Chapter 3007: Taming the Stubborn 24

It was already getting close to evening.

Chenshu withdrew his gaze and saw Jin Chen lift the blanket, sit up, and get out of bed.

The man's tall silhouette was especially clear in the dim light; he casually picked up a sleeping robe and threw it on, the belt loosely tied, revealing a broad expanse of firm chest and abs, with a few fresh scratch marks on them.

He was barefoot, stepping onto the soft carpet as he walked out of the bedroom.

Chenshu watched him walk away step by step, and suddenly a hollow opened in his chest; the body that had just been filled to the brim now felt emptied, the sheets beneath him rumpled, still bearing traces of their lovemaking and their shared warmth, but that person was gone.

He couldn't say why; although he had just gotten what he wanted, seeing Jin Chen get up and leave left him feeling as if a huge hole had been torn open, cold wind rushing in, leaving him cold and empty.

Chenshu slowly curled into the blanket, burying his scorching face and wet eyes inside, his nose feeling sore.

Not long after, the blanket was lifted from outside.

Chenshu was still lost in that inexplicable sense of grievance, his eyes red, his lashes wet and clumped, as he blankly lifted his gaze.

Jin Chen saw his red, wet eye sockets, his brows slightly furrowed as he reached out to rub Chenshu's nape, asking, "What's wrong?"

Chenshu shook his head without speaking, then suddenly wrapped his arms around Jin Chen's neck, pressing his face into the warm hollow of his neck, his lips brushing against Jin Chen's collarbone.

Jin Chen was pulled slightly forward by the embrace, then naturally lay back down, drawing him into his arms and adjusting to a comfortable position for both.

The man who had been so dominant, even a bit fierce, during their lovemaking now became much gentler.

He lowered his head and kissed Chenshu's still slightly red and swollen lips; his usual fierce, attack‑filled brows and eyes softened all their sharpness, showing a rare tenderness, perhaps still languid from their intimacy, "You did great just now, Bao Bao."

It seemed that in that very moment, the inexplicable grievance and emptiness that had weighed on Chenshu's heart were smoothed away; his whole body relaxed, turning soft as a puddle of water, he clung and murmured "brother" and "husband" in a sweet, soft voice, a stark contrast to his earlier whimpering on the bed, as if he were soaked in a honey jar.

Jin Chen's ears tingled from being called that, and he asked, "What exactly is going on?"

Chenshu pressed his face against Jin Chen's chest, listening to his heartbeat, and mumbled, "I don't want you to leave."

Jin Chen suddenly let out a low laugh, pinched the soft flesh at Chenshu's waist, then rubbed his flat belly, saying, "Weren't you just whining about being hungry?"

Chenshu lifted his head in confusion, looking toward the outside of the blanket, and saw a bowl of congee on the bedside table.

That earlier grievance seemed a bit affected, but he couldn't even think about drinking the congee; a stronger urge surged in his chest, longing to hold him, to kiss him, to get closer—close enough to feel each breath and heartbeat, close enough that his whole world would be filled only with that unique presence.

Chenshu lifted his face again and kissed Jin Chen's lips.

——

Chenshu's wounds had finally healed completely, and having been well fed and watered during this time, his cheeks had gained a bit of soft flesh that felt nice to pinch.

Of course, the price of healing his injuries was not small either.

Besides being made to drink various tonics every day, take his medicine on schedule, and have his activities restricted, the biggest cost was probably that he spent a great deal of thought and effort, using every means at his disposal, trying to appease the old man who was furious over his "traitor" actions.

No, it could only be considered half a success.

Jin Chen no longer avoided him; he would return to the master bedroom to sleep at night, no longer refused the soup Chenshu served at meals, and occasionally, when in a good mood, would respond to his sticky kisses and coquettish behavior.

Chenshu also realized for the first time just how hard it was to soothe Jin Chen when he was angry, and how grudging he could be. His usual coquettish tricks, proactive kisses, even wearing see‑through sleepwear to seduce, all seemed discounted in Jin Chen's eyes. Jin Chen seemed to have an invisible container; each good deed Chenshu did was like adding a drop of water, and after a long, long time he finally filled it to the line.

He felt frustrated, but Chenshu never thought of giving up; it was as if he had matched his own stubbornness, resolved to warm Jin Chen up again.

