Chapter 46: Why does Huo Yan like her? She is useless!

Under Huo Yan’s careful guidance, Xu Yinyin quickly got the hang of it and soon began practicing on the shortest ski slope.

“Ahhh, Yinbao, this is so exciting! At this rate, will I be able to try the long slope today?”

“I think after just three more runs, I’ll be ready to take on the long slope!”

Huo Yan stayed close by her side, coaching her while keeping a watchful eye to prevent any mishaps. The moment he heard her mention the long slope, he frowned in disapproval.

As soon as she reached the bottom of the short slope, he tapped her lightly. “You’re just getting started. Don’t rush into the long slope—focus on building a solid foundation first.”

“No way! We only have two days here. Spending all of it on basics would be such a waste. Just three more times, and then I’ll give the long slope a try, okay?”

Xu Yinyin held up three fingers, her bright eyes full of anticipation as she looked at him.

To keep warm, she wore a fluffy white hat, and after the exercise, her little face was flushed pink. She looked both beautiful and adorably charming. The way she spoke to him so sweetly—this was a rare first.

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

Tl pkxrzu nswzed’v alqwpl.

Fllkdt bkx blpkvyvl, Dw Zkdukd rwpble qwavbla, “Kwpv sdnl! Kwpv sdl vkxl, sjyu?”

Mbkp vkxl, bla caktbv lulp blze y bkdv sq rzlyekdt, yde Tws Zyd’p blyav nsxrzlvlzu psqvldle.

Ekvb y pvlad qynl, bl alzldvle, “Kwpv sdnl.”

“Zyu!” Dw Zkdukd lmnkvlezu tayccle bkp yax. “R jdlo usw olal vbl clpv! Mbydj usw, Yypvla!”

Tws Zyd nbwnjzle kd lmyprlayvksd. Ebld pbl oyp byrru, bl oyp “vbl clpv,” cwv obld pbl oyp wrplv, bl clnyxl “Tws vbl Pst.” Mnb!

Gqvla xyjkdt pwal pbl nsxrzlvle bla vball raynvknl awdp, Tws Zyd vssj bla wr vbl nyczl nya vs vbl zsdt pzsrl.

Dw Zkdukd’p lmnkvlxldv ekxxle vbl xsxldv pbl pyo vbl pllxkdtzu ldezlpp pzsrl pvalvnbkdt swv clqsal bla.

“Uh… I thought the long slope would just be slightly longer than the short one, with a few extra turns. But this—this is like a never-ending rollercoaster of twists and turns!”

“Maybe… we should head back?” The system cautiously suggested.

“No way, that would be so embarrassing! Huo the Dog is probably waiting for me to chicken out! No wonder he agreed so easily—figures!”

An innocent Huo Yan: “…”

So I’m just the scapegoat, huh? :）

Used to this kind of treatment, Huo Yan decided to let it slide.

“I’ll lead the way, and you follow behind me. Sound good?” He looked down at her, his voice gentle.

Xu Yinyin was puzzled. “Huh? He’s acting weird today. Why does he seem so… considerate?”

“Yinbao, he’s always been nice to you. You just never paid attention.” The system commented fairly.

“Really?”

Xu Yinyin raised an eyebrow at him but decided not to dwell on the confusing thought. Instead, she cheerfully agreed, “Okay!”

Huo Yan went over the safety precautions once again, checking her gear to ensure everything was secure before saying, “Remember, if you feel uncomfortable or want to stop, do it immediately.”

“Mhm.” Xu Yinyin nodded obediently.

Seeing her so well-behaved, Huo Yan reached out to adjust her hat, taking the opportunity to ruffle her hair. “Your hat was crooked.”

“Thanks! Let’s get started.”

Huo Yan put on his goggles and slowly started gliding forward. Xu Yinyin followed closely behind, imitating his movements step by step.

At first, since the slope wasn’t too steep, she found it easy to keep up. Watching Huo Yan move so effortlessly, his figure sleek and agile like a snake in motion, she felt a mix of admiration and jealousy. She was determined that with a bit more practice, she would reach his level someday.

But as the slope became steeper and more winding, their speed increased under the force of inertia. Xu Yinyin gradually began to struggle.

If it weren’t for Huo Yan’s experienced maneuvering, she would have veered off course multiple times. She narrowly avoided several drooping branches, and soon, she started feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

“Wuwu~ I regret this. I shouldn’t have been so reckless—I’m running out of strength.”

