Chapter 75

Love?

Really?

Doesn't seem like it.

Jiang Linchuan, hands caked with mud, went upstairs, only to hesitate again upon reaching the second floor.

The slap in the face came as fast as a tornado. Just a few hours ago, he had declared he didn't want Shen Jin to fall in love with him, but now, Xie Qin's "nonsense" had ignited an uncontrollable spark of anticipation within him.

The little tyke had slept all afternoon. Dressed in green dinosaur pajamas, tail wagging, he shuffled out in his slippers, rubbing his eyes and yawning. Seeing Jiang Linchuan, he lit up with joy: "Puppy Daddy, you're here?" Then, he launched himself into a warm embrace.

Jiang Linchuan tucked the little one under his arm and carried him into his room.

Ten minutes later, the little one pattered into Shen Jin's bedroom, carrying a cup of water.

Shen Jin was lounging in a rocking chair on the balcony, legs crossed, gently swaying. The little one approached him, a fawning smile on his face: "Xiao Bai, do you want some water?"

Shen Jin, disinclined to respond, kept his gaze fixed on his phone.

"Xiao Bai, do you know what it means to pour water for someone?" The little one leaned against the rocking chair, one short leg propped over the other, inching closer to Shen Jin. "Puppy Daddy said pouring water for someone means telling them 'I love you.' So I poured water for you too—a full cup, which means I love you very, very, very much."

Shen Jin remained impassive, as if he hadn't heard a word.

The little one placed the cup on the small side table, then used his tiny hands to turn Shen Jin's face towards him, blinking his big eyes: "Xiao Bai, I said I love you. Did you hear me?"

Just as the little one was about to be swatted away, Jiang Linchuan, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, swiftly stepped in and scooped up the bold, mixed-race child, carrying him out.

After closing the door, Jiang Linchuan returned to Shen Jin's side.

No rebuttal meant tacit agreement.

Jiang Linchuan watched him silently for a few seconds, then bent down, slid his hands under Shen Jin's knees, lifted him horizontally, and settled into the rocking chair himself, placing Shen Jin astride his lap.

In the blink of an eye, Shen Jin found himself repositioned, yet, unusually, he didn't get angry. Instead, he lazily slumped into Jiang Linchuan's arms and closed his eyes.

Jiang Linchuan held him close, his eyebrows arching uncontrollably. His hand instinctively lifted Shen Jin's shirt hem, slipping inside to caress his slender waist.

He didn't get a slap.

Xie Qin must have been right—a sip of water's worth of love.

Jiang Linchuan didn't press for details. While indulging in a little intimacy, he leaned in, his lips brushing Shen Jin's cool earlobe, and whispered, "Why haven't you bought a new mattress?" Shen Jin used to carry that mattress everywhere, but lately, he hadn't mentioned it. Even with all his wealth now, he still hadn't bought a new one.

When Jiang Linchuan received no reply, he added, "I'll have someone bring one over tomorrow, okay?"

This time, Shen Jin responded: "Mhm."

Who said he hadn't ordered one? He'd even bought an identical one, but after sleeping on it for just ten minutes, he'd tossed it into storage because it was uncomfortable.

He wasn't sure if it was due to poor craftsmanship or if he simply no longer liked that two-million-yuan mattress.

Shen Jin's languid demeanor stirred Jiang Linchuan's desires. He cupped the back of Shen Jin's head, tilted it slightly, and gently kissed his lips.

A slow, tender, lingering kiss—not intense, but prolonged. Their lips remained pressed together for several minutes, breaths mingling, lips and teeth intertwined.

Jiang Linchuan's hands were large and warm, easily encircling Shen Jin's firm waist.

For the first time, Shen Jin realized that just two lips could make his mind go blank, leaving him feeling utterly relaxed and euphoric.

It was deeply passionate and sensual, yet they didn't take it further. A subtle, soothing current flowed between them, and the lingering sensation was incredibly pleasant.

The rocking chair swayed, they swayed, they kissed, the wind playfully lifting their clothes, their affection flowing tenderly.

Shen Jin lifted his head slightly, gazing at the man before him, his eyes a little bewildered, as if puzzled.

Jiang Linchuan's thumb gently caressed Shen Jin's moist lips, and a low, pleasant chuckle escaped his throat.

