When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 131: How Dangerous

Chapter 131: How Dangerous

Once again, Shen Nianzu was not given a chance to defend his innocence as Qing Mo swiftly left like a whirlwind, claiming that he would have a brief talk with the doctor.

In the short amount of time, Jin Jiuchi had already devoured the whole apple and was now gnawing on the core when he noticed that Shen Nianzu was trembling ever so slightly. Anxious, he immediately swallowed the apple core and asked, "Nian’er, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Is there anywhere uncomfortable? Your head, your chest, your stomach? Dizziness or nausea?" He was literally repeating what the nurse had said earlier word by word.

Shen Nianzu felt like a volcano on the verge of erupting, yet as he gazed at Jin Jiuchi’s genuinely worried expression, he could not find it in himself to vent his frustration. After all, wasn’t Jin Jiuchi also an innocent party who got dragged into this mess with him? That’s right, the ones to blame should be Qing Mo, the auntie and the nurse who tended to conjure up ridiculous imaginations in their minds!

He took a deep, deep breath and told himself to quell his anger for now. "Nothing," he said. "Don’t mind what they said."

Apparently, Jin Jiuchi was so focused on the jade doll that he had forgotten everything else. "Who said what? Oh!" His confused look quickly morphed into one of understanding. "Are you talking about the boyfriend and love thingy, and also what Assistant Qing said about not to toy with an innocent man’s feelings? Wait... could he be talking about me, perhaps?"

A pang of ache tugged at Shen Nianzu’s heart. Had he known that this silly husky’s attention span was shorter than a goldfish, he wouldn’t have brought the topic up again! Now they had returned to square one— no, rather, the situation had worsened!

"Nian’er, your complexion doesn’t look too well..." Jin Jiuchi still looked worried as he observed Shen Nianzu closely. "Are you sure you’re feeling better now?"

’Isn’t it because of you?!’ was what Shen Nianzu wanted to retort. But in the end, he decided that it was not worth making a mountain out of a hill and sighed, "I am a veteran player. My physique has been enhanced by the Nightmare. Like Qing Mo said, I will get back to my feet in no time at all. So there’s no need for you to worry."

Jin Jiuchi harrumphed and grumbled under his breath, "How can I not worry? I am not even allowed to get close to you..."

Shen Nianzu shot him an exasperated look. "What are you insinuating at?"

Sensing an opportunity, Jin Jiuchi’s eyes gleamed in a wicked light, though outwardly he still put on a wronged appearance. "Well, Nian’er keeps pushing me away so I can’t even make sure if you’re really okay or not. How about... we start with a hug?" He opened his arms wide and blinked his eyes a few times for good measure.

Shen Nianzu was so angry that he could only laugh. "So the way you’re making sure if I’m okay is by hugging me?" What kind of absurd method was this? Who was Jin Jiuchi trying to fool? Did he think Shen Nianzu was a three-year-old child or something?!

However, the man nodded with an earnest look. It was as if he truly believed that his actions were justified.

Shen Nianzu laughed again, more helpless than angry this time. "Fine," he spat out. "Just come here and—ugh!" He had not even finished his sentence yet when Jin Jiuchi pounced on him like a hungry cheetah, engulfing him in a familiar and overly warm embrace.

"Nian’er..." Jin Jiuchi exhaled, feeling like his lungs could finally function again after a prolonged time of suffocation. He tightened his arms around Shen Nianzu and buried his face into the crook of Shen Nianzu’s neck, inhaling the unique scent that belonged only to the jade doll alone. "Nian’er, Nian’er, Nian’er..." was all he could utter again and again.

Hearing the man’s low and raspy voice so close to his ear, whispering the endearing nickname in such a desperate tone as if murmuring a plea, sent tingles coursing through Shen Nianzu’s body. His toes curled up and his entire body warmed up in response as he buried his face into Jin Jiuchi’s shoulder. It was as if the man’s body heat had transferred to him, making him feel feverish.

’How dangerous...’ the thought slipped into his mind, unbidden.

This silly husky was infuriating and annoying ninety nine percent of the time, yet there were also times when he acted defenseless like this. And every time he did, it strangely made Shen Nianzu unable to push him away. He had always considered Jin Jiuchi dangerous, but now the man managed to sound a whole different alarm within him.

For this warmth, it would be all too easy to get addicted.

’To think that it has just been a week ago that I declared with confidence how I would kill him with my own hands...’ Shen Nianzu’s lips curved into a self-mocking smile. If the him from that time were to see him now, how would he react? Perhaps he would be so mad that he’d want to kill himself.

"Nian’er is warm..." Jin Jiuchi murmured softly, sounding dazed as if he did not realize what he was saying himself. "You will not die, will you, Nian’er? You will keep staying with me?"

His warm exhale caressed Shen Nianzu’s skin, sending shivers down his spine and causing his knuckles to tighten. How ridiculous. Jin Jiuchi didn’t even know what was going on, but Shen Nianzu already felt like he was losing the battle against himself. Tell him, how was he supposed to push away such a sweet, clingy and affectionate man?

Slowly, he raised his arms and wrapped them around Jin Jiuchi’s back, murmuring, "I am not so fragile, idiot. What do you take me for?"

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Qing Mo’s head peeked into the glass panel from outside in time to catch the scandalous moment of his family’s young master being locked in an intimate embrace with the man he had been living together with recently. He clicked his tongue in disapproval.

’Tsk tsk tsk, they are already like this and Young Master Shen is still unwilling to give the poor man an official status? What a scoundrel!’

***

At the same time, a gleaming black sedan came to a halt in front of Shen Nianzu’s mountain villa. The driver quickly stepped out to open the backseat door, his head bowed politely.

"Thank you, Uncle Luo." A young girl, approximately ten years of age, gracefully descended from the car. She was clad in a beautiful blue traditional hanfu and her hair styled in twin buns atop her head, with a few strands falling to frame her delicate face. Too bad her eyes were covered by thick bandages, and whoever saw her would wonder what could have happened to such a lovely girl. Even then, she did not seem to have difficulty with navigating through her surroundings.

"Can you please wait for a while as I pay my visit?" she requested softly.

"Of course, Young Miss," the driver replied with a smile. "Please take your time. I will be waiting for you here."

Quan Hui smiled and continued to make her way to the villa’s entrance. Halfway through, she whispered softly under her breath, "This is really the correct address, right?" In response, a tiny paper doll poked its head out of the fold of her sash, looked around and nodded firmly,

"En, there’s no doubt about it, Young Miss! The oracle told us that we would be able to find JJ here!"

Quan Hui reached the front door and raised her hand. Another paper doll swiftly flew out of her long sleeves to help her press the doorbell and slipped in again before anyone could catch sight of it. They waited patiently, but no one came out to answer the door.

"Strange," Qian Hui tilted her head in confusion. "Are they not home? Should we just wait, Xiao Wa?"