The Eldest Lady always wants to have a double O Relationship with her old enemy - Chapter 1

“Let’s play ‘big or small.’ If I win, kill her first.”

Inside a derelict factory, a foul stench of rust and mold filled the air. Shen Jianxi’s expensive dress was stained with an indescribable mix of grime, her hair stuck messily to her face, making her extremely uncomfortable.

Shen Jianxi, the spoiled eldest daughter of the Shen family, had never been in such a state of disarray.

The only source of warmth behind her was Tang Yanzhao, yet the words she spoke sent a shiver down Shen Jianxi’s spine.

Shen Jianxi cried out in terror, “Tang Yanzhao, are you insane!”

Tang Yanzhao’s voice was steady, cutting through the dim light to reach her ears, “Humans are inherently selfish animals. Shen Jianxi and I have no affection for each other. You’d be happy to see me dead, so naturally, I feel the same.”

Recalling their two years of interaction, Shen Jianxi had indeed never shown her a good face.

But, but she had her reasons.

Why else would Tang Yanzhao and her omega mother so brazenly enter the Shen family and try to usurp her late mother’s position?

Shen Jianxi was her mother’s daughter. If she didn’t work hard to defend her mother’s place, no one would remember her.

She would never allow such a thing to happen.

So, from the first moment she saw Tang Yanzhao two years ago, she felt a deep-seated loathing and constantly tried to trip her up. But Tang Yanzhao always seemed to be submissive and easy to bully.

When her actions were exposed to Tang Yanzhao’s alpha mother, Shen Jianxi, who had been raised in pampered love, received her first-ever criticism.

It wasn’t even a real criticism, just, “Zhaozhao is a good kid. Can’t you just get along with her?”

To Shen Jianxi, it sounded like her mother was defending an outsider. How could she stand that? So she became even more relentless afterward.

Now, it made sense why Tang Yanzhao would say something so heartless as, “If I win, kill her first.”

But Shen Jianxi couldn’t empathize. She only grew to resent Tang Yanzhao even more.

To save herself, she had actually made such a deal with the kidnappers.

And the kidnappers seemed very interested in her wager.

The sole source of warmth behind her was withdrawn. Shen Jianxi watched as the kidnappers led Tang Yanzhao into a corner of the factory. Tears blurred her vision, making it impossible to see the details in the shadows.

As her vision grew more blurred, her hearing seemed to become more acute.

The rhythmic drip-drip of water, the squeaking of rats scurrying around, the continuous shaking of dice in the corner, and the kidnapper’s hearty laughter.

“Why would you be afraid of a worthless piece of junk?”

The kidnapper swore contemptuously.

Then came the sound of a blade slicing through flesh. The movement was barely audible, yet Shen Jianxi felt as though she heard Tang Yanzhao’s stifled groan. The sound of blood hitting the floor gradually overshadowed the rhythmic dripping of water.

One cut after another…

The blurred figure in the shadow was wavering.

She couldn’t count how many times she lost until the police sirens rang out, and Tang Yanzhao finally collapsed. The scent of green grapefruit rum that had been lingering around Shen Jianxi vanished abruptly.

“Actually, Tang Yanzhao has a great talent for hearing. It’s many times better than an ordinary person’s. She can accurately distinguish the sound of the dice from different noises, so she never loses at dice.”

“Then why did she lose?”

“Because she loved you.”

The heavy rain poured down. Shen Jianxi knelt powerlessly before the cold tombstone, calling Tang Yanzhao’s name over and over, but nothing came back.

“She did it just to buy time. She had no idea if anyone would come to rescue them, but she endured one cut after another. She wanted to fight for a chance for you to live. She wanted you to have no guilt about her death. She just wanted you to live. She loved you.”

“She never said that.”

“She didn’t say it because she felt she wasn’t worthy.”

Blood gushed from Shen Jianxi’s mouth. She collapsed softly, her cheek pressing against the gilded letters of “Tang Yanzhao,” and said weakly, “Tang Yanzhao, you lied to me.”

Shen Jianxi suddenly woke up, her bangs soaked with sweat, the silk sticking uncomfortably to her skin. The bright light from the window made her eyes water, mixing with the tears from her dream.

The naive voice of the Heavenly Sound system echoed in her mind, “See? Knowing all this is no good for you.”

Shen Jianxi’s rapid breathing gradually calmed. “She shouldn’t be forgotten.”

“What about you? She doesn’t remember you at all, and she doesn’t like you now.”

Shen Jianxi rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand, a determined smile on her lips. “This time, I’ll be the one to love her first.”

“For every time Tang Yanzhao’s heart beats for you in the future, you will suffer a pain like being carved to the bone.”

Shen Jianxi just gave a light laugh when she heard what Xiaoshi said. She got up and went to the bathroom, bent over, and splashed two handfuls of cold water on her face. Then, she rested her hands on the counter. Transparent water droplets ran down her fair skin. Her pale lips in the mirror slowly regained color.

The grogginess of sleep was gone, replaced by a firm and resolute look in her clear, dark eyes.

