DLRAS Chapter 71

Chapter 71: But you promise not to betray me, right?

Huo Zhenfei narrowed his eyes slightly.

Blood ties were truly fascinating; he and Huo Niansheng were completely different in appearance and temperament, yet when they made this expression, they looked remarkably alike. At the same time, he took in Chen Wengang, only feeling that slender hand shake his for a moment before politely slipping away.

Thin shoulders, narrow waist, sharp brows, and bright eyes, carrying a noble, elegant aura like a lone orchid in an empty valley. You couldn’t blame Huo Niansheng for holding onto him like a precious treasure.

“I’m here with a few friends to watch the race. Relaxing for the weekend.” Huo Zhenfei glanced behind him, where a friend raised a beer in their direction. He looked back at Chen Wengang, a polite smile appearing on his rigid face. “You two as well?”

“Just laymen joining in on the fun,” Huo Niansheng raised an eyebrow. “I wonder if it’s about to start?”

Huo Zhenfei turned back, grabbed his own beer, and murmured a few words to his acquaintances. Chen Wengang turned to look, only to see him abandon his original spot and stroll over with two extra cans of beer, sitting down with them in the corner of the grandstand.

Huo Niansheng gave a lukewarm smile and made room for him.

The arm around Chen Wengang’s waist tightened a fraction.

Huo Zhenfei generously handed out the beers. “The main difference between F1, F2, and F3 cars lies in their technical levels. F1 is considered the fastest, and its drivers are all rigorously selected and trained. Basically, anyone who makes it to F1 has fought their way through various F2 and F3 races.” He shared this bit of trivia while chatting with Chen Wengang.

“I actually made a fool of myself once, thinking all formula cars were called F1. When I mentioned it to others, I became a laughingstock.”

“Haha, it’s different. You might not be able to tell, but when I was younger, I wanted to be a professional race car driver,” Huo Zhenfei said. “Of course, I later reluctantly gave up that dream due to my parents’ strong opposition. Now that I have a wife and kids, I wouldn’t even dare go down to the track for a couple of laps. I’d experience the speed and passion, but I’d probably be facing a divorce the next day.”

“Your family worries, and that concern makes them anxious.”

“My son takes after me; he likes cars too. But his interests never last more than three minutes. I doubt it will stick.”

The indicator lights flashed green and went out; a row of race cars launched simultaneously.

Huo Niansheng took a leisurely sip of his beer. Chen Wengang had his head turned, chatting with Huo Zhenfei, offering him only the back of his head. His hair was soft, styled meticulously with a bit of gel to look sharp and energetic. Huo Niansheng looked out at the track and smiled.

Suddenly, waves of gasps and exclamations erupted across the grandstand.

On the giant screen, a blue race car collided with the car ahead while fighting for a position in a curve, and was launched high into the air by the sheer momentum.

The blue car tumbled and flew off the track, soaring over two other cars that narrowly escaped disaster, before crashing into the open space outside the bend. Shattered parts rained down from the sky, a tire rolled away, and immediately after, the chassis erupted in a massive ball of fire!

Many spectators jumped to their feet, crowding against the railings and craning their necks. Huo Zhenfei’s expression turned grave as he remained seated, peering in that direction.

Huo Niansheng said coolly, “This is exactly why your family wouldn’t let you play with cars.”

Huo Zhenfei sighed. “Indeed. Speed and passion always come with a price.”

Chen Wengang’s attention was also captured, staring toward the crash. The crowd around them was buzzing with all sorts of reactions. Suddenly, Huo Niansheng stood up. “Alright, let’s stop watching.” He turned and told Huo Zhenfei, “It’s pretty boring here anyway; we’ll head back first.”

Huo Zhenfei snapped out of his daze. “Oh, alright.”

When they returned to the yacht club’s seaside plaza, it was around three or four in the afternoon.

