Heart Flutter

Chapter 43

She was eighteen now, right? Not so young anymore—she had reached the age when she ought to be dating.” Old Wang beamed, perhaps because he had drunk a bit. His face was slightly flushed, and the flush extended from his thinning hairline down to his chin in a rosy glow.

Tang Yan tried her best to hide her gaze, avoiding eye contact with him. One hand rested on the table, while her other hand clutched the pure white tablecloth beneath it.

He quickly pressed on, as though the topic interested him greatly. “So, have you ever dated before? I remember back in school, we used to sneak around, holding little girls’ hands and all that.”

“N-no… never…” Faced with the teasing of these so-called grown-ups, Tang Yan was clearly at a loss. She had never been in a relationship and was not good at socializing.

Ji Yuqing glanced at her, noticed her bewildered look, and felt a surge of irritation welling up. She raised her voice. “Alright, alright, she’s only a child. Could we change the subject?”

“Fine, fine, since the great beauty Ji has spoken, how could we not listen?”

“You’re way too protective, hahaha…”

Fortunately, they soon shifted the conversation to promotions and raises. Tang Yan stole a glance at Aunt Ji, feeling grateful that she had helped her out of an awkward situation.

In truth, Ji Yuqing did not like these sorts of gatherings, but her life never seemed to run short of such obligations. She would not have come tonight if not for Miya and Dou Dou. She already had enough social events at work; she felt numb and exhausted by this kind of banquet.

After they finished eating, everyone decided to go sing karaoke. They had already booked a private room and clearly intended to party until late. Ji Yuqing had not exhausted her body like that in ages. She now placed great importance on her health—or perhaps her age was simply catching up to her.

“You all have fun. We were going to head back first,” she said.

“Aw, come on, it won’t be the same without you,” one of the men remarked.

Ji Yuqing gave a faint smile and spoke in a calm tone. “Losing me really won’t make much difference.”

“Yuqing, I’ll ride back with you,” said Zhang Miya as she came over holding her child. “Dou Dou’s already asleep.”

“What about your husband?” asked Ji Yuqing instinctively.

“It’s just that he couldn’t get away,” Miya said, adjusting her child in her arms, which were growing tired. “I told him to go sing with the others.”

When she finished speaking, Ji Yuqing naturally reached out to help her take the heavier items, most of which were gifts received that evening. Then she turned to Tang Yan. “Yanyan, help Aunt Zhang open the car door.”

“Oh, sure.” At her instruction, Tang Yan immediately moved to open the car door so that Miya, holding her sleeping daughter, could get in.

They drove along a wide asphalt road that was still damp. Not far ahead, a sprinkler truck was in operation even at this hour. Autumn had brought drier weather, and it had not rained for quite a while.

Tang Yan, with her sharp eyes, noticed the speed on the dashboard. Aunt Ji was driving much slower than usual. After thinking it over, she realized it was probably because there was a child in the back seat. Tang Yan silently noted, once again, how thoughtful and attentive Aunt Ji was in all these small, unspoken details.

Recalling this, Tang Yan remembered how Aunt Ji had barely taken two small sips of her red wine earlier that night. She had known she would be driving, so she showed impressive self-control.

Seated in the back, Zhang Miya gazed out at the passing scenery and suddenly asked, “It’s been a long time since you last came to my place, hasn’t it?”

“It has,” Ji Yuqing replied with a light smile. “You know how busy work keeps me. I can’t really spare any time.”

Hearing that, Miya blurted out another question. “Still a lot of social engagements? You ought to drink less. It’s really not good for you.”

“There’s no help for it,” Ji Yuqing said with a sigh. “The company counts on me for big deals. Since they expect so much, I have no choice but to push through.”

Tang Yan, seated in the front passenger seat, was surprised when she heard that. Social engagements… drink less… Did that mean Aunt Ji usually had to drink a lot of alcohol at work? She knew Aunt Ji often stayed up late in the study doing paperwork, but she had had no idea she also had to drink so much for business.

It must have been awful to drink like that all the time. Every penny Aunt Ji earned came from her own hard work, at the cost of wearing down her health.

She felt a surge of complicated emotions. Tang Yan grew even more uneasy when she recalled the way Aunt Ji generously spent money on her.

“Doesn’t your company have anyone else who can manage this?” Miya continued gently. “How can they throw it all on you? This can’t go on. One day, if you collapse, you’ll really suffer.”

With one hand on the steering wheel, keeping an eye on the rearview mirror, Ji Yuqing answered, “There really isn’t much choice. I have a team under me who all need to make a living, and the higher-ups are counting on me, too. Over the years, I’ve built up contacts; I can’t just abandon them. Besides, sometimes the clients specifically ask for me by name.”

When Miya heard this, she immediately leaned forward, adopting a more serious expression. “They haven’t tried anything shady, have they? Like putting their hands on you or forcing unwritten rules?”

