The butler stayed with him, initially racking his brain for ideas, but when he heard those words, his heart clenched sharply.
“Mr. Liang…” the butler said softly, “won’t leave.”
Huo Lan clearly didn’t want to continue the topic. He closed his eyes for a while, then opened them and reached for his laptop.
The butler regretted blocking him in the room. “Aren’t you going to check on Mr. Liang?”
Huo Lan had originally planned to, but now that he’d calmed down, he felt it was better not to push too hard. He didn’t respond and instead opened several reports that needed his attention.
The butler was filled with regret.
Yesterday’s events had caused quite a stir—half the crew knew that President Huo had carried someone out of the rest area.
He and the bodyguard captain had heard the news and rushed after Mr. Liang’s manager, panting all the way. They arrived just in time to see Huo Lan carrying someone out from behind the quarantine line.
Others might not have understood, but the butler, being experienced, could tell at a glance that Mr. Liang had probably been bitten by Mr. Huo and was too weak to stand.
The butler had initially been worried that, after years of navigating the business world, Huo Lan might have picked up bad habits like coercion or confinement, despite his original integrity. That was why he’d come to have a word with him.
Now, it seemed the situation wasn’t as simple as it appeared.
“Mr. Liang might still be waiting for you,” the butler said after much thought, doing his best to persuade him. “Lying alone in a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV, feeling unwell…”
The butler added, “Helpless and lonely, coughing while staring at the door…”
Huo Lan: “…”
This tactic worked on Liang Xiao, but using it on Huo Lan—even in his emotionally unstable susceptible state—was futile. “His manager is with him.”
Huo Lan had stayed by the bedside all night. When he left, Liang Xiao was still asleep. Seeing that he was resting peacefully, Huo Lan hadn’t disturbed him.
Liang Xiao’s health did have some concerns, but it wasn’t severe. He wasn’t sick with a cold or flu, just a bit fatigued. He wasn’t coughing at all.
“Trending topics have a limited shelf life,” Huo Lan said. “He still needs to personally post on Weibo. The variety show invitation from Jiang Pingchao’s team also requires his manager to consult with him and make selections.”
Huo Lan concluded, “He doesn’t have time to stare at the door.”
The butler was struck by their President Huo’s clear and logical reasoning. “…Right.”
Huo Lan skimmed through a few reports, picked out the ones that needed attention from specific departments, and marked them for follow-up.
He hadn’t been entirely clear about his own feelings. Yesterday, the production crew had suddenly contacted Xingguan, reporting that there was an incident involving pheromone inducers in the rest area. An omega’s pheromones had unexpectedly flared up, requiring an emergency response.
When he arrived at the set, he heard that Liang Xiao was in the rest area.
…
Huo Lan lowered his gaze, unwilling to dwell on the scene from that time.
The hospital room Liang Xiao was now in had been arranged by him. It was a special care room on the top floor, quiet and accessible only via a private passage, ensuring no disturbances.
He had instructed Xingguan’s relevant departments to guide the trending topic, ensuring a positive and constructive public impact.
Liang Xiao’s manager had been left in the hospital room. Known for fiercely protecting his artist, the manager wouldn’t let Liang Xiao suffer any grievances.
The medical staff were highly responsible, having explained the patient’s medical records and treatment plans to him in detail. They would take good care of Liang Xiao.
…
Huo Lan reviewed everything from start to finish but still couldn’t find any role left for himself in the situation.
The butler thought to himself, Of course not. You’ve personally assigned every role to someone else. Filled with melancholy, he tried to console him: “Mr. Liang doesn’t—doesn’t he need your hand?”
Even the butler felt a twinge of sorrow as he said this, but he pressed on, trying to highlight Huo Lan’s importance: “You see, Mr. Liang can’t sleep without your hand…”
“He explained it.” Huo Lan repeated verbatim, “It’s actually unnecessary.”
The butler: “…”
The butler was utterly defeated. “You… You’re busy. Xingguan needs you.”
Huo Lan withdrew his gaze and focused on his work.
The butler, heart aching, sighed quietly and went out to make coffee.
Huo Lan dealt with a few reports, then let go of the mouse and pressed his fingers against his temples.
