The Sickly Beauty Can’t Escape the Obsessive Lover - Chapter 35

Jing Yuan’s figure stiffened slightly, and when he came back to his senses, he realized that his greed for money had made him ignore the safe distance between them. He was almost about to throw himself into Ji Yan’s arms.

With a quick, flustered movement, he immediately stood up.

Just then, the flight attendant reminded them that the plane was about to take off.

Jing Yuan let out an “Oh,” lowered his head to straighten his wrinkled clothes, and followed Ji Yan out of the private bedroom to fasten his seatbelt.

For someone like Jing Yuan, who was flying for the first time, the ascent of the plane was particularly uncomfortable, especially for his ears, which felt both blocked and swollen.

At that moment, Ji Yan took a piece of chewing gum from his pocket, unwrapped it, and brought it to Jing Yuan’s lips. “Chew this during the ascent and cover your ears. It’ll make you feel better.”

Jing Yuan hesitated for a moment before obediently opening his mouth to take it.

Soon, the plane began to shake violently due to turbulence, the entire cabin creaking loudly.

Jing Yuan covered his ears, feeling dizzy and nauseous, his back pressed uncomfortably against the seat as his stomach churned.

In an instinctive reaction, he let go of his ears and began rubbing his chest repeatedly, trying to suppress the urge to vomit.

But then came the stinging pain and pressure in his eardrums.

Suddenly, a pair of warm hands covered his ears.

Surprised, he looked up to find Ji Yan holding him, helping him maintain his balance.

Jing Yuan quietly lowered his gaze, then lifted it again.

The faint scent of amber from Ji Yan’s body filled his senses, its gentle and steady aroma bringing him a sense of calm.

Finally, the plane began to stabilize.

Ji Yan released Jing Yuan and gazed out the window at the clouds. “Go lie down for a while. I’ll have the doctor come check on you.”

Jing Yuan murmured an “Oh,” his weak arms fumbling with the seatbelt, unable to find the buckle to release it.

Ji Yan frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on Jing Yuan’s pale lips as he leaned in closer.

Click.

The seatbelt was successfully unbuckled.

Jing Yuan’s stomach was indeed unsettled, but failing to unbuckle the seatbelt was such a rookie mistake that it made him feel a bit foolish.

He blinked guiltily. “You rest here. I’ll go lie down for a bit.”

Ji Yan looked at him in surprise. “You don’t need me to accompany you?”

Jing Yuan replied cautiously, “Mm-hmm.”

Watching Jing Yuan’s thin figure sneak away furtively, Ji Yan furrowed his brows thoughtfully, then smiled faintly.

Lying face down on the soft bed, Jing Yuan stared blankly at the sea of clouds and the setting sun outside, recalling what Ji Yan had just said to him.

As fiancés, it seemed that he and Ji Yan hadn’t really engaged in any particularly intimate actions.

Jing Yuan pursed his lips, quietly pondering the purpose behind Ji Yan’s words.

He analyzed two possible scenarios.

First, Ji Yan was captivated by his beauty and had started to desire him physically.

Second, Ji Yan was testing his sincerity, perhaps brewing some sort of plan.

Based on his understanding of Ji Yan, he suspected that this scheming antagonist was once again growing suspicious, doubting the authenticity of his love.

Jing Yuan’s expression turned serious as he mimicked Ji Yan’s earlier posture, resting his head on his arm and crossing his legs.

Since the other party had made the first move, he had to respond in kind!

Knock, knock, knock! The doctor’s knocking sounded at the door. “Young Master Jing, I’m here to check on you.”

Jing Yuan said, “Please come in.”

The doctor looked unfamiliar to Jing Yuan. Lying flat on the bed, he cooperated fully as the doctor examined his heart.

The doctor remarked, “Young Master Jing, your heart rate is too fast. It’s sinus tachycardia. Try to avoid stimulating exercises in your daily life.”

