Chapter 134 - The Mystery of Si Shenxing

Amid the laughter and joy of the Xia family, Xia Zhuozhuo's eyes were like ice in the deep winter, flashing with unknown coldness. The family was immersed in the joy of celebrating Xia Huaicheng, and no one noticed her subtle change. As night fell, Xia Zhuozhuo stepped into her eldest brother's room again, ready for a mysterious treatment. She closed her eyes lightly, and her hands flew quickly, like a dancing butterfly, drawing silver tracks in the air. That was the first set of acupuncture techniques of the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate, and each needle contained ancient wisdom and power. After the treatment, Xia Zhuozhuo was like being fished out of the water, soaked and exhausted. Seeing this, Xia Liu hurried forward to support her and sent her back to the room. Xia Huaiwu also came over and wanted to help, but was rejected by Xia Zhuozhuo. A trace of loss flashed in his eyes, but then he cheered up again and secretly determined to do a good job for her in the Ancient Martial Hall, perhaps in this way he could win a little recognition from her. The next morning, Ning Suixiang proposed to hold a family dinner for Xia Huaicheng's recovery, inviting only family members and no outsiders. However, during the preparation process, she suddenly mentioned Si Shenxing's name. "Zhuozhuo, call Shenxing and ask him if he has time to come to our house for dinner in the evening." Ning Suixiang's words were full of expectation. Xia Zhuozhuo frowned slightly when she heard this, and an inexplicable irritation surged in her heart. She didn't like Si Shenxing, and she didn't want him to have too much interaction with her family. But in the face of her mother's inquiry, she could only force a smile and said, "He is very busy and probably has no time to come." Ning Suixiang seemed to see through her thoughts, smiled slightly, and asked, "Zhuozhuo, do you hate him very much?" Xia Zhuozhuo hesitated for a moment, and finally told the truth: "I don't hate him, but I don't like him either." Ning Suixiang felt relieved when she heard this. She always remembered the special attention that Si Shenxing showed to Xia Zhuozhuo at the welcoming banquet that day. If he could protect Xia Zhuozhu sincerely, then she would have nothing to worry about. "Then you should ask him. It would be best if he comes, but it doesn't matter if he doesn't." Ning Suixiang's words were full of compromise. Xia Zhuozhu had no choice but to call Si Shenxing in front of Ning Suixiang. On the other end of the phone, Si Shenxing's voice was low and magnetic, which made her a little nervous. "Hello, is this Miss Xia?" Si Shenxing's voice sounded in her ears. "It's me, Mr. Si." Xia Zhuozhu tried to make his voice sound calmer, "My second brother's project is going well, and my mother wants to celebrate. Let me ask if you have time to come to dinner in the evening." Si Shenxing didn't seem surprised by her invitation, but just asked lightly: "If you have time, what time?" Xia Zhuo was nervous, fearing that he would say something that Ning Suixiang would misunderstand. So, she quickly added: "It doesn't matter if you don't have time, business is more important." However, Si Shenxing didn't seem to miss this opportunity: "I'm free today, what time will dinner be in the evening?" Xia Zhuozhu secretly complained in her heart, could this man not understand her hint? But she still said with a stiff upper lip: "Dinner will be at six o'clock." Si Shenxing smiled slightly when he heard this: "Okay, thank Auntie for the invitation for me, I will definitely be there." After hanging up the phone, Ning Suixiang smiled and joked: "You see, I said he was free. Okay, I'll discuss with your Auntie Xu what dishes to cook in the evening." Xia Zhuozhu looked at her mother's cheerful back, with mixed feelings in her heart. She didn't want Si Shenxing to get too close to her mother, because that might make her mother have unrealistic expectations of their engagement. She didn't need anyone's protection, let alone rely on a fragile marriage relationship to ensure her safety. Just when she was in a complicated mood, her cell phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the screen and saw that it was a call from Huo Gang. "Miss Xia, the person I arranged in the hospital just called me and said that Master Zhao's body