Non-Humans Want to Fall in Love Too [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 7

Ji Shijin woke up enveloped in warmth. He opened his eyes to a ceiling that felt both strange and familiar. The fabric beneath him was the kind he usually used, and the scent of incense hitting his nose was a recognizable fragrance.

Ji Shijin’s fingers moved imperceptibly. He realized he was in the small lounge suite inside his office.

The memories from before he lost consciousness were still vivid. Ji Shijin remembered clearly that his condition had flared up while he was working outside. Who had brought him into the lounge? Was it Assistant Zhou? No, that was unlikely. He had dismissed Assistant Zhou earlier. The man would not have dared to enter without permission. Even if Zhou had rushed in out of worry after receiving no response, Ji Shijin should have been in a hospital bed rather than waking up on the large bed in his own lounge.

Ji Shijin propped himself up and leaned against the headboard. The grogginess in his head refused to dissipate. He shifted his gaze to the side of the bed, but his wheelchair was nowhere to be seen. If it had been his assistant, he would never have forgotten to bring the wheelchair in. So, who was it?

A vision suddenly flashed through Ji Shijin’s mind. Amidst a gray darkness, he had held a ball of passionate, burning red in his arms. His fingers suddenly tightened. Ji Shijin’s breath hitched as a daring guess surfaced in his mind, one so absurd that it made him feel truly insane.

With a creak, the lounge door opened. Ji Shijin followed the sound, but he only saw a crack in the door; there was no one there. He froze for a moment. Looking closer, he finally spotted the little fox squeezing through the gap at the bottom of the door.

Man and fox locked eyes, both appearing stunned. Ji Shijin’s eyes scanned the room slowly. Just as he was about to speak, he witnessed a scene so shocking it made him doubt reality itself.

Behind the little fox, his large, fluffy tail was curved upward, balancing a very familiar cup. Inside the cup, half a portion of water sloshed around. Looking closely, the water cup was not even touching the fox’s tail; it was floating in mid-air. From Ji Shijin’s angle, he could clearly see the gap between the bottom of the cup and the tail.

Ji Shijin’s pupils contracted sharply. The worldview he had cultivated for over twenty years shattered instantly.

Inside the system space, 61 screamed, “Aah! Host, the target looks like he is about to faint from shock again! I told you this method would not work! How could a tiny human possibly believe there are demons in this world?” 61 sobbed into a handkerchief, not daring to watch the impending disaster.

Shi Yan, however, remained calm and composed. Even after being discovered by Ji Shijin, he did not panic. He controlled the cup, making it fly steadily to the bedside before landing silently on the nightstand. A few drops of water splashed out from the vibration, landing right on the back of Ji Shijin’s hand.

“Awoo,” the fox barked, as if saying, Drink up.

Ji Shijin inexplicably felt that he understood the cry. His arms were stiff, lacking even the strength to lift them. As Shi Yan jumped onto the bed and walked toward him, Ji Shijin instinctively retreated. However, with a wall behind him and legs that could not move, he could only watch as Shi Yan approached step by step.

“You,” Ji Shijin began, but his voice came out dry and raspy. He cleared his throat, only to see the little fox lift a paw, causing the cup to float right in front of his face. Steam was still rising from the water. Ji Shijin carefully took hold of the cup. As the force supporting it vanished, he touched the outer wall and realized the temperature was perfect. It was warm, not scalding.

It was miraculous. Little White even knew how to pour warm water.

Wait, why was he accepting this fantasy setting so easily? The problem was not whether Little White could pour water; the problem was Little White himself. Ji Shijin’s wrist wobbled, nearly spilling the water, but that invisible force reappeared to help him steady the cup.

Shi Yan looked at Ji Shijin and patted his arm to snap him out of his daze, then nudged toward the cup with his eyes. Understanding the urgency in Shi Yan’s gaze, Ji Shijin mechanically took a sip. The warm water flowed down his throat, easing the dryness. Finally, he placed the empty cup back on the nightstand.

“You can understand me, can you not?”

After the initial panic and disbelief, Ji Shijin had calmed down. He was, after all, a man who had managed the Ji Group for many years. He had seen plenty of strange and chaotic things, allowing him to steady himself quickly. If his memories from before fainting were not an illusion, his phantom pain had likely disappeared because of something the fox did. Recalling how he had always felt the fox was exceptionally sentient, he had to ask.

He watched as Shi Yan tilted his head. His own palms were slick with sweat, and the sound of his heartbeat amplified in his ears. Ji Shijin felt his own breath hitch.

“Awoo,” the little fox barked and nodded. The look in his eyes was no longer hidden; it carried a complex clarity, much like that of a human.

Ji Shijin’s hand beneath the covers gripped the blanket tightly, his voice strained. “What are you? Are you a demon?”

Shi Yan nodded. Ji Shijin suddenly let out a breath of relief.

Actually, he had suspected it for a long time. From the first time he fainted in his room and woke up in bed, to that inexplicable dream he could not forget, to the way the shadow in his dreams gradually resembled the little fox, the seeds of suspicion had been planted. He simply had not wanted to believe such a magical thing existed in this world.

Suddenly, Ji Shijin’s heart tightened as he remembered the tall male figure from his dream. His voice trembled as he asked, “Can you turn into a human?”

Shi Yan shook his head.

61 gasped, “Host, why are you lying?”

Shi Yan explained flatly, “If he knew I could turn into a human, his defensiveness would definitely increase. How would I stay by his side then?”

