NOVEL NEXT Chapter 104 - 104 Both he and I have done more
Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Both he and I have done more
By the Qing Lake, the kiss ended.
Qiao Xi’s ears turned blazing red as she looked down and whispered softly, “Mr. Huo…”
He was always cold and proud. How could he do such a thing in front of so many people?
“Suddenly felt like it,” Huo Xingzhou pressed down an even hotter tide of emotion.
Their relationship had undergone a breakthrough last night. Even if they hadn’t taken the final step, there was no real difference anymore. A man always craves more of the woman he likes, never satisfied.
At his response, heat rose to Qiao Xi’s head. Shy glimmers flickered in her eyes as she looked into his, with a torrent of words she didn’t know how to express.
Xiang Huai paced over and said to Huo Xingzhou, “Let’s talk.”
Knowing when to bow out, Qiao Xi let go of Huo Xingzhou’s hand and said, “Mr. Huo, I’m going to watch the fireworks over there.”
She left with a spring in her step.
Xiang Huai’s contemptuous gaze shifted from her retreating figure to Huo Xingzhou. “You don’t need to do this to make Xingluo feel hurt and regretful.”
“You like Xu Xingluo. Don’t treat everyone like a fawning dog,” Huo Xingzhou said indifferently, his gaze relaxed.
“The cause of her mental illness is you!” Xiang Huai said sharply. “You saw that psychological report, didn’t you? She’s been diagnosed with PTSD after the car accident, which developed into severe depression. Only you can save her! She was also a victim of that accident. It’s the Huo Family that owes her!”
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Xiang Huai was emotional, his face contorted with rage. “Huo Xingzhou, don’t you think she feels she abandoned you when you were critically ill and went abroad? When she learned you had become a vegetable, her emotions spiraled out of control, and she tried to commit suicide.”
“It was the Xu Family who sent her abroad forcibly. Xingluo never thought of leaving you!”
Huo Xingzhou’s expression was indifferent. Hearing his accusations one by one, he finally spoke, “So what?”
“Divorce the country girl and marry Xingluo,” Xiang Huai said bluntly.
The corner of Huo Xingzhou’s mouth twitched slightly as he responded sarcastically, “Are you okay?”
Xiang Huai demanded coldly, “Huo Xingzhou, have you forgotten what happened ten years ago? Back then, you promised the Xu Family to protect her for life.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Huo Xingzhou said, his eyes half-closed, which was exactly why he had done his utmost for the Xu Family in the beginning.
…
On the other side of Qing Lake, the gentle waves lapped against the shore, where strange rocks were covered with wet and slippery green moss.
Qiao Xi gazed at the colorful fireworks filling the sky, a smile curving her lips.
“Miss Qiao.”
A dissonant female voice came from behind her.
Xu Xingluo approached in her elegant black mini dress, sighing as she said, “He never used to do things that would degrade himself like this.”
Qiao Xi furrowed her brows and looked towards her.
With a reconciling smile, Xu Xingluo said, “If it weren’t for that car accident, Brother Xingzhou and I would probably be engaged by now.”
Engaged?
What was Su Weiwei then?
A stand-in found after the accident?
The smile gradually faded from Qiao Xi’s face.
Xu Xingluo continued slowly, “We were childhood sweethearts, Haicheng’s acknowledged golden couple.”
Qiao Xi bit her lip and asked, “What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing much. Just thought you seemed a bit pitiable and wanted to give you a friendly heads-up. Brother Xingzhou and I have over a decade of affection. You and him…” Xu Xingluo’s gaze was one of pity, of sympathy.
Qiao Xi’s eyes slightly dropped. She had only known Mr. Huo for a few months.
Xu Xingluo then asked, “I heard you’re a college student sponsored by the Xingyue Foundation? Actually, that foundation…” She stopped mid-sentence, covering her mouth and then added, “I’m afraid the truth might hurt you.”
Her words implied more than they said.
Qiao Xi’s fingers dug deep into her palm, what was the truth?
