Chapter 2677: South City Has Rain Tonight 39

Just as he pushed the door open, he saw Xie Linzhou surrounded by the young people who had built a snowman, posing for a photo with the chubby snowman wearing a bright red scarf as the background.

Snowflakes drifted down sporadically, the light was gentle, and every face beamed with bright smiles; the vigorous vitality seemed to make the snowman lively and adorable.

Everyone was looking at the camera, but Xie Linzhou, at the very instant the shutter clicked, gazed past the street and saw Jin Chen walking out from inside the door; their eyes met, and a fine light flowed in his pupils.

After the photo, Xie Linzhou quickly walked a few steps to Jin Chen, his nose and cheeks slightly red from the cold, exhaling white mist in the chilly air, "You've been waiting long, huh?"

"Not too bad," Jin Chen said, taking off his glove, warming his hands in his palms before handing over the cup, "Are you cold?"

Having been outside for a while, Xie Linzhou suddenly felt the warmth and couldn't help shivering, only then realizing how cold he actually was.

He took the cup, burying his reddened nose in Jin Chen's neck, the mist from his breath curling around.

"My work won an award, I'm thrilled, I wanted to come find you right away to share the news—it's freezing outside, let's go upstairs."

He pushed the door open and entered the warm bar, passing the noisy booth area; Xie Linzhou curiously glanced at the Christmas decorations inside, with stockings hung on the mantel, everywhere exuding coziness.

"It looks really nice; I was thinking of putting some up at the office tomorrow… but never mind," Xie Linzhou laughed and shook his head, "If they saw these, they'd have no mind to work; better to let everyone finish their tasks early and enjoy a peaceful holiday."

Jin Chen brushed past the candy canes on the bar counter and suddenly asked, "Zhouzhou, do you prefer strawberry or chocolate flavor?"

Xie Linzhou followed his gaze and said, "Chocolate, you don't usually like sweets, do you?"

Jin Chen reached out and took two chocolate‑flavored candy canes, tapping Xie Linzhou's nose with his fingertip, meaningfully saying, "In certain situations, I still love them."

Meanwhile, a server at the neighboring booth was introducing tonight's couples' special event; Xie Linzhou caught a bit of it while walking up the stairs, and then realized.

He tilted his head, poked Jin Chen's shoulder with a finger, the corners of his eyes and brows tinged with a mischievous smile, "So this is that special situation—how slightly embarrassing, boyfriend."

The upstairs lounge was also decorated, with a Christmas tree standing in the corner, looking quite similar to the one at their home.

Before Xie Linzhou could take it in properly, Jin Chen wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed him.

His eyelashes flickered, and soon he was stirred by tender feelings, responding willingly.

During this time awaiting the competition results, Xie Linzhou inevitably felt some pent‑up anxiety; only when the good news was settled did he relax, indulging in this intimate warmth, even developing a lingering craving for it.

Jin Chen brought a candy cane to his lips; Xie Linzhou had just taken it in when Jin Chen's kiss covered his again, not intending to savor it slowly—the hard candy cracked between their teeth, the rich chocolate aroma mingling with their breaths, melting in his mouth, his breathing turning hot and hurried.

Xie Linzhou let out a soft hum, his mouth filled with the sweet, cloying chocolate flavor; the excessive sweetness instead sparked a deeper longing, and he unconsciously sought another kiss.

He stared blankly, slightly tilting his head back, chest rising and falling against the sofa's back, his reddish fingertips clutching Jin Chen's shirt; he could hear the cheerful shouts of patrons outside the bar's downstairs door, undoubtedly delighted and excited, while he, embraced by his lover, was likewise filled with immense happiness, unable to resist rubbing his cheek against Jin Chen's ear, his chest brimming with emotion.

After an unknown amount of time, Xie Linzhou realized the noise downstairs had gradually faded.

He whispered, "……What time is it now?"

"Just past midnight." Jin Chen kissed his wet eye corners.

"I thought it was really late—have the guests all left?"

"No, it started raining outside, so everyone came back inside the bar."

"It's raining again…" Xie Linzhou, in a daze, recalled the snowman with a red scarf at the entrance, his tone tinged with regret, "What a shame—we just finished building that snowman."

Jin Chen drew him closer into his embrace, arm around his waist, and Xie Linzhou sat compliantly in his lap.

Jin Chen said, "No need to regret—South City gets plenty of rain; it spent Christmas Eve safely, and when the next snow falls I'll build another one with you."

Xie Linzhou's lingering regret vanished, "Yeah, South City sees a lot of rain; this year's snow is already a rare blessing."

Xie Linzhou smiled and gently rubbed his cheek against Jin Chen's.

"Merry Christmas."

South City's rainy season usually begins in October, lingering through the entire autumn and winter until the following spring.

The monsoon brings abundant moisture, often enveloping the city in a misty dampness.

But with love, the rainy season is nothing hard to endure.

……

【Congratulations, Host, mission completed, Blackening Value cleared to zero, reward points accumulated!】

【Now transferring to the next world……Transfer successful!】