Liang Xiao didn’t manage to focus for long.
Having woken up early and endured a grueling day, he yawned more than ten times in a row, and the words on the page began to blur completely.
Clutching his highlighter, Liang Xiao struggled to make out the text for a while before drawing a wavy line across the page. His energy finally ran out, and he collapsed face-first onto his script.
Exhausted beyond measure, he fell into a deep sleep, completely oblivious to any sounds or movements around him.
When he opened his eyes again, the sky outside had already turned pitch black.
The curtains were tightly drawn shut, and the warm glow of the bedside lamp cast a soft filter over everything in the room.
Staring at the gentle ceiling for three seconds, Liang Xiao suddenly snapped awake and grabbed his phone.
The flower-and-leaf meeting time had passed by a full twenty minutes.
Heart aching with regret, Liang Xiao gasped sharply and tried to leap out of bed. But a sudden pang of soreness in his waist sent him collapsing back onto his pillow.
Liang Xiao sighed dramatically: “The heavens are against me—”
From the bathroom came the sound of movement. Huo Lan stepped out quickly, his voice steady: “Who?”
“…” Liang Xiao stared blankly at their President Huo: “It’s me.”
Huo Lan emerged from the bathroom so naturally that Liang Xiao froze for a moment. Unable to help himself, he glanced around to confirm that he was still lying in the guest room bed.
His obsession was too strong—it felt as though he’d somehow crossed through walls in the middle of the night.
Reaching under his pillow, Liang Xiao found his walnut charm and let out a sigh of relief. Propping himself up on his elbows, he tried to sit up.
Huo Lan quickly approached: “Don’t move.”
As Huo Lan came closer, Liang Xiao finally noticed the medical kit in his hands. He paused for a moment before realizing what it was and smiled lightly: “It’s fine…”
Huo Lan lowered his gaze, unusually unmoved this time.
The injuries weren’t serious; they’d already been treated earlier, each one covered with bandages or adhesive strips.
Liang Xiao didn’t think much of it. After an entire day, he was finally seeing Huo Lan again and felt energized enough to start chatting. Sitting upright with enthusiasm, he said: “Are you done working? The set was lively today—Director Jin mentioned—”
Liang Xiao stopped mid-sentence as Huo Lan’s hand rested on his collar. Whatever Director Jin had said vanished completely from his memory.
Feeling slightly warm, Liang Xiao swallowed nervously: “President Huo?”
Huo Lan lifted him gently and sat down at the bedside himself, letting Liang Xiao lean against him.
During his heat period, when Liang Xiao’s stamina had been insufficient, Huo Lan had often held him like this. By now, Liang Xiao was mostly accustomed to it. He coughed lightly: “Huo Lan.”
“If you’re injured—” Huo Lan hesitated briefly before continuing softly: “You should contact me.”
President Huo’s phrasing was always consistent; Liang Xiao was already familiar with this particular line. He coaxed him with an affirmative response but couldn’t help wondering how he was supposed to contact someone through a closed door.
After all, it wasn’t like before when they were in separate places—calling or texting now seemed a bit unnecessary.
Knocking on the door three times as a secret signal didn’t feel appropriate either.
Liang Xiao couldn’t hold back and murmured, “Should I pass a note…?”
If he got injured, he could dip the note in blood and slide it under the door for President Huo to find.
Huo Lan frowned: “What?”
Liang Xiao snapped back to reality: “Nothing.”
He truly didn’t think much of these minor injuries and felt it wasn’t worth making a fuss over. Smiling, he stopped Huo Lan’s hand: “It’s just a few scrapes. If we waited any longer, they might’ve already—”
Huo Lan turned his head slightly and placed a soft kiss on Liang Xiao’s temple.
Liang Xiao: “…All right, then.”
Maybe it was because they couldn’t see each other during the day, but recently, their President Huo seemed to have unlocked some new switch every night.
The kiss was especially gentle. Liang Xiao could feel Huo Lan’s breath, mingled with the crisp scent of fresh snow, wrapping around him in a hazy warmth.
