Chapter 2: Saving the Autistic Boy 02

Early the next morning, Jin Chen was woken up by 0731.

【Host not good! The villainous Little Pitiful One is being bullied by the protagonist's lover!】

Because of the mission, 0731 could no longer afford to be afraid.

Jin Chen slowly sat up, and ripples stirred in the depths of his eyes.

What's wrong with this protagonist's lover, coming over to pick a fight first thing in the morning? He just gave Ji Yan medicine last night; this is supposed to be his time to rest.

Just as he stepped outside Ji Yan's door, he heard the commotion inside.

"You actually dare to apply medicine? Back home you endured in silence, but here you're really acting like a young master!"

Ji Yu's voice was nothing like last night's sweetness; instead, it became sharp and piercing.

"I warn you, if you behave and stay mute, you can live a bit longer; if you say what you shouldn't, just wait to suffer!"

"What shouldn't be said? Just say it so I can hear."

Jin Chen's voice was ice-cold, cutting off Ji Yu's cursing.

The two people in the room were both startled; Ji Yu quickly moved the hand that was about to swing behind his back.

Jin Chen entered, first looking at the boy with his head lowered on the bed; sure enough, his arms now bore several more wounds.

He frowned, not even glancing at the suddenly pitiful Ji Yu, and walked toward the bedside.

Their gazes met for a moment; Ji Yan was the first to look away, somewhat flustered.

"I'll apply medicine for you later."

After tucking the blanket back over the boy, he then gave Ji Yu a cold stare.

"Who let you in?"

Ji Yan watched the man's back blocking his front; his almond eyes flickered with an unknown emotion, like doubt.

Ji Yu was even more incredulous.

He bit his lip, trembling as he complained.

"Brother Chen, why are you being harsh with me? Clearly you allowed it before! You said that as long as I come in, anytime is fine!"

That was the original host's blindness.

Jin Chen said he wouldn't take the blame for this, his gaze toward Ji Yu devoid of warmth.

"Was I also the one who allowed you to hit Ji Yan?"

Ji Yu didn't know what was going on; why did Chen suddenly protect this fool so much? Isn't the one he likes supposed to be me?

Could he have shifted his affections so quickly?

Thinking of his own plan, Ji Yu clenched his fists tightly; he would not allow Ji Yan to steal his affection, no matter whose.

He softened his tone, wanting to take Jin Chen's hand.

"Brother Chen, I know you're angry with me; from now on, when I come, I'll definitely look for you first, okay?"

Jin Chen's voice was extremely cold: "Don't touch me."

Ji Yu was instantly at a loss; his tears fell instantly, his eyes red as he shook his head.

"Brother Chen, you've changed—are you also like everyone else, bewitched by Ji Yan? How can you treat me like this…"

Jin Chen remained silent, asking 0731 in his mind.

【Does the Rescue Department have any rules against breaking character?】

【Some differences are okay, as long as it's not too extreme—I'll remind the host.】

Then it's fine.

He smirked sarcastically, his tone sharp.

"The person I'm keeping at home now is Ji Yan, and you have no shame."

"Or… do you no longer like that childhood friend of yours?"

Meeting Jin Chen's gaze, Ji Yu's heart jolted, as if everything had been laid bare.

He blinked rapidly, changing the subject.

"Brother Chen, Dad told you and your older brother to come home for lunch."

"No need, we have food at home."

Jin Chen stopped paying attention to him, sat by the bedside, and reapplied medicine to Ji Yan with a solemn expression and movements as gentle as possible.

Ji Yan stared blankly at the man's hand, his heart inexplicably calming a bit.

This person… seems different from before.

Gone are that frightening gaze and demeanor.

He will even protect himself.

No one has ever protected him like this.

But……

The boy seemed to think of something, staring blankly downward.

The two's atmosphere was harmonious, but Ji Yu was nearly fuming enough to cough up blood.

He bit his lip, producing a killer's spear.

"Dad said, this time when the older brother comes home, he'll return the older brother's mother's keepsake to him."

Jin Chen's motion paused; he lifted his gaze to look into Ji Yan's eyes.

Indeed, upon hearing the words "mother's keepsake," the boy's eyes brightened considerably.

Ji Yan gathered courage, taking hold of the man's sleeve, staring at Jin Chen without blinking—clear and pure, like a young deer.

"……."

This was the first time he spoke to Jin Chen.

His voice was hoarse from not speaking for a long time, but it was mostly clear and soft.

His heart inexplicably softened; Jin Chen, in a good mood, rubbed the boy's fluffy hair.

"Okay, I'll take you."

His medicine was also mostly applied, so he took out clothes from the wardrobe and handed them to Ji Yan, asking, "Do you need my help?"

Ji Yan shook his head quickly, took the clothes, and then heard the man's light laugh.

Watching their interaction, Ji Yu almost bit her silver tooth, jealousy welling up inside her.

But she still had to act docile in front of Jin Chen.

He tilted his head slightly and glared at Ji Yan.

You stupid idiot, you actually stole his affection.

Just wait and see!

——

For his mother's keepsake, Ji Yan struggled to overcome his fear of the outside world and sat in the back seat of the car.

But his complexion grew paler, his hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, staring at his own shoe toes, not daring to look up.

Ji Yu also wanted to get into the car, but Jin Chen stopped her.

"Did you walk here this morning?"

Ji Yu wondered, "No, what's up, Chen-gege?"

"Then why aren't you riding in your own car, coming here to do what?"

Jin Chen coldly threw out a sentence and closed the car door.

"I..."

Ji Yu bit her lip hard, her resentment growing, but for Jin Chen to change his heart in just one night is too fast!

The car slowly started, the driver raised the partition on his own, not disturbing the two.

Looking at the obedient boy with his head lowered beside him, Jin Chen recalled that his Blackening Value had already reached 40, and the blade hidden under the pillow, and smiled faintly without speaking.

He is an interesting child.

Ji Yan heard the laugh, felt somewhat puzzled, agonized for a while, then slightly lifted his gaze to look at Jin Chen.

Coincidentally, Jin Chen caught his gaze, and the two locked eyes again.

It wasn't the first time he'd been this close to a man, but the past few days he'd only been getting beaten, so he hadn't noticed his appearance.

Only today did he realize this man was very good-looking, especially his eyes, which gave him the urge to pick up a paintbrush...

"What are you thinking about?"

Seeing Ji Yan staring at him in a daze, Jin Chen smiled and pinched his cheek, his peach-blossom eyes instantly looking as if filled with emotion.

The blush on the boy's face instantly spread from his cheeks to his ears.

He turned his head to avoid it; for some reason, his heart suddenly began to pound violently.

Seeing him like that, the eternally single Jin Chen also felt somewhat inexplicably uneasy, but he didn't show it, merely giving a light cough twice.

【Host, you haven't talked about love before in the Counterattack Department, have you?】

Observing the two, 0731 suddenly asked; as they got along gradually, its fear of Jin Chen also lessened considerably.

【To counterattack for the original host, what's there to talk about love? I'm not that idle.】

That's right, 0731 thought; after all, in the Quick Transmigration Bureau, the two places called the holy lands of love are only the Rescue Department and the Strategy Department.

Although the two didn't exchange much along the way, the atmosphere was warm and just right, and Ji Yan also rarely felt no longer anxious.

But when the car entered the Ji family main gate, Ji Yan's condition obviously began to feel off.