Chapter 35: Heartless Dead Man

Qiao An revealed his hypocritical true colors. “Li Zecheng, you don’t want me to come back, right? You’re afraid that I’ll come home and expose your scandal with Wei Xin in front of everyone, right?”

What Li Zecheng was afraid of came true. He was indeed worried that Qiao An would come home to complain to the Old Master today, so he wasn’t prepared to bring Qiao An back at all.

“An’an, this is a family gathering. If Grandpa finds out about our argument, he will definitely be furious. At that time, he will weaken my shares, which will be a huge loss for our small family. I think you don’t want me to be ostracized in the Li family, right?” Li Zecheng said to Qiao An.

Qiao An pulled her hand away and looked at him with extreme indifference. She smiled bitterly and said, “What does it have to do with me? Li Zecheng, don’t forget that no matter how much money you earn, it doesn’t enter my pocket. I’m not obligated to act with you for free.”

Li Zecheng’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “Qiao An, don’t you just want money? As long as you perform well tonight, I’ll give you as much money as you want.”

What he said only made Qiao An regard him with more disdain.

“No thanks.”

Qiao An quickly slid forward, only wanting to shake off the disgusting Li Zecheng.

Li Zecheng suddenly called out to her coldly, “Qiao An.”

He caught up with her, stalling her wheelchair. Jo Ann was forced to stop moving forward.

Li Zecheng wheeled Qiao An into the living room.

When his uncles, aunts, and siblings saw Li Zecheng enter, they all looked at him with admiration.

Li Xiaoran sat beside the old man and saw Qiao An and Li Zecheng enter. His gaze landed on Li Zecheng’s hand on Qiao An’s shoulder. Li Xiaoran’s eyes darkened and he lowered his head to play with his phone.

“Oh, An’an is back?” The old man was unusually excited to see An’an.

“Hello, Grandpa.” Qiao An bowed to the old man.

She used to be a girl with a sweet smile, but now her expression was gloomy.

Even the most obtuse person could sense the change in Qiao An.

Li Zecheng held Qiao An’s hand tightly and said with a doting smile, “An’an, Grandpa has been looking forward to your return. But I’m worried that you won’t recover well, so I haven’t been able to fulfill Grandpa’s wish. You have to have a good conversation with Grandpa today.”

Qiao An understood what Li Zecheng meant. He wanted her to put in a good word for him like before. To win the old man’s favor.

After he betrayed her, he still had the cheek to expect her to do all these. Did he want her to act out the real-life story of the farmer and the snake?

Qiao An ignored Li Zecheng and pushed the wheelchair to the side. This position was very far from the Old Master, but very close to Li Xiaoran.

After being neglected by Qiao An, Li Zecheng looked very embarrassed.

That night, Qiao An became unusually quiet. The old man chatted with his sons while the old lady chatted with her daughters-in-law. What seemed like a harmonious scene was actually a scene of swords and crossbows being drawn, each room doing everything they could to please the old man and the old lady.

Li Zecheng was left hanging at the side, unable to interrupt. Qiao An was unwilling to help him, and this made him very unhappy.

Li Xiaoran looked at the gloomy Qiao An and tried to tease her. “Did the sun rise from the west this year? Why aren’t you showing off your love to my eldest nephew?”

Qiao An rolled her eyes at him. “Haven’t you heard that public displays of affection die quickly?”

Li Xiaoran said, “Just as well. Or it’ll be awkward for singletons like me.”

Qiao An said, “Why didn’t you bring your love-struck junior home?”

Li Xiaoran said, “Do you think she’s worthy of a man like me?”

Jo Ann said, “That’s true. It’s better for her to stay away from you.”

Li Xiaoran was speechless.

During the banquet, Qiao An did not sit with Li Zecheng. Instead, she sat beside Li Xiaoran’s sister, Li Tingting.

They were about the same age and had a deeper relationship than the others.

Li Tingting whispered to Qiao An, “An’an, why don’t you sit with Li Zecheng today? Look, if you don’t control him, he’ll drink with my brother.”

Qiao An looked in Li Zecheng’s direction. As expected, Li Zecheng and Li Xiaoran started drinking for some reason.

The two of them were extremely excited.

Usually, when siblings were happy, they would compete in drinking. However, Qiao An used to shield Li Zecheng to prevent him from drinking too much.

At that time, the Old Master was always gratified to see that Qiao An and Li Zecheng’s relationship was so harmonious.

But today, Qiao An no longer wanted to love Li Zecheng. It didn’t matter if he died from drinking. What did it have to do with her?

Qiao An looked away and took her time eating.

Little did they know that the old man and the other relatives were looking at Qiao An meaningfully. The reason for her fall was already unbelievable. Although Li Zecheng had once explained that Qiao An’s fall was forced by the kidnappers and dispelled the concerns of her relatives and friends, everyone felt cold when they saw Qiao An’s indifference to Li Zecheng today.

Li Zecheng’s mother, the Third Madam, was also a shrewd and capable woman. In order to dispel these people’s speculations, she suddenly instructed Qiao An, “An’an, look, Zecheng has drunk so much. He should be drunk. Go and tell him. He listens to you the most.”

Qiao An only replied lightly, “He’s enjoying a drink with his uncle. Why spoil it for him?”

The Third Madam’s expression turned cold. She looked at Qiao An in confusion. She no longer saw Qiao An’s submissive attitude towards her. She also didn’t see Qiao An’s concern for Li Zecheng. The Third Madam’s hands were clenched tightly in her sleeves.

“Qiao An, just do as you’re told. How can Zecheng drink so much?” Third Madam’s voice turned cold.

Qiao Anhao sighed helplessly. She wheeled herself towards Li Zecheng.

Li Zecheng and Li Xiaoran were already drunk. Li Xiaoran’s face was flushed, and his slender eyebrows were like the stamens on a lotus flower reflecting the sun, exuding a peerless charm.

Meanwhile, Li Zecheng’s face was pale, and so were his lips. He looked like a heartless dead man.

Li Zecheng and Li Xiaoran both looked at Qiao An. Li Zecheng smiled like a child and pulled Qiao An’s hand. “Honey, I’ll drink more.”

Qiao An sneered. What a show of affection.

Qiao An pulled her hand away. “Drink, then,” she said coolly.

Qiao An took the initiative to refill Li Zecheng’s glass with high-purity white wine.

Li Zecheng stared blankly at Qiao An. He could not drink anymore. At this moment, his stomach was burning with pain. He had thought that Qiao An was here to save him, but he did not expect her to push him into a fire pit.

Li Xiaoran said drunkenly, “Qiao An, you’re too boring. Every time I drink with Zecheng, you come out to stop us. You’re a killjoy.”