Chapter 38: Brother, my waist is so sore, can you massage it? The surprise is a peace pendant…

Chapter 38: Brother, my waist is so sore, can you massage it? The surprise is a peace pendant...

The birds outside the window were chirping loudly, disturbing Jiang Fengmian's sleep. He whimpered, burying his face deeper into the blanket, his eyelids heavy and unable to lift.

Something heavy seemed to press on him, making Jiang Fengmian's chest ache slightly. Propping himself up on the soft bed, he struggled to turn over, but he was pulled back by an unseen force.

"Jiang Fengmian, are you awake?"

Huo Zong's voice sounded distant, like from a far-off nightmare. Jiang Fengmian let out a soft hum in response.

A few seconds later, Jiang Fengmian instinctively moved closer to Huo Zong's side. He yawned and mumbled, "Brother, my head is so dizzy, and my waist is sore. Can you massage it for me?"

"Of course you're dizzy. If you can't handle alcohol, don't drink. See if you'll drink again next time. You get back pain from drinking too? Let me see if it really hurts."

"Huo Zong, you're so mean. It really hurts."

Huo Zong chuckled softly, his fingertips pressing and massaging Jiang Fengmian's forehead. In his arms, Jiang Fengmian felt like a limp kitten. His fingers moved downward, pressing against Jiang Fengmian's slender waist.

Tsk, with a waist like this, it's hard not to let the imagination wander.

"Brother, was I the first to fall asleep yesterday?"

Huo Zong laughed. How could Jiang Fengmian still remember? He had just woken up and was already here to claim his promise.

"Yes, you fell asleep first."

Huo Zong didn't really want to recall last night's events. A cold shower didn't help. As soon as he got into bed, Jiang Fengmian, like a radar, rolled into his arms, his legs resting on Huo Zong's abdomen, occasionally brushing against *.

He hardly slept all night. In the morning, before Jiang Fengmian woke up, he went to take another cold shower.

"What about the surprise?"

Jiang Fengmian leaned against Huo Zong, propping his head up with his elbow, using his bandaged hands to fiddle with Huo Zong's Adam's apple.

"Huo Zong, where's my surprise?"

Huo Zong pulled out a peace pendant from under the pillow like magic. The emerald green jade was tied with a red string in a beautiful knot.

"Jiang Fengmian, the surprise."

Huo Zong stared at Jiang Fengmian, his eyes filled with emotions Jiang Fengmian couldn't decipher. His fingertips caressed the peace pendant, signaling Jiang Fengmian to sit up.

The two sat facing each other. Jiang Fengmian's wrist instinctively curled back. This wasn't just a peace pendant; it was the only gift Huo Zong's mother had left him.

Originally thrown away by Huo Qing, it was tossed into the pond behind the Huo family's old mansion. In November, Huo Zong spent hours in the water, finally retrieving it at seven in the evening.

Though the red string had been replaced many times, Huo Zong couldn't bring himself to wear it. The jade, meant to symbolize peace, ultimately couldn't protect Huo Zong.

"Jiang Fengmian, don't dodge, give me your hand."

"Do you not like it?"

Huo Zong lowered his head, nervously fidgeting with the peace pendant. After all, it was an old, outdated item. It was normal for Jiang Fengmian not to like it.

He had thought for a long time, but it seemed there was nothing he could give Jiang Fengmian except this, something he had worn since childhood, hoping to protect Jiang Fengmian's safety for a lifetime.

"I like it, Huo Zong. I really, really like it. But there's only one. What about you?"

No matter what, it was a keepsake from Huo Zong's mother. How could he take it?

"I'm glad you like it. I have this."

Huo Zong took Jiang Fengmian's wrist and gave it a gentle shake, a smile playing at the corner of his lips, his eyes gleaming with a touch of pride as he straightened his back arrogantly.

Jiang Fengmian was taken aback for a moment, suddenly realizing that when Huo Zong said 'this,' he meant... him.

His nose stung instantly, his eyes glistening as he fought back tears, he murmured, "Brother, I want you to be safe too."

His only wish was for Huo Zong to live a long, safe, and happy life.

"What can we do, Huo Zong? There’s only one."

Huo Zong lifted Jiang Fengmian's chin, the kitten-like figure about to cry again.

"There’s only one peace pendant, but there’s also only one Jiang Fengmian. We’ll get another one next time, okay?"

"Mmm."

