Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

"Wang Yue, I hope you and my sister can always stay together."

You Jiaoyang nodded, "I understand."

Returning to Building 219, it was already close to midnight.

Huo Wen’an stared at the frosted bathroom door, focusing on the faint silhouette inside, feeling a bit parched.

Xu Xingguang opened the door, wearing pajamas as she walked out, meeting Huo Wen’an’s peeking gaze. From the man’s eyes, she caught a mix of desire and restraint, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Just barely able to walk on two legs, and now the other leg is getting bold?"

Huo Wen’an: "..."

He looked at Xu Xingguang in disbelief and asked her, "Do you not know how to spell the word ’shame’?"

Xu Xingguang reminded him, "I’ve lived several lifetimes as a man; I know clearly what you’re thinking now."

Huo Wen’an felt utterly helpless.

"Don’t be delusional." Xu Xingguang said calmly, "No protection, no action."

Huo Wen’an was first taken aback, then overjoyed.

"Shall I go buy some?" He said, "There’s a 24-hour adult store near University City, I could ask Zheng Lie to..." Thinking it might not be proper to ask Zheng Lie, Huo Wen’an said, "I can bike over to buy some."

Xu Xingguang shook her head, "Then go ahead."

Huo Wen’an slipped on his slippers and left.

He dashed over to University City, stood by the shelves studying for quite a while, finally picking a brand he deemed both safe and comfortably tactile. Thinking it was their first time, he worried Xu Xingguang might feel nervous; so he biked to Huo Xin’s house, plucking a few morning glory stems from You Jiaoyang’s favorite flower wall.

With the flowers and protection in hand, he returned to Building 219, made his way to the second floor, only to find the master bedroom door tightly shut.

On the door, a sheet of white paper was posted, with black marker writing: [Do Not Enter, Huo Wen’an.]

It was only then that Huo Wen’an realized he’d been played.

His ardor suddenly cooled.

Holding his items, Huo Wen’an planned to make do in the study for the night, but the door opened behind him.

Huo Wen’an turned around in surprise.

Xu Xingguang leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the morning glory in Huo Wen’an’s arms, eyes warming slightly. "You went stealing flowers from You Jiaoyang again?"

Huo Wen’an replied, "Wanted to buy you roses, but the flower shop was closed, so I borrowed some morning glory from You Jiaoyang’s house."

"Huo Wen’an." Xu Xingguang sighed somewhat complicatedly, "If you’d only brought protection back tonight, you’d never be allowed in my room." She kicked the door open, "Come in and sleep."

Huo Wen’an understood Xu Xingguang’s intention.

Once inside, he tossed the shopping bag from his left hand onto the cabinet, and wove the morning glory vine in his right hand into a garland, placing it on Xu Xingguang’s head. "Beautiful."

Xu Xingguang glanced at herself in the mirror, skin like snow, face radiant and charming, with the blooming morning glories adorning her head, resembling a garden of roses waiting to be sealed and picked.

If she were a man, she’d find it hard to resist too.

Xu Xingguang remained silent, she walked to the bedside table, picked up her charging phone, and sent a WeChat message to Song Chi: [Tomorrow morning, departure delayed by two hours.]

"Huo Wen’an."

Huo Wen’an, slightly sweaty in his pajamas, was in the bathroom washing his face.

Upon hearing Xu Xingguang call him, he came out with a towel, standing with his bare upper body under the door, asking her, "What’s going on?"

Xu Xingguang studied his slightly thin but not frail frame for a moment, then suddenly said, "Don’t wash yet, do it after it’s done."

"Do what?" Huo Wen’an hadn’t caught on.

Xu Xingguang didn’t speak, just pursed her lips, silently looking at him.

Huo Wen’an caught on.

He was both surprised and bewildered, suspecting Xu Xingguang might be deceiving him, Huo Wen’an thoughtfully said, "Are you playing with me again?"

Xu Xingguang walked barefoot to stand in front of him, took off the garland on her head, stood on tiptoe to place it on Huo Wen’an’s head.

Then she wrapped her arms around Huo Wen’an’s neck, lightly kissed his lips.

Her kiss was a signal of affection given to him.

Huo Wen’an’s eyes quivered, he swiftly picked Xu Xingguang up, turning to put her on the cabinet beside him. Huo Wen’an leaned in, touching their noses together, voices intertwined, huskily asked her, "Really?"

Xu Xingguang directly snatched the towel from Huo Wen’an’s hand, covered his eyes with it, forbidding him from seeing her blushing body and shy appearance clearly.

"Huo Wen’an, kiss me."

Huo Wen’an restrainedly kissed her.

But he quickly lost control, leading Xu Xingguang into a whirlwind...

*

In Cangshan Town during summer, dawn comes early.

Knowing they had to set out for Capital City early today, Ye Mingluo and Cheng Yue woke up early, packed their luggage neatly, cleaning up Huo Wen’an’s house and yard as well.

Once finished, not seeing Xu Xingguang and Huo Wen’an come down, Ye Mingluo muttered, "It’s already eight o’clock, why haven’t Master and A Zui come downstairs?" Ye Mingluo said, "I’ll call them."

Song Chi picked up a stone and hit Ye Mingluo’s calf.

Ye Mingluo grimaced in pain, turned to glare at Song Chi, "Song Chi, did you ambush me?"

Song Chi glanced towards a certain room on the second floor of the neighboring building, said sincerely and earnestly, "The boss and uncle were busy last night, let them rest."

"Busy? Busy doing what?" Ye Mingluo said, "They came back at twelve last night, went to sleep that early, they should be up by now."

Cheng Yue, just returned from training at the foot of Cangshan, dressed in a vest and drenched in sweat.

She wiped her neck with a towel, smirked at Ye Mingluo, "You’re single, have no nightlife, doesn’t mean others can’t have nightlife?"

Ye Mingluo stared wide-eyed in shock.

Nightlife?

A Zui and Master both have nightlife?

Suddenly, Ye Mingluo felt incredibly alone.