Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him

In a corner of the staircase.

Seeing the name flashing on the screen, Qiao Xi answered, suppressing her aversion.

"Hello."

"Xixi," Zhao Yuzhen gently probed on the other end of the line, "I heard Huo's second young master has woken up? Are his legs truly ruined?"

The doctors had just issued a diagnosis, and the Su Family was already privy to internal information.

Zhao Yuzhen did not express concern about how the Huo Family would deal with a surrogate daughter-in-law, nor did she ask about how she spent the previous night, but instead sought to pry into insider details.

Qiao Xi's heart grew even colder.

She said indifferently, "If there's nothing else, I'm going to hang up."

"Wait!"

Zhao Yuzhen called out anxiously, "You must help your sister! Huo Xingzhou has a major project in his hands, a collaboration between Tianyuan Group and the Huo corporation. If you can convince him to sign the 'Project Transfer Document,' your sister will be able to marry the elder Huo heir, and you can be sisters-in-law."

Qiao Xi laughed in scorn.

"What makes you think I can do this favor? I'm just a bride brought in to avert disaster, with no status whatsoever."

Zhao Yuzhen coaxed her patiently, "Since you married in, Huo Xingzhou has woken up. The second branch of the Huo Family is counting on you now. Besides, he's already a cripple; what use does he have holding onto the project? It's better to hand it over and ensure your sister's marriage to the Huo elder heir."

Greed flickered in Zhao Yuzhen's eyes; that project could reap profits in the billions upon completion. And it was through that very project that Huo Xingzhou had secured his position in the Huo corporation.

"I can't help you."

With that, Qiao Xi was about to hang up the phone.

Zhao Yuzhen's voice turned shrill, as she shouted, "That rural old hag has been taken to the Su Family! If you don't agree, you may never see her again in your lifetime."

"Have you no heart!" Qiao Xi roared, "She's my grandmother, your mother-in-law as well!"

All these years, if it hadn't been for her grandmother raising her, she would have died a long time ago!

Her grandmother eked out a meager existence, scrimping and saving for her schooling, working herself to illness. No matter how hard she tried to learn medicine from the neighbor, Old Man Cheng, she couldn't save her grandmother's worn-out, failing body.

Zhao Yuzhen actually made her travel a long distance! Who knew what hardships and indignities that old lady had to suffer?

"Your father died early, and I have no blood relation to that old hag," Zhao Yuzhen said callously.

Clutching her phone, Qiao Xi's knuckles turned white, and her fingers trembled.

Biting her lip and holding back tears, she reddened her eyes and asked, "Am I still your biological daughter?"

Zhao Yuzhen was silent for a while, then answered with cold indifference, "Weiwei is the one I raised with my own hands; she comes from a good background, has charm, and talent. You managed to marry the Huo second heir, she should obviously marry someone even better than you. I don't care whether you steal or rob, you must do it."

"On the day you return to your parents' home for the visit, I expect good news. Otherwise... considering the old woman's age, anything can happen."

Zhao Yuzhen hung up the phone directly.

A chill rose from Qiao Xi's feet and crept up her spine. The air she breathed felt like knives scraping her throat and lungs, piercingly painful.

...

After a while, there was a sound at the top of the stairs.

"Young Madam, what are you hiding here for?"

Aunt Qian had searched for her for a long time, pulling her toward the master bedroom, "The young master woke up and has been asking for you."

Qiao Xi pocketed her worries and followed Aunt Qian into the room. Huo Xingzhou's mother greeted her warmly, pulling her beside the bed and said to the stern man lying there.

"This is Qiao Xi, your wife. You were married to her while you were in a coma."

Qiao Xi met the icy gaze of Huo Xingzhou, feeling awkward and ashamed, and lowered her head. He must think of her as a despicable woman, more beastly than a beast.

There was a storm brewing in the man's eyes, like a ferocious wind sweeping over a desert; his brow furrowed, exuding coldness.

"Divorce," he commanded, with an edge in his voice.

Qiao Xi looked at him, astonished.

