Heart Flutter

Chapter 151

The room was pitch dark. Ji Yuqing lay in bed, alone and restless, unable to fall asleep. She kept glancing at her phone, checking the time again and again. Ten minutes passed. Twenty. An hour. Then two. Her mind wouldn’t stop conjuring up images—what did Yan Yan look like when she was with someone else? What were they doing?

Meanwhile, Tang Yan was helping President Chen into a cab. She struggled to tell the driver their destination in her not-so-fluent, heavily accented English. Thankfully, they made it back without a hitch. Back in school, Tang Yan never imagined she’d one day study abroad. China’s exam-based education never really emphasized speaking skills—unless you went to a private or language-focused school. She’d always been about test scores. Only now did she realize that a perfect English score meant nothing if she couldn’t hold a confident, fluid conversation.

She’d poured all her college years into her major, barely squeezing past the CET-4 exam. That was on her.

“President Chen, we’re here. Let me help you out,” she said, fumbling to keep things polite and respectful. Chen Yuyan was completely out of it, relying entirely on Tang Yan to stay upright.

They finally got to her room. Tang Yan’s only thought was to get President Chen settled and then head back herself.

“Where’s your room key?” she asked.

“Mmm… in my bag, I think…” Chen mumbled.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Yan braced herself and dug through the bag—just for the key, she swore.

Once inside, she helped President Chen onto the bed and was just about to leave when she heard the all-too-familiar sound of someone about to throw up. Her heart jumped—if she puked lying down, she could choke. Without hesitation, Tang Yan rushed back to turn her onto her side.

The second she did, President Chen vomited—all over her.

Tang Yan didn’t even flinch. She ran to the bathroom, rinsed off the worst from her chest, then returned with a basin of water to help clean up. By the time she finished, another hour had passed. She was so drained she could’ve passed out standing. After making sure Chen was sleeping soundly, she finally exhaled and closed the door behind her.

The hallway was quiet. Her shirt was soaked, clinging to her skin—she looked a complete mess. It was past midnight. Aunt Ji had probably gone to bed.

She slipped into their room as quietly as possible. It was still dark, and she could vaguely see someone lying on the bed. Figuring Aunt Ji was asleep, she used her phone flashlight to tiptoe forward.

But just then, Ji Yuqing spoke, startling her.

“You’re back.”

Tang Yan froze on the spot like she’d been caught red-handed.

“I… yeah. Just got back. Didn’t want to wake you, so I didn’t turn on the light. You’re still up?”

Ji Yuqing sat up, switched on the lamp, flooding the room with warm light.

“What happened to your clothes?” she asked instantly.

Tang Yan looked embarrassed. “President Chen… she drank too much and threw up on me a little.”

Ji Yuqing pressed her lips together. “Go take a shower.”

“I will, right away!” Tang Yan turned to go.

“Wait.” Ji Yuqing suddenly called her back. Her eyes had just caught a smudge of lipstick on Tang Yan’s shirt collar.

“What is it?” Tang Yan stopped, puzzled.

“Nothing,” Ji Yuqing forced a smile. “Go on. It’s late. I’m going to sleep.”

“Okay. I’ll be quick. Don’t wait up,” Tang Yan replied, grabbing her pajamas and heading to the bathroom.

The door shut.

Ji Yuqing turned her back to the room, facing the wall. Her heart was a tangled mess. She bit her knuckle, trying not to let the pain show. Maybe they needed to talk about this, clear the air. But… what if she was wrong? What if she was just being insecure and petty?

She had her pride. She didn’t want to be the kind of woman who acted paranoid and possessive. She wanted to trust her.

Inside the bathroom, Tang Yan finally noticed it in the mirror. As she unbuttoned her shirt, the bright light revealed a vivid smear of lipstick near her collar. Not her shade—it was far too bold.

Her mind flicked to one person.

President Chen.

She must’ve brushed against her while helping her walk. Damn. If Aunt Ji had seen that, she’d definitely misunderstand. Tang Yan quickly stripped off the shirt and rinsed it under the faucet. She’d explain after her shower.

When she came out, she softly called out to Aunt Ji. No response. She must’ve fallen asleep.

She climbed into bed gently. Tomorrow morning, then, she thought. Let her sleep for now.

She turned off the bedside lamp and drifted off quickly.

Beside her, Ji Yuqing lay silent for a long time. Only once the room was completely still did she finally open her eyes. She rolled over, staring at the ceiling in the darkness.

She didn’t sleep a wink.

At 5 a.m., Ji Yuqing got up and quietly packed. She’d bought a ticket for the earliest flight home. She glanced once at Tang Yan, still asleep, and couldn’t bear to wake her. She left a note on the nightstand and wheeled her suitcase out of the room.

At 6 a.m., she reached the hotel lobby—just in time to run into Chen Yuyan.

A little puffy from her hangover, Chen still looked flawless with her full makeup on, ready for another day of meetings.

“You’re up early. Heading back to China?” she asked with a smile.

“Yeah. Something came up,” Ji Yuqing replied, polite but distant.

“Sorry for keeping Tang Yan so long last night. Hope you don’t mind,” Chen said, covering her mouth as she chuckled. “She really is a thoughtful girl. Great at taking care of people.”

