Divorcee O Finds Me Irresistible - Chapter 17

Xu Kai’s voice boomed like thunder, nearly paralyzing everyone in the room.

Only Fu Hengxi remained composed, while the others shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between the three members of the Xu family, each harboring their own hidden motives.

Xu Qing felt her bl00d turn to ice. She didn’t look at Xu Kai’s face, standing stiff as a wooden statue, her expression blank and numb.

Growing up, the family’s strict discipline meant she and her older sister were often punished by their mother, forced to kneel or stand for hours. Sometimes, their father would publicly reprimand them in front of guests. Back then, they were too young to understand, compelled to obey their parents’ authority. Though these punishments left lasting scars, she had never confronted her parents about these past grievances.

Now, at twenty-six, Xu Qing had seen the world, matured into a steady and composed woman. At this age, she was even old enough to be a parent herself, possessing her own dignity and self-respect. Logically, no matter what mistakes she had made, her parents had no right to punish her in such a manner.

Xu Qing refused to kneel. Instead, she endured Madam Min’s second and third slaps. When Madam Min tried to strike her again, Aunt Liu, the nanny, intervened, wrapping her arms around the older woman. Lu Yijiang also feigned attempts to restrain her.

“Madam, enough…” Aunt Liu pleaded softly, her voice trembling with tears.

Min Se couldn’t shake off the meddling woman and nearly kicked Xu Qing.

The farce finally began to subside when another middle-aged woman, who had been sitting quietly on the sofa, stood up.

“Madam Xu,” the woman said, her voice weak and punctuated by coughs. Though she had been an inconspicuous presence, everyone in the room now turned to her, eager to hear her thoughts.

She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said, “There’s no need for this. Young people make mistakes, but they deserve to retain some dignity.”

Her speech was refined, her appearance dignified, with deep-set eyes that immediately revealed her as the mother of the short-haired Omega sister. Though their features were similar, their demeanor and bearing were worlds apart.

As she spoke, the Omega sister buried her face in her shoulder, her hands clenching the hem of her skirt.

Min Se’s anger hadn’t abated. When she glanced at the mother and daughter, a flicker of disgust flashed in her eyes.

Lu Yijiang chimed in, echoing the woman’s words. “Exactly! Xu Qing is old enough to know better. What problem can’t be resolved through negotiation? Even if she’s broken the most sacred law, there’s always a chance for redemption, right, Madam Xu?”

Min Se glared coldly at Xu Qing. “Aren’t you going to admit your mistake?”

Xu Qing’s lips curled into a defiant smirk. “Mother, what exactly have I done wrong?”

“Don’t you know what you’ve been up to?” Min Se snapped, barely containing her anger. “Running to the Fu Family every day these past few days—it wasn’t for your fiancée, was it? You had ulterior motives, didn’t you?”

“What ulterior motives could I possibly have?” Xu Qing settled back on the sofa, radiating an air of fearless defiance. “My only motive is filial piety. I’ve been going to the Fu Family every day for your sake. Otherwise, do you think I’d willingly set foot in that cursed place?”

“You insolent wretch!” Min Se roared. “You commit vile acts in someone else’s home, and then you dare to insult them?”

“If you’re so convinced of my guilt, then go ahead and kill me,” Xu Qing said calmly, spreading her arms across the sofa back, her gaze unwavering.

Min Se’s hand twitched, ready to strike. The others exchanged uneasy glances, utterly unprepared for Xu Qing’s defiant attitude.

Seeing their conflicted, almost inhuman expressions, Xu Qing completely gave up. She crossed her legs, picked up a piece of fruit from the coffee table, and began to eat.

With practiced ease, Xu Qing peeled an orange. The peel, when placed on the coffee table, looked so realistic it could easily be mistaken for another orange.

It was practically art.

Xu Qing divided the fruit into two halves and asked the youngest person in the room, “Want some?”

The girl shook her head, her face alternating between pale and green.

It seemed no one in the room understood her art.

“It’s quite sweet,” Xu Qing murmured to herself. “You can tell it’s a good orange, grown on a tree.”

Isn’t that obvious? Where else would oranges grow?

Has Xu Qing gone mad?

Lu Yijiang’s lips twitched as she stared at Xu Qing in disbelief. “Dr. Xu, are you alright? Do you need to see a doctor?”

“Can doctors cure stupidity?” Xu Qing asked with a smile. “Where would you find such a miracle worker? Maybe you should get yourself checked out too?”

Xu Qing’s fair complexion and refined features, combined with her radiant smile, gave her an almost ethereal glow, like she was bathed in sunlight and filtered through a soft-focus lens. Beautiful, yes, but utterly inappropriate for the situation.

Besides, only the side of her face that hadn’t been slapped looked good. The other cheek was flushed red, the stark contrast making her appear bizarre.

Xu Kai’s brow furrowed deeply. His anger had given way to concern.

Xu Qing was the Xu family’s only remaining heir. Over the years, she had proven herself to be filial, sensible, and exceptionally capable. Anyone who met Xu Kai’s daughter would remark, “Director Xu, your daughter is even more impressive than my son!”

If they truly drove her mad, how would the Xu family ever save face? Wouldn’t they become the subject of endless gossip?

Lu Yijiang exchanged a glance with the other woman. After a moment, she pointed to the short-haired Omega sister and asked, “Dr. Xu, do you recognize this young lady?”

Xu Qing ignored her completely, not even sparing her a glance. She calmly finished her orange, then looked up at Min Se and asked, “Have you decided? How do you plan to execute me?”

Though Min Se was usually decisive and powerful, dominating the Xu family with her authority, she now felt a growing unease in the face of Xu Qing’s uncharacteristic behavior.

