I Got Together With My Mom's Nemesis - Chapter 1

The police at the station had dialed the wrong number.

Ran Xi and Ran Xu hadn’t spoken in ages since their last fight. They had blocked each other on WeChat and phone calls.

So Kong Lingyi, whom Ran Xi had saved as “Mom” in her contacts, ended up receiving the police’s call.

Ran Xi had originally planned for Ran Xu to see this (her contact), but now the police had seen it first.

The officer handed her the phone. “Here, tell your mom to come get you.”

****

It all started a week ago.

Ran Xi, a sophomore on winter break, had no money and was counting on the meager red envelopes she’d get from visiting relatives during Chinese New Year.

On New Year’s Day, the granny next door gave her two hundred yuan. Ran Xi happily took her granddaughter, Xiao Douding, to buy lollipops. That evening, Ran Xu scolded her.

“You’re twenty years old! How dare you accept red envelopes? That poor old woman lives alone with her granddaughter, while her daughter works in another city. They barely scrape by. How could you take her money?”

After scolding her about the red envelopes, Ran Xu moved on to her failing grades. “Three failed subjects mean expulsion! You’re so good at stacking debuffs, failing exactly two subjects every semester!”

Then she berated her for failing the CET-4 English exam three times. “You’re majoring in English! How embarrassing for me, your mother, who worked abroad for years!”

Ran Xi had heard these lectures countless times. Fed up, she sarcastically guessed what Ran Xu would say next:

“If A-Shuang were here, I’d like to see you try to provoke me like this!”

“If A-Shuang were here, I’d like to see you try to provoke me like this!”

The moment the words left her mouth, Ran Xi knew she was done for. She nimbly dodged Ran Xu’s descending slap, knocking over several chairs in the process, and then burst into loud sobs, aiming her cries at the front door.

Within a minute, the neighbor Granny had rushed over, drawn by the commotion.

“Aiyo, aiyo, she’s just a little girl! Why are you scolding her so harshly? Can’t you be happy during the New Year?”

Ran Xu’s tone softened somewhat when addressing the elderly woman, but she still insisted on scolding Ran Xi for her misdeeds.

“No, no, our Xi Xi isn’t listening!” Granny covered Ran Xi’s ears, frowning and silently urging Ran Xu to stop with a pointed look.

Ran Xu ceased her tirade, her chest heaving with anger. Ran Xi couldn’t suppress the smile twitching at the corners of her mouth.

“Granny…” Ran Xi turned her head, forcing out a few tears. Granny, her heart aching with sympathy, led her back to the neighboring house.

Seated on the sofa, the six-year-old Xiao Douding pressed two candies into Ran Xi’s hand, urging her to eat them.

These candies had been bought earlier that day. Ran Xi pulled out the remaining 180 yuan from her pocket, hesitated, then added the 100 yuan bill she’d hidden in her phone case, making it 200 yuan. She went to the kitchen to return the money to Granny.

“I can’t take your money…” Ran Xi knew Granny would refuse, so she firmly pressed the bills into her pocket. “I’ll ask the convenience store owner in a couple of days. She should be open even during the New Year. I can pick up extra shifts there!”

With that, she hurried back to the living room to continue playing with Xiao Douding.

She spent several hours eating fried meatballs, drinking yogurt, and killing time. Only after filling her stomach did she dare go home.

The house was dark and silent. Ran Xu must have already gone to bed, so Ran Xi tiptoed into her bedroom.

The full-length mirror in her room had been a gift from the convenience store owner, a kind woman who often treated her to sandwiches.

Ran Xi stripped off her clothes and stood before the mirror, studying her reflection.

She had an innocent face, but her body was surprisingly well-developed.

It’s such a waste to have this beautiful figure and not be able to live a better life, she thought.

Ran Xi believed looks were tied to wealth. If she were rich, she’d dress like a flamboyant butterfly, attracting suitors who’d shower her with flowers and invitations. She’d scoff at their poverty, telling them to get in line with the other foreign suitors.

But she had no money to dress up, so she had to stay a plain little girl.

No one sent her flowers and meals…

Did sandwiches count?

Still, her innocent looks made it easy to play the victim, especially since Granny next door really did cook the best food.

Out of 365 days a year, she ate at Granny’s place for 200 of them.

Good food meant a good figure, right? She could try a new way to become rich.

Like seduction.

