<h4>Chapter 417: Chapter 417 Qiao Xi’s Presumptuous Request</h4><h4></h4>


    Qiao Xi stared at him, a bit startled.


    A cold and fever almost turned into pneumonia, and yet he’s wheeling around for a leisurely stroll?


    The other party, upon seeing her, also showed a trace of surprise on his pale and delicate face. His hands were idly crossed in front of him, and his expression regained itsposure.


    Wan Jiang, who was pushing the wheelchair behind him, whispered, "What should we do, Young Master Zhong? We have to pass by the nurses’ station to get to the terrace for some sun. Should we go?"


    The 22nd floor of the hospital, where the inpatient department was located, boasted luxurious decorations and provided VIP services. This floor featured arge terrace garden, which was arranged quitefortably. Patients would go there to get some fresh air from time to time.


    Young Master Zhong had suggested getting some sunshine, so Wan Jiang proposed going to therge terrace.


    There weren’t many people around at this time, and he also mentioned that Shen Xuanzhi’s mother had woken up, so Doctor Qiao probably wouldn’t being to the hospital for the time being.


    But who would have thought!


    They would run into each other head on.


    "Let’s go," Young Master Zhong said softly, maintaining a highly formal smile on his face.


    As Wan Jiang pushed him closer, he greeted Qiao Xi, "What a coincidence, you’re working at the hospital today too?"


    "Shen Xuanzhi’s mother’s craniotomy is scheduled for today, I came to check on the situation."


    Qiao Xi had nned to rest at home first, the back-and-forth journeys over thest two days had nearly disassembled her bones. But since Dr. Yan mentioned that Shen Xuanzhi’s mother needed surgery, she came, adhering to her principle of being responsible through to the end.


    "You really are responsible."


    Wan Jiang chuckled dryly in a polite manner.


    Qiao Xi’s lips twitched slightly, and her gaze fell on Zhong Yi, who was sitting in the wheelchair, "Is Young Master Zhong’s illness this serious? Do you have to use a wheelchair for a cold and fever? Can’t even manage to stand up now?"


    Zhong Yi spoke leisurely, "It must be due to the climate; the atmosphere of Haicheng differs considerably from that of the Imperial Capital, and I’m having a particrly hard time adjusting, which is why I got severely sick."


    He had wanted to see her from a distance in the hospital before leaving Haicheng, not intending to get close for a face-to-face conversation.


    Zhong Yi put on a performance of a lifetime, portraying a stranger in front of her.


    One day, he would lose to his own greed.


    Qiao Xi observed hisplexion; traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes observation, listening, questioning, and examination.


    If it truly were at the stage of pneumonia caused by a fever, hisplexion wouldn’t be such.


    It looked more like a simple deficiency of qi and blood; the internal organs seemed to be without issues.


    Wan Jiang spoke politely, "Doctor Qiao, if there’s nothing else, I shall take Young Master Zhong to get some sun for disinfection and calcium."


    Qiao Xi stepped aside.


    She watched as Zhong Yi passed by her, obviously wearing a hospital gown, but the watch on his right wrist was never removed.


    "Young Master Zhong."


    Qiao Xi suddenly asked, "Do you have a twin brother? Has your mother only given birth to you?"


    Zhong Yi looked towards her, "Does Doctor Qiao know someone who looks simr to me? That really is a coincidence; I would appreciate an introduction if possible."


    Qiao Xi pursed her lips, "May I make a presumptuous request?"


    "Considering it’s presumptuous, I suggest you don’t bring it up. After all, you and I are strangers to the extent that we can’t even exchange birthday gifts," Zhong Yi said softly, "Wan Jiang, let’s go. The sun will set soon if we dy any longer."


    Wan Jiang agreed, internally scoffing at how it was only morning and the sun was far from setting.


    The sun must be rising from the west today, as Young Master Zhong actually talked back to Miss Qiao.


    Usually, he was so protective of her, hidden in the shadows!


    He’d rather spend hours in a car trunk than to arouse any suspicion from her.


