PHWM Chapter 27

……

 

Terrifying.

 

Liang Xiao was so stunned he didn’t know how to react. He stared blankly for a long time before finally responding, “…”

 

The butler pressed him, “Are you scared?”

 

Liang Xiao admitted defeat. “I’m scared.”

 

Satisfied that he had done his utmost, the butler gave a small bow and retreated.

 

President Huo, wearing a trench coat that wasn’t completely soaked, had quickly rinsed off in the guest bathroom, settled some work, and dismissed the butler and bodyguards to rest before returning to the master bedroom alone.

 

Liang Xiao was still sunk into the sofa, deep in thought.

 

To be fair.

 

From a rational perspective, he didn’t think President Huo was the type to do such a thing.

 

But unexpected things happened all the time. When he signed the contract back then, he never imagined that one day President Huo, besides biting him, would also hand him a formal apology letter, demand he read it in full, and write a reflection on it.

 

And the butler had been by President Huo’s side for years—loyal and experienced.

 

Who’s to say that young President Huo, during his differentiation, hadn’t been reading an apology letter, writing a reflection, and simultaneously getting spanked on the sofa?

 

Liang Xiao, convinced by his own train of thought, began to feel a vague sense of crisis. Filled with unease, he looked up just in time to see Huo Lan walk in through the door. “…”

 

Huo Lan paused, puzzled by the way Liang Xiao was staring straight at him. His commanding aura condensed into a silent question mark.

 

Liang Xiao quickly vacated the sofa, which now felt fraught with danger. “President Huo.”

 

His reaction was a bit unusual, and Huo Lan, unused to it, frowned slightly but didn’t comment. He walked over to the desk and sat down.

 

Liang Xiao trailed after him—adjusting the air conditioning temperature, fetching the late-night snacks left at the door, retrieving the computer mouse—following him all the way back to the desk.

 

Huo Lan, trailed like a shadow for two full laps, stopped at the desk and looked up. “In a hurry?”

 

Liang Xiao stood at attention. “Not at all.”

 

When the manager handed him his clothes earlier, they even mentioned he didn’t need to return that night but emphasized he should be careful and protect himself during the night.

 

Liang Xiao didn’t quite understand the specific emphasis on the night, but he did feel a bit apprehensive about going back to the sofa. “Are you going to work?”

 

Huo Lan nodded, setting down his computer and pushing the snacks toward him.

 

Liang Xiao froze for a moment.

 

Before coming upstairs, Huo Lan had requested the hotel staff prepare some late-night snacks.

 

Liang Xiao noticed and, as he entered the elevator, thought to himself that President Huo had some very human, endearing little details.

 

It turned out that President Huo wasn’t just fulfilling his own physiological needs as a human being.

 

“It won’t be long.”

 

Huo Lan saw that he wasn’t moving and, after a brief moment of hesitation, forced himself to speak. “You—”

 

He wasn’t used to saying such things, and being stared at by Liang Xiao like this made him inexplicably impatient. He wanted to say, “If you have something to eat, don’t fall asleep,” but felt that might be too harsh. He considered saying, “The night shift is tough, eat something and rest,” but that felt a bit presumptuous.

 

Huo Lan fell silent, pulled out the swivel chair, and sat down, opening his laptop.

 

Liang Xiao snapped out of it and smiled. “Thank you.”

 

Huo Lan’s hand froze for a moment.

 

“Have you eaten?”

 

Liang Xiao divided the delicate snacks from the small white porcelain plate in half, leaving some for him and taking the other half for himself. “Airplane meals always feel like they don’t fill you up. Every time I finish a flight, I really crave hotpot.”

 

Huo Lan didn’t respond, nor did he push the snacks back. He connected the mouse and opened the report.

 

He seemed to be having trouble focusing, his gaze lingering on the screen for a moment before looking up again.

 

“It’s not the proper kind.” Liang Xiao found a small tea table, placing the items he had in his hands on it while rambling to himself, “Just a little electric pot for cooking instant noodles, half a bag of spicy hotpot base, and whatever’s around, just throw it in. It’s best if there’s an egg…”

 

Liang Xiao set down the delicate caramel pudding, then turned to look at Huo Lan, who appeared as if he were listening to some important company financial report.

