“Big brother apologizes to you.”
Jian Lanfeng doted on her.
Since they were siblings, Jian Lanxin couldn’t stay mad at him for real.
She offered to set him up with someone, but he refused.
Besides, he already had a fiancée.
“Big brother, wake up! Li Qiao isn’t good enough for you. Some country bumpkin from the sticks doesn’t deserve to be the young madam of the Jian family.”
“Lanxin… she’s a year older than you. You should call her sister.” Not “country bumpkin.”
“Hmph, I don’t care. She’ll never be my sister-in-law. I refuse to acknowledge her.”
Jian Lanfeng sighed helplessly.
At the end of the day, she was his little sister—he couldn’t bring himself to scold her.
After reminding Jian Lanxin to go home early, he left Baoyue Villa.
“Lanxin, your brother’s gone?”
“Yeah. He’s still hung up on Li Qiao. Some village girl has no right to be my sister-in-law.” Back when she’d seen Li Qiao on campus, Shen Kuo had followed her around like a shadow.
Why did Shen Kuo get to defend some country bumpkin?
It made her furious.
Li Youwei’s eyes gleamed. “Lanxin, don’t worry. Once my cousin and your brother get together, Li Qiao won’t have a chance to become your sister-in-law.”
A sly smile crossed her face. “Besides, Li Qiao’s already taken a leave of absence. Shen Kuo won’t see her at school anymore. Isn’t that great? No one’s clinging to him now.”
Having her thoughts exposed so bluntly, Jian Lanxin lowered her head in embarrassment.
“Oh, Lanxin, no need to be shy!”
“Shut up!”
Hospital.
Li Qiao brought a lunchbox to visit Li Shaoxing.
“Third brother… Mom told you not to play games.”
“I wasn’t. I was playing Fight the Landlord.”
Li Shaoxing tossed his phone aside and patted the spot next to him, urging her to sit.
Once she did, he grabbed her hand, eyes sparkling.
He wanted to hear more of her bizarre, supernatural stories.
“Third brother, do you want to see a ghost?”
Li Shaoxing nodded eagerly.
His curiosity was insatiable.
Li Qiao narrowed her eyes. “Rest well. Soon, I’ll take you on a special experience.”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
“Qiaoqiao, you’re the best. My little sister is amazing!”
Excited but obedient, Li Shaoxing settled back to rest.
As long as he recovered, he’d get his adventure. With that incentive, he stopped causing trouble.
Seizing the moment, Li Qiao asked about Su Qiantang.
Li Shaoxing shrugged. “How would I know where she is?”
“Third brother, Su Qiantang is such a sweet girl. Don’t you like her?”
Dressed in head-to-toe pink, she practically oozed sugary charm.
How could any man resist?
Li Qiao studied him closely. He raised a brow. “Qiaoqiao, your brother doesn’t like sweet girls. I prefer spicy ones.”
“What did you just say? Repeat that. What do you prefer?”
Su Qiantang slammed the door open, fully revealing herself.
Li Shaoxing didn’t flinch. “Spicy girls. Heard me clearly this time?”
Clutching her pink purse, Su Qiantang’s eyes welled up with hurt.
Oh no. The sweet little thing was about to cry again.
But instead, she stomped her foot and snarled, “Li Shaoxing, just you wait!”
BANG!
She slammed the door behind her.
“Third brother, wasn’t that too harsh? She’s still a girl.”
What if she did something drastic?
Li Shaoxing sighed. “Qiaoqiao, you don’t know Su Qiantang. Her brain… doesn’t work like normal people’s.”
A pained look flashed across his face as memories surfaced.
Li Qiao fell silent.
How could her brother not like Su Qiantang?
Their red strings of fate were tied together!
The first time she’d seen Su Qiantang, she’d noticed the red thread connecting to Li Shaoxing’s wrist.
…
After leaving the hospital, Jian Lanfeng never contacted her again.
That Dr. Jian… still didn’t believe her.
On her way back, Li Shaoyang called, his voice bursting with excitement. Old Man Liang had found his long-lost family!
The Liangs had planned to visit and thank Li Qiao in person, but unexpected delays meant they’d have to postpone.
Li Qiao didn’t mind.
Old Man Liang reuniting with his family was cause for celebration.
Days later.
Li Qiao lazily descended the stairs.
He Jingnian, next door, still hadn’t returned from his business trip.
Every night, she checked his windows.
Dark.
