Chapter 82: The Boss's Way of Protecting His Wife

candied chestnuts are delicious, and Xiao Dazhuang's mother loves them, but he hasn't been paid yet and can't afford to buy them.

However, Bai Lu smiled and said, "These chestnuts didn't sell out today, and we can't eat so many. Although they won't go bad by tomorrow, the taste won't be as good as today. If you don't mind, take them home and enjoy."

"No, I don't mind!" 

Xiao Dazhuang immediately took the bamboo basket, grinning foolishly, "Thank you, sister-in-law. It's still cold outside, and the chestnut shells are very hard. Your sugar-glazed chestnuts haven't been peeled, so they won't spoil quickly. My mom's boiled chestnuts are still delicious the next day. If you leave these chestnuts for tomorrow, they'll definitely be even more fragrant and delicious."

"I've wasted them; I can't earn any money..."

"Stop nagging."

Xiao Cheng interrupted his rambling, carrying fish into the house, moving the door with his foot to close it.

Before closing the door, Xiao Cheng's gaze swept out, "Aren't you going home? Shall I accompany you?"

"Of course not!" Xiao Dazhuang vigorously shook his head. "I'm going home right now!"

As he finished speaking, he immediately turned around.

Carrying the bamboo basket, he ran away with joy.

Suddenly receiving such a generous gift from his elder brother and sister-in-law made Xiao Dazhuang too surprised, too happy, too excited.

He laughed until his eyes narrowed into slits, unable to see the road clearly, and almost bumped into Luo Shiliu at the corner.

Fortunately, Luo Shiliu had sharp eyes, dodged quickly, and grabbed his arm that was waving in joy.

"Why are you running so fast?"

Xiao Dazhuang was jerked to a sudden stop, and the bamboo basket almost slipped out of his hand.

Fortunately, his other hand quickly stabilized it. Honest people have tempers too, and he immediately glared at Luo Shiliu in anger.

"Why are you hiding here? Why didn't you make a sound? Why did you suddenly pull me? If I throw away the candied chestnuts given by my brother and sister-in-law, I won't let you off!"

Luo Shiliu had a smirk on his face and patted his shoulder with force to console him, "Unexpected, just unexpected."

"You mean these chestnuts are from brother and sister-in-law?"

Xiao Dazhuang proudly raised his head, nodding with a smile on his face, as if he had won a five-million-dollar lottery.

"Let me taste one."

Luo Shiliu reached for the bamboo basket, casually picked up a chestnut, peeled it, and threw it into his mouth.

"Mmm~ really delicious."

He grabbed a handful and ran away.

Xiao Dazhuang was dumbfounded, standing still for a full second before reacting that he had been robbed.

He immediately sprinted after him.

"Luo Shiliu, stop for me!"

...

The night was as dark as ink. Bai Lu sat in front of the mirror, combing her hair. Her eyes looked out the window, where countless stars adorned the night sky, dazzling and magnificent, one comb after another.

Xiao Cheng came in and headed straight for the bed, towel in hand, wiping his hair. The ends of his hair still had fine water droplets, but he didn't care. He casually placed the towel on the stool at the end of the bed.

He kicked off his slippers and got onto the bed.

Then he realized there was no one on the bed. The quilt at the end of the bed was neatly folded, untouched.

Never disturbed.

Xiao Cheng's pupils contracted slightly, and he subconsciously looked towards the table in front of the window. The girl who was obediently combing her hair came into view.

The surging emotions in his dark eyes gradually settled.

He also remembered what he heard today.

"Handle it however you want, no need to consider me," Xiao Cheng said as he unfolded the neatly folded quilt, covering the entire big bed.

Bai Lu turned her head upon hearing this unexpected response, looking at him with a puzzled expression, completely bewildered.

"What?"

Xiao Cheng lifted his gaze to meet hers, and in a calm tone, he uttered three words, "Chen Chunli."

Bai Lu instantly understood, raised her eyebrows, and smiled, "No problem. If she doesn't want to sell, she doesn't have to. Besides, we still have Aunt Wu, Uncle Guifu, and Wang Cuihua who can sell. We can still make money, and chestnuts can be used efficiently without wasting them."

In a nutshell, having one more Chen Chunli doesn't make much difference, and having one less doesn't either.

Xiao Cheng agreed with this perspective, but what he wanted to convey wasn't that. Instead, he said, "If she scolds you, you can scold her back. If she dares to hit you, come find me."

Bai Lu paused in her hair-combing motion, her face expressing surprise at his sudden response, "Find you for what?"

"Do you think I'll hit her?"

Xiao Cheng pursed his lips, his eyebrows slightly raised, "I'll make her stand in front of you and let you hit her."

Indeed, it matched the style of a boss. "I won't hit women. I can make a woman come and hit you herself."

Bai Lu couldn't help but laugh at his words.

Thinking of the rumors in the streets, when the bully appeared, even three-year-old children were scared to tears, she couldn't stop laughing.

Not the kind of trademark smile, but a genuine, hearty laughter from the depths of her eyes.

Xiao Cheng also smiled.

Silent, his lips curved upward, with a noticeable arc that lit up the darkness, blindingly beautiful.