Jing Yuan was aware of the original owner’s congenital heart disease, but this was the first time he had heard the term “sinus tachycardia.”

He asked in confusion, “What consequences could it have?”

The doctor replied, “Just take medication regularly to regulate your heart rate. If left untreated, it could lead to heart failure.”

Suddenly, the heart rate monitor began to beep loudly.

Jing Yuan was so frightened he could barely breathe.

The doctor quickly reassured him, “Don’t worry, your condition isn’t serious.”

But Jing Yuan could no longer process the doctor’s words. His mind was fixated on the two words: “heart failure.”

After a long pause, he murmured, “Doctor, can heart failure kill you?”

The doctor hesitated, “Heart failure can be fatal. But—”

Clutching his chest in distress, Jing Yuan curled up under the covers and buried his head in the blanket.

“Can you call Ji Yan over?”

“I want to make a will.”

Startled by Jing Yuan’s extreme reaction, the doctor quickly summoned Ji Yan.

A few seconds later, the sound of hurried, steady footsteps echoed outside.

“Jing Yuan—”

Ji Yan stared at Jing Yuan, who was quietly sobbing under the covers, his brow furrowed tightly. “What’s going on?”

The doctor looked helpless. “Young Master Jing seems to have misunderstood his condition. He thinks he’s going to develop heart failure.”

Ji Yan’s expression darkened as he sat by the bed. “Yuan Yuan.”

He gently patted Jing Yuan’s shoulder beneath the blanket.

Suddenly, Jing Yuan threw off the covers and threw himself into Ji Yan’s arms. “I want to make a will—half of my assets to the Jing family and half to you. Don’t worry about me. If you meet someone you like in the future, go after them. I just want you to be happy.”

“Yuan Yuan…”

Ji Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, and then, as if struck by something heavy, a wave of heartache surged from deep within him. His face grew pale.

The doctor tried to explain again, “Young Master Jing, you’re not going to die. This is—”

Ji Yan raised his hand, signaling for the doctor to leave.

When only the two of them remained in the room, Ji Yan wrapped his arms tightly around Jing Yuan’s waist, his brow slightly furrowed as he buried his face in Jing Yuan’s soft neck.

“You’re not going to die. It’s just a minor illness.”

Resting his head on Ji Yan’s chest, Jing Yuan suddenly noticed something off about Ji Yan’s tone.

It sounded a bit hoarse.

He lifted his clear eyes, his expression shifting back to concern. “Ji Yan? You… what’s wrong?”

In truth, Jing Yuan wasn’t entirely unaware that his heart condition was minor. He had exaggerated his reaction to show his loyalty to Ji Yan. But things weren’t unfolding as he had expected.

Ji Yan didn’t seem pleased or proud—instead, what Jing Yuan saw was mostly sorrow.

Suddenly, Jing Yuan’s heart felt as if it were burning with guilt and torment.

Had he overacted?

Ji Yan had lost his parents before, so he likely understood the pain of losing a loved one even more deeply than Jing Yuan did.

Feeling at a loss, Jing Yuan quickly hugged Ji Yan back, patting his broad back rhythmically, as if comforting a child.

“Yan Yan, I was being overly dramatic just now.”

“I understand now that I’m not going to die.”

“Don’t be sad.”

Jing Yuan’s apology was sincere, his eyes downcast the entire time.

Ji Yan spoke slowly, “I’ll hire the best cardiologist to treat you. Don’t worry.”

“Mm-hmm.” Jing Yuan found himself momentarily distracted.

Ji Yan was truly good to him. It didn’t seem like an act.

Originally, when he helped Ji Yan uncover the truth about his parents’ car accident, half of his motivation had been to help himself as well.

But now he had decided that no matter what, he would help Ji Yan get to the bottom of everything. If the Ning family was truly behind it, he would fight them to the end.

“Ji Yan.” Jing Yuan’s expression turned serious as he slowly took Ji Yan’s hand and placed it over his own heart. “I swear, I will treat you well.”

