《Marriage Before Love: Mr. Li is Addicted to Wife-Chasing》 Chapter 1 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°The bride is here!¡± A wave of enthusiastic shouting echoed through the street along with a salute. At this moment, a limited-edition Silbe Tuatara stopped in front of an old house. The house was fully decorated in red and was extremely festive. There was a group of guests standing at the door of the old house. Everyone was beaming and fighting to see the bride through the car window. It was the wedding of the eldest grandson of the Li family, the richest family in City W. It was a traditional and lively Chinese wedding. As the crowd cheered, Xia Chenxing got out of the car. She was wearing a red veil and a bright red Chinese style skirt. A gust of wind revealed the phoenix crown under the veil. The phoenix crown and dress were a matching set. She was as graceful as an ancient empress. But even so, there was no groom to greet her at the door. She did not care. The procedures for a Chinese wedding were complicated and there were many rules and etiquette. Xia Chenxing was already tired of it. She had exhausted her patience to endure it until now. Although she couldn¡¯t see their faces under the red veil, she could see pairs of shoes through the gap. Xia Chenxing couldn¡¯t help but sigh. As expected of a wealthy family. Not only were there many people attending the ceremony, but they were also rich. Looking at these pairs of branded shoes, they were really expensive! Just as Xia Chenxing was letting her imagination run wild, she suddenly heard a discussion in the crowd. ¡°This Xia family is really strange. Not a single family member came to their daughter¡¯s wedding. Even if their daughter is not favored, it shouldn¡¯t be like this!¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t understand the situation. The Xia family has long wanted to chase this daughter out of the house. I heard that this daughter is very unfilial. She treats her stepmother like a nanny. She usually bullies her biological sister and scolds her younger brother. Xia Zhiguang has long disliked her.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. I¡¯ve also heard such rumors. Speaking of which, it¡¯s strange. It¡¯s all because of Xia Zhiguang. Xia Zhixi is elegant and talented. Why is this Xia Chenxing so unpresentable?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that? After all, they weren¡¯t born from the same womb. Xia Chenxing must have taken after her mother who died early!¡± The two well-dressed ladies were in the middle of a lively discussion, talking and following the crowd, when they suddenly stepped on something round and slippery. Their bodies tilted and they both fell to the ground. When they looked closely, they saw that they had stepped on two jade beads, but neither of them said anything. When no one was looking, they quickly helped each other up and pretended that nothing had happened. They didn¡¯t want the news of them making a fool of themselves to spread among the noble ladies tomorrow. Xia Chenxing¡¯s lips curved as she listened to the commotion on the other end. She secretly tucked her hand into her wide sleeve and continued walking. A moment later, she stood in front of Old Madam Li. She had known before the wedding that there was no groom for this wedding. She had heard that Li Ruixu had been in a car accident and was unconscious, so she didn¡¯t know if he would wake up. Otherwise, how could her stepmother, Zhuang Meiyu, give her such a good marriage? However, this suited her. She had wanted to leave that family for a long time, and there were conditions for this marriage. Her father, Xia Zhiguang, had already promised to move her mother¡¯s memorial tablet into the Xia family¡¯s ancestral hall. This was her mother¡¯s dying wish, so this wedding was killing two birds with one stone. At this moment, the emcee looked at his watch and glanced at Old Madam Li. After receiving her approval, he shouted, ¡°The auspicious time has arrived!¡± Then, a person stood beside Xia Chenxing with a handsome rooster in his arms. There was a big red flower tied to the rooster¡¯s chest. It did not seem to be afraid of anyone. It stretched its neck and began to cry. Its cry was extremely loud and instantly, everyone in the crowd heard it. Hearing this, all the guests were stunned and began to chatter. What was going on? Even if the groom couldn¡¯t be at the wedding, surely he shouldn¡¯t be replaced by a rooster? This was ridiculous. It was unheard of! Xia Chenxing seemed to have thought about this, but this was too strangea€| Before anyone could discuss it, the master of ceremonies shouted, ¡°First bow to heaven and earth!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Chenxing flicked the red veil away. Only then did she really see the majestic rooster beside her. To be honest, this chicken was probably a super handsome rooster in the chicken world. It had a wide crown, shiny metallic fur, beautiful chest lines, and powerful claws. Unfortunately, Xia Chenxing was not a hena€| Xia Chenxing sized up the rooster, but the guests at the scene were sizing her up. Her straight facial features, exquisite makeup, and the red wedding dress made her look especially bright. There was a faint heroic spirit between her eyebrows, and she had an indescribable charm that made people unable to forget her. Many male guests at the scene were stunned. Chapter 2 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At this moment, a middle-aged man suddenly stood up from his seat and roared at Xia Chenxing, ¡°Xia Chenxing, what are you trying to do? Who asked you to lift the veil?¡± Xia Chenxing raised her eyebrows and asked curiously, ¡°Huh? Of course I have to do it. Don¡¯t you see why? Why don¡¯t I demonstrate it to you again?¡± After being contradicted by Xia Xingchen in public, the middle-aged man was instantly furious. He pointed at Xia Chenxing and scolded, ¡°Who are you? How dare you contradict me in front of me? You have no respect for your elders. Someone like you is not worthy to be the granddaughter-in-law of our Li family!¡± The man was Li Fengyun, Li Ruixu¡¯s uncle. He was the son of Li Ruixu¡¯s grandfather¡¯s younger brother. He had always wanted to be the head of the Li family but he had never been able to fulfill his wish. Therefore, he had a grudge against Li Ruixu¡¯s family. He would not let go of any opportunity to cause trouble for Li Ruixu¡¯s family. When the guests saw the two of them confronting each other, they were abnormally excited. They widened their eyes and waited to see the drana. Xia Chenxing did not care about the gazes of others. When she heard Li Fengyun¡¯s words, she was not afraid at all. She even smiled at him and said calmly, ¡°I recognize you. You¡¯re my husband¡¯s uncle, right?¡± After Xia Chenxing confirmed that she had married into the Li family, she had already investigated the grudges between the Li family and these people. Naturally, she knew about this ¡°good uncle¡± in front of her. Her dark eyes turned and she said, ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re also a junior in front of Grandmother. She hasn¡¯t spoken yet. Why did you jump out?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Li Fengyun did not expect Xia Chenxing to use the old madam to pressure him and was momentarily speechless. ¡°What about me?¡± Xia Chenxing asked with a smile. She was clearly smiling, but she was surrounded by a terrifying aura. Seeing that the other party was speechless, she continued, ¡°So it¡¯s not me who has no respect for my elders. It should be you, Uncle!¡± After saying that, she turned to look at Old Madam Li and said, ¡°Grandmother, it¡¯s indeed wrong for me to lift my veil, but I¡¯m also thinking for the Li family. If the matter of the rooster replacing the groom is spread by someone with ulterior motives, it will damage the Li family¡¯s reputation and your reputation! I wonder who came up with such a rotten idea. They definitely don¡¯t have good intentions!¡± Xia Chenxing had a certain understanding of the old madam of the Li family. She knew that such a ridiculous thing was definitely not thought of by the old madam. As expected, after she finished speaking, the old madam¡¯s gaze locked onto Li Fengyun. Then, she slowly said, ¡°Fengyun, I¡¯ve long said that this matter is indecent, but you insisted on it. Now, tell me, how should we end this?¡± Although the old madam was old, she was in good health. Her words were full of energy and were extremely intimidating. After being questioned, Li Fengyun glared at Xia Chenxing and hurriedly said with a smile, ¡°Old Madam, it¡¯s a tradition for a rooster to replace the groom. All the wealthy families in ancient times did this.¡± Xia Chenxing quickly interrupted, ¡°Uncle, you also know that that was in ancient times. What era is it now? Why are your thoughts still so outdated?¡± ¡°Shut up! The Li family is talking. How can an outsider like you speak!¡± Li Fengyun said angrily, wishing he could beat her up. ¡°An outsider?¡± Xia Chenxing was not afraid of him. Her expression turned cold as she said, ¡°I respect you and call you uncle. I¡¯m the young madam of the Li family. You¡¯re calling me an outsider? Don¡¯t you know who has no right to speak?¡± ¡°You, you, you damn girl, you¡¯re asking for a beating!¡± Li Fengyun was completely enraged. He strode forward and raised his hand to slap Xia Chenxing. Xia Chenxing seemed to have been prepared for this. She lifted her skirt and took a step to the side, dodging it. However, Li Fengyun was in trouble. He had used all his strength in his slap and could not retract it at all. After Xia Chenxing dodged him, he staggered a few steps forward and almost fell. Li Fengyun had never suffered such a loss before. He stabilized his body and turned around to continue teaching Xia Chenxing a lesson. However, at this moment, Xia Chenxing did not hide or panic. She actually smiled at him and said slowly, ¡°Uncle, do you have some ulterior motive for repeatedly ruining the wedding? For example¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Old Madam Li slammed the table and stood up. She said angrily, ¡°Stop embarrassing yourself!¡± After saying that, she glared at Li Fengyun. Li Fengyun felt a chill run down his spine and did not dare to say another word. Old Madam Li knew very well that Li Fengyun¡¯s ambition was not something that could be achieved in a day or two. He had always wanted to be in charge of the Li family. If he ruined this marriage, it might cause Li Ruixu to not wake up. Whether it was true or not, he would try. Chapter 3 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After a few seconds of silence, Old Madam Li warned, ¡°The Li family can only belong to Ruixu in the end!¡± With that, the old madam left. After the old madam left, Li Fengyun glared at Xia Chenxing and said, ¡°Wretched girl, just you wait!¡± Xia Chenxing smiled playfully. She was not afraid at all. If he could not do anything to her in their first confrontation, what could he do in the future? The wedding began in the most luxurious way, but ended in the most ridiculous way. The news spread throughout the wealthy circle the next day, and Xia Chenxing became the laughing stock of the wealthy wives. However, she did not care at all. As soon as she married into the Bai family, she began to eat, drink, and shop everywhere. She lived freely and happily. Such a life lasted for three years. Three years latera€| As soon as Xia Chenxing entered a private room, a black muzzle appeared on her temple. She felt the coldness on her skin and didn¡¯t even dare to breathe. She didn¡¯t dare to move. Her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her throat. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man with the gun asked in alarm. Xia Chenxing was extremely nervous, but fortunately, she was an obstetrician. Her years of performing surgery had made her mentally stronger than most people, but the feeling of the gun against her head was really uncomfortable. Coupled with the faint smell of blood in the private room, she was still a little panicked. She tried to put on a smile that she thought was friendly and said, ¡°Sir, I was actually chased here by a hooligan who wanted to take advantage of me. Can you help me?