Huo Zong seemed to guess what he was going to say, quickly covering his lips with his hand, his expression soft, gently scratching his chin to comfort him.

"As long as you’re happy, don’t say things that upset me."

Things that belonged to that person—he didn’t even have the right to touch them, kept out of reach, locked away in a tiny space. Huo Zong had only managed to catch a few glimpses, with no sign he’d ever been there.

Only this peace pendant, discarded and then retrieved. Huo Qing thought it was too dirty to touch, and so it became his.

He wanted to give it to Jiang Fengmian—the one and only Jiang Fengmian.

"Kitty, let me see your hand."

Jiang Fengmian slowly extended his hand, Huo Zong leaned down and gently tied it on, the red string standing out against his porcelain skin, making the peace pendant seem dim.

"It looks good. May it keep my kitty safe and help him get better soon."

Jiang Fengmian’s eyes stung again, he swallowed back the explanation. If he told Huo Zong he was only pretending to be naive, Huo Zong might lose it.

The person he sincerely treated, was just pretending to fool him.

Jiang Fengmian anxiously stroked the red string on his wrist, could only swallow the rising thoughts bit by bit.

Wait a bit longer, just a bit longer.

"Brother, do we have more red string at home?"

"Yes, is it too tight?"

Jiang Fengmian mysteriously shook his head, just took the red string, compared it to the thickness of Huo Zong's wrist, and braided a bracelet for Huo Zong.

"Brother, this is all I can do, I also wish for your safety, this is the kitty brand safety chain, don't lose it."

"Okay."

The red string was worn with the wristwatch, he gently shook his wrist, as if there was a tinkling sound.

"Jiang Fengmian, does your head still hurt?"

"A bit, brother, rub it for me."

Jiang Fengmian buried his head in Huo Zong's chest, whining as he waited for Huo Zong to rub his head.

"You can't drink when you go out with the young sir, you know that, right? He also gets drunk easily, and it's not safe to drink too much."

Jiang Fengmian stuck out his tongue guiltily. Huo Zong probably wouldn't go verify with Bao Jiu, right? He puffed up with confidence and nodded obediently, "Gotcha."

"Let me check your hand."

The bandage was removed, and the wound on the back of his hand had already scabbed over. Huo Zong applied some scar cream and carefully blew on it.

"Keep it dry for now. It'll be fine once this scab falls off."

"Okay, Huo Zong, I'm feeling much better, just hungry. Listen, the little pigeon is chirping again."

The little pigeon was probably singing: "Little cabbage, yellow in the field."

Otherwise, why would Jiang Fengmian look so pitiful?

"Come down after you’re done washing up."

"Okay."

As soon as Huo Zong went downstairs, Aunt Wang came up with a wine bottle.

"Sir, was this wine drunk by the young master? I found the bottle by the kitchen door."

Huo Zong glanced at the name on the bottle—it was still a strong liquor. He narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling that last night wasn't an accident but a premeditated act.

"Get rid of it, and make some soothing soup for Jiang Fengmian."

Huo Zong's gaze fell on the bouquet that had already lasted forever. The corner of his mouth seemed to twitch slightly, and then he nonchalantly shifted his gaze, only the movement of his fingers becoming more intense. The little cat had a lot of secrets.

For example, he boldly guessed that the little cat was actually deliberately trying to provoke him.

Thinking of this, Huo Zong felt a bit regretful. Why did he take a cold shower? Why didn't he just make a move? What a miscalculation.

"Young master, it's better to eat something light after a hangover. I made some plain rice porridge, and you should eat fewer dumplings."

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Wang."

Jiang Fengmian, having missed two meals, ate quite voraciously, gobbling down one dumpling after another and downing two bowls of porridge.

"Slow down, no one's racing you."

Huo Zong wiped the corner of Jiang Fengmian's mouth with a tissue, afraid he might choke, and thoughtfully gave him a few sips of his own soy milk.

"Afraid you'll snatch it."

Jiang Fengmian let out a little burp and covered his mouth, somewhat embarrassed.

"Huo Zong, I still want to go to the company with you today. It's dull at home."

"Okay."

***

[Chen Chen: Huo Zong, I have some information on the young sir here. Some of it is definitely missing, possibly because someone in the Jiang family deliberately tried to erase his existence. Only a few scattered accolades remain.]

[Chen Chen: Huo Zong, do you want me to send it to you?]

Huo Zong glanced at the message. The scenery outside the car window kept receding. He held his phone, the unease in his heart almost overflowing.

