I Got Together With My Mom's Nemesis - Chapter 2

“Will there be anyone else here?” Ran Xi asked.

Kong Lingyi perfectly fit Ran Xi’s image of a wealthy woman: beautiful, affluent, and the kind who wouldn’t drag things out—someone who would cut ties cleanly and pay up promptly.

But Ran Xi currently lacked the energy to play up her charms. Her hands were too cold; she could only rub the fuzzy blanket to warm them quickly.

The car’s heater was blasting, and the sudden rush of oxygen made her ears ring for a long while.

Kong Lingyi reached from the back seat and handed her a thermos.

Ran Xi leaned in to take a sip, but the woman moved the cup away. “Hold it yourself.”

The cup was icy cold. Ran Xi pursed her lips, and only after seeing no disgust on the woman’s face did she cautiously take a sip.

She immediately coughed from the heat, sticking out her tongue to cool it.

She glanced at Kong Lingyi and noticed a faint smile at the corner of the woman’s lips.

Was this deliberate…?

It was.

Given Ran Xi’s usual temper…

Never mind. She blew on the liquid and took small, careful sips.

The car didn’t start immediately, and Ran Xi had no idea what the woman intended to do next. After her body warmed up slightly, her mind cleared, and she finally began to study the woman in the driver’s seat.

The car’s interior lights cast a particularly dim, yellowish glow. The woman was looking down, replying to messages on her phone, the light softening the sharp edges of her features.

“Ran Xu’s temper has been terrible these past two years,” Kong Lingyi said.

The sound of the phone locking echoed in the car. Kong Lingyi looked directly at Ran Xi, noticed the snowflakes on her shoulder, and lowered her gaze to straighten her collar.

“It’s always been terrible, not just these past two years!” Ran Xi retorted, still seething from being kicked out of her home on New Year’s Day. She’d rather wander the streets than return.

Kong Lingyi glanced at her, thinking, Even non-biological children inherit traits?

“How long have you been outside?” Kong Lingyi asked, calculating where they should go.

She had only stopped because she saw Ran Xi. If it had been a stranger, she wouldn’t be bothered calling the police.

Ran Xi unlocked her ice-cold phone. “…About an hour and a half, I think.”

“Have you eaten?”

“I had fried meatballs and yogurt around 9 PM,” Ran Xi answered honestly, hoping the woman would ask what she wanted to eat next.

But it was the Lunar New Year, and many restaurants were closed. Kong Lingyi didn’t seem like the type to cook either.

“The grandma next door gave it to me. Ran Xu didn’t prepare anything for the New Year,” Ran Xi added after taking a few sips of hot water.

She wouldn’t allow anyone to have a good impression of Ran Xu.

The woman remained silent for a long time. Ran Xi didn’t know what to say and subconsciously reached for her phone, only to withdraw her hand, chilled to the bone.

Finally, Kong Lingyi started the car and drove to a nearby restaurant. “There’s a hot pot place still open.”

Ran Xi swallowed hard, her eyes lighting up. “Really?”

She then slumped back in her seat, crestfallen. “I don’t have any money. Are you really being this nice to me? You and my mom… aren’t you… aren’t you…”

Enemies?

Ran Xu would occasionally drag Kong Lingyi into her rants.

“Adult conflicts shouldn’t involve children,” Kong Lingyi said.

Ran Xi was touched by this. “Do you like kids?” she blurted out.

“No, I don’t.”

Ran Xi immediately fell silent. She couldn’t quite grasp this woman’s temperament and wasn’t sure if she appreciated flattery.

The less I say, the better, she thought, fearing Kong Lingyi might kick her out of the car.

A faint scent of fireworks lingered in the air. Ran Xi sniffed, pressed her face against the window, and tried to pinpoint the source of the slightly acrid smell.

“What are you doing?” Kong Lingyi glanced at her curiously.

As if they had never encountered creatures with such distinct personalities before, they noticed each other’s slightest movements.

“Do you have fireworks in your car?” Ran Xi asked, avoiding direct eye contact.

“There’s an empty box in the trunk I haven’t gotten around to throwing away,” Kong Lingyi replied casually. “If you want some, I can pull over later and let you buy some at a store.”

