Chapter 2301: Love and Chaos System Showdown 25

The private room door was pushed open again, and Qiu Qing, timid in demeanor, walked in.

He first glanced quickly at the interior, then timidly looked toward Sun You sitting on the sofa on the other side.

"Sun ge..."

Sun You was chatting quietly with his rich-second-generation friend nearby; hearing this, he merely gave an indifferent "hmm," as if greeting an insignificant object: "Come sit."

Qiu Qing immediately obeyed, lowering his head obediently and shuffling over to sit on the single sofa beside Sun You, though his peripheral vision couldn't help glancing at You Le'an beside Jin Chen.

Seeing that the other showed no fear and was even protected by an invisible aura, a complex emotion flickered in Qiu Qing's eyes, and his eye sockets reddened further.

Sun You's rich-second-generation friend beside him, seeing this, nudged Sun You with his elbow, wearing a teasing smile: "Sun ge, her eyes are all red—won't you comfort her?"

Sun You, upon hearing his friend's remark—especially in front of Jin Chen—felt a bit embarrassed, worried it might affect the big shot's willingness to cooperate, so he impatiently turned his head, furrowed his brow, and asked Qiu Qing.

"What's wrong now?"

Qiu Qing's voice thick with sobs, as if finally unable to hold back, he burst out with a question: "You… you're getting married—why didn't you tell me?"

His voice sounded especially clear in the quiet private room.

You Le'an's hand was still immersed in the dull pain of the arranged marriage; he leaned listlessly against Jin Chen, showing no interest in anything around him.

At this moment, Qiu Qing's thunderous accusation struck like a bolt from the blue, instantly jolting him awake.

You Le'an jerked upright, his eyes wide and shining, gazing intently at Qiu Qing and Sun You's side.

He even unconsciously edged closer to Jin Chen, as if that would let him see more clearly.

Jin Chen: "……"

He clearly felt that the little fox beside him instantly perked up, its gossipy eyes practically glowing.

Jin Chen lowered his gaze to You Le'an's excited side profile, then glanced over at the tearful Qiu Qing.

For some reason, he felt that You Le'an's point of empathy right now might be a bit off.

With a mix of speechlessness and amusement, Jin Chen reached out and gave You Le'an's nape a firm-but-not-hard pinch, signaling him to settle down.

Qiu Qing continued his accusation, voice choking: "Your fiancé… went to my workplace! Said I'm a shameless mistress, trying to ruin my job!"

The more he spoke, the more heartbroken he became, and real tears fell.

Sun You's face darkened completely—not because of Qiu Qing's grievance, but because he felt exposing such a domestic matter in front of Jin Chen and Zhao Qi was terribly embarrassing.

He clicked his tongue irritably, didn't even glance at Qiu Qing's tear-streaked face, and casually pulled a card from his inner suit pocket, tossing it onto the coffee table before Qiu Qing like sending off a beggar.

"Enough, enough, why are you crying!" Sun You's voice impatient: "What does your marriage have to do with you? Who gave you the right to interfere?"

You Le'an:???

The melon-eating expression on his face instantly froze, turning into a huge, incredulous question mark.

He looked at the icy card, then at Qiu Qing, who had instinctively stopped crying and reached out to grab the card, having no desire to keep arguing, and then at the naturally entitled Sun You.

You Le'an suddenly felt he might not understand love at all.

Is that it? A card settles it? What about that earth-shattering question and tears just now!

You Le'an subconsciously projected himself into the situation.

If…

If Jin Chen one day suddenly tossed him a card, speaking with indifference and nonchalance, saying: "I'm getting married; it's none of your business—take the money and don't cause trouble."

You Le'an hadn't even begun to ponder who the marriage partner might be; this imagined scene merely flashed through his mind.

An indescribable flame, mixing fury, humiliation, and immense panic, surged from his gut to his crown in an instant.

You Le'an jerked his head toward Jin Chen, his eyes blazing with strong possessiveness and a warning.

He could give Jin Chen countless cards—don't even dream of getting this chance!

【Villain Blackening Value +5, total 15!】

Also silently eating melon, Jin Chen: "……"

Jin Chen clearly felt the anger of those beside him as if it were tangible.

He lowered his gaze, locking eyes with You Le'an's accusatory stare, and instantly understood what scenario this guy was simulating in his head.

Also unlucky—this could bring disaster for no reason; Jin Chen sighed at himself.

He tightened his hand on You Le'an's nape slightly, pulling him closer, his thin lips moving.

"Don't think wildly."

A tea master in simple tea attire entered silently with a tray, ready to change the tea.

Qiu Qing immediately composed himself, picked up the freshly replaced teacup before him, and carefully handed it to Sun You, his motion obedient.

After doing that, he unconsciously glanced at You Le'an beside Jin Chen.

Seeing You Le'an still lounging casually, even idly playing with the snacks on the plate, with no intention of pouring tea for Jin Chen at all.

Qiu Qing's heart welled with complex feelings—there was incomprehension, and even a hint of secret superiority.

So clueless—how could he win the patron's favor?

He couldn't help but give You Le'an a look, his eyes mixing reminder and suggestion.

Someone like President Jin—how many people wish to cling to him but can't; you'd better hurry up and show yourself.

You Le'an was spacing out, still mulling how to ask Jin Chen about the arranged marriage, when he unexpectedly caught Qiu Qing's gaze and blinked blankly.

What does that mean.

He completely failed to grasp the rich subtext in that look.

Following his gaze, You Le'an saw the teacup, but he doesn't like tea, finding it bland and tasteless, far less refreshing than happy water or strong coffee.

Thus, under Qiu Qing's astonished stare, You Le'an made a move that drew some sideways glances from everyone present, naturally pushing the nearly untouched, faintly fragrant teacup toward Jin Chen's hand.

Then he lifted his face, blinking his clear eyes tinged with a little expectation at Jin Chen, saying nothing, just conveying a silent plea with his gaze:

"This is for you; I want to drink something else."

Jin Chen understood, turning to the tea master who was bowing to pour tea: "Trouble, please change his drink to a sweet one."

The tea master, well‑trained, wore a proper smile, immediately bowed and replied, "All right, Mr. Jin."

Then, with just the right amount of respect, he proposed: "Young Master You, our tea house has just received a new batch of top‑grade oolong, with natural peach and ripe fruit aromas; would you be interested in stepping into the tea room to sample it?"

You Le'an showed a bit of interest, immediately turned his head to look at Jin Chen.

"Then I'll wait for you another half hour; I still have something very important to ask."

Jin Chen chuckled, "All right, go ahead."

After that recent disaster, he could roughly guess what You Le'an might have misunderstood.

He then curled his knuckles, tapped his forehead, and pinched his cheek.

"Before we settle things, don't let your imagination run wild and wrongly accuse me."

You Le'an pursed his lips, curled the corner of his mouth, and said, "Oh."

His heart, at Jin Chen's words, inexplicably loosened; he followed the tea master out of the private room with light steps, his very hair seeming to radiate cheer, as if the person who had been weighed down just moments before wasn't him.