Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Consecutive Schemes
 

At the entrance of the banquet hall, Qiao Xi applied a light touch of makeup. Adorned in a white cheongsam embroidered with hibiscus, she moved elegantly towards the gathering. She tugged at the cheongsam’s mandarin collar to cover the kiss mark on her neck.

The folly of the previous night left her hands still feeling a bit numb.

Xu Xingluo approached to greet her, looking like a swan emerging against the light, stunningly beautiful. She cheerfully called out, “Miss Qiao, welcome.”

Qiao Xi nodded politely in response.

She did not have much interaction with Xu Xingluo, but the few times they met were hardly pleasant. Perhaps it was the ambiguous relationship she had with Huo Xingzhou that made her feel uneasy.

Without any obvious discomfort, Xu Xingluo intimately linked arms with Qiao Xi and said, “It seems we are fated to meet, to think we look so alike. Let’s exchange contact information? I’ll scan your code.”

She took out her phone, brooking no refusal.

Qiao Xi reluctantly accepted the friend request, only to notice Xu Xingluo’s profile picture was a white swan. She froze for a moment because she had accidentally seen that very picture on Mr. Huo’s phone before.

“Miss Xu, there’s no need for you to go out of your way to entertain me. I’ll just sit in a corner for a bit,” Qiao Xi said politely.

Xu Xingluo was the center of attention at the event, and Qiao Xi disliked the feeling of being scrutinized, as if she were being stripped bare for examination.

She even overheard hushed whispers from the crowd, commenting on how she and Xu Xingluo standing together looked like sisters.

There were even more outrageous speculations.

“Huo Xingzhou must be pining for the past, just look at that face…”

“Exactly. How could a country girl compare to Xu Xingluo? Could it be a case of spurned love, finding a replacement out of spite?”

With a smiling face, Xu Xingluo calmly said, “Miss Qiao, don’t mind what they say.”

Those words stung Qiao Xi’s heart like biting ants.

The term “replacement” made her extremely uncomfortable.

Yet she consoled herself over and over again with Huo Xingzhou’s words, Mr. Huo had said that “Xu Xingluo was just someone unimportant.”

Qiao Xi looked into her eyes and said, “We are not alike.”

Xu Xingluo let out a soft laugh. She knew Qiao Xi was not at peace inside.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd.

It turned out that Liu Zongquan and Yang Yuerong had arrived with their baby, drawing everyone to surround them and play with the child, all while using the opportunity to present valuable gifts. The extraordinary gifts, ones Qiao Xi had only seen on TV, filled the room.

She subconsciously clutched her handbag, which contained the homemade gift she had made for the full-month celebration.

She thought about waiting until the crowd thinned out to give it, not wanting to stir up any trouble.

“A Ming Dynasty jade cicada, wow! General Manager Yang, you sure are a generous uncle!”

The guests exclaimed in awe.

It turned out that the gift-giver was Yang Yuerong’s brother, the baby’s maternal uncle, who had brought a Ming Dynasty jade cicada. Symbolizing endless life, it conveyed an elder’s auspicious wishes for the child.

The crisp voice of Xu Xingluo rang out, “What does this jade cicada look like? I want to see it too!”

The moment she saw the jade cicada, her face lit up with joy.

“Uncle Yang, so you were the one who got the other jade cicada at the Yuandu Auction. I had planned to pair them up as a gift for my little cousin,” Xu Xingluo said, taking out an antique small redwood box and opening it.

The lifelike jade cicada inside indeed matched the one presented by the Yang Family.

“They really are identical!”

General Manager Yang nodded in approval, “Xingluo you are thoughtful.”

The Yuandu Auction was not a place a young lady like her could easily attend; she must have gone through a lot of trouble. The Ming Dynasty jade cicada was rare and highly prized, not something easily found.

Xu Xingluo humbly replied, “If you keep praising me, my tail is going to lift up to the sky. We all hope the little cousin will be safe and sound.”

Listening to Xu Xingluo say this, the crowd once more praised her for being as kind-hearted as she was beautiful.

