The Sickly Beauty Can’t Escape the Obsessive Lover - Chapter 34

After hearing those words, a sudden warmth rose to the tips of Jing Yuan’s ears. Clutching his cutlery tightly, he muttered, “What if others think it’s ugly? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”

Ji Yan’s gaze remained calm. “Other people’s opinions don’t matter to me.”

Jing Yuan’s eyes felt slightly itchy as he lowered his lashes. “Alright.”

The ambiguous atmosphere between the two made Chen Tian feel extremely uncomfortable.

He had no idea that the scarf actually belonged to Jing Yuan.

Now he had managed to offend both of them at once.

Although the breakfast was sweet, it was short-lived. Soon after, Ji Yan drove off to work, while Jing Yuan returned to his bedroom to catch up on sleep.

The temperature was dropping day by day. Although his health had improved somewhat, he still felt easily fatigued. If it weren’t for the tea business requiring his attention, he would have been content to stay curled up in bed like a lazy fish.

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, Jing Yuan found himself thinking about Ning Zhao, as well as his own family.

After a short nap, he mustered his energy and decided to pick out some New Year’s gifts for his family.

The mall was bustling with pre-holiday excitement. Accompanied by the assistants Chen Tian had arranged for him, Jing Yuan first bought some precious health supplements before heading to the Trade Building to select more refined gifts.

While picking out a shawl for his mother, Jing Yuan spotted a familiar figure.

Ning Jin approached him with a gentle smile. “Xiao Yuan, long time no see.”

Although Jing Yuan disliked Ning Zhao, he held nothing against Ning Jin. He nodded politely. “Hello, Cousin Ning.”

Ning Jin’s gaze lingered thoughtfully on him. “Somehow, it feels like Xiao Yuan has changed a lot. You seem more vibrant and even more adorable than before.”

A faint smile touched Jing Yuan’s lips. “Mm-hmm.”

Ning Jin asked again, “Are you here to pick out gifts?”

Jing Yuan replied, “Yes. With the New Year approaching, I wanted to buy a shawl for my mother.”

Ning Jin’s peach-blossom eyes softened. “Xiao Yuan is becoming more and more filial.”

The shawl Jing Yuan had chosen was reserved for VIP customers. The salesgirl at the counter apologized, “I’m sorry, but this has already been reserved by another customer.”

Jing Yuan really liked the shawl and felt a pang of regret. He was about to pick another one for his mother when Ning Jin politely addressed the staff, “If I wanted this shawl, how long would I have to wait?”

The salesgirl replied, “The earliest would be this afternoon.”

Ning Jin was a black-gold VIP of the store, enjoying the highest level of purchasing privileges.

“Then please have this shawl delivered to this address.”

Jing Yuan glanced at the address. It was his family’s home.

“Thank you, Cousin, for helping me get it. I’ll pay by card.” He quickly pulled out his credit card, afraid that Ning Jin might pay for it.

The salesgirl gave Ning Jin a surprised look. As a black-gold VIP, he could directly charge purchases to his membership card, which was how he always shopped here.

“Xiao Yuan, since you like it, let me buy it for you. The shawl will be delivered to your home this afternoon—remember to sign for it.”

“I couldn’t possibly accept that.” Although Ning Jin’s gesture was thoughtful, Jing Yuan didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness.

He already took enough liberties with Ji Yan. It was better not to impose on others.

After a moment’s thought, Jing Yuan’s lashes fluttered slightly. “Thank you, Cousin Ning. I’ll transfer the money to you.”

“Xiao Yuan, there’s no need to be so formal between us.” Ning Jin gazed at Jing Yuan’s soft hair, raising his hand as if to touch it, but paused mid-air before slowly withdrawing it.

Jing Yuan felt a bit uneasy, his mind drifting to memories of the original host’s past interactions with Ning Jin.

Their interactions weren’t particularly frequent, with most occurring during the original host’s childhood.

