Chapter 2469: Another Me 38

Near the end of October, the air in Jing Shi already had a noticeable autumn chill.

Jin Chen flipped through the calendar, his fingertip pointing at a certain date.

Li Chi's birthday is coming up soon.

He picked up his phone, opened the chat box with Pianyi Dage, and his fingers flew as he typed.

: Brother, Xiao Chi's birthday is coming. Send money.

The message was replied to almost instantly.

Pianyi Dage：？

Jin Chen kept a straight face, continuing to output.

: As the first in our family to be in a relationship, give me a reward, send money.

Pianyi Dage：…… Our family now only has me and you.

【Hehehe!】

Ling Gun Gun gave a creaky laugh, and even through the screen you could feel the speechlessness.

Jin Chen's mouth corner twitched slightly.

: Three, I and Xiao Chi both wish you to get into a relationship soon.

Pianyi Dage：……

The prompt "the other party is typing…" flashed above the chat box for a while, eventually only sending a string of ellipses.

Jin Ge didn't reply again, probably just too lazy to bother him.

Jin Chen happily put down his phone, knowing the money was secured.

On the opposite screen, Jin Ge made a distressed face saying, "Can we even want this younger brother?"

He even thought about just blocking him.

But Jin Ge thought, after blocking him Jin Chen might do something even more outrageous.

After all, Jin Chen always has weirder ways to make him compromise.

Sure enough, after a couple days Jin Chen's account received a substantial transfer, note succinctly: birthday funds.

On Li Chi's side, he had no awareness of his upcoming birthday.

He just felt that his roommate Xie Duoduo had been overly… enthusiastic these past two days.

That afternoon after class, Xie Duoduo bounced over like a spring and grabbed Li Chi's shoulder.

"Li Chi, let's go to the mall, you've been growing mushrooms in the dorm!"

Li Chi was shaken a bit dazed, "Now?"

"Just now, the sunshine is fine, breeze not strong, perfect for shopping!"

Xie Duoduo didn't listen, half-dragging him outside while muttering.

"You're all little lucky, how is your fate so good? Let me rub off your invincible love luck; maybe tomorrow I can also pick up a Jin Chen equivalent!"

Li Chi：「……」

He helplessly let Xie Duoduo drag him along, feeling bewildered, but seeing Xie Duoduo's pumped-up look, also hard to refuse.

They arrived at the biggest mall in the city centre.

Xie Duoduo brought Li Chi straight to the top-floor arcade, the best time-killer.

Deafening music, flashing lights, various game machine sound effects mixed together.

"Come on, claw machine, time to test the European Emperor bloodline!"

Xie Duoduo generously exchanged a big basket of game tokens, giving half to Li Chi.

Li Chi stood before the claw machine stuffed with plush toys, staring at a round brown little bear inside, brow slightly furrowed, seriously adjusting the claw's angle.

He's not good at this; after a few tries always off by a bit, that fluffy little bear always slips away when the claw drops.

Xie Duoduo didn't rush to play.

He held up his phone, snapping away at the focused Li Chi playing the claw machine.

Different angles of side profile, furrowed brow, pressed lips, under the arcade's psychedelic lights, have a kind of vividness.

Li Chi noticed the flash, turned head puzzled, "Duoduo?"

Xie Duoduo immediately put down his phone, face beaming with sincere smile.

"Help you record beautiful life, take more pics, later they'll be memories!" he said while lowering his head.

Photos were instantly sent.

The chat opposite is Jin Chen.

Xie Duoduo clack-clack typed:

: Report, boss! Today's schedule: today Xiao Chi and I went out for hot pot, Xiao Chi successfully captured three prize dolls!

Then he sent two photos of Li Chi's captured dolls, a bear and a bunny snuggled together.

: Xiao Chi said these two dolls are you and him, because these two dolls are inseparable.

Jin Chen's side seemed busy, only replied after a few minutes, opened the photos to examine closely, in the photo Li Chi stands before the claw machine, side profile focused, warm light falling on his soft hair tops and long eyelashes.

He swiped through, lingered a few seconds more on those two inseparable doll photos, then replied.

