CHAPTER 396: CHAPTER 396; HONEYMOON PHASE 1(A)

Huo Ting Cheng simply squeezed her hand, his gaze fixed ahead. "You’ll see."

Soon, the imposing silhouette of the Huo Conglomerate headquarters towered above them, a monolith of glass and steel against the twilight sky. The car didn’t descend into the underground parking, but instead pulled into the private, secured entrance reserved for the executive leadership.

Huo Qi was out of the car in an instant, opening Huo Ting Cheng’s door before moving to open Tang Fei’s. Huo Ting Cheng emerged, his posture straight and commanding as he offered his hand to his wife.

"After you," he said, his tone leaving no room for further questions.

They swept through the grand, eerily quiet lobby. The only sounds were the click of Tang Fei’s heels and the soft, synchronized footsteps of their security detail on the polished marble floor. The night security team stood at attention, offering silent, respectful nods as the small procession passed.

Huo Ting Cheng led her directly to a set of brushed steel doors she knew well, his private elevator. He pressed his palm against the biometric scanner. A soft beep and a green light granted them access. The doors slid open soundlessly.

"After you," he repeated, his hand a gentle pressure on the small of her back.

Tang Fei stepped inside the spacious, minimalist elevator. Instead of the panel of buttons for various floors, there was only one other control: a keyhole and a single, unmarked button above it. Huo Ting Cheng produced a small, sleek key from his inner suit pocket, inserted it, and turned. Then, he pressed the solitary button.

The elevator didn’t just ascend; it surged upward with a powerful, silent momentum that pressed them slightly into the floor. The digital display above the door didn’t show floor numbers, but a rapidly increasing altitude meter.

The elevator began to slow its rapid climb then it came to a smooth halt. The doors slid open, not onto a corridor, but directly into the cool, open air of the night.

They were on the rooftop helipad, the highest point in the city.

The rooftop helipad of Huo Conglomerate shone under the soft evening lights. The black helicopter waited in the center, its surface reflecting the city skyline and the faint glow of the moon above. The sound of its spinning blades mixed with the cool night wind.

Huo Ting Cheng placed a hand on Tang Fei’s back as they walked toward the chopper. The wind brushed through her hair and lifted her scarf slightly. Below them, the city stretched wide, its roads lit with moving cars and buildings glowing against the night, but up here, everything felt distant and quiet.

No wonder they say, the best view is from the top, but at the top, uta cold and lonely. Now, she could understand why!

From the time she had woken, she actually hadn’t seen any close friend of Huo Ting Cheng apart from the guards around them and Secretary Li; it felt like these were the only friends.

"The estimated flight time: is thirty minutes," Huo Qi reported, his tablet in hand. " Weather is stable and no air traffic along the route around this time."

Huo Ting Cheng nodded understanding, "You’ll take the second chopper?"

"Yes, Sixth Master... Huo Wu and Huo Zhen are with me," Huo Qi said, looking toward the aircraft as the crew secured their few shopping bags they had just shopped.

Huo Ting Cheng turned to Tang Fei. "Ready?"

She lightly nodded. He helped her into the helicopter, his hand steady on hers. Inside, the cabin smelled faintly of leather and metal. The soft interior lights cast a warm glow over the seats. As the doors closed, the engines grew louder, and the helicopter lifted off the pad.

The city lights spread out beneath them like a field of stars. Tang Fei leaned slightly toward the window, watching the lights fade as they rose higher. Huo Ting Cheng sat beside her, his arm resting behind her seat, quiet and composed.

Neither of them spoke. The silence between them felt calm, and not distant.

After a while, the dark sea came into view below, smooth and endless, reflecting streaks of moonlight. Tang Fei’s shoulders relaxed as she looked down at the faint glimmer of the waves.

He had told her he was taking her somewhere, but didn’t say where exactly and what they were going to do, but with whatever happened yesterday, she felt like she needed this.

"We’re almost there," Huo Ting Cheng notified her, his voice low, softened by the steady hum of the blades.

"Mnnh..." She softly hummed gazing at the view.

The helicopter began to descend as the coastline appeared, a villa resting near the cliff, facing the wide open sea. Its lights glowed warmly through the dark, surrounded by tall palms swaying in the breeze.

"The landing area is clear," Huo Qi’s voice came through the headset.

The helicopter touched down smoothly on the private pad beside the villa.

When the door opened, a cool sea breeze rushed in, carrying the scent of salt and night air.

Huo Ting Cheng stepped out first, then turned and offered his hand to Tang Fei.

She took it without hesitation.

His hand was warm against the night chill.

"Welcome, Sixth Master, Madam," Huo Yu greeted as he approached, bowing respectfully. "Everything is ready. The villa is completely private and secured. No one will disturb your time here."

"Good," Huo Ting Cheng said, his voice steady.

He glanced at Tang Fei. "Let’s go."

They walked along a short stone path toward the villa.

The sound of the waves below was soft and constant, blending with the rustle of the palm trees.

Behind them, Huo Yu gave orders to the security team. "We’ll stay in the adjacent villa and maintain watch perimeter."

The main villa was open and airy, its warm lights spilling across smooth marble floors.

White curtains swayed gently by the balcony, and the wide glass windows framed the dark ocean beyond, where moonlight danced on the water’s surface.