has almost recovered and will be transferred to the general ward in a while. I was afraid that you didn't get the news in time, so I called you to tell you." Huo Gang's voice sounded on the other end of the phone. Xia Zhuozhuo's eyes lit up when he heard it. Zhao Ti is finally waking up! This is really good news. She hurriedly thanked him and hung up the phone. After the typhoon, the sky became unusually clear. Xia Zhuozhuo stood in front of the window, looking at the blue sky and white clouds outside, and her mood gradually became brighter. She decided to go to the hospital to visit Zhao Ti, after all, he was injured because of her. However, when she found Ning Suixiang who was discussing the menu with Aunt Xu, she hesitated. She didn't want to delay the preparation of the family banquet because of her personal affairs. But she couldn't feel at ease when she thought that Zhao Ti was lying in the hospital waiting for her news. So, she made an excuse: "Mom, I have to go out. My fifth brother has to go to the hospital for a follow-up examination. He doesn't know how to read the examination report, so I will go with him. Don't worry, we will be back after the follow-up examination." Ning Suixiang heard this, although she was a little confused, but still nodded: "Okay, then you go and come back quickly." Xia Zhuozhuo responded and hurried upstairs to find Xia Huaiwu. She needed to use Xia Huaiwu as a "shield" to cover up her true purpose. Although Xia Huaiwu was not close to her at ordinary times, he agreed to her request without hesitation at this critical moment. In the hospital, Zhao Ti had been transferred to the general ward. He still looked very weak, but his eyes were unusually firm. Xia Zhuozhuo looked at him, and an inexplicable feeling of emotion surged in her heart. "Master Zhao, you finally woke up!" She excitedly held his hand. Zhao Ti smiled slightly: "Miss Xia, I made you worry. I'm fine, I just need to rest for a while." Xia Zhuozhuo heard this and felt a little relieved. She stayed with him for a while until he fell asleep due to exhaustion. She reluctantly left the hospital and returned home. The family dinner was held as scheduled. Si Shenxing arrived as scheduled, with a gentle smile. He got along very well with the Xia family, as if he had become a member of this family. However, Xia Zhuo maintained a faint sense of alienation from him. After dinner, Ning Suixiang took Xia Zhuozhuo's hand and walked aside, whispering: "Zhuozhuo, how is it?" Xia Zhuozhuo's heart tightened when she heard this. She didn't know how to answer her mother's question. She didn't want to deceive her mother, but she didn't want to make her worry. So she could only say vaguely: "Not bad." Ning Suixiang looked at her evasive look, and a trace of doubt rose in her heart. But she didn't ask any more questions, but chose to believe her daughter. In the dead of night, Xia Zhuozhuo sat alone in front of the window. She recalled everything that happened today, and her heart was full of complicated emotions. She knew that the relationship between her and Si Shenxing still needed time to run in. And her relationship with her family also needs more communication and understanding to maintain. But she believes that as long as there is love and faith in her heart, she will be able to overcome all difficulties and move towards the other side of happiness. This is the profound wisdom she has accumulated after countless days and nights, raising many children with great difficulty. In a corner of this city, Xia Huaiwu was immersed in his thoughts, and suddenly, a familiar figure broke the tranquility-Xia Zhuozhuo, his Xiaoqi, took the initiative to find him. He couldn't help but ripple in his heart, and his joy was beyond words. "Xiaoqi, why did you come to me suddenly? What's the matter?" Xia Huaiwu's words were a bit tentative and expectant. Xia Zhuozhuo's expression was as calm as water, as if all the waves had been hidden in her heart. "I need to go out for a while, and I want to use your return to the hospital as an excuse. Please accompany me. After you go out, you can investigate the matter of the Ancient Martial Hall." Xia Huaiwu heard this, and a trace of disappointment flashed through his heart. It turned out that he was just a pawn in her plan. But he quickly adjusted his mood, smiled and nodded: "Okay, then let's go. I will drive