Chapter 10: You're My Brother-in-Law, If Not You, Then Who Else Would I Turn To?

“I'm telling you, send me the money quickly, or I'll expose everything about you.”
It was all about money, always money.
Zhao Qiang chuckled and immediately hung up the phone.
He didn’t argue because he felt it was pointless.
Trying to reason with the Liu family was the most foolish thing he could do.
When Liu Shuangshuang called again, he just blocked her number.
At last, the world grew quiet, and he had done something he’d long wanted to do.
The entire Liu family was banished from his life.

“Brother Zhao, what a coincidence!”
A beautiful figure appeared before Zhao Qiang—it was the female internet celebrity Chu Siqi he had just seen.
The hospital’s dim lighting had made it hard to see her clearly, but now he realized she was quite attractive.
“Aren’t you a big influencer? What do you want?”
Zhao Qiang didn’t want to get mixed up with someone like her. She had plenty of fans online, and a random rumor from her could ruin his life.
People like her were not to be trifled with, so he preferred to avoid her.
Besides, she had even spoken up for him at the end, so he considered the matter closed.
He had a grudge against Liu Ruyan’s family; there was no need to make more enemies.

“Hehe, Zhao Qiang, about what happened at the hospital earlier, I’m sorry—I must have misunderstood you.”
Chu Siqi lowered her head, looking pitiful and vulnerable.
Pouting her lips, though reluctant, she still had to admit her mistake and apologize.
“You were also deceived by that whole family; I was fooled before too.”
“I’m not holding a grudge. I have to go now.”
Zhao Qiang wasn’t eager to engage with Chu Siqi and turned to leave.

“Wait, you have to help me! If you don’t, I’m doomed.”
Chu Siqi blocked his path, eyes filled with urgency and pleading. “Zhao Qiang, please have mercy. I’m truly at my wit’s end. You’re the only one who can help me.”
She bit her lip tightly, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes without realizing it.

“What do you mean? You’re a big influencer—what could I possibly do for you?”
Zhao Qiang stepped back cautiously, eyeing her warily, unsure what game she was playing.

“Today I misunderstood you, and as a result, during my livestream, viewers reported me for spreading false information.”
“Now I’m banned from speaking. Even if the ban is lifted, people will keep reporting me.”
“The whole internet is cursing me. Please, please help me clear my name.”
Chu Siqi had hoped to ride the wave of trending topics, but instead, she was viciously attacked online.
She had waited so long just to see Zhao Qiang.
Only Zhao Qiang, the person involved, could help her now.

“Sorry, I’m busy. As you can see, my situation isn’t much better than yours.”
Zhao Qiang had no time for this and refused outright.

“What will it take for you to help me?”
“I’ll pay you, will that work?”
Chu Siqi pulled out some money from her pocket, intending to compensate Zhao Qiang.
Her influencer career was taking off, and one misstep now could ruin everything.
She wanted to be a good influencer, but today she had stepped right into the mud.

“No need, thanks for the offer, but I don’t want it.”
Zhao Qiang didn’t understand her intentions and naturally refused.
After what happened with Liu Ruyan, he realized that no good fortune fell from the sky.
The more beautiful the woman, the more one should keep their distance.

“Name your price—I can afford it all!”
Spending a little money was nothing to Chu Siqi if it could clear her name.
Only by winning over the netizens could she continue her influencer path.
Otherwise, her career would be cut short. Zhao Qiang was her only hope.

“I’m not interested in money. If you want my help, show me some sincerity.”
Zhao Qiang wanted to make the matter public knowledge. If he hadn’t met Chu Siqi, he had other plans—like contacting journalists to blow the matter wide open.

“What sincerity?”
“You pervert! Don’t even think about it!”
“I’ll never give in to you, so stop dreaming.”
Seeing Zhao Qiang staring at her, Chu Siqi’s expression changed.
She quickly hugged her chest, giving him no chance.
This man looked honest, yet turned out to be this kind of person.

