Chapter 3: Pulling Off His Pants
In the corner of the stairs.
When Qiao Xi saw the name flashing on the screen, she suppressed her disgust and picked up the phone.
"Hello."
"Xixi." Zhao Yuzhen probed gently on the other end of the line, "I heard that Second Young Master Huo is awake? Are his legs really useless?"
As soon as the doctor made the diagnosis, the Su family got the inside scoop.
Zhao Yuzhen didn't care about how the Huo family would deal with a stepdaughter who was married off in place of her, nor did she ask how she spent last night. Instead, she came to spy on the inside story.
Qiao Xi's heart became even colder.
She said calmly, "I'll hang up if it's all right."
"etc!"
Zhao Yuzhen shouted anxiously, "Help your sister! Huo Xingzhou has a big project in hand, a collaboration between Tianyuan Group and the Huo family. As long as you can convince him to sign the 'Project Transfer Agreement', your sister can marry Mr. Huo, and you can even become sisters-in-law."
Qiao Xi laughed angrily.
"Why do you think I can help you with this? I'm just a bride for a good-luck wedding. I don't have any status."
Zhao Yuzhen coaxed her patiently and said, "As soon as you marry him, Huo Xingzhou will wake up. Now the second branch of the Huo family is counting on you. Besides, he is already a useless man. What's the point of holding the project in his hands? It's better to give it up and help your sister and Young Master Huo."
Zhao Yuzhen's eyes flashed with greed. After the project was completed, it would rake in billions in profits. Huo Xingzhou had secured his position at the Huo family thanks to this project.
"I can't help you."
Having said that, Qiao Xi was about to hang up the phone.
Zhao Yuzhen's voice was sharp as she shouted, "That old country woman has been taken to the Su family! If you don't agree, you'll never see her again in this life."
"Are you still human?" Qiao Xi roared, "That's my grandmother, and also your mother-in-law!"
If her grandmother hadn't taken care of her for so many years, she would have died long ago!
Grandma's life was hard, and she saved every penny to send her to school, which wore her out. No matter how hard she tried to learn medicine from her neighbor, Grandpa Cheng, she couldn't save her fading body.
Zhao Yuzhen actually made her travel such a long distance! I don’t know how many twists and turns and grievances the little old lady had endured.
"Your father died a long time ago, and that old woman and I have no blood relationship." Zhao Yuzhen said coldly.
Qiao Xi held the phone tightly, her joints turned white and her fingers trembled.
She bit her lip in silence, and asked with red eyes, "Am I still your biological daughter?"
Zhao Yuzhen was silent for a moment, her voice cold and ruthless: "I raised Weiwei. She has a good family background, is elegant and talented. If you can marry the second young master of the Huo family, she must marry someone better than you. I don't care if you steal or rob, you must do it."
"On the day of your return, I will wait for your good news. Otherwise...anything can happen to me at my age."
Zhao Yuzhen hung up the phone directly.
A chill rose from the soles of Qiao Xi's feet and spread to her spine. She felt that every breath she took was like a knife scraping her throat and lungs, stinging her.
…
After a while, a sound was heard at the stairs.
"Young Madam, what are you hiding here for?"
Aunt Qian looked for her for a long time, then pulled her towards the master bedroom and said, "Young Master will be looking for you when he wakes up."
Qiao Xi put away her worries and followed Aunt Qian into the room. When Mrs. Huo saw her, she pulled her to the bedside affectionately and said to the cold man on the bed.
"This is Qiao Xi, your wife. I arranged your marriage while you were unconscious."
Qiao Xi met Huo Xingzhou's icy eyes and lowered her head in embarrassment. He must have thought she was a woman with audacity and worse than a beast.
The man's eyes were like a gust of wind sweeping through the sand city, brewing a storm. His brows were lowered, and a coldness permeated the air.
"divorce."
He said, with a hint of command.
Qiao Xi looked at him in surprise.
