Chapter 10 Part 1

Huo Boyan’s words sounded truly strange. Zhu Ran wasn’t some major villain from a story—why would he be interested in holding power over someone else’s life? Yet the man’s expression and tone were so earnest that Zhu Ran even wondered for a moment if Huo Boyan was genuinely egging him on to do it.

Zhu Ran chalked it up to the peculiar hobbies of the wealthy. He turned and walked out of the cockpit, deliberately keeping his tone light as he said, “Mr. Huo, don’t joke with me. If I were ten years younger, I might have actually taken you up on it.”

“You’re plenty young right now,” Huo Boyan replied.

Zhu Ran didn’t answer. Only when the sound of the cabin door closing came from behind him did the tension in his chest finally ease, and he knew the matter was over.

He slowly exhaled, preparing to slip away at the first opportunity, but then Huo Boyan said, “I thought you were the adventurous type.”

“Sort of, but not entirely,” Zhu Ran thought for a moment before replying. “I like to take risks, but only when it’s safe.”

Huo Boyan didn’t seem to agree. He shook his head and said, “Risks always come with danger. If it’s safe, how can it really be an adventure?”

“Then just call me conservative,” Zhu Ran said.

Huo Boyan didn’t argue further. Instead, he actually laughed.

What was so funny about that? Zhu Ran felt baffled. He couldn’t quite gauge the man’s temperament and didn’t want to invite any trouble, so for the rest of the time, he wore his headphones and pretended to sleep.

Zhu Ran wasn’t tired at first, but the chair was too comfortable, and the slightly cool cabin temperature was hypnotic. Amid the faint hum, his consciousness gradually faded.

Unfortunately, he didn’t fully fall asleep because the plane suddenly jolted. At first, Zhu Ran didn’t pay it much mind, but the turbulence grew more intense, and the plane bumped through pockets of air with soft thumping sounds.

Zhu Ran removed his headphones as the captain’s announcement came over the intercom: the plane was passing through turbulence with minor bumps, so everyone should return to their seats and buckle up.

Zhu Ran fastened his seatbelt, and Huo Boyan sat down in the seat beside him.

The jolts grew even fiercer.

Zhu Ran bounced along with a bit of thrill, but when he glanced over, he saw Huo Boyan with his eyes squeezed shut, gripping the armrests on both sides tightly.

Was Huo Boyan afraid?

The thought popped into Zhu Ran’s mind, but he dismissed it as unlikely. Huo Boyan had even let him into the cockpit—he surely wouldn’t fear a little turbulence like this.

Yet Huo Boyan’s expression looked far from relaxed, and with everyone else seated, Zhu Ran was the closest one to him.

“It’s pretty scary, huh? No idea how long it’ll last,” Zhu Ran said, trying to lighten the mood.

Huo Boyan opened his eyes, calmer than Zhu Ran had expected, and asked, “You’re not scared?”

Zhu Ran shook his head. “I hear the odds of a plane crash are super low—like less than one in a million.”

“What if this is that one in a million?” Huo Boyan countered.

“I probably don’t have luck that good. I can’t even win on scratch-offs,” Zhu Ran replied instinctively. Realizing it might sound off, he added, “I just mean the odds are so low, and if something does happen, being scared won’t help anyway.”

Huo Boyan fell silent and didn’t speak for a long time.

Zhu Ran felt a touch awkward. He wanted to ask if Huo Boyan was scared but held back—the man hadn’t shown outright fear or asked for help, probably not wanting him to notice.

The silence stretched on. Just as Zhu Ran thought he wouldn’t say anything else, Huo Boyan suddenly remarked, “You make a good point.”

Zhu Ran didn’t know how to respond.

Then Huo Boyan added, “Thank you.”

Now Zhu Ran truly felt embarrassed. He’d only said it offhand, but Huo Boyan was taking it so seriously.

Right then, the intercom crackled again. The captain announced they’d cleared the turbulence. Zhu Ran let out a breath of relief. “See? I told you it’d be fine.”

Huo Boyan just hummed in acknowledgment and said no more.

An hour later, the plane touched down at the airport. Zhu Ran turned off airplane mode on his phone, and messages flooded in without warning.

[Mom]: Is your phone still not fixed? Your little aunt said you were back—call me when you get home.

[Mom]: Not home yet? Wasn’t it the afternoon flight? Your little aunt said you got hurt. I’m really worried—video call me, okay?

[Mom]: Are you sneaking off somewhere without telling us again? Hong Kong Island is so chaotic—don’t go running around on your own and get into trouble!

[Mom]: Line busy, no answer

[Mom]: Line busy, no answer

[Mom]: Line busy, no answer

[Mom]: 43″

[Mom]: 59″

[Mom]: 60″

…

[Dad]: Where are you? Why aren’t you replying to your mom? She heard you got hurt and cried from worrying. Video call her once you land.

Message after message popped up, and Zhu Ran’s heart rate quickened with each one. He closed his eyes and took three deep breaths to steady himself.

“Mr. Zhu, we’ve arrived,” Chen Jiaming approached, leaning slightly forward. “Are you heading back to Shallow Water Bay Road? I can arrange a driver.”

He should have agreed and thanked him while he was at it.

But Zhu Ran thought of those unread red dots from the voice messages. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was surprisingly calm. “Thanks, but no need. A friend is coming to pick me up—I’ll get off at the airport.”

Chen Jiaming seemed caught off guard by the response. He glanced up at Huo Boyan, who gave a nod of approval, before saying to Zhu Ran, “Alright.”

Huo Boyan had been exceptionally busy since landing. Zhu Ran wanted to say goodbye as he left, but he never found the chance, so he just waved to Chen Jiaming and headed off the plane.