“Yinbao, if you can’t keep going, stop. Don’t push yourself.”

“Okay.”

Just as Xu Yinyin said this, a small pile of snow suddenly fell ahead of her. Moving too fast to see clearly, she instinctively dodged to the side. But in her haste, her foot caught on a protruding rock.

Still reeling from the snowfall, she lost her balance and tumbled sideways, her body rolling uncontrollably down the slope.

“Ah—!”

A short, sharp scream was followed by the muffled sound of her body pressing into the snow.

Just five meters away, a section of the wooden fence along the ski trail was missing a plank.

The metal wires that had once held the plank in place were now exposed, jutting out like the sharp claws of a monster, waiting silently to pierce Xu Yinyin’s flesh as she rolled toward them.

The system was the first to realize the danger and shouted urgently: “Oh no! There are metal wires ahead! Yinbao, try to shift your body to the right to avoid them!”

But with the combined forces of inertia and high speed, Xu Yinyin had long lost control of her body. Even knowing the danger, she had no way to evade it.

In desperation, she curled up as much as possible, protecting her head and neck—her most vital areas. Even if she was bound to get injured, she could at least avoid a fatal wound.

Just as her body was about to crash straight into the claw-like metal wires, Huo Yan arrived in time. He pulled her into his arms, rolling sideways to steer them away from the danger.

Luckily, there was a flat, open area nearby—an emergency rescue path designed for situations like this.

After tumbling for a few more seconds, they finally came to a stop. Huo Yan lay flat on his back, arms wrapped around Xu Yinyin, while she trembled in his embrace.

“Wuwuwu, we’re safe! Long live the CEO hero!” The system cheered, still shaken.

If she had really hit those wires, the host would’ve been done for. It had been terrified.

Xu Yinyin had thought she was doomed. She never expected Huo Yan to arrive just in time and save her.

She sat up from his arms, her expression filled with worry and guilt. “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have been so reckless.”

Huo Yan looked down at the tiny, remorseful figure in his arms and asked gently, “Are you hurt anywhere?”

Xu Yinyin shook her head. “No, I’m fine… just really scared.”

Huo Yan let out a helpless chuckle. “As long as you’re okay. It’s my fault for not controlling the speed properly. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have overestimated myself. I’m really sorry.”

Huo Yan lifted a hand with some difficulty and ruffled her hair. “Challenging yourself isn’t the same as being reckless.”
Xu Yinyin pushed herself up using his waist and abdomen, but the moment she did, Huo Yan let out a sharp hiss of pain. She was about to ask what was wrong when she suddenly noticed something sticky on her fingers.

Lowering her gaze, she froze—there was blood.

Panicked, she turned to look at his side and saw a thumb-thick, broken branch embedded in his flank. A patch of his black ski jacket was already soaked red.

“You’re hurt!” Xu Yinyin’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. She fumbled to take out her phone. “I—I’m calling emergency services!”

Her hands shook as she pulled off her gloves and reached into her pocket for her phone.

If something really happened to Huo Yan because of her, she would never forgive herself.

“Wuwu, it’s my fault. I made him get hurt.”

Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision.

Huo Yan took her trembling hands in his and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t be scared. It didn’t hit anything vital. The ski resort has a professional medical team, and every set of gear has a built-in tracker. They’ll be here soon. Don’t worry.”

But how could Xu Yinyin believe him? His face was already paler than before, even his lips had lost their color.

Suppressing the panic in her heart, she quickly dialed the emergency number—one that Huo Yan had made her memorize by heart. She relayed his condition to the rescue team and followed their instructions to apply basic first aid before hanging up.

“Huo Yan, you better not die! If anything happens to you, I’ll never be at peace for the rest of my life.”

Her voice was choked with sobs, her eyes darting anxiously between his face and his wound, full of guilt.

“I once got stuck in a rock crevice while skiing and wasn’t rescued for 48 hours. And I still came out fine. This little injury is nothing—don’t overthink it.” Huo Yan reached up and gently patted her head, his eyes full of warmth.

Since she was being so obedient for once, he figured he might as well play along and act a little weaker.

“Then promise me you won’t do any more dangerous sports. What if you weren’t rescued in time? You have so much money—dying like that would be such a waste. Living is more important than anything else, got it?”

Huo Yan chuckled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Xu Yinyin blinked, slightly stunned. “I—I was just saying it out of concern, nothing else. Don’t read too much into it, okay?”

“Mm, okay.” Huo Yan’s voice remained gentle.

