Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

Qian Youyou stood by the window of the ward, her fingertips digging into the cold windowsill as if she wanted to pierce the icy metal into her flesh.

Outside the window, the night sky of Shenzhen was dyed a chaotic purplish-red by neon lights. The outlines of skyscrapers were distorted in the rain and mist, like a group of silent monsters looking down on this sleepless city.

In the ward, the pungent smell of disinfectant was mixed with a faint scent of death, the embers left behind by my father, Mr. Qian, who had just passed away.

A few hours ago, the doctor delivered the devastating news: cardiac arrest, and resuscitation efforts failed.

Qian Youyou's tears had long since dried, leaving only a numb, dull pain, like a boulder pressing on her chest, making each breath feel like a tearing, suffocating pain.

Her father's words echoed in her mind, as clear as if they were yesterday: "Youyou, the Qian family belongs to everyone, not just one person. Remember, unite some and defeat others... Never let those treacherous wolves take advantage of any loopholes."

But now, the jackals have already smelled the blood.

She turned around, her gaze sweeping over the hospital bed.

Mr. Qian's body was covered with a white sheet, as quiet as a sleeping sculpture. Only the electrocardiogram monitor by the bedside still showed a merciless straight line, announcing the end of everything.

Qian Youyou clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms.

My father was cautious all his life, but he was betrayed by this group of so-called "relatives" before he died.

Just then, the ward door was violently pushed open and slammed against the wall with a dull thud.

Qian Youyou turned around abruptly and saw a group of people rushing in, led by her lame second uncle, Qian Zhongwu.

He limped along, leaning on an ebony cane, his face feigning sorrow, but his eyes were like poisoned knives.

Behind him followed several distant relatives, as well as his son Qian Feng, a slick-haired young man with a smug smile on his lips, as if he had come to attend a grand feast.

"Get out! Who let you in?" Qian Youyou's voice pierced the air like an ice pick. She stepped forward and blocked the bedside.

The light from the corridor streamed in from outside the door, casting long shadows on her pale face, but her eyes burned with a fierce intensity, just like her father's when he was alive.

She couldn't let these people tarnish her father's peace.
Qian Zhongwu stopped in his tracks, slamming his cane down with a loud thud.

He forced a cold laugh: "Niece, I'm your second uncle. How dare you speak to your second uncle like that? Considering your father just passed away, it's understandable that you're a little emotional, so I won't hold it against you. Now get out of the way?"

His tone carried a condescending tolerance, yet it couldn't conceal his haughty arrogance.

Qian Youyou could smell the cheap cologne emanating from him, mixed with the stench of sweat, which made her stomach churn.

"Who is your eldest niece? I don't have a second uncle either!" Qian Youyou's voice rose, her chest heaving with anger. "My father has only ever had one brother. This lame uncle, have you come to the wrong place?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "lame," like a small knife stabbing at the other person's sore spot.

Now that her father's body is barely cold, the other party is already jumping out, so she doesn't need to give them any face.

"Uncle?" Qian Zhongwu's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, and he slammed his cane on the ground. "How dare you! I am your second uncle, and you don't even call me second uncle anymore? Don't forget, your father only has one brother, but your father's father, your grandfather, had three brothers. There are seven of us cousins ​​in total, all of whom are your elders!"

He glanced around at the group of relatives behind him, as if showing off his "army." "What? You haven't even started inheriting the Qian Group yet, and you already think you're all grown up and want to betray the Qian family?"

A group of people followed behind him, nodding in agreement, their eyes greedily fixed on her, the nominal heir to the family head.

Qian Youyou felt a wave of dizziness.

His father's words echoed in his ears again: "Unite with the neutral, and overthrow those who have a treacherous bone in their heads."

But what kind of neutrality is there among this group of people?
They were clearly all hungry wolves!

She forced herself to stand firm, her voice trembling as she tried to control herself: "You...you're talking nonsense! I just don't want to acknowledge you, a man full of evil intentions, and your son too. You two get out! As for the rest of you, I...of course I welcome them to visit my father." She pointed to the door, trying to divide the mob.

But no one moved; the air was frozen solid like lead.

Qian Zhongwu laughed, but the laughter was dry and harsh.

"Why are you in such a hurry, niece? We're here for a reason."

He slowly pulled a document from his suit pocket and flashed it in front of Qian Youyou as if by magic.

