Beyond Reach - Novelbike

After the afternoon classes ended, Shi Sui received a message from Li Yin saying that the car was already at the west gate and she could just come over directly. Unable to suppress the excitement in her heart, she dropped her backpack in the dormitory and skipped over joyfully.

“Mom!” Upon reaching the school gate and seeing Li Yin standing by the car, she rushed over and hugged her mother tightly.

Li Yin turned around and embraced her daughter warmly, gently patting her back. She then led her daughter into the car.

“What are we having for dinner tonight, Mom?”

Li Yin smiled, “Suzhou cuisine¹.” She knew her daughter loved dishes with fresh and fragrant flavors, so she asked Yan Tingli if there were any well-reviewed Suzhou cuisine restaurants nearby.

He thought for a moment and gently asked her what price range she had in mind. This reminded Li Yin that the restaurants Yan Tingli was accustomed to might not be cheap. While she was pondering what would be appropriate, he noticed her hesitation and said, “Auntie, just go with what you and Shi Sui like. I’m not picky about food.”

Li Yin couldn’t help but glance at him again. Initially, she just admired him, but now she was genuinely impressed from the bottom of her heart. How could someone be so perfect in both emotional intelligence and intellect?

She mentioned a moderately priced range. Yan Tingli nodded and pulled up a restaurant on his phone, “How about this one?”

“Yes, that’s perfect.”

“Then I’ll make a reservation now.”

Li Yin, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, “That’s too much trouble for you. I should-”

“You should go pick up Shi Sui,” he said. “She hasn’t seen you in a long time and must really miss you.”

These words touched Li Yin’s heart, and she looked at him sincerely, “Thank you so much, Tingli.”

“There’s no need to be so formal with me.”

As soon as Shi Sui got into the car, she clung to Li Yin, chattering away like a little sparrow. She talked about everything from the cafeteria food to the recent competitions she participated in.

Li Yin listened with a smile, her eyes warm as she watched her daughter. She couldn’t help but ask, “Have you joined any extracurricular activities this semester or made any new friends?”

This was her biggest concern. Suisui was well-behaved and sensible, good in every way, except she was too introverted and liked staying at home, not very social. Every time she sent her living expenses, Suisui would say she still had enough, which clearly meant she stayed in the dorm all day. Li Yin actually hoped she would go out and meet more people.

Sure enough, when this topic came up, Shi Sui blinked and fell silent.

“You can also make friends with suitable boys,” Li Yin said as she tucked her daughter’s hair behind her ear.

Shi Sui’s gaze drifted away, and she mumbled, “I’m still young, no rush.”

Li Yin said, “I’m just suggesting you meet people, not rushing you.”

Seeing her daughter’s expression of “hearing but not really listening,” Li Yin felt both amused and exasperated, “Fine, if you won’t listen, Mom has her own ways.”

Shi Sui: Huh?

Just as she finished speaking, the car stopped in front of the restaurant.

Li Yin, sitting on the outer side, immediately noticed the young man standing at the restaurant entrance. He stood tall and graceful, his dark eyes gazing into the distance. Just standing there, he was a sight to behold.

Li Yin was once again amazed in her heart.

The taxi stopped, and Li Yin opened the car door, waving in that direction. Yan Tingli noticed and walked over gracefully. She turned to Shi Sui and said, “Come on, perk up a bit. There are two brothers joining us for dinner tonight.”

“What?” Shi Sui snapped back to reality, processing for a moment, “What brothers?”

Two?!

“Originally, Mom was going to invite you and Fang Huaijing for dinner, but this afternoon, Tingli helped Mom a lot,” Li Yin explained quickly as she got out of the car, “so I invited him to join us for dinner.”

“Come on, why are you just sitting there?” Li Yin waited for a while and saw her daughter still frozen in the car with a thunderstruck expression, “Why aren’t you getting out? Tingli is already here.”

Shi Sui struggled to digest her mother’s words. She couldn’t find the words to describe her explosive emotions at the moment, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“If I told you earlier, you would definitely hide in the dorm and avoid socializing.”

