Su Qifeng, even if he were a fool, could now see that the woman before him shared an extremely intimate connection with both Zhang Yang and Supervisor Hu—no wonder Supervisor Hu had tried so desperately to stop him just moments ago.
Regarding Hu Tao, Su Qifeng simply could not afford to be anything but respectful; the software he developed and his personal website owed their initial attention from that investment firm—leading to millions invested and promises of tens of millions more—entirely to Hu Tao.
Hu Tao was Su Qifeng’s discoverer, his talent scout, and the very lifeline that had pulled him back from the brink when he was truly desperate!
Now, Su Qifeng could not muster an ounce of his former arrogance. He understood clearly how close Hu Tao was to the boss of that investment company. His legs felt weak, rendering him utterly speechless. He could only watch as Hu Tao chatted animatedly with Mi Xue, even managing to force a painfully strained smile onto his face.
The onlookers, seeing Hu Tao’s severity towards Su Qifeng while Su Qifeng forced a conciliatory smile, exchanged looks of profound surprise. Their curiosity intensified regarding Mi Xue—who exactly was this woman?—and who this Zhang Yang really was.
“By the way, Hu, what are you doing here?” Mi Xue asked Hu Tao, a hint of confusion in her voice.
“I just got off work; I was coming to meet a friend.”
Hu Tao scratched his head and offered an awkward smile, feeling a touch of embarrassment as he spoke, because his presence here was not actually due to just finishing work.
His being here was, in itself, a remarkable coincidence.
While Hu Tao had still been working, he had been talking on the phone with a friend when the call abruptly cut off. This immediately threw Hu Tao into a panic; he feared something serious had happened to his friend, prompting him to hastily wrap up his immediate tasks and rush over—which is how he stumbled upon the scene that had just unfolded.
“Your friend?”
Mi Xue blinked, momentarily stunned. If Hu Tao was here looking for a friend, who could that be?
Hu Tao’s face suddenly flushed. He quickly diverted the conversation: “Right, Mi Xue, what exactly happened between you and Qifeng? Why did things even get physical?”
Mi Xue glanced at Su Qifeng, then at Liu Qianqian, who was still fussing heartbrokenly over her scattered cosmetics, and shook her head with resignation. She told Hu Tao, “You should ask him yourself.”
“Hu… Hu Tao…”
At that moment, a soft voice called out from behind Mi Xue. Hu Tao leaned forward and saw Xiao Xiao on the floor. He gasped in shock, instantly forgetting Mi Xue. He lunged forward, moved around Mi Xue, and knelt beside Xiao Xiao, quickly helping her up. He thoroughly inspected her from head to toe, and only after confirming she was unharmed did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“Hu Tao…”
Xiao Xiao looked up at him, her eyes swimming with unshed tears, presenting a picture of fragile vulnerability.
“Xiaoxiao, don't be scared, don’t worry. I came as fast as I could. It’s okay, it’s okay!” Hu Tao said, immediately drawing her into an embrace, patting her back gently to soothe her.
Mi Xue was startled for a moment by the scene, then instantly understood who Hu Tao’s ‘friend’ was. It was clear that Hu Tao felt a connection to this nurse named Xiao Xiao that was anything but casual.
“Oh my, could this nurse actually be his girlfriend? And Su Qifeng was just being so harsh to her?”
“Tsk tsk, looks like the Dragon King’s temple was flooded by his own forces—people not recognizing their own?”
“Haha, that woman [Liu Qianqian] is definitely in for it now. She was the fiercest toward the nurse just moments ago, and now look, her boyfriend pales in comparison to him!”
“Hmph, serves her right!”
Witnessing this dramatic turn of events, the onlookers’ gazes toward Liu Qianqian shifted instantly to schadenfreude. Not a single person showed her any sympathy.
Su Qifeng watched Hu Tao, who was still holding and comforting the nurse, and felt as if he had just swallowed something foul—a bitter taste coating his mouth. His brow involuntarily furrowed into a tight knot.
The nurse, it was obvious from Hu Tao’s demeanor, held a special place. Coupled with that impossibly beautiful woman just now, both women shared an extraordinary relationship with Hu Tao—a fact Su Qifeng could never have conceived.
If Su Qifeng had known the depth of Hu Tao’s connection to both women, he never would have dragged Liu Qianqian into the Jinghe Hospital to cause a scene, and certainly not with the aggressive attitude he had displayed moments before.
His software had secured investment from the firm solely through Hu Tao’s efforts; that initial million-dollar deposit was entirely due to him. But what if today’s events displeased Hu Tao? What if Hu Tao subsequently became less diligent in helping him sell the software and the website?