The most vivid memory of Ning Jin was probably during Old Master Jing’s birthday celebration, when all the younger generation of the Ji family came to offer congratulations. He and eight or nine-year-old Ning Jin sat together on a swing, holding sparklers while making wishes.

It was also on that day that the original host first met Ji Yan and began paying attention to that quiet, reserved older brother.

“Thank you, Cousin Ning. But this is my gift for Mom. Since you helped me purchase it, let me buy you a gift in return.”

The conflict between the Ning and Ji families was bound to erupt sooner or later. Since Ning Jin had already bought the shawl for him, it wouldn’t be appropriate to refuse outright. By giving Ning Jin a gift in return, he could repay the favor and feel more at ease.

“Is Xiao Yuan really going to give me a gift?” Ning Jin’s tone noticeably lifted, his eyebrows arching in surprise.

Jing Yuan nodded: “Yes, you pick something.”

Ning Jin didn’t refuse and accepted cheerfully: “Thank you, Xiao Yuan.”

The two wandered aimlessly through the store when Ning Jin suddenly asked: “Xiao Yuan, would you like milk tea or juice?”

Jing Yuan was indeed a bit thirsty and nodded generously: “I’d like milk tea.”

Ning Jin: “OK, I’ll have my assistant buy some.”

Only then did Jing Yuan notice the two assistants following Ning Jin. The assistants were carrying bags from numerous stores, clearly having accompanied Ning Jin on his shopping trip.

“Cousin Ning, have you found anything you like?”

Ning Jin looked down at Jing Yuan, pointing to a scarf ahead: “Can I have this one?”

Jing Yuan nodded: “Of course you can.”

Though the price made his heart ache a little.

Ning Jin said cheerfully: “Please wrap that scarf for me.”

The saleswoman smiled: “President Ning has excellent taste. This is our new season item, particularly suitable for distinguished gentlemen like yourself.”

Ning Jin took the scarf and gently wrapped it around his neck, his gaze fixed on Jing Yuan: “Does it look good?”

Jing Yuan said sweetly: “It looks especially good.”

Ning Jin’s lips curved upward, and instead of handing the scarf back to the saleswoman, he seemed intent on keeping it on.

After Jing Yuan paid, Ning Jin’s assistant returned with the milk tea. Ning Jin suggested: “There’s a lounge here. Would you like to drink together?”

The saleswoman chimed in: “We have coffee and desserts in the VIP room. If you’d like to chat, you’re welcome to sit there.”

Jing Yuan hesitated: “I better not. I still need to buy a gift for my eldest brother, and time is running short.” Actually, he was quite curious about the luxury store’s desserts, but sitting alone with Ning Jin would be both awkward and leave them with little to talk about.

“I have time. If you need help choosing, I can accompany you,” Ning Jin had already started walking toward the VIP room. “What do you think?”

Holding his milk tea, Jing Yuan frowned in indecision.

“No, I need to hurry home.”

Ning Jin’s voice remained amiable: “Alright, we’ll meet again when we have the chance. We’ll probably see each other during New Year celebrations.”

Since the Ning and Ji families were related, meeting during New Year was normal. However, before leaving, Jing Yuan added: “We might not meet then. Wishing you an early Happy New Year, Cousin Ning.”

Ning Jin looked surprised: “Why not?”

Jing Yuan smiled: “Because Ji Yan is taking me to Finland to see the northern lights. We’re leaving on the first day of the new year.”

Even Jing Yuan himself didn’t quite understand why he was so elated that Ji Yan had agreed to take him to see the Northern Lights. Going abroad didn’t seem to be the main reason. When he heard the words “Northern Lights,” the anticipation that sprouted in his heart far surpassed anything else.

Ning Jin slightly narrowed his eyes. “Is that so? With your poor health, can you handle a flight?”

“I can. I’ve been much stronger lately and don’t even need to use my wheelchair as often.” With that, Jing Yuan waved at him. “Cousin Ning, I’ll be going now.”

