Lin Min did not know what the players had discussed.
By the time he changed his clothes and came out, the only people by his side were Zhou Jin and Wei Chi. He felt somewhat uneasy sitting in the back seat, sandwiched between the two tall men. He had wanted to move to the front row, but he heard them say there was a possibility of another ambush on the road.
Lin Min was forced to sit obediently, pulling his limbs in as much as possible.
However, no matter how slender his frame was, he was still an adult man. As the car moved, he could not help but occasionally bump into the other two. Zhou Jin’s high body temperature radiated a scorching heat through the thin fabric of their clothes, while on the other side, although Wei Chi’s temperature was lower, his presence was just as imposing. Trapped in such a narrow space, Lin Min wanted to move away but had nowhere to go.
“What are you shaking for?” Zhou Jin glanced at him. Seeing the little widower nearly fall into Wei Chi’s arms several times, he finally could not resist reaching out to pull the man toward himself. “Do you like him that much? You are practically sitting in his lap.”
After saying it, he felt something was off with himself. At this moment, however, anger had clouded his mind. Just yesterday, this little widower had been on his back behaving in that manner. It had left Zhou Jin, a straight man, completely unsettled.
Yet now, the boy looked over with a pure, innocent expression on his snow-white, beautiful face, his lips tightly pressed. Who knew how many times that bastard Fu Chenyuan had forced his way in there?
Why play pure with me now? Weren’t you happy enough when your tongue was being eaten yesterday?
Lin Min’s wrist was gripped by the man. Although a large hand was supporting his lower back, he was still unstable and nearly tipped over sideways. Fearing he would fall onto Zhou Jin, who clearly disliked him, he instinctively reached out to brace himself against the floor of the car.
His fingertips trembled from the sudden heat.
As Lin Min felt the hard muscle beneath his touch, his empty yet beautiful eyes widened. Terrified, he scrambled to pull his hand back, his entire face flushing a deep red. He felt as if his hand had been defiled.
How could someone be like that at any given time?
Zhou Jin also realized it immediately. His ears turned beet red. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he abruptly let go of the wrist, trying to hide his unnatural reaction. He barked with feigned severity, “What are you doing, rubbing all over me?!”
Even as he said it, his Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably. Zhou Jin wanted to say more, but seeing the little widower instinctively lean toward Wei Chi, he ultimately closed his mouth, his expression dark and sullen.
Lin Min was unaware of the players’ inner thoughts; he could only feel a scorching gaze fixed on him. Fortunately, the hospital he frequented was not far. When he stepped out of the car, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Seeing this, the veins on Zhou Jin’s forehead throbbed. This little widower did that to him yesterday, yet today he was avoiding him like the plague. Was he trying to play hard to get? Too bad Zhou Jin did not fall for that.
Wei Chi stood at a moderate distance, his gaze lingering on the little widower for a moment before shifting away, as if deliberately avoiding something.
Lin Min, oblivious to it all, entered the hospital. The staff there were very familiar with him. A passing nurse saw him arriving with companions and immediately approached with a smile. “Mr. Lin, you are here!”
The nurse had a deep impression of this couple, mostly because Mr. Lin was so beautiful. He possessed a gentle, jade-like elegance that seemed to seep from his very bones, like a piece of fine white jade that had been meticulously cared for. This only made his husband seem more loathsome.
Although the nurse thought the husband was handsome, whenever she remembered those eerie eyes that did not look human, a chill would crawl up from the bottom of her heart. Mr. Lin truly suffered, being with a person like that.
“I am here for a follow-up. Is Dr. Qi in?” Lin Min asked with a smile, unaware of her thoughts.
The nurse was momentarily dazed by his smile. She did not dare look longer and returned to her professional tone. “Dr. Qi is still in surgery. Please go to his office and wait. I will have Xiao Jin take you there.”
She left in a hurry. Lin Min thought she was acting a bit strange, but before he could think further, the nurse named Xiao Jin arrived. She led them to the office and then departed.
Zhou Jin had been waiting all along for the little widower to take the initiative, but seeing how indifferent the boy was to him, he gritted his teeth and spoke to Wei Chi. “Tsk. Stay here and watch him. I am going to check the hospital for anything unusual.”
As if trying to cover something up, he turned and walked deep into the hallway.
Wei Chi’s expression did not change. He watched Zhou Jin disappear at the end of the hall before looking back and entering the room.
Lin Min, hearing only one set of footsteps, looked up with his pale face. “Where did Mr. Zhou go? I thought I heard him leave.”