When Bai Lu was happy, she couldn't control herself and took advantage of the situation, "What if I hit Chen Chunli, and Wang Hao hits you?"

"He wouldn't dare."

Xiao Cheng's tone was confident, as if he had long known Wang Hao's personality.

"What about Wang Cuihua?" Bai Lu, emboldened by her joke, touched on this topic.

Realizing the inappropriateness, she wanted to switch to a new topic immediately, but Xiao Cheng had already spoken with a detached tone, "I'm not her parents. I'm not obligated to take care of her for a lifetime."

His voice didn't show any concern, but his deep eyes had already opened a tunnel through time and space, inevitably bringing up certain bloody scenes.

The curvature of the smile on his lips gradually disappeared.

The atmosphere in the room became desolate, dim.

Bai Lu immediately put down the wooden comb, stood up, and ran to the bed, "It's late; let's go to sleep."

As soon as the words were spoken, she was already by the bedside, kicking off her shoes and getting on the bed.

A pair of long legs stretched out on the bed. She lifted her foot to step over, but the long legs instinctively retracted.

Bai Lu regained her composure, taking small steps, leaving footprints on the floor, steadily moving back to her side of the bed.

Lifting the quilt, lying down, covering herself.

Turning her head to meet the man's gaze that had fallen to the ground, she blinked, "Let's go to sleep. We've been busy all day, and you're tired, and I'm tired too..."

The tired and lazy tone in her voice indicated that she really wanted to sleep or close her eyes.

Xiao Cheng's clear gaze slowly closed as well, and he reached out to pull the cord, turning off the light before lying down.

In fact, Bai Lu didn't fall asleep. She couldn't sleep.

Having just touched on the forbidden topic, her mind was uncontrollable, beginning to play back Xiao Cheng's memories.

Remembering the first time he slept on the street.

On a night when the cold wind whistled and stung the face, in the deserted alley at the end of the dilapidated house with cobwebs all over, a black and thin, boldly dressed little boy, kicked open the door of a room.

His hands were on his hips, driving him away.

"Hey! This is my territory!"

"Who are you? When did you come in? Get out of here immediately!"

"Hey! Didn't you hear me? Don't think lying in bed motionless can occupy my territory. Get down immediately, or I won't spare you!"

"You, what do you want to do? I just asked you to come down; why are you... why are you standing so high..."

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 81: Do You Like It?

Bai Lu wanted to make money, but she didn't plan on providing for the big Buddha. Chen Chunli didn't appreciate her, and she wouldn't swallow her pride.

"If you're not selling, then leave. Take the money you earned from selling candied chestnuts today and settle it on the spot."

She didn't even give an explanation.

Not to mention Chen Chunli, who had originally planned to make a scene, was stunned. Even Wang Cuihua and Chen Dafu were shocked by Bai Lu's sudden change of attitude and cold words.

Perhaps because Bai Lu was usually too easygoing, everyone thought she was a soft target.

Scold her a bit, and she would compromise.

This was what Chen Chunli had in mind before coming. Yesterday's good mood was all based on the intention to cooperate.

Today, hearing about the differential treatment of Chen Dafu, who only got fifty catties of chestnuts, made her extremely angry.

Seeing that Chen Dafu didn't sell all the chestnuts and held back her frustration for half a day, she couldn't bear it any longer.

With anger, she came to confront Bailu and seek an explanation, but Bailu didn't even bother explaining and told her to leave right away.

Chen Chunli was used to being pampered, especially now that she was pregnant. Whether at home or outside, everyone had to yield to her.

Wang Hao could only endure being scolded and beaten, but now Bai Lu was showing her a cold shoulder. She couldn't tolerate it.

With a cold snort, she said, "Fine, leave. Who cares about this unprofitable business? Selling good candied chestnuts to outsiders and selling bad ones to your own people? Only a fool would sell to you. Count the money, just count the money!"

"I won't come to your shabby house again in the future!"

"Who cares if you come or not? You better not come; my family doesn't welcome you." Xiao Wei, who was doing homework in the room, was disturbed by the noise, so he came out and handed a scale to Bai Lu.

His cold and stern face, much like Xiao Cheng's, stared coldly at the arrogant Chen Chunli.

Chen Chunli didn't think Xiao Wei looked much like Xiao Cheng, but the fierce and brutal aura somewhat resembled Xiao Cheng. All her harsh words were choked back.

She could only stare blankly and hand over all the money Chen Dafu earned from selling candied chestnuts to Bailu.

Bai Lu quickly counted the money. There were eight catties of chestnuts left in the basket, and a total of forty-two catties were sold.

Candied chestnuts were three yuan and five jiao per catty.

After deducting the cost of one catty of chestnuts, which was two mao, and one mao for labor, the net profit was 134.4 yuan.

Half of 134.4 is 67.2.

When they agreed to cooperate, Bai Lu had mentioned that the first day was just a trial sale, and the cost of sugar syrup was not included.

After the results of the first day's trial sale of candied chestnuts came out, and both parties confirmed that they indeed wanted to engage in long-term cooperation, they started settling the sugar syrup fee every week.

Maltose was bought by Bai Lu, so the sugar syrup fee naturally belonged to Bai Lu. The amount used each day was listed on a bill.

