PHWM Chapter 58.2

Liang Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly closed his eyes and fell silent.

 

Their President Huo’s ability to flirt so seriously…

 

Even though there was no one else in the bathroom, Liang Xiao still buried his face in the water. After a while, he lifted his head, took a deep breath, and wiped his eyes.

 

Not wanting to talk through the door anymore, Liang Xiao got out of the bathtub, quickly dried himself off, and was about to put on a bathrobe to go out.

 

When he reached the changing area, he was caught off guard again.

 

Liang Xiao hesitated, went back, and roughly dried his hair with a towel.

 

Only after making sure his hair was no longer dripping did Liang Xiao put down the towel, walk over, and unfold the neatly folded set of pajamas.

 

The same style, in his size.

 

Not President Huo’s set.

 

They had been washed, and the tags had been neatly removed.

 

The fabric was soft, and having been separated by the glass door from the steam, it still carried a cool, crisp scent.

 

Liang Xiao closed his eyes, suddenly feeling that their President Huo’s concerns were very reasonable.

 

…

 

A few more times like this, and he might really become absent-minded.

 

Huo Lan, standing outside the bathroom, opened his eyes when he heard the door open, looking at Liang Xiao who had changed into the pajamas.

 

“It fits well,” Liang Xiao’s eyes were still a bit red, but he didn’t try to hide it. He looked up with a smile, “Thank you.”

 

Huo Lan shook his head and reached out to carefully adjust Liang Xiao’s collar.

 

Liang Xiao stood still obediently, letting him fix his clothes. Unable to resist, he lowered his head and gently nuzzled Huo Lan’s hand.

 

Huo Lan’s arm paused slightly, and he looked up at Liang Xiao.

 

“Today…”

 

Liang Xiao wasn’t used to talking about this. He paused: “When I saw the door had been tampered with, I didn’t dare go in.”

 

Huo Lan’s shoulders tensed silently. The hand adjusting Liang Xiao’s collar paused for a moment before embracing his shoulders and pulling him into a hug.

 

Liang Xiao followed his lead, closing his eyes and leaning on Huo Lan’s shoulder: “It’s not that I was afraid something would happen to me…”

 

Before he could finish, the arms around his back suddenly tightened. Liang Xiao lost two and a half breaths out of three and hastily corrected himself: “I was, was also afraid something would happen to me.”

 

Huo Lan lowered his head, burying it in Liang Xiao’s neck.

 

“But I have special suppressants and emergency contacts.”

 

Liang Xiao raised his hand and rubbed Huo Lan’s back vigorously, trying to calm him down: “I wasn’t really in danger.”

 

Liang Xiao didn’t continue immediately. He was quiet for a while, closing his eyes for a moment.

 

Liang Xiao: “Whether intentional or not…”

 

Liang Xiao chuckled softly: “I really don’t want to be used to harm anyone anymore.”

 

Huo Lan’s breath suddenly stilled. He held Liang Xiao tightly, wanting to speak, but Liang Xiao raised his hand to cover his mouth.

 

Liang Xiao had never told anyone this before, and even saying it out loud himself felt extremely sentimental.

 

But Director Song had once told him when discussing a role that even if constant wandering has become a habit, there are times when you suddenly run out of energy and want to stop and rest for a while.

 

Liang Xiao couldn’t drift anymore. He closed his eyes and said softly: “I know it’s not my fault, and I’ve never blamed myself.”

 

Whether it was being forced by that con artist as a teenager, having to grit his teeth and cut ties, running away from Jiangnan without a trace,

 

Or being schemed against just as he debuted, almost being used to tarnish their President Huo’s reputation.

 

Everyone is pushed by fate. Some things can’t be avoided, and when you encounter them, you just do. Liang Xiao wasn’t one to belittle himself because of this, feeling melancholic and thinking he owed this or that.

 

It’s just that when passing through familiar places again, it’s inevitable to feel some lingering fear.

 

“So… I thought about it,” Liang Xiao sighed and smiled. “I might as well just cause trouble for you alone.”

 

Liang Xiao looked up: “Is that okay?”

 

Huo Lan’s chest rose and fell several times. He met Liang Xiao’s gaze and nodded slightly.

 

Liang Xiao continued: “Then can I move in here?”

 

The turn was a bit sudden. Huo Lan, still not over feeling pain for him, was taken aback: “What?”

 

“Staying with the crew, I’m not at ease, I have trauma…”

 

Liang Xiao’s ears were a bit hot, but he steeled himself: “If I go back, I definitely won’t be able to sleep.”

 

According to Huo Lan’s requirements, if he missed home, he should contact him; if he couldn’t eat well, he should contact him; undoubtedly, if he couldn’t sleep well, he should also report to President Huo.

 

Liang Xiao was quite melancholic: “Tossing and turning, unable to sleep through the night.”

 

“…” Huo Lan instinctively stroked his back: “The crew will change hotels. If needed, Xingguan can also provide funding.”

