Chapter 96: Hu Shishi
Hu Yidao took out a bank card and handed it to Cheng Yuan. "Xiaoyuan, I don’t know what your house call fee is, but this is a small token of my appreciation. The PIN is six zeroes. I hope you won’t think it’s too little."
Cheng Yuan smiled and waved his hand. "Uncle, are you scolding me? How could I possibly accept payment for treating Grandpa?"
Hu Yidao wasn’t good with words and, for a moment, didn’t know how to persuade him.
Niu Fu quickly stepped forward to help his master out. "You don’t have to accept payment for treating the Old Master, but you must accept the money for the Feng Shui Formation!"
Hu Yidao shot Niu Fu an appreciative glance. "Old Niu is right. Xiaoyuan, just consider this payment for the Feng Shui Formation. You’re not allowed to refuse. Your uncle knows a good thing when he sees one, and I know how precious this Feng Shui Formation is."
’If it’s payment for the Feng Shui Formation, then I can accept it. I just gave all my money to Ruoxi, so I’m a bit short on cash right now.’
Cheng Yuan smiled and accepted the bank card. "Then thank you, Uncle! In a little while, let’s also remove the bullet from Third Uncle’s body. It’s pressing on his meridians and blood vessels, which is why he hasn’t been able to break through to the Innate Grandmaster realm."
"Then I thank you on behalf of the Third, Xiaoyuan."
"Uncle, you’re too kind."
The two of them chatted as they walked, and soon they arrived at the dining room.
Hu Duoduo and Hu Jingjing had been waiting for a long time. It was clear the two young women had already heard some news and were discussing it excitedly.
"Duoduo, you’re not pulling my leg, are you? Is that Cheng Yuan guy really as handsome as you say?"
"Why would I lie to you? His looks are just a bonus. The most amazing things are his medical skills and his cultivation! For both Uncle and Grandpa to think so highly of him, you can just imagine how outstanding he must be!"
"Then I really have to get a good look at him."
"I heard the eldest sister is coming back soon, too."
"Huh? Eldest sister is coming back too? If we have to compete with her, we won’t stand a chance!"
"Who knows when it comes to fate! Let’s just let nature take its course."
As the two young women were talking, Hu Yidao entered the dining room with Cheng Yuan.
Hu Sanqiang greeted them enthusiastically. "Big Brother, everything is arranged. It’s our Hu Family’s highest-standard ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ banquet."
Hu Yidao nodded in satisfaction. "Xiaoyuan, come sit next to me."
"Alright!"
Cheng Yuan didn’t stand on ceremony and sat down beside Hu Yidao.
Hu Duoduo hadn’t thought much of it when she’d met Cheng Yuan before, but now that this was essentially a blind date, her heart couldn’t help but pound uncontrollably.
Hu Jingjing’s beautiful eyes sparkled. ’Duoduo wasn’t lying, Cheng Yuan is really handsome!’
’And he’s a Grandmaster at such a young age, with such brilliant medical skills. His future potential is limitless!’
"Duoduo, Jingjing, come and sit."
"Yes."
Hu Duoduo and Hu Jingjing pulled Shen Manwen along and sat at the lower end of the table.
"Xiaoyuan, you’ve met Duoduo; she’s your third uncle’s daughter. Jingjing is your second uncle’s daughter."
Cheng Yuan nodded politely to the two young women. "Hello to you both."
"Hello, hello."
Hu Jingjing was quite talkative and took the initiative to start conversations, so the three young people quickly warmed up to each other.
Hu Yidao watched the three ’kids’ with a gentle smile, but Hu Sanqiang seemed out of sorts. He looked like he wanted to say something but was holding back, repeatedly trying to catch Hu Yidao’s eye.
Hu Yidao started to get annoyed. "The Third, if you have something to say, just say it. Don’t just stand there hemming and hawing. Xiaoyuan is one of us!"
Hu Sanqiang gave an awkward laugh. "Big Brother, have you noticed something is off? The concentration of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in our Hu Mansion has doubled, and that faint, oppressive feeling is gone."
"Is that it? I forgot to tell you. Xiaoyuan just adjusted our Hu Mansion’s Feng Shui Formation. This is all his doing."
