Chapter 28

After washing up, Zhu Xinyue lay back down on the hospital bed.
She didn't know what time it was, but judging by how long Ji Qingyuan had been gone, it must already be very late. Ji Linyu had been her temporary caregiver for the whole day, and since tomorrow was a workday, he should go back and rest.
Ji Linyu helped tuck her in, then raised his wrist to check the time, it was almost midnight.
"Good night, get some rest early."
When the regular caregiver was around, Zhu Xinyue would put on headphones and listen to music to fall asleep. But today, with Ji Linyu here, she wanted to hear his voice, so she lay quietly in bed and said, "Good night."
Zhu Xinyue wasn't particularly sleepy. Life as a blind person was boring, aside from occasional visitors, her daily routine consisted of sleeping, listening to music or the radio, undergoing medical check-ups, and receiving the same updates.
But she never showed her frustration with this kind of life. Seeing her suffer would only make others feel bad too. She could bear these pressures herself; there was no need to transfer her emotions onto others. After all, no one owed her anything.
In the darkness, she heard Ji Linyu turn off the light, a soft click, followed by his footsteps fading into the distance. Then came the sound of the door opening and closing from the entrance of the room, and the entire ward fell into silence.
The hospital room was so quiet.
The lingering scent of Ji Linyu, that reassuring botanical fragrance, gradually dissipated after he left.
Zhu Xinyue clutched the blanket he had tucked around her, closed her eyes tightly, and curled herself into a ball.
She was an adult now and shouldn't be afraid of imaginary things. As long as she kept her hands and feet tucked inside the blanket, she would be safe.
Zhu Xinyue comforted herself.
Suddenly, she heard a strange tapping sound from the wall above her head, like a child playing with glass beads.
Zhu Xinyue buried her head under the covers.
It's fine, she was blind, and blind people can't see ghosts.
It was stuffy under the blanket, and Zhu Xinyue wanted to poke her head out again. But what if it was right by her bed when she did?
Countless horror movie scenes flashed through her mind, pale-faced ghost children, female ghosts in red wedding dresses, long-haired faceless spirits in white gowns... She hated her own vivid imagination for fueling her fear.
If something as absurd as time travel could happen, who's to say ghosts don't exist? What if they really do?
Zhu Xinyue desperately wanted to drive this thought out of her mind. Her rationality told her that she was scaring herself, but emotionally, she couldn’t control her imagination.
Wuwuwu, she shouldn’t have let Ji Linyu leave.
Even if he had to go, she should have asked him to help her put on her earphones and play "Good Day" to lift her spirits.
Zhu Xinyue regretted it. She began to miss Ji Linyu.
If it were Ji Linyu, he wouldn’t be afraid. Instead, he would seriously explain to her why ghosts don’t exist in this world.
Strangely enough, once she started thinking about Ji Linyu, Zhu Xinyue didn’t seem as scared anymore.
Memories related to Ji Linyu flashed through her mind.
In front of him, she could be vulnerable, childish, shy, or even willful and unrestrained. No matter what she did, Ji Linyu could always handle her steadily.
It seemed that as long as Ji Linyu was by her side, she could feel at ease being herself.
He would see her fragility, take her to the hospital, and patiently wait for her to finish her check-up. He would see her fear and accompany her on a walk at night. He would see her grievances and take her to the night market to cheer her up...
She thought she only had a slight fondness for Ji Linyu, but as memories surfaced, she realized it was more than just a little.
If it weren’t for Ji Linyu, she wouldn’t feel upset over trivial matters, nor would she feel happy just because he comforted her.
In her original world, Zhu Xinyue was born into a family with multiple children, as the second child. Although her parents tried their best to treat all their children equally, it was often impossible, and the middle child usually ended up making sacrifices.
A roasted chicken has two drumsticks, one for the eldest and one for the youngest. The middle child had to learn to be sensible and say she didn’t like drumsticks.
She grew accustomed to being sensible and sacrificing her own needs, which made her somewhat of a people-pleaser when facing the world and others.
At first, she was the same way with Ji Linyu.
Until that day during the audition for "Peach Blossom Spring," when she hid in the stairwell, breaking down in tears. For the first time, she acted out of line, using his expensive suit jacket to wipe her tears and snot, unreasonably blaming him for being too harsh.
Zhu Xinyue thought he would get angry, walk away, and never bother with a troublesome person like her again.
But Ji Linyu didn’t.
He stayed and embraced all her grievances.
