Becoming the Caged Canary of a Forced Love - Chapter 4

Breakfast had been prepared with a patient’s recovery in mind, so it was quite bland. Gu Nian picked at the plain porridge before him, but remembering how poor dietary habits had led to his stomach cancer in his previous life, he forced himself to swallow it down.

Once he finished, he caught a glimpse of Pei Jichuan’s plate out of the corner of his eye and noticed the food was almost untouched. Pei Jichuan held a financial report in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, taking occasional sips, seemingly devoid of any interest in the meal.

Having finished his own breakfast, Gu Nian propped his cheek up with his left hand and tilted his head to watch Pei Jichuan. Strangely, he felt a wave of sleepiness wash over him again so soon after eating.

Pei Jichuan’s peripheral vision swept over Gu Nian. He set down the report and reached a hand out toward him.

Gu Nian’s drowsy nerves were jolted awake, but the hand merely brushed against his forehead to check for a fever before being withdrawn.

“Go change your clothes in a moment. I’m taking you to the hospital for an examination.” Pei Jichuan’s gaze followed his hand back down to the report.

A literal workaholic, Gu Nian thought as he lazily retracted his gaze.

The hospital in the early morning was quite bustling. The wail of ambulance sirens rang out periodically, and the people walking to and fro all bore expressions of profound exhaustion.

Hunched backs, hollow and numb gazes, and the sound of wailing sobs filled the air.

Gu Nian couldn’t help but steal a glance at Pei Jichuan, who sat beside him appearing completely unmoved by the scene.

Though it was just a physical check-up, the outing was both low-key and “extravagant.” Aside from the car they were in, there was a black BMW both in front and behind them. The anti-peeping film on the windows made it impossible to see inside, but Gu Nian had seen clearly before they set out.

In addition to the secretary and the driver, Pei Jichuan had brought at least six bodyguards. Then again, when one’s net worth reached a certain level, security was a necessity—surely these six bodyguards weren’t just there to keep him from running away, right?

“What are you thinking about?” Pei Jichuan asked without looking up, sensing Gu Nian’s gaze.

Gu Nian was clearly spacing out.

He snapped back to reality and looked out the window. The car had already entered the hospital grounds, seemingly via a specially designated VIP lane. Compared to the hospital’s main entrance, this area was exceptionally quiet.

“This place only serves specific individuals; it isn’t open to the public,” Pei Jichuan said, as if sensing Gu Nian’s confusion.

“Xiao Yuan has officially graduated and returned to the country. He’s working here temporarily; I’ll have him examine you in a moment.” Pei Jichuan paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and fixed his pitch-black eyes on Gu Nian.

“Don’t wander off later. The security here is quite excellent.”

Pei Jichuan’s words seemed to hold a deeper meaning.

Before Gu Nian could respond, the car came to a steady stop. A bodyguard opened the door. After Pei Jichuan stepped out, he turned and extended a hand to Gu Nian inside the car.

Gu Nian hesitated for a moment before placing his hand in Pei Jichuan’s palm. The man’s hand was scorching hot; even the slight chill of early autumn couldn’t dissipate a shred of his warmth.

Gu Nian stepped out of the car and stood beside Pei Jichuan, only to find themselves indeed surrounded by the six bodyguards.

Gu Nian gave his hand a gentle tug, but Pei Jichuan showed no intention of letting go. Instead, he adjusted his grip to lock their fingers together.

A man in a white lab coat approached them. He was handsome, roughly 180 cm tall, with a faint smile at the corners of his lips that radiated a unique charm.

His voice reached them before he did.

“Oh, little beauty! We haven’t seen each other in over a year. Did you miss me? I’ve officially graduated this time, so if you ever have a headache or a fever, you must come find me. And you, Big Boss Pei—don’t go hiding your illness from the doctor. When you’re sick, you have to treat it early…”

Gu Nian glanced at the name tag on the man’s chest and accurately caught the name: Xiao Yuan. It seemed he knew the original owner, but this non-stop chatter…

Gu Nian stole a look at Pei Jichuan. Sure enough, Pei Jichuan’s face had turned dark, and the veins on his forehead were clearly visible.

