Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

She has a kind heart, but not too much.

Huo Wen’an really loves her character.

”When we have time, we’ll tear down this house and build a new one.” This place holds painful memories of Huo Wen’an’s childhood and teenage years, and keeping it feels distressing.

But Huo Wen’an said, ”Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Facing Xu Xingguang’s puzzled gaze, Huo Wen’an pondered, ”Cangshan Town has changed a lot these years. If my sister were still alive, this house would be the only thing unchanged in her memory.”

He wanted to wait a bit longer, to see if Huo Xin might return.

Xu Xingguang’s nose tingled with emotion, and she walked past Huo Wen’an towards the outside, ”Then let’s wait a few more years.”

Downstairs, Xu Xingguang took a tour around Huo Wen’an’s bedroom.

Huo Wen’an’s bedroom is genuinely small, with very few items inside, the only decoration being the pottery on the table by the window.

The day she moved to Cangshan Town, Huo Wen’an brought a similar bottle to her house as a guest, and thoughtfully placed a sprig of red plum inside.

Later, the plum withered, and Xu Xingguang replaced it with other flowers in the bottle, but something seemed to be missing.

Huo Wen’an entered the room carrying two cups of warm water, seeing Xu Xingguang examining those bottles and jars, he said, ”My sister made those; she learned together with Uncle Tao from the town.”

”They’re rather beautiful.”

Huo Wen’an handed the warm water to Xu Xingguang, walked over to the bed to sit down, stared at the ceramic ornaments on the table, and proudly said, ”Her IQ is low, her mind not very bright, but she’s very sensitive to colors, loves doodling and painting, and also enjoys making small crafts.”

”Do you like them a lot?” Huo Wen’an was quite generous to Xu Xingguang, he said, ”If you like, feel free to choose one, I’ll give it to you.”

Xu Xingguang reached out and picked up a boy figurine from the table, she caressed the little boy’s cheek, speaking ambiguously, ”I like it.”

It was a clay doll that Huo Xin made in the likeness of Huo Wen’an.

Huo Wen’an suddenly felt dry-mouthed.

He drank the warm water in the cup dry, but the heat within him showed no sign of subsiding.

He quickly stood up, carrying the cup while walking out, he said to Xu Xingguang, ”It’s ten o’clock, time to go back, I’ll take you home.”

Xu Xingguang held the clay figurine, carrying the water cup, followed behind Huo Wen’an to walk out, saying as she walked, ”I thought Boss Huo was going to invite me to stay overnight.”

Huo Wen’an stopped.

Xu Xingguang looked up, seeing Huo Wen’an turning around, his deep dark eyes quietly gazing into hers.

Huo Wen’an exerted the utmost restraint, diverting his gaze away from Xu Xingguang’s soft red lips.

Huo Wen’an turned his head and walked out, muttering to himself, ”It’s still a bit early, have to wait a bit longer.”

Wait for what?

Wait until his condition is under control, when he can live a few more years, then talk about it.

He truly likes Xu Xingguang, and his desire for her is genuine as well. But he doesn’t want to touch Xu Xingguang and then be unable to walk alongside her into the future.

If he can’t provide Xu Xingguang with a fulfilling future, then he mustn’t cross that line.

Xu Xingguang guessed Huo Wen’an’s intentions; she followed him all the way to the courtyard gate. Just as Huo Wen’an was about to close the gate, Xu Xingguang suddenly placed her left hand on the door.

The act of closing the door encountered resistance, he asked Xu Xingguang, ”Anything else?”

Xu Xingguang tiptoed, giving Huo Wen’an a light peck on the lips.

That kiss was brief and gentle.

Xu Xingguang quickly retreated.

Huo Wen’an stood there behind the courtyard gate, uncharacteristically a bit nervous, and somewhat incredulous.

Seeing that Xu Xingguang wasn’t leaving, his mouth spoke before his mind could control it, ”Want another kiss?”

”Pfft—” Xu Xingguang was amused.

”No more kisses.” Xu Xingguang waved her hand, turned around, and went back to her own little courtyard.

With a smile on her face, Xu Xingguang went upstairs, placed the clay figurine on the desk in her study. She went back to her room to take a shower, put on pajamas, applied a homemade mud mask, and sat on the bed playing with her phone.

Huo Wen’an sent her a WeChat message, it was a shy emoji.

Across the phone and the internet, Huo Wen’an finally regained his composure.

Xu Xingguang replied to Huo Wen’an with an emoji, it was a stick figure wearing a pink dress, it stood with hands on its hips continuously twisting, accompanied by text: [The taste of a man is quite nice].

Huo Wen’an was shocked by the cheeky emoji.

After calming down a while, he asked Xu Xingguang: [Going to sleep now?]

Xu Xingguang replied: [Going to sleep later.]

[What are you doing now?]