¡± She was really unlucky. Xia Zhixi had tampered with her coffee. Not only that, but Xia Zhixi had also found an old man to take advantage of her. If she hadn¡¯t left in a panic, she wouldn¡¯t have entered this private room. She wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this. She had to teach the mother and daughter a lesson! But the man with the gun didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of helping her. He even tightened his grip. Xia Chenxing¡¯s breath caught in her throat, and her neck stiffened. Her clenched hands were covered in cold sweat. Suddenly, her gaze fell on a man not far away. The lights in the private room were dim, and this man was sitting casually on the sofa but there was a terrifying coldness around him. His face was cold, and half of his face was hidden in the darkness, making him look even more sinister and ruthless. Xia Chenxing swallowed. In fact, she had seen the man as soon as she entered the room. A real man had outstanding looks and temperament. It was difficult not to see him. She assumed he was the boss of the room. Her survival depended on this man. She was about to fight for herself when the man said coldly, ¡°Xiao Qi, the usual rules.¡± Hearing this, Xia Chenxing¡¯s calves trembled. How was he going to deal with her? That wouldn¡¯t do! She just had a few good years. The world was so big, and there were so many places she hadn¡¯t been to. She hadn¡¯t eaten many delicacies and spent enough money. She couldn¡¯t die! The moment Xiao Qi touched her shoulder, Xia Chenxing suddenly jumped forward and pounced on the man sitting on the sofa. She quickly said, ¡°Sir, wait a moment. Your female companion is bleeding. I¡¯m a doctor. I can help her!¡± This clearly piqued the man¡¯s interest. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Xia Chenxing appraisingly. Xia Chenxing held her breath and resisted the fear as she looked into the man¡¯s eyes. This man was obviously not an ordinary person, so she could only take a gamble. The man¡¯s cold gaze landed on Xia Chenxing. After a while, he finally shifted his gaze to the woman curled up in pain in the corner of the sofa. The woman suddenly grabbed the man¡¯s hand. ¡°No,¡± she said brokenly. ¡°Don¡¯t. Don¡¯t risk yourself for me.¡± They¡¯d fought side by side over the years. They¡¯d survived countless near-death situations together. If it hadn¡¯t been for the mission, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this. She couldn¡¯t see him risking his life for her. However, the man did not hesitate at all and said firmly, ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± After saying that, his gaze landed on Xia Chenxing and he said coldly, ¡°You, come here.¡± Xiao Qi strode over in shock and said, ¡°Boss, this woman can¡¯t be trusted!¡± The man said nothing, but his expression darkened as he looked at Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi understood what the man meant and didn¡¯t dare say another word. He lowered his head and retreated to the side. Only then did Xia Chenxing dare to walk towards the woman. When she brushed past the man, the smell of disinfectant entered the man¡¯s nose, and he subconsciously sniffed it. Xia Chenxing saw the man¡¯s reaction and pretended to relax. ¡°It¡¯s the smell of disinfectant, right? I¡¯m not lying to you, am I? I¡¯m really a doctor.¡± Chapter 4 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Hearing this, the man only glanced at Xia Chenxing before standing up from the sofa and saying coldly, ¡°There are no wounds on her body.¡± Xia Chenxing knew that the man was referring to the woman on the sofa. No wounds? She leaned closer to observe the woman¡¯s condition. Her breathing was weak and her forehead was beaded with sweat. She was clearly experiencing intense pain. After a simple touch, she realized that the woman¡¯s abdomen was the source of the pain. Her expression turned serious as she asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been hit in the abdomen, haven¡¯t you?¡± The woman probably didn¡¯t have the strength to speak. She just nodded slightly. Xia Chenxing asked again, ¡°How long has your period been delayed? When was the last time you slept together?¡± She was a gynecologist, so it was very normal for her to ask such questions. However, the other two men in the private room became embarrassed to varying degrees. The woman gritted her teeth with difficulty and said, ¡°It was postponed for twenty daysa€|the third of last month.¡± Confirming her suspicions, Xia Chenxing prepared for further examination. She turned to the man and said, ¡°I need to examine her to determine the patient¡¯s condition. You guys need to leave.¡± The man¡¯s narrow eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°Why do we have to leave?¡± he asked warily. ¡°It¡¯s a gynecological examination. Why do you think you have to leave?¡± Xia Chenxing said impatiently, but when she remembered that her life was still in his hands, she said gently, ¡°According to her symptoms, she must have miscarried. I¡¯ll have to check before I can be sure.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at Xia Chenxing in shock, especially the man standing at the side. After a while, he regained his senses and silently lit a cigarette. He turned around and Xiao Qi turned his back. Seeing that the two of them were cooperating, Xia Chenxing began the examination. From experience, it was undoubtedly a miscarriage, but it was difficult to be diagnosed without medical equipment. After the examination, she slowly stood up and said, ¡°There¡¯s a high chance that it¡¯s a miscarriage. It¡¯s best to send the patient to the hospital as soon as possible for further diagnosis and treatment. If it¡¯s an ectopic pregnancy, it will cause a lot of damage to your girlfriend¡¯s body. It will be difficult for her to get pregnant in the future.¡± As he spoke, the man finished his cigarette. In the dim light, the smoke swirled. The man¡¯s expression was uncertain, as if he was thinking about something. Suddenly, his gaze went past Xia Chenxing to the woman. ¡°Whose child is it?¡± he asked. Xia Chenxing was shocked and coughed violently. His girlfriend¡¯s child wasn¡¯t his. Had he been cuckolded? Did she know another secret she shouldn¡¯t know? Xiao Qi looked at her fiercely, as if warning her. Xia Chenxing, who cherished her life, immediately covered her mouth with both hands and didn¡¯t make a sound. The woman on the sofa did not seem to know how to answer and only bit her lip. The man¡¯s face darkened. After a while, he said, ¡°Xiao Qi, go to the hospital.¡± Hearing this, Xiao Qi stopped him. ¡°Boss, but thisa€|¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk too much. Take her to the hospital. Now. Right now!¡± The man¡¯s voice brooked no argument. There was a baleful look on his face. Xiao Qi frowned, not daring to speak again. Suddenly, there were dense footsteps outside the private room. Xiao Qi and the man exchanged glances, as if they already had a countermeasure. The door opened. To be precise, it was kicked open by someone. The leader was a fat man. Before his face entered the private room, a large and round stomach entered first. In the meantime, Xiao Qi and the man had taken care of the crime scene. The woman on the sofa was covered with a suit to hide the blood. She looked like she was drunk. Xia Chenxing had already guessed who it was and quickly hid behind the man. Boss Zhao looked around after entering and immediately found Xia Chenxing. He covered his bleeding ear and pointed at her as he scolded, ¡°Xia Chenxing, you b*tch. Your father sent you to sleep with me, but you didn¡¯t serve me well and even dared to bite my ear. I¡¯ll teach you a lesson today!¡± Standing behind the man, Xia Chenxing felt extremely safe. She said bluntly, ¡°Fatty Zhao, I¡¯m warning you too. The person in front of you is my big brother. If you dare to touch me, he¡¯ll skin you alive!¡± After saying that, Xia Chenxing was afraid that the man would go back on his word and hurriedly pulled the corner of his shirt, afraid that he would run away. She said coquettishly, ¡°Big Brother, it¡¯s this fatty. He actually wanted to bully me just now. You must not let him off!¡± The man had a complicated expression when he heard that name. He did not hear what the woman in front of him said at all. Instead, he asked, ¡°Are you Xia Chenxing?¡± Chapter 5 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Chenxing was helpless. It was not strange for the man to know her name. After all, the news of her marriage to a rooster had long spread in China. She had an idea and quickly said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m the young madam of the Li family. If you save me, the Li family will owe you a big favor!¡± The corners of the man¡¯s narrow eyes lifted, and he actually smiled. The little woman was smart enough to bring the Li family out to negotiate terms. Xia Chenxing felt uncomfortable seeing the man¡¯s reaction. She didn¡¯t know what was wrong with him. Even if she was ridiculous, there was no need to laugh so happily. Couldn¡¯t he laugh after saving her? Xiao Qi was also stunned as he looked at Xia Chenxing in shock. Wasn¡¯t Xia Chenxing the wife his boss had been married to for three years? What kind of fate did they have to meet in such a way¡­ It was too magical! At this moment, Boss Zhao, who was at the side, had already lost his patience. He ordered his men to rush over and prepare to subdue her. With a glance from Li Ruixu, Xiao Qi immediately went over and blocked them. In a few moves, he knocked down the attackers. Li Ruixu lit another cigarette and took a drag. He narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°Boss Zhao, right? Do you want to continue?¡± His voice was cold, and it seemed to be filled with the threat of death. Boss Zhao was also a famous figure in W City, but now he was slapped in the face in public. He glared at Li Ruixu and said, ¡°There¡¯s no grudge between us. This woman is my plaything. It¡¯s not worth it to make enemies with me for a plaything. It¡¯s better for both of us if you hand her over to me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really strange. Why would the dignified young madam of the Li family become your plaything?¡± Li Ruixu asked. His voice was raised and he was smiling, but he could instill an inexplicable fear. Boss Zhao was a little flustered, but he still defended himself. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that the eldest young master of the Li family hasn¡¯t appeared for three years? Isn¡¯t it normal for this woman to look for a man to have fun?¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so¡­¡± Li Ruixu sneered. The air around him seemed to have frozen into ice shards. Suddenly, he turned around and walked in front of Boss Zhao. Before anyone could react, he grippped Boss Zhao¡¯s fat neck and said ruthlessly,¡± Even if she¡¯s looking for a man, it won¡¯t be a piece of trash like you! ¡± After saying that, the strength in his hand kept increasing. Boss Zhao was choked and he couldn¡¯t even retort. His greasy face turned red. Seeing such a scene, Xia Chenxing panicked. If this fatty was really strangled to death by this man, she would not be able to escape the blame. She quickly leaned over and placed her little hand on Li Ruixu¡¯s bulging arm. She pushed him gently and said, ¡°Let him go. We can¡¯t blow things up with the current situation.¡± Hearing this, Li Ruixu stared at her for a few seconds, as if he wanted to see through her. Xia Chenxing panicked, afraid that she had said the wrong thing. ¡°She¡¯s quite pretty. No wonder¡­¡± Li Ruixu didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Xia Chenxing frowned. No wonder? She wanted to press him, but on second thought, she wouldn¡¯t see this man again anyway. Who cared what he wanted to say? Li Ruixu finally let go of Boss Zhao and threw him to Xiao Qi. ¡°Throw him out.