Chapter 208 - A Lot Of Crazy Stuff

It had been a nice lady's afternoon at Wang Yimin's house earlier. While getting their nails done, Liu Meilien had thoughts in her head. Here were two women, beautiful and building their own empires, happily married in a big mansion, and had men who loved them and supported them.

She wasn't living their lives but it was nice to get a taste of it. They did not even look like they were worried with failing. Maybe that was how real confidence look like. Or maybe they were that overly rich that a single failure in a business venture would not hurt them so much.

Liu Meilien's childhood was not the best one. When her father lost his job, he became an alcoholic—forcing her mom to work several jobs just to cover rent and get them through everyday. There were days and nights that Liu Meilien had starved while her father was unconscious on the floor, an empty bottle not far from his hands while her mother was out working.

That was why she could not really blame her mother. Liu Meilien knew she was only doing what she thought was best for her daughter. She might be young but she could tell what was right from wrong.

If Liu Meilien was thick-faced, she could easily ask her step-father to help her start a business. Feng Lizhao had always been nice to her, taking home presents for her whenever he travelled, and she had been grateful for his presence. But his money was his money and it would be Feng Xuan's in the future. She should not have a share in it because she was not a real daughter. She knew her place well.

Feng Xuan… she was someone Liu Meilien had envied from the day she had met her. They flew overseas to meet Feng Xuan. She felt envious because here was a girl her age living alone, figuring things out on her own, and managing it. She was young and her envy came out as anger towards her new step-sister. 

Second, she envied her because of her husband. A smart, handsome, rich man… heir to one of the biggest corporations. Their future was secured and you could just imagine the beautiful children that they would have.

Feng Xuan was living the life Liu Meilien wanted to be living. She was a year younger. She knew she would have her own time. But all she wanted was to get there already. Feng Xuan was like a symbolism for her.

Things changed when people started throwing rocks at her step-sister. When she heard her crying from when she leapt on her balcony to eavesdrop, something in Liu Meilien switched. This person whom she thought was perfect, was also human. She was wronged and humiliated, got into accidents, and had been kidnapped. Although Feng Xuan's bangs covered the scar she got from the accident, she still wore it with pride.

She was truly admirable. Always coming back stronger and brighter.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Wang Yimin's kind face. "You seem so deep in thought," she said in her gentle voice. "Are you thinking about something?"

She shook her head. "I am just choosing between these two shades." She showed the small pink bottles to her.

"I think the darker one would look good on you. Your skin is so white."

"I was thinking of using that one too," she said with a smile.

This was another woman, Wang Yimin. There was something about her that come off as motherly. Liu Meilien knew she suffered a minor panic attack from when she stood up from her mother on the launch day of YANG. She felt like she would get sick and that there were not enough air in the world that would let her breathe.

Then Wang Yimin hummed her a calming tune, something that you would sing to children when you want them to fall asleep. Her fingers had been soft and gentle in her hair, combing then holding it up with the pin.

Wang Yimin was involved in many organizations and frequently hosted some of them. She was even popular with the older ladies. It seemed like some of them wanted to be her too.

After being surrounded for most of the day with two of the women Liu Meilien admired, she was feeling empowered. She had bags on her arms, gifts from Wang Yimin. She quietly went up the stairs. She ran when she crossed her mother's bedroom and quickly locked herself in her room.

She was not yet ready to listen to her mother's lectures, or in this case for the lack of it. It was deafening either way. She put away the bags and rubbed her palms together, convincing herself that there was magic in her and it would help her talk to Qing Lok.

She nervously clicked on his name and pressed the phone to her ear. She was biting her lips as it rang.

After they had dinner that night at the side of the park, Qing Lok had drove her home, promising to text her when she got home. She remembered feeling flattered. No man had texted her that he had gotten home. She felt excited and stood by her phone for his message.

Twenty minutes passed and her phone finally lit up. She felt so giddy she wanted to facepalm herself. Was she developing a crush on him? Of all the people. It had to be her step-brother-in-law. Was that even a thing?

Before she could convince herself to back out, the call was answered. 

"Hello?" his voice sounded groggy.

"Oh no! I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"No worries," yawned Qing Lok. "I was just taking a nap. What's up?"

"Okay…" she began. "This might sound weird."

He chuckled and it tickled her ears. "I've heard a lot of crazy stuff. What is it?"

"This is crazier."

"Let's hear it."

"Would you go on a date with me?"