Chapter 43 Part 1

Huo Boyan’s words were simply absurd—slander, rumors!

Zhu Ran wanted to refute them seriously, but at that moment, his entire face was flushed red. Those righteous words of rejection simply refused to come out no matter what.

Before he could even recover, the car had already stopped under the massive Chanel logo at the Peninsula Hotel. A uniformed staff member opened the door for him, and Zhu Ran missed his last chance to respond.

A manager in a suit led them into the restaurant and seated them at a spot with a view of the Kromando Screen.

The restaurant’s ambiance was elegant and exquisite, with dreamlike crystal chandeliers, pristine white tablecloths adorned with fresh flowers and candles, and pure silver cutlery reflecting a soft glow. It had a beauty reminiscent of an economic boom.

But Zhu Ran was somewhat absent-minded. He was still immersed in Huo Boyan’s earlier words, thinking with a mix of envy and jealousy: Why could Huo Boyan say he liked him so straightforwardly? Didn’t he feel ashamed or afraid of getting hurt? And did Huo Boyan really like him as much as he claimed?

But more importantly… did he like Huo Boyan?

Not just physical attraction, momentary gratitude, or a brief soul resonance in some instant. Beyond that impulse, Zhu Ran felt there should be something more intense, more enduring—something capable of withstanding the long years.

Zhu Ran tried to think it through, but he couldn’t reach a conclusion. He didn’t believe he could achieve it either. His parents’ failed marriage made him fear any intimate relationship. He could fall into romance briefly, but he couldn’t sustain a relationship long-term.

Just like now—he could occasionally dine at a high-end restaurant, have a romantic date with Huo Boyan. But Zhu Ran also understood that life couldn’t stay like this forever. Beyond the romance, there would be clashes, friction, ugliness, cold shoulders, even resentment. He couldn’t imagine himself turning ugly in love.

The band started a new round of performance, and servers brought out exquisite dishes and drinks one after another. Zhu Ran ate while politely chatting with Huo Boyan about trivial topics. He tried hard not to ruin the mood, but his gaze kept drifting.

This was good enough for now. He didn’t want things with Huo Boyan to reach an irreversible point.

“Is the food not to your taste?” Huo Boyan suddenly asked.

Zhu Ran hadn’t expected even his distraction to be noticed. He quickly gathered his thoughts and shook his head guiltily. “No, it’s delicious.”

Huo Boyan didn’t press further, and the surroundings fell quiet instantly, leaving only the soft music.

Zhu Ran swallowed his food without tasting it. He tried to say something to ease the atmosphere but couldn’t find a suitable topic.

If it had been their first meeting, they might have chatted like new couples—awkward, curious, drawing closer. But they were too familiar now. They’d done so many things together; it was hard to start over with small talk about habits or hobbies.

Dinner ended faster than expected. Zhu Ran looked worried, and the heartfelt childhood dreams Huo Boyan had imagined didn’t happen.

They had a very unromantic dinner in a very romantic restaurant. Zhu Ran’s mood sank, and he finally realized he’d ruined everything. He shouldn’t have thought about those sad things—at least not while dining with Huo Boyan.

Back in the car, Zhu Ran noticed the fresh-cut roses’ fragrance had faded, and even the flowers looked less vibrant than in the morning.

Zhu Ran sat dazedly in the back seat, wilting like the bouquet. He spiraled into self-blame, even starting to loathe himself, thinking haphazardly that he really couldn’t handle intimate relationships after all. Being alone was better.

“What’s in your bag?” Huo Boyan suddenly asked.

Zhu Ran then remembered the gift. He perked up, handed the bag to Huo Boyan, and said, “This is a thank-you gift I prepared for you. Thanks for that incident last time.”

Huo Boyan opened the bag to find two exquisitely packaged boxes. He picked one up and asked, “Can I open it?”

The request was too reasonable; Zhu Ran couldn’t refuse.

Huo Boyan opened the box in front of him. Inside was a gold tie clip—slim and long, with a retro, elegant pattern, no excess decoration. Zhu Ran had chosen it based on Huo Boyan’s usual style.

Huo Boyan examined the tie clip for a moment and smiled. “I don’t have one like this. Can you put it on for me?”

Zhu Ran was a bit surprised. “But you’re wearing a gray suit.”

Huo Boyan rarely wore cool tones; he preferred warm colors, which paired better with gold or rich jewels for harmony. That’s why Zhu Ran had picked the gold tie clip.

But today, he wore a gray-white ensemble—much cooler and more ascetic, better suited to silver or platinum accessories.

“No problem,” Huo Boyan said. “I want to try it.”

Zhu Ran said “oh” and reached for the tie clip to attach it for him. The distance closed suddenly, and he caught the faint scent of alcohol on Huo Boyan.

Wait—Zhu Ran finally realized belatedly: Couldn’t Huo Boyan try it himself? Why ask him to do it?

Zhu Ran paused and looked up at Huo Boyan. The latter gazed down at him calmly. “Any problem?”

Zhu Ran blinked, then shook his head. “Nothing.”

He clipped the gold tie clip onto Huo Boyan’s tie. It did look a bit off, but since Huo Boyan insisted, Zhu Ran didn’t say anything.

Huo Boyan seemed very satisfied and opened the second gift box.

“Perfume?” Huo Boyan was surprised and looked up at Zhu Ran. “What made you think of this one?”