《Becoming The Business Magnate's Spoiled Wife》 Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Travel into the Book

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

It was quite windy on the rooftop. Qu Xiao retreated to the edge of the building with tears in her eyes. She was terrified. ¡°Don¡¯te over ... ¡± There was a man in a ck suit, who was sitting in a wheelchair in front of her. He was surrounded by quite a few bodyguards. The man had a perfectly handsome face. He looked indifferent as if nothing was worth his attention. ¡°Qu Xiao, how many times have you betrayed me after marrying me?¡± The man¡¯s voice was very gentle. Qu Xiao, on the other hand, trembled in fear. She even knelt down and begged, ¡°Shang Yan, I¡¯m sorry. Please let me go! You know that I didn¡¯t marry you willingly. The one I¡¯m in love with is Ling Chi.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you stole the information of mypany for him?¡± Shang Yan asked. Qu Xiao recalled the rumors between the servants. Not like the way he looked, this man in the wheelchair was indeed rather cold and cruel. She gritted her teeth and mustered up all her courage, saying, ¡°Shang Yan, let¡¯s get a divorce! I¡¯m begging you!¡± Then, Qu Xiao took out the knife that she had long prepared and pointed it at herself. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll die here!¡± Shang Yan frowned as his voice turned cold. ¡°Who told you to do this?¡± Qu Xiao was not the kind of person who had the guts to threaten him. He went forward in his wheelchair as he said, ¡°Give me the knife.¡± ¡°No one told me. Don¡¯te over! Ah ... Stop!¡± Qu Xiao was so scared that she screamed. Unconsciously, she exerted force in her hand. With a poof, the de pierced into her waist. ¡°Ah ... ¡± Warm blood kept flowing out. Before she lost consciousness, Qu Xiao thought nkly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a fake knife?¡± Her younger sister, Qu Qi, gave her this knife and told her it was just a bluff. Could it be that ... Qu Qi had lied to her? ... ¡°Sob ... Shang Yan, please don¡¯t me her. She risked her life to divorce you just because she loves Ling Chi so much ... ¡± It was so noisy. Who was so noisy in the morning? As Qu Xiao gradually regained consciousness, she felt annoyed and wanted to shout and stop it, but her waist and abdomen were in pain, and her throat was dry. The sound she could make was as weak as a kitten. Her head ached, and a lot of memories that did not belong to her gushed out. She was a genius doctor in the new era. Usually, she would never allow herself to be sick or injured. Why was she so weak now? ¡°Qu Xiao, you¡¯re awake? Thank God you¡¯re fine!¡± ¡°Why did you do such a silly thing? Shang Yan is a reasonable person. Tell him about your feelings for Ling Chi, and he will definitely agree to the divorce. You don¡¯t have to kill yourself!¡± Ling Chi? This name sounded a little familiar. Qu Xiao suddenly remembered that she was reading romantic fictionst night. Ling Chi was the man in the book who was in love with the cruel CEO¡¯s wife. And the stupid wife happened to have the same name as her. She was also called Qu Xiao. Could it be that she had be the leading character in the fiction? Qu Xiao suddenly opened her eyes. What greeted her eyes was a beautiful face that matched the description by the author of the fiction. It was Qu Qi, Qu Xiao¡¯s sister in the book. So ... It was true. Qu Xiao had traveled into the book! Qu Qi¡¯s face was full of hypocritical concern. ¡°My dear sister, don¡¯t seek death anymore. Shang Yan has already agreed to divorce you!¡± Qu Xiao swatted away Qu Qi¡¯s hand and said sarcastically, ¡°Yeah, right! I¡¯m going to divorce him. Are you satisfied now? You can marry your brother-inw.¡± Qu Qi froze and asked, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± A sense of unease suddenly rose in her heart. ¡°How did this fool be smart? Moreover, her gaze just now was cold and sharp,pletely different from before.¡± Qu Qi thought to herself. Qu Xiao ignored her and silently recalled the plot. In the fiction, Qu Xiao was the illegitimate daughter of the Qu family. After being brought back to the family, she was constantly bullied by the family members. Qu Qi was the most arrogant one among them. When Qu Xiao was 20 years old, the Qu family forced Qu Xiao to fulfill the marriage contract with the Shang family. They did it because they were unwilling to marry their beloved daughter Qu Qi to the second son of the Shang family, who had crippled legs. Qu Qi had nned to mock her, but she became jealous after finding out that Qu Xiao was doing well after her marriage. She wanted to be Mrs. Shang, so she had encouraged Qu Xiao to pursue the man called Ling Chi in the book. She had also encouraged Qu Xiao to quarrel with Shang Yan and force him to divorce. After Qu Xiao did it as she was told, Shang Yan finally agreed to the divorce. When Qu Xiao was reading the novel, she had scolded this character for being stupid. However, she did not expect to be this woman in the book when she opened her eyes. That was fate! Just as Qu Xiao was feeling depressed, the sound of a wheelchair rolling on the ground suddenly came to her ears. Then, she saw a pale and big hand. There was a divorce agreement in the hand. The man¡¯s voice was cold and low. ¡°Sign it. From now on, your life has nothing to do with me.¡± Chapter 2

Chapter 2: We Won¡¯t Divorce

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao followed the voice and looked in the direction of it. She saw a handsome face. He had a clearly defined face with dark eyes and brows. His lips were tightly pursed under his high straight nose. He was looking at Qu Xiao without any emotion. Was he the leading character¡¯s husband, Shang Yan? ¡°He really has a perfect face!¡± Qu Xiao thought and sighed in her heart. If he were not sitting in a wheelchair at this moment, he would have attracted lots of women with his good-looking face. Shang Yan was her favorite character when she was reading this book. Now she saw him in person, she felt that her judgment was correct. Seeing her in a daze, Shang Yan asked coldly, ¡°What tricks are you ying again?¡± Didn¡¯t she want a divorce? Why didn¡¯t she move? Looking at his impatient expression, Qu Xiao felt a little guilty. In fact, after they got married, Shang Yan had always treated her well, though he was cold. However, under Qu Qi¡¯s instigation, Qu Xiao, in the story, had challenged his bottom line again and again, leaving Shang Yan disappointed. ording to the plot in the book, Qu Xiao had been cheated by Ling Chi after divorcing Shang Yan. She gave her kidney to Ling Chi¡¯s lover, another female character in the book. Qu Xiao was an entric person in the book. After losing her kidney, she became even crazier and did many extreme things. In the end, she undoubtedly died in misery. Because Ling Chi had stolen Shang Yan¡¯s wife and Qu Xiao had betrayed him, Shang Yan had done many bad things to them in revenge, causing him to be a viin in the book. Qu Xiao raised her head to look at Shang Yan. He was still holding the divorce agreement as if he was silently urging her. Thinking of the consequence after leaving him, Qu Xiao swore in her heart that she could never get a divorce. Only she knew that Shang Yan was much more powerful than he appeared to be. There were only benefits and no harm if she continued to stay with him. Moreover, he was much better looking than Ling Chi. As Qu Xiao thought about it, she silently took the divorce agreement. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes darkened. However, in the next second, Qu Xiao abruptly tore the divorce agreement into two halves, then she forcefully hugged Shang Yan¡¯s arm. ¡°Honey, I was wrong! We¡¯re not getting a divorce!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s body stiffened when he heard it. His brows slightly furrowed as he lowered his gaze to look at Qu Xiao, who was hugging him tightly. What did she call him? Honey? She had never called him that in the past. Yesterday, Qu Xiao threatened him to divorce her with her life. But why did she suddenly change her mind now? Shang Yan untied Qu Xiao¡¯s fingers one by one as his cold gazended on her. ¡°If you¡¯re not satisfied with the distribution of the property, I can get thewyer to redo it ording to your request.¡± He would not change his mind. He had already taken his responsibility as a husband, but what she did yesterday had made him lose his patience with her. Qu Xiao bit her lip and shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t get a divorce. I¡¯ll definitely not meet Ling Chi again!¡± Shang Yanughed mockingly. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll believe you again?¡± Qu Xiao looked at him sincerely. She understood that any of her exnations at this moment would be useless. Then, Qu Xiao simply made a decision. She fell off the ground with her eyes tightly shut, pretending to copse. At first, Shang Yan thought that she was avoiding the question. So he called her name coldly. Qu Xiao tensed up her body and continued pretending to be insensible, not daring to move slightly. Shang Yan turned to the butler and said emotionlessly, ¡°Call the doctor.¡± The doctor finished all the examinations for Qu Xiao and said, ¡°Mr. Shang, Mrs. Shang has lost too much blood from her injuries. It is normal for her to be unconscious. As for how long she will be unconscious, it depends on her physical condition.¡± Shang Yan looked at the woman lying on the bed. Her lips were pale, as pitiful as withered petals. He indifferently averted his gaze and slowly turned the wheelchair outside. His tone was cold as he said, ¡°Find out who gave her the knife.¡± The room returned to silence. Qu Xiao felt that her left leg was about to cramp. She secretly stretched out her arm, wanting to stretch her body. But soon, she heard the sound of quiet footstepsing from the door. She was so scared that she did not dare to move again. Who was it? The sound of footsteps stopped at the bedside. Qu Xiao heard a series of rustling sounds. Then, a cool needle pressed against her skin. Sh*t! Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Attempted Murder

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao keenly sensed the danger. She suddenly opened her eyes and suppressed the murderer¡¯s hand with her thin arm. Their eyes met. The syringe had slipped from Qu Qi¡¯s hand. She lost the opportunity to murder Qu Xiao. A chill rushed to Qu Xiao¡¯s heart as she grabbed Qu Qi¡¯s wrist forcefully. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Qu Qi panicked and wanted to shake her off, but Qu Xiao used all her strength to hold her back. ¡°Qu Xiao, go to hell and never wake up! Let me marry into the Shang family. Isn¡¯t it great? Stop struggling!¡± Qu Qi lowered her voice as she said. She gripped the syringe fiercely, trying to stab it into Qu Xiao¡¯s body. This crazy woman wanted to kill her again? Qu Xiao¡¯s wound was in severe pain, and she gradually lost her strength. However, the sound of a wheelchair suddenly rose in her ears. She immediately shouted at the door for Shang Yan. ¡°Help! Shang Yan, help me!¡± Bang! The door was immediately pushed open. Shang Yan was sitting in the wheelchair. When he saw the syringe in Qu Qi¡¯s hand, his face darkened. The bodyguards in the Shang family rushed over. They surrounded Qu Qi and snatched the syringe. Qu Xiao panted heavily. She patted her chest, and her eyes were red with tears. She looked at Shang Yan with a weak face and said, ¡°She wants to kill me while you¡¯re not here.¡± Shang Yan frowned. His eyes were cold as he stared at Qu Qi as if he was waiting for her to give an exnation. ¡°Shang Yan, don¡¯t misunderstand. How could I harm my sister?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a medical student. I¡¯m doing this so that she can recover soon. Believe me!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were cold as she watched her lie. She weakly sat up on the bed and said, ¡°Just ask the doctor to do a test and find out what kind of drug is in the syringe!¡± Shang Yan sent someone to get the doctor over. He quickly took out the drug to do the test. Soon, the test instrument came up with an analysis report. The doctor stared at the data. His expression was slightly solemn as he looked at Qu Qi. ¡°This drug does indeed have analgesic effects, but it will cause the patient to go into shock and even be a vegetable when it is overused.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s pupils constricted. Qu Qi was so nervous that she gulped. Her eyes darted around as she stared at the ground, then she exined in a panic, ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I identally gave a high dosage, but it¡¯s because I was too anxious when I saw her faint suddenly. I didn¡¯t mean to make a mistake. You won¡¯t me me, right?¡± Qu Xiao had broken her skin while she was struggling with Qu Qi. The doctor used iodine to disinfect her wound, but the pain made her gasp. Apologize? Qu Xiao¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile. ¡°If a criminal can get away with it by apologizing, why do we need the police? You havemitted intentional injury!¡± ¡°Honey, please help me contact the police. I will call the police to protect my rights and keep safe!¡± Qu Xiao raised her eyebrows slightly as she said it, but Shang Yan looked at her in surprise. In the past, Qu Xiao was gloomy and weak. She would definitely not tangle with Qu Qi. She would even probablypromise and let her go. But now, Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were shing with confidence. She was exuding a powerful aura and was full of vitality. Shang Yan quietly looked at her for two seconds and turned back to instruct the butler to call the police as she requested. Qu Qi realized that the situation was not good for her. She panicked and wanted to rush to the bedside, but the bodyguards raised their hands to stop her. Because Shang Yan was present, Qu Qi could only swallow the threats and curses on the tip of her tongue. She was so nervous that her body trembled as she said, ¡°Qu Xiao, I¡¯m your sister! Everything I did was for your own good!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Qu Xiao pursed her lips as she said, ¡°You told me to threaten my husband with a fake knife, but you secretly switched it to a real one. Did you do that for my own good too?¡± Qu Qi choked. ¡°I ... ¡± Shang Yan¡¯s gaze had turnedpletely cold. ¡°You gave her the knife?¡± Qu Qi hurriedly shook her head. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t me ... ¡± Qu Xiao interrupted her and said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s easy to tell. We¡¯ll see after we check the fingerprints on the knife.¡± Qu Qi widened her eyes. She believed that Qu Xiao would not betray her. So she did not wipe off the fingerprints at all. She did not expect that Qu Xiao would take advantage of it. Qu Qi could not help but curse, ¡°Qu Xiao, you b*tch! Idiot! It must be your n. You set me up!¡± p! Qu Xiao endured the pain in her wound and raised her hand to give Qu Qi a p, emitting a clear and crisp sound. ¡°This is a lesson for you to learn to shut up!¡± Qu Qi covered her face in shock. There was a moment of silence in the room. Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Acting Coquettishly

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao felt a burning gaze watching her from the corner. In order not to expose herself, she hurriedly restrained her aura and said with aggrievement, ¡°Honey, she¡¯s driving me crazy.¡± Qu Qi finally reacted and was about to pounce forward. ¡°Qu Xiao, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Shang Yan frowned and waved his hand. The butler and bodyguards immediately took Qu Qi away and handed her to the police for custody. The room fell silent. Qu Xiao nced at Shang Yan from the corner of her eyes. She deliberately pretended to be weak as she leaned against the headboard of the bed. There was a little coquetry in her voice as she said, ¡°Honey, my wound hurts!¡± Shang Yan looked at her coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll get the doctor toe over and give you another general physical checkup.¡± Seeing that he was about to leave, Qu Xiao hurriedly sat up and called out to him, ¡°Shang Yan! Wait!¡± Her movements were a little fierce, and she felt a sharp pain in her waist and abdomen. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were instantly filled with tears. Shang Yan was stunned for a moment. He moved forward slightly in his wheelchair but soon stopped. He had never seen Qu Xiao like this before. Qu Xiao¡¯s voice trembled as she exined pitifully, ¡°Qu Qi came to instigate me to divorce you.¡± ¡°She said that you have no feelings for me and that you only want to marry someone in the Qu family for business. After I divorce you, she can marry you.¡± ¡°I was stupid before, and I believed her. But I won¡¯t do it again in the future. I will stand on your side.¡± Qu Xiao med Qu Qi for everything that happened. She saw that Shang Yan¡¯s face softened a little but soon returned to coldness. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes rolled slightly. She reached out her hand towards Shang Yan. Seeing that he did not react, she shook it with a hint of urging. Yet, the slight movement pulled at her wound. Qu Xiao frowned in pain. ¡°Hiss ... it hurts! Honey, we¡¯re not divorced yet. Don¡¯t ignore me!¡± Shang Yan frowned. In the end, he rolled the wheelchair to her bedside. Traces of blood seeped out from the gauze on Qu Xiao¡¯s wound. It was clear that she was not lying when she said she was in pain. Shang Yan wanted to find a doctor, but Qu Xiao held onto his hand and refused to let go. Qu xiao stuffed her slender fingers into Shang Yan¡¯s palm and interlocked her fingers with his. Shang Yan sat in the wheelchair while Qu Xiao sat on the bed. Qu Xiao tried several times to lean her head on Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder but failed because of their ill-suited position. She could onlyin with a pout, ¡°Honey, can you say something nice to help me feel better?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the injured now. I need a good mood to recover soon.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes flickered with a smile as she sneaked a nce at Shang Yan. His body was slightly stiff, and there was no expression on his face. Clearly, he was just enduring her. ¡°What happened just now really scared me. If you hadn¡¯t entered in time, I¡¯m afraid I would have be a vegetable!¡± Qu Xiao muttered with some lingering fear. Shang Yan lowered his head. He held the pair of soft hands in his palm as he recalled the photos he received in the mailbox. Shang Yan¡¯s attitude suddenly turned cold. He pushed Qu Xiao away and ignored her goodwill. His eyes were cold as he said, ¡°If you be a vegetable, that¡¯s because you¡¯re stupid.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s heart thumped for a moment before she immediately understood. Shang Yan was suspicious. His legs were crippled, but he managed to achieve his current sess step by step. He was respected by the financial world. Nobody knew how much effort he had put in and how many betrayals he had experienced. These experiences caused Shang Yan to build a mental defense mechanism to protect himself. And she had done so many unforgivable things before. When Qu Xiao thought of this, she felt as if her heart was being pulled up, and waves of stinging pain shot through her. When Shang Yan saw that she did not respond, he said with his thin lips in disappointment, ¡°I¡¯ll get thewyer to redraft the divorce agreement.¡± ¡°No!¡± Qu Xiao shook her head and said anxiously, ¡°In the past, I was deceived by Ling Chi and did many things to hurt you. But I promise you that I will never contact them again in the future. You will be the only person in my heart!¡± Shang Yan narrowed his eyes as his heart was somewhat shaken. No one had ever said something like this to him. Why would it be this woman who had betrayed him several times? Qu Xiao wanted to stand up from the bed, but she was weak because of the injury. She stepped on the floor and fell forward unsteadily. Bang! She fell into an embrace that carried a refreshing aura. Qu Xiaoy on Shang Yan¡¯s knees and raised her head with her wet eyes. She firmly bit her lips and took advantage of the situation to hug Shang Yan¡¯s waist. She rested her head on his sturdy chest and rubbed against it as she said coquettishly. ¡°Honey, I will never divorce you!¡± Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Stupid Moves in the Past

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Shang Yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. As Qu Xiao buried her head in his embrace, some of her hair fell on his neck. It emitted a lemon fragrance, seeming to be intentionally teasing his Adam¡¯s apple. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes darkened. He wanted to push her away. Knock knock! There was a rhythmic knock on the door. The two of them turned their heads at the same time. Shang Xinchen leaned against the door frame and pped with a teasing expression. ¡°Amazing!¡± ¡°Yesterday, you were demanding to leave with Ling Chi. But today, you throw yourself at my brother. You¡¯re really a heartless and slutty b*tch!¡± ¡°Did you realize that Ling Chi can¡¯t give you the life you wanted? Have you remembered my brother¡¯s care for you? Did you change your mind because you want to stay in this family that had been your cash cow?¡± Shang Xinchen¡¯s words were harsh. Qu Xiao¡¯s face flushed as her fingers twisted the hem of her clothes. Shang Yan signaled with his eyes for Shang Xinchen to shut up. No matter what, Qu Xiao was still his wife. He would not allow others to judge her. Shang Xinchen was so angry that he rushed to Qu Xiao with his index finger nearly poking her nose, saying, ¡°Shang Yan! Haven¡¯t you seen through this woman?¡± ¡°The photos in your mailbox were all taken by private detectives. After she got married, she frequently met with Ling Chi!¡± ¡°Have you forgotten? She even came to thepany yesterday and caused trouble in your office, threatening you to sign the divorce agreement!¡± ¡°She even said that she wanted to elope with Ling Chi in front of the shareholders. She did not care about your face at all!¡± Shang Xinchen was so angry that he wanted to p Qu Xiao. He clenched his fists with the veins on his arms bulging. He was trying his best to suppress his emotion. ¡°At that time, someone in the conference room secretly took a video and uploaded it online. Now, it has be a hot topic. Even if the public rtions department is working overtime to remove the searches, the video is still spreading! Our family is so humiliated!¡± ¡°Do you think she can make up for all the losses by just saying a few good words to you?¡± Shang Xinchen walked in front of Shang Yan. He tried his best to adjust his tone and persuade him, ¡°Shang Yan, because of her, thepany¡¯s stock price has been affected. Now, it has dropped by five percent.¡± ¡°The shareholders all want you to divorce her. Otherwise, they will withdraw their stocks. You can¡¯t be soft-hearted!¡± There was a moment of silence in the room. Qu Xiao lowered her head and secretly thought, ¡°Gosh! How many stupid things have you done!¡± Now, even if she wanted to rebuild a good impression in Shang Yan¡¯s heart, she would probably have to think of a way to stay first. Shang Yan yed the video on his phone. Qu Xiao¡¯s voice came from it. Every word she said made Qu Xiao wish to hide. She was so embarrassed that her face blushed. Shang Xinchen crossed his arms and raised his chin as he stared at Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes rolled quickly. She ruthlessly pinched her tender flesh in her arms, and tears instantly poured out. She pretended to be weak and pitiful as she fell to the ground. She raised her head to look at Shang Yan, feeling wronged. ¡°They taught me to say it!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t my intention at all. I was deceived! I did something wrong because I was confused.¡± ¡°I feel dizzy now. Oh ... My mind is not clear. You can¡¯t force me to make any decision.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t agree to the divorce.¡± Qu Xiao said shamelessly in a high voice. She wiped her tears and looked at Shang Yan from time to time, trying to gain sympathy. Shang Yan pressed his forehead gently with his index finger. He felt a headache because of her statement. He pondered for a while and finally said, ¡°Call the doctor over to take a look. We¡¯ll put the divorce aside for now and talk about it when she gets better.¡± Shang Xinchen opened his mouth wide, wanting to refute. Shang Yan¡¯s face darkened as he gestured for him to push the wheelchair out. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to thepany first.¡± ¡°We have to minimize the impact of this matter as soon as possible!¡± Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Ling Chi¡¯s Visit

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The butler followed Shang Yan¡¯s instructions and delivered the soup to the bedroom. Qu Xiao stopped the butler and asked him about Shang Yan¡¯s daily habits. She wanted to fulfill her wifely duty to take care of him. The butler was surprised. He felt that Qu Xiao was a little different from the past. He mustered up his courage and said to her, ¡°Mr. Shang can be a little unsociable and entric. He doesn¡¯t know how to sweet talk, but ever since you married into the family, he has been trying his best to make you feelfortable and take care of you.¡± ¡°He asked us to get you whatever you need, even if you¡¯re just mentioning it.¡± ¡°I have been serving Mr. Shang since he was very young. Considering his personality, he¡¯s already being a good husband to you. But you...¡± This was too much! The butler did not finish the second half of his sentence. Qu Xiao waved her hand, signaling for him to leave. Then, she lowered her eyes and clutched the corner of the nket. She felt so bad for Shang Yan. The host was simply stupid. She actually believed the nonsense of those bloodsuckers from the Qu family! ¡°Buzz buzz.¡± The phone on the bedside cab rang. Her mother¡¯s name was shing on the screen. Qu Xiao picked up the call impatiently. There was a piercing noiseing from the other end of the phone. It was so noisy that she moved her phone away and turned on the speakerphone before throwing it on the bed. ¡°Hey! Are you crazy? How dare you put Qu Qi in the police station?¡± ¡°The police station called me. They said that Shang Yan took her there himself. They can¡¯t release her without his instructions!¡± ¡°Go over there and bail her out. Quick!¡± Her mother¡¯smanding tone made her very ufortable. Shezily yed with her hair and retorted, ¡°No, I¡¯m not doing that.¡± ¡°She used drugs and tried to hurt me. She deserves to go to jail for a few years for what she¡¯s done.¡± ¡°You want me to bring out the murderer who harmed me? If I go to the police station, I¡¯ll definitely sue her and make sure she¡¯s in jail for life!¡± Her mother did not expect her to refuse. She went silent for two seconds before she began to curse and threaten Qu Xiao. ¡°If you don¡¯t go, I¡¯ll tell Ling Chi all the things you¡¯ve done. He¡¯ll know what a vicious woman you are!¡± When Qu Xiao heard Ling Chi¡¯s name, she felt a little nauseous. She uttered, ¡°Whatever.¡± Then she hung up the phone. Half an hourter, the Shang¡¯s door bell rang. The butler felt a little awkward when he saw Ling Chi at the door. However, when he thought of how important Ling Chi was to Qu Xiao, he invited Ling Chi to wait in the living room for a moment before running to the second floor to wake Qu Xiao up. Ling Chi maintained his gentlemanly demeanor as he sat on the sofa. He looked around and thought to himself, he would never havee here if it wasn¡¯t for Qu Zhen calling him and asking him to help save her sister, Qu Qi. He wouldn¡¯t havee to Qu Xiao, that stupid woman who always pestered him! Qu Xiao got woken up and came down from the second floor in a rage. Ling Chi forced himself to put on a gentle and warm smile. ¡°Xiao, I heard that you were injured. I was very worried, so I left work and ran over to see you.¡± ¡°Qu Qi did something wrong indeed. But she¡¯s your sister. You¡¯re so kind, so you definitely don¡¯t want your family to go to jail, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll apany you to the police station and bail her out, okay?¡± Qu Xiao frowned as she rubbed her ears. She lifted her eyes and stared at Ling Chi. His hypocritical face was disgusting. ¡°The person who called the police was my husband. Why don¡¯t you go to Shang Yan and get him to drop the charges? Why are you talking to me instead?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s wound was still hurting, so she did not have much patience when she spoke. Ling Chi was extremely surprised by the way she treated him. He strode forward and pulled her elbow. ¡°Xiao, don¡¯t mess around. I know that you have a grudge against me, but we can work...¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Qu Xiao growled. She wanted to break free from Ling Chi¡¯s grip, but she did not have enough strength. The two of them fought intensely. At the entrance, Shang Yan sat in his wheelchair with a gloomy expression. His eyes were burning as he stared at the two who seemed particrly intimate. After he finished settling matters in thepany, he hurried back. He did not expect to see the scene in front of him. ¡°Shang Yan? When did youe back?¡± Qu Xiao caught sight of him from the corner of her eyes and subconsciously asked. Shang Yan sneered, ¡°Should Ie backter so you can continue?¡± Chapter 7

Chapter 7: In a Coma

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with coldness. When Qu Xiao met his icy gaze, her heart skipped a beat and she found it hard to speak. Qu Xiao was anxious to rify the misunderstanding. She shook her head furiously and walked towards Shang Yan. Ling Chi could tell that there was a conflict between them, so he grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s hand trying to provoke Shang Yan. ¡°Xiao, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here today to support you.¡± ¡°You said you weren¡¯t happy in this family, so I¡¯ll take you away!¡± Qu Xiao widened her eyes at Ling Chi in disbelief and eximed at Shang Yan anxiously, ¡°He¡¯s lying! Don¡¯t believe him!¡± She wanted to shake off Ling Chi¡¯s hand, but the intense momement made her feel dizzy. Qu Xiao staggered and fell into Ling Chi¡¯s arms. Ling Chi took the opportunity to put his arms around her shoulders. He deliberately looked at Shang Yan and said provocatively, ¡°Mr. Shang, I admit that you are an expert in business. You have your own way of managing apany. It¡¯s admirable. But why can¡¯t you control your wife?¡± ¡°You probably don¡¯t know how much Xiao likes me, do you?¡± ¡°Xiao said that from the day she married you, she¡¯d wanted to escape from this cage. She felt that every moment by your side was torture!¡± Ling Chi pretended to look at Qu Xiao affectionately. ¡°Mr. Shang, in the world of love, you are aplete failure.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s expression turnedpletely cold. Qu Xiao felt as if she was stabbed in the heart. Shang Yan was her favorite character. He was capable and charismatic. Even though his legs were disabled, he still managed to be on the top with his abilities. What right did Ling Chi have to say that about him? Qu Xiao used all her strength to push Ling Chi away and ran to Shang Yan¡¯s side. ¡°Don¡¯t believe him. He wanted me to release Qu Qi, but I refused!¡± Qu Xiao looked at Shang Yan with red eyes, but Shang Yan¡¯s gaze was not gentle but mocking and cold. Pressing the tip of his tongue against his teeth, he sized up Qu Xiao and Ling Chi before smiling. ¡°Are you guys putting on a show?¡± ¡°Qu Xiao! We¡¯ve never wanted to trap you here. You are free to leave anytime!¡± ¡°As for Qu Qi, if you want, I can immediately call someone to get her out and send her home.¡± Shang Yan looked at Qu Xiao deeply and said cruelly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you two again...¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s heart felt a dull pain, as if it was being hammered over and over. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that... Shang Yan, let me exin.¡± Qu Xiao raised her arms, trying to block Shang Yan¡¯s wheelchair. Tears rolled down her cheeks and her nails dug into her palms as she mumbled in her pale voice. Shang Yan was so mad that he almost lost his mind when he saw Ling Chi pulling her to his side. He pushed Qu Xiao away fiercely. Qu Xiao lost her bnce and fell. Her head hit the corner of the coffee table in the living room and blood flowed down her forehead... ¡°Qu Xiao!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s exim seemed toe from a faraway ce as Qu Xiao blinked slowly. The chandelier on the ceiling kept spinning, and Qu Xiao¡¯s vision turned dark. She could almost hear her heart beating. Thump, thump. ¡°Shang Yan, trust me...¡± ¡°I never wanted to leave with Ling Chi. I was waiting for your return. Shang Yan, how could I... leave you?¡± Qu Xiao mumbled weakly as her head sank and she fainted. Shang Yan hugged her and frowned when he heard her calling his name repeatedly. ¡°What are you waiting for? Get a doctor!¡± Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Feed Me

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

It hurt like hell! Qu Xiao felt as though her body was being torn apart. She held her head and struggled to open her eyes. Seeing that she had woken up, the butler hurriedly asked the doctor to check on her condition. The cold instrument moved on Qu Xiao¡¯s head, and the beeping made her flustered. She searched the room for Shang Yan. ¡°Where is he...¡± ¡°The police are taking statements for Mr. Shang in the living room. He wille over when he is done. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Qu Xiao struggled to sit up. She coughed twice and asked worriedly in a weak voice, ¡°Police?¡± The butler nodded. ¡°Mr. Ling is suspected of trespassing private property, kidnapping you and destroying your marriage. He is suspected of stealing trade secrets and has been taken away by the police for investigation.¡± Of course, Ling Chi did not expect that Shang Yan would be so ruthless. He asked the bodyguards to surround Ling Chi until the police arrived. There came the sound of wheels pressing against the ground. Shang Yan entered the room in silence. A thick bandage was wrapped around Qu Xiao¡¯s head. She pursed her lips in grievance and stared straight at Shang Yan. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with guilt. He cleared his throat and apologized, ¡°It was my fault for not controlling my emotions. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you.¡± Qu Xiao shot a reproachful look at him. ¡°Then do you believe me?¡± The butler and the doctor looked at each other and felt that they were unwanted at this moment. They found an excuse to leave. Shang Yan did not answer. He came to the bedside and pointed at the meal prepared by the nanny. ¡°The doctor said that your body is very weak and needs nutrition. If you want to eat anything, you can tell the nanny to prepare it for you.¡± Qu Xiao shook her head. She smelled the fragrance of rice and her stomach rumbled. The host was thin and sickly because she worried too much. Qu Xiao was starving. She raised her hand and wanted to take the chopsticks, but when she saw Shang Yan¡¯s eyes, she stopped. Her red lips parted slightly as she leaned towards Shang Yan. Shang Yan looked at her in surprise and confusion. Qu Xiao raised her chin in frustration and nced at the food. She was hinting that he should feed her! Shang Yan was stunned and wanted to refuse. Qu Xiao immediately asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to make it up to me?¡± He did not like to owe others anything. She had to take this opportunity to build a good rtionship with him! She would never divorce him! When Shang Yan saw Qu Xiao covered in injuries, he recalled that he was indeed the one who harmed her. So, he had no choice but to feed her. He held the spoon awkwardly and scooped some porridge to her lips. Seeing his ufortable expression, Qu Xiao was in a good mood and swallowed the rice. Exploiting his temporary indulgence, she pointed at the apple and asked him to cut it into small pieces. Shang Yan did as he was told. He gripped the fruit knife with his long fingers, peeling the apple in one long, curly strip. Qu Xiao was in a daze. Shang Yan could feel her burning gaze and felt that she was so different from before. What could change a person¡¯s personality so thoroughly? He paused and pretended to ask casually, ¡°Was Ling Chi at our wedding ceremony?¡± When Qu Xiao heard Ling Chi¡¯s name, she instinctively revealed a disgusted expression and replied with a frown, ¡°Who cares if he¡¯s at our wedding?¡± Shang Yan heard her answer and raised his head. Complicated emotions shed in his dark eyes as he sized up the woman before him and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Are you Qu Xiao?¡± Qu Xiao nearly choked on the apple and burped, her heart racing. She grabbed Shang Yan¡¯s hand in a panic and put his palm over her face. ¡°Of course I am! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check for yourself.¡± When their skin touched, they both felt their bodies heat up. The air in the room was thick with sexual tension. Qu Xiao¡¯s medical equipment was making ear-piercing beeps and her ears turned red as she lowered her head. Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Break Up

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The next morning, the weather was gloomy. The entire city seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds. The butler apanied Shang Yan to the hospital for a periodic checkup and did not return for a long time. Qu Xiao was worried that it might rain, so she asked the nanny for two umbres. She wanted to wait for them outside the courtyard. The doorbell suddenly rang and Qu Xiao ran over excitely. ¡°Shang Yan, how is it...¡± When she pushed open the door and saw Jiang Xue¡¯er standing outside, she paused. Then she said emotionlessly, ¡°Why is it you?¡± Jiang Xue¡¯er was all smiles as she took Qu Xiao¡¯s arm and said intimately, ¡°Of course I¡¯m here to see you!¡± Qu Xiao did not respond to her friendliness and remained silent. Jiang Xue¡¯er was the host¡¯s best friend, but she was a mean person. And she had a crush on Ling Chi. All these years, Jiang Xue¡¯er pretended to be friends with Qu Xiao but secretly spread rumors and ndered Qu Xiao. The rumors about Qu Xiao mostly came from her. The host did not know her true colors and would share all her secrets with Jiang Xue¡¯er. She told Jiang Xue¡¯er all about herself. However, the original host of the body probably did not expect that Jiang Xue¡¯er had been using her and even stepping on her to get close to Ling Chi. This time, Jiang Xue¡¯er heard that Ling Chi was detained by the police and wanted to convince Qu Xiao to save Ling Chi. That was why she came over to their house. Qu Xiao ignored Jiang Xue¡¯er and looked down at her phone. Jiang Xue¡¯er was too anxious to sit still. She leaned over, looking upset. She said in a shrill voice, ¡°Xiao, there must be a misunderstanding between Ling Chi and Mr. Shang.¡± ¡°Do something to get him out!¡± ¡°Only you can help him now. If you are willing to testify for Ling Chi and admit that you invited him to your house, everything will be fine.¡± Qu Xiao looked up at Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s urgent look. But she shook her head. ¡°Ling Chi¡¯s trespassing caused trouble for me and Shang Yan. He deserves to be punished.¡± ¡°Furthermore, after 24 hours, theirwyer will go and bail them out. You don¡¯t have toe and beg me...¡± She was too stupid to tell that Qu Xiao was mocking her for being nosy. Jiang Xue¡¯er was shocked by Qu Xiao¡¯s change in attitude towards Ling Chi. She pushed Qu Xiao anxiously. ¡°No! If Ling Chi¡¯s matter gets blown up, his family will give him a hard time. If the media finds out about it, he will probably be scolded by his father!¡± Qu Xiao pushed her elbow away and stood up abruptly. She looked down at Jiang Xue¡¯er. ¡°Ling Chi has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a da*n about whether he gets scolded or what the media says!¡± ¡°If you want to talk about this, please leave. I¡¯m tired, and I need to rest.¡± Qu Xiao was chasing her out, but Jiang Xue¡¯er grabbed her arm hurriedly. As Qu Xiao was trying to break free from her grip, she pushed Jiang Xue¡¯er away. She pushed slightly harder than she had intended, and Jiang Xue¡¯er fell weakly to the ground. She stared at Qu Xiao in disbelief. ¡°How... How did you be like this?¡± Jiang Xue¡¯er met Qu Xiao¡¯s cold eyes and was speechless. Qu Xiao pped her hands and looked at her with furrowed brows. She said lightly, ¡°If you want to plead for Ling Chi, just get out of my sight!¡± ¡°As my friend, you didn¡¯t care about how I felt, and you even tried to get me to help Ling Chi? He is the person who ruined and threatened my family! If you are his friend, then you are my enemy!¡± Qu Xiao said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m not going to divorce Shang Yan.¡± ¡°From now on, we are no longer friends. Don¡¯te looking for me again. I find you pretentious and disgusting!¡± Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Additional Report

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Why did Qu Xiao seem like a different person?! Jiang Xue¡¯er was so shocked that she could not control her emotions. However, when she thought about how Ling Chi was still suffering in the detention center, she could only swallow her pride and beg Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao¡¯s patience was reaching its limit when she heard Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s sharp voice. ng! A soft sound suddenly came from the entrance, attracting their attention. Shang Yan steered the wheelchair into the house and looked at them calmly. Qu Xiao noticed that his shoulders were wet from the rain, so she grabbed the towel and wanted to help him clean them. Shang Yan¡¯s dark eyes shed with disappointment. He signaled for the butler to take the item and not let her get close. D*mn it! The plot lines of the novel surfaced in Qu Xiao¡¯s mind as she suddenly recalled how Jiang Xue¡¯er had tried to sabotage her rtionship with Shang Yan time and again. Shang Yan hated to see her with Jiang Xue¡¯er. Every time it happened, their rtionship would soon take a turn for the worse! Qu Xiao felt a headache and pressed between her eyebrows with her fingertips as she thought about how she could regain Shang Yan¡¯s trust. Jiang Xue¡¯er quickly detected that something was wrong between them. She hurriedly pretended to exin while actually distorting the truth. ¡°Mr. Shang, I mean you no harm. Qu Xiao came to me because she wanted to save Ling Chi.¡± ¡°Although you two are married, they were once in love. It must be hard for Qu Xiao to watch Ling Chi suffer in the detention center!¡± ¡°Qu Xiao was afraid that you would feel offended, so she especially asked me toe over when you were not at home. I didn¡¯t expect... to bump into you.¡± Jiang Xue¡¯er was really good at making up lies. She gave Qu Xiao a smug, cunning look. Shang Yan pursed his thin lips and stared at Qu Xiao with a dark expression, clearly on the verge of anger. Qu Xiao red at Jiang Xue¡¯er and wanted to rip her mouth apart! She thought quickly and interrupted Jiang Xue¡¯er in a low voice, ¡°Shut up! Who the hell are you to exin for me?¡± ¡°She¡¯s lying... Shang Yan, believe me!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips curved into a subtle smile as he said mockingly, ¡°Are you guys trying to put on an act for me? I have to admit, it¡¯s very exciting!¡± Qu Xiao was exasperated at the doubt and distrust in his eyes. Seeing that Shang Yan was about to leave, Qu Xiao thought of a solution and called the police. ¡°Hello? Police station? I¡¯m Qu Xiao. I want to report another case!¡± ¡°Not only did Ling Chi trespass into my home, but he also harassed me for a long time. I can provide text and voice evidence. I hope you can give him severe punishment and warn him not to affect my personal life.¡± When Jiang Xue¡¯er heard Qu Xiao¡¯s words, she wanted to stop her. ¡°Qu Xiao, are you crazy? What are you saying?!¡± Click! Qu Xiao hung up and did not give her any chance. Jiang Xue¡¯er cursed as she pounced over to fight with Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao nimbly took half a step back and dodged her attack. She turned to look at the bodyguards who seemed to be watching a show. She yelled, ¡°Hurry up and help!¡± The bodyguards exchanged nces and looked at Shang Yan, waiting for his order. Qu Xiao sighed silently. As the mistress, she could not evenmand the bodyguards! Her status was really low! Qu Xiao pouted her red lips and looked at Shang Yan with watery eyes as she called out to him pitifully. ¡°Honey, do you want to see her bully me? The crazy woman is about to pull out all my hair. I feel so dizzy!¡± Shang Yan looked at her pretty and lively face, his eyes shing with excitement as he nodded. In the next second, the bodyguards obeyed his orders and dragged Jiang Xue¡¯er out of the vi. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Her screams echoed in the vi. Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Teaching Her a Lesson

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao was alone in the bedroom. She leaned against the wall eavesdropping. But she heard no sound from the next room where Shang Yan was in. Because of her injury, there was a small chance for her to improve the rtionship between her and Shang Yan, but Jiang Xue¡¯erpletely ruined it. Qu Xiao rested her chin on her hand as she scrolled through her phone screen with mixed emotions, searching for ways to make her distant husband fall in love with her. There was a knock on the door. Qu Xiao jumped to her feet happily when she heard it. But when she saw it was the butler standing outside, her smile froze. The butler could see her disappointment and reminded her that dinner was ready. Qu Xiao¡¯s gazended on the guest room and she asked softly, ¡°Is Shang Yan downstairs?¡± The butler shook his head and replied respectfully, ¡°No, Mr. Shang has gone outside. He¡¯s got something to attend to.¡± How could Qu Xiao have any appetite? She covered herself with a thin nket and curled up on the sofa in the living room. She nced at the entrance as she prepared to wait for Shang Yan to return. As time passed, she felt sleepy. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyelids were heavy as she closed her eyes. Whoosh¡ª Cold water poured down on her head and she sat up in shock. ¡°Shang Liqing, are you crazy?!¡± Qu Xiao grabbed the ends of her hair and wrung it dry. She looked up at the pretty woman standing in front of her, suppressing her anger and irritation. Shang Liqing pped her hands and looked at Qu Xiao who was in a sorry state. She ced the ss cup on the coffee table and said in a harsh tone, ¡°Qu Xiao, don¡¯t think that you can cause trouble outside in the name of our family just because you married my brother!¡± ¡°Qu Qi is my good friend. I¡¯m warning you. Go to the police station and cancel the charges against her. Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± Shang Liqing was Shang Yan¡¯s younger sister. Obviously she had not inherited any good genes from the Shang family in terms of her intelligence. Qu Qi and her were best friends. The two of them often joined hands to bully the host. They would either insult her verbally or hit her physically. The host was afraid of her, so she usually followed Shang Liqing¡¯s orders without any dignity. In the evening, Shang Liqing received Qu Qi¡¯s call for help from the police station, so she came over to threaten Qu Xiao to withdraw thewsuit. Qu Xiao pulled out two pieces of tissue and calmly wiped the water stains. Shang Liqing felt that there was something different about her, but she couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. She felt that something was wrong. When Qu Xiao saw another cup of lemonade on the coffee table, she held the cup and poured it on Shang Liqing¡¯s head! ¡°You like to ssh water on others? Why don¡¯t you try it on yourself?¡± Before Shang Liqing could react, two pieces of fresh lemon hung above her head, making her look hrious. ¡°Ahhh! Qu Xiao, you b*tch!¡± Shang Liqing screamed in shock. She never expected Qu Xiao, who was usually timid, to retaliate on the spot! Qu Xiao¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Apologize.¡± Shang Liqing narrowed her eyes and shook her hair furiously. ¡°What did you say?¡± Qu Xiao raised her voice and said every word clearly, ¡°It¡¯s impossible to withdraw thewsuit. You have to apologize to me for your actions!¡± Shang Liqing¡¯s exquisite makeup was ruined. She was so mad that she pointed at the bodyguards outside and yelled, ¡°D*mn it! Qu Xiao! You¡¯ve really changed! How dare you ssh water on me?!¡± ¡°What are you waiting for? Hold her down and beat her up!¡± Shang Liqing¡¯s expression was twisted. Her eyes were filled with ruthlessness as she said, ¡°You didn¡¯t even see your own position clearly! In the Shang family, you¡¯ll never have a chance to speak. Today, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson on behalf of my brother and let you understand how to conduct yourself in the Shang family!¡± The bodyguards obeyed Shang Liqing¡¯s orders and grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s arms roughly. Qu Xiao bent down to dodge their attacks. Blood seeped out from the bandage on her arm. She endured the pain and kicked the weak spot between the bodyguards¡¯ legs. The bodyguards did not expect Qu Xiao to retaliate. They held their crotches in pain and could not stop her. ¡°You... What are you doing? Don¡¯te over!¡± Shang Liqing gulped and looked at Qu Xiao in shock. She was so scary! Rubbing her sore shoulders, Qu Xiao walked to Shang Liqing and gave her a hard p. Shang Liqing felt dizzy immediately. Even Qu Xiao¡¯s palm became red and swollen from the p. She looked at Shang Liqing calmly. ¡°I¡¯m the one who taught you a lesson on behalf of Shang Yan. You have to understand that in the Shang family, I¡¯m your sister-inw!¡± ¡°You disrespecting me is equivalent to insulting Shang Yan and shaming the entire Shang family!¡± ¡°Learn the rules at home first. It¡¯s better than letting others see andugh at us for having such an uncultured daughter like you! You should thank me.¡± The moment Qu Xiao finished speaking, she saw Shang Liqing covering her swollen face and shouting behind her. ¡°Brother!¡± ¡°Help me! This crazy woman is bullying me!¡± Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Acting Weak

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao stood rooted to the spot. No way! How could it be! Qu Xiao felt a chill down her spine and her scalp turned numb. Shang Yan¡¯s impression of her would probably worsen after seeing how cruel she was to Shang Liqing. Qu Xiao was racking her brain about how to exin when messy footsteps passed by her. Shang Xinchen hurriedly ran over to Shang Liqing with ice. With a concerned expression, he applied ice on her swollen face. ¡°Liqing, are you alright?¡± Shang Liqing pointed at Qu Xiao and said in a low voice, ¡°I can¡¯t believe she hit me!¡± She was so angry that she even stammered a little. Shang Xinchen was there the whole time when Qu Xiao pped Shang Liqing. Qu Xiao always gave them the impression that she was timid and weak, but now that she suddenly erupted with such a powerful energy and even dared to hit people, Shang Xinchen and Shang Liqing werepletely stunned. They looked at Qu Xiao with vignce and fear, which never happened before. When Qu Xiao saw Shang Xinchen, she was so relieved that it was not Shang Yan. She was about to pick up the broken ss, but when she bent over, a hand grabbed her wrist. It was cold and strong. Qu Xiao mistakenly thought that the bodyguard from the Shang family wanted to attack her. She controlled him and wanted to make use of the inertia to throw him down. The moment she exerted her strength, Qu Xiao saw the aluminum alloy of Shang Yan¡¯s wheelchair and his trousers. She immediately retracted her strength. Qu Xiao¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she saw Shang Yan¡¯s curious eyes. Could he have noticed something? She thought for a moment and immediately held his hand with both hands. She staggered as if she could not stand still and looked at him with misty eyes. Droplets of water fell from her hair andnded on the back of Shang Yan¡¯s hand. He narrowed his eyes and frowned when he saw the wet spot on Qu Xiao¡¯s clothes. Qu Xiao bit her red lips coyly. The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. She choked andined, ¡°Honey, what took you so long?¡± ¡°Someone must have instigated Liqing toe here and force me to let Qu Qi out. I refused, so Liqing called them to catch me...¡± Qu Xiao pointed at all the bodyguards present, leaving no one out. She was very vengeful! Shang Yan recalled what he had seen when he entered the room. Which one was the real her? There were clearly doubt and confusion in his eyes. But he saw Qu Xiao¡¯s tears rolling down her cheeks. She sobbed softly and looked at him with anticipation like a helpless girl. He couldn¡¯t help but be moved. ¡°Liqing, what¡¯s going on?¡± Shang Liqing did not expect her brother to believe Qu Xiao. She stood up excitedly. ¡°Qu Xiao is out of her mind! She wanted to kill me!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys see that? I will call the police and get her under control!¡± ¡°If she dares to attack me today, she might attack my brother tomorrow! This kind of woman is scary!¡± Shang Liqing put all the me on Qu Xiao, and she looked at Qu Xiao smugly and provocatively with a cunning smile. Shang Xinchen and Shang Yan would definitely believe her! Shang Liqing was waiting for Qu Xiao to beg for mercy out of fear, but she did not expect Shang Yan to look at her quietly and ask, ¡°Is that true?¡± Qu Xiao was a little surprised as she did not expect Shang Yan to ask her. However, she quickly seized the opportunity. ¡°Liqing started it!¡± ¡°Ever since I married you and came into the Shang family, I¡¯ve wanted to be a good wife and sister-inw.¡± ¡°But for some reason, Liqing was always picky about me. She would bully me when you were not around and even hit me. I know that she¡¯s your sister and that you love her, so I¡¯ve endured it. ¡°But today, she asked me to release Qu Qi, the murderer who wanted to harm me.¡± ¡°I suddenly realized that Liqing never treated me as a family. That¡¯s why I resisted and identally hurt her...¡± Qu Xiao was extremely engrossed as she exaggerated all the evil deeds that Shang Liqing had done in the past. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask the butler.¡± Everyone in the vi had seen Shang Liqing bullying her, but no one dared to tell the truth. Shang Yan looked at the butler, his eyes cold as he asked silently. The butler remained silent, proving that Qu Xiao was not lying. The temperature around Shang Yan dropped several degrees. His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the wheelchair, making him look intimidating. Shang Liqing hid behind Shang Xinchen, afraid that her brother would punish her. Qu Xiao rubbed her palm and secretly raised her eyes to look at Shang Yan timidly. ¡°There¡¯s already a witness, and you still don¡¯t believe me? If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check the surveince footage!¡± Shang Liqing saw her pointing at the surveince camera and felt so guilty that she avoided Shang Yan¡¯s gaze. Her abnormal behavior just proved that Qu Xiao was telling the truth. Shang Yan took the towel from the butler and passed it to Qu Xiao to wipe off the water stains on her body. Qu Xiao pushed him away gently and sat on the sofa stubbornly and pitifully. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t mind me. You don¡¯t believe me anyway.¡± Shang Yan saw the blood seeping out of her arm and felt frustrated. He stared at Shang Xinchen. ¡°Move aside!¡± ¡°Shang Liqing, stand there!¡± Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Mental Hospital

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Shang Liqing was so nervous that she was twisting her fingers. She stared at the floor, not daring to even raise her head. Ever since she was young, even if she made a mistake, Shang Yan would not reprimand her at all. He would even ask their parents to forgive her. But now, he was siding with Qu Xiao and wanted to punish and reprimand her? Shang Liqing looked at Qu Xiao with grievance. When she saw the faint smile on Qu Xiao¡¯s lips, she felt a bit strange. How could a person change so drastically in just a few days? Confusion filled Shang Liqing¡¯s heart. She looked at Shang Yan and said abruptly, ¡°Don¡¯t you think that Qu Xiao has been acting weird recently?¡± ¡°She talks like a crazy person and hurts people. And she seems very unstable. There¡¯s probably something wrong with her head!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we get a psychiatrist to do a checkup for her? She needs medication if she is ill. If she is healthy, I will apologize for my mistake! I will not make the same mistake again.¡± Shang Liqing said encouragingly. She secretly gave Shang Xinchen a nudge, signaling him to say something and help her convince Shang Yan. Shang Xinchen thought about the situation yesterday and also felt that something was wrong with Qu Xiao. He agreed, ¡°Yeah, I think Liqing is right.¡± ¡°Call the doctor over for a checkup. There¡¯s no harm in that!¡± Qu Xiao looked at them in amusement but realized that Shang Yan was looking at her with narrowed eyes without rejecting. Crap. Her heart sank. Could it be that her strange behavior had aroused his suspicion? Shang Liqing suggested, ¡°I know a psychiatrist from a first rate hospital. I can invite him over...¡± Under theirbined efforts, Qu Xiao had no choice but to sit in the living room and wait for the doctor¡¯s arrival. Qu Xiao stood up and went to the kitchen. She poured another cup of lemon water and passed it to Shang Yan. ¡°I learned it from the nanny. She said you don¡¯t like ginger soup. It¡¯s raining outside, and your body is cold. Drink it to warm yourself up.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s voice was calm, though she was still angry at him for not believing her. Holding the warm ss, Shang Yan recalled that Qu Xiao had said that she was waiting for him toe back. He stared deeply at her and tilted his head to take a sip. His eyes were filled with scrutiny and inquiry. Qu Xiao was looking at her phone under his gaze and pretended to be calm. Ding dong. The doorbell rang. ¡°I¡¯ll go get the doctor!¡± Shang Liqing ran out first and secretly gave the doctor a look. ¡°I¡¯ll count on you!¡± The doctor nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The equipment we brought today has been tampered with. Even a normal person will be diagnosed with some mental problem.¡± Shang Liqing was relieved and happily brought the doctor into the room. She enthusiastically discussed the relevant matters regarding the test. Qu Xiao was lying t on the bed and the doctor had pasted examination patches on her head. After a few simple questions, the device let out a warning buzz. The doctor removed the equipment and signaled for Qu Xiao to wait in the room for a while. He then brought the printed report to Shang Yan. ¡°Mr. Shang, your wife¡¯s mental health report shows that she has severe mental disorders and needs to be hospitalized for treatment.¡± ¡°If the treatment is dyed, it might cause irreversible damage to the patient¡¯s mental state. She will not be able to live as a normal person in the future. Please make a decision as soon as possible. I will contact the hospital for you and conduct long-term treatment for her.¡± Shang Xinchen snatched the report over. He looked at the densely packed numbers and symbols and mumbled, ¡°Look, she is indeed sick!¡± Shang Yan frowned. Through the ajar door, he saw Qu Xiao lying quietly inside with a cold expression. Was her recent abnormality, including her concern for him, due to mental illness? Everything was fake? For some reason, Shang Yan felt ufortable. Afraid that Shang Yan would reject the offer, Shang Liqing said hurriedly, ¡°Brother, Qu Xiao won¡¯t stay in the mental hospital for the rest of her life. When she¡¯s in a better state of mind, we can bring her back. This is for her own good!¡± ¡°Butler, what are you waiting for? Pack up Qu Xiao¡¯s clothes and daily necessities and take her awayter!¡± Shang Liqing wished she could pack up for Qu Xiao herself. As long as Qu Xiao moved out of the vi, it would be much harder for her to return! As long as there was a medical record in a mental hospital, Shang Liqing could expose it to the media. By then, Qu Xiao and Shang Yan would definitely get a divorce! Shang Liqing was thinking about her future n and vision and did not notice Qu Xiao walking out of the room. Seeing that they were taking her clothes out, Qu Xiao frowned and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shang Xinchen quickly replied, ¡°To send you to the hospital, of course!¡± ¡°The current technology is very advanced. As long as you follow the doctor¡¯s treatment n, you will have a chance of recovery!¡± Shang Xinchen looked at Qu Xiao with sympathy and pity. This made her feel so frustrated that she almost fainted from anger. Mental illness?! They were the ones out of their god*mn mind! Qu Xiao recalled the entire process of the examination and the final results. She knew that he must have made a false report! She saw how Shang Liqing and the doctor were exchanging secret nces. She said knowingly, ¡°Doctor, can I ask you a few questions?¡± ¡°If you can answer, I¡¯ll go to the hospital with you.¡± Chapter 14

Chapter 14: The Truth of the Illness

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

There was a deadlock in the living room as everyone focused their attention on Qu Xiao and felt that her actions were getting stranger. The doctor felt that she was deliberately stalling for time so that she could gain Shang Yan¡¯s sympathy and continue to stay in the Shang family. He readily agreed to her suggestion. Qu Xiao tilted her head and sized up the doctor before speaking slowly. ¡°For the identification and examination of mental illness, the attending physician will need the patient to provide the medical history and rted information, unless the patient shows severemunication disorders, self-muttion, or dangerous behavior that harms others. But you¡¯ve never really talked to me about it... ¡°Based on some data that can be faked, how can you determine my mental state or the dynamic development of my symptoms? May I ask what my symptoms are? Depression? Bipr disorder? Damaged fantasy?¡± Qu Xiao enunciated each and every word with extreme coldness. The doctor looked mortified. He turned to Shang Liqing, trying to seek help and support, but she quickly averted her gaze. Qu Xiao remained emotionless as she took a few steps towards Shang Yan¡¯s side and sat down. She took deep breaths as she prepared tointer. Shang Yan frowned as he looked at her, his eyes filled with curiosity and doubt. Was she still the Qu Xiao from before? Swoosh¡ª Qu Xiao felt that it was about time. She waved the report with the smell of ink and pointed at the doctor. ¡°Shang Yan, he must have been bribed! These fake tests and fake reports are used to lock me up in the mental hospital.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call the police!¡± Shang Liqing started to panic. She was afraid that she would be implicated, so she stopped Qu Xiao agitatedly. ¡°What do you know?¡± ¡°How do you know the procedure and standard of the mental examination? Qu Qi is the only one in the Qu family who studied medicine. Don¡¯t try to lie to us!¡± Qu Xiao exined calmly, ¡°When I¡¯m bored, I would sometimes go to the study and find some books that I¡¯m interested in to pass the time.¡± ¡°Some time ago, I happened to see a series written by foreign schrs about the prevention and treatment of mental illnesses, so I know a thing or two.¡± Shang Yan had a habit of collecting books. Qu Xiao remembered seeing a few medical books on his bookshelf, so she used it as an excuse. Shang Liqing was so angry that her face was twisted. The doctor swallowed his saliva and felt like he was stuck in a quagmire, unable to pull himself out. Qu Xiao knew her limits. She lowered her eyes and held back her grievance as she suggested, ¡°Shang Yan, you can find a reliable doctor that you know to do another psychiatric evaluation for me. I believe in science and I believe in you. You won¡¯t let me suffer for nothing, right?¡± She was acting weak, hoping that this would let down Shang Yan¡¯s guard and get him on her side. Qu Xiao was so nervous that her heart was about to jump out of her throat. Shang Yan pursed his lips into a straight line and instructed the butler, ¡°Call the hospital and get Doctor Zhang and the authoritative psychiatrist to bring the equipment here. Now!¡± Shang Yan looked up at Shang Liqing and the doctor, frowning. He had already guessed what was going on. The doctor soon arrived at the vi and brought Qu Xiao to the quiet guest room for a detailed interrogation. Half an hourter, the doctor handed the report to Shang Yan. ¡°Miss Qu is in a normal mental state, but shecks a sense of security and has been in a nervous and anxious environment for a long time. She needs her family to take care of her and show her more love.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were cold as hepared the twopletely opposite appraisal reports. ¡°Shang Liqing!¡± Shang Liqing was so frightened that her legs were trembling. She quickly waved her hands trying to shirk the responsibility and get herself out of trouble, ¡°It¡¯s just a doctor my friend rmended to me. I don¡¯t know if he has any qualifications to be a practitioner or if he was bribed by someone to harm Qu Xiao.¡± The living room was silent. Shang Xinchen and Shang Yan looked at her with disappointment. Shang Liqing tugged at Shang Xinchen¡¯s clothes, wanting him to speak up for her. However, he pushed Shang Liqing¡¯s arm away and said in a low voice, ¡°I can¡¯t help you this time.¡± Qu Xiao bit her lips, looking miserable. She walked to the corner quietly while pushing her packed luggage. The wheels rubbed against the floor, creating an ear-piercing sound. Qu Xiao wiped her tears away and said softly, ¡°The Shang family has never epted me.¡± ¡°Shang Liqing doesn¡¯t treat me as her sister-inw at all. Even the housekeepers and helpers at home are more important than me.¡± ¡°She¡¯s always wanted to chase me away, and she¡¯d even send me to a mental hospital! I can¡¯t take it anymore. This is enough. I¡¯m leaving!¡± Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Kicked Out of the House

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao suddenly turned around and dragged her luggage towards the door. There was silence in the living room. Her eyes wandered as she controlled her pace, trying to think of a way to salvage the situation. Her n was to pretend to be stubborn and gain Shang Yan¡¯s sympathy in order to gain a foothold in the Shang family, but who would have thought that she would mess it up! Shang Liqing sat on the sofa with her arms crossed. She said mockingly, ¡°Yeah, just get out of our house. You¡¯re such a disgrace...¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Shang Yan red at her coldly and shouted, ¡°Wait!¡± The butler heard Shang Yan¡¯s instructions and quickly snatched Qu Xiao¡¯s luggage back. Qu Xiao heaved a sigh of relief and stared at Shang Yan with tears in her eyes, but she would not speak. Shang Yan pushed the wheelchair toward her and said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s Liqing¡¯s fault. I¡¯ll ask her to apologize to you.¡± Shang Liqing widened her eyes in shock and red angrily at Qu Xiao. Before she could tell more lies, Qu Xiao rejected her first. Qu Xiao looked down silently and said in a dull voice, ¡°Shang Yan, I don¡¯t want a simple apology.¡± ¡°I also don¡¯t want Shang Liqing to repent on the surface out of respect for you. What I want is respect!¡± Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her eyes seemed to be able to speak, making him feel pity and even sorry for her. Qu Xiao adjusted her breathing andined, ¡°In the past, Shang Liqing took away what belonged to me and humiliated me in front of the housekeeper and maids. I chose to endure it. I thought that I could make her ept me and warm up to me, but what did I get in return?¡± ¡°She bribed the doctor today to send me to the mental hospital!¡± ¡°What kind of ce is a mental hospital? Even a normal person would turn into a real madman after staying there for a few days.¡± Fear shed in Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes as she clenched her fists tightly. They could tell that her body was trembling slightly. ¡°Shang Liqing hates me to this extent. Will she poison my food tomorrow? No matter how much I want to be with you, I don¡¯t dare take the risk anymore...¡± Her words made Shang Yan raise his eyes in surprise, trying to discern if she meant it. Shang Liqing suddenly jumped up and cursed, ¡°That¡¯s not true! Bullsh*t! What nonsense are you spouting!¡± She was so pissed that she stammered a little. Shang Xinchen quickly controlled her and reminded her in a low voice, ¡°Calm down. Shang Yan is very angry. Stop making a fuss.¡± Qu Xiao admitted that she was exaggerating, but she still looked at Shang Yan sincerely, her gentle eyes searching for his protection. ¡°Do you trust her or me?¡± This question was very simple for Shang Yan. Shang Liqing was his younger sister. No one knew her temper better than Shang Yan. From what Qu Xiao said about her, Shang Yan could imagine how arrogant and unreasonable Shang Liqing was when he was not around. Shang Yan furrowed his brows and thought for a moment. He looked at Shang Liqing and said, ¡°Don¡¯te here again. I¡¯ll go visit you often at the old house.¡± ¡°I will change all the passcodes, and the bodyguards will not let you through...¡± Shang Xinchen and Shang Liqing shouted at the same time, ¡°Shang Yan!!¡± Shang Liqing was so shocked that her voice sounded weird. She pointed at Qu Xiao and questioned, ¡°You are chasing me away because of this woman?!¡± Shang Yan signaled the bodyguards to bring Shang Liqing out. The drama at home had given him a headache that he had not experienced in a long time. He rubbed his forehead and pushed the wheelchair in front of Qu Xiao. He looked up and asked, ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± Qu Xiao sniffed and looked at the bodyguards standing beside her bitterly. ¡°But they won¡¯t listen to me. If you¡¯re not around...¡± Shang Yan waved his hand, gesturing for the butler to rece the bodyguards standing at the door. Then, he announced in front of everyone, ¡°Qu Xiao is the mistress of this ce. You have to listen to her orders andmands, understand?¡± The servants ced their hands behind their backs and answered in unison, ¡°Understood.¡± The corners of Qu Xiao¡¯s lips curled up as she thanked Shang Liqing for helping her out and giving her the power at home. Shang Xinchen was worried about his sister. Heforted Shang Liqing and sent her to the car before returning to the vi. When he returned, he happened to see the bodyguards changing shifts. Shang Xinchen walked to Shang Yan unhappily. ¡°I know Liqing is in the wrong, but you don¡¯t have to be so ruthless to her just for Qu Xiao. Is it worth it?¡± Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Bewitched

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

¡°How did Qu Xiao do it? Shang Yan! You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing. You¡¯repletely bewitched by her!¡± Shang Xinchen¡¯s voice was filled with anxiety as he tried to bring him back to his senses. Shang Yan somehow seemed like a stranger to him. Qu Xiao stood on the spot and shook her head innocently. Shang Yan gave him a look of dissatisfaction as he reminded Shang Xinchen, ¡°She¡¯s your sister-inw. Be careful with your words.¡± Shang Xinchen could not believe what he had just heard. He took two steps back andughed bitterly. ¡°You are hopeless!¡± He then left without looking back. The vi seemed to have gone through a storm. The housemaids and helps were cleaning up the ss shards in the living room while the butler pushed Shang Yan back to the bedroom. Qu Xiao thought about how to repay Shang Yan for standing up for her and finally went to the kitchen to make some noodle as a token of her gratitude. Knock knock¡ª She held the tray with some difficulty and knocked on the door. Shang Yan changed into a set of casual pajamas. His short brown hair hung loosely in front of his eyes. He leaned against the bed frame and said softly, ¡°Come in.¡± Qu Xiao was stunned when she saw him looking so cute and approachable. She did not expect Shang Yan to have this side to him. She quickly collected her emotions and ced the bowl of steaming noodle on the bedside table. She stood beside the bed and exined, ¡°I think you might be hungry. I made some supper for you. I don¡¯t know if you like it. Or you can tell me what you want to eat.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Shang Yan rejected her at once. Qu Xiao did not hide her disappointment. Looking at her expression, Shang Yan suddenly found it kind of funny. He stared at Qu Xiao and asked, ¡°You change so fast. One minute you were crying and wanting to leave the house, and now you¡¯re making noodles for me? Which one is the real you?¡± ¡°Or is this what you do to get what you want?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with doubt and wariness. He had lived on the edge of a knife for almost thirty years, and he was used to rejecting people who were nice and kind to him. Qu Xiao felt that he was a little pitiful as she beamed and said cheerfully, ¡°Because I can see it clearly!¡± ¡°Shang Liqing wanted to harm me. It has nothing to do with you. On the contrary, you even helped me. I have to repay you!¡± ¡°Do you want to try it? My cooking is really good. I can feed you if you want.¡± Qu Xiao changed the topic and wanted to sit by Shang Yan¡¯s bedside. Shang Yan grabbed the chopsticks uneasily and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself. You can leave.¡± Qu Xiao pouted and looked longingly at Shang Yan before walking out of the room. Shang Yan savored her words while he ate the noodles. The nd soup did not taste like anything. And the noodles were a bit undercooked and tasted kind of stiff. However, Shang Yan, who had always been picky, ate up the noodles she made. Late at night, he received a call from home. When he found out that Shang Liqing had gone home to cause trouble, he had no choice but to call the police to release Qu Qi. Ling Chi, who was locked up at the same ce, was a little anxious when he received the news. He spent some money to get a phone so he could contact the outside world. He dialed Qu Xiao¡¯s number and pleaded with her. ¡°Xiao, I know you¡¯re still angry. It¡¯s all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have ignored you recently. I promise I¡¯ll spend more time with you!¡± ¡°Call off thewsuit with the police and get me out of here, please. There are still many things that thepany needs me to handle...¡± Hearing Ling Chi¡¯s disgusting voice, Qu Xiao moved her phone away and said coldly, ¡°No!¡± ¡°You¡¯re an adult, so you need to pay the price for your actions. You should think about how you should act so that you can get a lighter sentence instead of wasting your time on useless things... Goodbye, good luck.¡± Qu Xiao hung up immediately, and Ling Chi was dumbfounded when he heard the beeping sound. His throat was dry as he called back again. When Qu Xiao saw all the calls, she blocked him before she put her phone down and went to sleep. ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavable!¡± Ling Chi almost smashed his phone when he heard the icy voice. ¡°Qu Xiao, you b*tch, just you wait!¡± He dialed another number. ¡°Hello? Is this Mr. Qu?¡± ¡°I have some trouble, and I might need your help.¡± In the detainment room of the police station, Ling Chi whispered into the phone about the trouble he was facing, his eyes flicking viciously. When the man on the other end of the phone made a promise to him, his lips curled into a smile. Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Severing Kinship

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The next morning, the private doctor who was treating Qu Xiao had something else to do, so he asked the chauffeur to take her to the hospital for a checkup and change her dressing. There was a traffic jam during peak hours. The driver held the steering wheel and the car crawled forward slowly like a snail. Qu Xiao rolled down the car window and saw the towering office building of the Shang Group headquarters in the distance. She took out two photos with phone and sent them to Shang Yan. Shezily scrolled through the screen, feeling a little disappointed that she did not receive a reply. After leaving the hospital, Qu Xiao walked around the shopping mall in a good mood. She wanted to buy a gift for Shang Yan to thank him for his care and protection. The chauffeur apanied her to the shop. Qu Xiao picked up a light green shirt. She narrowed her eyes and smiled as she thought about how Shang Yan would look like in it. The salesperson could tell that she was of high status and hurriedly invited her to the VIP room to see some limited edition clothes. ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you buying a gift for your boyfriend? We can make some rmendations.¡± Qu Xiao followed them to the private room and her eyes shone with happiness as she said sweetly, ¡°It¡¯s my husband.¡± The salesperson nodded and congratted her out of politeness. Qu Xiao sat down and her phone suddenly rang. She lowered her head and saw the Qu family¡¯s number shing on the screen. Frustration rose from the bottom of her heart. The salesperson noticed and left immediately. Qu Xiao paused for a few seconds before asking coldly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Qu Xiao! Go to the police station to withdraw thewsuit and bring Ling Chi out. Now!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s father roared angrily. The veins on his neck bulged and his fat belly trembled. ¡°Our project with the Ling family is still in the stage of contract signing. How could you sue him now?¡± ¡°If Ling Chi decides to break the contract, the Qu family will face a devastating loss. Can you possibly make up for it? Do you want to destroy our family?¡± ¡°You unfilial girl! Settle this as soon as possible. Don¡¯t let me get another call from Ling Chi!¡± His noisy voice made Qu Xiao¡¯s ears feel numb. She was surprised that Ling Chi would be so stupid as to use the Qu family to pressure her. The original Qu Xiao might yield to her father, but it had no effect on her! Qu Xiao leaned on the soft sofa and casually flipped through the album of new clothes. She askedzily, ¡°Anything else?¡± Mr. Qu was stunned. He looked at Qu Qi who was sitting opposite him and recalled that she had mentioned when she came back that Qu Xiao had changed a lot... The buzzing sound came from the receiver. Qu Xiao kindly reminded him, ¡°The Qu family¡¯s loss has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°If you want me to do something, you have to say something nice, right? For example, beg me... maybe I¡¯ll consider it.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s voice was clear and pleasant. She even sounded as if she was smiling. Mr. Qu was so angry that he grabbed the ss vase and smashed it on the ground. He stood up suddenly and shouted angrily, ¡°Qu Xiao! I dare you to say that again!¡± ¡°You piece of trash, do you think that you have Shang Yan¡¯s support now?¡± ¡°I am your father! If you dare to talk to me like this, I will kick you out of our Qu family and make you...¡± Qu Xiao could not be bothered to continue talking nonsense with him. She closed her eyes and press on her brows with her fingertips. ¡°Kick me out? Really? Thank you then, Mr. Qu!¡± ¡°Later, I¡¯ll send you the address of the Shang residence. When thewyer drafts out the uses and relevant information regarding the severing of kinship, you¡¯d better send it over at once. Let¡¯s get things done as soon as possible so that we don¡¯t waste each other¡¯s time.¡± Click! Qu Xiao hung up decisively and took some breaths to regte her emotions. Her father stood on the spot in disbelief. He could not imagine that these words came from Qu Xiao. Was this still the weak girl who did not dare to look him in the eye? As Qu Qi admired her newly-made nails, she chuckled and said with a strange expression, ¡°Dad, you see? Our family means nothing to Qu Xiao.¡± ¡°She dared to do this because she had Shang Yan to back her up. But think about it, if Shang Yan knows that she likes Ling Chi, would he still protect that sl*t who¡¯s cheating on him?¡± Qu Qi encouraged her father and continued, ¡°When the Shang family kicks Qu Xiao out, she will definitelye back crying and apologize to you! She will have to endure whatever you want to do to her!¡± When her father heard this, his eyes flickered. He found Shang Yan¡¯s private number and cleared his throat before calling him. Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Divorce Again

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

At the weekly meeting in the meeting room. The managers of the various departments exined their work in order. Shang Yan listened and gave suggestions from time to time. Ding dong¡ª A new message from Qu Xiao. Shang Yan clicked on it. In the picture were familiar street views and buildings. Through the brown ss, he could see Qu Xiao¡¯s reflection. He looked at his watch and guessed that Qu Xiao was on her way to the hospital for a follow-up. Shang Yan was going to reply after the meeting ended, but before the screen went off, an unknown number called. He frowned and signaled his assistant Li to stop the report before pushing the wheelchair outside. When he picked up the phone, Mr. Qu hurriedly introduced himself. ¡°Mr. Shang, I¡¯m Qu Xiao¡¯s father!¡± Shang Yan was a little surprised. He had a business marriage with Qu Xiao and had only met his so-called father-inw a few times. They were practically strangers. Mr. Qu paced around nervously as he held his phone with a smile. His eyes were filled with scheming light. He said with a stupid smile, trying to sound honest. ¡°I heard from Qu Qi that you had a conflict with Xiao? I want to apologize on her behalf.¡± ¡°Our Qu family does know about Ling Chi and Xiao¡¯s rtionship. However, we thought that Xiao wouldpletely cut off her rtionship with him after she got married. I never expected them to do such a ridiculous thing. They¡¯vepletely disgraced our Qu family!¡± ¡°But Mr. Shang, the Ling family has some influence after all. It¡¯s not good for us to lock Ling Chi up at the police station.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s face darkened, and he was apparently very upset. He clenched his fists tightly, suppressing his anger. ¡°Xiao actually wanted to let Ling Chi out, but she was afraid of your opinion, so she wanted me to plead with you.¡± ¡°Can we...¡± Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips curled into a sarcastic smile as he sneered coldly. He deleted his chat history with Qu Xiao and returned to the meeting room to inform everyone that the meeting was over. The assistant Li sent him back to the vi. The butler saw Shang Yan¡¯s dark expression and felt that something was wrong. ... In the evening, the butler and nanny felt worried as Shang Yan had been sitting in the living room for the whole afternoon. They wanted to call Qu Xiao, but she happened to enter with shopping bags of all sizes. Qu Xiao left the things on the floor and rubbed her sore arm as sheid on the sofa tiredly. Sensing that someone seemed to be staring at her from afar, Qu Xiao turned around and found Shang Yan sitting there with a cold expression. She quickly sat up and tidied her messy hair and dress. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°The doctor said I¡¯m recovering well. On the way back, I prepared a surprise for you!¡± ¡°Guess what it is!¡± Qu Xiao hid one of the shopping bags behind her. Shang Yan looked at her actions and found it ridiculous. He pushed the wheelchair toward her and pointed at the stack of documents on the coffee table. He said coldly, ¡°These are the divorce papers that I got mywyer to draft. I¡¯ve already signed mine. We can go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to finalize the divorce at any time.¡± ¡°As for the distribution of assets, I can satisfy your request... But I hope you can disappear from my life as soon as possible!¡± Shang Yan wanted to stuff the divorce papers into her palm, but Qu Xiao pushed them away instinctively. The few pieces of paper fell to the ground. When Qu Xiao met his emotionless eyes, she felt inexplicably flustered. She recalled everything that had happened sincest night and could not figure out where she had gone wrong. She ran to Shang Yan¡¯s side and squatted down, cing her hand on his knee as she asked in a tight voice, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There has to be a reason, right?¡± Shang Yan pried her fingers away, a mocking smile on his lips. ¡°How long do you want to lie to me?¡± ¡°If you wanted to save Ling Chi so badly, why did you call the police?¡± ¡°We¡¯re all adults. You can speak your mind directly. There is no need to involve your father...¡± Qu Xiao looked at Shang Yan in confusion and pointed at herself with a frown. ¡°We seem to have a misunderstanding!¡± Shang Yan thought that she was still making excuses. He shook his head with the tip of his tongue against his teeth. ¡°Contact me if you want to discuss conditions. During this period, I will stay in the apartment outside. I will send someone to the police station to cancel thewsuit. Ling Chi will be released soon. I wish you happiness!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. All the dots were connected at this moment. It must be the Qu family behind this! She rushed to Shang Yan and raised her arms to stop him. ¡°Wait! I¡¯ll take you somewhere!¡± Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Falling Out at the Police Station

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the evening, the cold wind whistled outside the window. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes and nose turned red as she felt wronged and sad. She pushed the wheelchair and red at the bodyguards who wanted to stop her. ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Out of the corner of his eye, Shang Yan saw Qu Xiao¡¯s body trembling slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded and signaled for the bodyguards to move aside. The butler got Shang Yan and his wheelchair into the car. Qu Xiao sat beside him and mmed the car door shut. She gave the address of the police station and turned her head to look out the window. The atmosphere in the car was extremely oppressive and suffocating. Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips were pursed into a straight line as he sat in the back seat. Qu Xiao wanted to exin, but she forced herself to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue a few times. Qu Xiao felt stifled. She rolled down the car window a bit, breathing heavily. In the darkness of the night, the Mercedes-benz sped at high speed and soon arrived at the police station in the eastside. When the police officers on duty saw Shang Yan, they hurriedly ran out to wee him. They were fawning over him, while trying to figure out why he was here. The deputy director had been bribed by Ling Chi. He looked at them probingly and said, ¡°Mr. Ling is to be released in two days. Do you want us to release him ahead of time?¡± Qu Xiao nced at him coldly and said on behalf of Shang Yan, ¡°Get your director here and prepare a separate meeting room for us.¡± ¡°Bring Ling Chi out. We need to talk to him...¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s attitude surprised Shang Yan. He nodded in acquiescence. The deputy director was a little hesitant, but he quickly did as he was told. The police officer went to the detention room to call Ling Chi. He stood up with a smug look on his face and patted the dust off his body. He kicked the iron door with an arrogant expression and raised the handcuffs, signaling the staff to untie him. The staff looked at him with some bafflement. ¡°What are you thinking about? Someone wants to see you!¡± Ling Chi stopped dead. He furrowed his brows and followed the staff to the meeting room. Qu Xiao and Shang Yan kept their distance as they sat. When Ling Chi saw them, he was even more shocked and unsure of the situation. The director at the police station rushed back when he received the call. The moment he opened the door, he felt something unusual. He was going to leave temporarily to give them some space, but Qu Xiao stopped him, ¡°Director, I need you to be my witness on the spot.¡± When Qu Xiao finished speaking, Shang Yan and Ling Chi both raised their heads to look at her. ¡°In the past two years, Ling Chi harassed me through phone calls, text messages, and meetings. Even after I politely refused, he still wanted to destroy my family. He also used his power and money to bribe prison guards while he was in detention, causing a serious impact on my life through various means.¡± ¡°Moreover, Ling Chi tricked me into stealing confidential information, project proposal, tender documents from the Shang Group...¡± ¡°I have the relevant chat records, voice recordings, and other evidence in my hands. I want to report this to the police. I hope that the director can withstand the pressure and ept the case. Please give me and my husband a safe living space. Please severely punish Ling Chi and make him pay for his crimes!¡± ¡°As long as the director is willing to ept the case, I can testify at any time!¡± Qu Xiao said without a single pause. Ling Chi¡¯s eyes were red as he flipped the table over. ¡°B*tch! Are you crazy?¡± Shang Yan blocked in front of Qu Xiao with lightning speed. Ling Chi¡¯s handcuffsnded heavily on his shoulder. The prison guards outside the house heard the noise and quickly rushed in to control Ling Chi who went crazy. The situation became out of control and the director felt a headacheing on. Of course, he understood that the Ling family and the Shang family were someone he could not afford to offend. However, Qu Xiao¡¯s words in the police station were corroborated by a video. The director could only bring her to the room next door to make a statement. Shang Yan sat in the corridor with a faint pain in his shoulder. He stared at the tiles on the floor and recalled Qu Xiao¡¯s firm tone. He frowned and pondered. Qu Xiao¡¯s actions meant she had fallen out with Ling Chi. It was not like what her father said. It seemed she had no feelings for him. Could it be that he had misunderstood? The door opened and Qu Xiao pushed Shang Yan out of the police station with a calm expression. Silence and awkwardness filled the car. Qu Xiao closed her eyes and leaned against the back of the chair. She bit hard on her red lips. The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she became. Shang Yan wanted to break the silence and say a few words to her. But in the next second, Qu Xiao pounced on him. She bit on Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder through his shirt and raised her fists to hammer his chest. That happened to be where Shang Yan was injured. He furrowed his brows and endured the pain, not making a sound. Shang Yan held her wrist and wanted to pull her away, but he thought better of it. He just let her vent her anger instead. Qu Xiao wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. She heold Shang Yan¡¯s arm weakly and leaned her head on his shoulder. With a said tone, she sobbed, ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Chapter 20

