Ruan Tianling sneered, "No way! I’ve already ordered someone to watch him 24/7, give him some nutrients every day to keep him barely alive. Over time, he’ll know what’s the right thing to do."

Jian Yufei could see that Nangong Yi wasn’t someone who would easily compromise.

He went on a hunger strike as soon as he was captured, clearly showing his strong-willed nature.

This didn’t match his serene appearance.

But some people are like that—the calmer they look on the outside, the fiercer they are inside.

She and her mother were such people too.

"I don’t think he’ll give in. We should go talk to him. Besides, if he continues like this, when he’s on the brink of death, how are we supposed to use him against Nangong Wenchang?"

Ruan Tianling didn’t even lift his eyebrows: "Why should we care? As long as he stays alive, that’s enough."

Jian Yufei ultimately wasn’t that ruthless.

"How about I go take a look? He calls me cousin, maybe he’ll listen to me."

"You’re not allowed to go—"

"Ruan Tianling, I know you hate Nangong Wenchang, I hate him even more. But Nangong Yi is innocent, and he’s practically still a child."

"A 20-year-old child?!" Ruan Tianling glared.

Jian Yufei chuckled, "A 20-year-old still in school, if that’s not a child, what is?"

"Hmph, don’t waste your sympathy on him!" Ruan Tianling just didn’t want Jian Yufei to see him.

"It’s not sympathy; I just don’t want to torture people. While we have him, we should do what we can."

Ruan Tianling lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Jian Yufei didn’t want to upset him either.

"Alright, let’s pretend I didn’t say anything. Go ahead with what you’re doing, I’ll go check on Dad."

As Jian Yufei got up to leave, Ruan Tianling stopped her.

"Let’s go, we’ll go together."

...

This was Jian Yufei’s second time seeing Nangong Yi.

The first time she saw him, he was so stunning it took her breath away.

The second time she saw him, he was on the verge of death, yet his elegance hadn’t diminished.

"How’s he doing?" Ruan Tianling asked the bodyguard watching over Nangong Yi.

"He still refuses to eat, but with the nutrients, there aren’t any major problems."

Upon hearing their voices, Nangong Yi opened his eyes.

His vision was blurry, it took a few seconds for him to see clearly.

"Cousin," he politely called out to Jian Yufei.

Jian Yufei felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.

She could see despair in Nangong Yi’s eyes, but no hatred.

Even at this point, not only does he not hate them, he continues to call her cousin.

If he’s truly this kind-hearted, then they’re doing him a disservice.

Jian Yufei glanced at Ruan Tianling and then asked Nangong Yi, "Why won’t you eat?"

Nangong Yi smiled faintly without saying anything.

"You need to understand, we won’t let you go. Going on a hunger strike won’t work."

Nangong Yi’s eyes darkened...

Jian Yufei continued, "Do you want to live healthily, or lie there half-dead?"

"..."

"You should know very well what to do."

Nangong Yi weakly replied, "I understand your point, I know it all."

"Then why are you still like this?"

Nangong Yi turned his eyes to look out the window, like a bird hopelessly trapped in a cage.

Jian Yufei couldn’t help but say, "Rest assured, we won’t take your life, you won’t die." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Ruan Tianling stated coldly, "If he wants this, it saves us the trouble!"

Nangong Yi turned his gaze back, looking at them calmly.