Chapter 4: The Scoundrels

“Yan Xin.”

The person who came in was Gu Tingchu.

The moment I saw Gu Tingchu, my mind went completely blank.

How could he possibly have the password to the bridal chamber shared by me and Qiao Yanxin?

Or could it be... Qiao Yanxin had even told him this?

A bitter smile curled on my lips. In a daze, I felt I no longer had the strength to even feel heartache.

As soon as Gu Tingchu entered, he sat right beside Qiao Yanxin.

The distance between them was very close, and perhaps sensing Qiao Yanxin’s bad mood, Gu Tingchu gently pulled her into his arms in an understanding manner.

“Yanxin, what’s wrong? Are you still troubled by the disappearance of Brother Qiao Yunzhou?”

Qiao Yanxin pressed her lips tightly, her frustration nearly spilling over her face.

“I could overlook the previous minor quarrels, but this time he really crossed the line—pretending to be dead was bad enough, but now so much time has passed and he still hasn’t come home?”

“If he has the guts, he might as well never come back!”

Her tone was cold and harsh. I knew she was serious—she really wanted to drive me out of the Qiao family.

“Too bad,” I sneered bitterly, “I’m already dead, so her words can’t threaten anyone.”

Hearing Qiao Yanxin mention my death, Gu Tingchu’s expression changed strangely for a moment.

But soon after, he composed himself again.

Turning his head, he gazed at the giant wedding photo in the room, squinting and shifting his eyes.

“Yanxin, I recently changed jobs nearby. Can I stay in this room? The house is empty anyway, and if I live here, I won’t have to waste extra money.”

“Or, Yanxin, you could live here with me.”

As Gu Tingchu spoke, he even playfully winked.

Hearing Gu Tingchu’s words, my eyes blazed with fury, and with all my might I shouted at the two of them, “Get out! You two damn scoundrels, get out! How dare you live in my house?!”

This house was bought by Qiao Yanxin and me together. Even though I’m dead now, I won’t let anyone else profit from it!

But unfortunately, as a spirit, no matter how hard I tried, no one could hear what I said.

I never imagined Gu Tingchu could be so shameless as to make such a request!

Qiao Yanxin looked at him in surprise upon hearing this.

Then she refused his request.

“Tingchu, this is, after all, the bridal chamber of me and Qiao Yunzhou. You know how meticulous he is—if he comes back and finds someone else has stayed here, who knows what kind of temper he’ll throw.”

I have several properties nearby. I’ll have Secretary Zhang send you some listings later; you can pick one you like to live in.”

With that, she stood up and straightened her clothes.

“I have to go now; there’s work at the company. You should leave early too.”

Qiao Yanxin got up, and I had no choice but to follow her.

Thankfully, I could move my body freely.

I glanced back, curious to see Gu Tingchu’s reaction.

His gaze was dark and fierce, unblinking as he stared at Qiao Yanxin’s retreating figure, muttering to himself,

“What a pity. He’ll never come back.”

“What does he mean by that?!”

My eyes widened instantly. Although Qiao Yanxin couldn’t hear the words, I could read her lips well enough.

Could it be that my death was actually related to Gu Tingchu?

But that seemed impossible—I was dragged away by that deranged serial killer. Gu Tingchu was never seen at the scene. How could it have been him?

Yet, if it wasn’t him, how did he know I was already dead?

My death must be connected to him!

Even if he didn’t do it himself, he must have been the one orchestrating it behind the scenes.

Thinking this, I wished I could rush over and demand his life!

Sadly, real life isn’t like TV dramas. I could only follow beside Qiao Yanxin, helplessly watching Gu Tingchu grow farther and farther away until he vanished from sight.

Qiao Yanxin said she had company business, but after reaching downstairs and getting into the car, she didn’t start the engine immediately to head to the office.

Her gaze fixed intently on a safety charm hanging on the car roof.

I remembered that charm—it was one I had sought for her years ago.

Back then, Gu Tingchu hadn’t yet appeared, and my relationship with Qiao Yanxin wasn’t as fraught as it is now.

She had happily hung the charm on her car.

Even after switching many cars, that charm remained there.

Seeing Qiao Yanxin lost in thought, my heart remained utterly unmoved.

When I was alive, her treatment of me was so cold, and now, looking at this keepsake, she was nostalgic.

Why didn’t she do this sooner?

After a while, the car started moving.

I sat in the passenger seat, my mind replaying the events before my death.

Was that twisted killer someone Gu Tingchu had paid to come after me?

This thought felt odd.

The murderer had been imprisoned because of me. If released, he would likely seek revenge. That was undeniable.

Gu Tingchu had no reason to pay him to kill me.

That would only increase his own risk of getting caught. If the killer was apprehended, Gu Tingchu would be implicated too.

Could it be possible that Gu Tingchu actually knew the killer beforehand?

Lost in thought, I failed to notice Qiao Yanxin had driven to a familiar place.

Back in the outskirts, to this desolate patch of land, my feelings churned.

It was here that the killer had dragged me away.

I didn’t understand why Qiao Yanxin had come to this bleak wasteland on such a cold day.

A small area of the land where my remains hadn’t been found was cordoned off by the police.

Qiao Yanxin pursed her lips, silent, staring blankly at that spot.

Uncontrollably, I recalled the feelings of being dragged away.

At that moment, I had made one last call to Qiao Yanxin but was abruptly hung up on.

Of course, I wasn’t without hatred, but more than hatred, there was regret.

After all this time, the two of us were finally about to marry, and yet I was killed just days before the wedding.

I was unwilling to accept it.

My feelings for Qiao Yanxin over so many years couldn’t be severed overnight.

Even though she, with Gu Tingchu, had caused me so much humiliation, I still held a sliver of hope for her.

But now, I was completely disheartened.

Between her and Gu Tingchu, she ultimately chose Gu Tingchu.

So my death might not be a punishment for Qiao Yanxin, but for me, it was a release.

I didn’t know exactly how I died. Death was recent, but I could not recall any pain.

“Auntie, why are you here?”