Heart Flutter

Chapter 37

On the morning of the second day after she returned home, she opened the bedroom window. A ray of sunlight streamed inside, the air felt fresh, and the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers filled the surroundings, with fallen petals scattered everywhere. Ji Yuqing had gotten up early. She tied her long hair into a ponytail, changed into casual sportswear, and decided to skip running on her stuffy home treadmill in favor of jogging around the lake in the neighborhood.

Just as she stepped out the door and turned around, she bumped into Aunt Zhang, who lived upstairs. As always, Aunt Zhang was responsible for preparing her family’s three daily meals and left at the earliest hour to buy fresh ingredients.

Ji Yuqing nodded and greeted her. Aunt Zhang then suddenly recalled something and said, “A few days ago, when you weren’t home, a blonde girl came by.”

“A blonde girl?” In Ji Yuqing’s memory, she couldn’t recall knowing someone like that.

“Yes, she looked so much like you that if you weren’t unmarried and still young, I’d have thought she was your daughter.”

Ji Yuqing pulled at the corner of her mouth, feeling a bit awkward. “Aunt Zhang, you must be joking.”

“Well then, I have to hurry and buy groceries so I can get back to cook.”

“Take care!” Ji Yuqing waved goodbye, silently wondering to herself about a young girl who resembled her. It seemed there could be no one else but that one person.

When she was twenty-five, it had been the first time since she left home at eighteen—seven years earlier—that she had returned. Her career had been steadily advancing, and she finally had enough savings to bring her mother out of that house. That was also the first time she met the daughter her father had with another woman. If she remembered correctly, the girl’s name was Shen Yuyin. At the time, it disgusted Ji Yuqing that her father used the same character from her own name when naming that child.

That girl was around nine or ten years old, extremely bright and beautiful, looking very much like a younger version of herself. It was obvious her father doted on this daughter, giving her the best in food, clothing, and daily life—far better than what Ji Yuqing had received as a child.

At that age, she was inevitably proud and impulsive. She had once resented and envied that girl. Later, when helping her mother go through divorce proceedings, it proved far from easy. First, her father had not wanted to be labeled by their social circle as someone who abandoned his wife, so he was content to keep both women around as though nothing were wrong. Second, for the first two years after she brought her mother out, her mother had not really wanted to end that nominal marriage.

Fortunately, as the years passed, as she grew more mature, and as her own financial position strengthened, she gained the leverage to confront her birth family. The divorce case dragged on for several years before the final verdict granted her mother freedom.

Only then did her mother finally understand how wonderful life could be for a woman living on her own terms. She gradually began making new friends, going shopping, getting beauty treatments, and even traveling for relaxation.

But those carefree days did not last long. Her mother became ill just as Ji Yuqing had been promoted to sales director and was so busy she barely had time to sleep. She commuted between her company and home every day. In the early stages, her mother’s illness was not severe; she merely lost or forgot things now and then. Over time, however, she would often wander off on her own, get lost, and sustain injuries.

With no spare time to care for her mother and no ability to quit her job, there was little choice but to place her mother in the best nursing home she could afford so that her own guilt might be eased, if only slightly.

Now, her greatest wish was for her mother’s peaceful well-being. That alone would be enough.

By the time she finished running, sweat was pouring down her face like raindrops, tracing a path along her fair cheeks and gathering in the dip of her visible collarbone. Her breathing rose and fell in a steady rhythm.

She still had no idea why Shen Yuyin had come to this area. If she had come to see Yan Yan, it seemed unlikely.

When Tang Yan woke up, the house felt quiet. She picked up the phone by her bed and glanced at the time—7:35. She squinted, rubbed her eyes, and felt more awake. She half-sat up and yawned, then considered getting out of bed, only to realize she hadn’t slept well. She lay back down, intending to linger a bit longer. She had just shut her eyes when a string of message alerts made her phone buzz so intensely it hurt her ears.

She picked up her phone again and saw several messages from the same person—her cousin, Tang Yawen, with whom she had not been in touch for a long time.

Tang Yawen: I already bought my train ticket for tomorrow and should arrive the day after in the morning.

Tang Yawen: How are you planning to welcome your brother?

Tang Yawen: Hey, are you still sleeping? You’re so lazy. Reply to me as soon as you see this.

Tang Yawen: I don’t have much money on me, so book a hotel for me. I know your mom gave you plenty. She married a wealthy businessman, so you’re not short on cash.

Tang Yawen: You hear me? I don’t want to say it twice.

After reading these messages, Tang Yan’s heart began to race with a nervous thumping that made her feel unsettled. It took her a while to calm down. All the unpleasant memories from her past rushed back: those fears and anxieties that nearly made her unable to breathe. Without thinking, Tang Yan flung her phone away, as if it were burning her fingers.

She chose not to reply. Yes, she decided to ignore him.

She had worked so hard to escape from that place. She wanted nothing more to do with anyone she disliked, nor did she want any entanglement with them.

She sat on the bed in a daze for a while. Then her phone started ringing from where it had landed, vibrating noisily. She jolted, her heart skipping a beat. She waited a long time before crawling over to look at it. The screen showed an incoming call from Zhao Xiaoyun, and she finally felt relieved. She hurriedly answered.

