The Sickly Beauty Can’t Escape the Obsessive Lover - Chapter 9

Jing Yuan and Ji Yan had been standing in the cemetery for a long time.

The temperature here was slightly lower than outside. In the vast graveyard, there were only two tombstones—those of Ji Yan’s parents.

The area around the tombstones was clean, and the white chrysanthemums placed there were still fresh, indicating that someone came daily to tend to them.

Jing Yuan rose from his wheelchair and quietly observed Ji Yan.

It seemed that since he had transmigrated into this book, this was one of the rare moments the two of them stood side by side.

Jing Yuan noticed that Ji Yan was a head taller than him, probably around 189 cm.

A northern breeze swept past, rustling the hem of Jing Yuan’s thick down jacket. He buried his face in his scarf, unsure why Ji Yan had specifically brought him here.

From the moment they stood before the tombstones, neither had spoken a word.

Jing Yuan watched Ji Yan, whose expression was grave, his deep-set features carrying a hint of loneliness and coldness.

After a moment.

Ji Yan slipped one hand into his pocket, his eyes flickering imperceptibly as he lowered his gaze. “Yuan Yuan, do you know how my parents passed away?”

Jing Yuan slowly shook his head. “No.”

In his memories, there was indeed no information about the circumstances of Ji Yan’s parents’ deaths.

Ji Yan continued to stare at him. “They died in a car accident.”

“A car accident?”

Jing Yuan’s reaction, while not entirely calm, held only pure shock and sorrow.

“They were in a car accident?”

Ji Yan frowned slightly. “Yes.”

Unsure how to comfort Ji Yan, Jing Yuan lifted his small, delicate face and asked tentatively, “How long has it been since they passed away?”

Ji Yan silently watched him.

“Over ten years.”

After hesitating for a long time, Jing Yuan raised a slender finger and gently hooked it around Ji Yan’s hanging fingertips. “My condolences.”

A flicker of surprise passed through Ji Yan’s calm eyes. “I thought the elders in the family would have told you about this.”

Jing Yuan shook his head. “No.”

He didn’t know whether the original host had forgotten or the elders had never mentioned it, but in any case, he had no relevant memories.

“When I was little, I was also in a car accident.”

Vague, fragmented images from the original host’s childhood flickered before Jing Yuan’s eyes.

“But I don’t remember it clearly. It was very, very painful.”

Jing Yuan empathized.

If even a minor childhood accident had left such a painful imprint in his memory, how much more agonizing must it have been for Ji Yan to lose his parents in a car crash?

Ji Yan stared at him, his gaze sharpening as he clenched his hanging fingers tightly. “You were in a car accident when you were little?”

“Yes. When I was very young.”

Remembering this made Jing Yuan’s head ache. The surroundings seemed to grow cold and damp, filled with a sense of oppression.

Ji Yan lowered his head, his silver-rimmed glasses sliding slowly to the bridge of his nose, concealing the cold glint and hatred in his eyes.

No wonder Jing Yuan knew.

He had always suspected the Jing family’s involvement in the incident, and it seemed there were traces to follow.

Seeing Ji Yan bow his head in silence, Jing Yuan’s thin frame shifted slightly as he cautiously studied Ji Yan. “Ji Yan, don’t be sad.”

Being in a bad mood could easily lead to depression.

For men, it might even cause hair loss.

Jing Yuan crouched down, pursed his pale lips, and looked up at him. “Cheer up.”

Two pairs of brown eyes met.

Ji Yan curved his lips into a smile, took a deep breath as he raised his head, and hid his tightly clenched fists in his pockets, the knuckles cracking audibly.

If he could, he would make the Jing family pay right now.

Suppressing the hatred in his heart with all his might, Ji Yan’s lips turned pale, his fair face still forcing itself to remain as gentle as possible.

Even if the Jing family was involved in his parents’ car accident, he refused to believe they had acted alone without someone else pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Back when his parents were preparing to expand overseas, they had blocked so many people’s paths. There must have been other participants involved.

Jing Yuan had been standing for a long time today and was feeling quite tired.

As he stood up, his blood pressure dropped, making him sway unsteadily.

Ji Yan concealed the gloom in his eyes, turned around, and said, “Let’s go.”

