Chapter 27 A Kiss on the Corner of the Lips

Chapter 27 A Kiss on the Corner of the Lips

"Huo Yanchi, why aren't you speaking?"

Shen Junlan swallowed nervously, his throat dry, lifting his glistening eyes as he tried to discern Huo Yanchi’s current mood.

It was his fault; he had already apologized. If Huo Yanchi had any sense, he should forgive him immediately.

Lost in these thoughts, Shen Junlan failed to notice Huo Yanchi’s increasingly unreadable expression—controlled and restrained, a blazing fire gathering in his chest as he stared fixedly at him.

"Xiao Yezi."

Shen Junlan responded with a soft "mm." His back pressed against the cold door, enveloped by the heat radiating from Huo Yanchi, his gaze growing hazy.

Huo Yanchi seemed very different at this moment.

Shen Junlan couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he instinctively feared Huo Yanchi’s seemingly devouring gaze. His neck grew damp with heat, turning red from his collarbone to his earlobes.

"Do you have something you want to say to me?"

Time felt infinitely stretched. Shen Junlan’s heart hammered like a drum as he waited and waited, but Huo Yanchi remained silent. Unnerved by the stare, Shen Junlan averted his eyes.

His arms, which had been looped around Huo Yanchi’s neck, grew sore. He lowered them slightly, only for Huo Yanchi to grab his wrists and press them firmly against the door.

An aggressive presence closed in. Huo Yanchi was now just a fist’s distance away, their breaths mingling. Shen Junlan’s chest tightened, almost suffocating him.

So strange. Shen Junlan pursed his dry lips, his gaze drifting from Huo Yanchi’s nose down to his thin lips.

"Xiao Yezi, do you understand what your words meant?"

Shen Junlan took a moment to process, then recalled he had said, "You can do whatever you want."

Without hesitation, he nodded, his eyes curving as he tugged at Huo Yanchi’s collar and murmured, "You’re Huo Yanchi, my master. You can do whatever you want."

Those words plunged Huo Yanchi into an icy chill. His grip loosened abruptly, releasing Shen Junlan.

Because he was the master—Xiao Yezi didn’t understand romantic love. In his limited worldview, the master’s will came first. He saw nothing improper about being pinned against the door or sharing a bed.

He had even wanted to help Huo Yanchi with that unspeakable matter.

These were not thoughts a flower should entertain.

"Xiao Yezi, do you really want me to punish you?"

"Yes, punish me. It’s my fault—I didn’t keep my promise to you."

Huo Yanchi took Shen Junlan’s wrist and led him upstairs, silent the entire way, creating an intense atmosphere.

Shen Junlan clung nervously to Huo Yanchi’s arm, but no amount of tugging or whining got a reaction.

Well, he was probably done for.

Shen Junlan’s mind raced through visions of extreme punishments, each thought making his head ache. After a few steps, his legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed into Huo Yanchi’s arms.

"Master, my legs are too sore—I can’t walk."

Huo Yanchi eyed him skeptically, then crouched to squeeze Shen Junlan’s calf.

"Mmm~"

Shen Junlan let out a soft, moaning sound. That single look melted Huo Yanchi’s resistance. He scooped Shen Junlan up and laid him down on the soft bed.

Shen Junlan snuggled into the bedding, his collar undone, revealing a flushed neck.

"Master, were any of the punishments done on a bed? Will it hurt? Maybe you should get me some pain relievers first before you start."

Huo Yanchi chuckled, lifting Shen Junlan’s chin as he said hoarsely, "Xiao Yezi, where did you get the idea that I was going to hit you?"

Well, wasn’t it obvious?

In Shen Junlan’s understanding, punishment meant being struck.

"Then if I hit you, would you be angry?"

"No, it’s my fault. No matter how you punish me, I won’t be angry."

Huo Yanchi let out a drawn-out "oh." His Xiao Yezi really was so agreeable.

He raised his hand high, and when Xiao Yezi glanced up and closed his eyes fearfully, Huo Yanchi’s lips curved. But the slap never fell.

Shen Junlan cracked open an eye, stealing a glance at Huo Yanchi. He thought Huo Yanchi must be choosing the right angle.

Eh.

A not-too-light, not-too-hard slap landed.

Shen Junlan’s eyes widened in shock.

Huo Yanchi had spanked his butt!

"You—how could you?"

"Hmm?" Huo Yanchi raised an eyebrow, and Shen Junlan fell silent.

