Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Xiao Yezi Turned into a Human!

Huo Yanchi’s mind was foggy, his throat dry as he unconsciously swallowed, staying dazed for a long while before he managed to find his voice again.

“Xiao Yezi.”

No response.

The Xiao Yezi lying on top of him suddenly had weight—a heavy presence. Huo Yanchi’s previously light breathing abruptly turned heavy, his fingertips trembling slightly as he touched Xiao Yezi’s forehead.

The distinct resistance made Huo Yanchi’s pupils dilate. It wasn’t his imagination—Xiao Yezi had truly turned human.

He had imagined countless scenarios of Xiao Yezi becoming human, but none of them were like this: unconsciously nestled in his arms, damp palms pressed against the curve of his waist, sleeping soundly and completely unaware.

Tonight’s drinks had been strong; even Huo Yanchi, a regular drinker, felt somewhat dizzy, let alone Xiao Yezi, who had never had alcohol before.

Given how things had unfolded, Huo Yanchi could no longer pretend not to see Xiao Yezi.

Especially since he had already shown too many signs. Once Xiao Yezi came to his senses and thought it over, he would surely realize something was off. So, Huo Yanchi had to keep pretending not to know Xiao Yezi.

Having figured this out, Huo Yanchi gripped Xiao Yezi by the waist and lifted him. He shifted positions, his arm numb and devoid of sensation. After a few seconds of recovery, Xiao Yezi rolled right back over into his embrace.

Xiao Yezi clung to him so tightly it was impossible to peel him off. Huo Yanchi closed his eyes and simply gave in.

The air was filled with an overly sweet fragrance. Half-asleep, Shen Junlan was drawn to it, swallowing hard. Holding his dizzy head, he sat up slightly, squinting to find the source of the scent.

The rustle of fabric accompanied his movements. Shen Junlan ground his teeth and bit down on Huo Yanchi’s neck.

His burning lips pressed against Huo Yanchi’s Adam’s apple. Shen Junlan nibbled absentmindedly as the enticing scent flooded his senses. Frustrated, he bit a few more times but still felt unsatisfied.

Shen Junlan let out a couple of little noises and pressed even closer into Huo Yanchi’s embrace.

His fingers hooked around Huo Yanchi’s wrist as he murmured, “Huo Yanchi, you smell so good. I really like it.”

A tingling feeling washed over him like a tide. Shen Junlan’s weak, aching waist lifted feebly. His dazed gaze met Huo Yanchi’s dark, profound eyes, and in an instant, he snapped to attention.

Why did he have the illusion that Huo Yanchi could see him? It felt like being stared down by a predator, his entire attention seized, leaving him without the strength to even get up and run.

“Huo Yanchi.”

Shen Junlan licked his dry lips. An indescribable tingling sensation seemed to linger in his mouth—Huo Yanchi’s taste.

Another silent standoff ensued.

In an instant, the look in Huo Yanchi’s eyes shifted—confusion, scrutiny, and a hint of distance.

Shen Junlan finally confirmed it wasn’t an illusion. Huo Yanchi could really see him.

In a flash, Huo Yanchi flipped over and pinned him down. His calloused palm gripped Shen Junlan’s wrists and raised them above his head. Pressed firmly into the bed by Huo Yanchi, Shen Junlan couldn’t move.

Shen Junlan sank into the cloud-soft bedding, locking eyes with Huo Yanchi in the dim light. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly as a wave of inexplicable grievance washed over him.

How could Huo Yanchi treat him like this?

Surrounded by the familiar scent, Shen Junlan put up half-hearted resistance, allowing Huo Yanchi to draw closer.

After what felt like minutes of silent confrontation, Shen Junlan finally heard Huo Yanchi’s voice.

“Who are you? Where did you come from?”

Shen Junlan let out a soft hum and kicked Huo Yanchi lightly, ordering him around.

“Huo Yanchi, turn on the light first. I can’t see your face clearly.”

“You know me.” As he responded, Huo Yanchi switched on the soft bedroom light.

His Xiao Yezi’s cheeks were flushed, clothes disheveled, blinking with moist eyes, an unreadable look of grievance on his face.

Huo Yanchi furrowed his brows slightly, naturally avoiding the direct gaze.

“You still haven’t answered my question. Why are you in my house, and how do you know who I am?”

Shen Junlan let out a casual “oh,” fiddling with Huo Yanchi’s collar as he pondered how to explain.

Nobody could just accept that the flower they’d been raising had suddenly turned human, right?

Besides, Shen Junlan hadn’t expected to transform today!

It was so sudden. Not just for Huo Yanchi—even he himself was completely unprepared. Was it because of the alcohol? Or because he… kissed… nibbled on Huo Yanchi?

