PHWM Chapter 50.1

Everything that needed to be said had been said. At this point, there was nothing left to hold back.

 

Liang Xiao hugged him for a while, then propped himself up to sit straight.

 

Huo Lan remained silent for longer than he had expected.

 

Holding his breath, his gaze fixed on Liang Xiao, he was so still that even his shadow under the light didn’t move.

 

Liang Xiao, feeling uneasy, listened to Huo Lan’s chest, then felt him from the shoulders down through his pajamas, carefully squeezing and examining him.

 

If it weren’t for the heart beating so forcefully it seemed to shake the earth, and the healthy warmth of his body, Liang Xiao would have thought their President Huo had finally, in a moment of carelessness, frozen himself as well.

 

Huo Lan, disturbed by his fussing, moved slightly and lowered his eyes to grasp Liang Xiao’s arm.

 

Liang Xiao looked up: “Huo Lan?”

 

Huo Lan: “Mm.”

 

Liang Xiao met his gaze, and after two seconds, looked away, feeling hot.

 

Huo Lan, concerned, frowned slightly: “What’s wrong–”

 

Liang Xiao sighed: “It’s nothing.”

 

Huo Lan had always been focused when doing things, Liang Xiao knew this, but he still couldn’t handle being stared at so intently every time.

 

Huo Lan’s eyes were beautiful, like icy snow-melt pools, with thick lashes and slightly narrowed corners, making them appear seductively restrained.

 

As the coldness melted away, they became clear, almost transparent.

 

Liang Xiao’s heart raced under his gaze, and for the first time, he felt a sense of frustration towards his nearly ruined gland.

 

If his gland had been normal now, according to the erotic novels he had read, Huo Lan should have pinned him down on the bed with one hand, bitten his gland, and made him roll around like a small boat on the sea.

 

Back then, in his youthful spirit, faced with the ladder of success that used others’ futures and innocence as stepping stones, he had chosen the path of mutual destruction almost without consideration.

 

Now, he suddenly felt a rare sense of regret.

 

While principles couldn’t be compromised, and he wouldn’t yield to Longtao’s filth, the methods… could have been more tactful.

 

Not hurting others didn’t mean there wasn’t a way to avoid hurting oneself.

 

If he hadn’t tortured himself to the brink of death back then, perhaps now President Huo could permanently mark him, give him a stamp…

 

Liang Xiao groaned at his own wild thoughts, touching his gland and rubbing it.

 

Huo Lan noticed his movement: “Are you uncomfortable?”

 

Huo Lan didn’t let him brush it off this time, gathering his hand and checking the pheromone levels on the bracelet.

 

Liang Xiao was burning up, feeling confused: “This shouldn’t be happening…”

 

His gland had been used to being suppressed by Valu, his pheromones were usually stable. Even during his heat, although he hadn’t used much suppressant, Huo Lan had always provided temporary marks to regulate him, and there had never been any issues.

 

Now that his heat had passed, it should have been the most stable time for his pheromones.

 

It couldn’t be that his desire to be bitten by President Huo was so strong that it had materialized and could resonate with his gland.

 

…Then there would be no need for inducers.

 

One day when he felt like it, he could just think about it while releasing pheromones and running, running all the way to President Huo’s office just in time to start.

 

Hearing raindrops falling on green grass all the way.

 

Liang Xiao, burning up and in a daze, let his thoughts wander, watching helplessly as Huo Lan picked up his phone to call a doctor: “There’s no need–”

 

Huo Lan supported him, letting him lean into his arms: “No medicine.”

 

Liang Xiao was stunned.

 

“Just a check-up,” Huo Lan said, “If medicine is necessary, I’ll tell them to use ones that aren’t bitter.”

 

Liang Xiao was incredulous: “Brother Duan even told you about this?!”

 

Huo Lan looked at him, his pupils moving slightly, but didn’t respond.

 

Liang Xiao hadn’t expected his manager to betray him so thoroughly. Feeling a bit world-weary, he sighed.

 

It was true that he disliked bitterness, but after taking so much medicine, he could tolerate it.

