Chapter 34 Part 1

In the bathroom filled with the sound of running water, steam mingled with some indefinable atmosphere as it spread through the dimness.

The Man, squatting in front of the bathtub with his clothes soaked through, gazed at the boy curled up inside.

The boy had no idea how provocative his current appearance was.

He sat in the water completely naked, his bound hands and drawn-up legs blocking most of his body, but no matter how he curled up, large expanses of skin remained exposed.

His slender shoulders and collarbones, the graceful curve of his neck, or the delicate butterfly bones protruding from his back—every inch was flawless, like a piece of jade meticulously carved by a master artisan.

Even though The Man tried his utmost to keep his gaze fixed above the boy’s neck, his heartbeat still raced uncontrollably.

The boy’s damp strands of hair clung to the corner of his lips, his cheeks flushed pink from the hot steam, his lips even more vividly colored. His eyes, misted with moisture, shimmered alluringly.

His expression was pitiful and resentful, like a drenched little cat that had suffered some great injustice. One almost expected a pair of floppy, furry beast ears drooping amid his silver-white hair.

The Man clenched his jaw, reached out, and pumped the shampoo bottle twice, squeezing out foam that he smeared onto the boy’s head and worked into the fine, soft strands.

His fingertips passed through without touching any of the imagined beast ears.

Zhong Nian felt that The Man’s technique for washing his hair was odd, but he chalked it up to inexperience since it was his first time doing something like this. Besides, that wasn’t important.

The Man still hadn’t answered his question.

“I’m asking you, can you see even without lights?”

The Man didn’t answer directly with yes or no. “Since you know about Hope Island, you should also know about the special traits of people like us.”

“So…?”

“I’ve undergone professional training, and night vision is one of the skills. Combined with surgical modifications, I can move freely in the dark.” That was how The Man explained it.

Zhong Nian paused slightly, pursing his lips and falling silent.

It didn’t sound like good news.

After that, neither spoke. The Man silently finished washing Zhong Nian’s hair, rinsed off the foam, roughly dried it with a towel, and then continued cleaning his body.

No one knew where he had gotten the tools from—not only did the bath products smell like pleasant fruit scents, but there was also a soft bath pouf and a rubber duck meant for amusing children.

Zhong Nian squeezed the duck shoved into his hand, making its little whistle emit a “beep beep” sound. He was speechless: “…”

He wasn’t a child; he wouldn’t obediently comply just because of this.

But The Man’s touch was as gentle as could be, as if afraid of scrubbing too hard. After lathering the bath pouf with rich foam, he didn’t use it to apply but used his hands instead.

The Man’s palms glided smoothly over him thanks to the body wash.

Hands and legs were one thing, but when it came to other areas, Zhong Nian could hardly endure it.

“No need there… uh.” A strange itch made Zhong Nian shudder violently. He wanted to block it with his hands, but The Man tugged the ties and lifted them up.

“It has to be washed clean.” The Man’s tone was as stern and commanding as when he had fed him the cream cake and ordered him to lick it.

Zhong Nian didn’t believe The Man had some intense cleanliness obsession. Rubbing over the more delicate areas again and again was absolutely deliberate.

That spot wasn’t even dirty at all…

After just a few strokes, the two little beads swelled red like Zhong Nian’s lips, trembling as if shivering in the cold wind yet proudly erect, like two Red Plums begging to be plucked.

Finally released, Zhong Nian watched The Man lather up again and asked in a voice choked with tears: “Isn’t… isn’t it done washing?”

He had a premonition and clamped his legs tighter.

But with his feet bound, how could he match The Man’s strength? In the end, his knees were pressed down, forcing his legs straight and exposing his most vulnerable spot.

Ignoring Zhong Nian’s expression on the verge of tears, The Man repeated: “It has to be washed clean.”

…

Half an hour later, Zhong Nian was carried out of the bathroom, scrubbed so thoroughly he couldn’t be cleaner.

Every inch inside and out had been meticulously rubbed by The Man’s hands, leaving his skin flushed red, with handprints on his belly and thighs.

The Man wrapped him only in a large bath towel and temporarily placed him on the bed before turning to rummage in the cabinet for sleepwear.

When he turned back, the boy who had seemed limp and on the verge of fainting from crying had rolled into the covers, not a single strand of hair peeking out, hidden away tight as could be.

The slightly damp bath towel, scented sweetly with water, lay discarded on the floor. It was hard not to suspect the boy had done it deliberately out of spite.

“Put on clothes and dry your hair before sleeping.” The Man said as he easily yanked back the covers, revealing the boy with his face buried inside.

He mumbled: “Get lost.”

The two words carried heavy sobs and nasal tones. Anyone hearing them would soften and hesitate to press him further.