Ding Dong!
Dongfang Xi pressed the doorbell at the gate of Xiao Manor for the fourth time before someone finally came to open the door.
It was a very beautiful girl who was about the same age as her.
Oho!
Dongfang Xi secretly raised an eyebrow.
Who else could it be other than the Xiao family's fake daughter?
Dongfang Xi didn't think they'd meet so soon.
Was this a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road?
However, to her surprise, the girl donned a smile that even Dongfang Xi herself found approachable.
Strange. As a secret agent in this life and a former Crown Prince, she had long perfected her skill in discerning other people's emotions. As such, she was quite baffled at the genuine joy and sincerity that she saw in the other person's eyes.
Shouldn't she be wary of me, this real daughter who came back to "snatch" her place? Why was she so happy to see me instead?
It truly made Dongfang Xi who had read her fair share of "Real Daughter, Fake Daughter" novels and their struggles for supremacy utterly dumbfounded.
What about the promised "White Lotus Crying ", "Green Tea Frame-ups" and "Face-slapping Scenarios"?
Where had they all gone to?
Dongfang Xi was lost in her thoughts when the other girl suddenly spoke, "Are you my newly found sister, Dongfang Xi?"
"Uh... I suppose?"
"That's great! Please come inside. Mom and Dad had been waiting for you. Big brother's on his way home from abroad too!"
The girl held her hand in an attempt to guide her inside, however, Dongfang Xi turned stiff at the moment of contact and instantly flung her hand away.
"Sister?" The girl asked, confused.
"Oh! Sorry. I'm just not used to human contact." Dongfang Xi replied, lowering her eyes to hide the turmoil within them.
Just now, what the hell did she just see?!
Dongfang Xi recalled the images that surged into her mind during that brief moment of contact.
Gray skies, dilapidated buildings, soaring flames, and walking corpses.
We're those memories?
If that's the case, then...
Dongfang Xi's gaze secretly landed on the girl who was walking beside her.
Interesting.
Could it be what she thought?
Considering the fact that she herself had reincarnated from the past to the present, a person who had gone through a rebirth wasn't much of a surprise.
However, what made Dongfang Xi curious was the fact that she was able to glimpse into the other person's memories.
Was it because she developed a new ability or that this girl herself was the problem?
How curious.
If she held her hand now, will she able to see those scenes again? Perhaps, even find out more about what happened in the apocalypse.
Dongfang Xi curled her lips, then took the initiative to hold the girl's hand, startling the other party.
"Didn't you just say you weren't used to human contact?"
"If it's family, then I guess it's fine." Dongfang Xi smiled brightly, her gaze teasing, making the girl's cheeks turn red.
"Y-you... Stop teasing me!" The girl stuttered.
"Why not?" Dongfang Xi chuckled. Unsure if it was because of the girl's shy look or the fact that her suspicions were confirmed as flashes of memories surged into her mind.
Somehow, she felt sorry for the invasion of privacy. However, for the sake of ensuring her mission's success and their family's future safety, she had to do it nonetheless.
"Just because!" The girl turned even redder. Clearly flustered.
Ahaha! How cute!
Dongfang Xi resisted the urge to pinch the girl's cheeks, lest she scares the other party.
"Dad told me your name is Xiao Yue. Can I call you Yue'er?"
"U-um. Yeah, sure." Xiao Yue bit her lower lip and snuck a peek at Dongfang Xi, then lowered her head again.
They were both girls, yet why did she find this sister so charming.
Was she perhaps...
No! No!
She wasn't gay!
She was definitely into men!!!
Xiao Yue almost cried.
She never thought that one day, just merely holding hands with another girl would lead her into questioning her gender.
What was worse was that the other person remained seemingly unaware while still flashing her a smile or two everytime their eyes meet, making her wonder if she was doing it on purpose.
Too sinful!
Too much for the heart!!!
Xiao Yue cried inwardly.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, Dongfang Xi was utterly amused.
Yet also feeling somewhat sad.
This girl was far too inexperienced!
However, that was also understandable. After all, even though she was a reborn person who had gone through the apocalypse, it doesn't change the fact that she was merely seventeen years old when it happened and even died at the start of it.
That too, was partly because of herself.
Or rather, because Xiao Yue was lured out of the base because she heard news of the "real daughter's whereabouts" from somewhere and ended up being pushed into a zombie crowd by their family's enemies.
Dongfang Xi sighed.
It seems that even after the apocalypse started, the Xiao family never gave up looking for their biological daughter which was quite a pity considering the fact that if it weren't for her coincidentally reincarnating into this body and being picked up by Dongfang Yu, it was unknown whether that infant who was thrown into a trashcan could've survived.
This family truly...
She didn't know whether she should scold them for their foolishness or to feel touched by their sincerity.
Oh well. Forget it. It not like that mattered much anymore.
Now that she was here, she wasn't going to let them end up like they did in the novel. As long as they didn't betray her, she will protect them to the best of her ability.
"By the way, I've been wondering about this since earlier but... where have all the servants gone to?"
They've walked quite a long way yet never encountered any. No guards. No gardeners. Not even maids. It was quite strange seeing such a large place so devoid of people.
"Ah, about that... Mom sent them all away." Xiao Yue replied with an awkward expression.
Seeing this, Dongfang Xi didn't ask anymore. From her dodging expression and... ahem! That broken glass window over there, she could very well guess what happened.
Haha!
Poor old man...
Hope he didn't get beaten up too badly.