IJLHTW - 18

Yi Zecheng stared at the smiling face in front of him, seemingly determined to make her see he was helpless against her antics.

His eyes narrowed, and he called out sternly, “Huo Ci.”

“Hmm?” Huo Ci looked at him boldly, her gaze briefly flickering down to his waist. He still wore a simple white shirt and black pants, with a sleek black belt accentuating his figure. The metallic buckle shimmered faintly under the car’s light, exuding an alluring charm.

Huo Ci licked her lips, momentarily fantasizing about unfastening it for him.

“Are you reconsidering now?” Yi Zecheng frowned, visibly restraining himself.

Huo Ci widened her eyes innocently, puzzled. “Reconsidering what?”

“I told you at the gym—our relationship is strictly professional,” Yi Zecheng reminded her again, though his voice betrayed hints of suppressed emotion. As he spoke, she blinked up at him with feigned innocence and naivety.

Hearing this, Huo Ci tilted her head and chuckled softly, “Did I ever agree to that?”

Yi Zecheng faltered, then turned his head away in frustration.

The midnight streets were exceptionally quiet, with only occasional cars passing by. Inside the parked Maybach, the atmosphere grew even more serene. Huo Ci gazed at his profile—his features were impeccably refined, as if meticulously sculpted. His dignified countenance paired perfectly with his aloof demeanor, making him utterly captivating.

At this moment, it felt like a cat’s paw was teasing her heart—he sat so close to her.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Huo Ci deliberately asked.

Yi Zecheng ignored her.

“Then do you have someone you like?” she pressed on.

This time, Yi Zecheng turned his head toward the window, attempting to evade her question. But just as Huo Ci finished asking, she let out a soft, teasing laugh.

Her usual cold and sharp tone softened when addressing him, almost like a veil of mist caressing one’s soul.

Huo Ci knelt on the passenger seat, one hand gripping the backrest and the other resting on the car frame. Leaning forward slightly, she whispered, “Or am I not pretty enough?”

Feeling her approach, Yi Zecheng turned his head and found her delicate face mere inches away from his own.

The gentle glow of the overhead light bathed her face, giving it a porcelain-like luster. His darkened gaze carried a hint of threat as he commanded, “Sit back down.”

Huo Ci chuckled softly, taking the Red Flower Oil from his hand before leisurely sitting back.

She removed his coat, apologizing, “I got it dirty with the water hose earlier. I’ll wash it and return it to you later.”

Yi Zecheng remained silent as she crossed her legs on the passenger seat and looked up at him. “Don’t mind if I make myself comfortable while treating my ankle. Afterward, I’ll pay for the car wash.”

With that, she poured a small amount of the oil onto her palm and carefully applied it to her swollen ankle.

Her right foot rested on the plush leather seat, while her left lay flat with the sole facing Yi Zecheng. Her ankle had already reddened and swelled; even the slightest touch caused sharp pain.

A faint hiss escaped her lips. Earlier in the bar, she hadn’t noticed how much it hurt, but now the pain was excruciating.

Yi Zecheng glanced down and saw her dress slide up to her thighs, revealing a glimpse of black lace against her overly pale skin. She rested her chin on her knee, carelessly rubbing the ointment without looking.

Was that it?

Finally unable to bear watching any longer, Yi Zecheng furrowed his brow and pointed at her ankle. “You need to massage the oil in.”

Huo Ci glared at him incredulously. It already hurt just to apply it—now he wanted her to rub it?

Perhaps it was her bewildered expression or the sight of her creamy leg swaying tantalizingly before him that irritated him. He reached out and grasped her ankle firmly, instructing, “Turn around.”

Once both her legs rested on his lap, he retrieved the large coat hanging behind her and draped it over her legs for modesty.

Such an old-fashioned gentleman.

But Huo Ci watched him with interest, knowing full well that beneath his icy exterior lay a tender heart. And he was extraordinarily chivalrous—if she jumped out of the car, he would surely catch her.

