IJLHTW - 57

“Come here,” Yi Zhecheng stood at the entrance, his gaze steady as he looked at her.

Huo Ci hadn’t expected him to arrive so quickly and immediately walked over. Yi Zhecheng took her hand, gripping it a little tightly, causing Huo Ci to frown slightly at him.

His eyes were fixed on Lu Linzheng, deep and unfathomable like an endless abyss.

“Sir, Miss, this is a major mistake on our part. We sincerely apologize to both of you,” the restaurant manager approached again. The patrons here weren’t ordinary people, and the thought of guests nearly getting hurt in the elevator was unacceptable.

Yi Zhecheng had just entered and heard this, so he lowered his head and asked, “What happened?”

“It’s nothing, there was a small issue with the elevator,” Huo Ci calmly replied, her expression unchanged.

The grip on her hand loosened slightly, and Yi Zhecheng nodded. “Let’s go home.”

Lu Linzheng, who had been standing idly by, saw that Yi Zhecheng hadn’t even spared him a glance and laughed bitterly. “Meeting an old friend and not even saying hello? How rude.”

Huo Ci was momentarily stunned; she hadn’t expected them to know each other.

Before she could react, Yi Zhecheng had already let go of her hand, stepped forward, and threw a punch. This wasn’t a light punch—Lu Linzheng staggered back several steps.

When he finally looked up, blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Yi Zhecheng coolly observed him. “There’s your greeting. Are you satisfied now?”

Huo Ci hurried forward to hold him back, fearing he might strike again.

The restaurant manager gasped, helping Lu Linzheng up and asking urgently, “Sir, should I call the police?”

“Get lost,” Lu Linzheng shoved him away, glaring coldly at the man across from him.

Thankfully, no further blows were exchanged. Huo Ci didn’t know what grudge existed between them but didn’t dare leave them together any longer. She quickly pulled Yi Zhecheng away. At the entrance, his car was already parked outside.

Both got into the car, neither speaking.

Throughout the ride, Huo Ci glanced at him several times. Yi Zhecheng initiating physical violence was out of character for him—had she not witnessed it herself, she wouldn’t have believed it.

“Do you two know each other?” Though phrased as a question, it was more of a statement.

As they waited at a red light, Huo Ci looked ahead and asked, “How do you two know each other?”

Instead of answering, Yi Zhecheng countered, “How did you two meet?”

“He sponsored my photography exhibition,” Huo Ci turned to look at him. Upon hearing this, the man’s lips tightened, his expression growing colder.

The atmosphere in the car became noticeably tense.

Since being with Yi Zhecheng, Huo Ci hadn’t seen him with such a stern expression. He was usually good-tempered, just a bit reserved. But now, he genuinely seemed displeased.

Back at home, they changed shoes and went inside.

Yi Zhecheng immediately picked up the phone, walking to the living room window to make a call. Seeing he was busy, Huo Ci went to the kitchen and poured two glasses of water. By the time she returned with the glasses, Yi Zhecheng had already hung up.

She walked over and handed him the glass.

“I’ve already instructed Yang Ming to reach out and replace this sponsor. I’ll cover the penalty fee. A new sponsor will be in place within three days, ensuring no delay to your exhibition.”

He looked at Huo Ci, his eyes deep and unwavering.

Huo Ci felt a chill in her heart.

“Why?” she asked.

“I know how important this exhibition is to you, and I’ll ensure its success,” Yi Zhecheng said. Even without her saying anything, he had noticed—these past few months, she had spent most of her time at home locked in the darkroom.

Those photographs were her hard work. He understood the difficulties of this shoot and knew how much effort she had put in.

Long before this, he had already arranged for Yang Ming to contact the best marketing company domestically to ensure the exhibition gained significant attention. Some things he didn’t say aloud, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t acted. This was Yi Zhecheng’s nature—he often did more than he spoke.

Huo Ci didn’t respond directly but instead asked more calmly, “Why?”

After a pause, she added, “Just because you don’t get along with him?”