 

Remembering what the butler had said about young Huo Lan, Liang Xiao couldn’t help but soften in his heart.

 

He had noticed long ago that Huo Lan actually wanted to talk to people.

 

If Jiang Pingchao’s silence was due to his natural aloofness and pride, then Huo Lan’s silence was likely a result of circumstances, something forced upon him over time.

 

No one spoke to him, and no one told him how to speak.

 

Living under someone else’s roof, unloved by his parents, everything he said was wrong. Later, when he took control of the company, no matter what he said, those around him would fall silent.

 

Liang Xiao made up his mind to encourage more normal communication with him. Seeing that Huo Lan was still holding the mouse, he steered the conversation back to a topic he could contribute to. “Did you have a lot of work today?”

 

Huo Lan paused for a moment, then nodded. “Yes.”

 

He had clearly been busier these days than before. Although not as exhausted as last time, there was still a tiredness in his brows and eyes that Liang Xiao could easily notice.

 

“Is it about Xingguan?” Liang Xiao didn’t really understand the business dealings, but he casually asked, popping a small piece of creamy square into his mouth. “It sounds tough—”

 

“It’s not tough,” Huo Lan replied. “Just some trivial matters.”

 

Liang Xiao paused for a moment. Seeing how quickly President Huo had learned to answer back, he even felt a bit of relief, smiling as he nodded in acknowledgment.

 

Huo Lan waited for a while, noticing that Liang Xiao didn’t seem to want to continue the conversation, and couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

 

…It’s always like this.

 

Even when he wanted to talk to someone, something always seemed to go wrong, and the conversation would fall into an awkward silence after just a few exchanges.

 

Huo Lan calmed himself, dealt with some work, then looked up at Liang Xiao.

 

Liang Xiao seemed completely at ease, unaffected by the change in environment. He pulled up a chair beside the sofa and, with interest, picked and chose tea snacks to eat.

 

He had just rinsed his face with hot water, and his complexion looked much better than before. Under the light, a healthy and comfortable glow radiated from him.

 

His brows and eyes were gentle and relaxed.

 

Huo Lan was silent for a while before speaking. “It’s about Long Tao.”

 

Liang Xiao hadn’t expected President Huo to suddenly take the initiative, even learning to bring up the topic himself. He was a bit surprised and, with a warm tone, engaged in the conversation. “Are you going to deal with Long Tao?”

 

Huo Lan nodded slightly, acknowledging it.

 

“After all, you’ve been with him for a few years. Brother Duan probably knows some of the inside details.”

 

Now that the past had been fully brought up, Liang Xiao wasn’t shy about it. He spoke openly, “As for the matter back then, I can help you write out the list of key people…”

 

That banquet had been a plot. Every person involved with Long Tao was probably connected to it in some way.

 

It was all an act, and of course, Liang Xiao wanted to switch over to Xingguan and help Huo Lan make money. “Do you need any leverage to negotiate with them?”

 

Huo Lan shook his head. “No need.”

 

Liang Xiao was stunned for a moment. “Xingguan can buy me out from Long Tao?”

 

“You can’t be bought,” Huo Lan said. “Long Tao has you signed to a non-transferable contract.”

 

Liang Xiao didn’t expect President Huo to describe his contract in such a formal way. “So—”

 

Huo Lan replied, “So, I want to buy Long Tao.”

 

Liang Xiao: “…”

 

Huo Lan: “…”

 

Liang Xiao opened his mouth, staring at President Huo’s silent gaze, which seemed to want to continue the conversation. He took a deep breath and pressed his forehead.

 

…This was probably the most dominant President line from President Huo.

 

So dominant that Liang Xiao didn’t even know how to respond.

 

Liang Xiao thought to himself, “Well, that’s what happens when you work so much.” After a long pause, he finally gave in and presented a portion of delicate pine nut caramel pastry with Lingnan egg tarts as an offering to their President Huo. “Well… good luck.”

 

President Huo didn’t seem to realize there was anything wrong with his words. He looked up at Liang Xiao, still waiting for him to speak.