After all, Su Qifeng and the investment company had only reached a verbal understanding, signing a simple letter of intent and exchanging fifty thousand yuan as a deposit. It wasn't a formal contract, meaning the firm still held the right to withdraw their investment, perhaps even demanding the deposit back.
If that happened, it would be like being plunged from paradise back into hell. He was already drowning in debt accumulated from developing the software and maintaining his website—secrets he dared not even tell his parents.
Having received the deposit, Su Qifeng had immediately paid off a portion of his debts and bought that very bag of cosmetics for Liu Qianqian. The fifty thousand yuan was nearly gone; what would he use to return the deposit?
Su Qifeng involuntarily swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. Large beads of sweat broke out on his forehead and streamed down his face without pause.
At this moment, Su Qifeng felt as if he were being tormented in a scalding hot pot, completely unable to escape.
He had every reason to worry, for he knew precisely the relationship Hu Tao maintained with the boss of that investment firm.
He had subtly inquired of Hu Tao: the boss of the investment firm was a close, lifelong friend of the CEO of Hu Tao’s own network company. The software and website he developed were essentially acquired by this investment boss to support Hu Tao’s company. Furthermore, once the contract was finalized, the CEO of Hu Tao’s network company would specifically appoint him as the Project Manager for the ongoing development of the software and website—a position equivalent in rank to Hu Tao’s supervisor.
His future looked incredibly bright, provided, of course, that Hu Tao remained as willing to support him as before.
Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao had stopped crying and wiped the tears from her face. With Hu Tao’s assistance, she managed to stand up. The first thing she did was offer her sincere thanks to Mi Xue.
“Sister, thank you so much just now.”
Xiao Xiao said to Mi Xue, her eyes still red, “Sister, you absolutely must believe me. I truly have no improper relationship with Doctor Zhang—oh, I mean, with your fiancé…”
Mi Xue smiled sweetly, reaching out to gently brush away the last traces of tears near Xiao Xiao’s eyes. “Don’t be afraid. I trust my husband, and I trust you. I won't believe baseless gossip. You shouldn't cry so easily in the future, okay?”
“Mmm!” Hearing Mi Xue’s affirmation, Xiao Xiao finally managed a genuine smile; the gloom in her heart finally gave way to sunshine.
Mi Xue looked at Hu Tao, who stood beside Xiao Xiao like a knight guarding his princess, and teased, “With a boyfriend as wonderful as him, how could I possibly not believe you? You silly girl.”
“H-He’s not my boyfriend anymore…” Xiao Xiao’s face instantly flushed again, and she stole a glance at Hu Tao, whispering the words almost inaudibly.
However, her low words were overheard by the two reception nurses standing nearby. The livelier one immediately exposed her good-naturedly: “Xiaoxiao, don’t be shy. Who was it privately saying just now how good Big Brother Hu treats someone… Haha…”
Hearing the teasing tone of the reception nurse, the surrounding crowd let out knowing smiles.
Even Mi Xue couldn't help but laugh heartily while staring at Hu Tao.
Hu Tao’s face instantly turned red too, but after listening to the exchange between Xiao Xiao and Mi Xue, he had a clearer picture of what had transpired.
It turned out that Su Qifeng and the girl who was apparently his girlfriend had falsely accused Xiao Xiao of having some illicit relationship with Zhang Yang.
Hu Tao looked at Su Qifeng, his expression turning intensely dark. He did his best to suppress his rising anger and demanded, “Su Qifeng, you need to explain to me, right now, what exactly is going on!”
“Hu… Supervisor Hu…” I… I… No, this matter…” Su Qifeng stared at Hu Tao, too paralyzed even to wipe the sweat dripping down his brow. He stood there motionless, stammering for a long time without managing to articulate anything substantial.
“You scoundrel, do you have any idea what you are doing?”
Hu Tao raised his hand, pointing at Su Qifeng, and yelled without reservation, “What are you doing here? Causing trouble? Bullying people? Fine, Su Qifeng, you even dared to resort to violence! Do you even know who you hit!”
“Y-Yeah!”
Su Qifeng’s face was ashen. He didn’t even notice he had instinctively retreated two steps, ending up right beside Liu Qianqian. Now, purely on instinct, he managed a weak retort.
“You still have the nerve to ask who!”
Hu Tao gritted his teeth. Any residual sympathy he had for Su Qifeng had vanished entirely. He could have tolerated Su Qifeng bullying Xiao Xiao—he knew Xiao Xiao was kindhearted and wouldn’t hold a grudge or agree to any retaliation against Su Qifeng—but he dared to strike Mi Xue!
Hu Tao shuddered recalling the possibility. If Liu Qianqian had actually managed to hit Mi Xue, what would the consequences have been?