Chapter 161: Recovered a little

Ye Xi'an kissed another, but her heart trembled nonstop.

Mom, this is the first time I've forcefully kissed someone in my life, how thrilling~~~, Ji Jiangci, for you I've basically gone all out.

Ji Jiangci was suddenly kissed on the lips by Ye Xi'an; his warm, moist eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively reached to embrace her slender waist.

But as he lifted his arm halfway, the heavy, sore ache in his joints reminded him of his current state, and he shoved Ye Xi'an away in one motion.

But he had presence of mind; the instant he pushed her away, he grabbed her hand so she wouldn't fall.

After Ye Xi'an steadied herself, he released her hand; his somewhat hunched back, in the moonlight, seemed as if a mountain had bent his spine.

His slightly curled hair covered his eyes, revealing only a pallid chin and lips somewhat pale in color.

"You don't need to do this."

He said it lightly, his voice somewhat choked, mixed with self-loathing.

After saying that, he fell completely silent, as if even his breathing had stopped.

Ye Xi'an, still dazed from being shoved away, didn't know what had happened; hearing Ji Jiangci's words, she realized he must have thought she pitied him, which was why she kissed him.

"Ji Jiangci..." Ye Xi'an called his name, reaching out, feeling for his hand curled before her.

The skin on the back of his hand was rough, with a texture unlike that of an ordinary person.

Ji Jiangci instinctively tried to pull his hand back.

But Ye Xi'an gripped it tightly.

"Don't dodge."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried an irresistible force.

She pulled his hand out, wrapped it in her palm, trying to convey warmth.

"I don't want you to pity me..."

Ji Jiangci pressed his throat, about to cry the next second; he was in too much pain to speak further, only able to keep shaking his head.

Ji Jiangci's rare vulnerability made Ye Xi'an's heart clench.

She forcefully pulled Ji Jiangci to the bedside and pushed him to lie down.

Ji Jiangci lay down obediently, but kept his body ramrod straight, trying not to touch anyone.

Ye Xi'an lay beside him, clearly sensing the faint, decaying aura emanating from his body.

She could even feel Ji Jiangci trembling slightly beside her.

"Jiangci."

Her voice was soft: "I'm not pitying you."

Although there might be a little bit of that, it's negligible; she mostly wants Ji Jiangci to live well, at least recover to his former level, which is her duty as the head of the household.

Upon hearing Ye Xi'an say she didn't pity him, Ji Jiangci's body jolted; he gave no response, clearly not believing her.

Back when he was young and handsome, Ye Xi'an had never acted this way; so what qualifies his current physique and appearance?

Ye Xi'an reached out and gently touched his cheek.

Her fingertips met warm, rough skin, prominent cheekbones, and his once plump cheeks seemed to have sunk somewhat.

Her motion made Ji Jiangci's body tense even more.

He wanted to dodge, yet he couldn't bear to lose that slight warm touch.

Inferiority and desire tugged violently at his heart.

In his present state, even he despises himself; how could he deserve Ye Xi'an's closeness?

Ye Xi'an sensed his resistance and struggle.

She did not retreat; instead, she moved even closer.

Their noses almost touched.

Their lips hovered ambiguously, and as Ye Xi'an spoke, her orchid-like breath sprayed onto Lin Zhi Jing's face.

"If you keep dodging me, then I really won't touch you anymore—I won't touch you ever again."

Having said that, she no longer hesitated, cupped Ji Jiangci's face, slightly lifted her head, and pressed her lips against his once more.

Ji Jiangci's body instantly stiffened like stone; his distinct-knuckled hands clenched the sheets beneath him, as if blossoms burst forth.

He wanted to push her away, but then recalled Ye Xi'an saying she would never touch him again.

His clenched hands desperately loosened.

Forget it—let this be his final indulgence in this life; from now on, however Ye Xi'an might despise or scorn him, he would accept it.

Ji Jiangci closed his eyes, his rough large hand covering Ye Xi'an's nape, gently turning.

Her lips were soft and warm, bearing her unique fragrance; Ji Jiangci pried open Ye Xi'an's teeth and passed his breath into her.

At the moment of entry into the wetness, Ji Jiangci's mind went blank.

Blazing heat stained his cheek, scorching every joint; sweat seeped from his skin, merging with Ye Xi'an's.

Time seemed to stretch at that moment.

After an unknown interval, Ye Xi'an finally breathed lightly, her pupils somewhat dilated.

Her cheeks flushed, her violet pupils especially alluring in the darkness.

Ji Jiangci also kept his eyes open; his cyan pupils reflected her image, within them surging complex emotions.

Comfort, bewilderment, and a hint... of a throbbing that lingered hard to quell.

That night, they slept especially sweetly.

But no one noticed that, after falling asleep, Ji Jiangci's body emitted a faint white light; several strands of white hair gradually turned brown from the roots, and several fine wrinkles vanished....

The next morning, the first ray of sunlight streamed through the window crack into the room.

Ji Jiangci woke first.

The person in his arms was still sound asleep, breathing evenly and slowly.

He lowered his head to watch Ye Xi'an's tranquil sleeping face, and a corner of his heart became unusually soft.

He carefully withdrew his arm and sat up.

Suddenly, he stopped, shocked, and carefully observed his body.

His body… seemed not as heavy as yesterday.

He raised his hand and, by the faint light, looked at the back of his hand.

The skin was still dull, and the wrinkles remained.

But… it seemed there really was a tiny difference.

An illusion?

He walked to the huge dressing mirror covered in dust in the room and wiped away a speck of dust.

The mirror reflected a gaunt, pale face.

The hair was still that lackluster white, and the dark circles under the eyes were still heavy.

He examined it closely.

Was… the cheek slightly fuller? Were there a few brown strands mixed in the white hair?

Were those normally‑colored hairs already there before, or just grew now?

All changes were extremely minute, almost negligible.

But the male of Zhu Shen Xing had become obsessively concerned with his appearance.

Therefore Ji Jiangci was certain this was not an illusion.

Ji Jiangci's heart suddenly raced.

There really was a change!

Although minuscule, it meant the life force he had lost was not entirely irretrievable!

Was it because he had done that thing with Ye Xi'an?

A huge surge of joy and hope instantly overwhelmed him.

The lingering gloom and despair of recent days were dispelled by this faint light.

He still had a chance!

He would not remain this weak forever!

He could recover!

He could become again a male worthy of Ye Xi'an!

Ji Jiangci clenched his fist, and a glimmer named hope reignited in his teal pupils.

He looked at the still‑sleeping Ye Xi'an on the bed, his gaze turning fiery and resolute.

Ji Jiangci inhaled deeply, suppressed his excitement, and carefully selected his best‑looking clothes from the cabinet to change into.

Then he cautiously opened the door, intending to go to the attic to find clothes for Ye Xi'an.

Just as he stepped out, he ran into Bao Jing.

Bao Jing gave Ji Jiangci a glance, still holding a toothbrush in his mouth.

"Morning, Bao Jing."

"Morning." Bao Jing replied vaguely.

After the two exchanged greetings, Ji Jiangci went to the attic.

Bao Jing watched Ji Jiangci's upright silhouette and felt something seemed off about him today.

Lin Zhi Jing also looked up, adjusted the glasses on his nose, and regarded Ji Jiangci thoughtfully.