After the genetic enhancement treatment, Jiang Chen's body had become increasingly powerful—so much so that he now resembled an untiring war machine.
When he woke up the next morning, he felt no trace of exhaustion whatsoever.
That day, Jiang Chen took Liu Yao out for a stroll around the area.
Since she was still recovering physically, Jiang Chen behaved himself—keeping his touches to light cuddles and gentle teasing.
Nothing more happened that night.
On the third day, as the first rays of morning light streamed into the room, Jiang Chen slowly woke from his slumber.
He reached for the EP device at his bedside—a gadget that, when folded, looked like a stylish, if slightly unusual, luxury watch.
Username: Jiang Chen
Body Status:
Muscle Strength: 25
Bone Density: 27
Reflex Speed: 29
Brain Cell Activity: 14
The numbers had all risen by one or two points compared to before.
It seemed that the genetic serum's effects had now fully manifested.
If he wanted to further enhance his physical capabilities, he would need either intense training or a more advanced serum.
He recalled that Sun Jiao's freakishly high stats had only been achieved after repeatedly surviving near-death experiences.
Though she and Jiang Chen had both used the basic genetic enhancement, her abilities far surpassed his—especially when he wasn't in his berserk mode.
It spoke volumes about the dangers she must have faced.
Shaking away such heavy thoughts, Jiang Chen turned off the EP and glanced at the girl still sleeping soundly beside him.
To his surprise, Liu Yao's sleeping face looked peaceful and pure, her messy hair falling across her face, her chest gently rising and falling under the thin covers—radiating an innocence that stirred something tender inside him.
Jiang Chen resisted the urge to wake her.
Shaking his head to dispel unwanted thoughts, he carefully slipped out of bed, dressed quietly, and walked to the balcony.
Leaning against the railing, a glass of red wine in hand, he inhaled the salty sea breeze and quietly watched the horizon, waiting for the sunrise.
Leisurely. Peaceful. Luxurious.
"What more could I possibly want?" Jiang Chen murmured to himself, lost in thought.
Since returning to this world, it felt as though the tension that had once gripped his heart had finally loosened.
The blood and violence were already fading from memory, his sanity slowly returning to normal.
He sighed, took a sip of the slightly tart red wine, and smiled wryly.
"Drinking wine on an empty stomach isn't good for you, you know," came a soft voice from behind him.
Startled, Jiang Chen turned around and smiled.
"You're awake."
"Mhm," Liu Yao replied, gently brushing her wind-tossed hair out of her face.
She wore only a bathrobe—having brought few clothes with her—and the sight of her standing in the morning light, barefoot and tousled, carried a different kind of sensual charm.
"Lele, let's go swimming," Jiang Chen said, his voice slightly husky as he stepped closer.
"Jiang Chen, behave yourself!" Liu Yao scolded playfully, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks as she pressed a hand against his solid chest.
But even as she pretended to refuse, her fingers lightly lingered on his skin, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Jiang Chen froze for a second before understanding her little act.
He couldn't help but laugh silently—she really was an actress, through and through.
Without warning, he scooped her up roughly and whispered against her ear, "I'm afraid it's too late for that, my dear math class representative."
Splash!
Water droplets sparkled under the rising sun as Jiang Chen and Liu Yao tumbled into the pool.
Thanks to the bathrobe, there was no need to remove any extra clothing.
Liu Yao playfully struggled against Jiang Chen's teasing advances, pushing against him with mock indignation while her body, treacherously honest, responded eagerly to his every touch.
Underwater, along the poolside, even by the lounge chairs—they left traces of their playful "dance" everywhere.
(Author's Note: They were performing water ballet. All actions remain firmly within the realm of high art. Please do not misinterpret.)
After their lively water ballet performance, Jiang Chen and Liu Yao lay together in the shallow pool, catching their breath.
"Come watch the sunrise with me," Jiang Chen said suddenly, brushing a few droplets from her forehead.
"Are you watching the sunrise... or watching me?" Liu Yao teased, her voice breathless.
"Both," Jiang Chen chuckled, shifting his gaze toward the glowing horizon. "Admiring the beauty of the world—and the beauty by my side."
...
After enjoying the sunrise, Jiang Chen carried Liu Yao to the bathroom for a thorough cleaning session.
They ended up indulging in each other once again—until Liu Yao, breathless and pleading, finally begged for mercy.
Jiang Chen, though still not fully satisfied, laughed wickedly and decided to grant her a reprieve.
After all, he was more interested in their shared pleasure than mere conquest.
Later, breakfast was delivered by room service.
A gourmet meal costing a hefty five hundred yuan, it was nothing to Jiang Chen, who barely glanced at the bill.
Under the shade of a large beach umbrella, they lounged side by side on the balcony chairs, savoring a refreshing fruit-based breakfast and sipping sweet, icy smoothies while basking in the peaceful ocean breeze.
"What are you up to?" Jiang Chen asked lazily, glancing over the rim of his sunglasses at Liu Yao, who was busy tapping away on her iPhone 5.
"Posting on Weibo," Liu Yao replied with a sweet smile, her fingers dancing across the screen.
"This is my first time staying in such a luxurious villa. I have to make my friends jealous!"
She giggled and raised her phone, snapping photos of the lavish villa and the breathtaking sea view behind her.
Of course, she made sure not to include Jiang Chen in any of the shots—just a few cute selfies, complete with pouty lips and peace signs.
Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh.
Women really did love to show off.
"What if your fans figure out there's a man staying in the room with you?" he teased.
