Chapter 1104: Gentle Neighbor's Drama‑Queen Sweetheart 32

Zhongyu Yu lowered his gaze; upon hearing he was sick, even though it was only a small cold, it greatly diluted the joy of Jin Chen returning to keep him company.

He dislikes being sick, because being sick means getting scolded.

He fell silent for a long time, so he didn't catch what Jin Chen had just said; when Jin Chen set him down, he instantly lost his sense of security, clinging tightly to Jin Chen's shoulders, his eyes flashing with panic.

"Where are you going?"

Zhongyu Yu gripped him with more force than ever before, as if afraid of being abandoned, his eye sockets reddened, tears welling as he asked.

"Are you... going to scold me?"

"Don't ignore me..."

Jin Chen sensed something was off.

His wife's attitude toward illness seemed fearful—not of the illness itself, but of the surrounding environment after learning he was sick.

This emotion resembled a specific kind of anxiety; once triggered, it immediately sparked agitation and unease.

It was like fearing him when he was drunk, but this was even more serious.

Seeing Zhongyu Yu's pitiful appearance, Jin Chen's heart clenched; even his gentle voice seemed frightening, so the arms he had intended to release wrapped back around him tightly, providing a sense of safety.

"I won't scold you, our Yu Bao is so good."

"You're the one feeling awful from the cold; you don't need to apologize or feel sad—you'll be better soon."

The warm embrace was especially useful now; Zhongyu Yu curled into his arms, the chill dispelled, listening to his soft reassurances, after the sorrow faded only disbelief remained.

"I won't be scolded… then, could you… kiss me?"

As if seeking proof, Zhongyu Yu timidly lifted his head, his lips lightly brushing Jin Chen's jaw, yet he dared not initiate the kiss.

It was pitiful enough to make one's heart ache.

Jin Chen gently stroked Zhongyu Yu's back; this kiss was more tender than any before, carrying delicate comfort.

Zhongyu Yu felt it.

He felt a little like crying, his heart filled with a sore softness, as if the sorrow were slowly being driven away.

Tears traced his cheeks; he sobbed softly, burying his face in Jin Chen's neck as the kiss ended, crying quietly.

Both sorrow and the long‑suppressed grief need an outlet; they are not without cause.

Jin Chen held him, simply accompanying him; warm sandalwood fragrance swirled around Zhongyu Yu, offering comfort.

"Don't cry, be good."

He wiped away the tears with his fingertip, gently rubbing the cheeks, sincere and soft: "I won't leave; shall I take Yu Bao to remove makeup?"

Zhongyu Yu sniffled, nodded slowly, refusing to part from Jin Chen in any way, as if only this embrace could give him security; leaving would thrust him back into that dangerous world.

Jin Chen carried him to the washroom, carefully and somewhat clumsily removing his makeup; Zhongyu Yu remained obedient and quiet, aside from not wanting to leave Jin Chen's embrace, his sadness showed no outward sign.

But Jin Chen knew it wouldn't be that easily resolved.

After being washed clean, Zhongyu Yu no longer held back, burying his whole face in Jin Chen's arms, unwilling to move; his eyes were still hot, unsure whether from fever or simply wanting to cry.

"I feel awful."

He whined softly, his voice now stronger than before.

"Sit on the sofa for a while; I'll go brew medicine, you'll be fine soon." Jin Chen carried him back to the living room; the temperature was already just right, not overly stuffy.

Knowing he was placed on the sofa, Jin Chen wrapped him tightly in a blanket, then cupped his face and kissed him: "Be good, you'll be better soon."

"Mm…" Zhongyu Yu buried himself in the blanket, his gaze always on Jin Chen's back; when Jin Chen entered a room out of sight, his breathing grew ragged, he clenched his fists tightly, only easing when Jin Chen emerged, his discomfort and anxiety lessening a little.

