DLRAS Chapter 75

Chapter 75: I might mistakenly think you are targeting me.

The hot spring area was spacious, and the acoustics created a slight echo, making the voices seem simultaneously muffled and resonatingly deep.

As they immersed themselves in the pool, the hem of his bathrobe floated up, saturated with water, before sinking back down little by little.

Huo Niansheng stood with his back to the light, the expressions on his face shifting between light and shadow.

The current flowed soothingly over their skin; the scalding steam brought out a thin sheen of sweat, speeding up their heartbeats and intoxicating their senses.

Yet, Huo Niansheng seemed unaware of all this. He was entirely focused, his eyes fixed intently on Chen Wengang.

………………

A state of passive resignation. Huo Niansheng thought, He certainly isn’t soft-handed when it comes to making his own decisions.

………………

“Serves you right.” Huo Niansheng laughed, then spoke, though his tone was chiding. “Tell me, are you just looking for trouble for yourself, hmm? Is Huo Zhenfei a good person? They’re all thousand-year-old fox spirits—you insist on dealing with them; isn’t that just asking for grief?”

Chen Wengang couldn’t answer at all. He held onto Huo Niansheng’s hands, responding only with a look of helpless fragility.

But Huo Niansheng knew that this helplessness and fragility were put on for his benefit. He had a sense that he couldn’t quite grasp him, and the violent factors in his heart rose accordingly. In his deepest desires, he longed to control the person before him entirely—but that was merely desire, an expectation, not reality. Who in this life could have so much control? Even an immortal might not manage it.

………………

Chen Wengang’s Adam’s apple moved twice, showing a touch of pitiful vulnerability.

Huo Niansheng, however, had no intention of showing mercy, his gaze devoid of compassion. He pressed against Chen Wengang’s teeth, the heat of his exhaled breath searing. After a long time, the light caught a hint of glistening moisture.

Huo Niansheng looked at his own hand… his expression unreadable.

Chen Wengang suddenly raised his hand and gripped Huo Niansheng’s.

The dome of the hot spring pavilion was high, and the transparent glass revealed the starry sky. The trajectories of stardust crisscrossed like a net, trapping all their suppression within it.

Huo Niansheng looked at him again. Chen Wengang raised his other hand to wipe the corner of his mouth, tilting his head back to meet his gaze directly.

The skin, soaked for so long in the hot spring, was pale to the point of transparency, as if the blood vessels, bones, and nerves beneath the skin were all laid bare. His amber-colored pupils were clear and bright, like two glasses of aged wine long sealed away. The liquid had fermented over the years, silent in the bottle; no one knew its taste until the moment it was opened.

Huo Niansheng brushed aside his wet hair, unable to resist kissing his eyes, tasting the sourness and astringency of that wine.

Chen Wengang acted as if nothing had happened, pressing his hand against Huo Niansheng’s to push him away. He braced himself with both hands, lifted himself out of the water, and sat on the edge of the pool.

“What time did you get back?”

“The high-speed train after five.”

“Was it crowded?”

“It was fine.”

“Right, business class seats are probably limited. But wouldn’t taking a private jet have been more convenient?”

Huo Niansheng caught the thick layer of mockery in his tone. “Wouldn’t that be too extravagant? One should still try to be frugal in daily life.”

“My understanding of the lives you wealthy people lead is skewed.”

Chen Wengang braced himself against the pool wall, casting a knowing look at him. Huo Niansheng finally laughed, his hand sliding from Chen Wengang’s hair to the back of his neck, where he suddenly gave a firm squeeze. A crack came from the cervical spine, the sound of overexertion. Chen Wengang let out a sharp hiss.

Huo Niansheng had succeeded. “I told you that you shouldn’t sit for so long while studying.”

Chen Wengang changed his posture and leaned into him. “Give me a massage.”

Huo Niansheng actually placed his hands on his shoulders and neck to knead, but the angle was awkward, and he couldn’t apply pressure properly. Chen Wengang slipped into his arms instead, mirroring him as he sighed. “Huo Zhenfei was the one who dragged me into this; you shouldn’t blame me.”

“Wasn’t it you who went to provoke him first?” Huo Niansheng lowered his head to look at the person in his arms.

“You know what I want,” Chen Wengang looked back at him. “This was something I had to face sooner or later.”

Huo Niansheng could only compromise: “Fine, I won’t blame you, but the timing was poor this time. Others will think you and Jiang Wanxia are conspiring together.”

