Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The toy vibrated almost instantly, leaving no time for preparation.

Chen Zui feigned concern, asking knowingly, "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" His hand, holding the remote, reached out to steady Jiang Mo's arm.

After a brief moment of adjustment, Jiang Mo could handle it. He was more concerned about something else and grabbed Chen Zui’s arm back. "You saw that person? What did he look like?"

In his urgency, he neither addressed him as "Mr. Chen" nor used the formal "you."

Chen Zui recalled, "He was very tall. There were no streetlights in your neighborhood, so I couldn’t see clearly, but he was good-looking—a young man."

"Why? Is there something wrong with him?"

Jiang Mo tried to search his memory based on Chen Zui's description, wondering if he knew any tall, good-looking young men, but he couldn’t recall anyone.

Seeing Chen Zui’s look of concern, he shook his head. "It’s nothing. My kitten ran out when I opened the door, and the person must have found him. I just wanted to thank him."

Chen Zui acted oblivious to the holes in his story—like why the person who found the cat would hand it over without a word and run away—and simply followed Jiang Mo’s lead. "In that case, he really is a good person," he remarked, a hint of laughter in his tone.

Jiang Mo’s expression darkened further, but since he had come up with the excuse himself, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree. "Yeah, he’s a good person."

Ao Tian: "I almost feel sorry for him, wahahahaha~"

Ao Tian: "So much fun! Gotta play with the top! Break the gong!"

Jiang Mo invited Chen Zui inside. Chen Zui put down Xiao Momo, and the kitten immediately darted toward the curtains and began scratching them.

No one paid it any attention.

Chen Zui held up the remote. "I just don’t know what this remote is for. Could it belong to that person? We should find a way to return it to him."

As he spoke, he pressed the remote twice curiously.

"Ah—" Jiang Mo let out a short cry, nearly curling up and crouching on the floor.

"Jiang Mo?"

"My stomach isn’t feeling well, Mr. Chen. Please have a seat." Jiang Mo turned and strode quickly toward the bathroom, not noticing the change in Chen Zui’s expression behind him—the ambitious, wolfish glint in his eyes behind his glasses, filled with playful amusement.

In the bathroom, Jiang Mo, his face flushed, deftly removed the still-vibrating toy. Glancing at the moisture on it, he wrapped it in tissue paper out of shame and threw it into the trash.

In the living room, Chen Zui twirled the remote deftly in his hand, guessing that the toy had already been taken out.

Jiang Mo had probably been waiting for "that pervert" to return the cat. He bent down, felt under the sofa, pulled out the kitchen knife, and tossed it back. Unfortunately, it was him, the "good person," who had shown up, rendering all his preparations useless.

Jiang Mo splashed water on his face, hoping to wash away the redness. The odd sensation lingered; even though the toy was removed, it felt as if it were still there.

Not wanting to keep Chen Zui waiting too long, he finished washing his face and went back out.

"Sorry, Mr. Chen, for making you wait." Jiang Mo went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water for Chen Zui. Instead of sitting on the sofa, he took a small ottoman beside it and sat down.

He wasn’t short, but sitting on that little stool made him look cramped and uneasy.

"It’s fine. I came without notice. I hope I haven’t caused any trouble," Chen Zui said smoothly, the picture of a refined gentleman.

"No trouble, no trouble at all."

After saying this, Jiang Mo didn’t know what else to say. His gaze fell on the coffee table, where the remote for that thing was placed. He gritted his teeth and shifted his focus back to the floor in front of him.

He looked utterly pitiful.

Chen Zui placed the things he bought for Xiao Momo on the coffee table. "Thankfully, it was a close call, but Xiao Momo is safe. Otherwise…" His tone piqued curiosity, and even Jiang Mo turned to look at him. In that moment, he saw a hint of loneliness and sorrow in this successful, driven man.

Chen Zui: "Actually, I used to have a cat. I raised it since I was a teenager—a black cat, very similar to Xiao Momo."

Ao Tian: "Really?"

Chen Zui: "No."

Most people would ask, "What happened next?" But Jiang Mo simply waited quietly for him to continue.

Chen Zui gave him a bitter smile. "A cat’s lifespan is far shorter than a human’s."