Liang Xiao opened his mouth slightly but didn’t make a sound as Huo Lan began unbuttoning his shirt.
Huo Lan removed the bandages, revealing wounds that had turned pale from cold sweat.
Liang Xiao’s body was still weak, and while he hadn’t noticed it himself, the exhaustion had taken its toll.
Huo Lan closed his eyes briefly and pulled Liang Xiao into his arms.
Liang Xiao hadn’t yet started his muscle-sculpting training and felt an odd sense of regret. He tried to adjust his shirt hem discreetly: “This progress… can be delayed a bit…”
Once the professional team arrived and combined nutrition with training, he could at least develop some visible muscle definition. It would undoubtedly improve both the visual appeal and tactile feel compared to now.
As he thought about it, Liang Xiao felt himself heating up. He coughed twice: “Huo Lan—”
“I’m here,” Huo Lan replied.
Huo Lan held Liang Xiao by the shoulders and let him relax completely, leaning against his chest and abdomen.
Resting in the crook of Huo Lan’s arm, Liang Xiao felt his heart racing uncontrollably. He instinctively gripped Huo Lan’s shirt hem tightly and looked up while holding his breath.
Huo Lan stroked his hair gently, leaned down to cradle him closer, and softly blew on the wounds.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” Huo Lan said.
Liang Xiao froze as all the messy and romantic thoughts in his mind suddenly dissipated.
Closing his eyes briefly, Liang Xiao tugged at the corners of his mouth: “It didn’t hurt in the first place. You don’t have to go this far…”
He couldn’t finish his sentence. Taking a deep breath, he turned his face away and buried it into the soft fabric of Huo Lan’s pajamas.
Huo Lan meticulously treated Liang Xiao’s wounds. Using a cotton swab dipped in iodine, he carefully disinfected each one from the inside out before reapplying medication.
After completing each step, he paused deliberately to blow gently on the area with care.
Liang Xiao closed his eyes tightly. His body trembled slightly as Huo Lan held his wrist firmly: “Does it hurt?”
“It hurts,” Liang Xiao replied with a hoarse laugh. “It hurts so much I could die.”
Huo Lan remained silent for a moment before pulling Liang Xiao closer to rest against his chest and shoulder. He lowered his head and gently kissed Liang Xiao’s eyelids.
Huo Lan had no experience in matters of intimacy or affection; everything about this was entirely new to him. Yet each kiss and touch was earnest and meticulous in its simplicity.
The soft kisses fell quietly against Liang Xiao’s flushed eyelids, tenderly soothing him.
Liang Xiao kept his eyes tightly shut, waiting for the warmth in his gaze to gradually calm under the cool, soothing breaths. Finally, he let out a soft sigh and tugged at the corners of his mouth: “When I was a kid… I really envied this.”
Huo Lan closed his eyes and pulled him protectively into his arms.
“It’s truly magical,” Liang Xiao murmured into Huo Lan’s shirt with a small laugh. “I didn’t believe it before, but it really doesn’t hurt after you blow on it. From now on, whenever I get hurt, I’ll come to you first to blow on it.”
Huo Lan: “Okay.”
Liang Xiao’s voice was hoarse, making it difficult for him to speak further.
He rubbed his face against Huo Lan’s pajama fabric, took a deep breath, and tugged at Huo Lan’s shirt hem.
Huo Lan was about to continue treating Liang Xiao’s wounds when he felt the pull. Leaning down slightly, he asked, “What do you need?”
Liang Xiao was focused entirely on pulling him closer, gathering up a large portion of Huo Lan’s pajama shirt in his hands. When the height was just right, he tilted his head up and kissed him.
Huo Lan’s breath hitched momentarily.
Liang Xiao’s chest rose and fell uncontrollably as he brushed against Huo Lan’s lips and tried to part them gently.
Although he lacked practical experience, Liang Xiao prided himself on having an extensive theoretical knowledge base—enough to feel obligated to take the lead and guide their President Huo through this moment. He wanted to teach him how to open his mouth at times like this.
Closing his eyes briefly to catch his breath, Liang Xiao pinched a nerve behind Huo Lan’s elbow.