Ji Yan was somewhat taken aback, momentarily unsure how to respond.

Suddenly, Jing Yuan lowered his head and gently kissed Ji Yan’s wrist.

Ji Yan’s gaze sharpened, his cool eyes tinged with surprise.

“Now that I’ve kissed you, I seem more like a fiancé, don’t I?” Jing Yuan raised his bashful eyes, not daring to look directly at Ji Yan.

After a moment, Ji Yan curved his lips into a smile. “I thought you hadn’t heard that remark.”

Jing Yuan replied shamelessly, “I heard it.”

This time, it was Ji Yan who took Jing Yuan’s hand in return. Lowering his thick lashes, he looked at him gently. “Will the promise you made me come true?”

Jing Yuan smiled earnestly. “Of course.”

Ji Yan smiled meaningfully. “Good, I’ll remember that. If Yuanyuan ever goes back on his word, the consequences—” He leaned closer to Jing Yuan, whispering by his ear, “I hope it won’t come to that.”

Though Jing Yuan sensed a hint of threat in those words, he was also disarmed by Ji Yan’s gentle tone.

He glanced sideways, gazing into Ji Yan’s light brown eyes. “Yan Yan, can we discuss something?”

Ji Yan’s lips curved upward. “Go ahead.”

Jing Yuan spoke timidly, “Since I’ve already kissed you, could you sell me some shares in the Trade Center?”

Ji Yan was momentarily speechless, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes.

For a moment, he wondered if all the sweet words Jing Yuan had spoken were ultimately aimed at this goal.

Of course, he had no proof.

Ji Yan narrowed his eyes and reached out to pinch Jing Yuan’s earlobe. “Yuanyuan, take off my glasses for me.”

Jing Yuan didn’t understand why Ji Yan made such a request.

Was it some kind of quirk of his?

He happily obliged, raising his hand to gently remove the glasses from Ji Yan’s face.

“Mission accomplished!” Jing Yuan made a cool gesture, then sprawled out on the narrow bed, deliberately taking up all the space.

“Yan Yan, shall we sleep together?”

Jing Yuan’s eyes were dewy, his expression full of sincerity.

Without his glasses, Ji Yan’s vision was slightly blurred. Squinting, he deliberately called Jing Yuan out. “Darling, you’ve taken up the whole bed. Where am I supposed to lie?”

Jing Yuan replied cheekily, “You can lie on top of me.”

Ji Yan raised a dark eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

Jing Yuan hadn’t thought much about the implications of that position and casually replied, “Yeah, you can rest on me for a while. I can handle it.”

Ji Yan stared at him, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.

“I’ll remember what you said, darling. But since you’re not feeling well today, I won’t squeeze in here with you.”

Ji Yan stood up, looking down at Jing Yuan.

“There’s plenty of time ahead, darling. Get some rest early.”

Watching Ji Yan’s retreating figure, Jing Yuan was utterly confused.

Why did it feel like Ji Yan’s words carried a hidden meaning?

He didn’t dwell on it, yawning as he burrowed under the covers.

The plane would land in four hours—he needed to catch some sleep first.

Their layover was in a remote city in Europe, still quite a distance from Finland.

Thanks to Ji Yan’s attentive care and the doctor’s constant supervision, Jing Yuan wasn’t overly tired and was in good spirits.

By the time they were in the car heading to the hotel, Jing Yuan was no longer sleepy, his bright eyes wide open and full of energy.

At that moment, Ji Yan’s grandfather initiated a video call. Jing Yuan leaned over and asked, “Grandpa’s family is having their reunion dinner today. Do you think he’s upset because we didn’t go?”

Ji Yan showed no particular expression. “Possibly.”

Ji Yan had never missed a New Year’s reunion dinner before. This year was the first time, so it was understandable that his grandfather would be upset.

“Should we answer?”

“Mm.”

As soon as Ji Yan accepted the call, the old man’s rapid-fire questions came through.