No matter what, he hadn’t been able to relax last night, tossing and turning all night without rest. This morning, he’d been busy managing the trending topic.
Combined with the effects of his susceptible period, Huo Lan’s head was now pounding.
His mind wouldn’t settle, and his thoughts kept breaking off.
Recognizing that his current state might not allow him to handle everything properly, Huo Lan closed the laptop, pushed off from the desk to stand up, and leaned back into the sofa with his eyes shut.
Huo Lan didn’t actually have any masochistic tendencies, nor was he as self-sacrificing as the butler thought, dedicating himself entirely to work day and night.
In truth, he simply found it exceedingly difficult to fall asleep—especially during his susceptible period. Even lying down for hours with his eyes closed might not lead to rest. Over time, he had developed a natural resistance to sleep and preferred to use work to suppress the irritating fatigue, exhausting himself before finally closing his eyes.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be an issue, but the current standoff with Long Tao was at a critical juncture, leaving no room for error.
No matter how difficult it was to fall asleep, he had to force himself to rest.
Huo Lan picked up his phone and messaged the butler to request two sleeping pills. Remembering the butler’s parting words, he opened Weibo to take a look.
Liang Xiao had likely woken up. Xingguan, which had registered his Weibo account on his behalf, showed two new login records. The previously empty homepage now had a post reassuring everyone of his well-being.
Xingguan’s traffic management was skilled. Liang Xiao’s Weibo account had only been registered the previous night, but by today, his follower count had already surpassed 500,000. Riding the wave of trending topics, the first post had effortlessly reached over ten million views, with a considerable number of shares and comments.
Some people were perhaps born to shine. Despite being sidelined for five years, Liang Xiao’s first post showed no trace of a newcomer’s awkwardness or arrogance. From his wording to his tone, everything was remarkably poised.
The comments were a mix of concern and care, with many still captivated by his fleeting appearance in the promotional clip, showering him with praise while clamoring for new photos or material.
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Huo Lan skimmed through it briefly, mentally reviewing the PR measures to ensure nothing had been overlooked, and then set his phone aside.
The butler’s accidental questioning had stirred memories of the past, leaving his mind unsettled even when he closed his eyes.
Huo Lan raised his hand and slowly massaged his temples.
In his youth, he hadn’t been as adept at interacting with others as he was now. Studying alone in Jiangnan, he hadn’t made any friends, and his relationship with the family branch that cared for him was polite but distant.
The person he had met back then was the only one who would have lunch with him.
Although they always used his meal card, young Huo Lan had been happy about it. Once they became more familiar, he had even mustered the courage to invite the person to his residence near the school.
They weren’t in the same grade. Huo Lan only knew that the other person was studying high school-level courses and had mentioned once during casual conversation that their dream was to work in the medical field, aspiring to become a doctor or pharmacist.
As much as he could, young Huo Lan had helped tutor them according to the academic standards required for a career in medicine.
…
Huo Lan stopped himself from thinking further.
Since he had decided to pursue Liang Xiao, he would devote himself wholeheartedly, refusing to dwell on the past or repeat old mistakes.
Huo Lan closed his eyes to rest and heard the door creak softly. “Just leave the pills. I’ll take them myself.”
The footsteps paused briefly. The person entering hesitated but didn’t speak.
Huo Lan had long known that the butler secretly added sleeping pills to his coffee. He found this contradictory mix of stepping on the brakes while accelerating somewhat puzzling but had refrained from commenting. “Plain water, no coffee.”
The sound of water being poured was soft, and the water cup was placed down with precise movements. The drawn curtains blocked out the sunlight, leaving only the gentle glow of the wall lamp.
Huo Lan rested with his eyes closed for a while, feeling inexplicably more relaxed. Fatigue slowly crept in. “Do you have time? Help me massage my temples.”
Huo Lan’s sleep issues had started when he returned to the main family. Sometimes, he would be so exhausted yet unable to sleep, leading to headaches. However, he was adamant about not letting outsiders get too close.
The butler had specifically learned a set of massage techniques and would occasionally help him when Huo Lan was in a good mood.
Huo Lan waited for a response, but when none came, he furrowed his brow and was about to dismiss the idea. Just then, a tentative pressure landed on his temples.
