Chapter 2444: Another Me 13

In his sleep, Li Chi felt himself sinking into warm light.

When he opened his eyes again, Li Chi clearly realized he was dreaming.

The surroundings were familiar yet strange.

It was still this villa, but no longer the oppressive, cold appearance of today.

Sunlight streamed through the bright windows onto the wooden floor, the air held a faint scent, the smell of home he had almost forgotten.

It was the occasional cookie-baking aroma when his father was still alive, and the perfume his mother sprayed on herself, a scent he couldn't name.

Everything was clean and bright.

Nineteen-year-old Li Chi, wearing a clean shirt and barefoot on the polished floor, walked forward in a daze, following his memory.

He pushed open the familiar door to his childhood room.

Inside, the sunlight was just right.

A tall, strikingly handsome stranger boy stood by the window, side-facing him.

The hazy light outlined the boy's neat silhouette, as if warm jade soaked in a glow.

The boy heard the movement, turned around, and upon seeing the person at the door, a soft smile appeared in his eyes.

Li Chi stood at the doorway, staring blankly as their eyes met.

He saw that unique glint in the boy's eyes, his heart jolted, he hesitated, feeling uncertain.

"Brother?"

Jin Chen was somewhat surprised, then his smile deepened, and he replied warmly, "Mm."

He reached out his hand to Li Chi, "Little Chi, how did you recognize me?"

Hearing that familiar reply, Li Chi's tense body relaxed, and his lips curled up involuntarily.

He walked toward Jin Chen, voice soft but firm, "I know, brother, you're different from the others..."

Jin Chen was pleased with that answer, didn't press further, and opened his arms.

"Come, let me hug you."

Li Chi walked up to him.

The face before him was clearly unfamiliar, yet it felt so familiar, as if he had seen it countless times deep in his soul.

He was embraced by Jin Chen, turned his face, lightly rested his chin on the shoulder, the comforting scent lingered at his nose, his chest felt filled with warm spring water, swelling warmly.

"Brother..." Li Chi whispered again.

Jin Chen tightened his arms, gently rubbed his chin against Li Chi's soft hair, and responded softly.

His warm palm stroked Li Chi's neck, then pinched his cool earlobe.

"Little Chi, this is your dream," Jin Chen's voice whispered near his ear, "Is this what you most want to dream of?"

Li Chi leaned on Jin Chen's shoulder, glanced around the room full of sunshine and warm memories, nodded, then buried himself again.

"Since they moved in," Li Chi said hoarsely, "everything has changed."

"It's fine," Jin Chen gently ruffled his hair, "once we drive them out, we'll restore this place."

"Not only in the dream, in reality you can also see it as it originally was."

Li Chi obediently nodded, then couldn't help but snuggle further into Jin Chen's embrace.

This sense of security could not be given by anyone else; it was his harbor alone.

Suddenly, Li Chi shrank his neck slightly, puzzled, and lifted his head to look at Jin Chen.

Jin Chen lowered his head to look at him, "What's wrong?"

Li Chi raised his hand, puzzled, and touched the spot on his neck where Jin Chen had just pinched.

"... Why does it hurt a little? This isn't a dream, is it?"

Jin Chen smiled, extended a finger, and lightly tapped Li Chi's smooth forehead, "Because this is a special dream."

Li Chi didn't fully understand, but that didn't stop him from unconditionally believing his brother.

His handsome face gradually broke into a smile, obedient and soft.

Jin Chen leaned back slightly, letting him sit on his lap.

Li Chi was at first a bit shy and embarrassed, his ears slightly red, but soon the surge of affection replaced it; he relaxed his body, softly pressed his cheek against Jin Chen's warm chest, feeling his eyelids grow heavier.

Exactly when he fell asleep again, Li Chi could no longer recall.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 37!】

——

Qiu Juan, already stressed over money and the debt of Lai Fendou, was crying to her card-playing friends in the living room when her phone's bell rang suddenly like a death omen.

She saw the international number on the screen, and her heart tightened sharply.

It was Lin Wan.

Qiu Juan thought the money was finally coming, so she hurriedly answered the call.

"Hello? Lin Wan?"

On the other end, Lin Wan's voice sounded gentle, "Aunt Qiu, I'd like to video chat with Little Chi. I haven't seen the child in a long time; I want to see him."

Qiu Juan broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

She forced a smile, "Oh dear, this… this isn't very convenient, is it?"

"You know, Little Chi can't speak, so video chatting is useless; just watching him is painful..."

"It's fine," Lin Wan said, "I just want to see him, to see how he's doing. No need to speak; just let me look."

Qiu Juan's heart sank to the bottom, her fingers gripping the phone turned white.

She couldn't find a better excuse, so she reluctantly agreed, "Well… okay. But it's inconvenient these days; Li Chi went to summer camp, just left, and won't be back for a few days."

"When he returns, I'll definitely let him video chat with you, okay?"

She hung up the phone in a hurry, and Qiu Juan felt her back soaked with cold sweat.

She hadn't forgotten that Li Chi could speak!

If that video gets sent out, everything will be completely over!

Li Fendou, that bastard, is unreliable, and Li Qiang is still a useless coward……

"Mom, what's wrong?" Li Donglai came out of the room, seeing Qiu Juan looking dazed and disoriented.

Qiu Juan quickly grabbed him and spilled everything about Lin Wan wanting the video and her worries.

After listening, Li Donglai thought for a moment, lowered his voice, and leaned close to Qiu Juan: "Mom, what if… Li Chi accidentally had an accident?"

"Like tripping and falling, splitting his head, or twisting his ankle—nothing serious, but he'd need to go to the hospital for two days of observation……"

He paused, looking at Qiu Juan's eyes, "That way, Lin Wan's video naturally couldn't be sent. Moreover……"

"It would be perfect to send him to the hospital…… for a checkup. See if there's really something else living inside his body."

Qiu Juan had no objections: "Okay, okay, just like that—you've got a classmate gathering tomorrow, right? I'll leave this to you to handle, ah."

In the room.

Jin Chen leaned against the headboard, and on the laptop screen before him, several small windows were clearly divided.

The live surveillance footage of the living room, dining room, and hallway, with sound clearly transmitted into the earphones.

Qiu Juan and Li Donglai's whispered conspiracy fell into his ears, word for word.

He looked at Qiu Juan's scheming face on the screen, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled up.

Jin Chen raised his hand, habitually pinching his earlobe, as if weighing something.

"Little Chi," Jin Chen said softly, "Let's play something big."