Chapter 2985: Taming the Wayward 02

Why are you at the club tonight?

Jin Chen stared at Chenshu for a while, his brows furrowed low, his eye sockets deep-set, and whenever he looked at someone he gave off a lofty, scrutinizing air.

Chenshu kept his fingers behind his back slightly curled, his heart jumped a beat, yet his face betrayed nothing.

"Didn't I say that already?" He tilted his head, the gray-dyed tips of his wolf-tail hair sliding from his shoulder to reveal his pale, slender neck; his tone was light and innocent.

"I heard you're here, so I came to find you. Is that not allowed? We got our certificate, after all—I'm coming to see my own husband; do I need to file a report in advance?"

Jin Chen sat up a little straighter on the sofa, propping his elbow on the armrest, leaning forward, shifting his weight ahead.

That was a highly oppressive posture.

"Qian Hao's father is the boss of Yongchang Building Materials."

"Yongchang Building Materials undertook part of the port expansion project three years ago, but later was found to have used substandard materials and was kicked off the cooperators' list—I handled that matter."

"Qian Zhen has been trying to get back on my good side for a while; tonight's gathering, he begged for three months to get an invitation."

Jin Chen's gaze fell on Chenshu's face like a thin frost in winter, his eyes almost hidden in the shadow of his brow bone, exuding an icy, unapproachable aura. "He knows what kind of person his son is, so he certainly won't let him cause trouble at this critical juncture unless someone deliberately provokes him."

Chenshu stood where he was, his back tense from being stared at, his fingers lightly rubbing something behind him—a blade still pressed in his palm—smiling with eyes curved, his voice soft enough to wring water from.

"Mr. Jin, aren't you overthinking? Clearly he bullied me."

His tone carried a hint of coquettish lilt, paired with that face so pretty it seemed harmless, making one doubt that the young man who had just brandished a broken bottle and flung someone onto shattered glass could be the same person.

Chenshu tilted his head, blinked, and looked utterly innocent.

He simply couldn't be bothered to make an excuse.

Anyway, from just now until now, that line has become second nature to him.

The executives trailing Jin Chen were startled by his bluff, Qian Zhen and his father didn't dare to question it, and he almost thought the matter was settled.

But being able to bluff those who fear Jin Chen doesn't mean he can bluff Jin Chen himself.

Jin Chen half-closed his eyes, grunted, and lightly tapped the toe of his thin-soled leather shoe against the low table beside the sofa. "Sit."

Chenshu stared at Jin Chen, his eyes full of wariness, a hint of hesitation.

Jin Chen didn't urge him, just leaning against the sofa back, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

After about half a minute, Chenshu slowly shuffled over and sat on the low table, which was lower than the sofa, so he had to tilt his head up to see Jin Chen's face.

Just as Chenshu settled, Jin Chen suddenly reached out, gripping his jaw with fingertips sinking into the soft flesh of his cheeks, examining him from close range.

Just one look was enough to startle Chenshu.

He wasn't unfamiliar with ruthless types; after years of scraping by, he'd seen plenty of vicious gazes and blood-stained hands. But Jin Chen was different—he sent a chill down to the bone.

Chenshu's cheek flesh was pinched together, his lips pushed slightly forward by the angle, his pupils reflecting Jin Chen's almost expressionless, cold face as he mumbled, "What the hell?!"

But Jin Chen's arm strength was nothing he could budge.

Jin Chen's thumb brushed along Chenshu's jawline, "If it was just a chance encounter, why did you specifically investigate the Qian family's building materials half a month ago?"

Chenshu's eyelashes flickered as he quickly ran through it in his mind.

He had indeed looked into the Qian family half a month earlier—not only that, he'd sneaked into Yongchang Building Materials' warehouse to have a look. He believed he'd been covert, using a false identity, so how could Jin Chen…

Chenshu decided to start with the soft approach.

He blinked his eyes, looking pitifully, leaning a bit toward Jin Chen, his voice soft as if soaked in hot water, sticky and sweet, "I messed up your business, I'm really sorry—I was just curious…"

"What are you curious about?" Jin Chen asked.

"What kind of people do you usually deal with?" Chenshu said, his fingertips quietly lifting to press against Jin Chen's wrist, giving a light push, "Honey, you're hurting me…"

That trick might work on others.

But it didn't work on Jin Chen.

His grip didn't loosen in the slightest; instead, he pressed his thumb down, onto Chenshu's Adam's apple—a dangerous spot. Chenshu's breath hitched, he instinctively tried to pull back, but Jin Chen's other hand was already on the back of his neck, pulling him forward.

The distance between them grew even closer.

Jin Chen locked eyes with him and said, word by word, "Don't try that with me."

Chenshu fell silent, the hurt expression on his face slowly fading—just as Jin Chen thought he might lash out, Chenshu suddenly freed a hand, pulled something from his inner pocket, and held it up to Jin Chen.

It was a black-and-white photo, the edges worn, showing a man in his fifties.

Jin Chen's motion stalled, he stared at the photo for a few seconds, then finally loosened his grip on Chenshu's chin.

Chenshu took the opportunity to break free, stepping half a pace back, rubbing his reddened chin; as he lifted his head, his eyes were already red, tears welling in his sockets, on the verge of spilling.

"Uncle Nine sent me to rely on you, and you treat me like this!" He held up the photo, his voice choking, utterly aggrieved.

Chenshu's lament grew louder, tears streaming faster: "I traveled all this way to a place I don't know, and you just suspect me, interrogate me, and even pinch me…"

He said this, shoving the photo into Jin Chen's embrace, then sat hugging his knees on the carpet, face buried in the crook of his arm, shoulders shuddering, looking utterly pitiful.

Jin Chen: '…'

Come to think of it, that's also why they got married.