The Sickly Beauty Can’t Escape the Obsessive Lover - Chapter 31

Jing Yuan swallowed the wonton in his mouth, and it slid down his throat with a gulp.

Although Ji Yan had asked this question before, he had never been this serious about it.

It felt as if he were genuinely confessing.

Staring into Ji Yan’s narrow, intense eyes, Jing Yuan cautiously leaned closer, tilting his head slightly. “Ji Yan, are you drunk?”

Ji Yan’s light brown eyes reflected Jing Yuan’s suddenly enlarged face.

After a moment of silence, Ji Yan chuckled softly. “Why do you ask?”

At that moment, Jing Yuan was kneeling in front of Ji Yan, biting his lip. “No reason, I just thought…” He stole a glance at Ji Yan. “I thought you seemed different today.”

Ji Yan’s grip on his wrist remained firm, the sensation vivid and unmistakable. Jing Yuan twitched his fingers slightly, a complex mix of emotions flickering across his face.

Ji Yan, with his legs bent, leaned back against the sofa. “Yuan Yuan, you still haven’t answered my question.”

Jing Yuan lowered his trembling eyelashes. “Oh.”

“What does ‘oh’ mean?” Ji Yan pressed relentlessly.

Jing Yuan lifted his gaze guiltily. “It’s just…”

In the past, Jing Yuan would have answered “yes” without hesitation, knowing he could just walk away later without consequences.

But this time, the word “yes” stuck in his throat.

Ji Yan gave him the illusion of sincerity.

He was even worried that if he agreed, Ji Yan might actually drag him off to get a marriage certificate.

“Oh, I’m a little drunk, Yan Yan.”

Jing Yuan sipped the wonton soup, his eyes growing increasingly dazed, as if the rich, savory broth were strong liquor, making his head throb.

As soon as he finished speaking, Jing Yuan gently slumped onto the sofa, his breathing even and steady as if he had fallen asleep.

Ji Yan watched him, a faint trace of disappointment hidden in his eyes.

He couldn’t figure out why Jing Yuan wasn’t lying to him this time.

The clock on the wall ticked away slowly. Jing Yuan quietly opened his eyes, wondering why Ji Yan hadn’t left yet.

If he didn’t leave soon, the wontons would get cold.

Just then, Jing Yuan’s slender feet slowly lifted off the ground.

His head nestled into a warm, broad embrace.

They had been eating in the first-floor dining room. Instead of taking the elevator, Ji Yan carried him step by step up the stairs.

In the quiet, serene hallway, the steady, powerful sound of Ji Yan’s footsteps echoed.

Peeking over Ji Yan’s shoulder, Jing Yuan stole a glance at the dining room.

There were still several wontons left—what a waste.

…

The next day, Jing Yuan woke up and cautiously made his way to the dining room. Seeing that Ji Yan had already left for work, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Ji Yan’s inexplicable words from the night before had kept him awake all night. He had even dreamed that Ji Yan proposed to him with a diamond ring. In the dream, he was so shocked and flustered that he refused.

But then Ji Yan suddenly said to him—

“Darling, if you marry me, all my money will be yours.”

In the dream, Jing Yuan froze for a moment before shyly replying, “Okay.”

As he chewed his bread, Jing Yuan felt deeply ashamed of his dream self. Was he really so easily swayed by the promise of Ji Yan’s money?

How much money could Ji Yan even have?

Chen Tian poured a glass of milk for Jing Yuan. “Young Master Jing, are you not satisfied with today’s breakfast?”

Jing Yuan gulped down the milk. “Uncle.”

Chen Tian: “Hmm?”

Jing Yuan: “Do you know how much assets Ji Yan has?”

Chen Tian thought for a moment. “Between company shares, stocks, and net assets, it’s probably several hundred billion.”

The bacon in Jing Yuan’s mouth suddenly lost its flavor.

If he were to get several hundred billion…

Well, that didn’t sound so bad after all.

…

That afternoon, Jing Yuan met with the department managers of Yun Shui Jian to share his ideas for reform.

As a tea house that had been in business for five years, Yun Shui Jian had a stable base of regular customers. Jing Yuan had previously reviewed the VIP client data and found that nearly seventy percent were over the age of thirty.

