The Sickly Beauty Can’t Escape the Obsessive Lover - Chapter 5

In front of the cramped washroom, two pairs of eyes stared at each other for a long time before Ji Yan broke the silence first.

“Your neck is truly beautiful.”

Ji Yan smiled, his fingertips gently stroking the skin of Jing Yuan’s neck, his thumb and index finger resting against the delicate and elegant Adam’s apple.

Jing Yuan was indeed very thin. His slender neck could easily be encircled by a single hand. It reminded Ji Yan of the feeling he had as a child when holding a small kitten, both equally fragile.

Seeing that Ji Yan showed no intention of letting go, Jing Yuan joked earnestly, “Your palm is quite large too—just the right size to wrap around my neck.”

This could barely be considered a compliment, and Jing Yuan felt it was only polite to return the gesture.

“Is that so? But I think there might still be some room to spare.”

Ji Yan chuckled softly, tightening his grip slightly to measure.

Jing Yuan was very sensitive; his throat immediately felt ticklish, and he let out a soft cough. Soon, his cheeks flushed pink, and his eyes grew moist.

Ji Yan glanced at his collar, gently released his hand, and then rose to his feet unhurriedly.

He hadn’t used any real force earlier.

Given how delicate Jing Yuan’s skin was, if he had applied pressure, it would have already turned red.

Yet, Jing Yuan was coughing quite violently.

Ji Yan remained silent for a moment longer before squatting down again. He reached out and gently rubbed Jing Yuan’s bony back, his expression calm.

Another stretch of silence followed.

Jing Yuan pursed his lips. “Ji Yan, about what you asked me to promise earlier—did I guess wrong?”

“What do you think?” Ji Yan looked at him.

Jing Yuan took a calcium tablet from his pocket, cupped it in his small hand, and chewed it thoughtfully. “I must have guessed wrong.”

Ji Yan fell into thought, recalling events from his past life.

When Jing Yuan first brought up the car accident involving his parents, Ji Yan hadn’t believed him and had even dismissed it. It was only when Jing Yuan described the specific details of the accident during that heavy rainstorm that Ji Yan began to take it seriously.

That car accident had occurred at the border between Ningcheng and Haicheng—a desolate and remote area. The rainstorm that night had been the heaviest in nearly five years, even causing floods and mudslides in many regions.

Apart from the Ji family, information about the accident scene had been tightly sealed. Jing Yuan had been only a few years old when the accident happened—how could he have known the details so clearly? Therefore, Ji Yan speculated that the car accident was somehow connected to the Jing family, and Jing Yuan had unintentionally overheard it from his parents, making it all seem plausible.

Jing Yuan first mentioned this matter half a year after moving into the Ji family. That was still four months away from the current timeline.

Ji Yan couldn’t be sure whether Jing Yuan already knew about it now, but given Jing Yuan’s inability to keep secrets, if he had known the truth about the accident, he would have used it to threaten him long ago. Why would he wait until after being neglected for half a year?

After a moment of consideration, a gentle smile touched Ji Yan’s eyes. “Yuan Yuan, we’re already engaged. I hope that no matter what happens in the future, we’ll face it together.”

Jing Yuan frowned. “That’s all?”

“Mm.” Ji Yan replied.

Jing Yuan nodded readily. “Alright.”

Facing things together, huh!

It should be fine if he took a few more steps back.

“Good, let’s go have dinner.” Ji Yan pushed the wheelchair and walked slowly toward the dining room.

During the meal, Ji Yan was exceptionally attentive to Jing Yuan, occasionally serving him dishes—a stark contrast to his usual aloof demeanor.

Jing Yuan’s parents were greatly surprised, exchanging glances in private, unable to fathom what had transpired between the two.

Although Jing Yuan ate quickly, his meticulousness in dining was nothing short of perfection.

While eating rice, he took very small bites each time, and even the large shrimp had to be cut into tiny pieces before he could swallow them.

Ji Yan had little appetite. After Jing Yuan finished eating, he took him home.

Before leaving, Jing Yuan’s parents gazed at him with reluctance.

They were well aware that their youngest son had been overly indulged and spoiled since childhood. But Jing Yuan had been in poor health from birth, a consequence of his mother mistakenly taking certain tonic medicines during pregnancy. Because of this, the couple always felt a sense of guilt toward him. They had initially worried about how Jing Yuan would fare in the Ji household, but seeing him so spirited and lively today eased their concerns somewhat.

…

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Jing Yuan recovered quickly, and his physical condition was now almost the same as it had been before his fall down the stairs. He no longer needed to rely on a wheelchair to get around.

In fact, compared to before, his bones seemed even sturdier. Though he remained thin and frail, he now had more strength when walking.