 

“…” Liang Xiao clenched his fist and shook it like a sandbag. “Yay.”

 

Due to the failure to buy the artist, President Huo had resorted to buying Long Tao, bringing with it a mountain of complicated work. Huo Lan closed his laptop, and Liang Xiao, unsurprisingly, fell asleep.

 

At this point, they were in a realm only a true “dominant President” could operate in. Liang Xiao knew he couldn’t be of much help, so he supported him mentally, sitting by the desk and rambling on, adding to the chaos.

 

At first, Huo Lan responded seriously, but soon realized Liang Xiao was just idly chatting to pass the time, so he stopped responding.

 

After he reviewed several planning proposals regarding the competition for key resources with Long Tao, he looked up from his work and realized the background noise had gone silent.

 

Liang Xiao was lying on his arm, resting his head on the desk, his breathing shallow and even.

 

The person who always looked so energetic was now asleep, his brows and eyes relaxed, the deep lashes catching the light from the desk lamp. His back rose and fell with each breath.

 

He looked even more fragile.

 

Huo Lan watched him for a while before realizing that Liang Xiao was using his arm as a pillow.

 

Liang Xiao wasn’t in a deep sleep. As soon as Huo Lan moved, he woke up, yawning and opening his eyes.

 

Liang Xiao: “…”

 

He instantly became fully awake, sitting up and quickly letting go of Huo Lan’s arm.

 

Huo Lan furrowed his brow. “Did you not sleep well?”

 

Liang Xiao had actually slept quite well, even now he still felt a lingering lazy comfort. His mind was sluggish as he wondered why he had acted so recklessly.

 

Hugging once was an accident, twice was careless.

 

Hugging three times might get him flipped over and thrown out by President Huo with a single hand.

 

Liang Xiao felt a little dazed, looking at the seemingly calm Huo Lan. “You… don’t have anything to say?”

 

Huo Lan, who was used to Liang Xiao holding his arm, felt a bit numb. He thought about asking him to switch to his other hand next time, but then he realized it might delay work. After a moment, he said, “No.”

 

Liang Xiao: “…”

 

This might be the calm before the storm.

 

Seeing Liang Xiao still lost in thought, Huo Lan furrowed his brows, stood up, and dragged him to the bathroom.

 

After all, Long Tao was a huge entity. Even though it had been declining in recent years, it still took time and effort to bring it down, and acquiring it was even more difficult.

 

These past few days, Huo Lan had been busy consolidating liquid assets and handling asset liquidation, alongside his full-scale competition and suppression of Long Tao. There was a lot to deal with.

 

If Liang Xiao could just sleep soundly, Huo Lan could rest earlier too.

 

Liang Xiao, feeling guilty, just went along with whatever Huo Lan said, confusedly going through the motions of washing up and changing into his pajamas. Suddenly, something felt off: “??”

 

Huo Lan had finished washing up as well. He stepped out of the bathroom and reached for him. “Don’t move.”

 

Before Liang Xiao could ask why Huo Lan wanted him to change into pajamas, he was already pulled into Huo Lan’s chest and arms. The soft cotton fabric of his pajamas was slightly tugged downward, exposing the back of his neck.

 

A light pressure, accompanied by a cool, icy breath, settled over him.

 

Liang Xiao: “…”

 

Huo Lan, concerned that he might feel uncomfortable, slightly adjusted his grip, furrowing his brows and looking down. “What’s wrong?”

 

“…” Liang Xiao flushed, embarrassed by his own thoughts. “Nothing.”

 

President Huo was exceptionally talented, learning everything faster and faster.

 

Liang Xiao didn’t dare to think further. He resolutely deleted the little yellow book on his phone and decided to ask Duan Ming to help him find The Heart Sutra and The Prajñāpāramitā Heart Sutra tomorrow.

 

Huo Lan observed him for a moment, didn’t ask any more questions, and nodded. “Go to sleep.”

 

Liang Xiao, face red, still in a daze: “What?”

 

Huo Lan guided him to the edge of the bed, signaling him to lie down.

