Xia Ji clearly did not like his wife, but he had never cheated on her. He had been with Madam Xia for so many years. Although everyone in the Xia family hated her, no one had thought of chasing her away. Why was that?
Qiao Xi was really curious, so she asked Qin An to investigate Madam Xia’s identity. However, she only obtained a little information. Now that Gu Zheng mentioned the Xia family’s secret, she was instantly interested.
However, she had already rejected Gu Zheng. At this moment, she wished she could take back what she had just said. She slowly looked up. Indeed, Gu Zheng’s eyes were filled with ridicule. She could only brace herself and say sweetly, “Senior! I was just joking just now! Of course, I’m very happy that you’re willing to help me!”
Gu Zheng had already expected her to go back on her word, but the next second, he chuckled. “Forget it. I believe you can handle such a small matter yourself.”
Qiao Xi hurriedly pulled him back, and she was angered to the point of stammering. “I-I can’t do it myself. Can you help me?”
She shook his arm and looked at him with anticipation, but Gu Zheng looked down at her with a trace of ridicule in his eyes. He said casually, “I’m usually so busy. Why would I need to attend to such a small matter?”
Qiao Xi: “…” ‘Damn it! Bastard, believe it or not, I’ll slap you!’
The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, and her tongue did not work anymore. She could only suppress her anger and say aggrievedly, “Ah Zheng, you’re my husband! Of course, you’ll help me if I’m in trouble. You can’t just watch me fall into a predicament and not save me, right?”
Gu Zheng looked at Qiao Xi’s anxious gaze that was like a crafty kitten. He smiled lightly and raised his eyebrows. “Tell me again who I am to you.”
Qiao Xi’s face was filled with shyness as she pounced into his embrace and thumped his chest shyly. “Idiot! I’ve already said it!”
Gu Zheng coughed. ‘I’m afraid not many people can take Mrs. Gu’s punches! Surely she’s not venting her anger on me, right?’
Qiao Xi hid in his embrace and smiled slyly.
That was right! She did it on purpose! She wanted Gu Zheng to be punished!
Gu Zheng smiled helplessly, then said, “Actually, Madam Xia and your mother were friends—lifelong friends.”
The smile on Qiao Xi’s face instantly vanished as she abruptly raised her eyes.
“Madam Xia is easily bullied. Xia Ji married her to control your mother. When Madam Xia fell into the hands of the Xia family, your mother could only be at the mercy of the Xia family.”
Qiao Xi’s eyes suddenly turned cold. The Xia family was really unscrupulous when it came to using Madam Xia to control her mother. The jewelry in Xia Yunlou’s room was all obtained through threatening her mother. No wonder there were so many of her mother’s belongings in the Xia family’s villa.
The two of them no longer hesitated and went straight to Xia Cheng’s study. Gu Zheng had already investigated. There was a secret room in this study. He knew the entrance and switch of the secret room like the back of his hand. The two of them successfully entered the secret room. It was very spacious here. After looking around, there were no useful clues. There was only a dusty photo album in the corner of a bookshelf.
Qiao Xi flipped open the photo album. It was a photo of the Xia family. On it were Xia Cheng, Old Madam Xia, Xia Ji, and Xia Yunlou. The photo was slightly yellow and looked to be from more than 20 years ago. Xia Ji and Xia Yunlou were both very young.
Qiao Xi narrowed her eyes as she looked at Xia Yunlou’s face. She picked up the photo and asked, “Ah Zheng, look at this photo. I keep having the feeling that the current Xia Yunlou is very different from the past.”
Gu Zheng nodded. He had realized it too.
Qiao Xi tried her best to describe it. “It’s not that they look different, but their auras are completely different.”
The elderly said that appearances would reflect one’s heart. In the photo, Xia Yunlou was full of smiles. She looked very innocent and kind. Her eyes were also very warm, making people subconsciously want to get close to her. However, the current Xia Yunlou was full of viciousness. Her eyes were filled with schemes and sinisterness. She was completely different from the Xia Yunlou from 20 years ago.
Qiao Xi looked at Xia Yunlou in the photo and felt inexplicably awkward. It was as if this person’s soul and body had split into two.
Gu Zheng said softly, “If the Xia Yunlou in front of us is fake, then it must have been done on purpose by the Xia family. Moreover, her every word and action imitates the real Xia Yunlou. She lives according to the other party’s preferences and character. The photo from 20 years ago was also deliberately imitated by her.
“However, one day, Xia Yunlou suddenly disappeared. Xia Yunlou escaped her restraints and released her suppressed nature. Unknowingly, she became herself again.
