IJLHTW - 46

In the hospital, Huo Ci couldn’t take photos but could still handle them over the phone. The photos she took in Africa had only undergone basic processing—they needed to be printed for her upcoming exhibition tour, which she planned to launch after the New Year.

While she was working on the photos, Mo Xingchen called, urgently asking, “What’s going on with Nan Wan?”

“What about her?” Huo Ci asked nonchalantly.

When Mo Xingchen realized Huo Ci didn’t know, she nearly exploded. “It’s all over the internet now! They’re saying you’ve been replaced by advertisers because of your ‘troublemaking.’ Even T&A Group, who’s always relied on you, has dumped you and signed with Nan Wan instead. Rumor has it that Nan Wan shot their latest jewelry ad. And her fans have even posted screenshots from her Instagram—it’s a photo of her with the director of T&A’s China branch.”

Huo Ci opened Weibo on her computer and searched for Nan Wan’s name. Sure enough, her fan group had posted screenshots of her latest Instagram post—a photo of her casually posing with a middle-aged man, his arm draped over her shoulder.

T&A was an internationally renowned jewelry brand, and their headquarters had always favored Huo Ci’s style. For years, every single one of their advertising campaigns in China had been handled exclusively by her. Jewelry ads were highly coveted—even A-list celebrities fought tooth and nail for them—and T&A spent millions annually on magazine spreads. Yet, even the editors of those magazines gave Huo Ci preferential treatment due to her long-standing relationship with T&A.

This was her stronghold—her unshakable domain. And now, someone had dared to pry it loose.

She sneered. “Nan Wan must have planned this.”

Mo Xingchen was equally infuriated. In recent days, Huo Ci’s popularity had skyrocketed as the drama surrounding her continued to make headlines. The scandal involving the cheating groom and the other woman had sparked endless online discussions. Eventually, even Mo Xingchen’s identity as a fashion blogger had been exposed.

Her cover was blown.

Many followers of the fashion industry were quick to point out that her insider scoops had always been spot-on precisely because she was Huo Ci’s close friend. What shocked people even more was the revelation that Mo Xingchen was a graduate of B University.

Needless to say, even Mo Xingchen’s Weibo followers had increased by seven or eighty thousand.

As for Huo Ci? Her numbers were even more staggering—two million new followers in just two days.

But such attention came at a cost. Celebrities were hesitant to work with her, fearing that her overwhelming presence might overshadow them.

The reason T&A’s campaign went to Nan Wan was that their PR team feared Huo Ci’s controversies would shift focus away from the product and onto the photographer herself.

“You should ask Bai Yu about this,” Mo Xingchen pressed. “I’m sure he already knows but is too scared to tell you.”

Nan Wan had been undercutting Huo Ci’s projects with rock-bottom bids for the past couple of years.

Mo Xingchen scoffed sarcastically, “Do you think Nan Wan secretly likes you? Why else would she target your clients specifically?”

Huo Ci let out a cold laugh. Perhaps she did.

Mo Xingchen didn’t linger on the topic and urged her to contact Bai Yu immediately for clarification.

Before Huo Ci could dial, Bai Yu himself walked in. He entered the room holding a box of egg tarts, presenting them like an offering. “Your favorite Portuguese egg tarts.”

“Are you here to apologize to death?” Huo Ci asked wryly.

Bai Yu’s legs nearly buckled as his face fell into despair. “You already know?”

Of course, she knew. Not only were Nan Wan’s fans outraged, but so were Huo Ci’s. After all, T&A had exclusively worked with Huo Ci for years, and her fans were familiar with the brand’s staff. Now, seeing the sudden appearance of Nan Wan cozying up to their team, they couldn’t contain their fury.

“So, am I unemployed now?” Huo Ci sneered.

Bai Yu quickly reassured her. “Not exactly.”

He rattled off a list of jobs—none particularly prestigious. Some were second-tier magazines, others obscure ad campaigns, and a few opportunistic brands hoping to ride her current wave of popularity.

Huo Ci was well aware of the buzz swirling around her online. Some accused her of deliberately creating drama, questioning why her disruption at the wedding was live-streamed. They claimed she had been hyping herself since her debut, building her reputation as the most sought-after photographer in the country. Now, faced with competition from Nan Wan, they alleged she was stirring controversy again for attention.

Although Huo Ci’s fans had already exposed the livestreamer as just a random wedding guest who happened to capture the scene, the accusations persisted. As the saying goes, you can’t wake someone who’s pretending to sleep.

Then there was the matter of her injury—the sight of her drenched in blood had horrified viewers. Videos of the incident circulated widely, prompting netizens to speculate wildly about the nature of her wounds.

“These netizens are relentless,” Bai Yu muttered, glancing at her. “Why don’t we issue a statement saying you were injured while working in Africa? That might shut some of these trolls up.”

Huo Ci snorted. “So you admit it’s trolls causing trouble.”

She wasn’t truly angry. Having been in the industry for so long, she’d seen it all. Nan Wan’s antics were nothing compared to the time another photographer openly declared they’d drive Huo Ci out of the business. In the end, Huo Ci became the most celebrated photographer, while the instigator couldn’t even stay in Beijing.

“Do you think I’m someone who lets others bully me for free?” Huo Ci licked her lips, her expression dangerous.

Bai Yu froze. This was the same look she’d worn when she heard that photographer’s threat—calm yet menacing.

“By the way,” Huo Ci added, “a friend of mine wants to break into the industry. Keep an eye on her, will you?”

Bai Yu gave her a puzzled look. He prided himself on knowing everyone in her circle. Since when did she acquire a new friend?

Huo Ci handed him Xu Siyang’s number and instructed, “Watch over her. She’s a friend’s referral. Don’t let her get mixed up in anything shady.”

