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PHWM Chapter 86

President Huo not only knew to go home and rest but even actively ordered dinner.

 

The butler was overjoyed, urgently urging the kitchen to prepare it, personally carrying it upstairs, and carefully knocking on the bedroom door.

 

 

The butler stood at the door, cautiously peering in: “President Huo?”

 

President Huo put down his pen and looked up.

 

The butler held his breath, carefully navigating around the overwhelming calculation drafts, trying his best to sidle up to the table: “Are you… designing some kind of sketch?”

 

When the butler had sent President Huo back, he had said he would open Mr. Liang’s gift after resting.

 

The butler couldn’t successfully find a clean spot on the desk. After hesitating, he held the food high and placed it on the nearby bookshelf: “Haven’t you looked at Mr. Liang’s gift yet? I heard from the manager that he prepared it all night, made it himself.”

 

“I’ve seen it,” President Huo said. “It’s very exquisite.”

 

 

“Really?”

 

The butler was delighted: “What did Mr. Liang send you? Where is it? I’ll help you put it away…”

 

President Huo lowered his gaze.

 

The butler was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and also moved over to look down: “…”

 

The butler felt complicated emotions as he looked at the exquisite hexadecahedron hand-drawn by Mr. Liang, and said with difficulty: “It’s… very exquisite.”

 

President Huo: “Mr. Liang has a very good sense of geometric three-dimensional space.”

 

The butler, feeling somewhat sorry, agreed: “Yes.”

 

President Huo: “The perspective is very accurate.”

 

The butler: “Yes.”

 

President Huo paused: “The lines… are very straight.”

 

The butler really couldn’t bear it anymore. He carefully moved aside some of the calculation drafts that weren’t immediately needed based on their distribution and brought over the dinner tray: “Please eat first, you can continue calculating after dinner.”

 

No matter what Mr. Liang sent, President Huo would try his best to find merits, but unfortunately, this time it was particularly difficult to find a starting point.

 

President Huo moved the sketchbook aside, watching as the butler moved the calculation papers one by one: “Why would Mr. Liang send me this?”

 

The butler was helping him tidy up and was taken aback by the question: “You don’t know?”

 

President Huo was slightly stunned and looked up at him.

 

The butler forcibly swallowed the words “karma comes around” and took a deep breath, asking as tactfully as possible: “When you were in Jiangnan before… did you ever choose practice problems as gifts for Mr. Liang?”

 

“No,” President Huo said. “I gave him practice problems every day; there was no need to specifically give them as gifts.”

 

The butler: “…I see.”

 

“I gave him calligraphy copybooks that I wrote myself.”

 

President Huo carefully recalled: “I also gave him reference books, compilations of must-memorize ancient poems and texts, and compilations of must-memorize formulas.”

 

The butler thought to himself that this was entirely deserved but swallowed his words and nodded: “I see.”

 

“His foundation wasn’t solid at that time. He needed to establish study habits and develop a positive learning mindset.”

 

President Huo: “Memorizing more not only completes the foundation but also accelerates thought processes, ensuring agility and flexibility.”

 

President Huo no longer resisted recalling those past events. He unconsciously thought for a while about little Liang Xiao crying with joy upon receiving gifts back then, his expression softening considerably before he returned to the present: “What does that have to do with this?”

 

“…” The butler shook his head: “Nothing.”

 

The butler: “Mr. Liang hopes you’ll exercise your brain more, accelerate your thinking, and maintain mental agility and flexibility.”

 

President Huo thought quietly for a moment, accepted his explanation, and closed his eyes, massaging his temples.

 

The butler knew that his workload these days had been ridiculously heavy. He had originally wanted to call Mr. Liang to discuss it, but now he no longer had that thought. He turned on the fresh air system for President Huo and brought over a stack of unused A4 paper.

 

President Huo frowned: “What are you doing?”

 

The butler took out a new box of pens, placed them on the new calculation paper, and enthusiastically made a fist toward him: “Good luck.”

 

 

“You really found a good job for President Huo.”