Chapter 20: No More Divorce

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Shang Yan said nothing. Since the day the doctor announced that he needed to be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, he had isted himself from the world. He used coldness to scare away anyone who tried to get close to him. Only Qu Xiao was an exception. She was like a warm sun revolving around him tirelessly and slowly melting his heart. In the vi, the butler could not help but heave a sigh of relief when he saw Shang Yan and Qu Xiaoing back as a harmonious couple without mentioning divorce again. In the bathroom, Qu Xiao soaked herself in the bathtub to get rid of her fatigue. She changed into her robe and used a towel to wrap her wet hair before retrieving the shopping bags that were left in the living room. Qu Xiao brought the two shirts she specially picked out and knocked on the next door. Shang Yan¡¯s back was facing the door. He thought that the butler was here to deliver water, so he said, ¡°Come in.¡± He unbuttoned his shirt and threw it into theundry basket. Shang Yan did not hear the butler¡¯s voice for a long time. When he turned around and saw Qu Xiao, both of them were stunned. Qu Xiao covered her eyes in shock. She could not help but peek at Shang Yan through the gaps of her fingers. He was always in a wheelchair and despite his thin appearance, he had beautiful muscles. The veins on his arm were emitting hormones and made him seem exceptionally sexy. Shang Yan was a bit embarrassed. He picked up his coat and wanted to put it on, but he pulled on the wound on his shoulder. Qu Xiao noticed the bite marks and bruises on his left shoulder and quickly ran over. She gently touched Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder and felt his muscles tense up. Looking distressed, she asked, ¡°Did I hurt you?¡± Shang Yan shook his head. Qu Xiao recalled how Ling Chi rushed over at the police station. She felt sorry for Shang Yan. ¡°It¡¯s all because of me!¡± She quickly found the first aid kit and disinfected his wound. Her hair that was emitting the fragrance of oranges gently touched him. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and he avoided eye contact. Qu Xiao pretended to grumble, ¡°How long do you want to hide your true self? Is it so hard to find someone else to help you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you onto the bed.¡± Qu Xiao lifted the nket. When she saw Shang Yan opening his mouth, she quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t reject me!¡± Shang Yan could not dissuade her. He unlocked the safety lock of the wheelchair and guided Qu Xiao to stand beside him. He slowly ced his arm on Qu Xiao¡¯s shoulder. She wrapped her arms around his waist and supported him with some difficulty. In the end, she sessfully made him lean against the bed frame. Qu Xiao wiped the sweat off her forehead and smiled brightly. She returned to the door and ced the shirt before Shang Yan, measuring the size with her hand. Shang Yan asked, ¡°You bought it for me?¡± Qu Xiao nodded and said coquettishly, ¡°It was a gift, but I regret it now and want to make a deal with you!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips curved into a faint smile, indicating that he would satisfy all her requests. ¡°Don¡¯t scare me with the divorce agreement anymore!¡± Qu Xiao twisted her fingers and pouted her shiny red lips. She quickly looked up at Shang Yan. ¡°I was very stupid and threatened you with divorce every now and then. But I¡¯m a girl. You can¡¯t be like me!¡± ¡°Promise me, whatever problems we might face, we have to find a way to solve them. We cannot mention divorce anymore!¡± Shang Yan frowned and stared at her with probing eyes, as if trying to guess her intentions. ¡°What did the director say? Are you really going to sue Ling Chi? Have you thought about the consequences?¡± Qu Xiao knew he was changing the topic and frowned. She did not want to bring up that hateful name at this moment. She said lightly, ¡°He tried to harm me a few times. Should I just bear with it silently? Moreover, he tried to separate us!¡± ¡°You have proof?¡± Upon hearing his awkward question, Qu Xiao finally understood what he meant and stuffed the phone into his palm. ¡°Here, the chat history! The password is your birthday. I have no secrets from you.¡± Her eyes were clear and bright, and she was not guarded against him at all. Shang Yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. His pupils wavered as he scrolled through the screen. He did not see any suspicious conversation he had imagined. Ling Chi had been deceiving and instigating Qu Xiao to steal the core secrets of the Shang Group. Qu Xiao was hesitant. She had even rejected Ling Chi many times, clearly saying that it was wrong of them to do this. Qu Xiao probably chose tomit suicide to force Shang Yan to divorce her because it was too painful to be sandwiched between two men. Shang Yan returned the phone to her, and it was obvious that he had let down some of his guard and resistance. Qu Xiao ced her hand in his palm and interlocked their fingers. Pointing at her heart, she said, ¡°My heart almost broke when you mentioned divorce!¡± Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Her Confession and His Change

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

¡°Qu Xiao, a marriage of convenience is about benefiting each other¡¯s families. It¡¯s a bargaining chip and a price.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s voice was clear. He let Qu Xiao hold his hand, while he used the cruelest and most straightforward way to exin their rtionship. ¡°I¡¯m willing to do my best to satisfy all your requests, but you have to understand that I have no feelings for you. I don¡¯t want to lie to you. You can leave anytime, and I have no right to stop you.¡± Shang Yan was giving her the initiative to end the marriage so that she could enjoy freedom and have a nice future. But he refused to give her love. Qu Xiao¡¯s pride drove her to pull her hand out of Shang Yan¡¯s palm. She bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes. They looked at each other in silence. Qu Xiao suddenly smiled and tried to speak in a rxed tone, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ve done many things that disappointed and hurt you. I even unintentionally helped the Ling family and Qu family take advantage of you and put you in a difficult position.¡± ¡°But now I really understand what I want. I¡¯ve already fallen in love with you!¡± ¡°Shang Yan, let me stay by your side to help you and apany you, okay? Don¡¯t push me away, and don¡¯t reject me.¡± ¡°Give us a chance to start over!¡± Tears streamed down Qu Xiao¡¯s face as she curled her cold fingers and confessed sincerely. She was not lying. She had liked Shang Yan as a character before she came into the book, and now that she was in it, she felt very sorry for what he had been through. She had truly developed feelings for him. Shang Yan resisted the urge to wipe her tears. He felt that Qu Xiao had changed too much and he could not get used to it. However, every time he saw her cry, Shang Yan could feel his heart clenching as he relented and indulged Qu Xiao. The bedroom was so quiet that they could hear each other¡¯s heartbeats. Qu Xiao was lost in her thoughts. Could she move Shang Yan and make him agree to let her stay? Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes shifted as she looked at Shang Yan with tears in her eyes. She said stubbornly, ¡°Even if it¡¯s a marriage of convenience, I¡¯m willing to help you expand the business map of the Shang Group. You need me.¡± ¡°I have something on the Ling family that can help you get back all the projects that you¡¯ve lost.¡± Shang Yan shook his head andughed. He did not care about the small projects that Ling Chi snatched away. However, seeing how serious Qu Xiao was, Shang Yan still nodded and agreed. A huge load was taken off Qu Xiao¡¯s chest finally. She stood up and wanted to leave. When she reached the door, she seemed to have thought of something and ran back to the bed. She gently put her hand behind Shang Yan¡¯s neck and nted a kiss on his cheek. Her soft lips brushed past Shang Yan¡¯s face like feathers, stirring up feelings that he thought he would never have. With her hand on the door, Qu Xiao yfully tilted her head and winked at him. ¡°Goodnight, hon!¡± She closed the door shyly, and Shang Yan was stunned for a moment. After a while, he forced out a muffled ¡°mm¡±. He used his fingertip to touch the hickey on his cheek, and his ears turned red. Shang Yan picked up the new shirt that had fallen to the ground. He felt a slight resistance to the unfamiliar color. He raised his head to look at all the ck, white, and gray clothes in the closet. He ced the light green shirt on the bedside table, and he picked up his phone to call his assistant Li. At 11 am, the phone rang three times before Li picked up. Shang Yan looked at the schedule arranged for tomorrow and closed hisptop. He looked at the dark night outside the window and said coldly, ¡°Spread the news about the Ling family to the media and secretly buy shares. Don¡¯t let them notice...¡± Li was a bit shocked and took note of it. ... The next morning, Qu Xiao came out of her room yawning. As usual, she was wearing a loose silk robe and asked the butler to make her a cup of coffee. Qu Xiao nestledzily on the sofa and hugged the pillow beside herfortably. In her sleep, she thought she saw a familiar figure sitting opposite her. Wait? Qu Xiao sat up abruptly and rubbed her eyes in a daze. Shang Yan was wearing the shirt she bought and sitting at the dining table reading the financial newspaper. The coffee on the table was steaming. He seemed to sense Qu Xiao¡¯s shocked gaze and put the newspaper down. ¡°The shirt fits me very well. Thank you.¡± Qu Xiao ran to his side barefooted and sat down. She looked up at the wall clock and mumbled strangely. Shang Yan was known for being workaholic. They would see him working in the office at eight o¡¯clock every morning. What¡¯s wrong with him today? He was still at home? The butler ced the coffee in front of Qu Xiao. Shang Yan picked up two milk balls and ced them in her cup. He said in a low and gentle voice, ¡°I¡¯m on leave for two days.¡± ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll have breakfast with you at home before going to work.¡± Taken aback, Qu Xiao stopped biting her bread and almost choked. The sudden gentleness of Shang Yan made her a little stunned, but she felt a hint of sweetness from the bottom of her heart. Chapter 22

Chapter 22: The Ling Family Finding Fault

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

With bread between her lips, Qu Xiao ran over to Shang Yan to take a seat. She rested her chin on her hands and stared at him. Shang Yan could feel her gaze on him. Her feet that were swaying under the table would asionally rub against his ankle. She seemed to be teasing him. Qu Xiao ced her hand on his arm and pointed at the coffee coquettishly like a child. ¡°It¡¯s a little sweet. Can I drink yours?¡± Shang Yan naturally pushed the porcin cup over and reminded her gently, ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡± The butler wanted to clear the tes, but seeing the intimate vibe between the two, he quietly turned around and did not want to disturb them. However, suddenly there was loud banging noise from the iron gate in the courtyard, apanied by faint curses. Qu Xiao jumped in shock. Her eyes were wide open like a little bunny as she rushed to Shang Yan¡¯s side and gripped his sleeves nervously. Shang Yan furrowed his brows in displeasure and gestured for the bodyguard to go outside and check. Heforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Qu Xiao nodded her head heavily and a faint smile appeared on her lips. Her eyes shone with joy as she knew she seeded. Afraid? She merely wanted to show weakness in order to gain his attention and protection. Soon, the bodyguard returned to report the situation. He nced at Qu Xiao and coughed lightly. ¡°Mr. Shang, it¡¯s the Ling family outside.¡± Surprise shed across Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes. However, on second thought, the evidence she had submitted to the police station was conclusive. Ling Chi¡¯s criminal evidence would probably put him behind bars for seven to eight years. It made sense that the Ling family had received the news, but they actually dared toe here? She ran to the screen and saw Ling Chi¡¯s parents and many rtives at the door. They were even fighting the bodyguards trying to break in. Qu Xiao looked back at Shang Yan and asked, ¡°Can I handle it?¡± Shang Yan nodded and signaled the bodyguards to obey her and let the Ling family in. Ling Chi¡¯s parents barged in with a ferocious look in their eyes. These arrogant and unreasonable people from the Ling family went quiet when they saw Shang Yan at the dining table. They hurriedly tidied up their attire and restrained their arrogance. They even greeted him with respectful expressions. Qu Xiao sized them up and finally understood the situation. The Ling family came here to bully her, thinking that she was alone at home and Shang Yan was in thepany? Qu Xiao revealed a dignified smile and pointed at the spacious sofa in the living room, inviting them to sit down. She turned around and said to the butler, ¡°I believe there¡¯s cold tea fromst night in the kitchen. Please bring it over for Mr. Ling. He must be thirty and having a sore throat after shouting outside for so long, right?¡± She humiliated Ling Chi¡¯s father, who could only re fiercely at Qu Xiao because Shang Yan was present. The butler could not help but snicker. He delivered the cold tea from the night before as instructed, thinking to himself that Mrs. Shang¡¯s personality had changed 180 degrees! Qu Xiao slowly poured the cold tea out and looked at Mr. Ling. She knew why he was here but she did not mention it on purpose. Mr. Ling drank some tea but found that it had gone sour. He was so angry that he mmed the ss on the coffee table. He said in a questioning and forceful tone, ¡°I heard that you were the one who called the police to arrest Ling Chi? Our three families have been business partners. It¡¯s not good for us if things get so tense and awkward.¡± ¡°We want you to go to the police station today to rify for Ling Chi and minimize the negative impact.¡± Qu Xiao looked up with interest. She leaned back on the soft sofa and twirled the ring between her fingers. She curled her lips into a mocking smile and asked seriously, ¡°There is evidence to back up every usation. It¡¯s the truth. What do you want to rify?¡± Mr. Ling did not expect Qu Xiao to be so unyielding. He signaled to his rtives. Ling Chi¡¯s mother, a fierce woman, put her hands on her waist and pointed at Qu Xiao. She raised her voice and said, ¡°Ling Chi is a good boy. You must be the one who seduced him! Moreover, rtionship can be reallyplicated...¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t give Ling Chi any response, why would he bother you?¡± Now the victim became the guilty one? The butler and bodyguards were dissatisfied and wanted to stand up for Qu Xiao, but Shang Yan stopped them with a look. He wanted to see what Qu Xiao would do... Qu Xiao sneered as she picked up the teacup and pretended to drop it on the floor identally. The tea sshed onto Mr. Ling¡¯s shoes, socks, and trousers. Her eyes turned cold as she asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dodge?¡± ¡°The tea only ruined your shoes and socks. It must be because your shoes and socks are dirty, right?¡± Pfft! The housekeeper and helpsughed, their shoulders shaking uncontrobly. They secretly gave her a thumbs up in admiration of her wit. Shang Yan rubbed his be and hid a smile with his palm as he shook his head. Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Art of Negotiation

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao yed with her fingers and smiled innocently. ¡°Although Ling Chi has caused a serious negative impact on my life and feelings, there is still room for negotiation since you came to me personally. As long as you promise me something very easy, I can go to the police station to withdraw thewsuit.¡± Mr. Ling felt that something was wrong, but he still let her continue. He was prepared topensate her with a huge sum of money. Qu Xiao fiddled with her phone and turned on the recording mode. She aimed the microphone at Mr. Ling and leaned forward to stare at him. Shang Yan focused on the document on theputer screen, the outline of his face chiseled and well-defined. He had not even looked at the Ling family since they entered the vi. The butler stood beside him, but he found that the mouse was still on the title page of the report. It had not moved for a long time. This was enough to show that Shang Yan was not working. Qu Xiao folded her hands and ced them on her knees. She was mimicking Shang Yan and assumed a negotiating stance. She tilted her head as she recalled the main plot in the novel. She said slowly, ¡°I remember that some time ago, the Ling family stole two important projects from the Shang Group. There was a piece ofnd in the suburbs that the Shang Group was bidding for. You used illegal channels to obtain the Shang Group¡¯s offer and maliciously bid for thend, right?¡± ¡°If you return the project and withdraw from thepetition fornd, I will consider anything you want.¡± Qu Xiao looked at Mr. Ling lightly and said in a firm and domineering manner, ¡°Otherwise, there won¡¯t be any deal!¡± Mr. Ling was so angry that his fat belly was shaking. He really did not expect Qu Xiao to propose thepany¡¯s project aspensation. He shifted his gaze to Shang Yan, who had remained silent the entire time. He could not help but wonder if he was behind this. Otherwise, with Qu Xiao¡¯s personality and intelligence, why would she think of such a tricky condition? Mr. Ling clenched his fists. He was struggling and could not make a decision immediately. Qu Xiao did not rush him. She merely sipped her lemon tea and casually mentioned, ¡°The reporters called me yesterday. If I give them all the evidence about Ling Chi deceiving married woman and interfering in someone else¡¯s marriage, and expose the evidence of the Ling family¡¯s tax evasion and vitions, I¡¯m afraid yourpany¡¯s share price will drop drastically.¡± ¡°You should know that the media likes to exaggerate, and the public likes to see capitalists go bankrupt and fall.¡± ¡°Using two projects and a piece ofnd in exchange for the Ling family¡¯s stability would be a good choice. You must be a wise man, right?¡± Now there was no chance of negotiating. She seemed to be giving him two choices but in reality, he could onlypromise. In the eyes of the higher-ups, there was nothing wrong with what Ling Chi had done. However, if anything was exposed, the Ling family would be buried with him. Mr. Ling¡¯s eyes were filled with resentment, but he did not dare to show it. He gritted his teeth and nodded. ¡°Okay, I promise you!¡± Qu Xiao pped her hands in satisfaction and pressed the pause button on the recording before waving it in front of Mr. Ling. She looked at Mr. Ling¡¯s livid expression and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Ling, please don¡¯t change your mind.¡± ¡°I have audio evidence. Tomorrow, the legal department of the Shang Group wille to yourpany to sign a specific contract with you to confirm the details. Then, after the project is handed over and you¡¯ve withdrawn from the bidding, I will immediately go to the police station to withdraw thewsuit!¡± ¡°However, try and do it as fast as possible. If you¡¯rete by one day, Ling Chi will stay at the police station for one more day.¡± Qu Xiao pretended to be sympathetic and frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not a good ce. I¡¯m afraid Ling Chi won¡¯t be able to take it!¡± Mr. Ling was so angry that his heart was about to stop. He stood up with the help of his rtives and pointed at Qu Xiao while trembling. ¡°Fine, you won!¡± Qu Xiao waved her hand and leaned against the door with her arms crossed. She pointed outside and said, ¡°Goodbye!¡± When the bodyguards heard this, they urged the Ling family to leave. Seeing them leave while cursing, Qu Xiao heaved a sigh of relief. She rubbed her sore cheeks and ran to Shang Yan¡¯s side. She used her hand to block theputer screen that he had not touched for a long time and smiled at him. Shang Yan looked into her bright eyes and turned his wheelchair around to face her. Qu Xiao supported herself on the table with her elbow as her soft hair fell down. She smiled and asked, ¡°Did I do well? I got your project back!¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you give me credit for this?¡± Qu Xiao raised her brows to indicate Shang Yan. She was making tens of millions for the Shang Group! Shang Yan must be very proud of her. Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Sharing a Bed

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Shang Yan looked at her with his deep dark eyes for a long time before he said slowly, ¡°You were the one who leaked the base price of thatnd to Ling Chi.¡± ¡°And you stole the proposal for Ling Chi, which was why they got the project. These all belonged to the Shang Group in the first ce. To a certain extent, you¡¯re just returning what you stole. Do I need to thank you for that?¡± It made sense. Qu Xiao was speechless and pouted. Couldn¡¯t he tell that she was being nice to him? The butler was worried for Shang Yan. It would probably take a long time for him to understand Qu Xiao¡¯s intention. Luckily, Qu Xiao knew how tomunicate. She pouted and said, ¡°At least I made up for my mistake and helped thepany recover some of its losses. Aren¡¯t you going to praise me? Come on, you miser!¡± Shang Yan was stunned. He did not expect Qu Xiao to care about these superficial things. Qu Xiao bent down and stared at her toes. Shang Yan could not bear to see her disappointed, so he caressed the top of her head. The butler was so shocked that he could not control his expression. He quickly turned around and left them alone. Qu Xiao felt his warm and broad palm on her head, and her lips curled into a bright smile. She rubbed her head against his palm like a coquettish cat and poked his chest with her head. She said coquettishly, ¡°You¡¯re not so heartless after all.¡± Shang Yan retracted his hand, unable to do anything about Qu Xiao¡¯s shameless behavior. Qu Xiao felt that Shang Yan did not reject her as much as before, and the next step of the n surfaced in her mind. She suddenly moved in front of Shang Yan, the tip of her nose touching his high nose bridge. At such a close distance, Shang Yan could smell the faint fragrance on her body, and his heart seemed to beat faster. Qu Xiao stared at him with watery eyes and said sincerely, ¡°I had a nightmarest night!¡± ¡°I dreamed that a monster was lying on my bed, staring at me with its red eyes like it wanted to eat me! I was so scared that I could not fall asleep. Perhaps it was because my head got hurt that I kept having weird dreams recently. Shang Yan, can I move into your room tonight?¡± Qu Xiao blinked and threw out a suggestion that shocked Shang Yan so much that he could not answer. ¡°When my wound gets better, I¡¯ll move back!¡± Shang Yan wanted to reject her, but Qu Xiao seemed too pitiful with her watery eyes. He suddenly recalled that when the psychiatrist examined her, he had mentioned that shecked a sense of security and needed thepany and care of her family. Qu Xiao noticed his shifting eyes, which meant he was not so adamant now. He was obviously hesitating. She hurriedly shook Shang Yan¡¯s slender fingers and pouted her lips as she urged him. Finally, he relented and nodded, not able to resist her anymore. Qu Xiao kissed him excitedly and let go. She was so excited that she was waving her hands and jumping up. She ran back to the bedroom on the second floor and leaned against the railing, waving at him. ¡°See youter!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s ears turned pink. He frowned and coughed lightly. He saw the butler standing in the corner covering his mouth andughing secretly. Shang Yan instructed, ¡°Add a pillow and silk nket to the bedroom, and change the bathroom items...¡± The butler nodded and went to prepare. Shang Yan held the mouse and moved it a few times before looking at the report seriously. Qu Xiao returned to the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. She was not satisfied with the style of her pajamas. The ones with ckce seemed a bit obvious, but the cartoon ones were slightly childish and conservative. She found the pink negligee deep inside the closet and changed into it with satisfaction. She stood before the full-length mirror and studied herself. ¡°Perfect!¡± Qu Xiao sprayed some perfume that smelled like the one Shang Yan was wearing. She then carried her pillow to the room next door and knocked twice. ¡°Come in...¡± Shang Yan held a thick book in his hand. He only looked up at her once before lowering his eyes to continue reading, as if he did not mind her intrusion. Qu Xiao shrugged her shoulders and carried the pillow to the other side of the bed naturally. She lifted the nket and crawled in. Shang Yan froze. He narrowed his eyes and reminded her, ¡°I got the butler to prepare a new set of silk nkets for you.¡± Qu Xiao nodded and pointed at the rocking chair. ¡°There, I saw it. But we are married. We can sleep together. Don¡¯t waste the new nket!¡± ¡°I like it here,¡± she added. Qu Xiao moved towards Shang Yan and her soft skin touched his waist. The sexual tension caused the temperature in the bedroom to rise suddenly. Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Sharing a Bed

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The bed was obviously very spacious. Qu Xiao was very close to Shang Yan. Her posture was casual and rxed as she halfy, staring at his slender and good-looking fingers in a daze. After a long while, she moved closer to Shang Yan¡¯s side and her chin rested on his shoulder intimately for support. Qu Xiao read two lines of text curiously, and got bored. She poked Shang Yan¡¯s fingers like a child. ¡°Very interesting?¡± Shang Yan met her eyes and was a little puzzled. Qu Xiao pouted her lips to signal for the book. Shang Yan shook his head and replied in a light voice, ¡°It¡¯s necessary for work.¡± The Shang Group was involved in many fields. Shang Yan needed to constantly supplement himself with relevant knowledge and could not ck off for even just half a day. Qu Xiao yawnedzily and turned to lie down in front of Shang Yan. She closed her eyes tiredly and muttered, ¡°I wanna chat with you, but I don¡¯t want to disturb you. Take your time then. Good night!¡± Shang Yan looked at her peaceful and cute sleeping face in surprise. Qu Xiao had grown much more sensible. He gently turned down the bedsidemp, afraid that the light would affect her. Qu Xiao hugged the pillow and seemed to move slowly unconsciously. Apanied by two short murmurs, she turned around and hugged Shang Yan¡¯s lean and slender waist. She ced her slender and well-proportioned long legs on his body, her entire person seemed to be in control of Shang Yan as she pressed down on his body. Shang Yan¡¯s breathing was stagnant. He did not dare to move recklessly for fear of waking Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao¡¯s soft and round breasts pressed down on his arm through the thin fabric. In the quiet bedroom, Shang Yan could feel her breathing and body temperature abnormally clearly. He could even feel her silhouette and smell her faint scent. Shang Yan held his breath and lowered his head to look at Qu Xiao. The shadow of her eyshes fell on his face, making his heart melt. Qu Xiao¡¯s arm was inadvertently moved away. The deep v design of the neckline of her pink nightgown made her soft breasts leap out in Shang Yan¡¯s field of vision. He had an uncontroble physiological reaction. Qu Xiao¡¯s leg asionally rubbed around his private area. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Shang Yan¡¯s forehead. His Adam¡¯s apple rolled up and down, and he wanted to push Qu Xiao away to get a moment to catch his breath. However, Qu Xiao just hugged the arm that he had stretched out. Shang Yan¡¯s heart could not help but beat rapidly. The sound of the clock on the wall was exceptionally clear. In the dim light, the corners of Qu Xiao¡¯s lips curled into an evil smile... She pretended to be asleep to try to arouse Shang Yan. However, he did not make a move on her like she wanted. Qu Xiao was a little disappointed and slowly fell asleep. The book was ced by Shang Yan¡¯s bedside, and he was no longer in the mood to read it. Qu Xiao slept extremely well. She even made a slight snoring sound. Her red lips opened slightly. The tip of her tongue asionally licked the corner of her lips, turning Shang Yan on. That night, Shang Yan was awake and sleepless. He looked at Qu Xiao with aplicated gaze until dawn. ... The next morning, sunlight shone into the room through the ss window. A few rays of sunlight shone on the end of the bed. Qu Xiao rubbed her fluffy hair with sleepy eyes. She stretched her body and sat upzily. She looked to her side. Where was Shang Yan? There was warm honey water ced on the bedside. She picked it up and gulped down two mouthfuls before shuffling her slippers downstairs. Surprisingly, she did not see Shang Yan in the dining room. Qu Xiao pulled out a chair and sat down, asking the Butler. The Butler exined to Shang Yan, ¡°The Ling family sent the contract to thepany. CEO Shang had to go down personally to sign it.¡± ¡°CEO Shang had originally wanted to wait for you to wake up, but it was toote...¡± Qu Xiao raised her head and nced at the time on the wall clock. It was ten in the morning. She bit on a crisp piece of toast and said with a smile, ¡°I can¡¯t help it. Shang Yan¡¯s bed is toofortable.¡± The Butler¡¯s old face was slightly red. He did not want to pry into his boss¡¯s affairs. Qu Xiao was bored as she fiddled with her phone. She suddenly remembered that when shey beside Shang Yanst night, his legs were very cold. It was as if he could not feel anything in his legs. The scene of Shang Yan sitting in the wheelchair made her heart ache a little. She wished she could help him. She drank a few mouthfuls of coffee to moisten her throat, turned her head and asked the Butler, ¡°Shang Yan¡¯s legs... does the doctor think there is a way for them to recover?¡± The Butler looked conflicted. In the past, Qu Xiao would not have cared about these things. Should he answer her? Qu Xiao tilted her head and waited. The Butler thought about how much Shang Yan loved her and thought that she could be the one who could help him recover. ¡°The doctor said that the nerves in Shang Yan¡¯s leg have no reaction to external stimuli. It¡¯s almost impossible for him to stand up.¡± Qu Xiao frowned. She patted the crumbs on her palm and said with a serious expression, ¡°Is there a pathology report? Or a medical record book, a treatment diary, or something like that?¡± Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Transfer Agreement

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the Shang Group headquarters, Mr. Ling personally led a team ofwyers to sign the transfer agreement with Shang Yan. In the meeting room, the management managers were all surprised. The Ling family had always liked to snatch hot projects from otherpanies. Why the sudden change? They all wondered how Shang Yan forced the Ling family to transfer a hot project to theirpany. Their eyes were filled with admiration. Li pushed Shang Yan away and they were about to leave when Mr. Ling called out to them. Mr. Ling narrowed his eyes and stared at Shang Yan. He lowered his voice and asked, ¡°Everything has been settled. About the police station...¡± Shang Yan looked at him disdainfully. ¡°I will inform them to release him.¡± Mr. Ling stood up and tidied his tie. He looked at Shang Yan¡¯s back and mocked, ¡°Qu Xiao¡¯s rtionship with Ling Chi is not as simple as she said. She betrayed Ling Chi for you today. Aren¡¯t you afraid that she will backstab you tomorrow?¡± ¡°The people closest to you will always be the scariest! They know your weakness the best.¡± ¡°Qu Xiao is a smart woman. Is she sincere towards you? CEO Shang, let me give you a piece of advice. Don¡¯t let her deceive you...¡± Shang Yan listened to his instigation and his eyes shed with contempt and dissatisfaction as he looked at Mr. Ling. ¡°No matter what, before the divorce, Qu Xiao was mine.¡± ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s not up to you to discipline andment. If you feel bored, spend time taking care of Ling Chi and telling him to stop causing trouble for you outside. Otherwise, when yourpany copses, I¡¯ll be happy to take pity on you and buy yourpany with a sum higher than the market price.¡± After Shang Yan said those harsh words, Mr. Ling was so angry that his entire body was trembling. He gritted his teeth and roared at him, ¡°We¡¯ll see!¡± ... In the living room of the vi, Qu Xiao carefully and seriously flipped through Shang Yan¡¯s medical records. The Butler sat opposite her and told Qu Xiao everything he knew in detail, ¡°CEO Shang once did half a year of rehabilitation training. A foreign professor had helped him develop a rehabilitation n, but it didn¡¯t have any effect...¡± ¡°During that time, CEO Shang¡¯s mood was very bad. He suffered a lot of pain. Later, he chose to give up on the treatment.¡± Qu Xiao could imagine the pressure Shang Yan was under during the recovery process. The disability was a fatal blow to him. The Butler saw that she did not speak for a long time and asked worriedly, ¡°Madam, do you have any ideas?¡± Based on the analysis of the medical records, Qu Xiao believed that Shang Yan had a chance to regain his mobility, but the treatment process would definitely be long and painful. First, she needed to find a way to get Shang Yan to ept and be willing to cooperate with her treatment n. Secondly, Qu Xiao needed to find a good reason to exin why she was proficient in medicine. Reading a few medical books was far from reaching such a level. Qu Xiao covered her face with her hand and let out a long sigh. In the evening, Shang Yan came back with a cake shop¡¯s cardboard box. Qu Xiao heard the movement and ran out of the room to wee him. When she saw the strawberry cake on the dining table, her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You bought this specially for me?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s hand that had taken off his coat paused for a moment before he said softly, ¡°Li bought it for me. I don¡¯t like sweet things...¡± Qu Xiao pursed her lips and teased that Shang Yan was not good at lying. As his personal assistant, Li would not do anything that Shang Yan did not assign him to do. Qu Xiao used her fingers to scoop up a small piece of cream and put it into her mouth. The cream that the tip of her tongue tasted was refreshing and smooth. She hummed a tune as she swayed her body. Feeling Shang Yan¡¯s gaze on her, she scooped up a piece of cake with a spoon and brought it to his lips. She raised her hand to signal for him to open his mouth. Shang Yan frowned and wanted to refuse, but Qu Xiao raised her arm high and refused to put it down. She urged him silently. He could only open his mouth topromise, and an unfamiliar taste instantly spread in his mouth. Qu Xiao raised a brilliant smile. Looking at the cream foam hanging on his thin lips, she very naturally used her fingertips to pinch it off and conveniently put it into her mouth. Shang Yan¡¯s body stiffened, and let out a dry cough. Qu Xiao turned around and grabbed the entire piece of cake, like a child protecting their food. ¡°This whole thing is mine, I¡¯m not sharing!¡± Shang Yan could not help butugh. He took a deep breath and told Qu Xiao about the contract with the Ling family. ¡°Ling Chi should be back home by now...¡± Shang Yan thought about Mr. Ling¡¯s words. He carefully looked at Qu Xiao¡¯s expression, trying to detect any subtle changes and emotional fluctuations. However, Qu Xiao acted as if she did not hear him. She focused all her attention on the cake. She took out her phone and took pictures continuously. She posted them on her WeChat moments with the caption: My husband bought this for me. It¡¯s especially sweet! Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Ling Chi Gets Out of Prison

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Outside the police station, a low-profilemercial car was parked by the roadside, waiting. The door slowly opened. Ling Chi spat on the ground, annoyed. He put his coat on his shoulder and walked across the road. The driver respectfully asked him where he was going. Ling Chi closed his eyes with a fierce and arrogant expression. He leaned against the seat and said in a low voice, ¡°Thepany.¡± Themercial car did not start for a long time. Ling Chi opened his eyes gloomily and looked forward. The driver exined with a troubled expression, ¡°CEO Ling told you not to go...¡± ¡°Because of you, thepany ceded two projects and thend in an excellent area to Qu Xiao. Everyone in thepany isining about you.¡± Ling Chi clenched his fists and hammered the leather seat beside him. He narrowed his eyes and said softly, ¡°That¡¯s just great!¡± ¡°Qu Xiao is ruthless. I won¡¯t let her off.¡± Dark clouds filled the sky as muffled thunder rumbled. It was as if there was going to be a heavy downpour. In the vi, Qu Xiao found the Butler packing up clothes and daily necessities for Shang Yan. She asked in surprise, ¡°What are you doing with these?¡± The Butler answered her question with a kind expression, ¡°CEO Shang is going on a business trip tomorrow. It will take about seven to eight days.¡± Qu Xiao leaned against the door with milk candy in her mouth. She heard the sound of a wheelchair rolling over the floor... She pursed her red lips and stared at Shang Yan, not saying a word for a long time. Shang Yan was confused. He had no idea what she was thinking. Qu Xiao lowered her eyes and fiddled with the cor of her nightgown. Sheined unintentionally, ¡°I¡¯m your wife. I eat and live with you every day. But the Butler knew about your business trip before I did. If he didn¡¯t tell me, I wouldn¡¯t have known at all!¡± Shang Yan suddenly understood the reason for her anger. All these years, he was used to traveling alone and seemed to have neglected Qu Xiao¡¯s feelings. He silently pondered and said in a gentle voice, ¡°In the future, Li will report my schedule to you at the same time.¡± Qu Xiao frowned and slightly stomped her feet as she said coquettishly, ¡°Do we really need a third party to pass messages?¡± When Shang Yan saw the Butler winking at him from behind, he raised his eyebrows slightly and said in a probing tone, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Qu Xiao raised her eyebrows and smiled. She pursed her red lips and rushed to Shang Yan¡¯s side. She bent down and hugged his neck, kissing his cheek. The Butler and the passing nanny lowered their heads and coughed softly. Shang Yan was stunned, and then his ears turned red. ¡°Will you be very busy when you¡¯re on a business trip? Can I call you? Or text you!¡± ¡°Will it disturb your work? If it will, I¡¯ll send you three messages every day, okay?¡± Qu Xiao ran to the Butler¡¯s side and helped Shang Yan tidy up his suitcase, muttering non-stop. Shang Yan listened to her non-stop words like a little bird. His eyes were deep and gentle as he stared at her back view. His heart was warmed as he said, ¡°Okay.¡± Early the next morning, Qu Xiao sent Shang Yan to the airport and waved goodbye to him. Then, she flipped through her contact list and asked her ssmates and friends to help her find a doctor who knew rehabilitation. Qu Xiao wanted to work with one to treat Shang Yan¡¯s broken legs. At the same time, she could also use the name of a doctor to rid some of Shang Yan¡¯s doubts about her medical skills. ... In an underground bar in the bustling business district, the room was filled with the pungent smell of alcohol. Sitting beside Ling Chi were a number of seductive and charming pole dancers. He stuffed notes into their chests and frequently raised his wine ss to clink sses with his friends. The business world¡¯s second-generation heirs all heard about Qu Xiao and Ling Chi¡¯s incident and were afraid of angering him. However, there was a bold one who took the initiative to sit beside Ling Chi. He opened his mouth and teased, ¡°Ling chi, don¡¯t be angry with the crippled businessmen!¡± ¡°I heard that Qu Xiao is looking for doctors to treat Shang Yan¡¯s illness. How many years has he been sitting in a wheelchair for? There¡¯s no way to treat him. Qu Xiao choosing Shang Yan over you is a stupid decision.¡± Ling Chi narrowed his eyes and ced his wine ss to the side. He put his arm around the second-generation heir¡¯s neck with interest and asked coldly, ¡°Who told you that Qu Xiao is looking for a doctor?¡± The atmosphere in the private room of the bar suddenly became tense, and the dance music suddenly stopped. The second-generation heir swallowed his saliva and stuttered as he went to Qu Xiao¡¯s WeChats moments and handed it to Ling Chi. Ling Chi tugged at the screen, and the corner of his lips curled into a scheming smile. He bent his thumb and rubbed it against his temple. He patted the second-generation heir¡¯s shoulder and got up to leave to dial a familiar number in the corridor. ¡°Hello? Help me find a new face who can act...¡± Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Drugged Coffee

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

On the weekend, Qu Xiao rushed out of the house and hailed a taxi to rush to the city. She could not hide her excitement and nervousness and repeatedly confirmed the address message she received. A well-known neurologist overseas saw Qu Xiao¡¯s message and took the initiative to contact Qu Xiao, asking her to meet with him, hoping to learn more about Shang Yan¡¯s condition as he had decided that he wanted to help him. Half an hour earlier than the agreed time, Qu Xiao rushed to the coffee shop and saw a blonde middle-aged foreign man by the window. He was chewing on half a cigarette, looking out of the window with a slightly anxious expression. asionally, he tapped the edge of the coffee cup with his fingers. A waiter reminded him that smoking was prohibited in the shop, and he resentfully put out his cigarette. He looked at his phone screen from time to time as if he was waiting for someone. Qu Xiao thought it was weird, and could not help but slow down. When she was about to reach the table, the foreign man looked up and saw her. He stood up in an exceptionally gentlemanly manner and reached out to hold Qu Xiao¡¯s fingertip, speaking in fluent Chinese, ¡°Hello, are you Mrs. Qu?¡± ¡°Hello, are you Dr. Juttman?¡± The foreign man sat in the opposite booth and nodded. He ordered a cup of sweet hot chocte for Qu Xiao. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Qu Xiao looked around and quietly used her phone to search for information about Dr. Juttman. She thenpared the information to the man in front of her, and it seemed that he was indeed the neurologist Dr. Juttman. She slightly let down her guard and greeted him. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your Chinese to be so good.¡± Juttman waved his hand. His blue eyes revealed a look of amazement as he sized up Qu Xiao. He even took the opportunity to pass her coffee and tried to touch Qu Xiao¡¯s hand and body. Disgust shed across Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes, but then she remembered that his medical skills were superb. She could only suppress her disgust and talk to him. ¡°I¡¯ve shown you the patient¡¯s relevant diagnosis and treatment records, such as his current condition. What kind of recovery n do you have in mind?¡± Qu Xiao asked tentatively. Juttman touched his nose with the tip of his finger. His eyes flickered as he answered, ¡°Mrs. Qu, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve helped many patients with hemiplegia regain their ability to walk overseas.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about Mr. Shang¡¯s condition at all.¡± Wait! Qu Xiao¡¯s pupils constricted. She looked at the man sitting across from her with a scrutinizing gaze. She was almost certain in an instant that this so-called Dr. Juttman¡¯s identity was fake. He was deliberately trying getting close to her! When Qu Xiao wasmunicating with the doctor online, she kept Shang Yan¡¯s identity a secret, to prevent unnecessary trouble. The medical records she shared with Dr. Juttman also did not include Shang Yan¡¯s name. There was no way Juttman knew Shang Yan¡¯s name, let alone say it so naturally. Unless someone secretly hired him and told Shang Yan¡¯s condition to him in advance. Qu Xiao narrowed her eyes. Her fingers were fastened on the pattern of her handbag. She did not make a sound. She quickly processed the current situation, and then pretended not to notice as she continued chatting with Juttman to get information from him. She wanted to see which idiot was behind this! After some time, Qu Xiao stood up apologetically and said that she had to go to the bathroom. She left her handbag on her seat and turned around to leave. Qu Xiao did not go far. She only went around to the back of the decorated column and silently observed Juttman¡¯s movements. As expected, Juttman took out powder wrapped in paper from his chest pocket. He looked around vigntly and secretly sprinkled the powder into Qu Xiao¡¯s cup. He stirred it gently with a teaspoon until the powder dissolved in the liquid. Qu Xiao raised the corner of her lips in a mocking and teasing arc. Did they really have to think of such despicable tricks? Ten minutester, Qu Xiao came back, picked up the coffee cup and took a small sip. Juttman¡¯s sharp eyes stared at her. Seeing that she was swallowing, he instantly rxed and leaned against the back of the sofa in the booth. ¡°Mrs. Qu, I¡¯m staying at the business hotel in front. I just remembered that there are some rehabilitation treatment ns stored in myputer that are verypatible with Mr. Shang¡¯s condition. Perhaps it will be helpful for our research.¡± ¡°Would it be convenient for you to go with me to take a look? It won¡¯t take too long.¡± Qu Xiao was a little tired as she pressed her forehead. She wanted to decline, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not feeling too well. How about another day...?¡± ¡°I have a flight back home tomorrow. My schedule is very tight.¡± Juttman urged her in a hurried tone, ¡°I flew all the way here to meet you because you are very sincere. I didn¡¯t expect you to reject doing further research together. I may have to reconsider whether I want to help Mr. Shang in his rehabilitation treatment!¡± A hint of mockery shed across Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes. She shook her body as she stood up and tugged at his elbow. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯ll go to the hotel with you.¡± Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Knock Out Ling Chi

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The car ride from the cafe to the hotel was very slow.. Juttman adjusted the angle of his rearview mirror to look at Qu Xiao who was curled up in the back seat and hummed a song proudly. Qu Xiao avoided his gaze. In Juttman¡¯s blind spot, she took out a wet handkerchief covered with medicinal liquid that was hidden in her palm. Her eyes were clear and she coldly stared at the back of the driver¡¯s seat. She quietly contacted one of thepany¡¯s bodyguards and shared her location with him in real time. The car drove into an underground parking lot. Juttman leisurely took out his phone, lit a cigarette, and dialed a number. Qu Xiao closed her eyes tightly and pretended to be unconscious, eavesdropping on the conversation between him and his employer. Juttman bbed, ¡°Mr. Ling Chi, I havepleted what you ordered me to do. When will I receive the rest of my payment? Don¡¯t worry, I saw Qu Xiao drink the aphrodisiac with my own eyes. The drug is very potent.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t wake up for at least four to five hours. I¡¯ll take a few erotic photos and send them to you as promised, but...¡± Just as Juttman was about to discuss his pay with Ling Chi, the signal in the parking lot suddenly deteriorated, and their call was temporarily cut off. Qu Xiao looked at the contact name on Juttman¡¯s phone screen and shook her head with a sneer. It was indeed Ling Chi who was behind this! Dong Dong Dong¡ª A man with a buzz cut knocked on the car window. Juttman turned his head in shock. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a novice driver. Could I trouble you to help me back up my car? This is to thank you for your kindness.¡± The man with a buzz cut handed over two banknotes. Juttman turned his head to nce at Qu Xiao, who was sleeping quietly. He took the banknotes with half a cigarette in his mouth, pushed the door open and got out of the car. Looking around, he asked, ¡°Where is the car?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the man with the buzz cut suddenly elbowed his neck artery. Juttman¡¯s vision went ck and he passed out. Qu Xiao rubbed her sore and numb arm. She raised her leg to kick Juttman, who was lying on the ground, and thanked the bodyguard with a gentle smile. The bodyguard shook his head and guarded Qu Xiao vigntly. He was surprised at Qu Xiao¡¯s calmness and rationality when she was in danger. He even admired her handling of the situation and methods. When the bodyguard had just received her message, he did not expect the situation to be so serious. However, at this moment, he felt worried for her. Qu Xiao opened the passenger¡¯s door and bent down to take Juttman¡¯s phone. She picked up his soft fingers and unlocked it. She found the messages exchanged between Ling Chi and Juttman. Her fingertips tapped lightly on a line of text, ¡°Give me another 100,000 yuan in cash. You must personally send it to the hotel. Otherwise, I will expose the fact that you hired me. Qu Xiao and Shang Yan will not let you off!¡± Two secondster, Ling Chi replied, ¡°Do you want to die? How dare you threaten me!¡± Even through the screen, Qu Xiao could visualize Ling Chi¡¯s irascible and brainless appearance. She leaned against the car door and continued to send messages, ¡°I¡¯ll give you half an hour. Otherwise, you¡¯ll see yourself in the media very soon! Ling Chi, give me 100,000 in cash. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you took sexy photos of Qu Xiao yourself?¡± After two minutes of silence, Ling Chi sent a few words. ¡°Address, room number.¡± Qu Xiao curled her red lips and proudly threw the phone into the car. She looked at Juttman on the ground and said, ¡°Send him to the police station.¡± ¡°Be gentleter. After all, he¡¯s the young master of the Ling family...¡± The corners of the bodyguard¡¯s mouth twitched as he silently nodded and followed behind Qu Xiao. He had always felt that Qu Xiao was a little scary. In the hotel corridor, Ling Chi came over wearing a cap and a mask. He lowered his head to look at the room number and frowned as he lightly knocked on the door. He looked around and softly shouted, ¡°Juttman?¡± The room was very quiet and there was no response. Ling Chi tried to push open the door, and saw Qu Xiao lying on the bed. He narrowed his eyes and slowly approached her. ¡°Who¡¯s going to protect you now?¡± He raised his hand and wanted to tear off Qu Xiao¡¯s clothes. He took out his phone and wanted to take sexy photos and send it to Shang Yan. Ling Chi imagined Shang Yan¡¯s furious expression and could not help but feel excited. The next second, Qu Xiao opened her eyes faintly. She waved her fingers and greeted Ling Chi, ¡°CEO Ling, long time no see.¡± Ling Chi was so shocked that he took two steps back. He said intermittently, ¡°What, what happened?¡± The bodyguard who was hiding at the wardrobe door quickly ran over and gave Ling Chi a hard blow on the back of his head. He fell to the ground while howling in pain. When the bodyguard saw that Ling Chi was still conscious, he raised his leg and gave him two heavy kicks in the chest, he only stopped when he saw that Ling Chi hadpletely fainted. Qu Xiao frowned and picked up the rucksack filled with cash and threw it to the bodyguard. ¡°You hit him a little too hard.¡± The bodyguard was stunned and wanted to exin himself, but Qu Xiao gave him a thumbs up and praised him. ¡°But, well done!¡± Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Real-Time Imaging

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

¡°Ding dong¡± sounds came from the hotel room. Looking at the images on her phone screen, Qu Xiao instructed the bodyguard to adjust the angle and position of the pinhole camera installed in the corner of the room. It was not until the mostprehensive image was captured that Qu Xiao smiled in satisfaction and said, ¡°Perfect, let¡¯s call it a day!¡± The bodyguard looked at Ling Chi with sympathy. His hands and feet were tied up with sex toys, and his mouth was stuffed with stic balls. He simply could not bear to look at Ling Chi. Qu Xiao turned around and walked out of the hotel room. She then proceeded to remind the bodyguard, ¡°Remember to find girls with good figures for Ling Chi. Don¡¯t let him down.¡± The bodyguard coughed awkwardly twice and followed closely behind Qu Xiao to send her home. Outside the vi, Qu Xiao saw a familiar ck Bentley parked at the door. Her eyes revealed a look of surprise as she ran over and raised her hand to tap on the car window. Shang Yan turned around and saw her. Qu Xiao ced her hands beside her eyes and narrowed her eyes as she moved closer to the anti-peeping window. Her delicate face was slightly deformed as it stuck close to the ss, but there was a hint of cuteness to it. Shang Yan could not help but chuckle. He rolled down the car window and motioned for Qu Xiao to take two steps back. The Butler brought his wheelchair over. Qu Xiao followed closely by his side and asked cheerfully, ¡°Why did youe back so early?¡± Li looked at her with dark circles under his eyes. He thought about how Shang Yan hadpressed his two-week trip to five days and rushed straight back to the vi as soon as the nended. This was something he had never done before. Did she really not know why? Shang Yan did not answer. Instead, he looked at the blood stains on the bodyguard¡¯s sleeve and asked with a frown, ¡°Where did you go?¡± Qu Xiao pushed him back to the living room. Assuming that the call girls had arrived in the hotel room, with an evil smile on her face, she said in a low voice, ¡°You came back just in time. Ling Chi invited us to watch him perform!¡± She projected the screen of her phone onto the television screen. It showed three call girls surrounding Ling Chi. They were doing all sorts of things to tease him. It was very embarrassing. Shang Yan frowned and turned off the screen. He stared at Qu Xiao as if he wanted a reasonable exnation. Qu Xiao saved the video and did not seem to notice Shang Yan¡¯s anger. The bodyguard saw this and quickly told him about Ling Chi and Juttman¡¯s attempt to ambush her. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes turned cold and were filled with murderous intent as he clenched his fists. He suddenly turned to Qu Xiao and asked, ¡°Why did you meet with Juttman?¡± A hint of struggle and hesitation shed across Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes. Shang Yan was extremely resistant to rehabilitation treatment and did not allow anyone to mention it. Therefore, she had to secretly go meet doctors behind his back. If she told him the truth, he would definitely be angry. However, if she lied... With Shang Yan¡¯s IQ, he would definitely see through her. Moreover, there would be estrangement and resentment between them. Distrust between couples was fatal for rtionships. Once trust was lost, rtionships would copse. When Qu Xiao thought about this, she walked to Shang Yan and half-squatted in front of him. She held his long and cold fingertip and exined apologetically, ¡°I wanted to find a famous doctor in the rehabilitation field to help you with your treatment. Who would have thought that Ling Chi would use this against me by hiring Juttman to lie to me?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s pupils dted as he stared deeply at Qu Xiao, his emotionsplicated as he remained silent. Qu Xiao was so nervous that she bit her lips lightly. She shook Shang Yan¡¯s arm as she said, ¡°Many people around you are talking about your legs. They praise you in front of everyone as an elite in the business world, a ruler and a superior. However, they are all saying bad things about you behind your back.¡± ¡°I know that you too, want to be treated and be able to stand up again, but you¡¯re afraid of being disappointed again and again, so you don¡¯t dare to have any expectations.¡± Qu Xiao raised her head and looked into Shang Yan¡¯s eyes. She said particrly sincerely, ¡°You have to trust me this time, okay?¡± ¡°Although my medical knowledge isn¡¯t vast, I¡¯m willing to apany you to try rehabilitation training. Maybe with me as your lucky charm, you¡¯ll recover? Shang Yan, give me a chance, promise me to try again, okay?¡± Shang Yan looked down at Qu Xiao holding his palm tightly. A warmth spread from his palm. The housekeeper and the nannies held their breaths as they waited for Shang Yan¡¯s answer. They silently cheered for Qu Xiao in their hearts, hoping that she could convince Shang Yan and encourage him to try rehabilitation treatment again. As time passed, Qu Xiao¡¯s legs became numb and she could not squat properly. Just as she was about to give up, she heard a replying from above her head, ¡°Okay, I promise you.¡± Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Ambiguous Treatment

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the bedroom, there was a thick smell of medicine lingering in the air. Shang Yan was naked as he leaned against the bed. Only his private parts were covered with a thin cotton nket. Qu Xiao knelt beside him and asionally wiped the sweat off his forehead with a tissue. She stole a nce at Shang Yan¡¯s well defined muscles, and took the opportunity to touch them on purpose. Shang Yan coughed lightly and asked, ¡°How much longer?¡± Qu Xiao raised her head to look at the clock on the wall and turned off the medicine fumigation machine. Then, she took out a few silver needles and said, ¡°Bear with me.¡± Shang Yan nodded and stared at her. Full of focus, Qu Xiao inserted needles into his leg muscles at certain acupuncture points, to test for nerve reaction. However, he did not feel anything even when the needles were very deep in. Seeing this, Qu Xiao¡¯s heart slowly sank and she was a little worried. Seeing her disappointed expression, Shang Yanforted her with a calm voice, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m used to it.¡± This sentence made Qu Xiao¡¯s heart break. She raised her eyes and stared at Shang Yan. The needle in her hand slipped. Qu Xiao wanted to catch it, but she lost her bnce and fell directly onto Shang Yan¡¯s body. Her soft palms pressed on the middle of Shang Yan¡¯s legs. The heat from his body caused her to subconsciously pull her hands back. She blinked her eyes frantically as she fiddled with her hair unnaturally. Shocked at what just happened, Shang Yan gulped heavily. Qu Xiao quickly gave a charming smile as she looked back, but the corners of her mouth twitched uncontrobly. She wanted to ease the awkward atmosphere, so she casually joked, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so shy!¡± ¡°We¡¯re a legal couple...¡± As soon as Qu Xiao finished speaking, she met eyes with Shang Yan. There was an indescribable undercurrent of intimacy in the air. Shang Yan looked at her with a determined expression. Qu Xiao blinked her eyes guiltily, pursed her red lips lightly, and licked her lips with the tip of her tongue. Such a move was undoubtedly an invitation and temptation at this moment. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes darkened. He propped his hand on the bed and moved forward. The tip of his nose rubbed against the bridge of her nose. Qu Xiao felt his hot breath and her heart beat erratically. She instinctively closed her eyes. Realizing what was about to happen, she wanted to retreat. Her warm palm touched Shang Yan¡¯s slender fingertips. The next second, Shang Yan wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned over to kiss her delicate lips. Qu Xiao held her breath. Shang Yan use his powerful upper body strength to hold her in his arms. His other hand supported the back of her head, making it impossible for her to dodge. A hot and gentle kiss slowly fell on her lips. Qu Xiao was dizzy and lost in his kiss for a few seconds. Then, she mustered up the courage to wrap her arms around Shang Yan¡¯s shoulders and take the initiative to sit cross-legged on his waist. Her perky buttocks pressed tightly against his erect hard penis. She swayed her body a little ufortably. Shang Yan¡¯s breathing stagnated because of her movements, and his body tensed up. He narrowed his eyes and his breathing quickened as he moved his hand to her slender waist. He slowly lifted the hem of her nightdress and stretched it upwards.. Buzz, buzz, buzz... Qu Xiao forgot to turn off her news app¡¯s push messages. The notifications were like cold water that extinguished the hot and fiery atmosphere. The two of them secretly calmed their breathing. Shang Yan handed Qu Xiao¡¯s phone to her. She thanked her in a charming and sweet voice as she fiddled with the screen in annoyance. ¡°Ling Chi got into a dispute with a call girl at a hotel. He hit her. The police will punish him with a detention fine!¡± ¡°The sessor of the Ling Group has a messy personal life. Is thepany worthy of the trust of consumers and shareholders?¡± ¡°At the close of the stock market today, the stock price of the Ling group plunged by 5%. Shareholders are selling off their shares. The Ling Group may be facing a crisis.¡± Qu Xiao tilted her head and frowned. She thought that it was a little strange. Although she did send the videos of Ling Chi in the hotel to media reporters whom she was familiar with, the Ling family should have been trying to stop the news from spreading to such an extent. This must have be the work of a greater force than the Ling Group. Did they want to take this opportunity to teach the Ling Group a lesson or did they have something to gain from this? Qu Xiao¡¯s gaze fell on Shang Yan. His eyes were deep as he stared at Qu Xiao¡¯s suspenders that had slipped down to her shoulders. His voice was deep and hoarse as he said, ¡°If Ling Chi dares to touch you, he must be prepared to bear the consequences.¡± ¡°You are mine. No one can bully you.¡± Shang Yan said indifferently. Qu Xiao lowered her eyes shyly. Her fingers gripped thece lines of her nightgown as she used both hands to hold her boiling hot cheeks. Intense images appeared in both of their minds. Shang Yan¡¯s brows were tightly knitted. At this moment, he could not tell if he just wanted to protect his wife, or that Qu Xiao already had a special ce in his heart. Chapter 32

Chapter 32: The Qu Family¡¯s Strategy

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the Ling Group building, Mr. Ling, who had seen the news, was so angry that he mmed his hands on the conference table. Mr. Ling scolded the public rtions department and ordered them to immediately think of a way to control public opinion. He walked around the office with his hands on his hips and gritted his teeth. Mr. Ling growled at his assistant, ¡°Where is that bastard?¡± ¡°Send him overseas to hide for a few days. Make sure to keep an eye on him and make sure that he doesn¡¯t cause any more trouble for me!¡± At the same time, the people in the Qu family vi also saw the news. Mr. Qu panicked and wanted to contact the Ling family, but no one picked up the phone. The Qu family and the Ling family were currently coborating. If the Ling family copsed, they would definitely suffer huge losses! In the living room, Mr. Qu was anxiously rubbing his hands as he tried to think of a solution. His face was filled with frustration and anxiety as he grabbed the few strands of hair on top of his head. Qu Qi narrowed her eyes as she sat on the sofa, deep in thought. She had a vague feeling that Qu Xiao had something to do with Ling Chi¡¯s incident. ¡°Dad, the Ling family signed the coboration contract with us through official channels. Even if their group copses, we can still impensation from them.¡± ¡°Since things have already happened, let¡¯s think about whether we find another path? We can¡¯t rely entirely on the Ling family, right?¡± Qu Qi moved closer to Mr. Qu and gently held his arm as she said with a somewhat encouraging expression, ¡°It¡¯s your birthday this weekend. Why don¡¯t we call Qu Xiao back? Her rtionship with Shang Yan seems to have eased up. The Shang family¡¯s status in the financial world is iparable to the Ling family¡¯s. Why don¡¯t we consider coborating with the Shang family?¡± Mr. Qu saw through her intentions and pondered with a frown. ¡°But the Shang family¡¯s rtionship with us has never been good.¡± ¡°Only when Shang Yan and Qu Xiao got married did they give us a few profitable projects. If we want to meet Shang Yan, we need to make an appointment in advance. Will he help us?¡± Mr. Qu knew his own intentions very well. Qu Qi tilted her body and picked up two grapes. She used her fingernails to peel off their flesh as she said, ¡°We can steal them.¡± Qu Qi¡¯s lips curled into a contemptuous and disdainful smile. ¡°Qu Xiao lives with Shang Yan, so it¡¯s easy for her to get information.¡± ¡°She helped Ling Chi, so why can¡¯t she help us?¡± ¡°You¡¯re her biological father who gave her life. If she dares to disobey you, we can expose her...¡± Countless vicious tricks emerged in Qu Qi¡¯s mind. She gently pushed Mr. Qu¡¯s arm and urged him. Mr. Qu hesitated for a long time. He took a deep breath and picked up his phone to call Qu Xiao¡¯s number. The phone rang for a long time. Qu Xiaozily stretched out her hand from under the nket. She picked up the call without seeing the caller ID clearly. She put the phone to her ear and said, ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± Mr. Qu paused and tried his best to say in a kind and amiable voice, ¡°Xiao Xiao, this is Dad.¡± Qu Xiao was instantly jolted awake. She sat up with her messy hair and asked with a frown, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Mr. Qu nced at the calendar and threw out an invitation. ¡°This weekend is my 50th birthday. You and Shang Yan shoulde visit me at the old mansion. The bosses of the financial world and your uncles will all be present. Remember to dress up. Don¡¯t embarrass me! If Shang Yan doesn¡¯t show up, I will tell everyone about how unfilial he is!¡± He finished speaking as if he was giving an order and decisively hung up the phone. Qu Xiao did not even have time to refuse. She scratched her hair in a daze and habitually picked up the honey water ced by the bedside. She took two sips and walked downstairs. In the living room, Shang Yan was neatly dressed as he sat in his wheelchair. When he heard her movements, he raised his head and greeted indifferently, ¡°Good morning.¡± Qu Xiao pursed her red lips and nodded. When she saw Li push him out, she could not help but think of her father¡¯s request. She opened her mouth and called out to Shang Yan, ¡°Wait.¡± Shang Yan stopped and turned around to look at her, ¡°Do you have something to tell me?¡± Qu Xiao rolled her eyes and hesitated for a moment. The corners of her lips curled up as she shook her head, ¡°Come back soon.¡± In the business car outside the vi, Li kept turning his head to look at Shang Yan. Shang Yan¡¯s head was lowered as he flipped through his work report and itinerary. He looked up at him impatiently and asked, ¡°You want to resign?¡± Li was so scared that he burped and hurriedly exined, ¡°CEO Shang, have you been resting well recently?¡± ¡°Is there something wrong with your body? You look terrible. Do you want me to take you to the hospital for a checkup?¡± Ever since the week started, Shang Yan always looked very tired, and the dark circles under his eyes became more obvious. Shang Yan turned his head to look at his reflection in the brown ss and sighed silently. Thinking of Qu Xiao who hugged him restlessly every night, the image of her slender and fair legs wrapped around him under her skirt surfaced in his mind, and his lower abdomen felt a little hot. His eyes darkened as he rolled down the car window and said softly, ¡°Drive the car!¡± Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Birthday Party at the Qu¡¯s

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

On the weekend, at the Qu family vi, Mr. Qu and Qu Qi were standing in the courtyard, dressed up to wee the guests. Qu Xiao was sitting in a taxi. She coldly looked at Mr. Qu and Qu Qi, who were chatting and smiling, and the corners of her lips curled up into a mocking smile. The guests present were all very famous bosses in the financial world. They clearly did note just because it was Mr. Qu¡¯s birthday. When Mr. Qu invited them, he had mentioned that Qu Xiao woulde with her husband to celebrate his birthday. All the bosses in the financial world wanted to meet Shang Yan and make friends with him, so they came in person to celebrate Mr. Qu¡¯s birthday. When they were drinking and talking, they often looked at the fence in the courtyard, waiting for Shang Yan toe. At eight o¡¯clock sharp, Qu Xiao appeared in front of everyone with a demure and elegant step. She was wearing a crescent-white strapless evening gown. She casually pulled up her long hair, revealing her smooth and slender neck. She had specially selected a set of deep-sea pearl jewelry to match her outfit. Her makeup was so exquisite that people could not take their eyes off her. They could not help but exim in admiration. Qu Xiao walked in front of Mr. Qu and handed him the gift that she had prepared in advance. ¡°Happy birthday.¡± The moment she walked into the vi, Qu Xiao could feel fear and nervousness in her heart. She understood that this was due to her past trauma in this household. Qu Xiao raised her eyes and saw Mr. Qu looking back at her. She kindly reminded him and exined, ¡°Shang Yan has business to attend to, so he can¡¯t make it. Let me wish you happy birthday on his behalf.¡± Mr. Qu was unhappy, but it was not appropriate for him to re up in public. He could only perfunctorily point inside and beckon Qu Xiao to go in. When the big shots of the financial world saw Qu Xiao, they naturally walked over to talk to her. Although they were mostly asking about Shang Yan, their attitude towards Qu Xiao was respectful and even a little fawning. When Qu Qi saw that everyone was surrounding Qu Xiao, jealousy and resentment rose in her heart. The knuckles of her fingers that were holding a goblet turned blue. During the main program of the birthday banquet, Mr. Qu walked to the center of the stage amidst apuse. The waiter pushed a three-tiered custom-made cake over. Qu Qi stood beside Mr. Qu and pretended to be intimate as she pulled Qu Xiao to stand beside her. Qu Xiao felt a little disgusted, but she had no choice but to stand still and listen to Mr. Qu¡¯s incessant speech. ¡°Thank you all foring to celebrate my birthday with me. I am able to have everything I have now because of my hard work.¡± ¡°I relied on my own two hands to build the Qu family¡¯s business to what it is today. The hardships that I have gone through havested many days.¡± ¡°Of course, I will inevitably have to rely on you all in the future. Today, my eldest daughter is overseas and is unable to rush back to celebrate my birthday. Fortunately, I still have Qu Xiao and Qu Qi by my side.¡± Mr. Qu acted like a kind father. He raised his hands and held Qu Xiao and Qu Qi¡¯s hands as they walked to the middle of the stage to cut the cake together. Qu Qi then proceeded to pretend to miss. She bumped a cut piece of the cake into Qu Xiao¡¯s chest. The guests eximed. Qu Xiao looked down at her white evening dress and hair that were stained with cake and sweet cream. She saw the smile in Qu Qi¡¯s eyes and knew that Qu Qi was deliberately trying to make a fool of her. Qu Xiao had a faint smile on her face. Her left hand gently covered her chest while her right hand suddenly grabbed onto Qu Qi¡¯s head, pressing her whole body into the cake. Qu Qi screamed and struggled until her whole body was covered in cream and she spilled countless wine sses on the champagne table. Only then did Qu Xiao release her hand. Qu Qi wiped the cream off her face carelessly. Her current appearance was so embarrassing that it made peopleugh, but no one handed her a piece of paper. The bosses in the financial world had met countless people, so they naturally saw through Qu Qi¡¯s dirty little tricks. Their eyes were filled with surprise and admiration as they looked at Qu Xiao. She was indeed Shang Yan¡¯s wife. Her actions were swift and decisive. It was rumored that she was timid and paranoid. This incident confirmed that it wasn¡¯t true. Mr. Qu¡¯s birthday banquet waspletely ruined by their nonsense. His eyes were filled with anger as he growled, ¡°Qu Xiao, what are you doing!¡± Qu Xiao took a wet handkerchief from the waiter¡¯s hand and gently wiped her clothes and fingers. She raised her eyebrows slightly and said, ¡°I thought this was a part of your arrangement. I¡¯m sorry, maybe I was overthinking.¡± Her eyes were cold as she stared at Qu Qi. The cold and solemn aura emanating from her body made Qu Qi not dare toe closer. Even though both of them restrained their hatred for each other, the guests all found excuses to leave early. Only Mr. Qu and Qu Qi were left in the living room, ring at Qu Xiao with hatred in their eyes. Mr. Qu looked at the mess in the room and pointed at Qu Xiao while cursing, ¡°Did youe just to deliberately make me lose face in front of them? Why didn¡¯t Shang Yane?¡± Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Family Rules

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

¡°You¡¯re my father, not his. Shang Yan has no obligation toe here for you and chat with those guys, right?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s words were sharp and direct. She very clearly exposed the purpose of their birthday party. Mr. Qu was choked speechless by her words. His face turned pink as he stood up and pointed fiercely at Qu Xiao¡¯s nose. ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°How dare you talk back to me? I think you¡¯ve forgotten the Qu family rules!¡± Father Qu picked up a thick and sturdy ruler and instructed the security guards to hold Qu Xiao down, ¡°I¡¯m gonna remind you who should be respected in this household. How dare you ruin my birthday party?¡± He walked to Qu Xiao¡¯s side with a ruthless expression and said through gritted teeth. Qu Qi crossed her arms to watch. Such a scene was not unfamiliar to her. Before Qu Xiao married Shang Yan, Mr. Qu would beat and scold her for even the slightest mistake. It was precisely because of this that she had trauma about living here. Qu Xiao struggled with all her might, but she could not fight the strength of a few strong men. She knelt on the ground with a bang. The piercing pain from her knees made Qu Xiao frown. She raised her head and stared coldly at Mr. Qu. ¡°How dare you touch me?¡± ¡°Shang Yan will not let you off!¡± Mr. Qu chuckled. He looked at Qu Xiao with disdain. ¡°Do you really think that Shang Yan loves you?¡± ¡°He only treats you well in public so that he can give off a kind impression to other people!¡± ¡°There are countless women out there who Shang Yan can get with. Do you really think he¡¯ll stay with you? Qu Xiao, can you not think clearly?¡± Mr. Qu squatted in front of her with a cane in his hand. There was not the slightest bit of love in his eyes. He recalled his intention for deceiving Qu Xiao toe here today and tried to persuade her in a low voice, ¡°I am doing this for your own good. I want you to see Shang Yan¡¯s true colors. Something has happened to Ling Chi and ourpany is now facing a financial crisis. Go back and steal information on a few projects that the Shang group has been following up on recently for me...¡± ¡°I promise you that once I steal the projects, I will definitely give you a share of the money!¡± ¡°Even if Shang Yan divorces you then, I promise that I will definitely bring you back and find you a better man!¡± Mr. Qu spoke with a malevolent expression. He had be a ve to profit. When Qu Xiao heard his words, her eyes revealed deep disdain and ridicule. ¡°You just told people to pin me to the ground. How am I supposed to believe you?¡± ... In the night, in the SUV in the parking lot of the Shang Group building, Li turned back to look at Shang Yan with a perturbed expression. Shang Yan raised his wristwatch. He had to go homete today due to a few overseas meetings. He wondered how Qu Xiao was doing. Li took a deep breath and turned around from the front passenger seat to say to Shang Yan, ¡°Boss, Madam... She...¡± Shang Yan narrowed his eyes, and his tone was a little hurried and impatient as he frowned. ¡°Hurry up and say it!¡± Assistant Li handed his phone over. The picture on the screen was of Qu Xiao and Qu Qi¡¯s ¡°cake fight.¡± He exined the situation hesitantly, ¡°Tonight was Mr. Qu¡¯s birthday party. Madam went to celebrate his birthday and had a conflict with Qu Qi. I think she even hit her.¡± ¡°I heard from the guests who attended the party that Madam hasn¡¯t yet left the Qu family vi¡± Shang Yan gripped his phone. He looked at Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes in the photo as he said angrily, ¡°Go to the Qu family vi!¡± In the morning, Qu Xiao called out to him hesitantly. Did she want to ask him if he could apany her to the Qu family? Shang Yan recalled her ugly expression and clenched his fingers tightly. He urged the driver to drive faster. Li nced at Shang Yan from the corner of his eyes and saw that Shang Yan¡¯s expression was so gloomy that it looked like he was going to kill someone. He could not help but shiver. The lights in the Qu family vi were bright. Mr. Qu realized that Qu Xiao had no intention of agreeing and could not hold back his anger anymore. He raised the ruler high and was about to strike Qu Xiao. At this moment, a low shout came from the door, ¡°Stop!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s tightly shut eyes suddenly opened. She saw Shang Yaning out from the darkness in a wheelchair and her eyes could not help but be filled with tears. She fell to the ground with all her strength and cried out in an aggrieved and frightened voice, ¡°Hubby, what took you so long?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s heart trembled at her shout and he ordered the bodyguards and Li to restraint Mr. Qu and Qu Qi. ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte.¡± Shang Yan helped her up. When he saw the bruise on Qu Xiao¡¯s wrist, his eyes shot out two cold beams as he stared at Mr. Qu. ¡°I think I deserve some sort of exnation?¡± Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Him and the Qu Family

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The atmosphere in the Qu family vi was tense and solemn. No one had expected Shang Yan toe in the middle of the night and just happen to see Mr. Qu beating Qu Xiao. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with anger as he stared at Mr. Qu. The aura around him was so strong that it was frightening. Qu Xiao could not help but twist her fingers. Mr. Qu¡¯s facial muscles trembled as he exined, ¡°CEO Shang, Xiao Xiao is not sensible. She acted like a fool in public. I only wanted to scare her.¡± Shang Yan sneered as he looked at the ruler in his hand. ¡°This ruler looks like it has been used before?¡± He remembered that there were two shallow scars on Qu Xiaoxiao¡¯s waist. Shang Yan had once thought about where they came from. Seeing Mr. Qu¡¯s actions today, Shang Yan looked at Qu Xiao with a look of heartache. He gently held Qu Xiao¡¯s knuckles tofort her. Qu Xiao was touched, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. She turned her hand around and rubbed his palm. Qu Qi red at them with jealousy and resentment. Back when Qu Xiao just married Shang Yan, everyone thought that her life would be so difficult since he was disabled. However, it seemed that Qu Xiao was even more free and happy than she was before. Qu Qi took two steps forward and pointed at Qu Xiao, ¡°She¡¯s deliberately pretending to be weak in front of you. She pushed me at the banquet and everyone saw it. They can all testify for me!¡± Qu Qi wanted to instigate the rtionship between her and Shang Yan. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes did not waver at all. Instead, he coldly swept his gaze across everyone in the Qu family. His thin lips parted slightly as he said, ¡°Qu Xiao is my wife. No matter what she does outside, I will take responsibility for it.¡± ¡°If you have evidence, you cane to the Shang Group building at any time to discusspensation matters with mywyer, or you can go to court to sue...¡± ¡°No one in the Qu family has the right toy a finger on her. On the day she married me, her rtionship with this family ended! If I see such a scene like today happen again, I won¡¯t show you any mercy.¡± Shang Yan stomped on the ground, taking revenge for Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao pushed Shang Yan out of the house in a particrly carefree manner. Li followed behind them, looking back at the dumbfounded Qu family members and shaking his head. In the business car, Shang Yan lowered the partition. He looked at the bruise on Qu Xiao¡¯s wrist and asked with a frown, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Qu Xiao slowly turned her wrist and raised the smile on her lips. She replied in a rxed tone, ¡°It¡¯s just a superficial wound. It just looks scary.¡± The two of them were silent. The streetlights outside the car window flickered, and the car drove off. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes turned slightly. She took the initiative to ce her fingers on Shang Yan¡¯s palms one by one and interlocked them tightly with his ten fingers. Then, she gently leaned her head on Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder and smelled the fragrance on his body. Qu Xiao closed her eyes and mumbled, ¡°Thank you for today.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how handsome you looked to me just now!¡± Qu Xiao was not stingy with her praise. Shang Yan felt helpless against her coquettishness. The questions in his mouth dissipated because of this. ... In the bedroom, Qu Xiao changed into a long nightgown and slowly moved to the side of the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed with her back facing Shang Yan. She slowly lifted her legs and crawled under the nket. Her movements were extremely strange. Shang Yan noticed that something was wrong. He closed the book that he was flipping through, and ced it on the headboard of the bed. He grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s elbow and lifted the nket. Sure enough, he saw that there were obvious bruises and swelling on her knees. Shang Yan touched her slightly with his hand, and Qu Xiao could not help but suck in a breath of cold air. She furrowed her brows tightly. Shang Yan wanted to take his wheelchair to get the medicine box, but Qu Xiao quickly stopped him and hopped to the front of the wardrobe. She carried the box and handed it to Shang Yan. She was as obedient as a child who had made a mistake. Pursing her red lips, she bent her knees and sat on the bed. Shang Yan gently rubbed the medicine on for her. Qu Xiao felt his warm fingertips brush against her skin, and her body trembled slightly. He raised his head and looked at Qu Xiao with some panic in his eyes. ¡°Does it hurt very much?¡± Qu Xiao bit her lips tightly and mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s a little itchy.¡± Shang Yan looked at her pink cheeks and earlobes. At this moment, he felt very close to her. His posture, as if he was hugging Qu Xiao in his arms, caused the atmosphere in the bedroom to be very hot abruptly. He turned his head with a dry throat, ¡°Will my actions toward the Qu family today make things difficult for you?¡± Qu Xiao did not react at first. She realized that Shang Yan was trying to probe her to see who was more important to her, him or the Qu family. Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Mutual Understanding

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

tter! The medical kit fell on the floor. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were gentle and firm as she leaned over and kissed Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips. Shang Yan¡¯s pupils contracted as he held her waist. At this moment, he understood Qu Xiao¡¯s intentions. The invisible wall that had always separated them was finally knocked down. He followed his instincts and took the initiative. In the quiet room, the two of them intertwined their lips and teeth, and the sound of water dripping gradually heated up the atmosphere. Qu Xiao¡¯s posture was a little awkward. She moved her body gently and sat on Shang Yan¡¯s waist. Both of her hands were wrapped around his slender waist. Shang Yan¡¯s slender fingers hooked off the shoulder straps of her nightgown. He saw Qu Xiao¡¯s fair and pink skin, as well as her plump and round breasts. His Adam¡¯s apple rolled as he sighed. He then held her softly and gently massaged her. Qu Xiao felt her body burning hot. She raised her neck weakly and wanted to lean on Shang Yan¡¯s body. He gently bit on the tender flesh under Qu Xiao¡¯s earlobe and took the opportunity to kiss her sensitive neck, the fine sweat on his forehead revealed his current state of forbearance. Qu Xiao used her hand to hold Shang Yan¡¯s face. She saw the desire in his eyes. Sexual tingles swept across every inch of her body. Her eyes were misty as she stared at Shang Yan. She wanted to ask for more, and Qu Xiao¡¯s voice was flirtatious as she said, ¡°Hubby, give it to me!¡± Her flirtatious attitude instantly made Shang Yan¡¯s waist tighten. His hand lifted Qu Xiao¡¯s skirt and his palm pinched her perky buttocks. His slender fingers caressed her thigh and tried to go in between her legs. Qu Xiao frowned in dissatisfaction. Her eyes were watery and she wanted to twist her waist to avoid it. The next moment, Shang Yan¡¯s hard penis barged into her wet vagina without saying anything. Both of them stopped moving with muffled groans. Shang Yan could not help but tighten his grip on her soft breasts. He buried his head into her chest while she was in a daze. The feeling of his lower body being sucked by countless small mouths made his entire body go numb. Qu Xiao opened her red lips and panted heavily. She lifted her body up like she was drowning and sat down heavily... Only the sound of skin colliding could be heard in the room. When Qu Xiao saw Shang Yan¡¯s satisfied expression, she had some funny thoughts. She pushed Shang Yan¡¯s chest away and the tip of her tongue went down his Adam¡¯s apple. She licked it gently and then slowly stopped on his firm chest. The pink tip of her tongue seemed to be ying around as she licked and bit at his cor bones. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were gloomy as he looked at her. He clenched his teeth and carried her up. His eyes were red as he straightened his waist. Qu Xiao did not expect that he would be so strong even without the use of his legs. She nestled in Shang Yan¡¯s embrace and softly begged, ¡°Slow, slow down, don¡¯t!¡± However, Shang Yan acted as if he could not hear her. His voice was hoarse and sexy with a slight muffled groan. ¡°It¡¯s toote!¡± ... Early the next morning, Qu Xiao opened her eyes, her whole body aching. She recalled her exciting adventure with Shang Yanst night and could not help but snicker. She hugged the pillow and wanted to turn over to drink water, but she suddenly realized that Shang Yan was still beside her, and there were a few clear scratches on his body. Qu Xiao looked up guiltily. When she saw Shang Yan¡¯s handsome face smirking, she subconsciously buried her face under the nket. Shang Yan used his fingertips to curl her hair. He was just about to remind her ofst night¡¯s initiative. However, Qu Xiao was so shy that she ran into the bathroom with a flushed face. The sound of water flowing quickly sounded. Shang Yan pressed the touch pad by the bedside and left the room in his wheelchair. ¡°Come down and have breakfast.¡± At the dining table, Qu Xiao counted the rice grains and asionally peeked at Shang Yan. When she saw his serious face, she could not help but wrinkle her nose. Li and the Butler noticed that the atmosphere was strange, but Qu Xiao thought of something and cleared her throat, ¡°Last night, the Qu family threatened me to steal the Shang Group¡¯s projects and secrets for them.¡± Shang Yan ced two pieces of bacon on her te and asked in a natural tone, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Qu Xiao answered vaguely, ¡°I think I can just take out two to three projects from your safe and give them to the Qu family!¡± Li almost dropped his rice bowl. He stared nervously at Shang Yan, afraid that he would get angry on the spot. However, Shang Yan appeared unusually calm. His thin lips curled into a smile as he raised his eyebrows, as if agreeing with Qu Xiao¡¯s proposal. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Li, bring out the information on the projects that the Shang Group has been following up on recently and let her choose a few...¡± Li was so shocked that his jaw dropped. Was Shang Yan so blinded by love? That he could even hand over hispany¡¯s secrets? Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Husband and Wife Setting Up a Trap

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Li handed the tablet to Qu Xiao with an extremely unwilling expression. Qu Xiao wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue. She was exceptionally focused as she gently swiped the screen and immediately circled two projects that were in progress. Shang Yan swept his eyes over them and his eyes lit up slightly as he asked her why. Qu Xiao blinked her eyes slightly and analyzed the problems that the Shang Group encountered in a clear and orderly manner. ¡°The project is supported by the government and has a good future. However, the enterprises in charge of the execution of the project at this stage are not qualified. They managed to get the project, but they never thought that there would be so many problems in the progression.¡± ¡°The project has been shelved for too long and there are many problems left behind. The amount of money that needs to be paid out is also veryrge.¡± ¡°If the Shang Group wants to take over, the board of directors will definitely have objections. They will feel that the investment is not proportional to the return, and reject it.¡± Li¡¯s mouth was agape in shock. He could not help but ask, ¡°How did you know?¡± These secrets belonged to the Shang Group. Other than Shang Yan, the administrative assistant, and the shareholders, no one else knew! Qu Xiao poked at the information column on the screen, looked up at Shang Yan, and said, ¡°If the Qu family wants topete with the Shang Group, we¡¯ll give this project to them.¡± ¡°In the early stages of the project, the Qu family will have to invest arge sum of money. When the bottomless pit is half filled, they won¡¯t have sufficient cash flow. When they have to hand over the project, the Shang Group can use the lowest investment ratio to get the project, or even take the opportunity to buy over the Qu Group.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes flickered with an evil light. The corners of her mouth curved slightly as she waited for Shang Yan¡¯s reply. Shang Yan lowered his eyes and smiled lightly. He shook his head and poked his temple with his hand. Li thought for a long time in a daze. He finally understood Qu Xiao¡¯s intention. Li said with a sudden realization, ¡°Madam, you want to scam the Qu family?¡± ¡°I thought you wanted the Shang Group to cede the profits to please the Qu family.¡± After Li finished speaking, two pairs of cold gazes fell on him at the same time. He shrunk his neck in guilt. Qu Xiao frowned and asked in return, ¡°Why would I help others steal from my own husband? Do I look very stupid?¡± Li stared at the tip of his toes silently. He thought about how Qu Xiao had been helping Ling Chi all these years but did not dare to say it out loud. Qu Xiao could see through his inner thoughts, but the stupid things were all done by the original owner and had nothing to do with her! Shang Yan¡¯s eyes stared deeply at Qu Xiao. Her change was so shocking. He had never realized before that she actually had a business mind and an excellent ability to analyze things. Shang Yan¡¯s brows rxed as he chuckled. ¡°You and the Qu family have just fallen out. If you rashly agree to their proposal, they will definitely have some suspicions and won¡¯t easily fall into the trap you¡¯ve dug.¡± Qu Xiao cupped her face with one hand. ¡°I have my own ways!¡± ... At the Shang Group¡¯s headquarters, the sound of an intense argument came from the CEO¡¯s office. All the employees pricked up their ears, wanting to eavesdrop on the situation inside. Qu Xiao¡¯s sharp and acerbic voice came from the open door, ¡°Why did you disable my credit card? When I married you, you clearly said that you wouldn¡¯t mind whatever I did!¡± ¡°You lied to me, I want to divorce you!¡± A ss container fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. Shang Yan frowned when he heard the word ¡°divorce¡±. He peeled a grape and stuffed it into her mouth with a slightly dissatisfied expression. Qu Xiao sensed his displeasure and hurriedly rubbed his shoulder in a friendly manner. She shook his arm slightly and said in an extremely soft voice, ¡°You have to act more realistically. Otherwise, the people outside will definitely not believe it!¡± Li silently turned around and stared at a ss. He resigned himself to his fate and threw the ss on the ground, to make it seem like the two of them were arguing. As Qu Xiao had expected, the news spread quickly. It spread from within the Shang group to the entire financial world, including the Qu family. When Mr. Qu received the news, he did not even have time tough before Qu Xiao gave him a call. When the call was picked up, Qu Xiao¡¯s voice trembled. She suppressed her sobs and said, ¡°I promise I will help you get the Shang Group¡¯s confidential documents. But you have to agree to a few conditions of mine!¡± Mr. Qu felt as if he had been struck by a stroke of good luck, and he immediately became pleased with himself. He then exchanged a few words with Qu Xiao, asking her toe to the vi to discuss specific details. As Qu Qi listened to their conversation, she was a little suspicious. She reminded Mr. Qu to be careful and to not let Qu Xiao and Shang Yan join forces to deceive him. Mr. Qu waved his hand, his face full of arrogance as he said, ¡°Shang Yan must have abandoned Qu Xiao, and now they¡¯re on bad terms!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Now it¡¯s our turn to make money!¡± Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Transfer of Shares

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the Qu family vi, Qu Xiao sat on the sofa with her eyes red and her hands tightly holding a cup of water. Qu Qi nced at her with a contemptuous expression and said in a mocking tone, ¡°Who was the one who said that she wanted to sever ties with usst night?¡± ¡°Shang Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered to support you anymore and wanted to divorce you, so you came back so eagerly!¡± Qu Xiao lowered her eyes and did not say anything. Mr. Qu cleared his throat to interrupt their conversation and tried his best to pretend to be kind and amiable as he stared at Qu Xiao. He rubbed his hands together and asked tentatively, ¡°Can you still get ess to the confidential documents of the Shang Group?¡± Qu Xiao pursed her red lips tightly and raised her eyes as if she had made up her mind. ¡°I know the password to his safe.¡± ¡°The Shang Group has two projects in progress recently, both of which are supported by the government. The prospects and profits are very promising. I can help you steal the specific information and the low price of their acquisition, but I need some guarantee!¡± Qu Xiao threw out the bait, and Mr. Qu¡¯s eyes revealed a greedy look. He anxiously moved to Qu Xiao¡¯s side. ¡°Bring it on!¡± ¡°When the project ispletely in my hands, you will definitely get a lot of bonuses and dividends!¡± When Qu Xiao heard Mr. Qu¡¯s words, disdain shed across her eyes. The corners of her lips curled up into a faint smile. She ced the cup on the coffee table and leaned back in a negotiating stance, ¡°Verbal promise has no legal effect. What I need is a guarantee to implement the terms of our contract!¡± ¡°When I helped Ling Chi steal information in the past, he also said that he would reward me greatly. But in the end? I didn¡¯t receive any returns.¡± Mr. Qu tried to sweet talk Qu Xiao, but she saw through his intentions and immediately raised her hand to interrupt his hypocritical words. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes revealed a shrewdness and indifference that could see through everything, ¡°The Qu family has never treated me as one of their own. I don¡¯t trust you. If you want me to steal information, I can, but you need to pay me 10% of the project¡¯s profits as amission.¡± ¡°Not just after you have acquired the project. I need something first before I can help you!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s attitude was unyielding. Mr. Qu stared at her with a frown, seemingly hesitant. Qu Qi stood up with a sneer, pointed at her and scolded, ¡°Are you talking in your sleep? Who knows if you¡¯re for real or not?¡± Mr. Qu¡¯s eyes flickered with suspicion, but Qu Xiao was sitting calmly. She looked up at Qu Qi, ¡°I can¡¯t run away. If any problems arise within the project, you can find me at any time. Do you know how many people would love to steal the Shang Group¡¯s projects?¡± ¡°I am the only one who can help you. The Ling family is currently busy protecting their own enterprise. With your capital chain, how long can youst? If you don¡¯t get a profitable project, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯tst more than half a year, right?¡± Qu Xiao knew Mr. Qu¡¯s weakness very well. She knew that business and money were what Mr. Qu valued the most. Sure enough, Mr. Qu mmed the table heavily. He red at Qu Qi and told her to shut up. Then, he slowly discussed with Qu Xiao, ¡°Since you know our current situation, you should know that I can¡¯t give you cash. Why don¡¯t we exchange something else...¡± Qu Xiao deliberately stood up and walked to the door, silently counting three seconds in her heart. Mr. Qu anxiously opened his mouth and called out to her, ¡°I¡¯ll give you 10% of the Qu Group¡¯s shares as coteral!¡± ¡°After the project is settled, I¡¯ll buy it back from you at market price. You definitely won¡¯t take a loss, how about it?¡± Mr. Qu was blinded by benefits. Qu Xiao forcefully controlled her smirk, restrained her smug expression, and turned around. She frowned and nodded, as if she had made a greatpromise and sacrifice, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do as you said, to transfer the shares.¡± ... Late at night, Qu Xiao stuffed the transfer agreement into Shang Yan¡¯s hands. She twisted her waist proudly to show off the results to him. Shang Yan looked at her with a doting expression. He raised his hand to support Qu Xiao through the air, afraid that she would fall down. The rm clock rang. Qu Xiao restrained her excited expression and carefully pulled out the silver needles on Shang Yan¡¯s legs. Shang Yan¡¯s rehabilitation treatment had already been going on for nearly half a month. Qu Xiao adjusted his treatment n ording to his condition, but there was still no improvement. She tried her best to conceal her anxiety and uneasiness as she used a small hammer to gently knock on Shang Yan¡¯s knees and nerves. Dong! Shang Yan¡¯s knee socket suddenly showed a slight bounce reaction. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes blinked rapidly. She raised her head to look at Shang Yan in disbelief and asked, ¡°You... did you move?¡± Although it was only for an instant, she was sure that she was not hallucinating! Shang Yan eyes were filled with surprise and excitement as he nodded. ¡°Yes! You might really be able to help me stand up again.¡± Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Financial Breakdown

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Two weekster, Qu Xiao was pushing Shang Yan up the courtyard to bask in the Sun when she suddenly received a call from Mr. Qu. ording to their n, the government-supported project had already smoothly fallen into the hands of the Qu Group. This was right about the time when the Qu group should be facing a financial turnover problem. If they could not get anymore funding, they would face a situation where their financial chain would break, and all of the Qu Group¡¯s efforts would be in vain. Mr. Qu paced around anxiously. The phone rang for a while and Qu Xiao answered perfunctorily, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Do you know that there¡¯s a problem with the project? Sell the shares in your hands for cash!¡± ¡°Otherwise, if something happens to thepany, you won¡¯t be able to get the remuneration that you want! Qu Xiao, don¡¯t waste any more time...¡± Mr. Qu growled in a high-pitched voice. Qu Xiao switched the call to speaker mode. She looked into Shang Yan¡¯s eyes and smirked. After a long while, Qu Xiao cleared her throat and replied, ¡°Since the shares are now mine, i definitely won¡¯t sell them!¡± ¡°But I can give you some information. Shang Yan is very persistent on government-supported projects. Recently, he¡¯s been asking about the Qu Group¡¯s status. He¡¯s nning to acquire the project at a low price when you guys give up. I advise you to think of a way to borrow money from the bank.¡± Qu Xiao hung up the phone after she finished speaking. She covered her mouth and bent over with a smile. Shang Yan looked sideways at Li and said, ¡°Arrange for our people to contact the Qu family and sign a loan contract with them under the name of a third party. They are required to use 15% of theirpany¡¯s shares as coteral. If they are unable to pay it back within two months, we will receive the shares ording to the contract. There are no other options.¡± Li silently noted it down. He quietly raised his eyes and looked at the back view of Shang Yan and Qu Xiao. Boss and Madam are really ruthless! When Qu Xiao ran to the kitchen to prepare fresh fruit for Shang Yan, Shang Yan called Li to his side. He looked at the busy Qu Xiao through the ss doors and windows and said with love in his eyes, ¡°the 15% of the Qu Group¡¯s shares will be directly transferred to Qu Xiao. The loan amount will be transferred from my private ount. This has nothing to do with thepany. Remember to handle the matter properly and not have any loopholes!¡± Li suppressed his shocked emotions and said, ¡°Alright.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s fingertips gently tapped on the armrest of his wheelchair as he said to himself, ¡°Whatever the Qu family owes her, I will get it back for her bit by bit.¡± ... In the Qu family vi, Mr. Qu looked at the terms of the contract in front of him with some hesitation. He held the pen in his hand and refused to sign the contact until the employee of the loanpany impatiently urged him, ¡°Mr. Qu do you want to think it through again? There are otherpanies that want to sign a contract with us. When you have thought it through, contact us again...¡± Mr. Qu took a deep breath. He gritted his teeth and signed his name with his eyes closed, sessfully getting the funds for the project. Three dayster, the government issued a red-headed approval. Due to objective factors and policy changes, many projects had to be shelved for half a year. Mr. Qu was immediately flustered when he heard the news. He was so anxious that he made countless calls. The Qu Group had invested all of their funds in this project. They could not even stop the progression of the project for half a day. If not, they would not be able to repay the loan due in 2 months. The manager of the Finance Department went to Mr. Qu¡¯s office to remind him, ¡°Ourpany only has 500,000 left...¡± Mr. Qu grabbed the ss utensils ced on his desk in a fit of rage and mmed them on the ground. Then, Mr. Qu thought of Qu Xiao. He picked up his car keys and headed straight for the Shang family vi, wanting to make a final struggle with the shares in Qu Xiao¡¯s hands. On the way to the vi, Mr. Qu dialed Qu Xiao¡¯s number, but she didn¡¯t pick up. ¡°Qu Xiao,e out now!¡± ¡°I want to see my daughter. Get out of my way. Where¡¯s CEO Shang? I want to go in...¡± The bodyguards stopped Mr. Qu outside the Shang family vi. He was on the verge of going crazy as he struggled with the bodyguards, shouting and cursing loudly. Qu Xiao and Shang Yan were drinking afternoon tea in the bedroom on the second floor. They looked at Mr. Qu through the window. Shang Yan silently observed Qu Xiao¡¯s expression. After all, he was her father. Seeing that the matter had escted to such an extent, he raised his hand to hold Qu Xiao¡¯s hand, wanting tofort her and give her strength. Qu Xiao raised her eyes in puzzlement and revealed a brilliant smile to him. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°The Qu family treats me as a tool and a servant, but they don¡¯t treat me as a rtive. If that¡¯s the case, what¡¯s wrong with me treating them the same way? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not sad.¡± Shang Yan felt his heart clench in pain. He hugged Qu Xiao in his arms and slowly tightened his grip on her shoulder. Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Acquiring the Qu Group

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

From the Shang family¡¯s old mansion, Shang Yan received an emergency call from Shang Xinchen and hurriedly drove back. He pushed his wheelchair into the living room and saw Shang Liqing sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed. There was no sign of Shang Xinchen around. Shang Yan frowned and wanted to ask about what was going on, but Shang Liqing spoke first, ¡°I asked him to call you back.¡± ¡°Second brother, what are you thinking? What medicine did Qu Xiao give you to make you abandon your principles and help her?¡± Shang Liqing received a call from Qu Qi and found out everything that had happened in the Qu Group recently. She had been educated in an elite school since she was young and had a clear understanding of the undercurrents in the business world. Shang Liqing naturally understood that everything was a trap for the Qu family. She ran to Shang Yan¡¯s side impatiently and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by her! Qu Xiao is taking advantage of you! Don¡¯t be fooled by her!¡± Shang Yan looked at her coldly, his eyes filled with disappointment as he said, ¡°It must be because I usually pamper you too much.¡± ¡°The Shang Group will be able to use the least amount of investment to obtain the government-supported project. At the same time, we will be able to acquire a lot of shares of the Qu Group, bing thergest shareholder of the Qu Group. Then, we will be able to make all decisions for thepany. This can help the Shang Group open up new areas. What is Qu Xiao deceiving me about?¡± ¡°Shang Liqing, do you really think I am such a stupid manager? That I would be taken advantage of and not know about it?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s tone was extremely serious. Shang Liqing was at a loss for words. She suddenly realized that her second brother seemed to have known or even participated in all of this? Shang Liqing took two deep breaths and retorted unwillingly, ¡°Qu Xiao¡¯s heart is vicious.¡± ¡°How many projects did she help Ling Chi steal in the past? Second Brother, how could you forget all of this? A woman like her who doesn¡¯t know self-respect will sooner orter harm you. She¡¯ll cheat on you and find other wild men, and you¡¯ll be aughingstock to everyone!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to help you! Second brother, I¡¯m your biological sister. You would listen to outsiders but not me?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes darkened. He red at Shang Liqing coldly, ¡°Watch your words.¡± ¡°Qu Xiao is my wife. You should call her sister-inw, and not speak bad about her!¡± Shang Yan turned around and left. Shang liqing stomped her feet and shouted at his back, ¡°You will definitely regret it!¡± ... The next day at noon, in the Qu Group¡¯s meeting room. All the shareholders looked nervously at the door, as if they were waiting for someone. Mr. Qu pped the meeting table in frustration. The Qu Group¡¯s capital chain hadpletely broken. The loanpany came to the Qu Group building to get their coteral. Mr. Qu had no choice but to hand over 15% of his shares ording to the contract. At the same time, he epted the Shang Group¡¯s proposal to acquire their project and handed over the management rights to Shang Yan. Today was Shang Yan¡¯s first day taking over the Qu Group. Mr. Qu¡¯s thoughts wereplicated, and he fantasized about negotiating with him for two years. He wanted to use his mortgage to buy back Shang Yan¡¯s shares after the project was sessfullypleted. Mr. Qu¡¯s beautiful dream was shattered the moment Shang Yan entered the room. Li pushed Shang Yan into the meeting room. Mr. Qu stood up and gave up the main seat, wanting to let him sit down. Shang Yan had an awe-inspiring and terrifying aura. His gaze swept across everyone. ¡°I am not in charge of all the affairs of the Qu Group. I will introduce you to the new CEO and General Manager of the Qu Group...¡± He waved his hand and pointed at the door. Qu Xiao appeared in everyone¡¯s line of sight wearing a fiery red suit. She tilted her head and looked at Mr. Qu. She waved her hand to greet him and introduced herself. ¡°Hello, I am Qu Xiao. Please give me your guidance.¡± The meeting room was silent. All eyes were focused on Mr. Qu and Qu Xiao, thinking about what was going on. Mr. Qu suddenly understood what was going on. His eyes were red as he rushed towards Qu Xiao and cursed, ¡°Unfilial daughter! This was all nned by you. You and Shang Yan joined hands to lie to me! I¡¯m going to sue you. I¡¯m going to expose all your bad deeds!¡± Qu Xiao walked to Shang Yan¡¯s side. She sat on the main seat and used her hand to touch the CEO¡¯s crystal namete. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the transfer of shares and the loan contract were signed by you personally. They have legal force. If you want to me someone, you can only me yourself for not knowing better back then. Now, I hold 25% of the Qu Group¡¯s shares. I¡¯m thergest shareholder. You¡¯d better fix your attitude when speaking to me.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were cold as she looked at him. Shang Yan sat quietly behind her. It was obvious that the Shang Group would be her backer and support her. Chapter 41 - Profit-Driven

Chapter 41 Profit-Driven

In the meeting room, the shareholders and department managers maintained their silence towards the internal conflict within the Qu family. Qu Xiao curled her red lips, her eyes shing with a calm and leisurely brilliance. Her fingertips fiddled with a pen, and she asionally raised her eyes to nce at Mr. Qu. Mr. Qu¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. He was trembling with anger, but he could not re up. He fought against his emotions and tried to persuade her, ¡°Xiaoxiao, I know you have a grudge against us, but all the employees and shareholders are counting on ourpany doing well. It¡¯s not a ce for you to mess around!¡± ¡°There are many things to do in thepany. You can keep your shares, but let me manage the CEO position for you, okay?¡± ¡°When you are ready personally manage thepany, I will definitely give you back the position!¡± Mr. Qu said very kindly, but Qu Xiao could not help butugh as she rubbed her ears. ¡°Do I look like a three-year-old child?¡± ¡°Making use of our family ties to manipte me, acting as if you are doing me a favor by being the CEO. I know you¡¯re nning to take advantage of the CEO position to collude with other shareholders to dilute my shares so you can once again gain full control of Qu Group and kick me out of thepany.¡± ¡°Your n is a little too old-fashioned. You¡¯ll need more innovative ideas to deal with me!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyebrows were slightly furrowed as she held onto the conference table. Her eyes were sharp as she stared at Mr. Qu as she spoke word by word, ¡°I¡¯m a healthy adult and I meet the standards of an independent managing apany. Moreover, I know more about business than you think.¡± This sentence made the expressions of the shareholders waver. The hyenas who put profit first naturally understood what the existence of Shang Yan meant. Qu Xiao took the opportunity to add, ¡°Of course, there will be benefits for shareholders and managers who have chosen to support me. I can provide a writtenmitment that the dividends for shareholders at the end of the year will increase by 5%pared to previous years, and the departmental KPI will meet thepany¡¯s requirements to provide a six-figure bonus!¡± The shareholders began to whisper among themselves when they heard her promise. There were still a few who remained doubtful. Shang Yan broke the silence and said in a cold voice, ¡°At the end of the year, if Qu Group¡¯s profits do not meet the standards that Qu Xiao promised, Shang Group will carry out today¡¯s promise on her behalf. Does anyone have any questions?¡± Qu Xiao looked back in surprise, her heart surging with emotion. The shareholders were so happy that their jaws dropped. They immediately expressed their willingness to support Qu Xiao and follow her lead. Qu Xiao leaned against the Mr. Qu in the corner, who had no sense of presence at all. The corners of Qu Xiao¡¯s lips curled up slightly as she nodded her head, angering Mr. Qu to the point that he pressed against his heart and nearly fainted. Thanks to Mr. Qu, she learned that she could easily gain the loyalty of people through offering benefits. After the inauguration ceremony, Qu Xiao informed the logistics department to move all of Mr. Qu¡¯s things out of the office. Seeing that it was gettingte, she naturally left thepany with Shang Yan without bothering to look at Mr. Qu¡¯s face that was filled with hatred and malevolence. In the dark-colored car, Qu Xiao waved her arms excitedly, swaying rhythmically to the music. She was in an extremely good mood. Shang Yan looked at her excited appearance, and his thin lips curled up, showing a hint of indulgence. In the bedroom of the vi, Shang Yan leaned against the headboard of the bed and read a book. Qu Xiao stepped on the thin nket barefooted. She bent her knees in front of the wine cab with a serious look on her face. She ran to the bedside with a bottle of red wine in her hands and boldly took away the book in his hand. She stuffed a wine ss into his palm and said, ¡°We¡¯ve finally seeded in our goal to take over Qu Group. Let¡¯s celebrate!¡± Qu Xiao raised her head and took a gulp. Red wine flowed from the corner of her mouth to her corbone. Seeing that made Shang Yan¡¯s throat tighten. ¡°You¡­ want to drink some whiskey?¡± From the corner of her eye, Qu Xiao saw that Shang Yan had yet to drink, so she asked in a somewhat curious manner. Her red lips were slightly parted, and her clear eyes were now covered with a hint of drunkenness. There was an indescribable flirtatiousness and coquettishness. Shang Yan¡¯s heart twitched slightly. He ced the wine ss on the bedside cab and tugged at her elbow wrist with some force. Qu Xiao¡¯s body fell unsteadily on his chest. Her soft breasts and small palm pressed tightly against his abdominal muscles. Her slight twisting and rubbing caused Shang Yan¡¯s breathing to be increasingly rapid. ¡°Let¡¯s celebrate in another way¡­¡± Shang Yan said in a hoarse voice. Hisrge hand hooked the back of Qu Xiao¡¯s head. He lost all control staring into her pair of nk eyes. He sighed and leaned over to kiss her lips that carried the fragrance of wine, the tip of his tongue agilely invaded and pried open her mouth, kissing away all the remaining wine in her mouth. Chapter 42 - War of Public Opinion

Chapter 42 War of Public Opinion

The kiss was hot and long. Qu Xiao¡¯s nightgown had unknowingly fallen to the ground. The sling had slid down to her shoulders, and her round and full breasts were gently swaying Shang Yan¡¯s remaining rationality was also shattered by a few soft moans that she gently spat out. He used his palm to support Qu Xiao¡¯s slender waist and gradually lifted it up until he held her soft breasts. Her breathing was rough as he massaged them. Seeing her snow-white skin move under his massaging, the object beneath his crotch grew harder andrger once again. Qu Xiao¡¯s entire body leaned weakly against Shang Yan¡¯s body. She instinctively used her small hand to hold onto his crotch. The warm touch caused Shang Yan to let out a grunt twice as he kissed Qu Xiao¡¯s corbone. ¡°You¡­ you be gentle. I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± At this moment, Qu Xiao remembered to consider Shang Yan¡¯s physical condition. She swayed her waist as shey on Shang Yan¡¯s chest. Her perky buttocks searched for a hard object before she slowly sat down. The tight tunnel was like countless small mouths sucking evenly. Shang Yan¡¯s muscles tensed as he supported Qu Xiao. He could not help but begin to push back with force. The sound of intimate lovemaking filled the entire bedroom. Qu Xiao yed with her long hair that was drenched in sweat as she raised her neck and panted. The posture of riding made her a little tired. Her movements slowed down very quickly. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes revealed an insatiable light. He suddenly flipped over and pressed her under his body. His strong arms lifted Qu Xiao¡¯s legs and her swaying feet rested on his shoulders. ¡°Oh! Shang Yan, your legs¡­¡± Qu Xiao could not help but exim in surprise. Shang Yan¡¯s head was covered in fine sweat as he charged forward with a muffled sound. Every time, he would hit a deeper spot. ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted!¡± Shang Yan saw Qu Xiao¡¯s flushed face. Seeing her docile look, he whispered in a low and hoarse voice. The next morning, the room was still filled with an ambiguous smell. Qu Xiao felt her entire body aching as she opened her eyes. She lowered her head and nced at the purplish-blue hickeys on her chest and neck. She could not help but re at the man beside her in a coquettish and resentful manner. She recalled the scene fromst night that made her blush. She suddenly wanted to lift up the silk nket and asked, ¡°Can you move?¡± Shang Yan held her hand and did not let her move. The next second, Shang Yan handed his phone over with a dark expression and reminded her, ¡°Take a look. Do you need me to step in?¡± Qu Xiao was puzzled as she pulled at the screen. She saw Qu Qi condemning her on social media through a long article, ¡°The daughter of the Qu family, Qu Xiao used despicable methods and acts to cheat her father of his shares in thepany and even chased him out of thepany.¡± ¡°Our father¡¯s mood is very unstable. He has to rely on arge amount of sleeping pills and alcohol to fall asleep every day.¡± ¡°I¡¯m currently unable to contact Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao, when you see this, I hope you can get in touch with me as soon as possible. After all, we¡¯re family.¡± Qu Xiao used her finger to gently press between her eyebrows. She shifted her body and nestled in Shang Yan¡¯s embrace as she muttered under her breath, ¡°She¡¯s learned her lesson. She now knows how to influence public opinion to punish me¡­¡± Shang Yan had originally wanted to tell her that he could help remove all the negative trending searches regarding her and even cancel Qu Qi¡¯s ount. ¡°Can you make the news spread more widely?¡± Qu Xiao raised her sparkling eyes and stared at Shang Yan. When she saw the stubble on his chin, she poked it with her finger curiously. When her finger slid to his Adam¡¯s apple, Shang Yan could not help but swallow. He hugged the woman in his arms tightly and said, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you. Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Qu Xiao listened to his heartbeat and felt a sense of security that she had never felt before. She nodded heavily and said, ¡°I have a way to shut Qu Qi up!¡± Very quickly, the father-daughter drama of Qu Group dominated the trending searches list and became a huge discussions amongstizens. Qu Xiao sat in front of theputer, her red lips curling into a teasing smile. Qu Xiao selected a few recordings in a USB drive to post onto the online forum. A few secondster, the words ¡°Upload sessful¡± appeared on the screen. In the lively forum, Qu Xiao¡¯s rification post quickly received attention. ¡°Go steal confidential information from Shang Group! Otherwise, you will have to deal with the consequences!¡± ¡°Kneel down! Unfilial daughter! I will teach you a lesson today¡­¡± In the recording, Mr. Qu¡¯s cold and vicious words made theizens feel a chill down their spines. Public opinion turned around one after another. Theizens who had originally reprimanded Qu Xiao for being cold-blooded and heartless used increasingly fierce words to criticize Mr. Qu¡¯s savage behavior, angrily scolding him for being so ruthless to his own daughter. Following that, some extremeizens went to the Qu family¡¯s vi and threw smelly eggs at their French windows to stand up for Qu Xiao. In the vi¡¯s living room, Mr. Qu was so angry that he went crazy spinning around on the spot, thinking of how to get back at Qu Xiao. Chapter 43 - Showing Affection

Chapter 43 Showing Affection

Pa! Mr. Qu smashed his ss and pointed at Qu Qi angrily, ¡°What a great idea you came up with!¡± It had only been five minutes since Qu Xiao¡¯s rification was released, but the direction of public anger had beenpletely reversed. Shang Yan was definitely behind it! Qu Qi stared at the online forums and her eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred as she clenched her fists. Shang Yan actually did this for Qu Xiao? Qu Qi¡¯s eyes flickered as her gazended on Mr. Qu. She spoke in a provocative tone, ¡°Dad, theizens have misunderstood you! The reason why you¡¯re so strict with Qu Xiao is because you¡¯re worried! You¡¯re worried that your daughter will make mistakes and get bullied¡­¡± ¡°Shang Yan is from a very high profile family and he usually treats Qu Xiao coldly. You¡¯re just afraid that he has other women outside.¡± Qu Qi¡¯s eyes were bewitching and encouraging as she said firmly, ¡°You were only asking Qu Xiao to steal Shang Group¡¯s secrets so that she could use them as a way out if anything happens. What great fatherly love!¡± There was a vicious scheme hidden behind these words. Mr. Qu pped his knees in delight and immediately posted the long reply. This time, everyone¡¯s attention was focused on Qu Xiao and Shang Yan¡¯s rtionship. The emotions of theizens were extremely mouldable. Rather than talking about a father-daughter battle, they probably liked gossiping about rtionship matters more. For example, a financial bigwig and his wife who seemed to be in love, but in reality, there was no love in their marriage¡­ Qu Qi wiped the corners of her lips with her fingertips. She wondered how Qu Xiao would be able to reverse the situation this time! Rtionships could not withstand scrutiny and trial. She would have no way to prove toizens that their rtionship was genuine. In this war of public opinion, Qu Xiao was destined to fail! Even if Shang Yan removed the trending searches and news about their rtionship, the jokes and discussions of theizens would cause cracks to appear in their rtionship! At the same time, Qu Xiao stared at her phone screen with a depressed expression, her eyebrows furrowed as she bit her fingertip. Qu Qi¡¯s tricks were brilliant. Netizens even found some evidence to prove that Shang Yan and Qu Xiao indeed were in a loveless marriage. For example, Shang Yan was never seen wearing his wedding ring in public, and the employees of the Shang group rarely saw Qu Xiao. There were even IDs of people who were supposedly friends with Shang Yan who jumped in to say that he did not have any feelings for Qu Xiao and that it was just a business marriage. Qu Xiao bit her lips tightly as she turned her head to stare at Shang Yan. She felt a faint sense of uneasiness in her heart. Very quickly, she ran to Shang Yan¡¯s side. Qu Xiao grabbed his well-defined palm. Her slender fingers held his, and the two pairs of hands intertwined with each other. Since Shang Yan hated taking photos and showing his face, Qu Xiao decided to take pictures of them holding hands to rify things. Although taking sweet and affectionate selfies with Shang Yan would be more effective, this was the only way in which Qu Xiao wouldn¡¯t have to be forceful towards Shang Yan. Soon, Qu Xiao found a good angle and snapped two photos. She looked at the pictures with satisfaction and briskly ran back to the sofa. She posted the photos and added, ¡°Thank you for your concern, our rtionship is going very well!¡± Shang Yan lowered his head and stared nkly at his left hand that still had the warmth of her palm. The Butler coughed twice and signaled using his eyes to Shang Yan to look at Qu Xiao¡¯s social media ount. (Who knows if the hand in the photo is Shang Yan¡¯s. She could have found this picture on the inte and reposted it.) (Qu Xiao, don¡¯t lie to yourself! Shang Yan doesn¡¯t even want to acknowledge you as his wife. Hurry up and get a divorce¡­] (She¡¯s not going to get a divorce. It¡¯s a business marriage after all. It¡¯s all about money! She¡¯s beautiful, I didn¡¯t expect him to¡­] Thements were filled with hostility. All kinds of rumors and sarcastic remarks made Qu Xiao depressed. Although she didn¡¯t need to prove to anyone that their rtionship was genuine, it was true that this matter had an impact on her mood. She was so affected to the point where she begin to suspect if Shang Yan was really going to divorce her. Could their current affection towards each other be an illusion? Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were filled with tears as she twisted her fingers and her shoulders drooped down in frustration. Seeing those groundlessments, Shang Yan looked up at the petite figure in the living room and frowned as he tapped on his phone screen. After ten minutes, Qu Xiao had originally wanted to turn off her phone because she was getting too affected by the negativements However, she caught a glimpse of thetestments from the corner of her eye. [Ah! CEO Shang and Qu Xiao¡¯s rtionship is so sweet!) [The way they show off their love is so cute! I hope my boyfriend learns from CEO Shang] Qu Xiao rubbed her eyes. When she saw the screenshot posted by theizens, her pupils could not help but dte. Shang Yan had actually posted a photo of them holding hands on his official ount that he had not used for a long time! By doing so, he was indirectly acknowledging her statement just now! ¡°This photo is very nice. I like it very much.¡± Shang Yan had unknowingly appeared beside Qu Xiao. A faint smile hung on his thin lips as he habitually rubbed the top of her hair. Qu Xiao was immersed in his pair of his dark and bottomless eyes. Her ears were tingling as she lowered her eyes and quickly nodded her head. Chapter 44 - Disciplining a Younger Sister

Chapter 44 Disciplining a Younger Sister

Bang! The muffled sound of something being smashed came from a room in the Qu family¡¯s vi. A broken mirror reflected Qu Qi¡¯s distorted facial features due to jealousy and hatred. She was so angry that she gritted her teeth and stood on the table. Then, she calmed down and took a deep breath. She cleared her throat and dialed Shang Liqing¡¯s number. She raised her hand and touched herself in the mirror while pleading in an aggrieved tone. ¡°Qingqing, help me¡­ help me deal with Shang Yan and Qu Xiao¡­¡± Qu Xiao, caught up in a brief moment of euphoria, gradually came to her senses. Her eyes were filled with worry as she asked, ¡°Will this affect you?¡± Shang Group had always been low-key to prevent unwanted articles published about them. Now that entertainment channels had seized this chance to publish articles about Shang Group, Qu Xiao felt a little guilty. Shang Yan used his finger to press against her lips andforted her with a deep and gentle voice, ¡°We are husband and wife. When faced with problems, of course we should resolve them together.¡± ¡°These are all things that I should be doing. Instead of apologizing, perhaps you can use other ways to thank me.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips curved into an ambiguous arc as he gently rubbed his fingertips against Qu Xiao¡¯s lips. His rubbing made Qu Xiao¡¯s entire body tremble slightly. She shyly opened her arms and hooked them around Shang Yan¡¯s shoulders. She took the opportunity to sit on hisp and gently kissed his thin lips. Then, she turned her head away at an extremely fast speed and hid her smirk. Shang Yan saw her shy andzy cat-like side profile and gently bit her pink earlobe. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Qu Xiao moved her body sensitively, wanting to avoid his touch. ¡°We¡¯re in the living room.¡± Dong dong. As soon as Qu Xiao finished speaking, there was a heavy knock on the door at the entrance. Shang Yan was filled with dissatisfaction as he turned his head. Qu Xiao quickly stood up and tidied up her somewhat messy and wrinkled dress and hair. At the door, Shang Liqing crossed her arms. Her eyes flickered with contempt and disdain as she stared at Qu Xiao and said sarcastically without holding back. ¡°I was wondering how you bewitched my brother. So it turns out that you relied on your body? It does have some charm, but where did that gaudy smelle from!¡± Shang Liqing deliberately pinched the tip of her nose and waved her hand as if to disperse the smell. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were cold as he stared at her and berated, ¡°She¡¯s your sister-inw. Where¡¯s your manners?¡± Qu Xiao patted Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder lightly, not wanting his rtionship with his sister to be estranged because of her. However, Shang Liqing¡¯s words were harsh. It was obvious that she was here for her. Qu Xiao naturally could not tolerate it. Her eyes curved as she opened her mouth to retort, ¡°I¡¯m being intimate with my husband in my own home. Do I need your permission?¡± ne. ¡°Moreover, it seems to be your fault for barging in.¡± ¡°You have no manners. If you do this again, be prepared to deal with the consequences!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s words made Shang Liqing speechless. Shang Liqing was so angry that she clenched her fists and stared at Shang Yan as she asked, ¡°Second brother! Aren¡¯t you going to deal with her?¡± Shang Yan held Qu Xiao¡¯s palm and rubbed her knuckles as he said indifferently, ¡°Your sister-inw is right.¡± Qu Xiao raised her neck proudly and asked Shang Liqing with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Since you¡¯re so concerned about our love life. Perhaps you want to be in a rtionship yourself? I heard that an uncle¡¯s fat son came back from overseas recently. You two seem to have things inmon. Why don¡¯t I introduce him to you?¡± The uncle¡¯s fat son was so fat that he would pant after just taking two steps. Shang Liqing felt nauseous just thinking about him. She gritted her teeth and pointed at Qu Xiao. ¡°You¡¯re ruthless!¡± Shang Liqing took a deep breath and averted her gaze. She stared at Shang Yan and asked, ¡°Second brother, how long has it been since you went back to visit Grandpa? He hasn¡¯t been well recently and is constantly asking for you. Come back with me to visit him!¡± ¡°Qu Xiao can stay at home. If Grandpa sees her and gets angry, it will be troublesome.¡± Shang Liqing turned around and left after saying that. She walked to the courtyard outside and waited for Shang Yan. Shang Yan frowned slightly, as if he was in a difficult position. Because of Qu Xiao¡¯s previous actions that hurt Shang Yan, Grandpa Shang had always hated her. Qu Xiao shook her head very sensibly. She bent down and squatted in front of Shang Yan and said, ¡°It just so happens that there are some things in thepany that I need to take care of. You and Liqing go ahead! Say hello to Grandpa for me¡­¡± Her forced smile made Shang Yan¡¯s heart ache a little. ¡°I¡¯ll be back as soon as possible.¡± Shang Yan caressed Qu Xiao¡¯s face as he promised her. She held Shang Yan¡¯s palm and rubbed it against her palm. ¡°Okay, see you soon!¡± Chapter 45 - Accident

Chapter 45 ident

It was cold and windy. The red light at the intersection turned green. Qu Xiao drove the sports car that Shang Yan had left for her to the Qu Group building alone. The weather was foggy, and she did not notice that a van was driving out of the fork in the road. It was secretly following her, and it was maintaining a rtively fast speed. There was a section of the road from the vi area to the city that was being rebuilt. Qu Xiao followed the guidance of the navigation system and chose a somewhat remote path. Hum¡­ The van suddenly elerated. On the muddy road section, the driver wearing a cap rammed into Qu Xiao¡¯s car. After repeated collisions and deliberately stopping, Qu Xiao immediately knew that the other party wasing for her! She frowned tightly and held the steering wheel with both hands. She aimed at the puddle in front of her and stepped on the elerator to speed up. The engine roared. The van seemed to have been modified. It crashed heavily into the rear of the sports car. This won¡¯t do! Qu Xiao gritted her teeth and turned the steering wheel. She released the elerator to create a beautiful and elegant route in another direction. However, she did not expect the sports car to crash into a withered tree. The airbag instantly popped out, and Qu Xiao¡¯s head hit the ss. Blood dripped down from her forehead. ¡°Aiya! There¡¯s an ident!¡± The violent noise made the nearby residents run out to watch. The driver of the van did not dare to stop. He saw Qu Xiao lying on the steering wheel motionlessly from afar and quickly fled the scene. Qu Xiao rubbed her dizzy head and pushed the door open. The cold wind made her tremble. She stood by the roadside and subconsciously dialed Shang Yan¡¯s number. ¡°Hubby? I was in a car ident¡­¡± In the Shang family¡¯s old mansion, Shang Yan rushed out of the door with a gloomy expression. Li was so scared that he did not dare to make a sound. He rushed to the scene as fast as he could. Qu Xiao originally stood calmly by the roadside to answer the police¡¯s questions. When she caught a glimpse of Shang Yan¡¯s van from the corner of her eyes, she immediately showed a frightened and pitiful look. She hugged her arms tightly and squatted on the ground, wiping her eyes with her hands in grievance. The police was surprised and heard Shang Yan say, ¡°I¡¯m her husband. Please contact me if there¡¯s anything you need to ask.¡± ¡°My wife is frightened. I¡¯m afraid she can¡¯t continue receiving questions here.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were red. When she heard Shang Yan¡¯s voice, she staggered and threw herself into his arms. She tugged at Shang Yan¡¯s cor with both hands and said in a soft and delicate voice, ¡°I¡¯m scared!¡± Shang Yan was heartbroken. He hugged Qu Xiao tightly and coaxed in a hoarse voice, ¡°I¡¯m here, don¡¯t be scared!¡± The policeman¡¯s eyes sized up the two of them. He thought of how rationally and calm Qu Xiao was just five minutes ago. She was even able to recite the other party¡¯s license te number urately despite having just been in an ident, which provided the police with important facts. It was confusing seeing her be so differentpared to just five minutes ago. Shang Yan took off his coat and draped it over Qu Xiao¡¯s body. Hisrge palm pressed her head on his shoulder and gently patted her to coax her. The front passenger seat of the sports car seemed to have been squeezed and deformed, and it was seriously damaged. Shang Yan silently closed his fingertips. He could not imagine what he would do if Qu Xiao was more seriously injured! He turned to look at Li and said with a cold and ruthless voice, ¡°Go and find out who is responsible¡­¡± Shang Group¡¯s prominent nature allowed them to force the police station to send out officers from the Major Crimes Unit to assist in the search. Half an hourter, the police caught the driver and interrogated him. However, he still gritted his teeth and insisted that he was driving under the influence of alcohol, and that the ident happenedpletely by chance. ¡°CEO Shang, the alcohol level on his body indeed exceeded the standard.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t know Mrs. Qu¡­¡± Qu Xiao narrowed her eyes. She gently rubbed her fingertips and raised her hand to press on her aching forehead. Was it by ident? Not necessarily! Qu Xiao thought that the car ident must have something to do with the Qu family. Moreover, she had just taken over the Qu Group. How could a car ident happen so coincidentally? ¡°I want to go back to the Qu family. They should be very worried when they find out that I got into a car ident.¡± Qu Xiao raised her eyes and whispered to Shang Yan. Shang Yan stared at her clear eyes. Naturally, he knew the hidden meaning behind her words. He asked considerately, ¡°Do you need me to send someone to apany you?¡± Qu Xiao yed with her brown curly hair and covered the gauze on her forehead. She raised her red lips and said, ¡°I can do go myself.¡± In the Qu family¡¯s vi, Qu Qi could not hide her anxious expression. She rushed to the bathroom and threw the phone card she had bought from the ck market to contact the driver, into the toilet. Then, she quickly pressed the flush button and watched as the whirlpool swept away the evidence. She heaved a sigh of relief and tidied up her appearance. Jealousy shed in her eyes. ¡°Mrs. Qu? Why are you back?¡± When Qu Qi heard the nanny¡¯s voice, she could not help but widen her eyes. How could she still be alive! Chapter 46 - Discussing Compensation

Chapter 46 Discussing Compensation

Chaotic footsteps sounded. Qu Qi looked at Qu Xiao who was sitting in the living room in panic and fear. ¡°What? Are you a little disappointed to see me still alive? How much did you spend to hire that trash to kill me?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s lips curled into a mocking and contemptuous arc. Her eyes were rolling as she continued to speak with a smile, ¡°The police have already caught him. He couldn¡¯t help but be frightened and quickly confessed that you were the one who instigated and hired him to tail me secretly, and even cause an ident.¡± Qu Qi¡¯s pupils dted as she rushed in front of her. Her voice was hoarse as she quibbled, ¡°It has nothing to do with me. Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± ¡°I have conclusive evidence. Although you used an anonymous method to contact him, there are always oversights¡­¡± Qu Xiao knew very well that Qu Qi was very cautious. The driver refused to reveal who his employer was. She must have paid him extremely well. She could only lie to Qu Qi like this. Qu Qi was flustered. Qu Xiao lowered her eyes and smiled lightly. Step by step, she broke through her psychological defenses and continued to speak, ¡°When the policee to arrest you, do you think your family wille to save you? I¡¯m afraid that Father will disown you, right?¡± ¡°Although Father is very good to you now, it¡¯s only because you¡¯re obedient and help him to scheme against me!¡± ¡°However, since what you did will negatively affect him, do you think that he will still help you? Qu Qi! Use your brain¡­¡± Qu Qi¡¯s face was pale. She knew that what Qu Xiao said was true. Mr. Qu was extremely selfish. He would definitely leave her to fend for herself. At this moment, Qu Qi¡¯s eyes were full of anger. She picked up the vase ced on the coffee table and smashed it at the back of Qu Xiao¡¯s head in anger. ¡°Go to Hell!¡± Qu Xiao bent down and dodged it. She took the opportunity to push Qu Qi¡¯s shoulder. Qu Qi¡¯s body fell to the ground weightlessly. The broken pieces of the vase scratched her left face. A hideous and horrifying wound formed and started bleeding. ¡°Ah!¡± Qu Qi covered her face and screamed. Yang Mei came back from outside and rushed to the living room when she heard the scream. She picked up Qu Qi and red at Qu Xiao with her beautiful eyes. ¡°What have you done!¡± Qu Xiao looked at them indifferently and was toozy to answer. Yang Mei treated Qu Qi¡¯s wound urgently. She raised two fingers and poked Qu Xiao¡¯s face while exuding a vulgar aura, ¡°You ruined Qi Qi¡¯s face. You have to pay the price. What if she gets disfigured? Are you going to take responsibility?¡± Yang Mei thought of the person backing Qu Xiao up, ¡°Give me five million and I will help you hide it from your father.¡± ¡°You know what happens when he gets angry!¡± Yang Mei shouted arrogantly as if she thought Qu Xiao was still afraid of Mr. Qu. There was even a hint of pride in her eyes. Qu Xiao, on the other hand, could not help butugh as she stared at her. It seemed that Mr. Qu had still not told his wife that he was no longer the CEO of Qu Group. He was probably embarrassed, right? ¡°I¡­ Don¡¯t have money.¡± Qu Xiao spread her arms and sat steadily on the sofa. She looked at Qu Qi, who was gritting her teeth. Her red lips parted slightly as she uttered a few words. Yang Mei blinked in disbelief. Her mind was racing. Perhaps Shang Yan did not spoil Qu Xiao materially? Then perhaps she could take this opportunity to drive her away from the Qu family! ¡°Then as long as you promise to break all ties with our family and never fight for our family¡¯s assets in the future, I will offset the five million inpensation and won¡¯t pursue the matter of you hurting Qu Qi.¡± Yang Mei was still thinking about assets? Qu Xiao wiped the blood stains on her fingernails and said indifferently, ¡°In your dreams!¡± ¡°This family is my family too. Mr. Qu is my father. When he dies, of course I will receive a part of the inheritance.¡± ¡°Although I dislike this family¡¯s dirty money, I won¡¯t give it up so easily. What right do you have to force me?¡± Yang Mei didn¡¯t expect Qu Xiao to be so difficult to deal with. Her eyes were filled with hatred as she wanted to get the security guards to chase Qu Xiao out. Qu Xiao quickly took out her phone and dialed Shang Yan¡¯s number in front of Yang Mei and Qu Qi, mumbling in a sobbing and nasal voice, ¡°Hubby, the Qu family are bullying me! They¡¯re talking about chasing me out, and they¡¯re even forcing me to sever all ties¡­¡± Fresh blood seeped out from the gaps of Qu Qi¡¯s fingers. Looking at Qu Xiao¡¯s rxed expression, she could not help but feel a trace of fear in her heart. At the same time, Shang Yan, who was worried about Qu Xiao and waiting outside the Qu family¡¯s vi, immediately came to the living room. He furrowed his eyebrows and scanned the debris on the ground. He nervously raised Qu Xiao¡¯s palm and asked in a gentle voice, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Qu Xiao shook her head. A sense of security rose from the bottom of her heart. ¡°CEO Shang! Don¡¯t listen to Qu Xiao¡¯s nonsense. She was clearly the one who pushed my daughter down and injured her. We are only discussingpensation!¡± Chapter 47 - Compensation Amount

Chapter 47 Compensation Amount

Yang Mei scooped up Qu Qi and pointed at her bleeding face. She stared at Shang Yan with a provocative tone, ¡°Qu Xiao is Mr. Qu¡¯s illegitimate daughter. Her temperament and upbringing are simr to that of a savage. She has a bad temper and likes to hit people randomly. Her words are also coarse.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better see her true colors as soon as possible and divorce her.¡± ¡°Otherwise, one day when Qu Xiao causes trouble and embarrasses herself, I¡¯m afraid that you and your family will be implicated and be aughingstock!¡± All the men in the financial circle cherished their reputation, like Mr. Qu and those bosses who kept mistresses outside. Yang Mei thought that she could use this to persuade Shang Yan to dislike Qu Xiao. She crossed her arms and was ready to watch her make a fool of herself. Shang Yan frowned and asked in a low and hoarse voice, ¡°How much do they want you topensate them?¡± Qu Xiao raised five fingers in a daze and shook them slightly in front of his eyes, trying to figure out his intention. Shang Yan nodded slightly and stared at Yang Mei coldly. ¡°If you have proof that Qu Qi¡¯s injuries were caused by Xiaoxiao, I willpensate you¡­¡± Qu Xiao hurriedly tugged at Shang Yan¡¯s clothes when she heard this, trying to stop him from making his promise. ¡°But if Qu Qi¡¯s injuries were caused by Xiaoxiao in self-defense, I will sue you for spreading rumors and nder!¡± Qu Xiao was so touched that her eyes widened. She did not expect Shang Yan to support her so domineeringly. ¡°Next time you are bullied outside, don¡¯t hold back. No matter how muchpensation the other party asks for, I am happy to pay!¡± ¡°Most importantly, as long as you are happy!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips curved into an arc as he held Qu Xiao¡¯s hand. The two of them left the vi under Yang Mei and Qu Qi¡¯s jealous and twisted gazes. Inside the van, the light in the car was dim. Qu Xiao could hear the sound of her heart thumping. She recalled the way Shang Yan defended her. She opened her arms, wanting to pounce over and kiss Shang Yan to express her gratitude. Li in the passenger seat was startled by her sudden action and hurriedly raised the partition. Shang Yan was originally thinking about something else when he saw the woman beside him pounce over from the corner of his eye. He subconsciously raised his elbow to block her. Qu Xiao and he were both stunned. The atmosphere in the car became awkward and stagnant for a moment. Shang Yan wanted to exin, but Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were dim as she leaned against the window. She used her finger to poke at the ss that was covered in frost to draw the picture of a pig¡¯s head. The side of her face bulged slightly. There was a kind of inexplicable cuteness that made Shang Yan feel pity for her. Shang Yan gently extended his long arm and hugged Qu Xiao in his arms. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead as he said softly, ¡°I¡¯m not used to it yet. Can you give me some time? I¡¯m not resisting or hating your initiative. I¡¯m just not used to it yet. Qu Xiao was very easy to coax. The few sentences were enough to dispel the resentment in her heart. Shang Yan stuffed a card-like thing into her hand. Under the faint moonlight, Qu Xiao realized that it was actually a ck card! ¡°This is my secondary card. There¡¯s no password or limit. Use It if you want to buy anything.¡± Qu Xiao returned to the vi in shock and touched emotions. Shang Yan mistakenly thought that she was frightened and urged her to take a warm bath. In the bathroom, Qu Xiao nestled in the bathtub. When she recalled all the protection Shang Yan had given her, her eyes turned red. How long had it been since she had experienced such trust and love from another person! Qu Xiao secretly made a decision. She walked out of the shower with her bare feet wrapped in a bathrobe. Her wet hair fell on her shoulders. Shang Yan raised his eyes to look at her. His heart tingled slightly as he withdrew his gaze. He stared at the book in his hand and did not turn the page for a long time. Qu Xiao silently walked to the side of the bed. She threw the towel on the ground and nimbly crawled into the bed like a small fish. Her warm little hands touched Shang Yan¡¯s legs tentatively. Her fingertips moved around his legs. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were filled with mist as she stole a nce at Shang Yan. She then boldly caressed his lower abdomen. When her palm was about to hold his hard object, Shang Yan suddenly grabbed her wrist and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± How uninteresting! Qu Xiao was secretly ridiculing him, but she pretended to be serious as she replied, ¡°I want to give you a massage to rx the muscles in your legs. This will be beneficial to the recovery of your legs. What did you think I was doing?¡± When Shang Yan heard her cunning answer, he stared at her in disbelief. Qu Xiao shifted her gaze to the side. She was a little shy from his stare and could not bring herself to voice out her thoughts. She happened to see the ck card on the bedside table and casually said, ¡°You¡¯re very good to me. I don¡¯t know how to repay you, and I don¡¯t have anything that I can give you.¡± ¡°So I thought of using this method to¡­¡± Chapter 48 - Luxurious Shopping

Chapter 48 Luxurious Shopping

Pa! Hearing this, Shang Yan closed his book unhappily. Qu Xiao raised her watery eyes in a daze. Shang Yan pursed his thin lips and moved her hand away from her chest as he said in a cold voice, ¡°I just remembered that there are some things in thepany that I need to deal with. I¡¯m afraid that it will affect your rest. You should go to the guest bedroom to sleep first.¡± Qu Xiao naturally understood. Her eyes were filled with resentment as she hugged the pillow. She tugged at the silk nket to wrap her body, wanting to move to the guest bedroom. Shang Yan saw that her long and fair legs were exposed. He clenched his fist and pressed it against his lips to cough twice. In the end, he could not bear for her to be cold. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the study. You stay here.¡± With that, his figure quickly disappeared outside the door. Qu Xiaoy on her back and stared at the ceiling. She did not understand where Shang Yan¡¯s change of mood came from! In the study, Shang Yan stared at the nkputer screen. Thinking of Qu Xiao¡¯s words, he could not help but mutter with a solemn expression, ¡°Are all your actions toward me out of gratitude and repayment? Because I give you a roof over your head and protect you?¡± The Orange Sun rose from the thick clouds, and warm light shone through the ss windows. Shang Yan, who had not slept all night, came to the living room. He saw the busy figures in the kitchen and stared at Qu Xiao. She was wearing an apron and cutting vegetables nimbly. The boiling pots and pans emitted a tempting aroma. The warmth of family surrounded Shang Yan. Qu Xiao ced bowls and chopsticks on the dining table. She met Shang Yan¡¯s eyes and then greeted him with a sweet smile, ¡°Come and taste my cooking!¡± The white porridge was soft and sticky, and it had a sweet taste. Qu Xiao rested her chin on her hands as she looked at Shang Yan. When she realized that he was eating very well, she let out a sigh of relief and said, ¡°It¡¯s the weekend today. I want to go out for a walk.¡± Shang Yan nodded and arranged for the driver to send Qu Xiao to a nearby shopping mall. Qu Xiao was carrying her handbag as she strolled around on the third floor. After receiving the ck card, she wanted to buy a few gifts for Shang Yan and also some daily necessities. In front of a luxury shop, Qu Xiao saw two women walking towards her. Her temples were throbbing slightly as she cursed her bad luck. Shang Liqing was holding Qu Qi¡¯s arm. The two of them were carrying shopping bags intimately. When they saw Qu Xiao, they were also stunned. Then, they sarcastically said, ¡°Why are you shopping here? This shopping mall is not a market, nor is it a cheap chain store on the street!¡± With gauze tied to her left face, Qu Qi clenched her fists and stared at Qu Xiao with clenched teeth. Qu Xiao did not seem to hear their hostility. She walked into the shop with her head held high and pointed at the two rows of new products as if she was a rich wife. She said to the cashier, ¡°Please wrap these up for me. And also whatever those two youngdies chose. Send them all to my vi. Thank you.¡± The cashier was stunned. Qu Xiao took out a ck card and handed it over. She curled the corners of her lips and said, ¡°I¡¯m settling this once and for all.¡± Shang Liqing recognized that the ck card was Shang Yan¡¯s! She did not expect that her brother was actually willing to pamper her to such an extent. Qu Qi¡¯s eyes were bloodshot from jealousy. She wanted to rush over and argue with Qu Xiao, but Shang Liqing hurriedly stopped her and dragged her away.. In the vi, Shang Yan received a message from the bank. He nced at the amount of money spent and paused in surprise. Then, he rubbed his temples and arranged for Li to inform all the department managers of thepany to increase their sales by two percent the next quarter. His wife was too good at spending money. He had to earn more. In the bustlingmercial street, Qu Xiao carried a shopping bag and walked to the door of a seemingly dpidated shop. The smell of Chinese medicine wafted out from inside. She removed her sunsses and looked up to see the words ¡°For sale¡± under the medicine prescription que. She pushed the door open and entered. ¡°Hello, May I know if the pharmacy is for sale?¡± Qu Xiao remembered hearing about this pharmacy before. From what she remembered, this pharmacy had earned quite a lot of money. She nned to buy the pharmacy and transform it into a health center. Not only could she earn money, but she could also help Shang Yan¡¯s legs recover. With a n in mind, she quickly negotiated the price and rted matters with the boss and signed the transfer contract. The boss grabbed a few medicinal herbs ording to Qu Xiao¡¯s instructions. He took out a few boxes ofmonly used medicine from the counter. He said with a smile that they were samples for her. Qu Xiao happily carried the things back to the vi. When she saw Shang Yan drinking tea in the living room, she ran over coquettishly. ¡°Look! I bought these for you! Do you like them?¡± Qu Xiaozily picked up the shopping bag and handed the shirt and coat to Shang Yan. Seeing that all the things she bought were actually for him, Shang Yan was moved and wanted to reply, but from the corner of his eye, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of a box in a stic bag. The curvature of his lips gradually stiffened. She actually went to buy an aphrodisiac? Chapter 49 - As Punishment

Chapter 49 As Punishment

Qu Xiao looked up confusedly. She saw Shang Yan¡¯s gaze fall on the shopping bag she got from the Chinese medicine store. She could not help but adjust her sitting posture and clear her throat. With a slightly nervous expression, she whispered, ¡°I have something that I haven¡¯t discussed with you¡­ I passed by this Chinese medicine store today and swiped your card to buy it!¡± Shang Yan frowned slightly. Qu Xiao was afraid that he would question and criticize her, so she hurriedly exined. ¡°Although you¡¯re good to me, I still feel that I want to be independent! I like Chinese medicine very much. Opening a shop is my dream!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes rolled slightly as she thought of other reasons that could convince Shang Yan to agree. She nervously wrung her hands and continued to add, ¡°Your body needs to be recuperated. During this period of time, I¡¯ve been secretly helping you with acupuncture at home. However, one day you will definitely need to start using medicine!¡± ¡°If I have a shop, you can continue to receive treatments secretly!¡± Qu Xiao knew that Shang Yan¡¯s leg injury was not a simple matter. There seemed to be manyplicated problems regarding it. Even if Shang Yan was able to resume walking, he would probably need to keep his recovery a secret. When Qu Xiao said this, Shang Yan¡¯s eyebrows and eyes obviously flickered a little. Even the butler¡¯s movements were a little sluggish as he looked at Qu Xiao in surprise. After a long while, Shang Yan instructed the butler to put away his clothes and said in a light tone, ¡°Get Li to help you look at the transfer contract.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to let the current staff continue working. You can be the boss behind the scenes.¡± Qu Xiao blinked her eyes and understood that Shang Yan had already agreed to her decision. She excitedly carried the medicinal herbs and pushed Shang Yan¡¯s wheelchair to the bedroom on the second floor, muttering non-stop, ¡°I¡¯ve developed a new medicinal soup for you to try! It might be helpful for your recovery.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were gloomy as he nced at the aphrodisiac at the bottom of the shopping bag. He narrowed his eyes. In the bedroom, the strong smell of Chinese medicine wafted through the room. Qu Xiao crouched down and helped Shang Yan soak his legs in the medicinal liquid. TuId. Shang Yan felt his body heat up as he pulled open his nightgown. From the corner of her eyes, Qu Xiao could see his bronze-colored abdominal muscles right in front of her. Her cheeks flushed red, and her pink earlobes revealed her current emotions and thoughts. Qu Xiao¡¯s tender little hands gently pressed on Shang Yan¡¯s leg nerves, slowly moving up uneasily. When Shang Yan saw her crafty eyes, his sexual desire seemed to have been awakened. He bent down and pulled Qu Xiao¡¯s wrist, pulling her into his embrace. A pair ofrge hands pulled open her clothes and his fingertips nimbly undid her shoulder straps. Qu Xiao was a little stunned. Shang Yan pushed away her underwear with both hands and leaned over to open his mouth to hold her soft breasts that carried a milk fragrance. The tip of his tongue agilely teased her nipples. Qu Xiao could not help but raise her head to send her soft breasts into Shang Yan¡¯s mouth. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes dimmed as he separated Qu Xiao¡¯s legs. His fingers gently caressed her already somewhat moist ravine. asionally, he would lean in with a little evil intention, teasing Qu Xiao¡¯s sensitive areas, it was only when the alluring and sweet juice soaked his fingers that he held Qu Xiao¡¯s perky buttocks and stepped forward. Today, Shang Yan was not as gentle as usual. He was tormenting Qu Xiao so much that she could not bear it. Her entire body was covered in sweat as she hooked her arm around Shang Yan¡¯s neck. She felt as if her body was floating in the clouds. Shang Yan¡¯s hard object was pushed into the deepest part of her body. She opened her mouth and bit Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder. A few flirtatious moans escaped from between her lips and teeth. This was like a horn of encouragement, causing Shang Yan¡¯s actions to be even more violent. ¡°Slow down¡­ slow down, Shang Yan, I can¡¯t¡­ It¡¯s so big, I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± Qu Xiao begged in a sweet voice. A few drops of crystal clear tears seeped out from the corners of her eyes, and she panted heavily. Shang Yan¡¯s hands held her slender waist, and he did not listen at all as he straightened his body. Looking at her flirtatious appearance, he could not help but gently bite her earlobe. His voice was hoarse as he asked, ¡°Why? Do you still need me to take the aphrodisiac?¡± ¡°Did I satisfy you?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were somewhat devilish as he deliberately went against Qu Xiao¡¯s pleasure points. Qu Xiao¡¯s legs could not help but tremble slightly. It was as if a white light shed in her mind, and her body softened with a soft cry. When she regained consciousness following Shang Yan¡¯s collision, she finally saw the box of medicine in the shopping bag. She begged for mercy in a soft voice, ¡°What? That¡­ No, I didn¡¯t buy it.¡± Shang Yan narrowed his eyes. He looked at Qu Xiao¡¯s cute pouting lips and leaned over to kiss her between her eyebrows. His actions did not stop at all. He only used his thin lips to cover her delicate lips and said sullenly and discontentedly, ¡°It¡¯s toote!¡± Chapter 50 - Changes in the Qu Family

Chapter 50 Changes in the Qu Family

Buzz buzz. The ear-piercing ringtone of her cell phone rang, disturbing Qu Xiao¡¯s beautiful dream. Qu Xiao stretched her body andzily picked up the cell phone on the bedside table. Her sleepy eyes saw the words ¡°Qu family¡± shing on the screen, and her expression immediately furrowed with disgust, her fingers lightly touched the screen as she hung up the call. The Qu family continued to call her number with inexplicable persistence. Qu Xiao¡¯s patience reached its limit, and her voice was cold as she picked up the call. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Hello? Xiao, this is Qu Zhen. Are you free toe home for a meal this weekend?¡± The gentle and quiet voice stunned Qu Xiao for a moment, and the image of the Qu family¡¯s eldest daughter appeared in her mind. Qu Zhen had studied abroad for many years, and she seemed to be quite close to Shang Yan. Qu Xiao felt an inexplicable sense of vignce and resistance. She thought for a moment before replying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I haven¡¯t been feeling very well recently. I¡¯m a littlezy.¡± Qu Zhen did not persist. Instead, she urged her to take care of her body. Qu Xiao had a stuffy nose, and her heart was beating quickly. She was flustered and uneasy. She shook her head and walked to the living room. She saw Shang Yan sitting with his back facing the stairs. IOC Shang Yan¡¯s clearly defined profile was shrouded under the orange light, and there was an indescribable gentleness and indulgence. Qu Xiao tiptoed to his side and was about to coquettishly wrap her arms around his neck. Shang Yan suddenly opened his mouth and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll apany Qu Xiao back this weekend.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s movements froze as she caught a glimpse of ¡°Qu Zhen¡±¡®s name on Shang Yan¡¯s phone. She could not control her expression. ¡°Why did you agree to her request?¡± Qu Xiao asked in a hoarse voice. Shang Yan¡¯s expression was calm and natural as he replied, ¡°Qu Zhen is your older sister. The conflict between you and the Qu family has nothing to do with her. There is no reason for you to reject the invitation. This is basic courtesy.¡± Shang Yan was exceptionally rational and calm. Qu Xiao could not refute him. She red at the straightforward man with hidden bitterness and stomped back to the bedroom on the second floor. She did not want to have too much contact with anyone from the Qu family, but it just so happened that it was something that Shang Yan had agreed to, so Qu Xiao could not refuse. In a bad mood, Qu Xiao frowned and rummaged through the wardrobe. She took out the maroon satin cheongsam that would only be worn on grand asions and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror and held it against her body. There were only two cheongsam that were personally tailored by a famous master. Shang Yan knew that she liked the national style design, so he specially bought it for her. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyebrows rxed slightly as she changed her clothes.. Shang Yan pushed his wheelchair into the room. When he saw Qu Xiao, who was wearing light makeup, his eyes lit up as he held her hand. ¡°Very beautiful.¡± Qu Xiao twisted her amorous eyes. She was still a little unhappy as she sat in the business car and headed to the Qu family vi. The Qu family vi was filled with a joyous atmosphere at this moment. The housekeeper was preparing a grand and sumptuous meal. Mr. Qu and Yang Mei were extremely happy. Qu Zhen stood at the door elegantly with a wine ss in her hand. When she saw Shang Yan¡¯s car stop, she went to greet them with a faint smile. ¡°Haha¡­ What a coincidence!¡± Qu Qi¡¯s eyes sized up the two of them. When she saw that they were wearing the same cheongsam, she was surprised for a moment before she began to belittle them. Qu Qi covered the corner of her lips with her palm. Her eyes were filled with disdain as she said, ¡°It¡¯s fine wearing the same cheongsam. Only the prettier person will look good. You look like you got it off the streets!¡± Qu Xiao silently clenched her fists. Her teeth bit her lips hard, leaving shallow marks. Shang Yan frowned and wanted to defend Qu Xiao with an unfriendly expression. Seeing this, Qu Zhen beat him to it by patting the back of Qu Qi¡¯s hand, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. This cheongsam makes Xiao look extremely gentle and elegant like a Jiangnan woman. It suits her better than me.¡± ¡°They¡¯re sisters. They look the same.¡± The corners of Qu Zhen¡¯s lips curled up. Her tone was sincere as she helped Qu Xiao smooth things over. Qu Xiao smiled awkwardly and nodded in response. When Yang Mei and Mr. Qu heard themotion outside, they hurriedly ran out to wee them. They were afraid of being gossiped about. Secretly, they still hoped that they could ease up their rtionship a little and then think of a way to take back thepany¡¯s shares. They forced out a smile and said, ¡°The food is ready. Don¡¯t stand outside. Come in quickly!¡± In front of the dining table that symbolized reunion, Qu Xiao looked at the so-called family indifferently, feeling extremely hypocritical. The nanny carried the hot soup to Qu Zhen¡¯s side and served the dishes. Perhaps because the soup bowl was very hot, she identally spilled some soup on Qu Zhen. Chapter 51 - Strange Relationship

Chapter 51 Strange Rtionship

Qu Zhen dodged in a panic. In the next second, a pair of strong arms reached out from the side and pulled her. Qu Zhen narrowly avoided it, and all the soup fell on the table. ¡°Thank you!¡± Qu Zhen¡¯s beautiful eyes sparkled with tears. She was shocked to be in Shang Yan¡¯s arms, and her voice trembled as she thanked him. Qu Xiao felt that the scene before her eyes was particrly dazzling. Pa! She mmed her bowl and chopsticks heavily on the round table. Everyone¡¯s gaze fell on Qu Xiao. She curled the corners of her lips and stared at the nanny as she said, ¡°I heard that the nannies who are able to work in the Qu family are all professionally trained. There is absolutely no room for any mistakes. Fortunately, my husband is here today to help. Otherwise, you would have been in trouble.¡± Qu Xiao emphasized the word ¡®husband¡¯. She turned to look at Qu Zhen and asked, ¡°Is that right, sister?¡± Qu Zhen returned to her senses and stood up. She gently patted the soup stains on the hem of her dress and said to the terrified nanny, ¡°You can leave. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Yang Mei sensed that the atmosphere was tense. She cleared her throat and wanted to change the topic. The Butler quickly tidied up the dirty floor and left the scene in a sh. Yang Mei looked at Qu Zhen with gentle eyes. ¡°Zhen, you returned to China with full academic credits ahead of time. Do you have a n for your career? I think Qu Group is not bad. Why don¡¯t you help out?¡± They clearly wanted to nt her in thepany to carry out their schemes. Qu Xiao¡¯s red lips moved slightly. She was about to decline when Qu Zhen shook her head. ¡°Thepany¡¯s matters are handled by professionals. I won¡¯t be going for the time being.¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to open a Chinese medicine clinic. It¡¯s my dream to be able to treat patients and save people. Of course, I can also help Shang Yan treat his legs.¡± Qu Zhen and Shang Yan looked at each other. She suddenly tilted her head and teased herself with a chuckle, ¡°Although the Shang family has many famous doctors at home and abroad to treat you, and I might not be able topare to their standards, I¡¯m still confident in Chinese medicine. Do you want to give it a try?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s hands were clenched tightly under the table, and the hem of her cheongsam was ruffled. Qu Zhen¡¯s every sentence was not out of line, but it made her feel stifled and she had nowhere to vent. Her emotions were so fluctuating that it was difficult to control. ¡°Thank you for thinking of my husband¡¯s physical condition.¡± ¡°But this is our private family matter, so it¡¯s not good for outsiders to be involved.¡± Qu Xiao adjusted her breathing as best as she could and imitated Qu Zhen¡¯s tone as she retorted, ¡°It just so happens that I know a little about Chinese medicine as well. I¡¯ll be the one treating his condition. You don¡¯t have to worry about him!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s gazended on Mr. Qu¡¯s purplish lips as she gently reminded him, ¡°Since you have time, you should be more concerned about Father.¡± ¡°He looks very unhealthy. He needs someone who understands Chinese medicine to take care of him.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s tone was a little stiff, and Qu Zhen seemed a little anxious. Her beautiful face flushed red, and she wanted to open her mouth to exin. Qu Qi fiddled with her nails and could not help but say mockingly, ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. You know Chinese medicine?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been bad at studying since you were young. Your science grades were so bad. Can you even remember the names of Chinese herbs?¡± ¡°Big sister really wants to help. Stop being jealous and dy CEO Shang¡¯s recovery.¡± Shang Yan interrupted Qu Qi¡¯s words with a slight frown. He nodded at Qu Zhen as if to express his gratitude, ¡°Xiao has been helping me with my recovery recently, and I think she¡¯s doing well. Perhaps you two can exchange your knowledge regarding Chinese medicine in the future.¡± With Shang Yan¡¯s guarantee, even though Qu Qi still had doubts in her heart, she did not dare to bring it up again. The atmosphere at the dining table was awkward. Qu Zhen quietly picked up two lotus roots and ced them between her lips and teeth. She suddenly thought of something and looked at Mr. Qu, ¡°Dad, I called the Ling family before I returned to China and invited Ling Chi to our house as a guest. After all, our two families are considered family friends¡­¡± ¡°Ling Chi has always had a good rtionship with us. Why isn¡¯t he here today?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s movements paused. Her eyes were fixed on Qu Zhen, trying to read into her expression. However, Qu Zhen calmly looked back at her, as if she did not know the rtionship between Ling Chi and Qu Xiao. Mr. Qu stole a nce at Shang Yan¡¯s expression and lowered his voice as he leaned over. ¡°There¡¯s a misunderstanding between Ling Chi and CEO Shang. Uncle Ling recently sent him out of the country. I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be able toe back to celebrate your return to China.¡± Qu Zhen¡¯s mouth was wide open in surprise. She turned around and said to Shang Yan, ¡°There is a misunderstanding between the two of you?¡± ¡°When I was overseas, Ling Chi asked his friends to take care of me. I owe him a favor.¡± Qu Zhen rubbed her hands lightly. The corners of her lips curled into a ttering smile as she blinked her eyes and said, ¡°Shang Yan, can I ask you to help get Ling Chi back here?¡± Chapter 52 - Pissed off

Chapter 52 Pissed off

Ling Chi. He was a blockade in Qu Xiao¡¯s and Shang Yan¡¯s rtionship. Even though Qu Xiao had exined and proved it many times, Shang Yan was still very concerned whenever Ling Chi was involved. When Qu Zhen seemingly mentioned it unintentionally, Qu Xiao subconsciously retorted, ¡°What are you trying to do? How is it possible¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell them to let Ling Chie back.¡± With Shang Yan¡¯s cold promise, Qu Zhen immediately smiled gratefully. On the other hand, Qu Xiao, who had yet to finish her sentence, felt an unprecedented awkwardness. It was as if there was a strong me surrounding her, and she could not help but want to re up. Qu Xiao could not help but put down her chopsticks with a sullen face. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom.¡± The cold water from the faucet was bone-chilling. Qu Xiao sshed the cold water on her face, trying to maintain her rationality. It was unknown when Qu Qi had arrived. She leaned against the door frame, her eyes filled with ridicule as she twirled her hair, ¡°You saw it with your own eyes! Shang Yan has a strange rtionship with Qu Zhen. Your so-called status as Shang Yan¡¯s wife was all due to luck!¡± ¡°If Qu Zhen hadn¡¯t been studying abroad back then, how could you have gotten married to Shang Yan?¡± Qu Qi saw the anger forming in Qu Xiao and could not help but sing happily. She continued to say, ¡°No matter how hard you try and fawn on him, even if you give Shang Yan a bewitching potion, you won¡¯t be able to do anything to his rtionship with her.¡± ¡°I think that one day, Shang Yan might even divorce you to be with Qu Zhen!¡± At this moment, it was as if a few knives were stabbing into Qu Xiao¡¯s heart. Her red lips had lost their color, but she still maintained her posture as she turned around and stared at Qu Qi. ¡°Is that so? Even Qu Xiao can form a rtionship with Shang Yan, what about you! Don¡¯t even dream about it¡­¡± ¡°You have a vulgar aura all over you. I¡¯m afraid that all the young masters in the financial circle have cklisted you for marriage, right?¡± Qu Xiao walked to Qu Qi¡¯s side in her high heels and pushed her shoulders away abruptly. Under Qu Qi¡¯s jealous and hateful gaze, she returned to the dining room. She looked at Shang Yan indifferently and said, ¡°I¡¯m feeling a little ufortable. I want to go back.¡± Shang Yan noticed that her lips were very pale. Without stopping for a moment, he bade farewell to Qu Zhen and instructed Li to drive them back to the vi. The atmosphere in the car was very quiet. Li sensed that something was wrong and held his breath, not daring to make a sound. Qu Xiao looked out of the window with a livid expression. Her entire body was filled with resistance as she kept her distance from Shang Yan. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with worry as he looked at her side profile. He wanted to hold her hand and check if her body temperature was normal. Pa! Qu Xiao pped his hand away cleanly. The business car came to a stop and she pulled open the car door and left. She walked straight to the vi. In the bedroom, Qu Xiao grabbed the pillow and silk nket. She carried the nket and pillow in her arms as she walked to the guest bedroom. Shang Yan met her in the corridor. His eyes were filled with confusion as he asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± When Qu Xiao saw him, she though of Qu Qi¡¯s words. She could not help but feel jealous. She mumbled in a hoarse voice, ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well. I¡¯ll be staying next door tonight. You should rest early. Goodbye.¡± m Bang! Qu Xiao closed the door behind her and sat on the edge of the bed in a fit. Her eyes were red as she raised her hand to rub the tip of her nose. Suddenly, she raised her head to stare at the ceiling, trying her best to force back the irritation in her heart and the tears that surged up from the corners of her eyes. Shang Yan seemed to really treat Qu Zhen very well in the past). Any request she made would be met. At that time, she waspletely focused on Ling Chi, so she did not mind. But the situation now was different! The more Qu Xiao thought about it, the more ufortable she felt. She wished she could rush to Shang Yan and question him. However, she was afraid of hearing an answer that would make her sad, so she could only let her imagination run wild while feeling wronged. In the living room, two floormps were emitting a dim yellow light. Shang Yan guessed that Qu Xiao¡¯s mood was unstable because her period was approaching, so he ordered the butler to boil some brown sugar water and send it to the guest bedroom. But a few minutester, Qu Xiao mercilessly rejected the brown sugar water and returned it. Shang Yan silently stared at the cold brown sugar water, his facial features scrunched up as he muttered, ¡°Why on earth do we have to sleep in separate rooms?¡± When the Butler heard him muttering to himself, his footsteps paused. He guessed that the two of them might have had a misunderstanding, so he kindly analyzed it for Shang Yan, ¡°Young master, have you and Madam been a little too¡­ intimatetely? Madam¡¯s body is already a little weak, so it¡¯s very likely that she isn¡¯t used to it.¡± Chapter 53 - Tossing and Turning on the Bed

