"xi wen, i have something on my side and can't tell you anymore. i'll contact you later." on the other side, after fu muyun said this, she cut off the signal without waiting for huo xiwen's response.

the earphones instantly became quiet. huo xiwen stared blankly at the watch in his hand, as if he couldn't react in time.

she believed that fu muyun truly had something urgent to take care of, so she immediately cut off the signal. however, on the surface of her emotions, she felt that she had been cast aside and her heart couldn't accept it.

he took off his headphones, got up from the bed, and went to the bathroom. he took a hot shower to wash away the depression in his heart.

she changed into a soft and comfortable white dress and put her hair that had not been completely dried on her shoulders. she walked to the balcony outside of the room and looked out over the vast expanse of the sea.

the sea breeze blew over, mixed with a hint of salt. the air was moist.

the hair that was scattered behind her was blown up by the wind, forming a sharp contrast with her white dress. the scene was fresh and elegant.

while she was standing on the balcony, gazing blankly at the distant sea, she suddenly heard chen zicheng's voice from downstairs, "hey, xi wen."

looking down, he saw an open-air swimming pool directly beneath the terrace. chen was wearing bathing trunks and was soaking in the swimming pool. he waved at her.

huo xiwen looked at chen zicheng in the water. he would plunge his head into the water, exposing his legs and legs on the outside. he would swim in various poses, and even dance in the water. his appearance was very comical.

he didn't know why, but seeing chen zichen trying so hard to please him and make him laugh like that, huo xiwen suddenly felt a sense of unhappiness in his heart.

of course, she understood what he was thinking about her. looking at him, she felt as if she was looking at herself.

wasn't the current her the same as chen zicheng, expending all her energy in order to obtain mu yun's favor?

could it be that when fu muyun looked at her, she also felt very foolish?

realizing that his state of mind had changed, huo xiwen suddenly felt afraid in his heart.

how could she think that?

she was not like chen zicheng.

she did not love chen, so chen was foolish to do such things.

however, fu muyun did love her, but he had his troubles so she had no choice but to push her away.

she should understand that she should not let her imagination run wild and add any burden to their already difficult relationship.

"xi wen, look …" at this moment, chen suddenly pointed ahead. huo xiwen raised his head and saw a drone flying towards her with a basket hanging from it.

when the drone flew in front of her, she reached for the basket and saw a small, delicate box inside.

lowering his head to look at the pool below, he saw that chen zicheng had already disappeared.

huo xiwen stared blankly at the embroidered box, but didn't dare to open it.

she carried the basket downstairs and was about to go find chen zichen, when she saw that he had already changed into a suit and was walking out of the bedroom.

"chen zichen." she went up to him, called to him, and held out the basket to him. "what does that mean?"

"what do you mean? you'll know when you open it. " chen zichen wore a smile, and a pair of bright and spirited eyes, at this moment, gave him an enchanting look.

huo xiwen shoved the basket into his hands, "i won't look at it, take it back."

hearing that, chen zi chen's eyes darkened, a bitter smile appeared on his face, "are you that afraid of me? "you don't even dare to open this box?"

he took the box out of the basket and opened it. inside the box was a beautiful pink peac.o.c.k chest. the moment huo xiwen saw the chest needle, he let out a sigh of relief.

seeing her relaxed expression, chen zi chen felt a bitter taste in his throat. he then looked at her with a relaxed expression, "you don't think this is a ring, do you?"

didn't huo xiwen think so?

adding on her rejection of him today, she didn't know how many times she had already rejected him.

if it really was a ring, she really didn't know how to reject it.

therefore, she did not even have the courage to open the box.

however, now that she knew that it was not a ring but a brooch, she wasn't that nervous anymore. she only awkwardly smiled and said, "no, i didn't think so."

"really?" chen zi chen didn't seem to believe her words.

"of course not. am i the kind of person who likes to think too much?" huo xiwen denied with confidence, then asked, "but, why are you giving me the brooch when you're perfectly fine?"

"you're not the only one. there's a charity dinner tonight. it's a foundation anniversary dinner that my grandmother set up and named after her. and this peac.o.c.k is the foundation's emblem? this brooch is a souvenir for all the female guests at tonight's dinner. " chen zi chen explained.

when huo xiwen heard his answer, he felt extremely embarra.s.sed in his heart.

as expected, she was too sentimental. she actually thought that the person she had just rejected an hour ago would give her a ring after that.

"now, are you still going to return this to me?" chen zi chen saw the embarra.s.sment on her face and asked.

"since it's a souvenir, then of course i have to keep it." huo xi wen said as he s.n.a.t.c.hed the brooch from his hand.

a smile broke out on chen zicheng's face as he looked at her white dress, then he extended his hand in front of her and said, "let me help you put it on."

huo xiwen looked down at his skirt and asked, "aren't we going to the charity dinner? i'll go upstairs and change into a formal dress. "

"no need, you look good in anything." as he spoke, he took the brooch from her hand and carefully placed it on her left breast, leaning it against her shoulder.

she felt a bit awkward when he helped her secure the brooch. after all, she was not used to the two of them being so close to each other.

however, chen zicheng was the type to pin a brooch on her chest. he didn't make any overstepping movements, and his expression was very magnanimous, making her feel that he was being a little too petty.

after tying the brooch, chen zi chen walked to her side and stood by her side. with his arm slightly bent, he turned around and said, "you don't mind being my partner tonight, do you?"

"of course not." huo xiwen laughed heartily.

"then let's go." the corners of chen zicheng's lips curled up in a smile.

the two of them walked out of the villa, arm in arm.

the sun was already setting outside.

the clouds on the horizon were dyed red, reflecting the sea water. an orange landscape appeared, as if a ball of fire on the sea was burning and spreading …