The next morning, what greeted Selene were two worried faces of who she knew as her parents.
"Are you alright now sweetie? Is there pain anywhere?" Asked Sylva, her new mother, a beautiful woman with long black hair and warm brown eyes.
"No, everything's alright mom. Aside from fuzzy memories."
"Haha, my daughter is a survivor! Soon, you'll be jumping, running, climbing mountains, cliff diving..." While speaking, the fat man's stomach was jiggling. Selene's eyes could help but focus on it.
"Ahem, dear, don't get ahead of yourself and help me explain everything to our child."
Her father, Willow Jin, is the opposite of what his name should have signified. Although extremely round, people around him would never ridicule him to his face. Willow is the person who single-handedly paved the way for the rise of the Jin business empire, which focuses on manufacturing weapons. Behind his jolly facade lies a brilliant mind and a ruthless businessman. Hence, even the powerful entities in the city would give him face. She also learned that her father had sponsored a promising youth, who is treated like a real son.
"Mom, when can I meet him?"
"Well, he's managing lots of business in the capital, I'm sure he'll visit immediately once his done and he knows you're back."
................
*CRASH*
"Miss, I'm..*hiccup* terribly sorry.. have mercy." A young female repeatedly kowtowed on the floor. With he force she was using, Selene pondered whether the girl's skull or the floor would crack first.
Timid, this was her first impression of Maple, her personal attendant.
"Am I a devil, stop being ridiculous and stand up. I won't punish you." Growing tired of the constant knocking noise and sobs, she finally decided to stop the girl from self-mutilation.
"Wah, a ghost? Who are you and what did you do with the real miss?" The girl asked, with wide eyes.
After explaining her amnesia, Selene was enlightened on what kind of person from whom she owed her borrowed identity. Being an only daughter, Yelena was spoiled rotten and treasured greatly. You can imagine the chaos that ensued when she was suddenly disappeared. Various resources were mobilized in order to search for her.
Whatever she wants, she needed to have it. She never lacked for anything, and grew up to be an ignorant and inconsiderate girl. For instance, she was always chasing after the handsome Aeron, the youth sponsored by his father. And she only respects people who are either rich or influential, disdaining the weak and poor. She especially bullies beautiful commoner girls, such as Maple, since she believes someone might snatch Aeron away from her.
Finally, Selene was enlightened as to why Maple was shaking like a leaf just for damaging a single leaf. Maple was the only female staff who was deemed beautiful by Yelena. Hence, she chose Maple as her personal maid in order to keep her firmly on leash, never allowing her to come near Aeron.
Selene felt disgusted by Yelena, how can a young have such a wicked mind? She definitely wouldn't emulate Yelena's browbeating of the poor. However, she should still try to act like Yelena, lest other people start to question her identity.
................
In a magnificent courtyard, in front of a large mansion, surrounded by towering trees and various plants, a wonderful family was standing at the side. At the distance you can see a carriage nearing.
"Big brother!" A petite young lady, with sparkling onyx eyes and long silky black hair, ran towards a handsome, dignified youth, that had just exited from the carriage.
"Yelena, you've grown taller. It's quite fortunate that you have been returned to us." This handsome youth was Aeron, a youth sponsored by his father, who admired his wit and talent.
"You can do this Selene. You have no choice." The girl then reached out and hugged Aeron, being reminded of pines because of his scent.
"You're already a lady now, you shouldn't hug someone of the opposite sex." Sylva, noticing Aeron's distress, reminded her daughter of proper etiquette.
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"Whew, saved by mom. She really is one of a kind." were Selene's thoughts. She unquestionably didn't want to hug him. Unfortunately, she needed to be "Yelena-like". Thus, reluctantly chose to act like a male chaser than a pompous bullying brat.
The funny thing was, Aeron's thoughts were in line with Selene's. He was truly grateful for the intervention of his "mother". Aeron, despite his irritation at seeing this younger lass being willful again, he had no choice but to silence his grievances.
Selene almost forgot this elder brother of hers since he didn't visit, even knowing that "Yelena" returned alive. Now, Selene has already lived as Yelena for four months, and this is the first time she saw Aeron. Now, she understood why "Yelena" would chase after this kind of boy. This was definitely a topnotch male specimen. White skin, tall, with a dignified air, having amber eyes that looked like liquefied gold and black hair that looks blue when the sun shines on it; he basically looked beautiful. After hugging him and putting this face into her memory, Selene didn't even glance twice. She already saw a lot of beautiful people before, what bothered her was that her cheeks were burning. This was only the second time she had hugged someone from the opposite sex. She dreaded the following, hopefully days and not months, of her chasing this youth. Well, hopefully, this guy runs fast. She can then pretend to give up in the end.
................
After a few months, a familiar scene always brought laughter to the faces of young and old alike.
"Big brother, wait.. WAIT for me!." An adorable girl would be seen running after a handsome youth.
Unfortunately, today, it seemed quite different.
*CRASH*
"Are you alright? You should be careful and try not to run around much." Aeron warned Selene, while blowing on her wounded knee.
It was quite clear that it was Aeron's fault for not stopping that Selene chased him. If only he locked himself in a room, never showing himself in front of her. This constant chase soon became a routine for Selene. Looking at the bright side, she seemed to become quite fit, contrary to her lifestyle before.
"Brother, if you genuinely love me then, pretty please, carry me."
*woosh*
Aeron immediately hefted Selene and carried her like a princess. He stopped, upon bringing her to an isolated place in the gardens; then he dropped her.
"Sorry, Yelena, my arms are already numbed. Did you gain weight recently?" an angelic voice was heard, however, the words spoken were like sharp knives. Luckily, Selene was already accustomed to this side of Aeron, this jerk, who has a multiple personality disorder, amused her. If left to her choice, she wanted to have friends like him, someone who shows their real personality instead of stabbing someone in the back.
"Brother, maybe it's because of those sweet cakes you've gifted me. You better take responsibility and make me your wife if no one would want me later if I become a pig. " Selene tossed back in a nauseatingly syrupy voice, while massaging his "sore" arms, to which Aeron acted swiftly by retracting his arms.
"Hmph, even if this devil's acting skills are truly better than mine. I will definitely not lose!" Selene promised to make look at the bright side. Having a virtuoso by her side, she would definitely be able to polish her acting skills. Who knows, these skills might prove to be vital in the future. In her past, she was surrounded by lots of talented actresses, ultimately, failing to discern truths from lies. "Maybe, once my acting skills are at an expert level, I can see differentiate sincerity from sophistry and deceit."
.............................
A.N. - Well, that's another chapter. Hope you enjoy. Is this guy a promising male lead or doomed to be a side character? Stay tuned to find out. :-Pendraguin-:zzz: