He Manman stared at him in a daze, and the accusatory tone in her voice instantly faded.
“What’s wrong, Manman?” Huo Jingchen asked first when he saw she wasn’t speaking, clearly knowing the answer already.
He Manman took a deep breath and sat properly in front of him. “Lili said you want to break off the engagement with me.”
Huo Jingchen looked at her with a faint smile in his eyes. “Mm.”
Hearing his personal confirmation, He Manman’s heart sank to the bottom. She asked emotionally, “Why?”
Huo Jingchen remained unhurried, his tone gentle. “After spending some time together, I feel that we’re not suitable for each other.”
“If we weren’t suitable, then why did you get engaged to me in the first place?”
Huo Jingchen’s peach-blossom eyes lifted slightly, warm and soft. “You were the one who wanted the engagement. At the time, I thought we could continue getting along, so naturally I didn’t want to dampen your enthusiasm.”
“You bastard! I’m going to your school to report you to your superiors!” He Manman cursed as she stood up and poured the soda in her hand over Huo Jingchen’s head.
Huo Jingchen wasn’t annoyed. He calmly wiped his face. “See? I told you we’re not suitable. A sentence or two that doesn’t sit well with you, and you splash water on my head without caring about the setting.
“Besides, during the time we were together, I truly only followed the principle of getting to know each other. I never did anything improper to you.”
“You… are you trying to climb higher again?”
Huo Jingchen chuckled softly. “Who told you that?”
“Your old flame, Qiao Zhiwei.”
Completely unconcerned, Huo Jingchen stood up, walked to the shop owner, and borrowed a dry cloth. He loosened his wet collar, revealing his long neck and collarbones, and wiped himself dry in one go, speaking lazily, “I see. Looks like she really does understand me best.”
“Then what she said was true?” He Manman bit her lip.
Huo Jingchen nodded. “Mm.”
Hearing his affirmative answer, He Manman was on the verge of tears. “What am I lacking compared to her?”
Huo Jingchen frowned. “Which ‘her’?”
“Your new stepping stone.”
Ignoring her emotional breakdown entirely, Huo Jingchen crossed his long legs. “I’m just about to climb, so I don’t know yet.”
“You” He Manman raised the bottle in her hand.
Huo Jingchen lifted his gaze to her. “Alright, Manman. We’re not suitable. Look at you before I’ve even finished speaking, you want to jump up and smash me with a bottle. My Sister Qiao has never once had the heart to hurt me.”
After all, his face was still fairly presentable.
“You’re still thinking about Qiao Zhiwei, aren’t you?” He Manman asked, biting her lip.
Huo Jingchen raised his brows at her. “My brother agreeing to marry her that was provoked by me. If you still think I’m hung up on her after that, then you should probably go see a neurologist.”
Hearing this, He Manman’s tone softened a little. “Jingchen, what exactly did I do wrong?”
A faint smile curved Huo Jingchen’s lips. “I’ve already said it you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just that we’re not suitable.
“Alright, let’s end it here. Go find your next match soon. Don’t waste your time on me.”
“You bastard, scumbag! You’ll die alone!” He Manman exploded again.
Huo Jingchen had this kind of ability one casual sentence could send someone soaring to the heavens, and another could plunge them straight into hell.
He didn’t care. Standing up, he handed the cloth back to the shop owner. The owner took it and softly comforted him, “Professor Huo, that young lady was just saying things out of anger. Don’t take it to heart. With your qualities, you definitely won’t end up alone.”
Though she had only seen him twice, her impression of him was extremely deep an exceptionally outstanding young man, unforgettable in looks and especially kind-hearted.
The last time her shop had been harassed, he happened to pass by. With just a few words, he scared the troublemakers away and didn’t even accept a bottle of soda from her.
Huo Jingchen smiled at her. “Mm, I know. Thank you.”
With that, he turned and left.
He Manman was left standing there, tears welling in her eyes.
After a long while, she finally put down the soda bottle and said in a daze, “Huo Jingchen is really unfair to me.”
He Gang quickly tried to console her. “He’s actually been pretty fair to you. He didn’t cheat you of money or take advantage of you. To Qiao Zhiwei, though, he was ruthless cheated her of both money and feelings, then kicked her when she was down.
“Look at Qiao Zhiwei do you see her crying?”
