Only One of Them Can Live—Her or Qiao Xi

Huo Xingzhou's voice was hoarse as he asked, "How are you going to help me?"

"With your body?"

Qiao Xi could feel the overwhelming pressure of the man before her. Gently, she pushed against him and said, "Please let go of me first."

But his hand remained firmly clasped around her slim waist, like an iron shackle.

Afraid she'd escape.

"If I let go, you'll run away," he said coolly.

"I won't!"

Qiao Xi's face flushed as she hastily explained, "How could I be that kind of person?"

"You know what kind of drug I've been affected by, Qiao Xi, and you know exactly what I need," he said, looking at her intently, his gaze full of implication.

Pretending not to understand was impossible.

Taking a deep breath, Qiao Xi said, "I know. I'll help you. But first, let go of my hands."

Huo Xingzhou slowly loosened his grip as if he believed her words.

Relieved, Qiao Xi seized the chance to roll off the bed. From underneath, she pulled out a medical kit.

Opening the box revealed a row of golden needles gleaming coldly.

"I can use acupuncture to disperse the toxin," she said, holding one of the needles with a serious expression.

Huo Xingzhou closed his eyes slightly, as if resigned to his fate. "Fine."

Qiao Xi removed his coat, unbuttoned his shirt, and located the acupoint before inserting a needle.

For such stimulating drugs, releasing the heat would solve the problem.

One needle. Then another.

"Mr. Huo, how do you feel now?" she asked.

Huo Xingzhou slowly opened his eyes, turning to look at her. "If you didn't know acupuncture, how would you have saved me?"

His gaze burned.

Nervously, Qiao Xi swallowed.

"I... I'd take you to the hospital, I guess."

"The hospital, huh?"

A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "This kind of issue at a hospital—pretty embarrassing, don't you think?"

"Hospitals protect patient privacy," Qiao Xi feebly argued.

"But those spying on me don't care about privacy," he countered, closing the distance.

Qiao Xi's eyes darted to the ripped packaging on the bed—a certain herbal product. She recognized it. It was the one she had brought back from the countryside.

So he... had actually considered using that?

Her throat went dry as she stammered, "None of this matters because I do know acupuncture, and I did administer the needles."

Huo Xingzhou, his shirt open, looked at her with a smirk.

Nothing could be pried from her lips, no matter what.

"Well then, Mr. Huo, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to my room to rest."

Without waiting for a reply, she fled.

Huo Xingzhou's gaze darkened as he watched her retreating figure.

That night, chaos erupted in the Su household.

Pointing at Su Weiwei, Su Heng roared, "Do you have any shame left? What exactly happened tonight? Explain yourself clearly!"

He, Su Heng, had never been humiliated so badly.

How could they show their faces in Haicheng after this? Imagining the gossip, his blood boiled.

Zhao Yuzhen sat to the side, coldly cradling the illegitimate child in her arms, a mocking smile on her lips.

Watching this father-daughter duo suffer—this was karma.

Crying even harder, Su Weiwei choked out, "I bought that drug, intending to put it in the soup meant for Huo Xingzhou and Qiao Xi. I wanted to... make something happen between us in public and ruin that country girl's reputation!"

"But I didn't expect Mo Jiajun to find out. Somehow, he turned it on me and drugged me instead."

She clutched her face, sobbing.

"I didn't want this! Dad, help me! Tell me what to do!"

Her life was ruined.

All because of that country bumpkin!

Suppressing his fury, Su Heng's face turned dark. "Didn't I warn you not to go after Huo Xingzhou? He's not someone we can afford to mess with."

"But I'm not willing to let go! That man should have been mine. Qiao Xi stole everything from me!"

Still, she blamed Qiao Xi.

A slap rang out as Su Heng struck her, sending her to the ground.

"Wake up!" he bellowed.

Crying on the floor, Su Weiwei was a pitiful sight.

"You..." Su Heng let out a frustrated sigh before saying, "The best solution now is for you to marry Mo Jiajun. A family alliance is the only way."

He wanted to salvage what he could.

"I won't! I don't want to marry him!"

"Can't you see the situation, Su Weiwei? It's no longer your choice—it's whether Mo Jiajun will even have you!" he shouted, remembering Mo Jiajun's public rejection.

That libertine had the gall to be choosy!

Leaning on a chair, Su Heng tried to catch his breath.

Zhao Yuzhen, having seen enough drama, walked over with the illegitimate son in her arms. "Dear, look how well-behaved Fengfeng is."

The child slept soundly, inheriting his mother's good looks—fair and delicate.

"Dear, Weiwei didn't mean any harm. If all else fails, send her abroad. When things blow over in a few years, no one will remember."

Though she once cared for Su Weiwei, Zhao Yuzhen was done with her antics. Now, she only wanted her gone so her illegitimate child could stay.

If she got pregnant later, she'd deal with the illegitimate child then. If not, she'd keep raising him to bond as mother and son.

Either way, Su family's future would remain hers.

Su Heng's anger subsided as he looked at his son.

The Su family still had a son, after all!

Feeling reassured, he nodded at Zhao Yuzhen. "You're right."

Su Weiwei glared at them in hatred and despair. "Dad, you're really sending me abroad? Zhao Yuzhen just wants to get rid of me with that bastard's help!"

"Watch your words, Su Weiwei! She's your stepmother, and that's your brother!"

Su Heng had made his decision. "If Mo Jiajun accepts the engagement, you'll marry him. If not, you're going abroad!"

He then left, arm in arm with Zhao Yuzhen and their son, not sparing Su Weiwei another glance.

Collapsing to the floor, Su Weiwei sobbed uncontrollably.

How had it come to this?

Not long ago, she was the glamorous fiancée of the Huo family's eldest son, adored by all.

Before Qiao Xi arrived, she had been the Su family's cherished princess, basking in everyone's admiration.

It was all because of that wretched star!

Qiao Xi was her nemesis, her curse!

They were destined to be mortal enemies—only one could survive.

With bloodshot eyes filled with hatred, Su Weiwei let out a manic laugh.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with an incoming message.

Looking at the content, her hands began to tremble, her face turning deathly pale.