 

In front of others, he at least maintained the image of an iron-blooded tough guy who could swallow anything.

 

Liang Xiao still cherished this image quite a bit. After a moment, he negotiated with Huo Lan: “Can we not tell others about this?”

 

Huo Lan nodded.

 

Liang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against him.

 

He had been on edge all night, his whole heart focused on Huo Lan, with little energy left to pay attention to his own condition.

 

Now that he was relaxing, Liang Xiao finally felt the discomfort in his body, a mix of fatigue and soreness.

 

Liang Xiao had been in a daze earlier and hadn’t rested much. Now he felt a bit low on energy, but he propped himself up to look carefully at Huo Lan.

 

Huo Lan met his gaze: “What do you want?”

 

Liang Xiao shook his head, feeling a bit cold, and leaned against him: “Are you still uncomfortable?”

 

Huo Lan’s eyes flickered, and he shook his head with his eyes closed.

 

Liang Xiao was afraid he wasn’t being honest, so he raised his hand and ruffled Huo Lan’s hair a couple of times. Just as he was about to pull away, Huo Lan caught his wrist with his hand.

 

“…” Although Liang Xiao had taught him to hold on, this wasn’t the way to do it without letting go: “President Huo–”

 

Huo Lan frowned: “Why are you so hot?”

 

Liang Xiao was taken aback for a moment and touched his own forehead, not sensing anything unusual, then touched Huo Lan’s.

 

Huo Lan’s expression darkened as he sent a message to the doctor urging them to come.

 

…

 

“When the patient’s pheromones are stable.”

 

The private doctor arrived in the middle of the night, looking worn out: “Feels like a fever, looks like a fever, and the patient thinks it feels like a fever.”

 

The private doctor concluded: “The patient might just have a fever.”

 

Huo Lan: “…”

 

Liang Xiao: “…”

 

Liang Xiao murmured in disbelief: “Am I sick to this extent…?”

 

He had read novels about people getting fevers after confessions, but those usually had some logic or reason behind them.

 

Even if there was no backstory, at least there would be ellipses.

 

Liang Xiao couldn’t understand how he had reached the point where even ellipses were not warranted: “Is it really this simplified now? Is there only a plot line?”

 

“Today is the first day after your heat ends.”

 

Duan Ming took the opportunity while Huo Lan was talking to the doctor to remind Liang Xiao quietly: “You discussed scripts outside during the day and ran around opening doors on two floors in the villa late at night.”

 

Liang Xiao felt that this amount of exercise was just right: “Didn’t the doctor say more activity is good?”

 

Duan Ming was exasperated, thinking that the doctor hadn’t meant for him to be running back and forth in the cold hallway sweating profusely right after his heat ended.

 

At that moment, finding Huo Lan was urgent. Liang Xiao appeared calm on the surface but was actually panicking without realizing it.

 

Duan Ming noticed this but couldn’t say anything more.

 

Seeing the two of them now, it seemed most of the problems had been resolved.

 

Duan Ming felt somewhat relieved and reminded him: “The weather isn’t good tonight.”

 

Liang Xiao paused and looked out the window.

 

He found the culprit and let out a sigh of relief: “Fate plays tricks on people.”

 

“Tricks on you.” Every time Duan Ming saw him suffer, he couldn’t help but think back to what happened before. It still left him feeling unsettled. “I wonder where that alpha you met back then is now. If it weren’t for saving someone, you…”

 

Liang Xiao interrupted him: “Brother Duan.”

 

Duan Ming knew he didn’t like hearing this: “I won’t say anything more.”

 

“…No.” Liang Xiao cautiously glanced outside the door and lowered his voice. “We can’t mention that alpha I met back then.”

 

Duan Ming was confused: “Why not?”

 

Liang Xiao didn’t know why either, but seeing Huo Lan’s reaction made him feel uneasy: “I suspect… President Huo might be a little jealous.”

 

Duan Ming choked slightly: “Huh?”

 

Liang Xiao looked troubled: “It’s true.”

 

After all, during such a crucial moment tonight, President Huo couldn’t help but bring up that person they met twice.

 

Duan Ming couldn’t understand: “Just tell President Huo that he’s far better than that guy.”