“What are you thinking?”
“Looking at you, with your looks and figure, there’s no way I’d be interested.”
Zhao Qiang shook his head, she was overthinking.
Despite Liu Ruyan’s betrayal, after spending so much time with her, he had grown numb to her beauty and figure—they were top-tier but no longer exciting.

Chu Siqi was furious. She was considered a little beauty by others.
To be slandered like this—if she weren’t in need, she would have punched him hard.
“What’s wrong with my figure and looks? Do you know how many people are after me?”
She said angrily, clearly thinking Zhao Qiang had poor judgment.

“None of my business. I’m leaving.” Zhao Qiang said coldly.
“Don’t go! You promised to help me.”
“I never promised. I won’t settle scores over your false accusations with the Liu family, but don’t expect me to help you.”

“What would it take for you to help me?”
Chu Siqi grew anxious. She wouldn’t be desperate otherwise.

“An apology from you…” Zhao Qiang trailed off, deliberately teasing.

“Really?” Chu Siqi’s eyes lit up with hope. She wouldn’t let go of even the tiniest chance.

“Of course. Here’s what you do: hold your twin ponytails and shout ‘I was wrong’ a hundred times.”
Zhao Qiang proposed a seemingly ‘reasonable’ way to apologize—one that was actually quite humiliating.

“Impossible! Don’t even think about it!”
Apologizing was one thing, but grabbing her ponytails? Absolutely not.

“You have other options. If you can do them, I’ll forgive you.”
“Or do 500 squats, or 200 sit-ups, or run 5,000 meters—your choice.”
Zhao Qiang laid out a series of alternatives.

Chu Siqi was stunned. Was this a normal way to apologize?
It wasn’t an apology; it was punishment.
Making her exercise? She’d rather die.

---

“Brother Zhao, please, can’t you forgive me?”
Chu Siqi acted pitifully, murmuring softly.
She reached out to tug Zhao Qiang’s sleeve, looking utterly miserable.

“If you’re not sincere, then goodbye!”
Such a tactic might work on college students, but Zhao Qiang had just been betrayed by Liu Ruyan and had developed a natural resistance to women.

Chu Siqi looked innocent and cute, with good looks and figure. Just a bit of feigning pity would have most men wrapped around her finger.
But Zhao Qiang was unmoved—beautiful women were not to be trusted.

“No, no, no, I promise! Isn’t that enough?”
“What exactly are you promising?”
Zhao Qiang feigned ignorance, a faint smile playing on his lips.
So this was what it felt like without having to please a woman.
In his past life, he had been too accommodating to Liu Ruyan and ended up like this.
Now he resolved not to be too nice to women—occasionally showing them their place was necessary.

“An apology! I’ll apologize, okay?”
Chu Siqi gritted her teeth. Having to do such a humiliating act was infuriating.
After this ordeal, she vowed to get revenge on Zhao Qiang.

She grabbed her twin ponytails and squeezed her eyes shut.
Ashamed, she whispered softly, moving her lips as if afraid someone might overhear.

“Louder! Are you hungry or what?”
“If you’re going to be half-hearted, then forget it.”
Zhao Qiang recalled her arrogant attitude at the hospital—now was his chance for payback.

“You…”
Chu Siqi’s face flushed crimson as she shouted, “I was wrong! I was wrong…”
Doing such a shameful thing was a first for her.
If her classmates found out, they’d mock her endlessly.

“Are you not eating? Use some force!”
“Straighten those ponytails!”
“Apologies need to be sincere. I won’t accept fake remorse.”
Zhao Qiang barked, and it worked.

Gritting her teeth, Chu Siqi pulled hard on her twin ponytails.
She felt like crying but had no tears—why had she gotten involved in someone else’s mess?
Closing her eyes, she refused to see Zhao Qiang’s smug grin.
She kept repeating “I’m sorry” as fast as possible, hoping the bad man wouldn’t mock her.

