Chapter 150 Passive

Chapter 150: Passive

The hall continued as if nothing had happened, completely unfazed, almost as if no one had heard the audio from the speakers.

Jiang Luo’s expression was calm as he sipped champagne. He glanced over from a distance, seeing Huo Zongzhuo chatting normally, even smiling—everything was proceeding as usual. Only then did he turn away.

“Jiang Luo…”

Only Zheng Bin looked utterly shocked, taking a long time to react.

Jiang Luo ignored him and walked straight out.

As he exited, the phone in Jiang Luo’s pocket rang.

He pulled it out, glanced at it, answered, and, while listening, responded with an “Mm,” walking in a specific direction.

Meanwhile, Wang Chaohai set his champagne down on a table, elbowed a companion, and the two headed to the restroom. Wang Chaohai, puzzled, asked, “Why weren’t you guys surprised by what we just heard?”

His companion replied, “Surprised? Of course we were surprised.”

“But what reaction did you expect from me?”

“To drop my glass in shock and yell—‘Oh my god, they’re actually gay’?”

“Are you kidding?”

“At an event like this, you have to keep up appearances no matter what.”

“I don’t want to offend Jiang Luo or President Huo. My family still has collaborations with both their companies.”

Wang Chaohai was speechless.

Wang Chaohai went to the restroom to relieve himself, only then catching on.

Indeed, given the occasion—especially with so many political leaders present—no matter what happened, it would ultimately be handled with grace and decorum.

What he had hoped for wouldn’t come to pass.

Wang Chaohai gritted his teeth: *Shit, I was careless.*

He thought again: *Everyone’s just pretending to be proper; who knows what they’re really thinking. Anyway, now that it’s out in the open, and so blatantly, that gay pervert Jiang Luo must be utterly humiliated!*

Just as Wang Chaohai was about to relish the thought, he finished urinating and turned around—only for the restroom door to slam open as Jiang Luo walked in calmly, making straight for him.

Wang Chaohai immediately feigned innocence, acting brazen: “What do you want?!”

Then, as if protesting too much, he added, “It wasn’t me who played that CD!”

“So you know it was a CD, Young Master Wang.”

Jiang Luo chuckled lightly, nonchalantly, stepped closer, raised his hand, and slapped Wang Chaohai across the face. “Did you enjoy your little revenge?” he asked.

Then, signaling Lao Si, who had followed him into the restroom, Jiang Luo turned and said calmly, “Tie him up.”

“Tie him up” meant exactly that—and he was bound tightly.

In a room upstairs at the hotel were Xue Zhizhong and his men, Lao Si Wang Junqing, Lao San, Jiang Luo, and Wang Chaohai, who was trussed up like a caterpillar, lying on the floor with his mouth stuffed.

Wang Chaohai squirmed like a caterpillar, struggling on the ground, making “Mm! Mm!” sounds from his throat, his eyes fixed on Jiang Luo, the corners red with frustration. Jiang Luo, meanwhile, was leaning back on the sofa, watching TV.

Soon, Huo Zongzhuo arrived. Pushing the door open, he first glanced at Jiang Luo, then at Wang Chaohai on the floor.

“He did it?”

Huo Zongzhuo’s expression was neutral.

“Yes! It was him!”

Xue Zhizhong spoke up first: “This kid bribed a hotel staff member to do it.”

“There’s no surveillance in the equipment room next to the banquet hall, but that staff member admitted it.”

“Jiang Luo tricked him into confessing right away!”

“Mm! Mm!”

Wang Chaohai lifted his head and neck to look at Huo Zongzhuo.

Huo Zongzhuo glanced at him and signaled to Wang Junqing: “Call his parents to come pick him up. Tell them they have three days to give me an explanation.”

“Let them know that if there’s no explanation, I’ll feed their precious son to the sharks.”

With that, Huo Zongzhuo bent down in front of everyone, hugged Jiang Luo—who showed no expression—on the sofa, and said, “Let’s go home.”

“We’ll talk at home.”

Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo left. Xue Zhizhong obsequiously saw them to the door of the room, then came back and kicked Wang Chaohai on the floor, venting his frustration: “Damn it!”

*The secret only he had known was now public. If others started sending men to President Huo or Jiang Luo to curry favor, how would he maintain his unique advantage in currying favor? How would he secure business deals and make money?*

“You little brat!”

Xue Zhizhong kicked him again.

On the way back, in the car, the interior was eerily quiet. Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo were silent, neither saying a word.

Huo Zongzhuo simply held Jiang Luo’s hand quietly by his side—tonight, everything had happened too suddenly and was truly shocking.

On such an occasion, those words ringing out had been like tearing off their clothes, exposing them stark naked in public.

Over the years, had no one noticed the unusual relationship between Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo?

No, of course some had.

In private, they were exceptionally close—working together, running companies together, living together, going everywhere side by side. In the business world, full of shrewd operators, how could no one have noticed?

People had their suspicions, but they weren’t certain and couldn’t speak openly.

Did it matter? In a way, yes, but in another way, no.

It was just a matter of private morals, hardly comparable to interests.

Just like tonight, on such an occasion, with leaders present, the political and business circles formed a solid community of interests. Everyone had to keep up the act; no one would tear apart the necessary decorum.

Jiang Luo understood this, and Huo Zongzhuo understood it even better.

Were they embarrassed? Not in the slightest.

