activa-t Chapter 231 Even wanting to spend more time with you isn't enough for me anymore.
Chapter 231 Even wanting to spend more time with you isn't enough for me anymore.
The underground parking garage was lit by cold, white lights. Ning Yi stood by the pillar for a short while before a black sedan came to a steady stop in front of her.
The car window rolled down, revealing Ji Yan's well-defined face. His eyes still held a hint of weariness from just getting off the plane, but softened when he saw her.
"Have you been waiting long?" Ji Yan unbuckled his seatbelt and reached out to open the car door for her.
Ning Yi bent down and sat in the passenger seat. Just as her fingertips touched the seatbelt, Ji Yan grabbed her wrist.
He ran his fingertips over the back of her hand, which was still cool from coming in from outside, but his tone was soft: "Why aren't you wearing a coat? It's been raining in Nanzhou these past few days."
Ning Yi said, "It's alright, the rain stopped today."
"But you, you came straight here to be my driver as soon as you got off the plane. Haven't eaten yet? Shall we go back to the apartment now?"
Ji Yan replied, "I ate something on the plane and went back to my apartment."
The car drove smoothly out of the garage, and the rain started falling again, leaving fine streaks on the car window.
Ji Yan rolled up the car window and said to Ning Yi beside him, "Remember to check the weather forecast next time you go out, don't always dress based on your feelings."
"Okay, okay, I understand," Ning Yi replied.
Ning Yi tilted her head and asked, "How long will you be staying in Nanzhou this time?"
It seems that this is the first question they ask every time they meet.
Ji Yan gently turned the steering wheel, and the windshield wipers slowly swept across the car window, wiping away the fine rain streaks.
Ji Yan: "I can stay for about three days. I might join the film crew next month and finish filming before the New Year. Then I can take a good rest."
He then added, "I'm going to Yunpert Island next week for a friend's wedding."
"Is it Hou Siming, the male lead of 'Evening Breeze Meets the Sun'? I saw on Weibo that he's getting married," Ning Yi asked.
Ji Yan tapped his fingertips lightly on the steering wheel and nodded in response, "Yes, it's him. We've worked together before, so I specially sent him an invitation."
"Want to come with me? I heard the sea view on Yunpo Island is amazing, the wedding venue is on a private beach, and the sunset is beautiful in the evening."
Ning Yi's eyes lit up, then she sighed, "Forget it, I can't go. The school has a professional defense next week, and I have to stay in Nanzhou to prepare materials. Missing classes will affect my graduation grade."
Ji Yan paused on the steering wheel, turned his head to look at the disappointment in her eyes, and softened his tone: "The defense is important, and this time it was just bad luck."
"I'll take you out to play when you have more time later."
Ning Yi nodded: "Okay, there will be many more opportunities in the future."
Arrive at the apartment.
The elevator doors slowly opened, and Ning Yi stepped out first, unlocking the door with her fingerprint.
As Ning Yi changed her shoes, Ji Yan had already taken her bag and put it in the cabinet in the entryway, his movements as familiar as if he were at home.
"I'll go get you a glass of hot water." Ning Yi changed into slippers and was about to walk to the kitchen when Ji Yan gently grabbed her wrist from behind.
Ji Yan rested his chin on the top of her head, his breath cool, and said in a low voice, "No need to rush, just sit with me for a while."
Ning Yi turned around following his force, her eyes meeting Ji Yan's weary gaze.
Ning Yi raised her hand and gently touched the dark circles under his eyes, her voice softening: "You were so tired that your eyes were red, but you still insisted on coming to pick me up."
Ji Yan took her hand and gently touched the warmth of her palm with his fingertips, pulling her closer to him: "I want to see you as soon as possible."
Ning Yi was held in his arms, her nose brushing against the faint fragrance of his shirt. She raised her hand and patted his back, like coaxing a child: "I know you miss me, but you can't just tough it out."