In the center of the plaza stood a giant, pristine white mermaid statue. With her back to the ocean, she was solemn and serene, her arms elegantly folded across her chest.

Laughter and chatter filled the beach in a picture of harmony. A row of red-and-white striped umbrellas held off the sun. Young men and women in Hawaiian shirts and bikinis, sunglasses pushed atop their heads, lay comfortably on lounge chairs with their arms behind their heads. Two children chased each other, running to the ice cream and fresh juice stands to make careful selections. Two groups were playing beach volleyball, and a red dune buggy puttered slowly by.

Further out, a few jet skis bounced across the water like flying fish, carving white trails into the sea.

Huo Niansheng led Chen Wengang straight into the bustling scene.

He vaulted over the railing, jumping down the half-man-high steps first. Chen Wengang looked down at his own sneakers; before he could think twice or take off his shoes, Huo Niansheng had already reached out a hand. He hesitated for a second, then jumped down after him, caught securely by Huo Niansheng.

The two walked hand in hand toward the water’s edge.

The white sand was smooth and soft, feeling as plush as a carpet underfoot, albeit a wet one. The tide constantly surged up and retreated, churning up pristine, crystalline foam. The volleyball players and the sun umbrellas were left far behind. After walking for who knows how long, not a single silhouette was left on the beach, while the reefs grew increasingly dense. The artificial entertainment facilities didn’t stretch this far, so people generally didn’t wander over here.

Huo Niansheng didn’t say a word, merely walking relentlessly onward.

Chen Wengang gripped the hand leading him, stumbling slightly as he followed.

Looking up, he could only see a back profile; he couldn’t see Huo Niansheng’s expression. In a daze, he recalled that dream from before.

He remembered his feet rooted to the spot, remembered the words, “I should go,” and remembered the person he couldn’t make stay.

An inexplicable wave of sorrow, bordering on resentment, surged in his heart, and his grip unconsciously grew tighter and tighter.

Huo Niansheng finally let out a hiss of pain, pulled him to the front, and laughed. “What are you doing?”

The sun was dipping westward, and the sky’s colors were beginning to dim. Chen Wengang glared at him, a dark glint flashing in his moist eyes. Huo Niansheng still didn’t understand how he had provoked him, but Chen Wengang was practically grinding his teeth, squeezing his hand with such force that his knuckles turned bloodless and white.

Helpless, Huo Niansheng could only offer up his hand for him to abuse. Squeeze away, it’s not like you can break it.

Chen Wengang gripped his hand with almost desperate force, until even his arms were trembling. Huo Niansheng watched him the entire time with a soft, yielding gaze. Suddenly, as if all the strength had been drained from his body, Chen Wengang let out a long breath and rested his head against the other man’s chest in a posture of defeat.

“What’s making you unhappy?”

Chen Wengang shook his head nervously.

Huo Niansheng accommodated his baffling temper. “It’s getting late, let’s head back. It’ll take us ages just to walk back.”

On their way back, they ran into Huo Zhenfei again and joined up to have dinner at a seafood restaurant.

Huo Zhenfei had stayed to watch the entire race and mentioned that the driver in the crash had been rushed to the hospital; he was injured but his life wasn’t in danger.

There were no awkward silences at the dinner table. An executive like Huo Zhenfei, who usually handled contracts worth tens or hundreds of millions, was surprisingly approachable toward Chen Wengang. He chatted with him about everyday matters without any airs, even saying that if there was ever a chance to go beachcombing, he’d bring his son along.

When they passed the seaside plaza again, a bonfire party had been set up in the open space, and someone had dragged out a sound system for karaoke.

Several tents had been pitched opposite it; perhaps some people were planning a romantic night out under the stars.

Huo Zhenfei said he was tired, bid them goodnight, and took the sightseeing elevator upstairs. Chen Wengang still needed to buy a few things—after walking on the beach for hours, his shoes were thoroughly soaked. Unlike Huo Niansheng, who had everything readily available here, he had to go to the shopping center to buy a new pair.