As he spoke, he remembered the scene in the car. To ease the awkwardness, he sat on the sofa and pursed his lips, unaware that his reddened ear tips were perfectly visible to the man.
“He went to the restroom,” Wei Chi said, subtly observing the faint blush on the boy’s face before nonchalantly looking away.
Lin Min did not doubt him. Because of the dream he had last night, he felt awkward being alone with Zhou Jin anyway. Fortunately, Dr. Qi’s surgery must have gone well, as a knock on the door soon broke the stagnant atmosphere.
Lin Min was about to answer when someone suddenly covered his mouth from behind. Wei Chi had a solemn expression on his face.
The knocking paused for a moment, and then the doorknob began to turn slowly.
Wei Chi’s pupils constricted. He could tell the footsteps outside were not right. There was more than one person, and they did not sound like untrained civilians. He realized something immediately.
Decisive, Wei Chi pulled Lin Min up from the sofa and whispered urgently into his ear, “Do not make a sound.”
Lin Min stiffened at the sudden movement, panic flooding his sightless eyes. However, sensing the gravity in Wei Chi’s voice, he nodded obediently. He allowed the other to hold him as they quickly ducked into the inner room used for storing medical records and equipment.
The inner room had no windows and was dimly lit, with only a sliver of light peeking through the crack under the door. The two were pressed tightly together. Lin Min could clearly hear the hurried thumping of Wei Chi’s heart and his suppressed breathing.
The office door was pushed wide open.
Footsteps entered. There were definitely more than one person. They seemed to be searching for something, their movements rough. The sound of papers and objects hitting the floor echoed continuously.
“Are you sure it is this room?” a slightly husky male voice whispered.
Another voice responded, “Correct. The records show he had a follow-up appointment today. Where is he?”
“Search the office first.”
Lin Min’s heart sank. A chill surged from the soles of his feet. He realized then that the bodies found around his villa were likely connected to these people. He felt the arm around his waist tighten. Wei Chi’s body was tense, like a leopard ready to spring; he had clearly heard the conversation as well.
The search continued outside, gradually moving toward the inner room.
Wei Chi’s arm was wrapped around Lin Min’s waist. Even through the clothing, he could feel the firm muscle beneath. Due to the tension, the arm would occasionally tighten instinctively, pulling Lin Min deeper into his embrace. Lin Min’s back was flush against Wei Chi’s chest, and he could faintly feel the rising body temperature through the man’s shirt.
Inappropriately, Lin Min’s ears began to burn. He inexplicably thought of the dream where, after he left, the other man had done that with his things. Lin Min did not dare lean back further, terrified of feeling something he should not.
Uncomfortable, Lin Min instinctively tried to swallow, but his throat was so dry it caused a tiny, trembling gasp, like the sound of a small kitten. In the deathly silence of the dark room, the sound was magnified.
Wei Chi immediately lowered his head. His warm lips almost brushed against Lin Min’s ear as he signaled with a breath: “Do not be afraid.”
The heat near his ear and the brief, soft, scorching contact made Lin Min’s entire side go numb as if struck by electricity. He bit his lower lip hard, and the cry that almost escaped was muffled by the man’s large hand.
Damp heat was trapped within the palm.
Wei Chi looked down with cold, sharp eyes, only to find the little widower’s cheeks flushed red because of his hand. His wet eyelashes drooped piteously, and he was trembling slightly in his arms.
It did not look like they were hiding from villains. Instead, it looked like he was the villain who had kidnapped a beautiful widower, covering his mouth and forcing a pure, innocent husband to have an affair with him here.
And the boy could not even see. If he were bullied until his stomach ached, he probably would not even know which bad man had done it to him.
Wei Chi’s Adam’s apple moved slightly. He forced himself to look away. However, the fingertips of the hand resting on Lin Min’s waist curled uncontrollably.
Wei Chi never thought he would care about anyone, let alone an NPC, a beautiful NPC, one who had been with her husband for a long time and was already well-versed in soothing men.
The sounds of the search grew closer, accompanied by the noise of objects being violently overturned. It was clear those people did not intend to give up easily. The doorknob to the inner room was twisted forcefully.
Wei Chi’s arm tightened even more, almost embedding Lin Min into his chest. Lin Min could feel the power hidden beneath his tense muscles. In the darkness, with sight deprived, his other senses became extraordinarily sharp.
Wei Chi’s hot breath brushed against the side of his neck. Lin Min felt embarrassed and tried to move away, only to be held firmly in place. The other seemed to realize something was wrong and hesitated for a second before letting go.
