RAFL Chapter 3

As soon as she entered the room, the woman switched on the lights in the ward and shook off the snow covering her body.

She didn’t notice that Xu Xingguang had already woken up, nor did she realize how eerie the atmosphere in the room had become.

The woman lowered her head and said, “Husband, have you taken care of everything on your end? Is that girl still breathing? I’ve already contacted someone, and they’ll be able to transport her body to Shenyin Island by helicopter soon. If this girl can successfully marry into the Huo family, our Xu family will have good days ahead.”

Before she could finish her sentence, a violent cough interrupted her.

“Ahem!” It was Xu Zeqing coughing.

The woman looked at Xu Zeqing in bewilderment, and when she saw that Xu Xingguang, who was supposed to be dead, had not only survived but had also opened her eyes, she instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes wide in shock.

Her guilt and fear were clearly written all over her face.

“You, you, you… Xu Xingguang, how can you still be awake?” With just these words, she revealed how much she had hoped for Xu Xingguang’s death.

If she died, prosperity and wealth would come. If she lived, all their dreams would turn into illusions. How could she accept that?

Xu Xingguang’s gaze swept over the woman. Her once brilliant eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, making her appear distant and indifferent. Xu Xingguang completely ignored the woman’s presence and looked up to ask Xu Zeqing, “Dad, who is this lady?”

Upon hearing this, the woman rushed to Xu Zeqing’s side and firmly held onto his arm, asserting her dominance.

Without giving Xu Zeqing a chance to explain, the woman introduced herself to Xu Xingguang. “Nice to meet you for the first time, Xingguang. I am Aunt You.”

Xu Xingguang tilted her head slightly, staring at the woman’s heavily made-up face, and uttered a rare expression of confusion, “Squid?¹In the original Chinese language, Aunt You (尤姨), reads Yóu yí has similar pronouncement to “squid (鱿鱼)” which reads Yóuyú. Xu Xingguang confused ”I am Aunt You” as “I am a squid””

You Jingqiu’s smiling face froze.

You Jingqiu tugged on Xu Zeqing’s clothing, hoping he would support her. Seeing that Xu Zeqing remained silent, she pinched the flesh on his back.

Xu Zeqing winced in pain, and only then did he awkwardly explain, “Xingguang, she is Aunt You, your… stepmother.”

The word “stepmother” was said so faintly that it was almost inaudible.

Although Xu Xingguang had already suspected this relationship, hearing the truth from Xu Zeqing’s mouth still filled her with uncontrollable anger.

“Stepmother.”

Xu Xingguang didn’t direct her anger towards You Jingqiu; instead, she looked at Xu Zeqing and asked coldly, “Where is my mom?”

Since waking up, Xu Xingguang had not seen her mother, Mo Yinshu, nor had Xu Zeqing mentioned her. Xu Xingguang couldn’t believe that her mother, the woman who had cherished and loved her like the apple of her eye, would agree to marry her off to a dying patient.

She suspected that Xu Zeqing had kept all of this a secret from her mother.

Could it be that her father had driven her mother out of the house to marry this woman?

Upon hearing Xu Xingguang’s question about her mother, both Xu Zeqing and You Jingqiu maintained a consistent silence, with Xu Zeqing showing a hint of guilt in his eyes.

Seeing both of them remain silent, Xu Xingguang lost her patience entirely. She pointed at You Jingqiu and questioned Xu Zeqing with a stern tone, “Dad, did you abandon my mom for this stinking squid? That’s your wife!”

“I became a vegetative state patient, and my mom must have been heartbroken. How could you divorce her in this situation?”

This was the first time Xu Xingguang had shown her emotions since waking up. Her gaze was cold, and the way she looked at Xu Zeqing was like a poisonous snake eyeing its prey, ready to sink its fangs and inject venom at any moment.

Xu Zeqing dared not meet Xu Xingguang’s gaze directly. He pursed his lips for a while but remained silent.

Clearly, he was feeling guilty.

You Jingqiu couldn’t stand Xu Zeqing’s cowardly behavior, nor would she allow Xu Xingguang to act defiantly in her presence. Her voice grew sharp as she scolded Xu Xingguang, “Why do you speak so rudely? Do you have no manners? I am not a mistress; I’m your father’s legally wedded wife! Your mother has been dead for a long time!”