Shen Junlan really, really, really wanted to ignore the red marks on Huo Yanchi’s neck, but with a slight turn of his head, he spotted two faint bite marks on his Adam’s apple.

There was no one else in the room besides him and Huo Yanchi. He couldn’t pin it on anyone else even if he wanted to.

“Not talking, hm?”

An intense pressure bore down. Shen Junlan instinctively held his breath, his hand shifting quickly from Huo Yanchi’s collar to his chest. Thump-thump-thump—he couldn’t tell whose heartbeat it was.

Shen Junlan pressed his dry lips together, cleared his throat, but his voice still came out barely a whisper.

“I’m Xiao Yezi.”

“What?” Huo Yanchi raised an eyebrow leisurely, leaning in even closer to Xiao Yezi.

His warm breath brushed against Shen Junlan’s cheek, his husky voice making it hard for Shen Junlan to breathe, though his ears perked up honestly.

When he said he liked Huo Yanchi’s voice before, he wasn’t joking—he genuinely meant it.

It used to feel like there was a veil between them, but now, hearing it clearly vibrating in his ears, Shen Junlan felt somewhat at a loss.

“You jerk, I said, I’m Xiao Yezi.”

Huo Yanchi hummed questioningly, pulling Xiao Yezi up by the wrist until they were kneeling face to face on the soft bed.

“You say you’re Xiao Yezi? Prove it.”

Huo Yanchi watched with amusement as Xiao Yezi puffed up in anger, his eyes full of laughter, long eyelashes fluttering as he restrained himself from poking the dimple by Xiao Yezi’s mouth.

Teasing Xiao Yezi was amusing; teasing a drunk Xiao Yezi was even more entertaining.

“Huo Yanchi—”

“Hm?”

“Hmph, I thought you could see me earlier. I really felt like you could see me.”

Now that he thought about it, he must have been overthinking. He was a spiritual being—how could Huo Yanchi possibly see him?

“Then how about this?”

Adorable little sprouts emerged once more from Shen Junlan's palm, their leaves swaying as he lifted his hand to Huo Yanchi's face. The playful leaves stretched out to nuzzle against Huo Yanchi's cheek.

Watching Xiao Yezi hastily retract the leaves, Huo Yanchi stared at his ears, now flushed a deep red, and belatedly realized that those leaves actually represented his Xiao Yezi.

So, it was Xiao Yezi who wanted to touch him.

Huo Yanchi deliberately moved closer to Xiao Yezi, trying to coax the hidden leaves back out. He gently stroked Xiao Yezi's palm, his gaze teasing and provocative. Xiao Yezi had nowhere to retreat, so he could only puff up his cheeks in frustration and push Huo Yanchi's face away.

Hmph.

The leaves emerged again, nuzzled Huo Yanchi's cheek twice, and then went still. No matter how much Shen Junlan mumbled, they refused to reappear.

"Xiao Yezi."

"Mm." Shen Junlan glared at Huo Yanchi with a resentful look, his voice full of complaint. "Do you believe it's me now?"

"Xiao Yezi, am I dreaming? How did you become human?"

"It's all your fault..." Shen Junlan trailed off, unable to bring himself to say it was because of their closeness—it would sound like he was just using him.

"What did I do, Xiao Yezi? Tell me."

Huo Yanchi tugged at Shen Junlan's wrist, gently forcing him to turn his head back.

"Xiao Yezi, why is your neck all red?"

Huo Yanchi's slightly cool fingertips brushed over his collarbone, sending a shiver through him. Shen Junlan clenched his fists—Huo Yanchi was always like this, always bullying him.

"I guess something must have stained it."

"N-no, it's nothing. I'm just hot."

Shen Junlan wafted some cool air with his palm, but the heat only seemed to intensify. He couldn't even bring himself to meet Huo Yanchi's gaze, squirming backward awkwardly to put some distance between them.

"Huo Yanchi, is that all you have to say to me?"

Like, isn't it late? Shouldn't we go to sleep?

Or, are you tired? Shouldn't you rest early?

"Xiao Yezi, why don't you bloom?"

Silence. Shen Junlan stammered. Why did he always ask questions he couldn't answer?

"It's... it's not time yet."

"Flowers have their blooming seasons. Mine is just later. What, Huo Yanchi? You said before that you liked me the most. Are you saying you don't like me just because I don't bloom?"

Shen Junlan seized the advantage, straightening his back and wobbling as he leaned on Huo Yanchi's shoulders, his gaze almost threatening.

"I do like you. How could I dare not? I'm afraid my Xiao Yezi will bite me again."

Poof—Shen Junlan deflated like a pricked balloon, losing all his bluster.

He murmured discontentedly for a long time before hesitantly leaning close to Huo Yanchi's throat and blowing on it gently.

A tingling discomfort shot from Huo Yanchi's chest to the top of his head, his mind going blank for a moment before he finally regained his senses.