Ah!!!

Shi Sui’s mind was in turmoil until Yan Tingli’s voice brought her back to her senses. In front of Li Yin, he maintained a gentlemanly demeanor and leaned in to say, “Auntie, the private room is already reserved.”

Li Yin smiled, “You’ve gone to so much trouble.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, seeing Shi Sui still sitting in the car, Li Yin turned her head and gave her a look, “Suisui, get out of the car and say hello to Tingli-Ge.”

Since the tragic fate was inevitable, she could only face it bravely. “Tingli-Ge.” She got out of the car slowly, opened her mouth, and called out as Li Yin requested.

Yan Tingli’s tone was appropriately distant, “Long time no see.”

Shi Sui’s gaze met Yan Tingli’s for less than a second. Seeing the calm emotion in his eyes, she was slightly stunned. He seemed so normal, could it be that he still didn’t know…

Shi Sui’s heart sank even further-she was doomed. Her mind went blank.

Li Yin was evidently in a good mood, chatting with Yan Tingli all the way to the private room. Their conversation flowed back and forth. Shi Sui lagged a step behind, her footsteps heavy.

Until somehow, the topic turned to her, Li Yin said, “Suisui is too introverted, always liked staying at home since she was little, reading comics and playing on the computer. Even now in university, she’s still like this.”

Yan Tingli responded, “That’s quite alright, I also enjoy staying at home, it’s quieter.”

-Compared to staying home and doing mischief with him, Shi Sui would rather go out and see people, she thought sarcastically.

“You’re different, you’re focused on your studies,” Li Yin said.

Yan Tingli chuckled, accepting the compliment.

“…” Absolutely shameless.

Shi Sui discreetly rolled her eyes in a corner where no one noticed.

Li Yin continued, “That’s why I’ve always wanted Suisui to go out and make more friends, but she refuses.”

Yan Tingli replied, “There’s no need.”

Li Yin was taken aback.

Yan Tingli remained expressionless, “If she doesn’t want to, there’s no need to force it.”

Li Yin pondered for a moment, thinking Yan Tingli might have received elite education, making him independent from a young age, not liking elders to interfere in children’s lives.

She smiled, trying to make him understand the adults’ concern, “What Xiao Li said is right, but she’s grown up now, she’ll have to enter society, start a family and career, being too closed off isn’t good.”

Yan Tingli’s lips curled into a faint cold smile, his expression becoming indifferent, “Watch your step, there’s a stair.”

Shi Sui noticed his expression, knowing this was a sign of his mood dropping.

She clenched her hand, just about to pull Li Yin’s sleeve, but Li Yin spoke first, trusting Yan Tingli, “Actually, Auntie invited a boy today, someone your age.”

Yan Tingli paused slightly, “Oh?”

What was meant to come would come.

Shi Sui lowered her hand, giving up on struggling, silently bowing her head, only praying in her heart that her mom wouldn’t make things worse.

Just after praying.

The next second, she heard Li Yin say with a smile, “Coincidentally, this boy is from the neighboring S University, also a childhood playmate of Suisui from Hang City.”

“I personally like this child very much, since Xiao Li is here today, you can help Auntie evaluate-”

“Mom!” Shi Sui interrupted her mother.

She noticed the expression on Yan Tingli’s face had completely vanished, her heart pounding like a drum, her face turning pale.

She thought Li Yin had only invited Fang Huaijing over for a simple meal, but didn’t know she had such intentions.

“What’s wrong?”

Shi Sui: “Don’t say anymore.”

Li Yin blinked, thinking she was shy, nodded helplessly, “Alright, alright, mom won’t say anymore.”

Just then, the three of them arrived at the private room door.

The guiding waiter opened the door, “Please come in.”

The conversation was interrupted, and the slightly tense, subtle atmosphere seemed to dissipate.

“Should we start serving now?” the waiter asked.

