Heart Flutter

Chapter 49

Tang Yan spent about half an hour in the restroom, admiring herself from every angle. After reluctantly removing her makeup and washing her face, she stepped under the shower. That night, once the dorm lights went out, she lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. She did not know why she felt so uneasy, as though something was about to happen.

After dropping Tang Yan back at school, Ji Yuqing went home alone. At the entryway, she changed into comfortable slippers and hung up her bag before walking inside. The spacious, empty house returned to its usual silence. She casually turned on the record player sitting on the table. As the vinyl spun, it produced its distinctive sound, and the gentle, lingering music filled the house. Ji Yuqing then walked briskly toward the open-concept kitchen.

She liked these vintage objects; they had a unique charm.

Since she was eating dinner by herself, Ji Yuqing did not feel like cooking. Instead, she opened the refrigerator and took out some fresh vegetables and fruit, planning to make a salad.

While listening to music from the nineteen-something era on the record, she ate under the bright white light in the dining room. She sat alone at the table with a fork in hand, barely tasting the salad. After only a few bites, she put it aside. She stood up and went to the dressing room to find a set of workout clothes, then chose a pair of comfortable sneakers from the shoe cabinet by the front door and stepped outside.

About one hundred meters east of the residential complex, there was a man-made lake of moderate size with a rubber running track around it. One lap around the lake was roughly three thousand meters. Ji Yuqing planned to walk one lap first to aid her digestion, then run two more laps before heading home to sleep.

She had a busy work schedule and often attended social events, so whenever she found the time, she made a point to go for a long run. After all, one’s health was the foundation for everything else.

It was already past nine o’clock at night when she started walking. People of all ages who had been strolling around the lake gradually headed off, until it seemed she was the only one left. The surroundings grew silent, with only the occasional passing car on a nearby road.

After finishing one lap, Ji Yuqing did some simple stretches on the spot. She set a timer on her phone, then began running along the lake’s rubber track.

Late-autumn nights were still rather chilly, so most people preferred to return indoors early. As she ran, Ji Yuqing gradually felt her body warming up. She was the only person on the track, yet she kept hearing faint footsteps. Each time she turned to look, however, the sound abruptly ceased.

Because security and property management at this complex had always been reliable—and she had never heard of any incidents during her years there—she did not worry too much. She kept running, until the footsteps behind her quickened into a flat-out sprint. She could no longer ignore them. She stopped and turned around but was instantly punched in the forehead before she could see the person’s face.

In that moment, her head buzzed. She felt dizzy, her vision turned white, and she collapsed with no ability to fight back.

“Serves you right for meddling!” The assailant snarled viciously, punching and kicking her without mercy like a common thug. Ji Yuqing could only raise her arms to shield her head. Nighttime was too dark, and the streetlights were not bright, so she could not see the attacker’s face. She only sensed that the voice sounded vaguely familiar.

“Who is that over there!” A security guard happened to be patrolling nearby and shone his high-beam flashlight in their direction. The assailant panicked and bolted without another word, leaving Ji Yuqing behind. The guard dashed over while speaking into his walkie-talkie, “Suspicious person spotted, suspicious person spotted. Seal off all entrances and exits.”

Lying on the ground, Ji Yuqing coughed a couple of times, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth. The guard hurried to her and asked if she was okay or able to stand. She tried to move but felt pain everywhere. Seeing her condition, the guard grew anxious and immediately called 120 for an ambulance.

While they waited for the ambulance, countless thoughts raced through her mind. She thought of her mother, who was still in a care facility and unwell. If something happened to her, who would care for her mother? Then she thought of Tang Yan. That child had only just begun to adapt to life in Huadu, finally able to live freely and happily after enduring so much hardship. How could she leave Tang Yan at a time like this?

Before long, she heard various noises. The sirens from police cars and the ambulance grew louder, and flashing red and blue lights dazzled her eyes. She saw a group of people rushing toward her. The medical personnel gave her a quick check, confirmed she could not move on her own, and worked together to lift her onto a stretcher.

This incident drew many of the complex’s residents outside to watch. As Ji Yuqing was carried into the ambulance, she caught one last glimpse of the gathering crowd, which was buzzing with anxious discussion.

“Our complex has always had the best security in the district. How could this happen?” “Exactly. Property management has to take responsibility. What if something like this happens again tomorrow?” “Has anyone found out who the victim is?” “I think she lives next door, a single woman in her thirties.” “That explains it. Living alone is just not safe. Why not find someone to live with?” “…”

It was her first time riding in an ambulance, and it was certainly a different experience. The siren blared nonstop in her ears, and the ride to the hospital felt like it lasted forever.

