Chapter 85

Chapter 85

"085"

The charity gala Xiao Lancui had mentioned was the annual gala Han Xinyi hosted in the original story.

It auctioned off jewelry, luxury watches, and paintings donated by rich wives, with proceeds going toward rural education.

Han Xinyi had been a teacher before marrying Lu Qing, and this was the charitable, education-focused image she'd crafted for herself.

In the original story, the money was just for show and never actually went anywhere. After Xiao Anfeng and Lu Siye joined the Lu Corporation after getting married, they even butted heads with Han Xinyi over the charity fund.

But that wouldn't happen this time. In the original story, this charity gala was where Lu Siye brought Xiao Anfeng onto the ship to bid on a one-of-a-kind vintage watch from the last century as a gift for Xiao Anfeng. Naturally, Xiao Liqin butted in halfway through.

Lu Siye and Xiao Liqin openly went head-to-head, driving a six-figure watch up to an eight-figure price that stunned the whole room. Lu Siye ultimately won the watch and, in front of everyone, fastened it onto Xiao Anfeng's wrist.

Of course, that wasn't going to happen now.

Using the original story's description, Xiao Lancui modeled and rebuilt the cruise ship on his computer—the one that would set sail in five days.

The ship was ultra-luxurious—262 meters long, with over 100 suites and full entertainment facilities. It was Lu Qing's gift to Han Xinyi for their twentieth wedding anniversary.

On the third day, Xiao Lancui wrapped up the model.

He was marking several spots in red circles on the cruise ship when a warm breath suddenly fell near his ear. "Brother, buy me a boat too."

Xiao Lancui glanced sideways. Lu Ao had just showered and, once again, wasn't wearing clothes—just a towel loosely wrapped around his waist.

Xiao Lancui looked away, fingers gliding across the touchscreen keyboard, steering the model ship in circles as he replied, "Can't afford it."

Lu Ao chuckled, chin resting comfortably on Xiao Lancui's shoulder as he murmured, "Then I'll buy you one. Will you take it?"

After a few seconds, Xiao Lancui said, "I'll take it once I learn how to sail."

On the fourth day, Xiao Lancui took Sun Xiao to the mall to go shopping. He wanted to buy Sun Xiao a suit, which meant Sun Xiao would have to take off his mask to check the fit.

It was also that day that Xiao Jingli's men finally snapped a side-profile shot of Sun Xiao without his mask.

When Xiao Jingli got the photo, he shot to his feet, hands trembling as he zoomed in on the slightly blurry side profile.

No doubt about it.

It was his Fengfeng!

Xiao Jingli gritted his teeth. He knew it was Xiao Liqin's doing all along! Stealing his man and hiding him in Royal Garden—he'd finally caught him!

The location was a landmark mall in the West District.

Xiao Jingli immediately bolted out the door and jumped in his car, racing to bring Xiao Anfeng back. After driving a bit, he started worrying that Xiao Lancui and the others might leave the mall. If they got back to Xiao Liqin's turf, he really wasn't sure he could snatch Xiao Anfeng back.

After mulling it over, he made a call to buy some time.

When Xiao Lancui saw the incoming call, he gave a faint smile and said to Sun Xiao, "Take your time picking. I've gotta take a call."

Xiao Lancui walked off. Sun Xiao watched him go, then immediately got back to picking out suits.

Tomorrow was his last day as a local guide. Xiao Lancui was going to a maritime gala and wanted to gift him a suit.

It wasn't that he was easily impressed—a suit worth tens of thousands was hard to turn down a second time.

While Sun Xiao carefully browsed, Xiao Lancui picked up the phone.

"Hello."

Xiao Jingli sneered silently. He was already in the car, about to go grab his target, but his tone was soothing. "Dong Dong, it's been a while. How have you been?"

"Fine." Xiao Lancui had already heard the car engine start. He smiled. "It's late—you heading out?"

Xiao Jingli's heart lurched. He silently signaled the driver to keep quiet and laughed as he denied it. "No, I'm home. You know your mother's pushing for a divorce—I'm talking things over with my lawyer... Sigh."