His Xiao Yezi was a flower that knew how to charm, every smile and glance making his heart race.

"Huo Yanchi, does it hurt?"

Shen Junlan gently touched the bite marks he had left. Just as he was about to use his spiritual power to heal Huo Yanchi, the latter grabbed his wrist and slowly pulled it down, holding it firmly.

"It doesn't hurt. I thought I was dreaming."

"Xiao Yezi, are you really Xiao Yezi? Am I not dreaming?"

Shen Junlan tilted his head and flung himself heavily into Huo Yanchi's embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around Huo Yanchi's waist. His soft, furry head nuzzled against Huo Yanchi's chin, their breaths mingling closely.

"Huo Yanchi, hug me. See if I'm really here."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Junlan felt a tight squeeze around his waist. Huo Yanchi held him with such force, it felt as if he wanted to crush him into his very bones.

He heard Huo Yanchi murmuring to himself, as if in a dream. Someone had unexpectedly entered his world, and all he felt was overwhelming joy.

"Huo Yanchi, aren't you afraid of me?" Shen Junlan lowered his eyes, his voice growing soft. "In your world, I'm considered a monster."

"I'm not afraid. You're mine—not a monster, but Huo Yanchi's Xiao Yezi."

Shen Junlan's lips curved slightly as he slowly replied, "Good, that's a relief."

"Huo Yanchi, my head still feels dizzy. What am I supposed to do?"

Ugh, alcohol really wasn't a good thing. He had only ended up like this because he was trying to shield Huo Yanchi from drinking. Huo Yanchi had to take responsibility.

"Here, lie down. Let me rub it for you."

Shen Junlan lay across Huo Yanchi's lap, looking up at Huo Yanchi's tense jaw. Somehow, he felt Huo Yanchi stiffen for a moment.

"Xiao Yezi, when did you learn to turn into a human?"

"Just today. It's strange."

Huo Yanchi let out a meaningful "oh." His Xiao Yezi had a habit of unconsciously picking at his palm and fluttering his lashes like crow feathers whenever he lied, as if afraid no one would notice.

"How did you like the fertilizer and water I prepared for you?"

"Xiao Yezi, sometimes I feel like there's an extra person in the house, especially during dinner. Do you know what's going on?"

Shen Junlan shut his eyes and quickly replied, "Wh-what? I have no idea! You must be imagining things. You're sick—it's normal to hallucinate. You did all those things yourself."

*You did all those things yourself.* How would Xiao Yezi know what he was talking about? His Xiao Yezi was so smug that he didn't even realize how full of holes his story was.

"I like the little bed you made the most. It's really comfortable."

Huo Yanchi was satisfied too, emphasizing deliberately, "I made it with my own hands. I thought if my Xiao Yezi became human, he might need a little bed. I'm happy you like it."

"Who would've thought Xiao Yezi could actually become human. It'll be perfect when you bloom someday. What do you think, Xiao Yezi?"

Somehow, they'd returned to the topic of blooming. Shen Junlan knew he couldn't dodge it tonight and steeled himself to speak. "Huo Yanchi, there's a little, little thing I need to tell you. Promise you won't get mad."

"Okay, I won't get mad."

Shen Junlan shot out his pinky, without waiting for agreement, and hooked pinkies with him to seal the promise.

"Huo Yanchi, once we seal it, you can't get mad no matter what I say."

Huo Yanchi chuckled helplessly, messing up Shen Junlan's hair with a look of utter fondness. "Alright, go on, tell me. I won't get mad."

"That is, I need to be physically close to you more to bloom, and it might take a while. This is my first time being a flower, so I don’t have much experience yet."

"Is that so? Well, that’s just…" perfect.

Huo Yanchi pinched Shen Junlan’s earlobe, a teasing smile playing on his lips. He pointed at his own neck, his eyes shimmering with an unfathomable obsession.

"Xiao Yezi, so this is what you mean by 'sticking close.' That’s fine—as long as my Xiao Yezi can bloom, you can do anything to me."

Shen Junlan nodded confusedly. Was that what he meant? Huo Yanchi’s interpretation felt a bit off.

Ah, never mind. At least Huo Yanchi didn’t suspect anything.

"Xiao Yezi, where are you going?"

Shen Junlan was stopped in his tracks. Huo Yanchi hugged him from behind, and his attempt to escape ended in failure before it even began.

"I’m going to sleep in my little bed. Huo Yanchi, I’m human now—I can’t keep sharing a bed with you."

Although he was a bit reluctant, now that Huo Yanchi could see him, it didn’t feel right to keep sharing the same space.

"Who says? I’m the one who raised you. It’s only natural for us to sleep together."

"No one said it—I just thought so myself."

