Beyond Reach - Chapter 1 - Be Good, Open the Door.

[Mom and Dad are in Jing City. We’re having dinner at Uncle Yan’s tonight. You and Tingli should come back together.]

Before the elective course, the classroom was bustling with noise, as people constantly moved in and out, finding their seats.

Shi Sui stared at the screen for a long time before slowly replying with a simple “Okay.”

Suddenly, there was a commotion.

Shi Sui’s elbow was nudged by her roommate, Xue Jing, whose eyes were sparkling with excitement, signaling her to look back.

Shi Sui turned her head and met the gaze of the person entering through the back door.

She froze, quickly averting her face.

It was an instinctive reaction, and it was too late to make amends.

This was bad.

He didn’t like her avoiding him.

“Yan Tingli, it really is Yan Tingli,” Xue Jing marveled beside her, “There were rumors he’d choose this course. Strange, why would he pick a course from our major?”

Western Art History had nothing to do with Yan Tingli’s field of study.

“Could it be there’s a girl he likes in our school?” Lin Anran gossiped from the side.

“No way, he’s so cold. I’d believe he doesn’t have any emotions,” Xue Jing replied, her gaze following the movement.

There were plenty of people sneaking glances, just like them.

Some people are destined never to be ordinary, and Yan Tingli was one of them.

He was directly admitted to A University’s School of Interdisciplinary Information Science and was the top pick for the Honors Program designed for elite students.

Even among the best, he stood out. The Honors Program’s courses were notoriously difficult, yet Yan Tingli aced every one, his overwhelming talent casting a shadow over other top students.

A University had many geniuses, every year.

But a genius with such extraordinary looks-only one Yan Tingli emerged every few years.

Last year’s special scholarship defense was broadcast live, and Yan Tingli’s outstanding performance, combined with his celebrity-worthy face, caused a sensation throughout the school.

Coincidentally, Yan Tingli sat very close to them, in the only empty seat diagonally to the right.

His indifferent eyes lowered, fingers tapping the screen, likely sending a message. His fingers were defined, with faint veins visible.

“Yan Tingli is definitely the most attractive man I’ve ever seen.”

Art students have sharp eyes, and Lin Anran whispered, “A face of cold indifference, hands exploding with sensuality. I wish he could be my hand model.”

Xue Jing rested her chin in agreement, “I’m different. I want him to be my body model.”

“Then go try, don’t just talk.”

“I’m tempted, but I’m not crazy,” Xue Jing said.

Besides, Yan Tingli had been without any scandals for so long, visibly hard to pursue, approaching him would be futile.

“Right, Suisui?”

Shi Sui didn’t hear. Her gaze was fixed on the phone screen, on the message Yan Tingli had just sent.

[Wait for me after class, we’ll go back together.]

“Talking to you, what’s got you so absorbed?” Xue Jing tugged at her sleeve.

Shi Sui quickly turned off the screen.

She responded half-heartedly, “Celebrity gossip.”

The history class was typically long-winded, with the old professor speaking slowly, making the autumn afternoon even more drowsy.

After class, Shi Sui explained the situation to her roommates, knowing she lived locally, Xue Jing and Lin Anran waved goodbye to her.

Once the crowd dispersed, the classroom became unusually quiet.

Shi Sui slowly packed her backpack.

At dusk, a figure blocked the light, fingers tapping twice on the desk.

Shi Sui’s back stiffened as she looked up.

A few rays of light passed through the glass window, falling on Yan Tingli’s brow, yet failing to warm his cold demeanor.

Yan Tingli disliked wasting time.

Her deliberate dawdling only further depleted his limited patience.

It’s been half a month since they last saw each other.

The school organized a plein air sketching trip outside the city, and Shi Sui hadn’t informed Yan Tingli about it.

She disappeared for half a month and only returned yesterday.

The last time they communicated, Yan Tingli had asked her to come to the apartment, but after sharing the sketching location, she defiantly turned off her phone.

Such a childish tactic, only satisfying for a fleeting moment.

The fear crept in belatedly, Shi Sui said, “Yan Tingli, I-”

“What do you call me?”

Shi Sui’s chin was pinched by him, his fingertips cold, yet he didn’t apply pressure.

“…Tingli-Ge¹.” It was the name he liked to hear most when they were in bed.

“Mm.”

But he wasn’t responding to her; Yan Tingli was answering someone on the other end of his earpiece: “I’ve seen her. I’ll be back soon.”

His hand had moved from her chin to her delicate earlobe.

He rubbed it forcefully.

The icy touch made Shi Sui refrain from dodging, knowing that any attempt to evade would only make things worse.

Yan Tingli was peculiar.

He was always so unabashed.

The car stopped at the Yan Family’s entrance.