Bai Yu occasionally arranged social events for his models, though those were strictly professional. If someone willingly chose to climb the ladder, he wouldn’t stop them. But since this referral came from Xu Siyang, Huo Ci naturally added extra caution.

Bai Yu smirked. “What ambitious soul entering this industry doesn’t have dreams of climbing higher?”

Huo Ci frowned. “Whether she has ambition is her business. But don’t lead her astray.”

Bai Yu feigned innocence. “Who doesn’t know you’re the epitome of integrity in this field? As your manager, I pride myself on being morally upright.”

Huo Ci laughed coldly and told him to leave.

Before he exited, he hesitated and asked, “Have you and Mr. Yi been fighting these past two days?”

“No,” Huo Ci replied softly, lowering her gaze.

They hadn’t fought—just had a minor disagreement. Huo Ci knew she was being unreasonable. When Yi Zhecheng suggested introducing her to his parents, she refused—not because she didn’t want to go, but because she didn’t want to complicate things during this sensitive time.

Unlike her, Yi Zhecheng appeared aloof but was universally likable. Elders admired his calmness, decisiveness, and ability to handle matters efficiently.

Though Huo Ci’s reputation in the photography world wasn’t terrible aside from accusations of being overly commercial, the recent scandal involving Shao Yi had drawn too much attention.

She didn’t want to announce their relationship amidst this chaos, subjecting him to public scrutiny. While she could endure criticism, she couldn’t bear to see him attacked.

His name deserved accolades like “the best surgeon” or “a compassionate doctor”—not slander.

Moreover, Yi Zhecheng preferred a low-profile life, rarely giving interviews or seeking media attention. He disliked the paparazzi spotlight, and Huo Ci didn’t want to thrust him into it either.

Her intentions were noble, though perhaps not entirely reasonable.

“I ran into Mr. Yi the other day, and he looked unusually cold,” Bai Yu remarked. “Even though he’s always reserved, since he started visiting you in the hospital, his demeanor seemed warmer.”

Huo Ci smiled faintly. “We’re just having a little spat.”

After she spoke, Bai Yu smacked his thigh in frustration. “You’re an idiot! Why do you care what those trolls say online? You’re refusing to meet your future in-laws because of them! Do you think his parents are just square-dancing grannies who gossip all day? There are plenty of people dying to meet them!”

Huo Ci understood all that, but sometimes she was stubborn. She didn’t want anyone interfering with him.

Her Yi Zhecheng—she cherished him dearly.

How could she tolerate others defaming him?

________________________________________

Meanwhile, Yi Zhecheng had just finished a meeting with a U.S.-based university. Ming Sheng Pharmaceuticals was preparing to acquire a patent from them, and as an expert in the field, Yi Zhecheng’s insights during the meeting had left the other party speechless.

If everything went smoothly, he’d need to fly to the U.S. in a few days.

As soon as the meeting concluded, several executives filed out, and Yang Ming stepped in. Lowering his voice, he said, “Mr. Yi, you asked me to monitor online developments. It seems Miss Huo is encountering some issues with her work.”

Ming Sheng Group had a dedicated PR department, and Yi Zhecheng had instructed them to keep tabs on the situation. Though he wasn’t a PR expert, he understood that suppressing rumors was less effective than letting them run their course. Public opinion largely favored Huo Ci, given that she acted out of loyalty to her friend—a rare quality in today’s world.

Yang Ming recounted how Huo Ci’s T&A contract had been snatched away by someone else. Seated behind his desk, Yi Zhecheng raised his head and asked, “Which company is handling our current advertising?”

“Inform the PR department that all future advertising contracts will be handled by Huo Ci’s studio,” Yi Zhecheng said coolly, signing his name on a document.

Yang Ming was stunned. Ming Sheng’s core business was pharmaceuticals, and their annual ad spending on television networks amounted to tens of millions. This was a lucrative deal that any top-tier advertising agency would fight for. Yet, Yi Zhecheng casually handed it over to Huo Ci’s small studio.

Yi Zhecheng glanced up, his gaze frosty. “Why are you still standing there?”

Just as Yang Ming turned to leave, Yi Zhecheng called him back. Frowning slightly, he asked, “Didn’t my secretary mention registering a Weibo account for me?”

He didn’t enjoy social media. Even when checking comments recently, he’d used Yang Ming’s account. Searching for Huo Ci’s name revealed countless fans declaring their love for her.

His little girl was quite popular, it seemed.

“Mr. Yi, are you planning to create a Weibo account?” Yang Ming exclaimed in surprise.

Indeed, the secretary’s office had considered this before. Social media was now standard practice, and Ming Sheng had its own official accounts. Many executives maintained public profiles, which helped boost the company’s visibility.

Besides, Yi Zhecheng’s looks were impeccable. Even the married secretaries in the office swooned whenever they saw him.

Online polls often crowned random heirs as the “hottest rich second-generation elites,” but Yi Zhecheng’s sharp features easily outclassed them all. His low profile simply kept him out of the limelight.

Yi Zhecheng nodded. “Who took her project?”

Yang Ming noticed his calm demeanor and doubted he was angry. Nevertheless, he quickly handed over a tablet. On the screen was a screenshot of Nan Wan’s Instagram post, with numerous comments below.

Yi Zhecheng scanned the comments.

One read: Congratulations to China’s best photographer, Miss Nan Wan, on collaborating with T&A!

He handed the tablet back to Yang Ming, his tone icy. “That’s incorrect.”

Yang Ming scrutinized the comment, confused. He’d already verified that the man in the photo was indeed T&A’s China director.

“The best photographer in China is Huo Ci.”

Yang Ming blinked. Mr. Yi, are you trying to feed me dog food?