Sensing something off, Huo Lan opened his eyes in surprise.
Liang Xiao was crouched in front of the sofa, his hands pressing gently on Huo Lan’s temples. He seemed a little shy, awkward about addressing Huo Lan so formally. “You really don’t need to be this polite.”
Huo Lan: “…”
Liang Xiao wasn’t very skilled at massaging someone’s head. Feeling compelled by Huo Lan’s request, he earnestly massaged five circles clockwise and counterclockwise before handing over the warm water he had just poured.
Huo Lan couldn’t figure out why Liang Xiao was here. He didn’t react immediately, simply staring at him in a daze.
Still somewhat overwhelmed by the overly intense events of the previous day, Liang Xiao felt uncomfortable under Huo Lan’s gaze. Clearing his throat, he said, “I couldn’t sleep.”
He regretted explaining the secret about the hand to Huo Lan earlier.
Having dug himself into this hole, Liang Xiao could only brace himself to fill it back up. Taking a deep breath, he called upon his professional acting skills. “I couldn’t sleep. I don’t know why. I kept tossing and turning…”
“…” Huo Lan’s mind was sluggish, and he instinctively offered a scientific explanation. “Because you just slept for twelve hours.”
Liang Xiao: “…”
“…Yes.” Liang Xiao was almost convinced himself. He nodded blankly. “That makes it hard to sleep again.”
Huo Lan still didn’t understand why Liang Xiao was here. After thinking hard for a moment, he asked, “Is there something you need me to handle?”
With Xingguan managing Weibo, there shouldn’t be any issues. The film crew was still on semi-hiatus due to the incident, and he had just injected additional funds, so reshoots weren’t urgent.
“Did Long Tao cause trouble for you?”
Thinking of the only possible reason, Huo Lan braced himself on the armrest, trying to sit up. “Let me take a look.”
“No!” Liang Xiao quickly pressed down on his arm. “Nothing happened. There’s nothing at all.”
Huo Lan frowned slightly.
“I… I’m hungry.”
Having used the excuse of sleeplessness, Liang Xiao now found it useless. Embarrassed, he coughed lightly and pulled out two lunch boxes from behind him.
“Brother Duan is busy and not around,” Liang Xiao said, closing his eyes briefly before steeling himself. “No one’s eating with me, and I just can’t eat alone.”
Huo Lan: “…”
Liang Xiao: “QAQ.”
…
Liang Xiao busied himself, running back and forth to set up a small table in front of the sofa. He divided the two lunchboxes, handed out a pair of chopsticks to each of them, and looked at Huo Lan, who still seemed a bit dazed.
He really needed to consult the butler on ways to appear in front of Huo Lan more reasonably. If he kept pushing Huo Lan to the edge of logical reasoning, tangling him up in this web of rich experience a few more times…
Well, let’s just say Huo Lan might genuinely lose his mind.
Huo Lan, still stuck in his logical loop, was usually more agreeable in these moments. He accepted the disposable chopsticks, awkwardly mimicking Liang Xiao as he split them apart. He glanced down at the lunchbox containing three dishes and a soup.
“It’s not takeout,” Liang Xiao quickly clarified, not bold enough to trick Huo Lan into eating delivery. “Before I came up, I passed by the hotel’s kitchen…”
He still wanted to repay the little Huo Lan who had picked up the letter in the rain, though he couldn’t think of anything meaningful to give. As luck would have it, he saw the kitchen preparing lunch.
The hotel kitchen had strict hygiene standards, and while he passed the health check, Liang Xiao still booked a standard room and thoroughly cleaned himself several times before entering.
“I made it myself,” Liang Xiao assured. “It’s not bad.”
Huo Lan took longer than usual to break out of his logical spiral today. He frowned at Liang Xiao for a moment, hesitated, then looked down and poked at the stir-fried lettuce.
Liang Xiao, who had always dreamed of a scenario where he delivered food to someone, put himself in Huo Lan’s shoes and decided to make this first attempt memorable. “Would you… give it a try?”
Huo Lan lowered his gaze but didn’t move his chopsticks.
Liang Xiao carefully considered if he had missed a step and hesitated. “Should I test it for poison first?”
Huo Lan: “…No need.”
