Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The next morning, past nine o'clock.

Lin Yi was still lying in bed, sleeping in.

His breathing was light, and the corner of his mouth was slightly curled, indicating he was having a good dream.

Huo Mianmian had already woken up at this point.

He opened his wide, dazed eyes and leaned against Lin Yi's side, not making a sound even though he was awake, just staring blankly and blinking occasionally.

After lying there for a while, Huo Mianmian quietly got out of bed on his own.

He slipped out of the blankets without disturbing Lin Yi at all.

Stepping softly on the soft blanket, he reached the edge of the bed, used his hands to slide down, then put on his little slippers and went to the bathroom to wash up.

Huo Mianmian brushed his teeth and washed his face, then walked to the window, climbed onto a small stool, and sat by the window watching the scenery outside.

This was a new hobby he developed after arriving at the mountain villa.

Sitting by the window and gazing outside.

Today, he discovered something particularly novel.

In the flower bed outside their window, there were several shrubs, and in one of them, there was actually a bird's nest.

Huo Mianmian's eyes immediately lit up, and he focused intently on the bird's nest.

At that moment, a little bird was standing unsteadily in the nest. The bird must have been born recently, with only tiny down feathers, unable to fly yet.

The little bird opened its beak wide, chirping loudly, seemingly hungry.

Soon, two adult birds flew back with worms in their beaks.

The little bird chirped even more happily and accepted the food from the two adult birds.

The three birds huddled together.

The scene looked incredibly warm.

After watching for a while, Huo Mianmian seemed to think of something, left the stool, and ran to his small suitcase to search for something.

Soon, Huo Mianmian found a piece of drawing paper.

On the paper were two figures, one big and one small.

Though it was a simple child's drawing, some details were discernible.

The larger figure had raised eyebrows and a joyful expression, while the smaller one held the hand of the larger figure obediently.

It was clearly a depiction of Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian himself.

Holding the drawing paper, Huo Mianmian tilted his head as if making a decision.

After a moment, he made up his mind and took out his colored pencils.

Then, Huo Mianmian returned to sit by the window with the drawing paper and colored pencils.

He sat on the stool, lowered his head, and started drawing again.

This time, he added another figure to the drawing.

This new figure was also an adult, with a stern, expressionless face.

Lin Yi didn't set an alarm and woke up naturally, stretching contentedly.

When he woke up, he saw Huo Mianmian sitting alone by the window, seemingly drawing something.

So he didn't disturb Huo Mianmian, instead, he washed up and went out to get breakfast.

When Lin Yi arrived at the dining room, the breakfast was still steaming hot.

The staff at the mountain villa had considered the needs of guests who liked to sleep in and kept the breakfast warm throughout the morning.

Breakfast was served buffet-style.

Lin Yi took a plate and wandered around, looking for something tasty.

He first picked up a fried dough stick, then some small steamed buns.

At that moment, there was only one cup of soy milk left at the soy milk station.

The staff was hurriedly making more.

Lin Yi arrived just in time to grab the last cup.

Meanwhile, Su Bai entered the dining room surrounded by a group of people.

Someone flatteringly asked Su Bai, "Brother Bai, what do you want to eat? I'll get it for you."

Su Bai said proudly, "Soy milk, remember, no sugar."

To please his benefactor and maintain his physique, he adhered to a strict diet, even stricter than some female artists, avoiding calories almost entirely.

At that moment, Lin Yi approached the soy milk station, about to take the last cup.

But just as he reached out, an unfriendly voice sounded nearby—

"That's Brother Bai's!"

Lin Yi paused for a moment and then looked at the people nearby.

He saw Su Bai, surrounded like a star among the moon, along with a group of lackeys beside him.

One of those lackeys had just said that.

After all, Su Bai considered himself too noble to directly ask Lin Yi for the soy milk; he had people around him to do his bidding.

Lin Yi merely glanced at the group before quickly looking away and picking up the soy milk.

Su Bai's expression changed.

The lackeys started chattering.

"Lin Yi, what's your problem? We already said Brother Bai wants it!"

"You really don't know your place, daring to compete with Brother Bai for soy milk! Put it down now!"

"..."

