Seducing Him - Chapter 49

Lu Lan chatted with her for a while, then left midway after receiving a call.

Ci Yiyang stayed in the hospital for a few hours, and as she was coming down from the inpatient ward to head home, she happened to run into Yun Jiayi.

The little girl’s eyes lit up at once when she saw her. “Sister Yiyang! Sister Yiyang!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Ci Yiyang turned her head.

She saw the little girl dressed in a pretty teddy bear Lolita dress, wrapped in a fluffy cape, her twin ponytails bouncing up and down as she ran.

Yun Jiayi stopped in front of her, blinking her round, cute eyes as she curiously asked: “Did Sister Yiyang come to visit my brother?”

Ci Yiyang shook her head. “No.”

“Oh.” Yun Jiayi’s eyes drooped, her tone full of disappointment.

Ci Yiyang asked, “Where are you going?”

Yun Jiayi pulled a long face. “To visit my brother in the hospital. Not long ago, the way he drove, he almost lost his life.”

Hearing this, concern flickered in Ci Yiyang’s eyes. “Your brother is hospitalized?”

She hadn’t been in touch with Jing Zuoyuan recently, so she hadn’t known he was in the hospital.

“So Sister Yiyang didn’t know.” Yun Jiayi suddenly realized she had spoken too much, and quickly covered her mouth, looking regretful.

Ci Yiyang couldn’t help but ask, “What happened?”

Yun Jiayi blinked and shook her head. “I’m scared I’ll say the wrong thing. Sister Yiyang, you should ask my brother yourself.”

She refused to explain further and ran off down the corridor.

Ci Yiyang had been planning to go home, but since she was already at the hospital, she decided to go and visit Jing Zuoyuan.

This was the best private hospital in the city. Jing Zuoyuan was staying in a VIP ward, with very strict privacy protections—even the elevator required someone upstairs to buzz you in.

When she got up there, the ward door was open.

Jing Zuoyuan was sitting on the bed in hospital clothes. When he heard the sound, he lifted his head and smiled. “Sit.”

Ci Yiyang walked in, put down the fruit she had just bought downstairs, and sat on the chair beside him. “Are you okay? Feeling better?”

Her gaze swept over him with concern.

The young man had gauze wrapped around his forehead. His body didn’t look badly hurt, but his leg seemed impaired—it was clear the accident had been serious.

Jing Zuoyuan spread his hands for her to see, still smiling gently. “How did you know I was in the hospital?”

Even his family didn’t know yet. He hadn’t wanted her to worry, so he hadn’t told her.

Ci Yiyang: “I just found out.”

Jing Zuoyuan guessed right away it must have been Yun Jiayi who told her, and smiled helplessly. “Nothing serious, just a little car accident.”

Although he made it sound light, Ci Yiyang couldn’t help but ask: “Have they found the driver?”

Jing Zuoyuan shook his head. “There was no driver.”

“No driver?” Ci Yiyang was stunned.

She knew that with Jing Zuoyuan’s background, even if there were no cameras, finding a culprit would be easy.

And yet they hadn’t?

“It was an unmanned taxi that lost control. Just bad luck on my part, not noticing it coming at me.” Jing Zuoyuan handed her a peeled apple. “Here, try it.”

He made a joke of it, never telling her he had nearly died in that accident.

When Ci Yiyang heard it was an AI taxi, the tension in her chest eased, her back relaxing only then did she realize how cold sweat had broken out in fear.

Luo Lin had just gotten into a car accident, and now Jing Zuoyuan too, both on the same day. The coincidence was unsettling.

Seeing her relief, Jing Zuoyuan smiled lightly, comforting her: “Don’t be nervous. Even with human drivers, accidents happen. All the more so with self-driving cars.”

Ci Yiyang nodded in agreement.

“Oh, by the way,” Jing Zuoyuan said, “I heard you mention on the phone earlier that your father is also in this hospital. Is he doing better?”

Ci Yiyang nodded. “He just had surgery a few days ago. The doctor said he hit his head, so he won’t wake up for a while, but overall he’s out of danger.”

Jing Zuoyuan’s expression relaxed. “That’s good.”

They chatted a little longer, then he asked casually: “Is your father still planning to marry Lu Jin’s mother?”

Ci Yiyang frowned slightly and shook her head. “Probably not.”

From Lu Lan’s tone earlier, not only would she not marry Luo Lin, she might even leave the city.

Hearing this, Jing Zuoyuan’s brows tightened instead of easing. He seemed about to say something, but after hesitating, swallowed the words back.

Ci Yiyang noticed and asked curiously, “What is it?”

“There’s something I don’t know if you’re aware of.” Jing Zuoyuan chose his words carefully. “Some time ago, my firm received a cross-border case involving your father.”

Ci Yiyang froze. “What?”

“An economic dispute. Someone is suing your father. I looked into it because I was worried about you, and found that two years ago, due to a failed overseas investment, he had to mortgage both the house and his company. But even that wasn’t enough to cover the losses, so some private partners suffered heavy financial damage. Now, since your father has returned to the country, they think he came back to dodge his debts, so they’ve joined together to sue him.”

