Rushing Towards The Flame

By Sui Jian

Chapter 01

When Tang Yi arrived home, it was already midnight. The house was unusually quiet, with lights on in the hallway and living room, casting a warm, dim light.

An air of warmth had unexpectedly permeated the space.

She stood silently at the hallway, her index finger hooked around the keys, the sharp edges wrapped in her palm, only to release them a moment later before stepping inside.

A man was leaning against the sofa in the living room. Just as Tang Yi was about to speak, she caught sight of the cake on the coffee table. Her throat felt like it was suddenly stuffed with cotton, unable to utter a word.

Today is Jiang Qiaosheng’s birthday.

She had actually forgotten.

The man who was lightly sleeping seemed to sense something, suddenly woke up, subconsciously made a gesture to adjust his glasses, but his hand touched nothing, and he was fully awake.

Tang Yi clenched the key in her palm again, the key bit painfully, but her voice revealed no emotion: “I’m sorry.”

“Hmm?” Jiang Qiaosheng had slight myopia and always had a sentimental feeling when looking at people without glasses. This time, he looked at Tang Yi the same way: “What for?”

“I forgot your birthday.”

It wasn’t because of being too busy with work.

Nor was there any other excusable reason.

She simply, purely forgot.

Tang Yi is open about everything except emotions, often being so frank that it leaves people unsure of how to blame her.

Jiang Qiaosheng looked at her and smiled slightly, “It’s okay, it’s not a particularly important day.”

But Tang Yi didn’t find much comfort in his forgiveness. She wished he would get angry, even if it led to an argument, rather than the current situation of understanding.

However, to this day, what they needed between them was still a superficial peace.

Tang Yi didn’t want to end things hastily, so she tried to make amends: “I’m off tomorrow, do you want to go out and have a meal together?”

“I’m afraid not.” Jiang Qiaosheng stood up, his tall figure blocking most of the light, with fatigue in his brows and eyes: “I have to go back to Beijing early tomorrow morning.”

Six months ago, Jiang Qiaosheng’s studio collaborated with a game company in Beijing to develop a new game. As the project was reaching its final stages in the past few months, the entire studio was on a business trip in Beijing.

It seems that today he also squeezed in time to come back, afraid of disturbing her work, not even a phone call or a message.

Thinking of this, Tang Yi couldn’t help but feel a little guilty: “Then I’ll take you to the airport tomorrow morning.”

This time Jiang Qiaosheng didn’t refuse, said “good”, and then said, “It’s late, you should pack up and go to bed early.”

“Okay.”

Tang Yi watched him walk into the bedroom, and when she retracted her gaze, she saw the cake on the coffee table, pursed her lips, and called out to him again: “Jiang Qiaosheng.”

The man stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her, his gaze full of expectation.

Unfortunately, the distance was too far, and the light was dim, so Tang Yi didn’t see it clearly at the time. She only saw the electronic clock on the wall had already passed midnight.

It was a new day.

Tang Yi opened her lips: “Good night.”

The young man Jiang Qiaosheng did not hurry to respond, but remained where he was, silently watching her. In the long silence, Tang Yi vaguely heard his soft sigh.

What followed was an emotionless “Good night.”

Tang Yi’s eyelashes fluttered, and a sharp yet lingering pain suddenly surged in her heart.

–

Marrying Jiang Qiaosheng was an unexpected surprise in Tang Yi’s life.

At that time, she had just returned to Pingcheng from the city where she was studying. At the marriageable age, she still didn’t have a partner, and her mother was anxious, arranging blind dates for her every few days. Tang Yi had turned down one, but there was always another.

After a rainy autumn day, she finally compromised and agreed to meet the son of her mother’s friend’s classmate, a relationship so distant that even her mother couldn’t remember the details.

“The specific relationships don’t matter, you just need to remember to be there at 7 o’clock tonight.” Tang Yi’s mother, afraid that she might back out at the last minute, had called her several times to remind her.

“Okay, I’m on my way there now.” On the way to the blind date location after work, Tang Yi received another call from her mother, but after a brief conversation, the taxi had already arrived at the destination.

She hurriedly said, “Alright, Mom, I’m here now. I’ll talk to you when I get home.”