Everyone was acting for their benefit, covering things up for them, which precisely showed how high they stood, how much they possessed, and how much clout they had. No one wanted to, nor would anyone dare to offend them.

Except for fools like Wang Chaohai.

You could even predict that after tonight, everything would continue like nothing happened. Aside from the Wang family needing to give a clear explanation and offer apologies, everyone else would go about their business, just as the Earth continues to spin—regardless of the gossip going around behind their backs.

Under such circumstances, if this were about anything else, Jiang Luo would have gone on with his life unaffected, not giving it a second thought.

But it was precisely the exposure of their private relationship that stirred something in Jiang Luo's heart—

For many years, he couldn't tell anyone that he loved Huo Zongzhuo, that he was with Huo Zongzhuo.

Aside from Wang Chuang, he'd never mentioned it to anyone around him all these years.

Huo Zongzhuo felt the same way.

In public, at most, they were very close friends and business partners.

Only in private, behind closed doors, could they show affection.

Their love had always hidden in the shadows, in the dark, as if it were something shameful.

Jiang Luo got this. He knew there was no choice, knew that society didn't accept homosexuality, that he and Huo Zongzhuo couldn't hold hands on the street or show affection like normal couples.

It would seem strange, cause surprise, and people would point fingers.

Jiang Luo didn't mind hiding just to kiss Huo Zongzhuo before. He understood that the world didn’t revolve around him and that one had to learn to adapt.

But tonight, with everything thrown out in the open so blatantly, when those words echoed through the speakers, Jiang Luo felt pressure and shame. It was this that was eating at him—he loved Huo Zongzhuo, so why should he feel pressured? Why should he feel ashamed?

Did even he himself think his love for Huo Zongzhuo was something shameful?

Did even he want to cover it up?

If he felt this way, was his love for Huo Zongzhuo so timid and weak?!

Huo Zongzhuo could tell Jiang Luo’s unusual silence.

He took Jiang Luo’s hand, holding it soothingly.

As they neared home, Jiang Luo finally lifted his other hand to his forehead and said coolly, "It’s my fault too."

"I’ve been too arrogant in public."

"That fool Wang Chaohai was pushed too far by me."

"Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so brainless as to do something like this at an event like this."

Jiang Luo could foresee how much talk there would be behind their backs tonight.

He could choose to brush it off completely, but he feared that Huo Zongzhuo would face scrutiny and judgment in the future.

Huo Zongzhuo squeezed his hand without a word. Just then, his phone rang. He looked at the screen—it was a call from Wang Chaohai’s parents. Huo Zongzhuo hung up without answering.

Once they were home, as soon as they walked in, Jiang Luo turned around, grabbed Huo Zongzhuo’s arm, looked at the man, and said with remorse, "When those words played over the speakers today, I actually felt pressured, as if I’d been stripped naked and felt ashamed."

"Huo Zongzhuo."

Jiang Luo showed an expression of anguish and guilt he had never revealed before. "It’s the first time I’ve realized how cowardly I am."

"Don’t think like that," Huo Zongzhuo said gently and calmly. "Humans are social animals, easily swayed by what society thinks."

"Our thoughts aren’t just our own. Culture, genes, society, and environment all influence us."

"At present, homosexuality really isn’t accepted."

"It’s normal for you to feel this way."

As he spoke, Huo Zongzhuo pulled Jiang Luo into a hug, holding him close to comfort him. "Did it scare you?"

"Don't be scared, don't worry."

"We stand high enough that even societal norms can’t easily judge us."

"Don’t overthink it. Whatever you felt or reacted in that moment was normal."

"And you?" Jiang Luo looked up. "How did you feel?"

Huo Zongzhuo remained silent.

Jiang Luo, knowing him well, guessed, "Were you very angry?"

"Yes, I wasn’t happy," Huo Zongzhuo finally said. "Exposing this doesn’t bother me, but I don’t want you to live under the shadow of gossip."

"You know I’ve always emphasized that our relationship shouldn’t be disclosed lightly. Given the current social environment and level of cultural openness, it wouldn’t be good for either of us."

"Having it exposed like this today is a direct challenge. I won’t let it slide."

Jiang Luo felt as if a heavy stone were pressing on his chest, stifling him. Being forced into this situation, there was no sense of relief in having everything laid bare. "That bastard Wang Chaohai."

After a moment of silence, he tried to look on the bright side. "Now that it’s out in the open, can we hold hands in public from now on?"

"Hold hands whenever you want," Huo Zongzhuo said, kissing Jiang Luo’s forehead.

Jiang Luo thought of something else. "What are you planning to do about the Wang family?"

Then, realizing it wasn’t that important, he changed the subject. "After tonight, does this mean our relationship is public?"

"Being forced into it doesn’t count as going public," Huo Zongzhuo clearly had his own thoughts. "Only when we acknowledge it ourselves does it count."

Jiang Luo looked up at the man. "What are you thinking?"

Huo Zongzhuo didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he cupped the younger man’s face, gazing at him intently. His eyes grew deeper, gentle yet firm.

Huo Zongzhuo said, "You’ve been with me since you were nineteen. I won’t let you be stripped bare in public like this."

"Subjected to whispers and gossip."

"Give me some time. I want everyone to know that we’re together, rightfully and properly."

"I want to marry you with all the traditional ceremonies, with a grand procession to welcome you into my home."