Actor?
Qiao Xi struggled to ask, "Are all businesspeople this cunning and devious?"
Huo Xingzhou smoothed out the crease on his pant leg and replied, "It's all about using small resources for big gains; strategy is key."
Qiao Xi finally understood—it didn't cost much to hire actors, and his projects were what really held value.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
The simple "thank you" made Huo Xingzhou feel unexpectedly at ease.
They soon arrived at the hospital, and Qiao Xi busily arranged for her grandmother's admission. The elderly woman's body had been worn down over the years, and her energy was fading. Qiao Xi knew her skills in Chinese medicine couldn't reverse the damage, so she would have to rely on Western medicine's strong treatments to prolong her grandmother's life.
"Darling, I don't need to stay in the hospital," her grandmother said, clutching Qiao Xi's sleeve with her frail hand. "Don't worry about me; I'll be fine back in the countryside."
"No way. You have to listen to the doctor—he said you can be treated," Qiao Xi insisted. "I'll go take care of the paperwork. You rest up."
As she passed Huo Xingzhou, she paused for a moment but ultimately said nothing, continuing out of the room.
"Mr. Huo, thank you for today," the elderly woman said, leaning back against the soft pillow. Her clouded eyes were filled with humble gratitude.
"After all, she's my wife now," Huo Xingzhou replied, seated in his wheelchair with his hands resting on his lap.
"She's had a hard life," the grandmother continued. "Her father passed early, and her own mother left her for wealth. She relied on kind neighbors to put her through school—she had to grow up too fast." She wiped a tear with her rough hand as she spoke.
Huo Xingzhou thought back to her assertive side from before; she hadn't seemed so docile then.
"She's straightforward, stubborn. She doesn't know how to please people, and she doesn't yield easily. But give her a bit of kindness, and she'll give back tenfold. Mr. Huo, can I ask you to look out for her?"
Huo Xingzhou listened quietly and gave a soft nod.
The details from her investigation report seemed so sterile and factual; yet hearing her story made it come alive.
After spending most of the day with her grandmother, Qiao Xi finally left the hospital with Huo Xingzhou in the evening.
On the way home, the quiet interior of the car was dimly lit, and the silence was broken by his voice.
"Do you still stand by what you said before?" His dark eyes glimmered slightly. "That you can heal my legs?"
"Yes!" Qiao Xi replied emphatically, almost swearing on it. "I promise I'll help you walk again."
This time, Huo Xingzhou believed her.
He had an inkling that she was the protege of Master Physician Cheng Han, and he had every reason to trust her abilities.
"Who was your teacher?" he asked, still wanting to hear her say it herself.
Qiao Xi's cheeks flushed as she explained, "I learned from Grandpa Cheng, our neighbor. He may not be as famous as Mr. Cheng Han, but he taught me with such care. The people in our village all depended on his treatments."
So it was true.
She didn't realize she had been trained by such a prominent mentor, nor did she know that Cheng Han had hidden away in the countryside under an alias.
"I trust you," Huo Xingzhou said softly.
It was a relief. By hiding the old master's whereabouts, he had managed to protect Cheng Han's quiet retirement.
"Your grandmother's condition is complex. I've arranged for a caregiver to be with her long-term, and you can visit her at the hospital whenever you want. The medical bills will come out of your treatment fees."
"Mr. Huo, I'm really grateful," she said, her clear eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you for believing in my skills."
"Qiao Xi, soon they'll all be coming to you for help."
Those short-sighted people had no idea of the treasure they had overlooked.
He had once been one of them.
Qiao Xi didn't understand the depth of his words; she only felt that his voice had a calming, gentle warmth, like the moonlight dancing on a lake on a spring evening.
Then, Huo Xingzhou took a document from the center console and handed it to her.
She glanced down at the bold, black title that read, "Marriage Agreement." The document stated that once his legs were healed, they would divorce, with the maximum timeframe for treatment set at three months. It also specified that he would provide her with a property and a check for a million as a token of thanks.
"If you have no objections, go ahead and sign. I don't like to owe people, and this can act as a confidentiality agreement as well." He had drafted it after reading her investigation report.
Qiao Xi looked up at him, then signed her name in her elegant yet slightly sharp handwriting.
"Mr. Huo, here's to a smooth collaboration," she said, her almond-shaped eyes lighting up with a sincere smile.
Huo Xingzhou paused, returning her smile with a faint one of his own.
For the first time, he felt something stir in his heart, like the soft touch of a feather.
"Qiao Xi, this is for your own choice."
The agreement wasn't to bind her; it was to give her freedom from any obligation to stay.
Later that evening, when they returned home, Aunt Qian greeted them.
"Young Master Zhou is here to see you."
"Hmm."
Qiao Xi pushed his wheelchair up the slope, and as they passed through the entrance, they saw a striking young man lounging on the couch. He had a few strands of messy bangs across his smooth forehead, with deep-set eyes that hinted at blue—a mix of charm and confidence.
"Second Brother Huo," the man greeted, looking at Qiao Xi. "This must be your wife?"
He had come to see for himself the woman who had prompted Huo Xingzhou to mobilize an entire group of "actors."
"This is Zhou Yu," Huo introduced simply, "not someone you need to be polite to."
"Hey! What do you mean, 'not someone important'?" Zhou Yu complained. "I've been helping you for years!"
Qiao Xi grinned, her delicate brows lifting with amusement.
Zhou Yu shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
"Second Brother, I actually came here on business," he continued.
"I'll let you talk," Qiao Xi said considerately. "I'll go prepare." For acupuncture treatment.
Huo Xingzhou nodded.
After she left, Zhou Yu leaned in, smirking, "Prepare? Like, you mean 'get ready'?"
"Get out," he replied flatly.
Meanwhile, at the Su residence, Su Weiwei was fuming, throwing her makeup products to the floor in frustration.
"That lowlife! How dare she!" Jealousy burned inside her, but she repeatedly assured herself that Huo Xingzhou was now disabled, and Huo Beiting was still the best option.
Her phone buzzed, and when she saw the name on the screen, she took a deep breath and answered in a syrupy tone. "Brother Beiting, Huo Xingzhou has gone too far! He brought…"
"Did you get the item?" Huo Beiting cut in, his patience thin. "If your family doesn't get me what I need, there's no way I'm marrying you."
Su Weiwei's expression froze.
"But I made Qiao Xi take my place in marriage for you," she said, trying to maintain her composure.
"Then I'm hanging up."
"Wait!" An idea flashed across her eyes, filling her with a renewed determination. "I have a new plan! This time, the Huo family's second branch will be forced to kneel before you and hand over the transfer papers."
She shared her idea, and Huo Beiting chuckled in satisfaction.
"Su Weiwei, you're even more ruthless than I thought!"
This plan would leave no loose ends.