This meant that Yun Shui Jian wasn’t particularly popular among younger customers.

Of course, as a high-end tea house, Yun Shui Jian’s clientele had a certain spending threshold, so it was understandable that younger people visited less frequently.

However, at Manhe Tea House, the weekends were always bustling with young customers.

Jing Yuan had analyzed the reasons and concluded there were two main factors. First, the public tea room at Manhe was designed to replicate the luxurious ambiance of ancient imperial courts. Second, the performers at Manhe were highly popular, and their graceful, captivating dances gave customers a taste of the aristocratic lifestyle.

Adapting this model for Yun Shui Jian didn’t seem like a bad idea.

After listening to Jing Yuan’s proposal, the department managers exchanged thoughtful glances.

The lobby manager spoke slowly, “Introducing dance performances at Yun Shui Jian is a great idea, but we’ll need to be very selective about the performers.”

The HR manager nodded in agreement. “I’ll reach out to my contacts at theaters or dance academies to see if we can find some high-quality dancers.”

Jing Yuan was pleased with their responses. Sipping his tea, he smiled and added, “Besides being skilled dancers, they should also be good-looking. Think about it. Urban office workers are exhausted after a long day. How refreshing would it be for them to come here and see handsome young men in ethereal white robes?”

The lobby manager was momentarily stunned.

He thought to himself, Is it really for the customers, or is it just what you want to see?

With the initial plan in place, the managers divided tasks and began planning and recruiting.

Yun Shui Jian didn’t have a dedicated performance space, so building a stage would likely require temporarily suspending operations.

But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Jing Yuan had long felt that the current ambiance of Yun Shui Jian didn’t fully capture the essence of “clouds” and “water,” so this would be a good opportunity for renovations.

That evening, Jing Yuan left Yun Shui Jian and headed to Manhe.

Sitting in the taxi, he suddenly felt as if he were working two different jobs.

One was like a camellia in the daylight.

The other, a red rose at midnight.

Jing Yuan put on his sunglasses and crossed his legs leisurely.

—

At Manhe Tea House, Jing Yuan was helping one of the dancers change costumes. His health had improved significantly, and he could handle a bit more work now without much trouble.

Jing Yuan had always admired the dancers at Manhe, especially the male performers. Their movements were fluid and graceful, with well-defined muscles that balanced beauty and strength.

“Thank you,” one of the male dancers said to him.

“You often help me with my costumes, but you’re always wearing a mask.”

Jing Yuan looked up and smiled. “Since I’m wearing a mask, how do you know it’s me?”

The dancer grinned. “Because your voice is very pleasant.”

He was teasing Jing Yuan, of course. Many people helped him with his costumes, but this slender young man was the only one who wore a different mask every day. An Ultraman mask one day, a fox mask the next, and an angel mask the day after.

It was impossible not to recognize him.

Jing Yuan looked up and met the dancer’s striking, ink-brush-like eyebrows and captivating peach-blossom eyes.

What a waste of such charm not to be at Yun Shui Jian, he thought.

A sudden urge to poach the dancer crossed his mind.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Chen Yiming.”

Jing Yuan nodded, handed him the prop folding fan, and quietly slipped away from the stage.

Chen Yiming was the star performer at Manhe Tea House. If he could recruit him for Yun Shui Jian, he would undoubtedly be a huge hit.

No time like the present to get started.

Summoning his courage, Jing Yuan wrote a small note and discreetly slipped it to Chen Yiming after his performance.

“I heard Yun Shui Jian offers excellent benefits. If you’re interested, you could apply to be a dance performer there.”

Worried about being spotted by the manager, Jing Yuan dashed off as soon as he handed over the note.

Chen Yiming unfolded the paper, and his interest was genuinely piqued upon seeing the monthly salary listed.

Wasn’t Yun Shui Jian primarily a teahouse for middle-aged and elderly patrons?

Had they started hosting performances now?

—

After leaving Manhe Teahouse, Jing Yuan took a leisurely stroll and dropped by the nightclub to hang out with Li Mo and Yun Shu.

In just one month, he had built great rapport with his colleagues at the nightclub. Knowing his fondness for lychees, the kitchen staff would save him some untouched, leftover fruit from the guests.

