Chapter 51

From the very beginning, the Masked Man had been very mysterious, covering himself up completely.

After taking off his coat, the hood was gone, revealing a bit more, but Zhong Nian didn’t notice anything unusual about him. He couldn’t think of any reason why the man needed to hide so deliberately.

If it was because of a special identity that needed concealing, even if the man revealed himself, Zhong Nian, as a newbie player who didn’t pay much attention to the Forum, wouldn’t recognize him anyway.

Not just Zhong Nian—even the Live Stream Room audience, numbering in the five figures at the time, didn’t recognize him either.

With the Masked Man’s abilities, he shouldn’t have been unknown. This meant he never streamed, acted extremely low-key, or perhaps had appeared in a different guise before this Instance.

【Is he going to take it off? I’m dying of curiosity.】

【Acting all mysterious and hiding away—who knows, maybe he’s deliberately drawing attention. Didn’t our dumb wife fall for it hook, line, and sinker? Damn Dead Pretender Man! (So what if I’m just speculating maliciously?)】

【I get the guy above me. I’m jealous and envious too right now.】

【Maybe he’s just too ugly.】

Afraid the man might have some inconvenience, Zhong Nian didn’t push despite his mild curiosity.

“Or I can step out first, and you call me when you’re ready.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Masked Man nodded slightly. Zhong Nian stood up without hesitation. Before he could leave, he heard the Masked Man speak hesitantly: “Will you…”

His voice was too low, and Zhong Nian didn’t catch it. He bent down and leaned his ear closer. “What?”

To hear better, he instinctively sought the man’s eyes. The moment their gazes met, the Masked Man averted his, his cold aura softening considerably. In front of Zhong Nian, he gave off a sense of deference.

“My face is scary.”

His voice was hoarse, as if it had rolled around in his throat several times before he mustered the courage to say it.

Zhong Nian froze, straightening up slightly as he looked at the man’s lowered head. Surprise flashed in his eyes.

He wasn’t surprised by the words themselves, but by the man’s demeanor.

It carried a hint of caution, tension, even self-deprecation.

That previous sentence had probably been “Will you dislike me?” or “Will you be scared?”

Just a momentary daze, and Zhong Nian shook his head vigorously, his tone gentle and earnest to convey that he didn’t mind at all. “No, I just know you’re a good person.”

The man’s gaze softened a little, but his unease didn’t fade.

Seeing this, Zhong Nian completely set aside his curiosity. “You eat first. I’ll go downstairs and get you some water.”

He found a suitable excuse to leave, deliberately taking his time with slow movements. Besides a cup of warm water, he grabbed some Jerky from the cupboard.

As he turned, the Bald Man blocked his path.

The Bald Man’s gaze was hostile. “The stuff here isn’t your personal buffet. You think you can just take whatever you want?”

Zhong Nian didn’t back down. He said flatly, “This is lunch for me and the Masked Man.”

The Bald Man sneered. “He’s half-dead already. Even if he’s clinging to life by a thread, he’s just a waste now. Why drag him back to squander food?”

At those words, the warmth in Zhong Nian’s eyes dropped to freezing.

As a Rabbit, his facial features were naturally soft and rounded, lacking any aggression.

His eyes were the same—no sharp angles, rounded at the corners, with large pupils full of innocence.

But now, with his face cold, the folds of his eyelids tightened, and those innocent eyes emitted a piercing chill that demanded respect.

Meeting that gaze, the Bald Man unconsciously tensed up, forgetting his remaining barbs and falling silent like a mute.

By the time he snapped out of it, Zhong Nian had already gone upstairs with his things. The Bald Man’s expression was a riot of colors. Glancing around to see the others watching like it was a show, he flew into a rage. “What the hell does he mean by that?? Acting all tough for what? Did I say something wrong? Damn it, he dares to look down on me—”

The more furious he got, the more he resembled a ridiculous jumping clown, laughable and pathetic, even wanting to storm upstairs for a reckoning.

“Enough.” Jie Jialiang spoke up, stopping him. “He didn’t say anything. Calm your emotions.”

To be provoked into this state by a single glance—utterly useless.

Jie Jialiang concealed the contempt in his eyes.

–

When Zhong Nian returned, the Masked Man was still in the same position: his upper body bare except for the layers of white bandages, leaning against the headboard, clutching Zhong Nian’s quilt corner in a daze, lost in thought.