Jiang Mo understood. His gaze toward Chen Zui softened with a touch of sympathetic tenderness. So that was why he liked Xiao Momo so much—it all made sense now.

Chen Zui: "Do you mind if I smoke?"

Jiang Mo shook his head. He felt he should say something comforting but searched for the right words.

With a flick of the lighter, the room filled with a sweet, floral aroma. Jiang Mo’s nose twitched faintly, and he followed the fragrance to its source. A slender white cigarette was held between long, elegant fingers, with a simple rose pattern sketched on it, looking as delicate as a flower blooming on Chen Zui’s neat fingertips.

Chen Zui raised an eyebrow. "Want one?"

Jiang Mo: "No, I don’t smoke."

Chen Zui smiled. "It’s fine. This is a custom floral cigarette with almost no tobacco. I can’t stand the harsh smell of tobacco either—it makes people stink. This one is mild; even non-smokers can try it."

He tapped out a cigarette and handed it to Jiang Mo.

Jiang Mo didn’t know how to say no, so he took it and awkwardly put it between his lips.

He thought he should ask for a light.

Suddenly, Chen Zui leaned in. The cigarette in his mouth tilted upward slightly, stopping just before Jiang Mo’s. The two cigarettes were so close that their bangs nearly touched, and Chen Zui’s glasses seemed to rest on Jiang Mo’s nose bridge. The lenses became completely transparent, and their eyes locked, drawing each other in.

Their gazes collided.

A spark ignited, instantly setting his heart ablaze. Wisps of smoke curled gently, like a hazy mist creating illusions. In this fantasy, their gazes transformed into snakes and vines blooming with flowers, entwining—one growing wildly, the other clinging tightly.

Chen Zui held the cigarette between his lips and spoke with a smile. "Inhale, silly."

The words turned his ears red. Jiang Mo foolishly took a deep breath, causing the cigarette to burn rapidly and shorten significantly. He filled his mouth with the floral scent and couldn’t help but exhale. The smoke wafted toward Chen Zui’s handsome face. He sniffed lightly, his intense eyes locking onto his prey.

"So sweet."

It was unclear whether he was referring to the person or the smoke.

Jiang Mo suddenly started coughing. He bent over, lowering his head as if bowing submissively to Chen Zui.

The smoke wasn’t harsh, but he felt a sudden tickle that triggered a coughing fit.

Chen Zui’s gaze fell on the man’s neck—a neck perfectly suited to be grabbed from behind, leaving clear grip marks. He removed the cigarette from his lips and exhaled slowly with practiced ease.

The smoke drifted gently, like layers of soft moonlight over Jiang Mo’s neck, which visibly reddened in seconds.

Ao Tian: "Affection level: 37!"

Ao Tian: "Host, you're smooth!"

Chen Zui narrowed his eyes slightly. The seemingly deferentially bowed head kept increasing the affection level toward his master—this was an offense that deserved punishment. He glanced at the cigarette in his hand; it was perfect for branding the other's neck as punishment.

He took a long drag.

Reaching out, he patted the man's thin back, again and again: "Are you okay?"

He could clearly feel Jiang Mo's body tense up the moment he touched him.

He imagined that when penetrating him later, he would tense up even more, his whole body taut—of course, including...

Bringing him ultimate pleasure.

"I'm fine." Jiang Mo straightened up. He thought keeping his head down and not looking at Chen Zui would be fine, not realizing his flushed face had already given him away.

Chen Zui: "It's very late, I should get going."

He stood up and looked toward the kitten: "Xiao Momo, see you around~"

Xiao Momo was about to run to him, but his claws got stuck on the curtain and couldn't break free—a punishment for being mischievous.

Chen Zui had already reached the door when Jiang Mo suddenly remembered and quickly stopped him. That creep had already met Mr. Chen; maybe he hadn't left outside. This time it was returning the cat, next time it might be coming after Mr. Chen with a knife.

"Mr. Chen, it's very late. How about you stay the night at my place?"

Chen Zui, who had just slept here last night, made a show of considering it.

Jiang Mo: "Things have been unstable lately."

Especially the people around him.

Chen Zui: "Alright, then I’ll trouble you for one more night."

