Qiao Mutíng frowned, "Grandma, I have a lot of work today."
"Does Qiáo Shì Jítuán employ a bunch of useless people? You're almost thirty, why are you still not doing proper work every day?" Grandma Qiao questioned.
Chapter 64
Qiao Mutíng was rendered speechless.
In the end, he could only say to his grandmother, "I'll ask her out. If she's also too busy to have time, then we'll go next week."
"Ask her. Xia Xia seems to have a lot on her mind lately. She needs to relax too. As her husband, you should take better care of her, understand?" Grandma Qiao instructed with concern.
"Okay." Qiao Mutíng simply responded.
After ending the call with his grandmother, Qiao Mutíng first checked the news online about Shu Xia.
After confirming that Assistant Zhang and the others had handled everything without a hitch, he called Shu Xia.
Call in progress...
Qiao Mutíng put down his phone.
A few minutes later, Shu Xia called him back.
"Mr. Qiao, you called me just now, right?"
"I have a few friends visiting the hospital today, and then we've arranged to go to a hot spring. If you don't have anything tonight, I'll come pick you up."
Qiao Mutíng's naturally cool voice came through the phone.
Shu Xia could vaguely sense a hint of reluctance in Qiao Mutíng's voice.
It must have been his grandmother forcing Qiao Mutíng to call and ask her out. Hot springs are usually for best friends or the most intimate lovers, so it wasn't surprising Qiao Mutíng sounded reluctant.
"Someone just asked me out, and I've already agreed. I'm really sorry," Shu Xia replied.
This was the truth.
Just as Qiao Mutíng called, she was on the phone with Shu Xuan.
He had asked her to dinner tonight, saying he hadn't spoken to her in a long time. Now that Fu Chenyan and Lin Miao's situation had a conclusion, with the evidence presented, Lin Miao and the others couldn't stir up any more trouble. They could get together as siblings and chat.
Qiao Mutíng heard the woman's reason for refusal on the phone and just frowned, "Okay, I'll tell Grandma."
"Thank you, Mr. Qiao."
"You're welcome."
Qiao Mutíng looked down at the phone he had hung up, his expression darkening.
She didn't want to go to the hot spring with him?
A shadow suddenly fell over his heart.
He tugged at his tie, threw his phone aside, and picked up a project proposal stacked nearby to read.
Not going to the hot spring and wasting time was exactly what he wanted.
--
Meanwhile, the Lin Family was in chaos.
Although Lin Guandá and Lin Bīn were not home, Lin Qí and Lin Xù had returned.
They confronted Lin Miao, holding up their phones.
Chen Xiuyue, who was slumped on the sofa, had been sitting there blankly for an hour.
Lin Miao, with teary eyes, looked at her two brothers as if she had been greatly wronged.
"I'm truly framed. I don't know these people. The person in the video isn't me."
The majority of the explosive revelations in the photos were true.
They had captured her going to a hotel with Fu Chenyan, but not her in bed with him.
As long as it wasn't in bed, it couldn't truly prove she had slept with Fu Chenyan.
"Is it really not you, Miaomiao?" Chen Xiuyue repeatedly looked at the photos and videos online, growing colder with each view.
"Mom, it's really not me. They must have tampered with it, used AI face swapping. Mom, I think Shu Xia planned this long ago. She planned to break up with Fu Chenyan and then planned how to deal with me. She found people a long time ago!" Lin Miao thought of a reason.
Chapter 65
If someone hadn't helped Shu Xia, how could public opinion online have changed so quickly?
She had underestimated Shu Xia.
She thought Shu Xia's mind was only on Fu Chenyan, and that even if they had a spat, it would just be a petty argument.
It seemed Shu Xia had found a backer long ago!
Lin Qí frowned.
Lin Xù, hearing Lin Miao's words, realized something and slapped his thigh hard, "I underestimated Shu Xia. To be able to turn the situation around in an hour, how could it just be videos, photos, and so-called college classmates? She must have found an incredible sugar daddy!"
"She's pretty, so it's not surprising," Lin Qí said, his face grim.
This incident had already brought immense shame to their Lin family.
"I believe Miaomiao wouldn't fall for Fu Chenyan. It must be Shu Xia, jealous that we prefer Miaomiao, who got greedy and wanted to mess with Miaomiao. This matter... I need to think carefully, we can't let her ruin Miaomiao's life," Lin Xù said, frowning.
Chen Xiuyue looked at her two sons, then at Lin Miao, hesitating to speak.