Soon the medicine was ready; Jin Chen set it on the coffee table, and as soon as he sat down, Zhongyu Yu lunged into his arms; he adjusted his posture, holding him tight, the thermometer pressed lightly to his forehead.

"38 degrees."

"All right, just a low fever," Jin Chen relaxed a little, took warm water, fed him two pills, and gently stroked his cheek.

"Yu Bao, you're afraid of getting sick, aren't you?"

Zhongyu Yu tilted his head, lightly rubbing his palm, so obedient it was almost unreal.

"Getting sick… means being scolded."

"If it were an illness requiring a hospital visit, the scolding would be even harsher."

When he was little, Zhongyu Yu didn't understand why his classmates said, after getting sick, they just needed to lie still and it would be fine—almost enjoyable.

Yet in his own family, falling ill brought even greater suffering.

Over the years, it seeped in subtly.

Even after growing up and leaving that household, when he fell ill he still felt he would only cause trouble and waste time.

Hearing this, Jin Chen could also guess it was probably due to that abnormal Zhongyu Family couple.

Family members' fear after drinking, panic after illness, and the sudden moving‑furniture noises previously noticed also made Zhongyu Yu feel afraid.

All stem from childhood trauma, persisting to this day.

The Zhongyu family… must be dealt with quickly to avoid further trouble.

Jin Chen's inner hostility flared up, making him feel even more pity for his wife.

As he fell silent, Zhongyu Yu became clingy, begging for kisses; his delicate skin was already red from crying.

"Don't mind me being a bother, okay? Please like me a little more."

Zhongyu Yu knelt on him, his long, even arms encircling the neck, the corners of his eyes tinged with rouge; his pale‑red cheeks pressed against Jin Chen's, the fever‑raised temperature making him seem like warm jade, Jin Chen feared he might melt in his embrace.

"Won't be a bother," Jin Chen whispered, then pressed another soft, light kiss, which gradually grew forceful, possessive, locking him tight as if escape were impossible.

Such a deep kiss and embrace were, for the presently security‑less Zhongyu Yu, practically a curative remedy.

He felt he was possessed by Jin Chen, extraordinarily special.

His rich red lips were intensely ravished, repeatedly licked and bitten like jelly.

Gradually, Zhongyu Yu's sense of security slowly returned, his eyes filling with a hazy glow, he obediently leaned in Jin Chen's arms, no longer shedding tears.

Still wearing the sheer gauze dress, its side‑split hem had fallen to the floor; beneath the blanket, his fair, long legs bent, lightly hooking Jin Chen's pant leg, his whole body suffused with a pink hue.

Really too obedient, Jin Chen's heart trembled.

How could he not feel Zhongyu Yu's affection? Even though he was so afraid, he was still willing to endure time and again, breaking his precepts for him.

Last night, after getting drunk, Zhongyu Yu probably wanted to run away, yet still, because of his words "come hug me", he obediently came over and leaned in.

From the soothing light kiss to the forceful deep kiss, it gradually eased.

"Yu Bao is so good; it's hard to be together with you—how could it be annoying?"

Jin Chen's gentle words, sentence by sentence, made Zhongyu Yu feel joy, as if after winter had passed, the barrenness within finally sprouted new greenery, irrigated by love, moistened by companionship and tolerance, finally renewed, budding.

He snuggled close to Jin Chen's chest, like a willing tamed fox spirit, only wanting to cling to this person before him, never wanting to let go for a lifetime.

"I want to sleep." Zhongyu Yu cooed softly, wrapped himself in a blanket, burrowed down to rest his head on Jin Chen's thigh, hugging his waist as he slept.

"This medicine will make you drowsy if you drink it; go to sleep, after a night's sleep you'll be fine."

Jin Chen stroked his face, put on an English original‑soundtrack movie that Zhongyu Yu liked as white noise.

At some point a steady light rain began; outside the living room's floor‑to‑ceiling window it grew dim, the whole city soaked in moisture.

Inside the house, warmth suffused, a scene of coziness.