Bai Lu gave Chen Chunli sixty-seven yuan and two mao, not a penny more or less.

Those two mao were given by the market auntie, and who knows how many hands it had passed through, still with bloodstains on it.

Watching it made Chen Chunli's stomach churn, feeling like she wanted to vomit but couldn't. She could only endure the nausea and leave.

Chen Dafu didn't dare to linger either and quickly followed.

Bai Lu turned to Wang Cuihua and calmly said, "Are you selling or not?"

After witnessing Chen Chunli's fate, Wang Cuihua didn't dare to cause trouble. She said repeatedly, "I'm selling, I'm selling!"

"I want to continue selling candied chestnuts!"

Bai Lu remembered that before Chen Chunli came, Wang Cuihua seemed to have something to say. "What did you want to say earlier?"

Wang Cuihua was stared at until her scalp went numb. Coupled with her own promise being broken, she felt a bit embarrassed to speak.

She took out the money from her pocket and handed it to Bai Lu, answering in a low voice, "This is the money I earned from selling candied chestnuts today. I didn't sell all of my candied chestnuts..."

"How much is left?" Bailu took the money and glanced at her empty basket. "Where did the chestnuts go?"

"There are still thirty catties left, and I sold them to Aunt Wu." Wang Cuihua quickly turned from being aggressive to a pitiful flower.

"I rode my bike all over Dashizhen's streets, shouting loudly all the way until my voice went hoarse. However, many people in Dashizhen haven't tried candied chestnuts, and very few bought them. I shouted from noon until the sun went down, covering every alley, and only sold forty catties..."

"When I had the remaining thirty catties and returned to the town, I saw Aunt Wu's fruit stand had customers looking to buy candied chestnuts, but she had just sold out. So, I took the remaining thirty catties of candied chestnuts and gave them to her to sell..."

"That customer of Aunt Wu also sells fruit and is familiar with her. As soon as he arrived, he asked her for thirty catties of candied chestnuts, saying he would use them to attract new customers to his fruit stand. When I came back, Aunt Wu had already sold out..."

"Aunt Wu asked me to remind you when I came back to settle the accounts and include these thirty catties in her account."

Wang Cuihua revealed all the facts without any concealment, except...

She didn't give the chestnuts to Aunt Wu because she saw Aunt Wu's customer was out of stock but waited near Aunt Wu's fruit stand for a long time. When she saw that the big customer appeared and Aunt Wu didn't have enough stock to sell, she pretended to pass by and gave the remaining goods to Aunt Wu.

Aunt Wu and Bai Lu's cooperation settled the accounts every three days, so she told her to come back and inform Bai Lu.

Bai Lu quickly calculated the money and gave it to Wang Cuihua. "This is the money you earned today. Come and pick up the goods at nine tomorrow morning."

A total of 64 yuan.

Wang Cuihua, holding the money she earned from her first business, happily agreed to Bai Lu's words and went home cheerfully.

There was no hint of fatigue in her steps, and the thoughts of complaining and finding fault that she had when she came were long gone.

Before Chen Chunli came, Wang Cuihua did think of using the excuse that candied chestnuts were hard to sell to complain to Bai Lu.

To ask Bai Lu to increase her wages and share the profits.

It was only after seeing how much money Chen Chunli received and her subsequent fate that she decided to change her mind.

When she came back, she bought some candied chestnuts from Aunt Wu, who was selling the same product. She had compared them after trying them herself.

The taste was the same. Chen Chunli must have had similar thoughts when she came to argue with Bai Lu.

Fortunately, she was smart and didn't let herself be misled by Chen Chunli.

Only by continuing to sell candied chestnuts and saving more money could she replace Bai Lu in Xiao Cheng's heart.

Xiao Cheng liked Bai Lu because she was smart. When she also earned a lot of money, Xiao Cheng would like her and treat her as well as he treated Bai Lu.

Wang Cuihua pushed her bike, smiling happily.

Tonight, when Xiao Cheng returned home from work, he was accompanied by someone, unlike the usual solitary figure.

Bailu saw Xiao Dashuang, who brought a string of crucian carp, and couldn't help but smile wryly.

"My mom said that it's good for the sister-in-law to eat more fish." Xiao Dashuang still said the same words with his honest and simple appearance.

Xiao Cheng, with a black coat casually draped over his shoulder, hadn't entered yet. He stood outside with Xiao Dashuang, lifted his gaze slightly, and looked at Bailu standing at the door.

"Do you like it?"

Bai Lu nodded. "I like it."

After saying that, she turned and ran back to the front yard.

She poured the eight catties of candied chestnuts from the basket into the bamboo basket originally used for vegetables and brought it out for Xiao Dashuang.

"There are still some chestnuts here; take them back and let Auntie taste them."

Xiao Dashuang's fish had already been taken by Xiao Cheng, but he resolutely shook his head. "No, candied chestnuts are expensive."

They were sold for three yuan and five jiao per catty on the street.

Xiao Cheng had sold them once at the construction site, and each piece cost three yuan and five jiao. He bought two pieces, and it hurt his wallet.

