HSS CH42

Chapter 42: Lock the Door

“Baby…”

The deep voice echoed in Lin Miao’s ears. He froze for a moment, feeling his face flush with heat.

“You… what are you even saying?”

Neither of his parents had ever called him “baby.” Such an intimate term made him feel embarrassed. How could Huoyuchuan just casually blurt it out? He really had some nerve!

Huoyuchuan asked, “Is it not okay?”

Lin Miao turned his face away, feeling uneasy. “No, it’s not okay.”

“Then how about ‘wife’?” Huoyuchuan suggested.

Lin Miao: “……”

Lin Miao quickly grabbed the blanket and covered Huoyuchuan’s head. “Stop talking!”

Huoyuchuan pulled the blanket off and looked at his face. “Why are you blushing?”

“I…” Lin Miao mumbled, “I caught your cold!”

He didn’t want Huoyuchuan to see, so he reached up to cover his eyes and changed the subject. “Why are you still so hot?”

“You need to break the fever soon. I have to get back to school.”

“Then put me in the freezer,” Huoyuchuan said. “I’ll cool down.”

Lin Miao: “……”

Do you think you’re a piece of frozen pork?

Aunt Chen was frying steak in the kitchen. Seeing Lin Miao walk in and check the freezer, she thought he wanted something else to eat and asked with a smile, “What would you like? Aunt Chen can cook it for you.”

Lin Miao gestured at the size of the freezer. “Aunt Chen, you don’t need such a big freezer.”

“Why not?” Aunt Chen was puzzled. “Isn’t a bigger one better?”

Huoyuchuan wouldn’t be good, Lin Miao thought. If he got delirious from the fever and really came to freeze himself, what would happen?

When Aunt Chen came to make breakfast and opened the freezer, she would see him turned into a popsicle.

Lin Miao felt scared just thinking about it. After lunch, he spent the entire afternoon taking Huoyuchuan’s temperature, making sure he took his medicine on time and rested.

As evening approached, the doorbell rang outside. Aunt Chen went to open the door and greeted the visitor with “Madam.” Lin Miao then realized she was Huoyuchuan’s mother.

He had never met Lv Hanxiu before. Everything he knew about her was from hearsay—how she was ambitious and had destroyed other people’s families in her climb to higher status…

Lin Miao didn’t know if it was true or not. He only knew Huoyuchuan.

When Lv Hanxiu came in, she saw Lin Miao standing in the living room and greeted her somewhat awkwardly, “Hello, Aunt.”

She looked him up and down, seemingly trying to place him. “Who are you?”

Lin Miao opened his mouth and said, “My name is Lin Miao. I’m Huoyuchuan’s junior high school classmate.”

Junior high school classmate? Lv Hanxiu furrowed her brows. Distant memories from the small town came flooding back, the past she least wanted to recall.

She had a moment of daze, quickly touched the round pearl necklace on her neck, and glanced at her expensive clothes and bag before composing herself and forcing a smile at Lin Miao.

She went upstairs to see Huoyuchuan and simply asked if he was feeling better.

Huoyuchuan replied, “I’m not going to die anyway.”

Lv Hanxiu lightly chided him, then brought up the topic of his father’s birthday gift next month, which seemed to be the real reason for her visit.

“How about two wigs?” Huoyuchuan said emotionlessly. “His head is so bald.”

Lv Hanxiu: “……”

“Are you trying to drive me crazy?!” Lv Hanxiu looked exasperated. “Look at Huo Mingzhe. I heard he went abroad last month just to find some treasure.”

Huoyuchuan: “Then you should adopt him as your son.”

“Huoyuchuan!” Lv Hanxiu’s carefully applied makeup seemed to twist with anger. “Are you trying to hurt me on purpose?! It hasn’t been easy for me in that family all these years. Can’t you think about me for once?!”

Huoyuchuan looked up, as if transported back to that cramped house from years ago. “I said, if you chose to go back, don’t regret it.”

“Fine, fine,” Lv Hanxiu said indignantly. “I’ve really raised a good son!”

She stormed downstairs and saw that Lin Miao was still there. She had no choice but to put on a smile and say, “It’s getting late. I won’t keep you for dinner.”

But Lin Miao didn’t understand her hint to leave. “I’ve already eaten. Aunt Chen was worried I’d be hungry, so she cooked for me early.”

Lv Hanxiu’s smile froze. “……Oh, I see. Then……”

Before she could finish, Lin Miao considerately said, “Aunt, haven’t you eaten yet? I’ll tell Aunt Chen.”

“No need,” Lv Hanxiu replied with a forced smile. “I’m in my own son’s house. I don’t need others telling me what to do.”

Lin Miao glanced back at Aunt Chen, who was busy in the kitchen, and quietly said to Lv Hanxiu, “Aunt Chen isn’t an outsider. She’ll be hurt if she hears that.”

Lv Hanxiu: “……”

I’m talking about you. Can’t you understand a hint?

“Lin Miao,” a familiar voice suddenly called from upstairs. Lin Miao looked up and saw Huoyuchuan standing on the second floor, saying, “Come up.”

Huoyuchuan, who was still sick, had messy hair and was wearing thin pajamas. He looked quite pale.

Lin Miao was worried he would catch a cold, so he quickly said to Lv Hanxiu, “Aunt, I’ll go up first.”

He ran upstairs and pushed Huoyuchuan back into bed, noticing he hadn’t even put on his shoes when he got out of bed. He scolded him again.

Huoyuchuan quietly listened to the scolding, then pointed to the water kettle on the bedside table. “If you’re tired of talking, have some water.”

Lin Miao didn’t want water. He paused for a moment and said, “I think I heard you arguing. Is your mom angry?”

Huoyuchuan nodded. “Yeah, because I’m not being obedient.”

“You’re not a child anymore. What obedience are you talking about?” Lin Miao disagreed, reminding him like a little teacher, “Huoyuchuan, you’re an adult now.”

Huoyuchuan looked at his serious expression and suddenly laughed.

Lin Miao was puzzled. “What are you laughing at?”

Huoyuchuan’s gaze fell on the collarbone peeking out from his collar, and he slowly said, “I am an adult now.”

“But there are things I wanted to do as an adult that I haven’t done yet.”

Lin Miao was confused. “What things?”

Huoyuchuan stared at him for a while, then said, “Lock the door.”

Lin Miao was bewildered but still turned around and locked the bedroom door. “Why lock the door?”

Huoyuchuan’s eyes were deep as he said to Lin Miao, who was standing by the bed, “Come a little closer.”

Lin Miao reluctantly took a few steps forward. “What for……”

Huoyuchuan suddenly reached out and pulled him over.

Lin Miao was caught off guard and fell into Huoyuchuan’s arms.

The warmth of his body came through the thin layers of clothing. Huoyuchuan was very warm, with a broad and sturdy chest. The “thump-thump” of his heartbeat echoed in Lin Miao’s ears.

He tried to get up but was held down by Huoyuchuan.

Huoyuchuan said, “On the day I turned eighteen, I had a dream.”

Lin Miao: “What dream?”

Huoyuchuan took his hand and guided it downward.

The palm touched something hot, and Lin Miao was stunned, unable to speak. “You, you… Huoyuchuan…”

Huoyuchuan held his hand tightly, his voice husky. “Lin Miao, how do I prove that I’m an adult now…”