Qiao Xi added the friend and shut off her phone.
She happened to meet Huo Xingzhou's cold gaze and was startled.
Knock knock.
A knock at the door from outside startled them both.
"Young Master, Doctor Zhuo is here," Aunt Qian called out to remind him.
"Mm, have him come up."
Hearing Zhuo Feng's name made Qiao Xi full of wariness. He was a rotten apple using his medical skills to harm people, and he would kill Huo Xingzhou.
Huo Xingzhou patted the back of her hand to comfort her, "Don't be nervous, just act as usual."
Qiao Xi took a deep breath and nodded her head.
On the other side.
Zhuo Feng, under Aunt Qian's guidance, went upstairs. All along the way, this chilly villa had only one servant. He looked down on them in his mind. The second branch was really in decline, nowhere near as impressive as the Huo Family's main branch.
"Young Master, Doctor Zhuo has arrived."
"Second Young Master." Doctor Zhuo called out indifferently. When he saw Qiao Xi, a wave of disgust surged from within, "I don't like having outsiders around when I treat patients. Especially those medical students who think too highly of themselves but haven't even graduated. Please ask the Young Madam to leave."
He looked down on Qiao Xi.
After finding out that she was studying medicine, he scorned her even more. How much skill could one learn in school? She was outrageously arrogant! Having learned a little, she came out to show off!
"I will not disturb you," Qiao Xi said.
"Does the Young Madam want to steal a few tricks? I am the disciple of National Doctor Cheng Han. It's likely the Young Madam will never in her life witness such exquisite acupuncture technique, no wonder you don't want to leave," Zhuo Feng said sarcastically.
Huo Xingzhou was actually quite calm, holding Qiao Xi's hand and speaking, "Newlyweds are inseparable, please excuse us Doctor Zhuo. I can't bear to be apart from her for even a moment."
Aunt Qian covered her mouth to stifle her giggles, content that men knew to appreciate their wives after marriage.
Zhuo Feng snorted coldly, "Then stay. I suppose with mediocre talents, the Young Madam won't be able to steal much anyway."
His haughty demeanor was amusing to Huo Xingzhou. Aside from Cheng Han himself, no one understood Qiao Xi's talent better than he did, and here was a fool daring to be arrogant.
"Many thanks to Doctor Zhuo for being so generous," Huo Xingzhou said, not minding being extra polite to him.
Zhuo Feng said with a stern face, "Please have the Young Madam remove the Second Young Master's clothes, I need to administer acupuncture."
Acupuncture, that is, needle insertion and moxibustion, are two steps.
Qiao Xi, like a beleaguered little wife, helped Huo Xingzhou lie down on the bed, bending over to remove his clothes. Having done this many times, she was used to it, but she still blushed every time she saw his body.
Zhuo Feng opened his luxurious and exquisite medicine box, spread out the needle pack, with a row of Golden Needles especially prominent.
He handled the needles seriously and inserted them.
Qiao Xi watched his hands, silently reciting the acupoints: Zusanli, Chengfu Acupoint, Yinling Spring...
These acupoints could stimulate the legs, but the accompanying acupuncture technique was neither here nor there, just appearing mysterious and profound. Zhuo Feng really did not come to treat Huo Xingzhou sincerely.
After he finished the needling, he started the moxibustion.
Qiao Xi felt that warm-needle moxibustion was more effective, wrapping Mugwort Floss around the needle's end during the needling, then lighting it. Through the needle, it penetrates into the acupoint.
To warm and unblock the meridians, to promote qi and invigorate the blood.
After Zhuo Feng had finished everything, he took out a packet of medicine and said, "This is for a medicinal bath, once a day. I will come back to perform acupuncture in three days."
He left carrying his medicine box. Qiao Xi opened the medicine packet and scrunched up her nose to sniff. She picked out two tampered ingredients, White Aconite and Angelica Dahurica.
"The acupuncture is fine, but the medicine is poisoned."