 

The back of Liang Xiao’s neck twitched immediately. “President Huo, this is not right—”

 

Huo Lan was also very tired and didn’t waste time. He picked up the person who had changed into pajamas and placed him on the bed, pulling the covers over him, then placed one hand behind his head.

 

Liang Xiao numbly watched as Huo Lan moved with practiced ease. “…”

 

“There’s a side position,” Huo Lan said, a bit of a headache forming as he closed his eyes and pressed his temples. “I’ll leave once you’re asleep.”

 

Liang Xiao was really curious about the reason and mustered the courage to ask, “Then your hand…”

 

…Why does it have to appear between my pillow and my head at this moment?

 

Halfway through asking, he realized it himself.

 

Liang Xiao felt as though his heart had turned to ashes. He thought about how, once he fell asleep, he would unconsciously hug President Huo’s arm, and weakly curled up in the blanket.

 

Huo Lan adjusted the lighting for him, leaning against the headboard, closing his eyes to rest.

 

Liang Xiao couldn’t sleep no matter what. He took a deep breath, looked up to explain, but as he looked at Huo Lan, a sudden pain shot through his chest.

 

…How easy was it to bully the young Huo Lan?

 

He believed everything, and once he believed, he did it earnestly.

 

Maybe someone had told him back then that writing letters to his parents would help them open up, release past grudges, and get along well.

 

Liang Xiao closed his eyes for a moment, the thought burning him. He spoke hoarsely, “President Huo.”

 

Huo Lan noticed something was wrong with his voice, furrowed his brows, and opened his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

 

“I… miss my parents.” Liang Xiao took a deep breath. “I can’t sleep.”

 

Huo Lan’s shoulder and arm stiffened slightly.

 

He didn’t quite know how to comfort him in this moment. After a moment of silence, he tried to recall the butler’s tone: “Where are your parents?”

 

There was no information about Liang Xiao’s parents in his file.

 

Missing one’s parents was natural, and late at night, even Huo Lan sometimes found himself thinking about such things.

 

If Liang Xiao truly missed them, they could contact the production team and arrange for family visits…

 

“I don’t know.” Liang Xiao said, “The orphanage director picked me up from the side of the road.”

 

Huo Lan: “…”

 

Liang Xiao himself felt like he was being difficult, but this was the truth. He cleared his throat. “Really.”

 

Huo Lan genuinely didn’t know what to say: “…My condolences.”

 

Liang Xiao’s vision darkened. He steeled himself and awkwardly changed the subject: “I don’t know what my parents were like. What about you…”

 

He didn’t want to bring up painful memories, but he had to understand Huo Lan’s situation first, so he could handle it appropriately.

 

To avoid the butler being punished for “privately spreading President Huo’s childhood secrets,” he had no choice but to test the waters with Huo Lan directly.

 

Huo Lan was stunned by the question, and after a long pause, he replied, “I don’t know either.”

 

Hearing his tone, Liang Xiao felt even more suffocated in his chest. He felt embarrassed to grab Huo Lan’s other clean hand, so he just held onto the corner of his shirt and patted it gently.

 

Huo Lan lowered his head, watching Liang Xiao’s movements, and lightly furrowed his brows.

 

Liang Xiao usually wouldn’t ask such personal questions, and even if he did, he would first turn to his manager or assistant. But now, suddenly asking what his parents should have been like, it was clear that he couldn’t help but really want to know.

 

Huo Lan’s answer seemed somewhat dismissive.

 

“I…” Huo Lan fell silent for a moment before briefly explaining, “I didn’t live with them when I was young. My mother’s pheromone is ‘warm sun.'”

 

Liang Xiao’s chest suddenly tightened.

 

By now, the pheromones of alphas and omegas had clear classifications. Apart from a few special pheromones, most fell into large categories from A to Z.

 

Liang Xiao wasn’t sure exactly what Huo Lan’s pheromone was, but it was undoubtedly a natural, cool-toned one, likely ranked quite high.

 

In omega reproduction, the most dangerous situation was when the mother’s and the child’s pheromones clashed.

 

His mother’s pheromone was a warm tone, directly conflicting with the baby’s. If the baby was born during a pheromone fluctuation, it could easily lead to accidents, and in severe cases, even life-threatening situations.

