IJLHTW - 10

Haiyan — taken from the phrase “Heqing Haiyan” (a time of peace and prosperity).

It’s quite a unique name for an entertainment venue.

Huo Ci sped along in her car and managed to arrive within half an hour. At the entrance, she tossed her car keys to the valet and walked inside. Tall waiters stood at both sides of the doorway and immediately approached her, asking which private room she was headed to.

She wore a black leather jacket, black tight pants, and a pair of lace-up ankle boots. Her face was icy cold, looking less like someone there for fun and more like someone who came to pick a fight.

Luckily, the staff here were very perceptive; they had seen her driving in. Such a domineering car, a long-legged beauty stepping out with a cold, noble aura — definitely not someone shady. They guessed she was probably there because her boyfriend or husband was fooling around and she found out.

Thinking that, the waiter’s attitude grew even more respectful.

“Which room is 888?” she asked, her lips curling slightly — it was a pretty tacky number.

The waiter led her to the elevator. As the elevator doors slowly closed, he sneaked a glance sideways at the smooth, mirror-like elevator wall.

There were so many people coming and going here, even more beautiful women, but this one especially stood out.

When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, they had arrived.

The door opened and Huo Ci stepped out first.

This floor was relatively quiet. At the end of the wide corridor stood a pair of platinum-colored double doors. The corridor was covered with a deep red, handcrafted carpet, with elegant and noble patterns. The ceiling had a large crystal chandelier, along with orderly arranged magnolia-shaped lights.

The waiter saw she stopped and immediately made a gesture inviting her onward: Room 888 was to the left.

Just as she turned her head, the door to room 688 was pushed open, and someone stepped out holding a phone, apparently answering a call.

That person caught sight of Huo Ci’s back and paused in surprise.

The waiter knocked twice on the door, but the noise inside was loud enough to hear even through the door — booming music, a man shouting, a woman screaming. The atmosphere had already reached a boiling point.

As the door opened, the woman who had been dancing on the table stopped moving.

“Who told you to stop? Keep dancing, damn it,” a man sitting on a blue sofa, a cigarette dangling from his lips, said absentmindedly.

When he turned his head, he saw the person standing at the door.

Beautiful — truly fucking beautiful. Compared to her, all the women in the room could only be called cheap and ordinary.

Not only did the man lying down take notice, everyone else in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at Huo Ci.

“Well, our great beauty Huo Ci finally showed up. It’s been damn near impossible to see you,”

Huo Ci looked at the man standing up from the sofa — someone she recognized. Xia Yuanhang, a Beijing rich second-generation heir, with family assets worth billions, who liked to hang out with female celebrities. Always after long legs and slim waists.

Previously, Huo Ci had been photographing a female star, and he happened to be at the studio.

When he came in, he didn’t look at the star, but immediately noticed Huo Ci, who was wearing a white shirt and jeans that day. The shirt was tucked in at the waist for convenience during the shoot, showing off her long legs.

Xia Yuanhang stood behind watching her shoot — squatting, standing, turning sideways — those legs tightly wrapped in jeans, slender, long, and straight.

Not long after, Xia Yuanhang dumped the actress and started sending flowers to Huo Ci every day.

Huo Ci wouldn’t even spare such a person a sideways glance.

Xia Yuanhang wasn’t angry, just treating it as a game — he wasn’t that into women who were easy to get. But before he could try any of his usual flirtation skills, she disappeared.

Really disappeared. Not to avoid him, but reportedly went abroad for a shoot.

Two months passed with no news, and he had other women around, so Xia Yuanhang gave up.

Unexpectedly, today some blind idiot barged in, ready to have someone beat them and throw them out, only to find out it was her manager. Looking at these dull women around, and thinking of the cold and tough Huo Ci, it practically forced her to come here.

Seeing him, Huo Ci felt a slight relief inside.

These rich kids wouldn’t go so far as to cause a death.

“Huo Ci, welcome to come hang out. I’m genuinely inviting you,” Xia Yuanhang walked over. He actually had good looks and build — at least among the rich second-generation, he was top-tier.

Just too fickle, swapping women like changing clothes.

Huo Ci scanned the room and finally spotted Bai Yu and Meng Fan sitting on a double sofa at the other end, with two strong men in black standing beside them.

Neither of them had visible injuries, so they probably hadn’t been beaten.

She turned her head coldly and said, “Say it — what do you want to let them go?”

“Don’t be mad. I really wasn’t the one causing trouble today. It was your manager who barged in and insisted on taking away my friend’s female companion. You think we men here would just watch that happen?”

Xia Yuanhang lowered his head and saw her jet-black pupils.

Cold, sharp, and prickly.

Powerful.

Xia Yuanhang was almost getting hard under her gaze.

“It’s actually all a misunderstanding. Aili is currently dating my friend here. Your manager must have heard some rumors somewhere and misunderstood their relationship.”

Xia Yuanhang pointed to the side, where Aili was sitting beside a man dyed with blond hair.

The man’s hand was still around her waist.

Aili’s body swayed, and when she looked up, Huo Ci noticed something was off about her expression.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with what these rich second-generation circles played with. In the modeling world, many used those kinds of things. Several times when Huo Ci was taking photos, she saw models looking lethargic, with vacant eyes. The agent would come and tell her to take a break, take them outside, and when they returned, their spirits would immediately lift.

