Chapter 57: Dry Heaving Brother, I want to look in the mirror…

Chapter 57: Dry Heaving Brother, I want to look in the mirror...

"Brother."

Jiang Fengmian was still rattled, holding Huo Zong's waist, carefully wiping the fine sweat on his forehead. His back was almost soaked with sweat, sticky and uncomfortable.

"There, there, pet your fur, don't be scared. Tell me what you dreamed about, it might make you feel better."

It took Jiang Fengmian a moment to pull away from Huo Zong's embrace. He gazed blankly at Huo Zong's handsome face, the image of that child constantly flashing in his mind. It was a perfect mix of him and Huo Zong. Anyone who saw it would know it was their child.

But how could that be?

And the child had called him 'Daddy' in a soft voice. Jiang Fengmian wasn't repulsed at all; apart from being shocked, he only felt the urge to tease the child.

"Brother, I can't tell if it was a nightmare or not, but it was quite bizarre. I dreamed of a child who looked about seventy to eighty percent like you, and the rest like me. He even called me 'Daddy,' and I woke up in a start."

Huo Zong nodded, puzzled. Why would he dream of something like that?

"Kitty, is it because of Su Yanchu's words? You think about it by day, and you dream about it by night. We're fine as we are; we don't need a child."

Jiang Fengmian stroked his chin. He couldn't quite explain it, but he found the child so adorable that he instinctively wanted to get closer.

"Brother, do you think I might have some kind of issue, like a delusional disorder?"

"No, it's just Su Yanchu getting to you. I'll message him later to give him a piece of my mind."

Huo Zong blamed everything on Su Yanchu, which finally made the worried Jiang Fengmian laugh. He gingerly touched his own belly. It couldn't be that he, a man, could be pregnant, could it?

"Kitty, let me listen to your belly for a kitten. If not, then there's none."

Huo Zong pressed his ear to Jiang Fengmian's belly with such gravity that Jiang Fengmian instinctively tensed up. He held his breath, raised his hands, and let out a soft sigh.

"Meow." Jiang Fengmian responded with a ventriloquist's voice, then exaggeratedly gasped.

"Wow, there really is a kitten inside! My kitty might be carrying a little kitten. Let me see if your belly is bulging."

Jiang Fengmian's abdomen was still flat, without a trace of fat. Huo Zong leaned in and gently kissed it.

"Jiang Fengmian, from the moment I fell in love with you, I never thought about having children. You could fall for me through a book, so naturally, we didn't consider the future possibilities. Let things take their course. Don't feel pressured just because Su Yanchu said a few things."

"Having a child or not is the same. As long as it's you, and as long as it's me, that's enough."

Jiang Fengmian rubbed his belly and hummed in agreement. The fine sweat on his back had dried, and he leaned bonelessly into Huo Zong's embrace, poking his waist. "But that child really looked like both of us. If you think about it, your genes are stronger."

The child in his dream resembled Huo Zong more, with the same contours, but the eyes and mouth looked like his, softening the sharpness. If they really had such a child, it wouldn't be so bad.

"It's okay, my kitty. Don't think about these things anymore. The most important thing for you now is to take a shower. Your back is soaked; you'll feel refreshed after a bath."

"Brother, carry me to the shower."

Huo Zong picked up Jiang Fengmian, spun him around, and headed to the bathroom.

In stark contrast to the peaceful atmosphere here, the mood at the Huo family's old mansion was icy and oppressive.

After Huo Qing's health improved slightly, Huo Qilin brought him back home.

They still hired three caregivers and two maids to look after him.

He was partially paralyzed and could only rely on the caregivers to help him turn over. Over time, bedsores had developed all over his lower back, emitting an indescribable odor.

Huo Qing despised his immobility and loathed Huo Cong for vanishing without even a phone call. He vented his anger on the caregivers, replacing them every few days. Now, caregivers refused to come once they heard it was his family, no matter how much money was offered.

Only due to platform assignments were two strong caregivers sent, but they lacked the necessary care. Huo Qing knew he had driven away several caregivers and it would be hard to find new ones, so he had to endure his temper.

He attempted to minimize his eating and drinking, but still couldn't avoid soiling several bedsheets.

Living in squalor, Huo Qing's spirit was utterly broken. He lay apathetically in the dark room, waiting for his moment of death.