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Upon receiving the order, Xiao Qi carried Boss Zhao and walked out. When the people who followed Boss Zhao saw this scene, they also scrambled away. Seeing that the crisis had been resolved, Xia Chenxing tiptoed to the door and prepared to leave secretly. However, just as her hand was about to touch the door, a hand suddenly appeared on her shoulder. She trembled in fear and did not dare to move. At this moment, a man¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°Mrs. Li, I¡¯ve already helped you. Please help me with something next.¡± ¡­ . Twenty minutes later, Xia Chenxing sent the woman who had miscarried to the hospital where she worked. She was the only associate chief physician in this hospital who was promoted due to an exception. Under such circumstances, it was not difficult to bring a woman with no status into the hospital for treatment. She personally operated on the woman, who could be discharged after a few days of recuperation. It was already past five in the morning when she got off the operating table. Xia Chenxing returned to the lounge, exhausted. She lay on the bed in the lounge and did not fall asleep immediately. Instead, she forced herself to stay awake until work hours and called the department head to ask for leave. She had been tricked by Xia Zhixi¡¯s mother yesterday. She had to go back and take revenge today! ¡­ . The Xia Family House Xia Zhixi and Zhuang Meiyu were watching a movie and tasting bird¡¯s nest on the sofa. They were in a good mood. Chapter 6 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As she slowly ate the bird¡¯s nest, Zhuang Meiyu said, ¡°My daughter is so smart. She actually thought of using that b*tch Xia Chenxing to exchange for a big order from Boss Zhao. Great, our Xia Corporation won¡¯t have to worry about our orders for half a year. It¡¯s really killing two birds with one stone!¡± Zhuang Meiyu praised her from the bottom of her heart. Her precious daughter was outstanding, intelligent, and courageous. She was especially proud to have such a daughter. Xia Zhixi sneered. ¡°Mom, this is killing three birds with one stone. Li Ruixu hasn¡¯t appeared for three years, and my sister doesn¡¯t even have a man by her side. As her sister, I naturally have to help her get rid of her loneliness, don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°Daughter, you¡¯re right! With your sister¡¯s slutty appearance, she definitely can¡¯t live without a man. Besides, she was played by robbers three years ago. It doesn¡¯t matter if it happens again this time,¡± Zhuang Meiyu said sarcastically. She already looked down on Xia Chenxing, so her words were even worse. Suddenly, she thought of something and asked worriedly, ¡°But Zhixi, what if Xia Chenxing calls the police?¡± A hint of ruthlessness flashed across Xia Zhixi¡¯s eyes as she said slowly, ¡°Mom, do you think your daughter is such a stupid person? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already installed a camera in Boss Zhao¡¯s room. I¡¯ll go get it later. With this evidence, Xia Chenxing won¡¯t dare to call the police.¡± After saying this, a round of applause sounded from behind the two of them. The mother and daughter quickly turned around to check and found that Xia Chenxing was walking over from the door with a cold smile. When she arrived in front of the two of them, she crossed her arms and said with a smile, ¡°Xia Zhixi, oh Xia Zhixi, you¡¯re really full of tricks. Unfortunately, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to get what you want.¡± Hearing this, Zhuang Meiyu already felt that something was wrong. She asked warily, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xia Chenxing¡¯s face darkened, and the coldness in her eyes reached a freezing point. She picked up the half bowl of bird¡¯s nest on the table and splashed it on Xia Zhixi¡¯s face. She said faintly, ¡°That¡¯s what I mean!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Xia Zhixi finally reacted and screamed loudly. Although the bird¡¯s nest wasn¡¯t hot, it stuck to her hair and face and slowly dripped onto her clothes. It was as disgusting as it could be. She stood up abruptly and pointed at Xia Chenxing¡¯s nose as she scolded, ¡°Xia Chenxing, you little slut. It¡¯s not your place to be arrogant in the Xia family!¡± Zhuang Meiyu did not expect Xia Chenxing to attack just like that. She hurriedly took out a tissue and wiped Xia Zhixi¡¯s face. As she wiped her face, she echoed, ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re worse than a dog in the Xia family. It¡¯s your honor to be able to exchange orders for the Xia family. The value of your contribution points is your honor. You¡¯re just a piece of trash that has been played with. Do you really think that the Li family will stand up for you just because you¡¯ve become the young mistress of the Li family? Dream on!!!¡± Before she could finish speaking, Xia Chenxing grabbed her hair and slammed her against the coffee table! With a bang, Zhuang Meiyu immediately saw stars, but her attitude was still arrogant. She roared, ¡°Little b*tch, let go¡­¡± Xia Chenxing sneered. ¡°Let go? Hehe, I won¡¯t let go today. I want to see the color of the brains of a vicious woman like you!¡± With that, she slammed Zhuang Meiyu¡¯s head against the coffee table. Xia Zhixi was stunned for a moment before she stood up and pulled Xia Chenxing¡¯s arm. ¡°Xia Chenxing, are you crazy? Daddy will definitely settle scores with you when he comes back!¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m so scared!¡± Xia Chenxing pretended to be afraid, but suddenly let go of Zhuang Meiyu. She raised her hand and slapped Xia Zhixi hard. Xia Zhixi¡¯s mouth bled. Xia Zhixi wiped the corner of her lips. Seeing that it was bleeding, she roared crazily, ¡°Xia Chenxing, I¡¯ll fight it out with you, you shameless bitch!¡± With that, she grabbed the cup on the coffee table and threw it at Xia Chenxing. Xia Chenxing was already prepared. In a flash, the cup brushed past her face and smashed into the ground, shattering. At this moment, Zhuang Meiyu had also recovered. Two large red packets had hit her head. Not only was it painful, but she was also a little dizzy. She forced herself to protect her daughter behind her and shouted, ¡°B*tch, when your father comes back, he¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± Xia Chenxing was not afraid at all. She sneered and said, ¡°You guys are really forgetful. Three years ago, I married into the Li family on behalf of Xia Zhixi because of my mother¡¯s last words. But now, you actually dare to trick me into sleeping with that fatty Boss Zhao. Li Ruixu is indeed missing, but don¡¯t forget that there¡¯s still the old madam in the Li family. Aren¡¯t you afraid that she will settle scores with you!¡± Chapter 7 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Hearing Xia Chenxing¡¯s words, the mother and daughter really panicked, especially Zhuang Meiyu. She glared at Xia Chenxing and gritted her teeth. ¡°B*tch, what exactly do you want?¡± Xia Chenxing chuckled and sat on the sofa unhurriedly. She crossed her legs and said, ¡°As a member of the Xia family, it doesn¡¯t make sense that I don¡¯t even have shares in the Xia family. Auntie Zhuang, what do you think?¡± Hearing this, Zhuang Meiyu immediately became agitated. She raised her voice and said, ¡°You still want the Xia family¡¯s shares? Let me tell you, that¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°Aunt Zhuang, I advise you to think about it carefully. I don¡¯t want much. Just three percent will do.¡± After saying that, Xia Chenxing slowly got up and continued with a smile, ¡°I think you all know that I¡¯m just a worker. I¡¯ve lived a pampered life since I was young and spent a lot of money. There¡¯s never enough money for me. With these shares, I can eat and shop well. Think about it. It¡¯s not easy for me either.¡± After saying that, she pretended to be aggrieved and wiped her eyes, but in the next second, her expression changed. ¡°By the way, Aunt Zhuang, I forgot to tell you. I accidentally recorded the conversation between you two when you were eating bird¡¯s nest. If the police find out about this¡­¡± ¡°What? You recorded it? Xia Chenxing, you¡¯re despicable!¡± Xia Zhixi complained with a pale face. If the police found out about this, she would be finished. However, Xia Chenxing asked casually, ¡°Is this considered despicable? Compared to you and your mother, I think I¡¯m far inferior. In short, take your time to consider my proposal and I¡¯ll wait for your reply.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Xia Chenxing turned around and left the Xia residence without looking back. The first thing she did after leaving the Xia residence was to go to the police station. She knew that mother and daughter very well. It was impossible for them to obediently give her the shares. ¡­ . On the Xia family¡¯s side, after Xia Chenxing left, the mother and daughter¡¯s expressions were a little ugly. They did not expect Xia Chenxing to silently record everything they said. Zhuang Meiyu was not that worried and said self-righteously, ¡°That b*tch is probably just saying that the Xia family is unlucky. What good will it do her? She¡¯s also a member of the Xia family, so she probably won¡¯t do that.¡± Xia Zhixi said with a sad face, ¡°But, Mom, that¡¯s a recording. It can be used as evidence. If I¡¯m really taken away by the police, will Yisen¡¯s family still accept me marrying over?¡± Before the two of them could finish discussing, there was a knock on the door. Zhuang Meiyu stood up and opened the door. When she opened the door, there were two police officers standing outside. They showed their police badges in unison and said, ¡°Hello, we are police officers from the City W Public Security Bureau. We are currently investigating a criminal case. Which one of you is Xia Zhixi?¡± Xia Zhixi hurriedly got up from the sofa and replied with a trembling voice, ¡°I, I, I am.¡± The two police officers walked up to Xia Zhixi and showed her their identification again. ¡°Xia Zhixi, someone has reported you for being involved in a rape case. Please come with us.¡± After saying that, the two police officers restrained Xia Zhixi and were about to walk out. Xia Zhixi did not resist. Instead, she cried and begged Zhuang Meiyu, ¡°Mom, quickly call Dad to save me. I don¡¯t want to go to prison!¡± Zhuang Meiyu also wiped her tears and cried, ¡°My dear daughter, Mommy will call your father now. Don¡¯t be afraid. Mommy will definitely save you.¡± However, no matter how much the two of them put on a show of bitterness, Xia Zhixi was still taken away by the police. The Xia family was also in a mess trying to find a way out using their connections. As for Xia Chenxing, she did not return to the Li family¡¯s old residence, nor did she return to her apartment. Instead, she stayed in a hotel. She called her best friend and asked her to contact a media company for her. She released a statement and then turned off her phone to avoid harassment. She had not been able to rest since yesterday, but she had finally finished everything. She took a comfortable bath and fell into a deep sleep. The next day, the media in City W exploded. The headlines of all the major newspapers and websites were occupied by Xia Xingchen. ¡°Second Miss Xia has announced that she will officially cut ties with her father, Xia Zhiguang!¡± ¡°The eldest daughter-in-law of the Li family cheated on her husband. She actually cheated with him!¡± ¡°Young Madam Li is actually an ungrateful and unfilial person!¡± On the top floor of the tallest building in W City, a cold man holding a copy of that day¡¯s newspaper suddenly smiled and said with interest, ¡°This woman has some means.¡± Xiao Qi couldn¡¯t guess what his boss was thinking, but he knew very well that his boss was very interested in his wife. He suddenly thought of something and quickly said, ¡°By the way, Boss, the old madam wants to see you as soon as possible.¡± Chapter 8 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The man¡¯s smile faded, as if it had never been there. ¡°Tell Grandmother I have some business to attend to for the time being,¡± he said flatly. ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for me to show my face. And remind Grandmother not to tell anyone about my return, including the Li family.¡± Xiao Qi replied, ¡°Yes, Boss. I¡¯ll inform Old Madam.