Unforgettable Touch - Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – Following the Rules

Under the shimmering warmth of the sea, Shu Zhenshan’s gaze was shadowed and fierce, wet hair tousled like a savage sea eagle.

In the next second, he pivoted his sailboard sharply, speeding toward the luxury yacht, setting off another wave of cheers.

Ran Buyue suddenly felt that the brief eye contact she thought they had just now was probably an illusion. President Shu Zhenshan, out at sea surrounded by beautiful women, surely wouldn’t have the time to notice someone like her.

“Hey, is that Aran and Yao-ge?”

Hao Le slowed down and waved exaggeratedly at them as he sailed past in his board like a scrolling marquee, moving from right to left: “You guys are here too? What a coincidence—”

Li Yao waved back: “What a coincidence!”

Hao Le turned and zipped past again: “Want to come play with us? It’s the maiden voyage of Second Young Master Zheng’s new yacht—”

Li Yao looked at the lavish yacht and shouted: “Sure!”

Ran Buyue: …

Bro, you go if you want.

Hao Le gave them an “OK” gesture and shouted, “I’ll go tell Zheng-er!” before speeding off happily.

Li Yao turned to Ran Buyue. “Aran, you coming?”

Ran Buyue chuckled. “Haha, I’ll pass. Have fun, Yao-zong.”

“Really not coming? A yacht party thrown by a rich heir—opportunities like this are rare.” Li Yao smiled. “And chances to run into President Shu are even rarer. True old money is hard to find.”

Ran Buyue replied, “I don’t really have anything to talk about with them.”

Li Yao nodded. “True. They don’t exactly need industrial designers.”

Not far off, Hao Le tried to emulate Shu Zhenshan, riding a wave only to wobble precariously and nearly flip his board. After much flailing, he finally regained his balance, looking thoroughly disheveled.

“This is way too hard!” Hao Le complained.

Windsurfing is a sport that demands intense physical fitness—pulling the sail requires arm strength and lat muscles; leaping from wave crests and landing calls for powerful leg bursts, and the core must be strong enough to maintain balance and steer.

Besides strength, windsurfing requires acute sensitivity to wind and wave conditions, allowing the rider to maneuver smoothly.

In short, to be good at this sport, you need not only a strong body but also a smart brain.

To be fair, Hao Le was doing quite well—but he was still no match for Shu Zhenshan.

Clinging to the sail boom like a wet sea dog, Hao Le shouted, “Ah Zhenshan—you’re done playing already?”

Shu Zhenshan waved him off, signaling for them to go ahead.

He was reeling in his sail and climbing aboard the yacht. His black wetsuit tightly outlined his broad shoulders and long legs. His short hair spiked rebelliously like a panther returning from the hunt—powerful and brimming with primal vitality.

Standing alone, Li Yao looked decent enough. But next to Shu Zhenshan, he didn’t even register.

As soon as Shu Zhenshan stepped aboard, he was swarmed by a group of models—offering towels, water, and clothes. It was a scene straight out of a cliché high school sports manga.

Shu Zhenshan accepted their attention with ease, taking the towel and running it through his hair in a sensual motion. It seemed he glanced in this direction—maybe. Or maybe not.

Ran Buyue felt the sea breeze was too strong, stinging his eyes. The choppy waves churned his stomach.

Before long, the tender sent by Second Young Master Zheng arrived, bobbing lightly beside their yacht.

Li Yao smiled and asked, “Aran, are you sure you don’t want to come?”

For some reason, Ran Buyue changed his mind. “Actually, I think I will.”

They boarded the small boat and headed toward the grand yacht, shaped like a floating castle. The women on deck tossed flying kisses and flower petals their way, but Shu Zhenshan was nowhere to be seen.

As the boat docked at the guest platform, a stunning woman greeted them. “Mr. Li Yao, Mr. Ran Buyue, this way, please.”

The yacht had a strong party vibe—far more effortlessly extravagant than Hao Le’s try-hard birthday bash.

The lower deck featured a glass-bottom pool, revealing the deep blue ocean beneath. Scantily clad men and women frolicked in the water, providing entertainment for the guests.

Several young masters lounged on sofas playing cards. Hao Le was among them, a pretty girl drying his hair.

Seeing them arrive, Hao Le waved. “You made it!”

