Chapter 1766: Mermaid Rearing Guide 38

Jin Chen saw the anxiously spinning Red Dumpling outside the base's Main Gate, with Xu Yi and You Zhuoran guarding beside the vehicle.

"Boss, you finally showed up!" Xu Yi said anxiously: "Doctor Lin seems unwell; I daren't leave, fearing something might happen to him."

You Zhuoran nodded in agreement, "I'm afraid only you can comfort him."

The Red Dumpling lay on the White Wolf King's head, gurgling, apparently also at a loss.

Jin Chen glanced into the vehicle, his eyelid twitched, he opened the door and got in.

Seeing that, You Zhuoran pulled Xu Yi away, got into the Animal Protection Association's vehicle, and left the base.

The Red Dumpling looked left and right, gesturing for the White Wolf King to jump onto the vehicle roof, so it wouldn't disturb the Great King and Queen, and could lie down to rest!

Inside the vehicle.

Jin Chen snatched the scalpel from Lin Juan's hand, gripping the fingers that kept fiddling with the handle, "What are you trying to do?"

You scared me!

Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Juan seemed to come to his senses, he lifted his hazy gaze toward Jin Chen, and his calm expression finally showed a crack.

His eyes reddened, he tilted his head and lightly rubbed his chin against Jin Chen's, his clear tone trembling, "May I kiss…"

Before he could finish, Jin Chen's kiss sealed his words; Lin Juan was held by the neck and kissed deeply, he trembled, his damp eyelashes fluttering shut as his shoulders gave a slight shudder.

Lin Juan suddenly grabbed Jin Chen's collar, throwing his whole weight forward, completely leaving the seat to sink into Jin Chen's embrace, only his half‑kneeling knee bearing the weight.

A near‑mad craving for kisses.

Lin Juan sought warmth from their embrace, feeling Jin Chen's love, as if only this could give him a reason to live with his guilt.

Otherwise, he wouldn't even need to struggle mentally; Lin Juan would have already killed himself.

His consciousness was fragile and dazed; his indifferent reaction to the outside world was merely self‑protection after too many blows. Now, before Jin Chen, he shed all pretense, his breathing growing heavier and tears slipping down.

Unlike his earlier scorching, deep kiss, Jin Chen now brushed Lin Juan's cheek lightly, his thumb wiping the moisture from the corner of his eye, his voice warm enough to make one's heart tremble.

"I'll take you away."

Lin Juan's slender waist was trapped by Jin Chen, drawn out ever more frail, like a green bamboo that could snap at any moment.

He lifted his head, his hazy gaze fixed on Jin Chen's pupils, as if he hadn't heard those words.

"Don't blacken your eyes." Lin Juan suddenly became insistent.

At his words, Jin Chen closed his eyes; when he opened them again, the disguise fell away, revealing his merfolk blue eyes and waist‑length silver hair—this was the first time, after his transformation into a fully mature form, that he appeared before Lin Juan in his true appearance.

An indescribable, mysterious depth.

【Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 95!】

【Villain Blackening Value -10, total 65!】

Lin Juan's gaze flickered; looking up, his eyes were full of tender attachment, yet Jin Chen saw something else within them—such as reason fraying to the point of collapse.

Jin Chen's brows twitched slightly; he pressed the acupressure point on Lin Juan's neck and kissed him again.

A tingling, numb sensation spread instantly through his body; Lin Juan felt as if soaked in warm water and fainted within a few breaths.

Jin Chen caught the limp body in his arms, wrapping him tightly in his coat.

——

A certain suburban Zhuang Yuan.

Lin Juan seemed to have had a long dream, in which he relived the past darkness; this time the memory was no longer fragmented, but completed according to the truth finally learned.

Countless regrets, but the fact cannot be changed.

Lin Juan's consciousness finally withdrew from the dream; he opened his eyes on the bed where sunlight poured in, and after a moment's hesitation he sat up, puzzled.

His first thought was that Jin Chen had brought him back to Mermaid City.

But this place clearly wasn't Mermaid City; it was a human dwelling.

Jin Chen……

A great panic surged through his heart, causing sharp pain.

"Squeak!"

Lin Juan had just stumbled out of bed when he saw a wet‑towel‑wrapped young Red Dumpling dash in at the doorway.

"Yay! The Queen has awakened!"

The Red Dumpling squeaked again and sprinted off to find the Great King.

Lin Juan's tense muscles finally relaxed, and he let out a gentle sigh.

The Little Red Fish is still here; Jin Chen won't just leave like that.

Lin Juan couldn't remember how long he'd been unconscious or how he'd passed out, but the exhausting fatigue of this period finally eased, and his fraying reason returned somewhat.

"Awake?"

Jin Chen pushed the door open, saw Lin Juan standing by the curtain, stepped forward and ruffled his hair; Lin Juan lunged into his embrace and clung tightly.

"Feeling better?" Jin Chen rubbed his back, teasing, "You've slept two days—hungry or not?"

Lin Juan tucked his head into Jin Chen's neck, murmuring, "Not very hungry."

"How is Aidemeng?"

"He can finally bring up this topic again."

"He's dead, no corpse left." Jin Chen soothingly pinched Lin Juan's earlobe, "The base is under the control of the Animal Protection Association and the military; expect news soon."

"High‑intelligence animals lacking independent action have also been taken over by the Animal Protection Association; everything is over."

Everything is over.

Lin Juan's eyes flickered slightly; recalling the dream's content, he gave a soft hum.

【Villain Blackening Value -30, total 35!】

"Where is this?" Lin Juan asked, recalling.

"First wash up and eat, then we'll talk slowly." Jin Chen ambiguously rested his hand on his lower back, "Or should I wash you?"

Lin Juan's heart trembled; looking up at him, they said, 'Good.'

Jin Chen couldn't help laughing, 'I don't think it's good; you're weak, let's talk after a few days of rest.'

Lin Juan: '......'

Jin Chen had prepared the robe and loungewear down to the last detail; it seemed that after receiving the inheritance, his ability to adapt to human society had greatly improved.

Lin Juan, however, suddenly felt a slight concern.

It felt as if Jin Chen no longer needed him as much; this feeling left Lin Juan with a sense of loss, and an inexplicable panic began to grow.

Since joining the base ten years ago, aside from business trips, he had hardly lived long in the world outside the base; now Jin Chen is his only remaining connection to that world.

From love arises fear.

After coming of age, Lin Juan had never cared so much about anyone's arrival or departure.

He closed his eyes and sank to the bottom of the bathtub, feeling the water's sway, as if he were still in the mermaid city.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 100!】