Chan Juan opened her eyes snappily, it seemed like she just woke up from a long nightmare; but no, she was just probably stressed.
The sun peeked through the bedroom window, lighting her hair like a fiery halo. Chan Juan lifted her head from the pillow, her silky smooth hair tumbling down her back like a waterfall. The sun's vibrant rays sent a glossy, gold sheen all around the room, blending with the falling leaves of Autumn.
She closed her eyes again, the sun's waking rays warming her body. Chan Juan blinked several times to clear the moisture in her eyes, she stretched and yawned loudly. She thought it was a dream, but it was actually reality; she'll have to start learning to embrace the reality of it in no time.
Chan Juan got down from the bed and walked towards the window, reaching for the curtain. Beyond the curtains of that high class room, of that high class house, was more deprivation than the heart could bear.
However, she opened them with the rise of the sun and looked out upon a once shielded reality. She settled on the deck, and leaned out of the window. It seemed quite different today.
The just-risen sun's rays shone softly across the terrain of the Mansion, bringing with it a flurry of early-morning activity. She gazed at the ceaselessly engaged servants below her, the scattered amber-red leaves saturated the view with a warm glow.
The autumn breeze blew across her hair, refreshing her body and soul from her previous apprehension, sucking in a great amount of air at intervals.
She noticed, the servants were hauling edibles, in big pots and trays into a building looking like a temple or it was actually one, which was situated far away from the main building.
"What is going on?" Chan Juan muttered, creasing the space in between her brows as a result of curiosity.
Chan Juan soughed and dragged her lazy feet into the bathroom to go have her bath.
In a comfortably large rectangular sitting room, like a magazine cover, with so much furniture and so many hues in varying shades. The person must have dedicated her purchases to clean lines, simple and mostly white; but the walls are all painted in varying shades of magenta. Two layers of front-window curtains, both peach-blossom pink, one silk and the other sheer.
The thick and spherical royal purple rug, placed in the centre of the living room; which was made from plastic bottles, but you hardly notice as it was so soft and was warmer than the rest of the tiled floor.
There is a table in easy reach of every seat and the walls are more photographs than paint. Every one is of a happy memory, a smiling child, a birthday, a new baby and so on.
On the couch, two women sat at each end, one was engrossed on a magazine and the other nursed on her cup of tea, looking at the other through the corner of her eyes.
Then a phone began to ring, Ming Yue dropped the magazine on the table and picked the cell, she answered the call already knowing who the caller was.
"Hello Mother..." Ming Yue spoke first, her
"Ming Yue dear, Shao Family invited us to their thanksgiving, I am hoping you will show up." Liling enunciated over the phone, her tone was appealing and monotonic. Ming Yue felt exasperated, pursing her lips with so much objection written all over her face.
Her friend, Dai Meng; who had come to spend the weekend with her, continued to steal glances at Ming Yue from the corner of her eyes.
Ming Yue stretched her legs, and squeezed her straight brows, evaluating her steel blue slant eyes over the table before her; mulling over a way to cook up an excuse.
It seemed like Liling already knew what was going through Ming Yue's mind, and spoke first,
"Don't even think about it, you're are going and that's final." Liling spoke in an earnest tone before cutting the line. Ming Yue dropped her cell on the table and slumped down into the sofa.
Dai Meng glanced at Ming Yue, feeding her glossy eyes on the beauty sitting next to her. Dai Meng moved closer to her cautiously.
"So... Hmmm, are you going?" Dai Meng asked,
Ming Yue turned towards her, and angled her wing-like brow,
"What do you think?"
"Last time I checked, he used to be your childhood desire and you...you are have always been a one-sided lover, no wonder you didn't attend the wedding." Dai Meng pointed towards Ming Yue mockingly. Ming Yue's expression became sour, the lethargic aura she was exuding felt like it will slice off Dai Meng's finger.
Dai Meng immediately withdrew her finger, fluttering her lashes hastily,
"In fact, I would go. I want go see what the woman betrothed him looks like." Ming Yue stated, crossing her arms.
Dai Meng gave her a mischievous look,
"Oh, I know what you are doing!"
Ming Yue smirked.
"Well, if she's not what you pictured of her to be?" Dai Meng asked, she observed Ming Yue indifferent disposition.
"Wait a minute, do you have a plan or something?" Dai Meng asked further, narrowing her almond shaped eyes curious.
Ming Yue was getting irritated with Dai Meng's constant questions.
"Cut the crap and get ready!" Ming Yue stood up and walked out of the living room.