Chapter 2667 It’s raining in Nancheng tonight 28

The rain was still falling, not heavy, just enough to soak the streets at night, reflecting the dim yellow glow of the streetlights.

Jin Chen drove slowly along the main road near the bar, carefully scanning the sidewalk.

He knew Xie Linzhou hadn't driven over tonight; in such a short time, a drunk person couldn't have gone very far.

Sure enough, after driving a short distance, Jin Chen saw that familiar figure at a red light at an intersection.

As night fell and a light drizzle fell, Xie Linzhou stood alone on the edge of the sidewalk, holding a long-handled umbrella. The umbrella was pulled low, obscuring most of his face, making it impossible to see his expression. His figure exuded a sense of loneliness, but judging from his posture and demeanor alone, no one would suspect that he was a drunkard.

Jin Chen smoothly parked the car beside him and rolled down the window.

Cool raindrops mixed with the night wind drifted into the car.

"Where are you going?" Jin Chen's voice came through the rain. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me here?"

Upon hearing the sound, Xie Linzhou raised his eyes somewhat blankly, his gaze focusing on the car through the rain.

He doesn't cause trouble when he's drunk, but he's a bit stubborn.

Jin Chen had only ever seen him act clingy and affectionate when he was drunk at home; she never imagined he would be like this outside...

stubborn.

"I'm going to find my boyfriend," Xie Linzhou replied, his tone even polite, though a little sluggish from being drunk.

"I'm waiting for the bus. Could you please move aside?"

Jin Chen: "..." He was speechless, feeling both annoyed and amused.

"Get in the car," Jin Chen said. "I'll take you home."

Xie Linzhou persisted, even showing some wariness, and shook his head.

"Do not."

Jin Chen rested his elbow on the car window sill, extended his index finger, and gently beckoned Xie Linzhou to lean closer, "Come here."

Xie Linzhou inexplicably obeyed, bending down slightly and bringing his face close to the car window, staring intently at Jin Chen.

The cold night wind blew in through the car window.

The rain, which had already lessened, seemed to intensify again, pattering softly against the umbrella Xie Linzhou was holding.

A few cool raindrops, carried by the wind, splashed onto Xie Linzhou's cheeks. The subtle touch, along with the face that became clearer before his eyes, momentarily cleared his muddled mind.

Xie Linzhou recognized Jin Chen, his heart pounded, and he whispered, "Jin Chen..."

"boarding."

No need to urge him anymore, Xie Linzhou obediently put away his umbrella, opened the car door, and sat in the passenger seat.

Jin Chen leaned over to fasten his seatbelt, and Xie Linzhou put his arm around his shoulder, rubbing his slightly cool cheek against it, looking aggrieved and dependent.

"I'm so cold... Why did it take you so long to get here?"

Jin Chen gently poked his forehead with her finger, annoyed. "Who knew you could disappear in the blink of an eye?"

Xie Linzhou pursed his lips, feeling somewhat wronged, and whispered in defense, "I didn't run away... I was looking for you, I missed you so much."

The intoxication made his honesty straightforward and easy, as if the words he had kept bottled up for a long time had finally found an outlet.

Jin Chen's fingers didn't leave, but touched his lower lip, which was wet with rain, and massaged it a couple of times with warm pressure from her fingertips.

"So good?"

Xie Linzhou unconsciously sucked on his fingertip, and upon hearing this, he looked up at Jin Chen and nodded.

Then, he made an even more obedient request.

"Can you carry me while we drive?"

Jin Chen: "...No, it's a bit too difficult."

He took off his coat as a second choice and draped it over Xie Linzhou, wrapping him up tightly.

The familiar scent enveloped Xie Linzhou, a scent unique to Jin Chen that brought him peace of mind.

The breath had a calming effect, and Xie Linzhou didn't make any more strange requests. Holding his coat, he would occasionally look up at Jin Chen who was driving, then lower his head, bury his face in his coat, take a deep breath, and a look of infatuation and satisfaction would gradually spread across his eyes.

When the red light ended, the cars rejoined the traffic flow.

Xie Linzhou was in a daze, not paying attention to the road conditions outside the window. His mind was a mess, and he couldn't think clearly about anything.

But after driving for a while, the scenery outside the window became more and more familiar, and he felt more and more uneasy.

In a flash of inspiration, Xie Linzhou lifted his face from inside his coat, which was filled with Jin Chen's scent, and said with unusual seriousness, "We've taken the wrong turn."

Jin Chen freed one hand and pinched his earlobe, her tone as usual, "You don't even remember the way back to your apartment?"

“No,” Xie Linzhou shook his head and insisted, “I want to go back to Jin Chen’s home.”

Jin Chen paused slightly on the steering wheel.

He tilted his head, looking at Xie Linzhou's stubborn face, his eyes gradually darkening. "Why? Didn't you want to live by yourself?"

"I don't want to." Xie Linzhou immediately denied it, his eyes inexplicably reddening again, as if there was a raging rain in his eyes, more humid than the street scene.

"I really don't want to. I want to go back and sleep with Jinchen."

The answer was indeed too straightforward. Jin Chen's heart skipped a beat when she heard it. She found a place where she could temporarily park and slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road.

The car's interior lights came on, casting a soft glow on the two of them.

"Are you sure you want to come back to my place?" Jin Chen turned around and looked at him seriously. "Don't cause trouble for me again tomorrow morning when you're sober."

Xie Linzhou stared at Jin Chen for several seconds, trying to digest the meaning behind his words.

He suddenly leaned in and planted a light kiss on Jin Chen's lips, his hazy eyes filled with obedience and dependence, as he mumbled something indistinctly.

"Don't mess with me, my little boyfriend."

Jinchen: "..."

Even in this state of drunkenness, he still remembers the age difference.

The tension in his heart suddenly eased, turning into a soft helplessness.

"Okay, as you wish." Jin Chen restarted the car and turned it around.

-

The elevator ascended smoothly. Stepping out of the elevator and into the quiet apartment corridor, Xie Linzhou slowed his pace.

Looking at the familiar stairwell and door number, for some reason, the urge to cry welled up again.

Xie Linzhou lowered his eyes and silently followed behind Jin Chen, step by step, tears streaming down his face without him even noticing.

Jin Chen took out her key to open the door. She turned around to call him in but saw the tear stains on his face and was startled. "What's wrong? Why are you crying again?"

Xie Linzhou raised his hand and wiped his face haphazardly with the back of his hand. His voice was nasal, but very honest. "I don't know... I couldn't control my eyes."

As Xie Linzhou spoke, he habitually rested his face on Jin Chen's shoulder and wiped his tears with his shirt.

Upon returning here, what revives even before a clear mind is the sense of familiarity from bodily memory.

But it seems... there's something else very important, but what is it...?