look up at him.

Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow and asked, “What are you looking at?”

Ji Ting asked, “Did you used to have an issue with Wen Nanxi?”

Tan Yucheng looked down at her and asked, “Where did you get that idea?”

Ji Ting thought for a moment and said, “Chen Fei mentioned it.”

Tan Yucheng scoffed lightly, “That’s not the case.”

Ji Ting paused for a few seconds and said, “Someone might think you had a similar experience and therefore took it out on Wen Nanxi.”

Tan Yucheng looked at her for a while, then suddenly bent down and picked her up around the waist. Ji Ting gasped in surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck. He carried her, holding her high heels, towards the black car ahead, his voice low and lazy, “Don’t guess randomly.”

He looked at Ji Ting and said, “I felt it was unfair for Fu Yan for a while.”

Ji Ting looked at his profile and asked, “What about you? Have you ever felt it was unfair for yourself?”

Tan Yucheng looked at her and said, “What’s unfair for me? I didn’t wait for her.”

When they reached the car, he opened the door and helped Ji Ting into the driver’s seat. He rested his hand on the car roof and said, “Honey, you’re driving tonight.”

Ji Ting was about to switch to shoes suitable for driving when she heard this, and she looked up at him in surprise. Tan Yucheng smiled, closed the door with a reverse motion, and Ji Ting took hold of the steering wheel, feeling a bit flushed.

Tan Yucheng had already seated himself in the passenger seat. The effects of the alcohol hadn’t completely worn off and were still affecting him.

He buckled his seatbelt and leaned back.

Ji Ting’s cheeks were also flushed.

She started the car and drove out, merging into traffic as they headed to the apartment.

Driven by the effects of the alcohol, that night, Ji Ting found herself sitting on his lap with him holding her waist. Her skirt’s zipper had come undone, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, intermittently asking him what he had shouted.

Tan Yucheng laughed and shouted into her ear again.

Ji Ting shivered lightly and swallowed the fragmented sounds. He tilted his head and kissed her lips.

He then said, “I have to go to Hong Kong with my dad. In the next few days, you should stay with my mom and Aunt Qiu.”

Ji Ting, still a bit dazed, nodded in agreement.

—

Early the next morning, Ji Ting woke up.

There was no one beside her.

She walked out in her nightgown and saw a note on the coffee table.

She walked over to read it.

The milk was being heated, and breakfast had been delivered to the store.

I have a 7 o’clock flight.
— Tan

Ji Ting also remembered what he said last night. She knew he was going to Hong Kong for a reason: Uncle Tan’s company was going public this week. Ji Ting went into the bathroom to wash up, squeezing the toothpaste onto the toothbrush.

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she came out and went to the kitchen to get the milk. She didn’t remember when it started, but since living with him, she had gotten used to drinking hot milk in the morning.

Previously, she used to have coffee at the store.

However, she had grown quite fond of the milk, which was sweet.

After finishing the milk, she found it was still early.

She picked up her tablet and began browsing, and accidentally clicked into the smart surveillance system. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered she had asked him to turn it off. Had he actually turned it off? Ji Ting opened the running application.

It hadn’t been turned off.

Her heart raced even more as she scrolled to the time when they were on the sofa the night before.

There was a video of two people kissing at the entrance, but it stopped there. The system indicated that it had been turned off.

Ji Ting breathed a sigh of relief.

She put the tablet aside and leaned back.

A few seconds later, she picked up the tablet again and played the kissing segment. He really liked holding her waist and kissed her deeply. After watching for a while, Ji Ting closed the application.

She stretched, got up, and went to change clothes.

Having lived together for a while, she still found it a bit odd when he was suddenly not around.

—

In the next two days.

When Tan Yucheng arrived in Hong Kong, he sent her messages, mostly in the evenings as he was busy during the day. On the third afternoon, Qiu Dan called to say she was picking up Xiao Xi.

Ji Lindong was meeting with suppliers and wasn’t at the store.

So when Qiu Dan called to invite Ji Ting to pick up Xiao Xi, Ji Ting drove to pick up Qiu Dan first. Qiu Dan took off her apron and asked Ji Ting, “You know Yucheng went to Hong Kong with Uncle Tan, right?”

Ji Ting smiled and replied calmly, “Yes, I know.”

Qiu Dan nodded and said, “The company is finally going public. Uncle Tan has been preparing for this for years.”

Ji Ting responded with a “Mm.”