Huo Yanchi made a sound of agreement, thinking to himself, That Xiao Que taught Xiao Yezi so much—why didn’t he teach him that sleeping with his owner is the right thing to do?

"Xiao Yezi, it’s late. Let’s sleep."

The bedroom returned to darkness. Shen Junlan lay in Huo Yanchi’s arms, his mind working overtime as he tried to figure out how things had ended up like this.

As Huo Yanchi’s steady breathing filled the room, Shen Junlan’s heavy eyelids slowly closed. He’d figure things out tomorrow.

***

The next day.

When Shen Junlan opened his eyes, sunlight was already streaming into the room. Rubbing his tired eyes, he slowly climbed out of bed and, catching sight of Huo Yanchi, instinctively jumped into his arms as usual.

"Huo Yanchi."

"Xiao Yezi, good morning."

Shen Junlan’s eyes widened in realization—he’d forgotten he was in human form now. What was he doing, clinging to Huo Yanchi like this?

"Morning." Shen Junlan quietly jumped down, looking embarrassed as he gazed at Huo Yanchi. "You’ve adjusted so quickly. I didn’t even realize I’m human now."

Huo Yanchi’s brow twitched, and he quickly explained, "Because I’ve imagined before what it would be like if Xiao Yezi became human, so I’m taking it pretty well."

The topic was dropped lightly. Shen Junlan picked a bag of flower fertilizer from the box, took it in his mouth, and drank down most of it, leaving Huo Yanchi utterly stunned.

So this was the proper way to care for a flower.

"Xiao Yezi, I’m heading to the company. What about you? Staying home or coming with me?"

Shen Junlan made his decision in a second. He hooked his arm around Huo Yanchi’s and nuzzled against him—his signature move of acting cute.

"Huo Yanchi, I don’t want to be apart from you. I’d miss you if I stayed home."

The soft voice made Huo Yanchi’s heart skip a beat. He felt the same way.

"Then get changed. I’ll wait for you downstairs."

After sorting through clothes for a while, Shen Junlan chose one of Huo Yanchi’s shirts to wear. The loose shirt was unbuttoned at the top, and the hem was tucked into loose straight-cut dress pants. His face looked tender enough to pinch, exuding a very stylish vibe.

Of course, this was if you ignored his thick-soled Crocs, which were covered with cat faces.

"Um, Mr. Huo."

Xiao Zhang stammered out a greeting, his eyes unavoidably drifting toward Shen Junlan. What was going on? Where did such a handsome young man come from? He didn’t look very old.

Huo Yanchi really kept to himself—it was just that him being in a relationship was quite unexpected.

"Huo Yanchi, you sit inside."

They’d switched to a more spacious convertible car today so his Xiao Yezi wouldn’t be cramped.

Shen Junlan seemed unaware of being watched. He poked Huo Yanchi’s hand with his finger, and after being caught, he became even bolder, grabbing Huo Yanchi’s fingers and playing with them.

Xiao Zhang had gone from initial shock to complete nonchalance, taking it all in stride.

Huo Yanchi was usually so cold that they’d privately bet on when he’d ever get a partner, with the consensus being "next lifetime." Who would’ve thought they’d be proven wrong so quickly?

"Mr. Huo, we’re here."

Huo Yanchi opened his half-closed eyes and naturally grabbed Shen Junlan’s wrist, his thumb pressing against the cufflink on Shen Junlan’s sleeve. That morning, Xiao Yezi had coaxed him into removing the cufflinks from his shirt—one for each of them. Only by holding hands would they match.

Yes, Huo Yanchi was holding Xiao Yezi’s hand just to make the cufflinks match, with no other intentions whatsoever.

"Huo Yanchi, my waist still feels sore. It’s all your fault for using so much force yesterday."

Xiao Zhang stumbled, hissing softly. When he looked up, he met Huo Yanchi’s murderous glare.

Xiao Zhang: No—

Mr. Huo, please no—don’t kill me to keep me quiet! I didn’t hear anything!

Why was his waist sore? Why was it about using force? He didn’t understand—he was just a driver who knew nothing.

As the situation headed in an unexpected direction, Huo Yanchi struggled to reel it back in.

"Xiao Yezi, you were drunk."

"Oh, but even if I was drunk, you didn’t have to use so much force."

Great. Xiao Yezi was only digging a deeper hole. He was going to end up coming off as a predator.

Huo Yanchi tried to ignore Xiao Zhang’s furtive glances and decided to keep his mouth shut. He doubted Xiao Yezi alone could spread any rumors.

"M-Mr. Huo, good morning."

The receptionist rubbed her eyes, staring in disbelief at Huo Yanchi and Shen Junlan’s clasped hands. Her mouth hung slightly open, and she didn’t look away even after the two had walked far away.

[Peach Four Seasons Tea: Breaking! Huge news!]

