The mother and son came to a stop at the edge of the port. Liu Ruoxi had changed her outfit.
On her head, she wore a cream-yellow sun hat that looked as if it were woven from bamboo fibers. A large, unnamed purple flower was fastened to the brim of the hat, with two long, light purple ribbons falling naturally from its edges. Her flawless, jade-like complexion carried a faint blush. Her slender eyebrows were sharp like inverted willow leaves, and beneath long eyelashes, her large, phoenix-like eyes held a natural coolness, yet also seemed like deep autumn waters. The bridge of her nose between her eyes was tall and straight, as if carved by Venus herself. Her full, vermilion lips were painted a vibrant red, giving the impression of a solitary winter plum blossom adorning a vast, lonely snowfield. Her sleek, jet-black hair cascaded softly over her fair shoulders. She wore a lightweight, breathable white Chanel high-end outer shirt with half-sleeves and an off-the-shoulder design. Beneath it, her ample breasts, held by a black strapless bra, stood tall and prominent. Below, she wore a light purple silk chiffon long skirt. Her two long, shapely legs were clad in a pair of crystal high heels, the tips of which were adorned with sparkling rhinestones. When light hit the crystal shoes, it reflected a captivating brilliance that shifted and flowed with the angle, like moving water, adding a touch of mysterious nobility to their owner.
The blue yacht slowly approached the dock. A young man in a blue suit disembarked, a warm smile on his face. He unexpectedly glanced at Yang Haoran, then turned to Liu Ruoxi and said enthusiastically, “Ms. Liu, this must be your son. Please, right this way!”
After his mother boarded, Yang Haoran followed with the luggage, which contained changes of clothes for both of themβa task he naturally took upon himself.
Once the boat set off, Yang Haoran watched as the young man enthusiastically chatted with his mother, which made him somewhat uncomfortable. Although the man appeared respectable and polite, hiding his intentions well, as a fellow man, Yang Haoran understood exactly what was going on.
“Mom, who is this?”
Yang Haoran stepped forward, interrupting the young man’s smooth talking and drawing both their gazes toward him.
“This is Xiao Li, the client manager from Yunman Resort,” Liu Ruoxi, well aware of her son’s petty jealousy, offered a simple introduction.
“Huh? Does a client manager also come to pick people up?” Yang Haoran asked, looking at Li Dongze with feigned surprise.
Li Dongze, slightly embarrassed, explained, “Ms. Liu is a valued guest of Yunman Resort. During the National Day holiday, we’re short on staff, so I came personally to welcome her. You must be Ms. Liu’s son? You certainly cut a fine figure. How may I address you?”
Li Dongze could tell the boy was deliberately trying to embarrass him. For someone so young, his mind was quite shrewd. So, he began by complimenting him, making it difficult for the boy to retaliateβafter all, one doesn’t hit a smiling face. Then, by asking for his name, he seized back the initiative.
If he couldn’t even handle Liu Ruoxi’s son, how could he ever hope to win the beauty for himself?
Li Dongze had known Liu Ruoxi for several years. Her stunning beauty andζ§ζη«ηηθΊ«ζ (sexually explosive figure) had struck him like a divine revelation, captivating him at first sight. Moreover, she was the CEO of a listed companyβwealthy, beautiful, and utterly flawless.
Even though he knew she was married, he refused to give up. He had long since inquired about Liu Ruoxi’s family situation, learning that she had a son and a daughter and that her relationship with her husband had long been strained.
This was precisely his opportunity. Unfortunately, Liu Ruoxi had only visited Yunman Resort a few times over the years, offering limited chances for contact, so there had been little progress thus far.
As for the excuse about the National Day holiday and staff shortages, it was just a pretense. He secretly resented Yang Haoran’s interruption.
Li Dongze’s polite attitude left Yang Haoran with no immediate opening to attack. Pretending to smile, Yang Haoran replied, “My friends all call me Brother Ran. But since you’re older than me, wouldn’t it be a bit inappropriate for you to call me that?”
Upon hearing Yang Haoran’s introduction, Liu Ruoxi’s fragrant shoulders trembled slightly. A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of her exquisite lips. Li Dongze’s mouth twitched slightly, but he maintained a smiling facade and said, “Then I’ll call you Xiao Ran. It sounds more affectionate that way.”
Affectionate, my ass! Yang Haoran cursed inwardly but smiled back. “I’m actually quite shy and socially anxious. I don’t really like people calling me by different names. If we want to be more affectionate, like friends, then you should follow my friends and call me Brother Ran. That would feel more intimate.”
Li Dongze hadn’t expected this little brat to be so troublesome, deflecting the issue back onto him. If he continued to nitpick with the boy now, it would only make him seem petty in Liu Ruoxi’s eyes. Better to play along and try to build a rapport with the kid.
So, Li Dongze pretended to laugh it off. “Then I’ll call you Brother Ran. You can call me Xiao Li. How about that?”
His attitude and expression made it seem to others as if he were joking with the child, appearing humorous and broad-minded.
Yang Haoran had now seen hisθδΌͺηε―ζΆε΄θΈ (hypocritical and detestable face). Losing patience, he said directly to Li Dongze, “Xiao Li, I’m shy and socially anxious. I prefer to stay with my mom. Could you go somewhere else?”
You slippery little brat! Socially anxious, my foot! Li Dongze seethed inwardly but could only smile and nod. Under the gaze of the mother and son, he gracefully exited the cabin and went out to the deck.
After Li Dongze left, Yang Haoran asked Liu Ruoxi discontentedly, “Mom, are you very familiar with him?”
Liu Ruoxi glanced at her son’s jealous expression, feeling inexplicably pleased. In a deliberately light tone, she said, “Very familiar. Why?”
In reality, she had only met Li Dongze a few times. Whenever she visited Yunman Resort, it was usually because her close friend Shen Qing had invited her. Had it not been for Li Dongze handling theirζ₯εΎ (reception) each time, she might not even remember him.
His mother’s words instantly ignited the fury in Yang Haoran’s heart, even stronger than during his subtle clash with Li Dongze. He moved closer to his mother’s ear and said angrily in a low voice, “Mom, don’t forget. You acknowledged your son as your master. You are a bitch mother who belongs to me alone.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Ruoxi’s face turned cold instantly. She said in a frosty tone, “I did agree to that. Mother hasn’t forgotten. But now is not the time for that. Do you have the nerve to say it again?”