The Sickly Beauty Can’t Escape the Obsessive Lover - Chapter 4

Jing Yuan was startled and was about to adjust his position to get up when Ji Yan had already entered the room.

Seeing Ji Yan approach him step by step, Jing Yuan felt a wave of nervousness inside.

Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind, and he said coyly, “I was admiring my perky butt.”

Ji Yan’s expression froze for a moment before he replied, “The day after tomorrow is your father’s birthday. Should we go visit your uncle?”

“Oh… sure.”

Jing Yuan lifted his clear, bright eyes and said, “Thank you.”

“No need for formalities between us.” Before leaving, Ji Yan’s gaze slowly drifted to his shoulders. “I feel like you’ve changed a lot since you woke up.”

Jing Yuan guessed that the change Ji Yan was referring to was his personality, which was no longer as arrogant and domineering as before.

He maintained his previous posture, tilting his head to look at Ji Yan. “When I made a pact with the heavens that day, they advised me to become a model student.”

Hearing this reason again, Ji Yan lowered his eyes slightly, his lips curling into a faint, insincere smile. “It seems Yuan Yuan had quite a long conversation with the heavens.”

Jing Yuan continued to fabricate nonsense. “Yeah.”

“Did you talk about anything else?” Ji Yan slowly leaned closer, his light brown eyes fixed intently on Jing Yuan. Behind his silver-rimmed glasses, there was a hint of teasing. “Anything about me?”

Jing Yuan glanced at him timidly. “Yes.”

“I also prayed to the heavens for you to live a long life.”

Ji Yan’s lips curved into a smile. “Really?”

Jing Yuan mumbled, “Mm-hmm.”

Having held his butt up for so long, Jing Yuan was gradually losing strength and slowly straightened up. Clinging to Ji Yan like a kitten, he said, “Ji Yan, I’m tired.”

Ji Yan composed himself. “Sorry for disturbing you. You should rest now.”

“It’s no trouble. Feel free to come chat with me whenever you have time. Even if we can’t have physical interactions, we can still engage in heartfelt conversations.”

Jing Yuan spoke with enough sincerity, his pale face adorned with a deep and earnest smile.

Ji Yan paused for a moment before leaving.

Hearing the door close, Jing Yuan slumped weakly onto the sofa, his neck and back drenched in sweat.

Recalling the meaningful smile Ji Yan had just given him, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more behind it.

He coughed twice, feeling dizzy and exhausted from the strain. After forcing down a few bites of food, he barely made it to the bed and collapsed onto it to rest.

He couldn’t let anyone know about his secret exercise routine.

Once his body recovered a bit, he planned to sneak into the Manhe Club to bide his time and look for the protagonist shou.

If Ji Yan found out about his whereabouts, he would definitely grow suspicious.

Although he couldn’t recall the details of the book clearly, he vividly remembered one comment from the book’s review section:

[As expected, Jing the White Lotus starts acting up again as soon as he gets better. It’s so infuriating!]

So, following that logic, the original host’s health did improve significantly later on. If he remained this weak, wouldn’t that lull everyone into a false sense of security?

Or perhaps it would make Ji Yan lower his guard? What could someone who gets winded after just a few steps possibly accomplish?

Although Ji Yan claimed to like him, Jing Yuan couldn’t shake a certain indescribable feeling about it.

He’d better secure his safety by clinging to Ji Yan’s favor for now and make his escape as soon as possible.

The day’s ups and downs had already pushed his body beyond its limits. Jing Yuan fumbled with the blanket, pulling a corner over himself, and sank into the pillow, falling into a deep sleep.

When he woke up the next day, he would make sure to take his supplements and medicine on time and start his exercise plan.

…

After a day of rest, Jing Yuan finally received the official reports for all his medical conditions.

Staring at the dizzying list of illnesses, Jing Yuan lay weakly on the bed, overwhelmed with worry.

Was the original owner collecting diseases like stamps?

How could a pampered young master, raised in luxury, have so many health problems?

Wasn’t modern medicine supposed to be advanced?

The doctor treating Jing Yuan was a highly respected, retired hospital director. Seeing Jing Yuan’s expression as if he were suffering from a terminal illness, the doctor began to console him.