Chen Wengang adopted an air of arrogance born of being favored: “That depends on your ability to protect me. In any case, I have nothing to worry about.”

Huo Niansheng pulled him closer by the shoulders: “How strange. Since when have you had so much confidence in me?”

Chen Wengang kicked the water and sat up straight. “Recently, when dealing with Jiang Wanxia, she said something we both disagreed with. She thinks everything she does is for her daughter, but to others, it just seems incredibly selfish. But thinking about it carefully, people are actually quite hypocritical. I find myself wanting to say that same thing—everything I do is for you. It sounds a bit ridiculous, but do you believe me?”

Huo Niansheng said: “It sounds very moving. Since you’ve said it like that, how could I not believe you?”

Chen Wengang squinted at him. “You don’t believe me.”

Huo Niansheng paused.

He still held a grudge—not long ago, Huo Niansheng had suspected him of betrayal. “If I truly believed you, I wouldn’t need to specifically go out of my way to reprimand you.”

Huo Niansheng’s heart skipped a beat. Acknowledging defeat, he kissed his brow. “It’s my fault. It’s my mistake. I apologize… can I apologize? No matter what, I shouldn’t have said that. I must have been out of my mind…”

As he spoke, he lowered his head.

Gentle as the breeze and fine as the rain.

On the rough stone slabs beside the hot spring pool, the stones were heated; through the bath towel, they scorched his back warmly, making him feel exceptionally comfortable.

Until they were interrupted by uninvited guests: “Wow, take it easy, you two.”

The two sat up.

Huo Yingfei appeared, his lower body wrapped in a bath towel, stepping along the wooden path. “Even if you haven’t run into any elders, there are still guests and media invited for today who haven’t left and are staying overnight. Niansheng, don’t let a video of your own territory get leaked the moment it opens.”

Huo Niansheng didn’t care at all; he pulled off his half-wet bathrobe and tossed it carelessly beside the hot spring.

Chen Wengang’s eyes were cold as he looked at Huo Yingfei; he couldn’t even be bothered to put on an act.

Huo Yingfei didn’t realize the animosity directed at him. He walked closer, a hypocritical smile still hanging on his face.

“Sorry, it seems I’ve interrupted something good and am not very welcome.”

Huo Niansheng gave him only the look one would reserve for a monkey show.

Huo Yingfei’s throat tightened; he wasn’t blind to the meaning in that look.

In his youth, he had prided himself on being dashing and refined, a gentleman of integrity, desperate to win everyone’s praise. Especially in front of Huo Kaishan, he would measure his words with a ruler to ensure they were appropriate; a single swear word felt like a stain on his golden tongue as a young master.

………………

Later—later, he was accused of sexual harassment. The media mocked his shattered persona, and everyone’s eyes changed when they looked at him.

What could Huo Yingfei do? At most, he had developed a callous heart that didn’t care anymore.

He didn’t care anymore; he simply exposed his true colors, no longer bothering to perform. The life he lived was actually more “true to himself.” But he couldn’t stand even Huo Niansheng mocking him for being full of greed and vice!

Huo Niansheng lifted his head lazily: “The hot spring pavilion is so big, and there are so many pools—is there no place for you here?”

Huo Yingfei was weak and cowardly, yet he looked down on him from above. “Why are you in such a hurry to chase me away? It’s a rare opportunity today, seeing your lover for the first time. Forget about me; everyone is actually curious. By the way, you… what is your name again?”

The last sentence was directed at Chen Wengang. “Surname ‘Wen’, that’s rare.”

Chen Wengang ignored him, turning his head as he leaned into Huo Niansheng’s arms, acting exactly like a haughty, pampered canary.

Huo Yingfei thought, How dare such a toy look down on me, though he didn’t show it on his face. “He looks okay, but he has quite a temper. Niansheng, you need to teach him some lessons. Bringing someone so ignorant of his place into the house—aren’t you asking for trouble?”

Huo Niansheng said: “You’d better stay far away.”

Huo Yingfei said: “What, can’t one even talk about it?”

Huo Niansheng had already stood up, one hand resting on Huo Yingfei’s shoulder, shoving him backward. Before Huo Yingfei could react, he felt his head buzzing, followed by a fierce impact to his stomach. This caught Chen Wengang off guard; by the time he realized what happened, he heard a splash, and a massive spray of water erupted from the adjacent herbal bath.