Xiao Yezi’s rounded rear felt wonderfully soft under his palm. When he slapped it, the plump flesh trembled, sending a shiver through Xiao Yezi’s body.

"Fine, fine, hit me if you want."

His face flushed bright red, Shen Junlan flipped over and lay face-down on the soft pillow, meeting Huo Yanchi’s gaze. His eyes were slightly red, his legs tense as he suppressed the strange sensations in his chest.

He must be a pervert. Besides the tingling, being struck by Huo Yanchi stirred a strange pleasurable feeling deep inside him. What else could that mean? Who in their right mind would enjoy such a thing?

"No more hitting. My Xiao Yezi is unhappy—I need to find a way to comfort him."

Shen Junlan’s face flushed. Well, he wasn’t exactly unhappy.

Ahem, alright, maybe just a little.

"Huo Yanchi, are you still mad at me?"

"I was never really mad at you. What good is me getting angry if you don’t take care of yourself?"

Even as he said this, Huo Yanchi began unbuttoning his shirt.

Outside, the moon hung high, its silver glow filtering through the thin curtains.

Shen Junlan stared dazedly at Huo Yanchi’s perfectly sculpted muscles. His feelings now were entirely different from before when he wasn’t in human form—much more nervous.

What was he nervous about? After all, it was still Huo Yanchi, still the same person.

"Xiao Yezi, you've wasted your spiritual energy. Do you need to replenish it?"

Huo Yanchi's words made Shen Junlan feel as if he were an energy-draining spirit. Flower spirits feed on dew; they don't consume humans.

"Hmm? You don't need it?"

"Yes, yes, yes, yes!"

Shen Junlan was afraid of Huo Yanchi—even if he didn't want it, he had to accept it. He was basically forcing it!

"Oh, come on then. Should I bite or kiss?"

In the end, Shen Junlan responded by throwing himself into Huo Yanchi's arms for a hug.

"Huo Yanchi, I was so worried you'd be angry with me. Thank goodness you're not."

Xiao Yezi's cheek nestled against his neck affectionately, and he took a deep breath.

Huo Yanchi pushed aside his disappointment—a hug was better than nothing.

"Xiao Yezi, do you want to go to school?"

Shen Junlan sprang to his feet, shaking his head frantically.

"Master, I'll be good. Please don't send me to school. Please, I'm begging you, okay?"

Huo Yanchi was shaken back and forth by Shen Junlan gripping his shoulders, feeling so dizzy he thought last night's dinner might come up. The world spun around him, and he quickly grunted in agreement. A few more shakes, and he'd be collapsing on the bed, unable to get up.

"Xiao Yezi, I want you to go to school, not to your execution. What are you afraid of? You might be a bit old now, but I can hire a tutor. You can learn anything you like."

"Do you like instruments? Guitar, violin, piano. If you prefer traditional Chinese styles, there's suona, pipa, guzheng. You could also try painting. I think you have a talent for calligraphy too."

"No." Shen Junlan wasn't cut out for studying—he didn't like any of those.

"Huo Yanchi, can I open a shop to help treat flowers and plants?"

"Hmm?"

Hmph, Huo Yanchi made that questioning sound again. What was wrong tonight? Every time he disagreed, it was just that upward-turning "hmm."

"Xiao Yezi, have you forgotten why I spanked you last time? What, do you want another one?"

"Then go ahead and spank me. It's not like I'm stopping you."

Shen Junlan's slightly lowered eyes held a gleam of anticipation. So what if he was a pervert? Huo Yanchi didn't know anyway.

Huo Yanchi couldn't bring himself to hit hard and gave a light pat, with no more force than a tickle.

"Opening a shop is fine, but treating plants isn't. How about I open a pet shop for you, and you can treat flowers and plants on the side?"

Shen Junlan waved his hands hurriedly, his whole body resisting. "No, I'm afraid of dogs."

Most pets are cats and dogs. If a bunch of dogs came, Shen Junlan would be driven crazy after one day.

"Then, how about a flower shop? You can treat pets as well, and I'll arrange bodyguards to protect you."

Shen Junlan thought carefully about the possibility—that might work. Once he earned enough money, he could support Huo Yanchi.

"Master, I want you to be my bodyguard."

Huo Yanchi's hair was tugged by Shen Junlan, his mesmerizing gaze filled with nothing but his reflection.