“Young Master Jing, your main issue is that your foundation has been damaged. With low immunity, it’s easy for any illness to take hold.”

In truth, aside from a heart condition and general weakness, the original owner had almost no health issues as a child. But Jing Yuan was rather reckless—after his heart surgery, he refused to take bitter medicine, wallowed in depression, stayed up late having fun, and showed little regard for his health. As he grew older, his condition worsened.

Coupled with his aversion to exercise, it was no surprise he lacked a healthy body. Even a minor cold could leave him bedridden—utterly frail.

Jing Yuan lay stiffly on his back, tucked under a soft white silk quilt, with only his head visible.

If he closed his eyes, he’d look rather ominous at first glance.

His face was pale with fright. “Director Li, if I follow the doctor’s orders, how many more years can I live?”

Director Li choked back his words. “Fifty or sixty years shouldn’t be a problem.”

Jing Yuan spoke with earnest sincerity. “Please, you must save me. Use whatever you need—ginseng, deer antler, cordyceps—spare no expense.”

Before he left, he had to squeeze every last bit of advantage out of Ji Yan.

Director Li’s lips trembled. “Alright.”

…

Before setting off to celebrate Jing Yuan’s father’s birthday at the Jing family home, Ji Yan made a point to stop by Jing Yuan’s room to pick him up.

In the hallway, Chen Tian followed closely behind Ji Yan, reporting on Jing Yuan’s recent behavior.

Ji Yan: “Chen Tian.”

Chen Tian: “Yes.”

Ji Yan’s expression was grave. “Do you think my acting is convincing?”

Chen Tian recalled the unnaturalness of Ji Yan’s forced smiles and carefully chose his words. “Not really.”

“No wonder.” Ji Yan adjusted his glasses lightly and slipped his hands into his pockets. “He won’t let me touch him. He wasn’t like this before.”

In the past, Jing Yuan would barge into Ji Yan’s bedroom every few days to provoke him. There were even times when Ji Yan lifted the covers to find Jing Yuan already lying in his bed.

If Ji Yan took the initiative, Jing Yuan should have been thrilled and eager.

“Then… do you want to touch him?” Chen Tian asked, a hint of confusion in his brow.

Ji Yan shot him a stern glance. “Go get your head examined.”

Chen Tian lowered his eyes awkwardly. “Alright.”

…

Soon, the group stood at the door, ready to depart for the Jing family home.

Jing Yuan’s mode of transport was a wheelchair, with a dedicated caregiver responsible for his well-being.

Just before getting into the car, Ji Yan raised a hand to stop the caregiver and walked directly over to Jing Yuan.

“I’ll carry you.”

Ji Yan wrapped one arm around Jing Yuan’s slender legs and used the other to support his lower back, effortlessly lifting him into the car.

Wrapped up like a little penguin, Jing Yuan thanked him earnestly, then pulled two calcium tablets from his pocket and chewed them.

Director Li had said his bone density was low, so he needed to supplement calcium diligently.

Ji Yan glanced at him, recalling Chen Tian’s report. “Yuan Yuan, it seems you’re not resisting taking medicine lately.”

Jing Yuan replied casually, “Oh. I need to live a few more decades so I can stay with you forever.”

Ji Yan paused for a moment, then took Jing Yuan’s hand. “It’s good that Yuan Yuan has come around.”

Jing Yuan lowered his gaze, staring at their tightly clasped hands, a trace of conflict quietly surfacing in his expression.

If Ji Yan didn’t genuinely like him, what was the purpose of treating him so well?

Now that the Jing family was bankrupt, it seemed there was nothing left to exploit.

But if Ji Yan really liked him, why did he turn hostile later?

Wasn’t Ji Yan supposed to be in love with the protagonist?

For a moment, Jing Yuan’s little brain felt overwhelmed, and a pained expression flickered across his face.

Noticing this, Ji Yan asked softly, “Yuan Yuan, are you feeling unwell?”

Jing Yuan whimpered, “It hurts.”

Ji Yan pursed his lips, remained silent for a moment, and said, “Let me massage it for you.”

