Zhang Hien chewed on his lower lip for a while and watched as Jiang Meiying left for the bathroom. She came out a while later, wiping her hands on a towel, looking exhausted and ready to go to bed, but she had to ensure they ate.
She was hungry and was aware Zhang Hien would be as well.
"Jiang Meiying," Zhang Hien called out as she led him out the room, pushing him from behind. "Why do you think he called? Maybe it's something important."
"Whatever it is... I'm sure it's bad news. I'm not interested."
The next thought crossed his mind as he said outloud,
"Jiang Meiying, you don't have to prepare dinner. You're very tired from... "
"I'm your wife. In the future, I will always prepare food for you no matter the circumstances."
Zhang Hien kept mute but he felt his heart swell at her words. He tried to hide a sheepish coy smile which didn't cease to falter no matter how much he tried to.
However, he didn't need to strain the edges of his lips, trying to hide his smile once he saw the family of three quietly eating in the living room. His smile fell immediately and as for Jiang Meiying, she ignored them and confidently rode past them, eyes leveled on the kitchen ahead.
She locked eyes with Jiang Chu and gave her a knowing smile playing on her lips, causing tears to form at the edge of the woman's eyes out of frustration and anger.
Suddenly, she leaped up and pointed to Jiang Meiying, face beet red In anger as she yelled.
"Why do you enjoy torturing me Nora? Are you a masochist?!"
Jiang Tao was wiping his lips with a napkin, ready to let out his anger on Jiang Meiying after she had ignored them, but suddenly faced his wife, his table almost plopping to the ground as he got up abruptly.
"I came in here and you barely acknowledge me. You bluntly ignored me throughout the entire time we had dinner and now you've suddenly developed a sudden interest to finally talk, have you?!"
Jiang Chu froze, the wrinkles due to her heavy frown wearing off when she realized she suddenly talked!
She held her throat and locked eyes with Jiang Ming who was staring at her in shock and in the same disapproving look as her father. Like him, she didn't believe her mother suddenly lost her voice. Why did she want to cause trouble between her and father?
She looked back at Jiang Meiying whose back was already turned to her, heading to the kitchen after intentionally causing a ruckus to avoid her father's tantrum.
The woman was so speechless that she opened and closed her mouth like a startled goldfish; unable to still process what happened.
"Maybe I've been spoiling you too much. One month without new clothes and jewelries will make you humble yourself in my house!" The man yelled, loosing his appetite as he dropped his cultlery which landed on his half finished dinner before he went upstairs, fuming.
On hearing his last words, her eyes finally cleared and her heart thumped hard against her rib cage.
No New clothes?
Or Jewelry?
What was she living for now?
Jiang Ming approached her mother, a bit annoyed.
"Mummy, why did you have to make father more angry than he already is?"
The woman was still speechless, but if it was possible, her glare would have melted the kitchen entrance and preferably everything and everyone in it.
**
Zhang Hien didn't think too much about what the maids had said; about Jiang Meiying turning her step-mother mute. Maybe Jiang Chu hadn't said anything during that time due to the shock of being slapped with her own hand.
He sat there, meek in his seat and watched in enthusiasm as Jiang Meiying was bent over a chopping board, cutting some things she'd use for dinner.
However, he didn't notice her fast movements of dexterity slow down when her narrowed eyes caught a shadow on the servant quarter's roof move like a slithering lizard.
It moved so fast, any other person wouldn't have noticed but she was sure she'd saw something or SOMEONE there and she felt that sense of someone watching her like today at school and on her way to school as well.
Slowly with the passing seconds, her speed picked up as she diced the onions when she couldn't see anything but the familiar sight of the dark clouds trying to shield the moon in the sky, getting blown away once in a while by the night breeze.
**
A slender figure dropped on his two hands and legs, knees facing up as he breathed heavily, throat tightening, beads of sweat forming on his face while he tried to catch his breath from leaping from high.
Still in that position, he pulled out a small phone and placed it to his ear after dialing some digits.
"I'll need a few more days to ascertain when she's always alone. She's usually with her husband at home, but she used an empty path on her way to school today. I'm not sure if it's a regular habit, but after some days, I'll ensure to find a secluded area to kill her."
The voice at the end of the line was dark and filled with pure evil hostility as she said.
"One week. That's all you have left to end her life. It should be done secretly and no weapons should be involved. Her death should be merely devised as a strangle by Mr. Jiangs supposed enemies."
"No Weapons? But... "
"I believe my orders should be followed without hesitation or complaint, Cheng." The woman drawled in a wary but warning tone.
The man looked ahead, disheveled dark hair shielding his eyes as he sighed before reluctantly saying.
"Of course, Mrs. Zhang. Thoroughly."
The line went dead at his last words and without hesitation, he got up on his feet and began running away from the area around the Jiang's mansion.