Chapter 44: Weak Voice and Hoarseness
For Xu Xinran, such social occasions are not only for socializing, but also a good opportunity to make friends and expand his network.

She had been influenced by it since she was young, so she was not afraid at all. While feasting under the fire, she not only tasted the delicious food, but also left a deep impression on those who were interested.

She looked up and saw that Ji Xi had finished, so she immediately joined her with a glass of wine.

Ji Xi first took a glass of wine from the waiter and drank it all, then said: "This matter has a clue, we can leave now."

Xu Xinran had had enough fun and wanted to go back to rest, so he followed her out without hesitation. After they got in the car, Ji Xi told her everything.

Xu Xinran's mouth opened into a circle after hearing this, "Sister Xixi, can this be done this way? It's not good to do this without the consent of Brother Yuan and the boss lady, right?"

Ji Xi tied up her loose hair with a hairband and said calmly:

"It's okay. The boss lady's medical skills are fine. I have great confidence in them. The only thing I'm worried about is whether King Zhou is willing to try."

Xu Xinran's expression calmed down and she analyzed calmly:

"King Zhou cannot risk surgery, and good Chinese medicine practitioners are hard to come by. Even for Brother Yuan's sake, he probably won't refuse this proposal."

Ji Xi's eyes showed admiration, and she nodded:
"That's what I thought. I'll call Han Shuo later and ask him to talk to Brother Yuan and the boss lady in advance so they can be mentally prepared."

Xu Xinran's eyes widened as he said, "What about me? This MV cannot be shot in a short period of time. I can't just sit there and wait."

Ji Xi took a piece of bread from her bag and stuffed it into her mouth. She said bluntly:

"Go out and play minor roles. Big stars all started out as small roles. Without rich experience, even if an opportunity falls upon you in the future, you won't be able to take it."

Xu Xinran shrugged her shoulders. Only those who endure hardships can become successful. This is the only way to success. She was mentally prepared. She raised her hand weakly.

"Sister Xixi, can you please stop me from filming Qing Dynasty dramas? I hate that the most."

Ji Xi couldn't understand her train of thought and sneered:

"You may not be able to film what you want. My ability is limited. I am lucky enough to be able to get you into the crew. Film whatever is available. You are not in a position to choose. So be obedient."

What else could Xu Xinran do? She reached out to take something to eat from Ji Xi's bag in frustration, but Ji Xi slapped her in the face without any hesitation. She said fiercely:

"You're still eating. Look at your belly. It's bulging. Do you still want to manage your body?"

Xu Xinran pouted and reluctantly withdrew her hand. Who asked her to be a big star? Controlling weight is a compulsory course. She can't blame her.

Not long after Ji Xi and the others left, Zhou Hexuan also ended his social engagements.

His tonsils were inflamed again, and even swallowing saliva hurt. He got into the car to avoid being seen by everyone, and his face fell. He instructed Zhang Liwei:

"Don't arrange any activities for me in the near future. I can't handle the sore throat. I drank so much today that I can't even take anti-inflammatory medicine. I have to stay up late tonight."

Zhang Liwei said carefully, "The schedule is open later. You can have a good rest. Go back and ask the doctor if there is any other way to relieve the pain."

Zhou Hexuan's brows were furrowed so tightly that they could pinch a fly to death. He rubbed his temples with a tired look on his face. He closed his eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, "Who did you talk to for so long before?"

Zhang Liwei smiled and said, "It was Ji Xi from Ruoyuan Media Company. She also brought artists here to expand her network and took the initiative to come up and chat with me."

Zhou Hexuan paused for a moment, then snorted coldly and said:

"Ruoyuan's people are well-informed. I saw that she brought a girl with her. Is she eyeing the position of the female lead in the MV?"

Although he had a fickle personality, he was very smart and saw through Ji Xi's intentions at a glance. Zhang Liwei smiled and said:
"You guessed right, but Ji Xi did tell me some very interesting news. She said Yu Yuan is married and his daughter is in junior high school."

Zhou Hexuan's eyes widened instantly, filled with shock and confusion. He said in disbelief, "Yu Yuan has a wife? That wooden man who doesn't understand emotions actually has a daughter. God is really blind."

The reason why Zhou Hexuan said this was because a few years ago he wrote the ending song for the TV series starring Yu Yuan and asked him to sing it. It turned out that he sang it without any emotion at all and couldn't sing it no matter how he was taught. Zhou Hexuan was so angry that his lungs exploded.

When Zhang Liwei heard the news, he was as shocked as he was. He continued:
"Ji Xi also said that their boss lady is a traditional Chinese medicine expert and that your throat can be cured with acupuncture. She made a bet with me about this, saying that if their boss lady can cure your illness, the female lead in the MV must be played by her artist."

