IJLHTW - 33

“I never gave up on you even before I knew you, and now, even less so.”

His voice was like an enchantment in the dark night, echoing in her ear, miraculously soothing her agitated heart. Huo Ci desperately bit her lip, but still couldn’t stop her body from trembling.

She tilted her head back, her eyes lightly closed.

Just now, she was afraid of seeing disappointment in his eyes; now, she was at a loss. In her heart, she knew that Yi Zecheng was different from everyone else. His tall and sturdy body pressed tightly against her; although it was suffocatingly inescapable, it made her feel warm and secure.

She knew she was despicable. Her liking for Yi Zecheng wasn’t pure. She knew that although he appeared cold, he was exceptionally resolute. He could hold an IV drip for four hours for a stranger outside the car. He could abandon an enviable life and position for an ideal, coming to this African continent.

He had a more steadfast and sincere heart than anyone else.

She knew that what he set his mind on, he wouldn’t abandon.

So she tried hard to become the one he would acknowledge. She tried every means to get close to him, to seduce him.

“Huo Ci,” he reached out and touched her cheek, his thumb grazing her ear. The person, who had been tense, suddenly shivered. He extended his finger and pinched her earlobe again.

Last time, he had discovered how sensitive her ears were; she would desperately pull back with just a touch. Now, he stroked it rhythmically, slowly softening Huo Ci, who had initially been resistant.

“It’s nothing, just a small problem,” he lowered his head and gently kissed her ear, his originally clear and cold voice carrying an extreme allure. Every word was so light, yet so firm.

Outside the window hung a bright moon in the starry sky. The sky was like a black velvet cloth, with twinkling stars scattered across it. The surroundings were very quiet; it seemed only their breathing could be heard. The curtains were drawn, covering the entire room, but a small gap was left in the half-open window on the sill, allowing a faint breeze to blow in, lifting a corner of the screen.

Only one light was on in the room, a warm yellow glow, not too bright.

Until Huo Ci slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the man in front of her, his amber eyes were dazzlingly bright.

She seemed to have made up her mind before saying, “This isn’t a small problem. I’ve had depression for seven years. After my parents divorced, I started to become quiet. By the time my mother found out, I had already started self-harming tendencies.”

Yi Zecheng looked at her silently, a clear and distinct heartache passing through his eyes.

Perhaps some would say she was too fragile, that just a parental divorce could make her like this. Then children who lost their parents or grew up in difficult circumstances from a young age would surely die.

But everyone is an independent individual, and everyone’s capacity for endurance is different. The eighteen-year-old Huo Ci was innocent and pure; her world was as beautiful as a painting. The more protected a child is, the more easily they are hurt. She had also asked herself why she cared so much, why she became like this.

But she couldn’t escape; she was trapped in a small world.

She couldn’t see the outside world.

She paused, then continued, “I like you, just like you said. Even before you knew me, you were willing to give your all for me. You rescued me from the car; you were the one who kept holding my hand. My liking for you isn’t pure; what I want is the sense of security you give me.”

Her motives were impure; she deserved to be exposed like this in public. She was like a drowning person, submerged in water for too long, desperate to grasp at a passing ship at all costs.

Until a clear voice sounded, with a hint of gentle laughter: “Isn’t that great? It’s okay, I’ll protect you.”

Isn’t that great? Your liking me is enough.

The deep night was utterly silent. Between heaven and earth, only his words remained.

Huo Ci was struck by his words; her body trembled, and her chest was warm.

“This isn’t fair to you. Between two people, it shouldn’t be…” But before she could finish, her lips were blocked. The man’s tongue thrust in, stirring her burning tongue, and their intimate gasps gradually intensified.

It wasn’t until Huo Ci was nearly unconscious from kissing that Yi Zecheng let go of her. He looked down at her, as if scoffing, “How can you, someone who’s never even dated, know how two people should be?”

Huo Ci was stunned.

“How two people should be, there’s no template, no trace to follow. What you like is exactly what I can give you,” Yi Zecheng’s clear and serious voice paused for a moment, and then his voice suddenly softened, he said, “That’s enough.”

What you like is what I have, and that’s enough.

Huo Ci’s heart felt burning hot, as if something wanted to break through her chest.

Hot and swollen.

Then he lowered his head, his eyes curving upwards, and whispered, “Now, can we do the other thing two people should do?”

Huo Ci looked at him with her dark, bright eyes, innocent and pure.

He asked, “Huo Ci, I want you. Are you willing to give yourself to me?”

The girl blinked, then reached up and hooked her arms around his neck, kissing him on the chin.

________________________________________

Huo Ci had always been fascinated by Yi Zecheng’s chin and Adam’s apple. When she kissed his chin, her whole body was eager and passionate. She reached out and pulled out his shirt, which was tucked into his waistband, and slid her hand inside along his waist.

