Chapter 17 Hurt Me Harder

Chapter 17: You Must Press Harder to Make Me Feel Pain

Luo Yunchen could already feel their fingers intertwined, his thumb stroked Su Zheng's hand twice before gently squeezing it.

Smooth and soft, with a delicate boniness, it felt a bit small in his hand.

But the feel was amazing, making him reluctant to let go.

Luo Yunchen really enjoyed the feel, squeezing Su Zheng's fingers as he tilted his head and edged closer, lightly touching his forehead to Su Zheng's, their noses almost touching, mere inches apart.

Their faint breaths intertwined, and the red gleam in Luo Yunchen's eyes grew more amused. The joyful curve of his lips made his handsome, profound face even more bewitchingly striking, giving off an aggressive kind of beauty.

When Su Zheng woke, his gaze fell into Luo Yunchen's clear, dark eyes.

Luo Yunchen smiled faintly, his voice low and gentle: "Awake?"

Su Zheng stared at him for a few seconds before blinking himself fully awake: "You're awake?"

"Heh." Luo Yunchen chuckled softly: "Mm, awake."

Su Zheng gave him a suspicious look, not sure why the guy was laughing for no reason.

Su Zheng got up, intending to stretch, lifting one arm halfway, but the other wouldn't budge.

He pulled, but it still wouldn't move.

He spread his fingers and pulled again, Su Zheng looked at Luo Yunchen, clearly confused.

Luo Yunchen's gaze never left Su Zheng, his smile unwavering, his voice innocent and helpless: "Your Highness held too tight; my fingers are numb and I can't move them. Please wait a moment."

Su Zheng sighed helplessly and waited a while before being released.

Rubbing his wrist, Su Zheng sneaked a look at Luo Yunchen.

Why did it feel like this guy changed his approach again today?

Was he trying a new move every day?

So weird!

Su Zheng stood up, pushing himself up from the bed's edge. The spot where he'd been lying was a bit numb but not painful, so he didn't show any discomfort, just staying still to let his legs get better.

Luo Yunchen looked at Su Zheng's long legs, and said, sounding apologetic: "Let me give your legs a massage, Your Highness. After all, it was my nightmare that caused you such trouble. It's all my fault."

It would go away with a little rest, so Su Zheng didn't think much of it or intend to get a massage. He just asked: "Do you still remember that nightmare?"

"I can't remember it clearly, but I know it was bad, and I guessed why Your Highness slept here."

Luo Yunchen really couldn't remember the dream clearly.

But he remembered a voice in the dream—a really nice, pleasant one.

It led him step by step out of that pitch-black, blurry hell.

It led him to a bright light that broke through the clouds.

He couldn't remember the rest, but the sound of that voice was stuck in his mind.

It was the voice of the person in front of him.

Such a nice voice—so beautiful he wanted to hear it all day and night.

Su Zheng had no idea this guy had already taken a liking to both him and his voice.

Feeling the numbness in his legs was mostly gone, he stood up and changed the subject: "It's nothing, just a nightmare."

He still personally helped him wash up.

During this, the system spoke up: "Host, a scheduled check shows a change in the male lead's dark value. Do you want me to report it anytime?"

Su Zheng: "What change?"

"The dark value dropped by 2 points, now at 93%."

Su Zheng: "Got it. Keep it on schedule. Just tell me if there's an unusual change."

"Understood, Host."

Luo Yunchen recovered well, and his self-healing was strong.

By the fourth day, his wounds had scabbed and healed nicely.

He could get out of bed and manage daily tasks on his own.

After Su Zheng made him walk a couple of laps, he checked the unbandaged injuries: "Recovering well. How do you feel? Does it hurt?"

The warm, soft touch brushed over him like an electric current, making Luo Yunchen tremble involuntarily. He pressed his lips tightly to suppress any sound.

Steeling himself, he quelled the strange tightness in his chest and shook his head. Suddenly, he grabbed Su Zheng's finger and pressed it firmly against the wound on his abdomen.

Su Zheng was startled.

The wound had just healed—what if it split open again?

He hurriedly tried to resist Luo Yunchen's force, but Luo Yunchen said calmly: "It doesn't hurt. Your Highness must press harder to make me feel pain."

Seeing the wound hadn't split from the pressure, Su Zheng sighed in relief.

Shaking off Luo Yunchen's hand, he glared at him and said irritably: "If it doesn't hurt, fine. But do you want to hurt yourself and end up bedridden for days again?"

Luo Yunchen clasped his hands behind his back, lowered his eyes, and said softly: "Your Highness, I admit my mistake."

Su Zheng: "..."

Thinking of the lonely youth haunted by nightmares that night, Su Zheng tried to mentally reassure himself.

He convinced himself that this boy was truly pitiful—definitely not pretending! Not!

Su Zheng softened his tone and said sternly: "Good, remember that. Don't be reckless from now on. Heal quickly, including the wound on your palm—pay attention to it. Otherwise, you'll be punished to stand guard outside the hall at night. Understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness, I understand."

After breakfast, Xiaoyunzi reported from outside the hall: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Tenth Prince, Fifteenth Princess, Seventh Prince, Eighth Prince, and Ninth Prince have come to invite you to the Martial Arts Ground. They are waiting in the front hall. Will Your Highness attend?"

Su Zheng didn't respond immediately but asked the system: "System, how are Empress Shen's actions progressing?"

"This morning, the interrogation was lifted, allowing people in the palace to move freely. The former empress's people have been purged, and the Fifth Prince's messengers within and outside the palace have been rooted out. However, some of the Fifth Prince's men remain dormant and haven't been exposed."

Su Zheng: "System, do you know who those people are?"

"In the original world data, it can be found that they are the Fifth Prince's death warriors."

Su Zheng: "Then check their information now, their movements in the original world."

"Alright, host, right away."

"Host, found it. In the original world, the protagonist's wounds never received proper medical treatment and rest, leading to physical harm and mental fatigue."

"The protagonist's subordinates secretly went outside the palace to fetch medicine, but were noticed by the Fifth Prince's men."

"After the protagonist's subordinates returned to the palace, these death warriors monitored them, secretly uncovered some of the protagonist's allies within the palace and reported them to the Fifth Prince."

"The final action of these death warriors was to assassinate the Tenth Prince under the guise of avenging Heir Luo, then commit suicide."

"This made the protagonist's situation in the palace even more precarious and challenging."