<h4>Chapter 388: Chapter 388: Damn Huo Xingzhou, Killing by Borrowing a Knife</h4><h4></h4>


    Zhong Yi’s delicate eyebrows and eyes carried a hint of fierceness as he picked up the phone, "Hello."


    The middle-aged man on the other end of the line spoke with an usatory tone, "I heard you’re nning to invest in a major project in Haicheng, with funds up to several billion. You stop immediately ande back to the Imperial Capital!"


    "Zhong Yi, do you hear me?"


    Themanding tone disgusted Zhong Yi.


    "I heard, noting back," Zhong Yi replied nastily.


    "What did you say? Who allowed you to decide to invest so much money on your own? Aren’t youing back to exin to everyone?"


    Zhong Hongfei did not have much affection for this son who was reimed along the way and even felt wary of him.


    This child was personally retrieved by the Old Master, skilled in cunning and means.


    In the Zhong Family generation, only the ny-year-old Old Master was in charge, Zhong Yi’s great-grandfather, while Zhong Yi’s grandfather had already passed away, leaving only Zhong Hongfei as a son.


    In the Imperial Capital, no one dared to underestimate the deeply reclusive Old Master of the Zhong Family.


    The Old Master had once publicly dered that the heir of the Zhong Family woulde from the generation of his great-grandchildren, bypassing even Zhong Hongfei.


    But unexpectedly, the eldest son of the Zhong Family had been married for over a decade without having children, being naturally oligospermic, and there was nothing the Zhong Family could do.


    So, the Old Master reimed Zhong Yi.


    Zhong Hongfei had beautiful ns. Initially, he wanted Zhong Yi to marry and have children quickly, to hand over the children to his eldest son to raise, and then to kick this illegitimate child away.


    Who could have expected it to be the situation today!


    The elder son he had loved since childhood was now threatened in status.


    "Zhong Yi, have your wings grown stiff? If there’s a loss, who will fill in the gap for you? You’re not yet considered the heir of the Zhong Family!" In truth, what Zhong Hongfei feared most was him gaining a foothold outside, posing an even greater threat to his eldest son’s status.


    "I will report to the Old Master about the situation. Don’t worry, he will definitely think this project is good."


    "You..."


    Zhong Yi hung up, unwilling to listen to his impotent rage.


    Heh.


    That the Zhong Family knew his movements in Haicheng so clearly, if it hadn’t been Huo Xingzhou’s doing, he wouldn’t believe it. Right after signing the letter of intent, the phone call from the Imperial Capital came.


    Zhong Hongfei was wary of him, wanting him to return to the Imperial Capital immediately.


    He could evade once or twice, but Zhong Hongfei would definitely find ways to make him have to return to the Imperial Capital.


    Zhong Yi was very clear that even under the guise of project cooperation, he wouldn’t be able to stay in Haicheng for much longer.


    Damn Huo Xingzhou!


    Reaping the benefits and acting coy!


    Forcing him to sign the letter of intent, although that project wouldn’t actually result in a loss. Yet, he leaked the information to the Imperial Capital, using the discord between him and his father and the internal strife within the Zhong Family to force him to return to the Imperial Capital.


    What a cunning move to kill with a borrowed knife!


    All the advantages had been taken by him!


    Zhong Yi ground his teeth in fury, unable to hold back a few coldughs.


    Wan Jiang in the front seat felt a chill up his spine as he listened. Was this being seriously angry?


    This round, Young Master Zhong had lost utterly!


    "Wan Jiang, find me a way to disguise it. I want to leave Haicheng for a short while soon."


    Wan Jiang shivered, "Where are you going?"


    "To pay respects. Don’t ask further."


    ...


    In the president’s office of Tianyuan Group.


    Qiao Xi had the assistant bring over four dishes and a soup, all of which she unpacked and ced on the small round table. Because she often visited, a European-style small round table had been ced in front of therge bay window, convenient for her and Huo Xingzhou to dine together.


    Huo Xingzhou was not extravagant in his daily diet and attire, quite low-keypared to the other sons of rich families in Haicheng.


    His regr work meals were also just of a normal standard.


