Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him-Chapter 647: Are You Really Getting Married?

Qiao Xi is a new face here.

The people who entered one after another couldn’t help but glance at her; they had previously only heard that Cheng Han’s apprentice took first place at the Needle Testing Conference, but had never had the chance to see her up close.

Unexpectedly, she had now become their colleague, prompting the older board members to sigh about how the new generation surpasses the old.

Shen Xuanzhi’s seat happened to be right next to Qiao Xi.

He pulled out the chair and sat down. Qiao Xi glanced at him and said quietly, "I didn’t expect to see you here."

Last night, Huo Xingzhou told her that he had received a wedding invitation from the Guan Family.

It was Shen Xuanzhi and Guan Jingtan who were getting married—not just engaged.

It was truly unexpected that two people who seemingly had nothing to do with each other would end up together.

Facing Qiao Xi, Shen Xuanzhi was also candid: "It was the Guan Family who recommended me through connections to join. Originally, I had only applied to become a regular member of the association. Coincidentally, a senior board member retired, and I was chosen to fill the vacancy."

Qiao Xi replied, "That’s because your skill is up to the mark! After all, you placed fourth in the Needle Testing Conference. Making it into the top ten is already an impressive accomplishment."

For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Xuanzhi’s mood was particularly low, even though his face still carried its usual cold expression.

Shen Xuanzhi glanced at her, slightly silent.

Last night, the Guan Family had delivered the invitation to the Huo Family first.

He was aware of it but didn’t know if Qiao Xi and...

Qiao Xi looked at Shen Xuanzhi and lowered her voice even further: "Are you really going to marry Miss Guan?"

She couldn’t help but feel that Shen Xuanzhi liked Jiaojiao, and Jiaojiao had persistently pursued him to the end. He had certainly been moved.

How could the wedding happen so suddenly!

Shen Xuanzhi heard her words, his eyelashes slightly lowering as he responded, "Yes, I’m getting married."

"Then..." Qiao Xi wasn’t sure what to say next. "Then congratulations, I suppose."

"Thank you."

Shen Xuanzhi’s fingers curled tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Qiao Xi understood now. So, Huo Sijiao would learn this as well. And that was that—they were just not meant to be together.

Most of the seats in the conference room were filled.

Only the main seat and one seat allocated to a board member remained empty.

Qiao Xi glanced at the gray-haired vice president next to her and gave him a slight nod as a greeting. This vice president had served in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association for over thirty years and possessed remarkable acupuncture skills, a true inheritor of Lin Acupuncture.

However, Lin Acupuncture in the Imperial Capital stood no chance against the reputation of the Lu Family’s Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles. It was completely overshadowed.

Vice President Lin Chunsheng was known for his gentle demeanor and lack of competitiveness, which had helped the Lu Family thrive.

After a while.

Lu Yingxue appeared at the entrance of the conference room. She wore a mask to cover the scar on her face and sat directly in the president’s seat.

She laid down her documents and, glancing sideways at Qiao Xi and Shen Xuanzhi, said, "My father is occupied today, so I’ll be presiding over the routine meeting as his replacement."

She spoke naturally.

The most surprising part was that no one objected.

Qiao Xi’s eyes flickered with astonishment. It turned out Lu Yingxue, an ordinary board member, was authorized to assume the president’s duties in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association. If Lu Bannong was absent, she would step in.

This father-daughter duo completely controlled the leadership of the association.

Lu Yingxue sat in the chairman’s seat, her voice cold yet clear: "First, let me address the arrangements for the end-of-month free clinic. Recently, the association welcomed two newcomers. The free clinic at the end of the month will be attended by me and the two newcomers; the other board members need not exert themselves. The location will remain the designated square, and online announcements for patient slots will be released next week. Over the past ten years, we’ve conducted such clinics. Does anyone have any objections?"

"None."

"None. Yingxue always organizes the free clinics impeccably. We old-timers are lucky to have this much time to rest. Dealing with such a high volume of patients would otherwise be exhausting."

"Indeed, the opportunities should go to you younger folk."

Sitting nearby, Vice President Lin Chunsheng interjected: "How about we start by welcoming the newcomers? We don’t know them well yet."

"Uncle Lin, such pleasantries can be saved for after the meeting. Our monthly meeting shouldn’t waste time socializing. If there are no new proposals, we’ll wrap up here. You’re free to meet whoever you wish afterwards."

Lu Yingxue clearly intended to ignore Shen Xuanzhi and Qiao Xi.

She also appeared unwilling to introduce them to the veteran board members.

Her cold demeanor carried an undeniable air of authority. She looked at everyone and asked, "Are there any new proposals?"

Qiao Xi looked at her and raised her hand.

"I have one."

Lu Yingxue gazed at her and spoke indifferently: "Go ahead."

Qiao Xi stood up and said, "During the previous Needle Testing Conference, patients were assigned to us, but afterward, we haven’t had any further contact. Could those patients be reassigned to us for full treatment? For instance, the narcolepsy patient, Miss Cheng, from the final round of the conference—her condition seems quite complex. Is it possible for me to—"

"No."

Lu Yingxue cut her off before she could finish, saying, "These patients with difficult conditions belong to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association. Other people cannot casually come into contact with them. That particular Miss Cheng is even personally overseen by my father; over the years, her condition has been effectively managed. You don’t really think simple awakening techniques alone can cure her illness, do you?"

Her tone was cold and carried a subtle hint of disdain.

"Doctor Qiao, your medical skills are indeed impressive. But you shouldn’t act overconfidently or treat patients flippantly."

Qiao Xi understood that the association wouldn’t easily hand over Miss Cheng to her care.

But she needed to achieve her goal.

If that Miss Cheng truly was Grandpa Cheng’s daughter, then she absolutely had to cure her. Although she didn’t know why Grandpa Cheng suddenly had a daughter, nor why she was connected to Lu Bannong.

The only way to uncover the truth was to cure her illness.

"Director Lu, I’m not treating this lightly. If I can’t take on her treatment externally, as a vice president of the association, do I at least have the right to access these patients internally? Surely I can at least observe her condition?"

Qiao Xi refused to back down, her tone unwavering.

Lu Yingxue stared at her stubborn face, and a violent impulse welled up inside her—she wanted nothing more than to crush her spirit.

"This matter must be decided by my father; I cannot give you a direct answer for now." Lu Yingxue was essentially rejecting her, intending to delay the issue until Qiao Xi’s determination waned over time.

The next meeting wouldn’t take place until a month later.

By then, Qiao Xi might no longer have the energy to pursue the matter with the association.

Her father had explicitly instructed that no one should be allowed to interact with the woman named Cheng. Though she didn’t know the reason, she complied with his orders.

Qiao Xi recognized how the Lu Family was treating the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association as their personal playground.

She let out a soft laugh and said, "So the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association doesn’t operate in line with its own rules and regulations. If the president is absent, the vice president should exercise the relevant powers. The management rules of the association—the 221st article I studied—is it merely decorative?"

"Director Lu, please answer my question."