Because he was running a high fever, Xie Guan slept restlessly. His consciousness was groggy, hovering between half-asleep and half-awake, and an aching pain spread from the seams of his bones. He kept wanting to turn over, but then someone hugged him, blanket and all, and placed him in a softer, warmer place. A short while later, a slight stinging pain came from the back of his hand, and a blurry voice drifted into his ears: "Low immunity... excessive fatigue... need rest..."

The light, warm down comforter was pulled all the way up to his chin, and his pale face was mostly buried in the pillow. The long-term late nights had left dark, bluish shadows under his eyes; the youthful puffiness and the dark bags had practically merged into one, making him look exceptionally weak and haggard.

In this state, he looked far, far worse than when Huo Mingjun had left.

Huo Mingjun carefully supported his hand and laid it flat by the bed. Xie Guan had quieted down now, no longer struggling uncomfortably like he had in the car earlier. The family doctor who had rushed over only now dared to let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat that had beaded on his forehead from anxiety. He silently disdained the fussiness of the rich—judging by the "if you can't cure him, you'll be buried with him" expression on Huo Mingjun's face when he'd called him over, anyone who didn't know better would have thought the patient was on his last breath.

The doctor packed up his medical bag, and Huo Mingjun gestured for him to come outside to talk. The two of them tiptoed out of the bedroom and back into the living room. Fang Hui and Zhong Heguang, who were on the sofa, immediately stood up. "How is he?"

The doctor reassured them with a kind expression, "Mr. Huo, don't worry. The patient just has a lowered immunity due to overexertion, which led to a cold and fever. It's nothing serious. An IV drip and some medicine will do the trick."

"Is there anything we need to pay attention to?" Huo Mingjun asked.

"Make sure he rests and avoids raw, cold, spicy, and greasy foods. Especially in the summer, he shouldn't overindulge in cold things," the doctor said. "Also, he's a young man, he can't be so careless with his body. He should exercise more in the future to build up his constitution so he doesn't get sick so easily."

Everyone understood the logic of what he said. However, when it came down to it, both Huo Mingjun and Xie Guan had the desperate attitude of people willing to sacrifice their lives for a cause. Neither was any more rational than the other.

Huo Mingjun stood up and said to Fang Hui, "Have the doctor prescribe the medicine, then get it filled and delivered." Then he said to Zhong Heguang, "Come with me to the study."

The others left on their respective tasks. Zhong Heguang followed Huo Mingjun into the study. The study in the private residence had a much more personal feel than the group chairman's office. The furniture and decor were elegant and comfortable, and the thick carpet completely muffled the sound of footsteps. Two rows of bookshelves against the wall reached up to the ceiling. From the large, deep black desk to the vibrant little green plant by the window, everything exuded a sense of tranquility.

"Sit," Huo Mingjun gestured for Zhong Heguang to make himself comfortable. The housekeeper quickly served tea. He glanced at his watch. "What's the situation with Huo Zhongchen? Keep it simple, stick to the main points."

"Mr. Huo insists that the decision at the time was unanimously agreed upon by the senior management and approved by the board of directors, so the fault is not his. He is currently contacting the various directors privately," Zhong Heguang said. "According to the company's articles of association, dismissing the general manager requires a majority vote. It seems he has already persuaded a number of people. Moreover, he moved back to the old family residence right after the incident, and Old Mr. Huo has yet to express his stance."

Although the eldest son, Huo Zhongchen, was a disappointment, he was, after all, someone Old Master Huo had personally taught. He could be disciplined behind closed doors, but in the broader context of the group, he was still a capable assistant.

Huo Mingjun let out an emotionless laugh, clearly long prepared for the old master's ways.

"Even at a time like this, he's still caught up in his grand dream of a crown prince ascending the throne," he said with a smile that wasn't a smile. "He has no other skills, but he's a self-taught genius when it comes to petty schemes and dirty tricks. Just wait. We'll deal with them one by one."

Although Zhong Heguang was used to his speaking style, he couldn't help but straighten his spine a little more.

Huo Mingjun changed the subject. "There's one more thing. A while ago, Xuandu Pictures invested in and started filming their first movie. One of the actors broke his contract and left the production because of the matter in Pingcheng. His name is Zhong Guanhua. I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before. Go and check if he has any connection to Xie Guan, or if he's ever collaborated with our group."

Zhong Heguang: "Yes."

"Remember to suppress the news from the airport today," Huo Mingjun said, rising from his desk to go check on Xie Guan. "I might not go to the company this afternoon. If anything comes up, you handle it first. Anything you can't handle, leave it for me to look at tomorrow."

When he returned to the bedroom, the IV fluid was only halfway through. Xie Guan's brows were tightly furrowed in his sleep, and he had kicked open a corner of the blanket that Huo Mingjun had tucked in for him before leaving. He sat down by the bed and reached out to feel the hollow of Xie Guan's neck. There wasn't the slightest hint of sweat, so he once again wrapped him up tightly in the blanket.

Xie Guan's exhaled breath was still scorching hot; the high fever hadn't subsided. As soon as his body heat warmed the blankets, he would immediately kick them off. At a loss, Huo Mingjun had no choice but to go to the head of the bed and hug him, patting him lightly twice. "Don't fuss. It won't be so uncomfortable once you sweat it out. I'm here with you, be good."

A familiar scent enveloped him, and Xie Guan did indeed settle down. However, he still felt uncomfortably hot and cold by turns and unconsciously nuzzled into Huo Mingjun's embrace. He rarely showed dependence on anyone. Now that he was uncomfortable, he would only frown and bury his face deep in the embrace, as if looking for a safe place to hide. The tip of his ear and the small part of his face that were visible looked both wronged and pitiful.

