After Losing My Memory, I Went After My Archenemy - Chapter 20

It was another weekend, and having been pulled out of bed early for a shopping trip, the eldest daughter, Xia Rou, was full of complaints, which had been airing from one end of the central mall to the other.

“It’s Big Aunt’s birthday, why not just have someone pick out a gift? Why come out so early to select one, making it seem so grand? In previous years, when it was your birthday, the gifts they sent never seemed to require this much effort.”

“Rou Rou, others are others, and we are us. In a family, being too calculating will only lead to a loss of harmony,” said Wu Daiyun.

Xia Rou folded her arms and pressed her lips downward in resignation. “Fine, whatever makes you happy. I’m done with it.”

“How can you be done? I asked you to come with me to help offer suggestions.”

The young lady yawned repeatedly, pointed casually, and said with utter indifference, “There, that one.”

Wu Daiyun was momentarily stunned before she lovingly tapped her daughter’s nose. “Do you want our family to have a hard time tonight? You know your Big Aunt is most sensitive about the color red, and yet you pick a bag in that color for her.”

After the selection was finally over, it was almost noon. The mother and daughter had lunch together at a restaurant outside before heading back.

Xia Rou rushed upstairs, put on an eye mask, and caught up on her sleep until the evening when she reluctantly got up, got dressed, and set off with her parents.

In truth, the two families used to live quite close, but then Big Aunt claimed she was unwell and needed a quiet place to recuperate, so Big Uncle’s family simply moved to Dongshan Mansion. Every time they went there, it was a half-hour drive, winding around the mountainside. One wrong turn could easily send the car plunging into the sea, which was why Xia Rou had always been unwilling to go.

When their family of three arrived, Third Uncle’s family was also there, and everyone began the usual polite small talk, pretending to be very close despite rarely seeing each other—a ritual Xia Rou found incredibly hypocritical.

“Xia Rou, I heard from Zhizhi that you had an accident during the school anniversary performance this year. Elders often advise not to be too attention-seeking; it can easily create enemies and is bad for oneself.” The person speaking was Third Aunt, Lu Jiaying.

Before Xia Rou could retort, Wu Daiyun stepped in to defend her. “Third Sister, why don’t you say that our Rou Rou is just too outstanding? Too many people are jealous of her. At least the main thing is that she wasn’t hurt. Ah, being too outstanding isn’t always good; it’s easy to be envied by petty people.”

Xia Rou understood the implication in her mother’s words and couldn’t help but chuckle to herself.

Lu Jiaying’s face stiffened slightly. After all, rumors had persisted in the family for years about the Third Branch envying the Second Branch. At that moment, she could only play along. “Who would dare say our Second Brother’s girl isn’t outstanding? Like father, like daughter. Xia Rou should thank herself for having an excellent father!”

Those familiar with the Summer family’s past knew that Lu Jiaying had once been infatuated with the second son, Xia Jianye. Had Xia Jianye not been devoted solely to Xia Rou’s mother, Wu Daiyun, perhaps she wouldn’t be here today.

Hearing the other party openly praise her father, Xia Rou felt like she had swallowed a fly. Moreover, she noticed her mother’s face wasn’t good either, so she seized the moment to counter. “That’s right. If my dad wasn’t outstanding, how could my mom have fallen for him? Right, Mom~”

Wu Daiyun looked a little embarrassed and motioned for Xia Rou to stop saying such things.

Seeing Lu Jiaying put in her place, Xia Rou felt they had won a round.

Xia Rou had been taught since childhood to respect elders, but no one had specified that every kind of elder needed to be respected.

Not far away, Xia Zhi had observed the entire exchange. He scurried over and led his mother away to prevent any further embarrassment.

Dinner time arrived.

Everyone who was chatting moved to the dining room. Once everyone was seated, the family’s eldest sister-in-law, today’s birthday person, was the first to speak.

Xia Rou’s perspective on people was always sharp. She didn’t know why, but since she was little, she had felt that Big Aunt deliberately adopted a ‘mother of the realm’ posture, as if she were an ancient empress dowager. Of course, Big Aunt’s dislike for her was also one of the reasons Xia Rou harbored this prejudice.

Next, the younger brothers and sisters, and then the younger generation like Xia Rou, offered their birthday toasts in turn.

After the numerous, tedious ‘ceremonial steps’ were complete, everyone could finally start eating.

Although Xia Rou disliked attending family events, tonight’s dinner was quite good and suited her palate.

She buried her head in her food. If she heard the elders say nice things about her, she listened a bit more; if they said unpleasant things, she pretended not to hear. This was a skill she had cultivated over years at the family dinner table and it didn’t affect her appetite one bit.

