Liu Luanzhou was, without a doubt, strikingly handsome and effortlessly charming. Along with Xiao Yin, head of the Xiao family in Jing City, he was infamous as one of the great libertines—"South Liu, North Xiao"—with more than a few ambitious souls eager to climb into their beds.
Ah Jiu caught the subtle shift in his boss's expression, and his fists clenched unconsciously.
He knew all too well how much Yu Tan loathed Liu Luanzhou—yet Hu Xiaoyu had once… liked him so much.
If Hu Xiaoyu failed to choose a side now, there was no telling what kind of storm might break loose.
Yu Tan and Liu Luanzhou had always been oil and water. They rarely crossed paths, but when they did, sparks invariably flew.
And now, spotting Hu Xiaoyu at Yu Tan's side, Liu Luanzhou frowned and strode toward them.
Still simmering with irritation, Yu Tan asked coolly, "So—who looks better, Liu Luanzhou or me?"
If this foolish little fish dared answer wrongly, Yu Tan wouldn't hesitate to knock him out cold and carry him away—damned propriety be damned.
Hu Xiaoyu turned to study Yu Tan.
The two men were of utterly different kinds: Liu Luanzhou was like a flourishing tree, vibrant and full of life; Yu Tan, by contrast, was a deep, still lake—cold, impenetrable, and fathomless.
Not that Hu Xiaoyu could phrase it so poetically. To a fox demon, the world was far simpler.
In his heart, he thought both men were handsome, but not in ways that could be compared. He himself was nothing like Liu Luanzhou.
And Yu Tan? Yu Tan was one of a kind. The only one of his kind. Naturally, that made him the best.
From the depths of his heart, Hu Xiaoyu said, "You look better."
Yu Tan searched his expression and found no trace of falsehood. Satisfied, he murmured, "Good boy."
Ah Jiu, watching the sudden ease in his boss's face, thought dryly: That's it? All that tension—for nothing.
As Liu Luanzhou drew nearer, Hu Xiaoyu finally noticed the figure beside him—Li Yu.
In the original host's memories, Liu Luanzhou had stood out so vividly that Li Yu barely registered.
Hu Xiaoyu regarded him with calm curiosity, but Li Yu was thunderstruck—especially when he saw Hu Xiaoyu's hand entwined with Yu Tan's.
And when had Hu Xiaoyu become… so radiant? His skin glowed like porcelain, his posture straight, his gaze clear and unflinching. He even dared to meet Li Yu's eyes without a tremor.
Li Yu hated the sight.
Hated even more that it was Yu Tan standing at his side. Why him—why Hu Xiaoyu?!
Liu Luanzhou, too, was startled by the transformation. Yet beyond the initial shock, concern set in. Yu Tan was no good man—what business had Hu Xiaoyu getting involved with someone like him?
Everyone in Shen City's elite knew Yu Tan and Liu Luanzhou were sworn enemies. Rivalry didn't always mean bloodshed, but every exchange draped with mutual contempt.
Hu Xiaoyu, however, had no interest in their sparring words.
He couldn't follow half of it anyway. And more importantly—he was craving fish. He only wanted dinner.
So he gave Yu Tan's hand a little squeeze.
Yu Tan had just finished telling Liu Luanzhou, "You needn't concern yourself with the land west of the city. I've already won the bid," which made Liu's face darken with fury—when he felt Hu Xiaoyu's gentle tug.
What now? Getting sentimental on me?
Though his chest tightened with irritation, Yu Tan lowered his head with surprising tenderness. "What is it?"
Hu Xiaoyu whispered, "Yu Tan, I'm hungry."
The intimacy of that tone was unmistakable, so natural it felt as though they had always been this way.
Liu Luanzhou stiffened. "Xiaoyu… what did you just call him?"
Li Yu, too, was aghast. Even he had to address Yu Tan as Mr. Yu. Who gave Hu Xiaoyu the right? No wonder he was glowing like that!
