There were already many staff members busy packing things in the suite. Liang Xiao was prepared and didn’t disturb them, just greeted the butler.
The butler was directing several people to move things. Seeing Liang Xiao, he quickly came over: “Mr. Liang.”
The butler carefully examined his expression, turned back, and gave some quiet instructions, asking the people who were packing to leave the room first.
Liang Xiao smiled: “You really don’t need to…”
“Let’s not have them going back and forth causing annoyance,” the butler said with relief, also smiling. “We’re relieved that you’re okay.”
President Huo was still in a video conference. The butler glanced at the closed door and explained to Liang Xiao in a low voice: “It was just settled. They had been at a stalemate, but then Long Tao’s main artist, without any warning, suddenly released a statement about changing companies today… and everything collapsed.”
Such poaching and artist transfers are the most confidential secrets of each company. Although Xingguan had been secretly facilitating and pushing behind the scenes, they weren’t fully prepared for this sudden change.
Long Tao’s stock price plummeted across the board, and their firmly held acquisition price instantly lost its leverage.
They probably feared that delaying further would result in a total loss, so they almost frantically agreed to the merger, with the price being pressed about ten percent below Xingguan’s psychological price point.
“I didn’t expect it to be so quick.”
The butler couldn’t hide his apology: “Otherwise, we would definitely have discussed it with you earlier. President Huo’s meeting isn’t even finished yet.”
“It’s really not that serious,” Liang Xiao said wryly. “We’re just going to be in different places, not unable to see each other.”
They had managed long-distance for so many years; one or two months, with a bit of endurance, wasn’t too long.
Liang Xiao had been thinking carefully all the way and, feeling concerned, asked the butler: “President Huo and I don’t have a permanent mark yet. If we separate, will his susceptible period be a problem?”
The butler was also worried about this but didn’t dare say so under any circumstances. He lowered his head: “The problem shouldn’t be too significant…”
President Huo’s susceptible period only affected his emotions, and given how strict he was with himself, such useless parts as emotions would mostly be discarded during work, not significantly interfering with company affairs.
At most, he would just consume more walnuts, but it wouldn’t delay important matters.
Liang Xiao certainly knew that President Huo wouldn’t delay important matters and smiled: “That’s not what I’m asking about.”
Liang Xiao had been hospitalized earlier and had specifically consulted with the hospital: “Given the compatibility between President Huo’s pheromones and mine, we would likely enter susceptible periods as soon as we separate.”
The hospital had explained it very clearly, and Liang Xiao had taken notes specifically. He flipped through his memo: “They said it can be controlled with synthetic pheromones, but it requires an omega’s pheromone sample.”
The butler hadn’t expected him to ask about this and was taken aback. After struggling internally for a while, he stammered in a low voice: “We… have also mentioned this to President Huo.”
Liang Xiao was curious: “President Huo didn’t agree?”
The butler sighed: “Yes…”
“I understand,” Liang Xiao was very composed. “I’ll do it secretly.”
The butler, who had felt somewhat relieved hearing the first half of his statement, was caught off guard and startled. He quickly restrained him: “No, no-”
“Don’t worry, I know my limits.”
Liang Xiao rubbed the gland at the back of his neck and smiled: “Actually, it’s almost fully recovered, not as fragile as President Huo thinks.”
The butler had taken care of him these days and had witnessed firsthand Liang Xiao’s broad definition of “almost recovered” and “healthy.” He didn’t dare agree and insisted on shaking his head: “No, unless you discuss it with President Huo.”
The butler had seen President Huo’s fury before and didn’t want to challenge the limits on such matters: “Your health is important. If President Huo’s susceptible period symptoms become too severe and suppressants aren’t effective, he can fly over to see you one evening and return the next day.”
“There’s not even enough time for work,” Liang Xiao disagreed, frowning slightly. “That’s too exhausting.”
