Chapter 4 Check on my wife

"I'll prove it to you right now,"

Qiao Xi dragged out the medicine box from under the bed and opened it.

Nine silver needles, emitting a cold sheen, were lined up neatly. She took out a long needle and swiftly, accurately, and fiercely pierced an acupuncture point in Huo Xingzhou's leg.

She tilted her head, focusing intently on Huo Xingzhou as she asked, "Do you feel anything?"

The needle awakened his numb legs, spreading a tingling sensation like ants nibbling at his skin. Huo Xingzhou watched her earnest face, a shadow flickering in his eyes.

His index finger grazed his fingertip, turning his head away with an indifferent expression, his brows furrowed tightly.

Qiao Xi could tell he was in pain. She twisted the tail of the needle further in by a fraction and softly said, "Feeling it is good. I may not have treated any celebrities, nor do I have a medical license. But I am sure, I can cure your legs."

"As long as you have acupuncture daily to drain the hematoma, along with medicinal decoction and massage, you could stand again in as little as one month, or at most half a year."

Huo Xingzhou felt something stir in his heart, and the hostility faded from his restrained, handsome face.

"What do you want?"

There was no such thing as free charity; he was a businessman.

Qiao Xi paused, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"My grandmother was taken to Haicheng by the Su Family, they want the major project that you have with Tianyuan Group, let... let Su Weiwei marry your cousin."

Even she, a country girl, had heard of Tianyuan Group. That was a multinational corporation, and while the Huo Family dominated Haicheng alone, they couldn't compare to the enormity of Tianyuan Group.

That project was highly coveted.

Qiao Xi looked at him uneasily.

She felt guilty, thinking Huo Xingzhou was unlucky.

Not only would he lose resources, but he also had to hand over his fiancée to someone else.

Huo Xingzhou let out a sarcastic laugh.

Seeing his reaction, Qiao Xi said with disappointment, "Sorry, I was overstepping."

She bent over to remove the needles, tidied up the medicine box, and left the room.

As Huo Xingzhou watched her dispirited figure leaving, a dark light passed through his eyes. He reached for the mobile phone on the bedside table and dialed a number.

"Zhou Yu, it's me."

The man on the other end sounded as if he had seen a ghost, "Huo Xingzhou, you're really awake! I thought I'd have to visit your grave next year."

Huo Xingzhou spoke concisely, "Prepare a brief for me on the partnership data between Tianyuan Group and the Huo Family, and make some alterations to it."

"Okay," Zhou Yu said earnestly, "just a heads-up, the car accident wasn't simple, but there's no trace, and I can't find any evidence."

Huo Xingzhou's expression was cool, "No need to look any further, I know who it is."

"Can't be your cousin and his family, can it?" Zhou Yu cursed angrily, "That bastard has no ability, just schemes! You're not giving the brief to him, are you? In that case, I'll have to be extra thorough."

Huo Xingzhou cut him off, "Don't worry about that, help me look into someone else."

"Who?"

"Qiao Xi..."

"Oh, your wife," Zhou Yu responded promptly.

Huo Xingzhou didn't refute his term, saying, "Check her background for any ties with the main family."

After hearing that, Zhou Yu breathed heavily, "You mean she's sent by the main family? Aren't you in danger then? Do you need to find bodyguards for twenty-four-hour protection…"

Huo Xingzhou hung up the phone squarely, cutting off Zhou Yu's endless complaints.

He half-closed his eyes, his profile flickering in the light. His thoughts turned to his stubborn and radiant new wife as his long fingers traced the edge of the bed.

How coincidental it was, his legs disabled, and the Sun Family sent a substitute bride claiming she could cure his condition. That woman spun a web of lies, all to exchange for the project in his hands.

He never believed in pie falling from the sky.

Especially when considering her appearance…

In the living room.

Qiao Xi, wearing a bright red bridal dress, came downstairs; Mrs. Huo took her hand and said, "I've got a set of my daughter's clothes for you, change into them quickly. I'm taking you shopping for some clothes and jewelry."

"No need, I…"

Mrs. Huo wouldn't have her being polite, hurried her into the clothes, and had the driver take them to the bustling malls of Haicheng.

Du Juan entered the mall and began a shopping spree.

"These, and this piece! Wrap them all up for me. Qiao Xi, you'll definitely look wonderful in them."

"That's too extravagant. Actually..."