He was just trying to determine if this was another dream. Feeling the ache in his thigh, his expression softened slightly, and he withdrew his hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Liang Xiao exhaled in relief, smiling. Seeing that Huo Lan wanted to say something, he quickly interrupted, skillfully promising, “Just this once. Never again.”
Huo Lan remained silent for a while before pulling the lunchbox closer and taking a few bites.
Liang Xiao’s cooking was unexpectedly good. Although it was just simple home-cooked food, both the presentation and flavor were commendable.
Huo Lan rarely ate this type of food, but he found it surprisingly to his taste.
“My childhood dream,” Liang Xiao said, eating a piece of salted fried pork, his tone a mix of sentiment and humor, “was to grow up and become a chef.”
Huo Lan raised his eyes to look at him.
“…It’s fake,” Liang Xiao quickly admitted, “I actually wanted to be a scientist.”
When he was young, Liang Xiao was too busy growing up to really think about the future. Every time he was asked to answer such questions, he would just make up something to get by.
Later, when he debuted and had to create a public persona, his manager forced him to fill out a form about his interests, hobbies, ideals, and career aspirations. The answers had to be memorized and recited perfectly. So, when it came to the question about his childhood dream job, he randomly chose “chef” from a list that included scientist, astronaut, teacher, doctor, and bus ticket seller.
When he first debuted, the public found this contrast amusing, and it even made him a bit popular for a while.
Liang Xiao wasn’t keen on talking about his own past. He casually made a few remarks to help Huo Lan relax and then carefully observed his expression. “Are you feeling unwell? Do you need some medicine?”
Huo Lan shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Huo Lan glanced at the needle mark on his hand from the IV drip. “What about you?”
“I—” Liang Xiao was about to answer when he suddenly paused, sensing something. “I didn’t sleep well.”
Huo Lan furrowed his brows.
Liang Xiao looked at the faint dark circles under his eyes and probably guessed what had happened. He smoothly blamed it on himself. “It’s true, I didn’t sleep well. I couldn’t settle, one dream after another.”
Liang Xiao sighed. “Back then, I said I didn’t need your help. I was too bold.”
Huo Lan stared at him, momentarily stunned.
Liang Xiao glanced at him and silently prayed that Huo Lan really wanted sleeping pills. He then continued to awkwardly babble, “I want to sleep, but I’m afraid to. I’m really tired, but I don’t want to affect work…”
Before he could finish, he suddenly felt some pressure on his head.
Liang Xiao, already experienced in such situations, managed to hold himself together and stayed completely still, sitting upright. “W-Work status.”
Huo Lan’s expression softened, and he gently rubbed Liang Xiao’s head twice.
Liang Xiao’s voice unconsciously became softer. “… President Huo.”
Huo Lan lowered his gaze. “Mm.”
As soon as he relaxed, his sharp features softened, revealing a trace of his youthful gentleness. “I’ll stay with you.”
Liang Xiao looked at him but didn’t speak.
“Don’t worry,” Huo Lan softly reassured him, “I won’t leave.”
The butler was downstairs, caught in the kitchen where the food was taking longer than expected.
“Hurry up,” the butler checked his phone repeatedly and urged again, “We need it quickly.”
Huo Lan’s request for sleeping pills indicated that his condition was indeed not good. The butler, not daring to let him sleep like this, was determined to get Huo Lan to eat at least a few bites of food before anything else.
If the medicine was brought up now and Huo Lan took it, he would fall asleep immediately, and no one knew when the next meal would be.
The butler was urging the hotel and then turned to explain apologetically to Duan Ming, whom he had just stopped. “Mr. Duan, Mr. Huo is indeed not in a condition to be disturbed right now…”
Duan Ming quickly responded politely, “We understand.”
The butler was truly worried that Liang Xiao might misunderstand. “Please explain to Mr. Liang as well. Mr. Huo is very busy, and right now, he cannot leave.”
Normally, they could coax Huo Lan into seeing Liang Xiao, but given that Mr. Huo was in a susceptible period, there was no way to make it work.
The butler had experienced this situation countless times before. His hair seemed to turn grayer from worry, and he sighed deeply.
Duan Ming, understanding, nodded with good grace. “Yes.”
