Page 85

It was precisely because they were worried that Candy couldn't handle it alone that they all followed.

If not now, then when should he take credit?

By taking credit, perhaps he could even get a discount on buying talismans in the future.

Doris screamed beside them, and Shi Boren glared at her fiercely. "Scream again? Do you believe I'll stuff my old socks into your mouth?"

Doris, frightened, retreated into the house.

Meng Zhou recalled Zhou Fengxu's persistent pleas. "Brother Xu, I know you're the star of the serious crimes unit, but I've never committed any crimes. Have you got the wrong person?"

"You haven't committed any crimes, but as for the rest..." Zhou Fengxu held the man, his gaze turning to Chu Yuening. "You'd have to ask her to be sure."

Meng Zhou looked at Chu Yuening, confirming that he didn't recognize her. With a mournful expression, he asked, "You're beautiful, but I would definitely remember if I had slept with someone. What's going on here, sister?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Meng Zhou was thrown into the back seat, followed by the sound of his body hitting hard metal and another scream.

Zhou Fengxu opened the passenger door and got in.

Shi Boren grabbed the car keys and settled into the driver's seat. Gan Yizu opened the door for Chu Yuening before taking a seat in the middle, creating a buffer between Meng Zhou.

Observing Shi Boren speed off with a sudden acceleration, Meng Zhou pleaded, "Sir, it's a new car. Please be careful."

"A new car?" Shi Boren slammed on the brakes, causing the rear of the vehicle to collide with the wall in frustration. "Is it really necessary for me to be here, attracting mosquitoes in the middle of the night?"

Chu Yuening noticed the camera and peered at the house. She then tapped the person in the passenger seat and asked, "Could you help take pictures of the furniture arrangement inside the house?"

The person in the passenger seat remained silent.

As Chu Yuening assumed that the other party was unwilling, she was just about to step out of the car to capture the moment with her camera. However, the passenger in the front seat reached out with an elongated arm to grab the silver compact camera beside the gearshift, then gracefully stepped out with his long legs.

Shi Boren silently gave Chu Yuening a thumbs up. "No one has ever bossed around Brother Xu before. Well played, sis."

Moments later, the rear window rolled down.

Zhou Fengxu examined the camera, then closed the screen and handed it back to her. "That should do it."

"Indeed, the setup here is identical to that of our living room at home."

After watching the video from the camera, Mrs. Qiao could hardly believe her eyes. She pulled Meng Zhou, who was kneeling on the ground, and sternly interrogated him, "Why? I've always treated you like my own child. Why did you do this to Ziyuan while he was in bed?"

Meng Zhou, not expecting to end up in the hospital, remained silent as he knelt on the floor.

Disappointed, Qiao Tianxin shook his head. "Day and night, we guard against outsiders, but it's the thief within the household that's hardest to protect against."

Turning to Chu Yuening, Qiao Tianxin continued, "Master Chu, why does Meng Zhou's house have the same layout as ours? What on earth is he trying to achieve?"

"Swapping life trajectories," Chu Yuening said, removing the red string with a copper coin from Meng Zhou's wrist without regard for his cries of pain. She flipped the coin to reveal its inner side, which was engraved with a row of black characters under the light. "These are Ziyuan's birth details. Although they were born in the same year and month, their birth times differ. The time indicated here is Ziyuan's."

"Swapping life trajectories," Chu Yuening explained. "By changing names and duplicating the layout, one initially imitates the other's life. Eventually, they replace the other, absorbing their fortune and vitality."

Mrs. Qiao asked, "If that's the case, why is Meng Zhou still standing here, and why is my son in a coma?"

"Because of destiny," Chu Yuening replied. "He's been draining Ziyuan's fortune excessively. Even if he's swapping lives, it's impossible for him to receive an equal share of luck. Out of every ten points Ziyuan possesses, Meng Zhou can only obtain one."

"Qiao Ziyuan's fortune was drained too forcefully, causing his destiny to become disordered. If his luck wasn't enough, he'd transfer his lifespan to the other party as well."

Fenpo was already stunned by this revelation, trembling with anger. She couldn't believe her own grandson would commit such a despicable act. With a fierce slap, she struck Meng Zhou across the face.

"Scoundrel! You're not my grandson in the Meng family!"

"Meng family?" Meng Zhou gritted his back teeth, glaring hatefully at the Qiao family as he questioned Fenpo, "I'm the one who's your true grandson. Why did you always favor the Qiao family's child over me since I was young? They always ate the best food first and used the finest things before it was my turn? I didn't want to live this kind of life!"

"Why do you have such misunderstandings?" Fenpo's heart ached with anger, leaning back. Qiao Star quickly supported her.

Fenpo wept in sorrow and indignation, "You're truly disappointing. Everything you ate and used was provided by Uncle Qiao. It was their family's belongings to begin with. Why wouldn't they use them first?

"I took care of the two Qiao family princes as my duty. Otherwise, without your father and mother sending money, who would pay for your education? Without Uncle Qiao, you wouldn't even have enough to eat. How could I not love you?"

Fenpo then turned to look at the young man lying on the bed, tears streaming down her face, "Now, you've put Young Master Ziyuan's life in jeopardy. How can I face the ancestors of the Qiao family?"

Meng Zhou sneered, "Guilt? It was all Qiao Ziyuan's choice!"

"You're just spouting nonsense!" Qiao's mother interrupted angrily, "Ziyuan has living parents. He definitely doesn't want to die!"

"Is that so?" Meng Zhou's eyes brimmed with hatred, and his twisted smile took a while to fade.

"After all, Qiao Ziyuan is gay. Shouldn't I be compensated for taking care of him for so long?"

Chapter 34

Mrs. Qiao, in a daze, slumped to the ground. In Hong Kong, with its liberal attitudes, the term "gay" was no longer a novelty.

She never would have imagined that her eldest son, who had always been a model student, would belong to that group.

The revelation was too overwhelming for her to accept immediately.

Seeing Mrs. Qiao's emotional breakdown, Meng Zhou's eyes, filled with hatred, also gleamed with satisfaction. "Didn't expect it, did you? That your pride and joy would have such a blemish."

"Not a blemish," Qiao Tianxin countered, as if he had known all along. Compared to his distraught mother, he remained composed.

Meng Zhou refused to believe it and laughed maniacally. "Keep pretending. With the Qiao family's century-old reputation at stake, how can you not care about such a scandal?"