IJLHTW - 51

Shen Sui’an stood behind her, gazing at her with a gentle and quiet demeanor.

The bright, dazzling lights of the mall illuminated him, making him appear even more like a warm, polished jade. Huo Ci looked at him, her face devoid of any emotion. Just two months ago, seeing him still stirred anger within her.

That anger from being suddenly abandoned in her youth still pierced her clearly after so many years.

“Alone?” Shen Sui’an approached, smiling softly at her.

Huo Ci looked at him indifferently, saying nothing. She suddenly realized that when she faced Shen Sui’an again, the sharp pain in her heart had calmed significantly. At that moment, his phone rang, and he gave an apologetic smile.

“Brother, where are you? Lu Lu and I bought a lot of things. Come pick us up quickly,” Shen Qian’s voice came through clearly on the speakerphone, audible even to Huo Ci.

Shen Sui’an then realized he had accidentally pressed the hands-free button.

“Brother, brother,” Shen Qian called out several times after hearing no response on the other end.

Finally, she exclaimed excitedly, “Ah, ah, brother, I see you! I’m standing by the escalator on the second floor. Look up...”

But before Shen Sui’an could look up, she heard the call disconnect on the other end.

Unexpectedly, after hanging up, Shen Sui’an grabbed Huo Ci and ran toward the other side of the mall. Only after turning into a corner did he stop.

“Shen Qian is with Lu Lu. I thought you wouldn’t want to run into them,” Shen Sui’an leaned against the wall, looking at her gently.

Huo Ci sneered, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Shen Sui’an hadn’t expected her to say this and chuckled helplessly. “You and Shen Qian have always clashed.”

Speaking of which, Huo Ci and Shen Qian were classmates. Shen Sui’an was older than her. They first met during Huo Ci’s high school ceremony. Later, they met at the same skating rink. She skated exceptionally well, while Shen Sui’an was dragged there by classmates. As he clung to the railing in his ice skates, he saw a girl inside wearing black clothes and a ponytail, gracefully weaving back and forth on the ice like a butterfly.

When she stopped beside him and greeted him playfully, “Senior Shen, are you here to skate too?”

Shen Sui’an finally recognized her face—the girl from the school ceremony. He was that year’s top scorer in the college entrance exam, and she was the top scorer in the middle school entrance exam.

“Huo Ci,” he softly called her name, his voice already wrapped in indescribable tenderness.

The young girl smiled happily, “You still remember me?”

How could he forget? Her eyebrows and eyes were captivating, her appearance as charming as a painting.

Even today, Shen Sui’an remembered her radiant smile on the ice rink.

Now, looking at the cold-eyed person before him, Shen Sui’an gazed at her seriously. The little girl had truly grown up.

“It’s fine. I’ll leave now,” Huo Ci said indifferently. If she hadn’t been momentarily caught off guard earlier, she wouldn’t have been pulled along by him. Even if she had bumped into Shen Qian directly, she had nothing to feel guilty about.

Shen Sui’an called out to her, “Xiao Ci, it’s the Lantern Festival in a few days. Why don’t you come home for dinner?”

“I’ve already said that it’s your home, not mine,” Huo Ci replied coolly.

Shen Sui’an looked at her and suddenly reached out to grab her hand. Earlier, she had unknowingly followed him like a fool. This time, she took a step back and looked at him coldly, “Shen Sui’an, enough.”

“Huo Ci,” Shen Sui’an looked at her, seemingly determined.

He said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left without a word.”

Huo Ci thought she would be indifferent by now since her life no longer involved Shen Sui’an. She had moved on, her life was no longer lonely, and someone held her hand, ensuring she wasn’t alone.

Suddenly, she missed Yi Zhecheng.

“I know this apology comes too late. Back then, I was too cowardly. After your mother and my father got together, I couldn’t accept it. Then I received an offer from a British university, so I chose to leave.”

