The seaside was a bit chilly in early winter. Su Qi wore a sweater, and when the wind blew through her hair, she couldn't help but wrap her arms around herself.
A man's suit jacket landed on her shoulders. It still carried his scent, a unique blend of tobacco and sandalwood. She wondered what perfume he used; the incense-like aroma possessed a strangely comforting magic.
Stepping onto the soft sand, she felt a lingering warmth. Even in early winter, Shenzhen had some sun at noon. The beach was still pleasantly warm and yielding,
as if walking on cake.
Su Qi's steps naturally became lighter.
After walking for a short while, she suddenly stopped, took off her shoes, and held them in her hands. Barefoot through her socks, she stepped onto the sand.
Both her feet sank deeply into the sand. Su Qi shivered with comfort and then walked forward with light steps.
She hadn't smiled like this in a long time.
Strolling freely on the beach, she was like a child who hadn't grown up.
The man followed her leisurely, watching her play with a bright smile, a faint curve on his lips.
"Oh..."
She must have stepped on something. Her sole stung. Thinking it was a crab, Su Qi lifted her foot. She saw blood instantly seeping through her sock.
The man quickly walked over. Seeing the blood seeping from Su Qi's sole, he frowned. Before Su Qi could react, he swept her into his arms and strode towards the restaurant.
In the lobby downstairs, Su Qi was placed on the sofa. Several restaurant staff members immediately gathered around. "Mr. Huo, what's wrong?"
"Where is the medicine?"
"We don't have medicine at the restaurant. We'll have to go to a nearby pharmacy..."
"You sit here. I'll be back soon."
Su Qi nodded and watched him leave. Her injured sole had already begun to ache, and blood continued to seep out.
A restaurant staff member handed Su Qi a cup of warm water. "Miss, would you like some water?"
"Thank you." Su Qi took it but didn't drink. It hurt, and she had no appetite for water.
Suddenly, a few women entered from outside, chatting and laughing. There were about two or three of them. As soon as they entered, they saw Su Qi. One of the women exclaimed, "Isn't that Su Qi? What is she doing here?"
The group looked over and indeed saw Su Qi.
Su Qi also heard the commotion. When she looked up, the women had stopped in front of her.
"Su Qi, are you working here?"
"No way, I heard you got married after graduation?"
"And I heard you married a rich man, so why are you still working here?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Maybe Su Qi is here to eat. She was the campus belle, she can't be doing worse than us, right?"
"Campus belle? I don't think so. I heard Su Qi isn't happy, maybe it's a joke!"
The women burst into laughter.
A chill spread through Su Qi's heart. These women were her classmates in college. The three of them lived in the dorm next to hers. They were always together. During college, her grades were excellent, she always received scholarships, and she was even called the campus belle of Shenzhen University. These women had always been at odds with her, and she never expected to run into them here.
The three women were dressed more flamboyantly than each other. The class monitor said they had become models, but she wasn't sure if they were legitimate models.
Li Yiran, the leader, sized Su Qi up. "Su Qi, are you a waitress? Can you serve us?"
Su Qi raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, we don't serve special workers here!"
"You... What did you say?! You called us special workers?!"
One of the women heard Su Qi's words and shrieked, her eyes wide.
Su Qi smiled, calm and composed. "What, aren't you? I thought you were."
Li Yiran gritted her teeth. She hadn't expected Su Qi to still be so sharp-tongued even after graduation. "Su Qi, that's not right. If you're not a hotel waitress, you could have told us. We misunderstood you, but you shouldn't have mocked us."
Another woman chimed in, "Exactly! Your mouth is so dirty!"
"Then if you aren't special workers, why didn't you just tell me directly? There wouldn't be this situation, right?"
Su Qi replied with a smile.
Li Yiran's face flushed, but she forced a smile and asked, "Su Qi, I heard you got married after graduation and aren't happy in your marriage. Is that true?"
"I heard you married into a wealthy family, but I don't know which rich man you married, as there's been no news at all."
"Yeah, if you married a rich man, why wasn't there a wedding? Where's your ring? Why aren't you wearing it?"
"Oh dear, could it be that you're not married? That would be too pitiful!"
As the saying goes, three women make a show. As expected, these three women, each speaking in turn, could twist black into white.
Su Qi sneered inwardly. Her sole was bleeding, and she really didn't have the energy to deal with them.
Seeing Su Qi not retaliate, the women became even more presumptuous.
"Su Qi, could it be true? Who is your husband? Is he not a rich man? Or are you not married at all?"
These women weren't just gossiping; they clearly wanted to humiliate her.
Su Qi frowned. Before she could speak, footsteps sounded, and the man stopped behind the women. "Do you need something?"
The three women turned at the sound. Li Yiran was the first to turn and the first to see Huo Tingyun. The moment she saw Huo Tingyun, Li Yiran's eyes nearly popped out.
Shenzhen was never short of handsome men, but Li Yiran had never seen anyone so handsome. It wasn't just his looks; he possessed an aura cultivated by his environment, as if he had grown up immersed in wealth. His pampered demeanor, his every gesture, every glance, seemed to proclaim his extraordinary identity and status.
Li Yiran's heart pounded. "You are..."
"I am Su Qi's husband."
The man's indifferent gaze did not fall on the three women. Instead, it was directed at Su Qi. He approached with the medicine. "Wife, let me put medicine on your wound."
Li Yiran was stunned. When she came to her senses, she could hardly believe that Su Qi had such a handsome and seemingly wealthy husband.
It had to be fake!
Unwilling to accept it, Li Yiran tugged at her collar, lowering it slightly.
"Su Qi, you're injured? Do you want me to help you put medicine on it?"
Li Yiran walked over, deliberately bending down to examine Su Qi's wound, but in reality, she was trying to showcase her own allure to Huo Tingyun.
Su Qi glanced over.
She had to admit, they were quite large.
Pale and white.
Li Yiran's were naturally so.
However, Huo Tingyun looked like a man uninterested in women.