The two chubby men jumped up and shouted, immediately drawing the attention of all the diners in the barbecue hut. Everyone stared at them with surprise.

Seeing this, the boss immediately stepped forward again and asked, "Gentlemen, what's the matter?"

"What's the matter? I was about to ask you. Your place has bugs, what's with the hygiene?" the bald chubby man shouted angrily, accusing the owner.

"Bugs? Impossible. I spray insecticide twice a day in this place. You won't even find a fly..."

"Ouch, my goodness, you're still saying there's none, I got bitten again..."

"Damn it, what the hell... Ah, it hurts so much..."

Suddenly, the two chubbies covered their groins, jumping and shouting again, clumsily running towards the restroom while crying out.

Seeing this spectacle, the diners couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"These two clowns..." Wang Xiaoqiang also laughed. The hygiene in the barbecue hut was quite good; there weren't any bugs. It was just him channeling Spiritual Energy into their trousers to play a trick on them.

The two chubbies got to the restroom and took off their pants and underwear, inspecting everything closely. They even checked through that clump of black hair, but in the end, found nothing. Their little brothers showed no signs of bites, leaving them utterly baffled. Although there was nothing wrong, they had lost face, and naturally, they felt too embarrassed to go back to their seats to continue eating barbecue. So, they slinked away through the back door of the restaurant.

Watching the two chubbies flee comically and awkwardly, Zhang Tianyu and Xia Mi also laughed. Xia Mi, caught up in watching the two chubbies, had forgotten she was still sitting on Wang Xiaoqiang's lap.

Xia Mi didn't realize it, and Wang Xiaoqiang wasn't going to remind her either because the feeling of those firm and soft cheeks on his legs was rather nice.

When Xia Mi finally became aware, her face blushed slightly as she hurriedly shifted her bottom to one of the chubby guy's seats.

Feeling the sudden absence of that firmness, Wang Xiaoqiang couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. He thought to himself, no wonder those big bosses loved having their secretaries sit on their laps—it was so intoxicating!

As Wang Xiaoqiang savored the memory, Xia Mi had already begun to order more barbecue.

Zhang Tianyu glanced at Wang Xiaoqiang now and then, feeling that this owner was quite extraordinary.

After finishing the barbecue and the sky had completely darkened, Wang Xiaoqiang dropped his two employees off at Xia Mi's apartment, then drove to Zhong Ping's place.

He had promised Zhong Ping during the day that he would sleep over at her place, and he couldn't be someone who didn't keep his word. He didn't want this "sister" to think less of him.

But upon arriving at Zhong Ping's villa, he found that something was off. Only the housekeeper was there; neither Zhong Ping nor Qili were present. Upon inquiring, the housekeeper said, "Director Zhong has gone out to take care of something..."

Wang Xiaoqiang, noticing the housekeeper's odd demeanor, further inquired, "Where did she go to take care of things?"

"This, I, I don't know..." the housekeeper stuttered.

Wang Xiaoqiang walked around the living room, noticing significant changes in the placement of things as if they had been moved. He then asked the housekeeper, "Auntie, did something happen in the house?"

"Director Zhong told me not to say... She only instructed me to prepare dinner for you..." the housekeeper evaded the question.

"Uh, then I'll give Sister Ping a call..." Wang Xiaoqiang took out his phone to make a call.

The housekeeper spoke up, "Mr. Wang, actually, actually, something big happened at the house today..."

Wang Xiaoqiang paused and asked, "What happened? Tell me quickly..."

"It was during the afternoon nap, the house was robbed..."

"It's all my fault. Sister Ping wasn't home, and Old Master Zhong was unwell. Sister Ping went to visit him at the hospital, and I was napping at home. Little did I know that a thief would take advantage and break in through a window, stealing a snuff bottle that Sister Ping had bought for Old Master Zhong from an auction. It was worth millions, and there were also many of Sister Ping's gold and silver jewels, all in all nearly twenty million..."

"And Sister Ping..." Wang Xiaoqiang asked, also feeling a sinking feeling in his heart. Although Zhong Ping was wealthy, a loss of twenty million wasn't a small sum, and he wondered if she might be heartbroken, so he asked.