The paper rustled, printed with the words "Adoption Certificate" in large, glaring characters, as bright as the red line on Du Lingling's pregnancy test.

Qian Youyou's pupils contracted. Her father had never mentioned this before!

"Look what this is!" Qian Zhongwu smugly pushed past her, slammed the document onto the table next to him, and pointed to the signature area.

"Look closely, this has your father's signature and fingerprint on it. Handwriting can be faked, but a fingerprint can't be faked, can it?"

Qian Youyou lunged forward and grabbed the document, her fingertips trembling as they touched the cold paper.

She stared intently at the fingerprint. The dark red ink was as clear as a scab. Her father's fingerprint? Impossible! She had been by his bedside the whole time before he fell into a coma, with bodyguards on 24-hour shifts… Unless… a terrifying thought flashed through her mind: someone had bribed the bodyguards to force her father to leave his fingerprint while he was dying!
She looked up abruptly, her voice hoarse: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! My father... I know, did you take my father's hand and leave your fingerprints while he was unconscious?"

Her question was choked with sobs.

But Qian Zhongwu just scoffed.

“My dear niece, facts speak louder than words. Stop denying your brother.”

Qian Zhongwu beckoned to Qian Feng, "Come on, Xiao Feng, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and call me 'sister' so I can give you a job. From now on, the Qian family business will be upheld by you two siblings."

Qian Feng stepped forward and bowed in a pretentious manner: "Sister, please take care of me in the future." His smirk made Qian Youyou feel nauseous.

She took a step back, her back hitting the cold wall. It was over; these people were going to use this "proof" to take Qian away.

"Wait a minute." A cold voice boomed from the doorway.

Lu Yang strode in, his suit jacket open, his hair disheveled, and he exuded a weary and aggressive aura.

He had just arrived from the airport, his eyes like icy blades piercing Qian Zhongwu.

Xiao Jiu and two of his men followed closely behind, blocking the doorway, their imposing presence making the air in the ward feel instantly thin.

"When did you, an outsider, have the right to interfere in the internal affairs of our Qian family?" Qian Zhongwu roared, his voice stern but his voice weak.
But Lu Yang's sudden appearance threw him into a panic. Everyone in the Qian family knew about the man's achievements and ruthless methods over the past few years.
"Then I'll insist on it?" Lu Yang's lips curled into a mocking smile as he glanced at Qian Zhongwu's limp leg, as if he were examining a defective product.

He walked slowly closer, his leather shoes making a clear echo on the floor.

"You! Security, call security! Someone's causing trouble here!" Qian Zhongwu shouted towards the door, but no one responded. The corridor was empty; it had long been under the control of Lu Yang's men.

Lu Yang stopped beside Qian Youyou and gently patted her shoulder. The gesture was brief but conveyed silent support.

Then he turned to Qian Zhongwu, his voice contemptuous: "I think the one who should be kicked out the most is you, right?"

He deliberately looked the lame man up and down, saying, "You're so old, and your legs aren't strong enough. You still do all sorts of wicked things. I bet you won't get this leg back in your next life either."

"Who are you calling heartless, you little brat!" Qian Zhongwu was so angry that he trembled all over, and his cane almost slipped from his hand.

Lu Yang sneered: "Whoever calls me a little brat, I'll curse them. You old brat, don't you agree?"

Qian Youyou almost burst out laughing.

This guy's sharp tongue became his only weapon at this moment.

Qian Zhongwu's face turned ashen: "Hmph, you're just trying to win with words. I won't argue with you." He turned to leave, but Lu Yang raised his hand.

"Wait a minute." Lu Yang's voice suddenly turned sharp. "Look what I've brought you!"

He winked at Xiao Jiu.

Xiao Jiu shoved a man with his hands tied behind his back into the room.

It's Qian Lao's personal bodyguard, A-Qiang!

His face was bruised and swollen, and his eyes darted away, avoiding Qian Youyou's gaze.

An uproar erupted in the ward, and Qian Zhongwu and Qian Feng's faces turned deathly pale.

"Should I say my name?" Lu Yang stared intently at Qian Zhongwu, each word like a bullet being loaded into a chamber.

Qian Zhongwu forced himself to remain calm, his voice weak: "No need, how can we easily believe what this kind of person says?"

But his trembling fingertips betrayed him; Ah Qiang's appearance meant their conspiracy was about to be exposed... (End of Chapter)