Qiao Xi, I’m a Man

"Don't be shy; we've all been there."

Dujuan gently held her hand and said softly, "Maybe that's why Xingzhou is so eager to take his medicine and recover quickly."

"Exactly. We can't let such a young and beautiful lady live like a widow, can we? Once Dr. Zhuo cures the young master, they'll be having babies in no time—two in three years, at least. I'd love to help take care of them," Aunt Qian chimed in without hesitation, given her close relationship with the Huo family.

Qiao Xi's ears buzzed, and she barely registered their conversation. Memories of that night flashed in her mind like fragmented shards, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.

The low, hurried breathing close to her ear. The searing warmth of roaming hands.

Was it all real?

Qiao Xi stood frozen in place, her legs as heavy as lead.

"Darling, it's getting late. Let's go home," Huo Jiancheng called from the stairway.

Dujuan rose to her feet, gently patting Qiao Xi's shoulder. "Now that I think about it calmly, you and Xingzhou aren't impulsive people. Tonight... we may have overreacted."

She spoke out of a mother's deep concern for her son.

Qiao Xi shook her head lightly and murmured, "No."

"Get some rest. We'll head out first," Dujuan said, linking arms with Huo Jiancheng as they walked toward the door, Aunt Qian following to see them off.

Outside the house.

Huo Jiancheng tried to be helpful. "That brat confessed everything to me. The pills were brought by Zhou Yu; it had nothing to do with him."

"I see."

Dujuan sighed, her exhaustion evident as she opened the car door.

Huo Jiancheng extended his hand. "Why don't you leave that stuff to me? I heard it's effective—don't let it go to waste."

"Huo Jiancheng, do you want to die?"

Dujuan glared at him, her cheeks flushing crimson.

"Well... it wouldn't be the first time," he muttered under his breath. "You were pretty happy with it before, too."

In the living room.

Qiao Xi patted her burning cheeks and slowly made her way upstairs.

When she reached Huo Xingzhou's door, she hesitated, pacing back and forth as if a heavy weight pressed on her chest.

"You've probably stomped all the ants at the doorway to death by now. Why not just come in?" The man's deep voice came from inside.

Startled, Qiao Xi resigned herself and pushed the door open.

"Aunt Qian keeps the house spotless. There aren't any ants," she said softly.

"Immaculate, indeed," Huo Xingzhou replied with a faint trace of complaint.

Walking to the bed, Qiao Xi noticed he had changed into a set of cotton pajamas. Her gaze drifted involuntarily to his neck, where the faint marks were barely visible.

"Why is your face so red?" Huo Xingzhou asked casually, glancing at her.

"Mr. Huo..." Qiao Xi bit her lip. "That night, I was drunk..."

The moment she spoke, Huo Xingzhou understood. There was no hiding the truth about that night anymore.

"Oh? Is the little miracle doctor referring to the matter of subcutaneous bruising?"

He looked at her with a playful, knowing smile.

Qiao Xi was mortified.

"When I'm drunk, I forget things. Did we... do something?" Her bright eyes were clouded with shame and doubt.

"Are you worried I took advantage of you?" Huo Xingzhou asked back.

"No! Mr. Huo, I'm afraid I might have done something inappropriate and made you uncomfortable," Qiao Xi hurried to explain.

Huo Xingzhou's sharp, unruly features softened with amusement. "You just got a little wild. Something minor happened. Don't worry about it—I'm not holding it against you."

If he kept teasing her, she'd be too embarrassed to face him.

How would they interact from now on?

"Really? Just me acting drunk?" Qiao Xi cautiously confirmed.

"What, did you think you hugged me, kissed me, and took me by force?" Huo Xingzhou said with unsettling calm. "Qiao Xi, I am still a man, you know."

He poked her forehead with his finger and added, "Stop filling that little head of yours with nonsense. We have a signed agreement, remember?"

Relieved, Qiao Xi's face lit up with a smile.

"Right! We have a signed agreement." She deliberately brushed aside the events of that night. Since Mr. Huo wasn't bothered, why should she dwell on it?

The laughter in Huo Xingzhou's eyes faded. "Have you been drunk before?"

"In the countryside, I had some medicinal wine. Just a little sip here and there." She had a low tolerance for alcohol, but Grandpa Cheng and...

Shaking off the memory, Qiao Xi looked at Huo Xingzhou. "Next time, I'll bring you some. Those wines are great for replenishing energy and blood, made with top-notch herbs."

"Alright."

"It's late. Goodnight, Mr. Huo."

"Go rest."

Qiao Xi left the master bedroom with light steps.

Huo Xingzhou chuckled softly to himself. He was never one to be lenient, so why couldn't he bear to make things hard for her?

A phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts.

An unfamiliar number.

Huo Xingzhou answered it, only to hear Zhou Yu's loud voice on the other end. "Huo Xingzhou! Why did you block all my numbers? What did I do to offend you?"

"You offended my entire family."

With that, Huo Xingzhou hung up and added another number to the blocklist.

"You're insane, Huo Xingzhou! I worked my butt off for you..." Zhou Yu protested indignantly, but the call didn't go through again.

"Unbelievable! What a heartless jerk. I quit! I'm done being the COO of Tianyuan Group!"

Late at night.

At the First People's Hospital of Haicheng, in a high-end ward.

The room was a mess.

"Thirty-five million! He's mocking me!" Huo Beiting, dressed in hospital garb, stomped around the room, smashing things while Su Weiwei cowered in a corner, trembling.

"Huo Xingzhou, that cripple, is laughing at me! He's doing it on purpose!"

Crash!

He shattered another bedside lamp.

"Beiting, calm down. No one knew it was fake at first," Su Weiwei said shakily, trying to console him.

Huo Beiting's eyes were dark and menacing as he approached her.

"Why are you even wearing jade? Do you think you deserve it? Are you mocking me too?" He yanked the jade bracelet off her wrist and threw it to the ground.

The million-dollar bracelet shattered into pieces.

"I wasn't! I swear I wasn't!"

Su Weiwei was terrified.

The ward door opened, and a nurse peeked in, speaking softly. "Please keep it down. Other patients have filed complaints. You'll have to pay for any damages."

"Pay? I've got plenty of money! Get out!"

He was in a rage, completely devoid of decorum.

"Still here? Get out!"

"What about me? Should I leave too?" A deep voice rang out as Huo Jianjun stepped inside, his face cold. "You disgraceful fool."

"Dad, why are you here?"

Huo Beiting let go, a nervous flutter in his chest.

"Su Weiwei, head home first."

"Yes, Uncle."

Grateful for the escape, Su Weiwei scurried out.

Huo Jianjun closed the door with a frown.

"Thirty-five million, and you lose your composure? Your grandfather is furious about this!" he snapped. "Idiot. Once you inherit the Huo Group, thirty-five million will mean nothing!"

"It's all Huo Xingzhou's fault! He must have known the painting was fake!" Huo Beiting spat venomously. "If only he'd died in that car accident! Who knew he'd wake up?"

Slap!

Huo Jianjun delivered a sharp slap across his face.

"I told you—never bring that up again!"