《From Runaway Bride to Global Queen》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Accidentally Fell For It Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Accidentally Fell For It ¡°Slap!¡± In the empty hotel suite, the sound of the high-footed glass shattering on the floor was especially jarring. Qiao Yi stared at Qiao Xin, her surprised eyes diffused with an unmistakable haze, ¡°This wine¡­ did you drug it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Seeing her fall for it, sitting on the ground with legs giving out, eyes vacant, and face flushed, Qiao Xin laughed heartily, ¡°Tomorrow is your grand wedding day, and as your sister, I must give you an impressive gift.¡± ¡°This is nothing; the main show is still to come!¡± Each word, as if squeezed through clenched teeth. The very next second, Qiao Xin clapped her hands lightly. The door was pushed open on cue, a few burly men stepping directly in front of Qiao Xin with an eager reverence, ¡°Miss Qiao, we¡¯ve long been ready, hehehe¡­¡± ¡°Very good!¡± Before her consciousness faded, Qiao Yi faintly heard their conversation. Straining to hold onto her senses, she saw several portly men at the door and asked with trembling and fearful voice, ¡°Sister¡­ why¡­ why are you doing this?¡± Qiao Xin, born from the same mother and grown up together with her, why would she do this to her? Upon hearing this, venom and malice filled Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes as she looked down from above, stomping fiercely on Qiao Yi¡¯s pale face, ¡°Because I hate you! I absolutely loathe you!¡± ¡°Even though I am the rightful Miss of the Qiao Family, throughout all these years, no matter in terms of physique, appearance, academic achievements, or abilities, you have always outshined me, all the glory belongs solely to you! Why?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s voice was sharp and filled with too much resentment. The more she spoke, the angrier she became, and at last she almost roared, ¡°The marriage agreement between the Qiao and Lu families was set twenty years ago! The chance to marry into the Lu Family should have been mine! It was you! It was you who stole everything that was supposed to be mine!¡± ¡°Now¡­ I want you to taste the pain of falling from the clouds into the abyss!¡± ¡°I want you to be utterly disgraced!¡± After speaking, she threw a final cold look at Qiao Yi, then walked proudly towards the doorway. Qiao Xin left. The vast room was left with only Qiao Yi and a few lecherous scoundrels. Watching them approach with sinister smiles, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even have the energy to plead for them to spare her, let alone think about running away. As the drug took effect, her vision grew increasingly blurry. Panic, fear, helplessness. Tears uncontrollably streamed down her cheeks as one by one, the obese faces kept enlarging before her eyes until Qiao Yi finally resigned to her fate and closed her eyes. ¡­ When Qiao Yi woke up again, it was already the next morning. The room, filled with an ambiguous scent, brought back all the memories before she fainted, and she suddenly sat up in a panic. ¡°Hiss~¡± The excruciating pain, like being crushed under a wheel, made her gasp sharply. It was real¡­ She had actually¡­ Qiao Yi didn¡¯t love Lu Ming. She agreed to marry him only because of the marriage agreement set between their families years ago, coupled with the fact that she was indeed at a marriageable age, and the elderly at home incessantly urged her on. After all, she and Lu Ming had known each other for many years, almost like family, better to marry this old friend who knew her completely than someone else. Now¡­ Qiao Yi vaguely remembered, someone suddenly burst in last night, and then there were those scoundrels¡¯ dissatisfied curses. As for what happened afterward, she could not clearly recall. Who was the person who violated her last night? Was it those scoundrels? Or¡­ Closing her eyes briefly, Qiao Yi knew she couldn¡¯t dwell on this matter any longer. Because she knew Qiao Xin. To painstakingly stage such a drama, just to ruin her innocence, it hardly seemed worth it. What exciting scenes had Qiao Xin arranged to happen next for her? ¡°Bang!¡± As she was thinking, the room door was suddenly slammed open, producing a heavy collision sound. Qiao Yi suddenly looked up, only to see a group of people rushing in, among them a few familiar faces, and many gossip reporters holding up their cameras. ¡°Miss Qiao, your wedding with Mr. Lu is in just two hours, why aren¡¯t you at the wedding venue preparing, but appear here instead?¡± ¡°Somebody saw you entering this hotel room with a young man last night, may I ask who he is? What is the relationship between you two?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The reporters were bombarding her with questions, and someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, ¡°Look! There are several used condoms in the trash can!¡± Upon these words, the corner where the Qiao and Lu families stood simply turned green. Especially Mrs. Lu. She had never liked Qiao Yi, this second daughter of the Qiao family, always feeling like they were mismatched, and even though Old Mr. Lu insisted, she had reluctantly agreed. Now, look at this. ¡°My son was busy with wedding arrangements all night, and you went behind his back and checked into a room with someone else? Have you no shame?¡± ¡°Our Lu Family will absolutely not accept such an indecent woman!¡± ¡°Since the press is here, I will announce in front of everyone, that the marriage between Lu Qiao and Qiao Lu is hereby called off! The wedding is canceled!¡± In the corner, the faces of Qiao Benqing and his wife were gloomy and ashen. Their daughter, whom they had cherished for years, had actually committed such an indecent act! Family disgrace! It truly is a family disgrace! Suppressing the raging anger in his heart, for the face of the Qiao Family, Qiao Benqing could only grit his teeth and try to mediate, ¡°Mrs. Lu, what exactly happened is still unknown, proposing to cancel the engagement now seems rather premature, doesn¡¯t it?¡± It would be no big deal for him to arrange for someone to come forward and confess to the matter. Just say he kindly sent Qiao Yi to the hotel and then left. There was still room to turn the situation around. ¡°Besides, canceling an engagement is a big decision, shouldn¡¯t Mrs. Lu discuss it with Old Mr. Lu and Mr. Lu first before making a decision?¡± Qiao Benqing spoke gravely. Aristocratic marriages are not as simple as they seem on the surface. The entangled interests involved are simply too numerous. But Mrs. Lu could hardly care about all that now, finally having an opportunity to shut out this annoying girl, Qiao Yi. She certainly wouldn¡¯t foolishly give up! ¡°Can¡¯t I, the mother, decide on my own son¡¯s marriage matters!?¡± ¡°Qiao Yi cheated before her wedding, the facts are right before your eyes, no need to speak in her favor anymore! Anyway¡­¡± Mrs. Lu had only said half of her piece when a tall, upright figure suddenly walked through the door. In an instant, everyone¡¯s gaze was uniformly drawn to him, surprised yet tinged with a hint of schadenfreude, waiting to see the drama unfold. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Wedding Cancelled Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Wedding Cancelled ¡°The person who checked into the hotel with Qiao Yi last night was me.¡± In front of everyone, Lu Ming enunciated each word distinctly and clearly. What? Him?? How is that possible!? A reporter from the crowd could not hold back and hurriedly asked, ¡°Young Master Lu, you and Miss Qiao are officially engaged, why would you still sneak into a hotel to check in anonymously in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Who said engaged couples can¡¯t have some special quirks?¡± Lu Ming coldly retorted. With that remark, the reporter was rendered speechless. Now that the person concerned has admitted it, naturally no one felt it appropriate to say much. However, they all felt something was odd. Not just the reporters. Even Qiao Yi herself was half in doubt. Before falling into a deep sleep, she clearly heard a crisp yet very magnetic voice. That voice¡­ it wasn¡¯t Lu Ming¡¯s. But if it wasn¡¯t him, why would he admit it? Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t figure it out and simply chose not to think about it anymore. Scanning the faces with different expressions in front of her, she politely said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, please leave. I need to change my clothes.¡± This issue just passed lightly!? Mrs. Lu was not satisfied! ¡°Mingming, are you hiding some kind of unavoidable difficulties?¡± ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you go to the wedding venue first to prepare? Yi Yi and I have a few words to say, and then we¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything to you later in detail, please leave for now.¡± Lu Ming was adamant, Mrs. Lu could not say much, and left feeling discontent. Following her, the reporters also left with downcast expressions. Finally, it was Mr. and Mrs. Qiao Benqing. After everyone had left, Qiao Xin, who was hiding all this time in the room across, gritted her teeth and closed the door gap, wondering what exactly was up with Lu Ming? Having a field of green grass as his ceiling was one thing, but he was even hastily taking a green hat to wear. Was he not awake this morning or did he take the wrong medication? Meanwhile, in the spacious presidential suite, Qiao Yi, now changed, walked out of the room and sat opposite Lu Ming on the sofa, ¡°The person from last night, was it really you?¡± Qiao Yi urgently needed a definite answer. However, Lu Ming gave her an ambiguous response, ¡°Whether it was or wasn¡¯t me, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Early this morning, Keke was in a car accident on her way to Capital City, her kidney severely damaged. I¡¯ve checked, and the compatibility results between you two are 99%. I hope you will donate your kidney to her.¡± Donate her kidney? Qiao Yi almost thought she heard wrong. Why would she, a perfectly healthy person, go donate her kidney for no reason? Moreover. A kidney could fetch millions on the black market. Although she wasn¡¯t lacking money, she wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to give away her organs for free! ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°Keke had the accident while she was on her way to my wedding. All of this started because of me; I owe her, and I should repay her!¡± Ha! Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh. ¡°Since it¡¯s you who owes her, you should be the one to repay her, why come to me?¡± Rolling her eyes, she stood up to leave. But she had only taken a few steps when her wrist was tightly grasped by a pair of strong hands: ¡°Soon you will be Mrs. Lu, you can live a life of luxury in the Lu Family, with everything provided for you. Even without a kidney, you won¡¯t die, but it¡¯s different for Keke! If we can¡¯t find a suitable kidney for her, she might not even survive a week!¡± A week? Lin Ke should just drop dead right now, that would save me the trouble! Coldly shaking off the hands of Lu Ming that held her, Qiao Yi¡¯s lips curved up slightly, her words full of mockery: ¡°If you¡¯re so reluctant to let her go, why not just go with her? I don¡¯t mind being a widow for the rest of my life!¡± After leaving the hotel, Qiao Yi went directly to the wedding venue. Of course, she wasn¡¯t going there to get married. From her recent conversation with Lu Ming, she had already gotten the answer she wanted. Qiao Yi had originally thought that, relying on their childhood friendship, even if Lu Ming didn¡¯t like her, he would at least not treat her too badly, but now¡­ He actually wanted to cruelly take her kidney for another woman? For this, he even dared to publicly accept such a great humiliation. What a terrifying man! ¡­ Outside the Imperial Hotel. Qiao Yi watched from a distance the constant stream of people at the entrance, her lips curling into a cold arc. What ¡®everything provided for her¡¯, what ¡®living in luxury¡¯. She never cared for these! At this moment, there were less than ten minutes left until the start of the wedding. The hotel was filled with guests, but the Qiao and Lu families were anxiously waiting for Qiao Yi and Lu Ming, looking completely flustered. Two minutes before ten. They finally saw the belated Qiao Yi. Seeing her, Qiao Benqing walked up to her first, looking behind at Qiao Yi with a worried expression: ¡°Where¡¯s Lu Ming? Why didn¡¯t he come with you?¡± How can the Qiao Family hold their heads up in the future if the groom is absent on the wedding day? ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry, please take a seat in the guest area,¡± Qiao Yi said with a light smile. Glancing at the burning gazes around him, Qiao Benqing could only nod silently and finally sat down quietly in the first row of the guest seats. Qiao Yi followed closely behind him, walking up to the stage. Looking at the puzzled crowd below, she, like an outsider, took the microphone from the host and said calmly: ¡°Thank you all friends and relatives, and media reporters for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend mine and Lu Ming¡¯s wedding, but¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to tell everyone that the wedding between me and Lu Ming is canceled, please return home.¡± What? Canceled!? Most of the guests present were prominent figures from the Capital City, and they had heard some explosive rumors this morning. How come it was Qiao Yi who was caught cheating, but now she¡¯s the one dumping Lu Ming? Among the crowd, Old Mr. Lu was the first to stand up and step forward to Qiao Yi, smiling kindly as always: ¡°Miss Qiao, you must be joking, right? Or did that rascal Lu Ming treat you badly? If you feel wronged, tell Grandpa, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson for you!¡± Old Mr. Lu¡¯s fondness for Qiao Yi was largely due to her family background. This, Qiao Yi knew very well. ¡°Grandpa Lu, Lu Ming hasn¡¯t treated me badly, it¡¯s just that I myself don¡¯t want to marry him,¡± she politely replied. She doesn¡¯t want to? How could such a big decision depend on her whims? Turning to look at Qiao Benqing behind him, who also appeared incredulous, Old Mr. Lu spoke sternly: ¡°In-law, Qiao Yi is still young, she doesn¡¯t understand the consequences, aren¡¯t you going to stop your daughter from being so willfully reckless?¡± Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Getting Beaten Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Getting Beaten ¡°Old Mr. Lu, I¡­¡± ¡°Lu and Qiao families have been partners for decades, surely you wouldn¡¯t want such a trivial matter to affect our relationship, right?¡± In Old Mr. Lu¡¯s simple words, there was a thick hint of threat. Indeed, nothing should disrupt the relationship between the Lu and Qiao families! Qiao Benqing has always doted on Qiao Yi, letting her have her own way in everything, but today¡­ ¡°Yiyi, no matter what, you must marry into the Lu Family, and we can talk about everything else later!¡± It was the first time he spoke to her in such a firm tone. Qiao Yi knew that her father was angry. At the same time, she was even more aware that her destiny was always to prioritize the interests of the family. But¡­ Is it worth sacrificing your own life for the family? At this moment, Qiao Yi suddenly fell silent. Because of her silence, the vast banquet hall also suddenly fell into an eerie quietness. Everyone anxiously awaited Qiao Yi¡¯s response, except for one person. That was Lu Yanchuan. He was the youngest son of Old Mr. Lu, and the younger uncle by relation to Lu Ming, currently sitting in the most cornered position in the room, His chiseled profile under the brilliant chandelier became even more distinct. And those deep, narrow black eyes seemed captivating enough to bewitch one¡¯s soul. From the beginning to the end, his gaze never shifted away from Qiao Yi. Is it her? That woman¡¯s slender waist last night, those eyes clear as spring water, and her moans sounding like copper bells still deeply etched in his heart. Most unforgettable was the smear of bright red he saw on the sheets when he left this morning. Unexpectedly, the woman with whom he had spent the whole night was going to be his nephew¡¯s fianc¨¦e? Interesting. Since the marriage between Lu and Qiao families was inevitable¡­ Lu Yanchuan slowly stood up, walking nonchalantly to the front and meaningfully asked Qiao Yi, ¡°Since you must marry into the Lu family, why not consider marrying me?¡± Qiao Yi knew him. The eminent President of Lu Group, a man so wealthy and powerful in Capital City that he could overshadow others single-handedly, undoubtedly the favored son of heaven, and also the prince charming in the dreams of all high society ladies of Capital City. He wants to marry her? Intuition told her that things weren¡¯t so simple. ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Yi reflexively asked. Hearing this, Lu Yanchuan just lightly chuckled, then leisurely replied, ¡°Because I¡¯m a responsible man.¡± Responsible? Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t understand at all why, just because he was responsible, she would have to marry him? What a joke! There are plenty of responsible men in the world! Without even thinking, Qiao Yi directly refused: ¡°Mr. Lu should stop joking; if this gets out, people will laugh at you for stealing your nephew¡¯s fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°Why should you care about what others think?¡± .4. Upon hearing that Lu Yanchuan wanted to marry Qiao Yi, the wedding venue instantly erupted. [Oh my god! What did I just hear!?] [Mr. Lu has dominated the business world for over a decade and has never taken any woman seriously! And now he actually wants to marry Miss Qiao? It¡¯s the end for me! My love has ended before it even started!] [Third Young Master Lu is way above Young Master Lu in every aspect! Miss Qiao, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, say yes quickly!] [¡­] The guests have begun to whisper and buzz impatiently. Some felt joy, others sorrow. Qiao Xin sat in the front row, her face pale and her eyes, shimmering with ripples, full of bitterness. She had loved Lu Yanchuan for a full ten years! From youthful naivety to now, she had never stopped imagining the day she would become Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife. For this, she endured in silence, striving hard, believing that if only she could remove Qiao Yi, all the glory would be hers alone, and then Lu Yanchuan would surely see her worth! But¡­ Despite all her calculations and efforts, she ended up pushing Qiao Yi right into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. No! It can¡¯t be! Forgetting where she was, Qiao Xin suddenly stood up and walked to the stage: ¡°Sister, why hasn¡¯t your husband arrived yet? Is he delayed by something? You should call him.¡± As long as Qiao Yi kept being with Lu Ming, Lu Yanchuan would eventually be hers. Hearing her, Qiao Yi frowned slightly without showing much reaction. Qiao Xin? She hadn¡¯t had the time to demand an explanation from her, and here she was, appearing on her own initiative. Ha! Qiao Yi sneered coldly and slapped Qiao Xin across the face without a word. ¡°Slap!¡± Qiao Yi used all her strength in that slap. Qiao Xin¡¯s originally fair and tender cheek visibly swelled up, and for a moment, she didn¡¯t react, staring at Qiao Yi in shock and anger: ¡°You hit me?¡± ¡°I was only concerned about you, and you actually¡­¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Not letting Qiao Xin finish her sentence, Qiao Yi raised her hand and fiercely slapped her again: ¡°You know exactly why I hit you!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Qiao Xin was at a loss for words. With relatives and friends around, she decided to play the victim, and large tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks: ¡°Yiyi, I know you¡¯ve never liked me, but it¡¯s too much to do this in front of so many people.¡± Qiao Benqing watched from the side. Blood is thicker than water. Although he favored Qiao Yi, he didn¡¯t want to leave an impression of partiality. Stepping between the two sisters, he spoke earnestly: ¡°Yes, Yiyi, Xin Xin is your elder sister, how could you treat her like this? Is there some misunderstanding?¡± ¡°There is no misunderstanding,¡± Qiao Yi replied calmly. She believed that if she made the cause public, her parents would undoubtedly take her side without hesitation. But she couldn¡¯t! She wasn¡¯t foolish enough to broadcast that she had a one-night stand with a stranger! With a cold laugh, Qiao Yi continued solemnly: ¡°I hit her because I felt like hitting her, and I will do so every time I see her, no special reason needed.¡± Since childhood, Qiao Yi excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and also learned jujutsu, Taekwondo, Tai Chi. On the other hand, Qiao Xin. Over the past decade, she had only indulged in the luxuries of the Qiao Family¡¯s wealthy lifestyle, with shopping as her biggest pastime; when it comes to fighting, ten of her couldn¡¯t match Qiao Yi. Now¡­ If she got hit, then so be it, as long as Qiao Yi didn¡¯t marry Lu Yanchuan, she could handle anything! The next second, Qiao Xin sniffled, and as if nothing had happened, forced a smile and said: ¡°Today is a joyous day for my sister, let¡¯s not talk about this now, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Mom, Dad, I suppose your son-in-law got held up by something on his way, I¡¯ll go make a call to him.¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Qiao Xin likes Lu Yanchuan Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Qiao Xin likes Lu Yanchuan ¡°` Qiao Xin is so eager to promote her marriage to Lu Ming? If she were sincere, she wouldn¡¯t have spent money hiring those people to disgust her! Then she¡­ Upon careful consideration, Qiao Yi suddenly realized. Qiao Xin likes Lu Yanchuan! The reason she did this was simply because she did not want her to snatch away the man she deeply loves! A glint swiftly flashed across Qiao Yi¡¯s beautiful eyes, the more Qiao Xin liked something, the more she didn¡¯t want her to have it! She wanted to see how Qiao Xin would watch her beloved man being snatched away! Then, she turned her head and met Lu Yanchuan¡¯s deep gaze, smilingly asking: ¡°Did Third Young Master just say he wanted to marry me, was that serious?¡± ¡°Absolutely serious.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Now.¡± Lu Yanchuan always did as he said. He slipped a platinum ring, encrusted with diamonds, off his left ring finger and presented it to Qiao Yi. In front of hundreds of guests present, he slowly got down on one knee: ¡°Yiyi, will you marry me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Qiao Yi readily nodded in agreement. As everyone said, Lu Yanchuan was indeed far superior to Lu Ming. Since both were marrying a man she did not love, why not choose to marry Lu Yanchuan, who was revered by thousands? It annoyed Lu Ming and could infuriate Qiao Xin to death. Two birds with one stone! She stretched her hand to Lu Yanchuan, watching as he put the ring on her, and then coldly glanced at the emcee who didn¡¯t know what to do next, sternly instructing: ¡°You may continue with your job now.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ alright, alright.¡± Receiving the cold hint from Lu Yanchuan, the emcee felt a chill down his spine. He forcibly calmed down and continued with his duty: ¡°The groom has put the ring on the bride, next, the groom may kiss the bride.¡± As the emcee¡¯s voice fell, Lu Yanchuan directly kissed Qiao Yi¡¯s lips. Almost instantly, Qiao Yi¡¯s brain went blank. This man¡­ The faint scent of tobacco between his lips mixed with the DN cologne on him lingered in her breath for a long time, so familiar, just like¡­ The man from last night! ¡°Is it you?¡± Qiao Yi coldly pushed him away, her eyes filled with surprise and caution. Hearing this, Lu Yanchuan smiled with a non-smiling expression, answering indirectly: ¡°The wedding has succeeded, Miss Qiao will be Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife from now on.¡± Qiao Yi said nothing. She just quietly looked at the handsome face in front of her, her intuition telling her that this man was far from being as simple as he seemed! Even, she felt a strong sense of danger from him. ¡°Since the wedding ceremony is over, I am a bit tired and would like to rest,¡± Qiao Yi said coldly. With those words, she walked straight out of the wedding hall without looking at Lu Yanchuan again. She needed time. She needed to think carefully about what all of this was about! In the resting room. Qiao Yi¡¯s brows remained tightly furrowed, fragments of the previous night continuously swept into her mind¡ªhis voice, his gaze, and his firm chest¡­ It was Lu Yanchuan! ¡°` He had recognized her early on, so was that why he suddenly stepped forward to marry her as his wife? Is it really necessary to involve his own marriage over a one-night stand? Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t understand. Suddenly. The door was fiercely slammed open, and Lu Ming entered hurriedly with fury in his eyes, immediately questioning: ¡°What do you mean by this? To anger me, you actually turned around and married my uncle?¡± Anger him? To anger him by sacrificing her whole life? He does not deserve it! Facing Lu Ming¡¯s bloodshot eyes, Qiao Yi slowly stood up and nearly laughed as she retorted, ¡°Do you think you are that important? If I really wanted to anger you, I could simply marry your father and become your stepmother. Wouldn¡¯t that be even more satisfying?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Lu Ming almost ran out of breath. Originally, whether Qiao Yi married him wasn¡¯t important. What he couldn¡¯t accept was her current identity. She should have been his wife! But now, she had transformed into an elder of his. According to ancestral traditions, during each festival, he would have to bow and pay his respects to Qiao Yi! He couldn¡¯t accept it! Gritting his teeth, Lu Ming forcibly suppressed his anger and said, ¡°Keke is my childhood sweetheart, and now her life is in danger. I was just panicking, which is why I suggested you donate a kidney to her. If you don¡¯t want to, then forget it, I won¡¯t force you. I was just blocked on the road earlier, why didn¡¯t you wait for me? Yiyi, stop messing around, go find grandpa quickly, and clear things up with him! Tell him you agreed to marry my uncle just to spite me, tell him you¡¯ve changed your mind, and I¡¯ll prepare an even grander wedding for you right away.¡± Lu Ming spoke with urgency and haste. He must marry Qiao Yi! Not for any other reason but because she is the most favored daughter of the Qiao Family. Only by marrying Qiao Yi could the Qiao Family firmly stand by his side, and then he could easily take control of the Lu Group. Seeing Qiao Yi silent for a long time, Lu Ming¡¯s demeanor softened a bit: ¡°Yiyi, we¡¯ve known each other for so many years, you should know how I feel about you. Considering our many years of friendship, please don¡¯t be angry with me anymore, come back to me, will you?¡± The more Lu Ming pleaded abjectly, the more Qiao Yi felt that her choice was right. Men like him, full of schemes and willing to trample their own dignity, truly disgust her! ¡°Stop pretending!¡± Qiao Yi coldly smiled, advancing towards Lu Ming and bluntly said, ¡°The reason you chose to marry me is just for the Qiao Family behind me. Everyone knows, why bother putting on an act?¡± The next second, something suddenly came to Qiao Yi. Her smile intensified: ¡°You want the strong support of the Qiao Family, there are actually many ways.¡± ¡°What ways?¡± Lu Ming blurted out instinctively. ¡°Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, my parents seem to favor me more, but¡­ Qiao Xin is the cherished daughter of the Qiao Family, their first child, and at home, my parents still love her more.¡± Qiao Xin dreams of marrying Lu Yanchuan, and she deliberately thwarted her wishes. If one day she finds out she¡¯s nearly become Lu Yanchuan¡¯s niece-in-law, I wonder what kind of splendid change of expression she would have. Seeing Lu Ming still looking puzzled, Qiao Yi straightforwardly said: ¡°My sister entered the Lu Group for work two years ago, and my father even transferred 30% of the company¡¯s shares to my sister¡¯s name more than twenty years ago, so¡­ What you want, you cannot get from me.¡± At her words, Lu Ming suddenly fell silent. Qiao Xin has 30% of shares in the Lu Group? If he married Qiao Xin¡­ Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 To Marry or Not to Marry Chapter 5: Chapter 5 To Marry or Not to Marry No! That¡¯s not right! The Lu Group is a century-old enterprise, a 30% change in stock shares isn¡¯t a small matter. It wouldn¡¯t go unnoticed! ¡°You¡¯re lying! Mr. Lu is in good health, why would he distribute his assets so early?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? I¡¯ll make you believe.¡± Qiao Yi took out her phone slowly and decisively dialed a number in front of Lu Ming. As the call connected, an angry shout came from the speaker: ¡°Qiao Yi! Just tell me, what exactly do you want? As long as you¡¯re willing¡­¡± ¡°I want the 30% of Lu Group¡¯s shares under your name.¡± 30% of Lu Group¡¯s shares? Qiao Xin didn¡¯t care at all. If she really became Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife one day, what couldn¡¯t she have? What are these mere shares! ¡°No problem! I can go with you to transfer the shares any time, but¡­¡± Qiao Yi heard what she wanted to hear, and didn¡¯t care about what Qiao Xin was saying afterward. Hanging up the phone, she raised her eyebrows meaningfully and smiled, ¡°Do you believe it now? Qiao Xin is much more useful than I am. Instead of wasting time with me, you might as well find a way to marry Qiao Xin into the family soon.¡± Lu Ming left. Just moments after he left, Qiao Xin barged in. Her eyes were swollen red, the formerly proud princess was gone, replaced by a wretched and pitiful demeanor. ¡°Was it you who made Lu Ming run to our parents and say he wants to marry me, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Just minutes ago, Lu Ming suddenly declared he wanted to marry her. Qiao Benqing originally disagreed. But then he thought, since Qiao Yi had dumped the young master of Lu Family, he had to give the Lu Family an explanation somehow, and if he married Qiao Xin to them¡­ Adding kinship on top of kinship, is not a bad thing. Qiao Xin did try to resist! But¡­ Marriage is completely at the parents¡¯ command! Once Qiao Benqing made up his mind, unless she ceased to be a daughter of the Qiao Family, there was no room for resistance! ¡°Qiao Yi! After all, we are sisters of the same parents, do you find meaning in doing this?¡± ¡°You know I like Yanchuan, yet you insist on marrying him! That alone is regrettable, but you even try to pair me up with Lu Ming? I am your elder sister! Are you pushing me into a fire pit?¡± ¡°Please go now and make it clear to our parents, and the Lu Family. You marry your Lu Ming, let Yanchuan marry me, and let¡¯s all return to our original places!¡± Qiao Xin went on and on. But Qiao Yi didn¡¯t listen to a single word. She glanced at the time, waved her hand impatiently: ¡°Tonight is my wedding night with Yanchuan, I don¡¯t have time to waste with you, I need to go consummate the marriage!¡± ¡°Hey! Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi! You come back here!¡± No matter how much Qiao Xin shouted and pleaded, Qiao Yi¡¯s steps never faltered. The moment she opened the room door, she suddenly saw Lu Yanchuan standing straight at the door, his eyes containing an indecipherable smile: ¡°So eager for our wedding night?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Qiao Yi had never expected that the words she had just said to provoke Qiao Xin were heard clearly by Lu Yanchuan. This¡­ A blush brushed her cheeks instantaneously; with eyes cast downward, she wished she could find a place to hide in her embarrassment. It took her a long time to finally retort resentfully, ¡°Mr. Lu, eavesdropping on others¡¯ conversations, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s beneath your dignity?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just listening in on my wife¡¯s conversation, it¡¯s merely a matter of caring about you. How can it be beneath my dignity?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thin lips slightly lifted, his hand reaching to Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder, not giving her a chance to react, he swiftly whisked her away: ¡°On such a night meant for wedding consummation, isn¡¯t spending it all on talking a waste?¡± ¡°Let go of me¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s disputing voices caught the attention of Qiao Xin inside the room. Without a second thought, she hurried out and the moment she saw Lu Yanchuan, the tears that accumulated in her heart for so long uncontrollably burst forth: ¡°Mr. Lu¡­ Mr. Lu.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Lu Yanchuan asked coldly. ¡°I am¡­¡± Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t accept that Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t remember her. They had met more than once! So much had happened between them! How could he forget so suddenly¡­ ¡°I am Qiao Xin!¡± ¡°Mr. Lu, don¡¯t you remember? Three years ago, I applied for the position of CEO assistant at Lu Group, faced difficulties from the HR manager due to lack of experience, and you stepped in to help me close that chapter.¡± ¡°And last year, when I visited the Lu Family with my parents, I almost fell into the swimming pool, and you were there to save me just in time.¡± ¡°Remember! Last month when you came to Lu Group for a collaborative discussion! I made you a cup of tea, and you even complimented that I brewed it well.¡± Qiao Xin tried hard to remind, hoping to jog Lu Yanchuan¡¯s memory. As a matter of fact, Lu Yanchuan did recall. But it was just a faint impression. The next second, Lu Yanchuan slightly nodded, his words carrying a bit more politeness: ¡°Ah, Miss Qiao, I remember you.¡± Leaving just that brief remark, he was about to leave with Qiao Yi again. He remembers her? Nothing more? ¡°Mr. Lu, Mr. Lu¡­¡± Qiao Xin rushed forward in three quick steps, blocking their path. Lu Yanchuan was the most valued figure in the Lu Family, his words, perhaps could influence the Lu Family¡¯s decisions! Thinking so, she summoned the courage and said: ¡°Mr. Lu, you must have heard about the marriage between Lu Ming and me. You know, Lu Ming used to be my brother-in-law, now he¡­¡± ¡°I think, Mingming fits you quite well.¡± What kind of cunning plan was Lu Ming devising? Lu Yanchuan, who had been shrewd in the business world for many years, could not be ignorant of it. That boy, possesses a venom and ruthlessness unusual for his age. And Qiao Xin¡­ When Lu Yanchuan woke up and saw Qiao Yi, he thought she was like the other scheming women outside, trying every possible way to get into his bed, which would then lead to lengthy entanglements. But after some investigation, he realized that it was all orchestrated by her sister, Qiao Xin. Indeed, the two of them were truly a perfect match. ¡°Just now, I have proposed to our grandfather to expedite your and Mingming¡¯s wedding; tomorrow seems like a good day, why not just tomorrow?¡± Lu Yanchuan said with a smile. Tomorrow? Is Lu Yanchuan going to hold a wedding for her and Lu Ming tomorrow? For a moment, Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t believe her ears: ¡°The matter of my own marriage, I don¡¯t need others to intervene! I don¡¯t like Lu Ming! I will not marry him!¡± ¡°Whether you will marry or not, is it really up to you to decide?¡± Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Clarify Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Clarify Qiao Xin sat on the sofa in pain and despair. She had always known her parents were partial, but she never thought they would be so blatantly biased! Just now, Qiao Benqing and Zhang Wenjing had come to tell her that her wedding with Lu Ming was set for three days later. Their tone was firm, with no intention of discussing it with her at all! Wasn¡¯t she Qiao Xin, their biological daughter? No matter how angrily or reluctantly Qiao Xin felt, the reality now laid before her eyes: marrying Lu Ming was her only choice. ¡°Impossible! I can¡¯t just accept my fate like this! Qiao Yi, I won¡¯t let you continue to be so smug!¡± Both daughters of the Qiao Family were married into the Lu Family, and although there was a generational gap, this was hardly an issue in such large families. Because of these two marriages, the Qiao Family¡¯s stock prices had been rising for several days, soaring red. Qiao Yi had stayed with the Lu Family for two days before returning to the Qiao Family. It wasn¡¯t because she suffered any discomfort at the Lu Family, but because the atmosphere there was just too odd and awkward. Qiao Yi was now sure that the man from that night was Lu Yanchuan, but it was exactly for this reason that she felt even more unable to face Lu Yanchuan. Every time Qiao Yi sat down to eat with Lu Yanchuan, she felt incredibly uncomfortable. Moreover, with Old Mr. Lu¡¯s strange comments, she found it unbearable. So, Qiao Yi took the opportunity when Lu Yanchuan and Old Mr. Lu were not at home to sneak back to the Qiao Family. Zhang Wenjing took Qiao Yi¡¯s hand and sat down on the sofa. Every glance at Qiao Yi made her sigh, and another glance would bring tears to her eyes. ¡°Mom, if you have something to say, please just say it. Don¡¯t cry, okay?¡± Zhang Wenjing glared at Qiao Yi annoyedly but held back her tears. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about whether you¡¯re being treated well at the Lu Family. If they treat you badly, you must come back and tell me!¡± Qiao Yi felt extremely helpless. She understood why Zhang Wenjing was acting like this. The relationship between the Qiao and Lu families couldn¡¯t be damaged. The best solution was to solidify the alliance with a marriage. Qiao Yi had to choose someone from the Lu Family to marry, and if it hadn¡¯t been for the last-minute switch to Lu Yanchuan, she would have had to marry Lu Ming no matter how unwilling she was. This was the conclusion Zhang Wenjing had reached regarding the marriage alliance. In her heart, the pampered and cherished Qiao Yi should marry someone she liked and live a good life. Not to trade her entire life for a marriage alliance. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cry. I haven¡¯t been treated poorly at the Lu Family. Lu Yanchuan is very kind to me, Grandpa Lu is also very kind, you really don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± The incident where Qiao Xin drugged her was something Qiao Yi had no intention of telling Qiao Benqing and Zhang Wenjing. Firstly, because Lu Yanchuan had saved her in the end, and secondly, she had no concrete evidence. She could easily be counter-accused by Qiao Xin. Qiao Yi would not do something that was not worth the risk. Seeing that Qiao Yi¡¯s words were sincere, Zhang Wenjing felt much better. Although she knew that, given the relationship between the Qiao and Lu families, even if Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t like Qiao Yi, he wouldn¡¯t treat her poorly. However, she didn¡¯t want her daughter to be unhappy. With her worries halved, Zhang Wenjing inquired why Qiao Yi had come back home. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. I just hadn¡¯t been home for several days after the wedding, and I missed home a little.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good for you to stay home for a few days. Your father is planning to host a reception in the next few days. You can help entertain the guests at home, and then you can go back after the reception ends.¡± The pre-wedding party was held the day before Qiao Xin¡¯s wedding. Qiao Yi was more than happy to see the expression of Qiao Xin reaping what she sowed, so she naturally agreed. During dinner, Qiao Xin noticed Qiao Yi at the table and her face immediately soured. ¡°How come, you¡¯ve only been married into the Lu Family for a few days and you¡¯re back already?¡± Due to the presence of her parents, Qiao Xin didn¡¯t say anything too harsh, but she sat down next to Qiao Yi with a sarcastic tone. ¡°Don¡¯t you like me coming home to see you guys? Yanchuan actually didn¡¯t want me to come back. But I missed mom and dad, so I¡¯m here for a few days before I have to return.¡± Lu Yanchuan really didn¡¯t care whether she came home or not. In fact, since the wedding, they had barely seen each other. There might be some issue with the Lu family company; Lu Yanchuan has been leaving early and returning late these past few days, and they don¡¯t sleep together at night. However, she couldn¡¯t tell Qiao Xin this, or else who knows how she would be mocked. Qiao Xin, looking at Qiao Yi¡¯s sweet expression, became infuriated. She should have been Mrs. Lu, Third Young Master¡¯s wife! How dare Qiao Yi steal her place and then flaunt it in front of her! ¡°I¡¯m full.¡± Qiao Xin dropped her chopsticks and left. Zhang Wenjing gave Qiao Xin a puzzled look, not understanding why she was upset. It was Qiao Benqing, however, who cast contemplative glances back and forth between Qiao Xin and Qiao Yi. The two days passed in a flash, and the day of the Qiao Family hosting the party quickly approached. During these two days, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t make a single phone call. Qiao Yi enjoyed the peace and even hoped that they could continue living quietly and stably like this. But it was Grandpa Lu who had called several times asking Qiao Yi when she would return, although she had been brushing him off. The Qiao Family has always been a well-respected family in Capital City, and now with two marriages connecting them to the Lu Family, they are doubly related by blood. Although this party was just a small gathering hosted by Qiao Benqing, everyone of note in Capital City attended without fail. Especially when Lu Yanchuan appeared, it caused quite a stir. Qiao Yi was changing clothes in the room when she heard Zhang Wenjing urging her outside. ¡°Yiyi! Yanchuan is here, waiting for you downstairs. Hurry up!¡± What? Lu Yanchuan is here? Wasn¡¯t he busy with the company¡¯s affairs? How does he have the time to come look for her at the Qiao Family¡¯s place? Qiao Yi finished changing into her party dress and descended the stairs, spotting Lu Yanchuan amidst the crowd at a glance. This man, standing there, was naturally the center of attention. Lu Yanchuan seemed to sense Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze and turned his head to look at her. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Qiao Yi¡¯s cheeks flushed as she unconsciously turned away from the lust-filled gaze of his eyes. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Lu Yanchuan shook off the several business partners clinging to him and strode to the bottom of the staircase, waiting for Qiao Yi to come down. Qiao Yi¡¯s heartbeat quickened under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze. ¡°If I don¡¯t come to pick you up personally, do you plan to not return to the Lu Family at all? Huh?¡± Qiao Yi felt inexplicably guilty at his pointed ¡°huh?¡± but then became annoyed. ¡°Mr. Lu, I think we should clear some things up between us. Although we have some¡­ memories from before, it does not affect the purely contractual nature of our marriage. I won¡¯t cling to the position of Mrs. Lu indefinitely, whenever you find someone you like, we can divorce at any time.¡± ¡°Of course, I also hope you won¡¯t use this marriage, which only exists in name, to restrict my freedom.¡± Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Rotting Peach Blossom Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Rotting Peach Blossom ¡°Finished speaking?¡± Qiao Yi had said a lot, but Lu Yanchuan seemed as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word, just staring straight at Qiao Yi. ¡°You, what do you mean? Have you been listening to me?¡± Qiao Yi frowned, not liking this man¡¯s arrogant attitude. Lu Yanchuan caught sight of Qiao Yi¡¯s knitted eyebrows and suddenly curved the corners of his lips, reaching out to pull Qiao Yi from the stairs to his side. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just about playing our own games without interfering with each other after marriage? I got it.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? How is that what I meant!¡± Qiao Yi exclaimed in shock, almost twisting her ankle, but thankfully Lu Yanchuan reached out to steady her. ¡°A lady shouldn¡¯t yell and scream at a banquet. According to what Miss Qiao said, you should still try to be a good Mrs. Lu in public.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s large hand encircled Qiao Yi¡¯s waist, its scorching heat making it impossible for Qiao Yi to ignore. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Qiao Yi lowered her voice and growled softly, both hands struggling to pry Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand away. But no matter how hard Qiao Yi struggled, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand seemed to be welded there, unmoving. Through the fabric, Lu Yanchuan could almost feel the softness of the slender waist beneath his palm. Unable to break free and seeing that Lu Yanchuan was behaving like a gentleman, just holding her without any further action, Qiao Yi let him lead her into the crowd. All along the way, the sounds of sincere or insincere congratulations were non-stop, and Qiao Yi¡¯s face was about to stiffen from smiling. Turning to look at the man beside her, he had a stern face and not even a hint of a smile. This was what people in the Capital City expected of Third Young Master Lu, not the owner of the wandering hand at her waist! Qiao Yi cursed Lu Yanchuan¡¯s rogue behavior in her heart as they walked towards Qiao Benqing. ¡°Father-in-law.¡± Hearing the voice at his side, Qiao Benqing turned around, and upon seeing that it was Lu Yanchuan greeting him, he hurriedly turned towards him. ¡°Yanchuan is here, Yiyi really is¡­ She just ran back saying she missed her mother. Don¡¯t make trouble today. Later, go home properly with Yanchuan.¡± Qiao Yi pursed her lips, reluctantly agreeing. Watching her back of the head carrying reluctance, a hint of a smile finally appeared on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face. ¡°Yiyi has never been away from her parents; of course, she would miss home. It¡¯s only right to come back and stay for a few days.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s considerate words made Qiao Benqing feel even more favorably towards him, and the initial awkwardness about the abrupt change of groom subsided, as he and Lu Yanchuan together greeted the guests. Qiao Yi watched as Lu Yanchuan integrated himself as if he wasn¡¯t an outsider, standing next to Qiao Benqing with even more presence than herself, the Qiao Family¡¯s second daughter! The more Lu Yanchuan behaves like this, the more doubts and unease arose in Qiao Yi¡¯s heart. Just for that accidental one-night stand between them, is it worth for Lu Yanchuan to go to such lengths? Or is Lu Yanchuan really such a responsible person? ¡°Because I¡¯m a man with a sense of responsibility.¡± For some reason, Qiao Yi suddenly remembered this phrase said by Lu Yanchuan. Looking towards Lu Yanchuan again and catching his gaze, Qiao Yi swiftly turned her head away, taking a sip of wine to hide her embarrassment. Hopefully, Lu Yanchuan is truly as responsible as he claims to be. Qiao Xin stood on the second floor, watching the two people exchanging tender glances below, almost crushing the handrail! Qiao Yi! She will not let her off! ¡°Xinxin, why are you still here? The guests have all arrived downstairs, hurry down,¡± Zhang Wenjing¡¯s voice came from behind, and Qiao Xin hurriedly composed her emotions and face. When she turned around, she had already put on a smile. ¡°Mom, I was just standing here to get some fresh air. You know I really dislike the smell of alcohol down there.¡± Qiao Xin, arm in arm with Zhang Wenjing, coquettishly pouted, receiving a gentle tap on her forehead from Zhang Wenjing. ¡°Alright, hurry down now,¡± Zhang Wenjing withdrew her hand, leaving Qiao Xin to descend the stairs by herself. Qiao Xin clenched her empty embrace, a fleeting look of dissatisfaction crossing her face before she finally stepped forward to follow. The banquet passed by amid a sea of insincere flattery and clinking glasses. Qiao Xin and Qiao Yi both stood behind Qiao Benqing, who was relishing the endless compliments, feeling an indescribable delight in his heart. Although these flatteries were common in the past, now that both his daughters were married into the Lu Family, the bond between the Qiao Family and the Lu Family would only grow stronger. Prosperity was within reach! Just as the reception was drawing to a close, Qiao Yi¡¯s feet felt like they were breaking. She called an auntie to help her to the resting room. As they turned past a pillar and hadn¡¯t yet ascended the staircase, they were suddenly surrounded by a group of people. ¡°So you are Miss Qiao, Qiao Yi?¡± The leader, a girl, held her chin high with arrogance, scrutinized Qiao Yi from top to bottom, and snorted disdainfully. ¡°I really don¡¯t see what¡¯s so good about you. You had such an embarrassing scandal right before your big wedding day, yet you still managed to ensnare Third Young Master Lu¡¯s affection!¡± Is this¡­ one of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s unwanted suitors? Having never experienced something like this, Qiao Yi was momentarily stunned, not only surprised but also slightly amused. She never thought she would face a day when she¡¯d be cornered with threats; it was always her leading her underlings to corner others. ¡°So, what is it? What exactly do you want to say by stopping me here?¡± Qiao Yi, though finding these people laughable, felt a severe pain in her feet. Under normal circumstances, she might have entertained them, but now, Qiao Yi had no intention of entangling with them. ¡°If you have nothing important, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± Having said that, Qiao Yi tried to walk past them, tiptoeing forward with difficulty. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished speaking, and you want to leave? Stop right there!¡± A sudden force tugged on her arm, Qiao Yi lost her balance, and with a startled cry, she fell backward. The auntie couldn¡¯t catch her, and Qiao Yi closed her eyes, crying out in her heart, knowing the fall was inevitable! After what seemed an eternity, the expected pain and ridicule did not come. Instead, there were soft gasps around her. Qiao Yi opened her eyes slightly, and from behind the light, she could only see a man catching her. Lu Yanchuan! ¡°Are you injured?¡± Qiao Yi was half-craddled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, his deep, mellow voice close to her ear. She uncomfortably shifted her body and was just about to say she was fine when a sharp pain from her ankle made her cry out involuntarily. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Is it your foot that¡¯s injured?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s expression of pain, which did not seem faked. He immediately bent down to pick her up and quickly headed towards Qiao Yi¡¯s room upstairs. Behind them, a few girls looked at each other, their faces pale. With Lu Yanchuan showing such concern for Qiao Yi, could it be that their relationship was very good? They had offended Qiao Yi, and while several families combined would not fear the Qiao Family¡¯s revenge, the Lu Family was not one they could afford to provoke! Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Princess Carry Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Princess Carry ¡°Lu Yanchuan, I¡¯m fine, please put me down.¡± Qiao Yi tapped forcefully on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm several times, but he seemed insensible, his hands steadily carrying her upstairs to the room. If she couldn¡¯t break free, she might as well lie down and enjoy it. Qiao Yi found herself a comfortable position, making sure her legs weren¡¯t pinched by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. Lu Yanchuan felt a warm touch shifting back and forth on his arm. He wanted to warn the little woman not to wriggle around, but seeing her pouting and looking dissatisfied, Lu Yanchuan curled his lips into a smile. ¡°Ah!¡± The steady hands beneath her suddenly loosened, and the abrupt sensation of losing support made Qiao Yi subconsciously grab hold of what she thought was the most secure thing beside her. Lu Yanchuan was indifferent to the woman clinging onto him, shifting from a princess carry to a face-to-face hold like one would carry a child. Qiao Yi, feeling both annoyed and embarrassed, struggled to jump down, but Lu Yanchuan certainly wouldn¡¯t let her get her way, forcibly carrying her into the room by holding her thighs. ¡°That¡¯s enough! I¡¯ve arrived! You can go out now!¡± Looking at the furious Qiao Yi, Lu Yanchuan suddenly thought of the pets posted by some female employees in the company¡¯s group chat. She looked like a fluffy, anger-puffed kitten. ¡°Your foot is sprained. Rest at home for a couple of days and I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡± Having escorted her back to her room, Lu Yanchuan reverted to that noble and proud Mr. Lu, acting as if none of what just happened was his doing. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, I¡¯m being very serious in telling you that I only married you considering our families¡¯ interests. I don¡¯t want you to meddle in my affairs like this in the future.¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, no matter what you¡¯re thinking, right now you¡¯re the Lu Family¡¯s daughter-in-law, my wife. As long as we are not divorced, you should remember this firmly.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face darkened, his intense gaze almost too much for Qiao Yi to bear, yet she still bit her lip and refused to back down. After a long while, there was a knock at Qiao Yi¡¯s door. ¡°Yiyi, mom heard from the auntie that you sprained your foot, how bad is it?¡± Zhao Wenjing entered with a medical kit, unsurprised to see Lu Yanchuan there, and even greeted him with a smile. The auntie had told her everything just now, saying how Lu Yanchuan protected Qiao Yi, even personally carrying her back to her room! But why did both of them seem unhappy? Zhao Wenjing looked from Qiao Yi to Lu Yanchuan. Was it because of those provoking young ladies downstairs? ¡°Yanchuan, it seems that Yiyi¡¯s dad was looking for you just now, perhaps you should see him first. I¡¯ll take care of Yiyi here.¡± Lu Yanchuan gave Qiao Yi a deep look, nodded to Zhao Wenjing, and left the room. Once Lu Yanchuan was gone, Zhao Wenjing came over and started applying medicine to Qiao Yi¡¯s injury. ¡°Yiyi, you seem to be unhappy with Yanchuan. Is it because of those girls earlier? You well know how popular Yanchuan is in Capital City, why bother getting upset with him over such insignificant people?¡± ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not about that, sigh, even if I told you, you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Qiao Yi looked helpless, and Zhao Wenjing pouted, intentionally pressing down on Qiao Yi¡¯s instep, applying the medicine amidst her screams. ¡°Talk it out with Yanchuan later, you¡¯re married now, a grown woman; you can¡¯t afford to be so capricious!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, fine, with a son-in-law comes forgetting your daughter! Go on, I¡¯ll lie down by myself for a while.¡± Qiao Yi pushed Zhao Wenjing out, then hobbled back to the bed, lying down with her body resting, but her thoughts drifting far away. Lu Yanchuan was too dangerous; she couldn¡¯t fathom his thoughts, let alone guess why he would be willing to marry her. Qiao Yi tossed and turned restlessly, while downstairs was already in an uproar. The day Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi got married, many of those present had attended the wedding and heard their conversation. It was originally thought that the marriage between the Qiao and Lu Families was merely a simple business alliance, but seeing Mr. Lu¡¯s attitude, it was clear he had taken a serious liking to the Second Miss Qiao! For a time, all the guests present had their own thoughts, and even Qiao Benqing himself was unclear about the true nature of the relationship between Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi. After helping Qiao Benqing see off all the guests, Lu Yanchuan waited until only the Qiao Family members were left before he took his leave. ¡°Wait! Mr. Lu, wait!¡± ¡°Lu Yanchuan! Stop right there!¡± The sharp voice of the woman behind made Lu Yanchuan involuntarily frown, stopping his pace and turning around¡ªit was Qiao Xin who had followed. Lu Yanchuan did not speak, just silently looking at her, waiting for her to begin. Qiao Xin forced a smile. ¡°Won¡¯t you even talk to me? Do you like Qiao Yi so much that you¡¯re unwilling to speak with me?¡± ¡°What is it.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice was full of impatience, and Qiao Xin seemed to have taken a blow, her face instantly turning pale. ¡°I have liked you for so many years¡­¡± ¡°Miss Qiao, I don¡¯t wish to waste time.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice was cold as ice. After he spoke, he did not glance at Qiao Xin again, and turned to leave. Qiao Xin staggered back, tripping over something underfoot, and fell straight down. ¡°Ah!¡± Hearing the cry from behind, Lu Yanchuan pretended not to hear, got into the car, ordered the driver to drive away, and totally ignored Qiao Xin nearby who couldn¡¯t get up while holding her hand. Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes were venomous, her palms scraped by pebbles on the ground, and she was in severe pain from the fall, but the anger and jealousy in her heart almost made her forget the pain on her body. The scene of Lu Yanchuan carrying Qiao Yi upstairs was played over and over again in Qiao Xin¡¯s mind. Qiao Xin clenched the cloth over her chest, as if she was clenching Qiao Yi, the force so strong that the fabric nearly tore. Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi! I want you to suffer a terrible fate! Curled up in the covers, Qiao Yi sneezed twice fiercely. The room was filled with the smell of medicinal alcohol, which made Qiao Yi nauseous. She thought she would not be able to sleep, but soon after lying down, she fell asleep. ¡°Yiyi, wake up!¡± Zhao Wenjing pushed open Qiao Yi¡¯s room and dug her out of the messy covers. ¡°Mom, what are you doing so early in the morning?¡± Qiao Yi grumbled discontentedly, her body kept sliding down. Zhao Wenjing rolled her eyes dramatically and pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s face several times. ¡°Sleeping like a pig! Get up quickly, Yanchuan has called a family doctor for you, and he¡¯s already waiting downstairs for you. Wash up and come downstairs quickly.¡± Lu Yanchuan is so considerate? Qiao Yi suddenly sat up, ignoring Zhao Wenjing¡¯s nagging, hopped out of bed and skipped into the bathroom. Yun Yi sat in the Qiao Family¡¯s living room, covertly glancing around. Yesterday, Lu Yanchuan actually took the time to attend a trivial banquet at the Qiao Family¡¯s place, and it was said that he did some things he wouldn¡¯t normally do. Today, Yun Yi was somewhat impatient, volunteering to see for himself who was so special that they could move Lu Yanchuan¡¯s stony heart. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Not Marrying Unless Its You Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Not Marrying Unless It¡¯s You Qiao Yi hopped onto the stairs and glanced downstairs, only to spot a handsome man seated on the sofa¡ªa very cultured one at that. Today was Qiao Xin¡¯s wedding. Although the ceremony was set for noon, Qiao Xin had been sent off to the venue early in the morning, leaving only Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Yi at home. Initially, Zhao Wenjing was worried Qiao Yi would feel awkward seeing Lu Ming marry Qiao Xin, but Qiao Yi herself didn¡¯t see it that way and was even somewhat looking forward to it. With her spirits high, Qiao Yi laboriously jumped down from the upper floor. ¡°Are you the personal doctor sent by Lu Yanchuan? It¡¯s just a sprained ankle, it¡¯ll heal in a couple of days. You can go back.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s kind intention had been so sudden that she didn¡¯t have the guts to accept it. ¡°Miss Qiao, please let me examine it; otherwise, I won¡¯t have a way to explain to Mr. Lu when I go back.¡± His words were indisputable. After thinking it over, Qiao Yi agreed and sat down on the sofa. ¡°Just have a quick look then.¡± Considering he was a professional in this field, she didn¡¯t want to accept Lu Yanchuan¡¯s kindness, but she also shouldn¡¯t make it difficult for the doctor. Ever since Qiao Yi came downstairs, Yun Qing had been sizing up Second Miss Qiao, but despite looking her over, he found her to be just a bit prettier and didn¡¯t notice anything else particularly striking about her. Could Qiao Yi possess some inner qualities he had yet to detect? When it came to his profession, Yun Qing immediately became serious. After thoroughly checking Qiao Yi¡¯s sprained ankle and determining the severity of the injury, Yun Qing took out a tube of ointment from his box. ¡°This ointment is specifically for treating sprains. Just apply it to the affected area before going to sleep each night.¡± The tube of ointment he handed her didn¡¯t even have a brand on it¡ªa plain, small tube that looked like it was only good for a few uses. ¡°Thank you.¡± Qiao Yi asked the auntie to take the ointment away, but when she turned around, she saw Yun Qing still staring at her. ¡°Is there anything else, Dr. Yun?¡± Why were the individuals sent by Lu Yanchuan so strange? What kind of doctor fixates on their patient like this? Uncomfortable under his gaze, Qiao Yi¡¯s expression naturally wasn¡¯t very pleasant. Yun Qing really wanted to ask Qiao Yi just how she came to be involved with Lu Yanchuan, to the point where he would publicly help her out and take her as his wife. However, the words reached his lips but were swallowed back down. ¡°Miss Qiao, you should pay attention to resting your injury. If you sprain it again, it could be more serious.¡± In the end, Yun Qing only said this much before he gathered his medical kit and left. Qiao Yi was utterly baffled, but Zhao Wenjing stood at the top of the stairs, her face filled with satisfaction. ¡°Yiyi, I think Yanchuan treats you quite well. Why don¡¯t you go back to the Lu Family for the next few days? It doesn¡¯t look good for you to always be staying at home.¡± Qiao Yi was very puzzled. Just yesterday, Lu Yanchuan had only attended a banquet, and somehow it seemed like he had completely won over her parents? When she first came back, her parents were still worried whether the Lu Family wasn¡¯t treating her well. How come they were suddenly so eager to send her away? ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not talk about this for now. Let¡¯s hurry and get ready for the wedding!¡± Vaguely steering away from the subject, Zhao Wenjing pat her but did not continue the conversation. Qiao Xin¡¯s wedding was being held at the same hotel as Qiao Yi¡¯s and even the venue and the master of ceremonies were the same. It¡¯s unclear whether this was the Qiao Family¡¯s idea or the Lu Family¡¯s. Qiao Yi looked at the wedding venue, decorated so similarly to her own wedding, and couldn¡¯t help but feel everything here was incredibly mocking. She truly had no idea what kind of mood Qiao Xin was in. Qiao Xin wasn¡¯t in any kind of mood; she was practically fuming with anger, even wanting to just walk away! In the dressing room, Lu Ming was chatting on his cell phone with someone, his face unable to hide his smiles. Who could he be talking to? Was this the man she was about to marry? A sense of bitterness and desolation surged in Qiao Xin¡¯s heart. Today was her wedding day! It was bad enough to marry a man she did not love, and worse yet, this man clearly did not care for her either! ¡°Mr. Lu, Miss Qiao, the wedding is about to start, all the guests have arrived.¡± The wedding MC knocked on the door, prompting Qiao Xin to gather her thoughts and respond, yet Lu Ming was reluctant to put down his phone, only lifting his head after being urged several times. ¡°Lu Ming, if you don¡¯t want to marry me, we can call off today¡¯s wedding. I won¡¯t marry into the Lu Family just for the sake of it!¡± Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t help but speak out, her suspicions already raised by the look on Lu Ming¡¯s face as he checked his phone, suspicions she had yet to openly confront! Startled by Qiao Xin¡¯s gaze, Lu Ming forced a smile and approached to adjust her veil. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I want to marry you? Just now, there was news from the company that a project under my supervision was successfully completed, which is why I exchanged a few more celebratory words with them. I apologize for my carelessness and neglecting you.¡± Lu Ming tenderly apologized, and Qiao Xin, half-believing and half-doubtful, ultimately chose to trust his words. Marrying Lu Ming was imperative, and no matter what the future held, today she absolutely could not let Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan sneer at her! The MC continued to hurry them outside, and the two inside resumed their false warmth, proceeding to the venue under the MC¡¯s lead. The wedding march began to play inside the venue, and Qiao Yi was eagerly gazing at Qiao Xin¡¯s face when suddenly someone appeared beside her. Lu Yanchuan? Why wasn¡¯t he sitting in the Lu Family¡¯s area but instead coming over here? Seemingly discerning Qiao Yi¡¯s thoughts, Lu Yanchuan curved his lips slightly, intentionally leaning closer to Qiao Yi. ¡°You are my wife, the bride of the Lu Family. Shouldn¡¯t I sit beside you?¡± Okay, Qiao Yi had no response to that reasoning and rolled her eyes, ignoring him. After speaking, Lu Yanchuan himself was taken aback. Was this kind of teasing something he would say? Qiao Yi, engrossed in the bustle, did not notice the depth and inquiry in the eyes of the man behind her. All she thought about was that it was good for Lu Yanchuan to have come over so that Qiao Xin could clearly see Lu Yanchuan would rather chase after her than give Qiao Xin even a glance! ¡°The groom will now place the ring on the bride¡¯s finger.¡± Qiao Yi heard the MC¡¯s announcement and subconsciously looked down at her own hand. On the ring finger of her left hand was a ring that was obviously a size too large. This was the ring that Lu Yanchuan had taken off his hand and put on hers on their wedding day. Qiao Yi had intended to return it to him after the wedding but had never found the right opportunity. But now, she oddly didn¡¯t feel like returning it to Lu Yanchuan anymore. ¡°Where is the ring from our wedding day?¡± Lu Yanchuan next to her timely asked the question, and Qiao Yi was taken aback for a moment, mocking herself inwardly before slipping off the ring and placing it in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. ¡°I should have returned it to you earlier, just never found the right moment.¡± Lu Yanchuan took the ring and placed it back on his hand. ¡°This is a men¡¯s ring. After the wedding is over, I¡¯ll take you to pick out a new one.¡± Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 The Ring Chapter 10: Chapter 10 The Ring Qiao Yi suddenly turned her head to look at Lu Yanchuan. The lights at the scene weren¡¯t very bright. Although she was close, Qiao Yi still couldn¡¯t make out the expression on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face. ¡°You¡­¡± Suddenly, a burst of cheers erupted from the venue, and Qiao Yi¡¯s words were blocked before she could speak them. Over there, Qiao Xin and Lu Ming kissed briefly like dragonflies skimming the water surface, then comfortably let go of each other. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t see Qiao Xin¡¯s expression change, which somewhat disappointed her, but soon she had no time to feel disappointed. The wedding was over, and what followed was a banquet, with nothing involving the newlyweds. Qiao Yi, with her mobility issues, had planned to wait until everyone left before leaving herself, but Lu Yanchuan, sitting next to her, simply picked her up and started walking out as soon as the wedding ceremony ended. ¡°Father-in-law, mother-in-law, I¡¯ll take Yiyi back first.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even bother to consult with Qiao Yi; he just bypassed the crowd and left. Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t even reacted before she was already carried out of the venue. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, can you please consult with me next time before you do something?¡± Having been carried like this numerous times, Qiao Yi was still somewhat uncomfortable, but she forced herself to calm down and negotiated firmly with Lu Yanchuan. Lu Yanchuan just looked down at her briefly but didn¡¯t say a word. Qiao Yi was so irritated by his attitude that she couldn¡¯t break free from his embrace and simply rolled her eyes and found a comfortable position in his arms to rest with eyes closed. Anyway, since someone was carrying her, she didn¡¯t need to walk herself. If Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t mind the burden, then let him carry her forever! Lu Yanchuan walked very steadily, not at all like he was struggling, even managing to adjust when Qiao Yi slid down a bit. Being carried by him, Qiao Yi felt like an emotionless sack. ¡°Go to Xingbai.¡± Qiao Yi was stuffed into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. From the venue to the parking lot, carrying her such a long distance, Lu Yanchuan was neither red-faced nor out of breath. Even after putting her down, his clothes were still neat. Some not-so-pleasant memories surfaced, and Qiao Yi snorted through her nose, turning her head towards the window, but her cheeks were slightly flushed. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s assistant, Ma Yu, driving in front, glanced back once in the rearview mirror then shrank his neck and started the car without looking elsewhere. Xingbai was located in the eastern commercial district of the city, a commercial development planned by the Lu Family. The wedding hotel was in the southern outskirts, and the eastern commercial district was within the second ring road. It would take over an hour to drive there if there was no traffic. Qiao Yi looked at the fast-moving street scene outside the window and soon fell asleep. As the car turned a corner, Qiao Yi¡¯s body fell directly onto Lu Yanchuan¡¯s. In her dreams, the little lady, perhaps dreaming of something delicious, murmured twice with her rosy little mouth and found a comfortable position on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s body to sleep soundly. Lu Yanchuan moved his hand placed beside him, and Ma Yu, catching the gaze of his boss from the rearview mirror, very perceptively switched the car¡¯s air conditioning to warm air. When Qiao Yi woke up, she found herself lying in an unfamiliar bedroom. The cold decorative style of the bedroom made it clear it was likely Lu Yanchuan¡¯s. Where had Lu Yanchuan brought her? Lu Yanchuan¡¯s bedroom in the Lu Mansion wasn¡¯t like this. Qiao Yi sat up, and through the thick curtains, she could see it was still light outside. How long had she slept? She hadn¡¯t even called her mom and dad; they must be worried. Qiao Yi turned on the bedside lamp, but was drawn to a small box on the bedside table. A ring? Did Lu Yanchuan buy her a ring? Qiao Yi opened the box and inside was a small, delicate ring. She tried it on her finger and it fit perfectly. Suddenly, she felt strange and, as if her hand were burning, quickly put the ring back in the box and returned it to where it originally was. After getting out of bed, Qiao Yi discovered that at some point, her feet had been medicated and were now wrapped in two loops of gauze. ¡°Madam, you¡¯re awake. I just made chicken soup. Would you like me to bring it to your room, or will you come down to eat?¡± As Qiao Yi just pushed open the bedroom door, she saw an auntie holding a vacuum cleaner walking out of the next room. ¡°Hello, this is¡­¡± ¡°This is Emperor Garden. It¡¯s closest to the company, so Third Young Master often stays here. You¡¯ll get used to it once you come here more often.¡± The auntie put down the vacuum cleaner to assist Qiao Yi, her gaze falling on her hand with some surprise. ¡°Madam, aren¡¯t you wearing the ring? Third Young Master specifically had it delivered for you, didn¡¯t you see it? I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± ¡°No, no need, I don¡¯t like wearing rings.¡± Qiao Yi stopped her and let her continue cleaning the house, and she slowly walked downstairs. She knew about Emperor Garden. It was inhabited by senior white-collar workers from nearby office buildings. Though not particularly luxurious, the single-layer single-unit design was very convenient. Qiao Yi hopped into the kitchen, instantly feeling hungry from the rich scent of chicken soup. She just checked the time; it was already past five in the afternoon. She had slept for more than six hours, and her last meal was in the morning, no wonder she was hungry. ¡°Madam, Third Young Master said he¡¯ll be back for dinner in the evening. Have some chicken soup for now to hold you over. Let me know what you¡¯d like for dinner and I¡¯ll go buy groceries.¡± This auntie, surnamed Li, was specially sent by Old Mr. Lu to take care of Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I¡¯m not picky, I¡¯ll eat anything.¡± Qiao Yi settled on the couch, turned on the TV and instinctively looked at the table, only to find that it was covered with various snacks. Were these prepared by Lu Yanchuan? Qiao Yi rubbed her nose, always feeling that Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t possibly be such a thoughtful person. Of course, Lu Yanchuan was not that thoughtful. The mastermind behind all this was currently sprawled comfortably on the sofa in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s office. ¡°Did you really do what I said? I didn¡¯t see it coming. Could it be that you¡¯ve really taken a liking to that girl?¡± Han Zizhen looked up at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face, and after a long look realized Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t listening to him, and swiftly got up. ¡°I heard from Yun Qing, Second Miss Qiao is a real beauty. If your heart sways because of a beauty, brother, I¡¯ll fully support you!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Han Zizhen seemed like he hadn¡¯t heard Lu Yanchuan¡¯s caution, pacing around the office with his arms crossed, turning back to say something else to Lu Yanchuan, when suddenly a file folder flew towards him. ¡°Are you trying to kill me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just fulfilling a husband¡¯s duties. I used the suggestions you gave, keep the rest of the nonsense to yourself.¡± Han Zizhen pouted, rubbing his handsome face that had been painfully smacked, but quickly put on a serious expression and sat across Lu Yanchuan. ¡°The matter you asked me to look into, I¡¯ve found out about it. There¡¯s indeed a harbor development project in Tian City, but it¡¯s still in the planning stage and likely won¡¯t open for tender till next year. How did you know about this project?¡± Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Car Accident Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Car Accident ¡°` Tian City borders Capital City and is one of the most important port cities in the north of China. Since the last century, Tian City has undergone rapid development, and after decades of expansion, there are very few large projects left in Tian City that count as significant. Han Zizhen had been puzzled for quite a while. Ever since Lu Yanchuan asked him to investigate the upcoming development projects in Binhai District of Tian City, he had wanted to ask questions. ¡°Half a month ago, a ship belonging to the Lu Group encountered problems at Tian City¡¯s port. Due to an issue with the port¡¯s sluice gates, seawater backflowed and flipped the entire ship into the sea. Although it wasn¡¯t carrying any valuable cargo, Lu Group couldn¡¯t find suitable replacements for a while and the losses far exceeded the value of the cargo on that ship.¡± Lu Yanchuan pointed to the folder he had just used to hit Han Zizhen, instructing him to look at the report inside. ¡°I remember the Lu Group wasn¡¯t too involved in shipping. Why did they put such important cargo on a sea voyage this time?¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t answer his question directly but continued to speak on his own. ¡°After the report was submitted, I felt something was wrong with this port. An old port that has been in use for decades and now this accident has occurred, it definitely needs repairs, and I also know that this port is actually a privately owned one.¡± Han Zizhen read through the report and said, ¡°So, the Lu Group plans to participate in the bidding for this project?¡± Finally, Lu Yanchuan revealed a meaningful smile and shook his head at Han Zizhen¡¯s surprised gaze. ¡°Lu Group won¡¯t compete.¡± ¡°Then you¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attention had already returned to the documents in his hands, leaving Han Zizhen scratching his head in confusion. The most annoying kind of person is the one who doesn¡¯t finish what they¡¯re saying! Han Zizhen couldn¡¯t sit still and was about to leave, his hand already on the doorknob, when he suddenly heard Lu Yanchuan from behind him. ¡°Go back and tell Uncle Han that the Han Family must not touch this project.¡± Han Zizhen¡¯s expression finally turned serious, he turned around to see Lu Yanchuan still sitting there handling documents, as if the words just spoken were not his own. Lu Yanchuan never spoke untruths, Han Zizhen knew this, and hence couldn¡¯t fathom what Lu Yanchuan¡¯s actual intentions were. ¡°I¡¯ll pass the message to the old man, but if he doesn¡¯t listen, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± Thinking of something, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression suddenly stiffened as he looked up seriously at Han Zizhen. ¡°This project is off-limits for both your family and the Lu Group.¡± It was rare for Han Zizhen to see such a serious Lu Yanchuan, and it felt like a stone was pressing on his heart, so he nodded forcefully. ¡°I understand.¡± Qiao Benqing was telling Qiao Xin the same thing, but what he said was the exact opposite of Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Xinxin, it¡¯s been three years since you joined the company. This time, the Tian City project is a must-win for the Qiao Family. News of this project hasn¡¯t been leaked yet, so you have plenty of time to prepare. Think of this as a test from Dad. Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Qiao Xin, clutching the documents in her hand, agreed very promptly, but once she left the office, her face instantly fell. What test was he talking about? She had been doing miscellaneous work ever since she joined the company three years ago. How was she the Qiao Family¡¯s young mistress? She was clearly just here for hard labor! Now they even wanted her to prepare for a project that wasn¡¯t settled, her father was clearly making things difficult for her! If Qiao Yi had taken over this project, their father would have assigned the best assistants to her and definitely wouldn¡¯t want her to suffer hardship! With a heart full of reluctance, Qiao Xin returned to her car, and her face turned even uglier at the sight of the document bag next to her. Thinking of spending her supposed wedding night with Lu Ming from the Lu Family later that evening, Qiao Xin felt even more upset. ¡°Xinxin, something came up at work, and I won¡¯t be returning home tonight. I am really sorry¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, you deal with your company matters first, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Qiao Xin could only wish that Lu Ming would stay at the company forever so she could have some peace. Turning the car stereo up to the maximum, she stepped on the accelerator and the car shot forward. Qiao Yi had watched TV at home for several hours, Aunt Li had finished cooking, but Lu Yanchuan still hadn¡¯t returned. ¡°Madam, if you are hungry, please eat first. I can make something fresh for the Third Young Master when he gets back.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no trouble, I¡¯m not hungry now, let¡¯s wait for him.¡± The snacks prepared on the table were all her favorites, Qiao Yi had been snacking all afternoon and wasn¡¯t hungry at all. Aunt Li took Qiao Yi¡¯s words to mean waiting for Lu Yanchuan to have dinner together, and after smilingly acknowledging it, she slipped into the kitchen, pulled out her phone, and sent a message to someone. When the clock struck ten, Aunt Li said Lu Yanchuan wouldn¡¯t be coming back for dinner and told Qiao Yi not to wait and eat instead. Qiao Yi thought it made sense; although she wasn¡¯t hungry, Aunt Li had gone to the trouble of cooking, so it would not be polite to dismiss her efforts. With Aunt Li¡¯s help, Qiao Yi sat down at the dining table, but just as she picked up her chopsticks, her phone rang. The call was from Zhao Wenjing; it was late, why hadn¡¯t her mother gone to bed yet? ¡°Yiyi! Come to the Central Hospital quickly! Your sister has been in a car accident!¡± By the time Qiao Yi hurriedly arrived at the hospital, Qiao Xin had already been transferred back to the general ward, where Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing were present, with Lu Ming also there. ¡°Mom, how is sister doing?¡± Qiao Yi deeply loathed Qiao Xin for targeting her, but after more than twenty years as sisters, seeing Qiao Xin lying there between life and death, she couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat sad. ¡°There is no danger to her life. The doctor diagnosed it as a mild concussion, and she should be fine once she wakes up tomorrow.¡± Although Zhao Wenjing wasn¡¯t very fond of her elder daughter, she was still her own child, and couldn¡¯t help feeling pained by the accident. ¡°How did it happen? Was it a car accident?¡± ¡°It happened when she was getting off the freeway; someone deliberately rear-ended her. The driver responsible is being resuscitated and suspected of drunk driving.¡± Lu Yanchuan and Ma Yu walked in as Ma Yu explained to Qiao Yi. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I went home and Aunt Li told me you had left.¡± The booklet that Han Zizhen gave stated that a husband shouldn¡¯t allow his wife to walk alone at night. Qiao Yi nodded uncomfortably and made room for Lu Yanchuan. Ma Yu had already communicated with the police. The room fell silent, with only the machines next to the hospital bed beeping. ¡°Mom, Dad, we¡¯re here to watch over her; you two should head back first.¡± Seeing Zhao Wenjing yawn, Qiao Yi persuaded them to go home and herself moved a chair to sit by the hospital bed. ¡°I¡¯ll have Ma Yu watch over her, your foot hasn¡¯t healed yet.¡± The smell of the hospital wasn¡¯t pleasant, and Lu Yanchuan had been frowning ever since he entered. ¡°She¡¯s still my sister after all; I¡¯ll wait until she wakes up before leaving.