IJLHTW - 17

The four of them got into Yi Zecheng’s car.

Yi Duanduan was so excited that she nearly jumped around in the backseat, pointing ahead and shouting loudly, “Second Brother, hurry up, they’re catching up!”

Yi Zecheng was an excellent driver. From the moment he started the car to speeding off, it only took a few seconds, and he even squeezed through the narrow space between two cars.

Once on the road, it was midnight, and there wasn’t much traffic.

The Maybach drove smoothly all the way until they were far away from the bar before slowing down.

“Sister, you were amazing just now! How did you think of using the fire hose to spray them?” Yi Chenxi exclaimed with laughter, clearly thrilled.

Han Yao wanted to cover her mouth but refrained—he knew who was driving the car.

Sure enough, the car pulled over to the side of the road and stopped.

Yi Zecheng turned to look at her, his expression icy, silencing her immediately.

“Yi Chenxi,” his voice was deep and carried a heavy warning. In the dim interior of the car, it sounded terrifying.

Yi Chenxi had always been afraid of this older cousin. She never expected Han Yao would bring him to catch her. If she had known, she definitely wouldn’t have turned off her phone or ignored their calls.

Her earlier excitement completely vanished.

She lowered her head, looking repentant.

But if Yi Zecheng could be fooled by such pitiful acts, she wouldn’t fear him so much. Yi Chenxi was the youngest girl in the Yi family and had grown up pampered. Even when she caused trouble, she had several older brothers to protect her. But Yi Zecheng, from a young age, didn’t fall for her tricks. When it came to discipline, his stern face made her want to kneel and confess her mistakes.

“Clubbing?”

“Fighting too?”

The car fell into a suffocating silence. Huo Ci quietly hugged the large coat around her. It was thick and warm, though the cuffs were a bit wet—she hadn’t rolled up her sleeves when she grabbed the fire hose earlier.

“I didn’t…” Yi Chenxi’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Don’t lecture her. She wasn’t fighting with others—they were bullying her.”

Huo Ci couldn’t help but speak up for her.

Yi Chenxi looked at her with gratitude, “Sister, you’re truly beautiful inside and out.”

“No worries, I’ll testify for you,” Huo Ci said kindly this time.

Han Yao, sitting beside Yi Chenxi, couldn’t help but laugh. But after laughing, he quickly shut up.

Because Yi Zecheng suddenly pushed open the car door and got out himself.

The three left in the car exchanged glances.

Yi Chenxi looked miserable, asking, “Is Second Brother mad at me?”

“What do you think?” Han Yao smacked her head, irritated. He couldn’t resist lecturing, “Do you think those bars are clean? If Brother Zecheng hadn’t shown up just now, your beautiful sister might have been drugged. You little brat, how dare you go clubbing? If your father finds out, he’ll punish you with family rules.”

Huo Ci, who was mentioned, didn’t get angry.

Because at that moment, she was busy watching Yi Zecheng outside the car.

After getting out, he stood by the roadside and lit a cigarette. His coat was on Huo Ci, so he was only wearing a white shirt, his broad back upright and strong. The shirt tucked neatly into his pants, paired with long, straight legs.

Soon, he walked towards a nearby store.

Thinking about her strict father, Yi Chenxi wished she could jump out of the car, hug Yi Zecheng’s leg, and beg for mercy.

But she knew her acting skills weren’t enough to move her cold-hearted second brother.

“Sister, are you my second brother’s girlfriend?” Yi Chenxi asked curiously.

At the bar entrance earlier, Yi Zecheng had carried her downstairs. Yi Chenxi was genuinely startled. Her second brother’s personality was like an iron tree—rarely blossoming. Growing up, she followed her older brothers, delivering love letters for them and acting as a shield.

She had never seen her second brother date anyone.

Since childhood, countless girls tried to befriend her just to see her second brother. But he was like a snow-capped mountain—beautiful yet cold, every corner of his face exuding frost.

Asked like this, Huo Ci couldn’t help but lift her head.

She asked with interest, “Does it look like it?”

“Yes, very much. But Sister, you’re so beautiful. How did you fall for my second brother?” Yi Chenxi admired the beautiful older sister in front of her and felt a bit sorry. Though it was rushed earlier, when this older sister stood at the restroom door with the water hose, she looked incredibly cool.

Seeing her undermining him, Han Yao immediately warned, “Yi Duanduan, stop talking nonsense. Or else when Brother Zecheng comes back, you’ll face the consequences.”

Han Yao still cared for his brother and wouldn’t let this little girl talk nonsense.

Back in Haiyan, on the way home, Han Jingyang and he hadn’t let Yi Zecheng off either. After all, he was the one who went to rescue her and stood up for Huo Ci. But Yi Zecheng simply said he was worried she’d get hurt and found it troublesome to replace someone at the last minute.

Who were they? If they really wanted to save someone, they wouldn’t need to step forward themselves.

Scared by his warning, Yi Chenxi quickly stuck out her tongue and smiled, “Sister, don’t listen to my nonsense. Actually, my second brother is a good person. Look how handsome he is.”

Huo Ci thought of that handsome, cold face and nodded seriously, “Mm, handsome.”

“Exactly. My second brother has always been handsome. Since we were kids, countless girls liked him. But Sister, don’t worry. My second brother is definitely pure,” Yi Chenxi babbled on, a habit she picked up from the boys in the courtyard. She learned nothing good from them.

