Chapter 54 - Today, it was enough
"Do you think that worked?" asked Bai Renzhou worriedly as they watched The Grand Commander General's convoy speed away.
Helios Strategic Holdings was their trump card.
Huo Shen had painstakingly built it from the ground up, relying not on family power, but on his own competence. Every deal he won cost him his blood.
It had meant countless sleepless nights and high-risk negotiations. Bai Renzhou had seen it all. He watched Huo Shen drag his bruised, battered body from a wild "mission" the military would send him on, to another deal that would cement Helios Holding's place in the capital.
And yet, Huo Shen never gave up. He recognized the corruption at play in capital and wanted an equalizing power that could give the common man a voice.
Helios was still a fledgling organisation, born to even out the power dynamics. It was slowly gaining more ground. Ideally, they wanted to wait a few more years before coming out.
But today's situation was urgent.
Without Helios, it would've been hard to get the Commander to back off.
"Depends" answered Huo Shen cryptically. He knew his father well. Huo Jingchuan wouldn't dare to go against a powerful organization unless he could clearly see benefits.
Regardless of whether his involvement was suspected, at this time, it meant Huo Jingchuan wouldn't push further.
And that was the result Huo Shen wanted.
Actually, Huo Shen wasn't too worried about his father finding out he lead the mission. What could he possibly do? Make me give up Researcher Mo and the files to pave the way for Huo Yichen!
He had done that, and more in the past. But now, with her…
Huo Shen's breath caught at the memory.
He had woken up to a pair of beautiful eyes looking down at him with intense concentration. His meridians were pierced with needles and he couldn't really move.
But he could see. And despite the veil covering half her face, he recognized her instantly - it was Lu Mian. His Lu Mian. She was saving him again.
He watched her eyes, though clear and bright, were narrowed with terrifying intensity as she channelled her chi to clear his meridians. He watched as sweat beaded her forehead, showing how hard it actually was.
Her fingers were ruthlessly precise. Piercing and moving with care. Towards the end though, they trembled with effort. Yet, his Lu Mian didn't stop, she relentlessly continued on, her entire focus on him.
He was no master of Chinese Medicine. But he had spent enough time with Qingze to understand what was happening.
She was using Heaven's Kiss on him. It was a forbidden technique that was rumoured to have been lost in time. Essentially, the Acupuncture master would use their own internal energy to clear the meridians of their patient.
Not only did it need an insane level of mastery to perform. Masters refused to do it because it meant they would then be exploited endlessly…
So Masters typically kept it a secret and never divulged their expertise. With time, it became an obscure and even a mythical aspect of Chinese Medicine.
And yet, his wonderful girl had unhesitatingly stepped up… and exposed herself… for him.
Huo Shen's heart clenched with the realization.
If Huo Jingchuan knew about her heaven-defying talent, he would stop at nothing to control and use her. It was danger and trouble for his girl and that, to Huo Shen, that was unacceptable.
The quickest way to avoid that was by distracting Huo Jingchuan - and get him to stop looking further.
Helios… he had built it piece by piece with his blood and life. He would gladly serve it up as collateral if it meant protecting his girl. What is one Helios?! he scoffed. If it fell, he would build another. And another…
To Huo Shen this wasn't a compromise. It was a clear choice. Nothing would stop him from walking his path and pursuing his ideals. But the people whom he chose to protect - that was nonnegotiable.
While Huo Shen was lost in thought, his team had quietly filed in, waiting for more instructions.
They hadn't seen their boss this distracted, ever.
"Thinking of your wife, boss?" called Lin Ke cheekily.
Huo Shen turned with alarming speed. "What?" he snapped at Lin Ke, his eyes sharpening dangerously.
Have they all recognized her too? Huo Shen's fists clenched.
Lin Ke's smile faltered. "Er… yes. You called for your wife just now…" he stammered, suddenly aware he might've stepped on a landmine. "You thought the miracle doctor was her…"
His voice trailed off weakly.
Maybe this time he really had gone too far?!
Huo Shen took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter. Steadier.
"I owe the miracle doctor a life debt." he explained quietly. "You've all witnessed her genius. If even a whisper of her abilities is heard by the wrong person, her life will be hell" .
"This is not a command." his words landed heavily. " I cannot control everything you do. But I do ask, as a friend, as your brother, to keep this secret for me." he asked with sincerity.
The shift was subtle, but it shook them more than any display of power ever had. The famous Huo Shen, who wielded power as Aegis, who controlled the capital from the shadows - was asking. For her. To protect her.
Lin Ke flushed, instantly. He had indeed been really thoughtless then.
"You have my word" he promised resolutely, as the rest of the team nodded along. In the power game in the capital one wrong move would swallow you alive.
The Miracle doctor had responded to their call - and risked everything to save their boss. They would repay her great favor - by holding her secret, and protecting her.
"Thank you". Huo Shen inclined his head quietly.
"Rhino, ask Researcher Mo her plans and co-ordinate support. Helios Strategic Holdings will cover the rest of her project. Work with Renzhou to see what can be done."
