Chapter 34 Part 2

But The Man still lifted the naked boy out: “No, you’ll catch a cold.”

As clothes were to be put on, the ties on his soaked wrists were untied. The wilted Zhong Nian suddenly rallied, grabbing The Man’s hand as he tried to thread his sleeve and bit down hard.

The Man paused, not stopping his vengeful act, quietly waiting for him to vent.

But how could one bite settle the score? Zhong Nian fumed inwardly—his bottom was practically rubbed raw! Even when he cried and begged, the bastard hadn’t stopped. He was definitely doing it on purpose!

So Zhong Nian bit three bloody marks into The Man’s body, found his teeth too hard for more, and then chomped once each on his neck and chest.

He was still angry, but his cheeks and jaws ached from biting, and with no strength left, he had to release.

“Done?” The Man reacted calmly to the fresh bloody wounds on his body, not angry at all. He even admired them appreciatively and remarked, “So this is what it feels like.”

The Man lowered his head: “Want to bite my face too? Like Second Brother.”

Zhong Nian nearly spat blood from rage, glaring venomously and slapping his hand across.

A loud smack echoed as The Man’s face turned aside.

Zhong Nian added a cold curse: “Bastard.”

Seeing The Man remain still for a long time, his breathing slightly heavier, Zhong Nian thought his slap and scolding had finally worked, feeling a surge of satisfaction.

But then The Man touched the struck spot and said: “This works too.”

Zhong Nian froze.

“Want to continue? Don’t worry, I won’t get mad.” Seeing no further moves, The Man took his hand and placed it on the other side of his face, his voice soft and unexpectedly gentle, like soothing or guiding.

“One more?”

The reaction was too unexpected; Zhong Nian was stunned and quickly yanked his hand back to his chest.

“Not hitting anymore?” The Man murmured with a faint sigh.

Startled by this, Zhong Nian had no more outbursts during the dressing, hair drying, and re-binding. He cooperated just to end it quickly.

Once back on the bed, he eagerly burrowed into the covers.

The Man didn’t leave, occasionally speaking to ask if he was stuffy, if he wanted water or a midnight snack, unperturbed by the lack of response.

Hiding under the covers, Zhong Nian closed his eyes, his mind filled with how he had been bullied in the bathroom. Even after changing into soft sleepwear, the slightest movement made the spot between his legs burn painfully, as if those hands were still rubbing there.

Not just there—his chest too.

If it was deliberate punishment, The Man had succeeded.

If he’d known he’d suffer this, he might as well have let Zhan Lu keep him locked up.

–

No matter how resentful, by midnight Zhong Nian couldn’t fight the drowsiness and fell asleep.

He slept poorly, plagued by strange dreams. When he jolted awake, he realized some noises weren’t dreams.

The lower deck’s soundproofing was poor; he heard footsteps pacing and voices above. At this late hour, something must have happened.

He set aside his emotions for now, threw off the covers, sat up, and was about to get out of bed when the room door opened.

The corridor lights were off. He saw a figure enter and assumed it was the Kidnapper Boss, blurting: “What happened?”

The approaching breath immediately tipped him off. Before he could dodge back, he was fiercely embraced.

“Little Nian.”

Zhong Nian recognized instantly: “Ke Zhengchu?”

Ke Zhengchu hummed in affirmation, pressing his face into Zhong Nian’s neck and nuzzling.

After the surprise, Zhong Nian said seriously: “How did you get here? You can’t be here—if you’re discovered, it’ll be bad. Go now.”

He pushed at him with his bound hands.

Ke Zhengchu didn’t budge, holding tight: “You didn’t come back tonight. I was worried and looked for you for a long time.”

Zhong Nian had a bad premonition: “Those noises outside are…”

Ke Zhengchu shook his head: “Not because of me.”

Zhong Nian relaxed.

“Little Nian, you were worried about me. You still care.” Joy seeped into Ke Zhengchu’s tone. “When you didn’t return, I thought you’d run off, unwilling to see me again.”

Remembering last night made Zhong Nian angry: “You know you went too far last night?”

Ke Zhengchu nuzzled his neck, his lips brushing faintly: “Sorry, I just like you so much that whenever I’m facing you, I lose control easily.”

Zhong Nian hadn’t recovered from the sudden confession when footsteps sounded outside.

The newcomer stepped lightly, but both Zhong Nian and Ke Zhengchu noticed simultaneously, falling silent to listen.

In the darkness, they exchanged a glance. Zhong Nian signaled with his eyes, and Ke Zhengchu quickly hid in the cabinet.

The cabinet door closing overlapped with the room door opening. Zhong Nian watched the tall figure enter tensely, forcing his heartbeat to steady, and said softly: “You’re back. I woke up and you weren’t here—where did you go?”

With the Kidnapper Boss’s abilities, he feared Ke Zhengchu couldn’t hide well, so he focused on drawing attention.

“Come here, I’m itchy all over, like mosquito bites. Can you scratch for me?”

The other didn’t speak. Zhong Nian, used to The Man’s taciturn nature, didn’t mind and proactively lay prone on the bed.

“You tied my hands; I can’t reach. Have to trouble you.”

Fortunately, he obeyed, immediately coming over, sitting on the bed’s edge, slipping a hand under his clothes to search for nonexistent mosquito bites.