Qiao Xi's pretty face grew cold, "He's truly vile! He even ground the herbs into powder and dyed them."
"With the Little Divine Doctor by my side, no matter his scheming, it will be of no use," the man said, sitting on the edge of the bed, his outer garment hanging loosely on him, with his Adonis belt faintly visible.
Qiao Xi spoke softly, "Don't call me that, I'm just an ordinary medical student with mediocre talent, yet to graduate."
Huo Xingzhou leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, "Little fool, do you really know nothing at all?"
She truly deserved the title "Little Divine Doctor".
No one knew when that respected National Doctor, Elder Master Cheng, would support her and help raise her reputation.
"Hmm?"
Qiao Xi looked at him, puzzled.
"Never mind, just follow your prescription and prepare a medicinal bath for me," Huo Xingzhou didn't clarify further, thinking that Qiao Xi was bound to make a name for herself in Haicheng.
"Then I'll start by treating you with acupuncture to regulate your condition first, he has stuck a few of the points incorrectly." Qiao Xi took out a dusty old medicine box from beneath the bed, the old needle pack had been washed to whiteness, containing a set of Silver Needles.
It was evident that she cherished them, but Huo Xingzhou felt it was a pity.
What was Zhuo Feng thinking!
Only Golden Needles were suitable for her!
She bent over, twisting the needles, piercing them gently into the skin. Soft Mugwort Floss wrapped around the needle tips, burning with a clean fragrance.
Huo Xingzhou watched her intently. Qiao Xi was very pretty, with an oval face, crescent brows, almond eyes. Her lips were nicely shaped, curling up slightly, giving her a clean and unadorned look.
"Where is your phone?" he asked.
"In my pocket," Qiao Xi replied casually.
"Let me see it."
Without a second thought, Qiao Xi handed her phone to Huo Xingzhou, then lowered her head to continue the acupuncture.
Huo Xingzhou swiped across the screen and, upon opening the contacts, finally saw the remark she had set for him, "Mr. Huo"—utterly unsurprising.
He changed the remark directly and then accidentally glanced at a few messages, his gaze darkening.
Qiao Xi peered over and caught a glimpse, the redness spreading from her ears down her delicate white neck.
Utterly embarrassed!
How could he have changed it to "Husband"?
The man, unbothered, put the phone aside and stated righteously, "Your remark was too impersonal. If someone with intentions saw it, they might get suspicious."
"Then what did you put as my remark?" Qiao Xi asked, puffing up her cheeks.
"Ouch, my leg hurts a bit."
He covered it up with a single sentence, and Qiao Xi bent down again to check his legs.
She was really easy to deceive.
"Where will the class reunion be? Do you need me to take you there?" Huo Xingzhou asked as if it were an offhand inquiry, having seen some affectionate and cheesy messages on her phone.
"Shanhai Banquet. I'll just take a taxi there when the time comes."
She indeed refused him. Afraid of being seen by someone?
Huo Xingzhou's fingertips stroked the edge of the bed, watching her tidy everything up and leave the room. He took out a tablet from the bedside table, connecting to the villa's cameras.
On the screen, Zhuo Feng's face appeared.
He hadn't even left the villa when he was already eagerly reporting to Huo Beiting via phone.
"Eldest Young Master, Huo Xingzhou didn't suspect a thing, he even thanked me. Those medicinals I provided were all tainted; just one month of use will bring about a violent death."
Zhuo Feng, like a sycophantic dog, tried to please Huo Beiting: "Eldest Young Master, no one will be able to compete with you for properties anymore. Once this is done, send me abroad, and I won't reveal a single word."
"It won't be discovered, that Qiao Xi isn't capable of much, she can't even properly recognize medicinals."
Zhuo Feng's voice transmitted clear and loud into Huo Xingzhou's ears, who then scoffed, "Idiot."
The car accident didn't kill him, now the main branch wanted to poison him to death.
Then let them have their way. When the time came, he would put on a show of a serious illness for them to see, making them arrogant and complacent!