Chapter 3174: Paulownia Tree Lane – Bitter Summer 16

Chenshu had just opened the front door, hadn't even had time to turn on the light when Jin Chen embraced him.

In the darkness, Jin Chen's arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him entirely into his embrace, then he seized Chenshu's hand and brought it to his lips, lowering his head to kiss his fingers, from fingertips to knuckles, from knuckles to the base.

Chenshu went soft-hearted from his kisses, didn't struggle, reached out with his other hand to touch Jin Chen's face; Jin Chen leaned in, burying his face in his palm, his throat tight with a suppressed hoarse voice, "Chenshu…"

He paused, then whispered again, "Brother."

Even though Chenshu had teased him so much before, he refused to call him that; sometimes he would deliberately lean in, brush his ear to tease him, and Jin Chen would turn his face away, his ears flushed red but still staying silent.

Now hearing it, it really sounded like he was being spoiled; Chenshu could only let him hold him, and after a while he freed a hand, feeling for the switch of the small lamp beside the sofa.

Chenshu spread a bamboo mat on the living room floor, sitting coolly; Jin Chen pressed himself onto him, hugging him, their whole bodies pressed together. Even though late‑summer nights are still hot, Jin Chen seemed oblivious, just weighing him down.

Being rubbed by him made Chenshu's eyes narrow; he reached over to the coffee table, picked up the unfinished watermelon plate, speared a piece with a toothpick, and brought it to Jin Chen's lips. Jin Chen opened his mouth dully, ate absentmindedly, chewed a few bites and swallowed, then immediately returned to hugging Chenshu tightly, unwilling to move an inch.

Chenshu stretched his hand to the fan switch; a cool breeze drifted over, and Jin Chen's body gradually relaxed a little. Chenshu touched his face, smiling with a hint of heartache, "Why are you so aggrieved?"

Jin Chen lifted his head, his dark peach‑blossom eyes fixed on Chenshu, looking despondent, "I wouldn't beat a dog to death. It bit people."

He paused, then emphasized with a cold face, "It really hurts."

Jin Chen released Chenshu, sat up straight, rolled up his left pant leg to reveal a faint scar just above the ankle and Achilles tendon—the mark left by a dog bite.

Chenshu naturally knew that scar; back when Jin Chen had modeled nude for him, he had noticed it—not only on the ankle, but also many scars on the inner side of his arms, old and new overlapping. At the time it hadn't been good to ask, and even now he still felt heartache.

Gazing at Chenshu's eyes full of pity, Jin Chen's long, thick lashes fluttered; he stared at Chenshu unblinking, and suddenly a tear slipped from his eye socket.

Overcome with pity, Chenshu leaned in and kissed Jin Chen's eyes, wiping away that tear; Jin Chen followed the motion, tilting his head back, embraced him reassured, and licked his lips lightly, over and over.

Upon touching skin, he felt an urge to devour flesh and blood, such intense desire, such fervent emotional reliance, like a flame blazing in his chest, burning him all over with heat.

Chenshu, overwhelmed by the kisses, let out a few broken breaths from his throat, angrily reached out to grab Jin Chen's hair and gently pull it back, "Your mouth's about to be bitten through by you."

Jin Chen, his hair being pulled, lifted his head; moisture still glistened on his lips, he pressed them together, his voice low, "Brother."

Chenshu: "……" Oh dear.

He was at a loss; his usual smooth sweet nothings now felt lacking. He gave a light cough, then leaned in to kiss Jin Chen's lips, then slightly turned his head and licked his earlobe. Jin Chen's earlobe was thin and warm; after being sucked briefly it turned bright red.

"Why are you so clingy? Nobody's treated you well, right?"

Jin Chen rubbed his nose against him, voice desolate, "Yes."

Chenshu's eyes crinkled as he ran his fingers through Jin Chen's hair, gently tidying the slightly messy strands, "I'm surprised Xiao Chen can rely on me this much; you'll have to keep it up, okay."

A steady stream of warm breath fell on his neck; Chenshu felt the skin there about to be steamed. He leaned back slightly on the sofa, encircling Jin Chen's head buried in his embrace, and gently stroked his hair.

His gaze drifted past Jin Chen's shoulder, hazily toward the stars outside the window, wondering what he was thinking.

Quite a while passed.

Jin Chen finally calmed down, and they sat together on the mat, watching the movie disc Chenshu liked—vivid colors, lively music.

Chenshu watched intently, but Jin Chen was absent‑minded, kissing his lips' corners and the tips of his eyes bit by bit, dazed yet satisfied. Chenshu let him continue for a while, only pulling back his neck when a kiss tickled him.

A knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Chenshu hit pause, "Is it your family?"

Jin Chen furrowed his brows, turned his head away; his eyes and brows still held some heat.

"I'll go see." Chenshu wiped Jin Chen's lips, clearing the moisture, then got up.

Jin Chen had a few seconds where he wanted to stop him.

He wanted to stay here all night, and wake up tomorrow morning with the first thing he saw still being Chenshu—surely Chenshu would agree.

But tonight there was still something important; having started that problem, he had to finish it, otherwise he'd suffer insomnia.

Jin Chen deflated, stood up, straightened his wrinkled clothes, regained a solemn expression, and followed behind Chenshu.

Outside the door was Zhang Yue; seeing that it was Chenshu who opened it, her cheeks flushed slightly and her voice turned a bit shy.

"I… I came to look for my brother. It's late; I need to go home."

Her gaze lingered on Chenshu's face for a few seconds involuntarily—"Damn, he's really handsome!"

Chenshu smiled, nodded, stepped aside to let Jin Chen out, and as Jin Chen passed he lightly gripped his fingertip, "Go on. Good night."

Jin Chen lowered his head, his gaze dropping from beneath his thin eyelids, followed Zhang Yue into the hallway, hearing Chenshu close the door.

Back at his own home, Jin Chen became calm again.

Zhang Yue followed behind him, whispering, "Brother, sorry. I just… shouldn't have said that."

Jin Chen nodded, said nothing more, his expression indifferent, as if he no longer cared about that matter.

Jin Xiumei sat in the living room; seeing Jin Chen return, she merely turned her head away, her voice stiff, "There's still watermelon in the kitchen."

"No… thank you." Jin Chen was very polite.

Jin Chen returned to his room, stared at the problem on the screen for a while, then leaned blankly against the chairback, eyes down.

It's quite strange; whenever he thinks of Chenshu, even his well‑made goals become impossible to carry out.

He felt his condition worsening, and there was still no medicine to treat it.