Chapter 13

Xiao Zhou looked at the obedient and soft appearance of the woman before him, and all he wanted was to pull her into his arms—but he didn’t dare. All the courage he had gathered when he boldly confessed those words was already gone.

He knew he had been reckless. He feared that he would walk the same path as before he lost his memory, forcing her into something she didn’t want. But deep down, he was the kind of person who would do anything to get what he desired.

Originally, Xiao Zhou had planned to hold back. But after his father mentioned that he’d have to return to the military base after the New Year, he couldn’t bear the thought of Jiao Jiao staying in the village alone. All he wanted was to spend more time with her—even if that time was forced, he would be content.

“Brother Xiao Zhou.”

Right after breakfast, a girl wearing a floral cotton jacket, her hair braided into two plaits, with slightly yellowish skin and a pretty but plainly featured face, looked at Xiao Zhou with affection as he fetched water.

Bai Jiaojiao searched her memories and indeed recalled this person—Xiao Qianwen, a childhood friend of Xiao Zhou and an important character in the original story.

It was originally Xiao Qianwen who was supposed to marry Xiao Zhou. The families had started discussing the marriage, until the female supporting character Bai Jiaojiao showed up out of nowhere.

In the book, Xiao Qianwen outlived even the main couple, because she always loved Xiao Zhou with unwavering devotion. She even gave up the stable future her family arranged for her and went to work in a city factory, just to see him more often.

Unfortunately, by then Xiao Zhou had committed crimes and didn’t want to drag her down. He told her he only saw her as a sister. Besides giving her money, he gave her nothing else.

Bai Jiaojiao’s mind was working fast now. The book said “sister,” but who knows—maybe she was a “sweetheart-sister” instead?

“Ouch.”

Suddenly, she got lightly knocked on the head. The man stood there with one hand holding a bucket of water, looking displeased.

“Why are you staring at another woman?”

Only then did Bai Jiaojiao realize she’d been looking at Xiao Qianwen for too long. She cleared her throat, “Just thought she’s quite pretty.”

“Not as pretty as you,” Xiao Zhou replied, clearly annoyed. If only she’d stare at him like that.

Xiao Qianwen, who had overheard them from a distance, stiffened. She had already seen Bai Jiaojiao before—skin as fair as snow, completely unlike the girls from the village. Her looks outshone even TV stars.

That cold, disdainful expression Bai Jiaojiao had once shown her told Xiao Qianwen clearly: this woman wasn’t as innocent and kind as she seemed. A woman like her didn’t deserve her Brother Xiao Zhou.

Now she was even getting him to say she wasn’t pretty? Don’t think she would just give up because of that.

“Brother Xiao Zhou, my mom made some pickled chili a few days ago. I brought you two jars,” she said softly as she walked up with two jars in hand.

Xiao Zhou didn’t recognize her and turned to Bai Jiaojiao. She whispered, “A younger sister you really liked from the village.”

“Cousin or no blood relation?” he asked quietly.

“Uh… no blood relation. But you grew up together. You’ve always treated her well,” Bai Jiaojiao emphasized.

Xiao Zhou’s brows immediately furrowed. Was I that clueless before losing my memory? Having a woman close to me besides my wife?

If his wife said this much, she must be jealous.

His voice grew cold, “No need. Take it back.”

Their conversation was quiet, but that final sentence was loud and clear. Xiao Qianwen’s face instantly turned pale.

“Brother Xiao Zhou, is it because of Bai Jiaojiao? You never used to talk to me like this,” she said, eyes filling with tears.

Xiao Zhou only felt more irritated. “I’m married now. Stay away from me. We’re not even relatives. What’s there to deliver? A young woman shouldn’t be so improper.”

Bai Jiaojiao, stunned at how coldly he spoke, quickly tugged at his sleeve. “Xiao Zhou, don’t say that.”

