Chapter 49: Telepathy and Heartfelt Confessions!

Chapter 49: Telepathy and Heartfelt Confessions!

The doctors arrived surprisingly quickly, and true to the style of CEO literature, a dozen or so white coats crowded noisily around the bedside.

"Miracle! This is truly a miracle in the history of life!"

"His vital signs were nearly gone, but he suddenly woke up. Incredible!"

"Heart rate normal, breathing normal, blood pressure normal, all responses normal… He’s really recovered!"

"And there are no aftereffects! It’s astonishing!"

Jing Yi frowned.

He quietly endured being scrutinized like a zoo animal for a bit, but the words of this group didn’t seem to suggest they wanted him back alive.

Li Wenzhao could hear Jing Yi’s inner thoughts and knew he was uncomfortable, but for the sake of his health, he waited until the doctors had finished their examination before politely ushering them out.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Jing has made a full recovery, with all indicators normal. You two can be discharged at any time."

Li Wenzhao finally let out a long breath after half a month.

After seeing the doctors off and closing the door, he was taken aback by the young butler’s eager expression.

Jing Yi: 0v0

"Quick, quick, eldest young master, check how much money is on this card! That’s the specialty I brought back for you!"

Those two were known tricksters, and he was afraid he might have fought to bring back a zero for Li Wenzhao.

However, Li Wenzhao wasn’t in a hurry. He locked the door and slowly approached the bed.

Jing Yi looked up expectantly. But as Li Wenzhao came closer and closer, oh, he probably wanted a hug, Jing Yi shyly lowered his eyes and opened his arms…

Then his cheek was gently pinched.

"Alright," Li Wenzhao sat down by the bed, holding his hand. "Where were you these past few days? And how did you get this card?"

Jing Yi: "..."

Wait, no hug?

Li Wenzhao pressed his lips. "No hugging until you explain."

Well, alright…

Anyway, he and Li Wenzhao were already so close, so these little details didn’t need to be hidden. Besides, the card did need an explanation regarding its origin.

Jing Yi sat obediently and recounted what had happened after falling off the cliff, explaining where he had been. "I didn’t realize the time flowed differently in those two places, otherwise I would have definitely come back earlier. Sorry to have made you wait so long."

However, Li Wenzhao’s expression darkened, showing no sign of happiness. "Are you sure they won’t mistakenly grab you again?"

Jing Yi said, "I made them swear. And besides, as Hei Wuchang said, a person can’t fall to their death three times in the same place, right?"

Li Wenzhao tightened his grip. "Given their track record, they’ll probably mess up more than once."

Jing Yi was amused by Li Wenzhao’s choice of words and burst into giggles. After he finished laughing, he said softly, "No matter how many times they try to take me, I’ll always come back."

Li Wenzhao's seemingly calm eyes were dark and deep, and his slightly lowered eyelashes shielded the surging emotions within.

After all, Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang are fantastical figures beyond the realm of science. Most ordinary people would feel fear and reverence towards them. Though Li Wenzhao found it hard to believe, Jing Yi's word gave him no reason to doubt. The only thing he feared was that such an incident might happen again.

If Jing Yi were to lose his breath once more in front of him...

He might actually lose his mind.

Jing Yi appeared foolish but had sharp intuition. Seeing that Li Wenzhao remained silent, he knew the man was still shaken. He boldly climbed up and very daringly hugged Li Wenzhao.

"...They won't come again, so forgive those two troublemaking oxen who went mad at work, alright? Besides, I did get some compensation out of it."

The young butler took the initiative to embrace him, so how could Li Wenzhao refuse? He wrapped his arms around Jing Yi, closed his eyes, and savored the feeling of having him back.

"...Alright."

"Now, let's check the card... uh!" Jing Yi was startled and suddenly let out a painful cry.

Li Wenzhao instantly grew anxious. "Where does it hurt?"

Jing Yi twisted his body and crawled back onto the bed, his face changing drastically as he hugged his unnaturally tense left leg and whimpered, "Leg, leg, my leg cramped... ow."

Li Wenzhao: "..."

He was terrified.

After not moving for more than ten days, Jing Yi's body started having some minor issues, with various parts of his muscles rebelling. He experienced eight cramps in just half an hour.

Jing Yi: "..."

"Another cramp! Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang are too much!!"

"I'm reporting them! I'm telling Meng Po! Ahhh... it hurts so much."

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Without saying a word, he gently massaged the young butler’s slender leg.

The butler, who had just urged him to be more forgiving, was now cursing Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang in his heart.

After a while, Fan Ming entered, his eyes unusually bright. Too excited to remember to knock, he pushed the door open.