"No!" Du Juan said angrily in a high voice, "Qiao Xi is your life! What if you die after the divorce? Are you still thinking about that little bitch?"
"Mother." He had just recovered from a serious illness, his voice slow and hoarse, with a hint of helplessness, "Even if I wake up, I will be a useless person and lose the right to inherit the family. Why should I delay others?"
Mrs. Huo's eyes turned red, and she covered her mouth and sobbed, "It will be fine, as long as we can find that old man! You still have the resources to turn things around! Everything will be fine!"
"Have you ever asked this young lady if she is willing to remain a widow?"
When he said this, Huo Xingzhou was looking at Qiao Xi, and there was something else hidden in his eyes.
Qiao Xi felt as if ants were crawling all over her body, and recalled the awkward moment they had last night. Did he think she was such a sexually unsatisfied person?
Mrs. Huo felt a little guilty and looked at Qiao Xi with confusion.
"Qiao Xi, are you willing to accompany me on the boat trip? Although our second branch has lost its power, I still have a large dowry, which is enough for our expenses." She looked at Qiao Xi pleadingly.
Qiao Xi pursed her red lips tightly, her nails digging deep into her skin. Zhao Yuzhen threatened Huo Xingzhou with her grandmother, demanding the big projects in his hands, but those seemed to be the only thing the Second House could rely on to turn things around.
Should she take away the hope of the second branch of the Huo family?
But what about grandma?
Her silence, in the eyes of mother and son, showed her unwillingness.
The man lying on the bed had a distant expression and a noble demeanor. He seemed to understand the situation and concluded, "We'll handle the divorce procedures tomorrow."
Qiao Xi suddenly reacted and a soft voice sounded.
"I won't divorce!"
Facing Huo Xingzhou's terrifying gaze, she mustered up the courage to say, "I've already married you, and I'm willing to be a widow!"
Mrs. Huo breathed a sigh of relief, bursting into laughter as she said, "Good girl, I knew you were different from those women out there. Aunt Qian, let's go. Don't delay the young couple from developing their relationship."
"Why."
Aunt Qian responded and gave Qiao Xi a "heroic" look.
The two left and closed the door.
Qiao Xi stood at the head of the bed, lowering her head to fiddle with her fingers and licking her dry lips. The man's sharp eyes were fixed on her.
After a while.
He said quietly, "Miss Qiao, I can give you the money if you want it. Her dowry was all trapped in the stock market. She must have cheated you."
Qiao Xi bit her cheek and explained, "I'm not after money."
Huo Xingzhou's eyes flashed with scenes from last night, his chest rising and falling slightly as he spoke in a suffocating voice, "I'm awake now, and I will never condone what you did to me last night. Living as a widow means you can't even touch a finger of mine, not even..."
His expression turned even colder, "It can't even satisfy my craving."
Qiao Xi's face was so red that blood seemed to be dripping out.
Is kissing and hugging what you call satisfying cravings?
"I don't have one," she murmured softly, "and neither can you."
"What did you say?" the man asked.
Qiao Xi shook her head, loosened her clenched hands, and made a decision.
Her almond eyes were as clear as water, and her voice was firm: "Mr. Huo, I am sure I can cure your legs."
"Oh."
The man scoffed.
From a favored child to a useless person, he was filled with frustration and defeat. The woman in front of him humiliated and teased him again and again.
No matter how good Huo Xingzhou's demeanor was, he lost his last bit of patience and said, "Get out."
Qiao Xi's innocent face was full of stubbornness. "I didn't lie."
"Do you have a medical license? Who have you cured? Do you have any proof?"
Qiao Xi shook her head. "No, but I've treated many people in the countryside. When I was rubbing your body, I took your pulse, and it was..."
"go out!"
Qiao Xi frowned, feeling a little angry at his resistance.
She walked up and pulled back Huo Xingzhou's quilt, taking off his pajamas! His muscular legs were exposed to the air.
The man was furious.
"Qiao Xi!"
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