It was clear Grandpa was genuinely angry, speaking in a torrent of words. Jing Yuan had initially wanted to greet him, but after some hesitation, decided against it.

Ji Yan understood his grandfather’s temperament well. With just a couple of sentences, he managed to soothe the old man’s anger.

Grandpa snorted, “Little Yan has found true love, it seems. You won’t even spend the New Year with this old man anymore.”

Ji Yan chuckled softly. “Isn’t Ning Jin and the others keeping you company?”

Grandpa pondered for a moment. “Without you, how can it be called a reunion dinner?”

Ji Yan didn’t respond further. He and Jing Yuan exchanged a few auspicious greetings with the old man before ending the call.

Holding his phone, Ji Yan stared out the window for a long time, his eyes clouded with worry and conflict.

Jing Yuan tentatively asked, “Ji Yan, are you worried that Grandpa will be upset if you confront the Ning family?”

Ji Yan lowered his gaze. “Mm.”

Jing Yuan sighed, unable to offer any comfort.

If the Ning family truly had a hand in the murder, it would mean siblings turning against each other. How heartbroken would Ji Yan’s grandfather be? Especially if Ji Yan were to take action against the Ning family—an elderly man of his age might not be able to bear it.

At that moment, Jing Yuan fervently wished that even if the Ning family wasn’t virtuous, they hadn’t intentionally harmed Ji Yan’s parents.

Soon, the car stopped outside a bright yellow castle.

Their temporary resting place was a small town with a population of only forty thousand. The town was situated on a small island, surrounded by the sea.

Jing Yuan loved the architectural style here. He specifically took out the camera he had ordered in advance, snapping photos wherever he went.

Seeing Jing Yuan so full of energy, Ji Yan wasn’t overly concerned about his health and quietly accompanied him, admiring the scenery around the castle.

It had snowed a few days prior, and the castle’s rooftops were blanketed in white. When the faint, brilliant colors shimmered under the sunlight, it felt like stepping into a fairy-tale wonderland.

Jing Yuan, bundled in a thick brown coat, ran to a snow-covered tree and bent down to pick up a fallen star-shaped string light. Turning to Ji Yan with a smile, he asked, “Did they just celebrate Christmas?”

“Mm.” Ji Yan, wearing black ankle boots, left a trail of footprints around Jing Yuan, eventually encircling him within the imprints.

Jing Yuan looked down. “Drawing a circle as a prison?”

Ji Yan kept his hands in his pockets. “Mm.”

Jing Yuan suddenly realized that Ji Yan could sometimes act like a child. Deliberately furrowing his brows, he pleaded, “Ji Yan, please let me out.”

Observing his poor acting, Ji Yan curled his lips slightly. “No.”

Jing Yuan immediately shot him a disdainful look, then slowly crouched down and began gathering the surrounding snow.

Though his fingers were already red from the cold, he firmly packed the snow into a solid snowball and glanced mischievously at Ji Yan.

His beautiful, lively amber eyes were full of threat, resembling a Ragdoll cat that, despite being weak in a fight, loved to challenge others.

Ji Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Yuan Yuan wants to have a snowball fight?”

Jing Yuan grinned and swiftly hurled the snowball at Ji Yan’s shoulder.

The snowball burst with a soft “thump” against the cashmere coat, scattering onto the ground.

Ji Yan wasn’t angry, nor did he speak. He simply crouched down with Jing Yuan, leisurely gathering snow in his hands.

Seeing the snowball Ji Yan was making grow heavy and large, Jing Yuan slipped away like greased lightning, darting swiftly toward the castle.

He didn’t run particularly fast, occasionally glancing back provocatively at Ji Yan, which provoked him into giving chase despite his initial reluctance, all because of Jing Yuan’s smugness.

Watching the two figures chasing each other, Chen Tian stood shivering from the cold nearby.

He couldn’t understand what was so fun about a snowball fight.

