Chapter 114 Answer

Chapter 114 The Answer

Jiang Luo couldn't quite grasp it; his mind was entirely consumed by this thought. He barely registered the fact that he now owned another factory.

He kept wondering: Gifting a factory, and one of such caliber—could it be that his "Huo Dad" liked him?

Yes, Jiang Luo hadn't overlooked this. He was always sharp, capable of both forward and backward reasoning, and this possibility naturally occurred to him.

But Jiang Luo quickly dismissed the idea.

Not only because of his previous life but also because Jiang Luo himself was attracted to men.

If Huo Zongzhuo were truly like him—two people on the same wavelength, with a good relationship and living together—they would surely have sensed it in each other.

Yet, after all this time, Jiang Luo had never once suspected Huo Zongzhuo's sexual orientation, nor had he detected anything amiss.

So, Jiang Luo discarded the notion that Huo Zongzhuo liked him and continued to ponder the strange feelings he harbored.

He pondered and pondered, but couldn't make sense of it. Jiang Luo found it utterly bizarre.

He finally stopped dwelling on it and turned his thoughts to the factory Huo Zongzhuo had given him.

That evening, Jiang Luo went to Huo Zongzhuo's room. The two sat together on the sofa, and Jiang Luo leaned his shoulder and arm against Huo Zongzhuo's again, bringing up the factory. "What were you thinking, giving me a factory?" he said. "You must have planned it since the New Year, right?"

Huo Zongzhuo explained himself: "Because I thought you needed a factory in the south."

"Shenzhen is a special economic zone, with an excellent business environment, government support, and it's just beginning to develop."

"Having a factory here will make it easier for you to spread your wings."

Jiang Luo nudged him with their touching shoulders. "You're really too good to me."

"How much did it cost?"

"Was it millions?"

Huo Zongzhuo: "Don't worry about the money."

Jiang Luo didn't hold back: "Am I really that important to you? You're going to all this trouble for me, giving me something so extravagant."

Huo Zongzhuo turned his head: "I'm investing. There will be profit returns."

"Cut it out."

Jiang Luo wasn't easily fooled and nudged him again with his shoulder. "You obviously just want to be good to me."

Huo Zongzhuo couldn't help but laugh.

He was both worried that giving the factory might make Jiang Luo realize something he shouldn't and happy that Jiang Luo understood his sincerity and affection.

Huo Zongzhuo didn't say anything but raised his arm and pulled Jiang Luo closer.

This gesture wasn't unusual between men, but men didn't typically do this casually in everyday life.

Yet Jiang Luo had, at some point, started liking to lean against him like this, and Huo Zongzhuo let him, occasionally unable to resist his fond feelings and pulling Jiang Luo closer, making their relationship even more intimate.

So Jiang Luo nestled in the crook of Huo Zongzhuo's arm. "What were you really thinking, giving me such a big factory?"

Huo Zongzhuo looked at him: "As long as you like it, that's all that matters."

Jiang Luo: "Maybe we should get a DNA test."

"You're more like family than actual family now."

Huo Zongzhuo laughed. When Jiang Luo turned on the charm, he could truly warm someone's heart.

Jiang Luo's next question was: "You don't like me, do you?"

Huo Zongzhuo: "..."

Jiang Luo asked seriously: "Do you like men?"

Huo Zongzhuo's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression and tone neutral: "No, not at all."

"Really?"

Jiang Luo was very direct: "The level of this factory gift—if I weren't a man but a woman, I'd totally misunderstand and think you liked me and were proposing."

Huo Zongzhuo smiled, though he felt a pang in his heart.

He couldn't admit it. He knew Jiang Luo was just joking around.

Sure enough, Jiang Luo followed up: "Even though I'm a man, I'd still marry you now."

"Hubby."

Jiang Luo called out without hesitation: "What else are you planning to give me? Just give me everything at once."

"Did you buy land in Shenzhen to build on?"

"Want to give that to me too?"

"I'd like that as well."

Huo Zongzhuo laughed, raised the arm around Jiang Luo's shoulder, and gently traced his fingers along Jiang Luo's cheek.

He knew these words were just jokes, not to be taken seriously, but he loved it anyway.

Let these moments be something he stole.

In a way, he also felt that the closeness and intimacy he now shared with Jiang Luo were the result of his deliberate guidance, tacit allowance, and indulgence.

"Focus on managing the factory well."

Huo Zongzhuo raised his hand again and patted the back of Jiang Luo's head.

"Got it."

Jiang Luo also raised his right hand and pinched Huo Zongzhuo's chin.

And as it turned out, as capable as Huo Zongzhuo was, the angles and aspects he'd considered were extremely comprehensive and thorough.

The next noon, Huo Zongzhuo took Jiang Luo to a restaurant to meet someone as arranged.

Beforehand, Huo Zongzhuo hadn't said much, only mentioning they were meeting a few bosses, and Jiang Luo hadn't asked for details.

Just before entering the private room, Huo Zongzhuo said, "The bosses from the Zhou clan's garment factories—I showed you their profiles. Remember?"

Jiang Luo was stunned: "You brought me to see them?"

Upon entering the private room, he recognized the faces—each one matched the photos in the documents.

The others warmly shook hands with Huo Zongzhuo and Jiang Luo, seeming quite familiar with Huo Zongzhuo.

After sitting down and listening to Huo Zongzhuo exchange a few pleasantries in awkward Mandarin with the Cantonese bosses, Jiang Luo realized that Huo Zongzhuo did indeed know them.

One of the bosses, while chatting with Jiang Luo, revealed, "Now that Mr. Huo has come to the South, it's only right that we show him proper hospitality."

