Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Jiang Mo’s racing heart finally settled. He had thought it was that creep again, but then again, Chen Zui had a key to this place. There was just one thing he couldn’t figure out: “Chen Zui, if you’re in the room, what about the lock outside?”

Why was it still locked?

Chen Zui pulled him into an embrace. “I had someone lock it from the outside on purpose. I didn’t expect it to backfire and frighten you.”

Ao Tian: That’s right, I’m human.

Ao Tian: Heh heh heh~

Jiang Mo believed Chen Zui without question and even thought to himself how Chen Zui thought of everything. Remembering the kick he’d delivered thinking the other was the creep, he quickly apologized and asked, “I’m sorry, Chen Zui. I thought you were…”

He stopped himself mid-sentence. “Sorry, are you hurt?”

Chen Zui: “It does sting a bit.”

Jiang Mo’s face went pale.

Chen Zui pulled up his shirt to show his abs, which were indeed slightly red from the kick. He took Jiang Mo’s hand and placed it on the spot. “It’ll feel better if you rub it.”

Jiang Mo’s pale face flushed red.

Chen Zui had a low body fat percentage, his abs as firm as bricks. But Jiang Mo found the most attractive part to be his obliques—where the waist meets the V-line down to his hips, like a work of art. He thought art students would love to study Chen Zui’s body.

The 180 cm tall man had large hands, with sturdy bones and palms that weren’t particularly soft. Yet, it was these very hands that carefully massaged the reddened skin, creating a strange sensation.

“How have things been at the company lately?” Chen Zui asked the man who couldn’t bring himself to look up.

“Quite good. Your company has clear structure and policies, the employees are driven and productive, and the atmosphere is harmonious and uplifting. It’s an honor to work there.”

Chen Zui: …He was at a loss.

Ignoring Ao Tian’s roaring laughter in his mind: “So you’ve been working overtime every day, doing three days’ worth of work in one?”

Jiang Mo’s hand paused. He hadn’t expected Chen Zui to know even that.

His chin was lifted, forcing him to meet those penetrating eyes that always made his heart race.

“My company isn’t some unscrupulous enterprise that exploits its employees. From now on, leave on time. I don’t want to hear one day that you’ve collapsed at your workstation.”

“Understood?”

Jiang Mo nodded.

Chen Zui leaned down and planted a loud kiss on his lips, as if rewarding his obedience. “Go wash up.”

Jiang Mo walked stiffly toward the bathroom, his awkwardness amusing Chen Zui. He was genuinely curious how a grown man could always have such adorable reactions.

Standing under the shower, Jiang Mo was still dazed. He didn’t even adjust the water temperature, and the cold water shocked him awake. Once awake, a wave of dread washed over him. It had been close—so close to exposure. Reflecting on what had just happened, Chen Zui and that creep were nearly identical in build; he hadn’t been able to tell them apart at all.

But Chen Zui’s reactions weren’t as quick, making it easier for Jiang Mo to break free.

He raked his hair back and realized something: although the matter with Chen Xiu was over, he still had another secret held by the creep—the relationship between them, the things the pervert had forced him to do. If he were to tell Chen Zui about these…

A shiver ran down Jiang Mo’s spine, standing under the hot water.

Would Chen Zui still want him?

He would surely be very disappointed.

Being liked by Chen Zui had turned him into a greedy person.

Chen Zui blew out smoke in the living room, the faint scent of roses lingering around him. Staring at the bathroom, he used his other identity to call Jiang Mo, hanging up before it could even ring.

Ao Tian: “So your plan is to gradually drop hints and let Jiang Mo figure it out on his own?”

Ao Tian: “Actually, I don’t really get why. We could totally hide it and be a complete fraud from start to finish, wahahaha—”

Ao Tian: “But I admit this is pretty thrilling.”

Chen Zui narrowed his eyes and slowly blew out a smoke ring. His desires ran deep. Did Jiang Mo like Chen Xiu because Chen Xiu was good to him? Would that be the same reason he liked Chen Zui?

A ridiculous reason—one Chen Zui would never accept.

What he wanted was for Jiang Mo to see his true self and still love him.