Before Jing Yuan could figure out how to refuse, Ji Yan had already moved closer, gently pulling him into an embrace.

The familiar scent of amber enveloped him.

Jing Yuan, small and delicate, nestled in Ji Yan’s arms, looking innocent and vulnerable—like a lone white lilac suddenly caught between massive, unyielding boulders.

He lifted his sharp chin slightly, secretly studying Ji Yan’s features.

Since Ji Yan was treating him well for now, it would be better for him to act a little more affectionate in return.

What if he angered the other and ended up dragged into a dark room to be silenced?

As Jing Yuan was silently fretting, Ji Yan asked, “What are you mumbling about?”

Curled up in Ji Yan’s embrace, Jing Yuan replied obediently, “Reciting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra.”

Ji Yan: “…”

…

The car drove for an hour before stopping in front of a quiet, standalone estate.

Jing Yuan’s parents, having learned of his awakening from Jing Baiwei, had rushed back from abroad in excitement. The couple had been overseas securing investments but were overjoyed to hear their precious son had woken up.

They had just landed that morning.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Jing Yuan recalled fragments of the past. Back when the Jing family was prosperous, their estate would be bustling with activity every time his father celebrated his birthday, with luxury cars nearly covering the lawn.

But since last year, the stream of visitors had gradually dwindled. Few friends came to visit anymore, and his aging parents had been running around everywhere, seeking funds to save the company from its troubles.

Jing Yuan’s parents weren’t bad people. Their biggest mistake had been spoiling him, and they had paid a heavy price for it.

Jing Yuan thought to himself, since he was using their son’s body, helping the Jing parents live out their remaining years in peace before he left would be a way of fulfilling his filial duty.

As they reached the entrance hall, Jing Yuan overheard voices inside.

“Jing Ming, I’m telling you—your family is married into the Ji family now. Even if Ji Yan looks down on you two, shouldn’t he and Jing Yuan at least show up for your birthday?”

Jing Yuan’s head throbbed. His hazy memories told him that voice likely belonged to his sharp-tongued aunt.

Just as Jing’s father was about to respond, the door swung open.

Jing Yuan smoothly maneuvered his wheelchair into the room, his eyes sparkling as he sat there.

His aunt looked awkward. “…Yuan Yuan, you’re back.”

Jing Yuan nodded politely. “Auntie, you look so much younger—like you’re only around sixty, not that old at all.”

His aunt frowned, about to retort, but then she caught sight of Ji Yan standing behind Jing Yuan.

“Don’t be silly, Yuan Yuan. Your aunt is only fifty.”

Jing Yuan lifted his small face apologetically. “Sorry, Auntie. I hit my head not long ago and almost forgot about that.”

The moment Jing’s parents saw him, they hurried over. Jing’s mother, in particular, burst into tears, tightly clutching Jing Yuan’s thin wrist, her hands trembling slightly.

Though equally emotional, Jing’s father first nodded respectfully to Ji Yan.

Ji Yan remained expressionless, returning the nod briefly before scanning the furnishings in the Jing family’s living room.

All the expensive antique vases from before were gone.

Likely a consequence of the company’s bankruptcy.

He sat down indifferently, lightly brushing the sleeve of his suit before settling on the sofa, watching the warm, cheerful scene before him like an outsider—as if he had no connection to the Jing family at all.

He noticed his aunt Jing Yuan watching him from the corner of his eye, but he couldn’t be bothered to put on a facade in front of others. Crossing his long legs, he maintained a calm expression.

His aunt then asked, “Ji Yan is here.”

Before Ji Yan could speak, Jing Yuan chimed in, “It’s my dad’s birthday, so of course my boyfriend would come.”

Hearing the word “boyfriend,” Ji Yan met Jing Yuan’s sparkling eyes and immediately put on a gentle smile. “That’s right.”

Jing Yuan proactively extended his slender hand. “Boyfriend, let’s hold hands.”

Ji Yan’s brow twitched slightly.

Then, with a faint smile, he took Jing Yuan’s hand.

Jing Yuan’s parents exchanged looks of bewildered confusion.

Everyone knew Ji Yan disliked Jing Yuan—not just them, but almost anyone even remotely connected to the wealthy circles.

