Chapter 2666: South City Tonight Has Rain 28

The rain was still falling, not heavy, enough to soak the night streets, reflecting the dim yellow glow of the streetlights.

Jin Chen drove his car, slowly moving along the main road near the bar, carefully scanning the sidewalk.

He knew Xie Linzhou hadn't driven over tonight; in such a short time, a drunk person couldn't have gone far.

Sure enough, not far down, at the red light of the intersection, Jin Chen saw that familiar figure.

Night fell, fine rain drizzling; Xie Linzhou held a long-handled umbrella, standing alone at the edge of the sidewalk, the umbrella's brim lowered to cover most of his face, his expression indiscernible, his silhouette wrapped in loneliness—just from his posture and bearing, one wouldn't suspect he was drunk.

Jin Chen smoothly pulled the car to a stop beside him and lowered the window.

Cold rain streaks mixed with the night wind drifted into the car.

"Where are you going?" Jin Chen's voice came through the rain, "Didn't I tell you to wait for me there?"

Hearing the voice, Xie Linzhou lifted his eyes somewhat dazedly, his gaze focusing through the rain onto the interior of the car.

Though drunk, he wasn't rowdy, just a bit stubborn.

Jin Chen had only ever seen him clingy when drunk at home; he hadn't expected him to be like this outside…

Stubborn.

"I'm going to find my boyfriend," Xie Linzhou replied, his tone even polite, just a little sluggish from drink.

"I'm waiting for a car. Please move aside."

Jin Chen: "……" He was speechless, both annoyed and amused.

"Get in," Jin Chen said, "I'll take you home."

Xie Linzhou, however, insisted, even showing a hint of wariness, and shook his head.

"No."

Jin Chen rested his elbow on the window sill, extended his index finger, and lightly hooked it toward Xie Linzhou, signaling him to lower his head and come closer: "Come here."

Xie Linzhou obeyed inexplicably, bending slightly, bringing his face close to the window, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Jin Chen.

The icy night wind on the street blew in through the car window.

The rain, which had seemed to lessen, appeared to intensify again, striking the surface of Xie Linzhou's umbrella with a light pattering sound.

A few icy raindrops, blown by the wind, splashed onto Xie Linzhou's cheeks; the faint sensation, together with the face now coming into focus before him, cleared his muddled mind for an instant.

Xie Linzhou recognized Jin Chen, his heart skipped a beat, and he whispered, "Jin Chen..."

"Get in."

This time no further urging was needed; Xie Linzhou obediently folded his umbrella, opened the car door, and sat in the passenger seat.

Jin Chen leaned over to fasten his seat belt, and Xie Linzhou wrapped his arms around his shoulders, rubbing his cool cheek against him, clinging dependently.

"I'm so cold… why did you take so long to come."

Jin Chen, annoyed, poked his forehead lightly with a finger, "Who knew you could disappear in the blink of an eye."

Xie Linzhou pressed his lips, feeling a bit wronged, and murmured in defense, "I didn't run off… I was looking for you, I really missed you."

The alcohol made his candor blunt and easy, as if the long‑buried words in his heart had finally found an outlet.

Jin Chen's finger remained, brushing his rain‑moistened lower lip, the fingertip applying warm pressure as it rubbed twice.

"So obedient?"

Xie Linzhou unconsciously sucked on his fingertip; hearing that, he lifted his eyes to Jin Chen and nodded.

Then he made an even more obedient request.

"Can you hold me while you drive?"

Jin Chen: "……No, that would be a bit difficult."

He then compromised, taking off his coat and draping it over Xie Linzhou, wrapping him snugly.

The familiar scent enveloped Xie Linzhou, uniquely Jin Chen's, the aroma that reassured him.

The scent had a soothing effect; Xie Linzhou stopped making odd requests, clutching the coat he occasionally lifted his eyes to watch Jin Chen driving, then lowered his head, burying his face in the coat, inhaling deeply, his eyes gradually filling with a fascinated, satisfied look.

The red light ended, and the car merged back into traffic.

Xie Linzhou was dazed, not noticing the road outside, his mind a fog, unable to think clearly.

But after the car had been driving a while, the scenery outside grew increasingly familiar, and also increasingly made him feel something was off.

At a certain moment, a flash of insight struck him; Xie Linzhou lifted his face from the coat saturated with Jin Chen's scent, unusually solemn, "We took the wrong road."

Jin Chen freed one hand, pinched his earlobe, and said in his usual tone, "Don't you remember the way to your apartment?"

"No," Xie Linzhou shook his head, insisting, "I want to go to your place."

Jin Chen's hand on the steering wheel hesitated slightly.

He tilted his head, looking at Xie Linzhou's stubborn face, his eyes gradually deepening, "Why not? Don't you want to live on your own?"

"I don't want to," Xie Linzhou immediately denied, his eyes reddening for no reason, as if wet rain were raging in their depths, more damp than the street view.

"I really don't want to; I want to go back and sleep with Jin Chen."

Such a blunt answer truly startled him; Jin Chen's heart gave a jolt, he found a spot where he could pull over temporarily, and eased the car to the side of the road.

The interior ceiling light switched on, casting a soft glow over both of them.

"Are you sure you want to go to my place?" Jin Chen turned to face him seriously, "Tomorrow morning, when you're sober, don't start a fight with me again."

Xie Linzhou stared at Jin Chen for several seconds, striving to digest the meaning of his words.

He suddenly leaned in, planting a light kiss on the corner of Jin Chen's lips, his hazy eyes full of obedience and reliance, murmuring indistinctly.

"Don't fight with me, little boyfriend."

Jin Chen: "……"

Even in this state of drunkenness, he still remembered the age gap between them.

That tightness deep inside him suddenly loosened, turning into soft resignation.

"Fine, as you wish." Jin Chen restarted the car and changed direction.

——

The elevator rose smoothly; stepping out of it and into the quiet apartment hallway, Xie Linzhou's steps slowed.

Gazing at the familiar hallway and doorplate, for no reason, the urge to cry welled up again.

Xie Linzhou lowered his gaze, silently following behind Jin Chen step by step; tears slid down unnoticed, even by himself.

Jin Chen took out the key to open the door, turned around intending to call him in, but saw the wet tear tracks on his face and jumped, asking, "What's wrong? Why are you crying again?"

Xie Linzhou raised his hand, roughly wiping his face with the back of his hand; his voice was nasal, yet he spoke honestly, "I don't know… I can't control my eyes."

Xie Linzhou said, habitually leaning his face against Jin Chen's shoulder, using his shirt to dry the tears.

Returning here again, what recovered first—even before clear consciousness—was the familiar feeling stored in bodily memory.

But it seems… there is still something very important—what could it be…