you to your destination first, and contact me after you finish your business. We will go back together to avoid mother's suspicion." Xia Zhuozhuo had no objection, and the two drove to the hospital. Along the way, Xia Zhuozhuo silently sent a message to Huo Gang, asking him to provide the contact information of his men guarding the hospital. Huo Gang responded quickly and sent the number. Xia Zhuozhuo glanced at Xia Huaiwu beside him, and finally chose to contact his men by text message instead of calling directly. After all, it was about Xia Liuli, and she couldn't trust Xia Huaiwu completely and couldn't mention her name in front of him. The text message was quickly replied. After confirming that it was correct, Xia Zhuozhuo breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders. Xia Huaiwu noticed her strangeness and couldn't help asking, "Xiao Qi, is there something important? You look very serious." "Nothing serious." Xia Zhuozhuo replied indifferently, with a bit of alienation in her tone. Xia Huaiwu wanted to ask more, but seeing her indifferent attitude, he swallowed his words back. He knew that what he had done in the past had broken Xiao Qi's heart, and what he could get now was only her limited tolerance and acceptance. He couldn't ask for too much, and could only let time slowly repair the rift between them. Forty minutes later, the car stopped steadily in the hospital parking lot. Xia Zhuozhuo was about to get out of the car, but was held by Xia Huaiwu's arm. "Zhuozhuo, I have something to say to you." Xia Huaiwu's voice was firm and sincere. Xia Zhuozhuo frowned slightly, obviously a little impatient: "Let's talk about it when we get back. I'm in a hurry to go to the ward now." "No, I just want to say thank you to you." Xia Huaiwu took a deep breath, as if to put all his gratitude into this sentence, "Thank you for risking your life to save me at the Ancient Martial Hall. I have always wanted to say this, but I have never had the chance. Thank you so much, Xiaoqi, if it weren't for you, I might have died. Xia Zhuozhuo's lips were slightly pursed, and a hint of complex emotions flashed in his eyes: "You don't have to thank me. I went to the Ancient Martial Hall not just to save you." Xia Huaiwu was stunned when he heard this, obviously he didn't expect her to say that. He was confused, but he didn't know how to ask. "Okay, let's talk later, I'm leaving first. "Xia Zhuozhuo broke free from his hand and got out of the car quickly. The sound of the car door closing echoed in the parking lot. Her figure quickly disappeared from Xia Huaiwu's sight, leaving only a resolute and firm back. Xia Huaiwu looked at the direction she left, and his heart became more confused. Where was Xiaoqi going in such a hurry? Why was she so anxious? At the same time, in another part of the inpatient department, Zhao Ti had been transferred from the intensive care unit to the general ward. After hearing the news, the Zhao family rushed to visit. However, when they were about to enter the ward, they were blocked by four burly bodyguards. "I said, you can't go in." The bodyguard's voice was cold and firm. Mr. Zhao's face turned pale in an instant: "My father is lying inside! Why can't I go in? Who are you? !" The bodyguard replied expressionlessly: "We are Mr. Si's people. " Hearing this, Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao's faces changed slightly, and they were speechless for a moment. Xia Liuli, who was standing behind them, spoke at this moment. "So what about Mr. Si? Why doesn't he allow us family members to visit the patient? Isn't Mr. Si too nosy?" Xia Liuli's words were a bit provocative and dissatisfied, successfully provoking the anger of the Zhao family. Mr. Zhao said angrily: "We are very grateful for everything Mr. Si has done for my father, but it is a bit too much to stop us from visiting the patient, right? " The atmosphere became tense, as if it was about to explode. Xia Liuli showed a meaningful smile at this time, as if everything was under her control. The Zhao family was indignant, and their gratitude to Mr. Si was instantly replaced by anger. However, they did not know that behind all this, there were more complex and profound conspiracies and calculations. And Xia Zhuozhuo's hasty departure was inextricably linked to all this. In a corner of this city, a storm is quietly brewing...