“Okay.” Jing Yuan simply assumed he was in a bad mood. Leaning on his wheelchair, he slowly sat down, turned the small wheels, and gently followed Ji Yan.

Ji Yan didn’t speak to Jing Yuan the entire time until they got into the car.

Chen Tian noticed the tense atmosphere between the two and didn’t dare make a sound. Sitting in the passenger seat, he tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

But Jing Yuan was a chatterbox. He kept asking what they were having for lunch, then requested help fetching a bottle of water—he couldn’t stay quiet the whole ride.

When they passed by Ningcheng’s largest cake shop, Jing Yuan leaned against the car window, turned his head, and offered a tentative smile. “Ji Yan, since you’re in a bad mood today, how about buying a cake?”

This cake shop was famous, and all their delivery guys were over 180cm tall and exceptionally good-looking. Aside from being a bit pricey, there were no other downsides.

Ji Yan kept his head down. “I don’t want any.”

Jing Yuan shifted his gaze to Chen Tian. “Uncle, would you like some?”

Chen Tian, suddenly addressed, nearly jumped out of the car in fright.

What did this have to do with him?

“No, thanks.”

Jing Yuan withdrew his hopeful gaze, his already weary body feeling even weaker. “Alright then.”

Once he made some money, he was definitely going to order one of those Black Swan delivery guys.

Oh, wait.

Order a cake from Black Swan.

Soon, they arrived home.

Ji Yan’s mood today was as gloomy as the overcast sky, unusually silent. He couldn’t even be bothered to pretend politeness toward Jing Yuan anymore.

He no longer cared to consider that Jing Yuan had only been four or five years old at the time—even if the Jing family was involved in the car accident, it wasn’t Jing Yuan’s fault.

But with new grievances piled on old grudges, how could he not resent him?

Watching Ji Yan’s cold back, Jing Yuan felt deeply unsettled. Of course, he was even more afraid that Ji Yan might lose control and accidentally end his life.

To ensure his safety, he decided to stay out of Ji Yan’s sight for the time being.

…

By evening, Jing Yuan was resting his chin in his hands, bored out of his mind as he waited for dinner.

In the Ji household, as long as Ji Yan returned from work before 8 PM, the kitchen would prepare a lavish dinner and set it on the long European-style dining table, waiting for him to eat.

Jing Yuan stared at the delicious food, his eyes fixed eagerly on the staircase.

It seemed Ji Yan had no intention of coming down for dinner tonight.

Before long, Chen Tian came downstairs. “Young Master Jing, please go ahead and eat. Mr. Ji is in a bad mood and won’t be joining us for dinner.”

“Okay.” Although this suited Jing Yuan just fine, he still feigned concern. “If Ji Yan doesn’t eat, I’ll worry. Should I bring some food up to him?”

Chen Tian frowned. “I think that’s a good idea.”

Jing Yuan: “…”

He was just being polite…

Ji Yan was in such a foul mood—wouldn’t going up there be like walking to his death?

Before he could come up with an excuse to back out, Chen Tian had already picked out Ji Yan’s favorite dishes, respectfully holding the tray. “Young Master Jing, please.”

Jing Yuan’s wide, surprised eyes narrowed slightly. His wheelchair clattered as he moved, giving him a sense of being coerced.

The Ji residence had five floors and was equipped with an elevator for Jing Yuan’s wheelchair.

Outside Ji Yan’s room, Chen Tian handed him the tray and gave him a look that said, “I believe in you.”

Jing Yuan slowly gripped the tray, his glass-like eyes shifting thoughtfully as a sudden idea came to him.

“Uncle, my stomach hurts.”

Chen Tian smiled as he took the medicine out of his pocket. “You had too much ice cream this morning. It won’t hurt if you eat less next time.”

“I only had a few bites,” Jing Yuan murmured in protest.

Though those few bites were already the limit for his body.

Chen Tian continued to smile. “You should go deliver the food to Mr. Ji first.”

Jing Yuan: “Oh.” Then, reluctantly, he knocked on the door.

He prayed that Ji Yan wouldn’t answer.

Inside the room, Ji Yan was leaning back in his chair, staring out the window.

The cigarette between his fingers had burned out at some point.

His eyes were hollow and melancholic, once again trapped in that endless cycle of despair. It was as if he were living his past life all over again—barely surviving, clinging to that one obsession.

