The voice of Jiang MengYao, her older brother, no someone who was once her older brother.
His voice was so memorable, always being known as the gentle kind older brother and a sweet man that everyone couldn't deny his genuine concern to others but hearing that voice immediately made all hairs on her body to raise in a shudder. She bite her lower lips and ignored the shiver she felt, holding back to herself from all the intrusive thoughts that were circling around her head.
An old couple also emerged into the room, they weren't the most concerned about having the door closed as they believed that the place was heavily guarded and was private enough for them. The first to speak was Mrs Jiang who noticed Jiang NianNian's worry and immediately ran up toward her, "What's wrong my dear? It's your birthday don't cry, shoo shoo," whispered Mrs Jiang, a tone that AiLin had only heard when she was still so young. Those memories were so sweet and so miserable.
AiLin stepped out from the edge of the wall and watched from afar the glimmer inside the room. The dark hallway seemed to have comforted her as she watched from the inside the "perfect" family that was displayed by the Jiangs. A loving older brother, a sweet adorable only daughter, a concerned and kind mother, also a father who appeared strict yet listened to his sweet daughter's worries and concern.
How perfect. They are perfect indeed. A family consisted of people with blood that was so hateful she felt her stomach queasy from disgust. She felt the need to get rid of something, not knowing what and perhaps it was her own skin. AiLin gritted her teeth, squeezing her eyes. The only reason why they were able to live such a happy life was none other than her. She was the reason why they were able to stay so peaceful but she won't let them forget. She will not let any of them live a life in peace anymore since tonight as they remember every day of what they have done to her and her angel.
AiLin managed to pull herself back, gaining her composure as she schooled her heart and facial expression. She found Wan GouRu who appeared nervous as she stammered to continue her words, "Aunt Jiang, you see the champagne for NianNian's birthday got shattered. Someone purposely bumped into me and caused me to let go of the bottle!"
Wow, now they even resort to blaming others who aren't at a fault.
Wan GouRu fear the consequences of breaking the bottle and believe that the Jiangs and Jiang NianNian would be able to go against AiLin even if she did wore a gown that was gifted by Li ZiChen. If they could have more people to testify against AiLin, they could even have Li ZiChen to feel indebted, it was something that the two best friends seemed to have caught immediately.
"Who dared to do so?" Mr Jiang got up from his chair after sitting on it for a couple of seconds. He immediately looked crossed, angered that the champagne he had kept so carefully for his daughter was already broken by someone careless.
"There is this girl—" Wan GouRu's words got cut off as Jiang NianNian spoke,
"A woman who also bought the gown I was supposed to get! Remember brother? The midnight gown that Li ZiChen bought, she was wearing it!" Jiang NianNian huffed as she crossed her arms, "Is it because she believes that she is being backed up by Li ZiChen? She is so rude for not only breaking my birthday alcohol but also for bumping into Wan GouRu without apologizing. Poor GouRu!"
Wan GouRu nodded her head and lowered her neck, "She said many horrible words to me. But I— I don't want to create a scene because it's NianNian's birthday. Even still, I was very mad and upset she bumped to be on purpose because she wasn't looking in front of her! her eyes was glued to her phone!"
In an instant it seemed she had became the villain who had not only bumped Wan GouRu on purpose but also humiliated the loyal dog?
Well she did bump to Wan GouRu on purpose but the one who was distracted wasn't her, was it?
AiLin hummed as she reflected to what she should do. It appeared that the four family members have believed Wan GouRu and Jiang NianNian's testimony. She wasn't surprised, instead she would be surprised if they distrust Jiang NianNian instead. Even though she was forced to be the perfect "Jiang AiLin" Jiang NianNian was the opposite with pampered life.
She had wondered why the rough treatments were only given to her, why Mrs Jiang and Mr Jiang cared so much for Jiang NianNian when she was the child that they cared so much about. Was this family?
Her mind snapped back to reality when she heard Jiang MengYao's voice, "Then I will make sure she will pay for her mistake."
"Yes! Don't worry NianNian, mama will make sure that woman will get the punishment she deserves. This can also pay us back some embarrassment that Li ZiChen had caused us last year!" Mrs Jiang said as she harrumphed.
The embarrassment that Li ZiChen had caused last year?
Seems like she would need to take a good time gathering all her information after the party.
"Let's find her, how does she look like GouRu?" Mr Jiang suggested. "We can tell all the hotel services to look after that rude woman."
"But father, mother, and brother, wouldn't this ruin your happy time? It's my birthday after all," Jiang NianNian pretended to be the sweet white lotus as she spoke to her parents and brother.
Jiang MengYao noticed his sister's change in attitude and gently patted her shoulders, "Do you have a plan, NianNian?"
"Yes, let's call her out during the cutting cake ceremony," NianNian said, "I want to give her a chance to apologize for her mistake in front of everyone." Like an angel, she had smiled, tugging everyone's heartstring as the sweetheart of Beijing. Her parents were moved and even Wan GouRu who feared her also could feel her innocence that tug anyone's heartstring.
"My daughter, you still wish for such a woman to apologize?" Mr Jiang was visibly moved. "You are really different from— ahem," Mr Jiang then turned away as all of them had one name linger in their heads at once.
"By the way NianNian have you ever contacted Lou SuZhan?" Jiang MengYao asked and to this, AiLin narrowed her eyes.
Lou SuZhan was one of the five people who had bullied her after Jiang NianNian and Wan GouRu. Thus AiLin was surprised to find the name on MengYao's lips.
A sudden change of expression was brief on Jiang NianNian but she was quick to school her face and tilt her head to the side, offering an innocent confusion, "I don't remember..?"
"Well I heard she had been going around in many sketchy places, asking for.. money. It's best that you never lend her any money, okay? Because it seemed that she's been dealing with drugs and needs more money to pay off her gambling debts," sighed Jiang MengYao. He gently sat beside Jiang NianNian and gently brought his sister's head to his shoulder, patting it so gently on her head, "You know how worried I am for you NianNian. You have a lot of friend but they all mysteriously ended up in the wrong side of life. It's odd that all your high school friends have met such ends but I don't want your last five friends to be involved in any dramas that would end up in harming you."
Jiang NianNian flinched and her face immediately turn paler, "I know brother," she muttered in a small tone, "I'm worried too. Everything happens so quickly as if…"
"As if it's planned?" Jiang MengYao completed her words and Jiang NianNian was taken by surprise. "I'm sure it's not," Jiang MengYao then gently comfort her, "You also know that now no one else will be able to threaten our life like the past six years. She's not here anymore NianNian."
But AiLin smiled at this. She was happy to see that Jiang NianNian and the rest of the family was at ill comfort with just the thought of her. That's what is going to happen more often. She will haunt them for all they've done, she will remind them, and she will punish them.
"Let's start the party," Mrs Jiang cut the siblings' conversation. "And let's make sure that rude woman learn her lesson."