Chapter 9 : My Enemy Is Right Beside Me
Don’t ask. The young her had valued feelings far too much, sinking irretrievably the moment betrayal struck.
That ripple effect had tainted her life long after school, and now, in cruel dramatic irony, fate placed her under the same roof as her enemy.
How could she stay calm!
Her pale hands clenched her skirt, anger surging as she knocked over the milk he offered.
“Who wants your stuff!”
She tried to stand, only to remember she couldn’t.
Xu’s mother rushed in, paling at the sight of her half-falling.
“Xiao Jiu, why did you get up alone without calling Mom!”
Face to the floor, hair hiding her expression, she stayed silent in a way that worried anyone watching.
“Are you hurt? Mom will help you up now.”
“……”
“What happened?”
“What do you mean? Your daughter is hurt and you’re still dawdling. Come help!”
Xu Jiu heard none of the noise around her.
Her gaze locked on the hallway where her so-called “brother”—or rather, her enemy—had vanished.
Had heaven sent her back ten years to give her a do-over, to avoid her tragic end?
But why in someone else’s body?
Was the original her erased?
Or still somewhere in this city?
These were questions she needed answers to.
Revenge was desired, but clearly not simple.
She had to plan long-term.
“Huu… damn it…”
Xu You was probably next door, carefree and clueless, while hatred already exhausted her.
Her slightly recovering body had worsened again; the great vengeance hadn’t even started, yet she’d hurt herself three-tenths.
“How did Xiao Jiu become like this? She wasn’t like this this morning… sigh…”
“No signs at all? That’s a bit too strange.”
“I don’t know. I think I should take her to a psychologist if she stays like this.”
From her room she could hear their muffled talk through the soundproofing, but the quiet helped.
‘Have my actions already drawn attention… fine, better not expose anything for now.’
“You’re lucky, Xu You, but I won’t let you off. Just wait…!”
The next morning—
“Dad, Mom, I’m off to school.”
“Mm, be careful on the way.”
She ate breakfast with the family, gradually learning their daily rhythm.
“Xiao Jiu, won’t you say goodbye to your brother?”
Before he left, her mother said beside her.
“…Brother.”
“What is it, baby? I remember you two siblings always got along. Why do you act like you don’t want to acknowledge him now?”
Seeing her take forever to mumble that one word, Xu’s mother was puzzled.
Xu Jiu didn’t know how to explain; she couldn’t exactly say, “I’m not your daughter, I’m your son’s enemy,” could she?
They’d think her insane.
Seeing no answer, the woman gave up pressing, forming her own guess.
“Xiao Jiu… are you seeing your brother go to school and wanting to go too?”
After a long pause, she suddenly asked.
“School…”
“Mm, you used to tell Mom this a lot, but your body was much worse then, so Mom never agreed. But now…”
“If you want, Mom can arrange it. You’d start from year one of high school. How about that?”
“……”
This surprised her.
She’d been wondering how to return to her old school for clues and chances; today her mother offered it herself.
Naturally, she wouldn’t miss it.
“Can I…?”
“…I can really go back to school?”
She looked up; the woman’s eyes held doting and gentleness.
“Of course. It’s not hard. Mom’s just worried if Xiao Jiu is ready.”
“You haven’t been to school in so long, haven’t interacted with people… Mom’s afraid you won’t adapt to school life all at once.”
Her mother held her cold little hand.
Xu Jiu fell silent.
Unlike her mother, these weren’t her concerns.
She worried about social awkwardness after gender change.
At home it was fine; she didn’t feel it much.
But outside?
How would a frail, beautiful girl fit into a campus bursting with youthful energy?
She had no experience.
But she wouldn’t give up over difficulty.
“…It’s okay, Mom. I can adapt.”
“I know my body is weak, but I don’t want to stay home forever. Life is short, youth even more so. I don’t want to die regretting never going to school.”
She said dejectedly; complexity rose in the woman’s eyes.
“Xiao Jiu…”
“Don’t be so pessimistic. Mom agrees. Mom just wants to see you smiling again.”
She turned her head slightly.
Since learning this family birthed her enemy, her attitude toward the relatives had shifted a little.
Hating one person often extended to everything connected; it wasn’t bias, but human nature.
Conversely, achieving this separation proved the depth of hatred; Xu Jiu felt exactly that now.
Had she met her mother after Xu You, she might have stayed selfish and prejudiced, hating everything without room for change.
But the constant love and tenderness from her mother and family gradually shook her frozen heart, turning blanket hatred into targeting only the person himself.
“…Mom, thank you for agreeing.”
“Silly child, what’s there to thank between family? Seeing you less depressed is Mom’s greatest satisfaction.”
Tears in her eyes, the woman pulled her into a hug.
They say women are emotional; at this moment, it seemed not without reason.
Even with a soul clinging to hatred, she should have a heart of stone.
Yet why… did she feel the urge to cry too…