Ning Jin smiled at him. “Alright.”

Watching Jing Yuan’s retreating figure, Ning Jin pursed his thin lips and wandered aimlessly through the mall.

His assistant, sensing his dejection, tried to comfort him. “President Ning, the scarf Young Master Jing gave you suits you very well.”

Ning Jin didn’t respond. After stepping out of the mall, he looked up at the sky. “Xiao Chen.”

The assistant replied, “Yes?”

Ning Jin murmured, “I remember when Jing Yuan was little, after reading a picture book, he kept saying he wanted to see the Northern Lights. Now he can finally make it happen.”

The assistant sighed silently but said nothing.

Deep down, Ning Jin had always harbored a malicious wish. He hoped Jing Yuan and Ji Yan wouldn’t get along, so he could persuade his grandfather to call off their engagement.

But now, it seemed it was all just his own wishful thinking.

After buying the gifts, Jing Yuan first went to the Jing family home. Jing Yuan’s parents were constantly traveling for work and only managed to take a few days off as the New Year approached.

Seeing how thoughtfully Jing Yuan had picked out so many gifts for them, even Jing Baiwei was deeply moved.

It was as if Jing Yuan had grown up in an instant.

Jing Yuan’s mother was especially delighted with the shawl he had chosen. Seeing his complexion and health had clearly improved recently, she felt even more at ease about his marriage to Ji Yan.

After saying goodbye to his family, Jing Yuan took a car back to the Ji residence.

Ji Yan’s home was a standalone estate, the only one for hundreds of meters around, set in a beautiful and tranquil environment. As they crossed the moat and drove along the wide road, Jing Yuan felt as if he had awoken from a dream, stepping into a fairy-tale world so surreal it seemed almost illusory.

He rolled down the window, and the cold wind tousled the hair on his forehead.

The streetlights were already adorned with red lanterns symbolizing the New Year, and fireworks rose and fell around the city.

This was Jing Yuan’s first New Year celebration.

He pulled his scarf tighter, leaned against the car window, and let his thoughts drift.

This kind of life didn’t seem so bad. He wondered if he would feel reluctant to leave when the time came.

When he arrived home, Jing Yuan found that Ji Yan had returned from work early and was already waiting for him in the dining room.

“Yan Yan, I’m back.”

Just from that short walk, Jing Yuan’s cheeks were flushed red from the cold. He eagerly went to his usual spot to pour a cup of steaming hot chocolate milk, then held the mug and smiled cheerfully at Ji Yan.

Ji Yan didn’t seem to be in the best mood. He shifted his gaze from his phone and fixed it intently on Jing Yuan.

“What’s wrong? Did work not go well?”

Today, all the employees at Ji Corporation were on holiday, yet Ji Yan’s expression looked as if he had been forced to work overtime during the New Year.

“Yuan Yuan, where did you go this afternoon?”

Jing Yuan sat down gently across from him. “I went to the mall to buy gifts for my parents and brother.”

He was wearing a white turtleneck sweater that day, making him look as if he had been dipped in milk. His amber eyes sparkled with joy, and when they curved into a smile, he looked impossibly sweet.

Ji Yan tried his best to suppress the turmoil in his heart and asked calmly, “I heard you ran into Ning Jin.”

Jing Yuan’s heart skipped a beat as he instinctively glanced at the bodyguards accompanying him today. He had specifically asked Chen Tian for extra manpower because he had a lot of things to buy. Since Ji Yan already knew, it must have been these people who tipped him off.

Although he had met Ning Jin, nothing had happened between them. Yet, the restrained expression on Ji Yan’s face made it seem as if he had done something to betray him.

“Yes, we just happened to run into each other.”

Just then, the kitchen staff arrived with the meal but were stopped by Chen Tian.

“Wait before coming in.”

