Chapter 35

A rough and hot palm slipped in from under the hem of his clothes, the pad of the finger brushing over the dimples of his waist, groping around on the smooth skin.

The boy’s back was very thin. When he lay prone, his waist dipped down, forming a graceful curve. That sunken spinal groove was like a spring water channel, while the dimples on either side were like twin wine pools, tempting one to sink in, drunk and dizzy, reason utterly lost.

The Man seemed to unintentionally scrape over the spinal groove before pressing down on the dimple and rubbing it after pausing.

This spot fit too perfectly, as if it was made for the Man’s fingers.

Zhong Nian, who had been tense and rigid all over from nervousness, trembled from the rub. His waist softened, and his attention shifted away from the wardrobe where someone was hiding. He twisted his head to look at the dark shadow behind him.

“It’s not itchy there.”

It hadn’t been itchy at first, but after that rub, it really started to itch—not a superficial itch on the skin, but one that bubbled up from the bones, making him unbearably uncomfortable.

At his words, the Man stopped fixating on the dimple and let his palm wander elsewhere.

There were no mosquito bites to begin with, no matter how much he searched.

Zhong Nian thought of another excuse. Propping himself up halfway with his elbow, he twisted his head and said, “I’m not itchy anymore. I’m hungry now. Can you go get me something to eat?”

The Man, who always indulged him a hundred percent in such matters, fell silent. His hand remained buried in Zhong Nian’s clothes without withdrawing, even showing intent to slide forward with Zhong Nian’s movement.

“You… stop touching. I said I’m not itchy.” Zhong Nian tried to twist his body to evade the mischievous hand inside his clothes, but with his hands bound, how could he escape?

His sleepwear was pushed up, and the naughty hand inched upward from his soft belly, thumbs pressing on both sensitive spots.

Those areas had endured quite a torment during the bath before bed and still hadn’t recovered. They were like two half-cooked red beans, sinking in under the pressure.

Zhong Nian jolted sharply, a whimper escaping his throat. Before he could voice his protest, he heard the Man tease:

“So the mosquito bit here. No wonder I had such a hard time finding it.”

Zhong Nian froze, then shouted the man’s name in furious embarrassment: “Zhan Lu!”

Zhan Lu chuckled lowly. In the next second, his tone turned sharp with jealousy: “Little Nian, are you always this obedient with our Boss? Even coquettishly asking him to scratch your itch.”

“I…” Before Zhong Nian could explain, a wave of numbness hit his front, turning his voice into a pitiful moan.

He involuntarily curled up like a shrimp, using his bound hands to push against it futilely.

“Has it been touched before?” Zhan Lu toyed with the little nub. “I knew he’d do naughty things even while keeping you locked up.”

Zhong Nian exhaled heavily, trembling fiercely: “Zhan… Lu… let go, it hurts…”

He had already cried and cursed at the Kidnapper Boss earlier, leaving his voice hoarse. Now, his words sounded more like coy refusal, sweet enough to drip with honey.

Zhan Lu kneaded the tofu-like soft flesh, his mouth going dry. He leaned down, seeking the boy’s lips for a kiss—

Just as their soft lips met, Zhan Lu’s expression suddenly turned fierce. He pulled back from the sweet tenderness, spun around, and raised his hand to block.

His reaction was quick, but what came was a sharp dagger. In an instant, flesh tore open.

Zhong Nian still didn’t know what had happened. He heard Zhan Lu click his tongue: “This is the second time.”

Someone in the shadows snorted coldly, and then the two tangled in combat.

Zhong Nian couldn’t see exactly what was happening—only two crisscrossing shadows in his view. His heart raced with anxiety, and he blurted out: “Zhan Lu, don’t bully him!”

Something shattered. Then came Zhan Lu’s low curse: “You say that again. Clearly, he struck first!”

Ke Zhengchu said nothing, silently curling his lips with the smug provocation of a victor. He swung back with another slash.

In the darkness, Zhan Lu was at a disadvantage but no pushover. He charged forward instead, taking the hit but grabbing the other’s collar and slamming him hard!

The room wasn’t spacious. The body crashed into the table, the loud thud startling Zhong Nian.

“Zhengchu!” Zhong Nian forgot everything else, scrambling off the bed and nearly tumbling down. A pair of arms caught him, pulling him into a scorching embrace.

He could tell it was Zhan Lu and immediately kicked at him. “What did you do to him?”