"You might not know this, Young Manager Jiang, but back when our Zhou Clan's ancestral hall was facing demolition, it was Mr. Huo who worked tirelessly to help us preserve it."

"Everyone in our Zhou Clan, young and old, is deeply grateful to Mr. Huo."

Hearing this, Jiang Luo was even more impressed with Huo Zongzhuo.

Jiang Luo also understood that Huo Zongzhuo had brought him here to "make friends."

Sure enough, midway through the meal, when the conversation turned to Jiang Luo’s yet-to-open factory in Shenzhen, one of the Zhou Clan men said, "If you need any help, just say the word. No need to stand on ceremony."

When the topic shifted to the wholesale market in Guangzhou and the surrounding garment markets, another Zhou Clan man added, "If it were anyone else, we probably wouldn’t agree."

"But since it’s Mr. Huo’s sworn brother, we must welcome you."

"We’ve also heard that Manager Jiang is very talented—his clothing designs are beautiful and sell extremely well in Haicheng."

"If we ever make similar clothes in the future, we hope Manager Jiang will go easy on us and let us earn a little too."

The conversation flowed smoothly and pleasantly. Jiang Luo knew that with Huo Zongzhuo paving the way for him so thoroughly, his future business endeavors in Shenzhen would be much smoother.

Taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, Jiang Luo picked up a shot glass filled with liquor, clinked it with Huo Zongzhuo’s cup, and whispered, "Mr. Huo, how can I ever thank you enough?"

"How about I treat you to a foot massage after this?"

As he spoke, Jiang Luo made as if to raise his cup.

"Don’t drink anymore."

Huo Zongzhuo reached over and took the cup from Jiang Luo’s hand. "You’ve had a lot already. Any more and you’ll be drunk again."

Then he added softly, "Who’s going to give me a foot massage? You?"

"Sure."

Jiang Luo pretended to reach under the table.

"Enough."

Huo Zongzhuo laughed and advised, "Eat something. Have that bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall—sober up and fill your stomach."

After the meal ended and they returned to the hotel, walking through the lobby, Jiang Luo felt exhilarated thinking about the new factory and his future development in the South. Unable to contain himself, he loosened his tie while walking and began singing, "Sweet, so sweet, your smile is so sweet, like flowers blooming in the spring breeze, blooming in the spring breeze..."

He was truly riding high on success.

Huo Zongzhuo looked over, his expression equally cheerful and tender.

Jiang Luo, perhaps drunk from the alcohol, followed Huo Zongzhuo back to the room. While Huo Zongzhuo sat on the sofa, Jiang Luo leaned over from behind, wrapping his arms around the man’s neck and shoulders, resting his chin on Huo Zongzhuo’s shoulder, and murmured, "Mr. Huo, you’re so good to me."

"I really want to marry you."

"Why don’t you consider being with a man?"

"I could be your wife."

"Really."

"Look at me—I’m good-looking, with fair skin."

"And I have long legs."

Huo Zongzhuo laughed heartily, reaching up to touch Jiang Luo’s face, his tone affectionate. "Seems like you’re really drunk."

But that night, lying alone in his bed, Jiang Luo didn’t fall asleep quickly despite the alcohol. Instead, he lay awake, repeatedly pondering the inexplicable, indescribable feeling in his heart.

What was it?

What exactly was it?

His mind was filled with images of Huo Zongzhuo—Huo Zongzhuo in various expressions and postures.

He simply couldn’t sleep.

The next morning, at the breakfast table, Jiang Luo kept yawning.

Huo Zongzhuo handed him a glass of milk and asked with concern, "Didn’t sleep well last night?"

"Yeah."

Jiang Luo yawned again and took a sip of milk.

"What’s wrong? Drank so much but couldn’t sleep?"

Jiang Luo shook his head, feeling drowsy. "Who knows?"

He didn’t eat much, propping his head up as his eyelids drooped repeatedly, his gaze fixed on Huo Zongzhuo across the table.

Staring at Huo Zongzhuo, he kept wondering in his drowsiness: What’s wrong with me? Is there something off about how I see Huo Zongzhuo? What exactly is it?

Jiang Luo was so tired he didn’t even realize he was staring intently at Huo Zongzhuo’s eyelashes and lips.

Especially the lips—at one point, he stared for a long time, thinking how perfectly shaped they were, neither too thin nor too thick, with a lovely color. They must feel great to kiss...

Jiang Luo jolted as if electrocuted, quickly snapped out of it, averted his gaze, and shook his head.

What was he thinking?

After breakfast, they planned to visit the new factory again, so Huo Zongzhuo drove Jiang Luo there.

Jiang Luo was too tired and worried he might doze off, so he spotted a coffee shop along the way and asked Huo Zongzhuo to pull over and wait while he bought coffee.

Jiang Luo bought two cups—one for himself and one for Huo Zongzhuo.

Carrying the takeout bag as he stepped out of the shop, he headed toward the car. The moment he looked up, Jiang Luo froze—

The car was across the street, and Huo Zongzhuo had also gotten out, leaning against the car while waiting for him, watching his direction.

It was a sunny day in Shenzhen, a weekend, and the streets were crowded.

On the short path between Huo Zongzhuo and Jiang Luo, there were cars, pedestrians, and a mother holding a little girl’s hand—the girl clutching two pink balloons.

Under the sunlight, everything was bright and richly colorful.

It was just such an ordinary scene—blue sky, sunlight, the road, pedestrians, the little girl, pink balloons, and Huo Zongzhuo leaning against the car, waiting.

Yet, when Jiang Luo met Huo Zongzhuo’s gaze from afar, his heart suddenly skipped two beats, and those two beats echoed suddenly through his chest and ears—thump, thump—unusually clear.

I like him.

The answer came without warning, falling from the sky.