<h4>Chapter 378: Chapter 378: Apologizing to Young Madam Huo</h4><h4></h4>


    Xiang Mingzhu was extremely anxious, she didn’t know why Zhong Yi would suddenly ask such a question.


    Although she coveted Zhong Yi and wanted to marry him,


    she still felt some fear towards him and dared not act rashly. She couldn’t understand why, even though he always seemed gentle and spoke softly, and usually acted calmly, she still felt easily intimidated by him.


    Perhaps it was his affectionate eyes, so clear they seemed to see through everything.


    She swallowed nervously and said, "Young Master Zhong, I am not upset."


    Zhong Yi reached out with his long fingers towards her cheek, and Xiang Mingzhu’s lips tightened, her gaze dodged, her heart racing. But Zhong Yi stopped and withdrew his hand.


    A sense of unspoken disappointment arose in Xiang Mingzhu.


    "So, how did you get that p mark on your face? Can being pped make someone happy?"


    He finally asked!


    Xiang Mingzhu found her chance toin, "It was Ye Zhimeng who pped me. I don’t know what got into her, she just suddenly pped me."


    Zhong Yi said casually, "Why would she hit you for no reason? You must have done something inappropriate."


    "I didn’t!"


    Xiang Mingzhu urgently exined, "Young Master Zhong, I really didn’t. Ye Zhimeng is impulsive and never thinks before she acts. She turns hostile regardless of the situation, and she is vicious inside. She’s shamelessly obsessed with Xu Xiuyuan."


    Zhong Yiughed mockingly, "If I remember correctly, you and she used to be good friends. Birds of a feather flock together; could it be you are the same kind of person?"


    "I..."


    Xiang Mingzhu was left speechless by his retort.


    Knowing how to alternate between a stick and a carrot, Zhong Yi then said, "Mingzhu, the position of the Lady of the Huo Family isn’t for just anyone. I have not yet been formally appointed as the heir. If you want to be with me, you must be cautious and appropriate in every word and deed, generous and amodating, capable of bending and stretching."


    On hearing this, Xiang Mingzhu felt somewhat guilty and quickly nodded, "I understand."


    "Later, remember to apologize to Young Madam Huo," he added.


    "What? I should apologize to her?"


    Zhong Yi nced at her, his smile hanging on his face yet devoid of warmth, "You spoke disrespectfully at the banquet, making sarcasticments about her background. Now she is the precious daughter of the Liu Family. Shouldn’t you apologize? Or are you saying you can’t even bear this slight injustice? Then how can I trust you are qualified to stand beside me?"


    He spoke very adeptly, giving and taking in just the right measures.


    This left Xiang Mingzhu feeling utterly aggrieved but unable to refuse.


    "Mingzhu, consider this a test. You know, the Huo Family prefers your cousin Lu Yingxue.


    Moreover, I have a project in coboration with Huo Xingzhou, and if you antagonize his wife, it will be difficult for me. At least, in Haicheng try to get along. Otherwise, I won’t feelfortable bringing you to these kinds of events."


    Xiang Mingzhu’s heart sank, fearing he would abandon her, so she bit her lip and said, "Okay, I’ll apologize."


    Young Master Zhong showed a smiling face, "I’m sorry for the distress. On our way back, I’ll have Wan Jiang buy some ointment for you. A girl’s face is most precious; you must protect yourself well in the future."


    Xiang Mingzhu looked at the young man in front of her, his presence as firm as rock and regal as pines, her heart torn between obsession and struggle.


    She wanted to control her feelings, yet couldn’t help falling for such a man.


    Half for his family’s power and prestige, half for him as a person.


    She had indeed experienced the bittersweet taste of truly loving a man, constantly thinking about him day and night.


    While she was immersed in these romantic thoughts, she heard Zhong Yi’s voice again, "Just now, I saw that mad woman carrying sulfuric acid to ssh on others, and all the other girls avoided her, fearing they would be sshed. Why were you so calm as if you weren’t surprised at all?"


    Xiang Mingzhu’s nerves tightened,


    and she managed to say dryly, "Maybe because Young Master Zhong was by my side, I wasn’t afraid at all."


