Chapter 58 Part 1

Last night, Zhu Ran had tangled with Huo Boyan all night long, and he felt like he had only closed his eyes at dawn. He had not slept for long when he heard a rustling sound. Huo Boyan emerged from the walk-in closet dressed in a suit, full of energy without a trace of fatigue.

“Huo Boyan…” Zhu Ran opened his mouth to call out, his voice hoarse enough to nearly crack.

Huo Boyan kissed his forehead and said, “I’m heading out for a bit. You keep sleeping.”

Zhu Ran glanced at his phone—6:30 a.m. Even the chickens weren’t up this early. He mumbled and turned over, hugging Huo Boyan’s waist. “Do you have to work so early?”

Huo Boyan replied, “I’ve been pretty busy lately. It’ll ease up in a while.”

Zhu Ran obediently let go, then tilted his head up toward Huo Boyan with his eyes still closed—a pose begging for a kiss.

Huo Boyan didn’t dare go deep; he just nipped once and released him.

Only then did Zhu Ran satisfactorily burrow back into the covers, mumbling incoherently for Huo Boyan to stay safe.

Huo Boyan agreed and left quietly. But Zhu Ran couldn’t fall back asleep. He had something weighing on his mind and tossed restlessly, so he simply got out of bed.

The morning news reported that a super typhoon had made landfall in the Philippines, causing casualties, and was continuing to move toward the South China Coast. To prepare for the typhoon, the Special Administrative Region had activated its emergency incident monitoring and support center.

Zhu Ran looked outside. Victoria Harbour was calm and peaceful, with no signs of the typhoon. His flight was in the next few days; he hoped it wouldn’t be delayed.

In the morning, Huo Junlin finally replied to him. Last night, he had sent a single “Sorry,” and this morning came another abrupt message: “I’m leaving.”

Zhu Ran: Where are you going?

Huo Junlin glanced at Huo Boyan beside him, too embarrassed to reply.

Ever since he learned the inside story of their parents’ car accident, he had wanted to do something for his big brother, but Huo Boyan never treated him like an adult and kept him from any internal information.

It was only half a month ago that Huo Zhixiao suddenly started trying to win him over, getting people to say all sorts of things to drive a wedge between him and Huo Boyan. Huo Junlin was a die-hard fan of Infernal Affairs, and in a flash of inspiration, he decided to play along—pretend to betray Huo Boyan and infiltrate Huo Zhixiao’s camp to dig up inside info for his brother.

Yesterday, he had put on an elaborate act, and in the end, it even felt real. He liked Zhu Ran so much, yet Zhu Ran was with his big brother! He was truly heartbroken!

Huo Junlin had cried his eyes out red in Huo Zhixiao’s car. Though embarrassing, his sincerity had moved Huo Zhixiao. Unfortunately, before he could make his move, that afternoon his brother had summoned him to the study and given him a thorough scolding—Huo Boyan had seen right through him as a double agent!

Huo Junlin had no face left to stay in the country and suggested going abroad himself.

It was too humiliating; he didn’t dare tell Zhu Ran and even told his brother not to mention it.

So Huo Junlin replied coolly: Big Brother is taking me to the airport.

But in Zhu Ran’s ears, it sounded like Huo Boyan had forcibly sent Huo Junlin out of the country, completely shattering their brotherly bond.

Zhu Ran had planned to talk with Huo Junlin today. If Huo Junlin truly harbored resentment because of him and Huo Boyan, he could at least try to mend things.

But he hadn’t expected Huo Boyan to act so quickly, shipping Huo Junlin out of the country at the crack of dawn…

Zhu Ran set down his phone, overwhelmed by a strong sense of powerlessness.

He thought, maybe it wasn’t because of him. Huo Boyan and Huo Junlin had such a deep bond—would they really break over an outsider like him? Zhu Ran didn’t believe it.

But what else could it be? Sending him away to lie low didn’t make sense either. Even Zhu Ran and Wang Ruyun were fine; Huo Boyan wouldn’t fail to protect his own brother.

Zhu Ran recalled Huo Boyan’s expression last night when he saw the phone, and his reactions the previous times Huo Junlin came up. Huo Boyan hadn’t said it outright, but he clearly wasn’t thrilled. Huo Junlin was straightforward, hot-tempered, and impulsive—he might have messed up in a moment of rashness.

Zhu Ran covered his face, not daring to think further.

He muddled through until noon in a daze when Huo Boyan video-called. Afraid Huo Boyan would notice something off, Zhu Ran quickly hid under the covers.

Huo Boyan didn’t spot anything unusual and said warmly, “Still sleeping?”

Zhu Ran was shocked by his calm but pretended to have just woken up, mumbling a vague “Mm.”

Huo Boyan reminded him to eat and said he was busy lately, so Zhu Ran should tell the cook auntie whatever he wanted.

Zhu Ran wasn’t paying attention at all, just focused on fooling Huo Boyan without slipping up. He agreed to everything, coaxed him, and finally ended the call.

In the president’s office, Huo Boyan hung up, and the smile vanished from his face.

Zhu Ran had lied.

Zhu Ran’s fitness tracker was linked to his phone, and the data showed Zhu Ran had been in a high-stress state all morning.

“Boss,” Chen Jiaming reminded him, “the legal team is waiting in the conference room.”

Huo Boyan hesitated but still headed there. He asked Chen Jiaming, “Grandpa still hasn’t budged?”

Chen Jiaming looked embarrassed and nodded. “He doesn’t know we have evidence. He thinks as long as he doesn’t yield, we can’t charge Huo Zhixiao with murder.”

A mocking smile appeared on Huo Boyan’s face. Coldly, he said, “If he wants to be an accomplice, then give him the best nursing home.”