Chapter 191: You Are My Medicine (16)
This time, Chen Yinnian had truly caused a disaster right under Xiao Ji’s nose.
Knowing he was in the wrong, he actually stayed well-behaved for two days.
After Xiao Ji took him home, he didn’t go out again, and Chen Yinnian didn’t bring up the subject of leaving either.
During the day, he wandered aimlessly around the house, jumping and climbing. When he became too restless, he would dive into the pool and swim for two hours.
At night, when he couldn’t sleep, Xiao Ji had plenty of ways to wear down his energy.
Chen Yinnian was being very good, but Xiao Ji knew this state of relative docility couldn’t last forever.
Sure enough, late another night, not long after Xiao Ji had fallen asleep, Chen Yinnian crept out of bed and headed downstairs.
Hearing him go down, Xiao Ji also got up and stood by the window, waiting to see what Chen Yinnian intended to do.
A moment later, Chen Yinnian appeared in the courtyard.
He looked around sneakily for a while, then opened the gate and slipped out.
Xiao Ji narrowed his eyes, just about to follow him secretly, when he saw Chen Yinnian—who had just vanished around the corner—turn back.
Xiao Ji hadn’t had time to give Chen Yinnian the passcode to the front gate.
Chen Yinnian stood before the gate for a while, thought about it, and disappeared around the corner again. A moment later, Xiao Ji saw a fluffy head pop up over the wall.
Then, with a great deal of effort, Chen Yinnian hauled himself onto the top of the wall and flipped back inside.
He wandered around the courtyard twice, squatted in the corner to chat for a bit with the sleeping Xiao Cui, brushed the dust off his clothes, and strolled back into the living room.
Xiao Ji sighed silently and lay back in bed.
A moment later, he heard Chen Yinnian taking his third shower of the day in the guest room next door. After blow-drying his hair, the boy quietly opened the master bedroom door, crept back in, and climbed onto the bed.
Chen Yinnian turned his back to Xiao Ji and snuggled close. Just as he was forcing himself to close his eyes, Xiao Ji turned over and wrapped an arm around his waist from behind.
“Wanted to go out?”
Xiao Ji whispered against his ear.
The warm breath grazing Chen Yinnian’s neck made him shrink back with a ticklish sensation. He said guiltily:
“No… why are you awake? Do you sleep that lightly?”
Xiao Ji spoke the truth: “I wake up whenever you move.”
The implication was clear: no matter when Chen Yinnian tried to sneak out, Xiao Ji would always know.
Chen Yinnian turned around to face Xiao Ji.
Their outlines were blurred in the darkness, but after his eyes adjusted, he could see the other’s features through the moonlight filtering through the window.
Chen Yinnian could see that Xiao Ji was wide awake.
Propping one hand under his cheek, he reached out with the other to touch Xiao Ji’s face.
“Brother, are you tired?”
Xiao Ji said: “Not tired, and not sleepy. I feel at peace watching you.”
Chen Yinnian had indeed wanted to go out just now.
He wanted to wake Xiao Ji and have him come along.
But he knew Xiao Ji hadn’t been asleep long. Listening to Xiao Ji’s steady breathing, he couldn’t bring himself to wake him.
He had no destination and didn’t know what he wanted to do.
He had slipped out of the house uncontrollably, but then, remembering Xiao Ji’s words from last time, he had secretly climbed back over the wall.
He buried his cheek in Xiao Ji’s chest and hugged him.
“I’ll be good. I’ll try my best to be good. I did it today, didn’t I?”
Xiao Ji kissed the top of his head but didn’t speak.
After a long while, Chen Yinnian suddenly said: “Brother, if it really doesn’t work, just tie me up at home when you’re sleeping. I won’t blame you.”
Xiao Ji tightened his arms around him. “You’re a human, not livestock. Why would I tie you up?”
Chen Yinnian laughed and pinched his rear.
“Have you been wanting to scold me for a long time? That didn’t sound like a compliment.”
Since Chen Yinnian couldn’t sleep, being able to lie peacefully in bed was a good thing.
It didn’t matter if he talked a bit more; Xiao Ji could accompany him.
The two chatted idly until dawn, when Xiao Ji finally managed to coax Chen Yinnian to sleep.
Afterward, he took some authoritative medical materials from 037 and began to study them silently.
Keeping Chen Yinnian indoors wasn’t a permanent solution. It was good that Chen Yinnian could restrain himself, but Xiao Ji’s heart ached for him.
So the next day, after Chen Yinnian woke up, Xiao Ji took him to a private free-sparring club.
He began to accompany Chen Yinnian in doing more activities that could vent his physical energy.
With Xiao Ji by his side, Chen Yinnian’s irritability showed a clear improvement.
The frequency of his temper tantrums dropped sharply; most of the time, he was excited, happy, and active.
On the eleventh day of this improved state, Xiao Ji’s mother’s birthday arrived.
High society is always like this. So-called coming-of-age ceremonies and birthday banquets were all prime opportunities for networking and building connections.
Xiao Ji could refuse invitations to others’ banquets, but he couldn’t miss his own family’s.
Not only did he have to go, but he had to act as the host and entertain the guests.
“I’m in a great state. Don’t worry about me; just do what you need to do.”
Chen Yinnian squatted on the desk, speaking to Xiao Ji who had just finished a call with his mother.
Xiao Ji tossed his phone aside.
“I don’t have much to do. You don’t need to be so cautious.”
Chen Yinnian swore to the heavens: “Don’t worry. I absolutely won’t cause trouble for you.”
Xiao Ji had no interest in the original host’s biological mother’s birthday banquet.
Because the original host lacked emotional depth, his relationship with Mother Xiao was mediocre and not close.
After Father Xiao passed away, Mother Xiao took the money and found a younger man. To prevent the man from taking a share of the family assets, she didn’t marry him, but she did have another son with him.
She and Xiao Ji didn’t interact much.
But due to the families being old friends, the Chen family would also be present. Xiao Ji eventually took Chen Yinnian to the banquet the next day.
He personally chose a white suit for Chen Yinnian, letting him wear his own cufflinks and watch, dressing him like a little prince from a fairy tale.
As soon as they entered, they saw the Chen family chatting with Mother Xiao and her partner.
“Oh, isn’t this Xiao Nian? Why did you come with our Xiao Ji?”
Seeing Xiao Ji and Chen Yinnian arrive together, Mother Xiao looked surprised, then complimented:
“This child is getting more handsome by the day.”
Few people knew about Chen Yinnian’s illness, but Mother Xiao was one of them.
Mother Chen looked a bit embarrassed seeing Chen Yinnian with Xiao Ji. She took Chen Yinnian’s hand and asked:
“Have you been causing trouble for Brother Xiao these past few days?”
Chen Yinnian spoke up immediately: “No, I’ve been very obedient. Getting along with my brother has been nothing but a joy.”
After he finished, he tilted his head to look at Xiao Ji, suddenly remembering the racing incident. He felt a wave of guilt and promptly shut his mouth.
Mother Chen was surprised. “Is that so?”
Xiao Ji nodded. “He is very well-behaved.”
Under the pretext of caring for Chen Yinnian, Xiao Ji had taken a large plot of land and was handling the development and construction. Chen Ni had discussed this with Father and Mother Chen, and they all understood the arrangement.
The Chen family had nothing to criticize. Father Chen simply patted Xiao Ji’s shoulder and said:
“Thank you for your hard work.”
It seemed everyone knew about the arrangement except Mother Xiao.
She looked back and forth between the group, her expression somewhat strange as she looked at Xiao Ji:
“What’s going on? Why haven’t I heard you mention this?”
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