Chapter 8: Coaxing the Child – Fever

Chapter 8: Coaxing the Child - Fever

"Jiang Fengmian, why aren't you getting in?"

Huo Zong regarded him with suspicion, his gaze lingering on Jiang Fengmian's fair neck. His fingertips tingled, fighting the urge to touch him, before he forced his eyes away.

"I'm dirty, Huo Zong. I'm afraid I'll dirty you if I get close."

Dr. Li, who was following behind, let out a surprised exclamation. Who said Jiang Fengmian was truly intellectually disabled? He was much better than some of the ordinary people in the Huo family. Huo Zong's own father, who spent every day with him, was willfully blind to his son's abnormalities and couldn't see them at all.

Jiang Fengmian's sleeves were covered in dust, and the pure white hoodie had several fingerprints on it. He stood awkwardly by the car door, wiping it for a long time, only making it dirtier.

"Huo Zong, what should I do? I can't wipe it off."

"Get in the car, you're not dirty."

Dr. Li almost clapped his hands in approval. Pretending not to see the frown forming on Huo Zong's face, he chimed in, "Since Huo Zong has said so, Fengmian, quickly get in the car. Huo Zong's time is very precious."

"Oh, okay."

Dr. Li automatically sat in the passenger seat, his mind filled with an excellent treatment plan that he was eager to test.

"Jiang Fengmian, wipe yourself."

There were wet wipes in the car, and Huo Zong handed a few to Jiang Fengmian, averting his gaze and sitting rigidly.

Jiang Fengmian deliberately showed low spirits as he wiped his hands. His aching eyes blinked, feeling like there was sand in them from crying too much.

This appearance, in Huo Zong's eyes, was undoubtedly one of overwhelming sadness. Anyone would be unhappy if they found out their home was ransacked just two days after leaving.

"Do you want some candy?"

Jiang Fengmian stared at the candy Huo Zong offered him, tossed the wipe into the trash bin, and smiled with his eyebrows raised.

"Yes."

"Huo Zong, you're so kind."

Just as the words left his mouth, the car made a sudden brake. The freshly unwrapped candy flew out, and Jiang Fengmian, trying to reach for it, lost his balance and fell into Huo Zong's lap.

Huo Zong's hands wrapped around Jiang Fengmian's waist, feeling his warm body heat. He gently pulled Jiang Fengmian up with a little force.

Jiang Fengmian, still shaken, clutched his head, his vision spinning. He muttered, "Huo Zong, I'm so dizzy."

"Huh, why are there two Huo Zongs?"

Jiang Fengmian reached out in surprise, his fingers lightly brushing Huo Zong's earlobe.

In a flash, Huo Zong's ears turned completely red, the color spreading from his ears to his neck. Jiang Fengmian widened his eyes, staring curiously at him.

After a few seconds of internal struggle, risking a potential scolding from Huo Zong, Jiang Fengmian quickly touched Huo Zong's earlobe.

"Huo Zong, you're dyed."

At this, Huo Zong's face also turned red. He stared at Jiang Fengmian with indifference and said coldly, "The candy's gone."

"Yeah, too bad, if it fell in the car, you can't eat it anymore, or you'll get a stomachache."

Nonsensical as ever, Huo Zong helplessly rubbed his temples and turned away, not looking at Jiang Fengmian again.

Huo Zong's most prized self-restraint was continuously failing in front of Jiang Fengmian. With Dr. Li in the car, any feeble excuses would have sounded lame.

Fortunately, the car soon came to a stop, and Huo Zong felt his breathing ease as he stepped out of the cramped, enclosed space and inhaled the fresh air.

"Dr. Li, please take a look at his foot injury."

Jiang Fengmian, wearing bear slippers, shyly took off his socks and asked innocently, "Doctor Uncle, I haven't washed my feet yet. Will it smell?"

"It's okay. I'm a professional doctor; I'm not afraid of these things."

As the bandage was peeled off, the wound had already begun to heal slowly. Dr. Li re-applied medicine to Jiang Fengmian's wound and advised him not to get it wet tonight.

"Got it, Huo Zong will help me remember."

"Jiang Fengmian, go change your clothes first."

Jiang Fengmian nodded vigorously. It had been painful enough for a germaphobe to endure the ride, and he had even sat on a couch that gleamed it was so clean. Huo Zong had probably already planned how to wash the couch cover.

The living room was left with only Huo Zong and Dr. Li. Dr. Li, thinking it over, found a relatively private setting and stood in the study where they usually talked.