 

Duan Ming came over with the script and sat down beside Liang Xiao: “The butler said to tell you not to worry, President Huo’s life is very regular now. Every evening he watches TV, does homework, and peels walnuts simultaneously.”

 

In comparison, Liang Xiao watching financial news while playing games seemed much more mature.

 

Liang Xiao was drinking water and choked, coughing repeatedly: “…Brother Duan.”

 

“He’s already written to the third page.”

 

Duan Ming insisted on relaying the complete message: “The first batch of walnut kernels is expected to arrive at the set tomorrow.”

 

Duan Ming couldn’t understand: “How did you two turn a perfectly good relationship into this?”

 

Liang Xiao hadn’t considered thoroughly at the time and hadn’t expected things to develop this way. It was too late for regrets: “I just wanted to create a warm atmosphere, to reminisce about our youth…”

 

Inadvertently, he had provoked President Huo’s fighting spirit.

 

Liang Xiao’s fighting spirit had also been significantly aroused by the game console with its half-hour anti-addiction limit, leading to intense daily half-hour speedruns. The two of them were each buried in their own hard work, with even less time to contact each other than before.

 

Duan Ming really didn’t know what was worth reminiscing about in a youth controlled by hexadecahedron geometry: “Can’t you give some simpler problems?”

 

“I can’t tell the difference.”

 

Liang Xiao lamented: “They all look the same to me; I can’t solve any of them.”

 

“…” Duan Ming had no rebuttal: “Yes.”

 

“I actually don’t understand the problems.”

 

Liang Xiao said mournfully: “But that hexadecahedron really looks good.”

 

Duan Ming: “…Yes.”

 

“Actually, on the back of each page, I wrote the answers.”

 

Liang Xiao sighed deeply: “And at the end of each answer, I wrote a sentence for him, really mushy…”

 

Duan Ming was taken aback and thought carefully about that image: “Isn’t that quite nice?”

 

Liang Xiao had been careless and now regretted it: “I forgot that President Huo always completes the entire book before checking the answers.”

 

Duan Ming: “…”

 

Duan Ming handed him the script and patted his shoulder: “Go on, it’s your turn to walk through the scene.”

 

 

After Long Tao’s acquisition, there was still a buffer transition period needed. The placement of personnel throughout the company, the integration of departments, and the handling of artists whose contracts had transferred over all needed to be processed. President Huo’s work remained heavy, and he couldn’t spare attention for other matters for the time being.

 

Liang Xiao had discussed with the production manager and proactively asked Director Jin to compress the schedule within bearable limits, aiming to complete filming within two weeks, which would allow for a small vacation before the variety show recording.

 

“Your state is good,” Director Jin looked at Liang Xiao and nodded slightly. “Although this segment is also about fleeing, the mentality is different from before. Your state should be more weak and haggard than at that time, but your spirit must still be present.”

 

These days they had been filming jungle scenes. The once noble young marquis was now traveling alone to the border, covered in wounds, with enemy troops invading ahead and a thousand-mile pursuit behind.

 

“In the past, you were pampered on the battlefield and had never suffered hardship. You wanted the best guns, the finest leather for your saddle, and even had people carry the chef on horseback during thousand-mile expeditions.”

 

Director Jin explained the scene to him: “Even when forced to flee, you never mistreated yourself.”

 

The screenwriter added from the side: “Nothing but parasol trees for perching, nothing but fine silk for eating.”

 

“Right,” Director Jin nodded. “Would rather starve than eat anything less than delicious.”

 

“…” Liang Xiao coughed once and nodded: “Yes.”

 

“But this time is different.”

 

Director Jin turned a page of the script: “This time you must survive, because you have things that can only be done if you’re alive.”

 

“Not for the heartless emperor on the dragon throne, nor for the court where everyone shrinks back and avoids responsibility. You’ve been raised with bells and cauldrons, sustained by the people’s provisions. When war breaks out, you should protect the common people.”

 

Director Jin said: “You feel this is your responsibility.”

 

Liang Xiao looked at the script and nodded: “No matter what, I must survive.”

 

“He is prouder than anyone, the purest and cleanest one.”