He let out a helpless laugh. "I know I've wronged your mother and you. But Dong Dong, my love for you as your father all these years has been real. I really had no choice. When you reach my age and meet someone who gets under your skin like that, you'll understand."

The timing was about right. Xiao Lancui stopped humoring him. "I don't understand, and I don't want to. Don't call me again."

Xiao Lancui turned off his phone, just like that.

When Xiao Jingli called back and got the power-off message, he cursed in frustration. "You ungrateful brat—you'll die again sooner or later!"

Xiao Jingli was full of regret. Last year he'd messed up—miscalculated the timing. If he'd pulled Xiao Lancui out just a few minutes later, this ungrateful son would've been dead for good.

Xiao Jingli cursed Xiao Lancui as he told the driver to step on it, then called the guy tailing Xiao Lancui. "Watch them! I'm almost there."

Xiao Jingli was frantic, racing to the mall in a panic. His guy appeared, and he rushed over, asking, "They still here?"

"Yeah, yeah!" The man led him upstairs. "They went into the store and haven't come out."

Xiao Jingli finally let out a sigh of relief. At the thought of seeing Xiao Anfeng soon, his heart lightened with joy, as if he'd shed a dozen years. He didn't even bother to keep up appearances when the elevator doors opened—he sprinted to the menswear store.

Entering the store, Xiao Jingli quickly scanned the place. No one. He headed for the fitting rooms. One door was shut, and he pounded on it. "Come out!"

A sales associate rushed over. "Hi, can I help—"

"Shut up!" Xiao Jingli snapped at the associate, then turned back to the door. "Feng—"

The door opened.

Xiao Jingli's hand nearly hit the young man, who coldly knocked it away.

His voice was even colder. "What?"

Xiao Jingli was stunned. He looked behind the young man—empty. His mind went blank, and he demanded, "Where's Xiao Anfeng?!"

Lu Ao sneered. "Old man, who the hell are you? Feng this, idiot that—don't know anyone like that."

The sales associate's head was spinning. She quickly said to Xiao Jingli, "Sir, if you're looking for someone, you can check the information desk—"

Xiao Jingli immediately turned to her. "When did those two young men leave?"

The associate thought for a moment, then remembered. "Oh, you're looking for them! They just bought clothes and needed the restroom. It's faster to go through our staff room, so they went out the back."

Xiao Jingli's face darkened. He didn't linger—he turned and strode out of the store. His man came over, and Xiao Jingli slapped him across the face. "Useless! They're long gone! Go find them!"

Xiao Jingli ran off to search too.

Lu Ao looked away. Draped over his arm was a suit—pure black, minimalist cut. Xiao Lancui had picked it out.

Lu Ao handed it to the associate to wrap, then pulled out his phone and called Xiao Lancui. "Brother, mission accomplished. What do I get?"

Through the phone, Xiao Lancui's voice was soft and gentle. "Didn't I already get you a suit?"

"That doesn't count. I bought them myself." Lu Ao pushed his luck. "When we get back, you owe me a kiss."

"Fine."

It went too smoothly, leaving Lu Ao feeling unreal, until they got back to 2701, went into the master bedroom, and found the bathroom door open. Xiao Lancui had just blow-dried his damp hair and was tying his black silk robe, which made his face look even whiter than snow, while the steam had flushed his lips red. The sash at his waist was tied neat and proper, a world apart from Lu Ao's rough style, cinching a waist so slender you could wrap one hand around it.

Fresh from his bath, Xiao Lancui smelled amazing, the air around him carrying a subtle woody scent.

Lu Ao stopped at the door, his throat going tight.

Xiao Lancui set down the hairdryer and turned to him. "Come here."

But Lu Ao stayed put.

He tugged at his cuffs, restless and frustrated. Sometimes he really hated his A Lan—brilliant in every way, yet so clueless about matters of the heart!

He forced himself to stay calm. "I'm not going over there." He silently ripped the button off his cuff. "I'm a normal grown man, so don't..."