“Isn’t that enough?” Yi Zhecheng had one hand in his pocket, exuding an indescribable air. Huo Ci had never thought of him as someone from a prominent family, but now, as he spoke, she believed it.

She looked at him seriously and slowly said, “That’s impossible. The contract has already been signed.”

“Don’t you understand his intentions?” Yi Zhecheng stared at her.

At this point, they were at an impasse, neither willing to yield. To be honest, both had somewhat stubborn personalities. Previously, Yi Zhecheng had always pampered Huo Ci, taking care of her more in daily life.

But now that he was being firm, Huo Ci didn’t back down either.

For years, she had been questioned, though she pretended not to care. She had simply been waiting for the right opportunity to retaliate. As a child, she appeared soft on the outside but was tough within. During school, she never caused her parents any worry—if she didn’t perform well once, she would push herself harder than anyone else.

Later, her character grew even colder and tougher. If she hit a wall, she would break through it and step over it herself.

Huo Ci said, “His intentions have nothing to do with me.”

“The matter of changing sponsors, I’ll handle it properly. Do you have any dissatisfaction?” Yi Zhecheng calmly looked at her.

Ultimately, Huo Ci disliked his domineering attitude.

“This is my work; I don’t need others meddling in my affairs.”

After a while, Yi Zhecheng looked at her and said quietly, “Right, I am just another person. I’m sorry for overstepping.”

________________________________________

The next day, Yi Zhecheng left for a business trip to Shanghai. The atmosphere between them completely cooled down, and they didn’t even maintain their usual contact. Bai Yu noticed she wasn’t going home after work and advised her not to overwork herself.

Until he accidentally bumped into her at their usual spot, nearly popping his eyes out.

“What are you doing here?” Bai Yu quickly sat beside her. If he had known she’d come, he wouldn’t have invited others.

A glass of water sat before Huo Ci, her long legs casually crossed under the table, lounging on the sofa with a disinterested expression. “Mo Xingchen called me to come.”

Bai Yu finally relaxed. After waiting half an hour, Mo Xingchen rushed over.

“I really must replace that broken-down car of mine—it’s broken down twice this month already,” Mo Xingchen complained as soon as she sat down.

Bai Yu looked at her. “Hurry up and change it. A fine young lady shouldn’t drive such a car.”

“What do you know? You think I don’t want to change it? It’s just that I don’t have the money,” Mo Xingchen lazily dismissed him.

Bai Yu looked at her helplessly. “You’re also a marketing account. How come others earn millions annually, and you don’t?”

Mo Xingchen’s marketing endeavors were indeed lackluster. Her greatest joy was dishing out various scoops and teasing the fans. If she made any real money, it was mostly from brand advertisements or occasionally handling some celebrity news.

Huo Ci glanced at her and reminded coolly, “Someone worth billions. Perhaps you should consider it.”

“Am I the kind to be swayed by wealth?” Mo Xingchen sneered.

Bai Yu had other friends to entertain, so he excused himself. Once he left, Mo Xingchen leaned toward Huo Ci. “What’s wrong? Did you argue with Mr. Yi?”

Huo Ci frowned and, after a moment, asked, “How did you know?”

“Because it’s written all over your face—I’m not happy,” Huo Ci usually had a cold demeanor, but whether she was happy or not was easily discernible.

Mo Xingchen slapped her thigh dramatically. “Tell me, what happened?”

Huo Ci sneered, sipping her water silently, refusing to speak.

Fortunately, Mo Xingchen wasn’t in a rush. After a while, Huo Ci finally opened up.

By the time Mo Xingchen finished listening, her first reaction was to burst into laughter. Wiping tears of mirth, she said, “You didn’t realize? He’s jealous! I bet he wanted to break that Lu Linzheng’s arm when he saw him flirting with you.”

Huo Ci stared at her as Mo Xingchen laughed so hard she leaned on her shoulder.

“So even the coldest men can get jealous when someone covets their girlfriend.”