When her palm touched his skin, her heart trembled.

His body was tall and firm, and she had already seen his muscle lines at the training gym. Now she could clearly remember him, wearing a black T-shirt, facing the sandbag, his muscles bulging. Golden light streamed in from the window, showering over him, making even the sweat beads on his body extremely alluring.

At that time, she wondered how amazing this man would be in bed.

Yi Zecheng reached out a hand and began to unbutton his shirt. His lips were sucking Huo Ci’s soft lips, as if to extract sweet berry juice. It wasn’t until her mouth was red and swollen from his kissing that his fingers still hadn’t unbuttoned all of his shirt.

But who knew, a hand was even faster than his.

Because she had already unbuckled his belt, the silver buckle made a soft click. Yi Zecheng slightly raised his head. The girl pressed beneath him had a cunning and seductive smile on her face. Her eyes were still innocent and pure, but the smile on her face was captivating.

He knelt up, his legs straddling her body. His shirt was unbuttoned down to the fourth button, revealing a large expanse of firm, muscular chest, with abs like a chocolate bar.

When he took off all his clothes, he lowered his head and resumed kissing Huo Ci.

His hands gripped her slender waist, and her short-sleeved top was pulled up to her waist, revealing skin as white as snow.

When her snow-like body lay beneath him, the man’s amber eyes were as deep as the starry sky outside.

He lowered his head and took a bite, in a blindingly white spot. Huo Ci’s body trembled.

She was covered in sweat, and his lips moved lower, the slightly salty sweat beads between his lips and tongue.

A groaning sound trembled in the quiet room, the lingering notes gradually becoming uncontrolled. Huo Ci slightly arched her neck. She had originally clung to his shoulders, but as he kissed lower and lower, her fingers could only barely intertwine in his hair.

His slightly long black hair was unexpectedly soft.

Unlike his outwardly cold and rigid appearance.

Her calves hooked his legs, rubbing little by little, then her ten snow-white, delicate toes curled up in an instant, clenching tightly, as if they could withstand the surging waves on her body.

Huo Ci’s mouth was slightly open, as if she were dehydrated, until something pressed against her.

Burning, scorching.

She tensed, wanting to pull away, but this time, Yi Zecheng’s hands tightly held her shoulders. Her hands again clung to his firm waist, and then the man above her, with his narrow waist, pushed upwards.

Huo Ci threw her head back, and a cry of pain irrepressibly spilled from her red lips.

It hurt, it really hurt, like being split open.

Yi Zecheng looked down at her, his eyes straight and burning. He paused, then lowered his head and whispered in her ear, “This pain, it’s ours too.”

...

Huo Ci was thrust upwards by him until her head hit the bedpost, then he pulled her down.

Her consciousness was already blurry; her whole body ached, yet there was an indescribable feeling. Her arm, which had been clinging to his back, now rested on the bed.

Until he let out a low groan, a muffled groan of extreme restraint, a distinct masculine sensuality. This sound seemed to ensnare Huo Ci’s soul. She reached up to caress his face and whispered, “Your voice in bed is so beautiful.”

It was just as she had imagined.

Even at a time like this, she was still shamelessly teasing him.

Yi Zecheng looked down at her, his eyes so deep they were bottomless.

When Huo Ci was carried to the bath, her eyes were closed. She didn’t remember how long it had been, only that she was very tired, both comfortable and exhausted. That feeling of satiation allowed her to close her eyes with peace of mind.

Yi Zecheng looked at the person in his arms, who was so tired she couldn’t even lift her eyelids, and chuckled softly.

Indeed, when you’re tired from activity, you don’t overthink things.

This method is quite good, Mr. Yi thought with satisfaction in his heart.

________________________________________

When Huo Ci opened her eyes, although the curtains were drawn tightly, she still felt as if the day was fully bright.

Then, as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Yi Zecheng sleeping beside her. His slightly long black hair rested on the snow-white pillow. This was her first time waking up in the morning and seeing a man’s sleeping face.

His eyebrows were dark and thick, his nose bridge high and straight. With his eyes closed now, those usually exceptionally calm eyes were hidden. The thin blanket was draped over his chest, and he was lying on his side, facing Huo Ci. A strong arm was now draped over her waist.

Huo Ci lay there for a while before feeling the soreness and pain in her legs.

She moved, wanting to carefully move Yi Zecheng’s arm away. But as she moved, his eyelids fluttered, followed by his eyelashes, but he didn’t open his eyes immediately. Instead, he asked with deep sleepiness, “Awake so early?”

The morning sun in Africa was always so abundant.

Huo Ci couldn’t be sure what time it was now. She said with some helplessness, “There’s still work today.”

“I don’t,” he still had his eyes closed, and his voice held a hint of rascality she had never heard before, as if because he didn’t have work, he wouldn’t allow anyone else to get up. After saying that, he leaned over, tightened his arm, and pulled her into his embrace.

