IJLHTW - 62

The “most dog-abusing proposal of the year”—a video lasting only three minutes—was reposted by countless marketing accounts within half an hour of being uploaded, with even Sina Entertainment personally joining in.

The video was shot from upstairs, facing a black SUV, as shouts came from inside the car.

The person who uploaded the video even thoughtfully added subtitles.

“I was originally unhappy about working overtime, but then I happened to witness the drama of the year. I thought it was a prank when I heard the shouting, but I didn’t expect it to be a proposal. My vocabulary is too poor to describe the romance of it all. Even though I wasn’t the one being proposed to, I still want to scream AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.”

The video was uploaded by someone from a studio downstairs from Huo Ci’s. The building where their studio is located mainly houses people from the fashion industry. There are styling studios and other photography studios, so they are fully equipped. This video was taken with a professional camera.

As soon as the video started playing, several men could be heard shouting Huo Ci’s name, and then the SUV door was pushed open, and a tall, slender figure stepped out of the car.

When he looked up and shouted to the upstairs, “If you’re willing to marry me, come down now,” the screams from the onlookers made the people watching the video excited.

As for the protagonists of the video, it was quickly revealed that they were Yi Zechen and Huo Ci.

One is the young CEO of a listed company, a wealthy heir, rumored to have a profound background.

The other is the most popular photographer, with fair skin, beautiful face, and long legs. Oh, and by the way, she was falsely accused of being a mistress today.

Yes, it was a false accusation.

The onlookers were initially shocked that Huo Ci had become a mistress, but in the evening, the plot suddenly reversed.

“Alright, Huo Ci doesn’t need to explain, I believe she’s absolutely not a mistress.” This Weibo post received the most likes and replies, with a row of replies below saying, “I believe it,” “I believe it too,” “I believe it a hundred percent.”

“Saying Huo Ci is a mistress? I didn’t believe it when I saw the photos this morning. Those photos clearly show a manipulated angle. If you’re so capable, release the video. Now you’re getting slapped in the face, feeling good? Look who her boyfriend is, do you think she’d still be someone else’s mistress?”

“Yi Zechen is actually her boyfriend! My B University library crush! I knew there was something going on between them. I’m rooting for this couple, this proposal is too sweet, burp, I’ve eaten too much dog food.”

So, the haters who had been creating a buzz that morning were truly dumbfounded this time.

Among them, Huo Ci’s fans were the most excited. To be honest, even though their beloved idol was taken, seeing the handsome man who took their “cabbage” was so cool that not a single fan objected; instead, they all offered various forms of support.

“I was waiting for a lawyer’s letter, ready to sue those rumormongers to death, but I didn’t expect that I’d be the one to go first, choked to death by this wave of dog food.”

“My photographer idol, so cool, fierce, and awesome, I thought no one in this world could conquer you. He tells you to come downstairs, and you actually come down. When did you become so obedient?”

As a result, Huo Ci remained at the top of the trending topics, but Yi Zechen’s name quickly made a surprise appearance.

This proposal was truly unexpected by everyone. The two really don’t follow the conventional path. They didn’t announce their relationship, and when they did, it was an overwhelming, “dog-abusing” headline.

Bai Yu had planned to issue a statement after getting the video, but now his homepage was already flooded.

Some people from the studio had also taken photos with their phones, and many posted them on their Moments, all saying they were fed a mouthful of “dog food.”

At this time, Huo Ci was unaware of all this. Yi Zechen took her to the parking lot, and they got into her car. It wasn’t an impulsive act just now, but it was definitely beyond their plans. He didn’t regret it, but he felt he didn’t do well enough.

“I should have brought a ring,” Yi Zechen held her hand.

Huo Ci was still immersed in the moment. Originally, Yi Zechen should have driven her to dinner. After all, Han Jingyang and the others had already driven off first, but Huo Ci said she wanted to sit in the car for a while.

That “while” lasted half an hour.

When she heard his words, she was still a little stunned, then the corners of her mouth curled up. I don’t need a ring, having you is enough.