Was it really AI face swapping?
Her doubt lasted only a moment. Seeing Miaomiao's pale face, and considering she was the child she had raised, how could she be lying?
But did Xia Xia really find a sugar daddy? How could she stoop so low as to be kept by someone?
Chen Xiuyue felt very uncomfortable.
"Lin Xù, have the PR team think of a solution that benefits both sides, and consider Xia Xia too," Chen Xiuyue said after some thought.
Lin Miao froze, looking at Chen Xiuyue in disbelief.
Was she… starting to feel sorry for Shu Xia now?
"Yes, she has found a sugar daddy, and now there's a misunderstanding between us. Mom is also very worried about her and me. Let's find a mutually beneficial solution and end this matter as soon as possible." Lin Miao nodded tearfully, pretending to be very considerate of Shu Xia and Chen Xiuyue.
"Miaomiao is so sensible," Chen Xiuyue sighed.
Lin Qí said darkly, "If she really found a sugar daddy, then I will never acknowledge her as my sister again. It's too disgraceful! How can people from my Lin family stoop to being kept by others?"
"Sigh, to have such a big influence in Jīng Shì, and to help her resolve this so quickly... I'm afraid the sugar daddy my elder sister found... is around the same age as Dad." Lin Miao's eyes darted around as she began to speculate maliciously.
It must be an old man.
"This is common in the entertainment industry. Even men without family backgrounds can be kept, let alone good-looking girls. It's just that when this happens close to us, it's truly disgusting," Lin Xù also grimaced.
Chen Xiuyue, who had felt a bit sorry for Shu Xia, after hearing her son and daughter, seemed disgusted too. "She's only been back for a short while and is already causing so much trouble."
"I have an idea!" Lin Xù stared at his phone.
Seeing the plan given by the public relations department, the cloud of worry on his face immediately vanished.
--
Seven o'clock in the evening.
A street full of night markets.
A barbecue stall.
Shu Xuan had arrived ten minutes earlier, ordering skewers and drinks.
By the time Shu Xia arrived, the grilled skewers had just been served.
A waft of barbecue meat aroma drifted into Shu Xia's nose, stimulating her appetite.
When she was in high school, her eldest brother was in college. He usually worked part-time to earn money. When he saved up some, he would take her and Shu Hong to the barbecue stalls.
Affordable prices and delicious taste.
"I was just craving barbecue. Big Brother understands me best."
Shu Xuan looked at Shu Xia, who was smiling like a little glutton, and hid the worry and speculation in his eyes. "Then hurry up and sit down to eat while it's hot. I ordered a lot today, I guarantee you'll eat your fill.
Chapter 66
"If Shu Hong wasn't taking his college entrance exams, I would have picked him up to eat with us." Shu Xuan looked at his grown sister, then thought of his youngest brother, suddenly feeling a sense of pride, like a father watching his daughter grow up.
Shu Xia sat down. "In another month, after he finishes his exams, let's go on a family trip. I've earned some money recently from restoring ancient paintings. I'll be responsible for the family trip this time."
"You learned from Grandma Zhong, didn't you?" Shu Xuan was not surprised. When they were in the countryside, many villagers said Xia Xia spent all day at Grandma Zhong's house reading. They didn't know if she could understand what she was reading.
He had visited Grandma Zhong's house and seen her fiddling with broken ceramic shards sometimes.
By the time he visited again, those shards had been restored into various antique porcelain vases. Moreover, Grandma Zhong's painting skills were superb. Although he had left the countryside early to attend high school and college, he could tell Grandma Zhong was no ordinary rural elder.
However, for some reason, he had never asked Shu Xia what she learned from Grandma Zhong.
The villagers hadn't asked either.
Perhaps Grandma Zhong had a certain aura about her; if she didn't want to say something, others wouldn't dare to ask.
Now it seemed Grandma Zhong had passed on all her skills to Xia Xia.
"Yes, Grandma Zhong taught me a lot, but I couldn't take on restoration work before. Grandma Zhong gave me a letter a while ago, telling me I could start working in artifact restoration now," Shu Xia replied truthfully.
Shu Xuan nodded with satisfaction. "Xia Xia has grown up."
"How have you been lately, Big Brother? When we spoke last time, I heard someone stole your thesis. Has that been resolved?" Shu Xia asked with concern.
Shu Xuan's eyes flickered. "It's resolved, don't worry."
Shu Xia noticed the change in Shu Xuan's eyes and smiled calmly. "This barbecue is really good, the grilling is perfectly done."