However, in front of others, Jing Yuan still maintained his delicate and fragile appearance, insisting on using a wheelchair wherever he went and claiming he needed long-term bed rest.

This puzzled Dr. Li greatly.

Jing Yuan’s pulse and overall condition had clearly improved, so why wasn’t he getting better?

Faced with Dr. Li’s concerns, Jing Yuan could only console him: “If it’s not working, maybe we should add more lingzhi and ginseng.”

Dr. Li: “…We can give it a try.”

Chen Tian didn’t think much of their conversation. However, he had recently noticed that Jing Yuan had changed quite a bit.

For instance, Jing Yuan had become obsessed with online shopping.

In the past, Jing Yuan had always looked down on online shopping, considering it low-class. But lately, whenever he received a package, he would act mysteriously, hiding it in the small bag on his wheelchair and refusing to let anyone see it.

Out of respect for his privacy, Chen Tian didn’t press for details.

…

One day, while Jing Yuan was sitting in the Ji family’s garden, soaking up the sun to supplement his calcium, he suddenly saw a construction team entering through the back gate in a grand procession.

The Ji family’s estate was vast, and Jing Yuan had been exploring it in his spare time, though he had only covered about a third of it so far.

Wrapped in a thick scarf and holding a cup of milk tea, Jing Yuan murmured, “Uncle, what are they here for?”

Chen Tian twitched the corner of his mouth. “They’re here to renovate the horse track behind the wild lake.”

Jing Yuan responded slowly, slurping up two pearls from his drink.

Chen Tian’s face darkened. “Young Master Jing, you’re not in good health. You should avoid outside food—it’s neither healthy nor hygienic.”

“This is on Mr. Ji’s advice.”

Chen Tian hadn’t intended to concern himself with Jing Yuan’s habits, but he needed to help Ji Yan maintain his image. Ji Yan had been swamped with work lately and hadn’t had time to return home, let alone continue sweet-talking Jing Yuan.

“Oh, alright.”

Jing Yuan gazed reluctantly at his second-to-last cup of milk tea, then looked up at Chen Tian. “Is Ji Yan really that concerned about me?”

Chen Tian: “Of course.”

Jing Yuan pondered for a moment, not entirely convinced.

If Ji Yan truly cared for him, he wouldn’t have stood by and done nothing when the Jing family’s company ran into trouble. Nor would Jing Yuan’s parents have been so surprised to see the two of them getting along better.

Frowning, Jing Yuan said, “Then I’ll save the last cup of milk tea in the thermos for Ji Yan.””

It was his only remaining stash.

Even if Ji Yan’s motives weren’t pure, Jing Yuan still needed to cling tightly to this powerful ally.

Chen Tian initially wanted to say that Ji Yan didn’t drink milk tea, but for the sake of Ji Yan’s current plans, he held his tongue.

“Alright, let me take you back to rest. We’ve been out for too long.”

Returning to the bedroom, Jing Yuan stayed inside alone, locked the door, and skillfully maneuvered his wheelchair toward the safe in the wardrobe.

The clothes and props he had purchased online were hidden inside, only to be quietly taken out late at night to cultivate his spirit.

His yoga progress had reached the fourth session, and it was time to explore new forms of exercise appropriately.

The original owner had learned folk dance and street dance as a child, which suited his current physical condition. Jing Yuan decided to “pick up the old trade.”

The afternoon sunlight was particularly delightful.

This was the time when Jing Yuan usually took his nap.

As the curtains slowly drew open, he stood up from his wheelchair with relative ease, changed into comfortable leisurewear, and began stretching.

Soon, he was drenched in sweat.

The recent consumption of lingzhi and deer antler had indeed been effective.

When Jing Yuan first transmigrated into the book, his hands and feet were cold, and he was extremely sensitive to the cold.

Now, after just a short while of exercise, his cheeks were flushed.

His current physical condition couldn’t support prolonged exercise. He alternated between four movements and breaks, and two hours passed.

On the soft carpet, Jing Yuan lay drenched in sweat, panting lightly, completely drained of energy.

In his bedroom, there was a small thermal box.

Since his meals took a long time, the milk tea and takeout he bought often cooled before he could finish them. That small thermal box was specifically for storing food and drinks.

Inside, a cup of jasmine milk tea sat quietly.

Jing Yuan licked his lips but resisted drinking it.

Ji Yan kept his word. Two days ago, he had Rong Qing obediently transfer the 100w principal and 30w interest to him, instantly filling his little treasury.

However, if he wanted to take enough money to retreat to the mountains and forests and ensure that the Jing family lived comfortably, this amount was far from sufficient.

Jing Yuan racked his brains, pondering ways to make money.

Lying on the warm carpet, he coughed twice and suddenly felt a chill around him.

