Heart Flutter

Chapter 137

The screen on Tang Huiyi’s end suddenly shook a few times before the video call abruptly ended, returning to the chat interface.

Ji Yuqing quickly hung up the video, clutching her phone tightly, her expression tense as she stopped Tang Yan from rushing over.

“Yanyan.”

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Tang Yan looked confused.

“I was just video calling your mom…”

Before she could finish, Tang Yan already understood. Her smiling face immediately calmed, and her eyes dropped to the phone in Ji Yuqing’s hand. “Did she see everything?”

“I’m not sure. But I have a feeling she’s going to call back.” The moment Ji Yuqing finished speaking, her phone rang. The sound made both of them tense up instantly.

“Wait, let me take the call over there.” Ji Yuqing was about to walk away with her phone when Tang Yan quickly grabbed her hand, eyes resolute and unafraid. “I’ll go with you.” Whether or not this was the moment they’d been dreading, she was going to face it with her—no way she’d let her go through it alone.

“Hello, senior,” Ji Yuqing answered the call.

“What just happened? Why did the video cut off?” Sure enough, Tang Huiyi was suspicious.

“Oh, that. Yanyan got excited and ran over, scared me so much I nearly dropped my phone. I must’ve accidentally hit the hang-up button,” Ji Yuqing said, forcing a relaxed smile.

Tang Huiyi chuckled. “Yeah, I saw it. She looked so happy. And I think I even saw her about to kiss you.”

Upon hearing that, Ji Yuqing’s face turned pale, while Tang Yan, eavesdropping nearby, tensed up to the max.

But then Tang Huiyi added quickly, “I’m really jealous of you, you know? I haven’t even gotten that close with Yanyan myself. Honestly, you two seem more like mother and daughter than we do.”

So… that’s what she thought?

Ji Yuqing let out a breath of relief. “Well, when people spend a lot of time together, they naturally get close.”

“I’m really happy—truly happy. Is Yanyan with you? I’d like to talk to her.”

Ji Yuqing nodded and handed the phone to Tang Yan.

“Hi, Mom,” Tang Yan greeted, her tone unusually calm.

“Congratulations on graduating, Yanyan! I watched your speech today. It was absolutely amazing. I’m so proud of you. I was wondering… with work and all, will you be coming home for the New Year?”

Tang Yan hesitated. She wasn’t really keen on going back—it was her mom’s remarried household after all. Besides, she barely had enough time as it was with Aunt Ji.

“I’m not sure yet… Depends on how busy work gets.”

“These past few years, your Aunt Ji has done so much for you—helped you through college and all. Now that you’re grown and doing well, don’t forget to repay her kindness. Once you get your paycheck, buy her gifts, treat her to meals, you hear me?”

“I will, Mom.” Tang Yan finally cracked a smile.

She had never told her mother about the years Aunt Ji was away. She kept it hidden because she didn’t want her mom to know that Aunt Ji left because of her.

“Keep doing your best, okay? Be a good role model for your little brother. And no causing trouble for Aunt Ji, got it?”

“I know, Mom. I’d never be a bother to her.” Tang Yan laughed and, as she spoke, reached out her pinky and hooked it around Ji Yuqing’s finger, holding on tightly.

“Alright, alright, I know you’re a good girl. Today’s a day to celebrate, so go enjoy yourself—but don’t go too wild.”

“Okay,” Tang Yan nodded. “I’m off to take graduation photos with my classmates, so I’ll talk to you later, Mom.”

“Go on, go on.”

Finally, the call ended. Both Tang Yan and Ji Yuqing let out a big sigh of relief.

So it was just a false alarm. They thought the storm was coming, but it passed without a drop.

“Did I scare you just now?” Tang Yan grinned mischievously.

Ji Yuqing tapped her nose playfully. “Almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Tang Yan! There you are! Hurry up and come take graduation photos with us!” a classmate called out.

“Coming!” Tang Yan replied, then turned to Ji Yuqing. “I’ll go now.”

“Go on. I’ll wait in the car.” Ji Yuqing smiled as she watched her walk off with her classmates, then called Zhang Miya’s family, who had also come to campus. “I’ve booked a restaurant. When should we head over?”

“We were waiting for you guys to say the word! Today’s all about little Yanyan. Honestly, I haven’t been to this school in years—I’m so lost right now,” Zhang Miya said.

“I’ll send you the parking location. Just come meet us there.”