A dog that followed anyone who offered a piece of meat wouldn’t earn his favor. He gently nudged the kitten rubbing against his foot with his toe.

Jiang Mo emerged from the bathroom.

Chen Zui’s eyes instantly softened. “Someone with a question mark as their caller ID just called you. I didn’t answer it for you. See if you want to call back.”

He said this with a smile, adding, “That’s quite an interesting contact name.”

He watched Jiang Mo’s face instantly lose all color.

How will you lie to me, you little devil?

Jiang Mo’s hand, drying his hair, froze for a moment before regaining sensation. Hearing the first part, his blood ran cold, his heart feeling as if it had been hurled into the air. Fortunately, Chen Zui’s following words caught it, saving him from falling apart right there.

He swallowed several times to moisten his dry throat before speaking. “It’s nothing. Just a friend who’s bored and likes to bother our whole friend group.”

“If you engage with him, he never lets up.”

Chen Zui found it intriguing to watch him lie—it felt surprising that Jiang Mo was capable of lying. He beckoned Jiang Mo over, and when Jiang Mo approached, he pulled him onto his lap, settling him into his embrace.

Jiang Mo instantly tensed up. He noticed Chen Zui really seemed to enjoy hugging and holding him.

Chen Zui took his hand, toying with his fingers. “I didn’t know you had such an energetic friend. I thought all your friends were as quiet and shy as you.”

Jiang Mo didn’t dare lift his gaze, focusing only on their hands. He noticed a scratch on Chen Zui’s index finger and, for the first time, mustered the courage to initiate contact with Chen Zui. Lifting a finger, he gently rubbed the scratch with his relatively soft fingertip, his heart aching at the sight. In his view, no pain or injury should ever mar Chen Zui.

“I do have more talkative friends too.”

“Then, has our Xiao Momo ever been in a relationship?”

Even though the topic change was abrupt, Jiang Mo cooperatively shook his head. As he moved, his still-damp hair released a fresh, subtly sweet orange scent, making him seem irresistibly tempting.

Chen Zui wasn’t one to deny himself. Back when he was a mercenary, he mainly felt that since he could die at any moment, there was no point in dating—it could put the other person in danger, and if he died, he’d only leave them grieving.

But now things were different.

He released Jiang Mo’s hand. “Then let me teach you how relationships work.”

Ao Tian: “Visual perception disabled.”

The hand Chen Zui had placed behind Jiang Mo's waist disappeared.

Jiang Mo's hand clenched so tightly that the veins became starkly visible, his entire body tensing like a rock.

The little kitten scratched furiously at its scratching post, its tiny paws nearly scraping sparks from the effort. As the one and only eldest son and favored cat of the household, our kitten could do whatever it pleased—scratch the scratching post to its heart's content, then move on to the curtains, which were already pilled and threadbare from its claws.

Yet, someone insisted on turning this rock into a miraculous stone that gushed spring water, only to put it on display for others to admire.

***

"This is how adults date," Chen Zui said, his middle finger tapping lightly yet firmly, like knocking on a door. He was a domineering guest, paying no mind to the host's wishes, not even waiting for an invitation before pushing the door open and barging in.

"Meow~" The kitten, now almost as round as a gas canister, let out a cry—it had gotten tangled in the curtains again.

Jiang Mo bit his lip tightly, staying silent and offering no resistance to the uninvited guest. No wonder the bandit-like intruder ventured deep into enemy territory alone, scouting and mapping out the terrain, determined to explore every inch.

The kitten, now experienced in freeing itself, managed to get down, rolled on the floor, and then lifted its paws to bat them together, completely oblivious to the Silent War between the two humans, amusing itself happily.

Chen Zui sent another soldier to join the exploration.

The enemy remained silent, teeth clenched.

Just then, a preset text message was sent out. Jiang Mo's phone on the coffee table lit up. Chen Zui spoke: "Your so-called 'question mark' friend is bothering you again. You should take a look."

As he said this, he tightened his grip, as if jealous.

Jiang Mo nearly let go of his clenched teeth.

