---

Chapter 58

After spending a day and a night at the seaside resort hotel, the newlyweds left around noon.

Cheng Wanting accepted his loss in the bet willingly, but due to his extremely busy work schedule, Lin Keying graciously allowed him to postpone fulfilling the wager.

“Anyway, remember you owe me half a month as my secretary.”

“Rest assured, President Lin, I will honor the bet,” Cheng Wanting replied without hesitation.

“That’s not enough, you better write me an IOU.” Sitting in the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, Lin Keying looked around for paper and pen but couldn’t find any.

Cheng Wanting called out, “Minghui, paper and pen.”

Yang Minghui, sitting in the front passenger seat, passed paper and pen to the back, listening as Mrs. Lin instructed the young master to write an IOU, stating he would serve as her secretary for half a month, and that it had to be signed and dated.

Yang Minghui’s eyelids twitched. He exchanged a glance with the driver, Lao Feng, both remaining silent.

You two really know how to play around, huh.

Cheng Wanting, who used to be a workaholic almost year-round without rest, now occasionally made time to accompany his wife. However, by the next afternoon, he was already rushing off to another important business meeting.

Lin Keying happily enjoyed her leisure time. She went to the most upscale mall in Central and picked out a ruby necklace. Previously, her husband had deliberately transferred five million into her account to make up for standing her up, encouraging her to buy jewelry as compensation.

The ruby necklace, worth three million, was inlaid with pink diamonds mined from South Africa. With its Fancy Intense vivid color grade and FL (Flawless) clarity, it was a masterpiece.

Soft pink without being gaudy, clear and brilliant with a subtle pink glow, the gem displayed varying shades of pink from different angles under sunlight—truly dazzling.

In the mirror, the woman fastened the pink gemstone necklace around her snow-white neck, its delicate craftsmanship highlighting her refinement and liveliness.

Satisfied with her look, Lin Keying paired it with a form-fitting black velvet gown and headed to the He family’s home.

Today was the He family’s housewarming day. They were saying goodbye to their old, cramped public housing and officially moving into their own elevator apartment!

The apartment, costing over HKD 300,000 with a monthly mortgage of HKD 4,000, was now comfortably affordable for the He family, who owned three dessert shops.

Their new home was slowly being filled with appliances, furniture, and their family’s belongings, gradually emanating a warm, lively atmosphere. Sister He was busy preparing hotpot ingredients—fish, shrimp, abalone, beef… A box of Vitasoy sat on the floor, while bowls and chopsticks were being laid on the table. The red flames licked the bottom of the clay pot, making it bubble and gurgle.

Five pairs of chopsticks were busy in the pot when suddenly, the doorbell rang amidst the lively chatter.

Sister He, puzzled by their recent move, wondered aloud, “Could it be that a neighbor is already visiting?”

Tingting ran to open the door and was pleasantly surprised to see a man she hadn’t seen in a long time. “Brother Xiao Huo! Sister Keying, Mom, Brother Xiao Huo is back!”

Huo Huachen, who had gone abroad for further studies, returned to Hong Kong earlier than planned. After reuniting with his family and before resuming work at St. Mary’s Hospital, he immediately stopped by the dessert shop.

In just over two months, it seemed the world had changed quite a bit.

Dr. Xiao Huo learned that the dessert shop had opened two more branches, and today the He family had moved into their new apartment.

There was even more shocking news—the other boss had gotten married.

Before leaving, Dr. Huo had secretly hoped that Lin Keying and her aloof fiancé would break up. Hearing of her marriage left him despondent.

—Lin Keying is already married?

He had originally thought that marriages among the wealthy took careful consideration and even an engagement didn’t guarantee a wedding. Yet for some reason, her fiancé had acted so quickly.

He also used to think the power struggles of wealthy families didn’t suit someone like Keying, but upon closer observation, Huo Huachen realized her life as a wealthy wife seemed genuinely happy and fulfilling.

In just two months, she looked even more radiant than when she first arrived in Hong Kong—like a flower fully blossomed after a nourishing spring rain, vibrant and fragrant.

Huo Huachen joked, “Who would’ve thought that after a short trip abroad, you’d already be married when I got back.”

Reuniting with an old friend after a brief separation was always a joy.

Lin Keying smiled and replied, “Dr. Xiao Huo, I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly either.”

After all, when she first arrived, she had planned to return to the mainland shortly. But so much had happened since then—one thing after another, all out of her control.

