Chapter 2733: Transmigrated to the Noble Academy as a Special Recruit 17/18

Jin Chen pushed the door open, his breath slightly cool.

As he entered, a fine chain hung faintly from his cuff, swaying and glinting as he walked through light and shadow.

Ling Yao leaned against the mirror, holding a glass of unfinished red wine, trying to suppress his inner restlessness with alcohol.

Seeing Jin Chen enter, Ling Yao's throat felt a little itchy; he feigned calm and spoke first, "What weird thing did you bring this time?"

Jin Chen approached, placing the silver chain on the table. "It's not a tongue stud chain."

He leaned his back against the table, Ling Yao sat on the round stool, keeping an ambiguous distance.

"It's a new gift."

Jin Chen's fingertip circled the platinum chain hanging from Ling Yao's lip, then gave it a light tug.

Ling Yao unconsciously opened his mouth slightly; warm, moist breath escaped from his lips, like a clam pried open, revealing its softest, most vulnerable part, his exhalation becoming damp and hot.

Jin Chen's finger pad pressed on the tongue stud, teasing it with familiar, gentle flicks.

"Good boy," Jin Chen said in a seductive, magnetic tone, whispering many coaxing words in his ear, "Try the new gift, okay?"

Ling Yao felt a little dizzy from his coaxing, his mind muddled.

In his memory, Jin Chen at night was never this gentle, making him wary yet unable to resist indulging.

"... What is it?" Ling Yao asked, tilting his head up.

Jin Chen picked up the chain and held it before him.

"A waist chain," he said softly, his gaze falling on Ling Yao's waist, "Our young master Ling really suits these shiny things."

Sure enough, a richly colored ruby hung from the chain's end.

Ling Yao tightened his grip on the hem of his clothes, his heartbeat faltering, his voice a little dry.

"... Very pretty?"

A low chuckle rose from Jin Chen's throat; he looked at him with deep eyes, unreserved in praise, "Mm, I really like it."

But in an instant, Jin Chen pinched his earlobe, "If you refuse, just treat it as the second rule you must obey."

Ling Yao: "……"

He just knew!

Nighttime Jin Chen has nothing to do with being easy to talk to!

Ling Yao curled his lip, but his body relaxed, he stretched out and hooked a finger at Jin Chen.

Like a secret invitation.

But Jin Chen first bent over, slipping his arm under his knees and back, exerting a little force, and lifted him horizontally.

"Hey!" Ling Yao startled, wrapping his arms around Jin Chen's neck, "What are you doing!"

"Let's change places," Jin Chen said, taking a few steps to the bedside and laying him on the soft bedding.

Ling Ye slowly clenched the fabric, then immediately felt a chill at his lower back—the sensation of the chain touching his skin.

The waist chain fastened; his bony fingers sank into the soft flesh at his waist, lingering before withdrawing after setting the ruby in place.

The ruby hung at the indentation at the base of his spine, accentuating a waist too slender to encircle.

Ling Yao couldn't see what was behind him, but…

He unconsciously bit the tongue stud, unable to endure as he tilted his head back; Jin Chen kissed the ruby.

Warm lips pressed against the cold gem, then through the stone, searing heat was branded onto his skin.

"... Damn pervert." Ling Yao muttered under his breath, his voice lacking any real bite, like a stifled sob after being teased too hard.

He felt a bit cold, curling up as he turned his head, seeking warmth.

Jin Chen then covered his back, fingers interlacing through the gaps, holding him tightly.

Another gentle kiss landed on his shoulder.

"Pretty Bao Bao," Jin Chen's low, husky voice sounded close to his ear.

Ling Yao shut his eyes tight; a tingling, numbing sensation flowed from his heart, almost making his soul overturn, his consciousness growing more hazy as he rubbed his cheek against Jin Chen's neck, his heart feeling like fireworks exploding, fluttering and frantic.

"Don't call me that," Ling Yao said, burying his flushed cheek into the soft pillow.

【Villain Heartthrob Value detected +10, total 50!】

Jin Chen tucked him further into the soft blankets, wrapping him up.

His tall frame knelt on one knee at the bedside, leaning close to Ling Yao to undo the platinum chain linking his lips and tongue, replacing it with a new tongue stud.

His fingertips, damp, brushed against Ling Yao's lip corner.

"Do you want the waist chain undone? The choice is yours."

"You say so; once you leave, I'll take it off right away." Ling Yao said, buried in the pillow, looking at him.

Jin Chen tapped his forehead, chuckled, "Good night."

He seemed nothing more than a dutiful knight squad member—except when he left, he had left the noble young master all flushed and dazed.

Ling Yao listened to the footsteps fade outside the door, yet still felt an inexplicable longing rise in his heart.

He rubbed the blanket scented with Jin Chen, a thought welling up from his heart.

It seemed… he really liked Jin Chen like this.

Ling Yao reached back to touch the ruby at his waist, turned over, buried his face in the pillow, and fell into a deep sleep filled with complex, satisfied emotions.

—

The venue for the Starfighter Combat Tournament was set inside the academy's largest domed arena.