¡± ¡°` Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Awakened Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Awakened Lu Ming was constantly on his phone in the hospital room, chatting with someone unknown. Qiao Yi probably knew who he was talking to, but since she no longer had any relationship with Lu Ming, she let him do as he pleased. Seeing that Qiao Yi truly did not want to leave, Lu Yanchuan had Ma Yu transfer Qiao Xin to the VIP ward, which had a resting area. At night, only Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin were left in the room. Qiao Yi lay on the narrow, hard bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She should hate Qiao Xin, but when it really came to returning tit for tat, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. It wasn¡¯t that she had a martyr complex, but she simply could not believe that the person who had stepped on her face that night could be her own sister. Her mind was a mess, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t figure it out and didn¡¯t want to think further, turning her back on Qiao Xin. When dawn broke, Qiao Yi woke up; Qiao Xin was still asleep on the bed, since things like concussions are fine once you wake up. Propping her chin, Qiao Yi sat up; the sunlight gradually became plentiful, just as Qiao Yi was about to fall asleep again, Qiao Xin finally let out some weak moans. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Qiao Yi pressed the bedside bell, and soon, a group of doctors and nurses rushed in. Qiao Xin, just awake, was still confused, vaguely hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s voice and thinking she had heard wrong. Qiao Yi must utterly hate her by now, she would rather wish her dead, how could she possibly be by her bedside. It didn¡¯t take long after they arrived in America for Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing to reach the hospital. Qiao Yi had messaged them that Qiao Xin had awoken, and they immediately came over. Doctors were still performing basic checks on Qiao Xin in the room as Qiao Yi and her parents sat down on the chairs waiting. ¡°As long as the person is awake, there shouldn¡¯t be any major problems. The rest is just resting and recuperating.¡± ¡°You had a tough night last night. There are caretakers during the day, you should go back and rest.¡± Zhao Wenjing saw the redness in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes and felt both distressed and relieved. ¡°I do nothing all day. You and dad should rest more, you definitely didn¡¯t sleep well last night. Now that sister is fine, you no longer need to worry.¡± As Qiao Yi spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but yawn, making Zhao Wenjing even more distressed. ¡°Family of the patient, please come in.¡± The hospital room was opened, and a young nurse stepped out and called the three of them in. ¡°The patient had only a minor concussion, requiring hospital observation for three days. During these three days, some post-concussion symptoms like headaches and nausea may appear, which are normal.¡± After giving some precautions, the doctor left, leaving the Qiao family of four in the room, where the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Qiao Xin watched from her bed as Qiao Yi and Zhao Wenjing held hands, with Qiao Benqing standing right behind them, looking happy and united¡ªa sight that seemed very glaring to her. It was always like this! When she was young, she thought her parents were just too busy, which was why they were colder to her, but only after her sister spoke up did Qiao Xin realize it wasn¡¯t that her parents were too busy, they simply didn¡¯t like her because she almost caused her mother¡¯s death! ¡°Xinxin, how do you feel? Is there anything specific you want to eat? I¡¯ll go buy it for you.¡± ¡°Yes, Xinxin, the person who hit you, Yanchuan has already sent people to handle it; just focus on recovering.¡± Qiao Benqing spoke and glanced at Qiao Yi. He was surprised that Lu Yanchuan could come last night! I never expected Lu Yanchuan to care so much about Qiao Yi. Qiao Benqing was preoccupied, Zhao Wenjing was persuading Qiao Yi to go back and rest, and no one in the hospital room seemed to care about Qiao Xin lying on the bed. Qiao Xin had had enough of their pretense, acting as though they cared about her. Who were they trying to fool! ¡°Enough! All of you, go back. There¡¯s a caretaker here to look after me!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s sudden outburst left everyone stunned. Zhao Wenjing¡¯s face darkened, and she looked displeased at Qiao Xin. ¡°Why are you losing your temper? Last night you had an emergency and hurriedly called us to the hospital, your sister came all the way here while her leg injury hadn¡¯t healed to take care of you all night, and now you are making us deal with your mood!¡± ¡°Mom, my sister must be feeling unwell due to complications, you and dad go back first, I¡¯m enough here.¡± Qiao Yi pushed Zhao Wenjing out, Qiao Benqing looked at his pale eldest daughter on the bed, said to rest well and left with her. Everyone in the room went out, and Qiao Xin suddenly, like a madwoman, swept all the items from the bedside table onto the floor. Qiao Yi had sent Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing away and just reached the door when she heard the noises of Qiao Xin smashing things inside, she frowned and pushed the door open. ¡°What are you doing back here! Are you here to mock me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to mock you, if you weren¡¯t my sister, you should be in jail by now.¡± Qiao Yi went back to her bed, called the caretaker to clean up the mess in the room. ¡°Who needs your false goodwill! If you dare, go ahead and report me! You, a slut that everyone has used, who would believe you¡­¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Qiao Xin looked dazedly at Qiao Yi, seemingly unable to believe that Qiao Yi had actually hit her. Qiao Yi¡¯s hand felt numb, she clenched it lightly, and slapped Qiao Xin on the other cheek. ¡°Since childhood, mom and dad have favored me a bit more, I cared about you so I always treated you nicely, gave you everything you liked, all the best, yet what I got in return was your ruthless sabotage!¡± ¡°Qiao Xin, do you have a heart, are you even human!¡± Qiao Xin looked at the red-eyed Qiao Yi, even somewhat afraid to meet her gaze. ¡°It was clearly you who¡­¡± ¡°Qiao Xin, I want you to remember, whether our parents were biased or not, I never owed you anything, I told dad I didn¡¯t want to join the company just to ensure your smooth entry, I declined dad¡¯s idea of transferring his shares to me just so that you could have more assets.¡± ¡°Qiao Xin, if you have even a little bit of conscience, you should reflect on how I¡¯ve treated you over the years and how you¡¯ve treated me!¡± After Qiao Yi finished speaking, she turned around and left, afraid that if she stayed she would end up fighting with Qiao Xin. ¡°You, why are you here?¡± As Qiao Yi opened the door, she saw Lu Yanchuan standing there and quickly wiped the tears from her face. ¡°I came to bring you food, I¡¯m also here to take you home.¡± Lu Yanchuan was holding a pink rabbit lunch box, which clearly didn¡¯t suit his demeanor, from his expression, he probably didn¡¯t like the lunch box much either. Qiao Yi¡¯s mood immediately brightened, she took the lunch box from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hands and hugged it to her chest. ¡°Mr. Lu, please take me back to my house. I¡¯ll keep the lunch box.¡± Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 What Are You Going to Do? Chapter 13: Chapter 13 What Are You Going to Do? Lu Yanchuan glanced at his empty hands and then at Qiao Yi¡¯s slightly staggering figure before following her. ¡°Dad asked us to come home for lunch. Are you going home to wait or going to wait at my company?¡± So, there¡¯s no chance for her to refuse, huh. Qiao Yi tightened her grip on the lunch box in her arms and suddenly smiled at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Please, Third Young Master¡­ take me home!¡± Lu Yanchuan had to admit one thing, that Qiao Yi was really beautiful. Back in the day, Zhao Wenjing was famously beautiful when she was young and has maintained herself well. Even among the circles of distinguished ladies, she stands out. Otherwise, Qiao Benqing wouldn¡¯t have devoted himself to Zhao Wenjing for so many years. In Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes and brows, there was a trace of Zhao Wenjing¡¯s features, but unlike Zhao Wenjing¡¯s delicate gentleness, she had a rare heroic spirit. Lu Yanchuan followed her, and Jiang Mian, holding the lunch box in the car, looked extremely well-behaved, not at all like someone who could get into a fight. But thinking about the information he had people find, she had been the school¡¯s dominant figure since she was young. Indeed, appearances can be deceiving. In the end, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t return to the Qiao Family but was taken by Lu Yanchuan to the Emperor Garden. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up at noon.¡± Qiao Yi heard it but pretended not to, planning to ignore Lu Yanchuan. This man is too domineering, giving no freedom to others! The freedom-seeking Qiao Yi, after waiting for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car to leave, sneakily slipped out of the residential area. ¡°Wenwen! I¡¯ve missed you!¡± Han Lewen, Qiao Yi¡¯s childhood friend and best friend from school. Qiao Yi¡¯s limping appearance made Han Lewen laugh for half an hour until Han Lewen finally stopped laughing and then looked at her resentfully. ¡°I got married and you didn¡¯t come¡­¡± ¡°Big sister, I was abroad at the time. Who knew you would get married so hastily?¡± Han Lewen rolled her eyes and pushed Qiao Yi away but, thinking of her being unwell, pulled her back again. ¡°Tell me, what kind of person is your husband?¡± ¡°You should know him, he¡¯s the Third Young Master of the Lu Family, Lu Yanchuan.¡± ¡°What! Lu Yanchuan! How did you end up marrying him!¡± Han Lewen suddenly jumped up, and Qiao Yi who was leaning on her shoulder fell over, rubbing her sore cheeks in pain. ¡°Calm down, it¡¯s just Lu Yanchuan, what¡¯s the big deal!¡± I slept with him before we got married! Qiao Yi dared not say this out loud, fearing Han Lewen would scream. Han Lewen inspected Qiao Yi up and down several times, and then flopped back lazily. ¡°You must be really sick to marry Lu Yanchuan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all tears when spoken about, let¡¯s not mention it. Sister, I can¡¯t move much today, so today you have the chance to take care of me. Take me out for a beauty treatment!¡± After Qiao Yi left the Emperor Garden, Lu Yanchuan was immediately informed and followed Qiao Yi to the Han Family. Lu Yanchuan sat in the car, watching Qiao Yi walk step by step into the Han Family. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face showed neither joy nor anger, and Ma Yu looked several times in the rearview mirror, unable to discern what his master was thinking. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll come back at noon to pick someone up from the Han Family.¡± Ma Yu sighed in relief; as long as the master spoke up, it¡¯s best not to make him guess. Qiao Yi spent the morning playing at Han Lewen¡¯s place, waiting for Han Lewen to make her a cake, when she heard her cellphone ring. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°I¡¯m downstairs, you have ten minutes.¡± The voice on the phone made Qiao Yi sit up abruptly. What did Lu Yanchuan say? He¡¯s downstairs, he really came to pick her up? But she¡¯s not at Emperor Garden right now! ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at Han Family¡¯s place.¡± Qiao Yi was even more surprised, she got up from the sofa and went to the window to look down, and indeed she saw the black Phaeton parked outside the Han Family¡¯s gate. Did this man install a tracking device on her? Why is he everywhere she goes! Qiao Yi¡¯s head ached, but with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s stance, he probably wouldn¡¯t leave unless she went down; she really got to know Lu Yanchuan¡¯s character! ¡°The cake will be ready soon, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come back when I¡¯m free in the next few days, I have to go now!¡± Qiao Yi hurriedly ran outside, Han Lewen glanced down through the window and saw Qiao Yi getting into the car outside, then suddenly started smiling knowingly. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, what exactly are you trying to do!¡± Once in the car, Qiao Yi glared at Lu Yanchuan with displeasure, fury unhidden in her big eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve already made things clear to you, do you want me to say it again?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s long legs were crossed, with a file resting on them. Qiao Yi¡¯s words were completely ignored by Lu Yanchuan, like punching into cotton, not only did it not relieve her frustration, but it almost even hurt her back. ¡°Dad asked me to bring you back for dinner.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Qiao Yi turned her head, but Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t speak anymore, focused entirely on the documents on his legs. This man should just marry his documents. Qiao Yi snorted coldly, since it was Old Mr. Lu¡¯s request, she had no choice but to go back. Just thinking about Old Mr. Lu¡¯s attitude made Qiao Yi uneasy. When they reached Lu Mansion, Qiao Yi realized it wasn¡¯t just her and Lu Yanchuan who were called back, but also Lu Yanchuan¡¯s two brothers and their children were all called back for dinner. The old house was crowded with people, livelier than usual. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t expect Qiao Xin to also be brought over, the bandage still on her head, sitting quietly on the side, seemingly lost in thought. ¡°What bad luck, married two, and both are invalids, are they placed in front to disgust whom!¡± A sarcastic female voice came, Qiao Yi looked over, it was Lu Ming¡¯s mom, Lu Family¡¯s second wife, whom Qiao Yi used to call Aunt Lu, now she should call her Second Sister-in-law. Aunt to Sister-in-law, Qiao Yi hesitated for a long time, still couldn¡¯t manage to change the title she¡¯d been using for over a decade. ¡°I told you to marry early, now look, you brought back such a useless one, making us a laughingstock!¡± ¡°Mom, please say less.¡± Lu Ming waved his hand impatiently and left Wang Zhen to go to his own room in the old house. Wang Zhen, angered by Lu Ming¡¯s attitude, had no one to vent on but glared sideways at the seated Qiao Xin. Contrary to Qiao Yi¡¯s expectation, Qiao Xin endured Wang Zhen¡¯s provocation without showing any sign of anger. Qiao Yi was astounded, thinking Qiao Xin must have been stunned by her slaps, showing no reaction at all. While she was thinking, she saw Qiao Xin slowly raising her head, giving her a cold look. Qiao Yi¡¯s face changed instantly, Qiao Xin had thoroughly resented her, their relationship could never go back. ¡°Yiyi, how did you end up twisting your foot after going back, come let me look at it, you look like you¡¯ve lost weight!¡± Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Major Supplement Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Major Supplement Qiao Yi slowly walked over and sat down next to Old Mr. Lu. The man she used to call Grandpa now had to be addressed as Father-in-law, a feeling that was really¡­ ¡°This stinker, Yanchuan, I told him to take good care of you, and look what you¡¯ve become. Wait until he comes down later; see if I don¡¯t give him a good talking-to!¡± Ever since she was young, Qiao Yi was watched over as she grew up by Old Mr. Lu. He had liked this little girl from before, and now that she had become his own daughter-in-law, of course, he cherished her even more. Qiao Xin had been sitting in the corner the whole time, clenching her fists in unwillingness and anger as she watched Qiao Yi, whose hand was intimately held by Old Mr. Lu. The two slaps from Qiao Yi had thoroughly awoken her, and also gave Qiao Xin a way to put Qiao Yi to death! As long as that night¡¯s incident was known to Lu Yanchuan, she wanted to see if he would still want a woman who had been played with! It was a pity that she forgot to have someone gather evidence that evening! Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes, filled with venom, were fixed on Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi noticed her gaze but didn¡¯t take it to heart. Every weekend at noon, Old Mr. Lu would call the Lu Family back for a meal. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know about this custom before, but today Old Mr. Lu explained it to her himself, and only then did she understand why Lu Yanchuan insisted on bringing her back. Why couldn¡¯t Yanchuan explain such a simple matter properly? He had to make her unhappy! The meal went by without any thrills. After eating, Qiao Xin was sent away by Lu Ming. Wang Zhen looked very unhappy but didn¡¯t say anything more in front of Old Mr. Lu. Qiao Yi was kept behind by Old Mr. Lu under the pretext that she was too thin and needed nourishment, personally instructing the kitchen to stew a nutritious soup for her. Looking at the bowl of thick chicken soup shimmering with oil, Qiao Yi felt that drinking this was asking for trouble. After she sweet-talked Old Mr. Lu into going out to play chess with old friends, she carried the soup bowl straight to the study and placed the bowl on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s desk. ¡°This is a nutritious soup personally ordered by Father. I can¡¯t finish it, so you can¡¯t disappoint Father¡¯s intention!¡± Lu Yanchuan found Qiao Yi¡¯s commanding attitude amusing but didn¡¯t laugh. After admiring her for a moment, he took the bowl from the desk and drank it without another word. Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s action, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes lit up. She seemed to have found a way to deal with the old gentleman! ¡°Father, Yiyi¡¯s health is fine; there¡¯s no need to keep nourishing her three meals a day.¡± That day, as Lu Yanchuan returned home, he smelled a familiar scent that instantly made his stomach uncomfortable. Indeed, when he found Old Mr. Lu in the kitchen, he was directing the auntie to add goji berries and astragalus to the chicken soup. Even good things, if consumed for three days straight, were enough to make one nauseated. Moreover, Lu Yanchuan had a nosebleed all morning at the company today, which he really couldn¡¯t bear any longer. Old Mr. Lu¡¯s eyes narrowed as he hustled Lu Yanchuan out. ¡°You¡¯re strong and healthy, you don¡¯t need to drink it. Look how thin Yiyi has become! If you don¡¯t nourish her properly now, how will she give me a big chubby grandson later?¡± I don¡¯t know how to get a big chubby grandson, but if you keep drinking like this, your handsome son might be gone. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s nose felt cold, as if something was flowing out of his nose again. ¡°Yo, why is there a nosebleed again? Is it because the air is too dry? Xiao Zhang, go turn on the humidifier!¡± Leaning on the staircase, Qiao Yi almost burst into laughter watching the commotion below. She was mindful of Old Mr. Lu¡¯s kindness towards her, but this kind of affection was a bit too enthusiastic for her to handle. When Lu Yanchuan came upstairs, Qiao Yi had already regained her composure. She demurely smiled at Lu Yanchuan and then turned to head back to her own room. Before Qiao Yi could run away, she was suddenly grabbed by the collar and pulled into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room. ¡°What are you doing¡­mmph¡­¡± The domineering and scorching kisses rained down like a deluge, Qiao Yi clutched Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shirt over his chest tightly, as if to push him away, yet as if to yearn for more. ¡°Let¡­let me go¡­¡± Qiao Yi moaned softly, then quickly covered her mouth, not believing she could make such a sound. ¡°This is to punish you for messing around.¡± Lu Yanchuan gasped unsteadily, Qiao Yi could feel the burning heat emanating from his body, scorching her into a frenzy of panic. Qiao Yi was held tightly, and it took a long time before Lu Yanchuan restrained himself and let her go. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°If you want to continue, you can stay!¡± Qiao Yi wrapped her arms around herself and ran out in a flurry, Lu Yanchuan irritably pulled open his collar and dove into the bathroom. He is a normal man, drinking such tonic soups three times a day without a way to release the fire is bound to drive a person crazy! Qiao Yi kept blushing all the way back to her own room. Old Mr. Lu brought another bowl of soup. This time, he didn¡¯t see Lu Yanchuan and instead placed the soup on the table for Qiao Yi. ¡°Drink this soup well, and when you¡¯ve recovered, you can give me a couple of grandkids while you¡¯re still young! With your foot still injured, you can¡¯t live with Yanchuan, so you better take your medicine and nurture your health!¡± Old Mr. Lu prattled on, watching Qiao Yi drink the soup. Qiao Yi really wanted to push the soup to Lu Yanchuan but, remembering his beast-like behavior just now, she felt a tremor in her heart, and decided it was better to obediently drink it herself. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room door finally opened, and he left for the hospital without eating, carrying a chill with him. He looked so pained; it made Qiao Yi feel a twinge of guilt toward Lu Yanchuan for the first time. Living in the Lu Family was quite nice except for occasionally dealing with Old Mr. Lu pushing them to have children, and a bunch of inexplicable herbal tonics; it could almost be called paradise. Happy times are always fleeting, and in a blink of an eye, the day for Qiao Xin to be discharged from the hospital arrived. Qiao Yi was reluctant to meet Qiao Xin but, thinking Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing might grow suspicious, she went to the hospital anyway. She didn¡¯t know how Qiao Xin managed it, but when Qiao Yi arrived at the hospital, she saw Lu Ming being extremely attentive, following her around, and carrying things for her. ¡°Sister, Ah Ming and I have discussed it, and we plan to move and live in the old house for a while. Only you are there to accompany Grandpa every day, and it¡¯s really too lonely.¡± Qiao Yi really wanted to laugh in her face; wasn¡¯t she herself the loneliest one in the old house? Old Mr. Lu had quite a few old friends, and every afternoon they would all disappear! ¡°Of course, that¡¯s great. Us sisters living together can take care of each other.¡± Qiao Yi agreed generously, even making a call in front of Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing to arrange rooms for the two people at the old house. After Qiao Yi hung up, she saw everyone looking at her and explained with a raised smiling face. ¡°Granddad doesn¡¯t pay much attention to these matters now, and since I am free anyway, helping him manage things is also a way of showing filial piety.¡± Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Sleep in My Room Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Sleep in My Room Zhao Wenjing was somewhat surprised upon hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words. She knew that Qiao Yi had grown up under the watchful eye of Old Mr. Lu and, given the close relationship between the two families, Old Mr. Lu would definitely take extra care of Qiao Yi. However, she hadn¡¯t expected that Old Mr. Lu would so readily entrust Qiao Yi with the housekeeping affairs. For families like the Qiao and Lu, management of the family business is essential, but maintaining relations and emotional ties with other families is even more important. Now, Qiao Yi was taking such a long-breathed role in the Lu Family; could it be that Old Mr. Lu truly valued her this much, to leave all these matters in her hands? Of course not. Although Old Mr. Lu had such intentions, Qiao Yi¡¯s ankle injury had just healed two days ago, and as a new bride of the Lu Family, it seemed improper for her to take over these duties so hastily. But these words could not be mentioned here; facing the astonished gazes of everyone in the room, Qiao Yi maintained an elegant and reserved smile. ¡°Since your father-in-law values you so much, you must get along well with Yanchuan and not cause trouble like you used to.¡± Zhao Wenjing was extremely pleased, but her happiness was inevitably followed by some worries. Qiao Yi spoke to Zhao Wenjing while quietly observing Qiao Xin¡¯s expression, and sure enough, she saw Qiao Xin looking as if she had swallowed a fly, her face no longer carrying the ease it had before. Qiao Yi hummed softly through her nose and, holding onto Zhao Wenjing¡¯s hand, was the first to leave the ward. Though humiliated by Qiao Yi¡¯s show of authority, Qiao Xin still moved into the Lu Mansion without delay, and at dinner that evening, two new faces appeared at the table¡ªQiao Xin and Lu Ming. Qiao Yi saw the bowl of chicken soup next to her, unchanged as always, and sipped it disconsolately, spoonful by spoonful. ¡°Today, I had them add ginseng to the soup. Try it and see how it tastes.¡± Old Mr. Lu looked at Qiao Yi with a smile. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Yi downed the chicken soup and wiped her mouth, praising Old Mr. Lu lavishly. Qiao Xin sat across from them, witnessing firsthand how drastically different Old Mr. Lu¡¯s attitudes were toward the two of them. Across from her, Qiao Yi was laughing and chatting with Old Mr. Lu, and Yanchuan occasionally chimed in. That was a picture of a happy family of three, whereas she and Lu Ming were merely sitting there like two spare parts. While Qiao Xin watched Qiao Yi, the latter was naturally also aware of her, and although not intentionally neglecting Qiao Xin, seeing her discomfort, Qiao Yi took pleasure in the situation. ¡°Grandpa, you can¡¯t be so biased, Qiao¡­ Auntie just twisted her ankle and needs nourishment, but Xinxin was in a car accident. You shouldn¡¯t play favorites.¡± Qiao Xin didn¡¯t speak, but it was Lu Ming who couldn¡¯t conceal his dissatisfaction with Old Mr. Lu¡¯s indifferent attitude towards him and Qiao Xin, and he took the initiative to speak out. Old Mr. Lu seemed to suddenly remember that there were two more people in the house, glancing at Qiao Xin and then at Lu Ming, and snorting through his nose. ¡°What, you can¡¯t pour chicken soup for your wife from the kitchen? Do I need to personally serve it to her?¡± Lu Ming¡¯s face stiffened, he wanted to argue, but Old Mr. Lu had already turned away, no longer paying him any heed. Qiao Yi kept her head down and continued eating, as the stares of Lu Ming and Qiao Xin settled on her, as if she were the reason Old Mr. Lu was ignoring them. The meal was tense, greatly affecting the appetite. Qiao Yi went upstairs after eating only half her meal; she really couldn¡¯t be bothered to watch Qiao Xin sucking up to Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Father said you didn¡¯t eat much tonight and asked me to bring this up to you.¡± After playing with her phone in her room for a while, Lu Yanchuan came in carrying a tray. ¡°Oh, thank him for me.¡± Qiao Yi acknowledged, eyes fixed on the mobile game interface without moving. After a long while without hearing the door, Qiao Yi looked up to see Lu Yanchuan sitting on the sofa, looking at her. Qiao Yi felt a tingling on her scalp under his gaze and uneasily crawled out of bed. ¡°What else do you want?¡± ¡°Sleep in my room tonight.¡± Qiao Yi almost spewed out blood! How could Lu Yanchuan say such a thing with a straight face? ¡°What do you want to do!¡± Involuntarily, Qiao Yi scooted back, staring at Lu Yanchuan warily as if he were some kind of lecherous ghost. Lu Yanchuan frowned in displeasure, stood up looking down at Qiao Yi who was also staring back, hugging her blanket. After a long stalemate, it was Lu Yanchuan who was first to retreat. ¡°Since you want us to play the part of a married couple, we have to do it convincingly. Once your foot is healed, sleep in my room.¡± Qiao Yi relaxed, realizing that was what he meant, she had thought¡­ Seeing the hint of red on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, the displeasure in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart seemed to dissipate in an instant, and he huffed and left. As soon as Lu Yanchuan left, Qiao Xin entered the room and saw the dinner plate on the table, her face turning frightfully cold. ¡°You must be very pleased with yourself, seducing your brother-in-law, now strutting around here at the Lu Family!¡± ¡°Brother-in-law? Are you out of your mind? My current brother-in-law is just downstairs, I wonder who I¡¯ve seduced?¡± Qiao Yi sat cross-legged on the bed, the earlier embarrassment gone from her face, leaving only mockery. The annoyance on Qiao Xin¡¯s face flickered and then calmed again. ¡°You know very well who I¡¯m talking about, don¡¯t think you can be so smug forever, Lu Yanchuan will be mine sooner or later!¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even know what to say to her, she must have damaged her brain in that car accident, otherwise, why would she act and talk so mindlessly now? ¡°Seduced your brother-in-law¡­ Lu Yanchuan will be mine sooner or later!¡± Qiao Xin stared at the smartphone in Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, her face a mix of panic and embarrassment. ¡°You recorded it! Delete that!¡± Qiao Xin lunged at Qiao Yi, but Qiao Yi swiftly dodged. ¡°You dare to come in my room and provoke me, why wouldn¡¯t I record it? Keep talking, be assured, I¡¯ll record everything you say.¡± Qiao Xin screamed in rage and frantically lunged at Qiao Yi to snatch the phone from her hand. Unable to combat a reckless lunatic, Qiao Yi¡¯s grip loosened, and the phone landed in Qiao Xin¡¯s hand. Qiao Xin snatched the phone and flung it to the ground, smashing it to pieces. Qiao Yi watched indifferently as Qiao Xin lost her composure. After Qiao Xin smashed the phone, she got off the bed and suddenly grabbed Qiao Xin by the throat, slamming her violently against the wall. ¡°Have you had enough? I¡¯ve been tolerating you over and over again because you¡¯re my sister. Our blood relation won¡¯t make me put up with you forever, if you keep this up, don¡¯t blame me for not holding back.¡± The hand on her throat felt as if it was made of iron; no matter how hard Qiao Xin tried, she couldn¡¯t push Qiao Yi away, forced to tilt her head back and look at her. Qiao Yi¡¯s tone was chilling, Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t help but shiver when she met her emotionless gaze. ¡°What are you trying to do!¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Unruly Sleeping Positions Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Unruly Sleeping Positions ¡°What am I supposed to do? You set traps for me everywhere, and now you ask me what I¡¯m going to do?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s grip tightened gradually, Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned purple under her hands, and she looked like she was about to suffocate when Qiao Yi suddenly let go, and Qiao Xin collapsed to the floor. ¡°Qiao Xin, this is the last time I warn you, stop bothering me.¡± Qiao Yi dropped those words, taking the meal that Lu Yanchuan brought and left the room. Qiao Xin sat on the floor coughing violently and trembling all over. The words Qiao Yi had just said echoed in her ears again and again, like little hammers striking her heart one after another. ¡°Xinxin? What¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you so pale?¡± Qiao Xin didn¡¯t come back for quite a while after she said she was going upstairs to see Qiao Yi. Lu Ming followed to check on her, and not seeing Qiao Yi, he found Qiao Xin sitting on the floor with a horrific expression. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I might have had low blood sugar just now. I¡¯ll be okay after sitting for a bit.¡± Qiao Xin avoided Lu Ming¡¯s hand which he extended to help her up and got up by herself to sit on the bed. A shadow passed quickly through Lu Ming¡¯s eyes but was soon replaced with concern as he sat beside Qiao Xin, asking if she needed to see a doctor. Qiao Xin still hadn¡¯t recovered from the fright Qiao Yi gave her, and Lu Ming¡¯s pestering made her want to erupt with anger, but she forcefully suppressed it. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Didn¡¯t grandpa say he wanted to move some flowers in the yard? Go and help him.¡± Seeing that Qiao Xin really didn¡¯t want to talk, Lu Ming didn¡¯t linger and left the room after agreeing. Suddenly, Lu Ming¡¯s phone rang. He checked it and his face changed immediately; he hurried back to his own room. Qiao Yi took the meal to the kitchen, ate a few bites, then asked the maid to clean up. She knew she had to sleep in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room tonight; even if he didn¡¯t say it, it was clear in her heart. She always tried to deceive herself. The thought of sharing a bed with Lu Yanchuan that night made Qiao Yi feel all the hairs on her body stand on end. Qiao Yi scratched her head irritably, paced around the living room a few times, and then walked toward Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room with a face as if she was bravely going off to war. Lu Yanchuan, hearing the noise at the door, slightly curved his lips and then continued to lower his gaze to the documents. Qiao Yi hovered outside Lu Yanchuan¡¯s door for a good ten minutes, unable to take that final step. ¡°Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi! You¡¯re the best!¡± After psyching herself up, Qiao Yi gritted her teeth and pushed the door open. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room had always been decorated in a cool style, with only three colors: black, white, and gray, just like him. The person outside finally walked in, Lu Yanchuan lifted his eyes to give her a glance without making a sound, waiting until Qiao Yi moved haltingly to the side of the bed, then suddenly put down the documents in his hand and looked at Qiao Yi. ¡°Who¡¯s showering first, you or me?¡± Qiao Yi was like a startled rabbit, nowhere near as cold as she had been with Qiao Xin. ¡°You-you-you go first!¡± It¡¯s just showering, why say it in such a suggestive tone? It¡¯s really scary! After Lu Yanchuan entered the bathroom, Qiao Yi finally took a deep breath and quickly walked over to sit by the bed. Why is it that every time she sees Lu Yanchuan, her own presence seems to shrink by three points? Were she and Lu Yanchuan naturally at odds? As Qiao Yi pondered, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t take long before coming out of the bathroom. ¡°Your clothes! Where are they?¡± Seeing a handsome man fresh out of the shower late at night was truly an overwhelming experience. Qiao Yi instantly covered her eyes, while Lu Yanchuan gave her a baffled glare. If you¡¯re going to cover your eyes, then cover them properly. What¡¯s with the big gap between the fingers? Qiao Yi, feeling slighted, dropped her hand and openly admired Lu Yanchuan¡¯s nearly perfect figure. In a room with a man and a woman, the one who is undressed always has to concede first. Perhaps it was Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze that was too fiery, Lu Yanchuan took off the towel from around his waist and draped it over his body, blocking Qiao Yi¡¯s view. ¡°Go take a shower, and then sleep.¡± Why did he cover up so quickly, she hadn¡¯t even had her fill of looking! Qiao Yi rubbed her face and walked into the bathroom, and it wasn¡¯t until the shower water drenched her that she realized she hadn¡¯t brought anything with her! ¡°I¡­¡± Standing under the shower, water pouring over her head again and again, she just opened her mouth to ask Lu Yanchuan to help her fetch something, but then she immediately negated the idea herself. This was¡­ awkward¡­ Suddenly, there was a knock on the bathroom door, and Qiao Yi, startled, turned off the water and embraced herself tightly. ¡°Third Madam, the Third Young Master asked me to bring you toiletries. I¡¯ve placed them outside the door.¡± Thank goodness, it¡¯s the auntie from home¡­ By the time Qiao Yi finally walked out of the bathroom, Lu Yanchuan had already turned off the lights and gone to bed, leaving only a small night light on for Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi tiptoed to turn off the light and climbed into bed. She thought she would definitely be sleepless all night tonight. This thought had only circled in Qiao Yi¡¯s mind for a moment before she fell asleep. In the middle of the night, Lu Yanchuan was awakened by a kick. His thigh was bearing a delicate little foot, and its owner was almost sprawled across the entire bed. Qiao Yi¡¯s blanket was thrown under the bed by herself, and her own blanket was now wrapped around Qiao Yi. How had he not noticed that Qiao Yi¡¯s sleeping posture was so¡­ free-spirited? Lu Yanchuan pressed his temples with a headache, moved away Qiao Yi¡¯s foot, and pulled at his own blanket. Somehow, Qiao Yi had wrapped the blanket so tightly around her that Lu Yanchuan tugged several times and it didn¡¯t budge. Lu Yanchuan resigned himself to picking up Qiao Yi¡¯s blanket, and in the blink of an eye, Qiao Yi had already rolled over to his spot. Due to Qiao Yi¡¯s ungraceful sleeping position, her pajama pants were rolled up on her thigh, and a small part of the hem of her shirt had flipped up, revealing a little bit of her white belly. It looked more like the pets that female employees often posted in the company group chat. When Qiao Yi woke up the next day, it was already past ten in the morning, she had an extremely restful sleep, something she hadn¡¯t done in over half a month. There was only her sleeping on the big bed, with two blankets pressed underneath her; by that time, Lu Yanchuan had long since gone to the company. ¡°Yiyi, are you up yet?¡± The voice of Old Mr. Lu rang out from outside the door, and Qiao Yi hurriedly scrambled off the bed, barefoot to open the door for Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Dad, were you looking for me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just came up to ask if you were hungry.¡± Old Mr. Lu seemed quite pleased with Qiao Yi¡¯s disheveled appearance, and Qiao Yi¡¯s face heated up, not knowing how to explain to Old Mr. Lu. ¡°Sis certainly did get a good sleep, Grandpa was thinking about sis and specifically told the kitchen to keep your meal warm!¡± Qiao Xin appeared from behind Old Mr. Lu, with a sarcastic remark. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to deal with her, but she couldn¡¯t refuse Old Mr. Lu¡¯s kindness. ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t you say Uncle Sun was coming to play chess at home today? You should go and get ready; I¡¯ll be right down!¡± Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 A Room Chapter 17: Chapter 17 A Room Qiao Yi was called back to the Qiao Family by Qiao Benqing, saying that there was something he needed to discuss with her. Qiao Yi never interfered with the businesses of Qiao Group, and for some reason, Qiao Benqing suddenly wanted to discuss official business with her this time. Not just Qiao Yi, but Qiao Xin was also called back. As soon as the two arrived home, they were called straight into the study, where Qiao Benqing gave each of them a document to read. Qiao Xin read it carefully, while Qiao Yi flipped through it casually before tossing it aside. ¡°Father, if there¡¯s something you need to say, please do. Why the urgent call for me to return?¡± Qiao Xin withdrew a bit of her attention from the document, turning to look at Qiao Benqing along with her. ¡°This is the latest development plan issued by Tian City. This development plan includes not only the redevelopment of an old seaport but also the makeover of the Binhai old town area. I had previously received information about the old seaport¡¯s development, but I did not expect that this time the project would also include the old town area.¡± Qiao Benqing had discussed this with Qiao Xin, but it was the first time Qiao Yi had heard of it. However, whether it was the first time hearing it or not made no difference to Qiao Yi. She flipped impatiently through the document in her hand, quickly saying after Qiao Benqing had finished speaking. ¡°Dad, haven¡¯t we agreed that I don¡¯t need to join the company before I¡¯m twenty-five? You can¡¯t go back on your word!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about you joining the company, but another matter that I need you to handle.¡± As long as it wasn¡¯t about joining the company, everything was negotiable. Qiao Yi looked curiously at another document in Qiao Benqing¡¯s hand, ¡°Then why did you call me back? What is it that you want me to do?¡± ¡°This time, you will represent Qiao Family at the Tian City bidding.¡± ¡°Dad! I was the one who undertook this project firsthand. How can you let Qiao Yi take part in the bidding!¡± Qiao Xin suddenly stood up. She was unwilling to toil away in the company, but she was even more reluctant to allow Qiao Yi to reap the benefits and effortlessly score the success that should belong to her! This was unfair! Qiao Benqing frowned at Qiao Xin, his mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but his words took a turn at the last moment. ¡°Of course, you still have your task. This quarter, the contract between Qiao Family and Lu Group is expiring, and this project has always been managed by Lu Ming. This time, you take care of the liaison with Lu Ming.¡± Qiao Benqing made the final decision, leaving Qiao Xin with no choice but to comply. ¡°Dad, I¡­¡± ¡°Xinxin, you have to understand that the cooperation between Qiao Family and Lu Group is very important. Do not let down dad¡¯s expectations of you.¡± Qiao Xin bit her lip and nodded, but as she turned and walked out, she glared viciously at Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi naturally returned the glare without backing down, and as their gazes crossed, it was filled with thunder and lightning. ¡°Yiyi, there are some details about this bid that you need to remember.¡± With the conversation going this far, Qiao Yi naturally had no choice but to accept, sitting next to Qiao Benqing with a resigned expression, waiting for his instructions. ¡°In this bidding, you must give it your all, but you absolutely must not succeed.¡± ¡°Not succeed?¡± What kind of requirement was this? Bidding has always been about succeeding at all costs, she had never heard of aiming to put in effort but fail. Qiao Benqing had anticipated Qiao Yi¡¯s question and prepared a response. ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t let Xinxin go is precisely for this reason. If we let her give it a try, we would have a sixty percent chance of securing this project. However, the Qiao Group cannot take on this project; not only can we not take it, but we must also not appear too eager, and must instead give the impression that our Qiao Group has exerted all our effort but regrettably missed out.¡± Qiao Yi almost immediately understood what was meant and tentatively asked, ¡°Does this mean there is a problem with the project for the old port district redevelopment?¡± Qiao Benqing nodded but did not specify what the problem was. Qiao Yi realized that this kind of thing was not suitable for Qiao Xin. She simply couldn¡¯t keep things to herself, and if this were entrusted to her, it might ruin everything. ¡°Also, don¡¯t let Yanchuan know about this.¡± Confused, Qiao Yi still agreed and after having dinner with Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing at the Qiao Family¡¯s house, she returned to the Lu Family¡¯s. ¡°Mr. Lu, Tian City has already issued the redevelopment plan for the old port district. Shouldn¡¯t we also start preparing our bid?¡± Ma Yu pulled out the invitation from the email, but Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even glance at it, leaving Ma Yu unsure of what he was thinking. ¡°This noon, Ms. Qiao called her wife back home. When the lady came back, she had a copy of the plan. It¡¯s very likely that the lady will be the one going to the bidding¡­ What do you think we should do¡­¡± ¡°The Qiao Family has already given up this bid. Keep an eye on the moves in Tian City; we must not allow any chaos before the bidding.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words confused Ma Yu. Why did allowing Qiao Yi to participate in the auction mean giving up? However, there was always a reason for the boss¡¯s decisions, not something his assistant could fully grasp. The auction in Tian City would take place in just ten days. Even though Qiao Benqing had given the task to Qiao Yi, he still had Qiao Xin accompany them to Tian City, claiming it was to assist Qiao Yi with the bidding. Only Qiao Yi knew that Qiao Benqing did this to better distract others, concealing his intentions to give up the bid. Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin left for Tian City two days early, accompanied by Lu Ming and Lu Yanchuan. Old Mr. Lu was overjoyed to learn that Qiao Yi would be traveling with Yanchuan. It was only when Qiao Yi opened her suitcase at the hotel that she realized what Old Mr. Lu had packed for her. A whole ten cans of nourishing soup was one thing, but what on earth was that box of colorful stuff! Face flushed, Qiao Yi stuffed the items into a corner of her suitcase and glared up at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Are we supposed to live together even though we¡¯re on a business trip?¡± Over the past few days, she had been able to deal calmly with Yanchuan, but the thought of the two of them staying in the same room still enraged her. Even though they weren¡¯t at the old house anymore, why did Yanchuan only book one room for both of them? ¡°Qiao Xin and Lu Ming are just next door; do you want them to discover the nature of our relationship?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes widened. Yanchuan¡¯s words seemed to make some sense, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off. No! There was no relationship between them at all! Nothing at all! Holding back a smile, Yanchuan packed up his things and, without waiting for Qiao Yi to finish her indignant packing, he pulled her out the door. ¡°It¡¯s time to go for lunch.¡± Qiao Yi screamed in protest, trying to shrug off Yanchuan¡¯s hand. She opened the door, and to her surprise, saw Lu Ming and Qiao Xin also coming out from the next door, apparently also heading out to lunch. ¡°What a coincidence! Shall we go together?¡± Upon seeing Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi instantly turned into a sweet, compliant darling, lovingly clinging to Yanchuan¡¯s arm with a blissful smile. ¡°Did I just see you and Mr. Lu having a little tiff, Yiyi?¡± ¡°Not at all. Just some playful affection between husband and wife, you and your husband have those moments too, right?¡± Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 You Did That on Purpose Chapter 18: Chapter 18 You Did That on Purpose Lu Yanchuan glanced at the human-shaped ornament that had suddenly appeared on his arm and didn¡¯t deny Qiao Yi¡¯s words. Qiao Yi let out a sigh of relief. Although Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t the best of people, he was reliable when it really mattered. Qiao Xin could practically burst with anger from the look in her eyes, and Qiao Yi felt that if looks could kill, she would have been hacked to pieces by now. However, unfortunately for Qiao Xin, all she could do was glare at her. Qiao Yi, holding on to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, strutted past Qiao Xin. But as soon as she entered the elevator, Qiao Yi quickly shook off Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, as if he was carrying some sort of virus. ¡°Thanks for playing along just now; consider it a debt I owe you.¡± With her back turned to Lu Yanchuan, he simply hummed noncommittally. Qiao Yi took it as agreement and, as soon as the elevator stopped, she bolted out without looking back. Lu Yanchuan looked at the ten-floor indicator on the elevator and then at Qiao Yi, who didn¡¯t look back. He gave up on the idea of calling her back and continued down in the elevator by himself. Qiao Yi felt she must have a problem; she wasn¡¯t paying attention to where she was going at all, and now she found herself wandering in the hotel, unable to find her way out. It took quite some effort to reach the first floor through the fire escape, and by the time Qiao Yi got to the restaurant, Lu Yanchuan had already ordered and started his meal. Grinding her teeth and fuming, Qiao Yi sat opposite Lu Yanchuan. No sooner had she sat down than the waiters began serving her food. Was Lu Yanchuan being kindhearted? Had he actually ordered her meal for her? Lu Yanchuan, who sat opposite her, was still dressed in that austere black suit, but because of the meal, he had placed his jacket on the chair next to him. Without his tie and with the top button of his shirt undone, it added an unexpectedly sexy touch to his appearance. His sleeves were rolled up over his forearms, and even his manner of eating was noble, making him look distinguished just by sitting there. Qiao Yi really wanted to know how he could pretend so well and so naturally! This was purely her own pettiness. Lu Yanchuan noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s discreet glances and subtly turned himself, offering her an even more perfect view. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to admit she was being seduced by this man, so she became annoyed once more. She angrily devoured a steak with her fork and then left Lu Yanchuan to go back to her room alone. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t care that she was running away. He finished his meal leisurely and by the time he got back to his room, it was pitch black. Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t even left a small night light for him. Under the hazy moonlight, he could barely make out a small bulge on the bed. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze darkened slightly, and he lay down next to Qiao Yi. The bidding event was just two days away. Early in the morning, Lu Yanchuan left the hotel, claiming to be inspecting the Lu Group¡¯s branch office in Tian City. Qiao Yi had nothing to do, so she lounged around the hotel until noon before reluctantly getting up for lunch. Tian City is rather unique among many northern cities, rich in cultural heritage and traditional features. Thus, after eating, Qiao Yi went shopping in the city center. Qiao Yi was accompanied to the event with the Qiao sisters by one of Qiao Benqing¡¯s assistants, who hurriedly called her back when she knew Qiao Yi was out shopping. ¡°Second Miss, we are here for the auction. Even if you give up on the final outcome, you still need to put up an appearance. Do you want everyone to see that the Qiao Family has given up?¡± The assistant was earnest and well-meaning, but Qiao Yi just curled her lip and rolled her eyes. ¡°Mr. Feng, you worry too much. My sister is overly enthusiastic about preparing for the bid. With her around, no one will care about what I do.¡± Qiao Yi tossed off a sentence and ran away, leaving Mr. Feng pounding his thigh in frustration. It was clear that the second Miss¡¯s business talents far surpassed those of the eldest Miss. Why, then, did Ms. Qiao insist on keeping the second Miss out of the company and instead relentlessly groom the elder daughter? Qiao Yi knew the answer to this question; in fact, she was the one who had orchestrated the whole thing. Qiao Benqing had been busy with work when Qiao Xin was born and couldn¡¯t provide enough company. Thus, Qiao Benqing always felt a sense of guilt towards Qiao Xin. Knowing this, Qiao Yi had always given way to Qiao Xin, but Qiao Xin had been nothing but a disappointment to her. After wandering outside for an afternoon, Qiao Yi returned to the hotel laden with bags. While Qiao Xin focused on gathering bid information, Lu Yanchuan and Lu Ming inspected the companies, Qiao Yi was seriously splurging on shopping. For two whole days, until the day of the bidding conference, the group of four met again. ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve really taken it easy this time. Just a bit of shopping and you¡¯re done? It¡¯s impressive how you still remember that today is the bidding conference!¡± The four stood in the elevator, with Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin naturally side by side. Qiao Xin glanced at the new dress on Qiao Yi¡¯s body, her dissatisfaction and disdain evident as she rolled her eyes. Qiao Yi pushed her sunglasses up, treating Qiao Xin¡¯s comment as if it were nothing more than a fart in her ear, completely ignoring her. Qiao Xin, refusing to let it go, suddenly stepped forward as if to leave the elevator with Qiao Yi ¨C intent, in reality, on tripping her. Without a sideward glance, Qiao Yi lifted her foot and stamped down hard. ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Xin screamed as she stumbled out of the elevator, the skin from her calf to the top of her foot pierced by Qiao Yi¡¯s sharp high heels, blood flowing out immediately. ¡°Oh dear, I am terribly sorry, sister. I didn¡¯t see your foot somehow found its way under mine, so sorry indeed.¡± Qiao Yi stepped back, flicked her skirt, and lifted her sunglasses slightly to glance down. Though her words apologized, her face showed no hint of remorse; instead, it was full of mockery. ¡°You! You did it on purpose!¡± Faced with Qiao Xin¡¯s roar, Qiao Yi laughed. ¡°I did it on purpose? Right, I intentionally let you stick your foot under mine, intentionally let you trip me. My wish to fall hasn¡¯t come true yet, what a disappointment indeed.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s mocking tone irritated even Lu Ming, who was crouching down to check on Qiao Xin¡¯s injury, causing him to look at her surprisingly. ¡°Sister, if you¡¯re hurt, why not have your brother-in-law take you to the hospital? If there¡¯s no serious problem, then stand up. Sitting here like this is an embarrassing spectacle.¡± Qiao Yi straightened up and walked over to Lu Yanchuan, linking her arm through his, as if the person who had just behaved so bizarrely wasn¡¯t her. Qiao Xin trembled with fury, her face turning green as she pushed Lu Ming¡¯s hand away and struggled to stand, watching the retreating figures of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan go side by side. Lu Ming, brushed aside, showed a fleeting grimace, but still wore a concerned expression as he helped Qiao Xin. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of blood on your leg. Let¡¯s take care of it first, be careful about an infection.¡± Qiao Xin took a few rapid breaths and finally nodded her head, allowing Lu Ming to support her toward the medical room. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Bidding Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Bidding Qiao Yi felt the occasional glances from Lu Yanchuan landing on her. Feeling uncomfortable, she turned her head and glared at him. ¡°Do you think I was too harsh on Qiao Xin?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mind was still dwelling on how Qiao Yi¡¯s little demeanor just now was somewhat tantalizing, when unexpectedly, the little woman next to him angrily questioned him. Receiving Lu Yanchuan¡¯s somewhat puzzled gaze, Qiao Yi felt a bit more at ease. ¡°Your grudges with her have nothing to do with me.¡± The implication was whether he was harsh or not, it didn¡¯t matter to her. Qiao Yi withdrew her gaze and looked out the window, and the two of them fell silent for the rest of the journey. Tian City¡¯s geographical location is advantageous, plus its long history, making it a city that can¡¯t be overlooked, whether politically, economically, or geographically. Since Tian City¡¯s development in the North has spanned decades, in recent years, the Tian City government has rarely opened new official projects. This time, the redevelopment of the old harbor district is the first in five years. Scarcity breeds value, and as soon as the project news went out, there were no fewer than ten companies from Capital City alone coming in for the bid, not to mention, the national companies coming to the bidding meeting totaled over fifty. The Qiao Family and Lu Family stood out among them, drawing innumerable gazes upon the two figures who entered the venue together. Could it be that the Qiao Family and Lu Group are joining forces? That was the thought running through most people¡¯s minds. But upon seeing the two people return to their respective seats, like complete strangers, their thoughts began to waver. If the Qiao Family and Lu Family joined forces, others wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, but now it seemed like there was still hope. Before the bid submissions, this was their last chance to modify the terms. People from well-acquainted enterprises gathered together, whispering, and from time to time glancing over at Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi, sitting there bored playing with her phone, ignored Mr. Feng who kept nagging her to review the documents. She was just going through the motions; why bother? However, Mr. Feng made a good point ¨C she still needed to keep up appearances in front of others, to avoid showing that the Qiao Family had given up. ¡°President, we¡¯ve obtained the bids from Longjia and Tengxin. However, their attitudes are ambiguous ¨C doesn¡¯t seem like they¡¯ll compete fiercely.¡± Ma Yu¡¯s words drew Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attention back from Qiao Yi. ¡°It¡¯s unlikely, even though the representatives from those companies aren¡¯t the chairmen, they are the high-level executives. They won¡¯t give up on the project that easily.¡± Ma Yu followed his gaze to look at the representatives of those two companies, seeing only two dark heads and couldn¡¯t figure out how Lu Yanchuan identified them. Lu Yanchuan, not wanting to deal with this assistant with questionable intellect, handed over the bid documents to Ma Yu and started to rest with his eyes closed. There were not a few who acted like him, yet not many could relax completely as he did. Qiao Xin, having treated her wounds, eventually made it to the bidding venue. After signing in, she didn¡¯t go to the Qiao Family¡¯s seat, but instead found a spot to sit in towards the back. ¡°Xinxin, why are you sitting here?¡± ¡°There are too many people inside, I¡¯ll sit here for a while to avoid bumping my foot.¡± Qiao Xin answered expressionlessly, and Lu Ming, sensing her perfunctory tone, reminded himself over and over not to get angry, and sat next to her with a forced smile. ¡°I¡¯ll keep you company here then.¡± Qiao Xin gave him an impatient, frowning glance but said nothing more. As the time for bidding approached, the venue gradually quieted down, everyone waiting for the host to announce the start of the meeting. Qiao Yi turned her head to look back and saw Qiao Xin sitting at the rear, puzzled. Since when could she stay so composed? Several leaders went on stage to give their speeches, and Qiao Yi, listening from below, began to feel sleepy, slowly dozing off in her chair. Qiao Xin, keeping watch over Qiao Yi¡¯s movements, saw her fall asleep and silently approached from behind. Seeing that Mr. Feng, on the other side of Qiao Yi, was completely unaware of her presence, Qiao Xin reached over to swap the bidding document next to Qiao Yi with another one swiftly. Seeing that Qiao Yi was oblivious, Qiao Xin retreated back to her original seat. As soon as she sat down, Qiao Xin saw Lu Ming beside her looking at the bidding document in her hand. Qiao Xin offered no explanation to Lu Ming about why she swapped the bidding documents, and surprisingly, Lu Ming didn¡¯t ask either, only giving a few extra glances before returning to his oblivious demeanor. His reaction puzzled Qiao Xin, but him being taciturn was for the best; with him being sensible, he might be of some help to her. The speeches went on for nearly an hour before they concluded. Qiao Yi was awakened by Mr. Feng, rubbing her eyes only to realize it was time for the bidding. The envelope for the bid documents was well-sealed. As soon as Qiao Yi took the envelope, her complexion seemed off. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Mr. Feng, listening to the names on stage and keeping an eye on Qiao Yi, saw her change in complexion and quickly turned to ask. ¡°Nothing, let¡¯s go.¡± The bid document in her hand was definitely problematic ¨C it wasn¡¯t the same envelope as her bid document. However, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know who had swapped her bid. Her gaze swept across the faces of representatives from several companies nearby, finding no suspicious person, and walked up to the stage as if nothing had happened to submit the bid book in her hand. After descending from the stage, Qiao Yi brushed past Lu Yanchuan, neither giving the other a second glance, as if they didn¡¯t know each other at all. ¡°Did you and Mr. Lu have a fight?¡± Back at the seat, Mr. Feng couldn¡¯t help but ask. Qiao Yi gave him a sidelong glance ¨C such a gossip for a grown man. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why did you two act like strangers, not even greeting each other?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to greet for? We have to go back to the hotel together later. There will be plenty of time for greetings.¡± Mr. Feng was at a loss for words due to Qiao Yi¡¯s response and closed his mouth. After the bidding ended, the bid-calling session began, and unrelated people like Mr. Feng were cleared out, and Qiao Xin also returned to sit next to Qiao Yi. ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of Mr. Lu. This time, I¡¯ll show you the gap between us can¡¯t be bridged by mere parental favoritism.¡± Qiao Xin whispered threatening words in Qiao Yi¡¯s ear with a smile. Qiao Yi turned her head sharply to face her, a guess emerging in her mind. ¡°The bid book, you swapped it!¡± Qiao Xin was extremely satisfied with Qiao Yi¡¯s reaction. Her smiling face needn¡¯t be feigned as she arrogantly tilted her head, looking down on Qiao Yi with her chin. ¡°So what if I did. Do you think your bid document is perfect just because Mr. Feng is helping you? Such garbage, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re not embarrassed bringing out something that would disgrace the Qiao Family.¡± Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Winning the Bid Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Winning the Bid Qiao Yi simply wanted to crack open Qiao Xin¡¯s head and see if it¡¯s filled with water! She had put so much effort into perfecting a bid that was flawless in its generosity, only for it to be swapped by Qiao Xin! That document on the stage¡­ ¡°Exactly, the one you sent up is the bid I prepared! This project, I am determined to win it!¡± It¡¯s over, completely over now! Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned an iron shade of blue, she glared at Qiao Xin and then anxiously looked towards the auctioneer on the stage. She had thought that the bid document was sent by a competitor of the Qiao Family, intending to muddy the waters. Since the Qiao Family didn¡¯t want the project this time, Qiao Yi went with the flow and submitted the document. But now that she heard it was made by Qiao Xin, she didn¡¯t need to think to know that this bid document would definitely stand out, greatly increasing the chances of the Qiao Family winning the project. This was not what she wanted at all! It was like a death sentence! Full of anxiety, Qiao Yi watched Qiao Xin, who, thinking her pride was hurt by being overshadowed, wore a cold face. She had no idea that their little dispute had ruined a grand scheme! The bidding announcement was fast-paced, and in no time it was the Qiao Family¡¯s turn. Qiao Yi held her forehead, feeling a growing heaviness in her heart with each word the auctioneer spoke. This was indeed a very competitive bid; Qiao Xin must have put in a lot of effort. The gloomy faces of the representatives of the other enterprises spoke to the quality of the bid. But Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bring herself to smile! Next up after the Qiao Family was the Lu Group. After hearing just a couple of sentences, Qiao Yi¡¯s heart sank completely. The Lu Group¡¯s bid was identical to the one swapped by Qiao Xin; only those especially sensitive to industry changes could not tell that it was full of fluff! The Lu Group was also giving up, it seemed! Qiao Yi looked up towards Lu Yanchuan, meeting his gaze. His dark eyes carried an indescribable emotion, which weighed even more on her already heavy heart. Lu Yanchuan had known her intentions all along! There must be a big problem with this project, and someone was going to use it to set a trap; both Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan knew why, only Qiao Xin, like a fool, had walked right into it! ¡°It seems Mr. Lu isn¡¯t too fond of you either. Knowing you¡¯re representing the Qiao Family in the bidding, he still made the bid so perfect, with no intention of going easy on you at all.¡± Qiao Xin continued to jeer beside her, and hearing her words, Qiao Yi suddenly felt sad, even beginning to doubt whether her initial decision to refuse working at the company had been right. Although she hoped that Qiao Benqing would compensate Qiao Xin with the company, letting Qiao Xin continue like this would lead to the destruction of the Qiao Family! Qiao Yi was in utter disarray, pulling out her phone to send a message to Mr. Feng, hoping there was still some way to remedy the situation. The bidding ended, and during the intermission, the organizers took time to filter the submissions. Qiao Xin could hardly contain her triumph; the worse Qiao Yi looked, the happier she felt, even feeling an urge to burst into song. ¡°You knew all along, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lu Yanchuan came over, and Qiao Yi, pulling him aside, questioned him in a low voice. ¡°What do you think?¡± Lu Yanchuan neither confirmed nor denied, simply curving his lips faintly. Qiao Yi¡¯s heart turned to ice, and she began to think about how to change the situation. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, Mr. Lu, but it seems this project will likely end up in the hands of the Qiao Family. I¡¯m really looking forward to another competitive opportunity with you next time.¡± Qiao Xin suddenly interjected between the two men, tilting her chin up as she looked at Lu Yanchuan, waiting for his praise. Lu Yanchuan glanced at Qiao Xin, then at Qiao Yi, and suddenly asked, ¡°Was that proposal done by her?¡± The question was directed at Qiao Yi, but Qiao Xin grew even more smug. Not waiting for Qiao Yi to reply, she took the initiative to speak. ¡°Of course, my sister has never even been to the company. How could Dad possibly entrust her with such a task? Mr. Lu, just take a look at the proposal she worked on, it¡¯s utterly nonsensical!¡± Qiao Xin flaunted the proposal she had switched with Qiao Yi and handed it to Lu Yanchuan. Lu Yanchuan opened the document pouch, took a brief look at the proposal, and then looked at Qiao Yi with a somewhat strange expression. ¡°Is this one the work you did?¡± Qiao Yi nodded helplessly. She didn¡¯t even have the desire to call Qiao Xin stupid anymore. Lu Yanchuan meticulously read through that proposal once over and then put it into his briefcase, showing no intention of giving it back to Qiao Yi. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°What!¡± Qiao Xin screamed in disbelief, her smugness blending with astonishment to contort her face hideously. ¡°You actually say she did a good job on such a proposal! You! You!¡± ¡°There are still some flaws in this proposal. I¡¯ll help you fix them when we return.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even spare Qiao Xin a glance, and went back to his seat as soon as the host announced the end of the break. Qiao Xin was about to explode with rage! The proposal that dazzled everyone on stage was her work! Why did Lu Yanchuan only have eyes for the useless wretch Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi¡¯s expression had already returned to normal. Since she could no longer change the situation, all she could consider now was how to remedy it. There was no need for Qiao Yi to think about the remedial actions, she had already told Qiao Benqing everything, and it was now his matter to handle. Qiao Yi glanced at Qiao Xin again and heaved a deep sigh. The host began announcing the bidding results, and under the gaze of Qiao Yi, who was in utter despair, and an extremely nervous Qiao Xin, the Qiao Family unsurprisingly won the project. Each compliment, whether genuine or insincere, made Qiao Yi feel even more choked up. But she had to greet them with a smile, even pretending to be very honored, unable to let anyone see how sick to her stomach she really was! The bidding meeting ended smoothly, and there was a small-scale banquet the following evening, which was a celebration party. Qiao Xin was eager to try, while Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t even bring herself to think about it! ¡°You go to the celebration party. I¡¯m not feeling well.¡± ¡°Is it your body that¡¯s not feeling well, or is it your heart? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hide your credit from you, I will report it truthfully to Father!¡± Qiao Xin made a show of trying to grab Qiao Yi¡¯s hand but was impatiently shrugged off by her. Since it was a parking lot here with hardly anyone around, and the bidding meeting was over, there was no need to keep things from Qiao Xin anymore as per Qiao Benqing¡¯s instructions. Qiao Yi twisted her wrist, suddenly grabbed Qiao Xin¡¯s collar, pulled her close, and whispered in her ear, ¡°I don¡¯t want to communicate with an idiot like you anymore. Dad said that the Qiao Family doesn¡¯t want this project. Now that you¡¯ve taken it upon yourself to grab this hot potato, prepare yourself to explain it to Dad!¡± After releasing the stunned Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi patted her cheek twice, turned around, and got into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Shameless Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Shameless Qiao Yi sat in the car with a cold expression on her face. Qiao Benqing had already replied to her. He was driven mad by Qiao Xin¡¯s unauthorized actions and told Qiao Yi to keep an eye on Qiao Xin and not to let slip a single word about the matter. Qiao Yi informed Qiao Benqing that Lu Yanchuan had long calculated that the Qiao Family would give up on this project. It took a while before Qiao Benqing replied, giving Qiao Yi the go-ahead to seek Lu Yanchuan¡¯s help. She originally thought this was just a simple development project, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to involve so many other issues. After suffering a headache for a while, Qiao Yi put the matter aside. After all, her dad was still bearing the burden in the company, so there was no way it would trouble her. Lu Yanchuan watched the changes in Qiao Yi¡¯s emotions and found it amusing. Such a significant matter was at hand, and yet this young lady seemed to be completely carefree. Qiao Yi leaned back and soon fell asleep, possibly because the weather was too hot, as she had been feeling sleepy recently. The car took a turn, and Qiao Yi, unable to keep her balance, fell onto Lu Yanchuan. Ma Yu¡¯s lips quivered as he was about to apologize, but in the rearview mirror, not only did his boss not seem unhappy, but there also seemed to be a hint of¡­ approval in his eyes? It must be his eyes playing tricks on him; his boss couldn¡¯t possibly be that kind of person¡­ Qiao Yi slept till they reached the hotel and groggily returned to her room, where she threw herself onto the bed and continued to sleep. It seemed like someone was making a phone call in her dream, which woke Qiao Yi up from her sleep. Rubbing her eyes, Qiao Yi climbed out of bed. It was already dark outside; she had slept for a very long time. As she regained her clarity, Qiao Yi realized it wasn¡¯t a phone call in her dream, but rather Lu Yanchuan making a call outside her door, which hadn¡¯t been properly closed, allowing her to overhear. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to eavesdrop on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s call, but the content of his conversation made her change her mind, and she sat up on the bed to listen intently. ¡°Longjia can be ruled out. Contact Tengxin to see if they have any interest in meddling with this project.¡± ¡°I know that the project is with the Qiao Family. I¡¯ll communicate with the Qiao Family; you just need to focus on convincing the people from Tengxin. That will be enough.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it.¡± Longjia? Tengxin? Qiao Yi knew of these two companies; they were founded by a pair of brothers specializing in the real estate market. In just ten years, they had firmly established their footing in the industry. Although they couldn¡¯t compare to the longstanding groups like the Qiao and Lu Families, they were still well-known enterprises domestically. Was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s target these two companies this time? Lu Yanchuan hung up the call and heard the mutterings of Qiao Yi from inside the bedroom. The little woman didn¡¯t even know to keep her voice down; Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t know what to make of it. ¡°The CEOs of Longjia and Tengxin are biological brothers, and what very few people know is that these two brothers actually belong to Capital City¡¯s Sun Family.¡± Qiao Yi was stunned. When had Lu Yanchuan come in? He discovered her eavesdropping! Lu Yanchuan, seemingly oblivious to Qiao Yi¡¯s shock, turned on the light and found the bid document for Qiao Yi from his briefcase and handed it to her. ¡°Take a look, I¡¯ve made some modifications.¡± Qiao Yi dumbly received the bid document. The parts she hadn¡¯t noticed herself were all pointed out by Lu Yanchuan. If they went with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s proposed revisions, this bid document would be considered a perfect template for an intentional loss, making it seem like Qiao Family had given its all yet failed, which would be a pity. ¡°Why don¡¯t you and Dad want this project? I¡¯ve studied the project proposal and didn¡¯t find any problems.¡± This was the doubt that had been bothering Qiao Yi. Such a great project was rare in Tian City; why didn¡¯t the Qiao and Lu Families want it? ¡°Geology. The old seaport in Binhai District is not suitable for constructing a port. The geotechnical conditions within ten kilometers around it are too loose, failing to meet the requirements for building a seaport. To construct a port there, one must artificially change the geology, which would be like pouring money into a bottomless pit.¡± Now she understood, everything became clear. After the Lu Family¡¯s cargo ship capsized, Lu Yanchuan took it upon himself to investigate. Although it seemed that the incident was due to the aging of the port, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s line of inquiry was different, and eventually, he uncovered the hidden issue. Because the loose sandy layer was buried very deep, the government¡¯s exploration team did not detect this situation and proceeded with planning the tender directly. Lu Yanchuan could exploit this loophole to set a trap with the project. ¡°So you plan to use this project to drag the Sun Family down?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s frankness surprised Qiao Yi. Before she could ask further, she heard Lu Yanchuan continue. ¡°You can relay what I said verbatim to your father-in-law. The Qiao Family shouldn¡¯t get involved with the project. Look for an excuse to transfer it out as soon as possible. Once construction begins, it will be too late to transfer.¡± Qiao Yi nodded her head and quickly took out her phone to send a message to Qiao Benqing. It wasn¡¯t until after Qiao Yi put down her phone that it occurred to her: Why did Lu Yanchuan take the risk of the news leaking and ask her to pass the message to Qiao Benqing? Seeing the confusion on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, Lu Yanchuan spoke up proactively. ¡°I plan to collaborate with your father and take over the old seaport project.¡± ¡°But you said the project was a bottomless pit, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not about remaking it but changing the direction to develop a submarine tunnel.¡± Qiao Yi finally realized where the difference between herself and Lu Yanchuan lay¡ªit was his audacity! A good project was in question, and he intended to use it to deceive people, and then reclaim it afterward to work on another project! Without guessing, it was clear that once Lu Yanchuan¡¯s plan was completed, both the Lu and Qiao families would reap a windfall! ¡°This matter should be discussed with my dad, not me; it¡¯s useless to tell me. I don¡¯t handle company affairs.¡± Qiao Yi briefly became agitated then calmed down. Lu Yanchuan was surprised by Qiao Yi¡¯s composure and found himself somewhat admiring her. ¡°This cooperation will be credited to you, let¡¯s call it my dowry to you.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face flushed, she glared at Lu Yanchuan annoyedly, pushed past him, and walked out. The warmth on Qiao Yi¡¯s face lingered long after she left the room. The more she thought about Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, the hotter her cheeks felt. She had said it before; they were only a couple in name! Why does Lu Yanchuan always say these nonsensical things? Qiao Yi fled in panic, but Lu Yanchuan¡¯s smile faded as he sat on the sofa, lost in thought for a moment before picking up his phone to make a call. ¡°Hello, Xiyu, it¡¯s me.¡± When Qiao Yi arrived at the restaurant and pushed the door to enter, she happened to run into Qiao Xin and Lu Ming, who had just finished dining. What bad timing! Qiao Yi wanted to pretend she didn¡¯t see them and walk past the two, but Qiao Xin was unlikely to just let her go. Suddenly stepping forward, she grabbed Qiao Yi¡¯s wrist and dragged her towards a more secluded area. ¡°Tell me! Was it intentional, what you did at today¡¯s bidding session?¡± Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Happiness is Dead Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Happiness is Dead Qiao Yi shook off her hand, but Qiao Xin¡¯s grip was too tight, she couldn¡¯t shake it off, and simply let her hold on. Hearing Qiao Xin¡¯s accusation, Qiao Yi just found it amusing. ¡°What do you mean I did it on purpose? Was it me who made you switch the proposals? Or was it me who made you steal the spotlight from me? At least use your brain when you speak, don¡¯t let people think the Qiao Family¡¯s young miss is an idiot!¡± ¡°You!¡± Qiao Xin raised her hand to slap Qiao Yi, but Qiao Yi lightly dodged it by turning her head. ¡°Getting furious and resorting to violence? Think about the gap between us before you act. I really don¡¯t understand why you always have to do such stupid things.¡± Taking advantage of Qiao Xin¡¯s extreme anger, Qiao Yi suddenly shook off her hand, retrieving her own wrist that was painfully pinched. This woman is really crazy, her wrist even turned blue from the pinch! ¡°How dare you say you didn¡¯t do it on purpose! If it hadn¡¯t been for your intentional concealing from me, not telling me Dad¡¯s real intentions, why would I have changed the proposal! If it wasn¡¯t for¡­¡± ¡°Stop! You¡¯re an adult, how can you be less reasonable than a child in speaking?¡± Qiao Yi directly interrupted Qiao Xin¡¯s accusation, impatiently pushed her aside, wanting to walk past her. ¡°Instead of bothering me, you might as well think about how to explain to Dad, I need to go to eat and have no time to be entangled with you.¡± ¡°Qiao Yi! I am your sister! Ah!¡± The savage look on Qiao Yi¡¯s face was unmistakable, and Qiao Xin¡¯s face was slapped so hard that one side of it swelled up in minutes, showing how much force Qiao Yi exerted. ¡°Qiao Xin, this is my last warning to you! Stop mentioning the word ¡®sister¡¯ in front of me, the sister I remember died the night you plotted against me! You should have known, the moment you acted, there was no sisterhood between us anymore!¡± It had been almost a month, and Qiao Yi never dared to think back to that night. She didn¡¯t know what she would have gone through if Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t shown up, she didn¡¯t dare to think about it, and had carefully avoided the topic this whole month. But today, Qiao Xin¡¯s pestering made Qiao Yi unable to hold back anymore, her whole body trembling, her eyes red with rage staring at Qiao Xin, her voice shrill from anger. ¡°When you drugged me, did you think about being my sister? When you brought a group of people to rape me, did you think about being my sister? I will never forgive you, never in my life!¡± Qiao Xin, her limbs cold, leaned against the glass window, not even having the courage to look directly at Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi¡¯s icy gaze seemed to carry a murderous intent, harshly cutting into her flesh, making her whole body stiffen unable to move. ¡°I¡¯ve said all I could, cope with it yourself.¡± Qiao Yi dropped a sentence and turned around to leave. Not far, Lu Ming had been keeping an eye on the situation, and only when Qiao Yi left did he run over to help Qiao Xin up from the ground. ¡°Your face¡­? Did Qiao Yi hit you? But you are her sister, how could she do this to you!¡± Lu Ming felt indignant for Qiao Xin, but she impatiently pushed him away. ¡°This is between us, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Lu Ming looked displeased, but still clenched his teeth and followed Qiao Xin. ¡°I am concerned about you, after all, we¡¯re married, I can¡¯t just watch you being bullied.¡± ¡°Then I really thank you.¡± Qiao Xin said expressionlessly, speeding up her steps to walk ahead. Lu Ming wanted to catch up and say more, but suddenly his phone rang from his pocket. ¡°Ming, I will be back in the country in a month, do you miss me?¡± The handset emitted a delicate and naive voice, and Lu Ming¡¯s face immediately softened, his response gentle, ¡°Of course, I miss you the most. Take care of yourself overseas. I¡¯ll pick you up when you return.¡± Qiao Yi was so angered by Qiao Xin that she forgot about dinner until she reached her room door and remembered. However, she was too lazy to go downstairs for dinner and drank two canisters of chicken soup brought by Old Mr. Lu, cuddling with a pillow on the sofa in a daze. When Lu Yanchuan returned from outside, what he saw was a little dazed lump on the sofa. ¡°Eat less before bed, it¡¯s not good for your health.¡± Qiao Yi twitched her nose and her gaze landed on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, her eyes instantly lighting up. ¡°It¡¯s spicy hot pot!¡± The food box in his hand was snatched away, and Lu Yanchuan frowned as he looked at the messy, greasy things on the table, opening his mouth as if he wanted to stop Qiao Yi from eating these unhealthy foods. However, seeing Qiao Yi munching away like a little mouse, her cheeks bulging, made Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart melt, and he sat down silently across from her. Happiness is having a hot bowl of spicy hot pot when you¡¯re hungry at night! Qiao Yi was blissfully happy now, a big bowl of spicy hot pot had entered her stomach, making her lie on the sofa unable to move. After taking a shower, Lu Yanchuan came out to see Qiao Yi in such a disheveled state, hooked his lips in a smile, walked over to close the lid of the spicy hot pot box, and kicked Qiao Yi¡¯s legs lightly with his foot. ¡°Are you dead?¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even open her eyes, just wiggled her little feet to show she¡¯s still alive. ¡°Go to the gym for a walk.