IJLHTW - 43

Shao Yi could no longer bear to watch the scene and dragged Mo Xingchen away.

As they left, Mo Xingchen bitterly said, “Huo Ci, now that you’ve left our single-dog squad, we can’t be besties anymore.”

“Get out of here,” Huo Ci said coldly as she lay pale against the bed.

Mo Xingchen dramatically covered her face in despair. Seeing that they still had the energy to joke around, Shao Yi pulled Mo Xingchen away. Just as they reached the door, Yi Zhecheng returned after hanging up his phone. Shao Yi nodded at him and softly said, “Mr. Yi, I’m truly sorry about today.”

Everyone in the hotel elevator had seen Yi Zhecheng’s icy and stern demeanor.

Shao Yi was more perceptive than Mo Xingchen. She knew that although this Mr. Yi appeared cold on the surface, he deeply cared for Huo Ci. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have rushed over so quickly, accompanied by so many bodyguards.

He was genuinely afraid that Huo Ci would get hurt.

Thinking about it, Shao Yi felt even guiltier.

She softly said, “Huo Ci acted out of anger today because of me. Please don’t be upset with her.”

Yi Zhecheng gave her a brief glance and murmured, “You’re being too formal. I don’t oppose her standing up for you. It’s just that her gunshot wound hasn’t healed yet.”

“I understand. You’re worried about her,” Shao Yi nodded.

Yi Zhecheng acknowledged her words and instructed Yang Ming to escort them home. When he re-entered the ward, only the two of them remained. Huo Ci was quietly lying in bed, her face still pale.

The doctor had redressed her wound, and she had lost quite a bit of blood earlier. Her white sweater, stained with blood, had created a shocking visual effect.

“Rest for a while. You’ve been through a lot,” Yi Zhecheng said, shaking his head helplessly.

Indeed, she had caused quite a commotion.

But Huo Ci’s commotion was always different from others. Every time Yi Zhecheng encountered her stepping forward, it wasn’t for herself but for those close to her. Though she appeared this way in front of him, he knew that in front of others, she was aloof and reserved.

At their core, their personalities were strikingly similar. Outwardly cold, but inwardly burning with passion.

Yi Zhecheng’s fire was for saving lives, while Huo Ci’s fire was for protecting her friends. If anyone dared to bully someone close to her, she would never stand idly by.

She was righteous and carried a sense of chivalry, a fiery spirit within her.

It was precisely this aspect of her that attracted him, drawing him closer to her and making him fall for her.

“Don’t be angry with me,” Huo Ci gently touched his hand, her voice soft.

She wasn’t foolish; she knew when to soften her approach. Her words were like cotton candy—sweet and tender. Her bright, black eyes gazed steadily at him, filled with nothing but him.

Yi Zhecheng’s expression remained indifferent, his amber eyes briefly scanning her face before lingering.

His fingers lightly grazed her cheek, cool and fleeting.

Her heart skipped a beat. Earlier in the car, she had noticed that he had restrained himself because of her injury. Now that everyone else had left, only the two of them remained.

Huo Ci’s mind was in turmoil. She had never been in a relationship before, and no one had ever taught her how to appease an angry boyfriend.

“I know my personality isn’t great—I’m impatient, prone to anger, and lack patience with others. I often come across as cold. This is also my first relationship, so I might have upset you. But can you forgive me after you’ve calmed down? I didn’t mean to make you angry. You know Shao Yi is a girl who was wronged, and no one stood up for her. If I hadn’t helped her, no one else would have.”

Shao Yi was a girl from a small town who had worked hard to get into university in Beijing. She had always been honest and kind, never hurting anyone or doing anything wrong. Yet she had encountered such a despicable man who callously discarded six years of her life without a second thought.

It was infuriating.

Huo Ci wanted to let her vent, release her frustrations, and then move forward. She didn’t want Shao Yi to be weighed down by the past or become like her—someone perpetually trapped in memories of the past.

These words startled Yi Zhecheng.

This long explanation came straight from her heart, sincere and genuine.

After a faint sigh, he reached out and took her cold hand. Her pale, weary face tilted slightly downward, hiding her eyes from him. He gently stroked her long, soft, jet-black hair, which rested gently on her striped hospital gown, warm and tender.

“She’s a girl who needs protection. But aren’t you the same?”

Yi Zhecheng asked softly.

Huo Ci’s body trembled slightly. Then he continued, “When you rush to protect others, have you ever thought about what happens if you get hurt?”

She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“I’m not angry that you stood up for your friend. I’m angry that you disregarded your own well-being,” Yi Zhecheng said, his brows furrowed deeply, his handsome face etched with profound helplessness. “In South Sudan, you stood in front of me and took a bullet for me. And now, you’re standing up for your friend again.”

“You always step forward to shield everyone around you.”

In the past, Yi Zhecheng had been the one doing this. As a man, his shoulders were broader than a woman’s. He was naturally built to protect women. Before meeting someone he wanted to protect, he poured all his energy into caring for his patients.

Now, he had someone he wanted to protect with everything he had.

He gently patted the top of her head and said warmly, “Huo Ci, you don’t have to be so strong. You can be vulnerable sometimes. You can try leaning on me.”

Huo Ci looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

She had once been sheltered in a greenhouse, but somewhere along the way, she had grown accustomed to shielding others and protecting those around her. She didn’t enjoy the high-intensity work or the commercial aspects of her career, but she couldn’t stop because she had a team of employees counting on her. She owed them responsibility.

“I promised you that I would protect you,” he said, looking into her eyes solemnly.