That took care of his dinner for the evening.

Walking familiarly into the back kitchen, he spotted the adorable Yun Shu washing dishes.

Yun Shu was a bit taller than him, but just as painfully thin. Years of malnutrition and overwork had led to moderate anemia, leaving his complexion even paler than Jing Yuan’s current state.

Jing Yuan rolled up his sleeves and approached. “Let me help you.”

Yun Shu glanced at him and smiled. “Why didn’t you go to the teahouse today?” He knew Jing Yuan had been transferred there but wasn’t sure of the reason.

Jing Yuan replied, “Finished my tasks, so I came back to hang out with you guys.”

As usual, Yun Shu tried to stop him. “I’ve got this, you should rest.”

Jing Yuan shook his head. “I’ll keep you company.”

He had already abandoned his earlier plan to introduce Yun Shu to the Ji family and Ji Yan. Initially, he had considered it as a way to ensure his own safety and curry favor with Ji Yan, but now he felt it was better to let things unfold naturally.

“Xiao Jing is here.” Brother Wang from the kitchen cheerfully handed him a plate of fruit. “Leftovers from room 5821, barely touched.”

Jing Yuan’s eyes sparkled. “Awesome, thanks, bro!”

He loved Shine Muscat grapes. Removing his mask, he ate a few and pocketed some more.

Brother Wang asked again, “Want some nuts? They hardly touched those either.”

Jing Yuan nodded eagerly like a pecking chick. “Sure!”

After finishing the dishes, Brother Wang threw a little party in the back kitchen with Jing Yuan and Yun Shu. There was an abundance of untouched Spanish ham, wagyu beef sandwiches, nuts, and snacks—Jing Yuan nearly overate.

Yun Shu ate his bread slowly, a puzzled smile forming on his lips as he watched Jing Yuan stuff his cheeks and devour his food.

Jing Yuan didn’t seem like a child from a wealthy family at all.

He found it hard to imagine Jing Yuan working at a nightclub and eating leftovers, especially given the luxurious environment he came from.

Just then, Li Mo knocked loudly on the door.

Jing Yuan, still chewing beef, turned around and was immediately pulled by Li Mo.

“The guests in room 1258 are quite prestigious. We need six well-mannered servers to attend to them. They’re extremely generous. Tips alone could reach a thousand in one night. Do you want to go?”

Jing Yuan’s dark eyes shifted thoughtfully. “If there are others who need the money more, they should take the opportunity.”

He knew Li Mo was looking out for him, but he felt guilty hogging such a good chance.

Yun Shu needed the money more than he did. It was better to let him have the opportunity.

“Let Yun Shu go.”

Li Mo paused. “The supervisor specifically requested young people who understand etiquette, to avoid any careless mistakes with the guests. You’re both suitable—why not go together?”

Jing Yuan pulled Yun Shu up. “Can I wear a mask?”

Li Mo replied, “Up to you.”

One of the hallmarks of the Manhe Nightclub was the ever-present Cosplay, and it was common to see waitstaff wearing masks.

Soon, a group of well-trained waiters entered Room 1258, carrying bottles of liquor priced in the tens of thousands.

This was a large private room, occupied by about a dozen people. Among them were both men and women, with the men uniformly dressed in sharp suits, exuding an air of distinction.

Jing Yuan trailed at the back, leisurely pushing his fruit cart.

“Ji Yan, you have to foot the bill today. The government just announced the new policy. The Lishui District is actually going to be developed into a special trade zone. Your investment foresight is just too sharp!”

“Rumors had been swirling that it would be built in the city center of Ningcheng, but who knew it would end up in the suburbs? Policies really can change in the blink of an eye.”

“Once the commercial and trade buildings go up, the market value could skyrocket thirtyfold. It’s like making money while lying down.”

Amid the cheerful celebrations, Jing Yuan trembled as he held the fruit platter, his face hidden behind the mask scrunching up like a little bun.

He was guilty.

He never should have taken this job just for the sake of a small tip.

Just how small was Ningcheng?

Even working under the table here, he had to run into Ji Yan.

Jing Yuan kept his head lowered as much as possible, trying to keep his identity under wraps. After placing all the fruit platters on the coffee table, he quietly turned around, attempting to slip away.

