After Swapping Lives, the Metaphysics Side Character Became the Wealthy Family's Beloved - Chapter 37

Shen Kuo had a short temper.

If they didn’t apologize, his glare alone could tear them apart.

Under pressure, the girl reluctantly muttered an apology, her face twisted in discomfort.

Li Qiao’s eyes flickered.

Even school was a microcosm of society.

Shen Kuo kept his promises—he’d vowed to protect her at school, and he did.

But this minor incident didn’t weigh on Li Qiao’s mind.

Now that Li Qiao was attending school, her mother, Liu Yusi, missed her dearly.

While watering the flowers in the yard, Liu Yusi heard the doorbell ring and walked toward the gate.

Outside stood Mrs. Xu, the wife of a prominent businessman.

Their families lived close by and moved in the same social circles, so they were well acquainted.

After hearing Mrs. Xu’s reason for visiting, Liu Yusi hesitated. “Qiuying, it’s best if we parents don’t interfere too much in our children’s relationships. Too much meddling can cause problems between couples.”

“If he’d chosen someone from a proper background, I wouldn’t be so worried,” Mrs. Xu sighed.

Her son had started dating a girl three months ago.

At first, she’d been thrilled and eager to meet her future daughter-in-law.

But yesterday, he’d brought the girl home and announced they were getting married.

Only three months in, and already talking about marriage? It felt too sudden.

What should’ve been a joyous occasion turned sour when Mrs. Xu learned more. The girl came from a rural family, hadn’t even finished middle school, and had worked odd jobs to support herself. Though she was pretty, she was decked out in designer clothes—undoubtedly paid for by Mrs. Xu’s son.

A girl like that wasn’t fit to marry into their family!

After listening, Liu Yusi frowned. “She sounds quite resilient. If Xiao Xu is willing to spend money on her, doesn’t that mean he truly likes her?”

“No! I won’t allow my son to marry her. Yusi, come with me to her house. Maybe we can find a reason to break them up. There’s something… off about her.”

Liu Yusi blinked. “Why?”

“That girl gets up in the middle of the night to eat. Last night, I heard clattering in the kitchen… When I went to check, she was eating raw meat! I nearly fainted. She claimed she was just hungry, but I caught her doing it three times in one night. Doesn’t that seem strange?” Even now, the memory of the girl stuffing raw pork into her mouth made Mrs. Xu nauseous.

“That is odd… but what if it’s just a quirk of hers?”

People had all sorts of strange habits these days.

Liu Yusi wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“I don’t care if it’s a ‘quirk’—that kind of woman will never be part of the Xu family! Who knows what kind of mental illness runs in her bloodline? Yusi, just come with me. We’ll be discreet—no one will notice.”

After persistent pleading, Liu Yusi finally agreed.

Once in the car, she warned Mrs. Xu not to act rashly and risk causing unnecessary trouble.

…

When Li Shaoyang returned home and found his mother gone, he assumed she’d gone shopping with friends.

Holding an exquisitely wrapped gift box, he entered Li Qiao’s room.

Where should I put this?

Somewhere she’d see it as soon as she returned… the nightstand!

Smiling, he turned to leave—then froze.

A noise came from the next room.

Frowning, he pushed the door open.

A spirit tablet sat on the table.

Li Shaoyang’s heart pounded. His face paled, and his legs weakened.

“Good grief, Qiaoqiao… keeping a spirit tablet at home? That’s terrifying.”

Thud!

The tablet toppled over.

Li Shaoyang’s stomach lurched.

Then he remembered—this must be the “Ancestor Master” his older brother had mentioned.

Even if it was the Ancestor Master, it still scared him.

After a moment’s hesitation, he stepped forward and straightened the tablet.

“Ancestor Master, I’m Qiaoqiao’s second brother… Please don’t hold it against me.”

He lit a stick of incense and bowed respectfully.

The moment he turned away—

Thud!

The tablet fell again.

Puzzled, he set it upright.

Before he could step back—

Thud!

Down it went.

“Ancestor Master… what’s wrong? Do you dislike me?” Li Shaoyang was on the verge of tears.

His brother had warned him never to offend the Ancestor Master. Now, he feared he’d already angered it.

He quickly texted Li Qiao.

[Second Brother, is Mom home?]

Her non-sequitur reply made him uneasy.

[No.]

[Second Brother, take the Ancestor Master’s tablet and go to Yunqi Road. I’m on my way.]

Did something happen to Mom?

Clutching the tablet, Li Shaoyang rushed downstairs.

He tried calling Liu Yusi repeatedly, but the line was busy. Anxiety gnawed at him.

Driving with the Ancestor Master’s tablet in the passenger seat, Li Shaoyang reached the designated spot.

As soon as he parked, Li Qiao came running.

“Qiaoqiao, what about your classes?”

“Mom comes first. Follow this.”

A paper crane fluttered from Li Qiao’s palm, leading the way.

…

Majia Gou

A dilapidated mountain village.

Most houses were made of packed earth, with only a few brick structures.

Mrs. Xu tsked. “There are still places this poor?”

“Just because we’re wealthy doesn’t mean everyone is,” Liu Yusi said flatly.

Mrs. Xu nodded, more convinced than ever that her son’s girlfriend was a gold-digger. She ordered the driver, Xiao Gao, to ask for directions to Sun Qian’s house.

Dressed in fashionable clothes and elegant makeup, the two women drew stares from the villagers.

Xiao Gao soon returned. “Ma’am, the Sun family is at the end of the village—the last house.”

“Let’s go.”

The way the villagers eyed them like prey put Liu Yusi on edge.

At the Sun residence, they found three rundown earth houses, a dog barking furiously in the yard.

“Anyone home?” Xiao Gao called.

No answer.

Impatient, Mrs. Xu pushed open the wooden gate. Liu Yusi and Xiao Gao followed.

The moment they stepped into the main room, a strange odor hit them—

Before Liu Yusi could speak, all three collapsed.

From the inner room emerged a tall, gaunt man.

…

Meanwhile, Li Qiao and Li Shaoyang arrived at the mountain’s base.

Fifteen hundred meters from Majia Gou, they parked and continued on foot, hiding in the woods.

From their vantage point, they observed two middle-aged men at the village entrance, smoking—but their eyes were sharp, scanning their surroundings.

“Second Brother, this village is suspicious. If we enter through the front, we’ll be too obvious. Wait until it’s darker—we’ll go through the woods on the left.”

“Got it.”

At nightfall, two men in black replaced the smokers at the entrance—clearly a coordinated shift.

Li Qiao’s paper crane flew again, weaving past the houses toward the back of the village.

There stood a neglected mountain god temple.

A voice growled from inside:

“Stay alert. No slacking.”

“Relax, Uncle Cai. We know what’s at stake—the ‘merchandise’ here won’t cause any trouble.”