The servants, catching sight of Ji Yan’s stern gaze, cast a sympathetic look at Jing Yuan.

It seemed tonight would not be a peaceful one.

Why were the young couple quarreling, especially during the New Year?

Gazing at Jing Yuan, Ji Yan frowned slightly. “I heard you gave him a gift.”

Earlier that day, having taken time off work, Ji Yan had specially bought Jing Yuan’s favorite Black Swan cake, planning to watch a movie with him in the home theater and welcome the New Year’s Eve together.

But Chen Tian informed him that Jing Yuan had gone out to buy gifts and would likely return late.

So, Ji Yan waited in the living room, reading a book from noon until the afternoon. But when he asked Chen Tian about Jing Yuan’s progress, he learned from him that Jing Yuan had also given Ning Jin a New Year’s gift.

What cut even deeper was that the gift was also a scarf.

“Oh, yes, I did give him a gift.” Jing Yuan shrank back, his voice growing softer with each word.

Tonight, Ji Yan seemed quietly furious, even more so than when Jing Yuan had sneaked off to Gui City and Ji Yan had gone to bring him back.

Yet, Ji Yan remained eerily calm.

Somehow, that felt even more terrifying than if he had outright lost his temper.

Jing Yuan lowered his eyes guiltily, racking his brains to figure out why Ji Yan was so upset.

After much thought, it boiled down to one thing: Ji Yan didn’t want him getting too close to the Ning family, especially since they were no good.

“Yan Yan,” Jing Yuan pursed his lips, his once-smiling almond eyes now slightly furrowed, his voice barely a whisper. “Ning Jin helped me, so I gave him a gift to repay the favor.”

“Repay the favor?” Ji Yan glanced at him, his expression darkening further. “So, the scarf you gave me was also to repay a favor.”

“Yes,” Jing Yuan replied timidly. “You took me to see the aurora, so I knitted you a scarf to thank you.”

“I see.” Ji Yan smiled faintly, removing his gold-rimmed glasses and narrowing his eyes. “So, the scarf you gave Ning Jin was also out of gratitude.”

“Mm-hmm!” Jing Yuan nodded, explaining the whole story of why he gave Ning Jin the scarf and concluding, “It wouldn’t have been right to embarrass him on the spot, but I didn’t want to take advantage of him either, so I agreed to give him a gift.”

Hearing this, Ji Yan’s expression softened slightly.

Just as Jing Yuan began to relax, Ji Yan’s brows furrowed tightly again.

“So, you knitted that scarf for me because you didn’t want to owe me anything.”

Something about that sentence didn’t sit right with Jing Yuan.

He felt there was something off but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Hesitantly, he nodded. “More or less.”

Ji Yan withdrew his gaze from Jing Yuan’s face, a flicker of disappointment hidden in his eyes.

He stood up slowly, his eyes coldly shifting elsewhere. “I don’t need tit-for-tat exchanges. In the future, don’t waste your time and energy on such things, and don’t give me any more gifts.”

With that, Ji Yan left the dining room.

“I never felt it was a waste of time or energy.” Jing Yuan turned around, calling out to stop him.

It seemed he had finally realized why Ji Yan was so upset.

Ji Yan must have thought that the hand-knitted scarf was as cheap and insignificant as the one he casually gave to Ning Jin.

Standing at the restaurant entrance, Ji Yan had his back turned to him.

“I knitted the scarf myself because I read online that knitting a scarf for your significant other is the best way to express your feelings. You’ve been so good to me. Taking me to see the aurora, standing up for me when others bullied me and I wanted to give you a gift that truly conveys my gratitude and makes you happy.”

“While knitting every stitch, I whispered blessings for your safety and well-being. How could that possibly compare to the scarf I casually gave Ning Jin?”

“I know very well who treats me right.”

Seeing Ji Yan’s rigid posture soften slightly, Jing Yuan seized the opportunity to step closer, extending the back of his hand for Ji Yan to see.

