Chapter 1694

This kiss was somewhat unexpected.

The feeling on his cheek was fleeting, soft and moist—an experience Pei Yinnian had never had before.

This person is really bold.

I don't know what he's thinking, but just as in the car, he feels no aversion toward Jin Chen—whether the kiss is on the back of his hand or on his face.

There was also a strange, peculiar feeling.

Jin Chen's lips curled slightly; after the kiss, he still rubbed his nose against Pei Yinnian's, his affectionate eyes rippling gently.

Being looked at like that, Pei Yinnian suddenly felt a bit dazed.

"Mr. Pei," Jin Chen whispered softly, his lips barely moving.

Pei Yinnian snapped back to his senses, feeling perhaps he really was a little drunk.

His voice was a little hoarse, their gazes locking.

"You did well. What reward do you want?"

Pei Yinnian leaned back against the sofa, waiting for the answer, his free hand pinching his brow to steady his heartbeat.

Jin Chen, however, said nothing, expressing what he wanted through action.

He leaned in, his dark lashes lowered, his crimson lips lightly brushing Pei Yinnian's, their breaths intertwining, near yet distant.

Pei Yinnian's breathing tightened slightly, "Jin Chen."

The somewhat heavy voice did not make Jin Chen retreat; he clung to Pei Yinnian's shoulder, the ambiguous intimacy almost overwhelming, his peach-blossom eyes glazed, gorgeous beyond description.

"……" After a brief silence, Pei Yinnian acquiesced to Jin Chen's kiss.

But he hadn't expected that Jin Chen wanted more than just to stop there.

Yet the ambiguity seemed to spread with their breaths, giving Pei Yinnian a dazed feeling as everything around blurred; he raised his hand and wrapped it around Jin Chen's waist.

A deep, lingering kiss.

What remained was a scorching flush on Pei Yinnian's neck, burning his skin; he pulled his hand free, pushed Jin Chen's shoulder away, tilted his head, and spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

"Enough."

Jin Chen naturally leaned into Pei Yinnian's embrace, burying his face in the crook of his neck and letting out a low sigh, as if sated yet like a demon whose vital breath had been cut off; his warm breath sprayed onto Pei Yinnian's neck, inevitably stirring a tremor, as if lightly caressed.

This was a posture of complete submission and dependence, exposing his nape without defense before Pei Yinnian, as if baring affection to a superior who could take his life at any moment.

Pei Yinnian couldn't help but admit he was enjoying it.

Buried in his neck, Jin Chen moved his lips silently, yet unmistakably embraced Pei Yinnian, their bodies pressed together with almost no space between.

"Mr. Pei," Jin Chen said, his voice still alluring even after the kiss, he lifted his head, his fingertip slowly tracing Pei Yinnian's Adam's apple, "Are you still satisfied?"

Slightly long strands of hair fell, shielding his overly captivating brows and eyes; Pei Yinnian couldn't resist lifting his hand to sweep the hair behind Jin Chen's ear, his curled fingers lightly stroking the seductive lower lashes.

"Not bad."

"Beauty is bewitching; indeed, not bad."

【Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total 15!】

When the servant came in to deliver a message, he happened to walk in on this scene.

A Si gasped, his breath catching, and hurriedly lowered his head, standing at the living room doorway, afraid to look or take another step forward.

He lowered his head and quickly said, "Master of the house, the president of Bridge Head Newspaper wishes to see you regarding the report on the new casino's ribbon-cutting."

Upon hearing the movement, Pei Yinnian's first reaction was to shield Jin Chen's now bewitchingly somewhat ostentatious face; when he felt the smile at the bottom of Jin Chen's eyes, he only then eased his embrace, pinching Jin Chen's face as if punishing him.

"Let him wait in the side hall."

"Yes, Master of the house."

A Si hurriedly turned and left, not even catching a glimpse of Jin Chen's back.

"Are you going to work again?" Jin Chen clenched his collar, unwilling to let go, "I don't want to return to the theater; when you come back, I'll sing for you."

"Okay."

Pei Yinnian had no reason to disagree.

As he rose, Jin Chen still didn't forget to pull him, having him drink half a bowl of hangover soup, only then letting Pei Yinnian go.

The living room soon grew quiet; Jin Chen turned over and simply rested and slept there.

With Pei Yinnian's orders, no clumsy servant dared to barge in—far quieter than the theater's backstage.

——

A few days later, Jin Chen had just finished a performance, walking backstage amid the applause of the full house, when the little Ling sent by Pei Yinnian to look after him nimbly followed him, heading toward his private dressing room while taking off his heavy costume, and also speaking.

Master Jin, the head of the Pei Family said a car will be sent this afternoon to pick you up; you're returning to the ancestral home today.

Jin Chen's fingers paused as he unfastened the cape of his costume, then swiftly removed it, revealing a fitted inner garment, "Why are we going back to the old residence? I thought we weren't supposed to go back until the end of the month."

Actually, Jin Chen could have guessed as much; perhaps the two leads had finally returned from Shanghai.

No wonder Xu Nanchun didn't come to the theater today; he must have received the news early and rushed off to find Xiao Bofeng.

The peaceful days have come to an end.

Jin Chen removed his headgear and told Little Ling to inform the troupe leader.

Hearing that he was to accompany Mr. Pei back to the Pei Family's ancestral home, the troupe leader dared not refuse to let him go, and, fearing Jin Chen might be late, even arranged two apprentices to remove his makeup, using the finest oils.

You have something to say?

Jin Chen leaned back comfortably, letting a few kids fuss over him, squinting at the mirror; the troupe leader's worry‑filled face was impossible to ignore.

Sigh...

The troupe leader, his old bones almost worn out from worry, complained like he was bitterly venting: "You little ancestor, you don't know—I've been seeing Nanchun heading over to the bridge area these days, not just anywhere, but to the Cai Fa Theater!"

Weiyang Xiyuan managed to gain a foothold in Beiping; when it wasn't yet that popular, it owed its rise entirely to Xu Nanchun as a leading actor, and the troupe leader always treated him differently.

Yet the Cai Fa Theater remained their sworn rival, and at this critical juncture Xu Nanchun kept running over there every few days, making it hard for the troupe leader not to think too much.

Thinking about it, the troupe leader felt all the more relieved that this little ancestor Jin Chen, though temperamental, had not forgotten his roots; despite being backed by Mr. Pei, he had not gone to a more popular theater.

「Cai Fa Xiyuan, ah... 」

It seems the protagonist really has started following the plot; however, in the original plot, it was Xiao Bo Feng and Pei Yi Qing who returned together, and in order to coax Xu Nanchun, they thus directly handed over the stewardship of Cai Fa Xiyuan to him, later and Weiyang Xiyuan were considered merged.

This also marks the beginning of Xu Nanchun becoming the leading star of Beiping.

"Troupe leader, rest assured." Jin Chen suddenly curled a smile, "It definitely won't affect our theater."

The title of Beiping's leading star, I'll take it.