Chapter 53 Tossing and Turning on the Bed

Shang Yan¡¯s expression was slightly startled as he stared at the butler with his eyes filled with doubt. The butler clenched his fist and coughed violently. He looked around mysteriously before bending over to Shang Yan¡¯s ear and speaking in an extremely soft voice, ¡°Young master, I heard that frail women like madam cannot endure the torment.¡± ¡°I heard that the newly married wife of the Qin family, after the night of her wedding, she was hospitalized for a few days!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s pupils dted slightly, as if he was digesting the information he had heard. His ears reddened as he leaned back and frowned as he reprimanded, ¡°You really like to pry into other people¡¯s affairs!¡± The butler immediately regained his respectful attitude and hurriedly left the living room, afraid of angering Shang Yan. The clock on the wall ticked as the bright moonlight elongated Shang Yan¡¯s shadow and projected it onto the ground. Shang Yan blinked his eyes as he looked up at the door of the guest bedroom on the second floor. A warm ray of light ran out from the crack in the door. Recalling their crazy sexst night, Qu Xiao did beg him to stop, but he did not listen. Could it be because of this? Shang Yan pushed his wheelchair to the door of the guest bedroom. He carefully raised his hand and gently knocked on the door. Qu Xiao was hugging the pillow and lying on the bed. When she heard the movement, she suddenly sat up and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± Shang Yan lowered his eyes, but his attitude was extremely serious as he said in a clear voice, ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± ¡°You¡­ I haven¡¯t been taking care of your body recently.¡± A trace of guilt shed across Shang Yan¡¯s eyes as he continued to reflect, ¡°I can control myself when I work normally, but when I see you sleeping beside me at night, I don¡¯t know why I can¡¯t control myself.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll apany you to the hospital to take a look. I also promise you that I¡¯ll only touch you twice a week from now on.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s voice was hoarse, but if one listened carefully, one could still hear a hint of grievance, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Qu Xiao bit her red lips tightly. His voice was not soft. If he continued to be so remorseful, everyone in the vi would probablyugh at her tomorrow! Shang Yan¡¯s EQ was really not high. He was so dumb that he could not even guess why she was angry. Qu Xiao was angry but also wanted tough. She pushed open the door barefooted and pulled Shang Yan into the room by his tie. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes shed as he looked at her, ¡°Have you forgiven me?¡± Qu Xiao pursed her red lips and pushed him to the side of the bed without saying a word. Her small hands nimbly untied his belt. Shang Yan wanted to grab the hands that were touching his body, but she managed to escape. Qu Xiao twisted her beautiful eyes and said in a low and fierce voice, ¡°You are not allowed to move tonight!¡± Qu Xiao took off all of Shang Yan¡¯s clothes and threw them on the ground. Her cold little hands reached towards Shang Yan¡¯s lower abdomen without any hesitation. She held his hard object and slowly tugged at it. When Shang Yan saw her movements, he couldn¡¯t help but swallow. The muscles all over his body tensed up. Qu Xiao had the thought of torturing him. She deliberately rubbed her palm lightly against his hard object. Her eyes were coquettish as she stared at Shang Yan. She slowly leaned over and buried her body in his lower abdomen. The tip of her warm tongue nimbly licked the hot hard object. The erect object continued to be hard. The blue veins on the pink stick were throbbing. Qu Xiao opened her mouth to swallow the entire hard object. Beads of sweat rolled down from Shang Yan¡¯s forehead, and his breathing was heavy and unbearable. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you a few questions! Answer me honestly¡­¡± Qu Xiao, who held the initiative, spread her legs and pressed the hard object against the center of her flower, but she refused to move for a long time. Shang Yan wanted to push forward with his lean and narrow waist, but Qu Xiao frowned and pressed down on him. She twisted his leg in a punitive manner. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Qu Zhen? Why did you agree to help her bring Ling Chi back?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s question stunned Shang Yan for two seconds, but he quickly reacted and understood why Qu Xiao was acting strangely. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes stared deeply into Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes. His two hands slowly supported her waist as he answered seriously, ¡°She¡¯s my childhood friend. I¡¯m only childhood friends with her. We don¡¯t have any other rtionship, and we¡¯ve never had any contact that goes beyond a normal rtionship.¡± ¡°The reason I agreed to her was because I owed her a favor in the past, and I needed to make up for it.¡± After Shang Yan¡¯s sincere reply, he leaned against the headboard and sat up. There was a smirk on his lips as he asked, ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± Qu Xiao knew that he would not lie to her, so she was relieved when she got his answer. Taking advantage of the moment when she was slightly distracted, Shang Yan suddenly pressed down on her slender waist. Her tight buttocks pressed against his lower abdomen, and his scalding hot hard object squeezed into the warm and narrow corridor, colliding with each other again and again. ¡°Fool¡­¡± Chapter 54 - Renovation Disturbance

Chapter 54 Renovation Disturbance

Over the weekend, the owner of the Chinese medicine store called and invited Qu Xiao to inspect the renovation of the shop. Shang Yan, who had originally nned to go with Qu Xiao, received a call from Li. A branch of Shang Group had a problem and he was needed to return to the group headquarters to oversee and deploy the mission ns of the various departments through a video conference. He could only apologize to Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao expressed her understanding and went to the Chinese medicine store alone. From afar, she saw the renovation workers busy outside the second-floor shop. She smiled in relief and crossed her arms as she strolled around the area, she wanted to get to know her neighbors. Twenty to thirty meters away from the Chinese medicine store, another renovation team was remaking a que. Qu Xiao tilted her head and recalled the vague memories of her previous two visits. She could not recall what kind of shop this ce was originally. Her fair face wore an amiable smile as she approached the renovation workers. ¡°Uncle, this shop was¡­¡± Bang! Extremely heavy tiles fell from the top of Qu Xiao¡¯s head. They barely grazed her shoulder and fell to the ground, breaking into countless pieces. Qu Xiao¡¯s face was pale. She hurriedly ran to the side and hid in a safe spot to look at the roof. A blurry figure shed by the window. A worker whose face was covered in dust leaned on the railing and looked down. He waved his hand apologetically and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry! Are you alright? The tiles were too heavy and I identally lost my grip. I¡¯m really sorry!¡± Qu Xiao tried her best to calm down. She shook her head gently and did not fight with him. She only reminded him to be careful. On the second-floor tform of the shop, Qu Qi pped her hands with a dark and vicious look in her eyes. She muttered quietly, ¡°Consider her lucky!¡± Qu Zhen stepped on the wooden boards and bricks and walked to Qu Qi¡¯s side. She frowned slightly and stopped her, ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. What if someone dies?¡± ¡°Sister! Can you tolerate Qu Xiao being by CEO Shang¡¯s side? That should have been¡­¡± Qu Qi retorted sharply, but when she met Qu Zhen¡¯s gaze, she subconsciously shut her mouth and did not dare to speak again. Qu Zhen quietly watched Qu Xiao¡¯s back as she left. Her eyes narrowed slightly and her thumb pressed on her palm. No emotions could be seen. Other than the incident where she almost got hurt, the shop¡¯s progress was smooth. A few dayster, Qu Xiao¡¯s Chinese medicine store was officially ready to open. Her eyes were filled with joy as she ran to Shang Yan¡¯s side and deliberately asked mysteriously, ¡°Are you free today? Can you apany me to a ce?¡± Shang Yan ced the financial newspaper on the coffee table and held Qu Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°Is it something very important?¡± Qu Xiao hesitated for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s not very important¡­¡± Shang Yan checked his schedule and answered apologetically, ¡°I have an appointment with a friend that was made in advance. I have to go and help¡­¡± Qu Xiao could not hide her regret as she lowered her eyes, but she quickly forced a smile. She shrugged her shoulders lightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Then you go and do your work! I have to go out for a while too¡­¡± The shop¡¯s driver sent Qu Xiao to the shop¡¯s entrance. She rubbed her hands together nervously. When she saw the signboard covered with a red cloth and the boss who had been waiting for a long time, Qu Xiao began to feel uneasy. She had calcted how long the renovation would take, and handled the matter ording to the established procedure. However, everything still felt surreal. Did she finally have her own business and shop? Qu Xiao¡¯s chest was filled with joy and she wanted to share her joy with Shang Yan, but she resisted the urge to contact him, afraid that it would affect his work. The boss and Qu Xiao discussed the business n for the Chinese medical center, but a voice came from the door. ¡°Where¡¯s your boss? Get her now!¡± A strange man brought a few strong men into the shop. They looked around fiercely and their eyes fell on Qu Xiao. The boss originally wanted to block Qu Xiao¡¯s path, but Qu Xiao gently pushed him away and walked up to the strange man, ¡°I¡¯m the boss. What do you want? We can discuss it properly¡­¡± She took out a few bottles of drinks and handed them to the other party. When doing business, one had to be tactful. The other party did not seem to have expected Qu Xiao to have such an attitude. The strange man also coughed a few times in embarrassment. He pointed at the shop¡¯s furnishings and said in a fierce tone, ¡°The color of your shop is unlucky. It shes with my shop across the street!¡± ¡°My tenant said that you will affect their business.¡± ¡°You look like a reasonable person. I¡¯ll give you a few days to change the decorations in the shop!¡± The strange man looked down at Qu Xiao. His words made the owner of the Chinese medicine store somewhat dissatisfied. She muttered, ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± ¡°Why should we renovate just because of you? Do you know how much trouble it will cause?¡± Chapter 55 - A Fortuitous Encounter

Chapter 55 A Fortuitous Encounter

The Chinese medicine store was not open for business yet. Other than Qu Xiao and the boss, there were only two cleaners in the store who were hired temporarily. The burly men had strong and sturdy bodies, with animal totem tattoos faintly showing on their shoulders. Each of them held a stick and stared at Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao¡¯s words clearly caused dissatisfaction from the strange man. He used his fist to knock on the solid wooden table and chair twice. ¡°Since we can¡¯te to an agreement, we¡¯ll redecorate for you instead.¡± He waved his hand, and the strong men swung their sticks and smashed them at the Chinese medicine cabs on both sides. Qu Xiao hurriedly spread her arms to block the middle. She narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°Which store are you talking about?¡± The strange man pointed at the store across the street. Qu Xiao took the opportunity to look over, and her eyebrows twitched slightly. It was the store where she almost got hit by tiles from a few days ago? It seemed that she was destined to not have a good rtionship with the owners of the shop. ¡°How about this?¡± Qu Xiao put on a smile, ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay double the rent that the tenant across the street gives you. If the other party asks for a breach of contract fee from you, I¡¯m also willing to pay this fee for you. Why don¡¯t you rent the store to me¡­¡± ¡°I happen to want to set up a Chinese medicine store and a physiotherapy clinic separately. The two are close to each other, so it¡¯s a good thing for me.¡± The problems that could be solved with money were all trivial matters. Qu Xiao would rather spend money to buy some peace of mind. The strange man coughed lightly and rolled his eyes as he pondered. Soon, he made a choice to stop the strong men¡¯s actions. He said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Then follow me to the opposite side. If the tenant agrees, we¡¯ll sign the contract on the spot!¡± Qu Xiao nodded in relief and followed the strange man out the door. When the two of them passed by the parking space on the business street, Qu Xiao suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar ck Mercedes in the corner. She felt a little uneasy and stopped in her tracks, her fingertips turned pale. ¡°Miss Qu! The owner across the street wants to rent my ce for twice the price. I¡¯m sorry, please move out!¡± The loud voice of the strange man came from the shop. Qu Qi crossed her arms and stared at the door as if she was watching a show. ¡°Who is being so unreasonable?¡± V Qu Xiao¡¯s figure appeared outside the door. Qu Zhen blinked in surprise. ¡°Xiao? It¡¯s you?¡± Qu Xiao was also stunned. She didn¡¯t expect the owner of this shop to be Qu Zhen! Qu Qi said in disgust, ¡°So it¡¯s you? You just can¡¯t stop getting on my nerves. You¡¯re using CEO Shang¡¯s secondary card so carelessly!¡± As she said that, she deliberately moved two steps to the left, revealing the figure behind the bar counter. Shang Yan was sitting in his wheelchair, looking at Qu Xiao in surprise. When he opened his mouth to ask about the cause of the incident, Qu Xiao¡¯s expression was slightly self-deprecating as she interrupted his words. ¡°Why are you here? You said you had something to do. You¡¯re here to help Qu Zhen?¡± Qu Xiao clenched her teeth lightly as she stared straight at Shang Yan and asked. Qu Zhen ran to her side with an anxious expression, seemingly wanting to hold Qu Xiao¡¯s hand intimately. Qu Xiao pped her hand away mercilessly. Shang Yan saw her action and frowned slightly. This slight change in expression was magnified infinitely in Qu Xiao¡¯s line of sight, evolving into other meanings. Qu Zhen turned back to look at Shang Yan apologetically, exining in a gentle tone, ¡°I was the one who asked Shang Yan toe over and help take a look at the shop¡¯s renovation design. Xiao, you know that I just returned to the country not long ago, so I don¡¯t know much about the market situation and the preferences of the customers. Don¡¯t me him.¡± Qu Xiao pursed her red lips and stared at Shang Yan with reddened eyes, then nodded. ¡°Is that so? Shang Yan, where were you when I was busy with the Chinese medicine store alone? Did you ask me anything?¡± ¡°Two days ago, the renovation worker of Qu Zhen¡¯s store identally threw down two tiles and almost hit me. I almost lost my life! Did you know that?¡± Qu Xiao cried out aggrievedly. A deep disappointment surfaced in her eyes. She staggered back two steps and muttered harshly, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t havee here today. I¡¯m really sorry for disturbing you guys! You guys continue¡­¡± After saying that, Qu Xiao turned around and rushed out of the door. Shang Yan opened his mouth and shouted Qu Xiao¡¯s name, wanting to push the wheelchair to chase after her. However, since it was hard to move, he could only watch as Qu Xiao stopped a taxi and disappeared at the intersection of the street. ¡°Serves you right!¡± Qu Qi feltfortable and whispered in her heart. Qu Zhen frowned slightly and looked sideways. She shook her head with a worried expression, indicating for her to shut up. Shang Yan heard Qu Qi¡¯s vicious words and thought of Qu Xiao saying that she almost had an ident. He signaled for Li to deal with the shop owner with his eyes! Chapter 56 - Apologizing in Person

Chapter 56 Apologizing in Person

Li was once a champion of freebat. His movements were swift and fierce. Before the strange man could react, his body was already under his control. His entire face was pressed against the wall, unable to move. A hint of panic shed across Qu Qi¡¯s eyes. She tried her best to maintain a calm tone as she asked, ¡°CEO Shang, what are you doing?¡± Shang Yan pushed his wheelchair to the front of the strange man. His eyes were filled with a cold and threatening look as he twirled the ring on his ring finger. ¡°ording to my wife, the renovation workers in your shop once identally threw something at her and she almost lost her life!¡± ¡°Which construction and renovationpany? Which workers did it? Do they have a work permit? You should know about it, right?¡± Shang Yan said slowly, his body emitting a powerful aura. ¡°ording to thew, illegal high-altitude operations require the employer and the employees to bear joint and several responsibilities. Physical evidence and witness evidence will be found soon. I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to avoid going to prison for a few years!¡± Shang Yan was the ruler of the business world. His eyes could see through what kind of person the other party was, and he could urately determine what he needed to do to make the other partypromise in the shortest time and give them the answer he wanted. Sure enough, the shop owner¡¯s legs trembled when he heard Shang Yan¡¯s threat. He pointed at Qu Qi and said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. She asked the workers to throw it!¡± ¡°Moreover, it was Miss Qu who asked me to find a way to cause some trouble for the owner of the Chinese medical center opposite, so that they couldn¡¯t open for business!¡± The shop owner seemed to be afraid that Shang Yan would not believe him. He struggled to point at his pocket and said, ¡°I have her bank transfer record in my phone! She gave me 100,000 yuan to get the renovation workers to pretend that they made a mistake to scare the boss.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were cold as he turned to look at Qu Qi. He asked Li to temporarily hand the shop owner over to the bodyguards outside. Qu Qi¡¯s eyes darted around as she hid behind Qu Zhen. She swallowed her saliva guiltily and stammered, ¡°He¡¯s talking nonsense!¡± ¡°This is nder! He¡¯s definitely trying to shift the me onto me!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips curled into a sharp and cold arc as he frowned, ¡°nder? Shifting the me? I¡¯ll get Li to investigate the bank transfer. If the evidence is conclusive, I¡¯ll report it to the police¡­¡± ¡°Shang Yan! Qu Qi¡¯s personality is extreme. She¡¯s very impulsive and does stupid things.¡± Qu Zhen felt Qu Qi¡¯s tight grip on her sleeve. She stood up helplessly and pleaded on her behalf, ¡°I¡¯ll definitely teach her a lesson. Can you let her off this time on my ount? If this matter is brought to the police, it won¡¯t be good for Xiao.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s pupils trembled slightly when he heard Qu Xiao¡¯s name. He recalled Qu Xiao¡¯s disappointed look when she left and his heart ached. Was she right to be upset just now? Shang Yan said indifferently, ¡°Qu Zhen, this is thest time I¡¯ll do something on your ount. If there¡¯s a next time, I won¡¯t be lenient!¡± When Qu Zhen heard his words, her expression froze for a moment, and then she nodded slightly to thank him. ¡°But she must apologize to Qu Xiao and get Qu Xiao¡¯s forgiveness¡­¡± Shang Yan suddenly changed the topic and proposed a condition. Qu Qi immediately retorted unhappily, ¡°On what basis?¡± The next second, Qu Qi saw Shang Yan¡¯s angry eyes and was so frightened that she did not dare to say anything. Qu Zhen held Qu Qi¡¯s elbow and forced a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go find Xiao now. I¡¯ll keep an eye on Qu Qi and make sure she apologizes to Qu Xiao.¡± In the bustling entertainment district of the city, Qu Xiao took a taxi and arrived at the busiest singles bar. She sat alone at the bar counter, drinking heavy alcohol with a gloomy face. Her beautiful and charming face became even more attractive under the shing lights, attracting many men to strike up a conversation with her. Shang Yan kept calling Qu Xiao and she hung up again and again, secretly keeping track of the number of times he called her. When she hung up the twelfth call, Qu Zhen had just arrived in front of her with Qu Qi. ¡°Xiao, Qu Qi was in the wrong today. I¡¯m here to get her to apologize to you.¡± Qu Zhen winked at Qu Qi, gesturing for her to bow and apologize. Qu Qi was indignant as she stuck the tip of her tongue against her teeth. She stared at the side of Qu Xiao¡¯s face contemptuously and said, ¡°Are you really that useless that you always need men to stand up for you?¡± ¡°Do you really think that Shang Yan helps you because he really loves you? Stop dreaming!¡± ¡°If you two weren¡¯t married, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered to care about you! Everything Shang Yan did was because of your status as husband and wife!¡± Dong! Qu Xiao mmed the ss of wine on the bar counter and turned around to stare at Qu Qi. ¡°Say that again?¡± Chapter 57 - Getting Drunk in a Bar

Chapter 57 Getting Drunk in a Bar

The bar was very noisy. Music with strong melodies kept being yed. Strange men and women who enjoyed the excitement hugged each other and enjoyed the pleasure of caressing each other. Qu Xiao stared at Qu Qi with her round and beautiful eyes. Her white fingertips held the wine ss tightly, as if she was about to pour wine over her head. Qu Zhen used her body to block between them and tried her best to raise her voice to exin, ¡°Xiao, don¡¯t take Qu Qi¡¯s words to heart!¡± ¡°I¡¯m good friends with Shang Yan. I can tell that he loves you very much.¡± ¡°Qu Qi and I were in the wrong earlier. In the future, I¡¯ll take responsibility for Qu Qi and make her stop targeting you¡­¡± Qu Zhen¡¯s apology sounded extremely perfunctory to Qu Xiaoxiao. It was even a little provocative. Every word seemed to indicate that Shang Yan¡¯s rtionship with her was not ordinary. It was as if Qu Zhen knew more about Shang Yan than her. ¡°You¡¯d better disappear before my eyes now, or I might not be able to control myself!¡± Qu Xiao felt a headacheing on. She covered her forehead and leaned her elbow against the bar counter as she whispered. Qu Zhen simply told her to be careful and did not stop to take Qu Qi out of the bar. The lively music made Qu Xiao¡¯s ears ring. She shook the ss that was only left with two or three pieces of broken ice. Her eyes were blurry as she beckoned to the bartender. ¡°Bring me two sses of whiskey. t, no ice.¡± ¡°Hello, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯ve been watching you for a long time. I¡¯m wondering if I may have the honor to treat you to a drink?¡± A slightly awkward, greasy male voice came from the next room. Qu Xiao frowned and turned her head. A blue-eyed man with blonde hair entered her field of vision. He deliberately stood in an extremely elegant posture, which made Qu Xiao feel nauseous. The blue-eyed man secretly exchanged nces with the bartender. His palm rubbed against the edge of the ss, and fine powder spilled into the ss. Qu Xiao noticed what he was doing, but she did not expose him. Instead, she yed along and took the ss. She happened to be in a bad mood and this man decided to disturb her, so she did not hold back. ¡°My mame is David. I really want to get to know you, beautifuldy.¡± He was not stingy with his praise. Qu Xiao¡¯s red lips curled into a forced smile. She covered the corner of her mouth with her palm and pretended to drink, but the whiskey flowed into the tissue in her palm. About ten minutester, Qu Xiao pretended to be dizzy as she rubbed her temples and stood up shakily. David hurriedly ran over to support her. He put his palm on Qu Xiao¡¯s slender waist and could not help but grin. ¡°You must be drunk. Let me send you home!¡± Qu Xiao nodded lightly. She leaned all her weight on David¡¯s body and tilted her body slightly to avoid his harassment. In the alley at the entrance of the bar, Qu Xiao tried to stop a taxi, but David stopped her as expected. ¡°I know a hotel with good entertainment facilities nearby. Why don¡¯t I bring you there to rest for a while before going home?¡± David revealed his purpose and put his arm around Qu Xiao¡¯s shoulder with a smirk on his face. Qu Xiao did not reject him. Instead, she observed the surrounding terrain. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the dark alley at the side. She swung the bag in her hand and pointed forward, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go through here!¡± ¡°Alright, whatever you say.¡± David¡¯s smile became even more wretched as he brought her to the darker ce. When they reached a ce where there were no surveince cameras, Qu Xiao decisively turned around and raised her leg to kick the most vulnerable spot between David¡¯s legs. ¡°Ouch!¡± David covered his lower abdomen in pain. Qu Xiao used her hand to support herself against the wall and took off her high heels to smash David¡¯s head. She kept cursing, ¡°Drugging a girl in a bar! You are a dirty piece of trash! me your bad luck for running into me today!¡± ¡°If I see you in a bar again in the future, I will definitely use a knife to cut it off!¡± David covered his head and dodged. He immediately ran outside of the dark alley and begged loudly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Qu Xiao smugly pped her hands. The resentment that had umted in her heart for a long time seemed to have been mostly alleviated because of this. She yed with her curly hair and hummed a song as she walked slowly in the cold wind. Qu Xiao, who was immersed in her own world, did not notice that there was a sh of white light at the entrance of the alley not far away. ¡°Hehe.¡± The photo was taken at a very suspicious angle. On the phone screen, Qu Xiao and David looked extremely ambiguous. They looked like they were cuddling each other. The hotel¡¯s dim yellow signboard was not far away. These photos would make anyone who saw them, misunderstand. Qu Qi¡¯s fingertips pressed the send button lightly. Soon, these few photos appeared in Shang Yan¡¯s private email inbox. Her face was contorted with jealousy. ¡°I¡¯ll see how you exin it this time!¡± Chapter 58 - The Truth of What Happened in the Bar

Chapter 58 The Truth of What Happened in the Bar

Sitting in the passenger seat, Qu Qi put away her phone. Qu Zhen retracted her gaze from her and sighed helplessly, ¡°Why do you always target Xiao? When Shang Yan sees the photos, he will definitely misunderstand Xiao¡¯s rtionship with that guy. Do you really have to make them get a divorce before you¡¯re willing to give up?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Only after Shang Yan divorces Qu Xiao can he marry you!¡± ¡°Personally I think you¡¯re the the most suitable woman for Shang Yan. The status of the madam of the Shang family was yours to begin with.¡± Qu Qi¡¯s eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred as she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t like Shang Yan, I can marry into the Shang family in your ce¡­ She¡¯s just an illegitimate daughter. What right does she have to snatch things from you and me?¡± Qu Zhen heard her muttering, which inadvertently revealed her true feelings. She just stepped lightly on the elerator and drove out of the alley, no longer talking to her. The evening breeze was slightly chilly. Qu Xiao¡¯s thoughts were in a mess. She returned to the park near the vi for a walk, trying to think rationally as much as possible. However, she kept recalling Qu Qi¡¯s words. She could not help but think of the scene of Shang Yan handing her a divorce letter. Was Shang Yan¡¯s feelings for her out of responsibility or love? Qu Xiao had wanted to ask him, but she was afraid of getting the answer she didn¡¯t want. She could only poke at her phone screen again and again, muttering silently, ¡°Can¡¯t you call a few more times? It¡¯s clearly you in the wrong. Is this the attitude of someone who is sorry?¡± The sky turned white. Qu Xiao rubbed her arms with a deste expression as she stood up and walked towards the vi. In the vi¡¯s living room, Shang Yan also sat on the sofa without sleeping all night, waiting for Qu Xiao to return. He was sitting facing the courtyard¡¯s main door. He had maintained the same posture all night and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking When Qu Xiao met his gaze when she entered the door, she seemed to read some dissatisfaction in his deep eyes. Qu Xiao frowned and silently took off her coat, wanting to go around him to the bedroom on the second floor. ¡°Wait!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s voice seemed to be covered in frost as he said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin these photos to me?¡± Qu Xiao looked back in confusion and her gaze fell on his openptop screen. In a few dimly lit photos, she was hugging David intimately. ¡°What, are you suspecting me of cheating?¡± Qu Xiao deliberately said those awkward words. The corners of her lips curled up into a mocking smile as she stared straight at Shang Yan. Shang Yan furrowed his eyebrows as if he was strongly dissatisfied with her words. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Are you seriously not going to exin yourself?¡± ¡°Shang Yan! I¡¯m not as reckless as you think! Last night, I was sitting in the park in front in the cold wind, my head full of thoughts. If you bothered toe look for me, you would be able to see me as soon as you took a step out of the vi. But you didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°You were here waiting to question me about a few photos that were fabricated and use me of cheating. How ridiculous!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were red. She did not want to stay here any longer. She turned around and left the vi, disappearing from Shang Yan¡¯s sight once again. Shang Yan silently clenched his fists. The veins on the back of his hand bulged. He forcefully suppressed his emotions and informed Li, ¡°Find the man in the photos and bring him here¡­¡± Li saw the murderous intent that filled Shang Yan¡¯s body and immediately went to find the man in the photos. Half an hourter, Li beat David up and threw him to the ground. David clutched his stomach, his body bent and curled up on the cold ground. He looked up at Shang Yan, who looked like a statue, and exined with his mouth full of blood, ¡°I saw her drinking alone and thought that she had just broken up, so I wanted to be friends with her!¡± ¡°At first, I did want to take her to a hotel, but¡­¡± David noticed that Li had raised her fist and immediately covered his head as he wailed, ¡°But she was crazy. She tricked me into going into an alley and beat me up. She even warned me not to go to bars to pick up women in the future.¡± ¡°The wounds on my face were all caused by her! Please let me go¡­ I really didn¡¯t touch a single strand of hair on her head.¡± David groaned in his heart. He clutched his broken ribs andmented that he was unlucky to have offended the woman of a big shot. After finding out what had happenedst night, Shang Yan pped his knees in frustration. He wanted to call Qu Xiao to apologize, but a cold and mechanical female voice came from the other end of the call saying, ¡°Sorry, the number you have called is unavable.¡±. ¡°Go and find her! You must find her as soon as possible.¡± Shang Yan instructed Li, ¡°Inform me immediately when you find her.¡± The image of Qu Xiao interrogating him with tears in her eyes could not be dispelled from Shang Yan¡¯s mind. He slightly retracted his palm and felt a panic that he had never felt before in his heart. Chapter 59 - Apology Event

Chapter 59 Apology Event

The atmosphere in the vi was oppressive and gloomy. The nannies sensed that Shang Yan was in a bad mood, so they all dodged him and did not dare to meet his eyes. Shang Yan leaned lightly against the back of the chair, his well-defined fingers resting on his eyes. Regret engulfed every nerve in his body, and his limbs and bones became cold. His face was pale as he closed his eyes. All he could see was Qu Xiao¡¯s trembling body as she forcefully held back her tears and stubbornly turned around. The butler walked to his side with a worried expression and stopped. He wanted to give him advice but he did not know how to start the conversation. Shang Yan heard the sound of footsteps. He opened his eyes tiredly and said in a low and hoarse voice, ¡°What should I do? I seem to have done many things wrong. These misunderstandings have hurt Qu Xiao. What should I do to make her forgive me?¡± The butler and Shang Yan looked at each other. He was surprised to see the guilt overflowing from Shang Yan¡¯s eyes. Perhaps Shang Yan himself did not realize that Qu Xiao had already be someone whom he considered extremely important to him. ¡°CEO Shang, some time ago, my son had a quarrel with his girlfriend. He personally nned a date at a restaurant and bought a lot of flowers as gifts for her. The two of them quickly reconciled.¡± The butler said tentatively, ¡°Madam is very young. She should also like flowers and sincere gifts.¡± ¡°As long as Madam can feel your sincerity and that you are sincerely apologizing, she will forgive you.¡± The butler¡¯s words were like a ray of hope for Shang Yan. He immediately went online and found out that women¡¯s favorite gift was ¡°Handmade chocte¡±. Half an hourter, Shang Yan arrived in the kitchen with the raw materials for making chocte. He unbuttoned his cufflinks and rolled them up two times. Then, he seriously but clumsily tore open the packaging and poured the chocte chips into a brand new aluminum pot. Soon, Shang Yan started stirring the melted chocte ording to the instructions he had found online. Outside the kitchen, the nannies covered their mouths in shock and ran to the housekeeper to inquire about the situation. ¡°Does CEO Shang think that the food we cook is not up to his standard? He wants to cook by himself? Will we be fired?¡± The butler saw the billowing smokeing out of the kitchen and hurriedly ran over to help. After taking two steps, he turned his head and exhorted, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! If CEO Shang finds out that you are gossiping behind his back, he will definitely chase you out!¡± While the vi fell into chaos due to Shang Yan¡¯s strange actions, Qu Xiao sat on a bench in the park in a daze. She picked up the wild flowers by the roadside and tore at them one by one. Her beautiful eyes were filled with resentment as she muttered, ¡°He doesn¡¯t trust me!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even ask him for an exnation when he went to Qu Zhen¡¯s shop to help her¡­¡± Woof.. A soft sound distracted Qu Xiao. A stray dog was lying beside Qu Xiao¡¯s slender and smooth ankle, obediently wagging its tail around her, showing a fawning look. Qu Xiao gently patted its head. The puppy¡¯s dark pupils reminded her of Shang Yan, and she could not help but curse ¡°Dog man¡±. Ding! Dozens of messages flooded her phone as she turned flight mode off. Qu Xiao saw messages from Shang Yan telling her to go home and proudly raised her neck. ¡°I¡¯m not going back.¡± However, the next second, a rumbling sound came from her stomach. Qu Xiao¡¯s arms drooped down dejectedly as she dragged her slow footsteps towards the vi. In the vi, the butler applied ointment on Shang Yan¡¯s red fingertips. The dining table was decorated with heart-shaped handmade chocte and delicate red roses in full bloom. Buzz buzz¡­ Just as Shang Yan was mulling over how to apologize, his phone suddenly rang. Li said anxiously, ¡°CEO Shang, the overseas branch is in a bit of trouble. You may need to go take a look. I have booked the earliest flight for you. The driver has already gone to the vi to pick you up¡­¡± Shang Yan¡¯s expression darkened slightly, but he had no choice but to temporarily give up on his apology event and focus on his work. Qu Xiao stood in the courtyard. She took a deep breath and calmed her facial expression. She was already prepared to argue with Shang Yan. But when she came to the living room, where was Shang Yan? Only the butler stood respectfully at the dining table. ¡°Madam, CEO Shang had to leavest minute for a business trip. He personally prepared this for you.¡± When Qu Xiao heard this, she slowly walked to the dining table. When she saw the crooked word ¡®Love¡¯ written on the chocte, she could not help but burst intoughter. As if sensing the butler¡¯s gaze, she quickly put her poker face back on and pretended to be calm as she turned around. ¡°Madam, CEO Shang really cares about you.¡± ¡°After you left the vi, he was especially nervous and went around asking for ways to coax girls¡­¡± Qu Xiao was stunned for a moment before she gently picked up the still warm chocte and ced it by her lips to nibble on it. ¡°It¡¯s very sweet.¡± Chapter 60 - Celebration at the Club

Chapter 60 Celebration at the Club

Dusk fell on the top floor of Shang Group¡¯s branch building in the Southern Hemisphere. Shang Yan rubbed his temples with a tired expression. The two-and-a-half-hour video conference had caused his voice to be hoarse. His phone had been silent the entire time. Qu Xiao did not send him any messages. Shang Yan thought for a while. His fingertips tapped on the screen lightly. Ding! Qu Xiao was soaking in the bathtub. Shezily lifted her arm to grab her phone. When she saw Shang Yan¡¯s message, the corners of her lips curled up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. When I received the anonymous message in my email, I couldn¡¯t control my emotions.¡± ¡°But I definitely didn¡¯t mean to doubt you. I was anxious and angry because I was worried that you were in danger. Will you forgive me?¡± Shang Yan did not seem to have any experience in apologizing, but his pureness touched Qu Xiao¡¯s heart. The grudge that lingered in Qu Xiao¡¯s heart dissipated with his efforts. ¡ª On the weekend, the Chinese medicine store located in the bustling business street was very quiet. Qu Xiao was not in a hurry to attract customers. She brought two rattan chairs and ced them under the shade of an osmanthus tree. As she sipped her cup of jasmine tea, she flipped through a few yellowed ancient medical scriptures that were packed in the corner of the Chinese medicine store. The medical scriptures with a hundred year¡¯s worth of content recorded contained the treatment methods for manyplicated diseases. There were also records of the effects of various medicinal herbs. Qu Xiao read two pages to kill time. Her gaze slowly fell on the effects of ¡°Nanjiang Blood Essence.¡±. ¡°This item is extremely rare. If it is ground into powder and boiled with medicinal soup, it can have the effect of activating blood cirction and removing blood stasis. It can help patients who have been bedridden all year round stand again. It also has a significant curative effect on paralysis caused by blood clots.¡± Qu Xiao thought of Shang Yan¡¯s leg paralysis and immediately ran to the former boss with the medical scripture in her hands. She asked, ¡°Do we have any Nanjiang Blood Essence in our shop?¡± The boss wiped the ss on the counter and raised his eyes to shake his head. ¡°It¡¯s very difficult to buy rare medicinal herbs. If you need anything, you can go online and ask around. There might be someone who has them and may contact you, but I advise you not to have too much hope. This kind of thing is very rare.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Qu Xiao nodded heavily. She immediately posted online that she was looking for Nanjiang Blood Essence. She even made two posters and stuck them at the door of the shop. She wanted to try everything she could to help Shang Yan stand up again. On the second floor of the store opposite, Qu Qi narrowed her eyes and stared at the posters on the door of the Chinese medicine store. An evil idea suddenly popped up in her mind. With a smirk, she dialed the number of a close friend and said in a deep voice, ¡°Hello? Do me a favor!¡± In the evening, Qu Xiao checked her messages from time to time. Seeing that no one had contacted her, Qu Xiao could not hide her frustration and disappointment. Ding Dong! Two anonymous messages appeared on Qu Xiao¡¯s phone. She opened them eagerly and saw two pieces of Nanjiang Blood Essence lying in a red velvet cloth. Qu Xiao opened her mouth in surprise and zoomed in to confirm the contents in the red velvet cloth. Her eyes could not help but shine with joy. ¡°Tonight, 8:30 pm, Lotus Club.¡± ¡°If you want the Nanjiang Blood Essence, bring the money to room 2202. We can trade face to face.¡± The joy of being able to cure Shang Yan¡¯s leg paralysis made Qu Xiao lose her rationality and ability to reason. She informed the boss before stopping a taxi to go to Lotus Club. The streets were a little congested during rush hour. Qu Xiao sat in the back seat and wrung her fingers. She bit her red lips anxiously. Lotus Club was the most popr high-end private club in the financial world where powerful people were introduced to each other. Only people with connections were able to make reservations in advance. The people who came and went were all wealthy people with noble statuses. When the manager saw Qu Xiao, whom he had never seen before, he immediately stopped her outside. He politely asked, ¡°Hello, Ma¡¯am. How can I help you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone.¡± Qu Xiao showed the message on her phone to the manager. When the manager saw her phone, a strange look shed across his eyes. He had just heard that the guests in room 2202 had ordered a call girl, but he did not expect her toe so soon. He sized up Qu Xiao with his eyes and thought to himself that she did not look like a call girl. Then, with a smile on his face, he guided her to the private room at the end of the corridor. The sound of lively conversation in room 2202 could be clearly heard. Qu Xiao felt that it was a little strange and stopped in her tracks. Dong dong. The manager gently pushed the door open. His palm gently pushed Qu Xiao¡¯s waist. ¡°Go in.¡± The music suddenly stopped. In the private room, Ling Chi, Qu Qi, and Qu Zhen raised their champagne cups and turned around. Many rich second-generation heirs around them were a little surprised to see Qu Xiao. They looked at Ling Chi and Qu Xiao with gossipy eyes, then bent their fingers to their lips and whistled. ¡°Yo! What¡¯s going on? Why is the illegitimate daughter of the Qu family here?¡± ¡°The security measures at Lotus Club sucks! How did she know that we¡¯re here to celebrate Qu Zhen¡¯s return?¡± ¡°Qu Xiao! Did you eagerly run over here to celebrate or to see Ling Chi? Haha¡­¡± Chapter 61 - Drinking to Atone for One’s Sins

Chapter 61 Drinking to Atone for One¡¯s Sins

Pa! The lights in the private room in the club suddenly changed. The light directly hit Qu Xiao¡¯s cheek, making it difficult for her to open her eyes. Qu Xiao was surrounded by mocking gazes and discussions. The rich second-generation heirsughed as they pointed andmented on her. In the corner, Qu Qi raised her red lips proudly and looked at the farce that she had nned with great satisfaction. Qu Zhen walked out from the crowd in an elegant dress. She held Qu Xiao¡¯s hand affectionately as her eyes were filled with joy, ¡°Xiao, I¡¯m so happy that you came here to celebrate meing back! I had wanted to invite you, but I was afraid that you wouldn¡¯t be willing toe¡­¡± Qu Xiao stood rooted to the ground, speechless. She wanted to p away Qu Zhen¡¯s hand and turn around to leave. Qu Qi dragged Ling Chi out from the corner and said in a harsh voice, ¡°She must be here to see Ling Chi!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! Every single one of us remember how Qu Xiao had madly pursued Ling Chi back then.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all very envious! I even heard that Qu Xiao ran into Ling Chi¡¯s room in the middle of the night and threw herself at him!¡± The rich second-generation heirs bumped into Ling Chi¡¯s shoulder and squinted their eyes with evil smiles on their faces. They did not care about Qu Xiao¡¯s feelings at all. Qu Zhen listened to their discussion and her eyes were filled with confusion. She lowered her voice and asked, ¡°Is this true?¡± The rich second-generation heirs nodded in an exaggerated manner and spoke up on Ling Chi¡¯s behalf, ¡°Qu Zhen, don¡¯t misunderstand. Ling Chi¡¯s heart is all yours. He did not give Qu Xiao even the slightest chance. Qu Xiao was the one who stuck to him like glue. We can all help testify on his behalf!¡± Qu Qi snorted coldly and put on a mocking expression. ¡°Why would we lie?¡± ¡°When Ling Chi came to visit our family, she deliberately wore extremely revealing clothes and sshed water on Ling Chi¡¯s body. She simply doesn¡¯t have any self-respect. How is she any different from a random girl on the street? She¡¯s basically a call girl!¡± As Qu Qi said this sarcastically, the surrounding people burst intoughter. The stupid things that the original owner had done were now being exposed one by one. Qu Xiao frowned slightly. She looked coldly at Qu Qi, who had stirred up the discussion. At this moment, in the noisy room, a yful and sinister smile was on Qu Qi¡¯s lips. In a trance, Qu Xiao understood that the so-called transaction of the Nanjiang Blood Essence was a trap that Qu Qi had created. Qu Qi took the opportunity to humiliate and get her revenge. Qu Xiao¡¯s silence made the rich second-generation heirs gossip even more. They even used uneptable foul words. Ling Chi walked over to Qu Zhen¡¯s side. His eyes were filled with sincerity and love as he held her hand and said in a gentle tone in front of everyone, ¡°Zhen, believe me. I don¡¯t have any feelings for Qu Xiao. I¡¯ve rejected her many times, but she refused to give up and pestered me.¡± ¡°Qu Xiao is your younger sister. I just wanted to take care of her for you. I didn¡¯t expect her to misunderstand my intentions.¡± The rich second-generation heirs pped and cheered. They pushed Qu Xiao¡¯s shoulders and said frivolously, ¡°If Ling Chi didn¡¯t tell us, we wouldn¡¯t have known how much you pestered him. Qu Xiao, shouldn¡¯t you apologize?¡± ¡°Here! This bottle of whiskey is for you¡­¡± a rich second-generation heir stuffed an entire bottle of whiskey into Qu Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°I heard that you can hold your liquor well. Why don¡¯t you finish this entire bottle of whiskey in front of us as an apology to Ling Chi!¡± ¡°Those stupid things that you did that affected Ling Chi and Qu Zhen¡¯s rtionship will be forgotten from today onwards! No one will ever mention it again.¡± The rich second-generation heir patted Qu Xiao¡¯s shoulder heavily as he flirtatiously hooked his arm around her shoulder and said. Ling Chi also lifted his chin as if he was waiting for her apology. Qu Xiao decisively and nimbly pried open the rich second-generation heir¡¯s wrist. He clutched his arm in pain as he squatted on the ground and wailed. Qu Xiao unscrewed the cork of the bottle and walked in front of Ling Chi with a cold gaze. She lifted the entire bottle of whiskey and poured it on top of his head. ¡°This is my apology!¡¯ The golden-yellow liquor dripped down Ling Chi¡¯s hair and the room immediately let out a series of gasps. ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Ling Chi wiped off the sticky liquor. Then, Qu Xiao suddenly knocked the bottle on the tea-colored stool. Broken ss flew in all directions. Qu Zhen looked at Qu Xiao with a terrified expression. A ss cut Qu Xiao¡¯s palm and fresh blood dripped onto the ground from her fingertips. ¡°How? Ling Chi, are you satisfied with my apology?¡± Qu Xiao raised the corner of her lips into a bloodthirsty smile as her gaze swept past all the rich second-generation heirs who were present. When they met Qu Xiao¡¯s gaze, they were so frightened that they did not dare to make a sound. ¡°Bunch of cowards.¡± Qu Xiao threw the whiskey bottle on the ground and spoke loudly. Chapter 62 - Congratulatory Gifts

Chapter 62 Congrattory Gifts

At this moment, Ling Chi was in an extremely sorry state. Qu Zhen wanted to take out a handkerchief to wipe his face. In the corner of the room, there was a surveince camera with a red light on, recording everything that had happened. Ling Chi gently pushed Qu Zhen away. With a fierce expression, he picked up a wine bottle and rushed towards Qu Xiao. He cursed viciously, ¡°We were meant to celebrate Zhen¡¯s return to China today. I didn¡¯t n on arguing with you. You started it. Qu Xiao, you¡¯re courting death!¡± Ling Chi broke the wine bottle. The sharp ss almost pierced Qu Xiao¡¯s left cheek. Qu Xiao stood quietly on the spot. She had no intention of dodging. She looked straight into Ling Chi¡¯s eyes. The corners of her lips curled into a mocking smile as she asked, ¡°You dare to touch a piece of hair on my head? What do you think the consequences will be when Shang Yan finds out? Do you still remember the few pieces ofnd that the Ling family lost?¡±. Ling Chi¡¯s movements paused as he gritted his teeth and red angrily at Qu Xiao. ¡°For just two projects, Uncle Ling sent you overseas for a few months. Can you really bear the consequences of hurting me?¡± Qu Xiao had Shang Yan as her backer which made Ling Chi somewhat fearful. No one in the private room dared to speak. Qu Qi crossed her arms as she anxiously urged and incited Ling Chi to speak, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her. CEO Shang and her are merely in a business marriage. He doesn¡¯t care about her at all. Zhen is actually closer to him than she is. Shang Yan will definitely not help Qu Xiao!¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m Shang Yan¡¯s legal wife. If word gets out, Ling Chi hurting me would be seen as him disrespecting the Shang family.¡± Qu Xiao calmly retorted back to Qu Qi. She stared at Ling Chi with a smile as she slowly spoke with a sense of oppression emanating from her entire body, ¡°Do you want to bet? If you hit me with the wine bottle, how many more properties of the Ling family will remain in this city tomorrow?¡± No one had expected Qu Xiao to have such boldness. They all stared at her and Ling Chi with their eyes wide open. Qu Zhen stood up with a pale face. She wanted to mediate Qu Xiao¡¯s emotions as she spoke in an extremely soft voice, ¡°Xiao, we¡¯re all friends. Don¡¯t go too far. They have drunk too much so they can¡¯t control what they¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°I will apologize to you on their behalf. Don¡¯t me Ling Chi, okay?¡± Qu Xiao looked sideways at Qu Zhen and the corners of her lips suddenly curved into a smile as she asked in return, ¡°You make it sounds so easy.. If they humiliated you like how they humiliated me just now, would you be able to forgive them? Pretend that nothing happened and forget everything?¡± ¡°You probably haven¡¯t seen the news about Ling Chi, right?¡± Qu Xiao lowered her head and rummaged through her phone. Then, she passed the news about Ling Chi and a call girl to Qu Zhen. Ling Chi was so angry that he wanted to pounce over to stop her. Qu Xiao gently lifted the tip of her toes and tripped him. Looking at the man who had fallen to the ground, she quietly admired the smile on Qu Zhen¡¯s face slowly dissipating, turning into confusion to surprise to disbelief, it was very dramatic. ¡°Believe me! That¡¯s all fake!¡± Ling Chi roared. Qu Zhen¡¯s hands that were holding the phone trembled slightly. With slightly red eyes, she looked at Qu Xiao and asked, ¡°Xiao, these¡­¡± The picture of a call girl nestling in Ling Chi¡¯s embrace was extremely shocking to see. The headline of the news was even more difficult for Qu Zhen to ept. ¡°He was probably afraid that you would see it, so he spent arge sum of money to get the news media to delete the report. Unfortunately, back then, he had wanted to frame me. I secretly kept a few copies, thinking that I might be able to use them someday.¡± ¡°This is my congrattory gift to you for returning to China. I¡¯ll let you see how hypocritical Ling Chi is.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not worth trusting.¡± After Qu Xiao said that, Qu Zhen could not control her tears and threw the phone down. She covered her mouth and ran out of the private room. Ling Chi hurriedly wanted to chase after her. Covered in dirt, he ran to the door and suddenly stopped. He turned around and red fiercely at Qu Xiao as he said, ¡°Qu Xiao. I will remember this. Be prepared.¡± Qu Xiao shrugged her shoulders nonchntly. She picked up her bag on the ground and pped her hands as she prepared to leave. Qu Qi red at Qu Xiao resentfully and said angrily, ¡°You won¡¯t be so lucky next time!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay sooner orter! I will push you to the edge and leave you unable to escape!¡± Qu Xiao turned around and looked at her twisted face. She raised her hand and yed with the strands of hair on her forehead as she said with a light smile, ¡°I¡¯ll wait.¡± Chapter 63 - Trouble in the Club

Chapter 63 Trouble in the Club

At night, the streets of the city were bustling. Qu Xiao clutched the shoulder strap of her bag tightly. Once again, she had no more leads on obtaining Nanjiang Blood Essence. It was difficult for Qu Xiao to hide the disappointment in her eyes. On the roadside leading to the parking lot, Qu Xiao heard a familiar voiceing from behind. She looked over and saw a thin man fighting with a brawny man who looked like a gangster from a distance. She could not see his facial features clearly. A woman was hiding at the side, covering her mouth. Her eyes were filled with panic as she tried to stop the two of them from fighting. ¡°Young Master Shang, stop fighting¡­¡± ¡°Damn you! I don¡¯t care if you are the young master of the Shang family or the head of the Shang family. No one can take her away¡­¡± ¡°You damaged my car. You owe me an exnation!¡± Hearing about the Shang family made Qu Xiao nervous. She slowly approached him, but her eyes were wide open as she called out, ¡°Shang Xinchen?¡± Shang Xinchen raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. He looked at Qu Xiao in surprise and frowned as he asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Qu Xiao immediately looked around carefully for people hiding in the bushes. There were often paparazzi who stayed up all night. If they caught Shang Xinchen beating someone up, it might negatively affect Shang Yan and Shang Group. Thinking of this, Qu Xiao winked at Shang Xinchen, signalling for him to shut up, and took the initiative to walk to the front of the gangster. ¡°It was wrong for him to get violent. Do you want to settle the matter of your damaged car through insurance, or privately?¡± Qu Xiao was very gentle. The hooligan looked at her suspiciously, his eyeballs rolling as he calcted how much to ask for. Shang Xinchen frowned and pushed Qu Xiao away. ¡°What I do has nothing to do with you. Don¡¯t butt in!¡± IL TOV Qu Xiao narrowed her beautiful eyes in anger. When she opened her mouth to speak again, the gangsters behind her licked their teeth and whistled, ¡°Seems like you two are close! What happened today was because of a girl. Why don¡¯t you take her away and leave this girl behind for us!¡± ¡°You look like you would be nice to sleep with.¡± ¡°How? We will definitely treat you well!¡± The gangsters walked in front of Qu Xiao. They revealed their true natures and touched Qu Xiao¡¯s face in a flirtatious manner. Since Qu Xiao was Shang Yan¡¯s wife, Shang Xinchen could not help but clench his fists and swing at them. However, Qu Xiao stopped him. ¡°If that¡¯s so, then I¡¯ll go with you guys¡­¡± The gangsters were all very muscr. If Shang Xinchen and Qu Xiao fought with them, they would definitely be the ones who got hurt. Qu Xiao pretended topromise and walked towards the gangsters. She immediately turned around and winked at Shang Xinchen. Taking advantage of the moment when the gangsters¡¯ guards were down, Qu Xiao suddenly bent down to pick up the gravel on the ground and threw it at the gangster¡¯s eyes. The gangster cried out in pain. Qu Xiao hurriedly pulled Shang Xinchen¡¯s arm and growled, ¡°What are you looking at? Run!¡± In the darkness of the night, the two of them tried their best to escape, but Qu Xiao did not have a strong enough stamina. After running for a few hundred meters, she slowed down, panting and exhausted. The gangster behind them chased after them. He held a club in his hand as he shouted and cursed, ¡°Bitch! Don¡¯t let me catch you. How dare you injure me? Get ready for what I am going to do to you! I¡¯m going to break your legs! Try escaping then¡­¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s face was pale, and her lips were dry as she panted. She hid with Shang Xinchen in a hidden alley, her hands propping her knees as she tried to calm her breathing. ¡°There¡¯s definitely no way we can both escape.¡± ¡°Later, I¡¯ll run out to distract them. You run away from the other side!¡± Hearing that she wanted to give him a chance to escape, Shang Xinchen frowned, and a hint of worry and conflict shed across his eyes as he said coldly, ¡°This is my problem. There¡¯s no need for you to settle it for me! Don¡¯t pretend to be kind. I won¡¯t thank you.¡± When Qu Xiao saw that his face was sixty percent simr to Shang Yan¡¯s, she resisted the urge to give him two ps. She was so angry that her heart was beating wildly. The gangster¡¯s footsteps gradually approached. She said in a soft voice, ¡°If I try to escape, I won¡¯t even be able to run far.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who they want. Even if I¡¯m caught by them, I can still think of a way to deal with them! Stop talking, or neither of us will be able to escape!¡± Qu Xiao analyzed the current situation rationally. Looking at Shang Xinchen who was still standing in the same spot, she was so angry that she raised her leg and kicked his knee as she shouted, ¡°Go!¡± The gangster heard Qu Xiao¡¯s shout and immediately called for his brothers to chase after them. Shang Xinchen frowned and took a serious look at Qu Xiao. Then, he gritted his teeth and ran towards the other end of the alley. Chapter 64 - Calling the Police

Chapter 64 Calling the Police

¡°Don¡¯te any closer!¡± In the dark and narrow dead end, the gangsters approached with malevolent expressions while holding sticks. Their faces were full of lewd smiles. Qu Xiao was so nervous that her face turned pale. Her legs were weak as she bent down to pick up the bricks on the ground. She stared at the gangsters who were trying to approach her with vignce. Her back was pressed against the ice-cold brick wall. Her heart was beating like a loud drum. Qu Xiao mustered up her courage and growled, ¡°As long as you let me go, I will give you money¡­¡± ¡°But if you dare to touch a single strand of hair on my head, I swear I¡¯ll get every single one of you arrested and put in jail for your entire lives!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s threatening words angered the gangsters. They shook their heads and arms and let out a few coldughs. The leader of the gangsters took two fierce steps forward, snatched the brick that Qu Xiao was holding tightly in her hand, and threw it on the ground. ¡°Stupid woman, you really think we want your dirty money?¡± The gangster pressed Qu Xiao against the brick wall and acted as if he wanted to take off her underwear. Tears welled up in Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes as she resisted desperately. Her eyes were filled with despair. Qu Xiao was helpless against the gangsters and was unable to break free. She used all her strength to stand on her tiptoes and bite the gangster¡¯s ear. The rich smell of blood pervaded between her lips and teeth as she bit off a piece of flesh from the gangster¡¯s ear. p! A loud pnded on Qu Xiao¡¯s cheek, and she staggered and fell to the ground. Qu Xiao closed her eyes in despair. Suddenly, she heard the siren of a police car, and a blinding light shot out from the entrance of the alley. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Police!¡± The gangsters all held their heads and squatted on the ground. Soon, a figure ran to Qu Xiao. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Qu Xiao looked at Shang Xinchen who had run to her side. She forced a smile and said in an extremely soft voice, ¡°At least you have a conscience to get the police toe and save me.¡± Shang Xinchen furrowed his eyebrows and took off his coat and draped it over Qu Xiao¡¯s body. He gritted his teeth in hatred and wanted to kick the gangster. The police stopped him and reminded him sternly, ¡°Please restrain yourself.¡± ¡°You need to follow us back to the police station to make a statement.¡± Qu Xiao nodded and stood up. Her face was ashen as she rode the police car to the police station. Shang Xinchen and Qu Xiao sat side by side on the bench in the waiting room. Shang Xinchen nce at Qu Xiao¡¯s swollen left face. He crossed his hands on his knees and cleared his throat awkwardly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Shang Yan about what happened today.¡± The young master of the Shang family got into a brawl with gangsters in the middle of the night and was taken to the police station. This was definitely news that would be an online sensation. Qu Xiao held the warm water given to her by a police officer and looked at him calmly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy for me to get ahold of something that I can use against you. I definitely won¡¯t use this trump card so easily. Don¡¯t worry. However, you might have to change your attitude towards me. Otherwise, if i¡¯m in a bad mood, I might say something to Shang Yan¡­¡± ¡°You!¡± Shang Xinchen furrowed his eyebrows tightly. He looked at the woman in front of him who was negotiating terms with him and snorted coldly as he averted her gaze. Buzz buzz, Qu Xiao¡¯s phone rang. Shang Xinchen saw Shang Yan¡¯s name shing on the screen and instantly became nervous. He pressed his index finger to his lips and shook his head in a panic. Qu Xiao could not control the curvature of her lips and cleared her throat to answer the call. There was an awkward silence on both ends of the line. Shang Yan took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Did you receive the flowers and choctes?¡± Qu Xiao pushed Shang Xinchen, who was trying to listen in on their conversation, and answered softly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened that day. I had wanted to apologize to you face to face.¡± Shang Yan paused for a moment and promised sincerely, ¡°In the future, this won¡¯t happen again. I¡¯ll always go to you to listen to your exnation first.¡± Shang Xinchen¡¯s eyes widened. He could not believe how gentle Shang Yan was to Qu Xiao! Qu Xiao awkwardly clenched her fist against the corner of her lips. She lowered her voice and said, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°The overseas branch¡¯s matters are more or less settled. Li booked a flight for me to return home at 3:30 pm on Friday¡­¡± Shang Yan could not hide his anticipation as he probed, ¡°If you have time, you can also ask the driver to drive you to the airport to rx a bit.¡± Shang Yan frowned in frustration. He was still unable to directly express his longing for Qu Xiao and chose the clumsiest way to express it. Qu Xiao understood his intention that he wanted her to pick him up. She hesitated for a moment and did not answer. The police officer in charge of interrogating the gangsters came out from the next room. When Qu Xiao saw that he was about to push the door open and enter, she said to her phone in a hurry, ¡°I might have some things to do on Friday. We get a lot of customers at the Chinese medicine store, so I probably won¡¯t be able to pick you up. Bye bye!¡±. Beep Beep. Hearing that, Shang Yan pressed his fingers between his eyebrows in distress and let out a long sigh. Chapter 65 - Attitude Change

Chapter 65 Attitude Change

In the quiet waiting room, the police officers gave the case notes to Qu Xiao and Shang Xinchen. Because Qu Xiao and Shang Xinchen had retaliated beyond self-defense and caused multiple soft tissue injuries to the gangsters¡¯ bodies, they had to wait for their immediate family members or friends toe to the police station to sign a warrant before they could leave the police station. Shang Xinchen called Shang Liqing, but she didn¡¯t pick up, so they had no choice but to stay in the police station for one night. ¡°Hey! Did you have a fight with second brother?¡± Shang Xinchen was forced to be alone with Qu Xiao and felt awkward. He touched the tip of his nose, thinking of a topic to talk about and used his shoulder to bump Qu Xiao, pretending to be an expert in love, ¡°Don¡¯t always be arrogant and act reserved. Men like obedient and sensible women. Second brother is certainly no exception.¡± ¡°He¡¯s willing to coax you now, but he might not always be like this. Don¡¯t wait until he gets annoyed with you before changing your attitude. You won¡¯t even have time to cry!¡± Qu Xiao heard Shang Xinchen¡¯s childish words and stared at him with a smile in her eyes. ¡°Are you concerned about me?¡± Shang Xinchen almost choked on his saliva. His face flushed red as he averted her gaze and retorted in a stiff tone, ¡°Obviously not! I just feel bored and want to give you some advice! Don¡¯t think that I¡¯m grateful to you for today. If it weren¡¯t for you, I would definitely have beaten them all to the ground!¡± Qu Xiao nodded and deliberatelyughed with a drawn-out tone, causing Shang Xinchen to stare at her with a frown. The next morning, Shang Liqing finally picked up Shang Xinchen¡¯s call and rushed to the police station. In the waiting room, Qu Xiao was lying on the bench resting with Shang Xinchen¡¯s coat draped over her. Seeing Shang Xinchen sitting beside Qu Xiao, her pupils suddenly dted as she quickly ran over. She pulled the coat off Qu Xiao¡¯s body and grabbed Shang Xinchen¡¯s arm as she questioned, ¡°Why are the two of you together? Why are you at the police station?¡± Shang Xinchen opened his mouth to exin, but Shang Liqing ignored him as she muttered to herself, ¡°This must be Qu Xiao¡¯s fault, right!¡± ¡°She must have done something ridiculous and led you astray! Shang Xinchen, if mom and dad find out that you spent the night at the police station, you can say goodbye to your legs! How can you be together with Qu Xiao?¡± Shang Liqing¡¯s sharp voice gave Qu Xiao a headache. She rubbed her eyes in a daze, and there were still traces of redness and swelling on the left side of her face. Afterst night¡¯s interaction, Shang Xinchen¡¯s attitude towards Qu Xiao had eased up. He stopped Shang Liqing, who had rushed over and wanted to argue with Qu Xiao. He tried to persuade her in a hoarse voice, ¡°It has nothing to do with her. Qu Xiao got involvedst night because she helped me.¡± ¡°Actually, I should be thanking her.¡± When Shang Liqing heard Shang Xinchen¡¯s words, she was so shocked that she thought she had misheard. She tugged at Shang Xinchen¡¯s elbow and shook it violently. ¡°Is your brain broken?¡± ¡°You¡¯re actually defending Qu Xiao? Did she give you a bewitching potion?¡± Seeing Shang Liqing¡¯s attitude, Shang Xinchen was afraid that she would cause trouble for Qu Xiao, so he could only quickly take her away. He walked to the door of the waiting room and handed the paper bag in his hand to Qu Xiao. He said hurriedly, ¡°This ointment will help reduce swelling and dissolve bruises. Bring it home and apply it on your face. Don¡¯t let second brother find out what happened, or else he will definitely not let me off!¡± Shang Liqing widened her eyes in surprise and looked back and forth between Qu Xiao and Shang Xinchen. The two of them left the police station. Shang Xinchen sat in the front passenger seat and looked at the sulking Shang Liqing. He said in an extremely low tone, ¡°Maybe Qu Xiao isn¡¯t as bad as we thought. Second brother likes her. Could it be that we misunderstood her?¡± Shang Liqing held the steering wheel and stepped on the elerator. She stared at the road with a bitter look in her eyes and said, ¡°Qu Xiao¡­ How dare she bewitch you!¡± ¡°How dare she seize the opportunity to trick you. She is too maniptive!¡± In the Shang family¡¯s vi, Qu Xiao, who had not returned all night, returned to her bedroom. She took a bath in an attempt to wash away the tiredness all over her body. Qu Xiao reached out and picked up the medical scripture that she had brought back from the Chinese medicine store. She wanted to look for other ways to treat Shang Yan¡¯s leg paralysis. After all, Nanjiang Blood Essence was something that could only be found by chance. She could not waste all her time endlessly waiting. She had to treat Shang Yan as soon as possible. ¡°Mrs Qu, the Chinese medicine store across the street has just opened. Should we think of how to deal with this problem?¡± The boss of the Chinese Medicine Store sent Qu Xiao a message, which reminded her of the time when Qu Zhen studied Chinese medicine abroad. The Qu family had collected a lot of out-of-print medical books for Qu Zhen to read and learn. Those out-of-print medical books might contain a way to treat Shang Yan¡¯s leg paralysis! Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were shining. She grinned and wiped her hair, deciding to find an opportunity to go back to the Qu family. Chapter 66 - Teacher’s Home Visit

Chapter 66 Teacher¡¯s Home Visit

The next morning, the temperature dropped sharply. The Qu family¡¯s entire vi was shrouded in a cold mist. In the garden courtyard, Yang Mei was dressed particrly demurely. There was an expectant smile on her lips as if she was waiting for someone to arrive. She gazed eagerly at the intersection, from time to time, she would lower her head to look at the time. When Qu Xiao arrived at the Qu family¡¯s house, she unexpectedly met Yang Mei¡¯s gaze for a moment. Both of them were somewhat stunned. Yang Mei stared at her with a disgusted expression and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Qu Xiao was about to answer when Yang Mei suddenly walked behind her with a bright smile as she said, ¡°Miss Zhang, thank you for speciallying here to visit us! I¡¯ve already asked the nanny to prepare snacks and tea. Let¡¯s go in and chat!¡± Yang Mei¡¯s warm attitude made Miss Zhang feel a little awkward. She pushed her ck-rimmed sses gently with her hand and noticed Qu Xiao beside her. She introduced herself and said, ¡°I¡¯m Qu Qi¡¯s teacher. May I ask who are you¡­?¡± Qu Xiao pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯m Qu Xiao.¡± Yang Mei frowned and hurriedly interrupted Qu Xiao. ¡°She¡¯s not important. Don¡¯t worry about her.¡± She used her body to block Miss Zhang and Qu Xiao and invited Miss Zhang to the living room to sit. Qu Xiao followed behind them and entered. When Mr. Qu stood up to wee Miss Zhang, he saw Qu Xiao and immediately looked unhappy. However, in Miss Zhang¡¯s presence, he could only suppress his emotions and gesture for the butler to pour a cup of tea for Qu Xiao. He warned Qu Xiao through his eyes not to create any trouble. Miss Zhang took out a report card from her briefcase. She said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m here for a home visit today because Qu Qi¡¯s grades have been dropping rapidly recently. I¡¯d like to know how is her studying at home. Is it because of family factors that she can¡¯t concentrate on her studies?¡± Yang Mei¡¯s face stiffened for a moment. She clutched the report card and forced out an ugly smile. Qu Xiao sipped on her cup of tea slowly. Yang Mei saw her smirk and immediately mocked her, ¡°Miss Zhang, you probably don¡¯t know about our family¡¯s situation. Qu Qi¡¯s sister just returned from abroad and Qu Xiao has already made her sick from anger!¡± ¡°Qu Qi has been on good terms with her sister since she was young. Recently, she has been very worried about her sister¡¯s health and only go to sleep veryte. This may have affected her studies.¡± Yang Mei deliberately pushed the me onto Qu Xiao. ¡°Qu Xiao is an undergrad who doesn¡¯t study hard. She is extreme and selfish. Qu Qi is always getting negatively influenced by her!¡± Miss Zhang quietly sized up Qu Xiao. It was as if she believed in Yang Mei¡¯s fabrications and saw her as a problematic student. Qu Xiao sneered and gently put down the teacup. She lowered her eyes and said softly, ¡°Auntie Yang, you can say that I¡¯m extreme and selfish, but Qu Qi¡¯s decline in her academic results has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°When father brought me home, I knew that I was an outsider. I never dared to hope that you would be able to ept me. I just wanted a family! But Qu Qi often bullied me, pointed at me and scolded me, saying that I was a bastard raised by father outside.¡± Qu Xiao exined with a sobbing tone. Yang Mei and Mr. Qu¡¯s faces became more and more embarrassed. Miss Zhang looked at Qu Xiao¡¯s reddened eyes in a daze. She did not doubt her words at all, and even felt a little sympathy for her. ¡°Recently, Qu Qi has been busy eating and drinking at clubs with all sorts of friends. Last weekend, she invited Qu Zhen to the clubhouse, saying that she was celebrating her return to China. In the end, Qu Qi identally implicated Qu Zhen¡¯s boyfriend, causing her to fall ill.¡± ¡°I once advised Qu Qi not to hang out with that group of rich heirs, but she would not listen to me.¡± Qu Xiao wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Miss Zhang took out two tissues from her pocket and handed them to her. She patted her shoulder softly tofort her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. You haven¡¯t done anything wrong. Your background isn¡¯t something you can choose, but your future path is something you can decide through hard work.¡± ¡°Mr. Qu, when Qu Qi returns, you must educate her properly. Otherwise, she will go down the wrong path!¡± Mr. Qu nodded his head awkwardly. Looking at Qu Xiao¡¯s teasing eyes, anger surged in his heart, but he couldn¡¯t explode on the spot. He could only force a loving smile on his face. ¡°Xiao, let us chat with Miss Zhang. You should return to your room for a while!¡± Mr. Qu¡¯s eyes were filled with threat. Qu Xiao shrugged her shoulders but didn¡¯t refute him. She stood up and walked to the second floor. ¡°Miss Zhang, you can chat with Auntie Yang. I¡¯ll go to the study to read¡­¡± Qu Xiao intentionally stopped and turned around to speak. As expected, Miss Zhang¡¯s gaze towards her became gentler and kinder. On the other hand, Yang Mei clenched her fists as though she wanted to tear her apart as she stared at her back. Chapter 67 - The Seller of the Medical Book

Chapter 67 The Seller of the Medical Book

On the top floor of the vi, sunlight seeped through the gaps in the clouds and shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the bookshelves that upied the entire wall. Qu Xiao patted the dust that had covered the back of the books lightly and scanned the rare collection of ssics with a regretful expression. She grabbed a footstool and climbed up on it. She took out the out-of-print medical ssics and slowly flipped through them. ording to the notes in the index, treatment and rehabilitation methods rted to leg diseases was included in the fourth volume. Qu Xiao searched repeatedly, but realized that the Qu family¡¯s study room onlycked the fourth volume medical book that she needed! She could not hide her dejected mood. She forced herself to take out her cell phone and took a photo of the cover of the medical book. In the living room, Miss Zhang, Yang Mei, and Mr. Qu were still chatting enthusiastically about Qu Qi¡¯s studies. Qu Xiao walked out of the study with an indifferent expression and went straight outside. Miss Zhang seemed to have thought of something as she stood up and chased after her. She held Qu Xiao¡¯s elbow and said in a concerned tone, ¡°Qu Xiao, I think you should go back to school and continue your studies. You are very smart and shouldn¡¯t give up just like that.¡± ¡°Your fate is in your own hands. You have to fight for what you want.¡± The warmth in Miss Zhang¡¯s eyes made Qu Xiao smile. The kindness and concern of strangers touched her. She nodded sincerely and replied, ¡°If there¡¯s a chance, I will.¡± Qu Xiao left the vi. She recalled that the owner of the Chinese medicine store had once mentioned to her that there were a few reliable second-hand trading tforms in the country. Many sellers would ce unwanted items on them for auction. At the same time, there were also quite a number of buyers who would register the information of the items they wanted and wait for contact. A few days ago, she had posted a request for help to look for Nanjiang Blood Essence, but to no avail. Qu Xiao posted a picture of the medical book with the caption, ¡°Purchasing the fourth volume at a high price.¡± Ding ding! Her request was sessfully posted, and soon, someone privately messaged Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao clicked on the person¡¯s anime profile picture and asked suspiciously, ¡°Do you have the fourth volume of this medical book series?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The other party answered readily and sent two pictures of the medical book. Qu Xiao could not control her joy in the room and typed two lines of text excitedly, ¡°That¡¯s right. This is what I want!¡± ¡°May I know when it will be convenient for us to make the transaction? I¡¯d like to inspect the goods in person!¡± ¡°I can offer 500,000 yuan for this medical book!¡± Qu Xiao sent the message out and waited anxiously for the other party¡¯s reply. Time slowly passed. Qu Xiao stared at her phone. When she was hesitating about increasing her offer, the other party¡¯s profile picture suddenly shed. ¡°Alright, deal! Meet me at Garden Cafe at five in the afternoon.¡± Qu Xiao raised her wrist to check the time. She took the card that Shang Yan had given her and hurriedly ran out. Qu Xiao soon arrived at Garden Cafe. At five o¡¯clock sharp, a man in a cap walked straight to the table in the corner and sat down. He took off his cap and naturally rubbed his hair with his hands. He ced a ck stic bag containing the medical book on the table and immediately raised his head. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± ¡°You again!¡± Qu Xiao and Shang Xinchen eximed at the same time, attracting the attention of the surrounding customers and waiters. The two quickly covered their mouths and asked each other softly, ¡°The fool who offered 500,000 yuan to buy this lousy medical book is you?¡± Qu Xiao frowned and stared at Shang Xinchen. She questioned with slight hesitation, ¡°Is this medical book real?¡± ¡°Of course! Qu Zhen asked me to look for it. I had originally wanted to give it to her, but something happened and I was busy the past few days.¡± Shang Xinchen scratched his head and said in a softer voice, ¡°I¡¯m short of money recently. When I saw a fool on the inte willing to pay such a high price to buy this book, of course I agreed!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t go back on your word! How are you going to pay for it?¡±. Shang Xinchen hurriedly hugged the medical book and narrowed his long and narrow eyes as he stared at Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao helplessly took out the ck card and handed it to him. ¡°Take it! I¡¯ll pay you all in one go.¡± Shang Xinchen recognized Shang Yan¡¯s secondary card. He stared at Qu Xiao confusedly. He quickly swiped the card to get his money. ¡°Why are you looking for the medical book?¡± Shang Xinchen saw the notification from his bank and asked with interest. Qu Xiao immediately flipped through the book. Her brows were tightly knitted as she read the difficult to understand words. She replied in a soft voice, ¡°I¡¯m looking for a method to treat Shang Yan¡¯s leg disease. There might be¡­¡± Shang Xinchen was stunned. He did not expect Qu Xiao to be running around with such a goal in mind. TO He was a little touched as he cleared his throat. He could not help but remind her, ¡°Second brother¡¯s leg disease has been untreatable for a long time. Our family has hired a lot of doctors to try to treat him. Famous doctors from both China and abroad hade for consultations, but none of them had any idea what to do.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best for a self-taught person like you to not have too much hope.¡± Qu Xiao did not seem to care about what he said and continued to immerse herself in reading the medical book. ¡°Do you really want to cure second brother?¡± Shang Xinchen stared at her for a long time and suddenly asked. Chapter 68 - Getting Into a University

Chapter 68 Getting Into a University

In Garden Cafe, a waiter brought two cups of Iced Americano, disrupting the tense atmosphere between the two of them. Qu Xiao stirred the coffee stick, and the ice cubes collided with the ss, making a soft sound. She suddenly raised her head and stared at Shang Xinchen and asked fiercely, ¡°Shang Yan is my husband. Of course, I¡¯m more eager than anyone else to cure his leg disease.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you and Shang Liqing have so many doubts about me! What exactly are you guys worried about?¡± Shang Xinchen was speechless. He then lowered his head to look at his contact list before sending a phone number to Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao looked at him inexplicably and silently waited for Shang Xinchen to exin. ¡°This is the phone number of a professor from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at A University. He has a deep understanding of traditional Chinese medicine. Perhaps he can help you.¡± Qu Xiao looked online for information about the professor ording to what Shang Xinchen said. Shang Xinchen looked at her and could not help but remind her again, ¡°He¡¯s quite picky. He is only willing to help and answer the questions of A University students. He refuses to meet anyone else!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid it will be a little difficult for you to contact him.¡± As Qu Xiao read about the professor online, she read that he had won some research awards and seemed to be very well-established. However, he wasn¡¯t a doctor. Qu Xiao silently pondered in her heart. Just as she was about to close the web page, she saw that the professor had an independent treatment room. This professor looked very professional. Her eyes rolled slightly as she weighed the pros and cons. She secretly thought that if she were to perform surgery on Shang Yan, she could let the professor be her assistant. This would be a helpful to Shang Yan¡¯s treatment.. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I will get admitted to A university and propose a coboration with him.¡± As Qu Xiao said this calmly, Shang Xinchen burst intoughter. ¡°You? Get admitted to A University?¡± high school! A University will never take bribes for admission!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to be a hero!¡± Shang Xinchen waved his hand and said with a face full of disbelief, trying to dispel Qu Xiao¡¯s absurd thoughts. Qu Xiao looked at him with a determined gaze. She crossed her hands on the coffee table and said with a smirk, ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you to think of a way to help me with the transfer procedures!¡± ¡°Of course, if you refuse, I might not be able to control myself and tell Shang Yan about the police station situation¡­¡± Shang Xinchen hurriedly stopped her from continuing. Resigned to his fate, he lowered his head andpromised, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± ¡°But whether you can pass or not, it¡¯s not my business!¡± ¡°Every year, there are tens of thousands of freshmen who want to enter A University. With your current knowledge reserves, it¡¯s simply impossible.¡± Shang Xinchen realized that he could not understand what was going on in the mind of the woman in front of him. asionally, she was very smart and knew how to use leverage to coerce others to do things for her, but other times, she was so stupid and blindly confident. Qu Xiao raised her head and looked at the pedestrians outside the window. She stretched her shoulders and drank the Iced Americano with a rxed expression without a trace of worry. On Friday, her phone¡¯s rm rang. Qu Xiao looked at the memo that reminded her of ¡°Shang Yan¡¯s return to China,¡± and the corners of her lips curled up slightly. Although she had originally refused Shang Yan¡¯s request to pick him up at the airport, after these few days, Qu Xiao¡¯s resentment had already dissipated. Qu Xiao, who was constantly checking the time, sat in front of the mirror and dressed herself up meticulously. She especially changed into an innocent-looking white dress and bought a bunch of flowers to give Shang Yan as a surprise at the airport. At the exit of the airport, the families of the passengers on the same flight weed their loved ones. Only Qu Xiao was left standing alone with the flowers in her arms. She repeatedly confirmed with the airport staff that all the passengers had safelynded on the ground. Her heart gradually became nervous. Qu Xiao wanted to call Li to inquire about the situation, but for some reason, she felt an urge her to check on social media. Five minutes ago, Qu Qi posted a picture in the hospital. In the picture, Shang Yan, who was supposed to be at the airport, was sitting in front of the hospital bed, gazing at Qu Zhen with deep affection. ¡°CEO Shang¡¯s ne justnded, and he rushed over to see my sister. This warms my heart!¡± Qu Qi¡¯s words stung Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes. She threw the flowers into a nearby trash can and gged down a taxi to go to the hospital with a gloomy face. At the same time, Qu Qi looked at the WeChat Moments that only Qu Xiao could see, and the corners of her mouth curled up proudly. ¡°You must definitely be feeling so horrible right about now!¡± Chapter 69 - Car Accident

