Che Huan nodded, recalling her previous intention, and pulled out her cell phone from her bag, placing it on the coffee table, "I’ve already retrieved the card, the screen was shattered, but I’ve replaced it with an original screen."

Huo Jinnan picked up the phone, glanced at it, set it aside, and reached out to hold her hand.

Che Huan tugged hard but failed to pull her hand back. Her breathing suddenly tightened, and she looked up in Huo Jinnan’s direction.

Huo Jinnan stood up, walked over to Che Huan, bent down to gaze at her intently, and raised his hand to caress her cheek.

Che Huan sat there, her heartbeat chaotically racing uncontrollably.

Huo Jinnan clasped her wrist and held it together.

Che Huan, "Mr. Huo!"

Huo Jinnan’s eyes were deep and dark as they roamed over her face.

Che Huan’s eyes widened as she looked at Huo Jinnan, momentarily speechless, her heart beating very, very fast.

After a prolonged standoff, Huo Jinnan’s slender fingers brushed her hair, tucked it behind her ear, and he slowly said, "Don’t let people bully you in the future, call me if there’s anything."

He took the phone and casually placed it back in Che Huan’s bag.

Che Huan sat there, stupefied like a statue, staring blankly at Huo Jinnan, before her stood his face, chiseled like a deity, and in her ears was his voice, deep and seductive, as if something in her chest was fermenting and swelling little by little!

Huo Jinnan’s fingertips slid across her cheek, and his thumb, carrying the scent of tobacco, lightly brushed past the corner of her eye, "Did you hear me?"

For some reason, there was an illusion of being cherished!

Che Huan’s face heated up, she hastily moved aside, turned her head away, took a deep breath, and found herself unable to speak!

Stay rational!

Che Huan, be more rational!

A man like him would never lack women; if he wanted, there would surely be thousands of women throwing themselves at him.

Why did he treat her like that? Why did he care about her? She couldn’t understand!

In her confusion, she suddenly remembered the knot she had always twisted in her heart, and looking toward him, she couldn’t help asking, "Five years ago, in the corridor of the Gu Family, was it... was it the commander I met?"

Huo Jinnan responded with a deep "Hmm."

Che Huan stiffened abruptly, staring at him, her eyes wide!

Was it really him that day five years ago? It was indeed him!

Huo Jinnan’s long fingers cradled her cheek, "Do we need to go over it again?"

After a long look at him, Che Huan painfully bit out three words, "No need!"

She looked at Huo Jinnan, feeling breathless throughout her entire body.

Although she had guessed it might be him, receiving confirmation felt like a totally different sensation!

Thinking of the child she had lost, her heart ached in a tight, prickling pain, and she stood up stiffly, heading toward the door.

Huo Jinnan’s gaze lifted towards her, his eyes as dark as ink.

Che Huan pulled at the door, but couldn’t open it.

Huo Jinnan stood up, went to the door, and unlocked it with his fingerprint.

Che Huan was about to leave through the door when Huo Jinnan suddenly seized her wrist and pulled her entire body into his embrace.

Che Huan couldn’t struggle free. Thinking of the nightmare, thinking of the suffering she had endured over the years, thinking of her innocent child that was no more, a torrent of emotions and grievances mixed together, welling up in her chest, and she landed a slap across his face.

With a "smack," she stood there stunned. He hadn’t dodged!

Huo Jinnan stood still, frowning, quietly watching Che Huan.

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