Chapter 3003: Stubborn Taming 20

Chenshu's frail body, together with that fragile neck that seemed as if it would snap at the slightest bend, was completely under Jin Chen's control.

But he did not struggle, nor even try to tilt his head back to ease the suffocating pressure; instead, he meekly followed the force of Jin Chen's palm, lifting his head a little higher, like a sacrificial victim offering his neck, exposing his most vital weakness without reservation in Jin Chen's hand—only a single tear, held back too long, finally broke free from the rim of his bloodshot eyes and fell, quiet and obedient.

Jin Chen watched him silently, not loosening his grip, so Chenshu's breathing grew difficult; instinctively he raised his uninjured right hand to grab Jin Chen's wrist, but Jin Chen thought he would struggle—yet Chenshu did not, merely brushing his fingertips lightly, as if… acting coquettish.

Jin Chen suddenly released his hand.

Fresh air rushed in, and Chenshu burst into violent coughing, tears welling at the corners of his eyes as his body curled, tugging at his wound and making him wince, brows furrowed in pain.

Jin Chen lowered his eyes, his face expressionless, calmly and indifferently meeting Chenshu's gaze as the latter struggled to regain his breath.

But looking at Jin Chen like that, Chenshu's heart suddenly ached—more painful than when his throat had been choked and he couldn't breathe—as if he could see through Jin Chen's eyes an ineffable sorrow.

Heedless of the throat's sting and his coughing, he eagerly seized Jin Chen's fingers hanging at his side, pulled them to his lips, and kissed them without restraint, with a devout, atoning air.

"Jin Chen, I…"

"What should I call you?" Jin Chen interrupted him, his tone clearly displeased and cold.

"You little liar, even now you can't pretend to be obedient and cute."

Chenshu was startled by the question, then realized and stared into his eyes, "Husband… husband…"

He held Jin Chen's fingers, tears welling again, "I… I'm not…"

"What do you want to say?" Jin Chen let him hold his fingers, not pulling away, only asking lightly.

Seeing Chenshu flustered and eager to justify himself, he added, "You'd better think it through before speaking. I don't want to hear lies again, or else you won't see me anymore."

A natural superior seems always thus—laid‑back, offhand, even delivering the harshest warnings and expulsions in a bland tone.

But for Chenshu, this was already enough.

He was like a stray dog once battered by wind and rain, guided to Yu City and to Jin Chen's side.

He had once thought this engagement a trap, but day‑after‑day together, the occasional indulgence, even the close contact tinged with a desire to control and the embrace that gave him security—unbeknownst to him—became the antidote nourishing his desolate heart.

Because he had felt the warmth of home, he feared loss all the more.

And now he faced the possibility of being abandoned.

Chenshu lowered his eyes, shielding the turmoil of pain struggling within, released Jin Chen's fingers, and instead wrapped both arms around Jin Chen's arm hanging at his side, pressing his cheek against it.

"My training with Jiu Shu is… real, but before that I spent several years in a foreign mercenary organization."

Jin Chen asked him, "Why?"

"... Revenge."

"I want to take revenge, but Jiu Shu won't let me…" Chenshu drew a deep breath, not wanting Jin Chen to see the uncontrolled emotion in his eyes; he knew he must look terrible, utterly disheveled.

"Jiu Shu won't let me drown in hatred; he says it would destroy me… it's me myself, unable to break free."

Jin Chen fell silent for a moment, then asked, "After you came to Yu City, is the gathering of those business intelligence also part of your revenge?"

Chenshu nodded, continuing to rub his cheek against Jin Chen's arm, "But the people who want me to obtain those data and information are not good partners; I simply have no other choice."

He was too eager to grasp any clue, overlooking danger, believing lies, and nearly dragged himself down as well.

Jin Chen released his arm, walked to the bedside and sat down; the mattress sank slightly, and Chenshu's body unconsciously leaned toward him—only to have his chin caught.

Jin Chen looked at his wet eyes, voice low, "You want revenge—won't you come to me?"

Chenshu took a moment, then slowly suppressed the surging emotions in his chest, "I… I don't even know… I might have fallen for you…"

In the first few days after entering Half Mountain Villa, he approached it with the mindset of completing his task, and while Jin Chen was away he explored every corner of the villa inside and out.

Back then he still scoffed at this old man's carelessness and boldness—security seemed tight, yet it let him get familiar with the surroundings so easily; even if he were temporarily confined here, it seemed not entirely hopeless.

But the longer they spent together, that sliver of hope and calculation to finish the job and leave twisted him into ever greater unease.

The more love and warmth he felt, the more anxious he became, the happier he felt, and the more lost he felt.

He even began to fantasize that if he were merely an ordinary person entrusted by Jiu Shu to Jin Chen, with no secrets or hatred, it would be nice to simply stay by Jin Chen's side, be managed by him, and occasionally be teased rudely…

But there are no "ifs."

He came with secrets and an agenda; he deceived Jin Chen, stole his things, and nearly caused a great disaster.

Jin Chen watched the complex emotions churning in his eyes, slowly rubbing the faint red ring left on Chenshu's neck where he had just choked him.

Jin Chen asked in a low voice, steady and unhurried, "On the night before you prepared to act, why did you send me that video?"

Chenshu's breath caught; he bit his lower lip and remained silent for a long while.

But Jin Chen would not let him retreat, tightening his grip on Chenshu's chin and forcing him to meet his gaze.

"At that moment you were hesitating," Jin Chen explained, "whether to abandon the plan at the last minute, tell me everything, and seek my help. Is that right?"

He gave Chenshu no room to evade, his eyes darkening slightly, "Tell me now—is it so?"

Chenshu let out a soft sob.

To him, Jin Chen's now‑almost‑gentle pressing and caressing was harder to endure than the earlier chokehold on his throat.

He was like a criminal thrust onto the trial stand, forced to expose his most wretched, hesitant, cowardly self in bloody detail, only able to shudder and beg for this grueling judgment to end quickly.

He finally squeezed out this word from between his clenched teeth: ".".

Those secretly cultivated dependencies and improper feelings, at the critical moment, became the biggest variable and obstacle in his plan.