Duan Ming, who had been troubled by the noise in the hospital room, had tried to coax Liang Xiao to come see Huo Lan. He had coincidentally been stopped by the butler in the lobby, which helped him regain his clarity.
Huo Lan was extremely busy and didn’t have time to indulge Liang Xiao’s whims. It was impossible for him to always cater to Liang Xiao’s requests.
Duan Ming understood Liang Xiao’s situation. “Don’t worry, he’s fine.”
The butler, moved by Duan Ming’s understanding, sighed. “Now that I think about it, we may have misunderstood Mr. Liang back then.”
After all, this time, everyone had assumed that Huo Lan had acted forcefully.
The butler, empathizing with Liang Xiao, even began to believe that Liang Xiao’s previous actions—simply resting his head on Huo Lan’s lap—were innocent. He grasped Duan Ming’s hand. “Mr. Duan, I apologize for the trouble.”
Duan Ming, feeling a mix of emotions, shook his hand in return.
Finally, the meal was ready, and the butler, not having time to argue with the hotel about their work efficiency, received the food cart and prepared the medication Huo Lan needed.
Seeing the butler struggling alone, Duan Ming lent a hand. He took the food cart from the butler and, together, they made their way to the elevator.
“Thank you,” the butler said, deeply moved. Unable to hold back, he spoke candidly to Duan Ming. “Actually… Mr. Huo has been showing signs of being in a susceptible period. He’s afraid of doing anything that might let Mr. Liang down.”
Duan Ming was startled. “In that case, there’s no rush.”
The butler sighed. “During Mr. Huo’s sensitive period, he tends to be especially distant from the people around him. He only calls me when something happens.”
Duan Ming thought about this and sighed as well. “Liang Xiao seems carefree, but he doesn’t really trust the people around him. He only allows us to handle his personal things.”
The butler, understanding Liang Xiao’s past experiences, nodded. “Mr. Huo is the same. His sensitivity is even more pronounced during these times. He never lets anyone get too close.”
Duan Ming had just relieved his concerns about Liang Xiao’s light and unruly behavior, nodding with reassurance. “Liang Xiao, even when he’s asleep, if someone touches him, he wakes up immediately.”
Speaking of sleep, the butler’s worries deepened. “Mr. Huo has very poor sleep.”
Duan Ming sighed in frustration. “Liang Xiao is also very sensitive to the bed.”
The elevator chimed as it stopped on the top floor. The butler stepped out, holding the door open for Duan Ming, and together they pushed the food cart out.
Duan Ming led the way into the presidential suite, initially intending to take responsibility for President Huo, but now with the misunderstanding cleared up, he also planned to find an opportunity to bring the person back for some proper rest.
“When Mr. Huo is in his susceptible period, he often goes several days without properly sleeping.”
The butler opened the door, a mix of headache and pride in his expression. “Only when I’m around can he rest a little.”
“Liang Xiao also never sleeps well when he’s outside.”
Duan Ming nodded, both troubled and proud. “Whenever he needs to rest properly, at least one of us has to be nearby to guard him.”
The two of them spoke frankly, both feeling like they had found a kindred spirit, nodding to each other before falling silent and walking softly.
The butler gently pushed open the door to the master bedroom. “Mr. Huo—”
The butler paused, his words dying in his throat.
Duan Ming peeked inside, confused. “?”
Duan Ming: “??”
The bright afternoon light was completely blocked by the curtains, leaving the bedroom dim. The wall lights cast a soft glow, and the room was so quiet that even a pin dropping could be heard.
Two empty food containers, cleaned and stacked, were neatly placed on the desk.
Huo Lan, who never allowed anyone close, was leaning back on the sofa with his eyes closed, a thin blanket draped over him. His brows were relaxed with exhaustion, and he was half-reclining against someone, deep in sleep.
Liang Xiao, who always woke up with the slightest touch, was hugging Mr. Huo’s arm, completely out cold, his body half-buried in Huo Lan’s shoulder, as if drawn by some mysterious force.
The butler, standing like a sentinel in the doorway, looked at the weary Duan Ming and sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the moment. With a weary heart, he quietly closed the door.
lmaooo they keep trying to set them up but they do that on their own