Huo Ci looked at him, finding it laughable how easily he could say such words. That event had been a devastating blow to her. After her parents’ divorce, she thought at least he would stay by her side. He promised to wait for her at B University. Once she went to college, they could officially be together.

In her mind, he had been someone she could rely on.

All her youthful feelings were occupied by the person in front of her. Every text message he sent, every letter he wrote, every gentle comfort after her exams, every tutoring session—he never crossed boundaries despite their mutual affection.

He would always pat her head and say, “You’re still young, just a high school student. Your studies are the most important thing.”

He said, “I’ll wait for you at B University.”

Even their most intimate contact was only holding hands. He didn’t want to distract her; he wanted her to become the best version of herself and see a more wonderful world.

But when she worked hard to become better, he suddenly turned away without looking back.

At this moment, she looked at him earnestly and asked, “Do you know that I got into a car accident chasing you to the airport?”

Shen Sui’an bitterly smiled, “I know.”

“But you didn’t turn back. Even after my accident, you didn’t return, did you?” Huo Ci looked at him calmly.

Shen Sui’an felt deep pain. It was the one thing he regretted most in his life. If he had returned then, perhaps their outcome today would be different.

Huo Ci looked at him indifferently, “Shen Sui’an, we’ve both moved on. Let’s not bring up these things anymore.”

“I haven’t,” he softly said as she turned around.

He hadn’t moved forward. His heart remained here. He had secured a job opportunity at a hospital in Britain but ultimately gave up everything to return because he couldn’t move on.

Those pure, youthful times.

In the library, he tapped her head with a pen.

In crowded places, secretly holding her hand.

He never forgot.

“That’s too bad. I’ve already moved on.”

Huo Ci glanced back at him, speaking indifferently, then turned and walked away without looking back.

________________________________________

Huo Ci sat on the bay window in her room, gazing at the sparkling stars outside. When her phone rang, she answered, “Are you asleep?”

“Not yet,” her voice carried a hint of fatigue and a sense of disinterest.

After listening, Yi Zhecheng fell silent for a moment and softly asked, “Not happy?”

At this moment, Huo Ci really missed him—wanted to hold him and talk to him.

She lightly chuckled, “No.”

But the next second, she asked, “When will you be back?”

He had been gone for nearly half a month. Huo Ci wasn’t particularly clingy, and she had never asked when he would return during their calls because she knew that once his work was done, he would definitely return.

This time, asking meant she truly missed him.

“Miss me?” he softly began, his voice carrying warm laughter. Beside him, the secretary and assistant dared not raise their heads, but everyone knew the boss was talking to his girlfriend.

Thinking of such a cold and aloof person using such a tender tone made even the married female subordinates on the team feel their hearts flutter.

It was simply too sweet.

Huo Ci softly hummed in response.

Unexpectedly, he wasn’t satisfied and countered, “What does ‘hmm’ mean?”

This man... until Huo Ci softly said, “Miss.”

“I’ll be back in a few days,” Yi Zhecheng lowered his head to glance at the iPad in front of him, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

After hanging up, Yi Zhecheng turned to Yang Ming and said, “Arrange a flight for me to return home.”

Yang Ming was somewhat taken aback, and after a while, he asked, “You’re returning now?”

“The progress has been good these days. Tomorrow, give everyone a day off,” Yi Zhecheng tapped the table, and everyone silently cheered. After working continuously for so many days, they finally got a break.

After leaving the office, Yang Ming thought for a moment and advised, “But the formal negotiations are the day after tomorrow. Won’t it be too exhausting for you to travel back and forth like this?”

“Do you know what day it is tomorrow?” Yi Zhecheng looked at him indifferently.

Yang Ming was startled by his serious demeanor and cautiously asked, “Is it Miss Huo’s birthday?”

Until Yi Zhecheng looked at him and coldly said, “It’s Valentine’s Day.”

Then he chuckled softly, “I forgot. You don’t need to celebrate this holiday.”

Yang Ming: “…” I’m single, who did I offend? Not only do I eat dog food every day, but I also get teased.

