Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Unbuckling His Belt

    In the small villa, on the main bedroom balcony of the second floor.

    The moon shone bright, and the stars were scarce, with a slightly warm night breeze.

    A bottle of medicinal liquor sat on the small round white table.

    Qiao Xi and Huo Xingzhou sat leisurely in the courtyard swing chair.

    She poured a glass and placed it in front of Huo Xingzhou, saying, “Give it a try, this is Bazhen Wine.”

    Bazhen Wine is made by infusing ingredients like Angelica, Atractylodes, Rehmannia, Ginseng, and others, which can nourish the qi and blood and regulate the spleen and stomach.

    ...

    They had agreed while in the countryside that they would drink medicinal liquor upon returning to Haicheng.

    Tonight was the perfect time to celebrate.

    Huo Xingzhou took it and downed it in one gulp. After savoring it for a while, he said, “This tastes different from the Bazhen Wine I’ve had before. Did you improve the recipe?”

    “Really?”

    Qiao Xi felt a bit doubtful. She poured herself a cup and took two sips.

    There was a very faint salty and fishy taste.

    Without much experience, Qiao Xi then said, “Maybe it was soaked for too long. Mr. Huo, drink less. Aged liquor can easily intoxicate.”

    “It doesn’t matter,” Huo Xingzhou said lazily, leaning back in the long courtyard chair.

    He drank two cups in succession, his normally cold-complexioned face becoming more animated, the corners of his eyes slightly red, noble yet restrained.

    Qiao Xi was mesmerized by the sight.

    Huo Xingzhou turned his head, looked at her swollen eyes which resembled walnuts, and couldn’t help but laugh as he asked, “They were crying just now, why did you cry too?”

    Qiao Xi said, “I cried because I was happy.”

    “Why?” he asked.

    Qiao Xi sat close to him, her voice very soft, “Because Mr. Huo has shown me that good people get good rewards.”

    Huo Xingzhou couldn’t resist, his hand reached to her cheek, his thumb caressing the corner of her eye.

    “Qiao Xi, don’t give men your approval so freely,” he said, his voice husky.

    Qiao Xi rubbed his hand in compliance, asking softly, “Why not?”

    “Because, I might... not want to be a good person anymore,” he said.

    Qiao Xi looked up at him, and could see her own reflection in the depths of his eyes. Her heart seemed to flare up violently, and the heat spread rapidly through her blood.

    The silence seemed to stretch on for too long.

    She moved her body slightly, trying to create some distance between them. But the wrought iron swing chair made noise. Out of the corner of her eye, she peeked at the man.

    He was already aware, watching her with a look that was both smiling and not smiling.

    “Little Divine Doctor, what did you add when you brewed the wine?” He was more unrestrained than usual, indulging his husky voice.

    The heat thrashing inside her body was all too familiar.

    Huo Xingzhou, being a man, was even more sensitive.

    Something wasn’t quite right about the wine.

    “I didn’t add anything,” Qiao Xi said, completely confused.

    The wind tonight seemed to carry a restlessness, and even though she wore a strapless gown, the palms of her hands were still burning.

    All of a sudden, Huo Xingzhou leaned toward her. The four chains of the courtyard swing made a clashing sound, and Qiao Xi was forced to lie back on the bench, her back against the cold metal chair.

    Extremely sexy.

    Further down.

    Her ears turned red, and she moved her gaze away, her throat dry.

    She could vaguely hear his voice, colder than usual, seemingly hiding anger. She didn’t know who was on the other end, making him so out of character.

    After Huo Xingzhou finished the call, he calmed down.

    He looked towards Qiao Xi on the balcony and said, “I’m going to take a shower.”

    “Okay.”

    Qiao Xi replied, feeling relieved, but an inexplicable sense of loss surged within her.

    ...

    On the other hand.

    There was chaos at the Su Family.

    Su Weiwei was crying and thrashing, pounding her own belly with her hands as if she held a grudge against the child inside.

    “Bastard! Bastard! Why won’t it come out!” she screamed frantically.

    “Weiwei, don’t hurt yourself!” Zhao Yuzhen hurried to stop her, “The child is innocent.”

    Su Weiwei pushed her away, her eyes full of hatred.

    “It’s all your fault, you suggested bringing that country girl to take my place as the bride! If I had married Huo Xingzhou, I’d now be the wife of the Tianyuan Group’s president! Did you do it on purpose?”

    Her voice was sharp and piercing, her emotions volatile.

    “No, I did it all for your sake. No one knew...” Zhao Yuzhen tried to defend herself desperately.

    Su Weiwei grabbed her hair, delivering five or six slaps across her face: “I hate you, I hate Qiao Xi! Give me back my place, Qiao Xi!”

    She cried with a contorted face, her sobs heart-wrenching.

    Smack!

    Su Heng’s face was ashen as he slapped her across the face.

    “Have you come to your senses?”

    Su Weiwei covered her face, collapsing to the ground, crying in anguish.

    Su Heng scolded, “You’re already carrying Huo Beiting’s child, forget any aspirations. Besides, Huo Xingzhou’s legs are already useless, what’s there for you to be jealous of?”

    “Why should a country girl marry better than me!” She simply couldn’t accept it.

    If only she had been the one to marry Huo Xingzhou, how wonderful that would have been!

    Su Heng said coldly, “You can only accept it.”

    He turned his head towards Zhao Yuzhen, whose hair was disheveled and cheek swollen, showing a rare trace of civility.

    “Yuzhen, don’t hold it against Weiwei. Here’s what we’ll do, you go and apologize to Qiao Xi tomorrow, no mother and daughter should hold grudges overnight, and afterwards, the two families will interact normally.”

    Su Heng hypocritically said, “She’s your daughter, and thus, she is also my daughter.”

    Zhao Yuzhen’s expression was obscure upon hearing this.

    Su Heng was actually asking her to bow down to Qiao Xi, yet she couldn’t refuse Su Heng.

    “Alright,” she replied grudgingly.

    Su Weiwei sat on the ground, her eyes filled with malicious scheming.

    She would never let Qiao Xi have it easy!

    She looked forward to seeing how Qiao Xi would react with pain and despair when she learned about that matter!