From the VIP seats looking down, the simulated starfield hovering in the center appeared vast and boundless, several starfighters silently docked in their respective launch zones, engine tail flames flickering faintly.

The entire venue was simulated by the most advanced holographic technology, capable of perfectly replicating the complex environment of a space battlefield.

To prevent Ailik from causing trouble, Jin Chen stayed by Ling Yao's side from the moment he entered, well within reach to protect him at any time.

Ling Yao had no objection whatsoever; in fact, he was in a good mood, swirling the liquor in his cup, occasionally turning his head to joke with the Sith beside him, making even the noisy crowd below the stands seem pleasant.

Lin Baiyu's star cruiser was undoubtedly the most conspicuous among all competitors.

The holographic screen showed Lin Baiyu's stern profile in high-speed maneuver; for a moment his gaze seemed to pierce the layered virtual barriers and he saw Jin Chen.

Lin Baiyu then withdrew his gaze, focusing all his energy on the race ahead, like a silver meteor tearing the night sky, eliciting shocked cheers from the stands.

Jin Chen gazed at the arena, appearing focused, his eyes following the star cruisers, but most of his attention actually rested on the ill-tempered young master beside him, his peripheral vision occasionally flicking to Ai Li Ke sitting on the other side of Xi Si, which was somewhat surprising.

This guy usually wears his misdeeds on his face, but today he stayed calm, showing no difference.

Ling Yao and Xi Si kept adding notes for Lin Baiyu until the race entered its later stages, when Lin Baiyu pulled far ahead and the outcome was all but certain.

Ling Yao then leaned back in his seat, slowly sipped his drink, and lightly jabbed Jin Chen's arm.

"Hey," he said, raising his chin, his tone carrying his usual arrogance, yet he couldn't hide his excitement.

"What's up with you today? You're clinging to me like a little tail."

Jin Chen glanced sideways; the shifting light and shadow across the arena passed over his cold, handsome brows, which now softened into a tender gentleness.

He took off his right-hand protective glove and reached out to Ling Yao.

Ling Yao instinctively turned his face slightly toward his palm.

Jin Chen's fingertips rested on the soft skin of his jaw, gently rubbing, "I'll protect you."

His voice was low, mostly drowned by the arena's clamor, but Ling Yao still heard it clearly.

What a strange reason.

Ling Yao muttered to himself, his ears a little hot, he turned back to continue watching the field, subtly shifting closer until his shoulder nearly touched Jin Chen's arm.

Just when everyone thought Lin Baiyu would win the race without a hitch, a sudden anomaly occurred.

The silver-white star cruiser suddenly veered sharply, and the shrill alarm of engine overload blared.

It seemed to break free of the pilot's control, carving a chaotic, dangerous trajectory through the air.

"What's going on!"

In the VIP section, several invited military colonels who had come to watch the race sprang to their feet, faces grim.

Although it was a holographic simulated battlefield, the competitors were piloting actual star cruisers.

Once completely out of control, the consequences would be unthinkable.

The rescue teams and safety personnel on the sidelines sprang into action, and several small interceptors shot up into the sky.

But the out-of-control cruiser was too fast, its path unpredictable; it suddenly jerked hard, breaking through the simulated battlefield's boundary, dragging its uncontrolled energy tail, and slammed straight toward the VIP section.

Even more chilling, its impact trajectory seemed guided, pointing straight at Ling Yao's position.

Upon realizing this, the rescue team broke out in cold sweat.

Lin Baiyu's pupils contracted sharply.

In the violently shaking cockpit, he gripped the controls with both hands, veins bulging on his forehead, shouting into the comms, but all channels had been cut by intense interference.

It turned out he was waiting here.

Jin Chen's eyes turned icy; his lazy ease vanished in an instant, and he advanced alone to meet the runaway cruiser.

"He's crazy!!"

"Blocking a star cruiser with flesh??"

"…Damn, it's not impossible—even a First Army Corps general has done something like that, but he's a general! How could his spiritual power compare to this guy's?"

Gasps rose and fell.

To everyone, it looked like suicide.

The imagined scene of flesh and blood flying did not occur.

Several deep, earth‑shaking booms exploded, the blinding light of the energy collision making many instinctively shut their eyes.

As the glare faded, everyone stared in shock to see the out‑of‑control cruiser halted just a hair's breadth from the VIP section's protective barrier.

Jin Chen lifted his gaze; his mental power clung like spider silk to the hull, cracks spreading across its surface, and then it exploded.

Boom!

Flames and shrapnel sprayed outward, but most of the destructive shockwave was contained and neutralized by a far stronger force within a tiny radius.

Jin Chen shielded Ling Yao in the cramped space formed by the seat, blocking all flying hot debris and shock‑heated air.

The entire arena fell into dead silence.

Everyone stared, mouths agape, at the figure slowly rising in the center.

Jin Chen brushed the dust from his black training uniform, patted Ling Yao's back in his arms, and glanced at Eric, who had also been hit by the impact.

His face was ashen, the fear of near‑death etched upon it.

【Wasn't this his doing?】

【Huh… this isn't like the original plot.】Ling Gun Gun also felt strange, suddenly turning serious: 【Host! There's still an assassin!】

"It's him! The special recruit who double‑killed the Atlas Silver‑armored Beast in the sensory maze!"