Fortunately, the club’s shopping amenities were comprehensive, featuring many brand stores, albeit slightly pricier than outside.

Returning to Room 707, Chen Wengang kicked off his muddy, sandy shoes at the door.

Huo Niansheng tossed aside the shopping bags, pulled him in, and kissed him deeply.

The automatic sensor lights detected the intrusion, tentatively illuminating the living room bit by bit.

Having called room service in advance, the bathroom was already filled with rolling white steam. The hot spring-like bathtub was drawn full of hot water, spiked with bergamot essential oil that gave off a faint fragrance akin to oranges and lemons.

Chen Wengang reached his hand in, the hot water soothing against his skin.

A heavy chest pressed against him from behind. Huo Niansheng reached around and undid the buttons of his shirt one by one.

His fingers groped slowly through the thin fabric. Huo Niansheng nuzzled his neck, gradually pulling the shirt backward off his shoulders, but the cuffs were still buttoned, securely trapping Chen Wengang’s wrists. By the time Chen Wengang realized it, both his arms were pinned behind his back.

Moving deliberately, Huo Niansheng tied the sleeves into a knot behind his back. He had done it on purpose. Suddenly swept off his feet, Chen Wengang found himself lifted horizontally into Huo Niansheng’s arms. He felt the rising steam before being submerged inch by inch into the warm water.

The water’s buoyancy pushed him upward, while his soaked shirt and trousers became incredibly heavy, turning into a restricting suit of armor.

Huo Niansheng leaned over the edge of the tub, supporting his shoulders so his upper body wouldn’t slide under, using his arm as a sturdy prop for Chen Wengang’s head. Chen Wengang lay in the crook of his arm: “You better be careful. One slip-up, and we’ll both be on the local news tomorrow.”

Huo Niansheng scooped him up a bit higher, helping him sit up. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t let go.”

Chen Wengang sat dripping wet in the tub, turning his head to look at him. “What do you want to say?”

Huo Niansheng raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely conflicted. “I actually haven’t figured out how to ask.”

Chen Wengang thought of Huo Zhenfei. “You want to ask if I’ve been taking matters into my own hands?”

Huo Niansheng looked at him mildly. “Do you take matters into your own hands?”

“Of course I do.” Chen Wengang smiled. “Even children take things into their own hands, let alone an adult like me. I have my own thoughts, my own goals, and my own way of doing things—isn’t that normal? Niansheng, I won’t ask for someone else’s permission for everything I do, and if our opinions differ, I can’t guarantee I won’t make you angry. Anything else?”

Huo Niansheng stared at him, murmuring an “Oh.” “But you can guarantee you won’t betray me, right?”

“What do you think?” Chen Wengang held his gaze, the shimmering water reflecting light onto their faces.

“You see, baby, I might not be that confident of a person,” Huo Niansheng said by his ear. “I hope the answer is best that you wouldn’t.”

Chen Wengang shot him a look. Huo Niansheng’s lips quirked up into a smirk. Slowly lowering his gaze, he untied the knot he had made with the shirt sleeves.

Feeling the tension loosen behind his back, Chen Wengang sat in the water, twisting his shoulders as he tried to free himself. Huo Niansheng reached out again and flawlessly unbuttoned the cuffs. Chen Wengang gave him a glance, stripped the shirt off, balled it up, and tossed it out, where it landed on the floor with a wet slap.

Huo Niansheng sighed, brushing his lips against the hair at his temples.

Chen Wengang scooped up a handful of water and splashed it over him, grabbing his drenched lapels.

He yanked the man downward with force. Huo Niansheng didn’t resist, docilely letting himself be pulled into the bathtub. One was fully dressed from head to toe; the other had only shed his top. The waterlogged fabric was heavy, making their movements much more difficult as they shared a somewhat messy, chaotic kiss in the water.

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