Wang Fengxian covered her mouth with a laugh and said, "Turn the volume up all the way—wouldn't want anyone to miss a word!"
Huo Beiting pressed the volume button until it was at the maximum and placed the phone directly in front of Huo Xingzhou.
"Mr. Huo, our Sun family has decided to relocate from our old residence to make way for your Future City project," said Sun's voice, deep and commanding, resounding through the entire living room.
A smug grin spread across Huo Beiting's face as he cast a condescending glance at the second household.
"Mr. Sun, thank you for agreeing to this on my behalf—"
"Please don't misunderstand, Mr. Huo," interrupted Mr. Sun. "I agreed out of respect for the second branch of the Huo family. Kindly relay my regards to Second Young Master and his wife. I'll invite them to dinner soon."
Mr. Sun hung up without waiting for a response, leaving Huo Beiting frozen, his expression twisted in disbelief.
The entire first branch looked utterly shocked. Never in their wildest dreams did they think the Sun family would make such a decision in favor of Huo Xingzhou!
"Oh my, such thick skin!" Huo Sijiao jeered. "Cousin, how much is your so-called 'face' even worth?"
"Sijiao! Mind your manners!" scolded Du Juan with mock sternness, though the satisfaction in her tone was evident.
Sun's remarks were like a sharp slap across the faces of the first branch. Their expressions turned sour, as if they'd swallowed something bitter.
Huo Xingzhou clasped Qiao Xi's wrist gently and, with a calm expression, said, "Thank you, Cousin, for finding Dr. Zhuo to treat my legs. The project is yours. Grandpa, we'll take our leave now…"
"Father, we'll visit again soon," Du Juan added politely.
The second household promptly left the old residence, leaving behind a tense and awkward silence. Even Old Master Huo, frustrated by the first branch's behavior, retired to his room without dinner.
The once lively hall grew eerily quiet.
Huo Beiting, his face dark with fury, ground his teeth. "I'll call Sun Weimeng right now and find out what's really going on. How dare that nouveau riche play me!"
He dialed Sun's number, and Sun Jr., clearly in high spirits, heaped praise on Qiao Xi, even remarking that Huo Xingzhou had married an exceptional wife. Furious, Huo Beiting hung up abruptly, his hands trembling with anger.
Wang Fengxian, anxious, exclaimed, "That country girl—she actually has this kind of influence?"
Huo Beiting sneered. "It's nothing but a fluke. She's a dropout from Haicheng University's medical program. If she can't even handle basic first aid, she'd be a complete idiot. Did you really think someone like her could compare to a disciple of Cheng Han?"
Relieved, Wang Fengxian leaned back, while Huo Jianjun chimed in, "Without the project, the second branch has no chance of competing for the inheritance. From what Father said, it seems he plans to announce the heir at his seventieth birthday banquet—and it's going to be our branch."
"Really?" Huo Beiting's eyes lit up with excitement. "Even if he doesn't announce it, Huo Xingzhou won't live long. Dr. Zhuo is a sharp tool, capable of killing without leaving a trace."
Father and son exchanged a knowing, malicious glance.
That evening, at the second branch's villa.
After arriving home, the family burst into laughter.
Du Juan, smiling lightly, said, "We lost the project this time, but Xingzhou's legs can be treated. As long as we're healthy and safe, that's all that matters. I've made all the arrangements with Dr. Zhuo."
"Exactly! We don't need to fight for the inheritance. Health is the priority," said Huo Jiancheng, always content and uninterested in corporate disputes. "Xingzhou, why did Sun Jr. do you this favor?"
Huo Xingzhou glanced at Qiao Xi, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "The other day, Qiao Xi happened to save Sun Jr. when he collapsed."
"That makes sense. Your mother did mention she studied medicine at Haicheng University, but I didn't expect it to be true," said Huo Jiancheng, nodding in understanding.
Qiao Xi's medical background and basic emergency skills seemed plausible enough, so no one in the second branch questioned it further.
Du Juan, clearly proud, added, "Even Aunt Qian praised your massage techniques! And those herbal treatments you've been preparing for Xingzhou's recovery—they're all your idea, aren't they? You really take great care of him."