¡± After a pause, he said, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing, Boss. I¡¯ve already sent Moonlight out of City W. The matter involving Viper has also been dealt with. The mission progress has been reported to the higher-ups.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand,¡± the man replied calmly. He picked up the document beside him and read it seriously. He had been in a coma for three years. A lot had happened in between. He needed to make up for it as soon as possible. Three years ago, he was seriously injured and fell into a coma when he went on a mission. He had been overseas for treatment. He was probably desperate. The Li family had found a so-called expert. The expert said that if they wanted Li Ruixu to wake up, they had to find a woman who met the requirements. In the end, they found that the two daughters of the Xia family matched the requirements. The Li family first thought highly of Xia Zhixi. She had a good reputation in the circle. She was gentle, kind, and beautiful. She was also the most favored daughter of the Xia family. No matter how they looked at her, she was the most suitable candidate. However, she already had someone in her heart. According to the Xia family, she was already engaged to the young master of the Yin family in private. The Li family did not want to force her either. In the end, they could only agree to let Xia Chenxing into the family. Li Ruixu couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He had only been awake for a week and returned to W City for three days. Who would have thought that he would coincidentally bump into his wife, whom he had never met, while on a mission at the banquet? Thinking of that bright and interesting woman, the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously. ¡­ . Xia Chenxing slept for a full twelve hours before she woke up. She slept contentedly, squinting and stretching, feeling extremely comfortable. She ordered a delivery service at the hotel and turned on her phone as she ate. The moment she turned it on, all kinds of notifications flooded her phone. Some were missed calls and messages from Du Yangyang, and of course, Xia Zhiguang. She ignored Xia Zhiguang and clicked on her best friend¡¯s message. Du Yangyang: [Hurry up and open the link to see if this photo is real. On account of our good relationship, remember to give me first-hand news. My promotion, raise, and year-end bonus are all dependent on you!] Three pitiful emojis were added. Curious and puzzled, Xia Chenxing clicked on the link, but the thing in front of her almost gave her a heart attack on the spot. The headline of the news was: The Young Madam of the Li family cheated on her husband! Not only was there a paragraph of nonsense under the title, but there was also a picture attached. That picture was actually of Boss Zhao wanting to rape her that day and hugging her. Xia Chenxing felt nauseous when she saw this. She couldn¡¯t even eat. Were they all blind to say that she had cheated with this fatty? Couldn¡¯t they see her struggling expression in the photo? Just as she was gritting her teeth in anger, the phone rang. She picked it up and saw that it was the number of the Li family¡¯s old residence. What a turnaround. She was about to reject the call when her hand trembled and she picked it up. Xia Chenxing was speechless. She wanted to slap herself, but the call had already been picked up. She could only brace herself and pick up the phone. ¡°Hello¡­¡± A high-pitched roar immediately came from the other end of the phone, so loud that Xia Chenxing was almost deafened. She could only hold the phone half a wall away. Even so, she could hear the voice clearly which showed how loud it was. ¡°Xia Chenxing, where are you? Hurry up and go home. The Li family is in chaos because of you, yet you still dare to turn off your phone!¡± Old Madam Li scolded angrily. Seeing that the other party was no longer roaring, Xia Chenxing finally dared to put her ear close to the speaker and said guiltily, ¡°Grandmother, calm down first. It¡¯s bad for your health to be angry. The news is all fake. Think about it, I¡¯m the young mistress of the Li family. Even if I cheat, I can¡¯t find someone like Boss Zhao. No matter what, I have to be compatible with him. What do you think?¡± ¡°You brat, you really want to cheat?¡± Old Madam Li said angrily, but her voice was clearly much softer than before. ¡°No, no, no. How could that be? I was just saying it casually. You can¡¯t take it seriously!¡± Xia Chenxing quickly explained. She turned to look at the clock on the wall and said, ¡°How about this, Grandmother? Wait for me. I¡¯ll go back now and explain to you in person.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you to come back,¡± Old Madam Li said solemnly. Chapter 9 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After hanging up the phone, Xia Chenxing hurriedly put on her clothes and left the hotel. For the past three years, Old Madam Li had been very good to her. Perhaps it was out of guilt or because of her status as her granddaughter-in-law. In short, the two of them got along well. It was also because of Old Madam Li¡¯s support that Xia Chenxing could live so freely for the past three years. As soon as Xia Chenxing entered the old residence, she felt the strange gazes from the servants. Not only did not many servants take the initiative to greet her, but some even deliberately avoided her. Instead, it was Aunt Mei who took the initiative to explain, ¡°Young Madam, ignore them. You don¡¯t live in the old residence, so they aren¡¯t familiar with you. In addition, with these rumors suddenly spreading, it¡¯s inevitable that they don¡¯t dare to approach you.¡± This was how it was in big families. Not only the clansmen, but even the servants had to learn to read people¡¯s expressions. Xia Chenxing did not care about this. Instead, she asked, ¡°Aunt Mei, was Grandmother very angry?¡± Aunt Mei smiled and said, ¡°How can Old Madam be really angry with you? Other than Eldest Young Master, she dotes on you the most. She¡¯s just angry at those media outlets who spread rumors without a bottom line. Actually, Old Madam has already bought over all those media outlets. This way, they won¡¯t dare to spread rumors anymore.¡± Xia Chenxing chuckled. ¡°As expected of Grandmother. In ancient times, Grandmother would definitely be a decisive female general!¡± ¡°It¡¯s only your matters that make Old Madam care,¡± Aunt Mei replied. After the two of them finished speaking, Xia Chenxing followed Aunt Mei to the living room. As soon as she entered the living room, she was shocked by the scene in front of her. The elders of the Li family were actually here! Xia Chenxing smiled and asked in a low voice, ¡°Aunt Mei, the elders of the Li family are all here. Why didn¡¯t you inform me earlier? I wasn¡¯t prepared at all.¡± Aunt Mei also replied in a low voice, ¡°Eldest Young Madam, I¡¯m sorry. This is Old Madam¡¯s intention. She said that she wanted to teach you a lesson.¡± Xia Chenxing was speechless. When Old Madam Li saw her, she only glanced at her and said solemnly, ¡°Chenxing, the elders of the family are all here. You can explain your own matters to them. I¡¯m tired of talking.¡± With that, Old Madam Li reached out and the servant beside her quickly handed her a cup of tea. Old Madam Li tasted it with a calm expression, as if she was waiting to see a good show. Hearing this, Xia Chenxing understood. The old madam must have explained it for her before she returned, but these old people didn¡¯t believe her. With the old madam¡¯s trust, Xia Chenxing didn¡¯t panic. She didn¡¯t care what the others thought, but for the sake of the Li family and her own reputation, she still had to shut them up. She nodded at the old madam as a form of agreement, then walked gracefully in front of everyone and said with a smile, ¡°Thank you for making a special trip for this matter. I definitely have to give everyone an explanation.¡± After a pause, she continued, ¡°Regarding the report, I only have one thing to say. The infidelity in my marriage is completely false. I¡¯ve been married to the Li family for three years and have always been principled. I¡¯ve never been disloyal. As for the pictures you saw, I admit that they do exist, but at that time, someone framed me and deliberately posted them secretly. The goal was to ruin my reputation and the Li family¡¯s reputation at the same time!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Li Fengyun immediately questioned, ¡°Words are useless. The photos really exist. Do you think we¡¯ll believe your excuses so easily? We¡¯re not that easy to get rid of!¡± Xia Chenxing knew without even thinking that the first person to stand up and cause trouble would definitely be him, Li Fengyun. Ever since the wedding day, the two of them had become enemies. In the past three years, the two of them had fought many times in the open and in the dark. She narrowed her eyes and said calmly, ¡°Uncle is right. You are indeed an unreasonable person and not easy to get rid of.¡± Hearing this, Li Fengyun slammed the table and stood up. He said angrily, ¡°Xia Chenxing, what do you mean?¡± Xia Chenxing smiled sweetly and said slowly, ¡°Uncle knows best what I mean. I¡¯m afraid the entire City W knows what you¡¯re up to. Unfortunately, you can¡¯t use this matter as a stepping stone.¡± A look of approval came into Granny Li¡¯s eyes as she heard these words. This was one of the reasons she doted on Xia Chenxing. Her calm composure was something her peers didn¡¯t have, and coupled with her intelligence and quick wit, she was a good match for her grandson. She didn¡¯t worry too much about it. She was sure the girl could handle it. Chapter 10 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Before Li Fengyun could retort, Xia Chenxing took out her phone and played the audio recording she had recorded at the Xia residence. The audio was very clear, and the Li family heard their conversation clearly. They all understood now that Xia Chenxing was indeed the victim in this matter. After playing the recording, Xia Chenxing slowly put away her phone and looked at Li Fengyun¡¯s gloomy face with a sharp gaze. ¡°Uncle, can my words be trusted now? Do you have any questions?¡± Li Fengyun was instantly furious. He glared fiercely at Xia Chenxing, but he could not retort. However, his wife, Fang Min, was a tactful person. Seeing that the atmosphere between the two of them was not right, she quickly came out to smooth things over and said, ¡°Chenxing, you¡¯ve really suffered. I didn¡¯t expect the Xia family to do such a thing to frame their own family. They¡¯re really heartless!¡± Fang Min seemed to really feel wronged for Xia Chenxing. She pulled Xia Chenxing¡¯s hand and said with a pained expression, ¡°Old Madam, the Xia family can¡¯t be forgiven for this matter. Chenxing is now a member of our Li family and can¡¯t be bullied by them. You must seek justice for Chenxing and let the Xia family suffer a little. Otherwise, they will think that they can trample on our Li family!¡± Xia Chenxing said nothing, waiting to see what would happen next. Old Madam Li said, ¡°We really have to make the Xia family suffer a little. I can¡¯t even bear to reprimand our Li family¡¯s granddaughter-in-law. How dare they frame her like this? In that case, I¡¯ll leave this matter to you. I can rest assured.¡± Fang Min smiled and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Madam. I¡¯ll definitely get things done.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Old Madam Li swept her gaze across everyone and said in a rather dignified manner, ¡°Today, everyone is here. There¡¯s something I have to make clear in front of everyone. Chenxing is my most beloved granddaughter-in-law. If anyone bullies her in the future, don¡¯t blame me for disregarding our relationship!¡± Hearing this, the Li family was so shocked that they were speechless. They did not expect the old madam to be so protective of her granddaughter-in-law. After the matter was explained, there was no need for the elders of the Li family to stay. They all said goodbye to the old madam. Xia Chenxing helped Old Madam Li walk around the courtyard. She said with a smile, ¡°Grandmother, if you spoil me like this, I¡¯ll be spoiled.