There was a piece of paper at the entrance of the study, with two distinctly different handwritings.

Under the word "study," a simple stroke sketched a cat. Next to the curled tail of the cat were three words: "Got it."

"Mr. Huo, have you been adjusting well these past two days?"

Huo Zong handed Dr. Li a piece of paper with a detailed record of the instances of interruption over the past few days, precise to the minute. The handwriting grew messier as it went down, visibly indicating anxiety.

"Mr. Huo, actually, this is a good sign. Humans are different from machines because we have emotions. You've trapped yourself inside a machine that never stops running. You can't just focus on the hardware; you also need to take care of the software."

"Breaking and rebuilding will be more effective than taking medication. There will be a period of adjustment. You've lived alone for too long and may have forgotten what it feels like to live freely. Take this time while Jiang Fengmian is here to adjust properly."

The string in Huo Zong's mind could snap at any moment. He had been pushing himself too hard, and even relaxing felt like a shackle. It was exhausting.

"Yes, I understand."

Huo Zong adjusted the strap on his wristwatch, his fingertips pausing at the clasp before slowly letting it down after a few seconds.

The sunlight in the room spread across the fluttering pages. He stared quietly at the beam of light, slowly raised his hand to grasp it, and felt warmth spreading through his palm. He wasn't entirely ready to let go of time.

"Mr. Huo, I think it's necessary to modify the treatment plan. Why don't you live spontaneously for a while, turn off all the alarms, and fully enjoy your time after work? After a while, your mental state should improve significantly."

"Yes."

"Is there a possibility of curing Jiang Fengmian's condition?"

Dr. Li shook his head and said, "We can only take it one step at a time. His issues are mostly emotional. But he's very happy when he's with you. It's strange; he actually trusts someone he barely knows."

"Perhaps, compared to the people he's familiar with, I have no reason to hurt him."

The Jiang family didn't need a worthless fool, and Jiang Fengqiu wished he would just vanish. The stepmother who had appeared out of nowhere had no sincerity.

Under such extreme suppression, Jiang Fengmian had still remained steadfast in his principles, showing his unwavering willpower.

"Mr. Huo, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

"Yes."

Huo Zong pulled out the parts of a mechanical butterfly from his pocket and assembled them bit by bit. The butterfly's wings remained stiff and couldn't move at all.

He held his phone and pondered for a long time before recording a video.

[Huo Zong: Do you have the corresponding parts there? I think an important part is missing; the butterfly's wings aren't moving.]

[He Yanchu: ???]

[He Yanchu: No matter who you are, you're using Huo Zong's account. If Huo Zong doesn't know, the Huo Corporation should, so return the account now before I resort to improper measures.]

[Huo Zong: .]

[He Yanchu: Today the unexpected happened. At this time, you should be working.]

[Huo Zong: Do you have the butterfly parts?]

[He Yanchu: This mechanical butterfly is discontinued. Are you collecting collectibles now? I'll send you a prettier one.]

[Huo Zong: No, can it be repaired?]

[He Yanchu: Have your assistant bring it over, and I'll take a look. It's been discontinued for over a decade, so the parts are probably hard to come by. This model should have blue diamonds on the butterfly's back; I'll do my best to try.]

[Huo Zong: Yes, send the prettier one over.]

[He Yanchu: Huo Zong, if you're under some kind of stress, just say so. If it gets too much, let's go to the hospital. If all else fails, curse Huo Qing. What the hell are you doing?]

[Huo Zong: Not crazy, just calming a child.]

He Yanchu took a sip of red wine, his eyes wide with surprise. Was this still the Huo Zong he knew? He seemed like a completely different person.

Calming a child, where did the child come from?

Did Huo Zong father a child in secret?

No, that couldn't be right. Huo Zong, as he knew him, was emotionally cold and hated physical contact the most. Anyone who got close to him would be pushed away as if electrified, and he'd never want kids.

No matter how much He Yanchu bombarded him with messages, there was no response, like a stone sinking into the sea, with complete radio silence.

Alright, it looked like the great Huo was busy with work again.

***

Knock knock knock.

Hearing the knock at the door, Huo Zong instinctively placed the assembled butterfly into the drawer and put every miscellaneous item back in place without missing a beat.

"Huo Zong, it's me."

"Yes, come in."

Jiang Fengmian peeked in through the door, cracking it open just enough to poke his head in. His red and swollen eyelids hung low. He mumbled in a nasally, muffled voice, "Huo Zong, I'm still feeling very dizzy."