President Huo’s work intensity was already very high. To smoothly acquire Long Tao while also guarding against the branch family’s potential secret maneuvers during this period was definitely not as simple as just saying a few words.
Liang Xiao had been causing trouble these days and had a general understanding. He compromised: “Contact me when the time comes, and we’ll see if the crew can arrange some time.”
The butler estimated that President Huo would absolutely not compromise on this point. After hesitating, he still didn’t contradict Mr. Liang and nodded: “Alright.”
Liang Xiao looked at the time: “When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning,” the butler said. “The contract will be officially signed the day after tomorrow, and President Huo needs to go back to oversee it.”
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and nodded: “There’s still time.”
The butler was slightly puzzled: “What?”
Liang Xiao, full of confidence, mysteriously waved his hand, took a bag of things brought by the manager, and entered the deserted master bedroom that had not been occupied since the window was repaired.
–
The meeting ended close to midnight.
The situation had changed suddenly, and even though it was entirely favorable for Xingguan, there was still too much to discuss and confirm. One move affected the entire situation, and each department head had a stack of emergency procedures waiting to be reported.
After approving the final proposal, the hour hand had already passed one o’clock and was moving in small increments.
President Huo closed his computer and closed his eyes, pressing his temples.
The butler had been waiting outside the door, quietly pushed it open, and brought him a cup of coffee: “President Huo.”
President Huo pressed the corner of his forehead: “Is Mr. Liang asleep?”
The butler: “He should… not be yet.”
President Huo frowned and opened his eyes.
“Mr. Liang knows you’re leaving, and he’s fine, not upset,” the butler quickly explained. “He’s just busy.”
The butler wasn’t very clear about what Liang Xiao was busy with. After hesitating, he asked softly: “Would you… like to go see him?”
President Huo lowered his gaze, his shoulders tensing slightly, and didn’t speak.
The butler skillfully selected a thin-shelled walnut and placed it in his hand.
President Huo frowned slightly and looked at the walnut: “What are you doing?”
“…” The butler had thought he was entering his susceptible period and had been careless. He took it back and put it away: “Nothing.”
The butler helped clean up the desk and tentatively asked: “What are you thinking about?”
President Huo said softly: “I said I would always be with him.”
The butler: “…”
Someone who didn’t know might think their President Huo was going to have a life-or-death duel with Long Tao’s CEO.
The butler’s concern was mainly that this departure was sudden, giving Mr. Liang no preparation. He hadn’t expected President Huo to take his promise so strictly.
Having said he would always be with him meant always being with him.
Being apart for a month, a week, or a day was not always being together.
The butler wanted to remind President Huo that technology was now very advanced, and even if they couldn’t be together day and night, they could still stay connected and accompany each other through video calls and phone calls: “Actually-”
President Huo’s expression darkened, and he looked up with an icy gaze.
“Actually…”
The butler swallowed and changed his words: “This isn’t your fault at all.”
The butler tried to comfort him: “It really was a sudden event. We originally planned to resolve everything over a quarter, but Long Tao was too incompetent and collapsed without warning.”
The butler assured him: “Mr. Liang knows this and doesn’t blame you at all.”
President Huo closed his eyes briefly: “I know.”
He certainly knew that Liang Xiao wouldn’t blame him.
Just like the missed opportunities, hardships, and unfulfilled desires of these years, Liang Xiao had never blamed anyone except himself.
President Huo didn’t delay any further, pushed away the coffee, and stood up.
“Are you going to see Mr. Liang?”
The butler was delighted: “You and Mr. Liang should rest well tonight. No need to get up early. We’ll pack everything in the morning. What do you want to bring…”
President Huo: “Nothing.”
The butler was taken aback: “You’re not bringing anything?”
President Huo shook his head, walked to the door, and turned back to emphasize: “Bring those two paper umbrellas.”
“…” The butler had originally prepared a three-page list of items. He folded it and put it away, saying dryly: “Yes.”
“And the note Mr. Liang wrote for me.”
