Free Web NovelChapter 20: Chapter 20: A Life for a Life
Jiang Li looked at Qiao Siyuan with restraint. "Qiao Siyuan, you’ve really got some nerve.
"You were the one fooling around with your ’girl bro,’ and you even tried to use me as a shield. How can you be so shameless!"
A flash of embarrassment crossed Qiao Siyuan’s face, but he swallowed it down, remembering the reason he was here.
"Lili, I was wrong before, but are we really going to throw away ten years of history over one little thing?"
Qiao Siyuan grabbed Jiang Li’s hand. They had met in school and were supposed to get married right after graduation, but at the time, he’d truly just acted on a whim.
Who would have thought that while Jiang Li showed no emotion on the surface, she would end up running away on their wedding day and displaying photos of his affair on the big screen?
He and his entire family had been utterly humiliated in front of so many relatives. Afterward, he married his "girl bro," Wu Xueyan.
But then, half a month after Jiang Li left, Wu Xueyan got pregnant. The doctor said the child in her womb had Super-Male Syndrome.
His mother couldn’t bear the thought of her grandson being aborted and refused to allow it no matter what.
Later, she heard about some folk remedy from who-knows-where and came up with a plan to exchange one life for another.
A while ago, he learned that Jiang Li’s father had been arrested. With no family or relatives to support her, Jiang Li was the perfect target for them to make their move.
His mother had said that no matter what, they had to trick Jiang Li into coming back, get her pregnant with his child, and then use that baby to swap fates with the one in Xue Yan’s belly.
That way, they wouldn’t feel bad even if she really died.
"Jiang Li, I was wrong!"
THUD. Qiao Siyuan dropped to his knees in front of Jiang Li. Hearing the commotion, people from the neighborhood started to gather around.
A triumphant, sly glint appeared in Qiao Siyuan’s eyes. ’Jiang Li is terrified of crowds. When there are too many people, her mind just freezes up. I can use the chaos to drag her away.’
The crowd grew larger, and Jiang Li’s body suddenly tensed. Her mind went blank with a buzz.
As more and more people gathered, her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
A smile played on Qiao Siyuan’s lips as he stood up and gripped Jiang Li’s shoulders tightly.
"There, there, Lili. Let’s stop fighting."
"Why do young couples these days resort to kneeling every time they argue? What has the world come to?"
"Exactly. What parent would feel good seeing this?"
Jiang Li listened to the chatter of the residents behind her, then looked back at Qiao Siyuan.
"Fine. Why don’t we go back to my place and talk, okay?"
Conflict flickered in Qiao Siyuan’s eyes. ’If I go back with her, will she just beat me up again?’
He only dared to be so brazen because of the crowd.
A cold smirk touched Jiang Li’s lips. "What? Unwilling?"
Qiao Siyuan looked at Jiang Li and gritted his teeth. ’Dammit, why should I be afraid of this bitch!’
’Is a grown man like me really weaker than a woman?’
"Fine. Let’s go back and have a proper talk."
Amidst the pointing fingers and whispers of the onlookers, Qiao Siyuan followed Jiang Li back to her home.
Once inside, Qiao Siyuan looked around Jiang Li’s rented room with contempt. ’And here I thought she’d be doing so well without me. Turns out she’s just hiding in this tiny hole.’
"Lili, I’ve already kicked Wu Xueyan out. I’ll put the house in your name, too. Just come back to me, okay?"
Qiao Siyuan dropped his proud facade, humbly coaxing Jiang Li. ’It doesn’t matter whose name the house is in. I’ll just buy her an insurance policy later and list the child as the beneficiary.’
Jiang Li stared at the man before her, who seemed like a complete stranger. He was just like Zhao Qinghe—two-faced.
"Okay, sure. But you’ll have to wait for me to pack my things and terminate my lease."
Jiang Li forced a smile, suppressing the violent rage bubbling inside her.