Ji Yuqing laughed. “Where is your head at? Do you really think I’d go along with something like that?”

“Right, you probably wouldn’t,” Miya said, leaning back into the seat. “Back when we were in school, even the slightest touch from the opposite sex used to make you uncomfortable.”

Tang Yan, who had been quietly listening, felt another jolt of surprise. So Aunt Ji really disliked being touched by men… She never expected to learn so much about her on this trip. She suddenly wished the drive could last longer so she could discover even more.

The car turned down a small road. On the left, a clear lake sparkled beneath the moonlight, while villas lined the right. Rows of weeping willows edged the narrow road, their drooping branches swaying gracefully in the breeze.

Tang Yan’s window was open just enough for a cool breeze to waft through, carrying the faint scent of the lake. Rather than being fishy, the air felt refreshing. Anyone who lived here could look out on this scene each morning, and it would surely put them in a good mood all day long.

They drove through the main gate, which automatically announced, “Temporary vehicle.” An electronic sign displayed a string of license numbers. Tang Yan found Aunt Ji’s license plate easy to remember because the last two digits were zeros; she had memorized it on the very first day.

They continued until they reached a particular lakeside villa and pulled up in front. As Ji Yuqing instinctively reached to undo her seatbelt and step out, Miya quickly stopped her. “It’s alright, we’re already at my door. I can go in by myself. Don’t trouble yourself.”

Because Tang Yan was seated next to the door, it was easier for her to climb out. At Ji Yuqing’s soft “Yanyan,” Tang Yan understood at once, opened the trunk, grabbed the items, and carried them inside for Miya.

Someone in the house soon came to greet them, and Miya handed her child over to an older family member. Then she walked Tang Yan to the door and bent toward her ear, whispering something that made Tang Yan nod and feel her cheeks grow hot.

Afterward, Miya grinned. “Alright, go on, get back in the car. Come visit whenever you have time, okay?”

“Sure!” Tang Yan said hurriedly, scurrying back into the car.

Once Tang Yan had fastened her seatbelt, Ji Yuqing started the engine and asked, “What little secret did Miya whisper to you just now?”

“N-no, nothing at all…” Tang Yan was never good at lying; her ears instantly turned red.

“I was just kidding.” Ji Yuqing smiled.

Tang Yan turned her face toward the window, still thinking about what Aunt Zhang had said in her ear. Ji Yuqing seemed disinclined to press her further. From Tang Yan’s understanding of her, she was not one to dig too deeply into such things. Tang Yan was the same way.

They headed toward home, and Ji Yuqing drove a bit faster now. By then, it was already ten o’clock at night.

Traffic had not thinned at all. At every major intersection, long lines of cars waited for red lights to change. Advertising billboards lit the high-rise buildings, and 24-hour convenience stores were scattered along the streets. Many office towers still had their lights on, where people worked overtime, giving their all. This was the reality of life in a big city.

“Did you get enough to eat tonight? Want to go grab something else?” Ji Yuqing asked suddenly.

“I… I’m full,” Tang Yan answered absentmindedly.

“Are you sure? It didn’t look like you ate much.”

“Huh?” When Tang Yan did not respond, Ji Yuqing gently prompted her again.

“It’s really fine,” Tang Yan said quietly. “Eating too much at night is hard to digest, and it’s easy to gain weight.”

Hearing that, Ji Yuqing could not help but laugh. “Putting on a little weight would be better for you. You look much healthier now than when you first came here.”

Tang Yan could not help wondering if Aunt Ji was implying she really had gained weight. How embarrassing…

Seeing her sulk and remain silent, Ji Yuqing reached out and patted her on the head. “I didn’t say you got fat. You simply went from being too skinny to having a normal figure.”

“School life has been good… and your cooking is delicious,” Tang Yan explained.

“When I first started working, I didn’t know how to cook, either. I ordered takeout every day—fast food and all that. I only learned to cook gradually. Eating at home is healthier.”

Tang Yan had been holding in a question for a while. At last, she managed to speak up: “Aunt Zhang said you often have a lot of social engagements…”

Looking a bit surprised, Ji Yuqing glanced at her. She had not expected the young girl to remember that. “Yes, quite a few deals in the business world get sealed over a meal and drinks. Luckily, your major won’t require you to do that in the future.”

Tang Yan summoned her courage. “Aunt Ji, could you maybe… drink less and take care of yourself more? It’s not good to drink too much.”

Ji Yuqing froze for a moment, then smiled. “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you. But I still have to work hard and earn money, you know. Otherwise, how would I buy you all those pretty dresses?”

Tang Yan’s cheeks puffed out slightly, and she lowered the corners of her mouth. She did not need any fancy dresses; she just wanted Aunt Ji to stay healthy.