Heart Flutter

Chapter 15

It was Monday, the day to return to school.

Tang Yan woke up early and could not fall back asleep. She tossed and turned for a while before finally deciding to get up. She had already packed her belongings the night before. When she emerged into the living room, she noticed that Auntie Ji’s bedroom door was slightly ajar. Worried about disturbing her, she moved about quietly, like a little grown-up. She not only tidied her own room but also started cleaning the entire apartment. While she was mopping the living room floor, Ji Yuqing came out of her room, already dressed and made up.

“Yanyan, there is a cleaning lady who comes regularly to do all of this. You do not need to—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Tang Yan interrupted her. “It is fine, Auntie Ji. I am used to doing these things at home.”

Walking over to her, Ji Yuqing firmly took the mop from Tang Yan’s hand and said very seriously, “You do not need to do any of this when you are with me.”

Tang Yan paused in surprise.

Then, holding the mop, Ji Yuqing moved away and called back, “Have you finished getting ready? Let us get breakfast outside before I drop you off at school.”

Tang Yan quickly replied, “I am all set. Sure!”

By the time Ji Yuqing came back from putting away the mop, Tang Yan already had her backpack on. Walking past her again, Ji Yuqing said, “Wait for me a moment. I need to grab my purse.”

Tang Yan watched her the entire way, noticing that her aunt’s outfit had a simple, fresh Japanese style to it. She also wondered how Auntie Ji’s injured leg felt and whether she could still drive. Tang Yan had realized that Auntie Ji was someone who managed her life independently and never showed others her struggles. Outwardly, she always appeared calm and gentle. Yet, the more composed she looked, the more curious Tang Yan felt about what might be hidden beneath the surface.

When Ji Yuqing reappeared with her purse, Tang Yan was already standing at the door, shoes on and backpack over her shoulders. It was only after they got in the car that Tang Yan dared to ask, “Auntie Ji, is your leg injury all right? Are you sure you can drive?”

Ji Yuqing had just been about to start the engine, but she paused and burst out laughing. “My foot still works, you know.”

Tang Yan pursed her lips, feeling a bit confused.

Noticing her perplexity, Ji Yuqing reassured her. “It truly did not hurt anymore.”

“Really?” Tang Yan asked eagerly, lowering her head to glance at Auntie Ji’s leg, though it was covered by her pants.

“Yes, truly. Why would I lie to you?” With that, Ji Yuqing started driving, quickly changing the subject. “What do you feel like having for breakfast? Would you like to try that Cantonese cafe on Chengtian Street?”

“Yes!” Tang Yan answered without hesitation, but then added in a hushed tone, “I am just not sure if we will have enough time.”

“Do not worry. I have it all planned out, and the timing should work perfectly.”

Hearing this, Tang Yan trusted her without reservation. She believed that Auntie Ji was someone who did things carefully and never boasted. If she said it was possible, then it had to be.

Tang Yan’s life experience expanded yet again. The moment they walked into the restaurant, she felt the strong Cantonese atmosphere. Inside, the tables were neatly arranged, and other customers were enjoying their morning tea while chatting with friends and family at a leisurely pace. The entire scene brimmed with everyday warmth.

Because there were only two of them, they did not order too many dishes to avoid waste. However, Auntie Ji insisted that they had to try the shrimp siu mai—an essential morning tea classic. She also ordered a few other dishes, taking full control of the menu while Tang Yan simply waited to eat. Tang Yan trusted her aunt’s taste completely, convinced that someone who cooked so well would never have poor judgment in food. In the end, her faith was proven correct; Tang Yan loved every dish. She even wanted more when they finished.

Each dish came in a modest portion—just enough to tantalize, leaving you wanting more for next time.

After leaving the cafe, they drove for about ten more minutes before arriving at school. Since Auntie Ji had to go to work after dropping Tang Yan off, she did not walk her inside.

Before she left, Ji Yuqing rolled down the car window and said, “Call me if you need anything.”