President Huo was worried they wouldn’t find it: “It’s in the third book from the left on the second shelf, page fifty-seven.”
The butler: “…Yes.”
President Huo noticed his attitude wasn’t very serious and frowned slightly: “Also-”
“Also the prop snacks that Mr. Liang brought back for you from the set.”
The butler had worried all night for nothing. He sighed and mechanically answered ahead: “Mr. Liang’s handwritten scripts from his punishment copying, the hot water bottles he hid against his body… Do we need to steal one of Mr. Liang’s pillows to take back?”
President Huo gave him a strange look: “Not necessary.”
The butler responded with a “yes” and opened the door to leave, looking world-weary.
President Huo stood at the doorway for a while, frowning as he stared at the pillow for some time, firmly holding his hands behind his back, and then left the side bedroom.
–
The light in the master bedroom was on.
Liang Xiao had actually been sleeping with his head on the desk for a while. Vaguely hearing the door open, he rubbed his eyes and sat up, smiling when he saw President Huo: “All done?”
President Huo nodded slightly and closed the door as he approached.
Liang Xiao was always confused for a while after waking up. Seeing President Huo walking over, he suddenly remembered why he had been busy until so late and quickly protected the desktop, swiftly closing the large sketchbook that was open.
President Huo was startled by his earth-shattering movement and paused his steps: “What is it?”
“It’s a secret,” Liang Xiao pressed down firmly on the book, pulled out a ribbon that the manager had helped buy, and efficiently tied it up. “For you to look at when you go back, one page per day at most.”
President Huo was slightly taken aback and stopped walking.
Liang Xiao had specially tied a butterfly knot for their President Huo and picked up scissors to skillfully cut a decorative edge on the ribbon. After not hearing any response for a while, he looked up: “What’s wrong?”
Liang Xiao carefully examined President Huo’s expression, put down what he was holding, walked around to him, and bit him lightly: “Reluctant to leave?”
President Huo looked at him and said softly: “I said I wouldn’t leave.”
“This ‘leaving’ isn’t that ‘leaving.'”
Liang Xiao couldn’t help but laugh, pulling him into the room to sit down: “What we’re doing is called a business trip. A business trip means going out to handle some business, then coming back home.”
Liang Xiao took the initiative to self-criticize: “What I did, running away without a trace, impossible for you to find no matter how hard you tried-that’s called leaving.”
President Huo hadn’t thought about this distinction in detail. He paused and looked up at him.
Since the first day of their regretful car accident, Liang Xiao had been diligently practicing temporary marking with President Huo, becoming too familiar with the process. Unable to resist the conditioned reflex, he naturally sat on their President Huo’s lap out of habit.
Liang Xiao’s ears heated up. He coughed and patiently explained: “This time neither of us is leaving; we’re just going on a business trip together.”
Liang Xiao poked his ticklish spot at the waist: “You’ve been on business trips before, right?”
President Huo couldn’t help it; the corners of his lips pressed together slightly: “Mm.”
“Business trips are great; you can bring back souvenirs.”
Liang Xiao imagined: “They can also enhance relationships. That’s how they show it on TV-absence makes the heart grow fonder, **…”
Liang Xiao felt like restarting his plan and dreamily muttered: “**, in broad daylight.”
President Huo didn’t quite understand but vaguely sensed his strong desire. He pulled him closer into his arms and nodded: “Alright.”
Liang Xiao couldn’t help but grin, yawned, and buried his face in President Huo’s neck.
President Huo’s body was cool; only when close could one feel the layer of steady warmth. The clean, fresh snow scent enveloped one completely, calming all thoughts.
Liang Xiao knew he was anxious and held President Huo’s hand, squeezing it: “Don’t worry, even after you leave, I’ll remember to eat and sleep properly.”
President Huo squeezed his hand back and said softly: “Don’t play games in the middle of the night.”
