In just a few words, Rong Yichen gave Shen Qingci a rough account of the turmoil he’d faced since returning to the country. Her eyes lit up as she listened, and she was so delighted she could hardly contain herself. She almost slapped her thigh and cheered.
“Oh, wow.” She clicked her tongue twice, her voice full of regret. “I had no idea your life had gotten so eventful and exciting just days after you came back. If I’d known, I would’ve flown back sooner. I could’ve seen the whole show for myself.”
Rong Yichen didn’t answer. He simply reached out and precisely switched on the car’s turn signal.
Shen Qingci froze and tilted her head, puzzled. “What are you doing?”
Rong Yichen’s voice was cold as ice, utterly devoid of warmth. “Making you get out of the car.”
Quick as a flash, Shen Qingci reached over and switched off the signal, then rolled her eyes. “Look at that temper of yours. You’ve really forgotten how we used to risk our lives together, braving swords and seas of fire.” She rubbed her chin, mulling over what Rong Yichen had just said, then abruptly sat up straight. “By the way, this Huo Yan you mentioned—is he the one in charge of the Huo family in the capital now?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn, buddy.” Shen Qingci’s eyes went wide, and she nodded emphatically. “You come back and land yourself a catch that big right away. Isn’t the Huo family the most powerful family in the capital now? They’re the local big shots!”
“Chuangshu is on a par with the Huo family,” Rong Yichen added evenly.
“And Sister Guan is even more impressive,” Shen Qingci said with heartfelt admiration.
“Then date him,” Shen Qingci said, offering her “solution” with an expression that said, “I’m only saying this for your own good.”
Rong Yichen turned his head and raised an eyebrow. “Should I?”
Shen Qingci’s lips curved into a sly, foxlike smile. “Why not? Think about it—after all these years, there’s never been anyone you liked. And however capable the Huo family’s head may be, he’s no match for the two of us when it comes to having no scruples. Once we’ve taken care of what we need to, you can dump him. We can leave the country whenever we want anyway. No one will ever find us.” She paused, then added, “Besides, staying in the capital is so boring. Huo Yan’s great—better than a duck, but not as dirty as one, right?”
Rong Yichen slowly pressed the brake. The car came to a smooth stop at the side of the road. “We’re here.”
Shen Qingci unfastened her seat belt and squirmed around in her seat, looking utterly resigned to her fate. “Ugh, I really don’t want to go to the Shen family’s place. If it weren’t for needing to keep a low profile for the mission, no one in their right mind would set foot in there.”
Rong Yichen gave a quiet laugh, his disdain completely undisguised. “You think I want to go back to the Rong family? They’re all idiots.”
They exchanged a look that said, “We’re both in the same miserable boat,” and instantly arrived at a certain unspoken understanding.
Watching Shen Qingci open the car door and stride into that grand, secluded estate without once looking back, Rong Yichen couldn’t see even a hint of someone trying to keep her head down. She marched in with her chest out and head held high.
Rong Yichen sat in the driver’s seat in silence for several minutes.
Then, as if he’d finally come to terms with himself, a relieved smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He took out his phone and opened his WeChat contacts.
【Yichen Buran】: I’m your boyfriend now.
The message had barely been sent when the reply came almost instantly.
【Huo Yan】: It’s my honor.
Looking at those four characters, a trace of careless amusement unconsciously touched the corners of Rong Yichen’s eyes.
Shen Qingci was right. He could always run off when the time came, and Huo Yan would never find him.
.
On the top floor of Huo Corporation Tower, Huo Yan sat on a leather sofa, his fingertips still resting on his phone screen. The face that was usually cool, stern, and unapproachable now wore the faintest but unmistakable smile. Even the air around him seemed gentler.
Xie Linzhou sat opposite him, looking as if he’d been struck by lightning. Goosebumps covered his skin as he held his teacup and stared straight at Huo Yan. “Bro, are you okay?”
Huo Yan turned off his phone, unable to hide his delight. “Something’s up. I’ve got a boyfriend.”
Xie Linzhou was so shocked he nearly dropped his teacup. “Who?!” Several names flashed through his mind before inspiration suddenly struck. “The second young master of the Rong family who just got back from abroad?”
The smile at the corner of Huo Yan’s mouth deepened. He picked up his teacup and took a small sip without answering, but his tacit admission said everything.
Xie Linzhou suddenly understood. Slapping his thigh, he teased, “Old Huo, Old Huo—he’s barely been back in the country any time at all. You’re robbing the cradle!”
Huo Yan was in such a good mood that he couldn’t be bothered to argue. He let the remark go in one ear and out the other, tapping away cheerfully at the keyboard, keys clicking briskly.
Seeing that Huo Yan wasn’t annoyed, Xie Linzhou changed the subject. “By the way, I heard the Shen family’s eldest daughter is coming back. The capital’s really lively lately.”
Huo Yan ignored him, his eyes on the computer, his thoughts already elsewhere.