If either of them had even a kindergarten-level education, they wouldn’t be so fascinated by such a thing.

In the evening, after having dinner together, Ji Yan accompanied Jing Yuan to the small town to buy some warm clothing.

Finland had limited daylight and was much colder than here, so they needed to dress warmly before heading over.

Although Ji Yan had already prepared these items in advance, Jing Yuan, eager for something new, insisted on buying some locally.

Since Ji Yan wasn’t busy with work anyway, he naturally didn’t refuse.

At night, the small town was adorned with colorful lights on every castle, and the shops along the streets were filled with a dazzling array of goods, bustling with activity.

Jing Yuan took a liking to a pair of waterproof gloves shaped like reindeer and gestured to the shopkeeper, “How much?”

The shopkeeper pointed to the price tag, indicating ten euros.

Though Jing Yuan thought it was expensive, he reluctantly took out a bill from his wallet. The shopkeeper accepted it with a smile and asked in slightly accented English, “What color would you like?”

Although the original host had decent grades in college, Jing Yuan couldn’t process the question quickly and only understood it vaguely.

He asked Ji Yan, “What is the shopkeeper saying?”

Ji Yan raised an eyebrow. “He’s asking what our relationship is.”

Jing Yuan frowned, thinking foreigners were oddly nosy, but he replied in broken English, “Husband.”

Don’t ask why he used “husband”—it was simply because he hadn’t mastered the word for “fiancé.”

The shopkeeper was taken aback, his blue eyes filled with blessings for the two of them.

“You two make a great couple.”

Jing Yuan asked, “What did he say?”

Ji Yan replied, “He asked when we got married.”

Jing Yuan was stumped by the question and tugged at Ji Yan’s sleeve anxiously. “Tell him we’re not married yet.”

Ji Yan nodded. “Thank you, we’re getting married soon.”

“That’s so cool.” The shopkeeper, being a savvy businessman, took out two matching reindeer keychains from another shelf. “Would you like to take these?”

Though Jing Yuan didn’t understand the words, he could tell the shopkeeper was showing him the keychains. He took them in his palm and said to Ji Yan, “They’re quite nice. What is the shopkeeper saying?”

Ji Yan replied, “He’s asking about our wedding date and said he can give us these matching keychains.”

“For free?” Jing Yuan’s eyes widened, and he whispered to Ji Yan, “Tell him we’re getting married in the spring.”

Ji Yan said meaningfully to the shopkeeper, “We’ll take them. We’d like the gloves in blue.”

The shopkeeper was delighted. “OK.”

Before leaving, while Jing Yuan was fiddling with the free gifts, Ji Yan handed the shopkeeper a bill. “Keep the change.”

The shopkeeper beamed. “Wishing you both happiness.”

Jing Yuan, clutching the keychains, couldn’t help but glance back at the shopkeeper. “What did he say?”

Ji Yan replied, “He wished us happiness.”

Jing Yuan didn’t pay it much mind and said cheerfully, “I didn’t expect to get free gifts while shopping.”

Ji Yan responded softly, “Mm.”

Jing Yuan handed Ji Yan a string: “You wear one too. These little trinkets are quite exquisite. Look, our deer seem to be a pair—one male and one female.”

Ji Yan hadn’t noticed this detail and lowered his head to examine them closely. “How can you tell?”

Jing Yuan explained, “Can’t you see? One of the deer has delicate, elegant features—that one must be the female.”

Ji Yan asked in return, “So, the one you gave me—is it male or female?”

Jing Yuan lowered his eyes. “Male.”

Seeing his guilty expression, Ji Yan knew Jing Yuan was lying again. He studied his own deer pendant carefully and murmured, “Then I’ll give you the male one. I’ll take the female.”

Jing Yuan widened his eyes in surprise. “Huh?”

Ji Yan reached out and ruffled his hair. “Although I think it doesn’t matter whether it’s a male or female deer, since you’re a boy, I’ll leave the male one for you.”