With a gulp, Huo Yanchi swallowed so hard that Shen Junlan gripped him by the throat, his sharp teeth pressing against Huo Yanchi's Adam's apple, teasing and grinding lightly.

"Xiao Yezi, bite any harder and you’ll kill me. Who's going to be your bodyguard then?"

Shen Junlan indeed increased the pressure, his tongue licking over the teeth marks. Only when he saw Huo Yanchi frown did he let up a little.

"Tch, it's your fault for smelling so good and stripping naked to tempt me."

Shit, Huo Yanchi's intentions were laid bare. Feeling embarrassed, he rolled over, pressing Shen Junlan down beneath him, looking down at him from above.

"Master, what do you want to do?"

Shen Junlan showed no panic, only anticipation for what was to come. His eyes lit up as his fingers drew lazy circles on Huo Yanchi's abs, occasionally giving them a squeeze.

"Of course, to bite you."

"Mmm."

Huo Yanchi wasn't biting his collarbone but his earlobe.

His moist mouth enveloped the earlobe, teeth nibbling gently. Shen Junlan squirmed restlessly, his weak hands patting Huo Yanchi's shoulders.

"Huo Yanchi, stop, stop biting."

He couldn't take it, really couldn't.

"Hmm."

Huo Yanchi let out a low groan. He was asking for it, his blood boiling, nearly getting a reaction he didn’t want.

Shit.

In the confined space, only their entangled breaths remained, neither brave enough to look at the other.

This was mutual destruction—hurting the other a thousand while losing eight hundred oneself.

"Xiao Yezi, where are you going?"

Shen Junlan, flushed red, stumbled off the bed and mumbled, "It's hot."

The heat was almost overwhelming, leaving him at a loss. He had no choice but to find some water to drink.

"Oh."

Huo Yanchi squinted. Heat was good—he felt hot too. It meant Xiao Yezi wasn't oblivious; perhaps he felt something different for him.

He needed to create more opportunities like this to test Xiao Yezi.

Shen Junlan was gone awhile before returning. When he came back, he was holding a container of ice cream, which he pressed against Huo Yanchi's cheek to cool him down.

"Xiao Yezi, you took so long. I thought you weren't coming back."

"Where else would I go? Huo Yanchi, you don’t want me to come back? I even brought you ice cream out of kindness, and this is how you treat me."

Huo Yanchi grabbed Shen Junlan's wrist, took the ice cream, scooped some, and handed it to Shen Junlan.

"Xiao Yezi, should you be eating this?"

"No, I have no appetite. Huo Yanchi, you should eat more and have my share since I can't have any."

Huo Yanchi quickly finished the ice cream in big mouthfuls, his gaze drifting to Xiao Yezi's tightly pressed lips. Holding the empty ice cream cup, he suppressed his wildly beating heart and, in the blink of an eye, lightly kissed the corner of Xiao Yezi's mouth.

It was a kiss light as a feather, so light that when Shen Junlan pressed his fingertip to the corner of his lips, he couldn't taste anything.

Cold—it was a biting, bone-chilling cold.

In a daze, he looked up and met Huo Yanchi's eyes. What did this mean? Shen Junlan, bewildered, clutched the corner of the blanket, his heartbeat so loud it was overwhelming.

"Xiao Yezi, did you taste the ice cream?"

Shen Junlan licked his fingertip and tasted it—it was all Huo Yanchi's scent, mixed with the creamy fragrance of the ice cream. He paused for a moment, then shook his head.

In the seconds of silent eye contact, Shen Junlan thought Huo Yanchi might kiss him again. He clenched his hands, meeting Huo Yanchi's gaze with an innocent, clueless look.

Huo Yanchi: Forget it, forget it.

With Xiao Yezi looking at him like that, how could he have the nerve to take further advantage? It was his own moment of passion to begin with—unfair to Xiao Yezi, and he felt sorry.

"It's okay. Maybe if you stick close to me in the future, you'll build up more spiritual energy, and you'll be able to eat."

Shen Junlan let out a disappointed "Oh." He hadn't gotten the kiss from Huo Yanchi and was unhappy.

"By the way, Xiao Yezi, there's something I've been wanting to ask you. How old are you, really?"

Shen Junlan blinked, wondering if Huo Yanchi was thinking he was too old. That's how flowers are—they had long lifespans, and he wasn't anything special.

