Chapter 586: Chapter 586: Did Qiao Xi Hear Those Words?

Xie Xubai spoke slowly, “To like someone, as long as you haven’t hurt others, there’s nothing wrong.”

Huo Sijiao looked at him.

Enveloped in the moonlight.

The man was tall and straight, suddenly a bit dazzling.

She suddenly thought of the poems and verses she had read in school.

Stalwart as jade, standing upright as pines.

When thinking of a gentleman, his warmth is like jade. In his simple abode, he disrupts… my heart’s tune.

Huo Sijiao’s voice was very soft: “Thank you.”

The discomfort in her heart eased a bit with his words. Shen Xuanzhi’s disdain was the greatest defeat in her twenty-three years of life.

It nearly made it impossible for her to face herself, giving rise to self-doubt.

She slowly walked into the villa.

“Eh!”

Behind her, Ning Yuan made a grossly flattering noise, “Xie Xubai, are you possessed by a ghost? You’re really not yourself. How could you, as emotionless and desireless as a bodhisattva in a temple, take a girl home?”

“Don’t shout, it disturbs the peace.”

Xie Xubai glanced at him, “Go home.”

…

The Huo Family’s garden villa.

Everyone but Huo Xingzhou was present in the living room.

Sun Weimeng’s eyes were shining, exuding an aura of gossip.

As soon as Huo Sijiao entered, Qiao Xi approached and supported her. She had wanted to go outside when she heard the car, but Sun Weimeng had stopped her, saying not to be a third wheel.

“What’s wrong with your foot?”

“I twisted it accidentally.”

“Sit down on the sofa, I will find some medicated liquor to rub it for you.”

“Young Madam, I’ll go get the medicated liquor.” Xiaoyun said eagerly, “I can handle a sprain as well, and later you can see if my technique is correct. I might learn a few tricks from you.”

As she said that, she went to find the medicated liquor.

With one hand propping his chin, Sun Weimeng eyed Huo Sijiao: “Why didn’t you invite him in to sit for a cup of coffee?”

Huo Sijiao glanced at him sideways, speaking without reservation: “Are you sick? Who drinks coffee late at night.”

“Oh!”

Sun Weimeng smiled ambiguously, “What’s going on, Huo Sijiao? I heard it’s the first time the Xie Family’s eldest’s girlfriend pays a visit.”

Qiao Xi’s lips curled in a smile but she didn’t join the conversation.

“Nonsense! Sister-in-law, don’t listen to his drivel, Xie Xubai and I can’t even count as ordinary friends. It’s purely because I drank a bit last night and did something foolish. Today I came to apologize and clarify. I didn’t expect his family to care so much about his marriage.”

Huo Sijiao was grinding her teeth, extremely annoyed.

“I don’t believe it!” Sun Weimeng stretched his neck in an irritating manner, “I saw it all earlier, you were looking back at him so tenderly, as if you were reluctant to part.”

“No! I didn’t!”

Huo Sijiao wished she could stand up and beat Sun Weimeng, “I… I like Shen Xuanzhi! Stop making such jokes, I’ve already been through a breakup.”

Her voice sounded somewhat pitiful: “Shen Xuanzhi has checked out and won’t answer my calls. I have no idea where he has gone, he said he despised my pestering.”

Upon hearing this, Sun Weimeng felt he had been too much and quickly comforted her, “It’s his loss! To say such words, in the future, we will find you a man who is ten thousand times better than him, and make him regret it.”

Huo Sijiao whispered, “But I think no one is better than him.”

Sun Weimeng looked at her with annoyance, “Huo Sijiao, you really have no backbone! Do all young ladies like poor guys?”

“Sun Weimeng, don’t you like Guan Jingtan as well? We’re both the same; neither of us has the right to talk!”

“Huo Sijiao, you…”

“Young Master Sun.”

Qiao Xi cried out to stop Sun Weimeng from continuing to criticize, “Let Jiaojiao take care of her sprain first. Xiaoyun has brought the stuff over a while ago, let’s talk about everything else later.”