Following the fluttering curtains, he noticed that the window hadn’t been properly closed, letting in the biting cold wind of the harsh winter.

He inwardly cursed, already feeling discomfort in his nasal passages.

By the afternoon, his forehead felt slightly warm.

With a baby cooling patch on his forehead, Jing Yuan’s throat was sore and hoarse. Unfortunately, he was allergic to many Western medicines, so he couldn’t use many anti-inflammatory or fever-reducing drugs. He had to rely on some Chinese patent medicines to reduce the fever.

In his daze, Jing Yuan heard footsteps beside him.

His entire body ached terribly, and he furrowed his brows tightly.

“Yuan Yuan.” It was Ji Yan’s voice.

Jing Yuan struggled to open his eyes, his cheeks flushed with fever.

“You’re back,” he murmured like a kitten, weakly raising a finger and pointing forward. “I saved a cup of hot milk tea for you.”

Ji Yan turned and looked at the lonely cup of milk tea in the thermal box, his voice calm and unhurried. “For me?”

“Mm,” Jing Yuan replied, his entire body burning up as he weakly tugged at the corner of the blanket. “It’s really good. You should try it.”

Even in his muddled state, Jing Yuan hadn’t forgotten to show his loyalty.

“You’ve been busy with work these past few days, so I’ve been eating alone. When I drank this milk tea, I wanted to share something delicious with you.”

Even Jing Yuan himself was moved by his own words.

Although there was some artistic embellishment in what he said.

But isn’t this how a major villain should be won over?

Ji Yan’s eyes flickered. “Thank you.”

Jing Yuan gave a benevolent smile. “You’re welcome.”

Ji Yan had been working overtime for several days and was extremely exhausted. He had originally planned to rest as soon as he returned home, but upon hearing that Jing Yuan was sick, he had to maintain the facade of a loving relationship and visit him first.

“Would you like me to stay with you?”

Ji Yan raised his right hand, tucking the blanket snugly around him.

Given Jing Yuan’s usual consideration, he should have said no.

“Alright.” Jing Yuan was in too much pain and hoped someone would talk with him to distract him.

Ji Yan’s hand paused for a moment before he put on a gentle, feigned smile. “Okay, I’ll stay with you.”

Delighted to have a companion to chat with, Jing Yuan closed his eyes contentedly. His voice was already thick with congestion as he rambled on to Ji Yan about his grievances.

For instance, he couldn’t take Western medicine and had to rely on traditional Chinese patent medicine instead.

But Chinese medicine worked slowly, and his entire body ached.

Jing Yuan’s voice had a youthful quality—clear and pure, like a kitten’s paw gently scratching at one’s heart when he whined.

Ji Yan silently watched Jing Yuan.

He was 21 years old now, different from the 21-year-old Jing Yuan Ji Yan remembered.

Perhaps it had been too long. After all, Jing Yuan had been 26 when Ji Yan had died in his previous life.

It was only natural that he couldn’t recall what Jing Yuan had been like at 21 back then.

In the past, Ji Yan had only seen Jing Yuan as a spoiled, arrogant young master and hadn’t thought him particularly malicious. But when Jing Yuan repeatedly crossed the line, Ji Yan had finally stopped holding back.

Ji Yan watched him coldly, his already poor mood worsening as those memories resurfaced.

As night fell, Jing Yuan continued to whimper softly, his chest rising and falling rapidly with labored breaths.

It was clear that Jing Yuan was truly suffering.

Ji Yan quietly stood up, intending to leave.

He was tired from playing the role of the devoted partner today and needed to rest.

As he tucked the blanket around Jing Yuan one last time and tried to pull his hand away, Jing Yuan suddenly grabbed it with both hands.

Then, Jing Yuan buried his feverish cheek in Ji Yan’s palm, letting out a contented sigh.

Ji Yan’s palms had always been cold since childhood.

Seeing his hand pinned firmly under Jing Yuan’s face, Ji Yan’s expression turned distant as he tried to pull it away.

But after two attempts, he found Jing Yuan’s grip too strong. Forcing it out would only wake him.

Frowning in displeasure, Ji Yan watched as Jing Yuan’s pale lips pressed against his wrist, both hands wrapped around his arm. Once Jing Yuan found a comfortable position, his entire body relaxed completely.

With his arm weighed down, Ji Yan let out a deep sigh and waited with a stern gaze for Jing Yuan to let go.

Jing Yuan’s cheek was burning hot, but the sensation wasn’t unpleasant. It felt like high-quality warm silk, smooth and comfortable.

Ji Yan remained silent, staring at the person before him for a long, long time.

Just when he thought Jing Yuan was about to turn over and release him, Jing Yuan merely adjusted his position, slowly rubbing his cheek against Ji Yan’s arm before settling on a cooler, more comfortable spot to rest.

