Xiulan waited patiently for them to finish while scrolling through the feed, leaning her back on the chilling wall. The creases between her eyebrows deepened with each long and heavy breath she let out.
On her new feed, everything was about throwing profanity and cursing at Hualing for having indecent affair with the man who was the husband-to-be of another woman. The parents of the kids who attended the school in which she worked firmly demanded she left the job for her having a harmful influence on the young and innocent kids. Some of them brought out the fact that she was an orphan, an abandoned kid who didn't have proper ethics, and that her biological parents did the right thing by deserting her.
Every comment, every caption, and every post condemned the act of infidelity and therefore Hualing and Weimin. 'Society is scary. People are scary. They don't even know the truth, but they're so ahead in their own drama about others' life.' That was the first thought that came to her mind.
The voices disturbingly echoed in her ears. The voices of Grandpa Tang and Suyinh warning her, the voices of the public's opinions, and the voice of Hualing herself.
Xiulan asked her soul. What was her voice? Was that resonated with theirs? She shook her head. No. She was her best friend. She should be believing Hualing not doubting her, let alone Hualing was not that kind of filthy person or ill-mannered girl. She hated they brought up the orphan matter. Her conviction was that parents should never abandon their kids, no matter what flaws and imperfections they had, it was the parents' duty to embrace them and guide them to pass through their suffering and lead a better life.
She shot a glance at the door when Liu Tengfei sprinted out of the room. Before she reacted, he passed her without noticing her. Although she was at a loss, she decided to confront Bai Hualing.
When she entered the apartment, Hualing was crying her eyes out on the icy floor. She clutched her skirt with one hand and slapped her chest with another.
Upon seeing her friend's arrival, she wiped out the traces of tears on her cheeks using her palms swiftly. She hurriedly hid the emotions on her face. "You are here!"
After successfully maintaining her composure, she tried giggling while thinking back to the event with Tang Renshu and uttered, "A knight in shining armor saved a damsel in distress in time, huh?"
"Thank you so much for your help, honey." As she kept talking, her voice betrayed her by eventually turning breathy and brittle.
Her ability to control her feelings began to crumble and started to mumble incoherently with tears threatening to be shed anytime soon. "Although you didn't have to, you came all the way here for me."
"I couldn't thank you more." Hualing fell apart.
Xiulan's heart sank when she witnessed her friend in this state.
"Xiulan, I want to be alone for now." Hualing begged her friend and turned around to rush inside her room.
"Promise me you will contact me later." Xiulan shouted in a hurry.
Hualing nodded with her back facing Xiulan.
Hualing seemed to let her emotions bottled up in her chest. She had never shared anyone with negative emotions because she was afraid to burden them.
But only by disclosing your feelings inch by inch to your loved ones and vice versa, can you truly build a perfect relationship.
If she didn't want to divulge her feelings, there was nothing Xiulan could do. She left with a heavy heart and took a taxi to her home. She sent her a text, "I discovered a new ice cream parlor around your neighborhood. Let's go there tomorrow. I've already made a reservation." At the end of the day, food was the best thing to appease one's emotions. Especially when ice cream was Hualing's favorite dessert.
When she got back home, unsurprisingly her mother was standing at the entrance with an expressionless face. "Aren't you supposed to be at the farm right now?"
"There was an urgent case." She replied with a flat tone.
"What was that?" Cai Roumei faked a smile at her unrefined daughter.
"I haven't figured it out yet."
Cai Roumei was about to give her a good scolding when her father came to a rescue, "It is good that you are here. There is a birthday party for Tang Baozhai tonight. There will also be lots of successors of the conglomerates. Come with us. I will introduce them to you."
"Yes, sir!" Xiulan gave a salute in pleasure.
Zhang Guangxi smiled at her adorable movement, "It's about time. You need to hurry up."
"I'll be ready in a second!" She dashed into her room without sparing her mother a second glance.
Cai Roumei gave Zhang Guangxi an annoying stare. She was about to reprimand her daughter but he destroyed the moment!
Xiulan used to run away from those kinds of social occasions. Since she was growing older, it was time to face reality and get accustomed to the ways of their world. The main point of the events like these was mostly to make a connection or two between members of prestigious families.
Xiulan and her family except for her big brother eventually arrived at the party. As the birthday lady was Tang Renshu's daughter, the party was held at an ostentatious mansion that was marvelously enormous.
Xiulan gaped at the sight. The place where Grandpa Tang lived was huge and it carried a hint of a vintage vibe. But this place was purely a paradise!
The scenery was so breathtaking with the perfect amount of flowers, trees, and shrubs in the proper areas. They were decorated with tons of vibrant lights shimmering in the dark background of the night. The giant building in modernity which had five stories was proudly located amidst the dazzling environment.
Xiulan gave a thumbs up to the wealth of the Tang family which she witnessed personally.
As soon as Tang Renshu was informed of their arrival, he immediately strode towards them.
"Grandpa!" Zhang Xiulan greeted him excitedly. Tang Renshu beamed and nodded at her. The elders had a lot to catch up with one another, so she gave them privacy.
The beauty of this heavenly place was boundless to look around. All of a sudden, she curiously looked for a certain someone. She wondered if Li Jianyu would be here since he and Tang Weimin were acquaintance.
"What are you searching for?" It was Tang Weimin.
"Oh? Nothing! Just absorbing the magnificent view." Xiulan was all smiling while watching the wonderful scenery.
"How is Hualing? Is she doing fine?" Tang Weimin reluctantly asked.