“Look at my hand—all these scratches are from the knitting needles. It hurt so much.”

Taking advantage of the moment, Jing Yuan sniffled softly.

Ji Yan lowered his gaze and indeed noticed faint injuries on those slender, pale fingers.

Hesitating for a moment, he reached out and gently held Jing Yuan’s injured hand.

“Ouch.” Jing Yuan, ever the opportunist, immediately threw himself into Ji Yan’s arms, his eyes brimming with pitiful grievance.

Ji Yan let out a deep sigh, his palm cradling Jing Yuan’s head as he pulled him into an embrace.

The chill in his light brown eyes gradually faded, replaced by a mix of confusion and complexity.

He hardly recognized himself anymore.

It was just a scarf—why had it made him lose his composure in front of so many people?

The old him would never have been so unsettled over a mere scarf.

“Yan Yan, why are you ignoring me?” Jing Yuan wrapped his arms lightly around Ji Yan’s waist, his damp eyes shimmering with a heart-wrenching look of grievance.

“Did you put any medicine on your hand?” Ji Yan asked softly.

“No.” Jing Yuan bit his lip and shook his head pitifully.

Ji Yan took Jing Yuan’s injured hand and glanced up at Chen Tian. “Go get the first aid kit. One of the cuts looks inflamed.”

Chen Tian nodded immediately. “Right away.”

Truthfully, even Jing Yuan hadn’t noticed the reddened spot on his finger. As Ji Yan applied the ointment, Jing Yuan rested his head against Ji Yan’s chest, nuzzling him like a kitten.

Ji Yan: “Stop fidgeting.”

Jing Yuan replied obediently, “Okay.”

Just then, the servants began setting the dinner dishes on the table.

Jing Yuan’s eyes lit up at the sight of the mouth-watering crab—he was already starving. Seeing that Ji Yan was still tending to his hand, he whined, “Are you done yet, Yan Yan?”

Ji Yan: “Almost.”

With his free hand, Jing Yuan picked up a chicken leg and devoured it in a few bites. Then, in a spirit of sharing, he offered it to Ji Yan. “Want a taste, baby?”

Ji Yan glanced at the half-eaten chicken leg and turned away. “I don’t eat your leftovers.”

Jing Yuan wasn’t offended—instead, he laughed.

He had known Ji Yan wouldn’t take it and had only been teasing him.

By the time Ji Yan finished applying the medicine, his attitude had softened considerably. But instead of heading straight to dinner, Ji Yan walked over to the refrigerator and took out a Black Swan cake.

Jing Yuan’s eyes instantly sparkled. He hurried over, circling Ji Yan excitedly. “This is the new flavor. You have to reserve it in advance. How did you get it?”

Holding the cake, Ji Yan finally allowed a faint smile. “I placed the order three days ago.”

Jing Yuan hugged the cake tightly. “Thank you, baby.”

Ji Yan watched his delighted expression and suggested, “Would you like to watch a movie? This year’s New Year films are available in the home theater.”

Jing Yuan hugged the cake and trotted off eagerly, “Let’s go!”

The dinner concluded amidst a dramatic turn of events.

As the bell tolled for New Year’s Eve, Jing Yuan had already curled up into a ball, fast asleep in Ji Yan’s embrace.

Ji Yan rested his head gently on Jing Yuan’s hair, his thoughts drifting far away with the sound of fireworks outside the window.

He might have truly fallen for Jing Yuan.

Perhaps even more deeply than he had realized.

Two days later, Ji Yan and Jing Yuan boarded a flight to Finland. The journey from Ningcheng to Finland took nine hours. Jing Yuan had a minor heart condition, but he had undergone surgery as a child, so it wasn’t a major issue.

To help Jing Yuan adjust to the flight, Ji Yan had his assistant apply for two flight routes, with the private plane making a stopover for rest before continuing to Finland the next day.