He was a bit scared to look at that information.

I can’t help but feel that there might be some information in the documents that I’m not ready to accept yet.

"Huo Zong, what’s on your mind?"

Jiang Fengmian suddenly leaned in front of Huo Zong, his fingers playing with the red string, his eyes full of joy.

"I’m thinking, maybe you’ve gotten a bit smarter since you first came home."

Jiang Fengmian: Innocent kitten face.

There’s no need to jump to conclusions, please Huo Zong, drop the idea of him being smarter.

"Brother, I don’t understand."

Jiang Fengmian: I’m just a silly, clueless kitten, not smart at all.

Huo Zong’s deep eyes fixed on Jiang Fengmian, his kitten couldn’t even lie if he tried, his sharp teeth biting his lips, looking nervous and at a loss, practically spelling out "I’m hiding something" on his face.

"Oh, then I was wrong. I thought after all this time, you’d have gotten a little smarter."

Huo Zong rubbed Jiang Fengmian’s earlobe, somewhat regretfully, "Kitty, when are you going to get a little smarter?"

"I can be smart." Jiang Fengmian pouted, poking Huo Zong’s chest to accuse, "Brother, don’t you like me when I’m dumb, only when I’m smart?"

Aowu.

Jiang Fengmian is super fierce.

Huo Zong’s finger was bitten by Jiang Fengmian, he gently chewed on it, turning into Jiang Fengmian’s personal chew toy.

Sss.

Huo Zong’s expression changed slightly; if he keeps this up, he’s going to lose control.

"Either way is fine, Jiang Fengmian. Dumb is cute, and a little smart is cute too, as long as you’re healthy. I hope one day, you can tell me, healthy and whole, that you’re okay, your head is fine, your heart is fine."

"Brother, I’m already much better."

"Mm, that’s good, Jiang Fengmian. Your happiness means more than anything."

As long as it’s Jiang Fengmian, any version of you is fine.

"Jiang Fengmian, no matter what happens, you can’t leave me. You took my peace charm, you’re bound to me. You promised to stay with me till the end; you can’t go back on your word."

Huo Zong’s eyes were tinged with red, looking over with seriousness. Jiang Fengmian didn’t know what was going on, just nodded, dazed.

He raised his wrist, softly kissed the peace charm, and said solemnly, "Huo Zong, you’ve already got me tied down, I’m not going anywhere."

Huo Zong responded, he pushed those wild emotions down. Only from the rearview mirror on one side could you just make out the intense possessiveness in Huo Zong’s eyes.

[Huo Zong: Put it on my desk.]

A file was placed on the company’s desk, the cover had no name. Huo Zong glanced at it, instantly understanding.

He rubbed the pure white page with his fingertips, piles of files in front of him, blocking his view of Jiang Fengmian. Complicated emotions surged up; Huo Zong recalled Jiang Fengmian’s worried eyes. Actually, he had already guessed.

Huo Zong paused for a long, long time. Jiang Fengmian called him before he suddenly came back to his senses.

"Huo Zong, is something bothering you?"

Jiang Fengmian’s fingertips massaged Huo Zong’s forehead as he secretly sketched a pair of chibi-style drawings of Sheng Zhiyi. Huo Zong remained still, his gaze dark and unreadable, filled with emotions Jiang Fengmian couldn’t decipher.

From the moment they got in the car, Huo Zong had been acting strangely, suddenly asking if he’d gotten smarter and making vague comments.

Jiang Fengmian clenched his fingers, suddenly felt afraid.

"No, I was just thinking, if my kitten tried to leave, what method should I use to keep him."

"I’m not leaving. I’m staying right here."

Jiang Fengmian leaned over to hug Huo Zong’s neck, his chin resting on Huo Zong’s head, his fingers running through Huo Zong’s coarse hair, as if to comfort him.

There was a sharp knock, and Jiang Fengmian quickly adjusted his emotions, leaning against Huo Zong’s desk, fidgeting with his fingers as if nothing had happened.

"Come in."

Chen Chen glanced at Jiang Fengmian, the words he wanted to say caught in his throat. He stood in place, then looked at Huo Zong.

"What is it?"

"Mr. Huo, I just received news that Jiang Junling has been bailed out. There’s pressure from above, saying the defendant is mentally unfit, his testimony can’t be considered reliable evidence, and those injuries can’t be determined for what they really are. Mr. Huo, I heard it’s the old master’s doing."

