Chapter 3229: Saving Zero Protein Ze's Love Story 30

During these days when Jin Chen sought to verify the plot, various factions were also not idle.

A subordinate reported the news: in the black market of Outskirts District Four, someone was secretly spreading the word that an auction would soon be held, with the climax item being X Potion.

As for the source, the person spreading the rumor only said it was obtained by chance from an exile.

In other words, some unfortunate goods ended up in their hands, and after being searched, the information spread quickly, almost overnight throughout the several major strongholds of the black market.

Jin Chen could receive the news here, so Bai Ze naturally could not remain unaware.

The day Bai Ze received the news, he happened to be in the apartment he shared with Yi Qi, where Yi Qi was curled up on the other end of the sofa, crunching on fries, while the TV played a variety show with guests laughing hysterically.

After putting down his phone, Bai Ze fell silent for a few seconds and almost without hesitation made his decision.

No matter what form the auction takes, whether it requires money or some other stake, he must obtain that potion to ensure Yi Qi's safety.

He cannot let that potion fall into others' hands, allowing X Potion to continue being the sword hanging over Yi Qi's head.

Yi Qi saw Bai Ze's expression after he put down his phone, and his chewing of the fries slowly stopped.

He sat up straight, alert, and stared at Bai Ze for a while; Bai Ze usually hides his emotions well, never letting them show on his face, but now his expression looked extremely grave, as if something heavy weighed on his mind.

Yi Qi always felt that Bai Ze would, in the next second, turn his back on him to do something dangerous.

Extremely vigilant!

Yi Qi placed the fries bag on the coffee table, sat up straight, brushed off the crumbs on his hand, and asked, 'What's wrong?'

Bai Ze turned his head to look at him, stayed silent for two or three seconds, opened his arms, and said, 'Give me a hug.'

Yi Qi thought it was strange, but still stood up, walked over, bent down, opened his arms, and pulled him completely into his embrace.

Bai Ze buried his face in his embrace, remained silent for a while, then began to speak about the auction.

"Word has spread from the black market of District Four that X Potion will be up for auction next month; I intend to go."

Yi Qi lowered his head to look at Bai Ze's hair, pondering for a moment.

In just a few seconds, he considered several possibilities, stopped Bai Ze, and would not let him go.

Or he could sneak ahead to get the potion, or without telling anyone, go and turn that auction upside down.

But each time such a thought arose, Yi Qi suppressed it; still undecided on how to respond, his pocket phone vibrated, he pulled it out to see—it was a call from his 'cheap older brother'.

Just as the call connected, Jin Chen's lazy voice came from the other end: 'Young masters, I know what you intend to do, but don't act alone—hurry back to Jin Manor.'

"If you all need to go to the District Four auction, I'll take care of the arrangements."

Yi Qi lowered his head, playing with Bai Ze's earlobe, and upon hearing that, he murmured, '…Dage, you're also going? You didn't want X Potion, did you?'

Jin Chen replied calmly, 'Because I know all too well someone's destructive power, you'd say, right, Great King of Destruction.'

Yi Qi: '……Goodbye, Sharp-tongued Great King!'

After hanging up, Yi Qi thought for a moment, lowered his head and pressed his cheek against Bai Ze's, feeling Bai Ze's tense shoulders finally relax a little as he leaned in.

"Then we'll go together anyway—don't think about ditching me to act alone." Yi Qi looked worried, like a resentful husband.

After hanging up, Jin Chen leaned back in his chair and let out a breath.

These days, the fatigue in his brows and eyes finally faded, the corners of his mouth turned up with an irrepressible smile, and he even hummed a couple of off‑key tunes.

The reason is simple: the appearance of this never‑before‑seen plot point, the District Four auction, means that the alterations made during this period have become so great that the timeline is about to coincide with a certain future trajectory.

And since that trajectory has been verified, Chenshu's side now has new grounds for extrapolating the plot.

In other words, Chenshu will appear at the District Four auction plot point.

Jin Chen finally no longer has to guard an empty room alone.

——

Two days later, the three of them, fully prepared, set out together for the Outskirts.

Inside the cabin of the private jet, the heating was turned up high, and the sofa chairs were spacious and comfortable.

Jin Chen sat by the window, paying no mind to the two beside him who were practically glued together, having long since stopped caring.