Upon seeing the chaotic scene, he froze at the doorway, unsure whether to come in or leave.

...In comics, when a subordinate interrupts the CEO's moment, they usually get fired.

Fan Ming: "..."

What should he do? He was panicking.

"Come in," it wasn't until Li Wenzhao spoke that Fan Ming breathed a sigh of relief. He first greeted Jing Yi, "Jing Butler, long time no see."

To Jing Yi, the passage of half a month was merely a casual chat with Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang. He hadn't felt the long time Fan Ming mentioned, but the fact that he had "resurrected" was something only Li Wenzhao needed to know. He didn't want to scare Secretary Fan.

Jing Yi pursed his lips. "It hasn't been that long. I just had a nap."

Not long at all, just a nap that lasted two weeks. Fan Ming silently added.

Li Wenzhao tucked Jing Yi under the blanket before turning to ask Fan Ming, "Did you find out?"

"Hmm." Fan Ming's expression was subtly excited. "This is the feedback from the bank."

Fan Ming handed over the tablet, but Li Wenzhao, not very interested, simply lifted his chin. "Show it to Jing Yi."

"What is it?" Jing Yi stretched his neck curiously.

Li Wenzhao said calmly, "The souvenir you brought back."

"!!!" Jing Yi's eyes lit up immediately. "Secretary Fan, Secretary Fan, quick, let me see."

"Let me see how much hush money Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang gave me as compensation!"

Fan Ming handed over the tablet, and Jing Yi froze after just one second of looking at it.

Li Wenzhao waited for a moment. "What's wrong?"

Jing Yi asked, dazed, "Secretary Fan, is this Zimbabwean dollars*?"

The world's most inflated and worthless currency?

Fan Ming's expression turned subtly frantic. "No, Jing Butler, this is Chinese yuan."

Jing Yi: "..."

Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang sure are generous!

Staring at that endless string of zeros, Jing Yi didn't even want to quibble over the loss from being wrongfully taken. He even felt a bit tempted to go through it again.

Jing Yi traced the numbers on the screen with his finger once more, and after a moment, he pushed the tablet towards Li Wenzhao with a resigned sigh. "Eldest young master, I can only count up to a hundred million. I don't know how to read this number."

Li Wenzhao took it and was equally speechless.

His knowledge couldn't comprehend it either.

Jing Yi suddenly hugged the quilt tightly, looking nervous. "Is, is this... legal?"

Did Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang raid the national treasury?

Fan Ming immediately said, "Of course it's legal. This is part of the Li family's century-old legacy. Every income has been recorded. By the time it reached the eldest young master's generation, it had become the wealthiest!"

Jing Yi stared blankly and turned to look at Li Wenzhao, who was equally certain that the Li family didn't have this amount of money, and Li Wenzhao himself was unaware of it.

So, it must be Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang’s handiwork. They really thought of everything.

Even someone like Li Wenzhao, who had been swimming in wealth all his life, had never seen so much money. He was a bit stunned. "This is the souvenir you brought back?"

This much?

Had Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang drained their entire fortune?

Fan Ming: "?"

Jing Yi said awkwardly, biting his lip. "I swear, I didn’t ask for an outrageous amount."

Li Wenzhao raised an eyebrow. "What did you say?"

Jing Yi bit his lip. "I said, 'The more, the merrier.'"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Jing Yi: "..."

"But I didn't expect so much either. Their apology seems a bit too slick, doesn't it?"

Li Wenzhao sighed.

Jing Yi tilted his head. "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

"Happy." Li Wenzhao looked at Jing Yi with a wistful expression. "It's just that I feel like work has lost its meaning and fun."

Jing Yi: "..."

Now that's some high-level humblebragging.

As a regular working stiff, who can find joy in their work?

But he still very tolerantly patted Li Wenzhao's hand. "Then let's slack off together. It's very fun."

Li Wenzhao: "..."

·

Due to cramping issues, Jing Yi was kept in the hospital for an extra night. During this time, the three young masters of the Li family came to visit.

"Aww, Butler Jing, you really gave me a scare!" Li Mingzhi entered the room crying like a little wolf cub. "I thought you might never wake up!"

Li Xu brought a bouquet of fresh flowers for Jing Yi. "Butler Jing, get well soon."

Li Ting no longer had his usual confrontational attitude. He even brought nourishing soup for Jing Yi. "Next time, don't be so foolishly caught by others."

Jing Yi retorted indignantly. "I was caught at the Li Corporation. Who knew they would come to the company? I'm very alert."

Li Ting let out a scoff.

Jing Yi: "?"

What's Third Young Master secretly laughing about?