[Anonymous: No need—we saw it.]

[Peach Four Seasons Tea: How did you see it?]

[Anonymous: Apparently, Mr. Huo’s private elevator broke down.]

Zhao Qi stared at his phone in confusion. He was standing right in front of Huo Yanchi’s private elevator. With a beep, it showed no indication of malfunction at all.

The people in the group were vague in their messages. After analyzing for a long time, Zhao Qi could only conclude that Huo Yanchi was very different today, but he couldn't figure out exactly how.

Four minutes earlier: Huo Yanchi, who had originally been about to take the elevator, suddenly turned around, pulled Xiao Yezi toward the service elevator, and said matter-of-factly, "The elevator's broken," before squeezing inside.

The elevator was cramped, and Xiao Yezi remembered the last time he'd been in an elevator with Huo Yanchi—how Huo Yanchi seemed to sense his presence and grew particularly uncomfortable when he was near others.

Shen Junlan quietly shifted closer into Huo Yanchi's arms, calmly meeting the curious glances around him.

It wasn't until the elevator reached the top floor that Shen Junlan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Huo Yanchi, before..."

Shen Junlan suddenly stopped mid-sentence. If he asked Huo Yanchi whether he could see him, wouldn't that imply he had been able to interact with Huo Yanchi all along? That would mean last night’s claim—that he had just become human and could only recently get physically close to Huo Yanchi—was a lie.

Hmm, humans don’t seem to like being lied to. Better not ask.

"Was work tiring before?"

"Not really. Having Xiao Yezi with me helped."

Shen Junlan’s dimples appeared, his mood lifting. He stood on tiptoe, slung an arm over Huo Yanchi’s shoulders, and nuzzled his nose against Huo Yanchi’s earlobe.

"Huo Yanchi, being with you doesn’t tire me either."

This was the scene Zhao Qi witnessed as he stepped out of the elevator.

The files in his hands scattered to the floor, and he slapped a hand to his forehead in silent exasperation.

What was going on? He’d worked with Huo Yanchi for eight years and had no idea he was seeing someone. Was he even a competent assistant anymore?

"Zhao Qi."

The tone was as familiar and detached as ever—still the Mr. Huo he knew. But where did the good-looking guy beside him come from? He had a youthful look.

A sudden thought struck Zhao Qi: Had Huo Yanchi picked up bad habits from Lin Hang?

Lin Hang, the second son of Lin Holdings, was one of Huo Yanchi’s few friends—well, cough, probably his only friend.

Lin Hang ran his own entertainment company, signing only attractive young male actors. Rumors said they were all his romantic partners, and the company was just a front.

But someone as stunning as the one in Mr. Huo’s arms? Zhao Qi had never seen anyone like him—less human, more like an alluring spirit.

Maybe Lin Hang had introduced them. Given how attached they seemed, they’d probably been together for a while.

"Zhao Qi, what are you doing?"

Frozen in place, files still on the floor, right outside the office—how unprofessional.

Just as Zhao Qi caught his breath, his eyes landed on Huo Yanchi’s neck: visible bite marks and hickeys. This wasn’t detachment—it was full-blown passion.

"Mr. Huo, I have some work to report. I’ll come back later."

"Come in."

Zhao Qi gathered the scattered files and handed them neatly to Huo Yanchi, though his gaze briefly drifted to Shen Junlan. So pure, untainted by the world—truly rare.

"Mr. Huo, Mr. Zheng said he can deliver the fertilizer you requested anytime."

For some reason, Mr. Huo’s boyfriend’s eyes lit up at the words "fertilizer." He even seemed to... swallow saliva?

"Mm, have him send over samples of each type first. If the flavor isn’t good, we’ll contact him to improve it."

Zhao Qi didn’t question how Huo Yanchi would know about the flavor, just nodded silently.

"Zhao Qi, buy a phone—the same model as mine—and set it up with a supplementary line under my number."

"Right away, I’ll get it done immediately."

Once alone in the office, Shen Junlan couldn’t contain his excitement, almost bouncing with joy.

"Huo Yanchi, did you get new fertilizer for me? I don’t really need a new phone though—there’s an old one at home. I can make do."

"Xiao Yezi, I have money."

He longed to take Xiao Yezi shopping, to splurge and buy out entire stores, but his Xiao Yezi was even willing to use his old phones.

"Xiao Yezi, I bought you a calligraphy copybook. It might get boring in the office—you can practice writing characters."

"Okay."

Xiao Yezi held the pen awkwardly, though his posture was straight.

If anyone had walked in then, they would’ve noticed Shen Junlan’s writing movements were identical to Huo Yanchi’s. He was Huo Yanchi’s finest creation, tended to day after day for eight years.

Shen Junlan bore Huo Yanchi’s imprint within him—first Huo Yanchi, then everyone else in the world.

