Chapter 2995: Taming the Wayward 12

After that day, Jin Chen seemed determined to rein in Chenshu's habit of running around causing trouble.

He had Chenshu rest at the hillside villa, but to Chenshu it felt like house arrest.

Besides the villa, he couldn't go anywhere else.

The main gate had guards, the walls had surveillance, the yard had patrols, and even the back mountain path was watched.

He once tried to climb over the wall, but as soon as his foot touched the top, he heard a voice behind him.

"Sister-in-law, President Jin said if you climb over the wall, he'll be back tonight." He turned and saw Xiao Yan behind him holding a phone with Jin Chen's number on the screen.

Chenshu silently climbed down from the wall.

He had no choice but to stay put for a few days.

In the villa, with nothing to do, he either ate or slept; occasionally he went to the yard to sunbathe or watched a few movies in the audiovisual room.

Days passed more comfortably than when he was training abroad, but also far more boring.

Jin Chen, on the other hand, was out every day—sometimes leaving early in the morning and returning late at night, sometimes not coming back at all.

The huge villa was left with only Chenshu, a few quiet servants, and a squad of expressionless bodyguards.

Chenshu almost felt like he was inexplicably guarding an empty room.

On the seventh night, Chenshu went downstairs in pajamas and slippers to look for food, turned the stair corner, and bumped into Jin Chen returning from outside.

Jin Chen looked a bit tired, his expression darker than usual, as if suppressing some emotion; behind him, Chen Gai kept his head low, silent, making the atmosphere a bit oppressive.

Chenshu and Jin Chen locked eyes; his heart jumped, and he instinctively turned to run upstairs.

"Come here." Jin Chen's voice sounded from behind.

Chenshu, with his back to the lower floor, took a deep breath, cursed in his mind, then turned and slowly walked down the stairs to stand before Jin Chen.

"Husband." He called out in an obedient voice, "You're back."

Jin Chen didn't respond, telling Chen Gai, "Put the things down, you can go first."

Chen Gai acknowledged, placed a black velvet box on the dining table, and said to Chenshu, "Sister-in-law, President Jin had a drink today; please look after him a bit more."

Chenshu sneakily glanced at Jin Chen sitting on the sofa, eyes half-closed, not knowing if he was meditating or really asleep; one hand rested on the armrest, the veins on the back of his hand standing out clearly under the light, making his fingers look even more knobby.

He had drunk, carrying a lazy intoxication, yet it added a touch of mature male charm, a kind of dangerous sensuality with his edges softened.

Chenshu stared, a bit dazed, until Jin Chen opened his eyes and their gazes met unexpectedly.

Chenshu quickly looked away, forcing a meek smile, "What do you need from me?"

Jin Chen lifted his chin, "I've prepared a gift for you; pick one."

Chenshu froze for a moment, bent over and picked up the box; inside lay black velvet, with a brooch, cufflinks, and a ring placed side by side.

Chenshu had never seen such things before; in the training camp he'd just scraped by, well-fed and clothed was enough—never mind such luxuries—but just looking at them he knew each was outrageously expensive.

"Why are you giving me a gift?" he asked, then quickly added before Jin Chen could answer, "Is it because you feel my love for you, husband?"

When Chenshu said that, he sounded completely justified, as if he truly loved Jin Chen.

Jin Chen: "……" He pressed his temples.

Chenshu looked at Jin Chen pleadingly, "Why can I only choose one? Why not give them all to me?"

Before Jin Chen could respond, Chenshu's next sentence came.

"Are there two other people giving you gifts outside? Can this lowly wife of mine meet them?"

Jin Chen: "……"

What's all this mumbling?

Jin Chen's already fuzzy brain from the drink was overwhelmed by his chatter, his head throbbing; he reached out and pulled Chenshu close, the bone protruding from the inside of his wrist pressing lightly against the side of Chenshu's neck.

"Take them all." Jin Chen said, voice tinged with impatience, "Why so much talk?"

Chenshu shuddered, the spot where Jin Chen's wrist touched him feeling numb, hot, and itchy; he grinned, took the three seemingly priceless gifts, and slipped them one by one into his pajama pockets, "Thanks, husband!"

He patted his pocket, then decided to fulfill his duty as the wife in their contract marriage.

It wasn't gossip, nor was he nervous about Jin Chen discovering his affairs; he just saw the older man had drunk and seemed in a bad mood, so out of humanitarian concern he checked on him.

"Why are you drinking?"

Chenshu crouched beside the sofa, leaning in, "Is it because you found out something unpleasant?"

Their interactions were no longer as tense as before. Chenshu gradually figured out Jin Chen's temperament: he yields to softness, not hardness; as long as one doesn't cross his bottom line, occasional teasing won't really anger him.

Jin Chen pinched his brow, thumb pressing his temples, "The insiders have all been rooted out."

Chenshu's heart stirred: "Really? Then..."

"Thanks also to your sharp eyes." Jin Chen added, tone ambiguous between praise and sarcasm.

Chenshu gave a dry laugh and didn't respond.