Mrs Han did not respond. She only looked at Xia Yu coldly before continuing her chatting. Xia Yu knew that Mrs Han did not like her. So she did not mind her cold look and greeted her.
"Mother!" Mrs Han did not want to be nice to the girl, but they were still in public. She held back her discontent and nodded without any expression.
Awkwardly she took a seat among them.
"Lei Mei had already left this house on the second day of her marriage. A marriage is not between a husband and wife but a family. Should she not be paying more attention to this house?" asked Mrs Su again. "She did not care about mother -in -law at all or the needs of the family. Since she was invited to the party, she should have at least come earlier and helped the family." she continued when no one replied.
Xia Yu felt the headache coming on.
"Yes, you are right Auntie. I wanted to come earlier and share the burden. I deeply apologize." Xia Yu bowed her head earnestly. The woman was surprised and did not know how to continue. At the same time she looked at Xia Yu with a complex look. Everyone knew that Lei Mei was a proud woman. How could she bow so easily in front of others?
"These days the company is not giving her time at all. I heard that she did not come home before the dinner was long gone cold." Xia Yu was stunned for a second and she turned instantly to see grandfather was walking toward their table with a cane in his hands. Many were slowly following her. They all noticed how Xia Yu was getting scolded by only a neighbor to the limit that she had to bow to her head. Their faces looked strange.
Mrs Su had not noticed grandfather but now she understood why Xia Yu had bowed her head so easily. This vicious girl had it all planned.
"I didn't mean to scold you. I was only worried about my friend." she hastily wrapped her arms around Mrs Han and sighed. "I only want her to get some time for herself now that she is a daughter in law. But I did not notice my words could hurt you." though it felt like she was feeling about it, in the end, she was still making her unfilial granddaughter.
But no one supported Mrs Su's words. Even Mrs Han subtly took her hands away from her grip and stood up to help her father in law.
"Lei Mei is working as a marketing Manager in her parents' company. It is time that she focuses on her career. You have enough servants to help you, if not hire more. Do not give your friends a chance to meddle in our affairs. I still have things to do." he eyes Mrs Han coldly. The woman clenched her first but nodded hurriedly.
Since Xia Yu was posing as Lei Mei. She goes to the office early in the morning and receives all the work given to Lei Mei and then completes it with the help of Lei Mei's secretary. In the start, the secretary did more of the tasks and explained to Xia Yu so that she could give a presentation later.
But since Xia Yu was from the business field too and got better with time, she let Xia Yu handle more and more and only observe from the sidelines.
Often it was late at night when Xia Yu returned home. She didn't know anyone was keeping tabs about it.
"It is only because I am still learning. I will be better with time." she whispered honestly, earning a nod from grandpa. "Good girl, come accompany grandpa in dealing with guests, i am getting tired now." Xia Yu stood up hurriedly and wrapped her arms around grandfather. He is the only one who was kind to her. She felt gratitude.
Mrs Han looked at her empty hands as they walked away. Her eyes filled with hatred. Mrs Su noticed it and smiled.
"I never knew that Lei Mei had such a close relationship with Mr Han. I apologize for putting you in a tight spot." she stood up hurriedly and apologized. She did not mind when she did not get any reply. The seed of discord had been sown. She only needed to water them from time to time.
Xia Yu walked with his grandfather for a long time. She smiled and even took a glass of wine from her grandfather and drank on his behalf when someone offered a toast. She was lucky that not many had the power and position to offer toast to him directly. Only close friends and extended family did so.
By the time they were done, her feet were sore from the heels and her head was dizzy. Her flushed face looked a bit lost.
"Now you should rest. I will go and take my medicine." Slowly the guests started to go and greet Han Zhou so Xia Yu nodded and let Nanny Zhang take grandfather to the retiring room.
She took a seat and closed her eyes. Her head was dizzy after drinking so much.
"I am hungry!" she cried softly. "And my feet are in pain."
"Why are your feet paining?" she heard a question. The voice felt familiar but in her dizziness she could not recognize it. But the coldness made her resentful.
"Because I am not habitual of walking in heels! And I am not habitual of drinking so much. Alright. What does it have to do with you?" she cried with anguish. The reply did not come. She forced her eyes to open and look at her left side. A waiter was standing there awkwardly with an empty tray.
"Ummm then do you need something to eat or some warm soup madam?"
"Huh?" Before she could ask if it was him who scolded her, he ran and brought a bowl of warm soup for her.
"Here, it will make you feel better."