: Got it. My side still needs some time to set up, trying to delay a bit longer.

: Then another message:

: Keep an eye on him, don't let him eat too much spicy. He used to have a bad stomach, easily uncomfortable.

Xie Duoduo instantly replied.

: Guarantee mission accomplished, boss can relax!

Xie Duoduo was immersed in the role of gold medal wingman while typing, looked up and saw Li Chi had somehow given up the claw machine, now standing beside him, clear gaze on his bright phone screen.

Duoduo, who are you chatting with? You're so into it.

Ah!

Xie Duoduo was so startled his hand shook, his phone almost flew out, and in a panic he fumbled to turn off the screen and shoved it into his pocket.

No one, just chatting about some business with a big boss, haha...

He was mentally complaining like crazy.

Isn't he a big boss? To make tonight's confession ceremony romantic and surprising, this grandpa splurged real money to have him come out and play all night.

Li Chi saw his guilty look, didn't press further, and a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes.

Xie Duoduo quickly changed the subject, pulling Li Chi to continue sweeping through the mall.

From the arcade they went to the men's clothing section, then browsed the perfume counter and boutique… Li Chi also seemed interested, seriously picking out a gift for Jin Chen.

A high-quality dark-patterned tie, a simple and generous cufflink design…

Xie Duoduo followed behind, not only admiring Li Chi's shopping eye but also unexpectedly gaining a bunch of odds and ends Li Chi had bought for him on the side.

While happily collecting the party favors, Xie Duoduo didn't forget to give the boss a real-time report.

: Boss, Xiao Chi bought you a ton of gifts!

: Boss, mission accomplished perfectly, the mall has been swept clean by the two of us; moreover, your boyfriend casually fed some underlings, thanks!

Lastly, he didn't forget to promote himself.

: In the future there are more of these companion gigs; feel free to summon anytime, professional and reliable!

When the two had finally exhausted the mall, carrying big and small bags, and sat on the bench of the first-floor lounge area, the sun had already completely set.

The mall's lights were just lit.

Li Chi held a cup of warm milk tea, sipping lightly, exhausted to the point of feeling a bit limp.

He leaned against the chair back, turning his head to look at the equally exhausted but excited Xie Duoduo beside him.

Duoduo.

"Ah?" Xie Duoduo jerked upright, thinking Li Chi was going to ask about his phone again.

Li Chi looked at him and said, "Brother, haven't you let me go back yet?"

Xie Duoduo: "!!!"

He almost choked on a mouthful of milk tea, stammering, "... You know?"

The gold medal wingman was utterly incredulous, "Why? Do you guys have telepathy or something? Was my acting not good enough?"

Li Chi nodded, took a sip of milk tea, and said slowly, "It's not telepathy."

He was amused by his exaggerated reaction, smiling slightly, and really liked Xie Duoduo's way of putting it.

"It's just that Brother hasn't contacted me at all today. And you… you're acting a bit differently from usual."

Xie Duoduo was completely convinced as his phone screen lit up suddenly, a new message popping up.

He hurriedly opened it, then exhaled a long sigh of relief, excitedly tapping Li Chi's arm.

"We can go back now, Li Chi, the boss summons!"

The car that came to pick them up didn't head back to school but drove toward the mountaintop viewing platform with a broad vista in the suburbs of Jing Shi.

Xie Duoduo, having completed his task at the platform entrance, was sent back to school by the car arranged by Jin Chen.

Li Chi walked up to the platform alone.

The entire platform was submerged in a gentle sea of stars.

And in the center of that brilliant starlight stood Jin Chen.

He wore a crisp white shirt, and under the starlight spanning the sky, he looked handsome as if stepped out of a dream.

Li Chi stepped forward step by step, the Milky Way beneath his feet flowing with his pace.

The evening breeze carried the scent of the mountain forest, brushing past and stirring his bangs and hem.

He gazed at Jin Chen, at this starry sky shining for him, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest, a warm surge flooding his limbs.

He walked up to Jin Chen and stood still.

Jin Chen reached out and gently took his hand.

"Xiao Chi."

Welcome, you who are full of hope at twenty.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -2, total 0!】

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 100!】