"Yeah, she is good." Xiulan recalled what Grandpa Tang told her. She shook the thoughts off her head, 'Maybe, he might think it's his fault, that's why he is guilty and care for her.'
She changed the topic, "Ah! How is your tracking? Any updates?"
"Not yet." Tang Weimin's expression was a bit off. She couldn't read his face or pinpoint what was wrong with him. She pondered whether she should divulge her theories or not. She got a reply from Liu Tengfei on what she was investigating.
The first thing was the phone number of the one who sent him a message about the occurrence. Although Bai Suying convinced her that she informed both of them, Xiulan found out the phone number Bai Suying used to call her and that Liu Tengfei gave her was different. Logically thinking, there were two possibilities. Bai Suying had dual sim phones or the one which she used to send her was not hers which basically meant it was another person's number who was most likely to be her accomplice. Xiulan was more convinced of the latter possibility because Bai Suying was an orphan. It was almost impossible for her to have the power or authority to control and destroy the footage.
The answer to her next question astonished her. Liu Tengfei and Bai Suying were in touch with each other all the time ever since they graduated. According to his disclosure, it was Bai Suying's attempt at keeping the friendship alive. She often visited him at his work in the name of being on her way there. She sometimes came to his house in which he lived alone because she was bored and wanted to have a chat or drink with him. She made him accompany her when she went shopping as she had no one to hang out with.
But!
The thing that actually stunned Xiulan into silence was that starting from when Bai Hualing and Liu Tengfei ended their relationship, Bai Suying had been basically living at his house. She insisted on staying there because she worried about Liu Tengfei attempting to do anything threatening his health and to take care of him regarding his food and laundry.
Bai Suying disclosed that she was at the hotel with her boyfriend that day. If she was telling the truth and had a boyfriend, she would not have enough time to spend together with Liu Tengfei. At the cafe, when Xiulan spoke about her so-called silent boyfriend, she was frightened that Xiulan would expose the fact to Tengfei and Hualing.
On the whole, Xiulan concluded the most plausible possibility was that Suying was indeed somehow related to the case of Hualing and Weimin. Why would Suying bring her out to the hotel? She said she wanted to stop the paparazzi from barging inside the suite. But how did she predict Xiulan would calm the situation instead of blowing up in anger? Was the latter reaction the one Suying wanted?
Xiulan was in a daze when she was brought back to reality by the loud applause.
An elegant woman in her early fifties came out with her hand holding on to that of a younger man alongside her. The man seemed to be around thirty. The crowd applauded their entrance, making her realize they are the main protagonists of this party.
The lady smiled at the folk gracefully but without a hint of warmth in her gaze. She had that confident and patronizing aura exuded around her.
Tang Baozhai had every right to be supercilious and proud of herself for she was one of the most influential women in the city. She helped Tang Renshu expand the enterprise while Tang Boqin was fooling around and gave the Tang empire nothing but trouble. She held one of the major positions in Tang business with her fair share of authority. Her existence alone inspired loads of young girls to work harder and follow her steps.
The sight of Tang Baozhai reminded her of the wife of her big brother. She was also a successful business entrepreneur and was looked up to for her intelligence and clever skills.
After Tang Baozhai had given a brief speech, she began greeting the guests one by one.
"Chairman Zhang, thanks for your presence tonight. My party has disturbed your tight schedule." Tang Baozhai humbly uttered. Although the Tang family business was more profitable than the Zhang's, Zhang Guangxi was a competent businessman and also her senior in this field.
They had a short conversation before Zhang Guangxi turned his head to Xiulan and introduced her, "This is my daughter, Zhang Xiulan."
Xiulan respectfully bowed to her with an exquisite smile on her face.
Tang Baozhai smiled back at her and muttered, "Xiulan is such a lovely girl. No wonder Chairman Zhang hid his daughter behind the curtain."
Xiulan grinned upon hearing her compliment. It was quite an honor to receive it from an outstanding woman like her. Especially when Tang Baozhai was notorious for her stern comments.
Everyone was busy chattering with their own group of people. Xiulan was wandering around when she saw the man who was seemingly distracted. She walked up to him, "Hey!"
Tang Weimin jolted.
"Sorry if I frightened you. But there is a snake on your right foot."
Weimin lowered his gaze to check his foot with the speed of lightning.
Apparently, there was nothing on his foot. Being a gentleman as he was, Tang Weimin extended his hand to prevent Xiulan from coming forwards while searching the snake thoroughly. "Be careful!"
Xiulan watched the whole situation unfold in front of her. She clutched her abdomen and laughed out loud at the end.
Weimin was puzzled upon seeing her reaction and then realized the meaning behind her pie-eating grin. She was pulling a leg. He also broke into a smile and shook his head slowly.
Their laughter was disturbed by a half-mocking voice, "Who would have thought you guys to remain close after all the things happened? Such a strong friendship you have!"
It was the man who was beside Tang Baozhai earlier. Close up, he looked more handsome and attractive. 'What good genes the Tang family have!' Xiulan thought.
In contrast to his good looks, his smirk and tone of voice were rather provoking.
As if it was his regular way of talking, Weimin slightly smiled and replied, "Xiulan is such a good friend."
"So this is the precious daughter of Mr.Zhang. I am his cousin, Tang Delun. A pleasure to meet you." He wore a mesmerizing simper, and a bit of sarcasm while handing his palm out waiting for her to shake it back.
So he was her son. Normally the married couple came out hand in hand in these kind of occasions. Where was her husband?