Chapter 1 Part 2

When he woke, the wind had cooled, and orange clouds tinged the horizon. A tall young man sat by the pool, about two meters away, applying sunscreen. He wore only tight black boxer briefs, his body otherwise boldly exposed—full pecs, defined abs, powerful thighs braced against the edge.

Noticing Zhu Ran’s gaze, the young man looked up.

Even though Huo Junlin had been secretly watching Zhu Ran before, meeting his eyes left him frozen despite himself.

It was a face even prettier than imagined, especially those slightly upturned peach-blossom eyes, seductive and alluring, yet paired with an aloof expression that kept others at bay. Just being looked at by those eyes stirred a mix of shame and thrill in Huo Junlin’s body.

Huo Junlin jerked his face away, leaving Zhu Ran with the sight of his flushed ear and neck. How embarrassing—he’d wanted to make a suave entrance, not botch it like this.

Huo Junlin seethed with annoyance and self-reproach.

Then a voice came from above: “Were you just looking at me?”

The young man’s voice was cool and gentle, with a faint rasp.

Huo Junlin looked up with the sound, eyes tracing round toes, slender ankles, knees rubbed pink from the beach chair. Just lying there had chafed them pink—what if he were kneeling…

Huo Junlin dared not think further. His ears burned, but his mind miraculously cleared. Zhu Ran had noticed his stare—was this a confrontation?

He lifted his head, striving for composure: “Sorry, I…”

But he was too mortified; his neck and face burned red.

The young man across from him laughed, friendly: “Could you help me apply sunscreen? I can’t reach my back.”

Apply sunscreen? He wasn’t disliked?

“Of course!” Huo Junlin blurted. “You can stay lying down… uh, I mean, on your stomach!”

Mortified by his blunder, Huo Junlin watched as Zhu Ran chuckled. Dazed by the smile, he squirted out a huge glob of white lotion—and, too nervous, sprayed it all over Zhu Ran.

Huo Junlin hadn’t expected his first encounter to go so disastrously. Flushed, he rushed off for a clean towel to wipe Zhu Ran down.

Zhu Ran lay on the beach chair, irregular splatters of white liquid dotting his smooth back—like some fluid burst from passion, tremor, ultimate ecstasy.

Even visible from the second-floor window.

Yet he seemed oblivious, arms pillowed under his chin, waist slim and fragile, unaware of how provocatively his body now appeared.

The sea breeze rustled the palms. Suddenly, Zhu Ran sensed a strange gaze. Turning, he saw only Huo Junlin hurrying back with a towel.

Was that gaze from Huo Junlin? Zhu Ran pursed his lips, unsure.

“You went to get a towel?” he asked Huo Junlin.

Thinking Zhu Ran was scolding him, Huo Junlin rushed, “Sorry, I’ll wipe it clean right now.”

Zhu Ran suddenly felt uneasy. He sat up, draped the towel over himself, and said, “No need.”

Huo Junlin blinked, bewildered: “What about the sunscreen?”

Zhu Ran shook his head. “The sun’s already set.”

He still smiled, but it felt perfunctory now, as if seeking an excuse to leave quickly.

“Oh… okay.” Huo Junlin deflated, knowing he’d messed up. He didn’t press and left dejectedly.

The sun had fully dipped below the horizon, the wind carrying a chill. As Zhu Ran wiped off the excess lotion, he felt that familiar scrutiny again. He snapped his head up to the second floor, where an older man in a linen shirt and glasses stood at the window. Caught, the man didn’t hide—his sharp gaze pierced through the lenses, openly appraising Zhu Ran’s body.

Zhu Ran wore only swim trunks, so he clutched the towel tight and met the stranger’s eyes. Only when the man vanished from the window did Zhu Ran exhale, regaining his breath.

In the villa’s second floor, Huo Boyan withdrew his gaze and asked Chen Jiaming, who had just entered, “Find anything?”

“Yes.” Chen Jiaming handed over a file.

Zhu Ran, 21, junior in pharmacy at A University. Father Zhu Yanqing, A University professor and pharmaceutical expert with research collaborations in Hong Kong, frequently traveling between. Mother Wang Ruyun, former art teacher, diagnosed with heart disease three years ago and now retired at home.

Zhu Ran’s own history matched a typical college student’s: excellent grades, occasional fights, one close friend. Handsome since childhood, he’d even starred in a public service ad—video still online—but he despised it and forbade mentions.

Early July, Zhu Ran came to Hong Kong Island for summer with his aunt Wang Zhuoying. Huo Junlin had met him once at the Lin home but fawned excessively, even using the Lin siblings to invite him to the island.

A perfectly normal resume—but its very normalcy heightened Huo Boyan’s wariness, especially now.

Huo Corporation patriarch Huo Tinghua was 82, frail the past two years, and had finally signaled he’d name a family heir. All his children mobilized.

The strongest contenders were second son Huo Zhixiao and eldest son of the third branch, Huo Boyan.

Tabloids whispered Huo Tinghua favored third son Huo Zhilang, once calling him the child most like himself. Tragically, Huo Zhilang and his wife died in a car crash over a decade ago.

Huo Boyan was only 14 then, studying abroad, but returned decisively, shouldering pressures to inherit his father’s business and displaying prodigious talent young.

Over a decade later, not yet 30, Huo Boyan’s achievements rivaled his uncles’, fueled by ambition.

A year ago, he capitalized on internal strife to seize Huo Corporation’s port controls worldwide. His rivalry with second uncle Huo Zhixiao intensified. In that year alone, he survived three assassinations, over a dozen ambushes, and countless honey traps.

Though Huo Zhixiao couldn’t be pinned directly, the culprit was obvious.

Recently, Huo Boyan had a shipment of goods arriving at the Hong Kong Island port, where Huo Zhixiao’s informants were already lying in wait. However, since all previous operations had ended in failure, Huo Zhixiao grew cautious and no longer dared to act rashly.

Huo Boyan deliberately left Hong Kong Island to lure the snake out of its hole.

But though his plans were flawless, he hadn’t anticipated Zhu Ran’s sudden appearance on the island—nor the intense interest he sparked in Huo Junlin.

Chen Jiaming hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, “Do you suspect Zhu Ran is connected to Huo Zhixiao?”

“Not certain,” Huo Boyan said as he closed the file. “Continue to keep watch.”

“Yes,” Chen Jiaming replied.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Huo Boyan added, “If Huo Junlin and Zhu Ran have any more contact, let me know.”