Once they arrived at the hospital, they rushed her into the emergency room for a thorough series of tests. The results showed multiple soft tissue contusions, a hairline fracture in her left tibia, and a mild concussion.

When the hospital staff asked about her family, she said she only had her mother, who had Alzheimers. As for other relatives or friends, she told them it was too late at night and that she would call them in the morning. The nurses complied with her wishes and did not press further.

She spent almost the entire night awake in her hospital bed, not because she did not want to sleep, but because every part of her body hurt so much. She had never felt so weak.

At 7:15 in the morning, officers from the police station came to check on her. They told her the attacker had been apprehended and advised her to rest. They would wait for the medical examination results before deciding on further steps.

They also suggested she contact at least a relative or a friend to help care for her. Since she could not move, she asked the officer to make the call using her phone. Her recent call list only had three people: her assistant Pei Wen, someone named Zhang Miya, and Tang Yan. She ultimately decided to call Pei Wen, to help her request leave from work.

After receiving the call, Pei Wen immediately turned around on her way to the office and hurried to the hospital. When she saw Ji Yuqing lying there—her eye bruised, her mouth injured, and one leg in a cast—Pei Wen was appalled. “Sis, what happened? Who did this to you? We will not let them off easily.”

Ji Yuqing pressed her lips together and asked, “Did you already tell the company I need time off?”

“I did. I called the boss on my way here. You definitely cannot work in this state. Just rest. So, did they catch the person who attacked you?”

“They said yes, and he is at the police station,” Ji Yuqing replied.

“That is good.” Pei Wen nodded, then suddenly remembered something. “By the way, that kid Tang Yan—arent you going to tell her to come?”

“Let it go. She is at school, and I do not want to worry her. Besides, I am fine, arent I?”

Pei Wen sighed. “Sis, look at you. You are in this condition, and you still want to hide it from her. She should be here to see you. Well, too late—Im calling her anyway.”

Lying there, Ji Yuqing could not do much as Pei Wen grabbed the phone from the bedside, quickly unlocked it, and made the call.

At that moment, Tang Yan was on her way to class with her roommate Xia Zihan. When she saw a call from Ji Aunties phone, she was surprised. But when she answered, the voice belonged to someone else. “Are you Tang Yan?” Pei Wen asked.

“Yes, thats me. And you are…?”

“I am Pei Wen, your Aunt Ji’s assistant. We met before. She was attacked and is now in the hospital. If you can make it, please come right away.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Yan panicked. “Which hospital is it? I will head over right now!”

After ending the call, Pei Wen put the phone back. Ji Yuqing frowned. “Why did you frighten her by making it sound so serious?”

“Sis, I only told the truth. I did not exaggerate anything.”

Meanwhile, Xia Zihan asked, “Tang Yan, what is going on?”

“I cant go to class now. Would you please ask the teacher for a leave on my behalf? Aunt Ji is in the hospital, and I need to see her right away.”

Sensing Tang Yan’s alarm, Xia Zihan quickly agreed. Tang Yan turned and dashed off at top speed, disappearing from view in no time.

She ran out of the campus and flagged down a taxi to rush to the hospital. She was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. All she wanted was to reach the hospital, confirm that Aunt Ji was okay, and see her with her own eyes. Her heart pounded fiercely with worry.

Once she arrived, she hurried upstairs to Ji Aunties hospital room. The door was open, and at first glance, she saw Ji Aunty lying there with injuries all over. Tang Yan froze in place, heart clenching painfully. She could hardly bring herself to walk any farther, not wanting to see Aunt Ji in that condition.

“Yan Yan, you came.” Ji Yuqing smiled at her. The bruises around her eye were deeply shocking, and Tang Yan felt her heart ache at the sight. Gritting her teeth, Tang Yan demanded, “Who did this to you…?”

Pei Wen chimed in, “They say hes already been caught and is at the police—Tang Yan!” Before she could finish speaking, Tang Yan had already bolted from the room. Worried, Ji Yuqing said quickly, “Go after her. Im afraid she might do something impulsive.”

At that moment, Tang Yan was blazing with rage. She walked so fast that Pei Wen could not catch up. Tang Yan soon arrived at the police station, where the attacker was being interrogated. As Tang Yan charged in, the man looked up in shock. Tang Yan recognized him immediately, and her fury exploded. “Tang Yawen, you piece of scum!”

Without warning, she launched a spinning kick, knocking Tang Yawen to the ground in an instant. She looked like a wild horse that could not be tamed. Just as she prepared to strike again, people around her held her back in time.

“What are you doing? This is a police station!” someone shouted. Tang Yawen staggered to his feet, wiping the blood under his nose and looking rattled.