¡± Qiao Yi opened her eyes slightly, tilting her head back to look up at Lu Yanchuan standing above her. The more time Qiao Yi spent with this man, the more she felt he was like an old cadre! Needing to drink hot water, sleep on time, meals must have balanced nutrition without snacks; hot pot like this probably never appeared in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s life! Although he was five, six, seven, eight years older than her, he was still not quite thirty years old, yet living like Old Mr. Lu! Qiao Yi closed her eyes pretending to sleep, while Lu Yanchuan quietly stood beside her for a while, then suddenly picked her up amidst her screams. ¡°You! You! Put me down!¡± Qiao Yi screamed and hit Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, but Lu Yanchuan seemed unfazed and carried her into the gym, propping her onto the treadmill. ¡°Walk for ten minutes, then go shower and sleep.¡± Qiao Yi was about to cry! ¡°I don¡¯t want you to control me! Why are you treating me like this!¡± Barefoot, Qiao Yi ran out, but in a twist, she was picked up by Lu Yanchuan and placed back on the treadmill, which he turned on for a slow walk. Unable to escape, Qiao Yi mournfully watched her feet on the treadmill, looking like mortal enemies. Glancing at Lu Yanchuan really admiring his patience, he watched her walk for ten minutes before letting her down from the treadmill! Lu Yanchuan then went to sleep, his daily routine so precise it made one¡¯s scalp tingle! If it were Qiao Yi, she probably couldn¡¯t stick to it for three days! Teary-eyed, Qiao Yi stood under the shower and pointed at the showerhead as she angrily cursed. ¡°Pervert!¡± Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23: No Need to Go to the Office Anymore Chapter 23: Chapter 23: No Need to Go to the Office Anymore The Tian City bidding meeting ended, and after the celebration banquet, Qiao Yi and her group returned to Capital City. As soon as Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin landed, they were picked up by Qiao Benqing and taken back to the Qiao Family home. Lu Yanchuan did not object, saying he would come to pick up Qiao Yi in the evening before leaving, but Lu Ming wanted to go with Qiao Xin to the Qiao Family home, only to have his request rejected by Qiao Benqing with an excuse. Sitting in the back seat, Qiao Benqing had Qiao Xin sitting next to him, rigid all over. Qiao Yi, not wanting to sit with Qiao Xin, tossed the driver to the passenger seat and drove home herself. All the way, Qiao Benqing did not utter a word. In contrast, Qiao Yi asked a few questions about Zhao Wenjing and hence exchanged a few words with Qiao Benqing. Qiao Xin was extremely nervous, while Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have any psychological burden at all; she immediately took the gifts she brought back for Zhao Wenjing to find her upon getting out of the car. ¡°Come to the study with me.¡± Qiao Xin was about to leave too, but was called back by Qiao Benqing. Reluctantly, she shuffled her steps and followed him into the study. Zhao Wenjing looked a bit worriedly at Qiao Xin, but was dragged back to the room by Qiao Yi. ¡°Mom, look, this is the specialty from Tian City that I queued for a long time to buy! And I also bought you clothes and shoes, try them quickly!¡± Qiao Benqing entered the study and sat down behind the desk, waiting for Qiao Xin to come in and close the door. Suppressing his anger, he instructed her to sit beside him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the bidding meeting. Was it you who switched the bidding documents, helping the Qiao Family secure this project?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s heart thumped nervously, and she nodded, biting her lip. Qiao Benqing, who already knew the process, was just asking symbolically. Seeing Qiao Xin honestly admit it, some of his anger dissipated. ¡°This time, the fault is not entirely yours. However, why did you secretly switch the bidding documents that Yiyi prepared?¡± Qiao Benqing did not reveal his true thoughts to Qiao Xin; she could understand the reasons herself¡ªit was merely out of fear that she couldn¡¯t control her emotions and give the game away. This error was not entirely on Qiao Xin; both Qiao Benqing and Qiao Yi also bore some responsibility. However, no matter the reason, switching the bidding documents last minute is absolutely intolerable! ¡°I¡­ I reviewed Qiao Yi¡¯s bidding document and felt that it wouldn¡¯t win the project, so I switched it on my own.¡± There was nothing to deny now, the fact was right before her, and it was her who brought it up. There was no connection to Qiao Yi at all. Now that Qiao Benqing asked, her honest response might, at most, be criticized for trying to steal the limelight. If she dared to hide it or shirk the responsibility, then Qiao Benqing¡¯s fury would be more than she could bear! After hearing Qiao Xin¡¯s words, Qiao Benqing sighed, looking somewhat disappointed. ¡°You are impulsive and not steady. I thought placing you in a basic position for a few years could temper your personality, but it seems you haven¡¯t changed. Well, don¡¯t go to the company these few days, take a good rest for a while.¡± Qiao Xin didn¡¯t care about going to the company or not; after all, she was a daughter of the Qiao Family. Even if she knew nothing, she still had a share in the family assets. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Qiao Benqing waved his hand, signaling Qiao Xin to leave and also asked her to call Qiao Yi in. Qiao Yi was trying on clothes with Zhao Wenjing, and hearing from Qiao Xin that Qiao Benqing was calling her, she quickly went to the study. Entering the study, she saw Qiao Benqing with his eyes closed, leaning on the chair in a very dejected manner. ¡°Dad¡­.¡± ¡°Sit down.¡± Qiao Yi looked at Qiao Benqing worriedly. His mood was only low for a moment, and soon he regained composure, sitting straight up and looking at Qiao Yi. ¡°Yiyi, aren¡¯t you planning to join the company yet? With your sister like this, how can I be at ease in the future!¡± ¡°Dad, you are only in your forties this year, you still have decades ahead, and if things get worse, there is still your younger brother. Let him come back in a couple of years, and then you can teach him well.¡± Speaking of her younger brother, both Qiao Yi and Qiao Benqing couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Dad can still manage the company, but seeing your sister like this, it¡¯s inevitable to worry a bit more.¡± Having done something like changing the documents, Qiao Benqing had already dismissed any expectations for Qiao Xin in the company. But after all, she is his eldest daughter, and Qiao Benqing still hopes that she will get better. ¡°How about letting her join Lu Group? Maybe being in a different company might help her improve?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s suggestion tempted Qiao Benqing a bit, he thought for a while and then said, ¡°Let her stay at home for a while, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± After talking with Qiao Benqing for a while, Qiao Yi remembered what Lu Yanchuan had said, and mentioned the problematic project in Tian City to Qiao Benqing. ¡°Yanchuan said, we should act on this project sooner and it would be best to leave it to Longjia and Tengxin, these two companies.¡± Qiao Yi had mentioned it once over the phone before, but it was not clear, just enough for Qiao Benqing to take note of it. This time, Qiao Benqing perked up, carefully asked about Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thoughts. Upon knowing that Lu Yanchuan intended to share the profits with Qiao Family, the clouds that had been looming over Qiao Benqing¡¯s head these past few days finally cleared. ¡°Great, that¡¯s fantastic!¡± Qiao Benqing couldn¡¯t sit still, pacing around the study several times before calming down. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this, not even your mom and Xinxin, do you understand?¡± Qiao Yi nodded, seeing Qiao Benqing¡¯s reaction, he probably already knew some of it, just not as clearly as Yanchuan did. ¡°With Yanchuan cooperating with Qiao Family this time, it¡¯s all thanks to you, Yiyi. I notice you don¡¯t seem very enthusiastic about Yanchuan. No matter the reason for your marriage initially, now that you are husband and wife, you should get along well. If not loving, at least be respectful to each other.¡± Qiao Benqing spoke sincerely¡ªafter all, he and Zhao Wenjing also got together for a business marriage, and now after more than twenty years, they were still loving. Although Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t choose someone she liked, Qiao Benqing still hoped she could live a happier life within the limited choices. Qiao Yi felt a sourness in her nose, and gently hugged Qiao Benqing. ¡°I¡¯ll live well, Dad, no need to worry.¡± ¡°Have you two finished talking? Dinner is ready, come down quickly to eat.¡± Zhao Wenjing¡¯s voice sounded outside the study, and Qiao Yi walked downstairs arm in arm with Qiao Benqing. There was the sound of an engine outside the door, and just as Qiao Yi sat down at the dining table, she heard the aunt greeting Lu Yanchuan. ¡°How come you arrived so early?¡± ¡°I mentioned this afternoon that I would come pick you up to go home tonight.¡± Lu Yanchuan nonchalantly took a seat next to Qiao Yi, causing Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing to laugh together, prompting the aunt to add another set of chopsticks and bowl. Qiao Yi secretly rolled her eyes, thinking he came to freeload a meal, why make up so many excuses! Lu Yanchuan¡¯s unspoken bitterness. He was supposed to have dinner at the Lu Mansion tonight, but Old Mr. Lu, seeing only him returning without Qiao Yi, immediately sent him back out, not even allowing him to eat, stating that he didn¡¯t need to come back without bringing Qiao Yi. Literally gained a daughter-in-law and forgot his son! Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Ruffian Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Ruffian Qiao Yi was woken up by a series of phone calls, and as she sleepily opened her eyes to reach for the phone, an arm across her waist snapped her back to the bed. Huh? What¡¯s going on? Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t fully awake yet and had to use her not-so-sharp mind to figure out what was happening! She, she, she! When did she roll into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms! The owner of the arm around her waist was none other than Lu Yanchuan! Qiao Yi stiffened her neck as if her joints were rusted, slowly turning her head to see Lu Yanchuan, who was lying beside her and had seemingly opened his eyes at some point. ¡°You¡­I¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan squinted and slightly furrowed his brow, his arm tightened and pulled her back into his embrace. ¡°Sleep well.¡± Sleep what sleep! Qiao Yi kicked her legs and struggled out of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace. Outside, the sky had already turned slightly white, and in a few hours, Lu Yanchuan would have to get up and go to work; now was the prime time to be sleeping soundly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lu Yanchuan sat up impatiently, and it was then that Qiao Yi noticed he wasn¡¯t wearing any clothes! He was only wearing a pair of shorts, and Qiao Yi subconsciously swallowed, then quickly turned away as if shocked by electricity. ¡°You! Why aren¡¯t you wearing clothes?¡± ¡°I am sleeping in my own bed.¡± Lu Yanchuan, now thoroughly woken up by Qiao Yi, looked at her and found the situation amusing, like a flustered rabbit. While Qiao Yi was turned away, he reached out and pulled her back into his arms again. ¡°You rolled into my arms and hugged me all night, and now you suddenly feel shy?¡± Qiao Yi really wanted to tear Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mouth apart! What is this man talking about! Saying she hugged him all night! It was clearly Lu Yanchuan who was holding her! Lu Yanchuan watched all the changes in Qiao Yi¡¯s expression, his eyes filled with laughter and even a warmth he didn¡¯t recognize. Since he was woken up by Qiao Yi¡¯s kicking at midnight, every night after Qiao Yi fell asleep, Lu Yanchuan would hold her in his arms. Initially, it was just to help her sleep more peacefully, but later he got used to it and would probably feel uncomfortable without this human pillow some nights. ¡°You hug me to sleep, don¡¯t you plan on taking responsibility?¡± Qiao Yi turned around abruptly, extremely surprised, staring at Lu Yanchuan, unable to believe he could say something so shameless! Lu Yanchuan remained unfazed, his gaze audaciously lingering on Qiao Yi¡¯s body. Following Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes landed on her slightly disheveled collar, and her face instantly flushed red! ¡°Like what you see?¡± Qiao Yi, clenching her back teeth, sinisterly squeezed out the words, expecting Lu Yanchuan to back off, but he instead looked her up even more brazenly, changing her position to get a better view. ¡°Not bad, maybe you should ask Auntie to make you more papaya milkshakes.¡± ¡­ Qiao Yi, holding her blanket, ran into the room next door. Lu Yanchuan is just a shameless rogue! Everyone out there says how ruthless, cunning, and vicious the Third Young Master Lu is, but all Qiao Yi has seen so far is his bad taste and rascality! Qiao Yi fiercely pounded the blanket as if the lump underneath her was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Ding ding ding¡ª¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s phone rang again, this time from the doorway. ¡°Your phone.¡± Qiao Yi leapt up, snatched the phone from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, and slammed the door shut with a bang. Outside, Lu Yanchuan touched his nose, wondering if he had teased her a little too harshly. ¡°My darling, why did it take you so long to answer my call? Don¡¯t you love me anymore?¡± When Qiao Yi got back to bed, the call had already disconnected, and despite her chagrin, she couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly when she saw the missed call notification. She dialed back, and the call was picked up after just one ring. Qiao Yi held the phone away from her ear to avoid Feng Siyu¡¯s piercing scream. Once Feng Siyu finally calmed down, Qiao Yi brought the phone back. ¡°My darling, you really don¡¯t love me anymore after getting married, I¡¯m so heartbroken!¡± ¡°Stop it, you know exactly what kind of marriage I¡¯m in; get to the point, I need to sleep.¡± Qiao Yi ruthlessly cut off Feng Siyu¡¯s wailing, who muttered a bit before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m coming back to the country. I will arrive tomorrow at eleven in the noon. Remember to pick me up!¡± Qiao Yi sat up straight in surprise and asked, ¡°You¡¯re coming back? Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± ¡°You know, the training base I went to was fully enclosed. I only got released this afternoon. As soon as I was free, I heard you¡¯d gotten married. I tried calling you, but you didn¡¯t answer!¡± Feng Siyu started a lengthy rant, but Qiao Yi felt warmed by his words. ¡°Alright, alright, go to sleep. As long as you¡¯re fine and still up for bickering with me, I can rest easy. To think I still wanted to comfort you.¡± Feng Siyu grunted a few times and decisively ended the call. Qiao Yi was genuinely happy; she and Feng Siyu had been classmates since elementary school, the Qiao Family and the Feng Family were good friends, just not as intimately involved as with the Lu Family. They had played together since childhood, and Qiao Yi¡¯s affection for him was even deeper than for her own sister Qiao Xin. This time Feng Siyu had gone abroad to participate in a program, only to find out it was a closed training camp, and he had only just been released. He had missed her wedding entirely over these three months. But for a marriage of convenience like hers, his attendance hardly mattered. Qiao Yi laid back onto the bed, and somehow Lu Yanchuan¡¯s smirking face popped into her mind. High attractiveness certainly had its perks; if it were anyone else making that expression, it would definitely be creepy. Qiao Yi buried her head in the blanket, her mind a cluttered mess, and somehow, she drifted back off to sleep, bottom up. After Qiao Yi fell asleep again, the door to her room silently opened. Lu Yanchuan walked in, saw the figure on the bed, and with a curl of his lips, picked her up and returned to his own room. In the morning, Qiao Yi was jolted awake by her alarm, and as she rubbed her eyes sitting up in bed, she realized she was inexplicably back in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s room. Could she be sleepwalking? Unable to figure it out, she shook off the confusion. Glancing at the time and seeing it was running short, Qiao Yi hurriedly got ready, grabbed her keys, and dashed out. She rushed to catch her flight and managed to arrive at the airport just before the agreed time. As soon as Qiao Yi got out of the car, she heard a voice excitedly calling her from not too far. ¡°Qiao Qiao! Darling, I¡¯m over here!¡± Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Everyone Else is a Light Bulb Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Everyone Else is a Light Bulb Not far away, a woman in a red long dress, her face tightly wrapped in a mask and sunglasses, was frantically waving at her. And a tall man beside her was pulling her suitcase, seeing Feng Siyu almost jumping up, he quickly pulled her and hurried towards Qiao Yi. ¡°Yuanyuan baby! I¡¯ve missed you so much¡­¡± ¡°Get in the car first, let¡¯s go quickly!¡± The tall man snatched the car keys from Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, stuffed the two hugging women into the back seat together, and then drove off from the airport quickly. ¡°Who would have thought, just three months apart and little Tingting has grown more capable, she even knows how to touch me all over now!¡± The man is Feng Siyu¡¯s agent and fianc¨¦, driving with a straight face, completely ignoring Qiao Yi¡¯s dissatisfaction in the back seat. Feng Siyu covered her mouth and laughed heartily, Qiao Yi looked at her and pounced to tangle together with her. It wasn¡¯t until the two had enough fun that they embraced each other like conjoined twins and sprawled together on the back seat. ¡°How long can you stay this time?¡± ¡°About a month of vacation or so, you have no idea, I was so tired this time¡­¡± Qiao Yi hugged Feng Siyu with sympathy, kissing her cheek and comforting her quietly, which made Gu Ting, the driver in front, frustrated. After so many years, whenever these two got together, they made everyone feel like they were the couple and everyone else was a third wheel. Go to ????????????????????.co Qiao Yi teased Gu Ting with a glance and poked Feng Siyu with her finger. ¡°This won¡¯t do, you haven¡¯t trained her well!¡± Feng Siyu boldly told her to look, not at all embarrassed by the teasing. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you to train your Mr. Lu well and then bring him to me to see!¡± Qiao Yi rolled her eyes and lay down on Feng Siyu¡¯s bouncy thigh. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about him; I¡¯m afraid before I can train him well, I¡¯ll be the one dying by his hands.¡± Feng Siyu bent down to come closer, and Qiao Yi quickly put up her hand to block, but Feng Siyu slapped away her little paw. ¡°I¡¯m asking you something important, does Mr. Lu treat you well? I heard he¡¯s very formidable, known as the Great White Shark in the business world!¡± Feng Siyu was somewhat worried about Qiao Yi, as the rumors about Lu Yanchuan were not so kind. Qiao Yi, with her eyes closed, seemed lost in thought and did not answer Feng Siyu. Feng Siyu thought Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t treating her well, quickly helping Qiao Yi to sit up. ¡°Qiao Qiao, if you¡¯ve suffered any grievances, you must tell me!¡± Qiao Yi felt a slight warmth in her heart, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lu Yanchuan treats me quite well, not quite like the rumors say.¡± Feng Siyu wanted to make sure numerous times that Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t lying to her, and then she could relax. ¡°As long as you feel it¡¯s okay, that¡¯s fine. If he dares to bully you, I definitely won¡¯t let him off!¡± ¡°You better worry about yourself first. There¡¯s a charity event tonight that you need to attend, and you have four hours to eat, sleep, and get over jet lag.¡± Feng Siyu let out a tragic cry and collapsed on Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder, pretending to be dead. Qiao Yi was about to tease her when her own phone rang. She took out her phone to look, and it was a call from Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Where are you now?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there something you need?¡± The tone of Lu Yanchuan on the other end of the phone was as annoying as ever, Qiao Yi wrinkled her nose and asked back irritably. ¡°` ¡°There¡¯s a charity gala tonight, where are you now? I¡¯ll come pick you up.¡± Qiao Yi instinctively glanced at Feng Siyu¡ªshe had just mentioned attending the charity gala, and now Lu Yanchuan was calling about the same event. What a coincidence? As soon as Lu Yanchuan got Qiao Yi¡¯s location, he hung up the phone, then turned around just to see Feng Siyu looking at Qiao Yi with a peculiar expression, while quietly making strange noises. ¡°What are you making noises for!¡± ¡°Alas, a young woman¡¯s heart is so difficult to keep¡ªyour husband calls once, and you¡¯re ready to ditch your precious treasure!¡± Feng Siyu teased her until she blushed, provoking Qiao Yi to pinch her several times before letting her go. The car stopped at the Feng Family¡¯s villa. It wasn¡¯t too far from the Qiao Family¡¯s house. Qiao Yi had simply told Lu Yanchuan she was at home and asked him to pick her up there. ¡°You go back and get some rest. I¡¯ll probably also attend the charity gala tonight, so I¡¯ll see you later.¡± Feng Siyu and Qiao Yi reluctantly parted ways under Gu Ting¡¯s ruthless intervention. Qiao Yi drove back to the Qiao Family to wait for Lu Yanchuan to pick her up. ¡°Why are you back at this time? Have you eaten yet?¡± Zhao Wenjing was about to leave the house and was surprised to see Qiao Yi returning. ¡°Yuanyuan came back, so I just had dinner with her. Yanchuan will come to pick me up later.¡± There is nowhere more comfortable than being at home! Qiao Yi slumped on the couch and shook her feet at Zhao Wenjing as a response to her question. Zhao Wenjing tapped Qiao Yi on the forehead and then left with her bag; her girlfriends were still waiting for her. Qiao Yi, who had collapsed on the couch, fell asleep shortly after, and by the time she woke up, she was already lying in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Yi sat up suddenly, but bumped her forehead against the car¡¯s roof and fell back into the seat. Lu Yanchuan suppressed his laughter, waiting for her to recover a bit before speaking. ¡°I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I didn¡¯t wake you up. I was planning to wake you when we arrived.¡± Qiao Yi looked at Lu Yanchuan through the rearview mirror resentfully. Just because she was sleeping soundly didn¡¯t mean he had to take her out! It took Qiao Yi a while to overcome the pain, and her forehead was now quite red¡ªa clear sign of just how hard she had hit it. Shortly after, the car stopped in front of a private club. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan got out, only then did she realize that this club was actually owned by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sister. Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze fell on the parking space next to them, and her expression changed subtly. ¡°I¡¯ve selected the evening gown you¡¯ll need for tonight.¡± Lu Yanchuan explained, and Qiao Yi didn¡¯t really mind, except that she saw Lu Ming¡¯s car parked there. Was Lu Ming here? Or had he come with Qiao Xin? Qiao Yi really didn¡¯t want to see Qiao Xin, but now that she was here, she didn¡¯t want to be the one backing out. Lu Yanchuan could swipe his face for entry at the club, bringing Qiao Yi directly to the top-floor office. Qiao Yi had met Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sister before, who was actually his cousin¡ªthe daughter of Old Mr. Lu¡¯s elder brother. When Old Mr. Lu was young, he had been married for several years without having children, so he adopted his brother¡¯s one-month-old daughter as his own. Less than a year after the girl joined their family, Old Madam Lu became pregnant with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eldest brother. After that, they had three more sons, which made Old Mr. Lu very fond of his nominal daughter and actual niece. As soon as the elevator opened, Qiao Yi heard a gentle voice tinged with laughter. ¡°You little rascal, if I hadn¡¯t called you to come over today, you probably wouldn¡¯t have planned to visit, right?¡± ¡°` Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Lu Yanchuans Eldest Sister Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Lu Yanchuan¡¯s Eldest Sister Stepping out of the elevator, this entire floor was Lu Xiaohua¡¯s office, and Lu Xiaohua was sitting right behind the desk facing the elevator. Without even turning around, Lu Xiaohua knew Lu Yanchuan was coming, which greatly surprised Qiao Yi. Could Lu Xiaohua predict the future? ¡°This level is mostly just me and two assistants. Only Yanchuan usually comes up here, you can also come by often when you¡¯re free.¡± Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s confusion, Lu Xiaohua explained while pouring water for the two of them. ¡°Is this Qiao Yi? You¡¯re really beautiful! My place is a bit messy, just find somewhere to sit, I¡¯ll be done here soon.¡± Lu Xiaohua glanced over, hurriedly gestured for them to sit, and then turned back to continue working on the mannequin¡­ with scraps of fabric on it. Qiao Yi curiously looked around, the office space was large but stuffed full, and the areas on both sides were exhibition rooms enclosed by glass, displaying various bizarre clothes. After waiting a while, Lu Xiaohua finally finished with the piece of clothing she was handling and stood up stretching mightily. Only then did Qiao Yi see what Lu Xiaohua was working on ¨C a Gothic Lolita costume, though it looked a bit odd with only half of it dressed on the mannequin. ¡°Big sister, I brought Yiyi here for tonight¡¯s charity gala, hoping you could help pick out a couple of dresses.¡± Lu Yanchuan stood up and followed Lu Xiaohua into the only room that was not made of glass walls, with Qiao Yi following closely behind. The three entered the room, which looked more like a sitting room, albeit there was also a bed placed to the side. ¡°What kind of gown does Yiyi like? I¡¯ll show you some downstairs.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co The three sat for a while before Lu Xiaohua led them down the stairs from there. If Lu Xiaohua¡¯s office had just surprised Qiao Yi, this floor left her speechless. The entire floor, aside from a few load-bearing walls, was completely open, divided into about a dozen workshops with glass partitions, with several people actively working inside and out. ¡°Qiao Deng, bring over the designs of the new gowns from this quarter.¡± Lu Xiaohua walked to one of the glass doors and called inside; a bearded man looked up, responded, and quickly fetched a few design books for Lu Xiaohua. ¡°Take a look, see if there¡¯s anything you like.¡± Holding four or five heavy books, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at Lu Yanchuan, but then heard Lu Xiaohua laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t look at him. He¡¯s the last one who likes to pick clothes; I have to personally choose and send them to him. He¡¯s quite fussy.¡± Lu Xiaohua took Qiao Yi to a bench nearby and started flipping through the top book, explaining the features of each gown and some tips for regular dressing. Soon, the two were enthusiastically discussing. Lu Yanchuan deeply realized he shouldn¡¯t have brought Qiao Yi here today, or rather, he should never have let Qiao Yi meet Lu Xiaohua in the first place. Who could tell him why these two could discuss the color of just one dress for ten minutes and even ask for his opinion? Lu Yanchuan would rather go back to work on his documents than stay and be tormented by two women. When Qiao Yi and Lu Xiaohua were both completely satisfied, Lu Yanchuan was sitting nearby having just finished a telephone conference. ¡°Ready to go?¡± ¡°Not yet, big sister is taking me to do makeup and try on clothes, you go ahead if you¡¯ve got things to do, big sister will take me later.¡± With big sister, who needs a husband? Qiao Yi decisively abandoned Lu Yanchuan, led by Lu Xiaohua to the dressing rooms downstairs. So it¡¯s said that enemies often cross each other¡¯s paths. Qiao Yi, chatting and laughing with Lu Xiaohua, stepped out of the elevator, and right there in front of them were Qiao Xin, Lu Ming, and Wang Zhen. ¡°Why are there so many people today? You don¡¯t even see this many people when we go to dad¡¯s place to eat.¡± Wang Zhen really looks down on these two daughters of the Qiao Family. Originally, it was already settled that Qiao Yi was to marry Lu Ming due to the union between the two families. But what Qiao Yi did before the wedding, and then marrying Yanchuan, whom she had always disliked, on the wedding day itself, dramatically dropped Wang Zhen¡¯s impression of her. Wang Zhen thought that it was all settled once Qiao Yi married Yanchuan, but unexpectedly, Lu Ming then went on to marry Qiao Yi¡¯s sister! Now, both sisters had ended up marrying uncle and nephew, and she had heard plenty of gossip about it lately! Because of these matters, Wang Zhen disdained Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin even more, and today, when she went out to pick clothes with Qiao Xin, did not show her any kindness. If it hadn¡¯t been for Lu Ming continuously mediating, she would have not tolerated Qiao Xin long ago! But just Qiao Xin alone wasn¡¯t enough, now Qiao Yi also appeared, both sisters coming together to disgust her! Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know where Wang Zhen¡¯s malice towards her stemmed from, but she did not want to cause trouble at Lu Xiaohua¡¯s place, so she followed Lu Xiaohua, ignoring Wang Zhen¡¯s snide remarks. She did not want to cause trouble, but that did not mean Wang Zhen was willing to let her go, stepping sideways to block Qiao Yi¡¯s path. Qiao Yi looked at Wang Zhen in front of her, frowning with impatience. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I just want to know what kind of family education does Qiao Family have, where one after another insists on clinging onto others?¡± ¡°Little Sister-in-law, this is my studio. If you want to choose clothes, go downstairs; if not, then please leave quickly.¡± Lu Xiaohua pulled Qiao Yi behind her, looking at Wang Zhen expressionlessly. Qiao Yi glanced quietly and felt that Lu Xiaohua¡¯s stern face looked exactly like Yanchuan. Wang Zhen never expected that the usually non-confrontational Lu Xiaohua would stand up for a newly married sister-in-law, which did not fit her usual style at all! Lu Xiaohua ignored whatever Wang Zhen was thinking, seeing that she did not respond, then led Qiao Yi around her. But before they could get away, they were stopped by someone else. ¡°Aunt, hello, I am Lu Ming¡¯s wife, Qiao Xin. Are you going to try on clothes? Could you please take me with you?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s smile was proper, warm but not overly ingratiating. However, Lu Xiaohua didn¡¯t seem to like her much, looking back at Qiao Yi and seeing that Qiao Yi had no reaction, she then nodded. ¡°Follow if you want to.¡± Qiao Xin smiled gently and came over to link arms with Qiao Yi. ¡°You¡¯re also attending the Capital City charity gala tonight, right? We could go together.¡± So that was her plan! Qiao Yi finally understood Qiao Xin¡¯s intention; she just wanted to cling to her to get close to Yanchuan! But was Yanchuan someone she could approach just because she wanted to? Qiao Yi gripped Qiao Xin¡¯s hand in return, also looking very happy. ¡°Sure, we can share Yanchuan¡¯s car tonight!¡± Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 This Outfit Looks Bad Chapter 27: Chapter 27 This Outfit Looks Bad Lu Xiaohua looked at Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin with suspicion, as they appeared very close and intimate. She had heard before that their relationship wasn¡¯t that good, and now they suddenly seemed like loving sisters. Qiao Yi noticed Lu Xiaohua looking at her and made a face at Lu Xiaohua, who instantly got the hint. This guy must be up to no good, probably just waiting for a chance to prank Qiao Xin. One¡¯s her younger sibling, the other her niece by marriage, Lu Xiaohua didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment to take Qiao Yi¡¯s side and took her to try on the evening gowns. Three women make a drama; four women can destroy the world. What was supposed to be a simple dress fitting turned into an open yet covert struggle once Wang Zhen joined, leaving Lu Ming, who accompanied them, utterly confused. To say they got along well was an understatement, as every word and sentence was charged with tension. To say they couldn¡¯t bear each other also didn¡¯t fit, as they still managed to sit together and discuss clothes. The world of women is indeed incomprehensible. As dusk approached, the women finally left the dressing room, satisfied with their hearts. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up; the banquet is about to start.¡± The biggest difference between men and women lies here. Qiao Yi spent the whole afternoon trying on gowns, doing her makeup, and styling her hair until she was all set. Meanwhile, Lu Yanchuan just changed into a simple outfit and was ready to go. He even scrutinized Qiao Yi¡¯s carefully chosen pink, tight-fitting, long dress with a critical eye, as if to say she spent all afternoon for just this? Go to ????????????????????.co Qiao Yi felt the implication behind Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze and got furious. Suppressing her anger, Qiao Yi deliberately sashayed up to Lu Yanchuan with a snake-like twist of her waist, stretched an arm to rest on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder, leaning in as if to snuggle into his embrace. ¡°Yanchuan~ Does my dress look good?¡± Even Lu Xiaohua felt a shiver hearing that voice, curious whether her brother, who had always been immune to women since childhood, could resist such an approach. Lu Yanchuan did not disappoint Lu Xiaohua¡¯s expectations, successfully resisting Qiao Yi¡¯s charm, and even discontentedly pulled up the fabric at the chest of Qiao Yi¡¯s dress. ¡°Dressed in such little clothing, not afraid of catching a cold?¡± Qiao Yi nearly spat blood; all this time Lu Yanchuan was looking at how little clothes she wore! Qiao Yi was infuriated, utterly dead with frustration! Insiders are often confused, while onlookers see the game clearly. Lu Xiaohua stood by with disbelief in her eyes. She knew Lu Yanchuan all too well. This man lacked any sense of concern for strangers! Let alone strangers, even amongst the Lu Family aside from Old Mr. Lu and Old Madam Lu, she was probably the only one who could have a proper conversation with Lu Yanchuan. The rest were like mice in front of a cat. And now he¡¯s concerned about her catching a cold? Lu Xiaohua could guarantee that if it were any woman other than Qiao Yi standing in front of Lu Yanchuan, even if that woman stripped naked, he probably wouldn¡¯t spare her a glance! However, saying she might catch a cold was a bit insincere. Although it wasn¡¯t the peak of summer yet, wearing an evening dress definitely wouldn¡¯t cause one to feel cold. Suddenly, Lu Xiaohua thought of something, noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s perfect figure outlined by the evening dress, then looked at her brother¡¯s gloomy face, and a sly aunt-like smile appeared on her face. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, are you deliberately picking a fight?¡± The bandeau dress was almost pulled up to the collarbone by Lu Yanchuan! Qiao Yi smacked away Lu Yanchuan¡¯s paws angrily, pulling her neckline back to where it was supposed to be. Lu Yanchuan furrowed his brows at the sight. ¡°This dress looks ugly, go change it.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t change it! If I think this dress looks good, then it looks good; it¡¯s none of your business!¡± Qiao Yi rolled her eyes, but the next moment her vision suddenly went dark. It wasn¡¯t until Qiao Yi struggled out of the clothes pulled down over her head that she realized Lu Yanchuan had taken off his coat to drape it over her. ¡°What on earth are you doing, Lu Yanchuan!¡± Qiao Yi got angry; not only did Lu Yanchuan never say anything nice, but he now even dared to grope around. Did he really think she was such a pushover that she wouldn¡¯t get mad! Lu Xiaohua, seeing Qiao Yi seemed really annoyed by Lu Yanchuan, was about to try and mediate, only to see Lu Yanchuan calmly and deliberately helping Qiao Yi put on the coat and even took the trouble to fasten the buttons for her. ¡°This piece of clothing looks unattractive; don¡¯t wear it again.¡± ¡°If you like it, just wear it at home; not outside.¡± Qiao Yi looked at her dress, now securely covered, and then at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s relaxed face, seeming to understand something. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Sister, why are you so slow? Didn¡¯t we agree to go to the venue together? I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s voice interrupted what Qiao Yi was about to say. Qiao Yi looked towards the elevator, displeased, only to see Qiao Xin swaying her hips as she walked over. She was no longer wearing the gown she had initially chosen, but a nearly translucent dress which, under the flickering lights, made it crystal clear what kind of underwear she was wearing. Instinctively, Qiao Yi went to block Lu Yanchuan¡¯s line of sight, but before she could act, Lu Yanchuan had already turned away. ¡°Ah, brother-in-law is here too. Earlier Yiyi said that she wanted to ride with you to the banquet. I think it¡¯s about time; shall we go?¡± Qiao Xin seemed not to notice that Lu Yanchuan had turned away, bypassing Qiao Yi and walking straight to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side intending to link arms with him. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t expect her to remember that matter; wasn¡¯t it enough that she made a scene the whole afternoon? Now she¡¯s wearing such a revealing outfit in front of Yanchuan, has she no shame! ¡°It is indeed time to go; Yanchuan, let¡¯s go.¡± Qiao Yi stepped ahead and took Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm first, and Lu Yanchuan followed her, standing beside her without glancing aside, heading out together. Qiao Xin stamped her feet, ignoring Lu Xiaohua still there and immediately chased after them. ¡°Sister, you walk so fast; wait for me¡­ouch!¡± Qiao Xin hastened her steps, almost catching up to Lu Yanchuan, when her eyes rolled and she leaned onto him. ¡°Sister, how could you be so careless? If you had fallen, that would have been bad.¡± Qiao Xin opened her eyes, only to meet Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes, which were filled with mirth. It was Qiao Yi who had caught her! And Lu Yanchuan had already moved several steps away! The smile on Qiao Xin¡¯s face was terribly ugly; Qiao Yi looked at her with unrestrained eyes, almost setting her ablaze! Qiao Yi sneered inwardly, after all, she was the eldest daughter who had been painstakingly raised by her father for over twenty years; how did it come to be that she was just a fool who only knew how to seduce men! ¡°Sister, if your clothes or shoes are uncomfortable, you should go change them quickly. It¡¯s still okay to fall down here at big sister¡¯s place, but if you fall like that at the banquet, that would be interesting.¡± Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Kissing My Own Husband Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Kissing My Own Husband Qiao Yi pushed Qiao Xin away, walked over, and delicately latched onto Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, joining Lu Xiaohua in the elevator. Qiao Xin stood there, nearly gritting her teeth to dust! Qiao Xin was too audacious! If it wasn¡¯t for her, it would be Qiao Xin, not Qiao Yi, being sheltered in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace! Just after being cursed by Qiao Xin, Qiao Yi parted ways with Lu Xiaohua, but she quickly stepped aside from Lu Yanchuan, though she didn¡¯t take off his coat to return it to him. They reached the parking lot one after another, and suddenly urgent footsteps followed from behind. Qiao Yi turned around only to find that it was Qiao Xin who had caught up again. Looks like she¡¯s dead set on bothering her today! Qiao Yi glanced at Lu Yanchuan, who still maintained his stoic, expressionless demeanor, not sparing a glance toward Qiao Xin. As the three reached the side of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car, Qiao Xin forcefully squeezed past Qiao Yi and seated herself in the passenger seat, beaming through the window at Lu Yanchuan. Those eyes were dripping with affection, making Qiao Yi want to punch her right in the eye. Using such a gaze on someone else¡¯s husband, does Qiao Xin have no shame left at all! Qiao Yi just stood her ground watching Lu Yanchuan, waiting to see what he would do. Lu Yanchuan walked towards the driver-side door, but upon seeing Qiao Xin seated in the passenger seat, he changed direction, instead opening and seated himself in the rear passenger-side seat. Qiao Yi almost laughed out loud, seeing Qiao Xin¡¯s expression turn ugly in an instant, finding it immensely satisfying. Go to ????????????????????.co But¡­ with Lu Yanchuan hiding in the back seat, was he really going to make her drive in her eight-centimeter high heels? Just as Qiao Yi was hesitating, the window on the rear seat slowly rolled down, and Lu Yanchuan looked towards her impatiently. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you getting in?¡± Qiao Yi looked towards the driver¡¯s seat and then at Lu Yanchuan in the back, considering whether to voice her concerns. However, Lu Yanchuan seemingly read her thoughts and, without explaining anything, rolled up the window again. Qiao Yi thought that Lu Yanchuan really was going to let her drive, she pouted and walked to the driver¡¯s seat to pull open the door. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gotten in? You plan to drive wearing high heels?¡± Qiao Yi was stunned, and once again, footsteps echoed through the empty parking lot. ¡°Third Madam, please get in the car. I¡¯ll take Third Young Master and madam to the venue.¡± Turns out Lu Yanchuan had arranged for someone, and he hadn¡¯t even informed her, leaving her confused. Qiao Yi got into the car and sat next to Lu Yanchuan. In the rearview mirror, she could see Qiao Xin¡¯s displeased face constantly watching her and Lu Yanchuan. Let her watch; it¡¯s not like she¡¯s losing a piece of flesh by doing so! ¡°Yanchuan, I saw a beautiful bag yesterday, can you go shopping with me tomorrow?¡± Lu Yanchuan was wrapped up thinking about work matters when suddenly a warm body leaned against his arm followed by Qiao Yi¡¯s soft coquettish voice. In the rearview mirror, Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes turned fierce and furious, glaring at Qiao Yi, as if she wished she was the one cuddling next to Lu Yanchuan and acting spoiled! Lu Yanchuan was about to respond when he felt a small hand press against his ribs, poking his waist forcefully. With a blissfully cute expression, Qiao Yi¡¯s actions were far from cute¡ªrather, they were filled with threatening implications. ¡°How about it, Yanchuan~¡± That call nearly numbed half of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s body, particularly the arm that Qiao Yi was holding, pressed against her, making him almost not want to pull away. So it¡¯s true that once you¡¯ve had a taste, you can¡¯t forget it. After years of abstinence, has he really become so susceptible to temptation? ¡°Fine.¡± Seeing that Qiao Yi was about to continue, Lu Yanchuan hurriedly replied. There¡¯s still Lu Xiaohua¡¯s driver in the car! He didn¡¯t want other people to hear Qiao Yi¡¯s voice. Lu Yanchuan regarded this as a possessiveness towards his wife, but of course, only he himself knew his true thoughts. Qiao Xin was almost driven mad by the two behind her. She never knew that Qiao Yi could be so manipulative¡ªasking Lu Yanchuan to fetch her water, complaining of shoulder pain and having Lu Yanchuan massage her. There was never a moment of peace! What made her even angrier was that Lu Yanchuan was actually willing to comply with her, doing whatever she asked him to do, making Qiao Xin want to tear Qiao Yi¡¯s face off! It was all because of her pretty face; if it wasn¡¯t for that, Lu Yanchuan wouldn¡¯t even give her a second glance! Qiao Xin cursed Qiao Yi with the most venomous words in her heart, and eventually, she simply closed her eyes to avoid the infuriating scenes. Qiao Yi was closely watching Qiao Xin¡¯s actions, and seeing her face turn livid with anger, she silently laughed. ¡°My fee isn¡¯t cheap, are you prepared to pay for it?¡± Just as Qiao Yi was feeling smug, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice suddenly sounded very low next to her ear. The warmth close to her ear made Qiao Yi¡¯s body suddenly stiffen, and as she abruptly turned her head, she faced Lu Yanchuan. Their soft lips brushed against each other, and Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes widened, shocked and forgetting to pull away. Lu Yanchuan noticed her round eyes and for the first time discovered that her pupils were not pure black, but had a hint of grey-blue, which could only be seen from a very close distance. Qiao Xin, choosing neither earlier nor later, thought that Qiao Yi had finally calmed down when there was no more commotion behind, and so she opened her eyes to see what the two were doing. But who could have expected that the moment she opened her eyes, she saw the two kissing! ¡°What are you doing!¡± Qiao Xin erupted in a scream, startling the driver who was seriously driving without looking aside, almost causing him to drive onto the curb. Qiao Yi snapped back to reality, feeling as if she had been caught red-handed and was about to retreat, but Lu Yanchuan had already held the back of her head, giving her lips a firm peck before letting her go. ¡°Next time you want something, just tell me directly.¡± Him! Does he have no shame! Qiao Xin felt like she was about to explode, glaring furiously at Qiao Yi, as if a wife who had just seen her husband entangled with a mistress in front of her, shocked and heartbroken. Lu Yanchuan couldn¡¯t care less about Qiao Xin at this point. If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Yi agreeing to leave with her today, Lu Yanchuan would have sent her away long ago. Qiao Yi stared blankly at the hint of red on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lips, hesitating whether or not to wipe it off for him. Qiao Xin was outrageously angry, not just the driver, but the two in the back also ignoring her! This is too much! ¡°Are you two going too far!¡± ¡°Sister, my legally wedded husband and I are kissing in our own car, do we still need your permission?¡± The word ¡°kiss¡± was spoken by Qiao Yi with extreme ambiguity, and she even licked her lips as if she was still longing for more. Lu Yanchuan was right beside her, seriously considering whether he should often engage in such activities with Qiao Yi. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Yun Luoluo Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Yun Luoluo Qiao Xin was provoked by the words ¡°lawful husband¡± and pointed at Qiao Yi, unable to utter a word. ¡°Big sister, you should sit tight. When we get off the elevated road, if you¡¯re not stable, don¡¯t topple over onto me!¡± Qiao Xin was so infuriated she couldn¡¯t respond, and just as she was about to curse, the car jolted, and her seatbelt pulled her back onto the seat, slamming her heavily into it. ¡°See, I told you to sit properly, sister. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Qiao Yi appeased Qiao Xin with good intentions, but the more she spoke, the angrier Qiao Xin got, wishing she would just shut up forever! Lu Ming saw the displeased expression on Qiao Xin¡¯s face when she got out of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car, especially when he saw that Lu Yanchuan was also in the car and Qiao Xin was wearing such a gown, it made his blood rush to his head. Luckily, Qiao Yi followed right after, getting out of the car, which eased his mind a bit. However, he still couldn¡¯t hide his mockery as he approached them, and pulled Qiao Xin behind him with a swift hand. ¡°While the young uncle is still on his honeymoon and has the energy, he should really spend it with his newly-wed wife, and not always set his sights on someone else¡¯s wife!¡± Qiao Xin really disliked hearing Lu Ming say that; she wished Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attention was on her, hoping that Qiao Yi and Lu Ming would get back together soon! Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even spare Lu Ming a glance, as if there was just a gust of air beside him, waiting until Qiao Yi had straightened her dress before heading to the venue together. Qiao Xin wanted to catch up and walk with Lu Yanchuan, but her arm was tightly held by Lu Ming, forcing her to restrain herself. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your current situation! I don¡¯t care what you do in the old house, but if you cause trouble outside, I¡¯ll move out of the old house when we get back, and you¡¯ll never get to live there in this lifetime!¡± Go to ????????????????????.co Lu Ming accurately targeted Qiao Xin¡¯s weak spot ¨C Lu Yanchuan. Sure enough, upon hearing this, Qiao Xin immediately subdued, though still reluctantly, she no longer clung to Lu Yanchuan or Qiao Yi like before. Lu Yanchuan noticed Qiao Xin¡¯s dress and frowned again. ¡°At such an important gala, how could you wear something like this! Do you intend to disgrace yourself?¡± Qiao Xin bit her lip without revealing why she didn¡¯t change her dress, and she and Lu Ming locked in a stare-off, until finally Lu Ming couldn¡¯t outlast her and had to take off his jacket and put it on her. Today¡¯s charity gala was officially organized by the Capital City, and all proceeds from the auctioned items would be donated to charity projects. In the afternoon, Qiao Yi asked Lu Yanchuan if there was anything special to be aware of at the charity gala, to which Lu Yanchuan simply replied with two words, ¡°Anything goes!¡± What does ¡°Anything goes¡± mean! Can you really be casual at such an official event! Qiao Yi, arm-in-arm with Lu Yanchuan, entered the venue, and when she checked the guest list earlier, she saw the names Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing, as well as Feng Siyu¡¯s, and she started looking for them upon entry. Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing were easy to spot; they were always in one of the clusters of people together, and Qiao Yi could see them without specifically searching. It was just unknown if Feng Siyu had already arrived. Feng Siyu attended the gala not as the second young miss of the Feng Family but in the role of a popstar singer. A singer, such a status didn¡¯t really count for much in the eyes of the people at this venue. ¡°It¡¯s good you have a conscience, finding me first when you arrived. Wouldn¡¯t you introduce me?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder was suddenly tapped. When she turned her head, she didn¡¯t see anyone, but upon looking to the other side, she finally saw that the person who tapped her shoulder was none other than Feng Siyu, the very person she had been searching for. Today, Feng Siyu¡¯s outfit was intellectual and simple, which was completely opposite to her typically bold style. Feng Siyu used her eyes to inquire about the identity of Lu Yanchuan, who was standing behind Qiao Yi. Actually, she already had a guess, but Feng Siyun stubbornly refused to greet him herself and insisted that Qiao Yi introduce him. ¡°This is Lu Yanchuan, Third Young Master Lu.¡± ¡°This is Feng Siyu, my best friend.¡± Feng Siyu reached out her hand, and Lu Yanchuan glanced at her and then at Qiao Yi, finally extending his hand to lightly touch hers as a form of handshake and greeting. Qiao Yi caught this detail and shared a knowing look with Feng Siyu, then smiled like a sly fox. ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to Yuanyuan; you don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± After saying this, Qiao Yi pulled Feng Siyu away, and they disappeared into the crowd before noticing that they had left Gu Ting behind. Inexplicably, the two of them felt a sense of shared sympathy. ¡°Wow, my dear, you are quite lucky to have found such a handsome husband!¡± Although she and Lu Yanchuan were nominally husband and wife, Qiao Yi was still very pleased to hear someone compliment her husband¡¯s good looks. After chatting with Feng Siyu for a while, Qiao Yi heard a small gasp of surprise coming from the entrance as if some remarkable person had arrived. When she and Lu Yanchuan had entered earlier, these people did not show such a loss of composure. Qiao Yi pulled Feng Siyu closer to see who it was. It was a very beautiful woman, whose beauty made others feel unworthy. Watching her walk in from outside, Qiao Yi felt as if she was witnessing a goddess descending to earth. When one woman can captivate another to the point of being unable to look away, it shows the immense charm of the person. Qiao Yi thought about this as she and Feng Siyu discussed the woman¡¯s identity. ¡°Do you know her? I know more about the young prodigals of the Capital City, but how come I have never heard of such a stunning beauty before?¡± Feng Siyu stared at the woman¡¯s back, frowning as if thinking about something. Suddenly, Feng Siyu slapped her thigh and exclaimed in surprise, causing Qiao Yi to wince in pain. ¡°It¡¯s her!¡± ¡°Who? There shouldn¡¯t be many people that you know but I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that one, the one who was supposed to get engaged to Third Young Master Lu a few years ago, but it didn¡¯t happen!¡± Feng Siyu pulled Qiao Yi back to the corner they were in before, and whispered a reminder, looking at Qiao Yi who still seemed to not recall, Feng Siyu urgently said, ¡°Yun Luoluo! That Yun Luoluo! The one you always said was pretentious!¡± Before Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes appeared an image of a petite and gentle girl, who in her memories was always crying, definitely not displaying the poised and elegant demeanor of now! ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken? Could Yun Luoluo really be this beautiful?¡± Qiao Yi was somewhat skeptical whether Feng Siyu had mistaken someone else as people don¡¯t usually change so tremendously in just a few years! ¡°I¡¯m not wrong! Remember the tattoo on her shoulder? I saw that tattoo!¡± Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Status and Identity Can Change Everything Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Status and Identity Can Change Everything Feng Siyu¡¯s words reminded Qiao Yi of the past events. As a child, Qiao Yi was practically a terror at school, fighting and dominating the whole school, with hardly anyone able to control her. Moreover, since she had decent grades, teachers turned a blind eye and didn¡¯t bother much with her. Due to the Qiao Family, Qiao Yi had always been in a prestigious school, surrounded by classmates who were wealthy second-generations and children of officials, and Yun Luoluo was naturally among them. However, unlike Qiao Yi and her unruly peers, Yun Luoluo was seen as a model student at school, not only excelling academically but also being very gentle in nature. Yet, this kind of gentleness seemed particularly irksome in the eyes of Qiao Yi and her crowd. Out of respect for the Yun Family, none dared to openly bully Yun Luoluo, but the private exclusion and isolation never stopped. At that time, Qiao Yi was solely focused on dominating the entire school through force and paid little attention to a timid Yun Luoluo. Although she looked down upon her, she never targeted her directly. Although the two knew each other, they were always from two different worlds. After high school, Yun Luoluo was sent abroad by her family. It had only been five or six years, and Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t believe Yun Luoluo had changed so much. If it weren¡¯t for Feng Siyu pointing out Yun Luoluo today, Qiao Yi probably wouldn¡¯t even remember who she was if Yun Luoluo had come over to greet her. ¡°Do you remember now? Back then, she was cornered by two hooligans, and it was you who helped her get away. Didn¡¯t you both get hurt? But the scar on Yun Luoluo¡¯s shoulder stayed, so afterwards she got a tattoo to cover it, remember?¡± Of course, Qiao Yi remembered that incident. When she found out Yun Luoluo had gotten a tattoo over a scar, she immediately felt she couldn¡¯t be outdone and also clamored for a tattoo. Go to ????????????????????.co As a result, Qiao Benqing cut off her allowance for a month, and that put an end to those thoughts. ¡°Of course I remember! If it wasn¡¯t for that incident, my dad wouldn¡¯t have cut off my allowance for a month!¡± Now, thinking back on it, Qiao Yi was still indignant. Qiao Benqing taking away her allowance had made her lose face as the boss at school, and made her followers laugh at her! Feng Siyu was laughing so hard, she held her stomach. Thinking back on the days when Qiao Yi was so commanding, she thought how silly yet blissful those times were. Now, those former followers still had to greet Qiao Yi respectfully as Ms. Qiao, but they were no longer the young fellows who would follow her orders to beat someone up with a stick. Ultimately, family status and position change everything. As Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu talked, they both became somewhat melancholic. Neither of them noticed the very Yun Luoluo they had been discussing was walking toward them. ¡°Long time no see! Do you still remember me, Ms. Qiao?¡± Qiao Yi looked up and saw Yun Luoluo standing opposite her, holding a glass of champagne and greeting her with a smile. ¡°I heard Siyu is now a famous international star. Before the event ends, you must leave me a few autographs, I have quite a few friends who are fans of yours!¡± Yun Luoluo was warm and generous, not showing a trace of awkwardness. Qiao Yi relaxed, started chatting with Yun Luoluo, and to her surprise, Yun Luoluo still remembered clearly about the old times at school, even mentioning the incident where they both escaped from the hooligans. ¡°I still remember, Uncle Qiao purposely cut off your allowance that month to prevent you from getting a tattoo. Your followers¡¯ wallets suffered greatly.¡± Qiao Yi laughed awkwardly. As the boss, not having any allowance meant her followers were incompetent, and how could Qiao Yi¡¯s followers be incompetent! ¡°It¡¯s all just foolishness from our younger days. Looking back now, I find it quite adorably silly.¡± Anyone would feel embarrassed having their dark history brought up in public, and Qiao Yi could practically sense a three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment being excavated with a toe, especially since the person digging up her dark history was another main character in it. ¡°I just returned to the country a few days ago. I heard that Yiyi is already married?¡± When it came to the topic of marriage, Yun Luoluo was extremely gossipy, curiously looking at Qiao Yi, wanting to know what kind of man could make the once adamant Qiao Yi, who vowed never to marry, fall. Upon hearing this, Qiao Yi instinctively glanced in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s direction, only to meet his gaze looking her way. ¡°Third Young Master Lu, did you really marry this big devil?¡± Yun Luoluo followed Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze and also saw Lu Yanchuan standing on the second floor. Some people just stand there and attract everyone¡¯s eyes, as if they were born to be the center of attention. Lu Yanchuan was one of those people. Qiao Yi awkwardly averted her gaze and nodded slightly. ¡°Yeah, we are indeed married.¡± Only the marriage was hasty and helpless, and even quite melodramatic, to the point that she couldn¡¯t shake it off now. Seeing that Qiao Yi didn¡¯t really want to talk about this matter, Yun Luoluo tactfully changed the subject to the charity auction happening that evening. ¡°These charity events happen several times a year, and there are even times when they¡¯re broadcasted live, but there probably won¡¯t be a broadcast this year.¡± Feng Siyu was all too familiar with these charity events. Because she not only attended the charity events in Capital City, but she knew about charity events all over the country. This was another perk of being a celebrity; she didn¡¯t have to figure out how to get an invitation to such events. Although she didn¡¯t actually want to attend any of them. ¡°When it¡¯s about time, they¡¯ll start the charity auction, which is the highlight of the evening. Getting these entrepreneurs to shell out money is the main purpose of these charity events.¡± Feng Siyu curled her lip, finding such a virtuous act somewhat distasteful. If you want to donate money, just donate directly. If you want to contribute supplies, then contribute directly, but setting up a charity auction, selling all sorts of random, worthless things for sky-high prices, and acting like you did some kind of incredible charity work. ¡°And yet, here you are, attending. Sooner or later, you¡¯ll have to shell out money.¡± ¡°I heard that today¡¯s auction will feature some unique items. I don¡¯t know what they are that makes it so secretive.¡± Yun Luoluo seemed eager to try, as if she was ready to bid already. Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu exchanged glances and shook their heads together. ¡°What does Mr. Lu think about the Tian City project? Such a big piece of cake, all falling into Qiao Family¡¯s hands, I really don¡¯t know how capable the Qiao Family is, being so greedy without fearing they¡¯ll burst.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I still think Mr. Lu¡¯s bid was better, how come it was snatched away by the Qiao Family!¡± ¡°Yeah, the Qiao Family and the Lu Family are old family friends, how could they eat meat without sparing a sip of soup for the Lu Family!¡± A crowd surrounded Lu Yanchuan; it seemed like they were communicating with each other, but all attention was focused on him. Such estranging words were said, but Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, standing there with a glass of champagne, it was unclear where he was looking. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Are You Crazy? Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Are You Crazy? A group had been talking for quite a while but noticed no response from Lu Yanchuan. Following Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, they saw several girls sitting in a corner of the sofa, huddled together discussing something. Someone recognized Qiao Yi among the girls and immediately understood Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thoughts. He had now married the most cherished daughter of the Qiao Family, and given how fond Qiao Benqing was of Qiao Yi, it was very likely that the Qiao Family¡¯s future would be in Qiao Yi¡¯s hands. By marrying Qiao Yi, Lu Yanchuan nearly had the entire Qiao Family in his grasp, so of course, he wouldn¡¯t care how much benefit the Qiao Family would gain. Possibly he was even contemplating how to help the Qiao Family secure more profits at this very moment! They were only half right; indeed, Lu Yanchuan was thinking about something that could earn the Qiao Family profits, but it surely wasn¡¯t about helping them. Instead, he didn¡¯t want the Qiao Family to fall into a trap. While they were talking, Qiao Benqing approached. Having just spoken ill of him behind his back, they weren¡¯t shameless enough to greet him calmly right after, so they all found excuses to leave. The crowd that had just been gathered suddenly dwindled to only Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Today is a good opportunity to release the news that Qiao Family intends to sell the Tian City project. I believe there will be interested parties very soon.¡± Qiao Benqing nodded his head; he had already had people working on it. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t need to say it; he would seize the opportunity himself. ¡°Yiyi has some thoughts about your marriage. If you don¡¯t have any fondness for this marriage either, after Old Mr. Lu calms down, you two should separate.¡± Qiao Benqing indeed still cared for Qiao Yi. A marriage alliance between the Lu Family and Qiao Family with Qiao Xin and Lu Ming was sufficient. If Qiao Yi truly didn¡¯t like Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Benqing still hoped she could choose her own path. Qiao Yi had given up a lot for the sake of her sister and brother; she couldn¡¯t be denied her last bit of freedom and the right to pursue happiness. Lu Yanchuan shifted his gaze back to Qiao Benqing. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°I will not divorce Qiao Yi.¡± Qiao Benqing furrowed his brows, looking at Lu Yanchuan, puzzled as to why he would say that. Lu Yanchuan seemed to think of something, his lips curving into a slight arc. ¡°Yiyi is wonderful, I won¡¯t divorce her.¡± At his words, Qiao Benqing was stunned before regaining his senses a while later, his look towards Lu Yanchuan now contained a hint of satisfaction. ¡°Although the Qiao Family and Lu Family are close, the Qiao Family cannot compare to the profound heritage of the Lu Family. But even so, I won¡¯t allow anyone from the Lu Family to bully my daughter. If you truly have feelings for Yiyi, then protect her within the Lu Family, and don¡¯t let her suffer any grievances.¡± After saying this, Qiao Benqing walked away, and Lu Yanchuan returned his gaze to Qiao Yi downstairs, then suddenly smiled helplessly. Who would bully her? She¡¯s the one who bullies others. Qiao Yi, unaware that her father had completely ¡®sold¡¯ her out, was excitedly discussing with Yun Luoluo and Feng Siyu about where they could go shopping tomorrow. ¡°I used to love going shopping the most, but now I can¡¯t even step out properly within the country. As soon as I go out, I¡¯m besieged, and every trip feels like sneaking around like a thief. It¡¯s so frustrating!¡± This was Feng Siyu¡¯s deepest grievance; now other than attending events, she was confined to her home, literally unable to step outside! Because as soon as she¡¯d leave, fans would block her door, waiting to track her itinerary. ¡°If you want to shop, why not find time to travel abroad for a change? Go and see those world wonders. I¡¯ve always wanted to go!¡± Feng Siyu expressed her yearning, and it was a wonder how a singer always fancied traveling. Several times, she was caught on her way to travel and brought back to attend to her engagements by Gu Ting. ¡°I¡¯m really envious of you, being able to do a job you like, that¡¯s so great. I was forced by my dad to study financial economics, and now after graduation, I¡¯m back in the country. It won¡¯t be many days before I start living a miserable nine-to-five life!¡± Yun Luoluo pouted and put on a pitiful act, causing Qiao Yi and Feng Siyu to laugh for a good while. As the group chattered and laughed, they didn¡¯t notice Qiao Xin standing near a column not too far away. ¡°Sister, what are you doing here? I¡¯ve been looking for you for a long time. Aren¡¯t you going to introduce me to her?¡± Qiao Xin, who was two years older than Qiao Yi and though they attended the same school, they were in different grades, so Qiao Xin did not know Yun Luoluo. ¡°Hello, my name is Yun Luoluo, an old classmate of Qiao Yi¡¯s.¡± ¡°Very old, from elementary school right up until high school.¡± Qiao Xin shook hands with Yun Luoluo awkwardly. As a child, she was the opposite of Qiao Yi ¡ª her academic performance was not great at school, and because of her personality, she was often bullied, always having to rely on her younger sister Qiao Yi to stand up for her. Most of Qiao Yi¡¯s fights at school were because of Qiao Xin, especially after Qiao Xin fell for Lu Yanchuan. Feng Siyu quietly nudged Qiao Yi¡¯s arm, making faces at her; only after receiving a glare from Qiao Yi did he settle down. ¡°You¡¯re too young to drink, you should have a soft drink. I¡¯ll take care of this champagne and such.¡± Qiao Xin reached out to take the cup from Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, but as Qiao Yi looked at her smiling face, she subconsciously thought of the day before her wedding when she had been the one to step over Qiao Xin with a smile. ¡°Ah! Qiao Yi! What are you doing! Have you lost your mind!¡± Qiao Xin screamed as she was squarely doused with a cup of alcohol by Qiao Yi, completely taken aback by the splash. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even know how she ended up splashing the drink ¡ª was it perhaps because Qiao Xin¡¯s face just made her want to take action watching her drink? ¡°I haven¡¯t even agreed, why are you grabbing my cup? You¡¯re soaked in alcohol, go change!¡± Qiao Yi quickly stepped forward and grabbed Qiao Xin¡¯s arm before she could speak again, her tone containing an implied threat. Where would Qiao Xin be willing to take this threat, she was ready to make a scene there and then. ¡°Lu Yanchuan is watching right over there, if you make a scene, what do you think he¡¯ll think of you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words instantly calmed Qiao Xin down, who was then assisted by Qiao Yi towards the resting room. ¡°I¡¯ll take my sister to change clothes first, you guys keep talking.¡± The two left the venue together and once in the resting room, Qiao Xin shook off Qiao Yi¡¯s hand and started yelling at her, pointing at her nose. ¡°Qiao Yi, are you sick or something? Splashing me with alcohol for no reason! Do you still care about the Qiao family¡¯s reputation?¡± ¡°Today you know it feels bad to be doused in alcohol, but did you ever consider how I felt when you hurt me back then? Have you ever thought about how much face you¡¯d lose for the Qiao family? Lecturing me? You don¡¯t have the right!¡± Qiao Yi slapped away Qiao Xin¡¯s hand and glanced at her before turning to leave. Suddenly, the sound of swishing air reached her ears; Qiao Yi twitched her ears, and before Qiao Xin¡¯s hand could reach her, she stepped aside to dodge and grabbed Qiao Xin¡¯s hand, pressing her to the ground. A sharp pain flashed through Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, and she looked down to see the syringe in Qiao Xin¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡­¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Qiao Yi Runs Into Trouble Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Qiao Yi Runs Into Trouble Qiao Xin rubbed her shoulders as she climbed up from the ground, kicking Qiao Yi¡¯s body several times with her foot. She knew Qiao Yi was not easy to deal with, but luckily she had come prepared, using a sedative to knock Qiao Yi out. Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Yi lying on the ground and stepped on Qiao Yi¡¯s face with her foot, a sick pleasure showing on her face. No matter how arrogant she was, now she was trampled underfoot! Qiao Xin kicked and beat Qiao Yi until she was too tired to lift her hands, then took out her phone and made a call. ¡°Come over, room 3501.¡± After making the call, Qiao Xin left the room, only to return shortly after. She was carrying a black bag, taking out things one by one. Syringes, a bunch of white powder, and a bottle of clear liquid. Qiao Xin placed all these items next to Qiao Yi, and after arranging everything, she still felt uneasy. She turned around and messed up the items in the room, as if someone had gone crazy in there. After setting everything up, there was a knock on the door. Qiao Xin cautiously walked to the door and peeked before opening it. ¡°Why are you so slow? If someone finds out!¡± Qiao Xin displeasedly pulled the person outside the door into the room, and it was none other than Lu Ming. Go to ????????????????????.co Lu Ming was startled by everything in the room as he entered. He then saw Qiao Yi on the ground and the items on the table next to her and turned pale with shock. ¡°Drugs! Drugs, drugs, drugs¡­¡± ¡°Why are you so surprised, it¡¯s all fake? I only want Qiao Yi¡¯s reputation ruined. Work quickly according to my instructions. Whether you want to pretend or really go through with it, you must play your part well before the person I found arrives!¡± Lu Ming looked at the twisted expression on Qiao Xin¡¯s face, then at Qiao Yi lying on the ground, struggling internally. ¡°This isn¡¯t too good, is it? If I do this, your dad won¡¯t let me off the hook!¡± ¡°Do you still want those shares or not? I promise you, as soon as I marry Lu Yanchuan, I¡¯ll sign the share transfer document immediately. If you keep hesitating, I¡¯ll give the transfer to Lu Yanchuan instead!¡± Qiao Xin was burning with impatience, wishing she were a man so she could deal with Qiao Yi herself! Lu Ming¡¯s hesitation completely vanished upon hearing the word ¡®shares.¡¯ Although doing this would almost completely destroy Qiao Yi, after all, Qiao Yi still had the Qiao Family, and without those thirty percent of shares, he would have no status in the Lu Family! Seeing that Lu Ming had made up his mind, Qiao Xin turned and left, as it was no longer appropriate for her to stay here. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lu Ming said softly, bending down to pick up Qiao Yi from the ground and placing her on the bed. Feng Siyu and Yun Luoluo waited a long time without seeing Qiao Yi return. They asked the waiter who had left with Qiao Yi and Qiao Xin, and he said that the two had taken the elevator and got a room card and then asked him to leave; he didn¡¯t know where the two had gone. ¡°Nothing should have happened at the venue, right?¡± ¡°My heart has been racing. Qiao Xin and Yiyi have always been at odds; they wouldn¡¯t have started fighting, would they?¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s speculation received a roll of the eyes from Yun Luoluo. ¡°Even if they did get into a fight, you should be worried about Qiao Xin, not Yiyi. She might have been chatting with someone she knows. She¡¯ll be back for the auction in a little while.¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Siyu had no choice but to sit back down with Yun Luoluo and continue to wait for Qiao Yi¡¯s return. However, Qiao Yi did not return. Instead, many people in the venue were walking in one direction, especially some media personnel who were rushing towards the elevator with their cameras in tow. ¡°What¡¯s going on with them? Is some big shot about to show up? Why are they all so excited?¡± Feng Siyu looked puzzled in that direction, not seeing any remarkable figure, but saw Gu Ting walking towards her with a darkened face. ¡°It¡¯s bad, Qiao Yi is in trouble!¡± ¡°In trouble? What happened?¡± Feng Siyu looked at Gu Ting, nervous and puzzled, hands sweating with tension. Gu Ting nodded at Yun Luoluo, handed a cellphone to Feng Siyu, and pulled her to walk in the opposite direction of the crowd. As Feng Siyu walked, she checked the phone, and what caught her eye was the trending search that had just come out that evening. ¡°Second Miss Qiao meets privately with a man, both seen in a room doing¡­¡± ¡°Keep your voice down, this hot search has just come out. You were with Qiao Yi just now ¨C where has she gone to now?¡± Feng Siyu felt a chill in her limbs. As a celebrity, she understood all too well the power of public opinion and rumors, not to mention news that combines both gossip and criminal activity! The media would surely swarm over like flies drawn to a scent! ¡°Yiyi went with Qiao Xin, they left a while ago, probably to the lounge. Let¡¯s check the lounge first!¡± Gu Ting took Feng Siyu and ran through the fire exit, all the way to the third floor to the room mentioned by the waiter. There was already a crowd gathered outside the room, mostly reporters, who were persistently knocking on the door. Seeing this, Feng Siyu rushed forward, and Gu Ting couldn¡¯t catch her. She watched as Feng Siyu dashed into the crowd, and quickly followed after. ¡°What are you all doing gathered here? Don¡¯t you know this is the lounge? Or do you want to break the rules of the charity event?¡± Feng Siyu, protected by Gu Ting, made her way to the room¡¯s entrance, standing in front of the door like a protective mother hen. Moments ago, there was only a wealthy young lady, and now a popular star had appeared! The reporters on the scene were almost all stirred up, their cameras aimed at Feng Siyu, shouting their questions. ¡°Miss Feng! Why are you defending a rich young lady who has breached the stock price law? Is it because you want the support of the Qiao Family?¡± ¡°Miss Feng, are you aware of Miss Qiao¡¯s illegal activities, or have you participated in them yourself, fearing exposure and thus defending Miss Qiao?¡± ¡°Miss Feng! Please answer my question directly!¡± With Gu Ting standing firmly in front of her, not letting anyone touch Feng Siyu, she looked at the frantic reporters without saying a word. The commotion in the crowd grew bigger and bigger, and the corridor was almost completely blocked. Qiao Benqing, who heard the news and rushed over, was stopped outside and couldn¡¯t get in. Sweat dripped down Gu Ting¡¯s forehead, Feng Siyu looked at him with heartache, and with a cold face turned to the reporters surrounding her, lifting up the cellphone that she had been holding tightly. ¡°Just now, I¡¯ve recorded every word said by the reporters from each of your media outlets. Before the investigation is clear, you¡¯ve made rash judgments, and I will contact Ms. Qiao to pursue your legal responsibilities.¡± No one expected Feng Siyu to play this move. The people close to Feng Siyu suddenly quieted down, and they didn¡¯t dare to resist even when being pushed by those behind them. ¡°Now, does anyone else have questions?¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Reversal Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Reversal ¡°Miss Feng, although we can¡¯t produce evidence to prove Miss Qiao did these things, can you produce evidence to prove Miss Qiao didn¡¯t do these things?¡± Someone in the crowd raised their voice and asked, reigniting the emotions of the crowd once again. Gu Ting was nearly unable to hold back the frenzied crowd, and Feng Siyu¡¯s face was extraordinarily grim, her mind racing on how to resolve the pressing dilemma. Feng Siyu, of course, believed in Qiao Yi, but she dared not risk Qiao Yi¡¯s safety on her belief. Qiao Yi had just left with Qiao Xin, and if Qiao Xin had used some sort of trickery on Qiao Yi, it would be very difficult for Qiao Yi to escape by herself! Someone was already shouting for Feng Siyu to open the room door, claiming truth would be evident upon inspection. Feng Siyu and Gu Ting stubbornly refused to let them pass, but at that moment, Feng Siyu¡¯s cell phone went off. She glanced at it, and when she looked up again, she relented, stopping her resistance, and nudged Gu Ting¡¯s back to silently step aside. Gu Ting was still puzzled, but Feng Siyu shoved the phone into his hand, then pulled him out through a side entrance swiftly. The door was violently broken open by rabid reporters, and upon opening it, one could hear the ambiguous moans and heavy breaths inside. The first reporter to rush in almost had green eyes, his camera capturing every detail in the room steady as a rock. When he saw the scattered white powder and syringes on the table, he almost let out an ecstatic scream. Huge news! Absolutely huge! The reporter seemed to have foreseen himself reaching the pinnacle of his career with this news, hesitating no more, as he ran towards the deepest bedroom door. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°Ah!!¡± ¡°Who are you people! Get out!¡± The two people huddled on the bed rapidly split apart upon the loud sound of the door being kicked open, with the man only managing to snatch a pillow to cover his vital parts, while the woman on the bed screamed, shrinking into the covers. Lu Ming¡¯s eyes were red as he glared at the room full of reporters who had barged in. He still hadn¡¯t fully realized what was going on. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to just lift Qiao Yi from the floor onto the bed? How could so many people have barged in so inexplicably? It didn¡¯t matter that Lu Ming couldn¡¯t figure it out; the reporters had enough to explode the news. ¡°Mr. Lu Ming, why are you having a private meeting with the Second Miss Qiao during the charity event?¡± ¡°Mr. Lu, it was said the person who was originally supposed to marry Miss Qiao was you, but in the end, Mr. Lu Yanchuan took that place. Are you doing this today as a deliberate act of revenge?¡± ¡°Mr. Lu! Have you actually been with Miss Qiao all along, and the marriage was merely a sham?¡± Lu Ming¡¯s head and ears were filled with these sharp questions. Some people even tried to grab him; he only managed to evade by grabbing a chair and holding it in front of him as a shield. Not only Lu Ming was under siege, but so was the person on the bed. Several reporters yanked at the corners of the blanket, trying to pull it away, while the person wrapped tightly in the blanket staunchly refused to show their face. The more the two on the bed struggled, the more excited the reporters became, their questions growing sharper. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Why is it so noisy?¡± Suddenly, the crowd was strongly parted, and a dozen black-suited bodyguards stormed into the room, forcibly clearing a path through the people with their presence. ¡°Isn¡¯t the charity auction about to start? Why is everyone gathered in the lounge instead of attending the auction?¡± Hearing this voice, everyone turned towards the entrance. Qiao Yi stood there in a red dress, with a bright, beautiful smile, walking in between the black-suited bodyguards as confidently and dazzlingly as on the red carpet at Fashion Week. ¡°Miss Qiao! How, how are you here!¡± Someone in the crowd recognized Qiao Yi and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. ¡°` ¡°Why am I not supposed to be here?¡± Qiao Yi retorted and walked all the way in, only to be shocked and cover her mouth when she saw the mess on and under the bed. ¡°Oh my God, what, what happened here!¡± Qiao Yi glanced at the lump on the bed and then at Lu Ming standing on the floor, as if she understood something, she pointed at Lu Ming and started scolding him. ¡°You¡¯re already married to my sister! How dare you betray her at this time! I¡¯m going to see who this slut is who seduced my sister¡¯s husband!¡± After cursing Lu Ming, Qiao Yi called two bodyguards over to the bed, her face filled with righteous indignation, pointing at the person on the bed and ordering the bodyguards to lift the blanket. ¡°Drag her out! Let everyone see who this slut really is! How dare she do such a shameless thing!¡± ¡°Wow¡ª¡± The crowd was shocked once again, including Lu Ming himself. The person on the bed, naked and with her arms crossed over her chest, was none other than Qiao Yi¡¯s sister, Qiao Xin! Qiao Xin, suddenly exposed by the pulled blanket, screamed and frantically grabbed a pillow to cover herself, then pulled the blood-stained sheets to wrap around her. ¡°How, how could this¡­¡± Qiao Yi looked totally stunned, pointing at Qiao Xin on the bed and unable to speak for a long time. ¡°This, this, this!