Chapter 3194: Hard Summer in Parasol Tree Lane 37

The autumn colors in Didu grew ever richer.

The ginkgo trees lining the streets turned yellower day by day, and when the wind blew, leaves fell in a flurry.

Jin Chen gradually adapted to this rhythm.

During the day he reviewed college entrance exam material; in the afternoon and evening he did the assignments given by Jin Feng; occasionally he took on paid tasks from the forum. His life was scheduled into fixed blocks, and he was naturally suited to this orderly life. The chaos and repression of those years in Ling City instead made him feel an almost greedy cherishing of his current state.

Jin Chen grew quickly, like a plant vine that had absorbed the right nutrients; once it had a support to cling to, it strained upward to grow.

Jin Feng's materials sometimes allowed him to digest the basic framework of a research direction in just a week, and then in discussions with Jin Feng he would propose insights that even surprised the old man. Problems on the forum that once required an entire night to solve now often yielded complete answers in two or three hours.

Wanting to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Chenshu is Jin Chen's motivation.

As for Chenshu, he naturally hopes his Xiao Chen can keep getting better.

He watched Jin Chen transform from the gloomy‑eyed boy leaning against the old wall of Chinese Parasol Tree Lane into the composed genius who now handles all attention at the Peak Summit; this change filled him with pride and a subtle bitterness.

Accepting that Jin Chen no longer relies on him as before is not an easy matter.

Love is essentially an insatiable abyss; once you get a little, you want more. Seeing him rise higher makes you happy for him, yet afraid he will no longer need you.

That day the autumn deepened, and they had each been busy for a long time.

The site selection and preparations for Chenshu's gallery have concluded, the renovation plan is finalized, and the order for the first batch of materials has been placed.

He calculated his time; the next few days had no pressing engagements, so he planned to go back and let his hard‑studying boyfriend rest properly for a few days.

Driving back, he passed the bakery Jin Chen liked, stopped to buy a bag of freshly baked croissants, placed them on the passenger seat, and the warm aroma filled the cabin.

While waiting at a red light, he received a message from Jin Chen.

"Brother, today the teacher and senior student temporarily arranged to attend an event; I won't be able to come home until tonight."

"I'll ask Brother for permission."

Chenshu looked at the message, tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, pulled over to the side, and placed a video call.

Jin Chen answered quickly; when the screen lit up, Chenshu saw him still in his pajamas, sitting on the Living Room sofa, his forehead hair messy and sticking up, as if he had just woken up—or as if he had been hunched over his desk doing problems for a long time, a pen pinched between his fingers.

Chenshu couldn't help laughing, "How can you go to an event without changing clothes?"

Jin Chen propped his chin, the fingers holding the pen twitching, "Brother, are you letting me go?"

It seemed that if Chenshu said no, he would simply cancel it outright.

Chenshu felt a softness in his heart; the gentle feeling outweighed the regret of not being able to date, and after thinking he said, "You can go, but no drinking."

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, "Brother, I never drink."

Chenshu burst out laughing, "Oh, I've seen online that this is exactly what people tell their boyfriends."

Jin Chen pouted one side of his mouth, looking at him silently; Chenshu drew out his tone and continued, "All right, then come home early, remember to check in, and don't make me worry."

After laying out those requirements in a string, Jin Chen showed no sign of unhappiness; instead he nodded seriously twice, "I'll do it."

After hanging up the video call, Jin Chen put down his pen, rose from the sofa, replied to the old man's message, then stood before the mirror to tidy his appearance.

He buttoned his shirt, smoothed the collar, checked his ear piercings in the mirror, put in clear studs, and carefully checked the phone's temperature alert—today he needed a coat.

Jin Chen opened his wardrobe, but his gaze was first caught by the black suit hanging on the coat rack.

Seeing it, he involuntarily recalled that night, recalling the warm breath when Brother leaned in to kiss the side of his neck.

Jin Chen sighed at the mirror.

Effort is not easy.

He wanted to do nothing with Brother and just sleep at home, but Brother was also busy, so he had to endure.

Jin Chen blinked slowly, his Adam's apple trembling slightly, easing his dry throat.

Then he lifted his head, thrust out his chest, and stepped out pretending to be a normal person.

The event took place in a private club.

Few people came; most were peers and students from Jin Feng's circle, and the atmosphere was far more relaxed than at the Peak Summit.

Jin Chen stuck to his no‑drink principle the whole time; when someone offered a toast he merely substituted tea, clinking cups politely. His social etiquette, upgraded by Brother's example, improved noticeably. Jin Feng watched from the side, silently nodding, thinking this kid, though odd‑tempered, handled things with propriety.

Meanwhile, at home, Chenshu felt a bit bored.

He turned off the Living Room light, left only a floor lamp on, curled up on the sofa to casually watch a movie—the dialogue was slow, the plot loose, and halfway through he wasn't really absorbing what was being said. He went to the kitchen, poured a glass of red wine, returned to the sofa, wrapped himself in a blanket, and continued to stare absentmindedly at the screen.

Past nine in the evening, Jin Chen, poisoned by dining‑table culture, finally made it home.

Bai Xue, the senior student, drove the car; Jin Feng had specifically instructed Bai Xue to bring the junior fellow student safely home. Although Bai Xue suffered from social anxiety, he dared not defy the teacher's orders.

Thus the two sat in the car, silent all the way.

Bai Xue was never good at finding topics, and Jin Chen wasn't the type to start conversations. The cabin was quiet except for occasional navigation prompts; out of the blue, Bai Xue's face grew ever stiffer.

Jin Chen sat in the passenger seat, turning his face to look out the window as streetlights slipped by, light and shadow flickering across his face; he didn't know what he was thinking, his gaze unfocused, merely staring blankly at the receding scenery.

Bai Xue steeled himself at three red‑light intersections, finally mustering the courage to speak: "What are you thinking about? Is today's event too tiring, or is there some data you haven't figured out?"

Jin Chen turned his head, blinked, and said, "Ah… I'm thinking about my boyfriend."

Bai Xue: "……."

A moment's impulse bought him introversion for the rest of the journey.

He clenched his mouth shut, gripped the steering wheel with both hands, stared straight ahead, and uttered not another word.

So he really hates making small talk in social situations!!

Jin Chen didn't notice his senior student's inner collapse; he kept turning his head to look out the window, continuing to think of his brother.

Upon reaching the building's entrance, Bai Xue, following Jin Feng's instructions, delivered the junior fellow student to the unit door.

Jin Chen unlocked the door; Chenshu heard the movement, happened to come from the Living Room, and saw two people standing at the doorway: Jin Chen and a tall, slim stranger wearing black‑frame glasses.

Chenshu froze for an instant, his gaze lingering on the stranger for a second before returning to Jin Chen.

He smiled slightly and said to Bai Xue, "Thanks for the trouble."

Bai Xue, faced with a stranger, immediately switched into social‑anxiety mode.

His face stiffened, he nodded, appearing aloof and uncooperative, but in fact his facial muscles had simply tensed beyond control.

He turned toward Jin Chen, trying to make his voice sound a bit more normal, "Good... good night." Then he stiffly turned around and left at a speed almost like fleeing.

Chenshu: "..."

He tilted his head in a daze, not understanding whether this person was provoking him.