Chapter Twenty-Five: Bringing Xia Zhi into the Yan Family
He looked down at Yan Mingshen lying on the ground, his eyes filled with disgust that was almost overflowing:
“She hurt Su Xiao’s hand. If it doesn’t heal properly, I’ll chop off Xia Zhi’s hand tomorrow as well.”
After saying that, he turned and left.
The scene was left in a mess, with everyone looking bewildered.
When they got back to the car, Su Xiao was already asleep.
His brows were still furrowed, as if he were having a nightmare.
Looking at her pale face, Xu Bozhou's anger gradually dissipated, leaving only a dense, persistent pain.
He reached out and gently smoothed her furrowed brow, whispering:
"Xiaoxiao, you can't leave me."
Moonlight streamed through the car window, falling silently on the two of them.
*
Su Xiao opened her eyes blankly.
"woke up?"
Xu An's voice came from the side, slightly hoarse from just waking up.
Su Xiao turned her head and saw that she was dozing off by the bed.
There's a faint bluish-black tinge to it, clearly indicating it's been on guard all night.
"An'an..."
She tried to sit up, but as soon as she exerted force with her right hand, a piercing pain shot through her palm.
"Don't move!"
Xu An quickly helped her up and carefully adjusted the pillows for her.
"The doctor said your hand injury is severe and you need to take good care of it."
Su Xiao looked down at the thick bandage wrapped around her right hand.
The chaotic images from last night came flooding back.
Where is Xu Bozhou?
She asked in a hoarse voice, her gaze sweeping around the room, but she didn't see that familiar figure.
They left before dawn.
Xu An handed over a glass of warm water, his tone somewhat complicated:
"He left the medicine with the doctor and said... 'Take good care of your injury and don't worry about anything else.'"
Su Xiao paused for a moment as she took the water glass.
Xu Bozhou is always the kind of person who comes suddenly and leaves just as easily.
It's as if he wasn't the one who lost control last night.
There was an insurmountable chasm between her and him.
Yet they always find themselves entangled in each other's affairs without even realizing it.
The phone vibrated on the bedside table, and the words "Grandpa Tang" appeared on the screen.
Su Xiao glanced at Xu An and pressed the answer button.
"Little girl, how are you feeling?"
Grandpa Tang's voice was filled with concern:
"I heard from Xiaoyi that you got injured. Do you want to come and see Grandpa when you're feeling better? Grandpa will make you something delicious."
The old man's tone was like a warm spring breeze, dispelling much of the gloom in Su Xiao's heart.
She sniffed, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Thank you, Grandpa Tang, for your help."
"Why be so polite with Grandpa?"
Grandpa Tang laughed.
"Just focus on recovering. Grandpa's here to take care of everything else. Nobody will dare to bully you."
"Once you're better, let's have a good chat, grandfather and grandson. I have a fragment of a Ming Dynasty scroll here, and I'm just worried about having no one to look at it with."
After hanging up the phone, Su Xiao felt much better.
Xu An handed over a handkerchief and joked:
"Your eyes are all red. Old Master Tang's words are more effective than any medicine."
Su Xiao wiped her eyes and smiled shyly, "He has always taken good care of me."
When do you plan to go?
Xu An tucked the blanket around her.
"Judging from your condition, you should be able to get out of bed after another day of rest."
"Mmm." Su Xiao nodded, her fingertips gently stroking her right hand, which was wrapped in gauze.
"We'll go tomorrow once the bandages are removed and I can move around a little."
She needs to thank Mr. Tang and also inquire about the donation of calligraphy and paintings for the West Coast project.
Xu Bozhou helped her pay off the debt; she couldn't just sit around doing nothing with 160 million yuan.
Moreover, this is one of the few opportunities she can currently seize.
*
Yan Mingshen wearily pushed open the door to his home.
He loosened his tie and sat down on the sofa.
He had a very obvious abrasion on his cheekbone, and a bruise on the corner of his mouth.
It added a touch of wildness to his originally aloof and dignified appearance.
"Ming Shen, what happened to your face?"
Xia Zhi walked over and tried to touch his face, but he instinctively dodged away.
"Xia Zhi, you're really something."
He tugged at his shirt collar, his tone tinged with annoyance:
"Who told you to go find Su Xiao?"
Xia Zhi trembled at his shout, and her eyes instantly reddened:
"I didn't... She started it! She threw the pen you gave her, Mingshen, and then accused me..."
"Stop talking."
Yan Mingshen interrupted her, his eyes revealing exhaustion:
"I've already told my assistant that you haven't been feeling well lately, so please don't go out."
"Ming Shen!"
Xia Zhi looked at him in disbelief:
"You're going to lock me up?"
"Otherwise what?"
Yan Mingshen straightened his shirt cuffs, a helpless smile tugging at the corners of his mouth:
"Are you waiting for Xu Bozhou to come and chop off your hands?"
Xia Zhi's crying stopped abruptly, and all the color drained from her face.
She finally realized that she had really messed up this time.
"Ming Shen, who did I become like this for..."
"I know."
Yan Mingshen stood up and gently tucked her hair behind her ear as if to comfort her.
His tone softened somewhat:
"After this period, you will come to Yan's Group and, like Su Xiao, be in charge of the West Coast project."
Isn't Xu Bozhou trying to compete?
He wanted to see if Xu's team, which had only recently entered the field, could compete with Yan's team.
*
The next day when the bandages were removed, the doctor said the recovery was going well.
The wound is too deep, so I can't exert myself for a while.
Su Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she could recover, it didn't matter if it was a slow process.
She changed into some more comfortable clothes.
Xu An specially bought her a loose-fitting style so she could move around easily.
Standing in front of the mirror, the scar on my forehead had faded a bit.
Most of it is covered by her bangs, so it's not very noticeable unless you look closely.
"Are we really going now?"
Xu An helped her carry her bag, still a little worried:
"Don't you want to rest for another two days?"
"It's alright, Grandpa Tang is still waiting."
Su Xiao smiled and tried to move her fingers. Although they were still a little stiff, they didn't hurt much anymore.
"Besides, I also want to finalize the project as soon as possible."
Xu An knew her temperament; once she made up her mind, it was difficult to change it, so he could only offer some words of advice:
"Don't push yourself when you get there. Call me if anything happens."
"Okay."
When I arrived at Tang Family Mansion by taxi, the butler was already waiting at the door.
The osmanthus flowers in the courtyard are in full bloom, and the air is filled with their sweet fragrance.
Grandpa Tang was sitting at a stone table under the grape trellis, talking to an old man in a white coat.
"Xiao'er is here."
When Grandpa Tang saw her, he quickly waved:
"Come here quickly, you're too late. That kid from the Xu family just left."
"Xu Bozhou?"
Su Xiao paused.
What is he doing here?
"They've come to inquire about calligraphy and painting."
Grandpa Tang pulled her to sit down and poured her a cup of osmanthus tea.
"Try it, the osmanthus flowers picked this year are very sweet."
Su Xiao took a sip.
The sweet aroma spreads across the tongue, instantly lifting one's mood.
She had no idea that Xu Bozhou had become interested in calligraphy and painting.
Su Xiao talked to Grandpa Tang about the West Coast project.
The old man listened attentively, offering a few pointers from time to time.
"Don't worry about the donation."
Grandpa Tang patted her hand:
“I’ve already spoken to a few old friends, and they’re all willing to lend a hand.”
Su Xiao looked at him gratefully:
"Thank you, Grandpa Tang."
"Why be so polite with Grandpa?" Old Master Tang smiled.
"Your grandma is cooking today. She's a great cook, you have to try it."
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