"Director Zhong went to the hospital. Today is Old Master Zhong's birthday, and Director Zhong wanted to celebrate it in the hospital. The snuff bottle was a birthday gift for Old Master Zhong..." The housekeeper couldn't continue, sinking into deep guilt for napping that afternoon.

"Hmm, I understand. You don't need to prepare dinner for me; I've eaten already. Also, tell me, which hospital is Old Master Zhong in...?"

"Director Zhong, she, she didn't want me to tell you..." the housekeeper hesitated.

Moved by these words, Wang Xiaoqiang knew Sister Ping didn't want to worry him by telling him about the incident. However, with such a significant incident at home and Old Master Zhong in the hospital, he felt he had to visit no matter what. So, he sternly told the housekeeper, "She doesn't want you to say, so you won't say? Quick, tell me, don't delay important matters..."

Wang Xiaoqiang had always been very approachable, but the housekeeper was startled by his sudden seriousness and finally replied, "Yes, it's at the First People's Hospital... Inpatient Department, third floor, VIP room 3-3."

"Alright, I got it," Wang Xiaoqiang softened his tone and said. Then, he drove to the River City First People's Hospital. At the hospital entrance, he bought a basket of fruit and then entered the hospital, parking his car at the parking lot near the inpatient building.

Carrying the basket, he headed to the 3-3 VIP room on the third floor.

3-3 VIP ward.

"Dad, don't worry, I will definitely be able to buy you another snuff bottle just like the one you had..." Zhong Ping consoled Old Master Zhong by his bedside, with earnest and heartfelt persuasion.

Old Master Zhong had a wide range of hobbies throughout his life, such as cultivating orchids and collecting various items. Recently, he took a liking to snuff bottles, hence he would constantly nag about buying one. Of course, if it was for his collection, it had to be a good one, but regretfully, fine pieces are hard to find. To please her elderly father, Zhong Ping had been frequenting auctions lately, hoping for good luck. After much effort, she had finally secured a Qing Dynasty Kangxi-era "glass-embryo painted enamel floral snuff bottle." The bottle was made of high-quality glass, with a finish resembling either mutton-fat white jade or egg white, delicate and luminous, with a bright, elegant, and refined artistic style. It was indeed very nice.

Alas, that snuff bottle was stolen by a thief today, along with all the gold and silver jewelry Zhong Ping had accumulated over the years, totaling almost twenty million in value. Money is just a worldly possession, and for a wealthy person like Zhong Ping, it wouldn't weigh heavily on her mind. However, this recently acquired snuff bottle—which Zhong Ping had already mentioned to Old Master Zhong, promising to give it to him on his birthday—ended up in the thief's hands on the very day of his birthday.

What was she to do?

Old Master Zhong was a stubborn man, especially as he got older, he became even more so. Seeing his daughter fail to fulfill her promise on his birthday, he lost his temper. Already having a heart condition, he couldn't bear such anger. After being angered, his heart couldn't take it, and he had just been resuscitated, but he was still brooding...

Zhong Ping found herself in a bind, whether to stay or to go, to console or not to console, it was all troubling for this strong-willed woman, to the point of wanting to wipe away tears.

"..." Old Master Zhong stared straight at the ceiling of the ward, his cheeks puffed out like a frog's. Under his daughter's persuasion, he refused to utter a single word, as if he would ignore her for the evening unless she brought back the snuff bottle. He wouldn't eat, nor would he sleep...

While trying to soothe Old Master Zhong, Zhong Ping also kept calling the police station to inquire about the progress of the theft case, instructing them to deliver the snuff bottle to the hospital immediately should they catch the thief and recover it.

Today, Champs-Élysées suffered three burglaries, with losses worth over a hundred million. Facing such a major case, the entire city's police forces were mobilized, even bringing in specialists from other regions, striving to crack the case within 24 hours.

It was then that Wang Xiaoqiang entered the ward.

"Ah, Little Qiang, what brings you here?" Zhong Ping said, surprised as she stood up.

"I came to see how things were..." Wang Xiaoqiang said with a slight smile, then he was about to step forward to greet Old Master Zhong, but unexpectedly, Zhong Ping waved her hand to signal him not to go over,

Wang Xiaoqiang was somewhat puzzled.

Zhong Ping gave Wang Xiaoqiang a meaningful glance, indicating that they should step outside to talk.