Rich women had seen so many flashy butterflies. Surely they’d want to try something different now and then, like a pure little girl like her?

In bed, she’d imagine them saying, “You know, girls like you are so boring in bed. You blush and get shy before we even start.”

But she’d be ready for that. She’d take off the black lace lingerie she’d prepared, lean in for a kiss, and if needed, even touch herself a little, showing off years of self-practice to prove her devotion.

But the rich woman was shocked. “So your innocence was all an act…”

At times like that, she would wrap herself in a blanket, squeeze out a few pitiful tears, and plead, “Sister, I’m afraid you’ll hate me. I was just trying to learn those things to make you happy. I’m sorry, please don’t be mad at me…”

Then the wealthy woman would kiss away her tears, her heart aching with tenderness.

Before long, the rich woman would be head over heels in love with her.

Not that she needed them to be truly in love. A brief period of infatuation, followed by a generous payout, was all she required.

Ran Xi had a clear understanding of herself:

She would never live in poverty again.

She would become wealthy!

She didn’t need love. She had seen enough of it through her two mothers, Ran Xu and Ran Shuang.

True love was useless, only making their already struggling family even poorer.

The old window creaked and rattled in the winter night’s howling wind, shattering her dreams.

Ran Xi sighed and slipped on her faded light blue nightgown.

Perhaps the only good thing Ran Xu had ever done for her was installing the floor heating in this dilapidated house.

Oh…

Ran Shuang had installed it when she was still alive, worried her beloved would get cold.

Love-struck fools are beyond saving.

Ran Xi felt a headache coming on. Before closing her eyes to sleep, she secretly vowed to never become someone consumed by romance in this lifetime.

Her only worry in life should be—

With so much money, how should I even spend it all?!

Later, she dreamed that she won the lottery. But on the way to claim her prize, she got stuck in a massive traffic jam. Then the lottery officials insisted on seeing all sorts of documents, and she couldn’t find her ticket anywhere.

Finally, when she felt the ticket in her pocket, she threw her head back and laughed triumphantly but only to wake up.

Damn it! They won’t even let me finish my get-rich-quick dream.

She grabbed her water cup and went to the living room for a refill. As soon as she opened the door, she saw flames flickering near the sofa.

“Mom! Why are you burning paper at home again?!” Ran Xi was terrified, and she could clearly hear Ran Xu’s muttering.

Her mother was missing her deceased lover, Ran Shuang.

“Shut up!” Ran Xu shoved her aside. “You always ruin things at times like this!”

Ran Xu used to burn paper offerings secretly outside, but someone reported her, and she was fined and detained for a few days. Recently, she’d simply started burning them at home.

“Why can’t you just go to the cemetery?” Ran Xi shouted. “You can burn as much as you want there! If you go late at night, maybe you two can even have a little chat!”

“Don’t talk nonsense in front of A-Shuang!” Ran Xu snapped. “I’ve raised you all these years, and you’ve never given me a moment’s peace!”

“Raised me? You brought me home when I was four, but Ran Shuang was the one who took care of me. You only adopted me because she loved children! After she died, you couldn’t wait to get rid of me, could you?”

The two women were polar opposites: one hated children, while the other adored them. Ran Xi was adopted at four and raised for eight years by Ran Shuang, who loved children, before dying of lung cancer.

This left a mother and daughter who harbored nothing but resentment for each other, their daily lives marked by mutual loathing.

“Exactly! If it weren’t for A-Shuang, do you really think I’d waste money raising a child?”

“How much money have you actually spent on me? You sold the house to pay for your girlfriend’s medical bills! The house is gone, and so is she. This old place is constantly falling apart, light bulbs burning out, pipes bursting! And the circuit breaker trips every few days! Did you ever help me when I asked? Granny next door used to help me, but now I have to fix everything myself!”

“Twenty years old and I still have to coddle you like a baby? Do you want me to chew your meals for you and spoon-feed you too?”

“What kind of mother are you?!” Ran Xi was furious. “Are you raising me like a dog? When I was little, I didn’t eat or drink much, but now that I’m older, you can’t afford to support me? And you think I’m annoying and noisy?”

“Fine! You’re so capable! Go find your own big house to live in! Don’t stay in my cramped little place. I can’t afford to support a princess like you!”

The brazier on the floor had gone out. Ran Xu didn’t hit Ran Xi, but she shoved her out the door and locked it behind her.