He really couldn’t think of any comforting words, so he could only point out that the person she hated had it ten times worse, hoping that would make her feel a little better.
“Qiao Zhiwei is about to marry Huo Jingnian. What does she have to cry about?”
At the mention of Huo Jingnian, He Gang glanced at his watch. “Huo Jingnian arranged to come pay off the debt around this time. He should be arriving soon. I need to head back.”
He Manman got into the car with him. Halfway there, He Gang asked, “Are you going home, or coming with me to collect the debt? Don’t end up losing both the man and the money.”
“I’m going home,” He Manman said. She had no mood to watch Qiao Zhiwei show off.
Even though Huo Jingchen breaking off the engagement had nothing to do with Qiao Zhiwei, she still disliked her for no clear reason.
Especially since that bastard Huo Jingchen had compared her to Qiao Zhiwei.
He Gang dropped He Manman off at home, then drove to the Qiao residence. When he stopped at the gate, he saw the courtyard packed with people.
He hurried inside and looked around. Other than the creditors, he didn’t see the Qiao sisters or Huo Jingnian, so he quickly asked someone nearby, “Has Huo Jingnian arrived yet?”
“No.”
Even if he hadn’t arrived yet, since he had personally promised, he couldn’t back out.
He Gang checked his watch and shouted toward the house, “Weiwei, is Brother Jingnian not coming after all? If he’s not, you’d better explain it properly to me. I can let it slide this time even though I made such a big fuss announcing it.”
“He Young Master He, how can you let Miss Qiao toy with us like this?”
He Gang chuckled. “Then what do you want to do about it?”
Even if Huo Jingnian had spoken too quickly this time, at most they’d curse the sisters a bit. What else could they do? If they really made a move and Huo Jingnian showed up, then what?
Qiao Zhiwei came out holding the account book. “The time isn’t up yet. Please wait a little longer.”
Qiao Zhilan followed her out. Seeing that Huo Jingnian still hadn’t arrived, she felt uneasy. Standing behind Qiao Zhiwei, she tugged her sleeve and whispered, “What if Brother Jingnian doesn’t come today?”
“He will,” Qiao Zhiwei said. “It’s just a matter of sooner or later.” She didn’t know why, but she trusted Huo Jingnian implicitly.
Time ticked by second by second, and everyone grew impatient. Seeing the agreed time draw closer only two minutes left Qiao Zhiwei’s heart began to pound.
“I think this Young Master Huo probably isn’t coming today.”
“He Gang, did you really hear his promise with your own ears?”
He Gang nodded. “Of course.”
“Could it be that he agreed on impulse? After all, this is 120,000 yuan.”
Everyone knew the Huo family was powerful, but producing such a large sum all at once was hard to imagine.
“Exactly. We’ve been looking forward to this since yesterday after hearing the news. We were so excited we arranged everything at home early this morning and rushed over.”
“Could it be that Miss Qiao marrying into the Huo family is just to use the Huo family’s power to scare us into not collecting the debt?”
“If that’s the case, that’s really too much.”
“If we’d known, we shouldn’t have been so soft-hearted and should’ve let her marry Young Master He earlier.”
Just then, a military jeep stopped at the entrance of the Qiao courtyard. Everyone turned at the sound.
Huo Jingnian got out of the vehicle. He was dressed in a crisp military uniform, boots on his feet, followed by a young man carrying a black case. The two entered the courtyard one after the other.
His stern, icy aura instantly quieted the entire scene.
He strode over to Qiao Zhiwei and said in a cool yet gentle voice, “Ran into a small issue on the way, so I’m a bit late. I didn’t miss the time, did I?”
Qiao Zhiwei held back the sting in her nose. “No.”
The young man behind him handed the case to Qiao Zhiwei. “Comrade Qiao Zhiwei, I’ve counted this money several times already. Please check it.”
Qiao Zhiwei accepted it. “Thank you.”
Huo Jingnian turned to the young man behind him. “Xiao Zeng, go inside and bring out a table and two chairs.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Xiao Zeng hurried inside to fetch them. Qiao Zhilan also went in and brought out two chairs.
Once the table was set up, Qiao Zhiwei placed the suitcase of money and the account book on it and sat down.
Huo Jingnian sat beside her.
