DF Chapter 15

Chapter 15 Song Ji’an’s heart softened slightly.

Xu Lijing’s destination was a high-altitude restaurant in the city center. Looking down from here, the city becomes insignificant, and you can even see the sparkling sea. The view is truly stunning.

“I specially booked a window seat, how is it?” Xu Lijing handed the menu to the two with a smile, and said in a good mood, “Order whatever you want.”

“So today is your celebration feast?” Song Ji’an teased, “Should we toast again to congratulate classmate Xu Lijing on successfully achieving her wish?”

“Of course,” Xu Lijing raised her head, showing that smug look again, “I’ve been watched so much these past few days, I’ve been wanting to take you out to play for a long time, but you have your monthly exams coming up, so I didn’t dare to delay you.”

“You also have monthly exams,” Sheng Jia silently corrected while flipping through the menu.

She had never been to this place before. The prices at the aerial restaurant were not low, with each dish costing over a hundred. Perhaps this wasn’t much money to Xu Lijing and Song Ji’an, but Sheng Jia instinctively felt it was too expensive and didn’t know which dish to order.

Song Ji’an might have noticed something. She moved closer to Sheng Jia, and after looking at the menu with her, she said with a smile, “You still have to pay lawyer fees, so I won’t rip you off. Sheng Jia, how about we each order a dish as a token gesture?”

Sheng Jia looked up at her and nodded, “Okay.”

“I haven’t eaten here before, do you have any recommendations?” Song Ji’an asked.

Xu Lijing effortlessly rattled off a few of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Song Ji’an and Sheng Jia listened to her and ticked the two dishes with the highest ratings.

The lively atmosphere of the three mainly relied on Song Ji’an and Xu Lijing. Sheng Jia was as taciturn as ever, and after the dishes came, she hardly spoke except to concentrate on eating.

Xu Lijing, having a goal during this period, had decided to work hard to see if she could transfer to a higher-level class. Although Jingjiang No. 1 High School doesn’t implement grade-based class assignments, students can apply to a better class as long as their grades meet the requirements.

Xu Lijing’s exam results were not ideal when she transferred to the school in her first year of high school, so she ended up in an ordinary class.

Song Ji’an seemed to have a natural empathy. Even though the goal Xu Lijing had set was still distant, she could still offer her own suggestions.

The two who were chatting happily didn’t notice Sheng Jia’s complex gaze that she occasionally cast at Song Ji’an.

In her eyes, it seemed that ever since she met Song Ji’an, she had been shining brightly, so dazzling that it was almost burning her eyes. At least Sheng Jia knew that she would never be able to show such a radiant expression.

“What’s wrong?”

Perhaps Sheng Jia had been staring for too long this time. Song Ji’an finally noticed and smiled at her.

Sheng Jia looked away, just about to say “nothing” in a calm voice, but her gaze paused.

At the two tables not far in front of them, Su Zhaolin was arguing with the woman opposite her.

Song Ji’an followed her gaze and exclaimed in surprise, “Su Zhaolin?”

“Who?” Xu Lijing, who didn’t understand what was going on, also looked over there.

She saw Su Zhaolin and the woman opposite her parting on bad terms. The woman, dressed in glamorous attire, picked up her handbag and walked out. Su Zhaolin sat in place in silence for a long time, and finally opened the champagne in front of her. After taking a small sip, she quickly stood up and chased after her.

The three watched her leave, speechless for a moment.

“Do you guys know her?” Xu Lijing asked, a little curious.

“We barely know her,” Song Ji’an and Sheng Jia exchanged a tacit look and didn’t say much about it.

The three quickly finished their meal. After saying goodbye to the two, Sheng Jia went to the hotel where she worked.

It was still the same one where she met Song Ji’an. She was a temporary worker, and today was her last day.

Probably having been informed by the housekeeper, Sheng Jia actually saw Song Ji’an doing her homework in the last room she was cleaning.

Upon seeing her, Song Ji’an immediately began packing her schoolbag, and faced with Sheng Jia’s expressionless face, she quickened her pace with a somewhat guilty conscience.

“Why are you here?” Sheng Jia asked in a calm voice.

Hearing her question, Song Ji’an instead raised her head in surprise and said in a low voice, “I’m waiting for you.”

As she spoke, she seemed to have discovered something and excitedly said while following behind Sheng Jia, “I thought you would just ignore me like usual.”

