Chapter 42 Part 3

Huo Boyan employed a large team of elite security personnel: ex-military from abroad, tech hackers, and informants embedded in various industries. The tip about someone targeting him today had come from one of those informants.

Now, escort fleets flanked this Citybus front and back, with a helicopter overhead and professionals securing every major intersection along the route. The setup was airtight—not even a fly could get through.

But just as Ari reached the front of the bus, she spotted a massive truck losing control from the opposite lane, barreling straight toward them!

Zhu Ran sat on the left side, turned to watch the sunset and sea, oblivious to the danger on the other flank.

The truck closed in fast, about to slam into the bus, when two modified off-road vehicles shot out from ahead and behind, unhesitatingly wedging it to a halt.

The bus passed unscathed. Huo Boyan had preemptively slipped noise-canceling earphones over Zhu Ran’s ears, enveloping him in music. Zhu Ran heard nothing, only feeling a brief jolt before the ride smoothed out again.

Zhu Ran wondered why Huo Boyan had given the earphones back and looked up. “Not listening anymore?”

But Huo Boyan shook his head and leaned down to say something.

The noise-canceling earphones blocked all sound, so Zhu Ran heard nothing. He reached to remove them, but Huo Boyan held his ears in place and continued.

Zhu Ran sat there in a daze, ears covered, blinking blankly. “Huo Boyan, what? I can’t hear you.”

Two police cars sped past ahead, sirens wailing long and short echoes over the city.

Only after the accident site was fully out of sight did Huo Boyan release his hand, remove the earphones, and give Zhu Ran a gentle smile.

The smile melted into the dazzling sunset, heating Zhu Ran’s cheeks. He suddenly snapped aggressively, “Huo Boyan, what did you say earlier? Were you cursing me out?”

“How could I?” Huo Boyan smiled. “Actually, I was complimenting you, but I was too shy to let you hear it.”

Smooth talker.

Zhu Ran was not falling for it and feigned disinterest.

The real reason, though, was that he had secretly started the gimbal camera earlier. Its advantages were its small size, quick startup, and silent recording. Photographers knew: capturing the moment mattered more than perfect footage.

And this time, he absolutely would not use the translator in front of Huo Boyan!

Mission accomplished, Zhu Ran stowed the gimbal camera in his bag and casually looked ahead at the scenery.

The weather was exceptionally clear that day, with gloomy clouds dispersed and high visibility in the air. The sunset tinted the glass facades of office buildings, radiating the crisp brilliance unique to coastal cities. After being here so long, Zhu Ran finally appreciated the city’s beauty.

They got off at the Avenue of Stars and transferred to the long Mercedes to head to the French restaurant at the Peninsula Hotel for dinner.

The drive was short, plenty of time for Zhu Ran to export the video and find out what Huo Boyan had said.

Zhu Ran excelled at outward obedience and inward scheming, playing innocent while sneaky. He stole a glance at Huo Boyan, who seemed occupied with work, occasionally speaking Cantonese into his phone, unaware of Zhu Ran’s gaze.

Zhu Ran imported the video to his phone, donned his earphones, hit play—and immediately cringed at how ugly he looked.

This angle was too killer. Back then, the Pocket 3 had been placed on his thigh, and Huo Boyan had been covering his ears. The camera had been blindly activated, so all it captured was pure luck.

Zhu Ran furtively opened the video, praying that Huo Boyan hadn’t spoken in Cantonese—otherwise, he’d have to run it through a translator.

“So cute.” A deep voice rang out.

Zhu Ran immediately looked up, only to find Huo Boyan sitting quietly beside him. The voice was coming from his phone?

But that didn’t seem possible. Huo Boyan’s expression at the time had been utterly serious—not the sort of face that would say something so sappy it made your teeth ache.

Zhu Ran kept playing.

“So cute, I like you so much, so cute, I like you so much. Zhu Ran, how are you this cute? I like you so much.”

Zhu Ran sucked in a sharp breath and slammed the phone screen down.

He looked like a startled kitten, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the man beside him.

The culprit sat quietly next to him, dressed in a meticulously tailored deep gray suit. His posture was elegant and aristocratic, his expression stern as he discussed work, radiating an aloof vibe that screamed no one in the world is good enough for me.

Would a guy like Huo Boyan really spout such mushy, meaningless drivel? It was way too embarrassing—how could he even say it? And yet, the video had recorded it crystal clear…

“Zhu Ran,” Huo Boyan said at some point, setting aside his work and looking up at him with dead seriousness. “If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll start thinking you like me.”