Chapter 231: Saving the Ruthless Mafia Boss 19

This is the life-saving jade pendant I've worn since childhood; I even had it blessed at the most effective temple—once you wear it, it will keep many dangers at bay.

The words Jin Chen spoke when he sent it over are still clearly imprinted in his mind.

He approached, intending to reach out and pick it up, but felt some subconscious resistance.

The jade pendant faintly emitted a lustrous sheen; after staring at it for a while, Meng Fuchi actually felt a sense of irritation.

He leaned against the table, eyes drooping, unconsciously recalling the scene of Jin Chen collapsing unconscious in his arms, and his heart ached.

But thinking that even if Jin Chen now harbored any second thoughts, he couldn't break free and could only be locked in the room by himself, Meng Fuchi felt much more relaxed.

Only this way is good; only this way do I not have to worry anxiously, nor daily guess that person's youthful temperament—perhaps one day he'll grow tired of staying in the manor.

A jumble of chaotic emotions surged; Meng Fuchi pinched his brow, feeling the time was about right, and then contacted a private doctor to come over and detoxify Jin Chen.

Half an hour later.

Jin Chen's bedroom.

"The wound has been treated, the toxins have been completely cleared; after he wakes he will feel weak, with symptoms of limb limpness, which should ease on its own in about five hours."

The doctor pushed up his glasses, put away his portable medicine box, and glanced at Silence Meng Fuchi beside him.

"Boss, may I ask you a question?"

"Ask."

"Everyone's heard that you've taken a liking to this person and dote on him, so why would you still poison him?"

The doctor was a bit nervous, but recalling his bet with A Qiang, he forced himself to ask.

Meng Fuchi sat at the head of the bed, his gaze fixed on the iron chains locking Jin Chen's limbs, and reached out to touch his brows and eyes.

"This way he can't escape—isn't that good?"

He really was worried about him escaping.

The doctor nodded, already understanding.

"Has he ever shown any thought of escaping?"

"...... No."

This question actually made Meng Fuchi pause slightly, recalling how Jin Chen, in the Life and Death Hall, had repeatedly said he would not leave him.

"But isn't it inevitable that he'll leave sooner or later?"

"No matter who it is, unless one relies on oneself to survive, they will eventually leave."

The doctor had long known that Meng Fuchi had a heart condition, but he hid it so well in daily life that it didn't affect his living, so he refused psychological counseling.

It's possible that recent events have left him feeling insecure, and he places extra importance on Jin Chen, thus magnifying the shadow of his heart ailment.

He sighed, ultimately saying nothing more, and left with his medicine box in hand.

"Heart ailments need heart medicine—perhaps Jin Chen is just that remedy."

Meng Fuchi sat alone in the room for a long time, until dusk fell and the sunset from the floor-to-ceiling windows scattered inside, casting mottled shadows.

Long enough for Jin Chen to wake, his eyelashes trembling.

0731 immediately relayed the conversation between Meng Fuchi and the doctor from when he was unconscious.

Jin Chen's consciousness returned; he blinked open his eyes and realized his limbs were locked, unable to move.

He let out a helpless, wry laugh, lifted his gaze, and met Meng Fuchi's obsessive, dark eyes—knowing that the lingering dark energy had not dissipated.

Neither spoke; they merely stared at each other.

In the end, it was Jin Chen himself who broke the silence.

He gave two low coughs, his voice weak, his complexion still lacking color.

"Please give me some water."

Meng Fuchi noticed the unfamiliarity in his tone, frowned slightly, wanted to say something, but merely got up, poured a cup of water, supported Jin Chen's head, and fed him the drink.

After finishing the cup, his dry throat eased a little, and he found the mind to consider what to do next.

"What do you plan—how long will you keep me locked up?"

Jin Chen flexed his wrists, tested the hardness of the chains, felt assured they couldn't hold him, and relaxed—yet the circumstances meant that, for a Meng Fuchi whose mind was clouded by dark energy, coquettish behavior had lost its effect.

"You said you wouldn't leave—are you regretting it now?"

Upon hearing those words, Meng Fuchi's tone suddenly turned cold; the gloom shading his phoenix eyes gave off a chill, and Youyou gazed fixedly at the boy on the bed.

"...... This is different."

"How is it different? After all, you still want to leave, don't you?"

His voice low and hoarse, as his words fell he leaned forward, pinching Jin Chen's slightly raised throat, his fingertips rubbing the Adam's apple, "You're still lying to me."

Jin Chen's Adam's apple rolled as he drew a deep breath, finally glanced at Meng Fuchi's appearance, the starlight in his peach-blossom eyes fading bit by bit, then he closed his eyes and turned his head away.

A tear spilled over, tracing his cheek before sinking into the pillow.

He actually chose outright to ignore himself.

Meng Fuchi froze, his fingertips trembling as if withdrawing his hand from fire, a panic he could not suppress welling up from the depths of his eyes, yet anger followed.

It was as if a knife had suddenly appeared deep within his heart, incessantly scraping at his most sensitive, fragile spot, causing unbearable anguish.

"How so—do you think staying silent lets you escape?"

He suddenly exerted force, gripping Jin Chen's jaw to turn his face toward him, "You don't like me? No matter what I become, you'll still like me—yet you've slapped yourself in the face so quickly."

"...... No."

Jin Chen's voice trembled, "Chi Ge, you… you first release me, let's talk properly, okay?"

But the more he wept, the more Meng Fuchi's inner emotions surged; his deep black pupils faintly reddened, churning with barely concealed panic and obstinacy.

At that moment he even thought of simply strangling Jin Chen to death—only then would he have no chance of betrayal, and never leave.

He exerted force covertly, and the veins on his arms bulged one by one.

"Cough cough cough cough..."

Jin Chen opened his eyes in the pain of near‑suffocation; his delicate cheeks grew paler, then flushed red from lack of air, tears shimmering in his eyes, his lowered lashes wet.

Brother Chi……cough, cough, are you trying to kill me?

His voice grew ever weaker, as if he would faint any second; his life lay in Meng Fuchi's hands, like someone on the verge of despair, forced to curry favor with the master of fate.

You're not ignoring me, are you?

Meng Fuchi's mood inexplicably lifted a little; the corners of his lips curled in a pleased arc, the killing intent in his eyes faded somewhat, and the pressure of his grip eased, loosening slightly.

Cough, cough, cough……cough, cough.

Jin Chen's chest heaved rapidly, gasping for fresh air, his expression fragile; he tilted his head and rubbed against his hand, "I feel awful……Brother Chi."

Kiss me……okay?

His yielding after his stubbornness, to Meng Fuchi, looked like compromise—he had seen the situation clearly and understood that without himself, he had only a dead end.

Meng Fuchi's smile deepened; his fingertips rose to rest on his face, he leaned in and kissed Jin Chen's lips.

The sunset faded, night fell.

The bedroom had no lights on; it was pitch‑dark, and only when the two drew near could they see each other's expressions.

It is now.

Jin Chen suddenly opened his eyes; spiritual energy gathered, and through their entwined lips he passed it to Meng Fuchi—at the same time his divine sense invaded, seizing the black qi that constantly drifted in his consciousness and devouring it utterly.