This time, Jiang Mo didn’t need to ask and automatically moved to sleep on the inner side.

Chen Zui: "Sorry, I need to take care of some work. Is it okay if I turn off the lights later?"

Jiang Mo: "No problem."

Chen Zui: "Thank you."

He leaned against the headboard, openly scrolling through his phone.

Jiang Mo’s phone under the pillow vibrated. He took it out and, seeing it was from "?", instinctively tried to hide the phone.

But if the other party called...

Mr. Chen was handling work and probably wouldn’t notice. Even if he did, with Mr. Chen’s character, he'd never peek at his phone.

He thought as he opened the phone.

?: "He's still out there."

?: "I’ve been watching you."

Jiang Mo: "What do you want?"

Chen Zui glanced at the furtive Jiang Mo: "Did you get rid of the toy?"

Jiang Mo bit his lip.

?: "If he knew you were a pervert who stalks and watches people, heh—"

?: "Be good."

Jiang Mo didn’t dare imagine what would happen if the other told Mr. Chen what he’d done. Mr. Chen would definitely be disgusted by him.

He didn’t want Mr. Chen to despise him.

Jiang Mo: "If you dare say anything, I will kill you!"

Chen Zui looked at this message. A cornered dog will leap over a wall, a desperate rabbit will bite—what would Jiang Mo do when pushed?

He turned off the light and lay down. Jiang Mo was almost pressed against the wall, leaving him more space to move.

In the darkness, even breathing too loudly felt intrusive.

Jiang Mo waited a long time but got no reply from "?". Instead, he heard Chen Zui say: "You’re not quite what I imagined."

His voice sounded especially pleasant in the dark. Jiang Mo stiffened attentively: "Really?"

He stared intently at the screen. Had he angered "?"?

Jiang Mo felt the person behind him stir slightly. When he spoke again, his breath drifted toward the back of his head, ghosting over his ear.

"I thought you were the type to keep everyone at arm's length."

"You must often be misunderstood and misinterpreted."

Jiang Mo stayed silent. Scenes of being isolated and targeted surfaced in his mind, bringing nothing but pain.

Chen Zui: "That's on them, not you."

No one had ever said such words to Jiang Mo before. Even his family would only say, "Isn’t it your own fault? You never talk, never make friends—who wouldn’t think you’re sick! Think more about your own problems!"

Chen Zui: "There’s no such thing as a wrong personality, only misunderstandings from those who judge without understanding. I think you’re great."

Another thing Jiang Mo had never heard before: Chen Zui thought he was great. His eyes began to sting. He was probably just comforting him.

"You keep your home tidy and organized, you’re serious and capable at work, you take in stray kittens, and you even worry about my safety."

Chen Zui listed them one by one, concrete and meaningful, not vague.

It was like a ray of sunlight shining into Jiang Mo’s heart.

This made Jiang Mo even more upset. If Chen Zui knew he was the bad guy, a sewer rat that can't stand the light...

His red-rimmed eyes gradually began to well up.

The man silently endured his inner torment, feeling only that he was failing Chen Zui completely.

Chen Zui said nothing more.

Ao Tian: "Affection level: 43!"

Ao Tian: "Victory is within reach!"

After some time, Jiang Mo confirmed that Chen Zui had fallen asleep before cautiously turning over. Under the moonlight, he gazed at Chen Zui's face, so close.

His heart raced.

The thumping was nearly deafening.

Above all, he didn’t want Chen Zui to dislike him.

Late into the night, Chen Zui drew the sleeping Jiang Mo into his arms, lifting Jiang Mo's T-shirt.

Jiang Mo frowned slightly, unaware of his own nipples.

—

—

A hand was toying with them.

Ao Tian: "Host! What are you doing?"

Chen Zui: "Checking."

Ao Tian: "Sounds reasonable, I support you~"

Ao Tian: "Go ahead and check, I’ll make sure the report sounds completely plausible."

Chen Zui: "Thank you, my perfect partner."

Ao Tian: "You’re my perfect partner too."

Ao Tian: "*^_^*"

—

Chen Xiu looked out the window; the stalker had gone quiet lately.

They’d stopped sending messages like "I’m watching you."

Had they given up?