After dinner was the post-meal tea session.

This was typically when the men gathered in one room to talk big and discuss current and ancient affairs, while the women were in another room catching up and exchanging gossip.

As for the younger generation, they were free to entertain themselves.

When they were younger, everyone was less complicated, and there were fewer conflicts. Xia Rou could still play with her cousins, but now, she wished to hide as far away as possible…

Intentionally avoiding people, Xia Rou went up to the second-floor lounge by herself to read. She only asked for a cup of rose black tea to be brought in.

Just as she was absorbed in her book, someone suddenly burst into the room, bringing with them a repulsive stench of Alpha pheromones.

To Xia Rou, the scent of any Alpha she disliked was always foul.

“What are you doing here?” Too lazy to turn around, or even look up, Xia Rou’s tone was unwelcoming.

Xia Zhuowei sneered. “How interesting. This is my house. Isn’t it my prerogative to come and go as I please?”

Too lazy to start a conflict, Xia Rou forcefully snapped her book shut and immediately stood up, ready to walk out.

Unexpectedly, Xia Zhuowei forcefully grabbed her wrist. He smiled playfully and said, “Why leave the moment I arrive? When did we, as brother and sister, become so distant?”

“Let go of me, please!” Even though it hurt, Xia Rou didn’t want to admit it. Perhaps due to a bodily instinct, she felt he was somewhat dangerous. No normal person would release that kind of mating pheromone near his own sister, and it made her feel utterly disgusted.

“Since when? Xia Rou, you’ve been avoiding me like the plague. Didn’t you used to like following me around when you were little?”

As the Alpha spoke, his grip on her hand tightened even more, his fingers seemingly wanting to embed themselves into her flesh.

Not wanting to waste any more words on him, Xia Rou forcefully kicked his shin. As he winced in pain, she tried to pull away. To her surprise, after only a couple of steps, Xia Zhuowei went further, directly hugging her from behind.

“Let’s see where you can run to today!”

The Alpha possessively trapped her. Tempted by the scent of her hair, he couldn’t help but lean in and sniff her neck.

An Omega’s neck is an area as important as their chastity.

Sensing the spray of hot breath nearing her neck, Xia Rou cried out in alarm. In a moment of desperation, she lowered her head and bit down hard on his hand. The taste of blood instantly spread across her teeth. It was only then that Xia Zhuowei released her. Xia Rou seized the chance and ran out of the room for her life, not daring to look back.

In the living room, the men were talking loudly, the air thick with smoke.

The next second, the door was slammed open.

Xia Rou stood there, biting her lower lip, looking utterly wronged.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Xia Jianye couldn’t help but ask.

Xia Rou directly recounted Xia Zhuowei’s actions one by one, accusing him of his vile behavior to her father and, more importantly, to his father, seeking protection and justice.

Big Uncle, Xia Jianping, listened in utter disbelief, his words defending his son. “Zhuowei was probably just playing around with you. You are siblings; some things shouldn’t be said lightly.”

“That’s right, Rou Rou. Is there some misunderstanding?” Xia Jianye asked.

“Why would I lie about something like this?!”

Xia Rou accused, her voice unintentionally rising a few octaves.

Big Uncle’s face was flushed with anger. He immediately commanded the mansion’s staff, “Call that brat in here!”

At the same time, the women from the adjacent room had all heard the commotion and gathered.

“Mom…” Seeing her mother, Xia Rou sought refuge with her first.

“What happened here?” Big Aunt, Ling Xiaohong, looked around, sensing the tense atmosphere in the room.

“You can ask that good-for-nothing when he gets here,” Xia Jianping said impatiently.

Not long after, Xia Zhuowei reluctantly sauntered in from outside. The moment Xia Rou caught sight of him from the corner of her eye, her entire body reflexively moved farther away.

“Zhuowei, what exactly happened between you and Xia Rou?” Big Aunt asked worriedly, while simultaneously giving her son a look to not be afraid, that she had his back.

Xia Zhuowei scoffed. He stood there with his head held high, showing no sign of guilt, and explained the sequence of events very ‘honestly.’ He described wanting to chat with Xia Rou and share some sibling affection, only to be rejected and then falsely accused by her of harassment.

“Xia Rou, you say Zhuowei harassed you. Do you have any proof?” Big Uncle asked.

Xia Rou immediately showed the red marks on her arm to everyone.

Seeing this, Big Aunt said, “This doesn’t prove that our Zhuowei did anything to you.”

“Then what would count as proof? Do I have to have his bite marks on my scent gland for it to count?” Xia Rou yelled at the woman.