Zhu Xinyue couldn’t help but feel sad again.
Someone as good as him deserved someone equally good.
Someone who matched him in looks, intelligence, excellence, maturity, stability, and... physical health.
Zhu Xinyue disliked herself for being so insecure, and she even started to resent Ji Linyu a little because of it.
Dark, negative thoughts began to grow within her.
She hated how good-looking he was. If he were plain and unremarkable, even though she couldn’t see herself, others would see her beauty and say they were a somewhat suitable match.
She hated how outstanding he was. If he were just average in ability, she could use her knowledge of the novel’s plot to invest in hit dramas early, earn lots and lots of money, and then afford to keep Ji Linyu, though this point needed verification, as Ji Linyu didn’t seem like the type of man willing to live off a woman.
She hated how mature and steady he was. If he were a bit more childish, only concerned with immediate happiness, maybe they could have developed a purely physical relationship, after all, adults all have physiological needs to address.
She hated how healthy his body was… Actually, no, she didn’t hate that. A good person like him deserved to be healthy and well.
She wished him safety, and also wished safety for the person he loved.
Wahhh…
Zhu Xinyue made herself cry with her own overthinking, cried herself to sleep, and then dreamed of Ji Linyu marrying a faceless ghost.
He actually married a faceless ghost, wahhh… what kind of taste is that? Zhu Xinyue cried herself awake again, both angry and heartbroken. She was crying so hard that she didn’t hear someone open the door and enter the hospital room.
To make it easier to care for Zhu Xinyue, Ji Linyu had booked a room in a nearby hotel. After washing up, he returned to the company, then came back to the hospital with his laptop and some work, worried that Zhu Xinyue might fall or hurt herself if she got up during the night.
With her reserved and quiet personality, she would definitely be unwilling to press the call button for help.
She was the type who would rather endure pain silently than cry in front of others.
In a way, Ji Linyu understood Zhu Xinyue all too well.
He walked into the living area, set his things down on the table, and heard faint, choked sobs coming from behind the bedroom door.
Ji Linyu knew she had been having a hard time lately, always forcing a smile in front of others. And because she couldn’t see, she was extra alert to any sound or movement and particularly afraid of overly quiet environments.
Hearing her cries, Ji Linyu’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed, pain spreading through him.
He knocked on the door and pushed it open. Zhu Xinyue was hiding under the covers, crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.
Ji Linyu didn’t turn on the light. He walked to Zhu Xinyue’s bedside and tugged lightly at her blanket, but it didn’t budge.
Zhu Xinyue’s crying paused, and the person under the blanket began to tremble.
She knew it, there really was a ghost!
Wahhh, a ghost was pulling her blanket! She was already so miserable, why did it have to come scare her?!
Ji Linyu patted Zhu Xinyue through the blanket. “Aren’t you going to suffocate under there?”
Huh? That voice?
Zhu Xinyue sniffled hard, sobbing as she slowly pulled the blanket down to reveal half her head.
Vaguely, she thought she could make out dim light.
The curtains in the room were only half-drawn, and bright moonlight streamed into the hospital room, illuminating Ji Linyu’s silhouette. Half of him was bathed in moonlight, half in shadow, sitting by her hospital bed. Just from the outline of his figure, she could confirm that the person before her was Ji Linyu himself.
Am I dreaming? Otherwise, how could I suddenly see? And even more clearly than before?
Only in dreams could she see this clearly without glasses.
Zhu Xinyue half-propped herself up, sitting upright, facing Ji Linyu, and widened her reddened eyes.
"You... why are you marrying a faceless ghost?"
Ji Linyu froze for a moment, looking at her in confusion.
Was she still half-asleep, talking nonsense?
Zhu Xinyue rubbed her eyes. Although her vision was clearer than before with her severe nearsightedness, it was still a bit blurry. Did her dream automatically apply a soft glow and a skin-smoothing filter to him?
So she liked him this much, so much that even in her dreams, she favored him and added a filter to him.
Zhu Xinyue leaned closer to Ji Linyu, wanting to see him more clearly.
There was a height difference between them, so merely leaning closer wasn't enough. Zhu Xinyue simply reached out and hooked her arms around Ji Linyu's neck.
She suddenly moved closer, carrying the pleasant scent of shower gel on her, a sweet floral and fruity fragrance.
Ji Linyu felt as if he had drunk a glass of fruit wine, intoxicated to the point where he couldn't help but follow her movements, leaning down closer to her, his hands braced on either side of her, his gaze darkening as he stared at her.