Hu Xiaoyu didn't dislike Liu Luanzhou—his aura was clean; he was a good man.
So he simply answered, matter-of-fact, "Yu Tan."
Li Yu burst out, "You and Mr. Yu… how could you? Don't you like my cousin anymore?"
Li Yu and Hu Xiaoyu were cousins—Li Yu's aunt was Hu Xiaoyu's mother.
And Liu Luanzhou was also Li Yu's cousin—his aunt, Li Yu's mother.
Which technically meant Liu Luanzhou and Hu Xiaoyu were kin as well.
That was why Liu had once visited the Hu family, and why he'd recognized Hu Xiaoyu at the construction site and brought him back.
Now, Li Yu thought he could exploit Hu Xiaoyu's old infatuation with Liu Luanzhou as a weapon. After all, Liu Luanzhou was his cousin. Mentioning it now was just his way of forcing Hu Xiaoyu into his place.
Two-timing? And with Yu Tan, of all people?
Though his voice wasn't loud, everyone heard him. The air turned taut.
Yu Tan fixed him with a stare sharp as a blade. "Young Master Li, you do have a way with words. Good thing you've got the Li family to prop you up. Otherwise, you wouldn't even make the D-list."
Li Yu shrank closer to Liu Luanzhou, unable to hold his gaze.
Hu Xiaoyu had disliked Li Yu from the start—and now hated him all the more for dredging up the original host's pathetic crush.
He added brightly, "Yeah, D-list!"
Though Liu Luanzhou disapproved of Hu Xiaoyu, the slight still stung. If not for that familiar face, he would have sworn this was someone else altogether.
But he didn't defend Li Yu. His cousin had been spoiled rotten. Perhaps it was time he was humbled.
Yu Tan glanced down at Hu Xiaoyu's radiant expression—triumphant, unbothered by Li Yu's jab—and couldn't stop the curve at the corner of his mouth.
Such a silly little fox, hiding behind my power.
Yet even as warmth stirred, a darker thought crept in. This little fox had once been hopelessly besotted with Liu Luanzhou, and now acted as though he were nothing. If he could turn so easily… what if, one day, he turned away from him too?
Yu Tan buried the unease.
Still, it was delicious seeing Liu Luanzhou's face darken. So much for the so-called "noble young master."
All told, the evening was going well.
Yu Tan tugged Hu Xiaoyu's hand gently. "Didn't you say you were hungry? Let's eat."
But Liu Luanzhou didn't budge. His gaze softened as he looked at Hu Xiaoyu, his voice warm. "Xiaoyu, it's time to come home. Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu must be worried."
Though he could never give Hu Xiaoyu the love he sought, Liu Luanzhou still wished him well. Sometimes he even wondered—if he hadn't brought Hu Xiaoyu back, would the boy never have fallen ill?
Seeing him thriving now gave him some measure of peace.
But Yu Tan? That man was ice and poison. Trouble, through and through.
Hu Xiaoyu answered calmly, "Brother Liu, I know. I'll go back when I get a chance."
His voice was too steady, too natural. Liu Luanzhou couldn't reconcile it with the boy who had once clung to him so desperately.
He hesitated, but Hu Xiaoyu spoke plainly: "Brother Liu, you don't have to worry anymore. I don't like you."
It was for the original host's sake, he said.
Once dead, all debts are dissolved. The original had long let go.
Li Yu gaped at him in shock.
Hu Xiaoyu met his eyes squarely. "A few days ago, you told me Brother Liu was waiting for me at your family's vacation villa. That was a lie, wasn't it?"
Liu Luanzhou turned to Li Yu, confused. When did I ever…?
Yu Tan's brow twitched faintly, but he said nothing.
Li Yu's face twisted with disbelief and rising panic.
How dare Hu Xiaoyu…
Wasn't this the same boy who used to stammer and tremble at the mere sight of his cousin?
And now—he dared to call him out?