Back in the room, Chen Wengang thought to take out his phone. A message from Huo Jingsheng followed: “What kind of madness has gotten into Huo Niansheng?”

Behind the text, it was impossible to tell if he was gloating. In the bathroom, the sound of water splashed loudly. Chen Wengang looked up; the playboy who had just acted was inside taking a shower. After hitting Huo Yingfei at the hot spring, Huo Niansheng had dragged him directly back to the room. Huo Yingfei was left stomping his feet in anger behind them.

Chen Wengang rubbed his forehead and set his phone aside without replying.

To outsiders, such an absurd act was indeed something only Huo Niansheng would do.

A moment later, a text arrived from an unsaved number: “Are you free to take a call?”

Chen Wengang replied with “Yes.”

He had just saved the name ‘Huo Zhenfei’ in his contacts when the phone rang.

Huo Zhenfei’s voice remained steady: “What just happened? Why did Niansheng lash out at Yingfei?”

Chen Wengang replied calmly: “There was a slight altercation at the hot spring pavilion.”

“The reason? Was it because of you?”

“Is that what Huo Yingfei said?”

“He’s the one who got hit; of course, he won’t say anything good about you. I covered for you both and persuaded him not to make trouble, so Father and the Second Uncle didn’t find out.” Huo Zhenfei sighed, his tone earnest. “But Wengang, I think it goes without saying—with so many family members here this time, they aren’t just looking at Jiang Cai; they’re also looking at you… do you understand what I’m saying?”

He didn’t need to be clearer; they were here to see what kind of person Huo Niansheng had chosen.

Chen Wengang smiled. “I understand. Sorry, but if that’s the case, you should also understand why Niansheng was so ‘furiously protective’ of me today. I know the phrasing is a bit dramatic, but you can interpret it as something similar.”

Huo Zhenfei said flatly: “Yes, I understand what you mean.”

Chen Wengang said: “What you wanted to warn me about is nothing more than your family using this opportunity to size me up—whether I am male or female, square or round.”

Huo Zhenfei said: “Yes.”

Chen Wengang added: “But if I had received the respect I was due, I believe Huo Niansheng would have had no need to resort to the actions he took today.”

Huo Zhenfei choked for a second. “You are very smart.”

Huo Niansheng suddenly took the phone from Chen Wengang’s hand: “Then don’t try to be too clever yourself.”

He had only just dried his body, and his hair was still damp. Chen Wengang curled his legs and scooted into the bed, making room for him.

Huo Niansheng took his hand and kissed his fingertips.

Hearing his voice, Huo Zhenfei shifted to a slightly reproachful tone: “Niansheng, I was only advising you not to be impulsive. What good did hitting Huo Yingfei actually do? Just to let everyone see that they shouldn’t provoke your people, otherwise, they’ll end up like this?”

Huo Niansheng rested his head on Chen Wengang’s knees, a casual, nonchalant smile appearing on his lips, though Huo Zhenfei couldn’t see his expression.

Huo Zhenfei said: “I believe Wengang wouldn’t approve of your methods either.”

Huo Niansheng suddenly called out his full name through the phone: “As a shareholder, I signed a concerted action agreement with the Third Uncle—your father—not with you. Of course, even if there were an agreement, it doesn’t mean I will necessarily move in lockstep with you all.”

Huo Zhenfei paused and didn’t speak.

Huo Niansheng said: “Don’t misunderstand; I don’t like threatening people. It just occurred to me that such an agreement exists. You’re my cousin, and I actually quite enjoy maintaining the friendly relationship we’ve always had. It’s just that sometimes I’m afraid we’re too familiar, and we might lose our sense of boundaries. I’m a person who lacks boundaries myself, which you’ve always been better at than me—you’re very good at social navigation. Huo Zhenfei, if you keep trying to step on my people, I’ll mistakenly think you’re targeting me. But you wouldn’t do that, would you?”

Huo Zhenfei remained silent for a long time. “Of course that’s not it. I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately, and my temper has been a bit short. When things here are over, I’ll invite you and Wengang out for a meal.”

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Author’s Note:

Huo Niansheng hitting Huo Yingfei wasn’t just impulsiveness; he has maintained the image of a ‘rotter’ in the family for years, so doing anything bizarre fits his established persona. Acting out aggressively over Wengang right from the start is a warning to others not to come testing him again, or else he’ll go crazy.

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