Yi Qi held a large bucket of chocolate beans that Jin Chen had specially prepared, sat cross‑legged beside Bai Ze, chewing with a steady crack‑crack sound, while the pillow stuffed behind him had also been adjusted by Bai Ze.

As he chewed, he pondered, thinking that his 'cheap older brother' must be unusually happy to go out this time, the corners of his mouth never ceasing to turn up.

……Of course, although Jin Chen usually likes to laugh, that smile always carries three parts pretense and four parts deserving a beating.

Today's smile, however, is clearly genuine, and he has even changed into a new stylish suit!

This seems off. It doesn't look like gear for attending an auction; it looks like attire for a date.

Yi Qi chewed another two chocolate beans, growing more suspicious by the moment, curiously edged closer and bumped his shoulder against Jin Chen's, saying, 'Hey, Dage.'

Jin Chen withdrew his gaze from the window, glanced at him, and said: '……?'

Yi Qi raised an eyebrow, 'Your boyfriend will also go to District Four, right?'

Jin Chen smiled, 'You guessed right, so don't cause me trouble, and don't force me to lock you up in confinement again in distant District Four.'

Yi Qi: '……'

Yi Qi's face fell, he stopped chewing the chocolate beans in his mouth, glared at Jin Chen, turned away in a huff, and flung himself headfirst into Bai Ze's embrace, burying his face in Bai Ze's chest.

Bai Ze was still holding his tablet, researching the auction data, when Yi Qi's bump caused him to lean back slightly; he merely lifted his hand and rubbed the back of Yi Qi's head twice, as if smoothing his fur.

Jin Chen watched the two of them, secretly shook his head, then turned his gaze back to the window and shook his head again.

Taking a child out is really troublesome.

The black market in Outskirts District Four is very bustling.

The auction venue is located in the building deepest within the black market.

From the outside it looks like a dull‑grey old building without a sign, but once you swipe your card inside, it turns out to be completely another world.

The first to third floors are the gambling area, with noisy voices and the clacking of chips creating a bustling scene; the fourth to fifth floors are the entertainment area, with private rooms lining the corridors, doors tightly shut, good soundproofing; above the sixth floor are various grades of guest rooms, and the top of the twelfth floor is the auction area.

Jin Chen's accommodation was arranged in a suite on the tenth floor, with two suites adjacent to each other.

Yi Qi walked around the room, felt the mattress's firmness, opened the curtains to look at the street view below, opened the fridge and browsed the drinks, and finally came to a satisfactory conclusion.

"Not bad."

Bai Ze followed behind him, picked up the coat he had casually thrown on the coffee table, folded it neatly, and placed it on the sofa armrest.

After a while, Yi Qi completely took over the space around Bai Ze.

"There are a lot of people over at the casino; before tomorrow's auction, don't run around randomly. I think most of the people downstairs aren't good folks, and you're quite noticeable—don't let anyone hit on you."

Bai Ze chuckled, "Okay."

"If someone really does hit on you, just say you have a boyfriend." Yi Qi felt uneasy, kept nagging, then after thinking suddenly cupped Bai Ze's face and furrowed his brows very seriously.

"Maybe we should just stamp it."

Bai Ze: "……" He stubbornly insisted on finding an excuse.

The night grew darker.

A subordinate reported the news: Selina and Jin Junhao had also arrived in District Four; it's currently unknown whether they came for the X reagent.

Regarding Bai Ze's parents, and why Selina's past plan had dragged Bai Ze's parents into it, Jin Chen still had unresolved doubts; he stood up, grabbed his coat and put it on, and the suite's door clicked shut behind him.

He walked past the corner, intending to head over to Jin Junhao's side, but had only gone halfway down the corridor when he heard a commotion ahead.

A burly man was flung onto the hallway wall, blocking Jin Chen's path.

Jin Chen stopped, lifted his gaze.

Not far away, a masked youth pressed another burly man against the wall; the man tried to struggle, but the youth twisted his wrist behind his back, immobilizing it.

That person seemed to notice someone approaching, turned his head, his expression cold, but when he got a clear look at Jin Chen's face, his pupils visibly flickered.

The youth released his grip; the man he had been holding immediately slid to the ground, clutching his arm, and scrambled away in a tumble.

Jin Chen stood at the edge of the corner's shadow, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Quite the interesting turn of events."