IJLHTW - 42

“Yi Zhecheng, it hurts.”

Her voice was soft and full of grievance, her eyes slightly red-rimmed, as if silently accusing him of not rushing to her side the moment he saw her.

The man who had been seething with anger ever since he laid eyes on her suddenly let out an inaudible sigh.

She had him wrapped around her finger.

It was madness. On the way here, sitting in the car, Yi Zhecheng had already planned how he would scold her when he saw her. She had just suffered such a severe injury, teetering on the brink of death, yet she still dared to act recklessly and come here to cause trouble. This time, he was determined to teach her a lesson.

To make her understand what it meant to prioritize properly.

But now, with one sentence from her, all the punishments and principles swirling in his mind vanished into thin air.

He stepped forward and lifted her into his arms.

Huo Ci leaned obediently against his chest, her voice plaintive as she whispered again, “It really hurts.”

“You deserve it,” Yi Zhecheng said coldly.

His words were harsh, but they carried genuine concern.

Ever since they had crossed that invisible boundary between them, Yi Zhecheng had indulged her in everything. While he remained aloof toward others, he was exceedingly gentle with Huo Ci. The weight of his words made her feel guilty.

In truth, she felt guilty herself, so she didn’t dare get angry and simply nestled quietly against his chest.

This girl, barely over 100 pounds at five-foot-seven, was now being securely held in his arms. With her frail frame, she always charged ahead fearlessly. In the time they had known each other, she had already gotten herself into trouble more times than he could count.

To be honest, Yi Zhecheng wasn’t afraid of her causing trouble.

But she couldn’t disregard her own well-being.

Mo Xingchen and Shao Yi, who were still standing outside the elevator, were utterly stunned. It was the officer who finally broke the silence, asking, “And you are?”

“Her boyfriend,” Yi Zhecheng replied, his expression still cool but unhesitatingly claiming responsibility for this troublemaker.

Upon hearing this, the officer quickly said, “Good timing, sir. This young lady and her two friends caused quite a scene at someone’s wedding. And to top it off, she’s injured. We were just about to take her to the hospital, and then we’ll need to take statements.”

Huo Ci buried her face in Yi Zhecheng’s chest. She had felt triumphant while wreaking havoc, but now, saying it out loud, she felt a bit embarrassed.

As for the other two, they hung their heads low, neither uttering a word.

Honestly, none of these three were the type to stir up trouble. Especially Shao Yi, whose upbringing was textbook-perfect. This was her first time stepping into a police station. After venting her pent-up emotions, she too felt a bit awkward.

Moreover, Huo Ci had been dragged into this mess because of her. Seeing Huo Ci’s reopened wound, Shao Yi felt a pang of guilt.

With the elevator ready, everyone squeezed inside. When they reached the ground floor and exited the elevator, Yi Zhecheng turned his head and instructed Yang Ming, “Call Lawyer Jin and have him come over.”

So he still couldn’t bear to leave her alone, continuing to clean up the mess she had made.

As they descended, they coincidentally ran into the bride and groom, who were also heading down. Since the wedding was ruined, everyone had to go to the police station to give statements. After all, the initial report mentioned a group brawl, and since it involved a crowd, both sides bore responsibility.

No one was getting away.

Because Huo Ci was injured, two officers were assigned to escort her to the hospital.

Mo Xingchen and Shao Yi insisted on accompanying her. Fortunately, after learning the situation earlier, the officers understood it was a dispute over emotions. These individuals weren’t truly malicious—they had simply come to disrupt the wedding. So, they decided to take everyone to the hospital in one vehicle.

Huo Ci, being the patient, left with Yi Zhecheng’s car. The other two, however, enjoyed special treatment—riding in a police car.

Once inside the car, Mo Xingchen pressed her face against the window, enviously watching the line of cars beside them. Leading the procession was a Maybach, followed by black Mercedes-Benzes. Resting her chin on the iron bars of the police car window, she sighed wistfully, “Look at Huo Ci, riding in a Maybach, living out a domineering CEO romance drama. Meanwhile, we’re stuck in this ‘deep love behind bars’ scenario.”

Even Shao Yi couldn’t help but laugh at that, and the two officers in the car chuckled as well.

What goes through the minds of these young people nowadays?

Mo Xingchen silently rested her head against the iron bars, watching the Maybach disappear into the distance.

However, the atmosphere inside the Maybach wasn’t exactly harmonious either. Yang Ming drove silently, while the backseat was eerily quiet. Yi Zhecheng had placed Huo Ci gently into the car and sat beside her, neither speaking nor looking at her.

After a while, Huo Ci began to quietly gasp in pain. Her sounds were faint, but in the silent cabin, they were unmistakable.

Each gasp caused the man beside her to grow increasingly grim.

Finally, he tapped the back of the driver’s seat and ordered, “Drive faster.”

Huo Ci pursed her lips, hiding a smug smile. Subtle, yet mischievous.

But the man beside her stubbornly stared out the window, refusing to look at her.