Huo Lan flinched from the sudden pain and instinctively let out a sound: “Liang—”
Taking advantage of the moment, Liang Xiao slipped in and brushed against Huo Lan’s tongue.
Completely unfamiliar with this sensation, Huo Lan was overwhelmed by the sudden surge of emotion. His shoulders and back tensed sharply as he opened his eyes to look at Liang Xiao in astonishment.
Liang Xiao didn’t dare meet his gaze. He kept his eyes shut tight, silently reciting a calming mantra while tremblingly licking Huo Lan’s lips.
…
When President Huo was emotionally stirred, it turned out he wouldn’t actually freeze an omega to death in bed.
The overwhelming pheromones weren’t oppressive but instead felt like the crisp freshness of an early morning after snowfall—cool snowflakes carried by a breeze alongside bright sunlight streaming through an open door.
The chill was firmly blocked by body heat. Heartbeats echoed through their chests, pressed closely together.
Huo Lan cradled Liang Xiao’s head with one arm, carefully protecting him from pulling at his wounds as he gently laid him back onto the bed and deepened the kiss.
The natural instincts of a top-tier Alpha were indeed terrifyingly strong.
Liang Xiao had only stumbled through teaching him once but had already completely lost control of the situation. Huo Lan kissed him so thoroughly that Liang Xiao felt dazed, his vision nearly blacking out.
In a daze, Liang Xiao opened his eyes faintly and seemed to catch glimpses of clear sunlight breaking through after a snowstorm.
The aftermath of the pheromone surge was particularly troublesome. With lingering injuries to his heart and lungs, Liang Xiao couldn’t hold out for long—his breathing became entirely erratic, and his vision turned into nothing but scattered snowflakes.
Huo Lan had been holding Liang Xiao’s wrist the entire time. Sensing that something was wrong with Liang Xiao’s heartbeat, he immediately pulled back with a furrowed brow and looked at him intently.
“I’m fine,” Liang Xiao said hoarsely upon noticing the unease in President Huo’s demeanor. He coughed twice and turned slightly to catch his breath with some effort. “I’m very healthy.”
Liang Xiao’s definition of “healthy” was far too broad for comfort. Still unconvinced, Huo Lan kept his brows tightly knit as he carefully helped Liang Xiao sit up and gently soothed his breathing.
Leaning against Huo Lan’s chest, Liang Xiao waited for the snowflake-like blur in front of his eyes to gradually resolve into clear images again.
…
Although it felt inappropriate, in this rare and precious moment, Liang Xiao’s first impulsive thought was to prove to his manager that they were capable of intimacy.
Feeling a pang of self-reproach, Liang Xiao quickly tried to suppress the thought. He looked up to speak but noticed that President Huo was busy texting the butler.
Liang Xiao: “…”
Swiftly pulling out his phone, Liang Xiao sent Duan Ming a dramatic emoji of a golden snake dancing wildly.
Huo Lan, concerned about Liang Xiao’s condition, had asked the butler to confirm with the doctor that everything was fine before finally putting down his phone. He then helped Liang Xiao sit up and placed a few pillows behind him for support.
Worried that President Huo might kiss him and then leave immediately, Liang Xiao acted quickly. Dropping his phone, he grabbed Huo Lan’s hand: “President Huo—”
Huo Lan, unwilling to resist him, allowed himself to be pulled back. Meeting Liang Xiao’s questioning gaze, he hesitated: “…”
Huo Lan held him gently, carefully laying him back against the headboard before speaking softly: “I’m going to use an inhibitor.”
Liang Xiao froze: “Why not just bite me?”
…Could it be that even in matters like this, President Huo had a unique and stubborn sense of restraint?
Perhaps he had a rule where he could only touch one part of Liang Xiao with his mouth each day. If they kissed today, it would mean he couldn’t bite Liang Xiao’s neck anymore.