This was his promise to her—a man’s vow to a woman.

I will protect you, even if one day you find yourself opposing the entire world. I will stand by your side and fight against the world with you.

Huo Ci stared at him, her breath hitching slightly as she whispered, “So… did you bring those bodyguards today to help me?”

Earlier in the elevator, besides him and Yang Ming, there were several men in black suits. Huo Ci had seen them clearly, and now she wanted to hear him say it aloud.

Yi Zhecheng froze, his expression tinged with awkwardness.

But Huo Ci persisted, asking again, “Well, is that true?”

On the way here, he had been thinking about who would dare to harm her…

But by the time he arrived, everything was already over. All he had time to do was scold this troublesome young woman.

After a moment, he coldly stated, “Regardless of what they used to do, their job now is to keep an eye on you.”

Huo Ci was dumbfounded.

“From now on, until your injuries are fully healed, even stepping out of this room requires them to accompany you.”

Huo Ci: “... Why am I being watched after doing something good?”

________________________________________

The drama of the cheating groom and the other woman was endlessly entertaining online. Moreover, this time it involved a live disruption at the wedding scene. A five-star hotel had been turned into chaos, thanks to modern technology that allowed any ordinary netizen to become a live-streamer.

With a smartphone camera switched on, everything from the destruction of property onward had been broadcast live online.

Especially since the person causing the disruption was famous.

Huo Ci’s name as a photographer carried significant weight—not only in the fashion circle but also online, where she boasted millions of fans. After returning from a trip to Africa, she posted a single tweet, and below it were countless fans eagerly awaiting her return.

But this time, instead of returning to shoot magazines or high-profile advertisements, she had disrupted a wedding live on air.

When the livestream began, only tens of thousands of viewers were watching. By the end, over a million people were tuned in. Even the sight of Huo Ci, covered in blood and being supported as she left, was broadcast online.

Huo Ci had always maintained the image of a distant, mysterious goddess. She was stunningly beautiful with an enviable figure—tall and slender, she exuded more charisma than professional models during photoshoots. Previously, magazines had streamed her photography sessions live, originally intending to showcase celebrities, but the number of confessions directed at her far exceeded those aimed at the stars.

This incident catapulted her name straight to the top of the trending search list.

Meanwhile, the names of the cheating groom and the other woman trailed far behind.

After watching the livestream, the situation became clear. The groom had dumped his girlfriend of six years for a wealthy woman. In response, Huo Ci, as her friend, stepped forward to defend her and wreaked havoc at the scene.

Initially, Bai Yu had expected Huo Ci to lose followers. To his surprise, not only did her fanbase remain intact, but it grew by over a million in just one day.

Her latest post, made a month ago, had already garnered over ten thousand comments. Upon checking, every single one was filled with creative declarations of love.

“You like cheating, huh? Let me show you what it feels like to be completely green. My goddess, a comedian hidden behind her photography career,” read one comment, garnering the most likes—over four thousand replies and more than thirty thousand likes.

“I thought my goddess was cold and untouchable, but now I realize she’s actually a chivalrous heroine.”

“Since I’ll never find a boyfriend, dear heavens, grant me a friend like this goddess.”

“Huo Ci, I want to marry you. Marry me.” Beneath this comment, countless others echoed the sentiment.

Bai Yu was stunned. Was the world moving too fast, or was he simply unable to keep up? He had mentally prepared himself for the possibility of Huo Ci losing her carefully crafted image and suffering a massive loss of followers.

Instead, the public seemed to adore her even more deeply.

One of the studio assistants quietly remarked, “Don’t you think the boss looked incredibly cool while disrupting the wedding?”

Within less than a day, the cheating groom and the other woman were thoroughly exposed. It turned out they had obtained their marriage certificate two months ago, eliminating the need for any further evidence of infidelity.

Huo Ci was contemplating whether to call Liu Ruhang, as the invitation had been obtained through deception—it was her mistake.

Just as she hesitated, there was a knock at the door. Looking up, she saw Xu Siyang’s head peeking in.

“You’re back in the country?” she smiled, asking.

Xu Siyang brought out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. Though visiting a patient, he still adhered to proper etiquette. He placed the flowers on the table, surveyed the room, and shook his head. “See? Whenever I leave you guys, trouble follows.”

Huo Ci let out a snort.

But Xu Siyang didn’t seem to mind. He sat down on a chair nearby and said, “By the way, if you hadn’t disrupted that wedding today, I wouldn’t have known about your injury. How’s your condition now?”

“Not bad,” Huo Ci replied with a smile.

Xu Siyang scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward. They weren’t particularly close, but he had come to visit her out of the camaraderie they had formed in Africa.

“Still, you were incredible today. Even my sister said you’re something else,” Xu Siyang laughed, casually complimenting her.

Just as Huo Ci was about to smile, she suddenly froze.

She stared at him, wide-eyed, and asked, “Your sister?”

“Yes, I happened to be at my sister’s house today when I came across that livestream. After watching it, I showed it to her and mentioned that both Zecheng and I know you. So my sister praised you for being amazing,” Xu Siyang said, clearly proud of his sister’s compliment, grinning broadly.

After finishing his laughter, he noticed Huo Ci’s blank expression and hastily added, “My sister is the mother of my nephew.”

Hmm, yes—the future mother-in-law of Huo Ci.

Huo Ci stared at him for a long moment before saying, “Xu Siyang, did I kill your entire family in a past life?”

Xu Siyang was taken aback. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Then why are you tormenting me like this?”