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 90: The One and Only in This World

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 89: Just Be Carefree Once

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 24: Young Master Chen Carries Her Bag

"Was Shuxin Powder added to this soup?" Ou Yan raised her clear eyes and asked the housekeeper beside her.

The housekeeper hesitated for a moment and hurriedly replied, "Yes, the person who sent the soup said that Shuxin Powder is extremely effective for the heart and won't cause any side effects when combined with other herbs..."

"It won't," Ou Yan finally understood where the problem lay, "but Mr. Si's current physical condition is too weak to handle the soup. Drinking it has caused adverse effects."

"So, the soup is fine, but it's not suitable for Mr. Si's constitution?" The housekeeper didn't expect the young girl in front of him to be so capable. She figured out the issue with just a sniff.

Just then, the door of the operating room opened, and a nurse hurriedly ran out.

"Young Master Si, it's so good to see you! Could you please sign on the surgery notice?" she said anxiously, holding a pen and paper.

Si Yechen looked at the paper in her hand but didn't take it. Instead, he asked in a cold voice, "How is Grandpa's condition?"

"It's not good... Please trust us, we will do everything we can to save Mr. Si! And please, Young Master Si, could you sign here?" The nurse pleaded, her voice trembling.

Si Yechen turned his gaze to the young girl beside him. "What do you think?"

"Mr. Si's condition hasn't reached that point yet." Ou Yan naturally understood the significance of signing the surgery notice. She checked the time and said, "Wait for me a moment."

She took off her single-shoulder bag and handed it to Si Yechen, who accepted it naturally.

Seeing the girl's departing figure, everyone was stunned.

"Master, who is this young lady?" The housekeeper was puzzled. What made Si Yechen carry her bag?

"This direction leads to the operating room, right? Why did Miss Ou Yan go there?" Qing Mu was also puzzled.

"Young Master, we should go to the observation room and wait. At least we can see how far the surgery has progressed," Qing Mu suggested.

Si Yechen nodded and took Ou Yan's bag a step ahead.

In the operating room, when Professor Zhang saw that the person was Ou Yan, he suddenly felt relieved, as if a huge burden had been lifted. He quickly gave up his position as the primary surgeon to her.

Ever since he witnessed her medical skills last time, he admired her deeply...

The nurse was dumbfounded...

Was this girl so influential?

Perhaps she was the teenage divine doctor who had spread throughout the hospital yesterday? The one who performed surgery on Mr. Si?

If so, it wasn't surprising...

After finishing the remaining surgery, Mr. Si's condition remained critical.

"What should we do now, Miss Ou Yan?" The other doctors were obviously at a loss.

They had been in the medical field for so many years, but only Old Master Si's condition always pushed them to a dead end.

"Wait," Ou Yan said decisively.

Upon hearing this, the other doctors were incredulous.

"The patient's condition is deteriorating rapidly, why wait? What are we waiting for?"

"Now is the golden time for rescue, every second is extremely precious!"

Hearing the beeping sound of the respirator, Ou Yan finally decided to take action.

"Follow her instructions," Si Yechen's words gave Ou Yan support.

"What she says next, you do," Si Yechen added.

The nurse understood and didn't dare to say much, quickly leading Ou Yan inside.

" what's going on...?" The nurse was stunned. Why did Old Master Si start spitting blood?

"What are you doing here?" A doctor couldn't help but intervene. "You can't perform acupuncture in the operating room!"

"The patient is barely hanging on, he can't afford your experiments."

"If you don't have any other ideas, please step aside and don't waste everyone's precious time!"

Ou Yan inserted silver needles into various acupuncture points on Mr. Si's body.

Everyone was shocked. What was she trying to do? Acupuncture in the operating room?

"This is a surgery room! What are you doing acupuncture for?"

"The patient is barely breathing, can't afford your antics."

"If you have no other way, please step aside and don't waste everyone's precious time!"

Ou Yan calmly inserted silver needles into various acupuncture points on Mr. Si's body.

The doctors and nurses were stunned. What was this girl doing? She dared to stick Mr. Si like a sieve...

"Don't use your Chinese medicine tricks to deceive people here!"

Finally, a doctor couldn't hold back and was about to stop her. However, Professor Zhang rebuked him, "Enough!"

Even the nurse was shocked. How dare this girl poke Mr. Si like a sieve...

"Enough!" Professor Zhang intervened, "Let her do it!"

After inserting a few needles, Mr. Si spat out blood, and everyone was shocked.

Even the housekeeper in the observation room was terrified, "Is Mr. Si okay? It looks like things have gotten worse..."

What's going on? Why is he spitting blood?

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, Mr. Si's condition gradually stabilized.

The respirator no longer made that piercing sound.

Everyone was stunned, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

Ou Yan walked out of the operating room, only to see a man coming towards her. He still had her bag slung over his shoulder.

She had handed him the bag in a hurry earlier, not expecting him to carry it for so long.

Chapter 23: Giving Her a Hand

Ou Yan held her phone close to her ear and heard the man's magnetic voice.

"Grandfather had an accident and I'd like you to come over," said the man.

Ou Yan was puzzled. Mr. Si's condition had been fine yesterday. What could have happened?

"Where are you?" The man's voice, as melodious as a cello, was enticing. "I'll come pick you up."

