Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him
Chapter 526: I’m Betting on a Possibility

Chapter 526: Chapter 526: I’m Betting on a Possibility

Xiang Mingzhu’s eyes reddened as she timidly said, "Uncle, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying."

Her body tensed up, her breathing accelerated.

Lu Bannong sneered, "I told your father to instruct you to eliminate Qiao Xi in the second round, why didn’t you make a move?"

Xiang Mingzhu cried, "Uncle, I did make a move. Li Songwen was the one I bribed. His right hand was already injured, and he surely wouldn’t have made it to the third round. It’s better to make use of waste and have him eliminate Qiao Xi."

Slap!

Lu Bannong did not hold back just because Xiang Mingzhu was a girl.

A heavy slap left her cheek swollen and red.

"I told you to do it yourself, not to bribe someone else! Do you think I’m incapable of bribing people?" disdain filled Lu Bannong’s eyes, "No one can be as reliable as our own! Do you understand?"

Xiang Mingzhu sobbed while covering her face, "Li Songwen... he won’t betray me."

He had taken the money.

And harbored some affection for her.

"Foolish!"

Lu Bannong bellowed, "You can’t see into another’s heart! Even you have secrets from me, let alone a stranger! I know you’re vain and didn’t want to be a stepping stone in the second round, but remember that I’m doing this for the glory of both families! Your Xiang Family’s success today is all thanks to me, Lu Bannong."

Action leaves traces.

Lu Bannong firmly believed in this as well.

"I’m sorry uncle, I didn’t consider everything thoroughly."

Xiang Mingzhu was very scared internally and wanted to back out.

But then she thought, she had already gotten through the second round!

As long as she emerges the champion, she can marry Zhong Yi. They would just be upset for a while. Once the dust settles, considering the family interests, they will forgive her!

Lu Bannong sternly warned, "Tell that Li Songwen to keep his mouth shut! Don’t cause trouble, or I won’t clean up after your Xiang Family again!"

"I know, uncle. He’ll leave the Imperial Capital tonight and won’t cause any more problems."

Xiang Mingzhu bowed her head, a picture of obedience.

"And you!"

Lu Bannong looked at Lu Yingxue with disappointment in his eyes.

"I’ve always been proud of you, how could you present a fake Golden Needle at the competition! You’ve completely disgraced our Lu Family, it’s fortunate that Huang Bingyi didn’t take it to heart. Online, I’ve had people smooth things over for you, so it hasn’t had much impact."

Lu Bannong felt a pain in his chest from anger, "Who did you say gave you the Golden Needle last time?"

Lu Yingxue truthfully replied, "Zhong Yi. He said he knew I admired Old Master Huang and especially found it for me. But he shouldn’t have..."

Young Master Zhong from the Imperial Capital giving fakes?

It didn’t seem like something Zhong Yi would do.

Hearing the name Zhong Yi sent various suspicions flashing through Lu Bannong’s mind, "The Qian Family’s herb factory was taken over by him, asking for Huang Bingyi’s opinion was his idea. Even the Golden Needle was a gift from him..."

The Golden Needle had embarrassed Lu Yingxue.

Huang Bingyi had brought no benefits to the Lu Family.

Lu Bannong could not figure out what Zhong Yi’s intentions were behind these actions, at least not for the moment.

Lu Yingxue bit her lip and said, "Why would he have a reason to harm me? He said he would give me the medicinal herb factory when we get married."

Their two families had long agreed to a marriage alliance, but the engagement ceremony had not yet been held. Her fate was tied to Zhong Yi’s - for better or for worse.

Zhong Yi still relied on their Lu Family to secure his position as the heir to the Zhong Family!

Lu Bannong was silent for a moment before saying, "Have him give you the factory as an engagement gift. As soon as the competition is over, you’ll get engaged! As for the Golden Needle matter, go and clarify it."

"Okay."

Lu Yingxue also wanted to get to the bottom of it.

"Go now and gently seek his pity. Take advantage of his lowered guard to take control of the herb factory. Our lifeblood cannot be in the hands of others, even if it’s your future husband."

