Chapter 2971: You Are My Fashion Darling 30

Chenshu stood before Jin Chen, head lowered, looking at him.

At this close distance, the details of the scale makeup on Jin Chen's face were fully visible; the dark green iridescence shifted with the light filtering through the canopy, like real snake scales, his head slightly tilted, the upward curve at the corners of his eyes joining the edge of the scales, giving him a cold, almost unreal beauty.

Chenshu reached out, his fingertip resting on the side of Jin Chen's face without scale makeup, gently rubbing it, and asked, "Were you scared?"

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, letting Chenshu's hand slide from his cheek to his chin, the fingertip brushing his jawline, "You knew Min Heng would tamper, so you deliberately had me wear the black snake makeup."

"Mm." Chenshu admitted openly, lowering his head to press his nose against Jin Chen's and rub it.

His voice dropped, tinged with regret, "You don't know—when I first arrived on the show, Min Heng kept provoking me."

Chenshu lifted his eyes, his lashes brushing Jin Chen's eyelids, leaning in until his lips almost touched Jin Chen's ear, warm breath fanning over the ear, sending a tingling sensation: "He doesn't get along with you, and he's still provoking me."

"How about I make him get lost from the show?"

These words were spoken bluntly, even with a hint of willful domineering—nothing like the usual Chenshu who schemes in the marketplace and stands aloof and refined on the judge's panel. Yet saying it in this aggrieved, whiny tone only amplified its sting.

Jin Chen watched him, a strange pleasure slowly rising from deep within his heart.

After a few seconds, he tilted his head, a laugh spilling from his throat, then reached out to press his hand on Chenshu's shoulder, fingertips tightening, his laugh deepening.

"Why not?"

Jin Chen's voice carried a hint of teasing and indulgence he himself hadn't noticed, the tone rising at the end, "This whole island is yours, Chief Chen."

He could tell Chenshu was speaking protectively. That remark about getting him kicked off the show was half‑true, half‑false: the true part was that Chenshu genuinely disliked Min Heng, the false part was that he wouldn't really abuse his power over such a thing—this time Min Heng had simply been caught with evidence against himself.

But it was precisely this half‑truth that made Jin Chen feel pleased, because he sensed Chenshu's concern.

Jin Chen lowered his head and bit Chenshu's lower lip, leaving a faint tooth mark.

Chenshu didn't dodge, letting him bite, his eyes glistening with moisture.

After a moment, Chenshu's hand landed on his shoulder, patting the somewhat heavy shawl‑overcoat, "Is this outfit heavy? Take it off first."

Jin Chen hummed in agreement and released his mouth.

Chenshu went behind him, helped him take off the shawl‑overcoat from his shoulders and hung it on a rack; when he turned around, Jin Chen had already removed his inner layer, leaving only a plain black short‑sleeve.

Jin Chen wrapped his arms around Chenshu's waist, fingertips lifting Chenshu's chin gently; Chenshu followed the motion, tilting his face up to meet another kiss.

Jin Chen kissed with a hint of dependence, his fingers tightening, gripping Chenshu's waist as he leaned his whole body toward him, as if trying to encircle him in his embrace.

When the tip of his tongue slipped in, Jin Chen tasted a sweetness flowing from Chenshu's mouth.

Chenshu didn't realize when he had slipped a candy into his mouth; it had mostly melted, the syrup seeping bit by bit into Jin Chen's mouth through the kiss, the sweetness spreading between their lips and tongues, cloying and viscous, sliding from the tip of the tongue down to the throat.

A faint tremor ran up Jin Chen's spine, slowly seeping into every nerve.

His eyes half‑closed, lashes drooping, he caught the smile in Chenshu's eyes through the slit, deepening the kiss as their tongues twirled, mixing the sweetness more thoroughly. The candy had almost completely dissolved, only a few crumbs melting between his teeth, the flavor rich and cloying, yet Jin Chen didn't want to stop.