Someone finally recognized Jin Chen.

At this moment, no one dared to show contempt for his status as a special recruit.

Several scorching‑gazed colonels also immediately gathered around.

Their eyes looking at Jin Chen were filled with shock and inquiry, and…

…they discovered a scorching intensity akin to a peerless treasure.

This reaction, this power, together with terrifying judgment and control, seemed made for the military, for the battlefield!

Ling Yao wriggled free from Jin Chen's embrace, his eyes reddened, he grabbed Jin Chen's arm and examined him up and down, "Are you hurt? How are you… say something!"

"No." Jin Chen lowered his eyes, letting him probe and check, even taking hold of his slightly trembling wrist with the other hand, his fingertips lightly scratching his palm with a teasing tone, voice low.

"With so many people watching, young master."

Ling Yao stopped, looked at Jin Chen, then after a few seconds flung himself into his arms.

——

The out-of-control starship was completely totaled, spewing black smoke.

Lin Baiyu was ejected by the emergency ejection device at the last moment and fell onto a cushion not far away.

This was thanks to Jin Chen, who, in the blink of an eye, not only blocked the impact but also destroyed the starship's core device, preventing a more serious explosion.

Medical staff followed closely behind Lin Baiyu's brother and rushed forward to check on Lin Baiyu's condition.

Lin Baiyu was placed on a stretcher, and medical personnel quickly attached vital-sign monitors.

His face was pallid, his forehead hair soaked with cold sweat, but his eyes were still fairly clear.

"Baiyu, how do you feel? Does anything hurt especially?"

Xisi crouched beside the stretcher and lightly touched Lin Baiyu's hand.

Ling Yao also furrowed his brow tightly, looking at his friend from the side, daring not to touch anywhere, asking, "Does it hurt here?"

Lin Baiyu shook his head to indicate he was fine, then his gaze slowly turned to look at Jin Chen.

His fingertip twitched, as if trying to lift, but fell limp again.

Jin Chen didn't notice; he was still distracted, analyzing the original plot with Ling Gun Gun.

But Lin Baiyu, who had been standing by the stretcher with a solemn expression, saw his brother's gesture.

As an outstanding young talent of the military, Lin Baiyu naturally watched from below, his view limited, so he didn't see the details of Jin Chen's rescue.

In his field of vision, he only saw the out-of-control starship hurtling toward the VIP seats with destructive force; Jin Chen intercepted it at the critical moment, blocking and destroying the starship, indirectly saving Lin Baiyu, who was on the ejection trajectory.

Lin Baiyu's heart stirred, and he said, "I've heard Baiyu mention you, Jin Chen, right?"

Jin Chen lifted his eyes at the sound, his thoughts withdrawing from his exchange with Ling Gun Gun, and met Lin Baiyu's scrutinizing gaze.

Who is this again?

"Hello."

Lin Baiyu continued, "Thanks to you this time, Baiyu needs a physical check-up as soon as possible; he looks..."

He paused, glanced at his brother's gaze toward Jin Chen on the stretcher, and said, "It seems he hopes you can accompany him; please go with him to the testing center."

Ling Yao had just promised Lin Baiyu he would thoroughly investigate this; hearing that, he was stunned.

He looked at Lin Baiyu, caught the anticipation in his friend's eyes, and suddenly understood something.

Ling Yao's heart sank a bit.

When did Baiyu...

"Ah Yao." Xisi tugged at Ling Yao's sleeve, lowered his voice, "Baiyu just went through that; the impact was huge, what he needs most now is to stabilize his emotions and relax, otherwise leaving psychological trauma... that would be comparable to a dangerous frontline combat scenario."

Ling Yao looked at the pallid Lin Baiyu, feeling as if a clump of cotton had blocked his chest.

"... Jin Chen, you... accompany Baiyu for the check-up."

Jin Chen: "?"

Why!

I've never heard of saving someone and then having to be this responsible.

If we go to the military-controlled testing center, and they suspect the accident is related to him, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?

No way.

Jin Chen's thoughts raced; he covered his right shoulder, frowned slightly, enduring the pain in silence.

"Actually, I think I just bumped my shoulder a bit..."

He hadn't finished speaking when he gave two low coughs, his body swayed, and he fainted toward Ling Yao's direction.

Ling Yao totally didn't expect this; he jumped in fright, fumbled to steady his collapsing body.

Jin Chen's head limp against his neck, Ling Yao couldn't tell at once whether it was a real or fake faint, but seeing his poor complexion, his heart clenched tight.

The scene immediately erupted in a small commotion.

Lin Baiyu looked at the unconscious Jin Chen, his brows knitting, but thinking that the other had indeed bodily blocked the out-of-control starship's shockwave, perhaps he really had suffered a serious internal injury, so he signaled the medical staff to handle both together.

Thus, the final result was that Jin Chen and Lin Baiyu, one genuinely injured and the other feigning injury, were both sent by the medical team on anti-gravity stretchers to the academy's top-tier interstellar medical center.

Upon arrival, they were each arranged into separate VIP examination rooms.