Chapter 79 Part 2

The man, head still down, didn’t notice and asked, “…Is Mr. Mo too harsh with you?”

Zhong Nian felt like he was burning up entirely.

He’d been overheard…

Two nights of how Mo Heng had bullied him in the bedroom—all of it heard by this neighbor.

At first, he’d been careful, remembering the Apartment’s poor soundproofing, with 1603 and 1604’s bedrooms opposite each other. But after being at it for so long, his mind went blank… and he forgot everything.

Some of the sounds he made weren’t under his control. Sometimes they even startled him; Mo Heng would praise him, saying things like “Baby sounds so good.”

Then he’d bite his lip hard, desperately holding back. But it wouldn’t be long before his awareness softened and floated away with his body’s reactions, and he’d unconsciously cry out or plead in a voice that didn’t sound like his own.

Now this—the other party had even come to “settle accounts.”

For such a reclusive, fearful neighbor to speak up voluntarily, remembering the exact end time, his sounds must have been too excessive… pushing the man to his limit.

“Sorry…”

Zhong Nian hadn’t figured out how to apologize when the man cut him off: “Please don’t say that.”

“It’s Mr. Mo’s fault.” The man expressed himself a bit anxiously. “He’s the bad one. He bullied you.”

Zhong Nian blinked, feeling like he’d misunderstood something.

“Sorry… I know I shouldn’t meddle in others’ family matters. If you feel offended, you can report me, but… but I still want to say… if you need it, I’m willing to help.”

Zhong Nian gradually understood.

The other man thought Mo Heng was hitting him and hadn’t considered that kind of thing.

Mo Heng had bullied him, but not in that way…

Realizing his own misconception, Zhong Nian felt even more embarrassed.

Heat lingered on his face. His teeth bit his lower lip unconsciously, grinding at it. He wished his hair were longer like the man’s to hide his face.

“Though I haven’t tried, I’m a bit taller than Mr. Mo, so I probably wouldn’t lose in a fight…”

“No need.” Zhong Nian interrupted quickly, wanting to explain but not knowing how.

Say he’d not been hit, but bullied in another way?

This shut-in neighbor probably didn’t know much about marital matters. Spelling it out to someone so “innocent” gave Zhong Nian a twinge of guilt, making him feel even sorrier.

“It’ll cause you trouble. Don’t worry about me; I’m fine.”

At his words, the man grew more anxious: “I’m not afraid of trouble, or the Rules or punishments. Really, I can handle it quickly without implicating you. Please believe me.”

Zhong Nian smiled faintly: “Thanks for the kind offer, but I really don’t need it.”

His tone was gentle yet firm, clearly conveying his stance.

With that, the man said no more.

But on his way back to 1604, he turned back several times, as if wanting to say something.

Zhong Nian closed the door and sighed with complicated feelings.

He wasn’t sure if he should be relieved by the misunderstanding—it preserved a bit of his dignity—but Mo Heng…

Whatever. Mo Heng bullied him anyway.

It wasn’t unfair.

–

Even just the short trip downstairs to toss trash left Zhong Nian walking a bit uncomfortably. Back in the bedroom, he picked up the ointment Mo Heng had left on the nightstand, hesitated, then took off his pants himself. Leaning against the headboard, he parted his legs, face red as he applied more.

The burning chafe cooled again, easing much of the discomfort.

Zhong Nian kicked Mo Heng’s pillow to the floor and flopped onto the bed.

At that moment, the Octopus emerged from his shadow, climbed onto his back, and diligently massaged him with its tentacles, one stroke at a time.

It felt pretty good, so Zhong Nian let it continue.

But soon the Octopus was panting, its tentacles lacking their initial strength.

Even so, it kept trying to rub his waist and shoulders, babbling nonstop from its mouth.

Zhong Nian listened for a bit—it was all curses aimed at Mo Heng.

“Enough.” Zhong Nian grabbed it and pulled it down. “Aren’t you tired? Settle down. You’re weak enough as it is; save your energy.”

The Octopus wilted: “Chirp…”

“I’m not looking down on you. I never expected you to do much anyway.” Zhong Nian fed it a pastry, then used it as a pillow under his face, patting it lightly. “Be quiet now.”

“Chirp chirp.” Placated, the Octopus melted under Zhong Nian’s head like it was drunk.

Zhong Nian dozed off fuzzily for a short nap until he heard a knock.

He had the Octopus hide back in his shadow, checked the peephole, and saw a handsome man with a frivolous smile. He opened the door directly and asked, “Just you?”

Yu Jingshan looked him up and down, lingering a moment on his lips and neck. “I came by several times this morning but you never opened.”

Zhong Nian: “…Sorry.”

Exhausted from last night, he’d slept like the dead that morning—no way he’d wake up, let alone hear the doorbell.

Yu Jingshan was about to ask more when Zhong Nian quickly changed the subject: “Where are the others? I have some new clues. Let’s have everyone come to my place to discuss.”

“Change of venue—to my place.” Yu Jingshan flicked a sleep-tousled strand of hair on Zhong Nian’s head and said flatly, “Found two new Players.”