Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him-Chapter 614: One Slap After Another

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 villa’s soundproofing is quite decent, but I could still hear the noise. This shows you two were completely 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 drunk last night and acting crazy. Once I’m drunk, I black out. I didn’t remember anything this morning."

"How did you get so drunk?"

"I accidentally drank too much. The champagne at last night’s engagement party tasted particularly 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 said last 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 declared 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 Yi last 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 the last one was the hardest to believe.

Guan Jingtan and Shen Xuanzhi—two people completely unrelated, 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 ask last 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 glanced 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 her last 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 accident? Love at first sight, I get it. It’s a classic scenario, and it makes sense to her emotions. Enough about her. What are your plans 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 flashed 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 her complexion was pale without a trace of color.

The atmosphere in the Lu residence was tense. Even the servants knew that their eldest lady had been humiliated at the engagement party last night—the future son-in-law had gotten involved with the Ye Family’s least favored daughter, becoming the talk of the capital.

"Miss, Xiang Mingzhu has been locked in the basement since last night. Without your command, 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 occupying 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 slap landed hard across Xiang Mingzhu’s face before she could finish her sentence.

"Lu—"

Smack!

Another slap.

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

The basement echoed with the sound of slaps.

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 glared at Lu Yingxue viciously, her hatred so palpable it nearly materialized.

Lu Yingxue glared 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 me last night instead of waiting until now."

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

Xiang Mingzhu cried and laughed like a madwoman, "I secretly hid that fruit knife in the kitchen, even bribed the chefs. When I slashed at your face, I used all my strength. My only thought was I had to destroy your face! Everyone accused 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, laughing 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!"