The Sickly Beauty Can’t Escape the Obsessive Lover - Chapter 25.2

Forced awake early in the morning, Jing Yuan couldn’t stop yawning and couldn’t help muttering under his breath, “Ji Yan is only going to be away for two days. Why are you making such a big deal out of it, Uncle? Did you really have to come see him off?”

Chen Tian calmly curled his lips. “Young Master Jing, I’ve noticed you’ve become quite bold lately.”

Jing Yuan could easily read between the lines. He maneuvered his wheelchair leisurely. “Two days is such a short time. I don’t think it’s necessary to see him off.”

Chen Tian reminded him, “It might not necessarily be just two days. The new company has just started operating, and there will surely be many important matters requiring Mr. Ji’s decisions. It wouldn’t be unusual for him to be away for two weeks.”

Jing Yuan quickly latched onto the useful information. “Two weeks away from home?”

Noticing his excitement, Chen Tian raised an eyebrow. “Do you not want Mr. Ji to come home?”

Mindful that Chen Tian was Ji Yan’s confidant, Jing Yuan mumbled, “Of course, I’m looking forward to it.”

Chen Tian saw through it but didn’t call him out. “That’s what I thought. Mr. Ji treats you so well. You must love him very much too.”

Jing Yuan retorted, “Love me? Give me an example.”

Chen Tian said, “For instance, on the day you got drunk. It was freezing cold, and while waiting for me to pick you up, Mr. Ji draped his only coat over you.”

Jing Yuan was half-convinced, half-doubtful. “Really?”

“Of course, it’s true. In the car, you said you were afraid of ghosts and wanted Mr. Ji to sleep with you. He only left after coaxing you to sleep.”

“Wait—”

Jing Yuan’s half-flushed cheeks instantly turned pale. “You’re saying he left after coaxing me to sleep?”

Chen Tian replied, “Yes, we had urgent matters to attend to that night.”

Jing Yuan frowned. “That’s not right. The next morning, Ji Yan clearly woke up in my room.”

Chen Tian hesitated. “Mr. Ji did come to wake you up at 7 a.m. He said you had a hangover and that sleeping too late would give you a headache.”

“Ah…”

In an instant, the events of that morning replayed in Jing Yuan’s mind like a short film.

He hesitated, then said, “But Ji Yan gave me a watch, saying it was payment for services.”

Chen Tian burst out laughing. “Mr. Ji must be teasing you.”

Hearing Jing Yuan say this, Chen Tian seemed to understand why Jing Yuan had been acting so arrogantly these past two days, as if he had suffered some great injustice.

Jing Yuan realized he had made a huge misunderstanding and wished he could vanish into thin air. All this time, Ji Yan must have been looking at him as if he were a complete fool.

It was all Ji Yan’s fault for deliberately leading him in that direction.

But if the watch wasn’t payment for services, then what was it?

After returning home, every time Jing Yuan thought about the incident, he cringed so hard he could dig a hole with his toes. He had been bullying Ji Yan like this, yet Ji Yan hadn’t shown the slightest displeasure. Would he wait for an opportunity to retaliate harshly someday?

Jing Yuan sighed silently, glanced at the peacefully sleeping lop-eared rabbit, and felt his days were numbered.

…

Two days later, just as Chen Tian had predicted, Ji Yan delayed his return to Ningcheng and was expected to stay for another week.

Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If Ji Yan had returned so soon, he wouldn’t have known how to face him. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he could use helping out at the tea shop as an excuse to work more at Manhe and search for the protagonist’s love interest.

That evening, Jing Yuan arrived at Manhe at the appointed time.

Li Mo, who hadn’t seen Jing Yuan for a while, was very enthusiastic and specially assigned him light work—recording the usage and extension times of each private room.

After changing into a fitted white shirt and a black tailcoat vest, Jing Yuan picked out a fox mask. Once he finished his own tasks, he began helping his colleagues with their work.

Even with the mask on, Jing Yuan’s lips and eyes still revealed a hint of his delicate features, not to mention the wasp waist accentuated by the vest.

For several days in a row, rumors spread throughout Manhe about a part-time college student with an exceptionally beautiful appearance.

That night, while Jing Yuan was helping the bartender wipe glasses, he received a request to deliver drinks to private room 4006.

Seeing that his colleague was overwhelmed, Jing Yuan kindly offered to help and carried the drinks with him. Only when the colleague looked up did Jing Yuan recognize him as the little angel who had helped him in the restroom that day.

“Hello, you’re the one who saved me last time,” Jing Yuan said with a smile, recalling the incident.

“So, it was you?” The young man grinned brightly, his dimples sweet and his demeanor gentle.

After introducing themselves, Jing Yuan learned that the young man’s stage name at Manhe was Xue Sui, and he had been working there for five years.