Driving was Old Chen, the Yan Family’s chauffeur, who glanced at the rearview mirror as he parked.

Throughout the forty-minute drive, unless necessary, the two exchanged no words.

Counting the time, Shi Sui had been living there since the second semester of her senior year in high school, which was now two years.

Two years, and she still couldn’t manage to say much to Young Master Yan.

“Thank you, Uncle Chen.” Old Chen opened the rear car door, and Shi Sui stepped out.

“No need to be so formal, Miss Shi.”

Shi Sui wore a light-colored fluffy cardigan, her black hair cascading down her back, speaking softly and gently, with a faint dimple.

She had a personality that endeared her to everyone, yet she wasn’t close to Yan Tingli.

He had watched Young Master Yan grow up; though he spoke little, he was always polite and courteous.

It was truly puzzling.

Outside, Shi Sui spotted her father’s car.

Without looking back, she dashed inside, finding her parents in the reception hall.

“Dad! Mom!” Shi Sui rushed over to embrace them.

Li Yin hadn’t seen her daughter in a while, and she hugged Shi Sui back, planting a kiss. Beside them, Shi Yue shook his head: “You’re such a grown girl now, still so impulsive. Look at Tingli, you should learn from him.”

Learn what?

Shi Sui remained silent.

“This girl,” Shi Yue chuckled, his gaze shifting to Yan Tingli, who was calmly walking in from the doorway, greeting them with a cool demeanor.

Shi Sui also greeted Mr. and Mrs. Yan.

During her senior year, she had stayed with the Yan Family for half a year, and even in college, she often received their care.

Mr. Yan and Mrs. Yan held distinguished positions, and Shi Sui was very grateful to them.

Shi Yue, even more so; two years ago, his company faced operational issues, with creditors chasing him, leaving him and his wife overwhelmed and constantly traveling for business, unable to care for Shi Sui.

Their time in Jing City was short, with shallow roots. Their daughter’s senior year was crucial, and after careful consideration, they entrusted her to the only reliable acquaintance in Jing City, his college roommate Yan Zecheng.

But where Shi Yue could once call Yan Zecheng a brother, after graduation and entering society, some requests became difficult to voice.

He was just an ordinary person from a small town, while Yan Zecheng came from a privileged background, with a smooth path laid out before him even before graduation. He had founded Qisheng Technology, a renowned technology company in the country, and was already a prominent figure in Jing City.

When Shi Yue approached Yan Zecheng, he lacked confidence, but Yan Zecheng agreed without hesitation.

Now that the company had overcome its difficulties, the debt of gratitude owed to Yan Zecheng and his wife required long-term repayment.

With fine wine poured, Shi Yue raised his glass in heartfelt thanks.

“You’re such a good girl, Suisui. I wish I had a daughter like you,” Mrs. Yan, Song Jie, remarked.

Mrs. Yan was a woman of elegance and grace, and Yan Tingli’s demeanor closely resembled his mother’s. Yet, compared to Uncle Yan, who was familiar with her father, Mrs. Yan gave Shi Sui a more palpable sense of distance.

Even though Shi Sui knew these words were mostly polite, she still responded with a sweet smile.

Since Song Jie had spoken so highly, Shi Yue naturally returned the compliment about Yan Tingli. Words of praise flowed effortlessly, and they didn’t seem exaggerated when applied to him.

“What is Tingli studying…” Shi Yue, slightly tipsy, struggled to recall.

“Artificial intelligence,” Yan Tingli replied.

“Artificial intelligence is great! Like father, like son. You’ll carry on your dad’s legacy!”

Mentioning his son brought a satisfied expression to Yan Zecheng’s face. Yan Tingli merely nodded, continuing to wipe his hands with a wet tissue. It was as if he was responding, but Shi Sui could see that his mind was elsewhere, his calm exterior masking his indifference.

“Will you be settling there permanently?” Yan Zecheng inquired.

Shi Yue clinked glasses with him, saying, “I’m in e-commerce now, and Hang City offers more opportunities.”

Yan Zecheng assured him, “With Suisui here, we’ll take care of her. Don’t worry.”

“Of course, I’m not worried. After Suisui finished the Gaokao, we wanted her to apply to a school in the south to be closer to us, but she wouldn’t. She’s grown up now, so we let her decide.”

Thinking about this, Shi Sui felt a surge of frustration. Regret didn’t even begin to describe her feelings now. She regretted being swayed by Yan Tingli’s facade, guided by him to apply to a university in Jing City, now under his influence!

Shi Yue and Li Yin were only here temporarily for business. Hearing that her parents had an early flight the next day and would be leaving again, Shi Sui’s eyes welled up, but she held back her tears.

Dinner ended late. The housekeeper cleared the table while Shi Yue continued chatting with the Yan family parents. As they were about to leave, Li Yin, reluctant to part with her daughter, took Shi Sui aside to share some heartfelt words.

