Chapter 51: Revelry by the Sea (Part One)

Chen Erpao offered a gentle smile, letting his bright, sunny demeanor shine through as he answered Chen Liu’s question without the slightest attempt at concealment.

“Of course it’s mine! What do you think? By the way, your surname is Chen, and so is mine—what a coincidence, isn’t it? It seems we’re destined to know each other.”

Having received the answer she was hoping for, and hearing Chen Erpao’s casual attempt to draw them closer, Chen Liu’s smile grew all the more alluring. Though not as captivating as Wang Xuemei’s, hers was still of the highest order.

“Hehe, of course it’s great! An S-Class Benz speaks of status and grandeur—not something just anyone can drive. I heard there’s a big party tonight on the beach at Sunshine Park in Tuen Mun. It’s supposed to be lively—I haven’t gone swimming in ages and I really want to go,” Chen Liu said, her eyes suddenly shining with anticipation as she looked at Chen Erpao.

He, too, had heard about the party—it was said to be organized by Tuen Mun’s wealthy heirs. The area was also renowned for its date spots: cozy couple’s cafes and leisure stores. He’d originally planned to take Wang Xuemei out for a stroll there tonight, but now, having decided it was time to teach Li Ziyang another lesson, he knew he couldn’t refuse Chen Liu’s invitation.

With a look of delighted excitement, Chen Erpao replied, “Is that so? I was just thinking of checking it out myself—why don’t we go together?”

“Sure! Here’s my number. You’d better come pick me up tonight,” Chen Liu said with a dazzling smile, leaning forward just enough to reveal a hint of her snowy white skin.

Chen Erpao smiled to himself, noting how adept Chen Liu was at the art of seduction—her allure was subtle yet unmistakable, enough to ensnare most young heirs. Clearly, her standards were high; even someone of Li Ziyang’s status was left out in the cold. Or perhaps, he mused with no small measure of self-satisfaction, his own charm was simply irresistible.

By now, the men’s long-distance race had come to an end. Qiu Renjie had claimed first place without suspense, while Li Ziyang finished sixth, far from the top three. His face was clouded by disappointment, but as he glanced over—by chance—toward Chen Erpao and saw him chatting happily with Chen Liu, his expression turned ashen. Fury burned within him, and his resolve hardened: he would make Chen Erpao regret this for the rest of his life.

Chen Erpao caught Li Ziyang’s reaction out of the corner of his eye and allowed himself a smug inner laugh.

“I’ll be off for now—see you tonight,” Chen Liu said with a small smile as the men’s race concluded, before striding straight toward Li Ziyang. Chen Erpao watched her graceful figure disappear into the crowd, but felt nothing in particular. Women like her were born to be social butterflies—capable of stirring a man’s heart, but never truly capturing it.

Next up was the women’s three-thousand-meter run. The girls gathered at the starting line, stretching and warming up. Wang Xuemei had donned a special athletic outfit for the occasion; her fair, smooth skin gleamed under the sun. Many knew she had split from Li Ziyang, but few were aware she was now with Chen Erpao. As a result, quite a few hopeful admirers lingered nearby, each harboring dreams of winning her heart.

Chen Erpao paid them no mind, feeling a small surge of pride instead—a woman belonging to a soldier-king in a security guard’s disguise was bound to stand out this way.

Wang Xuemei stood among the runners, glancing left and right as if searching for someone. After a while, her cheerful expression slowly gave way to disappointment, tinged with a hint of annoyance.

“Sweetheart, you can do it—believe in yourself.” Suddenly, a familiar masculine scent drifted over, accompanied by a soft voice.

Wang Xuemei’s heart leapt. She spun around and found Chen Erpao smiling at her.

“I thought you wouldn’t come cheer me on,” she said, feigning a slight pout. “I was already planning to make you sleep on the sofa tonight.”

As they spoke, a group of girls gathered around, casting teasing glances at the pair.

“Well, well, looks like our famous Erpao and the campus beauty are having a lovely chat! I heard he brings her to school every day, but I never believed it until now,” one pretty girl said with a mischievous smile, standing close to Wang Xuemei as if they were good friends.

“Come on, Xuemei, confess—what’s going on between you two?” the others chorused, joining in the fun.

Hearing this, the boys who admired Wang Xuemei turned to glare at Chen Erpao as though he were their sworn enemy.

Pressed by her friends, Wang Xuemei’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink. She glanced at Chen Erpao and, without hesitation, declared, “We’re together.” Her eyes held a trace of determination as she looked at him.

Chen Erpao was taken aback—he hadn’t expected Wang Xuemei to admit their relationship so openly in front of her peers. A wave of emotion welled up in his heart.

“Candy, candy!” the girls shouted, bursting into laughter. The boys, their hopes dashed, shot one last look at Wang Xuemei before drifting away, downcast.

Soon, the race was about to begin. Chen Erpao gave Wang Xuemei a supportive look before stepping aside to watch.

At the sound of the starting pistol, the girls surged forward. Among the crowd of attractive runners, Wang Xuemei was the clear standout. Her fitted athletic outfit accentuated every curve, and as she ran, her figure was especially eye-catching. The sight reminded Chen Erpao of his school days, when he loved watching the girls’ relay races at sports meets—partly for the lively competition, but also, he admitted, for the spectacle of bouncing chests. He even recalled one incident, long ago, when a girl’s bra came loose during a race, her ample chest bouncing free for a brief, unforgettable moment—so vivid that the memory had kept him awake for an entire night.

Minutes ticked by, lap after lap. Just past the halfway mark, Wang Xuemei, who had been running with the leaders, began to slow, sweat beading on her face as she slipped back into the middle of the pack.

Chen Erpao’s gaze never left her. Far from concerned, he smiled quietly to himself. He knew she was simply conserving energy for the final sprint. Though she was no longer among the frontrunners, she was still close behind them and appeared in far better shape than the others.