Liang Xiao: “…”
As the two reluctantly parted, Liang Xiao felt that this kind of dialogue didn’t really fit this type of scene, but he vaguely agreed: “Fine.”
Liang Xiao couldn’t understand: “How did you find out? I only played when you were working overtime, and I even had the sound muted…”
Liang Xiao had deliberately hidden under the blanket pretending to sleep, tested several times to ensure no light leaked through, and President Huo didn’t have the habit of checking his phone.
Given their President Huo’s level of concentration when working, he shouldn’t have been able to notice details like his breathing and heartbeat.
Liang Xiao guessed for a long time but couldn’t figure out the clue, almost suspecting that their President Huo had some supernatural ability.
The supposedly supernatural President Huo held his hand, was silent for a moment, and told the truth: “When you’re dealing damage, your body tenses up with the effort.”
Liang Xiao: “…”
President Huo wasn’t familiar with games but had recently tried to learn the rules and operations, only mastering a few professional terms: “When you’re roaming, you also move along-”
Liang Xiao just wanted to bang his head against his shoulder: “Enough, no need to say more!”
President Huo obligingly stopped talking, his gaze falling on him. The corners of his lips pressed together slightly as he embraced Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao had always played games alone before, completely unaware of his actions. He didn’t dare imagine what he looked like “roaming” under the blanket and was filled with despair: “I’ll never play games again…”
“You can play,” President Huo said softly. “Just don’t let it affect your rest.”
Liang Xiao shook his head solemnly, his face and ears red as he picked up his phone and resolutely deleted the treacherous trash game.
Outside the window, it was quiet; the time was quite late.
Liang Xiao had slept at the desk and wasn’t fully awake yet. He ambitiously set a youth mode timer for himself, tucked the phone under the cushion, and leaned back against President Huo’s shoulder.
President Huo raised his arm to embrace him, stroking his back: “Go rest.”
“I’m not tired anymore,” Liang Xiao said enthusiastically. “Will you miss me when you go back?”
President Huo’s shoulders tensed slightly as he pulled him closer into his arms, saying nothing.
“I’ll definitely miss you,” Liang Xiao straightforwardly asked for things. “Leave me a coat, a belt too, and shirts-”
Liang Xiao thought for a moment, his ears unconsciously heating up, and shamelessly continued: “Maybe leave two shirts; I’ll sleep in them.”
President Huo listened with slight surprise, suddenly looked up, and gazed at him steadily.
“Just pick the cheap ones,” Liang Xiao had been feeling quite romantic, but then remembered the price of their President Huo’s shirts and felt a pang of pain. “Otherwise I won’t dare to turn over in bed.”
President Huo had never known that lovers could do such things. He tightened his arms, lowered his head to kiss his eyes, and said: “Alright.”
Liang Xiao nuzzled against him and asked softly: “Can we kiss a bit more?”
President Huo said quietly: “Can’t sleep?”
Liang Xiao still knew enough to feel embarrassed. His ears heated up, and he lowered his head and made an “mm” sound.
President Huo picked him up, using gentle force, and placed him softly on the bed, leaning over to completely envelop him.
President Huo’s kisses were always restrained and gentle. Liang Xiao particularly enjoyed this kind of light, fleeting intimacy. He relaxed in the familiar icy scent, fumbling to grasp his sleeve and wrapping it around his fingers twice: “By the way.”
President Huo kissed him tenderly, his chest rising and falling slightly as he responded: “What?”
“I still don’t know,” Liang Xiao, wrapped tightly in his pheromones with his mostly recovered gland also vaguely stirring, inconspicuously unbuttoned their President Huo’s shirt with one hand while softly asking between light pants, “what’s your pheromone called?”
Liang Xiao had never thought about this question before, but now reflecting on it, he suddenly felt something was off: “When you confessed to me back then, I told you about my pheromone, but you didn’t tell me yours…”
President Huo had always been very particular about equal exchange, yet he had skipped over such an important question. Liang Xiao instinctively felt there must be something to it: “What is it?”