It was Jing Yuan’s first time on a plane, and he was curious about everything. He hadn’t expected the flight attendant on Ji Yan’s private jet to be so handsome.

A handsome young man attended to them, thoughtfully introducing Jing Yuan to the various functional rooms on the private jet after he boarded.

Here, all the sofas, chairs, and tables felt just like home, comfortable to sit on—completely different from the hard benches Jing Yuan had imagined.

He accidentally pushed open a door and discovered a bedroom inside. Though slightly cramped with a 1.2-meter single bed, lying in it felt incredibly secure, no different from being at home.

Ji Yan followed behind Jing Yuan, watching him flit around like a butterfly. He sat down quietly, letting him explore to his heart’s content.

He noticed that Jing Yuan’s health had indeed improved significantly compared to before.

But then again, it made sense.

If he could go out and take on under-the-table jobs, his physical condition couldn’t be too bad.

“Ji Yan, how much did this private jet cost?” Jing Yuan sank into the soft leather sofa, closing his eyes contentedly. “I want to see if I can set it as a life goal.”

Ji Yan handed the luggage to the flight attendant and took a sip of the lemon water Chen Tian had poured for him. “The plane itself isn’t expensive. What’s costly are the flight route applications and ongoing maintenance.”

Jing Yuan nodded earnestly. “How much is ‘not expensive’?”

Ji Yan replied, “120 million.”

Jing Yuan clutched his chest, deciding it was better to just hitch rides with Ji Yan.

If he had 120 million, wouldn’t there be countless better ways to spend it than on a private jet?

Still, he grew increasingly curious about Ji Yan’s total assets.

Last time, Chen Tian had mentioned that Ji Yan’s net worth was conservatively estimated at several hundred billion. With the recent boost from the Lishui Park project, had he become even wealthier?

Of course, he knew that this sum included stocks, funds, and some real estate, but adding it all up to several hundred billion was still incredibly impressive.

“Yan Yan, I want to ask you a question.”

Ji Yan’s expression remained indifferent. “No.”

Just by looking at Jing Yuan’s expression, Ji Yan could tell he was up to no good.

Jing Yuan followed Ji Yan into the small private bedroom. Seeing Ji Yan lying leisurely on the bed with his hands under his head, Jing Yuan crept closer mischievously. “I heard the Lishui Park project made you a fortune. Could you give me a hint about your total assets now?”

Ji Yan took off his glasses and slowly closed his eyes.

“You want to know?”

Jing Yuan nodded eagerly. “Yes.”

Ji Yan teased, “If I tell you, won’t you be jealous?”

Jing Yuan clicked his tongue: “I’m just enjoying the fantasy, why would I be jealous of you?”

Ji Yan beckoned him with a finger. Jing Yuan immediately lay down on the bed, inching closer bit by bit until he was right beside Ji Yan’s ear.

“Lishui Park conservatively estimates a net profit equivalent to ten private jets.”

Jing Yuan’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement. Propping his cheek on his hand, he leaned closer to Ji Yan: “The land value there hasn’t fully appreciated yet. If we invest early, wouldn’t the returns be even greater?”

The 1.2-meter-wide single bed suddenly felt overwhelmingly crowded.

Jing Yuan had already taken off his shoes at some point, curling up beside Ji Yan like a caterpillar, his eyes sparkling as he dreamed.

“If I invest 1 million now, can I make 10 million in the future?”

Ji Yan replied unhurriedly, “Probably. But where would you invest? The shares are no longer available for public sale.”

Jing Yuan curved his eyes into crescents. “Given our relationship, wouldn’t it be reasonable for me to buy some shares from you at the original price?”

Ji Yan countered, “What kind of relationship do we have?”

Jing Yuan let out a soft “ah” and leaned in closer. “The kind between fiancés, of course.”

Ji Yan suddenly laughed, raising his hand to grasp Jing Yuan’s ear and gently kneading it. “We haven’t even kissed. What kind of fiancés are we?”