Ji Yuqing knew exactly what she was trying to do—get under her skin. But she wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

“Thanks for the compliment. I’ll be sure to pass it on to Yan Yan.”

Then she added quickly, cutting off any chance for a follow-up, “If there’s nothing else, I need to catch my flight. Excuse me.”

Without another word, she walked past her, cold and proud. Chen Yuyan watched her go, shrugging with a helpless smile. If she can’t even handle that little jab, how will she deal with bigger challenges?

Upstairs, Tang Yan had no idea that Aunt Ji was gone.

Her alarm woke her. She reached out instinctively to hug the person beside her—only to grab at empty space.

She’s already up?

Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. The room was bright and quiet.

“Aunt Ji? Aunt Ji?” she called out a few times, then spotted the note on the nightstand.

“I’ve gone back to China. Going to visit my mom at the care center. I’ll be back in a couple of days.”

So sudden.

The note said she’d be back soon, but Tang Yan couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong. She must be upset about last night.

It’s all my fault. She shouldn’t have come back so late. She should’ve explained right away. Or better yet, never gone to that dinner.

Tang Yan sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the note. The emptiness and panic swelled inside her like a wave.

She quickly grabbed her phone and called.

The number you dialed is currently powered off.

Just then, another call came in—it was President Chen.

“Tang Yan, you up yet? We’re heading to the office. Everyone’s here—just waiting on you.”

“S-Sorry, I’m on my way,” Tang Yan stammered, snapping out of it. Right. She still had work.

“No worries. I know I kept you late last night. You must’ve gone to bed late. Come down quick—we’re waiting.”

After the call, Tang Yan rushed through her morning routine. No time for makeup—she went down bare-faced to meet the team.

All day, Chen Yuyan had them attending meetings. But Tang Yan clearly wasn’t herself. She was distracted, zoning out, messing up simple tasks. She checked her phone every chance she got, calling Aunt Ji repeatedly—still powered off.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuqing had landed. She finally turned her phone back on and drove to the care facility to visit her mother. She hadn’t been back in a while—this was the perfect excuse. A chance to cool down, to reset.

But once she was actually standing there, separated by miles and silence, she started to regret it. She missed her. She worried leaving without a word had hurt her. She wondered if Yan Yan was doing okay.

Back in the U.S., Tang Yan was drowning in work. Chen Yuyan kept her busy—maybe on purpose. And in a way, Tang Yan was grateful. Being busy made it easier to forget… if only for a while.

Without Aunt Ji, every second dragged like an hour.

Finally, during a rare break when Chen wasn’t around, Tang Yan managed to get through.

“You said two days. It’s been three,” Tang Yan choked out. “I miss you. I’m going crazy. Please come back.”

Ji Yuqing stood outside the care facility, suitcase in hand. She looked up at her mother’s lit hospital window, feeling a pang in her heart.

“I’m coming back soon,” she said softly.

And with those words, she smiled—a real smile, one that swept away all her worries and doubts.

“I’ll wait for you,” Tang Yan said urgently. “I’ll be here waiting.”

Before Ji Yuqing returned to San Francisco, Chen Yuyan had already left. After a week-long stay, she was recalled back to China.

Tang Yan had already looked up the exact flight Aunt Ji would be on. She waited at the hotel, fresh flowers and red wine ready. She’d even dressed up—wore perfume she normally avoided, the scent Ji liked most.

Ji Yuqing got out of the cab and headed into the hotel, dragging her suitcase behind her. She took the elevator up. Her heart beat faster the closer she got. Maybe it was nerves from their brief separation. Or maybe it was the anticipation of seeing someone you missed.

Ding-dong.

Before she could steady herself, the door burst open and Tang Yan threw herself into her arms.

“I missed you so much.”

Ji Yuqing hugged her back tightly, smiling. “I missed you too.”

“Actually, about that night…”

Tang Yan started explaining, but Ji Yuqing gently interrupted her.

Resting her chin on Tang Yan’s shoulder, she said with a smile, “You don’t have to explain. I understand. I trust you.”

“No, I have to say it.” Tang Yan bit her lip. “It was my fault. I didn’t think about how you’d feel. I thought when you said it was okay, you meant it. But I was stupid.”

“Silly girl. I really wasn’t upset.”

“Well, I don’t care. I don’t want anyone coming between us ever again. If it comes to that, I’ll quit this job.”

“Hey now, don’t say that.” Ji Yuqing reached up and covered her mouth.

Tang Yan took the chance to kiss her fingers, pulling her close. “Promise me you’ll always tell me when something’s bothering you, okay? I’m not the sharpest, I know. I can’t think of everything, but I’ll learn. I swear. I was so scared you’d leave me again.”

Ji Yuqing lowered her head. “And I shouldn’t have left like that. I’m sorry. I hurt you, and I worried you.”

Tang Yan shook her head. “It’s always my fault. Aunt Ji has never done anything wrong. But next time, you can’t sneak off while I’m asleep. Or else I’ll…”

“Or else what?” Ji Yuqing looked up at her, playing along.

“I’ll make sure you can’t get out of bed for three days and nights!” Tang Yan declared—and with a burst of energy, she scooped Ji Yuqing right off the ground, kicked the door shut, and charged into the bedroom like a hungry wolf.

At last, the storm had passed, and everything was forgiven.