Tang Yan stood there with her backpack, nodding as she watched the car turn around and drive off. She felt an unexpected twinge of reluctance. Why had the short holiday gone by so quickly?

That sudden thought made her feel a bit down. She turned around and started walking toward the school when someone came up from behind and tapped her on the shoulder.

“I knew it was you!” said a familiar voice.

Turning around, she saw it was her roommate, Xia Zihan. Tang Yan smiled in greeting.

“I just saw someone who really looked like you getting out of a white Benz, so I followed to check. Turns out it was you after all,” Xia Zihan explained.

“That was my aunt’s car. She gave me a ride,” Tang Yan replied.

“Who exactly is your aunt to you, anyway? She treats you so well. Is it really as simple as saying she is just your mother’s friend?” Xia Zihan asked, eyeing her with a trace of doubt.

Under that gaze, Tang Yan became somewhat nervous and mumbled softly, “She really is just my mom’s friend and nothing more. Except…”

“Except what? Does your aunt owe your mom a huge sum of money or something?”

“No!” Tang Yan sounded startled by that guess. “Though my mom did say she once helped Auntie Ji with something. But I have no clue what it was.”

“Oh… then it must have been something really big,” Xia Zihan mused absentmindedly. “Otherwise, who would be so kind for no reason?” Her offhand remark struck Tang Yan like a bolt of truth.

Yes, who would treat someone well for no reason? The only reason Auntie Ji cared for her so much was because of her mother. If her mother had not been that connection, then she and Auntie Ji would probably just be strangers. The thought pricked at Tang Yan’s heart, making her feel uneasy and a bit depressed.

Sensing Tang Yan’s sudden change in mood, Xia Zihan quickly tried to make her laugh by sharing some funny incident from the previous day. Tang Yan’s laughter soon rang out, sweeping away any negativity. Why overthink things? She reminded herself to appreciate the present moment.

At 9:00 a.m. on Monday, they gathered on the sports field for military training. They first had to return to the dorm to change into their camouflage uniforms. The other three girls in the dorm started changing clothes right there, but Tang Yan took her uniform to the restroom to change, prompting teasing remarks from the others. “Is Tang Yan really that shy? We are all girls here!”

True, they were all girls. Tang Yan could hear them from behind the closed door, but she could not bring herself to change in front of everyone. Even wearing a bra, she felt uneasy and awkward. Her mind flashed back to the scene from the night before, when she accidentally saw every inch of Auntie Ji. She recalled the fair skin at her alluring collarbone and what lay beneath. Suddenly feeling lightheaded, she realized her nose was starting to bleed.

A moment later, the sound of someone slipping came from the restroom. Everyone rushed in and helped Tang Yan up.

“Tang Yan, are you sure you do not have low blood sugar?”

“Your nose is bleeding. Maybe you have too much internal heat?”

“Perhaps you should skip military training and ask the drill instructor for leave.”

They all started buzzing with suggestions, and Tang Yan raised her hand to stop them. “I am fine, really. I can take part in the training.”

Just then, Xia Zihan noticed the pendant on Tang Yan’s necklace. “Your necklace is so pretty.”

The other two girls also crowded around, chatting excitedly about whether it was some foreign brand or how much it might cost if purchased through an agent. Tang Yan did not understand any of that.

The training lasted until 5:30 p.m. that afternoon. Tang Yan was about to head to the cafeteria with Xia Zihan when she received a message on her phone.

“Zihan, I might not be able to eat with you,” Tang Yan told her, sounding regretful.

“Why not?” Xia Zihan seemed upset.

Tang Yan explained, “I am in a club that is having a welcome dinner for new members tonight, so I really have to go. I will make it up to you tomorrow, all right?”

“Fine, fine. But let me know if there are any handsome guys. Introduce them to me!” A moment ago, Xia Zihan had sounded disappointed. Now, she brightened immediately. The two parted ways as soon as they left the sports field.