Though they were always busy with work, they had kept their daughter close. Shi Sui had never been so far from them before. Now, with the family separated by distance, they could only meet during holidays.

“Honestly, I still regret not having you apply to G University, right next to home. It would have been perfect,” Li Yin said.

Shi Sui hugged her mother, saying, “I’ll graduate soon and be with you and Dad.”

Li Yin smiled, thinking her daughter was just trying to cheer her up. After all, Shi Sui had been determined to apply to A University, even if it meant risking not getting in.

Remembering something, Li Yin gently reminded her, “By the way, your Uncle Yan and his family are quite busy. If anything comes up, talk to us first. Don’t trouble them too much…”

Shi Sui understood her mother’s intention. No matter how courteous the Yan family was, she was still a guest. Moreover, some gaps couldn’t be bridged by mere friendship.

But those boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed had long been overstepped.

Li Yin suddenly said, “Hey, Tingli…”

Shi Sui replied, “I’m not familiar with him.”

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Li Yin gently pinched her daughter’s arm.

Realizing something belatedly, Shi Sui turned around.

Yan Tingli was coming down from upstairs, standing on the steps not far from the staircase, looking down with an indifferent expression.

Li Yin smoothly changed the topic.

“Your dad and I are leaving,” she said, ruffling Shi Sui’s hair. “Tingli, while we’re not here, please be patient with Suisui.”

“Of course,” Yan Tingli said, stepping down the stairs. “I’ll see you and Uncle off.”

Li Yin nodded with a smile.

She genuinely admired Yan Tingli, but only to a certain extent. The distance between them and the Yan Family was just right, and she didn’t want to overstep.

Standing in the night breeze, watching her parents’ car lights fade away, Shi Sui felt a hollow emptiness inside.

“Are you heading back tonight?” Yan Zecheng asked the two of them.

“Yes.”

“No.”

Two voices fell simultaneously.

Yan Tingli’s gaze lightly swept over Shi Sui, who turned her head away to avoid eye contact.

Shi Sui muttered, “It’s too late today, the dormitory has a curfew. I plan to go back tomorrow.”

Yan Zecheng nodded, “What about you, are you going back to school?”

Yan Tingli smirked, a hint of coldness in his demeanor.

“Since she’s not going back, I won’t either.”

Shi Sui’s eyelids twitched. But no one present seemed surprised.

“Then let Old Chen take you back tomorrow,” Yan Zecheng said.

Yan Zecheng didn’t stay at the Yan Mansion that night; he rarely stayed there, for reasons Shi Sui didn’t delve into.

The housekeeper was on the first floor, Song Jie lived in the master bedroom on the second floor.

Song Jie didn’t stay at home often either; today she followed her usual routine of going to bed early for her beauty sleep.

She was always like this, indifferent to everything, even her own son Yan Tingli.

In the Yan Family, everyone had their own affairs.

Her presence as an outsider didn’t seem to affect anything.

Shi Sui’s room was on the third floor of the villa, originally Yan Tingli’s music and collection room.

Because of its good orientation, Yan Zecheng converted it into a bedroom for her.

Correspondingly, opposite was Yan Tingli’s room.

Shi Sui shook off the footsteps behind her, almost running upstairs to her room, slamming the door shut.

Her palms were damp, the phone screen fogged with moisture.

She turned it on; there was a message from Yan Tingli sent during dinner, telling her to return to the apartment that night.

What would happen at the apartment was obvious.

She refused to go.

Outside, the footsteps continued, unhurried.

Until they paused.

Shi Sui listened intently, the footsteps seemed to go to the opposite room, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

At least at home, with Mrs. Yan around, he wouldn’t-

The next second.

A new message popped up on her phone, a concise demand.

[I want to kiss you.]

[I don’t want to.] Shi Sui replied.

[Be good, open the door.]

He used “be good.”

As if coaxing, but it was actually a sign of his patience running thin.

Shi Sui ignored it.

The room had a fingerprint lock; if she didn’t open it, Yan Tingli couldn’t get in.

“Click.”

The sound of the door unlocking.

Before she could react, Shi Sui was pressed against the door.

Yan Tingli’s presence overwhelmed her, cold at first, then aggressively lingering on her skin.

Shi Sui shook her head, struggling to swallow everything he passed from his mouth.

Yan Tingli looked at her coldly, his cool fingers gripping her delicate neck, lips close to hers, asking:

“I told you to open the door, didn’t you see?”

Footnote:

1. -Ge(-哥):Ge, in Chinese, using “xx哥” to address someone is quite common, especially in Mainland China and other Chinese-speaking communities. This way of addressing typically carries a sense of affection and friendliness, indicating respect and amiability towards the person.