Chapter 194
Ye Zhi hoped it wasn’t him. He didn’t want Huo Youqiao to come looking for him at all, even though he crazily missed him, with his dreams filled with his figure. Yet, he still hoped he wouldn’t come.
“Don’t look for me, it will ruin you…” Ye Zhi clutched the blanket on him. The place he was sitting was a wooden chair, which Yu had brought in for him when he entered. He curled up, resting his forehead on his knees, his mind in turmoil, unable to calm down no matter what.
He quickly went through the divorce procedures with Huo Youcheng. Nobody else in the Huo family knew about it. Before he left, he lied to Huo Youqiao, saying not to contact him for the time being, and then he abandoned everything, only packing a few belongings before leaving that place.
Every day afterward was torture, but the further he got from Huo Youqiao, the more comforted he felt, because it meant “safety.”
As long as he was gone, Huo Youcheng wouldn’t reveal everything. If that happened, Huo Youqiao wouldn’t have to be tainted by this relationship.
Inside the cave, it was cold and damp, with water dripping slowly from the stone walls. Because there were no windows, except for a little light coming in through the door crack, everything else was pitch black. Ye Zhi tossed and turned in this darkness until he didn’t know how long had passed. Then, the small wooden door was opened, and someone came in.
Ye Zhi raised his head, but the person coming in was backlit, making it impossible for him to see the face clearly. He had intended to call out “Uncle,” but the words were stuck in his throat because he observed carefully and realized that it wasn’t Yu who came in.
It was too dark inside, and even though the door was open, only the area two to three meters inside the cave could be seen clearly. Anything further in was just a blur. The person walked slowly, as if searching for something. Because he was too tall, he had to bend slightly, and his footsteps on the muddy ground made a dull sound. With each step, he came closer to Ye Zhi.
Ye Zhi hid in the innermost corner. It wasn’t harvest season, and there wasn’t much in the cellar to cover his figure. He could only curl up and remain motionless. The panic in his heart reached its peak when he caught a whiff of a familiar scent, and then he couldn’t bear it any longer and stood up, intending to hide further inside.
As he moved, the person’s footsteps suddenly quickened. Just as Ye Zhi was about to trip over something and fall, he was caught from behind, and his back was hugged tightly.
Then, with a low, magnetic voice that sent shivers down one’s spine, he said, “I’ve finally found you, Zhi Zhi.”
Unable to deceive himself any longer and unable to break free from the tight embrace, Ye Zhi was on the verge of collapse. Tears that he had held back for a long time finally burst from his eyes, his voice full of sorrow, “Why… why do you still have to find me? Clearly, separating was the best choice…”
He couldn’t imagine what changes would happen in the future. If the video was exposed, their private relationship would cause such a big impact on this man. It could ruin his reputation and future prospects. Neither outcome was something he wanted to see.
Huo Youqiao’s voice was hoarse, rough as if it had been caused by not sleeping since he received Qing Qing’s call. He said, “Since I hugged you, the option of separating from you has never been a choice in my life. Whatever I have to endure, I am prepared. You don’t need to worry or blame yourself. The only thing you need to do is stay by my side.”
He sighed softly and hugged Ye Zhi tighter. “Only in this way can my life be complete.”
He almost wanted to crush Ye Zhi into his bones, the warmth of his embrace, the familiar scent, dispelling all worries temporarily, and Ye Zhi could only long for it.
And Ye Zhi cried uncontrollably again.
After Qing Qing’s brief explanation, Hui and Yu understood the situation. The arrival of the guest from the advanced plane caused quite a stir in Black Earth Town, especially among the people in the village. Even if they were far away, they came to watch. At first, they thought it was caused by their handsome son, but later they found out that the other party had come to find the newcomer from out of town.
There were too many people, so Yu had to drive away the crowd with a stern face. When Huo Youqiao returned with Ye Zhi, there was only their family left in the yard, and Huo Youqiao’s guards and assistants were waiting outside.
Ye Zhi clearly had been crying, with red eyes and a timid look as he walked with his head down. His right hand was held tightly by the man beside him, so tight that it couldn’t be loosened at all.
When they came in, Hui and Yu openly sized up Huo Youqiao’s appearance. This look also made them unable to help but be stunned.
Black Earth Mountains were too small, relying on Black Earth Town, and the highest official was the mayor. To be honest, the mayor didn’t have much authority, more like a kindly grandfather who helped people with trivial matters, wandering around all day in a white shirt that had been washed until it turned pale, and he rarely wore a suit in his life.
But Huo Youqiao had a strong presence, strong enough to let people know he was an official, and a high-ranking one at that. He exuded a convincing aura, as if whatever he said made people willing to believe, and when he wasn’t smiling, he seemed very solemn.
Then, Huo Youqiao broke the silence first, “My surname is Huo, Huo Youqiao. I’m Ye Zhi’s lover. Thank you very much for taking care of him during this time. I’m very grateful.”
He even smiled, a very kind smile.
