4 Chapter 4 Nightmare_1

"I was just thinking, after 3 years of not seeing each other, my sister-in-law is still as young and beautiful as when I left," Qiao Xiguan decided to go along with the woman, her lips smiling sweetly, "I was so mesmerized that I didn't hear what you said for a moment?"

Upon hearing Qiao Xiguan say this, Yan Xintong couldn't help but smile with a sense of pride.

Everyone said that Yan Xintong wasn't as beautiful as Qiao Xiguan. She didn't believe that this woman, who had been in jail, could make any significant waves. No matter how beautiful she was, she was still a good-for-nothing and would sooner or later be kicked out of the Gu Family.

But, since when had Qiao Xiguan become so articulate?!

Had prison made her brain grow smarter?

Back in her days at the Gu Family, Qiao Xiguan was timid and afraid to speak up, not outstanding. Whenever there was a party or family dinner, it was her role as the second daughter-in-law to take charge. Qiao Xiguan was just a decoration and simply couldn't live up to the role of the eldest daughter-in-law.

"Grandma, Mom." Suddenly, a young and somewhat excited voice came from behind.

They turned around to see three young children entering, carrying little backpacks, all around 5 years old.

"We're back." The one walking in front was a little boy, fair and chubby with baby fat, his hair a bit long and styled in a trendy haircut, his cheeks rosy and extremely cute.

Following him was a little girl who looked almost exactly like the boy, except for the two braids she had. It was clear they were a set of twins.

The last one was another little boy, his skin noticeably darker and thinner, resembling a little monkey, his face lacking the smile the other two children had, and devoid of the usual vivacity a child should have.

The twins had already cozied up in Yan Xintong's and Qi Huifen's arms, looking very affectionate. The two seemed to have forgotten about the last little monkey's existence as they doted on the twins, fussing over them with great affection.

Qiao Xiguan furrowed her brows as she watched this and suddenly heard a small voice by her ear.

"Mommy." The little monkey was calling her, clearly very unacquainted.

The little monkey, Gu Minglu, was 5 years old—Qiao Xiguan's son, the son of Qiao Xiguan and Gu Zichen.

Gu Zichen's lower body was disabled and dysfunctional. Did their son sprout from a stone?

She frowned, "Do you still recognize me?"

The little monkey bit his lip.

He shouldn't have remembered; because when Qiao Xiguan went to prison, Gu Minglu was only 2 years old. What could a 2-year-old remember?

"I heard that you were getting out of prison today; you are the only stranger in the house," the little monkey explained in a soft voice.

His logic was sound.

Qiao Xiguan nodded.

"Mommy, I still have homework. I'm going upstairs to do it now," Gu Minglu said.

"Oh, okay." Qiao Xiguan watched Gu Minglu head upstairs, his small figure looking so lonely, in contrast to the other two children in the living room, the boy Gu Mingli and the girl Gu Mingyue, who were obviously treated entirely differently.

Qiao Xiguan. She frowned.

All she wanted to say was, even though she didn't feel much for this little monkey, this sensation was clearly very, very displeasing!

Displeased, she could only temporarily... be displeased.

In the evening, the entire family sat around a table for dinner.

Her return didn't change anything in the home, even the Gu Family's patriarch, Gu Yaoqi, didn't ask her a single question.

After dinner, the family watched TV in the living room.

Of course, the always peculiar and reclusive eldest son of the Gu Family wouldn't stay downstairs for long after eating. He took the private elevator in the house back to his room.

The second son of the Gu Family was said to be abroad on business and would return in a few days, while the restless third son didn't come home for dinner. The Gu Family also had two unwed daughters who were still in university and not at home.

The financial news channel.

The Huo Family's business analysis.

Qi Lingfeng had taken control of everything.

The mysterious death of the Huo Family was ultimately ruled a regular traffic incident.

Qiao Xiguan clenched her fists tightly, her eyes growing deeper.

The deeper Qi Lingfeng's smile was, the more intense her hatred became.

"What a pity for Huo Xiaoxi," Yan Xintong remarked, watching the news and suddenly feeling sentimental.

"What do you know," Qi Huifen suddenly said, her tone severe.

Yan Xintong was taken aback, staring blankly at Qi Huifen.

She had merely made a casual remark.

"Do you really think the Huo Family business was built by Huo Xiaoxi? It wasn't my nephew Qi Lingfeng. A mere girl, where would she get the capability..."

Qi Lingfeng is your nephew?!

She had known Qi Lingfeng for at least 10 years, and she never knew he had an aunt.

"Can you both shut up? Can't even watch the news in peace," Gu Yaoqi's face turned cold.

Both of them closed their mouths.

Qiao Xiguan pursed her lips and silently left the living room.

Qi Lingfeng, from beginning to end, you've been lying to me...

Truly, the more one knows, the colder one's heart becomes.

She walked upstairs, her mind preoccupied with thoughts, and automatically found herself at Gu Zichen's bedroom door, pushing it open.

A sharp gaze swept past.

Qiao Xiguan suddenly snapped back to reality, looking up to see Gu Zichen lying on the bed, and another woman kneeling beside him.

Not wearing anything?

From this angle, she could only see his exposed thigh, the crucial parts obscured by cotton padding.

"Have you seen enough?" Gu Zichen's face turned cold.

"I've seen enough," Qiao Xiguan replied instinctively.

"Get out!" Gu Zichen roared.

Qiao Xiguan closed the bedroom door.

The woman kneeling beside Gu Zichen, if not mistaken, was called Xiaoling, in her 20s, a servant of the household.

She must be giving a massage.

To prevent muscle atrophy, they would perform certain acupressure massages.

Qiao Xiguan pursed her lips and returned to her room.

No wonder the temperamental and disabled young master, made Qiao Xiguan, who was timid and easily frightened, so afraid of him.

She lay on the bed and rolled over to sleep.

Don't think about anything, don't think about anything at all.

She drifted off to sleep in a daze.

Many images appeared in her mind, some sweet, joyful, some cruel, terrifying, and the blood of beauties flowing down from their heads, staining the entire street red...

No...

I don't want this!

I don't want to die!

Qiao Xiguan abruptly opened her eyes.

Waking from a nightmare, sweat continuously dripped down from her forehead.

This kind of dream, always recurring persistently in her mind, impossible to dispel.

"Awake?" In the calm of the night, suddenly a man's voice, utterly indifferent, sounded.

Qiao Xiguan was startled, turned her head, and saw Gu Zichen staring at her coldly.

How could this man be here!

Qiao Xiguan looked at Gu Zichen, thoroughly baffled, "Why are you here?"