 

Liang Xiao felt stuck between a rock and a hard place: “But he’s just as good as President Huo.”

 

Duan Ming: “…”

 

Duan Ming didn’t tell Liang Xiao that these past few days, the butler had been burdened with worries and had hinted at something about how young Huo Lan was when he first entered society; he might have had someone significant in his life back then.

 

Duan Ming had just accepted this idea and hadn’t expected Liang Xiao to hold his ground so firmly: “So you also have a white moonlight?”

 

Liang Xiao shook his head: “How could that be?”

 

Back then, he barely understood what friendship was; how could he develop feelings for someone above that?

 

What happened back then was in the past; dwelling on it now was pointless. He just found himself feeling guilty when reminded of it.

 

Especially since President Huo seemed to constantly bring it up for some reason.

 

Liang Xiao sighed for a moment before suddenly realizing something off about Duan Ming’s tone: “So someone else also has white moonlight—who else?”

 

“…” Duan Ming replied: “Me.”

 

Liang Xiao’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

Duan Ming gloomily patted his shoulder and shoved a thermometer into his mouth before walking away.

 

President Huo had been overly anxious; after checking Liang Xiao’s heart and lung function as well as pheromone levels, the doctor found nothing major wrong.

 

It was merely the weather playing tricks again; he had caught a bit of a chill.

 

Even the patient himself didn’t feel any obvious discomfort; the doctor knew Liang Xiao’s body well enough and gave relaxed advice: “Just keep warm and sweat a bit—”

 

The butler brought him a cup of coffee.

 

The doctor looked at him incredulously.

 

The doctor held the coffee while eyeing the small cookies in the butler’s hand before changing his words: “In an adequately warm environment, engage in some activities that can induce sweating.”

 

Liang Xiao leaned against Huo Lan’s embrace, sipping on some banlan root tea when he heard this; his hand trembled slightly and nearly spilled it onto President Huo’s lap.

 

The butler worried they wouldn’t understand and asked loudly: “What activities can induce sweating?”

 

The doctor looked at him in disbelief.

 

After all, doctor isn’t pimps; having reached this point already stretched their old friendship to its limits; he were still upright about it: “There are many options—like running, jumping rope, push-ups—”

 

The doctor held onto the cookie that had been pushed into his arms and opened his mouth slightly: “…frequent temporary marking.”

 

The butler breathed a sigh of relief and quickly glanced back.

 

Huo Lan’s brow remained furrowed tightly; it was unclear if he had heard their conversation as he focused on Liang Xiao’s water cup, watching him drink all of his medicine.

 

Liang Xiao gulped it down and lifted his head to speak when suddenly Huo Lan held onto the back of his head with one hand.

 

Huo Lan encircled him, leaning forward until their foreheads touched as he tried to check Liang Xiao’s temperature.

 

Liang Xiao might have been burning up even more; dazedly pressed against Huo Lan’s forehead, his gaze lost focus for several seconds before sliding down along Huo Lan’s arm.

 

Huo Lan hastily caught hold of Liang Xiao, his eyes still filled with concern. He was about to call someone when Mr. Liang pulled him close and whispered a few words.

 

Mr. Liang took a deep breath, mimicking Huo Lan’s action. With a flushed face, he held President Huo’s head and pressed their foreheads together.

 

President Huo froze for two seconds, then blushed.

 

…

 

The butler looked at these two people in bewilderment, not knowing what they were doing but seeming perfectly content. He was momentarily at a loss for words: “…”

 

The doctor, munching on cookies and sipping coffee, remarked: “This is unnecessary.”

 

Butler: “…Yes.”

 

Doctor: “It’s our fault for maturing too quickly.”

 

Butler, rubbing his forehead: “Yes.”

 

Doctor: “Our knowledge is too broad.”

 

Butler: “Yes.”

 

Doctor: “Twenty years from now.”

 

Butler, confused: “What?”

 

“Twenty years from now, if President Huo suddenly wants to kiss Mr. Liang.”

 

The doctor generously offered: “You can call me for a free check-up.”

 

Butler: “…”

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