Mind reading saves the whole family; I'm firmly in the role of a charlatan.

Chapter 64 Your retribution is me

Li Fengxian was the first to react and, in his capacity as the host, asked, "What happened?"

Li Zhanyan quickly stepped forward and briefly explained what had happened to him. Li Fengxian's expression darkened slightly, and he said coldly, "This is not the place to discuss this. Let's go to the second floor first. Zhaoyang, you stay here to greet the guests."

Li Zhaoyang, who was forced out by his elders because he wasn't senior enough and was left outside the circle of people, thought to himself: "..." No, I want to go up and listen too!
Zhang Wanyin remembered that Li Zhanyan had just mentioned that Li Zhaoyang had personally invited Du Anrao and his companion. She wanted to invite them upstairs together, but Li Zhanyan stopped her again.

Zhang Wanyin frowned. Although she was somewhat puzzled by the other party's actions, the tacit understanding they had built over the years made her swallow the words that were already on the tip of her tongue.

With all the in-laws having no objections, Li Fengxian turned his gaze to Du Yuxi and her companion: "Would the two young ladies be willing to come with us?"

Du Yuxi turned to look at Du Anrao questioningly, and Du Anrao quickly raised his hand to say, "I'm fine with anything."

Du Yuxi nodded in agreement.

Li Fengxian breathed a sigh of relief imperceptibly, then arranged for a few more people to help Li Zhaoyang greet the guests before leading everyone upstairs.

As soon as she entered the study, Zhang Wanyin couldn't wait to ask, "Could you two tell us in detail about the mix-up at birth? We...we're really curious."

No matter how curious she was, it would be somewhat impolite to make such a request to someone she had just met. Du Yuxi looked at Du Anrao again for his opinion.

Du Anrao didn't care; it wasn't anything shameful.

Strictly speaking, both she and Du Yuxi were victims, while she was the only beneficiary...

Du Anrao glanced at Li Qianxi, who had silently followed the others in, and finally handed the decision over to Du Yuxi.

Du Yuxi naturally noticed Li Qianxi's presence, but compared to Li Fengxian and the others, she didn't care much about this stranger who had no blood relation to her.

"I can tell you, but I need to know why."

“This…” The group exchanged glances, their faces showing hesitation.

Zhang Wanyin, however, was an impatient person: "Because my sister, who is the one I just mentioned who looks a lot like you, also gave birth to a child at XX Hospital in Y Province around that time."

Upon hearing this, Du Yuxi feigned surprise: "So, you now consider me your family's child?"

Su Ruiyin and the others remained silent, but Li Fengxian suddenly turned to look at Li Qianxi and asked, "What do you think..."

After the initial chaos, Li Qianxi had completely calmed down. She thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Excuse me for asking, but are you both in good health?"

"of course."

Li Qianxi then lowered her head and revealed a sad smile: "I don't know why this young lady looks so much like my mother, but they are both very healthy, unlike me who was sentenced to death at birth and has this disease, which means I have to deal with hospitals for the rest of my life."

Li Qianxi's words were meant to remind everyone present that Du Anrao and Du Yuxi were both healthy, and it was normal that their swapping went unnoticed.

But she was born with congenital heart disease. How could it not be discovered that a sick child was being exchanged for a healthy one? Madam Li and the others stiffened slightly, clearly only now realizing this.

Only Du Anrao, who held the script in his hand, saw through her little scheme at a glance.

Wow, you figured it out so quickly! You must have mentally rehearsed this scene countless times after learning the truth. Too bad you ran into me. Every cause has its effect, and your retribution is me!

The Du family members and Xi Jingyue, who had already moved downstairs to the next room to secretly watch the drama unfold, chuckled...

This does sound like a logical flaw. It would be easy to detect if a healthy child were swapped with a child like Li Qianxi who has a congenital disease. But it seems that even God is helping the mother and daughter.

The medical system back then was not as sophisticated and advanced as it is now. In addition, due to natural disasters, there were many traffic accidents, hospitals were overcrowded, and the medical system was on the verge of collapse.

At the time, only the doctor in charge of the infant examination knew about Li Qianxi's condition. Unfortunately, when Wang Xuehe took the child to see him, she happened to catch him secretly accepting bribes and kickbacks, which was a disciplinary issue.

The Du family: "..." What a coincidence that this chosen one is!
As expected, Wang Xuehe used this as leverage to force the other party to modify the data entry information for Li Qianxi and Du Yuxi.

[This doctor passed away from illness six years ago. Li Qianxi probably knew this all along, which is why she deliberately brought it up now, betting that the dead can't prove it.]

Du Anrao was not wrong. After learning the truth a year ago, Li Qianxi spent money to have her biological father help her confirm many things and also erased many traces left by Wang Xuehe in advance, knowing that the doctor was no longer alive.

Zhang Wanyin was not so easily convinced: "There are many strange things in this world. Sometimes the most impossible things are the most likely to happen."

Li Qianxi now felt an intense hatred for her aunt, who had never really thought highly of her, but she still maintained a pitiful, downcast expression: "If that's how Aunt thinks, there's nothing I can do. I was just expressing my thoughts; how to judge it is up to the elders. After all, I was just a child back then, what could I possibly know?"

Zhang Wanyin choked up; her initial impression of Li Qianxi wasn't actually that bad.

It wasn't until later, when he visited the Li family, that he stumbled upon Li Qianxi hiding behind Li Zhaoyang, softly and gently recounting her "minor conflict" with the daughter of another family friend.

Even though the whole passage seemed to have no problem, Zhang Wanyin still got goosebumps all over.

Especially after seeing the girl who was being criticized leave in anger, Li Qianxi, hiding behind Li Zhaoyang, suddenly revealed a strange smile with a dark and damp aura.

Mrs. Su, whose radar for spotting scheming women was at its highest level, felt a jolt of surprise and instantly sensed the trickery involved. However, she was also worried that she was being too sensitive and might wrongly accuse the child. Therefore, she began to observe Li Qianxi even more carefully after that.

After several attempts, it was finally confirmed that the child had indeed gone astray!
Li Qianxi was only six years old at the time, and Zhang Wanyin naturally assumed that the Li family had not taught her well, and even began to doubt the character of the Li family.

However, after a long period of contact, Zhang Wanyin changed her mind again and realized that the child's appearance was entirely her own fault.

But it is precisely because of this that Zhang Wanyin becomes increasingly resistant to Li Qianxi's presence.

That girl, whom I had practically watched grow up, was youthful, beautiful, bright, and generous, like a shining little sun, unforgettable after just one glance.

How could someone like that have given birth to such a pretentious child who likes to do dirty tricks behind people's backs?
(End of this chapter)