"Meet me at the Hoz Church on the outskirts," he added.

The Hoz Church wasn't far from the estate, reachable within minutes via a shortcut.

Ou Yan simply nodded and informed Nan Qiao that she had to attend to some matters at the Hoz Church.

After completing the formalities for the items, Ou Yan hurriedly left.

At the entrance of the Hoz Church:

Qing Mu parked the car and looked at the desolate surroundings, suddenly recalling something, "Oh, I know why Miss Ou Yan came here! A few days ago when I was browsing my phone, I saw news that there's a large patch of horsewhip grass behind this church, a great place for photos."

Ou Yan's choice of attire today was a white dress. Under the twilight, the entire church seemed like a painting.

She appeared like a fairy stepping out of a painting, her white dress swaying gently, her long hair fluttering.

Qing Mu was awestruck, taking a while before getting out of the car and opening the door, "Miss Ou Yan, this way please."

Ou Yan's eyes sparkled with vitality, carrying a unique charm. When her gentle gaze fell on the man sitting in the back seat, she simply nodded and took the seat beside him without any hesitation or reluctance.

"What's the current situation with Grandfather?" Ou Yan inquired.

The man, with his deep voice, replied, "He drank soup brought by someone else and is currently undergoing surgery."

"Soup from an acquaintance?"

"Yes."

Recalling Mr. Si's condition yesterday, Ou Yan couldn't fathom how it had deteriorated to the point of requiring surgery.

"The soup must have had a problem," she concluded.

"How old are you, Miss Ou Yan?" Qing Mu, stealing a glance at her through the rearview mirror, couldn't help but ask, "Are you still in school? You look so young."

"Eighteen," Ou Yan replied casually. "Just finished the college entrance examination."

Eighteen? So young...

Qing Mu was astonished. "With such good medical skills at eighteen, is it a family tradition?"

"No."

"Then you are..."

Before Qing Mu could finish his sentence, the car suddenly jolted.

Ou Yan, caught off guard, leaned towards the man.

In a split second, the man instinctively reached out to support her.

Ou Yan, in her sleeveless dress, felt the man's hand on her shoulder, causing her face to inexplicably flush.

The man, touching the girl's delicate and smooth skin, also seemed somewhat awkward.

The fragrance of her hair wafted into his nostrils, a pleasant scent.

"Sorry, Young Master, Miss Ou Yan, I..." Qing Mu hadn't finished his explanation when the car jolted again.

Focused on conversing with Ou Yan, he hadn't noticed the rough road ahead...

As the car continued to bump along, Si Yechen protected the fragrant and soft girl in his arms. His gaze warned Qing Mu to focus on driving.

Ou Yan looked up and met his refined features, her heartstrings seemingly plucked.

Only when the road smoothed out did Si Yechen release her, apologizing softly.

"It's okay." Ou Yan averted her gaze, her cheeks still warm.

Si Yechen, who had seen her twice before, had noted her cold and aloof demeanor. Now, she resembled a young girl, intriguingly different.

Qing Mu, initially expecting a scolding, was surprised by Si Yechen's leniency.

Qing Mu sensed a subtle atmosphere in the backseat.

Could it be...

"Watch the road," Si Yechen sensed Qing Mu's gaze and spoke in a slightly stern tone.

Previously, if a woman had dared to fall onto Si Yechen, she would have been kicked out of the car without knowing how she ended up on the roadside!

But now...

Not only did Si Yechen not drive her away, but he also lent her a hand during the car's turbulence...

Qing Mu's mind raced, hastily explaining, "Master Chen, the old master instructed me to focus on the task at hand."

Si Yechen: ?

"What do you mean?" Si Yechen inquired.

"Well..." Qing Mu quickly continued, "The old master wants to see Miss Ou Yan. He insisted on it, and I'm worried he might disturb Miss Ou Yan 's life. So, shall we set a time with Miss Ou Yan? She can then explain to the old master the dangers of not taking medication."

"Miss Ou Yan is a doctor. The old master will listen to her," Qing Mu explained.

Ou Yan: ?

Si Yechen: ...

"What do you think?" Si Yechen invited her opinion.

"Okay."

Ou Yan nodded, mainly to avoid further trouble.

"I'll meet him directly if he wakes up soon. If not, we'll arrange another time," she added.

"Alright." Si Yechen's eyes traced her features as he took out his phone. "To arrange a meeting... can I add you on WeChat?"

"Sure."

"I'll add you."

Seeing them exchange WeChat IDs, Qing Mu's heart raced with excitement. They added each other just like that?!

"When the time comes, send me your location, and I'll pick you up," Si Yechen instructed softly.

"Okay."

Outside the surgery room at Jingkang Hospital:

Steward Wen, paced anxiously. An hour had passed since Mr. Si entered the surgery room, and the operation light was still on...

The elevator dinged, and Si Yechen and Ou Yan stepped out together, both exceptionally striking, their figures and appearances harmonious.

"Master..." Steward Wen noticed the young lady beside the young master and was somewhat surprised. However, he didn't ask and simply reported, "Old Master Si has been in surgery for an hour."

"How's the doctor?" Chen Ye inquired.