Could I have hit her too hard earlier? Did I damage her brain?

“What’s wrong with you, Xu Qing?” Min Se demanded, her voice sharp with displeasure. “Why are you suddenly acting so crazy?”

Xu Qing pulled a hospital diagnosis report from her pocket, unfolded it, and placed it on the coffee table. “Here. I hit my head in a car accident yesterday. It might have affected my nerves after all.”

Min Se picked up the diagnosis report and was about to put on her glasses to examine it closely when Xu Kai snatched it away. After a quick glance, he scoffed, “Who are you trying to scare? This isn’t even your name on here!”

Xu Qing simultaneously produced bl00d test results and several photos from the car accident scene.

Min Se gasped as she picked up the photos, her voice trembling with disbelief. “You… you were in a car accident?”

“Yesterday, when I left Boss Fu’s house, I felt terribly dizzy. I was rear-ended on the way home. The bl00d test later revealed an excessive level of Narcissone in my system—I was poisoned,” Xu Qing said with a cold laugh, her gaze fixed on the seemingly detached Fu Hengxi. “Boss Fu, your hospitality is truly eye-opening.”

A murmur of shock rippled through the room. Min Se clutched the photos, her shocked expression quickly turning to fury. The moment she heard the word “Narcissone,” she immediately understood the situation. This drug stimulates the nervous system, activating the Alpha glands—essentially an aphrodisiac for Alphas. The symptoms of Narcissone poisoning closely mimic those of an Alpha in heat, making it nearly impossible to detect without a bl00d test.

No wonder Min Se had found it suspicious. How could her upright and obedient child have assaulted another family’s child outside?

So it was a trap set by the Fu Family?!

As expected, Fu Hengxi couldn’t remain seated after hearing Xu Qing’s accusation. He forced a stiff laugh and said, “Young Master Xu, are you perhaps mistaken about something?”

Lu Yijiang quickly chimed in, “That’s right! You yourself said the incident occurred after you left the Fu Family. What if you drank something contaminated after you left?”

Xu Kai’s face darkened. He glanced down at the medical report and photos Xu Qing had presented, then studied the expressions of the others in the room, forming a rough conclusion in his mind.

“You’re right, it’s possible I was poisoned elsewhere,” Xu Qing finally glanced at Lu Yijiang, who beamed as if she’d received a compliment. Xu Qing continued, “But I can assure you, I didn’t consume anything after leaving the Fu Family. The car accident occurred less than twenty minutes after I left.”

Lu Yijiang seemed to have dug a hole and buried herself in it. Her beautiful mind raced, and she forced a nervous laugh. “Maybe it happened before you came to our house… You don’t have any proof that we poisoned you, do you?”

Fu Hengxi could barely stand to listen. He kicked her. “Shut your damn mouth, you b1tch! Stop stirring up trouble!”

“Boss Fu, your wife has a point,” Xu Qing said with a faint smile. “I have no evidence to prove there was anything wrong with the tea I drank at your house, let alone accuse the Fu Family of illegal activities. I’m simply pointing out that your hospitality is… exceptionally unique. It was quite shocking.”

Fu Hengxi endured her sarcastic tone, squinting his eyes and forcing a smile. “Misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding.”

Xu Qing shook her head. “After this incident, I wouldn’t dare set foot in the Fu Family again. Who knows what… surprise you might send my way next?” She paused, noticing the young Omega sister biting her lip and crying. She quickly changed her tone. “Whatever grand surprise it might be, I simply can’t afford it.”

Min Se’s face darkened. “Xu Qing, be clear. Most importantly, have you had… relations with this person?”

Xu Qing met her gaze with a mocking smile. “Would you believe me if I told you?”

“Of—”

The word “course” died in Min Se’s throat as she saw the half-turned face of Xu Qing, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Xu Qing picked up an orange from the coffee table, weighing it in her hand as she continued, “Since you won’t listen to or believe me, why should I even bother speaking? Let my sister do the talking. Either way, I’ll never marry her—unless I’ve truly lost my mind and let you manipulate me.”

The girl’s eyes widened, bloodshot. Amidst the shocked and complicated gazes of everyone present, she abruptly stood up from the sofa, shoved past her frail mother and the obstructive Lu Yijiang, and stormed out of the room.

Lu Yijiang’s eyes bulged like a frog’s as she let out a pained sigh.

The girl’s mother, seemingly at a loss for words, clutched her handkerchief and hurried after her daughter. The remaining guests, putting on a show of civility, offered apologies to Xu Kai and his wife, maintaining a facade of harmony between the two families.

Xu Qing peeled a second orange. Only her parents remained in the house.

“You were in a car accident yesterday?” Xu Kai finally adopted a parental tone, sitting beside Xu Qing and asking with concern, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Xu Qing replied. “The car needs repairs.”

Xu Kai offered a few more words of comfort, but Xu Qing remained silent, focused on her snacks and fruit. Min Se stood nearby, watching her with a stern expression, not uttering a word.

Before Xu Kai could finish, Xu Qing stood up and said, “I’m going back to Golden Sand Lake. I won’t be staying here for a while. Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency.”

She grabbed her helmet and laptop bag, heading downstairs. Just as she had arrived, she left with nothing extra and nothing forgotten.

As her motorcycle sped down the street, she felt infinitely lighter than when she had come.

The Xu family couple watched her leave, unsure of what to say.

Should they apologize? But what parent apologizes to their child?

Trying to stop her seemed equally inappropriate. After pondering for a long while, they finally concluded, “Ah, we’re getting old. We can’t control her anymore.”