How can such a handsome guy be such a chatterbox and sound like a total playboy the moment he opens his mouth?

“Enough. Hurry up and start the exam. I have a meeting later.” Pei Jichuan’s patience had finally reached its limit. He pulled Gu Nian along by the hand, striding forward with no desire to entertain this long-winded fellow.

“Hey, hey, hey! I wasn’t finished! Honestly, I finally get back, at least let me catch up with the little beauty.” Xiao Yuan hurried to keep up behind them.

However, after the group entered the foyer in a grand procession, Xiao Yuan suddenly reached out to stop Pei Jichuan.

“It’s just a routine check-up. Let my assistant take the little beauty for his physical. Big Boss Pei, shall we have a chat?” Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow, signaling his assistant to step forward.

Pei Jichuan released his grip and leaned down slightly to meet Gu Nian’s eyes.

“Wait for me in the lounge after the exam. I’ll be back in a moment.”

“Okay.” Gu Nian blinked and gave a submissive reply. He followed the assistant toward the examination room, but Pei Jichuan’s bodyguards left their boss behind and followed him instead.

They really are monitoring me. Gu Nian lowered his eyelashes, making no further movements.

Xiao Yuan’s office faced the sun, allowing the morning light to stream in completely. Pei Jichuan held another cigarette, yet he merely watched the smoke rise slowly as it burned.

“You have to believe me. I guarantee, based on my years of study, that you can’t delay treating this illness any longer. Have you forgotten that when you had an episode two years ago, you actually broke the little beauty’s leg?” Xiao Yuan looked unusually serious for once.

“Didn’t you delay your graduation?” Pei Jichuan’s tone was light, but the content made the man sitting opposite him instantly bristle.

“You layman! Do you have any idea how much weight a diploma from Country D carries? Besides, if I hadn’t flown back last year because of that incident, I would have graduated long ago!” Xiao Yuan shot up from his seat, shouting and gesturing wildly.

Xiao Yuan was fuming at Pei Jichuan’s stubbornness. He rolled his eyes, calmed his mind, and spoke again.

“If you don’t treat this bipolar disorder, just wait for the next time you beat your little ‘canary’ to death. If you keep suffering from insomnia like this, you’re going to drop dead of exhaustion sooner or later!”

Hearing this, Pei Jichuan frowned deeply. He thought for a long time, then rubbed the cigarette between his fingers and stubbed it out in the ashtray.

“Prescribe me some medicine.”

Xiao Yuan froze. Hearing those words, he even suspected he was hallucinating.

“It seems your little canary has a huge influence on you.” Pei Jichuan was famously stubborn; for him to voluntarily ask for treatment was like the sun rising in the west.

“He isn’t a canary,” Pei Jichuan said, walking to the window. Looking out at the warm sunlight, he suddenly added a cryptic remark:

“Oh? So he’s really special to you? Then what kind of ‘status’ do you plan on giving him? Are you sure the people back at the old mansion will accept a daughter-in-law who can’t bear children?” Xiao Yuan was quite surprised, but then he seemed to remember something.

“I heard about that incident. You people are really good at finding scapegoats. The second He brother is lucky to have an older brother looking out for him. If the little beauty ever found out…”

“He will never know.” Pei Jichuan cut Xiao Yuan off before he could finish.

Xiao Yuan met his cold gaze and couldn’t help but remember the time years ago when Pei Jichuan rose to power, ruthlessly purging his father’s influence. Back then, Pei Jichuan had been just as terrifying.

Others feared him, but Xiao Yuan didn’t.

Xiao Yuan was stunned for a moment, then let out a light laugh. “Jichuan, you should know that in this world, there is no wall so thick that wind cannot pass through.”

Pei Jichuan tightened his brow and glanced sideways.

Xiao Yuan remained unmoved, leaning back into his chair as if the bones had suddenly been removed from his body. “I really don’t know if meeting you was the little beauty’s misfortune or his luck.”