 

“Father… loved mother very much.”

 

Seeing that Liang Xiao still didn’t speak, Huo Lan thought for a moment and continued to explain, “So he was very angry with me.”

 

His birth had never been something his father had hoped for, and it had also caused his mother to be seriously ill for several years.

 

Pheromone fluctuations only occur when the fetus forms its pheromone source within the mother’s body. After birth, as long as the source doesn’t differentiate, it doesn’t actually release pheromones. But because it shares the same origin as the mother, there is still the possibility of triggering fluctuations in the mother’s pheromone.

 

So, his father never allowed him to stay at home for long.

 

Liang Xiao couldn’t help but furrow his brows. “What about your mother? Didn’t she—”

 

Huo Lan: “She doesn’t remember.”

 

Liang Xiao was stunned.

 

When Huo Lan spoke about his father, Liang Xiao wasn’t surprised. After all, young Huo Lan had always been obedient and sensible, and there must have been some incomprehensible reason why his father didn’t like him.

 

But he truly hadn’t expected this.

 

Omega bodies were fragile and easily harmed. Strong impacts from their own pheromones could lead to clinical cases where they lost memories for anywhere from a year to several years.

 

Huo Lan’s mother had suffered from a pheromone clash during childbirth. After recovering, all she saw before her was her loving husband, and they lived a happy, harmonious life.

 

The couple, like immortal lovers, traveled and relaxed to recover, while planning to transfer their business to a branch and eventually settle abroad together.

 

Sometimes, a child from the branch family would come to stay for a while. He seemed sensible and cute, though a bit like bookworms, and even wrote thank-you letters to her husbands in all seriousness.

 

…

 

It wasn’t just a matter of not being liked by their parents.

 

Liang Xiao suddenly couldn’t hold back. He pushed himself up from the bed and, in a somewhat unclear and awkward manner, hugged Huo Lan tightly.

 

Huo Lan froze for a moment, instinctively supporting him.

 

“I… I miss my parents, whom I’ve never met, so much.”

 

Liang Xiao squeezed his eyes shut, took a deep breath, and said, “I can’t sleep alone, President Huo. Can you stay with me for a while?”

 

Huo Lan, tightly held by him, hesitated but then wrapped his arms around him and gently stroked his hair.

 

Liang Xiao: “QAQ.”

 

Huo Lan stared at him for a moment, then nodded.

 

Liang Xiao leaned his entire chest against him, messing around on his back.

 

Huo Lan wrapped his arms around him and patted his back: “Q—”

 

“Means crying.” Liang Xiao explained: “Q is for eyes, A is for mouth.”

 

Huo Lan finally understood, but before he could say anything, Liang Xiao bumped his head against his shoulder.

 

Huo Lan, unprepared, winced in pain. He froze for a moment, then looked down at him, his eyes slowly softening.

 

At that moment, he appeared particularly calm, not distant or cold, but quiet to the point where only the shadow of a young man remained.

 

The young Huo Lan, quietly standing by the flower bed, alone, drenched in rain and buffeted by wind.

 

“The bed is so big.” Liang Xiao felt like this wasn’t the right thing to say, but his emotions were in turmoil, and he couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Two people… could fit.”

 

He suddenly remembered what the butler had said about President Huo being unable to sleep during his sensitive period.

 

Even after coming to terms with apology letters, reflections, and spanking, he still couldn’t figure out what made the young Huo Lan so afraid to even sleep.

 

“The long night is endless… I can’t sleep.”

 

Liang Xiao steeled himself and took the blame: “Could you stay?”

 

Huo Lan looked down at him for a moment, then wrapped an arm around his shoulder and gently placed Liang Xiao back on the bed.

 

He leaned against the headboard, sitting with his eyes closed, his shoulders slowly relaxing.

 

The bed was large enough for five people to sleep in a star shape. In Liang Xiao’s mind, President Huo didn’t have to suffer this much. Just as he was about to speak, Huo Lan suddenly lifted the corner of his mouth very lightly.

 

Liang Xiao froze, not making a sound.

 

Huo Lan said with his eyes closed, his voice soft: “Alright.”

 

 

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