Their last WeChat exchange was from before he’d left.
“Qiaoqiao, breakfast is ready.”
“Coming, Mom!”
She happily joined them. Today, they’d pick up Li Shaoxing from the hospital—his injuries had healed enough for home recovery.
On the way, Liu Yusi got a call from Song Xi.
“Help me… please, help me—”
“Song Xi? Where are you? Song Xi—Song Xi—!”
When Liu Yusi called back, the phone was off.
This wasn’t good.
“Qiaoqiao, something’s happened to Song Xi!”
Li Qiao’s fingers moved swiftly in divination. Her expression darkened.
“Second brother, head east—Chunye Villa.”
“Yes, yes! That’s Liu Yusheng’s property! Shaoyang, hurry!” Liu Yusi urged.
That bastard Liu Yusheng—what if—
“Mom, leave it to me.”
The car shot forward like an arrow.
Chunye Villa.
On the floor, Song Xi curled into herself, arms shielding her head as Liu Yusheng rained kicks and punches down on her.
“Bitch… you dare ask for a divorce? I’ll kill you!”
Another brutal strike landed.
Song Xi stayed silent, enduring.
“You worthless whore! I’ll end you! Say it—do you still want a divorce? Say it!“
Enraged, Liu Yusheng swung again, fists pounding mercilessly.
Every inch of her body screamed in agony.
She felt like she’d die here.
Liu Yulan descended the stairs, feigning concern. “Yusheng, ease up. Song Xi is your wife.”
“Wife? She’s trash! Who gave her the right to demand a divorce?”
He kicked her again.
From the sidelines, Liu Yulan smirked.
“Song Xi, really… why divorce? Isn’t our family happy as it is? Why ruin a peaceful life?”
She sat gracefully, oozing false sympathy.
Song Xi laughed bitterly. “Happy? Watching you two shameless dogs screw around? Liu Yulan, you’re disgusting. No wonder your brother-in-law wanted nothing to do with you. You’ll always be second to your sister. No decent man would touch a rotten woman like you.”
Her mocking grin dripped with contempt.
Liu Yulan’s face twisted. Seeing her distress, Liu Yusheng slapped Song Xi hard.
“Who the hell are you to insult my sister?”
“Big brother apologizes to you.”
Jian Lanfeng doted on her.
Since they were siblings, Jian Lanxin couldn’t stay mad at him for real.
She offered to set him up with someone, but he refused.
Besides, he already had a fiancée.
“Big brother, wake up! Li Qiao isn’t good enough for you. Some country bumpkin from the sticks doesn’t deserve to be the young madam of the Jian family.”
“Lanxin… she’s a year older than you. You should call her sister.” Not “country bumpkin.”
“Hmph, I don’t care. She’ll never be my sister-in-law. I refuse to acknowledge her.”
Jian Lanfeng sighed helplessly.
At the end of the day, she was his little sister—he couldn’t bring himself to scold her.
After reminding Jian Lanxin to go home early, he left Baoyue Villa.
“Lanxin, your brother’s gone?”
“Yeah. He’s still hung up on Li Qiao. Some village girl has no right to be my sister-in-law.” Back when she’d seen Li Qiao on campus, Shen Kuo had followed her around like a shadow.
Why did Shen Kuo get to defend some country bumpkin?
It made her furious.
Li Youwei’s eyes gleamed. “Lanxin, don’t worry. Once my cousin and your brother get together, Li Qiao won’t have a chance to become your sister-in-law.”
A sly smile crossed her face. “Besides, Li Qiao’s already taken a leave of absence. Shen Kuo won’t see her at school anymore. Isn’t that great? No one’s clinging to him now.”
Having her thoughts exposed so bluntly, Jian Lanxin lowered her head in embarrassment.
“Oh, Lanxin, no need to be shy!”
“Shut up!”
Hospital.
Li Qiao brought a lunchbox to visit Li Shaoxing.
“Third brother… Mom told you not to play games.”
“I wasn’t. I was playing Fight the Landlord.”
Li Shaoxing tossed his phone aside and patted the spot next to him, urging her to sit.
Once she did, he grabbed her hand, eyes sparkling.
He wanted to hear more of her bizarre, supernatural stories.
“Third brother, do you want to see a ghost?”
Li Shaoxing nodded eagerly.
His curiosity was insatiable.
Li Qiao narrowed her eyes. “Rest well. Soon, I’ll take you on a special experience.”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
“Qiaoqiao, you’re the best. My little sister is amazing!”
