Huang Cheng stammered, "I... I'm sor..."

"It's fine, if the cat's out of the bag, so be it. No need to apologize." Xie Guan finished changing his clothes and stood before the mirror. The lazy demeanor he had before, like an old man cooling off in the shade, vanished in an instant. He stood tall and graceful, a smile playing on his lips, looking exceptionally dapper and well-dressed. "Only he would pull something like this. Just pretend I didn't say anything, and act as you always have."

If this had happened between ordinary friends, planting someone by their side and getting found out, regardless of whether the intentions were good, they probably would have had a falling out long ago. Xie Guan, however, was somewhat understanding. He guessed that Huo Mingjun had probably become a bit withdrawn since Cheng Sheng's death, rarely opening up to people and clumsy at expressing his feelings. Therefore, when dealing with him, it wasn't like the measured, arms-length friendship between adults, but more like a child raising a pet—piling on everything good and being terrified of accidentally killing it.

However, although Xie Guan's assessment of himself as a "precious little thing" was accurate, he was, after all, a normal person with his own consciousness. Being treated like a pet all the time wasn't a sustainable situation. Besides, while their relationship was upright and they had clear consciences, who knew what others would think when they saw these actions.

Xie Guan had now barely climbed from the eighteenth tier to the eighth tier of stardom, while Huo Mingjun's status was plain to see. The disparity was enormous; it didn't look like a pure friendship no matter how you sliced it.

He felt it was necessary to have a good talk with Huo Mingjun. So, he turned and asked Huang Cheng, "Has he been busy lately?"

Huang Cheng looked hesitant.

Xie Guan asked, "What's wrong? Is it something you can't talk about?"

Having just had his cover blown, Huang Cheng didn't know how to read Xie Guan and didn't want to oppose him. He could only stammer out, "Mr. Huo... didn't he tell you? He's been at home recuperating recently."

Xie Guan was startled by his secretive attitude. Hearing him say "all this time," his imagination immediately ran wild, galloping toward the worst-case scenario. His expression changed instantly. "What illness? What happened to him?"

Hearing the tremble in his voice, Huang Cheng knew he had gotten the wrong idea and quickly tried to correct it. "It's not a serious illness. I heard it's just the change of seasons, a bit of a cold and a cough."

The heart that had been hanging in Xie Guan's throat finally dropped back into place. When he came to his senses, he realized a thin layer of cold sweat had broken out on his back. He forced a smile. "He didn't mention it... Is it serious?"

Huang Cheng wasn't Huo Mingjun's personal bodyguard, after all, so he didn't know the details and just shook his head silently.

"I see," Xie Guan said as he took off the clothes and hung them up. "I'll ask him myself."

When Huo Mingjun received Xie Guan's call, he thought it was about the clothes he had sent over. To his surprise, Xie Guan didn't mention it at all, instead asking, "What have you been busy with lately?"

Huo Mingjun's first reaction was to change the subject. Hiding all his negative states seemed to have become instinctual for him. When he was young, Old Master Huo often taught him that once a man reaches a certain height, he is no longer just a boss or a superior, but more of a symbol, a figure whose personal characteristics are magnified. He didn't even have to do anything; just by standing there, he would inspire awe.

Of course, a person with a tough personality like Old Master Huo positioned himself as "awe-inspiring," and while Huo Mingjun resembled him, he wasn't exactly the same. Huo Mingjun's "Great Demon King" persona, thanks to Assistant Fang's vigorous promotion, was deeply ingrained in people's minds. He wasn't necessarily as tough as his grandfather, but he was even more ruthless.

It was as if he didn't know the meaning of "empathy."

However, for some unknown reason today, Huo Mingjun had a change of heart. He suddenly felt that if he was sick, he was sick, and there was nothing to hide.

Especially not from Xie Guan.

"An old ailment flared up, I'm bedridden," Huo Mingjun said, turning his head away to give two dry coughs. "The doctor said it's best to stay home and rest."

Xie Guan had more or less figured out some of Huo Mingjun's temperament and knew the man had a habit of being stubborn to the bitter end. He had thought he would have to spend some effort trying to wheedle it out of him to pry open Chairman Huo's tightly sealed lips. He never expected that after just one question, the man would voluntarily spill everything, which left Xie Guan stunned for a moment. "Ah... Is it serious? How long have you been sick?"

"It's nothing major, it'll pass after a while," Huo Mingjun said, his tone half-genuine, half-feigned. "I just can't go out. Being cooped up at home every day is boring."

Xie Guan could easily fool Huang Cheng, but in front of Huo Mingjun, he always had the feeling of being led by the nose. He vaguely sensed that Huo Mingjun was hinting at something, but he couldn't quite grasp the point.

Huo Mingjun asked, "What about you? Are you busy lately?"

"I'm okay," Xie Guan said. "I start with the film crew in another week, then things will get busy."

"The last time we met, the north wind was still blowing. In the blink of an eye, the whole city is filled with willow catkins," Huo Mingjun said slowly. "It's a shame I can't go out, or I could have visited you in person. By the time you come back from filming, the whole summer will probably be over."

Xie Guan wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he seemed to detect a hint of loneliness in his words. Perhaps people become sentimental when they get sick; he hadn't expected that even a Great Demon King like Huo Mingjun was not immune.

Xie Guan bit his lip and asked, "Well... how about I come visit you while you're sick?"

Huo Mingjun was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Forget it. Don't you have a press conference the day after tomorrow? Prepare for it properly, don't rush around."