Chen Zui didn't give the befuddled Jiang Mo a chance to refuse. He took the phone and unlocked it with Jiang Mo's fingerprint. This time, what arrived was a photo—a perfectly innocuous one.

The moment the phone unlocked, Jiang Mo snapped to attention, his panicked eyes fixed on the photo.

It was a scenic photo—a snow scene. Since it was currently summer back home, had the Big Pervert not been harassing him lately because he was abroad?

Jiang Mo noticed a partial hand on the railing at the bottom of the photo. From the photo's perspective, it looked like the Big Pervert's hand. What caught his attention was a cut on the index finger. He shifted his eyes from the photo to look at the hand holding the phone—the cut was in almost the exact same spot, the length identical, and the two hands were so similar they were hard to tell apart.

This left Jiang Mo puzzled.

Chen Zui studied Jiang Mo's thoughtful expression. What are you thinking about now? It's so curious. He deliberately used that hand to tap the photo: "Do you want to go see snow?"

His other finger traced circles, reminding Jiang Mo to focus.

Jiang Mo's tightly pressed lips could no longer hold. He parted them, gasped, and said, "It'll snow in winter."

"Makes sense."

"Should we reply to him?"

"No need."

For now, Jiang Mo couldn't process why the two hands were so alike, even down to the identical wound. He never expected that, as a man... he would be so affected by this method...

Mr. Chen's hands were far more effective than that Big Pervert's toys.

***

Chen Zui hugged the slightly trembling man in his arms, nibbled at his ear: "You're so adorable."

Jiang Mo found the compliment embarrassing—"adorable" wasn't a word suited for a man.

Chen Zui naturally stayed the night without asking.

Jiang Mo, held like a body pillow in his embrace, couldn't sleep. The moment he closed his eyes, he saw those two identical hands.

He thought he must be going mad. How could he suspect Mr. Chen was that Big Pervert? Coincidences happened, right? Yes, it had to be a coincidence.

But once the seed of suspicion was planted, everything started to look like evidence or clues.

***

In the office

Chen Zui listened to his secretary's report, twirling a pen in his slender fingers. His dealings with Xiao Hang were about to wrap up. The other party was like a mad dog, frantically trying to tear flesh from him.

It didn't matter.

He happened to have a few subsidiary businesses he was ready to dump. With changing times, their profits no longer outweighed the effort required, and what little profit they generated was peanuts to him.

Secretary: "Once we successfully offload them, we'll immediately pump the funds into the new energy factory."

Chen Zui nodded. Business should focus on profitable ventures; investments should go into promising industries.

"What about Xiao Hang's situation?"

Secretary: "To compete with these businesses we're abandoning, he undercut prices and snatched almost all the partners. Not only did he save us from paying termination fees, but he's also set to lose a significant amount."

The pen stilled in Chen Zui's hand. A look of total control crossed his face. Xiao Hang surely never expected him to abandon so many companies at once, especially ones that had been handed down and operating for decades since the previous generation.

The original owner wouldn't have, but unfortunately, he wasn't the original owner. He felt no nostalgia—only recognized victory.

Chen Zui: "He'd better be sensible."

Otherwise...

Ao Tian: "Otherwise, let him see his empire crumble!"

Ao Tian: "Wow! That line feels so satisfying to deliver!"

***

"Why hasn't the overtime king been working overtime lately?"

Zhao Qiang teased Jiang Mo. He was Jiang Mo's new office neighbor at the company, a decent guy who was quick to offer tips whenever Jiang Mo was unsure about something. "Overtime King" was the nickname he'd given Jiang Mo—not meant maliciously, but out of pure admiration for his dedication to work.

It was lunch break now, and Jiang Mo relaxed a bit, curving his lips into something resembling a smile: "I was being reckless before."

Zhao Qiang was relieved: "It's great that you've come to your senses. Work should have its rhythms. This isn't goofing off—it's about balancing work and rest. Look, I bought this for that very purpose."

He pulled out a box from under his desk: "The latest projector. Project wherever you want, however you want—always impressive~"

He eagerly opened it to show Jiang Mo.

Overall, Jiang Mo felt better working here than at his previous company. Of course, that was also why he wasn't as gloomy as before.

