<h4>Chapter 620: Chapter 620: I Won’t Forge a Matrimonial Alliance, But We Can Be Rtives</h4><h4></h4>


    Old Madam Xie squinted her eyes at the bag and said, "What’s this? Clothes from Master Irina’s design studio? Oh, it’s menswear. Xiaoyuan, why are you showing me this?"


    Old Madam Xie inspected the bag carefully, even peeling it open to have a closer look.


    Many of the clothes in the Xie Family were custom-made, but the suit inside this bag was quite different from their usual style. Although it was still a suit, it was in ck—a color Xie Xubai seldom wore. Even the cuffs and edges of the suit were embroidered with gold-threaded lotus flowers.


    There was a sense of understated mboyance.


    It was not in line with Xie Xubai’s usual casual style.


    "This isn’t from the batch of clothes the Xie Family custom-ordered—the gold-threaded lotus flowers are unusual," the olddy asked Ning Yuan. "Where did this suite from?"


    Xie Xubai stood up and swept a cold nce at Ning Yuan before speaking, "It was a gift from a client." He swiftly changed the subject, turning to Shen Xuanzhi and asking, "Dr. Shen, is my grandmother’s acupuncture session almost finished?"


    Shen Xuanzhi replied with a calm expression, "The needles need to stay for a while longer, but they can be removed soon."


    "Alright then, I’ll trouble you toe with me for a moment. I’ve retrieved the item I promised youst time."


    Xie Xubai stood up, ready to leave.


    Old Madam Xie couldn’t help but call out, "How can you leave just like that, Xubai? You haven’t exined where this suit came from. Xiaoyuan, whisper it to me."


    Ning Yuan lowered his voice and said three words, "Miss Huo."


    A look of delight instantly appeared on the olddy’s face.


    It had reached the point of gifting clothes.


    ...


    Fish pond in the backyard.


    Xie Xubai and Shen Xuanzhi stood across from each other.


    Xie Xubai pulled a box from the pocket of his suit and handed it over. "I had it cleaned—it’s ready to be returned to its owner. Consider this your consultation fee."


    Shen Xuanzhi epted the box and opened it. Inside was the strand of small-leaf red sandalwood prayer beads, each one with stripes he knew by heart.


    This was his father’sst keepsake, which he had sold for the sake of his ridiculous pridest time.


    But he didn’t regret making that decision.


    At least he had managed to repay Huo Sijiao’s debt.


    "Thank you."


    Shen Xuanzhi closed the box and spoke in a low voice. Although Xie Xubai called it a consultation fee, Shen Xuanzhi knew he was getting the better end of the deal.


    His real consultation fees weren’t that high.


    Shen Xuanzhi looked up at him and said, "Let’s stick to the standard fee for the treatment. I’ll make up the difference—please give me your ount for the transfer."


    Xie Xubai nced at him briefly, took out his phone, and showed him the QR code for receiving payments.


    "Looks like Dr. Shen is quite popr in the Imperial Capitaltely. The Guan Family treats you well, too."


    When Shen Xuanzhi heard him mention the Guan Family, his expression became even colder.


    "I don’t owe you anything," he replied, his tone sharp. He always operated on principle, bristling with thorns and refusing topromise. Any patience he had was reserved for his quest for revenge.


    Shen Xuanzhi scanned the QR code and transferred the remainder of the money, then heard Xie Xubai say:


    "Actually, Imperial Capital’s upper ss doesn’t have many secrets. Guan Jingtan can’t marry out, so she has to recruit a husband. And as someone from Haicheng who’s uninvolved in Imperial Capital’s rivalries, with skills and strategy to boot, you’re the perfect candidate."


    Even when facing Xie Xubai now, Shen Xuanzhi was still too inexperienced.


    "Nothing has been made public; everything is still uncertain," Shen Xuanzhi replied stubbornly, suppressing the fury that burned in his chest.


    Xie Xubai, his expression calm, said, "Then I’ll await the announcement. If there’s a wedding, the Xie Family will undoubtedly want to partake in the celebrations. Just don’t waver—if you do marry someone, be single-minded about it."


    Shen Xuanzhi’s gaze turned colder at those words, and he asked, "Is the Xie Family nning to form an alliance with the Huo Family?"