President Huo’s shoulders stiffened slightly. He stroked Liang Xiao’s head but didn’t speak.
Liang Xiao knew that President Huo originally had a cold-dominant pheromone, but his own “grass color” was extremely rare. After searching for many days, he couldn’t even find a similar substitute perfume.
Back then, in that emergency situation, young Liang Xiao had acted hastily and might have induced some strange subordinate branch in Huo Lan’s pheromone.
Liang Xiao became concerned and stopped his struggle with President Huo’s shirt buttons: “Is it… very rare?”
President Huo was quiet for a moment, then nodded: “Yes.”
Liang Xiao was deeply worried: “Ice Age?!”
“…” President Huo hadn’t kept it from him because of its rarity. He rubbed his forehead, unbuttoned his shirt, and pulled Liang Xiao into his arms: “No.”
President Huo: “It’s Flying Wild Goose.”
Liang Xiao was startled and looked up at him.
“Wild goose treading on snowy mud.” President Huo said softly, “My pheromone isn’t snow.”
“What is life like everywhere? It should be like wild geese treading on snowy mud.”
Liang Xiao had memorized this line as writing material. Thinking of young Huo Lan checking his pheromone alone, his chest suddenly ached sharply.
“I remember… doesn’t this mean,” Liang Xiao nuzzled against his neck, rubbed his eyes, and said softly, “that the people and events we encounter in life are like wild geese stepping on snowy ground, leaving footprints without taking responsibility and then just leaving…”
“No,” President Huo said.
Liang Xiao’s eyes were still red. He was taken aback and felt a bit awkward: “It’s, it’s not?”
“It’s a beautiful goose reflected on snow.” President Huo’s voice grew hoarse. “The wild goose has already left its mark, but the snow isn’t good enough, and can’t find it.”
President Huo’s lips touched his forehead. He closed his eyes and said word by word: “You wouldn’t abandon me. If you were to leave, it would only be for my own good.”
Liang Xiao’s breath suddenly halted, his eyes warming. He closed his eyes and smiled: “Misinterpreting idioms and misquoting ancient poetry, deduct five points.”
“Deduct them all from me,” President Huo supported his back and shoulders. “Liang Xiao.”
Liang Xiao couldn’t control himself: “Present.”
Liang Xiao: “…”
Liang Xiao had now grown enough to deduct points from President Huo, but he couldn’t understand when this conditioned reflex would improve, which troubled him greatly: “How many of these did you drill into me back then-”
President Huo: “I like you.”
Liang Xiao opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Their President Huo had always been clumsy at expressing his true feelings in such matters. The closest he had come to being straightforward at the cocktail party was skipping steps and jumping directly to “Mr. Liang also likes me.”
Perhaps because they were about to separate, his susceptible period had sensed it and arrived early.
This was the first time Liang Xiao had heard him say these words. His heart raced and his face flushed for a long time. Seeing that President Huo was about to speak again, he suddenly raised his hand and firmly covered his mouth: “Wait.”
President Huo was slightly taken aback.
Liang Xiao slipped out from under him, energetically jumped off the bed, rushed to the sofa, took out his phone, opened the recording function, and started recording in one smooth motion: “Okay, go ahead.”
President Huo froze in mid-air: “…”
Liang Xiao crawled back into his arms, holding up his phone with eager eyes.
President Huo pressed his temples forcefully, took his hand, and moved both it and the phone that was being used as a microphone away: “I will tell you often in the future.”
“This fact that I like you,” President Huo embraced Liang Xiao’s head and neck, kissing him tenderly from his eyebrows to his ears, “will continue for a very long time.”
Liang Xiao unconsciously grinned, too heated to think of anything else, and stammered his interview: “How, how long?”
President Huo closed his eyes and said softly: “Long enough for it to be carved as a sentence, as our epitaph.”
Liang Xiao was startled, and his nose suddenly and treacherously ached sharply.