Xiao Zeng brought out two more chairs and sat down on one side, with Qiao Zhilan on the other.
Qiao Zhiwei opened the account book. “When I call a name, please have your IOU ready. I’ve also prepared receipts here. After the debt is repaid, please sign the receipt as well.”
“Alright.”
From then on, each time Qiao Zhiwei called a name, a creditor stepped forward and handed over the IOU.
She collected the note, took out a pre-written receipt for them to sign, then counted out the money and handed it over both sides settling the matter completely.
Name by name, creditor by creditor, she followed the same process, serious and meticulous, everything orderly.
Huo Jingnian sat there, and the entire scene remained quiet and well-disciplined.
Two hours later, all the debts were settled.
Watching the last creditor leave, Qiao Zhiwei felt as though the stone pressing on her chest for so many days had finally been lifted.
Her whole body relaxed. She let out a long breath and looked at Huo Jingnian gratefully. “It’s finally all paid off.”
Huo Jingnian nodded, his clear eyes earnest. “Mm. Now all you need to do is think carefully about how you’re going to repay this debt to me.”
Qiao Zhiwei: !!!
“Brother Jingnian, could you not be such a buzzkill?” Qiao Zhilan complained when she saw her sister’s relaxed, happy expression freeze.
The corner of Huo Jingnian’s lips curved slightly. “Alright, my fault.”
Qiao Zhiwei: !!!
Brother Jingnian actually apologized? How rare.
It seemed she really didn’t understand him at all she had just listened to others’ rumors and formed a rigid impression of him.
Qiao Zhiwei stood up and put away the suitcase and account book. Xiao Zeng carried the table back inside.
The remaining chairs were carried in by Huo Jingnian, Qiao Zhiwei, and Qiao Zhilan.
After everything was tidied up, Huo Jingnian said to Qiao Zhiwei, “The marriage application has been approved. Although the paperwork won’t reach me that quickly, we can register our marriage anytime.”
Qiao Zhiwei was surprised. “So fast? Isn’t it supposed to take five days?”
“Five days for the documents to get to me,” Huo Jingnian said seriously.
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “Alright, then I’ll call Comrade Zhou to ask if the photos are ready.”
Zhou Yu answered the call with a laugh. “I sent them in for express processing. You can come pick them up tomorrow afternoon.”
“Thank you,” Qiao Zhiwei said politely and hung up.
Coming back out, she met Huo Jingnian’s questioning gaze and explained with a smile, “They’ll be ready tomorrow afternoon.”
“Mm.” Huo Jingnian nodded.
“Brother Jingnian, let me treat you to an afternoon meal,” Qiao Zhiwei said sincerely, deeply grateful.
Huo Jingnian stood up. “I still have some matters to handle. Next time.”
Knowing he was busy, she didn’t insist. “Okay.”
Huo Jingnian left.
Qiao Zhilan walked up behind Qiao Zhiwei and let out a long sigh. “Sis, if only you had chosen Brother Jingnian from the start.
“You wouldn’t have been hurt by Huo Jingchen, and we wouldn’t have spent all these days worried and scared.
“But it’s all over now. That’s great.”
Sometimes Qiao Zhiwei truly envied her younger sister kind-hearted, simple-minded, never overthinking gains and losses.
Once something was over, it was over, and everything could start anew.
She didn’t want to complicate things further, so she didn’t answer.
The next afternoon, Qiao Zhiwei went to the photo studio.
At the entrance, two newly posted, enlarged red-background wedding photos were displayed.
In one, the girl tilted her head and leaned against the man’s shoulder, dimples blooming sweetly at the corners of her lips. The man looked down at her, long lashes like raven feathers casting soft shadows, giving an air of tender affection.
Anyone who didn’t know them would think they were a couple deeply in love.
In the other, the girl hugged the man from behind, smiling sweetly as she leaned close to his ear, as if whispering a secret. The man’s refined features were expressionless, yet the slight upward curve of his lips made it seem as though he were hearing the most touching words in the world.
Zhou Yu looked at the two photos with great satisfaction. “I really didn’t expect photos to tell a story. If I hadn’t been there, I would’ve thought Weiwei was whispering something sweet to Jingnian.”
Standing before the photos, Huo Jingchen clicked his tongue twice.
