Chapter 3: “Husband, I’m being good, don’t abandon me.” What is this about…

Chapter 3: "Husband, I'm being good, don't abandon me." What is this about...

Jiang Fengmian hopped on one foot to put his shoe on, his sole aching slightly, as if something was lodged inside. With each step, the stinging sensation grew stronger.

The sound of shuffling slippers echoed, and just by the noise, you could tell just how loose Jiang Fengmian's shoes were.

"Huo Zong."

Assistant Chen kept his eyes forward and opened the door for Huo Zong, even though he was visibly shocked, his face remained expressionless.

After returning to the old Huo family mansion, there was an additional handsome young man, fresh-looking and even more handsome than the male celebrities in the entertainment industry who were said to have stunning looks.

"Chen Chen, put his luggage away."

"Jiang Fengmian, get in the car."

Jiang Fengmian hesitated for a moment, glancing at his own clothes. Seeing no dust, he cautiously sat inside.

There was enough space for one person between him and Huo Zong. Jiang Fengmian appeared to be sitting properly, but secretly, he was inhaling the cold fragrance from Huo Zong's body.

It was a woody scent with a chill, very fitting for Huo Zong's temperament. After a few sniffs, Jiang Fengmian felt slightly dizzy and wanted to get closer to Huo Zong.

Fortunately, Jiang Fengmian still had some wits about him. He didn't want to be abandoned halfway before even reaching Huo Zong's house.

The journey was silent. Only when they arrived at the villa did Huo Zong, who had been sitting with his eyes closed pretending to nap, move.

When Huo Zong opened his eyes, Jiang Fengmian caught sight of the bloodshot lines in his eyes and couldn't help but feel distressed. Huo Zong probably hadn't slept a full night in many days.

"Come in."

The room was filled with cold tones. Jiang Fengmian looked around but couldn't find anything brightly colored.

Huo Zong opened a brand new pair of black slippers and gestured for Jiang Fengmian to change into them.

"Husband, can I have the brown bear-shaped slippers, please? These aren't pretty."

Cough cough cough.

Chen Chen felt like he was about to cough up his lungs. He immediately stepped outside the villa door and thumped his chest a few times.

What the heck, husband?

This pretty boy was calling Huo Zong "husband." What year was it, this was too strange.

"Chen Chen."

"Yes."

Chen Chen's face was flushed crimson, and despite trying to hold back, the corner of his eye twitched involuntarily.

"Buy him a set of daily necessities, and get the slippers with the bear design."

"Husband, husband, I also want the cat-headed pajamas, a little duck for bath time, and a bedsheet with a little rabbit design."

Huo Zong lifted his eyelids and looked at Jiang Fengmian expressionlessly.

Jiang Fengmian's pupils dilated instantly, and it seemed like tears were about to fall again. He blinked, trying hard to hold them back.

"Chen Chen, buy them."

"Okay, okay, Huo Zong, I'll go right away."

Huo Zong glanced at the time and gestured for Jiang Fengmian to sit on the sofa.

"Don't wander off."

The villa was too large, and in his state, Jiang Fengmian could easily get lost.

Jiang Fengmian obediently sat on the sofa. Huo Zong was very territorial, and since he hadn’t shown him around, Jiang Fengmian remained nestled on the sofa without moving.

Huo Zong had vanished somewhere, and Jiang Fengmian, leaning on the soft sofa, felt his eyelids becoming heavier, his head nodding little by little like a pecking chick.

The room grew quiet, and the faint sound of Jiang Fengmian's shallow breathing could be heard. His neck felt sore and aching, and he buried himself in the sofa, whimpering softly, feeling pain all over his body.

His arm was pressed under him, against his aching stomach, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He was curled up and unable to straighten his back.

The pain was intense, as if a large stone had hit him, and even his bones were aching.

Huo Zong frowned and turned on the lights in the room. Faint groans escaped him. He called out several times, but Jiang Fengmian didn't respond.