"The situation doesn't look good..."

Steward Wen's tone was downcast. If he had known, he would have stopped Old Master Si from drinking the soup.

"The soup brought by that person, show it to Miss Ou Yan."

"Yes."

Although somewhat surprised, Steward Wen quickly brought the soup.

Ou Yan stirred the remaining soup with a spoon. The main ingredient was Lingzhi mushroom, accompanied by other medicinal herbs, a renowned heart-nourishing concoction.

But this soup shouldn't taste like this.

Ou Yan sniffed it carefully and detected a familiar scent.

 Chapter 90: Stubborn Personality

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 89: Obedient

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Chapter 546: Angry Third Master Hou, His Provocation, and Flaunting

Nangong Chang seemed to have seen through Hou Yunjiao.

His sinister gaze shot straight at Qin Ruan, and his voice sounded eerie with hatred. "Hou Yunjiao, let's be honest. The reason you're making trouble for my Nangong family this time is because of this woman!"

If Nangong Chang's hand could be raised, he would undoubtedly point at Qin Ruan.

This woman was nothing but a troublemaker, and every time she appeared, nothing good would come of it.

Qin Ruan's red lips curled up with a hint of disdain in her beautiful eyes.

Seeing this, a paranoid and gloomy expression appeared on Nangong Chang's face.

There was also a faintly abnormal excitement on his face.

He stared at Qin Ruan's pure and charming face and nervously said, "Yes! It's that look in your eyes. You don't know how tempting you are! Every time you gaze at me like that, it makes me itch. Do you know how I've fantasized about you countless nights?"

Qin Ruan's eyes turned slightly cold, and her eyebrows furrowed.

She had a strong intuition that whatever Nangong Chang was going to say next wouldn't be pleasant.

"Nangong Chang, shut up!" Hou Yunjiao's calm and handsome face instantly darkened. He knew what this man was thinking about Qin Ruan.

He didn't want to hear any of Nangong Chang's inappropriate thoughts about her.

Nangong Chang looked at Qin Ruan with a grin and said, "Every night, I fantasize about locking you up in a cage. I'll make you as humble as a dog, begging for my approval, yearning for me. Do you know I've already instructed someone to build a cage just for you..."

"Bang!"

Before Nangong Chang could finish his words, his hair was grabbed by Hou Yunjiao, and he was slammed hard against the headboard.

"Hiss!" Nangong Chang let out a cry of pain.

His face contorted with pain.

Qin Ruan slowly stood up and walked step by step to the side of the bed.

She extended her fingertips and pressed them forcefully on Nangong Chang's arm, which was encased in a cast.

The power of her dark soul wrapped around her fingertips, seeping into the cast and penetrating the injured arm of the other person.

"Ah, ahhhh!!!"

This pain was even worse than the impact on the back of his head because of Hou Yunjiao's slammed.

Next door.

Nangong Yunlong heard the painful cry coming from his son's room and hurriedly rushed out with anxious steps.

The guards of the Hou family stationed at the door saw him about to rush out and kicked him back into the room.

Third Young Master Hou had been polite with this old man, but they were not.

The people of the Nangong family were now nothing more than prisoners.

Their actions had severely provoked the master of the Hou family.

The Hou family's guards kept a record of every account related to the Nangong family.

The last time Third Young Master Huo attended Nangong Chang's wedding, he ended up being confined in the underground basement of the building.

All of this was caused by the Nangong family, and if they didn't take this opportunity for revenge, when would they?

Nangong Chang was subdued by Hou Yunjiao and Qin Ruan.

His hair was grabbed by Third Young Master Hou, and his arm was being crushed by Qin Ruan's forceful grip, causing a pain that felt like his bones were breaking.

The combination of these two pains made Nangong Chang's face look ferocious and twisted.

Qin Ruan raised her red lips with a sneering arc of contempt, "Nangong Chang, if it weren't for your privileged background, someone like you wouldn't survive a day in the Western City."

Nangong Chang was furious, "I'm not like you, with a tainted background. You're only using your pretty face to deceive Hou Yunjiao. Otherwise, someone like you, even if lying on my bed, I wouldn't bother touching you! You should be like a caged bird. Sooner or later, I'll taste what you really taste like!"

"Bang!"

As Nangong Chang finished speaking, Hou Yunjiao grabbed his hair again and slammed his head against the headboard.

"Nangong Chang, you dare to think about my woman? Do you want to die faster?!" Third Young Master Hou was truly enraged, and his glasses trembled on his nose from the force of his actions, showing just how strong he was.

He clearly saw Nangong Chang's infatuated gaze fixed on Qin Ruan, a look any man would understand the meaning of.

Hou Yunjiao was displeased, very displeased.

His heart raced, and his breathing became irregular, as if he was reaching the limits of his patience.

A faint red light flashed deep in his eyes, too fast to catch.

Seeing that Hou Yunjiao wasn't feeling well, Qin Ruan removed her hand from Nangong Chang's injured arm that she had crushed.

She walked over to Hou Yunjiao and supported his arm, asking, "Third Young Master, are you okay?"

His heavy and irregular breathing was clearly audible.

Worry appeared in Qin Ruan's eyes.