 

Director Jin added: “But when he’s willing to break his pride for something, this purity will shine with the most extreme brightness.”

 

This plot was the key to Yun Lang’s transformation. The young marquis who would rather brew tea from leaves after being thirsty for three days and nights during his escape was now racing to the battlefield at double speed each day, risking his life, sleeping under the open sky, eating and drinking whatever he could find, doing whatever it took to survive.

 

Liang Xiao grasped the feeling, found the state the director required, and put down the script: “I’m ready.”

 

Director Jin nodded, signaled for each department to prepare, and gestured as he retreated to the side of the set.

 

These days, not sleeping well at the director’s request, plus the hard work of filming during the day, had honed Liang Xiao’s state to perfection. He found the right feeling more precisely each time, and it didn’t take long to successfully complete a take.

 

Compared to young actors, Liang Xiao was quick with scenes and had a high success rate for takes. Compared to middle-aged and older actors, he could withstand more hardship. All groups were willing to work with him.

 

The manager stood at the side of the set for a while, and soon several group directors who temporarily had no filming tasks gathered around.

 

“There’s really nothing to criticize,” the production manager watched the monitor and sighed. “To look so good while being so miserable is really rare.”

 

“You haven’t seen it, but the cameramen are more focused when filming him than others.”

 

The Group D director smiled: “Many close-ups actually have no meaning, no camera language at all, but we really can’t bear to delete them, so we keep them all.”

 

“Can we discuss something?” The Group D director tried to build a good relationship with the manager. “Let us film the next scene, and we’ll give him more close-ups.”

 

It wasn’t appropriate for actors to interfere with group assignments. Duan Ming thought Liang Xiao might not be able to resist this temptation and cautiously declined: “It’s up to the crew’s arrangement…”

 

Group D director: “Full-body close-ups, let him stand alone in the setting sun.”

 

Duan Ming: “…”

 

Duan Ming discreetly instructed his assistant to guard Liang Xiao carefully, making sure the Group D director wouldn’t find any opportunity to lure him away.

 

“Heaven-given talent,” the Group C director had been filming court disputes for three days and also wanted to return to filming beautiful faces. He sighed, “His natural conditions are too good, nothing to criticize.”

 

The Group A director nodded: “He also has good camera sense.”

 

“This shot of him falling from the horse might even make it into textbooks someday.”

 

The Group E director analyzed: “Fixed-point shot, falling down and rolling on the ground, getting up, staggering two steps and weakly collapsing, and somehow managing to fall exactly in front of the camera, with the most suitable angle for a side profile-”

 

Director Jin coldly joined in: “Must be quite vain.”

 

The production manager: “…”

 

The various group directors: “…”

 

Duan Ming: “…”

 

Duan Ming took a deep breath, pressed his forehead hard, and sent another message to his assistant, establishing a safety distance of at least five meters between Liang Xiao and Director Jin.

 

“By the way,” the Group C director rarely had a chance to chat and was quite interested, “have you seen ‘On the Road’? Following Liang Xiao’s episodes, they launched a new one from an ordinary person’s perspective, which also has great exploratory value.”

 

“I’ve seen it. It’s a new program they started called ‘Along the Way.'”

 

The producer happened to walk by and smiled as he joined the conversation: “It’s brilliant. The first episode features the owner of the breakfast cart that Liang Xiao visited. The entry point is so natural.”

 

The Group C director nodded: “The names of the two programs are also thoughtful. When you’re ‘On the Road,’ you might think it’s just scenery, but when you return ‘Along the Way,’ they’re all segments of real life.”

 

Duan Ming had also heard about the program team’s plans at the time and was somewhat prepared, but he hadn’t expected them to move so quickly: “Has it already aired?”

 

“Yes, the first episode is about that stall owner’s family.”

 

The producer had just watched it: “The perspective is chosen thoughtfully, from the parents’ view of the changes in their son. The originally obedient son suddenly became rebellious, introverted, closed off, getting into fights… Later they discovered the child was sick, constantly being pointed at and mocked in the training team, but he endured without telling anyone.”

