Chapter 6: Wooden Huo Zong, he doesn’t even understand my acting spoiled!

Chapter 6: Wooden Huo Zong, he doesn't even understand my acting spoiled!

"Jiang Fengmian, don't video call for something like this."

"Oh."

"Huo Zong, will you play the fruit-cutting game with me?"

Huo Zong raised his hand to check the time; it was already past his usual working hours.

"No, go rest."

Jiang Fengmian left bouncing on his heels with his tablet in hand. Before closing the door, he didn't forget to throw a heart gesture at Huo Zong.

The moment he returned to the bedroom, Jiang Fengmian began searching the website he signed with in the real world. There was no news online, so he settled for registering on a highly-rated comic website.

Jiang Fengmian chose his real-world name, Dong Li, a nod to the phrase "Dong Li picking chrysanthemums at dusk."

After completing the basic work, the rest was to redraw the works from the real world.

The bedside lamp emitted a dim yellow light. Jiang Fengmian was so into it he forgot to eat or drink. When he reluctantly finished a section of the drawing, it was already 4 a.m.

Jiang Fengmian let out a hiss, clutching his aching chest as he lay down. His fingertips brushed his chest and gave it a gentle tap before he quickly closed his eyes, afraid he might drop dead from exhaustion.

Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong.

Jiang Fengmian was still burrowed in his soft, cozy quilt. He groped for his incessantly ringing tablet without opening his eyes. Struggling to lift his eyelids, he saw a message from the comic platform he registered with yesterday.

[Yunqi: Hello, great artist Dong Li. I'm Yunqi, an editor from Ai Manhua website. We noticed your newly updated comic has a unique theme and style, and we'd like to discuss a contract with you.]

Ai Manhua is considered one of the top platforms in the industry, with very attractive revenue sharing. Yunqi couldn't see any reason for Dong Li to refuse.

Jiang Fengmian rubbed his aching head as he got up, yawned repeatedly, squinted, and replied.

[Dong Li: Hello, if we sign, I need to ensure the copyright remains in my hands. You'll only have the representation rights. Is that acceptable?]

Seriously, Jiang Fengmian's work in the real world sold multiple copyrights, bringing in a ton of cash. He couldn't just sign casually.

[Yunqi: I need to confirm that. I'll get back to you as soon as I have news.]

[Dong Li: Okay.]

Jiang Fengmian sat for a while before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. He decided it's best to draw when Huo Zong isn't home during the day. Drawing late at night was too taxing on his already fragile body, which was now even more worn out, like a leaky house in a storm.

Ha! Jiang Fengmian's yawn caught in his throat as he couldn't believe his eyes. Looking at the clock on the wall—10 a.m.—he wondered why Huo Zong was still home.

"Jiang Fengmian."

"Hmm?" Jiang Fengmian shuffled over in his slippers, looking listless, and plopped down beside Huo Zong. He tilted his head, struggling to gather some energy.

"Huo Zong didn't go out, and that made him happy."

Huo Zong let out a cold snort. Jiang Fengmian looked completely drained, like the fruit-cutting game had sucked the life out of him.

"Give me the game console."

Jiang Fengmian perked up and sat upright. His eyes darted around. His lips puckered into a pout as he carefully took Huo Zong's gentle wrist and gave it a little shake.

"Huo Zong, you can't take it away."

Huo Zong's indifferent gaze moved from his wrist and back to Jiang Fengmian's face. His dark circles looked like they were about to sag down to his cheeks. The teenage anti-addiction measures weren't enough; Jiang Fengmian had still ended up staying up all night.

"Did you sleep last night? What time did you go to bed? Was the mini-game fun?"

The three soul-searching questions left Jiang Fengmian at a loss for words.

"It was too fast, I didn't understand. Huo Zong, the game isn't as good as you."

Ha, not understanding, huh? Huo Zong saw through him completely. Jiang Fengmian knew how to switch topics to dodge problems.

"Jiang Fengmian, I don't want there to be another time like today. Don't play games too much."

Achoo.

Jiang Fengmian turned around, grabbed some tissues, and covered his nose. Sneeze after sneeze came one after another. He couldn't bear to think about how dark Huo Zong's face must be at that moment.

Exactly seven, just enough to keep Huo Zong's obsessive-compulsive side at bay.

Inside, he whimpered, feeling cold. Where can I find a rope? Maybe he could make a teru teru bozu for Huo Zong.

Jiang Fengmian pressed his lips together, blinked, and tossed the tissue he'd been holding. He scooted closer to Huo Zong, and soon, tears fell like strings of pearls, dropping onto Huo Zong's leg.

Their eyes met, the distance between them so close that Huo Zong could see the tiny fuzz on Jiang Fengmian's face. Their held breaths intertwined, and the wrist he was gently holding suddenly went numb.

A dense itchiness started to spread. Huo Zong's scorching fingertips retracted into his palm. Though he wanted to hold on, he gently pulled his wrist away in an instant.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Fengmian took advantage of the moment, grabbing his fingers, sliding them to the back of his hand, gently holding it, and placing it near his temple.

"Huo Zong, am I about to die?"

Jiang Fengmian, like a wilted eggplant, rubbed his cheek against Huo Zong's palm. He secretly inhaled the cold, crisp scent, finding it so comforting that he felt like kissing Huo Zong's palm.

"You're just sleepy."

Jiang Fengmian: ?

What kind of answer is that? A blockhead, pure wood.

No matter how cute he acted, Huo Zong just didn't get it!

"Not sleepy, just a headache. Huo Zong, can you hug me?"