She snuck a glance at him and suddenly felt flustered when she met his amused gaze.

Quickly shifting her eyes to the sky, she muttered, “Why isn’t the rescue team here yet? When I get back, I’m filing a complaint about their slow response.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the loud whir of helicopter blades filled the air.

Xu Yinyin’s expression froze. Meanwhile, Huo Yan let out a weak chuckle, and her ears immediately turned red.

A red helicopter circled above them, confirmed their location, and swiftly descended. The medical team rushed over with a stretcher, working quickly to get Huo Yan aboard.

Xu Yinyin climbed into the helicopter with him, and they flew straight to a hospital in the city.

As soon as Huo Yan entered the operating room, three more people arrived.

They didn’t ask Xu Yinyin any questions. Instead, they went straight to the medical staff to get an update. Once they confirmed he wasn’t in any critical danger, they turned to her, taking turns to comfort her.

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law. Brother Yan has thick skin—nothing can hurt him.”

“Yes, yes, yes, Brother Yan is a veteran extreme sports enthusiast. This kind of injury is really nothing.”

“The doctor said it’s not a serious injury. After the surgery, he’ll just need three days of rest before he can move around freely.”

“Oh.” Xu Yinyin responded sullenly.

Right now, she felt both guilty and uneasy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Huo Yan was acting very differently today.

She wasn’t stupid—she knew why Huo Yan did what he did, she knew why his gaze toward her was so gentle, and she understood what this self-sacrificing act really meant.

But why on earth would Huo Yan like her? She was pretty useless!

“Um…” Xu Yinyin hesitated, looking at the three men.

“Sis-in-law, just say whatever you want.” He Yang immediately chimed in.

“Can we not tell Ah Yan’s family about this for now? Let’s wait until he recovers before we go back.”

“Of course we can’t tell them. We’ll just say we decided to stay and play for another week. Anyway, we’ve got nothing else going on, and Brother Yan is technically on vacation, so it’s fine.”

“Thank you, guys.” Xu Yinyin sincerely expressed her gratitude.

“Sis-in-law, no need to be so formal!”

Ji Kai then suggested, “Do you want to go back and rest first? We can stay here with Brother Yan.”

Xu Yinyin shook her head. “It’s okay. I want to wait until he comes out. I wouldn’t be able to relax if I left now.”

“Alright, then we’ll wait together.”

The three men sat down on a nearby bench and started chatting in their group chat.

“I can tell just by looking at how guilty sis-in-law feels—Brother Yan must have gotten hurt because of her, right?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Wait a second, knowing Brother Yan’s devious capitalist nature, could this have been a self-inflicted ‘suffering’ strategy?”

“Oh, that actually makes more sense!”

“I think it is a suffering strategy. Look how upset sis-in-law is. Whether it’s guilt or something else, the fact that she cares means she has feelings, right?”

“Exactly! So just now, Little Xun really shouldn’t have suggested that sis-in-law leave. If Brother Yan finds out you almost ruined his plan, you’re dead meat!”

“Oops, my bad! I underestimated Brother Yan. He never does anything without a return on investment. Saving her was real, getting hurt was real, but his intentions? Well, that’s another story.”

“Who cares? If both parties are willing, let them be. Brother Yan is really serious this time. He’s pulling out all the stops, isn’t he?”

“Tsk tsk tsk, I never thought I’d see the day when Brother Yan, the untouchable monk, actually falls for someone. Incredible!”

“I’m staying until the end. I want to witness the great iron tree finally sprout a humble little bud of love.”

“Just imagining Brother Yan playing the ‘wounded hero’ to win her affection is giving me chills. This is gold.”

“Best case scenario? We get to record his shameless love confession and use it as blackmail. Finally, we get our revenge.”

Half an hour later, Huo Yan came out of the operating room.
After the doctor explained the post-op care instructions, the group accompanied him back to his hospital room.

Xu Yinyin stood by the hospital bed with her back to Huo Yan and spoke, “Since Ah Yan is out of danger, I’ll stay here tonight. You guys can come back tomorrow.”

He Yang was just about to respond when he noticed that the man on the hospital bed had already woken up. Huo Yan was staring at him with dangerously narrowed eyes.

He Yang instantly corrected himself, “Alright then, sis-in-law, we’ll leave him in your care. We’ll head out now.”

The other two quickly caught on. They took one glance at Huo Yan, exchanged looks, and immediately bailed. Forget about the recording or witnessing history—staying alive was more important!