"Pfft, I wish!" Liu Yao stuck out her tongue playfully.
"A scandal would be great for my career—press conferences, rumors, denials! I'd be famous overnight! Besides... I hardly have any fans to begin with."
Despite her joking, Liu Yao was careful not to actually expose Jiang Chen.
She could tell he wasn't the type who enjoyed attention.
Her thoughtfulness made Jiang Chen pause for a moment, then smile quietly without saying anything more.
"Do you have a Weibo account?" Liu Yao asked, tilting her head.
"Me? No," Jiang Chen shrugged.
He was never fond of social media; to him, it was no different from those old QQ status updates.
"Register one and follow me! My follower count is so pathetic," Liu Yao pouted, her wide eyes full of pitiful pleading.
Laughing helplessly, Jiang Chen pulled out his old Samsung phone and began setting up a Weibo account.
"Still using a Samsung?" Liu Yao teased.
"To me, a phone's just a phone," Jiang Chen said casually, playing it cool.
In truth, this Samsung was a leftover from his university days—a freebie he'd gotten during a promotional event.
Damn, Jiang Chen thought wryly. I really should upgrade my phone to match my current status. Total oversight.
Liu Yao giggled to herself.
Real rich men are different after all.
She never once thought it was because he couldn't afford a new phone—after all, a single night here cost more than a dozen brand-new iPhones.
After some thought, Jiang Chen simply registered the username "Jiang Chen"—surprisingly, it wasn't already taken.
He quickly followed Liu Yao.
Buzz.
Seeing her follower count jump up by one, Liu Yao smiled triumphantly and shook her phone at him.
And just like that, she had managed to snag not only his Weibo but also his WeChat and QQ.
"Hubby~ I want to sunbathe. Help me put on sunscreen, please?"
Liu Yao's voice dripped with sweetness as she stretched out lazily on the lounge chair, lifting one long, tempting leg in the air.
This little vixen...
Still, Jiang Chen obediently accepted the temptation.
He squeezed a handful of slippery lotion into his palm and began rubbing it into Liu Yao's soft, sun-kissed skin.
Of course, both of them couldn't resist teasing each other throughout the process, their laughter mingling with the gentle sounds of the sea.
The sensation of her smooth, supple skin almost made Jiang Chen lose control again.
Focus, focus, he reminded himself, chuckling inwardly.
After all, they were supposed to be on vacation, not... working the fields.
...
Ding dong.
The doorbell interrupted Jiang Chen's idle bliss.
He lazily lifted his sunglasses and reached for the iPad control panel beside him.
This special tablet could manage everything in the villa—from the TV and air conditioning to the water temperature of the baths.
Today's breakfast and drinks had been ordered through it as well.
"Who is it?" he muttered as he pulled up the door camera feed.
The screen showed a familiar bearded face—Bruce, the white mercenary he had met at the party.
"My dear friend, have you forgotten me already after just two days?" Bruce spread his arms wide in mock sorrow.
His fluent Mandarin still surprised Jiang Chen every time.
"Haha, of course not. I'll open the door," Jiang Chen replied, smiling as he turned off the tablet and slipped on his slippers.
"Is that your friend?" Liu Yao asked curiously, glancing at the screen.
"Business acquaintance... more or less," Jiang Chen shrugged.
Sensing that it wasn't her place to pry, Liu Yao sensibly kept quiet.
In her eyes, someone like Jiang Chen—who attended elite international banquets—had to be a big shot far beyond her world.
Of course, the truth was far simpler: Bruce was merely a mercenary leader, and their "business" was nothing more than a future possibility.
Still, Jiang Chen was good at letting people think more than necessary—it saved him a lot of tedious explanations.
"Should I step away for a bit?" Liu Yao asked, adjusting her posture.
"No need... Actually, on second thought—why don't you check out and move your luggage here?" Jiang Chen said with a mischievous grin.
"You're not going back anyway."
Out of caution and convenience, Jiang Chen decided to keep Liu Yao out of the upcoming conversation.
Blushing slightly, Liu Yao threw him a playful glance and sashayed inside to change clothes.
Her original outfit had been, well... thoroughly ruined by Jiang Chen during their "activities."
Fortunately, villas like this provided spare clothing for guests—though few who could afford such accommodations ever used them.
What Jiang Chen hadn't expected was that real business had indeed come knocking at his door.
"My old friend," Jiang Chen said with a laugh as he took a puff of the cigar Bruce offered him and sat down casually. "Weren't you supposed to be guarding some Saudi prince? How do you still have time to visit me?"
Bruce chuckled, hesitating for a moment before cutting straight to the point.
"My former employer... overheard part of our conversation yesterday. He's very interested in you and asked me to introduce you two."
"Oh?" Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
Is he looking to hire me as a bodyguard?
If so, Jiang Chen wasn't interested. He had bigger, more lucrative plans for his future than running around with a rifle.
"I'm not looking to ruin my rare vacation," Jiang Chen said lightly, his tone half-joking, half-serious.
"You misunderstand," Bruce said, easily catching the doubt in Jiang Chen's eyes.
Blowing out a puff of smoke, he leaned forward and spoke earnestly,
"Roberts Smith is a renowned broker. Oil, gold, you name it—he's involved in all kinds of deals.
I worked as his bodyguard back in Iraq once. Trust me, he's a decent man. He's here attending a banquet hosted by an old client, and he's staying right upstairs in the presidential suite."
"Gold?" Jiang Chen's eyes sharpened slightly, a flicker of interest igniting within him.
Now this was someone worth meeting.