Wen Zhili tried to struggle a bit, saying shyly, “It’s okay, I can walk on my own.”
But her feeble strength was nothing more than a kitten scratching an itch to Huo Shengbai, utterly incapable of budging his arms. He continued to hold her steadily.
“Be good, it’ll only be a moment,” the man’s words were gentle yet firm.
Wen Zhili glanced outside the umbrella; the rain was growing heavier, droplets hitting the ground and splashing into increasingly larger puddles.
She stopped struggling.
Pressed against the man’s chest, the scent of roses on him grew stronger, as if seeping into her body, subtly captivating her soul—though the person involved remained unaware…
Only after carrying Wen Zhili into the car did Huo Shengbai reluctantly set her down.
Upon returning to the entrance of the residential complex, Huo Shengbai personally carried Wen Zhili to her doorstep, watched her enter, and then left.
Once Huo Shengbai was seated in the car, his gentle expression vanished instantly, replaced by a murderous glint in his eyes. “Have all the people in that group been identified?”
Lu Ting nodded respectfully. “Yes, President. We’ve investigated them all. The group admin, ‘Touchy Bear,’ is the man who harassed Miss Wen. His name is Zhou Hao, not a classmate of Miss Wen’s but an unemployed loafer. The others who followed suit and insulted Miss Wen have also been identified—they’re all male classmates from her class. A list has been compiled. Zhou Hao has already confessed to the police that someone anonymously paid him to create a class group, add Miss Wen’s classmates, and post the photoshopped images in the group to deliberately spread rumors about Miss Wen. Although Zhou Hao claims not to know who was behind it, our investigation has revealed that it was Wen Yuxuan who instructed him.”
Huo Shengbai’s eyes grew even colder.
Wen Yuxuan—she couldn’t go to prison now, nor could she die.
Because she still needed to keep Huo Cheng hooked.
Only she could make his Lili completely give up on Huo Cheng.
However, he would teach her a lesson.
His expression remained impassive as he said coldly, “Send a man to get close to her. Since she spread rumors about Lili, let her personally experience the taste of a dirty disease. But don’t let her fall ill too quickly—at least wait until after Lili and I are married before exposing it.”
Lu Ting nodded respectfully. “Yes, President.”
Frowning, Lu Ting showed a hint of hesitation, which Huo Shengbai immediately noticed.
Huo Shengbai asked, “What else is there?”
Lu Ting replied cautiously, “Regarding your previous request to investigate who kicked Miss Wen in the stomach, I’ve found out… it was Miss Wen’s biological mother who injured her.”
Huo Shengbai’s first reaction wasn’t anger but heartache for Lili.
His Lili must have been heartbroken at the time, especially since he knew how much she cared about her family.
Huo Shengbai fell silent.
Lu Ting waited patiently and respectfully for Huo Shengbai’s decision.
A minute later, Huo Shengbai said coldly, “Make sure she doesn’t appear in front of Lili for now, so Lili won’t be saddened by the sight.”
No one was allowed to bully his Lili—not even her parents.
Lu Ting, being astute, immediately understood.
“Understood, President. She won’t appear before Miss Wen for the next two months.”
Huo Shengbai continued, “As for those people, I’ll leave them to you to handle. Your salary will be doubled for the next two months.”
He never mistreated those who served him.Lu Ting grinned from ear to ear. “Yes, President. I will definitely handle it properly.”
A short while later, Huo Shengbai loosened his tie, revealing a dense cluster of red welts covering his neck, extending all the way down past his collarbone.
Lu Ting exclaimed in shock, “President, you’re still allergic to mangoes. Let me take you to the hospital for treatment.”
Huo Shengbai nodded.
Though it felt as if countless ants were gnawing at him, both itchy and painful, he welcomed the sensation with delight.
Thinking back to how he had drunk the mango juice that Lili had sipped from, the corners of his mouth lifted, his eyes gleaming with joy.
Even if given the chance to do it again, he would willingly drink the mango juice once more—all because it was the first time Lili had offered him a drink.
…
The next day, Liu Yanhong arranged to meet a certain socialite for afternoon tea. But as if cursed by misfortune, a passing motorcycle accidentally collided with her, leaving her with two fractured legs.
She was rushed to the hospital, where the doctor informed her that she would need to rest and recuperate for two months. Otherwise, her leg bones might not heal properly, leading to lifelong complications.
Lying in bed, Liu Yanhong groaned in agony from the pain in her legs.
“Damn it! That cursed motorcycle rider! Don’t let me catch you!”
…
On campus, the principal had a notice posted. In addition to clearing Wen Zhili’s name of the rumors, it specifically listed the male students who had deliberately spread falsehoods about her, imposing penalties ranging from expulsion to severe warnings that would remain on their records.