The blast of cold air made Ran Xi shiver immediately. She pounded on the door. “Ran Xu! Let me in!”

“Ran Xu! Ran Xu!”

When her angry shouts got no response, she cried out, “Mom, I’m sorry! Please let me come home… It’s so cold…”

The peephole had been covered with a band-aid from the inside. Ran Xi couldn’t even tell if Ran Xu was still in the living room.

After waiting several minutes with no response, Ran Xi kicked the door angrily. “I won’t come back even if you beg me! Don’t regret this!”

The granny and her granddaughter next door must have been asleep already, so Ran Xi didn’t want to disturb them. She hugged her arms and went downstairs, planning to find a 24-hour convenience store to warm up.

But it was New Year’s Day, and even in the early hours, people were still setting off fireworks everywhere.

The convenience store entrance was crowded with people buying sparklers. Ran Xi glanced at the scene from a distance and turned away.

She hated the cold, but she hated being stared at even more. She found a deserted corner, squatted down, and rubbed her face with her hands, breathing into them to warm them.

Her nightgown had short sleeves and exposed her calves. She looked down at her swollen feet and poked the back of one. She barely felt anything.

The tear stains had dried, making her cheeks burn. She must look awful.

Ran Xi couldn’t cry anymore. All she could see was the warm breath escaping her mouth.

Not wanting to waste a single drop, she cupped her hands and pressed them against her cheeks, blinking slowly.

Whenever someone passed by, she deliberately avoided eye contact, afraid they might try to talk to her. If anyone called out from a distance to ask what was wrong, she would simply lower her head and shake it.

She didn’t trust strangers. She just needed to hold on until six in the morning, when she could go next door. Granny would be up by then.

Her phone was still in her hand. It was past three already, just a few more hours. She could manage.

Before long, she heard a car approaching.

But the car stopped not far from her. Thinking she was blocking the way, Ran Xi took a small step back.

Her feet had gone numb. She stumbled backward and fell straight into a snowdrift hidden in the bushes. A warm, soft sensation washed over her, the snow was actually warm!

She couldn’t get up. Her bright red hands pressed against the snow as she twisted her body awkwardly.

The car still hadn’t moved.

Normally, Ran Xi would have cursed out the driver’s family, but right now she needed to conserve her energy.

The car window rolled down, and a woman’s voice called out.

“Need help?”

Ran Xi shook her head without looking up.

“Ran Xi, do you need help?”

Hearing her name, Ran Xi startled and looked up. She saw a strikingly beautiful woman.

The woman wore a light brown coat, her red lips and long, wavy hair framing deep, sharp eyes.

Ran Xi recognized her. This was Kong Lingyi, who had never gotten along with Ran Xu since they were children.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The woman stepped out of the car, her high heels clicking on the slick pavement.

She approached and draped a large coat over Ran Xi’s shoulders.

The coat’s fluffy lining felt as warm as if it had just been pulled from a fire.

“If you don’t need help, I’ll be going then?”

Ran Xi couldn’t shake the feeling that Kong Lingyi was teasing her, not actually about to leave.

She nodded vigorously, then belatedly shook her head.

The woman laughed. “So, should I stay or go?”

If Ran Xi weren’t freezing like a stray dog, she would have snapped, “Are you going to save me or not?”

But now, she could only pitifully extend her swollen, red hand and clutch at the woman’s pant leg.

Kong Lingyi’s lips curved into a smile as she lowered her gaze to Ran Xi. She shifted her leg slightly, tugging at Ran Xi’s grip. Ran Xi tightened her hold, but when she looked up, she couldn’t decipher the meaning in Kong Lingyi’s eyes.

Is this woman really treating me like a dog to tease…?

Is it because I’m Ran Xu’s daughter? Does she just find me pathetic?

The daughter of her enemy, so miserable during the New Year… anyone would laugh.

Kong Lingyi took a step back, effortlessly freeing her pants leg from Ran Xi’s grasp.

As Ran Xi watched the woman walk back toward the car, her eyes grew even darker.

A moment later, Kong Lingyi turned to look at her. “Aren’t you coming?”

Ran Xi finally smiled. She stood up abruptly, stars dancing before her eyes.

Her legs throbbed and ached, as if countless ants were crawling over them.

She limped after Kong Lingyi, not daring to hesitate.

Kong Lingyi personally opened the passenger door for her.

“Get in.”

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