When Bian Yiqiu walked out of the celebrity club, the entrance was already flooded with a crowd of people. Almost everyone was busy snapping photos of the striking red LaFerrari parked nearby. Some bolder young women, oblivious to their surroundings, were confidently posing in front of the car, enjoying their moment without a care.

The car was undeniably stunning, and Bian Yiqiu had longed for it for quite some time. Now, right in front of him, it seemed almost too good to be true. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t moved. But something about the situation felt off, like when Lu Xiao suddenly came back and declared, “I don’t want Chu Yi anymore; I like you.” There was no logical explanation for it, and it all felt strangely surreal.

Zuo Cheng asked, “Are we still smashing it?”

Bian Yiqiu stood slightly apart from the crowd and thought for a moment, feeling it would be a shame to destroy it. “The morning dim sum at Yuexiang Garden is almost over.”

Zuo Cheng replied, “Then let’s eat first and smash it after.”

Bian Yiqiu agreed, but just as he turned to leave, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, paused, and answered the call.

“Boss Bian,” Ruan Chengjie’s smiling voice came through the speaker.

“President Ruan,” Bian Yiqiu said, holding the phone in one hand while his other hand was tucked in his trench coat pocket. “I’ve heard of forced buying and selling, but I’ve never heard of forced gift-giving.”

“Don’t like it?” Ruan Chengjie asked.

“No, I like it very much,” Bian Yiqiu replied. “But I think gifts should be given with sincerity. At the very least, you should drive the car over yourself.”

“How do you know I didn’t drive it over myself?”

As Ruan Chengjie’s words fell, the sound of a car horn suddenly echoed from across the street.

Bian Yiqiu turned his head and saw a relatively low-key black Mulsanne slowly lowering its window. Ruan Chengjie, holding the phone, looked over at him from inside the car, a distant smile tugging at his lips.

“Boss Bian, would you do me the honor of joining me for a brunch?”

Bian Yiqiu couldn’t help but smile at that, raising an eyebrow as he stood on the opposite side of the busy street, making eye contact with the man inside the car. “I’m only in the mood for dim sum at Yuexiang Garden today.”

Ruan Chengjie responded, “No problem.”

Bian Yiqiu hung up the phone and walked confidently across the street toward him.

Upon arriving at Yuexiang Garden, the morning dim sum session had just ended. However, Ruan Chengjie seemed to have used some method, perhaps it was the power of money, to extend the dim sum hours for them.

Satisfied after the meal, Bian Yiqiu was in a great mood. His annoyance over Ruan Chengjie’s forceful gift of the LaFerrari softened, though he still insisted on not accepting it.

Unable to convince him otherwise, Ruan Chengjie agreed to have the car driven away but left the keys with Bian Yiqiu, saying that if he changed his mind, he could always claim ownership.

Bian Yiqiu didn’t refuse again, simply saying “Alright,” before slipping the keys into his pocket.

They each took a step back, and everyone was happy.

One after another, the beautifully crafted Cantonese dim sum baskets were placed on the table. Bian Yiqiu ate with the gusto of a whirlwind, showing no restraint or grace. Meanwhile, Ruan Chengjie sat across from him, smiling with elegance and politeness, his every gesture exuding the charm of a true gentleman.

During the meal, Bian Yiqiu brought up the 4 billion project Ruan Chengjie had mentioned before. Ruan Chengjie told him that Huarui Group had secured nearly ten square kilometers of land in the Eastern Bay, including two connected natural valleys. They planned to develop a large-scale, integrated eco-tourism demonstration area. The preliminary plan included five major sections: a natural ecology zone, an arts and leisure zone, a sports and entertainment zone, a luxury villa area called Tianhai Grand Residence, and a cluster of themed hotels. Currently, the construction and business development for each section were being carried out through a bidding process. He had brought it up earlier to ask if Bian Yiqiu might be interested.

“Why come to me for cooperation? Out of these several sections, I see that only the hotel part is something I could be involved in. But since this is a tourism showcase area, wouldn’t introducing internationally renowned five-star hotels be a better way to enhance the project’s value?” After listening to his introduction, Bian Yiqiu wasn’t fazed by this sudden opportunity falling into his lap. That, in itself, was no easy feat.

“Most internationally renowned star-rated hotels already have their own unique styles and management systems, and it’s unlikely they would align with the theme of an eco-tourism area. Also, since it’s a tourism zone, we need to consider tourists from all age groups and income levels. Expensive, luxurious star-rated hotels are necessary, but beyond that, I’d like to create a few unique concept hotels, such as a forest hotel, a waterfall hotel, a hot spring hotel, or even treehouse lodges. These options, both in terms of pricing and novelty, would appeal more to young people who love outdoor sports.”

