Chapter 186: My Childhood Friend Couldn't Possibly Be an Idiot! (22)

Since last night, someone had constantly been inside Qiyuan's room. Although Xiao Baobao had previously taken the child out of the room, Bai Yao and Qi Ye had been in the main hall just like everyone else at that time, meaning they likewise had no alibi-breaking opportunity to commit the crime.

Qiyuan lowered his head and said to Xiao Baobao, "Baobao, calm down first."

Seemingly frightened to the point of incoherence, Xiao Baobao blurted out, "I just knew the Qi family is a muddy pit of trouble! For the sake of interests, you people are capable of anything! Murder must be nothing more than a trivial matter to you all! Just like in our past life... in our past life... it was you who pushed me down the stairs!"

Even though the person who had pushed her back then stood behind her and she had not seen their face, she knew with absolute certainty that it must have been Bai Yao!

Because Bai Yao had always harbored bitter jealousy over her growing close to Qi Ye!

Having been wrongfully saddled with this accusation out of nowhere, Bai Yao was left speechless for a moment. "Stepmom, have you been reading way too many rebirth web novels?"

That immediately brought to mind a novel she had casually browsed on her phone out of boredom while sitting in the car on her way here.

The female protagonist was a wealthy heiress, forced into an arranged marriage with the good-for-nothing eldest grandson of a prominent family. At a family banquet, she was drugged by her fiancé. In her panicked and desperate flight, she encountered her fiancé's younger cousin in the courtyard.

He was a little mute abandoned by the family, completely out of place amidst the bustling festivities. He stayed lonely in a corner, his dark eyes devoid of any emotional ripples, resembling a little emotionless simpleton.

Yet when she cried out for help, he pointed out a path through which she could escape.

From then on, the female protagonist engraved this little simpleton upon her heart. Harboring a savior's complex, she constantly exerted her own efforts to secure greater benefits for the little simpleton within the family, and was even willing to stay in this man-eating prominent family for his sake, playing pleasant social games with a crowd of hypocrites.

However, her devoted affection was misplaced. He could not see her goodness at all, choosing instead to regard that vicious woman—who treated him like a mere dog—as his true love.

He had no idea how many sacrifices she had made behind the scenes to protect him, how youth she had wasted for his sake, only to receive not even a shred of pity in return.

Later, the female protagonist was pushed down the stairs by that vicious woman, leading to her complete spiritual awakening and realization that she should never have given her sincere heart to such a scumbag. She decided to marry the scumbag's father, thus becoming the scumbag's stepmother.

She was madly doted on by her handsome and wealthy husband, eventually becoming the formidable matriarch of the household. Later, caressing her belly carrying twins while watching the scumbag and the vile woman forced to humble themselves and call her mother, she truly had to utter:

"How satisfying."

This was practically an ultimate, satisfying web novel about a female protagonist being reborn and staging a counterattack.

After pondering for a long time, Bai Yao finally recalled that the book seemed to be titled *Reborn to Marry the Scumbag's Dad*.

Because the title contained far too many tropes, she had merely glanced at it once, yet remembered it vividly to this day.

Xiao Baobao's life ought to have been fortunate. Living a second life, she had decisively dissolved the possibility of getting engaged to Qi Feng. Although she ended up marrying a second-marriage man significantly older than her, Qiyuan was handsome, showed no trace of aging whatsoever, and moreover, pampered her like a princess.

Even though he had a late wife who died young, Qiyuan had stated that his marriage to that woman was merely a business alliance devoid of any affection. Throughout his entire life, Xiao Baobao was the only woman who had ever walked into his heart.

Xiao Baobao was different from other women.

Qiyuan's temperament was cold and ruthless, indifferent to other women, including even the child borne by that deceased wife. Yet, he cared uniquely for Xiao Baobao.

Being treated with such exclusivity by a man like this, how could Xiao Baobao not be moved?

Thus, she was willing to marry Qiyuan. Logically speaking, having become the stepmother of the scumbag and the vile woman, she could now hold her head high in their presence. She had even imagined how shocked and wonderfully expressive their faces would be when they finally met and realized her true identity.

Yet reality turned out entirely different from her expectations.

Qi Ye and Bai Yao—they had never taken her seriously in the past, and they still did not take her seriously now!

Among so many people, the enmity between Xiao Baobao and Bai Yao ran the deepest. If the person who tampered with her room wasn't Bai Yao, then who else could it possibly be?!

