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Chapter 110: Lao Huo, if you can’t bear it, switch with someone else.
The cruise ship departed from the port, with the sea breeze blowing and seagulls following at the bow and stern, flying high against the wind.
Huo Niansheng said he brought Guo Zhen and Chen Wengang on board together.
Not to mention whether the previous joking bet counted; even if Huo Niansheng didn’t take it seriously, Chen Wengang couldn’t let him go alone. The two stood on the deck, enjoying the breeze. The land was getting farther away from their sight, and soon all around them was churning seawater.
In front of them spread out a crowd of noisy revelers.
The cruise ship was huge, like a colorful playground floating on the sea.
Wang Qiming invited many people, and every fun-loving person in the city was present, interspersed with many celebrities, internet celebrities, and models for company. Chen Wengang looked around, even seeing many familiar faces.
People occasionally came over to greet Huo Niansheng—his outgoing personality and love for excitement had earned him a bit of a reputation among these wealthy young elites, and now, with his focus solely on one person, it was even more intriguing. This was the first time Chen Wengang had publicly appeared with him.
Just for this novelty, who wouldn’t want to come and take a look at the excitement?
Chen Wengang leaned against Huo Niansheng, listening to his muffled laughter coming from his chest. Turning his head, he saw that this time the person approaching was the host, Wang Qiming.
Beside Wang Qiming was Huo Yingfei. It seemed that the two indeed had a good relationship, but whether it was intentional or not, they also bumped into He Jiajun. The three of them came over to Huo Niansheng as if they were looking for trouble. If there were reporters nearby, they might not dare to shift their focus, fearing that these rich kids might start a fight, throwing each other into the water.
Huo Niansheng patted Chen Wengang’s back, indicating that he didn’t need to move, and went over to chat casually.
Chen Wengang stayed where he was, watching as the group of people gathered by the railing, each with their own schemes, chatting and laughing.
Suddenly, He Jiajun glanced over with a grudge in his eyes. Chen Wengang remained expressionless, like a block of ice. He saw Huo Niansheng smilingly put his arm around He Jiajun’s shoulder, forcibly turning his face with one hand. He couldn’t hear what was said, but He Jiajun pushed him away with disgust.
Someone fearless of the cold came over, smiling and striking up a conversation, “Hey handsome, bored being alone?”
When he turned around, it was Huo Niansheng’s old friend Li Hongqiong behind him, winking at him in a dress.
Chen Wengang clinked his highball glass with hers, “What brings you here?”
Li Hongqiong raised her chin and said, “I’m here to have fun, is that not allowed?”
Chen Wengang smiled and took a sip of his cocktail. It was already autumn-winter season, and the sun wasn’t scorching. She glanced in the direction of his gaze, unbothered by the commotion, “Look at them, the four of them gathering together, it’s a rare sight. If they fight, I wonder who’ll come out worse off.”
Chen Wengang leaned an arm on the railing, listening to her commentary—
“Men, when it comes to their base instincts, they’re all pretty much the same. If you really have to pick one, Lao Huo is probably the best, if nothing else, he’s the richest. He Jiajun, forget it, he’s a mess inside out; Huo Yingfei, he’s got no skills of his own, just his dad’s connections, always reaching into his family’s pocket for pocket money.” Li Hongqiong was enthusiastic, “As for this Wang Qiming, he likes to act like he’s rich, throwing these cruise parties every year, all lively and noisy, like some tradition. Do you know, he once thought about buying his own boat?”
Chen Wengang couldn’t help but chuckle, “Don’t know? What boat, did he buy it?”
Li Hongqiong gossiped with him, “It’s not the kind of small yacht that Huo Niansheng gave you; he didn’t fancy that. While studying abroad, he noticed the tendency of his classmates to flaunt their yachts, so he wanted one just like theirs, you know, the bigger the better, to show off—whoever had the biggest one had the most prestige. He even went to a shipyard in Northern Europe to inquire about pricing. Turns out, they quoted him a billion, not including annual maintenance costs; it’s all in the billions.”
“So, he didn’t buy it?”
