Regarding the fact that he constantly dreamed of Fu Chi, Ji Chen maintained an almost numb mentality. Therefore, when he was kissed, he did not offer any resistance. Since it was just a dream anyway, he might as well be cooperative and let the dream end sooner.
As his breathing gradually grew tense, Ji Chen realized something was wrong.
Regaining his sobriety step by step, he realized that he was currently on an airplane, and right now he was…
What should he do?
Should he throw the person off and throw a tantrum, making a laughingstock of himself in front of everyone, or should he pretend that this was just a dream?
His eyeballs moved back and forth beneath the sleep mask, and Fu Chi knew immediately that Ji Chen had already woken up. Seeing that the person did not retaliate right away, he guessed the young master’s mentality of not wanting to lose face.
This exact point happened to strike his point of excitement, since secretly kissing someone and having both parties aware of it were entirely two different matters.
After the collision of restraint and unbridled impulse, when Ji Chen truly reached his limit and was about to explode, Fu Chi pulled away. If not for the fact that he was covered all over in the other’s scent, he would have thought that moment had truly been a dream.
Leaving the sleep mask on, Ji Chen had no idea how to handle this absurd relationship, so he simply chose to ignore it and tried to pretend that nothing had changed at all.
The plane landed in the Golden Horn, and the group queued up to disembark. Ji Chen maintained a calm expression, yet he subconsciously avoided Fu Chi’s gaze.
They landed at a private airstrip, and people were already there to pick them up right as they touched down, looking very much like locally prominent figures.
Fu Xi came over to introduce the situation: “This is the Lin family of the Golden Horn, who run the jadeite business here. Most of the Fu family’s raw stones are procured from them. The current head of the family is over seventy years old, named Lin Si, though outsiders generally address him as Elder Lin.”
Ji Chen nodded: “So this trip of ours means we are buying raw stones directly from the Lin family?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
The two conflicting answers, coming one after the other, made Ji Chen look at Fu Chi, who had said no.
Fu Chi stated matter-of-factly: “Where I am taking you is an emerging force in the Golden Horn recently called the Dark Assembly. Their raw stone prices are much lower than the Lin family’s.”
“Elder Lin has been in this industry for decades, having already established scale and a partial monopoly. He is shrewd and cunning. It is practically impossible for Young Master Ji to take advantage there.”
Fu Xi was the first to jump out in objection: “Fu Chi, have you lost your mind? The Golden Horn is not Beijing. The so-called Dark Assembly is just a group of people from humble backgrounds who took advantage of Elder Lin’s old age to form a mixed, rising faction.”
“Young Master Ji’s status is right here. If you take him to the Dark Assembly and something goes wrong, will you be able to shoulder the responsibility, or will the Fu family?”
Fu Chi said unconcernedly: “That is why I said not to let you come, but you insisted on following along anyway. What can I do? Where we go does not seem to be something you can decide either; I am simply helping Young Master Ji find the optimal choice.”
Everyone’s gaze converged on Ji Chen. After thinking for a moment, Ji Chen said: “Landing on the Lin family’s turf and not even saying hello is not quite right. Fu Xi, didn’t you come here to negotiate business with Elder Lin? You go to the Lin family alone, and the rest of us will go check out the Dark Assembly.”
Fu Xi’s expression changed slightly, and just as he wanted to speak, Ji Chen added: “Rest assured, nothing will happen. No matter how you look at it, your older brother does not look like someone trying to get himself killed.”
“Besides, if something really does go wrong, not a single one of you will be able to escape. We are all tied to the same rope, so why create unpleasantness? You still have to bear a little risk when associating with me.”
Zhou Qing couldn’t help chiming in: “Why don’t you ever bring bodyguards when you go out? Every time I see you, you are always by yourself.”
Ji Chen curled his lips: “You asked a good question. First, I do not like having people trailing behind me and listening in when I go to the restroom. Second, you guys are my bodyguards.”