    "Oh, is that so? I didn’t expect Mingzhu to trust me so much; I’m pleased."


    He treated the matter lightly, and did not pursue further questions.


    Xiang Mingzhu breathed a long sigh of relief, her palms sweating coldly.


    Cruise second-level lounge.


    Qiao Xi slowly closed the door, and it was very quiet here, only the especially bright light shone down, casting two ovepping shadows. Qiao Xi paused for a while before she said, "Take off your coat first; it smells strongly of vinegar."


    "Okay."


    Huo Xingzhou took off his coat and put it aside; his shirt was also somewhat wet. The strong vinegar smell wouldn’t dissipate, thankfully there were spare formal clothes provided at the banquet.


    Huo Xingzhou didn’t avoid changing in front of her and simply took it off.


    Qiao Xi bit her lip and said, "Don’t you have anything you want to exin to me? Tonight, Xu Xingluo’s appearance was within your expectations. You knew she woulde."


    And he knew that Xu Xingluo might expose her background.


    Huo Xingzhou put on a clean and neat shirt, leaving it open as he walked up to her.


    With his eyes and brows lowered, he said, "Xu Xingluo escaping from the mental hospital was helped by someone. Although those people are not enough to threaten the Huo Family, who can guarantee that they won’t harm you in the future?"


    "Qiao Xi, I don’t want you to be threatened by Xu Xingluo and others in the future."


    Thus, he chose to draw the snake out of its hole, catching them all in one go.


    Huo Xingzhou yed with her fingers as he held her hand, "Xu Xingluo exposing your background was also within my expectations. I know you don’t want to rely on the Liu Family’s influence. But in this world, if there are resources you can utilize, there’s no need to deliberately avoid them. It’s hard to reach higher ces alone."


    He had received an elite education since childhood, understanding the most about deploying resources and strategies.


    However, Qiao Xi’s world was too simple, stubborn, andmitted to her principles.


    Qiao Xi looked at him calmly, "Is this what you hope for?"


    "Yes."


    Huo Xingzhou, fearing she might not ept it, said, "Your rtionship with the Liu Family bing public is one thing, whether you acknowledge them is another. Don’t pressure yourself. Besides, you’ve saved them so many times, what’s wrong with asking for some return?"


    The Liu Family held some influence in the Imperial Capital, with a legacy of privilegesting several hundred years, something the Huo Family couldn’tpare to.


    In the future, Qiao Xi would definitely go to the Imperial Capital.


    Huo Xingzhou wanted to pave the way for her.


    After all, the Imperial Capital’s Bell, Haicheng’s Liu — it wasn’t a joke. The deeper the roots, the more the top figures value the legacy and the protection of ancestors.


    Qiao Xi’s voice was clear, soft, and gentle, "Since it’s what you hope for, then I ept your arrangement and kindness. Because you are Huo Xingzhou, my husband, I know you won’t harm me. But the Liu Family is a tie I cannot sever."


    Like Xu Yunye.


    She would asionally think of him.


    Actually,pared to Xu Yunye, she couldn’t clearly say who was more pitiful.


    Huo Xingzhou wanted to reach out and caress her hair, but realized her hairstyle today was done perfectly, so he gave up.


    "I thought you would argue with me; I had already thought about how to coax you."


    "How would you coax me?"


    "By making an extra effort to please you tonight."


    Qiao Xi red at him, "I don’t like that method of coaxing."


    Huo Xingzhou held her hands, her fingertips brushing his open cor, he asked softly, "Really don’t like it?"


    Qiao Xi proceeded to button up his shirt, "Don’t attract any more unwanted attention, what do you n to do with Xu Xingluo? I saw you let Zhou Yu take her away, you certainly didn’t hand her over to the police, right?"


    Xu Xingluo made a scene, demonstrating that she feigned insanity to avoid criminal punishment and deliberately harmed others, increasing her guilt!


    Likely, the charges won’t be light.


    "Let the Liu Family deal with her, they should show some stance towards you as well." Huo Xingzhou did not want to act personally, having leveraged the information he wanted from Xu Xingluo, everything else was left to the Liu Family.


    While they were talking, a sudden knock came from outside the door.