Chapter 72: Reluctant Yet Welcoming

"Everyone has emotions and desires; I refuse to believe you don’t." Xu Yaochuan once remembered he had feelings, he had a heart, but that heart was eroded by reality until he slowly forgot he was still a person with a heart.

The more he ate hotpot, the hotter he felt. Xu Yaochuan simply turned and stripped off his shirt, revealing a frame covered in scars, with a blood-stained bandage on his back. The tattoo stretched from his shoulder blade down to his waist, sprawling across his back. When he moved, the tattoo seemed to snarl along with him.

For the first time, Zhong Huayan could clearly see the creature inked on him—it was a dragon, several dragons entwined together. The blood on the bandage atop his back seemed to bring the dragons to life, as if they were breathing. Despite the wound, he remained nonchalant, his tolerance for pain evidently higher than most.

"Rarely—families like yours seldom allow their children to get tattoos," she remarked.

Xu Yaochuan picked up a bottle of liquor and replied with careless bravado, "I got it before I returned to the Xu family."

"How many dragons?"

"Nine."

"Does it mean something?"

Zhong Huayan picked up white liquor as if nothing were amiss. The spirit she chose was exceptionally strong, a sauce-flavored white liquor that would fell most after just a pound. Yet she was formidable—not only did she drink straight from the bottle, she tossed in a piece of ice. She didn’t spit it out; after finishing, she commented as if it were nothing, "This liquor’s no good. Feels like it wasn’t stored properly."

Xu Yaochuan regarded the liquor with interest—she’d downed nearly half a pound, ice included.

"I didn’t expect you to have such a tolerance."

Zhong Huayan propped her head in her hand; years of entertaining clients for Zhong Group had trained her stamina well. Yet her head was always foggy, and a dull ache throbbed at the back of her skull.

"What do you know? You’re still so naive."

"You’re in college, and you call me immature?"

Xu Yaochuan saw her fall silent and drank straight from the bottle himself, his body slouched over the chair, feet thrown casually atop another, his presence overwhelming. He pointed to his back with his chopsticks. "It’s not just nine dragons—there’s a coffin I never finished. When I was young and reckless, I dreamed of being revered by thousands, regardless of the price. The fortune-teller said I had the destiny of a dragon riding Ren water—never short of romance or wealth, but cold and unfeeling. At the time, I didn’t believe it. Back then, I was the worst student, just a little thug every day. My luck with women was all thanks to my face, but without money, it never lasted long."

Zhong Huayan suddenly burst into laughter.

Her laughter was unrestrained, so bright it seemed to burn the man beside her.

She laughed without care for her image. The entire villa echoed with her voice—not shrill, but dazzling, sharper than rain striking ice.

"So your fate is fickle as water. You wanted to tattoo nine dragons pulling a coffin, hoping to get rich and rise in status?"

"What are you laughing at? Laughing so brazenly. Isn’t the tattoo useful? I ended up as the young master of the Xu family, admired by thousands, never wanting for food or drink, constantly surrounded by romance, promoted and prosperous."

Xu Chuyin’s manners were much more refined.

Raised since childhood in the Xu family, he was closer to the image of a noble heir compared to Xu Yaochuan.

"Even in a dragon robe, you don’t look like a crown prince."

Zhong Huayan’s laughter grew even wilder. She spoke as she slapped his back, making Xu Yaochuan grit his teeth in pain, nearly spilling his drink.

"Xu Yaochuan, you certainly lack the airs of an upper-class gentleman, but you’re ruthless enough. No wonder the fortune-teller said you’d have endless romance—with your ferocity, you must drive countless young wives mad."

"I like them young, clean, and preferably with personality. I’m not Fu Yanyan, who prefers older women."

"Watch your words!"

"If I mention Fu Yanyan, you’re unhappy?"

"Even if you say it, you wouldn’t understand—no point arguing with you."

Zhong Huayan suddenly remembered something, her expression cooled, and she took another sip of white liquor.

What did he mean, ‘older’? She’d only been twenty-seven when she became chairman of Zhong Group.

Just as she put the cigarette to her lips, Xu Yaochuan carelessly spun a lighter in his hand, lighting the cigarette dangling from her mouth.

The watch on his wrist glinted faintly in the light.

"My idea of admiration is respecting everything she does. They all say loving someone is about restraint; I disagree. True love isn’t holding on tight, but letting go."

"Xu Yaochuan, what nonsense are you spouting? You don’t love me."

"It’s just a truth. I would never like your type."

She held the cigarette between her lips, smoke rising slowly from the corner of her mouth, her lips reddened from biting, secrets brewing deep within her eyes.

Without makeup, her face appeared muted rather than gentle—especially with the cigarette hanging from her lips, fingers tapping the table as she reached for the next bottle. Her posture was carefree and bold, wholly unlike the actions of an ordinary woman.

"This cigarette is damn awful—foreign brand… No wonder, not authentic."

"You, a college student, know how to eat, drink, gamble, drive sports cars, appraise antiques, and even dance… Are you exceptionally gifted, or Fu Yanyan’s child bride?"

Zhong Huayan shot him a sidelong glance, exhaling smoke. "Child bride? Hahaha, you’re hilarious."

"Otherwise, who raised you like this? Even among the top families in the capital, none nurture their children so thoroughly. Most rich girls play piano, chess, calligraphy, or are useless. But you—your talent rivals that of a true heir."

Xu Yaochuan was very close to her—if their eyes met, they’d be like two kings in opposition.

"Talent. Some things are best left alone. Knowing too much shortens your life."

"You dare threaten me? Honestly, I’ve never met a woman as arrogant as you."

"You always say I’m arrogant, but I can’t compete with you, Young Master Xu."

They looked like two drunkards.

Xu Chuyin saw her about to drink again, his eyes betraying a hidden tenderness. He rose and snatched the bottle from her.

He turned to Xu Yaochuan and said, "Brother! Drink less, it’s bad for your health."

Zhong Huayan was baffled—why take her cup?

"In this house, you don’t get to speak. Little brat, go back to your room and study. Can’t you see I’m sharing drinks with your future sister-in-law? Get lost."

"Brother, she’s not my sister-in-law…"

"If she’s not your sister-in-law, is she your sister-in-law-to-be? With your nerve, you’ll never marry. Given the chance, you still don’t use it."

Seeing his brother impossibly stubborn, Xu Chuyin endured the pain in his neck and addressed her directly.

"Li Yanyan, go back to your room and sleep. My brother just talks like that, don’t take it seriously."

Zhong Huayan’s cheeks were flushed, probably from the liquor’s after-effects. She staggered to stand before the young man.

She was soaked in the scent of alcohol, but her very state unsettled him.

"Come, let me button you up, little brother."

"You’re drunk."

"Nonsense! I’m not drunk! Come on, let me button you up~"

Xu Chuyin seemed both eager and hesitant, surrendering to her hand as she fiddled with his shirt cuff.

Then, she picked up a long tie from the side.