Getting no response, Xie Linzhou tried another topic. “Have you heard about the explosion at one of A Group’s satellite bases?”
Huo Yan took a sip of tea and replied calmly, “Yeah. No idea which lunatic did it. They’re probably in for a world of trouble.”
A Group was ruthless. It had grown out of mercenary and assassin groups, and operated on both sides of the law internationally. It had always been an organization no one dared provoke. For someone to dare stir up trouble in its territory now took no small amount of nerve.
Xie Linzhou shrugged, excited at the prospect of more drama. “Looks like there’ll be another show to watch.”
Huo Yan found Xie Linzhou’s idle manner particularly irritating. “Any leads on Dark Night yet?” he asked mildly, taking him down a peg.
Xie Linzhou’s face fell at once. “No. It’s a real pain.”
Xie Linzhou’s frustration put Huo Yan in an even better mood.
.
In the penthouse apartment at Cloudscape, night spilled across the floor-to-ceiling windows, deepening the quiet chill of the room.
Rong Yichen sat curled up cross-legged in a pale gray cashmere sofa, hugging a soft little blue shark that had faded a bit. An ultrathin laptop lay open on his lap, its screen shining with a cold light. His fingers flew over the trackpad as dense webs of personal connections, money flows, and encrypted files flashed across the screen. In the few short days since his return, he’d cast a net and silently drawn in the undercurrents running through the capital. Every lead ultimately pointed to the same name: Sheng Yong.
The second son of Old Master Sheng had spent years overseas, building a multinational medical company from the ground up. He’d always been regarded by the capital’s great families as someone who “kept out of worldly affairs.” Yet the day after the explosion at A Group’s medical base, this supposed “man above worldly concerns” abruptly ended his overseas trip and quietly returned home, offering the public nothing more than a casual, “I’m back for a few days to rest.”
More intriguing still, in several confidential communication records Rong Yichen had hacked into, Sheng Yong was in close contact with core members of the Dark Night Organization. Every encrypted fragment of their conversations reeked of conspiracy.
“Heh.”
A low chuckle broke the silence. Rong Yichen shut his laptop, the metal casing snapping closed with a crisp sound. Leaning back against the sofa, he rubbed his chin, a look of disdain flashing in his eyes.
He’d have to keep investigating.
Otherwise, how could he answer for Teacher Liu’s injuries? Or for the organization members who had died in the explosion? And then there were the important documents stolen from the organization. He would settle that score, piece by piece, with interest.
He set the laptop on the coffee table beside him and picked up his phone, which had vibrated several times. The screen lit up, revealing several conspicuous unread messages. The first was from the boyfriend he’d just “claimed.”
【Huo Yan】: Have you eaten?
【Huo Yan】: Are you free tomorrow? Could we go out for dinner?
There was no unnecessary small talk, no deliberate flattery—just simple, direct concern and an invitation. Rong Yichen stared at the screen for a few seconds. The corners of his lips unconsciously lifted in a faint smile, and even the sharpness in his eyes and brows softened a little.
It wasn’t bad, having someone care about him.
He leisurely tapped the message field and typed out a few words, then sent them.
After closing his chat with Huo Yan, he tapped Shen Qingci’s profile picture. As expected, she’d sent him a dense “essay.” Judging by the length, it was probably several thousand words. He didn’t even need to open it to imagine how much grief she’d gotten from the Shen family, or how she’d been ranting at length about all the aggravating things that had happened.
Just glancing at the message preview made Rong Yichen’s eyelids feel heavy. His whole body seemed to sink into lethargy.
Should he read it or not?
The question instantly stirred up a storm in his mind. It was as if two little figures had appeared in his head, plotting underhanded tricks.
The little devil with horns on its head planted its hands on its hips and shouted without a care, “She won’t know whether you’ve read it or not. Just send her a sticker.” The little angel with wings nodded in agreement.
The two little figures reached a consensus. A sly glint flashed in Rong Yichen’s eyes. He moved his finger, searched through his stickers, picked out an angry face with steam pouring from it, and sent it without hesitation.
When he was done, he tossed his phone onto the sofa as if he’d cast off some heavy burden, then sprang up and headed straight for the game room. Whatever family feuds or schemes were going on, he could deal with them later. First, he’d have a good game.
.
Meanwhile, at Huo Corporation Tower—
The lights in the CEO’s office were still on. Huo Yan had just finished a three-hour video conference and rubbed his aching brow when his phone vibrated.
He picked it up and saw the message from Rong Yichen. A tender smile instantly spread through his eyes, and much of the fatigue from the meeting melted away.
【Little Doctor】: Sure.
【Huo Yan】: I want barbecue.
The two short messages were casual, and Huo Yan felt his heart soften. He replied without a moment’s hesitation.
【Huo Yan】: Okay. I’ll arrange it.
After sending the message, he called his assistant and gave the necessary instructions.
When he hung up, Huo Yan reread Rong Yichen’s messages several times, the smile never leaving his lips.