Chapter 61 : Man’s Dignity

“W-What are you doing?!”

Song Ying replied seriously, “I’m going to apply medicine to you.”

Huo Zhen tightened his belt and shrank back onto the couch. “No need, I can do it myself.”

Song Ying looked at his lower abdomen. “But you still have a wound on your butt…”

Huo Zhen quickly covered his butt with one hand, blushing furiously. “How do you know I have a wound there?!”

Song Ying: “Xiaomi told me.”

Huo Zhen covered his face in embarrassment.

He cursed Xiaomi in his heart. ‘How could he tell Song Ying something like that? Does he have no shame?!’

Song Ying said, “I’m half a doctor, and there’s no one else here.”

Huo Zhen refused, “No, no way. Just turn your back, I’ll do it myself.”

Song Ying didn’t press the issue. “But do you even know exactly where the wound is? Xiaomi said it’s really close to…”

Huo Zhen’s face turned even redder. “Ahhh! Don’t say another word, I know exactly where it is!”

‘Damn that Xiaomi, why did he have to go into so much detail?!’

The smile on Song Ying’s face widened. “Alright, alright, I won’t say any more. I’ll turn around. But if you can’t reach it, just call me.”

Huo Zhen: “I can definitely reach.”

Song Ying rubbed her sore cheeks and turned around. Behind her, she heard the sound of pants being taken off, followed by Huo Zhen’s sharp inhale as the ointment touched the wound.

“Does it hurt?” she asked.

Huo Zhen glared at her. “Don’t turn around.”

Song Ying: “I didn’t.”

Huo Zhen: “Even a slight glance is not okay!”

This was a matter of a man’s dignity!

Song Ying turned her head just a little. “Wow, I didn’t expect General Huo to be so shy.”

Huo Zhen: “If your butt were injured, would you let a man see it?”

Song Ying: “Hmm… I’d let Faer take a look.”

Huo Zhen: “Exactly!”

Song Ying reminded him, “Be sure to apply it properly especially near the outer edge—”

Huo Zhen: “Song Ying! Don’t say that again!”

Song Ying raised her hands. “Fine, fine.”

Still paranoid that she might peek, Huo Zhen said, “Go stand behind the screen.”

Song Ying: “You’re still not done applying it?”

Huo Zhen: “It’s not that easy!”

Song Ying sighed, “You’re so awkward.”

She actually called him awkward?!

Can a grown man just show his butt to a woman like that?!

While she waited behind the screen, Song Ying yawned and said sleepily, “I’m getting tired.”

Huo Zhen: “Just wait a bit more, I’m almost done.”

Song Ying sat down on a cushion, leaned sideways against the low table, and dozed off.

After a while, Huo Zhen finally finished. He pulled his pants back on and stepped out from behind the screen, only to see Song Ying had fallen asleep.

“Aying?”

“Hm?”

She was so sleepy she didn’t even open her eyes.

Huo Zhen carried her back to the couch and laid her down gently.

Just as he was about to get up, he felt something tug at his waist it turned out Song Ying had grabbed onto his belt.

Huo Zhen tried to loosen her fingers. “Aying, let go. If you don’t, my pants are going to fall off.”

“Mmm…” Song Ying frowned, tightened her grip, and turned over. The movement pulled Huo Zhen forward, and he had to brace himself with his arms on either side of her.

“Aying…”

His beloved was right beneath him, and Huo Zhen could even smell her faint floral scent.

It was the fragrance of Ji Yuefang blossoms.

He swallowed, closed his eyes, and finally managed to gently pry her hand loose.

“Phew…”

There was still enough space for another person on the couch. Huo Zhen hesitated, but in the end, he picked up a quilt and headed off to Fu An’s place.

After waking up, Fu An’s mood could only be described as chaotic. When he opened his eyes early in the morning and saw Huo Zhen’s face, he nearly jumped up and screamed.