From his silence, Xie Guan could almost picture Huo Mingjun sitting alone by the window, pale and sickly, melancholy and lonely, saying "forget it." Then he remembered the timely help, those two sets of clothes that were like a saving grace, and his heart, pricked by those few words, felt both sore and soft. He insisted, "The press conference is just a matter of a few hours, there's nothing much to prepare for. It's also a good chance to thank you in person for the clothes. I'll come over tomorrow, send me your address later."

"Okay."

He thought for a moment, then added, "Thank you."

Huo Mingjun gazed at the white magnolias gently falling outside the window. Although his face was paler than usual, the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a very faint, light smile.

Someone had once told him that when dealing with a soft-hearted person, the whole "overbearing CEO" routine was useless. The only shortcut to achieving one's goal and reaching success was to play the victim.

This wonderfully wise and peculiar man, who had fought and lost countless battles, finally summarized this small piece of life experience and, on a dark and windy night, solemnly imparted it to Huo Mingjun.

At the time, Huo Mingjun had been utterly dismissive of this piece of wisdom, feeling it was all just a ploy, with nothing heartfelt about it. However, after the incident with the stand-in, Huo Mingjun found that he was actually at a loss with what to do about Xie Guan. After much thought, the only strategy he could come up with now was to play the victim.

Gradually, he discovered that this "life experience," which sounded like it came from a quack, was actually useful.

But in reality, a person softens and gives in not because they genuinely think the other is pitiful, but simply because they are willing to tolerate and accommodate "that person."

And when a person of strong character, who never easily shows weakness, is willing to use a little trick and play the victim to get what they want from someone, it's also because they know that no matter what method they use, as long as they want it, that person will ultimately let them have their way.

In the end, it was all about taking advantage of the place one held in another's heart, finding different ways to act spoiled and seek affection.

This time, Huo Mingjun's victim-playing was very high-level, subtle and suggestive. It not only left plenty of room for Xie Guan's imagination but also highlighted his own understanding nature. Furthermore, he skillfully used the scenery to express his feelings, which led to Xie Guan immediately thinking of him when he got a face full of willow catkins on his way out that morning.

Yesterday, Xie Guan had asked Huo Mingjun to send him the address. Who would have known that after hanging up, he would check his WeChat messages to see one that read: "I'll have someone pick you up tomorrow morning."

Xie Guan was so startled by his roundabout schemes that he almost threw his phone away. He found it both funny and helpless. Huo Mingjun really did take great care of him; sometimes Xie Guan even felt that being this person's pet wasn't such a bad thing. But as the past gradually faded, and Huo Mingjun moved further and further on, he would eventually open his heart, welcome more friends, and form more intimate relationships. When that time came, who would still be worthy of such meticulous attention from him?

Xie Guan typed a reply with a series of taps: "Okay, is there anything you want? I'll bring it over for you tomorrow."

Huo Mingjun's home surely wasn't lacking anything. Xie Guan was just asking politely, planning to bring some fruit and nutritional supplements tomorrow as a small gesture.

The reply from the other side came quickly.

Huo Mingjun: "What you promised last time, two dishes and a soup."

Xie Guan: "When did I promise you that?!"

Huo Mingjun: "Last time we had a meal. Anyone who visits a sick person empty-handed is just being a hooligan. This is the one thing I'm missing, so you figure it out."

Xie Guan: "I think what you're missing might be a conscience. Don't worry, tomorrow I'll go buy you a wholesale course of pills for the brain-dead."

The next day, the Huo family's driver came downstairs to pick him up. Xie Guan got into the car carrying a thermal food container, and they drove steadily eastward. They drove all the way to the foot of Changle Mountain, a famous scenic area in B City. As far as the eye could see were trees and flowers, concealing several villas. An iron gate blocked the outer perimeter, and he knew they had arrived at Huo Mingjun's residence.

There was an automatic sensor on the iron gate. After the car passed through, it drove for about another five minutes before stopping in front of the main villa building. Someone came forward to open the car door for Xie Guan and tried to take the thermal container from his hand, but Xie Guan waved them away.

The courtyard was very quiet, with only the sound of the wind and birdsong. Apart from the maids and the housekeeper, there was no one else in sight. It was Xie Guan's first time seeing this kind of prim, proper, wealthy-manor-like style. He didn't feel any solemnity; instead, he found it incredibly cringey. He wanted to laugh but didn't dare, using all his strength to keep the corners of his mouth from turning up.

The housekeeper led Xie Guan upstairs to Huo Mingjun's bedroom. Xie Guan had thought it was a bit inappropriate to go directly into someone's bedroom on his first visit. Only after entering did he realize that the bedroom had its own small attached living room. Huo Mingjun, dressed in casual clothes with a laptop by his side, was sitting on the sofa waiting for him.

"You're here."

Huo Mingjun stood up to welcome him. The housekeeper bowed to them both and withdrew to prepare tea and snacks. Seeing that the man had left, Xie Guan finally couldn't hold it in anymore and turned his head away, laughing for a long while.

Huo Mingjun looked at him helplessly and sighed, "You're here to visit a sick person. Laughing like that, aren't you afraid you won't make it out this door today?"

"Sorry, I couldn't help it," Xie Guan said, schooling his expression before daring to turn back to look at him. "Your family is quite interesting. But you live so far away, isn't it inconvenient for work?"

Huo Mingjun led him to the sofa to sit down and took the thermal container, placing it on the table. "I don't usually live here. I only move back to recuperate for a few days each year when I get sick. There are doctors here, so it's more convenient for check-ups and medication. Otherwise, with the food not being great and the sleep not being good, who would want to waste their days away here?"

Xie Guan let out a "Yo," and smiled. "I only asked one question, and it drew out such a long speech from you. I've never seen you so warm and hospitable. What's wrong, are you feeling wronged at home?"