Ran Xi shook her head.

All she wanted right now was to fill her stomach. This wasn’t the time for spiritual nourishment through fireworks.

Though if she offered to give me the money instead, I wouldn’t mind at all.

“Do you enjoy setting off fireworks?” Ran Xi asked, desperate to find some common ground. If she could latch onto one of Kong Lingyi’s interests, she could butter her up with compliments and keep her in a good mood.

Eating extra plates of meat at a hotpot restaurant is always a good deal.

“My niece loves it. I just got back from her place.”

“…Oh.” Ran Xi nodded blankly, suddenly feeling a pang of envy for the little girl.

As they parked near the hotpot restaurant, Kong Lingyi noticed Ran Xi’s thin pajamas and instructed her, “There are some clothes in the back seat. They belong to my niece, who’s about your size. Go change into them.”

With several people milling around the restaurant, the woman got out first, using a blanket to shield Ran Xi as she quickly ducked into the back seat.

“Let me know when you’re done,” Kong Lingyi said, standing outside the car with her back to Ran Xi, scanning the restaurant for available tables.

Ran Xi opened the clothing bag. All the tags were still attached, but the colors were rather vibrant.

At this age, she preferred dressing maturely and was obsessed with black, white, and gray outfits.

This little girl must be much younger than me, she thought. But she’s already as tall as me? I’m twenty years old!

Ran Xi didn’t have time to dwell on these thoughts. She quickly slipped into a set of clothes and pants.

When she opened the car door, the woman turned at the sound. The first thing she noticed was Ran Xi’s slippers.

“No shoes or socks, just make do for now. It’ll be warmer inside the restaurant,” Kong Lingyi said, hurrying toward the entrance. Ran Xi immediately followed.

The hotpot restaurant was bustling with activity. Ran Xi hadn’t expected so many people to be dining out during the Lunar New Year.

Are all these families not serving meals at home for the holiday?

If so, they’re just as pitiful as me.

Ran Xi tried to group herself with the cheerful diners, thinking that way, it wouldn’t just be them enjoying themselves, nor would she be the only one feeling miserable.

The main dining area was full, leaving only the expensive private rooms available.

The prices for private rooms had also surged for the holiday, unless reserved in advance.

Kong Lingyi didn’t say anything, and Ran Xi couldn’t detect even the slightest frown on her face.

Well, it’s just hotpot. It probably isn’t expensive for her, right?

Ran Xi had heard from Ran Xu that this woman ran a perfume business with her own studio.

Though the niche brand wasn’t widely known, its high-quality ingredients and handcrafted processes had cultivated a loyal clientele.

She must be making a lot of money. Otherwise, Ran Xu wouldn’t always drag Kong Lingyi’s name into her rants about the family’s poverty.

Kong Lingyi handed her the menu. “No need for formalities. Order whatever you like.”

Ran Xi hesitated, glancing up at Kong Lingyi’s expression between ordering dishes.

She was terrified of seeing the same look of disapproval on Kong Lingyi’s face that Ran Xu often wore when Ran Xi spent money. The mere thought made her heart race uncontrollably.

Ran Xi ordered a plate of meat, two vegetable dishes, and the cheapest tomato broth hot pot.

Kong Lingyi glanced at the order and asked with a smile, “Didn’t I tell you not to hold back?”

She added several more dishes, upgraded the broth to a yin-yang pot, and noticed that Ran Xi licked her lips whenever her favorite foods were mentioned.

“If you need more dishes or broth, just call me over or scan the QR code on the table to order.”

As the waiter left with the menu, Ran Xi’s smile grew wider, barely concealed.

“Are you always this kind to children? You’re such a good person.”

“Ran Xu didn’t teach you to say that, did she?” Kong Lingyi crossed her arms, her posture relaxed and casual.

Ran Xi didn’t know how to respond. Anyone even slightly familiar with their relationship would know Ran Xu would never teach her to praise Kong Lingyi.

Yet Kong Lingyi deliberately asked the question, knowing the answer. She seemed to enjoy seeing Ran Xi flustered.