"Come in, let me take a look."

Jiang Fengmian's fingers tightened, but he didn't move, only explaining in a dull tone, "You said I shouldn't enter the study, so I'll stay outside."

Huo Zong gently pulled the door from Jiang Fengmian's holding grip and yanked the bent-over Jiang inside.

"You can come in. If I'm inside, you come in."

Initially, Huo Zong didn't let Jiang Fengmian in because he wasn't familiar with his condition. The study contained many confidential files he hadn't finished processing and was afraid Jiang might carelessly take them out and lose them. Now, it seemed completely unnecessary.

"I'll call Dr. Li to check on you again."

"Stop, stop."

Jiang Fengmian tugged at Huo Zong's sleeve, shaking his moist eyes.

His face was flushed with an unhealthy red, and he radiated waves of heat as he leaned closer. He barely kept his eyelids open, standing feebly.

Through the thin fabric, Jiang Fengmian's cheek rested on Huo Zong's shoulder, burning hot, making Huo Zong shudder.

"We can't keep troubling Doctor Uncle, he'll get mad at us."

"Jiang Fengmian, this is the Huo family's house. Nobody dares to scold anyone here, and nobody will scold you. It's only natural to see a doctor when you're sick. There's no need to be timid."

"Bro, I don't want to call Doctor Uncle back, please."

Jiang Fengmian's voice had become even more hoarse. It was unclear whether from crying too much or something else, but his throat was dry and scratchy, as if a sharp blade was stuck there, making him swallow constantly.

"Stay still."

Huo Zong hesitated for a few seconds, then raised his hand to touch Jiang Fengmian's forehead. The burning sensation made Huo Zong frown as he steered Jiang Fengmian towards the door.

"You've got a fever, go back to the bedroom."

"A fever, how did I get a fever?" Jiang Fengmian's steps were unsteady, his mind a blank, and he could only grip Huo Zong's wrist tightly to keep from falling.

"Jiang Fengmian, did you close the windows before you went to sleep last night?"

Even with the thick curtains, the gusty wind rushed in, and with the sudden drop in temperature over the past two days, it had been cold that night. Leaving the window open all night would inevitably lead to a fever.

"I... I don't know, Brother, I really don't know."

Jiang Fengmian nestled under the blanket, his fluffy head peeking out. He pressed his fingers to his throat, pouted, and said, "It's sore here."

"Warm water, have a couple of sips first."

The first aid kit had plenty of cold medicines, and Jiang Fengmian likely had a cold. Huo Zong found two types and called Doctor Li to double-check.

"Jiang Fengmian, take this medicine now."

The small white pill rested in Jiang Fengmian's palm. He lowered his head to sniff it and immediately made a bitter face. The medicine seemed extremely bitter.

Jiang Fengmian's mouth filled with bitter saliva. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to swallow, but as soon as the bitter pill hit his throat, he rushed to the bathroom and threw up.

He hadn't eaten much to begin with, and now it was all gone.

Jiang Fengmian clutched his aching stomach, downed a large glass of water to rinse his mouth, and his mouth was bitter. After all the trouble, he felt even weaker.

Huo Zong was unusually at a loss. He stood by the bathroom door, frowning as he watched Jiang Fengmian, ready to catch him when he wobbled.

"Should I call Doctor Li to take a look, or go to the hospital now?"

"It's okay, I'm fine."

Jiang Fengmian understood his condition; he just needed to sweat it out.

"Can't you swallow the small pills? There's a granule option, maybe drink a packet of that instead."

"Good."

The cold medicine granules were indeed all consumed, yet Jiang Fengmian's stomachache grew worse. He couldn't tell whether he was sweating cold or hot sweat, and could only lie on the bed, pressing his arm against his stomach to try and reduce the pain.

"Don't move around, I'm going downstairs for a moment."

When Huo Zong came back, he was carrying a takeout bag. He carefully opened it and took out the porridge, placing it on the bedside table next to him.

"Jiang Fengmian, have some porridge to soothe your stomach. You shouldn't eat anything in this condition, just hang in there."

Jiang Fengmian looked as if he had been fished out of water, with his limp hair sticking to his forehead. He tried to push himself up with his arms but failed after several attempts.

"Huo Zong, I'm not eating."

After a silent stare-down, Huo Zong leaned in closer, wrapping Jiang Fengmian, along with the blanket, and lifting him. He supported Jiang Fengmian with one arm, with the other hand placing a pillow behind him, tucking the blanket neatly before turning to get the porridge on the bedside table.

