Chapter 99
He had fallen out of love.
Somewhere along the way, the bittersweet affection he once held for Huo Youcheng had dissipated. The constant rumors and absences of his husband no longer affected him. His attention had shifted to another man, someone who had gradually etched himself into Ye Zhi’s heart, despite Ye Zhi never daring to hope for a future with him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t forget this man.
Ye Zhi’s act of shielding Huo Youcheng from the knife was seen by others as a testament to his deep love for Huo Youcheng, and even Huo Youcheng believed it to be true.
Only Ye Zhi knew the truth.
In that critical moment, he had instinctively shielded Huo Youcheng, but it wasn’t out of love.
His feelings for Huo Youcheng had faded.
Yet, his actions had changed everything around him. He began receiving warmth and kindness from others, and the way people looked at him had changed. Huo Youcheng started treating him with tenderness and care, and his friends began showing him respect. Even Huo Youcheng’s mother, Madam Huo, rushed back, bringing the best military doctors and having the cook prepare nourishing soups for him. She would visit him frequently, holding his hand and calling him a “good child.”
But one person’s attitude changed significantly.
When Huo Youqiao hurried over that day and found out Ye Zhi was not in life-threatening danger, he was relieved. After learning the details, he was silent for a moment before telling his brother, “Treasure him.”
Apart from bringing Huo Ran once, he hadn’t visited Ye Zhi again. They had a work contract, and Ye Zhi considered this period as “leave,” while Huo Youqiao called it “vacation.” However, once Madam Huo found out about the contract, she disapproved, stating, “Ye Zhi is your brother’s partner, the second young master of our family. How can he do a servant’s job? What do you take him for?” She then assigned one of her maids to take over Ye Zhi’s duties.
Thus, the last thread connecting Ye Zhi to Huo Youqiao was severed.
This distressed Ye Zhi. He didn’t want to reveal his true feelings, but his consolation had been the frequent opportunities to see Huo Youqiao and help him in his own way. Now, even that was impossible.
The distress kept him awake at night, but he masked his sleeplessness with the excuse of “pain from the wound.”
“Do you have any favorite places? Or any preferred wedding themes?” Qing Qing asked diligently. Seeing Ye Zhi’s hesitation, he added softly, “Actually, I do. I’ve always wanted a beach wedding, to exchange vows at sunrise with the first light of day shining on us. It would be so romantic.”
His enthusiasm was infectious, and Ye Zhi momentarily set aside his own emotions, asking warmly, “Why not have one then?”
Qing Qing hesitated, then laughed bitterly. “You mean with my husband? Even though I call him my husband, he can never truly be my partner. I’m not qualified.”
Ye Zhi was puzzled by this.
Seeing his confusion, Qing Qing explained quietly, “I heard about your family background. You were well-off before the bankruptcy, right? My family, on the other hand, is very ordinary, from a remote area. My parents had to sell all their livestock to send me to school in the city. You know the Cheng family, right? They’re not as prominent as the Huo family, but they’re still a prestigious family. Such families prefer marrying someone of equal status. I don’t stand a chance with them.”
He seemed nervous, as if admitting his status as a kept man was shameful.
But Qing Qing had already shown his most vulnerable side to Ye Zhi, so this honesty didn’t feel as exposing.
Aside from Huo Youcheng’s friends and relatives visiting, Ye Wan and Zhou Shaohui also showed up.
It wasn’t their first visit. Huo Youcheng had kept them out before, not letting Ye Zhi know. This time, they brought a lawyer. Ye Zhi initially thought they were there to sue him, but he soon realized they came to sever their parental ties.
This was Huo Youcheng’s condition.
With clear evidence against Ye Mu for attempted murder, he faced charges that could result in a sentence of twenty years, with a minimum of ten. Even though Ye Mu had been castrated, Ye Wan still cherished him deeply. She couldn’t bear to see her beloved son in prison for so long, so she pleaded with Huo Youcheng.
After several pleas, Huo Youcheng agreed to show leniency on the condition that they sever all ties with Ye Zhi. This would mean no future contact or relationship.
Imperial law allowed such severance, and once the papers were signed, Ye Zhi would no longer have any obligation to his parents.
