After sending off Huo Lan, Xu Xingguang turned around and walked into her own yard. She sat on the steps outside her front door, cooling off, and made a video call to Huo Wen’an.

The video rang for a long time before it was answered.

Huo Wen’an lay on his king-size bed, leaning against the pillows, his midnight black silk pajamas loosely covering his chest, revealing two slender collarbones beneath his neck.

His eyes looked a bit drowsy, as if he was extremely tired but unable to sleep.

Xu Xingguang’s gaze swept over Huo Wen’an’s collarbones. She stretched out one leg and reported about Huo Lan taking her home that night to Huo Wen’an.

Huo Wen’an lay on the bed, looking weary, listening patiently until she finished talking about Huo Lan, before saying disinterestedly, "He’s siding with my camp."

Huo Wen’an’s deep-set eyes fell on Xu Xingguang’s face, and he continued, "He understands that being far away from the center of power, Divine Concealment Island, he can’t participate in power struggles, and naturally can’t gain merit for me. However, taking care of you and protecting you is the only way he can show loyalty to me."

"He naturally wouldn’t dare to slack off." Huo Wen’an pondered, "Your life and safety are deeply tied to his future. How could he not take it seriously?"

"Of course, I understand this logic," Xu Xingguang said. "I naturally have to tell you about what he’s done to brush up his presence with you."

Huo Wen’an said with a teasing smile, "Brushing up one’s presence with you is more effective than doing so with me."

No one in this world is more important to Huo Wen’an than Xu Xingguang.

Knowing that if they continued chatting, Huo Wen’an would start saying mischievous things, Xu Xingguang quickly changed the topic, asking him, "How are you feeling today?"

"The Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills can clear the virus from your body but also remove the effects of the An Shen Wood resin. Without An Shen Wood to relieve the pain, have you been feeling any all-over bone pain these days?"

Huo Wen’an nodded, "Yes, it hurts, and I can’t sleep because of it."

He really can’t sleep due to the pain, dark circles under his eyes have deepened, and he naturally also has no appetite.

Not eating, combined with poor sleep, Huo Wen’an indeed looks as if he has one foot in the grave.

He mocked, "Mrs. Huo’s been busy inviting a Feng Shui Master lately."

Xu Xingguang immediately guessed Mrs. Huo’s intention. "What? She wants to pick out a Feng Shui treasure land for your grand burial?"

Huo Wen’an nodded, "Yeah."

"Now, does the entire Divine Concealment Island think you’re at death’s door?"

Huo Wen’an nodded slightly, holding back laughter, "I don’t even go out of my house now, and whenever Fearless is taken out for a walk, Cheng Yue and the others take him."

"Occasionally someone visits my manor to check on me, and when they see me sitting sickly in a wheelchair, the delight in their eyes is quite apparent."

Huo Wen’an mused, "Xingguang, they’re all hoping your boyfriend kicks the bucket."

Xu Xingguang smiled wryly, amused by Huo Wen’an, "Doesn’t everyone say that before fleas die, they jump around a bit?"

"My girlfriend is very insightful in her summary."

Seeing Huo Wen’an clearly wanting to sleep but being unable to due to the illness torment, Xu Xingguang naturally felt distressed for him.

She suddenly said, "Want to hear me play the piano?"

"Sure."

Huo Wen’an braced himself to watch Xu Xingguang play piano together with him.

Xu Xingguang quietly played the piano for a quarter of an hour, and Huo Wen’an finally leaned against the pillow and fell asleep.

Staring at Huo Wen’an on camera even in his sleep, his eyebrows were still furrowed and wouldn’t relax. She changed the melody and played a lullaby.

Perhaps the piano’s sound was soothing, as Huo Wen’an’s brows gradually relaxed, and the phone slipped from his fingers onto the bed.

Xu Xingguang could no longer see Huo Wen’an’s face or collarbones, only his black hair resting on the pillow.

"Good night."

The next morning, after breakfast, Xu Xingguang went around to check on the Cangshan medicine field growing base.

Huo Wen’an recruited a batch of retired special forces veterans and formed an 18-member guard team with them.

These 18 people work in three shifts, living during non-work hours in the old-style single-family house that Xu Xingguang rented for them.

During work, they stay in the guardhouse at the foot of Cangshan.

After checking on the herb growth, Xu Xingguang went to the guardhouse at the foot of Cangshan.

She arrived just as the night shift team and morning shift team were swapping over.

Upon seeing Xu Xingguang, the captains of both the night and morning shifts came over to greet her. "Boss!"

Xu Xingguang placed the little baskets of buns she carried on the dining table and said to them, "Gentlemen, here are some buns I brought for you. Have breakfast before you start working."