Chapter 174: Chapter 174

Qi Longbing looked at her. How could he not know why she reached into his embrace? Whether it was concern or if she was touched, his eyes weren’t fully closed yet. He could see everything clearly!

Thinking of this, Qi Longbing couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. "At this time... are you still concerned about this thing?"

Even more important than my life?

Hua Xiaomo fell silent for a moment, then answered, "President Qi, please forgive me. It’s mine... I will take it back."

Then, without any further hesitation, she decisively withdrew her hand from his and retrieved her own SIM card.

Qi Longbing looked at her. He gradually smiled, his eyes becoming hazy, increasingly blurry, until they finally closed, devoid of strength.

"President Qi, President Qi..." Voices reached his ears, perhaps tinged with urgency, perhaps with concern.

But, at this moment, how he wished to hear her call out his name!

But, he was destined not to hear it.

A world of darkness completely enveloped him.

Old Master Qi Haitian, his stepmother Shen Qingxiang, his nominal girlfriend Pan Yutong, and the Qi Family’s Chief Butler Qin Feng had all arrived at Qi Longbing’s side.

Seeing that Qi Longbing had finally woken up after the bullet was removed, these members of the Qi Family finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Such a fuss, and even you came, Old Master?" Qi Longbing said with a faint, joyless smile.

"All of you, go out first. I have something I want to discuss with my grandson alone," Qi Haitian glanced at the Qi Family members in the room and quickly dismissed them. Only then did he turn to Qi Longbing.

"Ah Bing, Grandfather is already aware of the general situation. You just rest well; I’ll handle everything else," Qi Haitian said with a kindly smile.

Qi Longbing’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at him. "But, Old Master, I want to handle this matter myself."

Qi Haitian looked at him and smiled faintly. "That’s fine too. However, I’ve already spoken to Director Chen. The police will actively follow up on this, and they’ll also send people to protect you around the clock."

"Around the clock? That’s not necessary," Qi Longbing laughed again. "Having Yu Bao by my side is enough."

"Him? Don’t mention him. I’ve fired him for you!" Qi Haitian stated decisively.

Qi Haitian cherished his eldest grandson more than his own life. So, even if it meant spending all his money to mobilize the entire police force, he was determined to absolutely ensure his safety.

Hearing this, Qi Longbing immediately frowned. "Old Master, how can you just dismiss my people? You’re being too disrespectful!"

Qi Haitian wasn’t angry; he just smiled. "Ah Bing, Grandfather is old, but I’m not senile yet. I’ll send you two new capable assistants."

"No need. I only want Yu Bao and Hua Xiaomo. Have them both come. I have something to say to them," Qi Longbing said directly, his handsome face showing a trace of sternness, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

This was quite uncommon behavior from Qi Longbing in front of Qi Haitian.

On the surface, although the Qi Family was managed by Qi Longbing, who was the president with no chairman above him, the words of Old Master Qi of the Qi Family were equivalent to an Imperial Edict.

Generally, whatever Old Master Qi said, Qi Longbing would obey eighty to ninety percent of the time. Therefore, Qi Haitian’s satisfaction with Qi Longbing stemmed not only from his obedience but also from his true capability to steer the Qi Imperial Court!

"Hua Xiaomo... so, the Hua’s Home youngest daughter. Ah Bing, have you truly developed feelings for that girl?" Qi Haitian asked, a shrewd glint in his experienced eyes.

"Heh..." Qi Longbing chuckled and looked at him, saying calmly, "Perhaps I have the same mad blood as my father! I, too, can go mad for a woman, until... the end of my life."

Upon hearing this, Qi Haitian fell silent for a long time, not speaking again for quite a while.

Qi Haitian paced a couple of steps in the room. After a moment, the frown lines between his eyebrows finally smoothed out as he announced his decision, "In that case, I can allow her to become your lifelong companion, even let her move into the Qi Family home—that’s no problem. However, she will have no formal status."

"Your fiancée is Pan Yutong. In the future, she will become my eldest grandson’s wife, your lawful wife. You must be clear on this point," Qi Haitian said very sternly.

He had pondered this issue deeply, and of course, it was also to further strengthen their Qi Imperial Court.

Therefore, a political marriage was absolutely necessary.

Hearing this, Qi Longbing laughed again, his eyes, deep as the ocean, filled with a hint of mockery. "I’m not even engaged. How could I have a fiancée?"

"That’s just a matter of time. Neither your aunt nor I have any objections," Qi Haitian stated, cutting off further discussion. His calculating eyes darted about.

"Then have you asked for my opinion?" Qi Longbing’s voice suddenly sharpened. Looking at the old man, he truly doubted how his own father had ever tolerated such arrangements.

Ultimately, his father, Qi Tianrun, had defied Old Master Qi’s wishes and married Qi Longbing’s mother, Bai Mandie. However, not long after, they divorced due to a misunderstanding, and his father then married his stepmother, Shen Qingxiang.

His mother, on the other hand, had gone far away to another country.

But in truth, his bond with his mother had always remained. Later, his father, wanting to seek her forgiveness, decided to purchase the world’s largest blue diamond, the "Blue Moon," to represent his eternal, unchanging love for her.

Unfortunately, the plane he was on crashed...

To avoid further trouble, the Qi Family publicly announced that Chairman Qi Tianrun had tragically died while on a business trip abroad.

Therefore, fulfilling his father’s unfinished wish was something Qi Longbing absolutely had to do.

"Just because Pan Yutong is the future helmswoman and successor of Warner World, you accept her? In the past, when Hua Xiaomo was the Hua Clan’s precious daughter, didn’t you also have me pursue her, Old Master?"

"Speaking of which, Old Master, I think you could stand to be less pragmatic. Political marriages have their benefits, but for our Qi Imperial Court, which is already powerful enough, they bring more drawbacks! Because... if I’m not happy, no one else gets to be happy either!!" Qi Longbing’s words were harsh. If he couldn’t even make decisions about his own marriage, then his title as President of the Qi Family was truly just an empty one.

Wouldn’t that be the biggest joke? For origınal chapters go to 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝙣𝙚𝙩

Qi Haitian didn’t speak, but it was clear the expression on his old face had become quite unsightly.

"Besides..." Qi Longbing continued, looking at Qi Haitian. Truth be told, he really didn’t want to anger him too much; after all, the old man genuinely doted on him. That affection, spanning more than twenty years, was undeniable! "The Qi Family doesn’t just have me as a son. My younger brother, Qi Lingfeng, should be about twenty-six now. He’s still studying in Dubai. I can have him come back to fulfill the political marriage you’re hoping for, Old Master. What do you think?" Qi Longbing proposed, a subtle gleam on his handsome face.