Quenching

"Let's find a way to bring the young master back first! If he stays cooped up in the rice noodle shop any longer, his health will collapse sooner or later."

******

On the hospital bed, Feng Jianmu, covered in wounds, held Wanli Ruoyu's hand and spoke weakly, his voice barely audible.

"Sir, the Weisheng family sent many men in black to kill us. Of those who went out with me, only I survived and came back alive."

Wanli Ruoyu frowned, gently and carefully pinching the corner of the blanket to check on Feng Jianmu.

Are you sure you're from the Weisheng family?

"Yes, Wei Sheng Ziqing, the new heir of the Wei family, is ruthless and his current goal is to kill the eldest young master at all costs."

"Did you deal with the assassin who tried to kill Wanli Fuguang at Kongxi last time?"

"He was seriously injured."

"I understand. You should focus on recovering first and don't worry about anything else."

Wanli Ruoyu carefully placed Feng Jianmu's hand under the blanket, instructed the doctors and nurses to take good care of him, and then turned to give instructions to the servant beside her.

"Tell her to send more people to protect Wanli Fuguang properly."

******

In the living room of Wanli's house, Wanli Fuguang let go of Huang Qiaqia's hand and urged her to go upstairs, but Huang Qiaqia shook her head and refused repeatedly.

"School has already started. If you won't let me come with you, I can go home. Although my parents aren't home, my aunt and driver are. Or I can go back to my dorm; it's more convenient for classes then. I..."

Wanli Fuguang gently kissed Huang Qiaqia's cheek, showering her with affection and comfort.

“You have a driver to class, so you don’t have to worry about being late. If you want to go to the lab to find Wu Haofeng, or if you want to eat or play anything, just tell the servants at my door and they will take you there.”

"Wanli Fuguang, I..."

"obedient."

Wanli Fuguang ruffled Huang Qiaqia's hair and turned to leave.

Huang Qiaqia moved with heavy steps, as if completing a task, to the door of Wanli Fuguang's bedroom on the second floor.

The servant at Wanli Fuguang's door immediately got up and pushed the door open. Huang Qiaqia nodded at him with a forced smile and reluctantly stepped into Wanli Fuguang's bedroom. She looked up at the dark night and wished that Wanli Fuguang could stay and watch the bright moon with her.

In Jin Xixing's study, Jin Xixing put down his pen and intended to walk closer to the window to admire the moonlight. As soon as he took a step, the servant knocked on the door. Jin Xixing took the documents handed to him by the servant, his lips drooping. He glanced at the bright moonlight and wished that Huang Qiaqia would stay away from the bright moon in the sky.

As soon as Wu Haofeng, looking travel-worn, entered the room, the servant immediately urged him to go find Huang Qiaqia. Wu Haofeng handed his bag to the servant with a curious expression.

"Thump, thump, thump."

After receiving permission, Wu Haofeng pushed open the door to Jin Xixing's study and asked Jin Xixing a question.

"I've been away on business for so long, how come I still haven't gotten rid of Huang Qiaqia?"

"What does Huang Qiaqia want with you?"

"She plans to go to the lab tomorrow."

"Now, the eldest young master insists on marrying Huang Qiaqia, so we are just ignoring her, we haven't driven her away."

"What can we do? A girl who doesn't even want to be the chairman of the board, marrying the heir of the Wanli family as his wife? What kind of international joke is this?"

"Huang Qiaqia isn't too keen on living at home either, but she doesn't want to distract the busy young master. Wu Haofeng, why don't you help her?"

"How could she possibly listen to me? Xing Songfeng almost beat up Huang Qiaqia, and Huang Qiaqia didn't even leave. What method could I possibly use?"

"Kindness. Huang Qiaqia has always been concerned about the disabled girl in the orphanage, who has suicidal tendencies. Huang Qiaqia had previously helped the girl find a suitable bionic upper limb, and he and the young master went to see the girl and promised to continue to help her find a comfortable bionic lower limb."

After Jin Xixing finished speaking, he handed Wu Haofeng a business card.

Wu Haofeng held the business card in his hand, sighing to himself: "Minghuang Laboratory, we're practically shining shoes for them, and they can't even give us a second glance."

"Madam keeps asking me about the young master's recent situation, and I keep making excuses."

“You’re so smart. When Madam gets angry, even if the eldest young master likes Huang Qiaqia a lot, he has to think about what his mother said and consider her feelings. However, I don’t understand why the eldest young master would go back to Huang Qiaqia when he was planning to break up with her. Is it because Huang Qiaqia was hospitalized with leg pain? He knows about Huang Qiaqia’s leg problem.”

"Do you know why the master insisted on bringing the second young master back from his great-uncle's place?"

"Those who aren't the young master's classmates all know that they were just accompanying him in his studies. The young master disliked their flattery and false politeness, so he brought Xing Songfeng back. Who knew he would raise such a beast?"

"Before Jie Xingsongfeng returned, the young master contracted leishmaniasis and was in critical condition."

"what?"

"Madam was afraid that the family would catch the disease, so she stayed away from everyone else, braving the dirt and hardship, and took meticulous care of the eldest young master. After the eldest young master recovered his health, Xing Songfeng and you came to Wanli's house. In all these years, have you ever heard that the eldest young master had leishmaniasis?"

"So, he brought Songfeng back to become the heir? What a pipe dream! It's impossible. He... wait. The young master thinks that Huang Qiaqia won't abandon the little girl with the infectious disease, and he won't abandon him either. He's determined to marry Huang Qiaqia. But, as long as Madam strongly opposes the young master and Huang Qiaqia being together, the young master will definitely listen to Madam."

“You don’t need to tell Huang Qiaqia that your company has developed bionic lower limbs. You just need to send the first product to Huang Qiaqia and tell her that the bionic lower limbs can be sold to Huang Qiaqia at ten times the market price.”

"How can you guarantee that Huang Qiaqia will definitely buy it now?"

“The little girl had suicidal tendencies, so I went to talk to her.”

"How do you know the young master will definitely pay?"

“Huang Qiaqia is already living in the young master’s bedroom, and he can get others to pay for it.”

"If Huang Qiaqia is worried that the young master can't afford it, is she planning to borrow money from others to buy a bionic prosthetic limb?"

"That would be for the best. With the young master's last shred of self-respect trampled on, he will surely come back to find the people he loves most."

"Madam, you've always disapproved of the eldest young master suffering because of Huang Qiaqia. You definitely won't let the two of them get together. Jin Xixing, you're really amazing."

Wu Haofeng left happily, clutching the business card.

******

Huang Qiaqia pushed open the door to Wu Haofeng's study and slowly moved to the spacious open-air balcony. There were elegant green plants, a heart-shaped hot spring made of volcanic rocks, and various tea sets. It seemed that only a comfortable recliner was missing.

Huang Qiaqia looked up at the stars that filled the sky, just like his longing, which was long and unreachable.

The fragrance of violets wafted by, and Huang Qiaqia gathered her thoughts, cleared her throat, and turned around. Her gaze fell upon the graceful figure of Shan Shuanglingze as she moved about.

Goodnight, Auntie.

"Ah."

Amidst the lukewarm response, a hint of bitterness welled up in Huang Qiaqia's eyes. She even wished that Shan Shuanglingze would give her the order to leave, rather than using politeness and a sense of distance to drive her away. The fragrance of violets in the air faded considerably.

Huang Qiaqia remained neither humble nor arrogant, but unwilling to back down. Following her heart, she quickly caught up with Dan Shuanglingze and handed him the exquisite sandalwood box.

"Auntie, I've picked some violet petals."

"Thank you."