Chapter 4: Saving the Autistic Boy 04

Hearing Ji Yan's rebuttal, Ji Yu felt even angrier.

"What do you mean?"

Ji Yan fell silent again.

He took two steps forward, his expression stern, wanting Ji Yu to return the box.

Ji Yu's anger flared, and he slammed the box onto the ground.

Bang—

Some jewelry and candy fell out, along with several paper cranes and heart-shaped folded paper, and the box instantly shattered into pieces.

Ji Yan's pupils contracted sharply; he stared at the ground in disbelief—these things… were all memories of Mother and him from childhood.

Many images flashed through his mind—Mother's smile, her gentle words, folding paper cranes together…

The images gradually faded, leaving only endless blood—Mother lying on the ground, bleeding profusely, her skull shattered with a large hole…

Ji Yan slowly crouched down, his head throbbing as if it would explode, as if he felt the pain himself.

After a long while, he lifted his head to look at Ji Yu; the depths of his eyes were calm and dark, like a pool of dead water.

Ji Yu felt a chill under that gaze, instinctively stepping back; the smug smile on his face faded somewhat.

"Why are you staring at me like that! Hurry up and kneel to pick it up!"

【Villain Blackening Value +10, total 50.】

Jin Chen's eyes snapped open; he rose and went upstairs, anger hidden in his gaze.

Forget it; he still couldn't bear to see the Little Pitiful One bullied, so he would test the limits and talk later.

He, having cut off the surveillance, didn't see that when Ji Yan looked at Ji Yu, a gloom and darkness gathered in his eyes.

How annoying…

Ji Yan stepped forward, the small knife he carried already in his hand.

Meanwhile, Ji Yu felt he had lost face just now and kept provoking.

"I'm telling you, don't think that with Jin Chen backing you up you can rest easy! He can stop liking me so quickly, and in a while he'll lose interest in you too!"

Ji Yan was facing the door, about to act, when he saw leather shoes walking toward the room.

He hesitated slightly, then, as if possessed, put away the small knife.

Afterwards he lowered his head, concealing the expression in his eyes.

"Pick it up."

The first words Jin Chen spoke upon entering the room were ice-cold.

However, Ji Yu in the room thought it was telling Ji Yan to pick it up.

He instantly became haughty, lifting his chin: "Did you hear? Still not picking it up!"

"I told you to pick it up."

Jin Chen's voice grew colder.

"Wh… what?"

Ji Yu gaped, "You want me…"

"Pick it up." Jin Chen repeated, "Otherwise I'll immediately revoke your rights to the two projects."

Ji Yu also knew how lucrative those two projects were; Ji Weixue had him stay in touch with Jin Chen from time to time precisely because of them.

If he lost them because of himself, Father would kick him out of the house; Mother hasn't returned yet, so he even lacks any backing.

Ji Yu dared not ask further, softening his voice: "All right, all right, I'll pick it up—don't be angry, Chen-gege."

Needless to say, Ji Yu really understood how to evoke a man's pity.

He half-squatted, lifted his neck, his eyes showing fragility and grievance, looking pitifully at Jin Chen.

But Jin Chen didn't spare him another glance.

"Why are you crying?"

Jin Chen wiped the tears spilling from Ji Yan's eye corners, "He bullied you—won't you come tell me?"

Ji Yan had originally only shed physiological tears from anger, but when Jin Chen gently stroked his cheek and soothed him with a tender tone, he actually couldn't hold back, a wave of sourness, grievance, and sorrow surging up.

Large tear droplets rolled down; the youth's eyes reddened, his crying soundless, making him look all the more heartbreaking.

Jin Chen's heart gave a sudden twinge; he frowned, "Why do you cry harder the more you cry?"

Though he said that, he still gently wiped away the tears.

He pulled the youth into his embrace, his voice steady, "All right, if you keep crying your eyes will swell tomorrow."

Ji Yan was startled by Jin Chen's movement, momentarily forgetting to cry, his heart pounding like a drum.

In a daze, he seemed to smell a faint sandalwood on the man, with a hint of pungent numbness and coolness, very pleasant.

Jin Chen hadn't expected to suddenly hug Ji Yan; it was purely his body reacting before his mind.

The youth's body was warm, with a unique soft resilience, his waist so slender it could be encircled with one hand.

Neither spoke; Jin Chen tentatively placed his palm on the back of Ji Yan's neck, stroking it comfortingly.

"Don't be sad; however he made you pick it up just now, let him do the same."

Ji Yu: "……"

What did he just say again?

Jin Chen released the youth, his gaze toward Ji Yu suddenly turning cold.

"Do as you yourself just said."

Ji Yu shook his head: "Chen-gege, I just accidentally broke the box; it's only for you to pick up yourself."

Ji Yan: "Let me… kneel to pick it up."

Ji Yu never expected that idiot to actually tattle, his face twisting with anger.

Jin Chen again swept over with a knife-like gaze.

Ji Yu knelt down unwillingly, picking up the scattered little trinkets on the floor.

The humiliation in his heart grew ever stronger; he clenched his back molars tightly, secretly thinking Jin Chen really was crazy.

A madman with a fool—actually they're a perfect match.

He muttered in his heart, not daring to be slack in the work at hand, and soon tidied everything up.

Ji Yan took over the already broken box, his expression still tight with sorrow.

... return.

He pulled at Jin Chen's shirt corner, softly urging.

This man-eating family, he doesn't want to stay another second.

"Okay, let's go home."

Jin Chen was inexplicably pleased by that word, embracing the boy's slightly thin shoulders as they left.

The two didn't notice a sheet of paper floating under the bed; even Ji Yu didn't notice.

Full of humiliation, he ran downstairs to Chen Jiang to complain, inevitably receiving another round of affectionate coaxing.

——

After returning to the Jin residence, Ji Yan returned to his own room to look at the things Mother left behind.

Jin Chen, meanwhile, continued working in the study.

In order to better contact the mission target, he greeted the company's secretary and worked from home during this period.

However, today his work progress was noticeably slower, and he would occasionally space out.

Knock knock knock—

"Sir, the kitchen has stewed bird's nest and silver ear soup; please drink it while hot."

Uncle Liu's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Come in."

Uncle Liu placed the bowl beside the desk, seeing Jin Chen in a good mood, he asked tentatively.

"Sir, have you changed your opinion of Young Master Yan?"

The tip of Jin Chen's pen paused slightly as he signed the document; after a few seconds, he re-signed his name.

"Mm, tell the kitchen to also bring a bowl for him to take over."

"Eh! Okay."

Uncle Liu smiled with relief; the sir's changed view of Young Master Yan meant he had finally seen Ji Yu's true colors—this was really great.