Chapter 26 - 26: Thrilling

Words : 1421 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Thrilling Shen Manru frowned imperceptibly. What was going on tonight? Xiao Yu had come home and greeted her, only to rush off to the Bai family again. And her complexion looked rather poor. Her son hadn’t come back with Qiaoqiao—what exactly had happened? Then there was the matter of her son’s heroic act. Though such conduct was commendable, as it concerned her own son, even knowing he was skilled, Shen Manru still felt afraid. Gu Qiaoqiao obviously had no intention to spare a thought for Shen Manru’s feelings. She nodded to Chu Chengfeng and then retreated to her room. As for Chu Chengfeng, he was acquainted with both Mr. Qin and Mother Qin, so there was no need for her to play hostess. Gu Qiaoqiao entered the bathroom, treated the bloodstains on her down jacket, wiped it again with clean water, and then hung it on the balcony of the small living room. The night had been chilling and harrowing. After washing up, Gu Qiaoqiao sat on the sofa and began to dry her hair, thinking that Bai Yun next door must be cursing her with the most venomous words at this moment. She might even be pondering some scheme to deal with her. Meanwhile, next door at the Bai family, Bai Yun hid in the bathroom, recalling everything from the evening, her pretended indifference now turned to hatred. “That bitch, it must have been her sabotage, she’s become so scheming these days; surely she switched the orange juice tonight,” Bai Yun muttered fiercely, clenching her fists. “Gu Qiaoqiao, I’ll make you wish you were dead, at any cost!” Outside, after hearing Qin Xiaoyu and Zhu Jianguo’s account, Mrs. Bai’s face turned dark with anger. She sent Zhu Jianguo away and, simmering with rage, told Qin Xiaoyu to go home immediately. She glanced at the closed bathroom door, grinding her teeth in fury. Her beautiful and gentle daughter had never been so humiliated all her life. How dare that country bumpkin, brought home by the Qin family, have the gall to splash her daughter with cold water? And to use so many shameless excuses to justify it. She was determined to make Shen Manru explain herself. Her daughter’s setback couldn’t just be overlooked! With these thoughts, she felt exasperated again and spoke sternly towards the bathroom, “How many times have I told you, that daughter-in-law of the Qin family is uneducated and uncultured. Being always around her, you were bound to get dragged down eventually…” “…” Bai Yun didn’t respond. “Xiao Yun, tomorrow mother will go to the Qin family to seek justice for you. I’ll make sure that Gu Qiaoqiao apologizes to you, or else, she won’t get away with it.” “Mom, let me be alone for a while…” Bai Yun choked out in a low growl. Mrs. Bai paused, hearing her daughter’s sobs decided to hold her peace. She angrily took a seat on the sofa. Father Bai glanced at his wife and said discontentedly, “How can you say it’s Gu Qiaoqiao who led Xiao Yun astray? Didn’t Jianguo say that Xiao Yun got drunk because she mistook brandy for water? I’m telling you, we have to consider the owner before beating the dog. Even if the Qin family doesn’t like this daughter-in-law, she’s still part of their family. You are forbidden to go there tomorrow, don’t ruin the festive mood over the New Year.” “But they can’t just drench my daughter in red wine and water! I can’t swallow this anger. Let me tell you, Father Bai, if you dare to stop me, this isn’t over,” she retorted. “You…” Father Bai was left speechless. Yet deep down, he too felt that Gu Qiaoqiao had gone too far. There were many other ways to sober someone up; it shouldn’t have involved red wine and cold water. He frowned but said no more. This night was destined to be restless. In the hospital, Qin Yize was sitting in a chair in the corridor, looking down at the bloodstains on his clothes, his distant brows slightly knit together. The Gu Qiaoqiao of today had been full of surprises. Upon reflection, the current Gu Qiaoqiao seemed completely different from the one he had met after returning from the research base. Could just a week’s time lead to such a drastic change in a person? It was somewhat inconceivable. However, Qin Yize had a sharp intuition that ever since the collision on New Year’s Eve, this Gu Qiaoqiao seemed as if she had come to a profound realization. If that was indeed the case, he thought, it might not be a bad thing. Qin Yize stood up, looking at the emergency room door, but his mind couldn’t help recalling the words Chu Chengfeng had said to him. Although not comprehensive, there were too many doubts. He knew what Bai Yun was thinking, but he had no feelings for her, so he seldom talked to her. But, after all, they were neighbors, even more familiar with him than his classmates. So, how could Bai Yun have mistaken Zhu Jianguo for him? Therefore, the question arose. Obviously, the brandy Zhu Jianguo spoke of must have been drunk before the mistake was made—she clearly knew it was Zhu Jianguo, so why did she tell Gu Qiaoqiao that it was him, Qin Yize? Qin Yize’s handsome features gradually took on a layer of frost. His good-looking, thin lips formed a cold curve. Searᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, the snow outside the window grew heavier. Gu Qiaoqiao finished drying her hair, feeling refreshed, yet she also knew that tonight’s incident was something Bai Yun might not be willing to suffer in silence. She could imagine the crazy revenge Bai Yun would take, and Bai Yun’s mother would also come to the Qin Family to settle the score with her. Gu Qiaoqiao smiled indifferently, even feeling somewhat eager to try. If in this new life she still let Bai Yun bully and frame her, then she really was beyond help. Gu Qiaoqiao stood up and went to her wardrobe. She opened the innermost drawer. Looking at the familiar little leather case, her eyes inevitably misted over. She opened the secret latch of the case, inside which lay a neat row of carving knives. Under the dim yellow desk lamp, they emitted a chilling glint. But to Gu Qiaoqiao, they felt exceedingly warm. These were the carving tools left to her by her grandfather, said to be over two hundred years old. In her past life, she had lost them, and by the time she remembered, she couldn’t even enter the Qin Family’s door, nor was it possible for her to meet the Qin Family members. On the third day after her rebirth, while organizing her clothing, she discovered this leather case. Looking at the familiar yet strange carving knives, Gu Qiaoqiao took a deep breath and closed the case. She carefully placed it back in the drawer. This was something her grandfather left her, and also the capital for her future livelihood. In this life, she would never lose it again. Gu Qiaoqiao stood up, looking at those unbearable clothes, truly wanting to drag Bai Yun over and give her a good beating. All these clothes were ones Bai Yun had persuaded her to buy. A lot of money had been spent, but few items were wearable. Yet, they had used up all her dowry money. In just half a year. During the engagement, the Qin Family had given her five thousand yuan as a betrothal gift. Then her parents added another thousand yuan, totaling six thousand yuan, all for her dowry. And that one thousand yuan was all of the Gu Family’s savings, just so she wouldn’t be mistreated by the Qin Family. In 1986, her father’s salary was only seventy-five yuan, and a steamed bun cost just three cents… Gu Qiaoqiao slapped herself. Angry at herself, and at Bai Yun. After a trip to the foreign trade store, she had spent two thousand yuan. She bought a white imported coat that was a size too large, yet Bai Yun couldn’t stop praising it. Later, when she went out with Bai Yun, the coat got splashed with red paint, and Bai Yun ended up laughing and saying, “Out with the old, in with the new,” then persuaded her to throw it away.

Chapter 26 - 26: Thrilling

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