Qiao Siyuan hadn’t expected Jiang Li to agree so quickly. He walked over happily.
Jiang Li took a step back in disgust. "You should go back first. I’ll contact you when I’m done packing. I’m going to call my landlord now to end the lease."
Jiang Li picked up her phone to call the landlord, but her gaze caught Qiao Siyuan’s smug, triumphant expression. She looked up at him.
"But I have one condition."
Qiao Siyuan’s face stiffened, but he quickly nodded again and again. "Okay, anything. I’ll agree to any condition you have."
Jiang Li tightened her grip on her phone, her eyes sharp as she stared at him. "Delete those videos and photos."
Qiao Siyuan froze, a little reluctant. After all, that was the only leverage he had over Jiang Li.
"You’re not even willing to do that? How can I believe you really want me to come back with you? Qiao Siyuan, are you and your family planning some other disgusting scheme?"
Qiao Siyuan’s heart trembled. It had taken a lot for him to go along with his mother’s plan, and now that Jiang Li had called him out, he felt a little unnerved.
He quickly composed his chaotic emotions.
"Lili, how could that be? I’ve already sent my mom back to the countryside. No one will bother us then."
As he spoke, Qiao Siyuan reached for Jiang Li’s hand again. To be honest, even after all the years they’d known each other, they had never... done *it*.
Wu Xueyan was pregnant now, and he had been holding back for several months...
"I want to watch you delete them myself. Otherwise, I’ll call the police and tell them you kidnapped me."
Her words instantly shattered the thoughts in his head. "Fine, fine, fine! I’ll delete them, okay? I’ll do it!"
’Anyway, once she comes back with me, she’ll be mine. It won’t make a difference waiting a little longer.’
Jiang Li watched as Qiao Siyuan opened a private album on his phone, revealing a mess of sordid videos and photos.
Qiao Siyuan deliberately slowed his scrolling.
Jiang Li’s breathing grew ragged, a crimson fury churning in her eyes. Reason and impulse battled in her mind.
Her breathing only began to steady after Qiao Siyuan tapped the delete button. "The Recently Deleted album," she added.
Qiao Siyuan deleted them quickly. ’It doesn’t matter,’ he thought. ’I have backups on my computer. With stuff this good, of course I’d make a few extra copies.’
Of course, Jiang Li knew Qiao Siyuan must have another trick up his sleeve, but sooner or later, she would make him face the consequences of his actions.
"There, Lili."
Jiang Li dialed her landlord’s number, and a short while later, the landlord arrived at the door.
Seeing that she wasn’t bluffing, Qiao Siyuan couldn’t be bothered to wait around any longer and headed back to his hotel.
Jiang Li packed up her belongings, called a moving company, and three hours later, she left the place for good.
Lu Xingye had just returned from the police station when he saw the moving truck parked downstairs. A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes.
’I didn’t expect her to move so fast.’
"Jiang Li, I thought it would take you a few more days." Lu Xingye strode over and took the box from her hands.
"Thank you."
Jiang Li didn’t have many possessions. She hated moving and couldn’t be bothered to accumulate things, so the process was over quickly.
Stepping into her new home, Jiang Li looked at the warm, gentle decor and felt much better.
"Since it’s just you, you can do whatever you want with the other room. If you need any help, just let me know. My sister is still on vacation, so if anything comes up, you can go next door and get her."
Lu Xingye said as he walked in and saw Jiang Li staring blankly into space.
"Okay."
Jiang Li sat down on the sofa and, once again, found herself involuntarily zoning out.
Seeing her like this, Lu Xingye keenly sensed that she wasn’t happy.
"Did your ex-boyfriend come looking for you again? Need any help?"
Jiang Li stirred and looked up at him. "No, thank you."
Lu Xingye was about to say something else when the phone in his pocket rang.
He answered. "Okay, I’m on my way."
After hanging up, Lu Xingye looked at Jiang Li. "Zhao Shuo said he found the video of the lychee wine."
