Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him
Chapter 356: Can I Call You Ayi?

Chapter 356: Chapter 356: Can I Call You Ayi?

Xiang Mingzhu wasn’t simply inviting a man for coffee.

She had other ideas in mind, hoping to get closer to him somehow, striving to occupy a more significant place in Zhong Yi’s heart. Once in the Imperial Capital, Zhong Yi would lean more towards her between Lu Yingxue and herself.

Xiang Mingzhu’s eyes brimmed with a spring charm, as if carrying little hooks.

She indeed possessed a certain allure, different from Lu Yingxue’s extraordinary elegance; they were two different types.

Zhong Yi glanced at her and withdrew his sleeve.

"It’s late, won’t you have trouble sleeping if you drink coffee now?"

Xiang Mingzhu was not ready to give up and said, "If I can’t sleep, we could talk. The events of today have left me quite distressed; I fear I won’t be able to fall asleep."

Zhong Yi seemed quite unresponsive to romance, "I can sleep; I’ll pass on the coffee."

He had accomplished his goal for the day and saw no need to continue the charade with her.

Acting the whole day, he was almost sick of it.

"Young Master Zhong..."

Xiang Mingzhu drew out her words, her tone tinged with coquettishness.

Even Wan Jiang, seated in the front row, felt goosebumps rise; the overbearing Xiang Mingzhu was like a cuddly wildcat in front of Young Master Zhong. Young Master Zhong was indeed strong!

Zhong Yi said coldly, "Miss Xiang, you’d better return to the hotel. Our affair is still not in the open, and it wouldn’t be good to alert the Lu Family. You wouldn’t want any mishap at this juncture, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Mingzhu found it sensible.

In reality, she was inclined towards a shotgun marriage; when the time came, the Lu Family would have to agree, willing or not. She and Lu Yingxue were good sisters, but she had always felt slightly unwilling at being overshadowed by her from childhood.

"Mingzhu."

Zhong Yi patiently looked at her.

His eyes rippled with a hint of clear waves, focused intently on Xiang Mingzhu. Anyone he sought to please could not resist.

Xiang Mingzhu flushed with his gaze on her.

Especially upon hearing him call her name so affectionately, it felt like any price could be paid.

"Once you come out on top at the medical competition, I will marry you."

He spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of tender sentiment.

Xiang Mingzhu’s heart pounded like a drum, but she still retained some rationality, "But the medical competition is full of masters, not to mention Lu Yingxue, even the top three from ten years ago might be hard for me to surpass. How can I..."

Zhong Yi extended a hand, his cool fingertips gently touching her back, making Xiang Mingzhu feel as if she had been electrified.

"Mingzhu, you must give to receive. I believe in your ability, you will surely take first place at the medical competition, surpassing Lu Yingxue. Then my marrying you will be met without objections, right?"

This unfounded trust made Xiang Mingzhu’s heartbeat erratic.

Her hormones surged, flooding her mind with numerous thoughts.

In medical skills, she truly was no match for Lu Yingxue. However, in such competitions, one could still play tricks, and she had a close relationship with Lu Yingxue, which meant opportunities.

She looked at Zhong Yi, "Young Master Zhong, do you mean what you say?"

Zhong Yi spoke softly, "The Dragon and Phoenix Happiness Pendant is with you."

Xiang Mingzhu’s head bowed, her lips sweetly curving into a smile, "Young Master Zhong, I understand your feelings. May... may I call you Ayi?"

"No."

Zhong Yi rejected her mercilessly, confronting her astonished eyes, "The way we address each other must remain distant to avoid ruining our efforts. What if you get used to it and accidentally slip in front of others? Given your current family background and status, my family’s Patriarch won’t agree to our marriage. You must win the medical competition, he is a person who holds Chinese medicine in the highest regard."

Xiang Mingzhu nodded, "Okay."

"Get off quickly and return to the hotel."

Zhong Yi was becoming impatient.

Xiang Mingzhu was compliant, she opened the car door and gently said, "Goodnight, Young Master Zhong."

Her steps were light as she walked towards the hotel.

Zhong Yi’s face changed in the next second, turning cold as ice.

Wan Jiang coughed twice and said, "Young Master Zhong, are you and Miss Xiang seriously involved? I’m quite confused here." He offered sweet words sincerely, leaving the woman bewildered.

Zhong Yi leaned back in the rear seat, his voice icy, "Don’t meddle."

"Oh, alright."

Zhong Yi took a deep breath, squinting his eyes slightly.

In his mind, he vaguely remembered the loving old grandmother from the neighboring yard, Qiao Xi’s grandmother who had treated him like her own. But both the Xiang Family and the Lu Family were responsible for her death.

No one would escape.

Time would tell.

Wan Jiang glanced at him through the rearview mirror, holding back his words.

He always felt that Young Master Zhong had many secrets, and his past before returning to the Zhong Family intrigued him even more. Surely he wasn’t alone in his curiosity; many wanted to dig into his past to find vulnerabilities to control him.

Particularly the eldest young master.

His past must be related to Miss Qiao.

Wan Jiang felt as if he, too, bore a heavy secret, one that could lead to his silence if he slipped up.

Was he now considered one of Young Master Zhong’s own?

"Wan Jiang, go to the hotel and keep an eye on Xiang Mingzhu. Report any movements."

"Understood, Young Master Zhong."

...

At the Huo Family’s small villa.

Qiao Xi and Huo Xingzhou were warmly welcomed by Aunt Qian upon their return.

"Young Madam hasn’t eaten much today, start with some warming soup to line your stomach. I’ve also made a few signature dishes. Eat up. Today is a good day; let me go get a bottle of wine from the cabinet."

Aunt Qian took a bottle of medicinal wine that Qiao Xi had brought from the countryside and placed it before the two.

"Such a good day should be celebrated properly."

She poured wine for both of them, "Medicinal wine is good for the body. Sometimes I sneak a drink of the medicinal wine Young Madam brought, and it warms my hands and feet, makes me feel less tired from work."

"If you like it, I’ll bring more from the village next time," Qiao Xi said softly.

Mentioning going back to the village made her hesitant.

The village used to have Grandpa Cheng and Grandma living there, but now they were gone. She didn’t even know what she would do if she returned, perhaps choose a day to commemorate Ayi’s death and pay her respects.

To tell him that she really did achieve what she bragged about as a child, and took part in the medical practitioners’ competition.

Qiao Xi took a sip from her glass. After sitting for a while, the medicinal wine wasn’t so strong, and it even had a refreshing sweetness.

She couldn’t resist and drank a little more than intended, enjoying it alongside Aunt Qian’s special dishes.

Huo Xingzhou watched her but didn’t say much, just waited for her to get tipsy before helping her wash up and lay down.

"I’m not sleepy yet, I want to read the medical book. The competitors are all very strong, and the test is entirely on the fundamentals of traditional medicine. I need to review some more..."

"I’ll have Aunt Qian and Old Chen move your medical books to the study, alright?" Huo Xingzhou wished he could turn his head to see her even when he was working.

"Mm-hmm."

Qiao Xi’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes heavy with fatigue as she lay on the bed.

Huo Xingzhou stood by the bed for a moment, his suit pocket buzzing with vibration. His brow furrowed, he pulled out his phone to see it was Zhou Yu calling.

So he left the master bedroom, walking out onto the long corridor.

As soon as the call connected,

Zhou Yu said eagerly, "Huo Er, when finalizing the accounts, I noticed something odd with Shen Xuanzhi’s. He’s had two large sums credited to his account in a short period."

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