Ci Yiyang knew about Lu Jin’s mismanagement back when her mother was still alive, but her grandmother had taken out her savings to help, and Luo Lin had said it was resolved.

Later, since Lu Jin had been with Lu Lan and even spent a long time abroad, everything had seemed fine, so she hadn’t thought about it again.

She hadn’t expected something like this.

Ci Yiyang was stunned. After a long pause, she murmured: “The house wasn’t mortgaged.”

She was still living in Beichen Manor—it hadn’t been taken away.

Jing Zuoyuan looked at her steadily. “That’s what I wanted to remind you of.”

Ci Yiyang gazed at him in confusion.

“I checked some things but I’m not certain. In short, you should keep your distance from Lu Jin for now.”

“Lu Jin?” Ci Yiyang didn’t understand. “What does this have to do with him?”

Jing Zuoyuan shook his head. “I don’t know. I saw his name on one of the bonds, but names can overlap. Maybe it was a mistake.”

He still hadn’t figured it out. If Luo Lin had already mortgaged his company and the manor, how was he still running things normally, with no creditors coming after the estate?

Perhaps it had something to do with Lu Jin’s mother. Still, selfishly, he wanted Ci Yiyang to stay away from Lu Jin.

Ci Yiyang nodded. “Thank you, I’ll be careful.”

“No need to thank me.” Jing Zuoyuan smiled, lifting his hand to ruffle her soft hair. “Helping you is something I’m willing to do.”

Ci Yiyang met his gaze, momentarily dazed.

He froze for a second, then shifted his eyes as if nothing had happened. “I also have something I want your help with, but I’ll wait until I’m discharged.”

He wanted to confess—to move from friend to suitor. He wanted to be the one standing by her side.

But that had to wait. He didn’t want such an important moment to be tainted by his bedridden state.

Ci Yiyang thought it was just a misunderstanding, and agreed to wait until he was discharged.

Suddenly, her phone rang, breaking the strange atmosphere between them.

She glanced down—it was Lu Jin.

He always happened to contact her at such moments.

Ci Yiyang pressed decline without hesitation.

She thought he would stop after seeing her hang up, but after only a short while, he called again.

Seeing her frown, Jing Zuoyuan guessed it was someone she knew. Gently, he said, “There’s a dressing room to the right. You can take your call there.”

“No need, just a spam call.” She calmly switched the phone to silent.

From her expression, Jing Zuoyuan could tell she didn’t want to answer, so he didn’t press the matter.

Since he was still a patient, Ci Yiyang didn’t linger too long.

“You should rest. It’s getting late—I’ll head back.”

As she was about to leave, Jing Zuoyuan instinctively reached out and grabbed her hand. “Ci Yiyang!”

“What is it?” she blinked at him.

His face tightened, though his tone stayed calm. “I wanted to ask if you’ll come tomorrow. My family’s busy lately, Jiayi can’t come every day, and the hospital gets lonely. I was really glad to talk with you today.”

Ci Yiyang glanced around the ward. It had everything one could need, like a minimalist apartment. But aside from the fruit she brought, it felt big and empty.

Given their years of friendship, it was only natural she should come.

Ci Yiyang nodded. “Alright. If I have time, I’ll visit.”

Hearing her agree, Jing Zuoyuan’s tense lips eased into a warm smile. “Good. Be careful on your way back, and send me a message once you’re home.”

Ci Yiyang nodded. She tried to leave, only then realizing he was still holding her wrist.

Noticing her puzzled look, Jing Zuoyuan belatedly let go. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

After leaving the hospital, Ci Yiyang pulled out her phone.

Ever since she had declined Lu Jin’s call, he hadn’t called again, nor sent any messages.

She turned off her phone, not messaging him either.

Early September in Jing City, even after rain, the nights were still stiflingly hot, the heat soaking through her long dress.

Bringing the sticky warmth inside, Ci Yiyang changed into the shoes the robotic puppy had carried over.

“Little one, go rest now,” she said softly, crouching to pat its head.

The mechanical pup licked her with its cold tongue before curling up in its corner, almost like a real dog.

Standing, she looked up and froze.

By the grand spiral staircase stood the boy, his black hair glowing faintly beneath the chandelier, his pale skin almost unnaturally beautiful.

She hadn’t heard a sound—she had no idea how long he had been standing there.

Since she had been deliberately avoiding him lately, suddenly seeing him there in the middle of the night startled her.

She couldn’t help but whisper in mild reproach: “What are you doing here?”

The boy gazed at her, his crimson lips moving. “It rained outside. Sister didn’t bring an umbrella. I was warming milk for you.”

Following his glance, she noticed the steaming mug of milk in his hand. Not thinking much of it, she walked over and took a sip.

“Why does it taste strange?” she raised her brows. “Alcohol?”

The milk carried a faint, sharp aftertaste—yet not unpleasant.

“Yes. Milk liqueur,” he replied evenly. “It rained today, the dampness seeps in. This way, sister will sleep soundly tonight.”