Amidst their clamor, not only did Lin Yi not put down the soy milk, but he also tore open a packet of sugar, poured it into the cup, stirred it with a spoon, and drank half of it in one go.

He did all this calmly and composedly, as if he didn't even notice the group of people eyeing him menacingly.

Everyone else: "??"

How dare Lin Yi be so audacious?!

Didn't he know that Su Bai's father was incredibly powerful and could crush him like an ant with just a flick of his finger?!

Everyone in their agency fawned over Su Bai, except for Lin Yi.

Lin Yi couldn't be bothered with these people. After taking a sip of the soy milk, he walked away slowly with the remaining half cup.

After all, he never indulged anyone, especially not a bunch of idiots.

The crowd: "..."

The scene fell silent for several seconds.

Su Bai's face turned livid.

This Lin Yi was truly bold, repeatedly provoking him like this!

Ever since he had hooked up with his benefactor, Su Bai had always been treated with respect wherever he went. Everyone praised him for everything he did, except for Lin Yi, who dared to defy him!

Seeing Su Bai's displeased expression, the lackeys immediately tried to smooth things over.

"Brother Bai, don't take it personally. Lin Yi must be so poor that he can't even afford a cup of soy milk, which is why he's being so petty about it."

"That's right! It's just a cup of soy milk. Just consider it charity."

At this point, one of the lackeys had a sudden idea. "Hey, have you guys ever wondered how an artist like Lin Yi can afford to stay at this villa?"

With that, he paused dramatically.

Another person urged him, "Don't keep us in suspense. Did you see something?"

Su Bai also looked at the first speaker.

Then, the person spoke mysteriously, "I did see something. Yesterday, a man stayed in Lin Yi's room for a long time, leaving only late at night. Although I couldn't see the man clearly, do you think he might be Lin Yi's benefactor?"

Another person exclaimed excitedly, "What are we waiting for? Let's contact some gossip reporters and spill the beans!!"

Meanwhile.

Lin Yi returned to their residence with breakfast.

As he entered, Huo Mianmian had just finished his painting.

Lin Yi called out, "Mianmian, come eat breakfast!"

He placed the tray on the coffee table.

Huo Mianmian obediently ran over from the window, still holding the drawing paper.

When he reached Lin Yi, he handed the drawing paper to him and waited for his evaluation, eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

"What did you draw?" Lin Yi took the paper, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

Huo Mianmian's painting depicted three people.

Two adults and a child in the middle.

Was Mianmian painting their family of three?

It had to be said that Huo Mianmian had a certain talent for drawing. Though he used colored pens for simple sketches, he captured each person's features accurately and vividly.

Lin Yi praised him without hesitation, "Mianmian, you're amazing. It looks just like real people."

Huo Mianmian smiled, his lips curling slightly.

After looking at the painting for a while, Lin Yi thought of something and said, "But Mianmian, I think we can add something more. Give me the colored pens."

Huo Mianmian handed the colored pens to Lin Yi.

Then, he watched curiously, wondering what Lin Yi was going to do.

Lin Yi's painting style was much simpler and more straightforward than Huo Mianmian's. He picked up a colored pen and started drawing vigorously.

He only drew one thing: he filled Huo Jihan's surroundings with frozen ice blocks and added some lines to represent the howling cold wind.

After finishing, Lin Yi couldn't help but burst out laughing.

This made Huo Jihan look even more vivid!!

Seeing the additions Lin Yi had made, Huo Mianmian also widened his eyes slightly.

It does seem quite fitting for Dad's style?

While father and son were admiring the drawing, Ji Yunchuan arrived.

Ji Yunchuan bounced in excitedly, "Sister-in-law, Mianmian, good morning! What are you looking at?"

Ji Yunchuan loved joining in on the fun. Seeing Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian engrossed in the drawing, he eagerly leaned over to take a look.

When he saw what was drawn, he immediately burst into laughter, "Hahahaha! My goodness!! Who drew Big Brother Huo? It's so vivid and lifelike!! Let me guess, it must be Sister-in-law who did it, since Mianmian wouldn't draw like this!!"

Lin Yi looked at Ji Yunchuan somewhat surprised.

This guy guessed pretty accurately.

Ji Yunchuan seemed to read Lin Yi's thoughts and said proudly, "If I couldn't figure that out, I'd be wasting my time, wouldn't I?"