¡± Old Madam Li reached out and poked Xia Chenxing¡¯s face. ¡°Little girl, it¡¯s good that you know!¡± ¡°Hehe, of course I know that Grandmother dotes on me. Grandmother is the best!¡± With that, Xia Chenxing leaned her head on the old madam¡¯s shoulder. The old madam was not related to her by blood, so how could she protect her? On the other hand, the Xia family¡¯s relatives did not treat her as family at all and had harmed her time and time again. It was precisely because of this that she had to protect Old Madam Li well and not let her be harmed in any way. She would not let anyone who wanted to harm the Li family off. Old Madam Li was delighted by Xia Chenxing¡¯s words, but when she thought of how the Xia family could harm Xia Chenxing like this, she said worriedly, ¡°Chenxing, although the Xia family is your family, they¡¯re so heartless as to harm you. They don¡¯t treat you as family at all. Don¡¯t plead for them this time. I¡¯ll definitely teach them a lesson!¡± ¡°Grandmother, do I look silly?¡± Xia Chenxing replied with a smile, but her expression quickly darkened as she continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandmother. I¡¯ve already planned it. I¡¯ll definitely teach them a lesson this time!¡± Old Madam Li asked in surprise, ¡°You¡¯ve already planned everything?¡± Xia Chenxing smiled slyly and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, Grandmother. Everything has been planned. All that¡¯s left is Grandmother¡¯s move!¡± Old Madam Li pretended to be angry and said, ¡°You brat, you actually included Grandma!¡± ¡°No, Grandma, this means that the two of us have a tacit understanding!¡± Xia Chenxing stuck out her tongue and said mischievously. ¡­ . On the Xia family¡¯s side, the entire family was in a mess. They called Xia Chenxing like crazy. Xia Chenxing didn¡¯t turn off her phone or answer their calls. She just watched them call her over and over again. The thought of Xia Zhiguang¡¯s exasperated expression made her feel good. Just as Xia Chenxing had expected, Xia Zhiguang walked back and forth in the living room while talking on the phone, cursing from time to time. Zhuang Meiyu didn¡¯t even dare to breathe loudly. Seeing Xia Zhiguang throw the phone on the sofa again, she asked tentatively, ¡°Zhiguang, has Xia Chenxing picked up the phone yet?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention that unfilial daughter to me!¡± Xia Zhiguang was so angry that he fainted. Even his breathing quickened. After a while, he cursed, ¡°This unfilial daughter. The next time I see her, I¡¯ll break her legs!¡± Chapter 11 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Zhiguang could not understand why his daughter, who had always been obedient to him, had suddenly announced that she wanted to cut ties with him. Now, the whole of City W knew about it, and this made him lose face. What was worse was that she had actually called the police to arrest her own sister, causing her poor daughter to still be suffering in the detention center. She, on the other hand, was hiding somewhere and not answering her phone. Zhuang Meiyu was worried about her daughter. She cried at the side and said, ¡°It¡¯s useless for you to say this now. If you really can¡¯t do it, just give her 3% of the shares. Otherwise, what can we do? Boohoo¡­¡± Xia Zhiguang was already in a fit of anger, and when he heard Zhuang Meiyu¡¯s cries, he became even more frustrated. He said impatiently, ¡°It¡¯s impossible for her to take my shares!¡± Zhuang Meiyu was also anxious and cried, ¡°What if you don¡¯t give it to her? Zhixi is still being detained. Are you going to watch your daughter suffer? Xia Zhiguang, how can you be so ruthless as a father!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Zhixi is my daughter too. How can I not be worried!¡± Xia Zhiguang replied angrily. He turned to leave. When Zhuang Meiyu saw her husband¡¯s expression, the grievance in her heart deepened. She wailed and pounced on Xia Zhiguang. ¡°Xia Zhiguang, don¡¯t you even want to talk to me now? I¡¯ve been cursed for so long because of you. Even though you¡¯re married, I¡¯ve still taken care of you for so many years. I¡¯ve given birth to children for you and thought about you in every way. Now, you actually find me annoying? You heartless man!¡± As she spoke, she punched Xia Zhiguang and cried even harder. Xia Zhiguang was beaten until he covered his head and fled. Finally, he couldn¡¯t take it anymore and roared at her, ¡°Enough! Are you crazy?!¡± ¡°Scumbag, I was blind to be so loyal to you. You heartless, heartless man!¡± Zhuang Meiyu had completely fallen into a state of madness. She threw everything she saw. The cups on the coffee table and the pillows on the sofa were all thrown to the ground. The room was instantly in a mess. Xia Zhiguang finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He cursed, ¡°Crazy.¡± Then he left the villa without looking back. After a while, Zhuang Meiyu calmed down a little. She swore to herself that even if no one helped her, she would definitely save her daughter! ¡­ . The next day, Xia Zhixi was released. It was said that she was no longer a suspect. Zhuang Meiyu personally drove to pick up her daughter. After returning to the Xia family villa, Xia Zhixi quickly took a hot shower. God knew how uncomfortable it was to be in a smelly and dirty place like the detention center. After taking a shower and changing into clean clothes, Xia Zhixi went downstairs. She sat on the sofa and said worriedly, ¡°Mom, if Dad finds out that you gave your shares to Xia Chenxing without permission, he will definitely lose his temper.¡± ¡°So what if he loses his temper? You¡¯re my only daughter. How can I watch you go to such a place? He can lose his temper however he wants. He can¡¯t just chase us out of the Xia family.¡± ¡°Mom, but you should really listen to Dad about this. I think even if Xia Chenxing takes the shares, she won¡¯t let it go so easily,¡± Xia Zhixi said. She had thought about it carefully when she was in the detention center. She felt that Xia Chenxing had come prepared this time, but now that she had given up the shares, there was no room for regret. Seeing that her daughter did not understand her, Zhuang Meiyu was furious. She said angrily, ¡°Listen to your father? Do you think you can go home now if we listened to him? I¡¯m doing this for you!¡± At this moment, Xia Zhixi returned. The moment he entered, he saw his daughter, who was safe and sound on the sofa. He asked in surprise, ¡°Zhixi, are you alright?¡± Xia Zhixi immediately gave Zhuang Meiyu a look, then smiled sweetly and said, ¡°Yes, Dad, I¡¯ve made you worry. I¡¯m fine now. It was Brother Yisen¡¯s family who pulled strings to let me out.¡± Hearing this, Xia Zhiguang heaved a sigh of relief. He walked over and looked at his daughter guiltily. ¡°My good daughter, I¡¯m useless. You¡¯ve suffered.¡± Xia Zhixi had long known the ins and outs of the matter. She knew how hypocritical Xia Zhiguang was, but she was still living in the Xia family, so she had to please him. She secretly pinched her thigh hard, then said with tears in her eyes, ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m fine. In order to help the Xia family and Daddy, I can bear this grievance. Unfortunately, I still messed up with Boss Zhao in the end. I¡¯m sorry, Daddy. I¡¯m useless.¡± The more Xia Zhixi said this, the more guilty Xia Zhiguang felt. He knew that he owed his daughter this time. He said firmly, ¡°My dear daughter, don¡¯t worry. Daddy will take revenge for you!¡± Chapter 12 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Zhixi did not continue the conversation. Instead, she took the opportunity to ask, ¡°Dad, why did I hear that Xia Chenxing wants to terminate her relationship with you?¡± ¡°She¡¯s an unfilial daughter!¡± Xia Zhiguang replied angrily. He was furious at the mention of this. Xia Zhixi was secretly delighted. She didn¡¯t expect Xia Chenxing to dare to openly go against the Xia family this time. She quickly comforted him gently, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s good that Xia Chenxing did this. There¡¯s news of her adultery everywhere now. With the Li family¡¯s status, they definitely won¡¯t let her off easily. If we sever ties now, the Xia family won¡¯t be implicated in this matter.¡± Xia Zhiguang thought about it carefully. That was indeed the case. Why hadn¡¯t he thought of this earlier? Thinking of this, he immediately smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re indeed my good daughter. You¡¯re so meticulous.¡± Of course, Xia Zhixi had her own selfish motives. She added, ¡°Also, Dad, since Xia Chenxing wants to sever ties with you, we can¡¯t let her continue to stay in our Xia family¡¯s hospital. Weren¡¯t you worried that she would tamper with the hospital and poach talents? Now is the best opportunity!¡± Xia Zhiguang was enlightened and looked at Xia Zhixi with admiration. ¡­ . After Xia Chenxing married into the Li family, Old Madam Li¡¯s doted on her. She felt that it was inconvenient for the hospital to be too far from the old residence, so she bought an apartment near the hospital for her. With this apartment, even if she got off work in the morning, she could go home and rest as soon as possible. As it was, she got off the operating table and drove to the underground parking lot. It was one-fifty in the morning by the time she got on the elevator to the tenth floor. She dug her keys out of her purse with one hand and massaged her shoulder with the other. She was very tired. When she arrived at the apartment door, she had just inserted the key into the lock when she heard a loud bang from next door. She jumped, shuddered, and was instantly awake. If she remembered correctly, the next door had been unoccupied for a month because the last tenant had committed suicide in the house. Although the landlord had tried his best to defend himself by saying that the man was still breathing when he was found, the other neighbors had said that he had been stiff when he was carried out. It was impossible that he was still alive. In any case, the next door had become a murder house. No one had lived in it since. Curiosity killed the cat. Xia Chenxing understood this principle very well, but she controlled herself and shouted at the door next door, ¡°Is anyone there?¡± The corridor was empty and there was no echo at all. Only then did she realize something was wrong and a chill ran down her spine. Although she was a medical student and had been educated in science for many years, some things were instinctive and could not be controlled by humans. Just as she was starting to panic, the phone in her pocket rang. She almost jumped out of her skin. She patted her chest to calm herself, took out her phone, and quickly opened the door. She entered the building and locked it behind her. Then she picked up the phone and said, ¡°Du Yangyang, what time is it? Why are you calling me instead of sleeping? Who are you trying to scare to death?¡± Du Yangyang said, ¡°I know you have surgery today, so you definitely can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯m calling because I have something serious to tell you.¡± ¡°Tell me quickly. My time is very precious. I¡¯ll give you five minutes. Pay me if you exceed the time limit!¡± Xia Chenxing replied. Xia Chenxing was still in a bad mood. After changing her shoes and entering the house, she turned on the speakerphone and threw it on the sofa. Du Yangyang¡¯s complaining voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°Hey, is our friendship only worth five minutes? You¡¯re even charging a fee! Let¡¯s get down to business. The Xia family is holding a charity banquet the day after tomorrow. They¡¯ve invited a lot of reporters. I heard they¡¯re going to hold a press conference. Do you want to take a look?¡± At this moment, Xia Chenxing had already changed into her pajamas. She took a can of iced Sprite from the fridge and slumped on the sofa. She took a sip and said, ¡°Ah? What¡¯s the big announcement? Time is so tight.¡± Du Yangyang also said doubtfully, ¡°That¡¯s right. It must have been a last-minute decision. The invitation was only sent out today. Is your father going to cause trouble again?