IJLHTW - 40

Outside the courtyard, a car drove by; it was already after dark. Yi Zecheng was on the phone with Huo Ci. He had originally intended to return to the hospital immediately after seeing Yi Huaize, but he had to wait until now for the person to come back.

He softly said, “You eat well, and I’ll come to see you in a bit.”

Huo Ci hummed in response from the other end, and then they hung up. A moment later, his room door was knocked, and a voice from outside said, “Zecheng, are you there?”

It was Zhang Xuwen, Yi Huaize’s secretary. He hadn’t expected him to come.

He walked over and opened the door. Zhang Xuwen, in his military green service uniform, looked at him and softly said, “Your father wants you to go to his study.”

Yi Zecheng nodded faintly and stepped out to go. Zhang Xuwen followed beside him, reminding him, “Whatever you have to say, make it clear. Your father isn’t a particularly understanding person.”

Suddenly, Yi Zecheng stopped. He stood in place and turned to Zhang Xuwen, asking, “Is it because of what I did with the Military General Hospital?”

They say no one knows a son like his father, and often, it’s the son who understands the father best.

From childhood, Yi Zecheng had been disciplined by Yi Huaize, mostly for messing around with his friends. Although he wasn’t the mastermind, he was always involved, so Yi Huaize never spared him. Later, he went abroad for studies and work, and the number of days he returned home each year could be counted on ten fingers.

In these years, he had never been lectured for anything.

But today, when he received Zhang Xuwen’s call telling him to come home, he actually had a pretty good idea why.

“You know, there are so many eyes watching now, and your father always maintains a low profile,” Zhang Xuwen chuckled dryly, quickly explaining, “Of course, I also know you’re not one to show off. There must be a reason for this. Later, you can explain that reason clearly to your father.”

Zhang Xuwen was an old-timer by Yi Huaize’s side, having followed him for many years, and could be considered to have watched Yi Zecheng grow up.

Don’t be fooled by his old leader’s serious demeanor towards his son; privately, Yi Huaize was incredibly proud, and very satisfied with this son. When chatting with old comrades at ordinary meetings, he couldn’t stop praising Yi Zecheng in front of them. Yet, when facing Yi Zecheng himself, he always put on a stern face.

Yi Zecheng smiled indifferently and thanked Zhang Xuwen.

Upon reaching the study door, he knocked twice softly. Only when a steady “Come in” came from inside did he push the door open.

“Dad,” Yi Zecheng walked in and called out.

Yi Huaize had just arrived home and had already taken off his service uniform jacket. He wore a military green sweater over a military green shirt. He maintained his figure exceptionally well, showing no signs of the common middle-aged expansion. Dressed in military uniform, he still looked upright and imposing.

Truth be told, although Yi Zecheng didn’t completely resemble Yi Huaize, there was always a similarity in their brows.

Yi Huaize was sitting behind his desk, looking at documents. He didn’t look up when Yi Zecheng entered. Neither father nor son spoke until Yi Huaize put down the items in his hand and then looked up at him.

“How was your trip this time?” Yi Huaize asked, sounding like he was making small talk, with none of the earlier urgency that had made him call Zhang Xuwen to summon him home.

Yi Zecheng paused slightly before speaking: “Everything was normal at first, but we encountered problems in South Sudan.”

“Tell me?” Yi Huaize pondered slightly, then asked.

“Dad, the reason I had the Military General Hospital ambulance waiting at the airport is because someone who went with me was shot this time,” Yi Zecheng’s voice was a little hoarse as he spoke.

Even today, even now, the thought of that scene makes him unable to let go.

He was grateful that there were Chinese peacekeeping soldiers there, grateful that Huo Ci’s father was in South Sudan, risking his life to find his daughter.

