Chapter 2735: Transmigrated to the Aristocratic Academy as a Special Recruitment Student 20

Lin Baiyu's good‑looking brows furrowed, his ice‑gray eyes showing confusion.

In his view, this was a proposal beneficial to both sides, and Jin Chen had no reason to refuse.

"I can give you a reward far exceeding the Knight Corps' stipend; the resources the Lin family can provide are beyond what you could imagine as a special recruitment student."

Jin Chen: "……"

【Host, he seems to want to keep you.】 Ling Gun Gun loves the drama, never shying away from making a fuss.

"Jin Chen, go rest first." Ling Yao suddenly spoke, his voice a little tight.

Jin Chen raised his brows, eager to leave this place of right and wrong.

"Okay."

He stood up, gave Lin Baiyu a slight nod as a farewell.

After the door closed, Ling Yao casually walked to Lin Baiyu's bedside, sat down, picked up the apple that Xi Si had carved into a pitted mess, took a bite, and half‑seriously, half‑jokingly complained.

"I'm interested in him, so why are you still trying to steal him from the Knight Corps and make him your personal aide?"

Lin Baiyu grew more puzzled, he looked at Ling Yao and said matter‑of‑factly, "Just recruiting him to serve the Lin family."

"After all, with the abilities he's shown, many factions in the military department are vying for him."

He paused, as if recalling something, "Besides, A Yao, you used to dislike him all the time, didn't you? You thought he was… gloomy, weird, and always annoyed you."

Ling Yao startled.

Did he act like he disliked Jin Chen in front of his friend?

Upon careful recollection, it seemed… yes.

He constantly complained about Jin Chen's various misdeeds.

"I… I did used to dislike him a bit," Ling Yao struggled to put his thoughts into words, trying to explain to him, "but…"

"But he's mine; no one else can touch him."

Before he could finish, Lin Baiyu reached over and ruffled his hair, saying, "Perfect—if he became my personal knight, he wouldn't have to hang around you all the time and annoy you. I'm genuinely interested in him, both his potential and him as a person."

Ling Yao: "……"

He choked on the apple and almost passed out.

Ling Yao wanted to retort, to assert his claim, but his gaze fell on the gauze on Lin Baiyu's forehead; remembering how Lin Baiyu had just walked back from the gates of hell, the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back—he simply couldn't bear to argue while the other was still badly wounded.

Forget it; we'll talk after Baiyu recovers.

Xi Si shook his head silently at the side.

That guy Baiyu has always been a lofty flower, wholly focused on martial arts and family duties; he probably couldn't grasp A Yao's contradictory, tangled feelings.

Xi Si gave up the courage to eavesdrop, feeling as if sitting on pins and needles, he huddled in the corner of the ward with his terminal and messaged Shi Heng, far away in outer space.

The situation now is really getting out of control!

Xi Si the Great Great Great Artist: Heng! Hurry back, Baiyu's trying to steal A Yao's person! This is a Shura field!

Lao Mama Heng: Keep it under control a bit more—return, return!

——

Ling Yao left Lin Baiyu's sickroom, turning the family ring on his finger in the hallway, yet unable to calm the turmoil in his heart.

Jin Chen leaned against the doorframe, knocking twice with his knuckles.

"What are you spacing out for, Young Master? Come in."

Hearing the voice, Ling Yao lifted his head, his gaze locking onto Jin Chen's face.

He stopped his steps, stood under the warm hallway lights, carefully studying Jin Chen's brows and eyes, silently gazing for several seconds until Jin Chen slightly raised his brow, finding his dazed look a bit amusing, he reached out and pulled him into the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

Ling Yao's heart was still torn between heaven and man, unsure what to say, when Jin Chen touched his cheek, gently lifted his chin, forcing him to look up and meet his eyes.

"You know Baiyu…" Ling Yao almost blurted out, but stopped as the words reached his lips.

No way; no matter what, Baiyu's feelings should be expressed by Baiyu himself.

