Chapter 045: The Autumn Chill and the King's Defeat 11

When Huangfu Lie slowly regained consciousness in a daze, the first thing he heard was the sound of water, and when he opened his eyes, he saw his own cousin and that damned woman in the midst of a kiss.

And he himself was still lying on this cold, hard floor.

Damn it, all these years of raising him for nothing.

Huangfu Lie rolled his eyes and fainted again, this time from sheer anger.

Huangfu Shang's lips were moist, and he looked a little embarrassed as he glanced at Lexi Yan, his ears flushing red. “I’ll take my cousin to see a doctor.”

“Mm, go ahead,” Lexi Yan nodded in approval, then suggested, “While you're at it, have him see a neurologist.”

“???” Huangfu Shang looked at her in confusion but still nodded.

As soon as Huangfu Shang and Huangfu Lie left, Wang Jingye returned home.

Seeing his daughter waiting at the door warmed his heart. He got out of the car and said to her, “Xiaoya, you don’t need to come out to wait for me after work.”

Lexi Yan thought: No, you’ve misunderstood.

“I just had a friend over. I came out to chat with him,” Lexi Yan replied with a smile.

Being an old hand at reading people, Wang Jingye immediately noticed the pink bubbles of happiness emanating from his daughter. He cast a vigilant glance around, but seeing no suspicious figures, he spoke in a serious tone, “Xiaoya, you have to be careful outside. I’ve read too many news stories lately, all about girls getting into trouble. As for boys, keep your distance—they’re not to be trusted.”

“Dad, I’ll have to get married sooner or later,” Lexi Yan replied.

At that, Wang Jingye immediately said, “You don’t have to get married. The Wang family fortune will be yours in the future.”

He saw that Lexi Yan was about to say something else and quickly added, “Some boys are full of lies. Don’t trust them. If you need anything, or if you’re short on money, just tell me.”

No wonder the original Lexi Yan was so arrogant—she’d been spoiled by this very father.

Noticing how Wang Jingye seemed unable to accept the idea of his daughter ever marrying, Lexi Yan swallowed her words and changed the subject. “Dad, I’m thinking of finding a boyfriend.”

“What?!”

“I’ll train him well now, and in the future, he can work in the kitchen. What do you think?”

“We already have me in the kitchen.”

“But I don’t want you to be too tired. If my boyfriend takes over one day, you’ll have a much easier time.”

Wang Jingye was both touched and stung by his daughter’s words.

For a long moment, he was speechless.

——

Huangfu Shang brought his cousin to the hospital, where a team of medical staff carried him inside.

Soon, Huangfu Lie emerged from the consultation room, his face as black as thunder.

Huangfu Shang, who was chatting with Lexi Yan, immediately stood up. “Don’t worry, cousin.”

Although he was still in pain below the waist, as a man, he had his pride. He shook his head.

Seeing this, Huangfu Shang asked, “Shall we go for the next check-up?”

“The next check-up? For what?”

“Xiaoya suggested we have your brain checked.”

Huangfu Lie instantly understood the implication—Lexi Yan was saying he was out of his mind!

Fuming, Huangfu Lie strode out.

Huangfu Shang hurried after him. “You’re not going for the check-up? I’ve already made an appointment.”

“No,” Huangfu Lie shook his head, and as he turned the corner, he bumped straight into someone.

Ouyang Zining came out of the consultation room holding her report. When she saw the results, her expression turned dazed.

Damn it, just one night and now... she couldn’t accept it. Just thinking about how much trouble it was to raise a child made her head ache.

During infancy, she’d have to buy diapers, formula, clothes, and hunt for a good kindergarten, all the while guarding against fake vaccines and bad teachers.

Elementary school would be even worse—she’d have to help him with his homework???

Hadn’t she seen news reports of parents winding up in hospital from the stress of helping their kids with homework?

And most importantly, raising a child took money!

Thinking of all this, Ouyang Zining grew even more irritated.

In her distraction, she accidentally bumped into someone, dropping the medical report to the floor.

“Sorry!” A deep, magnetic voice sounded above her.

“Can’t you watch where you’re going…” Ouyang Zining started to snap, annoyed, but when she looked up and saw the man’s face, the rest of her words died in her throat. She took several steps back, but suddenly recalled something, quickly darted forward to snatch up the medical report, and then dashed away, clutching it to her chest.

Huangfu Lie: “…”

“Do I look that scary?” he asked, turning to his cousin.

——

“It’s… it’s not that bad,” Huangfu Shang replied hesitantly. After all, Ouyang Zining, who could slaughter chickens and ducks in the kitchen without batting an eye, had actually been frightened off.

“Or maybe she owes you money? Or you bullied her?” Huangfu Shang could only think of two possibilities.

In that instant, the memory of that night flashed through Huangfu Lie’s mind. Nonsense! She was the one who bullied him!

His face darkened further. “Enough of that. Come home with me now. You start working at the company properly tomorrow.”

“Cousin, I’m not going,” Huangfu Shang shook his head. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of myself.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and ran off.

Huangfu Lie: !!!

When he got home, he discovered that his well-behaved, sensible cousin had actually run away from home.

“Young Master Shang said he really likes his new job and is going to further his studies. I helped him pack his things…” The housekeeper’s voice grew softer and softer, finally dwindling to silence as Huangfu Lie, face black as the bottom of a pot, waved him away.

The study was emptier than ever. His desk stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows. Opening a drawer, Huangfu Lie glanced at a document inside and sighed.

It must be that wicked woman Wang Xiaoya who led little Shang astray.

——

When Huangfu Shang arrived at the staff dormitory arranged by Wang Jingye, suitcase in hand, he happened to run into Ouyang Zining, who was taking out the trash in her pajamas and slippers.

Neither recognized the other from their brief encounter at the hospital.

Huangfu Shang greeted her and asked for directions.

Ouyang Zining thought the boy in front of her looked bright, handsome, and polite. Seeing that his dorm room was right next to hers, she led him there.

“I live next door. If you need anything, you can come find me,” Ouyang Zining said.

“Thank you very much.” Huangfu Shang nodded, then, remembering something, took a pack of dried squid from his luggage and offered it to her. “This was made by one of my elders at home. It tastes great—please try some.”

Normally, Ouyang Zining would have been delighted, but today she had just confirmed she was two months pregnant. Thanks to her culinary talents, she was particularly sensitive to smells; even through the packaging, she caught a whiff of fishiness.

Her expression changed, and covering her mouth, she couldn’t hold it in any longer and vomited.

Huangfu Shang, who had been pampered all his life, had never encountered something like this. He froze, then as the sour, rotten smell hit him, his own stomach churned, and he too bent over and retched.

Thus, the two “heroines,” upon meeting properly for the first time, each clutched their stomachs, retching as if the world were turning upside down...