Chapter 3

Shu Qingyou originally hoped that Lin Xu would recover her memory soon so they could cut ties cleanly.

The longer she spent in contact with Lin Xu, the more she worried that something unexpected might happen.

Just like when they first met, Lin Xu had been as warm and gentle as jade, friendly and polite.

She had even responded to the embarrassing suggestion of being kept with nothing but comfort.

“Miss Shu, perhaps we can give it a try first.”

Lin Xu had exercised some patience, along with superficial affection.

She was a master of pretense.

But bubbles always burst, and masks couldn’t be maintained forever. Lin Xu’s true nature was violent and unreasonable.

Shu Qingyou knew she couldn’t afford much more contact with her, so she decided to use a highlight moment for stimulation.

After all, Lin Xu was arrogant and obsessed with money and power.

She waited quietly for a moment.

Lin Xu’s expression was complicated as she hesitated and handed the phone back.

Shu Qingyou said, “The whole world knows your family’s group headquarters address.”

How could Lin Xu not hear the implication? Shu Qingyou was going back on her word.

Lin Xu resorted to her old trick, putting on a pitiful look with her lips downturned.

“But what can I do if I go back? I can’t remember anything. What if my family rejects me? And the news says my moms are both dead. It describes me as someone who rose alone through ruthless means, dominating the business world. It gives me chills just reading it.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration. Lin Xu found that the news portrayed her as a demon-like figure.

It embellished her as someone who could turn the world upside down with a flip of her hand.

A chill wind kept blowing, and cold sweat dripped down Lin Xu’s back.

“Sister, do you understand?”

Shu Qingyou breathed shallowly, observing Lin Xu impassively.

The struggles of a wealthy family, the hidden secrets—Lin Xu had never shared them with her.

But Lin Xu had taken her to drinking parties, forced alcohol on her, made her smoke until her eyes watered.

Whether she believed it or not, Shu Qingyou didn’t want to care too much.

Focusing on someone for too long made it hard to let go, no matter the relationship.

She brushed it off.

“Mm, I understand.”

If Lin Xu had been more perceptive, she might have noticed Shu Qingyou’s reluctance.

But whenever she faced Shu Qingyou, Lin Xu inexplicably became dim-witted and happily followed along.

Lin Xu silently reassured herself:

Even though this place was rundown, like a rural town, the saying went “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

She’d make do. After some self-consolation, Lin Xu felt much better.

Before she could even insert the key into the lock, thumping footsteps came from behind the security door.

Both of them froze. Lin Xu hurriedly pulled Shu Qingyou behind her to protect her.

“Sis! You’re back…”

A girl’s energetic voice burst out from inside.

The door opened, revealing a delicate face with a high ponytail.

She wore a fern-green jacket, her smile as bright as any ordinary female college student’s, radiating youthful energy.

Shu Wan Ning complained loudly, “Ugh, I’m already here, and you want me to turn back? What do you mean…”

She had spoken too hastily without clearly seeing the people in front of her. She had come out specially after hearing her sister’s car.

Now, looking closely, she froze instead.

Lin Xu’s mind hadn’t caught up yet. She turned back to ask Shu Qingyou.

“She called you sis? Is she your…”

Before she could finish, she felt her collar yanked tight, her throat suddenly constricted. Lin Xu barely steadied herself with her heels.

Shu Wan Ning’s furious face appeared before her, along with a fist raised high.

Lin Xu hadn’t uttered half a word before a heavy punch landed on her cheek. She grunted and staggered back two steps.

“Crazy bitch! Why’d you hit me!”

Shu Wan Ning wasn’t satisfied. She charged forward again, her eyes blazing with the fury of someone facing their parents’ killer.

“Lin Xu! You beast, you still have the face to show up!”

What the hell? This was a disaster out of nowhere.

Her face burned, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Shu Qingyou just watched coldly from the side, making Lin Xu’s chest tighten even more.

“Shu Qingyou, this is your sister? She’s going nuts and you’re just watching the show!”

“Heh, watching the show? I’m watching how I beat this retard to death.”

With that, Shu Wan Ning strode forward and slammed Lin Xu against the wall. A strong arm pressed against her neck, cutting off her breath.

Lin Xu realized the situation was dire. She grabbed Shu Wan Ning’s arm and kneed forward with force.

Anticipating it, Shu Wan Ning dodged.

She gnashed her teeth. “Lin Xu, you really deserve to die!”

Crazy, a complete lunatic!

Lin Xu clutched her neck, gasping for breath. She was furious, mostly at Shu Qingyou for letting this deranged sister run wild.

“You—you watch out, or I’ll call the cops!”

“Fine, go ahead. If you dare, I’ll go down with you!”

Shu Wan Ning glared venomously at Lin Xu, as if she wanted to burn a hole through her face.

Lin Xu and Shu Wan Ning locked eyes, both around the same height, neither backing down.

“Hey, Shu Qingyou.”

She sought help from Shu Qingyou in frustration, only to see a face drained of color.

Shu Qingyou’s lashes trembled lightly as she lowered her gaze, hiding her unease.

She tried her best to restrain herself, hands clasped behind her back, gripping her shaking left wrist.

“Shu Qingyou, what’s wrong with you?”

It felt familiar, like she’d seen this scene more than once. Flashes of memory surged in Lin Xu’s mind.