Shu Xuan looked at Shu Xia with gentle indulgence.
Before long, only a few skewers were left on the table.
Shu Xia rubbed her stomach. "I'm so full."
It was always casual eating with family.
She definitely didn't have any table manners while eating just now.
"I'm full too. Here, have some juice." Shu Xuan handed her a glass of juice.
Shu Xia drank more than half the glass, the greasy feeling in her mouth largely washed away by the juice.
"Big Brother, is there something you wanted to ask me?" After eating her fill, Shu Xia looked at Shu Xuan with a smile and asked first.
They had grown up together and understood each other very well.
When they first came for dinner, Shu Xuan had seemed hesitant to speak.
Shu Xuan chuckled. "You've been smart since you were little, you can't hide much from me. I do have something I want to ask you."
"Yes, tell me, Big Brother."
"Today, regarding you, Lin Miao, and Fu Chenyan, in the morning they had the upper hand and controlled public opinion. But then in just one hour, the tide completely turned. Many prominent online personalities appeared. If someone hadn't paid them a hefty sum, they wouldn't have spoken so easily. Xia Xia, tell Big Brother, who is helping you?" Shu Xuan asked after a minute of contemplation.
Shu Xia was stunned. "I didn't ask anyone for help."
She had felt something was unusual when she learned of the turn of events outside the police station that morning, but she didn't have time to think about it before Jiang Nannan's call interrupted her thoughts.
"You didn't ask anyone?" Shu Xuan's heart sank further instead of relaxing.
Xia Xia hasn't just been preoccupied lately; she might have encountered some problems.
Shu Xia shook her head. "I didn't."
Shu Xuan took a deep breath, perhaps he was overthinking. He had watched Xia Xia grow up and knew her character well—kind but strong, not easily defeated by setbacks. She wouldn't do anything to betray herself.
So...
"Perhaps it's an opponent of the Lin family in business who wants to take this opportunity to suppress the Lin family," Shu Xuan speculated.
Shu Xia's mind, however, thought of someone.
Could it be Qiao Mutíng?
But she dismissed the thought. Qiao Mutíng was already wary of her, and even had a poor impression of her. If she got into trouble, he could use it as an excuse to tell his grandmother righteously that she wasn't worthy of being his grandmother's granddaughter-in-law.
Chapter 67
So, how could he possibly help her?
However, business is like war. The Lin family's influence in Jīng Shì had grown significantly in recent years, snatching opportunities from many, so it wasn't strange they had offended people inadvertently.
"It's just our Xia Xia's good luck that she happened to encounter someone dealing with the Lin family," Shu Xuan added.
Shu Xia listened to Shu Xuan's analysis and found it reasonable.
Since she couldn't guess who had made the move, as long as the outcome was favorable, that was all that mattered.
Their mirroring smiles were captured by Assistant Zhang, who was dining in a building opposite.
He had a date with a college classmate today and came to an old restaurant for barbecue, only to unexpectedly see Miss Shu dining at a street stall with a gentleman.
The man's back was to him, but from his silhouette, he looked like a handsome guy.
Otherwise, Miss Shu wouldn't be smiling so beautifully and freely at the man.
After a moment of internal struggle, he still decided to send the photo to Mr. Qiao.
After all, Mr. Qiao was his benefactor.
And besides...
The old lady had asked him to keep an eye on Mr. Qiao and Miss Shu, and to set them up when opportunities arose.
He felt this was an opportunity.
He wondered if Mr. Qiao would be jealous seeing Miss Shu smiling so brightly at another man.
Taking a closer look, the man didn't seem like an admirer of Shu Xia.
He immediately selected a few photos and sent them.
Qiao Mutíng had just arrived at Xīng Hǎi Biéshù and hadn't even taken off his shoes when he heard his WeChat notification.
He took out his phone.
He saw several photos sent by Assistant Zhang.
Amidst the bustling crowds of people, a woman with skin like white porcelain and delicate features was smiling at the man opposite her.
It was a smile he had never seen before.It held a hint of delicate charm/coquettishness and a touch of dependence.
It seemed to give the illusion that the person she looked at held all the beauty in the world.
Qiao Mutíng's suddenly cold gaze shifted to the man.
Who was this man?
At this moment, Assistant Zhang was holding his phone, waiting. As long as Mr. Qiao replied with a single word, he could guess whether his boss liked Miss Shu.
He watched as Miss Shu and the man were about to leave.