    Even utilizing Lin Xifei was done only after he beat her and then cklisted her in the Imperial Capital, under the pretext of gaining trust from Zhong Lingxiao.


    If this wasn’t taking revenge on Miss Qiao’s behalf, Wan Jiang swore he’d read his name backward!


    Wan Jiang pushed Zhong Yi away directly.


    Qiao Xi clenched her thumb into her palm, squeezing it.


    Shu Xue said, "That Young Master Zhong doesn’t seem to give you much face, eh? Is it because you returned his birthday giftst time and he got angry? If you ask me, just ept them all without discrimination, regardless of the value."


    Qiao Xi took a deep breath, "Xingzhou also agreed with me on returning it."


    Shu Xue patted her shoulder, "Then don’t worry about it. You two don’t seem to be cut from the same cloth. Let me tell you some gossip; this morning, I saw on the trending searches that many brands have terminated their contracts with Lin Xifei. Moreover, she was kicked out of many uing film and television projects."


    Qiao Xi was not particrly surprised, "Previously, Xingzhou said that he was going to cklist her in Haicheng."


    Shu Xue shook her head repeatedly, "No! It’s not just Haicheng; all of Lin Xifei’s contracts have been terminated! She’s beenpletely cklisted!"


    Qiao Xi looked at her.


    "It’s true! I’ll show you on my phone," Shu Xue pulled out her phone and handed it to her, "After you told me what Lin Xifei did at the TV station, I paid special attention to her."


    Qiao Xi scrolled through the phone and found that this matter had already caused a lot of discussion online.


    Even Lin Xifei’s social media ounts had been blocked.


    An award-winning actress, just like that cklisted and put on ice?


    "How could this be? She has the Zhong Family’s eldest son behind her; at least in the Imperial Capital, she can throw her weight around. Who would dare touch her without considering the face of the elder son of the Zhong Family?"


    Shu Xue said, "What if that person doesn’t need to consider Zhong Lingxiao’s face? She’s a mistress, not the official wife of the Zhong Family’s eldest son. Look, just now the one who went out for the sun doesn’t seem to mind doing such things, willing to cklisted her just like that."


    Zhong Yi.


    Indeed, he was willful and unchecked.


    He seemed capable of doing such things.


    It was said that the two brothers of the Zhong Family fought fiercely with each other; Zhong Yi couldn’t touch Zhong Lingxiao for the time being, but taking out his anger on the woman beside him was also an option.


    Qiao Xi felt as though her mind was a tangled mess of threads, all muddled and unclear.


    She said, "Shu Xue, Young Master Zhong might not be suffering from influenza. Could you help me pay attention and see if there’s anything unusual with him?"


    "Sure."


    Shu Xue said, "It’s all business rivalry, I get it. Never expected you to join in; true to form as thedy of Tianyuan Group."


    Qiao Xi didn’t borate further, "I’m going to check the wards first."


    After saying this, she headed towards themon wards on the 18th floor, where Shen Xuanzhi was waiting at the door of the ward.


    The doctor was performing some simple preoperative examinations inside the ward; Qiao Xi nced and said, "Your mother’splexion looks alright, the sess rate for this surgery is quite high, and the chief physician from the neurosurgery department with extensive experience will be performing the surgery."


    Shen Xuanzhi was all business, trying to express his gratitude with a gentle tone, "Hmm, I owe you my thanks. I heard that you were the one who arranged for the chief of neurosurgery to free up his time."


    "Hm? I didn’t contact the chief of neurosurgery."


    Qiao Xi paused for a moment before saying, "Maybe you were misinformed? I haven’t been in Haicheng the past couple of days; I went back to the countryside."


    Shen Xuanzhi’s back went rigid.


    He thought about the call from the angry, debt-collecting thug that morning.


    The conversation was filled with curses, mentioning how the young and cunning girl got them locked up for a few days, and that his debt of two hundred thousand had been cleared.


    His fingers, long and well-jointed, hung limp beside him, slightly curled.


    He looked at Qiao Xi, saying somewhat unnaturally, "Could I ask for Doctor Qiao’s help?"