Chapter 29: Did Not Board

What game is Qiao Yanxin really playing?

I never expected that Gu Tingchu would go so far as to have me killed just to be with her. I let out a bitter laugh at the thought. If Gu Tingchu wanted to be with Qiao Yanxin so badly, why didn't he just say so? If he had told me he wanted to marry her, I would have divorced her immediately to make room for him. There was no need to kill me for it!

I shook my head, feeling a mix of amusement and despair. I never imagined the reason for my death would be so trivial.

Gu Tingchu was still earnestly trying to persuade Qiao Yanxin, but she wasn't listening to a word of it. "No, I won't get a divorce. No one is going to make me divorce Qiao Yunzhou!"

Gu Tingchu sighed in frustration; perhaps even he hadn't expected Qiao Yanxin to be so stubborn.

Just as Qiao’s parents were busy criticizing me and Gu Tingchu was busy poisoning Qiao Yanxin’s mind, an aged but authoritative voice rang out from the doorway.

"Shut your mouth! Since when is it your place, an outsider, to interfere in our family affairs?!"

Hearing that familiar voice, everyone turned toward the door. It was Grandma!

Seeing her, I trotted over to greet her. "Grandma, you're here?" Even though she couldn't see me, I followed closely at her heels.

Grandma sat in her wheelchair, pushed by Zhang Ma. They moved slowly, yet with an air of undeniable presence. I saw Gu Tingchu swallow hard beside me.

"Mom, why are you here?" Qiao’s mother hurried over, only to be met with a sharp glare from Grandma.

"So you still remember I'm your mother?"

"Mom, what kind of talk is that?" Qiao’s mother looked aggrieved, having done nothing wrong, yet being targeted by Grandma.

The weather wasn't great today. Grandma had always suffered from weak legs, and they would ache terribly in the cold. What could have been so important that she would rather travel in this weather, even with two blankets draped over her legs?

Qiao’s father walked over, his expression grim. "Mom, stop this. Why did you come out today? It’s so cold; don't let yourself get frozen."

Grandma let out a scoff. "If I didn't come, you’d all be led around by the nose by an outsider! By the time they sold you off, you'd probably still be helping them count the money!"

Qiao Yanxin said indignantly, "Grandma, don't say that. Even if Gu Tingchu isn't part of the Qiao family, he’s not as bad as you make him out to be!"

Although Grandma hadn't named anyone, her target was clear. Gu Tingchu was the only outsider present. He stood there, wringing his clothes, looking incredibly wronged and restrained.

"Grandma Qiao, I didn't mean any harm. But what does this have to do with me? Brother Yunzhou was fooling around with another woman in Xicheng. I just didn't want to see Yanxin kept in the dark, so I told her. Yanxin is an independent person; she has the right to pursue her own happiness. Why are you so biased? Why sacrifice Yanxin’s happiness for an adopted child?"

Qiao Yanxin’s face darkened at these words. "Stop, stop it."

I couldn't help but sneer. Gu Tingchu was truly audacious to say such things in front of Grandma.

Grandma squinted, looking at Gu Tingchu as if he were already a dead man. She gave a faint huff and turned her gaze to Qiao Yanxin.

"Yanxin, tell me, do you really believe Yunzhou is capable of such a thing?"

Qiao Yanxin looked conflicted and pained. "Grandma, I... I don't know. I know Qiao Yunzhou isn't that kind of person, but how do I explain what I saw? Grandma, I can't keep lying to myself!"

Grandma just laughed coldly. "Do you think what you saw is the whole truth?"

Grandma’s gaze was so piercing that Qiao Yanxin stammered, unable to find words. "I... I..."

Qiao’s mother, feeling sorry for her daughter, stepped in to mediate. "Mom, Yunzhou really was in the wrong here, but you shouldn't make things difficult for Yanxin. She’s your granddaughter, too!"

"Shut your mouth!" Grandma shouted, silencing everyone instantly.

"I’ll ask you all one thing: do you all really believe Yunzhou did this?"

Everyone hesitated, unable to give a clear answer. It was obvious that was exactly what they believed. Though my heart ached, I could accept it. I had expected this result long ago. Knowing they didn't love me at all didn't hurt as much as I thought it would.

Grandma sneered, looking at them with profound disappointment. "Fine, fine. So this is how you all view Yunzhou. I don't even have to guess what kind of life Yunzhou led in the Qiao household! Yanxin, you are my granddaughter, but Yunzhou is your husband. Do you have no trust in him at all? Setting aside his role as a husband, he grew up with you like a brother. Don't you know his character? Do you really think he would do something like this?"

"You have zero trust in your own husband. It’s easy to imagine how much injustice Yunzhou suffered while with you, not to mention having this homewrecker constantly by your side!" Grandma glared at Gu Tingchu. He flinched, and Qiao Yanxin immediately stepped in front of him to shield him.

"The moment Yunzhou returns, I will have him divorce you!"

Qiao Yanxin sighed helplessly. "Grandma, can you stop being so unreasonable? Qiao Yunzhou clearly did something wrong. I know you’ve always been biased toward him, but how can you blame me for this? He was the one fooling around! If there’s going to be a divorce, I should be the one to ask for it!" Tears welled up in her eyes; she clearly felt deeply wronged.

Grandma’s chest heaved. "So that’s how you’ve always seen me. Let me ask you this: you keep saying Yunzhou cheated—did you catch him in bed with his mistress?"

"I didn't catch him in the act, but the neighbors said the man living there was named Qiao!"

"A man named Qiao, indeed! But Qiao Yanxin, do you know that even though Yunzhou bought a ticket to Xicheng, he never boarded that flight!"