Wen Zhili’s cries of pain grew softer.
Though she didn’t answer, Huo Shengbai already knew the reason.
So he blew even more forcefully on her arm, hoping to soothe her discomfort.
Huo Shengbai thought she must have been frightened by a nightmare.
Even when Wen Zhili stopped crying and was only sniffling, he didn’t stop.
It wasn’t until Wen Zhili pushed his head that he paused and looked up: “What’s wrong?”
Wen Zhili said softly, “Stop blowing.”
Only then did Huo Shengbai stop. “Alright.”
Huo Shengbai saw her eyes swollen from crying, like a little rabbit’s.
His heart ached terribly, and he quickly used his fingers to gently wipe away her tears. “Does it still hurt?”
Wen Zhili shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
But the lingering fear in her eyes hadn’t completely faded.
Huo Shengbai said gently, “Do you still want to try to sleep?”
Wen Zhili replied, “I can’t sleep.”
Huo Shengbai stroked her head. “Then let’s not sleep for now. I’ll stay with you.”
Even after Huo Shengbai stayed with Wen Zhili for a long time, she still couldn’t fall asleep.
In truth, she was exhausted to the point of collapse—her eyelids growing heavier, her expression weary.
Huo Shengbai knew she desperately wanted to sleep but was still afraid.
Suddenly, he remembered a video he had seen not long ago of other parents comforting their frightened children.
Perhaps he could try it too—comfort his own treasure.
Huo Shengbai cradled Wen Zhili as if holding a frightened baby and carried her out of bed.
Like a parent soothing a crying infant, he began walking around the room, moving slowly while gently patting her back.
“Be good, my treasure. Don’t be afraid. It’s alright. I’m right here with you.”
“Nightmare, go away! Don’t disturb my treasure!”
…
Wen Zhili had never been treated like this before.
She had never known parental love since childhood.
In her past life, she had loved Huo Cheng wholeheartedly, only to be met with betrayal and disdain.
No one had ever comforted her like this.
Wen Zhili couldn’t help but press her head tightly against his neck.
Her unease and fear gradually dissipated like mist, carried away by his gentle whispers…
Unconsciously, Wen Zhili slowly closed her eyes.
This time, she drifted into slumber, her expression peaceful and serene, with no trace of fear between her brows.
But Huo Shengbai still didn’t dare to put her back on the bed too quickly.
Only after walking for nearly two hours did he gently and carefully lay her back on the bed.
Huo Shengbai gazed lovingly at the sleeping Wen Zhili.
Earlier, seeing her frightened and crying from the nightmare had filled him with both pain and fear.
He didn’t dare to sleep either, worried she might have another nightmare.
So, throughout the entire night, Huo Shengbai didn’t sleep, quietly guarding his treasure like a protector.
He silently repeated in his heart:
“May nightmares stay far away from my treasure.”
“May my treasure have sweet dreams.”
…
The morning sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the man and woman embracing on the bed.
Huo Shengbai gazed tenderly at the treasure in his arms.
Until the peaceful moment was abruptly broken by a sudden knock on the door.
“Miss Wen, it’s time for breakfast. Are you awake?”
It was the butler, who had come specifically to wake Wen Zhili.
Wen Zhili was roused by the noise, but even as she stretched lazily, she still couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes.
She wanted to sleep just a little longer.Huo Shengbai knew Wen Zhili liked to sleep in. Just like last time, he whispered softly by her ear, “Lili, sleep a little longer first. I’ll carry you to wash up.”
Wen Zhili didn’t hear him clearly, only nodding drowsily.
As long as he didn’t disturb her sleep, it was fine.
Whatever he wanted to do, she’d let him.
Huo Shengbai carried Wen Zhili to wash up, dress, and comb her hair.
This time, his movements while combing her hair were more skilled and gentle.
Ever since he had accidentally hurt her the first time he combed her hair, he had specifically practiced several times with a hairstyle model, following hair-combing tutorial videos, finally learning how to properly comb a girl’s hair.
Huo Shengbai’s touch was so gentle this time that combing her hair no longer hurt Wen Zhili.
By the time Huo Shengbai knelt on one knee to help her put on her shoes, Wen Zhili’s drowsiness had mostly faded.
Wen Zhili rubbed her eyes.
Actually, throughout this process, she wasn’t completely unaware.
After all, she was alive.
It was just that she was really sleepy.
Moreover, she had always been a lazy person by nature. Since Huo Shengbai was willing to serve her, she simply let him do as he pleased!
Huo Shengbai smiled gently at Wen Zhili. “Good morning, my little princess. You’re finally awake.”
Wen Zhili replied with an unnatural expression, “Good morning.”
Before fully waking up, she hadn’t felt embarrassed.