¡± Xia Chenxing replied without hesitation, ¡°That must be it. Xia Zhiguang does things for a reason, but I can roughly guess what he wants to do¡­ Yangyang, there¡¯s something I might need your help with.¡± ¡°I already know what you want. It¡¯s just an invitation, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve already saved it for you. Remember to come and get it tomorrow,¡± Du Yangyang replied. They had been best friends for years, and they knew each other well. They could guess a lot of things without saying them. Xia Chenxing¡¯s mood instantly improved. She chuckled and said, ¡°As expected, my Yangyang is so considerate. I¡¯ll give you a kiss, okay?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, alright. Five minutes is almost over. I don¡¯t want to pay for a chat. I might as well buy dog food to feed the stray dogs in the neighborhood.¡± Du Yangyang hung up decisively before Xia Chenxing could reply. Chapter 13 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Chenxing was stunned for two seconds before smiling. ¡°That¡¯s too heartless!¡± Xia Chenxing was probably too traumatized by what had happened next door. She actually didn¡¯t sleep well all night. When she woke up the next day, there were two large dark circles under her eyes. After she left the house, she deliberately went next door and knocked on the door, but there was still no answer. For the sake of sleep and health, she decided to go back to the old residence for the time being. This morning, she did a consultation. When she arrived at the hospital and changed her clothes, the nurse started calling numbers. Soon, the first patient came in. When Xia Chenxing heard the door open, she looked up and was stunned. She asked in surprise, ¡°Xia Lan, why are you here?¡± Xia Lan did not seem to have expected to meet Xia Chenxing either. She looked very awkward and turned to leave, but was stopped by Xia Ling behind her. ¡°Sister, things have to be resolved. Cousin¡¯s medical skills are very good, and she¡¯s family. She¡¯ll keep it a secret for you. Don¡¯t worry!¡± Xia Chenxing calmed down and asked routinely, ¡°Where is the patient feeling unwell?¡± Xia Lan did not leave, but she did not say a word. Xia Ling said, ¡°Cousin, actually, my sister is pregnant, but we can¡¯t keep this child. We have to abort it. Otherwise, if my father and the others find out, they will definitely beat my sister to death. Cousin, you won¡¯t tell anyone, right?¡± Xia Ling was the illegitimate daughter of Xia Chenxing¡¯s uncle. Her biological mother died when she gave birth, so she was brought back to the Xia family. She was usually gentle and weak, and everyone thought that she was easy to bully. However, Xia Chenxing knew that Xia Ling was a smart person. The life of an illegitimate daughter was not easy. To be able to make the daughter of the main wife accept her, she was definitely a capable person. ¡°The doctor will respect the patient¡¯s right to privacy, but it¡¯s hard to say about the others,¡± Xia Chenxing said lightly. Even if she didn¡¯t say it, it didn¡¯t mean that Xia Ling wouldn¡¯t. If she didn¡¯t say it in advance, wouldn¡¯t she have to take the blame for no reason in the future? Xia Lan was furious and immediately exploded when she heard this. She questioned, ¡°Xia Chenxing, what do you mean? You don¡¯t want to help me keep it a secret at all?¡± ¡°Miss Xia, haven¡¯t you learned Chinese before? Can¡¯t you understand these few words?¡± Xia Chenxing replied angrily. She was not obliged to explain everything to her, so she said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see me anymore, please leave. There are still many patients queuing up behind. Don¡¯t waste time.¡± Xia Lan was used to being arrogant. When had she ever been wronged like this? She immediately shouted, ¡°You think too highly of yourself. There are many doctors. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re the only one!¡± With that, she turned around and was about to leave, but she was stopped by Xia Ling again. ¡°Hey, Sister, Cousin already knows about your pregnancy. What¡¯s the point of leaving now? Besides, Cousin¡¯s medical skills are very famous.¡± Xia Lan had nowhere to vent her anger. Seeing that Xia Ling was stopping her again, she raised her hand and slapped Xia Ling. She scolded, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. You insisted on bringing me to find Xia Chenxing. I think you¡¯re deliberately colluding with her to make a fool of me!¡± Xia Ling covered her face aggrievedly and said with tears in her eyes, ¡°Sister, you misunderstood me. How could I do that? Cousin, help me explain to Sister!¡± Xia Chenxing was speechless. What was there for her to explain? If she really explained, she would really be misunderstood and colluded with Xia Ling. She did not want to be cannon fodder for others. She said calmly, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to see me, I¡¯ll call the next patient.¡± Although Xia Lan was not shrewd, she was not stupid. Considering the current situation, Xia Chenxing was the best choice. She sat down angrily and said arrogantly, ¡°If you want me to leave, I won¡¯t leave! I¡¯ll let you be my chief surgeon. If anything happens, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t become a doctor!¡± At this point, Xia Chenxing had no choice but to give her a test report. After all, doctors could not choose patients. After she finished updating the computer, she said, ¡°The report has been written. When you get the results, come back here. I¡¯ll arrange an operation for you.¡± Xia Lan snorted coldly and walked out of the consultation room. Xia Ling followed behind her like a little servant. The test results were out and eliminated an ectopic pregnancy. Xia Chenxing threw a surgical appointment slip to Xia Lan and said, ¡°Take this to my assistant and get her to make an appointment for you.¡± ¡°What? Xia Chenxing, I¡¯m your cousin. Do I have to line up with the others?¡± Xia Lan asked in disbelief. Xia Chenxing smiled and said, ¡°Cousin? My biological sister has to line up too. The hospital has rules that don¡¯t allow people to cut in line. I¡¯m really sorry. You¡¯d better go quickly. The later you make an appointment, the later the surgery will be.¡± Chapter 14 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Lan was furious. She said sarcastically, ¡°No wonder Xia Zhiguang doesn¡¯t like you. No one will like someone like you.¡± Xia Chenxing was not angry and replied calmly, ¡°If you want to see a doctor, I¡¯ll accompany you. If it¡¯s a personal attack, I¡¯ll call security. Anyway, a person like me doesn¡¯t care about relatives. What do you think, Miss Xia?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Xia Lan was so angry that her nerves were jumping. She raised her hand and was about to hit Xia Chenxing, but Xia Chenxing would not hold back like Xia Ling. She raised her hand and grabbed Xia Lan¡¯s wrist. She shook it off forcefully and said coldly, ¡°This is a hospital, not your house. It¡¯s not a place for you to behave atrociously. You¡¯re so young and have such a bad temper. Don¡¯t anger the child. The surgery will be in vain.¡± Xia Lan was so angry that her face was distorted. She said fiercely, ¡°You, you, Xia Chenxing, I¡¯m going to sue you!¡± Xia Chenxing did not mind and said calmly, ¡°Sue me? Sure, I happen to know a top lawyer who¡¯s especially good at fighting medical disputes. Shall I send you the contact details now?¡± At this moment, Xia Ling quickly came out to smooth things over and said, ¡°Sister, Cousin has to do the surgery for you. It¡¯s not good to fall out with her.¡± Xia Lan was furious, but she knew that what Xia Ling said made sense. She glared at her and slammed the door before leaving the consultation room. Xia Ling quickly followed her out. After the two of them left, the consultation room was finally quiet. Xia Chenxing did not think too much about it and continued to treat her patients. However, less than ten minutes later, the consultation room phone rang. It was an assistant from the office. After hanging up the phone, Xia Chenxing rubbed her temples speechlessly. Xia Lan was actually causing a scene in her office! Before she could reach her office, she heard Xia Lan¡¯s hysterical roar. When she reached her office, Xia Lan¡¯s anger seemed to have found an outlet. She pointed at Xia Chenxing and scolded, ¡°Xia Chenxing, are you deliberately trying to make a fool of me? The surgery will be scheduled for more than a month. By then, my stomach will be big. How can I hide it? You b*tch!¡± When the assistant saw Xia Chenxing, he said awkwardly, ¡°Dr. Xia, the surgery is scheduled on time, and the patients in front all know their surgery time. It might not be good to cut in line.¡± ¡°Huh? Who wants to cut the line?¡± Xia Chenxing pretended to be puzzled. The assistant asked in confusion, ¡°This lady said that she wanted to cut the queue. She said that she was your sister and asked me to help arrange it¡­¡± Xia Chenxing had long known that the surgery would be scheduled for more than two months later. She had deliberately asked her to make an appointment. In that case, there was no need for her to reject her. Xia Lan would not wait either. However, she still had to pretend at this moment. She said with a serious expression, ¡°The hospital doesn¡¯t allow people to cut in line. It¡¯s the same even if my biological father comes, let alone my sister. Since Miss Xia can¡¯t wait, she can only go somewhere else.¡± With that, she turned around and was about to leave. Hearing this, the assistant looked at Xia Chenxing in admiration. As expected of their hospital¡¯s role model. It was admirable. But how could Xia Lan give in so easily? She rushed towards Xia Chenxing and shouted, ¡°Xia Chenxing, you¡¯re too much. Don¡¯t leave. You have to settle this matter today!¡± Xia Chenxing remained calm. She deliberately said in a low voice, ¡°Xia Lan, the surgery is not something I can control. Are you sure you want to continue making a scene? Do you want more people to know about your pregnancy? Or do you want Uncle to hear about it?¡± Hearing this, Xia Lan immediately calmed down. However, Xia Ling, who was watching from the side, couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She hurriedly begged loudly, ¡°Cousin, can¡¯t you make an exception for Sister? I¡¯m begging you.¡± Xia Chenxing¡¯s eyes flashed coldly. She glared at Xia Ling and said, ¡°Xia Ling, you have to know when to stop, understand?¡± Either her eyes were too sharp or she understood her warning. Xia Ling quickly shut up and said nothing. Xia Lan noticed that many people had gathered in the corridor to watch the drama. She finally knew fear and fled in a hurry. Xia Ling was about to follow when Xia Chenxing stopped her. ¡°Xia Ling, wait a moment. I want to talk to you.¡± Seeing that the main disputer had left and the crowd had dispersed, Xia Ling walked back to Xia Chenxing with a smile and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Cousin? What do you want to tell me?¡± Xia Chenxing smiled, but her entire body was filled with coldness. She said in an imposing manner, ¡°Xia Ling, I know what kind of person you are. How you and Xia Lan fight has nothing to do with me, but if you want to treat me like a dagger in your hand, you have to think about it carefully and see if I will let you off.¡± Xia Ling was puzzled. She blinked and said, ¡°Cousin, what are you talking about? Why don¡¯t I understand?¡± Chapter 15 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Ling¡¯s innocent look had probably fooled many people, but Xia Chenxing did not fall for it. He said lightly, ¡°Save it, Xia Ling. Acting in front of me is useless. You clearly know that Xia Lan and I don¡¯t get along, but you still persuaded her to come to me for help. In the end, you caused a scene in the hospital. This way, you can take the opportunity to spread the news of her pregnancy to Uncle. When that time comes, Xia Lan will definitely fall out of favor, and your chance to replace her will come. Unfortunately, the plan is not bad, but you shouldn¡¯t use me because I won¡¯t be used by you.