IJLHTW - 47

Huo Ci was tidying up her things in the hospital after spending nearly half a month there—finally, she was being discharged. Originally, she had planned to have Bai Yu drive her home directly, but Yi Zhecheng had Yang Ming inform her that he would come to pick her up in the evening.

Thinking about how Yi Zhecheng had seemed a bit down these past few days, Huo Ci wanted to cheer him up.

Just as she was about to change out of her hospital gown, she noticed the sunlight outside. Though it was winter, the warm rays were perfect. She moved the table to the window and set up her camera on a tripod. After adjusting the angle and testing the lighting several times, she finalized the setup.

Huo Ci sat quietly on the table, her legs bent with her arms resting casually on her knees. Her chin rested on her arms, and her thick, cascading hair draped over her shoulders. As her face turned toward the lens, her hair fell slightly, and the sunlight slanted through the glass, bathing her surroundings in a warm, golden glow.

Sunlight, hospital gown, and a girl with flowing long hair—soft, warm, yet exuding an indomitable strength of life.

After finishing the photoshoot, she sat on the table, hugging her camera while basking in the sunlight, selecting the best shots.

She had always pursued a cold and mysterious aesthetic, disliking selfies taken with phones. All the self-portraits on her Weibo were personally captured by her, with dark tones dominating her photo style. The blue-and-white striped hospital gown unexpectedly gave off a subtle sense of freshness.

She carefully selected one photo and uploaded it to her computer.

As she prepared to post it on Weibo, she looked at the image of herself and thought for a moment before typing:

“I did get injured, and there were some minor issues during work, but nothing serious. This job has been the most unforgettable experience of my career as a photographer. Stay tuned.”

After posting the photo, she glanced at her Weibo feed, smiled, and closed her laptop.

No sooner had she posted the photo than the assistants at her studio saw it and immediately called Bai Yu over to take a look. Bai Yu was naturally delighted. Earlier, Huo Ci’s fan group had posted a clarification on Weibo, explaining that she had encountered difficulties while working in Africa.

However, the fan group’s influence was limited. To everyone’s surprise, Huo Ci herself had clarified today.

“Boss Huo looks so cool in this picture,” Xiao Yi, the studio assistant, gushed dreamily while staring at the computer.

Meng Fan leaned over to take a look, surprised. “Did our boss take this herself?”

“Our boss never lets anyone else take pictures of her,” Xiao Yi proudly declared, lifting her chin.

Meng Fan knew this well, which made the photo even more puzzling. It felt unusually warm despite her wearing a hospital gown. Whether it was the lighting or the calm expression in her eyes, everything exuded a sense of peace and serenity.

Unaware of the commotion her photo was causing at the studio, Huo Ci heard noise coming from the hallway.

When she stepped out, she saw a woman in a hospital gown with long hair standing in the corridor, shouting, “I want to see Lu Linzheng! I want to see Lu Linzheng! If you don’t bring him here, I’ll jump!”

Suicide? How dramatic.

Huo Ci sneered and was about to return to her room when she saw a group of people walking down the other end of the corridor. Leading them was a man in a black cashmere coat, his handsome face calm, even with a faint smile playing on his lips.

This man…

At that moment, the woman sitting by the window, ready to jump, caught sight of the figure appearing in the corridor. Her eyes lit up, and her previously desperate voice suddenly turned excited. “Lu Linzheng!” she shouted, trembling with joy.

The doctors and nurses sighed in relief—it seemed the culprit had arrived. The nurse quickly urged the girl to come down and not do anything foolish.

Huo Ci was about to return to her room, as she disliked getting involved in such spectacles. But just as she turned, she saw the man heading straight toward her room and stopping right at her door.

“Feeling better?” he asked, looking down at her with a playful smirk on his handsome face.

Huo Ci had recognized him immediately. This man was someone she had met at a hospital in Guinea. She had been sitting on a bench lost in thought when he handed her a handkerchief. Never would she have imagined running into him again here.

The man studied her carefully and suddenly chuckled, softly saying, “You must find it quite a coincidence to meet me here.”

Before Huo Ci could respond, he added, “I only came here because you’re here.”

A flicker of surprise appeared in Huo Ci’s eyes as the man continued, “We didn’t formally introduce ourselves last time. My name is…”

“Lu Linzheng, how dare you!” the shrill cry of the woman by the window cut through the air, chilling to the bone.

Huo Ci sneered. “No need for introductions, Mr. Lu Linzheng.”

Lu Linzheng smiled faintly, unbothered, and said apologetically, “It seems our first introduction isn’t going smoothly.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his expression turned cold, and he waved his hand dismissively. “Throw her down.”

Two burly bodyguards in black suits approached. Before they even reached her, the woman screamed again, “Lu Linzheng, what are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” Lu Linzheng smirked devilishly. “Isn’t this fulfilling your wish?”

“You can’t do this!” the doctor tried to intervene, but the two towering men—who stood at least six feet tall—were intimidating. Who would dare stop them? A single punch from either of them could leave someone seriously injured.

Besides, with so many people watching, the doctors and nurses understood that they were merely trying to scare the woman.

Sure enough, as soon as the woman saw the two bodyguards approaching, she clung tightly to the windowsill.

With their strong hands, the two men grabbed her—one on each side—and lifted her down effortlessly. Once she was on the ground, the woman looked up at Lu Linzheng, tears streaming down her face.

Lu Linzheng said nonchalantly, “Next time you try to commit suicide, be more considerate. At the very least, go to the rooftop.”

Someone couldn’t hold back and snickered.

The crowd gathered in the corridor erupted in laughter. Romantic entanglements were supposed to be consensual; forcing someone to show up by threatening to jump was simply embarrassing.

The woman, utterly humiliated, covered her face and sobbed quietly on the floor. Eventually, a kind-hearted nurse helped her back to her room.

