The girl who helped her was surprised to find that it really was her. She stared wide-eyed in astonishment. Ni Jingxi said thank you again and left with Huo Shenyan.
After they left, the girl pulled her friend, who was taking a selfie, over and exclaimed, "Holy crap, guess who I just ran into?"
Who is it?
"Huo Shenyan and Ni Jingxi, oh my god, what good luck I have to meet this perfect couple."
Her friend got excited too. She said, "Wow, during my last class out, my teacher showed that live photo taken by Ni Jingxi. She said that although she's not a professional photographer, the photo attracted global attention because she captured the essence of survival in that one photo."
Unexpectedly, this friend was even more excited than the girl taking the photos.
The girl taking the photos looked at her amusedly: "Why are you more excited than I am?"
"Of course, she's my idol. I hope I can become a journalist like her someday."
This friend, who also studied journalism, said without hesitation.
Ni Jingxi, who left at that moment, had no idea that her photograph had unknowingly influenced so many people. She had always steadfastly walked her own path, unaware that so many had already witnessed it.
"Are you hot?" Huo Shenyan asked, noticing her slightly flushed cheeks. The weather in Vietnam was quite hot today.
Ni Jingxi shook her head, but Huo Shenyan had already pulled her directly to the FamilyMart convenience store next door. Ni Jingxi suddenly became curious: "Mr. Huo, do you also buy things at FamilyMart?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Huo Shenyan retorted.
Ni Jingxi blinked, because he looked like someone who was untouched by worldly affairs.
Huo Shenyan reached out and ruffled her hair, saying in a low voice, "Miss Ni, you're really overthinking things."
When he lowered his voice and said "Miss Ni," Ni Jingxi gripped the cold drink in her hand, but her heart was still pounding strongly, like a drumbeat, as if it were about to pierce her chest.
“There was a shop like that near my high school, and I would occasionally go there to buy things after school,” he said in a low voice.
Ni Jingxi was suddenly overwhelmed with curiosity. Huo Shenyan's high school—a period she had never experienced before, filled with unknown wonder. So she immediately tilted her head to look at him and asked, "What were you like in high school?"
"Go to school," Huo Shenyan said simply.
Ni Jingxi suddenly asked a curious question: "Did you have a boyfriend/girlfriend in high school?"
Huo Shenyan paused and slowly turned his head.
Ni Jingxi was too nervous. She stared at him expectantly, not knowing what she wanted to hear from him. Someone like him had been so outstanding since childhood. Even if he didn't want to, countless people would have a crush on him.
Until Huo Shenyan leaned slightly forward, his dark eyes gazing at her, his voice low and alluring: "Before you, I knew nothing of love."
Author's Note: Waaaaaah, you're so gorgeous, I love you too!
Are there really any 30-year-old virgins in the world? Don't ask, the answer is yes! Yes!! Yes!!
*
Chapter 66
Ni Jingxi held the bottle she had just taken out of the freezer in her hand, her palm slightly cool.
Although I comforted myself that it was okay, just like listening to a story about Mr. Huo's past, there was neither a past nor a story.
He only has her.
Ni Jingxi glanced to the left and right. There were hardly any customers in the convenience store at the moment. There was a row of shelves next to the refrigerated display case where they were standing, which blocked the view of the cashier.
She quickly tiptoed and kissed him on the lips.
After Huo Shenyan finished kissing her quickly, he took several steps back, as if afraid of being seen.
This is clearly a married couple with a marriage certificate, but she managed to make it seem like they were secretly having an affair.
Ni Jingxi stood a few steps away from him. Her originally cold palms gradually warmed up, and even the mineral water bottle she was holding felt a little hot.
She quickly turned her face away, unscrewed the bottle cap, and took a sip.
Before long, the two strolled leisurely back to the hotel. It was already evening, and the weather was not as hot as when they had come out; there was even a slight cool breeze blowing on them occasionally.
The whole city exudes a leisurely atmosphere.
Huo Shenyan turned his head to look at Ni Jingxi, who was holding his arm, and asked in a low voice, "Want to walk around some more?"
Ni Jingxi shook her head, rubbed her eyes, and looked a little tired. Actually, thinking about it, it made sense. Last night, after having dinner at the Huo family mansion, Huo Shenyan had just arrived home when he received a call from Old Sun.
It's only been one night since I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City from Shanghai.
Ni Jingxi felt as if time was stretched out infinitely, and the day was so long.
Especially after talking with my dad, the past memories flooded back into my mind.
My father's seven years.
Her seven years.
There are so many things I want to talk about, but so many things I can't say.
Huo Shenyan also noticed her tired look and remembered that she had been on the plane last night and then went there to wait for Ni Pingsen this morning, so she really didn't have enough rest time.
So he simply grabbed her wrist and said, "Let's go back and rest. You didn't sleep well last night."
Ni Jingxi nodded.
So the two returned to the hotel. Ni Jingxi took a shower and changed her clothes, but after lying down on the bed, she couldn't fall asleep. She was still awake when Huo Shenyan came in.
