Chapter 2643: South City Tonight Has Rain 05

"Is it because that drink's alcohol content is too high?" Jin Chen's voice sounded again, accompanied by the faint noise of the vehicle driving smoothly.

The traffic light turned green, he turned the steering wheel, his voice in the quiet car had a peculiar texture—cool and clear yet tinged with gentleness, reaching Xie Linzhou's ears, making them feel tingly and numb.

"No, " Xie Linzhou explained softly, his fingertips curling up, "I just haven't had a drink in a long time."

"Usually I need to draw, to think clearly…… and besides, I have plenty of inspiration; I don't need to drink to spark it."

"Hmm." Jin Chen responded, "It seems the formula still needs some improvement; let me try it myself when you're back, okay?"

"Okay." Xie Linzhou agreed, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifting, he pulled the blanket that had slipped to his waist up again, wrapping it tighter, "What are you doing now? Off work?"

"Off work, driving home."

Xie Linzhou was actually still feeling the alcohol, his mind a bit slower than usual and more prone to relaxation; some of the thoughts hidden in his heart couldn't stay concealed.

He jokingly probed, "Is there anyone else in the car?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xie Linzhou first pressed his lips together, his hazy mind pricked by a needle, becoming considerably clearer.

He shouldn't have asked that.

Between them, separated by a great distance, even their formal relationship could be considered hastily begun; in such a relationship, the biggest taboo is unnecessary suspicion and lack of trust.

Would Jin Chen get angry, would he think him troublesome, immature?

Xie Linzhou's heart rose, the apology on his tongue rolling around, first came Jin Chen's reply, "No one else."

Xie Linzhou: "... Oh."

He paused a moment, then still spoke the apology.

"Sorry."

On the other end of the phone, Jin Chen fell silent for a few seconds.

The brief silence made Xie Linzhou clutch the blanket in his arms tighter, his back gradually stiffening, his light thoughts unable to settle, a heart‑aching sourness.

But Jin Chen spoke, saying: "No need to apologize, Zhouzhou."

He was even gentler than before.

"This is a boyfriend's privilege." Jin Chen's car turned a corner, heading toward the relatively quiet road home, "You can be bolder."

The suspended heart felt as if it were supported, then gently placed back where it belonged.

Xie Linzhou loosened his grip on the blanket and leaned back into the sofa again, relaxed.

That earlier silence made him feel as if he could guess the outcome of being questioned and blamed.

He is not skilled at managing any intimate relationship; love is an unfamiliar, complex domain for him.

He fumbles awkwardly, often worrying about making a misstep.

Yet, precisely then, Jin Chen gave him such a sentence.

Xie Linzhou felt his throat tighten, "... I understand."

"Zhouzhou."

"Hmm?"

"Autumn in Italy has more clear days than South City does," Jin Chen repeated the phrase from his voice, "Why do you still want to return to South City?"

Xie Linzhou recalled the voice message he had sent earlier, and somewhat uncomfortably pressed his lips together.

The reason for this, in his view, was almost unspoken understanding; he thought Jin Chen would get it.

But when the other party asked so directly, Xie Linzhou instead became somewhat evasive, trying to cover up: "... You know."

"But I want to hear you say it yourself, can I?"

Xie Linzhou had no resistance to that tone.

He gently closed his eyes, gathering all his courage into this moment.

"Because I want to see you, I really want to, especially lately."

From the other end of the phone came a pleasant light laugh, and then he heard Jin Chen say, "Very good."

"I also want to see you."

Xie Linzhou rubbed his already red‑tinged earlobes; his whole body felt like it was floating in warm clouds, insubstantial, with no point of leverage, only his heart pounding rapidly in his chest.

Really like it.

He felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

"Jin Chen."

"Hmm?"

"I've thought of a message to send." Xie Linzhou said softly.

He lifted his gaze, looking out the window.

Milan's overcast sky is a dull gray, mixed with a gloomy blue‑gray; the heavens and earth are vast, yet seem to blur into a mass, indistinct.

His tone was tender, "You are the only light I see in the endless rainy night."

The phone line fell silent for an instant.

Then Jin Chen's voice came through, sincere, "I really like it."

Xie Linzhou laughed, his eyes and brows curving upward.

【Villain Heartthrob Value detected +5, total 40!】

The phone was not hung up.

In the earpiece was each other's faint breathing; Xie Linzhou picked up the half‑finished sketch beside him, the pencil scratching on the cardstock with a rustling sound.

As he drew the lines on the paper, he absentmindedly listened to the movements on the other end of the call.

First came the clear sound of a car door closing, a muffled thump—Jin Chen had already gotten out of the car.

Then came footsteps on the ground, followed by the crisp chime of the elevator arriving, the doors opening and closing.

After a brief silence, came the sound of the home door being opened and then closed.

The sounds of life traveled through the radio waves, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers to reach his ears, as if they were also bringing him into Jin Chen's private space far away in South City.

After a moment, he heard Jin Chen's voice again: "I'm going to take a shower."

Xie Linzhou glanced at the time. It was 7 p. m., and domestically it was already 1 a. m.

"Hurry up," he said, putting down his pencil, his voice softer, "Get some rest early."

Jin Chen walked into the bathroom, undoing his clothes with one hand, and said, "Good night early, boyfriend."

"Good night," Xie Linzhou replied, his fingertip rubbing the edge of the cardstock.

The call ended, and the screen went dark.

Xie Linzhou, half-reclined, slowly drank the last bit of pale purple liquor left at the bottom of the cup.

The alcohol's slight buzz was a bit more noticeable than before, not unpleasant, but a relaxed, light-headed drowsiness.

He sank into the soft sofa, collar slightly open, his gaze a little hazy, filled with damp mist.

The cool scent of violet became more pronounced in the finish, exuding a hazy, illusory aura.

Xie Linzhou felt dazed, as if that cross-time-zone call were a fleeting beautiful dream.

But now, the dream faded, and reality descended.

He did not feel empty inside.

That glass of rain-night lighthouse seemed to truly erect a sturdy lighthouse upon the sea within his heart, perpetually shrouded in overcast rain.

The light was not blazing, but it was enough for him to know that, on a distant shore, someone was lighting a lamp for him.

Xie Linzhou gently closed his eyes, his arm dangling over the sofa, his fingertips touching the floor, his heart at peace.

He wanted to return home quickly, to go back to South City, to see Jin Chen.