Beg Me to Remarry
Chapter 405: Fight Fire with Fire

Chapter 405: Chapter 405: Fight Fire with Fire

Even after Qin Nuan had left, Xia Ning continued to muse over the words Qin Nuan had said.

She was certain that she had not known Qin Nuan before, even during the time Qin Nuan had become Xia Guoxiong’s assistant; she had barely had any contact with Qin Nuan.

But why would Qin Nuan say those things about her?

Xia Ning couldn’t understand. The more she thought about it, the more she suspected that Qin Nuan had deliberately uttered those words to provoke them, as it was blatantly obvious that Qin Nuan didn’t wish to sever ties with the Xia Family.

Previously, Xia Ning might not have realized this, but in the recent days, she had seen very clearly that Qin Nuan was a woman with a strong sense of purpose, who appeased Xia Guoxiong and Xia Cheng daily.

Xia Ning saw it crystal clear: although Xia Guoxiong and Xia Cheng outwardly seemed to look down on Qin Nuan, the two men were actually competing with each other in secret, and there was a subtle sense of the father and son wanting to outdo each other through Qin Nuan.

A cold breeze blew in from the window, causing Xia Ning to shiver. She turned and headed toward Xia Cheng’s ward, showing him the video on her phone, and threatened that if he continued to be so reckless with Qin Nuan, she would definitely send the video to Xia Guoxiong.

Xia Cheng had not expected the explicit video to exist on his sister’s phone. Usually, he was quite pleased with his indulgences, but once it became a threat, he was infuriated.

He even snatched Xia Ning’s phone, wanting to smash it, but Xia Ning, having locked horns with Xia Cheng for many years, was well prepared. How could she not have any defenses against Xia Cheng?

Xia Ning watched Xia Cheng holding her phone aloft, her expression unchanged, as she calmly said, "Go ahead and smash the phone; it doesn’t matter. I have plenty of backups."

With leverage in her hands, Xia Cheng naturally complied with Xia Ning’s words, at least outwardly, as he promised to cut ties with Qin Nuan from here on out.

Then, Xia Ning went to Xia Guoxiong’s ward. At the doorway, she composed herself, ready to encounter Qin Nuan. Unexpectedly, there was only Xia Guoxiong inside.

Xia Ning looked at her father on the hospital bed; her father wasn’t that old, only fifty, but his temples were already quite gray, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes were dense, like cracks on the surface of jade, each wrinkle a meandering little snake.

Xia Guoxiong was wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking over some reports, his eyes slightly squinted, straining to read.

The light was bright in the ward, reflecting off the snow-white walls.

Unbidden, a sour feeling crept into Xia Ning’s nose. She cleared her throat to alert Xia Guoxiong of her presence. When their eyes met, Xia Ning smiled and said, "Dad, what are you doing?"

"Xiaoning, what brings you here so late?" Xia Guoxiong put aside the reports he was holding and took off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose with the back of his hand, clearly exhausted.

The truth was, Xia Ning was very young when Du Wanting passed away. Back then, the Xia Group was just a small workshop. Xia Guoxiong had to raise two children and grow the business, which was indeed very tough.

Xia Ning sniffled, trying to muster a smile, "Dad, why are you still not sleeping at this late hour?"

"There’s a project about to launch in the company, and I’m sorting out some problems," Xia Guoxiong said with a pat on his bed, smiling at Xia Ning, "Come sit, let dad have a good look at you, you seem thinner."

Tears started to stream uncontrollably down Xia Ning’s face. She clung to Xia Guoxiong’s arm, rubbing her tears on his hospital gown.

That made Xia Guoxiong burst into laughter, "You’re so grown up yet you still act like a child.

Embarrassed, Xia Ning blushed and changed the subject: "Dad, what’s this project the company has? How come I don’t know about it?"

"It’s a project in collaboration with Huangpu Group," Xia Guoxiong mentioned casually, "This project is too big for Huangpu Group to handle alone. They need our Xia Family to help out. Consider it a joint venture between our two families."

"I don’t like Huangpu Group," Xia Ning thought of Su Cheng, who was the future heir to Huangpu Group, and the way he shamelessly fawned over Fu Han, which made her even more frustrated.

Xia Guoxiong laughed heartily, "What are you talking about, you child. As long as it brings benefits to our Huangpu Group, it doesn’t matter whether it’s He Group or Huangpu Family."

"But..." Xia Ning knew her words would displease Xia Guoxiong, but she still looked up and said, "But I’m going to marry He Xing in the future. Everyone is talking about how Huangpu Family and He Group are fighting for the market. If you collaborate with them, and He Xing finds out, he’ll be unhappy."

"Then don’t let him find out," Xia Guoxiong’s demeanor shifted from a kind father to one of grave sternness as he looked coldly at Xia Ning, "I’m telling you again, if you dare to inform He Xing about the Xia Family’s collaboration with the Huangpu Family, you’ll be sorry!"

Tears welled up in Xia Ning’s eyes—this time, they were not tears of sadness but of grievance. She looked stubbornly at Xia Guoxiong, silently standing her ground.

Unfortunately, Xia Guoxiong’s resolve was firm, far beyond what she, a young girl, could contend with. In the end, she admitted defeat and left with dashed hopes.

...

In M Country, outside the Operating Room.

Fu Xingbo and Bai Qian sat together, with Fu Xingbo’s laptop resting on his legs while Bai Qian held a box of fresh fruit, taking a bite for herself and then feeding one to Fu Xingbo.

Opposite them, Su Cheng sat on the left side of the bench, with a seat empty between him and Ji Liangchuan, starkly divided as if by the He and Huai rivers—distinct and forbidding any crossing.

In contrast to Fu Xingbo and Bai Qian’s composure, the two men seemed to epitomize the very definition of unrest. Meeting for the first time, they found each other’s presence disagreeable—either maintaining silence or, once speaking, filled with the smell of gunpowder.

Bai Qian’s fruit box was emptied, and she took out a box of egg tarts, offering it to Su Cheng and Ji Liangchuan, "Are you sure you don’t want anything? We still don’t know when Fu Han’s surgery will be over."

The two young men exchanged glances, then both averted their eyes, simultaneously letting out a disdainful snort.

Amused by their reaction, Bai Qian stood up, walked over, and stuffed an egg tart into each of their hands, "Here, eat something to fill your stomach. When Fu Han’s surgery is successful, I’ll treat you to a big meal."

Su Cheng looked at the egg tart in his hand, his smile more pained than cheerful: "Thank you, auntie. I’ve already inconvenienced you a lot, I should be the one treating you."

"Indeed, you should be the one treating," Ji Liangchuan interjected before Bai Qian could reply, his tone indifferent as he said, "Imagine that, the heir to Huangpu Group, coming abroad and staying at someone’s house instead of a hotel. I’m amazed you can go through with it."