Chapter 2618: Magical Creatures in the Zoo 25

The busy and bustling daytime finally passed.

After seeing off the last batch of reluctant visitors, the zoo returned to tranquility.

Just as Jin Chen had anticipated, the high-intensity work on the first day of the zoo's reopening left everyone exhausted, and tonight they were destined to sleep especially deeply.

Night came quickly.

Xiao Bai Rongdong was very pleased tonight; Jin Chen knew that taking over this zoo, he had done a respectable job today.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -10, total 45!】

Xiao Bai Rongdong gently washed the small white lion with a soft towel, paying special attention to its four paws and face, then used a silent blow dryer to dry its fluffy fur.

After finishing with the little lion, Xiao Bai Rongdong finished washing up, walked out of the bathroom with his hair half-dry, and saw the small white lion, which had just been in its den, now in human form on the bed.

Jin Chen wore a pajama top, though it was about to slip off, but it was already much better than being completely naked before; he sat properly on the bed, his long legs casually crossed, gazing at him.

Xiao Bai Rongdong was somewhat puzzled: "Isn't it usually only in the morning that they turn into human form?"

Jin Chen said: "You said you'd keep me company tonight, but now you're making me sleep alone in that den again?"

That tone made it seem as if Xiao Bai Rongdong had done something terribly wrong, as if he had gone back on his word.

Being stared at like that, anyone's heart would soften, giving rise to endless guilt and indulgence.

——

Xiao Bai Rongdong hurried to sit beside the bed, instinctively reaching out to ruffle the youth's soft white hair, saying, "All right, I said I'd keep you company while you sleep."

Then you…

Before he could finish speaking, Jin Chen instinctively rolled to the inner side of the bed and slipped into the long blanket Xiao Bai Rongdong had specially prepared for him.

They weren't even under the same blanket.

Xiao Bai Rongdong frowned, "Bao Bao?"

He was a bit slow to react; this wasn't quite what he had imagined for keeping him company while sleeping.

Jin Chen poked half his head out of the blanket, "Huh?"

Xiao Bai Rongdong was momentarily at a loss, then after a pause asked, "You… are you just going to sleep like that?"

Jin Chen blinked, then said firmly, "That's what you said before—liking someone also means keeping a little distance."

Xiao Bai Rongdong: "……"

But how could kissing and sleeping in the same blanket……

It seemed, the level of intimacy was the same.

Xiao Bai Rongdong immediately fell into silence.

He suddenly realized that the principles he had uttered earlier to soothe the little lion's affection now came back like a boomerang, piercing his own heart.

This was indeed what he had taught the little lion, but clearly they were special to each other, unique, the most special existence—how could everything be divided merely by keeping distance?

How was this any different from today's visitors, who could only look through the glass and snap photos?

Xiao Bai Rongdong pressed his lips, sat beside the bed, his gaze deepening as he gently stroked his hair, "Bao Bao…… this, no need to keep distance."

"You can come over and sleep together with me."

Jin Chen glanced at him a few times, then lowered his eyes and let out an "oh."

Jin Chen's head lightly brushed against him; in their close embrace, Xiao Bai Rongdong caught his unique scent, which quietly stirred the softest part of his innermost heart.

It was a shock at this intimacy that could not be put into words, followed by a feeling of unprecedented peace.

Correspondingly, the deep-seated barriers in his heart began to slowly crumble, and at this moment any concerns ceased to be so important.

Xiao Bai Rongdong lifted the blanket and covered the approaching Jin Chen.

They embraced, sharing the same blanket, so intimately.

Jin Chen naturally wrapped his arms around Xiao Bai Rongdong's waist, lifted his gaze, and asked, "Is this also okay?"

Xiao Bai Rongdong replied gently, "Yes."

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total 59!】

Jin Chen's eyes grew warmer with a smile, and he eagerly rubbed against Xiao Bai Rongdong's neck and cheek in a frenzy, only stopping when he'd had enough, then stared unblinking at Xiao Bai Rongdong.

Xiao Bai Rongdong's heartbeat quickened, and his cheeks grew slightly warm.

But he remained indulgent, even faintly feeling that if Jin Chen now approached him affectionately as he had that day, he would probably… not have the urge to push him away again.

Even…… there was a faint hint of an expectation he had not previously noticed.

But Jin Chen stopped here, as if merely sampling and stopping, just looking at him for a few seconds, contentedly tightening his arms around him, "All right, let's sleep."

Xiao Bai Rongdong's speculation was suddenly dashed.

Between them…… there remained a distance, a line drawn by his own hand.

That was how it was supposed to be.

But when this compliance was actually enforced strictly, Xiao Bai Rongdong, upon a little reflection, felt his chest as if blocked, stifled and feverish, unbearable.

They had already become this intimate—embracing, sharing a bed, sharing body heat…… why stop at the final step?

"Bao Bao……" Xiao Bai Rongdong couldn't help but call softly, his fingertips lightly stroking Jin Chen's cheek.

Jin Chen opened his eyes, "Huh?"

He replied, his gaze pure and harmless.

But if one looked closely, the deep, golden peach-blossom eyes held no sleepiness, only a faintly flickering smile too quick to catch.

Xiao Bai Rongdong's fingertip inadvertently brushed the corner of his lips, then stopped, his thumb gently rubbing.

He paused for a few seconds, then lowered a kiss.

This kiss was light and brief, merely a pure meeting of lips, even lasting only a few seconds, yet it completely overturned the 'principle' he had previously taught Jin Chen.

But that was all.

Xiao Bai Rongdong's breathing grew somewhat erratic; he reached out to turn off the bedside lamp, letting darkness fall to conceal his racing heartbeat.

All right… go to sleep quickly.

It seemed as if this could pretend that the impulsive, boundary‑crossing kiss just now had never happened.

Jin Chen silently curled the corner of his lips in the darkness.

He didn't ask what that kiss meant, nor did he make any further move, instead soothingly returning the embrace.

Tacitly, they left the kiss in this night.

Jin Chen lifted his head, leaned close to Xiao Bai Rengdong's nape, blew a gentle breath there, and quietly passed the soothing Monster Power over.

Ensuring his wife could sleep soundly tonight without being startled awake.

Good night.