6
"Not yet." Xu Yu paused for a few seconds, his gaze scrutinizing her. "Are you in a hurry?"
Ji Shengsheng scratched his arm.
It wouldn't be a problem to have Xu Yu drop her off at her building.
But what if I run into Xing Xing downstairs...?
She knew that Xing Xing had always wanted to stand up for her, especially after Xing Xing saw that Xu Yu and Shao Yun were standing very close together in the group photo taken at the university that day.
It happened many years ago, and given the possibility of future work-related interactions, she didn't want to cause any more trouble.
"Um?"
Xu Yu kept looking at her.
Ji Shengsheng dared not meet his gaze, yet could not find a good reason.
When she finally found a passable excuse and looked at Xu Yu with feigned confidence, she was surprised to see a hint of inexplicable disappointment in his expression.
"I'm sorry to have put you in such a difficult position."
The car door was unlocked, allowing Ji Shengsheng to leave at any time.
"...How about you wait a moment? I need to take care of something first," Ji Shengsheng said uncertainly. "Is that alright?"
Xu Yu's expression suggested no reluctance. Ji Shengsheng wondered if she had misunderstood.
Without waiting for Xu Yu's reply, she quickly opened the car door and got out. Only after walking far enough away did she quietly send a voice message to Xing Xing.
She could completely understand why the girl minded her presence.
After all, the relationship between her and Xing Xing, who grew up together, is easily misunderstood.
If the other person and Xing Xing really start dating, then the other person is the one who should be sharing Xing Xing's life more. She should have, and should have, withdrawn from Xing Xing's excessively shared life long ago.
After she expressed her opinion to Xing Xing, Xing Xing was not satisfied.
"When are you going to open the door? Why are you suddenly so slow? My legs are numb from squatting outside. I have to meet you in person to talk to you."
Ji Shengsheng: "..."
She could only honestly explain that she was not at home.
"When are you coming back?" Xing Xing called, her tone displeased. "Who are you with?"
“It will probably take a while,” Ji Shengsheng glanced back at Xu Yu’s car, avoiding the second question. “You should go home first. I’ll come find you tomorrow morning to talk about this.”
"Okay."
Ji Shengsheng was relieved to hear Xing Xing coming down the stairs on the other end of the phone.
When she returned to the car and opened the passenger door, Xu Yu was resting with her eyes closed.
"Sorry to have taken up your time," Ji Shengsheng said somewhat apologetically. "I had a rather urgent phone call just now... If it's convenient for you..."
She didn't want to be coy.
The distance from here to her house isn't far, but the streetlights aren't bright enough, making the area rather dim. Overall, it's not very safe. So, if it weren't for Xing Xing's situation, she would have asked Xu Yu to walk her downstairs.
After she finished speaking, she realized that Xu Yu hadn't moved. She looked like she was asleep.
Ji Shengsheng quickly shut up.
The suburbs of Lucheng were quiet at night; the only sound in the car was their breathing. Ji Shengsheng looked around but couldn't find anything to distract herself.
She could only look at Xu Yu.
Xu Yu...
Her eyebrows and eyes are so beautiful.
She remembered that Korean pop was all the rage in college, and the aesthetic of having narrow, elongated eyes was the mainstream on campus. But even under such aesthetic influence, Xu Yu was still the one who could stand out just by her appearance.
Ji Shengsheng didn't realize how long she had been staring at Xu Yu.
Until Xu Yu opened his eyes and looked at her.
"convenient."
Ji Shengsheng turned her face away, her eyes darting around like she was trying to hide something, pretending to check if any pedestrians were passing by the car: "...I thought you were asleep."
"Awake."
Xu Yu adjusted the seat and deftly fastened her seatbelt: "Always."
Ji Shengsheng: "...Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Ji Shengsheng could hear her heart pounding violently.
"Did you open the box I gave you yesterday?" Xu Yu asked casually as he started the car.
"Not yet," Ji Shengsheng answered truthfully.
She didn't want to confront what Xu Yu had "returned" to her, nor did she have time to dwell on past emotions.
"Why?"
"...I don't have time," Ji Shengsheng casually made up an excuse.
After she answered, Xu Yu didn't say anything more. The car returned to silence.
After calming down, Ji Shengsheng began to sort out Xing Xing's situation.
The bond between her and Xing Xing was very deep, due not only to their environment but also to their shared experiences.
Xing Xing's parents are typical workaholics, and their relationship is not very harmonious, so Xing Xing grew up with her grandmother from a young age.
During their childhood, Ji Shengsheng grew to be quite tall, while Xing Xing was only about 1.6 meters tall before junior high school.