They drove to the high-speed train station. Xiao Xi, who liked taking the high-speed train, was waiting with a suitcase. Ji Ting and Qiu Dan walked over, and Xiao Xi’s eyes lit up when she saw Ji Ting. She linked arms with Qiu Dan with one hand and with Ji Ting with the other, and with a beaming smile, she said, “Tingting, you’re truly stunning.”

“You’re really beautiful. You look great.”

Qiu Dan, feeling helpless, glanced at Xiao Xi and asked, “What’s up with you?”

Xiao Xi glanced at Qiu Dan and replied with a smile, “Is it wrong to compliment Tingting?”

Qiu Dan sighed, “Alright.”

Xiao Xi had previously complimented Ji Ting, but never so extravagantly.

Ji Ting felt a bit overwhelmed as Xiao Xi linked her arm with hers and smiled warmly.

After putting the suitcase in the car, the three of them got in. Xiao Xi, watching Ji Ting drive, liked her more and more. She said to Qiu Dan, “Why don’t you and Tingting come stay with me? Keep me company for a few days.”

Qiu Dan, in the passenger seat, asked, “What about Old Ji?”

“Old Ji can wait until Old Tan comes back to pick him up. With the company going public, shouldn’t our two families celebrate a bit?”

Qiu Dan, unable to refuse her close friend, replied, “Alright.”

“Is it convenient for you, Tingting?” Xiao Xi asked again.

Ji Ting smiled and replied, “Aunt Xiao, it’s convenient.”

After all, he wasn’t around.

Spending time with Aunt Xiao was also quite nice.

Xiao Xi nodded, “That’s good. I’ll make delicious food for you.”

Qiu Dan replied, “Whether it’s you cooking or me, it’s not certain.”

Xiao Xi said, “I’m a good cook.”

The two mothers chatted and bantered in the car. When they arrived at Tianyu, the nanny had already cleaned the house and prepared a table of dishes. Xiao Xi seated Qiu Dan and Ji Ting and began to serve the food.

Xiao Xi opened a bottle of red wine and poured a glass for each of them.

Ji Ting found the wine quite pleasant and sweet.

Xiao Xi served dishes to Qiu Dan and Ji Ting, and then took Qiu Dan’s hand, reminiscing, “How many years have we known each other?”

Qiu Dan replied, “Almost ten years.”

“Life really doesn’t offer many decades,” Xiao Xi said with a smile, propping up her chin.

Qiu Dan, eating, agreed, “Yes, that’s true.”

They had first met at a parent-teacher meeting and felt an instant connection. Since Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng were desk mates, and Xiao Xi and Qiu Dan were seated together, they noticed their children’s report cards—one was second and the other was sixth, both in the top ten. This sparked a conversation between the two mothers, who both had accounting backgrounds.

They had even more to talk about.

With shared interests and hobbies, after the parent-teacher meeting, Xiao Xi and Qiu Dan exchanged contact details and started chatting enthusiastically on WeChat.

At that time, Ji Ting didn’t know who Qiu Dan was chatting with.

She only heard about Qiu Dan discussing cooking, plans to open a supermarket in Li City, and more.

Later, Ji Ting’s father, Ji Lindong, got to know Tan Hui, and their conversation was on par with that of Qiu Dan and Xiao Xi. It was then that Ji Ting realized Tan Hui and Xiao Xi were Tan Yucheng’s parents.

At that time, her heart skipped a beat, and she felt somewhat at a loss.

Later, the two families grew closer.

She went from being nervous to feeling at ease and then to becoming accustomed to it.

Xiao Xi picked up the wine bottle and poured a glass for Qiu Dan, saying, “It’s rare in life to meet a close friend like you.”

Qiu Dan accepted the glass, smiling at her, “You’re quite sentimental tonight.”

“Really?”

Xiao Xi set down the bottle, clinked glasses with Qiu Dan, who also felt moved, and then gave Ji Ting a serving of vegetables with her chopsticks, saying, “Tingting, have some vegetables.”

Ji Ting smiled and said, “Thank you, Aunt Xiao.”

She picked up her chopsticks.

At that moment, her phone rang.

A message with a black profile picture came in.

Ji Ting opened it.

Tan: At Tianyu?

Ji Ting replied: Yes, having dinner.

Tan: What time is it and you’re still eating?

Ji Ting: Well, Aunt Xiao is a bit sentimental tonight.

Tan: Is that so?