Holding the drinks, Jing Yuan asked, “Why did you start working so young? Are you also working to support your studies?”

Xue Sui smiled helplessly. “No, I started working right after high school. My parents have no source of income, and I have two younger brothers in elementary school.”

Jing Yuan felt heartbroken hearing about Xue Sui’s circumstances. “You’ve worked hard. You must take good care of yourself.”

Xue Sui, who rarely received kindness from strangers, was momentarily stunned. “Thank you. What’s your name?”

Jing Yuan replied, “Midnight Rose.”

Xue Sui laughed. “Your name is quite unique.”

Jing Yuan chuckled and took the opportunity to ask, “Has someone named Yun Shu come to Manhe for an interview recently?”

“Yun Shu?” Xue Sui tilted his head, thinking carefully before saying, “I don’t think there are any new colleagues by that name.”

Jing Yuan asked again, “Has anyone named Yun Shu resigned recently?”

Xue Sui shook his head. “No. I’ve been here for five years, and this is the first time I’ve heard such a poetic name. Is he your friend?”

Jing Yuan shook his head. “No.”

After a moment, he murmured again, “Perhaps this person isn’t called Yun Shu.”

At Manhe, everyone had a stage name.

Whether Yun Shu was the protagonist’s real name or stage name, he had no way of knowing.

If Yun Shu was an employee’s real name, the only way to investigate would be to seek help from HR.

After delivering the wine to room 4006, Xue Sui tilted his head back to relax. “The name Yun Shu is so beautiful, much better than mine.”

Jing Yuan stood with his hands on his hips. “Yours isn’t bad either.”

Xue Sui smiled wryly. “The boss picked it randomly. I don’t really like it.”

Jing Yuan thought it over for him. “What if you change it?”

Xue Sui hesitated. “I don’t have one I like at the moment, but I think Yun Shu sounds the best. May I use your friend’s name as my stage name?”

Jing Yuan felt a bit troubled. “It’s not impossible… but…”

Suddenly, Jing Yuan realized something.

Yun Shu?

Could the person in front of him be the protagonist shou he was looking for?

Seeing Jing Yuan suddenly become so agitated, Xue Sui thought he was unwilling and quickly backtracked. “Sorry, I shouldn’t take your friend’s name.”

But Jing Yuan excitedly asked, “Your five years of work experience were at Manhe, right?”

Xue Sui nodded. “Yes.”

Jing Yuan went over the protagonist shou’s description in the summary again.

Poor little thing, from a humble background, worked at Manhe for a long time…

His eyes suddenly lit up with a dreamy glow, as if he had seen a glimmer of hope for freedom.

He had found the protagonist shou!

Jing Yuan grabbed Xue Sui’s hand. “You’ve worked at Manhe for so long. Would you like to find a more stable job?”

Xue Sui gave a kind smile. “Are you offering to help me find a job? Right now, I don’t have a fixed part-time job from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. I could try something else.”

Hearing this, Jing Yuan felt even more sorry for Xue Sui.

Only 24 hours in a day, yet he had to work 15 hours—the author was downright inhumane!

Fictional characters have flesh and blood too!

“The job I’m offering is very easy. You just need to clean or trim the plants. Work one day, rest the next, with a monthly salary of 20,000. Would you like to give it a try?”

Xue Sui was clearly tempted. “Where is it?”

Jing Yuan smiled mysteriously. “Come with me.”

…

On Sunday evening, Ji Yan returned home by car.

The business trip to Haishi had left him utterly exhausted. The general manager of the new company was mediocre and far from satisfactory. After personally overseeing several projects, he finally managed to return to Ningcheng.

Knowing Ji Yan was coming home, Chen Tian had arranged a lavish dinner. Early in the morning, he had the kitchen busy preparing dishes to suit Ji Yan’s taste.

After getting out of the car, Ji Yan looked at the brightly lit living room, and some of his weariness faded away.

His mood improved slightly.

Not just because he was home, but for another reason as well.

Stepping into the living room, Ji Yan immediately spotted Jing Yuan waiting for him. Jing Yuan looked much healthier, full of energy, as if something wonderful had happened.

Ji Yan walked toward Jing Yuan, and a servant promptly pulled out a chair for him. “Mr. Ji, please have a seat.”

The voice was unfamiliar to Ji Yan, and he couldn’t help but glance up.

At that glance, a ripple of surprise stirred in his calm eyes.

Yun Shu smiled. “Mr. Ji, here’s a towel for you.”

Ji Yan took it without showing any emotion, then looked up and quietly observed Jing Yuan.

Across from him, Jing Yuan was beaming like a sunflower, resting his chin in his hands with a knowing smile.

How wonderful! Ji Yan was sure to reward him for this!