Chapter 2224: Love Trapped in the Cycle of Fate 23

Night.

Song Gong, who should have died tonight, is still locked in 306.

But after all, he wasn't the only one involved in the 806 murder case years ago; worried that the killer might change victims tonight, the four of them kept watching the conditions on each floor's hallway.

In Jin Chen's keen senses, the sound of the rainstorm couldn't drown out the noise on each floor.

Above was Zhao Chunmei's fish‑chopping sounds, little girl Duoduo's incessant crying, faintly mixed with her mother Fang Ru's low scolding, telling her to stop crying.

The hallway was once again filled with the smell of burning paper money.

Around 23:30, the four went out again, only to happen upon a beautiful woman hurrying upstairs.

"Sister Wu," Xu Yi called out softly.

Wu Meiling hadn't intended to stop, but upon seeing Jin Chen and Shao Huai, she halted, standing on the high step of the hallway looking down.

"You're the new tenants who just moved in?"

Xie Guan asked directly: "You don't usually get off work at this time."

On previous Tuesday nights when the time refreshed, they had never run into Wu Meiling before.

"Ah, it doesn't matter, but I see Xiao Xie, you're a bit nervous around this handsome guy."

Wu Meiling lightly shifted the topic, her smile alluring: "What's your relationship? Why don't you introduce me to Sister?"

Xie Guan slowly furrowed his brows, that strange feeling for no reason welling up again.

Why……

"I'm his boyfriend." Jin Chen took Xie Guan's finger, his expression calm.

"……Oh, really?" Wu Meiling curled her lips, "Not really."

"This place isn't suitable for lovetalk."

Wu Meiling lowered her voice, clearly laughing yet sounding like a warning and reminder.

Having said that, she turned to leave.

"Do you know the woman killed in 806?"

Shao Huai suddenly asked.

Wu Meiling's back stiffened.

She gripped the railing, the few silent seconds like she was making up her mind; finally she turned to look at them, her face devoid of any smile.

"You really are here to investigate."

"Come to 705 tomorrow morning to find me, bring a few bottles of wine, and don't tell anyone."

——

It'sunknown whether the killer has a fixed target or is wary of the recent rumors; no further murder occurred on Tuesday night either.

Early morning.

Xie Guan stood alone outside the balcony of 301, his fingers holding a cigarette burned halfway, yet he never brought it to his lips.

He just watched, watching the ember smolder slowly, smoke rising.

In the damp night, the rainstorm never ceased for a moment, revealing the building's unrest and division.

Xie Guan's heart was unsettled, making it hard for him to fall asleep.

The calamity two years ago wore away all his former arrogance, as well as his hopes and aspirations for the future.

But the words Jin Chen spoke that day, cupping his face, kept replaying in his mind.

The ember burned down to the end, scorching his fingertip so it twitched; Xie Guan came to his senses, stubbed it out, then extended his hand outside the balcony to let the rain soak him.

Negligent, Xie Guan vigilantly gazed toward the unlit living room, hearing the sound of the door being pried open.

He stood still, silently picking up the small knife placed nearby, his back outlined against the dark, oppressive rain‑night backdrop, expressionless.

Immediately, Xie Guan froze.

"…How did you come here?"

Xie Guan threw away the small knife, very puzzled.

Jin Chen was caught red‑handed, utterly unfazed; he tossed aside the wire and headed for the balcony.

He curled the corner of his mouth, his eyes glinting with a teasing smile: "I couldn't sleep, so I came to find you."

Seeing Jin Chen's expression unchanged, as if nothing had happened, Xie Guan relaxed, turned back, and continued gazing at the rain curtain.

A warmth came from his shoulder touching hers.

Xie Guan's hand hanging at his side was then taken up.

Jin Chen lowered his eyes, sniffed lightly, and said sharply: "Why are you smoking? Unhappy or can't sleep?"

"……I wasn't smoking." Xie Guan's fingertip twitched, wanting to pull back, but instead Jin Chen locked their hands, fingers interlaced.

His other hand gripped Xie Guan's chin, lifting his face to meet his gaze.

"Really, then let me test."

It was quite natural.

Test what…

Xie Guan reacted in an instant; his ears flushed red, the feeling of lips and teeth entwined from his earlier impulse not yet forgotten, he subconsciously pressed his lips together, only to have Jin Chen's fingertip press down on his lower lip.

"……What exactly are you here for?" Xie Guan lowered his voice, gritting his teeth.

"To come get a kiss from you."

Jin Chen's voice was low and alluring.

Xie Guan still kept a cold face, but a redness rose at the corners of his eyes—whether shyness or agitation, unclear—making him all the more enticing.

"Don't provoke me, Jin Chen." Xie Guan spoke low, his throat feeling tight, finally issuing a warning.

"You know I have nothing left; provoking me won't end well."

Xie Guan spoke the words urging him to give up, but his fingertips clenched and his eyelashes trembled violently.

"It's too late."

Jin Chen slowly approached, pecking the corner of his lips, his voice somewhat muffled, "I came just to provoke you."

As his voice fell, a touch of warmth covered over; he still kissed fiercely, yet it was overly soft.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -8, cumulative 70!】

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, cumulative 50!】

Tonight's kiss was deeper.

Xie Guan went limp all over, his usually listless eyes losing focus and scattering, provoked to lean back, and then he was pressed against the window by Jin Chen, rain splashing onto his shoulders.

The cool sensation barely woke a fraction of his awareness when a hand covered his waist; in an instant the world spun and his posture changed.

Xie Guan was held in his embrace, he lifted his gaze into Jin Chen's eyes, lowered his gaze slightly, wrapped his arms around his neck, and buried himself.

"Xiao Guan." Jin Chen called him softly.

"... Mm."

Xie Guan felt a bit nervous, thinking that if Jin Chen asked why he was holding on so tight, he would immediately kick Jin Chen out.

"My clothes are wet."

Jin Chen's lip curve deepened, his fingertip hooked, he slowly rubbed Xie Guan's waist, "Sleeping alone will give you a cold; I want to sleep with you."

Xie Guan: "……"

Xie Guan lay against his shoulder, somewhat irritably, "You also didn't say not to."

What's the point of speaking in such a pitiful tone?

"Oh, thank you… boyfriend."

Jin Chen gave a satisfied little peck to his ear.

Xie Guan's face grew colder, yet also redder.

"Idiot."