Staring fixedly at Bai Yao, Xiao Baobao spat, "Do you think I'm still that same old Xiao Baobao who could be bullied at will? Bai Yao, don't even dream of using any more tricks to terrorize me. I am no longer who I used to be—"

Before she could finish her sentence, a piercing sound sliced through the air as something was hurled toward them.

Qiyuan hurriedly pulled Xiao Baobao into his embrace to shield her. The object slammed heavily into Qiyuan's back with a loud thud. Qiyuan let out a muffled groan as the projectile finally dropped to the floor, rolling to a stop—a severed head, battered and split open, its brains oozing out.

Brain matter splattered onto Xiao Baobao, with a few droplets also hitting Qi Yiyi, who was clutched in her arms. Qi Yiyi began to cry even more hysterically, while Xiao Baobao was so visually assaulted by the horrific scene that darkness clouded her vision.

Staring at his son's unrecognizable head, Steward Qi froze in stunned disbelief for a long moment before shrieking, "Qi Ye—!"

Qiyuan looked over as well, and a chill instantly froze his entire body.

Qi Ye stood in the doorway, shielding Bai Yao behind him. His expression was completely blank, his eyes eerily black and devoid of life. In his gaze, the people inside the room were likely no different from mere ants awaiting execution.

Feeling a wave of dangerous intent, Housekeeper He frowned slightly and reached out to pull the stunned Qi Xingyun back a few paces.

At that moment, Bai Yao yanked Qi Ye over to her side and offered an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, everyone. Qi Ye simply lacks proper upbringing. Whenever someone raises their voice a little, it tends to startle him. The child doesn't know any better, so I must ask all you elders to be forgiving."

With that, Bai Yao feigned scolding him. "If you wanted to play with a ball, we could have played together after going back. How could you throw someone else's head around like a ball? It's extremely disrespectful to the deceased! Don't ever do that again next time!"

Lowering his head with an air of humble instruction, Qi Ye blinked his innocent eyes, looking as obedient as could be.

Turning back to the people in the room, Bai Yao said, "Look, I've already scolded him. A child who recognizes his mistake and reforms is a good child. With the New Year just a few months away, since it's the festive season, let's not harbor any anger. Let bygones be bygones, alright?"

Everyone: "..."

Could she possibly be any more absurd?!

Amidst the chaotic scene, no one noticed that the child lying on the bed had already regained consciousness.

The boy opened his eyes, his dark pupils rolling around before he sat up on the bed. Looking down at his outstretched hands and then touching his face, excitement flashed brightly across his eyes.

When his gaze happened to land on Bai Yao, his expression shifted slightly.

Subsequently, he met Qi Ye's gaze, and weakly offered Qi Ye a ingratiating smile.

Qi Ye withdrew his gaze.

The boy let out a sigh of relief.

Qi Xiao, who had been quietly watching the spectacle unfold, suddenly spoke up, "Don't you all think this situation is starting to resemble that legend?"

Everyone turned to look at him.

Qi Xiao continued, "Someone dies in the Snow Mountain Mansion, yet a part of their body goes missing. Whoever receives that body part is destined to become the next person to die."

Xiao Baobao's face drained of all color.

As if to heighten the eerie atmosphere, the lights in the room flickered before instantly going out altogether, plunging the Snow Mountain Mansion into pitch darkness.

Clutching herself, Qi Xingyun felt gusts of chilly wind blowing from all directions. Taking a step sideways, she collided with someone, and only felt a modicum of reassurance when that person steadied her by the shoulders.

Shivering in the dark, Qi Xiao stammered, "No way, no way... there couldn't really be a ghost, right?!"

Unable to see anything in front of her, Bai Yao felt her way through the dark and muttered, "Little Dog Qi, don't separate from me."

The next second, she was swept up horizontally into someone's arms as someone lowered their head to brush against her cheek, enveloping her in a familiar scent.

Because the darkness was fraught with uncertainty, any momentary inability to touch each other seemed to breed a frantic terror of losing one another's existence.

Tightening her arms around his neck, Bai Yao pressed her face against his chest, her lovely eyes darting aimlessly through the darkness as if hoping her phone-damaged eyesight could somehow still capture some movement.

His chest vibrated slightly, and Bai Yao fancied she heard a soft chuckle from the man, mocking her overestimation of her own abilities.

Bai Yao gave him a sharp pinch.

He stopped laughing, replacing it with a aggrieved whimper instead.

Amidst the darkness, Qi Yiyi's tearful wails echoed: "Daddy, Mommy, I'm scared!"

Hurriedly squatting down, Qiyuan scooped the child into his arms. He reached out to grab Xiao Baobao, but his hand clutched empty air. He called out, "Baobao!"

No one answered him.