“Short-Lived?”
The man’s voice was unbelievably pleasant.
Li Qiao was a severe sucker for a good voice.
She had zero resistance to beautiful tones.
Handsome face, mesmerizing voice… but tragically short-lived.
What a waste. Such a waste.
“Am I wrong?”
“He Jinnian.”
Li Qiao blinked. He Jinnian?
Wait, she didn’t remember that name from the book. Had she missed it?
Her eyes met his. After a long, awkward silence, she shrugged.
“Don’t know you.”
A subordinate who had just approached nearly tripped.
How could anyone not know the name of Ninth Master He from the capital?
What kind of backwater bumpkin was this?!
He Jinnian pressed a hand to his chest, his face paling.
Li Qiao’s gaze dropped to his wrist.
“That bracelet of yours is useless now,” she remarked casually. “Cracks mean ghosts can slip through. That thing that attacked you just now—it was a spirit, wasn’t it?”
He Jinnian studied her, then nodded.
His constitution had always been unusual, attracting unclean entities since childhood.
And as he grew older, the number of those things only increased.
The sandalwood beads had been a gift from Master Qingxu.
Li Qiao wasn’t one to meddle, but running into someone with imperial-grade purple aura like He Jinnian was fate.
If he was willing, she could siphon off some of his accumulated virtue—great for cultivation.
But first, she had to offer goodwill.
Without warning, she yanked off his bracelet and tossed it into the trash.
His subordinate gaped.
He Jinnian, however, remained unfazed, watching her every move.
Next, she slipped a string of Five Emperor coins around his wrist.
“These repel evil spirits better than that broken bracelet. Keep them on—they’ll save your life.”
He Jinnian ran his fingers over the coins. “Thank you.”
“No need.” She turned to leave, but he stopped her.
“A favor for a favor. Let me drive you home.”
Li Qiao sized him up, then nodded. Might as well—they were neighbors anyway.
Before parting, He Jinnian asked for her name.
Something told him they’d be seeing each other often.
“He Jinnian, my name is Li Qiao.”
He watched her walk away.
Li Qiao?
The long-lost daughter of the Li family?
Today’s events had been… unusual. And all because of her.
…
Meanwhile…
Elsewhere, a taxi driver arrived home to a warm meal prepared by his wife.
The news played in the background.
Then, a breaking alert flashed:
[Seven-car pileup at Qixian Bridge at 10:20 PM—13 dead, 5 critically injured, 1 minor injury.]
The chopsticks in the driver’s hand trembled.
10:20 PM.
If he’d taken Qixian Bridge as planned… he’d be part of that death toll.
But Li Qiao’s warning had echoed in his mind.
He’d taken a detour instead.
And now, he was alive.
Overwhelmed, he clutched his chest.
His wife, alarmed, demanded an explanation.
After hearing the story, the couple exchanged glances.
This newly returned Li girl… she was no ordinary person.
From now on, they’d treat her with utmost respect.
Back at the Li Residence
Li Qiao returned to find Li Shaojin waiting in the courtyard.
“Big Brother… were you waiting for me?”
“Mn. Hungry?”
“A little.” She patted her stomach.
Li Shaojin’s gaze flicked toward the neighboring house.
“Brother… do you know He Jinnian?”
Li Shaojin ruffled her hair and sighed.
“Youngest grandson of the He family. Heir to the He Corporation. But… Qiaoqiao, promise me—stay away from him. They say his fate is too harsh. Anyone close to him either gets mildly unlucky… or dies.”
Li Qiao: “???”
That extreme?
Seeing her skepticism, he elaborated.
“He Jinnian had five fiancées. One died of illness, another in an accident, and the rest… ran off with other men. He’s cursed—destined to be alone.”
Li Qiao exhaled.
She hadn’t known that, but his face had shown a doomed fate.
An imperial destiny shouldn’t have a short lifespan—unless…
Someone had tampered with his fate.
“Got it. Let’s eat, I’m starving.”
Li Shaojin chuckled. “Alright.”
…
That Night – Xiaxia Village
Since Li Qiao left, Li Man had been in high spirits, humming as she worked.
She just needed to bide her time.
In her past life as a wealthy heiress, she’d never lifted a finger.
But now? For the sake of her future, she chopped firewood, cooked, scrubbed bedsheets, and wiped down every surface.
“Manman! Li Man! Get me my foot bath!”
The wooden door slammed open.
Li Dazhi, reeking of alcohol, stumbled inside, bottle in hand.
“Dad, you’re drunk again?”
Li Man scowled.
“Shut up! Who are you to judge me?! Get the water!”
In the past, she’d have whacked him with a stick.
But now? She couldn’t risk damaging his brain.
She needed him to become the richest man in the province.
She would be a tycoon’s daughter again.
So she endured his abuse, biting back curses.
This is just life testing me.
Just as she set down the basin, Li Dazhi kicked her hard.
She yelped in pain.
“Worthless girl… should’ve been a son… my son… hehe…”
Drunk and mumbling, he collapsed onto the bed.
Li Man grimaced, holding her nose as she dumped the water outside.
Sitting in the yard, she seethed.
Patience. Just a little longer.
The Li family would soon go bankrupt.
Li Qiao… just wait. Your suffering has only begun.
Fueled by hatred, she stormed to the mill and ground two buckets of soy milk.
The Next Morning
The Li men left early for work, leaving only Old Master Li, Liu Yusi, and Li Qiao at home.
At breakfast, Li Qiao noted the old man’s improved complexion.
But long-term recovery required more than just a talisman—he needed rest.
After the meal, Li Qiao grabbed her things and headed to a pedestrian bridge.
Time to set up shop.
The bridge was lined with fortune-tellers—mostly elderly men in their fifties or sixties.
Li Qiao, the only young woman, earned disdainful looks.
In this business, age equaled credibility.
A little girl playing pretend? Please.
Her sign read:
“Seeking the Fated. One Reading Per Day.”
“Hey… isn’t that the Li family’s long-lost daughter? Why’s she fortune-telling?”