Song Ji’an basically didn’t touch anything after entering the room. Sheng Jia only needed to change the bedsheets and quilts, which was very time-saving. Song Ji’an wanted to lend a hand but was coldly rejected by her.

“If you don’t know how, don’t try.”

Hearing this, Song Ji’an awkwardly withdrew her hand and explained, “It’s almost eleven o’clock, and I’m worried it’s not safe for you to go home alone.”

This was indeed her honest thought. The hotel wasn’t located in the city center, and even though Jingjiang had good public safety, it was still worrying for Sheng Jia, a girl, to go home alone late at night.

Sheng Jia responded slowly as if she was already used to it.

Song Ji’an’s eyes brightened slightly.

She didn’t say anything more and stayed with Sheng Jia until she finished cleaning the room. After changing back into her clothes in the workroom, the two walked out from the back door.

Song Ji’an’s little electric scooter was still parked in the familiar spot. Sheng Jia glanced at it, and while putting on her helmet, she asked, “How are you getting home later?”

“Auntie Liu is coming to pick me up,” Song Ji’an replied.

She consciously wanted to give the driver’s seat to Sheng Jia, but Sheng Jia shook her head.

Under the warm yellow streetlights, the fatigue in Sheng Jia’s eyes was especially noticeable. She wasn’t made of steel. Spending energy studying during the day and spending energy working at night had made it difficult for her to keep going.

Song Ji’an took out a few candies from her bag and stuffed them into her hand, saying gently, “Replenish your energy?”

Sheng Jia took it, and after tearing open the wrapper, the strawberry-flavored soft candy released a matcha-flavored filling in her mouth. It wasn’t too sweet, but it was delicious enough. She got up and sat behind Song Ji’an, and said softly, “Thank you.”

The night wind carried the smell of seawater, which was cool on people’s faces, but also made them sleepy.

Sheng Jia felt that she was probably really exhausted these past few days. She unknowingly leaned on Song Ji’an’s shoulder and closed her eyes, but when her head accidentally hit Song Ji’an’s shoulder, she couldn’t help but wake up with a jolt.

Song Ji’an probably noticed her abnormality. Her warm hand reached behind her and groped around for Sheng Jia’s hand. Before the car swerved too much, she completely wrapped her hand around her waist.

“Sheng Jia, you can lean on me and sleep,” she said seriously, “I know the way.”

Sheng Jia was slightly stunned. The warmth belonging to Song Ji’an on the back of her hand seemed to have never dissipated. After a long silence, she also wrapped her other hand around the other’s waist, and then, just like she had done when she first carried Song Ji’an here, she also rested her chin on her shoulder.

It was a very full and fulfilling sense of embrace. In the past seventeen years, Sheng Jia had never embraced anyone.

The only person she had ever wanted to embrace with hope was Sheng Huaiying. She was so small that she could only hug Sheng Huaiying’s knees, but she was eventually pushed away. Later, when Sheng Huaiying came to embrace her, she never returned the embrace.

Because she no longer needed to rely on anyone.

But Song Ji’an was different.

Her body was filled with peace and stability. When the two stood chest to back, Sheng Jia even felt that she could feel her heart beating healthily, one beat at a time. It was an extremely fervent vitality, bringing people an unspeakable sense of security.

“Song Ji’an,” Sheng Jia suddenly opened her mouth in the darkness, “Do you have time? Can you take me for two more laps?”

Song Ji’an was slightly stunned. Sheng Jia’s warm breath was close to her ear, making her sensitive earlobes turn red immediately. It took a while before she replied, “Sure.”

Perhaps from spending too much time with Sheng Jia, she could now clearly feel Sheng Jia’s emotional changes. The fatigue from just now seemed to have suddenly deepened at this moment. After Song Ji’an agreed, Sheng Jia adjusted her position on her shoulder, pressed her cheek against her neck, and turned her head to look at the sea below Binhai Highway.

She responded softly, “Thank you.”

The tremor of her vocal cords traveled from her shoulder to the arteries in her neck, as if at this moment, the two had completed a resonance.

Song Ji’an could see Sheng Jia’s tilted face and fluffy head in the rearview mirror. Without her usual coldness, she was blankly looking at the scenery of the night, emptying her brain.

It was as if a silent cat that she had known for a long time had suddenly dropped its guard for her.

Song Ji’an’s heart softened slightly.

Tonight was a secret embrace between two girls. Without even needing to ask the reason, Song Ji’an was willing to accompany Sheng Jia on this road again and again.