"Doctor Li, please come back again."

When Doctor Li arrived, he found Jiang Fengmian still asleep. Huo Zong had sent him away earlier, but now Jiang Fengmian's condition seemed off.

Perhaps due to the bright light in the room, Jiang Fengmian stirred and looked at Huo Zong with tear-filled eyes.

He was a bit confused, unsure who the stranger next to him was, and softly said, "Husband, I'm in so much pain."

Even Doctor Li, with all his experience, was taken aback. When did Huo Zong get himself a partner?

"Doctor Li, please take a look at him."

Jiang Fengmian's lips were frighteningly pale, with a cut on his lower lip, from which blood was oozing.

"Where are you feeling uncomfortable? Let me take a look."

Jiang Fengmian pointed to his stomach and added, "My whole body aches."

Doctor Li noticed the red marks on Jiang Fengmian's wrist and rolled up his sleeve. Lifting the thin shirt, he revealed crisscrossing wounds all over his body.

Especially the reddish-purple wound on his back, which was clearly from a belt.

"Huo Zong, his body can't withstand such mistreatment."

He hadn't known that Huo Zong was into this kind of thing. The person before him was in poor shape and couldn't endure such beatings.

"Husband, what does 'mistreatment' mean? Is it being beaten?"

Huo Zong faltered, meeting Jiang Fengmian's clear, penetrating gaze, unsure how to explain it.

"Doctor Uncle, my husband didn't beat me."

From this brief exchange, Doctor Li keenly sensed that something was off. His mental state seemed…

"Lie down and stay still, let me examine you carefully."

Doctor Li had brought some professional instruments. Jiang Fengmian became tense during the examination, his mind constantly stressed, especially when Doctor Li picked up the stethoscope to examine him.

His instinctive reaction to protect his head indicated to Doctor Li that Jiang Fengmian had likely been in an abusive environment for a long time, which explained his body's automatic reaction compared to his mind.

"Calm down, calm down, just calm down."

His heart rate is extremely high, he's significantly underweight, malnourished, and suffers from a host of illnesses, including stomach problems.

"Mr. Huo, could you please help pour a cup of water and let him take some stomach medicine first."

Dr. Li had been Mr. Huo's personal doctor for several years and knew his temper very well. Though Mr. Huo had a tough exterior, he was soft-hearted and wouldn't really hurt anyone.

While Mr. Huo was getting water, Dr. Li helped Jiang Fengmian sit up and asked softly, "Is it that person who hurt you?"

Jiang Fengmian shook his head vigorously like a bobblehead and explained earnestly, "My husband is a good person; it was the bad guys who beat me up."

Dr. Li wasn't sure who Jiang Fengmian was referring to, so he carefully wrote down the instructions for the medicine, just in case Jiang Fengmian couldn't read.

"Do you know how to read?"

"Yes, I can read. This is ointment."

Dr. Li breathed a sigh of relief. That was a good sign.

After taking the medicine, Jiang Fengmian still felt a burning pain in his stomach and could only groan while lying on the sofa.

"Dr. Li, check his feet."

The socks were soaked in blood and stuck to his skin. Dr. Li cut open the socks and carefully peeled off the stuck parts.

Shards of broken porcelain were stuck in his flesh. Dr. Li used tweezers to carefully pick out the fragments, then carefully bandaged the wounds.

"All right, don't move, just lie down."

After washing his hands, Dr. Li went with Mr. Huo to the study.

"Mr. Huo, the condition is more severe than I thought. His stomach has likely been damaged for a long time due to prolonged irregular eating habits. He can't handle too much food, especially meat, all at once; it's too much for him. He needs to recover slowly."

"The bruises from the beating on his body are the least concerning. The most serious issues are with his physical and mental health. His mental state seems a bit off..."

Dr. Li didn't finish his sentence, but it was already very clear.

"I'm not sure; I met him today. He's from the Jiang family."