"Can't you sleep?" Huo Shenyan asked her in a low voice.
Ni Jingxi didn't move, but just looked at him quietly. Her big, dark eyes revealed a pitiful look. Huo Shenyan couldn't help but feel sorry for her and squatted down by the bed, gently stroking her long hair with his hand.
"Jingxi, perhaps there are always so many disappointments in this world," Huo Shenyan said softly. He knew that Ni Jingxi was enduring immense sorrow that day, and no one could help her, not even him.
After all, she was the one who gritted her teeth and persevered through the years when Ni Pingsen was missing.
Even Huo Shenyan arrived too late.
No one has ever experienced the despair she felt during her most difficult times, so all he can do now is stay by her side, but he cannot bear all of this for her.
Ni Jingxi blinked and said softly, "It's just that I ran into it by accident, right?"
Huo Shenyan was truly heartbroken at this moment.
There are so many unpleasant things in the world, why should his star have to endure so much?
Huo Shenyan gently approached, his forehead lightly touching hers, and said in an exceptionally soft voice, "From now on, I will protect you from all misfortunes."
This is my guarantee, and my promise.
Ni Jingxi chuckled softly, her eyebrows curving into crescents, a mischievous glint in her eyes: "You said it yourself."
It was as if she had deceived him.
Huo Shenyan gently brushed his nose against hers, and said in a low, husky voice, "Yes, I said it."
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Ni Jingxi's ears twitched slightly, and she suddenly threw off the covers and got up. She didn't even have time to put on the slippers on the floor next to her, and walked out barefoot on the cold floor.
When she reached the door, her hand was on the doorknob; perhaps it was just room service or hotel staff outside…
Ni Jingxi took a deep breath, pressed her hand down, and then the door was pulled open.
Ni Pingsen stood at the door carrying a very simple bag. When he saw Ni Jingxi, he seemed a little embarrassed and smiled at her.
"Xingxing." He knew that was Ni Jingxi's nickname, so he called out to her subconsciously.
Ni Jingxi stood there stunned for several seconds before suddenly rushing over and hugging Ni Pingsen. She leaned on his shoulder and said in a voice that was almost choked with sobs, "Dad, thank you."
Thank you for coming back. Thank you for being willing to come back for me.
Even though she had her doubts, if it were the Ni Pingsen of the past, Ni Jingxi would have believed without hesitation that he would be willing to give up the whole world to choose her.
But now, her father has lost all memories of them.
For the past seven years, his family has been someone else. She is supposed to be a woman related by blood, but if he had no memory of her, she would just be a stranger he met once.
So thank you in the end for choosing me without hesitation.
Ni Jingxi was hugging Ni Pingsen at the door, while Huo Shenyan stood behind her with her bare feet, looking helpless.
Fortunately, Ni Pingsen patted her on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Let's go inside first."
Ni Jingxi was a little embarrassed, so she took a step back to let Ni Pingsen have the doorway. Ni Pingsen looked down and asked with a hint of helplessness, "Why aren't you wearing shoes?"
Upon hearing this, Huo Shenyan spoke almost immediately: "I'll go get it now."
He turned around and went back to the bedroom, quickly taking out the slippers from the bedside. Ni Jingxi had tried to put them on but couldn't get them on, so she simply ran out barefoot.
By the time Huo Shenyan took out the slippers, Ni Jingxi had already sat down next to the sofa.
He walked straight over and placed the shoes at her feet, saying softly, "Put them on first."
Ni Jingxi nodded and obediently put on her shoes. But when she looked up, she found that the two people opposite her were staring at her feet, and she curled her toes in embarrassment.
Ni Pingsen glanced at Ni Jingxi, then looked at Huo Shenyan beside him.
He felt a sense of helplessness; it felt like a dream. In the blink of an eye, he not only had a daughter, but also a son-in-law.
"Dad, have you eaten?" Ni Jingxi asked immediately.
It was already dark. She had been too tired to eat, but now that Ni Pingsen had arrived, she felt much better.
This is probably a case of people being in high spirits when they have a happy occasion.
Ni Pingsen shook his head, and Ni Jingxi suggested, "How about we grab something to eat together?"
She carefully observed Ni Pingsen's expression, and thinking that he must not be in a good mood, she asked softly, "The food in the hotel restaurant is pretty good, shall we go and get something to eat?"
Ni Pingsen nodded with a smile.
So they went downstairs together and booked a room for Ni Pingsen, who had previously obtained legal status in Vietnam.
Ni Jingxi's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Liu Sen's name on his ID card.
However, he didn't say anything in the end.
When they arrived at the restaurant on the third floor, the waiter led them to a window seat, where the three of them sat down. Outside the window was the night view of Ho Chi Minh City, brightly lit but far less dazzling than Shanghai.
"This place is nice, but I think it still can't compare to Shanghai," Ni Jingxi said softly as she turned her gaze away.
Ni Pingsen turned his head and glanced at it, then said calmly in a low voice, "Of course, that's Shanghai."