The next morning.
She blinked.
Zhi Ruo did not manage to sleep at all last night. The bags under her eyes became even more apparent.
She stared at the ceilings.
The fact that she couldn't sleep bothered her to the point of insanity. Having her whole childhood sleeping and yet being unable to sleep in adulthood made it hard for her.
Although sleeping pills helped soothe her symptoms, sometimes the pills wouldn't work depending on how tired she'll be.
"When will I ever be able to have a good night's sleep?" she sighed exasperatedly as she rubbed her eyes.
Zhi Ruo slowly sat up and registered the time. It should be around seven now. Her cousin should've already gone to work together with her assistant whom she gave a heads up too.
Just as she was preparing to stand up, shuffling sounds were heard on the other side of the door. She couldn't help but knit her eyebrows together.
A thief?
But what kind of thief would pick morning as a time to steal?
Quietly tiptoing across the room, Zhi Ruo leaned on and pressed her ear on the door. Only the sounds of plastic and soft humming could be heard?
Oh, it was just Xiao Tong.
Only she and herself knew the passcode to her apartment. She hadn't bothered to invite any relatives over because she preferred being alone.
Swinging the door open, Zhi Ruo strode in the living room.
"Oh hey, you're awake. I brought your favorite bread and soy milk."
Zhi Ruo smiled. "Thanks."
"No problem. I had nothing to do today anyways. I got the whole day off."
She couldn't help but be curious. It was unusual for her to have a day off. "So, what brings you here today? You're usually in some random shopping mall instead of being here in my house."
She ripped open the wrapper of the bread and took a bite. Her curious eyes gazed at her best friend.
Xiao Tong avoided her gaze. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but refrained from doing so.
"Nevermind. We can talk about it next time."
Zhi Ruo probed with her gaze but Xiao Tong seemed adamant on keeping it a secret. She grabbed the bottle of soy milk and drank it. The cold, smooth liquid flowed down her throat.
Ah. . . So refreshing.
"Sure, no pressure." Zhi Ruo grabbed another slice of bread and quietly munched on it. "By the way, do you know the Hua Conglomorate's banquet being held tomorrow evening?"
"Oh yeah, it's supposed to be an event exclusive for the very few chosen elites in various professions. For a company that started no sooner than three years ago, their influence and connections exceed even mine. And what do you mean tomorrow evening? It's tonight."
Zhi Ruo suddenly gulped the bread that she couldn't help but cough.
"Wh-what did you say? TONIGHT?!" she exclaimed in a pitch higher than usual.
Xiao Tong looked at her in shock. "Yes, tonight. And why the heck are you screaming so early in the morning?"
"BECAUSE!" Zhi Ruo couldn't help but shout out. Realizing that she spoke too loud, she breathed deeply.
Calm down, self. Calm down.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Zhi Ruo leaned over to Xiao Tong. "I had been invited to the banquet in the pretense of being someone's escort. And... You know what, I'm calling the old man."
She whipped out her phone from who knows where and immediately dialed her grandfather's number. After three rings the call went through.
"Hello?"
There was noises in the background and she could make out faint voices. [Yes, who is this?]
"You didn't tell me that the banquet was tonight? You said Monday evening. What the heck am I supposed to wear?"
[Ah, is that all? Grandmother had already delivered your dress so it should be arriving in the afternoon. As for the rest, why are you yelling at me?]
"Because if I knew it was on such short notice then I would've declined!"
Her grandfather couldn't help but pout. [But you're not even busy anymore.]
Zhi Ruo felt her head throb. She had ordered a box of special fertilizer along with plants for the spring season. It was supposed to arrive today and she couldn't just leave the house without anyone guarding it.
"Fine. I'll just find a way to fix this."
She didn't dally anymore and hung up.
Her grandfather stared at his phone and shook his head.
"Well, what did he say?"
Zhi Ruo stared at her best friend who bore a curious gaze.
She suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
"The dress should be delivered today so other than that, I'm pretty much prepared to go."
Thinking about it now, Zhi Ruo was not much high maintenance compared to other women her age. She did not wear muck makeup except concealer to hide the bags under her eyes and lip balm for her usually chapped lips.
"What do you mean, prepared to go?" Xiao Tong spoke up indignantly. "Look at yourself!"
Zhi Ruo frowned at her excessive criticism. Surely she didn't look bad, did she?
She approached the mirror and took a good look at herself. Apart from her bed hair that hasn't been brushed, just a bit of touching up and she'll be ready to go.
"What's wrong with me? I think I look quite decent, don't you think?"
Tsk tsk tsk!
Xiao Tong shook her head in disappointment.
"You know, you should really try to doll yourself up more. You have a good foundation and a good body so why are you so damn lazy?"
Zhi Ruo felt like she was stabbed with a knife. While she was okay with pointing out her own mistakes, having someone else do made her appear awkward.
"No one will even know me and I want to keep a low profile."
Xiao Tong patted her back. "Don't worry, I will make sure you're ready by tonight."
"Ah wait, what do you m-"
"Now let's go." Xiao Tong did not wait and pulled her out of the apartment.
Zhi Ruo went out that morning with messy hair, crumbs around her lips, and dressed in pyjamas.
In the backseat of a Rolls Royce, Xiao Tong was busy talking on the phone. She had been talking for more than 30 minutes. Zhi Ruo gave up on trying to talk to her and hugged her knees, looking out the window.
Finally, after another 10 minutes, Xiao Tong hung up the last call and turned to face her.
"So, I just booked us an exclusive appointment to Catherine's. And since I'm a frequent visitor, the manager has agreed to give you a free makeover."
Zhi Ruo's shoulders sagged and she sighed heavily. She should've been enjoying her sweet time watching movies and pigging out on her favorite foods.
"Don't give me that look." Xiao Tong grabbed her shoulders. "I'm just doing what's best for you, okay?"
Zhi Ruo rolled her eyes. "You mean what's best for you? God knows how long you've been wanting to doll me up."
Xiao Tong sweetly smiled.
"Well of course! You're my best friend. And as my best friend, I have the right to treat you to the best time of your life."
Zhi Ruo sighed again. She couldn't remember how many times she sighed already.
"At least we aren't shopping…" she muttered under her breathe.
As if she heard her, Xiao Tong added, "Oh, and we're going shopping."
She groaned.
Why do I have to go through this?
Ah but, there might be something that would make the day go by faster. But she wasn't sure if Xiao Tong would agree…
Zhi Ruo put on a sweet smile. "Uhm… Xiao Tong...?"
Xiao Tong kept looking at her phone. "What?"
"Can you... Maybe… Perhaps…"
"Don't drag your words out and spit it out. Is it food? If it is, then yes I'll buy you a box of donuts. Will that appease your grumpy mood?"
The mention of donuts made her eyes sparkle. Her stomach grumbled at the thought of food.
Throughout that day, Zhi Ruo had miraculously kept a good mood without grumbling once.
She always had a box of donuts accompanying her whether it be while was being massaged, a french manicure and pedicure or a makeover.
This made Xiao Tong ecstatic. It was like she had discovered a cheat for forci- ah making Zhi Ruo accompany her to events.
She had always hated being escorted by men forced on her by her parents. It always ended with some outrageous rumor about her being pregnant.
People were both imaginative but disgusting creatures. They could always make something out of nothing.
She couldn't help but glance at her best friend who was quietly humming and for the first time ever since she was born, she wasn't grumpy in the morning.
"It really is a miracle."
"What?"
"Nothing."