Bian Yiqiu had to say, Ruan Chengjie was clearly born for business—his ideas were mature and ambitious. From what he said, it was clear that international five-star hotels were hardly a priority for him. For every section he wanted to build, from the surface to the core, it had to be under the name of Huarui.

“Then what’s the point of bringing Jiu’an in? Huarui could easily develop the hotel cluster you mentioned on its own. Why share the cake with others?”

Ruan Chengjie smiled upon hearing this, lifted his teacup, and took a sip of the fragrant, top-tier Monkey King tea. After a pause, he slowly said, “Such a large piece of cake, Huarui can’t possibly consume it all on its own. Some of the benefits have to be shared. To be honest with you, aside from real estate, the Tianhai Grand Residence project will also include two 36-hole mountain golf courses and an ultra-five-star hotel as supporting facilities. In order to ensure the entire project is completed within the set timeframe, the hotel cluster in the tourism area will inevitably need to be handled separately.”

With that, Bian Yiqiu finally understood. In the end, Huarui’s main business was still real estate. The development of this eco-tourism area wasn’t just about boosting Huarui’s brand influence; it was likely more about creating momentum for the Tianhai villa area. For Jiu’an, this was indeed a great opportunity.

“Even so, Jiu’an can’t be your only choice, right?”

As a domestic real estate giant, Huarui didn’t just throw out an olive branch—if it extended even a single leaf, it would spark a fierce competition among various companies. Jiu’an, on the other hand, had only been properly established for about ten years, with a reputation far less established than Huarui, which had been operating for three generations. Why would Ruan Chengjie choose Jiu’an and forsake all the other companies?

“Of course not. Currently, there are over a hundred companies interested in bidding. However…”

Ruan Chengjie paused deliberately. Bian Yiqiu didn’t interrupt, waiting for the rest of the sentence.

“If you’re willing, I can make it the only option.”

“President Ruan, you sure know how to joke,” Bian Yiqiu said, laughing a few times in response. However, the way Ruan Chengjie looked at him was a bit too intense, and the laughter soon faded into an awkward silence. He quickly regained his composure and said seriously, “Of course, working with Huarui is something I’d never turn down, but such a big matter requires me to consult with the other shareholders before making a decision.”

“Alright,” Ruan Chengjie nodded, picking up his chopsticks and placing a perfectly crafted crystal shrimp dumpling into Bian Yiqiu’s bowl. Without missing a beat, he smoothly changed the subject. “The shrimp dumplings are quite tasty, you should eat them while they’re hot.”

Bian Yiqiu thought meeting Ke Mingxuan was the worst thing to happen to him this year. As the year drew to a close, it seemed the clouds of bad luck hanging over him were finally starting to fade. With the arrival of the New Year, the gloomy atmosphere lifted, as if the sun had broken through the clouds. Although spring had yet to arrive, he could already picture peach blossoms swaying in the breeze.

As someone who had seen his fair share of people, Bian Yiqiu, a pure gay man, could tell that President Ruan’s sudden attentiveness and nearly unmasked burning gaze were leading somewhere. The flashy sports car, the luxury house, all the flattery disguised as business deals—these were tricks he had used in the past to win over men. He understood it, saw through it, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why Ruan Chengjie was interested in him.

After the morning dim sum at Yuexiang Garden, President Ruan, who was supposed to be busy with a packed schedule, continuously extended new invitations for the next few days—golf, fishing, horseback riding, sailing—each day brought a new adventure.

Bian Yiqiu, with nothing much on his plate and no reason to refuse, decided to accept the invitation. He did so with a sense of curiosity, wondering what other tricks Ruan Chengjie could pull off next, all while keeping an air of casual amusement.

Ruan Chengjie was someone who had the money, leisure, and skills to enjoy life to the fullest. Though at times his sharp and profound nature, typical of his social class, would slip through, for the most part, he was cultured, considerate, and poised—someone easy to get along with. Despite their differing backgrounds and experiences, the two seemed to never run out of topics to talk about. It was clear that Ruan Chengjie was the one making the effort, but it was this very effort that made Bian Yiqiu realize the difference between him and Ke Mingxuan.