“Xiao Jing said ten more minutes, he’ll be here soon.” Li Yin checked her messages as she sat down, “You can start serving.”

It was a delicate small private room with a round table design.

Li Yin glanced at the seating, letting Shi Sui sit beside her, while saying to Yan Tingli, “Xiao Li, you sit next to Auntie.”

This left only the serving seat empty.

The seat on Shi Sui’s other side was left for someone, but it was obvious who.

Yan Tingli stepped forward directly, taking the seat to Shi Sui’s right, smiling slightly, “Auntie, I like sitting by the window, is it alright if I sit here?”

Li Yin naturally wouldn’t mind over a seat, “Of course, of course.”

Shi Sui sat silently between the two, her fingers clutching the tablecloth.

There was a moment of silence.

Until the sound of water pouring came from beside her, Yan Tingli thoughtfully pushed the tea towards her, “I understood Auntie’s intention just now.”

With the remaining cup, he leaned over and handed it to Li Yin, “I will definitely help you.”

He paused, continuing word by word, “Evaluate carefully.”

Li Yin covered her mouth and laughed lightly, “Auntie was joking, don’t take it seriously, matters of fate are unpredictable.”

“Is that so,” Yan Tingli propped his chin closer to Shi Sui, smiling faintly, “Then I think, I have more fate with Shi Sui.”

Shi Sui avoided his gaze, awkwardly saying, “Haha, everyone has fate.”

Yan Tingli’s eyes turned cold, his lips slightly downturned.

When he wasn’t smiling, his whole demeanor became particularly cold and unapproachable.

Shi Sui noticed, her heart tightened.

Silently turning her head away.

Time seemed to slow down suddenly.

In this intermittent small talk, it was unclear how much time had passed, when the private room door was politely knocked three times, then pushed open.

A boy in a black jacket, with a calm demeanor, appeared at the door.

His gaze swept around, seeing the people in the private room, a flash of surprise in his eyes, standing still for a while.

“You’re here,” Li Yin stood up to greet him, “Come in, Huaijing.”

Fang Huaijing paused for a couple of seconds, then stepped inside and closed the door. He sat down next to Li Yin, in the remaining empty seat, and his gaze lingered on the person opposite him for a while.

He frowned slightly, “Yan Tingli?”

Li Yin, who was about to introduce them, was taken aback, “You two know each other?”

Before Fang Huaijing could speak, two lazy words drifted over from the opposite side, “Yes, rivals.”

Seeing Li Yin looking at him, Yan Tingli raised his eyebrows slightly, “I’m talking about competitions, nothing else.”

Such a blatant attempt to cover up.

Shi Sui’s fingers nearly tore through the tablecloth.

Although she found it a bit strange, Li Yin chalked it up to youthful banter and laughed, “Well, that’s perfect, everyone knows each other. Suisui, you and Huaijing haven’t seen each other in years, this is a good opportunity-”

“Years? Didn’t we just have dinner together last week?” Yan Tingli toyed with his wine glass, chuckling softly, “Shi Sui even ate the food Huaijing served her, but she seems quite distant with me.”

Shi Sui couldn’t stand it any longer and kicked him under the table, trying to make him shut up.

Yan Tingli let out a cold laugh that only she could hear.

He shifted his leg.

Almost hooking hers.

Shi Sui, startled, pulled back.

On the other side, Li Yin was completely confused, “Wait, wait, what do you mean?”

Fang Huaijing’s slightly cold gaze moved away from Yan Tingli’s face, “It’s a coincidence, we had dinner together last week. Suisui and I have already met.”

“And what about Tingli? How did you end up having dinner together?”

Fang Huaijing’s lips twitched slightly, “You’d have to ask him why he came over.”

Seeing her mother’s thoughtful expression, Shi Sui’s heart raced with anxiety.

She quickly explained, “That day, there was also Tingli-Ge’s very good high school friend. He saw us and came over.”

Yan Tingli gave a lazy smile.

Neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Fang Huaijing said nothing.