"No!" Du Juan raised her voice in objection, indignantly claiming, "Qiao Xi is your life! What if you die after divorcing? Are you still thinking about that little slut?"

"Mother," his voice was slow and hoarse, as he was just recovering from a serious illness and full of resignation, "now that I'm awake and a cripple, having lost my inheritance rights, why should I delay others?"

Tears welled in the eyes of Huo Xingzhou's mother as she sobbed, "It will get better, just as long as we can find that elderly gentleman! You still have resources at your disposal to make a comeback! Everything will turn out okay!"

"Did you ever ask this young lady if she was willing to be widowed alive?"

As Huo Xingzhou spoke, he was looking directly at Qiao Xi, a different meaning hidden in his eyes.

Qiao Xi felt as though ants were crawling all over her body, awkwardly reminded of last night's embarrassing interaction. Did he think she was such a dissatisfied person?

Mrs. Huo felt a bit guilty, looking at Qiao Xi, who was full of turmoil.

"Qiao Xi, are you willing to stay with Xingzhou? Although our branch of the Huo Family has lost power, I still have a sizable dowry, which should be enough for our expenses," she pleaded with Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi's lips were tightly pursed, her fingernails digging deeply into her skin. Zhao Yuzhen was using her grandmother to threaten Huo Xingzhou for the major project he held, but it seemed that those things were the only chance for the second branch of the Huo Family to turn the tables.

Should she take away the hope of Huo Family's second branch?

But what about her grandmother?

Her silence, in the eyes of the mother and son, was a sign of unwillingness.

The man lying in the bed had a distant look in his eyes and a proud air about him, as if he had come to a conclusion, "We'll proceed with the divorce tomorrow."

Qiao Xi suddenly came to her senses, her soft voice sounding out.

"I won't divorce!"

In the face of Huo Xingzhou's terrifying gaze, she mustered her courage and said, "I'm already married to you, I am willing to be widowed alive!"

Mrs. Huo heaved a sigh of relief and, with tears turning into laughter, said, "Good child, I knew you were different from those other women. Aunt Qian, let's go, we shouldn't disturb the young couple from nurturing their affection."

"Ah."

Aunt Qian responded with a sound, giving Qiao Xi an "heroic" look.

The two left, closing the door behind them.

Qiao Xi stood by the bed, her head down, fiddling with her fingers, licking her dry lips. The man's sharp gaze was fixed on her.

After a long while.

He said distantly, "Miss Qiao, I can give you money. Her dowry is all tied up in the stock market, she's deceiving you."

Qiao Xi bit her cheek, explaining, "I'm not after money."

Huo Xingzhou saw flashes of last night's scenes before his eyes, his chest heaving slightly as he said stiflingly, "Awake, I would never indulge you to treat me as you did last night. Being widowed alive means you can't touch even a finger of mine, not even…"

His expression grew colder, "Not even for satisfying a craving."

Qiao Xi's face turned so red it could bleed.

Was hugging and kissing what he meant by satisfying a craving?

"I didn't," she murmured softly, "And besides, you are not capable anyway."

"What did you say?" the man asked.

Qiao Xi shook her head and let go of her tightly clasped hands, making a decision.

Her eyes were as clear as water, her voice firm, "Mr. Huo, I am confident that I can heal your legs."

"Heh."

The man scoffed.

From a proud scion to a cripple, he was full of irritation and defeat. The woman in front of him was humiliating and mocking him over and over again.

Even with Huo Xingzhou's usual good manners, he had lost the last of his patience, "Get out."

Qiao Xi's innocent face was full of defiance, "I'm not lying."

"Do you have a medical license? Have you ever cured anyone? What proof do you have?"

Qiao Xi shook her head, "No, but I have treated many people in the countryside. When I touched you, I felt your pulse, it's…"

"Get out!"

With a frown, Qiao Xi got a bit angry facing his resistance.

She stepped forward, swiftly pulling off Huo Xingzhou's covers and stripped down his sleep pants! His muscular legs, clearly defined, were now exposed to the air.

The man was furious.

"Qiao Xi!"