Chapter 52: Qiao Yunzhou, Please Come Back

Although I had completely given up on Mother Qiao, hearing such words so abruptly still made my eyes widen in disbelief.

What did she just say?

For a fleeting moment, I doubted my own ears. She actually wanted Gu Tingchu to be her son.

Then what about me? What was I to her?

"Hahahahahahaha."

I laughed uncontrollably. I laughed at my own foolishness for mistaking such a person for close family, and I laughed even more at my own uselessness—even as they subjected me to such humiliation, I was completely powerless.

I could only watch with my own eyes as these two people performed a scene of deep filial affection and maternal love right in front of me.

But Mother, have you forgotten?

You forgot that your own son has been missing for so long, and instead of thinking about how to find me, you wish how wonderful it would be if someone else were your son.

As I laughed, a sudden urge to cry welled up in my heart.

Yet now, I wasn't even capable of crying out loud.

Before me, the two of them presented a picture of perfect maternal harmony and filial piety. Gu Tingchu wore an expression of being delightfully surprised. "Auntie, look at what you're saying. It is my honor to be your son, and if it's possible, I naturally wish to be your son as well."

Mother Qiao beamed from ear to ear. "With someone as outstanding as you, whoever gets to be your mother is truly blessed."

These words almost made me laugh in exasperation. Mother Qiao truly didn't even need to draft her lies beforehand.

Gu Tingchu was outstanding?

I had no idea what was supposedly outstanding about him. Could it be attending a third-rate university, and after graduation, staying at home living off his parents, or lingering around Qiao Yanxin?

The only achievement he could possibly claim was the title of "CH", but even that moniker was stolen from me, and his art exhibition was put on using my stolen paintings.

Gu Tingchu put on a look of apprehension. "Auntie, please don't say that. If Yunzhou ever comes back and finds out, he'll definitely be heartbroken."

Mother Qiao let out a disdainful, cold laugh. "What does he have to be heartbroken about? He left home for so many days without saying a word and refuses to return—does he even have the face to feel heartbroken? When he left, why didn't he ever think of us?"

Gu Tingchu lowered his head, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upward into a tiny arc.

In his eyes, there was clearly nothing but calculation!

Furthermore, when Mother Qiao went to demand shares from Grandmother, it was he who had instigated it!

The Qiao family had known for a very long time that Grandmother held shares.

Yet they had never entertained such thoughts before, nor had they ever thought of asking Grandmother for those shares.

So why, out of the blue, were they demanding shares from Grandmother now?

I found it somewhat difficult to understand. He could already be considered successful with a flourishing career, and Qiao Yanxin adored him boundlessly. He had whatever he could possibly want; why would he stir up so many complicated plots?

I had originally thought that my death was because I stood in Gu Tingchu's way, because he liked Qiao Yanxin and I was occupying his place.

But looking at it now, that didn't seem to be the case at all.

I had originally thought my death was the end of everything.

However, Gu Tingchu's ultimate goal might go far beyond my death!

It seemed he was brewing an even greater storm.

I couldn't help wondering: was there someone standing behind Gu Tingchu?

Could all these intricate schemes really have been orchestrated by him alone?

What he was aiming for was likely connected to the Qiao family.

I knitted my brows, casting a probing gaze at Gu Tingchu sitting on the sofa.

Gu Tingchu, what on earth are you trying to do?

Unwilling to keep watching this sickening display of familial harmony, I uneasily retreated from the Qiao residence.

Inside the Qiao house, the only remnants of my corpse were probably those two cremation urns.

Now, I wanted to find the remaining parts of my body.

When I had seen that piece of amber earlier, I noticed with sharp eyes that the part where my face should have been was completely empty.

Replaced in its stead was a blurred piece of white cloth.

My facial skin had been made into a human skin mask, but what about the rest?

Where were my eyes?

Within that piece of amber, the area that clearly belonged to my eyes was completely vacant.

Where were my eyes?

Closing my eyes, I exerted my will and focused my thoughts.

A short moment later, I found myself appearing in a familiar place.

Gazing at the intimately familiar flowers, trees, and plants before me, my eyes widened slightly.

Was this... the marital home I shared with Qiao Yanxin?!

No, why would I be here?

How could my corpse be here?

Could those people be so audacious as to have buried the final parts of my corpse right here?

The interior design and decoration of our marital home had been handled entirely by me. I had poured immense effort into it, staying here and guarding the process almost every single moment, so I was certain that no one could have tampered with anything under my nose.

Then where would the rest of my body parts be placed?

I suddenly thought of the front courtyard where I used to plant flowers and vegetation—that area had fertile soil. Could the remaining parts of my body be buried in the dirt?

The more I thought about it, the more highly probable it seemed.

I took a deep breath and rushed straight to the front courtyard.

The weather today was bad; whether Nancheng had entered the rainy season or not, the torrential downpour had continued for days without stopping.

Today's rain was exceptionally heavy, and the wind blew incessantly, causing the landscape trees to sway uncertainly under the fierce gusts.

Suddenly, a terrifying crack of thunder exploded across the sky.

I jumped in fright, but at that exact moment, I noticed that something new had been added to the front porch.

The object was covered with a layer of black fabric, looking like a clawing monster in the darkness.

I stared at the thing with a mixture of apprehension and suspicion, my expression deeply doubtful.

What on earth was this?

Could it be a new potted plant Qiao Yanxin had bought?

The object seemed about as tall as me, perhaps half a head taller.

Looking at this object before me, the sense of unease in my heart grew increasingly intense.

Subconsciously, I reached out my hand, wanting to pull away the black cloth draped over it, but my outstretched hand simply passed right through the dark silhouette.

I couldn't help letting out a wry laugh.

I almost forgot—I am merely a soul now, completely incapable of touching anything.

I could only watch helplessly as the torrential rain beat down on the black fabric and then splashed away.

After waiting for a long time without discovering anything, I had no choice but to return to Qiao Yanxin's side.

At this moment, Qiao Yanxin had just finished showering, wearing a bathrobe as she lay on the bed. The mobile phone on the bedside table was vibrating incessantly.

I stepped closer to look—the call was from Gu Tingchu.

Qiao Yanxin didn't move, acting as though she hadn't heard the ringing at all.

How strange.

Whenever we were together, no matter what time Gu Tingchu called, she would answer without the slightest hesitation. Why now, instead, was she unwilling to answer?

Qiao Yanxin stared blankly at the ceiling, and a moment later, a few tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.

"Qiao Yun州, please come back."