How had their relationship suddenly become so close in just a month?

His aunt was equally surprised. When the Jing family had faced trouble earlier, she hadn’t contributed a single cent, but now she felt a pang of uncertainty.

“Ji Yan and Yuanyuan seem to be getting along so well. Who said they weren’t?”

“No one said they weren’t.” Jing Yuan flashed an innocent smile, his usually pale cheeks tinged with a faint blush. “Ji Yan, can you take me to wash my hands?”

Ji Yan replied, “Of course.”

After the two left, the aunt cornered Jing Yuan’s father and asked, “I thought Yuanyuan and Ji Yan were like fire and water?”

Jing Yuan’s father glanced at his sister, not particularly eager to engage. “I’m not sure either.”

The aunt continued to stare in the direction they had gone, muttering under her breath, “Your family’s funding chain broke—did Ji Yan invest in you?”

Jing Yuan’s father answered, “No.”

The aunt clicked her tongue disapprovingly, crossed her legs, and continued urging him to sell the company.

Meanwhile, in the restroom.

Jing Yuan sat obediently in his wheelchair, apologizing to Ji Yan.

“Sorry, Ji Yan, I used you.”

He felt a little guilty. Although the Jing parents weren’t his biological parents, they shared the same surname, and it pained him to see others mock them.

Ji Yan stood with his back to Jing Yuan, meticulously drying his hands.

His expression was cold, but his voice was exceptionally gentle. “It’s fine. I am your boyfriend, after all.”

When he turned around, he unexpectedly caught sight of Jing Yuan’s sorrowful expression.

His damp eyelashes fluttered lightly, and his reddened nose made him look like a wronged kitten.

Jing Yuan was already slender, and the sight of him holding back tears in silence was heart-wrenching.

“Why are you crying again?”

The words were unadorned, almost slipping out before Ji Yan could think.

His tall, slender frame crouched down gently as he gazed at Jing Yuan, silent and still.

Jing Yuan hadn’t intended to cry. But his mind was filled with memories of the Jing parents doting on and caring for the original host.

They were truly kind.

Before transmigrating into this book, he had never experienced such affection.

“It’s nothing.”

A slender wrist emerged from the oversized sweater sleeve, gently pressing against his chest.

Jing Yuan frowned, feeling a tightness in his heart, and couldn’t help but let out a light cough.

“Ji Yan, could you do me a favor?”

He looked up, his sincere expression making it impossible to refuse.

Ji Yan’s voice was low. “What is it?”

Tears welling in his eyes, Jing Yuan said, “Can you ask Rong Qing to come here?”

Ji Yan looked at him. “Why him?”

Jing Yuan explained, “He still owes me a million. I want him to pay up as soon as possible.”

Ji Yan’s expression stiffened for a moment before he replied gently, “Give him your bank account number. I’ll notify him to transfer the money.”

Jing Yuan lowered his eyes with a pitiful expression. “My money has been with him for so long. Shouldn’t there be some interest?”

Ji Yan looked at him deeply. “How much interest do you want?”

Clutching his chest weakly, Jing Yuan raised three fingers. “Three percent.”

Ji Yan fell silent.

Jing Yuan suddenly grew anxious.

“You promised to help me.”

His voice was thick with a nasal tone as he coughed at just the right moment. In an instant, his pale, delicate face flushed red and stifled, his moist eyes resembling a kitten fallen into water, waiting to be rescued.

“I can help you get it.”

After a moment, Ji Yan spoke these words.

He smiled profoundly, his gaze fixed intently on Jing Yuan’s slender throat as he reached out to adjust his collar.

“But you must also agree to one condition.”

Jing Yuan stared at the fingertips near his collar, his mind beginning to wander. Shyly, he grasped them. “Ji Yan, ten years and eight months—not a single day less.”

Ji Yan nearly showed an incredulous expression, pausing slightly as his dark eyes met Jing Yuan’s.

Then he let out a soft laugh, raising his hand to completely encircle Jing Yuan’s slender and fragile neck, toying with it appreciatively.

Jing Yuan, whose fate now seemed gripped by the throat, immediately shut his mouth.

Why did he get angry all of a sudden?