Now he was even applying medicine for her.

Yi Zecheng poured some oil into his palm and pressed it onto her ankle, warning gently, “It might hurt a little. Bear with it.”

Huo Ci was lost admiring his beauty—his eyes resembling translucent glass. But the next moment, she recoiled in pain. Although Yi Zecheng quickly steadied her right foot, she instinctively kicked her leg.

“Damn,” Huo Ci rarely swore, but she had always been intolerant of pain. While other children cried briefly after falling, she would wail endlessly until her father cradled and consoled her for hours.

Yi Zecheng glanced at her indifferently, then began massaging her ankle. The once snow-white skin flushed red and warm under his ministrations.

“Yi Zecheng, are you doing this on purpose?” Huo Ci whimpered, overwhelmed by the pain.

The man naturally ignored her, but her palm had already clutched his shoulder through his thin shirt. The harder she squeezed his muscular arm, the tighter her grip became. Eventually, she ended up crying from the pain.

Real tears streamed down her face—not only from the throbbing ankle but also from the ache of clutching his arm too tightly.

“You’re as hard as a rock,” she complained, weakly punching his arm.

Yi Zecheng initially intended to tell her not to move, but upon seeing the teardrops clinging to her lashes, something within him inexplicably softened.

Without realizing it, his voice adopted a soothing tone. “Just bear with it a little longer. Once the oil is absorbed, its effects will take hold.”

Huo Ci tilted her head to look at him, feeling strangely flirtatious despite the pain. Extending her free left foot, she poked his thigh lightly and murmured, “Let’s talk to distract me, okay? It hurts too much.”

“Were you a doctor before?” Huo Ci asked.

Yi Zecheng paused mid-motion, prompting Huo Ci to lean closer slightly—a movement so subtle he didn’t notice.

“Did you work as a Médecins Sans Frontières doctor in Africa?” she continued.

As she leaned in again, unexpectedly, Yi Zecheng suddenly raised his head, bumping into her chin with a dull thud. Both froze momentarily. Concerned, Yi Zecheng straightened up to inspect her, asking, “Did you bite your tongue?”

Huo Ci had intended to surprise him, only to be caught off guard herself. Feeling embarrassed, she tried to pull away, hiding from his view.

Seeing her evade and remain silent, Yi Zecheng assumed she must have bitten her tongue. He reached out to pinch her arm gently. Amid their tussle, the rear door swung open with a crisp shout: “Second Brother, I’m back with the water!”

Yi Chenxi barely peeked her head inside before letting out a startled scream.

Beside her, Han Yao, witnessing the tangled scene through the open door, hastily pulled her back by the collar and shielded her eyes. He spun her around and nudged the door shut with his elbow.

Huo Ci stopped hiding.

From outside the car, Yi Chenxi lamented, “Second Brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please continue—I didn’t see anything.”

“Shut up, Yi Duanduan,” Han Yao sighed dramatically.

Even Yi Zecheng inside couldn’t help but huff in irritation. Yet, to his surprise, Huo Ci, who had been avoiding him, suddenly leaned forward with a mischievous smile. “Shall we continue?”

He responded with a flick of his finger, his cool voice commanding, “You shut up too.”

**

On Christmas Day, Huo Ci gave the rest of her studio staff an early holiday, encouraging them to go out and celebrate. Bai Yu and Meng Fan lingered behind, assisting her in reviewing today’s raw footage.

During this time, Liu Ruhuan called her.

Rarely answering, Huo Ci picked up, and hearing the quietness on her end, Liu Ruhuan inquired where she was. Huo Ci replied indifferently that she was at the studio. Concerned, Liu Ruhuan asked, “It’s Christmas. Didn’t you make plans with friends?”

“What do you want to ask?” Huo Ci, sensing her ulterior motive, countered immediately.

Caught off guard, Liu Ruhuan chuckled softly, “Mom is just worried about you.”