The pink hydrangeas on the desk were in full bloom.

Chen Tian had specifically brought them over that morning.

Ji Yan’s bedroom was oppressive, almost entirely black and gray. Staying in such a space for too long could lower a person’s dopamine levels.

The knocking had persisted for a long time.

Ji Yan lowered his gaze, his voice cold and devoid of warmth. “Come in.”

Outside the door, Jing Yuan cautiously peeked in before entering in his wheelchair.

As soon as he stepped inside, he noticed two beautiful pink hydrangeas on the imposing black desk.

Pink was such a delicate color. Was Ji Yan keeping up with trends?

“These flowers are really pretty,” Jing Yuan said, forcing a smile as he reached out to touch one of the hydrangeas. When he glanced up, he met Ji Yan’s utterly expressionless eyes.

Behind Ji Yan hung a massive, dark-themed oil painting. Paired with those unsettling eyes, it made Jing Yuan incredibly nervous. It had been a while since he transmigrated into this book, but this was the first time he truly felt the aura of the main antagonist.

The silence stretched on.

Finally, Ji Yan spoke. “I have no appetite.”

Jing Yuan hesitated, studying Ji Yan carefully. Logically, since the original host was so infatuated with Ji Yan, shouldn’t he put on an act now and express concern?

So he placed the food on the desk, stood up from his wheelchair, and picked up the hydrangeas, examining them with a smile.

“You should eat a little. Otherwise, your body won’t hold up.”

Jing Yuan found the hydrangeas exceptionally beautiful. He scratched his itchy hand and continued to admire them slowly.

It was rare for him to like flowers this much. His thin, pitiful wrist brushed against his temple as his breathing gradually quickened.

Watching Jing Yuan become so engrossed in the flowers, a shadow of malice clouded Ji Yan’s eyes.

Most of his suffering stemmed from the person standing before him.

He could no longer maintain his composure.

Ji Yan lifted his gaze, fixing Jing Yuan with an intense stare. “Please leave. Now.”

Jing Yuan froze, then timidly took a step back. “Then, at least eat something. I—”

Before he could finish, Ji Yan frowned. “I said I’m not eating. Do I need to repeat myself?”

His voice was bone-chillingly cold.

With a sudden thud, Jing Yuan bumped against the desk, wincing in pain.

His face turned pale, and his breathing grew increasingly rapid.

Though Jing Yuan was afraid of Ji Yan, he also sensed that this wasn’t just ordinary nervousness. His heart rate felt like it was about to explode, his entire body itched intensely, and his airways were narrowing as if he were a fish out of water.

“Ji Yan, help…”

With a dull thud, Jing Yuan clutched the edge of the desk, his frail body collapsing to the floor as if all his strength had been drained.

A haze seemed to cloud his vision, and the sounds around him suddenly faded away.

Summoning the last of his strength, he saw Ji Yan walk over to him.

…

Half an hour later, Jing Ming hurriedly arrived at the Ji residence.

He had been in a meeting when the Ji family’s butler called to inform him that Jing Yuan had just fainted.

Rushing into Jing Yuan’s bedroom, Ji Yan, who was sitting on the sofa, glanced at him calmly.

Jing Ming immediately asked, “How is Yuan Yuan?”

Ji Yan replied, “He had an allergic reaction to hydrangeas, but he’s out of danger now.”

Jing Yuan’s health had always been poor. When he first moved into the Ji family, Ji Yan had arranged for a comprehensive medical team to be on standby for emergencies. If they had waited to send him to the hospital this time, his condition could have been critical.

“An allergy to hydrangeas?” Jing Ming looked at the frail Jing Yuan on the bed with a pained expression and murmured to himself, “This child has always known he couldn’t touch those things and has been careful since he was young. How did he come into contact with them today?”

A flicker of doubt passed through Ji Yan’s dark eyes.

After a long silence, he replied in a low voice, “They were in my bedroom.”

Jing Ming instantly understood. He wanted to blame Ji Yan but hesitated, restraining himself. Instead, he gently stroked Jing Yuan’s pale, thin cheek and said with concern, “How could Yuan Yuan be so careless?”

“I didn’t know he was allergic to hydrangeas.”

Jing Ming sighed. “As long as he’s out of danger, that’s what matters.”