Helpless, Ji Yan glanced at the time.

It was almost midnight.

He raised his free hand and gently massaged his temples.

The past few days of dealing with Rong Bing, Song Qing’s father, had been mentally exhausting. To secure the mining rights for Jinsha Bay ahead of time, he had attended significantly more social engagements.

Fortunately, there was some progress on obtaining priority mining rights.

That piece of land would increase twentyfold in value within a year. It was a win-win situation—he could strike a blow against the Rong family while also profiting from it.

Feeling slightly better, Ji Yan’s gaze fell on Jing Yuan’s small earlobe.

He still couldn’t figure out why Jing Yuan had suddenly changed.

It was as if he had become a different person.

The eyes couldn’t lie.

The Jing Yuan he had encountered these past few days had bright, clear eyes. If it was an act, then the other’s acting skills were simply too impressive.

“Ji Yan, have you drunk the milk tea? There’s pudding in it.”

Jing Yuan mumbled in his sleep.

Ji Yan glanced again at the milk tea in the thermal container, his brow furrowing with confusion.

He stared at Jing Yuan, a sudden hypothesis forming in his mind.

If in this lifetime, Jing Yuan had straightforwardly told him the truth about his parents’ car accident and had always remained as he was now, without committing any wrongdoings…

What would he do?

Ji Yan’s thin lips tightened slightly, interrupted by Jing Yuan’s voice.

“If you’re not going to drink it, let me have a sip.” In his sleep, Jing Yuan smacked his lips twice and then instinctively sucked on Ji Yan’s wrist.

Ji Yan’s eyebrows abruptly furrowed.

Hah! Old habits die hard. The hypothesis doesn’t hold.

…

After a night of tossing and turning, although Jing Yuan no longer had a high fever, he continued to run a low-grade fever.

Now, he finally understood the meaning of “illness departs as slowly as silk unravels.”

Jing Yuan was already aware that Ji Yan had taken care of him all night. He felt both guilty and afraid that he might have babbled nonsense in his feverish state, saying things he shouldn’t have.

Fortunately, Ji Yan seemed no different from before. He came to check on him twice during the day before driving off to the company.

During his recovery period, Jing Yuan paused his exercise regimen, focusing entirely on taking supplements and searching for ways to earn money.

One day, while Chen Tian was pushing him in his wheelchair for a walk, he shared some news: the next day was Ji Yan’s grandfather’s birthday, and relatives and friends would be coming to celebrate. Ji Yan planned to bring Jing Yuan along.

Naturally, Jing Yuan was delighted at the chance to go out and enjoy the scenery. He specially asked a designer to send over several new outfits that fit him well. Early in the morning, he dressed neatly, ready to set off with Ji Yan.

Ji Yan was a man of few words. After carrying Jing Yuan into the car, he picked up a magazine and began reading alone.

Jing Yuan was wearing a pure white suit adorned with a sapphire brooch on the right side, giving him a vintage and elegant look, like a noble medieval prince.

Two hours later.

The car stopped in front of a standalone villa halfway up the mountain.

Jing Yuan, already bundled in his overcoat, sat in his wheelchair admiring everything around him, finding it all exceptionally fresh.

In his memories, these scenes were somewhat blurry—the original host had likely been here before.

Just then, Ji Yan ran into a friend, and the two seized the opportunity to chat.

The temperature outside was quite chilly, especially in the mountains.

Jing Yuan, wrapped in a thick scarf, couldn’t bear even a hint of cold wind on his skin.

At that moment, a black car pulled up behind them. In an instant, an elegant and handsome man stepped out.

The man seemed to recognize Jing Yuan and waved at him.

Memories surfaced in Jing Yuan’s mind.

The person before him was likely Ji Yan’s cousin, Ning Jin.

Ning Jin’s gaze toward him was gentle, and he was the first outsider since Jing Yuan transmigrated into the book to show him kindness.

Jing Yuan sneakily glanced back at Ji Yan, who was still chatting, and thought to himself: Ning Jin is Ji Yan’s cousin, which makes him a potentially strong ally. If he could build a good relationship with him, he might eventually persuade Ji Yan to go easy on him.

So, Jing Yuan lifted his thin wrist and gently turned the wheelchair’s axis, sending the four wheels cheerfully rolling toward Ning Jin.

By the time Ji Yan finished his conversation with his friend and turned to look, he found that, at some point, Jing Yuan had already gathered around Ning Jin, chatting happily.

Ji Yan’s gaze darkened several shades, and Chen Tian broke into a cold sweat on the spot.

He remembered that when Jing Yuan’s grandfather and Ji Yan’s grandfather initially arranged the engagement, they had originally intended to match Jing Yuan with Ning Jin.

The reason was that Ning Jin had always had a fondness for Jing Yuan.