She felt a bit helpless and extended a finger to tug at the hem of his coat. No response. She tugged again. Still nothing. On the third tug, the man abruptly shifted away from her.

Huo Ci: “...”

The man could hold a grudge.

Huo Ci was genuinely in pain and knew that his anger stemmed from worry. Just as she was contemplating how to soothe him, her phone suddenly rang.

She pulled it out of her pocket and saw that it was Bai Yu calling.

Without much thought, she answered. Before she could speak, she heard Bai Yu’s frantic voice on the other end.

“Huo Ci, you’ve ruined me! You’ve destroyed my entire life! Why did you do this to me? Why?”

Huo Ci, on the other hand, remained calm and asked indifferently, “Get to the point.”

“Do you even realize that your rampage at the wedding was live-streamed? Over a million people watched it online—one million!” Bai Yu was so enraged he felt his liver ache. If Huo Ci were in front of him right now, he might have actually attacked her.

Despite his agitation, Huo Ci remained unfazed and casually replied, “Oh, and?”

“And? How can you say ‘and’? For years, your image has been that of a distant and mysterious goddess—you’re a goddess, not some reckless woman who destroys weddings. Now, over a million people watched you ruin a wedding live. How are you going to maintain your current image?”

In the entertainment industry, nothing was more terrifying than a shattered persona. Once a carefully crafted image collapsed, it often led to a catastrophic loss of fans.

Though Huo Ci wasn’t a celebrity, she had long pursued a commercial career. Her rise to become the most commercially valuable photographer relied not only on her talent but also on a loyal fanbase that rivaled that of celebrities.

A distant goddess suddenly causing chaos at someone’s wedding and splashing green paint on the groom—it was unthinkable.

After watching the entire live stream, Bai Yu wished he could pass out. Social media had become so pervasive that any ordinary netizen could become a live-stream host.

Huo Ci: “So what?”

Though she asked the question, her tone was far too nonchalant. Even without seeing her face, Bai Yu could imagine her indifference.

Bai Yu wanted to rush to her and strangle her. He shouted, “If you really couldn’t stand that jerk, you should’ve told me! I’d have handled it myself—I’m just a manager. Worst case, I’d spend fifteen days in detention. Why did you go there, especially with your injuries?”

She calmly reassured him, “Don’t be so worked up. It might not be as bad as you think.”

“Hmph,” came Bai Yu’s sarcastic laugh. Then someone nearby whispered to him that Huo Ci had already skyrocketed to the top of the trending searches, with over a million views and a blazing red “EXPLODING” tag next to her name.

Huo Ci: “...” There were quite a few people who enjoyed spectacles like this.

“How can you say it’s not serious? Neither you nor Mo Xingchen gives me a moment’s peace. What were you thinking? You’re usually so calm—what got into you?”

“Maybe you can use this opportunity to rebrand me. A chivalrous persona wouldn’t be bad,” Huo Ci said with a self-satisfied chuckle.

“Huo Ci, where are you right now? Tell me where you are. I’m coming to kill you. I’ll die with you. Tell me your address right now!” Bai Yu practically screamed.

Seeing that he was genuinely furious, Huo Ci was about to offer some soothing words when the phone was snatched away by the man beside her. Yi Zhecheng, his face icy, said, “She’s with me now. Stop bothering her with trivial matters—she needs rest.”

With that, he hung up.

Huo Ci looked at him, noticing how tightly he clutched her hand and how his lips were pressed into a thin line, his expression still cold. She extended a finger and tugged at his sleeve, murmuring, “Yi Zhecheng, it hurts.”

Yi Zhecheng glanced at her pained expression and then at the bloodstained white sweater clinging to her body. At that moment, even the harsh “you deserve it” he had said earlier felt impossible to repeat.

Turning to face her, his brows furrowed as he declared with determination, “Huo Ci, if you ever dare to act so recklessly again, I…”

“I promise,” Huo Ci blurted out without hesitation.

After she spoke, Yi Zhecheng gave her a fleeting glance. Slowly, he pulled out his phone, opened the recording app, and placed it in her palm. “Make your promise. Words alone aren’t enough.”

Huo Ci blinked, staring blankly at the black phone in her hand. “You’re taking this too seriously,” she said with a faint smile.

Yi Zhecheng gazed at her coolly and murmured, “Sorry, but I’m just that kind of person.”

Huo Ci: “...”

She said, “You know, acting like this makes it easy to upset your girlfriend.”

“My girlfriend has already upset me.”

There it was—he had a retort ready for everything she said. Knowing she was in the wrong, Huo Ci sheepishly asked, “What do I need to promise to satisfy you?”

Yi Zhecheng calmly repeated his conditions. Huo Ci froze and immediately protested, “I’m injured right now—you can’t force me to sign an unfair treaty.”

In the end, Huo Ci reluctantly repeated his words, her face filled with humiliation.

The once fearless Miss Huo now resembled a soft, submissive kitten, her expression brimming with委屈 (grievance), as if she had been wronged by someone.