“I—” Jing Yuan watched as Ji Yan picked the male deer, feeling a bit aggrieved. Though he also thought it didn’t matter which one he got, he preferred the more handsome stag. If only he hadn’t tried to fool Ji Yan earlier.

Once Ji Yan had the stag pendant, he took out his phone and sent a voice message to his assistant: “Yuan Yuan said we should set the wedding date for this spring. The Spring Equinox is an auspicious day—let’s hold the wedding then.”

After sending the message, Ji Yan took the stunned Jing Yuan’s hand. “What’s wrong, Yuan Yuan?”

Jing Yuan stammered, “So soon?”

Ji Yan’s eyes held a trace of confusion. “Didn’t you say we should get married in spring? Or were you lying to me?”

“I— How could I lie to you?” Jing Yuan quickly fell silent, mentally calculating how many days were left until the Spring Equinox.

“Just over a month,” Ji Yan said, as if reading Jing Yuan’s thoughts, kindly reminding him of the wedding countdown.

Jing Yuan instantly deflated but didn’t dare show it too obviously, afraid Ji Yan would notice. Ji Yan was too perceptive—even the slightest change wouldn’t escape him.

“Alright, then I’ll prepare for the wedding properly,” Jing Yuan said.

Hearing this, Ji Yan relaxed, and even the sight of the coastal ships adorned with colorful lights seemed more pleasing. “Good, we’ll prepare for the wedding together.”

That evening, Jing Yuan and Ji Yan returned with their hands full. Aside from a few necessities for their stay in Finland, most of the items were trinkets Jing Yuan couldn’t resist buying.

After a night of shopping, Jing Yuan was exhausted. Since they were leaving for Finland early the next morning, Ji Yan didn’t want him to overexert himself and left all the unpacking to Chen Tian.

Chen Tian maintained a polite smile but felt like he’d been handed the short end of the stick.

Jing Yuan and Ji Yan’s bedrooms were adjacent, connected by an inner door, much like a family suite.

Although the room was beautifully decorated in the European palace style Jing Yuan had always dreamed of, he was too tired to appreciate it that night.

Ji Yan had someone prepare a cup of soothing milk for him before bidding him goodnight and retiring to his own room.

After drinking the milk, Jing Yuan collapsed onto the soft bed like a boneless creature, lazily lifting a leg to hook the luxurious dark green silk canopy, which descended gracefully.

He closed his eyes in contentment, but remembering he hadn’t showered yet, he mustered the energy to drag himself up for a quick rinse.

The bathroom was spacious, with the wash area on the left and the shower on the right. There were no doors—instead, arched floor-to-ceiling glass panels framed in gold gleamed luxuriously under the light.

Jing Yuan pondered whether he’d feel shy showering in such an open space and wondered if the glass was transparent.

It was getting late, and he lazily picked up his tooth cup to fill it with water, preparing to brush his teeth.

Just then, he heard the gentle sound of flowing water from the left side.

The left side wasn’t a wall but another arched floor-to-ceiling glass panel, though its texture seemed slightly sturdier than the others, likely serving as a partition.

Jing Yuan tapped on the glass wall and noticed a faintly glowing smart screen embedded within it.

Growing increasingly curious, he marveled at how far technology had leaped in the age of artificial intelligence while casually pressing the buttons to see if there were other modes available.

For instance, the glass might display a scene of a clear blue sky or the majestic Neuschwanstein Castle.

Just then, the sound of running water nearby stopped.

Jing Yuan pressed his face against the glass, wondering if the echo had been caused by Ji Yan washing up inside.

As he leaned his full weight against it, the glass wall unexpectedly shifted.

Thinking it might be a storage cabinet for the bathroom, he curiously peeked inside.

But when his gaze was met by two slender yet powerful, straight legs, he inadvertently inhaled a cloud of warm steam.

Hearing the unusual noise, Ji Yan turned off the shower and opened his tightly shut eyes.