Huo Ci sneered. “Impossible. He’s not that childish.”

Mo Xingchen rolled her eyes, smiling faintly. “Let’s not talk about him. Let’s reverse the roles. Suppose a woman deliberately does business with his company to get close to him. Think about it—business partners often have social engagements. Over time, they keep meeting. What would you do?”

She was quite eager for Huo Ci’s response.

Until Huo Ci coldly replied, “I’d probably kill her.”

Daring to covet her man.

“If you ask me, Huo Ci’s pretty and handles things gracefully, which naturally attracts people. Look at someone like Yi Duanduan—who would rush to claim her?” Han Yao poured a glass of wine, chuckling.

He had been on vacation these days and, hearing that Han Jingyang and Yi Zhecheng were in Shanghai, decided to visit some comrades in Nanjing.

Yi Zhecheng shot him a cold glance. Han Jingyang smacked his younger brother. “What’s wrong with Duanduan? She’s grown up under our watchful eyes, and she looks perfectly fine.”

“Fine? She’s skinny as a bean sprout. One strong wind, and she’d be the first to blow away,” Han Yao snorted.

Han Jingyang caught the implication—they were clearly bickering about Yi Duanduan. However, seeing Yi Zhecheng’s increasingly gloomy expression, he quickly nudged his foolish younger brother—Yi Zhecheng was still present.

“In my opinion, your jealousy is utterly baseless. It’s just business. People are practically throwing money at your wife. As the victor, you shouldn’t be so petty,” Han Jingyang laughed lightly, tugging at his pants.

The three sat together, drinking heavily.

Yi Zhecheng rarely touched alcohol when with others, but among them, he had no taboos.

He frowned, firmly denying, “Who said I’m jealous? I just don’t want her to get too entangled.”

“Speaking of which, the Lu family is currently at the peak of their influence. They’re powerful in Chengdu,” Han Jingyang raised his thumb. In their circle, everyone knew everyone.

In fact, Meng Xinan was currently working under them.

Yi Zhecheng pinched the bridge of his nose. “Lu Linzheng is too cunning.”

Han Jingyang draped an arm around his neck, laughing loudly. “Among us, who’s truly innocent? You’re just too concerned about your wife.”

It was true.

Because he cared deeply, he worried.

Yi Zhecheng leaned against the sofa, thinking of Huo Ci. This little thing hadn’t called him. That night, they slept in the same bed but didn’t embrace as usual. Neither spoke, lying back-to-back. He hadn’t meant to be so stubborn, but his pride prevented him from apologizing.

In truth, his personality was cold, but he wasn’t a petty person.

To put it bluntly, he hoped Huo Ci would yield to him, even without questioning the reasons, and stand by his side.

The next day in Shanghai was a prearranged trip, and he had informed her beforehand. But now, they were both stuck in this awkward situation, unable to find a way down.

The first day of Huo Ci’s photography exhibition was on Saturday, and Yi Zhecheng planned to return a day early.

Unexpectedly, an accident occurred at the pharmaceutical factory in Suzhou, and he immediately rushed over. By the time the issues were resolved, only one day of the exhibition remained. He booked an early morning flight, but dense fog in Suzhou delayed the plane.

“Book a high-speed train ticket,” Yi Zhecheng decisively ordered after waiting an hour in the VIP lounge.

Yang Ming knew he was rushing back for Miss Huo’s exhibition and didn’t dare delay, quickly booking a high-speed train ticket.

Meanwhile, Huo Ci remained unaware of his situation, only knowing that Yi Zhecheng hadn’t returned. Whether she felt disappointed or not, it was genuine. In fact, she had already instructed Bai Yu to prepare for contract termination.

Bai Yu initially didn’t understand and nearly argued with her.

On the final day of the exhibition, attendance wasn’t sparse.

Ticket sales for the Beijing leg had ended within minutes, and over the past few days, media coverage had kept Huo Ci’s name trending. The topic of Doctors Without Borders was once again widely discussed.

