IJLHTW - 21

Huo Ci turned and entered the room, but Ye Mingshi in the living room felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head. The nervous anticipation she had felt while following Yi Zecheng upstairs was extinguished in an instant.

Her face turned pale, and she couldn’t even maintain her smile.

Yi Zecheng stood close by, yet she had never felt so distant from him. She always thought that someone like him, naturally aloof and proud, could not be approached by anyone. She had never imagined that one day he would treat a woman this way—buying her clothes, even underwear…

Ye Mingshi deeply regretted peeking into that bag earlier. La Perla lingerie—a quick glance revealed black lace, both sexy and intense.

She met Yi Zecheng at Cambridge. There weren’t many Chinese students there, but there were quite a few. However, the legends about Yi Zecheng were something she heard from her very first day at Cambridge. But this renowned Chinese prodigy, she had never seen until that Christmas when the Chinese Students’ Association held a small party.

She attended dressed to impress, immediately engaging in conversation with familiar friends. She heard them excitedly whispering about him, and though she hadn’t seen him yet, she inwardly scoffed. After all, she was an outstanding student in China, and in competitive Cambridge, his fame might not match his actual abilities.

When the dance music started, a familiar male classmate pulled her onto the dance floor. Having danced since childhood, she wasn’t shy, gracefully dancing with her partner and earning applause from everyone. As the dance ended, her partner led her in a bow, and that’s when she saw a young man in a black tuxedo glance at them indifferently.

That single glance felt like eternity.

No one introduced him, but when he looked over, she knew—he was Yi Zecheng.

Ye Mingshi’s heart, which had been proud for over twenty years, fell at first sight. She believed that as long as she stayed by his side, one day he would turn around and notice her.

Never did she expect that instead of waiting for him to look at her, she would witness another woman by his side.

Yi Zecheng turned to see Ye Mingshi standing there, her face pale, her expression frozen, radiating a deep sorrow. He slightly furrowed his brows, remaining silent. In fact, when Huo Ci asked him that question earlier, he hadn’t told the truth.

But what others thought of him was none of his concern; he didn’t care about their emotions.

“Did you have something to discuss today?” he asked softly.

Inside the room, Huo Ci, who was changing clothes, chuckled coldly upon hearing the man’s question. Not celebrating Christmas with friends but coming to a man’s house—did this young lady’s intentions really need to be questioned?

“I… I happened to pass by here and remembered the Christmases in Cambridge from a few years ago. I wanted to find you, Senior, to celebrate Christmas together,” Ye Mingshi lowered her head, assuming he was alone like her.

Yi Zecheng looked at her and said indifferently, “I’ve never liked Christmas.”

Ye Mingshi froze.

Hearing this from inside the room, Huo Ci couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed he was about to crush her cruelly.

Ye Mingshi didn’t expect this response. She became anxious and said, “But the first time I saw you in Cambridge was at the Chinese Students’ Association’s Christmas banquet!”

Yi Zecheng glanced aside and asked, “When was that?”

The tears Ye Mingshi had been holding back nearly spilled over. She couldn’t believe that the moment she cherished so deeply, the beautiful first meeting she still treasured in her heart, he didn’t remember?

“It was my first year at Cambridge. That night, you were there too, wearing a black tuxedo,” exuding charm that made all the girls in the room steal glances at him.

Huo Ci found this increasingly amusing inside the room. This reserved man actually wore a tuxedo to a cocktail party to attract attention.

Even she hadn’t seen him in formal attire.

Thinking about it, Huo Ci snorted disdainfully.

After all Ye Mingshi said, Yi Zecheng finally remembered. He had always disliked attending these parties. Cambridge had countless balls each May, but he preferred spending time in the lab rather than participating in such revelries. The reason he attended that year was because the president of the Chinese Students’ Association had helped him once in the lab, and out of gratitude, he agreed to attend the Christmas ball dressed formally. It was simply to use his reputation to attract attendees.

His only memory of that Christmas ball was the crowd and people constantly approaching him.

After his suit was splashed with wine for the third time, he left.

Yi Zecheng nodded lightly and said indifferently, “So you were there that year.”

This casual remark completely shattered Ye Mingshi’s fantasy. She looked at him incredulously, murmuring, “You don’t remember me?”

“Sorry, there were too many people,” Yi Zecheng said with one hand in his pocket, exuding a relaxed demeanor.

Though he apologized, his expression remained indifferent, utterly nonchalant.

Even Huo Ci, eavesdropping by the door, felt a pang of sympathy. To be so self-deluded, she must be one of a kind.

With a man like Yi Zecheng, either stay far away or go all out to get his attention. Pretending to be friends and hovering around him, hoping one day he’ll notice you—what a dream.

Huo Ci roughly guessed this girl’s thoughts. She feared that revealing her feelings too boldly would ruin even the possibility of friendship.

Huo Ci opened the door and stepped out, seeing the girl’s teary eyes.

Look at her, so pitiful.

“Yi Zecheng, do I look good?” Huo Ci called out to him. When he turned his head, she spun around on the spot.

There, she stabbed this girl again.

But the man opposite also stabbed her in the heart: “Ugly.”

He had specifically requested simple clothing, yet even a plain pair of jeans accentuated her slender, straight legs.

Huo Ci: “...” Ugly, my foot. Such long, beautiful legs and such a pretty girl—maybe you should see an eye doctor.