“Haven’t you made enough of a scene?”

Perhaps it was Xia Rou’s current disrespect towards an elder, or perhaps her words were too explicit in front of everyone, but Xia Jianye furiously slapped her.

A burning sting spread across her cheek. Xia Rou looked at her father in disbelief.

“Apologize to your brother!” Xia Jianye said again.

“Why should I apologize? He’s the one who did something wrong, not me.”

Feeling more and more wronged, just as tears welled up and were about to fall, Xia Rou angrily ran out the door. She didn’t want to cry in front of those people.

“Rou Rou!” Wu Daiyun prepared to chase after her.

Xia Jianye stopped her. “Let her be. She’s becoming completely lawless.”

“Second Brother, Xia Rou’s temper…” Xia Jianchun trailed off. He looked back at Lu Jiaying. The couple had a bit of a watching-the-drama-unfold attitude.

With Big Brother and Sister-in-law above him, and his younger Brother and Sister-in-law below, and everyone watching, Xia Jianye felt completely out of place, caught in the middle. He had to appear impartial, yet he couldn’t openly favor his own daughter.

“I see that your Xia Rou increasingly has no regard for me, her Big Aunt,” Ling Xiaohong sighed.

Xia Jianye lowered his head and listened awkwardly, saying nothing.

Wu Daiyun silently glanced around. Her own daughter was the victim of bullying, yet now their family was being made out to be the villains. Overcome with indignation, she simply dropped a terse, “I’m going to check on the child,” and turned to leave.

Searching all the way to the villa’s main gate, Wu Daiyun was only told by the guard that her daughter had already taken a car down the mountain. She immediately called her phone, but there was no answer.

As the car drove down the mountain, strings of tears finally broke free, though Xia Rou didn’t cry out loud. She couldn’t remember the last time she had cried like this. The reason for the emotional breakdown wasn’t just the anger and shame from being harassed, but also the distrust and hurt from her closest family member.

She cried until she was exhausted, then sat still in the back seat, staring blankly. By now, the car had driven off the mountain and into the city. The driver, who had been silent the entire way, couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, are we going straight home?”

“…I don’t want to go back.”

Xia Rou stared out the window, her eyes hollow, her long lashes still damp.

“Drop me off at the next intersection,” Xia Rou added.

“But Miss…”

“Uncle Liu, please.” Xia Rou paused and forced a very strained smile. “Don’t worry, nothing will happen. I just want to walk around by myself.”

Liu Shu hesitated with difficulty, then finally said, “Please call me anytime, Miss. I’ll come pick you up.”

And so, Xia Rou got out at the intersection and wandered alone on the street.

The night wind was cool, and she wasn’t wearing much, so she wrapped her shawl tightly around her shoulders. Thinking about her title as one of the Four Heiresses of Linlu, it felt increasingly like a mockery.

Others only saw the superficial glamour of their family, but they didn’t know that the so-called Summer family was ultimately ruled by Big Uncle, and her father was controlled by him, both in terms of familial relations and corporate shares.

So cold.

But she didn’t want to turn back. At least not tonight. She hoped they wouldn’t find her.

At ten o’clock in the evening, a Japanese restaurant in the city center closed its business.

Lin Xi, who worked there, went to the staff lounge to change out of her uniform. She was unaware that the door was quietly pushed open. As the door closed again, the scent of Omega pheromones spread through the air.

Lin Xi subconsciously frowned and held her breath. As she turned around, she saw the owner’s daughter pressing against her, having even torn off her scent patch.

“Please respect yourself!”

She pushed the person away with a powerful and merciless shove.

“I like you so much. If you agree to be with me, you won’t have to work here anymore. I can have my dad put you in charge of this restaurant.”

Seeing that physical seduction wasn’t working, the Omega resorted to offering practical benefits.

“No need.”

Heartlessly pushing the other person aside, Lin Xi quickly fled, not wanting to stay in that room for another moment.

“Hey, are you trying to get fired?”

The owner’s daughter chased her out, furious and threatening to dismiss her.

Lin Xi was just reaching the front door of the Japanese restaurant. At the threat, she paused, but the next second, she continued to walk away without looking back.

The evening bus wasn’t very crowded. Lin Xi got on and found a single window seat in the back. She put on her headphones, and the entire noisy world instantly fell silent.

She had experienced harassment like tonight’s more than once. Rather than saying she was used to it, it was more accurate to say she had grown numb.

The bus stopped and started. Lin Xi turned her head to watch the streetlights pass by the window, but her eyes involuntarily lit up when she unexpectedly saw a familiar figure.

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