“He’s not the decision-maker at home, where would he get the money? He doesn’t even look at the backgrounds of his classmates, either oligarchs or oil barons. After word got out, many paparazzi eagerly awaited for Young Master Wang to flaunt his wealth, hoping he’d ‘bring glory to the country,’ but he came back empty-handed. Now he’s learned to be humble, renting a cruise ship for parties every year, just hoping everyone forgets about this incident.”
Chen Wengang smiled, tilting his head back to drain his glass, his pale lips tinged with a hint of red.
Seeing his expression, Li Hongqiong couldn’t help but speak up for her little brother, “Why can’t you see the good in Qi Tongzhou? What’s wrong with him? He’s just a bit younger, not even two years younger than you, and he’s loyal, still thinking about you.”
Thinking of this kid, Chen Wengang smiled, “He’s great; good character, good family background, but we’re not compatible.”
As a waiter passed by, he placed his glass back on the tray and said, “He only sees the good side of me. Everyone likes shiny people and tries to present their shiny side to others. It’s normal, I’m one of them too. But the image he imagines of me is actually different; if he were to see all of me, he might just be disappointed.”
Li Hongqiong asked, “You have a bad side too?”
Chen Wengang said, “Too many.”
Wang Qiming and Huo Yingfei’s group finally left. Huo Niansheng stood alone by the railing, and a young man who had been eyeing him for a while took the opportunity to sidle up to him, chatting eagerly. The young man’s eyes seemed to sparkle, and his well-maintained face was so tender it could almost drip water.
Chen Wengang and Li Hongqiong watched the two figures from behind.
He said lightly, “Huo Niansheng is different. We’ve been through a lot together. I not only love him, but I also appreciate him, respect him, and rely on him. Even if my life is stuck in the mud, I know he won’t let go and will pull me out.”
Li Hongqiong’s words were sharp, “Is it really you who’s stuck in the mud, not him? I thought he was the one who needed saving.”
Chen Wengang gave her a gentle and elegant smile.
At the same time, Huo Niansheng also smiled, but his expression was playful. He said something, and the young man’s face turned unpleasant.
Li Hongqiong gestured from a distance, “That kid Wang Qiming, he organizes these cruise parties like running a brothel. Inviting us is like getting on board for free, but for those who need sponsors like this, just wanting to join in means paying him a fee. Quite the businessman; what does he take us for? Fat sheep?”
The young man looked back at Huo Niansheng eagerly, pouted, and then turned to seek out his next target. Huo Niansheng parted ways with him and walked over to greet Li Hongqiong, skillfully pulling Chen Wengang into his embrace.
Chen Wengang reached into Huo Niansheng’s breast pocket and took out a pair of sunglasses, putting them on himself.
Li Hongqiong just smiled. People in love are always impulsive. She had once advised Chen Wengang to keep his composure; otherwise, he would end up in an awkward situation. It was just something she said casually at the time, but now it suddenly came back to her.
As night fell, the wind picked up on the deck, and the entertainment activities moved indoors to the warmth.
There was a ballroom on the cruise ship, and when Chen Wengang walked in, the stage was filled with dazzling drag performances.
Rows of bunny girls shook their heads and tails, but upon closer inspection, they were all male dancers dressed in drag, with revealing clothing and straps and strips of fabric tightly bound around their bodies. In no time, they were stripped clean and swaying seductively under the stage. The cheers from the audience were deafening. Standing at the back, he watched for a while. This kind of performance was purely selling sex and flesh, much more vulgar than the adult shows they had seen in Las Vegas.
At least on land, it definitely wouldn’t be acceptable in public.
Huo Niansheng hugged him into the entertainment room. This was the most luxurious room on the second floor, almost identical to a nightclub VIP booth.
Inside, it was equally noisy, with several young gentlemen playing at the card tables. Chen Wengang saw the chips on the table as soon as he entered.
—He thought indifferently, no wonder this young master wanted to go on a sea voyage. The high seas were a good place with no rules.
There were three or four card tables set up in the room. Perhaps the enemy of their enemy had become their friend, as Huo Yingfei and He Jiajun were at the same table while the host Wang Qiming was sitting with them. The men here were all smoking, one cigarette after another, making the air thick with smoke, so Chen Wengang understood why Li Hongqiong refused to come with a firm “no” when she said “smoky atmosphere.” Even those who smoked were starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.