While Jing Yi was unconscious, Li Mingzhi's BL drama had already started shooting. He performed well in a food variety show, debuting as a comedian without any pretense of being a rich kid, gaining quite some popularity. In just two months, two high-end brands approached him for endorsements.

Among the three younger brothers of the Li family, Li Mingzhi was living the most wonderfully after his "breakup" with his "lover."

"Butler Jing, you should focus on recovering. When you're better, I'll take you to our set. Filming is super fun! I'll hang out with you, we can eat, drink, and have fun. If you get bored, I can even nap with you and read scripts aloud."

Jing Yi was flattered.

It's not necessary to go that far. Who's the butler and who's the young master here?

"Alright, you guys should head back now," Li Wenzhao softly spoke. "Jing Yi needs to rest for the night. I'll pick him up tomorrow and bring him home."

Li Ting didn't say anything and left with his younger brother, while Li Xu, who had always been silent, stared at Li Wenzhao and Jing Yi for a couple of moments.

After they left, it wasn't long before it became night.

Jing Yi had dinner and finished the soup Aunt Fang had stewed, letting out a contented burp.

The night grew deeper, and the hospital became quiet.

Jing Yi looked at Li Wenzhao, who was sitting on the sofa without moving, holding a tablet with several stacks of documents beside him, looking like he had a lot of work ahead.

Jing Yi thought for a moment: "Eldest Master, aren't you going back to rest?"

Li Wenzhao looked up slightly, tiredly glancing at the time, "There’s a lounge nearby. I’ll rest after finishing my work."

Jing Yi propped his chin and looked at him: "But you look like you haven’t slept in days."

Li Wenzhao was stunned.

It wasn’t just that he hadn’t slept well. During the time Jing Yi was unconscious, Shen Shubai, knowing that Li Wenzhao was overwhelmed, had launched multiple attacks on the Li Corporation in business, snatching away many projects. Li Wenzhao had to fend off the attacks while worrying about whether Jing Yi would really not wake up again. His thoughts were in turmoil, and he simply couldn’t sleep. After half a month, he was completely drained, both physically and mentally.

But now, things were better. Jing Yi was back, relieving his worries. He could now focus on dealing with Shen Shubai and, with the large investment from the underworld, he could finally get a good night's sleep.

"If you’re tired, go to sleep," Li Wenzhao said, "You don’t need to stay with me."

Jing Yi wasn’t sleepy. His body had been resting for half a month and should have made up for all his previous sleepless nights.

On the contrary, Li Wenzhao looked haggard, with bloodshot eyes hidden beneath his lids, his whole body tense like a spinning top that never stopped.

Jing Yi felt a pang of concern. In just half a month, Li Wenzhao had changed too much.

"Work is never-ending," Jing Yi mumbled with his voice muffled by the blanket, "Staying up late is really bad for your health. You should go to sleep first."

Li Wenzhao looked up, "No need. I enjoy the thrill of challenging the King of Hell."

"..." Jing Yi pouted dissatisfiedly, "I’m being serious with you."

Li Wenzhao put down his tablet and began signing documents, "No need. I don’t want to go."

Jing Yi instinctively asked, "Why?"

Before Li Wenzhao could respond, Jing Yi heard a deep, lingering voice in his ear—

"Because I can’t rest easy knowing you’re not in the lounge."

Jing Yi: "..."

Jing Yi’s face immediately turned red, stammering as he turned his head. He saw a hint of hesitation in Li Wenzhao’s expression. After a moment, Li Wenzhao said softly, "I’ll go in a bit."

Jing Yi was stunned.

That wasn’t what he had heard just now.

After a pause of two seconds, he realized that when he was on the Naihe Bridge, the White Impermanent had upgraded his cheat ability, adding a "mind-reading" function.

Which meant... what he had just heard were Li Wenzhao’s true thoughts.

Jing Yi secretly glanced at Li Wenzhao, his eyes filled with the excitement of discovering a huge secret—the eldest master actually had two sides to him.

Under normal circumstances, Jing Yi would have definitely said something, but now, looking at Li Wenzhao’s bloodshot eyes, his heart softened. He thought for a moment, then shifted towards the edge of the bed.

"This bed... is actually quite big."

Li Wenzhao looked up.

Jing Yi stammered, unable to speak properly, and under Li Wenzhao’s increasingly bright gaze, he shrank his neck and thought, "It can fit two people. Want to take a break?"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Jing Yi’s neck and cheeks turned completely red. From under the blanket, he peeked out with his eyes and saw Li Wenzhao put down the documents, rub his temples, and exhale deeply with profound frustration.

"My boyfriend is being so cute without even realizing it. How am I supposed to focus on work now..."