"Sister-in-law, you're amazing!" Huo Sijiao chimed in, clinging to Qiao Xi's hand.
Qiao Xi forced a small smile, deliberately avoiding Huo Xingzhou's gaze. "It was just luck."
Huo Xingzhou's eyes softened as he looked at her. To him, she wasn't just lucky—she was his lucky star.
As emotions stirred in his gaze, he knew she was feeling awkward. He'd need to find an opportunity to set things straight…
"Come on, tonight I'm sleeping with my sister-in-law!"
Huo Sijiao dragged Qiao Xi upstairs, laughing. "Everyone else has sisters; I only have a grumpy older brother!"
Huo Xingzhou reached out to stop them but came up empty, catching only a faint whiff of herbal fragrance.
Du Juan and Huo Jiancheng couldn't help but laugh at the scene.
"Funny, wasn't it you who woke up asking for a divorce?" teased Du Juan. "Well, your legs are on the mend, so your father and I will move back soon to give you two some privacy."
"Mother, it's not what you think," Huo Xingzhou protested, though his tone carried a hint of helplessness.
Du Juan opened her mouth to tease him further but was interrupted by Aunt Qian's arrival.
"Young Master, Mr. Zhou is here. He's been waiting in the study for quite some time."
"I'll go right up," said Huo Xingzhou, maneuvering his wheelchair toward the study.
Du Juan sighed with a smile. "We've truly married into good fortune."
Aunt Qian added, "I think they're a perfect match! The Young Madam is far more beautiful than that—"
"Don't you dare mention that wretch!" snapped Du Juan, her mood souring instantly.
"Yes, ma'am," Aunt Qian mumbled, swallowing her words about how much prettier the Young Madam was.
In the study.
Zhou Yu yawned, flipping through stacks of documents. When the door finally opened, he glanced up and grumbled, "Took you long enough. I nearly fell asleep. So, you really handed the project to Huo Beiting?"
Huo Xingzhou closed the door quietly, his long, pale fingers catching the light.
"If I didn't give it to him, how would he dare act so smug?"
"To destroy someone, you must first inflate their ego," Zhou Yu mused, crossing his legs with a grin. "I have no doubt the first branch will regret this soon. That project's a ticking time bomb, and the penalty clause will let Tianyuan Group reap a fortune."
He gave a thumbs-up. "Huo Xingzhou, you're ruthless. I like it!"
Huo Xingzhou's expression darkened as he lowered his head, the light casting shadows across his sharp features. "I haven't forgotten the car accident. If it weren't for Qiao Xi, I'd have lost my legs forever."
He would've been lost—broken, despairing, spiraling out of control.
Zhou Yu leaned in with a mischievous smirk. "So, how do you plan to repay her? Marrying her for real seems out of reach for now."
Huo Xingzhou shot him a frosty glare. "Is your brain always in the gutter?"
"There are rumors going around that the accident left you infertile. Is it true? Do you even feel anything for your wife?"
The chilling look on Huo Xingzhou's face silenced Zhou Yu instantly.
Realizing he'd hit a nerve, Zhou Yu slapped his own mouth and quickly changed the subject. "Do you think the first branch might dig into Qiao Xi's background?"
"They won't," Huo Xingzhou replied coolly. "The first branch is too arrogant to even consider it. Zhuo Feng is their informant, so who would suspect Qiao Xi's connection to Cheng Han?"
There was an unmistakable hint of pride in his tone.
"But what about her involvement with the Sun family…" Zhou Yu trailed off, recalling the severity of Huo Xingzhou's condition. No one would believe that a few experts failed, yet Qiao Xi succeeded.
"She studied medicine. Saving a life isn't a stretch. I'll protect her identity. You must also keep this confidential."
Zhou Yu nodded in agreement. "Smart—hiding in plain sight. I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't double-checked her file a dozen times."
"Not even your parents?" Zhou Yu asked cautiously. "How long do you plan to keep them in the dark?"
"Until I can stand on my own two feet," Huo Xingzhou said, his tone resolute.