Excited but obedient, Li Shaoxing settled back to rest.
As long as he recovered, he’d get his adventure. With that incentive, he stopped causing trouble.
Seizing the moment, Li Qiao asked about Su Qiantang.
Li Shaoxing shrugged. “How would I know where she is?”
“Third brother, Su Qiantang is such a sweet girl. Don’t you like her?”
Dressed in head-to-toe pink, she practically oozed sugary charm.
How could any man resist?
Li Qiao studied him closely. He raised a brow. “Qiaoqiao, your brother doesn’t like sweet girls. I prefer spicy ones.”
“What did you just say? Repeat that. What do you prefer?”
Su Qiantang slammed the door open, fully revealing herself.
Li Shaoxing didn’t flinch. “Spicy girls. Heard me clearly this time?”
Clutching her pink purse, Su Qiantang’s eyes welled up with hurt.
Oh no. The sweet little thing was about to cry again.
But instead, she stomped her foot and snarled, “Li Shaoxing, just you wait!”
BANG!
She slammed the door behind her.
“Third brother, wasn’t that too harsh? She’s still a girl.”
What if she did something drastic?
Li Shaoxing sighed. “Qiaoqiao, you don’t know Su Qiantang. Her brain… doesn’t work like normal people’s.”
A pained look flashed across his face as memories surfaced.
Li Qiao fell silent.
How could her brother not like Su Qiantang?
Their red strings of fate were tied together!
The first time she’d seen Su Qiantang, she’d noticed the red thread connecting to Li Shaoxing’s wrist.
…
After leaving the hospital, Jian Lanfeng never contacted her again.
That Dr. Jian… still didn’t believe her.
On her way back, Li Shaoyang called, his voice bursting with excitement. Old Man Liang had found his long-lost family!
The Liangs had planned to visit and thank Li Qiao in person, but unexpected delays meant they’d have to postpone.
Li Qiao didn’t mind.
Old Man Liang reuniting with his family was cause for celebration.
Days later.
Li Qiao lazily descended the stairs.
He Jingnian, next door, still hadn’t returned from his business trip.
Every night, she checked his windows.
Dark.
Their last WeChat exchange was from before he’d left.
“Qiaoqiao, breakfast is ready.”
“Coming, Mom!”
She happily joined them. Today, they’d pick up Li Shaoxing from the hospital—his injuries had healed enough for home recovery.
On the way, Liu Yusi got a call from Song Xi.
“Help me… please, help me—”
“Song Xi? Where are you? Song Xi—Song Xi—!”
When Liu Yusi called back, the phone was off.
This wasn’t good.
“Qiaoqiao, something’s happened to Song Xi!”
Li Qiao’s fingers moved swiftly in divination. Her expression darkened.
“Second brother, head east—Chunye Villa.”
“Yes, yes! That’s Liu Yusheng’s property! Shaoyang, hurry!” Liu Yusi urged.
That bastard Liu Yusheng—what if—
“Mom, leave it to me.”
The car shot forward like an arrow.
Chunye Villa.
On the floor, Song Xi curled into herself, arms shielding her head as Liu Yusheng rained kicks and punches down on her.
“Bitch… you dare ask for a divorce? I’ll kill you!”
Another brutal strike landed.
Song Xi stayed silent, enduring.
“You worthless whore! I’ll end you! Say it—do you still want a divorce? Say it!“
Enraged, Liu Yusheng swung again, fists pounding mercilessly.
Every inch of her body screamed in agony.
She felt like she’d die here.
Liu Yulan descended the stairs, feigning concern. “Yusheng, ease up. Song Xi is your wife.”
“Wife? She’s trash! Who gave her the right to demand a divorce?”
He kicked her again.
From the sidelines, Liu Yulan smirked.
“Song Xi, really… why divorce? Isn’t our family happy as it is? Why ruin a peaceful life?”
She sat gracefully, oozing false sympathy.
Song Xi laughed bitterly. “Happy? Watching you two shameless dogs screw around? Liu Yulan, you’re disgusting. No wonder your brother-in-law wanted nothing to do with you. You’ll always be second to your sister. No decent man would touch a rotten woman like you.”
Her mocking grin dripped with contempt.
Liu Yulan’s face twisted. Seeing her distress, Liu Yusheng slapped Song Xi hard.
“Who the hell are you to insult my sister?”
