After Swapping Lives, the Metaphysics Side Character Became the Wealthy Family's Beloved - Chapter 88

What was Li Qiao up to? Why was she suddenly congratulating Old Madam Liu?

“Li Qiao, have you lost your mind?” the old woman snapped.

But Li Qiao only smiled. “Congratulations, Madam. You’re about to have a grandson—well, maybe a grandson, or perhaps a grandnephew.”

The words sent Liu Yusheng and Liu Yulan’s faces draining of color.

Song Xi and Liu Yusī watched with amusement.

Old Madam Liu stood frozen, her mouth agape.

It took her a full minute to find her voice again. “What did you say?”

“Liu Yusheng and Liu Yulan have been sleeping together for ages. Who knows, she might already be carrying his brat. Congrats, Madam—your precious adopted daughter is finally laying eggs for your son!” Song Xi chimed in cheerfully.

“That’s impossible!”

Liu Yulan exploded, jabbing a finger at Li Qiao. “You’re spouting nonsense! Mom, don’t listen to her lies!” Her face twisted with fury.

But Old Madam Liu only needed one look at their guilty expressions before her face turned ashen.

“Liu. Yusheng.” Her roar shook the room.

She slammed a hand on the table so hard the teacups rattled and toppled.

Liu Yusheng scrambled to her side, babbling, “Mom… please, calm down. You have to believe me—”

“Believe you? Then tell me the truth!”

Under her withering glare, Liu Yusheng’s resolve crumbled—but he still clung to denial. “M-Mom… how could this be true? They’re framing us!”

“You vile beast!”

The slap echoed through the room.

Liu Yusheng staggered back, clutching his face in shock. His mother had never hit him before.

Song Xi smirked, while Liu Yusī’s eyes gleamed with cunning.

Li Qiao crossed her arms, coldly amused.

“Smack!”

This time, the blow landed on Liu Yulan.

“You shameless whore!”

“Agh—Mom!”

Liu Yulan stumbled, barely catching herself.

“I didn’t raise you to seduce my son! Do you have any idea what this scandal would do to the Liu family’s reputation? Yusheng’s future would be ruined! You trash—this is how you repay me?” The old woman raised her hand again.

Terrified, Liu Yulan ducked behind Liu Yusheng.

His face still burning from the slap, Liu Yusheng grabbed his mother’s wrist. “Mom… please, stop! Yulan and I—we’re both your children. How can you hurt us like this?”

“‘Yulan’? Disgusting! Have you two no shame?” Old Madam Liu’s voice cracked with grief.

“Enough! Stop making a scene!”

“You dare yell at me, you ungrateful wretch?” Trembling with rage, she glared at her son.

Liu Yusheng took a deep breath. “Mom… Yulan and I love each other. Don’t you want a grandson? We’ll give you one.”

No longer calling her “Second Sister,” he clasped Liu Yulan’s hand.

Liu Yulan added tearfully, “We’ll take care of you, Mom. I’ll do my best to conceive.”

“At your age? Don’t make me laugh.”

The cruel jab made Liu Yulan flinch. She shot Liu Yusheng a wounded look.

“Shameless… My family is ruined…”

With a strangled gasp, Old Madam Liu collapsed.

Chaos erupted in the Liu household.

Liu Yusī and Song Xi left without a backward glance.

Li Qiao lingered, studying Liu Yulan.

Notably, while Liu Yusheng panicked over his mother, Liu Yulan remained eerily calm—proof of her selfish nature.

Tch.

The Lius would reap what they sowed.

Liu Yusheng’s fate, as she’d seen, was to die childless.

As for Liu Yulan?

Oh, she would have a child.

Li Qiao had already whispered this detail to Liu Yusī, who’d reacted like a gleeful gossip.

Afternoon.

Sunlight bathed the courtyard as Li Qiao lounged contentedly.

Li Shaohang emerged with a plate of oranges, his wounds freshly dressed. “Qiaoqiao, try these. The warehouse is stocked with them.”

“You bought this many?”

“Shaoyu endorsed them. The brand sent crates, and he dumps all his freebies here.”

Li Qiao chuckled. “Fourth Brother’s endorsements are… down-to-earth.”

Li Shaohang snorted. “High-end brands won’t touch him.”

“He’ll make it big someday.”

“Doubt it.” Not that Li Shaohang underestimated Li Shaoyu—but his brother’s habit of bluntly insulting everyone in the entertainment industry meant a career implosion was inevitable.

As she nibbled cherries, Li Qiao’s gaze drifted to the neighboring villa.

Still no sign of He Jingnian…

“Waiting for him?” Li Shaohang teased.

“No. Just curious where he went.”

His prolonged absence worried her.

Had He Yi’s team already found He Jingnian’s mother’s ashes? If so, why hadn’t they contacted her?

Li Shaohang rolled his eyes. Sure, you’re not waiting.

Soon, the Jian siblings arrived.

Jian Lanxin bowed stiffly, thanking Li Qiao while visibly wrestling with shame over her past idiocy. Gratitude didn’t equate to liking her, though—she dropped off a gift and fled.

Jian Lanfeng, however, stayed.

Catching the hint, Li Shaohang tactfully excused himself.

“Li Qiao, for saving my life… I have no way to repay you. So I’ll offer myself instead.”

“Pfft—!”

Li Qiao spat out her tea. “Doctor Jian, ‘marrying your savior’ is outdated.”

“This isn’t about trends. It’s what I want.” His eyes held no jest.

“And I want nothing to do with you,” she said flatly.

“No rush. I’m patient.” His smirk said try dodging me.

Li Qiao: “…”

A flock of imaginary crows seemed to caw overhead. This guy… unbelievable.

Truthfully, they barely knew each other. His sudden devotion likely stemmed from their families’ long-defunct marriage pact.

Seizing the moment, Li Qiao cut to the chase: “That ‘engagement’ was just empty words. Our elders don’t care. Neither do I. You shouldn’t either.”

Beneath Jian Lanfeng’s gentle facade lurked something far sharper—she’d sensed it from their first meeting.

“You like He Jingnian.”