C8 Do You like Me?

Chen Wu's henchmen were equally terrified. They hastily discarded their weapons and knelt, shivering and silent, too scared to utter a word.

"How would you like to resolve this?" Lau Qingmei asked coolly.

Chen Wu shuddered, his voice tense as he replied, "Miss Lau, how do you wish to handle this? I will follow your commands to the letter. Even if it means my death, I won't hesitate!"

"Fine. I'll spare you this time," Lau Qingmei declared, her gaze falling on Zhou Xiaoqiang lying on the ground, her eyes reflecting a trace of revulsion. "But I never want to see this man again!"

Overjoyed, Chen Wu assured her, "Consider it done. He'll vanish right away!"

Without delay, his goons hauled Zhou Xiaoqiang into a car. Amidst his struggles and cries, two Buicks sped away, leaving Lau Qingmei and Xiao Qiufeng behind.

Inside the car, Chen Wu pulled a bag of white powder from his coat and slipped it into Zhou Xiaoqiang's pocket. He then commanded, "Take this car to the police station and report that we've nabbed a drug trafficker. This stash will land the kid in jail for a decade. Once he's behind bars, he won't be troubling Miss Lau any longer."

Zhou Xiaoqiang burst into desperate sobs, "Fifth Master, you can't do this to me. My brother-in-law is Young Master Lu!"

With a vicious backhand, Chen Wu silenced him, "Your brother-in-law is a nobody. Cry out again, and I'll chop you up and dump you in the river!"

Zhou Xiaoqiang's cries ceased instantly.

Xiao Qiufeng watched, dumbfounded. In his mind, Chen Wu was a titan of J City, yet he was nothing but a groveler before Lau Qingmei.

Just how fearsome was Lau Qingmei's true identity?

"Why are you staring?" Lau Qingmei's demeanor softened, her charm returning as she batted her eyelashes at the astonished Xiao Qiufeng.

Xiao Qiufeng exhaled deeply, "Qingmei, you're incredible, absolutely flawless. Standing next to you, I feel immense pressure, almost unworthy."

Lau Qingmei's eyes twinkled with a playful curve as she asked, "Do you like me?"

Xiao Qiufeng found himself at a loss for words. He was undeniably drawn to Lau Qingmei. Her beauty, kindness, and stunning figure, coupled with her illustrious family background, were irresistible.

Yet, as a divorced man, he questioned his worthiness of her.

Noticing his silence, Lau Qingmei's face fell with disappointment. "It seems you were just telling lies before!"

Quick to reassure her, Xiao Qiufeng insisted, "No, every word I've spoken to you is heartfelt!"

A mischievous glint appeared in Lau Qingmei's eyes as she feigned annoyance. "If I'm so perfect, why wouldn't you like me?"

Xiao Qiufeng stuttered out, "I do like you!"

"Well, if you like me, you're going to have to step up your game!" Lau Qingmei said with a radiant smile, reaching out to gently tap his forehead.

In that instant, Xiao Qiufeng's heart skipped a beat.

The world around him faded away, leaving only the girl before him, whose smile outshone the sun itself.

"Come on, you goof. Remember, your foster mother is in the hospital waiting for you to come to her rescue!"

After seeing Xiao Qiufeng to the hospital, Lau Qingmei drove off.

Xiao Qiufeng composed himself before entering the ward.

There, Lin Fenglan lay frail and coughing on the hospital bed. Not yet fifty, her hair bore streaks of white.

"Mom," Xiao Qiufeng approached gently, his eyes welling up at the sight of her weakness. Without his father's legacy, the woman who had tirelessly raised him might have been lost to him.

"Qiufeng, you've come!" Lin Fenglan looked up, noticing the redness in his eyes. "What's wrong? Did the Zhou family refuse to lend us the money?"

With a resigned sigh, she continued, "If that's the case, then let it be. I don't want to stay in the hospital anymore. I'll be discharged today; I'm homesick. And please, don't fight with Ruoxue over this, alright?"

Listening to these words, Xiao Qiufeng's heart ached. His mother's kindness shone in stark contrast to the selfish and indifferent members of the Zhou family. He quickly produced an Essence Cultivating Pill and mustered a smile, "Mom, take this medicine quickly. It can heal you!"

"Alright!"

Lin Fenglan, thinking her son was acting out of desperation to save her, didn't want to break his heart. She accepted the pill without a second thought, took a sip of water from the bedside, and swallowed it.

