Chapter 2665: Rain in the Southern City Tonight 27

Uncle Jin looked dubiously at Jin Chen, then at the person beside him, Xie Linzhou, and said, "Xiao Chen, who is this...?"

Ren Xian stood slightly behind and to the side of Uncle Jin, his smile still flawless, "Jin Chen, Uncle said he wants to say a few more words to you."

Un......

Xie Linzhou's gaze swept back and forth between Ren Xian and Jin Chen, the gloom that had settled in his heart surged up again, and his body stiffened.

He stared at Ren Xian, his voice somewhat tight, "You... how did you end up here?"

Ren Xian smiled, "Accompanying Jin Chen's uncle......"

"Ren Xian." Jin Chen interrupted him coldly.

Jin Chen's attitude toward them was too obvious, and Ren Xian's smile almost faltered.

Uncle Jin stood to the side, looking thoughtfully at the pallid Xie Linzhou, then at his nephew whose complexion was off.

The old uncle seemed to have figured it out.

Uncle Jin covertly pried open Ren Xian's hand, used the stair rail for leverage, and smiled at Jin Chen.

Jin Chen turned around, no longer paying attention to the two on the stairs, reached out and gripped Xie Linzhou's icy wrist, alert.

"Where are you going?"

Xie Linzhou seemed to just come to his senses, his voice somewhat distant, "They, it's about time to wrap up."

"It's raining tonight," Jin Chen tightened his grip on his wrist, forceful, leaving no room for refusal, "I'll send you back later."

Xie Linzhou also feared his fierceness, his voice weakened a bit: "... Alright, I'll go back to the private room first."

He pulled his hand back, turned and walked toward the private room, then gave Ren Xian on the stairs an ambiguous look, his eyes filled with gloom.

Uncle Jin shouted from the stairs, "Xiao Chen......"

Jin Chen took a few steps up the stairs, supported his uncle's arm, "I'll have someone call a car to take you home to rest; it's so late, you're old, why stay up?"

Uncle Jin's face showed shock: "?"

"I've only just arrived; I haven't even had a proper chat with you yet!"

Jin Chen: "Is it my fault? I was even afraid of disturbing you and Boss Ren catching up."

Uncle Jin: "... Little brat!"

He, feeling somewhat resentful, was sent downstairs by someone arranged by Jin Chen.

Only then did Jin Chen look at Ren Xian, impatient, "What exactly do you want?"

Ren Xian looked at him with interest, astonishingly saying, "I'm pursuing you."

Jin Chen and the old uncle just now were equally shocked.

He furrowed his brows, 【Is he sick?】

Xie Shao's side is still cooperating with the investigation, not fully involved yet.

Ling Gun Gun echoed: 【Perhaps, the protagonist's beloved's brain circuitry is beyond ordinary people's comprehension.】

Jin Chen suppressed the absurdity in his heart, "Stop doing these useless things."

Ren Xian, however, seemed not to have heard, continuing on his own, "But you and Xie Linzhou have already broken up, right? Since you're single again, why not try someone else?"

Jin Chen:.

He felt every word Ren Xian said was deliberately provocative.

"If you don't want another bar under your name to go bankrupt," Jin Chen's voice flat yet oppressive, "leave now."

The smile on Ren Xian's face finally faded, a surge of displeasure welled up inside him.

He fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked a strange question, "Me and Xie Linzhou... are we very different?"

Jin Chen: "Even if the gap were tiny, you could never become him."

Having said that, he gave Ren Xian no chance to speak, turned and walked into the rest room, locked the door behind him, and dealt with the computer stuff.

Jin Chen now feels Ren Xian had better go in and keep Xie Shao company, but unfortunately, Ren Xian's actions aren't enough to land him in detention.

About half an hour later, Jin Chen finally came out of the rest room.

Figuring the gathering downstairs had mostly dispersed, he headed toward the private room where Xie Linzhou was.

Pushing open the private room's door, the clamor inside had mostly dissipated, only a few scattered people remained chatting.

Jin Chen saw Xie Linzhou sitting alone in the corner sofa, posture somewhat stiff, overly quiet.

Xiang Wenqing saw him enter, eyes lighting up, she smiled and greeted, "Boss Jin, long time no see!"

Jin Chen nodded at her, his gaze fell on Xie Linzhou, brows slightly furrowed, "Is he drunk?"

Xiang Wenqing glanced at Xie Linzhou, helpless, "Who knows what he went out to do half an hour ago; after coming back he just buried himself in drinking, ignoring everyone, no amount of persuasion works."

Jin Chen walked to the sofa, slightly bent down, and softly called, "Zhouzhou... Xie Linzhou."

Xie Linzhou seemed to hear someone calling him, lifted his head half a beat later, his eyes dazed as he looked at Jin Chen, taking several seconds to recognize him.

He fell silent for two seconds, then suddenly muttered incoherently with a hint of stubborn drunkenness.

"... I have a boyfriend."

Jin Chen, hearing that, a flicker of smile crossed his eyes, and following his words asked, "Then who is your boyfriend?"

Xie Linzhou lowered his gaze, fixed on his fingertips, again sank into silence, though his eye rims quietly reddened.

Nothing like the usually calm and composed Senior Designer Xie in the industry.

The few people still in the private room all stared, somewhat stunned.

Jin Chen reached out, gently took his hand, "Come on, I'll take you home."

Xie Linzhou instinctively wanted to struggle, his wrist twitched, but catching the sandalwood scent on Jin Chen's body, his body leaned in as if pulled by a magnet, his arm wrapped around Jin Chen's waist, his face buried in him, unusually obedient as he followed outward.

Xiang Wenqing watched this scene, shook her head and sighed, "Love......"

Yuan Qiu's expression grew more embarrassed, "Love......"

Jin Chen half-embraced Xie Linzhou as they walked out, inevitably having to pass through the crowded bar area.

In his drunken haze, Xie Linzhou noticed many eyes on Jin Chen; feeling his nerves twitch, he instinctively pulled Jin Chen close, using his body to shield those gazes, protecting him as if guarding something, not letting others stare more.

Jin Chen could barely walk from being held so tight; he adjusted his posture and whispered, "Don't move around, just walk properly."

"Oh." Xie Linzhou mumbled a reply, finally quieting down, and continued to cling silently.

Walking to the bar entrance, damp cold air blew onto his face.

Outside, the rain fell heavily, pattering; the night's chill mixed with damp vapor, blowing straight onto people's faces.

A gust of cold air shocked Xie Linzhou; he closed his eyes, dazed for a few seconds as if in meditation, then turned and buried himself in Jin Chen's embrace, seeking warmth.

Jin Chen raised a hand, tousling his wind‑tousled hair, and said, "Wait here a moment; I'll go get the car."

Xie Linzhou took a few seconds to respond, then slowly straightened up and nodded, "Okay."

But his hand around Jin Chen's waist stayed locked, holding on for a while longer.

Jin Chen helplessly pinched his earlobe, "... Let go first."

Xie Linzhou lifted his hazy drunken eyes, glanced at him, reluctant but still let go.

Jin Chen turned and hurried toward the underground parking garage.

Soon after, Jin Chen drove the car out.

【Hey! He ran!】Ling Gun Gun warned.

【Who ran?】

Ling Gun Gun loved the drama, shouting, 【Your wife!】

At the bar entrance, the windshield wiper swept away the relentless rain, Jin Chen's vision cleared, the doorway empty—no sign of Xie Linzhou.

Only the neon sign's halo stretched across the wet ground, casting a long, lonely shadow.

Jin Chen: "……"

Did you sober up and just run off?