The faint fragrance from her body filled the air, calming Hou Yunjiao's emotions slightly.

Hou Yunjiao released his grip on Nangong Chang's hair and turned to embrace Qin Ruan.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.

The two of them seemed inseparable.

Nangong Chang continued to gaze at Qin Ruan's face, captivated by her elegant charm.

He both looked down on her humble origins and was enticed by her unique temperament and appearance.

Hou Yunjiao caught a glimpse of this scene from the corner of his eye.

He stared at Nangong Chang, his eyes filled with darkness and a hint of hostility.

For some unknown reason, an evil and mischievous smile appeared on Hou Yunjiao's lips.

With narrowed peach blossom eyes, he leaned closer to Qin Ruan and took a deep breath.

The faint fragrance from her body filled his nose.

Lowering his head, he whispered seductively in Qin Ruan's ear, "Little girl, you smell so good."

Qin Ruan raised her eyes and saw the dark and dangerous eyes behind Third Young Master's glasses.

In the next moment, Hou Yunjiao pressed on.

He captured Qin Ruan's lips, exploring and tasting with all his strength.

He made it clear in front of Nangong Chang that Qin Ruan belonged to him.

Their noses touched, and ambiguous sounds echoed clearly in the room.

Qin Ruan widened her eyes, sensing Hou Yunjiao's anger, possessiveness, and his unsettled emotions.

Suddenly, Hou Yunjiao lifted Qin Ruan's waist with both arms, and they changed positions.

Now, Qin Ruan's back was facing Nangong Chang.

Hou Yunjiao raised his hand and covered Qin Ruan's eyes.

His sinister and cold gaze fixed on Nangong Chang, who was lying on the bed.

His eyes exuded a stable temperament that did not belong to Third Young Master Huo.

It was a childish provocation, flaunting, and a blatant assertion of his dominance.

Qin Ruan was his, even if Nangong Chang still had thoughts about her, she would only belong to Hou Yunjiao.

Seeing this scene, Nangong Chang held his breath, looking like he was in a daze.

"Mmm, mmm, mmm..."

Qin Ruan extended her small hand and gently tapped Hou Yunjiao's chest.

She was having some trouble breathing.

Being pregnant, she often felt short of breath and had chest tightness.

At this moment, Qin Ruan was starting to have an attack.

Sensing her discomfort, Hou Yunjiao quickly loosened his embrace, like melting sweetness.

He removed his hand from Qin Ruan's eyes as well.

"Third Young Master, there are still people here!" Qin Ruan complained softly and coquettishly.

Although she couldn't see Nangong Chang's expression behind her, she could feel his intense gaze fixed on her.

After being kissed so intimately, Hou Yunjiao's mood improved, and he raised a gentle smile.

He caressed Qin Ruan's cheek with his fingertip, feeling the faint traces of water on her lips, and his voice softened like water, "Darling, you go find Hou Chuan and Lin Hao. I'll join you shortly."

"We'll go together," Qin Ruan insisted, not wanting to leave him alone in this room.

Although Nangong Chang was disabled, he gave Qin Ruan an uneasy feeling, and she was worried about Hou Yunjiao's safety. 

Chapter 545: Are you willing to destroy my Nangong family for this woman?

On the way here, Qin Ruan already knew about the actions of the Hou family against the Nangong family.

She also learned that Hou Yunjiao had less than ten years to live, and this news had spread among the Four major families and the Six Aristocratic Families.

The relationships among the major forces were complex, and once there was even a slight disturbance, almost everyone would know about it.

For the Hou family, this was also troublesome.

When Qin Ruan heard about Hou Yunjiao's limited lifespan, her heart trembled with pain.

Even though she knew that with her presence, this man couldn't possibly live only ten years, it still made her feel uncomfortable to think that everyone outside believed it so firmly.

Nangong Yunlong was still in the room discussing with Nangong Chang how the Nangong family could escape this disaster when they heard commotion at the door.

"Third Young Master, Madam."

The Hou family guards stationed at the door saw the figures of Hou Yunjiao and Qin Ruan and respectfully called out, bowing their heads.

Hou Yunjiao stood at the entrance, his cold voice resounding, "Is Nangong Yunlong inside?"

The guard on the left nodded, "Yes."

Hou Yunjiao spoke in a deep voice, "Take Nangong Yunlong out and keep him under separate guard in the neighboring room."

"Yes!"

The two guards pushed open the bedroom door and walked in with steady steps.

Nangong Yunlong and Nangong Chang fell silent when they heard the commotion at the door.

Seeing the Hou family guards enter, they furrowed their brows in confusion.

But when they saw Hou Yunjiao and Qin Ruan following behind, their expressions changed drastically.

Nangong Chang gritted his teeth and said, "Hou Yunjiao!"

His voice was sinister and full of hatred, as if he wanted to tear Hou Yunjiao apart, bone by bone, with his words.

The Hou family guards approached Nangong Yunlong, one on each side, and escorted him out of the bedroom.

"What are you doing?"

"Where are you taking my father?!"

Nangong Yunlong and Nangong Chang both spoke up at the same time.

Hou Yunjiao held Qin Ruan's hand and walked with graceful and elegant steps towards Nangong Chang, who lay motionless on the bed.