"Xiao Yezi, come here."

Huo Yanchi pulled him gently, drawing Xiao Yezi onto his lap. His arm draped loosely around Xiao Yezi’s waist as he tilted his head and covered Xiao Yezi’s hand with his palm.

"Hold the pen like this. The way you were doing it will give you calluses."

Shen Junlan’s every movement was guided by Huo Yanchi, but his attention was entirely fixed on Huo Yanchi’s thin lips, moving as he spoke. His hand grew warm; the pen tip pressed into the practice book, leaving little ink blots.

"Xiao Yezi, are you even listening to me?"

Shen Junlan shook his head instinctively, then nodded quickly. His long lashes fluttered as he secretly pressed a hand to his racing heart, not understanding what was happening. Huo Yanchi was far more captivating than any calligraphy practice.

"Write one character. Let me see what’s wrong."

His clammy fingers struggled to maintain purchase on the plastic pen. He edged imperceptibly away from Huo Yanchi's scorching stare before tracing the character "sky" with painstaking precision.

"Huo Yanchi, how did I do?"

"Fine. Straighten your back. I don’t want my Xiao Yezi practicing calligraphy only to end up nearsighted."

Shen Junlan responded distractedly, clumsily climbing out of Huo Yanchi’s lap and hurrying to the coffee table to continue practicing.

He bit his lip. The small sprout in his palm seemed to sense something, straining to emerge. Shen Junlan pinched his burning ear and scolded himself inwardly.

Ugh, how could he be so greedy? Not only did he want to bite into fertilizer—he wanted to bite into Huo Yanchi too.

After writing a few characters, Shen Junlan began to wonder: if he told Huo Yanchi he wanted to bite into him, what were the chances he’d agree?

After much deliberation, Shen Junlan reached a conclusion.

Zero!

The probability should be 0.

Who would want to be bitten? Putting himself in Shen Junlan’s shoes, he wouldn’t be willing either.

After writing another line, Shen Junlan began to zone out.

What if the possibility was 1? For example, after some thought, if Huo Yanchi said he wanted to nibble on him, he might not mind.

"Xiao Yezi, I’ll check in 30 minutes. Your task is to finish the first two pages."

"Okay, okay, I’ll start writing right away."

His Xiao Yezi seemed a bit dazed today. Huo Yanchi attributed it to his human form—many little gestures were no longer as easy, and his eyes kept darting back and forth, as if afraid others wouldn’t notice he was lost in thought.

Shen Junlan grew more and more adept at writing, turning in three full pages as homework to Huo Yanchi.

He leaned halfway against Huo Yanchi’s shoulder, his face practically spelling out three words: praise me.

"Xiao Yezi, you’re amazing! You write so well. Practice one or two pages every day, and you’ll become a renowned master in the flower world."

"Okay, I’ll practice more."

When Zhao Qi returned with the phone, Shen Junlan was leaning on Huo Yanchi’s back, stumbling over words as he read a document aloud. Occasionally, Huo Yanchi corrected a pronunciation or two—it was surprisingly harmonious.

"Mr. Huo, here’s your phone, and this is the flower fertilizer."

"Hmm."

Shen Junlan’s eyes fixed on the box of flower fertilizer, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

Even through the bag, he could smell the fragrance, which stirred up all the hunger pangs in his stomach. He carefully poked Huo Yanchi’s back, not saying a word, just staring at him with wide, pleading eyes.

"Xiao Yezi, pick whichever you like. Go ahead and eat."

Shen Junlan nodded proudly, but his body honestly reached for a stick of flower fertilizer, holding it in his mouth and mumbling, "Huo Yanchi, I’m just tasting what it’s like—not because I’m greedy."

He embodied the phrase "protesting too much" perfectly, curling up on the sofa and sucking on the flower fertilizer, looking just like a chubby little kitten.

Huo Yanchi rummaged through the flower fertilizer box and, sure enough, found a cat toy at the very bottom, though it dangled a cat-paw-shaped treat, heavy and swaying.

"Xiao Yezi."

Huo Yanchi wiggled the toy a couple of times. His Xiao Yezi lifted a little paw to reach for the fertilizer but missed both times.

"Master~"

Shen Junlan half-knelt on the sofa, pouting and casting an accusatory look at Huo Yanchi, though his voice came out incredibly soft and sweet, almost draining all the strength from Huo Yanchi’s body.

Tsk, I can’t take it.

"Alright, alright, Xiao Yezi, I’m sorry. Here, the biggest piece is for you."

Huo Yanchi held out a piece of flower fertilizer, hand-feeding it directly to Shen Junlan’s mouth.

A hint of mischief flashed in Shen Junlan’s eyes. Quick as a flash, he took the fertilizer into his mouth—along with Huo Yanchi’s fingertip.