That was why she didn’t like attending parties in this circle.

Even if she did attend, she never drank easily.

“Xiao Bai isn’t an impulsive person. You know perfectly well what this guy has done,” Huo Ci said steadily as she looked at him.

“Just tell me how I can get them out today,” she asked again.

Xia Yuanhang noticed that although her voice was cold, it carried a unique kind of charm.

“How about you stay here with our Young Master Xia tonight, and then we’ll let these three go,” said a man in a blue sweater from behind, which was met with cheers and whistles.

“Being a photographer doesn’t make much money. Stay here tonight, and Young Master Xia will immediately gift you a Ferrari.”

One ill-intentioned voice after another rang out, but Huo Ci didn’t get angry—she just treated it as dogs barking beside her ears.

She glanced around and finally fixed her gaze on Xia Yuanhang. “My friend is waiting for me downstairs. If I don’t come down within half an hour, she’ll call the police. If the police come, there will be plenty of things inside this room for them to investigate.”

“Damn, you bitch, you don’t want the wine but will drink the penalty drink?”

Someone clearly panicked. Although they were rich, they weren’t above the law. If the police really showed up, most people here wouldn’t be able to escape.

Xia Yuanhang hadn’t expected her to be so ruthless and completely unafraid of offending him.

At this point, many people were restless—they could tell Huo Ci was not someone to mess with.

She hadn’t been afraid from the moment she entered. Those eyes were cold as ice.

All the women in the room combined probably didn’t have half her courage.

“Scared by a woman? Look at you cowards. Today, I’m not just going to hit someone; I’m going to kill someone,” a blond man suddenly jumped up from the sofa, grabbed a wine bottle, and smashed it hard on the table. Glass shards flew through the air, and the women dressed provocatively screamed and ran to the corners, clutching their heads.

The man grabbed the broken bottle and charged toward Bai Yu. If Xia Yuanhang hadn’t stopped him, he was going to attack Bai Yu.

Before Xia Yuanhang could say anything, Huo Ci rushed forward and kicked the man in the chin. The man was already somewhat drunk and did not expect such a move from her.

He fell back onto the sofa, howling loudly, and when he raised his hand, the broken glass pierced his palm.

“Hit her for me! Whoever hits her, I’ll give a million!”

The ladies inside the room were already in chaos, but the bodyguards standing in the corner exchanged glances.

Xia Yuanhang watched her deliver a flying kick, her slender, straight leg drawing a beautiful arc in the air.

“Who the hell dares to make a move?” Xia Yuanhang shouted just as the injured man pulled out his phone, presumably to call for backup.

The man, with bloodied fingers, pointed at Xia Yuanhang. “Today, I’m damn well going to kill her. I won’t care about anyone’s face.”

Xia Yuanhang furrowed his brows. Why did Huo Ci pick on him? This guy was important. The whole event was arranged because his company needed to curry favor with this man’s father. Though the father wasn’t very powerful, his position was important. He couldn’t afford to offend him lightly.

So Xia Yuanhang kept silent.

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open.

“Just hearing the noise from across the hall, this is really lively,” said a man at the door, wearing a red V-neck sweater with a pale pink checked shirt underneath. He was devilishly handsome and charming. He wasn’t alone; two others stood silently beside him.

Xia Yuanhang looked up and immediately smiled. “So it’s Lord Han! The neighboring room is yours? If I’d known earlier, I’d have come over to toast you.”

His smile was warm and a bit ingratiating.

Han Jingyang glanced into the chaotic room filled with smoke and noise.

But seeing the black-clad long-haired girl standing firmly there, he already knew who this was all about today.

Yi Zecheng had good taste.

When Han Jingyang stepped in, the blond man who was shouting about killing Huo Ci suddenly lowered his head.

Han Jingyang noticed the bloodied hand and asked with concern, “Hey, how’d you get that?”

The blond recognized Han Jingyang too. Though his family had some power, compared to Han, he was nowhere near. Han’s lineage had carried prestige for generations.

In the city’s top circles, they were the most legitimate branch.

“No big deal,” the blond smiled quietly. He was sober now and no longer confused enough to admit he was beaten by a woman.

“We’re all on the same side, no big deal. Tell me, what happened?” Han Jingyang asked, interested.

The blond then blurted out his complaint, looking at Huo Ci with nothing but resentment in his eyes. “It’s because of that damn bitch. Today, I’m going to kill her for sure.”

Han Jingyang chuckled.

Huo Ci hadn’t looked at Yi Zecheng once—she was dealing with the mess she’d caused herself.

But the man who had been silent all along now walked over.

He looked Huo Ci up and down. No injuries on her face, her clothes were clean—she hadn’t suffered any loss.

“What are you doing here?” His voice was as calm as ever, making it hard to guess their relationship. Then he said, “Wasn’t I told you were at home sleeping?”

That was flirtatious.

Like a couple talking.

Even Huo Ci was momentarily stunned, staring at him, but his handsome face remained expressionless.

Until he let out a barely audible sigh and reached out to hold her hand. “Still mad at me, huh?”