In his nervousness, Lin Min assumed Wei Chi was just holding him so he would not cause trouble by moving. He stood obediently, trying his best not to be a burden to the players.
But the group found them anyway.
“It is locked?” a whisper came from outside, laced with obvious impatience. “Pick it and see.”
Wei Chi’s eyes turned razor-sharp. Without hesitation, he pulled Lin Min to the side, using his own body to shield him completely, while his other hand reached for the weapon at the small of his back.
At this critical moment, a sharp, impatient scolding rang out from outside: “What are you doing?”
It was Zhou Jin’s voice.
After a brief sound of fighting and muffled groans, everything returned to silence. The lock of the inner room clicked open, and the door was thrown wide. Light flooded in, illuminating the two people pressed together in the small space.
Zhou Jin tossed aside his gun, its magazine empty. He stood at the door, looking at the scene inside with eyes like ice. His gaze first landed on Lin Min, who was being protected in Wei Chi’s arms. That posture of reliance was particularly eyesore. Then, he glanced at Wei Chi’s hand, which was still around Lin Min’s waist. A cold smirk curled his lips.
“Tsk,” Zhou Jin said in a low voice, arms crossed, his mockery blatant. “Did I come back at the wrong time? I was only gone ten minutes and you two are already gnawing on each other?”
Despite the words, there was no mirth in his expression.
Lin Min shivered at the coldness in his voice. Only then did he realize how ambiguous his posture with Wei Chi was. He hurriedly scrambled out of Wei Chi’s arms, looking very much like a person with a guilty conscience.
Wei Chi’s brow furrowed. He moved to hide the beautiful husband, who was now looking down with reddened ears, exposing a pale neck, behind himself. Looking at the objects at Zhou Jin’s feet and the corpses with bullet holes in their heads, he asked calmly, “Where did the gun come from?”
“I wanted to check the basement, but I ran into a stray on the way,” Zhou Jin replied nonchalantly, kicking aside a bothersome corpse. “I took it from him.”
His gaze, however, remained locked on Lin Min. Seeing the little widower tremble slightly under his stare, the nameless fire in his heart burned even hotter.
“What are you hiding near him for? Was he the one who saved you just now?” Zhou Jin took a step forward, closing in on Lin Min and completely ignoring Wei Chi’s warning look. “Or do you just like a man’s body? Do you like whoever touches you like that?”
Zhou Jin’s words were becoming reckless. The little widower was soft to everyone else, but with him, he would not even let him catch a scent.
Lin Min recoiled at the implication. Not knowing why Zhou Jin was so angry, he explained flusteredly, “Mr. Zhou, you misunderstand. We were just…”
“Just what?” Zhou Jin sneered. “Just hiding together, letting him hold you and touch you? How long has Xie Mingyuan been dead? You are that impatient to find a replacement?”
“Zhou Jin,” Wei Chi interrupted sternly, stepping in front of Lin Min. “Watch your words.”
Zhou Jin’s gaze finally shifted from Lin Min to Wei Chi. The air between them seemed to solidify, thick with the scent of gunpowder.
“Am I wrong?” Zhou Jin raised an eyebrow. “If I had come a step later, would you two have been right here in the hospital?”
“Enough!” Lin Min suddenly raised his voice. He felt this man was truly mean, and in his own bout of recklessness, he blurted out, “Mr. Zhou, why do you care? Even if, even if I were like that with him, you are not my husband. You can not control me!”
“Anyway, anyway, I will not let you hold me or touch me!”
Lin Min realized what he had said only after the words were out, but he maintained his stance with red ears, stubbornly clutching Wei Chi’s sleeve.
Zhou Jin was stunned by the sudden outburst. The little widower currently looked like a cornered rabbit, clearly shaking with fear, yet still bristling all over to protect himself. He was both cute and infuriating.
Zhou Jin stared at him, his Adam’s apple bobbing. The anger in his heart miraculously dissipated a little, but remembering the words, he felt a fresh wave of irritation.
Won’t let me hold him, won’t let me kiss him? In the illusion, we already did all that!
A surge of malice rose in Zhou Jin’s mind. If the little widower knew he had been like that on the back of the man he hated most, getting the man’s fingers all wet, would he cry from shame?
But he gritted his teeth and held it back.
“Won’t let me hold you?” Zhou Jin gave a mocking laugh, though his tone was less aggressive. “Fine. As if anyone wants to hold you.”
“Your body is so fragrant and soft.”
“What a nuisance.”
