Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him
Chapter 474: Qiao Xi, Are You Pregnant?

Chapter 474: Chapter 474: Qiao Xi, Are You Pregnant?

Li Nianqi’s cheeks swelled up red as she clumsily picked up the shattered tea cup pieces from the ground, cutting her finger in the process and instantly bleeding.

"Hisss!"

Li Nianqi sucked in pain.

Old Madam Li hurriedly shouted, "Stop picking those up, let the servants clean it up. You’re an adult, how can you still scald yourself while drinking tea? Why not go treat it right away?"

"It’s fine, I’ll just apply some ointment."

Li Nianqi pulled out a drawer from the living room coffee table and dabbed on some ointment. Then she turned and stealthily glanced at Huo Xingzhou. What was that just now?

Qiao Xi held a piece of pastry in her hand, her eyes sweeping suspiciously over Li Nianqi when she noticed her subtle movement, then turned to look at Huo Xingzhou.

Huo Xingzhou’s eyes carried a hint of a smile, calmly meeting her gaze and even blinked.

Something wasn’t right!

How could Li Nianqi scald her hand out of nowhere?

Moreover, she was dressed exquisitely today, wearing around her neck a very expensive Imperial Green Bead Necklace.

She seemed to be wearing it at the birthday party last night too.

Qiao Xi absentmindedly bit into her pastry.

Her brow furrowed slightly, a wave of nausea hitting her.

Qiao Xi instinctively covered her lips, "Ugh."

Old Madam Li looked at her, her face uncertain, "Is this... are you pregnant? That’s wonderful news."

Pregnant?

Li Nianqi didn’t even care to bandage her wound anymore, her eyes burning furiously as she stared at Qiao Xi.

How could she be pregnant with Huo Xingzhou’s child!

Huo Xingzhou stood up, pulling out a tissue to wipe the corner of Qiao Xi’s mouth as he said, "She’s not pregnant, the timing doesn’t match."

Li Nianqi, in her jealousy, spoke without thinking, muttering, "Maybe it’s someone else’s."

Old Madam Li’s face turned ashen, "Nianqi, what nonsense are you talking about? Apologize to Mr. Huo and Qiao Xi this instant."

Old Madam Li always prided herself on the Li Family’s good upbringing and proper manners.

Yet Li Nianqi had repeatedly spoken rudely to Qiao Xi, seemingly targeting her.

Li Nianqi pouted, her voice thin and guilty, "I... I didn’t mean it, it just slipped out. I’m sorry..."

Her apology, lacking any sincerity.

Qiao Xi’s expression was cold, "My nausea was caused by this pastry. Upon tasting it, I realized it was made with sheep’s milk and even mixed with cheese. I’m not used to such a sour and salty flavor."

Old Madam Li hurriedly explained, "This is sheep milk cheese, kind of a novelty here. Thought you might like to try it, didn’t realize you wouldn’t like the taste."

Li Nianqi smirked as if unconvinced.

Qiao Xi’s expression grew colder, about to speak when Huo Xingzhou held her hand.

The man shook his head slightly, signaling her not to talk, Qiao Xi shut her mouth but not before hearing Huo Xingzhou speak up.

His eyes as dark as the night sky, brooding, "Once might slip out, but what about the second time?"

His interrogation was pressing.

Li Nianqi bit her lip, her voice barely audible, "There wasn’t a second time..."

Huo Xingzhou sneered softly, "Just last night at the Guan Family’s birthday party, I heard some rumors.

I heard that after we left, Miss Li went all out saying my wife was the winner of the first pick at the needle trial, and that she was undeserving. That she couldn’t even match halfway to Lu Yingxue’s capabilities... Did you say that?"

"I..."

"You also said she lacked virtue, where is she lacking?"

Huo Xingzhou was aggressive, his demeanor cold.

Li Nianqi blushed so deep, her face seemed like the butt of a monkey, her eyes brimming with tears.

