IJLHTW - 12

Han Yao held the keys as if they were a hot potato.

Serves him right for running his mouth.

But now, looking at Huo Ci again, it wasn’t like she was trying to bribe anyone. He genuinely thought she was a good girl. Righteous—when her agent got into trouble, she came without hesitation despite knowing it was a setup. Generous—he just said one thing, and she casually tossed the car keys over. And she didn’t say “take it,” she said, “Go ahead and drive it.”

She treated him like a friend.

At first, Han Yao thought this girl was too cold, but now he realized that some people might seem cold on the surface, yet their hearts were warm.

While some were moved by her actions, others spoiled the moment.

Yi Zecheng coldly watched her and indifferently said, “You don’t need to thank me. I was just worried you’d hurt your hand and wouldn’t be able to hold a camera.”

After hearing this, even Han Jingyang standing nearby wanted to hit him on the head. No wonder this guy had been single forever. With his millennium-long icy demeanor, what girl could endure him? Earlier, Han Yao had said so much, originally thinking he was unwilling to help, but after collecting the mahjong tiles, before they even realized it, Yi Zecheng had already stood up and left.

Stubborn as always.

But Huo Ci had anticipated this response and wasn’t offended. She smiled at him and spread her arms, “Don’t worry, my hands are fine. Later, I’ll definitely take some good photos for you.”

Look how great she is, agreeing with whatever he says.

…

Bai Yu helped Aly back and thanked Yi Zecheng with deep gratitude, “Mr. Yi, thank you so much this time. Please do us the honor of letting me treat you and your two friends another day. I’ll host it properly to thank all three of you.”

“No need,” Yi Zecheng glanced at him.

Han Jingyang’s driver had already brought the car around. Yi Zecheng and Han Yao both rode in his car today. Just as Yi Zecheng was about to leave, he suddenly stopped and turned back, frowning at Bai Yu.

“Just don’t cause her any more trouble.”

This man was always like this—few words, concise. But this time, his conciseness carried an ambiguous tone.

After the car drove away, Huo Ci still stood there, her eyes and smile filled with warmth. Bai Yu called out to her, and she turned to look at him, proudly saying, “I told you, he likes me.”

Bai Yu: “….”

Even he couldn’t resist throwing cold water on her optimism: “He’s just afraid you’ll break your hand and have to find another photographer.”

Why didn’t he know this girl could also be overly sentimental? But then again, knowing Huo Ci all these years, he had never seen her act this way with anyone. This was her first time falling for someone, and she picked such a difficult challenge.

Thinking about this, Bai Yu felt a pang of sympathy.

Huo Ci snorted and flicked the keys in her hand, which Han Yao had shoved back into her hands when he left.

“Get in the car; let’s take her home.”

Initially, they planned to ask for Aly’s address, but Huo Ci discovered that she lived with Bai Yu. She frowned and asked, “How did you get mixed up with a woman?”

Bai Yu’s sexual orientation wasn’t a secret.

“This reckless person is my cousin. She dropped out of high school because she couldn’t handle studying anymore. When she heard I was a model agent, she insisted on coming to Beijing to become a model. You know, my father passed away early, and when I was young, my two uncles took care of me. So when she wanted to come, I had to take care of her. If it were anyone else, even if they died here, I wouldn’t bother to look.”

Bai Yu gritted his teeth in frustration.

Huo Ci, driving the car, finally understood. No wonder Bai Yu had been pushing Aly recently. As a photographer, she could immediately tell the potential of these models. Although Aly had decent height, her limbs were too stiff, and her performance in front of the camera was lacking compared to other models Bai Yu had signed.

But for this cosmetics ad, he pushed Aly forward wholeheartedly because of their relationship.

“Xiao Ci, thank you so much this time. I’m the one who dragged you into this mess,” Bai Yu reflected, still feeling fear in his heart.

Xia Yuanhang hadn’t given up on Huo Ci, and that blond-haired guy Cao Yang—last year, a young model nearly died because of him. Though agents sometimes made their models accompany clients for drinks, they wouldn’t push them into dangerous situations.

People like Cao Yang were cursed behind their backs. Whenever there was a dinner party involving him, no one would send their own people.

Bai Yu didn’t know how Aly got mixed up with Cao Yang, but after she sobered up, they would figure it out.

Huo Ci ignored this topic and asked, “So you’re not against me going to Africa with him anymore?”

Bai Yu laughed bitterly. It was surprising that she still remembered this matter. Now that he owed Mr. Yi a favor, how could he oppose it? He waved his hand, “If I opposed it now, I’d be an ungrateful bastard. Besides, has my opposition ever mattered?”

These days, he had declined so many jobs.

When they arrived at Bai Yu’s apartment building, the two men helped Aly upstairs. Huo Ci was about to drive away when Bai Yu called out awkwardly, “Xiao Ci, why don’t you come up with me?”

Huo Ci coldly looked at him.

Bai Yu whispered, “It’s inconvenient for two men to handle a girl.”

