Hormones That Can't Be Hidden - Chapter 14

A grueling weekend of back-to-back customers had only just come to an end.

Dong Junhao was dragging his exhausted body through the cleanup of the bath area. He had just finished a shower and changed out of his sweat-soaked work clothes, ready to collapse onto his bunk and sleep, when his boss, Xu Jun, sought him out with a predatory accuracy. He wore a smile far too bright, like a hyena scenting meat.

“Junhao! Hold up, hold up!” Xu Jun’s thick, warm palm clapped onto Dong’s still-damp shoulder without invitation. His fingers instinctively squeezed the hard muscle beneath, his grip carrying a pushy sort of intimacy.

“I’ve been doing some counting, and since you stepped over the threshold of ‘Bihai Yuntian,’ you haven’t taken a proper day off, have you? I could flip the calendar till it tears and I still wouldn’t find a record of a break for you!”

His voice was lowered, but he couldn’t suppress the forced “heart-to-heart” energy he was projecting. The fatty tissue on his face bunched into oily creases as he winked and gestured.

“Now, I know I rely on you as my ‘living billboard’ to bring in the cash, but a man isn’t made of steel and concrete. If the string is pulled too tight, the body breaks, and then the loss would be massive! You have to rest when it’s time to rest. Only by balancing work and play can we keep the water flowing long-term!”

He leaned in closer, the smell of tobacco mixed with cheap mouthwash puffing nearly into Dong Junhao’s face. His voice dropped to a whisper, but his eyes were unnervingly bright. “Besides! Just now! That Mr. Fang remember him? The big shot from the second-floor VIP section who specifically asked for you! He called me personally.”

“Said he has urgent business with you. Asked when your day off was, and asked if you were working too hard. Tsk, the level of care… I could practically taste it through the phone line!”

Xu Jun slapped Dong Junhao’s solid arm hard, the sound echoing. His tone was a mix of egging him on, envy, and an excitement as if he himself were sharing in the glory. “Little brother, I’ve been in this industry for half my life. I might be shallow, but my nose is sharp! When a True Buddha appears before you, you better hurry up and light the incense! You’ve got the luck to be favored by a True Buddha this is a massive opportunity! No matter how stingy I am, or how much I hate to lose my cash cow, I won’t be the stupid rock blocking your path and ruining your future, now would I?”

He ended by giving Dong Junhao a “you know what I mean” look, spittle nearly flying. “I see that Mr. Fang truly appreciates you! This opportunity is one in a thousand! Grasp it, and your future is limitless!”

“I might even have to rely on you in the future! It’s settled—I’m giving you tomorrow off. Go! Relax, make some connections, eh!”

Dong Junhao was left stunned by this sudden avalanche of information. He stood frozen, clutching his half-damp light blue work shirt so tightly his knuckles turned white. His head was buzzing. He couldn’t fathom what kind of spell Fang Mingxuan had cast on Xu Jun or what benefits he had promised—to make this shrewd boss, who usually calculated every penny and wished his employees worked year-round, suddenly become so “considerate” and “magnanimous.”

A mixture of suspicion, unease, and a vague premonition of being pushed into the unknown sat heavily in his chest like a wet, dirty rag.

Sure enough, back in the crowded, sweltering dormitory that evening, before he even had a chance to lie down, the old cell phone by his pillow rang shrilly. It was an unknown local number.

Dong Junhao’s heart skipped a beat. When he answered, Fang Mingxuan’s clear voice, carrying that unquestionable quality, came through. It was brief and to the point: “I’ve spoken with Boss Xu. He says you’re off tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at 9:00 AM.”

Needless to say, the phone number had been “requested” from Xu Jun.

Dong Junhao opened his mouth, his throat dry. Before he could organize a decent excuse in his chaotic mind like “it’s too much trouble” or “I actually have other things to do” the line had already gone dead with a crisp beep-beep-beep.

Fang Mingxuan hadn’t given him the chance to refuse. Or perhaps, he had already anticipated Dong’s hesitation and simply declared the decision unilaterally.