"So it was Xiaoyuan’s doing? I thought it was Master Zhang’s work!"
As they spoke, a clear and bright female voice rang out, "My apologies, my apologies! I’m late! I’ve neglected our distinguished guest, so I’ll punish myself with three drinks!"
Cheng Yuan subconsciously looked up, and then froze for a second.
Hu Duoduo and Hu Jingjing were already very beautiful, just a notch below Lin Ruoxi and Shen Manwen. Out in the world, they would easily be 90-point beauties.
But the moment they saw Hu Shishi, Hu Duoduo and Hu Jingjing were instantly eclipsed, and even Shen Manwen seemed to be at a slight disadvantage.
In truth, based on looks alone, Shen Manwen and Hu Shishi were more or less on par.
However, Hu Shishi was the number one talent of the Provincial City’s younger generation. The powerful aura she had developed from long being in a high position was something even Shen Manwen had trouble matching.
Furthermore, Hu Shishi and Shen Manwen had completely different styles.
Shen Manwen possessed a delicate, almost foxy kind of beauty that made people want to protect her.
Hu Shishi, on the other hand, had a cool and imposing sort of beauty. At first glance, she resembled Lin Qingxia’s portrayal of Dongfang Bubai, leaving a rather stunning impression on those who met her for the first time.
Hu Shishi wasn’t just being polite; she really did down three drinks as her self-imposed punishment.
Hu Yidao introduced her with obvious pride, "Xiaoyuan, this is my daughter, Hu Shishi. She graduated from the top military academy and is now the commander of a special forces unit."
’So she’s a real warrior!’
’No wonder she’s so cool and imposing!’
Cheng Yuan praised her with genuine admiration, "Sister Shishi, you can really hold your liquor!"
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
With that, Hu Shishi very gracefully sat down next to Cheng Yuan, without a hint of affectation.
Buoyed by the alcohol, Hu Shishi looked at Cheng Yuan with a very aggressive gaze. She was determined to see for herself just how outstanding this man her father praised so highly really was!
Hu Shishi had always been the type to look down on everyone, and no young man from the Provincial City’s younger generation had ever been able to catch her eye.
She even felt that there was no man in this world worthy of her.
But after seeing Cheng Yuan, her heart, so cold it seemed to hold not a single trace of emotion, suddenly trembled slightly.
It was like a current of electricity had passed through her, a very strange sensation.
’Could this be... attraction?’
The corners of Hu Shishi’s lips tilted up slightly. She shot a look at Hu Yidao, as if to say, ’Dad, you finally did something right for once.’
Hu Shishi’s smile was faint, as fleeting as a night-blooming cereus, but everyone was stunned by its beauty!
In that moment, Hu Shishi seemed to become the center of the universe, so beautiful it made one’s heart tremble.
Even Cheng Yuan’s own heart skipped a beat.
’How can someone be so beautiful when they smile?’
’Too bad. From the looks of it, Sister Shishi doesn’t seem to smile often.’
Hu Yidao and Hu Sanqiang were also dumbfounded. ’So my daughter (niece) is this beautiful when she smiles?’
Hu Sanqiang suddenly felt a bit deflated. ’Duoduo stands no chance of competing with Shishi. She’s just here to fill a spot. Look at Xiaoyuan’s eyes—he’s completely captivated by Shishi.’
"Xiaoyuan, what are you staring at? So engrossed? Be careful, or your eyes will get stuck and you won’t be able to pull them out!"
Hu Sanqiang remarked, his tone a little sour.
Hu Yidao, however, was in a wonderful mood and couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh heartily.
COUGH, COUGH...
Cheng Yuan took an awkward sip of water and quickly composed himself. ’No matter how beautiful Hu Shishi is, it has nothing to do with me. I already have a wife.’
’Besides, in terms of looks, Ruoxi is in no way inferior to Shishi.’
’It’s just that Ruoxi’s background isn’t as good as Hu Shishi’s.’
’But that’s not important.’
’A real man should bring honor to his wife and provide for his children!’
’In the near future, Ruoxi will become the woman with the noblest background of all, and she will be glorious because of me!’