After that peace‑seeking effort that could be called walking into a trap, Chenshu also came to rely completely on his husband. He used to like handling everything himself, but now, whenever a difficulty arose, his first thought was to seek Jin Chen—since Jin Chen could solve anything, he no longer needed to worry.

There was just one thing: regarding his revenge plan, he didn't want Jin Chen to help.

It wasn't distrust—quite the opposite—it was because Chenshu's almost obsessive protectiveness made him unwilling to drag Jin Chen completely into that pool of twenty‑year‑old bloody grudges, unwilling to let those dirty past affairs and dangerous figures stain Jin Chen in the slightest.

Chenshu repeatedly assured Jin Chen that he would absolutely prioritize his own safety, and would always inform Jin Chen beforehand before doing anything.

If it were an ordinary person, they would only feel that Jin Chen's such restrictions and controls were overly suffocating.

Everything had to be reported, everything needed permission, it felt like being monitored, yet for Chenshu it was an unprecedented sense of security.

Jin Chen's restraints were not shackles to him, but a rope pulling him back from the edge of a cliff.

Chenshu naturally belonged in that as well, and even embraced it gladly.

——

That afternoon, the rare warm sun in Writing City bathed the streets as Chenshu wandered outside, looped around the harbor area, then went to a newly opened dessert shop in the city center to buy the supposedly popular signature cream puffs.

On the way back to Half Mountain Villa, he was in a good mood, humming an off‑key tune, and from afar he saw Jin Chen's black Maybach parked in the garage.

Chenshu's eyes lit up; he light‑footedly jumped out of the car and dashed into the main building like a gust of wind.

He went up to the second floor, familiar with the route, and headed straight for the study.

The study's door was ajar; he poked half his head in, glanced inside, and said in a sweet, velvety tone with a drawn‑out ending, "Hubby~"

Inside the study, Jin Chen sat behind his desk, as if waiting for someone; hearing Chenshu's voice, he lifted his head and waved at him.

"Come in."

Having received permission, Chenshu flung the door open like a happy puppy returning home, took a few steps and leapt behind the desk, plopping into Jin Chen's lap with both arms around his neck.

Jin Chen also naturally wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him closer to settle him more securely, while his other hand kept holding the pen, his eyes flicking over the documents, and he gave a casual "uh" to indicate he should speak.

Chenshu happily looped his arms around Jin Chen's neck, bringing his face to his ear, "I heard you came back to Half Mountain Villa early today, and you specially brought me the signature item from that especially popular dessert shop, after waiting in line for ages!"

Jin Chen turned his head at the words, lowered his gaze to look at him, and saw in his pupils the reflection of Chenshu's grin—teeth showing but eyes crinkled shut.

"Where is it?"

Chenshu blinked, giggled, and said, "I know you don't like sweets, so I ate it myself."

Then, without waiting for Jin Chen's reaction, he puckered his lips and brought them to Jin Chen's mouth, blatantly tempting, "If you really want to taste it, a kiss will do."

Jin Chen: "……"

What twisted logic.

He found it somewhat funny, gave Chenshu's perky butt a slap as punishment for his nonsense.

"Get up." Jin Chen tried to pull him off his lap, "Sit properly."

Chenshu's courage was now genuine; one of his favorite pastimes was teasing that seemingly cold, aloof old man in every way possible, watching him lose his composure for him, even just a little.

"I won't." Chenshu instead clung tighter, burying his face in Jin Chen's neck and rubbing, as if possessed by acting, he began a exaggerated performance, his voice drawn out with overdone sorrow.

"Hubby, are you growing distant? Or don't you love me anymore? You won't even try a bite……"

He hadn't finished his line when a few stifled breaths came from the direction of the study's doorway.

Chenshu alertly stopped his performance, turned his head, and looked toward the doorway.

Chen Gai, Yan Rui, and several of Jin Chen's confidants were planted at the doorway, their faces wearing ever more remarkable expressions as they gazed at the sky and the earth, but dared not glance into the Study.

Obviously, they had been eavesdropping for quite a while.

Chenshu was so embarrassed his toes wanted to dig a three‑room apartment into Jin Chen's expensive custom leather shoes.

「When did you guys arrive? 」

Yan Rui, standing at the front: 「From the place that doesn't like sweets。」

Chenshu: 「……」

That means they heard everything.

Jin Chen, however, showed no special reaction, gave a snort-laugh, reached out and pulled Chenshu off him, letting him lean against his chest.

「Come in。」