Chapter 110: Lao Huo, if you can’t bear it, switch with someone else.
The cruise ship set out from the harbor. The sea wind whipped fiercely, and seagulls followed the bow and stern, flying high against the wind.
Huo Niansheng had truly brought Chen Wengang along on the ship.
Not to mention whether that joking bet was still valid or not, even if Huo Niansheng hadn’t taken it seriously, Chen Wengang wouldn’t have let him go out to sea alone anyway. The two stood on the deck feeling the breeze; the land on the horizon grew increasingly distant, and soon, nothing but churning seawater surrounded them.
A bustling crowd of revelers spread out before them. The cruise ship was enormous, like a colorful, glamorous amusement park drifting on the ocean.
Wang Qiming had invited quite a lot of people; not a single socialite in the city who loved to party had been left out. Mingled among them were numerous celebrities, influencers, and models. Chen Wengang looked around and even spotted quite a few familiar faces.
From time to time, people came over to greet Huo Niansheng—in the past, he had a high-profile personality and loved joining in the fun, gaining a bit of a reputation among these wealthy young scions. It was even more of a rarity now that he had reined himself in and tethered his heart to one person. This was the first time Chen Wengang had appeared in public with him.
Given the novelty, who wouldn’t want to come and catch a glimpse of the spectacle?
Chen Wengang leaned against Huo Niansheng, hearing a muffled chuckle rumble in his chest. He turned his head to see the host, Wang Qiming, approaching.
Following beside Wang Qiming was Huo Yingfei. Viewed this way, it seemed their relationship was indeed quite good, but whether it was intentional or not, He Jiajun had also joined them. The three of them marched toward Huo Niansheng as if specifically looking for trouble. If reporters were present, their cameras probably wouldn’t dare to look away, as there was no telling if these wealthy heirs might get into a fight and throw someone overboard.
Huo Niansheng patted Chen Wengang’s back, signaling him not to move, and walked over to chat.
Chen Wengang remained where he was, watching from afar as these people, each with their own ulterior motives, gathered by the ship’s railing, chatting and laughing.
Suddenly, He Jiajun cast a spiteful glance in his direction. Chen Wengang was expressionless, like an ice sculpture. He watched as Huo Niansheng grinningly draped an arm over He Jiajun’s shoulder, forcefully turning his face with one hand, seemingly saying something before being shaken off with disgust.
Someone nearby, unafraid of the cold, walked over to flirt: “Handsome, isn’t it boring staying by yourself?”
He turned, only to find Huo Niansheng’s old friend, Li Hongqiong, winking at him from behind in a spaghetti-strap dress.
Chen Wengang clinked his champagne flute against hers: “Why are you here too?”
Li Hongqiong lifted her chin: “I’m here to have fun. Can’t I?”
Chen Wengang smiled and took a sip of his cocktail. It was already late autumn, and the sun wasn’t too harsh. She peered in the direction of his gaze, eager to see trouble: “Look, the four of them gathering together—it’s a rare sight. I wonder who’ll end up on the losing end if a fight breaks out.”
Chen Wengang rested one arm on the railing, listening to her critique:
“Men, their base instincts are all pretty much the same. If you absolutely have to pick one from the pile, old Huo is decent enough. If nothing else, at least he’s the richest. Don’t even get me started on He Jiajun; he’s just a pile of mud in a rotten swamp. Huo Yingfei has no talent of his own and still relies on his father for pocket money.” Li Hongqiong was enthusiastic. “As for Wang Qiming, he likes to puff himself up. Every year he holds these cruise parties, making them so lively like some kind of tradition. Did you know he once thought about buying a ship himself?”
Chen Wengang couldn’t help but laugh: “Really? What kind of ship? Did he buy it?”
Li Hongqiong shared the gossip: “Not the kind of small yacht Huo Niansheng gave you; he wouldn’t look at those. When he was studying abroad, he saw his classmates showing off their yachts. It’s like that—whoever has the biggest one is the one who gains prestige. He even went to a shipyard in Northern Europe to ask for a quote. They quoted him a hundred million, and that didn’t include the annual maintenance costs, which were also in the hundreds of millions.”
“So he didn’t buy it?”
