Under the Dusk - Chapter 25

The air conditioning in the room was turned off, and the window was open. The weather seemed nice, with a cool breeze blowing in, soothing her mood.

Ji Yan had a pleasant scent.

He lifted the blanket, and his warm, dry hand touched her forehead. Ruan Shu was still pretending to sleep, her eyes closed, but her eyelashes fluttered slightly. Then she heard Ji Yan speak from a spot not far away, “Your fever’s gone. Want to get up and eat something?”

She had intended to keep pretending to sleep.

“Oh… what time is it?”

Her throat was still a bit dry, making her voice hoarse. But her eyes were moist, dark, and shining. Ji Yan felt his own throat itch as he looked at her.

He said it was five o’clock.

She had slept the entire day.

Last night, they didn’t sleep until the early hours of the morning, changing positions one after another, almost making her pass out from pleasure. Not a single drop of s*men was left; it was all shot onto the base of her thighs. In the end, a few drops were smeared onto her ni*ples.

At that time, Ruan Shu was already not very clear-headed, only knowing that he was constantly thrusting into her bre*sts, her chest already red from being ravaged, and this was still because her little h*le couldn’t take it anymore. She had never gone this wild before. In the latter half of the night, Ruan Shu kept having a fever, and Ji Yan took care of her for a long time, giving her some fever-reducing medicine, and occasionally checking her temperature, which had just went down.
Ji Yan wanted to say, “If you can’t stand it anymore, tell me.”

But just as the words were on the tip of his tongue, he remembered that Ruan Shu had already said it last night.

She had been crying and begging him, saying, “Yan Ge, please stop…” But he had acted like a beast, relentlessly taking her.

Ruan Shu could only sob and lean her head on his shoulder, enduring it until she was gasping for breath before he finally stopped.

***

These past few days, He Yunfei hadn’t seen Ruan Shu.

A while ago, she had mentioned coming over for a haircut, saying her bangs were getting too long and were poking her eyes. She had asked He Yunfei to trim them for her.

In the afternoon, He Yunfei sat in Qin Fu’s shop chatting, holding his big orange cat—a stray his girlfriend had picked up a while ago. In just half a month, it had ballooned into a chubby ball of fur. He said, “Why haven’t I seen Ruan Shu lately? What’s she been up to?”

Qin Fu hadn’t seen her either.

When they asked Cen Baishuang, she said, “She’s at the milk tea shop. I saw her the day before yesterday. She said business has been so good that they were still taking orders and making milk tea at 1 a.m.”

“But don’t they close at midnight?” He Yunfei asked.

After all, Guoguo Milk Tea wasn’t a 24-hour operation.

Perhaps the shop’s popularity as a internet-famous spot, combined with the nearby night market—one of Lanyang’s hot attractions—had drawn a constant stream of tourists coming to check it out.

Recently, the cultural and tourism bureau had issued a notice encouraging out-of-town visitors to experience Lanyang’s vibrant night culture. As a result, businesses in the area were practically working around the clock.

Ruan Shu was pulling double shifts, day and night.

It was no wonder everyone hadn’t seen her much.

He Yunfei nodded, about to ask, “Then how come even Brother Yan, who lives next door, hasn’t seen her?” when Ji Yan stood up from the couch.

He had been silent until now.

The afternoon heat was intense. The rolling shutter door had been left wide open, and the sun scorched the ground. Qin Fu’s repair shop couldn’t afford air conditioning, so a few large fans whirred noisily, powerful but offering little relief from the heat.

Seeing this, He Yunfei enthusiastically invited him, “Brother Yan, my shop has air conditioning. Come over and sit for a bit.”

Ji Yan lifted his eyelids slightly and said calmly, “No.”

“Then where are you going? It’s so hot out.”

Ji Yan said, “To check on the shop.”

With just those two words, his shadow on the ground turned and disappeared into the dusk without looking back.

The scorching summer.

The air conditioning at the milk tea shop, however, was excellent. Even though the place was bustling, the cold air was enough to give you goosebumps. Ruan Shu had just grabbed some ice, and her fair fingertips had turned a pretty shade of pink from the cold.

She was making a mango pomelo sago.

She had forgotten that the previous customer had asked for less ice, so she fished a few cubes out. Mixed with the sweet aroma of mango, she finished sealing it with the machine.

“—Please pick up order number 3506.” The in-store announcement sounded.

Business seemed to be booming.

Ji Yan entered the shop and skillfully ordered a mango pomelo sago at the counter. “Less sugar, no ice.”

After a moment’s thought, he changed his order. “70% sugar, no pomelo, extra sago.”

“Got it, sir. Please pay here.”

Ruan Shu hadn’t expected him to come.

Wearing a mask, she worked silently, her slender arms pale from the cold breeze. Ji Yan stood to the side, subtly adjusting the air conditioner vent upward.

He didn’t say a word to her the entire time he was ordering.

However, many of the girls in line couldn’t help but glance his way, whispering among themselves. Without even listening closely, it was clear they were discussing Ji Yan.

The man had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, dressed in slacks and a shirt with his sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing well-defined forearms. His sharp, handsome features were almost too striking—just being gripped by him could send someone over the edge.

Ruan Shu’s movements with the ice cubes suddenly became louder, and Xia Chunchun, working beside her, asked what was wrong.

“Nothing, the ice is just cold.”

Xia Chunchun said, “But… aren’t you using tongs?”

It wasn’t like she was handling the ice directly.

Ruan Shu shot back, “Since when do you care?”

Ji Yan overheard this and smiled faintly. Sensing his gaze on her, Ruan Shu kept her head down and continued working. Before long, someone walked over and lightly tapped the counter. Ruan Shu looked up to see Ji Yan standing in front of her.

“Bring it to me when it’s ready,” he said.

Then he placed the receipt on the counter in front of her.

***

Ruan Shu got off work close to 11 p.m., thanks to the manager letting her leave early.

The night at Jianzheng Road was alive with the hustle and bustle of life.

Under the gentle glow of the streetlights, Ruan Shu followed her shadow to a fork in the road, where a camphor tree stood. Parked beneath it was Ji Yan’s car.

She tapped on the window, and Ji Yan said, “Get in the car.”