Jin Chen waited a moment, but when no follow‑up came, the corners of his narrow eyes tightened.

"I never intended to protect him." Jin Chen suddenly spoke, rubbing his knuckles lightly against Ling Yao's warm cheek, then slowly moving up to brush the thin eyelid, feeling the faint tremor of the eyeball beneath.

"That starship was aimed at you; its impact and blast radius are huge—if it went completely out of control, I'm afraid I couldn't shield you."

It seemed Lin Baiyu's safety was merely a side effect, never even considered.

Ling Yao's eye corners tingled from his fingertips, making him blink uncomfortably as his lashes swept over Jin Chen's knuckles.

He listened to Jin Chen's explanation and stubbornly pressed, "You just want to protect me?"

"Mm."

"Why?" Ling Yao stared at him, his eyes shining astonishingly, demanding an answer.

Jin Chen harbored a mischievous thought, merely lowering his gaze to look at him, the corner of his mouth curling into an inscrutable arc, his dark eyes flashing with teasing light, yet he refused to answer.

Ling Yao, unable to get an answer, grew annoyed, glared at him, and turned his head to avoid the stroking hand.

"I'm asking you!"

Jin Chen obediently withdrew his fingertips, lowered his eyelids, and said, "Am I not worthy?"

"Worthy of what?"

Ling Yao first frowned, then recalled the rash words he had previously blurted out.

——Do you like this Young Master? You damned pervert, you're not worthy.

So it turns out he… actually remembers that so clearly.

Ling Yao's pupils constricted slightly; the ripple of emotion stirred by Lin Baiyu instantly overwhelmed his heart with a sour, soft feeling.

From the memory he learned the answer to the question just asked.

He let out a soft snort, his arrogant brows and eyes flashing a glare at Jin Chen, "I've said so much, yet you hasn't listened to a word."

How could he remember those hurtful harsh words so firmly?

Ling Yao pushed Jin Chen toward the hospital bed, "Lie down and rest; your injury isn't fully healed, why are you running around?"

Jin Chen sat down, yielding to his force, the smile in his eyes deepening; he turned his hand and pinched the soft flesh of his cheek that felt extremely nice, returning word for word the comment that person had made about him yesterday.

"A hypocritical young master."

He gently pulled the person, and Ling Yao fell to sit on the bedside.

Jin Chen's arm wrapped around his waist, and with a little force he also brought him onto the bed, his fingertip warmly pressing against the corner of his mouth.

"What are you wearing today?" Jin Chen's gaze fell on his lips.

Ling Yao was held in his embrace, head tilted back; this position made him feel a bit vulnerable, yet strangely, he didn't dislike it.

His Adam's apple rolled slightly, his eyelashes trembled, he obediently opened his mouth a little and leaned forward, "…Let you see."

A glossy purple tongue stud peeked out, like a freshly peeled, juice‑filled purple‑red grape, trembling as it rested on the tip of his tongue, looking…delicious.

Jin Chen's eyes darkened, "Very pretty."

A thought flashed through his mind—what to give as the next gift—and he seemed to have an idea.

His hand, resting on Ling Yao's waist, pressed and pressed until it reached the ruby hidden beneath the clothing.

"So obedient," Jin Chen's fingertip lightly rubbed the gem's position, unable to suppress a soft laugh, "the waist chain is also on."

Jin Chen pinched Ling Yao's chin, his tone slightly rising as he lowered his gaze to look into his eyes, "You like it, don't you?"

Ling Yao's mind swayed from such contact, and he nodded involuntarily.

At times like this, he could never be stubborn.

Admitting he liked these ornaments bestowed by Jin Chen, which carried a hidden sense of control, didn't seem so difficult either.

Jin Chen lowered his head and kissed him, the purple grape savored slowly.

His hand, resting on Ling Yao's waist, was not idle either—his fingertip traced the spine's hollow, sending shivers wherever it went, pausing on the ruby to draw gentle circles.

Ling Yao, dazed from the kiss, his breath quickly turning ragged, clutched the fabric at Jin Chen's front.