Xu Xingluo smiled coquettishly and winked at Xiang Huai in the crowd.

Xiang Huai raised his voice and said, “Miss Qiao, what gift have you prepared this time? The disciple of National Doctor Cheng Han and the first lady of Tianyuan Group must have brought something of immense value.”

“We’d like to broaden our horizons.”

“Yes, what are you hiding?”

In the lively scene, guests are most easily stirred up.

Xu Xingluo, holding Qiao Xi’s arm, cooed, “I’m curious about what they’re saying. May I have the honor of taking a peek?”

Her cheeks were filled with a naïve and innocent smile, as if she were a carefree Little Fairy.

Next to her, Yang Yuerong, holding her baby in her arms, intervened, “It’s time to start the banquet. Let’s take our seats first. The gifts are secondary—it’s an honor for us to have you here, giving face to the Liu Family.”

She inwardly blamed Xu Xingluo for not knowing the severity of her actions, unsure whether Xu was doing it deliberately or unintentionally.

Xiang Huai, however, was relentless, pressing Qiao Xi aggressively, “You didn’t come without a gift, did you?”

Qiao Xi’s heart tightened.

She knew it was difficult to escape this predicament; Xiang Huai’s hostility towards her was always clear.

Rather than being nervous and uneasy, she chose to be open and gracious. Her soft voice came out, “I did bring a gift—a handmade trifle, really not worth mentioning.”

She opened her handbag and took out an exquisitely embroidered fragrance pouch.

“Tch.”

Seeing the fragrance pouch, Xiang Huai let out a disdainful sneer, “A common fragrance pouch that you can buy anywhere on the street?”

Qiao Xi explained, “According to ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’, fragrant herbs can be used for healing. This fragrance pouch is for expelling pathogens, strengthening the exterior to support the correct qi, and preventing colds. The child was born from a difficult labor and has a weak constitution. With summer around the corner and the cold from air conditioning, it’s better to be prepared.”

Hearing her explanation, many people had an epiphany.

“I’ve heard that years ago, the fragrance pouches prepared by Cheng Han were all the rage and sold out instantly. These medicinal herbs…”

Qiao Xi said, “It’s a formula modified by my master from the ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’, safe even for children to use.”

What a thoughtful gift!

Yang Yuerong was moved to tears, “Only a mother understands the ingenious thought that Dr. Qiao put into this. You’ve really addressed my immediate concern. We’ve been very careful with this child because of his frailty.”

“This is care that money can’t buy,” Chairman Yang remarked with admiration as he closely inspected the fragrance pouch. “The heirlooms passed down from our ancestors are indeed rare treasures. Miss Qiao is truly remarkable!”

With a forced smile, Xu Xingluo said, “Qiao Xi, you’re really amazing. Compared with your gift, mine feels quite inadequate. No wonder my aunt and grandmother like you so much.”

In a soft voice, Qiao Xi replied, “My skill is nothing more than a minor art.”

Yang Yuerong said, “Dr. Qiao, could you please attach the fragrance pouch to the baby?”

“Sure.”

Qiao Xi did not refuse; she pinched the fragrance pouch and tied it onto Liu Rongbao’s clothes. The fair and chubby little bun was extremely happy, “giggling” and tugging at her clothes, not wanting her to leave, even extending his arms for a hug.

Yang Yuerong laughed, “You and the baby must be fated. Usually, he won’t even let Xingluo hold him; he really seems to like you. Dr. Qiao, please hold him for a moment.”

Hearing this, Xu Xingluo’s eyes darkened.

After some polite refusal, but unable to withstand the enthusiasm of mother and child, Qiao Xi reached out her hands and took the baby.

Someone joked, “Since the children like you so much, why not have one of your own?”

Qiao Xi’s face flushed, but as she cradled the soft bundle in her arms and gently soothed him, her heart melted.

Suddenly.

She stumbled.

Qiao Xi’s high heel twisted, and with the baby in her arms, she tumbled forward.