“He’s not the one in charge of the family’s assets, so where would he get the money? Besides, look at his classmates’ families—either oligarchs or oil tycoons. He had already boasted about it, and plenty of paparazzi were waiting for him to show off his wealth, hoping he’d ‘win glory for the country.’ He ended up returning empty-handed, looking quite pathetic. Now he’s learned his lesson: renting a cruise ship for a party once a year is enough, hoping everyone has forgotten about it.”
Chen Wengang laughed, tilting his head to finish his drink; his pale lips were stained with a touch of bright red.
Watching his face, Li Hongqiong couldn’t help but put in a good word for her younger brother: “Why can’t you look at Qi Tongzhou? What’s wrong with him? At most, he’s a bit young, but he’s not even two years younger than you, and he’s persistent. He still has feelings for you.”
Thinking of the boy, Chen Wengang smiled: “He’s a good person, with good character and a good family background, but we just aren’t a good fit.”
A waiter passed by, and he placed his glass back on the tray: “He only sees the good side of me. Everyone likes shiny, bright people, and everyone tries to present their best side to others. It’s normal, and I’m one of them. But I’m actually different from the image he imagines. If he saw the entirety of me, he would only be disappointed.”
Li Hongqiong said: “You have a bad side, too?”
Chen Wengang said: “Too many.”
Wang Qiming and Huo Yingfei’s group finally left. Huo Niansheng leaned against the railing alone. A young boy who had been coveting him for a long time seized the opportunity to flash to his side, speaking to him with great diligence. The boy’s eyes held stars, and his delicately pampered face was so tender it looked like it would drip water if pinched.
Chen Wengang and Li Hongqiong watched the two backs from afar.
He said indifferently: “Huo Niansheng is different. We have been through many things together. I don’t just love him; I am grateful to him, I respect him, and I rely on him. Even if my life had sunk into the mud, I know he wouldn’t let go; he would pull me out.”
Li Hongqiong was sharp-tongued: “You’re the one who sank into the mud, not him? I thought he was the one who needed saving.”
Chen Wengang revealed a gentle, elegant smile in front of her.
At the same time, Huo Niansheng also revealed a smile, though his expression was playful. He said something, and the boy’s face turned unsightly.
Li Hongqiong pointed out into the distance: “That kid Wang Qiming runs these cruise parties like he’s a pimp. He invites us for free, but for people like those who need a patron, they have to pay a ‘head fee’ just to attend. He really knows how to do business. What does he take us for? Fat sheep?”
The boy turned his head eagerly to look at Huo Niansheng, pouted his lips, and turned to look for the next target. Huo Niansheng parted ways with him, left the person behind, walked over to greet Li Hongqiong, and skillfully swept Chen Wengang into his arms.
Chen Wengang fished the sunglasses out of Huo Niansheng’s pocket and unfolded them to put them on.
Li Hongqiong just smiled. People in the throes of love are always impulsive. She had once advised Chen Wengang to keep his pride, otherwise he would end up in an embarrassing situation. She had said it offhandedly at the time, but now it suddenly crossed her mind again.
As night fell, the wind on the deck grew stronger, and the entertainment moved to the warm interior.
There was a cabaret on the cruise ship. When Chen Wengang walked in, the stage was filled with dazzling colors, featuring a drag performance.
Rows of “bunnies” were shaking their bodies, but a closer look revealed they were all male dancers dressed in women’s clothing, wearing revealing outfits tied with a few ribbons and strips of cloth. Before long, they were stripped bare, fawning and wagging their tails at the audience. The cheering below was deafening. He stood in the back watching for a while; this kind of performance, merely selling sex and flesh, felt even more vulgar than the adult shows they had seen in Las Vegas.
At the very least, this certainly wouldn’t be allowed in public once they reached shore.
Huo Niansheng held him and entered the recreation room; it was the most luxurious room on the inner side of the second floor, with decor almost identical to a nightclub private box.
The room was equally rowdy. Several young masters were fumbling around at the poker table. The moment Chen Wengang entered, he saw the chips on the table.
—He thought to himself calmly, no wonder this Young Master Wang wanted to play on the high seas. International waters were a “no-man’s land” that was perfect for this.
There were three or four tables in the room, all playing Mahjong and poker. Perhaps because “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Huo Yingfei and He Jiajun were at the same table, joined by the host, Wang Qiming. The men in the room were all smoking, one cigarette after another, the smog so thick one could barely open their eyes. Chen Wengang now understood why Li Hongqiong had said it was “foul-smelling” and refused to come in; even someone who smoked a little couldn’t stand it.