The autumn in Pingcheng had a long rainy season, with a fine drizzle.

Tang Yi got out of the car and ran all the way to the restaurant. By the time she arrived, she was damp all over.

She stood in front of the glass door, fixed her hair, and took a deep breath before being led in by the waiter.

The private room they had reserved was empty, except for a black suit jacket hanging on a chair. The waiter simply guided her there and left.

Tang Yi hesitated for a moment, standing at the entrance of the private room, without going in.

The restaurant was designed in the style of Jiangnan architecture, and on the other side of the corridor, the wooden window shutters were propped open, revealing the outline of the courtyard eaves.

The autumn rain drizzled, dripping along the eaves.

Tang Yi was staring absentmindedly, when suddenly a voice fell beside her: “Miss Tang?”

She instinctively turned her head.

The man was wearing a well-made white shirt, with two buttons loose at the collar. His handsome face, with narrow black eyes, held a hint of brightness.

In a few seconds, he seemed to have confirmed the identity of the visitor, and smiled slightly: “Why don’t you come in?”

Tang Yi had not yet recovered from the shock in her heart, her reaction a little slow, all the words seemed to be stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

Jiang Qiaosheng did not mind, stepping forward and lifting the curtain: “Come in and sit down first.”

Tang Yi finally came to her senses, lowering her eyelids to conceal the surging emotions in her eyes, her throat moving slightly, finally managing to utter a word “okay”.

The light in the private room was a little dimmer, and it was not until Tang Yi was seated that she focused her gaze on the figure across from her.

His hair was slightly shorter than before, exuding a more mature air. His face hadn’t changed much, losing the greenness of youth. Sharp and distinct, with a touch of maturity, he still possessed a very handsome face.

He picked up the teapot and poured tea into the empty cup in front of Tang Yi, his rolled-up sleeves revealing a watch on his wrist that glinted in the light.

His fingers were long and slender, the knuckles distinct, the scar that had once been on the back of his hand faded away, leaving no trace.

“Miss Tang, is there something on your mind?” Jiang Qiaosheng put down the blue and white porcelain teapot, looking at Tang Yi with an understanding expression: “If there’s anything inconvenient, I can understand, after all, this is a blind date—”

He paused, but Tang Yi knew the meaning behind his words.

She reached for the tea cup that was half full, took a sip of her lips: “No, I’m just surprised that someone like Mr. Jiang would also come for a blind date.”

Jiang Qiaosheng was curious, “What kind of person am I then?”

Tang Yi was at a loss for words for a moment, and after a long silence, he said, “In any case, you’re quite different from the people I usually meet for blind dates, you’re too—”

She couldn’t think of the right word for a moment.

“Hmm, too flamboyant, isn’t it?” Jiang Qiaosheng picked up the thread of the conversation.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then it’s because I’m too good-looking.”

“Yes.” Tang Yi nodded in agreement.

Jiang Qiaosheng laughed, “It seems Miss Tang has a high opinion of me.”

Tang Yi didn’t say anything else, just picked up her teacup and took a sip.

It was an extremely harmonious blind date.

Tang Yi and Jiang Qiaosheng had an extraordinary chemistry in many ways, they had the same tastes, similar interests, and even liked the same movies.

When it was time to leave, the autumn rain that had started in the evening had not yet stopped.

Jiang Qiaosheng looked at the persistent rain, glanced at his watch, and said, “It’s getting late, let me take you home.”

Tang Yi had no reason to refuse.

The two of them walked to the parking lot under the umbrella, the drizzling rain pounding on the umbrella, and Jiang Qiaosheng, considerate of Tang Yi’s pace, didn’t walk too fast.

Tang Yi stared at the hand holding the umbrella, lost in thought for a moment.

After a while, her gaze shifted slightly upward, the man’s side profile was strong and his jawline was clear, and there was a faint mole on the side of his neck.

Just like in her memory.

Tang Yi looked for a few seconds, then lowered her eyes to the wet and slippery road beneath her feet, feeling as if she had been transported back seven years.

She remembered, that day the weather was just like this.

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The author has something to say:

A very clichéd story, wishing everyone a happy summer.