MTLNOVEL Chapter 59:
Chapter 59:
Xu Hao walked into the woods.
As he heard the footsteps following behind him, a smile appeared on his lips.
The sky outside was clear, but within the small forest, it was a different scene.
The thick branches overhead blocked much of the sunlight, casting the area in a dim, almost eerie light. It was, indeed, a secluded spot—perfect for privacy.
It was early in the morning, and the students were all in their classes, leaving the woods empty. The trees were well-maintained by the students, with balloons and flowers hanging around, creating an intimate atmosphere. Given the situation—just one man and one woman alone—the setting felt even more suggestive.
“Mr. Xu, there’s nothing to see here. Let’s go back outside…” Wang Xueying hurriedly caught up to him.
Xu Hao ignored her, continuing to look around.
The idea of spending time here with Wang Xueying, the most beautiful teacher and the object of admiration for countless students, intrigued him..
His gaze then shifted as he noticed a spider hanging from a branch nearby. He stared at it, lost in thought.
When Wang Xueying didn’t hear a reply, she followed his line of sight and was startled by the sight of the spider so close.
Instinctively, she let out a small cry, “Ah!” and, seeking security, she stumbled into Xu Hao’s arms. He didn’t hesitate to embrace her, holding her close.
The warmth of Xu Hao’s arms gradually calmed Wang Xueying, but she quickly realized the inappropriateness of their posture.
She was a teacher, and being seen embracing someone like this at school was highly improper. What if a student saw them?
“No… I’m sorry, I was just scared.” Wang Xueying apologized, her face flushed with embarrassment. She attempted to pull away from Xu Hao, but his hand remained firmly around her waist, not letting go.
She looked up, confused, and found Xu Hao’s face close to hers. Her eyes widened, her mind went blank, and her body froze.
Just as she felt herself slipping into a daze, Wang Xueying managed to regain her composure and broke free from Xu Hao’s arms. She straightened her clothes, glaring at him, her face so red it seemed ready to burst. She pressed her lips tightly together, embarrassed by what had just happened.
[Ding! Wang Xueying is flustered, +684 emotional points]
[Ding! Wang Xueying is extremely embarrassed, +726 emotional points]
“I’m sorry, Teacher Wang,” Xu Hao said smoothly, “You’re just so beautiful, I couldn’t help myself.”
It was that familiar tone again, the one that suggested he was used to getting his way.
Xu Hao thought it was a shame that Wang Xueying was so resistant.
If only she would relax, he could easily advance things further. But there was no rush.
Given the progress he’d made today, he was confident she’d soon be won over.
Xu Hao’s apology left Wang Xueying with little to say.
After all, she hadn’t immediately resisted when he held her.
She could only swallow her discomfort, feeling a storm of emotions brewing inside her.
She couldn’t stop thinking about that warm embrace, so full of security, and the scent of a mature man that lingered around her. It left her dazed and conflicted.
As they continued their walk around the campus, Wang Xueying remained silent, her thoughts occupied by the recent incident.
Xu Hao didn’t mind her silence; he knew she just needed time to adjust. Once she did, he was sure the rest would follow naturally.
But suddenly, Wang Xueying’s phone rang, breaking the silence. She looked at the screen and saw it was her neighbor, Aunt Li.
Answering the call, she listened for a moment, then her expression changed dramatically.
“What? My mother fainted? She’s been taken to the hospital?” Wang Xueying’s voice trembled with shock. “Okay, I’ll be there right away. Thank you, Aunt Li.”
“What happened?” Xu Hao asked, noticing her distress.
“It’s my mother… She suddenly fainted,” Wang Xueying explained, repeating what Aunt Li had told her. “I need to go to the hospital immediately. I’m sorry, but I can’t continue showing you around.”
They were almost done with the tour anyway, and the car was parked nearby. Without hesitation, Xu Hao took her hand and led her to the car.
“I’ll drive you to the hospital,” Xu Hao said, getting into the car and starting the engine. He pressed the accelerator and drove out of the school.
Wang Xueying’s lips moved as if to protest, but the urgency of the situation left her with no words. Her heart warmed at Xu Hao’s kindness.
[Ding! Wang Xueying is deeply moved, +888 her emotional points]
Xu Hao quickly drove to Shanghai’s No. 1 Hospital. Once there, he accompanied Wang Xueying to the ward.