Lin Yi: "..."

Well, that is indeed an impressive skill.

At this moment, Ji Yunchuan glanced at the drawing again, and the more he looked, the harder he laughed, almost rolling on the ground. "Sister-in-law, you're a genius!! Drawing Big Brother Huo like this, even he would give it a thumbs up!!"

"Thumbs up for what?"

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out.

Ji Yunchuan, still unaware of the impending danger, continued laughing and said between gasps, "Th-thumbs up for this drawing. Big Brother Huo surrounded by ice blocks and emitting cold air is just too funny, hahaha..."

His laughter abruptly stopped.

Because he saw Huo Jihan standing behind him.

Huo Jihan's dark eyes stared at him, his expression unreadable.

Now it wasn't just cold air; it was like sharp arrows piercing through him.

Enough to instantly riddle Ji Yunchuan with holes!!

The lively atmosphere in the room vanished as if they had suddenly entered a frozen wasteland.

Ji Yunchuan, holding the drawing, straightened up in a second. "Big Brother Huo, I didn't say anything."

Lin Yi: "..."

This is like admitting guilt without saying a word!!

Better to hide the drawing quickly.

Lin Yi frantically signaled to Ji Yunchuan.

But he didn't notice at all.

Lin Yi: "..."

Forget it, let it be destroyed!

At this moment, Huo Jihan held out his hand to Ji Yunchuan. "Give it here."

Lin Yi thought Ji Yunchuan might resist, but he obediently handed over the drawing.

With the evidence in the enemy's hands, it's over!!

Lin Yi: "..."

He turned to look out the window, pretending not to exist.

He didn't draw it, absolutely not him!

Huo Jihan looked at the drawing, his expression unchanged.

But then he looked at Lin Yi and asked, "Is this how you see me?"

Lin Yi: "..."

Alright, can't escape it.

All thanks to Ji Yunchuan's big mouth!!

Huo Jihan kept staring at Lin Yi.

Seeing no way to avoid it, Lin Yi turned back and looked at Huo Jihan sincerely. "How could it be? In my heart, you are definitely not so cold. You are kind, warm-hearted, and simply one in ten thousand! No, one in a million!!"

After all, there's no one in a million who gives him five million every month!!

Hearing this, Huo Jihan's dark eyes remained inscrutable, his thoughts unclear.

Ji Yunchuan, who had been too scared to speak earlier, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

What does it mean when Sister-in-Law praises Big Brother Huo as a good person?

So, is this Big Brother Huo getting a "nice guy" card?

Meanwhile.

Several entertainment gossip reporters had already arrived at the villa.

Su Bai's lackeys led a group of reporters inside, whispering instructions to them: "You must capture the most explosive photos of Lin Yi and his sugar daddy. As for the payment, Brother Bai won't shortchange you..."

The reporters all nodded.

"Brother Bai has always been generous!"

"Don't worry, we'll do our best!"

Although these paparazzi didn't have much affection for Su Bai—after all, they had plenty of dirt on him and knew what kind of person he was—

Money talks, and as long as Su Bai offered them a handsome reward, they were willing to work for him.

Soon, the group quietly approached the guests' quarters.

To avoid alerting anyone, the paparazzi first hid behind some plants at the end of the corridor, intending to scout the situation first.

One of the paparazzi live-streamed on their gossip Weibo account: "Today, let's eat some juicy gossip about an L-surname artist."

This paparazzo's Weibo account had millions of followers, all eager for entertainment, so their post instantly attracted a crowd.

"L-surname artist? That sounds familiar."

"Didn't there also be a scandal about this artist last time?"

"You mean the one where he ignored his family after becoming successful? Didn't that story get flipped later?"

"Hmm, how can you be sure it's the same artist today? There are a few artists with the surname L in the entertainment industry."

"Who cares whose gossip it is, I'm just here to enjoy it!"

"Bring on the gossip!"

In the corridor, several paparazzi squatted for half an hour.

Just as they were starting to lose patience, there was finally some movement from Lin Yi's room.

Someone opened the door and came out.

The paparazzi perked up, grabbing their cameras to start shooting.

And their luck was incredible; it was actually Lin Yi who came out.

The paparazzo with the Weibo account snapped a photo of Lin Yi standing by the door and posted it online.

"Wow! It really is Lin Yi? He's got more gossip?"

"He's standing at the hotel entrance? Oh my, this must be exciting!"

"People in the entertainment industry have such messy private lives! It's probably another cheating scandal!"

"This isn't a hotel; it's a private villa. I've been there before with a wealthy classmate."

"The netizens are like Sherlock Holmes, figuring out the location."

"What is Lin Yi doing at this private villa?"

"These paparazzi must have something big if they're staking it out!"

"Am I the only one admiring Lin Yi's looks?"

"I'm with you! Even though it's a distant shot and a bit blurry, Lin Yi still looks incredibly handsome!"

"Not a fan, but I agree, Lin Yi is really good-looking."

With Lin Yi's rising fame and the help of a few close marketing accounts sharing the photo, more and more netizens joined the discussion.

Soon, the topic trended high on the hot search list.

#LinYi Gossip#

#LinYi PrivateVilla#

Even though the netizens only saw one picture, human imagination knows no bounds.

Especially since Lin Yi was standing at the door, seemingly talking to someone inside, which fueled even more speculation.

Thus, the online discussion heated up.

"Who is Lin Yi talking to inside?"

"Who knows? Maybe it's his partner?"

"Wow! Is this the moment we find out who my wife's other half is? So tense!!"

In the corridor.

The paparazzi watched Lin Yi intently from a distance.

They saw Lin Yi step out of the door and then turn back to say something to someone inside.

Soon, another person emerged.

The man had a tall and slender figure, with distinct facial features. His eyes seemed to contain the chill of millennia-old ice, making one tremble and go weak at just a glance.

Every move he made exuded a fierce and powerful aura.

In the next second, the paparazzi's cameras nearly slipped from their hands, and they broke out in cold sweat.

One of them whispered softly, "T-that is..."

His voice trembled, not daring to finish the sentence.

Silence fell like death beside the potted plants.

After an unknown amount of time, several paparazzi began deleting the photos they had just taken, their hands shaking.

Damn it!!

No one told them Huo Jihan was here!!

If they accidentally took pictures of Huo Jihan, they would definitely lose their jobs!!

After all, those who dared to sneak photos of Huo Jihan in the past had long since vanished from the industry.

The paparazzi deleted the photos and limped away, feeling quite resentful.

Damn! Su Bai wants to die, but don't drag us down with him!!

How dare he make us take such risky shots!!

We don't want to die that badly!!

Meanwhile, Su Bai sat in his room, waiting for good news from the paparazzi.

Actually, he looked down on someone like Lin Yi and didn't think it was worth fighting with him, as he believed Lin Yi wasn't worthy.

Unfortunately, Lin Yi had been getting on his nerves lately, so he couldn't be blamed for being unkind.

As Su Bai was thinking about this, a lackey suddenly burst into his room.

Su Bai frowned. "Why are you so panicked?"

The lackey trembled as he said, "All the paparazzi have left."

Anger flashed across Su Bai's face. "What? Didn't I tell them to take photos of Lin Yi?"

The lackey replied, "They apparently saw some big shot."

Su Bai dismissed it. "What kind of big shot could there be?"

To be honest, ever since he sold himself to a wealthy backer, he no longer regarded anyone else highly.

After all, his backer held a high position and frequently invested in the entertainment industry, having significant influence and even the power to blacklist minor celebrities.

The lackey hesitated before lowering his voice. "It's said to be Mr. Huo from the Huo Group."

Su Bai's face instantly turned pale, clearly intimidated by the name. But he tried to suppress his emotions. "How could that be possible? Why would Mr. Huo come to a place like this?"

He had only seen Huo Jihan once, when he accompanied his godfather to a business banquet.

But he never spoke to Huo Jihan, as even his godfather wasn't qualified to offer him a toast, let alone himself.

Thinking of this, Su Bai calmed down slightly. "Mr. Huo wouldn't come to a place like this. Besides, didn't I tell the paparazzi to take photos of Lin Yi? How did Mr. Huo get involved?"

The lackey shook his head. "I'm not sure. The paparazzi didn't even explain clearly before fleeing."

Su Bai was about to say something else when the lackey advised, "Brother Bai, we should leave too. The paparazzi must have heard something before running away. Whether Mr. Huo is coming or has already arrived, it's best to avoid him."

After all, if they made any mistake in front of someone like Huo Jihan, they might not even know how they died.

Su Bai didn't want to leave, but he was genuinely afraid of Huo Jihan and ultimately had to depart.

However, he still felt quite resentful. After all, he had spent a considerable amount of money hiring these paparazzi, only to achieve nothing.

Thus, the paparazzi and Su Bai all left one after another.

Only the netizens online were jumping around like excited cats.

"Damn! They said they were going to expose something. Where's the scoop?"

"Are they messing with us??"

"I have ten thousand curses, but I don't know if I should say them."

"Forget the rest; I discovered such a handsome artist through this incident. It's worth it!!"

"+1! I became a fan of Lin Yi because of his looks!!"

"Me too!!"

"And I also got interested in the mountain villa Lin Yi went to!! A place where a handsome person goes must be nice."

"Haha, the sister above has lost her logic."

"From now on, I have one more wife!!"

On the other side.

Lin Yi was completely unaware of everything that had happened.

He was discussing with Huo Mianmian about flying kites, as the weather was perfect for it today.

However, at this moment, the owner of the villa personally came to find Lin Yi and brought him many gifts.

These gifts weren't particularly valuable, but they were all made by the villa itself, completely natural items such as honey, jam, and dried meat.

When Lin Yi received these things, he was a bit confused.

The owner, however, looked grateful: "Thank you for promoting our villa. We've already received an overwhelming number of orders. Please, accept these gifts!"

After expressing his gratitude to Lin Yi, the owner left.

Lin Yi looked at the pile of gifts in the room and still couldn't quite grasp what was happening.

At this moment, Ji Yunchuan, who was browsing online, exclaimed excitedly: "Wow, sister-in-law, you're trending on Weibo, and you've gained a lot of followers."

Lin Yi took out his phone and checked, then understood the situation.

It turned out that someone had taken a photo of him without his knowledge, which then went viral. Not only did he gain followers, but he also inadvertently promoted the villa.

No wonder the owner gave him gifts earlier.

But who exactly took the photo?

Lin Yi couldn't figure it out and decided not to dwell on it. He put down his phone and said to Huo Mianmian: "Kid, let's go fly a kite!!"

Huo Mianmian, always obedient around Lin Yi, immediately came to his side, ready to follow him.

Seeing this, Ji Yunchuan stood up quickly: "I'm coming too!!"

He then said to Huo Jihan: "Big Brother Huo, come on, let's go see!!"

In the end, the group set off to fly kites.

Passing by Qin Ling's room, Ji Yunchuan called him along as well.

Ten minutes later, on a grassy field.

Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian were flying a kite together, with Ji Yunchuan excitedly helping nearby.

Huo Jihan and Qin Ling didn't join in but stood a short distance away watching.

Qin Ling asked Huo Jihan: "Why are you here? Do you have some hidden interest in flying kites?"

Usually, Huo Jihan is always focused on his work and should be handling business in his room right now.

Huo Jihan replied indifferently: "No."

Qin Ling raised an eyebrow slightly: "If you don't like flying kites, why are you here? Seems like you're more interested in watching people than kites."

The implication in his words was clear.

Huo Jihan glanced at Qin Ling, his tone cold: "You're overthinking it."

Qin Ling shrugged: "Okay, I'm overthinking it."

Anyway, he could see that someone was gradually changing, even if the change was slight. Once it starts, it's hard to stop, isn't it?

After all, the heart is the hardest thing to control.

Over there.

After some effort, Lin Yi and the others finally managed to get a kite flying high.

The kite was a large dragonfly, soaring higher and higher in the wind, just like a real dragonfly flying into the sky.

Lin Yi held the kite string and turned to ask Huo Mianmian: "Kid, is it fun?"

Huo Mianmian nodded vigorously.

This was his first time flying a kite!!

It felt both novel and joyful!

Huo Mianmian had never done so many fun things before, but Lin Yi had taken him through all these experiences.

Thinking about this, he turned to look at Lin Yi, his face full of contentment.

Meeting Little Dad was truly wonderful!

