The President of the Medical Association, Dr. Bai invited Luo Jingyi out when the conference was wrapped up. They went to a nearby building.
There were twelve other people with them. Some were familiar names in the circle and some were not.
"One glass." Dr. Bai urged Luo Jingyi.
She momentarily stared at the glass before chugging the content down. A contented cheer erupted in the room. Another doctor shouted, "One more."
Someone poured and she drank it. The urging only stopped when she raised her hand after three and complained that her alcohol tolerance wasn't high. She reached for the fourth glass that was hanging in the air and passed it to Dr. Bai before excusing herself out.
Once inside the bathroom, she regurgitated whatever liquor she drank.
She could drink but she meant to keep herself free from alcohol. ignoring the voices that were echoing in the hallway. She went one floor up to where their room was because she didn't want them to know this.
"Dr. Luo acts like she's superior to everyone else. Who does she think she is?" A woman's voice scoffed.
When Luo Jingyi heard her name, she didn't immediately come out. She was curious.
"Exactly! If not for her mother's achievements, do you think Dr. Bai would even pay attention to her?"
"What's so good about having two specialties anyway? At the end of the day, she will still be working in our hospital. How dare she act high and mighty to me?"
"You should talk to your father to expel her or why don't we teach her a lesson now?"
Listening to the conversation now, she had an idea who they were. She caught on Dr. Bai's emphasis on their names when they were introduced earlier. One was the daughter of the biggest shareholder in MedLife while the other was the friend who Luo Jingyi noticed--liked sucking up to fit in. They were both junior residents in MedLife.
Luo Jingyi's gripped at the corner of the sink tightened. This was why she hated associating with other people. They were friendly on your face but secretly loathed you from behind.
The two were on the other side but she could hear them clearly because it was open. Leaving the stall, Luo Jingyi rinsed her hands and left the bathroom.
Outside, she caught a glimpse of the 'out of order' sign and a cleaning cart. An idea crossed her mind.
She detached the pole of the mop. Pushing the tip into a stainless door hasp, she barred them from opening the door from the inside. She dragged the 'out of order' sign at the main entrance so no one would discover them soon.
"Teach me a lesson? I'll give you one."
Let them think twice before messing up with her.
As she made her way back to the room, she heard someone call her out. She spun on her heel and found Wen Minghua's mother.
"What are you doing here?! Come quick!" Wen Minghua's mother dragged her as she looked around, making sure no one had seen them.
Inside the coffee shop, they were seated facing each other. Wen Minghua's mother was eyeing her sharply.
Luo Jingyi stared at her face she hated the most. She loathed the face to the point, she killed her many times in her imagination. In her last life, she was the woman who gave birth to the 2nd Prince, her husband. Kind and gentle on the surface but beneath, she was the greediest and vilest woman she'd ever encountered. She had no qualms bloodying her hands to get what she wanted. Her mother-in-law made her life difficult. She shamed and abused her right in front of her husband's women. And she, like a mutt, accepted everything without fighting back.
Why? Because her mother taught her to respect elders regardless of how she was treated. Her birth mother believed that even the worst person could reform into a better one, given the opportunity. Her old self clung on that belief too.
When her mother-in-law knew she was pregnant with the 2nd Prince's child, she imprisoned her and forcibly fed her with abortion medicine. This all happened with the 2nd Prince's knowledge.
Under the table, she clenched her fist as that particular memory popped out of her brain. Despicable family! The rage in her heart was brewing out.
She pinched her leg to wake herself up.
"Why do you keep following my son?!" Wen Minghua's mother hissed.
Luo Jingyi kept her expression bland but she was glad that the original didn't marry Wen Minghua.
"Hey! I am asking you." Wen Minghua's mother hit the table with her fist, making it shake.
"Are these people deluded? They are really a mother and son pair," she mumbled.
"What did you say?"
Reigning her annoyance, Luo Jingyi asked, "Why would I? Is your son some kind of celebrity Madam?"
Madam Wen was startled at the sharpness in Luo Jingyi's voice. From what she remembered, Luo Jingyi was silent and never answered back. She gave her a once over, noting her style had also changed. She no longer wore gaudy clothes. But even so, she wouldn't allow this woman to step closer to her family.
"What are you doing here? Don't think because I agreed when my son announced he was marrying you meant I accepted you. I only agreed because your father promised to give your shares in Han Pharmaceuticals."
The questions that lingered in her head were answered. This woman was dead set in stopping their engagement that she spiked her drink, intending to ruin her. The good thing, the original passed the bottle to Wen Minghua's cousin because she was thirsty, saving her from the fiasco. Wen Minghua's mother made a scene when she arrived.
Luo Jingyi deduced that Wen Minghua was aware of this based on the expression he had back then. The party happened and their wedding date was set. Later on, Wen Minghua's mother made a 360-degree turn. She became very attentive to her.
So it was the shares that sealed the deal.
"Do you understand now? Nobody wants you. Our family was embarrassed but it was good you eloped so he could marry someone better. My daughter-in-law is the heiress of the Zhuang Corporation. Between you and her, she was far better."
The woman was gloating.
'People's greediness has no bounds. I hope you will have good dreams.'
"So if you came here with the purpose of meeting my son, stop it. I won't allow you."
A smile slowly crept on Luo Jingyi's mouth which turned into a grin. She had enough of this self-centeredness. "Congratulations Madam Wen for catching a big fish. I hope your son's marriage will be prosperous. Make sure to hold onto the big fish so it will not be swallowed by sharks."
Madam Wen heard the sarcasm and that riled her up. She grabbed the glass but Luo Jingyi's reflex was quicker. She was stopped. The woman struggled so Luo Jingyi flipped the glass, splashing its contents to the woman.
"You!" Madam Wen frantically wiped the water stains that seeped into her clothes.
"It feels good, doesn't it? Do you think that I would readily accept it as I did years ago?" She asked.
"Don't even think of getting back with my son!"
Luo Jingyi smirked. Pushing her chair back, she rose. "Rest assured Madam, I am not interested in getting back someone I discarded. Trash like him will only taint my beautiful world."
Then she walked away.
No mother would want her child to be called trash. It was the same with Madam Wen. She clenched her teeth in rage.