They Must Have Consummated Their Marriage

Qiao Xi glanced at Xu Xiuyuan, her heart reluctant to engage more with him. However, since he was technically her superior, she had no choice but to nod.

"Alright."

Xu Xiuyuan exited the office first, with Qiao Xi following close behind.

"Dean Xu, what do you need from me?" Qiao Xi asked softly.

The hallway was bustling with people. Many turned to glance at them as they passed.

Unfazed, Xu Xiuyuan broke the silence, saying, "The decision to suspend you earlier was to quell the public's reaction. I owe you an apology for making you suffer without verifying the facts first. I'm sorry."

Qiao Xi pressed her lips together and replied, "That was standard procedure. It's not your fault."

"Still, I owed you this apology." His usually stern face softened slightly.

Qiao Xi looked at him, finding him somewhat more approachable.

"Then I accept your apology," she said.

Xu Xiuyuan felt a weight lift off his chest. He reached into the pocket of his suit and handed her a meticulously crafted invitation. "This is from my grandmother. She asked me to give it to you—an invitation to the Liu family's full-moon banquet. My aunt's childbirth went smoothly, all thanks to your help."

"I..."

Qiao Xi looked at the handwritten invitation, sensing the formality behind it. Still, she hesitated.

"An occasion like this is usually for family. I don't think it's appropriate for me to attend," she said tactfully.

"The Liu family also sent one to the Huo family. Huo Xingzhou has already agreed to attend," Xu Xiuyuan added, addressing her concerns with a compelling reason.

He placed the invitation firmly into her hand.

Qiao Xi held the invitation but said no more about declining it.

Xu Xiuyuan fixed his gaze on her for several moments before finally leaving.

In truth, Qiao Xi bore only a faint resemblance to his late sister. The longer he looked, the more he found Qiao Xi's demeanor pleasing. Perhaps, he mused, the sister he'd once dreamed of having would have been just as gentle and obedient as Qiao Xi—not someone who feigned fragility to manipulate the family for affection.

Qiao Xi placed the invitation in her locker before assisting Dr. Yan with consultations.

The morning was a whirlwind of patients, leaving her tired even though she was only helping call patients' names.

By noon, Shu Xue invited her out for lunch.

"Let's go! Let's treat ourselves to something nice," Shu Xue said enthusiastically, linking arms with Qiao Xi. "We'll eat at the mall today. We've got two hours for lunch, so let's celebrate your return to work."

"That might be too much trouble," Qiao Xi replied modestly.

Her popularity had risen lately, but she remained as frugal as ever, unchanged from before.

"Nonsense! It's my treat!"

Shu Xue declared generously, adding, "You don't know how generous your husband is. Not only did he compensate me with a new phone, but he even asked if I needed a house as a reward! I was stunned—so this is how rich people operate."

"A house?" Qiao Xi was equally surprised.

"At the time, I didn't dare accept, but I still regret it when I think about it," Shu Xue joked.

Of course, she would never actually take the offer; she wouldn't feel at ease living in a house given to her.

Qiao Xi covered her mouth, laughing out loud.

Her heart was filled with sweetness and joy. Mr. Huo was simply adorable.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a large screen in the mall displaying an ad featuring the internationally acclaimed ballerina Xu Xingluo.

Lately, it seemed like everywhere she went, there were interviews and advertisements featuring Xu Xingluo.

Following Qiao Xi's gaze, Shu Xue remarked, "She's just a ballerina, but she's treated like a celebrity. Even third-tier stars don't promote themselves as much as she does."

"What do you mean?" Qiao Xi asked, puzzled.

"To me, true artists should be dedicated and solitary, not always seeking the spotlight. She's been hyping up her return to Haicheng for half a month now. Look, her arrival time is even announced."

Qiao Xi glanced at the screen, which confirmed her return that very evening.

The performance, however, was still a week away.

"Maybe she's just naturally popular," Qiao Xi speculated. "Some people have a magnetic charm."

Shu Xue pouted, a tinge of envy in her tone. "She's just lucky! Her brother is the administrative dean at Haicheng Hospital, her father is the head of the Xu family, and her mother is a daughter of the Liu family. Do you have any idea how influential the Liu family is? They say, 'In the capital, it's the Zhong family; in Haicheng, it's the Liu family.' The Liu family isn't even in the same league as your husband."

The Liu family had deep, far-reaching political ties, making them the pinnacle of power.

Meanwhile, Huo Xingzhou's fortune came from the business world—a comparison between the two was impossible.

Qiao Xi quietly repeated to herself, "In the capital, it's the Zhong family; in Haicheng, it's the Liu family."

The phrase felt familiar as if she had heard it before.

"Let's not let irrelevant people ruin our meal," Shu Xue said.

"Alright," Qiao Xi agreed, following Shu Xue without a trace of the arrogance one might expect from a distinguished medical lineage.

This only made Shu Xue more delighted.

That evening, the driver, Old Chen, drove Qiao Xi home.

As soon as she entered the living room, she overheard Aunt Qian on the phone in the kitchen. The door wasn't fully closed, so her voice carried clearly.

Just as Qiao Xi was about to greet her, she saw a man descending the stairs.

"Mr. Huo..." she murmured.

Huo Xingzhou nodded slightly and approached her, placing a finger to his lips to signal silence.

Qiao Xi obediently remained quiet, listening as the sound from the kitchen grew louder.

Aunt Qian chuckled over the phone. "Yes! I saw it—completely torn!"

Qiao Xi looked at Huo Xingzhou in confusion, unsure what Aunt Qian was referring to.

His expression remained calm, though his eyes were particularly dark.

Then Aunt Qian elaborated loudly, "They must have consummated their marriage! I even saw it in the trash this morning. But that brand he used—I've never heard of it. I'm worried it's some unregulated product. I'm thinking of buying a proper brand to stock in the drawer."

"It'd be best if they don't use contraceptives. Their baby would be so beautiful. I bet the young master is quite capable. Madam doesn't need to worry."

"Just look at how often Young Master Sun is mentioned in Haicheng! If Madam has some secret remedy, wouldn't she prioritize helping the young master first? They've probably been secretly together for ages but are too shy to tell the elders!"

At this point, Qiao Xi finally understood.

It was all because of that torn TaTa Le package from last night.

Aunt Qian had jumped to the conclusion that she and Mr. Huo had been intimate.

Blushing furiously, Qiao Xi felt her face heat up under the man's steady gaze. She swallowed nervously and whispered, "Should I explain this to Aunt Qian?"

"What would the little doctor explain? That I didn't touch you because I couldn't, or that I opened TaTa Le and still restrained myself?"

Either way, it was a no-win situation.

Qiao Xi was thoroughly embarrassed.

Just then, Aunt Qian came out of the kitchen after ending her call, looking completely unbothered and cheerful.

"Young Master, Young Madam, dinner is ready. I made stir-fried eggs with chives, cold wood ear salad, and wolfberry kidney soup. Let me know if there's anything else you'd like!"

The menu was certainly... thoughtful.

Qiao Xi shyly looked toward Huo Xingzhou.

The corner of his mouth curved slightly into a smile, just as his phone vibrated in his suit pocket.