Shen Junlan’s agile tongue curled around the fertilizer, while his teeth gently bit Huo Yanchi’s finger, leaving a small bite mark with a slight press.

"Huo Yanchi, we’re even now."

The flower fertilizer crunched noisily as Shen Junlan chewed. Huo Yanchi retracted his fingertip, hiding it in his palm, his heart racing wildly alongside the chaos.

A real tease, truly a tease.

Huo Yanchi took a deep breath. Originally, he had been trying to tease Xiao Yezi, but instead, he was the one being teased. His thoughts refused to calm down, filled entirely with the sensation of being enveloped by Xiao Yezi’s lips. He grew restless, and he instinctively tugged at his collar.

"Huo Yanchi, can you teach me how to use the phone? I don’t know what to do."

Seeing that Huo Yanchi wasn’t responding, Shen Junlan simply pulled him down to sit on the sofa, naturally leaning close and using a single-finger technique to swipe the phone.

"Xiao Yezi, just use a lighter touch. This is my number. I’ve already set up all the contact methods for you. There’s one and only one contact—me. If there’s an emergency, contact me."

His own contact name was the plain "Huo Yanchi." Shen Junlan pondered for a moment, not particularly liking it, and pestered Huo Yanchi until he changed it to "the best Huo Yanchi in the world."

"Can I call you anytime?"

"Yes. Sometimes I might be in a meeting and not hear it, but I’ll call back as soon as I see it."

Shen Junlan expressed understanding—meetings were serious matters, and phones shouldn’t disrupt things.

"Huo Yanchi, can this phone ring and also let me shop?"

"No. If you want to buy something, just search for it and place an order. I’ve already filled in the address and phone number."

Shen Junlan let out an "oh," covering the phone secretively as he started searching.

His pinyin skills were average, so it took him a long time to type a single character. What Xiao Que mentioned about "making men happy" was unclear to him. Seeing the strange items on the page, Shen Junlan silently exited, deciding to ask Xiao Que about it another time.

With the new phone, Huo Yanchi became the second priority.

Shen Junlan was completely absorbed in exploring the phone. Huo Yanchi unbuttoned his shirt and lingered nearby, but Shen Junlan ignored him entirely, even complaining that Huo Yanchi was too close.

"Xiao Yezi."

No response.

Huo Yanchi felt a sour taste in his heart—phones really were stumbling blocks to human progress. Xiao Yezi had just gotten it and was already so engrossed he’d forgotten all about him. He decided to distract himself with work, not looking at his phone for an hour.

Before starting work, Huo Yanchi couldn’t resist asking one more time, "Xiao Yezi, are you sure you don’t need any help?"

"Nope, I can manage on my own."

"Oh." Huo Yanchi felt a pang of jealousy. He glanced at Shen Junlan reluctantly several times, and in those few seconds of silence, he had already imagined all sorts of pitiful scenarios to himself.

Xiao Yezi was soft-hearted—maybe if he faked a whine a little, Xiao Yezi would jump up concerned.

Ding-dong.

It was the special notification tone he’d set for Xiao Yezi.

Huo Yanchi instinctively looked at Xiao Yezi, who was beaming while holding the phone, his eyes fixed intently on Huo Yanchi, waiting for his reaction.

[Xiao Yezi: Huo Yanchi, this is Shen Junlan, your Xiao Yezi. Do you prefer me typing or sending voice messages? I’m too slow—it takes too long.]

[The best Huo Yanchi in the world: Whatever Xiao Yezi prefers is fine with me. Of course, hearing Xiao Yezi’s voice would be even better.]

[Xiao Yezi: Okay, then I’ll talk like this.]

He didn’t want his chat screen to look empty, so he sent several messages on his own, also explaining why he’d been ignoring Huo Yanchi earlier.

“No time for that!”

If he typed one wrong letter, he couldn’t find the character, so he had to stay completely focused.

[Xiao Yezi: Huo Yanchi, you focus on your work. I’ll do some more research.]

An ideal little helper must be capable both in and out of the kitchen. Shen Junlan searched for recipes, planning to learn a few new dishes.

Time flies when you’re busy. Shen Junlan played with his phone until his back ached, sighing as he slumped against Huo Yanchi’s back to complain.

“How do people play on their phones all day without getting tired? Huo Yanchi, why don’t you just carry me? I’ll shrink myself a little.”

“Don’t shrink yourself. I’ll carry you.” That would be terrifying—a living person suddenly gone. He was afraid the next day’s headlines would read: Huo Yanchi Commits Murder.

Shen Junlan giggled and jumped onto Huo Yanchi’s back. He took a deep breath, wrapped his legs around Huo Yanchi’s waist, and settled comfortably.

Huo Yanchi had carried Xiao Yezi many times, but this time felt unusually heavy on his back.