“If you’re asking about Shen Sui’an, yes, I’ve seen him—it was a chance encounter. But don’t worry; there’s nothing between us. I won’t embarrass you in the Shen family. So next time, don’t call to test me.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruhuan grew anxious. “Xiao Ci, Mom isn’t testing you. Sui’an came back with a girlfriend this time. I was worried you’d be hurt.”

“Huort?” Huo Ci sneered.

She no longer felt pain because of him. As she had said, there never was anything between her and Shen Sui’an.

“I’ve long forgotten who he is,” she concluded, hanging up.

“It’s snowing!” someone exclaimed. Huo Ci looked up to see snowflakes drifting past the window.

The snow on Christmas Eve arrived as promised.

By the time Huo Ci finished work, it was already eight o’clock. Seeing her fatigue, Bai Yu took the keys from her and drove her home.

“When you get to Africa, if there’s fighting, come back immediately. Don’t be reckless,” Bai Yu lectured idly during the drive.

He feared Huo Ci’s stubbornness. She wasn’t someone who knew when to stop after hitting a wall.

She was the type who would smash through the wall, bloodied and battered, and keep moving forward.

Midway, traffic slowed to a crawl. Meng Fan peered over from the backseat, commenting softly, “There seems to be an accident ahead.”

What was originally a three-lane road was now reduced to one due to the crash, leaving only a narrow path clear.

As they slowly approached the accident site, Huo Ci eyed the overturned car blocking the road and couldn’t help but stare.

Spotting the man kneeling beside the shattered window, she suddenly pounded on the car door, “Stop!”

Startled, Bai Yu couldn’t halt amidst the heavy traffic behind. They passed the wrecked vehicle and finally pulled over onto the emergency lane ahead. Bai Yu stopped the car.

Huo Ci flung the door open and dashed out before either could stop her.

The black sedan’s wheels still spun in the air, its cabin crushed. The front windshield spider-webbed with cracks. A man in a black coat, disregarding his expensive attire, knelt on the ground, blood seeping through the broken window and staining the thin layer of fresh snow below.

“Need help?” Huo Ci ran back, panting as she asked.

Yi Zecheng looked up, surprised to see her. From within the deformed car window came a weak voice, “The child… the child is in the back.”

The airbags had deployed, and the person inside spoke. The two exchanged glances.

Yi Zecheng: “Huo Ci.”

Huo Ci lowered her gaze to him, “I’m here.”

“Go to my car and fetch the golf club from the trunk,” he instructed.

Huo Ci nodded, turning to find his car parked on the opposite side of the road. He had stopped, crossed the barrier, and rushed over.

Amidst the heavy traffic, he was the only one who stopped.

Without hesitation, she climbed over the barrier, ran to the other side, opened his trunk, and retrieved the golf club. When he gripped it, he stood up and forcefully struck the side of the rear car window.

As he smashed the glass, Huo Ci dialed emergency services. Over the phone, she heard a faint cry from inside the car.

Then a small, delicate hand reached out, pleading, “Help me.”

It was a little girl.

Yi Zecheng knelt, holding her hand, “Don’t be afraid. We’ll save you.”

Huo Ci stared at the man kneeling with his back to her, her vision blurring.

That year, the person who had held her hand through the car window—it was truly him.

The person she had searched for all these years was right here.

The ambulance arrived swiftly. As Yi Zecheng stood up, he noticed the person beside him was crying. She wore only a thin hoodie, without a coat, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, trembling in the cold.

Unbeknownst to them, a light drizzle had begun.

Snowflakes drifted, mingling with the chilling rain as she stood there. This scene stirred memories within him—memories of another girl, trembling and gripping his hand tightly years ago.

She had pleaded, “Please, don’t let go of me.”

He stepped forward, opening his coat to envelop her, gently pulling her into his embrace.

“Huo Ci, don’t be afraid.”