Outside, they met Aunt Li, who had called her.
“Aunt Li, how is my mother?” Wang Xueying asked, her face full of anxiety.
“She’s still unconscious,” Aunt Li replied, seeing how close Wang Xueying was to tears. She quickly added, “But don’t worry too much. The doctor has already seen her, and it’s not life-threatening.”
Wang Xueying let out a sigh of relief but still asked worriedly, “What’s wrong with her, Aunt Li?”
Aunt Li hesitated for a moment before explaining, “She has hypertensive heart disease. It’s become more serious because it wasn’t treated in time.”
Seeing Wang Xueying’s distress, Aunt Li continued to reassure her. “But don’t worry. The doctor said that with proper treatment, she’ll gradually get better.”
Wang Xueying could no longer hold back her tears.
She wanted to go into the ward to see her mother, but Aunt Li stopped her. “The doctor said she needs rest. It’s better to visit her later.”
Wang Xueying reluctantly nodded. Just then, they heard Xu Hao nearby, talking on his phone.
“Old He, do you still remember me?” Xu Hao was speaking to the director of Shanghai’s No. 1 Hospital.
Seeing Wang Xueying’s mother so ill, Xu Hao knew this was his chance.
In scenes like these, it was common for the protagonist to deepen their bond with the heroine during such crises. But since the original protagonist, Chen Mo, was no longer in the picture—thanks to Xu Hao’s schemes—he was free to step in.
“Of course I remember you, Mr. Xu. What can I do for you?” the director replied.
“My friend’s mother has had a heart attack and is at your hospital. Can you arrange a high-end ward for her and get your best doctor on the case?”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Xu, I’ll take care of it right away.” The director assured him.
“Thank you, I owe you one. Let’s have tea sometime.” Xu Hao said before ending the call.
Turning back to Wang Xueying and Aunt Li, who were staring at him in surprise, Xu Hao smiled and explained, as if he had just remembered they were there.
“I know that hypertensive heart disease isn’t usually serious. With proper treatment, your mother will recover quickly,” Xu Hao reassured her. “I’ve already made arrangements with the hospital director. Xueying, there’s no need to worry.”
Wang Xueying was stunned.
Who exactly was Xu Hao?
They hadn’t interacted much, yet he was willing to pull strings to ensure her mother received the best care. This was no small favor, especially coming from the CEO of a billion-dollar group.
She was about to decline his offer, but Xu Hao interrupted her. “It’s really no trouble. There’s no need to be formal between us; your mother’s health is the priority.”
Faced with his insistence, Wang Xueying could only swallow her gratitude and stay silent.
His words echoed in her mind: There’s no need to be formal between us.
What exactly was their relationship?
Memories of the encounter in the grove resurfaced, causing the worry in her heart to melt away, replaced by a shy warmth.
[Ding! Wang Xueying is deeply touched, +935 her emotional points]
Aunt Li, who had overheard the conversation, couldn’t help but stare curiously at the two of them.
Meanwhile, Dean He demonstrated his efficiency; a nurse soon arrived to transfer Wang Xueying’s mother to a private ward and informed Wang Xueying that leading cardiologists were on their way back to the hospital.
Once her mother’s condition stabilized, treatment would begin immediately.
Hearing that her mother would receive care from top experts, Wang Xueying felt completely at ease. Her gratitude toward Xu Hao grew even stronger. Any annoyance she had felt toward him for his earlier forwardness had completely vanished.
After ensuring everything was in place, Xu Hao prepared to leave.
He had no intention of staying at the hospital any longer. Before departing,
Wang Xueying sincerely thanked him, standing at the hospital entrance. “Thank you, Mr. Xu.”
Xu Hao waved off her thanks and left. As she watched him walk away, Wang Xueying hesitated, her thoughts swirling.
Unable to hold back, Aunt Li pulled Wang Xueying aside, and spoke in a conspiratorial tone: “Xueying, you’re not being fair! You have such a powerful boyfriend, and you didn’t tell your aunt?”
Wang Xueying couldn’t help but laugh, though she was also a bit exasperated. “Aunt Li, you’ve misunderstood. We’re just friends.”
“Oh, I see… friends, right,” Aunt Li replied with a knowing smile.
“Friends? Who is she trying to fool?” She thought.
What kind of friend accompanies you to the hospital, pulls strings with the director, arranges for a private room, and calls in top doctors?