 

Liang Xiao felt pained: “That’s too expensive.”

 

Huo Lan wanted to say it didn’t matter, but as the words reached his lips, he hesitated.

 

Until Liang Xiao mentioned it, he hadn’t realized.

 

Since he and Mr. Liang were indeed family now… their property should naturally be shared.

 

Whether it’s Xingguan or Huo Corporation, even his personal assets, Liang Xiao should have half.

 

Huo Lan thought carefully and felt that Liang Xiao indeed had the right to restrict his spending. He nodded: “Alright.”

 

“Besides, even changing hotels won’t help.”

 

Liang Xiao, unaware that he had just swallowed half of their President Huo’s assets, was still focused on persuading Huo Lan: “This is a psychological issue.”

 

Huo Lan couldn’t bear to hear this. His eyes darkened, feeling as if Liang Xiao had stabbed another knife into his chest.

 

Liang Xiao: “I’m jumpy at every sound, seeing danger everywhere.”

 

Huo Lan felt as if Liang Xiao was twisting the knife: “It won’t–”

 

“I understand.”

 

Liang Xiao sighed: “But understanding can’t cure a psychological issue.”

 

Huo Lan, thoroughly stabbed by his words, was silent for a while before asking softly: “How can it be cured?”

 

Liang Xiao: “A heart ailment needs heart medicine.”

 

“Solve the problem at its source, change where I’m staying,” Liang Xiao said in one breath. “I see you have a side bedroom here…”

 

Huo Lan: “…”

 

Liang Xiao quickly added: “It’s actually the same.”

 

Huo Lan frowned: “How is it the same?”

 

“You’ll be in the main bedroom, I’ll be in the side bedroom. When you go for morning exercise and breakfast, I won’t be awake yet. By the time I return from filming, you’ll probably be resting already.”

 

Liang Xiao had carefully planned this in the bathroom and was very confident: “Like flowers and leaves, not seeing each other morning and night.”

 

Huo Lan hadn’t thought of this solution. Hearing this, he was almost tempted but tried to suppress the thought: “Won’t it… affect you?”

 

Liang Xiao firmly stated: “If I don’t see you, it won’t.”

 

Huo Lan seemed vaguely convinced by him, but also vaguely felt something was off. He lowered his gaze, pondering.

 

Liang Xiao sighed: “Once bitten by a snake, ten years…”

 

Huo Lan: “Alright.”

 

Liang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, immediately shaking off his gloom: “Is it a deal?”

 

Huo Lan stared at him for a while, seeing the light return to his eyes. His lips unconsciously tightened before he nodded: “Alright.”

 

Liang Xiao was very pleased: “Then I’ll tell Brother Duan to bring my luggage–”

 

Huo Lan held his hand: “No rush.”

 

Liang Xiao was slightly stunned: “Huh?”

 

Liang Xiao had been thoroughly chilled today and had gone through quite an ordeal. His body hadn’t fully recovered yet, and just standing at the door talking for a while had made his hands cold again.

 

Huo Lan held that hand in his palm, slowly warming it: “Just stay here for now.”

 

Liang Xiao hadn’t looked closely at the side bedroom when he entered. He was stunned for a while, then suddenly seemed to guess what was going on. Still held by Huo Lan, he leaned over to push open the door and take a look.

 

Unlike the main bedroom, the side bedroom didn’t have a standard hotel layout.

 

There were a few of his clothes hanging on the rack, the script he had left at the villa was on the small desk, and the familiar pillows and blankets were on the bed, not neatly folded but casually piled up.

 

The two small umbrellas he had folded for Huo Lan before leaving – one was on the office desk, which he had already seen, and the other was placed on the bedside table in the side bedroom.

 

A beautiful glass cover on a wine-red velvet base.

 

Liang Xiao was so touched he could barely stand. He took several deep breaths, his voice hoarse: “How…”

 

Huo Lan, who was usually extremely strict with himself to the point of harshness, didn’t often enter this room.

 

Now that Liang Xiao was here, Huo Lan thought for a moment and felt he could relax for one night. He led Liang Xiao to the side bedroom’s bed: “Sleep.”

 

Liang Xiao’s mind wasn’t settled yet. In a daze, he was embraced and carefully placed on the bed: “Just, just sleep?”

 

Huo Lan touched his forehead: “You’re very tired.”

 

Liang Xiao had been acting all day without a moment’s rest, and then this incident happened.

 

It was nearly dawn now, and Liang Xiao hadn’t noticed, but his face was extremely pale, his lips had little color, and his heart rate was unstable.

 

Worried, Huo Lan carefully settled him in, tucked in the blanket corners, and placed his left hand under Liang Xiao’s head.

 

It had been a while since their President Huo had cradled his head like this. Liang Xiao peeked out a hand from the blanket cocoon, grabbed Huo Lan’s sleeve, and felt the texture.