¡± With that, she brushed past Xia Ling¡¯s shoulder and was about to leave. Seeing that her plan had been exposed, Xia Ling stopped pretending to be innocent and weak. She suddenly turned around and said, ¡°Cousin, we¡¯re the same kind of people. We¡¯re also not valued by the family. We should help each other. What do you think, Cousin?¡± Xia Chenxing looked back and smiled. She said to Xia Ling, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. I¡¯m different from you. My mother is Xia Zhiguang¡¯s official wife, and I¡¯m the legitimate daughter of the Xia family. Even if I¡¯m not favored, I¡¯m different from you.¡± With that, she left coolly. Xia Ling clenched her fists tightly and watched Xia Chenxing leave with hatred. She swore to herself that one day, she would trample on everyone who looked down on her! ¡­ . After work, Xia Chenxing drove back to the old residence. Ever since Old Madam Li protected Xia Chenxing last time, the Li family no longer dared to underestimate her. She could do whatever she wanted in the old residence and did not have to follow any more rules. She lay lazily on the bed and played mobile games, completely different from her usual serious appearance at work. Suddenly, something flew towards her and she subconsciously grabbed it. ¡°You¡¯re a quick thinker, Miss,¡± Aunt May said with a smile. Only then did Xia Chenxing realize that it was Old Madam Li and Aunt Mei. She hurriedly stood up and said coquettishly, ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re trying to murder your own granddaughter-in-law!¡± ¡°Hmph, if you can¡¯t even catch this, you deserve to be smashed,¡± Old Madam Li said. She sat on the bed with Aunt Mei¡¯s help and said, ¡°What are you waiting for? Hurry up and open it to see if you like it or not.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Xia Chenxing quickly replied and opened the big black velvet box in her hand. She said in surprise, ¡°Grandmother, you hit the jackpot. Why did you think of buying me a gown?¡± Old Madam Li flicked her forehead and said, ¡°What are you talking about, little girl? When did I give you less pocket money?¡± Xia Chenxing covered her forehead and stuck out her tongue. ¡°For the sake of the gown, I won¡¯t argue with Grandmother!¡± She draped the gown over her body and liked it no matter how she looked at it. She said, ¡°Grandmother has such good taste now. Looks like my hard work these past few years wasn¡¯t in vain!¡± Aunt Mei covered her mouth and laughed. She loved watching the two of them bicker. ¡°Stupid girl, how can you speak so rudely? Other than you, no one in the Li family dares to speak to Grandmother like this. You¡¯re asking for a beating!¡± Old Madam Li pretended to be angry, but everyone could see the love in her eyes. ¡°Sure, Grandmother. Just don¡¯t feel bad if you hurt me!¡± Xia Chenxing said mischievously. Old Madam Li did not know whether to laugh or cry. She really could not do anything about this little girl. ¡°By the way, Grandmother, why did you suddenly think of buying me a gown? I happen to need a gown,¡± Xia Chenxing said as she looked at the gown. Old Madam Li did not answer her question directly. Instead, she said, ¡°Why do you care so much? Just keep the gown well.¡± The two of them chatted for a long time. They didn¡¯t look like grandfather and granddaughter, but like old friends who had spent many years together. When Old Madam Li returned to her room, she instructed Aunt Mei to call Li Ruixu. Once the call went through, she said coldly, ¡°I just wanted to let you know that Grandmother has completed the mission you gave her.¡± Li Rui knew the old madam was unhappy when he heard her voice. He looked at the accounts for the past three years and replied casually, ¡°Got it, Grandmother.¡± Hearing no other voice on the other end of the line, Old Madam Li was angry. Did he really treat her as his subordinate and ignore her after completing his mission? She said angrily, ¡°Li Ruixu, you brat. I¡¯m your grandmother, not your subordinate. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t come and see me after you wake up, but you¡¯re actually unwilling to even say a few words. Are you trying to rebel?¡± When Li Ruixu heard this, he silently closed his computer and said, ¡°Grandmother, calm down. When I¡¯m done here, I¡¯ll definitely go home and accompany you for a while.¡± Chapter 16 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Old Madam Li knew her grandson¡¯s personality very well. He was usually very cold and did not like to get close to others. To be able to talk to her like this was already considered gentle. She could only say helplessly, ¡°Ruixu, don¡¯t blame me for being angry. How can you chase after your wife with your cold personality? Chenxing is my granddaughter-in-law. You can¡¯t scare her away. Otherwise, I will definitely break your legs!¡± At the mention of that woman, Li Ruixu recalled her clever and cunning appearance when they first met. It was because of this that when he heard that the Xia family was holding a charity banquet tomorrow, he immediately instructed Xiao Qi to buy a gown and asked his grandmother to give it to the woman. He had a feeling that this woman would definitely go to the banquet. He did not know where this intuition came from. ¡°Grandmother, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up. I¡¯m still busy here. I¡¯ll call you another day.¡± With that, Li Ruixu hurriedly hung up. Before Granny Li could reply, she heard a busy tone coming from the receiver. She was furious and complained to Aunt Mei, ¡°Ah Mei, look at this brat. He hung up just like that!¡± Aunt Mei smiled and comforted her. ¡°It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t know Young Master¡¯s personality. But no matter what, he¡¯s still very filial to you, don¡¯t you think?¡± Her grandson had to put up with it himself. What else could she do? Like a small child throwing a tantrum, Granny Li puffed out her cheeks and pouted unhappily. ¡­ . The next night, Xia Chenxing walked out of her small Mercedes with a blue gown that had a train. There were so many tiny diamonds on the gown that it was as shiny as Bondi Beach in the sun. As soon as she got out of the car, she attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Du Yangyang, who was not far away, walked over with a shocked expression and said, ¡°Oh my god, Chenxing, you look like a princess in a fairy tale in this gown. This gown is so beautiful. The color and the diamonds. They¡¯re amazing!¡± Xia Chenxing was tall and curvy. She looked especially charming in such a long strapless dress. ¡°Right? I think it looks good too. If I hadn¡¯t said anything, would you have guessed that my grandmother chose it?¡± Xia Chenxing said with a chuckle. ¡°What? Your grandmother chose it? You¡¯re definitely joking with me!¡± Du Yangyang said with a look of disbelief. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t respect the old madam, but the clothes the old madam had bought for Xia Chenxing were too ugly. They were colorful and the style looked like they had been dug out of an ancient tomb. They looked old and rustic. No matter how beautiful Xia Chenxing was, she would instantly age ten years if she wore them. Xia Chenxing raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°Of course not. How is it? Are you very envious of me?¡± With that, she walked towards the banquet hall. Du Yangyang quickly followed and shouted, ¡°Swing your butt gently. Be careful not to flash your old waist!¡± The Xia family was naturally the main host of the charity gala held by them. As the only daughter of the Xia family, Xia Zhixi was the focus of everyone¡¯s attention. She dressed up carefully and walked into everyone¡¯s line of sight with confident steps. Countless socialites took the initiative to greet and curry favor with her. The Xia family alone did not have such great influence, but she was about to marry into the Yin family. The Yin family was many times stronger than the Xia family, so everyone naturally had to flatter her. As the second-largest shareholder of the Xia Group, Xia Shouguang had to attend such an important event. He brought his daughter, Xia Lan, along. Xia Lan followed behind Xia Zhixi and flattered her, ¡°Cousin, you¡¯re too beautiful today. I think all the socialites present are not as beautiful as you.¡± Xia Zhixi liked these compliments very much. She was secretly delighted, but she still had to act humble. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. There are still some outstanding socialites in W City.¡± ¡°But no matter how beautiful they are, they can¡¯t compare to Cousin. Besides, Cousin¡¯s status is so noble. Who can compare to her?¡± Xia Lan spared no effort in currying favor. She was right. Yin Yisen was the only son of the Yin family. In W City, other than the Li family, the Yin family had the highest status. Now that Xia Lan was about to join the Yin family, her status had also risen. At this moment, the socialites around Xia Lan suddenly dispersed and gradually gathered at a place. It seemed that a noble figure had appeared. Xia Zhixi did not leave her spot, but she craned her neck and looked in the direction of the crowd. She asked curiously, ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± There were too many people, and Xia Lan could not see who it was, so she suggested, ¡°I can¡¯t see clearly. Cousin, why don¡¯t we go over and take a look?¡± Chapter 17 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The two of them walked to where the crowd was gathered and looked at the door. Unexpectedly, it was Xia Chenxing who entered the banquet hall! She was wearing a blue strapless dress that was stunning blue. The diamonds on it shone under the huge crystal chandelier. Of course, everyone was gathered here not just to see how beautiful Xia Chenxing was today, but to gossip. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Xia Chenxing? Didn¡¯t she dare to cut ties with Xia Zhiguang? Why is she here at the Xia family¡¯s charity banquet? She¡¯s really thick-skinned.¡± ¡°You just found out today that she¡¯s thick-skinned. Have you forgotten that three years ago, she was the one who married the rooster? What¡¯s this little scene?¡± ¡°However, Xia Chenxing¡¯s gown looks really good today. It seems to be a new gown that has just been released by Santa Ana. It hasn¡¯t been released to the public yet.¡± Xia Zhixi looked at the dazzling woman and gritted her teeth in hatred. She rolled her eyes and walked straight to the two women who were gossiping just now. She deliberately said loudly, ¡°You¡¯re right. The Santa Ana gown isn¡¯t sold yet. She¡¯s wearing a high-quality imitation.¡± Hearing this, the surrounding people sighed and looked at Xia Chenxing again with envy and disdain. Some people even said sarcastically, ¡°If she can¡¯t afford it, then don¡¯t wear it. Why did she have to wear a fake? How embarrassing!¡± Xia Lan was also quite dissatisfied with Xia Chenxing because of the hospital incident. Now that she had found an opportunity to get back at her, she quickly said sarcastically, ¡°Fortunately, she has already severed ties with the Xia family. Otherwise, she would be embarrassing our Xia family!¡± When Xia Chenxing heard the discussions around her, she frowned and said, ¡°Yangyang, why are there so many flies in the banquet hall? They¡¯re buzzing. How annoying!¡± ¡°Exactly. Not only do the flies know how to buzz loudly but they also know how to suck up. It¡¯s disgusting just thinking about it,¡± Du Yangyang said in agreement. Du Yangyang was every bit as offensive as Chenxing. After all, she was the editor-in-chief of Entertainment Weekly. Someone couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°Xia Chenxing, who are you calling a fly?¡± Xia Chenxing smiled and replied, ¡°Whoever speaks is a fly!¡± She had always been like this. In the eyes of those close to her, she was humorous and trustworthy. In the eyes of these malicious people, she was just difficult to get along with. She was a lunatic with a vicious mouth. She continued to walk forward, but the woman who was scolded was not convinced and rushed up from the side to argue with her. Xia Chenxing seized the opportunity to look up and pushed the other party. She said indifferently, ¡°Why are you so close? Fortunately, you¡¯re a woman. Otherwise, I would have thought you were a hooligan. Don¡¯t you understand the basic social distance?