Chapter 69 Car ident

Ryan Hospital, VIP ward¡¯s reception room. Qu Zhen held a ss of water with a haggard face. She slowly retracted her gaze from the window and picked up the contract that Shang Yan had ced in front of her with a sad expression. The inpatient department always had countless patients and family members who were rushing through the procedures. Li pushed Shang Yan¡¯s wheelchair into the elevator. For some reason, Qu Qi ran out of the ward and followed closely beside them. She smiled and said, ¡°Brother-inw, let me send you off.¡± Qu Xiao took a taxi to the hospital parking lot. When she saw the familiar Mercedes-Benz car, her heart sank. Shang Yan and Li appeared in her line of sight. Qu Xiao subconsciously avoided them. i to hide behind the pir, but she identally met Qu Qi¡¯s gaze. Qu Qi crossed her arms and raised her chin arrogantly and mockingly. Her eyes were full of provocation and a deration of war. Qu Xiao dialed Shang Yan¡¯s number. Shang Yan¡¯s expression instantly softened when he heard the ringtone. He raised his hand to signal for Li to stop. His eyes were filled with emotions as he picked up the call. ¡°Where are you?¡± Qu Xiao asked directly. Her tone was cold and stiff, and there was even a sense of pressure from questioning Shang Yan frowned slightly and paused for a moment, hesitating whether he should tell her or not. Qu Xiao seemed to have seen through his thoughts at this moment. She felt her whole body turn cold as she clenched her teeth, reminding him word by word, ¡°Shang Yan, you should know very well that I hate lies the most. No matter what, I hope that I won¡¯t hear lies from you!¡± Shang Yan seemed to have noticed something strange as he looked up. He looked around but did not see Qu Xiao. ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s throat was dry as she continued to ask, ¡°Why? Are you not feeling well?¡± Under the noisy background, Shang Yan answered honestly, ¡°Qu Zhen is at the hospital. I came here to look for her.¡± Qu Xiao did not know whether she shouldugh at herself or be happy at this moment. Shang Yan did not lie to her, but on the other hand, it also proved that Qu Zhen was special to Shang Yan. She was someone who could make him endure the fatigue of a long flight of more than ten hours just toe and see her. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how serious her condition must be to be able to make you rush directly to the hospital.¡± Qu Xiao hung up the phone with a thud. She walked out from the back of the hospital¡¯s pir and slowly walked to a spot half a meter away from Shang Yan. ¡°I specially ordered a bouquet and went to the airport to surprise you¡­¡± ¡°I thought I would get a big hug from you, but what did I get?¡± ¡°Do you know how flustered I was? I was so scared that I thought you had an ident and tried to call any number that could contact you, but you, Li, no one answered my call!¡± After Qu Xiao said that, Li realized that there were dozens of missed calls on his muted phone. He looked apologetic and wanted to exin. ¡°Shang Yan, if Qu Zhen is so important to you, you can just tell me.¡± ¡°I have never thought of being a member of the Shang family forever!¡± Qu Xiao turned around and walked across the road with a disappointed expression. Shang Yan saw her and hurriedly pushed his wheelchair to chase after her. His eyes narrowed as he exined, ¡°Things are not what you think. Xiao! Listen to me¡­¡± Woosh! A child who had gotten separated from his parents suddenly ran out from the middle of the road. A car driver who was driving at a high speed suddenly turned the steering wheel to avoid him. The car immediately lost control and rushed straight towards Qu Xiao. Shang Yan shouted Qu Xiao¡¯s name. He pushed his wheelchair forward with all his might and pulled Qu Xiao¡¯s elbow to his side. Bang! The car crashed into the fence. Thepressed and deformed front of the car emitted waves of thick smoke. Qu Xiao felt a warmth in her palm. She looked down and saw that her hand was covered in blood. She could not care less about the pain from the scratch on her hand and got up. She stumbled and ran to Shang Yan¡¯s side. Li was so scared that his face turned ashen. He quickly ran back to the hospital to find doctors and nurses to help. ¡°Don¡¯t scare me! Shang Yan, open your eyes and look at me!¡± Qu Xiao looked at the pool of blood on the ground with tears in her eyes. Helplessness and panic surged in her heart. She held Shang Yan in her arms. She patted his cheek gently and said in a hurried and uneasy voice, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to sleep! Who told you to risk your life to save me? I could have avoided it. Who asked you to be a hero!¡± Cough cough! Shang Yan choked on two mouthfuls of blood. He opened his eyes weakly and used his hand to caress Qu Xiao¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Shang Yan felt an intense pain in his did not show it. He curled his thin lips to appease Qu Xiao. ¡°Now, are you willing to listen to me¡­ Talk?¡± Chapter 70 - Misunderstanding Resolved

Chapter 70 Misunderstanding Resolved

Li rushed over with the Emergency department¡¯s doctors and nurses. ¡°CEO Shang, you must hold on!¡± Ryan Hospital was a private hospital that Shang Group had invested in. When the chief physician of the Emergency department heard Li¡¯s words, he immediately ran to Shang Yan who was lying in a pool of blood. He did not dare to be negligent as he called for the nurses to carry Shang Yan onto a moving stretcher, they pushed him to the emergency room for an examination. Qu Xiao¡¯s legs could not help but tremble. She held Shang Yan¡¯s hand tightly and followed beside him. In the long corridor outside the emergency room¡¯s operating theater, the chief physician looked at the CT image that he had received with a serious expression. He said to Li and Qu Xiao, ¡°CEO Shang¡¯s condition is very dangerous. The impact caused his ribs to fracture. Currently, we are unable to determine if the organs in his abdominal cavity have been damaged.¡± ¡°We need to operate on him as soon as possible. If we dy for even a second, he¡¯ll be in more danger.¡± ¡°Please sign here quickly!¡± The nurse handed Qu Xiao the Critical Illness Notice and the Letter of Commitment. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best.¡± Qu Xiao bit her red lips tightly. Shang Yan, who was lying on the moving stretcher, bit the tip of his tongue and relied on the sharp pain to maintain his consciousness. He beckoned for Li toe to his side and said, ¡°Go and get Qu Zhen over. Right now¡­¡± Li looked back at Qu Xiao with a troubled expression and said in a soft voice, ¡°CEO Shang, it¡¯s better to wait till after you finish the surgery.¡± Shang Yan shook his head. He endured the dizziness and nausea and insisted on ordering him to do it immediately. Qu Xiao gripped the ballpoint pen tightly and quickly signed her name. The corners of her lips curled up into a self-mocking smile. It turned out that at the moment when his life was in danger, the person that came to Shang Yan¡¯s mind was actually Qu Zhen. How ridiculous! Very soon, Li brought Qu Zhen to the emergency room¡¯s operating theater. When Qu Zhen saw Shang Yan whose face was covered in blood, she ran over with a worried expression and asked, ¡°What on Earth is going on? How did he suffer such a serious injury?¡± Shang Yan stared at Qu Xiao, who was standing in the corner. He propped himself up with great effort. He squeezed out a sentence with great effort, ¡°Come here.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s expression darkened. She was standing side by side with Qu Zhen, and her entire body was emitting an aura of resistance. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were almost unable to open. He looked at them with all his willpower. ¡°Qu Zhen, please help me exin why I came to look for you. Xiao, she, she seems to have misunderstood me. If I can¡¯t leave the operating table alive, I want to at least resolve the misunderstanding she has!¡± Qu Zhen stared at Qu Xiao with her round eyes. No one would have thought that Shang Yan¡¯s feelings for Qu Xiao would be so serious. ¡°Shang Yan wants me to move the Chinese medicine store away from its current location and notpete with you. The store has already opened, so if I cancel the lease now, I have to pay a huge fine. I can¡¯t find a more suitable store location for the time being, so I didn¡¯t agree to him immediately.¡± Qu Zhen handed the electronic transfer contract that she carried with her to Qu Xiao. ¡°He promised topensate me for my losses. All of this is for you.¡± Qu Xiao flipped through it in disbelief and then looked at Shang Yan in surprise. Shang Yan finally could not hold it in anymore and fainted with his eyes closed. The chief physician of the Emergency department hurriedly pushed him to the operating theater. The red (In Surgery] sign lit up. Qu Xiao leaned against the wall and slowly squatted down. She hugged her knees helplessly and curled up on the ground, she recalled all the things that had happened with mixed feelings. Li frowned and stood beside her. He said with some resentment, ¡°Madam, CEO Shang doesn¡¯t allow me to speak carelessly.¡¯ ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be the one to tell you these things, but I really can¡¯t bear to see you continue to misunderstand and doubt him!¡± ¡°We were on a business trip to an overseas branch. It originally required two weeks, but CEO Shangpressed the meetings for you into a few short days. He only slept three to four hours a day in order to be able to return to your side as soon as possible¡­¡± Every word from Li was like a knife poking at Qu Xiao¡¯s heart, ¡°CEO Shang really hoped that you coulde to pick him up. When you rejected him, I could see how disappointed he was. I¡¯ve worked by CEO Shang¡¯s side for almost ten years, and he has no reservations about you. But what about you?¡± Misunderstanding, suspicion, and even a unteral conviction that did not allow him to exin. Qu Xiao¡¯s nails dug into her palms. She buried her head in her knees, and her tears fell to the ground. Her voice was extremely soft as she muttered to herself, ¡°Shang Yan, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Bang! After an unknown amount of time, the operating theater¡¯s door slowly opened. Qu Xiao rushed to the doctor¡¯s side immediately. ¡°How is he?¡± ¡°The surgery was very sessful, but his body is very weak. He needs to stay in bed and rest for a week for observation.¡± The doctor¡¯s words made Qu Xiao breathe a sigh of relief. She finally revealed a rxed smile and apanied Shang Yan back to the ward. Chapter 71 - Obtaining the Household Register Through Trickery

Chapter 71 Obtaining the Household Register Through Trickery

The news of the CEO of Shang Group being hospitalized quickly spread throughout Ryan Hospital. The leaders from all departments of the hospital came to visit one after another. Qu Xiao was afraid that they would affect Shang Yan¡¯s recuperation, so she arranged for Li to stand guard outside the ward. In the ward, Shang Yan quietly watched Qu Xiao, pursing his thin lips and raising an arc. His well-defined handsome face was wrapped inyers of gauze. Shang Yan¡¯s ribs were broken. He could not rely on his own strength to sit up for too long. Qu Xiao peeled an apple earnestly. Just as she was about to apologize, Qu Zhen suddenly barged in and interrupted her. Qu Zhen, who was wearing a hospital gown, stood by the bedside with a worried expression. She spoke in a concerned tone, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry that I caused you to have an ident. If you need anything, you can always let me know. Xiao will take care of you here. If she¡¯s too busy, I can help¡­¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern. I can take care of Shang Yan¡¯s matters. You should take care of your own body.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s tone was choking as she spoke. She could not help but vent her anger on Shang Yan. She raised her beautiful eyes and red at him. Shang Yan wanted to say something, but Qu Xiao stuffed a few pieces of chopped apples into his mouth to shut him up. Shang Yan could only nod his head and keep quiet. When Qu Zhen saw the way they interacted, she held the corner of her shirt with some envy. Then, as if she had made a decision, she said, ¡°Regarding the matter of moving my Chinese medicine store, I would like to discuss it with you guys.¡± ¡°I came back to China to do business. The location of my Chinese medicine store is very important. If I give up on this location, I might not be able to engage in medical research in the short term. This will affect my career development. I can move away, but Xiao has to agree to one condition.¡± Qu Zhen¡¯s gaze fell on Qu Xiao as she said lightly, ¡°I want to be part of Qu Group. Give me a position.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s hand that was holding the fruit knife paused. She raised her eyes and sized up Qu Zhen. Her eyes were filled with suspicion and spection. Qu Zhen had studied Western medicine under a professor overseas. At the same time, she had a very solid theoretical foundation in Chinese medicine. Among the many subsidiarypanies under Qu Group, the one with the best development prospects was the one in the biopharmaceutical field. Even if Qu Zhen was not a child of the Qu family, Qu Group could really use a talent like her at the moment. Qu Xiao had no reason to refuse at all. Qu Xiao lowered her eyes and thought for a long time before she nodded and replied, ¡°Alright, I promise you.¡± No matter what intentions Qu Zhen had, Qu Xiao was confident that she would be able to restrict her movements and keep control of her shares. Three dayster, Shang Yan¡¯s body had recovered quite well. When she went back to the vi to change her clothes, Qu Xiao conveniently went to the Qu family¡¯s vi and prepared to hand over the household register to Shang Xinchen so that he could help her go through the enrollment procedures. At the Qu family¡¯s vi, Mr. Qu and Yang Mei saw Qu Xiao return and their expressions immediately turned ugly. When the two of them learned that Qu Xiao wanted to obtain the household register, they repeatedly rejected her. Yang Mei recalled what happened when Miss Zhang came to visit. Her eyes were filled with hatred and anger as she red at Qu Xiao, ¡°What? With Shang Yan backing you up, do you need to personally handle such a small matter? You want to take the household register from us? Dream on!¡± Qu Xiao could not be bothered to waste her breath dealing with them. She sat on the sofa and stared at the two of them as she asked, ¡°What do I have to do to get it?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to think about that carefully!¡± Yang Mei and Mr. Qu exchanged nces. Their eyes moved slightly as a smile appeared on their faces. Their eyes flickered with viciousness and greed as they said, ¡°If you transfer Qu Group¡¯s shares to us for free, I¡¯ll immediately get it for you!¡± Qu Xiao was so angry that she couldn¡¯t help butugh. She furrowed her eyebrows and stared at Mr. Qu, quickly thinking of the conditions that could make thempromise. Ding! Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up as she leaned forward as she thought of something. Her hands were sped on her knees, ¡°It¡¯s impossible for me to give you the shares, but I can think of a way to get Qu Zhen a position in the pharmaceutical department and management in the group.¡± ¡°At present, the management of the group supports me. You must hope for someone to have a say in my decisions, right?¡± Mr. Qu was swayed by her words. He narrowed his eyes and thought for a while. Soon, he made a decision and signaled Yang Mei to take the household register. He controlled the ecstasy in his heart and handed the book to Qu Xiao. ¡°You won¡¯t go back on your word, right?¡± Qu Xiao ced the household register together with the transfer application that Shang Xinchen had sent her. Holding it in her hand, she stood up indifferently and said, ¡°I¡¯m different from you. I¡¯ll never go back on my word.¡± Chapter 72 - Blaming and Complaining Chapter 72 ming and Comining Facing the sunset, Qu Xiao walked out of the vi in a good mood. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Qu Qi happened to bump into Qu Xiao while holding Qu Zhen¡¯s arm affectionately. She immediately put on an unhappy expression and stared at the book in Qu Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°Household register? Shang Yan already wants to divorce you?¡± Listening to Qu Qi¡¯s mockingughter, Qu Xiao stared at her with a calm expression. Qu Xiao shook her head and said, ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Hearing that, Qu Qi got extremely angry. Just as Qu Qi stepped forward, Qu Zhen saw the transfer application and asked, ¡°Xiao, you want to go to high school? But at your age, you will definitely encounter a lot of difficulties and discrimination.¡± ¡°I have friends in several universities. If you want, I can ask them to send you an admission letter to their universities.¡± When Qu Qi heard this, she held her stomach andughed, ¡°Someone who failed the university entrance exam wants to take it again?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll only embarrass our family!¡± Yang Mei and Mr. Qu heard the argument in the courtyard and had already stood up and walked outside. Qu Xiao didn¡¯t want anymore trouble, so she quickly put away the documents and whispered to Qu Qi, ¡°Two days ago, when Miss Zhang came over, she said that your grades were dropping like a precipice. Focus on yourself instead of others!¡± After Qu Xiao said that, she pushed Qu Qi who was blocking the way away and left. When Yang Mei saw Qu Zhen, she immediately ran to her and said a caring tone, ¡°You¡¯ve only just recovered. Don¡¯t stand outside for too long! Dad and I have good news to tell you!¡± Mr. Qu said with joy, ¡°Qu Xiao agreed to give you a management position in the group just now.¡± Qu Zhen blinked in confusion and said in an extremely soft voice, ¡°You know about it too? Xiao sent me the entry noticest night. I don¡¯t understand the job scope of management, so I asked her to help me get a position in the pharmaceutical department.¡± ¡°Wait! Last night?¡± Confused, Yang Mei held Qu Zhen¡¯s elbow and asked her exin how this came about. ¡°That unfilial daughter, she had already agreed to give you a position earlier? She yed us like fools!¡± Only then did Yang Mei and Mr. Qu understand Qu Xiao¡¯s n. They pped their knees in regret. Qu Qi recalled Qu Xiao¡¯s recent abnormal actions and became even more jealous of Qu Xiao. She gripped the back of the sofa tightly and muttered to herself in silence, ¡°Everything she took from the Qu family, I will make her pay back double!¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t just let her go like that! I have to get the shares of the group back!¡± With that, Qu Qi grabbed her coat and car keys and ran out, heading straight for the hospital. Back at the hospital, Qu Xiao had brought sushi from Shang Yan¡¯s favorite Japanese restaurant back to the hospital. When she pushed open the door of the ward, she saw Shang Liqing standing by the bed with hostility in her eyes, as if she wanted to swallow her whole. Shang Liqing red at Qu Xiao with hatred in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! If it weren¡¯t for you, second brother wouldn¡¯t have suffered such a serious injury!¡± ¡°He even hid it from the family for you, afraid that Grandpa and the others would me you¡­¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t fulfill your responsibility to take care of second brother as his wife. I want to tell Grandpa about this matter so you two will have to get a divorce!¡± Qu Xiao listened to Shang Liqing¡¯s criticism silently. She put the sushi on the bedside cab and carefully adjusted the height of the bed for Shang Yan. She tilted her head and looked at Shang Liqing. She asked in a light tone, ¡°What about you? As Shang Yan¡¯s sister, have you found a doctor for him? Have you thought of a way to treat his legs? Have you gone to the vi every week to visit him and chat with him? Have you gone to thepany to help him with his work?¡± ¡°Not only have you not done any of that, but you also always ask Shang Yan for help whenever you cause trouble.¡± Seeing Shang Liqing¡¯s increasingly red face, the corners of Qu Xiao¡¯s lips curled up as she spoke slowly, ¡°The rtionship between Shang Yan and I is none of your business and not for you toment on. I am only letting you off this easily because you are Shang Yan¡¯s younger sister, but you better not go overboard!¡± Shang Liqing was intimidated by Qu Xiao. She stomped her feet as she looked at Shang Yan, trying to get him to back her up. Shang Yan did not seem to see her request for help. He held Qu Xiao¡¯s hand and said gently, ¡°Thank you for everything.¡± ¡°Second brother! You are clearly brainwashed. Qu Xiao got close to you for a reason. She wants to covet our family¡¯s property! Don¡¯t be deceived by her! Why are both Shang Xinchen and you bewitched by her!¡± Shang Liqing recalled the change in Shang Xinchen¡¯s attitude towards Qu Xiao and mumbled anxiously Chapter 73 - Love in the Ward

Chapter 73 Love in the Ward

Shang Liqing was so angry that her entire body started trembling. She tightly shut her red lips and red angrily at Qu Xiao. The ward was so quiet that it was suffocating. Suddenly, the three of them heard a fierce argumenting from outside the door. Apanied by a loud bang, Qu Qi mmed the door open and barged in. With an apologetic expression, Li exined, ¡°CEO Shang, I couldn¡¯t stop her.¡± Given Qu Qi¡¯s identity, Li was unable to use forceful methods to stop her. Shang Yan then waved his hand, indicating for him to stay outside. ¡°Qu Xiao! You tricked mom and dad into giving you the household register!¡± ¡°You¡¯re only giving Qu Zhen such a lousy position in the pharmaceutical department? You even got her to move her shop away. Not to mention, you even stole the household register for your enrolment procedures. You¡¯re more cunning and insidious than I imagined! Return the household register to me!¡± Shang Yan gently held Qu Xiao¡¯s hand. He frowned slightly as he sensed that something was wrong. ¡°Enrollment?¡± Seeing this, Shang Liqing quickly handed Qu Xiao¡¯s documents to Shang Yan. She exchanged nces with Qu Qi and spoke in a harsh and provocative tone, ¡°Second brother, didn¡¯t Qu Xiao discuss such an important matter with you?¡± ¡°Going back to school to study is not a big deal, but if she fails the university entrance exam, she will probably attract media coverage!¡± Qu Qi took the opportunity to add on, nodding her head. The corners of her lips curled up into a proud smile. She deliberately ridiculed Qu Xiao in an exaggerated manner, ¡°That¡¯s right! When the timees, everyone in the business circle will know that Qu Xiao is a stupid idiot, so stupid that she can¡¯t even get into university. Shang Yan, you¡¯d better persuade her to give up.¡± Shang Yan got a headache from hearing their voices. He narrowed his eyes fiercely and said, ¡°You can all go back now.¡± Shang Liqing opened her mouth to say a few more words, but she met Shang Yan¡¯s cold eyes. She was so frightened that she hurriedly pulled Qu Qi¡¯s arm and left. The door of the ward closed with a thud. Qu Xiao gently stroked the hem of her dress as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her soft and fair hand rested on Shang Yan¡¯s chest. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? You know that being a third-year transfer student means that we might be often separated.¡± ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t want to be with me so badly?¡± Hearing Shang Yan¡¯s misunderstanding, Qu Xiao sighed lightly as she leaned over, wanting to kiss his thin lips to express her goodwill. However, Shang Yan turned his head and avoided her. His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, revealing his displeased mood. Qu Xiao was helpless. Her eyes were slightly filled with cheeky intentions. Her fingertips gradually moved to Shang Yan¡¯s chest. She unbuttoned his hospital gown and deliberately said in an aggrieved voice, ¡°Shang Xinchen introduced me to a professor in A University who is proficient in traditional Chinese medicine, but he is very picky and is only willing to talk to students who are from A University.¡± ¡°I want to ask him for help to develop a medicine that can treat leg diseases so that you regain the mobility of your legs as soon as possible. Don¡¯t you want that?¡± Qu Xiao nced at Shang Yan¡¯s surprised look from the corner of her eyes. She lowered her eyes and pressed her hand on his lower abdomen. She gently bit her lips and teased him with extremely innocent and pure eyes. Seeing her innocent look, Shang Yan¡¯s breathing quicken. He wanted to grab Qu Xiao¡¯s hand and continue downward, but she dodged. ¡°It¡¯s all for you, but you seem to believe Qu Qi and Shang Liqing¡¯s nder more?¡± Shang Yan shook his head. His throat was hoarse and he wanted to sit up and exin, ¡°I¡¯ll support you. Don¡¯t say such things¡­¡± Qu Xiao used her hand to cover his thin lips and pushed him back onto the hospital bed. Qu Xiao raised a gentle smile. Her eyes flickered with a crafty light, ¡°For not discussing this matter with you, it is indeed my bad. I¡¯ll find a way to make it up to you but let¡¯s not quarrel over misunderstandings in the future. After all, the price we have to pay¡­ is too high.¡± Shang Yan did not have time to answer as he saw Qu Xiao kiss his lips. The two kissed passionately. A crafty smile shed across Qu Xiao¡¯s lips. She opened the man¡¯s hospital gown with one hand and her red lips slowly moved down. She slightly opened her mouth and engulfed his erected stick. ¡°Oh!¡± Shang Yan immediately stiffened. ¡°Don¡¯t move. You¡¯re injured. Let me do it this time.¡± The tip of Qu Xiao¡¯s tongue nimbly licked the head as she held the thickened object with both hands. Shang Yan¡¯s lean waist was taut. He used both hands to support the back of Qu Xiao¡¯s head as he gently straightened it. The scalding, rough, and hard object made Qu Xiao feel a little ufortable. Tears welled up in her eyes as she used her sparkling saliva as a lubricant. This exciting scene made Shang Yan grunt and his movements became even more forceful. Qu Xiao¡¯s teeth rubbed against the veins of Shang Yan¡¯s object. He took a deep breath and bit his thin lips, and his breathing gradually became heavier. Her hands were restless as she rubbed Shang Yan¡¯s extremely sensitive parts. ¡°Xiao, that¡¯s enough.¡± Shang Yan patted Qu Xiao¡¯s hair lightly and wanted to pull her away, but Qu Xiao refused with reddened eyes. Instead, she withdrew her palms and increased the speed of her teasing until Shang Yan could not control himself and left the turbid white liquid in her mouth. Chapter 74 - 4 Grandpa Shang Chapter 74 Grandpa Shang In the hospital ward, the sound of typing on a keyboard could be heard. Shang Yan was handling the group¡¯s affairs and Qu Xiao quietly adjusted the height of his bed. A few days ago, Shang Yan¡¯s attending doctor had said that his recovery was going well, but he still needed to pay attention to his sleep and diet, and not to work too hard and exercise. Buzz¡­ The phone on the coffee table vibrated. When Qu Xiao handed it to Shang Yan, she nced at the screen from the corner of her eye. When she saw the two words ¡®Grandpa Shang¡¯, she became nervous. me nervous. ¡°Hello?¡± Shang Yan asked softly. He closed hisputer and asked, ¡°How are you doing recently?¡± Qu Xiao held a cup of coffee and walked to the balcony. She tried to keep a distance from Shang Yan, but she could not help but perk up her ears to eavesdrop on their conversation. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can visit you for the time being¡­ Bring Xiao with me? Is there something you need?¡± Shang Yan asked with a raised volume, frowning Qu Xiao turned around in a daze and met his gaze. The coffee in the cup rippled slightly, and there was an unconceble panic and helplessness in her eyes. Shang Yan wanted to refuse, but Grandpa Shang was unyielding. ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient for you young people, I¡¯ll go to the hospital myself!¡± He could onlypromise and agree. After hanging up the phone, Shang Yan called Qu Xiao twice before she finally came back to her senses. She dragged her slow and hesitant footsteps to the bedside. She nervously twisted her hands and asked with a frown, ¡°Does Grandpa Shang hate me very much?¡± In the original novel, Qu Xiao and the Shang family¡¯s rtionship was enstranged. The original owner had once deliberately dressed inappropriately to Grandpa Shang¡¯s family banquet to embarrass him. After their marriage, she even used vulgarnguage and behaved very wildly which left the Shang family a very bad impression of her The reason why the Shang family suddenly called them back to the old mansion was definitely because they wanted to find trouble with her for causing Shang Yan¡¯s ident. When Qu Xiao thought about this, her lips gradually turned pale. Shang Yan held her hand and gently patted it twice. His tone was gentle as heforted her, ¡°With me by your side, Grandpa Shang won¡¯t go too far.¡± Qu Xiao lowered her eyes. After a moment of silence, she suddenly raised her eyes. Like a frightened rabbit, she ran in front of the wardrobe and rummaged through it. She anxiously looked at the few pieces of clothes that she had brought over at thest minute and muttered in annoyance, ¡°Should I go back to the vi to look for better clothes?¡± ¡°What type of clothes does Grandpa Shang like? A qipao or an evening gown?¡± Shang Yan saw her flustered appearance and his thin lips curled into a light smile. He sat in the wheelchair and walked to the wardrobe, taking out a in-colored long dress, ¡°I think this one is not bad. It¡¯s elegant and dignified. It¡¯s the type that Grandpa Shang would like.¡± Qu Xiao picked it up and wanted to go next door to try it on. However, Shang Yan tugged at her elbow and whispered with a smile in his eyes, ¡°Why? I¡¯ve seen you naked before. Change here.¡± Qu Xiao pushed his arm away andined, ¡°How can you be joking at a time like this? I¡¯m so nervous!¡± Shang Yan saw her running to the next room in a hurry and rubbed his temple with his hand. After a while, Qu Xiao¡¯s cry for help suddenly came from the next room. ¡°Shang Yan! Come over and help me. The zipper is at the back, I can¡¯t see¡­¡± Shang Yan pushed the door open in his wheelchair. Qu Xiao¡¯s fair and beautiful back came into view. Her long hair fell over one side of her shoulders. She stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror and tried hard to zip her dress. Her clumsy movements made the zipper slide down, revealing her perky buttocks. Shang Yan¡¯s breathing became a little heavy. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Qu Xiao urged him, and Shang Yan moved over slowly. His icy cold fingertips touched her skin, teasing her restlessly. Sensing Shang Yan¡¯s intentions, Qu Xiao turned around and swatted away his naughty hands. ¡°I really want Grandpa Shang to like me. Shang Yan, I¡¯m not in the mood to joke with you.¡± Shang Yan restrained his emotions and helped zip up her dress for her. He instructed Li to pick a few pieces of matching jewelry to send to the hospital. The next morning, Qu Xiao and Shang Yan packed up and took the car sent by Grandpa Shang to the old mansion. The old mansion of the Shang family was located at the top of the mountains. The European style architecture was luxurious. The hundreds of acresnd showcased the wealth of the Shang family. The driver drove Qu Xiao and Shang Yan halfway up the mountain and suddenly stopped. Shang Yan gently patted Qu Xiao¡¯s hand and leaned out to ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The driver ran to the back with an apologetic expression. His gaze swept across Qu Xiao¡¯s body as he answered respectfully, ¡°Young master, the car broke down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that young Madam will have to push you up.¡± The wind halfway up the mountain was very cold. Qu Xiao was wearing a thin dress and was trembling. Shang Yan saw the driver deliberately dying the repair time and immediately understood that all of this was Grandpa Shang¡¯s intention. Grandpa Shang was using this as a way to make things difficult for Qu Xiao. Chapter 75 - Grandpa Shang’s Pressuring Chapter 75 Grandpa Shang¡¯s Pressuring As time passed, Shang Yan¡¯s face became more and more gloomy. He asked in a cold voice, ¡°Is this your attitude towards work?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already been half an hour, and you still can¡¯t see the problem,¡± Shang Yan narrowed his eyes and said indifferently, ¡°We need efficient workers. If you can¡¯t even fix such a simple problem, you should go collect your severance payment!¡± The driver was so frightened that he almost threw the wrench on the ground. He gulped his saliva with a stunned and flustered expression. He was so nervous that he could not speak. Grandpa Shang¡¯s order and Shang Yan¡¯s warning made the driver flustered about what to you ¡°Forget it, Shang Yan, don¡¯t make things difficult for him.¡± Qu Xiao pushed open the car door with a smile on her face. She lifted the hem of her skirt and walked to the driver¡¯s side. She bent down to check where the car had malfunctioned. She spread her hands naturally and took the wrench to turn the screw. She swiftly removed the cover on the surface. ¡°Actually, the two broken wires can be reconnected. However, the car still needs to be sent to the maintenance factory for a thorough check. Otherwise, there may be hidden safety hazards. ¡°Gravel often appears on the road halfway up the mountain and get stuck in the gap between the tires. It¡¯s very normal.¡± Qu Xiao kindly exined for the driver. The driver was shocked and felt a little guilty. This young madam¡­ seemed to be different from before. Qu Xiao tilted her head and pushed Shang Yan back into the car. She let out an inaudible sigh. It seemed that Grandpa Shang was very angry with her. She knew that she had to be mentally prepared for what¡¯s toe. Seeing howte it was, the driver drove them all the way up the mountain without stopping Qu Xiao lowered her head and saw the gasoline stains on the hem of her skirt. She furrowed her eyebrows slightly to hide it and then pushed Shang Yan nervously. In the quiet living room, an old man with grizzled hair sat in the middle. His shrewd eyes sized Qu Xiao up. His entire body exuded a terrifying oppression. Qu Xiao felt that it was hard to breath standing in front of Grandpa Shang. ¡°Grandfather, you look good.¡± Shang Yan greeted him with a smile. He took off his coat and ced it on Qu Xiao¡¯s knee, trying to ease the atmosphere. Qu Xiao maintained a polite smile. She felt that the corners of her mouth were somewhat stiff as she adjusted her posture. She was extremely well-behaved and did not dare to make a sound. Grandpa Shang sized her up and said coldly, ¡°I heard that you¡¯re going back to school?¡± Qu Xiao and Shang Yan raised their eyes in shock when they heard this. The two of them exchanged nces secretly. Neither of them expected that the reason grandfather called them back was actually because she wanted to go back to school! Shang Yan wanted to speak up for Qu Xiao, but Grandpa Shang suddenly knocked on his crutch and interrupted him. ¡°If Liqing didn¡¯te back and mention this to me, how long would you have kept it from me?¡± ¡°Shang Yan! Do you not take me seriously anymore? Such an important decision¡­ Don¡¯t you even bother asking me about my thoughts?¡± Grandpa Shang lectured him in a high-pitched voice. It looked like he was lecturing Shang Yan, but he was clearly ming Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao lowered her eyes nervously and felt her throat dry. She mustered up the courage to look up at Grandpa Shang and said in a tight voice, ¡°Grandfather, it¡¯s my fault for not discussing with you about wanting to start study again. Shang Yan only found out about it not long ago, please don¡¯t me him.¡± ¡°In the past, for reasons, I stopped studying. This has always been a regret in my heart.¡± ¡°Throughout my days with Shang Yan, I increasingly understood the importance of knowledge.¡± ¡°I want to improve my academic qualifications. I hope that you can support me.¡± Qu Xiao put on an extremely respective posture. She even wore a fawning smile as she nervously waited for Grandpa Shang¡¯s reply. Grandpa Shang frowned as he looked at her. He felt that Qu Xiao was not quite the same as before, but he still vetoed it with prejudice in his heart. ¡°No!¡± ¡°The Shang family¡¯s daughter-inw¡¯s only role is to stay at home and take care of Shang Yan. What¡¯s the point of going back to school?¡± ¡°If you really want to learn something, I can find a teacher to teach you at home!¡± Grandpa Shang was stubborn and refused to give in to Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao lowered her head and did not answer for a long time. When Grandpa Shang thought that she had made apromise and wanted to invite the two of them to a restaurant for dinner, Qu Xiao suddenly looked up and said in a firm tone, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m sorry, I will have to disobey you. The enrollment procedures have beenpleted, I must go back.¡± ¡°How dare you! What right do you have to go against my wishes?¡± Grandpa Shang was so angry that he started coughing. He pushed away the butler who had rushed over and pointed at Qu Xiao, ¡°Which school dares to take you in?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask the principal to expel you!¡± Grandpa Shang red at Shang Yan and said in a cold voice, ¡°Or, there¡¯s another way. You can divorce Shang Yan¡­¡± ¡°As long as you are not Shang Yan¡¯s wife, I don¡¯t care if you want to study or work.¡± Chapter 76 - Buried Deep in His Heart Chapter 76 Buried Deep in His Heart The atmosphere in the living room became more and more serious. Shang Yan¡¯s expression was unsightly. He tried hard to suppress his emotions and wanted to rebuke Grandpa Shang, but Qu Xiao pressed on his hand and told him not to speak. After all, Shang Yan was Grandpa Shang¡¯s biological grandson. If he chose to defend her now and go against Grandpa Shang, it would only make the situation worse. Qu Xiao thought for a moment, then stood up with a sincere expression and walked in front of Grandpa Shang. She sped her hands together and ced them in front of her. She said respectfully, ¡°Grandpa Shang, I will not divorce Shang Yan. I have indeed done many wrong things in the past that affected the Shang family and your reputation. I apologize to you.¡± ¡°But I cannot agree to the two things discussed today.¡± Seeing Qu Xiao¡¯s attitude, Grandpa Shang was so angry that he called the butler to bring over the whip. The barbed vines were about tond on Qu Xiao¡¯s back. At this moment, Shang Yan grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s arm and hugged her in his arms. Pa! The soft whip hit Shang Yan¡¯s body heavily. He groaned in pain and hugged Qu Xiao tightly. Grandpa Shang did not expect him to run out. His eyes were filled with heartache as he yelled, ¡°Why did you help her block it? Go get the doctor!¡± Shang Yan looked up at the butler and shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were red. She was frightened and worried as she tugged at the hem of his clothes. She asked anxiously, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Shang Yan gently stroked her cheek and shook his head to reveal a smile. Then, he turned to look at Grandpa Shang and said, ¡°Grandfather, Qu Xiao wants to return to school because of me. She wants to get into A University so that she can help treat my leg disease. You shouldn¡¯t treat her like this.¡± Grandpa Shang was stunned. He sized up Qu Xiao. At this moment, her face was filled with anxiety and worry that could not be faked. ¡°All these years, you¡¯ve helped me find many doctors and specialists to treat me, but none of them were able to help me regain the mobility of my legs.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to make you worry, so I pretended to be indifferent. I¡¯ve often told you that I don¡¯t mind being in a wheelchair forever, that I didn¡¯t care. But in reality, I care a lot! I also want to be able to stand up again¡­¡± A crack appeared on Shang Yan¡¯s usually calm andposed face as he continued speaking with a slightly trembling voice, ¡°On the surface, the shareholders and directors of the group seem to be very respectful to me, but in private, they secretly gossip about my legs and call me a cripple.¡± ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m just pretending not to know! I don¡¯t want to make my family feel bad for me.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Grandpa Shang and said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve tried countless times to to be able to stand up again, but I always failed.¡± ¡°It was Qu Xiao who gave me back some hope. She desperately looked for all kinds of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions and methods to help me. She even helped me with acupuncture. Some time ago, I felt something in my legs. Even if it was just a little bit, I was so excited!¡± Shang Yan paused for a moment, then he smiled bitterly and raised his thin lips, ¡°Grandfather, I have never begged you before.¡± ¡°But this time, even if it¡¯s for me, can you let Qu Xiao do what she wants to do?¡± Shang Yan was the Shang family¡¯s most outstanding heir. Whether it was his business mindset or problem-solving skills, Grandpa Shang was proud of him. The ident many years ago had caused Shang Yan topletely seal his heart. He had never been willing to show weakness to outsiders. No one had expected that today, he would be willing to talk about the pain that he had buried for so long for Qu Xiao in front of Grandpa Shang. Grandpa Shang no longer resisted. He waved his hand and said in an extremely soft voice, ¡°You two can go.¡± Qu Xiao stood rooted to the ground in a daze. She only regained her senses when Shang Yan held her hand. On the way home, Qu Xiao bit her red lips silently. Seeing her scared expression, he poked her cheek with his finger and asked softly, ¡°Scared?¡± Qu Xiao shook her head, feeling depressed. She leaned her head on Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder and fiddled with his fingertips uneasily, muttering weakly, ¡°I originally wanted to express my goodwill to grandfather so that he would like me. But I seem to have made things worse. This time, grandfather will probably hate me, hate me for making his favorite grandson speak up against him.¡± When Shang Yan heard her words, his eyes were cold as he ruffled her hair. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t have to please anyone on purpose. As long as I like you, it¡¯s enough.¡± Shang Yan leaned over and nted a kiss on Qu Xiao¡¯s forehead. He curled his thin lips and looked out of the window. Chapter 77 - Physical Strength

Chapter 77: Physical Strength

At 10 o¡¯clock at night, Shang Yan would look up from time to time in the direction of the courtyard, waiting for Qu Xiao to return. As school was about to start, Qu Xiao had to go through all sorts of procedures. She rarely had the chance to apany Shang Yan, who was seriously injured and had yet to fully recover, at home. Shang Liqing did not want to be nagged at home, so she came to Shang Yan¡¯s vi. She sat on the sofa with a fashion magazine in her hand, flipping through it. She followed Shang Yan¡¯s line of sight and said in a teasing tone, ¡°Second brother, Qu Xiao has totally forgotten about you! What are you going to do when school starts? Qu Qi¡¯s school has a lot of handsome guys with nice bodies!¡± ¡°Compared to you, their younger bodies are nicer.¡± Shang Liqing ridiculed without holding back, ¡°Let me remind you, Qu Xiao is pretty good-looking. There will definitely be a lot of boys pursuing her in school. When she cheats on you at school, it will be toote to regret letting her go back to school.¡± A cold glint shed across Shang Yan¡¯s eyes. He frowned as he stared at Shang Liqing and squeezed out a few words from between his teeth, ¡°Do you have nothing better to do?¡± ¡°Hurry up and go home. Don¡¯t keeping to me!¡± Shang Liqing used her hands to pull a grimace at the end of her eyes. Her lips curled as she threw down the magazine before leaving the vi without looking back. Late at night, Qu Xiao sat on the bed with herputer in her hands. She browsed the school¡¯s official website, wanting to learn more about the school. This school was an elite school. Apart from basic subjects, there were also plenty of extracurricr activities. Every week, not only would there be sports games and various sportspetitions, but there would also be interest sses. For example, students who liked chemistry would have the opportunity to go to the manufacturing workshops of top pharmaceuticalpanies to learn about their machine operation. Qu Xiao browsed the website with satisfaction. A few pictures of boys ying basketball popped up on the screen. The young boys were sweating profusely and taking off their jerseys to expose their abs. Their tanned skin and bright smiles made Qu Xiao uncontrobly take a few more nces. Pa! The pair ofrge hands that stretched out from the side suddenly closed theputer. Shang Yan directly threw theputer under the bed. A strong jealousy shed across his eyes. He frowned and stared at Qu Xiao as he asked, ¡°You like to see stuff like this? I think you should consider changing to another school, such as a girls¡¯ school!¡± Qu Xiao blinked her eyes. It took her a few seconds to figure out why Shang Yan was angry. She tilted her head and smiled. She raised her hand and hooked it around Shang Yan¡¯s neck. She used her red lips to rub against his tall nose bridge as she said ambiguously.., ¡°Of course! The boys in the school are all very young and good-looking...¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Before Qu Xiao could finish her sentence, Shang Yan used his hand to grab her neck and leaned over to kiss her. The kiss with resentment was passionate and lingering. Shang Yan kissed her aggressively. Qu Xiao passively endured it and nestled in his arms, unable to breathe. Shang Yan bit Qu Xiao¡¯s lips heavily as if he was punishing her. Hearing her whimper, he finally let her go. ¡°What? Am I not strong enough to satisfy you?¡± Shang Yan used his thumb to press against Qu Xiao¡¯s lips. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were filled with seduction as she opened her mouth and held his fingertip. She used her tongue to lick it gently as she replied in a muffled voice, ¡°I kind of forgot. CEO Shang, why don¡¯t you prove to me that you¡¯re still very...¡± Before she could say the word ¡®young¡¯, Qu Xiao could feel Shang Yan¡¯s possessive desire to go further. Qu Xiao used her fingertips to circle Shang Yan¡¯s chest. She used the tip of her tongue to curl Shang Yan¡¯s adam¡¯s apple and conveniently sat on his waist. Her perky buttocks rubbed against the hard object that was erect. Shang Yan seemed to be somewhat anxious as he pressed against Qu Xiao¡¯s buttocks, separated her legs, and directly pushed his erect object into her. He skillfully found Qu Xiao¡¯s sensitive parts and deliberately used force to repeatedly collide... ¡°Stop, slow down.¡± Qu Xiao hugged Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder and leaned her body close to him. She raised her head and panted. Shang Yan was not as gentle as he used to be. He hugged Qu Xiao¡¯s legs and pushed his crotch with all his might. The room was filled with lewd sounds. Qu Xiao finally could not hold it in and cried out. She lowered her head and bit Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder, finally climaxing. The next morning, Qu Xiao opened her eyes, aching all over. When she saw that Shang Yan had already changed his clothes, shezily sat up. Shang Yan looked at her and said, ¡°There are some things that I need to deal with in thepany, so I won¡¯t be able to send you to school.¡± ¡°Call me if you encounter any problems.¡± Shang Yan held her face and kissed her lips affectionately before leaving. Although Qu Xiao was a little disappointed, she quickly picked herself up and finished her breakfast. She brought the documents that she had prepared beforehand and set off for school. However, she did not notice that there was a car that kept a short distance from her. Chapter 78 - 8 New Student Starting School Chapter 78 New Student Starting School At the school gate, a Mercedes-Benz car was parked across the road. Through the peep-proof brown ss, Shang Yan¡¯s gaze was gentle as he watched Qu Xiao follow the dean of the Academic Affairs Office to the teaching building. When she walked out of his sight, he retracted his gaze and instructed the driver, ¡°Go to thepany.¡± ¡°CEO Shang, you arranged for Li to decline the group¡¯s weekly meeting. Why didn¡¯t you personally send Madam to school?¡± ¡°She would definitely want you to apany her.¡± The driver looked at Shang Yan in the rearview mirror and asked with some confusion. However, he quickly realized that he was speaking carelessly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, CEO Shang. I didn¡¯t mean to pry into your privacy.¡± Shang Yan flipped through the documents on the tablet and replied calmly, ¡°Because I don¡¯t like to say goodbye.¡± He hated the atmosphere of separation. Thus, he decide not to send her to school. In the principal¡¯s office, Qu Xiao sat in front of him. The principal could not help but put on a distressed expression as he flipped through the previous years¡¯ report cards that she had handed over. ¡°Qu Xiao, you should know that our school has a requirement for the students¡¯ grades. You really¡­¡± The principal used his fingertips to poke at the few failed courses on the report card. He was deliberating on his words, trying to persuade her to reconsider studying at the school. Qu Xiao¡¯s admission was handled by Shang Xinchen. The school did not know that she was Shang Yan¡¯s wife. They only thought that she was an ordinary female student who had used her connections to get into the school, and that naturally, she was not studious. The principal coughed lightly and said, ¡°I think you should think about it again. Otherwise, it will very likely affect our enrollment rate.¡± Qu Xiao raised her head and looked at him with a cold expression. ¡°ording to the enrollment procedure, I have already been epted by the school and I have also already gone through all required procedures. There shouldn¡¯t be any reasonable reason to reject my admission, right?¡± ¡°Schools are ces for education. Schools should treat every student fairly and not be biased.¡± ¡°Even if my grades aren¡¯t ideal, I still have the right to study. If you want to reject my application, I might have toin to the relevant departments and request for legal assistance.¡± ¡°You probably don¡¯t want this to be a big situation and have the school¡¯s reputation affected, right?¡± Qu Xiao was extremely overbearing. The sound of apuse suddenly came from the quiet room. The two of them looked in the direction of the sound at the same time. Qu Xiao was surprised to see a familiar face. ¡°Miss Zhang?¡± Miss Zhang held a document and handed it to the principal. She looked at Qu Xiao with admiration in her eyes and immediately said to the principal, ¡®This student will be in my ss, right? I assure you that her grades will not affect the school¡¯s reputation and year-end assessment.¡± The principal was speechless. He waved his hand in agreement in an extremely perfunctory manner. Qu Xiao followed Miss Zhang out of the principal¡¯s office. She wanted to thank her, but she heard her say, ¡°I¡¯m very happy to see you back on campus.¡± ¡°You were totally right just now! You are very smart. As long as you work hard, you will be able to get good results. Although the third year will be very hard, I will do my best to help you. You don¡¯t need to feel inferior. A bad result is not something to be ashamed of.¡± Miss Zhang patted Qu Xiao¡¯s shoulder lightly. ¡°You can do it!¡± Qu Xiao nced at the hand that was pressing on her shoulder and exined awkwardly, ¡°That¡¯s not my real grade¡­¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Miss Zhang obviously didn¡¯t believe her, but she gave her aforting look and pushed open the ssroom door, ¡°Be quiet for a moment. Let me introduce to everyone the ssmate who has just transferred to our ss this semester, Qu Xiao.¡± The originally noisy ssroom suddenly quieted down. All the students¡¯ gazes were focused on Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao was bright and beautiful. The male students¡¯ gazes were all glued to her graceful figure. The female students were instead whispering amongst themselves, ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful!¡± ¡°She looks a little like Qu Qi, but her figure is better than Qu Qi¡¯s. Are they sisters?¡± When Qu Qi heard their discussion, she felt that the attention and halo that originally belonged to her had shifted to Qu Xiao. She looked at Qu Xiao with increasing hatred. Chapter 79 - New Student Reporting Chapter 79 New Student Reporting In the ssroom, Qu Xiao stood calmly on the podium. Under the scrutinizing gazes of her ssmates, she was filled with confidence. ¡°Hello, everyone. I hope we can all be good friends.¡± Qu Qi, who was sitting in the front row, stared at her with jealousy and hatred as she forcefully broke the pencil in her hands. Qu Qi suddenly said sarcastically, ¡°The student quota at our school is extremely limited. Students have gone through continuous screening tests and selections to enter. The only reason you were able to transfer to our school is because of your connections, right?¡± When the students heard Qu Qi¡¯s words, they all looked at Qu Xiao. Qu Qi smirked as she stood up with her hands on the desk. She was particrly aggressive toward Qu Xiao, ¡°You¡¯re so old. You can just go to university. Why are you so stubborn that you have to return to high school?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you already married? Didn¡¯t you sell yourself to your husband¡¯s family?¡± As soon as Qu Qi finished speaking, the male students in the ssroom who were interested in Qu Xiao turned gloomy and disdainful. The female students lowered their voices and started gossiping about Qu Xiao. They even began to nder her as a street girl. All kinds of unpleasant words were thrown around. Qu Xiao still stood quietly in front and looked at Qu Qi with contempt, as if she was mocking her childishness. Qu Qi continued to say angrily, ¡°I heard that your husband is disabled? He can¡¯t even stand up!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so young, but you¡¯re already willing to sell yourself for money. It¡¯s embarrassing to be ssmates with you.¡± Qu Qi wanted to rally her fellow ssmates who soon startedughing at Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao lowered her eyes for a long while before a smile suddenly appeared on her face. The Sun happened to shine through the window andnded on the side of her face. The noisy ssroom instantly quieted down as everyone admired Qu Xiao¡¯s beauty. Qu Xiao looked at Qu Qi. Since Qu Qi openly mocked her, why shouldn¡¯t she do the same? ¡°Qu Qi, I know you hate me, but you don¡¯t have to nder me like this. No matter what, I¡¯m still your sister.¡± After Qu Xiao said that, all eyes fell on Qu Qi. Qu Qi¡¯s face turned pale instantly. She clenched her fists, stood up abruptly, kicked the chair away, and shouted, ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°Back then, our family wanted you or Qu Zhen to marry him. It was your mother who forced me to marry the one whom you call a cripple on behalf of you.¡± ¡°He treats me very well, and I¡¯ve never brought up all the bad things you¡¯ve done to me. I just wanted to be able to continue my studies. You can¡¯t even support me? Qu Qi, I¡¯ve never thought of fighting with you for anything!¡± Qu Xiao deliberately put on an aggrieved look as she spoke with a sobbing tone. Her reddened eyes instantly aroused the desire of the male students to protect her. Qu Qi was usually arrogant and domineering in school because of her family background. Naturally, there were many girls who hated her. At this moment, a group of girls stood by Qu Xiao¡¯s side and supported her. ¡°Qu Qi! I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a heartless person! You even ndered your own sister?¡± ¡°You seriously tried to manipte us into isting Qu Xiao?¡± ¡°We won¡¯t listen to your instigation, Qu Xiao! We wee you¡­¡± With just a few words, Qu Xiao instantly won the battle. She fiddled with the strands of hair on her forehead and threw a provocative look at Qu Qi. During self-study time, Qu Xiao looked around the ssroom and saw an empty seat in the corner of thest row. She carried her bag and walked over. Seeing her actions, the students held their breaths and did not dare to speak. Qu Qi, on the other hand, chuckled. She crossed her arms and waited to see what was going to happen. In the corner of thest row, a boy wearing a white shirt was sleeping on his desk. His facial features were beautiful and he was very handsome. The name ¡°Zhou Ce¡± was written on his book. Qu Xiao suddenly recalled the school bully whom Miss Zhang had mentioned to her. She said not to provoke him. Qu Xiao naturally pulled out a chair. When she wanted to sit down, she saw a few students who looked like thugs walking over and surrounding her. ¡°Neer, you can¡¯t sit here!¡± ¡°You should sit somewhere else. Our boss doesn¡¯t like to sit with others!¡± The boy raised his chin, his entire body exuding a ruffian aura. Qu Xiao raised her eyes and nced at the namete on his chest. Her voice was extremely light as she said, ¡°Yao En? Excuse me, please make way.¡± ¡°You¡¯re blocking me.¡± After Qu Xiao said that, she directly sat down. She had no intention of sitting somewhere else. Chapter 80 - Encirclement Outside the School

Chapter 80: Encirclement Outside the School

In this school, the students were all afraid of the group of problematic youths led by Zhou Ce. Yao En often bullied female students, but he had never met a girl as bold as Qu Xiao. He was stunned for a moment, then awkwardly coughed twice. He took Qu Xiao¡¯s school bag and threw it on the ground, using his foot to stomp on it twice. A clear footprint of a shoe stained the school bag. Qu Xiao quietly tidied up her books and ignored him. The gazes of the surrounding students made Yao En feel a little embarrassed. He was so angry that he grabbed the book in Qu Xiao¡¯s hand and tore it in half before throwing it into the trash can. He wanted to use this to warn Qu Xiao not to continue provoking him! Qu Xiao lifted her eyes indifferently. It was as if all of Yao En¡¯s actions were child¡¯s y. ¡°It¡¯s almost time for ss.¡± Yao En gritted his teeth, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. He raised his hand, wanting to pull Qu Xiao¡¯s hair. In the next second, Qu Xiao mmed the desk and stood up. Her movements were valiant as she pressed Yao En¡¯s head tightly against the desk. With a loud thud, everyone¡¯s hearts trembled in fear! To Yao En¡¯s surprise, he realized that his strength was actually inferior to Qu Xiao¡¯s! ¡°What are you shouting for!¡± Their violent movements caused the desks to collide. Zhou Ce sat up with a frown, dissatisfaction shing across his handsome eyes. Qu Xiao looked at his beautiful eyes and thought that he did not seem as bad as Miss Zhang had described. At the very least, he was different from a stupid head like Yao En. She opened her mouth to greet Zhou Ce and introduce herself. The teacher walked in from outside the door and suddenly knocked on the ckboard. ¡°ss! All of you, return to your seats.¡± Qu Xiao released her hand. Yao En¡¯s face was flushed red. He raised his middle finger resentfully and said, ¡°I will deal with you after school!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fight with you outside the school!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be a coward!¡± Yao En said fiercely, but Qu Xiao looked at the ckboard quietly and didn¡¯t pay attention to his deration of challenge. During the break, Qu Xiao tidied her textbooks. From the corner of her eye, she saw Zhou Ce randomly picking two books and stuffing them into his bag. He then carried his bag on his shoulders elegantly and swaggered out of the ssroom. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Qu Xiao asked in confusion. Zhou Ce nced back at her expressionlessly, ¡°Skipping ss.¡± The students of this aristocratic school were really arrogant and unruly. Qu Xiao muttered in her heart and immediately immersed herself in her studies. At the end of the school day, Qu Xiao had written down her list of homework and was ready to get up and walk towards the ssroom door. Qu Qi suddenly blocked her in front of her and deliberately said in a loud voice, ¡°Are you going home? Didn¡¯t Yao En ask you to meet outside the school?¡± ¡°Are you afraid? It¡¯s not embarrassing to say that you¡¯re afraid, but don¡¯t act so high and mighty next time! It makes people feel annoyed just by looking at you.¡± The other students in the ss pricked up their ears when they heard Qu Qi¡¯s words. The heavy academic life was suffocating them. Listening to gossip and drama was one way for them to relieve their stress. Qu Xiao raised her hand and gently patted Qu Qi¡¯s arm that was blocking her way. She nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want to cause trouble.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ept his proposal to fight. Why do I have to go?¡± ¡°If you want to fight with Yao En, you can go look for him outside the school... No one will stop you.¡± Qu Xiao tilted her head and smiled sweetly. Then, she pushed her away and left directly. Pfft... It was unknown who in the ssroom could not hold back theirughter. Qu Qi was so angry that she stomped her feet. She turned around and red fiercely at the few female students. She threatened them fiercely, ¡°What are youughing at?¡± The female ssmates shook their heads and imitated Qu Xiao, ignoring her directly. The hatred in Qu Qi¡¯s heart grew stronger. At the school gate, Qu Xiao walked to a corner with her schoolbag on her back. Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed her schoolbag and pulled her into a remote alley. Yao En held a brick with one hand and fiddled with a few strands of his dyed yellow hair. He said in a frivolous tone, ¡°Aren¡¯t you very brave? Why are you so scared that you want to run away?¡± ¡°If you obediently apologize to me and call me ¡®Grandpa¡± three more times, I¡¯ll let you go!¡± Qu Xiao looked at his crazily shaking feet and couldn¡¯t help but smile as she said, ¡°You¡¯d better watch some of the recent Underworld movies. Your threats are very old-school. They¡¯re not scary...¡± ¡°Also, as a student, you should study hard. You¡¯ll regret everything you are doing now in the future.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s words stunned Yao En. He was so surprised that he forgot that he was still chewing gum in his mouth and gulped it down. Chapter 81 - Group Fight

Chapter 81: Group Fight

On the low wall of the alley beside them, sparrows flew away in groups as if they had been frightened. Zhou Ce threw his backpack onto a rock and squatted on the low wall. His gaze was fixed on Yao En and Qu Xiao who were not far away. Zhou Ce¡¯sckey beside him noticed that he seemed to be very interested in them. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°Boss, do you want to go over?¡± ¡°Yao En never thinks about the consequences. The newly transferred girl seems toe from a powerful family. If she were to really get hurt, they would definitely do something to Yao En! Let¡¯s not let him be impulsive...¡± Hisckey was very worried, but Zhou Ce waved his hand and told him to shut up. They were very far away. Although Zhou Ce couldn¡¯t hear their conversation clearly, he could see Yao En¡¯s embarrassment through their bodynguage. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate her. She¡¯s not like other girls.¡± ¡°Yao En might not be able to beat her.¡± Zhou Ce¡¯s vision was very good. Although hisckey didn¡¯t dare to question him, he still stared at the entrance of the alley with some worry. Yao En blocked Qu Xiao¡¯s path arrogantly. Qu Xiao helplessly looked at the gradually darkening sky. She wanted to deal with this matter as quickly as possible. She was just about to take off her school bag and ept Yao En¡¯s challenge when suddenly, the sound of footsteps appeared behind her. ¡°Yao en! You brat, I¡¯ve finally caught you! So you¡¯ve been hiding here!¡± The gangsters from the school next door held baseball bats and blocked the entrance of the alley. They pointed at Yao En and said, ¡°How dare you run away after stealing our territoryst time? Be prepared to die!¡± Yao En frowned. At this moment, with the conscience that he had, he protected Qu Xiao by keeping her behind him and said in a somewhat tense voice, ¡°This is between us. This has nothing to do with her. Can you let her go first?¡± Qu Xiao looked at Yao En¡¯s back and then looked at the gangsters. She rubbed her temples with a headache. ¡°Are you really trying to reason with them?¡± Although she did not know what had happened between them, Yao En¡¯s words basically tied him and Qu Xiao together. The gangsters from the school next door obviously thought that Qu Xiao was Yao En¡¯s friend, so of course they did not agree to let her go. They encircled the two of them and approached them step by step, their eyes revealing a fierce look. ¡°You want to leave? In your dreams! Neither of you can escape!¡± Qu Xiao was helpless. She pulled off the tie of her school uniform and wrapped it around her wrist. She asked softly, ¡°How many of them can you take on?¡± Yao En looked at the group of people and answered with a frown, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ll distract them,ter you can take the opportunity to run!¡± Seeming them whispering, the gangsters waved their hands, rushing over at the same time. Qu Xiao stepped on the brick wall of the alley and swiftly strangled one of the gangster¡¯s neck, throwing him to the ground. Yao En did not expect her to have such good fighting skills. Just when he got distracted, a few of the gangsters wanted to sneak up on him from behind. Qu Xiao saw them and bent down to pick up the gravel on the ground and throw it at them. Yao En was so scared that he closed his eyes tightly. The next second, he heard a wailing from behind him. Only then did he realize what had happened. Yao En said with a somewhat awkward expression, ¡°Thank you.¡± The gangsters hit Yao En¡¯s shoulder with baseball bats. He endured the pain and turned around to kick their chests, knocking over a few of them. Qu Xiao¡¯s physical strength started declining. It was impossible for her and Yao En to deal with all the gangsters. ¡°We need to go now! Hurry up, run...¡± She shouted loudly and grabbed Yao En¡¯s arm to run away from the gangsters. Without turning her head, she frantically ran for her life. The whistling sound of the wind blew against her ears. Yao En¡¯s entire body was covered in sweat. The two of them ran a few kilometers until theypletely shook off the gangsters. Only then did they finally stop. Qu Xiao propped her knees up and took a deep breath. Yao En wiped off the blood at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Thank you for today. I guess we got to know each other a little better through fighting those gangsters.¡± Yao En¡¯s voice was hoarse as he spoke, ¡°It¡¯s very difficult to blend into an aristocratic school. You should be more careful in the future. If anyone wants to be friends with you, be more vignt against them. Although you¡¯re quite good at fighting, some things are hard to guard against.¡± After this sudden group fight, Yao En and Qu Xiao¡¯s rtionship seemed to have improved somewhat. Qu Xiao nodded and looked at the setting sun as she anxiously prepared to go home. Yao En looked at her back and seemed to have thought of something as he called out to her, ¡°Also, you¡¯d better not provoke Zhou Ce...¡± ¡°He¡¯s very powerful. If you get marked by him, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes curved as she tilted her head and thought carefully for a while. Then, she replied with a smile, ¡°Thank you for the reminder.¡± ¡°I have a way of dealing with bad people. Don¡¯t worry! You, on the other hand, be careful when you go back. Don¡¯t run into them again.¡± Qu Xiao gradually walked away. She raised her arm high and waved her hand. Her voice carried a straightforward smile as she said, ¡°See you at school tomorrow!¡± Chapter 82 - Making Love in the Bathroom

Chapter 82: Making Love in the Bathroom

In the Shang family¡¯s vi, the dining table was filled with warm dishes. Dong! Qu Xiao had just came home when she heard the sound of the door closing on the second floor. She raised her head and looked over. She saw the lighting from the bedroom door. Qu Xiao rubbed the tip of her nose in confusion and ced her school bag at the door. When the butler saw that she had returned, he hurriedly ran over and exined softly, ¡°CEO Shang has been waiting for you for a long time. He even asked us to warm up the dishes two or three times so that you could eat the hot dishes when you came back.¡± ¡°He is very worried about you.¡± The butler¡¯s words made Qu Xiao feel a surge of warmth in her heart. She nodded as she walked to the second floor and gently pushed the door open. Shang Yan sat in front of the desk with his back facing her, as if he was dealing with thepany¡¯s affairs. The few documents in theputer did not seem to be documents that needed Shang Yan¡¯s approval. Shang Yan was obviously just pretending, waiting for her to start the conversation. Qu Xiao hugged Shang Yan¡¯s waist from behind and rested her chin gently on his shoulder as she said in a muffled voice, ¡°I just started school. There are many things that I need to get used to, which is why I¡¯m a littlete. This won¡¯t happen again!¡± When Shang Yan heard her words, the frost on his face seemed to have melted a little. Qu Xiao got up and went to the bathroom. She filled the bathtub with warm water and immediately threw in the Chinese medicine that she had prepared beforehand. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s time for your medicinal bath today.¡± Qu Xiao pushed Shang Yan to the bathroom and helped him sit on the edge of the bathtub. She naturally rolled up her sleeves and helped him massage his legs. Shang Yan looked at her quietly. The strands of hair between Qu Xiao¡¯s temples fell down and covered her fair and pretty face. When Qu Xiao bent down, her soft and full breasts were exposed. Shang Yan¡¯s body immediately started to heat up, and hot sweat was slowly flowing out. Qu Xiao thought that the medicinal bath was effective. She turned around and took out the acupuncture bag that contained silver needles. She skillfully took out a few silver needles and inserted them into the acupuncture points on Shang Yan¡¯s legs. She did not hesitate to insert the needles. It was as if she had practiced it hundreds of times. ¡°When did you learn acupuncture? I remember that you didn¡¯t seem to know much about Chinese medicine in the past.¡± Shang Yan thought that it was a little strange and asked her. Qu Xiao¡¯s movements paused, then she raised her head and answered with a smile, ¡°I have always been very interested in Chinese medicine, but in the past, I thought that I wasn¡¯t very qualified since I was self-taught. I didn¡¯t dare to showcase my skills. I was afraid that you would despise andugh at me.¡± ¡°But now, I want to cure you, so I have to try no matter what.¡± Qu Xiao said naturally. Shang Yan kept feeling that something was wrong and wanted to continue asking, but the woman in front of him leaned over and kissed his thin lips, stopping him from speaking. The steam in the bathroom rose. Qu Xiao¡¯s hands and feet slid to Shang Yan¡¯s chest somewhat suggestively. Her fingertips were nimble as she tried to undo the buttons on his shirt. Shang Yan narrowed his eyes as he held her wrist, wanting to reject her. Qu Xiao¡¯s red lips curled into a teasing arc. She used her hand to tug at the hem of Shang Yan¡¯s shirt and ced her hand in the bathtub, stirring up ripples of water. The water sshed onto Shang Yan¡¯s shirt, and the thin cloth instantly stuck tightly to his body. Shang Yan¡¯s firm abdominal muscles were revealed, and Qu Xiao nced at his hard object. ¡°You seem to be angry with me, but your body is telling me otherwise.¡± Qu Xiao deliberately said nonsense. She twisted her waist and took off her outer robe. her ckce bra made her skin look even fairer. Because of how sexually aroused she was, Qu Xiao¡¯s skin blushed. Shang Yan couldn¡¯t help but gulp. Hisrge palmnded on Qu Xiao¡¯s slender waist, slowly reaching down to the area between her legs. His palm was pressed against the warm and humid area, and his index finger was fidgeting restlessly, Qu Xiao was tickled by his actions as she raised her neck and softly moaned. Shang Yan seemed to be in an ufortable position, so Qu Xiao took the opportunity to sit on his body with her knees bent. Shang Yan gazed at her soft and plump breasts. He leaned over to hold the soft flesh, and the tip of his tongue freely circled around the scarlet bud. The numbing sensation made Qu Xiao curl her toes. She used her hand to caress Shang Yan¡¯s vigorous hard object, and took the initiative to ce it between her legs. As Shang Yan¡¯s hard object entered her body, he could feel the tunnel contracting in waves, sucking his hard object deeper into it. ¡°Move it a little...¡± Qu Xiao panted unbearably. She acted coquettishly as she shook her perky buttocks, inviting him unhappily. Shang Yan deliberately did not move. He watched Qu Xiao anxiously twist her waist and slowly shake her buttocks, enjoying the ride. Finally, he could not resist anymore. He grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s buttocks with both hands and they collided violently. In the bathroom mirror, two shirtless people hugged each other tightly, forgetting about everything around them. Chapter 83 - Playboy

Chapter 83: yboy

The next morning, the atmosphere in the ssroom was somewhat abnormal. When the students heard that there had been a group fight outside the schoolst night, they subconsciously thought of Qu Xiao and Yao En. They secretly turned their heads to look at Qu Xiao before their gazes fell on Yao En. They thought that the atmosphere between the both of them seemed strange. ¡°What are you guys looking at? You¡¯re disturbing my sleep!¡± Yao En noticed the gazes around him. He flipped open his book and threw it fiercely at a male student, which intimidated everyone. A female student picked up a book to cover her face. She hid under the desk and discussed softly, ¡°I heard that Yao En was not able to hit Qu Xiao. Do you guys think that Zhou Ce will step forward to deal with her? After all, Yao En is Zhou Ce¡¯s follower. He will probably help him out.¡± ¡°But Zhou Ce has never hit a woman before. Could Qu Xiao be the first?¡± The male students quickly joined the discussion. The atmosphere in the ss gradually became lively. Some students even secretly ced bets to predict whether Zhou Ce and Qu Xiao would fight! The bets quickly soared to a few thousand yuan. Everyone was very enthusiastic. Bang! The sound of a door being kicked came from the ssroom door. Zhou Ce walked into the ssroom with his school bag slung across his shoulder. Everyone held their breaths as they looked at him. Qu Xiao naturally tidied up her desk. Zhou Ce walked around her, pulled out a chair, and sat beside her. He hung his school bag at the corner of the desk andy down to sleep without saying a word. The students all widened their eyes and were filled with confusion. Why did Zhou Ce not do anything to Qu Xiao? Why did Zhou Ce and Qu Xiao seem to have no problems with each other? After chemistry ss ended, there was a break between sses. Qu Xiao had originally wanted to reconfigure the prescription for Shang Yan¡¯s medicinal bath. The screams and discussions of the female students around her made her raise her head somewhat strangely. Following everyone¡¯s fervent gazes, Qu Xiao saw a boy standing at the ss entrance. His school uniform shirt had two buttons left unbuttoned. There was a tear mole under his peachy eyes, and his entire body exuded the aura of a yboy. Zhan Rui enjoyed the adoring gazes of the girls as he walked straight into the ssroom. Qu Xiao remembered that he was from the ss next door. She did not know why Zhan Rui hade to their ss, nor was she curious. On the other hand, the girl next to Qu Qi covered her mouth in excitement. ¡°Zhan Rui is looking for you again!¡± ¡°Qi Qi, he has been chasing you for such a long time. Why haven¡¯t you epted him yet?¡± ¡°Zhan Rui is the best guy in our school, second only to Zhou Ce. We are all touch by his persistence in chasing after you.¡± Qu Qi stared at Zhan Rui proudly and said a little arrogantly, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. The two of us are just ordinary friends.¡± The female students jeered enviously. ¡°Would a friend send you milk and flowers every day?¡± ¡°We¡¯d also like such friends!¡± They teased Qu Qi. The young girls did not hide their desire for love at all. Qu Xiao¡¯s hearing was very good. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. She did not expect that yboys would like girls like Qu Qi. Qu Qi could not hide the joy in her heart. She fiddled with her hair and looked at Zhan Rui silently. She said in a coquettish tone, ¡°Why are you here again?¡± It would be a lie if she said that Zhan Rui did not contribute to her pride at all But this time, Zhan Rui did not answer Qu Qi¡¯s question. Instead, he walked straight to Qu Xiao. Under everyone¡¯s astonished gazes, he walked to Qu Xiao¡¯s desk and spoke in a refreshing voice, ¡°Are you Qu Xiao, the one who has just transferred here? I¡¯m Zhan Rui from the next ss. You probably don¡¯t know much about the school yet, right?¡± ¡°Meet me after school today. I can bring you around.¡± Zhan Rui¡¯s straightforward invitation made Qu Xiao raise her head inexplicably. She had wanted to reject him, but when she met Qu Qi¡¯s angry gaze, she changed her mind. The female students who were originally envious of Qu Qi now looked at Qu Qi with mocking gazes. Embarrassed, Qu Qi gritted her teeth in anger. She stood behind Zhan Rui and used her lips to threaten Qu Xiao soundlessly to not agree. Qu Qi¡¯s reaction made Qu Xiao smile faintly. She put down the ballpoint pen in her hand and ruffled her hair. Under the sunlight, Qu Xiao looked at Zhan Rui tenderly and said softly, ¡°Alright. Then you can meet me at the school gate...¡± ¡°I will wait for you there.¡± Hearing her reply, Zhan Rui¡¯s ears turned red and he quickly left the ssroom. From the moment he appeared to the moment he left, he did not say a single word to Qu Qi. Qu Qi was furious. She had wanted to get even with Qu Xiao, but when Miss Zhang entered the ssroom, she could only sit down angrily and vent her anger on her innocent stationery. Chapter 84 - Rejection

Chapter 84: Rejection

Throughout the entire duration of the ss, Qu Qi was the center of the discussion of the female students around her. Zhan Rui¡¯s change in attitude caused Qu Xiao to fall from her position as a Goddess to the bottom, and be the object of ridicule by her ssmates. Qu Xiao did not want to participate in any high school drama. She only wanted to pass the University Entrance Examination and get admitted to A University. She wanted to work with the professor to find a way to cure Shang Yan¡¯s leg disease. However, since she had already epted Zhan Rui¡¯s invitation, Qu Xiao packed her things and went to meet him after ss. At the yground in front of the teaching building, Qu Xiao saw a familiar figure. Her eyes flickered as she stared at Zhou Ce. Zhou Ce was covered in hot sweat after ying basketball. He held the basketball with one hand and stood in front of the vending machine, kicking it in frustration. The female students around him did not dare to strike up a conversation. They only stood at the side and whispered amongst themselves. Qu Xiao frowned slightly and walked to his side. She threw her school bag into Zhou Ce¡¯s arms and said, ¡°Hold it for me.¡± Zhou Ce raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw what she did, but he quickly shrugged his shoulders andpromised. He hung her school bag on his shoulder. He quietly watched the girl who was bending over, and a trace of yfulness and curiosity appeared in his eyes. The school¡¯s vending machine was very old, and the items in it would often get stuck. Many students would resign themselves to their fate when they encountered such problems and just pay again, or leave while swearing. Qu Xiao was afraid that he would smash the vending machine, so she came over to help him. After all, they were ssmates and deskmates. ¡°Next time when this happens again, use your brain. Just lift up the cab on the left and knock on it a little.¡± Qu Xiao easily knocked the coke into the collection point, picked it up and stuffed it into Zhou Ce¡¯s arms. At the same time, she took out two pieces of candy from her pocket and gave it to him. ¡°Look at how tall you are. Why can¡¯t you even take care of yourself?¡± ¡°If you often feel dizzy, always keep some candy or chocte in your pocket. Don¡¯t exercise too intensely.¡± Qu Xiao reminded Zhou Ce like he was a child. She could see that Zhou Ce¡¯s health was not good. It was very likely that his body was weak because of long-term low blood pressure and low blood sugar. His face was pale, and his lips were pale. His sleepiness in ss was also probably because of his health. Zhou Ce¡¯s eyes brightened, and the corners of his lips curled up. He raised his arm and wrapped it around Qu Xiao. ¡°You like me?¡± Qu Xiao furrowed her eyebrows with some disdain. She raised her hand and patted Zhou Ce¡¯s head lightly. Pushing his arm away, she replied, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink. You¡¯re like my little brother.¡± Zhou Ce watched as Qu Xiao gradually walked away. He lowered his head and looked at the two big white rabbit milk candies in his palm. He chuckled lightly. Outside the school, in a western restaurant, Zhan Rui pulled out a chair gentlemanly and invited Qu Xiao to take a seat. Qu Xiao looked at the boy¡¯s actions and silently sighed in her heart. Children nowadays were really mature! Zhan Rui ordered a few of their signature dishes. He felt Qu Xiao¡¯s gaze on him and raised a polite and gentle smile, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve noticed you since the first day. I fell in love with you at first sight. I hope you can give me a chance...¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need a lot of help in an aristocratic school. I can help take care of you.¡± Although Zhan Rui was only a high school student, he really had a way with words. No wonder countless female students had crushes on him. Qu Xiao lowered her eyes for a long while and then raised her head to look at the boy opposite her. She raised the ring on her ring finger and said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard that I¡¯m already married and have a husband.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I cannot ept your confession.¡± Zhan Rui¡¯s expression was calm, as if he was not surprised. ¡°I know that your marriage was not of your own free will, but because of your family obligations. You were forced to do marry.¡± ¡°I can help be your escape from your difficult marriage life. I don¡¯t mind!¡± Zhan Rui¡¯s persistence surprised Qu Xiao. She opened her mouth slightly in surprise and was unable to speak for a long time. ¡°No matter how long it takes, I promise I will wait for you.¡± Zhan Rui said what he thought was a moving oath with deep affection, but Qu Xiao lowered her head and burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯ve only known me for two days. What do you like about me?¡± ¡°Appearance? Personality? Or was it just a ¡®feeling¡¯ you got?¡± Hearing Qu Xiao¡¯s retort, Zhan Rui did not know how to answer. ¡°A promise is a very serious matter. It shouldn¡¯t be brought up casually. The same goes for feelings. You have to figure out whether you¡¯re feeling a momentary novelty or a curiosity towards the unknown. But no matter which one it is, it¡¯s not love.¡± Chapter 85 - Bring Up My Name

Chapter 85: Bring Up My Name

Outside the restaurant¡¯s window, the sky darkened. The waiter served the pasta and steak. Qu Xiao nodded at her, her eyes clear as the corners of her lips curved up. ¡°Moreover, I love my husband very much.¡± ¡°We are not only married for business reasons. We both have feelings for each other. He is also the reason why I want to return to school.¡± Qu Xiao rejected Zhan Rui¡¯s confession apologetically, trying to minimize the hurt that she caused him. Across the dining table, Zhan Rui was frowning as he held his knife and fork. His youthful facial features looked a little sad, as if he was trying hard to suppress his emotions. After a long while, he suddenly raised his head and stared at Qu Xiao. His gaze was intense as he spoke with determination, ¡°You can reject me, but I also have the right to pursue you. I will not give up. I will show you that I am serious in pursuing you!¡± Qu Xiao took a sip of warm water. She was frightened by his words and choked until she started coughing. ... In the evening, Qu Xiao rejected Zhan Rui¡¯s request to send her home. She carried her bag and walked towards the direction of the subway station. When she passed by that familiar alley, she suddenly heard a rustling sounding from behind, it made her feel uneasy. ¡°Yo! Little girl, why aren¡¯t you with Yao En today?¡± ¡°I finally caught you alone.¡± A gangster from the school next door walked out from the shadows with a club in his hand. His forehead was still bruised from the fight that day. Both entrances to the left and right alleys were blocked by the other gangsters. It was obvious that they were deliberately waiting for Qu Xiao here! Qu Xiao knew that she could not beat them, so she looked for escape routes around her and asked while stalling for time, ¡°Why don¡¯t you look for Yao En instead?¡± ¡°You¡¯re one of his people. If I catch you, he¡¯lle looking for me himself!¡± The gangster stared at Qu Xiao with a mischievous smile. He waved his hand to signal for his followers to slowly approach, gradually encircling Qu Xiao in the middle. Qu Xiao grabbed her school bag. Her eyes quickly swept across the surrounding ground, trying to find an item that could be used for self-defense. She saw a brick in the corner and threw her school bag at the gangsters. She took the opportunity when they raised their hands to block her and rushed over. When Qu Xiao¡¯s palm touched the brick, the next second, some of the gangsters grabbed her hair and started to pull on it. ¡°Fuck! How dare youe into my territory and behave like this?¡± Zhou Ce propped himself on the low wall and jumped out. Hended steadily in front of Qu Xiao and kicked away theckeys as he cursed angrily. Qu Xiao turned her head in surprise. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Zhou Ce held her elbow and Qu Xiao stood up. The two of them faced the gangsters from the neighboring school back to back, with a fighting stance. Zhou Ce was very well known as the biggest school bully in the school. The moment they saw Zhou Ce, they couldn¡¯t help but feel a little afraid of him. The originally arrogant crowd was now a little hesitant. They looked at each other¡¯s expressions and no one dared to rashly start a fight. ¡°How confident are you?¡± Qu Xiao asked softly. Zhou Ce¡¯s gaze swept across the group opposite him, and he suddenly raised his thin lips and said, ¡°I¡¯m not confident.¡± ¡°Hide behind me and find an opportunity to run away!¡± Zhou Ce rushed toward the gangsters with a wooden stick in his hand. Qu Xiao felt a headacheing on. She found an opportunity to point in the direction of the alley entrance and shouted loudly, ¡°The police are here! Run quickly!¡± Her voice was very loud, it frightened the gangsters and caused them to panic for a moment. Qu Xiao hurriedly pulled Zhou Ce¡¯s arm and tried to run away in the opposite direction. The leader of the gangsters saw them trying to escape and hit them with a wooden stick. Zhou Ce turned around to block Qu Xiao¡¯s back and took a hit. He cursed vulgarities as he turned around and kicked him to the ground, giving him a few vicious punches. Zhou Ce rode on the gangster¡¯s body and twisted his neck, threatening him fiercely. ¡°Remember! I, Zhou Ce am the protector of Qu Xiao. If you dare to provoke her in the future, I will beat all of you until you can¡¯t get up!¡± Theckeys were afraid of Zhou Ce and did not dare to get close. They just stood nearby and waited for an opportunity to attack. Zhou Ce looked at the gangsters who were lying on the ground and could not get up. He pulled Qu Xiao and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± A few minutester, Qu Xiao and Zhou Ce had arrived at a safe ce. Both of them were in a sorry state. Qu Xiao looked at the wounds on Zhou Ce¡¯s shoulder and forehead. She took out iodine lotion from her school bag and sterilized it for him. The pain from his wounds made Zhou Ce suck in a breath of cold air. Qu Xiao sighed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you guys have anything else to do besides fighting every day?¡± Zhou Ce silently rubbed the tip of his nose and did not answer. After a long while, Zhou Ce raised his beautiful eyes and stared at Qu Xiao as he said seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. In the future, they won¡¯t dare toe and cause trouble with you. If anyone bullies you, bring up my name.¡± Chapter 86 - Looking for Trouble

