After taking a shower and lying on the soft bed, Huayan recalled what Aunt Chang had just said and suddenly understood that Li Meier must have heard something from somewhere, which made her feel threatened by the invitation Huayan received from Cheng Jia a couple of days ago. Today's phone call was just to gather information. It seemed that Li Meier was deeply involved with Cheng Jie, whether it was for money or for Cheng Jie himself. This kind of entanglement was suffocating, whether as a person or as a woman, it was difficult to live like this.
Huayan couldn't help but sigh at how difficult it was for people to let go of love and emotions in this world. Life was a continuous cycle of self-imprisonment. She suddenly decided to put the long-standing plan of traveling with her father to various places on her agenda. She didn't care about others' lives anymore; living her own life well was what mattered. With beautiful expectations for this father-daughter trip, Huayan drifted into dreamland.
The next day, after having a meal at the villa, Huayan slung her bag over her shoulder, put on her sun hat and sunglasses, and went to the city to buy high-intensity sunscreen makeup.
Just as she got off the car and entered the International Shopping Mall, she had just finished browsing the jewelry and handbag stores on the first floor when she suddenly heard someone calling her on the elevator to the second floor. Turning around, she saw a flamboyantly dressed woman rushing towards her spot. She was running too fast, her long hair disheveled, covering her face. Huayan couldn't be sure if she knew this woman.
The woman rushed onto the elevator, receiving disdainful glances all the way, and finally revealed her face to Huayan. The moment Huayan saw her, she recognized her as Li Meier, her ex-husband's former mistress. There were several photos of her in her old phone, which she had deleted, but Huayan still remembered Li Meier vividly.
Li Meier chased after Huayan, panting heavily. She had been calling Cheng Jie for the past few days, either being brushed off with excuses of his busy schedule or finding his phone out of service. What made Li Meier most anxious and uneasy was that she had seen Cheng Jie laughing and talking with a foreign girl from a prestigious family. In all the time she had spent with him, Cheng Jie had never shown such warmth and affection towards her.
"Xiaoyan, are you out shopping alone? Why didn't you call me? We haven't seen each other for so long." Li Meier's eyes wandered around as she spoke sincerely.
If Huayan hadn't known about her deeds, she might have been deceived by her. Knowing what this woman had done to the previous owner of this body, Huayan's anger surged. However, she realized that it wasn't appropriate to confront her in a public place.
"Just by myself." Huayan said coldly without even looking up, then turned around and stepped into the elevator to the second floor. Such indifference, such domineering attitude, made Li Meier start to doubt whether the woman in front of her was really Huayan. She trotted up to her, carefully observing Huayan's appearance, and couldn't help but mutter to herself, "It's still the same Xiaoyan, but why did she suddenly change her attitude? Just now, her simple expression made Li Meier feel scared and pressured for the first time."
"Xiaoyan, we haven't sat down and talked for a long time. There's a nice coffee shop on the second floor of the mall. Would you like to go there for a drink?"
In her heart, Huayan cursed Li Meier. How dare she have the audacity? Even if she had the face, it was shameless. It was disgusting to see her still putting on the facade of a good friend. However, since Li Meier had come to find her several times without seeing her, Huayan decided to see what she wanted. Knowing oneself and knowing the enemy is a good strategy.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"Lead the way." A small accessory in the International Shopping Mall had been worth a month's salary when she was an orphan. She had never dared to step into this place before because she couldn't afford anything. Now, even though she looked at them, she was met with disdainful glances from the salesperson, making her feel upset. Fate was unpredictable. She had never imagined that she would have the opportunity to live in a villa, be served, and even think of buying something here. Thinking about all this, Huayan's lips curled up. No matter how she had been reborn, everything was moving in a good direction.
The place they sat in was not large, quiet, clean, with only a few customers resting their legs. Before Li Meier could speak, Huayan took the lead and said, "You've been looking for me several times. What's the matter?"
"Ah... from what you said, aren't we good friends? Why would there be anything if I come to find you?" Li Meier was shocked by Huayan's sudden dominance and suppressed the little tricks in her heart. While observing Huayan and speaking softly.
"Oh, good friends? Indeed... I used to treat you as a good friend." That was before. Now, you are just an insignificant person.
"Why 'used to'? Xiaoyan, have you forgotten that we used to go shopping together, go to the beauty salon together, confide in each other? Have you forgotten that I helped you come up with so many perfect ways to capture Cheng Jie's heart?" A few days before Cheng's family wanted Huayan to return, Li Meier was either too busy or out of the service area when she called Cheng Jie. Li Meier felt uneasy about this. Today, she had to get the news from Huayan's mouth, no matter what.
Upon hearing these words, Huayan felt the urge to slap her in the face. Even though it seemed like Huayan was carrying a bunch of clothes on her shopping spree, Li Meier had never lacked anything either. Most of her clothes were gifts from Huayan, and the money for her beauty treatments also came from Huayan. Huayan was practically her indefinite credit card.
"Not shopping with me... the modesty cloths on you would all become cheap goods. Like the pink Chanel crossbody bag you're holding right now, it's just discounted online shopping. My eyes are sharp, didn't notice before, huh?" Huayan smirked ambiguously. She knew Li Meier's Chanel bag was bought online at a discount because there was a half-centimeter-long black mark on its side.
Trembling hands, disbelief painted across her delicate pink cheeks, Li Meier blushed. She could only endure Huayan's humiliating remarks with simmering resentment in her heart.
Actions speak louder than words; ever since Huayan divorced Cheng Jie, her financial income couldn't afford her luxurious tastes anymore.
Now, when she doesn't meet Cheng Jie, she only wears ordinary clothes. She only dresses up when she meets him, looking radiant and adorned. This bag she's holding is indeed from her online shopping. At that time, she thought the bag was authentic, limited edition, and most importantly, cheap. She didn't expect to be exposed so soon.
The more she thought about it, the more she hated the sharpness and cynicism Huayan had developed. She also resented the Li family's cold-bloodedness and indifference towards her, their illegitimate daughter, not providing for her daily expenses, just treating her as a woman who could win hearts and benefits. Her seduction of Cheng Jie was partly at the Li family's behest, and partly because she hoped to become Mrs. Cheng and assert herself in front of the Li family. Although Huayan, the former Mrs. Cheng, was not favored by her mother-in-law, and Cheng Jie often stayed out, he was still generous with daily expenses and spending on her. Now, she's just a plaything in Cheng Jie's eyes, nowhere near Huayan's status before. The more she thought, the more bitter she felt, and Li Meier's eyes began to redden, glaring angrily at Huayan. Huayan just gave a contemptuous smile, calmly sipping her coffee.