He closed his eyes, and the room fell silent. The door was pushed open at some unknown time, and feeling someone approach, Huo Qing instinctively thought it was a caregiver.

After waiting for a long time, he didn't notice the blanket being lifted. Instead, someone was rifling through the bedside drawer, clearly looking for something.

Huo Qing waited for a long time, but the rummaging didn't stop. Every nook was searched, yet nothing was found.

He slowly opened his eyes, and sure enough, it was the person he had expected.

"What are you doing?" Huo Qing's words were slightly slurred. He glared at Huo Qilin, struggling to prop himself up against the headboard.

Their eyes met, and the darkness in Huo Qilin's eyes vanished instantly. He nonchalantly slid the secret compartment back in and explained, "Oh, Grandpa, I can't find something, so I'm looking for it."

If he couldn't find it, why search his room?

Huo Qing was well aware that Huo Qilin sought the key to his treasure vault. He had once told Huo Qilin alone that there were rare treasures passed down from their ancestors in the house, and only he knew where they were. Huo Qilin aimed to pilfer the key to check the basement.

"Get out, get out."

Huo Qilin caught the pillow Huo Qing hurled, scoffed, and taunted him.

"You still don't grasp the situation, do you? Do you really think it's like before? I'm telling you, even if you know what I'm here for, so what? Can you stand up?"

"In your state, barely alive, how much time do you have left? It's wiser to surrender those treasures sooner, and I'll ensure your care."

"Tsk, seventy years of life, isn't that sufficient? In this state, still clinging to life, aren't you just causing trouble for us?"

Huo Qing's breath grew ragged, and he coughed uncontrollably, clutching his chest. He had been blind; he never truly saw Huo Qilin's nature.

Heartless, selfish, and never truly respected him.

"Grandpa, why are you doing this? Everything in the Huo family will be mine after you die. What difference does it make if it's a bit earlier or later? With the money, I can provide you with the best conditions."

Huo Qing closed his eyes. He no longer believed these lies. If Huo Qilin really wanted to provide good conditions, he should have let him stay in the nursing home, not brought him back home as soon as he could speak a little.

There were no rare treasures left in the Huo family, just this empty old house. Most of the antiques had been sold off. The Huo family was just a name, an empty shell.

Huo Qing absolutely could not hand over the key. If Huo Qilin discovered the truth and found the basement empty, he would have no use for him, and his death would be near.

"Xiao Lin, you need to treat me well."

Seeing Huo Qing waver, Huo Qilin seized the opportunity and said, "Grandpa, your health isn't good. Shouldn't you make a will?"

Huo Qing's heart sank completely. He was utterly heartbroken. He had given almost everything to Huo Qilin, but now he realized that what Huo Qilin wanted wasn't just those things, but the entire Huo family and his life.

He closed his eyes in disappointment, refusing to communicate with Huo Qilin. The empty room reeked of a foul smell. He didn't expect Huo Qilin to care for him much, but at least treat him like a human being.

The room was devoid of sunlight all day. He was like a dark mushroom, hiding here, but his soul had already died.

Damn it all.

Huo Qing heard Huo Qilin curse and slam the door. A tear fell from the corner of his eye. What was the use of spoiling him for over twenty years? In the end, he was just like Huo Zong.

He had never shown Huo Zong any kindness, so it was normal for Huo Zong not to visit him, but Huo Qilin had no business acting this way.

The tears of regret kept flowing endlessly. He might as well die. Huo Qing wiped his tears, determined to leave a will, but...

A few minutes later, Butler Zheng entered Huo Qing's room.

The door was locked. Butler Zheng approached Huo Qing, leaning in to hear his instructions.

Huo Qing was still in deep despair. His outstretched wrist was nothing but skin and bones, his eye sockets deeply sunken. From some angles, he resembled a demon from hell.

Butler Zheng was momentarily startled. Huo Qilin had limited their access, and only the caretakers came in. He rarely visited, but he never expected Huo Qing to be in such a state.

"Master, let me know what you need."

"I need to make a will. Find a notary when Huo Qilin is away."

Butler Zheng's pupils contracted slightly. He had to specifically find a time when Huo Qilin was away. His heart pounded. Had he initially backed the wrong person, and Huo Qing's intended heir was not Huo Qilin?

He didn't dare show it, just quietly listened to Huo Qing's arrangements.