Qiao Xi remembered Huo Xingzhou saying his mother's dowry had been tied up in the stock market, and she grew worried. The cheapest clothing here cost tens of thousands, and she couldn't even spend that much in the countryside in half a year.

She couldn't even pay it back with her small savings.

"Young girls should dress vividly and brightly. A daughter-in-law is like half a daughter. Why should there be any courtesy between mother and daughter?"

A flicker passed through Qiao Xi's eyes.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo swept through the clothing store and then entered a jewelry store.

There were always those short-sighted people looking for trouble.

"Oh, Mrs. Huo the Second. Still in the mood for shopping, I see? I heard your son has awakened, congratulations indeed. It's a pity he's become disabled... the Huo Family inheritance can only go to the first branch now." The lady covered her lips, delighting in the misfortune.

Huo Xingzhou had been excessively outstanding, eclipsing too many people. When he met with misfortune, everyone wanted to kick him while he was down.

Du Juan coldly retorted with a laugh, "Mrs. Sun, I heard your son ended up in the hospital fooling around with women, don't let him die on top of one someday. Oh my, such a scandal, what does it matter to me."

"You!" The lady was fuming.

"What about me? Even with my son's legs disabled, he's still better than your son! I heard the Sun Family has sought famous doctors far and wide to no avail for his infertility. Looks like the Sun Family... is facing extinction!"

Du Juan's gaze was haughty, her every word struck Mrs. Sun's sore spot.

The Sun Family's only son's ineptitude in bed was an open secret in Haicheng, and he had this penchant for taking medicine and stirring up trouble, frequently becoming the butt of jokes.

Mrs. Sun wouldn't show weakness: "Isn't your son the same? We will find Master Cheng Han sooner or later, and then don't come begging to me!"

"Beg you? Funny! My Xingzhou is blessed, who knows if Master Cheng might come to treat him himself!"

When it came to power struggles among the elite, Mrs. Huo was yet unmatched in a war of words.

"You... don't forget that our Sun Family still holds the land rights. I'd like to see how Huo Xingzhou settles the Huo's and Tianyuan's project!"

Mrs. Sun's face alternated between green and white as she grabbed her bag and left.

When she heard about the Tianyuan Group project, Qiao Xi's eyes darkened with complexity.

Du Juan composed herself and turned to point at the top glass cabinet, "Show me that sapphire necklace."

The sales associate put on white gloves and took down the jewelry box, praising, "You really have an eye for beauty."

Qiao Xi looked at the string of zeros on the price tag and felt dizzy. Before she could react, Du Juan had already put it on her.

The teardrop-shaped sapphire pendant made Qiao Xi's skin look snow-white, and the dazzling light cast a halo around her.

"It suits you very well," Mrs. Huo admired with satisfaction.

Qiao Xi shook her head and said earnestly, biting her lip, "I should not refuse a gift from an elder, but you have already given me so many things, I cannot accept this necklace."

"Alright, you child..."

Mrs. Huo the Second looked at her regretfully and put the necklace back.

Seizing the opportunity, Qiao Xi voiced her questions, "Who exactly is that Master Cheng?" It seemed like all the wealthy people in Haicheng were looking for him.

Walking arm in arm, Mrs. Huo the Second explained as they walked, "Cheng Han, Master Cheng is a National Doctor, his acupuncture is nothing short of miraculous, specializing in difficult and complicated ailments. Whatever the disease, it's assured to be cured upon his treatment. It's just that he retired at the age of sixty, and no one knows where he is now, though it is said that he took a disciple."

If they couldn't find the master himself, finding a disciple of Cheng Han would be the next best thing.

Wealthy people valued their health more, and who didn't have the occasional headache or fever? In matters of life and death, befriending a renowned doctor was vital security.

Qiao Xi nodded after listening.

Her neighbor, Grandpa Cheng in the countryside, was also skilled in acupuncture, and she had learned the treatment for blocked leg meridians from him. For a moment, she entertained an absurd thought. But it was quickly dismissed by her.

Grandpa Cheng's real name wasn't Cheng Han.

They were not the same person. How could a National Doctor reside in the countryside?

"As long as we find Cheng Han, Xingzhou's..." Du Juan had yet to finish speaking when her phone began to vibrate. She released Qiao Xi's hand and answered the call.

"Hello."

Whatever the person on the other end said, Qiao Xi saw her expression change instantly, her complexion turning ashen.

"Let that bastard wait! I'm coming back immediately!"