The villain turns into the infatuated second male lead

The atmosphere in the car was exceptionally heavy. Qiu Yiyuan’s gaze was almost glued to the phone screen, where he had pinned Ling Su at the top of his contacts, but he was too shy to send even a single message.

Without needing to think too much, he knew that once the situation at the company was initially stabilized, his father would hold an engagement ceremony for him and Yin Miaoyan. But was this life being manipulated by others really what he wanted?

He remembered being told as a child that it was his destiny to bear such burdens because he had already enjoyed too many privileges. Any further desire would be seen as greedy. Reflecting on his suffocating family, he shuddered, and Ling Su’s words echoed in his ears.

“Being born into the Qiu family can also be exhausting.”

Yes, at this moment, he felt very tired.

An intangible voice was tempting him to take a gamble, a gamble on Ling Su’s feelings.

As long as the other person was willing, he would abandon the principles he had adhered to in the past and fight to the end. He believed that with a bit more perseverance, once he held the power, everything would get better.

He made a silent promise in his heart. Suddenly, the usually silent Qiu Yiyuan spoke up: “Uncle Zhang, I want to make an appointment at the First People’s Hospital of Ning Chuan City.”

**At the First People’s Hospital of Ning Chuan City, Neurology Clinic**

The faint smell of disinfectant filled the clean clinic. Yin Zhiyi, in his white coat, wrote the final diagnosis on the medical record. Mimicking Ling Su’s usual tone, he said softly, “It’s just a mild concussion. Rest in bed for the next few days, avoid stimulation and excessive thinking.”

“Do I need medication?” the patient asked nervously.

“No, with your condition, it’s not necessary for now. It’s not severe; just relax,” he explained patiently. In the past, he would never have imagined that he would speak so gently to maintain his persona.

Treating this as a role-playing game, he was somewhat enjoying this experience.

“Thank you, thank you, Doctor.” The patient, relieved, thanked him several times and, as he left, glanced at the group of bodyguards in black suits and the stern-looking handsome man among them. He hurried away, sticking close to the wall.

“Only one more patient left.” Yin Zhiyi stretched lazily and glanced at the name remaining on the display screen. His movement paused slightly as he read the name with interest, “Qiu Yiyuan?”

“Doctor, I’m here to see a doctor.” Qiu Yiyuan walked into the clinic with a straight back. When he saw Ling Su, who was dressed neatly in a white coat, even though he was prepared, he still felt his heart hit hard.

Yin Zhiyi’s eyes seemed to flicker with interest as he carefully studied the tall, aloof man in front of him. He soon noticed the unusual emotions in his eyes and the way his Adam’s apple bobbed, clearly affected by the direct gaze.

Yin Zhiyi calmly adjusted his white coat and asked seriously, “Alright, what seems to be the problem?”

“Everything feels wrong.” Seeing his serious and gentle demeanor, Qiu Yiyuan felt his heart being clutched. His voice was hoarse.

A strong desire surged from within, sweeping away his earlier frustration. He began to fantasize about Ling Su performing an examination on him with that expression, his well-defined hands wearing rubber gloves, gently comforting his disheveled self. That scene was like a plunge into an abyss.

If Yin Zhiyi knew what his younger brother was thinking, he might not have used gloves for a less-than-proper examination but would have instead smacked him hard a few times. As for how he would do it, it’s not convenient to describe.

“Then you’re quite ill,” he said with a half-smile, flipping through the medical record Qiu Yiyuan brought.

“Yes, quite ill,” Qiu Yiyuan repeated with emphasis. Taking a deep breath to clear his mind of inappropriate thoughts, he asked with a hint of unease, “When will you be off work?”

“Three minutes from now,” Yin Zhiyi said, raising an eyebrow as he checked his watch.

“I need to talk to you about something. Could we find a quiet place?” Qiu Yiyuan asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Noting the gravity in his tone, Yin Zhiyi squinted slightly as if trying to understand his thoughts. He glanced at Qiu Yiyuan’s medical record, jotted down some routine notes, and said with a smile, “Sure.”

As they left the clinic, he was surprised to see Qiu Yiyuan wasn’t alone, but he quickly ignored Uncle Zhang’s gaze and continued, changing out of his white coat and washing his hands before heading outside with Qiu Yiyuan.

On the green lawn covered with various playground equipment, he remembered that this was a place Ling Su liked to visit when he was upset. They walked side by side on the stone path.

“What’s the urgent matter you wanted to discuss with me?” He asked suddenly.

“My family is coming to pick me up,” Qiu Yiyuan said, his mood sinking, his tone almost like a sigh.

Yin Zhiyi was not surprised but, as Ling Su, he needed to show some reluctance, saying softly, “Will we meet again?”

“Since we’re in the same city, I’ll come find you when things settle down. We can keep in touch by phone.” Seeing the lingering affection in Yin Zhiyi’s eyes, Qiu Yiyuan felt a sense of relief and seriousness.

“Okay,” Yin Zhiyi responded with a soft smile.

After that, they walked quietly in the small park until they reached a swing.

“Sit,” Yin Zhiyi said casually, sitting on the swing.

Qiu Yiyuan looked at the swing, which still had plenty of space, and sat down with his feet touching the ground to maintain balance. The scene and the person beside him made him feel unexpectedly calm. His eyes showed a hint of nostalgia as he said, “Thinking about it, I’ve never swung on a swing before.”

“Hmm?” Yin Zhiyi turned his face to look at him, listening.

He had never paid attention to such small details before, so he hadn’t realized that he had never tried swinging.

“I really wanted to do this when I was a child, like other classmates, but my mother said it was too dangerous.” He moved a bit closer to Yin Zhiyi, his previous tension fading away.

Qiu Yiyuan thought that his mother must have loved him to warn him like that, but despite the greater dangers he had faced, she thought this was a burden he should bear as the heir of Haiyue, which was both a tender and cruel sentiment.

Yin Zhiyi’s dark eyes seemed to be dyed with deep ink, concealing his innately ruthless nature. He listened quietly to Qiu Yiyuan’s childhood memories and naturally smiled slightly, teasing, “So, does this count as fulfilling a childhood dream for you?”

As Qiu Yiyuan glanced at the black car in the distance and noticed Uncle Zhang’s hint, he realized that his patience had clearly worn thin after waiting for hours at the hospital.

His expression darkened. As he looked at Yin Zhiyi’s clean, pale face, he felt an unusual calmness. He knew very well the intensity of his feelings for him.

He knew that if he could get a response at this moment, he would do anything for it.

But leaving like this felt unfulfilled.

“I like you.”

The simple declaration seemed to exhaust all his courage. He gazed intently at Yin Zhiyi, his usually proud and aloof demeanor almost pleading, awaiting the judgment of the one in power.