Everyone posed in their caps and gowns in front of the iconic Huadu University library, smiling into the camera and capturing the most beautiful moment of the day.

Once the photos were taken, it was time to say goodbye. Students from all over the country had gathered in one class, and now they were scattering again, each heading into their own wide-open future. Many might never meet again.

A lot of people cried, especially the more sentimental girls. Tang Yan didn’t, though—she had to keep up her cool image. Cool girls don’t just cry all the time. That wouldn’t be cool at all.

“Don’t forget me when you get rich!”

“Let’s meet up often, okay?”

“I’ll miss you.”

“…”

After waving goodbye to her roommates, Tang Yan walked alone down the tree-lined campus path and realized—it was the same path she took on her first day, backpack on her shoulders. Back then she was young, clueless, a little timid. Now, four years had flown by in the blink of an eye. Time really waits for no one.

After reuniting with Aunt Ji, the two of them drove away from Huadu University. Stepping through those gates, Tang Yan was no longer a student. She had officially entered society.

The dinner party was held in a restaurant on a historic old street, full of vintage charm. It felt like stepping back in time a hundred years. Ji Yuqing had booked a large private room. Tang Yan expected a dinner with family, but to her surprise—even Xia Zihan and the others came. That was unexpected.

Just earlier everyone had been acting all sentimental about saying goodbye, and now here they were again.

Aunt Ji was really thoughtful. She had even contacted Tang Yan’s roommates and classmates—all behind her back.

“Hurry up! We were just waiting for you!” Xia Zihan waved her over.

There was Xiaoyun, the Zhang Miya family, even some of Tang Yan’s professors—the one who helped her get her scholarship back, and her major course instructor. They were probably all invited by Aunt Ji.

Tang Yan was overwhelmed. Even the senior members of the R&D team she joined in junior year showed up. “Senior Wei? You guys too?”

“How could we not come celebrate our amazing junior’s graduation?” Wei Yufan raised a glass to her.

Tang Yan turned to Aunt Ji beside her, eyes full of complex emotion. She wanted to say thank you for arranging everything. She was deeply moved. But more than that, she wanted to wrap her arms around her and kiss her breathless.

The food that night was lavish—fancy dishes and even a few bottles of the restaurant’s finest wine. Everyone was in great spirits.

People tried to get Tang Yan to drink, but she declined gracefully. “I’m driving tonight, so I’ll be toasting with water. Still, I really appreciate everyone for being here—thank you.”

Ji Yuqing was clearly happy too, having already had two glasses of wine. Her cheeks were rosy, and she sat beside Tang Yan, smiling the whole time. Tang Yan loved seeing her like that—beautiful and radiant, more charming than ever.

Under the table, Tang Yan quietly reached out, took her hand, and held it tightly in her palm. Soft, warm, and comforting.

Somehow, the conversation drifted to relationships. Tang Yan just listened, not joining in. Then someone suddenly turned to her with curiosity.

“Hey Tang Yan, didn’t you post a while ago saying you were off the market? Why didn’t you bring your partner tonight? That’s no fun!”

“Yeah, seriously. We’ve all been dying to see what your significant other looks like!”

“Back in school, Tang Yan was like a legend in our department—surrounded by guys but never dating any of them. Four years of staying single, even in the computer science department where the guys outnumber the girls like crazy.”

“Exactly! I’ve always wondered what kind of guy could actually catch your eye. Come on, spill!”

“…”

Everyone chimed in, making wild guesses.

Two people at the table, Xiaoyun and Shen Yuyin, exchanged glances and looked toward Tang Yan and Ji Yuqing.

Even Zhang Miya turned curiously to Ji Yuqing. “Yeah, why didn’t her boyfriend come tonight?”

After a long pause, Tang Yan suddenly turned and looked at Ji Yuqing. Their eyes met—and in that moment, Tang Yan got her silent green light.

She stood up, still holding Ji Yuqing’s hand tightly.

“Everyone, I’d like to officially introduce my partner to you all.”

Ji Yuqing looked a bit shy, pressing her lips together. Tang Yan squeezed her hand encouragingly, both giving each other courage. Around the table, every guest—including Tang Yan’s teachers and Zhang Miya—were stunned.

“I… don’t have a boyfriend,” Tang Yan said, a little embarrassed but smiling. Then she added, “Aunt Ji is my girlfriend.”

The whole table: !!!