Jiang Can paused, straightened up, and didn't know where to put her small hands.
Huo Zhixing sat down next to her, took some breadcrumbs and scattered them among the pigeons, then turned and smiled at her.
"Bad mood?"
Jiang Can lowered his head slightly. How did he know?
"I don't think I've told you about my childhood yet."
Huo Zhixing said in a calm tone, "My parents divorced a long time ago. Although I live with my father, I also have to go to England to visit my mother often."
“My mother has a strong personality and naturally doesn’t allow me to be weak. On the Huo family side, my grandfather is grooming me to be the heir. Everything I do, even the way I eat, drink, and walk, is strictly regulated…”
"Not only that, but they also have to face internal family struggles at any time."
“The more Grandpa values someone, the more likely that person is to become the target of everyone’s criticism.” Huo Zhixing’s lips curled up slightly, his smile carrying a hint of self-deprecating bitterness.
Jiang Can's heart tightened. Back then... he was just a six or seven-year-old boy.
“I spend most of my summer and winter vacations in Manchester. There’s a famous Albert Square there, and when I’m feeling down, I go there alone to feed the pigeons.”
Jiang Can looked at him, and a faint sadness appeared on the man's cold profile.
To outsiders, someone like him, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, might seem to have no understanding of human suffering. But in reality, children who have been hurt by their families of origin share the same misfortune.
Jiang Can silently moved closer to him.
The sunlight cast their shadows on the ground; although they weren't touching, their shadows were perfectly aligned.
"Can Can," he said softly, "if you're having trouble at work, I can..."
"No need." She refused simply and decisively with just two words.
Huo Zhixing frowned slightly.
Jiang Can raised her eyes, her gaze clear as water, and said softly to him, "I know you mean well, but I hope I can solve my own problems."
"Coming to Central City is a completely new beginning for me. I want to see how well I can survive."
His gaze was deep and focused as he said in a deep voice, "With me here, you don't need to be so stubborn."
“It’s not about being tough,” she said softly. “It’s about wanting to have a world of my own.”
“Huo Zhixing, I know I can rely on you, and you are a reliable man.” She looked at him, “but as a woman, you can never lose the ability to earn money.”
Huo Zhixing was somewhat tempted, and reached out to touch her hair. This time, she did not refuse.
His face remained expressionless, but a flower bloomed in his heart in an instant.
"Can Can, I just don't want you to work so hard."
“I have to learn to walk on my own eventually,” she chuckled. “Besides, after hearing what you just said, it seems like the Huo family isn’t easy to deal with…”
"If I can't even withstand this little bit of wind and rain outside, how will I have the confidence to face them in the future?"
Huo Zhixing was taken aback, staring at her for a long while, "What did you say?"
“I said, I’m ready to step into your world.”
Huo Zhixing's heart pounded, and ripples appeared in his deep eyes.
Jiang Can turned her face away, smiling gently as she looked at the white doves in the distance. Sunlight shone on her face and body, and her pure beauty instantly illuminated the gloomy sky in his world.
After a long while, she looked at him, her expression sincere and frank.
"When I found out your true identity, I did intend to leave you. I just wanted to live an ordinary life and didn't want to marry a rich man."
Huo Zhixing nodded. In fact, he had made plans. If she could not accept him, he would give up everything in the Huo family and live an ordinary life with her.
"Then why did you change your mind?" He took the opportunity to move closer to her.
"Because later I found out..." She looked up, her beautiful big eyes fixed on him.
"I can't live without you."
Huo Zhixing's heart trembled violently.
Jiang Can lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes trembled, like the fluttering wings of a butterfly.
“Later I understood,” she said softly, “Identity and name are just labels and symbols of a person. Whether you are rich or poor, whether you are Huo Zhixing or Gu Mang, none of these matter.”
"The important thing is that you haven't changed from beginning to end... and neither have I."
Huo Zhixing looked at her, gently took her hand, and she smiled at him, their fingers intertwining.
"Can Can, you've forgiven me?"
"I haven't blamed you, I just can't accept your change in status right now." She pursed her lips. "But I need some more time... Can you wait for me?"
"Yes! Of course I can!" He was willing to wait for her for a lifetime.
Huo Zhixing held her tightly, as if afraid this was all a dream.
"Can Can, you won't leave me, right?" He asked repeatedly, still worried.
Jiang Can smiled and said, "No."
"No matter what I become, you will never leave me?"
She was taken aback. Why was he asking silly questions again? Just like that time in church!
"Huo Zhixing, didn't you record it all back then? You have the evidence, why are you asking me?"
Huo Zhixing took out his phone and laughed heartily.
But at that moment, the pigeons around them fluttered away as if startled! A strange sound suddenly came from the bushes.
Then came a loud thud—
A person lunged out of the bushes, twisted their ankle, and knelt right in front of the two of them!
Jiang Can was startled, and Huo Zhixing immediately became alert and quickly shielded her behind him!
They were even more surprised when they saw the man's face clearly.
"Bai Jingyuan?"
Young Master Bai rubbed his knees as he got up from the ground, a few leaves still stuck in his hair. He gave the two of them an awkward but polite smile.
"Third Brother... Oh, Sister-in-law, are you two... feeding the pigeons?"
Huo Zhixing's face was frighteningly dark.
Bai Jingyuan smiled awkwardly.
Ye Chen walked over from a distance, sighed deeply, and said helplessly, "Third Brother, Lao Bai called me twenty minutes ago and said that Jiang Can was sitting here alone and seemed to be in a bad mood... I was afraid something might happen to her, so I came to keep an eye on her with him."
"When I got there, I found you were already there. I tried to pull him away, but he insisted on staying and watching..."
"I couldn't stop him!"
"You..." Bai Jingyuan stared wide-eyed, as if you hadn't seen it!
Huo Zhixing didn't want to pay attention to them, so he turned around and held Jiang Can's hand, afraid of frightening her.
However, Jiang Can remained very calm.
She looked at Bai Jingyuan and then at Ye Chen, her big eyes darting around before she suddenly smiled. "I've met Attorney Ye before. He's an aid lawyer who specializes in helping criminals with their cases?"
Ye Chen's expression twisted, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
"As for this young master Bai..." Jiang Can looked at Huo Zhixing playfully, "Could he be your fellow inmate who often borrows money from you?"
"What?!" Bai Jingyuan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
His lifelong reputation... was ruined by Huo Zhixing's few words!
What a terrible thing!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