Chapter 86: Looking for Trouble

The Chinese medicine store¡¯s business was booming during the weekend. Recently, the idea of health preservation became a trend on the Inte. Hence, nutritional medicine and tea bags sold well in the Chinese medicine store. Qu Xiao wanted to take advantage of the holiday to see how business was going at the store. She secretly arrived at the street without the front boss¡¯s knowledge. However, the store was surrounded with uncles and aunties gathered together, pointing at the Chinese medicine store saying, ¡°They really don¡¯t have a conscience. Selling fake medicine can make people ill!¡± ¡°I heard that after taking the medicine from their shop, an old man had a high fever that night. He was sent to the hospital for transfusion treatment. Right now, his body is still in bad condition.¡± The auntie who was carrying a basket of vegetables echoed with an exaggerated expression. ¡°I heard that Chinese medicine are all fake! Don¡¯t buy from them...¡± Qu Xiao could not help but frown when she heard their conversation. She pushed aside the crowd of onlookers and walked over. At the entrance of the Chinese medicine store, an old man was sitting in a wheelchair. The middle-aged man who hade with him pushed the boss and cursed, ¡°You have topensate us for our medical expenses. Otherwise, we will wreck your store so that you will have no more business!¡± ¡°Yes! We don¡¯t want you to continue hurting people.¡± The middle-aged man waved his hand and his followers rushed into the store. The boss and the shop assistant tried their best to block the door, but to no avail. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes shed with annoyance. She walked to the back of the middle-aged man and patted his shoulder. The middle-aged man turned around and asked unhappily, ¡°Who are you?¡± The boss saw Qu Xiao and hurriedly shouted, ¡°Mrs. Qu! Come here quickly, they want to wreck the ce!¡± ¡°Are you the boss of the Chinese medicine store?¡± The eyes of the middle-aged man shed, wanting to grab Qu Xiao. In the next second, Qu Xiao moved extremely fast and pressed on his shoulder. With a crisp crack sound, the man immediately hugged his arm and wailed in pain. When the people who were trying to break into the shop saw his miserable state, they were all frightened and stopped moving. The chaotic scene was temporarily under control. Qu Xiao leaned on the man and said lightly, ¡°I just dislocated your arm. After this matter is settled, I¡¯ll help you fix it. You¡¯ll be in pain for a while. Consider itpensation for affecting my shop¡¯s business.¡± After Qu Xiao said that, she bent down and squatted in front of the old man in the wheelchair. She raised a gentle smile and said, ¡°Can I take your pulse?¡± The old man was sensible. He nodded and handed over his wrist. Qu Xiao pursed her red lips and analyzed the old man¡¯s pulse. Then, she stood up. Her eyes swept across the crowd and finallynded on the man, ¡°He has a chronic illness. When you came to buy medicine for him, you only said that he needed a prescription for nourishing and recuperating.¡± ¡°But those prescriptions are like arsenic to him. After he takes them, his Qi will weaken due to Anemia. Of course he will feel dizzy!¡± Qu Xiao looked at the man coldly and said with a slightly usatory tone, ¡°It was you who didn¡¯t take proper care of your father, yet you shirk all the responsibility to my store. I think you are the one without a conscience!¡± When the onlookers heard her words and saw the man¡¯s guilty expression, they immediately started criticizing the unfilial behavior of the man. Qu Xiao asked the boss to take out a few silver needles. She used two thin needles to prick a few of the old man¡¯s acupuncture points. Five to six minutester, the old man¡¯s eyes regained their brightness and his speech became more crisp, he held Qu Xiao¡¯s hand tightly to express his gratitude. ¡°So this Chinese medicine store is really genuine? Boss, can you help me check my pulse too?¡± The auntie who was carrying the basket hurriedly squeezed over and said. Upon hearing her words, the surrounding people began to line up on their own ord, preparing to grab some medicine to take back home. The entrance of the Chinese medicine store was instantly filled with customers. ¡°Qu Xiao, can you help me grab two doses of medicine as well? My eyes have been having some issues recently. I always want to roll my eyes whenever I see you!¡± For some reason, someone was looking for trouble. Qu Xiao turned around and saw a slightly familiar woman. She thought carefully and seemed to recall that she had once seen this woman at Qu Zhen¡¯s wee back party. She was likely Qu Zhen¡¯s good friend Jiang Yuan, the daughter of Jiang Group. ¡°You dare to open a medicine store just because you learned a little Chinese medicine on your own? You¡¯re really bold!¡± ¡°Uncles and aunties, don¡¯t trust the boss of this Chinese medicine store. She has a lot of tricks up her sleeves! She schemed and forced the boss of the Chinese medicine store across the street to shut down her store. Did I mention that the boss is her own biological sister?¡± Jiang Yuan pointed at the sign across the street that had not been taken down yet. She raised her eyebrows proudly and looked back at Qu Xiao. Chapter 87 - Supporting Him

Chapter 87: Supporting Him

¡°The pharmaceuticalpany under Qu Group has reserved a position for Qu Zhen in the research and development department.¡± Qu Xiao stared at Jiang Yuan and reminded her in an unfriendly tone, ¡°As for the store, no one forced her to move out. She moved out of her own ord. If you want to be a good friend to Qu Zhen, don¡¯t find trouble with me!¡± ¡°I can sue you for such groundless nder!¡± Jiang Yuan stood at the bottom of the steps and crossed her arms as if she had not heard Qu Xiao¡¯s exnation. She turned her head with an exaggerated expression and said to the girls who hade with her, ¡°Do you know why Qu Xiao opened a Chinese medicine store?¡± ¡°Because her husband can¡¯t move his legs. He has to sit in a wheelchair.¡± ¡°It sounds like even though she married into a wealthy family, life is hard for her and she has a lot of sufferings.¡± Jiang Yuan¡¯s wordspletely infuriated Qu Xiao. Her eyes were suffused with coldness as she slowly walked toward Jiang Yuan. Qu Xiao could endure Jiang Yuan ndering her and her shop. The Chinese medical store was a registered store and hadplete identification forms. She could prove that her store was a registered store if need be. However, Jiang Yuan just couldn¡¯t be civil and had to bring up Shang Yan! Shang Yan was the person Qu Xiao cared about the most in her heart. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, she raised her hand and grabbed Jiang Yuan¡¯s hair, pulling it down fiercely. ¡°I dare you to repeat yourself! Who are you to mock him?¡± Jiang Yuan bent her body sideways in pain. This was the first time she had been treated this way. ¡°What are you all standing there for? Get her!¡± Jiang Yuan was so angry that she started cursing. Her surrounding friends and her family¡¯s bodyguards instantly gathered around Qu Xiao. Seeing that Qu Xiao could possibly be in danger, the boss picked up the phone to call the police. The next second, the arrogant Jiang family¡¯s bodyguards stopped whatever they were doing. They looked at each other awkwardly and mumbled to themselves. Meanwhile, Qu Xiao fell into a warm and familiar embrace. Her eyes were red as she looked at Shang Yan. She lowered her eyes and hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Li brought highly-trained bodyguards to surround Qu Xiao and Shang Yan. The surrounding crowd started to pick up their phones to take photos. When Jiang Yuan saw Shang Yan, her eyes fluttered in panic. She raised her hand and awkwardly smoothed her messy hair. She forced a smile and stammered, ¡°CEO Shang, what are you doing here?¡± Shang Yan stared at Jiang Yuan coldly and opened his thin lips, ¡°If you have so much time that you are free toe cause a ruckus at my wife¡¯s shop, how about you help me pass a message to CEO Jiang? I¡¯ve thought about the the proposal that he had presented to me earlier...¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to reject the coboration proposal with Jiang Group.¡± ¡°After all, looking at your attitude, the Jiang family probably doesn¡¯t want to do business with a disabled person, right?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s refusal left no room for negotiation, and Jiang Yuan¡¯s face instantly turned livid. She hurriedly turned around and left. Li started to disperse the crowd around them and made sure that they deleted all their video recordings. Qu Xiao and Shang Yan returned to the car. She recalled Jiang Yuan¡¯s expression and knew that Jiang Yuan would definitely be punished by the Jiang family. Shang Yan could see that she had something on her mind, so he gently put his hand over and patted the back of her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Did I cause trouble for you?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were watery. She bit her red lips and leaned on Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I should have endured it. I shouldn¡¯t have argued with Jiang Yuan.¡± Shang Yan was stunned for a moment. He immediately understood that she was worried about his business deal. He couldn¡¯t help butugh as he held Qu Xiao¡¯s cheek and tasted her pouty red lips. Then, he said in a gentle tone, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the truth is, Jiang Group isn¡¯t qualified enough. I was going to reject it, but the rtionship between our two families have been good, so I kept dying it.¡± ¡°This time, I should be the one thanking you. You found a reason for me to sessfully reject the cooperation proposal.¡± ¡°Jiang Yuan¡¯s words and actions have already offended me. I don¡¯t think CEO Jiang would dare to continue bugging me about the proposal.¡± Shang Yan stroked the top of Qu Xiao¡¯s head. He recalled seeing Jiang Yuan¡¯s provocation in the car. A strange sweetness flowed through his heart as he said softly, ¡°Moreover, you did this because of me. I¡¯m very touched...¡± Qu Xiao was surprised and wanted to raise her head to look at him, but Shang Yan deliberately pressed her head down. ¡°You¡¯re my husband! If others bully you and gossip about you behind your back, of course I will fight for you!¡± Qu Xiao rubbed her face against Shang Yan¡¯s palm and mumbled uneasily, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so polite. You¡¯re the person I¡¯m protecting!¡± When Shang Yan heard her childish and overbearing deration, he could not help butugh out loud and nodded heavily. Chapter 88 - Business Plan

Chapter 88: Business n

Late at night, the bedroom was lit up, and the room was filled with a warm atmosphere. Qu Xiao stared at theptop screen with a dazed and serious expression. asionally, she would tap on the keyboard twice and frown in distress. Shang Yan came out of the bathroom and saw her sitting cross-legged on the bed. Her nightgown¡¯s straps slid down to her shoulders, which made her look seductive. He could not help but cough a few times. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. She hugged his strong arm and pushed theptop over. ¡°Help me take a look. Is there anything that needs to be modified?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes sparkled as she stared at Shang Yan. Shang Yan nced at the document interface helplessly and said softly, ¡°Business n?¡± ¡°Although we have been having a good number of customers at the Chinese medicine store recently, selling tea bags and health powder is not going to cut it.¡± ¡°I want to do marketing in the direction of the brand. After all, this Chinese medicine store has been around for decades...¡± Qu Xiao yed with Shang Yan¡¯s slender fingertips as she expressed her views emotionally. Shang Yan listened quietly and sighed softly. He sped her fingers in her palm and said, ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡± ¡°Your target audience is the issue. Technology has advanced a lot since the brand was first started. Rather than focusing on how long the brand has been around, it¡¯s better to think of ways to innovate and appeal to the younger generation.¡± ¡°Hasn¡¯t taking care of one¡¯s health be very popr online recently? You can use this to slowly target the working ss, office staff, and mothers who spend all day taking care of their babies at home.¡± ¡°To target them, design acupuncture and recuperation programs, and run physical therapy using standard beauty salons as models.¡± Shang Yan analyzed the n for Qu Xiao and put forward reasonable suggestions. Qu Xiao gradually stared at him in admiration and then gave him a thumbs up. She immediately snatched theptop back to record and mumbled, ¡°As expected of a billionaire businessmen, the bellwether of the investment industry. You really have a great business mind!¡± Shang Yan listened to her praise and put his hand on his forehead. He asked ambiguously, ¡°Where is my reward for helping you?¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were glued to the screen. She turned her head perfunctorily and lightly brushed his thin lips. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were ignited by her actions. ¡°¡±A raging fire burned in his eyes. He swiftly pounced over, closed theptop, and threw it to the side. He pressed down on Qu Xiao and his breathing quickened as he sucked on her earlobe, he licked it gently with the tip of his tongue. ¡°That¡¯s not enough for a reward...¡± Shang Yan¡¯s fingers pointed downwards and his palm covered Qu Xiao¡¯s moist garden. ¡°I want more.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s body went soft. She bent her legs so that Shang Yan¡¯s fingers could slide in more smoothly. She bit her red lips and lightly hummed twice. Shang Yan hugged Qu Xiao¡¯s body and his thin lips gently kissed her corbone. He slowly moved downwards until he opened his mouth to hold the soft flesh of her soft breasts. Qu Xiao was panting delicately. She took the initiative to hold her soft breasts and sent them into Shang Yan¡¯s mouth. Feeling that he was biting the bud with slight force, she could not help but raise her neck and sighfortably. Shang Yan used the tip of his tongue to gently flick the bud that was standing upright. Qu Xiao hugged his head and could not help but straighten her body. Her white fingertips pierced through Shang Yan¡¯s ck hair. Both of them were breathing rapidly as sweat dripped down. The hard object under Shang Yan¡¯s stomach was already erect. Qu Xiao reached over and grabbed it in her palm. She deliberately used her fingertips to gently revolve around the tip. She asionally poked it with her fingertips and whispered in Shang Yan¡¯s ear, ¡°Look, it¡¯s spitting water.¡± When Shang Yan heard her words, all the muscles in his body tensed up. The object in Qu Xiao¡¯s hand could not help but pulsate twice. Qu Xiao could not help but spread her legs and slowly sat down on it. It went right into her, and afortable sigh sounded in the room. Shang Yan raised his hands and grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s fair and soft breasts. His fingers quickly kneaded them.. The two lumps of soft white meat were kneaded into different shapes. Shang Yan felt his blood rush to his temples. ¡°Hurry up, Hubby.¡± Qu Xiao said as she panted. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were red, and he did not care about anything else as he straightened his lean and narrow waist. Even until Qu Xiao could not take it anymore and begged for mercy, Shang Yan still did not stop. The thick red object was exploring Qu Xiao¡¯s tight tunnel, repeatedly bumping into her most sensitive part. Tears welled up in Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes. She held onto Shang Yan¡¯s chest, opened her mouth and breathed heavily, her voice soft as she called out, ¡°I¡¯m almost there!¡± Apanied by a muffled groan, Shang Yan hugged Qu Xiao¡¯s waist and trembled. After a short rest, the night was still not over... Chapter 89 - Buying Furniture

Chapter 89: Buying Furniture

The next morning, the maid ced two sets of Chinese and western-style breakfast on the dining table. As usual, Shang Yan browsed through the financial report of the day. He picked up his coffee cup, sipped his Americano, and waited for Qu Xiao to get up. The sound of footsteps came from the stairs. Shang Yan looked up and saw Qu Xiao yawningzily anding downstairs in her nightgown. Qu Xiao used her hand to gently hammer her slender waist as she red at Shang Yan with a reproachful expression. The hickeys on her neck and corbone were clearly exposed, as if she was protesting Shang Yan¡¯s aggressionst night. Qu Xiao slowly pulled out the chair. Her small feet swayed under the table, asionally rubbing against Shang Yan¡¯s leg... ¡°The bed in the bedroom is so hard. My waist hurts from sleeping.¡± Qu Xiao used a porcin spoon to scoop up the white porridge. Her lips and teeth were somewhat indistinct as sheined. Her beautiful eyes furrowed as she stared at Shang Yan, waiting for his response. Such a straightforward act of coquettishness made the maid serving the dishes¡¯ hands tremble. The soup almost sshed out. The maid hurriedly apologized. Shang Yan didn¡¯t know what to do with Qu Xiao. He raised his head to look at the butler and instructed softly, ¡°Change the bed in the bedroom to a new one.¡± The butler looked at Shang Yan in surprise. He did not expect Qu Xiao to have such an effect on Shang Yan! However, Qu Xiao was not satisfied with this. She raised her head slightly and said in a teasing tone, ¡°That won¡¯t do. The husband and wife have to personally pick their bed. Only then can they sleepfortably and have a good harmonious rtionship.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you apany me to the furniture store?¡± Qu Xiao supported herself with both hands on the dining table. She raised the corners of her lips and her eyes flickered with anticipation as she urged Shang Yan to make a decision. The butler was so frightened that his heartbeat quickened. He paid attention to Shang Yan¡¯s emotions. Shang Yan was an elite in the business world who had work to do every day. Why would he take a leave of absence for a trivial matter? In order to avoid a rift in the rtionship between Qu Xiao and Shang Yan, the butler bravely stood up and spoke on behalf of Shang Yan, ¡°Madam, there are many matters in the group that CEO Shang has to personally handle. Pleasee to me if you have any needs regarding the choice of bedding. I...¡± ¡°Ask Li to postpone my work schedule for one day.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s ears turned red. He lowered his eyes and tried his best to speak in a calm and cold tone, ¡°Get the driver to prepare the car.¡± ¡°Once you¡¯re done eating, we¡¯ll set off for the furniture store.¡± Qu Xiao happily arched her eyebrows and immediately finished all the steamed eggs. She ran upstairs to change her clothes with light footsteps. The butler stared at Shang Yan¡¯s back in astonishment. The man in front of him was no longer the cold and indifferent CEO Shang that he knew! At the furniture store, Shang Yan apanied Qu Xiao to stroll around. Initially, they had onlye to find a new bed for their bedroom. However, Qu Xiao wanted to go in and stroll around any shop that she saw. Very quickly, Li was following behind the two of them with a few sets of bedding and various small ornaments. Shang Yan saw Li¡¯s disheveled appearance and said, ¡°Go wait in the car.¡± Li seemed to have been relieved and immediately quickened his pace as he headed towards the parking lot. Qu Xiao pushed Shang Yan into the furniture store. When she saw a bed she was satisfied with, she pulled Shang Yan¡¯s elbow and walked over. She naturallyid on the bed to try it out. Qu Xiao was very satisfied with the softness of the mattress and its degree of muffling When Shang Yan saw her expression, he took out his bank card and handed it to the shop assistant. ¡°We¡¯ll get this.¡± The shop assistant¡¯s eyes were very quick. She could tell that Qu Xiao and Shang Yan were rich. She excitedly led the two of them to another exhibition hall, ¡°This chair is a new design from our shop. It¡¯s a must-have item for many newlyweds.¡± ¡°It looks like an ordinary chair, but there are a few hidden modes that can be operated using a remote control.¡± ¡°The armrests on both sides can move freely. There¡¯s a mode that allows the chair to move up and down continuously, simting...¡± The shop assistant exined enthusiastically. When she saw Shang Yan¡¯s gaze, she stopped what she was about to say and revealed a decent smile. Shang Yan¡¯s ears had a strange flush. His hands were sped on his legs. Qu Xiao, on the other hand, was flipping through the manual with a calm expression. She sat in the sex toy chair and tested it with great interest. She asked seriously, ¡°Is it be guaranteed to be safe?¡± If a sex toy like this malfunctioned during sex, it would be a disaster. ¡°Madam, you can rest assured that we are very strict in quality.¡± The shop assistant hurriedly guaranteed. Qu Xiao nodded her head in satisfaction. She opened her palm to Shang Yan and hooked her finger to ask for a bank card. ¡°Then get us one of these chairs as well. Deliver it to the vi together with the bed.¡± Shang Yan looked at her magnanimous appearance, touched the tip of his nose, and acquiesced to her willfulness. Chapter 90 - Snatching a Low-Priced Jade

Chapter 90: Snatching a Low-Priced Jade

In the furniture store, Qu Xiao and Shang Yan were waiting for the store owner to process the order. Qu Xiao sat on the sofa leaning against the floor-to-ceiling ss window and looked outside with her chin resting on her hand out of boredom. Shang Yan was afraid that she would get bored from waiting, so he wanted to arrange for Li toe over to wait for the store owner in their ce. Shang Yan was about to ask Qu Xiao, but he realized that her gaze was fixed on a certain spot outside and she was in a daze. Shang Yan followed her gaze and saw Ling Chi. At the shop opposite the shopping mall, Jiang Xue¡¯er was wearing a beige dress. Her eyes were filled with love as she chased after Ling Chi. She tried to hold Ling Chi¡¯s arm, but Ling Chi avoided her. Jiang Xue¡¯er lowered her eyes in disappointment. However, she quickly smiled and said, ¡°What kind of office desk do you want? I¡¯m quite familiar with furniture. I can help you!¡± Ling Chi¡¯s expression was cold as he said in a perfunctory tone, ¡°I just want to take a look around...¡± The Ling family had been very strict with him recently. He was not allowed to show up at thepany, nor could he handle any project-rted matters. He felt depressed and wanted to ask Qu Zhen out for a walk. However, Qu Zhen was busy with work at Qu Group and did not have the time. Coincidentally, Jiang Xue¡¯er heard about it, so she took the initiative to apany Ling Chi. She did not want to give up any opportunity to be alone with him. Qu Xiao looked at Ling Chi, but her mind was upied with another matter. ording to the plot of the original novel, it was around this period of time when Ling Chi had bought a piece of warm jade for a low price in the shopping mall. Wearing that piece of warm jade had a healing effect on the body. It could nourish the body. If she could buy it first, it should be helpful for Shang Yan¡¯s leg disease treatment! As Qu Xiao thought of this, the corners of her lips curled up as she stood up. She did not notice that Shang Yan¡¯s expression had be ugly, and there was even a hint of anger. Qu Xiao patted Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder lightly and whispered in his ear, ¡°Wait for me here, I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± After saying this, Qu Xiao hurriedly ran outside and chased after Ling Chi and Jiang Xue¡¯er. Shang Yan silently clenched his fists. His deep eyes were filled with dissatisfaction. His appearance was reflected on the floor-to-ceiling ss window.¡±¡± At this moment, jealousy crawled onto his face and could not be hidden at all. ¡°Why do you still care about Ling Chi?¡± Shang Yan muttered to himself in a hoarse voice. At the entrance of a jade shop, Ling Chi held a warm jade in his hand. He pretended to be uninterested as he tried to negotiate with the shop owner, ¡°This jade pendant looks very ordinary. There are even cracks on the back of the cylinder. It can¡¯t be sold at this price.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you 20,000 yuan. That¡¯s already considered a high price.¡± ¡°Other than me, no one else would be interested in a defective jade pendant like this.¡± Ling Chi¡¯s words made the boss waver. Just as the boss was about to grit his teeth andpromise, Qu Xiao suddenly interrupted them. ¡°Boss, I quite like this jade pendant. The original price is 50,000 yuan. I would like to pay the full price now.¡± Qu Xiao grabbed the jade pendant¡¯s hanging rope and snatched it from Ling Chi¡¯s hands. She smiled kindly at the boss. The sudden appearance of Qu Xiao stunned the Boss and Ling Chi for a moment. Ling Chi quickly reacted. He furrowed his eyebrows and questioned, ¡°Are you deliberately looking for trouble and going against me?¡± Qu Xiao shrugged her shoulders. Her eyes were filled with contempt and disdain as she replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯re really not that important to me.¡± ¡°When I passed by this shop just now, I liked this jade pendant very much. I came back specially to get it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fight with me over something that I take a fancy to. Besides, the shop owner wouldn¡¯t sell it to you for 20,000 yuan...¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lived far away frommoners for too long. It¡¯s understandable that you don¡¯t understand the prices of goods in the market.¡± Qu Xiao mocked Ling Chi while the shop owner looked at the two of them suspiciously. For a moment, he was at a loss. When Jiang Xue¡¯er saw Qu Xiao, she subconsciously took two steps forward and stood between Ling Chi and her. She used a sharp and harsh tone to speak, ¡°You just can¡¯t get rid of your habit of snatching other people¡¯s things! First a man, now a jade pendant.¡± Qu Xiao rubbed her earszily. Her gaze swept past Jiang Xue¡¯er and she mocked, ¡°I¡¯m already a little better than you.¡± ¡°After all, I didn¡¯t chase after others with my eyes wide open and mouth drooling.¡± Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Misunderstanding

In front of the ss disy case in the shop, Qu Xiao nced at Ling Chi with contempt and ridicule in her eyes. The corners of her lips curled into a mocking smile. Ling Chi immediately felt his blood boil. His voice rose a few degrees uncontrobly. He mmed the ss of the disy case and said fiercely to the boss, ¡°I¡¯ll offer 100,000!¡± When Qu Xiao heard him raise his offer, she frowned with displeasure. ¡°Your family is rich, but you still have to respect others when buying things, right? I¡¯ve already reached an agreement with the boss, yet you still want to negotiate? ¡± The boss looked at the two of them with a troubled expression. Qu Xiao and Ling Chi were people whom he could not afford to offend. Amidst the tense atmosphere, Qu Xiao narrowed her eyes and stared at Ling Chi. When she thought of the turmoil in Ling Group, her eyes moved slightly as she reminded him, ¡°You just caused so much trouble for Ling Group. I¡¯m afraid that your father probably had his assistant limit your credit card allowance to control your expenses, right?¡± ¡°100,000 yuan. Boss, I wonder if you can even get that amount from his card.¡± Ling Chi was furious. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he tried hard to suppress his anger. Qu Xiao retrieved his bank card with a calm expression and stuffed it into Ling Chi¡¯s suit¡¯s pocket with a smile in her eyes. ¡°So boss, I am the one who will be getting the jade pendant!¡± The boss quickly handed the jade pendant to Qu Xiao. Jiang Xue¡¯er wanted to stand up for Ling Chi. She put on an arrogant expression and pointed at Qu Xiao as she said, ¡°You are only arrogant now because you are Shang Yan¡¯s wife. When Shang Yan divorces you in the future, you will be reduced to nothing!¡± Qu Xiao had originally wanted to turn around and leave, but when she heard this, she immediately frowned and stared at Jiang Xue¡¯er. ¡°Divorce? You should at least be married if you want to bring up divorce to me. Right now, do you think Ling Chi will even acknowledge that you two have something going on?¡± Qu Xiao picked up her phone and took a picture of Jiang Xue¡¯er and Ling Chi, who were acting intimately. When Ling Chi saw this, he wanted to shake off Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s hand that was holding his, but it was already toote. The scene captured was ambiguous, and the evidence was conclusive. Qu Xiao stared at the the picture and started admiring it with satisfaction. Then, she said in a mocking tone, ¡°You¡¯d better not provoke me and hope that I¡¯ll always be in a good mood. I act rashly when I¡¯m in a bad mood. If I send this picture to Qu Zhen, what will happen?¡± ¡°Ling Chi, you¡¯ve only just exined to Qu Zhen about the video and news regarding the call girl a while ago.¡± ¡°She has been having a hard time processing everything that has happened recently. If she sees this picture, perhaps...¡± Qu Xiao raised her hand and gestured with her thumb at her neck. Ling Chi couldn¡¯t control his anger and took two steps forward, trying to snatch away Qu Xiao¡¯s phone. Qu Xiao ced her phone behind her back. She dodged him and gradually moved closer to the corner. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Ling Chi red at her fiercely and raised his hand high, acting as if he wanted to p her. Pa! With a muffled sound, Shang Yan grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s wrist and pulled her to his side. Ling Chi furrowed his eyebrows and stared at him, his hands hanging by his sides. Recalling Mr. Ling¡¯s exhortation, the corners of his mouth twitched unwillingly as he said, ¡°CEO Shang, I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be here too.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with anger as he said coldly, ¡°Xiao and I are here to buy furniture. What were you trying to do to her just now? I don¡¯t know how Xiao offended you, but I can deal with it for her.¡± ¡°I will most likely run into CEO Ling at the public recruitment next week. How about we set a time to talk about it?¡± Ling Chi¡¯s body stiffened for a moment when he heard Shang Yan bring up his father. Then, heughed and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± Ling Chi stared at the phone in Qu Xiao¡¯s hand with a vicious expression and left inrge strides. Jiang Xue¡¯er red at Qu Xiao with resentment in her eyes. She mouthed silently to warn her, ¡°Just you wait!¡± Shang Yan looked at Qu Xiao with a cold expression. Then, he pushed his wheelchair towards the elevator in the shopping mall. Qu Xiao raised her hand to touch her face in a daze. She checked her makeup in the floor-to-ceiling mirror beside her. There was nothing strange. The next second, she saw the elevator that was about to close and hurriedly ran towards it. In the narrow elevator, Qu Xiao could feel that something was wrong, but she did not know the reason. She lowered her head to look at the shopping bag in her hand and could not help but smile. Seeing that she was in a good mood, Shang Yan silently furrowed his eyebrows. He silently pondered in his heart, ¡°Could it be that she still has a trace of affection for Ling Chi?¡± The two of them came to the parking lot. Li felt the tension in the atmosphere in the car and couldn¡¯t help but nervously gulp. Within just half an hour, Shang Yan¡¯s expression had changed so drastically. He looked so angry as if he wanted kill someone. Chapter 92 - Using the Chair

Chapter 92: Using the Chair

In the Shang family¡¯s vi, the ss door of the bathroom was half-open, and a dense mist drifted into the bedroom. Qu Xiao dug out two red strings. She had learned how to weave on the inte, and her fingers deftly twined around the jade pendant. Shang Yan changed into a bathrobe and came out. His ck hair hung wet in front of his eyes. He stared at Qu Xiao¡¯s back, wanting to open his mouth to call her. Qu Xiao heard themotion and ran to his side with a bright smile. She tilted her head as if she was presenting a treasure. She opened her palm and handed the jade pendant to him. ¡°This is a gift for you!¡± ¡°I managed to snatch it away from Ling Chi. This jade pendant is made from a warm jade. Wearing it for long periods of time is good for your body.¡± ¡°Although the weaved strings look a little ugly, it¡¯s the best that I can do. If you don¡¯t like it, I can get the nanny to help remake it tomorrow... In the future, even when you¡¯re bathing, it¡¯s best not to take it off. The old man said that jade has spirituality.¡± Qu Xiao went behind Shang Yan and gently helped him put it on. The warm jade pendantnded on Shang Yan¡¯s skin. His eyes were shaken as he looked back at Qu Xiao and asked, ¡°You chased after Ling Chi because of me?¡± ¡°Of course! Why else would I willingly be in the same room as him? Whenever I see him, my mood gets ruined.¡± Qu Xiao said, but she quickly realized something and stopped talking. She blinked and bent over in front of Shang Yan. Shang Yan tried to avoid her, but Qu Xiao held his face with both hands, her eyes intense as she asked, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried that you¡¯ll be deceived by him.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s voice was muffled, but his reddened ears exposed his true thoughts. Seeing his cute jealous expression, Qu Xiao could not help but nt a kiss on his thin lips. A trace of nostalgia shed across Shang Yan¡¯s pitch-ck eyes. He wrapped hisrge palm around Qu Xiao¡¯s waist, pulled her into his embrace, and kissed her red lips. The scorching warmth of his palm made Qu Xiao¡¯s entire body feel hot. She raised her hand to pull off her hairband, and her soft hair fell down. Knock, knock, knock! The knocking on the door interrupted them. Shang Yan turned his head, and his eyebrows were filled with displeasure as he asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°What is it?¡± The butler turned his head to look at the huge wooden box that the driver had brought over. ¡°The furniture that you and Madam bought has arrived. May I know if you¡¯d like to bring it in tonight?¡± Shang Yan wanted to refuse, but Qu Xiao thought of the sex chair. Her eyes were filled with smiles as she ran to the door. ¡°Bring the chair in!¡± The butler was a little surprised. His sharp eyes caught the red mark on Qu Xiao¡¯s neck and the lipstick on Shang Yan¡¯s white shirt. Knowing that he had interrupted their special time, the butler quickly lowered his head and waited for the bodyguard to bring the chair in. Then, he urged everyone to leave. Qu Xiao yed with the remote control curiously. She felt Shang Yan¡¯s gaze and smiled. She specially put on thin ck stockings and walked toward Shang Yan with seductive steps. Under his surprised and expectant gaze, Qu Xiao pulled his tie and walked toward the sex chair. Then, she let him sit on it. The chair started to sway. Qu Xiao used the tie to tie Shang Yan¡¯s hands. With a smirk in her eyes, she leaned over and kissed his adam¡¯s apple. Shang Yan wanted to hold her plump and soft breasts, but he could not move because of the tie¡¯s binding. Qu Xiao sat on Shang Yan¡¯sp. She used her hand to press on the object that had long been erect and gently kneaded it through the fabric of his underwear. Shang Yan straightened his waist with some dissatisfaction. Qu Xiao swayed her perky buttocks and deliberately rubbed against it. The sex chair continued to rise and fall. Qu Xiao swayed her body along with its frequency. Shang Yan saw the beautiful breasts bouncing in front of his eyes. His eyes were red and he wanted to break free from the tie. Qu Xiao felt the emptiness on her body and decided not to torture Shang Yan any longer. The moment the tie was untied, Shang Yan tore off the fabric that was obstructing the two of them and directly plunged into her. Qu Xiao raised her neck and let out a soft moan. Her legs rested on the handrail and at this moment, she asked, ¡°Buying it was the right decision, right? There are still so many modes that we can slowly explore.¡± When Shang Yan heard her words, he grabbed her waist with both hands and increased the speed of his collision. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m not enough to satisfy you.¡± ¡°Seeing that you still need all these essories...¡± Qu Xiao widened her eyes in surprise. She waspletely speechless. At this moment, she could only moan and beg for mercy. The remote control had unknowingly fallen under the bed. Shang Yan picked up the tie that had fallen to his side and tied Qu Xiao¡¯s hands behind her back. He opened his mouth and sucked on one of Qu Xiao¡¯s bright red breast bud. He used his fingers to rub the other one as he admired Qu Xiao¡¯s aroused expression. Then, he started colliding with her even faster... Chapter 93 - Intentional Fall

Chapter 93: Intentional Fall

The next day was the school¡¯s ssroom hygiene assessment. Everyone was busy cleaning their ssrooms. Qu Xiao was wiping the tables and chairs when she suddenly saw Jiang Xue¡¯er barging in from the ssroom door and walking straight to her. The surrounding students all stopped moving and curiously sized up Jiang Xue¡¯er as they discussed softly, ¡°She¡¯s the prettiest girl in the ss next door, right? Even she knows Qu Xiao? I heard that Jiang Xue¡¯er and Qu Qi are close. She must be here looking for trouble!¡± Only now did Qu Xiao find out that Jiang Xue¡¯er was also studying in the same high school as her. But what did she want from her? Bang! Jiang Xue¡¯er mmed her phone on the desk. Her phone screen was full of intimate photos of her and Ling Chi shopping at the furniture market that day. ¡°Did you distribute these photos?¡± Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s eyes were red as she said with an exaggerated expression, ¡°How could you do this? I thought you were my best friend.¡± Qu Xiao was stunned for a moment. Then, she looked at the photos carefully and replied in a light tone, ¡°These photos weren¡¯t taken by me. I was standing in front of you at that time, which doesn¡¯t align with the angles in which these photos were taken. This has nothing to do with me. Don¡¯t use me.¡± Since they were in school, Qu Xiao said nicely to Jiang Xue¡¯er so as to not embarrass her. Jiang Xue¡¯er saw her arrogant and cold face and became even more angry and resentful towards her. Ever since the photos were released, Ling Chi had cut off all contact with her. Ling Chi wasn¡¯t even willing to listen to her exnation. He only thought about how to exin the photos to Qu Zhen. Jiang Xue¡¯er med everything on Qu Xiao. She felt the gazes around her and deliberately said in an aggrieved tone, ¡°I know that you used to like Ling Chi. But now, you¡¯re already married to Shang Yan. Why are you still getting involved in his rtionships?¡± ¡°I¡¯m your good friend. I¡¯m just worried for you...¡± Jiang Xue¡¯er deliberately distorted the truth, trying to make Qu Xiao sound like someone who was two-timing. The corners of Qu Xiao¡¯s lips curled up into a cold smile. She looked at Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s smug expression and crossed her arms as she leaned against the desk. ¡°Good friend?¡± ¡°When I was bullied in the Qu family to the point where I wasn¡¯t even given food, as my best friend, where were you?¡± ¡°At the Qu family¡¯s dinner party, you helped me pick out an evening gown to deliberately embarrass myself in public. Have you forgotten all of this?¡± Qu Xiao narrated their past clearly. The gossipy female ssmates looked at Jiang Xue¡¯er with disdain. They did not expect that the seemingly gentle and kind ss belle would be so vicious in private. Jiang Xue¡¯er wanted to retort, but Qu Xiao raised her hand to stop her. ¡°You clearly knew about my rtionship with Ling Chi back then, but you still frequently asked him out to meet alone then. You said that you cared about me. Howe I didn¡¯t feel any care at all!¡± ¡°Instead, I felt that you were using me as a tool and stepping stone.¡± Qu Xiao stared coldly at Jiang Xue¡¯er. The ss was in an uproar. Jiang Xue¡¯er was shocked. Her fair face flushed red. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense!¡± ¡°She¡¯s distorting the truth and making up lies!¡± Jiang Xue¡¯er wanted to seek the support of the surrounding students, but no one was willing to stand up for her and support her. Qu Xiao looked at her flustered appearance indifferently as her gaze fell on the photos on her phone screen. That day at the furniture market, Ling Chi and Jiang Xue¡¯er were only there for half an hour. Other than her, no one else was present. Could it be... Shang Yan? A thought popped up in Qu Xiao¡¯s mind, and Shang Yan¡¯s jealous face immediately appeared in her mind. Seeing that she was in a daze, Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s eyes rolled as she thought of a n. She deliberately pulled Qu Xiao¡¯s arm outward and said, ¡°Xiao, it seems that there is a misunderstanding between us.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go out and have a good chat. Is that alright?¡± Qu Xiao yed along. She wanted to see what kind of tricks Jiang Xue¡¯er had up her sleeves. The two of them came to the front of the stairs outside the ssroom. The ss door was only slightly open. The students all peeked outside and pricked up their ears, wanting to listen to their conversation. Seeing this, Jiang Xue¡¯er deliberately pulled Qu Xiao¡¯s hand and pushed it towards herself. She lost her bnce and fell backwards. Her entire body fell onto the stairs and she rolled down a few steps. Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s ankles and knees were all bleeding. She held her ankles and her eyes were filled with sparkling tears as she said with a sobbing tone, ¡°Xiao, I know you hate me, but you can¡¯t injure me like this. My foot...¡± Chapter 94 - Locked in the Cubicle

Chapter 94: Locked in the Cubicle

The school¡¯s spiral staircase was very long. Even though Jiang Xue¡¯er had mentally prepared herself in advance, she still fell quite badly. The students who were watching themotion ran over one after another and helped Jiang Xue¡¯er stand up, preparing to send her to the infirmary. Qu Xiao did not expect that Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s hatred for her ran so deep that she was willing to take such a risk to nder her. Jiang Xue¡¯er smiled at her across the students. Her eyes were filled with hatred and viciousness. The news of Qu Xiao deliberately pushing Jiang Xue¡¯er down the stairs quickly spread throughout the school. The students who had grown close to Qu Xiao these few days also began to avoid her. Because of this matter, Qu Xiao became isted in school. Qu Qi missed a great opportunity to witness Jiang Xue¡¯er and Qu Xiao¡¯s argument because she had taken a leave of absence for half a day. She could only hear about it from her friends. During the ss break, Qu Qi deliberately said loudly in ss, ¡°Qu Xiao is not to me for what happened today.¡± ¡°She used to live in the countryside, so she doesn¡¯t know our way. Jiang Xue¡¯er wanted to help her adapt to our environment as soon as possible, but Qu Xiao seemed to have misunderstood her. When she still lived with our family, she already had issues with Jiang Xue¡¯er...¡± Qu Qi took advantage of Qu Xiao¡¯s absence to nder her. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m quite worried. What if my sister can¡¯t control herself and makes a move on me? School is very important to her. After all, she didn¡¯t have the opportunity to go to school in the past. She could only pick up books that were thrown away by others in the countryside.¡± In the ssroom, when they heard Qu Qi¡¯s exaggerated narration, the students¡¯ impression of Qu Xiao suddenly became worse. When Qu Xiao came back, she found that everyone was staring at her with strange eyes, while Qu Qi raised her chin proudly. ¡°Prepare yourself.¡± Qu Qi muttered in her heart. She raised her eyes slightly and looked at Qu Xiao. ¡°The game has just begun!¡± ¡°Qi, during PE ss, should we...¡± Li Xuan, who was sitting in the front row, suddenly turned around and whispered something to Qu Qi. Both of them revealed sinister smiles at the same time. Before PE ss, Qu Xiao realized that her indoor sports shoes were a little dirty. She took them to the bathroom to clean them. The water pressure of the faucets were not strong enough, so Qu Xiao had toe to a cubicle to clean them. Li Xuan followed Qu Xiao to the bathroom. She quietly bent down and locked the door of the cubicle as fast as she could. Bang! Qu Xiao heard the sound of the door closing and turned around. She realized that no matter how hard she tried, she could not push it open. Li Xuan yed with the key in her hand proudly and said to Qu Xiao who was inside, ¡°Slowly reflect on yourself in there¡± ¡°This is for offending someone you shouldn¡¯t have offended! We¡¯re having PE now. No one wille to save you...¡± Li Xuan left after saying that. Qu Xiao raised her head to look at the height of the partition. It would be hard for her to jump over the partition. Qu Xiao¡¯s gaze fell on the locked door. She took off her hairpin and twisted it into a long straight iron wire. She squatted down, her eyes parallel to the lock. Qu Xiao used the iron wire to pry open the lock. Half a minuteter, apanied by a clicking sound, Qu Xiao gently twisted the door handle and sessfully escaped. She turned back to look at the door of the cubicle, and a trace of anger shed past her eyes. She took her cleaned indoor sports shoes and rushed to the basketball hall. In the basketball hall, the PE teacher was taking attendance. Their form teacher, Miss Zhang, happened to pass by. Seeing that Qu Xiao was not with her ssmates, she was a little worried. ¡°Here!¡± Qu Xiao ran over in a hurry, her ponytail swaying gently. When Qu Qi and Li Xuan saw her, their eyes widened in shock at the same time. How did she escape? When Miss Zhang heard about Jiang Xue¡¯er¡¯s matter, she subconsciously believed that Qu Xiao would never have done that. She scanned the students present with her eyes and found that Li Xuan had her head lowered guiltily. She lowered her voice and said to Qu Xiao, ¡°Did someone bully you?¡± ¡°You can tell me. I will help you deal with it.¡± Qu Xiao raised a gentle smile and shook her head gently. ¡°I was busy cleaning my shoes, so I waste. I won¡¯t bete next time.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, teacher!¡± Miss Zhang left the basketball hall suspiciously. Li Xuan, on the other hand, heaved a sigh of relief as she hugged a basketball. She stood under the basketball hoop and stared at Qu Xiao with a contemptuous expression. ¡°Acting all big... You don¡¯t even dare to tell the truth!¡± ¡°We¡¯d better not see you again. Otherwise, I¡¯ll lock you in the bathroom again!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can still escape then!¡± After throwing the basketball at Qu Xiao, Li Xuan threatened by her ear as she pretended to pick up the basketball. Chapter 95 - Trouble in the Canteen

Chapter 95: Trouble in the Canteen

On the basketball court, the male students in their jerseys were running and jumping to snatch shots, dripping with sweat. Qu Xiao stood quietly and docilely at the side of the basketball court, listening to Li Xuan and the delinquents¡¯ sarcastic abuse without any words of rebuttal. Li Xuan frowned, feeling a little bored. She poked Qu Xiao¡¯s shoulder with her finger, ¡°Remember, in the future, when I tell you to run errands, you have to be more diligent.¡± ¡°In this school, if you want to survive, you have to know how shut your mouth! Don¡¯t always find trouble for Qu Qi.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes shed with coldness as she continued to stare silently at the floor. Li Xuan grabbed the end of her hair impatiently. She narrowed her eyes and winked at the other delinquents. She extended two fingers and gestured at her mouth. The delinquents immediately understood her intentions and quietly left the basketball court. Qu Xiao suddenly raised her head, her pitch-ck pupils shing with a smile. She picked up the basketball on the ground and threw it to the corner of the wall, then quickly followed Li Xuan. Outside the school building, in the outdoor bathroom. Li Xuan and the delinquent girls hid in the corner and distributed cigarettes. They lit them with lighters and took two deep puffs. They stepped on the stone piers and shook their legs, blowing out a few smoke rings from their nostrils and mouths. Qu Xiao narrowed her eyes and stopped a junior student who was passing by. She patted her shoulder lightly and whispered a few words to her. ¡°The dean is here!¡± The junior student deliberately ran to Li Xuan¡¯s vicinity and shouted. Sure enough, Li Xuan and the delinquents ran into the bathroom in panic when they heard that. Qu Xiao quickly walked to the door and raised her hand to lock the iron door. At the same time, she put a yellow sign that said ¡°Under repair¡± at the door. With what Li Xuan did to her, she wanted to see how Li Xuan was going to escape. Qu Xiao raised the corner of her lips and pped her hands, leaving the scene in a carefree manner. In the outdoor bathroom, Li Xuan eavesdropped on the movements outside. Feeling that it was a little strange, she leaned over to the door. Through the crack in the door, Li Xuan saw that no one was outside. She felt that it was extremely strange. When she wanted to try and push the door open to go out, the sound of the iron door clinking could be heard.. ¡°Fuck! who locked us inside!¡± Li Xuan kicked the metal door hard, but there was no student nearby, so shouting waspletely ineffective. The delinquents tried to use their phones to ask for help, but the reception here was extremely poor, so they couldn¡¯t call anyone. After PE ss ended, Miss Zhang saw the few empty seats, and her eyes revealed dissatisfaction as she asked, ¡°Where are Li Xuan and the others?¡± The ss sports representative shook his head and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qu Qi looked at Qu Xiao and realized that she had an unusual smile on her lips. Her heart skipped a beat. The next morning, Qu Xiao came to ss and heard the students around her whispering about Li Xuan. ¡°Have you heard? Apparently someone locked Li Xuan and the others in the outdoor bathroom for an entire night!¡± ¡°This morning, when the cleaningdy went to clean, she found them...¡± The female student covered her mouth and nose as if she could smell the scent on Li Xuan¡¯s body. ¡°The outdoor bathroom is so dirty!¡± ¡°When Li Xuan ran out, she vomited twice at the door. When she was in the infirmary, she almost vomited again.¡± Qu Xiao lowered her eyes and tidied up her textbooks, quietly listening to the discussion. Li Xuan¡¯s disheveled appearance appeared in her mind. She felt the exhration of sessfully getting revenge. Bang! As the ss was about to start, Li Xuan suddenly kicked open the ss door and went straight for Qu Xiao. She smashed her fist on Qu Xiao¡¯s desk. Her face was haggard and pale. Her lips trembled slightly as she questioned, ¡°Was it you?¡± Qu Xiao tilted her head and shook her head with a faint smile. Li Xuan wanted to make a move on her, but the form teacher knocked on the ckboard to remind her to return to her seat. ¡°Just you wait!¡± Li Xuan pointed at the tip of Qu Xiao¡¯s nose, and her eyes were filled with hatred as she said those harsh words. After ss, the form teacher called Li Xuan to her office to understand more about the situation. Qu Xiao raised her wrist to check the time, packed her things, and headed to the cafeteria. She ate a sumptuous lunch and sat near the window, quietly enjoying her own time while flipping through the textbooks of Chinese medicine. ¡°Qu Xiao! You just cannot help yourself, huh? You are so determined to cause trouble¡± Li Xuan rushed to Qu Xiao with a face full of anger. Her high-pitched voice attracted the attention of the surrounding students. Qu Xiao raised the corner of her lips slightly and asked with a magnanimous expression, ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good to always speak nonsense. I can sue you for nder!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s expression was indifferent. She ignored Li Xuan¡¯s mor and continued to eat her lunch. Li Xuan was furious. She grabbed the ss of water and poured it on Qu Xiao¡¯s head. ¡°Go on, eat!¡± Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Comining Behind Her Back

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The warm water made Qu Xiao¡¯s hair wet. Qu Xiao used her hands to wipe off the water on her face and pressed her hands on the dining table as she stood up. The corners of her lips curled up into a cold smile. She took advantage of Li Xuan¡¯s moment ofcency and held the edge of the bowl, pouring the entire bowl of food on top of Li Xuan¡¯s head. The vegetable soup mixed with the sticky vegetable leaves slid down from Li Xuan¡¯s shoulder. Her school uniform emitted waves of stench. Li Xuan screamed and pped the food off. Then, she opened her palms and ran toward Qu Xiao, wanting to strangle her neck. Qu Xiao raised her arms to block Li Xuan¡¯s attack. She bent her knees and kicked Li Xuan¡¯s abdomen. With two punches, she knocked her to the ground. Li Xuan¡¯s eyes were full of shock and fear as she stared at Qu Xiao. She pushed her hands on the ground and stepped back repeatedly. ¡°You¡­ how can you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate others. I don¡¯t want drama. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m afraid of you. I just don¡¯t want to fight with you.¡± Qu Xiao bent her knees and squatted beside Li Xuan. She used her palm to gently pat her cheek. Her eyes flickered with sympathy as she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve used all your little tricks before in the past. So childish!¡± Li Xuan staggered as she stood up. She shouted at Qu Xiao¡¯s back, ¡°Don¡¯t be arrogant. I¡¯ll make you regret it.¡± What could an ordinary high school student do? They could onlyin to the teacher. During self-study ss, Miss Zhang called Qu Xiao to her office. She looked at the teachers working around her and waved at Qu Xiao to sit down. ¡°You have to learn how to handle the conflicts with your ssmates.¡± ¡°It¡¯s inevitable that you will find it hard to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. There are indeed some students in the ss who have bad personalities and speak harshly. However, you have to learn how to use gentle methods to resolve conflicts. Do you understand? I don¡¯t want to see you go down the wrong path.¡± Miss Zhang stared at Qu Xiao with a worried expression. Qu Xiao obediently twisted her hands and quietly lowered her eyes to listen to Miss Zhang¡¯s teachings. But in the next second, Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes reddened and bean-sized tears flowed out. Miss Zhang hurriedly took out two pieces of tissue paper and stuffed them into Qu Xiao¡¯s hands, reflecting on whether she had spoken too harshly. Qu Xiao sniffled twice, raised her innocent eyes, and said, ¡°Li Xuan locked me in the bathroom and ganged up with those little delinquents to bully me.¡± ¡°Not only did she humiliate me in the ssroom, she even asked me to buy cigarettes for them. I really had no choice¡­ so I thought of a way to retaliate.¡± Qu Xiao bit her red lips lightly. She understood that Li Xuan¡¯s parents had invested and donated books to the school, so she did not want to put Miss Zhang in a difficult position. ¡°I will be more gentle in the future.¡± Miss Zhang saw Qu Xiao¡¯s cautious look and frowned with some heartache. She swallowed the words that were about toe out of her mouth. Finally, she sighed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t use violence next time.¡± ¡°Violence won¡¯t solve anything. Moreover, the school is very strict regarding school violence. I don¡¯t want you to get in trouble.¡± After Miss Zhang finished speaking, Qu Xiao stood up and bowed to her gratefully. When Qu Xiao returned from the office, she found that her ssmates were surrounding her desk, pointing and saying something. ¡°Shh! She¡¯s back!¡± When the students noticed Qu Xiao, they immediately scattered. Qu Xiao saw that her desk had fallen to the ground, and everything in her bag had been thrown to the ground. The covers of her textbooks had countless footprints, and vicious words were written on her desk and chair in red. ¡°Who did it?¡± Qu Xiao looked around coldly, her eyes revealing a murderous malice. She turned around to look at Li Xuan, who was sitting in the front row. Li Xuan proudly shrugged her shoulders and said with a smile, ¡°This has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°I have just been sitting here. Everyone can testify for me.¡± Qu Xiao recalled Miss Zhang¡¯s exhortation and silently bent down, wanting to pick up her scattered textbooks. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± A pair of slender fingers gripped Qu Xiao¡¯s wrist. She turned her head and saw Zhou Ce¡¯s beautiful and handsome side profile. She frowned in confusion. Yao En hugged his shoulders and leaned against the door to watch themotion. Zhou Ce turned his head to look at him and said two sentences, ¡°Go and find out! Find out who did this before ss starts!¡± Yao En ced his finger on his temple and gently lifted it. Whistling, he gathered a group of problematic youths and ran around to investigate. The sunlight outside the window shone on Zhou Ce¡¯s side profile through the ss. Qu Xiao was touched by his loyalty. Five minutester, Yao En grabbed the cors of the two boys and threw them in front of Zhou Ce. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s them!¡± Yao En pped his hands and turned around to re fiercely at Li Xuan. All the students in the school year knew that these two boys liked Li Xuan. Who was the mastermind behind all this? It was obvious! Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Sowing Discord

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

¡°The few of you, restore everything to its original state immediately.¡± Zhou Ce¡¯s entire body was exuding an icy cold aura. He stared coldly at the two boys, his lips moving slightly as he ordered them. The two boys were so scared that their legs were trembling. They hurriedly moved the desk and chair, using their school uniforms to wipe the red marks on the table. Zhou Ce leaned against the desk and chair, his gaze lightly ncing at the dirty and messy textbooks. The boy swallowed his saliva, wanting to wipe the footprints off the textbooks. They tried their best but were unable to restore it to its original state. ¡°I¡­ Can we change the textbook?¡± The boy trembled as he held a brand new textbook. Zhou Ce tilted his head and stared at Qu Xiao. She raised her hand to take it, as if she wanted to move on from the matter. The gazes of all the students in the ss fell on Zhou Ce. He used his long legs to kick away the desk and chair, sitting loosely as he said, ¡°From today onwards, Qu Xiao is under my protection! Yesterday¡¯s incident with Li Xuan has nothing to do with her. I don¡¯t want to hear anyone mention it again!¡± ¡°In the future, whoever bullies Qu Xiao is targeting me. You¡¯d better think twice about your abilities.¡± Zhou Ce¡¯s gaze was cold as he stared at Li Xuan and said. Qu Xiao looked at him in surprise. All the girls in the ss looked at her with envious eyes and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Zhou Ce care so much about anyone. Does he like Qu Xiao?¡± ¡°Zhou Ce is so handsome! I was curious about what kind of girl he would like in the past. I thought he would like girls like Qu Qi!¡± Qu Qi heard the discussion of the female students in front of her and stabbed her pen into a paper. Her eyes were full of jealousy. During the ss break, Qu Xiao rummaged through her school bag and took out two bags of blood-tonifying pills. She stuffed them into Zhou Ce¡¯s school bag. Zhou Ce was listening to music and staring out the window. He noticed her movements and took off his earphones. He stared at her with a puzzled look and asked, ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°Pills that replenish blood and Qi. I opened a Chinese medicine store.¡± ¡°These pills are from my store. You¡¯re still young, so you should take care of your body.¡± Zhou Ce weighed the Chinese medicine pills with interest. He shrugged and put them in his pocket. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Ce¡¯s personality was cold and cheerless. Qu Xiao did not expect him to have a warm attitude towards her. She buried her head in her textbooks and continued reading. In the evening, Shang Liqing and Qu Qi met at a coffee shop for dessert. Near the French window, Qu Qi thought of what happened in ss. She narrowed her eyes and poked the cake with her knife and fork. Shang Liqing saw the damaged cake and held Qu Qi¡¯s wrist to stop her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem to be in a bad mood.¡± Qu Qi¡¯s heart skipped a beat and she pretended to be worried. ¡°It¡¯s because of Qu Xiao.¡± ¡°I was worried that it would be difficult for her to fit into the new environment, but I didn¡¯t expect her to adapt well.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a school bully in our ss. He¡¯s very handsome and many girls like him. He¡¯s gotten very close to Qu Xiao recently. Today, he announced publicly that he¡¯s going to take care of Qu Xiao. I¡¯m afraid that it won¡¯t be good if this news gets out.¡± Qu Qi stole a nce at Shang Liqing and continued, ¡°After all, Qu Xiao is CEO Shang¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°If someone secretly spreads this, it will affect the Qu family and the Shang family¡¯s reputation.¡± ¡°I want to ask Qu Xiao to distance herself from him, but considering her rtionship with me¡­ I¡¯m afraid that she won¡¯t listen to what I say.¡± After Qu Qi finished her words, Shang Liqing¡¯s face turned livid. Qu Qi hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand. ¡°Aiya! Liqing, don¡¯t tell CEO Shang about this matter. I don¡¯t want to destroy their rtionship!¡± ¡°We¡¯re friends. I am just ranting to you. Don¡¯t think too much. They might just be ordinary friends.¡± Qu Qi deliberately emphasized thest two words. On the surface, she was trying to rify, but in reality, she was inciting Shang Liqing¡¯s disgust towards Qu Xiao. Shang Liqing silently clenched her fists and muttered to herself, ¡°I knew it. She only knows how to cause trouble!¡± Seeing that it waste, Qu Qi pretended that she had family matters to attend to and left in a hurry. Shang Liqing gged down a taxi and rushed to the Shang family¡¯s vi, wanting to tell him about everything. At the same time, at the corner of the alley outside the cafe, Qu Qi quietly watched Shang Liqing leave. A trace of viciousness shed in her eyes. ¡°Qu Xiao, once Shang Yan stops caring about you, let¡¯s see how arrogant you can still be!¡± Qu Qi put on her sunsses and walked in the opposite direction without looking back. Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Keep at Home

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the Shang family¡¯s vi,rge patches of roses were nted in the garden courtyard. Qu Xiao loved roses. Shang Yan sent Li overseas to search for the most expensive species of roses and transnted them in the vi. In his wheelchair, Shang Yan sprinkled water on the flowers with a watering can. Qu Xiao came back and signaled the butler not to make a sound. She ced her schoolbag at the door and walked towards Shang Yan with light footsteps. Shang Yan saw her actions from her reflection on the ss of the greenhouse and the corners of his lips curled up as he pretended not to know. Qu Xiao suddenly bent down and hugged his neck. She kissed his cheek intimately and said sweetly, ¡°Hubby, I¡¯m back!¡± Shang Yan saw that she was in a good mood and was about to ask about how her day at school was when Shang Liqing appeared at the door with an impatient expression. She coughed heavily and interrupted the beautiful moment between the two of them. She stared at Qu Xiao and said in a harsh tone, ¡°You¡¯re so two-faced!¡± ¡°Hooking up with another student at school, then going home to my brother. Are you having an affair?¡± ¡°The Shang family will never allow women¡­¡± Shang Liqing wanted to continue, but Shang Yan frowned and red at her. He said fiercely, ¡°Liqing, shut up!¡± Qu Xiao met Shang Liqing¡¯s gaze and could tell that she had heard some rumors. Although Shang Yan controlled his emotions very well, Qu Xiao could still see that he minded. She did not want the two of them to have irreconcble conflicts and misunderstandings between them. Qu Xiao raised the corner of her lips slightly, started a recording on her phone and put it in her pocket. She then pushed Shang Yan into the living room. ¡°What did you hear about me? Tell it to me straight. It¡¯ll be easier for me to exin.¡± Shang Liqing looked at her magnanimous appearance and sat on the sofa, snorting coldly. ¡°You are close with your male ssmate called Zhou Ce. Apparently he¡¯s even your deskmate. Who knows what dirty things you¡¯ve done behind Shang Yan¡¯s back?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not from our school. How would you know all this?¡± Qu Xiao slowly fiddled with her phone and tried her best to ask in a non-aggressive tone. Shang Liqing stared at her nails nonchntly. ¡°Of course it was Qu Qi who told me¡­¡± When Qu Xiao heard her expected answer, she paused the recording. Then, she looked at Shang Yan with her clear eyes and exined to him, ¡°Qu Qi and her other friends bullied me at school. Zhou Ce just didn¡¯t like their behavior and helped me casually.¡± Shang Liqing narrowed her eyes and egged Shang Yan on in disbelief, ¡°Second brother, do you not see what a horrible person she is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to not let her go to school and keep her in the vi. At least there¡¯s a butler and a nanny watching her so she can¡¯t stir up any trouble.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a scandal at school, it will affect our family¡¯s reputation!¡± Shang Liqing¡¯s words made Qu Xiao and Shang Yan pause. Qu Xiao looked at Shang Yan nervously, afraid that he would agree. Shang Yan lowered his eyes in silence. His chiseled profile was filled with a gloomy aura. ¡°Go home. Don¡¯t mention this matter again.¡± Shang Liqing stared at Shang Yan in astonishment. She did not expect Shang Yan to still defend Qu Xiao under such circumstances. The atmosphere in the living room was heavy and oppressive. Qu Xiao looked nervously at Shang Yan and asked in an extremely soft voice, ¡°I¡­ Can I still go to school?¡± Shang Yan did not answer. He just looked at her and asked, ¡°Who is Zhou Ce?¡± Qu Xiao moved her feet and sat beside Shang Yan. She shook his hand coquettishly and said, ¡°He is my deskmate.¡± ¡°A very righteous boy. You know how Qu Qi does things. I can¡¯t handle it. He has helped me a few times.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s all. I¡¯m married to such a manly and sessful man. Why would I like a young high school student?¡± Qu Xiao could tell that Shang Yan was jealous. She used her hand to gently stroke Shang Yan¡¯s eyebrows and coaxed him in a coquettish voice, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that the honorable CEO Shang doesn¡¯t have confidence in himself? Will he be reduced to the point of being jealous of high school students?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s anger eased a little. Qu Xiao was a little uncertain. She held Shang Yan¡¯s cheek and stared into his deep eyes as she asked, ¡°Will you make me stay at home because of the rumors?¡± Shang Yan sighed and held her fingertips back. He lovingly and helplessly promised, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to support you. No matter what you want to do, I won¡¯t stop you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t force you to do things that you don¡¯t like.¡± Qu Xiao was moved when she heard his words and leaned over to kiss him. Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Water

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the bedroom, the room was filled with a sexual atmosphere. Shang Yan hugged Qu Xiao¡¯s waist, his palm pressed against the back of her head, and his thin lips pressed against her delicate lips to taste them. Qu Xiao¡¯s nimble tongue intertwined with Shang Yan¡¯s, and their breathing gradually became rapid. Shang Yan used his hand to unhook Qu Xiao¡¯s bra strap, his palm pressed against her soft breasts, and his fingertips gently held onto her nipple. Qu Xiao leaned her head against his shoulder. Her clothes had unknowingly scattered all over the floor. The thin nket of the bed fell at the foot of the bed. Qu Xiao was sweating profusely as she kissed Shang Yan. She held onto Shang Yan¡¯s erect object with a fawning expression. Her eyes flickered with a flirtatious glow as she slowlyid on Shang Yan¡¯s chest. She used her soft breasts to mp on the hard object that was erect and slowly rubbed against it. The huge object with protruding veins formed a stark contrast with Qu Xiao¡¯s fair and tender flesh, causing Shang Yan¡¯s throat to be dry and obscure. Qu Xiao slowly used her red lips to suck on the object, egging back and forth. Shang Yan¡¯s body trembled twice uncontrobly. His eyes tugged at Qu Xiao¡¯s slender legs. His thin lips covered her moist area. Qu Xiao¡¯s face was flushed red. She wanted to break free. ¡°Don¡¯t, no!¡± Her voice was filled with a delicate and lustful tone. Shang Yan did not answer, and the tip of his tongue squeezed into the narrow and tight tunnel. Qu Xiao moaned softly as she felt the stimtion. She twisted her hips, and more and more water flowed out. Shang Yan was like a thirsty child trying his best to swallow all of the water. His slender fingers separated the oyster-like opening as he stuck his fingers in. Qu Xiao¡¯s body copsed onto Shang Yan¡¯s body. She stout her tongue gently and continued licking Shang Yan¡¯s hard object. Shang Yan¡¯s muscles tensed up and his fingers moved faster and faster. Qu Xiao could not help but sway her legs. Shang Yan opened his mouth and continued licking her moist area. His arms held Qu Xiao¡¯s legs that were trying to close. His eyes were filled with passion that stimted Qu Xiao¡¯s sensitive spots. When water gushed out, Qu Xiao cried out and shed two tears. ¡°You¡­ I can¡¯t!¡± Qu Xiao felt an unprecedented intensity. She wanted to push Shang Yan¡¯s body away, but he refused to let go of her soft breasts. Shang Yan buried his head and gnawed on Qu Xiao¡¯s neck, leaving traces of hickies on her corbone. When she rxed, he pushed the hard object that had once again risen into her body. He shook his lean waist and gritted his teeth as he rushed forward. The man¡¯s heavy breathing mixed with the woman¡¯s coquettish moansplemented each other. ¡ª The next day at school, at the entrance of the ssroom, Qu Xiao rubbed her sore waist and took a deep breath to calm down. The moment she entered the ssroom, Qu Xiao walked in front of Qu Qi with a wronged look in her eyes. In front of her ssmates, she asked in a weak tone, ¡°Why did you deliberately spread rumors about my rtionship with Zhou Ce? You clearly know that we are just ordinary friends!¡± ¡°Last night, my sister-inw came to my house to use me. She and you are good friends. Why did you nder me?¡± The ssmates stared at Qu Qi as if they were watching a show. Qu Qi was a little flustered, but she quickly raised her face and asked in return, ¡°Do you have evidence?¡± Qu Xiao was waiting for her to say that. She took out her phone and yed Shang Liqing¡¯s audio. ¡°It was Qu Qi who told me that you and Zhou Ce are having an affair!¡± Shang Liqing¡¯s voice echoed clearly in the ssroom, and Qu Qi¡¯s face instantly turned red. Zhou Ce, who had been sprawled on the table, sat up as well. He was half awake, clutching his hair and frowning at Qu Qi, as if waiting for her to give an exnation. The students in the ss looked at Qu Qi with disdain and mockery.. They did not expect Qu Qi to sow discord between Qu Xiao and her husband behind their backs. Qu Qi was frightened by Zhou Ce¡¯s gaze. She averted his gaze and looked elsewhere as her mind spun rapidly, ¡°I only said that you and Zhou Ce have a good rtionship. Shang Liqing might have misunderstood! I never said that you two have an improper rtionship.¡± Qu Qi retorted in a panic, but the surrounding students were no longer willing to believe her. Qu Xiao got the result she wanted. She put away her phone and walked to her seat. Qu Qi felt a ringing in her ears and she became dizzy for a moment. She red at Qu Xiao with resentment. Qu Xiao had changed so much. She could no longer beat her. In the seat by the window, Zhou Ce askedzily, ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Qu Xiao shook her head and answered faintly, ¡°I can handle it myself.¡± Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Medical Competition

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The bell rang and Miss Zhang and the students entered the ssroom one after another. There were many extra-curricr activities in aristocratic schools. Every semester, students with excellent results would be called to participate in summer camp and extra-curricr training. Miss Zhang knocked on the ckboard and handed the promotional materials in her hands to the students. Qu Xiao lowered her head and looked at the eye-catching words ¡°Medical department¡±. She flipped through them with interest and found that this activity was organized by A University. She silently pondered in her heart, perhaps it was a good opportunity to get in touch with that professor in advance. Miss Zhang mmed the table to achieve silence in the midst of noisy discussions. ¡°In a few days, A University will hold a medical knowledgepetition. Students who are ranked in the top ten will be able to go to A University¡¯s medicalboratory to do practical exercises! This is a very rare opportunity. Everyone should know how prestigious A University¡¯s medical department is¡­¡± A University¡¯s medical department nurtured top doctors from many departments in the country. It could be said to be the cradle of medical geniuses. The equipment in the medicalboratory was the most advanced equipment in the country and abroad. It waspletely untouchable by the outside world. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up. She repeatedly looked at a few photos on the promotional materials and at a nce recognized the precision instrument that could help her develop medicine! She had browsed through many ancient medical books and knew a few prescriptions that could help heal Shang Yan¡¯s illness. However, with the current equipment she had at the Chinese medicine store, there was no way to prepare them. Thispetition at A University was an amazing opportunity for her. When Miss Zhang saw the excited looks of the students, she added once again, ¡°The top three students will be able to lower the cut-off point for their admission to the medical department of A University by 15 points. This is a rare opportunity. I hope that all of you will prepare seriously and fight for a spot!¡± When Qu Xiao heard this, she suddenly raised her hand, wanting to ask about the scope of thepetition. However, Miss Zhang misunderstood her and said gently, ¡°Qu Xiao, you may not havee into contact with medical knowledge in the past. It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t have enough knowledge in this area. There will be other opportunities in the future. You don¡¯t have to be discouraged. You just have to work hard¡­¡± When Qu Xiao heard herforting words, she shook her head with a calm and confident expression and said in a clear voice, ¡°Teacher, I want to sign up.¡± The students in the ss all turned their heads and stared at Qu Xiao. Even Zhou Ce looked at her in surprise, as if he was questioning her ability. Qu Qi suddenly burst outughing. She turned around and looked at Qu Xiao, ¡°Sister, you don¡¯t even have any medical knowledge. Don¡¯t waste a spot. When the timees, you¡¯ll only embarrass our ss. We don¡¯t want to be ridiculed by the students in the other sses because of you.¡± She only opened a Chinese medicine store. Did she really think that she was proficient in Chinese medicine? Qu Qi mocked in her heart, and Li Xuan followed suit. ¡°You grew up in the countryside. Where did you learn medical knowledge from?¡± ¡°Did you learn from a barefoot doctor in the vige? The professors in A University are serious and strict. They hate students who treat medicine as a joke. If you really were to participate in thepetition, you¡¯ll probably anger the professors. You¡¯d better save your energy.¡± ¡°Thepetition is conducted in public. There¡¯s no chance for you to cheat! Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Li Xuan said sarcastically. Miss Zhang pushed her ck sses and stared at her. ¡°Students should be friendly and help each other. Don¡¯t mock your ssmates.¡± ¡°Everyone has the right to chase their dreams. Qu Xiao has to make the decision by herself.¡± Miss Zhang still wanted to persuade Qu Xiao to give up, but how could Qu Xiao let go of this opportunity? She insisted on signing up. ¡°It¡¯s alright. If you want to participate, just do your best. It¡¯s okay whatever ranking you get¡± Miss Zhang looked at the application form Qu Xiao handed over and said in aforting tone. Qu Xiao stood in front of the podium, her eyes bright as she looked at the school emblem of A University. She said to herself with certainty, ¡°I will definitely seed.¡± Regardless of whether it was for Shang Yan or for herself! ¡°Is she crazy? The medical department of A University¡­ even the top student in our grade doesn¡¯t dare to say that she will definitely seed.¡± ¡°I think she is just too desperate to prove herself. When the timees, we¡¯ll be able to see her make a fool of herself.¡± The surrounding female students nced at Qu Xiao with a hint of jealousy in their eyes. Their tone was unfriendly as they ridiculed and discussed. Qu Xiao silently flipped open the information booklet of the A University medicalpetition. She grasped the scope of thepetition¡¯s topics and was seriously making preparations and ns. After ss, Qu Qi walked to her side. The corners of her lips curled into a mocking smile. ¡°Qu Xiao, you will definitely fail!¡± Chapter 101

Chapter 101: A Giveaway Exam

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

¡®A¡¯ university¡¯s exam tested entrants in three main categories: their mastery of Chinese medicinal herbs, their ability to adjust prescriptions based on a set ratio, and their fundamental grasp of Chinese medicine. The first two were extremely easy for Qu Xiao. The only thing she needed to do was revise and memorise the theoretical knowledge again. Qu Xiao, who had just returned from school, was in her bedroom, memorising everything she would need for the exam; her expression was serious. Shang Yan drank in the sight of her hair as it cascaded in loose waves down her neck and shoulders. His heart clenched, and his mouth felt dry as he swallowed unconsciously. He wheeled himself to the bathroom and rummaged in the drawer for a hairdryer. Afterwards, he rolled his wheelchair to Qu Xiao¡¯s side, motioning for her to sit on hisp. Shang Yan¡¯s slender fingers gently threaded through Qu Xiao¡¯s hair, twirling them yfully. Resting his head on her shoulder, he peered down at the 4-page paper scribbled with notes and asked, ¡°Studying for an exam?¡± Qu Xiao nodded. She was so focused that she did not notice Shang Yan¡¯s hands twitching restlessly. ¡°Is that a tableparing the body¡¯s acupuncture points?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t rote learning rather boring? Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you practised a few sample exam questions? I¡¯m sure that would help you remember better,¡± Shang Yan remarked brightly. Qu Xiao turned around with a question on the tip of her tongue. In the next second, her delicate red lips were caught in a passionate kiss. The tip of Shang Yan¡¯s tongue pried open Qu Xiao¡¯s fruit-scented teeth and yed with her fragrant tongue agilely. A pair of scalding hands lifted the hem of Qu Xiao¡¯s clothes, exploring the contours of her form. He kneaded her supple skin, eliciting muffled moans from her sweet lips. Shang Yan smiled proudly, ¡°Now¡­ What is the name of this acupoint?¡± Qu Xiao frowned. She curled her slender legs around Shang Yan¡¯s muscr waist, stealing the initiative as she pressed herself against him. ¡°Since you want to be my sample, you can¡¯t move around as you wish!¡± Qu Xiao conveniently picked up her pen from the bedside table and gently ced it on Shang Yan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple, slowly sliding it downward. Shang Yan narrowed his dark eyes. His breathing grew rapid, and he struggled to sit up, but he was powerless under Qu Xiao¡¯s unforgiving hand. Her pen drew a line down to his lower abdomen, stopping above his naval. Teasingly, Qu Xiao nted kisses tracing the line she had drawn, her curly hair bouncing as she repeated her actions. She felt a stirring in his loins and stopped. Like a cheeky fairy, she turned off the lights and whispered sweet promises to a night of merrymaking. Qu Xiao woke up the next morning and felt a burning gaze beside her. She turned her head and looked over. She found Shang Yan¡¯s upper body naked, and he was staring at her with an inscrutable gaze. ¡°What are you nning?¡± Qu Xiao subconsciously covered her chest. Seeing the strawberry-coloured marks all over her body, she shook her head, desperately trying to refute the evidence screaming at her. Shang Yan grabbed her wrist and pulled Qu Xiao into his arms, continuing their unfinished business. Dawn might have arrived, but dusk was far from over. ¨C Three dayster, at the exam hall set up by the school¡­ Qu Xiao held two ballpoint pens in each of her hands and answered the questions on the exam paper at record speed, seemingly unperturbed by their difficulty. She was so fast that she finished the paper well before the allotted time expired and even submitted her papers in advance. Qu Qi, and many others taking the exam, watched her exit the hall, feeling anxious. ¡°What is she pretending for? She doesn¡¯t know how to do it; that¡¯s why she handed in the papers in advance!¡± ¡°Why do I feel that this year¡¯s exam questions are much more difficult than the previous years? Is it because the professors at ¡®A¡¯ university want to raise the bar?¡± ¡°The exam content ispletely different from what I revised. Maybe I should have taken the college entrance exams more seriously¡­¡± Qu Qi and her friends walked out of the exam hall, discussing the exam¡¯s contents among themselves. They felt that something was not right. It was not long before the university released the examinees¡¯ results. Qu Xiao ranked first with a full score. Results were open for public viewing, and anyone could see how each candidate scored on the inte. ¡°How is that possible!¡± Qu Qi stood up abruptly, voicing the public¡¯s dissatisfaction, ¡°Qu Xiao! You must have gotten the exam questions ahead of time!¡± Qu Xiao sat calmly in front of the desk, tilted her head, and stared at Qu Qi¡¯s clown-like expression as she asked in return, ¡°Are you questioning the professors of ¡®A¡¯ University? A panel of professors prepared the exam questions, and they were in charge of everything from the release of the paper to their distribution. No one could have possibly obtained the answers to the exam questions before we sat for the paper.¡± ¡°If you insist on your usations, please provide evidence to substantiate your ims. Otherwise, your words are nothing more than the ravings of a jealous woman, or am I wrong?¡± Qu Xiao reposted sarcastically. Qu Qi¡¯s face flushed red. She stared at her score. It was the lowest of all the candidates who sat for the paper, causing her eyes to bulge, bloodshot. She clenched her fists and pressed them on the desk. Miss Zhang looked at Qu Xiao¡¯s results and was exceptionally happy. Hoping to help Qu Xiao smooth things over, she said, ¡°Let us all congratte Qu Xiao for her outstanding achievement.¡± ¡°I hope everyone will learn from her example and achieve good results in the future.¡± With those words, Miss Zhang ended all further discussions in the ssroom. Qu Xiao looked at her phone. She had received a message from Shang Xinchen asking, ¡°How¡¯d you do?¡± Qu Xiao replied indifferently, ¡°Well, of course.¡± She held the eptance letter from ¡®A¡¯ university and thought of Shang Yan¡¯s legs. She wanted to help him regain movement in his legs as soon as possible. ¨C After sses concluded for the day, Qu Qi rushed out of school and cornered a pair of delinquents. ¡°Are you sure that she passed the exam on her own?¡± she asked, staring down at the two punks. They weighed the two wads of money in their hands and nodded. ¡°The radio equipment nearby was blocked on the day of the exam. The examinees who bought the answers didn¡¯t seed. The results of this exam are all valid.¡± ¡°Huh. Aren¡¯t you well informed?¡± The delinquent wiped his lips against his sleeve, smiling evilly. ¡°How about ying billiards with your two brothers?¡± Qu Qi frowned, pushing them away. ¡°Shut up!¡± She rigged the exam in her favour, selling the question paper¡¯s answers to her peers, yet she still failed to score better than the rest¡­ Chapter 102