“Sorry, sorry… a hundred times.”
“Is that enough now?”
Chu Siqi gasped deeply, and when she opened her eyes, she was stunned.
Around her, a crowd had gathered, pointing and whispering, ready to settle in and watch.

“Ah!”
She froze, feeling utterly mortified.
Her toes curled so tightly she could have scratched out an entire apartment.
Grabbing Zhao Qiang’s arm, she ran away until they reached a secluded spot.

“Ah!”
“This is so embarrassing, I’m going to die!”
“Why didn’t you tell me there were so many people watching?”
Chu Siqi’s face burned with shame, and one could only imagine how humiliated she felt.

“I thought your apology was sincere and didn’t want to interrupt.”
Zhao Qiang offered a seemingly reasonable explanation.

“You… you jerk! You’re ruthless. Is that enough now?”
“Okay, but if you want me to help clear your name, there’s one more condition.”
Zhao Qiang said.

“Don’t be too much. I already did what you asked, and now you want…”
Before she finished, Chu Siqi saw a video playing on Zhao Qiang’s phone—it showed her pulling her ponytails and loudly apologizing.

“Ah… when did you record this? Delete it now!”
She tried to snatch the phone, but Zhao Qiang dodged smoothly.

“Weren’t your eyes closed?”
“I thought you looked cute, so I recorded it.”
“I’m going to kill you! Delete it now…”
Chu Siqi was furious, feeling utterly humiliated.

“Don’t get upset. I uploaded it to the cloud.”
“Even if you take the phone, it’s useless. Just agree to my terms, and I promise your classmates and teachers will never see it.”
“Otherwise, you’ll be tomorrow’s online sensation.”
Zhao Qiang smirked, having her completely under his control.

For an influencer like her, image was everything; if this video went public, the consequences would be disastrous.

“Ah, you’re bullying me…”
Chu Siqi crouched down, tears welling up.
“Stop crying. Crying won’t solve anything.”
“Better to agree to my conditions. Don’t worry, it’s simple and won’t be hard on you.”

“I want you to use your fans to make this matter blow up. Then people will be curious about what happened between me and my wife.”
Zhao Qiang was straightforward, stating his demand clearly.

“What’s there to be curious about? My wife’s affair isn’t a big deal—nothing special to see.”
Chu Siqi shook her head. Such news was common these days.
Nothing interesting unless the story was explosive.

“What if I told you my wife used to be the campus beauty of Imperial Capital University?”
Imperial Capital University was the top institution in Daxia, producing talents across the country.
A campus beauty’s affair would definitely make headlines, especially since she had given birth to twins.

“Campus beauty? Which one?”
Chu Siqi’s interest piqued instantly.

“Liu Ruyan. You’ve heard of her, right?”
“What? Liu Ruyan? Your wife is Liu Ruyan?”
“You know her?”
Zhao Qiang frowned, sensing excitement in her tone.

“I don’t, but my older sister does.”
Chu Siqi’s eyes sparkled—after all, with the title of campus beauty, Liu Ruyan’s name was known to all.

“Your older sister?”
“Who’s your older sister?”
Zhao Qiang was surprised by Liu Ruyan’s notoriety.

“Not important. My older sister was as famous as Liu Ruyan back then.”
“So many pursued Liu Ruyan, didn’t expect you to get lucky.”
Chu Siqi laughed heartily but immediately shut up when Zhao Qiang shot her a sharp glance.

Zhao Qiang gave her a nudge, and she obediently went silent.

“I helped you. Will you delete the video now?”
“Of course. It depends on how you perform. If you help me, I swear I’ll delete it.”
Zhao Qiang dangled the promise like a carrot, keeping her under control.

“Don’t worry, I’ll behave.”
Under pressure, Chu Siqi nodded vigorously.
Once Zhao Qiang deleted the video, she planned to take revenge for everything that happened.