After a few seconds of blankness, Shen Jin nestled back into Jiang Linchuan's arms, his lips brushing against his neck in faint, almost imperceptible kisses, his entire body soft and yielding like mochi.

Jiang Linchuan adored it, holding him tightly and giving him a thorough embrace.

The barbecue delivery arrived downstairs, and the supernatural beings working at the Alien Management Office had also returned. Xie Qin opened the door to get the delivery. Jiang Linchuan wondered if he should go down for a big meal, but the most delicious thing was already right in front of him…

Jiang Linchuan lifted Shen Jin, carried him into the bedroom, and laid him on the bed.

"Today, we'll do it my way." Jiang Linchuan removed Shen Jin's glasses, brushed aside the strands of hair on his forehead, his gaze fixed intently on him, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic dominance.

Shen Jin blinked, disdainful: "What's so different about your way?"

"Very different."

Actually, there wasn't much difference.

Perhaps it was just the mindset that had changed.

Before, he always focused on making Shen Jin comfortable, afraid that the little tyrant would kick him away if displeased, so he held back. But now…

Let's see how far this "sip of water's worth of love" could go.

"Agreed, you can't swat me away halfway through."

Shen Jin frowned: "What are you planning to do?"

Isn't it just the usual stuff in bed? What else could there be?

Jiang Linchuan chuckled: "It's not about what I'm going to do, but that you can't refuse me no matter what I do."

"I don't eat sugarcane." Shen Jin reacted quickly, which made Jiang Linchuan laugh. "So resistant?"

Shen Jin rolled his eyes and snorted.

Jiang Linchuan felt that Shen Jin had gained a bit more humanity lately. When they first met, Shen Jin pretended to be obedient to deceive him, occasionally revealing a hidden coldness and defiance.

But now, within that coldness, there were occasional glimpses of gentleness and obedience—all because of him.

This change made Jiang Linchuan's blood boil, his heart burning with intensity.

The Abyss Lord was indeed the Abyss Lord. Just a tiny spark was enough to make a man desperate for him.

"Fine, I agree. Any other requests?" Jiang Linchuan pulled off his black tank top in one swift motion.

What else?

Shen Jin couldn't think of anything.

"If you're sure there's nothing else, I'll begin." Jiang Linchuan flipped the confused Abyss Lord over, then pulled out his belt and tied him up first.

Whether it was useful or not, the visual and psychological effect was totally maxed out.

*

Downstairs, everyone was in a loud, chaotic scramble for the barbecue.

Only Ji Feiyu looked utterly frustrated.

The Alien Management Office had arranged dormitories for them, working them like animals. He had finally seized a chance to return, hoping to see the Abyss Lord—not to encounter Jiang Linchuan, that damned grim reaper, holed up together in the Abyss Lord’s bedroom and wouldn't come down!

"What are our two daddies doing?" the little tyke pouted, chin in hands. "Why won't they let me into the room? What mischief are they up to behind my back? I even poured water for Xiao Bai, but he didn't drink it—he still doesn't love me."

Xie Qin covered the little one's mouth. Hush, mixed-blood little darling, your backstory isn't really table talk.

Old Turtle looked at the oysters, chives, and kidneys with an extremely expressive face. While Hua Fudie was obliviously devouring them, Old Turtle rescued some and set them aside for Captain Jiang to replenish his energy after his… exertions.

After all, that was the Abyss Lord. If Captain Jiang weren’t exceptionally capable, he might have been drained completely.

Hearing the little one’s words and seeing Old Turtle’s actions, Ji Feiyu burst into loud sobs. His big, strong husband—right there, yet utterly out of reach! Who could bear it?

Ji Feiyu didn’t get to see his husband all night. The next morning, heartbroken, he was dragged off by Hua Fudie to the Special Operations Team to continue working for his love rival.

As he left, Ji Feiyu cast a resentful glance toward the second-floor balcony. There stood Jiang Linchuan, wearing an unbuttoned shirt, stretching energetically. With his rooster-sharp vision, Ji Feiyu could clearly see the scratches, bite marks, and bruises all over Jiang Linchuan’s body… Showing off, damn him.

Ji Feiyu spat in disgust, then met Jiang Linchuan’s icy gaze and quickly tucked his tail between his legs, scrambling into the car.

A human’s lifespan is merely a hundred years. If he could just wait for Jiang Linchuan to die naturally… But a chicken’s lifespan is only seven or eight years; how long could a mutated one live?

