IJLHTW - 14

When the gentle prelude began to play, Huo Ci, wearing a white high-necked sweater, couldn’t help but raise her head.

She hadn’t expected them to play this song—it was an old one.

Lowering her head, she noticed the untouched dessert in front of her. She had long outgrown her fondness for sweets. Nostalgia truly was a terrible habit; over the years, she had discarded so much. Yet some things simply couldn’t be thrown away.

The young girl in a black apron brought over the hot cocoa. Huo Ci looked up at her and said indifferently, “I didn’t order this.”

“A gentleman ordered it for you,” the enthusiastic girl placed the red mug in front of her, with colorful marshmallows floating atop the creamy foam.

The aroma of hot chocolate wafted toward her.

Huo Ci remained silent. The girl continued, “And this song—he requested it for you too. Your boyfriend is really sweet. So don’t be mad at him anymore.”

Boyfriend?

There was only one person in this world who knew she liked this song.

But he would never appear here.

“The gentleman was afraid you’d be upset, so he insisted I bring the cocoa after he left. So, Miss, don’t be angry with him. Call him—maybe he hasn’t gone far yet.”

The girl must have watched too many Korean dramas, imagining misunderstandings between lovers who couldn’t express themselves due to pride.

And in their little dessert shop, they had witnessed plenty of such scenes. Just a few days ago, a couple had argued so loudly that the staff almost called the police. But then the man pulled out a ring, hugged the woman tightly while kissing her speechless, and finally knelt down to propose. All the customers and employees in the shop applauded.

Huo Ci frowned. How could that be? He wouldn’t come back.

Back then, when she was on the verge of death, he hadn’t even turned his head to look.

Yet, staring at the red mug before her, she recalled how she used to drink hot cocoa whenever she was feeling down. Its sweetness carried a hint of bitterness, which as a child, she thought mirrored the taste of life.

Looking back now, it seemed so naive. Life couldn’t possibly be that sweet.

She picked up her coat from the back of the chair and stood up. She shouldn’t have come today.

Neither the hospital nor this place.

Seeing that she hadn’t touched the drink, the girl grew anxious and called out, “Miss, I think he sincerely wants to make amends.”

“You’re mistaken. I don’t have a boyfriend,” Huo Ci replied indifferently, her coat draped over her arm.

Opening the door, her car was parked right outside.

After getting into the car, she quickly started the engine and drove away from this old street steeped in memories.

**

“Let’s brighten the lighting a bit more. I think a brighter and softer light will enhance her skin tone,” the bespectacled agent standing nearby gestured enthusiastically.

Huo Ci lowered her camera, and everyone in the studio fell silent.

She rarely spoke, especially during photo shoots, maintaining a stoic expression. Now, she stared directly at the agent, “Why don’t you take the pictures?”

Today’s subject was Qin Ning, a popular young actress making her debut on the cover of five major magazines. From the moment the agent entered the studio, he had been nitpicking about everything—the temperature, the outfits provided by the magazine editors—all while offering unsolicited advice.

Qin Ning leaned against the white wall, posing. Hearing Huo Ci’s words, she straightened up in surprise.

The agent had heard of Huo Ci’s reputation but was collaborating with her for the first time.

Before he could explain, a cold voice cut through: “Get out.”

Thankfully, the magazine editor hadn’t gone live this time. Otherwise, tomorrow’s headlines would’ve been filled with this incident.

Though, thinking about it later, he felt a pang of regret. What a sensational scoop that would have been.

Bai Yu came to escort the agent out, who dared not offend Huo Ci.

However, Qin Ning became even more rigid afterward, clearly intimidated by Huo Ci’s sudden cold remarks. When Huo Ci asked her to change poses, Qin Ning awkwardly positioned herself with stiff movements, less relaxed than even an etiquette instructor.

“Miss Qin, let’s take a break,” Huo Ci clapped her hands, and someone immediately stepped forward to retouch Qin Ning’s makeup.

Huo Ci exited the studio and went outside, searching her pockets. She had forgotten to bring candy again. A hand extended beside her—Bai Yu held a few mint candies. Knowing her habit, he always carried the kind she liked.

Huo Ci took one, unwrapped the paper, and crunched it noisily in just a few bites.

The refreshing coolness of mint instantly filled her mouth.

“Feeling down?” Bai Yu observed her quietly. Though she usually remained silent during shoots, she rarely reprimanded others like this.

Huo Ci ignored him and popped another mint into her mouth.

Things were feeling off.

Seeing her lackluster demeanor, Bai Yu couldn’t figure out what was wrong with this diva. After much thought, he concluded it might be related to her mother. After all, the relationship between her and her mother was strained. Since he met Huo Ci, she had been like an orphan, with nowhere to go during holidays.

At first, she rented a place, but later, when she earned enough money, she bought herself a house.

Still, it felt empty.

“How about we grab a drink tonight?” Bai Yu didn’t know how to comfort her. Raised by a single mother, he valued maternal relationships deeply, though Huo Ci’s situation was different from his own.

