Top Floor Presidential Suite.
Yan Zijin had already showered in cold water for half an hour. The surface of his skin was ice-cold, yet it was completely useless, and the situation had even taken a turn for the worse. It was as if a fire had been lit inside him, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t put it out.
This wouldn’t do.
Yan Zijin turned off the faucet, shivering as he returned to the bedroom to try and think of other ways.
However, it was no use.
Every method he could think of, once applied, all failed except for making the fire rage even harder.
What on earth was this stuff?
Why was it so unbearable? It was completely different from anything he had encountered before.
Could it be something created specifically to target the protagonist?
He had been far too careless.
Yan Zijin began to blame himself.
Had his brain glitched just now? Why did he have to drink it himself? Couldn’t he just dump it out? Even if he forced Ning Siyin to drink it, so what? Ning Siyin had the protagonist’s halo anyway, so nothing serious would actually happen to him.
However, things were already done, and no amount of regret would help.
Just as Yan Zijin was hesitating over whether to get a waiter to arrange for someone to come over and help, the door at the foyer opened and closed, and a tall figure walked in.
Finely crafted leather shoes stepped onto the carpet; his movements were very light, making no noise other than the faint clatter when the door opened and closed.
Yan Zijin had used all his energy to cope with the troublesome drug, and it wasn’t until the person walked over to the bed that he realized there was another person in the room.
The room was pitch-black. When Yan Zijin came in, he hadn’t even bothered to turn on the lights, and only the light from the bathroom shone in through the frosted glass.
But that tiny bit of dim light was simply not enough for him to clearly see the person in front of the bed.
“Who’s there?!”
Humans are most afraid of the unknown.
An inexplicable trans-migration, an unknown environment, a terrible situation, a tall man whose face couldn’t be clearly seen and whose purpose was unknown…
All of this made Yan Zijin’s vigilance spike to the absolute maximum in an instant, even suppressing that wave after wave of craving that couldn’t be calmed down no matter what.
The other party didn’t answer; instead, he reached out and pressed something on the headboard.
Click.
The light in the room was turned on.
Yan Zijin blinked to adjust to the suddenly bright light, and only then did he clearly see the person by the bed.
A face as picturesque as a painting came into view.
“It’s you?”
Upon seeing clearly that it was Ning Siyin, not only was Yan Zijin unable to relax, but he grew even more nervous.
The reason he drank that glass of wine in the first place was precisely because he didn’t want to offend Ning Siyin. For some reason, the other party had actually taken the initiative to come straight to his door.
Could it be that his previous actions had still offended him?
He remembered that Ning Siyin in the novel didn’t seem to be a narrow-minded person? Had he misremembered?
He tried hard to recall, but his mind felt as though it were stuffed with water-soaked cotton, groggy and unable to function.
Given their current state, however, Yan Zijin was forced to summon his energy.
He shrank back a bit, forcing himself to stay composed. “What… what are you doing here?”
Ning Siyin let out a slight smile, his pair of phoenix eyes as clear as spring water, as his gaze swept across Yan Zijin.
“I heard Young Master Shen ran into some trouble, so I came over to take a look.”
His voice was gentle and affectionate. Falling into Yan Zijin’s ears, it felt like a tiny hook gently snagging at his heart.
Yan Zijin felt dizzy for a second, his heart pounding wildly. Because of the other party’s approach, an extremely faint and pleasant cold scent drifted into his nose. Yan Zijin subconsciously took two deep breaths, trying to discern what smell it was.
Noticing his own actions, he hurriedly pinched his arm hard, using the pain to divert his attention.
“Well, now that you’ve seen, can you leave?”
Yan Zijin tried hard to keep his tone calm, making himself appear as little disadvantaged as possible. In reality, he was going crazy with anxiety inside and wanted to curse.
“I cannot.”
As if not noticing his anxiety, Ning Siyin paced forward at an unhurried, leisurely clip, his tone warm and casual.
“If I had really drunk that cup of wine, wouldn’t I…”
Yan Zijin moved backward guardedly.
“You… you don’t need to be so petty.”
Ning Siyin didn’t reply, his gaze sweeping over Yan Zijin.
Yan Zijin had come out in a hurry, only wiping off the water on his body casually twice. Later, he had broken out into a full sweat again, making his whole body drenched, looking as if he had just been lifted out of the water.