Zhou Hexuan's eyes flashed with interest. He pinched his finger joints and lowered his voice:

"I can't talk to her about this. I have to talk to Yu Yuan. I want to see what kind of wife Yu Yuan has found."

Although Zhou Hexuan's throat was sore, he was not in such a bad mood because he had some gossip to catch up on.

Zhang Liwei smiled and nodded in agreement. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. As long as this ancestor was in a good mood and not angry, he would be thankful.

After Zhou Hexuan returned, he called a doctor again. After the pain in his throat eased, he had the leisure to go find Yu Yuan.

He stood in front of the window with one hand in his pocket. The moonlight was like water, looking particularly peaceful and beautiful. The phone was quickly connected, and Zhou Hexuan asked in a hoarse voice:

"I heard that Mr. Yu has been secretly married for many years and his daughter is already in junior high school. Is this news true or false?"

Yu Yuan on the other end of the phone didn't expect him to ask this question right away. He answered without much hesitation: "Of course it's true. How did you know?"

Zhou Hexuan sneered, "Don't worry about how I know this. You didn't even invite me to your wedding. That's really not nice of you."

Yu Yuan remained calm and said, "I didn't know you when I got married. We got married in secret, and neither the wedding nor the birth of our daughter was a big deal."

Zhou Hexuan still had some friendship with him, so he didn't really care about these things.

He said in a leisurely manner, "Ji Xi from your company said that my sister-in-law is a great doctor. She wants to make a bet with me. If my sister-in-law can cure my throat, the heroine of the new song MV will be played by Ruoyuan's artist. Do you think I should accept this bet?"

Yu Yuan had full faith in Ruogu's medical skills, and he was also aware of Ji Xi's professional ability. She must have done this for the benefit of the company, so there was no reason for him to sabotage her. Yu Yuan said in a steady voice, "My wife is an excellent doctor. If you have a sore throat, it will definitely be helpful to find her. As for the female lead, if Ruoyuan's artist meets the requirements, you might as well give it a try first."

Zhou Hexuan fell into deep thought. His voice would never recover if it was damaged for too long. Since western medicine didn't work, he could only seek help from traditional Chinese medicine. It was always more reliable to get a recommendation from an acquaintance.

He said in a gentle tone: "What do my sister-in-law and niece like? I have to prepare some gifts for them."

Yu Yuan didn't bother to be polite with him, and whispered: "Just prepare it, as long as you show your intention, they don't lack these things."

After the two hung up the phone, Yu Yuan called Ruogu again to report. Ruogu didn't expect that he would disclose the matter to his friends in the circle first. She was not too worried about the treatment, but she didn't know how to entertain this friend.

In Ruogu's past life experiences, she had very few opportunities to interact with men other than herself. After all, Zhou Hexuan was Yu Yuan's friend, and his status was different from He Hui and Han Shuo. Ruogu did not have much reference experience in receiving male friends.

She originally wanted to ask He Hui about Zhou Hexuan's character, but then she felt that she was overthinking things. After all, this was a modern society, and as long as she was sincere, nothing would go wrong.

The next day, Ruogu got up early and specifically asked Sister Yang to buy more fresh ingredients. Zhou Hexuan is a public figure, so it might be more convenient to entertain him at home.

He Hui was not too excited when he knew about this, but Chi Zhengzheng was smiling all the time. She ran out several times in the morning just to see if Zhou Hexuan had come. Just when Ruogu was worried that she would break the door, they finally arrived.

Ruogu was concentrating on reading a book when he suddenly heard Chi Zhengzheng shouting excitedly:

"Sister Ruogu, they are here, I saw Zhou Hexuan..."

There was suppressed excitement in her voice, and that excitement made Ruogu very confused. What celebrities show to the audience may not be their truest side, and they may be like this in private.

Although Ruogu thought so, she still stood up and went to the door to greet him. The other party was Yu Yuan's friend, so how could she not understand the art of hospitality?

Ruogu walked to the door and stood still. Her facial features were delicate and picturesque, her black hair was draped over her shoulders, and her fair skin glowed slightly in the sun. When she saw Zhou Hexuan, her lips slightly raised, revealing a faint smile.

When Zhou Hexuan saw her, he was stunned for a moment and his heart skipped a beat.

He suddenly understood Yu Yuan. If he had such a beautiful wife, he would keep her secret and not tell anyone.

His mind changed, and he quickly came back to his senses, with a warm smile on his face.

Zhou Hexuan is recognized as a modest gentleman. Even in the mixed entertainment industry, his character has never been lost.