Ye Mingshi quickly suppressed her tears and sympathetically said, “I think you look nice. Don’t listen to what Senior says; men have no taste.”

“Are you his junior?” Huo Ci became interested.

Ye Mingshi nodded, extending her hand for an introduction: “My name is Ye Mingshi. I’m Senior’s junior from Cambridge.”

Huo Ci smirked knowingly. What a devoted junior.

“Huo Ci,” she said coldly.

Ye Mingshi didn’t seem to mind and considerately added, “Actually, I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time. Since we’ll be going to Africa together this time.”

Huo Ci paused, then sneered. So she was going too.

She glanced at Yi Zecheng, but Ye Mingshi caught it and said in surprise, “Didn’t Senior tell you?”

Huo Ci didn’t respond, just looked at her indifferently.

Ye Mingshi casually remarked, “Actually, you should have come to our last dinner gathering. It would have helped you get to know our team earlier, making future collaborations smoother.”

Was this a challenge?

Huo Ci wasn’t interested in her so-called “team.” She turned to Yi Zecheng: “Weren’t you about to cook earlier? Since Miss Ye is here, make enough for one more person.”

Yi Zecheng reached for the cigarette box on the coffee table. He didn’t usually smoke.

But recently, the most frequent times he smoked were when he encountered Huo Ci.

She always managed to unsettle him.

“You sit for a while,” Huo Ci brushed her long hair behind her ear, looking natural and poised. Yi Zecheng stared at her without moving. Until Huo Ci tugged at him, smiling, “Why are you spacing out?”

Only then did he slowly walk into the kitchen, with Huo Ci following behind.

Once in the kitchen, Huo Ci looked at the boiling water and suggested, “Why don’t we make pasta? It’s easier.”

Yi Zecheng turned off the stove and looked at her, unable to help frowning: “Huo Ci.”

“Alright, stop lecturing me. Let’s cook first. I’m hungry,” Huo Ci looked at him, blinking her eyes.

Yi Zecheng looked at her for a few moments, then turned to take out pasta from the fridge. When he didn’t eat out, he often cooked at home. Pasta was quick and easy to prepare. He used to eat it frequently abroad, and even after returning to China, the habit persisted.

He wore a mint-green pullover sweater, soft and comfortable, making him look extremely handsome.

Huo Ci leaned against the counter, holding a bottle of water she had just taken from the fridge.

She looked down at the water in her hand and smiled, “Turns out we drink the same brand of water.”

It was a brand Huo Ci often drank. She had even given him some during their last encounter at the gym.

Yi Zecheng glanced sideways and saw her content expression. Her features were striking, and her natural smile, even without makeup, was beautifully gentle and obedient.

Just one glance, and Yi Zecheng turned away.

As the water in the pot bubbled noisily, it seemed to muffle the slightly accelerated heartbeat.

This Christmas dinner, Huo Ci enjoyed every bite, whereas Ye Mingshi across from her appeared distracted. After the meal, when Ye Mingshi suggested leaving, Huo Ci immediately offered, “I’ll wash the dishes. You go ahead and send Miss Ye home first.”

Yi Zecheng glanced at her, seeing her innocent smile.

“No need, I’ve already called a car,” Ye Mingshi waved her hand.

Nevertheless, Yi Zecheng stood up. After grabbing his coat, he waited by the door for Ye Mingshi. The two women were polite, with Huo Ci smiling and saying, “Take care, no need to see you off.”

Ye Mingshi, somewhat embarrassed, said, “We shared dinner, and now you’re stuck washing dishes alone.”

Huo Ci noticed her expression and gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Even from afar, Yi Zecheng saw it. Knowing she was about to stir trouble, he immediately said, “Let’s go.”

Hearing his voice, Ye Mingshi’s heart warmed, and she forgot to challenge Huo Ci any further, leaving.

In the elevator, Ye Mingshi’s mood had improved considerably. Though the initial shock of Yi Zecheng buying clothes for Huo Ci was immense, she calmed down and reflected. The reason for buying clothes on the spot was simply because there were none of hers at his place.

She also noticed Huo Ci’s slippers—men’s slippers.

She didn’t even have a pair of slippers there.

After getting into the car, Ye Mingshi casually chatted with Yi Zecheng about various topics. Suddenly, she asked, “Senior, are you really not going to be a doctor anymore?”

Yi Zecheng glanced at his hand gripping the steering wheel and indifferently hummed in response.

Ye Mingshi felt a bit disheartened. She had seen Yi Zecheng in the operating room, where he shone brightly. Even in the simplest surgical settings, he remained calm. She remembered volunteering one year when medical staff were scarce, and even she ended up assisting in surgery.

That operating room was particularly rudimentary, with unstable voltage causing the overhead light to flicker painfully.

Yet, under those conditions, he successfully completed a reattachment surgery for a severed hand.

Ye Mingshi couldn’t imagine someone like him never standing in an operating room again.

When Yi Zecheng’s car stopped under Ye Mingshi’s apartment building, she unbuckled her seatbelt and hopefully said, “Senior, why don’t you come up for a glass of water?”

“No need,” he coldly declined.

Ye Mingshi wasn’t too disappointed, having expected this outcome. She smiled sweetly, preparing to open the door and leave.

Suddenly, Yi Zecheng spoke, “Mingshi.”

Ye Mingshi’s heart trembled, her whole being coming alive. Before she turned her head, her eyes and smile were already radiant.

Yi Zecheng paused for a few seconds and said, “Don’t come to my place anymore in the future.”