Skye looked around Su Zhan's hotel room with curiosity. "The environment here is really nice. You drive a sports car and stay in a hotel like this-are you actually rich?" she asked, her eyes bright with interest.
"It's alright," Su Zhan replied casually, putting down her things as if it was nothing special.
Skye curled her lips, sensing that Su Zhan was being intentionally vague, but her curiosity only grew. She took out her phone and started searching for any information about him. After all, if she was going to stay with him, it was only natural to want to know a little more.
But to her surprise, she found nothing-no online trace, no identification, nothing at all. It was as if Su Zhan didn't exist in the world.
"You do whatever you like, I'm going to take a shower," Su Zhan said, heading for the bathroom.
Skye nodded and, after a moment, pulled out her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she tried every trick she knew. But no matter what she did, she couldn't find a single clue about Su Zhan's identity.
Inside the bathroom, Su Zhan filled the tub with cold water, then dipped his finger in and released a bit of his power. His finger turned slightly red, and soon, the water began to bubble and steam.
"Perfect temperature," Su Zhan nodded in satisfaction and slid into the bath.
This was just one of the abilities he'd gained from Extremis, allowing his body to generate high temperatures, almost like magma. Even though he'd been taking it easy these days, he hadn't stopped honing his control. Where once he couldn't stabilize the power, now he could heat up any part of his body at will. He was getting better and better at it.
It was just a shame he hadn't had a real chance to test his abilities. Using them on ordinary people would just be bullying.
"Is this for real? How can it be possible? Who is he…?" Skye stared at her computer in disbelief. She'd tried everything to investigate Su Zhan, but it was as if he simply didn't exist. He definitely wasn't an ordinary person!
Skye had just joined the Rising Tide, hoping to expose hidden truths to the public. Now, suddenly meeting a man with no identity and no past, her curiosity was completely aroused. What had started as a bad day-her van getting hit-was starting to feel like a blessing in disguise.
Half an hour later, Su Zhan emerged from the shower, wearing simple slacks and a T-shirt that showed off his impressive physique. He sat down beside Skye and struck up a casual conversation.
Most of what they talked about were everyday stories, with Su Zhan sharing much about China-its landscapes, rivers, and culture. Skye was fascinated, asking many indirect questions, but Su Zhan skillfully dodged anything too personal.
Both had their own thoughts, but their conversation was lively and enjoyable.
Before they knew it, night had fallen.
Skye went to the bedroom, while Su Zhan prepared to rest on the sofa.
"Good night," Skye said from the doorway.
"Good night," Su Zhan replied, lying down on the sofa with a smile. "Looks like things are going smoothly…"
That night, Skye didn't sleep very well. There was a man outside-and not just any man, but a mysterious one. Whether it was curiosity, nervousness, or just the sudden change in her environment, she found it hard to fall asleep.
She tossed and turned for who knows how long before finally drifting off.
When she woke up, sunlight was streaming through the window. She glanced at the clock and was surprised to see it was almost noon.
"Awake? How did you sleep?" Su Zhan asked, looking up from his phone.
Skye smiled. "Not bad."
"I checked with the repair shop. It'll take two or three days to fix your van. Do you have anything urgent? If not, why not spend the next few days hanging out with me? I've been traveling alone, and I'd love to experience what it's like to walk down the street with a beautiful woman."
"Enviable? Why?" Skye asked, genuinely curious.
"Because with a beautiful woman by my side, everyone else will be envious," Su Zhan said with a grin.
Skye laughed. "You really know how to make a girl happy. You must have a lot of girlfriends, right?"
"If I said I've never had a girlfriend, would you believe me?"
"No way! You're so charming and good-looking-how could you not have had a girlfriend?"
Su Zhan shrugged helplessly. "Isn't it surprising? What about you? Have you had many boyfriends?"
Skye mirrored his shrug. "I've thought about it, but I haven't met the right person yet. Besides, I'm not really looking for a relationship right now."
"That's good!" Su Zhan said, smiling.
"What's so good about it?" Skye asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's nothing. I just think it's great that I haven't had a girlfriend and you haven't had a boyfriend. That's a good start."
Skye looked at him, her eyes sparkling. "You don't look like someone who's never had a girlfriend. If anything, you seem like a bit of a playboy."
"Even if I am, I'm definitely not a Tony Stark type."
The sun was shining, the sky was blue. Having a beautiful woman by his side really was different, and Su Zhan found himself genuinely enjoying the feeling of being envied. Skye's figure was stunning, her features striking-perhaps to please Su Zhan, she'd dressed up a bit more than usual.
Her looks had a hint of Western charm, but her mother was Chinese. The two of them together looked like a perfect match.
With Skye around, they always found interesting places to go, sometimes discovering remote restaurants with surprisingly good food. The more time they spent together, the more their initial awkwardness faded, and the more comfortable they became.
Skye was a lonely soul, and she enjoyed the feeling of being with Su Zhan more than she expected. This was a kind of happiness she had never experienced before.
The two laughed together, the atmosphere light and easy, as the new day began.