Second Young Master Zheng gestured casually. “A friend of Ah Hao Le’s is a friend of mine. Welcome.”

Amid the floral glamour, Ran Buyue spotted Shu Zhenshan at once—he was leaning against the railing, talking on the phone, brow slightly furrowed.

Ran Buyue recognized that expression well. Was he discussing work?

He hadn’t even changed out of his wetsuit, hair still dripping.

Seriously? Working during a party? How much work did he have?

If he was so busy, why even come? Not playing, not relaxing—completely against Mr. Shu Zhenshan’s usual philosophy of “work to death, then party to death.”

Li Yao was already mingling with the young masters, their card game mixed with off-color jokes and subtle business probes. For those lower on the ladder, parties like this were mentally taxing—potential golden tickets or silent death traps.

Ran Buyue didn’t enjoy such environments. Some people here had connections that were far too murky. He didn’t even want to dip a toe in. He sat on the edge of the sofa, quietly eating fruit and gazing at the horizon. Shu Zhenshan lingered in view, like an anchor in the chaotic sea.

After a while, he began to feel seasick and pushed the fruit aside.

“That one—what was it… Aran?”

Suddenly, Second Young Master Zheng spoke up. Everyone fell silent and turned toward Ran Buyue, sitting quietly in the corner.

Ran Buyue politely nodded. “Mr. Zheng.”

Zheng smiled. “Not enjoying the food? You haven’t said a word.”

Ran Buyue replied, “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zheng. Everything’s fine. I’ve been listening—learning a lot.”

Another young master leaned in, intrigued. “Didn’t Ah Hao Le say you’re a designer? Can you design yachts?”

Ran Buyue humbly answered, “A little.”

“Then can you design one for me—bigger and more luxurious than Zheng’s? A beautiful guy like you would surely make a beautiful boat.”

The young masters chuckled. That one, however, was serious. “I mean it.”

Someone teased, “Don’t be greedy. Aran came with Mr. Li Yao. His schedule’s probably booked for years. Don’t cut the line.”

Li Yao immediately added, “It all depends on which project Aran finds inspiring.”

Ran Buyue didn’t want to offend either side and was quickly thinking of how to respond when a deep male voice interrupted from behind:

“What project?”

It was Shu Zhenshan. No one knew when he’d arrived.

The voice was so close, it sent a chill down Ran Buyue’s spine. He instinctively stepped aside.

Shu Zhenshan smoothly filled the space between him and the other young master.

A loud “whoa” rippled through the crowd, and suddenly all teasing was redirected toward Shu Zhenshan—“So hard to get out and you’re still working?”, “Were you faking that phone call?”—and someone handed him a drink. The deck burst into lively laughter.

After some more messing around, Second Young Master Zheng clapped his hands and took a string of jet ski keys from his butler. “How about a ride?”

Just staying on the yacht was boring. The young masters were all excited.

There were eight jet skis. With a few guests already entertaining themselves in private rooms with models, the remaining guests, including Ran Buyue, totaled exactly eight.

Before he could decline, a key was pressed into Ran Buyue’s hand.

“Each can hold two,” one young master grinned and scanned the room. “Gentlemen, feel free to pick your partners.”

“Picking is boring,” someone proposed. “Let’s make a game out of it.”

All the models were summoned, each given a playing card. The guests would call a card at random. Whoever held it would be their partner. No switching. No refusals.

Everyone understood this rule was aimed at Shu Zhenshan. The young masters eagerly agreed, stealing glances at him.

He never came to their usual shady gatherings, and no one knew his taste. This rare appearance was the perfect opportunity to rope him in—and see what it looked like when the cold, powerful president took a hot model for a ride.

The butler dealt the cards—52 total, no jokers, one for each model.

The earlier rounds were fun but uneventful. The young masters didn’t care who they got—beautiful women weren’t exactly new to them.

One guy got a busty model and immediately pulled her onto his lap. His jet ski key slipped from his hand and landed in her cleavage.

The crowd whooped in amusement. Second Young Master Zheng declared this the new rule—if it doesn’t stay in the b00bs, use another body part.

That seasick feeling crept back over Ran Buyue. He wanted to vomit. Or maybe throw the key into the ocean. But reason told him not to.

He caught Shu Zhenshan idly toying with his own.