Mr. Ji Zhang's word died right in his throat.
"What did you say?" he confusedly asked Xiaofan, the girl didn't care about anything at that moment.
She continued, "She tried killing me by putting whatever in the biscuit I was supposed to eat, she gave it to me some weeks ago and I heard her earlier talking to her friend about how it didn't work".
The door to the room instantly opened widely.
They both turned their face toward the door, the woman walked in.
"Xiaofan! why would you say something so ridiculous? I am your mother even if you didn't see me as one... I will never do such a thing to you?", The woman said, looking at the girl.
Xiaofan looked at her with so much disgust.
Mr. Ji Zhang was still confused at the drama going on, he needed more explanation.
The woman turned to her husband, "Meili is a witness, the only biscuit I brought home that day... I had her share it for Xiaofan and Xiu Lan... am I right Meili.
The maid who had been listening to the conversations hurried in.
"Yes... yes, master, I gave both Xiu Lan and Xiaofan", she replied.
The woman let out a sigh, "I do not know showing kindness could lead to being a bad person. I gave my own daughter the biscuit as well, does that mean I want to kill you two? I ate out of it myself..." she said and looked at Xiaofan, "Why will you think there was something in there that could harm you?".
"Stop lying woman... you were talking to your..."
The woman sharply interrupted, "Yes I was talking to my friend on the phone about the fact that I wanted me and Xiaofan", she turned to her husband, "To be as close as I am to Xiu Lan, I know she feels lonely sometimes and I am doing all I can to make her like me...I was trying to take advice from my friend on how to make her like me more because I am not happy as she doesn't see me as a mother".
"I never knew she would ever think I would do anything to harm her... I am a mother as well, I will never do anything to harm a child... this is too much... oh God", the woman said in a shaky voice.
Xiaofan let out a scoff.
"You should go into acting school...." Xiaofan said and turned to Mr. Ji Zhang, "Father....she is lying, she put something in that biscuit".
"Enough Xiaofan!!!".
His loud voice scared almost everyone in the room.
Xiaofan blinked groggily.
"Will you still be standing here right now if there was anything in the biscuit?!" he angrily asked.
"Would you have preferred if I was not here Father!!!" Xiaofan exclaimed, her breath shaking.
"Nonsense... you have been acting weird ever since I returned from work and I will not accept this act from you kid... Meili confirmed you and Xiu Lan took the biscuit... how did you know there was anything in it...", the man scolded.
A drop of a tear about to fall from the girl's eyes finally dropped on her cheek, she looked around and saw everyone's eyes on her.
No one would believe her because of her little secret, how can she tell them a bird she has been keeping in her room took the biscuit and never returned.
"But..."
"No, but miss.... go to your room before I get even angrier... I do not want to hear your words, they piss me off so get out of my room and before you go, APOLOGIZE TO HER RIGHT NOW!!!", Mr. Ji Zhang yelled at Xiaofan.
Xiaofan knew her father was so angry at that moment, she had to do what she was told to.
She looked up at her stepmother, and as hard as the words were for the girl, she forced them out.
"I am sorry..." Xiaofan said in a quivery tone.
She turned her face to her father and said, "Done father...".
Mr. Ji Zhang watched his first daughter walk out of the room, he inhaled sharply and looked at his wife.
"I am so sorry that happened Susan, I was just getting in when...".
The woman shook her head and smiled, "It is okay darling... Xiaofan is a kid, you shouldn't have yelled at her... even myself got scared", she chuckled and moved towards her husband.
Xiaofan got to her room and shut the door behind her, she walked gently to bed and got under her big blanket.
She sobbed softly.
If her mother was here, she would not be treated this way.
"I hate everyone... I hate my mom for leaving me! I hate my father for getting married to that woman I don't like... I hate Xiu Lan because she is the product of the woman I don't like... I hate Meili... I don't know why but I just hate her as well...." she bury her face into her pillow and screamed.
"I hate everyone!!! I hate myself for being born", she silently said.
The pain she felt was a first, she has never felt so much pain, it hurt.
"Xia... Xiao...Xiaofan!!!".
Xiaofan know that voice, she stopped crying and remained quiet to make sure she heard her name or not.
The girl's heart raced as she slowly pulled her blanket off her face, she turned her head slowly to look at the window and it was what she expected it to be.
Her heart froze for a second.
She flew up and stared at the owl standing in her window, its eyes were searching around the room as usual.
"You are not dead!!', she smiled excitedly.
The Next Morning:
Time: 9:54 am
The Ji family all gathered around the dining to eat breakfast on a Sunday morning.
Mr. Ji Zhang noticed someone was missing, he looked around and asked, "Where is Xiaofan?".
The woman passed the bowl of rice to her husband.
"Meili!", the woman summoned.
"Yes master..." the maid answered sharply.
"Go check on Xiaofan and tell her the breakfast is ready...", the woman ordered.
Meili was expected to leave immediately, she waited and looked at the woman, "ma'am I did that already... even twice but she told me to leave her alone and that she was not hungry", she replied.
Mr. Ji Zhang and his wife looked at each other.
"What is wrong with Xiaofan? does she think there is also something in the food... has she been seeing scary movies? she is been acting weird lately...", the man said as he put a spoon full of rice in his mouth.
"Scary movie! scary movie! I love scary movies! mom when can I start watching a scary movie?", Xiu lan said.
"Never," Her mother replied sharply, she put more meat on the girl's bowl of rice.
"I will go check on her instead, she must be hungry and just probably just mad", she added.
Mr. Ji Zhang looked at her, "You sure?".
The woman stood up and nodded yes, "Come on, I am sure... you two keep eating... Xiu Lan tell your father all about school, I will be back".
The man smiled and mouth whispered, "Thank you", to his wife.
She walked up the stairs gently and approached Xiaofan's room, the woman could swear she was hearing the girl conversing in her room as she got closer.
"Who is she talking to?", she whispered to herself.