On his way home, he received a message from Mr. Chen: "Meeting clients tonight, won't be able to stop by."

Jiang Mo grinned goofily at the message.

It took him a long moment to remember he should reply: "Okay, thanks for your hard work."

When he reached the building entrance, Jiang Mo cautiously coughed outside first. The light turned on, and he scanned the area to make sure no one was around before walking in. In high spirits, his steps up the stairs were lighter, quicker.

First floor, second floor...

Third floor—a shadow cast down from above, almost completely enveloping him. Jiang Mo slowly and stiffly looked up to see a man, bundled up, blocking the way on the landing above. The overhead light failed to illuminate his features, only making him appear even more imposing.

Looking up at the creep from this angle gave him a suffocating oppression.

Chen Zui believed that long-time mercenaries were bound to have a screw loose. He himself greatly enjoyed watching expressions of terror on human faces—every facial muscle twisted, so vivid it made him want to capture the moment to remember.

He took a step down from the stairs, his body swayed a little as he descended. Backlit, he gave the illusion of crushing someone with one step.

Jiang Mo took a step back.

He—chickened out.

In their repeated confrontations, in his repeated failures, in the realization that he was outmatched physically, facing this man who approached like a predator poised to attack, his human self-preservation instinct made him retreat.

Their shadows chased each other.

Outside, the wind picked up, howling like demons, making the atmosphere even more unnerving. As Jiang Mo stepped back, his foot missed a step, and he lost his balance, falling backward.

Chen Zui reacted quickly, taking two steps down in one stride. His long arm reached out, grabbing Jiang Mo’s swinging arm and pulling him back. To his surprise, Jiang Mo used the momentum to swing his other hand over, grabbing Chen Zui’s mask.

The tightly fitted mask was yanked askew, a tiny gap appearing around the edges, inviting a peek.

Jiang Mo saw hope again, but the next moment, everything returned to normal. The mask settled back into place, and the light in his eyes dimmed. He really still couldn’t do it.

Chen Zui grabbed Jiang Mo’s hand, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. Though he wasn’t sure whether Jiang Mo had deliberately risked himself as bait or if it was just a reflex, either way, it was commendable. If Jiang Mo had followed him back in the day, he would have made a good mercenary.

Chen Zui pinned Jiang Mo against the wall: "You’re getting more and more misbehaving."

He lifted the lower half of his mask and kissed him aggressively. Jiang Mo struggled almost reflexively, but the familiar fragrance made him freeze. The creep’s kisses carried the fragrance of roses, instantly reminding him of Chen Zui’s kisses, Chen Zui’s lips, the slow-burning cigarette between Chen Zui’s fingers.

The exact same scent.

But the type of cigarette Chen Zui smoked wasn’t available on the market.

While Jiang Mo was distracted, Chen Zui had already claimed his mouth, devouring his lips and tongue at will.

"Does he kiss better? Or do I kiss better?"

Chen Zui deliberately said such things to reel Jiang Mo back in.

Jiang Mo hesitated for a second before biting Chen Zui’s lip hard. Taking advantage of Chen Zui’s pain, he pushed him away and pulled out a small stun gun from his pocket.

There was no other way—even box cutters weren’t allowed on the subway.

Chen Zui leaned his calf against the step behind him, slowly licking the blood from his lip, unbothered.

Jiang Mo gripped the stun gun tightly, training it on him. Chen Zui smiled and moved toward the staircase leading down. Jiang Mo slowly turned to face him, following his movement.

He didn’t think he could defeat the other man. His primary goal now was to ensure his own safety, and also...

He stared at Chen Zui, trying to see past his disguise—was this person really Chen Zui?

Their physiques were almost identical. His gaze fell on the lower half of Chen Zui’s exposed face. It looked very similar.

"See you next time."

With those words, Chen Zui turned and went downstairs.

Jiang Mo leaned against the wall, his thoughts racing as he listened to the fading footsteps. These were two people who should never have crossed paths.

And yet...

Chen Zui sat in his car, expressionless, dabbing the blood from the cut on his lip with his finger.

"What’s this?" he asked Ao Tian.

