After Claiming a Wealthy Family in My Brother's Place, They Went on a Killing Spree

[A shameless, scheming pretty boy who pretends to be a top student × a cool, hardworking genius older brother who has his back] Chen Qiao has a half-brother on his mother’s side. Raised without much supervision, he never knew why his mother kept such a tight rein on his brother, demanding he become an all-around elite, while letting Chen Qiao get away with whatever he pleased. That is, until the old-money Zhao family of the capital came to claim their son. Chen Qiao finally understood. His brother was born into a wealthy family, and sooner or later he would have to go back and live as a young master. He had thought that he and his brother, with Chen Qiao fighting roosters, walking dogs, and getting into trouble on the streets, would never cross paths again. Who would have guessed that his brother, so strikingly handsome and refined, would suddenly ask the red-haired Chen Qiao, “Qiao Qiao, do you want to go back to the Zhao family?” His cold, self-reliant genius brother was at a critical stage in his research, with a limitless future ahead of him. He had no intention of returning to the Zhao family he hated to play the young master. After much thought, he found the younger brother whose skills were just right for the job: a professional con artist. Innumerable riches, mountains of gold and silver, power and status. Seventeen-year-old Chen Qiao, wearing jeans with the knees worn through, rubbed his hands excitedly. His pretty eyes lit up as he said: “Brother! I’m in!” * In his seventeen years of life, Chen Qiao had spent twelve of them swindling people. He was a mischievous little menace who could talk anyone into anything, earning their trust with nothing but his exceptionally beautiful face. Before he left, his biological brother warned him that the Zhao family’s three brothers were all man-eating tigers: eldest brother Zhao Mingqian, who ruled the business world; second brother Zhao Mingji, sly as a fox; and youngest brother Zhao Mingrui, a genius who kept to himself. All of them would be looking for weaknesses. He would do everything he could to help Chen Qiao deflect their suspicions, right up until they succeeded in getting revenge and moving the family assets. At last, the wealthy Zhao family welcomed home the third young master they had lost for years. None of the three brothers was happy about it. They sat on the sofa, sizing him up, until their third brother lifted his head. The beauty mark at the corner of his eye sparkled like a star, and he gave them a cheerful, toothy grin. “Brothers, I’m Qiao Qiao.” He was a skilled cook, gentle and kind, considerate, good-tempered, athletic, and an excellent student. He never did anything bad, got along with everyone, and was incredibly popular. Even Old Master Zhao gradually grew so fond of him that he couldn’t bear to be apart from him. He even brought Chen Qiao to the family press conference. Chen Qiao stood beside Old Master Zhao, with Zhao Mingqian at his side. His eyes met those of his brother, who stood in a corner below the stage with his baseball cap pulled low. His smile curled up despite himself. Zhao Mingqian clasped his hand coolly. “What are you smiling so beautifully about?” “Nothing.” Chen Qiao grinned and shook his head, his eyes full of tenderness. “I was looking at my brother.” Zhao Mingji’s smile turned strained. At home, Zhao Mingrui switched off the television. * Zhao Mingqian had long suspected something was off about Chen Qiao’s identity. A greedy little boy, he knew, and he forgave him. Chen Qiao had been by his side for so long, and his whole heart and gaze were fixed on him, his brother. Lying was a small matter. That was until Chen Qiao convinced the Zhao family to send him overseas to study. The moment he boarded the plane, he vanished without a trace. Zhao Mingqian searched everywhere, from north to south, and nearly went mad several times. In the end, all he got were a few scraps of news and a single photo. Chen Qiao was walking hand in hand with a young man on a foreign street. He was there when the man received an award, they wore the same scarf, and Chen Qiao looked at him with the same gaze Zhao Mingqian had once seen. Zhao Mingqian nearly went insane. He knew Chen Qiao was a liar, but he hadn’t known he was lying about more than Zhao had imagined. Chen Qiao truly did love his brother, but that brother wasn’t him. Chen Qiao no longer needed the Zhao family’s support. He slipped away and cut all ties, so utterly heartless. No one knew where he came from. They only knew the two of them were from extraordinary backgrounds and had bright futures ahead. And Chen Qiao hadn’t even chosen Zhao Mingqian’s other two younger brothers, as he sometimes did in his nightmares. He didn’t care about Zhao Mingqian in the slightest. PS: 1. Qiao was adopted, and the older brother isn’t his biological brother, so the older brother is the top. Their romance develops after their identities are revealed. 2. The other characters also have plenty of scenes. What a glorious love rivalry! Theme: Take responsibility for your own choices.