“Still don’t want to leave?” Yi Zechen’s phone vibrated several times, but he didn’t pick it up.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he asked, the girl in the passenger seat suddenly turned her head. The light in the car was dim, with only the faint white light from the underground parking lot weakly illuminating her face. Her almond-shaped eyes, as black as obsidian, were round and bright, yet tinged with a mist, giving her an indescribably delicate and touching allure.

She said, “My legs are weak.”

Even now, her heart was racing and her legs were weak. She even pinched herself several times to feel that this wasn’t a dream.

Huo Ci, who had always been fearless, actually instantly transformed from a domineering force to a timid creature because of a proposal. Even Huo Ci herself didn’t understand her own state of mind, but now her heart was pounding and her feet were weak.

Yi Zechen looked at her, his heart melting. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, his broad palm gently stroking her back in comfort, and said with a smile, “Worthless, why are your legs weak?”

“I’m too happy,” Huo Ci said softly, completely soft like a puddle of water, just leaning against him.

Yi Zechen listened to her soft voice near his ear, and a certain part of him instinctively reacted. He gently pecked and kissed her earlobe, until he lowered his head to capture her soft lips. In the quiet car, there was an extremely ambiguous sound of breathing, and the suppressed gasps further drove the rhythm.

Until Huo Ci pushed him away, her eyes even wetter than before as she looked at him, “Let’s go quickly, don’t keep your friends waiting.”

At this moment, Yi Zechen wished he could drive immediately and take her home.

He leaned back in his seat, slightly calming his breathing, then chuckled, “Now you know to be anxious?”

Huo Ci really knew now. If they didn’t leave now, she would probably be taken home and “eaten” immediately. While he still had a bit of reason left, she quickly nodded.

“Will you flirt again next time?” Yi Zechen turned his head, looking at her with a half-smile.

Huo Ci saw his pent-up expression, a kind of unidentifiable exuberance on his calm face. She shot him a look and, surprisingly, provocatively said, “Yes, I will.”

And so, because of those two words, they stayed in the parking lot for another half an hour.

When the two arrived at the restaurant, upon entering the private room, the three people inside were clearly stunned.

The man in the black flight jacket chuckled and said with relief, “Alright, you still remember your buddies.”

“We thought you weren’t coming, so we already started eating,” Han Jingyang said, suppressing a laugh, as he looked at him.

Yi Zechen held Huo Ci’s hand and said seriously, “We just went to the shop for a moment to measure her finger.”

Nonsense. They had been in the car in the parking lot the whole time.

Huo Ci maintained a smile on her face, watching the man beside her tell a blatant lie. To be honest, men really have a talent for lying. Yi Zechen probably hadn’t lied much in his life, but when he said it, his eyes didn’t even blink.

After he finished speaking, the mocking expressions on the three men’s faces disappeared. Han Jingyang said, “This is where you’re wrong. You didn’t even bring a ring for the proposal. It’s lucky Huo Ci is so generous.”

This was giving Huo Ci face.

Han Yao was replying to a text message, and looked up to say, “Brother Zechen, Yi Duanduan is crazy. She keeps asking where we’re eating, should I let her come over?”

“It’s late, let her stay home,” Yi Zechen said indifferently. Actually, it was only around nine o’clock.

Yi Duanduan had seen the news of Yi Zechen’s proposal while scrolling on Weibo and immediately jumped up from her bed. Moreover, while others didn’t know who was shouting Huo Ci’s name in that car, she certainly did.

It had to be those guys.

So Yi Duanduan immediately bombarded Han Yao, asking where they were and that she was coming too.

She was practically begging him, rolling on the floor. Han Yao hadn’t enjoyed such enthusiasm from her in a long time, so he casually asked Yi Zechen, but Yi Zechen still refused.

When Han Yao told her that Yi Zechen wouldn’t let her come, the girl’s frantic calls came in the next second.

“Let me introduce you, this is Han Jingyang,” Yi Zechen said as he pulled Huo Ci to introduce her.

Han Jingyang stood up and smiled gently, saying, “We’ve met before, but this time it’s a different identity.”

Huo Ci smiled at him. Han Yao didn’t even need an introduction. After all, Han Yao and she were in the same club and had a nodding acquaintance. But now that she was his good friend’s wife, Han Yao couldn’t help but sigh, this fate is truly amazing.

