Out of Control, Lost in Love

Bang, bang, bang-

Brutal pounding pierced the door, each blow seeming to land squarely inside Ji Ting's skull.

Clutching his cramping stomach, he rolled over. He had just tried to push himself upright when the door was kicked open with a deafening crash.

Two men strode to the bed and grabbed Ji Ting by the collar. After checking his face, they turned toward the doorway. "President Ji, it's definitely the second young master."

President Ji?

Before Ji Ting could work out what that title meant, the two bodyguards hauled him off the bed and threw him to the floor.

His knees hit first. The sharp pain brought tears to his eyes, and as he knelt there in a sorry heap, a man's red-soled patent leather shoe stepped into view.

The newcomer had an imposing presence, but his voice dripped with cold mockery. "Ji Ting, you really have outdone yourself."

Ji Ting felt a little dazed. The man in front of him had called him by his name, yes, but...

His memory was far better than most people's. He was absolutely certain he had never heard any of these three intruders' voices before.

When Ji Ting neither moved nor spoke, "Mr. Ji" surveyed the room and said coldly, "What, after enjoying everything the Ji family gave you for all these years, you've finally realized a bastard like you can't show his face in decent society? Is that why you've decided to crawl back into a gutter like this?"

...Bastard.

The word acted like a strange trigger. Ji Ting forced himself to raise his head, and the instant he saw "Mr. Ji's" face clearly, a stabbing pain shot through the back of his skull.

First, he saw his own body burn to ashes in an explosion. Then a new set of memories surged into his mind like a raging current.

Out of Control, Lost in Love, a boys' love novel with multiple competing love interests. Its least significant backup top, number four: Ji Ting.

Amid the jumble of chaotic memories, he also found this "Mr. Ji's" identity and name.

Ji Ting's older half brother, and backup top number three in this novel-

"Ji... Yanzhi?"

The chill in Ji Yanzhi's eyes deepened. "Ji Ting, you'd better drop these little tricks. I don't have time to watch you put on a show."

He beckoned, and the two bodyguards hauled Ji Ting upright again.

Once they had forced Ji Ting to stand straight, Ji Yanzhi said unhurriedly, "Tell me. Who did you go to see in Sea City yesterday, and what did you do?"

Ji Ting looked at the man before him, whose eyes were as sharp and cold as blades. He showed no fear, only repeating thoughtfully, "...Sea City."

Seeing his expression, Ji Yanzhi assumed his good-for-nothing brother was playing dumb again. He sneered, "Looks like our second young master had plenty to drink last night. Take him to the bathroom and sober him up."

"Yes, sir."

The bodyguards hauled him away. Ji Ting stumbled a few steps before they dragged him into the bathroom.

Watching a bodyguard fill the sink with water, Ji Ting suddenly tilted his head. "Are you planning to dunk me in that?"

The bodyguard's hands paused. Only then did he realize that Ji Ting seemed a little different today.

Whenever Mr. Ji caught the second young master in the past, he would either fight tooth and nail or kick up a huge fuss. Now, not only was he offering no resistance, even his tone of voice seemed different.

Ji Ting nodded in understanding, then added, "But inhaling water can deprive the brain of oxygen, and coughing could rupture the capillaries in my head. That wouldn't sober me up. It would only make me less lucid."

That grand explanation left the bodyguards stunned. Since when had the second young master become so educated?

Seeing their bewilderment, Ji Yanzhi said calmly, "I won't make things difficult for you, so can I wash my face myself?"

The two bodyguards exchanged a look and released his arms, still doubtful.

True to his word, the second young master neither ran nor made a scene. Instead, he slowly unwrapped the disposable toiletries.

Ji Ting took out the toothbrush while rapidly sorting through the plot in his mind.

Like other novels with competing love interests, Out of Control, Lost in Love told the story of four tops with wildly different personalities fighting tooth and nail over the protagonist, a bottom. Ji Ting was the most peripheral of the four.

Although Ji Ting and the protagonist were childhood friends, his status was something that had to be kept out of sight. Rebellious, immature, and incapable of holding back, he was constantly crushed underfoot by his older brother, top number three, Ji Yanzhi.

One of Ji Ting's few shining moments in the original novel came when he unexpectedly ran into the protagonist, who was hiding in Sea City, and briefly offered him some salvation.

...In other words, I've entered the novel on the day after that meeting with the protagonist.

Which means I'm currently the only top who knows where he is.

And that seething Ji Yanzhi in the living room is the first person to come interrogate me about the protagonist's whereabouts.

Ji Yanzhi stood in the living room with an icy expression, waiting for Ji Ting to emerge looking like a drowned rat. Instead of cursing, however, he heard a soft brushing sound.

He paused, then walked to the bathroom doorway in disbelief. Sure enough, there was Ji Ting, brushing his teeth with a mouthful of foam.

"What are you doing?" His gaze darkened as he turned to the bodyguards. "Did I tell you to help him get ready?"

The bodyguards looked uncomfortable and were about to explain when Ji Ting handed over the towel he had used to wipe his mouth. "There are plenty of ways to clear my head. Since I'm willing to cooperate, I'm effectively saving you some effort."

Ji Yanzhi had not expected that answer. Furious, he retorted sarcastically, "Would you like a glass of honey water, too?"