 

“There’s still a suspense now; they haven’t revealed what illness it is. Everyone’s waiting for the next episode.” The producer, having been in the industry for a long time, reminded Duan Ming, “If Liang Xiao has time, he can watch it too. If he likes it, he can help promote it, do a favor, and maybe there’ll be benefits someday.”

 

Duan Ming was thinking about something else but came back to his senses upon hearing this and nodded: “Alright, alright, thank you.”

 

The producer mentioned it briefly without elaborating further and went to discuss program ideas with the Group C director.

 

 

The entire scene was filmed from dawn until dusk. By the time Liang Xiao finished filming, the forest was pitch black, and they had to use two searchlights to successfully find their way out.

 

“Not bad. Today was quite safe, didn’t hit any trees…”

 

Liang Xiao returned to the rest area, took off his wire harness himself and handed it to the crew member, reporting the situation to his manager: “Brother Duan?”

 

Liang Xiao noticed his expression wasn’t quite right and waved his hand: “What’s wrong?”

 

“They said the spinoff of the ‘On the Road’ program has started airing. You should be prepared.”

 

Duan Ming helped him remove his costume and advised in advance: “The next episode will probably discuss the stall owner’s son’s illness.”

 

Liang Xiao was taken aback, his brows furrowing slightly, and said nothing.

 

“During this time, Butler Huo might have sensed something and has been asking me about what happened back then.”

 

Duan Ming: “It can’t be hidden forever… Have you given President Huo any warning?”

 

Liang Xiao opened his mouth, hesitantly cautious: “Does the answer to the problem on the last page count if it calculates to 5211314?”

 

Duan Ming’s vision went dark: “…”

 

Duan Ming picked up his phone to call the butler, but was quickly stopped by Liang Xiao, who gently persuaded him back to sit on the sofa.

 

“I’m worried for you!” Duan Ming, pressed into the sofa, was exasperated. “If you don’t want to hide it, you should tell President Huo as soon as possible-”

 

These days’ scenes were all high-risk and high-difficulty. Liang Xiao had accumulated quite a few injuries and inhaled sharply when pulled, smiling bitterly: “I want to.”

 

Duan Ming frowned deeply, looking at him without speaking.

 

“President Huo is also sensitive to my emotions…” Liang Xiao rubbed his ribs and smiled helplessly. “I let quite a few things slip even before I knew he was the wild A from Jiangnan. I can’t lose my composure now and give myself away, can I?”

 

Liang Xiao still hadn’t thought of any proper way to resolve this matter and was actually more anxious than anyone, but the more anxious he was, the more he couldn’t show any signs.

 

President Huo was far less easily fooled than in his youth. If there was even the slightest irregularity in his state, it might be detected.

 

Duan Ming was stunned for a moment, then understood his meaning. He rubbed his brow forcefully and sighed: “Keeping it hidden isn’t a solution either… Once the illness is revealed, the related treatment will definitely be discussed.”

 

When an alpha’s differentiation is obstructed, either they endure until their pheromones violently erupt, breaking through the gland blockage to self-heal, or they need impact therapy with large amounts of synthetic omega pheromones.

 

Most people only know about the first method. Back then, young Huo Lan was alone when his pheromones struck him with high fever and unconsciousness, and when he woke up, he was still alone, so naturally he couldn’t have thought of other options.

 

Now that the two of them had met again and knew more and more, looking back, many things had new explanations when carefully examined.

 

The program team had an educational mission and would eventually introduce the relevant medical condition to the public. Once President Huo saw it and connected it to what happened back then, there would be no way to keep it hidden.

 

“One episode per week, at most it can be delayed for three or four episodes before it’s over.”

 

Duan Ming calculated: “If it can be delayed until you finish filming and go back, that would be good. If-”

 

Before he could finish, Duan Ming was firmly gagged by Liang Xiao, struggling unexpectedly: “What are you doing?!”

 

“Brother Duan, you can’t say it.”

 

Liang Xiao was very superstitious about his words and preemptively pulled the manager to chant a slogan: “The first sentence every morning: keep it from President Huo without complaint.”