"Everyone else, rest. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. We regroup as the Shadow division in a few days." he walked up to his room.
"I can help move her boss" offered Lin Ke, hurrying up the stairs, eager to make up for his overstep just now.
The miracle doctor had fainted with exhaustion after treating Huo Shen. Lin Ke had thought Huo Shen would put her in Lu Mian's room - because the Huo residence wasn't so big.
However, Huo Shen, despite his weakened condition had insisted on carrying the doctor - and put her in his own room, glaring if anyone came too close. Catching the hint, the rest of the team didn't intervene.
Except Lin Ke.
How did this idiot manage to stay alive till now wondered Falcon and wasn't simply beaten to death.
Huo Shen didn't stop or turn back. He caught Lin Ke by the collar and threw him cleanly down the stairs.
"You spend the night there" he ordered. "The rest of you find rooms" he grunted and turned away. Then paused. "Don't you dare disturb anyone else" he warned and walked into his room.
"He acts like a possessive husband" Rhino remarked, half- laughingly.
The team didn't comment.But that moment they realized how much he cared for the doctor. Maybe the 'wife' wasn't out of delirium at all.
Huo Shen had never had anyone on his side. They wanted their boss to find happiness too. Maybe this was it? However, the team respectfully stopped speculating.
Upstairs, Huo Shen shut the door, closing out the rest of the world so that it was just him. And her.
Lu Mian lay quietly on his bed, her breathing even. Her lashes rested against her cheeks, damp from sweat, strands of hair clinging to her temples.
The rest of her luscious hair spilled out across his pillow like black silk creating an erotic picture that almost brought him to his knees.
Her hair should be across my chest he thought wildly, jealous of the stupid pillow.
I would bury my head in her scent and wake up wrapped in her every morning. The sight of her on his bed wasn't something he could ever recover from.
Taking a deep breath to control his chaotic thoughts, he moved forward to adjust her veil slightly, so that she could breathe better. His hands adjusted the blanket around her shoulders.
He didn't touch her anywhere. He wouldn't - not without her consent and never when she was so young.
"Mianmian…" Her name left his lips like a confession. He had buried his feelings deep, thinking he could control his obsession. However, the second he saw her giving him so much trust, risking everything for him, his resolve shattered.
"Don't ever take such a risk again" he admonished her quietly, his heart clenching when he noticed her still trembling hands. There was no anger in his voice though - only raw surrender.
He sank down beside the bed - not fully sitting, nor fully kneeling. Just… close, drawn there by something he could no longer fight. "You're mine to protect" he informed her solemnly "and I won't allow it".
As though stirred by Huo Shen's thoughts, Lu Mian's eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first, then slowly regaining clarity.
Huo Shen's deep gaze swam into her view. Uncle Shen?!
Before she could blurt out what was in her mind, her thoughts sharpened and clarity set in. Her hand frantically went to her veil.
"Rest easy Doctor" Huo Shen told her gently. "The danger is past. Your identity is safe" You are safe his unfinished words hung in the air - though Huo Shen never voiced them.
"Thank you for your great kindness" continued Huo Shen quietly. "If ever you need anything, everything that I am, and I have, are at your disposal" he vowed.
Lu Mian's breath hitched, her eyes widening with recognition at his words. In any ancient and noble family, words of debt and gratitude weren't lightly spoken. Even a casual promise or a bet was immediately fulfilled.
Huo Shen's pledge just now was of the highest order. It wasn't just gratitude. In another era, his words would've bonded him to her, with her being the master.
Appalled at the gravity of his vow, Lu Mian struggled to sit up, her hair spilling around her wildly, the blanket falling off her. The top buttons holding her qipao loosened a bit, showing a delicate collarbone and tender white flesh.
Huo Shen's throat bobbed, his fingers curling to fists. She had no idea the havoc she wreaked on his senses.
"I did what I should" she said hastily "I can…"
"I don't retract my vow" Huo Shen interjected quickly. "The doctor is welcome to make any demands - and that won't affect my vow. For now, I request you rest here. Tomorrow, I can send you back safely"
Huo Shen knew that this was the best way - giving her the option to slink away to her room at night.
Lu Mian's identity wouldn't be exposed and his girl would still be able to rest.
Lu Mian, realizing the same thing, quickly nodded her head.
"Sleep then" he told her, his hand gently smoothing her hair back. "Everyhting else can wait".
"You rest too" she told him, as tiredness pulled at her. Lu Mian's fingers automatically curled around the edge of Huo Shen's jacket, and slid a bit to clasp his hand close to her. Then, like a tired kitten she went back to sleep.
Huo Shen didn't have the ability to move his hand away. Maybe, if he was a lesser man, he would've given in to his impulse and curled up around her, under some flimsy excuse.
Then, he could've held her close the whole night, with her hair playing on his chest like he longed for.
But he was Huo Shen after all - a man of principles. No matter how raw his desires were, he would never violate his girl's trust.
Instead, he simply pulled a chair closer to the bed and settled to spend the night next to her. Maybe this is as close he can get to her in this life. Today, it was enough.