Bian Yiqiu enjoyed playing golf, so Ruan Chengjie would accompany him on the course; Bian Yiqiu didn’t like red wine, so Ruan Chengjie would say, “Red wine really isn’t your thing”; when Bian Yiqiu mentioned how difficult the underworld was to navigate, Ruan Chengjie would discuss how to quickly and steadily clean up a business’s reputation. Of course, the biggest difference was that when Ke Mingxuan sought him out, it was usually because he wanted something physical, while Ruan Chengjie’s intentions, aside from the occasional intense gaze, didn’t involve any flirtation.

Being respected was a new experience for Boss Bian. Having fought his way through life, crawling through the mud since childhood, he had encountered many who feared him but few who truly respected him. Brothers who had fought alongside him, dodged bullets, and shared wounds would turn their backs for money, stabbing him right in the heart. “Respect” was a rare word in the underworld.

So, this feeling of novelty was like a soft, furry cat paw, scratching at Bian Yiqiu’s heart.

To be fair, Ruan Chengjie was quite handsome, and he definitely caught Bian Yiqiu’s eye. The only uncertainty was whether the formidable Ruan Chengjie, whose name could shake Z City’s business world, would be willing to bottom for him.

Although his combat abilities were exceptional, and despite never gaining an advantage over Ke Mingxuan, Bian Yiqiu didn’t believe that simply switching to another man would make things better—no matter how high-quality someone like Ruan Chengjie might seem. That wouldn’t solve anything.

After yet another date, Ruan Chengjie still saw Bian Yiqiu back to the celebrity club, and, like a gentleman, bid him farewell with a “See you tomorrow.” However, Bian Yiqiu couldn’t hold back any longer. He grabbed Ruan Chengjie’s collar and pulled him into his arms for a kiss.

Ruan Chengjie seemed a bit surprised at first, but quickly cupped the back of Bian Yiqiu’s head, deepening the kiss.

The cramped space of the sports car barely allowed room for the two tall, big men to stretch, their positions awkward and uncomfortable, but the kiss was intense. A raw, primal domination and submission played out—one advancing while the other retreated, one chasing while the other pushed forward. Neither was willing to give in, neither willing to concede. Their lips locked, teeth meshed, sucking, tangling, pulling, shoving—like enemies rather than lovers, as if they wanted to tear each other apart. This aggressive intensity made Bian Yiqiu’s heart race a little.

From the looks of it, it seems like overpowering President Ruan wouldn’t be so easy?

His breathing grew heavier as the air in his mouth was drained, and Bian Yiqiu found himself struggling for breath. He pulled back, trying to break free, but Ruan Chengjie tightened his grip on his head, rendering him motionless. Bian Yiqiu had no choice but to grab the back of his head, yanking his hair to forcibly pull him away.

“You…” Bian Yiqiu’s voice got caught in his throat. The look in Ruan Chengjie’s eyes, so different from his usual calm demeanor, made him feel a sudden chill. It was as if the layer of politeness had peeled away, revealing a beast with sharp fangs and a fierce presence.

However, on the other hand, what man with a little bit of backbone wouldn’t turn into a beast once his clothes are off? This was something Bian Yiqiu, of all people, had no right to look down on others for. But now, having shifted from the role of the beast to the prey under the beast’s claws, the feeling was far from pleasant.

Fortunately, Ruan Chengjie quickly returned to his usual self and whispered with a light chuckle in his ear, “I was planning to take you on a few more dates, but you’ve ruined my plans. What should we do now?”

Bian Yiqiu laughed too. “Easy. We move on to the next step of the date: getting into bed.”

Ruan Chengjie asked, “Then would you be willing to bottom?”

Bian Yiqiu thought for a moment and decided to make a concession, “One time each.”

Ruan Chengjie replied, “Deal.”

Bian Yiqiu was both surprised and delighted by the answer. He never expected a man like Ruan Chengjie to be so easygoing. Prepared for a long battle, Bian Yiqiu’s mind immediately started to race with possibilities, wondering if he should seize the moment and pull him into the club to act first before anything else. Just as he was considering it, Ruan Chengjie returned to the driver’s seat, curling his lips and turning his head to say, “But not today.”

Bian Yiqiu’s fiery passion was instantly extinguished, leaving him feeling as wilted and droopy as an eggplant after a frost.

Ruan Chengjie couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s Fatty’s birthday today, and everyone’s getting together. Do you want to come?”

“No, thanks.” Fatty’s birthday would definitely have Ke Mingxuan attending, and right now, Bian Yiqiu had no desire to see that person.

“Alright, I’ll give you a call later then.”