He didn’t really think Yan Tingli and Gao Linhan were that “good” of friends.

He asked what he wanted to know, “So you know each other too?”

Shi Sui had completely given up, burying her head in silence.

But Li Yin, who finally understood the situation, nodded with a smile, “Yes, during Suisui’s senior year, she stayed at Tingli’s house.”

Fang Huaijing slowly processed this, looking at Shi Sui, “How come you never mentioned it?”

“It’s a private matter, why should I tell you?” Yan Tingli said with a half-smile.

Li Yin glanced at him too. Even with her thick filter for Yan Tingli, she sensed the underlying hostility in his words.

But she didn’t think much of it, assuming there was some unpleasantness during their competitions.

“Actually, Tingli-Ge and I were never that close,” Shi Sui interjected, her hands clenched tightly, her face expressionless, “so there was no need to mention it.”

Her words brought a few seconds of silence to the room.

She felt the surrounding temperature drop.

Shi Sui kept her gaze straight ahead, not daring to look at Yan Tingli’s reaction.

-At the very least, she had to keep this from her mother, no matter the cost.

“Suisui, you shouldn’t speak like that.” Sensing the awkwardness, Li Yin tugged at Shi Sui’s sleeve, glancing at Yan Tingli. He had his eyes lowered, casting a shadow with his long lashes, his lips pressed into a thin line.

He certainly didn’t look happy.

Just as she was pondering what to say, Yan Tingli suddenly stood up, “Auntie, I have something to attend to, I’ll step out for a moment.”

“Oh, yes…”

Before Li Yin could finish her sentence, his figure had already swiftly disappeared through the door. Shi Sui felt slightly uneasy, her peripheral vision darting in that direction.

She could almost feel that Yan Tingli left because he couldn’t stay there another second.

If he didn’t go out to cool off now, he might lose control the next moment.

Li Yin was still puzzled, “What’s going on? Did something urgent come up…”

Shi Sui didn’t want her mother focusing on Yan Tingli, so she served her a piece of bamboo shoot, “I think this bamboo shoot is very fresh, Mom, you should have more.”

“Alright,” Li Yin withdrew her gaze and looked up at Fang Huaijing, “Huaijing, you should eat more too.”

Yan Tingli was gone for at least fifteen minutes.

Just when Li Yin was curious enough to consider going out to check, the door opened, and he stepped back in.

“Sorry, Auntie, something came up, and I had to step out for a bit.”

His expression was natural, without a flaw.

Li Yin said, “Then quickly have some more food.”

“Alright.”

After returning, Yan Tingli spoke very little, only saying what was necessary.

When he was cold, the indifference in his bones would seep out.

It was so apparent that even Li Yin noticed, “Tingli, is something bothering you?”

Yan Tingli replied, “I might be a bit tired.”

Li Yin remembered how he had been busy all afternoon and quickly said, “Then let’s finish eating and head back early.”

Seeing the dining table was somewhat quiet, Li Yin took the initiative to start a conversation: “So, Huaijing, after you last met Suisui, have you kept in touch?”

Shi Sui felt her scalp tingling.

Fang Huaijing glanced at her, seeing she remained silent, he replied, “I added her on WeChat after I got back. But I’ve been quite busy lately, haven’t had the chance to contact her.”

Li Yin nodded and smiled, “You can keep in touch more in the future. Suisui is quite a homebody, take her out to have fun sometimes.”

Fang Huaijing also smiled and agreed, “Alright.”

During their conversation, Shi Sui quietly observed the side.

This time, Yan Tingli was eerily quiet, not making a sound.

She couldn’t help but feel more anxious.

Shi Sui buried her head, never feeling a meal could be so long.

When it seemed about time, Li Yin excused herself to the restroom, stepping out to pay the bill.

Seeing Fang Huaijing also getting up to leave.

The thought of being left alone with Yan Tingli made Shi Sui suddenly stand up, following Li Yin: “Mom, I want to go too.”

A faint snicker came from beside her.