It was the first time Yi Huaize had heard of this. The Chinese peacekeeping soldiers sent to South Sudan had always been a matter for a few military regions in the southwest. However, he had indeed heard that there had been some unrest before. He had been in Shenyang for a meeting a few days ago and only returned today, then he heard that Yi Zecheng had made such a fuss by having the Military General Hospital ambulance go to the airport.

So he called him back to clarify.

“The person who was shot is someone I like,” until the clear and cold voice in the room spoke again.

Yi Huaize stared at his son for a long moment before asking, “Is it a girl?”

Yi Zecheng had been a quiet child since he was young. Not to mention with him, he didn’t even talk much with his mother. His son was grown now, a thirty-two-year-old man, yet he had never heard anything about his romantic life. Unable to resist, he had asked Xu Di, but she knew nothing either.

He was also a well-informed man and sometimes truly wondered if Yi Zecheng perhaps didn’t like girls.

After all, from a young age, he was always surrounded by the boys from the compound. When others chased girls, he would just watch the fun, never seriously pursuing anyone himself.

Yi Huaize truly didn’t dare to tell anyone about this doubt in his heart. Not even Xu Di.

He had even prepared himself mentally for what he would do if his son truly came back and confessed to him.

A lifelong iron-blooded man, after much thought, still felt bad for his son.

Yi Zecheng was genuinely startled by his question, but immediately nodded and said, “It’s a girl.”

After saying that, feeling it was too simple, he added, “She’s a particularly good person.”

Yi Huaize was genuinely happy this time, repeatedly saying, “Then bring her back later for your mom and me to see. Although work is indeed important, your personal life truly needs to be settled.”

He said this with a truly happy expression on his face. His face was rugged, and when he didn’t smile, he looked particularly serious.

At this moment, he was genuinely in a good mood.

“Dad,” Yi Zecheng called out again. Yi Huaize looked at him, and seeing his expression was a bit off, the joy on his face subsided slightly.

He said, “The bullet she took was meant for me.”

This time, the shock on Yi Huaize’s face was truly uncontained. He stared blankly at his son for a long moment before asking, “How is the girl doing now? Is she okay? Should I have your mother go see her later?”

She should indeed go see her. Not to mention she was the person his son liked, but the act of taking a bullet for him was a life-saving kindness.

Matters of human life cannot be taken lightly.

Yi Zecheng shook his head gently and said, “Her body is still weak and needs quiet recuperation. Please don’t tell my mother about this for now, lest she worry. When she’s better, I’ll bring her back.”

“Alright, how about we arrange another expert consultation?” Yi Huaize asked with a frown.

He had called him back in a hurry earlier, but now he was the one suggesting it.

Yi Zecheng declined. What happened today was already a bit high-profile. He was never one to get carried away by power. Huo Ci was indeed no longer in mortal danger; now, she just needed to rest.

“In the future, you and Mom remember to be nice to her, after all, she’s your son’s savior.”

His words left Yi Huaize stunned.

It wasn’t until he had left that Yi Huaize came to his senses. That brat was trying to earn face for his girlfriend in front of them.

He was showing off his affection right in front of his old man. Yi Huaize got up from the desk in a fit of anger.

Just then, Xu Di came upstairs to call them for dinner. She passed by his study door, not even stopping, and just said, “Come down for dinner.”

Then he heard her gentle voice from not far away, “Chengcheng, hurry up and come down for dinner. Mom cooked your favorite dishes herself today.”

Yi Huaize suddenly felt a slight pain in his usually healthy heart.

________________________________________

**

“How about I get discharged in two days?” Huo Ci’s injuries were recovering well, and she didn’t want to stay in the hospital anymore.

She disliked hospitals.

Yi Zecheng was getting dressed. He had slept in the same bed as Huo Ci last night. The hospital bed was so small that he had to be careful not to touch her, fearing he might make her wound open again. Huo Ci had never been this close to anyone before. The two of them suddenly sleeping in the same bed, a hospital bed at that, even though nothing had happened, she always felt a little off.

They spent an awkward night in bed, and when they woke up, both were a bit uncomfortable.