Only the minor celebrities and models trying to curry favor with the patrons showed excellent professionalism, remaining charming and alluring despite the poison gas.
Chen Wengang swept his gaze over the side of the men’s tables.
At another table, someone gave up their seat, calling out to Huo Niansheng and saying they’d yield it to him.
Huo Niansheng raised an eyebrow but didn’t give them face: “Are you playing for money? I’ll pass.”
The crowd chuckled and teased him, flattering him by saying that if anyone had money, it was him. For a moment, the flattery was endless.
Chen Wengang looked up at Huo Niansheng. He felt him squeeze his hand and say quite seriously: “The one at home won’t let me. We got married in Las Vegas, and he won’t even let me pull a slot machine. Gambling is nine losses out of ten; I warn you, don’t look for me to make that kind of mistake.”
“Old Huo, you’re just too weak; you’re just spoiled!”
Throughout the whole day on the ship, Chen Wengang hadn’t left Huo Niansheng’s side for a single inch. During the day, others treated him like a canary, teasing Huo Niansheng about being so clingy; now, they seemed to think he was being ignorant.
Huo Yingfei swept a malicious glance at Chen Wengang: “Don’t you see yet? He’s eaten him alive.”
Wang Qiming was on a roll and interjected casually: “That’s not how you spoil someone. If you don’t discipline him, he’ll ride on your head. Old Huo, if you can’t bear to do it, trade with someone else and let someone help you manage him.”
As the words fell, the atmosphere went silent for an instant. Wang Qiming paused before realizing what he’d said. Most of the people present had companions by their sides—some were brought on board, some were picked up on the spot—but they were just toys; they didn’t even care about group exchanges.
None of them were like Huo Niansheng, who had brought him as a proper partner for social occasions. He was used to it, and his tongue had slipped.
Huo Niansheng had already grabbed him by the shoulder and thrown him back: “I didn’t hear clearly just now. What did you say?”
Others rushed to pull them apart, calling it a misunderstanding. Wang Qiming laughed awkwardly, slapped his own mouth, admitted his fault with three drinks, and moved past it. Chen Wengang didn’t say anything. A while later, when Wang Qiming went to the restroom, he tripped and fell flat on his face as he stood up. Huo Niansheng retracted his leg and gave him a cold look. The others finally realized this was someone who was truly, deeply treasured, and after that, no one dared to make jokes again.
But the two of them stayed, Huo Niansheng holding Chen Wengang to watch the battle until nearly midnight before returning to their room.
Chen Wengang helped him take off his clothes: “What’s the point of tripping him? Young Master Wang had a big victory today; I think he’s going to get rich.”
Huo Niansheng asked casually: “How much?”
Chen Wengang had counted the chips all night and made a secret gesture: “Huo Yingfei lost at least this much to him. Right?”
Huo Niansheng smiled, cupping his face with praise: “The money was lost, a return for the favor, back and forth. Everyone at the table today went there specifically to give him money. After a while, even Wang Qiming will be afraid that he’ll start thinking he’s the ‘God of Gamblers.’ The Wang family hasn’t been good at business these years, and they’ve become arrogant in politics. Daring to gamble in international waters—I admire his courage for coming here. My second uncle insists on making this connection; he really doesn’t care about the consequences.”
After speaking, he saw Chen Wengang staring at him: “What is it?”
Chen Wengang pulled off his tie: “Li Hongqiong even said Wang Qiming throws parties every year. Have you been here before?”
Huo Niansheng held up both hands: “No, really not. You’ve seen the situation; as soon as I got on board, I could barely even count my enemies. How could I dare to come often? Have you heard a story? Even the legendary ‘God of Gamblers’ who dominated the high seas would be set up or have his henchmen turn against him when gambling in international waters. It’s miserable. If you flip your car in a place like this, you’re going to get your hands and feet smashed and be thrown down to feed the fish.”
Chen Wengang, who had originally been smiling half-heartedly, became somewhat melancholy.
Huo Niansheng was startled by the threat: “Scared? I was just teasing you.”
Chen Wengang kissed him: “Let’s sleep.”
