Watching Su Qi leave, Qin Yusheng slowly withdrew his gaze, his eyes fixed on the ring inside the red velvet box.
Even as it lay quietly within the red velvet box, it radiated a dazzling brilliance.
Footsteps stopped outside the lounge door.
The man stood with his arms crossed in the dim light, his gaze veiled with disdain, "It seems Mr. Qin enjoys playing with the worn-out shoes I've already discarded?"
Qin Yusheng heard the man's mocking words. Unhurriedly, he closed the lid of the red velvet box, then smiled faintly and turned around, fixing his gaze on Huo Tingyun, who stood behind him.
"I wonder if Mr. Huo has ever heard the saying, 'To the lover, she is a treasure; to the unloved, she is discarded and drifts with the water.' Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and right and wrong are merely matters of the heart."
Qin Yusheng tightly clutched the red velvet box in his palm, as if trying to grasp something firmly.
"If you dislike Su Qi, naturally you see her as trash. But to me, Su Qi is light, as brilliant as the stars in the sky, as pure as the bright moon. Regardless of whether she has been married before, she is my moon in the sky, the one in my heart, my dream, and everything I wish to hold onto."
"Since Mr. Huo has chosen to give up on Su Qi, do not interfere too much. Whether she rejects me or accepts me, I believe it has nothing to do with Mr. Huo. However, when Su Qi and I get married, I will invite Mr. Huo. If Mr. Huo is willing to grace us with his presence, I welcome it."
Qin Yusheng laughed heartily, clearly in a good mood. Without sparing another glance at Huo Tingyun's expression, he strode away, exuding an air of romantic nonchalance.
Huo Tingyun stood alone in the same spot for an unknown duration until Li Caiyi found him.
"Tingyun, why are you standing here alone? I just tried on a few wedding dresses, they were so beautiful. You weren't there, and I couldn't get through to your phone. But it's fine, I want to show you my most beautiful self on the wedding day."
After speaking, Li Caiyi released Huo Tingyun's arm, only to find the man completely unresponsive.
"Tingyun? What's wrong?"
Li Caiyi was perplexed. In just a short while, the man who had been in good spirits suddenly seemed utterly dejected. She wondered if she had said something wrong or if something had happened.
"Go home first."
After a long pause, the man finally spoke in a hoarse voice, releasing Li Caiyi's arm from his. He then started walking downstairs.
"Tingyun..." Li Caiyi looked bewildered, watching the man disappear from her sight.
After Huo Tingyun left, Li Caiyi went downstairs, only to find he was gone. She saw Assistant Lin standing by the car, smoking.
"What's wrong with Tingyun? I feel like Tingyun has been very off lately."
Ever since divorcing Su Qi, Huo Tingyun had seemed to be in good spirits every day, buying her designer bags, taking her shopping, and going to the beach. He appeared happy, but he was like a soulless shell. His happiness was superficial, not genuine.
Even when Huo Tingyun merely saw Su Qi, his dark eyes seemed to light up. Even a simple glance conveyed a love that went deep into his bones.
Li Caiyi felt a pang of sadness and got into the car.
She knew, of course, that Huo Tingyun didn't love her, but that other girl. She had already been too greedy by replacing that girl's love. Yet, Huo Tingyun treated her so well, cared for her so much. She had never experienced such affection. It would be a lie to say she didn't like Huo Tingyun.
Seeing Huo Tingyun's feelings for Su Qi, it would also be a lie to say she wasn't jealous.
Why, after only divorcing, was Su Qi being pursued by such outstanding men? Even Huo Tingyun, after their divorce, was still infatuated with Su Qi.
Nowadays, everything was paid for by phone, yet Huo Tingyun still carried a wallet.
She had accidentally seen a photo in Huo Tingyun's wallet.
It was a photo of Su Qi.
Although it was just an ID photo, perhaps cropped from their marriage or divorce certificate, it was a small picture, yet the man treasured it like a gem.
Why?
He claimed not to love her, yet his eyes and every action revealed his affection for Su Qi.
Assistant Lin got into the car and started the engine. The car slowly drove forward.
Li Caiyi looked at Assistant Lin in the driver's seat and couldn't help but ask, "What has Mr. Huo been doing lately? I rarely see him at night."
Every time she got close to Huo Tingyun, she smelled a strong scent of smoke and alcohol.
She remembered when she first met Huo Tingyun, he smelled of sandalwood, like the incense burning in a temple. Now, it was the smell of smoke and alcohol, and a harsh kind. The man seemed to be addicted to smoking and drinking lately.
"The Mr. has been busy with work recently."
"Is that so?"
Was it because of too much work pressure that he was like this?
Assistant Lin drove Li Caiyi back to Juyuan before returning to the company.
He had expected Huo Tingyun to be back at the company, but the company secretary said she hadn't seen Mr. Huo return. Assistant Lin frowned and took out his phone. He intended to call Huo Tingyun, but it was already seven in the evening.
If he wasn't at the company, then he must be...
When Assistant Lin found Huo Tingyun, the man was already dead drunk. Even so, he sat in a booth, downing drink after drink, as if trying to relieve some pressure, as if trying to vent some emotion, as if he were trying to die, drinking madly.
Assistant Lin hurried forward, looking at the scene before him in disbelief, "Sir..."
His eyes revealed shock and heartache.
In the past, the Mr. had great self-control. Even when smoking or drinking, he would only take a sip. He had never been like this.
Recently, the Mr. had been with Li Caiyi, and he thought the Mr. was finally happy, but instead, he was even more dejected than before.
He seemed to be in a good mood, just as Li Caiyi had said.
"Sir, please don't drink anymore. Your health is not good. If you continue drinking like this, your body will be ruined..."
Assistant Lin had known Huo Tingyun since childhood. His parents were also part of the Huo family, and he had worked by Huo Tingyun's side since he grew up. Huo Tingyun had never treated him poorly, neither materially nor spiritually.
Assistant Lin knew Huo Tingyun's health better than anyone.
When he was a child, he was poisoned and became blind for a long time.
After his health had finally recovered as he grew up, if he continued to deplete it like this, his old illness would relapse sooner or later.
"Sir, please stop drinking. Smoking and drinking harm the mind. If you continue drinking like this, what will happen if your old illness relapses? If Dr. Jin were still practicing, he could still treat you, but now that Dr. Jin has passed away, if something happens to you, not only your subordinate but everyone will be very worried about you!"
Assistant Lin lunged forward and snatched the bottle from Huo Tingyun's hand.