Heart Flutter

Chapter 91

Breakfast was pancakes, crispy bacon, and freshly squeezed juice.

Tang Yan was still eating when Ji Yuqing finished her meal, tidied up, and stood up. “Are you done eating, Aunt Ji?” Tang Yan looked up and asked.

“Mhm, you should eat a bit more,” Ji Yuqing replied, turning to carry her plate to the sink. After washing the dishes and drying her hands, she slipped on her slippers and headed back to the bedroom. Tang Yan sat at the dining table, tilting her head and peeking over curiously, eating slowly. Before long, she noticed Aunt Ji already dressed up, scarf tied neatly, bag on her shoulder, ready to head out.

She couldn’t help but crane her neck and ask, “Aunt Ji, are you going out?”

“Yup,” Ji Yuqing said while adjusting her scarf. “Got a few errands to run. Not sure if I’ll be back in time to make you lunch.”

“No worries at all! I can handle it myself,” Tang Yan quickly waved it off.

Ji Yuqing paused and asked, “Anything you want me to bring back for you?” She really had the vibe of a mom asking her kid if they wanted snacks before she left.

Tang Yan pressed her lips together and shook her head, trying hard to look mature and composed.

“Really? Nothing at all?” Ji Yuqing raised an eyebrow with a half-smile.

“Really, nothing.”

“Alright then, I’m heading out.”

“Drive safe!”

Ji Yuqing gave her a playful wink and turned to the entryway. Soon her figure was out of sight. Tang Yan could vaguely hear the sound of the shoe cabinet opening and closing. A while later, the front door opened, then shut.

She knew Aunt Ji had left. But this early in the morning, and all dressed up like that… who was she meeting? Her mind couldn’t help but wander—was it a man or a woman?

She finished breakfast, cleaned the table, washed the dishes. The big, quiet house made her feel a bit restless. She figured she might as well go back to her room and do some homework. But barely ten minutes after opening her laptop, she got up and shut it. She just couldn’t focus.

Wandering around, she ended up in the living room, picked up the vacuum, and started cleaning. Every now and then, she glanced up at the clock, watching the time tick by.

Ji Yuqing was always punctual. She was never late—always early. She’d made a reservation at a nice restaurant in the city center and was already seated, calmly waiting.

Just a few minutes past the arranged time, a man in a sharp suit pushed open the door. Ji Yuqing recognized him instantly and gave a polite wave. He looked just the same as ever, as if time had barely touched him. Time always seemed to be kinder to men.

Still, the once fiery upperclassman from over a decade ago now looked more grounded and composed.

As he walked over, Ji Yuqing stood up to greet him. “Senior, long time no see.”

Yin Qiuping’s eyes didn’t leave her. He gave her a good once-over and said, “You’re still just as beautiful. These years haven’t aged you at all. You’ve only become more graceful.”

“You’re too kind,” Ji Yuqing replied modestly. “Please, have a seat.”

Not long after they sat down, the steak she’d ordered arrived. They sipped red wine and chatted.

The conversation mostly revolved around old times—they still had some common ground. Ji Yuqing learned he now held a high position at Huadu University, which she genuinely admired. He’d always been capable.

“What have you been up to? Still at the same company?” Yin Qiuping asked while cutting his steak.

“Yes. Not really climbing high, but not willing to step down either,” she joked.

“You’re doing great. For a woman to rise through the ranks in one company—it’s no small feat. But you’re still not married? Never thought about it?”

Ji Yuqing smiled shyly. “When I was younger, I was all about my career. Didn’t really think about anything else.”

“Well, maybe it’s time you did. You should, really.” He glanced at her. “Too bad I’m already taken. Otherwise, I’d totally go after you.”

Ji Yuqing laughed. “Stop joking, senior.”

“I do know a few good guys I could introduce you to,” he said, smacking his lips. “But honestly, I’d hate to hand you over to someone else. You’re just too perfect.”

Ji Yuqing sat up straighter. “Actually, senior, the reason I asked you out today…”

“I know, I know,” he interrupted. “You don’t even have to say it. You need help with something, right? Just say the word—I’ll do whatever I can.”