“No, you have to stay for another week,” he had just checked her wound last night.

Huo Ci snorted. This was the downside of having a former surgeon boyfriend; you couldn’t even fool him.

Yi Zecheng was going to the company. Seeing her still looking unhappy, he reached out and touched her cheek, softly saying, “Stay for another week, and I’ll take you home.”

“I’ll take you home.” This sentence successfully pleased Huo Ci, and she finally smiled.

He left, and Yang Ming’s car was waiting downstairs. Huo Ci leaned out the window, waving to the car below. But she was on the 21st floor, so he probably couldn’t see her.

After she finished waving, she called Mo Xingchen.

A moment later, Mo Xingchen arrived with a bag. These were clothes she had picked up for Huo Ci from her home. Huo Ci saw the white sweater and cashmere coat and immediately frowned, asking, “Why are they all white?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to get rid of that bitch Chen Xin? We’ll both wear white, perfect for his funeral,” Mo Xingchen said through gritted teeth.

She was truly angry.

Huo Ci asked her, “Did you bring my car?”

“Yes, and I bought red paint. We’ll douse him with it later.”

After Huo Ci changed her clothes, they went downstairs. The wedding banquet was a luncheon, with the ceremony officially starting at 12:08 PM. When they left the hospital, it was already ten o’clock.

It would take an hour from the Military General Hospital to that five-star hotel.

“If we go so early, and the guests haven’t arrived yet, won’t it be less fun to cause trouble?” Mo Xingchen said, a bit regretfully, from the passenger seat.

Huo Ci didn’t speak, driving with an expressionless face.

After they arrived, Huo Ci took out two invitations and handed one to Mo Xingchen. Mo Xingchen glanced at it, and indeed, it had her name on it. She asked curiously, “How did you get this?”

She knew Huo Ci had tricked her mom into giving her the invitation.

“You can get anything with money,” Huo Ci said coldly.

After getting out of the car, Mo Xingchen quickly went to the trunk to get her gear. This time, she bought a lot of things, including many cans of paint, just waiting to give Chen Xin a rainbow shower later. She also had pepper spray, just in case they were at a disadvantage.

She had prepared so much, but Huo Ci was empty-handed.

To her disappointment, they simply showed their invitations and walked in. The guests hadn’t arrived yet, only staff were inside preparing.

The wedding planner was making final confirmations on site, and the sound and video equipment were being tested.

Huo Ci walked over and actually started chatting with the young man in charge of the equipment. She was beautiful, and she had come in with an invitation. This time, when she asked a question, the equipment technician almost said ten sentences. Mo Xingchen watched from the side, anxious.

Another half hour passed, and guests began to arrive. The men were in suits and ties, the women in luxurious clothes and exquisite makeup, making it look like a grand banquet.

When Chen Xin appeared in a black suit, both of them looked over, and Mo Xingchen’s eyes turned red.

She had personally seen Shao Yi lying on the ground that day, which had almost scared half her life out of her. The scumbag was clearly the one who made the mistake, but it was Shao Yi who suffered in the end.

“He’s truly shameless,” Huo Ci looked at him coldly.

The banquet hall was extremely large, with sixty-six tables. At this time, many people were gathered around Chen Xin. They also saw several former classmates from college. Although many knew there was something fishy about his marriage, they still came.

Mo Xingchen gritted her teeth: “Look at them smiling, they’re so damn vulgar.”

Because Huo Ci and the others were standing near the audio-visual equipment, Chen Xin hadn’t noticed them.

It wasn’t until the wedding was about to begin that the wedding photos of the bride and groom, scrolling on the big screen, suddenly changed style and became another video. The video still featured Chen Xin, but he was kneeling.

“Xiao Yi, marry me.”

His voice grew louder and louder until a clear and resounding shout: “Shao Yi, I love you, marry me!”

The entire hall erupted in an uproar, because today’s bride was named Lu Lu.