“I’m making a scene?” Xie XueEr became agitated, “Huo Qizhi, I’ve been obedient to you in everything for so long. This one time I want you to listen to me, and you refuse, saying I’m making a scene. I warned you before, if you can’t agree, we might as well go to hell together.”
“Wait until you’re sober, and we’ll talk about this.”
“I’m very sober now. Before, I still had fantasies about you. Some things I haven’t put online, but do you think I didn’t leave myself a way out?” Xie XueEr looked at his shocked expression and burst out laughing, “Surprised? You’re usually so careful. How could you give me a chance to have evidence? Didn’t find anything in my computer or phone?”
The happier she laughed, the more her inner wounds tore, and the more desperate she became towards the man before her.
She had always known what a selfish man Huo Qizhi was, so she had always left herself a way out. During their time together, she had been immersed in Huo Qizhi’s gentleness, maintaining the illusion of peaceful years, but now that things had come to this point, she wanted nothing.
If she couldn’t have something, she would make sure no one else could have it either.
The photos she posted online of them lying in bed together were like a bomb, completely destroying their remaining feelings and future.
Although Huo Qizhi denied the person in the bed was him, netizens dug up that the mole on the man’s shoulder was exactly the same as Huo Qizhi’s.
Huo Qizhi’s team immediately issued a lawyer’s letter, stating they would pursue responsibility against those spreading rumors.
On Xie XueEr’s side, she responded in kind, throwing blame back at him. The friendship once praised by netizens as “the friendship between Huo Qizhi and Xie Xueer” ultimately shattered.
In any case, this October was very lively online.
When Lin Xiaoman was watching leaves falling outside the window, she received a call from Ji Zhixian.
“Are you okay?” His voice was still as cold as ever.
Lin Xiaoman heard a concern she hadn’t noticed before. Yes, for someone as self-centered as him, asking this question proved he cared.
But at the time, she didn’t know.
“What do you mean?” Lin Xiaoman’s voice laughed, “If you’re talking about filming, there’s no problem at all. If you mean something else, I seem to have nothing besides filming.”
“I have news for you,” Ji Zhixian’s voice paused, “Do you remember the thing I asked to do before?”
“Tell me about my aunt’s family’s whereabouts,” Lin Xiaoman remembered, her heart involuntarily speeding up. She raised her voice, “You contacted them?”
“Yes,” Ji Zhixian said in a low voice, “They’ll be back in the country in two months.”
Lin Xiaoman’s hand holding the phone began to tremble, and her voice was also slightly shaky: “Mm.”
“Are you… okay?” Ji Zhixian glanced at the two middle-aged couples in the hall and comforted, “They’re doing well. Don’t worry.”
After receiving Tang Director’s call, he rushed over immediately to understand their situation.
This way, Lin Xiaoman wouldn’t be sad when she saw them.
After his previous inquiry, Ji Zhixian suddenly understood that he was now certain Lin Xiaoman was Tang Feifei, regardless of whether she admitted it or not.
Now she didn’t want to tell him, and he shouldn’t ask.
No matter what happened, he would always be by her side. That was enough.
“Ji Zhixian,” Lin Xiaoman’s voice rang out again.
Different from before when she called him “President Ji”, she called his name. For some reason, Ji Zhixian’s heart trembled.
“Mm,” he responded in a voice even he could barely hear.
Only the sound from the other end of the phone made his heart pound like a drum —
“I like you.”
The noisy airport suddenly fell silent, with only his heartbeat audible, beating intensely and solemnly, as if responding to her unexpected confession.
★, Chapter Sixty-Eight: Misplaced
“I like you.”
The girl’s soft voice rang out on the phone, and the man sitting silently in the darkness couldn’t help but darken his face.
Lin Xiaoman, after hanging up the phone, thought about Ji Zhixian’s words “Wait for me, I’ll be right back” and couldn’t help but blush.
So, this was Lin Xiaoman’s first confession.
“Then why did you let her pursue you?” Lin Xiaoman questioned, feeling a mixture of frustration and confusion.
“I didn’t want to hurt her feelings,” Huo Qizhi replied, his voice steady despite the flames of their argument. “But I care about you, Xiaoman. I always have.”
Lin Xiaoman’s heart raced at his words, contemplating the weight they carried. Perhaps this was the moment to confront her fears.
As they continued walking, the crisp air filled with the scent of blooming flowers provided a backdrop to their conversation, enhancing the tension between them.
“It’s complicated, Huo Qizhi,” she admitted, biting her lip. “I need to know that you’re serious about us.”
“I am serious,” he insisted, stopping to face her. His eyes bored into hers, searching for the truth behind her doubts. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Their gazes locked, both aware that this confrontation might define their future together.
“You need to prove it,” she challenged, her voice wavering yet determined.
Huo Qizhi nodded, accepting the challenge. “I’ll do whatever it takes, I promise.”
The evening continued, their resolve strengthening even as the shadows of their past loomed over them.
Lin Xiaoman looked at him, her gaze clear as if seeing through everything.
Huo Qizhi suddenly became flustered. He was always good at disguising himself, but for some reason, in front of Lin Xiaoman, he always felt completely exposed.
“No,” Huo Qizhi looked at Lin Xiaoman defensively, “How do you know these things? This is all just your one-sided story.”
“Of course I know,” Lin Xiaoman laughed, “Because I am the person involved.”
“Impossible,” Huo Qizhi’s expression panicked, “You’re lying. Tang Feifei is already dead.”
“Yes, I have long been dead,” Lin Xiaoman approached him, saying word by word, “Perhaps heaven thought I died unjustly, so it let me return in my cousin’s body to seek justice from you.”
“You—” Huo Qizhi thought about everything that had happened recently. If Lin Xiaoman hadn’t been around, he wouldn’t have been so cold and neglectful towards Xie XueEr, and Xie XueEr might not have publicly announced her relationship.
No wonder he always felt Lin Xiaoman was similar to Tang Feifei, no wonder Lin Xiaoman always talked about their conversations.
So that’s how it is!
His expression changed from panic to joy: “Feifei, is it really you?”
“It’s me,” Lin Xiaoman’s expression was cold.
“I know I deserve this, I don’t blame you at all. My infidelity was my fault, and I’ve been punished,” Huo Qizhi grabbed her hand, “Now everything is explained, let’s go back to how we were before.”
Lin Xiaoman pulled her hand away and slapped him hard: “Wake up. There’s no possibility between us anymore.”
“No, I still love you.”
“But I don’t love you anymore.”
Lin Xiaoman didn’t look at him and walked away without turning back.
As dusk fell, Huo Qizhi watched her figure gradually disappear into the darkness, feeling a sudden emptiness in his heart. This time, he felt he had truly lost her.
He Xie Chi’s hand holding the mobile phone began to tremble, and he quickly dialed Xiao Bai’s number.
“Are you with Xiao Man right now?” His voice involuntarily rose due to excitement.
“Xiao Man went out with Xue Chen Yan, and she didn’t let me follow,” Xiao Bai replied.
“I can’t reach Xiao Man’s phone,” Xie Chi immediately arranged, “I’ll send you her address, go find her quickly.”
Xiao Bai didn’t ask more questions and hurried to the address Xie Chi sent. However, when he arrived, he didn’t see Lin Xiao Man. Not long after, Xie Chi also drove over.
