Chapter 27 Part 1

Zhu Ran felt like dying a little.

He had wanted to explain that the server had led him inside, but he worried Huo Boyan would take it out on the staff, so he swallowed the grievance and mumbled an apology in defeat.

Huo Boyan shook his head and said, “It was my fault for not checking the messages in time. I should have met you at the door.”

That was at least something resembling human speech, and Zhu Ran felt a bit better.

Huo Boyan studied Zhu Ran’s expression and asked, “Did anyone bully you?”

That surge of aggrievement welled up in Zhu Ran again, but admitting it outright was too humiliating. He didn’t want to seem incompetent, as if he couldn’t manage without Huo Boyan’s protection. Zhu Ran shook his head and said, “Just a lot of people hitting on me, but I turned them all down.”

Huo Boyan let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. He ruffled the back of Zhu Ran’s head and said in a praising tone, “You did well.”

Zhu Ran’s contrarian streak flared up, but when he saw Huo Boyan’s expression, he couldn’t muster any harsh words. Instead, he swatted the hand away with his arm and said irritably, “I told you not to touch my head.”

Huo Boyan chuckled indifferently, then leaned down to say something to Chen Jiaming beside him. Chen Jiaming nodded and left. Huo Boyan accompanied Zhu Ran into the adjacent hall. Inside was a small casino, more private and luxurious than the one downstairs, but it didn’t seem open to the public—only one table of people playing cards.

Huo Boyan told Zhu Ran, “I was just here playing cards the whole time, waiting for you.”

Zhu Ran let out an “oh.” Thinking Huo Boyan was blaming him, he said coolly, “Sorry, my bad. I misunderstood you.”

“Zhu Ran,” Huo Boyan gripped his wrist, speaking slowly and firmly, “What I mean is, I wouldn’t take you to a place like that. And I wouldn’t let anyone treat you that way.”

Zhu Ran froze, falling silent. He looked into Huo Boyan’s worried eyes and the slightly urgent tone of his voice. Suddenly, Zhu Yanqing’s words from before flashed through his mind.

Huo Boyan saw him as a corporate spy, on guard against him. He’d never treated him as a friend—or anything more—and certainly wouldn’t treat him well.

Was the worry in Huo Boyan’s eyes real now? Or was it just another act?

Zhu Ran prided himself on reading people. He’d honed the skill of quickly positioning himself in a crowd, then donning the perfect social mask to stay comfortable. But now, he realized he couldn’t read Huo Boyan at all.

He didn’t fully trust Zhu Yanqing, but he also felt Huo Boyan wasn’t being completely honest with him. Unfortunately, there were too many people around; it wasn’t the right time to talk.

Zhu Ran slowly exhaled and said calmly, “I understand.”

It wasn’t the reaction Huo Boyan had hoped for. He let go somewhat disappointedly but didn’t move too far, staying close enough that their shoulders occasionally brushed. As they passed a row of varied gaming tables, he asked, “Want to play anything?”

Zhu Ran only knew how to play Landlord and his idea of a casino came from Hong Kong movies, so he shook his head.

Inside the room, some people were playing Texas Hold’em. The banker was a young man in a light-colored suit. When he saw Zhu Ran, he sized him up for two seconds and smiled. “You’re Zhu Ran?”

The man had a very approachable look and spoke politely. Though Zhu Ran didn’t recognize him, he greeted him courteously.

“I’m Liang Ziqian, Huo Boyan’s good friend.” The man’s smile deepened as he stood and extended his right hand to Zhu Ran. “Professionally, I’m a doctor. If you get sick, feel free to contact me. Of course, I hope you never need to.”

You don’t hit a smiling face, so Zhu Ran shook hands with him and found a business card pressed into his palm. He glanced up at Huo Boyan, unsure if he should accept it.

“Take it,” Huo Boyan said. “His family runs hospitals. You can go to him for any relatives or friends who need medical care.”

Zhu Ran didn’t think he’d need it—he wasn’t local and unlikely to come to Hong Kong Island specifically for treatment. But since it was offered kindly, he pocketed the card with a thank you.

“Play cards?” Liang Ziqian asked again.

“He doesn’t play,” Huo Boyan said. “He’s here to find me.”

Liang Ziqian drew out an “ohhh” and winked at Chen Jiaming nearby. “So your boss called me here to play cards as an excuse? Jia Ming, should we step out to give you two some privacy?”

Chen Jiaming shook his head, his expression serious. “President Liang, I don’t think so.”

Liang Ziqian laughed until his eyes crinkled. “Really?”

Huo Boyan ignored his theatrics and led Zhu Ran into the adjacent private room.

The room had a luxurious retro vibe, with an old-money capitalist dark tone overall. The dim lighting amplified the style. Though it was a casino lounge, there was a bookshelf nearby stocked with thick foreign-language tomes, as if that made it cultured.

Beside the bookshelf was a window draped in red velvet curtains that reached the floor. In front sat two black leather armchairs with a small tea table between them, holding exquisite pastries and teas.

“Sit,” Huo Boyan said, settling into one chair. He asked Zhu Ran, “Want something to drink?”

Zhu Ran shook his head again. He lowered his eyelashes, the warm yellow light spilling over his porcelain-pale face, making him look preoccupied. At the same time, his hands on his knees slowly clenched into fists, as if steeling himself for something major.

Huo Boyan pulled out a cigarette and bit down on it without lighting it.

Zhu Ran knew Huo Boyan was holding back because he was there, judging by the faint scent. If he were sensible, he should say, “Go ahead and smoke; it’s fine.” If even more obedient, he could light it for him.

But Zhu Ran did nothing. He suddenly turned into an antisocial guinea pig, staring blankly at some point in midair.

Someone outside seemed impatient and shouted in Cantonese for Huo Boyan to come play cards. Huo Boyan lazily said no. Liang Ziqian egged him on to bring Zhu Ran along.