"Qiao Xia, where did you find some stray man to act this out? You really have some nerve." Qiao Lan couldn't help but sneer, a sneer that in others' eyes seemed malicious.
Qiao Xia just felt a tremendous headache, as if her head was about to split open; her vision fragmented into several pieces, becoming blurry. Heat rose from deep within her, making her head even more dizzy, and her face abnormally flushed with red.
Qiao Guang said, "None of this is true, the company was founded by both my brother and me, don't listen to their nonsense."
Gu Xiaowu gave a cold laugh, "Was it Mr. Qiao Guan who single-handedly founded it, or was it a joint effort? Just look it up, this isn't something that can be faked."
Qiao Guang was furious, "Who is this? Get him out, out!!"
Li Hui also said in a stern voice, "What he's saying is not the fact. Get him out."
This was indeed fury born of humiliation.
All of a sudden, Qiao Xia staggered, nearly falling. Inside, she felt an indescribable heat, as if on fire. Her rationality seemed to be slipping away, and though she fought to stay upright, her vision was nothing but a blur.
Qiao Lan had noticed her abnormal state early on, and with a hand on Qiao Xia's arm, a cold and malicious voice sounded in her ear, "Qiao Xia, feeling hot, aren't you? Uncomfortable? Let me tell you, this time there's no escaping. Even if you spill past incidents, what does it matter? You won't get the company back; the house will never be yours. You'll just be a woman played by others, fallen into the dust."
"Of course, you could try to make Third Young Master Liu like you, maybe after he's tired of playing, he won't give you away to someone else."
Qiao Xia felt dizzy and hot, an anxiousness that desperately needed something to fill it: "You drugged me!"
That cup of corn juice — Sister Gui had always been a silent and kind-hearted woman; surely it was not she who had plotted against her. It must have been Qiao Lan, likely Sister Gui herself didn't know that she brought something that was drunk without any precaution.
"Qiao Lan, you've gone too far!" Qiao Xia pushed her away and stepped back, "I've never seen such a malicious woman like you."
Qiao Lan pressed in step by step, "Who makes you such an eyesore."
Qiao Lan smiled and called Liu Yitian over. Liu Yitian had no interest in the Qiao family's lawsuit, but he was very interested in Qiao Xia. He wrapped one arm around Qiao Xia and caressed her face with the other.
This skin was so soft it felt like water could drip from it. Qiao Xia's face was flushed red, her eyes somewhat hazy, unable to recognize the person in front of her. Yet, deep inside she knew it was Third Young Master Liu. She used all her strength to push him away as her body kept falling backward, bumping into the piles of tall champagne glasses stacked up. The glasses were many layers high, filled with champagne, and it seemed like all the glasses and champagne were about to fall on her when suddenly; a force out of nowhere pulled her into a warm embrace.
The man sheltered her head with one hand, turned his body to block the champagne, and protected her securely in his arms, as if, it was his duty.
Protecting her was the natural thing to do.
Qiao Xia was so feverish that her eyes were blurry, unable to see the person clearly. Everything seemed surreal, her sense of smell becoming more acute, the scent of a man's embrace, a faint smell of cologne mixed with a woody freshness.
His large hands firmly wrapped around her waist.
"Don't be afraid," she heard a voice calm yet suppressing anger, as if coming from far away. Qiao Xia desperately wanted to see clearly the person holding her, but could only make out the vague silhouette of a man.
Gu Xiaowu hadn't expected his master to personally intervene, after all, that was too conspicuous.
He had seen Qiao Xia's condition as well, probably Fourth Young Master couldn't hold back any longer.
That look in his eyes was chilling to the core.