 

Huo Lan frowned slightly: “What’s wrong?”

 

Liang Xiao didn’t reply immediately, carefully feeling Huo Lan’s cuff.

 

Their President Huo had made remarkable progress since deciding they were family.

 

Liang Xiao was a bit dazed by this progress, feeling around and murmuring: “Is this really real…”

 

Huo Lan felt a pang in his heart and said softly: “It is.”

 

Unaware that he had stabbed Huo Lan’s heart again, Liang Xiao continued feeling his way up, reaching Huo Lan’s shoulder.

 

Huo Lan leaned down, letting him touch to confirm: “It’s real.”

 

Liang Xiao had already confirmed it was real but decided not to waste this opportunity. He continued upward, along President Huo’s collar to his neckline.

 

Seeing how tired Liang Xiao was today, Huo Lan didn’t want him to exert himself and leaned down further: “It’s all real.”

 

Huo Lan closed his eyes tightly and said in a low voice, almost like a promise: “I’m here, I’m with you, I won’t leave…”

 

Liang Xiao held his breath, discreetly unbuttoning one of Huo Lan’s buttons.

 

Huo Lan stared at him intently, his voice growing hoarse: “Trust me.”

 

Liang Xiao was taken aback, his hands instinctively continuing to wrestle with the buttons as he met Huo Lan’s gaze: “I do trust you.”

 

“I’ve always trusted you,” Liang Xiao said earnestly, looking into his eyes. “Huo Lan, I’ve never not trusted you.”

 

Huo Lan wasn’t convinced. The turbulence in his eyes hadn’t subsided as he asked hoarsely: “Then why can’t you sleep?”

 

Liang Xiao thought to himself, “Isn’t it obvious I’m trying to take advantage of you?” But he swallowed those words, managed a smile, and sped up his hands while Huo Lan wasn’t paying attention: “I’m just not sleepy yet…”

 

Huo Lan’s attention was fully on Liang Xiao, not noticing anything unusual about himself. Seeing Liang Xiao’s pale lips, he gently stroked his hair.

 

Over the years, Huo Lan had rarely slept well and understood better than anyone what it meant to be unable to sleep.

 

Closing one’s eyes, the past would churn and disturb the mind, impossible to suppress.

 

Sleepless nights, restless in bed.

 

Liang Xiao had once asked the butler if Huo Lan’s insomnia was due to a subconscious resistance to sleep.

 

“It’s not,” Huo Lan said.

 

Liang Xiao was confused: “Not what?”

 

Huo Lan closed his eyes.

 

It wasn’t resistance to sleep, but resistance to waking up.

 

Upon waking, he would find everything was false, all warmth would return to reality, all illusions would dissipate.

 

He didn’t want Liang Xiao to be trapped in this deadlock too. After a moment of silence, he opened his eyes and looked into Liang Xiao’s, softly assuring: “I am real.”

 

Liang Xiao frowned slightly.

 

He vaguely sensed that Huo Lan seemed to have entered some mental dead end. Worried, he withdrew his hand: “I know.”

 

Liang Xiao raised his hand, covering Huo Lan’s brow, gently caressing it: “What’s wrong? Are you feeling upset? Tell me–”

 

Huo Lan closed his eyes tightly, his shoulders tensing silently for a moment before he grasped Liang Xiao’s hand: “I can…”

 

Liang Xiao was thoroughly worried now, frowning deeply: “Can what?”

 

Huo Lan: “I can… prove it.”

 

Although he wasn’t quite sure why proving he was real meant kissing Liang Xiao.

 

But… if this could make Liang Xiao believe.

 

If Mr. Liang were to blame him for being improper in the future, he wouldn’t make excuses for himself.

 

Liang Xiao had already forgotten his casual remark in the van. Worried that Huo Lan had trapped himself in some mental loop, he reached for his phone, intending to call the butler for emergency help: “Prove what? Everything’s fine, I’m okay, Huo Lan–”

 

Liang Xiao’s words suddenly stopped as Huo Lan grasped his wrist and covered his eyes with it.

 

To make it easier for Liang Xiao to feel, Huo Lan had leaned down very low. The buttons of his pajamas had all been undone by Liang Xiao, the soft, draping fabric open to reveal his strong chest.

 

Liang Xiao felt he might actually be dreaming.

 

Having just been warmed by Huo Lan’s chest in the car, Liang Xiao had simply been unable to resist the temptation and had, at most, hoped to sneak a touch of Huo Lan in the confusion.

 

He hadn’t expected things to develop to this point.

 

Liang Xiao lay perfectly still, not daring to move, feeling like he was burning up: “Huo Lan–”

 

Liang Xiao suddenly fell silent, his eyes widening.

 

Huo Lan leaned down and kissed him on the lips.

 

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T/N: A A AA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THEY FINALLY KISSED!!!!! AAAAAAAA OML OMLOMLOML!! its not a dream right??? am i imagining things guysss?????