Beyond Reach - Chapter 7 - Pathological Possessiveness

…

Rain traced down the window, like two winding streaks of tears.

It rained today, and darkness fell unusually early. Shi Sui looked outside as Zhou Xuyan’s voice lingered gently in her ears: “At first, Uncle Yan and Aunt Song had a marriage of convenience with no real emotional connection.”

Yan Zecheng and Song Jie’s marriage was in its second year, also their first year of jointly founding the subsidiary, Qisheng Technology, under a strong alliance. Arranged by their families, Song Jie had to break up with her first love, leaving her heartbroken and full of resentment.

This marriage began as a transaction, aimed at producing an heir to strengthen its stability. Consequently, Yan Tingli was born at the end of the second year, raised from childhood as the heir apparent, groomed with an elite mindset.

Yan Zecheng and Song Jie were both busy with their careers, hardly ever at home. Yan Zecheng led the technical team, while Song Jie handled marketing. Their roles were clearly defined, each making significant achievements.

By the fifth year, Qisheng Technology’s profits outstripped all other subsidiaries, topping both families’ business interests. That year, Yan Zecheng and Song Jie grew closer over time, eventually cherishing each other deeply, reaching the peak of their affection.

They tried to return to the joy of family life aside from work but discovered that their eldest son, groomed as the heir, seemed naturally emotionally distant.

“It was around that time that Aunt Song got pregnant again.”

Their younger son, Yan Congjin, was born into love and anticipation.

“Yan Congjin’s first birthday celebration was a grand affair. I remember it well; he laughed and smiled at everyone, truly an angel, in contrast to Yan Tingli, who was always so cold. Aunt Song even took him to check for autism once.”

Of course, he was not autistic.

“During those years I visited the Yan Family, wherever Yan Congjin was, he’d be surrounded by people adoring him, Uncle Yan and Aunt Song doting on him like he was their little treasure.”

“And Yan Tingli’s reaction? He seemed indifferent, as always, unnaturally excellent as if truly born without emotions.”

An incident occurred when Yan Congjin was five.

Ten-year-old Yan Tingli brought home a stray cat, personally bathed it, and fed it.

Yan Congjin followed his brother closely, timidly asking if he could pet the kitten.

Children raised in love are often beloved by all; no one would deliberately reject them.

But the next day, Yan Congjin developed a severe rash and high fever, diagnosed with a serious allergy to cat hair.

“And then?”

Zhou Xuyan paused, then said softly, “In a fit of anger, Aunt Song threw the cat away.”

“Yan Tingli came home from school and searched around the residential area until it was dark.”

But all was without a trace, Yan Tingli said nothing.

His daily routine remained fixed; that day was his piano practice day, and as usual, he spent three hours practicing piano in the music room.

Shi Sui’s eyelashes fluttered slightly: “How did Yan Congjin eventually meet his fate?”

“It’s quite melodramatic, but that’s exactly how it happened,” sighed Zhou Xuyan.

That weekend, Yan Congjin happened to have ice hockey lessons. Normally, it was the driver and the maid who picked him up, but that day, Yan Zecheng was back from a business trip and missed his younger son dearly, so he called to say he would pick him up himself.

Everything seemed perfectly ordinary.

Yet, the unexpected still happened. Yan Zecheng was a few minutes late, and in those few minutes, Yan Congjin crossed the street and was hit by a car.

“How could this happen?” Shi Sui raised her voice, somewhat incoherent. “But what does this have to do with Yan Tingli?”

Zhou Xuyan looked at her and said, “At the accident scene, Yan Congjin was holding a kitten in his arms, one that looked very much like the one Yan Tingli had brought home.”

“He probably just wanted to give it back to his brother, but-” she sighed again, “you could say it was fate.”

Shi Sui felt a chill run down her spine but couldn’t help saying, “But you can’t blame Yan Tingli for this.”

“Exactly, you can’t blame him,” Zhou Xuyan clicked her tongue. “Uncle Yan was always punctual, so why was he late?”

“Why?”