Lu Bannong was very cautious—rarely did he trust others.

Lu Yingxue nodded, "I’ll go out and look for him right away."

Lu Bannong rubbed his swelling temples and said, "In the third round, you and your cousins must make us proud! The final round’s questions have not been announced, but I’ve been scheming for ten years, and all of you have an insight into what’s coming. Mingzhu, at the critical moment, you must help your cousin ascend to the position, understand?"

Xiang Mingzhu kept her head down, with a hidden sneer at the corner of her mouth.

"Yes, Uncle."

She definitely wouldn’t help Lu Yingxue.

If Lu Yingxue wins the championship, she would be engaged to Young Master Zhong!

She wanted to climb the ladder herself!

Lu Bannong continued, "In the next few days, Qiao Xi’s injuries will become increasingly severe. That’s no mere scalding from hot water, there’s a mild poison in Li Songwen’s medicinal decoction. The final round will be a gathering of masters, examining the details and endurance. She won’t be able to hold on... But that girl is truly a calamity, she must not win the competition!"

A genius should perish early, so they won’t become a threat!

To be fair, Lu Bannong believed that Qiao Xi’s talent surpassed Lu Yingxue’s.

But he never voiced this thought.

Xiang Mingzhu said irritably, "She better be in so much pain that she won’t attend the competition! Ever since I met her, my luck has taken a nosedive!"

She truly hated Qiao Xi!

Lu Yingxue said nothing, but a flicker of coldness flashed in her eyes.

"All right! Don’t cause any trouble these next two days. Yingxue, go find Young Master Zhong."

"Yes, Father."

What should have been an easily secured competition at the Acupuncture Conference, has turned into today’s state of affairs, leaving Lu Bannong somewhat exhausted.

He rubbed his sore temples, his eyes filled with shadows.

Qiao Xi must not win!

He couldn’t bear to see the Cheng Acupuncture Technique regaining its past glory!

Otherwise, if the hatred from more than twenty years ago explodes, Cheng Han, together with his disciple, could cause the downfall of the entire Lu Family!

...

The setting sun cast its golden rays, and the sky was filled with a rosy glow.

At the Huo Family’s Garden Villa, everyone was busy.

Qiao Xi sat on the living room sofa, with a medicine box in front of her and dozens of types of Chinese medicinal herbs.

The delayed effects of the burn had set in, and she was in so much pain that her face turned as white as paper.

Just as Lu Bannong had said, in the next few days, the severity would peak before gradually getting better.

She looked at the tall and elegant man in front of her and said, "First, disinfect. Then puncture the blisters for me, disinfect again. After that, apply these powdered medicines..."

"Puncture?"

Before Huo Xingzhou could respond, Sun Weimeng already started to exclaim, "Qiao Xi, puncturing those blisters is very painful! I’ve also heard it can leave scars, do you really want to do that?"

Qiao Xi spoke softly, "My blisters are quite large and need to be punctured to drain the fluid. This will help them heal faster and, besides, there’s a mild poison in these medicinal juices."

Li Songwen’s medicinal decoction thrown at her was poisoned!

"Damn it! The bastard actually used poison!" Sun Weimeng cursed loudly, "I’m definitely going to call the police to catch him!"

Qiao Xi’s almond-shaped eyes drooped slightly, "Young Master Sun, the prescriptions he provides to patients are appropriate and use poison to counteract poison. The charge of poisoning will not hold, we can only look for evidence that he was bribed and deliberately harmed someone. The police might be able to investigate these details."

She turned her head and slowly looked at Huo Xingzhou, who was carefully disinfecting her wounds, "Can you tell me now why you didn’t let Old Chen call the police about Li Songwen?"

She couldn’t figure it out all the way here.

The dignified and aloof man half-knelt in front of her, wiping her wounds with alcohol cotton and gently blowing on them before speaking.

"Because I am betting on a possibility."

He lifted his eyes, his slender and slightly narrow eyes meeting hers with transparency.

As Qiao Xi endured the pain, she was baffled.

Betting on what possibility?