As they passed by Nangong Yunlong, his thin lips twitched slightly. "Uncle, I have a few words to say to Nangong Chang. I will visit you next door later."

His voice was gentle and respectful towards his elder.

"Hou Yunjiao, why bother with this pretense? Put away your superficial facade!" Nangong Yunlong, lacking the composure expected of an elder, was thrown into chaos the moment he saw Hou Yunjiao.

Hou Yunjiao was the true power behind the Hou family.

His appearance spelled trouble for the Nangong family.

Hou Yunjiao curved his lips slightly. "Perhaps Uncle didn't get enough rest. Take him downstairs to rest."

"Yes!"

The Hou family guards briskly led Nangong Yunlong out of the room.

In the spacious room, only Hou Yunjiao, Qin Ruan, and Nangong Chang, who lay on the bed with an anxious expression, remained.

Hou Yunjiao settled Qin Ruan in a chair by the bed, and he looked down at Nangong Chang from above.

"Do you know why the Nangong family has ended up in this situation?"

Nangong Chang sneered, "Hou Yunjiao, let's not beat around the bush. The Hou family's actions against our Nangong family this time are unjust and unreasonable. In a few years, maybe no one will blame the Hou family, but what about ten or twenty years from now? Do you think no one will hold the Hou family accountable?"

In Nangong Chang's view, they hadn't initiated any actions against the Hou family. The Hou family had struck them first, and their actions were unjust.

Qin Ruan sat upright, her eyes slightly lowered, showing no fluctuation in her emotions as she listened to the conversation between Third Young Master and Nangong Chang.

However, she was also curious about why the Hou family suddenly targeted the Nangong family.

From what she gathered from Third Young Master's words earlier, they were supposed to wait until next year at the earliest to settle the score with the Nangong family in order to stabilize the situation.

Hou Yunjiao's eyelids twitched, and the corners of his eyes arched with a gentle curve.

He appeared kind, with a slight smile on his sexy lips.

He cast a sidelong glance at Nangong Chang, his expression seemingly smiling yet not, and his voice was mellow and rich as wine. "Nangong Chang, this time, the fault lies not in the Hou family being targeted or the spread of rumors about me. It's because you provoked someone you shouldn't have."

Hou Yunjiao placed his hand on Qin Ruan's shoulder, and his slender fingertips lightly traced her shoulder socket.

The gesture was ambiguous and attention-grabbing.

Its meaning was self-evident.

Being so close to the two of them, Nangong Chang naturally understood it clearly.

His expression changed drastically, and he stared at Hou Yunjiao incredulously.

"Just for this woman, you want to destroy my Nangong family ?"

The fact that the Hou family has taken action indicates that they have substantial evidence. No matter how much Nangong Chang tries to refute, it's useless. But Nangong Chang is unwilling. He distorts right and wrong, saying, "Even if we have contact with the Witch Clan, it doesn't mean that the Hou family can target the Nangong family. Hou Yunjiao, there must be justification for taking action."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Hou Yunjiao's mouth. He still had that elegant demeanor, and his speech was calm and composed. For some reason, Nangong Chang felt a chilling aura emanating from him.

Hou Yunjiao's deep eyes glanced obliquely at Nangong Chang, who was leaning on the bed. In his cold and thin eyes, there was a three-foot-long icy coldness. "The Witch Clan released my less than ten years of life, and the Nangong family took the opportunity to destroy my unborn child. Are these words spoken by you and Nangong Yunlong?"

Third Young Master's face was sinister and terrifying, his eyes were gloomy, and his oppressive aura filled the room like a chilling weapon. The sense of pressure emanating from him was overwhelming.

Nangong Chang's expression changed abruptly, his lips tightly sealed, as silent as a cicada in winter. Previously, his father had mentioned that there was a traitor in the Nangong family, someone who leaked their plans. At that time, Nangong Chang still held the belief that the Hou family had no substantial evidence against them and wouldn't do anything drastic.

But now, the words spoken by Hou Yunjiao were almost identical to their plans, leaving Nangong Chang feeling restless.

The future of the Nangong family was shrouded in darkness, and he could no longer see a way out.

Qin Ru'an furrowed her brows lightly upon hearing Hou Yunjiao mention Nangong Chang's intentions. Nangong Chang gritted his teeth and asked, "Hou Yunjiao, what are you planning to do?"

"The answer is obvious. After the Lu family takes power, there will be no place for the Nangong family in the capital," Hou Yunjiao said in a low, gentle voice that was pleasant to the ears, like the sound of clear spring water.

Nangong Chang's pupils trembled slightly. "You're too ruthless."

Hou Yunjiao's exquisite and handsome features revealed a faint smile, his distinct contours captivating, and his peach blossom eyes flashed with a sharp light. However, his gaze did not fall on Nangong Chang. Nevertheless, his calm and composed demeanor, as if everything was under his control, was enough to make people uneasy.

Huo Yunjiao calmly said, "It's because you've gone too far in your bullying."

If he hadn't set his sights on Qin Ru'an and their unborn child, the Nangong family wouldn't have been destroyed.

"Hmph!" Nangong Chang sneered.