When it came to introducing the last person, before Yi Zechen could speak, Huo Ci quietly looked at the man in the black flight suit.

“Jiang Jingcheng, long time no see,” she said indifferently.

This stunned the men around them, even Yi Zechen was a little taken aback.

Unexpectedly, after she spoke, Jiang Jingcheng stood up, a relieved smile on his face, “I initially thought it was a namesake, but then I remembered you started learning photography in college.”

“It’s been a long time indeed, Huo Ci.”

...

Han Yao watched, dumbfounded, completely forgetting to live-stream the current situation to Yi Duanduan, because his mind was filled with one thought: They actually know each other? When the hell did this happen?

________________________________________

The onlookers, still immersed in the excitement of Yi Zechen and Huo Ci’s relationship being exposed and their proposal, suddenly discovered that the other protagonist of the cheating scandal had also appeared.

Shen Suian’s Weibo post was sent at 9:10 PM.

“Regarding today’s incident, as I was in surgery earlier, I couldn’t respond in time. First, I want to apologize to Huo Ci for being dragged into this due to my breakup with my ex-girlfriend. Ms. Lu and I broke up last month, and the specific reason for the breakup had nothing to do with a third party. Regarding the paparazzi’s deliberate slander, I have already entrusted my lawyer to send a letter, and I will see them in court.”

A few simple sentences, especially the last three words, “see them in court,” were concise, powerful, and intimidating.

The netizens, eager for gossip, immediately swarmed his Weibo page.

“Basic plot, I’ve roughly pieced it together. Basically, this guy probably broke up with the woman, and she, enraged, hired paparazzi to secretly photograph him. They accidentally photographed him meeting Huo Ci and used that as material for slander.”

“This guy’s last sentence is so cool! I like people who are so direct and don’t beat around the bush.”

“Actually, I just want to say, he’s handsome too.”

Just as the netizens were still immersed in the sentiment that good-looking people naturally gravitate towards each other, Huo Ci’s studio’s Weibo finally posted. It also included a short video as evidence, along with a statement from the studio.

“Regarding the unfounded accusations against our studio’s photographer, Huo Ci, on the internet today, the studio, upon learning the news, immediately contacted the shooting location and, after obtaining their consent, acquired the surveillance footage from that day. The surveillance proves that Ms. Huo Ci merely exchanged a few words with the other party that day, after which the other party left, and Ms. Huo Ci returned to the shooting location, leaving ten minutes later with other studio employees.

As is well known, so-called paparazzi usually rely on video footage for their work. Why did they only release a few photos this time and dare to create such a buzz? It’s because they knew that Huo Ci and the other party only had a normal relationship. There were no ambiguous photos whatsoever; these ambiguous photos were deliberately taken from misleading angles.

The harm of online rumors, many precedents are clear. This studio will hold those who spread these rumors accountable to the end and will show no leniency.

Words can be sharp, serving as swords that wound.

Furthermore, we wish Ms. Huo Ci, who has been single for a thousand years, to finally find a good partner and bring her male god home.”

Fans who had been constantly private messaging the official Weibo, cursing them for playing dead at a crucial moment, now realized that the studio staff had actually gone to collect evidence.

Opening the video, one could see that Huo Ci indeed just spoke a few words with the other person, who then left.

The two didn’t even kiss, let alone have any physical contact.

As for passersby, they were successfully attracted by the last sentence of the official Weibo.

Many people left comments below, saying that he accidentally exposed his boss’s “single for a thousand years” attribute and to be careful of salary deductions. The official Weibo even replied, stating seriously, “It’s fine, the boss admitted it herself.”

No one expected that what was originally a dramatic collapse of a cool and aloof goddess persona would actually reverse to this extent.

It also exhausted the netizens, who hadn’t rested all night. They moved from the blogger who leaked the proposal video to Shen Suian’s Weibo, and then finally to Huo Ci’s studio’s official Weibo.

The drama of reversal directly turned into a “dog-abusing” drama.

At 9:37 PM, a single Weibo post suddenly pushed this “dog-abusing” drama to its peak.

Yi Zechen: Thank you, girlfriend @Huo Ci.