Hearing the accusation, Zhan Lu felt deeply aggrieved. He pulled Zhong Nian’s hand to his arm: “Don’t you care about me? It hurts so much. He was trying to kill me.”

Zhong Nian was about to speak up for Ke Zhengchu when his hand touched warm, sticky wetness. He froze.

He suddenly realized the air was thick with the scent of blood.

Zhan Lu’s blood was hot. The one who had struck must be the other person in the room.

But how was that possible?

“Little Nian…”

Ke Zhengchu’s low, weak voice came from nearby, as if he’d been badly hurt by the throw.

Zhan Lu sneered disdainfully: “Starting to play possum again.”

Zhong Nian opened his mouth, struggling for a long time before finding his voice: “Stop fighting, both of you.”

The two, who had been locked in fierce combat moments ago, both halted, giving Zhong Nian time to calm down.

One untied Zhong Nian and rubbed his wrists; the other brought hot water over.

Zhong Nian didn’t drink. He asked the shadow before him: “Zhengchu, who are you really?”

“I…” Ke Zhengchu’s throat tightened. “I’m your roommate, Little Nian.”

Zhan Lu ruthlessly exposed him: “Stop pretending. You’re one of us. Think you can act forever? Who knows how many benefits you’ve stolen using the roommate identity…”

He nearly spat out the last sentence through gritted teeth, laced with strong personal resentment.

Ke Zhengchu hurriedly said: “That’s a different matter. I’m still Little Nian’s roommate!”

“Lying is lying, got it?”

The two started bickering again, but with Zhong Nian in Zhan Lu’s arms, neither made a move.

Zhong Nian tried to process what he’d heard.

From beginning to end, he’d never doubted Ke Zhengchu’s identity.

Even after last night’s events, he’d at most been surprised and a bit angry at the other’s unusual fetish. His impression remained of a reclusive, gloomy but good-natured roommate.

This wasn’t the first time he’d defended Ke Zhengchu in front of Zhan Lu, and now they were telling him these two were in cahoots?

Someone who could fight Zhan Lu evenly and even wound him badly clearly had exceptional skills—not the timid, cowardly roommate Zhong Nian had imagined.

Deceived again. More than anger, Zhong Nian felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

How far would these kidnappers go to toy with him?

“I’ve never doubted you. I’ve always trusted you.” Zhong Nian’s calm voice echoed in the room, chilling the other two.

Even the previously gleeful Zhan Lu didn’t dare speak.

Ke Zhengchu said softly: “I’m sorry, Little Nian…”

Zhong Nian cut him off coldly: “I don’t need that kind of apology. I’ve heard plenty.”

“But I didn’t mean…” Ke Zhengchu stepped forward, only to receive a hard slap as he approached.

It stung fiercely—the pain he’d always craved—but for the first time, there was no pleasure. His heart sank heavily, aching with bitterness.

“I don’t want to hear your explanations.” Zhong Nian said. “Leave. I don’t want to see you right now.”

Ke Zhengchu bit his lower lip until it bled, wanting to speak but afraid of angering the boy further.

In the deathly silence, Zhan Lu, holding Zhong Nian, poured oil on the fire: “Little Nian, you might not know, but I’ve caught him several times sneaking onto your bed at night to sniff you.”

At the accusation, Ke Zhengchu shot Zhan Lu a cold, piercing glare.

Zhan Lu immediately said: “Little Nian, look, he’s glaring at me.”

But the expected reaction didn’t come. Instead, Zhan Lu received another slap from Zhong Nian.

“You get out too.”

“…”

As the three stood in stalemate, untimely footsteps sounded outside the door.

At that moment, Zhan Lu and Ke Zhengchu showed the tacit understanding of gang members: one hid back in the wardrobe, the other crawled under the bed.

Each claimed a spot, not interfering with the other.

“Creeeak—”

The door made a faint sound. A tall, slender man stood in the doorway, spotting the slim figure on the bed at once.

“Little Nian, I’m here.”

It wasn’t the Kidnapper Boss—it was Charles.

Zhong Nian said nothing, just sat quietly.

Charles shut the door behind him and strode to the bed: “You’ve been wronged, haven’t you? Were you bullied? It’s okay. I’ll take you out of here.”

He leaned in, reaching to hug Zhong Nian.

Suddenly, slap! A fragrant slap landed unexpectedly on Charles’s face.

Charles clutched his cheek: “?”

What a sudden reward.