“Don’t you think it would be an interesting thing to quantify the number of heartbeats?”

She said it so casually, but as a consequence system, Xiaoshi still couldn’t understand its host’s choice. After all, the chance for rebirth was hard-won. She just needed to avoid that kidnapping, stay away from Tang Yanzhao, and prevent her from falling in love with her again.

As long as she did that, the system wouldn’t punish her. As the eldest daughter of the Shen family, her future would be smooth sailing. But now she was going to save someone she had always disliked, just because she knew that person had given her life to save her?

Xiaoshi still wanted to persuade her. “The punishment of the consequence system increases with the degree of the target’s heartbeat value. That is to say, the more she likes you, the more you will suffer.”

The data-driven system added various influencing factors and objectively calculated the consequences of the host’s choices. The optimal solution was always for Shen Jianxi to stay away from Tang Yanzhao.

Shen Jianxi arranged her messy hair. “Sandalwood and green grapefruit rum are a perfect match.”

After washing up, Shen Jianxi changed her clothes and was about to go downstairs. Just as she opened the door, a loud thud from the staircase caught her attention.

At the same time, with her sensitive hearing, Tang Yanzhao also caught the slight sound of the door opening. They unexpectedly met eyes.

Shen Jianxi saw Tang Yanzhao’s wet cheeks and an unknown green stain on her black hair. The maid standing in front of her didn’t seem to notice Shen Jianxi’s presence. She forcefully shoved Tang Yanzhao’s shoulder and yelled arrogantly, “I’m talking to you, are you deaf?”

Tang Yanzhao’s face was pale. The force of the push made her body sway, and she was about to fall backward down the stairs. Shen Jianxi rushed over immediately.

Luckily, she managed to prevent Tang Yanzhao from falling backward down the stairs.

Shen Jianxi’s heart ached. She gently brushed her hair aside. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Tang Yanzhao’s bloodless lips were tightly pressed together. She tried to break free from Shen Jianxi’s support, desperate to get away.

Shen Jianxi understood the meaning behind her silent pretense and glared fiercely at the maid who was still standing there. “Wait right here for me.”

“No, Miss, it was Tang Yanzhao, she…”

The maid tried to explain, but Shen Jianxi had already forcefully pulled Tang Yanzhao into her room.

Tang Yanzhao was almost kneeling on the floor, and her empty stomach could only throw up some sour water and the two bites of bread she had just eaten.

Shen Jianxi stood behind her, helping her catch her breath. After about three minutes, Tang Yanzhao finally recovered.

“How are you feeling?”

Tang Yanzhao’s voice was a little hoarse. “I’m fine.”

“Did you eat anything?” Shen Jianxi’s brows furrowed.

Tang Yanzhao coughed, covered her mouth, and waved Shen Jianxi’s hand away, preparing to leave.

Shen Jianxi stepped forward and grabbed her slender wrist, being careful not to use too much force. “Come on, let’s go settle the score.”

“No need,” Tang Yanzhao refused.

“Why is there no need? What right does she have to treat you like that?”

Shen Jianxi’s forceful attitude made Tang Yanzhao’s weak resistance completely ineffective. Soon, they were back at the scene of the incident.

“Talk. How do you plan to compensate?”

The maid hurriedly defended herself, “Miss, it wasn’t my fault. I was taking this basin of water to dump it, and she ran up and bumped into me. Not only did she get water on the floor, but she also ruined my watch. Miss, it should be her problem; she should be the one to compensate.”

Shen Jianxi sneered. “Do you think I’m here to be a fair judge?”

The maid’s eyes widened in shock. “Miss, you can’t be so biased.”

“Judgment is for God. I’m only responsible for standing on Tang Yanzhao’s side. Now, go to Auntie Zhou, collect three months of your salary, and get out of the Shen family.”

At these words, the maid instantly panicked and, losing all reason, grabbed Shen Jianxi’s hand. “Miss, you can’t do this! I have two children still in school, and my partner is sick in the hospital and urgently needs money. If you make me lose this job, I’ll truly not be able to survive.”

In the Shen family, the pay was good and the work was light. Although the wealthy can occasionally be difficult, most of the time it was quite easy, so she naturally didn’t want to lose this job.

Shen Jianxi disdainfully shook her hand away. “The money you’ve embezzled from the Shen family’s daily expenses is enough to support you for the rest of your life. My not saying anything doesn’t mean I don’t know. You know in your heart whether this watch is really yours. If you don’t want to face a lawsuit, get out now.”

Plop. The maid knelt down in front of Shen Jianxi, ignoring all dignity, and tearfully begged her.

This scene was witnessed by Auntie Zhou, who had rushed over after hearing the noise. She asked breathlessly, “Miss, what’s going on?”

“You ask her.”

“Xiaofu, speak quickly,” Auntie Zhou urged.

