25 25_

After getting a quick shower, Ji Haishan forced Bai Yulin to stay in bed again. He didn't allow her to walk out of the room unless she became healthy again.

Then, breakfast time arrived!

Ji Haishan wasn't sighing in contempt anymore as he took the bowl and began feeding Bai Yulin. He thought it was a waste of his energy to even sigh. He should just get this task over with quickly.

As Bai Yulin opened her mouth, she slowly swallowed the soup. She forced herself to calm her heart and stop getting embarrassed over small things.

And when the soup ran down her throat, she groaned in wonder and happiness. She praised "Oh this is good! It's light on my tongue and it's delicious!"

"The taste of egg is definitely on point! It's not too much and it's easier to swallow." Bai Yulin faced Ji Haishan with apparent happiness.

There it was again- her bright smile.

"Is it?" Ji Haishan was also infected with her happiness as he smiled. He loved seeing her as she ate his food.

Eh..

Love..d?

Did he really.. think of that?

"Is there something wrong?" Bai Yulin asked him as Ji Haishan was lost in thought.

He immediately came to and coughed lightly before he fed her again. He said it was nothing but the way he pursed his lips and how his ears burned were made known to Bai Yulin.

Her body was fair and white after all. So it was easier to spot any changes. She realized how he might be embarrassed because of her compliment and she chuckled.

Her chuckle wasn't deep and magnetic like how Ji Haishan's body should emit. It was more light and soft. It definitely came from a woman.

This made Ji Haishan's heart stir for one second and he thought he would die from heart attack.

Author: love is slowly in the air babyyy~~

*

In a magnificent Ji mansion located in the most prominent neighborhood in the country, sat an old man almost seventy of age in the living room.

He wore a dark face and a grim expression, looking like he would devour the whole world. He was waiting for someone and the said person arrived just a few minutes later.

This person was Ji Xia and Ji Ke Mu's father, Ji Ye Qiu.

Ji Ye Qiu's appearance was that of a man around his forties. He looked stern and the way he brought himself was just like how a man from a powerful family did, full of power and arrogance.

He strode towards the living room area and spotted his father who was also the patriarch, Ji Zhang. He didn't take a seat and just stand a good distance away from the old man.

Ji Zhang didn't even look up to him as he said in a cold tone "You've truly gone overboard with your pointless power struggle."

Ji Ye Qiu narrowed his eyes slightly but he replied with "What are you talking about, dad?"

"You know what I'm talking about. The stupid accident." Ji Zhang's voice turned heavy and Ji Ye Qiu pursed his lips.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." he said, feigning ignorance.

"Don't talk like how an idiot does, Ji Ye Qiu. Stop playing such tricks against your own nephew!!" the patriarch's voice boomed throughout the hall, causing the nearby maids to scurry away from the place. He already lost his patience.

"And since when is he my nephew?! Since when is he YOUR grandson!" Ji Ye Qiu suddenly shouted against the old man's words. It seemed as if his forbidden switch was turned on.

"He's not a part of us- he's never a Ji! And he'll never be!" Ji Ye Qiu added, his harsh tone was leveled with his dark expression.

The old man saw deep hatred seeping into the cracks of his son's eyes as he countered "Ji Haishan IS a Ji! He's always one! Stop your pointless attempt or I'll disown you from MY family!"

Then, the old man stood up. The maids came back again in a hurry and escorted him to his room. Ji Ye Qiu was standing there without any movements. His eyes staring at the cold floor. Minutes passed by and it felt like a year.

So unfair..

This was so unfair!!

He was the legitimate heir of Ji Group. Ji ancestor's blood ran in his body as well. So why? Why was someone like Ji Haishan chosen??

'Why..!!'

Ji Ye Qiu turned around and he went away. He stepped out from the huge mansion and walked to his car in anger. As he opened the door, his phone rang.

He picked it up and before the other person could talk, he cursed at them.

"You stupid motherf*cker! How could you even live well with my money after such failure?!" he bellowed out loud.

He kept cursing against the person on the other side and went inside his car. Then, he started his engine and was no longer seen in front of Ji mansion.

Ji Ye Qiu in his anger fit, didn't notice the leftover paper particles floating about near his car before he drove away.

*

Ji Haishan was looking through some documents that his assistant had sent to him earlier. His sign and approval were needed in order for these documents to pass through.

He was in the study working when the door was knocked from outside. He lifted his head and took out his glasses.

"Come in." he said.

Bai Yulin went inside with two cups of hot chocolate. She thought he would need it because she noticed he hadn't been around the house for three hours now.

It was her way of saying thanks because he took care of her and cooked delicious food for her.

Her fever had also gone down noticably and Ji Haishan finally allowed her to walk around.

"Um.. I hope you can accept this hot chocolate." she said in a somewhat strange tone.

Ji Haishan raised his brow and asked as he pointed on the cup "Why are you so nervous? Is that poisoned?"

"What? No! Geez- where would I even get the poison from!" Bai Yulin was stuck in her room since yesterday after all.

"Then?" Ji Haishan probed. He secretly wanted to see her reaction. She was so flustered that it was cute.

Bai Yulin thought of what to say and then she said "Well.. my cooking is bad.. it's not as good as yours so.. I think you won't drink this?"

Ji Haishan heard her and he suddenly had an urge to laugh. What did cooking have to do with hot chocolate? He tried to not laugh but unfortunately- Bai Yulin's body was harder to control and his laughter rang throughout the study.

Bai Yulin stood there with eyes wide opened and mouth slightly agape. This- this situation..

Wasn't he mocking her??

But.. but that laugh!

She didn't know he could laugh like that!

It was an alien sight yet it suited him!

'Wait- he's laughing at me! Why am I enchanted?!' Bai Yulin scolded herself.

"Why are you so mean? Stop laughing!" she exclaimed in frustration.

Ji Haishan saw what kind of expression Bai Yulin was making with his face and he stopped. It was cringey when a man made a sad face with red puffy cheeks!

"Stop that." he said.

"Stop what?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"That! That face. I look weird that way." he replied but he didn't sound angry. There was even a trace of smile from his laughter earlier.

Bai Yulin just continued puffing up her cheeks because she wanted to irritate him more. She put down one cup of hot chocolate near him and she took a seat on the couch across the study.

"Thank you." he said.

Then Ji Haishan cleared his throat and continued "Your food was delicious. It was good, really. It just brought back memories, that's why- well.."

He didn't know how to continue. He seemed like he was having a hard time trying to put words.

Bai Yulin saw his troubled expression and she stopped him, saying "It's alright. I understand."

She didn't know what kind of memories could make him cry over food. But she knew it was a sensitive topic. And it was a very hard one to even mention because a grown man like him had literally cried albeit a single tear.

Bai Yulin recalled that sad and tormented expression again and her heartbeat quickened in awful pace.

She really hated seeing him like that..

If only one day.. he would be willing to share the pain with her then-

Then.. Bai Yulin would make sure to be there for him.

With this thought dancing inside her head, Bai Yulin forgot how he was laughing at her earlier.

At this moment, life seemed to be great.