Huo Zong's hand holding the spoon shook slightly as he fed Jiang Fengmian, with only half a spoonful remaining. It was clear that he had never done this before.

Jiang Fengmian cooperatively opened his mouth. The simple white porridge was soft, fragrant, and sweet. He swallowed slowly, his eyes never leaving Huo Zong's face.

He thought to himself that Huo Zong truly was the best person in the world, and he’d been right all along.

"Are you still hungry? I only ordered one bowl."

"That's enough, thank you."

Jiang Fengmian blinked with his round eyes. His gaze seemed to make Huo Zong's fingertips itch. Huo Zong tightly pinched the stainless steel spoon, a sharp pain shot through, jolting him awake.

"Get some rest."

The bedroom fell into darkness, and the door lock softly snicked shut.

Jiang Fengmian lay with his eyes half-closed, tightly gripping Huo Zong's cufflink in his hand. It still held Huo Zong's warmth. The dizzy Jiang Fengmian turned over, pressing the cufflink to the spot closest to his heart. He vaguely thought that he must return it to Huo Zong tomorrow.

"Fengmian, hey there."

***

Dr. Li's enlarged face startled the just-woken Jiang Fengmian half to death. He stared blankly for a long time before belatedly responding with an "Ah."

It was a rather perfunctory ah, as if he couldn't fully process, just dumbly going "ah."

"Am I dreaming?"

Jiang Fengmian closed his eyes again after speaking, even adding a snoring sound effect. His tuft of hair stuck up, adorably odd.

"Huo Zong, I think Fengmian is quite ill, let's go to the hospital."

Huo Zong didn't respond, just stretching his hand out to place it on Jiang Fengmian's forehead to test the temperature. The fever seemed to have broken, but why did he look even more dazed?

"Jiang Fengmian, get up."

The low voice carried an implicit threat. Jiang Fengmian reluctantly responded with a murmur, fishing out Huo Zong's cufflink from the pocket of his sleepwear and slowly fastening it onto his wrist. Jiang Fengmian sucked in his deflated stomach, rubbing his cheek against Huo Zong's palm. Every movement was like that of a nimble cat.

In the end, he had a satisfied look.

"Just coaxing you."

Huo Zong: ??

Who's coaxing who?

Is Jiang Fengmian coaxing him, suggesting his earlier action was unreasonable?

Doctor Li, why aren't you saying anything? Is this okay?

Doctor Li looked at the ceiling, then at the shiny floor, muttering to himself, deliberately not meeting Huo Zong's eyes.

"Jiang Fengmian, if you're awake, get up."

Jiang Fengmian rubbed his sore waist, nodded like a sleepy cat, rolled over, and got up, smiling. "Morning, Huo Zong. I'm so happy to see you the moment I opened my eyes."

"Fengmian, the first thing you saw when you opened your eyes is me."

Doctor Li quickly squeezed in. He pressed the thermometer to Jiang Fengmian's forehead. 36.7℃—normal, probably nothing serious.

"Doctor Uncle, what are you doing here?"

"Just passing by."

Hehehe, just happened to pass by the Huo family, huh? Obviously, Huo Zong is worried about him.

"Fengmian, I have to seriously scold you. I heard you sleep with the window open and you stay up late. Your health is poor, you can't keep this up. Huo Zong will be worried."

Ahem.

Catching Huo Zong's eye signal, Doctor Li immediately corrected himself. "Someone's going to worry about you."

"Doctor Uncle, I don't really understand, but I'll listen to Huo Zong and take care of myself."

"Time to come down for breakfast."

Huo Zong left first, with Doctor Li following behind, still chattering non-stop.

"Contradicting yourself isn't a good sign. If you weren't worried, then why'd you contact me? Young Master Jiang just slept for seventeen hours—no big deal."

Huo Zong showed no embarrassment at being found out, remaining calm as he watched the hands of his watch move. The damned sense of anxiety had truly vanished, leaving him completely at ease.

The moment the cufflink was dropped, Huo Zong noticed, but not in the way he expected it to be returned. Huo Zong's fingers brushed the raised edge of the cufflink, and as he heard the movement behind him, he lowered his arm, casting a glance, subtly defending himself.

"Jiang Fengmian, you slept for seventeen hours."

Catching the surprise on Jiang Fengmian's face, Huo Zong secretly sighed in relief.

"Brother, you're so good."

Huo Zong blankly raised his arm, unable to figure out why Jiang Fengmian had suddenly hugged him.

He's good, but why is he hugging?