Jiang Fengmian looked at Huo Zong in confusion. The old master—it must be Huo Qing. For so long, he’d nearly forgotten about him. In truth, Jiang Fengmian knew better than anyone that if Huo Zong hadn’t been holding him back, with Jiang Fengqiu’s connections and money, Jiang Junling would have been released long ago.

"Where is he now, back at the Jiang family?"

"He returned last night, didn’t go to the Jiang family today, headed straight for the Huo Corporation, with Jiang Fengqiu."

Seeing Jiang Fengmian’s mood wasn’t right, Chen Chen didn’t say much more. He knew about the injury assessment report, and after finally escaping the shadow, that scoundrel was out again, which was not good news for Jiang Fengmian.

Huo Zong glanced at the call log on his phone. On the day he brought people back to the Huo family from Heaven and Earth, Huo Qing had called him twice, but Huo Zong ignored them both.

Hmph.

Huo Zong smirked mockingly. He hadn’t blocked Huo Qing when he posted on his social media. Did he see it and get upset, thinking someone like him didn’t deserve happiness? Was getting Jiang Junling out his way of retaliating?

Huo Qing was extremely good at such things, always ready to ruin things when he had the slightest advantage.

"Mr. Huo, should we let them in, or..."

"Let them come."

Huo Zong stood up, walked to Jiang Fengmian’s side, and leaned against the desk with him.

Jiang Fengmian’s hands were ice-cold. Huo Zong grabbed them, as if holding a piece of ice. His complexion was very poor, as if all the color had drained from his face.

"Kitty, don’t be afraid. I’m here."

Jiang Fengmian leaned on Huo Zong’s shoulder, tightly encircling his waist, whispering, "Brother, don’t be sad, okay."

"Okay, not sad. You can’t be sad either. Now that he’s out, we’ll find another way, won’t we?"

"Mm."

While they were talking, the commotion outside the room grew louder. Jiang Fengmian rubbed his eyes and pulled away from Huo Zong's arms.

"Jiang Fengmian."

Before the person appeared, his voice was heard first.

Jiang Fengmian raised his eyes and met the furious gaze of Jiang Junling.

After being in jail for so long, Jiang Junling had lost a lot of weight, his hair had turned gray, and his spirit seemed broken. But his eyes were even more repulsive—sunken eye sockets with bulging eyeballs, like a demon from hell, brimming with unmistakable hatred.

Jiang Junling was seething with hatred, but he had no way to vent it. He gritted his teeth and said, "Huo Zong, long time no see. I hear you’ve been living the good life."

During those days in jail, he had suffered greatly. Not only was he starved, but he also had to wait on the boss he was locked up with, even cleaning up his waste.

He slept by the toilet, and if he so much as annoyed the boss, he’d get a brutal beating.

He’d tried everything, thinking Jiang Fengqiu was too cheap or unwilling to help. Only later did he figure out that Huo Zong was behind it all.

He wanted Jiang Junling to suffer what Jiang Fengmian had—a windowless cell, endless darkness, driving him to the brink of madness.

If it weren’t for the massive Jiang family fortune waiting for him, he’d have wished for death.

Now that he was out, neither Jiang Fengmian nor Huo Zong would get off easy.

"Yeah, pretty happy. Without you, Jiang Fengmian would be even better off."

Huo Zong stepped in front of Jiang Fengmian, his icy glare cutting into Jiang Junling, his eyes dark and unreadable. He gripped Jiang Fengmian’s hand, forcing down his rage.

"Huo Zong, you’re the real piece of work. What are you doing with Jiang Fengmian? He’s a fool, and you’re breaking the law."

"If I’m in, you’re going down too."

Seeing Jiang Junling getting worked up, Jiang Fengqiu quickly grabbed his sleeve, reminding him to calm down and remember why they were here.

Jiang Junling clutched his chest, still sore from the beating he’d taken the day before his release.

Those guys were ruthless. Being a company chairman meant nothing to them; they’d beat you to a pulp.

"Huo Zong, my father doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s just upset my brother didn’t treat him right. He’s out now and won’t make trouble."

"Brother, say something to Dad, won’t you? It’s been ages since you’ve seen him; you must miss him."

"Miss him? I’d rather see him dead."

Jiang Fengmian rolled his eyes, stepped out from behind Huo Zong, and grabbed his wrist, glaring at Jiang Junling. "Why aren’t you dead yet?"

