Chapter 510: The Good-Tempered Ji Ming

Chapter 510: Ji Ming’s Uncharacteristic Patience

That fleeting flutter in his chest was enough to set Ji Ming’s entire body ablaze.

*Slap!*

The moment Ji Ming realized his own improper thoughts, he slapped himself hard.

What was wrong with him?

Had it been too long since he’d been with a woman?

Was he really this pathetic, getting worked up over just the slightest brush of their fingers? And with Yi Yanran, of all people—a woman he’d always scorned and avoided, a woman who was pregnant!

He was nothing short of a beast!

Inside, Yi Yanran had already emerged after changing. The slap hadn’t gone unnoticed, and now she stammered as she stared at the red handprint on Ji Ming’s handsome face. "Why did you hit yourself?"

Ji Ming couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze. "A mosquito."

Yi Yanran fell silent.

Ji Ming had initially wanted to buy her some cold medicine but dropped the idea when he remembered she was pregnant.

They had dinner downstairs at the hotel, but Ji Ming zoned out the whole time.

"Don’t beat yourself up," Yi Yanran reassured him. "We’ve only been investigating for a day. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the archives to check Karen’s enrollment records. We might catch a break."

Ji Ming’s expression turned grim. Suddenly, he said, "Just get someone to fetch the records for me. You don’t need to be involved in this anymore."

Yi Yanran froze, her pulse leaping.

Why didn’t he want her involved anymore? Was it because she had been pushed into the water earlier, and he was worried she might face more danger?

Did that mean… Ji Ming actually cared about her?

A surge of joy rose in her heart, and she asked with restraint, "Why?"

But Ji Ming’s answer hit her like a bucket of ice water. "Yun Shumo just called. Amu’s baby was tampered with, and she suffered severe bleeding. She’s in the hospital now."

Yi Yanran went rigid. "So… your mood earlier was because you were worried about Yun Mu?"

Ji Ming: "Of course I’m worried about her! She almost had a miscarriage! She’s fighting for her life!"

"..."

True, Yun Mu’s condition was critical.

But… hadn’t she been in just as much danger? She was also pregnant—she’d been in just as much danger moments ago!

Yet Yi Yanran couldn’t voice this grievance. Instead, she managed a tight smile and said, "Why not hop on a plane, then? I can handle the investigation here alone."

"No way!" Ji Ming blurted out after a pause.

"You don’t believe in me?"

"No," Ji Ming explained. "What I mean is, the person has already targeted Amu and attacked you this afternoon. There’s no telling what they’ll do next. I can't guarantee I'll always be there to protect you in time, so it's best if you stay out of this. That way, you'll be safe."

So he did care about her safety after all.

Yi Yanran felt a faint sense of relief in her heart. She took a sip of soup and said, "I'm not afraid of danger. This does involve me, after all. I also want to know what Karen is up to—why she’s been lurking in our Yi family for so many years and what her real intentions are."

Ji Ming frowned. "Do you always have to be this stubborn? You might not care about the danger, but aren’t you worried about the baby inside you?"

"Of course I am!" Yi Yanran set down her bowl and looked at Ji Ming seriously. "But I’m already here. There’s no backing out now. Besides, you were the one who brought me here. You can’t just push me out of this—you’re stuck looking out for me! And my child too!"

Ji Ming scoffed. "I told you it was dangerous. If you’re hellbent on getting yourself killed, that’s your problem! And why should I be responsible for your child’s safety?"

Yi Yanran replied calmly, "Weren’t you the one who said it? You’re the father of my child!"

"!!!!"

Ji Ming froze, his face flushing red with humiliation. "Y-you... heard me?"

Yi Yanran picked up her soup bowl again, unfazed. "I did."

"..." Ji Ming took a deep breath. "I can explain. I only said that to drive that brat away. It was just a stupid lie—I never meant it! Absolutely not!"

Every word of denial cut into Yi Yanran like a knife.

"Fine. I never said you had to own up to it. I’m done—take your time."

After her earlier fall into the water, Yi Yanran had little appetite to begin with. Now, she didn’t even feel like finishing her soup. She set down her bowl, stood up, and headed straight for the elevator, returning to her room.

Ji Ming scratched his head. Why did she leave so abruptly?

And… what was with this spoiled rich girl act? He hadn’t meant it like that!

Ji Ming wasn’t the type to coddle anyone. After finishing his meal, he went to a bar and stumbled back to the hotel late at night.

His room was right across from Yi Yanran’s. Just as he opened his door, something felt off. He heard a faint noise from her room.

Worried, he rushed to the front desk to get a spare key card and opened the door.

The bedroom was pitch black. Ji Ming turned on the light and immediately saw Yi Yanran lying still, as if asleep.

She lay motionless, unaware of his presence.

"Yi Yanran?"

He walked over, about to nudge her, when he felt the heat radiating from her body.

"Yi Yanran, what’s wrong?"

As he bent down, he saw her forehead slick with sweat, her face twisted in pain.

But she barely reacted, only murmuring weakly, "Thirsty..."

Ji Ming quickly glanced at the shattered glass on the floor, figuring she’d tried to get water and dropped it.

He scooped Yi Yanran up and deposited her back on the bed, tucking her in, then getting a fresh glass.

Yi Yanran must have been extremely thirsty, drinking automatically the entire glass in one go.

Ji Ming noticed her glazed with sweat and reached out to touch her forehead, immediately alarmed.

So hot!

She must have caught a fever from falling into the water this afternoon without taking any medicine!

This woman was nothing but trouble—if it were someone like Amu, she definitely wouldn’t be this fragile.

For a moment, Ji Ming was at a loss, unsure what to do. In the end, he could only call Yun Mu.

After briefly describing Yi Yanran’s condition, Yun Mu taught him some fever-reducing tricks.

Ji Ming jotted them all down, then contacted the front desk to prepare ice packs and a handkerchief.

She still seemed thirsty, whining pitifully, "Thirsty..."

Ji Ming had no choice but to cradle her against him and feed her another glass of water. But as soon as she finished drinking, she began murmuring again, "Cold..."

He had to fish out another blanket from the closet and pile it on her. Yet, within minutes, she started complaining, "Hot..."

This time, Ji Ming couldn’t hold back his frustration and was ready to blow.

But at that moment, she nuzzled her head into his chest, like a cat seeking warmth and safety in a cozy spot.

The gesture stirred something in him.

His irritation melting, he removed one of the blankets, his voice softening involuntarily, "Still hot?" she murmured.

She gave no reply.