But now that she was awake, embarrassment crawled from the soles of her feet all the way to the top of her head.
Her toes could practically dig out a magical castle.
Just as Huo Shengbai was about to go out with her, Wen Zhili suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Wait in the room first!”
After opening the door, she first checked left and right. Seeing no one else around, she then waved to Huo Shengbai inside the room. “Alright, you can come out now.”
Huo Shengbai found it amusing but walked out calmly.
The nervous and guilty Wen Zhili kept her distance from him. “I’ll go downstairs first! You… come down later! Let’s stagger the timing.”
Huo Shengbai obediently replied, “Yes, my princess.”
Wen Zhili didn’t dare to look at him any longer and quickly ran off.
Huo Shengbai headed toward his own room.
A moment later, Huo Cheng happened to run into Huo Shengbai head-on.
Looking nervous, he respectfully bowed to Huo Shengbai. “Good morning, Uncle.”
Huo Shengbai gave a perfunctory “Hmm” and, as usual, left with a cold expression.
If Wen Zhili had been present, she would have definitely seen that the gentle man she usually saw was completely different in front of others—cold and aloof.
He exuded an icy, powerful aura that made people afraid to look directly at him.
Only after Huo Shengbai had completely disappeared from his sight did Huo Cheng take a deep breath.
Every time he saw this uncle, he felt like a mouse encountering a cat, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Since childhood, he had known exactly what a terrifying presence this uncle, only six years older than him, was!
After growing up and witnessing his uncle’s ruthless and decisive methods, he became even more fearful of him.
Huo Cheng also prepared to go downstairs to the dining room for breakfast.
After taking a few steps, he suddenly realized something.
Wait—
The direction Uncle had just come from didn’t seem to be his own room, but rather Wen Zhili’s room.
Huo Cheng soon scoffed at himself.
What was he even thinking!
Uncle must have just been passing by that area.How could he possibly be involved with Wen Zhili?
When Huo Cheng arrived at the dining room, he saw Wen Zhili already seated at the table.
She was wearing a pure white dress today, sitting there quietly, exuding an elegant and gentle aura.
Huo Cheng was momentarily stunned, the phrase “pure white jasmine” flashing through his mind.
After glancing at his grandfather, Huo Cheng took the initiative to walk toward the seat next to Wen Zhili.
But as soon as he sat down, Wen Zhili smiled and said to Grandpa Huo, “Grandpa, let me make you a cup of tea.”
Grandpa Huo nodded with a smile. “Alright, thank you, Zhili.”
Wen Zhili got up to make a cup of tea, and when she returned, Huo Shengbai was sitting in her original seat.
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as she wasn’t sitting next to Huo Cheng, it was fine.
After all, who would want to sit next to a pile of dog shit while eating?
Wouldn’t that be disgusting?
Wen Zhili also didn’t dare to sit next to Huo Shengbai.
She was afraid he might do something inappropriate again, just like during last night’s dinner.
So this time, Wen Zhili deliberately sat one seat away from Huo Shengbai.
Seeing that Wen Zhili still wasn’t sitting next to him, Huo Cheng could only suppress his frustration in silence.
There was nothing he could do—after all, his uncle had just taken Wen Zhili’s seat.
He didn’t dare to ask his uncle to move so Wen Zhili could sit next to him.
Huo Shengbai glanced at Wen Zhili, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness and affection.
Just then, Huo Cheng received a phone call—it was from Wen Yuxuan.
After listening to Xuan’er’s tearful complaints, his expression suddenly changed, and he glared angrily at Wen Zhili.
After finishing breakfast, Wen Zhili prepared to leave.
As she walked through the garden, Huo Cheng’s voice came from behind her. “Wen Zhili, stop right there!”
Wen Zhili frowned, not wanting to pay any attention to Huo Cheng.
But Huo Cheng forcefully grabbed her wrist. “Why didn’t you open the door for me last night?”
Wen Zhili replied coldly, “I didn’t hear you.”
Huo Cheng’s face darkened, his eyes filled with disdain as he sneered, “Wen Zhili, anyone who doesn’t know better would think you’re some chaste and virtuous woman! Putting on an act in front of me while playing games behind my back—your push-and-pull tactics disgust me!”
What was wrong with Huo Cheng now?
Wen Zhili took a deep breath, feeling sick to her stomach. “Huo Cheng, stop deluding yourself! I don’t love you anymore, do you understand? Get lost!”
Huo Cheng sneered. “Hah! Still pretending, huh? Xuan’er told me everything! You actually dared to threaten Xuan’er in private, telling her to persuade me to sleep with you once, or else you’d kick her out of the Wen family and send her father back to prison…”
Huo Cheng continued, “Wen Zhili, let me tell you—I’d rather sleep with a dog than with you…”