IJLHTW - 32

At this moment, the black people behind them began to stir, shouting loudly at Yi Zecheng, but not daring to rush forward. The car he was in was parked by the road, and the grand convoy awed those black people. Even if they didn’t understand the origins of these people, they knew that this Chinese man was not to be provoked.

“Yang Ming,” Yi Zecheng called to Yang Ming, who was standing beside him.

He immediately stepped forward and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Yi, what are your orders?”

“Give them five hundred US dollars and tell them that this child didn’t bring bad luck; on the contrary, he brought good luck,” Yi Zecheng looked down at the child in his arms, who was curled up in a ball.

This black child was too thin, weak, and small, looking only four or five years old. But his actual age was probably much older.

Giving money directly wasn’t the best method, but it was simple, direct, and effective.

Yang Ming took out five hundred dollars and explained Yi Zecheng’s meaning to the local guide. The guide immediately conveyed his words to the black people present. The boy’s parents exchanged glances, then wept with joy. They thanked God for His grace, bringing this blessed child into their family.

A child possessed by evil spirits, and a blessed child, was merely a change of thought.

After getting into the car, Yi Zecheng turned to look at Huo Ci. Since earlier, her face had been terribly grim, as if she was ready to explode at any moment. He reached out and held her hand, which was resting by her side; her soft palm was burning hot.

Everyone else returned to the hotel first, while Yi Zecheng and Huo Ci took the black child to the hospital.

In Africa, there were organizations dedicated to protecting children’s rights and specialized in treating these suffering children. Although Yi Zecheng had temporarily saved this child, the organization was the one that could truly follow through.

While Yi Zecheng was speaking with the doctor, Huo Ci secretly walked out. This hospital was built with French aid; although simple, the facilities were quite good. Huo Ci walked to a chair on the lawn, which was for patients to rest.

Dusk had already fallen, but the dry heat in the air hadn’t lessened at all.

Huo Ci sat on the chair, but her mind wasn’t on the black child. Instead, it was on herself. When a beautiful dream shattered overnight, all that was left was a bloody reality.

Some might say it was just a parental divorce, what was there to be so sad about? Besides, you’re already an eighteen-year-old child. But no one knew that the former Huo Ci wasn’t like this.

She was just like an ordinary high school girl, who, despite her good grades, would secretly read comic books in class.

She also liked Korean idol groups, her favorite being TVXQ.

Her favorite song was “Why Did I Fall in Love with You?”

When her monthly exam ranking dropped out of the top ten in her grade, she cried all day at home in anger. Finally, her father came back, took her ice skating, and bought her dessert to cheer her up.

Huo Ci in her teenage years was far less indifferent to the world than she was now.

She had a soft heart and wasn’t rebellious at all.

If parents can’t be responsible for their children, why do they give birth to them? If they can, can they be a little more responsible, at least not abandon her so suddenly?

Abandoned, these three words had tormented her for a long time.

Shen Qian had told her that Shen Suian didn’t want her anymore either.

She naively thought she was the center of the world, but overnight, she was a pitiful worm abandoned by everyone. When she lay alone in the hospital, she felt as if the entire world was gray. Huo Ci rubbed her hair. She knew she shouldn’t think this way; she should be cheerful, optimistic, and think about better things.

Now she was an independent person and didn’t need to rely on anyone.

She had fame, and so many people liked her. She had money, she could buy an extremely luxurious house in Beijing, she drove a car worth millions, she was a successful person in everyone’s eyes.

No one could abandon her anymore.

Huo Ci, you can do it.

She squeezed her palms, silently repeating it in her heart again and again.

Huo Ci, you can do it, you can do it, you can do it…

“Miss, are you alright?” A pleasant voice rang out in front of her.

Huo Ci slowly looked up and saw a clean handkerchief in front of her, handed over by that man. He was a very handsome man, effeminate, beautiful, with phoenix-like eyes slanting towards his temples. He was wearing a custom-made suit. Smiling, he looked exactly like a prince who had descended from the heavens.

