Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Qiao Xi Shows Her ttle for the First Ti! Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Qiao Xi Shows Her ttle for the First Ti! Qiao Xi’s eyes flickered, and she furrowed her brows slightly.
What on earth did Young Master Zhong’s assistant say to Xiang Mingzhu that actually made her agree to honor her promise?
Could it be so sort of vow?
Qiao Xi looked up at Xiang Mingzhu, who stood on the platform, her face the picture of righteousness, yet the details betrayed her inner humiliation.
“Ladies and gentlen, I will not flee from battle,”
Xiang Mingzhu declared aloud, “Since I’ve lost, I will honor my commitnt.”
A tide of humiliation surged in her heart, with myriad resentnts hidden deep within. It was all Qiao Xi’s fault, leading her to this situation!
Her fingernails cut deeply into the flesh of her palms.
Once those words were spoken, she would surely face the punishnt of the Lu Family of the Imperial Capital. Even if Lu Bannong was her maternal uncle, she would not escape it.
Those close to her understood that Lu Bannong detested most when others said he was inferior to Cheng Han.
Xiang Mingzhu’s teeth lightly bit her tongue tip, already tasting the thick rustiness of blood in her mouth.
Her gaze slowly fell upon the gentleman of the Zhong Lingyuxiu seated in the corner of the audience, his gentle and handso face carrying an infinitely tolerant smile as he looked at her softly.
Suddenly, Xiang Mingzhu felt emboldened.
“I, Xiang Mingzhu, admit that the Lu Family’s Thirteen Ghostly Needles are inferior to the Cheng’s Plum Blossom Nine Needles!”
Just a sentence of a few dozen words, as if it took all the energy she had in life.
As her voice faded, she felt utterly weak, her ears ringing.
A wave of fear surged from the depths of Xiang Mingzhu’s heart, her voice trembling as she hastened to add, “But today, it is I, Xiang Mingzhu, who have lost to Qiao Xi, this statent is but a bet, it is my own lack of skill! It was not my master Lu Bannong who lost to Cheng Han! I hope everyone does not confuse the two!”
Even at this mont, she was determined to protect Lu Bannong’s reputation.
Qiao Xi watched her hopping around like a dramatic clown, feeling sorry for how Young Master Zhong could fancy such a superficial and arrogant woman.
Perhaps they were simply cut from the sa cloth.
Despite Xiang Mingzhu’s attempts to salvage the situation, her words still created a huge uproar.
She had personally admitted that the Thirteen Ghostly Needles were inferior to the Plum Blossom Nine Needles!
The entire place was boiling with noise.
Those who had hoped she would triumph and fiercely slap Qiao Xi’s “arrogant” face were all very dissatisfied.
Qiao Xi looked at the large screen in midair, her own na ranked first on the leaderboard.
This was just the beginning!
Haicheng was the Huo Family’s territory, and yet, they nearly let the opponent slip through.
If this were the Imperial Capital, it would undoubtedly be even more challenging.
They would stop at nothing to obliterate her, the sole inheritor of the Plum Blossom Nine Needles!
She slowly withdrew her gaze and walked over to Shen Xuanzhi, whispering, “Thank you for helping just now.”
Without his help, she could never have achieved such a ranking.
Shen Xuanzhi was cold by nature, his eyes brooding from years of ill health, yet strangely attractive.
His face betrayed no emotion as he said, “I simply took the money to sort out soone’s disaster.”
“What?”
“I shall take my leave.”
Without further explanation, Shen Xuanzhi turned and left.
Before he departed, his gaze swept over the front row and corner seats of the Traditional Chinese dicine Clinic’s spectators.
He had taken two paynts, and everything was settled; they were even.
Qiao Xi watched his retreating figure, thinking him quite an eccentric good person.
She pursed her lips slightly when suddenly a figure appeared at her side.
Han Jia stamred with a red face, “I’m sorry!”
He had sorely underestimated her!
He had thought Qiao Xi was undeserving of her reputation!
After saying that, he left hurriedly, his footsteps in disarray!
Qiao Xi paid him no mind; he was just a fickle person swaying in the wind.
He had listened to rumors and attacked her, slandered her.
Now that I’ve realized I’ve made a mistake, an apology is certainly in order!
…
After the preliminary selection of the needle test competition concluded, the audience gradually left the venue.
Outside the Traditional Chinese dicine Clinic.