Zhu Xinyue stared straight at Ji Linyu, her bright, clear eyes reflecting his face.
She could see very clearly, this handsome face was just as it had been when they first met.
"Can you not like anyone else?" Only in a dream would she dare to make such a selfish request of him.
Ji Linyu's eyes grew deep and dark as he responded in a low voice.
"Okay."
So obedient?
Zhu Xinyue couldn't resist pushing her luck. She reached out a finger and gently touched his brow bone.
Ji Linyu's eyes blinked rapidly. Her touch was too light, like a feather brushing against his skin, making it a bit ticklish. His breathing quickened, and the hands braced beside her unconsciously clenched into fists, restraining himself from touching her.
Seeing his evasive gaze, Zhu Xinyue thought, This really must be a dream. Boss Ji isn't afraid of anything, why would he avoid eye contact? In reality, he wouldn't dodge; he'd have pushed me away long ago.
Since it was a dream, why not be even bolder?
As he lowered his gaze, Zhu Xinyue hooked her arms around his neck, leaned closer, knelt on the bed, and kissed his lips.
Ji Linyu's breath hitched, his mind went blank, and he allowed her soft lips to press against the corner of his mouth, not reacting in time.
Huh? He didn't dodge? Boss Ji in the dream seemed a bit slow-witted.
Zhu Xinyue wasn't skilled at kissing and hadn't found the right spot earlier. Seeing Boss Ji obediently staying still, she kissed him again.
Ji Linyu’s eyelashes fluttered as he felt her brush past the corner of his lips, pressing against them just as before, slow and gentle, yet unbearably tantalizing.
Hearing her soft laughter, his emotions instantly overwhelmed his reason.
Just as Zhu Xinyue was about to pull back, the "dazed" Mr. Ji suddenly sprang into action.
Ji Linyu cupped the back of her head, deepening the kiss.
Their intertwined breaths grew increasingly hurried. His palm was scorching as it slid downward, perfectly molding to the nape of her neck, forcing her to lift her head and endure his storm-like intensity.
As if savoring a piece of candy, his tongue traced her lips, nearly melting her, then gently nibbled at them, coaxing her mouth to part instinctively.
Zhu Xinyue gasped for more air, only to have it swallowed by him the next second. Struggling to breathe, she unconsciously clenched her fists and thumped his shoulder.
Ji Linyu released her lips, his gaze fixed intently on her.
His dark eyes resembled perilous, deep seas, churning with desire. Zhu Xinyue realized what was happening, her heart racing uncontrollably. Her entire body grew feverish, her chest heaving erratically, like someone who had just narrowly escaped drowning.
"Are you awake now?" His low, husky voice was magnetic, growing even more suggestive in the darkness of the night.
Zhu Xinyue’s mind was filled with rosy bubbles. Unsure how to react, she could only stare blankly at the person before her.
Watching her dazed eyes, Ji Linyu kissed her lips again.
Zhu Xinyue instinctively clutched his shirt, clinging to him like a lifeline, entrusting her entire weight to him and recklessly surrendering to the moment.
His large hand wandered to her waist. Her body was overly sensitive, and she trembled in his embrace before he firmly locked her against his chest.
Their body temperatures rose steadily. The dim lighting in the room blurred the line between dream and reality, while the sound of moist, intimate kisses echoed incessantly in the air. Enveloped entirely by his scent, she had no chance of escape.
Ji Linyu knew he shouldn’t, shouldn’t take advantage of her, shouldn’t kiss her when she wasn’t fully conscious. But he had warned her long ago: he was no good man, no saint. He had personal feelings and desires, especially when it came to her. For him, reason and emotion were never a matter of choice.
The girl in his arms was soft, their warm body heat mingling, and he felt even more feverish than she did.
One kiss was not enough, he wanted more.
Ji Linyu nearly lost control as he sought more from her, but the person in his arms slumped against his shoulder.
His heart skipped a beat.
Startled, Ji Linyu supported Zhu Xinyue’s shoulders, his voice trembling in a way even he hadn’t noticed: "Xinyue?"
Zhu Xinyue had drifted into a hazy slumber.
It was Ji Linyu’s first kiss too, and with no experience, he thought Zhu Xinyue had fainted from lack of oxygen. He frantically pressed the call button for the doctor.
Fortunately, after examining Zhu Xinyue, the doctor assured Ji Linyu that she was fine, just fast asleep.
Ji Linyu: …Fine. He’d wait for her to wake up.