Huo Yanchi’s palm pressed against the thin fabric on Shen Junlan’s thigh, the heat so intense that Shen Junlan couldn’t ignore it. He lightly touched Huo Yanchi’s forehead—no sweat, that was good.

“Master, am I heavy?”

“Yes, my Xiao Yezi weighs a thousand *jin* (approximately 1,100 pounds). How could carrying the most important person in my world on my shoulders not be heavy?”

Shen Junlan held on tighter, his cheek pressed against Huo Yanchi’s ear, and whispered in an extremely soft voice, “Master, you’re the most important person to me, too.”

To be more precise, the only important person.

Few people were leaving work at this hour, so not many saw Huo Yanchi carrying Shen Junlan out. Huo Yanchi felt a bit regretful—he had wanted to show off his Xiao Yezi to the whole company.

This is how love-starved people are: Huo Yanchi received a little special treatment and wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Besides, what Xiao Yezi gave him was a special favor he would never forget in this lifetime.

Xiao Yezi only had him; he could only have Xiao Yezi.

Huo Yanchi harbored paranoid, almost pathological hope that Xiao Yezi would depend on him more, preferably staying only within the boundaries he set, trusting him completely.

Beneath his lowered eyelids hid all of Huo Yanchi’s near-insane thoughts—to keep Xiao Yezi sheltered, to be with him forever.

Shen Junlan didn’t sense the danger. His fingers gently traced Huo Yanchi’s brows and eyes, his heart aching at the bloodshot redness there, and softly spoke words that could calm Huo Yanchi down.

He said, “Huo Yanchi, I really want to be with you every day. Everything feels so fun with you.”

Hmph, then let’s be together forever.

***

“Huo Yanchi, why’s there a box at the door? Is it a surprise for me?”

The delivery box had a shipping label but no description of the contents. It was sent from within the city. Huo Yanchi sensed something wrong, and he quickly took it from Shen Junlan and threw it away.

The crinkling sound made Huo Yanchi’s entire body go cold. His fists clenched—he already knew what it was.

It was something disgusting, something obscene.

“Huo Yanchi, what’s wrong?”

Shen Junlan hesitated but still ran over to pick up the box again. This time, though, he cautiously nudged it with his foot. Instantly, he caught an unusual smell.

A mix of foul and bitter odors. Shen Junlan gagged a little.

He noticed Huo Yanchi’s unusual reaction and, despite Huo Yanchi’s disapproving look, forced down his nausea and opened the box.

What greeted his eyes was a bloody mess.

Gag.

Shen Junlan dry-heaved twice, tears welling up. It was the smell of rot—the thing had been skinned, and the skinning knife was even thrown in the box.

Horrified, Shen Junlan broke out in goosebumps all over. Trembling, he looked worriedly at Huo Yanchi.

“You know what this is.”

“Yeah, a rat, skinned.”

The smell of blood spread. Huo Yanchi’s expression was calm, as if nothing had happened. He crouched down and found a blood-soaked note at the bottom of the box. The words were already blurred, but the hatred was unmistakable.

Shen Junlan paused, then gently placed his hand on Huo Yanchi’s shoulder in silent comfort.

“Huo Yanchi, have you received these before?”

“Yes.”

Many times—bloody knives, skinned animals, blood-drenched cloth strips, dolls with missing arms.

Huo Yanchi calmly disposed of them. Not wanting Shen Junlan to worry, he said softly, “The sender’s location and phone number are fake. Reporting it to the police is useless. It’d only drag in unrelated people.”

The delivery courier, the security guard at the door—Huo Yanchi didn’t want innocent people losing their jobs over this.

Even someone as oblivious as Shen Junlan understood what sending these meant: it was a threat, a warning, and meant to disgust Huo Yanchi.

Shen Junlan fell silent. Seeing Huo Yanchi’s expression, he knew who was behind it.

“Xiao Yezi, come inside and wash your hands. It’s dirty.”

Shen Junlan worked up a lather with soap and, while Huo Yanchi washed his own hands over and over, grabbed his fingers.

“Huo Yanchi, be gentler. If you scrub your skin raw, my heart will ache.”

Huo Yanchi’s rapid breathing slowly steadied. He rinsed off the soap and quietly met Shen Junlan’s gaze.

He thought he could face these things calmly now, but he hadn’t expected them to still affect his emotions.

“Xiao Yezi.”

“Shh. Huo Yanchi, let’s eat first, okay? We can talk about this after.”

Huo Yanchi’s hands were ice-cold, his lips pressed tightly together. His expression was volatile, dark and terrifying, yet his jaw was tense, and his body strangely stiff.

Shen Junlan hooked his fingers with Huo Yanchi’s without a word. He knew—Huo Yanchi was nervous.