Chapter 18: The First Meeting

Chapter 18: The First Meeting

Li Xinyue sat in the taxi, staring blankly out the window as the city faded into more rural surroundings. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of her sleeve. Her mind drifted back to the old woman she saved; her dress indicated that she was from an affluent family. The fabric was high-quality, custom-made, the type only someone from a rich and powerful family could afford.

"Who is she really?" she whispered to herself. She quickly shook off the thought. It doesn't matter. Forget about it, she told herself firmly.

The taxi's route became more winding, and she glanced at the address Zhang Yujin had given her. It was in a place called Bayview Fisherman's District, an area known for being home to fishermen and working-class families.

Zhang Yujin claimed her biological parents sold fish for a living and that her five brothers were all jobless. She couldn't help but frown at the memory. The original owner of this body had refused to return to her biological family, calling her mother a "lowly fisherman."

How could she insult her mother like that? Li Xinyue thought. Yet, she couldn't dismiss her worries. What if Zhang Yujin wasn't lying?

She resolved to find out for herself. "If they treat me well, I'll accept them," she muttered, crossing her arms. "But if they're like the Zhang family… then they'll never be my family."

The hum of the car lulled her into closing her eyes. It was a long ride, and a little rest wouldn't hurt.

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The car came to a stop, jolting her awake. Years of being an assassin had sharpened her instincts—she never slept deeply, always on guard.

"We've arrived, young lady," the driver said.

Li Xinyue nodded, paid him, and stepped out. The car had stopped near a narrow alley. The driver gestured toward it. "You'll need to walk through there to get to the address."

She thanked him politely and watched the taxi drive off before turning toward the alley. The streets were quiet, with small houses lining both sides. Each house bore signs of wear, but they seemed cared for despite their age.

After a few minutes of walking, she stopped in front of a house. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the wooden door.

From inside, she heard a woman's voice nagging someone. "Li Wei! Stop running around and go to school already!"

The door swung open, and a middle-aged woman stood there. Her face froze mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she stared at Li Xinyue.

For a moment, neither spoke. Li Xinyue noticed the woman's features—despite the wrinkles of time, she was beautiful, with traces of elegance that matched her face.

Mrs. Li finally stammered, "Y-you're…"

Li Xinyue forced a small smile. "I'm Li Xinyue."

Mrs. Li's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears. "Xinyue… my daughter…"

From inside, a man's voice called out. "Who's at the door? Why aren't you answering me?"

Mrs. Li didn't respond, still staring at Li Xinyue in shock and happiness. The man stepped out of a small room, and his eyes immediately landed on her.

His reaction mirrored Mrs. Li's. "You…" He paused, his voice turning cold. "Why are you here? Didn't you tell your mother never to call you again? That you're too good for us?"

Li Xinyue flinched inwardly. She knew this was the original owner's doing. Trying to maintain her calm, she said softly, "I've come to apologize. I was misled."

"Misled?" Mr. Li's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Let me guess. The rich family that raised you kicked you out, and now you're here because we're your last option? Well, let me tell you, we're poor fishermen. We don't have anything to offer you. No money, no comfort. Nothing."

Li Xinyue took a deep breath, silently cursing the original owner. What a mess you left me, she thought bitterly. She quickly decided to shift the blame onto Zhang Yujin.

"I'm sorry," she said. "But I need to tell you the truth. I only said those things because Zhang Yujin told me you didn't want me. She said you tried to sell me to the Zhang family for a better life. I believed her."

Mrs. Li gasped, tears spilling down her cheeks. "How could you think we'd ever do that?"

Li Xinyue pulled out her phone. "I have proof." She played a recording she had secretly taken of Zhang Yujin talking about her "miserable" life with the Li family.

The room fell silent as the recording echoed through the small house.

"She made me sell fish!" Zhang Yujin's voice sneered. "Her brothers are all useless. That family only knows how to drag people down."

Mr. Li's face turned dark with anger, and Mrs. Li began sobbing uncontrollably.

Li Xinyue's heart clenched. She realized that Zhang Yujin lied about everything. She stepped closer to Mrs. Li, hesitating before saying, "I'm sorry… I know I was wrong to believe her."

Mrs. Li cried harder, and Mr. Li pulled her into his arms, patting her back gently. Li Xinyue stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. She wasn't used to comforting people.

When Mrs. Li finally calmed down, she wiped her tears and asked with a trembling voice, "Xinyue… have you eaten? What would you like? I'll cook anything you want."

Her tone was a mix of nervousness and hope as if afraid Li Xinyue might reject her.

"I'm not a picky eater," Li Xinyue replied, her voice soft.

Mrs. Li's face lit up with joy, and she rushed to the kitchen.

As Li Xinyue sat down, watching her biological parents from a distance, a thought crossed her mind. Maybe… maybe I could give them a chance.

But deep down, she knew one thing for sure: Zhang Yujin was her enemy, and she wouldn't let her lies destroy her new life.