Chapter 18: A Death Deserved

Upon hearing this, Grandma Qiao’s face was filled with shock.
“When did he come? How come I didn’t know?”
Qiao Yanxin suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of anxiety.
“Grandma, did he really not come to see you?”
Grandma Qiao began coughing uncontrollably again. “How could I not know if Yunzhou came or not! I thought he came with you. Where is Yunzhou? Where has he gone?”
The Qiao family members exchanged glances, all tacitly choosing to remain silent.
Yunzhou had been missing for quite some time now; it was best not to let the elderly lady know about it.
Her health was already fragile; if she were to be further distressed, who could say what might happen?
Qiao’s mother stepped forward, helping Grandma Qiao sit up in bed and tucked the blanket neatly around her.
“Mom, don’t worry. Yunzhou went to prepare a birthday gift for you. Today is your sixtieth birthday after all—he wouldn’t miss it!”
“Really?”
Grandma Qiao looked skeptical, clearly not fully trusting the family’s words.
“Of course it’s true.”
Qiao’s mother nodded, then urged everyone to leave quickly to give the elderly lady some privacy.
Qiao Yanxin pressed her lips together and stepped out of the room.
No sooner had she passed through the door than a sharp slap landed on her cheek.
She held her face in disbelief and looked toward her father.
His face was dark as iron, chest rising and falling heavily—he was clearly furious.
“How many times have I told you? Do you just ignore what I say?!”
He shot a hostile glance toward Gu Tingchu, who stood nearby.
Qiao Yanxin felt powerless. “Dad, it’s Grandma’s sixtieth birthday today. Many people have come, and Tingchu only wanted to wish her well out of kindness. What’s wrong with that?”
“Wrong? You actually have the nerve to ask me what’s wrong?!”
With many people around, Qiao’s father couldn’t say everything outright, so he merely gave Qiao Yanxin a sharp glare.
“Remember what I told you. I’m telling you, those things are your own business. Think carefully about what you should do!”
Though his words were veiled, Qiao Yanxin understood perfectly.
She knew he was referring to what had been said the previous night.
Today was Grandma’s sixtieth birthday; Gu Tingchu’s presence would inevitably upset her.
Although Grandma Qiao didn’t hold as much authority as Grandpa Qiao, if she grew to resent Qiao Yanxin, inheriting the family estate would be fraught with difficulty.

Qiao Yanxin pressed her lips but said nothing.
“I understand, Dad. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Hearing this, her father said no more.
As long as Qiao Yanxin had a clear understanding, that was enough.
After everyone else had left, only Qiao Yanxin and Gu Tingchu remained.
Worry was etched all over Gu Tingchu’s face. He approached Qiao Yanxin apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Yanxin. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. If I’d known Grandma wouldn’t welcome me, I wouldn’t have come.”
Qiao Yanxin sighed deeply, a profound sense of helplessness swelling within her.
“It’s nothing. It’s not your fault.”
“If anyone’s to blame, it’s Yunzhou. Where on earth has he gone? Today’s Grandma’s birthday, and he didn’t even show up!”
Her anger grew with every word, as if she wanted to drag Yunzhou back immediately.
Upon hearing this, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly, unsure of what to say.
After all, today was Grandma’s birthday. What did Gu Tingchu have to do with anything?
He wasn’t even part of the Qiao family, and his family had little influence. Knowing Grandma didn’t like him, why did he come?
And now Qiao Yanxin was blaming me for it.
Who am I supposed to reason with?
Gu Tingchu’s face briefly revealed a sly grin before he quickly masked it.
Feigning sadness, he said, “It’s okay. It’s not Yunzhou’s fault; it’s mine for coming.”
“I’m leaving. I won’t be so presumptuous again.”
With that, Gu Tingchu ignored Qiao Yanxin’s attempts to stop him and left the Qiao residence.
One must admit, Gu Tingchu knew how to retreat tactfully.
He understood his current position was awkward and that staying longer might only deepen Qiao Yanxin’s resentment.
By leaving now, Qiao Yanxin would likely feel guilty and sorry for him.
At the same time, he could effortlessly earn some goodwill.
I couldn’t help but admire Gu Tingchu’s skillful tactics.
Yet such methods were better suited to more honorable paths.
Just as Qiao Yanxin was about to leave, she suddenly remembered she hadn’t given Grandma her birthday gift.
Returning to the room, she found the door slightly ajar.
Through the crack, I clearly saw Grandma Qiao sitting on the bed, holding a photograph and quietly shedding tears.

That photo was taken with me and Grandma Qiao together—I hadn’t expected she still kept it.
She looked at it while wiping her tears.
After a while, she instructed the servant beside her, “Go check for me. See if Yunzhou has come back.”
The servant hurriedly replied, “Don’t be too sad. Young Master Qiao surely wouldn’t want to see you upset.”
“That’s true, that’s true.”
Grandma Qiao wiped away the tears from her face.
“I almost forgot, Yunzhou has depression. If he sees me crying, it might upset him again. I mustn’t cry.”
Watching my frail grandmother sitting on the bed, my eyes involuntarily welled with tears.
I wanted to cry, to scream out loud, but now I was just a spirit—I couldn’t even do such a simple thing.
“Grandma, I’m sorry. I can’t stay with you anymore.”
My heart felt as if it were being torn apart, the pain nearly suffocating me.
I hated it—I hated that I had done nothing wrong, yet I was killed, and those who harmed me roamed free.
I had so much to do, so many people I wanted to be with, but now I could do none of it because I was dead.
Qiao Yanxin stood awkwardly at the door, unsure whether to enter or leave.
Grandma inside noticed the movement.
“Who is at the door?”
Qiao Yanxin had no choice but to step inside.
“Grandma, it’s me.”
“Why are you here again?!”
Grandma Qiao’s face was full of anger.
“Get out. I don’t want to see you!”
Qiao Yanxin lowered her head, her face filled with helplessness.
“Grandma, I was wrong before, but I’ve changed. I would never do such things again. Please believe me.”
Hearing this, Grandma Qiao snorted in disdain.
“What reason do I have to believe you?”
Qiao Yanxin immediately raised three fingers. “I swear, Grandma. I’ll swear on anything if it will make you believe me.”
Grandma Qiao narrowed her eyes, a fierce gleam flashing in them.
“If I make you swear, and if you ever dare to betray Yunzhou again, may you have no descendants and die a miserable death. Would you still dare to swear?”