After sending them off, Xu Yinyin returned to the hospital room and sat down in the caretaker’s chair. She looked at the man sleeping on the hospital bed, her face filled with worry.

His complexion had returned to normal, and his lips had regained some color, but he still looked a bit fatigued.

Gazing at his handsome face up close, Xu Yinyin once again felt puzzled.

“Xiao Qi, tell me, what does he even like about me? Is saving my life really worth it?”

Huo Yan was delighted—finally, she was beginning to recognize his feelings. This injury was so worth it.

“There’s no logic to love. Maybe he just likes that you’re lazy, gluttonous, useless, and unmotivated. You have exactly what he’s lacking.”

Xu Yinyin twitched at the bluntness. “Did you have to put it that harshly?!”

“Hehe, in all seriousness, you are an amazing person. You just don’t realize it. Given a comfortable environment, you live freely without unnecessary ambition or competition. You like watching dramas and gossiping, and even when you attend high-society gatherings, it’s just out of curiosity rather than greed. If you had to indulge in luxury every day, you’d find it boring. In short, you’re easy to take care of.”

“Before becoming a rich young lady, I grew up poor. At first, of course, I indulged in everything I couldn’t have before. But after experiencing it all, life naturally returns to normal. As long as I have food, clothes, and no financial worries, I can live freely. I can travel whenever I want, but I can also be content staying in one place. Life is short—I just want to live as I please. If my partner is career-driven, that’s even better! He can focus on making money while I focus on being beautiful. A perfect couch-potato life.”

“Well, haven’t you already achieved that? The guy lying in that hospital bed is exactly that person. You two were arranged to be together by your families, so getting married is the logical next step, right? Most importantly, he really likes you. And honestly, haven’t your feelings toward him changed too?”

Hearing this, Xu Yinyin immediately tried to dodge the topic.

“How could he possibly like me? He only saved me because of Grandma Yan and Grandpa. If something happened to me under his watch, he wouldn’t be able to explain it to them. If it had been someone else, he would’ve done the same. You’re reading too much into it.”

The system sighed helplessly. “You just keep lying to yourself…”

Meanwhile, the skies inside Huo Yan’s heart, which had just cleared up, instantly clouded over again. It seemed like he’d have to up his game—if he didn’t act more aggressively, this little fox would just keep running.

Not wanting to continue the conversation, Xu Yinyin pretended to be sleepy and leaned against the bed, closing her eyes.

Feeling the soft sensation of something resting against his hand, Huo Yan cautiously cracked open one eye. Seeing her dozing off next to his bed, he boldly opened both eyes and stared at her.

This little heartless girl…

When she’s asleep, she looks much more endearing than when she’s being sharp-tongued—too bad her stubbornness rivals his.

From the way she had looked so guilty and worried at the ski resort, he didn’t believe for a second that she was as heartless as she claimed. There was no way she felt nothing for him.

Xu Yinyin was truly exhausted. She had spent hours going wild at the ski resort, then experienced the shock of an accident and Huo Yan’s injury—she was drained.

Now that she was finally able to relax, drowsiness washed over her. Within minutes, her breathing evened out as she drifted into deep sleep.

Huo Yan listened to her steady breathing, confirming that she was asleep before he lifted his hand, gently smoothing her soft hair. His gaze landed on her face, and he brushed aside a few stray strands, tucking them behind her ear.

She seemed to feel a ticklish sensation in her sleep, furrowing her brows and letting out a soft hum, almost like a spoiled child.

Huo Yan stiffened, momentarily startled. When she showed no signs of waking up, he cautiously traced his knuckles across her cheek. Seeing that she remained still, he grew bolder, giving her face a light squeeze.

This little heartless thing… why are you so frustrating? Hmm?

He let out a helpless chuckle, withdrew his hand, and placed it behind his head, gradually falling asleep himself. Yet even in his dreams, his hand instinctively sought hers, clasping it tightly.

And just like that, they slept hand in hand until the city lights lit up the night.

*

Xu Yinyin woke up from hunger. The moment she opened her eyes, she remembered she was supposed to be taking care of a patient. She shot upright and turned toward Huo Yan.

“Awake?” Huo Yan was working on his laptop, amused by her sudden movement. “Why the rush? Did you have a nightmare?”

Still dazed, she rubbed her sleepy eyes and admitted honestly, “I’m hungry.”

Huo Yan blinked, then chuckled and gestured toward the food cart beside him. “There’s food over there. It should still be warm.”

