Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him-Chapter 623: Raising an Army to Demand Accountability

Chapter 623: Chapter 623: Raising an Army to Demand Accountability

Qiao Xi’s eyes shimmered faintly with unshed tears as she sat down across from Mrs. Pei, saying, "Please extend your hand."

Mrs. Pei’s expression was one of disdain and reluctance as she stretched out her hand, saying, "Go ahead."

She was dressed extravagantly today in a strapless gown with a small shawl draped over it. The weather outside was still quite chilly.

Qiao Xi lowered her gaze slightly, placing her fingers on Mrs. Pei’s wrist to carefully examine her pulse.

The pulse was strong and rigid, moving straight up and down.

Retracting her hand, Qiao Xi said, "There’s nothing seriously wrong, just an overactive liver yang and excessive heat. Pay more attention to your diet, avoid greasy, spicy foods, and try to keep your temper in check."

"Hah."

Mrs. Pei sneered. "I already know all of this even without your diagnosis. I thought you’d uncover some earth-shattering issue. Clearly, I overestimated you."

"You..." Huo Sijiao, seated to the side, was brimming with anger, wanting to throw this woman out.

Pei Chun was unbearable, but her mother was even worse!

No wonder the two were alike.

People claimed Pei Chun’s spoiled demeanor stemmed from her privileged upbringing in the Pei Family, but clearly, it ran much deeper.

Qiao Xi squeezed Huo Sijiao’s hand, turning to Mrs. Pei with a calm gaze. "You should be thankful I didn’t find any major health issues. As a doctor, my greatest wish is for every patient I encounter to live a long and healthy life."

"How noble-sounding. Who knows what curses you’re muttering under your breath? You probably think I came here just to make trouble. If the necklace isn’t found today, you’ll not only owe me an apology but also compensate me at full value and accompany me to the police station."

Mrs. Pei’s aggressive words matched her striking red lips, making her appear like a ghostly temptress from a folklore tale.

She was here to claim lives!

Qiao Xi glanced at the time and said, "Very well, I’ll deal with this to the end."

Mrs. Pei’s lips curled into a smug, haughty smirk.

Her gaze drifted to Huo Sijiao, who stood beside Qiao Xi. With a sharp tone, she remarked, "I hadn’t paid much attention to Miss Huo before, but now that I look closely, you do have some charm. No wonder you used your beauty to seduce Xubai. My daughter is too simple-minded, no match for someone so cunning."

Huo Sijiao’s cheeks flushed crimson with anger.

Qiao Xi held onto Huo Sijiao and subtly shook her head. With so many clients present, as the owners of the beauty salon, they absolutely couldn’t afford a public confrontation—it would tarnish their reputation.

Just endure it a bit longer!

Seeing the two sisters-in-law hold back their anger, Mrs. Pei was inwardly elated.

The fuss she was causing today not only avenged her daughter but also gained her favor with Miss Lu. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

Mrs. Pei impatiently drummed her fingers on the table and said, "Has it been half an hour yet? Why is there still no progress? That necklace of mine was clearly seen by many people when I wore it in. The only person I’ve interacted with is that beautician, Li Qian. Hand her over, and all will be clear."

"Any progress yet? Still haven’t found it?"

"Such low efficiency, and a terrible customer experience."

"I’ve been to numerous beauty salons in the Imperial Capital, but I’ve never been this angry before. Yingyue Pavilion across the street is leagues better than Furong. Even that Jade Skin Ointment must be some elaborate scam you all cooked up!"

"I’m never coming back here again."

Mrs. Pei rattled off her complaints, deliberately disrupting the equilibrium of the space and stirring dissatisfaction among the other customers.

Qiao Xi’s gaze landed on Old Chen, who was walking quickly along the second-floor corridor. A weight in her heart lifted.

"Young Madam, we’ve found the item!"

Old Chen made his way to Qiao Xi and announced, "Mrs. Pei’s necklace wasn’t misplaced in some corner but rather..."

"But what?"

Before Qiao Xi could ask, Mrs. Pei interjected in haste.

Her heavily lined eyes scrutinized the beautician standing behind Old Chen, and she mocked, "Isn’t it this beautician, Li Qian, who handled my session? Did she steal it? I heard you at Furong Beauty Salon pay a hefty price to recruit beauticians from Haicheng, but it seems it’s all for show."

"You say the necklace is found. Then where is it?" she pressed on relentlessly.

Qiao Xi looked at Old Chen and said, "Explain the situation to Mrs. Pei directly. There’s no need to sugarcoat it; just state the facts."

Old Chen, in a steady voice, said, "Young Madam, the necklace was found in Li Qian’s pocket. That’s why I brought her here as well."

Everyone turned their gazes towards the young woman standing nervously on the second-floor corridor. She was dressed in Furong Beauty Salon’s custom uniform, which had pockets on either side. The right pocket appeared slightly bulging, its shape protruding.

People began whispering among themselves.

"So it was really her?"

"Some workers in the service industry just can’t resist temptation when they see something valuable. These kinds of stories aren’t unheard of."

"Looks like today wasn’t an auspicious day for their opening. One bad apple spoils the whole bunch. If it weren’t for the Jade Skin Ointment, I’d blacklist Furong and never come back."

Li Qian’s face burned crimson as she stood there. After finishing Mrs. Pei’s facial treatment, she had started cleaning up to prepare for the next client.

But then Mrs. Pei had loudly claimed her necklace was missing. The salon owner’s bodyguard had confronted her.

From her pocket, they pulled out a necklace of immense value—Mrs. Pei’s missing piece. Li Qian distinctly remembered Mrs. Pei removing her necklace before her session.

How did it end up in her pocket?

Yet the bodyguard, Old Chen, hadn’t let her touch the pocket, insisting on catching her "red-handed" and threatening her if she resisted.

Li Qian’s face turned deathly pale as her legs wobbled beneath her.

"Mrs. Pei, I didn’t take your necklace! I truly didn’t take it. Our beauty salon has strict rules. We’re not allowed to touch the client’s belongings, let alone steal them."

Fear filled Li Qian’s eyes. She dreaded that Qiao Xi might throw her under the bus just to appease Mrs. Pei, sacrificing her future to smooth things over.

After all, compared to a large-scale salon, the career and future of one small beautician was insignificant in the eyes of capital.

Her eyes glistened with a mix of desperation and terror.

"Mrs. Pei, I swear I didn’t take it. Please, investigate properly!"

Mrs. Pei sneered. "Why should I investigate? I’m not the police! Now that the thief has been caught, let the police take her away for questioning. My necklace is worth six hundred and eighty thousand yuan—enough to send you to prison for several years!"

Her arrogance was boundless as she addressed the other guests who had come to the grand opening. "Everyone, be sure to watch your wallets and jewelry carefully. You wouldn’t want to come in for a facial only to end up at the police station giving statements. It seems Furong Beauty Salon doesn’t truly respect its customers if they’re willing to keep employing a petty thief."

After her sarcastic remarks, she turned to Qiao Xi and sneered provocatively, "Young Madam Huo, can I call the police now? Or is your salon trying to settle this privately?"

Qiao Xi extended her hand and said, "Go ahead. If you want to involve the police, by all means, do so. Those who have done wrong ought to be punished. And if no wrongdoing occurred, justice should prevail."

Smiling faintly, Qiao Xi said, "Mrs. Pei, I trust you know in your heart where the truth lies. But when you’re facing the police, please refrain from lying."

"What do you mean by that? Are you insinuating that I’m falsely accusing her?"

Mrs. Pei’s brows furrowed deeply as she adopted a posture of righteous indignation!