Chapter 29 Part 1

Even after escaping the nightmare, the dark clouds of memory still followed him like a shadow.

On certain late nights, Charles often felt the wounds on his hands aching.

The dull pain, impossible to dispel and clinging to his flesh like a maggot on rotting bone, wreaked havoc deep within.

Only by putting on gloves and pretending those wounds had never existed did he feel a little better.

When he presented those hands—symbols of his miserable, muddy past—to Zhong Nian, the pain reached an unbearable level.

Even he himself found them ugly and deformed, but Zhong Nian gently cradled them in his palms, even caressing the scars.

Zhong Nian’s hands were beautiful, unlike those of a waiter. They were even more delicate than those of the pampered Rich Second Generations on the ship, forming a stark contrast with his own.

Two hands worlds apart touched, creating a scene that sent ripples through Charles’s heart.

A sourness welled up from his chest to his throat, lodging there, too hard to swallow, leaving him speechless.

Unable to suppress the turmoil in his heart, Charles let it churn.

Following his impulses, he grasped the young man’s hands in turn and brought them to his lips for a gentle kiss.

“……”

Cool, thin lips brushed against pale fingertips, touching and parting, filled with cherishment and reverence… as if lingering longer would be a blasphemy.

Charles looked up and saw Zhong Nian’s stunned expression. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sorry, I couldn’t hold back.”

Zhong Nian snapped back to reality, withdrew his hands, and hid them behind his back, secretly wiping them on his clothes.

That kiss left his fingers with an indescribable itch.

He had been kindly comforting him, and yet the man took advantage like that?

Zhong Nian glared at him. The previous gentle tone vanished completely as he asked irritably, “What exactly is the connection between the Hope Island you mentioned and the Rich Second Generations on the ship? Are they also…?”

Charles’s smile faded. “Two-thirds of them are involved. Most are the children of ‘guests’ on the island, while the remaining few are the island’s true ‘guests’…”

He let out a meaningful cold laugh. “The debts have their owners, and the grudges their targets. Each has their own reckoning.”

Zhong Nian thought of something. “So Qian Shao was one of them.”

Charles nodded. “His death was outside the plan. He wasn’t supposed to be dealt with then. He didn’t even recognize his own ‘creditor’ and harbored filthy thoughts he shouldn’t have, delivering himself into their hands.”

It was death he deserved…

Zhong Nian recalled the gruesome scene at the bathroom door that day and suddenly understood.

The others who had been thrown into the sea or beaten to death were probably also ‘guests’ from Hope Island. Those who struck the blows had once been victims themselves.

Three figures flashed in Zhong Nian’s mind. “What about those three who are tied up?”

Charles said, “The Zong Sheng Guan wield power that covers the heavens, each dominating their domain, their interests intertwined so tightly. Guess why?”

Zhong Nian could think of only one answer.

“Exactly. These three families are the largest shareholders of Hope Island. In the beginning, Hope Island was bought under the Zong Family’s name.”

Charles’s tone turned icy. “For their sons, this level of treatment is already merciful enough.”

No wonder the Kidnapper Gang kept raising demands without releasing anyone.

These three families were the enemies of everyone.

Zhong Nian wanted to ask more when footsteps sounded behind him at an inopportune moment.

It was someone looking for Charles, saying the Boss had urgent business with him.

Charles put on his gloves and smiled faintly at Zhong Nian. “I’ve told you all my secrets after talking so much. Isn’t it reasonable to ask for a little sweetness in return?”

Before Zhong Nian could open his mouth, he continued, “I know Zhan Lu well. He’s actually the tightest-lipped. Provoking me through him won’t work anymore.”

Zhong Nian touched his nose sheepishly. “…Fine.”

So he hadn’t fooled him after all.

–

Though he had agreed to give something sweet, Zhong Nian quickly put the matter behind him.

Distributing and delivering meals—this job he had already mastered.

But after finishing tonight’s work, he still had one more thing to do.

He needed to deliver clothes to the Kidnapper Boss.

The dried clothes had become a bit wrinkled. He had ironed them in the utility room and now carried them in a laundry bag.

It must have been because the Black-Clothed Man had put in a word; Zhong Nian passed without obstruction, following his memory to the room he had visited during the day. He raised his hand to knock.

But before his knuckles touched the door, the person inside opened it first.

Zhong Nian’s fingers knocked onto the man’s broad chest due to inertia.

It felt soft yet firm, with good elasticity.

Both of them froze.

【Touching porcelain! It’s touching porcelain!!】

【He’s afraid others won’t know he’s desperate. He must have been waiting, right? Heh.】

【Nothing else to say, those pecs look pretty well-trained. Just a bit inferior to mine.】

【Wife, try mine. It feels better when you knock on it~】

The Black-Clothed Man grabbed the hand on his chest and pulled it down. A faint red tinged his earlobes.

But his expression remained impassive, his tone and face flat. “You’re here.”

“Uh… yeah.” Zhong Nian awkwardly withdrew his hand. He was about to hand over the clothes and leave when the man turned and let him in.

To finish the job properly, Zhong Nian had no choice but to follow orders and enter with the clothes.

The room was no different from during the day, except the table now held a Cream Cake, a pot of steaming Flower Tea, and a book opened to about a third of its pages, adding a touch of liveliness.

Who would have thought the man had such hobbies?