Her voice trembled slightly when she spoke. “Xiaoyun… is that you?”

“Yan Yan, what are you doing? It took you forever to pick up. Don’t tell me you’re still in bed,” came Zhao Xiaoyun’s familiar tone and voice.

“I’m up. Just got up.”

“Do you have time tonight? Let’s grab a bite. I made quite a bit of money these last few days working part-time, so I’ll treat you.”

“All right.”

They met that evening at a food stall in the old town, not far from Aunt Ji’s home—about a fifteen-minute bus ride away.

Before leaving, Tang Yan told Aunt Ji where she was going. After arriving, she sent her a location pin.

That day, Zhao Xiaoyun wore a light autumn jacket paired with an ankle-length pleated skirt and canvas shoes. She had applied light makeup and tied her hair into two pigtails, exuding a youthful vibrancy.

After sitting down, her first question was, “Strange. Did you come alone? I thought Aunt Ji would bring you.”

“Because it wasn’t far, I came by myself. I can’t rely on her for everything.”

“You have a point.” Zhao Xiaoyun took the menu from the server and handed it to Tang Yan. “See what you’d like to eat.”

Tang Yan shook her head politely. “You can order. I’m not picky—I’ll eat anything.”

“All right.” Zhao Xiaoyun ordered a few moderately priced dishes and asked the server to bring a few bottles of beer. She opened one with a well-practiced twist.

When the cap popped off, Tang Yan flinched in surprise. Laughing, she said, “That’s impressive.”

“There’s nothing to it. I can even open bottles with my teeth. You’re still a student, so this might seem new to you, but I’ve been out in the world working, so drinking has become second nature.”

Tang Yan drank water while they snacked and chatted about old times, feeling as though they had returned to the past.

In no time, Zhao Xiaoyun finished her first bottle of beer. She popped a peanut into her mouth and looked up to ask, “Have you kept in touch with your uncle’s family at all? They treated you pretty badly back then, hoping you’d leave.”

Tang Yan shook her head. “Ever since I came to Huadu, I haven’t had any contact with them, but…”

“What?” Zhao Xiaoyun suddenly noticed Tang Yan’s expression wasn’t good.

Tang Yan set down her chopsticks and asked for a beer. “Could you pour me a glass?”

Surprised, Zhao Xiaoyun still obliged and filled a cup for her.

Tang Yan took it, then drained it in one gulp, leaving Zhao Xiaoyun stunned. “You don’t usually drink. Don’t down it so fast—you’ll get drunk.”

Tang Yan inhaled sharply, feeling her mind clear a bit. “My cousin said he’s coming to Huadu.”

Zhao Xiaoyun was astonished and subconsciously spoke with anger. “What’s he doing here? Is he planning to find you? Ugh, he’s so persistent.”

Tang Yan nodded. “He wants me to give him money, but I ignored him.”

“Did you tell Aunt Ji?” Zhao Xiaoyun pressed.

Tang Yan shook her head again. “No, I don’t want to trouble her or drag her into this messy business—even I look down on these troubles. Besides, she’s already stressed out about her mother’s situation.” She poured herself another cup of beer, gulping it down.

“This is Huadu, the nation’s central hub with tight security. There’s no way he’d dare do anything too extreme. It’s not like he can just barge into your school and find you,” Zhao Xiaoyun said through gritted teeth.

An hour later, Tang Yan was already dead drunk, slumped over the table, alternating between laughing and crying. Zhao Xiaoyun couldn’t do anything to stop her and grew anxious about how to get her home. Just then, Tang Yan’s phone rang again. Seeing the caller ID, Zhao Xiaoyun realized it was Aunt Ji and picked it up right away.

On the other end of the line, the woman asked, “It’s getting late; when are you coming back?”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhao Xiaoyun replied, “Hello, Auntie. I’m Tang Yan’s friend, Zhao Xiaoyun. I’m afraid Tang Yan can’t make it back on her own right now.”

After hanging up, Ji Yuqing drove over without hesitation. She saw a thoroughly intoxicated Tang Yan and couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

She helped Tang Yan off the table and asked Zhao Xiaoyun if she needed a ride home. Zhao Xiaoyun declined with a wave of her hand. “I live nearby, so I can get back on my own.”

The real reasons Zhao Xiaoyun didn’t want a ride were twofold. First, Aunt Ji seemed visibly upset at the moment. Second, she felt like an awkward third wheel standing between them—even though they weren’t actually in that kind of relationship. Orz.

Tang Yan, belching with alcohol, spoke in slurred words and giggled foolishly. “Aunt Ji… heh heh… why did you come?”

Without saying much, Ji Yuqing helped Tang Yan into the passenger seat. As she secured the seat belt, the smell of alcohol on Tang Yan made her temper flare.

Once in the driver’s seat, with the car engine running, she glanced over at Tang Yan and finally gave in to her frustration. “Since when did you learn to drink, and so much at that?”

“Because… hic… Aunt Ji… hic…” In her drunken state, Tang Yan spoke only in half-sentences.

“Ridiculous,” Ji Yuqing muttered, her mind in complete disarray.