Chapter 2906: Small Town Infrastructure Construction Proceeds Happily 28

Jin Chen heard the words and let out a light laugh.

You don't think I'm awesome, do you?

Jin Chen looked at him; the space under the umbrella was cramped, and their breaths almost intertwined.

The damp rain mist seemed to become a catalyst, making Jin Chen's voice sound deeper, almost bewitching.

Huo Zhaoye, your habit of going solo…… when will you fix it?

Again this tone, making it harder to refute than any criticism.

It seemed Huo Zhaoye was merely a troublesome youth who needed patient guidance and had many problems, while Jin Chen was the teacher who always handled things with ease, saw through everything, and was ready to lend a hand at any moment.

Huo Zhaoye stayed here a long time today, killed the anomalous creatures, was Silence at his mother's burial site, and in between his headaches, figured out some things, suddenly felt his throat itch, as if something was stuck there, needing to speak out.

He wiped the dark red blood stains from his fingers, then took hold of Jin Chen's hand that wasn't gripping the umbrella.

I've figured it out.

Huo Zhaoye looked at their joined hands, then lifted his eyes to Jin Chen, "I won't give up on you; I may have said that before, but back then…… I might not have understood enough, now I want to say it again."

Jin Chen, I really like you.

This time, it wasn't an impulse driven by desire, but in pain, in memory, when facing past and future alone, he still clearly confirmed that he wanted this person—not just now, but in the future, a liking that no matter what, he didn't want to let go of.

Jin Chen slightly tilted his head, meeting Huo Zhaoye's earnest gaze.

Thus his eyes curved with a smile, the kiss that was about to fall as Huo Zhaoye drew near was stopped by him at a very close distance.

Jin Chen didn't kiss him; he merely raised his finger, pressed the pad against his lower lip, then placed it on Huo Zhaoye's slightly opened lips.

"I like you too," Jin Chen said.

Huo Zhaoye's heart almost leapt out of his chest from those words.

"But, Huo Zhaoye," Jin Chen's fingertip lightly rubbed his lips, tone amused, "you haven't listened to the teacher many times."

"Don't tell me about your headache."

"Coming here alone to adventure."

"Obviously needing help yet choosing to tough it out."

"So," Jin Chen withdrew his finger, leisurely watching his stunned face, and announced.

"I've decided to give you the cold shoulder."

Huo Zhaoye: "???"

"Cold shoulder?"

"What does that mean, how to give the cold shoulder?"

"Liking him but having to give him the cold shoulder—where's the logic in that!"

The rain seemed to intensify at this moment, pattering against the umbrella.

Jin Chen wrapped his arms around Huo Zhaoye's waist, pulling him closer.

"Let's go, head back."

Jin Chen said, holding up the umbrella, bringing Huo Zhaoye who was still processing the cold shoulder news, turned and walked out of the woods.

The umbrella wasn't large, barely covering both of them, so Jin Chen tilted it toward Huo Zhaoye.

Huo Zhaoye's mind kept turning over the words 'cold shoulder,' but his body genuinely felt the warmth and strength from his waist, and the umbrella Jin Chen tilted for him.

"This…… this doesn't look like giving the cold shoulder, does it."

Huo Zhaoye remained torn, like a tangled knot, yet his bodily instinct made him unable to resist; he still quietly tilted his head toward Jin Chen, resting his wet, slightly aching head on Jin Chen's shoulder,

——

On the way back, the rain sounded gentle.

【Lord Jin Chen, received an encrypted private message from the Spirit Terminal of the Quick Transmigration Bureau!】

Jin Chen's steps didn't stop, responding in his thoughts: 【Read.】

999 diligently processed it, 【Information decoding……decoding successful.】

【The Spirit Body Core Restoration Program for Senior 0731 has been fully completed; the Spirit Terminal asks me to tell you: please don't worry, Senior's recovery is good, already entered the stable stage.】

999 was still handling the follow‑up part of that private message, and stalled a bit.

【……Additionally, the Spirit Terminal added: After Pudgy recovered, the initial manifestation of the divine beast form was very…… beautiful, round and lovely, hmm……】

999 stalled again, seeming a bit confused by this description, but still persisted in reading it to the end.

【The Spirit Terminal said, there's no other meaning, just letting you know.】

Jin Chen: 【……】

White Marsh, this guy.