So Han Yao quickly covered her neck and told her to shut up.

It was making things worse.

At this moment, Huo Ci noticed Yi Zecheng coming out of the 24-hour convenience store on the street. He held a white plastic bag in one hand and kept the other in his pocket. His tall figure stood out strikingly on the empty midnight street.

When the car door opened again, a gust of cold wind rushed in.

Huo Ci couldn’t help but tighten her arms around herself; her cuffs were still damp.

After Yi Zecheng sat down, he turned on the car light. Then he took out a box from the bag. Huo Ci looked closely—it was Red Flower Oil.

“Why did you buy this, Second Brother?” Yi Chenxi asked curiously.

Han Yao sighed inwardly, wondering where this little troublemaker got so many questions.

Yi Zecheng was opening the box when he heard her question. He glanced up at her, his usually calm eyes showing a hint of emotion, “Why didn’t you notice her sprained ankle when she was fighting?”

His tone was calm, as if stating a simple fact.

Yi Chenxi immediately screamed “Ah!” almost deafening Huo Ci. Looking at the quiet man beside her, these two were truly not alike.

“If you scream again, get out,” Yi Zecheng unscrewed the cap, his voice heavy with disapproval.

Han Yao quickly covered her mouth, no longer daring to let her speak.

Yi Zecheng glanced at the person in the passenger seat. The coat wrapped around her was clearly oversized. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she bowed her head, lost in thought.

When he handed her the Red Flower Oil, he asked, “Can you apply it yourself?”

“I can’t,” Huo Ci looked up at him, her dark eyes shining brightly.

Yi Chenxi behind them quickly pried Han Yao’s hand off and complained, “Second Brother, just help Sister apply it. You’re a doctor. Saving lives and healing injuries is your duty.”

Yi Chenxi proudly told Huo Ci, “Sister, don’t worry. My second brother is the best doctor.”

Huo Ci smiled softly. She knew that.

But her smile stunned Yi Chenxi. Coming back to her senses, she pointed excitedly at Huo Ci and shouted, “No wonder I thought Sister looked familiar. You’re Huo Ci?”

“You’re Huo Ci,” Yi Chenxi grabbed Han Yao’s hand, her nails digging into his palm. He winced in pain.

The little girl was truly excited. After all, discovering that the older sister who saved her from the sky was her favorite photographer would make anyone ecstatic.

And Huo Ci even helped her fight.

Huo Ci had encountered fans in her life, but she didn’t expect Yi Chenxi to be one of her fans.

She felt both amused and helpless. The girl was obviously too excited.

“Huo Ci is going to be my sister-in-law. I must be the happiest fan in the world,” Yi Chenxi said, covering her mouth, afraid that one deep breath would wake her from this beautiful dream.

Yi Zecheng frowned upon hearing this.

But when he glanced at the person in the passenger seat, she had already turned to Yi Chenxi in the backseat and made a shushing gesture. Her long, fair fingers resembled tender bamboo shoots. Placing her fingertip on her pink lips, she softly coaxed, “Shh, don’t tell anyone.”

“I understand, I understand. You’re famous, and your relationship can’t be known by others,” Yi Chenxi quickly reassured her.

Though Huo Ci had a cold personality, she liked lively, unpretentious girls like this. Their crisp words and cheerful demeanor were endearing.

Yi Chenxi trembled with excitement, immediately saying, “Sister-in-law, I love the magazine spreads you’ve shot. Even your casual selfies on Weibo look like professional photos.”

Girls naturally admire beauty.

Yi Chenxi stumbled upon Huo Ci’s photos by chance and was awestruck. Later, she followed Huo Ci on Weibo and wanted to confess her admiration daily.

Huo Ci smiled, “If you like them, I’ll take some pictures for you later.”

“Really?” Yi Chenxi’s scream nearly broke through the car roof.

Huo Ci nodded, feeling quite pleased, “It’s a small matter. After all, we’re family.”

After saying this, Huo Ci felt the cold, slightly warning gaze from the man beside her. He had told her not to bother him, but what could she do if his younger sister liked her?

“Thank you, Sister-in-law,” Yi Chenxi said cheerfully.

Hearing the girl call her “Sister-in-law” repeatedly, Huo Ci turned to Yi Zecheng beside her and winked playfully.

She was clearly taking advantage of the situation.

“Yi Chenxi, go buy me a bottle of water,” the man who hadn’t interrupted them finally spoke in a low voice.

Yi Chenxi pointed at the bag he brought earlier and said, “But Second Brother, didn’t you just buy water?”

“I want you to buy it now,” Yi Zecheng said coldly.

Huo Ci: “...”

Yi Chenxi: “...”

Thus, Yi Chenxi obediently opened the door and got out, with Han Yao following her to buy water.

Huo Ci watched the childish man beside her with amusement.

Yi Zecheng looked at her with a raised eyebrow and asked indifferently, “Fun?”

“I couldn’t possibly break the little girl’s beautiful dream,” Huo Ci said innocently.

Yi Zecheng lowered his eyes, a mocking curve tugging at the corner of his lips, “You mean your beautiful dream wasn’t broken.”

Huo Ci raised an eyebrow and laughed outright, her eyes mischievous as she stared directly at him, “Are you flirting with me now?”

Yi Zecheng: “...”

Not satisfied with teasing him enough, Huo Ci boldly said, “Yes, that’s my beautiful dream.”

“So, Second Brother, what do you think of me?”