Unfortunately, Huo Ci was not Cinderella.

She casually glanced at the handkerchief, which carried a faint scent of perfume.

“Are you having any difficulties here?” His gentle tone was utterly considerate.

Huo Ci stood up and glanced at the man. “Thank you, no need.” In an instant, she reined in all her weakness, and her entire being became completely indifferent again.

Watching her walk back into the hospital building, the man chuckled. His assistant, who was standing not far away, immediately stepped forward. He wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief.

“This weather is damn hot,” he said fiercely.

The assistant lowered his head, not daring to speak. He then spoke again with a contemptuous laugh, “This woman is quite interesting. Continue to investigate her background for me.”

As he turned, he whistled playfully. Yi Zecheng’s taste in women was truly good.

Her legs were damn beautiful, long and fair.

________________________________________

Yi Zecheng was about to come out when he saw Huo Ci returning. He stepped forward, his brows slightly furrowed, and said in a low voice, “The public safety in Mali isn’t good. Don’t wander off.”

The situation here was much worse than in Guinea.

Various factions were constantly in conflict, and even the government army couldn’t completely control all areas.

Huo Ci looked at him. “I’m sorry, I was just sitting in the hospital garden.”

Seeing her solemn expression, Yi Zecheng said no more and simply took her hand and walked outside. When they reached the entrance, Yang Ming was sitting in the car, watching his boss walk out holding Huo Ci’s hand.

Although he had already guessed quite a bit in his heart, the impact of seeing it with his own eyes was far greater.

He immediately got out of the car and opened the back door.

After they were all seated, Yi Zecheng said in a deep voice, “Back to the hotel.”

Huo Ci then remembered the black child. She asked, “How is that child?”

“Severe malnutrition, and the wounds are superficial. I’ve already contacted the local child aid organization, and they will follow up throughout,” Yi Zecheng turned to look at her.

Huo Ci nodded tiredly.

That’s good, at least this child will be taken care of.

She closed her eyes, wanting to rest. The next second, her entire body fell into a warm embrace. She suddenly opened her eyes, looking at Yang Ming in the front passenger seat, wanting to pull away.

But her shoulder was held tightly by Yi Zecheng’s hand. His clear, cold voice rang above her head, “What are you moving for? Aren’t you tired? Close your eyes and rest. I’ll call you when we get to the hotel.”

But didn’t they agree not to let others know for now…

Then, the voice above her head sounded again, “Is sleeping like this uncomfortable? How about you lie on my lap?”

Huo Ci: “…”

Yang Ming, sitting in the front, almost shrank his head under the seat. Please pretend he wasn’t there. But boss, are you still my boss?

At this point, Yi Zecheng had really started to make a move. Huo Ci immediately closed her eyes and said, “I’m asleep.”

Yi Zecheng looked at her fair, delicate face, with a gentle smile on his own. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, saying lightly, “Why are you so far away? Come closer.”

“Come closer,” his voice was both forceful and domineering.

Huo Ci leaned against his chest. Through a thin layer of shirt, she could feel his warm skin. She could hear his heartbeat in her ear, strong and powerful, burning hot, unlike his cold demeanor on the outside.

Outside the window, occasional lights flickered on the streets of Mali.

Inside the car, it was quiet like a small world.

________________________________________

Who knows how long it had been, when Huo Ci woke up, she found herself in complete darkness. Then she heard a low voice next to her, “Awake?”

Her thoughts returned in an instant; she had fallen asleep on the way back to the hotel.

She glanced forward; Yang Ming and the driver were both gone.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Huo Ci turned to look at him, but as she turned, her lips brushed past his cheek.

The previously quiet man suddenly pressed her against the back of the chair, and in an instant, his lips met hers. His tongue entered, and his kiss was so domineering that it left her no room to breathe. In a short while, Huo Ci melted into a soft puddle, leaning in his arms.

It wasn’t until Huo Ci pushed him that Yi Zecheng finally let go. He leaned into her ear, chuckling softly, “Such a little hooligan, and yet you don’t even know how to breathe.”