¡± ¡°Get out! All of you, get out!¡± Finally, Qiao Xin on the bed broke down and screamed. But from Qiao Yi to the reporters in the room, not a single person intended to leave. Who would have thought that such a big news story would take so many twists and turns! It started with Second Miss Qiao being accused of drug use, cheating on her husband with her own ex-fianc¨¦, who is her husband¡¯s nephew. Then Second Miss Qiao entered from outside, accusing her brother-in-law of cheating and seeking to catch the lovers in the act. In the end, the mistress caught turned out to be none other than the Qiao family¡¯s eldest miss! A group of reporters looked at each other, completely unsure how to report today¡¯s story. Qiao Xin and Lu Ming are legally married after all, their being together doesn¡¯t concern anyone else at all. ¡°Qiao Yi! It¡¯s you! It¡¯s you who ruined me!¡± Qiao Xin looked up at Qiao Yi with hatred, but Qiao Yi fearlessly met her gaze, her lips curling into a playful smile. ¡°Sister, when you speak, you need evidence. How can you accuse me without proof? Besides, even if your tryst with your brother-in-law was disrupted, you shouldn¡¯t blame me, right? I did all this for your own good, out of fear that you might be cheated on!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face was full of innocence, but Qiao Xin didn¡¯t believe a word! It was supposed to be Qiao Yi and Lu Ming who were caught in the act, not her! Why has it turned out this way! ¡°The auction is about to start downstairs, time to go.¡± Qiao Yi was reveling in Qiao Xin¡¯s displeased expression when suddenly a coat was draped over her. She turned her head and saw Lu Yanchuan looking down at her. Just one look, and suddenly Qiao Yi¡¯s heartbeat became erratic. ¡°` Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Why Are You So Good to Me? Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Why Are You So Good to Me? The reporters in the room were all chased out after Qiao Benqing rushed in with his people. Lu Ming had taken the opportunity to get dressed, and now sat on the sofa outside with a steel-grey expression on his face. After Qiao Xin finished dressing inside, she walked out with her legs in an awkward stance, not daring to look at Qiao Benqing at all. Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan stood together at the doorway, their expressions surprisingly uniform with a mix of indifference and a hint of mockery, like outsiders watching a play. ¡°Speak, what exactly happened!¡± Qiao Benqing¡¯s eyes bore into Qiao Xin, knowing that no matter the outcome today, the Qiao Family¡¯s reputation would definitely be ruined! Tears never stopped in Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes. Hearing Qiao Benqing¡¯s question, she abruptly looked up at Qiao Yi as if about to unleash a tirade. Qiao Yi spoke before Qiao Xin had the chance to. ¡°Dad, that question should be mine to ask. I¡¯d like to know why I and my sister would fall unconscious after entering the resting room, and if it wasn¡¯t for Yanchuan coming to look for me, the person caught in bed today might not have been my sister, right?¡± Qiao Yi boldly showed the needle marks on her arm to Qiao Benqing. Qiao Xin hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Yi to expose the matter so directly, suddenly becoming somewhat guilty and hastily began to make excuses. ¡°What are you talking about nonsense? How could I possibly do something to you? I am¡­¡± ¡°Why are you nervous? I didn¡¯t say it was you who did this to me.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co With just an insouciante remark, Qiao Yi pushed back Qiao Xin¡¯s attempt, as Qiao Xin clenched her lip, her eyes almost ready to tear Qiao Yi apart. Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s injury, Qiao Benqing immediately became anxious. ¡°How did this happen? Xinxin, is it really you trying to harm your sister!¡± ¡°Dad, how could I possibly do such a thing! What benefit would there be for me in doing such a thing! Moreover, it¡¯s clearly me who got hurt; why would you suspect me?¡± Qiao Xin seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown, her disheveled appearance like that of a crazed ghost. This appearance of hers, on the contrary, made Qiao Benqing dismiss his suspicions. Indeed, Qiao Xin had no reason to harm Qiao Yi, and moreover, Qiao Yi was unharmed, while the person caught with Lu Ming was Qiao Xin herself, why would she be so foolish to set herself up! Thinking this, Qiao Benqing looked towards Qiao Yi again. ¡°Yiyi, could it be a misunderstanding on your part?¡± Qiao Yi had no intention of taking down Qiao Xin just with this insufficient evidence, but she knew that once the seeds of suspicion are sown, they will eventually take root and grow. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m mistaken. But sister and brother-in-law are really irresistible to each other. And oh, you should find a way to explain these things sooner, sister, or there might be a big problem!¡± Qiao Yi raised her eyebrows and used her chin to nudged towards the table, where there were still some syringes and white powdery substances. Many reporters had just noticed these items, and if they got out, there would be no shortage of wild speculation. ¡°This, this is glucose, I have some hypoglycemia, I will explain it publicly.¡± Qiao Xin now understood what it meant to shoot herself in the foot, there were many things she couldn¡¯t say in front of Qiao Benqing, and could only take all the responsibility upon herself. ¡°Dad, the auction has started, we better go down first, let sister and brother-in-law deal with it themselves.¡± Qiao Yi walked over and linked her arm with Qiao Benqing¡¯s, pulling him up to leave the room. Before exiting, Qiao Yi turned back for a glance, meeting Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes filled with hatred. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± Qiao Yi silently said a word, then, holding Qiao Benqing¡¯s arm, left the room. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m going to use the restroom first, you go ahead and take your seat.¡± Qiao Yi suddenly stopped in her tracks after walking with Qiao Benqing for a bit, said a few words to him, and then hurried off. Lu Yanchuan was a step behind her, gave Qiao Benqing a hasty greeting, and followed after her. Qiao Benqing was left utterly confused by the two of them, shook his head, and went on to the auction venue on his own. In a state of fluster, Qiao Yi pushed open the emergency exit door forcefully, entered the stairwell, and finally took a deep breath. Her body had been drenched in sweat, leaning against the wall like a fish out of water, breathing hard and greedily. Lu Yanchuan quickly caught up to her, saw the state she was in, bent down, and carried her out. ¡°Put me down¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan ignored her words. Qiao Yi pounded on him without any effect, helplessly letting him carry her not knowing where he intended to take her. ¡°Damn that Qiao Xin, I have no idea what kind of drug she used on me¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face rested against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder, listening to her own heartbeat pounding like drums and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s steady and calm breathing. Heaven knows the relief and gratitude she felt when she woke up to see Lu Yanchuan. Especially after seeing the inexplicably trending topics about her online, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t dare to imagine what would have become of her if Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t shown up in time to knock out Qiao Xin and Lu Ming. Lu Yanchuan had saved her twice already¡­ ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ just a bit hot. Put me down please, I¡¯m okay.¡± Qiao Yi pushed at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, but he still held her steadily. Her weight was not an issue for Lu Yanchuan. They went up to the hotel¡¯s presidential suite, where Lu Yanchuan set her down in the bathtub following Qiao Yi¡¯s wishes, then he left the room. Qiao Yi, feeling weak in arms and legs, gave up the attempt to undress and turned on the shower directly, the cold water spraying out making her shiver all over. The water suddenly stopped, and looking up in confusion, Qiao Yi saw Lu Yanchuan standing expressionlessly above her, having just turned off the faucet. ¡°Change into clean clothes, I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± Lu Yanchuan placed a paper bag on the nearby shelf and was about to leave, but his clothes were suddenly pulled by someone. ¡°Are you being so good to me because of what happened that day? When you said you would take responsibility, you weren¡¯t joking, were you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s tone was uncharacteristically serious. She thought long and hard but couldn¡¯t figure out why Lu Yanchuan, a man like him, would be so lenient with her because of a marriage that seemed like a child¡¯s play. The outside world¡¯s rumors about Lu Yanchuan were anything but kind: cold-blooded, ruthless, that was him; viciously scheming, that also was him; cunning and sinister, etc., all could be synonyms for Lu Yanchuan. The words caring and attentive, however, would definitely not be associated with Lu Yanchuan. Yet, the Lu Yanchuan before her was entirely different from his public persona. Although not to the extent of being overly attentive, his manner could already be considered very considerate, even indulgent. Qiao Yi had always thought it was because they were married, Lu Yanchuan had to take Old Mr. Lu into account. That is until today, when she woke up in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, Qiao Yi saw the sincere concern in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes. Lu Yanchuan was genuinely worried about her. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 We Have Nothing Chapter 35: Chapter 35 We Have Nothing The bathroom was quiet, only the faint sound of running water persisted tirelessly. Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes gradually reddened, while Lu Yanchuan across from her furrowed his brows tightly, only speaking after a long while. ¡°I¡¯ve said before, I¡¯m a responsible person.¡± ¡°So you married me not because of an arranged marriage?¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t quite describe the mixture of feelings inside her¡ªshe felt a bit relieved, a bit bitter, and a bit sad all at once, which only made her unsure of how to express herself. Seeing that Lu Yanchuan only furrowed his brows without speaking, Qiao Yi suddenly felt relieved. ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll go stay with Yuanyuan at her place later. Don¡¯t keep dad waiting anxiously.¡± Qiao Yi sank into the water, not wanting to talk anymore. It took a while before she couldn¡¯t hold on and emerged from the water, only to find that Lu Yanchuan had already left. Qiao Yi left before the auction ended, while Lu Yanchuan stayed at the venue to discuss some matters with Qiao Benqing. Qiao Yi slipped away by herself. No, not just Qiao Yi, but also Feng Siyu and a driver named Gu Ting. ¡°I¡¯m going to stay at your place tonight.¡± Feng Siyu did not object. After all, the two of them had spent plenty of nights together since they were young. But now Qiao Yi was married; didn¡¯t she need to inform her husband? It seemed as though Feng Siyu had guessed her thoughts, and Qiao Yi, embarrassed and angry, pinched Feng Siyu¡¯s arm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Don¡¯t you dare think nonsense, there¡¯s nothing between Lu Yanchuan and me¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk, such a stubborn duck, come clean, how did you get that red mark on your neck? Don¡¯t tell me you were bitten by a mosquito. Was the mosquito¡¯s last name Lu?¡± Qiao Yi quickly covered her neck, and her entire face turned red as she glared at Feng Siyu, unable to speak out of embarrassment and annoyance. Feng Siyu laughed until she was out of breath, and it was only after a while that she regained her composure, wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and leaned on Qiao Yi, mysteriously asking. ¡°Come on, tell me, what exactly happened today? Everything seems like it was all arranged by you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Thinking back to today¡¯s events, Feng Siyu was extremely frightened. She couldn¡¯t imagine what she would do if it had really been Qiao Yi in that room. The expression on Qiao Yi¡¯s face also faded, and there were some things she couldn¡¯t say to Qiao Benqing, but she could tell Feng Siyu. ¡°Today was indeed no accident, it was all plotted by Qiao Xin. If it hadn¡¯t been for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arrival, the reporters bursting in would¡¯ve caught me and Lu Ming together, and there were also some items in the room that Qiao Xin had specially prepared for me, just to ruin me.¡± ¡°Qiao Xin injected me with a sedative. If it weren¡¯t for Lu Yanchuan realizing that Qiao Xin and I had been gone for a long time without returning and coming to find me¡ªcoincidentally encountering Lu Ming sent by Qiao Xin¡ªthe plan would have succeeded.¡± Though it wasn¡¯t Qiao Yi¡¯s idea to put Qiao Xin and Lu Ming together, she was thoroughly satisfied with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s way of handling it. ¡°And those reporters, they were all pre-arranged by Qiao Xin. Even if I hadn¡¯t splashed her with that wine today, Qiao Xin would probably have found some excuse to take me away.¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s mouth fell open in shock. Qiao Xin and Qiao Yi were siblings¡ªhow could she do this to Qiao Yi! ¡°She¡¯s shot herself in the foot, but why didn¡¯t you tell Uncle Qiao about this!¡± ¡°The moment this gets out, it will definitely affect the Qiao Family¡¯s reputation. No matter what the reason, my dad would never publicize the issue. At most, there would be some reprimands. Besides, I haven¡¯t suffered any substantial harm. On the contrary, Qiao Xin has made herself utterly miserable.¡± ¡°In this situation, my dad might not stay angry with Qiao Xin, and he might even cover up the whole incident. Instead of reacting now, I might as well bide my time until I gather enough evidence to expose Qiao Xin¡¯s true face in one fell swoop!¡± Qiao Yi clenched her fists. Seeing her like this, Feng Siyu also felt relieved. As long as Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t overly merciful, everything should be fine. No one would be happy about what happened, and the car fell silent, with all three losing the desire to talk. ¡°Beep beep beep¡ª¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s phone started ringing, it was a message from Lu Yanchuan asking where she went. After reading the message, Qiao Yi turned off her phone and tossed it aside. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to reply to the message?¡± ¡°Why should I reply to him? I already told you I¡¯m going to stay at your place tonight, it¡¯s none of his business.¡± Since Qiao Yi herself had no intention of dealing with Lu Yanchuan, Feng Siyu said nothing further. Changing the topic, he started to talk to Qiao Yi about his next appointment. ¡°She didn¡¯t answer the phone?¡± Qiao Benqing was so angry his stomach ached, both of his grown daughters were causing him nothing but worries! ¡°Yiyi said she was going to stay with friends tonight; they probably left early.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t seem to care too much. He often stayed late at the office and didn¡¯t go home, and going out with friends was perfectly normal. Even though Lu Yanchuan said that, Qiao Benqing was still dissatisfied and insisted that Qiao Yi come back. With such an important event today, Qiao Xin had already made a fool of herself, and Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t just leave as well. What would people think of the Qiao Family! Qiao Benqing used his phone to call Qiao Yi, but the call was met with a message that her phone was turned off. Qiao Yi was unaware of Qiao Benqing looking for her, but even if she did know, she wouldn¡¯t return now. Because Feng Siyu had already goaded Gu Ting to drive them into the famous entertainment district of Capital City. In the car, Qiao Yi changed out of her gown into clothes from Feng Siyu, put on his sunglasses, and the three of them merged into the crowd on the street after parking the car. ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve missed this. Ever since graduating from college, I haven¡¯t had such free and happy times.¡± Qiao Yi was holding a beer in one hand and a skewer in the other, eating in a very forthright manner. Feng Siyu was no less enthusiastic, the two eating as boisterously as old men, with only Gu Ting sipping a drink elegantly. Giggling, eating, and drinking, it didn¡¯t take long for Qiao Yi to start seeing double. She grabbed Feng Siyu, who wanted to drink more, and they stumbled toward the car with the help of Gu Ting. ¡°Hey, look at these beauties. Why don¡¯t you hang out with us, brothers, before you go?¡± While Gu Ting went to bring the car, a few shady-looking thugs surrounded the two drunk girls. Seeing no one paying attention, the leader reached to grab Qiao Yi¡¯s arm. ¡°Who are you guys? Where¡¯s Gu Ting? Where did he run off to?¡± Qiao Yi squinted at the strange men and swatted away the hand reaching for her, still aware enough to help Feng Siyu as they tried to walk away together. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, forget about whatever Gu Ting. But I, your brother Zhao, am more than willing to keep you company, haha!¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Drunk Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Drunk A greasy, blackened hand reached for Qiao Yi¡¯s face, her vision blurred and subconsciously trying to dodge, but Feng Siyu, who was standing unsteadily beside her, pulled on her arm making it impossible for her to avoid. Under normal circumstances, Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t care about a few petty thugs. But now, she couldn¡¯t even keep her body upright, let alone fight back, so she could only watch helplessly as the hand drew nearer and nearer. Just as the hand was about to touch Qiao Yi¡¯s face, the chubby guy who reached out suddenly screamed, flying backward and hitting two people before falling down. Qiao Yi tried hard to keep her eyes open; she could only see that the person in front was handsome and seemed a bit familiar. With her brain feeling like mush, it took Qiao Yi a while to belatedly realize who the man in front of her was. ¡°Lu Yanchuan¡­ you came¡­ hehe¡­¡± Qiao Yi grinned oddly, Lu Yanchuan just about to say something, but the thugs he kicked away had already gotten up and charged towards him, roaring. A flash of impatience swept through Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes; turning around, he performed a sweeping kick, sending the fastest runner flying back, and seizing the moment when the others were still unreactive, he knocked out the remaining few with one punch each. They say a serious man is the most charming, but a man fighting is charming too, only the drunk Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t appreciate it. The few thugs lay on the ground, holding their arms and howling in pain, while Lu Yanchuan took out his phone to call the cops, then came over to check on Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi was just swaying there, not injured. But she was so drunk, it was hard to tell how much she had imbibed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Gu Ting finally came back by car, seeing the thugs scattered on the ground, and Lu Yanchuan standing by Qiao Yi with a dark expression, he immediately understood what had happened. He thought that with so many people around at the night market, no incidents would occur, and he was just going to get the car, which would only take a few minutes. But who would have thought that such an incident would occur in such a crowded place! Luckily Lu Yanchuan appeared just in time, otherwise, Gu Ting couldn¡¯t even imagine what might have happened! If something terrible had really occurred, Gu Ting would have lived in regret for the rest of his life. ¡°Thank you.¡± Gu Ting bowed deeply and earnestly to Lu Yanchuan, who frowned, glanced at him, pushed Feng Siyu aside, took Qiao Yi in his arms, and walked away. ¡°Leave these people to you; I¡¯ve already called the police.¡± With the Gu Family¡¯s capabilities, handling these thugs was easy, there was no need for Lu Yanchuan to stay; taking Qiao Yi back to sober up was the priority. Lu Yanchuan carried her all the way to his car, and Ma Yu was surprised to see Qiao Yi being carried by Lu Yanchuan. He had a feeling that such surprises would not be scarce in the future. ¡°Go to Ting City.¡± Ting City Gardens, one of the most luxurious and high-end residential areas in the Capital City, known for its elegant environment and top-notch security. The community is located in the most luxurious area of Capital City, covers a large area, but only houses twenty residences ¨C all are detached villas, maintaining tranquility amid the bustling city. Developed by an unknown company, even the Lu Family couldn¡¯t secure a house in Ting City Gardens; only the most powerful, influential, and wealthy people live here. I heard that this area was originally planned to be developed into a private vacation resort, but the government did not approve, and after two years of back and forth, it had to be changed into a villa district. As the car drove into Ting City Gardens, it felt like entering a mini jungle, with only a road wide enough for vehicles to pass side by side, and tall greenery on both sides, walking here is just like walking in a forest. Beyond these trees, you can vaguely see some villas nestled in the woods. Each villa has a private road in front of its door, with a security scanner at the connection to the main road that determines whether the car can enter the premises of this household. Of course, if you want to get out of the car and enter the password, that¡¯s also not impossible. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s house is located near the middle; it took a while driving before turning onto the exclusive road of the villa. Qiao Yi was fidgeting uncomfortably in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, clutching at his clothes and mumbling something incomprehensible. Lu Yanchuan looked up unhappily; Ma Yu caught the signal from his boss from the rearview mirror and was instantly speechless. He was already driving the car as fast as he could, and yet he¡¯s still being accused of slow driving! You do it if you¡¯re so capable! If not, stop complaining! Ma Yu only dared to think this to himself lightly because he felt that Lu Yanchuan could tell what he was thinking just from the back of his head. Finally, they arrived in front of the villa; Lu Yanchuan helped Qiao Yi out of the car, and she seemed to completely let herself go, immediately pushing away Lu Yanchuan and running into the yard. In the large yard, Qiao Yi ran around twice, then unexpectedly ran back to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side, gasping for breath and stretching out her arms wanting to be held. ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Ma Yu covered his mouth, anxiously avoiding Lu Yanchuan¡¯s deadly glare. Lu Yanchuan bent down and without a single sign of displeasure picked up Qiao Yi, already deciding that she would never be allowed to touch a drop of alcohol again without him by her side. Qiao Yi fussed until she finally fell asleep, refusing to sleep alone, insisting on sleeping only if Lu Yanchuan held her. Lu Yanchuan always felt himself to be someone who dislikes disturbances, yet being tossed around by Qiao Yi tonight, aside from feeling resigned, surprisingly he felt not a bit of annoyance, truly astonishing. Even Lu Yanchuan himself was taken aback. Qiao Yi slept all the way to noon the next day, and upon awakening, her head was pounding painfully. Her memory stopped at the image from last night of her and Feng Siyu angrily cursing at Qiao Xin, what happened after? Qiao Yi sat dazedly on the bed, already dressed in pajamas, even her underwear had been changed! She had seen all the rooms she had slept in before and none matched the room she was now in, nor any room in any house she knew! Had she been kidnapped? What about Feng Siyu? Gu Ting? Had they been kidnapped too? When Lu Yanchuan entered the room, he saw Qiao Yi disheveled and bewildered, clutching the pillow, looking as though she had just woken up, yet still in a dream. Qiao Yi stiffly raised her head to look at Lu Yanchuan, seeing him in homewear and opened her mouth to ask, ¡°Yesterday, did you bring me home?¡± This was a blatantly brainless question; Lu Yanchuan, who never dignifies fools with a response, dropped a sentence and turned to leave. ¡°Your clothes are in the dressing room, car keys at the doorway.¡± Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Dont you remember? No content Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Get Out No content Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Death on the Spot No content Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Cant Live Anymore Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Can¡¯t Live Anymore Qiao Yi was forcefully embraced and carried upstairs by Lu Yanchuan. Nestled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, Qiao Yi could hear his strong and powerful heartbeat, which was escalating more and more rapidly. Step by step, Lu Yanchuan walked very steadily, but Qiao Yi felt as though every step he took was pressing down on her heart, making her desperately want to jump down and escape right then and there. However, Lu Yanchuan did not give her a chance to escape. With one kick, he opened the door of the room and quickly pressed down onto her the moment her body fell onto the bed. Qiao Yi was greatly alarmed and was about to struggle when she heard Lu Yanchuan say in a hoarse voice by her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t move, let me hold you for a while.¡± Those words had an inexplicable magic, making Qiao Yi, who knew she should be struggling to escape, obediently stay still and let Lu Yanchuan hold her tightly. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heavy breathing was right by her ear. Such a position should have been very uncomfortable to be held in, yet Qiao Yi, listening to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice by her ear, gradually felt herself become sleepy. It was not until Lu Yanchuan, with reddened eyes, propped himself up from the bed that he realized Qiao Yi had already fallen asleep in his arms at some unknown time, even making displeased hums when he got up to leave. The sleeping woman looked very much like a child, her hands clutched to her chest, her body slightly curled up, just like a child lying in their mother¡¯s embrace. Qiao Yi¡¯s face was flushed with sleep, and after Lu Yanchuan watched her for a few moments, he turned to go to the bathroom. But halfway there, he turned back, tucked her properly into the blankets, and hesitantly bent down to touch his lips against Qiao Yi¡¯s cheek. Lu Yanchuan left like a thief. In his twenty-some years of memory, he had never lost control as he had today, except for that one night. This sleep had replenished Qiao Yi¡¯s vitality. Awakened by hunger, Qiao Yi felt like she could devour an entire cow. Lu Yanchuan was nowhere to be found, likely either at the old mansion or at the company. Qiao Yi thought the latter was more probable. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? After eating a satisfying meal, Qiao Yi finally summoned the courage to go to the surveillance room, wanting to see what kind of mess she had been last night that caused Lu Yanchuan to act so out of character. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bear to continue watching halfway through the surveillance and fled from the room. Qiao Yi even felt that she would never come back to the Ting City neighborhood ever again. Feng Siyu watched Qiao Yi, who was lying on his sofa looking like her soul had left her body, and worriedly touched her head. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever, so what¡¯s made you like this?¡± Taking the juice offered by Gu Ting, Qiao Yi saw it and grabbed it without a second thought. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make it¡­¡± After chugging most of the juice in one gulp, Qiao Yi truly revived. ¡°I¡¯m never drinking alcohol again. Even if I do drink, I won¡¯t drink in front of Lu Yanchuan ever again. I¡¯ve completely lost all my dignity!¡± Qiao Yi, with a face full of sorrow and bitterness, was biting her lip, almost ready to cry herself to death right there. Feng Siyu could hardly suppress his laughter as he hugged Qiao Yi and listened to her rambling about all the things she had done. In the end, Qiao Yi suddenly stood up and looked at the ceiling. ¡°I¡¯m not going back; I can¡¯t ever face Lu Yanchuan and Ma Yu again, otherwise, I¡¯m certain I won¡¯t survive!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad, not that bad, come sit down and drink your juice. It¡¯s really not that bad!¡± Feng Siyu was terrified, afraid that Qiao Yi had been stirred into madness. He pulled her back to sit on the sofa and drove away the smirking Gu Ting, then proceeded to talk to Qiao Yi about serious matters. ¡°I¡¯ve found some leads on the issue you asked me to keep an eye on. Indeed, five months ago there was a mysterious transaction from the Qiao Family¡¯s account. However, the trail went cold at a farm in the country F. I was about to continue the investigation when Gu Ting dragged me off to a talent audition.¡± This talent show has become Feng Siyu¡¯s pet peeve, so Qiao Yi automatically ignored her nonsense and asked the main questions. ¡°So, are you saying that the lead has gone cold now?¡± ¡°Yes, because that batch of funds has been replenished, it¡¯s extremely difficult to look into now. You found out a step too late, so there¡¯s nowhere to start now.¡± Feng Siyu spread her hands helplessly, Qiao Yi nodded in understanding, but understanding doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s willing to accept this outcome. A company had a sum of money mysteriously transferred out; this matter could be seen as a major or minor issue. Qiao Yi had felt that something was off, which is why she had asked Feng Siyu to investigate, but who would have thought the lead would suddenly go cold. ¡°Forget it, send me the location of that farm, I¡¯ll go take a look in the next few days.¡± ¡°Also, these few days my father is handling the old harbor district project in Tian City, when you go back tell Uncle Feng and Uncle Gu to not get involved in this project.¡± Qiao Yi definitely didn¡¯t want anyone else to disrupt Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s plans, after all, if the plan fails, Qiao Benqing would be the one getting schemed against. Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s seriousness, Feng Siyu solemnly promised to pass the message directly to the elders at home. As for whether the elders would heed the advice, that was not her worry. After getting the relevant information from Feng Siyu, Qiao Yi went straight back to the Qiao Family home. ¡°Why are you back again so suddenly? Without a word too, we don¡¯t even have your share for dinner.¡± Zhao Wenjing was somewhat surprised to see Qiao Yi, but then got worried when she didn¡¯t see Lu Yanchuan with her. ¡°I just came back to pick up some things, I¡¯m off to Country F tomorrow. Is there anything you want, Mom? I¡¯ll bring it back for you.¡± Qiao Yi cooed to Zhao Wenjing while packing her things. ¡°Why are you suddenly going to Country F? Is Yanchuan going with you? Or are you and Yuanyuan running some errands together?¡± Previously, Qiao Yi had kept Feng Siyu company on her visits to various places for engagements. However, after Gu Ting, Feng Siyu started neglecting her friends and didn¡¯t need Qiao Yi anymore. Mentioned by Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Yi seemed to think of something, her face reddened for a moment while she continued to pack her belongings and replied without stopping. ¡°I¡¯m going on my own. The Lu Family company is busy; I¡¯ll return in two or three days. Why worry?¡± Qiao Yi, unlike Qiao Xin, traveled for two years after graduating, visited many countries, and got used to traveling alone. Zhao Wenjing was still worried, ¡°How about Mom accompanies you? It¡¯s quite chaotic outside now, I¡¯m not at ease with you going alone.¡± ¡°I will be going with Yiyi, you don¡¯t have to worry, Mom.¡± Qiao Yi looked up, only to see Lu Yanchuan who apparently had been standing at the door of the room for a while. ¡°When did you get here?¡± Seeing Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi inexplicably felt guilty and hurriedly turned back to continue packing, trying to cover her panic. ¡°There¡¯s business in the company that just happens to require an inspection to Country F, so Yiyi and I will go together.¡± With Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, Zhao Wenjing immediately felt relieved and after giving several instructions, she left the room, leaving the space for the couple. Looking at Zhao Wenjing who had gone out, Qiao Yi then stood up to face Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I have some personal matters to attend to in Country F, isn¡¯t it inconvenient for you to follow?¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Business Trips and Travel Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Business Trips and Travel ¡°You¡¯re going for personal reasons, and I¡¯m going for work; we should have nothing to do with each other.¡± Qiao Yi met Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes, who seemed determined to go regardless. Qiao Yi shrugged indifferently, thinking if he wanted to follow so badly, let him, since she hadn¡¯t done anything shameful. After Qiao Yi gathered all the things she needed to take, Lu Yanchuan naturally took her back to the place of her nightmares. Qiao Yi was bitterly holding her small suitcase when suddenly it felt lighter; Lu Yanchuan had taken it from her. Watching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s back ahead of her, Qiao Yi suddenly felt that visiting Ting City might not be so bad after all. ¡­ ¡°What did you say? The people from F country have all withdrawn? How do you handle things! I invested eighty million, and now you tell me you¡¯ve withdrawn!¡± Lu Ming roared into his phone like an enraged lion, completely irrational. Whatever was said on the other end of the phone seemed to slightly soothe Lu Ming¡¯s anger, but he was still seething, gripping his phone as if he was about to crush it. ¡°Fine, I get it, if we¡¯re withdrawing then let¡¯s clean it up thoroughly, leave no doubts!¡± Lu Ming talked on the phone for a while before hanging up. He then turned and saw a shadow flash by the door; he quickly ran over and flung the door open. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°What are you doing here!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Qiao Xin, startled by the sudden opening of the door, screamed and stumbled several steps back. ¡°I was just passing by.¡± Qiao Xin said, clutching her chest, seemingly still frightened by Lu Ming; her face showed nothing but horror. Lu Ming¡¯s expression flickered, and after a moment, he softened and let Qiao Xin come in. ¡°There¡¯s been some trouble with the company, and I need to go to F country. When I¡¯m not home, try to stay away from the old house, to avoid trouble from grandfather and Yanchuan.¡± ¡°I heard from my mom that Mr. Lu and Qiao Yi are also going to F country tomorrow, aren¡¯t you headed to the same destination?¡± Qiao Xin had just hung up with Zhao Wenjing, and from her, she learned about Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s trip to F country, which naturally piqued her interest. Not only to have fun traveling but more so to have more contact with Lu Yanchuan during the journey. However, she didn¡¯t expect Lu Ming to also be going to F country. With Lu Ming there, maybe she could use another method to push Qiao Yi back to where she originally belonged. Upon hearing that Qiao Yi was also going to F country, Lu Ming¡¯s pupils quickly contracted, but they returned to normal in an instant. ¡°Since they are also going, it¡¯s good that we¡¯ll have company on the way.¡± ¡­ Qiao Yi had no idea that Qiao Xin and Lu Ming were also going. Seeing them at the airport made her head spin. She had serious business there; Lu Ming¡¯s presence was explainable, but why on earth was Qiao Xin there too? Qiao Yi could see Qiao Xin, and of course, Qiao Xin could see Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. Upon seeing Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Xin put on a big, welcoming smile and approached them. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how lucky we are to go on a trip together, this is just great¡­¡± ¡°Why are you joining us for a serious business trip? Just to add to the excitement?¡± Qiao Yi stepped forward to block Lu Yanchuan and rolled her eyes at Qiao Xin¡¯s displeasure. It was as if Qiao Xin didn¡¯t see Qiao Yi, she bypassed her and leaned closer to Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I¡¯m ready to have a good time in country F. If Mr. Lu finishes his business, would he be interested in touring around country F with me? Ah!¡± Qiao Xin exclaimed, but Qiao Yi grabbed her collar, pushed her away, and threw her into Lu Ming¡¯s arms, then Qiao Yi took out a wet wipe to clean her hands as if they were tainted with something unclean. ¡°Qiao Yi! You¡¯re being unreasonable!¡± Qiao Xin steadied herself, glaring furiously at Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t care less, she hooked Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm and moved even farther away from Qiao Xin, looking mockingly at Lu Ming. ¡°Listen, nephew, can¡¯t you handle your wife? Why does she flirt with someone else¡¯s husband at the sight of one? That¡¯s not how we do things in the Lu Family.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words were spiteful, Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned crimson with rage. If not for Lu Ming holding her back, she would have charged at Qiao Yi. ¡°Sharing a plane ride with you is truly bad luck, who knows if you¡¯d be handsy with someone else¡¯s husband? If you dare flirt in front of my husband again, I¡¯ll strip you naked and throw you out, see if I won¡¯t!¡± Qiao Yi sneered, pulling Lu Yanchuan away under Qiao Xin¡¯s shocked and angry gaze. Lu Yanchuan silently watched Qiao Yi scold Qiao Xin, and only after they walked far away did he speak. ¡°Are you jealous because Qiao Xin spoke to me?¡± Qiao Yi choked on her own saliva, staring incredulously at Lu Yanchuan, not understanding what kind of fit prompted him to say that. ¡°Me, jealous? Would I get jealous?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face was beautifully flushed, and Lu Yanchuan struggled to keep a straight face. ¡°Yes, aren¡¯t you? Maybe you¡¯ve fallen for me, playful about those marks from other women before, now getting violent because Qiao Xin spoke to me. If you¡¯ve fallen for me, just say it, no need to hide.¡± Qiao Yi almost rolled her eyes to the sky, stopped in her tracks, sized Lu Yanchuan up and down, finally meeting his gaze with a disdainful curl of her lips. ¡°Dream on! I just can¡¯t stand Qiao Xin, you are my lawful husband now, which means you are mine. Even if I don¡¯t want you, I won¡¯t allow her a glance!¡± Lu Yanchuan looked somewhat perplexed but didn¡¯t say anything, quietly moving aside. It seemed like Qiao Yi had just realized what she said, voicing such possessive words for the first time, but indeed, that was what she thought. Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi found seats near the boarding gate. Qiao Xin, after whispering something to Lu Ming, brought him over and sat directly across from Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t stand Qiao Xin¡¯s flirtatious demeanor. Seeing there was still time before boarding, she hooked Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm and leaned her entire body on his shoulder. ¡°Yanchuan, it¡¯s all your fault, I didn¡¯t sleep well last night, let me sleep for a while, wake me up when it¡¯s boarding time!¡± Qiao Yi got goosebumps all over herself at her own words, but Lu Yanchuan just looked slightly stunned before quickly regaining composure, even draping his jacket over Qiao Yi. ¡°Rest well, I¡¯ll wake you when it¡¯s time.¡± Across from them, the two were openly showing affection, Lu Ming¡¯s eyes nearly popped out, unbelieving that this tender, soft-spoken man was his decisive and vigorous uncle! Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Lu Mings Purpose Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Lu Ming¡¯s Purpose The country of F is known for its romance, and from the moment Qiao Yi disembarked from the plane, she deeply sensed the uniqueness of this nation. ¡°Since both of you are here for the company¡¯s business, I won¡¯t join you. Let¡¯s meet again at the airport when we return.¡± Qiao Yi said this and then pulled her luggage to leave. Lu Yanchuan and Lu Ming were both on a business trip for Lu Group, so it wouldn¡¯t be right for her to delay Lu Yanchuan¡¯s schedule for her own affairs. Naturally, going their separate ways was the best option. However, Qiao Yi had only walked a short distance when someone caught up to her from behind. ¡°Why are you not going with Lu Ming?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already booked a hotel.¡± Lu Yanchuan reached out to take Qiao Yi¡¯s luggage and headed outside the airport. Was he being too overbearing? She didn¡¯t say she wanted to go with him! Qiao Yi stomped her feet and hurried after him. How could she not? All her belongings were in his hands! ¡°Are those two following us?¡± Qiao Yi checked the rearview mirror for the third time. The white SUV had been following their car ever since they left the airport. ¡°Are Lu Ming and Qiao Xin also staying at the hotel you booked?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe it¡¯s a coincidence.¡± Lu Yanchuan was noncommittal, and Qiao Yi looked back at the pursuing car again, feeling that something was off. It took the car two hours to reach the hotel, and Qiao Yi got out feeling sick as a dog. Who would have thought that driving in the country of F could be so challenging, with all the turns and traffic jams, that even someone who didn¡¯t get carsick like her nearly met her demise in the car. ¡°Are you alright?¡± A piece of paper was handed to her side, and Qiao Yi wiped her mouth and shook her head disheveled. Lu Yanchuan walked in with a suitcase in one hand and Qiao Yi in the other, as if she were a little chick. The two had just entered the hotel when Lu Ming and Qiao Xin arrived shortly after, both looking a bit pale, especially Lu Ming, who even felt that Lu Yanchuan had chosen this hotel just to make him suffer from carsickness. Heavens know that Lu Yanchuan had no intention of staying with them¡ªclearly he had made them follow on purpose. Qiao Xin didn¡¯t get carsick, but sitting in the car for such a long time was very uncomfortable for her. Seeing Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi snuggling up ahead and then looking at Lu Ming with a pale face beside her, jealousy and resentment in her heart grew wildly like vines. ¡°Let¡¯s go, get inside quickly. It¡¯s about to rain.¡± Lu Ming tugged at Qiao Xin and entered the hotel with his small bag. Qiao Xin looked down at her suitcase at her feet, then at Lu Ming, grinding her teeth in frustration. She must make Qiao Yi return to where she belongs, Lu Yanchuan must become her man! ¡°Achoo!¡± Qiao Yi suddenly sneezed loudly, rubbing her nose and wondering who was cursing her. However, turning her head to see Qiao Xin dragging her luggage into the hotel behind her, Qiao Yi knew who was cursing her. As Qiao Xin approached the front desk, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes shifted, and she suddenly leaned against Lu Yanchuan with a soft and tender voice. ¡°Yanchuan, I just sneezed. Do you think I¡¯m going to catch a cold? Could you get me some medicine, please?¡± Qiao Yi was disgusted by her own voice, but keeping an eye on Qiao Xin, she noticed Qiao Xin had an expression as if she had swallowed a fly, looking extremely unpleasant. Lu Yanchuan understood Qiao Yi¡¯s intentions all too well. Listening to her affected voice, he inexplicably wanted her to keep talking. He must be sick. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you back to your room first.¡± Qiao Yi completely relaxed and leaned on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, feeling perfectly justified in being a human arm ornament in front of Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin looked at the intimate scene between the two, with jealousy written all over her face. ¡°Qiao Xin, remember your position, you are still my wife.¡± Lu Ming suddenly stepped in front of Qiao Xin, looking at her emotionlessly. Qiao Xin was startled, then sneered. ¡°Please make sure you remember our agreement, or don¡¯t blame me for turning heartless!¡± Qiao Xin pushed Lu Ming aside and chased after Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi, leaving Lu Ming standing there with a twisted expression. The receptionist watched Lu Ming¡¯s fierce expression carefully, fearing he might take his anger out on her at the slightest disagreement. Fortunately, Lu Ming¡¯s phone rang at that moment, interrupting his emotional state. ¡°I¡¯ve arrived in country F, and I will personally check this afternoon. You guys need to pull out this morning; anything that can¡¯t be taken must be burned on site.¡± A disbelieving gasp came from the other end of the phone. Lu Ming, with impatience creasing his brow, waited for the person on the other end to calm down before speaking. ¡°You should know what the consequences would be if these things are found out. Now, immediately, destroy anything that cannot be taken away! You know the consequences if you don¡¯t!¡± Lu Ming hung up after saying this but turned to see Qiao Yi looking at him thoughtfully. Did she hear? How much did she hear? Lu Ming was internally alarmed, almost unable to maintain his composure. ¡°Please send two dinners to my room, thanks.¡± Qiao Yi only glanced at Lu Ming, then no longer paid him any attention, instead giving instructions to the receptionist before turning away. Lu Ming¡¯s heartbeat thundered, the tension from just a moment ago nearly overwhelming him. Thankfully, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t seem to have heard what he said. Back in her room, thoughts of Lu Ming¡¯s words circled in Qiao Yi¡¯s mind. Destruction? What did he need to destroy? ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Yi bumped head-first into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s back, who then turned around. From his tranquil eyes, she saw an inexplicable innocence. How can this man walk so quietly! Lu Yanchuan looked completely innocent. It was Qiao Yi who had bumped into him; how could she blame him? ¡°By the way, what kind of business does Lu Group mainly run in country F? Do they need to destroy any materials recently?¡± Qiao Yi asked, rubbing her nose. Lu Yanchuan looked at her curiously for a moment before responding. ¡°Lu Group mainly operates IT technology development in country F. Over here we only have one electronic information company, with all work conducted online; there is no need for any physical materials.¡± This answer was unexpected, yet Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t surprised in her heart. Hesitating briefly, Qiao Yi recounted to Lu Yanchuan the conversation she had overheard downstairs. ¡°I heard Lu Ming talking about destroying something and fearing discovery; could it be some issue with his own business in country F?¡± Based on her impression of Lu Ming, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t think positively. Her mind was filled with the possibility of illegal activities. ¡°Lu Ming indeed has his own company, a fashion design company, but it¡¯s not located in country F, nor does it involve any materials that need to be kept secret.¡± Now that¡¯s interesting. Qiao Yi questioned Lu Yanchuan, and the only recent occurrence requiring a trip to country F for Lu Group was what he was handling. If Lu Ming¡¯s visit wasn¡¯t due to Lu Group or his own company, then why did he come to country F? Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Disappearing Farm Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Disappearing Farm ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to investigate this matter; you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about myself; I just don¡¯t want Lu Ming¡¯s wrongdoing to implicate Lu Group, especially since dad has been very good to me.¡± Qiao Yi fiddled with her fingers as she explained, but the explanation seemed overly defensive, which only made Lu Yanchuan chuckle. ¡°What are you laughing about! What¡¯s so funny! If Lu Ming does something illegal, it¡¯s your Lu Family that will be affected! And here you are laughing!¡± Qiao Yi, embarrassed and angry, decided not to bother with Lu Yanchuan anymore. However, holding back a smile, Lu Yanchuan seriously and earnestly admitted his mistake, coaxing Qiao Yi to talk to him again. ¡°I will thoroughly investigate the matter with Lu Ming, and I¡¯m certain he won¡¯t do anything that jeopardizes me¡­ and dad.¡± Lu Yanchuan deliberately elongated his tone, causing Qiao Yi to glare at him before he spoke properly. ¡°I¡¯ll go out this afternoon and probably won¡¯t be back very early. I¡¯ll get a separate room for myself; you don¡¯t have to wait for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Qiao Yi turned to him, frowning. She had serious business to handle; why would Lu Yanchuan come along! ¡°I know you came to F country to investigate the company¡¯s fund movements, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m here too.¡± Lu Yanchuan decided to lay his cards on the table and, under Qiao Yi¡¯s surprised and suspicious gaze, pulled out his investigation results. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Five months ago, there was a sum of money from Lu Group that mysteriously got transferred out. It was rapidly replaced, but the amount was substantial. It was moved without my approval, and whoever did it was meticulous with the accounts. By the time I found out, three months had already passed.¡± It¡¯s not just that this person was meticulous with the accounts; it¡¯s that they were highly skilled in manipulating people. If the money hadn¡¯t been replenished on time, the finance department would have had to report it early, as they wouldn¡¯t be able to shoulder the responsibility if things escalated. But the funds were replenished in time, the books balanced, and naturally, to avoid issues, the finance department wouldn¡¯t bring it up voluntarily until it came to light during the quarterly meeting. That¡¯s when Lu Yanchuan discovered the movement of the funds. After investigating for two months, the result was that the funds had once been transferred into an account in F country, then transferred back two days later. There are not many people in the company who can access liquid funds, but any executive level or above has the authority to move funds, and in special circumstances, it doesn¡¯t even require the CEO¡¯s approval. After hearing Lu Yanchuan speak, Qiao Yi also shared what she had entrusted Feng Siyu to investigate. Comparing both, the financial movements of the two companies were exactly the same, even ending up in the same account! ¡°There could be an internal mole in both of our companies.¡± And not just any mole, but one holding a high position! This was no small matter; Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan exchanged a look and left the room together. When Qiao Xin opened the door, she caught a glimpse of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hurried silhouettes and, after a moment of hesitation, decided to follow them. ¡°Yuanyuan found a farmstead, and the trail ends at that estate. The main reason I came to F country this time is to check out the farmstead.¡± There are too many farmsteads in F country; they had passed by dozens just on the way there. Following the address Feng Siyu had given, they arrived at a desolate field instead. ¡°How could this be? This is indeed the address Yuanyuan gave me; how can there be nothing here?¡± Qiao Yi pulled out a photo from her bag. The quality was poor, but it clearly depicted the farmstead location they were at. However, all Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan could see was a wasteland stretching before them. A barren piece of land, without even a few weeds. Lu Yanchuan took the photo to compare and then stepped out of the car to inspect the barren land. Following him, Qiao Yi alighted from the car too, both unaware of the white SUV parked around the corner of the nearby path. ¡°This place used to be a farmstead. The spots without grass are very regular in shape and likely were buildings or storage previously, and among the grass, there are some sheep droppings. It must have been a sheep farm before, but it¡¯s unclear when it was all moved out, so thoroughly and cleanly.¡± ¡°It must be that someone discovered Yuanyuan was investigating this! That¡¯s why they were prepared and moved out in advance!¡± Qiao Yi was both angry and regretful. She had asked Feng Siyu to investigate just so the person moving the funds wouldn¡¯t know she was on to them. But it wasn¡¯t just Qiao Family; they had also tampered with Lu Group. Aside from these two companies, who knows how many others had been affected by their fund movements! ¡°It¡¯s my fault for being so rash. If I had known, I would have investigated it myself and not let this culminate like a rabbit hiding away!¡± Qiao Yi was so angry she kicked the ground, while Lu Yanchuan shook his head and guided her back to the car. ¡°We definitely won¡¯t find what we¡¯re looking for here. Let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°Wait, I want to look around some more. Maybe we¡¯ve come to the wrong place?¡± Qiao Yi was hesitant and unwilling to get into the car. ¡°How about we ask around the nearby farmsteads? They might know something about this place.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled Lu Yanchuan towards the car. ¡°Hurry up, let¡¯s go ask at the farmstead we just passed by! They¡¯re so close; they must know something!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s sudden excitement made Lu Yanchuan unable to help but smile as he let her drag him into the car, urging the driver to head for the nearest farmstead to inquire. After Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car left, Qiao Xin slowly drove to where they had alighted from their vehicle. The sun cast a reflection on the ground and a flash of blinding light caught Qiao Xin¡¯s attention. She bent over in the dirt and picked up a cufflink. The exquisitely crafted sapphire cufflink was clearly valuable and not something just anyone could afford. Turning the cufflink over in her hand, Qiao Xin saw a small engraved letter on the back. ¡°L? Lu?¡± A single letter was insufficient to determine the owner of the cufflink, but Qiao Xin put it away carefully. From the way Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan were acting, perhaps this cufflink might prove useful to her in the future. Meanwhile, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan had arrived at the nearest farmstead. They explained their purpose and were warmly welcomed by the owner. The farm owner, an amiable F country gentleman, upon hearing about Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan¡¯s request, began to talk about the neighboring farmstead. ¡°The owner of that farmstead is quite peculiar. He doesn¡¯t stay there usually, only coming occasionally with a group of people. I don¡¯t know what they do there, but there¡¯s always a strange smell. It doesn¡¯t disappear until after they¡¯ve left.¡± Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44 We Go One-on-One Chapter 44: Chapter 44 We Go One-on-One ¡°Do you know when the neighboring farm moved away?¡± Qiao Yi asked the question and immediately saw the uncle visibly stunned, replying in astonishment. ¡°He moved? Three days ago when I went to the supermarket, I still saw the farm owner bringing a group of people to the farm. I was curious why that distinct odd smell from the farm was absent today. So he actually moved away?¡± After exchanging glances with Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi realized that they must have received the news three days ago and moved away early all at once. Thinking for a moment, Qiao Yi asked, ¡°Do you remember what the owner of the farm looks like?¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t hold out much hope for this question; expecting a regular uncle to remember a neighbor he didn¡¯t see often was asking too much of him. But contrary to Qiao Yi¡¯s expectations, the uncle did remember what he looked like. ¡°The man had a small mustache, a limp in his left foot, and wasn¡¯t tall¡ªdidn¡¯t seem like a good person at first glance, and he was always carrying a black briefcase.¡± It wasn¡¯t that the uncle had a great memory; it was just that this neighbor had characteristics that were hard to forget, even if you¡¯d only met him once. Unable to tell if she was disappointed, Qiao Yi could find a whole bunch of mustachioed, limping men, but which one was it? Surely she couldn¡¯t have the uncle confirm each and every one she found, could she? After bidding farewell to the produce uncle, Qiao Yi listlessly got into the car heading back to the hotel. The trail was lost, and for such a deep-rooted cancer between the Qiao Family and Lu Group, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t think of a proper solution. If she couldn¡¯t figure it out, then don¡¯t think about it; when the sky falls, there will be taller people to hold it up. Qiao Yi decided to go back and just report the matter to Qiao Benqing and let him investigate further. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï By the time the car returned to the hotel, it was already dark. A very familiar car drove across from them, and Qiao Xin got out of the car. Qiao Xin walked past Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan with her head held high in arrogance. Qiao Yi gave her a puzzled glance, not quite understanding what this woman was up to now. Wasn¡¯t she supposed to shamelessly cling to Lu Yanchuan whenever she saw him? How come she¡¯s acting reserved now? Qiao Yi turned to look at Lu Yanchuan, no mistake¡ªstill very handsome and pleasing to the eye. So why was his charm not enough for Qiao Xin today? Before Qiao Yi could figure it out, another car arrived behind them, and out stepped Lu Ming. However, Lu Ming¡¯s appearance surprised both Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. Lu Ming was covered in layers of dust, looking as if there were still ashes remaining on him, appearing extremely disheveled. ¡°Did you go digging coal mines?¡± Qiao Yi looked at the black dust on Lu Ming. His face turned even uglier, ignoring Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan and heading into the hotel. Watching the irritable Lu Ming pushing past the security, she nudged Lu Yanchuan. ¡°He didn¡¯t really go and do something shady, did he?¡± Lu Yanchuan was cold as ice, completely disdainful of Lu Ming, and he dragged Qiao Yi past the Lu Ming who was entangled with the security guard, heading into the hotel. ¡°Qiao Qiao, when are you coming back? How is the investigation going? I¡¯m suffocating at home!¡± Feng Siyu was holding her phone and complaining. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to worry her with the news of the missing estate, and only after promising to return early and finally mollifying Feng Siyu did she hang up the phone. Qiao Yi put down the phone and immediately saw Lu Yanchuan looking at her with a strange expression, which made her feel tense all over and involuntarily shrink back. ¡°What are you doing, looking at me like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just wondering if it¡¯s because of Feng Siyu that you don¡¯t want to marry Lu Ming.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Qiao Yi asked reflexively, while Lu Yanchuan said it was nothing, but the eyes behind his newspaper still sneakily glanced at Qiao Yi. A good while passed before Qiao Yi finally understood what Lu Yanchuan meant! He suspected her of being a lesbian! This was outrageous! Did he forget about the incident that happened that day? Qiao Yi was surprisingly furious, grabbing a pillow nearby and smashing it towards Lu Yanchuan, her whole person also screamed and pounced to fight him to the death. ¡°How dare you think that way! You¡¯re dead meat!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s small frame was not enough for Lu Yanchuan to be bothered with one hand; he easily pinned her on the bed while she still glared at him with those big eyes. ¡°Come on, let me go! Let¡¯s go one on one!¡± Lu Yanchuan was finally amused by Qiao Yi¡¯s antics and laughed, the tremors in his laughter allowed Qiao Yi to distinctly feel the warmth of the man pressing down on her. Qiao Yi blushed, struggling hard to overturn Lu Yanchuan, to break free from his embrace. ¡°Ah! You two! You two!¡± Suddenly, a sharp scream came from the door. Before Qiao Yi could react, Lu Yanchuan had already pulled her tightly into the covers. Struggling out of the blanket, Qiao Yi looked towards the door, only to see a pale-faced Qiao Xin standing there, speechless and pointing at the two of them inside the room. ¡°Do you have something to say? If not, don¡¯t disturb our couple¡¯s private world, okay?¡± Qiao Yi wiggled and nudged towards Lu Yanchuan, who then held her along with the blanket into his arms. Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned from green to white and finally reddened, looking at Lu Yanchuan as if she was looking at a heartless man. ¡°How, how could you treat me this way!¡± Qiao Yi felt it was necessary to interrupt Qiao Xin¡¯s illusions, struggling out of the blanket and after tidying up her clothes, Qiao Yi then stood up and faced Qiao Xin. ¡°Look, can you not stare at someone else¡¯s man with those eyes? Can¡¯t your own man satisfy you? If you¡¯re unsatisfied, go out on the street to pick up, surely you can get the amount you want.¡± ¡°See, I even gave you such a good idea; shouldn¡¯t you be leaving now? If you don¡¯t go, I¡¯ll call security!¡± Qiao Yi caught the slap that Qiao Xin threw at her, pulling her towards the exit. ¡°Look at you, even if you like the suggestion I made, there¡¯s no need to be so excited, right? Move it, don¡¯t waste time.¡± Qiao Yi dragged Qiao Xin by the arm all the way, completely ignoring her struggles and screams, directly pushed her out, and with a bang, closed the door firmly. ¡°Lu Yanchuan, the hotel security you arranged seems not very effective, how can just anyone barge into the room?¡± Qiao Yi leaned against the wall with her arms folded, though it wasn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan¡¯s fault, it was still somewhat related to him, and Qiao Yi didn¡¯t mind mocking him about it. Lu Yanchuan did not agree or disagree, grabbing his coat and heading out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To deal with these guys who always like running into other people¡¯s rooms.¡± Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Childhood Sweethearts Qiao Yi swore that if anyone dared to tell her again that Lu Yanchuan was some kind of heroic, ruthless, decisive, and cold person, she would fight tooth and nail with them! This is clearly just a thug in wolf¡¯s clothing! What does he mean by saying letting others into his room would affect their marital nightlife? What does he mean by not wanting to see anyone outside his room at night, or else he would accuse the hotel of invading their privacy? Why does every word he says sound so righteous and justified, yet leads to such wild speculation! Qiao Yi could already feel the weird glances from the hotel staff, and some were even snickering! This is unbearable! Before Qiao Yi could drag Lu Yanchuan to their mutual doom, Lu Yanchuan finally concluded his complaint. After receiving a sincere apology and a stern assurance from the hotel, he then took Qiao Yi back to their room. Qiao Yi decided not to speak to this man because she didn¡¯t want to be angered to an early grave. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s phone had been ringing non-stop ever since they got back to the room, and Qiao Yi saw Lu Yanchuan busy replying to messages before she fell asleep. It was only during breakfast the next day that Qiao Yi learned that Lu Ming had left the country overnight, not even waiting until the flight in the next afternoon; he hastened to P Country the same night to catch the earliest flight back home. Lu Ming left in a hurry, but Qiao Yi recalled his appearance from the evening before and felt she might have overlooked something. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have the energy to ponder Lu Ming¡¯s affairs because she was approached by another trouble. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°So you¡¯re Yanchuan¡¯s wife?¡± Qiao Yi looked at the young girl in front of her with an unfriendly expression, and turned her eyes in confusion to Lu Yanchuan sitting beside her. Lu Yanchuan looked as if his eyes were fixed on his nose and his nose fixed on his heart, turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to the commotion. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, didn¡¯t you hear me? How can you be so impolite!¡± The girl looked to be in her early twenties at most, her appearance naturally lively and cute, but her face was marred by an aura of arrogance and rudeness. Qiao Yi had no interest in reasoning with such a girl, and after taking another glance at Lu Yanchuan, she turned to walk away, intending to go shopping. ¡°Stop right there! Didn¡¯t your parents teach you how to speak to people? You¡­¡± ¡°If you say one more word, I¡¯ll throw you down from the thirtieth floor.¡± Qiao Yi turned around emotionlessly, her black eyes calm without a ripple, but it inexplicably sent chills down one¡¯s spine. The girl had been spoiled for over twenty years, never encountering such icy gazes, and was suddenly too scared to say another word, her eyes in a panic as she looked toward Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi disliked proud and impolite people, like Qiao Xin, and like this inexplicable young girl in front of her. ¡°Little girl, the next time you come out looking for trouble, you¡¯d better know if the person you¡¯re provoking is someone you can afford to mess with, otherwise you¡¯ll end up being thrown down from a building sometime.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s expression softened, but the girl no longer dared to look her in the eye, clenching her hands in a defiant manner. Disrupted by the girl¡¯s scene, Qiao Yi lost the mood to go out shopping. She rolled her eyes, walked over, and sat down on the solo sofa beside Lu Yanchuan, tilting her head up slightly to look at the girl. ¡°Speak up, who are you, and who told you about Lu Yanchuan and me coming to F Country?¡± ¡°Yanchuan, Brother¡­¡± The little girl seemed to be terrified by Qiao Yi, looking at Lu Yanchuan with a pitiful gaze, hoping he would speak up for her. Unfortunately, she should not have sought help from Lu Yanchuan¡ªdidn¡¯t she see that he didn¡¯t even glance her way? ¡°When I¡¯m talking to you, if you don¡¯t want to answer, then please leave my room, or else I¡¯ll call security.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s voice sounded like a death knell in the little girl¡¯s ears. Through their brief exchange, Qiao Yi came to understand who this little girl was. She was the daughter of Lu Xiaohua¡¯s best friend¡¯s family, named Bai Lingling. Because her mother and Lu Xiaohua were close, she often visited the Lu Family when she was young. By seniority, she should address Lu Yanchuan as Uncle, but ever since she first met him when she was in her teens, she never called him Uncle, always Brother instead. When they were little, Lu Xiaohua and Bai Lingling¡¯s mother tried to correct her, but as the children grew older, how could they not see Bai Lingling¡¯s hidden affection? With a bit of selfishness, they let Bai Lingling continue her ways. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s indifference didn¡¯t deter Bai Lingling; instead, she fought on with even more determination, not giving up even when she went abroad for studies. What she didn¡¯t expect was that after only two years abroad, her beloved Yanchuan already had a wife¡ªand this wife was so much more beautiful than her, with a much better family background, too! No one knew how hard she had worked to catch up to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s footsteps. But now all of that was impossible, because sitting by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side was his wife today! Struck by this revelation, Bai Lingling showed her resilience. After recovering from the shock of Qiao Yi¡¯s threat, she held back her feelings and sat down beside Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Yanchuan Brother, it¡¯s so rare for you to visit me, can¡¯t you stay a few more days before leaving? I¡¯ll take you around and have a good time here.¡± Oh my, Qiao Yi almost melted at the calling of ¡®Yanchuan Brother,¡¯ her gaze playfully turning to Lu Yanchuan, curious about his thoughts on this childhood friend. Qiao Yi absolutely refused to admit the slight discomfort in her heart! ¡°Bai Lingling, I¡¯m not here to see you, and I¡¯ve told you not to get so close to me. Otherwise, I really want to throw you off the 30th floor.¡± ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Bai Lingling glared at her fiercely, but Qiao Yi just couldn¡¯t stop laughing, sliding down into the sofa. Lu Yanchuan propped up the helpless Qiao Yi, letting her lean on him, and only after a while did he manage to calm her down. Qiao Yi was impressed by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s ability to irritate people¡ªshe could not fathom how Bai Lingling had endured all these years, to actually fall for such a man. No doubt, Bai Lingling¡¯s perseverance was truly admirable. ¡°I still have things to do, I¡¯ll visit you some other time¡­¡± Bai Lingling ran off crying. Qiao Yi really wanted to see if she was actually crying, but just as she started to sit up, Lu Yanchuan pulled her back onto the sofa. ¡°Very funny?¡± ¡°Hahaha¡ª¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice carried a hint of a threat, and Qiao Yi immediately closed her mouth and shook her head vigorously, but laughter isn¡¯t something that can be contained just by closing one¡¯s mouth. Muffled sounds escaped through Qiao Yi¡¯s lips, as if releasing some kind of gas non-stop. ¡°I¡¯ve booked a flight for tomorrow afternoon. If you want to go shopping, better do it quickly.¡± Lu Yanchuan casually let go of Qiao Yi, acting as if nothing had happened. Qiao Yi, rubbing her face, stood up from the sofa and, still unable to suppress her laughter at the look of Lu Yanchuan, cheerfully left the room with her purse in hand. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Didnt Give You the Chance to Seduce Someone Elses Husband Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Didn¡¯t Give You the Chance to Seduce Someone Else¡¯s Husband Bai Lingling surprisingly hadn¡¯t left; she was waiting for Qiao Yi to come down in the lobby on the first floor. When Qiao Yi saw Bai Lingling, she was taken aback for a moment. Hadn¡¯t this girl left already? Why was she still here, lying in wait like a hunter? ¡°I know you married Yanchuan, but don¡¯t think that you can have Yanchuan completely. He will definitely be mine!¡± ¡°Miss Bai, you¡¯re also twenty-two this year; you should be an adult. I suggest you watch less of those senseless novels and stop living in a fantasy world! Oh, I forgot to tell you, our marriage was actually Yanchuan¡¯s own initiative!¡± Qiao Yi made a helpless expression, and under Bai Lingling¡¯s furious gaze, she turned and left. Bullying children truly brought no pleasure; Qiao Yi felt it was much more satisfying to have a showdown with Qiao Xin. Just thinking about Qiao Xin, she looked up to see Qiao Xin walking towards her. Without a word, Qiao Xin raised her hand to slap Qiao Yi. Her little prowess didn¡¯t even register in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes. With a lift of her hand, she caught Qiao Xin¡¯s slap and flung her aside. ¡°What on earth did you do! Why did Dad call and scold me? Did you badmouth me to Dad!¡± Qiao Xin was furiously irate, ready to devour Qiao Yi in the next moment. ¡°Dad scolded you, and you don¡¯t ask him why, but instead, you come to me? Qiao Xin, is there something wrong with your brain?¡± First provoked by the brat, and then by Qiao Xin, it was exasperating. Qiao Xin, with an unscrupulous attitude, kept cursing at Qiao Yi, adamant that it was her doing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Qiao Yi, becoming impatient, rolled her eyes and was about to leave but was caught by Qiao Xin, who wouldn¡¯t let her go. ¡°Can you at least act like a human? Even if you accuse me of tattling to Dad, could you at least clearly state what I¡¯m supposed to have reported? If you keep making these dirty accusations, watch out¡ªI might just slap you!¡± Gentlemen speak and don¡¯t resort to violence. Qiao Yi never considered herself a gentleman; she preferred action rather than wasting words. It wasn¡¯t the first time Qiao Xin had been hit by Qiao Yi, and seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s hand raised, she instinctively dodged backward. After realizing what she had done, Qiao Xin became even more enraged. ¡°Qiao Yi! You well know that Lu Ming and I were forced to be together, and instead of repenting for stealing Lu Yanchuan from me, you¡¯re now using such despicable tactics to bind me and Lu Ming together! Give me back my Lu Yanchuan!¡± Qiao Yi understood, probably because of what Qiao Benqing said a few days ago about re-arranging Qiao Xin¡¯s job. He had already made up his mind. Qiao Xin hadn¡¯t refused before; she had counted on getting a job at the Lu Group to be in close contact with Lu Yanchuan. But Qiao Benqing¡¯s words shattered her fantasy, for he had arranged her to be Lu Ming¡¯s assistant! She wouldn¡¯t be able to see Lu Yanchuan at all! How could Qiao Xin be willing to accept this arrangement? But Qiao Benqing was very determined, and she didn¡¯t have the right to refuse. After receiving this news, Qiao Xin¡¯s first reaction was that Qiao Yi must have said something behind her back. It must be because she was afraid that if Xin entered Lu Group, she would be in frequent contact with Lu Yanchuan! That¡¯s why she wanted to use this method to prevent her from seeing Lu Yanchuan! Qiao Yi had almost completely guessed Qiao Xin¡¯s thoughts¡ªnot because she could foretell the future, but because what Qiao Xin was thinking was written all over her face. ¡°Qiao Xin, listen carefully. I have nothing to do with your job arrangement. Of course, if you are convinced that I¡¯m the one who sabotaged things, then continue to think that way. I don¡¯t care.¡± Qiao Yi crossed her arms and looked Qiao Xin up and down, ending with a disdainful curl of her lip. ¡°It¡¯s really funny, what makes you think you have the right to come after me with accusations? Is it because I didn¡¯t give you the chance to seduce someone else¡¯s husband? You¡¯ve lived for twenty-seven years, and all you¡¯ve learned is how to lure married men?¡± Qiao Xin was stung by Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze, opened her mouth to retort, but was left speechless by Qiao Yi¡¯s sharp words. Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t finished speaking, clicking her tongue as if she were judging a product, scrutinizing Qiao Xin from her fashion taste to her looks, with every aspect attracting Qiao Yi¡¯s sarcastic remarks. In the end, Qiao Yi glanced at the time and let out a cold snort. ¡°With the likes of you, even if you stood naked in front of Yanchuan, he probably wouldn¡¯t spare you a glance. You really think too highly of yourself, it¡¯s hilarious!¡± Qiao Yi pulled sunglasses out of her purse, put them on, and forcefully bumped Qiao Xin¡¯s shoulder as she walked out. Qiao Xin glared at Qiao Yi¡¯s departing figure, debating whether to rush up and fight with her when suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s have a talk, shall we?¡± Without that annoying person around, Qiao Yi happily went on a shopping spree, returning to the hotel with her spoils and the setting sun behind her. In the room, the bed was piled high with items, and Qiao Yi was trying on a dress. ¡°How does it look, good or not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful! I love this one! I want it!¡± The bedside cabinet had Qiao Yi¡¯s phone video open, and Feng Siyu on the other end was practically glistening with excitement at the sight of the dress on Qiao Yi, as if he wished he could reach through the screen and strip her of it right then. ¡°I knew you would like this one! I got two!¡± Qiao Yi flipped another dress out from a pile of shopping bags, waving it in front of the camera, and packed the dress into the suitcase amidst Feng Siyu¡¯s continuous confessions of ¡°baby, I love you.¡± Lu Yanchuan was sitting on the sofa, the documents in his hand had gone quite some time without being turned. When Qiao Yi returned in the afternoon, Lu Yanchuan had already observed the twenty or so different-sized shopping bags in her hands, aware of the fruits of her shopping victories. Only after they finished dinner and darkness fell, did the hotel staff knock on the door, stating they had delivered all the items Qiao Yi bought, and had already brought them up. Lu Yanchuan looked at the entire cart of goods and was genuinely stunned by Qiao Yi¡¯s shopping prowess. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even glance at Lu Yanchuan, lovingly had the cart pushed in, then called Feng Siyu. For two whole hours, these two spent all their time just trying on and discussing clothes! The cartful of goods, now less than half had been dealt with! ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯ve got my eye on a perfume, the scent is simply heavenly, the kind that could take you to the sky with a single whiff!¡± Qiao Yi mysteriously dug out a small pouch from the pile, taking out a small box, which in turn had another small box inside. Wrapped layer by layer, it took five layers for Lu Yanchuan to finally see the true face of this miraculous perfume. This single perfume bottle, not even half the size of his hand, was more expensive than the entire haul of Qiao Yi¡¯s stuff. Lu Yanchuan, though not concerned about the money, genuinely couldn¡¯t understand what Qiao Yi needed all these things for, and felt a certain itch himself. Qiao Yi, discussing perfumes with Feng Siyu, turned her head to see Lu Yanchuan holding a pink box and immediately cried out. ¡°Put it down!¡± Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Flattery Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Flattery Qiao Yi¡¯s piercing scream sounded as if her tail had been stepped on; Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand trembled, and the box dropped to the ground, where two elliptical, very bouncy, and puffy little pads rolled out. Lu Yanchuan bent down to pick up the items, but Qiao Yi beat him to it, stuffing them back into the box and clutching it to her chest. ¡°You! What are you doing! Why are you messing with my stuff!¡± Qiao Yi looked at Lu Yanchuan defensively like a startled rabbit, her blush made Lu Yanchuan involuntarily swallow. ¡°What just fell out?¡± Those two little pads seemed to be nice to the touch, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t get a good look before Qiao Yi snatched them away, her nervousness made him very curious. Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned an even deeper shade of red as she shoved the box to the very bottom of her suitcase, calming down a bit. ¡°There was nothing! You saw it wrong! And stop riffling through my things without permission!¡± Qiao Yi bared her teeth, threatening Lu Yanchuan, who grew even more curious about what she was hiding. Perhaps afraid that Lu Yanchuan would dig through her stuff again, Qiao Yi rummaged through a shopping bag for a while, then sneakily took several pastel-colored boxes to the bathroom and finished packing them into her suitcase before coming out. This wasn¡¯t about thwarting thieves anymore; Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze at Lu Yanchuan was as if she were looking at a lascivious and starving wolf. Lu Yanchuan touched his nose, feeling his curiosity was justified, so why was Qiao Yi so tense? Feng Siyu didn¡¯t know what Qiao Yi had frantically done; after she returned, he messaged her, and upon reading her reply, he couldn¡¯t help but snicker lewdly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°You¡¯ve seen it anyway, is there really something left unseen?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth, or you¡¯ll be left without a single piece of clothing!¡± Qiao Yi was infuriated and embarrassed; if Feng Siyu had been there, a beating would have been inevitable. After a long video call with Feng Siyu and unpacking most of the parcels, Qiao Yi finally hung up the call. There were still some parcels left, all gifts for her parents and friends and relatives. Not something to be opened now. To pack everything, Qiao Yi had even bought several suitcases, which were now lined up at the doorway, awaiting their trip to the airport the next day. From evening till late into the night, she packed and repacked until only one last bag on the bed remained. Hesitating for a moment, Qiao Yi tossed the final bag into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. ¡°Next time you want to open something, open your own stuff, not someone else¡¯s.¡± Surprisingly, she had bought him something too. Lu Yanchuan raised an eyebrow, opened the box, and found a pair of glasses inside. ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing special, just that you always look at phones and computers, wearing this will protect your eyes.¡± Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t admit that she actually wanted to see if Lu Yanchuan, wearing glasses, would appear more like a graceful but degenerate man. Lu Yanchuan was always immaculately slicked back at the office, looking sharp and ruthless. But now, slouched on the sofa with his hair casually spread out, he seemed rather laid back. Lu Yanchuan put on the glasses, pulled at the frame with one hand, and suddenly heard a ¡°click¡±. Qiao Yi quickly put away her phone, pretending nothing had happened and looked at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°That thing, how¡¯s the frame? Is it comfortable? If it¡¯s not, I can go exchange it tomorrow before flying.¡± Lu Yanchuan pretended not to have noticed Qiao Yi taking a photo of him, looking around the room, then glanced at the documents in his hand and nodded. ¡°Not bad, pretty comfortable.