In this world, there are always groups of people who dedicate themselves to ideals, using their medical skills to save those living in poverty and war.

These doctors themselves enjoy comfortable lives yet willingly give them up.

In this restless and noisy society, not everything revolves around money. There are always idealists who never give up.

And Huo Ci’s photography exhibition documented this group.

Once the Beijing exhibition opened, it created a massive social impact. The eternal topic of reality versus ideals found a new interpretation.

And Huo Ci—she was no longer merely a commercial photographer, capturing only fashion magazines and advertisements.

She possessed a gentle and compassionate heart, able to capture moments that moved people.

On the final day, she personally visited the exhibition hall. This was the most important moment of her life, but the person she most hoped to see wasn’t there. Huo Ci lingered in the exhibition hall, surrounded by quietness, everyone silently viewing the photographs on the walls.

Until she noticed a woman standing in front of a photograph, rummaging through her bag but failing to find a tissue.

Huo Ci walked over and handed her a tissue. The woman was slightly surprised but softly thanked her. When she turned to look at Huo Ci, a hint of recognition lit her face. “Are you the photographer?”

Her photo was displayed at the entrance, and the woman recognized her.

“Do you like this photograph?” Huo Ci softly asked.

This was the only photograph of Yi Zhecheng in the entire exhibition. He stood sideways to the lens, taken when they arrived in Liberia. His palm had been cut by a surgical scalpel, facing the most dangerous occupational exposure.

Huo Ci captured his calm figure as he gently gazed at African children kicking around a worn plastic bottle.

Even in such moments, he harbored no resentment.

The woman dabbed her eyes with the tissue and softly said, “I love it. You’ve captured it beautifully.”

Huo Ci tilted her head, looking at the photograph on the wall. The man’s resolute profile filled her heart with warmth. Why had she been angry with him? She loved him so much, wishing him eternal happiness. Why had she been sulking?

In an instant, she felt like a fool.

As Huo Ci stood there in a daze, Bai Yu approached and whispered, “Huo Ci, Mr. Yi is here. He’s coming upstairs.”

These days, Yi Zhecheng hadn’t shown up, and Bai Yu knew they were in a spat. Just now, standing by the second-floor railing, he saw him enter and hurried to inform Huo Ci.

Upon hearing this, Huo Ci turned and rushed out.

She walked so hastily that she nearly collided with the incoming person.

Yi Zhecheng reached out, pulling her into his arms, and softly asked, “Why are you running?”

Huo Ci clung tightly to him. He spoke, “I’m sorry, Huo Ci.”

“I should have been on your side,” Huo Ci murmured. She should have stood firmly by him without questioning.

After finishing, she felt a pang of grievance and muttered, “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

Seeing her like this, Yi Zhecheng’s heart softened. He softly said, “Work delayed me. I should have called you earlier.”

He reached out to caress her cheek, his voice gentle.

Huo Ci thought for a moment, then said, “I’ve already asked Bai Yu to negotiate the contract termination.”

Yi Zhecheng’s heart had already melted entirely. He looked at her apologetically. “You’re right. It’s just a business deal. I was too sensitive.”

“But you were unhappy,” Huo Ci softly asked.

He was silent for a moment until his voice sounded again. “Because I was jealous.”

Huo Ci stared at him, her face instantly breaking into a smile.

“Zecheng,” a somewhat surprised voice called out.

Yi Zhecheng held Huo Ci and turned her around. Standing before them was the middle-aged woman who had spoken with Huo Ci earlier. She was extremely beautiful, with delicate wrinkles that didn’t detract from her beauty but rather added a graceful aging quality.

“You’ve come,” Yi Zhecheng softly said.

The woman smiled. “You specially sent me exhibition tickets. How could I not come?”

Huo Ci listened quietly, realizing they knew each other, explaining why the woman had paused at that photograph earlier.

“Huo Ci,” Yi Zhecheng held her hand and introduced, “This is my mother.”

Huo Ci froze.

Until he solemnly said to Xu Di, “Mother, this is the person I love—Huo Ci.”