Feeling slightly troubled by this logic, Liang Xiao murmured: “That’s not really necessary…”
Huo Lan didn’t know what he was thinking. Closing his eyes briefly, his chest rose and fell as he replied: “You wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
Liang Xiao’s heart rate hadn’t yet stabilized, and his glands were already hypersensitive from being soaked in Huo Lan’s pheromones. If they attempted a temporary mark under these conditions, it might trigger an intense sensitivity akin to a heat cycle.
Given how severe Liang Xiao’s heat periods could be, if they tried marking him now, there was a real chance the doctor outside would need to stand by with CPR equipment.
Huo Lan struggled to suppress his emotions, feeling slightly lightheaded from the surge of pheromones. Worried that Liang Xiao might misunderstand, he explained in a low voice: “At least… half a year of conditioning is needed.”
He promised: “With proper care, you’ll get better.”
Only then did Liang Xiao realize the situation fully. Feeling a bit regretful, he added softly: “Then don’t forget to take your medicine.”
The side effects of inhibitors were something Huo Lan had long grown accustomed to. On days when he woke up without discomfort, it almost felt strange to him.
Since Huo Lan didn’t use inhibitors often, the side effects hit him harder than most. Feiyang Pharmaceuticals had been adjusting his medication regimen based on his condition and had developed an auxiliary treatment specifically designed to reduce side effects. The results had been remarkably effective so far.
Huo Lan’s gaze softened as it fell on Liang Xiao: “Okay.”
Liang Xiao worried further: “And don’t forget to eat some candy.”
The corners of Huo Lan’s lips curved slightly as he replied softly: “Okay.”
Liang Xiao’s ears grew warm as he stammered: “After eating candy… remember to kiss—”
He coughed lightly, trying to steady his heartbeat before finishing awkwardly: “Kiss me.”
Huo Lan’s shoulders tensed slightly as he stared at him quietly for a long moment without speaking.
Seizing this rare opportunity, Liang Xiao decided to try shifting President Huo’s perspective a little. Summoning all his courage in one go, he said firmly: “This… doesn’t count as being improper.”
Blushing furiously and feeling like he was about to melt from embarrassment, Liang Xiao slid down against the pillow as if trying to escape: “We—we’re not just family; we also like each other…”
Liang Xiao had used up all his boldness for the day. Sliding into the pile of pillows, he swallowed dryly and murmured, “A family that likes each other, right?”
Huo Lan lowered his gaze, quietly listening, and pressed his lips together slightly: “Yes.”
Liang Xiao asked softly, “Do you know what family members who like each other are supposed to do?”
Huo Lan replied gently, “I don’t.”
Liang Xiao froze for a moment, a sudden ache blooming in his chest.
Huo Lan… truly didn’t know.
Looking at him standing silently at the edge of the light, Liang Xiao couldn’t help himself. He scrambled off the bed.
His legs were still weak and unsteady. Stumbling forward without much thought, he wasn’t surprised when he bumped directly into Huo Lan’s chest.
Huo Lan caught him steadily. Taking advantage of the momentum, Liang Xiao wrapped his arms and legs around him, tugged Huo Lan’s head down, and planted a kiss on his forehead: “Like this.”
Huo Lan stared at him in a daze, his arm instinctively wrapping protectively around Liang Xiao’s back.
He paused there for an unusually long time—so long that Liang Xiao almost waved a hand in front of his face to snap him out of it. Finally, Huo Lan returned to himself and met Liang Xiao’s gaze with a slight nod.
Holding him close, Huo Lan said softly: “Alright…”
His eyes were calm and quiet, like a clear deep pond formed by melting snow: “Wait for me. Don’t run off.”
Liang Xiao hadn’t planned on running off anyway. Relaxing comfortably in Huo Lan’s arms, he let himself be placed back onto the bed: “Where are you going?”
The team was preparing to tailor a suit for Mr. Liang. Aside from using an inhibitor, Huo Lan had planned to retrieve some schedules and persuade Liang Xiao to let the designers take his measurements.
But now… he suddenly didn’t feel like mentioning it.
Huo Lan carefully recalled something and slowly mimicked Liang Xiao’s earlier expression. He smiled at him properly for the first time.
Leaning down, Huo Lan kissed him lightly on the forehead: “I’m going to eat candy.”