Of course, he didn't get the hug. Jiang Fengmian lunged but missed. Huo Zong had already shifted to sit far away from him, eight feet apart. He didn't even see how Huo Zong moved.

"Drink water and take your medicine."

Jiang Fengmian sniffled, replied with an "Oh," and obediently took his medicine with water. With every sip, his eyes glanced at Huo Zong, as if Huo Zong was some magical medicine dispenser, sweetened just for him.

He pondered how to break the ice and salvage his image in Huo Zong's eyes, unaware that this very moment had softened Huo Zong's heart just a little more.

Jiang Fengmian didn't understand anything. It was normal for him to get carried away when he found something fun. Had he been too harsh on Jiang Fengmian?

Click.

The villa door abruptly opened, and Aunt Wang exclaimed, "Oh!" as she made eye contact with Huo Zong on the sofa.

"Sir, why aren't you at work today?"

"Resting."

"Okay, okay, I'll make lunch to your usual taste then."

Jiang Fengmian set down his water cup and fake-coughed twice.

"Huo Zong, here."

It was a coin still warm from Jiang Fengmian's body heat. Huo Zong gave him a puzzled look. "What is this for?"

"Huo Zong, good job on staying in to keep me company. Here's your reward."

A term flashed in Huo Zong's mind—"payment for services." Startled by his own thought, he sighed helplessly and began playing with the coin, flipping it a few times. It landed with the number side up each time. Forget it, he thought. He eventually pocketed the coin, reluctantly accepting Jiang Fengmian's explanation.

During lunch, Jiang Fengmian acted like a judge, watching Huo Zong's eating speed closely, ready to say something if he ate too quickly.

"Jiang Fengmian, once you're done eating, go upstairs and change your clothes. I have something to discuss with you."

Noticing Huo Zong's serious expression, Jiang Fengmian felt uneasy. Could it be that he was thinking of sending him away again?

The closet was packed with the latest fashion trends. In May, there was still a slight chill in the air, and Jiang Fengmian picked out a thin hoodie to change into.

"Huo Zong, I'm here."

Huo Zong looked up and saw Jiang Fengmian approaching, wearing a hoodie with bunny ears that bounced with every step, oddly cute.

"Jiang Fengmian, what would you think if I went after the Jiang family?"

"You mean fight them? Yeah, yeah, I'll fight them too. I'm so pissed, I want to beat them up."

Alright, Huo Zong had overthought. Jiang Fengmian had been mistreated and certainly wouldn't have a good impression of them.

"Lawful society, I've already called the police."

Huh?

Since when had Huo Zong become so law-abiding? Wasn't he supposed to be the villain?

Nope, nope, nope, that's just his character setting. Huo Zong was essentially a law-abiding good young man.

Jiang Fengmian pushed away his wild thoughts and said seriously, "Alright, let the police officers handle them."

"So, you need to come back to the Jiang family with me now."

"Okay."

On the way, Huo Zong keenly sensed Jiang Fengmian's nervousness, his ears catching Jiang Fengmian's mutterings, though not entirely clear. However, the clenching of his fist revealed he was psyching himself up.

Huo Zong's eyes shifted down, and his fingers, resting on his knee, made a detour to his pocket, pulling out a piece of orange candy and handing it to Jiang Fengmian.

"Here, it's not expired."

Jiang Fengmian's eyes crinkled in happiness as he rubbed his shoulder against Huo Zong's, happily trying to wrestle with the hard candy. After a long struggle, he asked, frustrated, "Huo Zong, the candy is too hard; how can I share half with you?"

"Like this."

Huo Zong, like a magician, produced another one, and Jiang Fengmian, surprised, held his palm and studied it for a long time, exclaiming, "I know this; it's a magic trick. Huo Zong, you're amazing."

This trick only fools kids, and only someone like Jiang Fengmian would believe it.

"Eat it."

Worried that Jiang Fengmian would be reluctant to eat it, Huo Zong directly tore open the wrapper and stuffed it into Jiang Fengmian's mouth.

As his fingertips withdrew, they appeared to brush against a soft, warm tongue, playfully teasing, before quickly parting.

Yet facing the serious Jiang Fengmian, Huo Zong pinched his palm and silently shifted his gaze away. He might be going crazy.

Jiang Fengmian held the candy against his cheek and laughed at Huo Zong's reflection in the car window.

There's no such thing as emotional detachment disorder. It’s probably because the people around Huo Zong didn't care enough about him. But Jiang Fengmian was different; he had already eaten candy fed to him by Huo Zong.

Hehe, so happy.

"Huo Zong, we're here."

Jiang Fengmian, the drama king, instantly slipped into character, clinging to the car seat in fear, shrinking back from the open door.

"Jiang Fengmian, come here."

"No."

"With me here, don't worry."

Jiang Fengmian still didn’t move as the last bit of candy melted in his mouth, his gaze inadvertently falling on Huo Zong's naturally hanging arm.

"Come here."

Jiang Fengmian cautiously reached out and firmly placed his hand in Huo Zong's palm, stepping out of the car with Huo Zong's help, his shoulder tightly pressed against Huo Zong's.

He was ten centimeters shorter than Huo Zong, and when he looked up, he could just see Huo Zong's tight jawline.

Jiang Fengmian's fingers moved slightly, gently patting Huo Zong's hand, his voice trembling as he said, "Huo Zong, I can protect you too. I'll fight the bad guys, don't be afraid."

Protect him—in all his years, this was the first time Huo Zong had ever heard such words.