Almost immediately, she sensed something amiss!

The black, bitter pill dissolved into a warm flow that spread throughout her body.

The effects were dramatic. Lin Fenglan, who had been gravely ill, was suddenly brimming with vitality!

Her pain receded, little by little.

Her pallid complexion turned noticeably rosier.

Eyes wide with astonishment, Lin Fenglan could hardly believe it. In mere minutes, her illness seemed to vanish!

She stared at Xiao Qiufeng, amazed. "Qiufeng, what kind of pill is this? It's miraculous. I feel as if I've been completely healed!"

"Mom, I've studied traditional Chinese medicine. I crafted this pill myself, tailored to treat your specific condition," Xiao Qiufeng explained as he retrieved a silver needle box. Speaking softly, he added, "You're not fully healed yet. I need to administer acupuncture. After that, just rest quietly for a while, and you'll make a full recovery."

"Is traditional Chinese medicine really this powerful?"

Shock gave way to tears on Lin Fenglan's face. She reached out, patting Xiao Qiufeng's arm, her voice quivering with emotion, "This is wonderful. Qiufeng, you've become so skilled. From now on, no one will look down on you!"

Her joy for Xiao Qiufeng was instinctive.

Clearly, she was aware of the hardships he faced from the Zhou family, and she had always harbored silent concerns for him.

Such is the greatness of a mother's love.

Xiao Qiufeng assured her with utmost sincerity, "Mom, everything is going to get better from here on out!"

"Yes, it will," Lin Fenglan agreed, her spirits lifted. "And it would be even better if you and Ruoxue could have a child soon!"

Xiao Qiufeng gave a wry smile and said slowly, "Mom, Zhou Ruoxue and I are divorced."

"You're divorced?"

Lin Fenglan was taken aback. After a long pause, she sighed deeply, tears streaming down her face, "I know it's all my fault. We don't have money, and the Zhou family looks down on you. I've let you suffer for so long!"

"Mom, don't say that. The Zhou family went too far. I'll make sure they regret their actions one day!"

Xiao Qiufeng quickly pulled out a tissue to dab away his mother's tears.

Lin Fenglan spoke with conviction, "You're destined for great things, I'm sure of it!"

"Let's drop the subject of the Zhou family, Mom. You should rest. I'll give you an acupuncture treatment."

Meanwhile, the buzz about the Lau family expanding their business into J City was the talk of the town!

The news of the Lau family's banquet was splashed across the front pages of all the major media outlets!

At that moment, the Zhou family was oblivious to the trouble Zhou Xiaoqiang was in. They were gathered around Lu Xiaochuan, eyeing the glittering invitation in his hand with envy.

"Brother Xiaochuan, is that the Lau family's banquet invitation?" Zhou Ruoxue asked eagerly.

Lu Xiaochuan replied with a smug grin, "Yes, indeed. This invitation is a mark of prestige. Only the elite of J City and the whole Jiangnan Province get their hands on one!"

Zhou Ruoxue put on her most charming face and cooed, "Darling, may I take a closer look? I want to see what all the fuss is about."

"Sweetheart, take your time. No need for formalities," Lu Xiaochuan said, handing her the invitation with a chuckle.

The Zhou family crowded around, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of what was written on the card.

As Zhou Ruoxue unfolded the invitation, Lee Xia gasped, "Look, Ruoxue's name is on it too!"

"I've been invited by the Lau family as well!"

Zhou Ruoxue was ecstatic.

"Is that true?"

Lu Xiaochuan was flabbergasted, scrutinizing the card. And there it was, both Lu Xiaochuan and Zhou Ruoxue's names were indeed on the invitation!

His face was etched with confusion. Why on earth would the Lau family extend an invitation to Zhou Ruoxue?

The Zhou family simply didn't have the standing to warrant such an invitation!

Zhou Ruoxue lunged forward and planted a kiss on Lu Xiaochuan's cheek for all to see. She cooed, "Honey, you're amazing. The Lau family must be aware of our marriage. It's all thanks to you that they've extended this special invitation to me!"

"It must be!"

Lu Xiaochuan harbored a twinge of guilt, as deep down he knew this was highly unlikely. Yet, basking in the admiring looks from the Zhou family, he brazenly soaked up the compliment.

Lee Xia chimed in with a beaming smile, "Mr. Lu, your abilities are unmatched. Xiao Qiufeng doesn't hold a candle to you!"