AnLing took her place beside Shuya but she didn't say a word.
Shuya turned to look at AnLing. Her eyes dark as an abyss and said, "Lu AnLing, don't you dare step foot in the main house or at the hospital."
'Talking like the true mistress of the Lu household.' AnLing thought. She really wanted to roll her eyes but she fought back the urge.
AnLing opened her mouth to speak. She wanted to get rid of Shuya as fast as possible. The best way was to try to appease her but, Shuya didn't give her the chance to speak.
"You know you can't. Mother and father still haven't forgiven you, so it's best you stay away. As for grandmother and grandfather, don't mind them, they are satisfied seeing you every now and then."
Shuya's words tore at AnLing's heart. She pinched the area between her eyebrows and closed her eyes. She still hadn't been forgiven? It was obvious that they would probably never forgive her.
Shuya paused and then looked at the bartender. She lifted her glass in the air.
"One for me and one for her," Shuya commanded.
"No. I don't—" AnLing started.
"You don't need to worry. I'm obviously paying."
AnLing clenched her teeth.
The bartender placed the drinks in front of them. AnLing gave him a stiff smile, before saying, "Could I please have some water."
The man obliged.
AnLing sipped the drink Shuya gave her and the water simultaneously. She was careful not to get drunk this time around. It had been years since she had drunk alcohol but in those six years abroad she had learned how to keep herself safe in situations such as these.
AnLing and Shuya sat quietly for a moment.
"It's best if you didn't come to grandma's birthday party either. Duyi, that child, is exaggerating. If you're serious about cutting ties with the family, then just stay away and stop contacting Duyi. Why don't you go back abroad?"
AnLing's head began to throb as another pause washed over them.
All of this had come from Duyi's phone call, but no matter how angry she was, she couldn't blame him. The only one to blame was herself. She should have given Duyi some of her time before things escalated.
AnLing: "I tried to go back, but no one wanted to sell me a ticket."
Shuya's expression turned cold. A curse lingering on her tongue.
There was always clear favoritism in the Lu family.
The majority favored Duyi because he was the only male and the most likely to inherit the company, but when it came to the girls they had to fight for attention.
While Shuya gained the favor of their parents, Grandma Lu had fancied AnLing the most, after her admittance within the Lu household.
They both knew that Grandma Lu was friends with someone from the ministry of travel, and so AnLing's inability to travel would certainly make sense, but there were certain things Shuya didn't know.
One being that AnLing never tried to purchase a ticket and two, that Grandma Lu's friend from the ministry had died before she left the country, six years ago.
"Fine," Shuya said through clenched teeth. "But even if you stay, remember that you're still in my debt. I helped you out back then, and I covered for you with mom and dad. If they ever found out the truth then you really would be thrown out of the family. Giving birth to brother Yize's child is one thing but giving birth to a stranger's bastard is another."
AnLing's breath was caught in her throat and she clenched her teeth harder.
Shuya was right.
AnLing might have made a lot of mistakes after being taken in by the Lu Family but that one mistake could have ended her family ties and the last thing she wanted was to lose her family for the second time, no matter how strained their relations were.
AnLing's expression darkened.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the bartender twitch. She never usually cared about what others thought of her but at that moment she felt unspeakable shame.
AnLing's hands turned into fists.
If Shuya continued to speak, AnLing wasn't sure if she could hold back her anger.
She downed the alcoholic drink.
Shuya snapped her fingers and the bartender refilled both of their empty glasses.
"No matter what, try to understand... I'm not doing this because I hate you. I'm doing this to keep everything calm. It's a difficult time for everyone right now but you being here is making things difficult."
Shuya paused, then she opened her mouth to speak again but AnLing, slightly buzzed, couldn't stop herself from cutting her off.
"Miss Lu, the only one who is making things difficult is you. Don't you think you're too shameless listening in on your own brother's private phone call? We both know that I have no intentions of coming back home unless I absolutely have to, so, you don't have to worry about that, but if you want to pester me, do it about something that is actually my fault.
Brother dearest missed me and called. I didn't call him, he called me. If you want I can block his number but then he would come search for me. So if you want to have an argument with someone you should have it with him.
And you and I know well that I was serious, I don't want to get involved with the Lu family's wars, dramatics or their circle of influence. I'm completely satisfied with seeing them only on special occasion. For now, I'm only back here for grandmother and as soon as I'm no longer needed here I'll be gone."
The words flew out of AnLing's mouth faster than she could think, she could already imagine Shuya's darkened face as she silently cursed her name but the thought didn't bring AnLing any happiness.
As soon as she had spoken those words, AnLing regretted it.
She feared to look at Shuya.
"Fine," Shuya said as she stood from her seat. She glared at AnLing. "Remember to know your place."
"Oh, and there will be a high school reunion one week after grandmother's birthday. I expect to see you there." Shuya smiled and threw money in front of AnLing. "Keep the change."
'And don't blame me for what happens to you.'
As Shuya left, AnLing still felt suffocated.
Technically, this could be counted as a win but AnLing didn't feel like she had won. She stared blankly at the money in front of her and then put her head in her hands.
A strong migraine was coming along.
The bartender put a drink in front of her.
"No. Thank. You." AnLing said through clenched teeth.
"It's on the house."
She took it without complaining.
AnLing spent a good amount of time sitting at the bar and when she left she didn't even bother to pick up the cash. For all she cared, the bartender could just pocket it. She didn't want any of Shuya's money.
Walking out of the hotel she felt her stomach churn. She needed to get home before the combination and alcohol and tiredness caused her to collapse.
AnLing tried to hail a taxi but there were many people doing the same.
It would be a long night.
She leaned against the wall flipping through the contacts of her phone, seeing if there was someone who could help her out but she hadn't made many friends in the last six months.
AnLing massaged her temple and tried to sober up. If worse came to worse she would walk to a less crowded area and then try to get a taxi there.
Breathing in and out, AnLing felt her mind float.
"Urgh…" She put her hand over her mouth and concentrated on not puking.
Concentrating, AnLing would never have imagined she would suddenly be thrown to the floor. At first, she thought she was just experiencing vertigo but when her palms began to burn. She knew she had fallen.
Looking up she saw an ugly man who continued to walk on his merry way, slightly staggering.
He brushed his suit off as if he had bumped into trash.
'Asshole' AnLing couldn't help but curse internally.
Beside her, there was a credit card. She picked it up and then slowly got herself back to her feet.
She examined the card and then looked at the direction of the man.
She contemplated leaving the card there and pretend as if she hadn't seen it but the security cameras of the hotel had already caught her red handed.
She could only imagine the problems this could cause...
AnLing turned to look at the ugly man who turned into an alleyway. She contemplated the right course of action but nothing seemed good enough, but as she looked at the card and back to where he disappeared, she sighed.
Feeling slightly better than before, she ran after him.