Having said that, Zhou Jin cleared his throat and turned to look at the corpses scattered on the floor, changing the subject. “These people are not simple. They have high-end equipment. They are not like the small fries from before.”
He crouched down to search the bodies. It was yet another group of people.
Seeing that he was no longer targeting Lin Min, Wei Chi did not bother with Zhou Jin’s deliberate avoidance of looking at the boy. He followed up, “They were clearly coming for Mr. Lin. The hospital is no longer safe. We need to leave immediately.”
It was likely that as soon as they arrived, those people knew.
Lin Min stood there, feeling Zhou Jin’s gaze fall back on him. That stare was so hot it felt like it could pierce right through him. His legs were sore from standing too long, but he did not want to delay the players, so he tried to grope his way forward, only to stumble.
The next second, a powerful arm supported him.
“So delicate,” Zhou Jin muttered, though he did not let go. He deliberately put on a disdainful look. “Do not look at me. Did you not say you did not want me to hold you?”
He had to let this little widower know: he was not his dog. He would not just crawl back after being kicked.
Lin Min was startled by the man’s heat. He was not without his own temper; his brow furrowed, and his sightless eyes searched the air for a point of reference. “Mr. Wei, could you come and help me?”
“Mr. Zhou, I know you hate me.”
“I will not cause you any trouble.”
With that, he pulled his hand away directly.
Hearing this, Wei Chi immediately stepped forward and naturally took Lin Min’s arm. His touch was polite and restrained, a stark contrast to Zhou Jin’s scorching palm.
Zhou Jin’s hand remained frozen in mid-air. He watched as Lin Min turned to Wei Chi without hesitation, his sightless eyes clearly showing his rejection. A wave of fury surged to his head.
“Who said I hate you?” Zhou Jin blurted out. Only after saying it did he realize what he had done. “I just…”
He quickly pressed his lips together and shut up.
I just what? I just cannot stand you being so close to someone else? I am jealous that Wei Chi can touch you so naturally? I am frustrated that you were so proactive in the illusion but avoid me like a plague in reality?
These thoughts swirled in Zhou Jin’s head, but he could not say a single word.
“When did I ever say I hate you?” Zhou Jin muttered unconsciously, but the little widower was already being carried on Wei Chi’s back as they headed out. His words eventually vanished into the air, unheard.
Lin Min lay on Wei Chi’s back.
System 0766 complained about Zhou Jin pettily: [It is okay, Host. It is better that we did not use him. He is so mean; he might have secretly hit you halfway through. And look, being “useless” just now increased your Saint Value by 2 percent!]
Lin Min narrowed his eyes happily at the news. He had been genuinely angry earlier, but since he had a good temperament, his anger usually faded as quickly as it came. He had mostly forgotten about it by now.
He could not see Zhou Jin’s expression, but he could feel a scorching gaze pinned to Wei Chi’s back, or rather, pinned to Lin Min. The gaze felt almost physical, making his recently calmed heart flutter again. He instinctively buried his face into the crook of Wei Chi’s neck, trying to hide from that look.
This small movement seemed to please Wei Chi. His arms, which were supporting Lin Min’s legs, tightened subtly, though his pace remained steady.
Fortunately, the group did not dare to be too blatant. They successfully returned to the car. This time, Lin Min specifically sat in the passenger seat to avoid a repeat of the trip there. The players did not say anything.
Finally, they returned to the villa.
Fu Chenyuan stood at the villa entrance, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the afternoon sun. His narrow eyes squinted, his gaze first falling on Lin Min as Wei Chi carefully helped him out of the car, then shifting to Zhou Jin, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
The air was thick with the scent of silent gunpowder.
Fu Chenyuan’s gaze eventually returned to the beautiful, gentle little widower, who seemed oblivious to it all. His lips were still pale pink, and there were no other marks on his neck. His mood calmed down inexplicably.
Zhou Jin found the whole scene an eyesore. He sneered, turned his head away, and shoved his hands into his pockets, his nails nearly digging into his palms.
In the end, Wei Chi recounted everything that had happened.
Fu Chenyuan was not particularly surprised. While they were gone, more people had come to the villa, attempting to enter the little widower’s room, only to be caught by him. Before disposing of them, he made sure of one thing: these people knew Lin Min had something in his possession and were relentless in their search.
Before they returned, Fu Chenyuan had searched the room, but his time was limited and he found nothing. Thinking of this, he looked at the little widower with a gentle, smiling gaze. “Mr. Lin, it seems it is too dangerous for you to stay alone.”
“From today on, we will take turns keeping watch over you at night.”
“Who would you like to choose for tonight?”