"Forget it, I can't concentrate on work tonight."

Jing Yi was stunned, and just as he was about to react, he saw Li Wenzhao stand up, undoing the buttons of his coat as he said, "Sure."

Jing Yi looked up, confused, and saw Li Wenzhao looking down at him with slightly tired eyes, his dark pupils fixed on him.

He had invited Li Wenzhao out of sheer enthusiasm and a soft heart. But now that Li Wenzhao had actually agreed, Jing Yi became nervous, his heart pounding as if it was about to leap out of his chest.

"Uh, then... go ahead."

A moment later, the bed shook slightly as two warm bodies came close together.

The hospital bed was rather narrow, and Jing Yi was worried Li Wenzhao wouldn't have enough space. He tried to move a bit closer to the edge of the bed, but before he could, he was pulled into an embrace.

It wasn’t exactly a hug; Li Wenzhao didn’t use much force, just lightly rested his arm on Jing Yi’s waist.

"If you move any more, you'll fall off."

Jing Yi froze, feeling the warm palm on his waist, his mind becoming a mess. "I was afraid you'd fall off the bed."

Li Wenzhao turned to face him, his warm breath close to Jing Yi’s neck. "I won’t. Let’s sleep."

"...Let me hold you."

Jing Yi, who had been nervous, suddenly stopped moving when he heard Li Wenzhao’s low, tired inner thoughts.

If it's just a hug, then okay. He's my boyfriend after all; it makes sense.

Li Wenzhao silently chuckled, shifted to his side, and nestled his head against Jing Yi’s back, drifting off to sleep.

Jing Yi hadn’t been sleepy, but perhaps because the bed was too comfortable, he gradually drifted off to sleep.

·

When he opened his eyes again, it was already 8 a.m. the next morning.

Li Wenzhao was still asleep, his body close to the edge of the bed, slightly hunched over, holding Jing Yi in his arms.

At some point, Jing Yi had rolled back, and now he was nestled against Li Wenzhao’s shoulder in a very intimate position.

It was the first time Jing Yi had seen Li Wenzhao without his usual stern and intense demeanor, looking so peaceful in sleep.

People often say that a man who’s dedicated to his work is the most attractive.

But Jing Yi thought that a sleeping Li Wenzhao was also very handsome.

His straight nose, thick lashes, and serene expression made him look incredibly handsome.

Li Wenzhao had been sound asleep, but his dreams were interrupted by Jing Yi’s murmuring thoughts. When he stirred, Jing Yi, startled, quickly shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

His attempt to fake sleep was clumsy, with his heart pounding like thunder and his eyelashes fluttering uncontrollably.

Li Wenzhao silently chuckled.

"So obedient."

Jing Yi: "..." His cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

This is terrible. Ever since gaining the ability to read minds, Jing Yi actually feels even more embarrassed.

He could feel Li Wenzhao's gaze on his face, his heart pounding. After holding out for a while, he finally opened his eyes.

Li Wenzhao smiled. "Not pretending anymore?"

Jing Yi's face turned slightly red. "You figured it out a long time ago, didn't you."

Li Wenzhao smiled without saying a word.

Jing Yi rolled over and lay flat, muttering, "So, you were waiting for me to walk right into your trap?"

Li Wenzhao raised an eyebrow, for the first time appreciating Jing Yi's mastery of language. "You used 'walk right into your trap' quite well."

Jing Yi: "..."

This is clearly shooting himself in the foot.

Li Wenzhao couldn't help but chuckle, his chest filled with amused laughter. "Can't handle praise."

"You messed up an idiom right after I praised you."

"But it's quite cute, using idioms in a messed-up way creates unintended laughs."

Hearing all of this, Jing Yi: "..."

Maybe don't force the compliment.

Not long after waking up, Li Wenzhao's phone rang. Company business was urging him to get up and start working.

Jing Yi caught sight of the name "Fan Ming" on the screen and lightly furrowed his brow. "Secretary Fan is really dedicated."

It's only 8 o'clock, and he's already working. If that's not working like a horse, what is?

Li Wenzhao sighed. He really wanted to stay in bed a bit longer. His warm, soft hug was more comfortable than holding a plush pillow.

But there was no choice; he had to get back to work.

"It's still early. You should keep sleeping." Li Wenzhao got up and tucked the blanket around Jing Yi. "I'll ask Aunt Fang to take care of you."

Jing Yi stared at him without blinking. "Where are you going?"

Li Wenzhao said, "The company."

Jing Yi was puzzled. "We're already so rich. Why are you still working so early?"