The maid, Xiaofu, spoke incoherently about what happened. Auntie Zhou pieced together the gist of it and tried to reason with them, “Miss, Xiaofu didn’t do it on purpose. Yanzhao probably didn’t notice either, which led to this misunderstanding. Let’s just settle it, and let it go. After all, Xiaofu has been working in the Shen family for so many years.”

A dangerous look flashed in Shen Jianxi’s eyes. “Auntie Zhou, if you’re here to mediate, don’t bother. If she refuses to leave, we’ll liquidate all the Shen family assets she illegally took and go straight to court.”

Shen Jianxi didn’t waste any more words with them. She led Tang Yanzhao downstairs.

“Eat first.”

Tang Yanzhao had no appetite and didn’t want to dwell on what had just happened. She picked up her backpack and was about to leave. When Shen Jianxi saw this, she stopped her and questioned, “What are you doing?”

Tang Yanzhao’s voice had no inflection. “Going to school.”

She looked at the old clock on the opposite wall. “There’s no rush to go to school, is there? It’s only seven o’clock. Let Uncle Chen drive us together.”

Tang Yanzhao gave her a strange look but replied, “No need.”

Shen Jianxi was very strange, and she had been ever since the beginning.

“Do you just enjoy saying ‘no need’ to me?” Seeing her so stubborn, Shen Jianxi’s deep-rooted temper came out. Her tone was inevitably bossy. “Come and sit down.”

Auntie Zhou, who had just managed to calm Xiaofu down, hadn’t forgotten her duties. When she came downstairs, she was met with the tense atmosphere between the two.

Although it was more like a one-sided confrontation from the young miss.

She was momentarily unsure of Shen Jianxi’s attitude. After all, she was just defending Tang Yanzhao upstairs, but now she was acting completely different.

Auntie Zhou quickly approached, trying to ease the tension. “Miss, Zhaozhao had a stomach ache all night last night, and she’s probably still not feeling well.”

Suddenly, the current scene overlapped with her memories from the same time in her previous life.

This was exactly the seventh day since Tang Yanzhao had come to the Shen family. At the time, Shen Jianxi’s hatred for Tang Yanzhao was at its peak. Two days ago, Shen Jianxi had deliberately used the excuse of skipping school to force Tang Yanzhao to leave the Shen family. Tang Yanzhao had no choice; she dared not stay in the house for long, usually returning only after Shen Jianxi had gone to her room and leaving before she woke up, trying to avoid any contact.

Because of this, Tang Yanzhao’s schedule was irregular. Even though she was staying with the Shen family, she rarely had a proper meal. Last night, her stomach pain flared up, and Shen Jianxi had deliberately threatened Auntie Zhou not to help.

Who would have thought that Shen Jianxi, who hadn’t gone to school for two days, would wake up so early? The unexpected encounter caught Tang Yanzhao completely off guard.

This was what led to the rescue on the stairs and the current scene.

Auntie Zhou handed Tang Yanzhao the half-eaten bread from the table.

Shen Jianxi’s eyes fell on her movements. “What is that!”

Auntie Zhou was startled by her shout and her hand trembled. “B-bread.”

Shen Jianxi snatched the bread, broke it apart a little roughly, and sniffed it. “What’s inside?”

“Cheese.” Auntie Zhou answered one by one, confused.

“She’s lactose intolerant, don’t you know that?” Shen Jianxi’s tone was full of accusation.

“…Huh? Zhaozhao didn’t say anything.” Auntie Zhou also panicked. “She drank the milk the past few days.”

Shen Jianxi ground her teeth, her gaze deep and angry as she looked at Tang Yanzhao. “Are you an idiot? You can’t eat it and you don’t say anything?”

Tang Yanzhao’s brow twitched. She remained silent, like a tortoise. No matter how much Shen Jianxi poked her shell, she refused to stick her head out.

Shen Jianxi was truly amused. She let out a sigh, grabbed her wrist, and without a word, pulled her to the table. She pushed a bowl of hot porridge in front of her and said in a commanding tone, “Eat before you go.”

Tang Yanzhao’s brows were furrowed in an unresolvable frown. But her silent, reserved nature prevented her from asking any questions. She just let Shen Jianxi manipulate her, holding the spoon but not moving.

“Auntie Zhou, make two cups of juice,” Shen Jianxi said.

Auntie Zhou felt a little guilty and rushed back to the kitchen to get busy. She quickly returned to the table with two cups of freshly squeezed orange juice.

Shen Jianxi took a sip and licked her glistening lips. “Auntie Zhou, from now on, prepare juice for her every morning.”

Before Auntie Zhou could respond, the silent Tang Yanzhao suddenly spoke, “No need. I’ll be moving into the school dorms this weekend.”

Life as a dependent wasn’t easy. On her second day at the Shen family, Tang Yanzhao had applied for school accommodation.

Shen Jianxi was about to say something else, but Tang Yanzhao didn’t give her a chance. After finishing the cup of juice, she picked up her backpack and left the Shen family, without even taking the car Shen Jianxi had arranged.

Shen Jianxi instinctively got up to chase her, but just a few steps out, a familiar figure entered her view.

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