“You are bullying people too much,” Zhou Qing said with a puffed-up face.
Ji Chen was in a great mood: “What is wrong with bullying people? I am Ji Chen, after all; being pampered is my default state. You just happened to have a pretty face that caught the eye of those bastards.”
“They are not stupid; they just do not take you seriously. Once the novelty wears off, you will regret your own reckless behavior. Tsk tsk, you should thank that time you bumped into me and passed out for leaving an impression on this young master. Lucky girl.”
After dropping these utterly arrogant words, the person turned around and walked away.
His silvery-white hair caught the light, and his relaxed, casual posture made him look like the most decadent flower in the human world, wantonly swaying its petals while looking down upon ordinary mortals.
Ji Chen possessed the aristocratic elegance poured into him by high status and the luxurious flamboyance built by wealth, yet unexpectedly, it gave off no corrupt or repulsive vibe. Instead, it presented a pure hue, natural both inside and out.
And this very trait inevitably excited certain items with twisted motives, tempting them to stain this color with other hues.
A turbulent storm raged deep within Fu Chi’s eyes, though his expression remained wave-less. He took a few steps to catch up with Ji Chen, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with him while muttering something, to which Ji Chen replied off and on.
The backs of the two figures looked exceptionally harmonious, or rather, it was Fu Chi who deliberately lowered his posture to make the two of them look so harmonious.
Cheng Cong and Beishang exchanged glances, and the emotion in each other’s eyes turned out to be an identical trace of sympathy, though exactly whom they were sympathizing with remained unknown.
Just after putting on airs at the private airport, Ji Chen found himself panting and running for his life on the streets of the Golden Horn as night fell.
Ahead was a narrow alleyway maze. The person pulling him along exerted a strong force, choosing one specific alley to hide in, and pinned him against the cold brick wall.
Fu Chi teased right beside his ear: “The little young master cannot run anymore? Do you want me to carry you on my back? Try begging me.”
Ji Chen was still gasping heavily for air. Running for so long had indeed exhausted his pampered body to the point of misery, but his mouth refused to yield in the slightest.
“Fu Chi, did you anticipate that something would happen long ago? Otherwise, why would you have dragged this young master up in the middle of the night? You dare to drag this young master into danger, I think you do not want to—”
Before he could finish his sentence, his chin was gripped, forcing his mouth shut.
In the dim alleyway where only outlines could be distinguished, the aura of gentle warmth that Fu Chi wore during the day vanished completely, replaced by overwhelming dominance.
He whispered softly in his ear: “Shh, did you hear those footsteps? The pursuers are coming.”
Ji Chen held his breath and sure enough heard footsteps drawing closer and closer, and then his lips were sealed.
Damn it, this bastard was betting on the fact that he would not dare to struggle right now.
How on earth did things end up like this? It all started right after he finished putting on airs and left the airport.
At that time, the Lin family’s receptionists had already arrived, but only Fu Xi got into the car. Naturally, they didn’t mention going to the Dark Assembly, merely claiming that they were new to the Golden Horn and wanted to wander around on their own.
Since the people picking them up weren’t Elder Lin himself, they naturally didn’t dare to insist on anything. After leaving the airport, the group found a decent hotel to check into.
Having spent half a day on a plane and then tossing about to reach the hotel, it was roughly five or six in the afternoon. None of them had much energy to sightsee, so they simply ate dinner together and returned to their respective rooms to rest.
In the dead of night, Ji Chen, who was fast asleep, had his mouth covered and was abruptly startled awake by a tall figure looming in the darkness. If not for the familiar exotic fragrance, he would have thought he had encountered a kidnapper.
Seeing that Ji Chen seemed to recognize him and wasn’t making a fuss or struggling, Fu Chi looked thoroughly pleased.
He picked Ji Chen up entirely, grabbed the clothes off the clothes rack, and fled, slipping into another vacant room. Through the peephole, Ji Chen clearly saw a group of people marching straight into his room.