    From the moment Shen Xuanzhi first met Xie Xubai, he felt a sense of threat from the man. He knew that Xie Xubai was interested in Huo Sijiao.


    Though the man disyed impable courtesy and the Xie Family had a ster reputation, Shen Xuanzhi still couldn’t view Xie Xubai with impartiality, harboring an innate prejudice against him.


    That barely concealed animosity was something Shen Xuanzhi kept deeply buried.


    Xie Xubai turned his gaze to him and replied, "I did have such thoughts in the past, but President Huo rejected me."


    Shen Xuanzhi’s heart stirred. He admitted to himself he felt a bit despicable—these words gave him a strange sense of happiness. But he also knew Huo Sijiao was not one to tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes. Even if nothing ever happened between him and Guan Jingtan, and he became no more than a nominal husband in name only,


    What right did he have to expect Huo Sijiao to wait for him?


    She was the esteemed eldest daughter of the Huo Family!


    He and she were worlds apart.


    Before Shen Xuanzhi’s fleeting joy could settle, he heard Xie Xubai speak again: "I may not form an alliance with the Huo Family, but we could still be rtives."


    An alliance was driven by profit; bing rtives, however, was very different.


    Hearing the words "bing rtives," Shen Xuanzhi’s hand clenched tightly at his side.


    His heart twisted painfully.


    He didn’t like Xie Xubai’s tone, nor did he want to hear anything about Huo Sijiao from him. He couldn’t help but feel jealous, couldn’t help but wonder what had transpired between them.


    Everything about Xie Xubai was unattainable for Shen Xuanzhi.


    "Do you have anything else? If not, I need to remove the needles for the old madam," Shen Xuanzhi said. He had no intention of building any rapport with Xie Xubai now or in the future.


    Xie Xubai said slowly, "Hmm, she sent me a suit."


    A sudden burst of anger rose in Shen Xuanzhi’s chest.


    His heart felt stifled.


    But he was a man of few words, striving to conceal the emotional turmoil within.


    For once, Shen Xuanzhi retorted: "Really? She’s given me far more."


    With that, he turned and strode back into the living room.


    Xie Xubai stood in the faint light and chuckled softly. Since when had he started being so petty?


    ...


    Three dayster.


    On the bustling streets of the Imperial Capital, the Furong Beauty Salon held its grand opening!


    Traffic clogged the roads, luxury cars gathered in droves, and parking lots within three kilometers werepletely filled. Whether acquaintances or strangers, everyone flocked to celebrate the eldest daughter of the Huo Family and Young Madam Huo.


    The Huo Family’s status in the Imperial Capital was no longer what it used to be, with the shadows of Huo Xingzhou and Qiao Xi visible behind several major upheavals.


    The beauty salon’s opening didn’t require invitations—everyone was wee.


    It was the perfect chance to build connections!


    The Furong Beauty Salon was decorated in a high-profile, European style of luxury. Although it appeared as a small ivory-white vi at first nce, the ground floor space was vast. The vi was surrounded by gardens, with the main entrance wide open!


    Red carpets stretched out over a hundred meters on each side, nked by flower baskets with signed note cards from various well-wishers.


    The arrangement on both sides was particrly grand! Those who sent flowers could certainly bask in the prestige!


    "President Wang sent a pair of flower baskets!"


    "President Xie sent a pair of flower baskets!"


    The usherettes called out the gift list, their voices crisp, smiles impable. Guests streamed into the salon continuously. While beauty salons weremonce, it was the legendary Jade Skin Ointment that was the real draw.


    Word had it that the unwanted daughter of the Ye Family frequented this ce daily and even let slip that her old scars had notably faded.


    Across from Furong Beauty Salon, Yingyue Pavilion was eerily quiet. Lu Yingxue stood at the entrance with her manager.


    The manager observed her expression and said obsequiously, "They’re making such a big fuss—are they even sure they can handle the aftermath? Miss Lu, everything’s been arranged. The Imperial Capital is still our turf, so just wait and see the show. Our clients at Yingyue Pavilion aren’t easy to poach!"


    Lu Yingxue, wearing a mask that concealed most of her face, replied, "Alright, then I’ll stay and see what exactly you have nned."