That night, Dong Junhao lay on the creaking bedboards, listening to the thunderous snoring of his coworkers in the bunks above and below. He stared at the damp mold stains on the ceiling, tossing and turning. The intermittent city noise outside drifted in, intertwining with his churning doubts and the unknown itinerary of the following day. He barely slept a wink.

At exactly 9:00 AM, a low, deep roar utterly out of place in this dilapidated back alley and the dusty morning erupted!

The sound was like a metallic beast waking from a deep slumber, let out a territory-claiming growl. It was arrogant, domineering, and carried a vibration of pure power that instantly shattered the dormitory area’s usual morning malaise.

The old window glass rattled. The noise startled several gray sparrows from the trees and woke everyone still sleeping or bleary-eyed from the night shift.

A luxury sports car, its lines as sharp as a drawn blade and its paint shimmering with a cold, dazzling luster under the rising sun, came to a steady halt in front of the peeling walls and sewage-stained tenement building of the employee dorms. It sat low to the ground, its sleek body forming a piercing contrast with the mottled walls, randomly piled junk, and cheap laundry hanging nearby. It was like a diamond accidentally dropped into a trash heap abrupt, brilliant, and radiating an innate aura of wealth. It instantly became the sole, blinding focus of this gray world.

“Holy shit!! Look downstairs! What is that thing?!”

“My god… that car… it must be made of gold! I could move bricks for a lifetime and still wouldn’t be able to afford it!”

“Is it really stopping here? Hell! How did this shacks of ours attract such a phoenix?”

“Psh, don’t you get it? Surely one of the ‘top talents’ upstairs has some god-tier skill and climbed a high branch! This is the private car coming to pick them up for their ‘redemption’!”

“Tsk tsk, look at that. Same people, different fates! Someone’s about to escape this sea of bitterness and won’t have to ‘sell their craft’ here anymore…”

The coworkers on the same floor had already been drawn by the earth-shaking commotion. Like sharks scenting blood, they crowded onto the narrow, grimy windowsills, poking out oily heads and bare torsos, their eyes wide and flickering with complex emotions. Whispered discussions buzzed like flies, filled with naked, almost greedy envy, undisguised curiosity, and a fermenting, bottom-tier malice—a bitter cocktail of resentment for those who find a way out.

Under a gaze that felt almost physical, Dong Junhao braced himself and walked down the shaky stairs with heavy steps. Every step felt like treading on red-hot coals. As he stepped out of the dark, damp, and foul-smelling entrance of the building, the light brightened suddenly. He ran right into two female technicians swaying over from the neighboring unit.

They were clearly just off the night shift, still wearing tight, thigh-high cheongsams, their faces etched with fatigue and lingering makeup. But their eyes lit up like they’d been electrified the moment they caught sight of the sports car and Dong Junhao who had clearly cleaned himself up, though his hair was still damp.

Normally, in this place overflowing with male hormones, they were like fish in water, long accustomed to treating flirtation as a daily chore. Dong Junhao’s tall, solid, and silent frame with its air of rustic honesty had often been the target of their boredom-induced teasing. They frequently hit him with little touches and suggestive, half-joking banter.

Now, the leader her lips painted a dark, overnight berry red stepped forward half a pace, swaying her hips. Her finger, tipped with bright red polish, slid naturally and suggestively along the muscle of Dong Junhao’s bare forearm. Her eyes darted between Dong’s embarrassed face and the dazzling sports car, her voice a syrupy, intentional drawl:

“Oh my—! And I was wondering what immortal had the power to cause such a stir! To think… it was actually our ‘honest’ Master Dong!”

She covered her mouth and giggled, the sound piercing. “With such a wealthy friend, why keep it all hidden? Not willing to introduce him to your sisters? Afraid we’ll steal your precious guest?”

The younger one beside her smiled in agreement, though her eyes kept drifting toward the driver’s seat of the car. Her tone was half-joking, half-probing, laced with an indefinable bitterness: “That’s right, Brother Dong~ Once you’ve made it big, don’t forget us ‘sisters’ still struggling in this muddy environment! If you get the chance, take us out to see the world and open our eyes, too?”

Dong Junhao’s face flushed a deep, burning crimson, as if splashed with boiling oil. His heart thundered in his chest not from shyness or attraction, but from pure embarrassment, humiliation, and a flash of insulted rage.