Huo Zhen had just woken up too. He stretched, yawned, and patted his good brother on the shoulder. “Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost? Am I really that scary?”

Fu An, wearing a sullen expression, shook his head. “Brother, why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to…” ‘Shouldn’t you be sleeping with ‘sister-in-law’?’

Huo Zhen got up and stretched lazily. “Oh, I was worried my snoring would disturb her, so I came over.”

Fu An blinked in confusion. “Brother, you’re quite considerate.”

Huo Zhen grinned. “Of course.”

Fu An slapped his own face with both hands. “Brother, shouldn’t you go back and check on Boss Fang? What if he fell off the bed or something…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Huo Zhen had already bolted out.

“You’re right! If he wakes up and doesn’t see me, he’ll definitely start looking all over for me”

Fu An held his forehead. ‘He’s completely exposed now…’

Song Ying slept in until she woke up naturally. Not seeing Huo Zhen in the tent, she assumed he must have gone out early for something.

“You’re awake?”

Seeing Huo Zhen walk in, Song Ying asked, “Where did you go?”

Huo Zhen: “I went over to Fu An’s. Did you sleep well last night?”

Song Ying nodded, “Pretty well. You didn’t snore last night.”

Huo Zhen hesitated a moment. “That’s because I slept at Fu An’s place last night.”

Oh, that explained it.

After washing their faces and rinsing their mouths, the two of them had breakfast together before Huo Zhen went off to take care of business.

Song Ying stayed in the tent reading and studying.

After lunch, Chen Hong arrived with Faer and Xiaomi in tow.

Song Ying went to meet them outside the military camp gate.

Faer immediately threw herself at Song Ying and hugged her tightly. “Miss, I missed you so much”

Seeing how pitiful she looked, Song Ying asked gently, “What’s wrong?”

Faer glanced behind her at Chen Hong and complained, “Boss Chen is so annoying. He kept talking all night and didn’t even give us any midnight snacks.”

Chen Hong scratched his ears and said, “Hey now, Xiaofa, I heard that! What do you mean I didn’t give you snacks? Eating late at night isn’t good for your health!”

Faer cried out to Song Ying, “Young Master, look at him!”

Song Ying had always doted on Faer. The little girl could never stand being hungry. Whether at the Marquis’ Mansion or at Xiaohanju Residence, Song Ying always had midnight snacks prepared for her, and she would reheat them in the kitchen whenever she got hungry.

Song Ying said to Chen Hong, “Xiaofa has had a habit of being hungry since childhood. If he wants to eat, I hope Boss Chen can be flexible. I’ll pay for his meals.”

It was the first time Chen Hong had seen a man spoil his servants so much. He replied, “No need for that. Since you’ve said so, I’ll pay for his meals. Xiaofa, I’ll take you out for something good today.”

Faer beamed. “Okay! Thank you, Boss Chen!”

Behind Chen Hong, Xiaomi secretly winked at Song Ying.

Song Ying pulled Xiaomi aside and asked, “What’s going on?”

Xiaomi turned her back to Chen Hong and handed Song Ying a letter he had hidden in his clothes. “This is from the medicine shopkeeper.”

Song Ying tucked the letter into her pocket and, putting on a serious expression, said, “You and Xiaofa make sure to listen to Boss Chen’s instructions.”

Xiaomi nodded. “Got it. We’ll definitely behave and not cause any trouble for Boss Chen.”

Chen Hong overheard them and waved his hand. “It’s fine. Your people are all really well-behaved. By the way, when are you coming back?”

Just as Song Ying was about to answer, Huo Zhen strode over and shouted at Chen Hong, “What are you doing here?”

Chen Hong knew perfectly well that Huo Zhen didn’t like him and the feeling was mutual.

Still, Chen Hong straightened his neck and replied bravely, “I came to check if my little brother Fang has been bullied by you people!”

Huo Zhen stepped forward, grabbed Chen Hong by the collar, and growled, “What did you just say?!”