“Should I return this to you?” Ran Xi asked, stroking the soft fabric of the sleeve.

The garment felt remarkably thin, yet it proved surprisingly warm and not at all bulky when worn.

Kong Lingyi raised an eyebrow slightly. “Just wash it and give it back?”

“…Huh?” Ran Xi hadn’t expected that answer.

“Just teasing,” Kong Lingyi chuckled. “There are still two more sets. They’re all yours. I have no use for them anyway.”

“Weren’t these for your niece?”

“How could I possibly know what a child likes? I bought ten sets, and she picked and chose, leaving three behind.”

“Then you can’t take them back!” Ran Xi exclaimed, delighted.

Brand-new, designer clothes with the tags still attached—even if she didn’t wear them, she could sell them for a substantial sum.

Kong Lingyi couldn’t quite decipher what was going through the girl’s mind, but she found Ran Xi rather amusing—certainly more agreeable than her mother.

When the dishes arrived, Ran Xi initially hesitated while preparing her dipping sauce, politely asking Kong Lingyi if she wanted any. But after the woman politely declined everything, the rich aroma of the food, combined with her gnawing hunger, quickly overwhelmed her shyness.

Kong Lingyi occasionally picked up a few lettuce leaves and chewed them slowly, deliberately.

Ran Xi didn’t hesitate to open the voice message on WeChat.

“Is Auntie coming tomorrow?”

The voice was exceptionally young and innocent, prompting Ran Xi to instinctively look up.

Kong Lingyi continued replying to messages, showing no reaction to Ran Xi’s gaze.

“I’m going to bed now! Auntie, remember to return those clothes! They’re way too expensive! Mom’s going to be really mad!”

Ran Xi glanced down at her own clothes.

So, it wasn’t that she didn’t like them—they were just too expensive.

She tugged nervously at her sleeve, the mutton suddenly losing its initial appeal.

When their eyes finally met, Ran Xi blinked blankly, her mind momentarily blank. “…Could I… get another serving of meat?”

Kong Lingyi chuckled, gesturing for her to scan the QR code herself.

It took Ran Xi a few seconds to realize what she’d just said. The words had already escaped her lips, so she could only stare at the electronic menu for a moment before adding the cheapest item: an iced fruit juice.

She was burning up and needed something cold to snap her out of her daze.

Ran Xi didn’t look up again, her mind still replaying that unexpected eye contact. The woman’s alluring gaze lingered in her thoughts, stirring a strange itch in her heart.

Her phone lay on the table, and Ran Xi stole a glance at it. She noticed a pair of beautiful hands—fair, slender, and adorned with a deep green jade ring on one finger.

The ring’s color was exquisite, and Ran Xi licked her lips as she admired it.

“Do you like it?” Kong Lingyi asked, noticing her gesture and holding up her hand.

Ran Xi didn’t nod. “…It’s very beautiful.”

“Mm, I think so too.”

Ran Xi pursed her lips, feeling bored.

She had half-expected Kong Lingyi to act like a domineering CEO, taking off the ring and tossing it to her with a casual, “It’s yours.”

At the very least, she’d imagined a car. At most, a house.

Sigh, how stingy.

After finishing her meal, Ran Xi felt drowsy. She slipped on her slippers and followed the woman out of the restaurant.

A gust of cold wind made her curl her toes and hug herself tighter.

Still in the passenger seat, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

She had forgotten to give Kong Lingyi her home address and had also forgotten to tell her she wasn’t planning to go with her.

Ran Xi was a light sleeper in unfamiliar environments, and she woke up as soon as the car entered the underground garage.

Her phone was nearly out of battery, and she had no idea where she was.

Kong Lingyi got out of the car and, noticing Ran Xi standing still, turned back to look at her.

“Oh, it’s almost dawn. I need to get home.”

Kong Lingyi’s eyebrow twitched slightly as she pointed to the right. “The elevator in Building 5 will take you to the first floor, where you can exit through the south gate and hail a taxi home.”

Even if finding a taxi wasn’t an issue, Ran Xi wondered how long her phone would last in the freezing cold.

Without hesitation, Ran Xi hurried over to the woman’s side.