Humans are naturally guarded against the “other.” A fox demon who could understand human speech and use magic was shocking enough; Shi Yan did not plan on letting Ji Shijin know more. Human acceptance has its limits, and he did not want to terrify the man.

61 was silent. He wondered if Shi Yan was sure Ji Shijin was not already terrified just knowing he was a demon.

Ji Shijin quickly accepted that the little fox he had rescued was a demon. His pale face gained a slight flush from the warm water as he reached out toward Shi Yan. “Both times, you were the one who saved me, right?”

Shi Yan took a step forward and pressed his nose against the tip of Ji Shijin’s finger. This familiar action caused Ji Shijin to daze for a moment before he finally relaxed completely. His usually indifferent expression broke because of Shi Yan’s presence. Without even realizing it, after receiving a positive answer, the curve of his lips became strikingly obvious.

After his mood lightened, Ji Shijin looked down at his sensationless legs. “My legs were completely ruined years ago, but two years ago, phantom pain suddenly appeared. Even the hospitals were helpless. The doctors said that if it worsened, there might be a risk of amputation. It might even be life-threatening.”

Shi Yan watched him quietly, but Ji Shijin knew he was listening and understood. A trembling hand stroked the soft fur on the little fox’s cheek. Ji Shijin’s tone was deeply sincere. “Thank you.”

Shi Yan shook his head. He lifted a front paw and placed it on Ji Shijin’s abdomen. Immediately, Ji Shijin felt a familiar warmth. That heat flowed to his legs like a drop of water joining a river, vanishing instantly until it could no longer be felt.

Ji Shijin froze. “Are you trying to tell me you can only alleviate my pain, but you cannot cure it? Is that it?”

Shi Yan thought to himself that the man was indeed brilliant. Outwardly, the fox gave a solemn nod.

The expression on Ji Shijin’s face was faint. It was so faint that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. After a long silence, Shi Yan finally heard his voice. “It is okay. This is already enough. If I had not met you, I do not know what state I would be in right now.”

Ji Shijin looked at Shi Yan with a gaze full of tenderness and gratitude, devoid of complaint. From the day his legs were ruined, he had not held any expectations for himself. It was nothing more than death, and that was no big deal.

Watching the changes in Ji Shijin’s expression, Shi Yan vaguely guessed his true thoughts and could not help but frown. Ji Shijin knew his physical condition all too well; he had clearly anticipated a future of death. But since Shi Yan had not yet found a way to completely eliminate the “death energy,” he could not make any promises.

A beam of sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains, spilling onto the bed and drawing a deep line between Ji Shijin and Shi Yan. Though on the same bed, they seemed worlds apart. Shi Yan unconsciously flicked his tail. He thought to himself that it was time to take a trip back to the Fox Clan.

Ji Shijin slept for quite a while. By the time he finished tidying himself and left the lounge, it was already lunchtime. The office area outside was empty because his assistants had gone to eat. A small insulated box sat by the door, containing the lunch Assistant Zhou had ordered for him. Beside it, Shi Yan’s little backpack had been thoughtfully placed.

Ji Shijin brought the lunch and the backpack inside and locked the door. He paused when he saw Shi Yan sitting regally on his desk. If he were just a little fox, he could only eat oil-free and salt-free food. But the one in front of him was a little demon.

“Can you eat human food?” Ji Shijin slowly opened the lunchbox, letting the aroma waft out. He had accepted the fact that his pet fox was a demon at an incredible speed and proceeded to invite Shi Yan to dine with him.

Before Shi Yan could react, 61 cheered first, “Host! We finally get to eat a normal meal!” He had watched Shi Yan eat that tasteless boiled meat for days. Even if the Host was not tired of it, 61 was tired of looking at it.

Ji Shijin’s lunch portion was generous. Since Shi Yan currently had a fox’s body and a fox’s appetite, the two of them sharing the lavish meal ended up being just right.

After wiping his mouth with a tissue, Ji Shijin suddenly thought of something. He paused and said, “Auntie Hong specifically instructs the servants to make your food. If you switch to human food from now on, how will you explain it to them? Can your identity as a demon be told to others?”

Shi Yan shook his head.

Ji Shijin blinked. He pursed his lips, which brought a bit of color back to them, making him look less pale. If the fox’s identity could not be revealed, then naturally, he could not eat normal food in front of others.

“Then, do you want to come to the company with me every day? Eating here will not be seen by anyone.” Assistant Zhou would only pack up the used containers; he would not investigate how much food was missing.

Shi Yan thought about it but still shook his head. He had things to do and could not stay by Ji Shijin’s side every day. Moreover, having survived many dangerous and harsh missions, he was not picky about food. Boiled meat was fine. It just lacked seasoning; it was not like he was eating it raw.

Since the fox was insistent, Ji Shijin had no choice but to drop the idea.

A knock sounded at the door. Assistant Zhou pushed the door open. Seeing that the boss’s complexion had returned to normal, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Boss, President Cheng has an appointment with you for 2:00 PM. He is already in the meeting room.”

Ji Shijin’s office had one-way glass, allowing him to see outside clearly. Shi Yan saw the Senior Executive Assistant leading a young man in a sharp suit out of the elevator. This was likely President Cheng.

Ji Shijin saw him too. He straightened his collar and said seriously, “Let us head over now.”

“Understood, Boss.” Assistant Zhou pushed Ji Shijin’s wheelchair toward the exit, only to find Little White following them with a solemn expression.

Shi Yan looked toward the meeting room, his nose twitching. He smelled the scent of one of his own kind.