He felt that ever since the boss got together with Miss Huo, he had been corrupted.

________________________________________

When Huo Ci finished taking pictures, she saw the solemn expressions on everyone’s faces in the studio. Outside, it was dark. Bai Yu came over and told them all to leave early.

Watching them pack up faster than anything else, she frowned, “Is something wrong?”

Bai Yu looked at her speechlessly, “Today is Valentine’s Day. If they don’t leave now, they’ll be late.”

“Oh,” she indifferently put down her camera, preparing to handle post-production.

Seeing she had no intention of leaving and knowing that Yi Zhecheng had been in the U.S. recently, Bai Yu sympathetically said, “Even though Mr. Yi isn’t in the country, couldn’t he at least have someone send you flowers?”

Just as Huo Ci was about to speak, a voice came from the doorway, “Who said I didn’t prepare anything?”

Huo Ci looked up, surprised to see the person appearing at the door. The next second, she rushed into his arms. If he hadn’t opened his arms in time, she would have collided with the flowers in his hand.

He bent down, kissing her lips, and brought her to the nearby tea room.

Bai Yu was left outside, shocked at how brazen they were.

Yi Zhecheng pinned her against the wall in the tea room, closing the door behind him. He placed the flowers on the nearby table, but his lips never let go. He sucked on her soft lips, prying open her teeth with his tongue, plunging deeply. The air around them instantly thinned, and Huo Ci tightly hooked her arms around his neck, bearing his intense, passionate kiss.

All his passion in this life, he gave to her.

Until both were breathless, he slightly loosened his grip. He looked down at the girl in his arms, her starry eyes shimmering with moisture, drawing him in like a deep, enchanting pool.

“Miss me?” This time, he whispered near her ear, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

She nodded and raised her head to kiss him.

Yes, very much.

She directly expressed her feelings through actions.

“Really want to take you away,” he touched her fair earlobe, noticing her slight shiver, knowing she was sensitive.

When they emerged from the tea room, Bai Yu had already left, and the studio was quiet. This was Yi Zhecheng’s first time visiting her studio—it was quite spacious, especially her office, adorned with her logo everywhere.

Her walls were filled with lenses and photos she had taken.

Huo Ci looked down at the flowers in her hand, unable to let go.

He turned to look at her, hugging the bouquet like a precious treasure, “First time receiving flowers?”

“Yes, the first time receiving flowers from a boyfriend.” Many people pursued her, sending flowers, but Huo Ci wouldn’t allow them into her office, having them thrown away immediately. If anyone wanted to take them, they could.

He smiled faintly.

After getting into the car, Huo Ci asked, “Where are we going?”

Seeing her unusually excited, he turned his head and asked, “Do you have a place you want to go?”

“Would you be willing to accompany me wherever I want to go?” Huo Ci looked at him with shining eyes.

Seeing her like this, Yi Zhecheng nodded.

________________________________________

“Be careful, don’t fall,” the surroundings were lively with children everywhere.

Looking at the crowd of children, Yi Zhecheng couldn’t help but feel helpless. He never expected that the place she wanted to go was the ice rink.

Beside him, Huo Ci was lacing up her ice skates. As she tightened the laces, she said, “I almost became a professional figure skater when I was a child.”

Yi Zhecheng raised an eyebrow. Of course, he had watched figure skating competitions, but thinking of her elegantly dressed in a competition outfit, dancing on the ice, stirred both anticipation and regret within him.

He smiled faintly and asked, “Why didn’t you continue?”

She sighed, “I grew too tall.”

The average height of female figure skaters was around 160 cm. South Korea’s Kim Yuna, at 164 cm, was already considered tall among figure skaters. Huo Ci’s bone age measurement exceeded 170 cm, so in the end, she could only make skating a hobby.

He patted her head and looked ahead. The little girls on the ice rink were learning jumps, their light bodies leaping into the air and quickly spinning a circle.

Suddenly, he said, “It seems our child won’t be able to pursue this either.”

“Because both mommy and daddy are tall.”