Chapter 3098: After Divorce, Forced into 28 Rounds of Male Competition with My Ex‑Husband

Jin Chen slightly narrowed his eyes, lifted his head to look at Chi Mu, who was also looking at him, feigning an expression of expectation and sorrow.

Jin Chen felt a jolt from that expression, his whole body going numb; he quickly looked away and glanced twice at Chenshu to clear his eyes, then suddenly realized……that night Chenshu had suddenly become off, almost about to open the door for Chi Mu, and was probably similarly affected by that kind of correction.

He looked at Chi Mu again, putting on a gentle smile, the same dangerous aura as that day by the lake, and asked, "What's up?"

Chi Mu finally mustered his courage, stared steadily at Jin Chen, and said, "Brother Chen, I suddenly realized last night……I think I met you ten years ago."

Jin Chen: "……Huh?"

He instinctively glanced at Chenshu, raised an eyebrow, and silently questioned with his eyes.

Chenshu's face darkened, his cold gaze sweeping over Chi Mu with obvious pressure, "What evidence do you have?"

Chi Mu didn't even look at him, as if Chenshu's presence wasn't worth his attention, "We met at a birthday party, but after that we never saw each other again……Originally after that day, I wanted to be friends with you, and even wanted to sponsor your studies."

"I just suddenly remembered, it feels strange, back then I searched everywhere for you and couldn't find you, never expecting to meet again on the same show now."

Jin Chen lowered his eyes, the thread in his mind finally connected—after that day, he was picked up by Chenshu.

Originally according to the plot timeline, he should have formed some connection with Chi Mu after that day, then been taken into the plan to capture the popular idol, but Chenshu took him away early, cutting off that line; for years they've deviated from the so‑called plot track, starting from this point. Chi Mu later probably also looked for him, but Chenshu protected him well, and Chi Mu searched every channel to no avail, so he gave up.

Jin Chen quietly looked at Chi Mu for a while, then suddenly curled his lips and said, "I was picked up and made a child groom."

Chenshu's surge of anger was easily quelled; he lowered his head and kissed Jin Chen's ear, holding him tighter.

The cabin fell silent for just under two seconds.

"What?!" Chi Mu never expected that answer, so shocked he couldn't keep his expression in check.

Steve bent over to pick up the fork, turned his head to look at Jin Chen, and asked gently, "So you and the General……does your family know too?"

Jin Chen leaned against Chenshu's shoulder with a smug smile, looking like a fox that brings disaster to the nation, "I know."

: The General is actually that little……

: How can you be a third party and still act so righteous! A certain General…… (pointing fingers)

: Chi Mu's expression is hilarious; he originally wanted to get close, but ended up being directly silenced by the child groom hahaha.

: No way, Jin Chen and the General obviously had something before—why couldn't he be the General's child groom!

: Not impossible!! So they're legal partners?!

Chi Mu didn't say a word for the rest of his schedule, as if he hadn't fully recovered from the shock of that news.

And after hearing Jin Chen's "child groom" line, Chenshu felt an intense itch, took Jin Chen's hand, stood up, went into the left restroom of the cabin, and locked the door behind him.

In the cramped space, the light was warm yellow; the two stood face to face, knees nearly touching, the air in the small space quickly heating up, carrying their mingled breaths, and Chenshu lowered his head to kiss Jin Chen, as if trying to pour all the flutter from those words into this kiss.

Jin Chen tilted his head, naturally kissing Chenshu's earlobe, his teeth lightly biting the small piece of soft cartilage, resting against the ear with a hint of a smile and breath, "Uncle Chenshu, I've been with you since ten years ago……"

Chenshu let out a muffled groan, wrapped his arms around Jin Chen's neck, tightly gripping the back of his shirt, his voice hoarse yet tender, "I know……I know, Xiao Chen, I love you."

Jin Chen buried his face in his shoulder and bit through the cloth, "Then don't let me see any more injuries on you, especially the ones you inflict yourself."

But this kiss was too hot; the restroom wasn't in use, the air circulation wasn't even turned on. After a while, Jin Chen lifted his flushed face, opened his misty eyes, saw his red‑faced self in the mirror, and angrily bit Chenshu again.

