Chapter 6 — The CEO's Only Antidote

That night, sleep eluded me entirely. In a hazy, restless state, I felt as though I had been transported back five years. Back then, I had just graduated from university and started an internship at the Huo Corporation. Huo Yunting was the quintessential ideal in the eyes of every intern: young, handsome, wealthy, and decisive—a living legend within the company. At first, my feelings were mere admiration, then curiosity, and finally, an overwhelming, uncontrollable infatuation. I kept those emotions buried deep, never daring to reveal a hint of them.

That changed during the year-end party. He had become intoxicated after being forced to drink by a group of unscrupulous business partners. I do not know where I found the courage, but I lunged forward to shield him from their advances. I drank until my senses blurred, and I have no clear recollection of what transpired that night. I only know that when I woke the following morning, I was alone in a hotel bed. My body was covered in intimate, suggestive marks. Terror gripped me, and I fled. Who was Huo Yunting? I was but a lowly, insignificant intern with no voice and no standing. I dared not question him, nor could I ever dream that a man of his stature would take responsibility for me. My only thought was to run—as far away as possible.

Just as I was preparing to resign and disappear, I discovered I was pregnant. The arrival of the child completely upended every plan I had painstakingly arranged. I struggled with myself for a long time, but eventually, the lingering affection I held for Huo Yunting and the desperate desire to protect this perfect little life overcame my reason. I decided to keep the baby. To ensure Huo Yunting never discovered the truth, I concocted a ridiculous excuse about being "allergic to money," resigned in haste, and vanished from his world. I truly believed that we would never cross paths again in this lifetime. Yet, five years later, fate has dragged us both back to the beginning.

"Jiang Shiyu..."

A low, delirious murmur brushed against my ear, pulling me from the tangled web of my memories. I opened my eyes to meet the profound, steady gaze of Huo Yunting. The sky had not yet brightened; the room was swathed in shadows, with only a faint sliver of moonlight filtering through the curtains. He, too, seemed to have been plagued by nightmares, his brows knitted tightly, his forehead glistening with a light sheen of sweat. He held me with a desperate, crushing intensity, as if I were the final lifeline preventing him from drowning.

"Don't go..." he whispered in his sleep. "Don't leave me again..."

My heart felt as though it had been gripped by an invisible hand—a sharp, stinging pain. Could it be that my silent departure five years ago had been a wound for him as well? Driven by an impulse I could not name, I reached out to gently smooth the furrow in his brow. I wanted to tell him that I would not leave again. But the words died on my lips, swallowed back into the silence. Could I truly start over with him without any reservations? I did not know.

The next morning, I awoke to the aroma of breakfast. The space beside me was empty; Huo Yunting was already gone. I sat up to find a brand-new outfit laid out on the nightstand, accompanied by a handwritten note. The handwriting was bold and sweeping, much like the man himself—domineering and unbridled. *[I have prepared your clothes. I am waiting for you downstairs for breakfast. — Your exclusive antidote.]* I looked at that final line, and my face grew warm against my will. This man... he truly never missed a chance to flirt with me.

I slowly left the bed, freshened up, changed, and went downstairs. Huo Yunting was standing in the open kitchen, wearing an apron and frying eggs. The morning sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft, golden halo over his silhouette. He held a spatula in one hand and adjusted the pan with the other, his movements fluid and his posture elegant. The scene was breathtaking, as beautiful as a painting. I stood at the head of the stairs, staring in a daze.

"Awake?" He seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; he knew I had arrived without even turning around.

"Yes." I walked over and watched him slide the perfectly fried eggs onto a plate. Two plates, two impeccable sunny-side-up eggs.

"You know how to cook?" I asked, slightly stunned. In my mind, a CEO of his caliber had surely never even stepped foot in a kitchen.

"I learned it to treat your illness." He untied his apron and set the breakfast on the table. "Taste it and see if it's to your liking."

I sat down, picked up my fork, and cut a small piece. The yolk was perfectly cooked, soft and rich.

"Well?" He looked at me with an expression full of anticipation.

"It's... it's alright," I said, putting up a guarded front. In truth, it was far better than anything I had ever cooked.

"Only 'alright'?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly dissatisfied with the assessment. "I spent the entire night watching cooking tutorials just to master this dish."

My heart gave a soft flutter. A billionaire CEO staying up all night watching videos just to make me breakfast? Who would believe it?

"Mom! Dad!" Two little figures in matching cartoon pajamas ran down the stairs, hand in hand.

"Wow! It smells so good!" Jiang Zimo dashed to the table, his eyes lighting up as he looked at the eggs. "Did you make this, Dad?"

"Yes, go wash your hands and come eat," Huo Yunting said, his voice as sweet as honey as he ruffled the boy's hair.

"Dad is the best!" Zimo hugged him tightly before dragging Huo Zian off to wash up.

Watching this, a wave of warmth washed over me. Perhaps moving here was not such a terrible decision after all. At the very least, the smiles on my children's faces were more frequent than they had ever been before.

"What are you thinking about?" Huo Yunting’s voice pulled me back to reality.

"Nothing." I shook my head.

"Jiang Shiyu," he said suddenly, taking my hand with a serious expression. "I know it isn't easy for you to accept me right away. But I hope you can give me a chance—and in doing so, give yourself a chance. I will prove to you that I can be a good husband and a good father. I will cure your 'allergy,' and I will cure my own illness as well."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with sincerity and unwavering resolve. As if guided by an invisible force, I gave a small nod.

The moment I nodded, Huo Yunting’s eyes ignited like stars flickering to life in the night sky. He squeezed my hand, his lips curving into a smile he could not contain.

"You agree?"

"I only said... we could try," I felt shy under his intense gaze and added in a low voice, "but we have to establish three rules!"

"State them," he said, clearly overjoyed.

"First, no touching or getting handsy in front of the children!" I recalled the kiss from the night before, and my face flushed crimson.

"Agreed." He nodded without hesitation.

"Second, the marriage talk stays off the table! I need time to think about it!"

"Agreed," he nodded again, then added, "though I reserve the right to propose at any time."

I: "..." I suppose that would have to do for now.

"The third rule, and it's the most important one!" I looked at him, speaking each word with gravity. "You are not allowed to interfere with my work or my social life! I have a life of my own!" I did not want to be a canary trapped in a golden cage, tethered to him.

"Of course." Huo Yunting’s gaze deepened. "Not only will I not interfere, I will support you. If you want to continue working, I can help you arrange it. If you want to start your own business, you are free to utilize all the resources of the Huo Corporation."

His words caught me off guard. I had expected him to be like those overbearing CEOs in novels who would simply toss a black card at me, telling me to spend whatever I pleased while expecting me to stay home as a mere ornament.

"I don't need your help," I said stubbornly. "I can take care of myself."

"I know you can." He smiled and stroked my hair. "But I want to help make things a little easier for you."

After breakfast, I prepared to head to work, only to be blocked by Huo Yunting.

"Don't go to work today."

"Why?" I looked at him with suspicion. "Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere with my work?"

"This isn't interference." He pulled a delicate gift box from behind his back. "Today, we have an important engagement."

I opened the box to find a champagne-colored evening gown, knee-length and elegantly minimalist in design. Beside it lay a pair of matching high heels.

"What is this?"

"There is a charity gala tonight. You will be accompanying me."

"Me?" I pointed at myself. "I can't do that; I've never attended such events." The thought of those elite social gatherings alone made my scalp tingle.

"With me by your side, what is there to fear?" He pinched my cheek. "Just think of it as... broadening your horizons. Besides, I have already cleared your leave."

I: "..." If this wasn't interference, then what was? He was a blatant dictator!