Since Tang Yan did not know exactly where the club dinner was, she opened the group chat where the location had been posted and followed the map. It was a self-service barbecue and hot pot restaurant on the commercial street behind campus. She went up to the second floor and spotted a few large tables pushed together, already filled with guys and girls chatting and laughing.

Nobody recognized Tang Yan, and she did not know anyone either. Unsure how to greet them, she hesitated until Shen Yuyin, a senior who had invited her to the group chat, came over to rescue her from the awkward situation.

“You are here so early. Come on, I will introduce you.” Shen Yuyin led her over and introduced her as a new freshman from the computer science department. Several guys perked up with interest.

“She is in our department, too? Sit over here with us, and we will take care of you,” they offered.

Feeling a bit shy, Tang Yan chose a seat on the edge by herself.

“I was wondering who that girl in camouflage was, standing there all alone,” one of the boys joked. “I guessed maybe you were one of our new club members. Looks like I was right. We are all in the same club now, so if you need anything, talk to me or any of the upperclassmen. We can help each other out and improve together.”

Tang Yan nodded, smiling timidly.

Noticing the situation, Shen Yuyin teased the boy, “Stop scaring her. This is a welcome dinner, not some kind of dating event.”

Just then, another guy asked, “Hey, do you have a boyfriend?”

Tang Yan shook her head. “No,” she answered softly.

With a mock-stern expression, Shen Yuyin cut him off again. “I am warning you. Do not get any funny ideas about our new member.”

Tang Yan stole a glance at her senior’s profile. Though she had spoken in a joking tone, Tang Yan could tell she was genuinely helping her out. She felt very grateful.

Several other students soon arrived, all wearing the same military training clothes, although a few had gone back to their dorms first to shower, change, and do their makeup. Everyone finally gathered around. Because the club president had other tasks assigned by the school, the job of organizing fell to Vice President Shen. She stood up and said a few words, mostly thanking everyone for coming and talking about how fate had brought them together, hoping they would all work hard to build the club’s future.

Tang Yan was not social by nature and spent most of the evening quietly seated in a corner, occasionally eating or fiddling with her phone. By that time of day, she figured that Auntie Ji was probably already home from work. She decided to send her a brief greeting. Usually, she did not dare to message her aunt first without a good reason, worried that she might be bothering her.

Tang Yan: Auntie Ji, is your leg feeling better? Try not to get it wet tonight if you can, so it will heal faster.

After a while, she received a reply.

Ji Yuqing: It felt much better, and it did not hurt anymore. Yanyan is so thoughtful, checking up on me like this.

Tang Yan’s face grew warm as she typed back: I am glad to hear that. Please be careful if you use the bathroom at night, so you do not slip. I actually slipped a bit myself today.

She never knew why, but every time she interacted with Auntie Ji, she instinctively kept a formal tone, almost like reporting to a teacher. She was so afraid of overstepping any boundary that she tiptoed around everything, worried her aunt might find her annoying.

Ji Yuqing: You slipped too? Are you all right? Was it bad?

Tang Yan: It was nothing serious, just a small slip. I did not get hurt.

Ji Yuqing: Still, you should be careful. Have you gone back to your dorm yet?

Tang Yan: I am off campus right now. My club is having a welcome dinner this evening.

Ji Yuqing: That sounds nice. Have fun, and remember to head back early and stay safe.

Tang Yan: I will. Thank you.

Tang Yan thoroughly enjoyed chatting with her aunt and caught herself smiling without knowing it. But when she finally looked up from her phone, she found that Senior Shen had quietly taken a seat right across from her. Startled, she gasped.

“When did you get here, Senior?”

“I just sat down. It was getting too noisy over there,” Shen replied, resting her chin on her hand. “Why did you not join in? You have been so quiet all night.”

Tang Yan gave a shy laugh and answered honestly, “I never know what to talk about with everyone. I am not good with words, so I figured I would just stay out of the way.”

Shen nodded as though she understood. After all, not everyone liked to be in the middle of all the commotion. “By the way, that afternoon—who was the person who came to pick you up from school?”