He suddenly felt grateful for the alpha’s susceptible period setting.
The young Huo Lan whom he had left in Jiangnan, who had walked alone through countless conspiracies and storms, had actually been well preserved by time, always waiting for him.
His eyes warmed instantly. Liang Xiao took a deep breath to suppress his tears and nodded: “Carve… carve it well.”
Liang Xiao sniffled and grinned: “Carved so it won’t fall off, much better than tracks in the snow.”
President Huo met his gaze and smiled gently.
Liang Xiao particularly liked when President Huo smiled like this. He wiped his eyes forcefully, looked up, and gradually found the features of that young man from years ago in President Huo’s eyes and brows: “Say it again, I won’t record it.”
President Huo paused slightly and said softly: “I like you…”
“I like you too.” Liang Xiao kissed his eyes, pressed their foreheads together, and pulled President Huo close. “When you grow up, don’t be an actor, running east and west… being a CEO is good, I’ll come find you.”
President Huo suddenly understood what he was saying, and his chest throbbed violently. He closed his eyes tightly: “Alright.”
“Go back and inherit your family business, and your family’s villa with three hundred and twenty-seven keys.”
Liang Xiao ruffled his hair: “Run your Feiyang Pharmaceuticals well, I still need to rely on them to save my life…”
Liang Xiao repeated it twice and vaguely felt something was off: “Wait, why is this pharmaceutical company-”
“…” President Huo: “Alright.”
Liang Xiao nodded, but still wanted to ask: “The pharmaceutical-”
President Huo’s shoulders tensed, and he lowered his head to kiss him.
Liang Xiao was kissed until dizzy, forgot about the naming issue of Feiyang Pharmaceuticals, and melted into a small puddle: “Also.”
Liang Xiao swallowed and snuggled closer into his arms: “Run your Xingguan Entertainment well… look for someone called Liang Xiao, he’s the little con artist who tricked you for meals back then.”
President Huo said hoarsely: “I’ll remember.”
“Pick him up early, let him work at your company, make money for you.”
Liang Xiao closed his eyes and nuzzled against the fabric of his shirt: “He’s stubborn, but he’s missed you too.”
President Huo’s arms almost trembled as he tightened his embrace, pulling Liang Xiao against his chest: “Alright.”
“Once you find him, don’t mind what he says, don’t be polite with him, knock him out and carry him home.”
Liang Xiao was focused on comforting him, holding President Huo and rocking him gently: “He doesn’t want his reputation, he wants you.”
President Huo couldn’t speak, his chest rising and falling several times as he buried his face in Liang Xiao’s neck.
Liang Xiao held him, pulling President Huo into the blanket with him, kissing him intermittently.
He knew how much President Huo cared, and also how much he regretted.
When President Huo had confessed, Liang Xiao was still delirious with fever and barely conscious, holding onto just one thought – not allowing President Huo to blame himself recklessly – and hadn’t had time to clarify many things.
Later, when he fully woke up and gradually connected the past events, Liang Xiao had been constantly thinking about properly embracing the young Huo Lan who had been left in the time of Jiangnan.
Frost blade and snow sword, treading on thin ice at the edge of an abyss, young Huo Lan had endured and come to take him home.
Now it was Liang Xiao’s turn to go get him.
Liang Xiao opened his arms, generously embraced him, and stroked his hair: “Do you still have regrets?”
“No more,” President Huo said in a choked voice. “I’ll go buy Long Tao for you.”
Liang Xiao: “…”
Young Huo Lan had grown up a bit too quickly, and Liang Xiao momentarily didn’t know how to respond: “…Oh.”
President Huo placed him back on the bed, kissed him with particular solemnity, and went out to instruct people to prepare for the morning flight.
##
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
![After losing all his wealth, the ancestor rose from his coffin [BL]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Your-paragraph-text-1.png "After losing all his wealth, the ancestor rose from his coffin [BL]")