He cowered in the farthest corner from Ning Siyin. His long eyelashes trembled slightly along with his breathing, and his pair of peach-blossom eyes were forced into a watery, shimmering state, looking as though he had wept. His entire person appeared weak and helpless, looking exceedingly easy to pick on.
Ning Siyin marvelled silently in his heart.
He truly hadn’t expected that this Shen Qing could actually have an appearance like this.
Ning Siyin’s gaze and expression caused alarm bells to go off madly in Yan Zijin’s heart.
No way, no way, no way! Ning Siyin isn’t planning to…
“If I had really drunk that cup of wine, wouldn’t I have ended up in Young Master Shen’s current state?”
Yan Zijin: “…”
“Since you know that, why don’t you have the sense to get lost! Do you know who I am?! You even dare to watch my embarrassing moment? Do you not want to mix in the entertainment industry anymore?!”
He put on the arrogant and overbearing expression described for Shen Qing in the original work, raising his chin and looking over with a threatening gaze.
Yet he overlooked his current state—not only was it not threatening in the slightest, but it also easily exposed his inner weakness disguised behind a tough front.
Ning Siyin let out a soft chuckle: “So then, how does Young Master Shen plan to deal with me? Coercion? Temptation? Kidnapping? Or drugging?”
Yan Zijin: “…”
What a coincidence; those were all the exact things Shen Qing had done to Ning Siyin in the novel.
Coercion was currently in progress, and drugging was done just half an hour ago, even though it hadn’t succeeded.
Yan Zijin knew how to yield as well as stand ground. Knowing that coercion like the original host wouldn’t work, he immediately softened his voice to plead for mercy, trying his best to prevent things from heading in an uncontrollable direction.
“I admit that I drank too much wine earlier, lost my mind after being egged on by others, and did things targeting you… But I didn’t actually force you to drink it down, did I?”
Didn’t that glass of wine end up in his own stomach after all?
“Fine, I apologize to you. I’m sorry, what happened earlier was my fault. I hope you can be magnanimous and forgive a lesser person.”
He lowered his stance and apologized in a sincere, highly convincing tone.
“So could you please…”
Yan Zijin glanced toward the direction of the door.
Ning Siyin smiled.
“Is Young Master Shen sure he wants me to leave?”
Ning Siyin’s voice, just as described in the novel, was smooth, melodious, and pleasant to listen to.
“This thing, relying on yourself alone, cannot be cleared, you know. Is Young Master Shen sure he doesn’t need my help?” Ning Siyin asked once again, appearing exceedingly considerate.
Yan Zijin: “…”
His suspicion confirmed, Yan Zijin almost felt like crying.
What kind of mess was this! Why on earth had things developed like this?
“No need!”
Yan Zijin sternly refused.
It didn’t matter; according to the original plot line, Ning Siyin’s destined person would receive the news and rush over very soon, and then he would be liberated.
Yan Zijin comforted himself this way.
Endure a bit longer…
Refused, huh.
Ning Siyin shrugged, not minding his refusal at all. He looked around and walked toward the outer room.
He finally left.
Yan Zijin breathed a huge sigh of relief.
He pricked up his ears to listen to the movement outside, praying that the other party would be moved by kindness and turn around to leave directly, or perhaps be called away by a phone call from that destined person.
His prayer was not heard by the heavens. Ning Siyin’s footsteps didn’t leave; instead, they headed in the direction of the kitchen.
Left alone in the room, Yan Zijin couldn’t help but continue what he was doing earlier. But after all, there was an outsider just across the wall, so he rubbed gently, wanting to relieve the agonizing craving.
A moment later, Ning Siyin entered once more.
He had already taken off his suit jacket, carrying a tea tray in his hand. On top was a pot with a wide belly, as well as two glass cups.
Seeing Yan Zijin look over, Ning Siyin thoughtfully explained: “It’s milk. You’ll be thirsty later, and it can also satisfy your hunger. You didn’t seem to eat anything earlier.”
Yan Zijin: “…”
He truly is just as considerate as described in the original text, Yan Zijin thought, finding humor in his misery.
Immediately after, he cursed silently in his heart. Bah! Whoever wants this considerateness can take it, he sure as hell doesn’t want it!
Noticing Yan Zijin’s silent complaints, Ning Siyin merely gave a soft smile.
He spoke no further, placed the tea tray on the small table by the bed, pulled over a chair to sit down, casually picked up a book, crossed his legs, and began reading at his leisure.
Yan Zijin: “…”
The person under the lamp was handsome and refined. His eyelashes drooped slightly, his gaze resting on the pages in his hand. The warm yellow light shone on his handsome profile, making him look serene and beautiful.