 

Duan Ming: “…”

 

Liang Xiao exhausted his lifetime literary cultivation: “Every day-”

 

“No need for a second sentence.” Duan Ming interrupted promptly, pressing his forehead. “Try to wait until you finish filming, right?”

 

Liang Xiao nodded: “Right.”

 

“And after you finish filming?” Duan Ming asked. “Have you thought about what to do?”

 

Liang Xiao tossed and turned thinking about it every night. When asked, his heart sank, and he didn’t speak.

 

“I know you’re worried.” Duan Ming pulled him to sit down, helping him sort through his thoughts. “President Huo was originally resistant to his own pheromones and only improved slightly after you developed various uses for them… but it’s still not a big change.”

 

The illness of his mother caused by pheromone conflict had always been young Huo Lan’s psychological knot. If he also learned that because of his pheromones, Liang Xiao had nearly lost his life…

 

Duan Ming’s stance was on Liang Xiao’s side, but every time he tried to put himself in President Huo’s perspective, he still felt chilled to the bone.

 

“The butler probably knows already. I’ll give him a heads-up first and discuss what to do.”

 

Duan Ming thought to himself that what goes around comes around, and sighed: “Don’t worry, we definitely won’t let President Huo notice.”

 

Liang Xiao nodded: “Alright.”

 

“We’re all just helping; ultimately it depends on you two.” Duan Ming said, “You need to think clearly about what to do first.”

 

Duan Ming reminded Liang Xiao: “If President Huo locks himself away again, or thinks that anyone close to him will be unfortunate, and wants you to-”

 

Duan Ming opened his mouth, resigned to not continuing, and made a walking gesture with his index and middle fingers moving away: “You… should be prepared. It’s not that he doesn’t like you; it’s that he likes you too much.”

 

Liang Xiao nodded: “I know.”

 

“If President Huo gets stuck in a mental loop, you need to pull him out,” Duan Ming said. “Have you thought of any methods?”

 

“I have.”

 

Liang Xiao sighed: “I’ve only come up with one solution.”

 

Duan Ming: “What solution?”

 

“Use some drugs,” Liang Xiao closed his eyes heroically. “Permanent marking.”

 

After being permanently marked, an omega needs the alpha’s close companionship for a considerable period to completely stabilize their pheromones. As long as they could be close, there would be much more room to maneuver.

 

With a month of inseparable intimacy, Liang Xiao was confident he could resolve even the biggest psychological knot.

 

“…” Duan Ming reminded him: “Tears are flowing from the corner of your mouth.”

 

Liang Xiao was startled and wiped nervously for a while, only to find there was nothing there. Embarrassed and angry: “Brother Duan!”

 

Duan Ming could almost see the words “can’t wait” above Liang Xiao’s head and didn’t understand where this heroic sacrifice was coming from: “It is a solution… I’m surprised you thought of it.”

 

“How could I not think of it?” Liang Xiao was indignant. “Aren’t we in an ABO story?”

 

Duan Ming: “…”

 

Liang Xiao: “…”

 

Duan Ming had almost forgotten this was an ABO story. He patted Liang Xiao’s shoulder, convinced: “…Right.”

 

“By then, your gland should be pretty much healed too.” Duan Ming reminded him in advance. “You must strictly observe safety precautions. I’ll talk to the butler first, then consult with the doctor. We can’t take risks.”

 

Liang Xiao nodded repeatedly: “I understand.”

 

Duan Ming: “President Huo’s compatibility with you is too high; he might not be able to withstand the impact of your pheromones. We need to have people outside ready for any emergency.”

 

Liang Xiao nodded: “Alright.”

 

Duan Ming: “I’ll find the drug. We can only use the safe formulation specifically designed for inducing differentiation in adolescents.”

 

Liang Xiao nodded and solemnly extended his hand to him.

 

Duan Ming had once shaken his shoulders and shouted that wealth should not lead to debauchery, but never in his dreams did he imagine he would one day become a matchmaker. He sighed deeply, randomly shook hands with Liang Xiao, and resignedly got up to leave.

 

##

 


 


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