He had always maintained a clear, cold distance from these women who were steeped in the world of sensual trade, where every move was measured and calculated. It wasn’t out of moral superiority, but a clear-eyed survival instinct he knew he was not of their kind. He had no interest in getting tangled in fleeting flings, and even less interest in becoming another trophy or “safety net” for them to brag about or compare.

The sensation of her fingertip was like a cold snake crawling over his skin, triggering a visceral discomfort. An unintelligible sound rumbled in his throat like he was choking, or desperate to escape. He awkwardly side-stepped the unpleasant touch. His footsteps quickened into a near-run, charging straight toward the metallic beast that radiated invisible pressure and the scorching scent of money. It was as if that car, more than the familiar faces and words behind him, offered safety at least the space inside was isolated.

Behind him, the coworkers’ chatter didn’t stop just because he fled. Instead, once it was confirmed the car was there for him, the talk became even more brazen, drilling into his ears like maggots:

“Holy crap! It really is for Dong Junhao! That silent blockhead… he’s a dark horse!”

“With connections like that, why the hell is he still here scrubbing backs? What took him so long?”

“You think… some rich man took a liking to him? In this day and age, hey…”

“Who knows, everyone has their own ‘ambitions’! Maybe he’s into that sort of thing too!”

Standing before the low-slung, aerodynamic car reflecting the piercing sunlight, Dong Junhao felt more than ever like an ancient foot soldier who had wandered onto an alien battlefield. The metallic creation was so smooth it seemed seamless; he couldn’t even find a door handle. The sunlight danced on the polished paint, making his eyes blur. The low thrum of the engine vibrated in his eardrums, and mixed with the backstabbing whispers behind him, it left him frazzled, sweat beading on his brow.

In his helplessness, the driver-side door swiveled upward silently like a scene from a sci-fi movie resembling the graceful wing of a giant bird.

Fang Mingxuan leaned out. Today, he had swapped his rigorous business attire for a pair of excellently tailored, soft light-gray athletic leisure clothes that emphasized his broad shoulders and long legs. A pair of dark sunglasses covered half his face, but even through the lenses, Dong Junhao could feel the gaze landing on him, filled with a playful smile. Under the sun, the curve of the man’s lips was clearly visible.

“Get in,” Fang Mingxuan said succinctly, gesturing with his elegant chin toward the passenger seat.

Dong Junhao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He awkwardly bent his large frame, almost curling into the low seat. The interior was a different world cool, clean, and filled with a crisp, light scent of leather and fragrance, a world away from the environment he had just left. Before him were various glowing touchscreens and buttons he couldn’t name. The leather seat wrapped firmly around him, and the cool air from the vents brushed against his burning cheeks.

His body was as stiff as a stone. His hands sat awkwardly on his knees before he moved them to his thighs. He fumbled with the seatbelt for a long time before it finally “clicked” into place under Fang Mingxuan’s amused gaze.

Fang Mingxuan seemed satisfied with his “sitting on pins and needles” tension. A very light laugh escaped his nose, and the eyes behind the sunglasses crinkled.

“Sit tight.”

Before Dong Junhao could even adjust his posture further, the engine let out a low, power-packed growl. The car shot forward like a silver bolt thrown with force steady, yet incredibly swift! The intense g-force slammed Dong Junhao into his seat. The scenery outside the mottled old buildings, the tangled wires, the hanging laundry, the stunned pedestrians was instantly stretched and distorted into a blur of receding colors and light.

Fang Mingxuan’s long fingers rested on the uniquely shaped steering wheel, his posture relaxed yet precisely controlling this mechanical beast as he wove through the streets of the waking city. Occasionally, he would intentionally floor the accelerator, bringing a heart-tightening surge of speed and a brief sensation of weightlessness, causing Dong Junhao to instinctively grip the edge of the seat.

This wasn’t just a trip; it was a carefully planned, brief, and flamboyant “joyride.” With extreme speed and the roar of the engine, he was pulling Dong Junhao’s mind and body out of that dull, oppressive environment and pulling him rapidly into his perspective, into his world!