It's So Hard to Soothe a Man

The questioning from him left Qiao Xi stunned.

She had never thought of using Huo Xingzhou's influence, especially since the Huo family's main branch was putting constant pressure on the second branch, which was already in a very difficult position.

"Qiao Xi, am I really that disappointing?"

"No, Mr. Huo," she replied hastily.

Qiao Xi wanted to explain herself, but she lacked experience in comforting men, and her words came out clumsily.

The elevator stopped on the 21st floor, and Huo Xingzhou controlled his wheelchair and moved forward without hesitation. Qiao Xi had to jog to catch up, entering the room right behind him.

"Mr. Huo!"

She blushed deeply and said, "You're so capable, how could you be disappointing! I was just afraid of troubling you!"

Huo Xingzhou turned his head and looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze. His eyes were filled with sincerity as he studied her.

"Mr. Huo, I'm just an ordinary person, and you are exceptional. Having any connection to me would only bring you trouble."

She had grown up in the countryside and had never seen such a noble, elegant man. To her, he was a life-saving straw, a kind-hearted person who allowed her to leave her rural home and see the bustling city.

He was someone precious, someone she cherished.

"I don't want people to gossip about you marrying a village girl. Since this marriage was always meant to end, how could it be a stain on your reputation?" Her voice was firm.

Huo Xingzhou gripped the sides of his wheelchair tightly, his blood rushing.

For a moment, everything was silent, and only the sound of his pounding heart echoed in his ears. Every cell in his body seemed to hum in sync with the beat.

His voice was hoarse when he spoke. "You say you're just a village girl, and I am a cripple, infertile. If they say a village girl should marry a cripple, who is truly more noble?"

"Mr. Huo..."

Qiao Xi stared at him in surprise.

"Qiao Xi, we are equals," Huo Xingzhou's typically sharp gaze softened. He could see the deep-seated insecurity in her, and it made him feel a bit sorry for her.

"I'm sorry," Qiao Xi mumbled.

"Can you get the ointment from the drawer?" he asked.

"Okay."

She quickly retrieved a tube of red ointment and handed it to him. Huo Xingzhou opened it, squeezed out the milky ointment, and glanced at her.

"Stretch out your hands."

Qiao Xi obediently extended her hands. The backs of her hands were marked with blood-red nail marks, where the middle-aged woman had scratched her.

The pain only hit her now that she relaxed.

Huo Xingzhou applied the ointment to her wounds, gently rubbing it in. It felt cool against her skin. Qiao Xi watched him, thinking, If there were no agreement... how wonderful it would be.

"Done."

He placed the ointment into her white coat pocket.

"Then... I'll go see Dr. Yan," he said.

"Go ahead," she replied.

He, too, had someone to settle accounts with.

As soon as Qiao Xi exited the room, she saw Director Wu bowing and fawning, with Wu Yachun nervously standing to the side.

"Qiao Xi, I didn't realize what a mistake I made. Please forgive me, you don't have to do any more manual labor. From now on, just follow Dr. Yan."

He was smiling obsequiously, his chubby face contorting with grease.

"I'm so sorry, Qiao Xi. It was all Ye Manman's fault. I'll avoid you from now on and never cause you trouble again," Wu Yachun was on the verge of tears.

Qiao Xi watched them silently, then said, "You're not even fit to be doctors. I have other things to do."

She bypassed them and left.

Tears hung on Wu Yachun's face. "Uncle, do you think... will she take revenge on us?"

Director Wu's face darkened. "She's not to be feared."

Before Wu Yachun could feel relieved, he added, "But Huo Xingzhou won't let us off."

That man was never easy to deal with.

...

At this moment, rumors about Qiao Xi were still spreading on Haicheng University's forum.

"Did you hear? Qiao Xi is probably going to be expelled from the City Hospital."

"She must have gotten her internship spot by selling her body. The school is investigating her and her supervisor. They might expel her."

"I don't believe there will be any reversal. It's set in stone."

"She looks so righteous, but who knows what she does behind closed doors. How many men has she been with?"

The discussions were heated.

Then, suddenly, Huo Sijiao posted a message with her real name!

As a Haicheng University graduate, her account had many followers.

She posted a photo.

It was a marriage certificate of Huo Xingzhou and Qiao Xi.

"As shown. Anyone who spreads rumors or slanders my sister-in-law will receive a court summons."

A strong warning!

"Huo Sijiao's sister-in-law is Qiao Xi?"

"Has the world gone mad? Is this a hallucination?"

"I suspected Qiao Xi was innocent, but I never imagined she married into a rich family!"

The whole school was shocked!

No one had expected that Qiao Xi was married to Huo Xingzhou.

The photos that had been posted were of a wealthy young lady's everyday life, changing luxury cars daily. She didn't need to seduce any older men.

Her intimate photos with her husband? That couldn't be considered being a mistress.

At worst, it was just some bedroom fun, but it was taken and posted to ruin her reputation.

The person who did this was truly disgusting!

"Who spread these rumors? Too cowardly to even post their name. They must be jealous of Qiao Xi."

"I didn't say anything, but the person who cursed her out the most in the posts will definitely be held responsible by the Huo family."

Ye Manman was in her dorm room, frantically scrolling through her phone, her eyes bloodshot, sweating in fear.

It couldn't be! The forum was anonymous.

They wouldn't know it was her.

Suddenly, the school released an announcement saying that the forum would be undergoing a technical upgrade, and all accounts would now be verified. The anonymous posts were now showing real names.

Ye Manman's name stood out prominently.

Her posts were vulgar and disgusting.

"Qiao Xi is a slut who tries to hook up with any man."

"She's a used-up whore."

Completely unbecoming of a college student.

"Ah!"

Ye Manman threw her phone down, letting out a desperate scream.

Her roommates stared at her with suspicion and disdain.

"Ye Manman, you've gone too far. What did Qiao Xi ever do to you? You've been friends for years, and you treated her this way."

"You even called my loan collection agency and leaked my contact list. You're not a rich girl, you borrow money to buy designer bags."

"You're a fraud!"

That same day, the school decided to expel Ye Manman.

She was like a rat running through the streets, everyone wanting to strike her down.

...

In the office of the president of Haicheng City People's Hospital.

Huo Xingzhou lazily leaned in his wheelchair, looking at the tea in front of him. "I'm a patient, why would I drink tea? Do you not have common sense?"

"If you don't want it, you can leave," Xu Xiuyuan said, his face serious.

"Xu Xiuyuan, you're in charge of the hospital administration. My people were bullied, and you're the hospital director. Aren't you going to do anything?" Huo Xingzhou's smile faded as he spoke.

"Wu Yachun will receive a record of disciplinary action, and Wu Ming will be demoted," Xu Xiuyuan set down his pen.

"That's not enough. They should work as manual laborers for a month to learn how to properly serve patients."

Huo Xingzhou wanted to take his anger out for Qiao Xi.

"That doesn't comply with the hospital's regulations."

"Regulations are dead, but you can be flexible."

"Huo Xingzhou, are you targeting them because you're helping Qiao Xi, or because you can't forget the past?" Xu Xiuyuan looked at him sharply.