After Swapping Lives, the Metaphysics Side Character Became the Wealthy Family's Beloved - Chapter 54

“What do you know?”

Liu Xing’s eyes turned icy.

“You’ve brought this upon yourself. Go home and prepare for the end.”

“Stop with the nonsense.”

Liu Xing stared at Li Qiao’s retreating figure, his heart uneasy.

Fifteen lives—how could she know?

A wave of dread washed over him.

He had kept it so well hidden. Everyone believed it was an accident.

Liu Xing stepped into a blind spot, away from surveillance, and made a call.

By the time Li Shaoyang and Wei Ting emerged, their faces were lit with smiles—clearly, the collaboration had gone smoothly.

The enthusiastic Liu Xing approached, suggesting they celebrate. He had already reserved a private dining room, and both parties headed there together.

Li Shaoyang and Wei Ting chattered excitedly the whole way, while Li Qiao remained unusually quiet.

“Qiaoqiao, eat whatever you want tonight. Your second brother’s about to strike it rich—finally, luck’s turning around!” Li Shaoyang couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

The two men were in high spirits.

Li Qiao glanced at Wei Ting and asked, “What does your cousin do?”

Her sudden question made Li Shaoyang’s expression darken. A chill crept into his voice. “Qiaoqiao, did he bother you?”

“No, just curious.”

“Liu Xing’s a distant relative. He used to work in renovation, but after an accident at his company killed several people, he switched to construction. The company we partnered with today, StarLight Construction, was once affiliated with him!”

“Qiaoqiao… is something wrong?” Li Shaoyang was being extra cautious these days.

Li Qiao shook her head slightly.

At the hotel, the atmosphere at the table was lively. Even without looking, Li Qiao could feel Liu Xing’s gaze fixed on her.

He was suspicious.

“Miss Li, have a drink.” Liu Xing’s smile carried a sleazy edge.

Wei Ting intercepted the glass. “I’ll drink for her. My little cousin here doesn’t drink.”

“My mistake, then. I’ll punish myself with a glass.”

After downing his drink, Liu Xing excused himself to take a call.

Meanwhile, Li Shaoyang, ever composed, raised his glass. “President Ye, to a successful partnership.”

“To a successful partnership.”

President Ye was a stern middle-aged man who hadn’t cracked a smile all evening.

Once the celebration ended, the groups parted ways.

As Li Qiao got into the car, she hesitated, then stepped out again and approached President Ye’s vehicle.

“President Ye, if anything unusual happens within the next three days, contact my brother immediately.”

Inside the car, President Ye’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable.

“Qiaoqiao, what’s going on?”

“Barring any surprises, he’ll reach out to you within three days. Let’s go home, Second Brother.”

Li Shaoyang nodded.

Wei Ting, meanwhile, rode back with Liu Xing.

…

On the road, their car narrowly avoided a collision—once, twice, then a third time.

Li Shaoyang’s expression hardened.

“Qiaoqiao, hold on tight.”

Unseen by him, Li Qiao placed a talisman on the car.

As they rounded a bend, a truck came barreling toward them—

BANG!

The truck was sent flying.

Li Shaoyang rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

With the accident, neither he nor Li Qiao could leave. They had to stay for questioning.

Li Qiao took the opportunity to text Ding Xiaozhou:

[Got a case for you.]

Ding Xiaozhou replied instantly:

[Master, why do you always stumble into cases? What kind of luck is this? Please don’t tell me it’s another baby-related thing.]

[Nope.]

The police arrived swiftly. When Shao Rong saw Li Qiao again, he wasn’t even surprised.

While Li Shaoyang gave his statement to the traffic police, Li Qiao spoke with Shao Rong outside.

“Three years ago, the Ditong Building fire on September 23rd. The official conclusion was an electrical short circuit.”

Ding Xiaozhou remembered it clearly. Was there more to it?

Li Qiao shrugged. “The details aren’t for me to say. That’s your job. But if you dig deeper, you might find… surprises.”

“We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

After wrapping up, Shao Rong and Ding Xiaozhou left to investigate further.

Justice might be delayed, but it would never be denied.

Once the siblings were done, Li Shaoyang grumbled, “What kind of awful luck is this? Or was it sabotage?”

“Second Brother… it was deliberate.”

“Who? Who wants me dead?”

Li Qiao got back into the car, smiling. “You’ll know soon enough.”

Liu Xing wouldn’t live to see dawn.

Nightfall. Niuma Village.

At the village’s edge, a four-year-old boy carried a chipped bowl to his grandmother’s bedside.

“Granny… medicine.”

The frail white-haired woman weakly shook her head.

“No, child. I’ll wait for your father. He promised to come back for my eightieth birthday…”

The boy grew frantic when she refused to drink.

“Granny, wait here. I’ll get Uncle Village Chief!”

He dashed out, leaving the bowl behind.

The old woman’s gnarled hands clawed at the air as tears streamed down her face.

“My son…”

“Ma?”

Her eyes widened at the middle-aged man now standing in the room. Trembling, she tried to reach for him.

“Dazhu, where have you been? Your old mother’s been worried sick, you foolish boy!”

She pounded the bed, torn between anger and heartache.

Niu Dazhu wept as he looked at his aging mother. He dropped to his knees and kowtowed five times.

“What are you—get up!”

She tried to pull him up but recoiled in shock when her hands passed through him.

After several failed attempts, she let out a wail of despair.

“My boy—!”

Niu Dazhu was equally devastated.

He wanted nothing more than to hold his mother, but he could only kowtow again.

“Ma, I failed you. Xiao Bao will have to take care of you now.”

As the old woman beat her chest in anguish, cursing the heavens, Niu Dazhu told her the truth about what happened three years ago.

Under his questioning, he realized Liu Xing had never informed his family of his death—let alone given them compensation.

No wonder his mother and son still lived in such hardship.

If his family didn’t know, what about the others?

Rage surged through Niu Dazhu, his ghostly aura thickening.

“Ma, listen…”

He whispered a plan.

Xiao Bao returned with Village Chief Ma in tow. As they neared the house, the old woman’s anguished cry pierced the night.

“My son—!”

Village Chief Ma rushed forward, steadying her before she collapsed.

“Old sister, what’s wrong?”

Tears streaming, she gripped his hands with surprising strength.

“Zhenhua, I need the police. My son… he was murdered.”

Midnight.

A cold wind howled as Li Qiao led Li Shaoyang to Wei Ting’s home.

“Qiaoqiao, why are we here?”

“For the show, Second Brother. Look—it’s starting.”

She grinned and pointed behind him.