If emotions could be influenced by persuasion, there wouldn’t be so many lovelorn men and women in the world.

Sun Weimeng and Huo Sijiao together are like sworn enemies. They begin to quarrel after only a few words, yet sometimes they stand united against others.

Sun Weimeng said unwillingly: “Hey, Huo Sijiao. Don’t be lovestruck, I don’t want to see you crying and sniveling.”

“I won’t.”

Huo Sijiao spoke proudly, “Sister-in-law, please help me check, see where I got hurt.”

Qiao Xi gently squeezed her ankle and then said, “It’s nothing serious, just a simple sprain. Rubbing some medicinal alcohol on it will do, and you’ll be able to walk tomorrow. Don’t wear high heels in the next few days; just rest well at home.”

“Then I’m relieved.”

Qiao Xi looked at her, keeping her many curiosities to herself.

Xiaoyun said with a smile while standing aside: “Young Madam, please rest. You can’t strain your hands. I’ll take care of applying the medicinal alcohol for the young lady; the simple stuff I can handle.”

“Alright, thanks, Xiaoyun. Then I’ll go upstairs first…”

Qiao Xi thought of how Huo Xingzhou hadn’t had a proper dinner before going back to the study to work. She decided to cook a bowl of noodles and take it directly to him.

…

Inside the study.

Huo Xingzhou was sitting at the desk, the laptop screen displaying the video conference.

He listened indifferently as Zhou Yu reported on the recent significant business matters of Tianyuan Group, before sending over the financial reports.

“With me here, Tianyuan is fine. You just focus on expanding Tianyuan’s business map in the Imperial Capital. After the Xiang Family’s fall, you’ve exchanged your shares for those of the Yunqi Group from the Xie Family, and the stock price has soared. But what comes next will be harder. The old families in the Imperial Capital won’t let you take a slice of the cake that easily.”

Zhou Yu was a bit worried: “Your alliance with the Xie Family means the Pei Family and the Zhong Family definitely won’t be happy. With the relationship between Zhong Yi and Qiao Xi, perhaps the Zhong Family can be placated. But the Pei Family has always been low-key, like a lurking beast. If provoked, the consequences are unimaginable…”

“Let them come.”

Huo Xingzhou leaned back in his office chair.

If he wanted to tread in the Imperial Capital, he was prepared to overcome all difficulties.

Zhou Yu asked again: “What do you think about the Lu Family’s marital alliance with the Zhong Family? The Lu Family is related to Granny Qiao’s death. Once they are connected with the Zhong Family, it’ll be harder to move against them. Do you have any plans regarding Zhong Yi?”

“No plans, we’re clear now.”

The treaty-signing ceremony was their last cooperation.

Every time Zhou Yu thought of Granny Qiao’s smiling face and warm hospitality, he couldn’t help but get angry.

The volume of his speech increased: “That’s it? You’re clear after he’s about to marry the person who harmed Granny Qiao? He used to live in Moon Village…”

Knock, knock.

“Xingzhou, I’m coming in.”

Qiao Xi opened the door to the study, bowing her head to hide the emotions in her eyes, her lips curving into a smile again. She carried a steaming bowl of noodles to the desk and placed it in front of Huo Xingzhou.

Her gaze glanced briefly at the screen, spotting Zhou Yu’s handsome face.

She asked: “Are you in a meeting? Did I interrupt you guys?”

Zhou Yu squeezed out a smile, feigning nonchalance as he spoke: “Not at all. Huo Er and I were just chatting. I was talking about Shu Xue; she went to Africa for a week and didn’t even call me, I’m really afraid she’s fallen for someone else.”

He was wondering if his voice had been too loud earlier, and if Qiao Xi had overheard.

But carefully observing her expression through the camera, there wasn’t a hint of anything abnormal. If she had really heard those words, she couldn’t have been so undisturbed.

After all, Zhong Yi is Ayi!