¡± Qiao Yi let out a sigh of relief and ran off with a forced smile on her face. Lu Yanchuan picked up his phone and looked at his reflection on the phone screen, thinking for the first time that having a good-looking ¡°shell¡± wasn¡¯t so bad after all. Hiding in the bathroom, Qiao Yi filled the bathtub with water and lay down in it. She enlarged the photo of Lu Yanchuan she had just taken and gazed at it over and over. How can this guy be so handsome! Especially with those gold-rimmed glasses, he¡¯s like a devil in disguise! She really wanted to gobble him up! Not only was Qiao Yi drooling over his looks, but Feng Siyu was also bombarding her with messages that were too risqu¨¦ for Gu Ting to see. The two infatuated admirers drooled over him for a while, and under the urging of a certain infatuated Feng, Qiao Yi decided to sneak another photo of the sophisticated rogue sprawled on the couch. Wrapped in a large bath towel, Qiao Yi stealthily opened the bathroom door and found the perfect angle to snap countless shots with her camera¡¯s shutter before quickly retreating to check the photos she had taken. Indeed, a handsome person looks good in any photo! Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bear to delete any of the images. After sending two pictures to Feng Siyu, she planned to hold onto the rest for her own leisurely enjoyment. ¡°Do you like them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re beautiful! So handsome! He¡¯s going to be the man of my dreams!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Qiao Yi stiffened, slowly lifting her gaze from her ¡°dream man¡¯s¡± chest all the way to his face. Lu Yanchuan was sporting a hint of a smile, and that subtle curve made Qiao Yi feel like she was the butt of an endless joke. He was mocking her, wasn¡¯t he? Right? Right! Qiao Yi was so embarrassed she nearly dug herself a Barbie Dreamhouse with her toes, and it was then that Lu Yanchuan finally spoke. ¡°If you like looking, then just look openly. You have every right to look at me, why act like you¡¯re sneaking around like a thief?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words suddenly made Qiao Yi realize something. Right! She was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lawful wife! They were officially married! With this thought, Qiao Yi lifted her head boldly and stared at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face without letting go, even feeling a strong urge to reach out and touch it. Lu Yanchuan was amused by her infatuated little expression and reached out to pinch Qiao Yi¡¯s chin, planting a kiss on her lips. Qiao Yi¡¯s entire body flushed, but she didn¡¯t hide away, just looked at Lu Yanchuan with a silly expression. As they had been so close, Qiao Yi¡¯s bath towel had loosened and slipped down a bit, revealing a generous view of her chest. A certain intense night flooded back into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s memory, making his eyes turn red. ¡°Get some rest early.¡± Lu Yanchuan tightened his hand that was hanging by his side but ended up letting it fall, walking past Qiao Yi and into the bathroom. Qiao Yi cradled her flushed face and curled up on the bed, her heart racing uncontrollably, and just like that, she drifted off to sleep. When Lu Yanchuan walked out of the bathroom with a chill about him, Qiao Yi was already snuggled under the covers, snoring softly. Lu Yanchuan, both amused and exasperated, lay down beside Qiao Yi. Perhaps sensing a familiar presence, Qiao Yi released the covers from her embrace, turned over, and nestled into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. ¡°Dirty rascal¡­¡± Just as Lu Yanchuan started to feel a bit of tender warmth, Qiao Yi¡¯s murmured protest broke the moment. He frowned and pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s cheek a few times before lying down with her in his arms. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Signing the Contract Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Signing the Contract Qiao Yi was called back to the Qiao Family the moment she returned to the country. ¡°What¡¯s this about the unusual capital movement? When did this happen? Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Qiao Yi had already mentioned this matter to Qiao Benqing while she was in country F. The last clue ended in country F, she had even gone to investigate in person but came up empty, and now she could only hand this troublesome matter over to Qiao Benqing to worry about himself. Qiao Yi reiterated everything she knew to Qiao Benqing, stressing that she had only become aware of the issue after the event occurred. ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t tell you sooner was that I was afraid that investigating too publicly might tip them off. But it seems they¡¯ve caught wind of it now, which is why they pulled out of country F before I arrived.¡± Qiao Benqing naturally knew that Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t conceal something like this from him, and there was no need for her to hide anything, so he believed her. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have someone keep an eye on this matter, but it serves as a reminder to us that we must be more careful with financial expenditures to avoid such problems in the future!¡± Qiao Benqing had seasoned experience in business; a minor issue like this wouldn¡¯t disturb him, but what truly mattered was another concern. ¡°The old city harbor project in Tian City has already been bid on, and Longjia and Tengxin actually used other companies to press down the price! If it weren¡¯t for Yanchuan helping, this project would have failed!¡± As Qiao Benqing spoke, his anger flared. The Sun Family was truly despicable; though malicious competition wasn¡¯t uncommon in business, the Sun Family always tried to manipulate things from behind the scenes, pushing forward companies that couldn¡¯t stand on their own to cause trouble! Qiao Yi knew that Qiao Benqing wasn¡¯t asking for advice, so she simply sat there, listening to his complaints, waiting for him to assign her the tasks. ¡°Three days later is the formal contract signing ceremony. The harbor project was initially secured under your name, so you will be the one facing Longjia and Tengxin for the signing. I get angry just thinking about those two companies!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Of course, his current anger was to prepare for even more severe revenge later. Qiao Yi agreed; signing a contract wasn¡¯t difficult. The reason Qiao Benqing wanted her to represent them was clear: the position Qiao Family held was nominal, and anyone seeing her involvement would know it was a role that involved collecting money without working. Having Qiao Yi sign the contract was a way to repay the Sun Family for their attitude towards the Qiao Family. Since the Sun Family was not sincere in cooperating with the Qiao Family, there was no reason for the Qiao Family to treat them seriously; a prominent idler was the perfect response. After discussing the company affairs, Qiao Yi recalled what Qiao Xin had said during a dispute in country F. ¡°Dad, are you really planning to send Qiao Xin to work as Lu Ming¡¯s assistant at Lu Group?¡± ¡°Yes, is there a problem?¡± Qiao Yi bit her lip, not knowing how to respond. When Qiao Xin and Lu Ming get together, wouldn¡¯t that mean constant storms at Lu Group, potentially ruining it? Besides, Qiao Xin was never someone interested in working properly. She was initially reluctant to work, let alone work with Lu Ming. ¡°The Qiao Family and Lu Family have been allies for generations. You and Yanchuan are currently on good terms, but it¡¯s always good to be prepared for a change of fortune. Having Xinxin stay at Lu Group gives us a card to play anytime.¡± Qiao Yi found it amusing inside as she looked at Qiao Benqing; her father wasn¡¯t unaware of Qiao Xin¡¯s nature¡ªsending her to Lu Group was essentially introducing a calamity there, causing trouble for Lu Group without lifting a finger. ¡°What are you thinking¡ªam I that sort of person?¡± Qiao Benqing tapped her on the head, and Qiao Yi chuckled without a word, but her expression said everything. ¡°The more important reason I¡¯m sending her to Lu Group is to foster a relationship between Xinxin and Lu Ming; their relationship seems a bit odd.¡± Of course it¡¯s odd, they aren¡¯t like a couple living a married life. Lu Ming only cared about the Lu Group shares Qiao Xin held, while Qiao Xin wished to offload Lu Ming, hoping to marry Lu Yanchuan instead. With such intentions, how could the two of them live peacefully? After talking a while, Zhao Wenjing knocked on the door, inviting them to come downstairs for a meal. As soon as she descended the stairs, Qiao Yi saw Lu Yanchuan sitting on the sofa. ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t I say I wasn¡¯t going back tonight?¡± Sometimes this man was unexpectedly clingy, making him hard to endure. It wasn¡¯t that his manner was off, but the way Lu Yanchuan had to follow wherever Qiao Yi went left her speechless. ¡°Dad said to have you come back tonight.¡± ¡°Or else you wouldn¡¯t have?¡± If you missed me, just say so; why use an elder as your shield? I wouldn¡¯t refuse to go with you.¡± Qiao Yi looked at Lu Yanchuan half-smiling, as if seeing right through his heart. Lu Yanchuan frowned, hesitated a moment, but ultimately said nothing. Although indeed sent by Old Mr. Lu, a few words from the old man weren¡¯t enough to make Lu Yanchuan drop his pride and come to the Qiao Family to fetch someone. With nothing more to say, as everybody seemed pleased, they finished their meal and Qiao Yi was ushered into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you just stay home instead of coming to fetch me?¡± Qiao Yi complained. She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to talk properly with Zhao Wenjing before she was whisked away. ¡°Did your father-in-law assign you to handle the signing ceremony?¡± ¡°Yes, dad just told me; how did you know?¡± Qiao Yi almost thought Lu Yanchuan was psychic¡ªbut then she remembered this project involved both Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan, so it wasn¡¯t strange he knew of the arrangements. ¡°Be extra cautious during the signing; I always feel the Sun Family isn¡¯t up to any good and won¡¯t easily sign the contract.¡± In fact, Qiao Benqing had been too hasty in handling this project. Or rather, Qiao Xin shouldn¡¯t have taken on this project, putting Qiao Family in its current predicament. Having nothing more to say, Qiao Yi nodded as an agreement. The car drove back to the Lu Mansion; by that time, Qiao Yi thought Old Mr. Lu would have already been resting. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s so late; why haven¡¯t you gone to sleep yet?¡± Qiao Yi welcomed him and helped Old Mr. Lu inside the house, and he laughed, holding her hand. However, Qiao Yi noticed Old Mr. Lu continually glanced at her stomach, making her very uncomfortable. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Kidnapping Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Kidnapping Qiao Yi felt that Old Mr. Lu was now so obsessed with having a grandson that he had nearly lost his mind. At this rate, if Old Mr. Lu doesn¡¯t go crazy, she will. How could a father-in-law stare at someone¡¯s belly every day? Qiao Yi felt so uneasy under Old Mr. Lu¡¯s gaze that her skin crawled. Unable to withstand such scrutiny, Qiao Yi hastily excused herself, claiming fatigue from flying, and dashed upstairs. Lu Yanchuan watched Qiao Yi flee in disarray with a smile, but he didn¡¯t expect that Old Mr. Lu, who hadn¡¯t managed to cling to Qiao Yi, had no intention of letting even him off the hook, ¡°Although I have always been asking Yiyi to nourish her body, having children is a matter for two people. Yiyi shouldn¡¯t always be the one to suffer. Shouldn¡¯t you also take some responsibility?¡± After being preached to by Old Mr. Lu for quite a while, Lu Yanchuan finally managed to escape back to his room. Now he finally understood how Qiao Yi felt whenever Old Mr. Lu stared at her, it really made one break out in a cold sweat! Qiao Yi snickered in the room, and only after being threatened by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze did she stop laughing and pretended to be busy. In the two days since Qiao Yi returned to the country, she had distributed all the souvenirs she brought back and took the opportunity to covertly gather quite a bit of information about the Sun Family. The Sun Family is a very special prominent family in Capital City. It wasn¡¯t until the arrival of the new century that the Sun Family gradually began to reveal their splendor. Although everyone knew the Sun Family was not a simple clan, no other family was willing to openly conflict with the Sun Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi asked many people, but they were all unfamiliar with the Sun Family, only aware that such a family existed, without knowing much else. The more the Sun Family kept to themselves, the more curious Qiao Yi became. In this era, making oneself so mysteriously low-key is not an easy task, one just doesn¡¯t know whether the Sun Family has other motives behind it. After inquiring from various sources without any results, Qiao Yi anxiously awaited the day of signing with a heart full of doubts. The bosses of Longjia and Tengxin are a pair of brothers, but their last name is not Sun, it¡¯s Shi. The boss of Longjia is the elder brother, named Shi Lei. The boss of Tengxin is the younger brother, named Shi Hui. Sitting between the two brothers, Qiao Yi looked like a beauty among two beasts. Nothing else, the Shi brothers have both put on weight and have beards, their plump figures sitting there like two bandits. However, these two bandits¡­ No, the Shi brothers, were quite cheerful, and their hearty laughter made them quite likable at first hearing. The signing ceremony was very successful, the brothers carefully inspected the contract brought by Qiao Yi, and after ensuring there were no issues, they happily signed their names. Qiao Yi smiled sweetly and the two burly men laughed heartily; the three of them, host and guests, seemed delighted, yet each harbored their own cunning plans. Qiao Yi silently mourned for these two men and the Sun Family thinking they had snagged a great bargain, but they had no idea they had taken a ticking time bomb from the hands of the Qiao Family. They couldn¡¯t know when the bomb would explode, obliterating them without a trace. Whereas the Shi brothers were secretly thrilled to have so easily secured the project from the Qiao Family¡¯s grasp, especially after seeing that the Qiao Family had only sent a newcomer like Qiao Yi to sign the contract, they were more convinced that the Qiao Family had truly given up on the project and had no ulterior motive to trap them. They had already appraised the project; once completed, the profits would far exceed the cost of acquisition. Although they had paid a very high price to snatch the project from other companies, the subsequent returns would definitely make them rich beyond measure! And perhaps through this project, they could finally break free from the Sun Family¡¯s control¡­ Qiao Yi had some drinks, recalling the incident where she went wild from drinking in front of Lu Yanchuan, she didn¡¯t dare to drink much, only pretending to be drunk after one glass before letting her assistant take her away. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car was parked outside, he saw Qiao Yi staggering out with assistance, he was about to drive over to pick her up when he saw her and the assistant get into a silver-white car, and as soon as they were in, the car drove off. Whose car was this? Did Qiao Benqing send someone to pick up Qiao Yi? Lu Yanchuan followed in his car, one hand steering while the other dialed Qiao Yi¡¯s number. The call was hung up after just one ring, Lu Yanchuan stared at the dark screen of his phone and dialed again. This time, the phone on the other end was powered off. Taking a corner, he suddenly saw a phone being thrown out from the car ahead, smashing into pieces on the ground as vehicles sped over it. Something happened to Qiao Yi! There was something wrong with the car ahead! Without a second thought, Lu Yanchuan grabbed his phone and made a call. The call was quickly answered, before the other party could speak, Lu Yanchuan said, ¡°I need an interception on a silver-white SUV eight-seater sedan, it is now on the middle section of Xihua Road, the license plate number is Capital ASB611.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yanchuan ended the call and floored the accelerator to continue the pursuit. Qiao Yi looked bewilderedly at the masked men around her, then at her assistant who was forcefully holding her down, not quite understanding what was happening. Didn¡¯t she make an excuse of being drunk to leave the restaurant? Wasn¡¯t it her assistant who was supposed to help her downstairs and take her home? How did she end up in this car? Who were all these people? Although Qiao Yi¡¯s thoughts were sluggish due to the alcohol, it didn¡¯t mean that the others in the car were the same. When they heard her phone ring, they immediately snatched it and hung up. ¡°Throw it out, power it off and throw it out, there might be tracking on her phone.¡± Who knew her so well? Qiao Yi heard a woman¡¯s voice, looked toward the front passenger seat, but only saw a pair of slender legs and a blue pleated skirt. A young girl, who was she? Qiao Yi frowned, forcibly twisting her wrists, but was held down even more tightly by the assistant, forbidden to move. As she saw her own phone being thrown out of the window, Qiao Yi instantly protested, kicking and struggling. ¡°Who are you people! Why are you throwing my phone away!¡± A drunk person strangely possessed enormous strength, it took three seats and two people exerting force on either side to barely control Qiao Yi. If there hadn¡¯t been limited space in the car, they definitely wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold her down. ¡°Is she even a woman, how can she have such strength!¡± Nobody thought that comment was a joke, especially after seeing Qiao Yi free a hand and punch out one of the assistant¡¯s teeth. The three men sitting in the last row joined in, grabbing Qiao Yi¡¯s hands to prevent her from moving. ¡°Keep it down, the car is still moving!¡± The woman in front reprimanded the commotion while Qiao Yi had one hand covered over her face; yet, she still saw the woman. It was her! How could it be her! Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Interception Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Interception ¡°Enough, drop me off ahead and find a place to get it done quickly, remember to take a good video!¡± The woman got out of the car by the roadside and hurried into the nearby mall. Lu Yanchuan only saw that car stopping by a mall entrance, and it seemed like someone got out. By the time Lu Yanchuan got closer, that person had already disappeared into the crowd. Looking up at the surveillance camera at the entrance of the mall, Lu Yanchuan made a call to have the footage pulled for his review. Qiao Yi could no longer struggle. One arm was being grasped by three hands, and both her legs were forcefully pinned down. A hand covered her mouth ¨C she was literally bound as tightly as could be. Someone had just injected something into her arm, not knowing what drug it was, but right now, she couldn¡¯t feel anything. The hand on her face had touched something foul; it was stenching and nauseating. As the old saying goes, liquor emboldens the coward. Though Qiao Yi was no coward, under the influence of alcohol, her rationale was slipping away. Her eyes widened and she bit down hard onto the hand that was covering her mouth. ¡°Ah!!!!¡± After a shrill scream, Qiao Yi faintly tasted blood in her mouth. Perhaps the scream inside the car was too horrific; many passersby gave the vehicle puzzled looks. ¡°Shut up! Make him shut up!¡± Someone let go of Qiao Yi to cover the mouth of the man who had screamed, and at this moment, Qiao Yi started to make noise and struggle again. The car cabin became a chaos once more. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 ¡°Don¡¯t let her cause trouble! There¡¯s a police checkpoint up ahead!¡± The driver yelled angrily from the front seat, and the people in the back pressed down on Qiao Yi with even greater force. Out of nowhere, a roll of duct tape appeared and with a few quick moves, they sealed Qiao Yi¡¯s mouth. Qiao Yi was utterly bound and trapped in the car, unable to move or shout, only then did the others in the car take a breath of relief. This was their line of work and they thought themselves professionals, but they had never encountered such a tough nut. Thinking of the task given by their boss, a few men began to leer at Qiao Yi, some of the bolder ones even started to touch her inappropriately. ¡°Keep your paws to yourselves. Until we¡¯ve arrived at the spot, no one is allowed to fool around!¡± ¡°Big brother, we can¡¯t even have a little fun to tide us over? Aren¡¯t you being a little too strict?¡± ¡°Hey hey, Six, what¡¯s the rush? Once the drugs kick in, are you afraid you won¡¯t have your turn to enjoy?¡± The leader had more to say, but suddenly a traffic cop who had been checking vehicles up front walked towards their car. ¡°Routine check, please show me your driver¡¯s license and registration.¡± It wasn¡¯t just one traffic cop who walked over, but three, with a few more looking in their direction from a distance. The boss¡¯s heart was pounding; these traffic cops couldn¡¯t have come at a worse time! He composed himself and handed over the driver¡¯s license and registration. The cop, after looking at them, didn¡¯t hand them back immediately, but instead walked to the back and tapped on the side door window. ¡°Roll down the window.¡± ¡°Officer, officer, my wife is changing clothes in the back, it would be inappropriate to roll down the window, right?¡± The leader forced a laugh looking towards the cop, his heart nearly jumping into his throat. ¡°` The place they chose to make their move was not some remote suburb¡ªacting in such a location was the least safe, and they also tried to choose a secure escape route. This road was next to a shopping mall, and coupled with the dense traffic and the large number of people, it was rare for traffic police to perform spot checks in the vicinity. Even if traffic police were present, they were typically directing traffic, not inspecting cars one by one. They had thoroughly investigated beforehand, yet they had the misfortune of encountering such an incident today¡ªit was as if they were cursed! The traffic policeman glanced at the man in the driver¡¯s seat, then looked at the rear window and waved to someone not too far away. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we have female officers here¡ªit won¡¯t be inconvenient.¡± I¡¯ll fucking kill you, you son of a bitch! Inside, the boss cursed the other to hell, but his eyes were scanning the surroundings, looking for a way to escape. Now the mission was impossible to accomplish; all he wanted was to escape from these traffic police, flee the country immediately, and come back after this tumultuous period had passed. The boss¡¯s hair stood on end with nerves, his fingers were poised on the seatbelt, ready to get out and run at any moment. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The boss froze completely, the dark muzzle of a gun resting against his head prevented any movement. ¡°Let¡¯s talk it out, please, let¡¯s talk!¡± ¡°Raise your hands!¡± The traffic policeman lowered his voice, speaking at a volume audible only to the two of them, directing the boss¡¯s hands away from the steering wheel. One door on the passenger¡¯s side opened, and a traffic policeman got in. As soon as he entered, he turned around, holding a gun in each hand, pointing at the person in the back seat. Everyone was stunned by this sudden twist, afraid to even breathe. The boss was in utter despair. Forced out of the car at gunpoint, it was only then that he realized just how many police officers were around. Trembling, he crouched on the ground, and as he watched a traffic policeman board the vehicle and take complete control of the car, he felt utterly defeated. Their operation had barely begun and had already come to such an end; it was infuriating enough to make someone spew blood. No chance to spew blood though, the boss was shoved into a police car, and the silver sedan was also taken under police custody, escorted to the station by a circle of police cars. Lu Yanchuan followed from a distance, only getting out of the car when they reached the police station to check on Qiao Yi. Seeing Qiao Yi tightly bound and being lifted out of the car, Lu Yanchuan was uncharacteristically enraged. Qiao Yi¡¯s face was flushed unnaturally. Lu Yanchuan quickly walked over, snatched her from the hands of two police officers, and turned to leave, holding her tight. Just as a young officer was about to tell him to put her down, he was knocked on the head by an older police officer nearby. ¡°Shut it. Interrogating these people properly is what you should be doing. That¡¯s the victim¡¯s family. Mind your own business with those folks; you can¡¯t handle it, got it?¡± Lu Yanchuan carried Qiao Yi back to the car and tore off the tape wrapped around her, but the tape over her mouth stuck to her hair, leaving him at a loss. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± As Lu Yanchuan was removing the tape from Qiao Yi, she clung to him bonelessly, panting heavily into his chest. ¡°Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi! Wake up!¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t hear Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice at all, she just rubbed against him instinctively. Veins on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s forehead throbbed, he suddenly stopped what he was doing, and after a long pause, he placed Qiao Yi onto the seat and returned to the driver¡¯s seat. With a press on the accelerator, he drove away. ¡°` Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 The One You Spend Your Life With Chapter 51: Chapter 51 The One You Spend Your Life With White bed sheets, white duvet cover, white pillows¡ªQiao Yi was certain this wasn¡¯t the Qiao Family home, nor was it any residence of Lu Yanchuan that she was familiar with. Qiao Yi abruptly sat up in bed, but no, it was just a twitch before she collapsed back down. An arm around her waist and severe pain all over her body prevented her from getting up. What¡¯s going on? How did she end up sleeping here? Qiao Yi foolishly stared at the ceiling for a good while before she gradually regained consciousness. Yesterday she had gone to sign a contract with people from Longjia and Teng and Xin families, then she used the excuse of being drunk to sneak out, and after that? A jumble of confused memories surged up one after another. Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned pale, and she trembled as she looked at the man beside her. Yesterday, she was taken onto a car, and then¡­ ¡°Why are you awake so early?¡± The arm around her waist tightened, and Qiao Yi was forced into a fiery embrace, the burning touch of skin leaving her completely rigid. Lu Yanchuan, eyes still closed, savored the silkiness beneath his hand, unwilling to let go, and gave in to himself, hugging her even tighter. ¡°Lu¡­ Lu Yanchuan! How could you¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean, how could I?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi was taken aback by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s retort and then was overwhelmed with uncontrollable anger. He still had the audacity to ask how? He, he! ¡°Sleep a bit longer, I¡¯ll take you to the Qiao Family soon.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s response was too nonchalant, it even made Qiao Yi wonder if she was overreacting. ¡°That¡¯s not right! How could you do this to me!¡± Qiao Yi struggled to sit up in the bed with her limbs, glaring angrily at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°What exactly have I done?¡± Lu Yanchuan propped himself up and looked down at Qiao Yi, while her gaze fell on the scratches across his chest¡ªenough to make Qiao Yi almost explode on the spot. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing clothes!¡± ¡°When I sleep with my wife, why do I need to wear clothes?¡± Choked by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s righteous attitude, Qiao Yi found herself unable to communicate normally with him. The discomfort in her body kept reminding her of the madness from last night. Qiao Yi really wanted to be as calm as Lu Yanchuan seemed to be, really wanted to blow him off with her nose, but the reality was that her face flushed red, she bit her lip and glared at Lu Yanchuan, unable to speak. ¡°Mmm!¡± Someone touched her lips. Qiao Yi quickly covered her mouth, staring at Lu Yanchuan in disbelief. ¡°Sleep a bit more, I¡¯m going to wash up.¡± Lu Yanchuan pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s face, then threw the duvet aside and got out of bed to freshen up, leaving Qiao Yi alone in bed, lost in thought. Qiao Yi really began to doubt if she was indeed overreacting. Perhaps Lu Yanchuan¡¯s reaction was the correct one? After all, whatever should have happened between them had happened, whatever shouldn¡¯t have also happened; they¡¯re still legally married. Doing this kind of thing¡ªit seems there really isn¡¯t anything surprising about it. Qiao Yi, wrapped in her quilt, was deep in thought. Lu Yanchuan emerged from the bathroom and upon seeing the little head poking out of a pile of quilts on the bed, he smiled quietly and left the room without a sound. Lu Yanchuan returned with breakfast, and by that time, Qiao Yi was soaking in the bathtub, from outside her humming could be heard, which sounded like she was in a pretty good mood. Qiao Yi indeed felt good, because she had come to understand something. That was the relationship between her and Lu Yanchuan. Although Qiao Yi really wanted to deny this inexplicable marriage between them, they represented not only themselves but also the families behind them. Whether considering the face of both families or their interests, it wasn¡¯t possible for her and Lu Yanchuan to divorce. Didn¡¯t they say life is like that thing ¨C if you can¡¯t resist, then just lie down and accept it. Qiao Yi thought carefully about her current situation and realized that as long as she learned to lie down and accept, there really wasn¡¯t anything for her to worry about. Putting emotional aspects aside, in terms of appearance and physique, Lu Yanchuan was definitely one of the top among all the people she had ever seen. Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t someone who liked to dwell on things. After she had come to this realization, she let the matter go. Although thinking back to last night still made her blush, she was no longer embarrassed. When she came out of the bathroom and saw Lu Yanchuan outside, Qiao Yi just paused for a moment and didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Breakfast is here, eat up and I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Lu Yanchuan leaned on the sofa, holding a newspaper he had casually picked up from the shelf downstairs. Although there wasn¡¯t any important news, it was still something to read to pass the time. It seemed that Lu Yanchuan had already figured out their relationship early on, so regardless of what he thought about Qiao Yi, he treated her quite well both in public and in private. Qiao Yi ate her steamed bun absentmindedly. She would take a sip of porridge and look at Lu Yanchuan, then take a bite of pickles and glance at him again. Although she had already decided to spend her life with him, her heart somehow felt empty¡­ When she returned to the Qiao Family, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t tell Qiao Benqing about the near abduction from yesterday. She only mentioned that the contracts with Longjia and Teng and Xin families had been signed, and since she was drunk, Lu Yanchuan took her away early. Qiao Yi¡¯s neck had a Band-Aid on it like she was trying to cover something up, a mark that foundation couldn¡¯t hide, leaving her no choice but to stick something over it. ¡°I saw that Yanchuan brought you back today, why didn¡¯t you invite him to stay for a meal before leaving?¡± ¡°Ah, that, he has some matters in the company, he will come later to take me back.¡± Qiao Benqing gave Qiao Yi a strange look, feeling that she seemed different from before when she mentioned Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi felt tired, and after she reported on company matters to Qiao Benqing, she went back to her room and went to sleep. ¡°Yiyi! Yiyi!¡± It seemed like someone was calling her in her sleep. Qiao Yi struggled to open her eyes, but they felt as if they were glued shut and simply would not open. By the time Qiao Yi finally managed to open her eyes, she found herself lying in a hospital room. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Zhao Wenjing was sitting by the bed and quickly turned her head towards Qiao Yi upon hearing her voice, her tears following suit. ¡°Why am I here?¡± ¡°You suddenly got a fever yesterday afternoon, and you¡¯ve only just woken up now. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?¡± Qiao Yi shook her head and sat up with Zhao Wenjing¡¯s support. According to Zhao Wenjing, she had been unconscious all night, which made her wonder why she suddenly fell ill. ¡°Yanchuan came to see you already, but he had matters to attend to at his company, so I let him leave first. The doctor said it was caused by excessive internal heat, Yiyi, you can¡¯t keep things from your mom if you¡¯re troubled. Do you know how worried I¡¯ve been about you¡­¡± Zhao Wenjing began to cry again, and it took a moment for Qiao Yi to manage to console her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, probably because I haven¡¯t rested properly these past few days. Now that I don¡¯t need to keep up with the company matters anymore, I¡¯ll get well after a good rest for a while.¡± Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Naturally Stupid Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Naturally Stupid Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday was at the end of May, and as one of the most prominent families in Capital City, Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday feast was naturally not to be taken lightly. Although Old Mr. Lu himself did not wish to make it ostentatious. Qiao Yi had been sick for over ten days, and Old Mr. Lu severely scolded Yanchuan, blaming him for not taking good care of Qiao Yi and letting her be sick for so long. Even though Qiao Yi herself explained that it had nothing to do with Yanchuan, Old Mr. Lu still stubbornly blamed Yanchuan for Qiao Yi¡¯s illness. Qiao Yi and Yanchuan both knew why she was sick this time, but neither of them had brought up the matter. After taking the last dose of medicine, Qiao Yi felt like she had finally come back to life. Anyone would be overwhelmed by eating so much bitter medicine every day, especially since Old Mr. Lu, in an attempt to speed up her recovery, forced her to drink various strange medicinal dishes daily. This stuff is simply not fit for human consumption. Yanchuan endured it twice but couldn¡¯t anymore; whenever he saw the medicinal dishes, he would hide until Qiao Yi finished eating and then come back. Qiao Yi felt she was soaked through with the smell of medicine. She took a quick hot shower with relief and wrapped herself in a bath towel, then sat on the sofa playing with her phone. Suddenly, the room door was pushed open. Qiao Yi was startled and sat up straight, but when she saw the person entering was Qiao Xin, she lazily slumped back down. ¡°If it¡¯s urgent, speak quickly; if it¡¯s not, then leave quickly.¡± ¡°Qiao Yi! I¡¯m your sister! Do you have even a shred of respect for me!¡± Qiao Xin was choked by Qiao Yi¡¯s words even before she spoke, pointing at Qiao Yi and yelling fiercely. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Qiao Yi nonchalantly cleared her ears, and after Qiao Xin had finished yelling, she disdainfully rolled her eyes. ¡°Qiao Xin, please, go look in a mirror and see what you look like right now. It¡¯s simply laughable. And here you are talking to me about sisterly bonds. Do you want a heartfelt hug right now? Doesn¡¯t that make you feel disgusted when you say such things?¡± Qiao Yi tossed her phone aside, and even though she remained seated, her gaze made Qiao Xin shiver. When had Qiao Yi become so inscrutable to her! ¡°Speak up, why are you here? I¡¯m busy!¡± Qiao Yi was really impatient to talk to Qiao Xin; this woman was beyond help, driven almost mad by a man. Qiao Xin didn¡¯t want to talk either, but for the sake of Old Mr. Lu¡¯s upcoming birthday feast, she had to come to Qiao Yi. ¡°Give me a copy of the guest list for Grandfather¡¯s birthday feast.¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiao Yi was puzzled as to why Qiao Xin was interested in these matters; back at the Qiao Family home, Zhao Wenjing had several times wanted her to help with banquets, but she had always dismissively declined. ¡°Qiao Yi! Don¡¯t go too far!¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s face turned livid as she gnashed her teeth, glaring at Qiao Yi. ¡°What can you do if I bully you? Now get out of my room immediately, or else don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡± Qiao Yi clenched her fist and suddenly stared coldly at Qiao Xin, the chill in her eyes making Qiao Xin involuntarily retreat several steps. Shaken and humiliated by Qiao Yi, Qiao Xin surged forward to hit her. Qiao Yi sidestepped and stretched out a leg, kicking Qiao Xin in the shin and sending her sprawling on the couch, unable to get up for quite some time. ¡°Qiao Xin, don¡¯t assume I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. Go tell Lu Ming that he¡¯s got no place meddling in Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday feast!¡± Qiao Yi recalled how Qiao Xin had been lingering around Old Mr. Lu these past few days and considering Lu Ming¡¯s frequent visits to the old house, it was clear what they were plotting. Qiao Xin¡¯s face stiffened with outrage, staring at Qiao Yi in disbelief, having no idea why she would know that it was Lu Ming who wanted the list for the banquet. ¡°Qiao Xin, do you know what I admire most about you?¡± Qiao Yi squatted in front of Qiao Xin, presenting a full view of Spring scenery to a woman full of envy. Qiao Xin turned away, refusing to look at Qiao Yi, feeling frightened and intimidated by her demeanor, wishing to escape far away. ¡°What I admire most about you is how naturally you play the fool. Lu Ming himself didn¡¯t dare to ask for the banquet list, but you stepped in for him. Let me guess why? Could it be for a chance to interact with Lu Yanchuan? That would impress me even more!¡± Embarrassed and furious, Qiao Xin suddenly pushed Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulders, stumbled up from the sofa, and limped out. ¡°Boring.¡± Qiao Yi dusted off her hands, which weren¡¯t actually dusty, and leisurely moved to the bed, quickly falling asleep under the covers. When Lu Yanchuan came back, he saw Qiao Yi sound asleep. A towel wrapped around, leaving her slender white legs exposed outside, and her round pinkish toes occasionally twitched. Sick for these days, Qiao Yi¡¯s body was severely weakened, always feeling extremely sleepy. Hearing the sound of the door opening and footsteps, Qiao Yi mumbled under the covers and struggled to get up from the bed after a while. ¡°Why are you back so early today?¡± ¡°I came back to pick you up.¡± Qiao Yi sat up, looking up at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Pick me up, and take me where?¡± ¡°To the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tian City Old Port District project.¡± This was a major event, and Qiao Yi quickly changed clothes, excitedly dragging Lu Yanchuan out. ¡°Why are they starting the construction so early? They¡¯ve only had this project for about ten days, are they in such a rush, is the proposal even ready?¡± Qiao Yi was just asking; the earlier the project started, the better it was for both the Qiao Family and the Lu Family, as dragging it longer would mean more resources wasted eventually. As the two walked out, passing downstairs, Old Mr. Lu was deeply engaged in a game with his old friends. Hearing Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi leave, he merely responded with a few sound. ¡°They plan to demolish the port first while addressing the demolition issues in the old district.¡± By tackling both tasks simultaneously, they could save at least half a month in construction time, but this also means much larger initial investments. Qiao Yi was speechless; from Longjia and Tengxin¡¯s perspective, they were seeking speed to save construction period, but from Qiao Yi¡¯s view, they were just rushing towards their doom. ¡°Like this, won¡¯t it be just a couple of months before you and dad can make your move?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± Lu Yanchuan was confident, and seeing him like this, Qiao Yi chose not to say more. The banquet was held at the same hotel where Qiao Yi had her wedding, bringing back unpleasant memories every time she was there, casting a shadow over her. Can¡¯t dwell on it; overthinking would just upset her. Qiao Yi followed Lu Yanchuan into the venue without looking sideways, and amid a crowd of compliments, they met the Shi brothers. Perhaps it was the lively spirit of happy occasions, the Shi brothers looked even healthier than on the day they signed the contract, and they came up laughing to greet Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Ultimate Fool Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Ultimate Fool Qiao Yi actually disliked this kind of social interaction. Another reason she didn¡¯t want to join the company was to avoid these meaningless social gatherings. Walking beside Lu Yanchuan, greeting people in a row, Qiao Yi already felt her face was going to freeze from the forced smiles. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, go rest for a while. The resting room is on the second floor.¡± Qiao Yi glanced at Lu Yanchuan. Even though Lu Yanchuan always offered her timely and appropriate care, she was never used to it. But she was indeed tired, so she nodded and headed towards the stairs to the second floor. Passing the stairs was the restroom. Leaning on the bathroom partition, Qiao Yi pulled out the insoles from her high heels and threw them in the trash. The ¡°high-heeled shoe miracle¡± recommended by Feng Siyu, claiming that one wouldn¡¯t get tired even after a whole day in heels. That was a complete lie! Her feet were already chafed red! After fixing her shoes, Qiao Yi was about to push the door to leave when suddenly she heard someone burst through the door outside. ¡°You f*cking act all innocent in front of me? I¡¯m your fianc¨¦, you¡¯re f*cking destined to be my woman sooner or later. I¡¯m warning you, you better be obedient, or you should be careful!¡± ¡°Let go! Release me!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s hair stood on end with anger. How dare a man barge into the women¡¯s restroom in this kind of setting! The quarrel outside continued. Listening to their voices, they seemed on the brink of doing something indecent here! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï And she was still standing here! ¡°Ning Yuze! Stop it! I¡¯ll call the police if you continue!¡± Then came the sound of fabric tearing, followed by a woman¡¯s scream. ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha! Go ahead and call the police! I¡¯m waiting for you to call the police! Damn bitch, it¡¯s your parents begging me to be with you, and you think you¡¯re some Sun Family Miss? You¡¯re just sold out for money, pretending to be all lofty and virtuous! If you know what¡¯s good for you, start undressing yourself, or I¡¯ll have my dad pull out of Sun Family¡¯s business right now!¡± Qiao Yi laughed in anger. What kind of supreme idiot was this! ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare to call the police, but do you believe I will? A big man hitting a woman, do you think you¡¯re impressive? And you dare to do this in a women¡¯s restroom, you¡¯re shameless. I want to see how Ning Changfeng educates his son!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that! Come out here!¡± Ning Yuze roared and looked behind him, only to see Qiao Yi pushing the door of the partition open, walking out with a look of mockery. ¡°I¡¯m out here, what do you want to do?¡± Having Ning Yuze being arrogant, Qiao Yi was even more arrogant, folding her arms and giving Ning Yuze a thorough look up and down, snorting through her nose. ¡°I was wondering who had the audacity to bark here, turns out it¡¯s Ning Changfeng¡¯s eldest son who climbed up by selling out his brothers and his wife. Really just like your father, repulsive!¡± ¡°You bitch, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Ning Yuze¡¯s face unnaturally flushed with anger. Qiao Yi could tell he had drunk a lot; otherwise, people from the Ning Family, despite being arrogant and overbearing, wouldn¡¯t barge into a women¡¯s restroom to force themselves on someone. Facing Ning Yuze¡¯s ferocious expression, Qiao Yi was not only unafraid but even a bit excited. Ever since she graduated, it had been a long time since she had a proper fight; she was actually missing it a bit! ¡°Be careful!¡± Watching Ning Yuze rushing towards Qiao Yi with a roar, the woman hiding in the corner exclaimed, quickly calling out a warning. ¡°Ah!¡± Ning Yuze screamed as he charged forward, and screamed again as he was sent flying back. Qiao Yi was wearing high heels, and those sharp, thin heels could cause pain for a good while if they jabbed into someone¡¯s stomach. Qiao Yi rolled her eyes speechlessly. She had thought Ning Yuze would be a tough character to deal with, but it turned out he couldn¡¯t even get up after just one kick. Not interested in dealing with a dead dog, Qiao Yi stepped over the groaning Ning Yuze on the ground and walked over to the woman, draping her own shawl over her. The woman¡¯s arm was covered in torn fabric, and there was a large, fresh red handprint on her face, obviously the result of Ning Yuze¡¯s ruthless attack, which had swollen in just a short time. Seeing the marks on the woman¡¯s face made Qiao Yi furious. She turned around, intending to teach Ning Yuze another lesson, but before she could turn back, the woman in front of her hugged her tightly and spun her around. Qiao Yi watched in shock as Ning Yuze¡¯s fist landed on the woman, knocking her unconscious. Ning Yuze, still not satisfied, shouted again and swung his fist towards Qiao Yi¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a bastard, you¡¯re dead meat!¡± Qiao Yi caught Ning Yuze¡¯s hand with one move, reaching back without knowing what she touched, and swung it at Ning Yuze¡¯s head. The bottle filled with hand sanitizer didn¡¯t crack Ning Yuze¡¯s head open, and Qiao Yi was not pleased. She threw off her shoes, raised her leg, and kneed Ning Yuze in the stomach, knocking him onto his knees and then brutally smashed his head a few times until he was knocked out cold. The bathroom was a mess. Qiao Yi wiped the blood from the back of her hand, spat at Ning Yuze, and crouched down to help the woman up. ¡°Wake up, wake up. Are you alright?¡± If the punch that Ning Yuze had thrown had landed on her head instead of on the woman¡¯s body, she might have been the one lying on the ground. Knocking out Ning Yuze was not a big deal, neither the Qiao Family nor the Lu Family would take the Ning Family too seriously, but the woman in her arms seemed to be from the Sun Family. Qiao Benqing and Lu Yanchuan were currently scheming against the Sun Family. By hitting the fiance of the Sun Family¡¯s daughter, she hoped it wouldn¡¯t affect their plans. The woman soon came to, and shocked to see Qiao Yi holding her, she turned and saw Ning Yuze lying beside her, her fright was palpable. ¡°Did you, did you kill him?¡± ¡°No, he just passed out. Are you from the Sun Family? How come I¡¯ve never seen you before?¡± Although the Sun Family kept a low profile, each of their children had made public appearances, and Qiao Yi was sure she had never seen this woman in the Sun Family before. ¡°My name is Sun Keke, I am from the Sun Family¡­¡± Sun Keke¡¯s face turned red and then white; Qiao Yi didn¡¯t need her to tell more to recognize her status. In royal families, who didn¡¯t have illegitimate sons or daughters outside. ¡°Let¡¯s get up. I¡¯ll have someone send you back to the Sun Family, pretend you don¡¯t know anything about tonight¡¯s incident. If anyone asks, you know nothing, do you hear me?¡± Qiao Yi was not having a surge of compassion; she simply didn¡¯t want the people from the Ning Family to trouble Sun Keke after she took a stand for her. Now that she had dealt with Ning Yuze in this way, it was better to cleanly separate Sun Keke from the situation to avoid future troubles. ¡°No, how can this be alright, this wasn¡¯t your concern¡­¡± Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Taking Unreasonableness for Granted Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Taking Unreasonableness for Granted Sun Keke is quite daring and decided to take responsibility. She stood up, started pushing Qiao Yi to leave the place, and wanted to take on the incident alone. ¡°You don¡¯t need to say more. I¡¯ve already hit Ning Yuze, and that¡¯s that. If it was you who hit him, you¡¯d be in big trouble. If you don¡¯t want to cause me any trouble, then leave quickly. The biggest help you can give me is to insist that you had nothing to do with it.¡± Although Qiao Yi admired Sun Keke¡¯s willingness to take responsibility, the girl¡¯s stubbornness was also giving her a headache. After sizing up Sun Keke, Qiao Yi helplessly nodded her head. ¡°Fine, when the time comes, just tell the truth. But remember, never take the blame for yourself, otherwise I won¡¯t be able to save you.¡± Sun Keke nodded vigorously and stood up with Qiao Yi¡¯s support. After pushing open the bathroom door and walking out, Qiao Yi realized that people were already looking for Ning Yuze. Lu Yanchuan turned his head and immediately saw Qiao Yi emerging from the bathroom. He put down his glass and walked over to her quickly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go to the resting area?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that for now. I just punched Ning Yuze from the Ning Family in the bathroom.¡± Qiao Yi briefly recounted what had just happened and then took out her phone to send the same message to Qiao Benqing. Although it wasn¡¯t certain that the Ning Family would have the guts to cause her trouble, it was still good for Qiao Yi to report the incident in advance, as a precaution. Qiao Benqing replied quickly with a simple message of acknowledgment and no further follow-up. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï People Qiao Yi had fought were numerous; Ning Family¡¯s addition was inconsequential. Sun Keke was also injured and was pale, following behind Qiao Yi. She attempted to speak several times but couldn¡¯t find the right moment. Finally, after Qiao Yi finished speaking with Lu Yanchuan, Sun Keke gently tugged on Qiao Yi¡¯s clothes. ¡°Miss Qiao, you¡­¡± ¡°Oh, right, this is Sun Keke. She got hurt just now too. Have someone come and check on her.¡± Everyone outside was looking for Ning Yuze, but no one had thought to search the bathroom yet, so Qiao Yi still had some time to prepare. ¡°No need, no need, I¡¯m fine!¡± Regardless, Qiao Yi pushed Sun Keke into the rest area and had someone from the hotel find a doctor. Ning Yuze was eventually found. His father, Ning Changfeng, was holding his unconscious son, crying and shouting, determined to find the person who had hurt his child. Qiao Yi had made all the necessary preparations and explanations, and seeing Ning Changfeng holding Ning Yuze and throwing a fit downstairs, she walked straight out. ¡°Mr. Ning, it was I who beat Ning Yuze to this state. Do you have any objections?¡± Ning Changfeng¡¯s pupils contracted upon hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s voice, and he turned his head to look at her in disbelief. ¡°You, why would you harm my son! Even if you are from the Qiao Family, you can¡¯t just hit my son without a reason!¡± Hearing Ning Changfeng¡¯s words, Qiao Yi was a bit puzzled. After looking closely at Ning Changfeng again, her suspicion grew. ¡°Why I would lay hands on Ning Yuze, shouldn¡¯t Mr. Ning be very clear about that? Don¡¯t you know what kind of person your son is? Since he harbored inappropriate intentions, of course I wouldn¡¯t let him get away with nonsense!¡± Qiao Yi spoke ambiguously, without mentioning Sun Keke. If this issue were to be brought up in the future, she could claim that she never explicitly said Ning Yuze intended to attack her rather than Sun Keke, and that they just misunderstood her vague words. As expected, upon hearing her words, not only did Ning Changfeng¡¯s face undergo a drastic change, but even the onlookers who came for the excitement were extremely surprised. The Shi brothers were hosting a celebration banquet today, and the highest-ranking guest present was Lu Yanchuan. Below him, none of the others could be considered much when viewed alone in front of the Lu and Qiao Families. When these people saw Qiao Yi hitting Ning Yuze, they already knew the outcome. Although the Ning Family had some strength, it wasn¡¯t enough to oppose the Qiao Family. Even if Qiao Yi had hit someone for no reason, what the Ning Family should worry about was whether Ning Yuze¡¯s face had hurt Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, rather than what state Qiao Yi may have left Ning Yuze in. But now, Qiao Yi suddenly claimed that Ning Yuze harbored bad intentions towards her, which was why she had laid hands on him. This revelation immediately caused everyone to instinctively distance themselves from the Ning Family. Who was Qiao Yi, after all? She was the Qiao Family¡¯s beloved gem, the little tyrant of Capital City¡¯s wealthy second-generation, anyone who dared to provoke her should consider Ning Yuze lucky to be left uncrippled! Ning Changfeng couldn¡¯t even utter a word when he faced Qiao Yi. There was no need for Qiao Yi¡¯s words to be verified; just checking the surveillance would show that Ning Yuze had followed Qiao Yi into the restroom, and he was also discovered there¡ªwhat had happened inside didn¡¯t need to be explained by Qiao Yi! Ning Changfeng¡¯s face turned from pale to flush, caught under the gaze of the crowd, he didn¡¯t want to bow to a young lady like Qiao Yi, yet facing the formidable Qiao Family, he was truly in an awkward predicament between a rock and a hard place! Lu Yanchuan stepped out from the crowd and stood beside Qiao Yi, taking one of her hands and sweeping his gaze over the onlookers before resting it on Ning Changfeng. ¡°Yiyi, have you vented your anger? If not, just go and beat him up some more, that¡¯ll do.¡± Such unreasonable and yet seemingly rightful words could only be spoken by Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi¡¯s mouth twitched, pinching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand a few times, signaling that he should at least show some restraint. ¡°Mr. Ning, regarding Ning Yuze¡¯s behavior, I believe you wouldn¡¯t want it to blow up into a bigger issue either. As long as Yiyi has vented her anger, we won¡¯t pursue this matter further.¡± Shameless! Utterly shameless! After hearing those words, even Qiao Yi felt that Lu Yanchuan was being too overbearing! The son of the family was already half dead on the ground, and here was Lu Yanchuan still suggesting Qiao Yi should vent more anger on him! However, these were thoughts only Qiao Yi dared to entertain. Not only did others not feel that Lu Yanchuan was over the top, but they even thought he had already shown great kindness. Those who had offended Lu Yanchuan in the past were now few in number who could still stand intact. Ning Changfeng¡¯s face kept changing colors, and the veins on his forehead nearly burst with anger as he glared at Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan, unable to say a word. With today¡¯s incident escalating to this extent, whether Ning Yuze was beaten up had become irrelevant. What they were facing now was a matter of the Ning Family¡¯s dignity! If he refused to bow down, he might face the combined onslaught of the Qiao and Lu Families. But if he did bow down, how could the Ning Family hold any face in the Capital City in the future? ¡°Oh dear, oh dear, what¡¯s happening here? Why is everyone standing around? I was wondering why so many people were missing; it turns out they¡¯ve all come here!¡± Shi Lei squeezed his way through the crowd from behind, acting as if he had just learned of the incident, and even cried out in shock when he saw Ning Yuze lying on the ground and Qiao Yi standing opposite him. ¡°Whoa! Young Master Ning, what happened to you? Someone call an ambulance, quick, go, go!¡± With Shi Lei stirring things up, the previously tense and hostile atmosphere instantly dissipated. Qiao Yi did not stop them from taking Ning Yuze away, only watching Ningning and Changfeng thoughtfully. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Spectacle Turns to One of Our Own Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Spectacle Turns to One of Our Own Qiao Yi had intended to minimize the problem from the start, so she took on the issue, and when she saw someone smooth things over, she used the opportunity to make a quick exit, taking Lu Yanchuan with her. Once back in the resting room, Sun Keke had already applied medicine and changed into a new set of clothes, waiting anxiously inside. Seeing Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan come in, Sun Keke hurried over to greet them, but she hesitated slightly and then withdrew her hand, looking towards Qiao Yi cautiously and asking, ¡°How did it go? The situation didn¡¯t escalate, did it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s fine. But you should still break off this marriage arrangement with Ning Yuze first thing in the morning; he¡¯s not good news.¡± Sun Keke seemed a bit afraid of Lu Yanchuan, daring to speak only to Qiao Yi and not even glancing at Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi had never seen such a meek person before, like a scared little rabbit. Her social circle had always consisted of children from prominent clans, and while their personalities varied, none were as timorous. Even Yun Luoluo, who was always bullied, had her pride and never showed such an expression. Qiao Yi was surprised and couldn¡¯t help but want to tease her a little. ¡°I heard that Ning Yuze used to get into fights and brawls when he was still in school, indulged in drinking, whoring, gambling, and all sorts of vices. If it weren¡¯t for the Ning Family backing him, he¡¯d probably have been taken care of by others a long time ago!¡± Sun Keke trembled with fear at Qiao Yi¡¯s words, unable to imagine what kind of life she would lead if she really married Ning Yuze. However, although Qiao Yi was trying to scare her, the stories about Ning Yuze were not fabrications but actual events, just not as terrifying as she made them sound. ¡°But, but I have no way to break off the engagement¡­¡± Indeed, as an illegitimate daughter, being sent off for a political marriage seemed an inevitable fate. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t in a position to judge whether such a situation was right or wrong. Her parents were also brought together by an arranged marriage, and so were she and Lu Yanchuan. They all seemed successful, but each had their own hardships. ¡°This is something you¡¯ll have to decide for yourself. If you¡¯re interested, I can introduce you to a self-defense instructor. At least you won¡¯t be completely powerless in such situations in the future.¡± This was the most Qiao Yi could do. She couldn¡¯t meddle in the affairs of the Sun Family and Ning Family. She left Sun Keke with a contact card before she and Lu Yanchuan took their leave. The Shi Family brothers¡¯ celebration had been overshadowed by such trouble and thus concluded abruptly and awkwardly. On the way back, Qiao Yi gazed out at the streetscape from the car window, lost in thought. ¡°Do you think, what would my life be like now if I had married Lu Ming instead?¡± Qiao Yi suddenly turned to look at Lu Yanchuan. Lu Yanchuan frowned slightly and pulled Qiao Yi closer to his side. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, rest for a while. I¡¯ll wake you when we get home.¡± Lu Yanchuan had a faint scent of cologne on him, the smell of DN cologne he often used. Actually, Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t very fond of the smell of cologne, but the scent on Lu Yanchuan inexplicably made her feel at ease. After a while, just when Lu Yanchuan thought Qiao Yi might have fallen asleep, she sat up with her eyes sparkling and leaned over to whisper mysteriously. ¡°Is Ning Yuze not really Ning Changfeng¡¯s son at all?¡± ¡°Why are you asking this?¡± Lu Yanchuan was curious about why Qiao Yi would come up with such a question. Qiao Yi herself didn¡¯t know why she had such thoughts¡ªit was just that recalling Ning Changfeng¡¯s actions, she always felt they were strange. ¡°According to what a normal person would think, seeing their own son unconscious, they would definitely rush to the hospital immediately. But Ning Changfeng, he was holding Ning Yuze and crying and yelling, with no intention of taking Ning Yuze to the hospital at all.¡± He saw the blood on Ning Yuze¡¯s face but ignored it completely, which really isn¡¯t the reaction a normal father should have. The more Qiao Yi spoke, the more she felt she was making sense. Gossiping with Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t interesting, so Qiao Yi took out her phone and started sharing her heroic deeds of the night with Feng Siyu. A woman caught up in gossip is beyond reason. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand clenched in the air¡ªa warm and soft beauty had escaped from his arms, leaving him feeling somewhat disappointed. Feng Siyu happily accepted the gossip shared by Qiao Yi. She first harshly criticized Ning Yuze¡¯s inhuman actions, and then joined Qiao Yi in expressing sympathy for Sun Keke. Afterwards, she bootlickingly praised Qiao Yi¡¯s righteous actions, to the point that even Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t bear to listen anymore. In the end, Feng Siyu displayed her otherworldly gossiping skills and managed to concoct an elaborate high society melodrama out of the clues Qiao Yi provided. Lu Yanchuan watched Qiao Yi, who was shaking with laughter against the car door covering her mouth, and seriously wondered if she had been possessed by some filthy spirit. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t see Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze; she was happily chatting with Feng Siyu, absolutely thrilled by this astonishing piece of gossip. ¡°So you¡¯re saying, Ning Yuze could really not be Ning Changfeng¡¯s son? And could his extravagant and domineering behavior also be something Ning Changfeng purposefully allowed?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a high possibility. Isn¡¯t there a term called ¡®fatal indulgence¡¯? Think about how arrogant you were when you were in school. Uncle Qiao still educated you properly, not letting you go too far. But looking at Ning Changfeng, it seems he has never really disciplined Ning Yuze, even one might say he extremely indulged him!¡± This was big news, and Qiao Yi savored it with delight. However, Feng Siyu on the other end of the phone fell into an eerie silence, then replied after a long while. ¡°Gu Ting said, Ning Changfeng¡¯s wife is his cousin!¡± Now the gossip had unexpectedly landed on her own relatives! ¡°How come I¡¯ve never heard of that before? Doesn¡¯t Gu Ting only have a few uncles? When did a cousin appear?¡± The Gu Family¡¯s lineage was sparse, and she had met all of Old Mr. Gu¡¯s sons; she had also met a few other relatives from his family, but she had never heard of an aunt who married into the Ning Family. It was only after asking that she found out, this cousin was the niece of the late Old Madam Gu from her maternal family, and by seniority, indeed Gu Ting¡¯s aunt. This relative wasn¡¯t too distant, but after Old Madam Gu¡¯s death, the Gu Family hadn¡¯t really been in touch with her maternal family. Thus, not only was Qiao Yi uninformed, even Feng Siyu had not heard of it. ¡°Let Gu Ting talk to them about this matter. Since it¡¯s our own aunt, we can¡¯t let her be wronged.¡± Qiao Yi was the type of person who favors relatives over fairness. Even if her own people were wrong, it should be discussed behind closed doors, and no matter how justified outsiders were, it was useless. Feng Siyu took quite a while to reply with a sentence. Qiao Yi guessed she was discussing the matter with Gu Ting, so she didn¡¯t bother her anymore and settled back into her seat. Lu Yanchuan glanced at Qiao Yi, who had finally quieted down, looked at the message he had just received on his phone, then turned to Qiao Yi and asked. ¡°In a few days, there will be a fireworks festival in Southern City District. Do you want to go?¡± Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: 56 chapters Spanking Chapter 56: 56 chapters Spanking Han Zizhen¡¯s advice was bad. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t act any differently towards Lu Yanchuan because of the fireworks festival. Instead, after confirming the time of the party, she picked up her phone and started messaging someone. Qiao Yi was messaging Han Lewen and Feng Siyu. Since these two returned, the three of them hadn¡¯t had a proper chance to hang out. Hearing about the fireworks festival, of course she wanted to go have fun with her besties! The other two swiftly confirmed their plans, and Qiao Yi stressed that Feng Siyu was not allowed to bring her family, or else she¡¯d turn her family into fireworks! The car seemed split into two worlds: one was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gloomy, low-pressure world, and the other was Qiao Yi¡¯s world, excited and happy about going out. Ma Yu, driving in the front, was sweating bullets. Was Qiao Yi really not getting Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hint, or was she pretending not to notice? Didn¡¯t she see his face turn dark! They finally arrived at the old house. Ma Yu waited for the two to get out of the car, then ran off as if escaping, leaving Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan to face each other. Did Ma Yu have diarrhea? Was he in such a hurry to rush home to use the bathroom? Old Mr. Lu was quite old and always went to sleep early. When Qiao Yi and he returned home, they quietly went upstairs to their rooms, afraid of disturbing the old man. ¡°The fireworks festival¡­¡± ¡°The fireworks festival is only held once a year. I last attended three years ago; I didn¡¯t expect I¡¯d get to go this year.¡± Qiao Yi really hadn¡¯t thought much about it. In her eyes, Lu Yanchuan simply wasn¡¯t suited for such purely recreational activities. With that time, he¡¯d definitely prefer to read some documents or attend meetings. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m going with Yuanyuan and Wenwen; we won¡¯t have any issues!¡± Qiao Yi patted Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder confidently, looking like a boss lady. Watching her, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s irritation inexplicably evaporated. If she wanted to go by herself, then let her go. It¡¯s better than moping at home. However¡­ ¡°What happened to your hand?¡± Lu Yanchuan grabbed Qiao Yi¡¯s arm and pulled her back. A three-inch-long gash on Qiao Yi¡¯s arm was still oozing blood. Initially, her arm was covered by her clothes, and although Lu Yanchuan had seen the blood on her, he thought it belonged to Ning Yuze. He hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Yi to be injured too! Qiao Yi, realizing later, suddenly felt the pain, hissing painfully as Lu Yanchuan pushed her onto the bed. Lu Yanchuan went downstairs to grab the first aid kit. By the time he returned with it, Qiao Yi was gone. The sound of water echoed from the bathroom. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face darkened as he threw down the kit and forcefully pushed open the bathroom door. ¡°Ah! You! What are you doing coming in here!¡± Qiao Yi screamed and crouched down, staring at Lu Yanchuan with a mix of shame and anger. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t wander, instead, it focused on Qiao Yi¡¯s injured arm. Upon seeing the grotesque wound fluffed up white by the water stream, his face darkened even more. Amid Qiao Yi¡¯s scream, Lu Yanchuan, disregarding her drenched body, picked her up from the bathroom, grabbed a towel, roughly wrapped her in it, and threw her onto the bed. ¡°Lu Yanchuan! Have you gone mad!¡± Qiao Yi struggled to sit up and saw Lu Yanchuan standing by the bed, unbuttoning his shirt. His designer shirt was crumpled up and thrown aside like a rag. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s presence was overwhelming. Qiao Yi swallowed and scooted back until she was against the headboard, alertly watching Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Um, I¡¯m fine! You should go wash up and sleep! I can take care of the wound myself!¡± Lu Yanchuan ignored Qiao Yi¡¯s words. With a long reach, he scooped her into his arms, a frightened girl now in his embrace. With her bare skin against his clothed body, Qiao Yi stiffened up in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, letting him dress her wound. Once Lu Yanchuan had wrapped the wound with gauze, Qiao Yi immediately tried to escape. ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°You! You hit me!¡± Qiao Yi was stunned, then her face turned beet red. She, she had been spanked! Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s mortified expression, Lu Yanchuan was slightly moved and gave her supple bottom another smack. ¡°Next time something like this happens, call me first. Don¡¯t let yourself get hurt again.¡± Tears were almost falling from Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes. Though Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t hit her hard, it was extremely humiliating! She was now determined to fight back against Lu Yanchuan! The intent to fight back was easily subdued by Lu Yanchuan. After a few more spanks on her bottom, she was forced to promise not to be reckless before letting her go. Freed, Qiao Yi jumped off the bed, pointed at Lu Yanchuan, and cursed him. Before Lu Yanchuan realized what happened, she ran into the next room barefoot. At the hospital, Ning Changfeng and the anxiously arrived Wan Yulin were anxiously guarding outside the operation room. Ning Yuze had been beaten incoherently by Qiao Yi, and because he wasn¡¯t immediately brought to the hospital for emergency treatment, his condition was very critical; though there wasn¡¯t any imminent threat to his life, there was a possibility he might be left mentally incapacitated. After all, the injury was to his head. Wan Yulin had already cried three times, now brewing her fourth round of tears. Having heard the incident¡¯s course of events on the way here, she knew her son had caused the trouble, but seeing her son in such a condition, Wan Yulin was still heartbroken. She couldn¡¯t help but blame Qiao Yi a bit; Qiao Yi and Gu Ting had a good relationship, almost like her junior, how could she attack her son so severely! Ning Changfeng sat with a dark face on the bench, Wan Yulin¡¯s crying was driving him mad, yet he couldn¡¯t just leave at this time, so he had to sit there silently without a word. ¡°It¡¯s not right! Even if Xiaoze angered her, how could she strike him so harshly! If Xiaoze suffers irreversible damage, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live with myself either!¡± Wan Yulin¡¯s fourth bout of crying started, getting even more intense than before. Ning Changfeng had no mood to console her; after listening to her cry for a while he finally lost patience and grunted. ¡°Quiet down! You should be thankful that Qiao Yi didn¡¯t suffer any irreversible damage. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t just be your son suffering, the entire Ning Family would be implicated!¡± Ning Changfeng couldn¡¯t believe what would have happened if the person lying here was Qiao Yi. He would have faced a terrible predicament! Perhaps Wan Yulin could conceive of some of it, but her rationality was overwhelmed by anger and distress upon seeing Ning Yuze in such a miserable state. Seeing Ning Changfeng¡¯s demeanor, Wan Yulin pointed at him and screamed. ¡°Ning Changfeng! Do you even have a heart! The one lying inside is your biological son! Your son has been beaten like this, don¡¯t you feel any pain at all!¡± ¡°What good does my pain do! If it wasn¡¯t for his own improper actions, he wouldn¡¯t have been beaten like this!¡± Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Younger Brother is Coming Back Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Younger Brother is Coming Back Ning Changfeng slapped away Wan Yulin¡¯s hand and left her behind as he turned and walked away. Although today¡¯s incident seemed to have passed at the scene, it couldn¡¯t be guaranteed that the Qiao Family wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge, so he had to make some arrangements in advance. The next morning, Qiao Yi went back to the Qiao Family and recounted the incident to Qiao Benqing face-to-face. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, you weren¡¯t hurt, were you?¡± Qiao Benqing had cleaned up after Qiao Yi countless times, getting used to hearing how Qiao Yi had injured someone. Not hearing such news in the past two years and suddenly hearing it again, Qiao Benqing was somewhat unaccustomed to it. Qiao Yi shook her head. The injury on her arm was from swinging a bottle and accidentally hitting the sink on her own, it couldn¡¯t be considered an injury. Thinking about the wound on her arm made Qiao Yi¡¯s butt tingle with pain, and her face flushed. Lu Yanchuan, that stinky hoodlum, is like the ancestor of all hoodlums! ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re not hurt. Go check on your mom; she¡¯s a bit worried.¡± Zhao Wenjing was indeed worried, although Qiao Yi always got into fights, Zhao Wenjing always had to nag her for a while after each fight. ¡°Mom, this time it wasn¡¯t about me fighting for myself, I was protecting a girl. You should praise me!¡± Qiao Yi preempted Zhao Wenjing¡¯s nagging and explained the situation once again before Zhao Wenjing could be reassured. ¡°Even though you had good intentions, try to stay out of such matters in the future. I¡¯ve heard that the Sun Family are not good people. It¡¯s better if you stay away from them.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Qiao Yi obediently nodded her head, and after chatting a bit more, Qiao Yi suddenly remembered something. ¡°Right, Mom, my brother is coming back at the end of the month, and this time he might not leave again.¡± ¡°What? Qiaoqiao is coming back!¡± Sure enough, Zhao Wenjing forgot about her daughter fighting once she heard the news of Qiao Qiao¡¯s return, cheered, and then hurried to have someone prepare Qiao Qiao¡¯s room. Seeing how excited she was, Qiao Yi decided not to tell her that there was still half a month until the end of the month. ¡°My brother is coming back soon; I¡¯m going to stay at home for a while.¡± Actually, Qiao Yi really didn¡¯t want to talk to Lu Yanchuan, at least not these few days, she didn¡¯t want to see that stinky hoodlum at all. But if she didn¡¯t report to him, that stinky hoodlum would run over to the Qiao Family looking for her, and then she¡¯d be even more embarrassed. There was a pause on the phone before she heard Lu Yanchuan say, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll stay at the Qiao Family¡¯s place.¡± Qiao Yi: ¡°??? She was staying at home to avoid Lu Yanchuan! How could he still follow her here! ¡°There¡¯s no place for you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay in the same room as you.¡± Staying in the same room¡­ Qiao Yi was defeated, completely defeated. Lu Yanchuan is like a strong-willed bronze pea; you can¡¯t pound it, cook it, or throw it away! Qiao Yi hung up the phone in frustration, not wanting to anger herself over Lu Yanchuan anymore. After telling Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing that Lu Yanchuan was coming to stay, they both welcomed him warmly, which was another stab to Qiao Yi¡¯s heart. Qiao Xin was once again turned away at the Lu Mansion, being told that none of the homeowners were available, and to wait for them to come back before visiting. Old Mr. Lu¡¯s guard¡¯s words greatly angered Qiao Xin, she too was a daughter-in-law of the Lu Family, how could she not be considered a mistress of the Lu Family! Despite all the sweet-talking and scolding, the guard refused to let her in, infuriating Qiao Xin to the point she almost passed out! She had never seen such a stubborn person! With reluctance, Qiao Xin walked away, looking back every three steps, longing to enter the mansion. Why was it that both being daughter-in-laws of the Lu Family, Qiao Yi could become the mistress, and she could only live in discomfort under Wang Zhen¡¯s manipulation! Wang Zhen couldn¡¯t come to Lu Mansion either now because Old Mr. Lu found her annoying and forbid her from visiting the mansion without good reason. Yet, Wang Zhen blamed Qiao Xin for her inability to visit the mansion, believing she was implicated by Qiao Xin¡¯s actions, preventing her visitation! Qiao Xin and Wang Zhen were constantly at war, while Lu Qingshan was somewhat better, being at the company during the day and only home for a bit at night. But Lu Ming, for some reason, had all his tasks at the company taken over by others, ending up with only a few non-busy projects to handle, idling away his days. Wang Zhen hated to see her son underutilized like this and vented all her frustration on Qiao Xin. Of course, Qiao Xin wouldn¡¯t just be a scapegoat; relying on the shares she held in the Lu Family, she clashed with Wang Zhen head-on. Lu Ming bore it at home for two days, then simply stayed at the company and didn¡¯t return home. Up to today, Lu Ming hadn¡¯t been home for a full two days. Though Qiao Xin didn¡¯t care about her relationship with him, his constant absence from home was not acceptable. That¡¯s why Qiao Xin tried to visit the mansion, hoping that even if she could just talk to Old Mr. Lu, she could return with the power to suppress Wang Zhen and end this endless battle. However, it was inevitably disappointing; she couldn¡¯t even get a glimpse of Old Mr. Lu, let alone Qiao Yi. As Qiao Xin was walking out though, she suddenly saw Yanchuan¡¯s car driving into the villa area, heading her way. ¡°Mr. Lu! Mr. Lu! Yanchuan! Stop the car, it¡¯s me!¡± Her earlier frustration was immediately swept away, and Qiao Xin anxiously stood in the middle of the road, setting herself like she wouldn¡¯t let him pass. The car slowly stopped, the driver¡¯s window rolled down, revealing Ma Yu¡¯s head instead. ¡°Why is it you! Where¡¯s Yanchuan!¡± Qiao Xin widened her eyes, swiftly walked over, and yanked open the car door, only to see it was just Ma Yu by herself. ¡°Mrs. Little Lu, the boss is obviously at the company now, I just came to pick up some stuff for him.¡± Ma Yu helplessly watched as Qiao Xin thoroughly searched the car inside out, eventually shutting the door in disappointment. She had thought she might run into Yanchuan and was so preemptively excited. Qiao Xin rolled her eyes and walked away, while Ma Yu continued driving towards the Lu Mansion. There wasn¡¯t much of Yanchuan¡¯s stuff; Ma Yu just came to collect some documents he had left at home and his computer, while the rest would naturally be prepared by the Qiao Family. Although Qiao Yi had moved back to the Qiao Family¡¯s home, she still couldn¡¯t sit idle; she needed to prepare for Old Mr. Lu¡¯s upcoming birthday feast at the end of the month¡ª a whole array of messy duties awaited her. Qiao Yi had already worked on these with Zhao Wenjing previously, and she handled them quite proficiently this time around. Zhao Wenjing was overjoyed to see Qiao Yi receive such attention upon marrying into the Lu Family, and she spent her days busily helping Qiao Yi prepare for the birthday feast. As the days passed, Qiao Yi truly enjoyed this ordinary yet busy life. As for Qiao Xin, who knew that Yanchuan was staying at the Qiao Family¡¯s home and rushed back there daily to offer her attentions, she was merely a minor ripple in Qiao Yi¡¯s peaceful life. However, Qiao Yi forgot that sometimes, even small ripples can stir up massive waves. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58: No Family Members Allowed Chapter 58: Chapter 58: No Family Members Allowed The fireworks festival in Capital City is famous across the nearby provinces. At the end of May or the beginning of June each year, there is a grand fireworks festival held in Capital City. The fireworks festival, also known as the Firework Exhibition, is an event where fireworks manufacturers from all over the world bring their innovative products to showcase and sell. Over the years, each fireworks festival has featured particularly outstanding fireworks, such as last year¡¯s ¡°Starry Sky¡± and the previous year¡¯s ¡°Magpie Bridge,¡± both of which were very creative designs. Qiao Yi was learning how to make fireworks, but she couldn¡¯t handle these tiny granules at all. She couldn¡¯t create many varieties and only knew how to make the simplest kind. ¡°Just look at what you¡¯ve made, my little grandson lost interest in such things when he was three years old!¡± Several people were sitting in the courtyard, with Qiao Yi having a pile of small paper tubes at her feet, filling them with materials in the correct proportions to make the simplest of firecrackers. Lu Yanchuan, who was sitting next to Qiao Yi, had several paper tubes at his feet that were many times larger. As soon as Lu Yanchuan sealed his tube, an old man with a white beard snatched it away to examine closely. ¡°Just look at Yanchuan, he learned in just one morning and already does it better than you have in years!¡± The old man with the white beard humphed through his nose, bluntly claiming Lu Yanchuan¡¯s freshly made firework for himself. Qiao Yi wrinkled her nose; she didn¡¯t understand why she couldn¡¯t manage this pile of sulfur and saltpeter. ¡°Grandpa Ding, you can¡¯t just favor the new and get bored with the old! Initially, you said I was exceptionally talented and that I could inherit your mantle!¡± Qiao Yi, unsatisfied, threw away the materials in her hand and piled all the small paper tubes at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s feet before running over to act coquettishly with the white-bearded old man. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The white-bearded old man laughed heartily as he pulled Qiao Yi towards the house. Ding Xingluo, the chairman of the Fireworks Association and a national inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of fireworks. Qiao Yi skipped class in middle school to watch the fireworks festival, where she got lost and happened to meet Ding Xingluo, who was making firecrackers. After chatting with the old man, they found they got along well, and the old and young acquaintances were made. Every year during the fireworks festival, Qiao Yi would come to keep Grandpa Ding¡¯s company. Initially, Grandpa Ding was astounded by her ability to learn how to make the simplest firecracker in less than half an hour. However, Grandpa Ding never expected that after more than a decade, Qiao Yi still only knew how to make that one type of firecracker, which disappointed him for quite some time. Feng Siyu and Han Lewen were making fireworks in the courtyard. According to Grandpa Ding, anyone would be more intelligent than Qiao Yi. They both successfully made firecrackers, which earned them Grandpa Ding¡¯s praise, causing Qiao Yi to roll her eyes even more. Qiao Yi originally did not plan to bring Lu Yanchuan along with her, but upon hearing that she was going to meet Ding Xingluo, he insisted on joining her. Who knew that Grandpa Ding and Old Mr. Lu were old friends and were familiar with Lu Yanchuan, and Grandpa Ding took the opportunity to scold Qiao Yi again using the topic of Lu Yanchuan making fireworks. Soon, only Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Xin remained in the courtyard, with Lu Yanchuan taking over the materials that Qiao Yi was working on, which caused them to waste more time. Qiao Xin had adamantly insisted on coming along; in front of Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to fall out with Qiao Xin so quickly, so she had to bring her along. As she watched everyone else finish their work, Qiao Xin noticed that Lu Yanchuan was focused on the task at hand and not paying her any attention. After looking around, she quietly packed all the leftover materials into her bag. When Qiao Xin finished sealing her own firework, she took it and sat down next to Lu Yanchuan with a plop. ¡°Yan¡­¡± Before Qiao Xin could finish calling his name, Lu Yanchuan stood up and walked into the house with a tray. ¡°Lu Yanchuan! You stop right there!¡± Qiao Xin threw the firecracker she held and ran over to grab Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm to stop him from walking away. Lu Yanchuan raised his hand to shake off Qiao Xin, then stepped back a few paces, distancing himself from her. Qiao Xin stumbled a few times from being pushed away, then turned back to look at Lu Yanchuan with a mix of grievance and disbelief. ¡°You, how could you treat me like this!¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t want to bother with this woman whose mind seemed troubled, and he walked around her to continue heading inside the house. Watching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s retreating figure, Qiao Xin¡¯s face reddened as if she had been slapped in the face. These past few days at the Qiao Family, no matter how hard she tried, Lu Yanchuan seemed completely blind to her presence, his heart only filled with that bitch Qiao Yi! She even stripped naked and lay in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s blankets, only for him to go call Qiao Yi over after seeing her! Is Qiao Yi really that great! What does she have that I don¡¯t! ¡°Bleh¡ª¡± Qiao Xin suddenly felt a wave of nausea, clutched her chest, and rushed to a large tree nearby, where she held onto the trunk and retched. Qiao Yi accompanied Old Mr. Ding to inspect the venue for the evening¡¯s fireworks display. More than a decade ago, Grandpa Ding was still able to personally host the fireworks display, but now as the Chairman, he was merely a figurehead, the infirmities of old age taking their toll. Along the way, many of Grandpa Ding¡¯s students and disciples greeted him, and upon arriving at the main venue, Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze was immediately captivated by the huge firework cannon in the center. ¡°Girl, we¡¯re short of someone to light the fireworks tonight, want to give it a try?¡± Ding Xingluo saw that Qiao Yi seemed quite interested and said with a chuckle while stroking his whiskers. Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes lit up. Since getting to know Grandpa Ding, she had been the one to light the big axel fireworks every year. She hadn¡¯t done it for the past two years, and she really missed that feeling! ¡°Can I? Xiaoding won¡¯t come over to fight me for it again, right?¡± Qiao Yi was already eager to try, wishing she could immediately set off that gigantic firework as tall as herself. After walking around the venue, Qiao Yi realized that someone seemed to be missing. ¡°Where¡¯s Qiao Xin? Didn¡¯t she follow?¡± Qiao Yi looked left and right, indeed there was no sign of Qiao Xin. Knowing that she came chasing after Lu Yanchuan, where on earth had she run off to in such a short time? After failing to find her despite a thorough search, and calls going unanswered, Qiao Yi simply stopped looking. After all, Qiao Xin was a grown person and was unlikely to get lost. Several people accompanied Old Mr. Ding back to the Ding Family home, where Grandpa Ding went to take an afternoon nap. Feng Siyu and Han Lewen dragged Qiao Yi into a corner to torment her. ¡°We agreed not to bring family members, how come you brought one! Believe it or not, I¡¯ll use your family member as a firework!¡± Feng Siyu pinched Qiao Yi¡¯s arm hard, thinking about how Gu Ting looked so reluctant when Qiao Yi left the house, now she really wanted Qiao Yi to taste that feeling! Han Lewen didn¡¯t have a family member, but she wasn¡¯t keen on being the third wheel, so she pinched the other arm of Qiao Yi, relentless until she could get a clear explanation for their sake. ¡°Let go, let go! I¡¯m dying here!¡± Yiyi screamed and flung off the two mischief-makers, then roared and charged at them, beginning her own revenge. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Fireworks Display Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Fireworks Display Three exhausted women had enough fun and returned to sit under the big tree to drink tea. ¡°Lu Yanchuan isn¡¯t someone I brought with me; he followed on his own, nothing to do with me.¡± Qiao Yi pouted her lips. She didn¡¯t want to bring Lu Yanchuan either, but he insisted on coming, and she couldn¡¯t just tie him up at home. Her reason wasn¡¯t accepted, so Feng Siyu prepared to call her own family over. The only one left without family to call upon, Han Lewen, loudly bemoaned the unfairness. ¡°If you find it unfair, go find a partner then!¡± Feng Siyu and Han Lewen would start bickering the moment they met; after a few words, the two of them were at it again. Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t be bothered to break up the fight; after all, it would be over shortly. The three chatted and drank tea until later when, somehow, Gu Ting started playing a game of Go with Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi could play Go but didn¡¯t like it. Feng Siyu stood behind her partner, cheering non-stop, while Han Lewen, whom she clashed with, was jumping up and down cheering for Lu Yanchuan; the yard was as bustling as a food market. Qiao Xin, who had left for no apparent reason, returned just as mysteriously with Lu Ming. During the joyous times, some unwelcome people arrived, which really annoyed Qiao Yi. Although Qiao Yi was irritated, she had no reason to drive them away; the only option was to drag the party-breaking group to visit the night market. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Because of today¡¯s fireworks extravaganza, the southern suburbs had opened a special street as the night market, which was bustling with a variety of food and fun. Qiao Yi and the others were accustomed to such places, only Lu Yanchuan seemed out of place here. Dressed casually, Lu Yanchuan appeared significantly younger than when he¡¯s in his suit and shoes, but even in the crowd, he was still the center of attention. Gu Ting, next to him, seemed more approachable, but seeing Feng Siyu wanting to try this and that, he stayed stern-faced and didn¡¯t allow it. Walking along the snack street, the group looked like parents taking their three daughters out for fun. Startled by her own wild thoughts, Qiao Yi quickly shook her head to cast away the terrifying idea. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Headache?¡± The voice was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s. Qiao Yi turned her head abruptly, only to bump it right into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder, causing tears to spring out from the pain. She was in such pain, yet Lu Yanchuan was actually laughing! Qiao Yi, holding her nose, grunted and moved forward, but after a few steps, her dangling hand was caught by a warm, large hand. ¡°It¡¯s crowded here, stick with me.¡± Qiao Yi struggled for a bit before letting Lu Yanchuan lead her, her cheeks unknowingly flushed, whether from the pain or some other reason. The night market was not too big or small. They took a round trip and by the time they came back, it was already dark. Seeing that it was about time, Qiao Yi took snacks meant for Old Mr. Ding back to the Ding Family courtyard. Although Old Mr. Ding didn¡¯t eat those outside snacks, it couldn¡¯t stop Qiao Yi¡¯s desire to share with him. She deliberately ate two skewers in front of the old man until he sent her out, then she felt relieved all over. Qiao Xin and Lu Ming were still waiting at the Ding Family¡¯s place, and no one knew what they were waiting for. When the last light of the day had faded, Qiao Yi and her group finally arrived at the venue. With Qiao Yi leading, they found the best spot to watch the fireworks. Having not attended the Fireworks Association¡¯s event in two years, they didn¡¯t even need an open flame to light the fireworks now; a small remote control was all it took. Old Mr. Ding handed the remote control to Qiao Yi and after telling her when to ignite, he left for his spot. He was supposed to sit on the podium, although Old Mr. Ding would have preferred to sit with these children. On the podium, Old Mr. Ding¡¯s successor was giving a passionate speech, while Qiao Yi and a few others had already started to study the remote controls in their hands. This remote had two buttons; the yellow button on top was for starting the fireworks show, and the black button below was for that huge firework Qiao Yi had seen. Qiao Yi timed it perfectly, pressing the button at the stroke of eight o¡¯clock. ¡°Bang¡ª¡± ¡°Bang¡ª¡± Two massive fireworks marked the opening of the fireworks extravaganza. With only the sound of fireworks exploding in her ears, Qiao Yi could faintly hear Feng Siyu¡¯s screams and Han Lewen¡¯s laughter. Above her, a myriad of fireworks burst into various shapes and colors in the sky, romantic and dazzling. Despite watching the show for many years, every time Qiao Yi watched the fireworks, she felt incredibly happy and romantic. Qiao Yi was watching the fireworks, while Lu Yanchuan was watching Qiao Yi. The small woman sitting in front of him had sparkling eyes and a blissful face as she supported her chin and gazed at the fireworks above. From her hair, one could discern her joy. Do you like fireworks that much? Fireworks are beautiful, but they are also fleeting; a fireworks show lasts only about half an hour. The show featured almost all of the new firework designs that appeared this year. Qiao Yi has been watching fireworks shows for over ten years and had never seen any repetition. After the final firework, in the shape of a rose, bloom, the fireworks show ended. The Fireworks Association organized this show; next up was the showcase time for these fireworks vendors. Qiao Yi intently watched the various fireworks exploding in the sky, sometimes being amused enough to laugh. ¡°We can set off our own fireworks later, let¡¯s go too!¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s face was flushed; she surely was up to no good while watching the fireworks! Looking at Gu Ting next to her, laughing with a mischievous air, Qiao Yi twisted Feng Siyu¡¯s arm in a reproachful manner¡ªfriends truly are like water that has been poured away once married! In contrast, Han Lewen was much better behaved, eagerly pulling Qiao Yi to go find something fun. ¡°No, we have to wait until I set off the final firework before we can go have fun; otherwise, even if you get the fireworks in your hands now, you can¡¯t set them off.¡± Only after the official program was over could visitors freely enjoy themselves. The square where the big fireworks were set was the place where they could set off fireworks. Only a few vendors were selected to display their products. Qiao Yi particularly liked a straight-barreled cannon that would shoot up into the sky and explode into a sky full of pink stars¡ªa rough yet girlish combination, bewildering and mesmerizing. After a patient twenty-minute wait, the final part arrived, and Qiao Yi even stood up on tiptoe to look towards where the large firework was placed. Lu Yanchuan reached out and pulled Qiao Yi into his embrace. Although there was a waist-high fence in front, given Qiao Yi¡¯s excitement, it was hard to ensure she wouldn¡¯t fall down. Despite the height was equal to that of a person, falling would likely not be fatal, but a broken arm or leg wasn¡¯t anything serious. Qiao Yi sat on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lap and squirmed, feeling uneasy trying to stand up from his embrace, but the arm around her waist held her tightly, making it impossible for her to break free. ¡°Let me go right now¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words were cut short by Lu Yanchuan, who took her hand and pressed it along with his onto the black button. ¡°The time¡¯s come, why not light the firework now?¡± Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Sudden Explosion Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Sudden Explosion Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. She had never seen fireworks that could bloom in the sky, and not just one, but five consecutive blooms, each changing colors. Qiao Yi shouted excitedly, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t understand why she was so thrilled; it was just a special kind of fireworks, pretty yes, but to get this excited? ¡°Ah ah ah!¡± Qiao Yi was frantically waving her arms, Lu Yanchuan held her even tighter, fearing she might accidentally fall over. Being held in someone¡¯s embrace, Qiao Yi turned and kissed Lu Yanchuan on the face, and it was only when he was stunned that he noticed tears in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes. ¡°Old Mr. Ding succeeded! Old Mr. Ding succeeded!¡± Qiao Yi hugged Lu Yanchuan tightly and screamed into his ear. Behind them was the magnificent fireworks, and in his arms was his closest companion. Lu Yanchuan too couldn¡¯t help but be infected by this enthusiasm and kissed the back of Qiao Yi¡¯s head. The huge fireworks lasted for ten minutes before it concluded, and Old Mr. Ding sitting on the main stage was already receiving everyone¡¯s congratulations and praises. He had spent his lifetime studying fireworks and had finally, in his sixties, created fireworks that could bloom five times, setting a world record! Besides the association members, perhaps only Qiao Yi knew what this fireworks meant to Old Mr. Ding. Though controlled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, Qiao Yi¡¯s mind was filled with gratitude and guilt. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 The fireworks should have been lit by Old Mr. Ding himself, but she stole this glorious moment. Old Mr. Ding indulging her like this, how could she not be moved? Lu Yanchuan realized that the little woman he was kissing had started to sob, thinking it was because he held her too tightly, he immediately loosened his grip. But while he loosened his arms, Qiao Yi hugged him tighter, biting his shoulder and crying out loudly. ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡ª¡± Everything was fine, so why did she start crying? Qiao Yi¡¯s bite didn¡¯t hurt him, but letting her continue to cry like this was not a solution. Lu Yanchuan, not knowing how to comfort, could only gently pat her back, as if soothing a child. Even the most beautiful fireworks must come to an end. Qiao Yi¡¯s emotions had finally stabilized. Seeing her tears and saliva on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s shoulder, her face heated up in waves. ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore, your eyes will be uncomfortable.¡± Qiao Yi sniffled and sat up from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace, using the distant light to look at him, feeling a flicker of attraction towards this man for the first time. ¡°Yiyi, why are you crying!¡± Feng Siyu was sitting a bit away, so engrossed in watching the fireworks that he hadn¡¯t noticed what was happening here. Now seeing Qiao Yi sitting on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s lap crying miserably, he thought Lu Yanchuan had bullied her, and rushed over to support Qiao Yi. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just couldn¡¯t hold back thinking of something just now; let¡¯s go check on Old Mr. Ding first, then I¡¯ll take you all to set off fireworks.¡± Qiao Yi, with a tearful voice, wiped her tears and went to find Old Mr. Ding first. Old Mr. Ding, seeing Qiao Yi looking tearful, felt extremely sympathetic and took quite a while to soothe her. He then had someone bring a basket of fireworks, claiming they were his private collection, and let Qiao Yi set them off. Qiao Yi, feeling somewhat embarrassed, carried the basket away. It was she who had stolen the moment to set off Old Mr. Ding¡¯s fireworks, and now he had to console her; it really shouldn¡¯t have been so. That large firework container was taken away by the association members, as it belonged to Old Mr. Ding¡¯s patent and could not be shown to others carelessly. Qiao Yi put down the basket of fireworks given by Old Mr. Ding, which was indeed rich in variety. Each person picked a few, and the rest were all left for Qiao Yi. The square was filled with the scent of fireworks after they had been set off. Qiao Yi rubbed her nose, feeling that the smell was perhaps too strong. When she squatted down to choose the fireworks she wanted to set off, suddenly a small spark flew from somewhere and landed right in front of Qiao Yi, falling into the basket of fireworks! ¡°Ah!¡± A loud explosion drowned out Qiao Yi¡¯s scream. Lu Yanchuan had just stabilized a firework launcher when he heard the explosion behind him and turned to see Qiao Yi, covered in blood, collapsed to the side. The basket of fireworks, which had been perfectly fine, was now blown to pieces, leaving nothing but a charred spot on the ground. ¡°Qiao Yi!¡± Lu Yanchuan rushed over and carefully picked Qiao Yi up, only to discover she was badly injured in many places, especially the wounds on the back of her hands, which were particularly shocking. Without a second thought, Lu Yanchuan carried Qiao Yi hurriedly out of the area. Feng Siyu and Han Lewen also heard the noise and saw Lu Yanchuan running out with Qiao Yi, quickly following behind. Gu Ting ran a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and went back to where Qiao Yi had been injured. He squatted down and began to examine the area carefully. The fireworks given by Old Mr. Ding definitely had no issues. This mysterious explosion must have been caused by an external force. Qiao Yi herself would never have blown herself up, so who deliberately ignited the fireworks inside? Only a few people knew about setting off the fireworks. At that time, Feng Siyu and Han Lewen were far away, Lu Yanchuan was arranging the firework launchers, which leaves only¡­ ¡°Qiao Xin!¡± Gu Ting looked around the square for a while but didn¡¯t see Qiao Xin or Lu Ming. He hesitated for a moment and then sent a message to Feng Siyu before heading towards the main stage. Qiao Yi was carried by Lu Yanchuan into the car, and he personally drove her to the hospital. Yun Qing had also received the news and was on his way to join them. Fortunately, it¡¯s common for people to get burns and injuries at fireworks festivals, so there was a temporary hospital nearby specially equipped to handle these wounds. However, the injuries brought in were usually minor, nothing as serious as Qiao Yi¡¯s. Had it not been for Qiao Yi quickly covering her head and turning away in the moment of the explosion, her face might have been ruined by now. Lu Yanchuan himself hadn¡¯t realized that after he set Qiao Yi down, both of his hands were shaking. The image of Qiao Yi in his arms, barely breathing, had truly frightened him. The person who had been laughing and smiling just a moment before was suddenly lying there, her life hanging by a thread! ¡°Family members, please step out for a moment, wait outside!¡± A nurse came over and ushered everyone out. While sitting in the hallway outside, they began to think about asking why Qiao Yi was blasted. ¡°Gu Ting sent me a message, said he¡¯s going to the association to find the surveillance and video footage from the event.¡± The fireworks festival was always recorded by cameras, and there were security cameras around the venue too. Hopefully, Gu Ting could find some useful information. ¡°The fireworks in the basket wouldn¡¯t explode on their own. It must have been done deliberately, and I think it was Qiao Xin¡¯s doing!¡± Feng Siyu gritted his teeth angrily. Qiao Yi was injured like this, and Qiao Xin hadn¡¯t even come to check on her. She was acting suspicious at the venue, definitely guilty of something! Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Lu Yanchuans Fury Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Lu Yanchuan¡¯s Fury Nobody knew where Qiao Xin had gone; Gu Ting rushed back only bringing with him a blurry video clip. In the video, Qiao Yi was squatting on the ground, rummaging through a basket, when a faint light seemed to fly from a distance and fall in front of Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi looked terrified, covered her face, and then collapsed to the ground. The next moment, all the fireworks and firecrackers in the basket exploded. Strangely, when the sparks from the basket reached Qiao Yi¡¯s body, several small bright lights also burst forth from her. Therefore, Qiao Yi¡¯s injuries were not only caused by the fireworks in the basket but also from small fireworks hidden on her person. But who could have hidden fireworks on Qiao Yi without her noticing? A group of people turned their gazes toward Lu Yanchuan, who remained composed, watching the video over and over again. ¡°Gu Ting, go back to the site, collect as many remnants of the exploded basket as possible, and ask Old Mr. Ding which fireworks he provided to Qiao Yi. Also, retrieve the complete video from the square and identify everyone who touched the basket after Qiao Yi took possession of it.¡± ¡°You suspect¡­¡± ¡°I glanced at the basket when I took it, and there were no fireworks inside with such explosive power. Moreover, the pyrotechnic that ignited the basket¡¯s fireworks flew in from outside the video¡¯s frame. Someone deliberately threw a spark into the basket.¡± Lu Yanchuan slowed down the video, pointing at an enlarged bright spot on the screen. There were more suspicious points, but Gu Ting needed to bring back the evidence. Gu Ting glanced at Feng Siyu, then stood up and left the hospital, bumping into Yun Qing who was hurriedly arriving at the entrance. ¡°Where is she?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 ¡°Inside.¡± Yun Qing answered and went inside. There was a burst of noise, but it soon quieted down. Lu Yanchuan watched the video repeatedly, each time seeing Qiao Yi collapse to the ground with explosions still occurring on her body, he felt waves of discomfort in his heart. He attributed this to the anger he felt because Qiao Yi had been injured by his side. As a husband, to have let his wife sustain such severe injuries at such close range was an utter dereliction of duty! Lu Yanchuan could not forgive this oversight. If anything serious had happened to Qiao Yi, he was not sure what he might do. ¡°Xiyu, look into something for me.¡± No matter who was behind this, he would not forgive them! The door to the ward opened, and Yun Qing came out with a look of relief and relaxation on his face. ¡°Fortunately, sister-in-law¡¯s injuries are not severe, mostly superficial wounds, but the injury on the back of her hand needs to be cared for properly. The weather is about to warm up, and burns or blast injuries like these can leave scars if not properly treated.¡± Lu Yanchuan nodded and was about to enter to see Qiao Yi, but Yun Qing grabbed him. ¡°Boss, wait a moment. The nurse is helping the sister-in-law change clothes. You can go in afterward.¡± After saying this, Yun Qing regretted it. Indeed, Lu Yanchuan looked at him with lifeless eyes, as if looking at a corpse. ¡°Please, after you.¡± Yun Qing shrank his neck and stepped back, making way for Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi lay on the bed, pallid, with abrasions on her face and several wounds of varying sizes on her exposed arm; bandages almost completely wrapped around the entire arm. There were likely even more injuries unseen. The news of Qiao Yi¡¯s injuries had not been told to Qiao Benqing or Zhao Wenjing, nor to Old Mr. Lu. Lu Yanchuan planned to expose the person behind this himself. Everyone else was sent away by Lu Yanchuan, leaving only Yun Qing, the doctor, to take care of her. Qiao Yi woke up the next afternoon, and as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Lu Yanchuan, who seemed to have fallen asleep by the bedside. The scene of last night¡¯s explosion flashed before her eyes, and Qiao Yi lifted her hands to look at her two mummy-wrapped paws, letting out a wry smile. ¡°Awake? Want something to eat?¡± Qiao Yi shook her head, the stinging pain in various parts of her body telling her just how injured she was. Indeed, this time watching the fireworks had come at a great cost. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to investigate the fireworks explosion. Do you remember noticing anything unusual before the basket exploded last night?¡± Unusual? Qiao Yi thought long and hard but couldn¡¯t come up with anything unusual. The only thing that could be considered unusual was that Qiao Xin came over to glance at the fireworks and then kept her distance, as if there was something dirty nearby. Qiao Xin¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t particularly unusual, so Qiao Yi shook her head and didn¡¯t share it with Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I suspect that someone placed a kind of explosive firework in your basket, which was then ignited by a spark and caused that explosion.¡± Hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, Qiao Yi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. If this guess was correct, then the only possible suspect was Qiao Xin! Qiao Xin actually wanted to kill her! No, that¡¯s not right! The amount of explosives wasn¡¯t enough to kill her. Could it be that she wanted to¡­ disfigure her? Indeed! If not for Qiao Yi¡¯s quick reaction last night, disfigurement would have been inevitable! ¡°I think I know who did this. There¡¯s no need for you to keep investigating.¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s complexion turned even paler, and although the ward was as warm as spring, she felt as if she had fallen into an icy cave, with her fingers almost freezing stiff. Lu Yanchuan noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s abnormal reaction and, knowing her well, almost immediately guessed her suspect. ¡°Is it Qiao Xin?¡± Qiao Yi nodded and then shook her head. ¡°I suspect it¡¯s her, but there¡¯s no evidence, so¡­¡± ¡°I will find the evidence. How to use it will be up to you.¡± Qiao Yi suddenly turned toward Lu Yanchuan, not expecting him to say such a thing and for a moment didn¡¯t know what to say. Lu Yanchuan, he¡­ ¡°Yiyi, you¡¯re awake! That¡¯s great! You almost scared me to death!¡± Two tearful beauties rushed to the bedside, and Qiao Yi used her two pig trotters to wipe their tears, but their crying only intensified, making her wonder where all these tears were coming from. ¡°There¡¯s something I need your help with.¡± Once they had cried enough, Qiao Yi started talking about more serious matters. ¡°What is it? I¡¯ll definitely help you!¡± Qiao Yi smiled slyly, pointed at the bandages on her hands, then at her face, and said to the people in the room. ¡°From now on, I am disfigured, the kind that can¡¯t be fixed, the kind that would make Lu Yanchuan divorce me!¡± ¡°Are you crazy? You¡¯re perfectly fine. Why would you say that?¡± Han Lewen looked at Qiao Yi worryingly, afraid that the fireworks had damaged her brain. But the others seemed thoughtful, and Lu Yanchuan even smiled a little. ¡°You¡¯re planning to play a trick to lure out the person who wanted to harm you!¡± Feng Siyu received an admiring glance from Qiao Yi, ¡°Smart!¡± Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Disfigurement Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Disfigurement Seeing Han Lewen still looking confused, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but explain. ¡°I think the person who designed this wasn¡¯t aiming to kill me, but to disfigure and injure me, so I¡¯ll play right into their hands. In a few days, it¡¯ll be Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday feast, and that person will definitely show up eagerly to see my disfigured face, then¡­¡± ¡°Then whoever loses their composure is the person who plotted against you!¡± Han Lewen finally caught on, clapping her hands and praising the plan. ¡°Starting today, none of you should come to see me, just say I don¡¯t want to see anyone, I¡¯ll be discharged from the hospital this afternoon and go home to recover!¡± Qiao Yi looked like a cunning little fox who had stolen a treat, her eyes shining, twirling around, seemingly plotting something mischievous. This matter had to be arranged properly, everyone in the hospital room left, Lu Yanchuan seemed reluctant to go but was eventually called away by a phone call. Only Qiao Yi was left in the hospital room, the smile on her face gradually faded, her eyes emotionless as she stared into a void. Qiao Xin crossed the line this time, Qiao Yi had endured her over and over, each time wanting to teach her a harsh lesson, but thinking of Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing, Qiao Yi always held back. Although Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing didn¡¯t like this daughter very much, Qiao Xin was still their child, and if Qiao Xin was hurt, they would worry and be distressed. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to make her parents sad, so she endured Qiao Xin time and again, but this time, Qiao Xin really went too far! Yun Qing walked in, saw the distracted Qiao Yi, knocked on the door to bring her back to reality. ¡°The boss told me to wrap up your face too.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Since last night, after saying things she shouldn¡¯t have, Yun Qing has always been cautious around Qiao Yi, afraid of observing something inappropriate again. Qiao Yi responded, knowing that if you are going to act, you need to act fully, even if she was alone in the hospital room, she couldn¡¯t relax. In no time, Qiao Yi completely turned into a mummy, using her phone screen to check, even she was startled by her own image. It really looked like her face had suffered multiple injuries! Qiao Yi was very satisfied with her new look, but looking left and right, she felt something was missing. ¡°Do you have any blood? Add a few drops on the gauze, wouldn¡¯t that look more realistic?¡± Yun Qing was persuaded by Qiao Yi, and after repeated requests, went to mix some paint, dabbed it onto the gauze, and wrapped it up again. Now it looked more realistic, Qiao Yi felt that this was definitely the face of someone who had been disfigured! When Lu Yanchuan returned and saw Qiao Yi¡¯s new appearance, he too was startled, but remembering it was fake, he helped by providing some suggestions. With the efforts of the three of them, Qiao Yi successfully possessed a severely injured head. The injuries on Qiao Yi¡¯s body were not serious, but required daily dressing which was quite troublesome. Especially the wounds on Qiao Yi¡¯s back, which she couldn¡¯t reach by herself, and Lu Yanchuan had to help her with the dressing daily, wasn¡¯t it awkward? It could also be possible to have the aunt help with the dressing, but Qiao Yi compared the aunt and Lu Yanchuan, and inexplicably felt it was more acceptable to have Lu Yanchuan do it? She must have some serious illness! Qiao Yi was cooped up at home, browsing posts and watching the news every day, indeed the news of her disfigurement by the fireworks spread quickly, even the Qiao parents and Old Mr. Lu called to ask. However, Qiao Yi brushed them off vaguely. Zhao Wenjing strictly forbade Qiao Yi to play with fireworks again, but she also knew that she couldn¡¯t control Qiao Yi; this was just her way of showing her rejection of fireworks. On the fifth day of Qiao Yi recuperating, Qiao Xin finally came with a pile of gifts, claiming to visit Qiao Yi. Playing her part to the fullest, Qiao Yi naturally refused to see her, only letting her glimpse her thoroughly wrapped-up head through the window, then threw a loud and crazy tantrum, further solidifying the rumors of her disfigurement and drastic change in temperament. To cooperate with Qiao Yi¡¯s plan, Lu Yanchuan had been living in the Lu Mansion during this period, only showing up at night to change Qiao Yi¡¯s bandages; he was otherwise nowhere to be seen. Qiao Xin left Qiao Yi¡¯s place with a worried look, but internally, she was overjoyed. It¡¯s as if heaven was on her side, letting Qiao Yi ruin her face! What perfect karma! Feeling great, Qiao Xin left without seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s cold gaze watching her back from the window. Time flew by, and it was soon Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday. The invitations, handwritten by Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan, were sent out half a month in advance, with more than ten grams of gold powder used on them alone. On the day of the birthday feast, all of the Lu Family¡¯s younger members returned to the Lu Mansion, and Qiao Yi came back to the mansion a day in advance as well. Old Mr. Lu almost shouted out loud upon seeing the bandages on Qiao Yi¡¯s head. Only after Qiao Yi removed the bandages and declared she was healed did the old man beat Lu Yanchuan several times with his cane, making him take the punishment on behalf of the injured Qiao Yi. Lu Yanchuan thought to himself that the old man simply couldn¡¯t bear to hit his daughter-in-law! The younger generation of the Lu Family was responsible for welcoming guests, and Qiao Xin finally stepped into the Lu Mansion again, standing next to Lu Ming with a composed and polite smile, but with a hint of obvious pride. Now that Qiao Yi was disfigured, she was virtually out of the picture; dealing with a ¡®ruined¡¯ person like her would be a piece of cake! Thinking this, the smile on Qiao Xin¡¯s face deepened. Standing next to her, Lu Ming also smiled smugly, thinking that as long as he could get Qiao Xin into Lu Yanchuan¡¯s bed, he would gain the Lu Family shares she controlled; why wouldn¡¯t he be pleased? The two of them, each with their own agendas, momentarily seemed quite a match! Qiao Xin walked around the guest hall of the mansion, didn¡¯t see Qiao Yi, but spotted Lu Yanchuan alone, further confirming her belief about Qiao Yi¡¯s disfigurement. She was so excited, she almost screamed. With great effort, Qiao Xin maintained her composure and walked up to Lu Yanchuan with a wine glass in hand. ¡°Mr. Lu, why haven¡¯t I seen my sister today? Is she feeling unwell? Why isn¡¯t she here with you?¡± Qiao Xin, feigning ignorance, was determined to hear exactly what she wanted from Lu Yanchuan before giving up. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t want to deal with her at all, acting as if he hadn¡¯t heard her and completely ignoring Qiao Xin. Qiao Xin¡¯s expression twisted for a while before she calmed down, persistently following him. ¡°Mr. Lu, I heard my sister got hurt on her face during the fireworks show, it¡¯s such a pity that when I went to see her, she shut me out.¡± Qiao Xin said with a face full of grievance, making it seem as if she was genuinely heartbroken by Qiao Yi¡¯s cold shoulder. Regardless of what Qiao Xin said, Lu Yanchuan treated it as if he heard nothing, infuriating Qiao Xin who stomped her feet in anger but was helpless against him. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 She Must Disappear Chapter 63: Chapter 63 She Must Disappear Someone approached Lu Yanchuan and whispered to him, prompting a smile and a nod from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face. The person then quickly walked to the circular stage in the center and announced loudly. ¡°Thank you all for gracing us with your presence at Old Mr. Lu Hongyun¡¯s grand 60th birthday celebration. Let¡¯s welcome Old Mr. Lu with the warmest round of applause!¡± Old Mr. Lu has dominated the business world for over thirty years and has always been known as the ¡°Buddha Tiger¡± in the industry. No one, whether rivals or partners, has ever seen Old Mr. Lu lose his temper. Yet this amiable man¡¯s methods could be described as ruthlessly efficient. Before Lu Yanchuan took charge, almost everyone thought the Lu Family would decline after Lu Hongyun¡¯s time, given that the eldest and second sons of the family were rather inadequate. Although Lu Xiaohua had some skills, his heart was not in it and he was incapable of supporting such a huge entity like the Lu Family. However, these rumors were soon dispelled once Lu Yanchuan took the helm. After all, compared to the ¡°Buddha Tiger¡± Lu Hongyun, Lu Yanchuan, the ¡°Great White Shark,¡± was even more formidable to deal with. Just when everyone assumed the Lu Family would grow even stronger with Lu Hongyun and Lu Yanchuan working together, Lu Hongyun chose to retire from the spotlight early and handed over the entire family business to Lu Yanchuan, who was just twenty at the time. At that point, Lu Hongyun was just over fifty¡ªa time when a man is usually at his peak. Yet he opted to step back early and settle into retirement. His actions were seen as highly irrational by the outside world, and some even predicted that Lu Yanchuan simply lacked the ability to sustain the Lu Family, and it would inevitably be Lu Hongyun who would have to take over the reins again. But once more, the Lu Family proved them wrong. Under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s management, not only did the family not fall into decline, but it reached even greater heights. And under the brilliance of Lu Yanchuan, Lu Hongyun gradually became a legend. Everyone at the venue turned their eyes towards the staircase on the second floor. Some of the younger guests couldn¡¯t understand why their elders showed such respect for an old man with no real power in the Lu Family. These youngsters were quickly reprimanded and educated by their seniors. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Three figures appeared at the top of the staircase on the second floor. The one in the center, dressed in a black and red birthday suit, was none other than Lu Hongyun, flanked by two women in light pink gowns. ¡°Her! How could it be! Wasn¡¯t she disfigured?¡± Qiao Xin¡¯s voice stood out in the crowd, and many people who heard it turned to look her way, while Lu Ming frowned disapprovingly at her side. ¡°What a fuss! Are you trying to kill yourself?¡± Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t listen to Lu Ming¡¯s words, her eyes fixed incredulously on the woman behind Lu Hongyun. Qiao Yi and Lu Xiaohua, on either side of Old Mr. Lu, gently supported him as he descended the stairs. Once Old Mr. Lu was on stage, they discreetly stepped aside. Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t hear what Lu Hongyun was saying on stage; she was fixated on Qiao Yi¡¯s unscathed face. Lu Ming was listening intently to Old Mr. Lu¡¯s speech and turned his head, only to find Qiao Xin missing from his side. After scanning the room, he saw her furiously heading towards Qiao Yi. That brainless woman! She¡¯s going to ruin everything! Without time to think, Lu Ming hurriedly followed her. Today was a significant day for the Lu Family. If Qiao Xin caused a scene now, it would not just be a matter of losing face! If Old Mr. Lu became unhappy with Qiao Xin over this and Lu Ming ended up being disliked by Old Mr. Lu as a consequence, that would be terrible! The more Lu Ming thought about it, the angrier he got. Carefully making his way through the crowd, he quickly followed after her. After coming down the stairs, Qiao Yi was keeping an eye on Qiao Xin. Seeing Qiao Xin¡¯s face change dramatically, Qiao Yi was already prepared to be hassled by her, so when Qiao Xin rushed over and pulled her arm, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t resist at all and was directly led outside the reception room. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you disfigured! Why are you¡­¡± ¡°Why am I fine? Such a pity, the explosives you secretly switched didn¡¯t disfigure me, are you disappointed?¡± Qiao Yi interrupted Qiao Xin with a light tone, casting a disdainful glance at her and snorted dismissively through her nose. ¡°Impossible! How could you not be disfigured! I had it all calculated! Even if you didn¡¯t die, you would be disfigured!¡± Qiao Xin glared at Qiao Yi¡¯s flawless face in a fit of rage, wishing she could rip off her skin and put it on her own face right there and then! A mocking smile played on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, coupled with an indescribably cold indifference. ¡°Qiao Xin, I used to think you were just a fool blinded by love, but now I see clearly, you¡¯re not just a fool, you¡¯re a ruthless one at that!¡± ¡°You! Qiao Yi! You deceived me!¡± Qiao Xin, seeing the recording pen in Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, immediately screamed and lunged to snatch it back. But how could she outmatch Qiao Yi? Even with one hand, Qiao Yi wouldn¡¯t let her take anything she held. Qiao Xin was forcefully pushed aside by Qiao Yi, who flaunted the recording pen in front of her and then snatched it away right before Qiao Xin could grab it. ¡°Qiao Xin, I warn you to stop these petty tricks. I remember every little thing you¡¯ve done to me, and if you keep being dishonest, don¡¯t blame me for not showing any mercy!¡± Qiao Xin trembled all over; she could hardly imagine the consequences if everything she had done was revealed by Qiao Yi. No! She couldn¡¯t be threatened by Qiao Yi! Qiao Yi hated her so much, sooner or later she would release everything, and then not only Lu Yanchuan would despise her, but she would also have no place in the Qiao Family! No, this absolutely cannot happen! With bloodshot eyes, Qiao Xin¡¯s gaze towards Qiao Yi¡¯s back was not only filled with anger and jealousy but also a chilling murderous intent. Qiao Yi must disappear! The red in Qiao Xin¡¯s eyes gradually faded, and she calmed down. Just as she was about to return to the venue, a wave of nausea surged up in her stomach. ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± ¡°Qiao Xin! What are you up to! Grandfather¡¯s birthday banquet isn¡¯t a place for your antics! If you keep this up, you¡¯ll never set foot in the Lu Mansion again!¡± Lu Ming had searched around and finally found Qiao Xin outside, leaning against a tree. Not seeing Qiao Yi nearby, Lu Ming felt relieved. Only when he approached did Lu Ming realize that Qiao Xin was retching. He impatiently waited for a moment and only when Qiao Xin stood up straight did he reach out to pull her arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go back quickly, if people notice I¡¯m not inside, who knows what rumors they will spread!¡± Qiao Xin stumbled as she was pulled by Lu Ming, but instead of shaking off his hand, she let Lu Ming lead her back into the hall. When Qiao Yi returned, Old Mr. Lu had already finished speaking and was coming down the stage looking for her. Qiao Yi hurried to meet him. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Her Identity Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Her Identity ¡°Where did you just run off to?¡± ¡°I just had uncomfortable shoes, so I went to change them.¡± Qiao Yi found an excuse to brush off Old Mr. Lu. She knew that Old Mr. Lu must be aware of the issues between her and Qiao Xin, but he never actively asked about them, and she herself didn¡¯t want to bring these matters up. Besides, no matter how loudly Qiao Xin and she argued, it was still a Qiao Family affair. Discussing such matters in the Lu Family would be quite inappropriate. Seeing that Qiao Yi was reluctant to elaborate, Old Mr. Lu didn¡¯t press further. He smiled, nodded, and then had Lu Xiaohua and Qiao Yi link arms with him to cut the cake. The cake was a towering nine layers, nearly as tall as Qiao Yi. It was a cake that Qiao Yi had made herself, spending a whole two hours just piping the cream. After finishing it last night, she kept it in the cold storage room and had it brought out just a moment ago. Old Mr. Lu took a long cake knife and sliced from the very top layer, keeping a piece for himself while giving most of the first layer to Qiao Yi and Lu Xiaohua. The surrounding guests were taken aback by Old Mr. Lu¡¯s action. In the past, other than Old Mr. Lu himself, the cake would always be given to his most favored daughter, Lu Xiaohua. As a child, Lu Yanchuan got a share, but ever since he came of age, he had not been given a piece by Old Mr. Lu. But now, Old Mr. Lu was actually sharing the cake with Qiao Yi, the new bride who had married into the Lu Family less than half a year ago. What did this signify? It indicated that Old Mr. Lu¡¯s regard and affection for Qiao Yi was no less than that for his daughter Lu Xiaohua! Everyone had thought the marriage between Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan was a result of an unavoidable compromise, but now it seemed that was not the case. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? After cutting the cake, Old Mr. Lu left. The birthday banquet was just a pretext, and the rest was no different from any ordinary party. After seeing Old Mr. Lu back, Qiao Yi changed into more casual clothes and hurried to eat the cake. She didn¡¯t really care whether the cake had been given to her by Old Mr. Lu or not. She had been craving it since finishing it the night before. She restrained the greedy worm in her belly by sadly nibbling on some leftover scraps for a fix. Having waited so long, she could finally eat the cake without restraint! Lu Xiaohua was very mindful of her figure, so she only cut a small piece for herself to claim she had eaten her share, and resignedly handed her portion over to Qiao Yi who was merrily indulging. Qiao Yi adored sweets; she could never refuse her own homemade cake. Taking a bit of cream, she put it in her mouth, feeling so blissful she was almost in heaven. ¡°Yiyi, you have eaten up all the good cake by yourself, that¡¯s so improper!¡± Zhao Wenjing playfully swatted Qiao Yi¡¯s arm and then smiled apologetically at Lu Xiaohua. She was only a few years older than Lu Xiaohua, but now they were separated by a generation. They had known each other before, but now sitting together felt somewhat awkward. ¡°You take your time eating; I¡¯ll go check on Dad.¡± Lu Xiaohua got up and left first. Qiao Yi nodded, thought for a moment, and then set down her cake. Mr. and Mrs. Qiao would naturally attend Old Mr. Lu¡¯s birthday celebration. After learning that Qiao Yi had been injured, Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing had tried to visit her several times but were always rejected by Qiao Yi¡¯s various excuses. The more Qiao Yi avoided them, the more they suspected that her injuries were too severe and she didn¡¯t want to be seen, or even that, as rumors suggested, her face might have been disfigured. Today, they came to the Lu Family with trepidation and didn¡¯t see Qiao Yi, which almost killed them with anxiety. This anxiety wasn¡¯t relieved until they saw Qiao Yi descend the stairs unharmed. Zhao Wenjing was both relieved and frightened. She clutched Qiao Yi and examined her closely several times before her mind was finally at ease. ¡°You child, your injury isn¡¯t serious, why didn¡¯t you tell Mom? And you were hiding and not seeing Mom, do you know that Mom was almost scared sick by you!¡± Zhao Wenjing was chattering nonstop to Qiao Yi, both distressed and complaining, while Qiao Yi obediently responded. ¡°It¡¯s alright now, isn¡¯t it? Besides, I did it for a reason, to surprise those who wanted to see my face ruined!¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s words had a double meaning, which Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing both picked up on. But since Qiao Yi didn¡¯t elaborate, they simply reminded her a few times and let the matter go. ¡°Your brother is coming back tomorrow, I¡¯ll go home with you guys and stay there for a while.¡± These past few days, Qiao Yi had been living outside because of acting in a play, but now that the play was over, of course, she would go back to her own home. Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing exchanged a glance and asked, ¡°And Yanchuan?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s face inexplicably reddened, and she pouted unhappily with a hum. ¡°He can go or not, I don¡¯t want him to follow along.¡± Qiao Benqing wanted to say something but was pinched on the waist by Zhao Wenjing. ¡°The matters between you two are for you to decide, but there is one thing Mom wants to tell you. You¡¯re not just the little daughter of the Qiao Family now, you¡¯re also the daughter-in-law of the Lu Family, the one in charge of household affairs at the Lu Family. You can¡¯t be the same as before in all matters, understand?¡± Qiao Yi seemed to understand but also not quite, her heart somehow became chaotic. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Qiao Yi responded hurriedly, suddenly longing for a quiet place to sit for a while. Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing were called away by business partners, Lu Yanchuan was talking with someone not far away; everyone had their own things to do, leaving Qiao Yi sitting there, utterly bewildered. It seemed that she had never considered the change in her identity, always feeling that even after getting married there would be no difference from before, but is that really the truth¡­ While talking with someone, Lu Yanchuan noticed someone watching him, turning his head to meet Qiao Yi¡¯s piercing gaze. After excusing himself to the person he was speaking with, Lu Yanchuan walked over and sat down beside Qiao Yi. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, just suddenly feeling a bit tired.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want her sudden emotional decline to affect others. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, go up and rest. It¡¯s still a while before this event ends.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t like this kind of socializing either, but since today¡¯s event belonged to the Lu Family, he had no choice but to stay. Qiao Yi nodded and walked upstairs with a plate of cake. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Sorry sorry! Are you okay?¡± Someone behind suddenly bumped into Qiao Yi, and the cake she was holding smeared all over her chest. The person who bumped into her quickly apologized. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to make a fuss and said it didn¡¯t matter, planning to go back and change her clothes, but then someone grabbed her wrist. ¡°Are you okay? Oh no! With all this cake on you, let me help you clean it up!¡± Qiao Yi turned around being pulled by the person, the voice of the woman who bumped into her loud, and before Qiao Yi could break free from her grasp, a pair of hands with tissues pressed against her body. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Calling Sister-in-law Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Calling Sister-in-law Qiao Yi really disliked people who casually got touchy-feely, even if they did so with good intentions, but sometimes good intentions pave the way to bad outcomes! Just moments ago, only the cake that had bumped into her chest was being wiped by the woman, and now Qiao Yi¡¯s entire upper body was smeared with cake, making her look extremely disheveled. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just go back and change my clothes!¡± Qiao Yi was already getting impatient. She quickly turned her hand to shake off the person gripping her hand, but to her surprise, the grip was so strong that she couldn¡¯t shake the person off. ¡°You¡­ Bai Lingling?¡± Qiao Yi turned her head and to her shock, the person holding onto her was none other than Bai Lingling, whom she had just met a few days ago. Wasn¡¯t this person still studying abroad in France a few days ago? How could she have returned so soon? ¡°Ah! Miss Qiao, I¡¯m really sorry for dirtying your clothes!¡± Bai Lingling¡¯s expression was apologetic, but her eyes gleamed with delight. Even after Qiao Yi pushed her hand away, Bai Lingling didn¡¯t relent and tried to wipe cake on Qiao Yi¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s just a pity these cakes went to waste¡­ Ah!¡± Qiao Yi was stunned for a moment then laughed it off generously, stepping back. However, she forgot that her hand was still being held by Bai Lingling, and was abruptly pulled onto Bai Lingling. Bai Lingling was already shorter than Qiao Yi, and today Qiao Yi was wearing a pair of heels that were twelve centimeters high. Bai Lingling stood in front of her a whole half-head shorter. The sudden collision from Qiao Yi was no big deal, but she ended up pressing Bai Lingling¡¯s head against her chest. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï By the time Qiao Yi let out a cry and pushed Bai Lingling away while holding her chest, Bai Lingling¡¯s face and body were also covered with a layer of cream and cake debris. ¡°Oh dear, I am so sorry, Miss Bai, are you okay? Look, I forgot you were holding on to me, let¡¯s get a doctor to see if you are injured!¡± Qiao Yi bent down to help Bai Lingling with concern, but as Bai Lingling¡¯s eyes were caked with cake, hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s voice made her heart burn with rage. What does she mean by saying she was holding onto her? It was clearly Qiao Yi who bumped into her, yet her words twisted the blame onto Bai Lingling! Bai Lingling was internally vexed, and even more annoyed when her arm was touched, impulsively pushing away the person who dared to touch her. Qiao Yi screamed, propelled backwards by the force of Bai Lingling¡¯s shove. She had perfectly calculated her falling angle, making sure she would lean on the stair¡¯s railing, ensuring no injury and minimal pain. However, the anticipated result did not materialize, as Lu Yanchuan, appearing just in time, steadily caught her. Seeing Lu Yanchuan infuriated Qiao Yi! Look at the two of them who turned out tonight, wasn¡¯t each one looking to trouble her, all for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sake! Qiao Xin almost ruined her face, confining her to bed for several days to recover! Now here was Bai Lingling, trying to play the white lotus and green tea act, simply aiming to make her look ridiculous! The more Qiao Yi thought, the angrier she got, and she twisted a pinch of flesh around Lu Yanchuan¡¯s waist. Lu Yanchuan just squinted from the pain, and seeing his expression hardly change, she was certain she had exerted strength, how could Lu Yanchuan remain so unfazed? Doubting the reality of it, Qiao Yi twisted again only to see that Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even flinch this time. Biting her teeth, she tried the same on her own arm, nearly bursting into tears. Damn it hurts! Lu Yanchuan is a freak! The exchange between the two was merely a fleeting moment, as Lu Yanchuan draped his suit jacket over Qiao Yi to cover her dishevelment, and then turned to look at Bai Lingling with Qiao Yi in his arms. At that instance, Bai Lingling had finally wiped her face clean of the cake, and upon seeing Lu Yanchuan, she suddenly played the victim, pointing at Qiao Yi and beginning to accuse. ¡°Yanchuan! I just accidentally bumped into Miss Qiao, and she deliberately smeared the cake on herself all over me! It¡¯s too much!¡± ¡°Sister-in-law.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Bai Lingling was momentarily unable to follow Lu Yanchuan¡¯s train of thought and let out a bewildered noise. Lu Yanchuan frowned with impatience. ¡°I mean, you should call her sister-in-law, or aunt.¡± By seniority, she should call her aunt; following Bai Lingling¡¯s usual practice, she should call her sister-in-law. In any case, she shouldn¡¯t call her Miss Qiao. Qiao Yi suppressed a smile, thinking about how hard she had been on Lu Yanchuan just now, she suddenly felt a twinge of guilt and discreetly patted Lu Yanchuan¡¯s waist under his suit jacket as consolation. Bai Lingling¡¯s face was filled with disbelief, which, combined with the remnants of colorful cream on her face, looked extremely comical. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to do anything about her treating me like this!¡± ¡°Miss Bai, I¡¯m sorry for accidentally bumping into you earlier, but to be bumped into in such a wide space, doesn¡¯t it prove that we are fated to cross paths?¡± Listening to Qiao Yi¡¯s nonsensical apology, Bai Lingling clenched her teeth in anger. What fate! Qiao Yi was clearly insinuating that it was Bai Lingling who had bumped into her first, suggesting she was the provocateur, and if Bai Lingling were to bring it up again, Qiao Yi certainly wouldn¡¯t let it go so easily! Of course, Qiao Yi did not plan to let it go so easily. What did these people take her for? No matter how little she liked Lu Yanchuan, he was still her man, Qiao Yi, and she couldn¡¯t let these people pry as they pleased! Qiao Yi looked at Bai Lingling¡¯s ashen face and, inexplicably, a flash of an image crossed her mind. In a car, someone was sitting in the passenger seat, but when she turned her head, it was Bai Lingling¡¯s face! Qiao Yi shivered all over, trying hard to grasp that fleeting image in her mind. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Cold?¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice interrupted Qiao Yi¡¯s thoughts. Qiao Yi shook her head, but when she looked at Bai Lingling again, her mood was somewhat heavy. On the day she was kidnapped, because she had drunk alcohol and had been drugged after getting into the car, her memory of that day was very faint, with only some vague fragments remaining. She only began to remember these incidents after Lu Yanchuan talked to her about them later. Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t sure if the image in her head was real or her own illusion. Could Bai Lingling really have done something as terrible as hiring someone to harm her? The more she looked at Bai Lingling, the less she seemed like someone capable of such a deed! Maybe Bai Lingling could talk back harshly in front of her or bump into her at a banquet, but for something this serious, Bai Lingling might not have the courage! Qiao Yi weighed her thoughts for a moment and patted Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m tired, I¡¯m going upstairs to change clothes. I¡¯ll leave this to you.¡± Without waiting for Lu Yanchuan to nod, Qiao Yi wrapped herself in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s suit and headed up the stairs. The commotion here wasn¡¯t small, and many people had turned to look, Bai Lingling¡¯s face turned redder and redder under the gaze of the crowd, until finally, she couldn¡¯t help but cover her face and run away. Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t afraid of a young girl¡¯s tears, but he was more troubled by the aftermath of her crying. Seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, the crowd dispersed, and Lu Xiaohua came over, pulling Lu Yanchuan into a quiet corner to demand answers. ¡°What happened here? Why is Lingling in such a state? Did you bully Lingling?¡± Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Decency Violation Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Decency Violation From a personal sentiment, Lu Xiaohua actually hoped more that Lu Yanchuan could end up with Bai Lingling, After all, one of them was the younger brother she had watched grow up since he was little, and the other was a girl from her best friend¡¯s family¡ªsomeone she knew inside out. Naturally, she wished the two could become even closer. Indeed, it seemed to be a case of unrequited affection from Bai Lingling¡¯s side, as Lu Xiaohua tried for many years in vain, and Qiao Yi¡¯s appearance later completely dispelled this thought. Though Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t like Bai Lingling, Lu Xiaohua couldn¡¯t just watch him mistreating the young girl. ¡°Don¡¯t keep silent, if you¡¯ve provoked the young girl then hurry and apologize. A real man should be responsible!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t provoke her.¡± Lu Yanchuan was extremely impatient, finding a woman who created problems out of nothing truly headache-inducing. Why couldn¡¯t she just keep calm? Especially since this woman was also protected by someone. Even him showing a cold face would lead to a long lecture. ¡°Really?¡± Lu Xiaohua looked at him skeptically, not believing what Lu Yanchuan said. Previously, Bai Lingling had been brought to tears by Lu Yanchuan many times. Although they were both young at the time, Lu Xiaohua remembered this and would bring it up occasionally. ¡°Really, she intentionally bumped into Qiao Yi causing the egg to hit Qiao Yi, and then she accidentally collided with Qiao Yi again, which is why she ended up like this. It has nothing to do with others.¡± Bai Lingling¡¯s little schemes couldn¡¯t be concealed from Qiao Yi, and of course, not from Lu Yanchuan either. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°That¡¯s impossible, Lingling would never be that kind of girl! There must be some misunderstanding! I¡¯ll go and talk to Qiao Yi!¡± Lu Xiaohua would naturally trust the child she had watched grow up much more than Qiao Yi, who had only become her sister-in-law less than three months ago. After saying this, she left Lu Yanchuan behind and went upstairs to find Qiao Yi. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t stop her. There was surveillance in the living room; they would know the truth after checking the footage later. Just as Qiao Yi had finished changing her clothes and was half-done washing her face, Lu Xiaohua walked in, saw the dress Qiao Yi had thrown aside covered in cake, and her accusatory words turned gentle before she spoke. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you downstairs just now, what happened? Why are you and Lingling both covered in cake?¡± Qiao Yi had learned about Bai Lingling¡¯s identity from Lu Yanchuan long ago, so when she saw Lu Xiaohua storming in angrily, she knew she was here to seek accountability. However, Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t angry, knowing that Lu Xiaohua had always tried to bring Bai Lingling and Lu Yanchuan together, and certainly felt more sympathy for Bai Lingling. ¡°Nothing much, just bumped into Miss Bai downstairs.¡± ¡°But Yanchuan said it was you who deliberately bumped into Lingling?¡± Droplets of water hung on Qiao Yi¡¯s face, and as she turned her gaze to meet Lu Xiaohua¡¯s, it oddly reminded her of Lu Yanchuan. ¡°If Yanchuan said so, then let it be.¡± Without explaining or denying, Qiao Yi nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders, not taking the matter to heart at all. ¡°What are you¡­¡± ¡°Sister, I¡¯m your sister-in-law. Just consider it teaching a lesson to a girl who harbors ill intentions towards Lu Yanchuan. Why make a big fuss about it?¡± Ultimately, how Lu Yanchuan spoke to Lu Xiaohua didn¡¯t matter, and Qiao Yi believed that although Lu Yanchuan was a bit harsh in front of her, he definitely wouldn¡¯t say such distortions of truth. Thus, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t plan to follow Lu Xiaohua¡¯s script. If she really got angry with Lu Yanchuan over a mere word, that would be foolish. Lu Xiaohua didn¡¯t expect Qiao Yi to respond like this. Shouldn¡¯t she be defending herself a bit? She had prepared a whole set of excuses; no matter what Qiao Yi said, she would definitely insist that Qiao Yi apologize to Bai Lingling. But when Qiao Yi said that, she had no grounds to speak. Qiao Yi was right; even if she did intentionally bump into Bai Lingling, she was just taking revenge on a woman who had designs on her man. If it came out, it would be more embarrassing for Bai Lingling. Qiao Yi wiped her face dry; the cake was delicious, but once it got on her body, it really wasn¡¯t easy to clean off. She exerted a lot of effort to clean herself up; it was time to go downstairs, as staying upstairs would be rude. ¡°Big sister, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll go down first.¡± Qiao Yi smiled at Lu Xiaohua, bypassed her, and left the room. Downstairs, Lu Yanchuan still stood out in the crowd. From upstairs, Qiao Yi could see many ladies from prominent families sneaking glances at Lu Yanchuan. Such a man attracts bees and butterflies, not at all observant of fidelity. Qiao Yi pursed her lips and took another staircase down, walking over to Qiao Benqing and Zhao Wenjing. ¡°Dad, Mom, the party is almost over, let¡¯s leave early.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it bad to leave early? Waiting a little while longer for it to end isn¡¯t an issue; it¡¯s not that much time.¡± Zhao Wenjing¡¯s face was slightly flushed, showing she had drunk quite a bit. Qiao Yi glanced at Qiao Benqing, and upon meeting his resigned gaze, she burst out laughing. The Qiao Family and Lu Family said they were joining forces, but the Qiao Family had shallow roots and only bonded with the Lu Family due to the previous relations between the Family Heads of both houses. Now with the Qiao Family¡¯s matrimonial alliance to the Lu Family, with both daughters marrying into the Lu Family, especially Qiao Yi becoming the Lu Family¡¯s housekeeper lady, the union was even tighter, bringing more benefits to the Qiao Family. Zhao Wenjing was always a low-key person; faced with so many compliments in such an occasion today, it wasn¡¯t strange to be a bit overwhelmed. ¡°Why are you coming down?¡± Lu Yanchuan appeared out of nowhere, quietly standing behind Qiao Yi and giving her a fright. ¡°Somebody went and complained to Big Sister, saying I collided with your childhood sweetheart. How could I dare to be in somebody¡¯s way!¡± Qiao Yi inexplicably blurted this out, but she regretted it as soon as she said it. She hadn¡¯t planned to tell Lu Yanchuan what happened between her and Lu Xiaohua, but upon seeing Lu Yanchuan, she felt so wronged; the words just slipped out without thinking. Lu Yanchuan furrowed his brows but said nothing; Qiao Yi saw his expression, humphed, and turned away to ignore him. The banquet ended shortly after, and Qiao Yi, accompanying Lu Yanchuan, sent off the guests and was about to leave with Mr. and Mrs. Qiao. But before Qiao Yi could get into the car, Lu Yanchuan pulled her into another car. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re hurting me!¡± Qiao Yi twisted her wrist but couldn¡¯t free herself from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s grasp and could only glare at him annoyed. ¡°I never said those things to Big Sister.¡± ¡°Say it or not, it¡¯s no concern of mine!¡± Qiao Yi, feeling irked, certainly wouldn¡¯t let Lu Yanchuan feel good. Although her wrist was grabbed, she kept her distance, leaning far against the car door as if Lu Yanchuan had something unclean on him. ¡°Also, your childhood sweetheart is over there watching! Stop pulling and tugging at me; it¡¯s indecent!¡± Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Family Members Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Family Members Words that corrupt public morals were uttered, clearly showing just how irrational Qiao Yi is now. Through the car window, Bai Lingling stood in the darkness, watching Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan arm in arm getting into a car. Tears swirled in her eyes, finally falling after the car had driven off. She clearly liked Lu Yanchuan so much, why didn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan like her! Why did he like Qiao Yi, a woman who couldn¡¯t compare to her in any way! Bai Lingling stood there for a long time, and from a distance, Lu Xiaohua saw her, feeling a sudden pang of heartache. ¡°Lingling, it¡¯s so cold outside, why are you standing out here? Come inside quickly, Aunt Hua hasn¡¯t seen you for so long, don¡¯t you miss Aunt Hua!¡± Bai Lingling panicked and wiped her face, propping up a smile as she walked towards Lu Xiaohua. ¡°I missed Aunt Hua the most. Tonight, I¡¯m going to sleep with Aunt Hua, you can¡¯t find me annoying!¡± The more she saw how sensible and obedient Bai Lingling was, the more Lu Xiaohua felt sorry for her and, by extension, had an even worse impression of Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi sneezed fiercely, wrapping herself tighter in the suit jacket she was covered with. Seeing her red face and lips, one could tell that something unspeakable had happened in the car just now. Ma Yu was driving and though he really wanted to think of himself as a rock or a piece of wood, the sounds from the back seat uncontrollably pierced his ears. This was simply taking one¡¯s life! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Turn on the air conditioning.¡± Ma Yu shuddered, looking at the air conditioning already turned up to the max, almost in tears. How to deal with an unreasonable boss? ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± Qiao Yi clutched the suit jacket she was wearing and stubbornly held her ground, even with her neck stiffened. Lu Yanchuan saw through it but said nothing, reaching out to pull back Qiao Yi, who was avoiding him from afar, into his embrace. ¡°Next week I¡¯m going on a business trip to Tian City; you¡¯ll come with me.¡± ¡°Why do I need to go? You have a bunch of assistants and secretaries, why insist that I go with you?¡± Qiao Yi twisted her body, trying to break free from Lu Yanchuan¡¯s restraint, but her small struggle was completely suppressed by him, without the slightest bit of resistance. If she couldn¡¯t escape, she might as well accept it; Qiao Yi found the most comfortable position for herself, leaning on Lu Yanchuan, even pulling up her legs onto the car seat. Watching Qiao Yi audaciously press herself onto him, Lu Yanchuan simply used both hands forcefully and picked her up onto his lap. ¡°There¡¯s an auction there, you can bring family members.¡± The word ¡°family members¡± made Qiao Yi¡¯s face inexplicably blush. She humphed twice but said nothing more. When they reached the Qiao Family home, Qiao Yi was just about to put on her shoes to get out of the car when she wasn¡¯t able to reach the ground and was instead picked up by Lu Yanchuan, who carried her in the same position towards the house. ¡°My dad and mom are watching! Put me down quickly!¡± Qiao Yi knocked on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm; just now in the car, her pressing on him in a fit of pique led to her being picked up onto his lap, which already made her blush, and now to be so intimate with Lu Yanchuan in front of Mr. and Mrs. Qiao made her feel like she was about to explode. Lu Yanchuan did not give Qiao Yi a chance to struggle, directly carrying her over to Mr. and Mrs. Qiao and walking inside. Qiao Yi¡¯s head was buried in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s chest, and the exposed soles of her feet curled up shyly. Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing, having been through this themselves, were naturally overjoyed to see the young couple so intimate and wisely said nothing more. It wasn¡¯t until they returned to the room that Qiao Yi finally came back to life, her face red like a cooked prawn, even her neck was flushed, as she stood on the bed pointing at Lu Yanchuan, unable to speak. ¡°Go to sleep early. We need to pick someone up from the airport tomorrow.¡± Lu Yanchuan maintained his composure, looking at Qiao Yi¡¯s flushed cheeks, which even had a hint of eagerness. Qiao Yi felt as though her dignity was destroyed by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. This man was not only unbeatable in a fight but also infuriating to argue with, enough to make someone vomit blood in frustration! The infuriated Qiao Yi fell asleep in a certain man¡¯s arms before long. The little woman in his embrace behaved so docilely after falling asleep, even snuggling into him with soft hums, causing Lu Yanchuan a great deal of torment. ¡°Beep beep beep¡ª¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s phone rang. Those who understood Lu Yanchuan knew that he didn¡¯t deal with work at night, so they wouldn¡¯t disturb him. Unless it was to report something very important. Lu Yanchuan grabbed the phone and skimmed through it, his expression growing increasingly unsightly. The next day, Qiao Yi was awakened by her alarm clock. She reached out instinctively, and suddenly woke up completely. The space beside her was empty; the bed was even cold, indicating that the person who had slept there had left a long time ago. Qiao Yi checked the time; it was only 6:30 am. Lu Yanchuan usually left for work at this time, so why did he leave so early today? And didn¡¯t he say yesterday that he would go with her to pick up her brother from the airport? While Qiao Yi was puzzled, her phone suddenly rang. ¡°Flight tickets? When did I book flight tickets?¡± Qiao Yi looked at the booking confirmation in her hand, about to check her phone, when Lu Yanchuan¡¯s call came through. ¡°You¡¯ll accompany me to Tian City this afternoon.¡± ¡°But my brother¡­¡± just arrived home today! Qiao Yi stared at the disconnected call, feeling annoyed. Was Lu Yanchuan sick in the head? Who hangs up before someone has finished talking? She was not going now! She dragged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s number into the blacklist and then quickly got ready to go to the airport with Mr. and Mrs. Qiao. Qiao Qiao¡¯s plane landed at nine. Having not seen her brother for so long, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree he¡¯d arrive at nine? Why hasn¡¯t he come yet?¡± Zhao Wenjing kept checking the time. Once it passed nine o¡¯clock, she just couldn¡¯t wait anymore and even wanted to barge in to pick up Qiao Qiao. Qiao Yi and Qiao Benqing comforted Zhao Wenjing together. While they were talking, someone suddenly tapped Qiao Yi on the shoulder. ¡°Excuse me, are you my sister?¡± Qiao Yi whirled around and saw a man wrapped up tight standing behind her. Tears welled up instantly, and she embraced her brother who had grown taller, crying uncontrollably. Qiao Qiao clumsily hugged the two weeping women, turning to his father for help with a plea in his eyes. What to do? Both his sister and his mother are crying like this; he was completely overwhelmed! He had dressed up to surprise them, but instead of providing a surprise, he gave them a fright. After Qiao Yi had cried enough, she slapped Qiao Qiao on the head. ¡°Learn only the bad stuff! Why all this secrecy?¡± The hat, glasses, mask, and scarf were all removed. Qiao Qiao scratched his head sheepishly, hugged his father, then with one arm around his mother and the other carrying the suitcase, they headed out. ¡°So you won¡¯t leave again after this trip back?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t leave. The internship abroad is over, and I can directly join the company now that I¡¯m back.¡± Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Teachers Funeral Arrangements Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Teacher¡¯s Funeral Arrangements Hearing Qiao Qiao say she won¡¯t leave anymore, Zhao Wenjing was overjoyed, skipped the breakfast prepared early by the maid, and directly instructed Qiao Yi to go to the largest hotel in the city for a proper celebration. Halfway through the meal, Qiao Benqing¡¯s phone rang. After hanging up, Qiao Benqing looked at Qiao Yi. ¡°Why did you blacklisted Yanchuan? Hurry up and unblock him, I¡¯ve already told Yanchuan to pick you up, you can just go with him later.¡± The steak in Qiao Yi¡¯s mouth was only half chewed when she froze. How dare Lu Yanchuan tattle! Unbelievable! Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s reluctance, Qiao Benqing glared at her before speaking. ¡°Yanchuan¡¯s mentor has had an accident, Yanchuan wants to take you to meet the old man before he passes away. This is an honor for you, so don¡¯t throw a tantrum!¡± An accident like this happened? Why didn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan tell her? Qiao Yi hurriedly swallowed what was in her mouth, took out her phone to unblock Lu Yanchuan from the blacklist, and a stream of messages poured in. However, Lu Yanchuan was probably busy at that moment and did not reply to Qiao Yi¡¯s messages. Qiao Yi became somewhat restless, considering how she had impulsively blacklisted him that morning, she felt a rare sense of remorse. ¡°Yanchuan is Sister¡¯s fianc¨¦, right? I¡¯ve heard of his name before, is he good to Sister?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Qiao Qiao curiously looked at Qiao Benqing then at Qiao Yi, very curious about this brother-in-law she had never met. Before Qiao Yi could reply, Zhao Wenjing started to introduce Qiao Qiao to her two new brothers-in-law. With such an incident, even the joy of Qiao Qiao¡¯s return home dissipated, and with a distracted Qiao Yi barely finishing her meal, Lu Yanchuan was already waiting outside for her. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I¡¯m leaving first, I¡¯ll bring you a gift when I come back in a few days.¡± Qiao Yi patted her younger brother on the head and quickly left. Lu Yanchuan was meditating in the car, and only opened his eyes when Qiao Yi got in. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about such a big thing?¡± ¡°It was sudden.¡± It was indeed sudden. He received a message from his junior last night, and after arranging everything for the company overnight, he then thought to bring Qiao Yi with him. ¡°Alright, next time something like this happens, you must tell me. It was wrong of me to blacklist you, but you are not allowed to act so impulsively anymore, otherwise, I¡¯ll block you again, you hear!¡± Her irritated mood gradually calmed down amidst Qiao Yi¡¯s nagging. Qiao Yi was suddenly hugged and was a bit slow to react, but seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s exhausted face, she rather unusually complied. In a private hospital in the suburbs of Tian City, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan went through the nurse¡¯s thorough disinfection before entering the ward. A snow-white ward housed an old woman with white hair. On the way there, Lu Yanchuan had already told Qiao Yi her identity. Old Madam Gong, the close friend of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s mother and his mentor, they have always shared strong feelings. After Old Madam Lu¡¯s passing, Lu Yanchuan has been treating her like his own mother. Now this old madam was also about to leave, one can imagine the grief in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s heart. He might come across as cold, but that doesn¡¯t mean he is unfeeling. Often, those who seem indifferent pour much more emotion into those they truly care about. Qiao Yi watched as Lu Yanchuan sat beside Old Madam Gong¡¯s bed, holding the old lady¡¯s hand. Despite his still indifferent expression, Qiao Yi felt that Lu Yanchuan was crying. ¡°The teacher has been sick for three years, and I¡¯ve always been busy, hardly able to visit more than a few times each year.¡± It took a while for Lu Yanchuan to utter that single sentence. Qiao Yi was shocked, and when she looked at him, she saw two tear streaks on his face that had not yet fully faded. ¡°If the teacher knew you were here, she would certainly be happy.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know how to comfort him, but Lu Yanchuan shook his head upon hearing her words. Lu Yanchuan seemed to have shed his usual cold exterior. At the old lady¡¯s bedside, he showed his softest side. ¡°The teacher wanted me to get married a long time ago. It¡¯s a bit late to bring you to meet her now.¡± The sickroom fell silent, the only sound being the regular beeping of the heart rate monitor by the bed. Lu Yanchuan was still Lu Yanchuan; he wouldn¡¯t be overwhelmed by temporary sorrow. After tucking Old Madam Gong in and leaving the sickroom, Lu Yanchuan reverted to his usual self. ¡°Senior Lu, you¡¯re here. The teacher might wake up around noon, but she¡¯s becoming less and less lucid now, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± More than a dozen people were standing outside the door, all of them Old Madam Gong¡¯s students. In her youth, Old Madam Gong married into the Gong Family, but her husband passed away in a car accident only a couple of years later, and she lost her child as well. After that, Old Madam Gong never remarried; it has always been her students and some distant relatives of the Gong Family who looked after her. ¡°All the arrangements for the teacher¡¯s funeral have been prepared, please take a look.¡± A junior brother passed over a tablet with all the arrangements for Old Madam Gong¡¯s funeral. Lu Yanchuan glanced at it briefly before handing it back to him. ¡°You all handle these matters. I only have one request: no one will get any of the teacher¡¯s possessions after her death. I will turn the teacher¡¯s old residence into a museum, and I do not want anything there to be missing.¡± As soon as Lu Yanchuan finished speaking, some in the crowd changed their expressions, but under the pressure of his formidable presence, they dared not speak out. ¡°Xiao Luo, you handle this. If anyone dares to interfere, deal with them directly.¡± Lu Yanchuan took out a bunch of keys from his pocket and tossed them to the young man holding the tablet amidst various gazes from the crowd. The young man, Xiao Luo, was taken aback, holding the keys and muttering without being able to say anything. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, does anyone disagree?¡± ¡°Senior Lu, we¡¯ve been the ones taking care of the teacher while she¡¯s been bedridden. We should be the ones handling her possessions after she¡¯s gone. You¡¯ve ignored the teacher for years, so what gives you the right to come here and boss us around now!¡± A woman from the crowd stood up; she looked quite a bit older than Lu Yanchuan but still referred to him as Senior Lu. Lu Yanchuan merely glanced at her before looking at Xiao Luo, his gaze asking who she was. ¡°She¡¯s the youngest daughter of the current Family Head of the Gong Family, taken in by the teacher two years ago.¡± Xiao Luo explained quietly, clearly afraid to look at the woman. Lu Yanchuan nodded, then, after seeing the triumphant expression on the woman¡¯s face, repeated his previous statement. ¡°Handle the task I¡¯ve entrusted you with. If anyone dares to obstruct, deal with them immediately.¡± After finishing, he ignored the woman¡¯s displeased expression and prepared to leave with Qiao Yi. The woman couldn¡¯t simply let Lu Yanchuan walk away. She didn¡¯t dare to attack Lu Yanchuan, but that didn¡¯t mean she wouldn¡¯t target someone by his side. As Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi were passing by her, she reached out and grabbed at Qiao Yi¡¯s arm! Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Using the Knife Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Using the Knife ¡°Ah!¡± A woman¡¯s scream echoed through the hospital corridor. Qiao Yi held Gong Ting¡¯s head with one hand through her hair, and with the other hand grabbed Gong Ting¡¯s arms firmly behind her back, pressing her against the wall of the corridor. ¡°You bitch! Let go of me! Do you know who I am! You¡¯re dead!