<h4>Chapter 614: Chapter 614: One p After Another</h4><h4></h4>


    Sun Weimeng lowered his voice mockingly and said, "Do I really need to spell it out for you? It’s nothing more than those sounds."


    Qiao Xi pressed further, "What sounds?"


    "The kind of sounds women make—half crying, half shouting. This vi’s soundproofing is quite decent, but I could still hear the noise. This shows you two werepletely out of control. I didn’t expect you to go along with him like that."


    Sun Weimeng shook his head, "Ah, the decay of moral standards these days. I feel like an overly bright third wheel."


    Qiao Xi hurriedly defended herself, "I was drunkst night and acting crazy. Once I’m drunk, I ck out. I didn’t remember anything this morning."


    "How did you get so drunk?"


    "I identally drank too much. The champagne atst night’s engagement party tasted particrly good, and before I realized it, I’d overindulged."


    Sun Weimeng eyed her suspiciously. After a moment’s pause, he decided to believe her.


    He said, "Do you know what major events have been causing a stir in the Imperial Capital today?"


    Qiao Xi shook her head while munching her breakfast.


    Sun Weimeng leaned in gossipy, "First of all, the Zhong Family sent apology gifts to all the guests who attended the engagement party." He gestured at the red gift box on the coffee table in the living room, "That’s what the Zhong Family sent over. They’re showing quite a strong stance—apologizing with words but without a hint of humility."


    "Secondly, I heard from Old Chen. He saidst night he was watching Lu Yingxue when the Lu Family enlisted several dermatology experts. It looks like Lu Yingxue is truly disfigured this time."


    "Then there’s news about a certain Wang real estate mogul who dered bankruptcy and fled, leaving behind unfinished developments that were taken over by Huo’s Tianyuan Group’s Imperial Capital branch. That’s Huo Xingzhou giving them a warning—apparently, that Wang fellow spread rumors about you and Zhong Yist night and reaped his karma."


    "Lastly, there’s one unverified rumor: Guan Jingtan is going to marry Shen Xuanzhi."


    Qiao Xi processed this string of news, but thest one was the hardest to believe.


    Guan Jingtan and Shen Xuanzhi—two peoplepletely unrted, how could they suddenly be getting married?


    "Married? Not engaged?"


    "It’s just a rumor—it might be false! Don’t take it too seriously. For specifics, you’d have to ask those involved. But I did askst night, and Miss Guan said Shen Xuanzhi is just living temporarily at the Guan Family, with no mention of marriage."


    Sun Weimeng sighed with a pained expression, "Ah, I’m heartbroken."


    Qiao Xi nced at him and couldn’t help but ask, "With all those lovers you’ve got outside, does heartbreak even count for you?"


    "Those are just passing amusements! My one true love is Miss Guan!"


    He looked genuinely righteous.


    Qiao Xi asked softly, "Does Jiaojiao know about this rumor?"


    "Of course she knows. I brought it up right in front of herst night. She looked pretty upset. Personally, I think Xie Xubai would suit her better."


    Qiao Xi exhaled deeply and said, "She’s in love with Shen Xuanzhi."


    "Isn’t it just because Shen Xuanzhi saved her by ident? Love at first sight, I get it. It’s a ssic scenario, and it makes sense to her emotions. Enough about her. What are your ns for today? I’ll follow. Huo Xingzhou specifically instructed me to stick close to you."


    The hero-saving-beauty trope has always been effective.


    In such situations, it’s easy for both men and women to develop romantic feelings for each other.


    Qiao Xi opened her mouth as a fleeting image of an indulgently handsome face shed in her mind. But she quickly suppressed the thought.


    This matter, she didn’t want Young Master Sun to know.


    She looked at Sun Weimeng and said, "I’m resting at home today."


    "Oh."


    Sun Weimeng instantly lost interest.


    ...


    Lu Family, Banshan Qiushui Estate, Imperial Capital.


    The wound on Lu Yingxue’s right cheek had already been treated, wrapped in gauze.


    Last night, both Eastern and Western medical experts had assessed it. The injury was confirmed to leave a scar, but how severe it would be depended on her recovery.


    To make matters worse, Lu Yingxue had scar-prone skin.


    She was furious!


    "Where’s Xiang Mingzhu being kept?" Her cheeks were bluish, her eyes bloodshot with red veins. She hadn’t slept all night, and herplexion was pale without a trace of color.


    The atmosphere in the Lu residence was tense. Even the servants knew that their eldestdy had been humiliated at the engagement partyst night—the future son-inw had gotten involved with the Ye Family’s least favored daughter, bing the talk of the capital.


    "Miss, Xiang Mingzhu has been locked in the basement sincest night. Without yourmand, no one dares to let her out."


    "Understood."


    Lu Yingxue’s face turned frosty as her swollen injured cheek looked even harsher.


    She marched swiftly to the basement and shoved the door open. The bodyguards followed closely, afraid she might be harmed again by Xiang Mingzhu.


    The Lu basement wasn’t well-lit naturally, with shelves and jars upying the space. The shelves housed various medical books. It appeared to be Lu Bannong’s workshop, with the air carrying a mix of medicinal smells and bookish fragrance.


    Click!


    Lu Yingxue forcefully flipped the switch for the overhead light.


    The high-wattage bulb lit up the empty basement as bright as day.


    In a corner, Xiang Mingzhu squinted, unable to adapt to the sudden harsh light. After a night of torment, her makeup had turned messy and greasy; her hair was disheveled.


    Her dress was crumpled and torn in spots.


    She curled up in the corner, noticing the shadow that loomed over her.


    As Xiang Mingzhu adjusted to the light and opened her eyes, she saw Lu Yingxue standing in front of her with her injured face. Before she could make a sarcastic remark, the bodyguards restrained her hands, forcing her to sit in a chair, immobile.


    "Lu Yingxue, you—"


    Smack!


    A pnded hard across Xiang Mingzhu’s face before she could finish her sentence.


    "Lu—"


    Smack!


    Another p.


    Every time Xiang Mingzhu attempted to speak, Lu Yingxue struck her again.


    The basement echoed with the sound of ps.


    Xiang Mingzhu, unable to fight back, had no choice but to endure the blows.


    Soon, Xiang Mingzhu’s cheeks swelled up, with even blood streaking the corner of her mouth. Her eyes reddened as she red at Lu Yingxue viciously, her hatred so palpable it nearly materialized.


    Lu Yingxue red frostily at her, "If you keep looking at me with those eyes, I’ll gouge them out!"


    Xiang Mingzhu spat out blood, "You hate me so much—it must be because this face of yours is beyond saving, isn’t it? Otherwise, you’d have dealt with mest night instead of waiting until now."


    Their cousinly bond made them understand each other too well, having grown up together.


    Xiang Mingzhu cried andughed like a madwoman, "I secretly hid that fruit knife in the kitchen, even bribed the chefs. When I shed at your face, I used all my strength. My only thought was I had to destroy your face! Everyone used me of murder, but I didn’t want to take your pathetic life!"


    "Lu Yingxue, I know how much you care about your appearance. You won’t be one of the ’Imperial Capital’s Twin Beauties’ anymore—gone is your grandeur! With a ruined face, Zhong Yi will dislike you even more."


    Xiang Mingzhu, her puffed-up face twisted,ughing and crying, "Zhong Yi said he doesn’t like older women! And you’re two years older than him. No wonder he’d rather hook up with Ye Ying to satisfy his needs than turn to you! Now that he has Ye Ying, he’ll despise you even more, won’t he?"


    "Lu Yingxue, if I can’t have peace, neither can you!"


    "Xiang Mingzhu, shut up!"