She put down her knife and fork, took another sip of wine, then said, “A friend’s daughter is a freshman at Huadu University. Something’s off with the scholarship distribution this semester, and I was hoping you could look into it.”

Yin Qiuping immediately frowned. “You should’ve come to me sooner! I can tell her teachers to keep an eye out for her. What’s her major and class?”

“No, no,” Ji Yuqing waved her hand. “Nothing like that. It’s just—based on her grades, she should’ve been a sure pick, but somehow didn’t get the scholarship.”

He tapped the table, deep in thought. “That’s serious. I’ll look into it when I’m back on Monday. If anything unfair happened, I’ll make sure justice is done.”

“Thank you so much, senior,” she said sincerely.

“Haha, no need to thank me—it’s my duty. Even if it were someone else, I’d have to investigate. But since it’s you, I’ll be extra thorough. Don’t worry—I’ll update you as soon as I find out anything.”

Ji Yuqing was genuinely relieved. This lunch had been well worth it.

She hoped the situation could be properly investigated. Yan Yan had worked so hard—she deserved what was rightfully hers. That was only fair.

Ji Yuqing knew she wasn’t some powerful figure, but she’d do everything within her ability and connections to protect Yan Yan as she grew.

Before they parted, Ji Yuqing took a bottle of luxury perfume from her car—she’d just bought it that morning—and handed it to Yin Qiuping with both hands.

He was caught off guard and quickly declined. “No, no, I can’t accept this. We’re classmates—it’s no big deal helping you. Plus, it’s part of my job.”

But she insisted, pushing it into his hands. “It’s for your wife, senior. Just a small gesture—please accept it.”

“Well… alright. I’ll make sure to pass it on.”

She nodded, waved goodbye, and watched him get in his car and drive off before turning to head back to her own car.

Glancing at the time—it was already 1:00 PM. Wow, that lunch had lasted longer than she expected. She suddenly wondered if Yan Yan had eaten yet. She pulled out her phone and made a call.

At that moment, Tang Yan was sitting on the couch, eating instant noodles and watching TV. When the phone rang, she quickly set the bowl down, wiped her hands, and picked up.

“Mmhmm, I already ate!” she answered quickly, still chewing the last bite.

“Good,” Ji Yuqing said as she got in her car. “Just a heads-up—when you’re back at school this weekend, a teacher might come talk to you. Just cooperate and be honest. The school will take it seriously.”

“Got it,” Tang Yan replied, suddenly wondering—was that what Aunt Ji had gone out for this morning?

Car horns echoed faintly in the background.

As she passed a fruit shop, Ji Yuqing made a quick U-turn. “I’ll be home in about twenty minutes—talk later.”

She hung up and went inside.

Meanwhile, Tang Yan put her phone down and began inhaling her noodles, finishing in record time. She cleaned up the bowl, tidied the living room, trying to make everything look presentable.

The fruit store was spacious—probably a hundred square meters or more. They had all kinds of local and imported fruit. Ji Yuqing walked slowly, scanning the displays. She had a specific fruit in mind—the juicy sweet oranges Yan Yan once brought her in the hospital. But with so many similar-looking varieties, she felt a bit frustrated.

Aunt Ji was right. That Monday, a teacher had come to the dorm looking for Tang Yan. Her roommates were stunned, thinking she’d gotten in trouble. Tang Yan left with the teacher without saying much.

The situation dragged on for about two weeks—long enough that Tang Yan had nearly forgotten about it. Then one day, during a regular class, a school official showed up, gathered the whole class, and introduced a new counselor.

The previous one had been suspended for abuse of power and was now under investigation. The scholarship had been reassigned to Tang Yan. Everyone agreed she truly deserved it. But only Tang Yan knew how much effort Aunt Ji had put in behind the scenes.

She was the one person Tang Yan owed everything to.

“I told you,” Xia Zihan said excitedly, shaking her shoulders, “You’ve got the grades and the performance. If they didn’t give it to you, who else would they give it to?”

“Celebrate! Celebrate!” the other roommates cheered.

“…”

But Tang Yan’s mind was elsewhere, tuning out the noise around her.

Now the only question was—what kind of gift should she prepare for Aunt Ji? What would she like?