Zhou Yu looked at him. “What kind of expression is that, great talent?”
Huo Jingchen sounded half-teasing. “They’re really good at pretending.”
Zhou Yu’s father and Zhou Qingshan were colleagues and close friends, and the children often interacted as well.
But Huo Jingchen had never brought Qiao Zhiwei into his own social circle.
So Zhou Yu had only heard about her, never seen her in person.
Two days ago, Huo Jingcheng called saying he wanted to take photos here, and only then did Zhou Yu learn that the fallen Qiao family had now been “taken over” by Huo Jingnian.
Even though he was curious, he didn’t dare ask more especially when it involved Huo Jingnian.
“Pretending at what?” Zhou Yu asked.
Huo Jingchen had his hands in his pockets and was about to speak when a familiar voice sounded behind them. “Who’s better at pretending than you?”
Both men turned around to see Qiao Zhiwei standing there.
She cast a cold glance at Huo Jingchen, then looked at Zhou Yu. “Comrade Zhou Yu, I’m here to pick up the photos.”
Zhou Yu immediately stepped forward. “Alright, I’ll get them for you.”
As he led her inside, Huo Jingchen followed.
Qiao Zhiwei completely ignored him. Zhou Yu handed her the photos and said, “Weiwei, how are those ideas you mentioned before coming along? Honestly, the poses in this set are amazing. Two couples came early this morning to copy these exact poses.”
Qiao Zhiwei was about to answer when she noticed Huo Jingchen walking over. Her expression darkened immediately. “Stay away from me.”
Huo Jingchen wasn’t angry. “Come on, Sister. You owe this good marriage of yours largely to me, yet you’re being so heartless now.”
Qiao Zhiwei took a deep breath. “Huo Jingchen, didn’t I warn you before that you’re not allowed to call me ‘Sister’ anymore?”
“But I’m used to it,” Huo Jingchen said, his gentle peach-blossom eyes full of grievance.
Then he looked at Zhou Yu. “A habit formed since childhood how can it just be changed? Don’t you agree, Zhou Yu?”
Zhou Yu’s mouth twitched. “What Jingchen says makes sense.”
Qiao Zhiwei looked at Zhou Yu. “If I’d known you two knew each other, we wouldn’t have come here to take photos.”
As she spoke, she picked up the photos and was about to leave.
Zhou Yu quickly stopped her. “Don’t go, Miss Qiao. I can pretend I don’t know him.”
Huo Jingchen: !!!
“Fine, Zhou Yu. Next time you get rejected by Huo Jingnian, don’t come looking for me. I only have a tiny misunderstanding with my Sister, and instead of helping mediate, you’re choosing sides and drawing lines really…”
Huo Jingchen looked utterly wounded, as if he couldn’t continue.
“A tiny misunderstanding?” Qiao Zhiwei found him shameless an unrepentant scumbag who still played the victim.
Huo Jingchen sat down on the sofa beside them. “Isn’t it? From childhood to now, I’ve always obeyed you. When have I ever gone against you?”
He sighed faintly. “But that’s how the rules of the world work. A bad person only needs to put down the butcher’s knife to become a Buddha, while a good person makes just one mistake and falls straight into the abyss.”
Seeing him innocently twisting black into white, Qiao Zhiwei couldn’t help cursing, “What a classic green-tea schemer.”
“Green tea?” Huo Jingchen knew she was scolding him again. The corners of his lips curved slightly. “If you don’t explain what that means, how could I even get angry? Wouldn’t your scolding go to waste?”
“Someone who looks pure, innocent, and harmless on the surface, but actually loves using those advantages to twist right and wrong, gain sympathy, and deceive people of their feelings and trust.
“Clearly the bad seed is themselves, yet after a round of sugary words, they make it look like they’re the wronged one.”
At the phrase “sugary words,” Zhou Yu couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
It did fit, quite well.
Huo Jingchen clutched his chest, looking pained. “So that’s how Sister sees me?”
Qiao Zhiwei couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore and turned to leave.
Once she was gone, Zhou Yu immediately walked up to him. “Jingchen, now that Weiwei is Jingnian’s partner, you should show her more respect in the future.”
“I’ve already let her scold me like a grandson. How is that disrespectful?” Huo Jingchen said, lowering his hand from his chest.