As an outsider, he understood the Huo family's situation better than anyone else. Every day, he handled Huo Qing's affairs, saw how much of the antiques were sold, and how many of Huo Qilin's debts were covered. He had seen it all.

This time, not only did Huo Qilin act wrongly, but even Huo Cong failed. Seeing that Huo Qing had reached such a state, it was no wonder he felt heartbroken that no one even showed concern.

"Master, should we call Huo Zong back?"

Huo Qing fell silent. He wanted Huo Zong to return more than anything, but he also knew that Huo Zong would not come back.

He shook his head and said, "Just you and me. Find a lawyer and notary you can trust."

"I understand, Master. Take care of your health. As long as you're alive, there's still hope."

Huo Qing said nothing more. Where was the hope? He knew better than anyone that it was just about enduring.

"Do it as soon as possible."

"Yes, Master. Rest well."

Huo Qing couldn't hold back any longer, burying his face in the quilt and weeping like a child. What sin had he committed to bring such misfortune that even those close to him wouldn't come to see him?

A Lan never visited his dreams again, and from then on, she never would.

"Dad, no. My grandfather concealed things very well. I've searched his room thoroughly, but found nothing."

Huo Cong's company was in a dire financial situation, having already laid off employees and downsized, but it still wasn't enough. The Huo Corporation was overwhelmingly powerful, and they couldn't withstand it.

No matter what tactics they used, the Huo Corporation always found a way to counter them. Huo Cong even suspected that Huo Zong knew he was the actual person in charge of the company, which was why he was relentlessly targeting them.

Huo Cong was already swamped, and now Huo Qilin couldn't find the key. In desperation, he said, "What about the things at home? If necessary, sell them."

"Dad, have you gone mad? The company is on the brink of bankruptcy, and you want to sell the things at home? What will you live on if the company goes bankrupt? What about me and Mom?"

The Huo family's old mansion was the most valuable asset, worth several billion. But even if they sold the mansion, could the company be revived? What about the future? It might be better to declare bankruptcy now while there's still a chance to withdraw.

"No, Xiao Lin, the company is my life's work. I can't let it be ruined in my hands. I'll think of something. You keep looking. Your grandfather only had a few spots to hide the key. How could it not be found?"

"Xiao Lin, are you sure the things are in the basement? Could there be a secret passage or something?"

Hearing this, Huo Qilin wasn't so sure anymore. If there really was a secret passage, it wasn't something he could find.

"Tsk, I'll keep looking, Dad. What else can you do?"

Huo Cong gritted his teeth. Despite his reluctance, he had no other choice. "I'll sell my Huo Corporation shares to Huo Zong."

"Dad, selling the shares means we'll have no income."

Huo Corporation's dividends cover all their family's needs. Huo Zong would gladly buy Huo Cong's shares, making him the largest shareholder and severing ties with the Huo family.

"That's our only option. The company can't go bankrupt. Otherwise, get your grandfather to draft a will quickly to divide the family assets, or find those antiques for emergency funds."

Huo Cong was cornering Huo Qilin, offering a false choice while having already decided.

***

"Mr. Huo, while you were away, Huo Cong came daily, camped outside your office from dawn till dusk. There are some rumors circulating in the company."

Huo Zong raised his eyes, "What rumors?"

Chen Chen awkwardly scratched his head and quickly said, "They say Mr. Huo is on his last legs, and you haven't visited him. Huo Cong and the others couldn't reach you, so they resorted to ambushing you at the company."

"Oh, Huo Qing's on his way out? Good riddance."

Huo Zong ignored the rumors but had to sign some backlogged documents, or he wouldn't have come.

Playing chef for Jiang Fengmian every day is a blast. Jiang Fengmian's visibly put on a bit of weight, even developing a soft belly.

"Bro, hand over your phone; my game's stuck."

Huo Zong saw Jiang Fengmian stuck on Candy Crush after ten tries.

"Here."

Chen Chen waited for Jiang Fengmian to leave, then whispered, "Mr. Huo, should we deal with the rumors?"

He likely knew the source: a new July intern who spread rumors without understanding. He blabbed every rumor he heard, annoying his supervisor. That department avoids gossip now, fearing the intern would spill everything.

"Yeah, take care of it."

"Mr. Huo, Huo Cong's back; my assistant just texted he's almost here."

As he spoke, footsteps echoed down the hall.