“Waiter, could I get a mojito?”

Suddenly, a gentle male voice sounded beside him.

Jing Yuan looked up to find Ye Xingran standing right in front of him.

“Uh-huh,” he mumbled in agreement, picking up the iPad to place the order.

He wasn’t very familiar with this part of the job and fumbled with the device, repeatedly getting stuck on the payment page without successfully placing the order.

Yun Shu, who had also noticed Ji Yan, glanced worriedly at Jing Yuan before stepping in to help. “I’ll take care of it.”

Jing Yuan lifted his Ultraman mask, his lips pressed together in a pitiful pout.

Truly the main protagonist—a little angel through and through!

Ye Xingran hadn’t paid much attention to Jing Yuan at first, but noticing how the waiter’s shoulders trembled with nervousness, he teased with a smile, “Are you a fan of mine?”

Many fans reacted this way upon meeting him, so he naturally assumed the same.

Jing Yuan was baffled and about to explain when he noticed everyone in the room turning their attention to him and Ye Xingran. Chen Bin, holding a cigarette, remarked, “Xingran is just that popular—even here, you’ve got fans.”

Ye Xingran blinked and asked proactively, “Would you like me to sign something for you?”

Too afraid to speak, Jing Yuan simply raised his palm, indicating for Ye Xingran to sign there.

Ye Xingran held his hand and signed his English name.

“All done.”

Faced with Ye Xingran’s gentle smile, Jing Yuan gave a thumbs-up, silently cheering him on.

The room’s occupants resumed their conversations, paying no further mind to this brief fan-meets-idol interlude.

Jing Yuan breathed a quiet sigh of relief and was about to sneak out when he suddenly caught a cold, distant gaze from across the room.

He cautiously looked up, his eyes meeting Ji Yan’s through the Ultraman mask.

In just a second, he quickly lowered his head again.

Chen Jifeng noticed Ji Yan’s curious expression.

“What’s up, Ji Yan?”

Ji Yan continued to stare at Jing Yuan. “That mask looks familiar.”

Chen Jifeng glanced over curiously. “You’re right. It does look like the same mask that deaf-mute waiter wore last time. The one who spilled wine all over you.”

Hearing their conversation, Xie Lie, with a cigarette in his mouth, chimed in, “Yeah, it does.”

Although Xie Lie was the owner of Manhe, he didn’t pay much attention to such matters. After all, it was just an ordinary waiter—hardly worth his concern.

With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Xie Ling steered the conversation back to Ji Yan. “Given our friendship, how about renting me two floors in the Trade Tower at a discount?”

Ji Yan’s gaze remained fixed on the mask as he replied indifferently, “The lowest I can go is 30% off.”

Xie Ling burst into laughter. “You’re a real pal.”

“President Ji, wasn’t the original site of your Trade Tower the Jing family’s factory? Now that the land has become prime real estate, do you think the Jings regret it?”

The question came from Chen Jifeng’s close friend, who wasn’t particularly familiar with Ji Yan.

Hearing the Jing family suddenly mentioned, Jing Yuan, who had been planning to slip away, pricked up his ears and pretended to tidy the items on the coffee table.

He didn’t dare look up, only able to hear Ji Yan’s voice.

“Relocating the Jing family’s factory did hit them hard. But I gave them several floors of office space in the Trade Tower and even allocated shares in the building to the Jing father and son. They didn’t come out at a loss.”

Everyone present was astonished. “You even gave them shares? Without the trade zone’s boost, that deal would’ve been a huge loss for you.”

Holding his wine glass, Ji Yan’s eyes once again fell on Jing Yuan. “They’re Jing Yuan’s family. I couldn’t possibly treat them unfairly.”

After these words, the people in the private room exchanged glances, a subtle tension flickering in their eyes.

Jing Yuan had already edged toward the corner, still processing the fact that his family had latched onto Ji Yan and was about to strike it rich.

But the harsh reality soon dawned on him. The shares Ji Yan had given had nothing to do with him; they belonged solely to the Jing father and son.

If he sweet-talked Ji Yan a little, maybe Ji Yan would let him in on the deal.

Investing a million now could turn into ten million later.

Behind the mask, Jing Yuan’s eyes curved into a smile.

