Chapter 2734: Transmigrated to the Aristocratic Academy as a Special Recruit 19

The ward where Lin Baiyu stayed could be called the highest treatment; even though all examination results showed no serious issue, visitors kept coming in an endless stream, from academy higher-ups to military officials, flowers and condolence gifts almost piled up in the outer room.

Lin Baiyu's consciousness was hazy, and after dealing with several waves of visitors he grew fatigued and closed his eyes.

The ward grew quiet, but he kept feeling as if something was missing—the figure who had shielded him at the critical moment seemed never to have appeared.

Lin Baiyu felt a bit downcast and entered the medical cabin to recover.

Just one wall away, the other ward had a completely different atmosphere.

The suddenly fainted "rescue hero" was leaning properly against the headboard.

Jin Chen lounged casually against the raised headboard, the patient gown's top open, exposing his left shoulder and the area below the collarbone, an extremely conspicuous bruise of bluish-purple.

The bruise covered a sizable area, and against his pale skin it looked ferocious.

Ling Yao sat on a low stool by the bedside, holding a special-effect repair gel, carefully applying it to that bruise.

Of course, no doctor or nurse would dare let this golden-respected and jade-noble Young Master Ling do such work himself.

But just earlier, the nurse had entered with a medicine tray, hadn't even had a chance to act, just pulled open Jin Chen's ward, and was driven out by Ling Yao.

Jin Chen looked at him leisurely, tone teasing, "All right now, no one's helping me apply medicine, Young Master."

Ling Yao didn't think twice, snatched up the tube of ointment, "I'll apply it for you!"

Jin Chen let out a low laugh, dragging out the tail, his tone deeply meaningful and teasing.

"Fine."

Ling Yao, realizing what he had said: "……"

His ears flushed with heat, he somewhat regretfully pressed his lips together, the tip of his tongue unconsciously tapping his tongue stud to suppress that discomfort.

"The medicine works quickly," Ling Yao said, head lowered, focused on his hand's motion, "Apply a thicker layer, it'll be fine soon."

Jin Chen closed the magazine he had idly pulled out to kill time and tossed it aside.

He raised his uninjured right hand, fingertips brushing Ling Yao's cheek, the sensation delicate.

"Come closer."

"... What for?" Ling Yao paused his motion, lifted his eyes to look at him, afraid to touch the left shoulder wound, so he only shifted slightly toward the bedside.

Jin Chen exerted a little force, bringing him up from the stool and drawing him into his embrace, sitting sideways on his lap.

"Still a bit painful," Jin Chen lowered his gaze, looking at the somewhat stiff person in his arms, his fingers lightly kneading the earlobe, he whispered coaxingly, "What should we do?"

Ling Yao's Adam's apple gave a slight up-and-down roll.

Recalling the arena, where Jin Chen single-handedly faced the out-of-control starship and held him tightly in his arms.

That feeling of being sheltered by absolute power.

Ling Yao's heart went soft, and he lightly rubbed his forehead against Jin Chen's uninjured right shoulder.

"I'll get you the best healer and the most expensive medicine."

"Wrong answer."

Jin Chen chuckled low, his fingers sliding down to lightly hook his chin, lifting his head.

His fingertip pads, calloused thinly, playfully pressed the soft corner of the mouth.

"Shall I give you a kiss?" Jin Chen asked in a low voice.

Ling Yao's pupils dilated slightly; Jin Chen had kissed him many places—earlobe, shoulders, lower back…

Only here, with lips meeting, does it carry an entirely different meaning.

He licked his suddenly somewhat dry lips, rare stutter escaping him, "Must… we really?"

Jin Chen looked at him—clearly tense to the point of desperation, yet forcing calm—his eyes smiling deeper, his tone utterly composed.

"The decision is yours."

He always says that.

But every time, Ling Yao, endowed with decision-making power, without exception willingly follows Jin Chen's wishes.

Ling Yao turned his head, drew a few deep breaths, closed his eyes, and leaned toward Jin Chen's lips.

But he only met Jin Chen's warm, dry palm.

He opened his eyes in doubt, meeting Jin Chen's amused gaze.

But Jin Chen seemed to have suddenly changed his mind, reining in his emotions and sliding downward.

"Forget it," he said, looking disinterested, "you seem troubled."

Ling Yao froze, gazing at Jin Chen's side profile as he rested with eyes closed, he flicked his lip, the young master's temper flaring, stubbornly prying open the hand Jin Chen had placed in front, determined to kiss him regardless.

"... Who said I was troubled!"

He lowered his head, inexperiencedly pressing his lips to Jin Chen's.

Merely touching, the warm, soft sensation passed between them, and he stopped, eyes opening somewhat helplessly, gazing at Jin Chen's closed eyes.

After a few seconds of stillness, Jin Chen's low, smiling voice sounded in the tiny gap where their lips met.

"Is this how you kiss?"

"... How would I know."

Ling Yao's ears flushed red from his questioning; he simply steeled himself, gave a firm bite, then swiftly sat up, hands fumbling as he pulled the blanket up, covering Jin Chen up to his chin.

"Kiss done, you'd better rest now."

Jin Chen's lips curled with a smile, and indeed obediently he closed his eyes, entering the deep sleep for spiritual power recovery.

Ling Yao sat by the bedside, watching Jin Chen's sleeping side profile for a long while, then slightly curled his lips upward.

"... A hypocrite."

Obviously, he just likes this young master!

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -10, total 50!】

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +4, total 54!】

——

The next day.

After sufficient rest and repair with top-tier medical resources, Lin Baiyu's spirit had largely recovered, and his pallid complexion gained a bit of color.

Ling Yao and Xis arrived early in the morning, pushed open the ward door, but found several people already inside.

Besides Lin Baiyu, who stayed to handle the aftermath of the incident, there were two military colonels.

What surprised Ling Yao most was that Jin Chen was also here.

He had just passed by the neighboring ward and thought Jin Chen was still sleeping.

"Lin Dage." Ling Yao and Xis composed their expressions, politely greeted, and walked in.

"You've come at a good time; keep Baiyu company and chat with him—he just woke up. I also need to confirm a few details with the two officials."

Lin Baiyu nodded at them, his tone steady, then gestured to the two colonels.

The three left the ward together, closing the door.

The ward fell silent.

Ling Yao's gaze fell on Jin Chen, his brows slightly furrowed: "Why are you here? Is your injury healed?"

Jin Chen leaned lazily against the chair back, his tone characteristically lax: "I don't know if it's healed or not."

"I came over..."

"Just to eavesdrop a bit on who the culprit is—who knows these people still haven't figured it out."

The words turned around in his mouth, Change Address, "They came to find me to learn about yesterday's accident."

Ling Yao was half‑believing, half‑doubting, and what unsettled him even more was the way his friend looked at Jin Chen.

He stared at Lin Baiyu, completely unaware when his friend had developed an extraordinary interest in Jin Chen.

He had always been generous toward his friend; no matter how rare the thing, if Baiyu asked for it, he would never be stingy.

But...

But this person is Jin Chen.

Ling Yao's thoughts were in a tangled mess, and Lin Baiyu finally waited until his elder brother left, leaving only familiar friends in the ward.

He awkwardly cleared his throat, looked openly at Jin Chen, and his aloof demeanor softened somewhat.

"Jin Chen, I would like to formally invite you to be my private Knight."

Jin Chen: "?"

What thing.

Xis, who was nearby, was pitting a small knife against an apple peel; hearing this, he raised his head in surprise, glanced at Lin Baiyu, then furtively stole a look at Ling Yao's tense face, silently put down the fruit knife, and dared not make a sound.

Jin Chen decisively refused, "No."