A sudden headache hit her inescapably, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes that even she didn’t notice.

Her body moved before her brain. Just as she reached for Shu Qingyou, another figure was faster.

Shu Wan Ning shoved her away forcefully.

Lin Xu was caught off guard, her heart feeling empty.

Shu Wan Ning: “Sis, not again…”

Shu Qingyou gave her a cryptic warning glance, and Shu Wan Ning cut herself off.

She had spoken too quickly, her pent-up anger nearly making her bite her tongue.

But worried about her sister’s condition, she could only glare at the culprit, Lin Xu, and lower her voice.

“Get out of our house!”

Lin Xu’s eyes reddened, like a treasure had been snatched away, leaving her powerless.

She steadied herself and snorted coldly.

“Did you know your sister owes me money?”

That remark darkened Shu Wan Ning’s face several shades.

Lin Xu went all in.

“Ask Shu Qingyou. She admitted it herself.”

She puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish about to explode.

Shu Qingyou wearily lifted her gaze, her expression inscrutable.

For some reason, Lin Xu felt a twinge of guilt. She blustered, “Tch, fine, I’ll leave. Who’s scared?”

Shu Wan Ning was livid. She carefully helped her sister inside, grinding her molars.

“Sis, look at her. She abandoned you four years ago, and now she has the nerve to come back. She’s worse than a beast!”

Sinking into the soft sofa with her eyes closed to adjust her breathing, Shu Qingyou’s left hand stopped trembling. She opened her eyes, her lips parting slightly.

“Rongrong?”

Shu Wan Ning then noticed her little niece had run out, though she had been sleeping soundly.

At the bedroom door stood a timid little bundle, clutching a penguin plushie and not daring to approach.

She looked a bit scared. Shu Wan Ning quickly picked her up and cooed softly.

“Good girl, Rongrong, don’t be scared. Little Aunt was just beating up the bad guy.”

Shu Rong nodded vaguely. She had been woken by the noise and seen her little aunt fighting the bad big sister from the open door.

She had seen the bad sister’s photo on her aunt’s phone before.

Every time, her aunt told her this was a big bad egg.

Shu Qingyou chuckled softly and stroked her daughter’s head. “Bad guy?”

“Hmph, what else? If Rongrong weren’t so little and couldn’t understand complicated words, I’d have vented to her properly.”

The spirited girl raised her head proudly, seeking her sister’s praise.

“How about it, sis? Wasn’t I badass just now?”

Shu Qingyou’s lips curved slightly. Her sister was a Beta in her senior year at Sea City University, preparing for an internship.

She had complained to her about study troubles and the hassle of writing papers.

But she never mentioned the hardships of her part-time job after starting college.

At that time, the sisters were going through massive upheaval: the family business bankrupt, their mother dead unexpectedly.

The pottery studio, open for less than two years, had closed. Everything they owned was sold or mortgaged.

Yet they still owed millions.

The only choice left for her was to sell herself in the nightlife scene—after all, an Omega’s first Marking was valuable.

But not valuable enough.

She couldn’t have imagined that Lin Xu, barely an adult, would propose keeping her, offering another path.

Shu Rong sensed her mother’s unhappiness and quietly snuggled closer, silent.

The warm, soft presence pulled Shu Qingyou’s thoughts back.

She loved Shu Rong dearly. Her daughter was perfect in every way—even in the womb, aside from early morning sickness, she never kicked or troubled her.

But Shu Rong’s health was frail, just like Shu Qingyou’s as a child, prone to catching colds.

At three years old, she still couldn’t speak full sentences.

Shu Qingyou pulled Shu Rong into her arms and explained seriously to Shu Wan Ning, including the doctor’s diagnosis.

“Wan Ning, Lin Xu has amnesia.”

Shu Wan Ning made a disgusted face.

“So?”

She was skeptical. Lin Xu, heir to Lin Corporation, had bodyguards around the clock.

A concussion causing amnesia? What a joke—probably self-directed, an excuse to harass her sister.

“Then send her back. What’s she doing freeloading here? And how did she come up with that crap about us owing her money? Sis, you’re too pathetic.”

She knew her sister was mostly stringing Lin Xu along, but she couldn’t stand seeing Shu Qingyou defend her like this.

Shu Qingyou: “Don’t worry. I can handle her.”

Handle her without getting in over your head? Shu Wan Ning pursed her lips, a million percent distrustful.

Since her sister was defending the jerk, pressing further would be pointless.

“Wan Ning, I’m not feeling well. Can you get my medicine?”

Shu Wan Ning scowled, heartbroken.

“See? She shows up and you have an episode. Don’t tell me you messed with your left hand again.”

She had discovered this by accident.

At first, seeing the obvious scars on her sister’s left wrist, she assumed Lin Xu was responsible for the dirty deed.

She couldn’t forgive Lin Xu for laying hands on someone.

Shu Qingyou had stopped her and told the truth.

Because of Lin Xu, she had been impulsive four years ago and done something childish and stupid like hurting herself.

After that, Shu Qingyou had undergone Marking removal surgery.

Shu Qingyou smiled faintly. “It’s fine. The last time, okay?”

“Fine, sis, you’re mysteriously overconfident.”

Shu Wan Ning fetched the medicine familiarly and handed over water.

Watching her sister take the pills, her gaze shifted to Shu Rong, and she couldn’t help asking.

“What about Rongrong then?”