¡± Gong Ting screamed and struggled, but Qiao Yi completely disregarded her efforts, simply tightening her grip and leaving Gong Ting with only enough strength to shriek in pain. Lu Yanchuan watched indifferently as Qiao Yi manhandled Gong Ting, and only after Gong Ting¡¯s voice had gone hoarse did he tap Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, signaling her to let go. ¡°Does anyone else have any objections now?¡± The corridor fell utterly silent, except for Gong Ting¡¯s painful moaning as she lay collapsed on a chair. Qiao Yi muttered to herself, feeling that Lu Yanchuan was treating her more like a bodyguard than paying her any attention! Though she grumbled internally, Qiao Yi¡¯s expression matched Lu Yanchuan¡¯s, appearing as if she had not been the one to rough up Gong Ting. No one else spoke in the corridor, and under the gaze of the crowd, Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi walked out, with Qiao Yi even faintly hearing threats from Gong Ting behind her. The sudden incident with Old Madam Gong disrupted Lu Yanchuan¡¯s plans. After dealing with the affair, Lu Yanchuan took Qiao Yi to a hotel and then hurriedly left. Qiao Yi curled up on the sofa, sipping her milk tea, but her mind kept going back to Lu Yanchuan in the hospital room. Such an incident must have upset him, or he wouldn¡¯t have seemed so cold in the corridor. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi felt she understood Lu Yanchuan quite well. Although he seemed cold and heartless, she knew from their time together that he simply didn¡¯t bother with people unless necessary, generally preferring not to start conflicts. Whether it was intervening in the Gong Family matters or arranging Old Madam Gong¡¯s affairs, others perceived Lu Yanchuan as domineering and aggressive, but Qiao Yi felt that he was expressing his affection for Old Madam Gong in such a manner. He wanted Old Madam Gong to have a peaceful departure. He wanted to silence discordant voices and deter the troublemakers. Qiao Yi knew she probably couldn¡¯t help Lu Yanchuan much, the best she could do was probably to avoid causing him further trouble. ¡°Ding dong!¡± As Qiao Yi was lost in her thoughts, the room door suddenly knocked. She got up to open it, only to have a group of people burst in. Over a dozen burly men rushed in, pushing Qiao Yi further inside. A woman then came through the parted crowd, astonishingly it was Gong Ting whom she had just seen in the morning! Seeing Gong Ting here was unexpected for Qiao Yi, yet somehow it made sense. The Gong Family was a powerful local force in Tian City, and although they weren¡¯t as prominent as the Qiao or Lu Families, tracking down Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan in their territory wasn¡¯t too difficult. This bode ill. Qiao Yi stepped backward until she bumped into a coffee table and stopped. ¡°Are you Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife?¡± Gong Ting scrutinized Qiao Yi from top to bottom, and after clearly seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s face, jealousy surged uncontrollably within her. She had always been considered a favored child, adored and pursued by family and friends from the moment she was born. Today, Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi, the two people she encountered, almost completely humiliated her, especially Qiao Yi. This woman even dared to lay hands on her in public, causing her such great embarrassment! Originally, Gong Ting thought Qiao Yi was something like Lu Yanchuan¡¯s bodyguard, but after investigating, she discovered that Qiao Yi was actually Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife! This revelation shocked and excited her! If she could control Qiao Yi, wouldn¡¯t Lu Yanchuan be right in the palm of her hand! With such a win-win situation, Gong Ting rushed to the hotel where Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi were staying without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Qiao Yi was no fool. Upon hearing Gong Ting¡¯s words, she immediately understood her intentions, and her demeanor relaxed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Miss Gong, what wisdom do you wish to impart?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s calm response took Gong Ting aback. Upon closer inspection, she realized that Qiao Yi was truly composed, without a trace of nervousness, looking at her as if she were just an ordinary friend. Gong Ting even saw a hint of amusement in Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes! ¡°Miss Qiao, I believe you understand my intentions. I dislike playing guessing games with clever people. Do you plan to come with me willingly, or should my men take you forcibly?¡± ¡°What a pity, Miss Gong. I find my stay here quite comfortable and have no intention of changing hotels. Thank you for your kind concern.¡± Qiao Yi shrugged her shoulders and then moved back a few steps, sitting down on the sofa as if she didn¡¯t take Gong Ting seriously at all. This attitude was truly disrespectful, making Gong Ting¡¯s face darken, and the black-clad men behind her stepped forward, ready to lay hands on Qiao Yi. ¡°Miss Gong, you must be aware of my background. I assume you would not want to trouble the Gong Family, would you?¡± Qiao Yi, unabashedly arrogant, sat there with her legs crossed, as if she wasn¡¯t the one surrounded. ¡°Whether the Gong Family faces trouble or not is not for you to decide! Take her away!¡± Gong Ting, never a patient person, infuriated by Qiao Yi¡¯s provocations, waved her hand and ordered her men to seize Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi shifted her wrist and suddenly leaned forward, pulling a fruit knife from the coffee table. The knife handle rotated in her hand, and without hesitation, she stabbed it into the palm of the first hulking man who charged at her. The room was too small and crowded with so many people rushing in; they couldn¡¯t coordinate their movements. Meanwhile, Qiao Yi, alone with a knife, managed effectively, quickly injuring several men. ¡°Hisss¡ª¡± Even as formidable as Qiao Yi was, one person could not overcome a dozen or more. After injuring another seven or eight men, she was finally subdued when someone kicked her wrist, causing the fruit knife to fall to the ground and her to be heavily pinned down on the coffee table. Gong Ting hadn¡¯t expected that coming to capture Qiao Yi would drive her to use a knife, and now things had gotten out of hand, definitely not something easy to settle! What to do! Qiao Yi belonged to the Qiao Family and was also Lu Family¡¯s daughter-in-law. Despite the Gong Family¡¯s influence in Tian City, they couldn¡¯t contend with both the Qiao and Lu Families! If Qiao Yi had not been harmed, even if they had taken her away, the Gong Family could simply offer some compensation to cover things up. But now, the situation escalated to the use of a knife, which was beyond what Gong Ting could handle! Qiao Yi, pinned on the coffee table, moved her fingers slightly and sighed regretfully. After all these years of not practicing, to think she¡¯d be subdued while armed, it was simply embarrassing! Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Pretending to Be Pitiful Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Pretending to Be Pitiful Just as Gong Ting was hesitating, the mobile phone that was still on the sofa suddenly rang. Gong Ting¡¯s subordinates glanced at it, and the caller ID displayed Lu Yanchuan¡¯s name! ¡°Miss, the call is from someone named Lu Yanchuan.¡± They didn¡¯t know who Lu Yanchuan was, but Gong Ting had just said that the person they had captured was Lu Yanchuan¡¯s wife, and their miss had kidnapped her to threaten Lu Yanchuan. Now that the person hadn¡¯t been taken away yet, how come Lu Yanchuan was calling? Gong Ting was panicked; she wasn¡¯t ready to confront Lu Yanchuan head-on, she wasn¡¯t even ready to use Qiao Yi to threaten him! How could Lu Yanchuan show up at this moment! The phone on the sofa kept ringing, but no one answered, and after a while, it hung up by itself. But before Gong Ting could breathe a sigh of relief, the phone rang once again! ¡°Hang up, hang up!¡± ¡°Miss Gong, if you hang up the call, maybe Lu Yanchuan will come back to the hotel to see me in person, you know.¡± Qiao Yi spoke cheerfully but her face was cold, a sight that made people really want to give her a beating. Gong Ting also really wanted to beat her, but the raised hand couldn¡¯t fall, and even under Qiao Yi¡¯s indifferent gaze, she couldn¡¯t help but step back several steps. ¡°Miss Gong, I¡¯m very curious. The inheritance from Old Madam Gong, no matter how rich, shouldn¡¯t matter so much to the most favored miss of the Gong family, right? To risk retaliation from both the Qiao and Lu families by kidnapping me? Can Miss Gong tell me why?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Just as Gong Ting was hesitating to pick up the call, Qiao Yi suddenly asked a question that made Gong Ting stunned. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Gong Ting glared at her impatiently, and when she was about to answer the call again, it had already been hung up once more. This time after the phone hung up, it didn¡¯t ring again, and Gong Ting let out a sigh of relief, but Qiao Yi quietly curled the corners of her lips. ¡°Actually, if Miss Gong wanted to threaten Lu Yanchuan, she totally shouldn¡¯t have kidnapped me. My marriage to Yanchuan is only a business arrangement. If the inheritance left by Old Madam Gong is valuable enough, do you think Lu Yanchuan would give up the benefits he¡¯s about to gain for a wife with whom he has no feelings, linked only by a business marriage?¡± Although pinned down, Qiao Yi was chatting as if with an old friend, without any sign of nervousness. Gong Ting looked at Qiao Yi, then at the mobile phone on the sofa, and suddenly felt uneasy. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Take her with us, leave now!¡± Without responding to Qiao Yi, Gong Ting pushed the black-clad person standing beside her and turned to leave. Qiao Yi watched Gong Ting¡¯s panicked retreating figure, her smile growing bigger and bigger until she couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. ¡°What are you laughing about!¡± Unable to stand it any longer, Gong Ting turned her head and looked at Qiao Yi angrily. Qiao Yi laughed and frowned, looking helpless, ¡°I¡¯m just thinking, this time the Gong family is going to be brought down by you.¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°Miss! It¡¯s a call from the master!¡± Before she even left the hotel, Gong Ting received a call from her biological father, Gong Zhe. Who knows what was said on the phone, but after Gong Ting hung up, she looked very upset, especially when she saw Qiao Yi¡¯s smiling face. ¡°Slap!¡± Gong Ting finally couldn¡¯t hold back, turned around, and gave Qiao Yi a slap, the force almost causing fresh blood to ooze from the corner of Qiao Yi¡¯s lips. ¡°You wretch! I will not let you go!¡± Qiao Yi raised an eyebrow, licked the blood at the corner of her mouth, and was about to say something when her gaze fell behind Gong Ting and, with a turn of her eyes, began to cry pitifully. Gong Ting noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze and turned around, her face instantly turning deathly pale. Lu Yanchuan stood at the end of the hallway with an expression cold as frost. Although he was alone, his presence was such that he seemed to completely overshadow the dozen or so people in the hallway, intimidating them to the point where they dared not look him in the eye. The atmosphere instantly froze; Gong Ting even felt as if her blood was about to stop flowing under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s stare, and she was too cold and frightened to meet his gaze. ¡°Yanchuan¡­ save me¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s feeble cry for help shattered the frozen atmosphere of the hallway, and when Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes met hers past Gong Ting, his gaze grew even colder. Qiao Yi was held by the arms by two towering men, her body covered in fresh bloodstains, half her face swollen and red, with a trace of blood still at her lips, the very image of someone who had been abused. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that, I¡­¡± ¡°Hand her over to me.¡± Lu Yanchuan stepped forward, while the people on Gong Ting¡¯s side moved back step by step, dragging along Qiao Yi, who appeared utterly miserable. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, hand her over to me.¡± Qiao Yi could hear the hidden fury in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s voice and suddenly regretted, wondering if she had taken things too far. A real falling out with the Gong Family would not be good for either the Lu Family or the Qiao Family! Qiao Yi had guessed that Gong Ting wouldn¡¯t really do anything to her, which is why she brought out a knife and let herself be taken. After seeing Lu Yanchuan, she pretended to be pitiful. She just hadn¡¯t expected Lu Yanchuan to be so furious, it made Qiao Yi¡¯s heart tremble with fear. When a man gets angry, it¡¯s truly frightening. Gong Ting had no more room to retreat, and suddenly she took off a ring from her finger and pressed it against Qiao Yi¡¯s face, glaring viciously at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Give me the shares the teacher holds in the Gong Family! Otherwise, I¡¯ll ruin her face!¡± Qiao Yi raised an eyebrow, not expecting Gong Ting to make such a move. No wonder Gong Ting was willing to antagonize both the Qiao and Lu Families, even using her to threaten Lu Yanchuan; it turned out it was all about the shares in the Gong Family. Lu Yanchuan furrowed his brows but said nothing, causing Qiao Yi¡¯s heart to sink. What does he mean by this? Normal fear makes people shrink back, but excessive fear can ignite courage. Just like now, Gong Ting, pressed to the extreme by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s presence, had already offended both Qiao and Lu Families, so she decided to go all in and directly used Qiao Yi to threaten him in front of Lu Yanchuan. The longer Lu Yanchuan remained silent, the heavier the hearts of the two women opposite him became. Gong Ting was regretting and confused; could it be that Lu Yanchuan really had no feelings for Qiao Yi, as Qiao Yi had said, so he didn¡¯t care if she was hurt? And Qiao Yi felt cold; although the two were only nominally husband and wife, they got along quite well both in public and in private. Now, for the sake of some shares that didn¡¯t belong to Lu Yanchuan in the first place, was he really going to leave her to her fate? ¡°The teacher does not hold any shares in the Gong Family.¡± Both Qiao Yi and Gong Ting were taken aback, unsure if what Lu Yanchuan said was true or a lie made up to make Gong Ting release Qiao Yi. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! The teacher obviously holds ten percent of the shares in the Gong Family, how could you say she doesn¡¯t!¡± ¡°This is the teacher¡¯s inheritance appraisal, and it clearly doesn¡¯t list any shares.¡± Saying this, Lu Yanchuan took a document out of his briefcase and tossed it to Gong Ting. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Unrelated to You Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Unrelated to You Gong Ting couldn¡¯t wait to pick up the document and flip through it, scanning it back and forth several times, yet she found no mention of share ownership at all. ¡°This can¡¯t be possible! How can this be?!¡± Gong Ting couldn¡¯t accept this outcome! To get the 10 percent of the shares held by Old Madam Gong, she had attended to the old lady like a maid for two whole years, and now she had even offended the Qiao Family and the Lu Family to get the shares! But the truth was telling her that Old Madam Gong had no shares at all! Her two years of slaving away, her painstaking plots¡ªall for naught! How could she accept this! She simply couldn¡¯t accept it! ¡°You lied to me! You must be lying to me! You did it just to save her! If I can¡¯t have peace, neither can you!¡± Gong Ting, her eyes bloodshot, ripped the document to shreds, and with the ring she clenched in her hand, slashed towards Qiao Yi¡¯s face. ¡°Ah!¡± The scream did not come from Qiao Yi, but from Gong Ting, who was kicked far away by Qiao Yi¡¯s sudden flying kick. Qiao Yi¡¯s leg almost reached her ear side, the whoosh of it connecting with the face of the person controlling her. The man in black recoiled in pain, releasing Qiao Yi¡¯s hand, and Qiao Yi took the opportunity to headbutt the other side, right onto another person¡¯s nose. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï As Qiao Yi made her move, Lu Yanchuan also charged over. The fight in the corridor erupted in an instant, and by the time Gong Ting finally managed to get back on her feet, Qiao Yi, alongside Lu Yanchuan, had taken down all the men in black in the hallway. Although Qiao Yi was dissatisfied with Lu Yanchuan¡¯s earlier hesitation, now was not the time to settle scores with him. Gong Ting, who had been heavily kicked by Qiao Yi just a moment ago, leaned against the wall with a pained, pale face, but Qiao Yi felt that her pallor was more because of the shares. ¡°Lu Yanchuan! Aren¡¯t you being too greedy? Having the Lu Group isn¡¯t enough for you, you want the Gong Family¡¯s shares too? Isn¡¯t this overstepping?!¡± Gong Ting seemed to have decided that the document Lu Yanchuan showed her was a forgery he concocted himself, she angrily pointed at Lu Yanchuan, completely forgetting her recent fear of him. Under the influence of desire, even the weakest person can muster desperate courage. Just like Gong Ting, she dared to look Lu Yanchuan in the eye and questioned him loudly. Qiao Yi admired Gong Ting¡¯s courage but had no confidence in her intelligence. Regardless of whether the document Lu Yanchuan gave her was real or fake, Gong Ting was destined to be the loser. Seeing that neither Qiao Yi nor Lu Yanchuan spoke, Gong Ting became more convinced she had guessed the truth, pointing at Lu Yanchuan and about to curse further, when suddenly a stern voice from the other end of the hallway scolded her. ¡°Gong Ting! Shut your mouth!¡± Qiao Yi looked towards the newcomer, only to see a middle-aged man about the same age as Qiao Benqing approach, who slapped Gong Ting across the face. ¡°Dad! You hit me!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth! Go back home now, and don¡¯t you dare step outside again!¡± Gong Zhe, followed by his assistant who was completely indifferent to Gong Ting¡¯s indignation and resentment, pulled Gong Ting away. Qiao Yi relaxed her guard; this man was likely the Gong Family Head, Gong Ting¡¯s father, Gong Zhe. Gong Zhe completely ignored the men in black who were strewn across the ground groaning and turned to Lu Yanchuan with a smile plastered on his face. ¡°Mr. Lu, your visit to Tian City this time¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you give a heads up so I could have made arrangements for you? Staying here is really improper!¡± ¡°No need.¡± Lu Yanchuan had no intention whatsoever to save face for him and turned to pull Qiao Yi back to their room. Just before stepping into their room, Lu Yanchuan paused. ¡°Mr. Gong, I do not want to see anyone from the Gong Family around the teacher again. Also, regarding today¡¯s incident, the Gong Family needs to give me an explanation.¡± After finishing his sentence, Lu Yanchuan closed the door with a backward motion. Qiao Yi, who had entered the room before Lu Yanchuan, heard what he said. However, she was still preoccupied with the recent events and didn¡¯t feel like paying any attention to Lu Yanchuan. Her face was swollen and uncomfortable. Qiao Yi looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and deeply regretted messing around for no reason ¨C that slap hurt like hell! Touching her face and wincing with pain, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp inhale. Gong Ting really hit hard; if there had been another slap, Qiao Yi reckoned she would have lost a molar! ¡°Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?!¡± Qiao Yi was dragged out of the bathroom by the arm and pushed onto the sofa. An ice pack was pressed against her face in a not-so-gentle manner, and Qiao Yi glared at Lu Yanchuan through her pain. Hadn¡¯t he just been hesitating whether to save her or not? Why was he now trying to tend to her wounds? Jerk! ¡°I didn¡¯t plan on not saving you just now.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Qiao Yi snorted and still didn¡¯t want to speak. After examining her, Lu Yanchuan found that Qiao Yi only had a facial injury and then put away the medical kit. ¡°I was wondering whether the teacher had any shares in the Gong Family.¡± Qiao Yi was somewhat stunned. Was Lu Yanchuan explaining himself to her? Lu Yanchuan, squatting in front of her, directed his gaze to her face and furrowed his brows slightly. A hint of unpleasant emotion flickered through his dark eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain. It doesn¡¯t matter to me if you would choose shares over saving me; Gong Ting can¡¯t really hurt me.¡± After speaking those words, Qiao Yi immediately regretted them. That wasn¡¯t what she meant to say at all! The atmosphere became instantly tense. Qiao Yi tilted her head away, refusing to look at Lu Yanchuan, who was pursing his lips in thought, his gaze remaining fixed on Qiao Yi¡¯s face without moving. ¡°That¡¯s it, go on with your business.¡± Unable to bear the tension any longer, Qiao Yi pushed away Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand and stood up, heading towards the bathroom. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t not save you because of the shares.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know whether she should feel touched or angry. Maybe it was the pain in her face that caused the irritation, or perhaps it was something else that made her unable to suppress the sudden burst of anger. ¡°Listen up, Lu Yanchuan, I, Qiao Yi, do not need your rescue. Regardless of the reason, if I can save myself it¡¯s because of my good luck; if I can¡¯t, it¡¯s my own fault. Whether I live or die, it has nothing to do with you¡­ mmph¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s hands were pounding against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, unable to push his body away. Angered, she bit down on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s tongue hard, and immediately a metallic taste spread in both of their mouths. ¡°This won¡¯t happen again.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hands gently touched Qiao Yi¡¯s face, as if afraid of causing her more pain. Qiao Yi fell silent, her outburst leaving her with nothing but emptiness and fatigue. Listening to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s enigmatic words, she nonchalantly acknowledged with a hum and pushed away from his embrace, turning to walk into the bathroom. By the time Qiao Yi came out of the bathroom, Lu Yanchuan had already left. There was medicine and a note on the table, in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s typical tone. ¡°Remember to apply the medicine. The teacher is seriously ill, no need to wait for me.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s waiting for you¡­¡± Qiao Yi crumpled the note in her hand and threw it into the trash can, then aimlessly scrolled through her phone for a while. Suddenly, as if she had lost her mind, she retrieved the note from the trash, folded it neatly, and tucked it into the case of her phone. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Acquaintances Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Acquaintances Old Madam Gong had held on for two days, but eventually, she could no longer hold on and left this world. Qiao Yi stayed with Lu Yanchuan to handle Old Madam Gong¡¯s funeral arrangements. During this time, the Gong Family also came to cause trouble twice, but they were all blocked by Lu Yanchuan outside. Following Old Madam Gong¡¯s last wishes, after all usable parts of Old Madam Gong¡¯s body were donated, Lu Yanchuan scattered her ashes into the sea. Even to a complete stranger, seeing a living person turn into a handful of ashes right before your eyes is unsettling. Qiao Yi was already feeling suppressed just by helping Lu Yanchuan with the funeral arrangements, let alone Lu Yanchuan who had deep feelings for Old Madam Gong. After sending off Old Madam Gong on her last journey, only Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi were left in the car on the return journey. Qiao Yi wore a translucent and lustrous jade bracelet on her wrist, which Old Madam Gong had asked Lu Yanchuan to find and give to her when she was lucid. Actually, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t really like wearing jewelry, but she inexplicably didn¡¯t want to take off the bracelet that Old Madam Gong gave her. Lu Yanchuan sat beside her, eyes closed, resting, and Qiao Yi, touching the bracelet on her hand also felt somewhat restless, as if she was holding back an unexpressed anger. Something was off, very off, Qiao Yi felt her condition was wrong, even if it was because she was influenced by Old Madam Gong¡¯s passing, her emotions shouldn¡¯t be this strange. Maybe it¡¯s because these days have been too oppressive? The last time she came to Tian City was to attend the bidding for the harbor project, and this time unexpectedly she attended Old Madam Gong¡¯s funeral; she also needed to go to Tian City¡¯s auction the next day. Speaking of Tian City¡¯s auction, it already gave Qiao Yi a headache. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It was just a simple auction, but many families in Capital City received invites. Qiao Xin somehow heard of it, and insisted on following Lu Ming to attend the auction. Lu Yanchuan was able to get an invitation, but that didn¡¯t mean Lu Ming could. Qiao Xin, of course, was not satisfied and upon finding out that Lu Ming couldn¡¯t get an invite, she went to Qiao Yi, shamelessly demanding Qiao Yi to give up her spot so she could go with Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi was shocked by Qiao Xin¡¯s cheekiness and righteousness and rejected her outright. However, she always felt a bit uneasy, Qiao Xin didn¡¯t seem like someone who would give up easily, and who knows what kind of trouble she would stir up. Returning to the hotel, Lu Yanchuan changed his clothes and went to Lu Group¡¯s branch in Tian City, leaving Qiao Yi in the hotel. After a while, she planned to go shopping. But just as Qiao Yi changed and was about to leave, someone knocked on her room door. After that incident caused by Gong Ting, Qiao Yi has already grown a bit wary of these unexpected knocks. Holding a fruit knife she picked up from the table in her hand, Qiao Yi then went to open the door. ¡°Qiao Xin?¡± When the door opened, standing outside were Lu Ming and Qiao Xin, with Wang Zhen following behind, looking puzzled. Qiao Yi did not plan to let these three people in. She stood blocking the doorway, scanning over the three people and finally resting her eyes on Qiao Xin. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Is this your attitude towards me? Move aside!¡± As she spoke, Qiao Xin reached out to push Qiao Yi aside, but Qiao Yi calmly deflected Qiao Xin¡¯s hand, only to see Qiao Xin exaggeratingly cried out, and Lu Ming also very nervously helped stabilize Qiao Xin. ¡°Qiao Yi! Don¡¯t go too far! Xinxin is pregnant now, how can you not be a bit more considerate of her!¡± Lu Ming made a deeply concerned and affectionate display, which made Qiao Yi feel revolted. Looking at Qiao Xin again, she was clutching her flat belly and yelling, as if she wanted to invite the whole hotel to watch her performance. Wang Zhen has never liked Qiao Xin or Qiao Yi, but right now, Qiao Xin is carrying her grandchild, so even if she dislikes Qiao Xin, she has no choice but to endure it. However, her dislike for Qiao Xin was her own business, but Qiao Yi¡¯s push nearly harmed her grandchild, and she immediately roared at Qiao Yi! ¡°Don¡¯t you have any manners or upbringing! Your sister is pregnant, and yet you dare to lay hands on her! If my grandson suffers any harm, you¡¯ll pay for it!¡± Qiao Yi remained unfazed but sceptically glanced at Qiao Xin¡¯s belly. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡± ¡°Of course! Xinxin has been pregnant for a month and a half now, let her sit down right away!¡± Lu Ming called out first, and Qiao Yi flicked her ears but did not move aside. ¡°Sorry, Qiao Xin¡¯s pregnancy has nothing to do with me; the child isn¡¯t mine! If you have nothing else, please leave; I don¡¯t have time to waste here with you.¡± Perhaps irritated by Qiao Yi¡¯s attitude, Lu Ming let go of Qiao Xin¡¯s hand and glared at Qiao Yi, ready to argue. Qiao Xin grabbed the angrily charging Lu Ming and stepped forward while holding her belly. ¡°Yiyi, I know you¡¯ve never liked me, but could you let me have the spot to attend the auction for the sake of my pregnancy? I just want to see it for myself, at home everything has always favored you, and I¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, so I should give my spot to you? Is the child in your belly mine? Or is it that the child you¡¯re carrying will be gifted to me?¡± Qiao Xin turned pale from Qiao Yi¡¯s retort, unable to save face. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t give her a chance to regain composure and argue back; she grabbed her bag from the shelf and walked out, closing the door behind her. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand your thinking; your pregnancy has nothing to do with me, how dare you use your own child as a bargaining chip to demand me to give way?¡± Qiao Yi patted Qiao Xin¡¯s face lightly twice, rolled her eyes, and walked away. Instead of wasting time here with Qiao Xin, it would be more relaxing to go shopping. Qiao Yi quickly shrugged off this minor incident with Qiao Xin and spent the afternoon wandering until she casually returned to the hotel before dark. Carrying many bags big and small, Qiao Yi struggled to hang them on both hands as she walked into the hotel, only to be run into by someone hurrying out. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry!¡± The bags in Qiao Yi¡¯s hands fell to the ground with a clatter. The person¡¯s strength was not small, and the collision made Qiao Yi stagger several steps and nearly fall. Qiao Yi, not caring for an altercation, casually waved her hand and bent down to pick up the bags scattered on the ground, but just as she bent down, she heard a voice tinged with a bit of surprise calling her. ¡°Miss Qiao?¡± Qiao Yi looked up only to realize that the person who had bumped into her was actually an acquaintance. ¡°Miss Sun? What are you doing here?¡± The person was none other than Sun Keke, with whom she had a brief encounter in Capital City; she was surprised to see her here in Tian City too. Sun Keke looked remorseful and quickly squatted down to help Qiao Yi pick up the items. ¡°I came to attend the auction with Mr. Ning, I¡¯m really sorry for bumping into you just now.¡± Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Most Afraid of the Sudden Silence of the Air Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Most Afraid of the Sudden Silence of the Air Mr. Ning? Ning Yuze? Sun Keke took her shopping bag from Qiao Yi with a slightly faded smile on her face. ¡°So it turns out we are staying at the same hotel; what a coincidence! I¡¯ll leave you alone then, and maybe I¡¯ll treat you to a meal sometime.¡± Qiao Yi smiled at Sun Keke, nodding her head and then turned to walk into the hotel. She had only taken a few steps when Sun Keke behind her called out to her. ¡°Miss Qiao, wait!¡± Qiao Yi paused, puzzled, and turned to look at Sun Keke, whose impression on Qiao Yi was neither particularly bad nor particularly good. It wasn¡¯t because of her illegitimate status, after all, she didn¡¯t choose that for herself. Qiao Yi mainly disliked Sun Keke¡¯s timorous demeanor. Indeed, she is powerless in front of the Sun Family and Ning Family, but a person who is carefree compared to someone who is timid handles situations differently and achieves different outcomes. If Sun Keke were in Qiao Yi¡¯s shoes, she would never just passively accept her circumstances, certainly not being bullied in the restroom! Nevertheless, while Qiao Yi did not like it, she did not show it outwardly. ¡°What is it, Miss Sun? Is there anything else?¡± Sun Keke hesitated, biting her lip, but finally walked up to Qiao Yi and whispered. ¡°Miss Qiao, could you do me a favor?¡± Hearing Sun Keke¡¯s request, Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes brightened and a slightly strange smile appeared on her face. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 ¡°Sure, leave it to me. I¡¯ll help you.¡± Qiao Yi wanted to kiss Sun Keke on the face, but with her hands full, she couldn¡¯t even pat her on the shoulder, so she just flapped her arms to show her sincerity. Sun Keke felt a great relief, took a kraft envelope from her bag, stuffed it into Qiao Yi¡¯s bag, took a few bags from Qiao Yi, and they walked towards the elevator together. So there is some truth to the saying ¡°narrow roads lead to enemies meeting,¡± especially when Qiao Yi saw Qiao Xin and Lu Ming standing outside the elevator. ¡°Here¡¯s your invitation, don¡¯t bother me again!¡± Qiao Yi quickly took a kraft envelope from her bag before Qiao Xin could speak and threw it into Qiao Xin¡¯s hands. Seeing how readily she handed it over made Qiao Xin somewhat skeptical of the invitation¡¯s authenticity. Earlier in the morning, Qiao Yi refused to agree to give her invitation, so why now did she so easily hand it over? Lu Ming took the invitation from the envelope, nodded after a quick glance ¨C it was a secondary invitation. The primary invite should be with Lu Yanchuan; since the secondary one could be handled by Lu Yanchuan, it wasn¡¯t signed and only bore the same number as the primary one. Having attended auctions before, Lu Ming could certainly verify the authenticity of primary and secondary invitations. Seeing that Lu Ming confirmed this invitation¡¯s authenticity, Qiao Xin was even more puzzled as she watched Qiao Yi walking away. When did she become so easy to talk to? Sun Keke¡¯s palms were sweating with nervousness; if not for Qiao Yi standing in front of her and Qiao Xin¡¯s attention not being on her, she might have already given herself away. Back in her room, Sun Keke leaned against the door, panting heavily. ¡°You, you mean your solution was to give her my invitation?¡± Sun Keke felt like going crazy. The invitation Qiao Yi had just passed to Qiao Xin was the one Sun Keke gave to Qiao Yi, and its primary invitee was Ning Yuze! If that were discovered¡­ Sun Keke could hardly imagine what would happen then. ¡°Yeah, what else did you think? From now on, your invitation is lost, and you never gave me any invitation, got it?¡± Sun Keke nodded stiffly, Qiao Yi looked at her helplessly and pursed her lips, communicating the matter to Lu Yanchuan with her phone. After all, they would need Lu Yanchuan¡¯s help for cover, so it was necessary to inform him in advance. Qiao Yi waited a while after sending the message, and only received an ¡°okay¡± from Lu Yanchuan, which made her feel uncertain. Does he have to be so casual? Qiao Yi didn¡¯t care about his casualness; she was eager to attend the auction, thinking about it was thrilling. Should she try to get an invitation for Lu Ming too? Sun Keke saw Qiao Yi standing by the window with a weird smile on her face, which scared her into continuously backing away. When Lu Yanchuan returned to the hotel, it was already late at night, but when he got to his room, he found that Qiao Yi was still awake and seemed to be excitedly arguing with someone. ¡°Can¡¯t you play at all? Help, help, I¡¯m gonna die! Ah!!! I¡¯m dead!!!!!!¡± Strange noises came from the bedroom. Excited, Qiao Yi¡¯s voice was breaking. As Lu Yanchuan was about to go check on Qiao Yi, he heard her screaming again. ¡°Ahhh! Brother Li Bai! I love you!!!!¡± What¡¯s going on? He knew Li Bai, but who was Brother Li Bai? A flash of green went across Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes. Without even taking off his coat, he walked into the bedroom, and the scene in front of him stunned him. Qiao Yi was lying on the bed in a very twisted posture, one leg under her head as a pillow and the other leg hanging off the bed in a position difficult for ordinary people. Qiao Yi had a greenish face mask on, a flashy hair clip on her head, and her silk pajamas were squeezed up because of her twisted posture, revealing a small section of her slender waist. This¡­ Hearing the noise at the door, Qiao Yi glanced at the door with squinting eyes and saw Lu Yanchuan silently watching her. The worst fear is the sudden silence. The sound of the game ending broke the awkward silence in the room, Qiao Yi screamed, quickly picked up her phone, saw the glaring ¡°defeat¡± on the screen, and like a frostbitten eggplant, dejected and disappointed, threw her phone aside. Kneeling for five rounds! Not happy at all! ¡°Cough!¡± Lu Yanchuan coughed softly and turned to leave the bedroom; Qiao Yi suddenly snapped back to reality and scrambled up from the bed into the bathroom. Why did he come back at this time! She was just applying a face mask, doing some yoga, playing a game, and just happened to be caught by Lu Yanchuan! Lu Yanchuan waited outside for a while but Qiao Yi did not come out, so he had to knock on the bathroom door. ¡°I¡¯ll be quick!¡± Something seemed to happen inside the bathroom, and after some chaos, the normal Qiao Yi finally opened the door and walked out, all the flashy items gone, Lu Yanchuan felt somewhat unused to seeing the prim and proper Qiao Yi in front of him. Maybe, that was her most relaxed self just now? Qiao Yi walked past Lu Yanchuan and dove into the blanket. Her phone kept ringing with notifications, it was Feng Siyu calling her to come online. ¡°What¡¯s the use of playing, I¡¯m already dead!¡± Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Unreasonable Trouble Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Unreasonable Trouble Awkwardness is a suffocating emotion, and Qiao Yi took two minutes to console herself amidst that suffocation, then fell into a deep sleep within three minutes. By the time Lu Yanchuan came out after his shower, Qiao Yi was already hugging the quilt, deeply asleep, oblivious to the passage of time. Having lived nearly thirty years, it was the first time Lu Yanchuan experienced the feeling of helplessness. Qiao Yi slept comfortably, even dreaming about gobbling down pig¡¯s trotters, savoring the oily delight smeared across her face. However, the pig¡¯s trotters in the dream were strange, they even pinched people! Qiao Yi woke up abruptly, her eyes meeting Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expressionless face. Looking down at the ¡°pig¡¯s trotters¡± she had been gnawing on unknowingly for how long¡­ The poor, pampered hands of Mr. Lu, nurtured for over twenty years, distinct in bone structure and pale in complexion, were now covered with gum marks, with a bite mark on the fleshier part of the palm even starting to ooze blood! Qiao Yi blinked her eyes, cautiously releasing the saliva-coated hand from her embrace, even guiltily wiping it a couple of times with her pajamas. Lu Yanchuan watched as Qiao Yi gradually tried to escape, he reached out with his long arm, enveloped her in his embrace, eyed her up and down to pick a suitable spot, and then bit down hard. Qiao Yi, covering her face, glared at Lu Yanchuan, both guilty and angry. Although it was wrong for her to mistake Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand for a pig¡¯s trotter and gnaw it all night, Lu Yanchuan had no right to bite her face! And to bite so hard! It hurt tremendously! An irate Qiao Yi got out of bed grumpily, grumpily waiting for the hotel staff to deliver breakfast. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Upon seeing the breakfast brought up, Qiao Yi sensed the deepest malice from Lu Yanchuan. There were two large bowls on the table, both filled with steaming pig¡¯s trotters. Why must she face such an ordeal first thing in the morning! Qiao Yi tearfully gnawed on two pig¡¯s trotters, glancing up at Lu Yanchuan elegantly eating opposite her, her bravado fading instantly when her eyes landed on the still-fading bite marks on his hand. Fine, she would just gnaw them! Qiao Yi stuffed herself with pig¡¯s trotters, every burp flavoured with a hint of trotter, probably won¡¯t crave them again for at least half a year. The guests for the auction began to arrive at three in the afternoon, and it was already past eleven when Qiao Yi went for makeup and hairstyling, hurrying to the already booked venue, only to run into someone she hadn¡¯t wished to see. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, can¡¯t go to the auction so you come here for styling, enjoying it, huh?¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t understand the sense of superiority Qiao Xin exhibited upon seeing her. She was clearly jealous to death, yet she could act so arrogantly in front of her. Is this the world of a neurotic? Forgive her, she really didn¡¯t get it. ¡°I¡¯m accompanying my husband, any objections?¡± Qiao Yi deliberately clung to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand, squeezing herself into his arms. With one hand entwined with Qiao Yi¡¯s and the other guarding her waist, the couple stood there, perfectly matched! Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even realize that although she felt nothing for Lu Yanchuan, their togetherness always projected a harmonious vibe. The more they looked like a couple, the angrier Qiao Xin became, grinding her teeth as she walked by. She even bumped heavily into Qiao Yi¡¯s shoulder as she passed. Before Qiao Yi could react, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand on her waist exerted a slight pressure pulling her to his other side. Qiao Xin¡¯s strength drained, and she almost toppled forward; if it weren¡¯t for Lu Ming by her side catching her in time, she would definitely have fallen. With a disdainful snort, Qiao Yi strutted into the clubhouse arrogantly like a peacock, nestled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s embrace. To Lu Yanchuan, however, her demeanor resembled a smug kitten more than anything, and he even felt an urge to scratch her chin. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s fingers twitched; after walking into the clubhouse, and ensuring that Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t see them anymore, Qiao Yi stepped out of his embrace. The stylist, who had been arranged in advance, greeted Qiao Yi and led her to a special makeup room. Three hours for styling was quite pressing; Qiao Yi had to assist with the makeup personally, rushing along with two stylists to barely finish within the time limit. Lu Yanchuan had never before spent so much time watching a woman put on makeup, even at some compulsory occasions when he needed styling too, he had never been so patient. Watching Qiao Yi through the mirror, handling a small box and brush dabbing on her face, Lu Yanchuan incredibly found no hint of impatience. He even felt a bit of curiosity about those peculiar items in her hand. Unaware of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, Qiao Yi was busy drawing her eyeliner when she accidentally poked her eye with the eyeliner pencil, and now she was tilting her head back trying hard to keep the tears from falling. ¡°Qiao Yi! What tricks are you playing now!¡± The door to the makeup room was flung open, and Qiao Xin stood at the doorway, her sharp voice causing everyone in the room to frown. It was precisely because she barged in suddenly that caused the stylist¡¯s hand to shake and poke Qiao Yi. And she still dared to create a scene at the door! After easing the discomfort in her eyes, Qiao Yi lowered her head; fortunately, no tears had ruined her eye makeup. Turning to look at Qiao Xin at the door, why does this person always show up at the wrong time and place? ¡°Qiao Xin, haven¡¯t you had enough? Do you really think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± Qiao Yi looked calmly at Qiao Xin, but Qiao Xin seemed maddened by anger, bursting in and throwing an invitation card at her. ¡°You¡¯re so cunning! Giving me an invitation while stealing it back! If I hadn¡¯t glanced at it, I would have been completely deceived by you!¡± Qiao Xin intended to throw the invitation in Qiao Yi¡¯s face, but couldn¡¯t get close enough and had to point at her from a distance and yell. Qiao Yi glanced down at the red invitation card by her feet, picked it up, and inspected it, finding nothing unusual. ¡°Stop making unreasonable trouble! I gave you the invitation, and now you¡¯re accusing me of stealing yours, how amusing do you find this?¡± Qiao Xin laughed out of sheer rage, brushed past the people holding her back, and snatched the invitation from Qiao Yi¡¯s hands. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t stolen my invitation, why would you be here getting styled? You gave away your invitation, what would you use to attend the auction? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re scheming¡­¡± ¡°Yiyi¡¯s invitation was given by me, do you have a problem with that?¡± Qiao Xin froze, disbelievingly turned her head to the corner where Lu Yanchuan sat on the sofa, his expression as shocked as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡± ¡°What, I need your permission to bring my wife to an auction? When did you become the boss of me?¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Diamond Card Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Diamond Card Lu Yanchuan sat in the corner of the makeup room, Qiao Xin entered the door and even took a special glance to make sure that Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t there before she dared to lash out at Qiao Yi. But now that she was caught in such a state by the very person she least wanted to see her, Qiao Xin felt like dying. Originally, Lu Yanchuan was quite indifferent towards her, and now, with her causing such a scene, she had given him even more reason to ignore her! Qiao Xin¡¯s facial expression changed back and forth and finally she looked aggrieved. ¡°Yanchuan¡­¡± ¡°According to seniority, you should call me uncle.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s laughter brought a furious stare from Qiao Xin, but Qiao Yi didn¡¯t care about her and turned around to finish the last part of the styling. Forgive her, she just couldn¡¯t hold back, who made Lu Yanchuan oppress people with seniority so easily! Qiao Xin glared at Qiao Yi¡¯s back, wishing she could rush over and beat her up right now. But with Lu Yanchuan here, she could only think about doing such things. ¡°Mr. Lu, yesterday Qiao Yi found me and said she didn¡¯t want to attend the auction, so she gave her auction invitation to me, but now the invitation I have has turned out to be a fake, and Qiao Yi is here all dressed up, if she didn¡¯t steal the invitation, then who did!¡± The title ¡°uncle¡± was something Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t bring herself to say, after enduring and enduring, she finally managed to voice her complaint properly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t even glance at the invitation in Qiao Xin¡¯s hand, he just swept his eyes over her face and looked away. Qiao Xin was infuriated and felt even more wronged by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attitude, not daring to lose her temper at him, she turned her focus back to Qiao Yi. ¡°Qiao Yi! Aren¡¯t you being too excessive this time! If you didn¡¯t want to give me the invitation, you could have just said it straight, why create such a scene to embarrass me!¡± ¡°I suggest you go back and think clearly, your own invitation was well kept, how could I possibly steal it from you? Besides, who said I only have the invitation meant for you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s styling was finally done, and looking at the time, it was about right. She got up and took Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm preparing to leave. ¡°You stop right there! If you don¡¯t clear things up today, don¡¯t think about leaving!¡± Qiao Xin stubbornly blocked the path of Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan. Qiao Yi felt helpless, thinking this person¡¯s mind must be seriously ill. ¡°That invitation, I gave it to you yesterday. You lost it yourself and you¡¯re troubling me after it got replaced? Besides, what¡¯s the problem even if I took the invitation back? I¡¯m just taking back what belongs to me! If you keep pestering, I¡¯ll have to call security!¡± Now, Qiao Yi was no longer the old Qiao Yi who used to accommodate Qiao Xin in every aspect. After tearing their faces apart, Qiao Xin had no fighting power in front of Qiao Yi. Qiao Xin gritted her teeth and watched Qiao Yi walk past her, but her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a spot of red on the sofa. Holding onto the tiniest hope, Qiao Xin walked over and picked up the red object, it was actually Qiao Yi¡¯s invitation! At the same time, having already boarded the car, Qiao Yi also began searching for her own invitation, but even after turning her small handbag inside out, she couldn¡¯t find a single piece of paper! Qiao Yi looked extremely upset, just now she was mocking Qiao Xin for not keeping an eye on her invitation, and now her own invitation had disappeared! Although the auction didn¡¯t matter much to Qiao Yi whether she attended or not, she would definitely feel incredibly frustrated if she really couldn¡¯t attend because of the lost invitation! ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°An invitation! My invitation has disappeared, I remember I had it when I left, how could it be gone?¡± Qiao Yi leaned back into her seat and muttered glumly. There wasn¡¯t much time left now. No matter where the invitation had fallen, it was already too late to look for it. It seemed that she was destined not to attend today¡¯s auction. Feeling a bit disappointed and regretful, Qiao Yi sighed and simply closed her eyes, no longer thinking about it. ¡°Your invitation, I took it out and threw it in the dressing room, now it should be in Qiao Xin¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°What! You, you gave it to Qiao Xin?¡± Qiao Yi looked incredulously at Lu Yanchuan, and although she was sure there was absolutely nothing between Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Xin, she couldn¡¯t understand why Lu Yanchuan would give her invitation to Qiao Xin. ¡°My invitation was also sent out, we¡¯ll use this to enter.¡± Lu Yanchuan did not explain why he did that, nor did he tell Qiao Yi to whom he had given his own invitation. He simply pulled out two white cards from his pocket and placed one of them into Qiao Yi¡¯s hands. Qiao Yi, holding the card with curiosity, bowed her head to look at it, and was instantly so shocked that she was speechless. ¡°Diamond Card! This is a Diamond Card!¡± Qiao Yi had only heard of such a thing before but had never seen it in person, and yet today she got one from Lu Yanchuan! The Diamond Card unlike bank or membership cards is a card representing the identity of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance¡¯s members; to date, only twenty cards have been issued nationwide. Those who possess the Diamond Card not only need to meet a certain financial standard, but more importantly, they must also meet the personal status requirements of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance. After a comprehensive ranking of overall strength, only the top ten individuals are granted a Diamond Card issued by the Chamber of Commerce Alliance. The Diamond Card seems to be a symbol of status, but at certain times it¡¯s very useful; holders have certain privileges during specific events, like today¡¯s auction. With this card, they can enter without an invitation. Such rankings are conducted only once every five years, and since the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance, only two issuances have taken place to date. Lu Yanchuan actually has two Diamond Cards! And the most recent alliance ranking was conducted two years ago! This means that at least twelve years ago, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s personal strength was already among the top ten in the Chamber of Commerce Alliance! Qiao Yi heard all this accidentally mentioned by Qiao Benqing. Although the Qiao Family is also known as a significant clan, only Qiao Benqing among them had joined the Chamber of Commerce Alliance, and he was only ranked fifteenth two years ago. Since the rankings of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance are confidential, Qiao Benqing didn¡¯t know that Lu Yanchuan was among the top ten. ¡°Twelve years ago¡­ how old were you?¡± ¡°Sixteen.¡± Really, some people just make you despair! Qiao Yi thought for a moment that when she was sixteen, she was still swaggering through the streets with a bunch of henchmen! Meanwhile, Lu Yanchuan had already joined the Chamber of Commerce Alliance and even obtained a Diamond Card! There¡¯s no comparison, no comparison, Qiao Yi pinched herself and decided not to compare herself with this freak next to her anymore; otherwise, she would definitely shut down! To avoid shutting down, Qiao Yi decisively changed the subject. ¡°Why did you give my invitation to Qiao Xin?¡± Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76 The Old Cadre Who Doesnt Understand Romance Chapter 76: Chapter 76 The Old Cadre Who Doesn¡¯t Understand Romance Hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s question, Lu Yanchuan looked a bit puzzled, seemingly not expecting Qiao Yi to ask such a question. ¡°Don¡¯t you know the usage of the main and sub invitations for today¡¯s auction?¡± Seeing Qiao Yi¡¯s clueless expression, Lu Yanchuan explained after making eye contact for a moment. ¡°This year marks the 20th wedding anniversary of the auction¡¯s organizers and his wife, and today happens to be their anniversary, so there are some special arrangements at the auction today. Although I don¡¯t know what these special arrangements are, they will definitely be related to the anniversary.¡± For this reason, this year, the holders of the main invitations mostly gave their sub invitations to their wives, girlfriends, or lovers, unlike previous years when they would bring business partners, friends, and family. Lu Yanchuan thought Qiao Yi knew about this, so he intentionally gave Sun Keke¡¯s invitation to Qiao Xin, but it turns out that Qiao Yi was unaware. Then why did she give Sun Keke¡¯s invitation to Qiao Xin? ¡°I thought it was just a simple auction, but there turns out to be such a reason behind it!¡± Qiao Yi suddenly exclaimed, her face showing a bit of regret as she frowned. ¡°It¡¯s such a pity, I was thinking about getting rid of Qiao Xin yesterday, and using Ning Yuze to annoy Qiao Xin and Lu Ming a bit. How could such a good invitation get switched!¡± If it hadn¡¯t been switched, there would have been quite a spectacle! Qiao Yi could not help but regret, even wanting to help Qiao Xin retrieve the previous invitation now. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes flickered strangely, as if he had something to say, but hesitated and then chose not to speak. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Qiao Yi was too caught up in her regrets about not letting Qiao Xin experience the harshness of society, and did not notice Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hesitation. Upon arriving at the auction venue, because Lu Yanchuan showed the Diamond Card, he and Qiao Yi were directly welcomed into the best booth on the upper floor. The first floor had seats similar to those in a cinema, and there was a layer of booths on the second floor. Among these booths, the one occupied by Lu Yanchuan was the largest, and even looked a bit too spacious for two people. They didn¡¯t arrive early, and some people were already seated below, with a few booths on the second floor lit up. But when the light in booth number one turned on, everyone simultaneously wondered if they were seeing things wrong! Even if the Tian City Mayor came here, he might not be able to enter booth number one. What kind of VIP, with an even higher status than the mayor, could it be? The Mayor was indeed there, right next door in booth number two. Upon hearing that someone had arrived next door, the Tian City Mayor couldn¡¯t sit still. He had just tried to get the position next door, but the auction staff insisted it was already reserved. Even his status as the mayor was useless; now that the person had finally arrived, the Tian City Mayor of course wanted to see who in Tian City dared to be more arrogant than him! Qiao Yi heard a knock at the door, and of course, Lu Yanchuan heard it too, or rather, from the moment Lu Yanchuan prepared to use the Diamond Card to enter the auction, he had anticipated that someone would come to inquire. ¡°Please come in.¡± As the door opened, the first thing the Tian City Mayor saw was the exquisitely luxurious decor of the booth. Although the two booths were right next to each other, the decor inside was worlds apart! He only has a sofa and a carpet over there, how come this VIP room is like a luxurious living room! ¡°Hello, I am the Mayor of Tian City, I wonder¡­ Mr. Lu?¡± Lu Yanchuan stood up from the sofa, and the Tian City Mayor, of course, knew Mr. Lu from Capital City. When he saw that Mr. Lu was the person in the room, everything became clear to him. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Lu, I¡¯m really sorry to disturb you!¡± Lu Yanchuan and the Tian City Mayor had met before during the bidding of the old harbor district project, so they were somewhat acquainted. The Tian City Mayor approached enthusiastically and chatted warmly with Lu Yanchuan. Not only the Tian City Mayor came, but also all the presentable people from the second-floor VIP rooms came. When they saw Lu Yanchuan was in VIP room No.1, they no longer felt it strange, and after exchanging pleasantries, they dispersed. Qiao Yi had been standing behind Lu Yanchuan as a decoration, but when she spotted the furiously twisted face of Gong Ting in the crowd, her smile faded a bit. Gong Ting came too? And it looks like she has a deep bone to pick with me and Lu Yanchuan! ¡°Did you just see Gong Ting? She was glaring at you all the time at the door! She is the first woman who met you and only wanted money instead of you, has your charm decreased?¡± Qiao Yi teasingly glanced at Lu Yanchuan. After getting to know Lu Yanchuan, the women who appeared beside him were either madly in love with him or terrified of him. There hadn¡¯t been anyone daring to glare at him with such a fierce expression. But now there was, and Qiao Yi was curious to see what Gong Ting would do to Lu Yanchuan. If there¡¯s going to be a good show, she doesn¡¯t mind giving Gong Ting a hand. After four o¡¯clock, the lights in the venue suddenly all turned on, then all went out, leaving only the lamp over the central auction podium. From behind the thick curtains, today¡¯s auctioneer walked out¡ªa gorgeous woman in a red dress. Even Qiao Yi felt tingles all over her body from the beauty, not to mention those wolfish fellows below. Thankfully, everyone was from a distinguished background. Even if they were howling inside, they still knew to maintain their elegance, only the applause was exceptionally enthusiastic. Qiao Yi sneaked a look at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression, but found that the man¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver at all, seeing the beauty on stage as if she was just a piece of wood. Tsk! What an unromantic old bureaucrat! Qiao Yi happily turned her head back, the gorgeous woman on stage had finished her opening speech and stepped down, and now the opening performance was underway. Thus the saying ¡°money makes the world go round¡± isn¡¯t for nothing. When Qiao Yi saw a young idol famously styled as a youthful girl dancing energetically on stage, she realized her understanding of money was still too shallow. With beauties, naturally there must be handsome men. But just as Qiao Yi was trying to count whether the handsome guys below had six-packs or eight-packs, suddenly her view darkened, and a large hand firmly blocked her sight. ¡°Hey hey hey! What are you doing?! You¡¯re blocking my view of the show!¡± Qiao Yi was anxious, using both hands to pull away Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. It was the highlight of the show; missing it would be a pity! However Qiao Yi¡¯s slender arms were no match for Lu Yanchuan. By the time Lu Yanchuan finally moved his hand away, the handsome guys below had already picked up their clothes and left the stage. Qiao Yi glared at Lu Yanchuan, this man was totally outrageous! When he was watching the beauty just now, she didn¡¯t stop him, so why did he block her from watching the handsome guys! ¡°Lu Yanchuan! You owe me handsome guys! You owe me pecs, abs, and long legs!¡± Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Wild Ginseng Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Wild Ginseng Qiao Yi was frightened, terribly frightened! What on earth was Lu Yanchuan doing?! How could he dare to pull her hand into his clothes! Has he no shame? Qiao Yi¡¯s face turned red with a glance at the one-way mirror in front of her, and once again reddened when she looked up at the two surveillance cameras above her head. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but the firm and resilient sensation beneath it made her reluctant to do so, and the strength around her wrist provided her with enough reason to keep taking advantage. Qiao Yi controlled her saliva and expression, sternly rejecting Lu Yanchuan¡¯s attempt to seduce her! ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough!¡± Qiao Yi choked on her saliva, was that something Lu Yanchuan could say! She inexplicably felt like she was being teased; what should she do? Fortunately, the voice of the beautiful auctioneer below saved Qiao Yi from the awkward situation, and in a panic, Qiao Yi turned her head away, no longer looking at Lu Yanchuan, who seemed like a male goblin. ¡°Welcome to the Tian City Yongxing Auction. I am your host for today, Xing Yue!¡± Thunderous applause erupted from below once again, and as Qiao Yi saw the even shorter skirt of Xing Yue on the stage, she could even hear some people¡¯s internal howling. ¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush, now please welcome our first auction item!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï A tray covered with a red cloth was brought out, and when the cloth was lifted, there lay a milky-white jade pendant on it. ¡°This is a sheep fat jade pendant from the Ming Dynasty, with carvings verified to be from the hands of a master¡­ The starting bid for this sheep fat jade pendant is 30,000 yuan, with each increment not less than 1,000 yuan!¡± Qiao Yi was uninterested in these jewels and jades, flipping through the auction catalog provided in the box, only to find that the first several items were all jewelry and the like. Flipping further, she noticed the auction had a variety of miscellaneous items. Apart from the most common antiques and jewelry, there were also artworks. The more Qiao Yi looked, the more bored she got; none of these items interested her, and she suddenly regretted attending this auction. ¡°Look further back, there¡¯s an estate auction you might consider.¡± Just as Qiao Yi was about to put the catalog down, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s comment prompted her to flip forward two more pages, finally coming across a consigned estate. ¡°Taikou Villa in Tian City? Isn¡¯t that a resort? Why is it up for auction?¡± Qiao Yi carefully read the description and confirmed that it was indeed the Taikou Villa she knew, not another one with the same name. ¡°I recall the business of this resort being quite good, why would the owner suddenly give up and sell it?¡± Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s idea of bidding for the villa, just curious. ¡°This villa belongs to my mentor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Old Madam Gong¡¯s property? Why is it up for auction?¡± Lu Yanchuan did not answer, indicating that the answer to this question wasn¡¯t so wonderful. Thinking about the Gong Family people she had learned about over the past few days, and considering that restless Gong Ting, it would be apparent that the Gong Family had a hand in putting this villa up for auction. The auctions below continued one after another, with the preceding items being small objects going for thirty to fifty thousand each, and more than a dozen were sold in a short time. There was no movement from box number one throughout, and Qiao Yi had seen Xing Yue on stage looking in this direction many times, but neither she nor Lu Yanchuan had any interest in the items previously auctioned. ¡°` ¡°The next lot is exceedingly rare, a wild century-old ginseng. After appraisal, this ginseng is over one hundred and eighty years old!¡± ¡°` As soon as Xing Yue finished speaking, the venue suddenly burst into a sensation. In this era, Wild Ginseng is already uncommon, let alone one that is one hundred and eighty years old or even older; its value as a collectible far exceeds its medicinal worth! ¡°The starting bid for the century-old ginseng is one million! Each bid must increase by no less than ten thousand!¡± Xing Yue hadn¡¯t even finished speaking when the venue exploded into a frenzy. ¡°Two million!¡± ¡°Three million!¡± ¡°Three million five hundred thousand!¡± The starting bid of one million was already quite high, but the bidders below didn¡¯t care about this at all. Within just a few minutes, the price had already been driven up to seven million. After the 5th private box on the second floor called out the sky-high price of seven million five hundred thousand, the crowd gradually quieted down. The occupant of private box number five is the vice-chairman of the China Medical Association, passionate about medicine and naturally excited upon seeing such a rare ginseng. ¡°Aren¡¯t you bidding?¡± Qiao Yi nudged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm and rolled her eyes in exasperation upon seeing him without any reaction. ¡°This ginseng was consigned by me.¡± Qiao Yi turned to Lu Yanchuan in surprise. With such an item in hand, why would he not keep it but rather sell it? ¡°We have one at home that¡¯s over two hundred years old, I¡¯ll show it to you when we get back.¡± At this, Qiao Yi had nothing to say. His family¡¯s business and wealth were so vast that they didn¡¯t even care about a small ginseng! Qiao Yi sighed and turned back to watch the auction. After the person in private box number five made their bid, box number three began to compete. Increasing the bid by ten thousand each time, in no time the price of the ginseng surged past eight million and headed straight towards nine million. The vice-chairman in private box number five was clearly running out of steam. Though a lifetime of practicing medicine had given him some savings, he obviously couldn¡¯t throw his entire fortune at a single piece of ginseng! After private box number three called out a bid of eight million five hundred thousand, private box number five ceased to counter-bid. Xing Yue stood on the stage, smiling like a blooming flower. According to the auction house¡¯s commission rate, the auction house would take a fee of twenty percent of the final price as a handling charge, and she, as the auctioneer, would get five percent commission! With one fell swoop of the hammer, she would earn a commission of over four hundred thousand! With no further bids, the Wild Ginseng was finally taken by the person in private box number three for a price of eight million five hundred thousand. Qiao Yi knew the person in private box number three was from the Gong Family. Lu Yanchuan showed no signs of concern about the ginseng ending up in the hands of the Gong Family, but Qiao Yi felt that he seemed to be brewing up some major move, looking at his calm face. After two more lots were auctioned off, it was finally time for the auction of Taikou Villa that Lu Yanchuan had been interested in. ¡°I believe everyone is familiar with Taikou Villa, so I won¡¯t go into details. The opening bid for the villa is one million two hundred thousand, with each bid needing to increase by at least twenty thousand!¡± The heat from the Wild Ginseng auction had not yet subsided, and the people in the venue were not so interested in Taikou Villa. There were only a few bids, each just the basic increment. Xing Yue watched the lackluster crowd below, trying her best to heat up the atmosphere again, but ultimately, it was in vain ¨C the bidding stopped at one million three hundred thousand with no further increases. Although the lack of further bids was somewhat disappointing for Xing Yue, she still responsibly began the countdown. ¡°One million three hundred thousand for the first time!¡± Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Splash Sulfuric Acid Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Splash Sulfuric Acid ¡°1.5 million!¡± The light in Booth No. 3 flickered, and Qiao Yi recognized Gong Ting¡¯s voice. She looked puzzledly in that direction. ¡°Isn¡¯t Taikou Villa put up for auction by the Gong Family? Why are they bidding to buy it back?¡± ¡°Take another look at the description in the brochure.¡± Surprise flashed in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s eyes. It was only when his gaze fell on the brochure on the table that he began to understand. Qiao Yi took up the brochure again after hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words and scrutinized it carefully. Only after a long while did she put it down with a sigh of exasperation. ¡°They¡¯re actually playing word games like this? Isn¡¯t this blatantly exploiting a legal loophole? And they¡¯re deliberately scheming against you. They must have guessed that you would bid, so they intentionally set a trap for you!¡± Qiao Yi pointed at the word ¡®investment¡¯ on the brochure, the more she looked, the angrier she became. The brochure detailed the current status of Taikou Villa and its potential for future appreciation, but only a single, fleeting sentence mentioned the investment rights, which could have been easily overlooked without Qiao Yi¡¯s careful rereading! It turns out that the auction wasn¡¯t for the entire Taikou Villa, but for the investment rights to the villa! No wonder, after all, even if Taikou Villa was cashed out, it would be worth at least ten million. How could it possibly start at an auction price of one million! Xing Yue on stage did not clarify this point either. Could it be that someone had deliberately planned this to bait Lu Yanchuan? Instinctively, Qiao Yi thought of the Gong Family and turned to look at Lu Yanchuan, but his expression was so calm that one couldn¡¯t decipher his thoughts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Poker faces are the most annoying! Qiao Yi rolled her eyes. Since Lu Yanchuan was aware of this, he must have a countermeasure, so there was no need for her to worry. After Booth No. 3 placed their bid, no one else offered a higher price. Xing Yue on stage called for bids twice again, her large eyes eagerly looking towards Booth No. 1. It was evident that she was really anxious. However, neither Lu Yanchuan nor Qiao Yi had any desire to bid anymore. If it was Old Madam Gong¡¯s villa, let Lu Yanchuan win the bid; an investment right wasn¡¯t worth fighting for. Faced with this silence, Xing Yue on stage started to panic, hesitating whether to hammer down the final bid. Although the Gong Family had paid her to use some embellishing words during the auction of Taikou Villa, the Gong Family had also specifically instructed to make sure that Lu Yanchuan ended up with the lot! But now, with the Gong Family themselves placing the bid and snatching the lot, she was torn whether to hammer the sale down or not! Xing Yue was hesitating and struggling, while inside Booth No. 3, Gong Ting was close to being scolded to death by Gong Zhe. ¡°What are you doing! You¡¯ve ruined the whole plan! You go straight home now, and you¡¯re not allowed to step out of the door without my permission!¡± Gong Zhe was truly angry this time. He hadn¡¯t settled the score with Gong Ting for her last attempt at abducting Qiao Yi. Fortunately, afterwards Qiao Yi didn¡¯t turn to the Qiao Family or the Lu Family for retribution, so the incident had passed. But this time, Gong Zhe had everything planned out perfectly, to make Lu Yanchuan suffer a setback and buy the investment rights of Taikou Villa at the auction. Although it wouldn¡¯t cause Lu Yanchuan much loss, it would vex him, achieving Gong Zhe¡¯s purpose. However, Gong Ting was unaware of the plan. With her interference, not only did his plan not succeed, but he also had to incur additional costs of hundreds of thousands in handling fees and commissions! Even risk startling the snake and making Lu Yanchuan vigilant! If Gong Ting weren¡¯t his daughter, Gong Zhe would definitely teach her a severe lesson! Xing Yue on the stage dragged the time a bit too long, although some auctioneers deliberately prolong the auction to attract more bids, but now it seems that no one else is bidding, Xing Yue¡¯s behavior is a bit too contrived. Having no choice, when people started to discuss below, Xing Yue finally dropped the auction hammer in her hand. ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± The door of the private room was suddenly knocked, Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi exchanged glances, and Qiao Yi cleverly picked up a pillow from the sofa. With a serious face, she looked at the auction item brought up again, clearly indicating that she definitely did not want to answer the door. Lu Yanchuan hooked the corner of his mouth inconspicuously, and went to open the door when the knocking sounded again. ¡°Ah!¡± Qiao Yi screamed, dashed past Lu Yanchuan, ran out of the room, and chased after the flustered fleeing figure. The long corridor was carpeted with plush, Qiao Yi in high heels was about to lose sight of the person when she suddenly stopped, took off her high heels, and threw them at the person¡¯s silhouette. Qiao Yi was lucky; the sharp heel hit the person¡¯s head hard, causing him to stagger forward. As the person was about to regain his balance, another shoe flew over and hit his neck. Taking advantage of the momentum, Qiao Yi jumped up as she got close to the man and kicked him in the back, both of them tumbling to the ground in the corridor. There was a lot of commotion outside, and many people from the private rooms came out to watch. When their gaze fell here, they saw Qiao Yi clutching a hairpin, stabbing it forcefully into the thigh of the man on the ground amidst everyone¡¯s shocked stares. The man howled in agony, and Qiao Yi, ensuring that the injured man could no longer run away, quickly got up and walked back. Looking up at the shocked and surprised stares of the people in the corridor, Qiao Yi¡¯s expression was stern. After sweeping a glance through the crowd, she raised her head to locate the surveillance cameras. ¡°Keep an eye on this man for me. If anyone dares to let him go, that would be offending both the Capital City Lu Family and Capital City Qiao Family!¡± Qiao Yi left these words behind without paying any further attention to the wailing man on the ground and walked toward private room number one barefoot. The two hadn¡¯t run far, and Qiao Yi quickly returned to private room number one. The private room¡¯s bathroom light was on, and Lu Yanchuan was inside rinsing sulfuric acid off his arm. That¡¯s right, just as Qiao Yi turned her head to see who was knocking, she saw the man at the door holding a cup of sulfuric acid, splashing it straight at Lu Yanchuan! Had it not been for Lu Yanchuan¡¯s quick reflexes using the door to block, that cup of sulfuric acid would have splashed right onto his face! Although Lu Yanchuan does not rely on his face to make a living, still! Getting splashed with sulfuric acid is an extremely malicious act! Qiao Yi even felt that the sulfuric acid in that man¡¯s hand was very likely meant for her! After all, according to common logic, with both her and Lu Yanchuan in the private room, the person to answer the door when someone knocked would definitely not be Lu Yanchuan, it should have been her! However, this was just Qiao Yi¡¯s own speculation, not evidence. Hurriedly rushing back to the private room, Lu Yanchuan had also come out from the bathroom. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79: He Didnt Want to Be Seen Chapter 79: Chapter 79: He Didn¡¯t Want to Be Seen Lu Yanchuan was bare-chested, and under the light, one could see a patch of redness on his arm, but luckily, it wasn¡¯t a large burn. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital!¡± Qiao Yi carefully examined Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm, where the traces of acid corrosion near the door remained, still hissing and fizzling out. If Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t reacted in time just now, he would probably not be in much better shape than that door! Yet, even just a bit of sulfuric acid splashing on his arm had already burned a large red patch on it. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with the situation here first.¡± Lu Yanchuan patted Qiao Yi¡¯s hand twice and was ready to walk out half-naked. ¡°Wait!¡± Qiao Yi stopped Lu Yanchuan, looked around the private room, and finally set her eyes on the shawl hanging to one side. ¡°You are the distinguished Mr. Lu, how can you walk out so bare! Those women, hungry like wolves and tigers, if they saw you, they would devour you whole!¡± Qiao Yi just didn¡¯t want others to see Lu Yanchuan! In a few swift motions, she wrapped the pearly white shawl around Lu Yanchuan, avoiding the wounds. It looked somewhat indecent, but at least it covered all the necessary areas securely. In the corridor outside, one could faintly hear a man¡¯s wails. The news of Lu Yanchuan being splashed with acid in the No.1 private room spread quickly, and many people were sneakily glancing in that direction, curious about what had happened. When Lu Yanchuan wrapped in the shawl appeared, the onlookers outside quieted down simultaneously. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Some noticed the acid burn on his arm, but more people were focused on Lu Yanchuan¡¯s strange attire. Mr. Lu was indeed Mr. Lu; even under the gaze of so many curious eyes, he was still unfazed as ever. The person in charge of the auction house hurried over, and upon seeing the chaos at the doorway to the No.1 private room, Manager Wang¡¯s vision darkened. Regardless of who was inside the No.1 private room, they were people too significant for their auction house to provoke! Such an incident was practically a death sentence! When Manager Wang saw Lu Yanchuan walking out unscathed, he was so relieved he nearly fainted, having prepared himself for the worst-case scenario ¡ª thankfully, fortune favored him. ¡°Mr. Lu! Mr. Lu, are you alright? I¡¯ll call an ambulance right away!¡± Manager Wang rushed forward excitedly. Qiao Yi blocked the distance between Manager Wang and Lu Yanchuan, paying no heed to the agitated crowd around her, and took Lu Yanchuan over to the man lying motionless on the ground. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Ma Yu to bring people here, don¡¯t worry.¡± The man had bloodstains on his thighs, and on both sides were small silver hairpins. It was these hairpins that rendered him immobile. Lu Yanchuan looked at Qiao Yi¡¯s hair and saw that two hairpins were missing from behind her head, and two strands of hair were lightly falling down, as if something had struck his heart. Manager Wang cautiously followed behind, not daring to speak in front of Lu Yanchuan, especially seeing that Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t seem to be in a good mood. More and more people gathered in the corridor, with Manager Wang anxiously rubbing his hands, worried the situation would escalate. ¡°Mr. Lu, this incident was an oversight on our auction house¡¯s part, we will surely provide a reasonable explanation to you. Do you think perhaps we should¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Wang, you indeed need to thoroughly investigate this matter. However, we will take this person with us for now. After you find any useful information, contact me then.¡± ¡ª Qiao Yi blocked Mr. Wang, her words sounded nice, but wasn¡¯t it just to shut them up, not wanting them to spread the incident! The patrons from the second floor who weren¡¯t just minor powers saw that there was no excitement here and went back to their private rooms. Qiao Yi actually wanted to go to the hospital with Lu Yanchuan, but Lu Yanchuan insisted on waiting for Ma Yu to arrive, and she didn¡¯t know what he was so adamant about. Gong Zhe stood behind the crowd with a face full of complex and entangled emotions. He had just sent Gong Ting away, and then this incident occurred; could it be that Gong Ting did it? If it were found out that it was indeed Gong Ting, even though his Gong Family could do as they pleased in Tian City, they would still be no match for a single hand of the Lu Family! Gong Zhe was anxious to get in touch with Gong Ting, but just at this time, she wouldn¡¯t answer her phone, which made his heart feel extremely uneasy. Finally, Gong Ting answered the call, yet from the other side of the phone blasted deafening music. ¡°Where are you! Why aren¡¯t you going home!¡± Gong Zhe roared into the phone, whether Gong Ting on the other end could hear him or not, she yelled a few times and then hung up the phone without caring whether Gong Zhe heard her clearly or not. Although Gong Ting not returning home made Gong Zhe very angry, he felt relieved in his heart; thankfully, she wasn¡¯t the one who did it, or else the trouble would be huge! When Ma Yu received the call and learned that Lu Yanchuan almost had his face ruined by sulphuric acid, he was so scared that he nearly had a breakdown. To attend an auction, how could someone bring sulphuric acid! On the way there, he didn¡¯t know how many red lights he ran through, but finally, he arrived at the auction house as fast as he could, and when he saw Lu Yanchuan, his heart, which had been wildly pounding, almost cried out in relief. Thank god he was alright! ¡°Take the person in the hallway outside back, investigate thoroughly who made him throw the sulphuric acid.¡± After such a long time had passed, Qiao Yi also calmed down, using the medical kit prepared by the auction house to give Lu Yanchuan a simple bandage, waiting for Ma Yu and his men to drag the man away, then she pulled Lu Yanchuan to go to the hospital for proper treatment. Such an incident occurred, forcing the auction to be suspended; those in the lower seats who didn¡¯t know what happened upstairs started to get restless after some well-informed people brought back news of the accident. ¡°Someone actually brought sulphuric acid to the auction! They definitely didn¡¯t have good intentions right from the start!¡± A few people beside were discussing this matter, and after Qiao Xin went to the restroom and came back, she found the auction inexplicably stopped. Upon hearing that Lu Yanchuan was injured, she immediately became worried. ¡°Lu Yanchuan is injured? What exactly happened?¡± Qiao Xin returned to Lu Ming¡¯s side, grabbing his hand and questioning. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, it seems someone threw sulphuric acid on Lu Yanchuan, but the person was caught, and now they are investigating who instigated it.¡± Lu Ming didn¡¯t care at all, even feeling somewhat regretful; why was that person so useless, even letting Lu Yanchuan dodge it! Qiao Xin breathed a sigh of relief; it was good as long as Lu Yanchuan wasn¡¯t in trouble. However, she lost interest in the auction and sat restlessly, wanting to go upstairs to see Lu Yanchuan¡¯s situation. Just as Qiao Xin couldn¡¯t bear it and was about to leave her seat, Xing Yue appeared once again on the auction stage. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for wasting your time, our auction will now continue!¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Wanting to Ruin Him Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Wanting to Ruin Him The auction may or may not have continued, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know for sure, but after much persuasion, she managed to take Lu Yanchuan to the hospital. Fortunately, the burn Lu Yanchuan suffered was treated promptly and did not result in more serious consequences. After the doctor treated his wound, Qiao Yi inquired about some precautions. Then, she and Lu Yanchuan returned to the hotel. ¡°If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have gone to the auction today. I got hurt for no good reason!¡± Qiao Yi was mindlessly scrolling through her phone. Lu Yanchuan glanced at her phone screen, where she was searching online for treatment methods for acid burns. Knowing that only half of the online remedies could be trusted, Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t stop Qiao Yi, even pretending to be weak, holding his arm and hissing as though it hurt tremendously. Ma Yu was shocked once again by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s behavior. Since when had the Third Young Master, who wouldn¡¯t utter a sound even with a broken bone, become so dramatic over a minor burn? Could it be¡­ Catching Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze unintentionally through the rearview mirror, Ma Yu tightened up and immediately turned his head to focus on driving, ignoring everything behind him. His Third Young Master had finally shown some human feelings, how could he be so tactless! The tactless Ma Yu obediently delivered them back to the hotel and then hastily left this troublesome place. Qiao Yi found it odd, Ma Yu¡¯s behavior today was somewhat abnormal¡­ Snapped back to reality by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s pull, Qiao Yi quickly regained her senses. ¡°Let¡¯s head back soon, Tian City is really not agreeing with me!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi seriously nodded, and once back in the room, she began packing up. ¡°We can¡¯t leave yet, we need to visit Taikou Villa tomorrow.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in this condition, and you still want to go to the villa!¡± Qiao Yi protested with a wrinkled nose, but she still put her things back in place. Lu Yanchuan did not respond to her but picked up a piece of clothing from his suitcase and entered the bathroom. Qiao Yi paused, then hurriedly walked over and pulled open the bathroom door. ¡°The doctor said you¡­¡± can¡¯t get the wound wet¡­ In the bathroom, Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t taken off his shirt, but was holding his belt in one hand and his pants in the other, turning his head to look at the stunned Qiao Yi. At such an awkward moment, Lu Yanchuan seemed oblivious, naturally turning around to continue undressing, this time removing his jacket. ¡°What? Want to stay and shower with me?¡± Lu Yanchuan tossed aside his jacket. With his belt undone, his pants hung loosely at his waist, perilously close to falling. Barefoot, Lu Yanchuan looked both dangerous and sexy. If it weren¡¯t for the bit of sanity remaining in Qiao Yi, she would have surely agreed! ¡°Cough, cough! No, no! You take your time!¡± Qiao Yi fled in panic, while Lu Yanchuan stroked his chin, lost in thought. The pants that had been dangling from his waist finally fell down, and Lu Yanchuan kicked off the encumbrance and comfortably sank into the bathtub. As for Qiao Yi, blushing to death outside, she now found the sound of water from the bathroom unbearable! Qiao Xin was almost black-faced when she stormed out from the auction house, followed by Lu Ming, who wore a mocking expression. ¡°Lu Ming! Even if you don¡¯t care about me, can you at least care about your identity! You and I are legally husband and wife! Even if you disregard the facade, can¡¯t you at least consider the marriage alliance between Lu Family and Qiao Family! What¡¯s the point of doing this!¡± ¡°How dare you accuse me? Aren¡¯t you clear about how you got this invitation in your hand? I have other things to handle, just go back by yourself!¡± Lu Ming didn¡¯t want to argue with her here, he disdainfully curled his lips and turned to leave. Qiao Xin stared dumbfounded at Lu Ming¡¯s retreating figure until he got into the car and left before she finally came to her senses. The hidden ¡®Easter egg¡¯ in the invitation was finally revealed after Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan left. Qiao Xin was not chosen to go on stage to participate in the event, but Lu Ming was, and the sub-invitation that Lu Ming got was for a flirtatious beauty! The two of them performed a series of ambiguous but not overly inappropriate acts on stage with a few other selected participants. However, the other pairs selected were either spouses or lovers, only Lu Ming and his partner were complete strangers! Some people recognized Lu Ming and naturally knew the identity of Qiao Xin, who was always sitting next to him. But look at the woman on the stage and then at Qiao Xin below with an unpleasant face, who couldn¡¯t guess the intrigue inside! Even if their guesses weren¡¯t true, that didn¡¯t prevent them from brewing up a melodramatic love triangle drama in their minds! Qiao Xin, scrutinized by strange glances several times from head to toe, was seething inside, but she couldn¡¯t make a scene. Finally, when the event ended, Qiao Xin could no longer hold back and left the auction directly. ¡°Beep beep beep¡ª¡± Just as Qiao Xin was about to explode in anger, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing who was calling on her phone, Qiao Yi¡¯s anger intensified, and she screamed into the phone as soon as she picked up. ¡°What exactly is your arrangement! Qiao Yi is still alright, but your people hurt Lu Yanchuan! If this is all you are capable of, there¡¯s no need to continue our cooperation!¡± The person on the other side of the phone said something, and Qiao Xin gradually calmed down, after a few more words, she hung up. Unbeknownst to Qiao Yi, as she was foolishly watching a half-naked Lu Yanchuan wandering around the room. ¡°Can you put on some clothes before coming out?¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t take it anymore, even if he had a good physique, he shouldn¡¯t tempt others so recklessly! Especially knowing she had little self-control! Lu Yanchuan innocently lifted his injured arm, indicating that he was a patient and couldn¡¯t wear clothes. Qiao Yi closed her eyes tightly, and when she opened them, Lu Yanchuan still had that indifferent look, making one want to drag him over and ravage him! That was exactly what Qiao Yi was thinking, and she did just that. Lu Yanchuan felt a strong force from behind, and the next moment he was pressed down onto the couch, and the person pressing down on him was straddling him in a very provocative position. ¡°Hmph, Man! You just wanted to get my attention, didn¡¯t you! Well, you succeeded!¡± Qiao Yi, eyeing the abs she had been fixating on, began to feel them up, totally like a hooligan. Feeling two cool hands roaming over his stomach, Lu Yanchuan felt his scalp tingle, and he let his raised arms drop, adopting a much more comfortable posture, looking up at Qiao Yi who was on top of him. ¡°Do you even realize what you are doing?¡± Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Sun Keke Has an Accident Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Sun Keke Has an Accident ¡°I am ruining you, huh!¡± Qiao Yi thought this in her mind and ended up saying it out loud. But after saying it, both of them were stunned. ¡°Ruining?¡± Lu Yanchuan chewed on the word with an unclear meaning, looking up with interest at Qiao Yi who was on top of him. ¡°How do you plan to ruin me?¡± Right now, Qiao Yi really wanted to take the so-called pill of regret. Her brain! Her mouth! How could she speak without thinking! ¡°Cough cough! I didn¡¯t, you heard wrong! It¡¯s getting late, you should rest, a patient shouldn¡¯t stay up late¡­ Ahhhh!!¡± Qiao Yi pretended to be nonchalant as she climbed off Lu Yanchuan, and then, under his meaningful gaze, she patted his belly twice before, just a second before she attempted to flee, she was pulled back by a sweeping motion of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s hand. ¡°What what what! What are you doing!¡± Qiao Yi stared in panic at the man who was holding her down with one hand, involuntarily gulping a big mouthful of saliva. Lu Yanchuan stared at Qiao Yi, who appeared like a frightened rabbit beneath him, slowly revealing a smile, which grew wider as he watched Qiao Yi¡¯s increasingly flustered gaze. ¡°I¡¯m the one ruining you¡ª¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Lu Yanchuan got hit, or rather, was bitten forcefully on the arm by a certain little woman who was no match for him in strength. The biter scurried back to the bed, wrapped herself in the blanket, and pretended to sleep, while the bitten one looked at the near-bleeding bite mark on his arm with a full head of black lines. No longer entangled in the question of who was ruining whom, Lu Yanchuan took out his phone and dialed a number. The person who brought sulfuric acid to the auction had an unclear goal, but no matter how Lu Yanchuan thought about it, he couldn¡¯t see anyone wanting to ruin his face with sulfuric acid. And there were only him and Qiao Yi in that private room, could it be that the target was Qiao Yi? This also made no sense! If someone wanted to harm Qiao Yi, there were countless opportunities to do so elsewhere, why choose a place like the auction house, where it would be easiest to get caught? Lu Yanchuan had already sent people to carefully investigate the matter, and the man caught by Qiao Yi was taken away by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s men for questioning. Lu Yanchuan did not report to the police directly because he wanted to find out the truth himself, as going through the police would involve too many potential complications. It wouldn¡¯t be too late to hand the person over to the police station after securing firm evidence. Qiao Yi could vaguely hear Lu Yanchuan talking on the phone outside, and every time his voice rang out, her heart would tremble. The image of Lu Yanchuan pressing down on her with a wicked smile passed repeatedly before her eyes, and Qiao Yi subconsciously touched her own face, internally scolding herself for being so weak-willed! It¡¯s just a man with some good looks! Was it worth blushing this much about! Qiao Yi huddled in the blankets not knowing when she fell asleep, only to wake up in the middle of the night in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms. Although she had long been used to waking up in his embrace, Qiao Yi was still momentarily awed when she looked up at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s calm sleeping face. Why would a man be so handsome! Qiao Yi stared blankly at Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face. Despite not wanting to admit that she was tempted by his looks, the infatuation on her face was not something she could hide just by willing it away. Lu Yanchuan, who had been awakened by Qiao Yi¡¯s turning over as soon as she woke up, pretended to be asleep with his eyes closed, actually wanting to find out what the little woman in his arms would do while he was asleep. Contrary to his expectations, Qiao Yi just stared at his face and did nothing else! ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± Lu Yanchuan opened his eyes and quickly pulled Qiao Yi back into his embrace before she could escape in fright. Qiao Yi felt as if she was being hugged by Lu Yanchuan like a human-shaped pillow, completely stiffening up. ¡°Hmm?¡± Not getting a response, Lu Yanchuan let out a gentle hum. The deep voice by her ear made Qiao Yi tremble, involuntarily shrinking her neck. Qiao Yi hummed unclearly through her nose, which counted as an answer to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s question. With Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arm around her waist, her face against Lu Yanchuan¡¯s firm and strong chest, and listening to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s strong heartbeat, Qiao Yi soon fell asleep again. It was almost noon when Qiao Yi woke up reluctantly. The spot beside her was already cold; Lu Yanchuan was never one to linger in bed. Rubbing her eyes, Qiao Yi sat up only to hear the cellphone on the nightstand ringing. ¡°Hello¡­ What! I¡¯m coming right now!¡± Qiao Yi sprang out of bed, hastily throwing on some clothes without even washing her face, and ran out the door. As soon as she left the room, she collided with Lu Yanchuan, who had just returned. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Sun Keke had an accident, she¡¯s at First Hospital!¡± Without further explanation, Qiao Yi hurriedly dashed out, and Lu Yanchuan, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, put down what he was doing and followed her. ¡°Why are you coming too? Weren¡¯t you supposed to go to Taikou Villa today?¡± Before Qiao Yi could get into her car, Lu Yanchuan pulled her into his and ordered Ma Yu to drive to First Hospital. Only after getting in the car did Qiao Yi gradually calm down. The news had come so suddenly that she didn¡¯t have any time to react. Plus, having just woken up, her mind hadn¡¯t fully cleared, which is why she ran out in such a panic. Now fully awake, Qiao Yi realized her behavior might have been excessively agitated. ¡°The villa can wait.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t inquire into what happened to Sun Keke. He was merely accompanying Qiao Yi to the hospital, not for Sun Keke¡¯s sake. The life or death of a stranger was of no concern to him. Qiao Yi nodded, unconsciously tightening her grip on her cellphone. In truth, she hardly qualified as a friend of Sun Keke¡¯s, having met her only twice. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t even understand why the hospital would call her in the event of Sun Keke¡¯s accident. However, judging by the nurse¡¯s tone on the phone, it seemed Sun Keke¡¯s condition was quite serious, which warranted her to rush over as fast as she could. Regardless, since the call was made, Qiao Yi felt obliged to go, though with an uneasy heart. First Hospital wasn¡¯t far from the hotel they were staying in; it was just a ten-minute drive away. On the car ride over, Qiao Yi wiped her face with a wet wipe and straightened her clothes, making herself look more presentable. Upon arriving at the hospital and mentioning Sun Keke¡¯s name, someone immediately led them to the emergency room. ¡°What¡¯s the situation with my friend? What exactly happened to her? The call didn¡¯t explain clearly!¡± Seeing the nurse¡¯s serious expression, Qiao Yi grew nervous as well. The nurse glanced at Qiao Yi and then at Lu Yanchuan, who was following behind. Hesitating, she didn¡¯t disclose any details, only stating that they would find out once they went there. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Only Contact Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Only Contact Qiao Yi vaguely saw the situation inside the emergency room when the nurse went in. Several doctors and nurses were covered in blood, with a person lying on the operating table, but she couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s condition. The blood on those people pricked Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes, making her suddenly anxious. Not long after, the nurse came out with a clipboard and walked over to Qiao Yi. ¡°Nurse, how is my friend doing?¡± The nurse was about to speak but then saw Lu Yanchuan standing beside Qiao Yi and inquired with her eyes about Lu Yanchuan¡¯s identity. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know what exactly had happened to Sun Keke and was concerned whether others heard it, but upon receiving the nurse¡¯s gaze, she quickly explained. ¡°This is my husband, not an outsider!¡± Lu Yanchuan was visibly startled, giving Qiao Yi a deep look before suddenly speaking. ¡°I¡¯ll go buy you something to eat.¡± After saying this, Lu Yanchuan voluntarily left. Seeing Lu Yanchuan actively stepping aside, the nurse seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and talked to Qiao Yi about Sun Keke¡¯s situation. ¡°The patient was sexually assaulted and suffered a miscarriage due to the violent act. She¡¯s now stabilized. Here¡¯s the bill; please go make the payment first.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? After handing over the two bills to Qiao Yi, the nurse left with the clipboard. Qiao Yi stared blankly at the bills in her hand, the nurse¡¯s words echoing in her mind. Sun Keke¡­ was pregnant? Regardless, Qiao Yi went to pay for the surgery and hospitalization expenses first and, upon her return, the surgery had finished, and the unconscious Sun Keke was pushed out into the ward. Since Sun Keke¡¯s condition was critical and coupled with excessive blood loss, although the surgery was completed, she was still in danger and needed to completely stabilize before visits were allowed. Lu Yanchuan said he was going to buy food for Qiao Yi, and he indeed did. Returning with a food box, he saw Qiao Yi standing in front of the window and pulled her back to the chair to eat. Qiao Yi ate absentmindedly, her mind constantly pondering Sun Keke¡¯s situation. They had just met the day before yesterday, and Sun Keke didn¡¯t want to attend the auction, perhaps because she knew there would be ambiguous interactions between the holders of the main and secondary invitations. Qiao Yi had agreed to help Sun Keke dispose of her invitation reasonably, but after that, she hadn¡¯t paid any more attention to Sun Keke. When she got the news from Sun Keke just now, it was at the hotel. In just a short day, what exactly had Sun Keke encountered! ¡°Do you need help looking into it?¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t ask about Sun Keke¡¯s situation. Noticing that Qiao Yi looked very worried, he asked. Qiao Yi¡¯s eyes brightened, but then she shook her head disheartedly. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until she wakes up.¡± If Lu Yanchuan helped, they could definitely investigate the matter thoroughly, but the incident that happened to Sun Keke was an unbearable blow for any girl¡­ So, the fewer people who knew about this, the better. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t realize that her moment of kindness would bring her so much trouble in the future. But that was a story for another time. Qiao Yi stood outside Sun Keke¡¯s ward for a while longer, and the nurse from before brought over the belongings Sun Keke had when she was admitted to the hospital. In fact, there weren¡¯t many things, just a handbag and a dress. The dress was a simple women¡¯s long gown with a lot of blood on it, and the bag contained some common items. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t have the habit of rummaging through others¡¯ belongings and just glanced at them before setting the items aside. However, Lu Yanchuan looked over at the pile of belongings and said to Qiao Yi. ¡°Check her phone contacts. Why did she contact you when something happened to her?¡± Qiao Yi was startled, hesitating whether or not to look. After all, it¡¯s other people¡¯s property, and it doesn¡¯t seem right to pry¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t you want to find her family? Do you plan to stay here indefinitely?¡± That was true; she and Sun Keke were barely friends, and it wasn¡¯t her obligation to take care of her. Qiao Yi composed herself and then picked up Sun Keke¡¯s phone. Strangely, Sun Keke¡¯s phone had no password and opened right away. Qiao Yi glanced at Lu Yanchuan and, seeing that he wasn¡¯t looking this way at all, pursed her lips before continuing to search for Sun Keke¡¯s contact list. Upon opening Sun Keke¡¯s address book, Qiao Yi was surprised again. This string of contact numbers, they all had no notes, just a series of digits! Among these numbers, only two or three had names attached, and the closest one was hers, noted simply as ¡°Qiao Yi.¡± Looking further down, the next number with a noted name read ¡°Landlord,¡± and the last time of contact was two months ago! Going through the string of numbers, Qiao Yi felt complicated and a sense of unclear sympathy for Sun Keke in the hospital ward. Apart from those past contacts that didn¡¯t mean much, the only new contact Sun Keke added in the past two months was her. No wonder the nurse didn¡¯t look for anyone else and directly called her¡ªit was because Sun Keke¡¯s phone had no one else! The unnoted numbers were plentiful, but without knowing the relationship between the numbers¡¯ holders and the patient, how were they supposed to make contact! ¡°What should I do, the only contacts of any note in Sun Keke¡¯s phone are just me, the rest have no remarks¡­¡± Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t bothered by Sun Keke being a burden, but she simply couldn¡¯t afford to stay in the hospital 24/7 to take care of Sun Keke. She couldn¡¯t just leave her alone here, could she! ¡°Why don¡¯t you hire a caretaker first, then come back when she wakes up.¡± Lu Yanchuan offered a good suggestion, and after thinking for a bit, Qiao Yi agreed that was the only option. ¡°You go ahead if you have things to do. I¡¯ll wait a bit longer, and leave after the caretaker arrives.¡± Qiao Yi shrugged; since she had taken on this matter, waiting a little longer was not an issue. Lu Yanchuan, however, didn¡¯t move after hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words, simply pulling out his phone and silently messaging someone. Seeing that Lu Yanchuan had no intention of leaving, Qiao Yi didn¡¯t insist, taking out her own phone to pass the time. ¡°Family members of the patient in Room 26, please come to the nurse¡¯s station!¡± While Qiao Yi was engrossed in her phone, the broadcast suddenly came on. Room 26? Wasn¡¯t that Sun Keke¡¯s room? It took a moment for Qiao Yi to realize what was happening, then she put away her phone and went to the nurse¡¯s station at the end of the hallway. ¡°Are you the family member of the patient in Room 26? Here¡¯s the situation: since you and the patient are just friends and we¡¯re unable to reach the patient¡¯s immediate family, we¡¯re asking if you can contact the patient¡¯s immediate relatives?¡± Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Only by Living Is There Hope Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Only by Living Is There Hope Qiao Yi felt a bit helpless upon hearing this. The head nurse at the nurse station noticed Qiao Yi¡¯s expression and asked with concern, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not very familiar with the patient either. We¡¯ve only met twice, so I don¡¯t have any contact information for her family.¡± Feeling helpless, Qiao Yi left the head nurse even more so. How could it be that someone¡¯s phone only had the contact of a person they weren¡¯t very close to? Did she have no relatives? Perhaps sensing the head nurse¡¯s puzzlement, Qiao Yi hesitated before speaking. ¡°As far as I know, the patient¡¯s family situation¡­ is somewhat complicated, so¡­ But I can try to see if I can contact her family?¡± So far, all Qiao Yi knew was that Sun Keke was from the Sun Family, possibly an illegitimate daughter of someone from the Sun Family, and engaged to Ning Yuze. Other than that, she had no idea. The thought of reaching out to the Sun Family put Qiao Yi at a loss for words. After all, Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Benqing were joining forces to set a trap for the Sun Family, and getting too entangled with the Sun Family now wouldn¡¯t be good for her either. After hearing Qiao Yi¡¯s words, the head nurse nodded, ¡°It¡¯s the only thing you can do now. If you can¡¯t contact her family, we¡¯ll have to wait for the patient to wake up and decide.¡± Returning to her former place, Qiao Yi was torn over whether or not to contact the Sun Family. Sun Keke¡¯s phone had no contact information for the Sun Family, which alone indicated Sun Keke¡¯s stance towards the Sun Family, or vice versa. What if her well-intentioned help ended up doing more harm than good? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Qiao Yi waited from noon until evening without Sun Keke waking up, leaving her no choice but to return to the hotel with Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital by myself tomorrow. You should go take care of the company¡¯s business.¡± Lu Yanchuan neither agreed nor disagreed, leaving Qiao Yi unsure of his stance and not in a position to ask further. She had to let him make his own decision. The next morning, Qiao Yi received a call from the caregiver she left at the hospital, who said Sun Keke had woken up. Hurrying to the hospital, Qiao Yi still didn¡¯t get a chance to see Sun Keke, as she was once again taken to the emergency room due to an excessively emotional response. Fortunately, this time Sun Keke had only suffered a brief shock caused by her emotional state and soon woke up. Sun Keke opened her eyes and immediately teared up upon seeing Qiao Yi. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get agitated, don¡¯t get agitated, the doctor said you can¡¯t get worked up right now, lie down!¡± Qiao Yi and the caregiver helped Sun Keke sit up properly, and during this time, Sun Keke had enough of a chance to stabilize her emotions. ¡°I¡¯m alright, thank you for coming to¡­ help me¡­¡± Sun Keke¡¯s voice was hoarse, filled with indescribable emotion. Although Qiao Yi didn¡¯t know her very well, she felt deeply sorry for Sun Keke¡¯s current state. Rather than asking Sun Keke what she had been through, Qiao Yi expressed her concern by asking if she was uncomfortable anywhere and whether she wanted something to eat. It seemed that Qiao Yi¡¯s care had warmed Sun Keke, her complexion improved, and she was not as agitated as before. ¡°Do you¡­ want to contact your family?¡± Recalling what the head nurse had said the day before, Qiao Yi conveyed the message to Sun Keke. ¡°Some documents still need to be signed by a family member. I¡¯m not very familiar with people from the Sun Family, so I planned to wait for you to wake up before contacting them.¡± Sun Keke smiled gratefully at Qiao Yi, then shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m glad you didn¡¯t contact the Sun Family. They probably don¡¯t care whether I live or die. You¡¯ve troubled yourself for me again, I really don¡¯t know how to¡­ repay you¡­¡± Tears welled up in Sun Keke¡¯s eyes as she spoke. Seeing this, Qiao Yi felt uncomfortable and quickly excused herself to buy some food, leaving the room temporarily. Before departing, Qiao Yi glanced back and saw Sun Keke clenching her fists and staring fixedly at a spot, her face distorted with anger. Far from being scared by that fierce expression, Qiao Yi felt even more sympathy. With an incident like this and no loved ones by her side, Sun Keke must still be filled with hate¡­ Qiao Yi quickly returned with food, and by the time she came back, Sun Keke had already regained her composure, though her face was still pale. Her emotions, however, had completely stabilized. ¡°Keke, you¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything foolish. Those who hurt me have not yet paid the price, and I definitely will not let myself have an accident!¡± Seeing that Sun Keke¡¯s mood seemed a bit off again, Qiao Yi quickly changed the subject. It was better to have hatred in her heart; at least she wouldn¡¯t act recklessly for any other reason. After all, there¡¯s always hope as long as one is alive. Qiao Yi sat with Sun Keke for a while and, seeing that Sun Keke¡¯s spirits hadn¡¯t fully recovered, instructed her to rest well before leaving. The caregiver was dismissed by Sun Keke for not being used to being cared for, and the hospital nurses also said that as long as Sun Keke woke up, there wouldn¡¯t be any further danger, and she just needed to slowly recuperate. Although Qiao Yi was worried, she couldn¡¯t prevail over Sun Keke and had to let her make her own decisions. When Qiao Yi returned to check on Sun Keke in the afternoon, she was informed by the hospital nurse that Sun Keke had been discharged shortly after she left, taken away by a man. Sun Keke left? And she was taken away by a man? Her first thought was that Ning Yuze had taken her away. But Ning Yuze shouldn¡¯t know about Sun Keke¡¯s accident and, moreover, Sun Keke wouldn¡¯t contact Ning Yuze on her own. So, who was the man who took Sun Keke away? The head nurse mentioned that Sun Keke had voluntarily left with him, with no sign of coercion, indicating the man was someone Sun Keke knew. Could it be someone from the Sun Family? Racking her brain, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t think of a reasonable candidate, so she sent a message to Sun Keke¡¯s phone, telling her to take care of herself, then went back to the hotel. Since Sun Keke had no intention of letting her know she had been discharged, why should Qiao Yi bother to inquire about Sun Keke¡¯s whereabouts? With this mindset, Qiao Yi returned to the hotel with a light heart. Just as she arrived back at the hotel, Qiao Yi received a message from Lu Yanchuan saying he would come to pick her up and take her to Taikou Villa. Resigned, Qiao Yi began packing her things. If they were headed to Taikou Villa, they would surely be heading straight back to Capital City afterward. The belongings of both of them here had to be packed by her alone. When Lu Yanchuan returned to the hotel, he found a resentful Qiao Yi and two neatly-packed suitcases. ¡°Why have you packed everything up?¡± ¡°Hmm? Aren¡¯t we going straight back to Capital City after the villa? Should I not pack up now and come back to pack later?¡± Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84 The Purpose of the Gong Family Chapter 84: Chapter 84 The Purpose of the Gong Family Lu Yanchuan did not refute Qiao Yi¡¯s words. Although the original plan wasn¡¯t to return to Capital City from Taikou Villa, since Qiao Yi had packed up, changing the plan was not out of the question. Taking along a little maid and two large trunks, they got into the car. Ma Yu cooled down a bit before slowly starting the car towards Taikou Villa. Taikou Villa originally belonged to the Old Madam Gong. After Old Madam Gong passed away, by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s order, her properties were donated or auctioned off, leaving behind only some items of sentimental value in her old residence. However, Taikou Villa was an exception since not only did Old Madam Gong have shares, but the Gong Family did too. Therefore, after Old Madam Gong¡¯s death, the Gong Family bought back her shares at market price. Such a transfer should not have posed any problems, but after the funeral for Old Madam Gong, Xiao Luo informed Lu Yanchuan that the Gong Family forbade him from taking away any relics Old Madam Gong left at the villa. Xiao Luo was an orphan Old Madam Gong met over a decade ago. For many years, though they were officially master and disciple, their relationship was no different from that of a mother and son. Now, without Old Madam Gong, and with Xiao Luo¡¯s naturally introverted and somewhat timid personality, he certainly couldn¡¯t compete with the pack of wolves and leopards of the Gong Family. Fortunately, Lu Yanchuan had given a heads-up, allowing Xiao Luo to seek help. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s visit to Taikou Villa was first to retrieve Old Madam Gong¡¯s relics and secondly to investigate why the Gong Family members cared so much about her relics. During his short stay in Tian City, he had no idea how many times the Gong Family had covertly sent people to steal Old Madam Gong¡¯s possessions. Lu Yanchuan was irked to no end, having asked Xiao Luo numerous times without getting any clear answers. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The people who had been sent and caught for interrogation knew nothing but their task to steal the relics, with success defined by obtaining anything at all. ¡°Could it be possible that among Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings, there is some rare treasure? Is that why the Gong Family is so desperate?¡± After hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s reasons for going to Taikou Villa, Qiao Yi pondered along. Lu Yanchuan neither denied nor confirmed. Qiao Yi pursed her lips, knowing from his look that she was mistaken. Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze landed outside the window, aimlessly observing the quickly passing buildings when she suddenly slapped her thigh and exclaimed. ¡°Right!¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face beside Qiao Yi twisted slightly but quickly returned to calm. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you remember what Gong Ting said to you the day she came looking for me and bumped into you?¡± Lu Yanchuan glanced at Qiao Yi¡¯s small hand on his thigh, then silently shifted his gaze to her face. The words Gong Ting said when she came to kidnap Qiao Yi¡­ ¡°Do you mean, their target, the shares of the Gong Family in the teacher¡¯s hands?¡± Qiao Yi nodded vigorously, continuously patting on the thigh. ¡°Yes, exactly! Didn¡¯t she ask you to hand over some shares? You told them back then that Old Madam Gong didn¡¯t have any shares, but Gong Ting didn¡¯t believe it at all!¡± Indeed, he had said that, but Gong Ting was acting like a madwoman at the time, completely dismissive of Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words, making them futile. Silence fell in the car again. Qiao Yi rested her chin on her hand, her thoughts a tangled mess, and Lu Yanchuan was the same, except his gaze occasionally glanced at Qiao Yi in the rearview mirror. Taikou Villa was located at the boundary between Tian City and H Province, nestled halfway up a mountain, famed for its hot springs. When Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan arrived at Taikou Villa, Xiao Luo was already waiting for them at the entrance. Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s car approach, the child was so excited he was almost in tears. God knows how much humiliation he had suffered these past few days at the villa. When Old Madam Gong was alive, the people there doted on him, but now they were utterly indifferent. If it weren¡¯t for the people Lu Yanchuan left to protect him, he might have been driven out of the villa by now. ¡°Senior Brother¡­¡± The last time Qiao Yi saw Xiao Luo was at the funeral. Today, she finally had the chance to properly get to know this favorite little disciple of Old Madam Gong. According to what Lu Yanchuan said, the boy was still in university, and it would still be two more months until his twentieth birthday. With his chestnut-colored curly hair fluffy and soft, and his pale, baby-faced features, he could easily be mistaken for a high school student. If Lu Yanchuan was the untouchable and stern president, then Xiao Luo was the pure and sweet boy next door. His baby face, together with the bright eyes he had when he saw Lu Yanchuan, resembled a little dog excited to see its owner. Little dog¡­ Xiao Luo ran over, waving his arms. As soon as Lu Yanchuan got out of the car, Xiao Luo quickly updated him about the current situation in the villa. ¡°The Gong Family has taken over the villa completely. However, the shares aren¡¯t held by the same person. It seems internal conflicts have emerged, so the villa has been temporarily closed, claiming to be undergoing restructuring.¡± This ¡°restructuring¡± came at an inconvenient time. From June to before October was the villa¡¯s peak season, and even if it needed restructuring, there was no need for it during this period. ¡°Do you know the current distribution of the villa¡¯s shares?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure of the others. I only know Gong Ting holds thirty percent of the shares, Mr. Gong holds another thirty percent, and the rest I don¡¯t know.¡± Xiao Luo was somewhat embarrassed. Lu Yanchuan had given him so much help, and yet he couldn¡¯t even handle this much. He really didn¡¯t live up to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s trust. Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t care about these things. After Qiao Yi also got out of the car, he led her and Xiao Luo towards the villa. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this villa is currently undergoing restructuring and is not open for business. Please leave, sir.¡± While they were walking, suddenly two security guards approached, blocking their path. Xiao Luo hurriedly stepped forward, explaining the identities of Lu Yanchuan and Qiao Yi to the guards. ¡°They¡¯re not tourists; I invited them to handle matters. You¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Qu, but please don¡¯t make it difficult for us.¡± The two guards completely ignored Xiao Luo. With their hands behind their backs, they stood firm, determined not to let them enter the villa. ¡°You! You!¡± Xiao Luo choked in frustration, pointing at the guards but unable to speak, his face turning red without daring to look back at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Make way.¡± Lu Yanchuan extended his hand, pulling Xiao Luo behind him, and walked up to the guards, looking at them emotionlessly. The guards could ignore Xiao Luo, but they couldn¡¯t ignore Lu Yanchuan. Under Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze, cold sweat instantly beaded on their foreheads. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85: The Sent-Away Relic Chapter 85: Chapter 85: The Sent-Away Relic ¡°Sorry, sorry¡­ We¡¯re just following orders¡­¡± The two security guards looked as if they were about to cry. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze was too oppressive, especially considering that he was Old Madam Gong¡¯s eldest disciple and used to frequently visit Taikou Villa to accompany her. Even though he hadn¡¯t visited much in the past two years, these two security guards definitely recognized Lu Yanchuan¡¯s face! They were stopping Lu Yanchuan from entering because they were following orders from the Gong Family, but if they offended Lu Yanchuan, they wouldn¡¯t have a good outcome either! ¡°Let them in.¡± Just as the guards faced this dilemma, a voice from behind them came to the rescue, saving the two nearly kneeling guards. Gong Ting? Why was she here? The person speaking was indeed Gong Ting, who stood there smiling graciously, waiting for Lu Yanchuan and his companions to enter, while the people outside became more vigilant. Gong Ting was being so genial to them? Qiao Yi, frowning, took a careful look at Gong Ting inside the gate; when her gaze fell on her lips, Qiao Yi reached out and tugged Lu Yanchuan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°That¡¯s not Gong Ting; Gong Ting has a mole on the corner of her mouth, she doesn¡¯t.¡± Not Gong Ting? Lu Yanchuan, looking at the woman inside who was nearly indistinguishable from Gong Ting, couldn¡¯t tell whether Qiao Yi¡¯s words were correct or not. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï Heaven knows he never paid much attention to women. He could only remember Gong Ting because of Old Madam Gong and because she once tried to harm Qiao Yi. Otherwise, even if Gong Ting stood naked in front of Lu Yanchuan, he wouldn¡¯t bat an eyelid. The woman inside seeing they were hesitating to enter, smiled helplessly and took the initiative to come over. ¡°Hello, I am Gong Yan, Gong Ting¡¯s¡­ twin sister.¡± Gong Ting¡¯s twin sister? Why hadn¡¯t he heard about her before? Not only had Lu Yanchuan never heard of her, but even Qu Luo, who was close to the Gong Family, hadn¡¯t either. Qu Luo had been dealing with the Gong Family for many years and had never heard of Gong Ting having a sister! ¡°You must all be quite familiar with my sister. I grew up abroad, so it¡¯s understandable that you wouldn¡¯t know me. Don¡¯t just stand at the door, let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Different from Gong Ting¡¯s arrogance, Gong Yan¡¯s words and actions gave a feeling like a refreshing spring breeze, making you feel very comfortable just by standing beside her. Even after just a few words with Gong Yan, Lu Yanchuan¡¯s furrowed brows relaxed a bit, not to mention Xiao Luo, who had no wits about him, he turned into Gong Yan¡¯s ¡®good little brother¡¯ in just a few sentences. Could it be that women naturally have opposing magnetic fields? No matter how Qiao Yi looked at Gong Yan¡¯s smiling face, something seemed off. If Qiao Yi had to describe it with an adjective, it would be ¡®fake¡¯, very fake. Seeing that Lu Yanchuan seemed to be bewitched by this woman¡¯s performance, Qiao Yi felt very displeased in her heart and slipped two fingers to Lu Yanchuan¡¯s waist, pinching and twisting a piece of flesh hard. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression suddenly stiffened, and if you looked closely, you could even see a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth. Such a dark move! Gong Yan led everyone through the villa, past a row of residential buildings, around the hot spring, and finally, arrived at a few small houses at the very top of the villa. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Gong Yan acted very much in a way a host would entertain guests, except these rooms were clearly Old Madam Gong¡¯s former residence. Technically, in this place, Lu Yanchuan and Xiao Luo should have been the hosts, while Gong Yan was the guest overstepping her bounds. However, both Lu Yanchuan and Xiao Luo, one expressionless and unconcerned about Gong Yan¡¯s actions, while the other was completely bought over by the gentle ¡®big sister¡¯, didn¡¯t pay attention to these details. Qiao Yi frowned and looked around the room, only to find that the decor here had completely changed into the style suited for a young girl¡¯s dwelling. Exquisite yet somewhat cramped, it completely lacked the composed and generous style of Old Madam Gong¡¯s other residences. ¡°I was thinking of making some changes before the tourist season hits, but I forgot to inform the security guards that Mr. Lu would also be visiting, my sincerest apologies for the offense.¡± Once seated, Gong Yan started with an apology; with her saying this, if Lu Yanchuan and the others had anything more to say, it would seem as if they were picking a quarrel. Xiao Luo didn¡¯t pick up on Gong Yan¡¯s insinuation and repeatedly assured her it was fine, but Gong Yan¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t on him at all, she was focused on looking at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°I wonder what brings Mr. Lu to the villa this time?¡± Pretending ignorance! Xiao Luo had visited the villa no less than five times, and each time he had made it clear that he wanted to retrieve Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings. Now, Gong Yan seemed completely unaware and asked for their purpose in visiting the villa, which was either feigned ignorance or deliberately provocative! Lu Yanchuan did not respond. Instead, Xiao Luo, slightly embarrassed, scratched his head and said. ¡°I asked my eldest apprentice-brother for help, we wanted to retrieve my teacher¡¯s belongings.¡± This naive kid. It was a righteous action, but his statement made it seem almost as if they were in the wrong. Gong Yan seemed surprised, looking at Xiao Luo, then at Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings? I remember I already had them sorted out and sent to her old residence in Tian City. Why would you need to come and retrieve them yourselves?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The expression on Gong Yan¡¯s face didn¡¯t seem falsified, and indeed, when they had entered the room, they saw no traces of Old Madam Gong¡¯s possessions. But¡­ ¡°The Qu Mansion hasn¡¯t received the items.¡± ¡°Well, that is strange. My people brought back a receipt from the Qu Mansion, confirming that everything had been delivered, yet Mr. Lu says it wasn¡¯t received. I don¡¯t know whom to believe.¡± Gong Yan helplessly shrugged her shoulders, pulled out a box from under the coffee table, opened it, and placed the topmost document from inside in front of everyone. ¡°This is the receipt from Qu Mansion¡¯s butler.¡± She had the evidence right there, leaving no room for Lu Yanchuan to refute. The receipt detailed everything clearly: what Taikou Villa sent, when it was received on the other end, and who signed for it, every item was verifiable. ¡°But, but I really didn¡¯t receive any message from the butler, if something was sent back, the butler would definitely have notified me!¡± Xiao Luo could still maintain some sense when it came to matters involving Old Madam Gong and scrutinized the receipt carefully. He suddenly stood up, took out his phone, and made a call to the butler. The group waited silently for Xiao Luo to finish the call, but after a while, they only saw Xiao Luo return with a gloomy face. ¡°It¡¯s not good, eldest apprentice-brother, the butler¡¯s phone is unreachable. People at Qu Mansion say the butler has been missing for three days! Moreover, before I initiated the call to them, they hadn¡¯t been able to contact me at all!¡± Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 86 The Servants of Qu Mansion Chapter 86: Chapter 86 The Servants of Qu Mansion ¡°The butler is missing? When did this happen?¡± Mr. Qu from the Qu Mansion, who is specially assigned by Old Madam Gong¡¯s family to take care of her, is extremely loyal to Old Madam Gong. How could he possibly leave Qu Mansion just right after Old Madam Gong¡¯s death? Xiao Luo¡¯s face was all scrunched up as if she was about to cry, holding her phone in a complete panic. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The people at the mansion just said that the butler went out three days ago for something and didn¡¯t know what he was up to, and then he never came back!¡± As Xiao Luo spoke, she was about to leave, but when she passed by Lu Yanchuan, he pulled her back. ¡°Go back and sit down.¡± ¡°Senior! The butler is missing, how can I sit down!¡± It was the first time Xiao Luo spoke to Lu Yanchuan in such a tone. As soon as she finished speaking, she herself was stunned and bit her lip as she lowered her head and sat back down. Lu Yanchuan frowned but said nothing to Xiao Luo. Instead, Qiao Yi, seeing how distraught Xiao Luo was, reassured him. ¡°The butler is no longer at the mansion now. You won¡¯t find anything even if you go now. Your senior will send people to look for the butler, you just wait and see.¡± Of course, Xiao Luo knew that Lu Yanchuan would send people to find the butler, but the death of Old Madam Gong had struck him so deeply that he couldn¡¯t remain as calm and considerate as usual. These days, the treatment Xiao Luo received outside was vastly different from before, and Qu Mansion was the only place that continued to treat him the same way even when Old Madam Gong could no longer protect him. In Xiao Luo¡¯s heart, Qu Mansion and the old butler were his last sanctuary. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï But now, this sole sanctuary had vanished, and the sudden onslaught of panic and helplessness threw Xiao Luo completely off balance. Fortunately, Lu Yanchuan did not take offense and immediately took out his phone to start making contacts. ¡°Three days ago¡­ check all the nearby surveillance¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan quickly arranged for the search for the old butler, then turned and saw Gong Yan smiling at him, her smile seemingly carrying a deeper meaning. But in the blink of an eye, Gong Yan¡¯s smile returned to its gentle demeanor, as if Lu Yanchuan¡¯s prior impression was just a misconception. ¡°Since Mr. Lu and Mr. Qu have other matters, I won¡¯t keep you any longer. Feel free to visit the villa anytime.¡± Qiao Yi felt that if Gong Yan didn¡¯t smile so radiantly, maybe her impression of Gong Yan could have been even better. But now, looking at Gong Yan, Qiao Yi always felt like she was taking pleasure in others¡¯ misfortune. This woman is no good person! Having retrieved Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings, they obviously had no reason to stay longer. They declined Gong Yan¡¯s offer to have someone send them off and left the villa directly. ¡°Are we just leaving like this? Who knows whether Gong Yan harbored any good intentions?¡± Qiao Yi was very dissatisfied with how well Lu Yanchuan treated Gong Yan, wondering why the reputedly ruthless Mr. Lu maintained such a favorable attitude towards her. Just because the girl is pretty, his attitude is so nice! What a jerk! ¡°What did you say?¡± Suddenly, a warm breath came close to her ear. Qiao Yi hastily turned around, only to come face-to-face with Lu Yanchuan, and her face instantly flushed red. ¡°Nothing! I said nothing!¡± Qiao Yi closed her eyes, refusing to look at Lu Yanchuan, silently cursing herself for accidentally blurting out her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m a jerk, huh?¡± A very oppressive figure loomed next to her, and Qiao Yi, feeling stared down, dared not move. She tightly clutched the car door handle, ready to jump out and flee at any moment. After a long while, Qiao Yi hadn¡¯t heard anything else, and cautiously opened her eyes only to see Lu Yanchuan¡¯s handsome face enlarged in front of her. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Terrified, Qiao Yi screamed irrationally, but in the next moment, Lu Yanchuan silenced her with a kiss. ¡°Am I a rogue?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Qiao Yi completely gave up, she should never have spoken ill of this man! She was wrong¡­ Lu Yanchuan sat back in his seat, and Qiao Yi stealthily peered at him through the rearview mirror. After a while, noticing that Yanchuan showed no reaction, she became annoyed. Calling him a stinking rogue was not wrong at all! Who else could remain so composed after kissing someone! After leaving the villa, everyone returned to Tian City, bypassing most of it and heading to the Qu Mansion located at the boundary between Tian City and Capital City. This area was the affluent district of Tian City, not only the Qu Mansion, but also the Gong Family and other prominent families of Tian City had their mansions here. Having notified the mansion in advance, the personnel were ready at the entrance when they arrived. Lu Yanchuan ignored the people at the entrance and headed straight into the mansion after briefly greeting Xiao Luo. ¡°Bring the items from Taikou Villa here.¡± Lu Yanchuan walked around the living room and in the midst of everyone¡¯s trembling gaze, he uttered only that sentence. The remaining servants in the mansion seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and a young servant quickly called others to move the items. Lu Yanchuan casually flipped through the pile of items and then spoke again. ¡°Now that Mr. Qu is not here, the mansion cannot be without someone in charge, so¡­ you, until the butler returns, you are responsible for everything in the mansion.¡± Lu Yanchuan¡¯s finger circled around, passing over a man with a gleeful expression, and landed on a timid-looking servant behind him. The man who had been calling others before froze, trying hard to control his expression to appear natural, but ultimately failed. With a sour face, the man looked at Lu Yanchuan and burst into questions. ¡°Mr. Lu, I have been working in the mansion for five years now, I was Mr. Qu¡¯s assistant when he was here, why should a newcomer take over as the butler now?¡± The man grew angrier as he spoke, by the end he couldn¡¯t control his voice, pointing very rudely at the servant Lu Yanchuan had singled out. Lu Yanchuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, simply waving his hand after the man finished speaking. ¡°You! What kind of people are you! What are you trying to do!¡± Two tall, burly men in black, guards of the mansion, emerged from the crowd. Seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gesture, they grabbed the shouting man by the arms and dragged him out. ¡°Anyone else have objections?¡± The group of servants inside the room stood timidly like quails, even if they were resentful, they dared not speak up at this moment. Of course, they felt resentful! Ever since Old Madam Gong fell ill, the whole Qu Mansion had been under these servants¡¯ control. Except for the occasional person coming to retrieve Old Madam Gong¡¯s belongings, the entire mansion was under their control. Over three years, they had come to treat the Qu Mansion as their own property. If it weren¡¯t for the old butler keeping them in line, the Qu Mansion probably wouldn¡¯t bear the Qu name anymore! Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Father and Son at Odds Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Father and Son at Odds A group of servants dared to be angry but did not dare to speak, as Lu Yanchuan¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd and ultimately settled on the person he had just called out. ¡°From now on, you will take over from Mr. Qu and manage Qu Mansion. If anyone disobeys, kick them out of the mansion immediately.¡± That person trembled slightly and bowed deeply after lowering his head for quite some time. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Xiao Luo had been watching all along. When he saw Lu Yanchuan expelling that man from the mansion, he did have something to say, but the chilling aura exuding from Lu Yanchuan made it impossible for him to voice any objections. Only after Lu Yanchuan ordered all the servants to retreat did Xiao Luo hesitantly speak up. ¡°Senior brother¡­ why did you send Lang Dong away?¡± ¡°He¡¯s from the Gong Family.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xiao Luo stood there with his mouth agape and eyes wide open, too stunned to blink as he gazed at Lu Yanchuan, unable to snap back to reality. ¡°Gong, from the Gong Family?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the fact Xiao Luo was entrusted to his care by his mentor, Lu Yanchuan wouldn¡¯t bother wasting words on him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Xiao Luo, who seemed to have a few more questions, suddenly heard Lu Yanchuan continue. ¡°I will clear out some more people from the mansion in the next few days, and in a few days, I will send someone to take over the mansion management. You don¡¯t need to worry about these matters; you should return to school next Monday.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not okay! There are still many things left undone by the teacher¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan gave Xiao Luo a cold glance, successfully silencing the foolish child. Old Madam Gong really had foresight; she left most of her estate to Xiao Luo. If it were someone else taking care of Xiao Luo, they would definitely swindle the boy to his last underwear. That¡¯s also why Lu Yanchuan had no interest in Old Madam Gong¡¯s inheritance, which is why she entrusted Xiao Luo to him. Only by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s side could Xiao Luo live safely without harm from the outside world. Though Xiao Luo stopped talking, he bit his lip and glared with his eyes, showing his determination through his gaze. The standstill between the tall and the young man was broken when Qiao Yi, who was sitting aside, suddenly felt that the two men in front of her were like a father and son having a falling out, and she was the miserable mother in the middle of it. Qiao Yi sighed softly, pulled the stubborn Xiao Luo away, half by force. ¡°Alright, alright, lead me around the mansion first, and leave the rest to your senior brother.¡± Qiao Yi dragged the reluctant Xiao Luo away. Knowing well that Lu Yanchuan would not explain or deign to explain, she of course would tell Xiao Luo, so the child wouldn¡¯t be exploited by others and then turn around to blame Lu Yanchuan. ¡°Xiao Luo, are you unwilling to let your senior brother change the staff of the mansion?¡± Perhaps because Qiao Yi was a woman, Xiao Luo blushed slightly when she pulled him along. On hearing her question, Xiao Luo pursed his lips and hesitated before nodding. ¡°Lang Dong has been here for many years, and although he is¡­ from the Gong Family, he has always taken good care of me, so¡­¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t want your senior brother to kick him out?¡± Xiao Luo hesitated once more before nodding again. Qiao Yi sighed and sat down with Xiao Luo in the garden. ¡°Do you think your senior brother would harm you?¡± Without a second thought, Xiao Luo shook his head. If there was anyone in the world who treated him the best, aside from Old Madam Gong, it would have to be Lu Yanchuan. Although Lu Yanchuan never spoke to him in soft or gentle tones, Xiao Luo knew how good Lu Yanchuan was to him from Old Madam Gong. In Xiao Luo¡¯s heart, if Old Madam Gong was the image of a mother, then Lu Yanchuan was that of a father¡­ or an elder brother. Xiao Luo looked at Qiao Yi with a puzzled expression, not knowing the purpose behind her question. ¡°Do you think Lang Dong is trustworthy, or do you think your senior brother is trustworthy?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s senior brother!¡± Xiao Luo answered Qiao Yi¡¯s question without hesitation again, and this time after he answered, a noticeable pause followed, as if he had realized something. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t rush him, allowing him to understand on his own. These principles always had to be understood personally to be useful; otherwise, no matter how much others said, it would be in vain. After waiting a good while, Xiao Luo finally lifted his head. ¡°Yiyi, I understand what you mean now; I was being too stubborn.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand. Your senior brother has many unsaid words, but he definitely won¡¯t do anything to harm you! In a few days, just go back to school with peace of mind and study hard; your senior brother will take care of things here!¡± Xiao Luo¡¯s face still carried a hint of embarrassment, and after being tousled on the head by Qiao Yi like petting an animal, Xiao Luo became even more embarrassed, his blushing spreading all the way down his neck. ¡°I, I¡¯ll go apologize to senior brother¡­¡± ¡°Never mind, he¡¯s not one to hold a grudge. You should think about your return to school in the next few days instead.¡± Watching the now-enlightened Xiao Luo, Qiao Yi stood up refreshed, clapped her hands, and walked back. Now that the younger one was pacified, it was unknown whether the older one was still angry! Great, the older one was no longer angry; he was now taking off his jacket, standing in the storeroom, rummaging through a pile of things left by Old Madam Gong. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°My teacher¡¯s ledger.¡± Lu Yanchuan replied without raising his head, and after a creaking sound, the pile of stuff next to Lu Yanchuan suddenly shifted down a bit, startling Qiao Yi into rushing over to help support it. ¡°Without Mr. Qu here, these people don¡¯t do their jobs properly.¡± Lu Yanchuan was covered in dust; his pristine white shirt now had alternating stripes of black and white. Lu Yanchuan just frowned at it without another look, instead bending down to pull out a booklet from the pile of odds and ends. ¡°Did you find it?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a stamp album.¡± Lu Yanchuan hesitantly threw the leather-bound album onto the sofa, ultimately deciding not to take off the dirty shirt on the spot. Qiao Yi picked up the stamp album and looked it over, not finding anything special about it, unsure why Lu Yanchuan went through such effort to take it out. ¡°Before the teacher passed away, he told me to take this stamp album back for dad. Once the person I arranged arrives, we will head back to Capital City.¡± Initially, Lu Yanchuan had planned to let Xiao Luo take over the affairs in Tian City, but now it seemed that Xiao Luo was still too naive; he¡¯d consider handing over responsibilities after a few more years of experience. Being able to return home was of course good, but Qiao Yi was still a bit worried about Xiao Luo. ¡°Xiao Luo, he¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s a man.¡± Lu Yanchuan didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but Qiao Yi already understood what he meant. Xiao Luo was already an adult man. It was precisely because he had always been under Old Madam Gong¡¯s protection that he developed his current soft and easily-bullied character, which was not suitable for safeguarding Old Madam Gong¡¯s legacy. To have Xiao Luo grow up as quickly as possible, the only way was to let him face the storms himself, to confront and overcome difficulties. This was the best path to growth. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Disassembled Project Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Disassembled Project Qiao Yi stayed with Lu Yanchuan in Tian City for another two days before returning to Capital City, having received Xiao Luo¡¯s promise to attend school properly. Although she was unsure whether the kid really thought that way, at least verbally he agreed. However, seeing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s thoughtful expression, she guessed that Xiao Luo wouldn¡¯t simply go back to school and behave. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you stopping Xiao Luo when you know he won¡¯t be obedient?¡± On the way, Qiao Yi finally couldn¡¯t help but ask. She had a favorable impression of Xiao Luo, finding the kid akin to a neighbor¡¯s younger brother, someone difficult to dislike. Qiao Yi¡¯s inquiry was ignored by Lu Yanchuan. Seeing that he didn¡¯t respond, Qiao Yi huffed, turned her back, and decided not to engage with Lu Yanchuan anymore. Upon returning to Tian City, Qiao Yi went straight back to the Qiao Family, and after dropping her off, Lu Yanchuan returned to the Lu Family. He also had to deliver the stamp album he had gotten from Qu Mansion. The timing of Qiao Yi¡¯s arrival at the Qiao Family was inconvenient, as Qiao Xin had also just returned with Lu Ming¡¯s company. As soon as Qiao Yi entered, she saw Qiao Xin sitting in the living room. It was indeed true that enemies often cross each other¡¯s paths. Qiao Yi didn¡¯t want to speak with Qiao Xin and went straight up the stairs to look for Zhao Wenjing and Qiao Benqing. ¡°Qiao Yi! Didn¡¯t you see me sitting here!¡± Qiao Yi frowned and glanced at Qiao Xin blocking her way. Why is this person so clueless? Always needing someone to snap at her before feeling good? Qiao Xin was tilting her chin, guarding her flat belly with one hand as if she carried some treasure. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t pass by as Qiao Xin was blocking the staircase entirely, so she withdrew her gaze and looked towards Qiao Xin. ¡°Don¡¯t be too arrogant! This is the Qiao Family, and in this house, I¡¯m your elder sister. You don¡¯t even greet me when you see me, this is your manner of upbringing¡­ Ah!¡± Qiao Yi shook off her hand, having slapped too hard just now; her palm was even numb. Qiao Xin, covering her face, looked up at Qiao Yi in disbelief. She actually dared to strike someone in the Qiao Family! ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, I¡¯ll hit you every time I see you. You haven¡¯t forgotten that, have you?¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze roamed over Qiao Xin¡¯s face, as if searching for the next place to strike. Intimidated by Qiao Yi¡¯s gaze, almost at a loss for words, Qiao Xin clenched her fists so hard her nails were nearly digging into her palms. She actually dared to! ¡°This is my final warning. If I¡¯m around, you better quiet down, or next time it won¡¯t be as simple as just a slap to settle it.¡± Qiao Yi suddenly raised her hand, and like someone frightened, Qiao Xin flinched and covered her face with her hands. However, Qiao Yi was just scaring her. After Qiao Xin¡¯s expression turned ugly and she lowered her hands, Qiao Yi calmly extended her hand and firmly grasped Qiao Xin¡¯s chin. ¡°Some people can be treated like humans, and I¡¯m willing to reason with such people. But some are only fit to be treated like training dogs. Without some use of force, how would a dog understand human speech, right?¡± The last few words, Qiao Yi whispered right into Qiao Xin¡¯s ear. Feeling the person under her grip trembling, Qiao Yi dryly curled her lips, wiping the hand that touched Qiao Xin on Qiao Xin¡¯s clothes a couple of times before pushing her aside and stepping onto the stairs. ¡°Are you okay¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Qiao Xin pushed Lu Ming¡¯s hand away angrily, covering her face as she furiously left the Qiao Family. With the troublesome presence out of sight, Qiao Yi rolled her eyes and went straight to Qiao Benqing¡¯s study. ¡°Dad, you wanted to see me.¡± ¡°Sit down and talk.¡± Qiao Benqing pointed to the chair beside him and let Qiao Yi sit down, then he took a document from the desk and handed it to her. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Qiao Yi took the document and skimmed through it, her expression gradually turning solemn. ¡°The Sun Family is splitting up and selling the old harbor district project? Why? Did they get wind of something?¡± The document in her hand was the contract for the sale of the Sun Family¡¯s harbor project. Such a contract would definitely not be sent voluntarily to the Qiao Family by the Sun Family; it was something Qiao Benqing had went to some lengths to obtain. ¡°That¡¯s correct. The actions of the Sun Family are very abnormal. I remember you know one of their illegitimate daughters; see if you can get some information from her.¡± The Sun Family had maintained a steady status in Capital City for so long primarily because of their profound mystery. The Sun Family was so secretive that even when they held banquets, they only invited their own relatives by marriage, and some newly arisen families couldn¡¯t even recognize all the members of the Sun Family. Being able to preserve such mystery for so many years in such a complex place like Capital City speaks to the skillfulness of the Sun Family. Qiao Benqing, certainly out of options, had resorted to scheming against someone like Sun Keke, with whom Qiao Yi had only a passing acquaintance. Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t reluctant to help, but given Sun Keke¡¯s awkward status and the recent events, suddenly reaching out to her might not yield any useful information. ¡°I know it¡¯s difficult for you. In a month¡¯s time, it will be your birthday, and you could use the birthday banquet as an opportunity to get to know the people from the Sun Family.¡± Qiao Benqing, of course, knew the difficulty; after all, an illegitimate daughter might not know much about her own family¡¯s affairs. But the old harbor district project was too complicated; if it really was dismantled and sold by the Sun Family, it would be hard for the Qiao Family and Lu Family to proceed with their subsequent plans. Furthermore, once the Sun Family transferred the contract to someone else, the Qiao and Lu Families would have to pay a higher price to buy back the contract, and might even offend many people. Just thinking about it, Qiao Yi understood why Qiao Benqing was worried. If possible, she would certainly want to offer help within her means. Since Qiao Benqing already had a plan, Qiao Yi would not refuse. ¡°When the time comes, we¡¯ll do as you said, but there might be¡­ some issues on the Lu Family¡¯s end.¡± ¡°Talk to Yanchuan about it when you get back, so he¡¯s forewarned.¡± Qiao Benqing handed the document back to Qiao Yi, which she had brought back. The harbor project was no small undertaking; even if it began, it would take at least two to three years to finalize, leaving them plenty of time to prepare. ¡°Yiyi, Yanchuan is here; why don¡¯t you have dinner before you leave?¡± Zhao Wenjing¡¯s voice came from outside the door, Qiao Yi and Qiao Benqing exchanged a glance and then stood up to walk out together. They had to inform Lu Yanchuan about the Sun Family¡¯s matter; after all, he was leading the project, and even Qiao Benqing did not want to risk offending Lu Yanchuan over such a minor issue. Lu Yanchuan was already waiting in the living room downstairs. Seeing Qiao Yi descending, he unexpectedly lifted the corners of his mouth, showing a hint of a smile. Qiao Yi ignored Lu Yanchuan, instead sitting down next to Zhao Wenjing. Even though it had only been a few days since they had seen each other, Zhao Wenjing missed Qiao Yi every day. ¡°I¡¯ve just told Yanchuan that after dinner you should leave. I made your favorite, sweet and sour fish, and cream of mushroom soup tonight!¡± Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Sun Family Has Big Ambitions Chapter 89: Chapter 89: The Sun Family Has Big Ambitions In the evening, Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan did not return to the Lu Mansion but instead took a detour to Emperor Garden. On the way there, Qiao Yi told him everything that Qiao Benqing had asked her to tell Lu Yanchuan. However, unlike Qiao Benqing¡¯s tense vigilance, Lu Yanchuan appeared quite composed, even somewhat unsurprised. ¡°Did you already know that the Sun Family would split up this project for sale?¡± For a project with such huge profits, any family with the capability would definitely keep it to themselves. Why would they spit out the fat in their mouth and share it with others! Moreover, looking at the terms listed in the Sun Family¡¯s contract, they only kept a part of the development project in the old city district, releasing everything else. The most profitable part, the harbor renovation, wasn¡¯t kept at all! Lu Yanchuan neither denied nor agreed, only pulling the corners of his mouth in an ambiguous smile. Qiao Yi flipped through the contract in her hand several times, yet she couldn¡¯t figure out the Sun Family¡¯s intentions. ¡°The Sun Family isn¡¯t one of those nameless small families. Although the project is somewhat large, the Sun Family should be able to handle it. Could it be that the Sun Family Patriarch has lost his mind?¡± ¡°This is a piece of information intentionally released by the Sun Family.¡± Qiao Yi grew even more puzzled after hearing Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words. The contract was already out, so how could it still be intentional misinformation from the Sun Family? Could it be that the Sun Family never intended to split up the project? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°If the Sun Family has any intention of deception, isn¡¯t it overdoing it? Now everyone in Capital City knows it was Longjia¡¯s two companies that secured the project. What does the Sun Family need to deceive anyone about¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s voice trailed off as she abruptly conceived the most significant possibility. Lu Yanchuan glanced at her sideways, ¡°Figured it out?¡± Qiao Yi bit her lip, nodding and then shaking her head. ¡°Perhaps the Sun Family does intend to confuse others. After all, we know about the relationship between Longjia and the Sun Family, but there are still many in Capital City who are unaware. With just these two companies¡¯ capabilities, they definitely can¡¯t handle such a large project, but¡­¡± But why would the Sun Family use these two companies as a facade? They weren¡¯t Capital City¡¯s most eminent family in need of any low-profile concealment, so why go through such troublesome lengths to hide? It seemed unnecessary! ¡°The Sun Family is quite ambitious¡­¡± Lu Yanchuan took the contract from Qiao Yi¡¯s lap and flipped through it a few times before uttering this statement. ¡°Ambitious? How so?¡± ¡°Take a closer look at the clauses the Sun Family has listed.¡± With just the profit part, the Sun Family splits 30 to 70 with their partners. The entire harbor project is split into more than a dozen parts, meaning the Sun Family would only pay a small price but reap the largest profit! Since getting her hands on the contract, Qiao Yi had focused on the issues of the Sun Family selling the project and had hardly paid attention to these hidden clauses. Only now did she realize that the Sun Family¡¯s contract was a blatantly unequal treaty! ¡°Who would sign such a contract? This is downright exploitation!¡± The project¡¯s gross profit of 30% would just barely cover the project costs, and the Sun Family¡¯s arrangements clearly intended to reap huge benefits without investing a dime! ¡°That¡¯s why I said the Sun Family is ambitious. This contract is obviously not meant for outsiders; any company that agrees to this contract must be inseparably linked to the Sun Family.¡± Lu Yanchuan pointed at the position of Party B, then suddenly picked up a signing pen and signed an English name on the contract. ¡°Hey! Why are you still scribbling on this!¡± Sun Keke couldn¡¯t stop him in time, and could only watch helplessly as Lu Yanchuan wrote his name, without even knowing whose name it was! ¡°The Sun Family brought it on themselves, it¡¯s not my fault for taking action.¡± For the first time, Qiao Yi discovered that Lu Yanchuan had a different kind of charm when he smiled. A gentle smile paired with a cold gaze was intoxicating, yet it made people more cautious, as if wavering between heaven and hell. ¡°Alright, you handle it as you see fit.¡± Qiao Yi didn¡¯t understand what Lu Yanchuan was planning to do but wisely did not keep asking. As long as the contract didn¡¯t affect the Qiao Family, she didn¡¯t care how Lu Yanchuan wanted to deal with it. However, when she thought about the Sun Family, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but think of Sun Keke. Ever since that day when they left the hospital, Qiao Yi had not received a reply from Sun Keke, and her messages were like stones dropped into the ocean, not even causing a ripple. Qiao Benqing even wanted her to invite Sun Keke out during her birthday party, but now she couldn¡¯t even find the person, let alone invite her out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about your father-in-law; I¡¯ll explain to him,¡± Thinking that Qiao Yi had gone silent contemplating how to explain to Qiao Benqing, Lu Yanchuan took the initiative and comforted her. In reality, Qiao Yi wasn¡¯t worried about how to explain things to Qiao Benqing. If she truly couldn¡¯t find any news, she could just repeat Lu Yanchuan¡¯s words to Qiao Benqing. But now that Lu Yanchuan had taken it upon himself to handle the matter, why bother with extra steps? She cheerfully agreed. The next morning, Qiao Yi was awakened by a call from Feng Siyu. ¡°My ancestor, why haven¡¯t you gotten up yet! Where are you now, I¡¯ll come pick you up!¡± ¡°You¡¯re my ancestor, what time is it even, why are you looking for me!¡± After cohabitating with Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi adjusted her standard for assessing the time in the morning based on when Lu Yanchuan would leave for work. If Lu Yanchuan had already left, that meant it was time to get up. If Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t gone to the company, that meant she could sleep a bit longer. This routine was always accurate unless something unexpected happened. Today, when Feng Siyu¡¯s call came through, Lu Yanchuan hadn¡¯t even gotten out of bed yet! Probably woken up by Qiao Yi¡¯s humming, she suddenly felt a tightening around her waist, followed by being pulled into a hot embrace. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even though she woke up in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms every morning, every time she got this close to Lu Yanchuan, Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t help but blush. Qiao Yi was still too embarrassed to speak, but Feng Siyu on the phone had already started screaming. ¡°Ah!!! Is that low voice Mr. Lu!!! Qiao Yi!!! Let him say a few more words!!!¡± The volume in the earpiece suddenly shot up eight octaves, and Qiao Yi held the phone away from her ear, sparing her ears from torture. But Feng Siyu, not getting a response on the other end, kept nagging Qiao Yi to let Lu Yanchuan say a few more words to satisfy her fangirl cravings. Qiao Yi buried her head in the blanket, not wanting to respond to Feng Siyu. The phone that was on the pillow suddenly went silent; Qiao Yi¡¯s ears twitched at the lack of sound and when she peeked out from under the blanket, she saw that Lu Yanchuan had hung up her call! Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Reminiscence of Youthful Days Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Reminiscence of Youthful Days Feng Siyu finally gave up the idea of continuing to call after being hung up on three times by Lu Yanchuan, and instead started sending messages to Qiao Yi. Qiao Yi was curled up in the comforter like an ostrich, surrounded by Lu Yanchuan¡¯s scent, which surprisingly gave her a sense of security. After Feng Siyu had completely quieted down, Qiao Yi no longer felt like sleeping and quietly nestled in Lu Yanchuan¡¯s arms, enjoying the hard-won peace. ¡°Ding ding ding¡ª¡± Qiao Yi, in the end, was defeated by the alarm clock, rolling around under the covers not wanting to get up. Lu Yanchuan watched her amusingly, only after getting dressed did he reach out and pull out¡­ a ruffled little beauty from the bed. Qiao Yi hummed discontentedly, and without any resistance, Lu Yanchuan helped her to sit up. Seeing that she seemed to have woken up, Lu Yanchuan turned and went to the bathroom to wash up, but by the time Lu Yanchuan came out, Qiao Yi had already burrowed back into the comforter. Giving up on the idea of getting Qiao Yi out of bed, Lu Yanchuan, as usual, left a note before departing. After Lu Yanchuan left, Qiao Yi laid in bed like a corpse until the phone by the bedside unwillingly rang again, only then did Qiao Yi climb up reluctantly. ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°How is it, my dear treasure!! Did the nights of pleasure completely drain your little body?!¡± Feng Siyu just can¡¯t speak like a normal person! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Qiao Yi rolled her eyes and walked into the bathroom with the phone in tow. ¡°Spit it out, what do you want from me? Calling me early in the morning like summoning a ghost!¡± Qiao Yi harbored a deep grudge. As for the person who disrupted her sweet dreams so early, Qiao Yi really wanted to drag her out of the phone and stuff her into the toilet. Startled by Qiao Yi¡¯s grudge, Feng Siyu laughed even weirder, or perhaps ¡®lecherous¡¯ would be a more accurate description. ¡°I know you¡¯re addicted to beauty and can¡¯t extricate yourself, but young people must learn to restrain themselves. Look, I know a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, I¡¯ll get him to prescribe you a couple of remedies¡­¡± Qiao Yi couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and directly hung up, sitting on the toilet contemplating why she had ever thought she would get along well with Feng Siyu! The phone rang once more, and this time Feng Siyu finally stopped teasing her and spoke about serious matters. ¡°Tomorrow is Yun Luoluo¡¯s birthday, you¡¯re coming with me!¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t invite me, and we¡¯re not that close anyway, I¡¯d rather not go.¡± Qiao Yi mumbled unclearly with her mouth full of foam. ¡°She did invite you. It¡¯s just that you didn¡¯t exchange contact details when you last met, so she came to me asking to deliver the invitation to you! I¡¯ve done my part by bringing you the invitation. Whether you go is up to you!¡± Feng Siyu was completely irritated by the sound of Qiao Yi gurgling mouthwash. The moment Qiao Yi moved the phone away, a high-pitched scream from Feng Siyu suddenly burst out on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m telling you! You must go with me!!!!¡± Despite Feng Siyu¡¯s lethal scream, Qiao Yi remained calm, washing her face and brushing her teeth, even curling her hair. Only when Feng Siyu finally tired of yelling did Qiao Yi pick up the phone again. ¡°Alright, I got it, I¡¯ll send you the location, come pick me up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal, then!¡± Feng Siyu¡¯s temper flares up quickly and dissipates even faster; Qiao Yi managed to cheer her up in just a few sentences. If her fans, who crazily chant ¡°Yuan Goddess,¡± saw Feng Siyu like this, her impeccable image would probably shatter to pieces. Thus, the only reason Feng Siyu can maintain her cool goddess persona in public is all thanks to Gu Ting¡¯s exemplary work¡­ True to her word, before Qiao Yi could finish her meal, Feng Siyu burst in like a whirlwind. ¡°My ancestor! I¡¯ve booked the beauty salon for you, why are you still eating? How can a fairy be eating like this!¡± With a piece of egg pancake still in her mouth, Qiao Yi was bewilderedly dragged out of the restaurant by Feng Siyu and stuffed into a car. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten enough¡­¡± Qiao Yi¡¯s muted protest was ignored by Feng Siyu, who seemingly conjured two thick albums from thin air and placed them on Qiao Yi¡¯s lap. ¡°Quickly pick one out, you must steal the show at the banquet tomorrow!¡± Qiao Yi glanced at Feng Siyu in surprise, ¡°Who¡¯s going to be at the banquet tomorrow?¡± ¡°Li Xuesi and Jiang Zhuocheng!¡± Seeing Feng Siyu¡¯s fierce expression, Qiao Yi thought, as expected. If there wasn¡¯t someone special involved, Feng Siyu wouldn¡¯t care so much about her appearance. Qiao Yi, of course, knew both Li Xuesi and Jiang Zhuocheng, especially Li Xuesi, with whom she had plenty of past grievances. Back when she was still in school, although Qiao Yi was the big sister there, not everyone liked her, and Li Xuesi was one of those who couldn¡¯t stand her the most. The Qiao Family and the Leng Family were competitors, which meant the relationship between Li Xuesi and Qiao Yi was already strained. Moreover, Qiao Yi was so flamboyant in school that Li Xuesi opposed her at every turn. The biggest point of contention between the two involved Jiang Zhuocheng. Initially, Jiang Zhuocheng was like a little henchman beside Qiao Yi, and though many knew he had a crush on her, Qiao Yi, who was then bent on dominating Capital City, had no interest in romance. Jiang Zhuocheng chased after Qiao Yi for two years until people thought they were a couple, but those who knew them were aware Qiao Yi consistently rejected him; it was just Jiang sticking to her relentlessly. Somehow, Li Xuesi, plagued by who-knows-what issue, took a fancy to Jiang Zhuocheng, and after various incidents, he defected to Li Xuesi¡¯s camp. Outsiders thought Li Xuesi had stolen Qiao Yi¡¯s man, and even Li Xuesi herself believed this, since Jiang Zhuocheng, to save face, willfully misrepresented his past relationship with Qiao Yi. Those in the know couldn¡¯t be bothered with Li Xuesi and Jiang Zhuocheng, so the misunderstanding perpetuated. Until graduation day, when Li Xuesi inadvertently overheard a conversation between Feng Siyu and Qiao Yi, she realized that she had been smug about stealing Qiao Yi¡¯s boyfriend for so long, which turned out to be a joke in their eyes! Li Xuesi couldn¡¯t tolerate this and confronted Qiao Yi right then, solidifying their feud from that point on. All in all, these were the antics of youthful ignorance, but even after so many years, meeting again would undoubtedly be awkward. ¡°Since they are going, maybe I should skip it¡­¡± Before Qiao Yi could finish, she saw Feng Siyu¡¯s eyes slant sharply, leaving no room for resistance. ¡°No way! You must go! And you must make them kneel down and sing ¡®Conquered¡¯ to you!¡± Seeing Feng Siyu¡¯s determination, Qiao Yi fell silent and began to quietly flip through the two albums on her lap.