He ground out through his teeth, "Don't tempt me!"

"..." Xiao Lancui actually looked down at his robe, thinking the sash had come loose and he was showing skin.

He checked it twice—the sash was tied tight. He frowned slightly and looked up to speak, but a tall figure was suddenly there, yanking him into a tight embrace.

Lu Ao's breathing was ragged, his burning lips almost touching Xiao Lancui's neck before he barely held himself back.

The veins on Lu Ao's neck were popping as he struggled to speak. "Stop looking. You don't have to do a damn thing to tempt me."

Xiao Lancui was speechless.

Even though he'd read the original text countless times and had some understanding of intimacy between men, connecting himself with "tempting" was something he still... couldn't quite wrap his head around.

After a beat, Xiao Lancui spoke. "Didn't you say you wanted me to kiss you?"

Lu Ao's breathing was heavy. "Bank it for later. Not today."

He clenched his jaw and said fiercely, "If you kiss me now, I'll..." He couldn't finish. He took a deep breath, inhaled deeply against the skin of Xiao Lancui's neck, then finally let him go and pushed him out of the bathroom.

Xiao Lancui had barely steadied himself when he heard the door lock click from inside.

His long lashes fluttered, but he didn't move. Only when he heard the water running did he snap out of it. After a moment, he gave a faint smile, skipped the bed, and wrapped a blanket around himself before heading to the balcony.

He'd just stepped onto the balcony.

The pounding on the upstairs door was crystal clear in the dead of night.

Xiao Lancui wrapped the blanket tighter and listened. After a while, it finally stopped. The apartment was empty—Xiao Jingli had nothing to find.

Xiao Lancui went back inside.

He glanced at the bathroom first; the water was still running, so he went back to bed, planning to wait for Lu Ao to come out before sleeping. But the second his head hit the pillow, he was out.

He slept dreamlessly. When he woke up the next morning, Xiao Lancui was in good spirits, eating well at both breakfast and lunch.

After lunch, they were ready to head to the port.

The port was in the neighboring city of Jingang, about a two-hour drive away.

Sun Xiao drove again, with Xiao Lancui and Lu Ao in the back. As they pulled out of the parking lot, Xiao Lancui rolled down the window for some air.

He caught a glimpse of the car tailing them in his peripheral vision and rolled the window back up.

Once they were on the highway, the man tailing them called Xiao Jingli. "Chairman Xiao, I'm on them. Looks like they're heading to Jingang."

Xiao Jingli replied, "Stay on them. I'm coming right now. Lose them again, and you know the consequences."

"Understood."

Sun Xiao was diligent, pointing out Jingang's local sights as he drove, though clearly Xiao Lancui wasn't interested.

And that one—

He still didn't know his name, the fierce-looking young man who might be Xiao Lancui's brother, wore a cold face with dark circles under his eyes, having either slept poorly or not at all.

Sun Xiao shut his mouth, pressed the accelerator, and drove in silence all the way to the port.

After parking, Xiao Lancui suddenly said, "You two board first. I'll come later." Then he told Sun Xiao, "Make sure you wear your mask. It's crowded on the ship."

"Got it!" Sun Xiao quickly pulled out a mask and put it on.

Xiao Lancui's cold hadn't fully recovered, and Sun Xiao wanted to do his job well to the last day, not bringing any germs to this generous boss.

After getting out of the car, Sun Xiao genuinely offered a word of concern. "Mr. Xiao, there's bound to be plenty of seafood and drinks on the ship. Please don't overindulge—it won't be good for your condition."

Xiao Lancui nodded. "Thank you."

Sun Xiao felt a bit pleased, but when Lu Ao shot him a look, he quickly pressed his lips together. Lu Ao was very annoyed—the frustration of unfulfilled desire.

This time, even a night of cold showers couldn't quell it.

He looked at Xiao Lancui, utterly mournful. "Brother, I'm going."

Xiao Lancui looked at him, then suddenly opened the car door and got out. Before Lu Ao could react, he stood on his toes and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

"See you in a bit."