Zhou Xuyan sneered, “Because his woman outside kept him a few minutes longer.”

The most beloved child was gone, accompanied by the ugly truth of her husband’s betrayal. The bubble of happiness was burst, and Song Jie’s world nearly collapsed.

Unable to find a way to cope with the overwhelming grief, she turned her wrath on everyone. Whether it was Yan Zecheng or Yan Tingli, in her eyes, they were both responsible for her younger son’s death.

From then on, the facade of family harmony was completely shattered, and Yan Congjin became a taboo topic.

Song Jie and Yan Zecheng played the role of a respectable couple in public, but privately, they each had new lovers and were falling apart.

As for Yan Tingli, he continued to function like a programmed robot, following the predetermined path.

After a long silence, Shi Sui asked, “Then why are you so at odds with him?”

“Because the cat Aunt Song threw away, I secretly took it back,” Zhou Xuyan said with an innocent expression. “Before, he wouldn’t even let me touch it.”

Shi Sui paused, eyes wide open, “You mean Xiao Yuan?!”

“Yes, yes.”

Xiao Yuan was a long-haired calico cat that Shi Sui had seen many times at Zhou Xuyan’s house. Xiao Yuan was well taken care of by Zhou Xuyan, and even as a teenage cat, it was still lively and energetic.

Shi Sui couldn’t wrap her head around it, “Just because of that?”

“You think it’s not a big deal, right?” Zhou Xuyan slapped the table. “That’s why I say Yan Tingli is sick!”

“Just because I took his cat, he’s twisted about it, constantly sabotaging me. Anything I do at school somehow ‘accidentally’ gets back to my grandfather.”

Shi Sui said, “But I don’t think he likes Xiao Yuan.”

When at Zhou Xuyan’s house, Xiao Yuan would rub against his pant leg, and Yan Tingli would just coldly move his foot away.

“Because Xiao Yuan is my cat, and I named it,” Zhou Xuyan blinked. “Yan Tingli used to call it Suisui¹.”

Shi Sui was stunned, “Suisui?”

“Suisui, like the stalk of wheat, because when Xiao Yuan’s tail is up, it looks like a stalk of wheat.”

“…Oh.”

“His brainwaves are impossible for normal people to understand; he must think Xiao Yuan isn’t his cat anymore and flipped out, with his pathological possessiveness.”

Somehow, Shi Sui suddenly recalled the first time they met, when Yan Tingli kept repeating her name, “Shi Sui,” and later, countless times murmuring “Suisui” in bed.

“Oh right, did I ever tell you? Your eyes are super big, just like Xiao Yuan’s. That’s why I liked you the first time I saw you,” Zhou Xuyan joked.

Shi Sui was about to speak when her phone rang, displaying an incoming call.

She pressed to answer.

“Where are you?” The other side seemed to have the sound of rain, the voice not very clear.

“I’m still at the mall, wanting to hang out with Yan a bit longer.” She instinctively held her breath, “Is that okay?”

The voice suddenly said, “Talk to me.”

Shi Sui was puzzled, “Huh? Talk about what?”

“Anything.”

“Just say something.”

Shi Sui was confused, “Is there something that must be said online?”

“Yes.”

Shi Sui’s expression was odd, and Zhou Xuyan, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, whispered, “He sounds like he’s about to pass out and needs you to keep him alive.”

Shi Sui glanced at her but had no idea what to say, so she started rambling:

“We had Thai food for dinner, sour and salty, which I’m not quite used to. The passion fruit juice we had in the afternoon was a price shocker, a small cup for sixty-eight, not as good as the eight-yuan cup from the chain store near the school.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Tried on the new spring collection, bought a sweater.”

“Went to the accessory store, bought a hat.”

Shi Sui said a few things, feeling dry herself.

“Very boring.”

“Indeed.” He gave a definite response.

Shi Sui pouted, “Then I won’t say anymore.”

“Keep going.”

The rain sound grew louder.

She could only find something to say, “Where are you? The rain sounds so heavy.”

“In the rain.”

She was surprised, “No umbrella?”

