Chapter 23

The mask on the boy’s face was slowly peeled away by him, bit by bit.

On that small face, there was always an expression that Ling Yu liked.

When he discovered Ling Yu’s perverted tendencies, those delicate brows would furrow tightly, pressing down the upturned corners of his eyes. Those dark, glossy eyes would glance downward in disdain, shattering the usual sweet and obedient air, revealing a look of contemptuous disgust—as if in the next second, he would spit out words like “pervert,” “gross,” or “loser.”

And when gripped by fear, that fair, pink-tinged face would drain of color in an instant, leaving only his teary eye sockets redder than before.

Lashes clumped with moisture, broken pleas spilling from his lips—that princess-like arrogance and petulance vanishing entirely.

No matter the expression, it was so captivating that no one could look away.

It was the same now.

Ling Yu cornered him against the wall, gazing at that small face twisted with disdain and fear. “It’s so strange, Luo Li.”

“I’ve seen plenty of bosses, but none like you. Your combat stats, intelligence, and mental fortitude are all so low, yet you’ve survived this long.”

“I have to say, you’re really good at getting players to indulge you, to let you go.”

Luo Li didn’t dare lift his head. He felt certain he was done for this time. But before dying, he wanted to struggle one last time. “You… you just want to clear the instance, right? Maybe I can… help you…”

“You can’t help me,” Ling Yu said. “You’ve changed this instance, you know that? Originally, players could clear it by finding the dean imprisoned by his perverted adopted son and freeing him. But not anymore.”

In the original instance, Agamemnon had been a completely upright officer.

But now, all the signs pointed to the one with the twisted psyche and improper desires being someone other than the adopted son, Lori.

“The name on that lingerie of yours wasn’t sewn by you. It was Agamemnon who did it, right?”

Ling Yu murmured into his ear. “I bet besides your undergarments, he wanted to write his name on your little belly, the insides of your thighs, and… there too.”

Luo Li swallowed hard. “Wh-why?”

Ling Yu smiled. “Give me the key to the top floor, and I’ll tell you.”

The boy trembled between his legs, avoiding his gaze. “The key… I put it in the pocket of the nurse skirt.”

Ling Yu didn’t question it. Instead, he wrapped an arm around his waist. “Alright, I’ll go with you to get it.”

The long, dim corridor stretched ahead. Luo Li’s nape was slick with cold sweat before he knew it, strands of hair sticking to his skin, beads of perspiration trickling into his collar.

His waist was held in the curve of Ling Yu’s arm. The man wasn’t looking at him, but Luo Li felt those eyes glued to him every second.

“Agamemnon really didn’t teach you well.”

Ling Yu said calmly. “Otherwise, how could you have turned out like this? Not a shred of caution. Stripping off your pants in front of all those men.”

“Now, with your bare legs, you’re heading to the bathroom with me.”

The man paused at the door, gripping the handle.

“Do you think the tricks you pulled on Wado will work on me too?”

Ling Yu released his hold, unconsciously tugging at his tie.

“Sure.”

“I saw how much He enjoyed it. I wouldn’t mind experiencing it myself.”

The boy’s tender pink fingertips hid inside his sleeves, his long hair hanging low. He said nothing.

Ling Yu scoffed and pushed open the bathroom door, stepping inside.

He had assumed the boy would follow obediently. Instead, there came a loud bang as the door slammed shut.

Ling Yu froze. When he shoved it open again, all he saw was a fleeing figure vanishing down the hall.

…

Luo Li didn’t even know which way to run. He didn’t dare look back, his heartbeat and breaths thundering in his ears, his mind a total blank.

He must have passed some room, noticing the door ajar. Without thinking, he slipped inside.

He had just locked it when a familiar voice sounded from behind him.

“Sweetheart?”

The ward was pitch black, lit only by a bedside lamp. Luo Li turned to see that striking blond hair. Andrei sat on the edge of the bed, his upper body bare, his bronzed chest muscles rising and falling, bathed in an orange glow.

He smiled good-naturedly. “Didn’t you leave? How come you’re back?”

Luo Li lit up like he’d found his savior. “G-good! You’re still here! Ling Yu’s chasing me…”

Andrei blinked. “Is that so? Sweetheart, you’re so pretty—it’s normal for someone to chase you.”

“No!”

Luo Li was on the verge of tears from frustration. “He wants to steal my key!”

Andrei’s eyes widened in realization. He scratched his head sheepishly. “Sorry, sorry—I got the wrong idea. Well… why don’t you hide out here with me?”

Luo Li couldn’t agree fast enough.

Once seated beside Andrei, he felt a bit calmer. His breathing from the frantic escape hadn’t steadied yet. He curled up in the corner of the bed, his small white teeth clenched, chattering faintly.

Andrei asked, “You cold?”

Luo Li nodded slightly.