Chapter 102: Emergency Treatment For an Old Woman

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao spent her holidays sequestered in the Chinese Medicine Hall, pouring throughrge tomes and ancient texts searching for treatment methods for leg conditions. On the asions Shang Yan wrapped up his work ahead of time, he would pick her up and send her home. Qu Xiao eyed the pot of medicinal soup, watching it bubble and foam. She turned around, sharing a smile with Shang Yan, who was soaking his feet. They shared a tacit understanding that needed no words tomunicate their thoughts. Suddenly, a noisy noise came from outside the pharmacy. A young man rushed in with an old woman who looked like she was on herst breath. ¡°Quick! I beg you to save my grandmother. She is dying!¡± Qu Xiao frowned and gave the old woman a once over; she did not respond immediately. The boss of the establishment thought that they were looking for trouble. Grabbing his broom, he rushed toward them, wanting to chase them out the door. The young man ced the old woman on the single bed next to him. He knelt with a plop and continued kowtowing. The boss was scared out of his wits, being the one receiving the young man¡¯s entreaty. Thankfully, he quickly recovered from his shock and said, ¡°This is the Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Centre; it is not the A&E. I¡¯ll call for an ambnce¡­¡± Qu Xiao walked to the old woman¡¯s side. Using the tips of her fingers, she checked the old woman¡¯s pulse. Her vital signs were still stable. ¡°Grandma always gave me medicine dispensed by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Centre, which always helped my condition. There must be something you can do!¡± ¡°Grandma returned from her check-up at the hospital, and they said¡­ they said she was too old to be operated on. They fear she might die on the table. I don¡¯t believe it. No, they must be lying! There has to be another way. Doctor, please, please save my grandmother!¡± The young man hugged the boss¡¯s thigh, his eyes burning pitifully. The boss quickly tried extricating himself from the young man¡¯s death grip but to no avail; his strength was too great. Helpless, he looked to Qu Xiao, motioning for her assistance. ¡°Prepare the list of medicine I¡¯m about to give you. It would be best if you could steam it for a while. Also, bring me my needles¡­¡± As soon as Qu Xiao finished speaking, the boss stared at the boy who refused to let go and urged, ¡°She¡¯s the doctor here, not me! If you don¡¯t let go, don¡¯t me us if your grandmother experiencesplications because of the dy!¡± The young man¡¯s eyes flew open. Shock mingled with incredulity as he stared nkly at Qu Xiao as if he could not process the words said to him. She looked young, exceedingly so. Could she save his grandmother? Qu Xiao remembered the old woman. She was one of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Centre¡¯s earliest patients. The old woman overworked herself in her youth, supporting her entire family with nothing more than a pair of hands and slim shoulders to bear the burden, which resulted in her present frailty in her twilight years. The old woman¡¯s breathing was weak. asionally, she would mumble a few words and speak of funerary arrangements. Qu Xiao could not guarantee that she could preserve the old woman¡¯s life, only that she would do her best. Dozens of silver needles flew out of her hands, inserting themselves into the old woman¡¯s acupoints, drawing viscous ck blood like poison from a wound. The old woman frowned in pain. Sweat covered her body from head to toe while she sat in what was a sauna of steaming medicinal herbs. She panted heavily, and her fingers spasmed erratically. ¡°Slice the wild ginseng in the medicine cab and fry it well. Get me a bowl of soup for now.¡± The boss did not dare to dy after Qu Xiao instructed him. He rushed to the medicine cab and looked at the wild ginseng that he had bought at a heavy price with a pained expression. The young boy¡¯s expression became awkward when he heard their conversation. He fingered his pocket, surreptitiously checking his bank ount. Through the mirror on the wall, Qu Xiao noticed his panic. She opened her red lips and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to pay for the wild ginseng. Treat it as my way of returning the debt of gratitude I owe for having had your grandmother¡¯s faith ced in me. Please, don¡¯t worry.¡± When the Chinese Medicine Health Center¡¯s business was not good, the old woman woulde to the shop every day to help Qu Xiao attract customers and advertise her services despite her ailing health. It was a favour Qu Xiao felt she ought to repay. The young man¡¯s mouth fell open. The young man stuttered, not knowing how to respond for the longest time, but eventually settled for his sincere expression of gratitude, ¡°Thank you.¡± The old woman¡¯s condition stabilised after a gruelling hour of treatment. Qu Xiao wiped the soybean-sized beads of perspiration lining her forehead and wrote down a few prescriptions. ¡°Although her condition is stable, your grandmother¡¯s body is weak, and she will need constant attention.¡± ¡°Follow this prescription and have her take it three times a day. I¡¯d like to review her condition in half a month. Remember not to mix what I¡¯ve prescribed with western medicine.¡± Medicines, if ingested without proper care, were no different from poisons. Bnce and harmony were the focal points of Chinese medicine. If a patient were to consume western and eastern medicine together, it could cause an adverse reaction, producing life-threatening consequences. The young man nodded, understanding the gravity of Qu Xiao¡¯s words. The gaze he used to look at Qu Xiao also became more respectful. While waiting for his grandmother to wake up, he noticed Shang Yan, still soaking his feet in a bed next to where his grandmother was lying. He had not moved since they arrived. The young man leaned over as if he was familiar with him. He lowered his voice andmunicated with Shang Yan, ¡°Are you also Doctor Qu¡¯s patient? Do you know how old she is? Does she have a girlfriend? And how did you hurt your leg?¡± Shang Yan remained silent while the young man continued muttering, ¡°I wonder what type of person Doctor Qu likes. How am I going to woo her?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t have a boyfriend, but she has a husband.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s expression turned livid. His eyes were dark and menacing as he stared at the young boy. He smirked with an upturn of his lips and said, ¡°I am her husband!¡± Awkward! The young man felt his scalp go numb, his face turning into a shade of pig¡¯s liver. He got up and wished for a hole to bury himself. Qu Xiao burst intoughter as she listened to their conversation. She did not expect Shang Yan to look so cute when he was jealous. Shang Yan saw her expression, and his thin lips arched into a teasing smile. Qu Xiao understood the words left unsaid. Tugging at a few loose bundles of medicinal herbs, she pretended not to have seen the look he shot at her. It was a look that said: ¡°I¡¯ll settle the score with you tonight!¡± Chapter 103

Chapter 103: Evil Thoughts of the Qu Family

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

A tense and depressing atmosphere hung over the Qu family. ss shards were scattered on the floor of the living room. Mr Qu reeked of alcohol as he hugged the bottle of wine, cursing, ¡°Unfilial daughter! Those rascals dared to block me outside. Who does Qu Xiao think she is? Does she think she can usurp control over thepany?¡± ¡°Zhenzhen! Take up a position in the pharmaceutical department and think of a way to bring her down.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about taking away what I can¡¯t get!¡± The alcohol made Mr Qu spill his innermost thoughts without any hesitation. His face revealed a sinister and treacherous expression as he gulped down a mouthful of alcohol. Qu Zhen wore a pure white dress. She frowned and thought for a long time before ultimately rejecting her father¡¯s orders, ¡°Dad, Xiaoxiao is very talented in management. Under her management, the Qu Group has flourished, and the stock prices are still rising¡­¡± ¡°Do you have a misunderstanding with her that hasn¡¯t been resolved?¡± Qu Qi and Mr Qu jolted in surprise, looks of dissatisfaction stered on their faces as they took in Qu Zhen¡¯s words. Qu Qi stood up with a face full of resentment, ¡°Sister! Whose side are you on? Qu Xiao has already forced us into a corner. Dad cannot work in thepany, and he doesn¡¯t have the right to interfere in any of the board¡¯s decisions. Then how about me? Qu Xiao bullied me so badly in school that I can¡¯t even hold my head up high without embarrassment!¡± ¡°Do you honestly believe Qu Xiao is a good person? Could it be that what we did was wrong?¡± Qu Qi questioned loudly. Qu Zhen hurriedly shook her head, wearing a troubled look. ¨C Later that night¡­ While Qu Zhen was showering, Qu Qi sat next to her father and spoke to him in soft, coaxing tones, ¡°Father, Sister Zhenzhen¡¯s personality is too stubborn. No one can force her to do anything she chooses not to do. Still, will we let Qu Xiao run wild and have her way with things?¡± ¡°Everyone worth their salt in the financial sector is talking about our family, saying that Qu Xiao is walking all over you. Qu Qi wantonly fanned the mes of jealousy and doubt. Mr Qu was so angry that he clenched his fists and hammered them on the coffee table. He couldn¡¯t help but curse in a low voice, ¡°What can I do? Qu Xiao and Shang Yan are working together; I can¡¯t even walk up to the front door without being chased away. All those on good terms with me won¡¯t even answer my calls now, let alone stir up mischief on my behalf.¡± ¡°Dad, we have Sister Zhenzhen!¡± Qu Qi inclined her head in the direction of the second-floor bedroom. She edged closer to her father¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°I heard that Sister Zhenzhen is developing a special kind of medicine.¡± ¡°Qu Xiao has already approved of it. As long as we tamper with the finished product, the consumers and their families will demand an exnation from Qu Xiao if it proves ineffective or results inplications!¡± A sinister smile spread across Qu Qi¡¯s face. Mr Qu rolled his eyes, though somewhat hesitantly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you still harbour good thoughts for her. Think about it, Qu Xiao doesn¡¯t care about our feelings! She deserves whatever she gets¡­ we¡¯re just exacting justice,¡± Qu Qi emphasised. Mr Qu shook his head, struggling to answer, ¡°The medicine has to go through several rounds of clinical screening before approval. To tamper with it without anyone knowing¡­ that would be not easy. I cannot, in good conscience, purposefully ce human lives at risk over my disagreement with your sister.¡± Human Lives? Qu Qi did not care about them at all. All she wanted was to bury Qu Xiao, even if she had to forfeit her life. Qu Xiao was blissfully unaware of the schemes her father and sister concocted in the background. She had more important things to do¡­ In a dimly lit bedroom, Qu Xiao sat in a sexy massage chair, whose hands were teasing her with feather-light touches against her exposed skin. Her hands and legs were bound, shackled against muscr arms working their way up her body. Those arms paused, a wicked smile shing across the man¡¯s face as he felt her tense against him. Qu Xiao bit her cherry-picked lips, suppressing the moan gurgling in her throat. ¡°This massage chair has many functions. The night is long. We have plenty of time to discover them all,¡± Shang Yan¡¯s voice rasped low and deep, shamelessly flirtatious. Strong hands wandered endlessly on the canvas of her body, slowly but surely arriving before the forbidden depths. Qu Xiao arched her back, mping her legs against each other. ¡°You¡­ slow down, don¡¯t. Stop!¡± Crystalline tears sparkled at the corners of her eyes, but Shang Yan was unwilling to stop. He ignored her intive cries and quickened his pace. He squeezed and pressed and kneaded, gently then roughly, until Qu Xiao rxed,ying limp as y was wont to do in the hands of a craftsman. Qu Xiao could not help but stretch out her neck, ¡°Ah¡­¡± An indeterminate amount of time afterwards, Shang Yan stopped. His gaze was a smoky glower in the dim room. He, the splendid massage chair, ceased operations and switched to hugging the woman in his arms. Qu Xiao¡¯s nails dug into Shang Yan¡¯s broad shoulders, leaving a trail of red marks against his bare skin. Shang Yan tucked his head into the crook of Qu Xiao¡¯s neck, forcing her head down as he kissed her. Those kisses opened a new path, and soon their lips were locked together, intertwined in a passionate dance of teeth and tongues. Qu Xiao felt like her body was no longer under her control, but she wanted more; she never wanted this feeling to end. She felt charged, alive in a way she knew not how. Their bodies touched, and she felt a surge ofpetitiveness in the tingling press. Not to be outdone, she wrestled control of the initiative out of Shang Yan¡¯s hands, eliciting a sharp intake of breath on his part. An odd numbness overtook his lower half, and Shang Yan grit his teeth, cursing under his breath. Suddenly, a change urred in his expression, and he hissed angrily, ¡°Zhenzhen wants to leave you at home and prevent anyone from seeing you.¡± Chapter 104

Chapter 104: ss A

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Using a map of ¡®A¡¯ university, Qu Xiao made her way to the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, heading to a lecture hall in the teaching building. An old man with white hair walked into the ssroom with a thermos. He knocked on the ckboard, and the ssroom filled with students immediately quietened down. The students looked at this elder with awe and admiration twinkling in their eyes. Lei Qiming was the honorary president of the Chinese Medicine Association. He stood at the pinnacle of Chinese medicine and was the authority in the field. There was no one better able to represent the face of ¡®A¡¯ university than the wizened elder before them. His presence alone was reason enough for Qu Xiao to take the entrance exams andpete for a spot in the prestigious university. Lei Qiming scanned his surroundings, cleared his throat, threw the name list to the side, and raised his wrist to calcte the time. At thest second, Qu Xiao arrived with the ss bell ringing. She said humbly, ¡°Hello, Professor Lei.¡± Lei Qiming pushed his presbyopia sses up and silently flipped through the textbook. His voice was indifferent as he said, ¡°I do not tolerate tardiness, neither do I dismiss sses before all the allotted time is up. If there is anyone who can¡¯t abide by these rules, leave now! Those who fail the final exams at the end of each year will not receive graduating certificates.¡± ¡°I hope those of you present will treat the study of Chinese medicine with the utmost respect and caution; it is no child¡¯s game, nor should it be a stepping stone used to prop up your situation,¡± Lei Qiming¡¯s tone was not friendly. The dissatisfaction and ridicule in his eyes made Qu Xiao feel ufortable. What did she do to offend Lei Qiming? Qu Xiao flipped open her nk notebook, huddling in the corner of the lecture theatre as she listened to Lei Qiming¡¯s introduction to Chinese medicine. His ss was lively and interesting. asionally, bursts ofughter would erupt in the ss. The students memorised the points of knowledge in a rxed and happy environment. As expected of a well-known professor in the country. Lei Qiming put away his teaching materials when ss was about to end., his eyes falling on Qu Xiao. After pondering for a while, he asked, ¡°Are the prescriptions of old still usable today?¡± The question made the students nervous; everyone avoided his eyes, trying to escape the fate of answering the professor¡¯s question. A hush fell over the noisy lecture theatre. Some students would even stand their books and cover their faces to escape notice. Better students were deep in thought, but they too did not dare answer rashly. Lei Qiming furrowed his brows in disappointment, deciding to pick two of the better students via roll call. A girl wearing ck-rimmed sses stood up and stammered, ¡°They are usable. The prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine are the crystallisation of the wisdom of the ancients. We should respect the results of our predecessors¡­¡± Lei Qiming waved his hand, gesturing for her to sit down. ¡°You there! Please answer the question.¡± Lei Qiming pointed at a male student in the front row. The male student was frightened out of his wits, trembling like a deer caught in the headlights as he answered, ¡°They aren¡¯t usable!¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Lei Qiming¡¯s eyes lit up ever so slightly as he gestured for him to continue. The male student blinked, turning a begging eye to his friend seated beside him, a flush on his staining his cheeks. The students of the university only knew what was written in their textbooks. They relied on rote memorisation and did not know how to adapt. When they walked out of campus, would they truly pursue a profession in traditional Chinese medicine? Would they do everything to save their patients using the knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine? The answer was obvious. Lei Qiming frowned, wanting nothing more than to pack up his books and leave, but stopped short when he saw Qu Xiao raise her hand from her corner of the lecture theatre. Lei Qiming had noticed her raised hand early on but chose to ignore it. In the end, he decided to hear what she had to say, ¡°You there! What is your answer?¡± ¡°One cannot follow ancient prescriptions to the letter because the herbs in those days possess extremely pure and potent medicinal effects. Still, they are usable if adjusted ordingly.¡± ¡°Most Chinese medicinal herbs are artificially grown these days. Even ginseng that we used to forage for in mountains and forests are now cultivated in greenhouses; the difference is enormous.¡± ¡°Therefore, although the form can continue to be used, the quantity of the medicine needs to be revised.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s reply made the students gape and nod in agreement. Lei Qiming stared at her. He did not confirm or deny her answer. He merely reminded her with an experienced voice, ¡°If you want to get good results, you need to be serious and down-to-earth. You shouldn¡¯t rely on cheap tricks.¡± ¡°Ancient prescriptions must be adjusted ording to the needs and ailments of the patients you are treating. I shall discuss this in the next ss. I hope everyone will review what we have covered today andplete the homework assigned. I do not wish to see any studentste at my next lecture.¡± ¡°Teacher, goodbye!¡± The students stood up in unison. They packed up their books and turned their heads to look at Qu Xiao. ¡°Who is that? Why does she look so familiar?¡± ¡°I heard that she got in through the knowledgepetition. She was originally a high school student, so she can be considered a genius.¡± ¡°To answer the knowledgepetition questions and attain a full score¡­ It¡¯s unbelievable, isn¡¯t it? She must have bought the answers to the test questions.¡± Qu Xiao listened to their discussions but paid them no attention. Instead, she chased Lei Qiming¡¯s departing figure with quick steps. Stopping in front of him, she asked, ¡°Professor, why are you biased against me?¡± Such an obvious difference in treatment¡­ Qu Xiao could naturally see it. Lei Qiming pushed his sses with his finger and frowned, wanting to avoid her. Qu Xiao was unwilling to let it go. ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I will follow you all day!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want news of a scandalous rtionship between professor and student to spread, you should answer me!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a misunderstanding, I hope to clear the air as soon as possible.¡± Qu Xiao stared at Lei Qiming with a determined gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t like your present treatment of me!¡± Lei Qiming saw that she did not want to give up, so he pointed to the office in front and said, ¡°Follow me.¡± Qu Xiao smiled, feeling pleased with herself and kept half a step away from Lei Qiming, closing the office door behind her. Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Professor¡¯s Reconciliation

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Professor Lei¡¯s office was notvishly decorated. Only a desk and a bookcase called the room its home. Qu Xiao surveyed the room, searching for an ancient book she had hoped to find. Unfortunately, the book in question was nowhere in sight. Taking the seat opposite Lei Qiming, she awaited his answer. An old man and a young woman were locked in a staring contest, neither willing to admit defeat. A bitter look shed in Lei Qiming¡¯s eyes. Perhaps it was old age, but he was first to avert his eyes, rubbing them tiredly. With impatience tinging his words, he broke the silence and said, ¡°I don¡¯t like utilitarian students.¡± ¡°Although I came up with the questions for the knowledgepetition, it¡¯s impossible for a high school student to get full marks.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in finding out how you managed to buy the answers and get into the Department of Chinese Medicine at ¡®A¡¯ university, but that doesn¡¯t mean I approve of you.¡± Lei Qiming spoke out about his prejudice, stunning Qu Xiao for a moment. ¡°Professor, the examination hall blocks all signals; there wouldn¡¯t have been any chance for me tomunicate with someone outside for the answers. Still, if you I have cheated, allow me to prove my innocence. Test me on anything from the basic theory of Chinese medicine to the adjustments needed in formting prescriptions. If I fail to answer a single question, I¡¯ll voluntarily drop out of university. You need not see me ever again!¡± Qu Xiao replied with a chuckle. Qu Xiao¡¯s entire body exuded confidence, and Lei Qiming found himself doubting his previous assumptions. He rolled his eyes and pulled out a pair of sheets he had prepared for the ss, motioning for her to attempt them. Not even the two top students answered the question correctly. Yet¡­ Qu Xiao¡¯s answer was crisp and straightforward; a textbook answer. It was one he could not find faults. Lei Qiming frowned, and a look of surprise shed across his eyes as he asked, ¡°You are very young. How do you have such a deep understanding of Chinese medicine?¡± ¡°I have been interested in Chinese medicine since a young age, and I would like to think I have some talent in the field,¡± Qu Xiao replied indifferently. Lei Qiming put away his textbook, and his attitude softened a little. ¡°Is that so? I find it hard to believe that you would enrol as a student in the Department of Chinese Medicine just for your studies. What is it you are hoping to achieve?¡± Lei Qiming had lived a long life and seen all sorts of people. He was not an academician who spent his whole life conducting research and could often discern a party¡¯s personality and intentions with a nce. His experience led him to be a professor at ¡®A¡¯ university instead of some private hire for the various medicalpanies offering him jobs left and right. Rather than making academic and financial pursuits his primary interests, Lei Qiming felt he would rather reach and raise sessive generations of outstanding doctors. When he saw Qu Xiao, Lei Qiming knew at once that she was not interested in studying for the sake of studying but out of a strong sense of purpose. As a teacher, he wanted to know what it was. Qu Xiao nodded, smiling freely. ¡°My husband cannot stand because of a rare condition in his legs. I want to cure him, but I can¡¯t do it with my current ability and the medical equipment that I cane into contact with. So I want to join your research group. This way, I can use yourboratory and help you with your current research project¡­¡± Qu Xiao heard the news through Shang Xinchen. Lei Qiming studied the human body¡¯s nervous system and how it could be directed artificially. Lei Qiming did not expect Qu Xiao to be so honest. He subconsciously shifted his gaze elsewhere, clenching his hands into a fist as he coughed. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯ll agree to it?¡± ¡°My project team needs to go through several rounds of assessments. It¡¯s unfair to the other students if I allow you to join at the drop of a hat,¡± Lei Qiming refused, but Qu Xiao was not ready to give up. A calm smile hung on her face the whole time, ¡°Professor, I have a lot of time. I will follow you wherever you go if you don¡¯t agree. No matter where you go, I will be there. I hope you¡¯ll get used to my presence¡­¡± ¡°You! How can a young girl be so shameless?¡± Lei Qiming pointed at Qu Xiao angrily. He was so mad his white hair almost stood on end. Qu Xiao shrugged her shoulders and touched the ring on her finger, speaking softly, ¡°This is my conviction. If you had someone you loved and watched them struggle through life as I have, would you be willing to let them suffer when you could do something about it? I wouldn¡¯t! I would even take on the curse of his illness if I could, but I can¡¯t, so I can only do what I can to help him¡­ even if it costs me everything¡­ even if it costs me every shred of my dignity¡­¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s words flowed naturally, reflecting the deep love she bore in her heart. Lei Qiming was touched when he heard her words. It reminded him of his wife, who had stayed at home for half her life. He stared at Qu Xiao¡¯s clear ck and white eyes and sighed helplessly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± ¡°After school tomorrow, follow me to theboratory. As long as you meet my requirements, I¡¯ll let you join the project team.¡± After Lei Qiming said that, Qu Xiao stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to him. Qu Xiao did it two times in a row. When she bent down to bow for the third time, Lei Qiming hurriedly stood up and used his hand to stop her. With bad luck, he spat on the wood, ¡°Are you trying to curse me? Hurry up and leave. I feel annoyed just looking at you.¡± ¡°See you tomorrow, Professor!¡± ¡°No matter what kind of test you give me, I will persevere!¡± Qu Xiao could not control the smile on her face. She pushed the door open and walked out, humming a merry tune. Lei Qiming sat in his office chair and picked up Qu Xiao¡¯s exam paper from the knowledgepetition again. Could it be that she was a genius? Her elegant handwriting, clear answers, and precise understanding of medicinal herbs¡­ she was very good. Lei Qiming did not realise that his impression of Qu Xiao was slowly changing. Chapter 106

Chapter 106: The Professor¡¯s Test

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The crisp sound of falling knives and other utensils rang in the vi of the Shang family¡¯s kitchen. The butler appeared worried. He wanted to barge in a few times to investigate Qu Xiao¡¯s situation, but in the end, he stopped, opting to pace back and forth at the door. It was not until Shang Yan returned home in a wheelchair that the butler ran over with a sigh of relief. He bent down and whispered, ¡°Boss, please speak sense to the Young Madam¡­ If there¡¯s anything you or the Young Madam would like to eat, I¡¯ll hire the best chefs avable to prepare the meal this instant. There¡¯s no need for her to expend so much effort¡­¡± Qu Xiao had already ruined two sets of cooking utensils in the half an hour she had spent in the kitchen. The cost of recing those two sets would amount to a hefty sum. The sight alone was enough to cause the butler heartache. Shang Yan peered over his butler¡¯s shoulder, a look of surprise adorning his handsome features. ¡°Did someone make her angry?¡± ¡°Madam seems quite happy. She said she wants to celebrate and personally cook dinner for you.¡± The butler deliberated over his next words carefully. Whenever Qu Xiao prepared a meal, he could not help but shiver, feeling like he was about to sit for hisst supper. The family had long since learnt to prepare ample medicine for the food poisoning they would undoubtedly suffer after consuming the Young Madam¡¯s cooking. Shang Yan motioned for him not to worry and quietly wheeled himself into the kitchen. Qu Xiao wore an apron and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand when he entered. She was reviewing a cooking program, a frown twisting her features as she struggled to follow its instructions. Shang Yan tried his best to be as quiet as possible, but the squeaks produced by his wheelchair were hard to mask. The sound rmed Qu Xiao, who turned to the noise source. So startled was she that the kitchen knife in her hands nearly drew an arc, slicing into the side of Shang Yan¡¯s face. Qu Xiao hurriedly reined in her movements. The sharp de nicked her finger, drawing blood. She cried out in rm as she covered her finger. Shang Yan panicked. He grabbed hold of her hand and pressed it to his lips while calling for his butler to bring him the first-aid kit. The pair exited the kitchen and made their way to the living room to deal with Qu Xiao¡¯s wound. The tip of his tongue licked Qu Xiao¡¯s fingertip, causing it to itch. Qu Xiao lowered her head, a white cloud of steam streaming out of her red ears. She suddenly remembered the pot of stew sitting on the stove and tried to stand, but Shang Yan stopped her. He forced her to his side and coldly signalled the butler to help. ¡°Sit down and don¡¯t move.¡± Qu Xiao noticed that Shang Yan seemed a little angry. She sat on the spot pitifully and stole a nce at his frosty face. She bit her red lips and endured the pain as she muttered softly, ¡°I just wanted to cook dinner for you to express my gratitude. Who would have thought that choosing a recipe and following its instructions would be soplicated a process? I¡­ I got a little impatient and created this mess. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have troubled yourself. All I ask is for you to be yourself,¡± Shang Yan paused and added, ¡°You don¡¯t have to study the methods other women use to please men to make me happy.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s movements were gentle as he treated Qu Xiao¡¯s wounds, his dark eyes staring straight into hers as he spoke affectionately. Qu Xiao silently withdrew her fingers, unable to control the small upturn of her lips. In the background, Qu Xiao could hear a distinct beeping sound emitted by the pressure cooker in the kitchen. Shang Yan hugged Qu Xiao¡¯s slender waist. These few days, he had been busy with work. Every day, he would return homete. When he saw Qu Xiao sleeping soundly, he did not have the heart to disturb her. He buried his head in the crook of Qu Xiao¡¯s neck, inhaling deeply. ¡°You smell so good.¡± ¡°Stop it! Uncle Zhang is watching!¡± Qu Xiao pushed Shang Yan away, a tingling sensation tickling her skin. It almost caused her to descend into a giggling fit. Almost. A mischievous smile shed across Shang Yan¡¯s eyes as he opened his mouth and nibbled her earlobe. His hand grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s arm, and no matter how she twisted it, she could not break free. Buzz Buzz ¡ª The phone on the coffee table vibrated, disrupting the atmosphere. Qu Xiao saw the name ¡°Professor Lei¡± shing on the screen. She pushed Shang Yan away anxiously and tidied up her clothes before answering the phone. ¡°Hello? Professor, I have time. I¡¯ll go over now!¡± Qu Xiao hung up the phone and returned to Shang Yan¡¯s side. She lowered her head and nted a kiss on his face. ¡°I¡¯m going out for a while. I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± Qu Xiao carried her backpack anxiously and disappeared out the door like a swirling gale. Shang Yan returned to his senses and frowned deeply. ¨C Qu Xiao showed the pass that Lei Qiming gave her to the guard stationed outside the university¡¯s experimentation facility. The guard allowed her entry after verifying her details. Qu Xiao quickly arrived at the top floor where Lei Qiming¡¯sb resided. Lei Qiming was wearing a white coat and protective sses. He heard the sound of footsteps and berated Qu Xiao for not following standardb procedures, ¡°Disinfect yourself outside. You¡¯ll need to put on some protective clothing and sses. Also, don¡¯t forget to sign in at the register on the side. The university requires it for record-keeping purposes.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qu Xiao looked around curiously. There were dozens of pots of green nts on the shelf in theboratory. She could identify a few herbs that were extremely difficult to grow. Most of them grew in extremely hot environments, which were only possible with theboratory¡¯s sensitive temperature controls to maintain a rtively stable humidity and temperature. Lei Qiming put down his notes and called Qu Xiao over, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to join the research team? Help me organise the experimental data we collected today.¡± ¡°The corresponding data for each medicinal herb needs to be urately rounded to three significant figures. ¡°The workload isn¡¯t much; you need only record the data in these two books before you¡¯re free to go.¡± Lei Qiming handed theboratory key to Qu Xiao and was about to leave when he turned around, saying, ¡°If I discover any errors in the experimental data, you can wave this opportunity goodbye. If you cannot handle this much, then leave now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I promise toplete the task on time,¡± Qu Xiao stared at the two thick books of experimental data, the corners of her mouth twitching as she replied. Professor Lei was not testing her; he was torturing her! She could not fail before stepping on the starting line! She would prove herself to Professor Lei and be a research assistant on his project! Lei Qiming watched Qu Xiao as she buried her head in her work. He left theboratory with his hands behind his back while shaking his head. Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Sleep and Romance

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Late at night, in theboratory on the top floor of the teaching building, a tablemp glowed, emitting dim, yellow light. Qu Xiao¡¯s back ached, and her shoulder muscles twisted into knots. She saved the two documents and sent them to Lei Qiming¡¯s mailbox. Before leaving theboratory, she adjusted and cleaned the temperature-control disy cab and threw the dregs of residual drugs into the hazard disposal bin. By the time she stepped out of the building, the sky over the eastern horizon had lit up with the first rays of dawn. Sunlight peaked through the clouds ushering in the new day. ¡°Return tomorrow night. The medicinal herbs in the temperature control box need to be rented and the soil reced. I¡¯ll leave you in charge of both tasks. Be careful not to damage the roots; the nts must be cleaned one at a time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave the key in its original position. After the medicinal herbs are sorted out, photograph your work for me to check.¡± Qu Xiao read Lei Qiming¡¯s text message, gnashing her teeth and angrily stomping her feet. She wished she could send two contemptuous emojis in response. Qu Xiao withheld the urge to do so, knowing it would be counterproductive. Instead, she took a deep breath, in and out, to stabilise her emotions, squeezing out a smile and a respectful tone of voice as she replied with a voice message, ¡°Yes, Professor. Please rest well; you¡¯re getting on in age, and your health is most important to the research program¡¯s sess.¡± Thest few words were particrly difficult to say through clenched teeth. Dragging her exhausted body out of campus, Qu Xiao headed home. When Qu Xiao arrived home and opened her bedroom door, she saw Shang Yan in her bed, his eyes piercing her with startling rity. Qu Xiao was so tired she did not pause to consider what Shang Yan was doing on the bed. She offered him a tired greeting before meandering to the bathroom to soak in the tub. Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye, and Shang Yan grew worried when Qu Xiao did note out of the bathroom. It was too quiet. Hesitantly, he knocked on the door, asking, ¡°Qu Xiao? Are you okay?¡± He received no response. Shang Yan nervously twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open, hoping to see if everything was alright. Qu Xiao was soaking in the tub, her skin rosy against the transparent sliding ss. Shang Yan judged that she was asleep from her gaping mouth to the soft snores issuing from her still form. He heaved a sigh of relief, slowly rolling his wheelchair into the bathroom, and stopped by her side. Shower foam and soap bubbles clung to her skin; the warm waters of her tub turned it baby pink. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes darkened. He wrapped his arms around Qu Xiao, the sudden motion causing the water in the tub to overflow around the edges. The cold air caused Qu Xiao to shiver. She groaned in a daze and returned Shang Yan¡¯s hug, subconsciously nuzzling against the bundle of warmth close to her chest. Qu Xiao tittered contentedly. She was like a cat basking on the windowsill, soaking up the warmth that Shang Yan¡¯s body provided. Shang Yan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He picked up the towel beside him and helped wipe her body dry. The coarse fabric brushed against her smooth and tender skin, eliciting a moan of happiness. In her semi-awake state, she noticed Shang Yan at her side, and she offered him a sweet smile. ¡°Hubby, I¡¯ve found a way to help you stand. Professor Lei will certainly help. He¡­ He may be annoying, but his skill and expertise in Chinese medicine are unparalleled.¡± Qu Xiao raised her arm and coquettishly hooked it around Shang Yan¡¯s neck, rubbing against him like a cat. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± Shang Yan propped Qu Xiao up against him and wheeled them out of the bathroom and to the bed, where hey her down gently. ¡°My leg condition¡­ Why do you care so much?¡± Shang Yan heard Qu Xiao¡¯s words and wondered why she would go so far to help him. He thought Qu Xiao did not care whether he had a healthy body or not, and a hint of gloom entered his eyes. Qu Xiao heard Shang Yan¡¯s voice through her sleep-induced haze, and she flopped up into a seated position, her head shaking back and forth like a rattle-drum, ¡°I want you to be happy. Although you don¡¯t show it, I know it¡¯s something that bothers you a lot. I still remember the words you said in front of grandfather¡­ Those words have always been here, inscribed in my heart.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to feel sad. If you¡¯re sad, I¡¯ll be sad too.¡± Qu Xiao poked the spot over her heart. Her eyes swam in and out of focus, but she spoke seriously with a deep-seated conviction. Herforting words amused Shang Yan. He smiled evilly and pinched her in revenge. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± Qu Xiao squealed sweetly, rousing Shang Yan¡¯s uncontroble desire. He hugged Qu Xiao and allowed her to sit on his waist. A fire burned in his loins, desire and sexual need intermingling in a heady cocktail, one he found himself unable to stiflepletely. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± Qu Xiao bared her neck, unconsciously swaying in Shang Yan¡¯sp. Contact burned, and it felt like an inferno, a haze of heat and pleasure as they sat entranced by each other¡¯spany. Had anyone seen them together, they would have thought Shang Yan a womaniser with the expression of unadulterated greed on his face. Crystalline tears flowed freely from Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes; it seemed like it was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back, causing Shang Yan to see red. He ploughed forward with renewed strength kneading her body with his hands, the motions bing a blur in their debauchery. ¡°Shang Yan, stop¡­!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s voice was hoarse. Her whole body felt numb, and shey helplessly against Shang Yan¡¯s broad chest. Perhaps it was a sign, but Shang Yan stopped. He sighed happily. He used his hand to hook up the hair on Qu Xiao¡¯s temples, wanting to kiss her ruby-red lips. A soft exhale interrupted his thoughts. ¡°You¡¯re asleep already?¡± Shang Yan rubbed his forehead with his fingers and could not help but chuckle as he muttered, ¡°Looks like I didn¡¯t satisfy you.¡± In her sleep, Qu Xiao rolled away uneasily. She hoped it would be a while before they engaged in such intimacy again. Chapter 108

Chapter 108: Expulsion of Students

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The next morning, in one of theboratory building¡¯s ssrooms¡­ Students yawned as they entered the lecture theatre. A few more observant students noticed a mannequin-like object slumped over a desk in the corner. Curious, they approached the hunched figure, attempting to discern what it was in the dimly lit room. A quick-eyed female student screamed in rm, hastily covering her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s moving!¡± Her frantic cry caused amotion. Even students of the Department of Chinese Medicine, a study of sciences, were superstitious, wary of ghosts and gods. The students picked up whatever they could find. Brooms, books, chairs and bins were raised to defend themselves. Qu Xiao had dark circles under her eyes, and her long hair draped over her shoulders in a mess of knots. She got up slowly, using her hands to part the curtain of hair covering her face. ¡°¡­ What are you all doing here?¡± Her hands were covered in soil. It might have taken a while, but she managed to re-pot all the medicinal herbs in the temperature control disy cab. Qu Xiao followed Lei Qiming¡¯s instructions to the letter, using both of her hands to handle each nt one at a time. She meticulously cleaned the roots of each nt, removing the clumped up soil and dirt. It was an important step to prevent cross-contamination. Qu Xiao worked tirelessly through the night and felt her legs turn numb as she tried to stand, almost losing her bnce. She staggered, catching herself against the edge of a long table, and patted some feeling back into her legs. The female student, who screamed, regained her senses and seemed abashed. ¡°Who gave you the key?¡± She blurted out. ¡°This is the teaching building. You are not an official student of this school. You should pay attention to your boundaries.¡± ¡°There are many rare medicinal herbs in theboratory. What if you break them or steal them to sell them? Give us the key!¡± Qu Xiao was pretty, and her delicate face held a fatal attraction. Yesterday, in the lecture hall, Qu Xiao was able to answer Lei Qiming¡¯s tricky questions. All the male students of the Department of Chinese Medicine ogled her with star-struck eyes, inquiring into her identity. Most of them were discussing whether or not she was single. The female students naturally held a lot of resentment and dissatisfaction in their hearts. Hence, their joint attack against Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao¡¯s purpose ining to ¡®A¡¯ university was to cooperate with Lei Qiming and develop a treatment n that would allow Shang Yan to stand up again. She did not intend to argue with anyone, so she bit her tongue and reigned in her temper, looking like a meekmb, gentle and timid. The female student arrogantly bumped into her, almost hitting the medicinal herbs kept in the temperature control cab. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes were sharp as she raised her hand to steady the swaying flowerpots and red at the female student. The female student broke out in a cold sweat. Though she was scared, she did not want to look weak, so she puffed up her chest with her head held high and roared, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°As a student of the Department of Chinese Medicine, don¡¯t you know the rules of using theboratory?¡± ¡°Keep quiet, keep calm, don¡¯t push, and don¡¯t argue with your peers. This is to avoid damaging theboratory equipment and medicinal herbs.¡± The female student¡¯s face flushed red. She bit her red lips and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s not your ce to tell me what I can or cannot do!¡± ¡°Get out. You don¡¯t belong here! We don¡¯t want to see you!¡± The tense atmosphere dissipated as soon as Lei Qiming swept into theboratory, his voice cracking with the sound of thunder, ¡°She may not have the right, but what about me?¡± The students watching the show were so scared that they stood rooted to the spot. They all side-stepped in unison, parting to allow Lei Qiming through. ¡°It seems like you don¡¯t remember the rules of theboratory. Therefore, you don¡¯t need to take the final exam this semester.¡± ¡°Look for your homeroom teacher and inform them that you will be changing majors. I won¡¯t continue to be your tutor¡­ I don¡¯t need students who can¡¯t distinguish right from wrong and allow their emotions to rule their actions. Just because your grades have been ster, don¡¯t expect special treatment from me.¡± Lei Qiming¡¯s words tolled like the sound of the evening bell, haunting and merciless. The female student trembled from head to toe. In fear, she ran up to the professor and said, ¡°I know I¡¯m wrong! Please give me another chance¡­¡± The female student had already studied Chinese medicine for three years. If she changed majors now, it would affect when she could graduate. Moreover, it would be a stain on her record, potentially affecting her future career and trajectory in life. Seeing the female student¡¯s plight, Qu Xiao felt bad and meant to plead on the girl¡¯s behalf, but a look from Lei Qiming stifled her words before they could tumble free. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Begin your experiments!¡± ¡°You. Come with me,¡± Lei Qiming pointed at Qu Xiao and walked to the office in the back of theboratory. He left the door slightly ajar to avoid suspicion. Qu Xiao followed him in. When she saw the female student standing in a daze outside, she said sympathetically, ¡°She was just a little excited. Perhaps you might like to reconsider?¡± Lei Qiming opened the drawer, withdrawing a leatherbound notebook. ¡°Do you have a lot of free time on your hands? Are you volunteering to be her knight in shining armour?¡± Lei Qiming nced at the door indifferently, ¡°A doctor¡¯s mentality is quintessential. Even if she possessed superb medical skills, she¡¯d only sow disaster without a good heart. There were once many students who, after graduation, let money and earthly benefits corrupt them. They would do anything; ethics took a back seat. Some of those things they did still chill my heart when I think about them.¡± ¡°There are many professions under the sun; it isn¡¯t toote for her to walk another path. With her nature, there are many other paths more suited to her than the study of Chinese medicine.¡± Lei Qiming¡¯s words stunned Qu Xiao. She did not expect such a simple action to contain such deep meaning. The old man was not simple! ¡°I watched you dealing with the medicinal herbs.¡± Lei Qiming pointed at the synchronised monitor video on theputer screen. ¡°You did well. Every step was meticulous, following standard procedure. I¡¯m impressed. Therefore, I shall fulfil my end of the bargain. From today onwards, you are an intern on my project team.¡± Chapter 109

Chapter 109: Prescriptions for Treatment

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao was pleasantly surprised. She excitedly hugged Lei Qiming, seeing hope for Shang Yan to stand on his two feet again. Lei Qiming pushed her away, feeling more than a little awkward. He patted his wrinkled Chinese tunic suit with a small frown. He handed the leatherbound notebook to Qu Xiao and said, ¡°These are some of the ancient prescriptions I have researched and restored. They might be able to help you.¡± Qu Xiao quickly epted the notebook, flipping through its contents seriously. Lei Qiming¡¯s love for Chinese medicine was close to an obsession. Qu Xiao discovered many ancient prescriptions, once thought to be lost, restored withprehensive notes detailing the process and results of the restoration. Those results were not published and remained inessible to the general public, being of far greater worth than all the information she had gathered from her time in the Medical Hall. ¡°Professor Lei, I once tried to use a bubble bath to relieve the lesions on his legs.¡± ¡°I also tried to use silver needles to unclog the clogged acupoints in his legs. It produced knee-jerk reactions on asion.¡± ¡°But there has not been any improvement where his legs are concerned. Is my treatment n wrong, or¡­¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes shone intensely while discussing Shang Yan¡¯s condition with Lei Qiming. After Lei Qiming learned of Qu Xiao¡¯s identity, he asked his good friend in the medical sector about Shang Yan¡¯s condition. For the Shang family¡¯s youngest and most influential member to appear in generations and be confined to a wheelchair was beyond pitiful. ¡°Perhaps¡­ Could Mr Shang¡¯s inability to stand lie not solely in a physical impairment but also with his mental frame of mind?¡± Qu Xiao blinked in surprise when she heard Lei Qiming¡¯s words. Lei Qiming walked in front of the whiteboard and used a marker to draw a diagram of the human leg, including the acupuncture points and nerve tissue surrounding the muscles. ¡°From my understanding, Mr Shang has already undergone systematic rehabilitation. Therefore, the muscles in his legs should be functioning as they are supposed to. My concern is that his nervous system may not have been properly stimted. Inyman¡¯s terms, you might be treating the wrong things, and the problem may lie elsewhere.¡± Qu Xiao had never thought of such a possibility. It was as if she had received a revtion. She pointed at a few acupuncture points on the leg diagram, ¡°You¡¯re saying that I should¡­¡± Lei Qiming gave his input now and then, as Qu Xiao hypothesised. Such a smart and talented youngdy made him smile in satisfaction. ¡°If Mr Shang is always in a wheelchair, he¡¯ll develop a reliance, which may be hampering his ability to stand on his own. Even if he is physically fine, so long as his subconscious holds on to the wheelchair as its crutch, Mr Shang will find it difficult to return to a life of normality. In which case, you need to prepare yourself for that possibility,¡± Lei Qiming said. Qu Xiao nodded with determination in her eyes, ¡°I will make him stand up!¡± ¨C That night, Qu Xiao stayed in the teaching building. She and Lei Qiming adjusted the prescription repeatedly, changing the herbs and dosage ording to Shang Yan¡¯s specific situation. They exercised extreme caution while pairing the different medicinal ingredients and their effects to prevent an adverse reaction. It was a delicate bncing act where the slightest change could affect the effectiveness of the prescription. Lei Qiming did not usually stay upte, and he had not done so for many years, but at this moment, he was in high spirits. Nothing could tire him despite his advanced age. While the two of them were adjusting the prescription dosage, they also discussed contemporary academic issues faced by traditional Chinese medicine. Qu Xiao¡¯s sharp insight and ability to think outside the box allowed Lei Qiming to gain a wellspring of inspiration, and his attitude towards her changed. ¡°So you hated me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Qu Xiao casually remarked as she stretched, working the kinks and knots out of her arms and shoulders. She took note of the time. It was quitete. Lei Qiming took off his protective eye mask and looked at the powdered prescription. Using one hand to support himself against the desk and the other to massage his aching waist, he answered, ¡°I hated you.¡± ¡°But now that I think about it, I probably judged you as a threat somewhere deep down inside. The student surpasses the teacher¡­ I suppose I felt disgruntled.¡± Lei Qiming¡¯s confession was the highest praise Qu Xiao could receive, and it took her by surprise. ¡°Professor, I¡¯m different from you. You want to create a legacy for future generations; I just want to save the person I love most,¡± Qu Xiao murmured while putting away the medicinal powder, ¡°I can¡¯tpare to you.¡± Qu Xiao bade the wizened old man goodbye, leaving in a flurry of excitement. She could not wait to test the powder¡¯s effects on Shang Yan. Lei Qiming shook his head helplessly. He picked up the prescription modified repeatedly andpared it again. Soon, he realised that something was not right. ¡°Why does the mixture of these two herbs look so familiar?¡± He frowned and quickly opened his mouth in realisation. ¡°Isn¡¯t this an aphrodisiac¡­¡± ¡°Forget it.¡± Lei Qiming originally wanted to call Qu Xiao to inform her, but when he thought of the rtionship between Shang Yan and her, he shook his head and took a pen to mark and modify the prescription. ¨C In the Shang family¡¯s vi, Qu Xiao dragged Shang Yan back to the bedroom and gave him the medicinal powder to consume. Shang Yany on the bed. Qu Xiao held her breath nervously as she sat beside him. She did not dare blink, not wanting to miss any signs in the event of an adverse reaction. Every two to three minutes, she would ask, ¡°How do you feel?¡± Shang Yan chuckled as he rubbed her head. ¡°I keep feeling like ab rat,¡± he muttered helplessly. Qu Xiao kept her mouth shut. She did not think to answer, too busy keeping track of the time. She was so nervous that she frowned and muttered to herself, ¡°You should be feeling the effects of the medicine. Why aren¡¯t you showing any signs of a reaction?¡± Shang Yan felt an inexplicable heat in his heart and lower abdomen. Ayer of sweat also appeared between his brows. Chapter 110

Chapter 110: Intense Battle of Passion

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Shang Yan¡¯s breathing became increasingly rapid and heavy. He furrowed his brows tightly as if trying his best to control his emotions. Qu Xiao noticed his strange behaviour and rushed over with concern. Her cool hand touched Shang Yan¡¯s forehead. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you feel pain, an itch, anything? Are you feeling any difort? Please say something. Don¡¯t keep it to yourself!¡± Qu Xiao nervously recalled the prescription, going through its ingredients to determine what was wrong. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes darkened. His gaze fell on a certain something. It felt like liquid fire coursed through his veins, gathering in the lower half of his body. Soon, an obscene bulge formed. However, Qu Xiao did not notice the change. Qu Xiao moved closer to Shang Yan. She smelled like milk and honey or sweet apple blossoms beckoning in a gentle breeze. It was a smell that made those inhaling it crazy with the urge to swallow her whole. ¡°Professor Lei should know what the problem is. I¡¯ll go find him!¡± Qu Xiao tried to stand, but Shang Yan grabbed her wrist and stopped her, pulling the frail object of his desire into hisp. Their bodies were tightly pressed together, and Qu Xiao felt an iron rod pressing against her lower abdomen. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes went from surprise to shock. Then, it struck her what the problem was as she recalled the specific ratios of two particr herbs used in the prescription. She covered her face in shame. How could she have overlooked something so simple?! Shang Yan pried the pair of hands covering her face, his eyes burning with ardour. He murmured in a husky voice, ¡°Are you dissatisfied with my performance? Do you want to help me treat my legs, or do you want to treat other ces?¡± As he spoke, Shang Yan began rubbing himself against Qu Xiao. A sensuous atmosphere invaded the room. When Qu Xiao came back to her senses, she found her tattered nightdress scattered on the ground. Shang Yan held Qu Xiao in his arms. His strong fingers kneaded her body, sending shivers down her spine. Qu Xiao nearly lost herself when Shang Yan leaned forward and kissed her. Their breaths intertwined. Qu Xiao pulled back, but Shang Yan gave chase, seizing her lips as he teased and bit her tongue. His hands glided down her form, tickling the contours of her supple skin with his fingertips. A cry escaped Qu Xiao¡¯s lips, her nose twitching coquettishly. She tried to break free, twisting and turning, but to no avail. How could he allow her to escape so easily? Shang Yan was a python. His immense frame twined around Qu Xiao, strangling her in a vice-grip. He was in control. Every nudge, every little twitch ¨C they were all his to mould, his to do as he saw fit. ¡°Ah!¡± Qu Xiao frowned in pain; her eyes screwed shut. The two of them were immersed in a sea of lust and did not notice anything amiss, that is, Shang Yan¡¯s ability to move his legs. Shang Yan stared, transfixed by Qu Xiao¡¯s mesmerising beauty. His movements quickened, and it was not long before Qu Xiao turned into putty, ecstasy being the only emotion he could perceive in her. Shang Yan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He licked his chapped lips, the fire in his eyes still a raging torrent of heat. Qu Xiao¡¯s ears were so red that one could almost see steam billowing out of her ears. She wanted to scold the scoundrel for his dastardly actions, but Shang Yan stopped her with a finger on her lips when she tried. Qu Xiao subconsciously nibbled Shang Yan¡¯s finger, crystal-clear saliva drooling out of her semi-open mouth. Shang Yan felt his body explode with uncontroble desire, and the urge to take her there became almost too much to bear. He pressed Qu Xiao¡¯s body against his, their union being a collision of two primal forces. Qu Xiao surrendered control, going with the flow as water does around an obstacle, allowing Shang Yan to take the lead. A second, more intense wave of pleasure hummed, creating a pleasant buzz that drowned out all her other senses. Under the warm orange light of the room, Qu Xiaoy on her back with Shang Yan mounted on top of her. He mercilessly took advantage of her prone form, even as she begged for mercy. ¡°Hubby, please stop. I can¡¯t take it anymore¡­¡± Shang Yan was not willing to listen to her. His hands mped around her slender waist, making it impossible for her to escape. Screams and moans, pleas and cries, these macabre sounds filled the air in a cacophony of sounds. Qu Xiao almost lost consciousness as Shang Yan had his way with her. Yet, a sudden realisation jolted her back to reality. She stared at Shang Yan and said, ¡°You¡¯re kneeling! Your legs¡­¡± The second half of her sentence disappeared under Shang Yan¡¯s needy demands and turned into a hoarse moan. ¨C The sun rose, and light spilt into the room, bathing it in a corona of light. Qu Xiao blinked open tired eyes, feeling like she had been run over by a truck. She struggled to sit up, and as she did so, the thin nket over her slipped off, revealing a litany of red and purple bruises: a testament to her ordeal. Shang Yan was a beast; no other descriptor would suffice. As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she discovered Shang Yan by the door, holding on to the railing as he grappled with his legs¡¯ protests. Though slow, Shang Yan was making progress. ¡°Be careful¡­¡± Qu Xiao saw that Shang Yan¡¯s legs were weak and hurriedly shouted. She lifted the nket and ran over, firmly supporting Shang Yan, who was about to fall. Shang Yan¡¯s forehead was covered in sweat, but the brilliant smile he wore eased the worries weighing on Qu Xiao¡¯s heart. ¡°Your current appearance makes me want to¡­¡± Qu Xiao followed his gaze and lowered her head. Realising that she was naked, she frowned in annoyance and reprimanded, ¡°Are you still talking about this now?¡± ¡°Can you stand now?¡± Qu Xiao recalled the scene fromst night. Suppressing her excitement, she stared at Shang Yan¡¯s legs, wanting to check his condition. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes darkened. He shook his head and replied, ¡°Not yet.¡± Chapter 111

Chapter 111: Psychological Trauma

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Shang Yan once again struggled against the floor to stand up. He tried to take two steps forward. Qu Xiao was so nervous that she did not dare to breathe as she stared at him, silently cheering for him in her heart. Half a minuteter, Qu Xiao realized that Shang Yan¡¯s body was swaying. She hurriedly spread her arms and rushed over to hug him. Dong! Following a muffled sound, both fell to the ground in unison. Shang Yan frowned in pain and used his hand to cover his sprained knee joint. Pain? Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement as he pped his two legs. Qu Xiao thought he was emotionally unstable and wanted tofort him to stop. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. We can continue trying other methods!¡± Shang Yan shook his head. He hugged Qu Xiao, and his voice trembled as he tried his best to suppress the excitement. ¡°I can feel it!¡± Shang Yan did not know when, but he slowly got used to thepanionship of a wheelchair. From his resistance when he was discharged from the hospital to his research and development now, he even thought that he would be tied to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. However, Qu Xiao changed everything. He could really feel pain, numbness, soreness, and otherplicated feelings. Qu Xiao smiled when she heard that and immediately informed the private doctor toe to the vi for a follow-up check-up. The private doctor pushed Shang Yan to the diagnostic and treatment room in the vi¡¯s basement. All sorts of sophisticated equipment operated to slowly obtain various data reports of Shang Yan¡¯s body. Qu Xiao wrung her hands as she waited for the doctor¡¯s diagnosis. She would ask Shang Yan how he was feeling from time to time. ¡°It¡¯s simply a miracle. This is simply impossible!¡± The doctor held the medical order and repeatedly read it three times. From the perspective of Western medicine, he felt that it was impossible for Shang Yan¡¯s legs to stand up again. He promised to do regr weekly rehabilitation just to give Shang Yan psychologicalfort and ensure that his legs¡¯ muscles would not atrophy too quickly. However, the report¡¯s results now showed that the nerves in his legs had recovered! All the data were no different from that of an ordinary person. Qu Xiao could not hold back her wildly beating heart. She dragged the doctor to a corner and asked in a low voice, ¡°You mean that ording to the data, Shang Yan can stand up now? But he¡­¡± Qu Xiao shook her head as she nced at the wheelchair Shang Yan was sitting in from the corner of her eyes. The doctor lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time before giving his guess. ¡°I think it should be rted to his psychological state.¡± ¡°CEO Shang has to rely on a wheelchair to travel all year round. From the bottom of his heart, he believes that there is no way to get rid of it. We term it dependence. Many patients with car idents and the seque of surgery will have such a psychological illness, and the symptoms they portray are different.¡± Qu Xiao thought of Lei Qiming¡¯s exhortation to her and frowned. The body was far easier to treat than the psychological illness. How could she untie the knot in Shang Yan¡¯s heart? This was the biggest obstacle at the moment. The private doctor could see Qu Xiao¡¯s concern for Shang Yan. ¡°I have participated in several clinical rehabilitation abroad. Maybe there are some ways which you can try. But I¡¯m not sure if it can really help CEO Shang.¡± ¡°In a situation like CEO Shang¡¯s, he needs a strong impact and desire to temporarily let go of the psychological shackles.¡± Qu Xiao looked lost as she frowned. She wanted to ask the doctor to speak more clearly. The doctor stared into Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes. ¡°It can be the thing or person that CEO Shang cares about the most or is most afraid of losing. As long as he is in a huge crisis, it will stimte his subconscious, and he will forget about the problems with his body. As long as he can stand up and ovee his psychological trauma, he will soon be like a normal person.¡± When the butler and Qu Xiao heard the doctor¡¯s words, they nodded with aplicated expression and respectfully sent him away. Shang Yan sat in the wheelchair with a gloomy and anxious expression. He pinched his knees and inner thighs repeatedly, using the pain to tell himself that he could stand up, but it still did not have any effect. Late at night, Qu Xiao waited for him to fall asleep before she sneaked out of the room and ran to the living room to meet the butler and the nanny. Two dim yellow night lights lighted up the living room. Qu Xiao hugged her knees in distress and curled up on the sofa. Her brain seemed to be in a mess, and she could not think of the best solution or treatment method at all. Lei Qiming had gone overseas to conduct academic research, so she did not want to disturb him too much. ¡°Madam, I have an idea.¡± The butler hesitated a few times before finally speaking. Qu Xiao nodded and signaled him to continue with anticipation in her eyes. ¡°The person whom CEO Shang cares about the most is you! If you were in danger, he would definitely disregard himself and focus on saving you.¡± ¡°Perhaps you can give it a try¡­¡± The butler saw that Qu Xiao did not reply after a long time and stammered as he exined, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand. We will definitely not let you really be in danger under the premise of ensuring your safety.¡± Qu Xiao shook her head. Her nk eyes gradually became clear and determined. ¡°Shang Yan is a brilliant person. He can tell whether it¡¯s an act or a real scene.¡± ¡°Bring him to the Shang Group tomorrow. Remember to push him to the main entrance to wait for me!¡± After Qu Xiao said this, she decisively stood up and walked to the parking lot. The butler and the nanny exchanged nces and muttered with faint worry, ¡°What does Madam want to do?¡± ¡°Will we be doing something bad out of kindness?¡± The nanny took two deep breaths and pressed her chest, ¡°It¡¯s all for CEO Shang. We must be savvy tomorrow and not let Madam get hurt!¡± Chapter 112

Chapter 112: A Critical Moment

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The butler was pushing the wheelchair at the open-air parking area of the Shang Group¡¯s fountain garden. He nced at Shang Yan¡¯s icy side profile from the corner of his eyes. From time to time, he raised his wrist to confirm the time. There were only five minutes left before the agreed time with Qu Xiao. Shang Yan was obviously impatiently and asked with a frown, ¡°Who exactly do you want me to wait for?¡± The butler respectfully bowed and answered as he swallowed and withstood the pressure, ¡°Madam asked me to bring you here.¡± Upon hearing it was Qu Xiao, Shang Yan¡¯s expression softened slightly. He clenched his fist in front of his lips and coughed softly. The loneliness in his eyes could not be hidden. ¡°Wah! Dodge quickly! There¡¯s a car in front that¡¯s out of control!¡± ¡°The person in front, if you don¡¯t want to die, hurry up and escape! CEO Shang? Quickly protect CEO Shang!¡± Men in security uniforms ran wildly to disperse the crowd in the garden square. The people who did not know the truth were frightened and ran around aimlessly. The square immediately became chaotic. The butler wanted to protect Shang Yan to return to a safe zone, but to his surprise, he saw the car in the distance. It was a familiar license te. The Shang family¡¯s MPV was driving toward them at the fastest speed. The screeching sound of brakes, the honking of horns, and without any time to think, Shang Yan saw Qu Xiao holding the steering wheel. ¡°Did you guys agree on this? How many people did you hire? Are they all extras?¡± Shang Yan frowned and turned back to look at the butler. The butler hurriedly shook his head. He held the wheelchair tightly and said with a trembling voice, ¡°Madam only asked us to bring you here! We really didn¡¯t know anything else.¡± Shang Yan sat steadily in the wheelchair. Qu Xiao would definitely use all kinds of methods to stimte him to stand up. ¡°Get the security guard to stop it.¡± Shang Yan said coldly. The security guard ran in front of the MPV with the baton in hand, attempting to stop it with bare hands. Qu Xiao shook her head violently, her face pale. She dialed Shang Yan¡¯s number with trembling fingers. ¡°The brakes are out of order. I really can¡¯t stop.¡± The security guards noticed that Qu Xiao did not slow down and rolled to the side to dodge. The MPV left a long trail of brake marks in the garden square. She kept adjusting the steering wheel and tried her best to slow down by going around in circles. The tires were already emitting wisps of smoke from the high-speed friction with the ground. Shang Yan bent his fingers and his heart seemed to clench. ¡°Qu Xiao, stop fooling around. You know that this won¡¯t have any effect on me!¡± ¡°Get the butler to bring you to thepany building. I¡¯ll look for an opportunity to jump out of the car. I¡¯ll be fine!¡± Qu Xiao hung up the phone and drove like she was risking her life. The tires pressed against the edge of the flower bed and emitted a piercing sound. The tires began to dete. The tires would burst in about two minutes based on the current situation! The MPV losing its bnce and rolling out of control was the most likely oue. Shang Yan seemed to see Qu Xiao lying under the car, covered in blood, in a short two seconds. Through the windshield, he could clearly see Qu Xiao¡¯s lips slowly and clearly saying three words, ¡°I love you.¡± The fear in his heart made Shang Yan stand up abruptly and push away all the security guards who came to stop him. ¡°Stop! Hit the brakes! Manual brakes!¡± ¡°Qu Xiao! Stop now!¡± Shang Yan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. He roared as he leaned against the MPV, using his body to block the out-of-control ¡®bomb¡¯ going at high speed. Qu Xiao saw him and suddenly curved her red lips. The MPV slowly stopped. Shang Yan¡¯s back was soaked in cold sweat that even his shirt had turned a different color. He opened the car door and pulled Qu Xiao out of the driver¡¯s seat, hugging her tightly in his arms. The two racing hearts pressed against each other. Shang Yan held the back of Qu Xiao¡¯s head in fear, and his breathing was so rapid that he almost could not breathe. ¡°You can stand up now! Shang Yan, look at yourself!¡± Qu Xiao patted Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder lightly, reminding him in a joyful and excited voice. Shang Yan suddenly became clear-headed. He lowered his head and looked at his legs that had stood up. His eyes flickered with anger. He pushed Qu Xiao away and questioned, ¡°You used your life as a bargaining chip to bet on whether I could stand up? What if I can¡¯t stand up? Do you want me to lose you?¡± ¡°I will definitely have a way.¡± Qu Xiao wanted to go forward to hold his hand, but Shang Yan shook her off with a gloomy expression. Shang Yan was intelligent. He had the ability to calmly see through everything in a critical moment. Qu Xiao knew that no trick or trap could escape his eyes. She wanted him to forget about the problem with his legspletely, so she could only use real danger to stimte him. Losing control of the vehicle was real, and so was the malfunctioning of the brakes. ¡°I¡¯ve already installed a crisis management mechanism in the vehicle¡¯s engine system in advance. When the tires turn over, airbags will pop up around me to wrap me up. My life won¡¯t be in danger.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s voice became weaker and weaker. Under Shang Yan¡¯s death stare, she confessed, ¡°I might be slightly injured.¡± ¡°!¡± Shang Yan smiled coldly as he turned around and strode away. Slightly injured? A few broken ribs. An injury that would take months to recover on the hospital bed. Qu Xiao was actually able to speak of that in such a rxed manner. Shang Yan did not know where his anger came from. Was it because Qu Xiao neglected her life or the dissatisfaction with himself? Chapter 113

Chapter 113: You Are the Most Important

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

At the fountain garden of the Shang Group, the wheelchair toppled to the ground. Shang Yan stopped in his tracks when he passed by. The image of Qu Xiao sitting in the MPV in despair shed in his mind, and his heart ached. ¡°Search for the surveince video of the square and find all the onlookers who secretly took the video and photos.¡± ¡°Delete all the video and audio evidence they took. You can give a certain amount ofpensation as hush money. I don¡¯t want to see any news reporting about the Shang group and me tomorrow.¡± Shang Yan instructed calmly and rationally. The butler silently nodded and noted it down. ¡°Put away the wheelchair and ask the repair workers to fix the flower beds in the square.¡± Shang Yan said indifferently. He caught a glimpse of Qu Xiao following closely behind him from the corner of his eye and pretended not to see her. The butler sensed the atmosphere and wanted to exin it for Qu Xiao several times. Shang Yan suddenly looked at him sideways and said with a cold voice, ¡°Is there anything else? Do you want to wait until the news and photos are published before you look for the Public Rtions department to contact the media to revoke the report?¡± The butler was so scared that he immediately left the dangerous scene. At the same time, he waved his fist at Qu Xiao to cheer her on. Qu Xiao was like a child who had done something wrong. She ran to Shang Yan¡¯s side in small steps and dangled his clothes yfully. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital for a check-up, shall we?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait until the results of the check-up are out before you get angry, OK? Even if you ignore me or live apart from me, I can ept it.¡± Qu Xiao blinked her watery eyes. Shang Yan lowered his head and stared at her in surprise and dissatisfaction, feeling the frustration within him rising. The delicate woman raised her arm to block Shang Yan. The tears that fell from Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes broke all of Shang Yan¡¯s defenses. He could only choose topromise and follow her to the hospital. When the private doctor saw Shang Yan, he was speechless for a long time and subsequently gave a thumbs up. He praised Qu Xiao, ¡°It was still you who have a way. You can actually let CEO Shang break through the psychological trauma in just a short day. Whether it was from a physiological or psychological point of view, CEO Shang is already a normal person.¡± ¡°Rehabilitate diligently in the future, and there won¡¯t be any seque orplications.¡± ¡°Please rest assured!¡± The doctor gave a definite answer, and Qu Xiao was finally relieved. She squatted on the ground as her legs went weak, and she did not stand up for a long time. Shang Yan lowered his eyes and looked at her. He raised his hand and wanted to rub her fluffy hair, but he withdrew his hand in the end. On the way back from the hospital to the vi, Shang Yan received a call from the butler and assistant. Public opinion had already been brought under control, and the world would not know about his situation. Shang Yan snorted twice and tilted his head to look out of the car window. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes shifted slightly, and she took the initiative to move over to hug Shang Yan¡¯s arm. ¡°Are you still angry?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that you can stand up. Shall we celebrate?¡± ¡°I wanted to eat Japanese food some time ago. I found a pretty good club. Why don¡¯t we take a look? It¡¯s my treat!¡± Qu Xiao wanted to coax Shang Yan, but she did not expect Shang Yan to be even angrier. In a deep voice, he said to the driver, ¡°Find a ce to park the car and wait for me outside.¡± The driver hurriedly braked and parked the car in a remote open space, standing with his back to the car. Shang Yan took a deep breath to adjust his emotions and stared at Qu Xiao as he said, ¡°Even till now, you still don¡¯t know why I¡¯m angry?¡± ¡°My legs have been crippled for many years! What does it matter if I continue to sit in a wheelchair for one or two days or one or two months?¡± ¡°My legs could already feel. Do you need to use your life to help me break through the psychological trauma? Qu Xiao! Do you know how scared I was back then?¡± The blood vessels on Shang Yan¡¯s neck bulged. He clenched his fists tightly, but he constantly reminded himself not to scare Qu Xiao. Qu Xiao was stunned. She opened her mouth but was unable to speak. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of losing you. I¡¯d rather sit in a wheelchair for the rest of my life rather than live a life without you!¡± Shang Yan, who had always been fearless, had a trembling voice. He widened his eyes to control his tears from falling. In the end, he could not control it and turned his head away. A stream of tears slid down the side of his face and fell on the back of Qu Xiao¡¯s hand. It was hot and real. Qu Xiao felt as if her heart was filled with warmth. She held Shang Yan¡¯s face and took the initiative to kiss him. Their lips lightly touched. It was a kiss with no lust, but it urately conveyed their love for each other. ¡°I promise you. This is thest time. I was wrong!¡± Qu Xiao lowered her head and hugged Shang Yan in her arms. She gently patted his back and said those touching words. The light in the carriage was dim. Qu Xiao suddenly remembered something. She released Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder and said with difficulty, ¡°Can you let the doctor off? He only gave me a suggestion from the doctor¡¯s perspective. I was the one who made the final decision. Aren¡¯t you going a little overboard to transfer him to the emergency department?¡± The private doctor specialized in serving VIP patients. His work was easy andfortable. So, he was already used to such a leisure lifestyle. However, Shang Yan instructed the hospital to transfer the doctor to another post in the afternoon. ¡°Everyone has to pay the price for their actions. It¡¯s already merciful that I did not ask him to leave the hospital.¡± Shang Yan stared at Qu Xiao gloomily and said with a deeper meaning, ¡°It¡¯s the same for you. Don¡¯t think that things will be so easily forgotten!¡± Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Nourishing the Body

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

At night, ambiguous panting came from the bathroom in the bedroom. Shower foam covered Qu Xiao¡¯s body, and hot steam fogged the ss as the water flowed continuously. Shang Yan¡¯s big hand grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s wrists and raised them high against the wall. He used his other hand to protect Qu Xiao¡¯s waist, keeping her back away from the cold wall. The passionate kiss and shared breaths made Qu Xiao¡¯s legs go weak. She could not stand properly and beg for mercy. ¡°Since I can stand up, we should try many positions.¡± Shang Yan was like an unsatiated beast. He gazed sharply, wanting to devour Qu Xiao and integrate her into his body. Qu Xiao was a little upset at this moment. She regretted using such a radical method to help Shang Yan and let herself fall into such a situation. Shang Yan¡¯s fingers nimbly caressed Qu Xiao¡¯s body. He suddenly grabbed her waist and sat her on the sink¡¯s countertop. In the next second, Qu Xiao saw Shang Yan bend down to separate her legs. His handsome face was greedily buried between her legs. His tongue tip nimbly covered her secret garden that was filled with secretion. She could not take it and leaned back while tightly grasping Shang Yan¡¯s head with her hands and moaning. ¡°Is this the ce? Tell me, let me know.¡± Shang Yan raised his eyes. As if he was deliberately torturing Qu Xiao, he gently bit Qu Xiao¡¯s red and swollen nipple and lightly rolled against it. Qu Xiao¡¯s body instantly trembled. She wanted to use her legs to mp Shang Yan¡¯s head, but he mischievously separated them to the maximum. The hard object between Shang Yan¡¯s crotch disyed a vigorous posture and directly prated Qu Xiao¡¯s body, seamlessly connecting them. ¡°It¡¯s so tight. Rx a little.¡± Shang Yan kissed the corner of Qu Xiao¡¯s lips lightly, down to her corbone, and he continued further to suck her soft breasts in his mouth. He was like a gluttonous child, crazily swallowing the round and plump white rabbit. His other hand was kept busy, kneading the bud of the other soft breast as if he was afraid to neglect it. Qu Xiao felt her mind go nk, and she opened her mouth wide in a daze. Her scallion-like fingers weaved through Shang Yan¡¯s ck hair, and the mirror reflected their ambiguous figures. Shang Yan used his hand to gently press Qu Xiao¡¯s neck, forcing her to open her eyes. ¡°Look at us. Remember this moment.¡± Qu Xiao opened her eyes as if bewitched, and she saw herself in the mirror wrapping around Shang Yan in the most seductive posture while his clone bumped into her continuously. White secretion and sound wereing from the bottom of her body. This simtion that she witnessed made her tighten her tunnel. The warm tunnel bit onto Shang Yan¡¯s object. He let out afortable muffled groan as he grabbed Qu Xiao¡¯s perky buttocks and continued bumping. ¡°No, no¡­ I¡¯m almost there!¡± Qu Xiao raised her neck and hugged Shang Yan tightly. She could not control herself and screamed out loud. Shang Yan left his boiling hot secretion in Qu Xiao¡¯s body. He hugged her and buried his head in her neck. He took a deep breath and panted as he rested. Qu Xiao was covered in sweat. Her wet hair stuck to her neck and chest, giving off a seductive look. Shang Yan only took a nce and the object buried in her body showed signs of lifting its head again. ¡°When do you n to tell your family? Grandfather cares about you very much. Even if you¡¯re hiding it from the business partners andpetitors for the sake of the Shang Group, you should tell him to make him happy.¡± Qu Xiao said hoarsely. Her gaze looked nk, but she did not forget to remind Shang Yan. After all, the Shang family was still a little dissatisfied with her. Qu Xiao did not want Shang Yan to be on bad terms with the Shang family for her. Her rtionship with the Qu family made Qu Xiao yearn for family. Shang Yan stared at her with some dissatisfaction and said in a low and ambiguous voice, ¡°You still have the strength to think about this? It seems that I did not serve you well.¡± ¡°No, I just¡­¡± Qu Xiao wanted to defend herself but felt her body lifted off the next second. The loss of gravity made her hug Shang Yan¡¯s shoulders, and her entire self was hung on his body. Shang Yan held Qu Xiao¡¯s legs with both hands and continued to want her in a standing posture. This posture allowed Shang Yan to prate deeper into Qu Xiao¡¯s body. He even deliberately and mischievously carried Qu Xiao and walked in the room. ¡°Ah¡­no, it¡¯s too deep!¡± Qu Xiao was like a piece of driftwood in the sea. Every time Shang Yan deliberately let go of her, she would sit heavily on the high-spirited object and bump into her most sensitive part. Shang Yan looked at the soft breasts in front of him, opened his mouth, and kissed it. He bit it lightly and increased the frequency of his waist movement. ¡°Shang Yan! I don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t want it anymore!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not up to you. As your punishment, it is far from over.¡± Shang Yan kissed Qu Xiao¡¯s lips and continued the exercise for the entire night. The butler and nanny, who were outside the bedroom, had wanted to use delivering dinner as an opportunity to enter their room to persuade them to reconcile as they had earlier seen the awkward atmosphere between them when they returned home. They had already practiced their scripts countless times. However, when they heard the embarrassing sounds inside, they looked at each other awkwardly. ¡°It seems that we don¡¯t need to do anything.¡± The butler¡¯s face was red. The nanny nodded and thought seriously, ¡°I will cook some bird¡¯s nest for Madam tomorrow to nourish her body.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same for CEO Shang. No matter how young he is, he can¡¯t be like this¡­ His body will copse sooner orter.¡± The nanny then began to list the next day¡¯s dishes, nning to give the two good nourishment. Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Secret Exposed

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the noisy and lively bar, Shang Liqing and her friendsughed and clinked their sses, whistling to the men on the dance floor frequently. The charming and beautiful socialites ordered dozens of bottles of whiskey and generously invited members of the opposite sex, who were pleasing to their eyes, to drink with them. Shang Liqing¡¯s gaze was out of focus as she leaned into the arms of a well-built man she had just met. She opened her mouth to taste the lychees peeled by the man and rewarded him with a sweet kiss. At the karaoke station, a socialite, who was holding a microphone, thought of an interesting thing when she got lightly drunk. She pped her hands to attract everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Did you know? Shang Yan of the Shang Group has stood up today!¡± Her voice carried a smile, but the bomb she dropped did not cause the sensation she expected. Shang Liqing felt the gazes of the people around her. She waved her hand and sat up on the sofa. ¡°Stand up? My brother?¡± The socialite nodded her head firmly. She tried her best to focus her gaze on her phone screen, pulling up the secretly taken video. The phone was passed to Shang Liqing, who was in the corner of the room, by countless people. The socialite¡¯s voice was a little piercing to the ears after being processed by the microphone. ¡°It¡¯s said that they have deleted all the video data.¡± ¡°This was left behind by my friend. She passed by the Shang Group and watched the show across the road.¡± ¡°Your brother¡¯s assistant and bodyguard probably didn¡¯t notice her.¡± The socialite asked her urgingly, ¡°Is that right? CEO Shang has been disabled for many years. How did he suddenly stand up?¡± Shang Liqing¡¯s eyes gradually became clear. In the dim room, she tried hard to identify the blurry image on the screen. It was not until the moment Shang Yan stood up that she finally sucked in a breath of cold air and pushed away the man who was hugging her. She then grabbed her coat and rushed outside. ¡°My phone!¡± The socialite chased after her loudly. Shang Liqing smashed her phone to the ground and stomped on it until it shattered. She then picked up the core chip and threw it into the toilet bowl in the bathroom. ¡°I¡¯llpensate you with one tomorrow! Tell your friend to delete the video immediately, or the Shang family will not let her go!¡± Even though Shang Liqing was unruly and willful, she still belonged to the Shang family¡¯s bloodline. She clearly understood why Shang Yan would delete all the video data. After leaving the bar, Shang Liqing quickly dialed the number of the old residence. ¡°Hello? Uncle Zhang, please wake Grandfather up. I have something very important to tell him! It¡¯s extremely important!¡± Shang Liqing found a chauffeur and instructed him to drive the sports car at the maximum speed. The sports car sped through the night like a red lightning bolt. The roaring sound of the engine made the driver¡¯s heart skip a beat. He was afraid he would have to pay half of his life savings aspensation if there were a single scratch. Shang Liqing could not be bothered with what he was feeling. Looking at the brightly lit old residence, she took out two stacks of pink banknotes from her wallet and threw them over. In the living room of the old residence, Shang Liqing saw Grandfather Shang sitting on the sofa with an unhappy expression and ying the video from the bar. Grandfather Shang stared at the screen, and his expression gradually became shocked, then happy, and finally, he frowned. ¡°Grandfather, did you see that? Brother can already stand up!¡± ¡°He is a healthy person who can walk freely. At the same time, he is also the Young Master of the Shang Group, a powerful figure in the financial circle. In the past, we let him marry Qu Xiao because there was no other way, but now Brother can have a better choice!¡± ¡°As long as Brother can agree to divorce Qu Xiao, I can immediately introduce him to other women! I guarantee that you and he will be satisfied.¡± Shang Liqing really hated Qu Xiao. She wished she could immediately disappear from the Shang family and never see her again. The Qu Xiao in the past was so stupid that it irked people. Her actions would often implicate the Shang family and cause them to beughed at by outsiders. But now, she was shrewd and wise to the point that Shang Liqing would feel guilty and afraid every time she met her eyes. Grandfather Shang did not answer. Instead, he instructed the butler to inform Shang Yan toe to the old residence. Shang Liqing raised her eyebrows. Feeling that there was hope, she sneaked back to her bedroom and dialed her best friend¡¯s number. She covered the microphone with her hand. ¡°Hello? Are you free? Didn¡¯t you always say that you like my second brother? Now there¡¯s an opportunity in front of you!¡± ¡°Dress nicely and hurry over. I might very well call you second sister-inw in the future!¡± Shang Liqing excitedly whispered as she imagined the scene of Qu Xiao leaving the Shang family miserably. Her mood could not be any happier. On the other side, Shang Yan received a notice from the butler and looked at Qu Xiao, who was preparing to leave. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Go over when you¡¯re done. I¡¯ll exin to Grandfather.¡± Shang Yanforted Qu Xiao by brushing her hair. His thin lips curved gently as he kissed her lightly. Qu Xiao was inexplicably flustered. She had a feeling that something terrible was going to happen. She stared at Shang Yan¡¯s back as he drove away. She pressed her hand against her heart and muttered, ¡°What other difficulties can there be? I¡¯ve already endured the most difficult ones!¡± Qu Xiao silently cheered herself on and took a bus to the Teaching and Laboratory building of A University. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± In theboratory, Lei Qiming took off his protective sses. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked exhausted as he greeted Qu Xiao, ¡°Take a look at thebination of these two drugs. Will the effect of the drug be magnified?¡± Qu Xiao changed into a dust safety suit and walked to the observation vessel. When she saw the reaction through the viewer clearly, she asked in surprise, ¡°Have you found a way to increase the effect of the drug?¡± Chapter 116

