Chapter 2897: Small Town Infrastructure Construction Proceeds Happily 18

Huo Zhaoye slept the night here; Jin Chen woke him to eat something, and taking advantage of his drowsiness they cuddled, and he only kept sleeping while clinging tightly, making Jin Chen wonder if he too was pretending to sleep.

In fact, he wasn't; Huo Zhaoye was utterly exhausted, and even after being kissed while asleep he didn't know it.

The sky was already bright.

Jin Chen got up, straightened his slightly wrinkled sleep clothes, and went to the outer room.

Huo Zhaoye leaned by the window smoking, his hair still a bit damp, as if he had just wiped it with cold water.

He tilted his head, gazing toward Silence Bridge outside the window, his eyes unfocused, brows unconsciously furrowed, fingers holding a cigarette.

Hearing footsteps, Huo Zhaoye turned his head, his eyes flickering, and casually pressed the remaining half‑cigarette on the windowsill to extinguish it.

"You're up; the food's warming in the pot—I'll heat it."

Jin Chen walked to the table and sat down.

Huo Zhaoye went to the stove, lifted the lid, and inside was warming simple porridge and side dishes.

He ladled two bowls, brought them over, set them on the table, and sat opposite Jin Chen.

After a few bites, Huo Zhaoye finally noticed something; he glanced at Jin Chen, then at the distance between them—about half a table—and frowned slightly.

He set down his chopsticks, "We've already kissed—why are you still avoiding me?"

Last night we were that close; this morning you're sitting so far away.

Jin Chen slowly picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with his chopsticks, swallowed it, then lifted his eyes to Huo Zhaoye.

"You only kiss me and say nothing else." He paused, scooped a spoonful of porridge, blew on it gently, and added, "It's better not to let people misunderstand."

Those words sounded somewhat aggrieved, yet for some reason, coming from Jin Chen's mouth they always seemed like he was feigning hurt just to tease.

Huo Zhaoye: "……"

Who exactly is being hot and cold?

He hasn't even felt wronged yet!

After breakfast, Huo Zhaoye left Jin Chen's room.

He stood in the doorway, not leaving right away, and turned to look at Jin Chen, who had seen him out.

Morning light was brighter than inside the house; Jin Chen leaned against the doorframe, his light‑gray old shirt slightly open to reveal a collarbone, his black hair softly falling over his forehead, his lips a shade redder than usual and slightly swollen.

Huo Zhaoye's gaze lingered on that mark and his lips; without thinking he stepped forward, raised his hand to grip Jin Chen's nape, intending to pull him in for another kiss.

Jin Chen tilted his head to dodge the first attempt, but Huo Zhaoye wouldn't relent, his other hand settling on Jin Chen's waist.

Jin Chen shifted sideways to dodge again, not fully escaping; his waist was caught and he was drawn into Huo Zhaoye's embrace.

He wasn't annoyed; in fact a faint smile rose in his eyes as he lightly patted Huo Zhaoye's cheek with his palm.

The touch was light, more like affectionate teasing, and it went straight to Huo Zhaoye's heart.

Huo Zhaoye's breath caught; this half‑push, half‑yield resistance laced with a smile is harder to refuse than indulgence—almost no one can say no, instead willingly surrendering, even if they suspect a trap ahead.

Huo Zhaoye was no exception.

He even felt that the more Jin Chen handled the situation with ease, staying hot and cold, the stronger his urge to kiss, possess, and break through the calm exterior to see more genuine emotion became.

His Adam's apple bobbed; he wanted to move closer, and if he couldn't kiss, then he had to kiss.

Jin Chen, however, pulled back a little, fingertips pressing against him, and said, "Lord Huo, if you're not going to say anything, better not kiss."

Huo Zhaoye: "……"

Again with that line!

That feeling of being suspended in midair, neither up nor down, was practically driving him mad; his dissatisfaction and agitation peaked.

The chaotic jumble of thoughts in his heart, Huo Zhaoye couldn't utter a single word.

But if he stayed silent, Jin Chen looked at him with that gaze, not allowing him to advance further.

Huo Zhaoye disliked this feeling of being controlled; his domineering, forceful streak surged again, and he pressed harder, trying to push Jin Chen back into his arms.

Jin Chen leaned back, his fingers deftly slipping into Huo Zhaoye's open chest pocket and pulling out a cigarette case.

A flick of his fingertips, and the lid sprang open.

He took out a cigarette, and while Huo Zhaoye still had his arms around his waist, he rubbed his thumb over the roller.

The flame flared, illuminating the close distance, also lighting Jin Chen's slightly lowered side profile and the bit of cigarette he held between his pale lips.

Jin Chen inhaled, narrowed his eyes slightly, then slowly exhaled a bluish‑white plume toward Huo Zhaoye.

The smoke wasn't strong—just a faint bitter herbal note mingling with Jin Chen's unique sandalwood scent, swelling and hazy between them, blurring vision while heightening every sense.

Huo Zhaoye had never seen Jin Chen like this.

The cool aloofness faded; looking at him through the thin smoke, his eyes held a hook.

Huo Zhaoye had never thought herbal smoke could smell this fragrant—so fragrant his throat dried, his heart raced, and his blood felt like it might ignite.

He greedily, uncontrollably leaned forward, his nostrils chasing the wisp of smoke about to dissipate, wanting to inhale more of Jin Chen's scent.

Jin Chen, however, moved the lit cigarette from his lips and slipped it into Huo Zhaoye's slightly open mouth.

Huo Zhaoye instinctively held it, and the tobacco's aroma instantly filled his mouth.

Jin Chen watched him at leisure, the smoke blurring his brows and eyes yet making that hint of smile clearer.

"Do you understand?"

It was clearly an instructive tone; in this situation, in this atmosphere, it felt so discordant it made his heart pound, and it struck the nerve in Huo Zhaoye that had been teased to the extreme, making his scalp tingle.

Huo Zhaoye curled his tongue around the cigarette still carrying Jin Chen's breath and warmth, and drew a deep breath.

The smoke entered his lungs—mildly bitter and cool—but could not quell the raging fire in his chest.

Huo Zhaoye looked at Jin Chen through the curling blue smoke, gave a low laugh, and said, "I stand corrected."

Jin Chen turned and went inside, pulling the door shut behind him.

Huo Zhaoye didn't leave; he leaned against the earthen wall outside Jin Chen's house and slowly finished the cigarette that Jin Chen had held in his mouth.

The herbal bitterness mixed with a faint sandalwood, lingering on lips and teeth, and also twining around his heart.

Huo Zhaoye raised his head, exhaled a mouthful of smoke, watched them dissipate in the morning wind, until the cigarette butt burned out, scorching his fingertips, before he came to.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total 57!】