Chapter 192: Chapter 84: Prima Donna of the 1960s Art Troupe (23)

Xia Zhaoyun nodded firmly. "They definitely will. Just the fact that I’ve taken over the house Tong Yuxiang schemed to get is enough to make a lot of people gather for the drama. Not to mention Director Huo and Director Tong, plus all your half-siblings, have been using your status as a martyr’s family to gain who knows how many benefits, both openly and secretly."

"For you to now stand before them, alive and well, and force them to spit out everything they’ve swallowed... that’s truly ruthless!"

Huo Tianhao couldn’t help but laugh. After moving a little closer and hiding his own cautiousness, he made a very sincere invitation:

"So, Xiaxia, are you willing to put on a show with me?"

"For your payment, how about the house you’re currently living in at the factory, and my protection for the rest of your life?"

Xia Zhaoyun’s head snapped up. She looked at him, her lips pressed tightly together. "Brother Hao, a lifetime is a long time. Can you make such a promise so easily?"

Huo Tianhao chuckled lightly and said, "I’ll do everything in my power to protect you. But I’m only human, so I can’t possibly be perfect in every situation. You’ll have to put in some effort too."

"With a clever tongue like yours, Xiaxia, I’m sure you’re not some hopeless case, are you?"

Xia Zhaoyun was extremely wary of people.

’She could accept the two children because of their connection in her past life. That’s why she was willing to try and make an effort—to change their tragic fate and, at the same time, keep herself from being too lonely.’

’She could be close with He Qingran because He Qingran was one of the few people from her past life who had brought her warmth and help.’

’But what about him?’

’He was the type of male creature she detested most, yet he was also the very person who had been her protector these last few days, ever since she regained the memories of her past life.’

’Even though he had also told a colossal lie, Xia Zhaoyun still couldn’t lump him in with other men.’

’She realized that with Huo Tianhao, a man she had met less than a handful of times, she felt an inexplicable sense of ease and security—just like the feeling she got when she used to silently repeat his name to herself.’

’Perhaps it was just too easy to develop a good impression of a man who had been a soldier, who had set aside personal grudges to fearlessly protect the factory’s supplies, and who was hailed by all as a hero.’

’She was no exception!’

Xia Zhaoyun clenched her fists, her porcelain-white teeth biting down hard on her lip. ’But it’s so hard for me to take this step.’

Memories of the losses she had suffered in her past life couldn’t help but surface in her mind.

Huo Tianhao hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently pried her lips apart. Seeing the beads of blood welling on her lip, his face darkened. "If you don’t want to, it’s not like I can force you, can I?"

"I thought you were a smart girl. Why are you doing something so self-destructive?"

As he spoke, he stood up, washed a handkerchief, rinsed it with hot water, and began to gently dab her lip.

"No one in this world owes you anything. No one is obligated to take care of you for your entire life—not even your own parents or your future spouse. If you don’t even know how to cherish and protect yourself, how can you expect anyone else to?"

"Don’t be so foolish in the future. You have such a pretty face. If it gets scarred, won’t you cry your eyes out when you look in the mirror later?"

Xia Zhaoyun turned her head to avoid his touch. The sting in her palm was no less sharp than the pain on her lip. She realized she must have dug her nails into her skin without noticing.

She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. "But people are social creatures. How could we truly not care what others think?"

"Brother Hao, I agree to help you with your show."

"I don’t want your house, either. And from now on, don’t talk about protecting someone for a lifetime. It makes the promise sound cheap."

"I’m going to go see if the children are awake."

She stood up and started walking toward the bedroom.

Huo Tianhao leaned back on the sofa, his expression unreadable. But then his eyes flickered to her palm and saw the red marks. His face instantly darkened, and he reached out, pulling her back.

Caught off guard, Xia Zhaoyun fell right onto his lap, her hands instinctively flying up to wrap around his neck.

While she was still stunned and frozen, the man quite naturally pulled her arms down, lowered his head to unfold her hand, and began to gently wipe her palm with the handkerchief.

For a moment, Xia Zhaoyun didn’t dare to make a sound, a deep blush spreading across her pale, delicate face.

"This is the first time in my twenty-four years I’ve made a promise to a woman, not even to my own mother." He sighed, shot her an exasperated look, and said, "And yet, when it comes to you, it suddenly becomes a cheap, empty phrase?"

"Does my actual presence give you less security than my name alone?"

"You don’t want anything from me, yet you agree to be in this show. In that case, Comrade Xia Zhaoyun, have you thought about how the show is supposed to end?"

Xia Zhaoyun lowered her head, completely at a loss. She tried to struggle off his lap.

But the man’s arm was strong. He wrapped it directly around her waist and said in a low, menacing voice, "Don’t move. Or do you want me to take you right here?"

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