Huo Zong and Chen Chen exchanged a glance. He signaled Chen Chen to go out and block the person at the door.

"Hi, this is the chairman's office. Do you have an appointment? No appointment, no entry."

Huo Cong glared at Chen Chen, thinking, 'This lackey's lost it.'

"Are you blind? You don't recognize me?"

Chen Chen smiled, showing no signs of anger, "Sorry, everyone needs an appointment."

"Get lost! How dare you stop me—you're dead meat."

Huo Cong's arm, which was pushing, was firmly grabbed by Huo Zong. He stood in front of Chen Chen, coldly staring at Huo Cong's face, the strength in his hand increasing.

"In Huo Corporation, no one dares to call themselves 'old man.' Huo Cong, I hope you can show the most basic respect, to me, and to all my employees."

Huo Zong knew very well why Huo Cong was here: the company couldn't hold on anymore and needed a continuous flow of money.

He scoffed lightly. Huo Qing was probably being drained dry by them, and with no other options, he turned to Huo Corporation.

"Chen Chen, go prepare the meeting room. Let’s see what this ‘old man’ is up to."

"Alright, Huo Zong."

The air was thick with tension. Huo Cong suppressed his discomfort, following behind Huo Zong and spitting fiercely.

"You’ll have to pay for dirtying the floor. I hope some people can show a little decency and stop being so gross."

The floor in Huo Corporation’s building gleamed like a mirror. Huo Cong cursed in his heart but maintained a composed expression.

The meeting room door closed, and Huo Zong leisurely took his seat at the head of the table. He looked at Huo Cong with interest, his eyes devoid of any warmth, cold and detached.

"Huo Zong, I came today to sell my shares in Huo Corporation to you."

Huo Zong tapped a pen in his hand, the sound making Huo Cong increasingly uneasy.

What’s with the silence? Huo Zong should be eager to buy back the shares. He had previously bought some scattered shares, so why wouldn’t he want these three percent of the original shares?

"Huo Zong, I’ll sell them to you at ten percent above the market price."

"Tsk, what makes you think I’d pay above market price for your shares?"

Huo Zong would rather drag Huo Cong’s company to its death at this point. Without money, Huo Cong would be desperate to sell, and the price would only go lower.

"This is pocket change for you. Think of it as buying yourself some joy."

"Sorry, but buying your shares doesn’t exactly bring me joy. Besides, I don’t need to pay above market price, do I?"

Their eyes met, and Huo Cong knew clearly that Huo Zong had already grasped all his information.

"You knew all along, didn’t you? Everything you’ve done recently was deliberate, right?"

Huo Cong’s head felt like it was exploding, buzzing with noise. He couldn’t even begin to think when Huo Zong had found out, how long he had been observing him, and whether everything he did was just to get back at him.

"If you don’t want to get caught, don’t do the crime. You were so loud about it, like you wanted everyone to know. It’s hard for me to play dumb. Huo Cong, what’s your genius plan to convince me to buy your shares? So you can have money to continue opposing Huo Corporation?"

"Huo Cong, you’re quite the schemer."

The room fell dead silent. Huo Cong’s lips trembled, too angry to form a complete sentence. He realized he’d been walking into Huo Zong’s trap all along, and that the state of his company was inextricably linked to Huo Zong.

"Brother, as your older brother, please give me a way out."

Huo Zong laughed coldly, as if he had heard a joke. "If I spare you, who’s going to spare me? Huo Cong, ask yourself honestly, have you ever treated me sincerely, even once? Since you haven’t, why should I consider you my older brother?"

"You say this without a hint of shame. Today, I’m making it clear: it’s you, me, and the rest of the Huo family—this ends only when one of us is gone."

Huo Zong’s resolute response extinguished Huo Cong’s last glimmer of hope. He thought Huo Zong was ruthless, but he hadn’t realized he’d cut ties with his own blood.

"Huo Zong, in the end, we share the same blood, the same roots. Our feud only helps outsiders. It’s pointless."

Huo Zong cut him off coldly. "It’s worth it. I nearly died countless times as a kid, and you all turned a blind eye. What, staying out of it makes you blameless? Don’t kid yourself."

"Huo Corporation’s got money to burn. Your company’s about to go under, isn’t it? What do you have to be proud of? If I don’t budge, you’re finished. I’m not buying the shares now. I’ll wait until you’re begging and snatch them for pennies."

