Volume One, Chapter 47: President Huo Has a Taste for Second Chances

Her lack of welcome toward him was written all over her face.

Every time, Huo Mingting would feel his chest tighten, stifled by Ye Sheng's furrowed brows and solemn expression. Even after their divorce, he still hoped they could maintain some semblance of dignity.

But it seemed Ye Sheng had no intention of preserving any such dignity between them.

The workday was over, and the office was nearly empty. Huo Mingting glanced at Mia, who was standing to the side. "Could I trouble you to step out for a moment?"

Mia pursed her lips in annoyance, ignoring him and looking straight at Ye Sheng.

Ye Sheng's brows were cool and aloof; she was truly irritated.

In her opinion, a good ex should vanish from the other's world as if dead, not pop up every so often to assert their existence and disrupt her peaceful life.

But she also knew that someone like Huo Mingting, born to privilege and used to having his way, would never consider the inconvenience caused to others.

"If you have something to say, you can wait until I'm off work."

Ye Sheng tapped the case file in her hand with her pen. "I'm busy now, President Huo. Your eyesight is just fine—you should be able to see that."

Mia lifted her chin in agreement, thinking: Exactly! You're not blind!

Yet Huo Mingting remained patient and good-tempered. "Alright," he said. "I'll wait for you outside, then."

Ye Sheng's frown deepened.

Clearly, he was determined to interfere until he got what he wanted.

She was exasperated, but didn't want to make a scene and become the butt of jokes among her colleagues.

Ye Sheng had always disliked airing her private affairs in public, hated being watched like a performing monkey, and loathed being the subject of idle gossip. Not everyone enjoys being the center of attention; some people simply want to live quietly in their own world.

—

After arranging the next day's work with Mia, Ye Sheng realized that an afternoon meeting had been canceled—otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to take her child to the jiu-jitsu studio.

"Boss, are you really going?" Mia teased. "You're so fierce in a fight, and Li Mo is all skin and bones. If you're not careful, you might snap him in two."

Ye Sheng stretched and chuckled lightly. "Jiu-jitsu isn't just about fighting. I haven't been in ages. I've been neglecting exercise lately—my body feels stiff."

After being massaged so expertly by Huo Lintong last time, Ye Sheng had even thought about finding a massage parlor near home or the hospital, though she doubted any would be as skilled as Professor Huo.

Perhaps there was some mysterious telepathy at work—just as she was thinking of him, her phone rang with his call.

She answered, greeting him, "Lin-ge," and waved Mia off for the day.

"Still at work?" Huo Lintong's voice was gentle.

Ye Sheng cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear as she tidied her desk. "Just finished…"

She had just said these words when she remembered someone might still be waiting outside, and her good mood vanished instantly.

"What's wrong?" Huo Lintong was quick to sense the change. "Is something bothering you?"

Ye Sheng forced a half-smile. "It's nothing serious, just a bit annoying. I'll handle it and head home. Do you need the car? If so, let Wang go ahead. I can just call a cab."

Huo Lintong told her that Wang Liang was already outside waiting, and that they would go out for dinner tonight.

Ye Sheng agreed, hung up, grabbed her bag, and left the office—only to find Huo Mingting still waiting.

When he saw her at last, he looked up, his eyes heavy with emotion, impossible to decipher.

Ye Sheng walked straight toward him, her tone much calmer than before. "President Huo, if you have something to say, just say it."

Huo Mingting gave a faint smile and gestured for her to sit.

"The trending topic blew up so much—I just wanted to come see you. After all, we were married. It's not too much to be concerned about you, is it?"

Separated by a single seat, Ye Sheng met his gaze with cool detachment. She found it strange. When they were truly married, he had shown her little concern—so why did he remember to care three years after their divorce?

Why hadn’t he bothered before?

"President Huo, do you have some kind of special fetish?"

His expression shifted slightly. "What do you mean?"

Ye Sheng analyzed for him, "When we were married, you pined for your ex-girlfriend. Now that we’re divorced and you’ve reconciled with your previous ex, you’re suddenly concerned about your ex-wife? Is it that you just enjoy returning to the past?"

"…"

Huo Mingting could not keep his face from darkening.