With the main character gone, the onlookers dispersed.

Lu Linzheng turned back to Huo Ci and asked, “Are you feeling better now?” He already knew she was being discharged today, which was why he had come.

Huo Ci looked at him coldly and reminded him, “Mr. Lu, perhaps you should check on your girlfriend instead of wasting time on a stranger.”

“A stranger? I know you’re the photographer Huo Ci, and you know my name,” Lu Linzheng smiled. “We should count as acquaintances.”

Huo Ci sneered and turned to head back into her room.

“Huo Ci,” Lu Linzheng called after her, but she didn’t turn around.

He spoke meaningfully. “Until next time.”

What a lunatic.

Huo Ci slammed the door shut.

________________________________________

Yi Zhecheng was delayed by a meeting and didn’t arrive until 7 p.m. When he did, Huo Ci had just finished drinking the soup Bai Yu had brought over.

Her belongings were all packed, with her cameras carefully stored in specialized cases.

They were her treasures, and no one dared to treat them carelessly.

Seeing him arrive, Bai Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Technically, he could have just dropped her off at home after discharge. But now that Huo Ci had a boyfriend, she was precious cargo.

“Are you all packed?” Yi Zhecheng asked.

Huo Ci noticed his demeanor hadn’t changed—he wasn’t truly angry, but there was an unmistakable air of dissatisfaction. These past few days, he hadn’t neglected her, visiting her daily, though he no longer stayed overnight in the hospital. Of course, she understood why—it was inconvenient.

She nodded, and Yi Zhecheng extended his hand. “Then let’s go.”

Under the light, his long, pale fingers were impeccably manicured—a clean, beautiful hand. Huo Ci smiled faintly and took his hand.

Then he murmured, “Let’s go home.”

It wasn’t until they opened the door to her apartment that Huo Ci truly felt like she was home. As soon as she entered, she pressed a row of switches, illuminating the space.

Yi Zhecheng stood outside while Huo Ci rummaged through the shoe cabinet for slippers. She had never kept extra slippers for anyone—if Mo Xingchen visited occasionally, she simply went barefoot.

Feeling a bit awkward, Huo Ci held up a pair of her white slippers and asked, “Would you mind making do with these?”

Yi Zhecheng stared at the slippers in her hand and chuckled lightly.

He removed his shoes at the entrance, picked up his suitcase, and walked in.

Following behind him, Huo Ci said, “I’ll buy you some slippers tomorrow.”

“You rest first; there’s no rush,” Yi Zhecheng replied, placing her suitcase neatly. He glanced around—the interior was predominantly white, with a stark, minimalist design that resembled a showroom more than a lived-in space.

Yi Zhecheng’s house also featured cool tones, but it was warmer compared to Huo Ci’s place.

Huo Ci was momentarily stunned, thinking he might leave. Without saying a word, she stared at him intently.

His phone rang, and after answering, he said, “Alright, I’ll head down now.”

Yi Zhecheng turned to leave, but Huo Ci, genuinely irritated, thought he was still sulking. She wasn’t the type to bottle up her feelings, so she grabbed his hand and said firmly, “Don’t you dare leave.”

The man turned to look at her, his expression still cool, though his eyes betrayed a hint of surprise.

Huo Ci gazed at his strikingly handsome face under the light and softened. Why was she arguing with him? She wrapped her arms around him and whispered, “You’re not allowed to stay mad at me anymore.”

Before he could respond, Huo Ci tiptoed and kissed him. The scene reminded her of the first time she kissed him—in his bathroom, an impromptu ambush.

In the blink of an eye, she found herself in his arms. Yi Zhecheng lowered his head, gently licking and savoring her soft lips, instantly reclaiming control.

By the time she was breathless, he slightly loosened his grip and murmured, “Where’s your room?”

Huo Ci pointed in one direction, and he scooped her up in his arms.

Once inside, they didn’t bother turning on the lights. Clinging to each other, they stumbled toward the bed. Huo Ci was pinned beneath him, her familiar bed now hosting the man she cherished.

This house was her private domain, and only those she truly cared about were allowed to enter. And this bed—no one else had ever lain on it except her. Now, it belonged to the first and only man she had permitted into her sanctuary.

Huo Ci’s body burned with heat, trembling as his lips descended once more.

Her fingers threaded through his hair, damp with sweat.

The curtains were drawn tightly, plunging the room into darkness. Only his breathing and warmth felt real.

________________________________________

Huo Ci lay quietly on the bed, the man beside her holding her close. When he shifted slightly, she lazily opened her eyes. He said, “You sleep first; I’ll go out…”

Before he could finish, Huo Ci abruptly sat up. Gone was her earlier languor. She sat there silently, sulking.

Yi Zhecheng reached for the light switch, and the sudden brightness made her squint.

When she opened her eyes again, they shimmered with moisture as she gritted her teeth. “Leave.”

Suddenly, the man beside her, clearly suppressing laughter, asked, “Who told you I wouldn’t come back after going downstairs?”

Huo Ci turned to look at him.

He explained, “The meeting ran late today, so I had Yang Ming collect my things from home and bring them here.”

Huo Ci: “…” She had assumed he was leaving and tried to seduce him to stay.

Realizing she’d been played, she angrily accused, “You did that on purpose.”

This man was too wicked. He must have seen through her intentions when she kissed him but chose not to clarify, letting her believe he was leaving.

By now, Yi Zhecheng had already gotten out of bed and started dressing. Standing by the bed, Huo Ci watched as he calmly buttoned his shirt, exuding an elegant composure.

Black-hearted fiend.

Her face clearly showed her irritation, but Yi Zhecheng finished buttoning the last one. Leaning down, he kissed her lips lightly.

“You’re here. Where else would I go?”