    When Qiao Xi came over, Huo Xingzhou would instruct his assistant to order meals from the Jinling Grand Hotel. The two of them enjoyed a perfect meal of four dishes and one soup.


    "Here."


    Qiao Xi set the bowl and chopsticks in front of him, the sunlight filtering through the ss window and casting a soft, gauzy light on her. Her almond-shaped eyes were crystal clear, her skin fair with a healthy rosy tint.


    Huo Xingzhou sat across from her, watching her intently.


    No wonder Zhong Yi also liked her and couldn’t get her out of his mind for so many years.


    She was simply marvelous.


    Huo Xingzhou rolled up his sleeves twice and served her a bowl of soup, cing it before her: "This is chestnut and lotus root soup, a new autumn special from the Jinling Grand Hotel. I think you know its benefits best."


    Qiao Xi smiled with crescent-moon eyes, "I know, it’s for nourishing qi and enriching blood, but I’ve never actually had chestnut and lotus root soup before."


    "Give it a try."


    "Mhm."


    Qiao Xi delicately took a sip of the soup, finding its vor rich and aromatic.


    Sometimes, vegetarian soup tasted even better than broth with meat. She liked this taste very much. The head chef from the Jinling Grand Hotel was truly skilled; Qiao Xi continued to sip several mouthfuls, enjoying the soft, glutinous, and sweet chestnuts, her entire body radiating satisfaction.


    Her happiness was so simple.


    "Delicious."


    "Then let’s continue tomorrow."


    Holding a napkin, Qiao Xi wiped her mouth and said, "Tomorrow I need to go help at the hospital. Dr. Yan mentioned they’ve received a rather special patient and would like me to take a look."


    The preliminary selection for thepetition had ended, and there was still a month left before heading to the Imperial Capital for the next round.


    She wanted to cherish this time and improve herself.


    "Have Old Chen apany you there," Huo Xingzhou instructed.


    "I will."


    Qiao Xi looked into his handsome eyes and said, "Before going to the Imperial Capital for thepetition, I want to go back to the vige to pay respects to grandma and it’s also nearly Ayi’s death anniversary."


    The ten-year cycle of thepetition was long, and by the time it ended, it could be close to the end of the year.


    "Alright, I’ll go with you then."


    "Mhm. If you’re too busy with work, I’ll just go by myself. I heard you talking about restarting the Future City project. Wasn’t that paused due to the preservation of historical relics?"


    "There’s a way that serves both purposes. Above ground will be a tech hub while below, traditional artifacts. We’ll use tough ss fiber to protect the Princess’s Tomb, then rebuild some ancient architecture. We aim to turn Future City into two distinct worlds."


    Pedestrians will walk through the tech-infused Future City, while beneath their feet, through the ss, they’ll see a world from hundreds of years ago.


    Such a project will surely get approval from above.


    It’s like indirectly preserving cultural relics while promoting traditional culture.


    "I can’t imagine what that would feel like," Qiao Xi said with augh. "Anyway, I’m very much looking forward to it and hope construction can start soon."


    "Zhong Yi has already signed a letter of intent for cooperation, and Tianyuan Group has gained a lot of leverage in entering the Imperial Capital. It shouldn’t be long before there is a groundbreaking ceremony, and as the wife of the President of Tianyuan Group, you’ll naturally attend."


    Hearing the name "Zhong Yi," Qiao Xi no longer felt such big waves of emotion.


    "Then I certainly can’t embarrass you!"


    Huo Xingzhou nced at her and said softly, "The Little Divine Doctor would never embarrass me at any time."


    He hadn’t had enough of liking her, yet...


    Remembering the yellowed group photo he had hidden away and the handwriting on its back, a sense of inexplicable jealousy surged in his chest.


    He wished he had met her sooner to fill her entire life!


    Knock knock.


    While they were speaking, Zhou Yu knocked on the door of the office.


    He entered at will, pushing the door open and saying, "Two people have been received in the visitor’s room."


    Huo Xingzhou said, "I’m not expecting any visitors."


    Zhou Yu looked at Qiao Xi and said, "They... both are looking for sister-inw. Carrying big and small packages of bird’s nests, Ginseng, and designer bags—it’s quite over the top."