Chapter 2196: You Are My Only Color 31

The twilight was silent.

Inside the manor, it seemed even quieter than usual.

Jin Chen had reopened the tracker on his way home, and now he constantly felt a gaze tightly following him.

He pretended not to notice anything.

And in the studio where Jin Chen often stayed, Wen Jin stared unblinkingly at the red dot from the moment it reappeared, until it drew ever closer.

It was within arm's reach, separated only by a door.

Wen Jin heard the sound of the studio door opening.

He slowly lifted his gaze, his nails almost digging into his flesh, his eyes resentful and obstinate.

Click.

The studio door was pushed open, and the hallway light streamed in, casting a warm hue at the threshold.

It seemed that this cold, gloomy studio only regained color with Jin Chen's return.

Wen Jin's own little world was the same.

But Wen Jin merely sat by the window, gazing at Jin Chen in place, staring without blinking.

His shoulders were soaked by the rain, and the damp vapor seemed to swallow him whole.

Outside the window, the overcast rain persisted; inside, the atmosphere was chilly and gloomy.

"Wen Jin."

Jin Chen called softly, walked over, and crouched beside him, saying, "I'm back."

A coaxing tone echoed in Wen Jin's ear.

"Come hug me."

Wen Jin's somewhat stiff fingers curled, and he suddenly leaned forward, tightly embracing Jin Chen.

In the moment of their embrace, Jin Chen sensed that Wen Jin's body was almost devoid of warmth; he glanced up at the open window, his heart tightening with a faint pain.

"Wen Jin..."

The words left unspoken were sealed by Wen Jin's lips pressing against his.

Like a drowning person clinging to the sole piece of driftwood, Wen Jin's eyes were sorrowful as he pressed his cold lips to Jin Chen's.

They tangled fiercely, seeking each other without restraint.

For a moment, Jin Chen almost wanted to give up.

What's the point?

Wen Jin merely wanted him, merely didn't want to be apart.

He could fully accept it, never leave his side—what else could he not do?

But as soon as that thought arose, Jin Chen pressed it back down.

He thought of those paintings of Wen Jin's youth stored in the warehouse, which implicitly held hope—a meaning that even in darkness one would yearn for beauty.

Wen Jin could have possessed those.

Rather than forever staying in the dark.

Jin Chen drew a deep breath, placed his palm on Wen Jin's back, and gently stroked.

Until even the last breath was squeezed out of their kiss.

Only then did Wen Jin tremble as he lifted his hands to cup Jin Chen's face, his voice hoarse to the point of being inarticulate when he spoke.

"... Xiao Chen."

"You've come back."

Jin Chen gave a soft hum, gazing into his eyes, "I'm back."

"Why."

Wen Jin didn't know whether he was asking Jin Chen or himself, lowering his eyes to admire Jin Chen's beautiful brows and eyes, "You didn't leave; you could have walked away..."

But Wen Jin knew that if Jin Chen truly hadn't returned, he would certainly stop at nothing to find him.

But this is different.

Jin Chen actively returned to his side.

"I love you." Jin Chen said, raising his hand to rub at his wet eye corners.

"So I'm not fleeing; I merely went off briefly to attend to my own affairs, then returned to your side."

Wen Jin fell somewhat silent.

Jin Chen then undid his collar button, guiding Wen Jin's fingers to touch his collarbone, "Does it look good?"

Wen Jin startled, gazing at the colorful iris lines blooming on his collarbone, the skin around it still slightly flushed, making it all the more vivid and enticing.

"... Beautiful."

This was the color he had painted onto Jin Chen's skin with his own hands last night.

Only on Jin Chen's body could he see the most precise and beautiful color; now that hue has permanently remained on Jin Chen's skin.

Even if it fades over many years, it is already enough.

A spontaneous sense of satisfaction surged in Wen Jin's heart, incomparable to anything else.

Wen Jin's eyes grew sore; he pulled Jin Chen close and, entranced, lowered his head to kiss that mark.