Old Madam Li raised her hand and slapped her across the face, "Scoundrel! How could you slander Qiao Xi behind her back? Her grandmother saved my life and entrusted us to take good care of her. How could I raise someone as ungrateful as you!"

"Grandma..."

Li Nianqi covered her cheek, feeling even more humiliated.

Being slapped by her grandmother in front of Qiao Xi had crushed her pride. The malice in her heart was almost breaking free, intensifying her dislike for Qiao Xi.

"Don’t call me grandma!"

Old Madam Li was furious, "Apologize to Qiao Xi right now, ask for her forgiveness! I taught you that when you know your mistakes, you must correct them!"

Li Nianqi’s eyes welled with tears as she looked at Qiao Xi through a blurry vision.

She was even more reluctant!

But under her grandmother’s strict instruction and out of fear, she bit her teeth and said, "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said those things."

She would remember this lesson!

From now on, she wouldn’t openly insult others, she would just hold a quiet grudge in her heart.

Huo Xingzhou spoke slowly, "Miss Li doesn’t seem very convinced."

"I... I’m not unconvinced."

Li Nianqi weakly retorted.

She hadn’t expected Huo Xingzhou to so sharply detect her dissatisfaction.

Huo Xingzhou scoffed disdainfully, "Back in the day, the Liu Family was kind to the Li Family, and now they’ve even given you the Imperial Capital jewelry branch, hoping that the Li Family would support Qiao Xi. But unexpectedly, the Li Family has been maligning Qiao Xi behind her back, spreading rumors..."

His sharp eyes swept over Li Nianqi, making her nearly unable to raise her head.

With a cold expression, he said, "If I’m not mistaken, that Imperial Green Necklace around your neck is the treasure of the Liu Family’s jewelry branch. Your greed is really... unsightly."

Li Nianqi’s face turned alternately pale and green, her hands instinctively covering the Imperial Green Necklace, wishing she could vanish into the ground.

She had taken it from the jewelry store last night to flaunt at the longevity banquet.

Upon returning, she pleaded desperately with her grandmother and Old Madam Li finally decided to give it to her, saying it would be her dowry in the future.

Huo Xingzhou smiled faintly, his fingers clasping Qiao Xi’s hand, his tone aggressive, "Old Madam Li, don’t you think I’m right?"

Huo Xingzhou was no saint.

Old Madam Li’s face flushed with shame.

The words of Huo Xingzhou struck as harshly as a slap across her face.

She had always valued family education and manners, the most guilt-ridden thing in her life being that she had accepted the Liu Family’s jewelry branch.

She felt that the safe key in her hand was burning hot.

"Scoundrel! Take off that necklace right now!" Old Madam Li shouted angrily, causing Li Nianqi to shudder.

She nearly cried as she removed the Imperial Green Necklace.

Old Madam Li took the necklace, along with the safe key, and handed them to Qiao Xi, saying, "I have no face to keep these items, this jewelry branch and the Imperial Green Necklace should return to their rightful owner."

Qiao Xi looked up at her and said softly, "You can have them back to the Liu Family. We won’t stay long, we will be leaving now."

They would never visit the Li Family again.

Qiao Xi tightened her grip on Huo Xingzhou’s hand and walked out.

As they were leaving, Huo Xingzhou paused and turned to look at the complex-faced Old Madam Li, "Before we leave, a word of advice. Since I entered, Miss Li has been serving me tea, slicing fruit, and sitting beside me, stealing glances at me... After being caught, she burned her hand out of guilt."

His lips curled with a hint of coldness, "I hope Old Madam Li will discipline her descendants well. In this lifetime, Qiao Xi will be my only wife. I hope certain someone won’t delude themselves."

With those words,

Old Madam Li was stunned, and Li Nianqi’s face turned pale as paper.

Even Qiao Xi was taken aback.

Was Huo Xingzhou implying that Li Nianqi liked him? And that she had been making subtle moves to seduce him?