Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Blacklisted

Spurred on by Ares’s confidence, Lu Xiao answered Li Hua’an’s call. The moment the line connected, Earl Hua An’s incredibly gentle voice came through. The sound was so unexpected that Lu Xiao instinctively glanced at the contact name on her terminal to make sure it was really her.

She had interacted with Li Hua’an before, but this was the first time she had ever heard her speak so gently. It was rather difficult to adjust to.

“Xiao Xiao, dear, are you busy? I hope I’m not disturbing you at work.”

“I was just about to head to work. Did you need something, Earl Hua An?”

Li Hua’an chuckled. “Oh, Xiao Xiao, we’ve worked together, after all. There’s no need to be so distant. I heard a male patient was fully recovered and discharged from the asylum. Is that true?”

The matter hadn’t been officially announced to the public, but it was perfectly normal for an Earl like Li Hua’an to find out ahead of time. That part didn’t surprise Lu Xiao.

What did surprise her was that Li Hua’an would call her personally to ask about it.

“It’s true, but it hasn’t been officially announced yet.” Lu Xiao didn’t deny it. There was no point in hiding something that would become public in a few days, and she knew Li Hua’an would just find her again then.

“Oh! So it really is true. In that case, are you free? I’d like to treat you to a meal. You know, we’ve known each other for so long and have never once sat down to eat together. What do you say…”

“If you need something, Earl Hua An, you can just say it directly.” This whole performance was obviously a ploy to build rapport before asking for a favor.

Lu Xiao had no interest in playing such superficial games. She preferred to be direct. If she could help, she would. If she couldn’t, she’d say so. She didn’t want to bother with all this hassle.

After all, their relationship wasn’t nearly good enough to warrant it.

Lu Xiao’s bluntness left Li Hua’an speechless for a moment. ’I can’t believe she’s this cold,’ she thought. ’She won’t even engage in basic pleasantries. How did someone as cunning as Lu Ge Wei give birth to such a straightforward young female?’ Unfortunately for Li Hua’an, she truly did need to ask for a favor.

“Ahem. Well, in that case, I’ll be brazen and get straight to the point. I’ve heard you’re especially experienced and skilled in treating S-Class males. I would like to hire you to perform Spiritual Soothing for Nuo Yun. I can pay for it, of course. You can name your price.”

“Who’s Nuo Yun?” Lu Xiao asked, quietly sighing in relief that this call wasn’t about Noah after all.

She genuinely had no idea who Nuo Yun was.

Still, the name was similar enough to Noah’s that she could make an educated guess.

Sure enough, Li Hua’an replied, “He’s my eldest son. He works in the military and has already reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. I actually wanted to introduce you two before, but you refused, remember? And yet here I am, shamelessly asking you again. Nuo Yun’s latest Spirit Sea risk assessment was very bad—he’s already at A-level. I’m worried he’ll become S-Class next, so I was hoping you could help.”

Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow. So, when Li Hua’an had hinted at introducing her to a potential main husband last time, she’d been talking about her eldest son, Nuo Yun.

’Come to think of it,’ she mused, ’was her goal back then simply to get me to perform Spiritual Soothing for Nuo Yun?’

After all, Li Hua’an had personally witnessed her performing Spiritual Soothing for Noah.

She must have been certain Lu Xiao wouldn’t be against the idea.

Nuo Yun’s Spirit Sea must have already been in trouble back then.

But Lu Xiao’s refusal had ruined Li Hua’an’s clever little plan.

So it was only natural for Li Hua’an to get antsy after hearing that Vilke had been discharged.

“I’m sorry, Earl Hua An. I understand your concern, but this is against protocol. If you can manage to book a consultation room at the Fifth Research Institute, then perhaps I can treat Nuo Yun. Otherwise, there’s nothing I can do.”

“But the Fifth Research Institute isn’t open to the public! Do you think I haven’t tried? I can pay you. Name your price, I won’t haggle. Isn’t that enough? You just have to find a little time to come over. It won’t take long.” After being rejected by Lu Xiao, her tone unconsciously took on the imperious edge of a superior.

“How about fifty million for one session, then? Would that be feasible, Earl Hua An?”

The words were barely out of Lu Xiao’s mouth when Li Hua’an’s voice cracked on the other end. “Fifty million for one session? Why don’t you just go rob a bank?!”

In Li Hua’an’s mind, one or two million would have been the absolute limit. ’Fifty million? How dare this young female?’

Lu Xiao chuckled softly. “You see? I named a price, and you can’t accept it. In that case, Earl Hua An, my hands are tied.”

“No, that’s not it! Even if you’re going to charge, you can’t be this ridiculous! Fifty million… are you insane with greed?”

“If you want to save money, Earl Hua An, why don’t you perform the Spiritual Soothing for Nuo Yun yourself?”

This was the part Lu Xiao truly didn’t understand. Li Hua’an acted as though she was deeply concerned and invested in the male’s well-being.

And yet, as his mother, she was unwilling to perform Spiritual Soothing for him herself.

It was something Lu Xiao simply couldn’t comprehend.

At that, Li Hua’an’s voice faltered for a second. “Aren’t you the professionals? Of course I want to give him the best treatment possible!”

It sounded plausible enough on the surface, but Lu Xiao knew that if Li Hua’an had been regularly performing Spiritual Soothing for Nuo Yun, his condition would never have deteriorated to A-level.

As far as Lu Xiao was concerned, that excuse didn’t hold water.

“In that case, once the fifty million is in my account, I’ll go and treat Nuo Yun once.” Lu Xiao had no desire to argue with Li Hua’an; some people just couldn’t be reasoned with.

It was better to state her demands directly than to waste her breath.

Seeing that Lu Xiao wouldn’t budge, Li Hua’an became furious, though she was helpless to do anything about it. “Isn’t this your job? You can treat those S-Class patients in the asylum, so why can’t you help us? Are you discriminating against us?”

“You’re losing your composure, Earl Hua An. I suggest you calm down, lest you act in a way that is unbecoming of your noble station.” With that, Lu Xiao cut the connection. The woman was just starting to talk nonsense.

’Does she think I’m a pushover?’

She didn’t even put up with Lu Ge Wei’s nonsense; why would she ever tolerate it from Li Hua’an?

Lu Xiao blocked Li Hua’an’s number. There wouldn’t be a next time.

Ares had heard the entire conversation and now looked at Lu Xiao, his heart aching for her.

’His little female is so wonderful,’ he thought, ’yet she has to endure such accusations.’

But before he could offer any comfort, Lu Xiao looked up and gave him a sweet smile. “Why the long face? Feeling sorry for me? You’d be better off feeling sorry for Li Hua’an. She’s never getting another chance to contact me. Oh, I wonder… do you think she’ll go to Lu Ge Wei now?”

’Now that would be interesting!’

Seeing that Lu Xiao was completely unaffected by the incident, Ares’s anxiety eased, though he couldn’t stop his heart from aching for her. He didn’t offer any comforting words, however; he could tell she didn’t want them. “Well then,” he said, “let’s hope Count Ge Wei teaches her a lesson.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep