Chapter 2442: Another Me 11

In the café at the city centre, afternoon sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The air was filled with the roasted aroma of coffee beans and the creamy scent of pastries.

Jin Chen sat by the window, looking at the woman opposite him.

Sun Li looked more worn out than in the photo, her loose dress unable to hide her pregnant belly.

Her face was somewhat pale, her fingers unconsciously stirring the lemonade before her as she lifted her gaze to Jin Chen.

"I... I really didn't know he had a wife and child." Sun Li's voice was a little hoarse, tinged with self-mockery.

"For the past two years at work, he's kept saying his wife passed away early, that he's a pitiful person... and I actually believed him."

She paused, her gaze complex as she examined the boy before her, "But he did mention you, saying the child his brother left behind is staying at his place."

"You look... nothing like what he described."

Jin Chen lifted his iced Americano, took a sip, and nodded.

I sought out Sun Li precisely because she, too, is a victim deceived by Li Fen Dou.

He set down his cup, his voice steady: "Li Fen Dou is very crafty; he only told you there was a lodging nephew in your home, but never clarified who it was."

"That way, even if you happened to see his son, you wouldn't be suspicious."

Sun Li froze for a moment, then her eyes dimmed: "You're right, he really is... good at scheming."

Jin Chen tapped his finger lightly on the cold cup rim, looked up at her, and dropped the key information: "Did he ever tell you he's actually penniless, a parasite living off sucking others' blood?"

Sun Li jerked her head up: "... What?"

This is completely different from the generous, respectable, wealthy Li Fen Dou she knew.

Jin Chen's tone was flat: "The villa he lives in, the car he drives, the money he spends on you, even the upkeep of his pitiful facade—all of it comes from my father's inheritance and the living expenses my mother sends, which should have been used to support me."

"To the outside world, he packages himself as a benevolent philanthropist who took in a poor orphaned nephew."

The colour drained further from Sun Li's face.

After a brief shock, she looked at the boy's calm yet sharp eyes before her and realized he wasn't joking.

"So... why did you seek me out? What do you want to do?"

Jin Chen's lips curled slightly: "It's simple."

"You need to work with me."

Li Chi's consciousness drifted quietly in the depths, like sinking into warm water.

He listened to Jin Chen and Sun Li's conversation, those plans about how to expose Li Fen Dou's true nature.

Li Chi needed neither to think nor to worry; he only needed to listen.

Brother will take care of everything.

In a daze, when Li Chi felt his body was not under his control, it was like being wrapped in a thick cocoon.

Outside the cocoon, the world raged with wind and thunder; inside, there was only Brother and him—peaceful and safe.

This fits Li Chi's little-turtle nature perfectly.

If possible, Li Chi thought, he would be willing to let Brother take over as the dominant personality, even staying hidden for a long time, just communicating with Brother in this small cocoon.

Before Li Chi could let his thoughts wander further, he saw Sun Li rise, preparing to leave.

Jin Chen also set down his coffee cup: "Pleasant cooperation, Miss Sun."

"Once it's done, the amount I promised will be promptly deposited into your card, whether you choose to raise the child alone or make other decisions."

Sun Li's shoulders, tense for several months, seemed to finally slacken a bit.

She looked at Jin Chen, her eyes complex, a faint bitter smile on her lips: "Ashamed... I'm decades older than you, yet in the end I have to rely on a little kid like you to think of ideas and help me clean up this mess."

Jin Chen shook his head slightly, his voice without ripple: "Just the bias of those involved. Good luck."

Sun Li nodded, her gaze settling on Jin Chen, her tone more sincere: "I also hope you... can smoothly reclaim everything that belongs to you."

"Thank you." Jin Chen nodded earnestly.

Sun Li turned and left, her silhouette vanishing in the light and shadow at the café entrance.

Jin Chen said to Li Chi: "Xiao Chi, did you hear that? Someone wishes us well—we will succeed."

Li Chi restrained the little thoughts he dared not tell Brother, stopped wondering about the cocoon or not, and ripples rose in his heart.

"It will." He replied softly.

"Xiao Chi, do you want to go home now, or shall you come out and we'll take a walk around here?"

Before he finished speaking, a clear, tentative male voice came from behind: "Um... hello, sorry to bother you?"

Jin Chen turned his head.

A fresh-looking boy stood beside the table, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face, holding a phone.

"I just saw you earlier, felt... quite special. Could... I add you as a contact?"

Li Chi suddenly felt tense, unable to name the subtle reaction, only aware that amid the surge of complex emotions, jealousy was clearly present.

Li Chi himself froze.

He had not yet realized why his reliance on Brother was so strong when he first tasted the flavor of jealousy.

Jealousy of that person who could stand before Brother, smile at Brother, and possibly even touch Brother.

Yet arrogantly he thought, Brother and I are the closest, sharing the same body, unmatched by anyone.

Jin Chen seemed also able to feel that sour emotion belonging to Li Chi.

A flicker of smile crossed his eyes as he told the boy: "No."

The boy's smile stiffened a little, as if he still wanted to press the point.

Jin Chen didn't give him a chance to speak, leaning slightly back in his chair: "I have a boyfriend, sorry."

The boy's anticipation instantly turned to embarrassment; he scratched the back of his head and hurried away.

In his consciousness, Li Chi was also astonished: "Brother has... a boyfriend?"

Jin Chen picked up the small silver fork, leisurely spearing a small piece of tiramisu on the table and bringing it to his mouth; the rich coffee aroma and the sweet heaviness of mascarpone melted on his tongue.

Hmph.

He paused, lightly tapping the fork against the edge of the porcelain plate, his tone somewhat teasing, 'My boyfriend is called Li Chi—he's really smart, really obedient, a little kid. Do you know him?'

Li Chi: '……'

He froze for a few seconds, then an overwhelming, scorching shame washed over him, shaking his consciousness until he felt a bit dizzy.

'Brother, do you want me to be your boyfriend?'

Jin Chen swallowed that mouthful of cake that was sweet to the point of being cloying, slightly furrowed his brow, picked up the iced water and took a big gulp to suppress the sweetness.

He responded to Li Chi with a smile, 'We can each talk about our own things first; as for the boyfriend position…'

He deliberately drew out his tone, with a hint of coaxing, 'Whenever you feel ready, giving me the title won't be too late.'

Li Chi felt flushed by his words about the title, his consciousness turning to mush, filled with confused shyness, completely unsure how to respond.

Jin Chen took another gulp of ice water, changing the subject.

'Good, this is too sweet, it's cloying. You come eat it; if I keep eating, I'll get sick from the sweetness.'

Li Chi immediately replied, 'Okay.'

Control was handed over.

Li Chi regained awareness of his body, the rich sweet aroma of tiramisu still lingering in his mouth.

He lowered his gaze to the delicate dessert on the table from which Jin Chen had taken a small bite, picked up the fork Jin Chen had just used, and put it in his mouth.

The sweetness was clearly the same as what Jin Chen had tasted earlier, yet it carried an indescribable joy, like tiny bubbles gurgling up from the bottom of his heart.

【Villain Heartthrob Value detected +8, total 32!】