"You son of a bitch, I’ll kill you."

Jiang Junling rushed forward a few steps, but the pain from his wounds was unbearable. He was stopped by Jiang Fengqiu, preventing him from reaching Jiang Fengmian.

"You little shit, no matter what, I’m your father. You’re wishing me dead."

"You’re not. My parents are long dead."

Jiang Fengmian also died, in that dark room, killed by his own father, along with his mistress and her son.

"It doesn’t matter if you won’t say it; it doesn’t change the fact that we’re blood. I didn’t come here for anything else. You’re my son, and I’ve sold you to the Huo family, to Huo Zong. I haven’t received the hundred million yet; you need to give me the money."

"There’s no blood tie. Jiang Fengmian died a long time ago."

Jiang Fengmian felt the grip on the back of his hand tighten as Huo Zong tightened his hold even more.

Huo Zong blinked, his peripheral vision resting on Jiang Fengmian, whose claws seemed ready to spring out, his whole body on edge.

The speaker might not have meant much, but the listener took it to heart.

Huo Zong unconsciously curled his fingers, his throat tightening as he detected a hint of seriousness in Jiang Fengmian’s words—not a casual remark made in anger, but a serious statement to Jiang Junling that Jiang Fengmian was dead.

"Huo Zong, let’s kick them out."

"Alright."

The bodyguards at the door started to act, but they were shoved aside by the frantic Jiang Junling, who pulled out the original agreement, clearly written on paper, with a neat one billion written on it.

"Huo Zong, you signed it, so why are you denying it? One billion, you must give it to me today."

Huo Zong let out a soft laugh, as if hearing something amusing. "Jiang Junling, maybe you should look again."

The contract stated that Jiang Fengmian and Huo Zong would marry, and after registering the marriage, he would receive one billion. However, the signature line was empty, with only Jiang Junling’s lonely name.

"Jiang Fengmian and I did not register our marriage, and I didn’t know about this contract before. Jiang Junling, what money are you talking about? You write up a contract and ask for a billion? Looks like you didn’t spend enough time in jail."

Jiang Junling flipped to the last page, no matter how many times he looked, there was indeed no signature from Huo Zong, nor from Huo Qing.

How could this be? How could this be? He was sure Huo Qing had signed it.

Jiang Junling suddenly started laughing like a madman, clutching the contract and showing it to Jiang Fengqiu, then to the bodyguard beside him, yelling, "Huo Zong, you must have switched the contract, it must be you, who else could it be? Give me my one billion, give it to me!"

He charged at Huo Zong like a wild animal, but before he could grab Huo Zong’s collar, Jiang Fengmian kicked him away.

Jiang Fengmian stepped in front of Huo Zong to protect him, staring stubbornly at Jiang Junling. "You should die."

Sold off for a high price, Jiang Fengmian was a living person, but in Jiang Junling’s mouth, he became a commodity. Because he hadn’t received the money, he came to cause trouble.

"Ungrateful child, ungrateful child, you’re nothing next to Jiang Fengqiu. You should have died long ago. Why didn’t I just kill you? I should have just killed you."

The billion he’d been dreaming of in jail was gone. Jiang Junling’s heart ached, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Money, his money.

"Chen Chen, get him out of here."

"And clean up this mess, it’s gross."

"Whoever told you about the marriage, go talk to them. Why come to me?"

Hahaha, he was disgusting, but in this room, Jiang Fengmian was the most disgusting.

"Jiang Fengmian, you’ll die a terrible death. Huo Zong, you’ll also die a terrible death."

No matter how Jiang Junling screamed, the bodyguards tossed him out like trash. Jiang Fengqiu, afraid of making a scene, didn’t care about the mess that was Jiang Junling and walked ahead quickly.

Huo Qing, yes, he could still find Huo Qing.

The office quieted down, Jiang Fengmian’s gaze fell on the now clean floor, and it took him a long time to snap out of it.

He looked at Huo Zong in a daze, his heart aching as if being sliced.

Jiang Fengmian realized belatedly that he had been provoked by Jiang Junling and said things he shouldn’t have.

He didn’t dare to look into Huo Zong’s eyes, slightly bending his body, instinctively wanting to find a place to hide.

"Little cat, don’t hide from me."

Jiang Fengmian shivered, and in an instant, he was enveloped in a warm embrace.

"Jiang Fengmian, don’t be afraid, I’m here for everything."