Chapter 2656: Southern City Tonight Has Rain 18

At night, the sound of a key turning came from the foyer.

Jin Chen stood before the remodeled bartending table, wiping a shaker cup, and upon hearing the movement, looked up.

Xie Linzhou came home a bit later than usual; today he celebrated with his team after the design draft passed initial review, obviously in a good mood, with relaxed joy showing at the corners of his eyes and brows.

Seeing Xie Linzhou like this, Jin Chen felt a pang of reluctance again.

Why, at the moment he is so happy, must I say something that will upset him?

"I'm back." Xie Linzhou said cheerfully, having long known that Jin Chen would add a new item to his exclusive drink menu for today's gathering, which he had been looking forward to.

He changed his shoes and walked over, actively stepping up to Jin Chen, slightly raising his face: "Smell this—I was afraid it would affect my later tasting of your drink; at the gathering I hardly drank, just taking a small sip when we clinked glasses."

Jin Chen leaned down and kissed his cool nose tip, saying, "Very good."

Xie Linzhou laughed, wrapped his arms around Jin Chen's waist, pressed his face to his chest, and asked, "Want to kiss? I really want to kiss you."

Jin Chen raised his hand, his fingertips brushing Xie Linzhou's side neck, pushed the shaker cup behind him back to clear space, then pulled him down for a kiss.

It was a gentle kiss; Xie Linzhou offered no resistance, his long lashes trembling, his eyes gathering moisture, lively and lovely.

In Jin Chen's embrace, it was always the hottest, the most unreserved.

Jin Chen's heart grew softer, and the kiss deepened gradually.

Xie Linzhou turned his head, breathing softly against Jin Chen's lip corner, then from behind wrapped his arms around Jin Chen's waist, watching him turn to continue adjusting the unfinished drink; no matter how many times he looked, it remained irresistibly attractive, making him obsessed.

"Try it." Jin Chen passed the prepared drink to his lips.

Xie Linzhou took a small sip from his hand.

The aroma of agave blended with the mildly bitter, crisp taste of grapefruit juice; the maple syrup softened the sharpness without being jarring.

Finally came a refreshing mint scent, like inhaling fresh air after continuous rain clears.

"Delicious," Xie Linzhou praised sincerely, liquor still on his lips, "What's this drink called?"

Jin Chen looked at his lips moistened by the drink, his fingertips lightly brushing them, and said, "Cloud Layer Light."

Xie Linzhou raised the glass to examine it in the light.

The liquid was a clear pale gold, like a sliver of sunlight breaking through an overcast sky.

"I see," he said, eyes crinkling, "You always name things in an imagist style."

Jin Chen chuckled, "No matter how long the rain, there will always be a clearing; it fits today perfectly."

Xie Linzhou took another sip, half his body lazily leaning against the cool edge of the bartending table, he hooked an arm around Jin Chen's neck, pulled him close, then tilted his head up to meet him, passing the warm, alcohol‑scented breath from his mouth.

The liquor exchanged between their entwined lips and tongues, gaining a different flavor.

Jin Chen tilted his head back slightly, swallowed the liquor mixed with both of their breaths, his Adam's apple rolling.

He supported Xie Linzhou's waist, "Linzhou, I have something to tell you."

"No, kiss first…"

Xie Linzhou was enjoying the sensation of drinking like this, picked up the glass intending to take another sip.

But this time he first received a call from Xiang Wenqing and could only answer it.

When he returned, he still had the single‑ear communication earpiece on, and heard Xiang Wenqing's urgent tone.

"Boss, Xu Ming in Milan got insider news: the organizers say your competition entry and another Chinese‑region contestant's design highly overlap; they now require both sides to submit full evidence chains within the deadline, after which only one work will be recognized as original and allowed to continue in the contest."

Xie Linzhou's heart jolted, and his tipsy intoxication cleared up considerably.

In the field of architectural design, designers' ideas sometimes clash, but he had prepared two years in advance to strike at this cross‑discipline award, his concept being a wholly new breakthrough—how could it reach such a high degree of overlap?

"I understand," Xie Linzhou steadied himself and asked, "Does Xu Ming know who the other contestant is?"

"His name is Liu Chi, reportedly a recently emerging new‑talent designer."

Jin Chen couldn't hear the specifics from the earpiece, but from Xie Linzhou's changing expression and grave tone he sensed a serious situation.

He had a premonition that if he didn't speak tonight, it might lead to even more irreparable consequences.

Ling Gun Gun, no matter how you think about it, feels like a crematorium, having locked himself in a little dark room, yet still not forgetting to encourage.

【Host, I believe in you!】

Xie Linzhou hung up the call with Xiang Wenqing, contacted domestic industry peers, and inquired about Liu Chi's background.

While waiting for a reply, he felt safe only because he loved Jin Chen, and recalled that Jin Chen still had something to say.

"What's wrong?" Xie Linzhou lifted his face, looked at Jin Chen, tried to keep his tone light, and asked, "What did you want to say just now?"

Jin Chen wrapped his arms around his shoulders, drew him closer into his embrace, and they stood extremely close.

"That day at the bar, you asked why I resigned from the club."

Xie Linzhou was still waiting for news; hearing this, he lifted his gaze and said, "Hmm, you mean the boss made you do something you didn't want to do?"

"Yes." Jin Chen did not avoid it, his tone light.

"The club's boss is Ren Xian."

Xie Linzhou's gaze stalled.

"Who is it?" He actually heard clearly, wanted to think, but his mind was blank.

"Ren Xian… Ren Xian, what did he have you do?"

Xie Linzhou's voice grew hoarse, almost inaudible.

Jin Chen looked into Xie Linzhou's eyes; they were so close that he could clearly see his own reflection in Xie Linzhou's eyes, and within that reflection, something shattered.

"He had me get close to you."

Xie Linzhou's hand trembled, his fingertips icy, unable to make any sound.

At the same time, the waiting industry peer replied with the message.

He mechanically lowered his gaze to look.

"Liu Chi? He's a designer in Xie Shao's team; he even won an award last year."

"Your submitted works overlap?? This is no small matter! How are you going to handle it?"

Xie Linzhou remained silent for a long, long time, not making a sound.

Jin Chen also saw the news, his brows furrowed tightly; he gave Xie Shao nothing and also prevented Song Qi from entering Leadwood—why did this still happen?

Jin Chen regretted speaking too late, choosing such a terrible moment.

He still had words left unsaid, wanting to say, "I didn't help Xie Shao; I gathered evidence of his crimes—I can join you in sending Xie Shao to prison."

But it happened anyway.

"Zhouzhou..."

Xie Linzhou dodged his hand.

He looked at Jin Chen with a flustered gaze, not knowing what to do, nor what to believe.

Xie Linzhou's eyes were wet, his heart under a downpour.