Watching Jing Ming’s slightly weary back, Ji Yan spoke again, “I heard from Yuan Yuan that he was in a car accident when he was young.”

“A car accident?” Jing Ming turned around curiously, his gaze steady as he met Ji Yan’s eyes. “Yuan Yuan has never been in a car accident.”

“Is that so?” Ji Yan’s lips curved into a faint, skeptical smile. “It seems he remembered wrong.”

“Was he talking about the time he was kidnapped?” Jing Ming suddenly recalled the incident from when Jing Yuan was five years old.

“Kidnapped?” Ji Yan’s expression turned unreadable. “When was he kidnapped?”

“It was when he was about five,” Jing Ming rarely spoke about this with outsiders. “At the time, there was trouble at the factory. Our business partner ran off, and the workers came seeking revenge. While Bai Wei wasn’t paying attention, they took Yuan Yuan away. We searched for a long time and finally found him in the mountains. He had been drenched in the rain for hours and was burning with a high fever. That incident made his health even worse.”

“Which mountain?” Ji Yan’s brow furrowed, his usually composed tone tinged with urgency.

Jing Ming replied, “I don’t remember. It was probably a wild mountain, somewhere near the border between Ningcheng and Haicheng. It was very desolate.”

Hearing this, Ji Yan’s gaze sharpened abruptly.

Jing Ming continued, “Yuan Yuan doesn’t remember any of this. The doctor said it’s PTSD—his brain blocked out the memories to protect him.”

Staring at the floor, Ji Yan pieced together what Jing Yuan had told him in his previous life, gradually clarifying the sequence of events.

So, this matter had nothing to do with Jing Yuan.

Had Jing Yuan simply witnessed the car accident scene?

His tall frame slightly hunched, Ji Yan clasped his hands together, his eyes clouded with unspoken complexity.

Jing Ming had no idea what Ji Yan was thinking and tried to comfort him, “That’s all in the past now.”

After a long while, Ji Yan slowly looked up and continued to stare at Jing Ming, trying to detect any hint of guilt in his expression.

However, Jing Ming remained calm and composed, his gaze clear and untroubled.

“Mm,” Ji Yan responded softly. He stood up and walked over to the bed where Jing Yuan lay.

Earlier, Jing Yuan’s allergic reaction had been severe, almost to the point of suffocation. Though he was now out of danger, his brow remained furrowed, his entire body tense, and even his pale toes were curled tightly.

Jing Ming stayed a while longer to care for Jing Yuan before leaving to attend to company matters. Jing Baiwei and Jing Yuan’s mother were abroad, so only he could come at short notice.

Soon, only Ji Yan and Jing Yuan remained in the bedroom.

Ji Yan sat by the bedside, the scene of Jing Yuan threatening him with the truth about the car accident flashing before his eyes.

Now, he was almost certain that Jing Yuan and the Jing family had nothing to do with the accident. Jing Yuan truly was the only witness to that car crash.

Ji Yan’s emotions were in turmoil. As he lowered his head, his gaze fell upon a corner of a notebook peeking out from a cardboard box.

He had no intention of looking, but as he withdrew his gaze, he caught a glimpse of a few words on it.

Overwhelming curiosity compelled him to pull out the notebook.

What met his eyes was a line of messy, ugly handwriting.

[Yuan Yuan’s Diary. Anyone who peeks will suffer from lifelong impotence.]

Ji Yan’s eyelids twitched violently, and the paper in his hand rustled, nearly crumpling under his grip.

He glanced sideways at Jing Yuan, who was frowning deeply in his sleep. After hesitating for a long time, he finally turned to the first page.

Seeing the densely packed words, Ji Yan felt a sharp headache coming on. He remembered Jing Yuan had excellent academic results—his handwriting shouldn’t be this messy and illegible.

But as he continued reading, his expression slowly changed.

Then, a look of utter disbelief surfaced.

The sky grew darker, and the moonlight was cold and pale.

Through the window, one could see Ji Yan’s broad, straight back unintentionally stiffen.

When the notebook was finally placed back into the cardboard box, Ji Yan’s expression was complex. All the confusion of the past few days suddenly became clear.

No wonder Jing Yuan had touched the hydrangeas, even though he knew they would trigger a severe allergic reaction.

So that’s how it was…