Inside the hospital, the pungent smell of disinfectant filled the air.
Qiao Xi woke up with a throbbing headache, her eyes falling on a stark white ceiling.
She suddenly became sober.
"Where is Little Bean?"
The man guarding her side immediately held her hand. "Old Wang has already taken her home; she's safe."
Qiao Xi flung his hand away.
"I'm fine, I want to be discharged."
"Wait for the results," Shang Beichen's tone was not to be questioned.
Before long, the doctor entered with the examination report, stating it was only a mild concussion and some soft tissue contusions, nothing serious.
Shang Beichen's tense expression finally eased slightly.
Without a word, he settled the bill, then walked to the hospital bed and, to Qiao Xi's gasp, picked her up again.
"Shang Beichen, put me down! I can walk myself!"
The man turned a deaf ear, carrying her out of the hospital room.
As they reached the garden downstairs, Qiao Xi caught a glimpse of a familiar face from the corner of her eye.
Jiang Si!
She was so startled that she quickly buried her head in Shang Beichen's arms, wishing she could become invisible on the spot.
Shang Beichen immediately noticed her discomfort and swept a sharp gaze over.
"Director Jiang, what a coincidence." Shang Beichen walked straight towards him and initiated the greeting.
Qiao Xi: ...
Jiang Si stepped forward quickly and politely greeted, "President Shang, hello."
Then, his gaze fell on the woman in Shang Beichen's arms, who was like an ostrich, with a hint of concern.
"Secretary Qiao, is she... injured?"
Qiao Xi's face flushed crimson, wishing she could find a fissure in the ground to crawl into.
She explained in a small voice, "There was a minor car accident."
She struggled slightly, almost pleading.
"President Shang, please put me down. My leg is fine, I can walk by myself."
"Shut up," Shang Beichen coldly uttered two words, not looking at her again.
He merely nodded slightly at Jiang Si and walked past him with her in his arms.
Jiang Si watched the tall receding figure, his brow furrowed.
A hint of deep coldness colored his bright eyes.
She likes Shang Beichen?
Or does Shang Beichen like her?
The air pressure inside the car was terrifyingly low.
Qiao Xi spoke first, "Please take me home."
Shang Beichen didn't even look at her, his voice so cold it could freeze ice shards.
"What is your relationship with that Shang Xu?"
"Not close," she answered quickly.
"Then I'll have him go in and stay for a good few days." Shang Beichen's tone was flat but carried an undeniable authority.
Qiao Xi was stunned, then said through gritted teeth, "It's best if he never gets out!"
Shang Beichen's lips curved into an unreadable arc. "It's best if that's the case."
The car did not head in the direction of her home.
Qiao Xi watched the increasingly unfamiliar streetscape outside the window. Finally, the car drove into an extremely luxurious villa area.
This was Ningcheng's most high-end affluent district: Tianxi Garden, a place rumored to be worth its weight in gold, where every bit of greenery was an artwork, and even the roadside flowerbeds contained precious rare specimens.
The Rolls-Royce smoothly stopped in front of a prime villa, a "King of Buildings" with an excellent view.
The car door opened, and the butler was already waiting, with two rows of servants behind him, a total of sixteen people, all bowing in unison.
"Greetings, Sir."
Qiao Xi was startled by the spectacle, her entire body frozen.
This was Shang Beichen's home?
The villa's garden was brightly lit, and on the neatly trimmed lawn, Little Bean was playing joyfully with a fluffy white Samoyed.
"Sister!"
Little Bean saw her and ran over with her short legs, "Big doggy, woof woof!"
Qiao Xi's heart softened, and she bent down to pick her up.
The moment she picked up her daughter, her head suddenly spun, and she uncontrollably took a step back.
A large hand timely supported her waist.
"You can't hold her right now." Shang Beichen was startled and tried to take Little Bean from her arms.
"Don't hold, bad uncle, bad uncle."
Little Bean looked resistant, extending her small hands as if to hit him.
Qiao Xi held her small hand and kissed it. "Baby, he's not a bad uncle."
"He didn't bully sister, don't be rude, okay."
"Really?" Little Bean asked seriously.
"Mm!" Qiao Xi nodded. She absolutely could not let a child harbor hatred.
"Uncle will hold you. Your sister isn't feeling well right now." Shang Beichen then successfully took Little Bean from her embrace.
"Let's go inside and eat first." His tone carried an unrefusable order.
Shang Beichen, holding Little Bean, led Qiao Xi into the house.
This was the first time Qiao Xi had seen such a beautiful house.
Luxurious, yet not vulgar.
Every piece of furniture was like a work of art, the air was filled with a faint floral scent, and even the floor tiles underfoot were discreetly carved with intricate patterns.
