“Li Youwei, how dare you show your face? You almost got my brother killed!”
Jian Lanxin lunged forward and grabbed Li Youwei’s wrist. The others quickly closed in.
The culprit, Li Youwei, struggled free, panic flashing in her eyes. “I—I was framed! I had no idea about the Zhao family’s ghost marriage!”
“You were the one who vouched for them! Stop pretending! Li Youwei, you hurt my brother—the Jian family won’t let this slide.” Regret burned through Jian Lanxin. She had trusted Li Youwei, and now her brother had nearly paid the price.
Li Youwei stammered, “No, no! Lanxin, listen—the Zhaos tricked me! They lied!”
“Li Youwei, you were the one who brokered the deal. You took their bribes.”
Mrs. Zhao, who had just stepped out, overheard and scowled.
Humiliated in front of everyone, Li Youwei paled. Fear gnawed at her—she knew the Jians would retaliate.
Li Qiao had no interest in the drama. This was between the Jian family and Li Youwei.
As she walked out of the Zhao estate, she glanced back at Li Shaoxing, whose face was still ghostly pale, all his usual vigor gone.
“So, Third Brother, how do you feel?”
Her tone was teasing.
The memories of what they’d just witnessed flashed through Li Shaoxing’s mind. He couldn’t even speak—just hunched over a flowerbed and retched again.
Li Qiao’s lips curled slightly.
Even Shen Kuo looked queasy.
He had never seen a ghost so revolting.
Li Qiao turned back to the Zhao mansion. Dark clouds swirled above it.
The Zhao family’s wealth and glory had come to an end.
The three of them left Wuxi Mountain.
In the back seat, Li Shaoxing slumped like a man who had lost the will to live. “I’m done. Never again. So disgusting… so terrifying.”
“Third Brother, you changed your mind fast.”
“Qiaoqiao… you never warned me ghosts could be that disgusting.”
The difference between movies and reality was staggering.
For the next two days, he doubted he could eat a thing.
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
“Qiaoqiao, you’re enjoying this.”
“Is it that obvious?” She raised a brow.
Li Shaoxing had no comeback.
What could he do? Spoiling his little sister was his life’s mission.
…
Back at Wuxi Mountain, Jian Lanfeng and the others were still shaken.
None of them wanted to relive what had happened in the Zhao house.
“Lanfeng, let’s go. Li Qiao’s already left.”
Jiang Feng checked his phone.
Jian Lanfeng nodded.
As their car pulled away, another vehicle passed by in the opposite direction.
Jiang Feng stiffened.
Was that—He Jinnian?
Why would he be at Wuxi Mountain?
“Jiang Feng? What’s wrong?” Jian Lanxin asked from the passenger seat.
“Must’ve been seeing things.” He shook his head and drove on.
Meanwhile, at a red light, Li Qiao’s eyes snapped open.
She sat bolt upright. “Turn right—now. Head for the outskirts. Hurry.“
“What’s going on?” Shen Kuo asked but immediately accelerated toward the direction she’d indicated.
Her expression was grim.
“The Lius… they’re ruthless.”
“Is Song Xi in trouble?”
“Yes.“
Outskirts.
Song Xi’s wrists and ankles were bound, her mouth sealed with tape.
Her furious gaze locked onto Liu Yusheng.
“You bitch, still glaring? You’re so desperate to divorce me—must’ve found another man. Well, today, I’ll make sure you get exactly what you want.”
Liu Yusheng’s slap cracked across her face.
He was unhinged, grinning like a madman. “Once I film you with them, you’ll never dare ask for a divorce again. Song Xi, you’ll always be my dog.”
Four homeless men hesitated nearby.
Rich people really played dirty.
This guy was offering up his own wife…
Inside the rural courtyard, a vile transaction was unfolding.
Hidden behind a tree, Liu Yulan smirked at Song Xi’s terrified struggles.
“Mr. Liu… you’re sure about this?”
“Of course. These’ll help you perform. Feed them to her—or take them yourselves. Up to you.”
Liu Yusheng tossed a small packet onto the ground before strutting off to the backyard, where a camera was set up.
The moment he left, the four men closed in on Song Xi.
They’d taken the drugs themselves but hadn’t forced any on her—they preferred their victims fully conscious.
As they untied her, they didn’t even bother restraining her. Where could she run?
“Come here, pretty thing.”
“I’ll call the police,” Song Xi hissed, though her trembling legs betrayed her fear.
…
When Li Qiao and the others arrived, she spotted Liu Yulan hiding behind a tree.
Without hesitation, she kicked Liu Yulan’s knees out from under her.
Song Xi burst out of the house, the four men chasing after her in a drug-fueled frenzy.
Li Qiao took one look and understood everything.
She grabbed Liu Yulan and threw her at the men.
“Li Qiao! You’ll pay for this! Yusheng will kill you!”
“Get off me, you filthy trash!”
Li Qiao watched coldly. “You set the trap. Now you get to taste the poison.”
“Yusheng! Help me!“
Liu Yusheng came running from the backyard—only to freeze in horror at the sight of his sister being assaulted.
He lunged forward, but one of the men punched him square in the face.
“Qiaoqiao, let’s go.”
Li Shaoxing studied his sister’s expression, his heart heavy.
Outside, Song Xi trembled with gratitude.
When she learned Li Qiao had predicted her danger, tears welled in her eyes.
Today was supposed to be her divorce day. Liu Yusheng had lured her to the civil affairs office—only to drag her into his car and bring her here.
After years of marriage, he’d shown no mercy.
He was a monster.
The sounds from the courtyard grew louder, but Li Qiao didn’t flinch.
Song Xi, however, pulled out her phone and recorded every second of the Liu siblings’ humiliation.
Meanwhile, Li Qiao crouched under a tree, her face blank.
“Qiaoqiao…”
“Third Brother thinks I’m cruel?” She glanced up.
“No. They deserved it. I just… hate that you’re so used to this.”
She seemed to have seen all the evil in the world.
Like she might vanish at any moment.
Li Qiao hadn’t expected that response.
“I’ve seen too much.”
She didn’t elaborate, and Li Shaoxing didn’t press.
He took her hand, his voice soft. “Let’s go home. Mom and Dad are waiting.”
Li Qiao blinked.
Her gaze dropped to their joined hands, and slowly, she smiled.
“Home.“
Shen Kuo, watching the siblings from a distance, felt an odd pang in his chest.
That pang followed him all the way back to the Shen family.
The moment he walked in, he blurted out:
“Dad. Do you have any secret illegitimate daughters?”