The freshly tattooed skin was sensitive; the moment Wen Jin's lips pressed on it, Jin Chen's breath grew heavier, he tilted his head back slightly, pressing against Wen Jin's nape.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -6, total 60!】

After Wen Jin's emotions steadied somewhat, Jin Chen noticed that a few more paintings seemed to have appeared beside the drawing board.

Wen Jin followed his gaze; his thick lashes shaded the light in his eyes.

"Want to look?" he asked.

"Look." Jin Chen decisively replied, curling his lips: "Professor's masterpiece, of course I want to see it."

The atmosphere thus became no longer so oppressive.

It was Wen Jin imitating the painting left behind by Jin Chen.

It was Jin Chen in Wen Jin's eyes.

Jin Chen had painted many of them together, many portraits of Wen Jin.

This was still the first time he appeared in Wen Jin's painting.

Unlike the frightening tone that had long become habitual over the years, Jin Chen in this painting resembled a deity, possessing both divinity and allure, with a warm tone.

In this painting, Jin Chen saw the spirituality unique to Wen Jin that the old dean had spoken of.

"Xiao Chen."

Jin Chen came to, glanced sideways at Wen Jin, "Huh?"

Wen Jin embraced him from behind, lightly stroking Jin Chen's chest, then buried his head in the crook of his neck, as if returning to the previous gentle indulgence.

"I tried to give you freedom; you can't leave me, okay?"

"Good." Jin Chen finally smiled a bit more relaxed, pecking the corner of his lips, "I haven't gone back on my word today, Professor Wen, you should trust me a bit more."

After a day apart, Wen Jin wished for even more intimate contact—skin pressed warm against skin, reckless kisses on the pulse beating beneath the skin, intertwined breaths, desperate entanglement, wishing bone and flesh would fuse.

Wen Jin casually placed those few paintings on the shelf, kissed Jin Chen's scorching neck side, utterly unashamed of his longing and desire for him.

But at this moment, Jin Chen kept calling "Professor" in his ear over and over.

With the most innocent tone, as if discussing academics seriously in the lecture hall.

Wen Jin let out a shallow sigh, feeling Jin Chen was truly mischievous, yet couldn't muster any anger.

"Xiao Chen," he panted, regaining consciousness as he unconsciously gripped Jin Chen's neck, stroking his waist ambiguously, "Be a good child who listens to the professor."

Wen Jin's beautiful face was tinged with an ambiguous, mysterious richness; his lashes damply lowered, the corners of his eyes holding a hint of red.

"You won't kiss me—is it because you don't want to, or..."

No.

Wen Jin expressed his meaning with his eyes.

Jin Chen: "……"

Good, the provocation method works.

The body temperature, soaked by continuous overcast rain, finally became scorching.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 91!】

——

After initial probing showed some effect, Jin Chen gave Wen Jin a few days to adjust, never again bringing up leaving.

Wen Jin's vigilance also gradually relaxed, he was quite satisfied with the status quo.

At least his Xiao Chen would no longer throw tantrums for no reason and disobey, giving him headaches.

But such obedience only lasted five days.

That morning.

At breakfast, Jin Chen again proposed going out for a trip.

Wen Jin: "……"

The coffee in Wen Jin's hand instantly lost its aroma.

"What are you going to do?" Wen Jin pinched his brow, trying to keep his inquiry calm, and poured a cup of hot soy milk for the seated Jin Chen.

Jin Chen took a sip of soy milk, earnestly explaining: "Earlier I said I wanted to hold an art exhibition; didn't you help me contact the collaborators? Today I'm going to meet him to discuss the details."

"I can help you settle this," Wen Jin tried to persuade him, easing his tone, "Xiao Chen, you don't need to worry about these; I'll handle it for you."

Jin Chen set down the soy milk cup, just silently gazing at Wen Jin, the grievance in his eyes gradually showing.