Before going to bed, her plan had been to wake up early, take a bath, get something to eat and escape the house before anyone noticed that she had left. She planned to return at night of course, because if she stayed anywhere else her shameless father would come knocking to ask for a favor. His greed knew no bounds and it was unstoppable. That's why he and her step mother made such a good pair, two greedy people whose greed could never be satisfied.
Unfortunately for Alix, she woke up, really late, breakfast time in the Zhang house late. This made it really awkward for her when a maid led her to the dining room.
Everyone else was already awake and sitting there but nobody was eating. Their cups and plates remained untouched. Please don't tell me that they were waiting for me, she thought.
"Oh look, her highness is awake. Let's all rise and welcome the newly crowned Queen of our family." Zhang An said sarcastically.
"Stop it An-An, you are being rude to your sister-in-law." Grandma Zhang told her. She looked at Alix and said with a smile, "Dear, come sit down next to me and tell me how you slept."
Dragging her feet slowly, Alix came close and first greeted everyone. "Goodmorning grandparents, mother, and everyone."
Zhang Caishen's upper lip rose in a smile. He had been lumped in with everyone it seemed. There was no special greeting for the husband.
"Mm-Mm." His older brother cleared his throat and said, "I did not introduce myself to you last night because of everything that was going on but I am Zhang Bo, Caishen's older brother. Welcome to our family, and please, forgive An-An, she is more angry with your family than she is with you as an individual. You are just receiving the brunt of it all because you are here physically."
Alix smiled beautifully at him and she said, "En, I recognize you brother Bo, I am your fan. It's embarrassing to say, but I think you are the most handsome and talented actor in the country. I don't mind the young miss An's attitude, I have a younger sister too and I have seen much worse than this."
She was almost blushing as she spoke to Zhang Bo. Who in the country did not know Zhang Bo, one of the coolest actors in the industry. His good looks, charm, wealth and kind heart had won him many fans. Even though he was not a young man in the industry he was still one of the hottest and most sought after actors. Sitting next to him was like a breeze of fresh air which brightened up her crappy day.
Beside Zhang Bo, Caishen thought to himself, So she knows how to smile like this and talk without looking for the nearest exit. Look at her, she was about to drool all over him.
"This is my son, Xiaobo." He introduced the young boy who had laughed and called her pigeon the previous night. "Xiaobo, this is your new aunt."
Xiaobo who had large headphones on his head barely looked up but he said, "Tsup aunt pigeon."
Alix would have been slightly offended if Zhang Bo did not slap Xiaobo on the head and take the headphones away. "Don't test my patience this morning." He warned his son.
Xiaobo sulked, he was now unhappy and just like his aunt An, he glared at Alix as if she was the cause of his unhappiness.
Oh wonderful, another person hates me in this house, Alix thought.
"Let's eat." Grandpa Zhang said.
Maids came in and served breakfast which was an assortment of western and traditional foods. Zhang Bo preferred the Western dishes, Caishen the traditional ones.
Like Zhang Bo, Alix too ate more sandwiches, cookies and milk tea for breakfast. In fact, she ate more than everyone else at the table.
When she saw how they looked at her in surprise, she blushed and longed to hide herself under the table.
"Haha, I didn't eat anything at all yesterday." She said nervously in her defense.
"I remember now, we did not offer you any dinner last night. How impolite of us? We starved the daughter-in-law on her first night in the family. Oh what a dreadful thing we did." Grandma Zhang who was in shock and horrified beyond expected by what they had done unintentionally kept her eyes on Caishen's mother.
As the mother-in-law, Caishen's mother Yura felt quite embarrassed as well. Some of the animosity she was feeling towards Alix reduced, replaced with a dash of guilt. "You should have ordered a maid to bring you something to eat. We have landlines in the bedrooms for this reason."
Alix thought to herself, do I look like a mind reader that I would have known what the landlines is for?
"Yes mother-in-law." Alix responded politely like a well trained daughter-in-law.
"Your clothes too, isn't this what you were wearing yesterday?" Grandma Zhang asked her.
She was in that yellow and white suit which she wore to the wedding and changed into after. Even the shoes on her feet were the same ones.
"I didn't come with any luggage since everything was so abrupt. I plan to pick up a few of my things and return with them later on in the day."
"My mother shopped for brand new clothes and shoes which are all in your closet. Aren't you snubbing her by refusing to wear what she bought?" Zhang An was loud and confrontational as Alix had come to expect of her.
She looked at Zhang An and replied coldly, "Those clothes and shoes were bought according to Billi's size and measurements. I am not her, those things won't fit me."
Unsatisfied with her answer, Zhang An yelled, "Have you even tried them on, you..."
"Young miss An," Alix cut her off impatiently. The fake smile was gone from her face and the tone of her voice was stern, sounding very strict like that of someone who regularly gave out orders which surprised everyone at the table.
"I would like to make it clear to you again, and for the last time. Billi and I do not get along. We are like fire and water, in fact, my family and I are not close enough to be called family. On the day of my wedding, I cut off ties with my father so if he asks anyone in this family for favors using the mandate of being in-laws, I do not want to be involved. Feel free to turn him away, I will not be bothered. Never in my life will I touch anything that belongs to Billi, I would rather wear rugs than put on something she touched for fear that it will kill me."
Turning to her mother-in-law, Alix said, "Mother, I apologize but I will not touch those things. If it's possible, please ask a maid to take them out of my room and donate them."