Liu Luanzhou was indeed striking and charming. It was said that both he and Xiao Yin, the head of the Xiao family in Jing City, were notorious flirts—earning them the nickname "South Liu, North Xiao"—with countless people trying to climb into their beds.
Ajiu saw the sudden shift in his boss's expression, and his fists clenched instinctively.
He knew exactly how much Yu Tan despised Liu Luanzhou—and Hu Xiaoyu had once... liked him so much.
If Hu Xiaoyu didn't pick a side now, no one knew what storm was about to hit.
Liu Luanzhou and Yu Tan had never gotten along. They rarely crossed paths, but when they did, sparks always flew. Now seeing Hu Xiaoyu sitting beside Yu Tan, Liu Luanzhou furrowed his brow and walked over.
Still irritated, Yu Tan asked coolly, "So, who looks better—Liu Luanzhou or me?"
If this silly little fish answered wrong, he wouldn't hesitate to knock him out on the spot and carry him away—no time for embarrassment.
Hu Xiaoyu looked at Yu Tan.
The two men were of entirely different types. Liu Luanzhou was like a flourishing tree—vibrant, full of life and beauty. Yu Tan, by contrast, was a deep, dark lake—cold, still, and unfathomably deep.
Of course, Hu Xiaoyu couldn't describe it this poetically.
To a fox demon, the world was often simple and straightforward.
In his mind, both were good-looking, but in incomparable ways. He wasn't even close to Liu Luanzhou.
And there was only one Yu Tan in the world.
The only one of his kind was naturally the best.
From the bottom of his heart, Hu Xiaoyu said, "You look better."
Yu Tan searched his face but found no sign of lying. Satisfied, he commented, "Good boy."
Ajiu watched his boss's suddenly relaxed expression and thought, That's it?
All that tension for nothing.
As Liu Luanzhou stepped closer, Hu Xiaoyu finally noticed the person beside him—Li Yu.
In his memory, Liu Luanzhou had stood out so much that Li Yu, by comparison, had barely registered.
While Hu Xiaoyu stayed calm with a touch of curiosity, Li Yu was outright stunned.
Especially when he saw Hu Xiaoyu holding Yu Tan's hand.
And Hu Xiaoyu... when had he gotten so good-looking?
It didn't look like plastic surgery—his skin was now porcelain-smooth and radiant, his back straight, his eyes clear and bold. He even dared to meet Li Yu's gaze head-on.
Li Yu did not like this feeling.
Especially not the fact that it was Yu Tan. Why Hu Xiaoyu?!
Liu Luanzhou, too, was surprised by Hu Xiaoyu's transformation.
Beyond the initial shock, however, he felt concern. Yu Tan was not a good man—how could Hu Xiaoyu get involved with someone like that?
Everyone in Shen City's elite circles knew that Yu Tan and Liu Luanzhou were sworn enemies.
But rivalry didn't always mean all-out war. Still, their exchanges were always laced with mutual disdain.
Hu Xiaoyu wasn't interested in their conversation.
Mainly because he didn't understand most of it. Also... he was craving fish and just wanted dinner.
He gave Yu Tan's hand a gentle squeeze.
Yu Tan had just said to Liu Luanzhou, "You don't need to worry about the land in the west of the city. I've already won the bid," which made Liu's face darken with anger—when he felt Hu Xiaoyu's squeeze.
What now? Was he getting all emotional?
Though his heart was churning, Yu Tan looked unusually gentle. He even lowered his head to ask with care, "What is it?"
Hu Xiaoyu whispered, "Yu Tan, I'm hungry."
It was obvious to anyone how familiar and close he was with Yu Tan. There was nothing calculated about it—it felt as natural as if they'd been together for years.
Liu Luanzhou was stunned. "Xiaoyu... what did you just call him?"
Li Yu was equally shocked. Even he had to address Yu Tan as "Mr. Yu." Who gave Hu Xiaoyu the right?
No wonder he's glowing like that now!
Hu Xiaoyu didn't dislike Liu Luanzhou. His aura was clean—he was a good person.
So he replied matter-of-factly, "Yu Tan."
Li Yu blurted 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.
Liu Luanzhou and Li Yu were also cousins—Liu's aunt was Li Yu's mother.
That meant, technically, Hu Xiaoyu and Liu Luanzhou were also related by blood.
That was why Liu Luanzhou had visited the Hu family before, and why he recognized Hu Xiaoyu at the construction site and brought him back to the family.
At this moment—
Li Yu thought he could use Hu Xiaoyu's love for Liu Luanzhou as leverage to bring him down a peg.
After all, Liu Luanzhou was his cousin.
Mentioning it again now was just his way of putting Hu Xiaoyu in his place.
Two-timing? With Yu Tan of all people?
Li Yu's words weren't loud, but everyone heard them. The atmosphere stiffened instantly.
Yu Tan stared straight at Li Yu. "Young Master Li really knows how to talk. It's a good thing you've got the Li family backing you. Otherwise, you wouldn't even qualify as a D-lister."
Li Yu didn't dare meet his eyes and edged closer to Liu Luanzhou.
Hu Xiaoyu disliked Li Yu to begin with—and hated him even more for bringing up the original host's crush on Liu Luanzhou.
He chimed in cheerfully, "Yeah, D-list!"
Though Liu Luanzhou didn't like Hu Xiaoyu, being brushed off like this still stung a little.
If not for that familiar face, he would've thought this was someone else entirely.
But he didn't speak up for Li Yu.
His cousin had been spoiled rotten. Maybe it was time he learned a lesson.
Yu Tan looked at Hu Xiaoyu's triumphant expression—his face glowing with joy, clearly unaffected by Li Yu's jab—and couldn't help the smile that reached his eyes.
Such a silly little fox, hiding behind my power.
But then his mood dipped.
This silly fox had once been madly in love with Liu Luanzhou and now acted like he didn't know him at all.
If he could flip like that—what if one day he turned away from him, too?
Yu Tan kept those thoughts buried.
He did enjoy seeing Liu Luanzhou's frustrated face. So much for the "noble young master" upbringing.
All in all, tonight had gone well.
He gave Hu Xiaoyu's hand a gentle tug. "Didn't you say you were hungry? Let's eat."
Liu Luanzhou didn't move.
He looked at Hu Xiaoyu, his gaze warm, voice gentle. "Xiaoyu, it's time to go home. Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu must be worried."
Though he couldn't give Hu Xiaoyu the kind of affection he wanted, Liu Luanzhou still wished him well.
Sometimes, he even wondered—if he hadn't brought Hu Xiaoyu back, would he never have gotten sick?
Seeing him doing so well now gave Liu Luanzhou some peace.
But still—being with someone as cold and vicious as Yu Tan? That was asking for trouble.
Hu Xiaoyu responded, "Brother Liu, I understand. I'll go back when I get a chance."
His tone was too calm, too natural. Liu Luanzhou simply couldn't connect him with the boy who had once clung to him so desperately.
He hesitated to speak, but Hu Xiaoyu was already blunt: "Brother Liu, you don't have to worry anymore. I don't like you."
He was speaking on behalf of the original host.
Once dead, all was forgiven—and the original had long let go.
Li Yu looked at Hu Xiaoyu in shock.
Hu Xiaoyu looked back. "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 looked to Li Yu, puzzled. When had he...?
Yu Tan's brows twitched slightly, but he said nothing.
Li Yu's face twisted with disbelief and a hint of panic.
How dare Hu Xiaoyu...
Wasn't he the one who used to stammer and tremble just being in front of his cousin?
Now he had the nerve to call him out?