"I need to find something to do with myself," Li Wenzhao said. "For now, running the company is the best way to show my worth and skills."

"Let's not," Jing Yi giggled. "Getting too into work will turn you into a workaholic."

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Who knows where the young butler gets his twisted train of thought.

After a while, Li Wenzhao was fully dressed, and Jing Yi could no longer sleep. Lying in bed, he stared at him without blinking as he tied his tie. "Eldest young master, can I be discharged from the hospital today?"

Li Wenzhao finished securing his tie. "That's up to the doctor."

Jing Yi frowned. The hospital's test reports were too complicated, and they tended to make a big deal out of minor issues. He didn't want to stay anymore. He wanted to go out, feel the breeze, and bounce on his soft, round bed.

He preferred being a workhorse rather than staying in the hospital.

He thought for a moment and then suddenly spoke, “Excuse me, Dr. Li…”

Outside the door, Fan Ming walked in carrying a stack of documents and pushed the door open. At the same moment, Jing Yi spoke softly, “Excuse me, Dr. Li, can I be discharged now?”

Li Wenzhao: “……”

Fan Ming: “……”

W-what a forbidden play!

Why did he always stumble upon such awkward situations?

Fan Ming froze at the door, his toes curling. “I, I knocked, but upon hearing voices, I thought…”

Li Wenzhao pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Come in.”

Fan Ming, feeling embarrassed, stepped into the room and discreetly glanced at Jing Yi. Their eyes accidentally met, and Fan Ming's face turned red.

……Oh oh oh oh!

He had caught them in the act. Surely, Butler Jing must be feeling annoyed, right?

Jing Yi, on the other hand, thought, carrying so many documents, Secretary Fan must be tired.

The two exchanged a glance filled with sympathetic concern for each other.

“……”

Fan Ming was there to deliver documents. During this time, Li Wenzhao had been working from the hospital. As the CEO's secretary, his task was to serve as the liaison between the boss and the company, mainly delivering documents daily.

But today, his boss told him there was no need to deliver them anymore, as he would be returning to the company to work.

So, Fan Ming struggled to carry the documents back.

·

Before Li Wenzhao left, Jing Yi's full medical report came out. There were no major issues, so Jing Yi insisted on being discharged. He would rather slack off at the company with Li Wenzhao than stay in the hospital.

Li Wenzhao had no choice but to take him along.

Back in the familiar office, Jing Yi felt a sense of warmth and naturalness, except for the fact that his work desk had been moved.

Originally, his small desk was a bit distant from Li Wenzhao's, with a potted plant placed between the two desks, forming a clear boundary.

But now, the two desks were pushed together, and he could easily reach across.

“Why is my desk here?”

Li Wenzhao raised an eyebrow. “What's wrong here? Isn't it good?”

Jing Yi pressed his lips tightly, looking unwilling. “Isn't this like sitting in the front row center seat in a useless college class?”

“Scared of teachers when I was young, scared of bosses now that I'm grown. Too close a distance will make me suffocate.”

Li Wenzhao: “……”

"Sorry, Jing Butler." Fan Ming immediately said, "Mr. Li asked me to move it. The CEO's office needs an extra filing cabinet, and it will take over half of your workspace."

So that's the reason. Jing Yi looked at the office layout and saw that only his original workspace was suitable, and remained silent.

Li Wenzhao glanced at the clock and said to Fan Ming, "Secretary Fan, find the real estate project with the Shen Group from three months ago."

Fan Ming nodded, "Sure thing, Mr. Li."

Jing Yi had an impression of this file. He was the one who spotted the issue with it. He stood up, "I know where it is. I'll grab it, Secretary Fan."

Fan Ming hesitated for a second, "Then I'll leave it to you, Jing Butler. Mr. Li, I'll go inform the department heads about the meeting."

Jing Yi dashed to the file cabinet behind him, looking up at the file numbers and quickly found the target file.

It was just placed a bit high, and it was a little difficult for him to reach it.

Jing Yi held onto the cabinet, stood on his tiptoes, and stretched out his arm to grab it. His sweater hitched up, exposing a strip of smooth, pale skin. His waist was slender, his abdomen flat, and his lean figure was particularly eye-catching.

Li Wenzhao couldn't help but let his eyes linger on him.

Jing Yi was struggling to pull out the file, and as he yanked it hard, his body tilted, and his bottom gave a slight wiggle.

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Just as Jing Yi was about to turn around, he heard a familiar thought in his head—

"The young butler’s waist is so soft and slim, the curve of his movements is also very beautiful. I was too tired last night and didn't get to hold him properly. If I get another chance, I’ll definitely (beep—)"

Jing Yi froze, "Wait, what?"