Chapter 3082

Bang! A gunshot rang out.

That fish-like monster was shot through, its massive body plummeting into the sea and staining the surface red.

Jin Chen hadn't even turned around when someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him into an embrace.

The force was immense, as if it would crush his bones; Chenshu's breathing grew heavy, his heartbeat faster, and through his clothes Jin Chen could feel a drum-like vibration. The gun in his hand hadn't even had time to be lowered, still hanging at his side, his fingers locked in the rigid posture after pulling the trigger, veins bulging from the back of his hand up to his forearm.

"Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen…"

Chenshu's voice was low, his face buried in Jin Chen's neck, lips pressed to his skin, repeatedly whispering his name. The Imperial General, who never changed expression on the battlefield, now trembled as he held Jin Chen.

Jin Chen, slightly short of breath from the hold, patted the back of Chenshu's hand gripping his waist and said, "I'm fine, loosen up a bit—my bones might break."

Chenshu didn't release right away, holding on for another two seconds before easing his grip slightly, but his arms remained around Jin Chen's waist, not fully letting go.

Jin Chen frowned, sensing something off about Chenshu's reaction, and tried to turn to see his face, but the hold was too tight for him to move.

Mai Lun walked over from behind, glanced at the floating monster carcass on the sea, then at Jin Chen half-embraced by Chenshu, and said skeptically, "What could happen to him? Mu Mu was supposed to be protecting him—if Mu Mu hadn't reacted quickly just now, he'd probably be fish food by now."

Shi Ti Fu stood a few steps away, his brow twitching at the words; his tall, bulky frame stepped in front of Mai Lun, and he asked Chi Mu doubtfully, "What I just saw looked like you almost pushed Jin Chen over."

Chi Mu's face turned pale in an instant.

"No! No…" he shook his head repeatedly, voice urgent, eyes reddening quickly, "I was just too worried about Chen Ge… I saw that fish monster and wanted to warn him."

Before Chi Mu could finish speaking, tears welled up in his eyes, making him look innocent and wronged.

Jin Chen remembered there was still more of the plot to go through.

Struggling to turn in Chenshu's embrace, Chenshu's arm around his waist loosened just enough to let Jin Chen face him, and only after turning did he notice Chenshu's face looked worse than Chi Mu's.

Jin Chen felt puzzled but didn't struggle, instead leaning half into Chenshu's arms and giving Chi Mu a smile.

"Yeah, this is… a life‑saving favor."

Chenshu's arm tightened again, his knuckles hooking into the fabric at Jin Chen's side, veins standing out from the back of his hand down to his wrist.

Jin Chen ignored the hand on his waist and continued smiling at Chi Mu, saying, "How about I give you a gift? A gift that means a lot to me."

Under Chi Mu's slightly expectant gaze, Jin Chen pried open Chenshu's arm, rummaged in his pocket, and pulled out a card.

He held the card between two fingers, offered it to Chi Mu, then lifted his chin to point at the largest abandoned building on the shore, seven or eight stories tall.

"This building is all yours."

Chi Mu's expression flashed blank for a moment as he looked at the distant, dilapidated department store, its walls overgrown with vines; his smile froze on his face.

What does he want the permission card for that abandoned building?!

: That building isn't abandoned, is it? Why give Chi Mu an abandoned building??

: Hahahaha, I died laughing—what kind of brain circuit does Jin Chen have?!

: I really don't get this direction—Jin Chen and Chi Mu don't seem to click either; honestly, the General is a better match.

: You don't get it, do you? To a game designer, this kind of abandoned building is practically a treasure!

: I really can't keep up with Jin Chen's brainwave—Mu fans were all set to ship the CP, but ended up getting countered, hahaha!

: If you can't keep up, that's fine—a genius's mind isn't for ordinary people to follow, and besides, there's a General over there giving off jealous vibes.

Jin Chen looked around, very pleased with Chi Mu and the others' reactions—very pleased, and utterly shocking the whole crowd.

He slipped the permission card into Chi Mu's cool palm, leaned forward slightly, and with a cool smile asked, "Chi Mu, are you moved?"

Chi Mu unexpectedly met Jin Chen's smiling eyes, but all he saw was a chill as if seeing through everything; after a few seconds of hesitation he forced a smile, his voice dry, "I… I feel moved, thank you, Chen Ge."

【Review Check: Plot point passed, detection shows no deviation.】

Jin Chen's mood improved a bit.

He shifted his gaze away from Chi Mu to look at the person who had been silently holding him since earlier.

"What's wrong with you? I'm not hurt, am I…?"

Chenshu pulled him around and walked off, Jin Chen's unfinished words scattered by the sea wind.

The broadcast ball hovered in midair, the camera panning to follow it, but Bu Lai Ke reacted swiftly, snatching the floating broadcast ball and firmly pressing it back into place.

"The General surely has important matters to relay, concerning mission safety—live broadcast isn't convenient right now."

Bu Lai Ke said it with a straight face; if you ignore the slight twitch at the corner of his eye, it's quite convincing.

The chat comments went completely wild at this moment.

: What words are we esteemed VIPs not allowed to hear!

: Bu Lai Ke, let go! Let the broadcast ball follow! I bet five cents they're definitely not going to discuss mission safety!

: I have a feeling they're going to sneak a kiss—this atmosphere is really weird!

: I felt the same about that earlier comment! That pulling motion, that gaze, that eager aura to whisk someone away…

: So, is there anyone who can tell me what exactly Jin Chen and Chenshu's relationship is? I'm about to go crazy!

: Why is the General hardly interacting with us Mu Mu today, showing no competitiveness at all…

: Goodness, the General is practically writing 'only cares about Jin Chen' on his face—Mu fans, open your eyes and look at the universe!

The observation shelter, once built to provide rest services for tourists, now consists only of a rust‑stained metal frame and a few broken sun‑shade panels, with sea wind blowing in from all directions.

Chenshu brought Jin Chen to the back of the shelter, blocking most of the view from the beach, before finally loosening his grip.

Jin Chen rubbed the wrist that had been gripped, lifted his head to look at him, and waited for him to speak.

Chenshu just stared at Jin Chen, the sea wind tossing his forehead bangs, his brown eyes swirling with an intense, deep obsession.

Jin Chen frowned, poked Chenshu's cheek, and said, "What's wrong with you? I told you I'm fine."

Chenshu, still feeling lingering fear, lightly touched Jin Chen's cheek, forehead pressed against Jin Chen's forehead, gently shook head rubbing noses, "Xiao Chen, don't have any more accidents…"

His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper worn down by sea wind and emotion.

It was as if… he had once seen Jin Chen meet with an accident, which is why he was so sad, unable to hide it.

In the flash of lightning, Jin Chen suddenly recalled the trigger of their divorce, blinked slightly, jerked his face away, stared bewildered at Chenshu's eyes and asked, "Did you come to the hospital to see me?"