The police also visited the school, explaining the entire process of the rumor-mongering in front of Wen Zhili’s entire class and apprehending the mastermind behind the malicious rumors, “Touch Bear,” whose real name was Zhou Hao.
Now, everyone knew that Wen Zhili had been wronged.
Not only did the male students apologize to Wen Zhili, but many classmates who had initially doubted her also stepped forward to offer their apologies.
Sitting in her seat, Wen Yuxuan watched as Wen Zhili was surrounded by everyone, her eyes filled with resentment and bitterness.
That wretched Wen Zhili—how could she be so lucky to escape unscathed!
She glanced at Huo Cheng beside her, noticing that his gaze was also fixed on Wen Zhili, a flicker of struggle and guilt in his eyes.
Wen Yuxuan clenched her fists tightly.
No.
She couldn’t let Huo Cheng soften toward Wen Zhili. She had to make him despise Wen Zhili even more.
Then, an idea struck her.
Wen Zhili sensed a malicious gaze and looked over, confirming that it came from Wen Yuxuan.
She knew full well that Wen Yuxuan was behind the slanderous rumors. When Zhou Hao had harassed her, the meaningful glance exchanged between him and Wen Yuxuan had not escaped her notice.
But Zhou Hao stubbornly insisted that he didn’t know who had paid him to spread the fake medical records and malicious rumors, leaving the mastermind unexposed.
Wen Zhili smiled faintly.
No rush. Her ultimate goal was to make Wen Yuxuan pay in blood and suffer unbearable agony. Simply having Wen Yuxuan spend a few days in detention would be far too lenient.
Still, she didn’t mind giving Wen Yuxuan a little lesson in advance.
Wen Zhili checked the time on her phone. By the day after tomorrow, she would have a grand “gift” ready for Wen Yuxuan.
After class, as Wen Zhili packed her things and prepared to leave the classroom, Huo Cheng stopped her.Huo Cheng’s expression was unnatural, his tone still habitually imperious as he said, “Grandpa asked me to bring you back for dinner. I’ll drive you there.”
This was the first time he had ever offered to drive her back to the Huo family home.
In the past, even if she had begged on her knees, she wouldn’t have had a chance.
Surely, she would be grateful now.
Wen Zhili didn’t even glance at him, replying coldly, “No need, I’ll go to the Huo family myself.”
Whether in her past life or this one, Grandpa Huo had always been kind to her.
Out of both sentiment and reason, she had to visit him.
After speaking, Wen Zhili turned to leave.
Huo Cheng immediately flew into a rage, grabbing Wen Zhili’s arm and roaring, “What are you pulling now? So what if I wronged you a little? Do you have to give me that attitude? I’m already giving you a way out, what more do you want!”
Wen Zhili remained calm, even feeling a bit amused.
So this was how shameless a person could be.
Wen Zhili couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him, shaking off his hand. “I want you to stay away from me! Isn’t that what you said? We don’t interfere with each other, we’re not dating, not boyfriend and girlfriend—keep your distance.”
With that, Wen Zhili walked away gracefully.
Huo Cheng glared at her retreating figure, his anger turning into a bitter laugh.
Fine, Wen Zhili, still playing hard to get, and you’ve even mastered it!
Huo Cheng shouted furiously, “Keep playing your games! I’m telling you, you’ve miscalculated! I gave you a chance, and you threw it away.”
Wen Zhili didn’t want to waste time or breath on someone with a sick mind.
She took a taxi to the Huo family home.
Grandpa Huo greeted her with his usual kindness and warmth.
After playing a game of chess with him, it wasn’t long before Huo Cheng returned.
Not daring to act cold or ignore Wen Zhili in front of Grandpa Huo, Huo Cheng began putting on a show of being considerate and caring toward her.
Wen Zhili remained indifferent.
Huo Cheng gritted his teeth in frustration but could do nothing about it.
Just as dinner was about to begin, Huo Shengbai returned.
Grandpa Huo said, “Shengbai, you’re back for dinner today too!”
Huo Shengbai replied with a faint “Mm.”
When Wen Zhili saw the man’s tall, slender figure, especially when his gaze settled on her, her hand trembled slightly. The white chess piece she was holding accidentally fell onto the board, making a crisp clinking sound.
Please, don’t look at her with that ambiguous, familiar gaze!
The two of them were still in a “secret engagement”!
In everyone else’s eyes, she was still Huo Cheng’s fiancée.
Wen Zhili deliberately avoided Huo Shengbai’s gaze.
But she didn’t notice the subtle shift in Huo Shengbai’s eyes or the wicked curve that appeared at the corner of his mouth.