The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed into the room, Jiang Chen woke up from his sleep.
After the gene-enhancing treatment, his body had become increasingly powerful, almost like a tireless machine. Last night, he and Liu Yao had spent countless hours together, but when he woke up, he felt no fatigue at all.
Jiang Chen glanced at his EP. When it wasn't in use, the device resembled an elegant, albeit strange, luxury watch.
Username: Jiang Chen
Body Status:
Muscle Strength: 25Bone Density: 27Reflexes: 29Brain Cell Activity: 14
...
The first three metrics had increased by a couple of points, suggesting that the effects of the gene therapy were fully realized. Any further improvements in his physical abilities would require intense training or more advanced drugs. Jiang Chen had heard from Sun Jiao that her extraordinary statistics had come from surviving near-death experiences. Like him, Sun Jiao had taken the standard gene treatment, but her numbers were far beyond what he could achieve, even in his berserk state. It was clear that she had been through unimaginable danger.
Putting those thoughts aside, Jiang Chen turned off the EP and glanced over at Liu Yao, still fast asleep beside him.
Strangely, her sleeping face was peaceful, with her messy hair and unguarded, delicate form, making her look like an innocent young girl.
Too bad she's just a "sidekick"—though still, quite the attractive one.
Jiang Chen didn't wake her, shaking his head as he pushed away any lingering desires. He quietly sat up, put on his clothes, and left the bed. After a long night, he didn't need rest, but Liu Yao surely needed some recovery.
Leaning on the balcony rail, with a glass of red wine in hand, Jiang Chen let the sea breeze wash over him, silently waiting for the sunrise.
Relaxed. Comfortable. Luxurious...
"What's left to satisfy?" he muttered to himself.
Since returning to this world, his mindset had been like a pressure valve being released. The bloody scenes had faded, and he felt his sanity (SAN value) returning to normal.
Sighing, he took a sip of the sour red wine.
"Drinking wine in the morning is bad for your stomach, you know," a voice interrupted his musings.
"Oh? You're awake." Jiang Chen turned, surprised, and smiled.
"Mmm." Liu Yao gently brushed the wind-tousled strands of hair from her face. She had no clothes with her, so she was wrapped in just a bathrobe. Standing in the wind, she exuded a certain charm.
"Then come watch the sunrise with me," Jiang Chen said, placing his wine on the nearby table.
Liu Yao walked over to him, standing next to Jiang Chen, leaning against the railing. The golden light of the sunrise cast a warm glow on her face, and Jiang Chen couldn't help but stare, captivated.
"Are you looking at me or the sunrise?" she teased.
"Both, the beauty and the sunrise," Jiang Chen replied with a smile, his gaze returning to the horizon.
"I don't quite understand," Liu Yao said.
"Hmm?" Jiang Chen looked at her in confusion.
"You're beautiful, and smart, but why aren't you a bigger star?" Jiang Chen smiled, recalling her role in That Year. Though he had only watched the movie to keep a friend company, he had seen the entire thing.
Her character, a minor role, mainly existed to highlight the male lead's tragic fate. Yet, Liu Yao had left a lasting impression on him, even if she was just a side character. That in itself was impressive.
"Beauty is a curse, especially for someone like me who has no support," Liu Yao smiled faintly, though her expression was hard to read. Was it mocking? Self-deprecating? Or something else entirely? Her gaze, however, held a trace of anticipation.
Jiang Chen shrugged and didn't continue the conversation. He could sense the subtle hope in her eyes but had no intention of responding. Everyone had their own struggles. Maybe she didn't want to talk about it. But that was her story, not his. Jiang Chen wasn't interested in turning the pages of a book filled with painful chapters.
Life is about enjoying what you can.
Even in the face of rare experiences, Jiang Chen considered himself an ordinary person in the bustling city.
Since this was a vacation, he decided to forget about the pressures of life... for now.
After watching the sunrise, Jiang Chen and Liu Yao spent some time together in the bathroom before Jiang Chen, with a mischievous smile, finally relented to her pleas. Even in this casual arrangement, Jiang Chen was only interested in mutual pleasure.
Breakfast arrived on a trolley from room service, costing 500 yuan—a small amount in Jiang Chen's eyes. He and Liu Yao lay on the balcony lounge chairs, enjoying a fruit-heavy breakfast, a sweet iced drink, and the tranquil seaside atmosphere.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Chen asked, adjusting his sunglasses as he watched Liu Yao, who was absorbed in her iPhone 5.
"Posting a photo," Liu Yao smiled sweetly, continuing to tap on the screen. "This is my first time staying in such a fancy villa. I'm showing it off to my girlfriends."
She then took a few pictures—one of the villa and the stunning sea view—making sure Jiang Chen wasn't in the frame. Instead, she posed with a playful pout and peace sign.
Jiang Chen chuckled. This woman's competitive spirit was something else.
"If your fans discover a man staying in your room, won't that cause a scandal?" Jiang Chen teased.
"Pfft. That would be great! I'd have a press conference and rumors to deal with, and then I'd become famous, right? Besides, who cares about my small fanbase?" Liu Yao pouted in a mock sulk.