¡± The woman was pressed down by Xia Chenxing and could not move. A few of her fake eyelashes fell off as she shouted emotionally, ¡°Ah¡­ my eyelashes!¡± Xia Chenxing quickly let go of her palm and said in disdain, ¡°What are you shouting for? Hurry up and touch up your makeup. What quality fake eyelashes are you wearing? They¡¯re like fly legs that drop off with a touch!¡± On such an occasion, only Xia Chenxing dared to speak without any scruples. That woman wanted to save face and could only leave dejectedly to touch up her makeup, not daring to pester Xia Chenxing anymore. At this moment, Xia Chenxing noticed Xia Zhixi, who was watching the commotion in the crowd. She walked up to Xia Zhixi. She was relatively tall to begin with, and after putting on her high heels, she could only look down at her and say, ¡°Xia Zhixi, what did you just say? I¡¯m wearing a high-quality imitation? Open your dog eyes and take a good look. Can Santa Ana¡¯s anti-counterfeiting gold be casually imitated?¡± Anyone familiar with the Santa Ana brand knew that every piece of clothing in their house had an exclusive gold-embossed logo that no other brand could replicate. Xia Zhixi leaned over to take a closer look. The gold was indeed real, but in front of so many people, she couldn¡¯t admit that she was just spouting nonsense. She rebuked. ¡°Xia Chenxing, watch your words. Even if you¡¯ve cut ties with the Xia family, you¡¯re still a member of the Li family. Don¡¯t embarrass the Li family.¡± ¡°Oh, then you don¡¯t have to worry. Grandmother loves me very much. She won¡¯t blame me for such a small matter. As for you, Miss Xia, you won¡¯t be angry and bite me after I expose you in public, right?¡± Xia Zhixi¡¯s face darkened. One moment, she was calling her a dog, and the next moment, she was saying that she bit people. She couldn¡¯t pretend anymore and said fiercely, ¡°Xia Chenxing, you¡¯re the dog. Your entire family are dogs!¡± Chapter 18 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Seeing that Xia Zhixi had finally exposed her true nature, Xia Chenxing smiled in satisfaction and said, ¡°Sigh, I thought Miss Xia was a gentle and virtuous person. It turns out that you¡¯re just like me. But I don¡¯t have to pretend. You¡¯re working too hard.¡± After saying that, she deliberately patted Xia Zhixi¡¯s shoulder. When she walked to her side, she whispered to her, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry first. This is only the beginning. Bear with it. Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll die of anger. Be careful next!¡± With that, she twisted her hips and left, leaving Xia Zhixi fuming on the spot. Not far away, Li Ruixu was sitting on the sofa, drinking champagne and watching a good show. From time to time, his lips curled up. Seeing this scene, Xiao Qi couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Boss, Sister-in-law is really valiant!¡± ¡°How¡¯s the dress?¡± Li Ruixu asked suddenly. ¡°Ah? It¡¯s a gown that dazzles everyone!¡± Xiao Qi replied honestly. ¡°Yes,¡± Li Ruixu replied casually. He got up with the champagne and left. ¡°Esteemed guests, the charity banquet¡¯s auction is about to begin. Please take your seats as soon as possible.¡± The auctioneer¡¯s voice came from the radio. Everyone found their seats and sat down. Xia Chenxing and Du Yangyang sat at the back. There was an unwritten rule in the auction. The closer one sat to the front, the more noble one¡¯s status was and the more interested they were in the auction items. Sitting at the back was basically just to join in the fun. The auction officially began. The first item was a Ming Dynasty landscape painting. Many wealthy families liked to buy these things to accentuate their taste. It didn¡¯t matter if they didn¡¯t understand how to appreciate it. As long as it was expensive, it was fine. The few big shots competed for it and it was sold after a short time. The second auction item was an emerald ruyi. Although it was also an old item, the quality of the jade was not very good. In the end, only one person called a price and it was sold at the initial price. The next few items were not very stunning, but after all, it was a charity party. The money that was earned at the auction would be donated to charity. There were no items that failed to be auctioned. It was not until the last item was on the stage that everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. Xia Chenxing had not been very interested in the auction. She had been looking down at her phone, but when she heard the auctioneer say the words ¡°Heart of the Forest,¡± she looked up abruptly. It turned out that the finale item was the famous ¡°Heart of the Forest.¡± ¡°Heart of the Forest¡± was an emerald from Colombia. The gem had a net weight of 28.8 carats and was a mozzarella green, and was oil-free. The gem was heart-shaped and flawless. It was surrounded by D-grade diamond fragments from South Africa. It was extremely luxurious and was the dream gem of many wealthy ladies. Unfortunately, there was only one such gem in the world. It was said that someone had once offered a hundred million yuan on the black market to buy this ¡°Heart of the Forest,¡± but in the end, they had not been able to. Xia Chenxing stared at the Heart of the Forest with shining eyes and asked in disbelief, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear wrongly. Is it really the Heart of the Forest?¡± Du Yangyang¡¯s gaze was also focused on the extremely beautiful gem. She replied, ¡°Yes, I really didn¡¯t expect your father to be so capable. He can even get such a precious thing. Amazing!¡± ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve underestimated Xia Zhiguang,¡± Xia Chenxing replied. As expected of the finale item, everyone present was extremely interested in this ¡°Heart of the Forest¡±. After the auctioneer¡¯s introduction, he announced the starting price of eight million. In less than ten seconds, the price was raised to 20 million. But in the next second, a man in the front row raised his sign and shouted calmly, ¡°Sixty million.¡± Hearing that someone had offered such a high price directly, everyone looked over. So the person who had called the price was Yin Yisen. ¡°As expected of the young master of the Yin family. His family is indeed rich. Looks like Young Master Yin is planning to give this ¡®Heart of the Forest¡¯ to his fianc¨¦e. Miss Xia is really lucky!¡± ¡°Exactly. Such a perfect couple. I¡¯m so envious.¡± Xia Zhixi was sitting beside Yin Yisen, and sweetly holding his arm. Her face was full of happiness as she said, ¡°Yin Yisen, I understand your intentions, but this gift is too expensive. It¡¯s not necessary.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Sixty million is worth it if it makes you happy,¡± Yin Yisen said to her affectionately. But before the two of them could finish showing off their love, someone in the back row suddenly shouted, ¡°80 million.¡± The crowd was shocked again and turned to look at the back row. They did not expect Xia Chenxing to be the one bidding! Chapter 19 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xia Chenxing accepted everyone¡¯s gazes with a calm expression, as if she wasn¡¯t the one bidding just now. However, Du Yangyang, who was beside her, couldn¡¯t sit still. She said in a low voice, ¡°Hey, Chenxing, are you crazy? Although Old Madam Li loves you, she can¡¯t possibly give you 80 million to buy this thing. How can your pocket money be enough!¡± Before Xia Chenxing could answer, Yin Yisen called out another bid. ¡°85 million.¡± Xia Chenxing said without hesitation, ¡°90 million.¡± Yin Yisen replied, ¡°95 million.¡± Xia Chenxing said, ¡°A hundred million.¡± When he shouted 100 million, the crowd was in an uproar. Xia Chenxing was still calm, but Du Yangyang was already trembling nervously at the side. ¡°Chenxing, from now on, we¡¯re no longer friends. You¡¯re you, and I¡¯m me. If anyone pursues you, don¡¯t say my name. Thank you!¡± Yin Yisen¡¯s expression collapsed, but he had to pretend to be calm. He looked back at Xia Chenxing¡¯s calm face and his anger grew. Sixty million was his estimate of the Heart of the Forest. He had raised the price quickly in order to get it faster. Who knew that Xia Chenxing would interfere? In this situation, stopping would damage his reputation. Continuing to bid would cost him a lot more money. He was so angry that he stood up and shouted at Xia Chenxing, ¡°Xia Chenxing, an auction isn¡¯t a game of numbers. You have to pay for the numbers you call out. If you don¡¯t have the money, you¡¯ll have to pay legal responsibility. I understand that you¡¯ve always resented me for breaking up with you back then, so you deliberately raised the price. But it¡¯s been so many years. We¡¯re not children anymore. It¡¯s wrong for you to do such a willful thing.¡± It was no secret that the two of them had been in love. Three years ago, Xia Chenxing had been mocked by wealthy families for not knowing that she had been cheated on by her biological sister. She was really stupid. Xia Chenxing¡¯s expression was calm as she sat there calmly. She smiled and asked, ¡°So, Young Master Yin, what do you mean?¡± Yin Yisen was immediately at a loss for words. He didn¡¯t know what to say. He hadn¡¯t expected the woman to remain unmoved. After thinking for a few seconds, he continued, ¡°Xia Chenxing, give up. I¡¯ll plead with the organizers for you and ask them not to trouble you.¡± Clap, clap, clap. Xia Chenxing raised her hands and clapped. She smiled and said, ¡°Young Master Yin, what a good plan. You¡¯re unwilling to continue bidding, but you actually thought of such a rotten idea. Unfortunately, it¡¯s useless to me. I just fancy the Heart of the Forest. I can¡¯t give it up so easily.¡± Yin Yisen gradually lost control of his expression and said with a ferocious expression, ¡°Xia Chenxing, do you hate me that much? Don¡¯t tell me you still have feelings for me? Otherwise, why would you insist on bidding with me when you don¡¯t have money and embarrass me in public?¡± ¡°Pfft, hahaha¡­¡± Xia Chenxing couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. After a while, she held her stomach that was hurting from laughing and said, ¡°Young Master Yin, is your skin thicker than the floor tiles in this banquet hall? Ah, no, I think it¡¯s several times thicker than the floor tiles.¡± She didn¡¯t expect Yin Yisen to be able to make such a ridiculous deduction and even have the cheek to say it in public. She didn¡¯t want to continue arguing with him, so before he could reply, she said, ¡°Host, is the auction still going to continue? Or has this ¡®Heart of the Forest¡¯ been decided for the future son-in-law of the Xia family?¡± The auction had always been open and fair, especially for charity. Not only were the leaders of the charity present, but there were also recorders and supervisors. Even if the Xia family was the organizer, they could not casually tamper with this. The auctioneer said firmly, ¡°That will not happen.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s continue. Don¡¯t waste any more time,¡± Xia Chenxing said with a wave of her hand. She was sitting in an inconspicuous position in the back row, but she had become the center of attention. The auctioneer was a little stunned, but he continued to shout, ¡°One hundred million going once, one hundred million going twice, one hundred million going thrice¡­¡± ¡°101 million.¡± Just as the auctioneer was about to call out the deal, Yin Yisen finally couldn¡¯t help but raise the bid again. However, he clearly didn¡¯t dare to pretend to be generous this time. He only raised it by one million. Xia Chenxing smiled faintly. She knew Yin Yifu to a certain extent. She knew that with his prideful personality, he would raise the price again even if he gritted his teeth. However, he must have been heartbroken to spend more than 100 million on Xia Zhixi. This was interesting. Xia Zhixi raised the number plate in her hand again, but before she could bid, a man in the other corner of the same row shouted the price first. ¡°One hundred and ten million.¡±