Because of her short stature and introverted personality, Xing Xing was often bullied. In those moments when her parents were not around and she dared not tell her grandmother what was happening, it was Ji Shengsheng who stood up for Xing Xing.
Therefore, before puberty, Xing Xing's dependence on Ji Shengsheng was more like that of an older sister who protected him as he grew up.
By high school, Xing Xing's personality had become much more outgoing. Coupled with her good looks and generous spending, she also made her own friends. However, the dependence that had been built up since childhood still continued to some extent.
All of this is reflected in the fact that even when Xing Xing has someone he likes, is liked by, or has an ambiguous relationship with, he still needs to keep in touch with her regularly.
If they were both single or their partners had no objections, that would be fine, but in their current situation, they really should distance themselves.
After coming up with suitable words and actions to persuade Xing Xing, Ji Shengsheng breathed a sigh of relief.
When they arrived at her building, Ji Shengsheng suddenly remembered something and asked Xu Yu to wait a moment, saying she would come down right away.
“Or, you can invite me up,” Xu Yu said, speaking slowly and deliberately.
Ji Shengsheng: "..."
It seems her silence did not change Xu Yu's mind.
She could only reluctantly agree: "...Okay."
In the afternoon, she observed the various supply boxes that Xu Yu Company prepared for its employees, which contained regular feminine hygiene products as well as painkillers.
However, it was too conventional and not very effective.
She still had some stock from her previous Singles' Day order with Zhu Xiaodan, such as a brand of warming patches for the uterus, fast-acting painkillers in powder form, drinks that she usually uses to ward off the cold, and the coffee beans that received high praise today.
She plans to take these to her colleagues at Xuyu Company tomorrow for them to try. If the results are good, she can suggest adding them to Xuyu Company's regular procurement list.
Ji Shengsheng lived on the sixth floor, and the motion-activated lights in the hallway were unreliable. She walked ahead of Xu Yu, glancing back every now and then to see if he was keeping up.
When they reached the third floor, the motion-activated lights stopped working completely. Just as Ji Shengsheng was about to turn around and explain the situation to Xu Yu, she felt someone take her hand.
"I'll go first."
Xu Yu naturally took her left wrist and led her upstairs.
Perhaps it was because of the night, but Ji Shengsheng felt her heart pounding violently, almost as if it were about to burst out of her chest.
This shouldn't have happened.
"Nervous?" Xu Yu slowly released her wrist, his palm sliding down until their fingers were interlocked.
The warm, smooth touch of fingers inserted between her fingers made her goosebumps.
"...It's alright." Ji Shengsheng pursed her dry lips.
I hope Xu Yu doesn't feel the sweat on her palms.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, the motion-activated lights finally responded. Ji Shengsheng looked up, and Xu Yu turned around. Their eyes met, and their clasped hands seemed like those of a couple caught in a secret tryst, exposed to the sunlight.
Ji Shengsheng couldn't tell what Xu Yu was feeling, but her palms were already sweating nervously.
Finally, they reached the sixth floor. Ji Shengsheng tried to let go, but Xu Yu grabbed her hand.
She watched as Xu Yu took out a tissue and wiped the sweat from her palms, not even missing a single finger.
"Thanks……"
This is too ambiguous, and it's beyond what she can handle.
"You're welcome."
After saying that, Xu Yu let go of her hand, and Ji Shengsheng quickly walked to the front to open the door.
She hadn't noticed that Xing Xing had left her coat on the sofa when she came over last time. It was only when Xu Yu sat down next to the coat that she noticed.
The sofa was clearly very long, but Xu Yu insisted on sitting there.
"Um... let me tidy up." After quickly putting Xing Xing's things into the laundry basket next to her, Ji Shengsheng went to rummage through the closet in the second bedroom.
Xu Yu sat on the sofa for a few minutes, then saw Ji Shengsheng squatting in front of him with a small box in her arms.
Then take out each small item and explain its purpose and function to him.
Xu Yu didn't hear a word Ji Shengsheng said; he just watched Ji Shengsheng's eyes blink and his lips move.
Then, he saw Ji Shengsheng purse her lips.
"how?"
"...Were you not listening at all?" Ji Shengsheng closed the box.
"Yes," Xu Yu replied honestly.
"Ah, then I'll finish quickly." Ji Shengsheng placed the box in front of Xu Yu. "I'll have to trouble you to take these over tomorrow... Monday, for everyone to try out..."
Ji Shengsheng stopped talking, because Xu Yu didn't seem to have heard a single word.
This night gave her a bad feeling. Perhaps she shouldn't have invited Xu Yu upstairs.
"It's very late." Ji Shengsheng glanced at the time, then at Xu Yu.
"I know."
He showed no intention of leaving.
Ji Shengsheng could sense it.
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