Lin Yi hadn't flown a kite in a long time and was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Unfortunately, sometimes accidents happen unexpectedly.

At one point, the wind became too strong, and Lin Yi almost lost his grip on the kite, stumbling forward a few steps.

Then, tragically, he stepped on a stone, twisted his ankle, and fell to the ground.

Lin Yi: "…"

Was this what they call falling flat on the ground?

How embarrassing!!

Embarrassment aside, his foot really hurt.

At this moment, Huo Jihan was the first to react. His expression tightened, and he quickly walked to Lin Yi's side, concerned: "Are you okay?"

Lin Yi estimated and replied: "I think I'm fine."

Soon, Huo Mianmian, Ji Yunchuan, and Qin Ling all gathered around Lin Yi.

Lin Yi said it was fine, but he remained seated on the ground.

Huo Jihan frowned slightly. "Does it hurt a lot?"

He thought Lin Yi couldn't get up.

Lin Yi shook his head. "No, I just want to sit here for a bit where I fell."

The people around them: "…"

Lin Yi smiled. "Just a joke to lighten the mood. Don’t be so tense; it’s just a fall."

As he spoke, to prove that he was fine, he tried to stand up by himself.

It turned out that things were worse than expected. His ankle was sprained and had already started swelling rapidly.

Lin Yi: "…"

Well, his foot was being quite uncooperative, wasn’t it?

The others naturally noticed this too. Ji Yunchuan, being the most vocal, immediately said, "Sister-in-law, I’ll take you to the hospital right away!"

After saying this, he realized something was off. Shouldn’t this opportunity be left for Big Brother Huo?

Ji Yunchuan quickly looked at Big Brother Huo. "Big Brother Huo, hurry up and take Sister-in-law to the hospital!"

At this moment,

Huo Jihan asked Lin Yi, "Can you walk?"

Lin Yi nodded. "I should be able to."

As he spoke, he took a step forward, but as soon as his injured foot touched the ground, a sharp pain shot through him.

Lin Yi: "…"

He looked at Huo Jihan and changed his mind. "It turns out I can’t. Could you please help me walk?"

After all, among those present, only Huo Jihan could reasonably assist him.

Huo Mianmian was too young and not suitable, and there was no way he would ask Ji Yunchuan or Qin Ling to help.

Huo Jihan walked over and supported him.

Huo Jihan’s large, strong hand grabbed Lin Yi’s arm and helped him move forward.

With his assistance, Lin Yi hopped on one foot.

Unfortunately, after hopping for a short distance, he became exhausted and started breathing heavily.

A thin layer of sweat broke out on his forehead, both from exhaustion and pain.

At this moment, Huo Jihan glanced at him and said, "Don't push yourself."

Lin Yi hadn't yet grasped the meaning behind Huo Jihan's words.

The next second, Huo Jihan bent down and lifted him up.

Caught off guard, Lin Yi's body suddenly went airborne, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around Huo Jihan's neck.

Their bodies pressed close together, allowing them to feel each other's warmth.

Huo Jihan's embrace was broad and strong, emitting a faint scent of cologne, providing a great sense of security.

Lin Yi wasn't short, but he was effortlessly lifted.

At this moment, Huo Jihan carried him forward with quick but steady steps.

Lin Yi was shocked and slightly uncomfortable.

This was the first time someone had carried him, especially in such a manner, making him feel like even his breathing was disordered.

Lin Yi felt a bit strange.

But struggling now would be even stranger.

He tried to calm himself, thinking, _Forget it; I've been through worse. It's just being carried; no big deal._

Moreover, being carried by Huo Jihan was indeed much easier than limping along with an injured foot.

Thus, Lin Yi quickly relaxed, leaning comfortably against Huo Jihan, and said, "Mr. Huo, you really are a good person."

Huo Jihan: "..."

His steps paused momentarily before he looked down at Lin Yi, saying calmly, "Don't talk."

Lin Yi was puzzled, "Why?"

There seemed to be a hint of threat in Huo Jihan's otherwise calm voice, "Otherwise, I might let go, and you'll fall again."

Lin Yi: "??"

Who would have thought that Huo Jihan could make such childish threats?

Was this still the Huo Jihan he knew?!