Aqiang set an extra place for Dr. Huo. The group invited him to sit down for hotpot, and Tingting loudly reassured him, “Brother Xiao Huo, don’t be too sad. Just focus on saving lives!”

Huo Huachen smiled bitterly, handed out souvenirs he brought, and quietly asked Lin Keying, “Just because you’re married, it doesn’t mean we can’t have meals together, right?”

“Of course not,” Lin Keying replied openly. “You’re my friend.”

“Then, as your friend, I’ll shamelessly ask you to host a welcome dinner for me.” Huo Huachen secured a dinner appointment for the next evening.

—

That night, at the Mid-Levels villa.

Cheng Wanting informed his wife in advance that he wouldn’t be able to join her for dinner the next night. To his surprise, Lin Keying didn’t mind. “It’s fine, I’ll be dining out too.”

“Going to the He family again?”

Out of courtesy, both she and Cheng Wanting had been invited to last night’s housewarming dinner, but Cheng Wanting was busy with work and couldn’t make it. Lin Keying had brought an extra gift in his place.

“No, Dr. Xiao Huo is back from his studies. I’m hosting a welcome dinner for him,” she said straightforwardly. Then, remembering her husband’s somewhat possessive nature, she quickly added, “Honey, you’re not jealous, are you?”

Cheng Wanting smiled faintly. “Of course not.”

What successful man would be jealous of a loser?

—

That evening, the Peninsula Hotel was exquisitely romantic, with soft piano music floating in the air.

The same dining table, the same white candles—today’s vase held beautiful yellow roses.

“To be honest, before I went abroad, I had a dark thought,” Huo Huachen said, gazing at the woman who was now someone else’s wife. He couldn’t see a trace of unhappiness on her face.

Lin Keying sipped her champagne. “What was it?”

“I secretly hoped you’d break up with your fiancé,” Huo Huachen admitted, tasting bitterness in his champagne. “I didn’t expect you’d get married so quickly instead.”

Lin Keying slightly curled her lips, always admiring Dr. Xiao Huo’s honesty. “Dr. Xiao Huo, you’re so outstanding—you’ll surely find true love. Come, I wish you happiness.”

The clink of their glasses echoed like a warning bell in his ears.

He quickly composed himself, asked about her life as a wealthy wife, and shared some funny stories from his studies abroad. They still had plenty to talk about and enjoyed each other’s company.

However, as Lin Keying sat there, she couldn’t help but recall how Cheng Wanting had once mentioned noticing the small mole on her ankle when she dined here with Dr. Huo four months ago.

At that moment, her ankle felt inexplicably itchy.

Indeed, a pervert leaves behind invisible, intangible marks.

Even when he wasn’t around, Lin Keying still thought of him.

“By the way, your Cantonese has improved a lot,” Huo Huachen praised.

“I have you to thank—you were my first Cantonese teacher,” Lin Keying replied gratefully, then teased, “And my husband, who always drags me to the study to practice.”

Huo Huachen could only smile wryly—being first didn’t seem to count for much.

The lively Western dining area of the Peninsula Hotel, like the myriad twinkling lights of Hong Kong, stayed vibrant deep into the night. After dinner, Lin Keying and Huo Huachen stepped outside. The chilly autumn wind fluttered her black dress.

A black Mercedes was parked outside the hotel, its fierce front design resembling a tiger crouched in the dark.

The car door opened, and shiny black leather shoes stepped onto the ground, approaching the pair saying their goodbyes.

The cool evening breeze rustled the hem of her black dress. Lin Keying brushed her arms, and Huo Huachen chivalrously said, “It’s getting cold, you—”

Before he could finish, a black suit jacket seemed to drop from the sky, draping warmly over her shoulders.

Startled by the sudden warmth, Lin Keying turned back, pleasantly surprised. “Why are you here?”

Cheng Wanting answered his wife while locking eyes directly with Huo Huachen, maintaining gentlemanly courtesy. “I just finished work and happened to be nearby. Dr. Huo, let me give you a ride home.”

“No need, but thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Cheng.” Huo Huachen’s gaze flicked to the black suit jacket enveloping Lin Keying like a massive embrace. “You two take care. I’ll catch a taxi—it’s convenient enough.”

Once inside the Mercedes, the warm cabin enveloped them. Lin Keying took off the jacket and handed it back, still curious. “Young Master, did you really just finish work and happen to be here?”

Cheng Wanting took the jacket and casually draped it over his lap. “Of course. You were catching up with an old friend, and I was working at Huanyu.”

Lin Keying: “…”

Why does the air smell a little sour?

---