Was it because you were sure he wouldn't eat the candy properly, so you fed it to him this way?

But how did Chenshu know he would definitely want to kiss?

What if he didn't kiss, if he just changed clothes and walked out?

But that thought lasted only a second before being replaced by another, as Jin Chen realized Chenshu understood him even better than he had imagined.

Thus Jin Chen felt only pleasure.

Chenshu wasn't seeing through his weaknesses to manipulate him; he saw through his needs and prepared in advance.

Like a candy.

Chenshu seems quite skilled at kissing while holding a candy.

Jin Chen leaned back slightly, his fingers still locked around Chenshu's waist, merely changing the rhythm as his pads slowly rubbed Chenshu's waist through the shirt fabric; this position made the kiss deeper and more aggressive. The cloying syrup exchanged between their mouths, melted, until it was almost impossible to tell who had consumed more.

After who knows how long, when the sweetness in their mouths had completely faded and the candy had finally dissolved entirely in their fervent entwining, that long, almost breath‑stealing kiss ended.

Chenshu's waist went limp, his whole body leaning into Jin Chen's embrace as if he had no strength.

Jin Chen released his lips.

Chenshu licked his own lower lip; his lips were a little red from the kiss, glistening, the corners of his eyes flushed with emotion, his light‑gold eyes veiled with a misty haze, hazy and wistful. It was a soft, unguarded look he would never show in front of outsiders.

He turned his head, pressing his heated cheek gently into Jin Chen's neck crook, his nose touching the skin at the side of the neck, his lips lazily rubbing the spot above the collarbone.

——

After the morning's shoot wrapped up, the Program Team had originally planned to film a bit more footage before pulling out of the jungle.

In the days before departure they had checked the weather repeatedly; the forecast said today would be sunny all day, and the morning indeed shone bright, the sunlight bathing the jungle in warm warmth.

But shortly after noon, clouds piled up on the horizon, the humidity in the air spiked, a wind carrying the scent of rain blew in from the sea, and then a torrential downpour began.

"Quick! Everyone retreat to the assembly‑point shelter! Watch your step!" the director shouted through a megaphone, the crew sprang into action, guiding the contestants to leave the shooting area in an orderly fashion and return to the relatively safe, dry assembly point—several pre‑erected, relatively sturdy white large tents.

The sudden downpour threw all plans into disarray; the supplementary shooting plan was clearly impossible. Now the top priority is ensuring everyone's safety, waiting for the rain to ease or stop.

Chenshu was handling work matters during a break when the sudden roar of rain outside made his heart jump for no reason.

Why is it still raining?

To avoid the original plot, he had already changed the shooting schedule in advance, sidelining the key figure Qi Jing, yet this downpour still tried to push the story toward its destined course.

Danger often arises at times like this.

Chenshu stepped out of the shelter, his complexion not good, "Where's Jin Chen?"

"He was just here…" a staff member replied.

Gu Chen Zhou rushed over in the rain, half‑soaked, his hair plastered to his forehead.

"Chief Chen."

Gu Chen Zhou stopped in front of the shelter, wiped the rain from his face, "Jin Chen was called away by Min Heng, who said he had some private matter to discuss; he hasn't come back yet."

Before he could finish, Chenshu's face had already darkened completely.

As expected.

The assistant had already handed over a black umbrella; Chenshu took it and turned toward the direction Gu Chen Zhou indicated.

A few bodyguards ran from behind the shelter, asking the assistant whether they should follow.

The assistant glanced at them, shook his head, "Chief Chen said no one needs to follow."

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment, "Such heavy rain, the jungle is very dangerous..."

The assistant glanced at him, expression a bit subtle, "You mean Chen Zong will have an accident?"

The bodyguard stared for a moment, recalling the rumors about how this young Chief Executive Officer, in the treacherous family power struggle, had eliminated all opponents and step by step climbed to the pinnacle of power, then fell silent and said nothing more.