Huo Boyan countered, “Can you fall asleep?”
Zhu Ran: “…”
He really couldn’t. Zhu Ran had chronic insomnia, and too many events during the day only worsened it. He kept melatonin on hand, but lately, even that had lost much of its effect from overuse.
“Are you home?” Huo Boyan asked suddenly.
“Yeah.”
“Wait half an hour. I’ll come find you.”
Huo Boyan hung up, leaving Zhu Ran alone in bed, staring blankly at his phone.
Huo Boyan was coming to find him? What for?
Zhu Ran scrambled out of bed, rushed to the bathroom to splash water on his face, tried to tame his messy bedhead, and debated changing clothes to go out.
Wait—while picking outfits in front of the mirror, Zhu Ran suddenly froze. Why was he caring so much just because Huo Boyan was coming?
Twenty minutes later, a low-key black sedan pulled up downstairs. Zhu Ran went down in the night.
He’d smoothed down his sticking-up hair, wore a headset around his neck, dressed in simple but stylish clothes with his favorite shoes. Feeling it was too plain before leaving, he’d added a necklace and the bracelet, then headed down satisfied.
A silver Ferrari 812 was parked on the roadside. Huo Boyan sat in the driver’s seat and turned to ask where Zhu Ran wanted to go.
“Where to?” Zhu Ran settled into the passenger seat and shook his head. “I thought you needed me for something.”
“Sort of,” Huo Boyan smiled faintly. “My mission tonight is to cheer you up.”
Huo Boyan usually exuded a gentlemanly, refined air, but this smile carried a hint of mischief, diluting his upright demeanor. In the dim night, he resembled a playboy luring an innocent kid.
Zhu Ran’s heart inexplicably quickened, and he grew wary.
He figured Huo Boyan was too flawless—worried the ordeals had left psychological scars, so he was overwriting them with happy memories, even willing to sell his looks to do it.
Half-joking, half-serious, Zhu Ran said, “I’m already pretty happy right now.”
Huo Boyan paused, then laughed again, his tone gentle almost to the point of indulgence. “Zhu Ran, you’re way too easy to please.”
Zhu Ran smiled without replying. Huo Boyan named a few spots and asked if he’d like to check them out.
The nightlife of the wealthy inevitably involved lavish indulgence and extravagance.
Sensing Zhu Ran’s hesitation, Huo Boyan asked, “Don’t like any of them?”
Zhu Ran was quiet for a moment, then nodded.
As a kid, he’d watched plenty of Hong Kong movies, but what drew him wasn’t the glitz and glamour of Hong Kong Island—it was the lively street scenes full of everyday charm. Narrow alleys, hilly slopes, quirky little shops lining the way—close to real life, yet brimming with stories around every corner.
Huo Boyan raised a brow. “Looks like you’ve got an idea.”
Zhu Ran nodded bluntly. “I want to go on a city walk.” He added, “And I hope you’ll introduce the surroundings in Cantonese.”
“Sure,” Huo Boyan agreed readily. As he drove down the hill, he added, “But do you even understand it?”
Zhu Ran huffed. “Whether I understand is my business.”
Following Zhu Ran’s directions, Huo Boyan drove to the Central Staunton Street area and started strolling from Luk Yu Tea House.
The tea house was still open. Huo Boyan asked if Zhu Ran wanted to eat there.
Zhu Ran had been there for morning tea with Song Xingchen before—the food was decent, but the prices were steep. They’d griped on the way out about how easy it was to fleece hipsters and sworn never to be suckers again.
Now, hearing Huo Boyan suggest it, Zhu Ran instinctively shook his head.
Huo Boyan: “I’ll treat.”
Zhu Ran hesitated. Huo Boyan added, “I haven’t eaten dinner yet.”
Zhu Ran relented. “Fine, I’ll keep you company inside.”
Huo Boyan was recognized, and the server led them to a private room on the first floor, politely bringing two menus.
They only took orders at night. Zhu Ran glanced over—the prices were even higher than morning tea.
He snapped the menu shut and stood. “On second thought, I’ll wait outside.”
Huo Boyan looked up. “Sit down.”
It was just a casual phrase, not even stern, but when Huo Boyan’s gaze swept over faintly, Zhu Ran instinctively wanted to obey.
Bewildered, he stopped, then grumbled reluctantly, “I just want to wait outside.”
Huo Boyan smiled at him. “How would you wait for me out there?”
Zhu Ran: “I can wander around first.”
Huo Boyan closed his menu and stood. “Alright then, let’s go. We won’t eat here.”
Zhu Ran blinked, feeling like Huo Boyan was giving him attitude. He muttered, “Liar. You said you’d cheer me up…”
Huo Boyan seemed surprised and paused to look at him. “Didn’t you say you didn’t like it?”
Zhu Ran: “…”
“Zhu Ran, look up at me.” Huo Boyan pressed lightly on the back of his neck, forcing his gaze up.
Zhu Ran hated the gesture and frowned. “What are you doing?”
Huo Boyan released him and said calmly, “If you’re unhappy, say so. Tell me your thoughts directly. How am I supposed to know what you’re thinking if you don’t say anything?”
Huo Boyan’s elder-like authority stunned Zhu Ran, but then he thought—Huo Boyan wasn’t his elder. Why should he listen?
Feeling defiant, Zhu Ran shot back, “Then why did you suddenly decide to leave?”
Huo Boyan glanced at him. “Because you mentioned this restaurant first. I assumed you wanted to come, so I suggested eating here. But once inside, I saw you didn’t like it, so I decided to go.”
Zhu Ran paused. “That’s what happened?”
Huo Boyan: “What did you think it was?”
Zhu Ran fell silent.
Huo Boyan sighed, looking troubled. “Still not willing to tell me?”
Zhu Ran was still hesitant, but he sensed that the other man’s attitude wasn’t feigned, so he explained, “I thought you were upset and deliberately blew the issue out of proportion. Leaving was meant to force me to back down and admit I was wrong.”
Huo Boyan was taken aback, clearly not expecting that answer. He quickly shook his head. “You misunderstood me. That’s not what I meant at all. I just wanted to switch to a place you’d actually like.”
Zhu Ran still wasn’t entirely sure if Huo Boyan was being sincere, but he couldn’t see any reason why the man would lie about something like this.
He was probably just being too sensitive.
Zhu Ran slowly let out a breath. “Let’s just eat here, then.”
Huo Boyan gave him a disapproving look. “No need to force yourself.”
Zhu Ran finally spoke the truth. “…I’m not forcing myself. I just think it’s too expensive.”
Huo Boyan froze, evidently caught off guard by the reason. Then he beamed happily. “Good boy. But next time, don’t try to save my money.”
Good boy…
What kind of nonsense was that? How could Huo Boyan just say whatever came to mind?
Zhu Ran’s face grew warm as he shot back, “I’m saving money for myself.”
Huo Boyan merely raised an eyebrow noncommittally.
Zhu Ran realized how that could be misinterpreted and hurriedly added, “I mean, I…” He trailed off, unable to articulate it properly, and said in annoyance, “Anyway, I’m not going to be the sucker here.”
“I get it,” Huo Boyan said. He pulled out the chair for Zhu Ran again and smiled. “I’m the fool with too much money. I’m happy to play the sucker.”