The Jiang family. The eldest son was once a proud and talented individual but had a fall after a head injury from falling down the stairs. In the Jiang family, anything is possible.

"Poor guy, that's clearly long-term abuse."

"Dr. Li, prepare a medical report and let Chen Chen know what procedures are needed."

"Alright. Mr. Huo, I'm still your personal doctor, so I hope you don't mind me asking, but what exactly is going on?"

Mr. Huo rubbed his fingertips and finally said, "Huo Qing pushed him onto me for a marriage alliance."

Sigh. Upon hearing the cold and rigid name of Huo Qing, Dr. Li sighed. It seemed the treatment these past few days had been in vain.

"Mr. Huo, as you know better than anyone, having someone suddenly appear in your life can have impacts. If there are any issues, contact me at any time."

"Hmm."

"These are the medicines he needs. I've written a prescription, but since he might not understand it, you'll need to take care of it. Also, the wounds on his body need to be treated as soon as possible. He resisted me quite a bit, but even though it's your first meeting, he seems to rely on you deeply."

Mr. Huo didn't say anything and just took the medicine.

Not speaking means not refusing, so Doctor Li settled things quietly and slipped out.

When Huo Zong came downstairs, Jiang Fengmian was hugging a little duck and smiling goofily.

Chen Chen generously bought the entire duck family, a total of seven, big and small, neatly arranged.

"Thank you, husband, I like it."

What's so great about a little yellow duck, Huo Zong nodded coldly.

"Keep the prescription and medicine together and don't mess with it. Before taking the medicine, carefully compare it with the prescription. Drink water with a handled cup. There's a small water dispenser in the living room. If it's red, it means the water isn't hot yet. Wait a bit. Understand?"

"Yes, husband, I know."

Wow, the baby is so good, managing to say so much in one go.

"Jiang Fengmian, you can't call me husband anymore. Call me Huo Zong."

Jiang Fengmian tilted his head and fidgeted with the little yellow duck in his hand, humming and hawing, "They said you liked it."

Heh, they probably want me to beat Jiang Fengmian too.

"Call me Huo Zong."

As the medicine took effect and the pain in his stomach subsided, Jiang Fengmian gained some strength, sat up a bit straighter, and his eyes lit up, "Brother."

Sticky and clingy, even more of a headache for Huo Zong than being called husband.

Oh well, let it go.

"If anything hurts, let me know. If you're uncomfortable with where you're staying or what you're eating, say so."

"Okay."

"I like it when I'm not hit, I like it."

Not being hit is what makes me like it, Huo Zong pressed his lips together and looked at Jiang Fengmian's exceptionally beautiful face. His foolish demeanor seemed different from the rumors; he really was beautiful.

Those eyes were extraordinarily beautiful, flickering, causing Huo Zong to become serious when they looked at him.

"Jiang Fengmian, the marriage alliance isn't real."

Huo Qing wanted to manipulate him, and the Jiang family wanted money. No one cared about Jiang Fengmian's wishes, nor did they care about his own. It wasn't something to be taken seriously.

"Your situation probably isn't a matter of choice either. Stay for a while, and once I've made arrangements, you can leave."

Leave. Huo Zong was going to send him away.

As soon as Huo Zong finished speaking, a tear rolled down the corner of Jiang Fengmian's eye. He crawled over from the corner of the sofa, his eyes red, timidly grabbing Huo Zong's little finger, "Husband, I'm good, don't leave me."

"Brother, please, don't send me away."

Huo Zong was startled. His little finger, where it was touched, felt like it was on fire, more stimulating than when someone grabbed his wrist.

Swish, Huo Zong yanked his hand back.

Jiang Fengmian looked at him blankly, big tears rolling down.

"I'm sorry, I won't call you husband anymore. Please don't be mad."

Jiang Fengmian held back his tears, trying to appear normal, but the harder he tried, the more abnormal he seemed. Huo Zong lowered his eyes and silently threw a candy to Jiang Fengmian from the drawer.

"I won't send you away."