She pulled away slightly and led Ji Yan towards the sofa: "Sit down for a while, I'll go get you some pajamas so you can take a shower and rest. I'll heat up some porridge for you, it'll be quick."
Ji Yan didn't stop her anymore, letting Ning Yi pull him to sit on the sofa: "I'll listen to you."
Ning Yi found Ji Yan's old pajamas and waited for him to go into the bathroom before turning around and going into the kitchen.
There was half a carrot, a handful of tender greens, and fresh shrimp that I bought yesterday left in the refrigerator. Ningyi rolled up her sleeves, first washed the rice and put it into a clay pot, added enough water, and simmered it over low heat.
The aroma of rice quickly filled the air. Ningyi diced the carrots, deveined and deveined the shrimp, washed and chopped the greens. Once the porridge in the clay pot was thick and bubbling, she poured in the ingredients one by one, stirred them, and added a little salt to taste.
The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, and Ji Yan came out wearing loose pajamas, her hair still dripping wet, with water droplets falling on her neck, exuding a languid, damp feeling.
He walked to the kitchen doorway, leaned against the door frame, and watched Ning Yi's back as she bent over to stir the porridge. The weariness in his eyes was slowly filled with warmth.
Ning Yi turned around when she heard the noise and saw that Ji Yan's hair was dripping wet: "You blow-dry your hair first, the porridge will be ready soon."
Ji Yan responded and turned to go to the living room to get a hairdryer.
Just as he gathered his half-dry hair behind his head, Ning Yi came out carrying a clay pot. The porcelain spoon tapped lightly against the rim of the bowl: "It's ready. Try it quickly."
Ning Yi ladled a bowl for him and found it was a little hot, so she pinched the rim of the bowl with her fingertips and shook it, then gently blew on the rim: "It's still a little hot, wait half a minute."
Ji Yan sat down, took the bowl of porridge, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and slowly swallowed. The freshness of the shrimp, the sweetness of the vegetables, and the aroma of the rice spread on his tongue.
“It tastes very good,” he said.
Ji Yan scooped up the porridge, her tongue slightly numb from the heat, but she continued eating: "It tastes much better than the food on the plane."
Ning Yi sat opposite him, propping her chin up as she looked at him: "Of course, you should eat more, so you can sleep better when you're full."
Ji Yan paused in scooping porridge, then looked up at Ning Yi: "How are the defense materials coming along? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Ning Yi twirled the empty spoon in her fingertips and gently shook her head: "Most of it is done, don't worry, I can do it."
After Ji Yan finished the last mouthful of porridge, he gently placed the bowl on the table and ran his fingertips along the warm rim of the bowl: "Are you going back to school tonight?"
Ning Yi paused, put the empty spoon back into the bowl, and looked up at him: "I have to go back. I have class first thing tomorrow morning, so I won't make it in time."
“Then I’ll take you back,” Ji Yan said.
Ning Yi got up and started clearing the dishes: "It's okay, you're tired today too. I can go home by myself."
Ji Yan took the bowl from her hand: "You can't even let me stay with you a little longer?"
Ning Yi couldn't help but smile: "I'll do my best to satisfy you. I'm just feeling sorry for you."
"Sit and wait for me." Ji Yan took the bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen first, rolled up his sleeves, and turned on the tap.
Ning Yi stopped arguing and obediently sat on the living room sofa, taking out her phone to play.
After washing the dishes, Ji Yan came out with water droplets still on his hands. He wiped them with a towel and walked to the sofa.
Ning Yi immediately put down her phone, stood up, and pulled his wrist towards the bedroom: "You're all washed up, go get some sleep and recharge."
Ji Yan didn't move. He bent down, took her fingertips, and gently stroked her palm: "Sleeping alone is no fun. Lie down with me for a while."
Ning Yi looked at the lingering weariness in his eyes and her heart softened: "Just lie down for half an hour, I still have to go back to school."