His nuzzling made Huo Mingjun's heart melt. Aside from having someone change the IV bag once, he barely changed his position, sitting there holding Xie Guan, completely still, for two hours.

The words that Huo Zhirong had relayed circled repeatedly in his mind. In all these years, Huo Mingjun had rarely been struck to the core by anyone; Xie Guan had simply given him a whole year's worth in one go.

Stubborn to the point of being a little foolish, and so deeply affectionate it made one's heart ache for him.

Around noon, the two IV bags were finally finished. The doctor came upstairs and pulled out the needle. Huo Mingjun pinched his hand, pressing the needle point for a while. Xie Guan had just managed to fall into a peaceful sleep, and Huo Mingjun couldn't bear to wake him. It wasn't until the housekeeper brought lunch into the bedroom that he reached out, patted him gently through the blanket, and said in a low voice, "Xie Guan, wake up. Get up and eat something."

Xie Guan was in a deep sleep and was slow to wake. When he opened his eyes, he was still not fully conscious. Without looking where he was, he buried his face in the shadows as if afraid of the light. Huo Mingjun wrapped an arm around his back, held his shoulders, and pulled him up from the bed like pulling a radish. He placed two soft pillows at the head of the bed, changing him from lying flat to a semi-reclining position.

Only then did Xie Guan's consciousness clear a little. He stared blankly at Huo Mingjun, then looked around. "What happened? Where is this?"

"My home," Huo Mingjun said, placing his palm on his forehead. "Has the fever muddled your brain?"

Xie Guan thought for a moment, then figured it out and let out a slow "Oh."

"The fever still hasn't gone down," Huo Mingjun said. Although the doctor had said it was fine, he couldn't be at ease until the fever broke. "Eat something to line your stomach first, then take your medicine after the meal."

After falling ill, Xie Guan became much more listless and also much more obedient. He was exceptionally well-behaved, doing whatever he was told. Huo Mingjun wiped his hands with a towel, then picked up the bowl of congee and asked, "Are you going to eat it yourself, or should I feed you?"

Xie Guan actually had no appetite. His limbs were weak, and he was too lazy to even lift a hand. But at least his mind was clear, and he didn't want to trouble Huo Mingjun. He said listlessly, "I'll do it myself."

Huo Mingjun knew Xie Guan wasn't the pampered type and that holding a bowl to drink some congee wouldn't kill him, but he couldn't bear it when he saw his condition. Before Xie Guan could even pull his arm out from under the blanket, he said, "Don't move. I'll feed you."

It was the young master's first time serving someone, so he was not very skilled and thus extremely cautious and careful, afraid of scalding him. Xie Guan belatedly realized the historical significance of the treatment he was receiving. His mood, as if tied to a pair of hydrogen balloons, wobbled its way up from the depths.

His throat was a little hoarse, and he spoke with a nasal tone. His voice was inexplicably drawn out, sounding muffled and soft. "Lower the spoon a bit... Don't be nervous, just don't smear it all over my face."

Huo Mingjun glanced at him helplessly. "Even being sick can't stop you from wisecracking, can it."

Xie Guan smiled nonchalantly. "I feel much better after sleeping. Is everything on your end settled? You're back so soon."

"If I hadn't come back early, you would have worked yourself into the hospital," Huo Mingjun said, bringing a spoonful of congee to his lips. "Eat. We'll settle this score after you get better."

When he was working desperately, Xie Guan had a murderous "who dares stop me" aura about him, but now, facing Huo Mingjun, he immediately cowered. He let out a dry laugh. "Um... save me some face, can you let me off easy?"

Huo Mingjun didn't answer, just looked at him calmly. Xie Guan immediately shut up and obediently leaned over to take the spoon in his mouth.

He only drank half a bowl and didn't want any more. After eating, he had a bit of energy back. He moved his hands and feet under the blanket and asked Huo Mingjun for permission, "I'm covered in sweat, it feels sticky and uncomfortable. Can I take a shower?"

Huo Mingjun placed the dishes back on the tray. Upon hearing this, he lifted a corner of the blanket and felt the area around his neck and collarbone. "Endure it for now. I'm afraid you're too weak. What if you go in and faint?"

When he was asleep, Xie Guan had no idea how many times he had been checked like this, but this was the first time he'd faced this situation while awake. He couldn't help but flinch slightly. The base of his ears grew hot for no reason, and he felt the action was a bit too intimate.

When he got nervous, he spoke without thinking. "I still have work this afternoon. I can't see anyone without showering."

Huo Mingjun was just about to take the tray out and wash his hands. Before Xie Guan could finish speaking, his expression immediately soured. "I'll call your manager to ask for leave in a bit. You just rest up properly for me. Don't even think about going anywhere until the fever is gone."

Xie Guan protested, "Don't, work is important. I'm already back, and I made an appearance at the airport this morning. It's not really appropriate to not go."

His rushing around while sick was already a thorn in Huo Mingjun's heart, and this sentence unerringly and precisely stepped on his sorest spot.

Huo Mingjun stopped in his tracks and looked at Xie Guan coldly. If he weren't taking into consideration that he was a patient, he probably would have exploded on the spot. "Is work more important, or are you more important? Weigh it yourself. Don't make me say the same thing a second time."

The moment his face fell, Xie Guan automatically muted himself. Seeing that he wasn't making another sound, Huo Mingjun picked up the tray and left the bedroom.

Xie Guan sat on the bed hugging the blanket, thinking in disbelief, "My god, he's angry just like that? What does he have to be angry about?"

Then he thought, "I'm screwed. How do I coax him?"

He thought for a long time with his brain that was about to be fried by the fever, and finally, in self-abandonment, he thought that he might as well just pounce and hug Huo Mingjun's thigh the moment he came in and shout "Daddy, I was wrong" three times.