A deal with such massive returns—he had to seize it.

Just then, Ye Xingran asked Ji Yan gently, “Brother Yan, is it too late for me to invest now?”

His question echoed the thoughts of everyone present. The Trade Tower was a goldmine—who wouldn’t want a piece of the pie?

But aside from Chen Jifeng and Xie Ling, who were close to Ji Yan, only Ye Xingran held some favor in Ji Yan’s eyes. The others didn’t dare ask, left with nothing but envy.

Ji Yan raised his glass and took a sip. “Sorry, the shares have all been allocated.”

Ye Xingran’s smile faltered.

“Oh, I see.”

Although the Trade Tower was under the Ji Group, Ji Yan personally held 51% of the shares. Any allocation would have to come from his portion. Initially, the board hadn’t been optimistic about the project, and many directors withdrew their investments, allowing Ji Yan to allocate the 12% shares to the Jing family.

Seeing Ye Xingran get rejected, the hope rising in Jing Yuan’s heart instantly deflated.

If even Ye Xingran couldn’t get in, he probably stood no chance either.

Ye Xingran lowered his eyes in disappointment, not expecting Ji Yan to refuse him so bluntly without any regard for his feelings.

In his memory, Ji Yan had always cared about how he felt.

Having gathered all the useful information, Jing Yuan pushed the door open, ready to slip away. Unexpectedly, Chen Jifeng called out, “That server over there, could you help me pick the seeds out of this watermelon?”

The one being addressed was Yun Shu, who nodded and immediately walked over.

Chen Jifeng casually handed Yun Shu a stack of crisp hundred-yuan bills and said gently, “Thanks for the trouble. I don’t like watermelon seeds, but seedless watermelons just don’t taste right to me.”

Yun Shu looked up and exchanged a glance with Chen Jifeng, then smiled shyly. “Thank you.”

Jing Yuan, leaning against the door, quickly scanned the money Chen Jifeng had given Yun Shu—there were at least five or six bills.

In the end, tempted by the cash, Jing Yuan couldn’t resist. He slunk back to the coffee table, eagerly waiting for his own task.

He wondered if Chen Jifeng could even eat two watermelons. Jing Yuan would gladly pick out the seeds for him.

Ji Yan held his wine glass, his peripheral gaze never leaving Jing Yuan.

Similarly, he noticed how quickly Jing Yuan had turned back after spotting the tip.

With a slight lift of his narrow, cold eyelids, Ji Yan stared at Jing Yuan’s wrist and said quietly, “This server wearing the Ultraman mask—could you pour me a drink?”

Jing Yuan turned around and met Ji Yan’s raised smile.

As long as the money was right, it wasn’t impossible.

Jing Yuan moved cautiously, slowly bending one knee as he poured the wine for Ji Yan. His Ultraman mask offered strong concealment, revealing only a sliver of his eyes. Ji Yan probably wouldn’t recognize him.

The strong liquor trickled over the ice cubes and settled at the bottom of the glass.

Jing Yuan picked it up with both hands and handed it to Ji Yan.

After a moment of thought, Ji Yan accepted the glass. “What’s your name?”

Ji Yan’s unusual behavior piqued the curiosity of many around them.

Usually, when at a bar, Ji Yan rarely made requests of the servers, let alone asked for their names.

Hearing the commotion, Ye Xingran glanced over and noticed his “fan” trembling all over in front of Ji Yan.

Jing Yuan reminded himself to stay calm. He blinked gently and pointed to his throat, signaling to Ji Yan that he couldn’t speak.

Ji Yan stared at him a while longer, his gaze bold and unapologetic, lingering on Jing Yuan’s collarbone.

The uniform Jing Yuan wore wasn’t his—it had been left by a former colleague. It was a bit tight and hugged his frame closely.

A faint scent of alcohol clung to Ji Yan, suggesting he hadn’t held back today. Peering through his silver-rimmed glasses, he narrowed his eyes. “Are you the server who spilled wine on my pants last time?”

Jing Yuan clenched his clothes lightly and nodded.

Ji Yan suddenly raised his hand, his fingers gently pinching Jing Yuan’s chin, caressing it softly. “Since we’re old acquaintances, why not take off the mask and get to know each other?”