She sighed inwardly, “Young girls these days are so shy…”
Wang Xueying opened her mouth to explain further but realized it was pointless. The older woman wouldn’t understand, so she simply let it go.
Meanwhile, Xu Hao had just exited the hospital and was about to get into his car when he noticed a woman signaling to him. He had a hunch about who she might be and followed her discreetly into a nearby alley.
“Greetings, my lord,” the woman said as she led him to a secluded spot. To his surprise, five women knelt before him. They were dressed in professional attire, their expressions cold and serious, and their presence exuded strength. The woman kneeling in front seemed to be the leader.
Xu Hao’s suspicions were confirmed. These were the elite soldiers he had summoned last night, utterly loyal to him.
“Stand up.” He commanded.
He then questioned them briefly and found that, aside from their combat skills, they could function just like normal people.
Without hesitation, he assigned two of them to protect Su Wanqiu at her beauty salon, while another was tasked with picking up and dropping off his twin daughters from school while ensuring their safety in secret.
Xu Hao had no intention of becoming the typical protagonist who allows the villain to endanger his loved ones just so he can swoop in and save them.
By the time the protagonist arrives, the situation would have already deteriorated.
Xu Hao preferred to take preventive measures. His daughters and the women in his life needed protection.
However, there were only a few soldiers at his disposal right now, and he had other plans for the remaining three. Once he had more soldiers, he would make sure Xia Qingge, Wang Xueying, and the others were well protected.
Afterward, Xu Hao returned to his company.
As soon as he arrived, his secretary, Li Kun, approached him to report on the latest developments from Old Mo.
After the Brotherhood’s impressive victory last night, they had nearly crushed the alliance of smaller forces opposing them. The alliance had expressed a willingness to surrender, but the Brotherhood wasn’t inclined to show mercy.
One of their core members, Old Liu, had been killed by the alliance, and they wouldn’t rest until they had avenged him. The next day or two would be the decisive battle between the Brotherhood and the alliance. One side would emerge victorious, and the other would be annihilated.
Xu Hao listened to the report, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. He knew that pushing someone to the edge could make them act recklessly.
The alliance forces would undoubtedly retaliate fiercely, leading to an intense showdown. Although these minor players couldn’t truly threaten the Brotherhood’s position, they could still weaken some of its forces.
“Tell Old Mo to wait for the right moment. When the battle is at its peak, let Erzhu begin expanding our territory.” Xu Hao ordered.
His plan was to let the protagonist clash with the Liu family while he quietly expanded his influence. He would use the chaos of the gang wars to grow his power in the shadows, eventually merging the two largest underground forces in Nancheng with one swift move.
The gains from that would be immense.
Li Kun respectfully took his leave to carry out Xu Hao’s instructions.
Xu Hao watched his secretary walk away, and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
Now that he had the manpower, it was time to deal with Li Kun. But before making a move, he needed to find and destroy any evidence that could implicate him.
Shifting his focus, Xu Hao looked at the stack of documents on his desk and began to work. Time passed quickly, and soon it was noon.
As Xu Hao stepped out for lunch, he happened to see Xia Qingge from a distance.
A young man was standing in front of her, speaking softly, his eyes full of admiration.
However, Xia Qingge looked impatient and slightly annoyed.
When she spotted Xu Hao, her expression brightened, and she smiled radiantly.
The young man was stunned. At this moment, it seemed as though the world had lost its color. Then he watched in disbelief as the goddess walked past him and headed straight toward Xu Hao.
When he turned around, he saw Xu Hao approaching.
Startled, the young man lowered his head in fear and greeted him nervously.
“Which department are you in?” Xu Hao asked calmly, though his voice carried the authority of a superior.
The young man felt the pressure, and sweat began to form on his forehead. Trembling, he stammered out a response.
“Get out of here. Who gave you the courage to harass female colleagues at work?” Xu Hao’s words left the young man pale and shaken.
He had been watching Xia Qingge since she joined the company, admiring her from afar.
Today, he had finally mustered the courage to ask her out for dinner.
But, not only had he been rejected, but he had also been caught by the CEO. Now, he realized he might lose his job.
What the young man didn’t know was that while Xu Hao and Xia Qingge were dining at the president’s restaurant, the sight of Xia Qingge lying seductively across the table was enough to drive any man wild…