Xu Yinyin glanced at the time—nearly 8 PM. She had slept for four whole hours.

“Really, Xu Yinyin? You’re here to take care of a patient, not to take a vacation!”

Huo Yan stole a glance at her, catching the mix of embarrassment and frustration on her face. Just then, his stomach grumbled loudly.

Huo Yan VS. Xu Yinyin: “….”

“Well, this just got awkward.”

“Sorry, I overslept.” Xu Yinyin quickly got up and walked toward the food cart.

After checking that the food was still warm, she returned to his bedside and pointed at his laptop. “How about eating first and working later?”

“Alright.” Huo Yan began tidying up, but she stopped him.

“You’re the patient. Let me do it.”

She swiftly cleared the table and set out the warm dishes, grabbing a small plate and chopsticks. Then she picked up a bite and moved to feed him.

“I can use my hands. They’re not injured,” Huo Yan said, feeling a little uncomfortable.

“If you don’t let me feed you, that means you’re blaming me.” She was firm. “Open your mouth.”

Seeing her stance, Huo Yan had no choice but to comply. He lowered his gaze to the plain boiled greens she held up. “Can I skip the veggies? They taste weird.”

“No, you’re recovering. If you want tastier food, I’ll cook for you once you’re better.”

Huo Yan’s brows lifted slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. “Really?”

“Consider it my way of thanking you for saving my life.”

“Deal.”

Without hesitation, Huo Yan ate the entire stalk of greens—surprisingly, they didn’t taste that bad.

Seeing him behave so obediently for once, Xu Yinyin found him quite agreeable when he wasn’t being picky.

Meanwhile, the system was internally squealing at their interaction. “Ahhh! She’s feeding him! A kiss can’t be far off now!”

*

After the meal, Huo Yan said, “I want to be discharged tomorrow.”

“No way. I already told He Yang and the others that we’ll wait until you fully recover before returning. How are you going to sit on a plane in your condition? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

Xu Yinyin assumed he was rushing back because of her, making her feel even more guilty.

“It’s really not a big deal. I’ve been through—”

“I don’t care what you’ve been through before. This time, you got injured because of me. I have a responsibility to take care of you until you’re fully healed.”

“So it’s just a responsibility?” Huo Yan tested the waters, unable to hide his yearning.

Xu Yinyin hesitated for a moment, furrowing her delicate brows. “What else would it be? What more do you want?”

A trace of disappointment flickered in Huo Yan’s eyes. He shook his head and said nothing more.

Xu Yinyin bit her lip, slightly frustrated, then said coldly, “Get some rest. I’m going out for some air.”

After watching her leave, Huo Yan leaned back against the pillow, looking defeated.

How could he move her heart? Just getting injured clearly wasn’t enough.

*

Xu Yinyin all but fled to the hospital’s back garden, leaning against a chair as she stared blankly at the ink-blue sky. Huo Yan’s disappointed expression lingered in her mind.

Seeing such frustration on him felt oddly out of place… and strangely heartbreaking.

“Ugh. Why does he even like me? It’s not like he’s lacking in women.”

“Babe, what are you struggling with? You obviously like him too. Why is it so hard to accept his feelings?” the system asked, puzzled.

“Because it doesn’t feel realistic. He’s so outstanding, and I’m nothing compared to him. The difference in our status and abilities means it won’t last. Instead of ending up as strangers, isn’t it better to just keep our distance from the start?”

“But don’t you think it’s precisely because of those differences that people feel drawn to each other? Humans are always chasing what they lack—whether it’s wealth, character, or perspective. If everyone only looked for equals, wouldn’t that be boring? Being with someone too similar won’t spark any real chemistry.”

Xu Yinyin had no rebuttal.

She had always imagined love as something between equals—if she was lazy, her partner should be lazy too; if she was aimless, so should they be. There wouldn’t be fights about ambition or disagreements over work ethics. They would simply enjoy life together, facing hardships side by side.

But with Huo Yan… that kind of balance seemed impossible.

But Huo Yan’s personality was clearly the opposite of hers. She didn’t want him to become a failure for her sake, nor did she want to force herself to be ambitious just to keep up with him.

In the heat of love, the effort one puts in can be easily overlooked. But as time passes and feelings fade, all that remains are endless arguments and rehashing past grievances—exhausting and unbearable. Why go through that?

---

Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5⭐ review. (人❛ᴗ❛)♪тнайк　чоц♪(❛ᴗ❛*人)

You can also check out my other translations Here