Chapter 62 Part 2

“Hasn’t it healed yet?” The Masked Man frowned.

His own body healed wounds quickly and wasn’t sensitive to pain—he was very resilient. The injuries from before had scabbed over after just one or two applications of medicine and were completely fine now.

In a horror game, getting injured and dying was commonplace.

It was the first time the Masked Man had seen someone like Zhong Nian—beautiful and fragile like glass.

Even though Zhong Nian’s personality was tougher than imagined, it still made people instinctively careful and protective, wanting to place him on a high pedestal, unwilling to let him suffer even the slightest wind or rain.

Even just a furrow of Zhong Nian’s brows could easily lift a person’s heart.

The Masked Man didn’t dare neglect the slightest discomfort. Hearing him say he wasn’t comfortable made him tense up. “Let me take another look.”

“N-No need.” Zhong Nian pressed down the man’s hand that was about to lift the blanket, his long lashes trembling guiltily. In a small voice, he said, “It’s fine, just a little sore. Time’s short; I’m a bit sleepy. I’ll rest quickly.”

He rubbed his eyes, feigning drowsiness, pulled the blanket up properly, and closed his eyes.

Thus, the Masked Man didn’t disturb him further.

Zhong Nian quietly cracked one eye open a slit and saw that the man’s gaze had shifted away. He turned his back and secretly dealt with the disobedient Octopus in the bedding.

With both hands, he tied the tentacle into a tight knot. The Octopus behaved itself. Though it didn’t return to the shadow, it obediently stayed under Zhong Nian’s hand without moving.

…

Time passed bit by bit.

Approaching dawn, the cabin was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. The ticking of the old wall clock sounded especially clear at that moment.

The second hand “tick-tocked” along, slowly pushing the hour and minute hands closer. When they formed a straight 180 degrees, Zhong Nian opened his eyes and met the Masked Man’s calm, water-like gaze.

He sat up gently, his eyes sweeping over the Skinny Man on the other side who had makeshift a “bed” from the dining table and chairs, then finding Little Yu nearby, peeking her head out from the double sofa.

Her two eyes were wide open, watching them. She had been waiting for this time all along.

“I thought he was going to keep watch for you.” A figure approached. Jie Jialiang glanced at the Masked Man and Zhong Nian.

Zhong Nian didn’t respond. The Girl Player on the sofa stood up and lowered her voice. “Mr. Jie, there’s something I want to talk to you about. Is that okay?”

“At this hour?” Jie Jialiang looked up at the clock and smiled. “Might not be convenient.”

Little Yu’s face was serious. “It’s very important.”

Jie Jialiang’s smile didn’t change as he lightly raised a brow, his gaze sliding over her, Zhong Nian, and the Masked Man one by one.

“I need to use the bathroom first. I’ll hear you out later.”

“Uh, but…” Little Yu showed a bit of helplessness on her face, quickly exchanging a glance with Zhong Nian before changing her words. “Okay, I’m not in a hurry. Take your time.”

Jie Jialiang nodded and turned to leave.

Little Yu followed a step behind him, turned her head to give Zhong Nian and the Masked Man a signal, then stood guard at the bathroom door.

What happened next unfolded quickly.

Though there was a slight change in events, it didn’t hinder the plan.

The Masked Man bare-handedly seized the Skinny Man in his sleep, while Zhong Nian pulled out the hemp rope hidden under the sofa.

“You—mmph mmph mmph!”

The Skinny Man didn’t even get a chance to shout before a rag stuffed his mouth.

He was skinny and weak; his movements were only nimble at best. Compared to the Bald Man, he had no advantage in strength—which was why he always got beaten and bullied.

In this instance, he’d always acted like cannon fodder, clinging to the big shot’s thigh to survive.

Strangely, at that moment, even the tall and sturdy Masked Man had a bit of trouble subduing him.

The Skinny Man’s hands were already twisted behind his back, but his whole body thrashed fiercely. A couple of times, he nearly threw the Masked Man off.

Veins bulged on his gaunt face like wriggling worms, his eyes bloodshot as if they might pop out. He glared viciously at the two.

Zhong Nian, responsible for tying his hands, slipped several times in the chaos. It was the Octopus that quietly extended a tentacle to help, allowing them to finally bind him.

They tried hard not to make too much noise during the process, but when they dragged him up, the Skinny Man hooked a foot and knocked over a chair.

With a “bang,” the chair fell, kicking up dust and making a loud crash in the cabin.

At the same time, noise came from the bathroom direction.

“Mr. Jie… Mr. Jie, wait a moment!”

“You don’t need to stop me.”

Little Yu failed to block Jie Jialiang, who still came out and saw everything happening in the living room.

As soon as Jie Jialiang appeared, the Skinny Man grew especially agitated, mmphing loudly and casting pleading eyes toward him.

Afraid Jie Jialiang would act, Zhong Nian silently drew the dagger from his waist and called Little Yu to his side.

“Sorry, I couldn’t hold him back,” Little Yu apologized softly to them.

Zhong Nian shook his head, his peripheral vision sweeping toward the clock.

There were only two minutes left until the final moment of the day. They absolutely couldn’t let Jie Jialiang ruin things at this last juncture.

Jie Jialiang leisurely wiped the water droplets from his hands. Facing the three emitting hostility and the Skinny Man pleading for help, he curled his lips into a smile. “No need to guard me like this. We’re teammates, aren’t we?”

None of the three spoke, merely watching him coldly in confrontation.

Jie Jialiang didn’t care at all and ignored the Skinny Man begging him. He tossed away the paper towel in his hand and looked up at the clock.

“Time’s up, and the fog has cleared too. Let’s go. We need to hurry and send him over.”