Despite her words, she didn't try any sly tricks, like accidentally including Jiang Chen in a photo. She could tell that he wasn't the type to enjoy attention. While having a connection to him felt like it might benefit her, she respected his privacy.
Jiang Chen was momentarily taken aback by her words but just smiled and didn't continue the topic.
"Do you have a Weibo account?" Liu Yao asked.
"I don't. I'm not really into it," Jiang Chen replied, shaking his head. He thought it was similar to QQ's status updates, something he didn't care much about.
"Come on, register and follow me. My fan count is so pathetic." Liu Yao gave him a pleading look. Jiang Chen, embarrassed, pulled out his Samsung phone and quickly created a Weibo account.
"Why are you still using a Samsung?" Liu Yao raised an eyebrow.
"For me, any phone will do," Jiang Chen said nonchalantly, though he secretly cursed himself for forgetting to upgrade his phone.
Liu Yao thought to herself, A real tycoon is different. She didn't think Jiang Chen couldn't afford a new phone—after all, her "pocket money" could easily buy two iPhone 5s.
After a moment's thought, Jiang Chen registered the ID "Jiang Chen." To his surprise, it was available. He followed Liu Yao back.
Buzz.
Liu Yao grinned, glancing at Jiang Chen's surprised face as he saw his new follower count increase by one.
She actually followed him back?
Even a third-tier celebrity doing something like that was rare.
Liu Yao not only got Jiang Chen's attention on Weibo but also added him on WeChat and QQ.
"Hubby~ I want to sunbathe. Help me put on sunscreen," Liu Yao purred, stretching lazily and teasingly lifting her long, alluring leg.
This girl...
Jiang Chen smiled and gave in to temptation, applying sunscreen on her smooth skin, though they both couldn't resist playing around during the process...
The sensation was so enticing that Jiang Chen almost lost control, ready to go further.
"Ahem, better hold back on this for now. After all, we're here to relax, not to work the fields."
Ding-dong.
The sound of the electronic doorbell broke Jiang Chen's lazy moment. He removed his sunglasses and lazily picked up the iPad terminal.
This tablet-like interface could control everything in the room—TV, air conditioning, even the shower temperature. It was incredibly user-friendly and convenient. This morning's breakfast and cold drinks were both ordered through the terminal.
"Who is it?" Jiang Chen opened the door monitor and saw the familiar face of Bruce, the man with the thick beard.
"My dear friend, have you already forgotten about me after just one night?" Bruce spread his hands humorously. His Chinese was so fluent it left Jiang Chen slightly impressed.
"Haha, of course not. I'll let you in," Jiang Chen chuckled and turned off the terminal, slowly sitting up and slipping on his slippers.
"Your friend?" Liu Yao asked curiously, glancing at the bearded foreigner on the screen.
"A business associate. Sort of?" Jiang Chen shrugged. Liu Yao, ever perceptive, closed her mouth. To her, someone like Jiang Chen, who frequented international-level banquets, was not someone she could casually inquire about. In fact, she was overthinking it—Bruce was just a mercenary (or bodyguard) leader, and "business" only referred to potential future dealings.
Jiang Chen was quite adept at making others assume more than was true.
"Smart people" often saved him the trouble of explaining too much.
"Do I need to step out?" Liu Yao adjusted her posture, preparing to leave.
"No need... actually, forget it. Why don't you go ahead and check out of your old hotel? Just leave your luggage here," Jiang Chen said with a mischievous grin. "You won't be needing to go back."
For a variety of reasons, Jiang Chen decided to send Liu Yao off.
She gave him a playful glance, lazily got up from the chaise lounge, and walked into the room with a model-like stride.
She needed to change clothes before heading out; the swimsuit she wore yesterday certainly wasn't appropriate for a midday stroll. If she kept it on, she'd surely end up sunburned.
In luxury villas like this, they typically provided spare clothes for guests who didn't want to bother packing—especially for the busy, high-net-worth individuals who could afford such a place. Of course, those who could afford the stay wouldn't typically wear the provided clothing.
But what Jiang Chen didn't expect was that business actually came knocking.
"My old friend, aren't you busy guarding a Saudi prince? What brings you here today?" Jiang Chen took a puff of the cigar Bruce handed him, sitting back in his chair as they chatted.
"Heh," Bruce chuckled, hesitated for a moment, then quickly got to the point. "My former employer overheard our conversation yesterday. He's interested in you and wants me to introduce you to him."
"Oh?" Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise. Did the guy want to hire him? He wasn't keen on heading to some conflict zone, guns blazing. He had far more lucrative deals in mind. "I don't plan on letting this rare vacation go to waste."
"I think you misunderstood," Bruce seemed to read the suspicion in Jiang Chen's eyes. He exhaled a smoke ring and spoke in a sincere tone. "Roberts Smith is a well-known middleman. He deals in everything from oil to gold. I used to work as his bodyguard in Iraq. He's a solid guy. He's here specifically to attend a gala hosted by one of his regular clients. He's staying in the presidential suite on the seventh floor."
"Gold?" Jiang Chen's eyes lit up slightly. This Roberts Smith might be worth meeting after all.