Her words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing Xu Xingguang’s burning anger.

Her mother was already dead?

Tears welled up in Xu Xingguang’s eyes. Her already pale face appeared even paler.

She had fought desperately to return to the real world, hoping to reunite with her family. However, upon returning, she was confronted with the reality of her mother’s death, her father’s remarriage, and the absurd situation of being sold off for wealth and prosperity.

Her struggles across ten lifetimes felt like a cruel joke.

Seeing Xu Xingguang’s change of expression, Xu Zeqing reached out to pull You Jingqiu and reminded her, “You should speak less; Xingguang has just awakened!”

“What can’t be said? I must speak!” You Jingqiu angrily shook off Xu Zeqing’s hand and continued to address Xu Xingguang, “In life, we must move forward. We can’t spend our whole lives mourning the dead, can we?”

With a demeanor befitting a stepmother, she attempted to educate Xu Xingguang. “Your mother passed away, and your father married me afterward. I may not be your biological mother, but I am your stepmother. Stepmothers are still mothers. Even if you don’t like me, at least don’t be disrespectful. How can you speak so rudely?”

You Jingqiu shook her head in disappointment, saying, “Your mother, Sister Mo, was such a gentle and virtuous woman. How can her daughter be so ill-mannered?”

After listening to You Jingqiu’s lengthy speech, Xu Xingguang remained calm. When You Jingqiu had finished, Xu Xingguang raised her chin and fixed her dark, intense gaze on You Jingqiu. She said in a composed manner, “You’re lecturing me about manners?”

Xu Xingguang suddenly pushed over the potted cactus on the bedside table. It happened that the pot hit You Jingqiu’s shin.

“Ah!” You Jingqiu was hit and bent down in pain, her skin and flesh along with her shinbone hurting together.

You Jingqiu hadn’t recovered from the pain when Xu Xingguang said, “My mom was an only child, but she didn’t have a mouth as foul and chatty as yours, nor did she climb into her husband’s bed like a wild sister-in-law.”

The term ‘wild sister-in-law’ made You Jingqiu pause. Her face, under layers of makeup, turned bright red. She glared at Xu Xingguang with a mix of resentment and surprise.

“Not only am I lacking in manners,” Xu Xingguang continued, looking at You Jingqiu with interest, “but I also don’t follow conventional logic. I admire strength, and I don’t adhere to traditional hierarchy. I respect those who respect me.”

Not all elders possess the wisdom and magnanimity befitting their age, and not all children are innocent and carefree. Only those with a good moral compass and character deserve respect.

You Jingqiu was taken aback by Xu Xingguang’s wise and calm eyes, which seemed beyond her years. She also noticed a penetrating insight in her gaze.

Under Xu Xingguang’s silent gaze, You Jingqiu gradually lost her composure.

What was even stranger was that she began to feel a sense of fear toward Xu Xingguang.

This was puzzling.

As far as she knew, Mo Yinshu was a woman of strict self-discipline, and she raised her daughter, Xu Xingguang, the same way. Under Mo Yinshu’s guidance, Xu Xingguang had been cultivated into a very capable and respectful individual.

In public, Xu Xingguang paid great attention to her image, never engaging in public disputes like a shrew. Additionally, as a young, famous writer, she had the image of an idol to uphold, so her speech and actions were always refined.

Despite her ordinary background, she had managed to outshine the daughters of wealthy families and become the brightest gem in Yujian City.

The words she had just spoken and the actions she had taken tonight did not align with the Xu Xingguang she knew.

But Xu Xingguang hadn’t just spoken; she had also physically confronted her.

It seemed that all the information was incorrect, and this girl was not easy to deal with.

(End of Chapter 3)

Thank you for reading! If you like this title, please consider supporting by leaving a review on Novelupdates, it would mean a lot for this title by making more people interested in reading it too (keep me motivated too). And lastly, if you found any mistake in translation, feel free to contact me on Discord or leave a comment and I’ll fix it ASAP. ~Devyme

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  In the original Chinese language, Aunt You (尤姨), reads Yóu yí has similar pronouncement to “squid (鱿鱼)” which reads Yóuyú. Xu Xingguang confused ”I am Aunt You” as “I am a squid”