“Forgot.”

Yan Tingli walked out without realizing he hadn’t taken an umbrella, so he decided not to use one.

“Don’t you know to find shelter when it rains? Are you stupid?”

His tone was calm, “Haven’t you always said I’m sick?”

Shi Sui was almost furious, “Then get soaked in your rain, don’t tell me.”

Yan Tingli casually replied, “If I don’t tell you, how can I make you feel sorry?”

“You brought it on yourself, only a dog would feel sorry.”

Despite her anger, Shi Sui couldn’t ignore it, sighing, “Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

He suddenly laughed for a long time, leaving Shi Sui baffled, and she heard him say, “Bark for me.”

…So annoying.

Shi Sui took a deep breath, “Stop talking nonsense, where exactly are you?”

He finished laughing, “My phone’s out of battery, hanging up.”

That night was Sunday, with early classes the next day, so as usual, Shi Sui would return to school.

She called Yan Tingli several times, and Zhou Xuyan couldn’t stand it, pulling her hand, “Come on, let’s go. He’s a grown man, what could happen? Come, I’ll take you back.”

Shi Sui looked at her phone, softly responding.

The red Porsche made a flashy stop at A University’s gate, and before Shi Sui got out, Zhou Xuyan repeatedly warned her, “Don’t ever reveal that I told you all this!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Shi Sui nodded loyally.

As she was about to leave, Zhou Xuyan couldn’t resist extending her arms, “Hug me.”

Shi Sui smiled, returning the hug, and was immediately pulled into a face-rubbing embrace.

Shi Sui was the sweetest, softest little cake she’d ever seen, Zhou Xuyan thought fondly.

“See you next time.”

The two parted reluctantly.

On the way back, Shi Sui was still digesting the words Zhou Xuyan had shared with her that afternoon.

During the two years she stayed at the Yan Family, she couldn’t help but notice the various incongruities.

But being an outsider, she had always needed to be cautious and well-behaved.

Shi Sui recalled some past events.

When she first arrived, she had dirtied the car, and although Yan Tingli had discreetly handled the situation, it was an earth-shattering embarrassment for a teenage girl, making her even more careful in the days that followed.

By the time she knew Yan Tingli, he was already a prominent figure.

Girls often talked about him, admired him, praised him for being so wonderful, yet few dared to confess their feelings, as he seemed so unattainable.

Occasionally, when Yan Zecheng returned, he would inquire about Yan Tingli’s studies and competitions at the dinner table.

There were always various competitions and technical terms she couldn’t understand, so she could only smile politely.

Moreover, Shi Sui’s most vivid memory was when Song Jie mentioned a starlet who had started as a child star, rumored to be a little princess.

To Shi Sui, this high-and-mighty actress was dismissed by Song Jie with a cold sneer, “A daughter raised by a third-rate family, lacking any sense.”

Song Jie was referring to the incident where the starlet had hired paparazzi to stage photos with Yan Tingli.

In the end, the photos were blocked by Song Jie’s command, and the starlet’s popularity waned significantly afterward.

Watching various films and TV shows, Shi Sui realized that wealthy people disliked being exploited for fame.

Thus, Shi Sui tried to minimize her presence in the vast Yan Mansion.

At school, it was even more so; she would often find excuses to have the driver stop half a block away and walk the rest of the way herself.

Shi Sui couldn’t remember many professional terms or competition names.

But she could remember the resounding phrase “lacking any sense.”

Yet now, she was doing things that appeared obedient and sensible on the surface, while secretly engaging in clandestine activities.

The rain fell heavier, blowing past the edge of her umbrella onto Shi Sui’s cheeks.

She stood still for a long time, eventually lowering her head to delete the words she had typed in Yan Tingli’s chat box.

With a downward glance, she turned off her phone and continued walking forward.

Footnote:

1. Suisui(穗穗): The cat’s former name, 穗穗 (Suìsuì), literally means ‘stalk of wheat’ (as explained in the text, referring to the cat’s tail). It is also a homophone of the female lead’s name, 岁岁 (Suìsuì).