Chapter 2157

Morning light streamed through the gaps in the wooden window into the room; Lin Mian lay in Jin Chen's arm, slowly waking.

He lazily turned over, but a faint chill came from his neck.

Lin Mian instinctively touched it, felt the sensation was off, and suddenly opened his eyes, looking at the phone screen.

A vine-like light green pattern ran from the collarbone up to behind the ear, like a marking lightly drawn.

Lin Mian stared blankly for several seconds, many thoughts flashing through his mind.

Finally he looked toward Jin Chen beside him, secretly guessing: Could it be that sleeping with Jin Chen too long left some kind of spirit's mark?

Jin Chen wrapped his long arm around, trapping Lin Mian between his arm and the blanket, then gave a clingy nuzzle, murmuring, "What are you doing?"

"Why do I have this on my neck?" Lin Mian still couldn't figure it out, leaning over to let Jin Chen see.

Jin Chen lifted his gaze, his fingertip tracing the green line, a smile appearing in his eyes: "This is the divine envoy's protection contract."

He lifted his own collar, revealing an identical pattern beneath his collarbone, only darker in hue: "My power is symbiotic with yours; I can no longer leave you."

Lin Mian stared blankly at the pattern beneath his collarbone, fragments of last night's memories suddenly surging:

The drunken self clinging to Jin Chen's neck saying "Bind you", the self offering all wealth as gifts demanding Jin Chen not leave, and the self grabbed onto his clothes when lifted onto the bed and refused to let go.

……

The memories receded, and Lin Mian suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

He lowered his head, his voice soft as a whisper: "I… I was too clingy last night, wasn't I?"

Before his words finished, he was pulled into a warm embrace; Jin Chen bit his hot earlobe and laughed, "I just love it, how adorable."

Like being soaked in hot spring water bubbling away, Lin Mian's heart went soft beyond words, and he clung tighter to Jin Chen's arm.

"So you promised, then, the things I said last night?"

"The contract serves as proof." Jin Chen said.

In response, Lin Mian offered his soft, warm lips.

Their breaths intertwined, tender and delicate.

"I like you." Between kisses, Lin Mian whispered softly, his affection deepening.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 81!】

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -10, total 35!】

——

Morning wind carried the sweet scent of apple blossoms through the window, another fine day.

After autumn arrived, the crops swayed gently in the autumn breeze, the air filled with the fragrance of fruit and the earth's aroma.

On the farm, the crops have matured, fruits plump and bright, vegetables growing vigorously.

The restaurant and agritourism spot also added many new dishes; honey‑preserved hawthorn skewers turned candied haws, the most popular, while visitors gathered around persimmon trees, using long poles to knock down the fruit, becoming a new amusement.

Recently the farm planted a new batch of tea, entirely tended by the spirits; Lin Mian had no intention of selling it, just keeping some to drink and give away.

Half a week later, Boss Song brought several trucks to haul goods.

Logically he could have stayed away, but he simply craved this taste, as if food cooked at the farm were inevitably more fragrant; every time he came, he had to eat a hearty meal before leaving.

For this reason, and thanks to the friendship of the older generation, Boss Song now calls Lin Mian "old brother", their relationship much closer.

Boss Song's vehicle drove into the farm, and Lin Mian hurried to greet him.

Lin Mian smiled and said to Boss Song, "Boss Song, welcome! This year's harvest is good; let me show you around."

"Eh, as long as the harvest is good, I heard you also opened a restaurant; this time I came just hoping for a bite… a bite."

Boss Song's words trailed off, and he stared blankly at the small path behind Lin Mian.

The white lion is fine, not scary, but why is there also a moose half a person's height, and a rabbit walking on the ground!

Are your farm's animals also this… strange!

"Lin… old brother, are you planning to open a zoo?"

Lin Mian followed the gaze, his eyelids twitching; he had forgotten to tell the spirits that visitors were coming today, so they hadn't concealed themselves in advance.

The rabbit is a very enthusiastic spirit.

When the rabbit saw Boss Song looking over, it quickly perked its ears to greet, preparing to shift into human form for a chat, but at the critical moment Jin Chen snatched it up and hurled it onto the moose's head.

"Eek!" the rabbit tried to resist, but the moose bore it toward the wooden house, its long ears swaying in the wind.

Jin Chen blocked Boss Song's view, his expression unchanged: "It's my new pet."

"... Ah." Boss Song stood dazed, but remembering his father's instructions, he immediately nodded without speaking.

Still, eating was more important.

Pumpkin chestnuts and garlic‑fragrant stir‑fried mushrooms, roasted eggplant paired with charcoal‑grilled lamb chops, and after the meal sweet roasted sweet potatoes; Boss Song and the transport workers exclaimed their satisfaction, full of energy.

As the trucks left the warehouse one by one, Lin Mian visibly grew happier, enthusiastically giving Jin Chen a big red envelope.

Sure enough, the farm owner's stinginess also varies by person.

——

With the arrival of the harvest season, Hope Village will hold an annual food festival to celebrate this year's bumper harvest and pray for another good harvest next year.

For Hope Village, this is a big day; moreover, thanks to the effect of Harvest Farm, the village's scenic area income this year has increased considerably.

And for Harvest Farm, it is likewise a big day.

Lin Mian decided to follow Lady Lin Yao's tradition, continuing to hold a separate Harvest Celebration on the farm on the day of the food festival.

Even though he doesn't have as many connections as his parents, he has many elf friends, both those he has met and those he hasn't, who write letters to each other.

The news of the Harvest Celebration spread like a sweet-scented breeze, quietly blowing through the entire great forest of the elf world.

Lin Mian squatted in front of the oak chest of the farm's wooden house, and when he lifted the lid, a flurry of falling letter paper struck his face.

Pale green leaf letters, silver‑glimmering butterfly‑shaped envelopes, and even scrolls wrapped in pinecone shells—all crammed into the mailbox, bursting out puffily.

He and Jin Chen exchanged a glance, "Can our farm really accommodate so many elves?"

Perhaps. Jin Chen also sounded unsure.

But before that, I think you need to look at this first. Jin Chen handed the heavy, gilt‑covered ancient tome to Lin Mian.

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Elf Races

Lin Mian: "... Ah, my head is pounding."

He nudged Jin Chen's shoulder and said, "I don't want to look."

Jin Chen immediately said, "If Keke agrees to my request from last night, I'll help you greet the guests."

Lin Mian: "……"

Sure enough, that's exactly why I came.

But doing that on a hammock made of vines is really exhausting!

He gave Jin Chen a resentful look and said, "You did that on purpose."

No, I just thought of it suddenly. Jin Chen appeared innocent, his index finger slightly bent as he lightly brushed Lin Mian's nose.

Keke, this is a great bargaining chip—the illustrated guide lists over three thousand elf species.

Lin Mian doesn't have an elf‑like memory; it's impossible for him to memorize all of them in a short time.