He walked forward and said politely, "Hello, sister-in-law! I'm Zhou Hexuan. I'm sorry to have troubled you this time. Brother Yuan should have told you everything, right?"

Ruogu smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling with a smart light, and she said in a gentle voice:

"He told me last night that we rarely have guests at home. Your presence will make the place more lively. How can it be a nuisance?"

Ji Xiyin was silently observing Ruogu behind Zhou Hexuan. She was wearing a light-colored long dress that perfectly set off her figure. Her elegant and decent manners were like a fresh breeze, making people feel comfortable and respectful.

Ji Xi felt that her beauty was not superficial, but the cultivation and taste that radiated from the inside out. It was not a loss for Fu Juan to lose to such a woman with such inner qualities.

Ji Xi did not interrupt them while they were chatting. When they entered Jishiditang, she saw that Zhou Hexuan had nothing to say, so she said calmly, "Madam Boss, I'm Ji Xi. I wonder if you have heard of my name?"

Ruogu saw that she was like the warm autumn sun, bright but not ostentatious, with sparkling eyes and a calm demeanor. She was immediately delighted. She smiled sincerely and said, "I've heard Han Shuo mention you. Ruoyuan is even more powerful with you. You are the backbone of the company. How could I not know that?"

Ji Xi was overjoyed by her high evaluation and said modestly:
"Thank you, boss lady. In my eyes, the interests of the company are above everything else, and my dedication and hard work are all deserved."

Ruogu could see the spirit of a modern professional woman from her. She was really happy. She said softly:
"Don't call me boss lady. I'm not used to it. Just call me sister-in-law like everyone else. Did you come here today to accompany Teacher Zhou?"

Ji Xi nodded and said, "Sister-in-law, I made a bet with Mr. Zhou's agent. If you can cure Mr. Zhou's voice, then we will use our company's artist as the heroine of his new song MV. You may have to work hard today."

Without waiting for Ruogu to express his opinion, Zhou Hexuan joked, "How can there be an employee like you who directly puts the work pressure on the boss's wife? You are too bossy."

Ruogu has a broad mind, can tolerate everything, and can maintain inner peace, how could she mind this bet? She said generously: "It is my honor to contribute to the company. Can I take Mr. Zhou's pulse now?"

Zhou Hexuan stretched out his arms. After he placed his wrist on the pulse pillow, he said in a hoarse voice, "Sister-in-law, just call me by my name. If you are not busy, let's take my pulse now."

Chen Ruogu saw him sitting there peacefully, with an extraordinary temperament between his brows. She lowered her eyelids, placed her fingertips lightly on his pulse, and revealed a thoughtful expression.

After a moment, she said calmly, "You've injured your qi and throat due to improper vocal training. If the problem isn't serious, you can follow the meridians for treatment."

Zhou Hexuan didn't quite understand and asked in confusion, "How can I cure it? I heard that my sister-in-law is good at acupuncture. Can she also treat my disease?"

Ruogu nodded, and she said gently: "Two acupuncture treatments will cure it, but after the first acupuncture treatment, the second acupuncture treatment can only be performed one day later. I wonder if you have the time."

Zhou Hexuan breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and said, "Sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood. I still have this little time. Sister-in-law, just go ahead and give me acupuncture."

He also watched the video that Ruogu posted online. Based on Yu Yuan's character, he would never allow falsification, so Ruogu's medical skills were real. When Zhou Hexuan heard that she was not serious, he was relieved.

Ruogu asked Chi Zhengzheng to help disinfect first. She was very excited to be in such close contact with King Zhou, and her eyes were shining. After Ruogu took out the needle, she smiled and said, "Can Hexuan sign an autograph for my assistant later? She likes your songs very much."

Chi Zhengzheng looked at him expectantly. She was so happy that she couldn't speak. Zhou Hexuan certainly wouldn't refuse Ruogu's request. He said in a hoarse voice, "Of course, I'll sign it for you later."

Ruogu first used acupuncture to select the acupoints. She inserted the needles into the Renying, Lianquan, Tianrong, Hegu and other acupoints, using the method of equal tonification and equal drainage to continuously stimulate the acupoints.

When a warm current flowed along the needle tip into Zhou Hexuan's body, traveled through his meridians, and then all flowed into his tonsils, he suddenly felt extremely relaxed and comfortable, and even his mood became relaxed.

Ji Xi also watched Ruogu perform acupuncture intently. Her technique was light and delicate. When the silver needles were inserted into the designated acupuncture points, Ji Xi deeply felt the power of natural healing.

The silver needles were left in for a while, and when they were all removed, Zhou Hexuan's throat no longer hurt. He didn't expect the effect to be so immediate, and he excitedly started singing.