Huo Zong had laid everything bare. No matter how furious Huo Cong was, he was trapped. He truly had no options left.

"Chen Chen, escort him out."

Chen Chen gave a nod, and immediately a few burly bodyguards appeared at the door, standing imposingly behind Huo Cong, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.

"Huo Cong, after you."

"Fine, you're really something, Huo Zong. I'm telling you, you'll come to a bad end."

Huo Zong ignored the curse without even batting an eye.

"You're the one who won't die a good death. What goes around comes around. I'll see how you can live peacefully after all the wrongs you've done."

Huo Zong immediately stood up upon hearing the voice and approached Jiang Fengmian, holding his hand. "Weren’t you in the middle of a game? Why did you come over?"

"I heard some mutt barking and couldn’t resist checking it out. Bro, don’t lower yourself to his level. He's just jealous."

Indeed, he was green with envy over Huo Zong owning Huo Corporation, for making more money than he could ever spend, and for having someone who truly loved him even though he’d never been loved before.

He and Huo Zong were not of the same generation, so there was never any comparison. His pride was his perfect family, something Huo Zong couldn't match. But now, it seemed he had lost even that thing he was so proud of.

"Chen Chen, get that mutt out of here."

"Yes, Young sir." Chen Chen smiled and gestured towards Huo Cong. "After you, sir."

The bodyguards closed in, making it clear they’d drag him out if he didn’t leave.

Huo Cong stormed off, shooting Huo Zong a final glare before storming out to vent his frustration.

"Brother, are you sure he'll come back to sell his shares to you?"

Huo Zong squeezed Jiang Fengmian's palm and affirmed with a hum, "He has to come back. His company’s headed for bankruptcy sooner or later. Qi Yan’s spending is way beyond Huo Cong’s means. What will he do without money? Sell his shares, sell off the Huo family assets."

Huo Zong didn't know what good things the Huo family still had, but he was certain that Huo Cong would dare to sell everything.

"Don't worry, when he comes begging to sell to me, the price won't be up to him. You see how confidently he's leaving now, but he’s already kicking himself."

Huo Zong was right. As soon as Huo Cong stepped out of Huo Corporation, he called Huo Qilin, urging him to find the key again, as selling his shares was no longer an option.

Huo Qilin was secretly thrilled. If the company went bankrupt, so be it. They’d still be fine with the annual dividends from Huo Corporation.

He pretended to agree, then took the money and blew it on a good time, completely ignoring Huo Cong's instructions.

"Huo Zong, can we call it a day early today?"

Chen Chen rubbed his hands together, bearing the weight of the entire company's hopes.

"Why an early holiday?"

Chen Chen hesitated, then flipped the calendar ahead two pages. "Huo Zong, it’s Qixi today."

Huo Zong instinctively looked at Jiang Fengmian. How could he have forgotten Qixi?

"Granted, let's take the holiday now."

Chen Chen excitedly clenched his fist and left, immediately posting the news in the company group chat: half-day holiday for everyone.

"Sorry, kitty. I totally blanked on Qixi."

Huo Zong didn't usually celebrate holidays and wasn't particularly concerned about them. If it weren't for Chen Chen's reminder, he might not have remembered until evening.

"It's okay, I forgot too. Brother, wanna go out and have some fun?"

"Let’s go. Where do you want to go? You name the place, but the routine might still be the same—dining, shopping, and watching a movie. I’m not sure what else to do."

Huo Zong felt he should look up some guides online and save them, so he could give Jiang Fengmian different surprises for each holiday.

"Brother, how about we go home first? I don’t want to eat out. I want to eat what you cook. Later, we can go out to watch a movie and then go straight to the hotel."

Huo Zong’s eyes widened. Why straight to the hotel?

"Babe, aren’t we doing anything else?"

Jiang Fengmian pretended to frown, pinching Huo Zong’s ear and whispering softly, "Brother, don’t I have anything else fun to offer?"

Huo Zong’s ears turned red gradually. He coughed dryly and grabbed Jiang Fengmian’s wrist to head home.

He prepared a hearty meal, lit candles even in broad daylight, and drew the curtains for a candlelit lunch.

Jiang Fengmian took small bites of the steak Huo Zong had cooked, watching the sweet scene with a smile that never left his lips.