Zhong Nian noticed that half the Cookies on the bedside table were gone. He walked over and asked, “Did they taste good? The Children gave them to me.”

“…Mm.” The Masked Man stiffly set down the quilt in his hand and took the water Zhong Nian offered. “Thanks.”

Zhong Nian smiled at him, picked up the basin stained with bloodied water, and took it to the bathroom to dump and scrub the towel.

It wasn’t anything needing privacy, yet he closed the door. When coming out, he made his movements obvious, even giving a light cough.

Afterward, he glanced at the half-empty cup and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The young man considerately said nothing, but every action reminded the man who couldn’t show his true face: “Don’t worry, I’m not looking,” “I’m coming out now,” “Heads up! Heads up!”…

【Baby, you’re too good…】

【If my wife treated me like this, I’d repay kindness with enmity and marry him on the spot.】

【Please stop exuding charm. I beg you. The lickdog spots are all taken.】

【So cute, I’m dying.】

The Masked Man saw it all. His Adam’s apple bobbed repeatedly, his throat parched again despite the warm water.

Especially in this room, where a fresh, pleasant fragrance permeated everywhere. He’d smelled it near Zhong Nian before—stronger, sweeter, more addictive up close.

When he returned earlier, his head had felt dizzy; he wasn’t sure if it was the scent or his injuries.

Zhong Nian, chewing on Jerky, noticed the Masked Man staring at him and assumed he wanted some too. He quickly popped the rest into his mouth. “The other half is for you. Eat slowly. I’ll go to your room and grab you some clean clothes.”

“No need. I can get them myself.”

The Masked Man suddenly stood up, startling Zhong Nian.

“Your wounds…”

The Masked Man shook his head. “It’s fine. You’ve bandaged me up well.”

Zhong Nian wanted to dissuade him but swallowed his words upon seeing the man move steadily and freely.

He’d been so wretched at the Church, needing support to return… What a quick recovery.

Before long, the Masked Man returned in fresh clothes, even bringing a quilt. He deftly replaced the bloodstained bedding on Zhong Nian’s bed.

Zhong Nian wanted to help but couldn’t get a hand in. For a moment, he couldn’t tell who the patient was.

The Masked Man gathered the shredded clothes from the floor along with the used sheets and covers, then said, “You rest well.”

With that, he left.

As if afraid Zhong Nian would ask him to stay.

Zhong Nian was a bit stunned but didn’t dwell on it.

After all, the Masked Man had never liked getting too close to other Players from the start. He probably felt uncomfortable staying here too.

–

In the afternoon, Zhong Nian spotted Jie Jialiang and the other four Players heading out together from the upstairs window. Unmoved, he went back to bed for a nap.

His sleep wasn’t deep. He dreamed of the previous night when the tentacles had ensnared him—that softening sensation all over his body lingered inescapably.

Thus, he was soon woken by faint noises.

After a chaotic, awful dream, Zhong Nian was drenched in sweat, his hair disheveled and sticking to his cheeks. His eye corners were red, his eyes misty and hazy.

His sleep shirt was askew, exposing half his pale collarbone.

His lips parted as he caught his breath, tongue tip faintly visible, his warm exhales carrying a rich fragrance.

It was this alluring scent that provoked the thing outside into losing control, “bang”—crashing against the window.

Zhong Nian whipped his head around, catching only a flash of deep blue tentacle vanishing outside.

He immediately grabbed the extremely sharp Dagger from under his pillow and cautiously pressed himself against the wall by the window.

Before sleeping, he’d specially checked, sealing the window tight to give the Devil no opportunity.

Unsure if this Octopus Demon had kidnapped another Player to gain entry, Zhong Nian didn’t rashly open up. He prepared to counterattack.

It hadn’t been enough bullying him last night; now it came knocking again. This time, he’d chop off every last one of that stinking Octopus’s tentacles.

Zhong Nian itched with fury, but after waiting ages, no further sounds came.

As if the earlier sight had been a dream-induced hallucination.

Zhong Nian cautiously peered out the window.

No fog, no Devil.

Had it come and gone?

Puzzled, Zhong Nian scanned around and inadvertently spotted, on the outdoor windowsill—like food scattered for wild birds—a cluster of colorful… Candies.