Ao Tian: "He bit you hard."

Chen Zui smiled: "This is the evidence he left me."

Ao Tian belatedly realized: "He’s awful! What do we do?"

Chen Zui watched as Jiang Mo ran out of the neighborhood again: "He has to have the nerve to confront me first."

Jiang Mo stopped, like a lost soul with nowhere to turn, defeated and desolate in the night.

Chen Zui watched.

Waiting for his decision. Would he dare to confirm his suspicions? Would he dare to face the fact that the pervert he spoke of was Chen Zui?

Jiang Mo hesitated, wavered.

Stuck in the middle of the road, unable to move forward or back, he finally took out his phone and chose a middle ground.

Chen Zui answered the call.

"Xiao Momo, you miss me?"

His voice was still pleasant, gentle and doting as he called him Xiao Momo. Jiang Mo couldn’t quite believe it. He stammered, "Chen Zui, are you still busy?"

Chen Zui guessed Jiang Mo was hoping he’d say no, let’s meet.

"Busy. I have a business trip tomorrow, so I won’t be able to see you for a few days."

Jiang Mo’s heart turned cold at those words, as if drenched in cold water. Though a voice in his head told him it was normal for a top executive like Chen Zui to be busy, the reason couldn’t fully convince him.

Chen Zui: "Stay put and behave. I’m still busy here, so I’ll talk to you later."

Jiang Mo took a breath: "Goodbye, Chen Zui."

Jiang Mo held his phone for a long time before lowering it, feeling as if all his energy had been drained.

Ao Tian: "I’d guess the suspicion meter has reached 65%."

Ao Tian: "Pure speculation, no responsibility taken."

Jiang Mo slunk back defeated. Not long after, Chen Zui slipped back into the complex before driving away.

His fingers drummed lightly on the steering wheel. He had given enough hints—how would Jiang Mo choose?

His tapping fingers stilled. It was nearly over.

Jiang Mo on the sofa was brooding, his mind completely consumed by this matter. It shouldn't be—that time under the stairs, both the creep and Chen Zui had clearly been there...

"My projector can project on any surface," Zhao Qiang's words echoed in his mind.

Projector...

His confused expression gradually cleared, while an indescribable chill crept into his bones, slowly emerging and making him feel as if he had plunged into an ice-cold abyss.

That night, he had only seen Chen Zui's shadow. As for the voice...

There's also something in this world called a recording device.

His breathing grew increasingly rapid. Jiang Mo was almost overwhelmed by this realization. If all of this were real...

Just then.

His phone suddenly rang, startling him. It was a message from Chen Zui, but it was instantly withdrawn before he could even read it clearly.

While he was still stunned, [Unknown contact] also sent him a message—a photo of his apartment taken from downstairs outside.

?: "I've been watching you all along."

Jiang Mo hurried to the window and looked down, but couldn't see anyone.

Why?

If it really was Chen Zui, why would he do this?

Jiang Mo couldn't figure it out. Slumping down against the wall, he hugged himself tightly.

The kitten came to his side and rubbed against him with its little head.

Jiang Mo stared at it: "Are you real?"

He was nearly losing his mind.

——

Chen Zui "accidentally" bumped into Jiang Mo in the company elevator two days later.

Because his private elevator was broken.

The elevator doors were about to close when he pressed the button to open them again. All the nearly full elevator of employees inside looked over and said in unison: "Good morning, Chen Zui."

Among them, only Jiang Mo stood there like a clueless goose, staring rigidly at Chen Zui's lips.

Unfortunately, Chen Zui was wearing a mask, making confirmation impossible.

Chen Zui stepped in, and everyone made way—except for the dumb goose.

So the two stood close, shoulder to shoulder.

Everyone stared straight ahead, and no one spoke a word due to Chen Zui's presence.

Jiang Mo suddenly felt someone hook fingers with him, making him shiver.

Dread crept through him.

He was no longer sure whether the person hooking his hand was Chen Zui or the creep.

Thanks to the advantage of his height, his shifting gaze met Chen Zui's reflected in the elevator's reflective surface.

Chen Zui had been watching him the whole time!

The only feeling was pure dread.