Huo Ci sneered, slammed the door, and reluctantly followed them up.

Bai Yu was from out of town. He had mentioned before that he lost his father early. His mother raised him alone, and now being able to buy a house in Beijing was quite an achievement. Huo Ci had visited his place once before—it was clean and warmly decorated. But now, entering the apartment again, women’s clothes were scattered all over the sofa, even bras.

High heels were strewn about near the entrance.

“I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t had time to tidy up,” Bai Yu quickly explained when he saw Huo Ci frowning.

Aly, still dazed, leaned on Meng Fan. Suddenly, she covered her mouth and felt like vomiting.

Bai Yu hurriedly helped her to the bathroom. Unexpectedly, inside wasn’t peaceful. When Huo Ci went in, she saw Aly pushing Bai Yu. Still drunk, her strength wasn’t enough, causing her to fall to the ground herself.

“Who asked you to interfere? I don’t want you to interfere…”

Her mumbled complaints and accusations filled the air.

Bai Yu was so angry he wanted to yell, but seeing her smeared makeup and disheveled hair, he felt a wave of pity. Just as he was about to help her up, Huo Ci entered and pulled him aside.

Huo Ci grabbed Aly’s arm and dragged her towards the shower.

With her strength, Aly’s body was like a sack being dragged across the tiles, causing Aly to scream in pain but unable to resist.

Once she pushed her into the shower, Huo Ci grabbed the showerhead, abruptly turned on the cold water, and directly poured it over the person on the floor.

It was early winter, and in the middle of the night, the icy cold water hitting her body caused Aly to roll on the floor, hugging her head, screaming pitifully loud enough for the entire house to hear. Even Meng Fan in the living room was startled by the commotion and rushed over to see. When he saw the scene, he couldn’t help but cross his arms.

“Ah, ah, ah, so cold, so cold,” Aly was completely soaked. She was already dressed lightly in a little black dress, exposing most of her chest, and the skirt hem, twisted up to her waist, revealed a black thong.

After five minutes of this, Huo Ci turned off the showerhead.

She looked down and sneered, “Do you want to continue making trouble?”

Aly, shivering and holding her chest, her lips turning purple, stared at Huo Ci in fear, who still held the showerhead.

“Since you’re not making trouble anymore, get up. I think you’re sober enough now,” Huo Ci coldly eyed her.

Aly didn’t dare provoke her and tried to climb up using the tiles. But her legs were weak, and the floor was slippery; she fell twice and couldn’t get up. The sound made Bai Yu and Meng Fan’s scalps tingle, and neither dared to go in to help her. They simply couldn’t afford to offend Huo Ci.

…

“She’s asleep,” Huo Ci closed the door and came out.

Bai Yu awkwardly said, “Tonight was really troublesome for you.” Earlier in the private room, it had been perilous. If Yi Zecheng and the others hadn’t arrived, they might have ended up in serious trouble.

Huo Ci coldly looked at him and glanced around his house—messy, very messy.

“You’re her cousin, not her father. Even if you were her father, there’s no obligation to take care of her for life. If you can’t handle her, don’t take this responsibility. This time, it’s just drunkenness; next time, it might be drugs.”

Huo Ci was indifferent to interpersonal relationships, so her words were already a sign of concern.

Bai Yu lowered his head and forced a bitter smile. Favors were debts. His uncle had treated him well back then. Now that he had some ability, he always thought of helping his family.

Seeing this, Huo Ci sneered, took the keys, and left directly.

**

During her work trip to Shanghai, Yang Ming contacted Bai Yu and asked if she was available in mid-December. Most of Huo Ci’s current work was almost complete, so Bai Yu cleared her schedule.

She stayed in Shanghai for five days, shooting an advertisement for a sports brand and two magazine covers. After two days of continuous work, she finally finished. On Friday evening, she flew back to Beijing.

As soon as she got off the plane, her phone started ringing incessantly.

She looked at the name on the screen, coldly observing, neither answering nor hanging up.

When the call stopped, she was about to put the phone back in her pocket when Bai Yu’s call came through again. She leisurely answered it. Upon connection, the voice on the other end urgently asked, “Huo Ci, where are you? Are you back in Beijing? Why isn’t Meng Fan with you?”

“Meng Fan is from Chongming. Since we’re in Shanghai, I gave him a two-day holiday.” In fact, Meng Fan’s family called because his father had heart discomfort and was hospitalized in Shanghai these days. Huo Ci had already given him leave, and these days, she handled everything herself.

Bai Yu didn’t inquire further and hurriedly said, “Your mom is sick. Go check on her. Their calls have been non-stop. I told them you’re on the plane right now.”

This “aunt” referred to Huo Ci’s biological mother.

Huo Ci lowered her eyes. Below her was the shiny floor of the airport. She asked, “Did they issue a critical condition notice?”

On the other end, Bai Yu was stunned, thinking she was worried, and comforted her, “No, they haven’t issued one.”

“Then why are you calling me?”