Huo Ci, mortified, immediately pushed him away.

She glared at him, scoffing, “Can’t compare to your rich experience.”

After saying it, she immediately regretted it; it was too vulgar, like a petty woman jealous and bringing up her boyfriend’s past.

Fortunately, Yi Zecheng chuckled lowly and said nothing.

Huo Ci immediately found an excuse for herself: “Let’s go back and eat. I’m hungry.”

She was truly too tired. She only ate a little at the restaurant and then stopped. Yi Zecheng coaxed her into eating another salad before taking her upstairs. However, when the elevator reached the second floor, he actually followed her out.

Huo Ci glanced at him indifferently, reminding him, “Mr. Yi, your room isn’t here.”

“It’s alright, my girlfriend’s room is here.”

He said nonchalantly.

Huo Ci looked at the person who said this so casually, wondering where the “iceberg” she was told about was.

The two walked towards her room. Before they even reached it, they noticed a commotion in the hotel corridor. Then she saw everyone standing at the door of her room.

“What’s going on?” she hurried over.

She saw Ye Mingshi standing in her room, while Tang Xu said anxiously, “Miss Ye, please come out. Huo Ci isn’t here; it’s inappropriate for you to be in her room like this.”

Huo Ci pushed through the crowd and looked coldly at Ye Mingshi. She was standing in the room, holding a pill bottle.

Huo Ci rushed into the room with a cold face, snatched the medicine from her hand, and said sharply, “Get out.”

Ye Mingshi looked at her in astonishment and said, “You’re taking Sertraline?”

Sertraline, an antidepressant.

“Get out,” Huo Ci’s voice was devoid of emotion.

Ye Mingshi looked at Yi Zecheng and said anxiously, “Senior, she, she’s…”

“Ye Mingshi, please leave,” Yi Zecheng’s voice was still clear and cold, but everyone could hear the suppressed rage in it.

Ye Mingshi bit her lip, looking at Yi Zecheng unwillingly.

Until Yi Zecheng’s cold gaze swept across her face. His eyes were sharp, as if they could penetrate the human heart, and at this moment, he had seen all her inner thoughts clearly.

“Ye Mingshi, you have violated your ethics as a doctor,” Yi Zecheng said coldly, and then he uttered three words: “Get out.”

________________________________________

Everyone left, and the empty corridor suddenly became terrifyingly quiet.

Yi Zecheng walked to the door. As he reached out to push it open, he heard the woman behind him say, “You should go back too. I want to be alone.”

But the door closed, and he didn’t walk out.

Huo Ci looked at the bottles on the table. Those were all the medicines she was taking, not just Sertraline, but others too. She had to take them because she was a patient.

A mentally ill patient.

Huo Ci violently smashed the pill bottle in her hand against the opposite wall. The pills in the bottle rattled loudly. Then the pill bottle rolled along the wall and came to rest at her feet.

“I told you to get out, didn’t you hear me?”

Yi Zecheng stood a few steps away, watching her. She stood with her back to him, and although she tried her best to control it, her shoulders were trembling slightly. Her most private side had been exposed in public like this. It was like a person whose most unwillingly faced wound was laid bare.

He gently hugged her from behind. Huo Ci’s body was trembling; this time, he clearly felt it.

“Huo Ci, I told you,” his voice was as clear and smooth as flowing spring water, no longer cold, but with a faint tenderness, not too strong, but just right. He said, “You’re very good.”

But the person in his arms suddenly turned around the next moment.

“I’m not good. I lied to you. I’m not a normal person at all. I’m sick. Yes, everything they say is right. No one will like the real me, a person like me.”

“No one will want me. I’m just a burden.”

All emotions erupted in an instant: the memories of being abandoned, the self-loathing experiences. Memories do not dissipate with time; the pain only accumulates deeper and deeper over the years.

Until she was pressed onto the bed, the man on top of her gritted his teeth and said, “I want you.”

I want you.