“Bai Jiaojiao, no need to pretend to be kind!” Xiao Qianwen glared at her, threw the chili jars on the ground, and ran off crying.

Xiao Zhou’s expression darkened. “Wife, stay away from her. She’s no good.”

Bai Jiaojiao picked up the jars, sweating.

She didn’t understand how things turned out like this. She had warned Xiao Zhou—this girl was supposed to be his most protected “sister” later in the story. And now, with just a few words, he’d burned that bridge?

Bai Jiaojiao felt the plot was veering wildly off course. If she didn’t fix this, once Xiao Zhou regained his memory, the first thing he might do… is kill her.

“You used to love this pickled chili. She brought it for you out of care,” she said.

“I don’t like it anymore. And if I did, I can make it myself,” he replied.

Bai Jiaojiao held her forehead. Xiao Zhou walked up to her, looked her in the eyes and said seriously:

“I was a mess before. But I promise, from now on, I won’t even glance at another woman. If I do, you can gouge my eyes out.”

Saying that, he really took her hand and placed it over his eyes, pressing down.

Bai Jiaojiao quickly pulled her hand back and shot him a glare. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Even amnesiac, this villain was still a psycho—talking about gouging eyes like it was nothing.

Xiao Zhou smiled faintly, “I know you can’t bear to.”

“I’ll go talk to that girl. You stay here,” she said.

Xiao Zhou was beyond help, so she needed to reason with Xiao Qianwen at least. If not, once Xiao Zhou regained his memory, the rift between them would be unfixable.

Besides, her plan hadn’t even been implemented yet.

Xiao Zhou’s lips pressed into a line, his gaze dark. “Jiao Jiao, I told you to stay away from her. Why are you going after her?”

“It’s woman business. I’ll return her the pickled chili. Don’t follow me,” she said, running off with the jars.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhou’s sulking heart lifted again. Wife cares about me—she’s going to warn that woman, isn’t she?

But… she wasn’t familiar with the village. He didn’t feel safe letting her go alone.

Bai Jiaojiao ran across half the village before catching up with Xiao Qianwen.

“Wait, here’s your chili back,” she said.

Xiao Qianwen, still crying, looked at the jars and sobbed harder. “You must be so proud. Brother Xiao Zhou listens to you now, and rejects me so coldly. He never treated me like this before New Year.”

In the original book, Xiao Qianwen was Xiao Zhou’s most special person. Readers even commented that if it weren’t for Bai Jiaojiao forcing the marriage, Xiao Zhou would’ve married her—and none of his tragedies would’ve happened.

Right now, Bai Jiaojiao didn’t want to hurt her self-esteem. Once Xiao Zhou divorced and regained his memories, they might end up together.

“Xiao Zhou lost his memory and forgot a lot of things. He doesn’t remember you now. So whatever he said earlier—don’t take it to heart. He’ll remember soon,” Bai Jiaojiao explained.

Hearing this, Xiao Qianwen stopped crying. “I knew it. Brother Xiao Zhou wouldn’t treat me like that.”

Then she looked at Bai Jiaojiao suspiciously. “Why are you being so kind to tell me this?”

Bai Jiaojiao smiled. “Because Xiao Zhou and I already came to an agreement. He was going to divorce me—he told me he likes you. I don’t want to cling to a man who doesn’t want me.”

“Now that he’s lost his memory, we didn’t manage to divorce. So I hoped you’d help him regain his memory.”

Bai Jiaojiao’s mind was calculating quickly. Since this woman held such a special place in the villain’s heart, she clearly had power over him.

In the book, she ranked second only to the female lead. And right now, the female lead wasn’t even in the picture. With their emotional history and shared memories, if Bai Jiaojiao helped them reunite, maybe Xiao Zhou would remember everything and fall for Xiao Qianwen.

Then she could make her graceful exit and avoid the tragic ending the original Bai Jiaojiao faced. A perfect plan.

What she didn’t notice… was the shadow quietly watching from a distance.