Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Visit the Liu Family, Confront Liu Huimin Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Visit the Liu Family, Confront Liu Huimin Huo Xingzhou’s finger touched her chest, right where her heart was.
“You have a thorn here, unable to sleep without removing it, will you?” he earnestly looked her in the eyes.
Qiao Xi opened her mouth but said nothing, realizing he understood it all.
The man with half-closed eyes said, “Don’t you want to find out what exactly is going on with the Liu Family? Is it just Liu Huimin, or does the whole family know?”
He normally wouldn’t make such an excessively rude gesture.
It was really the alcohol that had allowed impulse to override reason, prompting this late-night visit.
Qiao Xi looked at him and said softly, “I want to.”
She wanted to know whether the entire Liu Family was complicit, or if it was just Liu Huimin acting alone.
Whether they really knew the truth or not.
If they all knew, then she would treat those so-called blood relatives the sa, not holding back in the future.
She wasn’t naturally heartless, but her feelings of love and hate were clear.
She could not hate Liu Huimin the way she hated Xu Yunye; her feelings for the young and old of the Liu Family varied.
Old Chen turned the steering wheel, heading toward the Liu old mansion.
This ti, he drove very fast.
When the car arrived at the front gate of the Liu old mansion, security guards with walkie-talkies were already reporting it.
This Rolls-Royce with its well-known license plate was a vehicle of significant concern to the Liu Family, especially after they beca aware of Qiao Xi’s true identity; the Liu family dared not neglect her.
“Old Mrs. Liu, Family Head! The Huo Family has arrived!”
The security inford the villa area, and soon the maids relayed the ssage further.
The Liu Family mbers drinking night tea in the living room were all montarily stunned.
Liu Zongquan and Old Mrs. Liu, unable to sleep due to troubling thoughts, had been chatting over tea; Liu Huimin had just returned ho from a busy day and was sitting with a troubled expression, unsure whether to disclose the news of Qiao Xi’s registration to her family.
Upon hearing that the Huo Family had arrived, her hand shook, and hot tea scalded her hand.
A maid quickly handed her a towel wrapped around ice cubes.
Old Mrs. Liu reproachfully expressed her concern, “Such a grown person, still as worrying as a child.”
“Mom, I’m fine!”
Liu Huimin bit her lip and asked the maid, “Who from the Huo Family ca? Did Qiao Xi co?”
“Yes, she ca with Huo Er.”
Old Mrs. Liu beca agitated, “Quick! Please let them in!”
“Instruct the kitchen to prepare late-night snacks, get Master Jiang up; his cooking is the best! You all… also prepare a pot of rose tea, and bring out so pastries that young ladies enjoy.”
Her eyes and brows were lit with joy.
In Old Mrs. Liu’s eyes, Qiao Xi’s willingness to visit signified a softening of her stance.
Perhaps she was coming to acknowledge her kin.
All the lights in the Liu old mansion ca on.
The maids began their preparations thodically, and even the faces of Liu Zongquan and Old Mrs. Liu reflected so relief.
Only Liu Huimin felt a heavy weight in her heart, as if a great stone were pressing down. She furrowed her brow, her heart flitting nervously up and down. She was very worried that Du Juan might tell Qiao Xi the truth about the registration.
She also understood Qiao Xi’s stance toward the Liu Family; how could she possibly co to visit?
Yet, Liu Huimin clung to a sliver of hope.
What if?
What if Qiao Xi did co to acknowledge her kin?
Her adoptive father had died early, Zhao Yuzhen had remarried, and only her grandmother kept her company. She longed for the warmth of family, so what if she had a change of heart?
Liu Huimin took a deep breath, her fingers trembling with nervousness.
“They’re here, they’re here!”
“Young Master Huo, Young Madam.”
Outside, voices had already begun to carry inside, marking Qiao Xi’s first visit since her background was revealed.
It was night.
When Qiao Xi and Huo Xingzhou walked in hand in hand, they saw the Liu Family prepared and waiting in strict array.
“Child.”
Old Mrs. Liu ca forward, “Please, co sit down.”
“Thank you.”
Qiao Xi’s emotions did not show on her face, and Huo Xingzhou’s expression was also indifferent. They both took their seats on the sofa very formally, maintaining a considerable distance in their deanor.
Everyone took their seats.
Liu Huimin stared eagerly at Qiao Xi and placed the exquisite pastries from the coffee table in front of her, “Xixi, these are famous snacks from Haicheng, specially made in the kitchen.”
She also poured Qiao Xi a cup of rose tea, “Rose tea is good for a girl’s beauty care; it’s better not to drink strong tea late at night.”
Seeing her so attentive and humble, it was truly hard to imagine she had done such spiteful things behind her back.
If she were not Liu Huimin’s daughter, would she still receive her kindness and guilt?
Qiao Xi sat next to Huo Xingzhou, her voice calm as she spoke, “I won’t drink tea. I’m sorry for the late disturbance, but there is sothing I need to verify.”
She was very polite, yet very distant to them.
Huo Xingzhou sat by her side, maintaining a noble and self-possessed deanor, her support and backbone.
Old Mrs. Liu looked at her lovingly, “Child, tell us. If there’s anything you need our help with, just speak up.”
Qiao Xi looked around and began, “It concerns the Traditional Chinese dicine Festival’s acupuncture competition.”
“I will soon participate in the acupuncture competition of traditional Chinese dicine, but my registration was not submitted by . I would like to ask if you had any involvent in this.”
At the end of her speech.
Old Mrs. Liu and Liu Zongquan’s expressions grew somber, she had indeed been forced to participate in this traditional dicine event.
They had hoped that Lu Bannong would not take issue with a junior, but unexpectedly Qiao Xi had indeed chosen this path.
That’s not right.
She had co to confront the Liu Family!
Old Mrs. Liu hurriedly said, “Child, have you misunderstood sothing? Our Liu Family is still trying to figure out a solution, how could we possibly intervene in your registration! Since you saved Zong Yun, we owe you. Rest assured, our Liu Family will do everything possible, even bankrupting ourselves to ensure your safety.”
Old Mrs. Liu was heartbroken.
How had it co to this!
If she lost at the acupuncture competition, what would happen!
Liu Zongquan even stated, “I will find soone right now to inquire and have your na withdrawn.”
Qiao Xi shook her head, “It’s no use, the list has already been made public. Withdrawing now would ruin my reputation in this field forever. I can’t work anymore. This is not a problem that can be solved just by having power and influence. I have decided to compete! I ca here just for the truth!”
“You mustn’t participate!”
Old Mrs. Liu said sorrowfully, “Losing would have serious consequences, and besides, you are still young! With so many experts, you are likely to lose.”
Liu Zongquan’s expression was grave, “You an to suspect that our Liu Family tampered with your registration? How could we…”
It seed they were unaware, and sohow, Qiao Xi felt a slight relief in her heart.
Finally, her gaze fell on Liu Huimin.
All the while, her face was pale, and her forehead was damp with sweat.
“Ms. Liu.”
She could not bring herself to call her “Mother.”
Qiao Xi took a deep breath and said, “I received a call today saying that you were colluding in secret with Ma Hongwen, the deputy chairman of the Haicheng Traditional Chinese dicine Association, and you submitted my registration. I only discovered I was registered when the list was posted on an internal forum.”
She demanded, “Is this true? Did you sabotage from behind?”
Qiao Xi’s words were like the sharpest of knives, and Liu Huimin was stunned for a long while, unable to recover.
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