The dining room was larger than her entire current house.
The long dining table was laden with a sumptuous feast, steaming hot, and... all her favorite dishes.
The flavors were light, refreshing, and exquisite.
A cute children's meal was also specially prepared on the side.
Shang Beichen sat at the head seat, and Qiao Xi took a seat next to him.
He held Little Bean in his arms and pointed to a rabbit-shaped egg custard pastry on the table.
"Eat the little bunny."
Shang Beichen then picked one up and placed it in the little one's bowl.
The little one grabbed it and stuffed it into her mouth, eating with a beaming smile.
Qiao Xi watched this scene, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"You can put Little Bean on a chair; she can eat by herself."
He said calmly, "It's fine."
After speaking, he held the child with one hand and ate with the other, calmly eating, even remembering to serve Qiao Xi.
Qiao Xi ate this meal with great trepidation.
It felt too unreal.
The man in front of her was Shang Beichen.
The man she had waited for for four years.
He was sitting here now, serving her food, holding their daughter, like a real husband and father.
Yet, she dared not hope for such a scene.
After eating, she took Little Bean's hand, not wanting to stay a second longer.
"President Shang, we should go."
Shang Beichen wiped his mouth and said unhurriedly, "You can stay here." He paused. "If you like."
"No need, I have a place to stay," Qiao Xi refused without thinking.
Shang Beichen's eyes instantly turned cold. He stared at her and asked word by word.
"If Jiang Si were the one inviting you to stand here today, would you agree?"
This question was too piercing.
Qiao Xi's heart tightened, but she forced herself to calm down.
"President Shang, my life has no 'if's. I won't answer such a foolish question."
After speaking, she pulled Little Bean and walked out, her steps somewhat hurried.
Shang Beichen chased after her, stopping not far behind her.
His voice was like poisoned honey, carrying a fatal temptation and insult.
"Qiao Xi, if you don't want any emotional entanglement with me, that's fine too."
"My proposal yesterday is still valid."
"How about being a simple bed partner?"
Qiao Xi's steps suddenly stopped.
A surge of overwhelming anger and humiliation rushed from the bottom of her heart to the top of her head.
So, he had really returned this time only to humiliate her.
He wanted to humiliate her with money, make her submit, and make her regret their divorce.
She slowly turned around. Just as Shang Beichen thought she was about to explode, she suddenly smiled.
That smile was cold and alluring.
"President Shang, you are truly generous, 50 million for a year as a bed partner."
"Which woman wouldn't be tempted?"
"Sigh, if only we hadn't divorced back then, this big house would be mine too."
"I will seriously consider your suggestion and strive to live a good life soon."
She smiled brightly, her hand already clenched into a fist, her fingernails digging deeply into her palm.
After speaking, she took Little Bean's hand and turned to leave.
Shang Beichen frowned slightly. He knew she was speaking sarcastically.
This stubborn girl was really quite headstrong!
He made a phone call, telling Old Wang to take her.
He made another phone call and said coldly, "Let Shang Xu stay inside for a while."
Wanting to snatch his woman? Not a chance.
Qiao Xi took out her phone to call for a car, but there were no cars nearby.
Not long after, a Rolls-Royce silently slid up to her.
Old Wang quickly got out of the car, opened the door, and said respectfully.
"Secretary Qiao, President Shang asked me to take you home."
Qiao Xi glanced at the open car door, as if seeing something dirty.
She forcefully slammed the car door shut with a loud bang.
"No need!"
She turned around angrily, and Old Wang's heart jolted.
This was the third time.
Old Wang did not dare to leave privately and just slowly followed behind her.
This villa area was too large. She pulled Little Bean and walked for half an hour before reaching the main entrance.
She opened the app to call for a car again. Suddenly, a familiar Porsche Cayenne drove over.
It was Jiang Si.
He got out of the car, personally placed Little Bean in the back seat, where a child seat had surprisingly been installed.
"Thank you," Qiao Xi said, then got into the front passenger seat.
Old Wang quickly made a phone call to report, "President Shang, Secretary Qiao refused to get in my car. When she reached the main entrance, she was picked up by a Cayenne. The driver was a man."
Shang Beichen's anger flared, his tone icy. "Follow them."
Not long after, Jiang Si's car stopped in the building's underground parking lot, and then he, holding Little Bean, entered the building with Qiao Xi.
Old Wang trembled in fear. "President Shang, that man entered the apartment building with Secretary Qiao."
Unconcealed rage filled Shang Beichen's eyes; he almost crushed his phone.
He picked up the car keys for a supercar and strode towards the garage.
Qiao Xi, you're quite something, daring to bring the wolf leader home?
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