"Well, Grandpa Tree is thousands of years old. At my age, I'm just a little flower, nothing much. Age is just age—asking about it isn't useful. I am who I am."

Shen Junlan was a master of empty talk—listening to him talk was like hearing nothing at all.

"Xiao Yezi, you won't even tell me?" Huo Yanchi clutched his heart, pretending to be hurt, and said softly, "It's okay, it's your privacy. I was wrong to ask. Xiao Yezi, please don't be angry with me."

"Don't, Huo Yanchi, I'll tell you."

Seeing Huo Yanchi looking so downcast, Shen Junlan grew anxious. Hesitantly, he finally said, "Huo Yanchi, you can't think I'm too old once you know. Actually, in the world of flowers and plants, I'm still quite young."

"Ahem, 323."

It was a vague answer, but Huo Yanchi heard it clearly. Phew, just over three hundred. There were only three centuries between them, and if you count a century as a gap, what did it matter?

"But I'm counting from the year I gained spiritual awareness. Actually, it's only been 23 years since I weathered the lightning tribulation. I'm not some very old flower."

Even though Shen Junlan didn't say the rest, Huo Yanchi understood—he meant, "Don't think I'm too old."

"My Xiao Yezi is still an adorable little flower spirit—still a baby, really. The age is just right. Xiao Yezi, from now on, remember to tell people you're 23. Don't let it slip."

"Mm, I know."

Shen Junlan snuck several glances at Huo Yanchi and, seeing nothing unusual, finally felt relieved.

It was good that he wasn't thinking he was too old. If he really were, then he'd just... well, he'd just make sure Huo Yanchi didn't think he was too old.

"Xiao Yezi, time for bed. It's late."

"Okay, okay, I'm coming."

Before falling asleep, Shen Junlan was still regretful—what the ice cream actually tasted like? And Huo Yanchi—why didn't he let him taste it properly? What could he possibly taste from a kiss at the corner of his mouth? It was like a breeze, gone before he knew it.

***

When Shen Junlan appeared at the company, people were used to seeing him by now and could even greet him naturally.

"Zhao Qi, what are you holding?"

Zhao Qi struggled to move to the coffee table and dumped an armful of crackling snacks onto it.

"President Huo, these are from colleagues for Young Master Shen. They insisted I bring them up."

Looking at the array of snacks, Shen Junlan shot Huo Yanchi a resentful glance. He could only look, not eat—having them here was a complete waste.

"Take them back. Xiao Yezi doesn't eat these."

"President Huo, these are gifts from colleagues. It'd be rude to take them back after bringing them here. Young Master Shen, see what you like, and I'll arrange for more to be purchased in the future."

Shen Junlan waved his hand. If Huo Yanchi let him taste each one, that might be different, but actually eating them was out of the question.

Wait, something's not right—Xiao Yezi? Ah, that name rings a bell.

"President Huo, I've been meaning to ask—Young Master Shen has the same nickname as your flower." Zhao Qi let out an awkward laugh but quickly stifled it when he saw Huo Yanchi's strange expression.

Zhao Qi's eyes darted between the two, and a terrifying thought suddenly occurred to him.

Could it be that Huo Yanchi was actually in love with his Clivia plant, so he found a partner and gave them the same nickname—projecting his love for the plant onto the person?

Given how precious Huo Yanchi was about that Clivia, this scenario wasn't entirely impossible.

Poor Shen Junlan. Zhao Qi gave him a sympathetic look, feeling sorry for him deep down.

If they were even in the same league, how can a plant compare to a person?

If it weren't for the fact that Huo Yanchi had been raising that Clivia for eight years and Shen Junlan was so young, he might have thought that Xiao Yezi the person came first, and then the Clivia also named Xiao Yezi.

Poor Zhao Qi had no idea there was another possibility—that they were the same person.

"Zhao Qi, is there anything else you want to ask? Go ahead."

Huo Yanchi leaned back in his chair, eyeing Zhao Qi with amusement. He wanted to see what other shocking theories Zhao Qi could come up with.

"Young Master Shen, when you see how much President Huo loves his Clivia, do you ever get angry or jealous, feeling like you're less important than the flower?"

Shen Junlan's expression was also priceless—how could he be jealous of himself? He couldn't feel jealous at all.

"Isn't it normal for him to like Xiao Yezi? Why would I be angry? Xiao Yezi is so adorable, obedient, and talented."

Shen Junlan didn't skip a beat when praising himself. "Xiao Yezi" worked both ways—it was all him, and Huo Yanchi had to like both.

