Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him
Chapter 381 The Sun Rises from the West

Chapter 381: Chapter 381 The Sun Rises from the West

Xiang Mingzhu couldn’t bear the loss of face.

But thinking of Zhong Yi’s words that seemed like a warning yet also a piece of advice, she had no choice. If she angered Zhong Yi, she would gain no benefits.

Moreover, she hoped that Zhong Yi would be a bit happier.

Because she admired him.

"Qiao Xi."

Xiang Mingzhu’s tone was slightly cold, "I apologize for belittling your background before."

Qiao Xi looked at Xiang Mingzhu in surprise.

This was like the sun rising from the west, Xiang Mingzhu actually apologizing to her. After losing the preliminary selection at the embroidery convention, her apology was reluctant, and it took her a long time to utter those begrudging words.

What happened now?

"Qiao Xi, I never admit that I lost to you. Let’s compete again in the finals, I don’t believe you can win once more. It’s right for me to apologize to you for speaking out of turn during your birthday celebration today. But not because of you..."

She glanced at Young Master Zhong.

Qiao Xi understood.

She was apologizing because of Young Master Zhong’s face.

Perhaps because Young Master Zhong and Huo Xingzhou had a cooperation project, Zhong Yi was all that Xiang Mingzhu cared about; she had to apologize to please him.

How peculiar.

Love really can make a proud person lower their head.

Qiao Xi was sure that Xiang Mingzhu hated her to the bone.

"I accept your apology," she said softly, "and I accept your challenge as well. What the outcome will be at the competition in Imperial Capital, you don’t get to decide. If I could win against you once, it is also possible for me to win a second time."

"Impossible!"

Xiang Mingzhu refuted with a cold face, "I won’t give you another chance."

She wanted to be the champion!

Not just Qiao Xi, even Lu Yingxue could not beat her.

She was determined to win the competition and marry Zhong Yi at the height of her glory!

"Then we’ll just have to wait and see."

"Farewell."

Zhong Yi and Xiang Mingzhu left one after the other, as if they had just come to offer a simple apology.

Qiao Xi didn’t take it to heart; she, holding Huo Xingzhou’s hand, toasted all the guests in turn before finally ending the event. The cake for her birthday party had been cut in advance, so there was no need to stay busy until the early hours of the morning.

They were to tidy up the cruise ship tonight and would return to the small villa in the city to spend the night.

The guests gradually dispersed.

Du Juan and Huo Jiancheng insisted on staying behind to do the cleanup, letting Qiao Xi and Huo Xingzhou head back to the city to rest first. After a busy day, the couple deserved some time alone.

...

The night was thick.

Accompanied by two bodyguards, Xu Xingluo was preparing to leave the cruise ship; Xu Yunye was right by her side.

Xu Xingluo’s voice was hoarse: "Xu Yunye, you really hate me, don’t you? Even when you didn’t know that Qiao Xi was related to you by blood, you treated her better than you did me."

It was sad to be so despised by everyone.

Xu Yunye’s delicate features were extremely cold, his eyes dark: "Good you know. Who would like you and your father? You and Xu Guangyao are nothing but bloodsuckers crawling out of a gutter."

"You just like Qiao Xi, then."

Xu Xingluo wiped her tears, "Today is Qiao Xi’s chosen birthday, do you think Huo Xingzhou will always remember this day? Remember it every year."

She smiled brightly yet eerily.

Xu Yunye frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

"If Huo Xingzhou remembers Qiao Xi’s birthday, then he will certainly also remember today as my..." Death anniversary.

As she stepped towards the gangway, she took advantage of Xu Yunye’s distraction to push him away with one swift motion. The bodyguards prioritized protecting Xu Yunye, and Xu Xingluo flipped over the cruise ship’s railing.

She took a leap.

The night wind was cold.

Her hair was whipped into disarray.

Xu Xingluo’s tears kept falling as the sensation of weightlessness almost made her soul flutter away. She curled the corners of her mouth into a faint smile.

She really regretted it.

Regretted not staying in Haicheng to support Huo Xingzhou through the tough times during the car accident.

Regretted choosing to help Xu Guangyao conceal her identity when she found out who she was.

She also regretted, ten years ago, assuming another girl’s identity to claim the life-saving favor.

Everything was predestined.

Even the Heavens couldn’t stand it, so they sent Qiao Xi in front of her.

Bang!

Xu Xingluo fell into the sea, her consciousness dissipating.

The cold, salty water engulfed her.

Xu Xingluo’s eyes were wide open as she gazed at the moon above the sea, her pupils dilating.

Huo Xingzhou, as you wished.

Your moon will hang forever unchanged, while the star that falls is always me, burdened by sin. But when you look up at the moon, could you spare a glance for the stars scattered by its side?

"Xu Xingluo!"

Xu Yunye leaned over and shouted, "Xu Xingluo!"

"Get in the water and bring her back!"

His first thought was that it was Xu Xingluo’s trickery; she wanted to run away again. It wasn’t until he observed the deep sea slowly blushing with a faint trace of blood.

Slowly consumed by the waves, coldness crept up his back.

The cruise ship’s crew sprang into action, diving into the sea to retrieve her. The wind and waves were not very strong at night, and Xu Xingluo had not drifted far.

"Second Young Master."

The bodyguard whispered, "She is already dead."

"There are too many rocks in the shallow sea area. She hit her head on the rocks when she fell, dying instantly. We’ve already brought the body back up. What should we do next?"

Xu Yunye walked over slowly and looked at Xu Xingluo, who lay lifeless on the stretcher under the night sky.

Just a second ago, she had been speaking to him.

His trembling fingers spoke, "Take her to the funeral home, and arrange a simple ceremony at a public cemetery."

The air he breathed in was cold.

Xu Xingluo had died cleanly, planning her death on Qiao Xi’s birthday. She wanted Huo Xingzhou to remember this day, when each year he celebrated Qiao Xi’s birthday, it would also mark her death anniversary.

Annoying in life, she aimed to disgust even in death.

...

Elsewhere.

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom passed through the bustling downtown area, heading towards the Huo Family’s villa. Old Chen drove steadily while Zhou Yu sat in the passenger seat, having just ended a phone call.

He looked quite upset.

He glanced at Huo Xingzhou and Qiao Xi in the back seat through the rearview mirror, hesitating to speak.

Huo Xingzhou’s eyes flickered slightly, "What is it?"

Qiao Xi leaned in his arms, sleepy. She was exhausted from the day’s work. The car ride made her drowsy. Now, roused by the noise in the car, she struggled to open her heavy eyelids to look at Zhou Yu.

With a grave expression, Zhou Yu said, "Xu Xingluo is dead."

"We just got the news from the cruise. Xu Xingluo jumped into the sea and committed suicide. Xu Yunye personally confirmed it." Zhou Yu harbored even darker suspicions in his heart.

Xu Yunye and Xu Xingluo had a poor relationship; could a few bodyguards not keep an eye on Xu Xingluo?

Was it that Xu Yunye deliberately neglected her, or was it... a coincidence?

Either way, the news was shocking.

"Xu Xingluo is dead, and Xu Yunye plans to handle her funeral simply. Meanwhile, our people have already taken control of Xu Xingluo’s former influence; they can’t cause any more trouble now."

It was finally resolving a potential threat.

Zhou Yu complained, "I think Xu Xingluo did it on purpose. She said some inexplicable things in her room, asking if you would remember her if she died. And then, she chose such a day..."

"Zhou Yu."

Huo Xingzhou called out, interrupting his complaint.

Zhou Yu glanced cautiously back at Qiao Xi’s complexion, softly saying, "Sorry, Sister-in-law."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.