Zhu Ran: “…?”
What was going on? Huo Boyan had clearly seen him just now, right?
Zhu Ran was certain they had locked eyes for one or two seconds. Could Huo Boyan be deliberately ignoring him? Zhu Ran found that unlikely too—he hadn’t done anything to offend Huo Boyan.
Unsure of the reason, Zhu Ran sought out Chen Jiaming again and told him he wanted to see Huo Boyan.
Chen Jiaming looked extremely busy but still took a moment to reply earnestly. He said he would pass the message along to Huo Boyan, but Huo Boyan was very occupied that day, so they might not be able to meet.
Zhu Ran emphasized once more: “I have something very important to tell him in person.”
At those words, Chen Jiaming’s gaze lingered on Zhu Ran for a few extra seconds. He nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll make sure to relay it.”
“Thank you, Mr. Chen.”
He thanked him in the local dialect.
Zhu Ran had picked up the phrase on the fly, and he still couldn’t quite nail the pronunciation. He said it word by word with utmost seriousness, which came off as endearingly solemn.
Chen Jiaming smiled, then hurried off.
With that one piece of business settled, Zhu Ran found himself with time on his hands. The billionaire’s banquet was a rare formal social event, and his aunt’s family all had connections to nurture. Zhu Ran didn’t want to keep clinging to them, so he ended up on his own for a bit.
Zhu Ran was good-looking with an outstanding presence, so plenty of people approached him to chat while he stood alone.
He started off polite, but soon grew tired of the small talk and slipped away to a quieter spot. Anyway, he’d given Chen Jiaming his number, so they could just call him when the time came.
Zhu Ran chose a resting area screened off by a partition, with a spread of desserts and drinks nearby. Most people just passed through without lingering, making it perfect for him to hide out in peace.
Outside, people came and went. Zhu Ran stayed tucked behind the screen, fiddling with his phone. After some time, voices approached—someone who apparently knew another guest, and the two of them started chatting right by the dessert table.
“Wasn’t Elder Mr. Huo turning eighty-two this year? How come this bash is even grander than his eightieth birthday blowout?”
“You haven’t heard? They say the old man’s days are numbered, so he’s pulling out all the stops. Another birthday means one less—you never know if there’ll be a next one.”
“It’s come to that…” The woman sighed. “Sometimes I think life’s just pointless. Even with such a prominent family, you can’t escape death in the end.”
“He’s had a spectacular life, though—tons of kids, all exceptional. No need for our pity.”
“True, but who’ll be the new head of the family?”
“Either Second Master Huo or Mr. Huo.”
“I’d say Second Master Huo has more seniority.”
“Not necessarily,” the other lowered their voice. “If the old man really favored Second Master Huo, why drag his feet on handing over power?”
“So you mean he wants to groom Mr. Huo…”
“Not necessarily. Haven’t you heard about that incident? It was all over the headlines for days back then.”
“What incident?”
“Word is, ten years ago, Elder Mr. Huo started thinking about naming a successor. He had his eye on Third Master Huo at first, but then Third Master Huo died in a car crash. The official investigation called it an accident, but there were rumors that Second Master Huo had a hand in it… That’s why the old man won’t let go of the reins.”
Those last three words were whispered, but Zhu Ran still caught them.
He never imagined Huo Boyan and Huo Zhixiao had such bad blood between them!
If that was true, then Huo Zhixiao approaching him definitely wasn’t with good intentions!
The situation was even graver than he’d thought. With no word yet from Huo Boyan, Zhu Ran grew anxious and planned to go looking for someone once the two gossips left.
But suddenly, the pair outside fell silent, one saying in a flustered tone: “Mr. Huo.”
Had Huo Boyan arrived?
The chit-chatters scurried off. Zhu Ran pulled his feet up onto the chair, praying Huo Boyan wouldn’t spot him.
Unfortunately, what he feared came to pass. The next moment, a cool voice sounded from above: “Zhu Ran.”
Their eyes met, and Zhu Ran inexplicably felt guilty. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop—it was passive on his part—but hearing such old family dirt still embarrassed him.
“Mr. Huo…” Zhu Ran explained awkwardly. “I was here first. I didn’t mean to listen in.”
Huo Boyan said nothing. He strode in behind the screen on long legs. The space was cramped, and the tall man’s imposing frame nearly filled it entirely. As he closed the distance, an intense pressure bore down.
Zhu Ran hugged his knees on the chair amid the cloying cake scent, catching the crisp woody fragrance unique to Huo Boyan—like a pervasive mist or an icy downpour.
“Huo Boyan.” Zhu Ran blurted out the full name in his tension.
Huo Boyan lowered his gaze and gave a faint “Mm,” without stopping his approach. They were so close now that Zhu Ran could clearly make out the swell of chest muscle beneath Huo Boyan’s suit.
The realization mortified Zhu Ran. He turned his face away, only to see Huo Boyan brace a hand against the wall. The green watch on his wrist caught the light like a cat’s deep, enigmatic eye.