The two live‑streaming balls left outside were pointed at the restroom door.

: Really just covering one's ears while stealing a bell……

: If you've got the skill to mess around in there, you've got the skill to open the door!

——

Blake briefly communicated with Chenshu before landing; he needed to first meet up with the security team deployed ahead on Rustbone Star to confirm the safe route and emergency evacuation plan, so he didn't act with the expedition team. The two agreed to each scout the situation separately, keep communications open, and meet after getting a preliminary grasp of the status of the three bases to exchange information.

The expedition team arrived at an inn located at the border between the Vagrant District and the Iron Fortress Base in the twilight.

Though called an inn, it was actually a five‑story old building, its walls stained by rust‑colored dust into a dull reddish‑brown, the sign missing two letters that swayed in the wind. The first floor was a bar, with several crooked tables and high stools scattered in the dim light; a few people in worn‑out protective gear sat in the corner drinking, and when this group of distinctly different‑mannered people entered, they all turned to look, scrutinizing and wary.

Mae Lun stepped up to the counter, briefly explained their purpose—needing to stay a few days awaiting supplies. The person behind the counter looked like a twenty‑something youngster, wearing a washed‑out white jacket, his brown hair somewhat messy; he leaned lazily against the chair back, spinning a pen, and after hearing Mae Lun's words, he didn't even lift his eyelids, casually grabbing a few key‑chains from the wall behind him and tossing them onto the counter, "Just call me Jeffrey. There are only three rooms; you guys sort it out yourselves."

Mae Lun counted the keys, frowned slightly; when he'd just entered, he'd overheard the drinkers chatting nearby mention room 301.

He turned his head and questioned, "Wasn't room 301 supposed to be empty? Or is it your best room—why not let someone stay there?"

Jeffrey's pen paused, he picked up the nearby bottle and took a sip, still not looking up, his voice a bit colder than before, "I said we're not selling it; if you're not staying, get out."

"Why run a business and not sell?" Jin Chen leaned against Chenshu's shoulder, boneless, chin resting on it, and asked lazily.

Jeffrey couldn't quite believe it, jerking his head up to look at the speaking Jin Chen, his body springing from the chair back, then as if realizing something, he forced down his overly excited expression and squeezed out a somewhat fawning smile.

"Sell! I got it wrong—room 301 is empty! Let's sell it to this guest."

Mae Lun: "……What do you mean!"

Jeffrey ignored him, walked around the counter to Jin Chen in person, and handed over the key to room 301 with both hands.

Jin Chen took the key, weighed it in his hand, then slipped it into Chenshu's pocket.

He then took another key from Jeffrey's hand, didn't look back, and tossed it toward Steve's direction; Steve fumbled to catch it, glanced at the number on the key, then looked around at the people, started counting heads, and quickly turned his gaze to Yun Wu.

Yun Wu stood beside him, head down, organizing his backpack straps, as if completely uninvolved in the room‑allocation discussion.

Steve demanded, "Yun Wu, I'm your employer; you need to share a room with me."

Yun Wu nodded, lifted his head to look at him, "Okay."

Finally, two rooms remained; Jin Chen lifted his eyelids, scanned the three remaining people with a playful smile, and said, "How do you three plan to split them?"

Jeffrey poked half his body out from behind the counter, propping his chin, and interjected quickly, "What, are you three a couple?"

Chi Mu stood at the counter side; hearing that, his face went white then red, his eye sockets slightly reddened, he lowered his head without speaking, but his faintly trembling lashes and reddish nose tip were already enough to make one's heart ache.

Yan Xu frowned, "I'll take a room alone."

Mae Lun's expression was a bit complicated, but he ultimately said nothing, picked up the remaining key, tilted his head toward Chi Mu, "Let's go." Chi Mu replied softly and followed him upstairs.

: What a shuraba, classic room‑splitting segment—I knew I was watching a romance show!

: Doctor Yan's expression just makes my heart ache……

: Don't bully our Mu Mu! He didn't do anything wrong!

: Although but, Jeffrey seems to have something special for Jin Chen! The General's gonna be jealous, hehehe!