But Zhu Ran just stood there, unable to muster any appropriate response.
His thousand faces seemed to fail him then, reverting him to his true self—as introverted and awkward as Wang Ruyun described, hopeless at socializing.
Zhu Ran felt as if facing a great enemy, but Wang Ruyun seemed to have just said it offhand. She casually changed the subject, nagged about daily life matters, and hung up.
Zhu Ran finally breathed again, slowly exhaling as if he’d just endured a mini-interrogation.
He looked down and saw he’d crushed the rose. He muttered “sorry,” snapped off the bloom, and pocketed it to destroy the evidence.
Then he returned the phone to his aunt and said the AC was too cold; he wanted to go outside for some sun.
His cousin looked up. “Want me to come with?”
Zhu Ran smiled and shook his head. “No need. I’ll just walk around nearby.”
Outside, for some reason, Zhu Ran didn’t discard the rose petals in his pocket. In the high heat and humidity, they began to ferment, giving off a rotten stench.
But Zhu Ran didn’t throw them away. He even somewhat enjoyed the decaying odor.
He thought that compared to the dry, rugged north, Hong Kong Island’s year-round wet heat was better suited for both growth and death.
The sun didn’t scorch, but the temperature and humidity were intense. Zhu Ran crossed the shimmering pool and stood on a small hillside overlooking Shallow Water Bay in the distance. The sea sparkled blue, with white yachts docked at the piers.
The weather was too hot; Zhu Ran endured it for a bit before he couldn’t take it anymore, feeling ants crawling on his skin.
As he turned to leave, someone suddenly called his name from behind. Zhu Ran pretended not to hear and strode past the pool.
The person called again, loud enough to draw attention. Zhu Ran had to stop and feign just noticing. “What is it?”
Huo Xitong: “Nothing much. Just want to hang out with you.”
Zhu Ran shook his head. “I need to keep my aunt company at cards.”
“Cards are boring—old people’s stuff,” Huo Xitong winked and grinned. “You’ve got nothing this afternoon. Let me take you for some thrills.”
Zhu Ran sighed helplessly. “Mr. Huo Xitong, I’ve said it before: I’m just an ordinary person. I’m no use to you all. Don’t waste time on me.”
“I just want to hang out with you. I’m not trying to use you,” Huo Xitong looked hurt, then added, “That’s all my dad’s idea. I just want to date you.”
Another one.
Zhu Ran was getting annoyed. Sometimes he wondered if he wouldn’t have all this trouble if he didn’t look like this.
He wanted to reject coldly as usual. But given the man’s status, he couldn’t be too harsh. He had to refuse politely, preserving Huo Xitong’s face to avoid grudges.
“Sorry,” Zhu Ran looked up with a perfectly measured smile. “I really do have something.”
As if to prove it, Huo Junlin suddenly approached and said naturally, “Zhu Ran, what are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you forever.”
Zhu Ran saw Huo Junlin was bailing him out, but he didn’t really want to go with him either. To Zhu Ran, Huo Junlin and Huo Xitong were no different.
“Zhu Ran, let’s go,” Huo Junlin said. Getting no response, he thought Zhu Ran hadn’t gotten it and leaned in to whisper a reminder.
“Who says he’s going with you?” Before Zhu Ran could speak, Huo Xitong saw through Huo Junlin’s bravado and cut in.
That lit the fuse.
They started with verbal sparring, which quickly escalated to physical shoving.
In the chaos, someone bumped Zhu Ran, and with a “splash,” he was pushed into the pool.
Huo Junlin startled and moved to jump in after him, but Zhu Ran didn’t need saving. He surfaced on his own, gripped the edge, and climbed out.
Zhu Ran looked utterly bedraggled—clothes soaked and clinging, hair and phone drenched, seeming easy to bully. But when he lifted his gaze, his expression held an inviolable sharpness.
Huo Junlin and Huo Xitong were both stunned by that look. By the time they snapped out of it, Zhu Ran had already turned and headed indoors.
The two continued arguing behind him—about who pushed Zhu Ran in and who would provide dry clothes.
Zhu Ran didn’t go through the main door; he didn’t want to draw a crowd like this.
Entering a side hall through a side door, a man in a suit came down from the second floor. He jumped when he saw Zhu Ran. “Zhu Ran, what happened to you?”
Zhu Ran: “I accidentally fell into the pool.”
Chen Jiaming glanced at the two Huo family young masters behind him but didn’t press for details. “Want me to get you a change of clothes?”
Zhu Ran hesitated two seconds, then nodded. “Thanks for the trouble.”
Chen Jiaming took him to an empty guest room and brought a set of clean clothes. They looked brand new, no visible brand, but the workmanship and cut were excellent—not cheap.
Zhu Ran handed them back. “Just some old clothes would do. I’ll wash them and return them when I get back.”
Chen Jiaming shook his head. “Mr. Huo told me to give these to you.”
Zhu Ran paused but finally accepted. He thanked Chen Jiaming and took the clothes into the room.