Soon, they reached an agreement to cooperate and help each other.
Zhao Qiang accepted anything beneficial to him. It would be hard for him alone to uncover the man behind Liu Ruyan’s betrayal.
They went to a nearby café to discuss their collaboration. Zhao Qiang shared all he could, no longer afraid of losing face.
Besides his reincarnation, he had accidentally discovered Liu Ruyan had been in contact with another man by phone.
He suspected the children weren’t his, which made perfect sense.

“There’s definitely something fishy. Senior, Liu Ruyan must have been cheating on you.”
“They absolutely refuse to do a paternity test. The kids are probably not yours.”
Chu Siqi slammed the table, angry and dissatisfied.
Zhao Qiang was speechless. If it’s ‘probably not,’ then it’s definitely not his.

“You’re wrong. She chose me after she got pregnant.”
“That’s explosive news—I love hearing this!”
“Wait, let me use the restroom; let’s continue after.”
Zhao Qiang called to check with his parents—the samples had been sent to the testing center.
The report would be ready in one or two working days.
Then he’d slap the results in the Liu family’s faces and see what they’d say.

At that moment, a shout came from the restroom.
Zhao Qiang hurried over and saw Chu Siqi blocked by a young man with an earring and a wicked grin.

“Chu Siqi, we’re family now anyway.”
“Come out and have some fun with me. I know a newly opened bar.”
“My treat—I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.”

“Zhang Feiyang, take your filthy hands off me! I’m not family with you Zhangs.”
Chu Siqi shoved the boy named Zhang Feiyang away, clearly disgusted.
This playboy only knew how to hang around bars.
She thought about how disgusting bars were.

Her older sister Chu Mengyao was engaged to Zhang Feiyang’s elder brother Zhang Zihao, an arrangement made by their grandfathers.
The families got along well, but she had no feelings for Zhang Feiyang.
Besides, there was no engagement between her and Zhang Feiyang.
She had every right to reject his sexual harassment.

“You’re so annoying. Stay away from me.”
“Stop following me—I’m not interested.”
Zhang Feiyang was notorious for his flirtations, and Chu Siqi especially hated him.
His affairs with other women didn’t concern her, but he had set his sights on her.
She couldn’t stand it at all.

“If you don’t agree today, I won’t let you leave.”
Zhang Feiyang spread his arms, blocking her like a thug.
His ugly smile grew wider; today, he thought he had her cornered.

Chu Siqi’s face flushed with anger. Zhang Feiyang wasn’t alone; several followers surrounded her, trapping her.
Helpless, she looked over at Zhao Qiang, who was sipping coffee inside.

“Senior, I’m blocked! Come quickly!”
Chu Siqi shouted. Zhao Qiang glanced toward the noise and immediately turned away without hesitation.

His brow furrowed—he could tell Chu Siqi was in trouble.
But he wasn’t a do-gooder.
The young man blocking her was probably a wealthy heir.
He just met Chu Siqi and had no reason to offend anyone for a junior schoolmate.
His own problems weren’t solved; he couldn’t afford more trouble.

After weighing the pros and cons, Zhao Qiang made a bold decision.
He turned and left, acting as if nothing had happened.
Helping her? Impossible. Cooperation ended!
Junior schoolmate, good luck to you!

Zhang Feiyang’s face darkened, surprised Chu Siqi had brought a man.
Luckily, the man was sensible and left; otherwise, Zhang’s fists wouldn’t be gentle.

“Siqi, your friend doesn’t seem interested in helping, so why don’t you come have fun with me?”
“I promise you’ll have a great time!”
Zhang Feiyang ogled Chu Siqi’s figure, licking his lips.

Chu Siqi clenched her fists, furious with Zhao Qiang.
He had promised cooperation but abandoned her—she was livid.
Fine, if you won’t help, don’t blame me for being ruthless.
She shouted at Zhao Qiang’s back, giving a desperate roar.

“Zhao Qiang, stop right there!”
“Don’t throw a tantrum. I promised to marry you.”
“Shall we register our marriage tomorrow?”
Suddenly, the entire café fell silent.