Chapter 116: Be Honest About the Current Situation

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasized that medicine and food came from the same source. Most of the time, the treatment approach would be gentle, slowly nourishing the body and achieving the goal of removing the illness. Because there were rarely intense prescriptions, the treatment process was rtively slow. Many patients were skeptical about this and turned to Western medicine for treatment. If Lei Qiming¡¯s research hypothesis were really sessful, it would greatly increase the efficacy of Traditional Chinese medicine. The treatment process would be significantly shortened if the prescription and the patient¡¯s physical condition were the same! This would be a great research that could change the status of Traditional Chinese medicine. When Qu Xiao thought of this, her gaze was uncontrobly filled with excitement. Lei Qiming raised his brilliant smile andughed at the sky twice. ¡°That¡¯s right! I will announce the results of the scientific research at the Overseas Research and Development Conference next week.¡± ¡°We may face many problems and difficulties these few days, but as long as we conquer them, we will be able to be the pioneer!¡± Hearing Lei Qiming¡¯s words, Qu Xiao¡¯s body froze, and she pointed at herself suspiciously. ¡°We?¡± Lei Qiming nodded and slowly extended his palm to her. ¡°Are you willing to be my assistant and join the research team?¡± Qu Xiao took a long time to digest the surprise in front of her, and then she shook Lei Qiming¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Of course I¡¯m willing!¡± She and Lei Qiming were so busy in theboratory that they didn¡¯t notice time passing by quickly. At the same time, in the old residence of the Shang family, Shang Yan entered the living room in a wheelchair. He found that Grandfather Shang, Shang Liqing, and Shang Xinchen were all present. Their gazes fell on him in unison, as if they were about to start a hearing about him. Shang Liqing tilted her head and stared at the empty courtyard. She deliberately said provocatively, ¡°What? Second Brother¡¯s wife is putting on airs?¡± ¡°Is she going to bete even though Grandfather invited her?¡± Shang Yan frowned slightly and exined to Grandfather Shang, ¡°Professor Lei Qiming from A University is looking for her for some matters. She will rush over after settling it.¡± Grandfather Shang had heard of Lei Qiming¡¯s reputation. His displeased expression eased a little. Shang Liqing rolled her eyes and spoke again. ¡°Second Brother, are you treating us as outsiders? Do you still want to hide such a huge matter from us? Are you sure you need to sit in a wheelchair?¡± Her personality was straightforward, and what she said made Shang Yan silent. Shang Yan knew that the news could not be kept secret for long, so he quickened his pace to deal with thepany¡¯s affairs. At this moment, he pressed against the wheelchair¡¯s armrest and slowly stood up. Grandfather Shang¡¯s pupils dted and his breathing became rapid and excited. He leaned forward and stood up with his cane. He ran to Shang Yan quickly, sizing up his legs which could rely on their own strength to walk. ¡°Are you really alright?¡± Shang Yan nodded and saw tears welling up in Grandfather Shang¡¯s eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t have the time to tell you about what happened this afternoon.¡± The huge impact made the Shang family fall into silence. Shang Liqing opened her mouth and wanted to continue instigating, but Shang Yan spoke first, ¡°The reason why I was able to stand up was all thanks to Qu Xiao. She started looking for renowned doctors half a year ago and self-learned Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture to diagnose and treat me.¡± ¡°Every night, she had to keep an eye on my condition and look around for renowned medicine that could help me recuperate.¡± ¡°It was also her and Professor Lei Qiming who concocted the prescription, and she even used her life as a stake to help me ovee my psychological trauma. Grandfather, without Qu Xiao, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to stand up. I don¡¯t expect you to immediately ept and thank her, but I hope you can try to get to know her again.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s every word was sincere and clear. Grandfather Shang¡¯s was slightly moved. Shang Liqing saw that the situation was not good and hurriedly retorted, ¡°What does it have to do with her? Qu Xiao only knows how to put on a show.¡± Shang Xinchen curled up on the sofa and could not help but speak up for Qu Xiao, ¡°I can prove that she had entered A University because she wanted to treat Second Brother¡¯s illness.¡± ¡°Qu Xiao even bought an ancient medical book from me. I heard that she was in danger for Second Brother several times. She is really loyal.¡± Shang Liqing heard Shang Xinchen¡¯s words and red at him, ¡°Who exactly are you speaking up for?¡± ¡°Am I trying to harm Second Brother? Qu Xiao has no upbringing. She doesn¡¯t care about the big picture when she does things. Her identity is also¡­¡± Shang Liqing ridiculed excitedly. She subconsciously shrunk her neck and pulled Shang Xinchen to block her when she felt Shang Yan¡¯s gaze. Her voice gradually weakened as she retorted, ¡°I just hope that Second Brother can find a better one, can¡¯t I?¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the butler outside the door brought Wen Wan in. Shang Yan quickly pulled the wheelchair and then pretended to be unable to move. He stared fiercely at Shang Liqing. Wen Wan was wearing a pure white floral dress, and her meticulous make-up made her look attractive. Her eyes were glued to Shang Yan. She smiled shyly and gently greeted the crowd, ¡°Grandfather, Second Brother, I¡¯m here to see Liqing.¡± Shang Liqing suddenly jumped up from the sofa and held Wen Wan¡¯s arm as she pushed her to Shang Yan¡¯s side. At the same time, she used her eyes to hint at Grandfather Shang. Wen Wan, the only daughter of the Wen family, the beloved daughter of a prestigious family. Shang Liqing could not help but imagine what a happy and harmonious scene it would be if she could be Shang Yan¡¯s wife! Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Confession Rejected

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the Shang family¡¯s vi, the atmosphere was awkward and stagnant. Shang Yan furrowed his brows. He knew Shang Liqing¡¯s intentions and always kept his distance from Wen Wan. Wen Wan recalled Shang Liqing¡¯s instigation and mustered her courage to walk to Shang Yan¡¯s side. She bit her tender lips and closed her eyes as if struggling and hesitating. She confessed softly, ¡°I like you! From a very long time ago, Brother Shang Yan, I have liked to be by your side and fantasized about marrying you.¡± ¡°I know that you and Qu Xiao are married because of the family¡¯s agreement and your career needs.¡± ¡°You have no feelings for her, and Qu Xiao is not worthy of you. Brother Shang Yan, as long as you are willing to divorce, I will definitely be able to convince my family to agree to us being together. The Wen family¡¯s resources will all go to the Shang family when that timees. The coboration between the two families will definitely bring more glory than now.¡± Wen Wan was smart. She knew that by saying these words, she would be able to win Grandfather Shang¡¯s support. After all, a marriage in the financial circle was not purely based on a rtionship. Without material things, it would not be able to go on for long. Shang Liqing secretly winked at Wen Wan. Her eyes were filled with anticipation as she agreed. ¡°Compared to the Qu family, the Wen family¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Shang Yan looked enraged as he reprimanded her. Shang Liqing hurriedly shut up. She lowered her gaze and stared at the floor, not daring to speak rashly again. Wen Wan¡¯s body trembled in fear. Like a frightened white rabbit, her eyes were so red that they could capture people¡¯s empathy. Shang Yan cleared his throat and stared indifferently at the girl in front of him. He tried his best to use a gentle tone to reject her, ¡°You and Liqing are friends. I have cared for you like my younger sister. I definitely have no other thoughts. The expansion of the Shang Group in the country has been going smoothly, and there are no difficulties with the capital either. If the Wen family is willing to join hands with us to seize the market, I am delighted to have a powerful ally.¡± ¡°But if the premise of the alliance between the two families is to establish a marriage rtionship, I think the Shang Group doesn¡¯t need it.¡± Wen Wan¡¯s pupils instantly constricted. She had put down her ego toe to the Shang family to confess publicly, but all she had received was such humiliation! Her pale face instantly turned red. Wen Wan bit her lips tightly and red at Shang Liqing resentfully, hating her for putting her in such a situation. Shang Yan was silent for a long time. It was as if he was saying to Wen Wan, but at the same time, it was also as if he was announcing to the members of the Shang family. ¡°I love Qu Xiao.¡± ¡°Love increases with time. Right now, I can be sure that I will only cherish and love her for the rest of my life. Regardless of whether the Qu family is on the verge of restructuring and bankruptcy, I am willing to continue walking hand in hand with her. I don¡¯t wish that anyone, including my family, me andin about her.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s gaze fell on Shang Liqing as he said in an aggravated tone, ¡°I don¡¯t want what happened today to happen again.¡± Shang Liqing lost all her face in front of Wen Wan. She did not know where she got the courage, but she confronted Shang Yan with her hands on her hips. ¡°Second Brother, ask your conscience. How many wrong things did Qu Xiao do to you? Can you me us for being biased against her?¡± ¡°She has aplicated rtionship with Ling Chi. She cheated on you outside, stole business projects from the Shang family for the Qu family, and even used your name to attract investments and connections for the Qu family. Do you think you can choose to forget those?¡± Shang Liqing recalled the stupid things Qu Xiao had done and was so angry that her eyes turned red. ¡°She doesn¡¯t respect you at all. Do you think I want to destroy your marriage? I don¡¯t want you to feel aggrieved!¡± ¡°So the whole family has forgotten about the past. Only I¡¯m ying the viin, right?¡± Shang Liqing screamed in grievance. Grandfather Shang and Shang Xinchen kept silent in embarrassment. Qu Xiao¡¯s change was too big. She had simply be apletely different person. Shang Xinchen also thought that she was pretending at first. As they got closer, he realized that Qu Xiao was really different from the past. Her various actions could not be done by pretending to care, ¡°Liqing, everyone makes mistakes. It¡¯s fine as long as they can change.¡± ¡°You also said that you hope that Second Brother can be happy, right?¡± Shang Xinchen grabbed Shang Liqing¡¯s shoulder in an attempt to ease the atmosphere. Shang Liqing suddenly turned her head and gritted her teeth as she red at him. ¡°You! A fence-sitter. What benefits did Qu Xiao promise you to help her?¡± Grandfather Shang just listened to the young ones argue and did not speak. He had seen Shang Yan¡¯s hand gently resting on his knees, and his eyes filled with gentleness when he mentioned Qu Xiao. He sighed inpromise. ¡°Enough!¡± Shang Liqing and Shang Xinchen shut their mouths simultaneously and looked at Grandfather Shang obediently. Grandpa Shang looked at Wen Wan lovingly, ¡°Wen family¡¯s little girl, I have watched you grow up. Grandfather naturally knows that you¡¯re a good child. No one will talk about what happened today. Just treat it as if it never happened. In the future, if Grandfather sees a decent boy, I will personallye and introduce him to you.¡± ¡°As for Shang Yan, there will be no happiness if things are attained forcibly in a rtionship.¡± Grandfather Shang¡¯s words drew an end to this farce. Wen Wan was so embarrassed and angry that she wanted to turn around and leave angrily. Shang Liqing hurriedly grabbed her elbow and apologized in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She also did not expect things to develop to such an extent. There was a sounding from the vi¡¯s entrance. Qu Xiao changed into a pair of slippers and came to the living room. Seeing the subtle atmosphere in the crowd, she stared at Wen Wan and sized her up. Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Jealous

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

They all felt that Qu Xiao was worth it. They all recognized Qu Xiao¡¯s status and identity in the Shang family, right? When Shang Liqing saw Qu Xiao, she thought of Grandfather Shang and Shang Xinchen reprimanding her, and her desire for revenge grew stronger. She deliberately pulled Wen Wan¡¯s wrist and pushed Wen Wan to Shang Yan¡¯s side. Wen Wan lost her bnce and fell onto Shang Yan¡¯sp. After all, she was an outsider, so Shang Yan could not stand up to distance himself from her. He could only say unhappily, ¡°Shang Liqing! What are you trying to do?¡± Shang Xinchen quickly helped Wen Wan out of the predicament and helped her up. Qu Xiao¡¯s expression did not change at all. Her lips curled up demurely, and her eyes smiled. ¡°You are a friend of Liqing, right? I seem to have seen you at the charity banquet before. The tiles in the living room are slippery, be careful not to fall.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re here as a guest, why don¡¯t you stay for dinner?¡± ¡°Liqing¡¯s friend is also our younger sister, don¡¯t stand on ceremony with us.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s magnanimous way of handling things saved the Shang family¡¯s face and gave Wen Wan a way out. Grandfather Shang nodded in satisfaction and looked at her with gratified eyes. It seemed that Shang Xinchen was right. The Qu family¡¯s girl was indeed different from before. ¡°I passed by the supermarket and bought a lot of dishes that Shang Yan likes. There¡¯s also boiled beef that Grandfather likes. What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°Something lighter, or something with a stronger taste?¡± Qu Xiao looked down at the ingredients in the stic bag and spoke somewhat nonchntly, ¡°Actually, everyone¡¯s taste is different. They may not be able to eat what they like for a long time. If they are overly obsessed, they may hurt their bodies¡­¡± ¡°Miss Wen Wan seems to like spicy food, but being addicted to spicy food is not good for your skin. Why don¡¯t you change your taste?¡± How could Wen Wan not understand Qu Xiao¡¯s hint of advice? Wen Wan hurriedly found an excuse to leave. The butler and nanny also carried Qu Xiao¡¯s shopping bags to the kitchen and busied themselves with preparing dinner. Qu Xiao sat beside Shang Yan and answered Grandfather Shang¡¯s questions with a calm expression. But Shang Yan noticed the displeasure in her eyes and wanted to coax Qu Xiao. He wanted to interlock his fingers with Qu Xiao¡¯s. But the moment his fingers touched hers, Qu Xiao pulled her hand back abruptly. She was angry! Was she jealous? Shang Yan could not help butugh and shake his head helplessly. Grandfather Shang noticed the subtle movements of the couple and recalled the days when he was younger. His eyes were fixed on the family portrait ced on the dining cab. His gaze was filled with nostalgia, and he also became gentle and loving. ¡°Shang Yan told me everything.¡± ¡°I thank you for helping him achieve this medical miracle, allowing him topletely walk out of his trauma and be more open.¡± Grandfather Shang took the initiative to raise his ss, and Qu Xiao hurriedly clinked it with his. She respectfully turned her body to the side and took a sip of white wine. ¡°Shang Yan is busy with work. If you have time,e over more often. You can drink tea and y chess with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting old. I hope that it will be more lively around me. With you juniors apanying me, I won¡¯t be so lonely.¡± Grandfather Shang raised the suggestions. Qu Xiao understood what he meant, but she was so stunned that she forgot to answer until Shang Yan gently pushed her leg under the table. Qu Xiao nodded in a panic. ¡°I will definitelye to see you often! As long as you don¡¯t mind.¡± Shang Xinchen curled the corners of his lips and teased, ¡°Second Sister-inw, Grandfather can¡¯t wait to have youe every day so that you can massage his shoulders and legs. You have to be mentally prepared!¡± Grandfather Shang gave Shang Xinchen a fierce look and pretended to be angry as he said, ¡°Am I like that?¡± The atmosphere at the dining table was warm and cheerful. Only Shang Liqing buried her head as she ate, trying to block out all the sounds. After dinner, Qu Xiao helped Grandfather Shang with acupuncture and massage for half an hour and followed Shang Yan out of the old residence. Shang Yan wanted to chat with Qu Xiao while in the car heading to the vi, but Qu Xiao remained silent as she looked out of the car window and refused to answer. ¡°You¡¯re still angry?¡± Shang Yan¡¯s question was like a fuse that lit a bomb. The anger in Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes deepened. In the vi¡¯s bedroom, Qu Xiao mmed the door. Shang Yan who followed closely behind her, almost had the door mmed on his nose. He hugged Qu Xiao tightly from behind and buried his head in her neck as he exined in a muffled voice, ¡°I had no idea that Liqing would call Wen Wan over. I rejected her very directly. After all, the two families are family friends. There¡¯s no way to make the rtionship too stiff.¡± ¡°My wife, can you forgive me?¡± Shang Yan imitated Qu Xiao¡¯s usual demeanor and acted coquettishly towards her. Qu Xiao¡¯s body suddenly stopped. She clenched her teeth and turned around to stare at the man who was a head taller than her. ¡°I won¡¯t be jealous, but you must make up for it and pay the price!¡± After saying that, she pushed Shang Yan¡¯s chest, causing him to step back until he fell back and sat on the bed. Shang Yan sensed her intention. He raised his eyebrows and held Qu Xiao¡¯s waist with anticipation. ¡°I¡¯m happy to use my body to make up for it!¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes glinted mischievously. She rubbed Shang Yan¡¯s earlobe with her hand. ¡°Is that so? I hope you don¡¯t regret it!¡± Her cold little hand covered Shang Yan¡¯s eyes. He raised his head and waited for Qu Xiao¡¯s kiss, but he didn¡¯t expect to receive something else. Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Let¡¯s Have a Child

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The night light emitted a dark purple light in the bedroom. Qu Xiao strutted in front of Shang Yan seductively. The sexy ck leather underwear tightly wrapped around her graceful figure, making it stand out seductively. The smooth, tender white round breasts moved as if they were about to jump out. Qu Xiao held the sex prop in her hand and raised her leg to step her toes on Shang Yan¡¯s abdominal muscles while gently biting her red lips. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes darkened. He struggled to get up a few times but to no avail. A few minutes ago, Qu Xiao covered Shang Yan¡¯s eyes and tied him to the bed as she coaxed and threatened. At this moment, Shang Yan¡¯s hands and feet were tied to the bed¡¯s four corners. He could only watch helplessly as Qu Xiao wreaked havoc on his body. Qu Xiao unbuttoned her underwear and sat on Shang Yan¡¯s waist with an ambiguous expression. She raised her neck and fondled her soft breasts with her hands, asionally letting out pleasant moans and pantings. Shang Yan felt that the hard object at his crotch was so swollen that it was ufortable. It raised its head and moved on its own, like a dissatisfied mor. ¡°I said, I¡¯ll let you remember tonight!¡± Qu Xiao bent her knees and sat on the high-spirited object with her perky buttocks. Her tender flesh squeezed against the terrifying blood-filled object and slowly rubbed against it. Shang Yan clenched his teeth and felt the blood vessels in his temples throbbing violently. He tried to push the object into Qu Xiao¡¯s warm and wet tunnel by moving his waist, but Qu Xiao noticed his action and slightly raised her body, destroying his hope. ¡°You will regret it when you untie me.¡± Shang Yan uncontrobly said that. Qu Xiao shook her head and revealed a mischievous and vengeful expression. ¡°If it were me, I would definitely not threaten someone when I was manipted. After all, you and it are both in my hands.¡± After Qu Xiao said this, she held the vein-popping object with both hands and rubbed it slightly with force. Shang Yan groanedfortably and panted heavily. Qu Xiao moved exceptionally slowly as if she was torturing him on purpose. Shang Yan moved his waist in dissatisfaction to ease his restlessness and desire in her warm palms. Under the dark purple light, two drops of sweat rolled down from the corner of Shang Yan¡¯s forehead. His gaze was fanatical and filled with lust. Qu Xiao was not willing to give up. She knelt in front of Shang Yan and pressed her secret garden, overflowing with her secretions, onto Shang Yan¡¯s face. Shang Yan felt momentary suffocation. He immediately stuck out the tip of his tongue and licked Qu Xiao¡¯s garden. He nimbly rolled up a stream of water and swallowed it. His moist and hot tongue separated his lips. Shang Yan¡¯s high nose bridge rubbed against the gap between the flesh. Qu Xiao supported herself with her hands on the wall as she moaned in desperation. She felt that her lower abdomen was like an open tap where her secretion constantly flowed. Shang Yan¡¯s handsome face was under her body, kissing her private area in an almost fawning method. Qu Xiao sank her body like a queen. When she heard the sounds from Shang Yan¡¯s mouth, her legs went so weak that she couldn¡¯t even kneel properly. ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t go there¡­¡± Shang Yan took advantage of Qu Xiao¡¯s confused state and opened his mouth to bite the already swollen bean-like area. The intense stimtion made Qu Xiao involuntarily tighten her legs. A jet of secretion shot out. Shang Yan used the tip of his tongue to taste the secretion. And unknowingly, he had already untied the rope that bound his hands. ¡°Ah! You¡­How did you untie it?¡± Qu Xiao felt dizzy. Shang Yan pressed her under his body and supported his object with one hand as he pushed it into her body. Qu Xiao bit her red lips and asked in a stato voice. She turned her head to see that the ck ropes were scattered on the side and silentlymented that the online shop¡¯s reliability was extremely low. The shop clearly said that it was very safe, that not even violent struggles would be able to break it or get out of it. Shang Yan sensed that she was distracted. He gently held Qu Xiao¡¯s smooth neck and leaned over to kiss her lips. ¡°Your knot-tying skills are not good. Let me teach you how to use this thing.¡± After speaking, he wrapped the rope around Qu Xiao¡¯s wrist and tied her to the bed. A wave of stimtion came, and Qu Xiao begged for mercy coquettishly. ¡°Shang Yan, I can¡¯t do it anymore.¡± Shang Yan saw that her entire body was suffused with pink. He used his hands to pry open her legs and wildly rammed into her tender acupoints. ¡°When you provoked me, you should have thought of such a consequence.¡± ¡°Moreover, when ites to this matter, when have you been able to do it before? You always begged for mercy. I¡¯m already used to it¡­¡± Shang Yan said something that made Qu Xiao feel embarrassed. The soft flesh at the lower half of her body instinctively sucked on Shang Yan¡¯s object, like a small mouth that brought it deeper. Shang Yan¡¯s scalp went numb. Both his hands rubbed against Qu Xiao¡¯s plump and soft breasts. He madly rammed into her as he saw the breasts ripple. ¡°Ah¡­ Ah, you¡¯re going to spoil it!¡± Qu Xiao could not move and could only allow Shang Yan to do what he wanted. She raised her head and moaned. ¡°You¡¯re biting me so tightly. I¡¯ll give it all to you! Let¡¯s have a child, shall we?¡± Shang Yan saw that Qu Xiao was on the verge of orgasm, and his actions were rough, but his expression was gentle as he hugged her and whispered in Qu Xiao¡¯s ear affectionately. Qu Xiao opened her eyes in surprise and saw her reflection in Shang Yan¡¯s pitch-ck pupils. Her heart and body were both satisfied. Shang Yan shot his thick secretion into Qu Xiao¡¯s body and hugged her as he panted roughly. ¡°If it¡¯s a boy, I¡¯ll protect you with him.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a girl, I¡¯ll make her the happiest little princess in the world.¡± Shang Yan¡¯s thin lips pressed against Qu Xiao¡¯s ear as he expressed his love earnestly. Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Watching the Concert Together

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao rubbed her sleepy eyes in the vi¡¯s bedroom and sat up, looking for the person who slept next to her. Shang Yan came out of the bathroom, and on his vast shoulders were a few striking deep red scratches. He met Qu Xiao¡¯s gaze in the mirror and suddenly curled his thin lips, deliberately removing his towel. Qu Xiao hurriedly averted her gaze. The tips of her ears and cheeks inevitably flushed, and she secretly licked her red lips with her tongue. Buzz. The phone on the bedside table suddenly vibrated. Qu Xiao had a scare and looked over. She caught a glimpse of the notification on the green-colored app. Qu Xiao held the phone and wanted to pass it to Shang Yan, but he naturally replied, ¡°Take a look. Who is it?¡± ¡°The password is your birthday.¡± Qu Xiao was stunned. Her fingertips lightly poked the screen. When she saw the phone suddenly unlocked, her heart was filled with a sense of security. Shang Liqing sent a few messages which were filled withints and usations. [Second Brother, are you going to sever your rtionship with me because of Qu Xiao?] [Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m doing this for your good? All of you think I¡¯m making trouble, but Qu Xiao isn¡¯t worthy of what you do for her!] As the person involved, Qu Xiao felt a little awkward. She silently stuffed the phone into Shang Yan¡¯s hand. Recalling the few times the original Qu Xiao interacted with Shang Liqing, those were not good memories. Her sister-inw wanted to elope with another man every day andpletely disregarded her brother¡¯s feelings. If it were her, Qu Xiao would also object and be annoyed. Shang Yan keenly caught her depressed mood and hugged Qu Xiao¡¯s waist from behind. ¡°I¡¯ll be the one to spend the rest of my life with you. Their feelings and opinions are not important. Don¡¯t let them affect your mood, understand?¡± Qu Xiao shook her head. Her eyes were sincere and pure as she pushed Shang Yan¡¯s arm away. ¡°But they¡¯re your family.¡± ¡°Can you help me think of a way? Does Liqing have something or someone she likes? Give me some information and clues.¡± Shang Yan frowned. He realized that Qu Xiao was seriously trying to ease the rtionship with Shang Liqing, and so he told her whatever he knew about his sister. Qu Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard a particr keyword. She snatched Shang Yan¡¯s phone and replied to Shang Liqing¡¯s message. [LIVE concert at six in the evening. I bought you tickets.] Qu Xiao imitated Shang Yan¡¯s tone. After receiving Shang Liqing¡¯s affirmative answer, she rummaged through the dress in her closet and meticulously dressed up to go to the appointed meeting venue. The LIVE concert was Shang Liqing¡¯s favorite young idol band. They made their name with heavy metal rock. Their lyrics conveyed the attitude of young people towards life, whichined about being dejected yet faintly yielding hope for the future. Shang Liqing wore dreadlocks in a reggae style, and there were rainbow stickers and tattoos on her face. She waited at the door. It was not until the concert was about to begin that Shang Liqing saw the Shang family¡¯s MPV slowly approaching. She ran over with two cups of drinks in her arms and opened the car door. But she saw Qu Xiao wearing a dark leather skirt and waving at her with a smile. ¡°Why is it you?¡± Shang Liqing questioned with discontent. Qu Xiao waved the two VIP rock zone tickets in her hands. ¡°If you don¡¯t enter now, you might have to listen outside!¡± ¡°How could your brother possiblye here to listen to a concert?¡± Qu Xiao stepped out of the car and patted Shang Liqing¡¯s shoulder. She took a drink from her hand and said while biting the straw, ¡°Thank you.¡± Shang Liqing stared at her back and stomped her feet fiercely, waving her fists at Qu Xiao. However, due to the temptation of the concert, she still resigned herself to fate and followed Qu Xiao with her head lowered. The two of them came to the front row of the rock zone. The band¡¯s lead singer had already started adjusting the guitar and bass. ¡°Go for it! I will always support you guys!¡± Shang Liqing revealed the enthusiasm and vitality that a girl of her age should have as she waved the glow stick. Qu Xiao silently stared at her from the side and sighed in her heart. Perhaps she was not a bad person. She was just holding grievances against her. The band¡¯s lead singer was a visual rock youth. His fair skin was like a western vampire. Each time he interacted with the fans below the stage, there would be waves of screaming. Shang Liqing shouted until her voice became hoarse, and her eyes were filled with excitement. After the two-hour concert ended, Shang Liqing walked out of the venue exhausted but could not hide her happiness. Qu Xiao grabbed her wrist and pointed at the quiet Western restaurant beside her. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to a meal. Let¡¯s sit down and chat.¡± Shang Liqing frowned and wanted to refuse. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can bribe me just by treating me to a concert. I¡¯m different from Shang Xinchen!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, her stomach rumbled. Qu Xiao pursed her red lips andughed. She raised her wrist and pretended to look at the time. ¡°It¡¯ll probably take two hours to get back to the old residence from here. Everyone is calling for a car after the concert has ended, so the queue will take long. I have specially instructed the Shang family¡¯s drivers not toe and pick you up.¡± ¡°Moreover, the old residence¡¯s butler and nanny are on vacation. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to order some fast food to fill your stomach if you go back.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you extort me and eat something good?¡± Qu Xiao offered Shang Liqing a tempting proposal that was hard to refuse. Shang Liqing smacked her lips, and her eyes showed hints ofpromise after some hesitation. However, she still muttered unforgivingly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you still using my second brother¡¯s money when you pay with the credit card? Stop pretending to be generous!¡± Chapter 121

Chapter 121: Reconciliation of the Sister and Sister-inw

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the private room of the Western restaurant, the sister and the sister-inw sat face to face. The atmosphere was indescribably awkward. Shang Liqing treated Qu Xiao as if she was air. She eagerly ordered two servings of almost every item on the menu and raised her eyebrows provocatively. Qu Xiao shrugged and gestured for the waiter to ce the order ording to Shang Liqing¡¯s request. In the quiet enclosed space, Qu Xiao handed a hot towel to Shang Liqing and said in a light tone, ¡°We¡¯re all people who love Shang Yan. It¡¯s tough for him to be sandwiched between us. You can voice any resentment and dissatisfaction toward me to my face.¡± ¡°I just hope that we can resolve our misunderstandings and prejudices. Even if we can¡¯t be friend-like family members, we shouldn¡¯t spend the next few decades with hatred and hostility.¡± Qu Xiao noticed that Shang Liqing¡¯s actions had stopped from the corner of her eyes. She repeated with a light smile, ¡°I won¡¯t divorce Shang Yan.¡± Thud! Shang Liqing threw the towel to the ground. Her curved eyebrows were tightly knitted together. She pointed at the tip of Qu Xiao¡¯s nose and said, ¡°Stop pretending!¡± ¡°I once witnessed you and Ling Chi going to a hotel room when my second brother was on a business trip!¡± ¡°I will never forget the way you ttered Ling Chi!¡± Shang Liqing¡¯s voice was hoarse, and Qu Xiao was stunned when she heard it. She recalled the memories of the original Qu Xiao. There was indeed a time when Ling Chi called her out when he was drunk, but they did not cross the line. Ling Chi only wanted to ridicule Qu Xiao in front of his friends. Qu Xiao was silent, but Shang Liqing treated her reaction as guilt. Shang Liqing bit her red lips and took a deep breath in anger. ¡°I didn¡¯t mention this to anyone, not because I care about your ego, but because I don¡¯t want to see Grandfather and Second Brother upset! You can never change the dirty things you¡¯ve done. I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother me anymore in the future. I don¡¯t want to see you! And I don¡¯t want to see Second Brother being fooled around by you.¡± Shang Liqing supported herself on the ground and wanted to leave, but Qu Xiao grabbed her arm. Bang! Shang Liqing wanted to shake her hand off, but she identally knocked over the hot water bottle on the wooden cab. Boiling tea poured out and all over Qu Xiao¡¯s forearm. Her fair skin instantly turned red, and Qu Xiao felt a stabbing pain as she gritted her teeth. But she did not forget tofort the frightened Shang Liqing, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°You¡­ This! I¡¯ll send you to the hospital.¡± Shang Liqing saw the burn on Qu Xiao¡¯s forearm and paced around in panic, wanting to call the emergency number 120. Qu Xiao was amused by her. She used an ice block to apply a coldpress to the burn as a simple emergency treatment. ¡°Can you send me to the hospital?¡± Shang Liqing looked at the car keys that she handed over and nodded after two seconds of hesitation. She subconsciously helped Qu Xiao up. It seemed that sometimes getting injured was not a bad thing. The ruse of inflicting pain on oneself works with Shang Liqing! Shang Liqing held the steering wheel and kept ncing nervously at Qu Xiao, who was in the passenger seat. When she saw her calm expression as if she was not injured, she could not help but ask, ¡°Did you turn silly from the pain? Can you still feel your forearm? You¡­Give Second Brother a call!¡± Qu Xiao heard her guilty and frightened tone and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s a small matter. There¡¯s no need to tell Shang Yan.¡± ¡°You can also treat this matter as our secret.¡± Qu Xiao winked. Shang Liqing felt slightly touched as she pursed her lips. She used the fastest speed to help Qu Xiao find a doctor, visit the emergency department, prescribe medicine, and treat her burn wound before sending her home. At the Shang family¡¯s vi entrance, Qu Xiao sat in the car. She looked at the side of Shang Liqing¡¯s face and hesitated for a long time before opening her mouth and telling her the truth. ¡°I admit that I didn¡¯t have any feelings for him when I first married Shang Yan. I even thought about how to force him to divorce me every day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why my attitude toward the Shang family was bad. I deliberately made a fool of myself to tarnish the Shang family¡¯s reputation and make all of you lose face with me.¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s words caused Shang Liqing¡¯s pupils to tremble. She opened her mouth to speak, but Qu Xiao raised her hand to signal for her to wait. ¡°But a person¡¯s heart will change. The hotel incident you saw that night, whether you believe it or not, I did not betray Shang Yan.¡± ¡°I will love him now and in the future, which will never change.¡± ¡°I hope that we can be friends or get along harmoniously as sister and sister-inw. If you are unwilling, I hope that we can at least sit at the same table and eat together as strangers.¡± ¡°You have already grown up. You should know not to let your emotions affect your family and make things difficult for them.¡± After Qu Xiao said that, she waited for a long time but did not get Shang Liqing¡¯s reply. She opened the car door in disappointment. After taking two steps, she suddenly heard Shang Liqing¡¯s soft call from behind her. Qu Xiao stopped and looked back. Shang Liqing hesitantly said, ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up next week to go to the hospital to change your dressing.¡± ¡°This is our secret. If Second Brother knows, I¡¯ll never forgive you again!¡± Shang Liqing clenched her fists and threatened. Very soon, she drove off out of shyness. ¡°Did you seed?¡± Shang Yan heard sounds and came out of the vi to wee Qu Xiao. He put his arm around her shoulder and asked gently. Qu Xiao nodded and hid her arm behind her back. Her eyes flickered as she replied, ¡°I guess so¡­¡± Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Research and Development of New Drugs

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the pharmaceutical department¡¯s meeting room of the Qu Group. In front of the round table, the group¡¯s shareholders, directors, and Qu Zhen, who was in charge of pharmaceutics, were all waiting in silence. The silence broke when Qu Xiao opened the door and entered. Qu Xiao naturally sat at the main seat and spread her hands to signal everyone to express their opinions. Half an hour ago, Qu Xiao received a call from the Qu Group¡¯s special assistant. In a hurried and nervous tone, she said something had happened at thepany! Qu Xiao was so scared that she did not dare to dy. She rushed to the group at top speed, only to find that the situation was much calmer than she had imagined. Before taking the elevator to the meeting room, Qu Xiao was faintly worried that the shareholders and Qu Zhen would fight and tear the ceiling apart. When the shareholders heard Qu Xiao¡¯s words, they immediately mmed the table and roared, ¡°Our group has always sought stability, but Qu Zhen wants to develop new drugs.¡± ¡°The research and development of a new drug require many human resources, financial resources, and even the energy of everyone in the pharmaceutical department. No one can guarantee if it will seed in the end. Even if the new drug were developed, will it pass the checks and be used in clinical trials?¡± ¡°Even if it passes the clinical trials, will the market buy it? Will our investment capital be returned?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we need to consider all of this? Miss Qu has returned from abroad and is unclear about the domestic market regtion and environment. I advised her to reconsider, but she used her identity as the head of the pharmaceutical department to put pressure on me!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the pharmaceutical department under the jurisdiction of the Qu Group¡¯s board of directors?¡± The middle-aged shareholder finished speaking in one breath, his face flushed from holding it in. Qu Xiao motioned for the special assistant to pour him a cup of tea so that he could calm down a little and not pass out in the meeting room. Qu Zhen¡¯s jet-ck hair was draped over her shoulders as she sat quietly across her. The employees outside the room looked for excuses to deliberately pass by the meeting room in an attempt to peek through the gaps of the shutters to see what was happening inside. There were even more daring ones hiding in a corner, wanting to eavesdrop on the contents of the meeting. The staff group chat of the Qu Group was very lively. Everyone was discussing and guessing the most likely oue. [CEO Qu and Qu Zhen don¡¯t have a good rtionship. She definitely won¡¯t agree and support Qu Zhen.] [Even if thepany¡¯s shareholders are all on Qu Zhen¡¯s side, CEO Qu will probably think of ways to suppress them. I heard that CEO Qu agreed to let Qu Zhen report to the pharmaceutical department because she wanted to deliberately torture her and make her do the most tiring work. Then, she would pin all the me on Qu Zhen. ] [Don¡¯t talk nonsense. I think CEO Qu is a good person.] [Since CEO Qu took office, ourpany¡¯s welfare and treatment have improved a lot. People from otherpanies are all envious of me!] The messages in the group chat kept popping up. However, Qu Xiao seriously scanned the submitted research and development report on the new drug in the meeting room. She stared at Qu Zhen indifferently. ¡°You want to develop an affordable drug to treat acute diseases?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. After returning to China, I went to the hospital for a field trip. I found that many low-ie families that encountered sudden idents and events had no choice but to give up their lives because they couldn¡¯t afford the high surgery costs and the subsequent drug costs.¡± ¡°The Qu Group is an enterprise with empathy. I believe you will agree with my decision.¡± Qu Zhen looked at Qu Xiao with her clearly defined eyes. The two sisters spoke across the table, causing the shareholders and directors around them to feel somewhat surprised. They had all witnessed how ruthless Qu Xiao was toward Mr. Qu. Why did her attitude be gentler when it came to Qu Zhen? Could it be that Qu Xiao only wanted to punish the people who had once hurt her and did not want to implicate other innocent people? ¡°In your budget, developing a new drug will take at least half a year, but the human resources and financial resources expended will take two years to recover before making profits. This is not beneficial to thepany¡¯s development in the long run.¡± Qu Xiao maintained the attitude of a capitalist callously. The shareholders and directors all nodded in agreement. But Qu Xiao suddenly said with a twist, ¡°You said that the Qu Group is apany with empathy.¡± ¡°When your father was in power, I wasn¡¯t sure, but the Qu Group now will do its best to help everyone who needs help.¡± ¡°Try to give back some warmth to society.¡± Qu Xiao raised her hand, and the special assistant immediately knew to pass her a pen and seal. ¡°Three months. If you can develop a new drug in three months, I will fully support you to participate in the clinical trial, and you will be fully in charge of following up.¡± Qu Xiao raised three fingers and smiled gently as she asked, ¡°How is it? Can youplete the task?¡± Qu Zhen looked at her seal, stained with red ink, and curled the corners of her lips into a bright smile. ¡°Of course.¡± Thud! Qu Xiao stamped heavily and used her voting right as the board chairman and CEO tounch the research and development project of the new drug. The shareholders and directors walked out of the meeting room with their heads lowered in frustration. No one had expected such an oue. ¡°Who said that their rtionship is very tense? From what I see, they seem like biological sisters!¡± ¡°In the future, don¡¯t always think of going to the pharmaceutical department to give Qu Zhen a hard time and curry favor with CEO Qu. It looks like we¡¯ve all thought wrongly!¡± The shareholders and directors whispered among themselves. Qu Zhen and Qu Xiao, who stayed behind in the meeting room, looked at each other and smiled. Qu Zhen nodded and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Chapter 123

Chapter 123: Open-air Theatre

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

¡°The scope of application of the new drug you want to develop is too sensitive.¡± ¡°You must rigorously check theposition and form you choose to ensure that it is safe. In particr, you must pay attention to the feedback from the clinical trials. Patients show different reactions and side effects, so all of them must be strictly recorded and screened for improvement.¡± Qu Xiao supported herself on the conference table and earnestly exhorted Qu Zhen, ¡°Since you started this to treat patients and save people, don¡¯t let the details affect your original intention.¡± ¡°If you need any support, be it financially or anywhere else, feel free to contact me.¡± After saying that, Qu Xiao let out a sigh of relief, and Qu Zhen returned to the pharmaceutical department. The two of them returned to work at their respective posts. At night, Qu Xiao received a message from Shang Yan when she left the Qu Group. [I¡¯ll wait for you at the drive-in theatre.] Shang Yan¡¯s date invitation made Qu Xiao smile inevitably. She stopped the taxi by the roadside and rushed to the agreed location. There was a vast space in front of the enormous screen in the open-air theater. The white paint on the ground marked out the parking space of each car. It was extremely formal. Usually, many couples would drive in to experience watching a movie here. Qu Xiao gave the ticket verification code to the ticket seller at the door to confirm. When she walked into the venue, she found only one car parked in the middle. Shang Yan opened the car door. He was wearing a casual green shirt, waving at her as he leanedzily against the car door. Qu Xiao ran over cheerfully. She opened her arms and hugged Shang Yan¡¯s waist as her hand brushed his abdominal muscles. ¡°Just us?¡± Qu Xiao lowered her voice and turned her head to look around. Shang Yan grazed the tip of her nose lovingly with his index finger. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The ticket seller received Shang Yan¡¯s signal and yed the romantic movie. Then, he put the key on the door post and left the cinema naturally. The dialogue between the movie¡¯s male and female lead was transmitted through the radio channel in the quiet car. Qu Xiao hugged the popcorn bucket seriously and immersed herself in the movie¡¯s plot. Shang Yan supported his chin with one hand and gazed at Qu Xiao¡¯s side profile with interest. He raised his hand to hold her fingertip and leaned his body over. He held her chin, and his thin lips pried open Qu Xiao¡¯s lips, snatching away the popcorn that was about to melt. His breath was seductive, making Qu Xiao¡¯s ears burn as if they were on fire. ¡°This is in public!¡± Qu Xiao felt Shang Yan¡¯srge palm caressing and could not help but frown to remind him. Shang Yan pressed his thin lips against her neck artery and kissed it gently. The numbing sensation made Qu Xiao¡¯s breathing quicken. She subconsciously tightened her thighs. She could feel that the area between her legs was already wet from passion. ¡°There¡¯s no one else here except us. Moreover, no surveince camera can capture us. I¡¯ve already made preparations in advance¡­¡± Shang Yan exined frankly while Qu Xiao patted his shoulder discontentedly. Ever since Shang Yan¡¯s legs had recovered, he seemed to have be even more passionate and enjoyed the two of them having sex. Seeing that Qu Xiao did not resist, Shang Yan moved the popcorn bucket in her arms to the back row. He hugged her waist with his big palm and urged her to sit on his body. Qu Xiao pretended that she could not resist and unbuckled the passenger seatbelt to sit across Shang Yan¡¯s waist. Her back was against the steering wheel, which made her twist ufortably. The part of the pants that was pressed up against her buttocks were already bulging. Shang Yan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved, and his hands quickly unbuckled Qu Xiao¡¯s bra. He held the bottom edge of the bra with both hands, pushed it up, and lifted Qu Xiao¡¯s T-shirt to cover her eyes mischievously. Qu Xiao¡¯s vision was blocked, and Shang Yan controlled her hands. Her senses were constantly magnified at this moment. The radio channel transmitted the low panting of the movie¡¯s main characters, and the screen also showed them wet kissing. Qu Xiao let out two soft moans affectionately. Shang Yan hurriedly unzipped his pants and pushed the erected object into Qu Xiao¡¯s body. He opened his mouth and sucked Qu Xiao¡¯s round and full breasts. The tip of his tongue teased the erected nipples, asionally biting lightly. Shang Yan knew which part of Qu Xiao¡¯s body was the most sensitive. He patted Qu Xiao¡¯s buttocks, and ambiguous and embarrassing sounds filled the car. ¡°Come in quickly¡­¡± Perhaps because of the excitement of doing this in public, Qu Xiao was more passionate than usual. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes glinted, and he deliberately slowed down his movements. He pinched Qu Xiao¡¯s smooth and tender waist, indicating her to change direction. Qu Xiao took a deep breath and slowly raised her buttocks. Shang Yan¡¯s object was still in her body. As she rotated, her warm tunnel tightly wrapped his object. Shang Yan¡¯s forehead twitched twice, and he sighedfortably. ¡°Ah! It¡¯s too deep. Slow down¡­Shang Yan! Hubby¡­¡± Qu Xiao¡¯s voice was soft. Her hands were weak as shey on the steering wheel. Her body moved forward repeatedly as it followed Shang Yan¡¯s ramming. She almost hit the windshield a few times. Shang Yan felt her slowly tightening around his object. Knowing that Qu Xiao was about to reach orgasm, his fingers went around her slender waist and urately pinched her two nipples, pulling and kneading them. ¡°Lift your head and look. We¡¯re doing the same thing as them.¡± Shang Yan deliberately asked Qu Xiao to open her eyes. On the drive-in theater screen, the naked protagonists were entangled on the bed. Qu Xiao could not stand it and moved her waist. Shang Yan¡¯s eyes went wild, and his movements became rough. Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Agreed to Cooperate

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the open space of the drive-in theater, the high-performance MPV swayed gently. After the movie ended, Qu Xiaoy on Shang Yan¡¯s chest, exhausted. He wanted to pick up the clothes scattered on the passenger seat, so his body tilted slightly. Qu Xiao felt the slightly limp object in her body had signs of erecting again, so she groaned ufortably. The soft groan made Shang Yan¡¯s movements stop. Qu Xiao sensed something was wrong and wanted to leave, but it was already toote. Shang Yan adjusted the driver¡¯s seat to 45 degrees. He hugged Qu Xiao, lifted her legs, and pressed her down. Qu Xiao¡¯s body was highly flexible. Her knees were almost touching her shoulders. That directly exposed the coquettish color between her legs in Shang Yan¡¯s line of vision. The corners of his lips curled into a seductive smile. He held the erected object and rubbed it against her entrance, deliberately pushing the tip of his object in and pulling it out. ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, then go home¡­¡± Qu Xiao felt a wave of emptiness within her body and said provocatively. As expected, Shang Yan frowned. He straightened his back and rammed it into the deepest part of her body. ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone tell you that the word ¡®can¡¯t¡¯ is a taboo?¡± Shang Yan carried Qu Xiao and demanded tirelessly until her body could not take it anymore. Only then did he use his coat to cover her body, increase the temperature in the car, and drive back to the vi with satisfaction. Shang Yan carried Qu Xiao, who was sleeping soundly, into the house. Only the lights were still on in the living room. The butler who heard the noise wanted to open the door and ask if they wanted to have dinner. He tactfully retreated to his room when he saw their posture and quietly added oysters and leeks to the shopping list. In the evening at the Qu family, Qu Qi, who was particrly well-informed, asked Qu Zhen at the dinner table if she would lead the team to develop a new drug. Qu Zhen nodded. Mr. Qu and Qu Qi¡¯s eyes lit up. They wanted to get more information to find Qu Xiao¡¯s weakness to bring her down. However, Qu Zhen was very tight-lipped. And it involved thepany¡¯s confidentiality use, so she would not casually mention it at home. Qu Qi was slightly annoyed. A figure suddenly appeared in her mind, and she waited for Qu Zhen to return to her room before dialing the number. In the rtively quiet bar, Ling Chi saw Qu Qi, who had invited him, and looked around in confusion. ¡°You want to see me?¡± ¡°Sister has been very busy recently. Plus, she still has some grievances toward you after Qu Xiao showed her the photos. Of course she won¡¯te with me.¡± Qu Qi ordered two cocktails and pretended to say casually. Hearing Qu Xiao¡¯s name, Ling Chi gnashed his teeth in hatred. ¡°Damn woman, if it weren¡¯t for her¡­¡± Qu Qi saw the suppressed anger in Ling Chi¡¯s eyes and knew that Shang Yan had been repressing the Ling family recently. As a result, Mr. Ling had vented his anger on Ling Chi, and his attitude toward him was terrible. He had even suspended two of his credit cards. Ling Chi was currently living in a tight financial situation, so he wanted to take revenge on Qu Xiao. ¡°If I say that I can help you get back at Qu Xiao once and for all, are you willing to do it?¡± Qu Qi threw out the bait. Ling Chi¡¯s hand holding the wine ss paused, but he quickly fell into the trap and asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°The pharmaceutical department that my sister is in charge of is developing a new drug. As long as you can get the research and development information from my sister, tamper with a few pieces of important information and make the research and development of the drug fail, Qu Xiao and the Qu Group willpletely copse. Even Shang Yan won¡¯t be able to get her out!¡± Qu Qi propped herself up on the bar table, her eyes glinting with maniacal excitement. Ling Chi furrowed his brows tightly and said hesitantly, ¡°But Zhen Zhen is the person in charge. If there were any mistakes, she would also have to take responsibility.¡± Qu Qi looked at Ling Chi¡¯s hesitant expression, and impatience welled up in her heart. However, she still controlled her emotions and exined to Ling Chi, ¡°The person who decides to sell the drug is Qu Xiao. The current legal entity of the Qu Group has also already been changed to Qu Xiao¡¯s name. Only she will be investigated.¡± ¡°We can provide evidence to prove that Sister Zhen Zhen is only a researcher. She will be fine.¡± Qu Qi knew that these benefits could not easily move Ling Chi. She continued to add, ¡°When Qu Xiao copses, we will be able to regain control of the group. Dad said he would definitely give you shares. He will also agree to your marriage with Sister Zhen Zhen. Haven¡¯t you been waiting for this day?¡± ¡°The best opportunity has presented itself to you. Not only can you take revenge, but you can also marry the woman you like!¡± Qu Qi had already thought of all the action ns for Ling Chi. ¡°Now, all you need to do is follow the n and get Sister Zhen Zhen¡¯s project information, research materials, and the matching records. I will do the rest for you!¡± Qu Qi suppressed her impatience and urged Ling Chi to make a decision. The female pole dancer moved her body on the stage in revealing clothes. Ling Chi stared at the melting ice in the wine ss and listened to the soothing bads. Finally, he gritted his teeth and announced his decision as he mmed the table. ¡°OK, I agree!¡± ¡°I wish us a sessful cooperation. I wish Qu Xiao¡­a great farewell.¡± Qu Qi¡¯s lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile as she gave Ling Chi a high-five. A vast slowly enveloped Qu Xiao in the pitch-ck night, trapping her in danger. Chapter 125

Chapter 125: Love Trap

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Zhen sat cross-legged on the sofa in a high-end apartment, holding theputer to sort out the experimental data. Ding dong. The doorbell rang. Qu Zhen ran over barefooted on the soft wool carpet. She saw Ling Chi waiting outside with a bouquet of red roses through the visual system. At first, Qu Zhen wanted to pretend she was not at home and let Ling Chi leave. However, she could not bear to do so after some hesitation and pushed the door open. She frowned and asked, ¡°How did you know the address here? Did Qu Qi tell you?¡± She moved out of the Qu family and lived in an apartment closer to thepany. There were not many people who knew about it. Ling Chi smiled and pushed his hand against the door frame as he squeezed in shamelessly. He stuffed the bouquet of roses into Qu Zhen¡¯s arms. ¡°As long as I¡¯m sincere, I will be able to find you no matter where you live¡­¡± As Qu Zhen listened to his mushy confession, the corners of her lips inevitably curled up. Speaking of which, Ling Chi could be considered Qu Zhen¡¯s childhood sweetheart. Even when Qu Zhen was studying abroad, as long as she was in a bad mood, no matter where Ling Chi was or what he was doing, he would immediately put aside those matters and call Qu Zhen. He spent nights with her through the dark times, helping her walk out of her troubles. Qu Zhen relied on and trusted Ling Chi. Even if she saw those lewd photos with her own eyes, she could still forgive Ling Chi. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I know you¡¯re still angry, angry at me for what I¡¯ve done.¡± Ling Chi raised his hand to p himself, but Qu Zhen hurriedly stopped him. ¡°Can you give me another chance? Let us be together officially. Let me think of a way to make up for it!¡± Ling Chi took the opportunity to hold Qu Zhen¡¯s wrist, using the lowest cost to express his love. Qu Zhen¡¯s eyes welled up. She bit her red lips tightly and followed her heart, nodding her head in agreement. Ling Chi hugged her happily into the bedroom and gently kissed her lips. He tenderly removed Qu Zhen¡¯s clothes and whispered her name as he wanted her for the first time. Late at night, Ling Chi looked at the woman beside him who did not forget to hug him even if she was sound asleep. He lifted the nket as he frowned and quietly walked into the living room. He flipped theptop open and stared at the nk space where he had to enter the password and type a series of numbers. Ding! Theputer prompted that it had unlocked sessfully. Ling Chi paused for a moment. He did not expect Qu Zhen to use his birthday as the password. However, after hesitating for a moment, he still copied all the information on the progress of the drug research, theposition table, the list of patients participating in the drug clinical trial, and other specifics. Ling Chi put the USB into his pocket. He felt conflicted for a moment, but greed eventually overcame his feelings. That night, Qu Qi saw the information package she had received in the mailbox and started her n almost crazily. The following morning, Qu Xiao sat in the dining room eating bread. She rubbed her aching waist, lifted her leg grievingly, and kicked Shang Yan¡¯s knee under the table. But Shang Yan held her ankle and ced her foot between his legs. Qu Xiao nced at the busy butler and nanny in the kitchen, tore two pieces of bread crumbs, and threw them over. Shang Yan saw that her face was flushed red, so hepromised and let go. The phone at the side buzzed. Qu Xiao stuck her head out and saw Lei Qiming¡¯s name. She flexed her fingers and turned on the speaker. ¡°Professor? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lei Qiming was packing his clothes in theboratory. ¡°I¡¯ve received the invitation to the Overseas Forum. It¡¯s tomorrow afternoon¡¯s flight.¡± ¡°You can also pack lightly and meet me at the airport.¡± ¡°The information needed for the project has been prepared. ording to our calctions and rehearsals, it should not be a problem for us to win the gold award sessfully.¡± Lei Qiming reassured Qu Xiao. The International Overseas Forum this round had a project evaluation. Not only could the gold award receive a high amount of project funding, but it could also receive the attention of many countries andpanies. It was significant for their research, development, and promotion of the sovereign drug. Qu Xiao helped Lei Qiming by staying up for a few nights to sort out a few tricky problems in the research process. Thus, Lei Qiming decided to let Qu Xiao be a co-researcher instead of a research assistant. ¡°Professor, we agreed in advance that as long as the promotion of the drug advances sessfully, you will hand over the contract order to me!¡± Qu Xiao teased him half-jokingly, and Lei Qiming promised, ¡°Sure, don¡¯t bete!¡± Shang Yan listened to the conversation between Qu Xiao and Lei Qiming and lowered his head to send a message to his assistant. He looked at his recent schedule and saw two meetings that could not be rescheduled. He couldn¡¯t help but frown andmunicate with his assistant about the details. Qu Xiao returned to her room to pack her clothes and put her arm around Shang Yan¡¯s neck as she couldn¡¯t bear to be apart from him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Hubby. I may have to leave for a few days.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t miss me too much!¡± Shang Yan held her face and pinched it lightly twice. He narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°Why do I hear a hint of happiness in your tone?¡± Qu Xiao hurriedly pressed against her heart and took two steps back. She raised three fingers and shook them. ¡°Absolutely not. You must have misunderstood!¡± ¡°I wish I could put you in my pocket and bring you overseas with me!¡± ¡°But there¡¯s nothing I can do. You need to stay in the country to oversee things! What a pity.¡± Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Surprise on the ne

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Qu Xiao collected the registration card in the airport lounge, took a photo, and sent it to Shang Yan. Then, she looked for Lei Qiming¡¯s location. In the lounge corner, Lei Qiming, who was wearing sunsses and dressed fashionably, saw Qu Xiao and waved at her. Qu Xiao almost couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. She slowed her pace and came before him to size him up and down. She gave him a thumbs up in admiration. ¡°You¡¯repletely different from what I imagined.¡± Lei Qiming took off his sunsses, tidied up the cor of his flowery shirt, and fiddled with his styled hair, which used two bottles of styling spray. ¡°I heard that there are a lot of my fans at the Overseas Forum. I can¡¯t possibly meet them with a sloppy image, right?¡± Lei Qiming muttered to himself proudly. Qu Xiao could not help but smile and nod cooperatively. When they heard the boarding hint, they headed to the check-in gate. Because the school arranged the schedule, they took the economy ss for their flight, and the hotel they were going to stay in was also an economy-type chain hotel. Qu Xiao and Lei Qiming were seated rtively at the back. They arranged their luggage properly and turned on their tablets to discuss the project content. The flight attendant began the in-flight announcement. And there was an empty seat next to Qu Xiao. ¡°Deardies and gentlemen, passengers. Hello. Wee to this flight, flying to N City¡­¡± Qu Xiao adjusted the back of her seat. From the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar figure appearing in front and slowly walking toward her. ¡°He¡¯s so handsome! I wonder if he has a girlfriend?¡± ¡°If you like him, go and ask for his contact information!¡± The girls in the front row covered their mouths in excitement and could not control their tone as they discussed. Shang Yan held a bouquet of sunflowers and champagne roses in his hands and stopped at the empty seat next to Qu Xiao. He took out the ticket, handed it to Qu Xiao, and asked, ¡°Can you help me check if my seat is here?¡± Qu Xiao was so shocked that she could not speak. She seemed to be able to hear her heart beating violently. The two girls in front were extremely disappointed. They regained theirposure and pushed each other. They seemed to be embarrassed by their disorganized behavior just now. The flight attendant reminded them that the ne was about to take off. Shang Yan ced the bouquet in Qu Xiao¡¯s arms and nodded to Lei Qiming after he sat down. ¡°Why are you here!¡± Qu Xiao had asked about Shang Yan¡¯s recent schedule in advance. At this moment, he should be sitting in the Shang Group¡¯s meeting room and having a video conference with the managers of the overseas branch! Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder was sore. He leaned his head on Qu Xiao¡¯s shoulder and said in a coquettish manner, ¡°I want to apany my wife on a business trip, so I informed them to have an early meeting at thest minute. And I arranged everything that required my settlement on my way to the airport.¡± ¡°I almost missed the ne.¡± Shang Yan had stayed up for two to three whole nights for today¡¯s surprise. Right now, he was pretty tired. Qu Xiao was so touched that she felt as if her heart had melted into a pool of water. She adjusted her sitting posture so that Shang Yan couldfortably lean on her. The two of them leaned against each other and fell asleep. Lei Qiming leaned against the ne¡¯s window and even started breathing carefully for fear of waking this loving couple up. The long-distance flightnded. Shang Yan helped Qu Xiao collect her luggage and held her hand as they walked out. The driver and the MPV, prepared in advance, had been waiting for a long time. Lei Qiming followed them awkwardly. When he saw the street scene outside the window, he lowered his head and looked at the navigation route with confusion. He held it in for ten minutes before finally asking, ¡°Did we deviate from the route?¡± Shang Yan exined with a chuckle, ¡°I helped you guys rearrange the hotel.¡± It was indeed inappropriate for Shang Yan to stay in an economy-type chain hotel on business trips. Qu Xiao tugged at the hem of his clothes and muttered softly, ¡°But the organizers arranged our hotel stay. If we randomly change it, it might affect¡­¡± ¡°The Shang Group has an overseas organization that is your investor. We can be considered as one of the organizers of this forum.¡± ¡°So it shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you to stay in the same hotel as me. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Shang Yan spoke with ease. Qu Xiao and Lei Qiming were so shocked that their mouths were wide open. They did not react for a long time. How many more surprises did he have that she did not know! Qu Xiao blinked her eyes and looked at Shang Yan with admiration. She felt as if she had hugged a golden mountain! In a bungalow-styled hotel near the seaside, Shang Yan asked the staff to check in Lei Qiming. He held Qu Xiao¡¯s hand and came to the seaside vi with French windows. ¡°Oh, wait!¡± Qu Xiao didn¡¯t even have time to enjoy the beautiful scenery as she was pushed onto the bed by Shang Yan. ¡°You¡­ Do you want to take a shower?¡± Qu Xiao pushed Shang Yan, thinking of all reasons to dy. Shang Yan figured out what she was thinking, pursed his thin lips, and smiled lightly. He carried her by the waist and walked to the bathroom. ¡°Why not together?¡± The hotel bathroom had an outdoor bathtub. Because it was a bungalow vi, the environment was well-concealed so that no one could peep. Shang Yan carried Qu Xiao into the water, separated his two long legs, and let Qu Xiao sit across his waist. There was the sea breeze, the coconut trees, and birds chirping, but Qu Xiao could only focus on Shang Yan¡¯s eyes, which were filled with lust and love, and she was immersed in them. Qu Xiao rode on the ripples and held Shang Yan¡¯s head, saying seductively, ¡°I like today¡¯s surprise very much.¡± Chapter 127 - The Crisis at the Forum

Chapter 127: The Crisis at the Forum

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Lei Qiming and Qu Xiao rushed to the venue with the project information at the Overseas Forum. Shang Yan¡¯s identity was special, so he did not apany Qu Xiao. He was afraid that the scientific research faculty of other organizations would view the results of Lei Qiming and Qu Xiao¡¯s hard work capitalistically and discount their efforts. Qu Xiao followed the process of participating in the forum and handed the information and project deration to the staff in front of the exhibition board. The tanned man nced at the information column of the application form and vaguely urged Qu Xiao to hand in other specific information. Qu Xiao narrowed her eyes suspiciously andmunicated with the other party in fluent English. ¡°You clearly stated that we only need to provide an introduction, and there was no need for specific details.¡± ¡°Which regtion are you relying upon now that requires us to hand in all the information?¡± The man couldn¡¯t answer, so he could only use rough movements to urge and push Qu Xiao. A waiter from the forum passed by with a tray and identally spilled red wine on Qu Xiao. Half of her clothes instantly became wet. Qu Xiao grabbed a tissue and wiped it. After informing Lei Qiming, she went to the bathroom to deal with it. Lei Qiming stood alone on the spot. The eyes of the man who was in charge glinted, and he once again used mixednguage and strong body movements to force Lei Qiming to hand over the USB that contained all the information to him. When Qu Xiao returned, she found Lei Qiming sitting on the bench, and she immediately had a bad feeling. Half an hourter, the forum was held as scheduled. Chinese medicine schrs from all over the world expressed their opinions. As the event progressed, the organizer prepared the list of winners and read it aloud, ¡°The bronze award goes to the team from Canada, the silver award goes to the team from Switzend, and the gold award goes to¡­¡± Lei Qiming was already preparing to adjust his tie, muttering the thank you speech he needed to give when he went on stage. ¡°The gold award goes to the team from Korea.¡± Lei Qiming had already stood up halfway. He looked at the team next to him awkwardly as they stood up to cheer and hug, and he sat back down grumpily. Qu Xiao narrowed her eyes, feeling strange. Their research could not possibly lose to anyone. Even if they could not win the gold award, they should still win the silver award! Just as the Korean team was about to ascend the podium to receive the medal, Qu Xiao suddenly saw a familiar figure sh past their team. She suddenly realized the issue. She lowered her voice and asked Lei Qiming. After receiving an affirmative answer, she raised her hand and said in a booming voice, ¡°I have objections!¡± ¡°I want to see their award-winning project!¡± Qu Xiao stood up abruptly. The Overseas Forum¡¯s Award list was transparent and open. The award winners would also discuss academic issues and project progress with other scientific research faculty every year. However, it was rare to see people openly provoke them as Qu Xiao did. The organizers looked at each other. They originally wanted to refuse, but someone recognized Qu Xiao. ¡°She seems to be CEO Shang¡¯s wife.¡± The assistant with sharp eyes whispered into the forum manager¡¯s ear. The manager immediately put on another expression and nodded in agreement, ¡°Since thisdy wants to know, we¡¯ll invite the team that won the gold award to exin the concept of the project¡­¡± The members of the gold award team looked a little embarrassed. They stuttered and plugged the USB into theputer but did not continue for a long time. The participants below the stage noticed something was off and began to discuss. Qu Xiao calmly walked to the front of the stage and skillfully opened the PowerPoint. She pointed to the watermark on the title page and said mockingly, ¡°The time you took to steal the results was tight. You had time to change the name on the cover, but you didn¡¯t notice that we inserted a watermark on every page, right?¡± ¡°With such aplicated operation process andposition, you can fool the judges, but you can¡¯t fool your peers below the stage.¡± Qu Xiao ridiculed the judges openly. The peers below the stage were all shocked with their eyes wide open, waiting for the organizers to withdraw the gold award in anger. But what surprised them was that the organizers nodded and evenplied with Qu Xiao¡¯s words. ¡°In the future, we will review the qualifications of the judges more seriously. This will not happen again. The gold award team of this forum goes to Ms. Qu Xiao and Mr. Lei¡¯s team.¡± ¡°And your names will be removed from the forum in the future. We will not tolerate any team of thieves and giarists to participate.¡± After the organizers finished speaking confidently, Qu Xiao raised her hand and invited Lei Qiming to walk onto the stage. She stuffed the gold award certificate into his arms and leaned over to Lei Qiming¡¯s ear to say, ¡°Professor, it¡¯s up to you now. Quickly say your thank you speech!¡± Lei Qiming¡¯s emotions fluctuated like a roller coaster. He cleared his throat and said a few words into the microphone, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°We will continue developing and promoting China¡¯s Traditional Chinese medicine culture!¡± Qu Xiao could not help but snicker while she took the lead in pping when she heard his lofty thank you speech. Soon, waves of apuse erupted within the forum venue. Lei Qiming was so excited that he rubbed his eyes as he could not help but shed tears. ¡°Thank you.¡± Lei Qiming thanked Qu Xiao from the bottom of his heart. If it were not for her, the results of his years of hard work would have been given to others for free. Qu Xiao shook her head. ¡°I should be the one thanking you.¡± Chapter 128 - Requesting a Thorough Investigation

Chapter 128: Requesting a Thorough Investigation

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

At three in the morning, at the Qu Group. The pharmaceutical department¡¯s punching machine made a ding sound as Qu Zhen dragged her exhausted body out of theboratory. She hung her protective clothing in the closet and patted her face to keep herself awake as she walked into the parking lot. Ling Chi saw her figure and threw the cigarette butt on the ground. Qu Zhen sat in the front passenger seat with her eyes closed. Ling Chi held the steering wheel and secretly observed her condition. He sounded her out, ¡°The new drug research is nearing its end, right? When will it be released for clinical trials?¡± ¡°It¡¯s around the weekend.¡± Qu Zhen answered vaguely. Ling Chi nodded. He saw the red light at the intersection and stepped on the emergency brake. The violent inertia made Qu Zhen lean forward and almost hit the windshield in front of her. She stared at Ling Chi with slightly sober eyes and asked, ¡°Why? You seem to have something on your mind.¡± Ling Chi remembered Qu Qi¡¯s urging and forced out a smile. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about your body.¡± ¡°Has theposition of the new drug been determined? I heard from a friend that there are two new prescription herbs recently. The prices are low, but the medicinal effects are the same. Why don¡¯t you try recing them? It might bring better profits to the group, and the pricing of the new drug will also be lower.¡± Ling Chi was ayman. Qu Zhen smiled gently and patiently exined the differences between the Chinese medicines to him. ¡°The effects and side effects of different herbs are different. The products and symptoms they produce are also different.¡± ¡°This is the third time you¡¯ve mentioned those herbs to me. I¡¯ve done a very detailed investigation, and they are not suitable for developing the new drug.¡± Qu Zhen gently held Ling Chi¡¯s hand and patted it in aforting manner. ¡°I¡¯ll use them when I have the chance.¡± She thought Ling Chi was trying so hard to rmend her because he could get amission, so she apologetically rejected him. Ling Chi furrowed his brows tightly and took a deep breath to barely raise the corners of his mouth. The red light suddenly changed, but Ling Chi did not notice it. It was not until the car behind him honked impatiently that he let go of the brake and drove a few meters away. Qu Zhen stared at his side profile and felt that something was wrong, but she couldn¡¯t figure out the problem. That night, Qu Qi called Ling Chi and asked in a dissatisfied tone, ¡°Did you get it?¡± Ling Chi hesitated. ¡°Shall we forget about it? After all, it¡¯s a matter of life and death. If this were blown out of proportion, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to end it.¡± Qu Qi gritted her teeth fiercely, and her pitch inevitably became a little higher. ¡°You want to retreat now?¡± ¡°Then all the preparations we made earlier were in vain! Do you want to see Qu Xiao continue to step over us?¡± ¡°As long as you rece the information, I will handle the internal affairs of the Qu Group!¡± ¡°Follow up on the post-clinical situation of the drugs put through the clinical trial! We will definitely be able to take down Qu Xiao and make it impossible for her to stand up again. Don¡¯t you want to see that daye?¡± Qu Qi¡¯s voice was bewitching. Ling Chi frowned and thought for a moment. He still clicked the mouse and typed on the keyboard to send the information. On the weekend, Ling Chi apanied Qu Zhen to the hospital and saw the patients who were undergoing the clinical trial. After Qu Zhen understood the situation with the doctor, she returned to theboratory to make adjustments. Meanwhile, Ling Chi found the family members of the patients and stuffed a stack of pink bills into their hands. He warned them in a low voice, ¡°You must remember what I said. You must not tell the doctor about their true condition.¡± ¡°These medicines are used to treat illnesses. If the reaction of the patients is strong, they will be conservative and stop the medicine.¡± Most of the patients lying in the intensive care unit were severely ill and poor families who could not rely on themselves to pay for the treatment. When they heard Ling Chi¡¯s words, they firmly believed him and nodded their heads in agreement, ¡°My husband vomited three timesst night. He has a slight fever, but his other conditions are very stable. He¡¯s much better than before he took the medicine. Will he recover soon?¡± Ling Chi looked at the patient¡¯s hopeful eyes and frowned as his conscience was reprimanded. He nodded his head in a perfunctory manner. Walking out of the hospital, Ling Chi received a text message from Qu Zhen. [The new drug will be promoted in the market next month. We must find a ce to celebrate!] The research and development of the Qu Group¡¯s new drug had already stirred up a lot of discussion. People on the streets praised the Qu Group as a group with empathy. Ling Chi saw theizens posting about the situations they were facing and saw them talking about the helplessness and pain when they were sick. Ling Chi struggled and struggled. He tried to call Qu Qi but ended the call before it was picked up. Then, Ling Chi entered a string of numbers on his phone and nervously put it to his ear. When he heard the beeping sound, he said with a hoarse voice, ¡°Hello? I want to report the quality issues of the Qu Group¡¯s new drug.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t meet the listing standards. I want to thoroughly investigate the Qu group and seek justice for the patients who don¡¯t know the truth.¡± Ling Chi hung up the phone and let out a sigh of relief as he copsed on the sofa. He rubbed his forehead with his fingers. Regardless of whether it was right or wrong, he felt as if he had been relieved of an extremely heavy burden. Chapter 129 - Seizure of the Qu Group

Chapter 129: Seizure of the Qu Group

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

That night, the relevant department that received a report acted immediately. They used the fastest speed to seize the pharmaceutical department of the Qu Group and took all the relevant documents away as evidence. Qu Xiao received a summon from the relevant department and rushed there overnight to be questioned. Shang Yan drove her to the designated location. He originally wanted to apany Qu Xiao in, but the staff blocked him outside and said with a serious expression, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Those who have nothing to do with this case, please wait outside. Don¡¯t affect our work.¡± Qu Xiao turned around and squeezed out aforting smile. She said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Shang Yan watched as Qu Xiao¡¯s figure gradually blended into the darkness. A wave of panic and uneasiness suddenly surged in his heart. In the enclosed room, a few recording cameras were aimed at Qu Xiao. A staff member in uniform was tapping on theputer keyboard to transcribe. Theypared Qu Xiao with their information and asked in a cold tone, ¡°You personally promoted the research and development of the Qu Group¡¯s new drug. Are you aware that there are serious side effects during drug development and that the new drug does not meet the relevant market regtions?¡± Qu Xiao frowned. She replied carefully, ¡°I was not aware of it.¡± ¡°The drug¡¯s research and development is under the control of the pharmaceutical department. I will judge whether it should continue based on the process report they submitted.¡± ¡°Based on the information I received, the research and development of the new drugply with the regtions. It was only applied for listing after clinical trials and with a more than 80% cure rate. You can find this evidential information in my email and the backup files of the corporate affairs.¡± Qu Xiao said these words with certainty. There was not the slightest hint of panic on her face. She was frank and confident that even the investigators were surprised. They had indeed conducted relevant investigations on the Qu Group. Just as Qu Xiao had said, all the processes were legal. There was no collusion of interests involved. However, there was indeed a problem with the drug testing. What exactly was the problem? The staff member lightly tapped on the transcript and asked, ¡°Do you think this is a premeditated frame-up?¡± The staff member handling the Qu Group¡¯s case was an extremely experienced old employee. When he finished probing, Qu Xiao frowned slightly. Recalling the connection between Qu Zhen and the Qu family, she lowered her eyes. She thought before speaking, ¡°I hope you can start your investigation from Qu Zhen¡¯s interpersonal rtionship.¡± ¡°Perhaps you can find some other clues.¡± The staff member nodded his head in gratitude and sent someone to send Qu Xiao out. In the darkness, Shang Yan stood quietly at the door. He stood in the cold weather for as long as Qu Xiao was questioned. His thick woolen coat was stained with ice crystals. When he saw Qu Xiao, he strode over and tightly hugged the woman in his arms. Qu Xiao gently patted Shang Yan¡¯s shoulder and raised the corners of her lips. Instead, sheforted him, ¡°We have to believe them.¡± ¡°The Qu Group is innocent and was framed by someone. The truth may bete, but it can never be hidden.¡± Qu Xiao held Shang Yan¡¯s hand and strolled in the night. The two of them felt the warmth in each other¡¯s palms and did not speak. Late at night, in the bedroom of the Shang family¡¯s vi, Qu Xiao dragged her exhausted body onto the bed. She closed her eyes and was ready to recall every little thing that happened during the development of the new drug, trying to find the crux of the problem. But in the next second, the man beside her lifted the nket and held her in his arms. Shang Yan¡¯s hot body pressed tightly against Qu Xiao. He kissed Qu Xiao¡¯s neck again and again. The scorching and lingering kiss made Qu Xiao¡¯s body go weak. She felt Shang Yan¡¯s unease and took the initiative to reach down to caress the erecting object. Shang Yan pressed his thin lips against where Qu Xiao¡¯s heart was. He frowned and kissed her gently. ¡°Compared to you being in trouble, I¡¯d rather the one in danger to be¡­¡± ¡°How can you be so selfish?¡± Qu Xiao hugged Shang Yan¡¯s head and whispered, ¡°Those left behind will always suffer the most. You¡¯re not allowed to speak nonsense!¡± Shang Yan did not answer. Instead, he hugged Qu Xiao¡¯s waist tightly. His kiss moved downwards to her secret garden, which had already been aroused. He used the tip of his tongue to squeeze into the warm tunnel andforted Qu Xiao¡¯s body in a fawning manner. ¡°I love you.¡± Shang Yan whispered into Qu Xiao¡¯s ear when he inserted his object into her body. On the day of the incident, Shang Yan suddenly understood that his love for Qu Xiao had already been carved into his bone marrow and fused into his blood. Qu Xiao raised her neck and narrowed her eyes as she moaned softly until Shang Yan had shot all of his burning secretions into her body. [The Qu Group has been searched. Qu Xiao has been taken away by the relevant department for investigation but left very quickly¡­] The news spread crazily in the financial circle. Compared to the calmness of the Shang family and Qu Xiao, Ling Chi and Qu Qi could not sit still at this moment. Qu Zhen finally found the problem as she reviewed the entire process of developing the new drug. She grabbed her bag and went to Ling Chi¡¯s house, pping the door heavily. Ling Chi pushed the door open with a worn look. The moment their eyes met, Qu Zhen knew the truth. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been using me? Using me to take revenge on Qu Xiao?¡± Qu Zhen¡¯s tears rolled down her cheeks. ¡°Have you ever thought that I have to take responsibility for the new drug¡¯s problems?¡± Chapter 130End - The Grand Finale

Chapter 130: The Grand Finale

Trantor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know why things will turn out like this!¡± Ling Chi hugged Qu Zhen and repeatedly confided, ¡°I never wanted to hurt you. It was Qu Qi who bewitched me into taking revenge on Qu Xiao. I didn¡¯t know that things would turn out this way! I was so scared that I called the police to prevent something worse from happening!¡± Qu Zhen shook her head. She looked at the man she had loved for years and suddenly felt she didn¡¯t know him. ¡°Let¡¯s end here.¡± ¡°I hope you can turn yourself in to the relevant department. Don¡¯t wait for them to find you before you make amends and confess.¡± Qu Zhen left Ling Chi with a determined back view. Ling Chi held his head dejectedly and squatted on the ground, patting himself repeatedly. Since it had happened, there was no way to change it. Dayster, the Qu Group¡¯s new drug research and development case finally concluded, and the relevant department also issued an official notification. [In the Qu Group¡¯s new drug research and development process, Qu and Ling conspired to tamper with the data recorded in the clinical trials, bribing the patients¡¯ family members to falsify the patients¡¯ conditions and data. The circumstances were factual, and the problem was serious. Both of them have already been punished by thew.] [The early stages of the research and development of the Qu Group¡¯s new drug are transparent and open. It is considered a normal-approved drug without any problems.] [After the relevant department has ordered the rectification and readjustment, the new drug can still be used in the market.] Theizens were discussing who Qu and Ling were. Someone who knew about their feud with Qu Xiao had posted it on the inte in the form of a story, causing heated discussions and crazy reposts. Qu Xiao looked at the post that had been shared in her circle of friends. She sat on the bed andughed helplessly. She stroked her slightly bulging belly and said to the baby, who was moving, ¡°How could things be as exaggerated as they write?¡± Shang Yan knocked on the door and walked in with two tes of cut fruits. He looked at Qu Xiao¡¯s belly gently. ¡°The due date is next month. I will definitely be able to finish my overseas work ande back to apany you.¡± Shang Yan said as if he was promising. Qu Xiao nodded tiredly. She ced her face on Shang Yan¡¯s palm and gently rubbed it twice. She let out afortable moan and fell on Shang Yan¡¯s knee coquettishly, ¡°Isn¡¯t Grandfather going to give you a few days of maternity leave? Didn¡¯t Shang Xinchen already go to thepany for an internship and start learning how to manage thepany? Can¡¯t we just let him clean up the mess overseas?¡± ¡°With his current ability, he¡¯s still unable to deal with that group of people overseas.¡± Shang Yan massaged Qu Xiao¡¯s calves, helping her relieve the swelling and numbness caused by her pregnancy. ¡°I promise you, when our baby is born, I will ask Grandfather for a long leave to apany you at home and witness her every step of growth.¡± Qu Xiao nodded, and her eyes gradually closed. The phone on the bedside table suddenly lit up silently. It was a message from Qu Zhen. [I heard that you¡¯re pregnant. Congrattions.] [I¡¯ve decided to leave this city. Qu Qi and Ling Chi have already paid the price for what they¡¯ve done. I¡¯ve found a nursing home for my father and mother so that they can live in peace in their old age. I¡¯m very selfish, so I¡¯ve chosen to start a new life and say goodbye to everything here. Qu Xiao, I¡¯m actually very envious of you. You can have everything you want.] [I wish you sess and happiness in the future.] A flight flew by in the sky. Qu Xiao opened her sleepy eyes and smiled faintly. She lowered her head and said to the restless baby in her belly, ¡°You have to obediently wait for Dad toe back, understand?¡± Half a monthter, Qu Xiao was on the verge of delivery. She was sent to the hospital ward to wait. Shang Xinchen and Shang Liqing paced nervously outside the ward. They raised their heads and looked at the clock on the wall from time to time. ¡°Why is Second Brother not back yet!¡± Shang Liqing could not help but bite her finger and say. Shang Xinchen looked through the window at Qu Xiao who was suffering in the ward. He kept dialing the number that could not be connected. Qu Xiao was pushed into the delivery room. Grandfather Shang suddenly came to the hospital. He looked at the door at the end with a solemn expression. Shang Xinchen looked at the ck cloth on Grandfather Shang¡¯s arm and widened his eyes in disbelief. ¡°Grandfather, what are you doing?¡± The butler shed tears of pain and handed the rolling news to Shang Xinchen and Shang Liqing. [A flight from overseas to China crashed due to an ident. None of the crew members and passengers survived. It is reported that the flight was taken by Shang Yan, the CEO of the Shang Group. The reporters have confirmed that Mr. Shang Yan was on the ne at the time of the ident¡­] Shang Xinchen and Shang Liqing fell to the ground with weak legs. ¡°What would happen to Sister-inw?¡± Almost simultaneously, a loud cry came from the delivery room. The doctors and nurses carried the newborn out to Grandfather Shang to confirm, ¡°Congrattions, it¡¯s a boy.¡± Qu Xiao, who was lying in the delivery room, opened her eyes in a daze. She seemed to see Shang Yan standing beside her, so she gently reached out her hand. Shang Yan¡¯s figure gradually became transparent. He always had a gentle smile on his face. He leaned over and whispered in Qu Xiao¡¯s ear, ¡°I love you.¡± ¡°I will always love you, beyond the limits of my life.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!