"Young Master Shen, I have no more questions."

What "replacement"? He had overthought it. He'd been consuming too many melodramatic stories lately, and his mind had raced in that direction without realizing it.

"Zhao Qi, look for any storefronts for rent near the company. For sale is fine too. Contact me if you find something suitable."

"President Huo, are you talking about a building or something? Is the company expanding into new business?"

In Zhao Qi's imagination, "storefront" meant a 30- or 40-story building that could be bought outright—he hadn't considered shops on a commercial street.

"No, I want to open a flower shop for Xiao Yezi. Somewhere close to the company. When I'm not working, I'll need to act as Xiao Yezi's bodyguard."

These words, almost like public flirting, fed Zhao Qi a line of cheesy romance. The corner of his mouth twitched—a billionaire president personally acting as a bodyguard was truly rare.

"Alright, Huo Yanchi, I’ll look into it once I finish my current tasks. About how many square feet are you thinking? Huo Yanchi, why not just open it downstairs in our building? We could free up part of the reception area on the first floor and open a separate entrance on the right side. That would make it more convenient for you to do bodyguard duty too."

"Xiao Yezi, what do you think?" Huo Yanchi was into the idea—it would mean they could commute together every day.

"No, I don’t want to profit from our colleagues."

Huo Yanchi chuckled to himself. His Xiao Yezi was quite thoughtful. With so many employees in the company, if everyone knew it was Xiao Yezi’s shop, that could definitely happen.

"Besides, Huo Yanchi, I want to treat plants and small animals, not just sell flowers."

Animals can’t tell you what’s wrong, but if he could diagnose their issues, treatment would be easier. The same goes for plants—sensitive plant varieties don’t all have the same needs. If he could customize care for each plant’s needs, they’d all thrive.

"Huo Yanchi, Shen Junlan, I understand your requirements now. I’ll find a smaller spot near the company. If we can rent a place, we’ll get the paperwork done fast."

"Good, go ahead. You’ll put in extra work—I’ll count it as triple pay."

Zhao Qi, now highly motivated, hurried off to scout locations.

Shen Junlan munched on plant fertilizer (as a snack), propping his chin in his hands as he stared worriedly at the snacks all over the desk.

"Huo Yanchi, what should we do with all these? I can’t eat them."

Shen Junlan sorted through the snacks, selected a bag of chips that caught his eye, tore it open, and sat on the desk, feeding them to Huo Yanchi one by one.

"Boss, why don’t you work hard and finish them all?"

So this is why feeding someone is fun—no wonder Huo Yanchi enjoyed teasing him with plant fertilizer. Shen Junlan opened his mouth in an "ah" shape, signaling Huo Yanchi to open up, then deftly tossed a chip into his mouth.

"Xiao Yezi, stop fooling around. I’ll eat later. Why don’t you think of a name for the shop? It’ll be your little store, so it has to suit your taste."

"How about 'Flora and Fauna Therapy Center'?"

Huo Yanchi’s eyebrow twitched. They had passed a traditional Chinese therapy clinic on their way to work, and Shen Junlan had curiously glanced at it a few times—now he was borrowing the name. But "therapy center" sounded more like an herbal medicine shop, not quite fitting for a shop.

"What about 'Healing Blooms'? The main focus would be treating sick plants, but we could also help small animals."

Shen Junlan thought over the name. "Healing" was exactly his intention—much better than his earlier idea.

"Great, great!" Shen Junlan gave Huo Yanchi a big thumbs-up. As expected of Huo Yanchi—so clever.

"My little boss, take a look at these characters I wrote. Do they suit your shop?"

The characters were bold and flowing, full of energy—not rigid block script, but semi-cursive with vibrant energy and depth.

"They’re beautiful, Huo Yanchi. Let’s use this."

"Alright."

Huo Yanchi busied himself with work while Shen Junlan tried to stay unobtrusive, leaning against Huo Yanchi’s back as they reviewed documents together.

Ding-dong.

Huo Yanchi’s phone chimed repeatedly. He glanced at it—it was Lin Hang.

Messages kept pouring in. Before Huo Yanchi could open them, Shen Junlan read the last one aloud.

"Do you guys usually use props? I have a friend who makes…"

The rest of the message was hidden. Shen Junlan looked confusedly at Huo Yanchi and murmured, "Huo Yanchi, what are props?"