Then, he saw the man's face.
Oh my!
He was no less attractive than his boss!
Handsome and steady.
And he was very protective of Miss Shu. Just as a drunk person stumbled past Miss Shu, seemingly about to bump into her, the man stepped in to block them.
He shielded Miss Shu within his arm.
He took several more photos and even recorded a video of their backs as they left.
Based on their height, they were a perfect match!
Without hesitation, he sent them to his boss again. This was a strong medicine, wasn't it?
Chapter 68
Qiao Mutíng watched the video, described as strong medicine.
In the video, Shu Xia interacted with the man with a natural ease, clearer than in the photos.
Qiao Mutíng's brow furrowed slightly. He replied with three words, "Are you very idle?"
Assistant Zhang saw the words "Are you very idle?" and his heart trembled violently.
No, he wasn't idle! He wasn't!
He finally understood; the boss probably didn't like Miss Shu.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have remained so indifferent.
He suddenly felt like he was about to be sent to the frontier. He would definitely not try to probe his boss again in the future.
However, did Miss Shu also not care much if the boss liked her or not?
--
Qiao Mutíng yanked off his tie.
A button on his shirt also came off due to his movement.
He glanced at the button that had fallen to the floor.
He bent down to pick it up.
In his palm, the finely crafted button gleamed under the light.
His fingertip slowly traced its surface.
His cold eyes swept over his watch; it was 8:10 PM.
His eyes, which already held little emotion, now carried an extra three parts of coldness.
--
After leaving the night market, Shu Xia was about to part ways with Shu Xuan.
As soon as Shu Xia said goodbye, Shu Xuan directly got into the car. "I'll drive you back to your rental first, then I'll go back to my company dorm."
"It's almost eight o'clock. I should drive Big Brother back to the dorm first," Shu Xia said, her eyes lowered, as she was about to start the car.
Shu Xuan's expression darkened, and he looked at Shu Xia very seriously. "I spent the most time with you when we were kids. I can tell if you have anything on your mind, Xia Xia. Have you encountered something?"
Today, it was just them as siblings.
He could tell if Xia Xia had something on her mind.
Lately, Xia Xia seemed to have changed overnight. The subtle sadness and loneliness emanating from her gave him a suffocating feeling, like the sister he had doted on had been bullied and suffocated without his knowledge.
Shu Xia knew Shu Xuan was worried about her.
She gripped the steering wheel with both hands, wanting to tell him about her sudden marriage, but then she remembered the secret marriage agreement with Qiao Mutíng.
After hesitating for a few minutes, "I'm married."
"Married?!" Shu Xuan was shocked.
Didn't she just break up with Fu Chenyan? How did she get married so quickly?
What had Xia Xia been through during this time? She was never this impulsive.
"Who did you marry? How old is he? What does he do? How did you two meet?" Shu Xuan fired off a series of questions, afraid that Shu Xia, hurt by Fu Chenyan, might have rashly fallen for a man with ill intentions.
Shu Xia said earnestly, "It was someone introduced by Grandma Qiao. We thought it through carefully before getting together. But for some reason, I can't bring him to meet you."
"His job is stable, and he's five years older than me. Although it was a flash marriage, he treats me quite well."
"So it's a marriage for love? Xia Xia, have you been reading too many novels, truly believing in 'marriage for love'?" Shu Xuan's handsome face turned completely dark.
He really wanted to meet this man and find out what kind of spell he had cast on Xia Xia to make her impulsively get married!
"I never thought about marriage for love. Novels are just novels, and I'm not a female protagonist in a novel. We're just... living together, that's all. It doesn't involve that much. Don't worry, Big Brother. After going through so much, I know what I'm doing," Shu Xia finished speaking and started the car.
Chapter 69
Shu Xuan's face remained dark. "Did that man buy you the car?"
How old was Xia Xia to casually find a man to live with?
The thought that Xia Xia might have been heartbroken by Fu Chenyan caused a throbbing pain in his chest, an uncontrollable urge to kill Fu Chenyan.
"I bought it myself. Our family's life will get better from now on," Shu Xia said.
Shu Xuan frowned slightly. This kind of new energy car was probably worth over a hundred thousand yuan. Xia Xia had been doing restoration work recently and could indeed earn some money. "Are you living together now?"
"Yes, it's his house." Shu Xia looked straight ahead at the bustling traffic, suddenly feeling a weight in her heart being lifted.
Shu Xuan fell silent. For a full thirty minutes, he didn't say anything.