Yi Zhecheng looked at her expression, knowing she was deliberately trying to elicit his sympathy.

But even though he knew it was an act, his heart still ached for her.

At the hospital, Yi Zhecheng carried her directly into the elevator and back to the ward, where the doctor was already waiting. Seeing her blood-soaked clothes, even the doctor was startled.

Everyone else waited outside while Yi Zhecheng stayed in the room.

The wound had indeed reopened and showed signs of tearing further, requiring restitching.

After the wound was treated, the officers came in to take her statement. Pale and lying in bed, she politely invited them to sit on the sofa. Though they were supposed to take her back to the station, it was clear she wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.

Besides, the officers weren’t blind to their surroundings—the high-end private room at the military hospital wasn’t accessible to just anyone.

Yi Zhecheng stood by her bedside, his tall and handsome figure exuding an aura of refined aloofness. Three or four suited bodyguards stood guard at the door.

Even the officers conducted their questioning with unusual politeness.

Huo Ci, having mentally prepared for this, calmly and composedly stated, “If the other party sues me, I’ll take full responsibility for all losses.”

“That’s unacceptable. This matter was originally my issue. If there’s compensation to be paid, it should come from me,” Shao Yi interjected. Seeing Huo Ci in such a state already weighed heavily on her heart. She couldn’t bear to let Huo Ci shoulder any additional burden.

Money was no object to Huo Ci, but Shao Yi refused to let her suffer further losses.

“I’m also responsible. I smashed things too—if there’s compensation, I’ll pay,” Mo Xingchen chimed in, equally unconcerned.

Seeing them argue over who should take responsibility, the officers couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t worry, whoever is responsible won’t escape.”

The lawyer Yi Zhecheng had called arrived quickly and conferred with the officers. There was no major issue since no actual violence had occurred—just a lot of commotion. It would depend on whether the other party wanted to press charges or seek reconciliation.

All three signed the statements and left their contact information. If anything arose, they would still be contacted.

Yi Zhecheng and Lawyer Jin personally escorted the officers out. Though Yi Zhecheng remained silent throughout, his imposing presence made the officers adopt a notably gentler tone during their questioning.

Once they were gone, Mo Xingchen burst out, “Huo Ci, you said you had an appendectomy—how did it turn into a gunshot wound? When did you get shot?”

Seeing her stand up, Huo Ci eyed her belly and sneered, “I don’t recall you mentioning when you got pregnant.”

When Mo Xingchen publicly declared her pregnancy, Shao Yi hadn’t yet arrived. Hearing it for the first time, she immediately turned to Mo Xingchen and asked, “When did you get pregnant?”

At this, Mo Xingchen grew visibly embarrassed.

After stammering for a while, she finally admitted, “I just didn’t want the security guards to lay a hand on us, so I came up with that idea on the spot.”

“How clever am I?” she added proudly, winking at Huo Ci. Clearly, she was proud of her impromptu plan, which had effectively deterred the guards from touching her.

This time, Huo Ci was genuinely shocked, her jaw dropping in disbelief.

“You do realize our disruption was live-streamed, right? You just fabricated a pregnancy in front of over a million viewers. Others are running themselves ragged to dispel rumors, and here you are actively creating one,” Huo Ci muttered under her breath, biting back the urge to call her an idiot.

Mo Xingchen was momentarily speechless.

Looking at Huo Ci and Shao Yi, she finally managed to ask dryly, “So what do I do now?”

“You’d better pray that none of your relatives ever go online,” Huo Ci sneered.

Before Mo Xingchen could lament further, the door reopened, and Yi Zhecheng returned.

“Thank you so much for your help today,” Shao Yi quickly stood up.

Mo Xingchen followed suit, though her face was still clouded with dejection.

He gave Mo Xingchen a brief glance and said, “I’ll have Lawyer Jin work on reaching a settlement with the other party as soon as possible. You don’t need to worry.”

“We’ve caused you so much trouble,” Shao Yi said apologetically.

Yi Zhecheng’s demeanor had softened compared to before, his expression now温和 (gentle). “It’s no trouble. It’s what I should do. After all, you’re Huo Ci’s friends.”

Mo Xingchen’s heart cried out internally: Damn, this level of boyfriend power was enviable.

Still, she managed to compose herself outwardly, maintaining a facade of calm despite the storm raging inside.

Seeing that Huo Ci was tired, Shao Yi pulled Mo Xingchen to leave. However, Yi Zhecheng’s phone suddenly rang, and he stepped outside to answer it.

As soon as he left the room, Mo Xingchen took two steps forward and earnestly called out, “Father Huo, greetings.”

Huo Ci, leaning against the headboard, let out a chuckle that almost jolted her wound. Shao Yi was momentarily stunned by the unexpected “Father Huo” title. Before she could process what was happening, Mo Xingchen rushed to Huo Ci’s bedside.

With a wail of envy, she pleaded, “Father Huo, teach me your ways!”

Huo Ci looked at her, incredulous. “Do you have even a shred of decency left?”