Looking at Ning Siyin’s appearance alone, one could never imagine that just a short distance away, someone was struggling to endure agonizing torture.
Yan Zijin knew crystal clear in his heart that Ning Siyin’s goal was not to read a book at all, but to wait—wait until Yan Zijin couldn’t endure it any longer and took the initiative to ask him for help.
When reading the novel, how come he didn’t realize Ning Siyin was such a dog! To think he had once admired him for being indomitable and constantly pushing forward despite adversity!
“The princess was exceedingly beautiful, second to none in the entire nation…”
After the room had been quiet for a short while, Ning Siyin began reciting the book in his hand aloud.
As a character written by the author as an irresistible white moonlight, Ning Siyin’s voice was just as outstanding as his looks. To describe it in the words of the text: his voice was clear, elegant, gentle, and pleasant; if deliberately lowered, it would turn into another deep and magnetic voice, the kind that would make one’s ears pregnant just listening to it.
At this moment, Ning Siyin’s voice was precisely one that had been deliberately lowered.
“She was captured by the giant dragon… She lived in the evil dragon’s castle…”
Yan Zijin: “…”
I know you have superior conditions and countless people would pounce over if you just wiggled a finger. But could you please not use it on me?
Your destined other half is arriving real soon! If he sees you like this right now, things between you two will be completely ruined!!
Yan Zijin really had no choice and placed his hopes on that “destined other half” once again.
Yan Zijin covered his ears, and the sound indeed grew quieter.
With his sense of hearing weakened, his other senses naturally became acute.
Yan Zijin caught that extremely faint cold scent once again. That smell wasn’t any fragrance he had ever smelled before, and he couldn’t describe it. He only knew that it drilled into his nose, following his respiratory tract to merge into his blood and nerves, reaching directly to the innermost core. It fanned the flames of that huge fire wildly, making the blaze burn even more intensely.
“The warrior kicked open the main gate, holding his sword as he barged in…”
Yan Zijin mobilized his sluggish thoughts.
This wouldn’t do; he couldn’t just sit and wait for death. He had to find someone to help.
Where had he tossed his phone just now?
His gaze moved around the room, finally landing on the carpet at the foot of the bed. Was it in his jacket pocket?
He glanced at Ning Siyin; that position was a bit close to Ning Siyin.
He felt that staying a bit further from Ning Siyin at this moment was safer. But as long as he got his phone, he could call someone for help.
He bit his lip—anyone would do, but it definitely couldn’t be Ning Siyin!
Thinking this way, Yan Zijin began to painstakingly drag himself toward his target.
Just a little more, just a little further forward and he could get the phone.
“… The princess stroked his shoulder, blinked her eyes mischievously, and whispered: Only dragons have tails. In the future, you must hide it well, okay?” [Note 1]
Ning Siyin had already finished reading the last sentence. He closed the book and stood up from the chair.
Yan Zijin was startled by his movement, his supporting hand going soft, and he fell straight down.
“Careful!”
“L-let go!”
With both hands pressing against the other’s arms, the two of them avoided tumbling into a hug. Reason commanded him to leave immediately, yet the palms supporting the other’s arms remained completely still, even disobeying his will and wanting to pull the other party closer.
Ning Siyin let out a gentle, low chuckle.
“Let go?”
He tilted his head slightly, looking at his own shirt sleeve. The snow-white, neat fabric had already developed rows of creases due to the gripping action.
“Let go? Is Young Master Shen sure?”
Yan Zijin: “…”
Ning Siyin smiled, elegant and handsome. Under the dim yellow light, that stunning face was almost dazzling to the eyes.
“If you’re unwilling to say it out loud, expressing it with your body works too.”
In his dizziness, his arms subconsciously wrapped around something.
“Since Young Master Shen has requested it so earnestly, I will certainly do my utmost…”
I didn’t!!
Yan Zijin was so angry he wanted to curse. Did he really have to ask and answer his own questions and talk to himself like this?
How shameless!
Was this person really that cool, detached, untouched-by-dust flower on the high peak in the novel? Could he have been transmigrated into by someone else, just like himself?
Very soon, Yan Zijin no longer had any spare time to think about all these chaotic questions.
Note 1: The passage read comes from Hey, Little Guy.
Yan Zijin: The novel didn’t say Ning Siyin was actually this much of a dog! Ning Siyin: Woof!