Huo Ci kept tight-lipped about personal matters.

What Bai Yu knew about her family, he had learned from Liu Ruhuan.

He couldn’t say Liu Ruhuan was wrong, but deep down, he pitied Huo Ci.

This girl was too stubborn.

Sometimes stubborn to the point of frustration, yet there was nothing anyone could do about it.

“By the way, I asked about Aly. That Cao Yang was introduced to her by Nan Wan. Aly met Nan Wan at a bar, and Nan Wan showered her with gifts—a bag and even introduced her to a boyfriend.” Bai Yu felt embarrassed recounting this. His cousin was dumber than a pig.

Huo Ci stared ahead indifferently: “Idiot.”

Bai Yu glanced at her and chuckled bitterly, “I’ve scolded her already. I’ll tell her to stay away from Nan Wan.”

“I meant Ma Mengxia,” Huo Ci stood up from the grass.

The sunset was nearly setting, and they had been shooting for three hours—time to wrap up. Before entering the studio, she added, “Nan Wan targeted me. You all should stay away from her. I’ll deal with her sooner or later.”

Aly was just a small-time model without connections. If it weren’t for Bai Yu’s cousin, Nan Wan wouldn’t have given her a second glance.

Over the past two years, Nan Wan had gained significant attention, but with Huo Ci overshadowing her, resentment naturally brewed.

Seeing her cold gaze, Bai Yu nodded quickly.

**

In truth, Huo Ci had been thinking about the dessert shop incident these past few days—the person who ordered her hot cocoa and the song.

He wouldn’t return. He had walked away without looking back all those years ago and hadn’t returned since.

But if life could be easily predicted, how could there be so many surprises? When Huo Ci encountered Shen Sui’an, Mo Xingchen had invited her out for dinner. Initially reluctant, she agreed because her workplace happened to be nearby. She drove over.

Friday nights were crowded, and it took her a while to find parking.

The restaurant was on the seventh floor, a newly opened Japanese cuisine restaurant. Mo Xingchen loved Japanese food and was always eager to try new places.

Due to the crowd, Huo Ci opted for the mall’s escalator instead of the elevator.

On the third floor, she heard a woman’s gentle voice with a slight accent calling out, “Sui’an, over here.”

Huo Ci turned her head and saw Shen Sui’an.

Standing in front of the dazzling storefronts, he wore a brown wool coat, still as handsome as ever, with a faint smile that could melt an iceberg. The mall was hosting Christmas activities, festooned with lights and decorations, yet his elegant presence stood out amidst the chaos.

Huo Ci watched the woman in a white Chanel coat approach him gracefully, like a delicate bird.

She embraced his arm, and he gazed down at her tenderly. They exchanged smiles.

What a perfectly matched pair.

Huo Ci knew she should pretend not to see anything and leave. But her feet felt nailed to the ground, watching this harmonious couple silently.

Shen Sui’an had already turned to leave when, whether by fate or intuition, he suddenly raised his head and looked in her direction.

When he saw Huo Ci’s calm face, his expression froze in shock, rooted to the spot.

“Do you know her?” Lu Yongxin, speaking Mandarin with a Hong Kong accent, was originally from Hong Kong and had learned Mandarin for Shen Sui’an.

Seeing Huo Ci walk away, Shen Sui’an called out urgently and chased after her, unintentionally breaking free from Lu Yongxin’s grasp.

Shen Sui’an caught up and blocked her path, softly asking, “Xiao Ci, what are you doing here?”

Huo Ci raised her head, her expression calm and distant.

The words Shen Sui’an intended to say cooled completely upon seeing her demeanor.

“Are you alright? Xiao Ci, I heard you’re a photographer now,” his voice was gentle and soothing, though the words themselves were irritating, they somehow lacked malice.

Lu Yongxin followed and saw the girl’s face.

She was stunning. Lu Yongxin, usually proud and haughty, felt a twinge of admiration. Huo Ci wore a gray coat, black trousers, and a pair of brogue shoes, revealing her slender, fair ankles—the softest part of her otherwise hardened appearance.

Her demeanor was so cold and unyielding that even her beauty appeared somewhat severe. Her striking black-and-white eyes were slightly lowered, her thick lashes casting faint shadows like tiny fans. Her nose was straight and slightly upturned, adding a playful touch. Her lips were soft and full, naturally pink without any makeup.

“Sui’an, is this your friend?” Woman’s intuition told Lu Yongxin their relationship wasn’t as simple as friendship.

Suddenly, Huo Ci raised her head, her lips curling into a smile that seemed mischievous.

Her gaze swept over both of them indifferently, finally addressing Lu Yongxin, “Didn’t Shen Sui’an mention me to you?”

Hearing her matter-of-fact tone, Lu Yongxin felt uneasy.

Until Huo Ci said, “I’m his sister.”

Surprised, Lu Yongxin knew Shen Sui’an had a biological sister, but who was this?

Huo Ci didn’t keep her waiting long. Looking at Shen Sui’an, she said, “I’m the sister from his stepmother.”