Evening in Haicheng. The sunset was like an overturned palette, smearing a magnificent trail of tangerine and pink across the horizon. The colors reminded Silas Shen of a certain pheromone, causing him to instinctively push up his glasses—using the slight chill of his fingertips to suppress the inexplicable restlessness in his heart.
The second day's agenda concluded amidst a wave of enthusiastic applause. Silas was packing his laptop and lecture notes when, before he could even stand, a tall figure surged forward and snatched his heavy briefcase.
"Professor, today's discussion was brilliant. Especially your closing supplement on that metastable structure—it was a stroke of pure genius." Hunter Huo spoke as he skillfully organized the cables, tilting his head to offer a grin.
It was the smile Silas knew best: a blend of genuine admiration and unabashed intimacy.
Following the "King Suite Incident" of the previous night and the stunning Q&A session from the morning, the atmosphere between them had become thick and microscopic. Silas constantly felt as though he had fallen into a warm-water trap. He knew he should maintain his distance, yet every time Hunter drew near, his social standards—usually as precise as an electronic scale—suffered a massive zero-point drift.
The two walked one after the other out of the brightly lit conference hall. The corridor was filled with silhouettes as representatives stood in small groups, conversing in low voices.
Once they reached the elevator bay and were free of onlookers, Hunter's posture—previously tall and formal—seemed to lose its tension. He leaned softly toward Silas, yet remained with calculated restraint exactly one centimeter away.
"Wiped out, Professor?" Hunter's voice was hushed, carrying an intimacy reserved only for the two of them.
Silas looked at his reflection in the elevator's polished mirrors. He remained frigid, his shirt buttoned to the very top. Beside him, the youth was dressed neatly in his suit, but his eyes were filled with a dangerous, vibrant spark of excitement that was screaming to be released.
"I'm fine," Silas replied curtly, his eyes fixed on the shifting floor numbers.
"Actually... I'm not tired at all," Hunter said, scratching the bridge of his nose—a small habit he had whenever he was lying or nervous. "It's just that the wind in Haicheng... it makes a person feel restless."
Silas didn't reply, but his heart gave a sudden, erratic thump.
Back in Room 2808, Silas had just set down his coat, intending to wash his face to soothe a dull ache in his temples. He turned around, only to find that Hunter hadn't collapsed onto the sofa as usual. Instead, he was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the terrace, staring out at the city's glowing neon skyline.
"Professor." Hunter turned around. The lights weren't on, and he was half-submerged in the twilight, making his dark, bright eyes look exceptionally deep.
"Yes?" Silas paused.
Hunter took two steps forward, stopping a precise distance away. It was a distance that allowed the scents of cold fir and orange to begin their silent clash in the air.
He had shed his usual roguishness, replacing it with a tone of cautious, tentative testing. "Assistant Lin mentioned... the night view in Haicheng is quite famous. Especially the coastal boardwalk. There's a firefly light show tonight."
Silas watched him in silence.
"I... in all my years, this is actually my first time in Haicheng." Hunter lowered his head, his voice becoming muffled, tinged with an inexplicable sense of grievance. "My family was always strict, and at university, I've spent all my time in the lab. I finally managed to come out with you thanks to Assistant Lin's favor. The conference ends tomorrow afternoon... if I don't go out to see it tonight, I don't know when I'll ever have another chance."
He had pulled the "Assistant Lin" card again, and had even gone so far as to play the "naive, sheltered youth" card—an utterly ridiculous claim for someone of his background.
A flicker of helplessness crossed Silas's cold eyes. He knew full well that with the Huo family's wealth, Hunter could buy a villa in Haicheng just to watch the sunset if he wanted to. Yet here he was, masquerading as a pitiful, reward-hungry child.
"Could you... come with me for a walk?" Hunter looked up, his eyes sparkling as if they held the entire starlight of Haicheng. "Consider it... a reward? For not embarrassing you today and performing so well at the summit? Please?"
He lingered on the word "reward," his voice velvety and enchanting, like a hook designed for seduction.
Silas's fingers curled at his side. His mind worked at high speed, searching for ten thousand reasons to say no: the night air was bad for his glands, he had reports to listen to tomorrow morning, being seen alone with a student by colleagues...
But all those rational arguments melted like snow under a desert sun the moment they met Hunter's expectant, nearly humble gaze.
Silas looked at him. The rejection circled his tongue three times before, enveloped by that spicy orange scent, it transformed into a nearly imperceptible nod.
"Only for half an hour," Silas said, turning his face away to avoid the searing heat of the other's gaze. His voice remained cool. "I need my rest."
"No problem! Half an hour is perfect! I'll listen to whatever you say, even if it's only ten minutes!"
Hunter nearly jumped with excitement. A brilliant, radiant smile instantly broke across his handsome face, the triumph and joy in his dark eyes almost overflowing. He practically lunged for the door, nimbly pulling it open for Silas and making an exaggerated, theatrical "after you" gesture.
"After you, Professor. I'll go grab a coat; the sea breeze is chilly, you need to bundle up."
Silas walked out of the room and into the corridor. He could hear Hunter's light, rhythmic footsteps behind him—like a large dog that had finally been given permission to go out and play. He was so joyful that even the molecules in the air seemed to be dancing.
Silas thought mockingly to himself: Silas Shen, you've truly gone mad.
Taking his own student to a night market during a business trip—to the old Professor Shen, this would have been a scandalous breach of academic ethics. But now, listening to the happy hum of the person behind him, a strange, aching sweetness bubbled up in his chest.
It was a flavor that even coffee with two extra sugars couldn't provide.
The elevator descended, and they stepped out of the lobby. The oncoming sea breeze carried a cool dampness, mussing Silas's meticulously styled hair.
"Professor, wait."
Before Silas could react, a suit jacket—carrying a familiar body heat and a concentrated scent of oranges—was draped over his shoulders.
Hunter stepped around from behind, carefully pulling the collar snug and letting his fingertips brush "accidentally" against Silas's jaw. The contact felt like a tiny electric jolt, instantly piercing Silas's final defense.
"Wear mine," Hunter said with a wicked, yet strangely tender smile. "Your cardigan is too thin. Since this is a reward, the service has to be top-tier."
Wrapped in the oversized suit jacket, Silas was entirely enveloped by Hunter's essence. He suddenly felt that Haicheng's night view truly lived up to its reputation—because even the darkness he had yet to enter was already beginning to make him feel intoxicated.