"Brother, have you ever eaten a well-done steak outside?"

"No, I only eat it when I make it for you."

Jiang Fengmian didn’t like bloody steaks; he preferred them well-done. Huo Zong had been cooking everything according to Jiang Fengmian’s taste. What he liked didn’t matter—if Jiang Fengmian liked it, then he liked it too.

"Huo Zong, actually, you don’t have to adjust to my preferences. You can make yours medium or even rare."

"No need, well-done is fine too."

Huo Zong remembered a couple of days ago when he cooked a steak that was slightly bloody. Jiang Fengmian just glanced at it and felt nauseous. Better not risk it.

"Brother, should we toast?"

The red wine on the table seemed like a mere decoration, the cork still unopened.

"No, what if I get drunk? You shouldn’t drink either. Let’s wait till tonight."

Huo Zong blinked, making the word "tonight" sound playfully suggestive.

Thinking about spending the night at the hotel, he felt a little excited.

Huo Zong chose his own hotel, in his presidential suite. Jiang Fengmian probably wanted something different, something special compared to being at home.

He had someone decorate it, hoping it would please Jiang Fengmian.

The Qixi movie was still the same old romantic story. Jiang Fengmian was much less interested than last time, almost falling asleep.

"Babe, it’s over."

Jiang Fengmian rubbed his eyes and exaggeratedly sighed. So, he spent $5 to sleep in the cinema.

How annoying, the movie was just a waste of money and a total drag. He didn’t want to think about anything, just wanted to sleep, listening to the dialogue like a lullaby.

But it was fine. Now that he’d slept, he’d be more awake tonight.

"Alright, babe, let’s go."

Jiang Fengmian hesitated at the hotel entrance for a while. He looked inside, looking around. Fortunately, the hotel wasn’t like those themed suites he’d imagined, with nothing weird.

"Babe, don’t be afraid. There’s none of that stuff. It’s just like at home. I was worried they might prepare something unsafe, like something unsanitary."

It seems that there are rarely any love suites in Huo Corporation's hotels. If he had them specially prepared, it would be a bit too obvious, which wouldn’t be good for the two of them.

Jiang Fengmian let out an "oh" and lay back on the soft bed, beckoning Huo Zong with a finger.

"Hey, do you think this feels the same as at home?"

Huo Zong gazed at Jiang Fengmian with a dazed look and shook his head, honestly replying, "No, babe, it feels like the excitement of sneaking around."

Jiang Fengmian laughed softly at the description before leaning in to kiss Huo Zong's lips.

"Hey, I’m so into you."

Jiang Fengmian was more excited than usual, kissing deeper and deeper. He felt a little lightheaded, and his chest felt somewhat tight, like he wasn’t feeling great.

Huo Zong's fingers rested on Jiang Fengmian's lower back, while his other hand had just undone the buttons on Jiang Fengmian's shirt when he noticed Jiang Fengmian frown.

There seemed to be a strange smell in the room, something Jiang Fengmian couldn’t quite place, and it made him feel uncomfortable.

"Hey, what’s that smell?"

"I don’t think so. I specifically told them not to use anything weird."

Huo Zong sniffed carefully, his fingertips brushing away the tear streaks near Jiang Fengmian's eyes. Why was his babe crying? Was it too ugly?

"Babe, it’s probably just air freshener. How about we switch rooms?"

Jiang Fengmian shook his head. Switching wouldn’t help; they were all cleaned to the same standard. If this room was like this, the next one would be too.

"Let’s just go to the bathroom."

Jiang Fengmian's cheeks flushed slightly as he tiptoed to Huo Zong's ear, whispering in a very low voice, "Hey, I can see your reflection in the mirror. I like looking at you."

Since they were already at the hotel, they might as well make the most of it.

"Happy Qixi, babe."

"Happy Qixi, babe."

The bathroom door closed, and Jiang Fengmian kissed Huo Zong's lips. After a few kisses, he started feeling sick again, and he gently pushed Huo Zong away, dashing to the toilet.

"Hey, what’s going on?"

Jiang Fengmian retched a few times but didn’t throw up anything. He waved his hand, unsure of what was happening.

After retching several times, he only managed to spit out some water. Jiang Fengmian rinsed his mouth; he looked pale. He’d finally made it to the hotel, and this had to happen.

Could it be something I ate?