Zhu Ran didn’t dare believe the sweet words, and he knew pushing Huo Boyan away was the better choice. But this embrace was just too warm. Huo Boyan’s solid, powerful arms held Zhu Ran tightly, as if Zhu Ran were someone extremely important to him.
Zhu Ran had never experienced this kind of being valued and cherished. He immersed himself in the sense of security brought by the slight suffocation, yet he also felt himself to be truly despicable, taking advantage of Huo Boyan’s tolerance toward him.
The embrace lasted a long time, with neither willing to separate easily. Until they gradually dissipated their sadness, pain, and other negative emotions, and in their intimate closeness, something called desire was born.
Zhu Ran reacted first, retreating a step in some panic.
Huo Boyan was a bit slower. At this moment, he didn’t seem to realize the seriousness of the issue, his hands still firmly holding Zhu Ran’s lower back and nape. Zhu Ran had barely pulled away when Huo Boyan pressed him back.
Their two bodies collided heavily.
Zhu Ran could no longer ignore it and couldn’t help protesting, “Huo Boyan, why are you like this…”
He should have been fiercer, but as soon as the words left his mouth, they changed tone, as if he were flirting.
Huo Boyan finally realized it belatedly. His body stiffened for a moment, and he released Zhu Ran, saying, “Sorry, I…”
He tried to say something to indicate he wasn’t that casual, that the earlier situation was just an accident, and he wasn’t coveting Zhu Ran’s beauty. But when the words reached his lips, they felt like excuses. He had indeed developed desire for Zhu Ran.
Huo Boyan was uncharacteristically at a loss for words. He reached up to cover his eyes, a flush appearing on his ears.
The two who had been intimately close suddenly separated, with an entire office desk between them.
Outside the glass door, employees were still working overtime, their voices and the clacking of keyboards occasionally drifting in. In such a formal setting, their earlier impulsiveness seemed even more unreasonable.
Huo Boyan turned his back to Zhu Ran and took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.
But he had overestimated his self-control—or perhaps the instigator was only an arm’s length away. Zhu Ran’s breathing, body heat, the warm touch of his skin, the fingers gripping the desk edge a bit forcefully, and the skin behind his ear exposed as he turned away—all stimulated him to misbehave, to throw caution to the wind.
In his nearly thirty years of life, Huo Boyan had always been calm and self-possessed. He had never imagined he could be so easily aroused by someone.
He resisted repeatedly, failed several times, and finally gave up, only hoping Zhu Ran wouldn’t notice.
Zhu Ran waited with his back to Huo Boyan for a long time. As a man himself, he could understand the other’s impulse, so he considerately turned around, giving Huo Boyan ample time to compose himself.
Several minutes passed like this. Zhu Ran felt enough time had elapsed and turned back to glance at Huo Boyan.
The latter sat upright at the desk, his posture straight, expression calm, with no trace of the earlier awkwardness.
Zhu Ran cleared his throat before speaking. “Huo Boyan, can I ask a question?”
Huo Boyan’s tone was extremely calm. “Of course.”
Zhu Ran: “What will happen to Zhu Yanqing?”
Huo Boyan was silent for a moment before saying, “It could be a big deal or small, depending. I haven’t handled it yet.”
This answer didn’t make Zhu Ran any happier. Perhaps because he himself didn’t have a clear answer, he was probing Huo Boyan’s reaction.
“I’m saying this not to threaten you or make you compromise. I just really haven’t figured it out.” Huo Boyan paused, a hint of hesitation appearing in his usually calm gaze. “Anything involving you, I want to handle more cautiously.”
Zhu Ran stared fixedly at Huo Boyan, feeling somewhat moved, yet also thinking Huo Boyan was truly infuriating—always targeting his weak spots!
Huo Boyan’s heart softened. He reached out to ruffle Zhu Ran’s hair and continued, “If you have any ideas, you can tell me too. I’ll try to accommodate them.”
“I do.” Zhu Ran nodded.
Huo Boyan wasn’t surprised and said calmly, “Go ahead.”
But Zhu Ran hesitated. Under Huo Boyan’s gaze, his face visibly reddened, and he murmured almost inaudibly, “Huo Boyan, can I hug you again?”
Huo Boyan was stunned, never expecting such a request.
Zhu Ran felt awkward too. Words like that were hard to say, and Huo Boyan’s astonishment made him want to back out. He took a step back and said, “Forget it, never mind…”
Before he finished, Huo Boyan had already pulled him into his arms.
Zhu Ran was initially stunned. When he reacted, he reached out to hug Huo Boyan and obediently closed his eyes.
Huo Boyan was like an oversized teddy bear—broad shoulders, slightly high body temperature, pleasant scent… No matter how many times, such an embrace never grew tiresome for Zhu Ran.