She didn’t speak or look at her, waiting for Kong Lingyi to guess her thoughts.

Kong Lingyi walked in the opposite direction, paying no attention to Ran Xi’s little game.

Ran Xi looked up.

Building 8.

The elevator only had seven buttons, with the highest floor being the sixth (excluding the underground garage).

The spacious, single-unit apartments had warm corridors.

Ran Xi was naturally cautious. As soon as she entered, she changed into slippers and leaned against the wall, scanning her surroundings.

Kong Lingyi sat down, poured a cup of hot tea, and gestured for Ran Xi to come and drink. Ran Xi shook her head.

This house was everything Ran Xi had ever imagined a luxury home to be, a far cry from the old, run-down neighborhood where the motion-sensor lights barely illuminated the night, even after her feet had gone numb from stamping them.

Now that she was full, warm, and had even enjoyed a good nap on the way here, Ran Xi’s rationality had largely returned.

She shouldn’t be here.

Ran Xi crouched down in a corner, seeking a sense of security. Clutching her phone, she pondered how to apologize to Ran Xu and admit her mistake.

Their arguments and shouting matches were frequent, but Ran Xi knew who provided for her at home. So, whenever her anger subsided, she always took the initiative to apologize.

It was the Lunar New Year. Ran Xu couldn’t possibly want her wandering the streets, right?

She still trusted Ran Xu’s words. Kong Lingyi had merely offered her a meal; she couldn’t afford to trust her too much.

The internet was full of stories about children raised in poverty who were overwhelmed by gratitude when kind strangers offered them a few meals. Ran Xi refused to be one of those naive, love-starved kids.

Kong Lingyi didn’t treat her like a person. After bringing her home, she hadn’t even offered her a cup of tea, and now she was ignoring her completely, as if she were invisible.

Ran Xi was frantic. She had truly acted without thinking, following Kong Lingyi home. She should have jumped out of the car halfway there.

In a desperate attempt, she hastily composed an 800-word apology message and sent it to Ran Xu just before her phone died.

The message was filled with apologies and promises to be obedient and a good girl, but a red exclamation mark shattered all her hopes.

The next second, her phone went dead.

Ran Xi panicked completely.

Even when Ran Xu was angry with her, she had never blocked her. All it took was a little softening on Ran Xi’s part, and Ran Xu would immediately offer her an olive branch.

The bitter, stinging feeling of being abandoned overwhelmed her. Ran Xi was terrified that the casual threats of being disowned she had dismissed as jokes might actually come true.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed quietly, “Mom…”

She tried to stifle her sobs, remembering she was in Kong Lingyi’s home. She hated showing her vulnerability to others; it felt humiliating.

“Mom…” Ran Xi whispered again, desperately trying to control her emotions, but she couldn’t hold back.

“Who are you calling?”

The woman’s voice drifted over. Ran Xi looked up and saw a predatory glint in her eyes.

The brown coat was discarded as soon as she entered, leaving the woman in a beige, form-fitting dress that revealed a pair of slender, crossed legs at the hem.

Besides the expensive ring, Ran Xi now noticed the woman’s amethyst earrings and necklace—elegant accessories that perfectly complemented her refined aura.

The woman’s mature allure was undeniably captivating, a stark contrast to Ran Xu’s youthful innocence. Every gesture exuded grace and opulence, a scent of money and a taste of a life Ran Xi had never known.

Gritting her teeth, Ran Xi demanded, “Will there be anyone else here?”

Kong Lingyi glanced at her, noticing Ran Xi licking her lips again.

“If you called me that in front of Ran Xu, I might find it even more amusing.”

Ran Xi’s mischievousness flared. “Perhaps you’ll get your chance.”

The woman smiled faintly and rose to approach her. She crouched down, gently stroking the top of Ran Xi’s head, as if soothing a stray cat wary of human contact.

She offered Ran Xi a cup of hot tea, but Ran Xi hesitated and turned her head away.

Undeterred, Kong Lingyi placed the teacup on the floor before her, like a homeowner setting water out for a pet dog.

“Good girl. You can stay here tonight.”

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