Only the aspiring young stars and models, eager to curry favor with the wealthy patrons, showed remarkable professionalism, maintaining their charm and allure even in the midst of the toxic atmosphere.
Chen Wengang glanced at the group of people.
At another table, someone vacated their seat and beckoned to Huo Niansheng, saying they wanted to give it to him.
Huo Niansheng raised an eyebrow but didn’t give face, “Are you guys playing counting money? Count me out.”
The crowd laughed and joked, complimenting him, saying that even if someone didn’t have money, he wouldn’t be the one without money, boosting his ego.
Chen Wengang glanced at Huo Niansheng and felt him squeeze his hand, pretending earnestly, “This one at home won’t allow it. We got married in Las Vegas, and he didn’t even touch the slot machines. He loses nine times out of ten. I’m warning you not to make this mistake, don’t come to me for it.”
“Lao Huo, you can’t be like this; you’re too used to it!”
Throughout the day on the ship, Chen Wengang had stuck close to Huo Niansheng, clinging to him as if he couldn’t bear to let him out of his sight. During the day, others joked that he was like a canary, but now it seemed immature.
Huo Yingfei glanced at Chen Wengang with ill intent, “Haven’t you guys noticed? This one’s gotten attached for good.”
Wang Qiming, in his excitement, interjected casually, “If someone gets used to this, they’ll ride over your head. Lao Huo, if you can’t bear it, switch with someone else and let them handle it for you.”
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent for a moment as Wang Qiming realized what he had just said. Most of the people present had companions by their sides; some brought on board themselves, others picked up on the ship. It was just a pastime, not taken too seriously.
None of them were accustomed to Huo Niansheng bringing along a legitimate partner for socializing. He was not used to it, but he slipped up for a moment.
Huo Niansheng had already grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back, “I didn’t hear you clearly just now. What did you say?”
The others quickly pulled the two apart, saying it was a misunderstanding. Wang Qiming awkwardly chuckled and slapped himself on the mouth, accepting a three-cup penalty to gloss over the remark. Chen Wengang didn’t say anything, but later when Wang Qiming went to the restroom, he tripped over something, and Huo Niansheng pulled back his leg, giving him a cold glare. Everyone could tell that this was a genuine concern. After that, no one dared to make jokes again.
But the two stayed behind, with Huo Niansheng hugging Chen Wengang to watch the game until close to midnight when they returned to their room.
Chen Wengang helped him undress, “What’s the use of tripping someone? Today, young master Wang still won big. I think he’s going to make a fortune.”
Huo Niansheng casually asked, “How much?”
Chen Wengang counted the chips all night and made a gesture discreetly, “At least Huo Yingfei lost this much to him. Right?”
Huo Niansheng smiled, praising him as he held his face, “Money may be lost, but favors are returned. Today, everyone at the table was there to give him money. Over time, they’re afraid Wang Qiming will think he’s the gambling king himself. The Wang family’s business hasn’t been doing well in recent years, and they’ve become arrogant in politics. Daring to hold gambling parties in international waters, I admire his courage. If my second uncle insists on making connections with them, it’s really shortsighted.”
After finishing his words, he saw Chen Wengang looking at him and asking, “What’s wrong?”
Chen Wengang pulled down his tie, “Li Hongqiong also said that Wang Qiming hosts parties every year. Have you ever been before?”
Huo Niansheng raised his hands and said, “No, really. You saw the situation yourself. I almost couldn’t handle even my enemies when I first got on the ship. Do you think I would dare to come often? Have you ever heard a story? Even the once-powerful gambling kings, when they gambled heavily in international waters, were set up by someone, and when the tide turned against them, it was so tragic. In a place like this, if you fail, you’ll end up thrown into the sea to feed the fish.”
Chen Wengang’s expression, which had been somewhat ambiguous, turned a bit melancholic.
Huo Niansheng was momentarily taken aback, “Scared? I was just teasing you.”
Chen Wengang kissed him, “Let’s go to sleep.”
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