Shi Sui dared not look.

She just wanted to escape now.

“Why are you coming out too?” Li Yin said helplessly, “Mom is going to pay the bill.”

Shi Sui followed closely behind her: “I want to get some fresh air.”

After paying, Li Yin handed her bag to Shi Sui: “You go back to the private room, I’m going to the restroom.”

Shi Sui followed: “I’ll go too.”

Li Yin glanced at her: “What’s wrong with you? What are you avoiding?”

Being questioned like this, Shi Sui’s heart skipped a beat.

Afraid Li Yin might suspect, she could only muster up courage and act coy: “I just want to spend more time with mom.”

“Go back,” Li Yin lightly tapped her nose, “You can’t leave the guest in the private room, it’s impolite.”

Seeing her firm attitude, Shi Sui had nothing to say, only nodding helplessly.

On the way back, her steps were heavy.

Her hand rested on the private room door handle, hesitating for a long time before deciding to open it.

Just as Shi Sui stood at the door, building up her courage, the door suddenly opened from inside, bringing a gust of cold wind.

Yan Tingli looked down at her, his eyes cold as ice.

Shi Sui’s lips moved, unable to make a sound before being pulled inside by her arm.

With a “bang,” the private room door slammed shut behind her.

Yan Tingli’s cold fingers gripped her neck, raising her chin with his palm, bending down, their eyes meeting directly.

Shi Sui was so scared her heart almost stopped, her eyelashes trembling, pleading: “My mom is still here, don’t go crazy.”

Yan Tingli slightly tilted his head, his dark pupils devoid of emotion: “Is this called going crazy?”

“Then if I kiss you in front of your mom later, what would that be?”

Shi Sui was terrified, cold sweat covering her back: “…Don’t joke like that.”

“I’m not joking.” He whispered in her ear, speaking slowly, “I’ll let your mom know later.”

“That after Gaokao, you and I got together, you’ve slept with me for two years, doing it every week, not even knowing how many condoms we’ve used-”

Before he finished speaking, Shi Sui raised her hand, slapping him across the face.

She was almost driven mad, her rationality on the verge of collapse, speaking without thinking: “If you dare do that, I’ll break up with you immediately, cut ties forever.”

Yan Tingli pressed his tongue against the burning side of his cheek, his face expressionless.

He paused for a moment, slowly turning to look at her.

His gaze fell heavily on her, like a dark, bottomless pit.

That look.

Made Shi Sui shiver, her body instinctively wanting to retreat, to run.

But behind her was the door.

No way to retreat.

Her reactive movement made Yan Tingli’s eyelashes flicker.

Whether it was the flickering light above or some illusion, Shi Sui seemed to see his eyes redden.

-He looked as if he was very sad.

At that moment.

The private room door was knocked.

Shi Sui’s heart jumped: “Who?”

“It’s me.”

Fang Huaijing’s voice.

Given the situation…

Shi Sui glanced at the mark on Yan Tingli’s face.

His skin was fair, making the slap mark particularly noticeable.

This wouldn’t do.

Too unusual, it would definitely be noticed.

Shi Sui was anxiously thinking of a solution when Yan Tingli pulled her aside.

Without giving her time to react, he opened the door.

Facing the outside with his current appearance.

His hand still tightly gripping Shi Sui’s, not allowing her any chance to escape.

Noticing their intertwined hands, Fang Huaijing frowned slightly, raising his eyes: “What do you mean?”

“Are you blind?” Yan Tingli’s tone was extremely impatient, unwilling to pretend any longer.

“If you can’t see what my relationship with Shi Sui is.”

“I don’t mind kissing her in front of you.”

Footnote:

Suzhou Cuisine(苏帮菜):Suzhou cuisine (苏帮菜, Sūbāng cài) is a major branch of Jiangsu cuisine, originating from Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. It is renowned for its light, sweet, and fresh flavors, often featuring seasonal ingredients, freshwater produce, and intricate presentation. It is one of the most celebrated regional cuisines in China.