“I really have to go to work,” Huo Ci said softly.

Especially at times like these, she wouldn’t allow herself to shrink back. Even when her private life was exposed in public, she wouldn’t allow herself to relax.

Yi Zecheng opened his eyes. His amber eyes, stripped of their icy hardness, were warm like the sunlight outside the window.

“Okay, I’ll get up with you.”

After they both got dressed, Huo Ci remembered to pick up her phone. But when she saw the time 12:09 on the screen, she was stunned.

These past few days, she had been leaving the hotel with the Time Window team, usually heading out at seven in the morning, as some filming locations were quite far.

“It’s already so late,” she murmured to herself, unconsciously rubbing her hair, her brow furrowed.

In contrast, Yi Zecheng beside her was unhurried. He picked up his phone from the table. “Just in time for lunch.”

Huo Ci turned to look at him, simply unable to believe these words came from the workaholic Mr. Yi.

Until he walked over, kissed her on the forehead, and said, “Don’t worry about it. Your boss allows you to take today off.”

Huo Ci then remembered that he was still her boss.

________________________________________

In the evening, when the Time Window team returned, Huo Ci was sitting by the water bar in the restaurant. As soon as Tang Xu entered, he excitedly ran over: “Huo Ci, do you know what I filmed today?”

“What?” Huo Ci first paused, then asked him back with a normal expression.

The Time Window team members were all complaining about being starving. Everyone sat at a nearby table. Wei Lai called out to the two of them: “Huo Ci, have you had dinner yet? How about joining us?”

“Yeah, join us,” Tang Xu asked with sparkling eyes.

Everything was as usual; their attitude towards her was the same as before. Even Tang Xu’s admiring gaze hadn’t changed one bit.

It turned out she was overthinking; no one would look down on her.

Huo Ci chuckled, the relief in her heart so clear at this moment. She hadn’t even known how afraid she was that others would treat her as a patient.

“Huo Ci, come here for a moment,” Yi Zecheng appeared at this moment, and Huo Ci answered him.

As he slowly walked over, Huo Ci felt that the people around them were a bit strange. It wasn’t their gaze towards her that was strange; it was their gaze towards Yi Zecheng that was a bit strange.

“Regarding the hotel theft yesterday, the hotel general manager intends to formally apologize to you. Come with me; we’ll go meet him together,” Yi Zecheng’s voice was clear and cold, and he himself seemed noble, cold, and untouchable.

She nodded and smiled at Tang Xu: “Sorry, you eat by yourself.”

Tang Xu nodded, then carefully glanced at Yi Zecheng, saying nothing.

Yesterday, there was a theft at the hotel, and Huo Ci’s room was one of the crime scenes. However, before she returned, the hotel staff had already entered, and Ye Mingshi had entered at that time as well. Tang Xu and the others waited outside the door because she wasn’t there.

After meeting the hotel’s general manager, she not only received a formal apology but also had her room upgraded to the fourth floor.

On the same floor as Yi Zecheng.

After coming out, she held the room card and chuckled softly, asking, “What exactly did you do?”

Yi Zecheng turned to look at her, then turned back, looking straight ahead, and said lightly, “Nothing at all.”

________________________________________

At seven this morning, Huo Ci was still sound asleep.

Yi Zecheng appeared at the restaurant entrance. The Time Window team members were dining. Seeing him approach, everyone rose, but their expressions were somewhat complicated.

They had all witnessed his protection of Huo Ci last night, as well as the subsequent events.

He sat down and looked around: “Huo Ci is the person I like.”

Boom, a bomb was dropped. Although it was somewhat expected, there was still a bit of shock.

Wei Lai was the first to react, saying, “Mr. Yi, rest assured, we certainly won’t spread any rumors.”

He glanced at Wei Lai and, after a long pause, spoke: “Thank you, but I came to ask for your help.”

“I hope you don’t treat Huo Ci with the attitude you would treat a patient. She is Huo Ci, the best photographer in China, she just has a small problem right now. So please don’t look at her with sympathy.”

“She’s very good.”

Everyone fell silent after hearing him.

No one had expected such a seemingly cold and noble man to humble himself so much, personally coming to plead with them.

Tang Xu sniffled. Although he had felt heartbroken since last night, at this moment, he also felt fortunate for his goddess. He said in a choked voice, “Mr. Yi, rest assured, I will treat Huo Ci very well. I definitely won’t let her suffer any grievances.”

Everyone looked at him, instantly speechless. Idiot, what are you saying to her boyfriend?

“Actually, you don’t need to be too enthusiastic,” Yi Zecheng suddenly said, his voice as cold as a millennium-old unmelting iceberg.

Tang Xu was a bit stunned.

Until he said lightly, “Because I’d mind.”