Qiao Xi was surrounded by Huo Sijiao, Sun Weing, and others, who were all eagerly fawning.
“You are so amazing, sister-in-law! You didn’t even see those people’s jaws drop! They were so sure that Xiang Mingzhu would win!”
Young Master Sun raised his voice and said, “You don’t know, outside they’ve opened betting pools on whether you or Xiang Mingzhu would win. Your odds were so high, I put down ten million directly. The money I win will all be donated to the Xingyue Foundation!”
Young Master Sun’s vista has broadened!
Shu Xue said with sarcasm, “I think that Xiang Mingzhu is also quite the scher, clearly she was the one who instigated the bet, yet she wanted to label you as arrogant and self-important. Tonight, I must expose her on the internal forum. Let her learn what it ans to shoot oneself in the foot!”
“I’ll help out!”
“ too!”
Qiao Xi, holding Huo Xingzhou’s arm, thanked them one by one for their kindness.
“So other day, Xingzhou and I will treat you all to a al.”
“Don’t wait for another day, sister-in-law, let’s do it on your birthday! We must celebrate it grandly then, it’s a double blessing! And if…” Huo Sijiao stared at Qiao Xi’s belly, “If I get a little niece, it will be triple happiness!”
Qiao Xi blushed at the teasing.
Where’s this little niece coming from? She had just finished her period.
Huo Xingzhou gave Huo Sijiao a warning glance, and she stuck out her tongue and imdiately shut up. She still needed her brother for her allowance; she couldn’t afford to offend this big devil.
Du Juan hastily said, “Your sister-in-law is tired today as well, so let’s head ho now. Stop the fuss, everyone disperse and let my daughter-in-law rest well. We will definitely invite you all for the birthday celebration.”
As an elder, her word scattered the crowd.
Sun Weing, Shu Xue, and others even took Zhou Yu with them as they left.
Only the Huo Family remained.
Du Juan, looking at Qiao Xi, gave her advice, “Don’t tire yourself, we will all be worried.”
Qiao Xi nodded, “I know, Mom.”
“Then we’ll be leaving first.”
Just as Du Juan was about to leave, she caught a glimpse of the Liu Family approaching.
Liu Huimin walked in front, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked at Qiao Xi. Du Juan’s face instantly grew cold; they really were persistent.
Qiao Xi followed her gaze.
The smile on her face slowly faded.
“Xixi.”
Liu Huimin approached and called out.
Qiao Xi was very aloof, “You should just call by my full na. I’m not accustod to such closeness.”
Liu Huimin felt guilty and proud inside, “You perford so well today, your grandmother and Mr. Cheng raised you to be outstanding. If it were , I’m afraid I couldn’t have brought up such a good daughter. Your hand… does it still hurt?”
She had seen Li Songwen step on Qiao Xi’s hand inside the clinic.
Qiao Xi retracted her hand and spoke calmly, “It doesn’t hurt.”
In fact, it did hurt.
But she wouldn’t sob or act spoiled with Liu Huimin; they were dood not to be the most ordinary mother and daughter.
“If there’s nothing else, we will be on our way,” Qiao Xi said, pulling Huo Xingzhou’s hand and walking toward the Rolls-Royce. She didn’t want to talk to Liu Huimin any more than necessary.
Liu Huimin couldn’t help but cry.
Du Juan was still upset about the last private auction, complaining, “Last ti you said you needed three days to deal with the needle test competition, but it seems even three years wouldn’t be enough. Jiaojiao, let’s go ho.”
Liu Huimin was imnsely ashad by her words. She wanted to reconcile with Qiao Xi, yet she pushed her further away again and again.
Old Mrs. Liu couldn’t stand her pitiful look, disgust rising within her as she spoke, “You always cry like this, reminds of Xu Xingluo. I see that Qiao Xi dislikes it too, so hold back your tears. In a couple of days, it will be the judgnt day for Xu Guangyao. It’s ti for this matter to co to an end.”
Soon after.
The crowd at the entrance to the Traditional Chinese dicine Clinic had all dispersed, dusk fell, and the street lights ca on.
Qiao Xi sat inside the Rolls-Royce, Huo Xingzhou was tending to the bruise that Li Songwen had caused on the back of her hand.
She looked through the car window absentmindedly, when a familiar man and woman ca into view.
Qiao Xi fixed her eyes to look!
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