His sarcasm was undisguised, but Ji Ting gave the suggestion serious thought before nodding. "Yes, thank you."

The moment those words left his mouth, both bodyguards in the bathroom stiffened along with Ji Yanzhi.

...Had the second young master found some new way to cause trouble?

He was actually treating Mr. Ji like a servant?

Ji Yanzhi stared at him for two seconds, then abruptly laughed. "Ji Ting, do I have to wait on you hand and foot before I can ask you a question now?"

Ji Ting looked at him. "It's just a glass of honey water. There's no need to read anything else into it."

Ji Yanzhi's gaze turned glacial. Had Ji Ting suddenly grown a spine and deluded himself into thinking he could bargain with him?

Just as he decided to remind him of his place, Ji Ting's voice rang out-

[Ji Yanzhi's shirt collar is creased today.]

Ji Yanzhi froze. The anger he had been suppressing had barely flared before it abruptly stalled.

He had been watching Ji Ting the whole time. He had clearly seen that the other man's lips had not moved at all.

Before Ji Yanzhi could work out what was happening, he noticed Ji Ting's gaze travel from his collar to his shoulder.

Then that same voice echoed in his ears again-

[He's wearing the same tie as yesterday, and there's plaster dust on his suit jacket. Given his severe obsession with cleanliness, these are details he should find absolutely intolerable.]

[So Ji Yanzhi must have put his work at the company on hold and flown here overnight to question me.]

[If that's the case, it proves... he's the one pressed for time.]

[In short, I'm the one he needs something from.]

Ji Yanzhi's face betrayed nothing, but his heart was racing out of control.

He was certain that was Ji Ting's voice.

This bastard usually acted like a spoiled, pleasure-seeking layabout. He had never imagined his mind could be so meticulous.

If everything he had heard was real, then he truly had underestimated this man.

While the two men's thoughts churned beneath the surface, the bodyguards exchanged bewildered looks.

Why had Mr. Ji and the second young master suddenly stopped talking? Was this a standoff, or were they communicating in riddles? Had Mr. Ji been stunned speechless with anger?

Ji Yanzhi raised his eyes, their depths unreadable. "Come out."

The two bodyguards froze for a moment, then hurriedly stepped aside for Ji Ting.

Ji Ting walked out of the bathroom without any apparent hard feelings, as calm as ever. "I'm not feeling well. You have one minute to state your question."

Ji Yanzhi sneered inwardly. He really did have the nerve to try to control him.

"And what if I can't explain my question within your allotted time?"

Ji Ting paused and looked up at him.

[If he can't explain it in a minute, there must be something wrong with Ji Yanzhi's intellectual development.]

Something wrong with his-with his intelligence?!

Ji Yanzhi's brows drew together, the fury in his eyes almost tangible. "You..."

Just then, Ji Ting suddenly looked toward the door and thought, [Time's up.]

Ji Yanzhi hesitated. He was about to demand what nonsense Ji Ting was spouting now when two knocks sounded at the door.

He turned around. It was his secretary, who should have been waiting downstairs.

"President Ji." The secretary hurried to his side and lowered his voice. "The court, customs, and tax authorities have jointly issued an investigation notice, ordering the group to freeze the subsidiary's finances immediately... We're running out of time."

Ji Yanzhi went still.

Countless suspicions flooded Ji Yanzhi's mind. He looked at Ji Ting with an expression more complicated than ever before, then finally ordered through gritted teeth, "You must be back at the family estate before eight tonight."

Ji Ting parted his lips, but Ji Yanzhi's cold voice left no room for argument. "You should know exactly what will happen to you if I don't see you tonight."

After speaking, he deliberately waited a few seconds. Fortunately, Ji Ting said nothing, and he did not hear that voice of unknown origin again.

Ji Yanzhi gave him one last look, then left with his men.

Two minutes later, a Bentley Mulsanne pulled out of the narrow lane in the urban village.

Ji Yanzhi listened to his secretary's report, his deep-set eyes seemingly lost in thought, but remained silent throughout.

"Fang Jie, keep following Ji Ting. You must find that person for me."

The secretary was about to acknowledge the order when Ji Yanzhi added, "...Also, make me an appointment with a neurologist who specializes in auditory hallucinations."

The secretary froze in surprise. "Of... of course, Mr. Ji."

Upstairs.

Ji Ting stood by the window, watching the luxury car carrying Ji Yanzhi disappear into the distance.

Only after a long while did he look at his own blurred reflection in the glass.

...I've entered a novel.

Ji Ting lowered his head slightly and closed his eyes.

His mind rarely went blank like this, but at present, he truly could not think of any scientific explanation for this journey through time and space.

Within half a minute, however, he had collected himself. Rather than dwell on a supernatural event that had already happened, it was better to consider the trouble ahead.

Ji Yanzhi was only the first hurdle in this novel. The other backup tops would not be easy to deal with either.

He certainly had no intention of joining their vicious battle over a man. Rather than get swept into the turbulent currents of the plot, he would be better off staying out of it from now on.

His stomach cramped again. Ji Ting pulled himself out of his thoughts and prepared to go downstairs to buy some medicine.

He left the little inn and walked to the mouth of the alley. As he searched the area for a pharmacy, his gaze suddenly stopped on a minivan parked at the street corner.

Ji Ting thought, Almost forgot. There's another stalker after Ji Yanzhi.