At least dogs wouldn't hurt their own family

Xiao Li walked into the hall with two enormous dogs following behind her.

One was a golden retriever, the other a wolfdog.

The moment they saw Xiao Muling, they barked furiously.

They tried to charge at her, but Xiao Li called them back. Xiao Muling recoiled in fright.

"Li, these dogs of yours are so fierce. They might hurt someone. Wouldn't it be better to keep them in the backyard? You really shouldn't bring them out." Xiao Muling kept a wary eye on both dogs.

Xiao Li walked over to the Xiao Family Head Seat and stroked both dogs' heads.

Then she fixed Xiao Muling with an icy gaze. Her eyes curved with her smile as she said cheerfully, "But dogs don't bite members of their own household, do they, Duoduo, Keke? How strange. I wonder why they're so bad-tempered today."

She looked at the dogs and tapped each lightly on the head, saying in a slightly stern voice, "As punishment, neither of you gets any after-dinner treats tomorrow."

Xiao Muling gave an awkward smile. "Li, dogs can't possibly understand what people say."

"Sometimes dogs are kinder than people. At least they don't hurt their owners." A faint smile lingered on Xiao Li's lips.

Looking at that smile, Xiao Muling felt an indescribable fear. It was clearly the same smile as before.

Yet something about it felt different.

As Xiao Li stroked the golden retriever Duoduo's head, she asked, "What brings you here today, Sister?"

At that, Xiao Muling dropped to her knees with a thud.

She began to sob and recounted everything that had happened that day.

"Li, the Lin Family has gone too far. They nearly broke Cheng's legs! If we hadn't gotten him to the hospital in time, his legs and arms would have been ruined."

She refused to believe her younger sister wouldn't help her. She had never asked her for anything before. This was the only time.

Without the Xiao Family, she had no idea how to handle this. Her sister would surely be able to help.

After hearing her out, Xiao Li showed no anger. Instead, an eerie smile rose to her lips.

With an indifferent expression, she said, "But you're married now. You're no longer part of the Xiao Family. Why should I offend the increasingly powerful Lin Family for you and your son?"

It sounded like a question, but it was really a challenge.

Her tone was as casual as if she were discussing what to eat tomorrow.

Xiao Muling stared at the woman before her in disbelief. "You... what nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean I'm no longer part of the Xiao Family because I married out? I'll be a member of the Xiao Family for the rest of my life."

She had never imagined her younger sister would become so brazen, daring to speak to her like this. Had becoming the head of the Lin Family really made her think so little of her?

No wonder everyone said Xiao Li had carried out a bloody purge of the entire Xiao Family after taking over.

She hadn't believed it then, but after seeing this, she had no choice.

Hearing Xiao Muling still call herself a member of the Xiao Family, Xiao Li burst out laughing. She stared viciously at Xiao Muling and said, stressing every word, "You say you're part of the Xiao Family. Then why, Sister, did you kill your own younger brother for the Gu Family?"

"Why?!"

Xiao Muling's pupils widened. Unable to believe the terrifying words she had just heard, she shrank backward.

But before she could retreat more than a few steps, the doors were shut from outside.

Huddled against the doors, Xiao Muling stammered, "No, no, it wasn't me. Gu Zhengde sent people to kill him. It wasn't me. How could I kill my own brother?"

Xiao Li descended one step at a time, while the dogs glared fiercely at Xiao Muling on the floor.

"Yes, you didn't kill my brother with your own hands. But can you honestly say you didn't know Gu Zhengde was going to attack him? If you'd spoken up just a little sooner, he wouldn't have died. He wouldn't have died!"

Then, as if something else had occurred to her, she gave a soft laugh filled with unbearable grief. "But you didn't. In the end, you chose the Gu Family over the Xiao Family and watched your own younger brother meet a violent death."

Xiao Muling had no idea how she knew about this. All she could do was sob, "Li, you... don't blame me. I had no choice. Gu Zhengde threatened me."

"I'm begging you. Just help me this once. Once Cheng becomes the head of the Gu Family, it'll benefit our Xiao Family too," Xiao Muling pleaded.

At that, Xiao Li narrowed her eyes viciously and smiled. "But I want the Gu Family destroyed. I want Gu Zhengde and Gu Cheng dead, so you can feel what it's like to lose your family too."

Xiao Muling couldn't believe Xiao Li had actually said those words.

Angry and frightened, she cursed, "It was you! You and Lin Jingchen were behind this! You did it together?!"

Xiao Li seemed to consider it before saying, "No, that wasn't me. I thought it was quite a shame, actually. Still, the Gu Group should be on its last legs now. All it needs is one final blow."

"I certainly can't let this last opportunity slip away. I really should thank Lin Jingchen for taking care of my biggest problem!"

"You... you..." Xiao Muling was too furious to speak.

Xiao Li said calmly, "Don't bother trying to tell Gu Zhengde, Sister. If he finds out the Xiao Family was behind it, what do you think he'll do to you? Besides, it's already too late."

"Well, Sister, would you like to stay for a meal? It's our brother's birthday today." Xiao Li smiled at the woman on the floor.

The doors had opened, and Xiao Muling scrambled out on her hands and knees.

After she left, Xiao Li drove alone to the cemetery.

She carried a box of Flower Cakes, an exquisite pink lunch box, and a bouquet of baby's breath.

She stopped before a gravestone bearing a photograph of a girl with a sweet smile.

The name inscribed on the gravestone was "Xiao Li."

She set down everything she had brought and arranged the items one by one.

Then she found a spot in front of the gravestone and sat down.

When she spoke, her voice was no longer a sweet woman's voice, but a slightly hoarse man's.

It wasn't unpleasant. On the contrary, it was rich and resonant. "Li, your big brother's here to see you. In a few more days, Gu Zhengde will pay the price he deserves. I've been planning this for so long, and I'm finally close to succeeding. Are you happy?"

Xiao Zhao carried on the one-sided conversation. "Look, the shop selling those Flower Cakes moved. I searched more than half of G City before I found it for you. The owner has changed, though, so I don't know whether they still taste the same. Try one."

That year, Xiao Zhao should have been in that car. But he happened to fall ill that day, and the meeting abroad was one he couldn't miss.

Xiao Li and Xiao Zhao looked almost exactly alike, so Xiao Li changed into Xiao Zhao's clothes, tied up her hair, and took his place in the car.

Everything lined up just so, and Xiao Li took the brunt of that incident in Xiao Zhao's place.

The Gu Family had joined forces with the Xiao Family's Collateral Families to kill him.

They had never expected to kill the wrong person.

After the incident, Old Master Xiao hid him away.

There was no evidence, so he had Xiao Zhao continue living under Xiao Li's identity. Only then could he avenge her. Otherwise, until he had enough power, he would remain at their mercy.

They wouldn't mind killing him a second time.

They would never believe Old Master Xiao would hand the Xiao Family Head Seat over to Xiao Li.

And so Xiao Zhao could only continue living as Xiao Li. During the years he spent concealed within the Xiao Family, he eliminated some of them.

Only after he truly inherited the Xiao Family Head Seat did he gain enough authority to wipe out those who had gone into hiding in one fell swoop.

After all these years, he was finally close to eliminating the Gu Family, and the weight on his heart could at last be lifted.

He was the only one who knew about this grave. All these years, he had come here in secret.

But soon, he would be able to openly return Xiao Li's identity to her.