Holy shit!!!

Could he even outlive Jiang Linchuan???

Chen Lanzhi blinked. Wow, that’s a good question.

“When I have time, I’ll study you carefully.”

…

As the sun set, Shen Jin lay on the bed, just waking up.

The little one sat cross-legged on the bed playing with a tablet. Seeing him awake, he quickly brought over water and fed it to him through a straw: “Xiao Bai, you’re awake! Are you thirsty? Drink some water.”

Shen Jin was indeed quite thirsty and drank the entire cup from the little one’s hands.

The little one was overjoyed—Xiao Bai had accepted his love! Just as Doggy Daddy had said: if he waited until Xiao Bai woke up to offer water, he would drink it.

Shen Jin lay there, body soft and languid, the corners of his eyes still tinged with a faint redness.

Last night, Jiang Linchuan had manhandled him all night long. The acts themselves were the same, yet somehow different.

Jiang Linchuan had said that whether love was involved made the experience entirely distinct.

Shen Jin hadn’t understood at first, but later… he began to grasp it.

Before, he had always controlled the pace, with Jiang Linchuan yielding to him. But last night, Jiang Linchuan had domineeringly restrained him—denying him when he wanted it, ignoring his pleas to stop, instead giving more fiercely.

Before, it had been pleasurable; last night, it was exhilarating—so intense that for the first time, he felt his scalp go numb, his body trembling uncontrollably… until, utterly spent, he passed out.

The little one took a photo of Shen Jin with his phone and sent a voice message: “Doggy Daddy, Xiao Bai is awake! He slept so much, and he drank the water I poured—a whole big cup!”

Captain Jiang, who had “paid his dues” all night but was brimming with energy all day, saw the photo of the Abyss Lord and his eyes and expression softened.

“Tell your Xiao Bai Daddy that I have to work late tonight and can’t come over. Tell him to eat and drink well, and if he misses me, he can call.”

The little one quickly replied by voice: “Xiao Bai Daddy says he definitely won’t miss you—you wish! But, Doggy Daddy, I’ll miss you! Mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah!”

Jiang Linchuan let out a long, contented sigh. The Abyss Lord was indeed the Abyss Lord—even a mere sip of his affection was enough to make him float on cloud nine.

But unfortunately, he couldn’t float every day. Jiang Linchuan first sent Old Turtle to the house to take away the mattress and deliver it to the Abyss Lord, then went to the military headquarters to report to General Wu about the Xingcheng incident, followed by meetings, discussions, and more meetings.

A new problem had come up: should humans who mutated after infection be classified as monsters or humans?

Now that the true monsters had gone to Xingcheng, these mutated humans had become the outsiders in the human world.

When distinctions were clear, these individuals would eventually become the excluded ones.

General Wu looked at Jiang Linchuan, who lowered his eyes and avoided the gaze, playing dumb again. He wouldn’t involve himself in these matters, acting only as the obedient Special Operations Brigade captain who followed orders.

The final decision was that since monsters would eventually integrate into human society, these mutated humans could also choose freely: if they wished to go to Xingcheng, they could; if they preferred to stay in the human world, they could.

Moreover, Xingcheng needed teachers, doctors, and professionals from all fields, making these mutated humans the most suitable and convenient choice.

Jiang Linchuan then spoke up: “I’ll need to ask the Abyss Lord whether he’s willing to accept them.”

General Wu choked, glaring at him. “How come you didn’t think of this earlier?”

“We must respect the Abyss Lord. After all…” Jiang Linchuan sighed, “I’m risking my life to relay this. One wrong move, and I could be sacrificed.”

General Wu: “…” Right. He’s the rare, life-risking type who actually wants to romance the Abyss Lord—the one and only.

Next was the matter of appointing a person in charge for Xingcheng. At this, the man who had been keeping his head down looked up.

General Wu sneered.

This person could be anyone—except Jiang Linchuan.

If Jiang Linchuan were sent to Xingcheng, he’d be over the moon. The couple would shut their door and live happily ever after—who’d care about humanity then?

After much thought, General Wu selected Bai Wuyue.

Bai Wuyue was the political instructor of the Special Operations Brigade, equal in rank to Jiang Linchuan. He was fully aware of all brigade matters and was the most suitable candidate.