The big guy scooted closer. “Let me hold you for a bit to make up for my lack of chivalry, okay, sweetheart?”

Luo Li didn’t refuse. Andrei had always given him a good impression—the only one among them who was polite and warm toward him.

He gathered the delicate boy into his arms, gently stroking his long hair in silent comfort. Luo Li seemed even more fragile and obedient now, arms around Andrei’s neck like a cuddling, huddled little rabbit.

The patient gown draped loosely over his bare lower half. His snow-white legs were folded beneath him, his small rear pressing a shallow dent into the sheets.

An outwardly compliant and innocent Eastern boy.

But in truth, he’d dated at least two boyfriends already. Both wealthy and influential older men.

At his age, with that romantic history, even back home, flighty guys would whistle and call him a “player.”

…lolita.

Luo Li had no idea what Andrei was thinking. He hooked his leg around the nearby blanket, trying to pull it over himself for warmth. Andrei caught on and lifted it, wrapping Luo Li up snugly.

Luo Li murmured a grateful “thanks” and burrowed deeper.

But as he looked down, he froze.

Where the blanket had been lifted, there sat a crumpled nurse uniform.

It was the one Kang Xun had hidden in the closet for him earlier, when he’d changed into the patient gown.

The once pristine clothes were now a mess. The skirt especially—its hem rumpled beyond recognition, as if roughly rubbed against something.

The blouse’s chest bore damp stains, like saliva.

The name tag there gleamed wetly too, who knew how many times it had been suckled.

The bold letters “Nurse: Luo Li” were now barely legible.

His mind exploded in a chaos of thoughts.

This was the psych ward. Why was Andrei here? That patient the doctor mentioned earlier, the one who stripped off his gown—the one from this room, whom the nurse said had been moved to the second floor a few days ago…

Andrei had indeed said this used to be his room.

He was one of the second-floor patients too.

Frame by frame, Luo Li’s head tilted up slowly. In the dim light, the handsome Western youth—who had seemed as friendly as a large dog—gazed down at him, lips curving into a slow smile.

But this smile was nothing like his former sunny openness. It was sticky, damp, malicious, utterly sinister.

Andrei gently lifted Luo Li’s chin, toying with it in the crook of his finger.

“…So slow on the uptake, darling.”

“Seeing how much you trust me… it makes me pretty happy.”

“Too bad… you’re going to be disappointed.”

Luo Li inched back. “What… do you mean?”

“Don’t be nervous. I’m not with Ling Yu, and I won’t hand you over to him.”

“Compared to stealing your key, I’ve got a better idea.”

Andrei stroked the back of his neck, tilting his face up. With a snap of his fingers, the whole room blazed with light.

Only then did Luo Li notice what made this ward special. It was stuffed with picture books, toys, and old gift boxes. Vibrant watercolor paintings hung on every wall, and the huge floor-to-ceiling window offered a clear view outside.

“This is a special ward. It used to belong only to you. Shame that after Agamemnon vanished, no one maintained it, and it got turned into a psych ward room.”

“Instead of stealing the key to the top floor, I’d rather lure Agamemnon out.”

The retired officer who doted on his adopted son—the dean of this hospital—was, if things went as expected, also this Eastern beauty’s lover.

He wasn’t dead or missing. He was right here in the hospital. Andrei had even seen him that day.

The handsome, stern officer holding Luo Li, wrapping a tie around his neck…

The poor thing had just scraped his toe, and it forced the man to show himself in the lobby.

So what if, right now, some guy locked his beloved lolita in here and did something fun…

Agamemnon, could you really stay hidden?

Luo Li’s lips went pale. He slumped onto the edge of the bed.

He watched Andrei stand, slowly unbuckling his belt.

Above his head, the red warning prompt glared starkly.

【Player: Andrei】

【Condition: Exhibitionism (95)】

【This player suffers from exhibitionism and cannot control the urge to strip in front of others. He becomes abnormally aroused by being stared at while nude. Condition is now critical—proceed with extreme caution.】

No wonder he hadn’t been wearing a shirt when they first met.

No wonder he had shown up here.

What an idiot I am…

In the chaos swirling through his mind, there came a soft thud as the belt hit the floor.

Luo Li was bound to the chair, squeezing his eyes shut in terror.

Andrei let out a low growl. “Look at me.”

The young man chuckled softly, bracing one hand against the back of the chair as he gently pinched Luo Li’s soft cheek. “Open your eyes, baby. Otherwise, I’m going to feel even worse.”

With that, he gave Luo Li’s cheek another gentle pat with his palm.

…No, that wasn’t right. It wasn’t a palm.

The heat scorched Luo Li, forcing him to turn his head away. The young man fondled his hair indulgently.

But his voice dropped even lower.

“Darling, open your eyes.”

“I promise, you’ll like it.”