Xu Xingluo’s peach blossom eyes were full of scheming as she took hold of Qiao Xi’s hand and whispered, “Your marriage started off wrong, has he ever personally told you he loves you? Has he ever willingly said he wants to marry you?”
Qiao Xi felt dazed, he hadn’t said that.
Even from the start, an agreement had set boundaries on their relationship, meant to take effect once time was up.
Xu Xingluo murmured, “Men and women sometimes make intimate, ambiguous moves due to a rush of hormones. It’s quite normal, I and Brother Xingzhou… have done even more than you.”
She laughed bashfully.
Qiao Xi was lost in thought, they…
“Qiao Xi, he’s just acting out and being contrary with me. I don’t want our love to hurt you, an innocent person. If you don’t believe me, let’s make a bet.”
“Bet on what?” Qiao Xi followed her lead and asked.
Xu Xingluo suddenly laughed, pulling her into Qing Lake.
Qiao Xi fell into the cold, dark depths of the lake unguarded, swallowing several mouthfuls of water, a fear of drowning engulfing her.
Struggling in the water, Qiao Xi felt the air being squeezed from her lungs, panic hitting her full force. As her consciousness blurred, she saw that noble, abstinent man shed his coat and leap into the lake, swimming toward Xu Xingluo’s direction.
Her heart sank to the bottom, as if blasted by the cold gales of winter, blood turning to ice.
Qiao Xi closed her eyes weakly, sinking into the water.
Just as she fell into despair, a hand suddenly grabbed her clothes, and said with contempt, “Huo Xingzhou saving Xu Xingluo is an instinct etched into his bones. Only I can be so charitable as to save your wretched life.”
Xiang Huai’s tone was full of disgust, Qiao Xi’s head buzzed, and her stomach ached sharply.
“Qiao Xi, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll quickly divorce Huo Xingzhou.”
Qiao Xi was extremely weak, barely perceiving through half-closed eyes Huo Xingzhou holding Xu Xingluo as they swam to the shore.
A sharp pain spread from her chest throughout her body with no warning, her heart colder than the waters of Qing Lake at the end of spring.
Xiang Huai brought her to the shore, where guests were already gathered. They surrounded the tearful Xu Xingluo and Huo Xingzhou, offering words of concern and comfort.
There, Xu Xingluo’s frail figure trembled, soaking wet, her arms clinging tightly around Huo Xingzhou’s waist.
The tear mole at the corner of her eye was striking, complementing the red mole on Huo Xingzhou’s neck. It was as if to proclaim they were the ones who belonged to the same world, with Qiao Xi being nothing more than an interloper.
“See how well they match?” Xiang Huai mocked, “Without me, you would have drowned. Huo Xingzhou wouldn’t care about your life or death; he would only save Xu Xingluo.”
Seizing the chance to sow discord, only Xiang Huai himself knew the machinations that had led to such a misunderstanding.
Qiao Xi, clutching at her chest and coughing, stood drenched.
The qipao she wore was stained with mud, a picture of utter disarray.
The scattered gazes of the guests fell upon her, filled with pity and disdain.
Tonight, they had seen the depth of Huo Xingzhou’s feelings for Xu Xingluo, a golden couple of Haicheng that has been unshakable for over a decade.
It was not a fairytale that a country girl could shatter.
Within the crowd, Xu Xingluo clutched Huo Xingzhou’s shirt, her eyes pure and clear as she spoke, “Brother Xingzhou, you should check on Qiao Xi!”
She craned her neck to look at Qiao Xi and called out, “Qiao Xi, are you alright? I don’t know why I fell into the water; it felt like someone pushed me, and I just grabbed onto the person next to me.”
Hearing this, the guests all looked doubtfully at Qiao Xi.
At that moment, it was only Qiao Xi and Xu Xingluo standing together. Xu Xingluo surely wouldn’t be foolish enough to jump in herself, right?
So, it was Qiao Xi who had pushed Xu Xingluo?
Qiao Xi’s body tensed, and a strong sense of grievance and anger surged from within.
The jostling and impulse drove her to approach Xu Xingluo, raising her hand to deliver a slap.
Slap!
A sharp slap landed on Xu Xingluo’s cheek.