Wang Xiaoqiang followed Zhong Ping out of the ward, and she shared with him the story of Old Master Zhong's anger.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaoqiang had a sudden realization, but said, "Sister Ping, such a big incident happened at home, and you didn't even tell me. You even let the nanny hide it from me. You say I don't treat you like a sister, but aren't you the one not treating me like a brother..."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ping felt a warmth in her heart and tears started to well up. Glancing around and seeing that the corridor was empty, she leaned her head on Wang Xiaoqiang's shoulder and began to sob.

Wang Xiaoqiang was momentarily at a loss, having not expected this strong woman to have such a fragile side. Surprised, he couldn't help but pat her fragrant shoulder and offered some words of comfort.

"Sister Ping, I have an idea," Wang Xiaoqiang lowered his voice, speaking near Zhong Ping's beautiful temples, "The Antique Market isn't set up yet, so I'll run and buy a snuff bottle for Old Master Zhong..."

"That won't do. Old Master Zhong has a very unique taste. The things from the Antique Market simply won't catch his eye. It would be a waste of effort for you to go," Zhong Ping lifted her face from Wang Xiaoqiang's shoulder and shook her head at him. At that moment, Zhong Ping seemed like a vulnerable young girl, with a look of helplessness and dependence on her face. Wang Xiaoqiang couldn't help but cradle her face, "Sister Ping, what's ailing Old Master Zhong?"

At this moment, Wang Xiaoqiang felt that the skin on the nearly forty-year-old Zhong Ping's face was smooth and taut, without a single wrinkle, indistinguishable from a young girl's. This sensation surprised him. He also felt proud for Zhong Ping; this woman had managed to avoid the ravages of time and possessed the secret to preserving her youth!

As Wang Xiaoqiang cradled her face, Zhong Ping felt as if she had found a pillar of support and involuntarily buried her head in his chest, "Old Master Zhong is suffering from many illnesses; cerebral atrophy, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes..."

Zhong Ping listed a myriad of ailments and sighed helplessly before Wang Xiaoqiang said, "Sister Ping, why don't I try treating Old Master Zhong with Qigong..."

Upon hearing this, a jolt went through Zhong Ping's heart. Of course, she had thought about asking Wang Xiaoqiang to treat her father's illness. She hadn't spoken up for two reasons: she was afraid of bothering Wang Xiaoqiang, and seeing her father suffering from so many serious and chronic diseases, she doubted that Wang Xiaoqiang's Qigong would be effective. Now that Wang Xiaoqiang had offered, it was clear he was confident; otherwise, with his personality, he wouldn't have casually made the offer. So, lifting her face from his embrace, she said, "Little Qiang, I really have to thank you..."

"Sister Ping, you forgot what you said; we, as brother and sister, should never mention thanks," Wang Xiaoqiang said earnestly.

"Mmm, good little brother," Zhong Ping couldn't resist and planted a kiss on Wang Xiaoqiang's cheek.

Wang Xiaoqiang was dumbfounded.

"Sorry, Little Qiang, Sister got too excited..." Seeing Wang Xiaoqiang's slow reaction, Zhong Ping felt she might have gone too far and felt embarrassed.

"There's nothing to it, Sister Ping. It's perfectly natural for a sister to kiss her brother, nothing could be more normal... heh heh..." Wang Xiaoqiang touched the spot where Zhong Ping had kissed him, "I wish Sister Ping would kiss me every day; I'd be over the moon..."

"Go away, you're too naughty!" Zhong Ping playfully glared at Wang Xiaoqiang.

"Alright, Sister Ping, I'm off to treat Old Master Zhong... As for you, don't come in, lest you disturb my concentration while I perform my exercises," Wang Xiaoqiang solemnly instructed Zhong Ping.

"Okay," Zhong Ping nodded seriously, "I'll be right outside the door. Call me if Old Master Zhong doesn't cooperate..."

Wang Xiaoqiang nodded, then entered the sick room and closed the door behind him.

Old Master Zhong lay quietly on the bed, his eyes wide open and filled with irritation, acting as if he couldn't see Wang Xiaoqiang. Now, all he wanted was his snuff bottle and had no interest in any other people or matters. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit qidian.com to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)

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