"Do I know you?"
The young man's words were akin to a knife that slashed at the perfect curtains of the woman's stage. Burning them afterwards with the following sentences.
"I don't know why you came bursting into this room while acting as if we are some kind of acquaintances. But if you are finished with speaking, please leave while I'm still being courteous."
The trio widened their eyes in disbelief as the young woman cried even more bitter in an instant those words rang in the air.
Revealing a painful expression that intermingles with threads of understanding and forgiveness.
"I understand," she whimpers in a soft voice, "it must be because my sister doesn't like me. That's why she doesn't want to see mother and father either…"
Standing up from the hospital bed in staggering steps as if a flower about to descend. The woman bit on the bottom of red lips before acting with determination.
"If my sister doesn't want to see me, I'll leave. But president Jiang, my parents are innocent so I hope you can let them stay for a little longer."
"No!" The mother held tight onto the daughter with a furious expression as if they were about to be forcibly separated.
"Why does my daughter have to leave?!" Sending another glare Yan Beiqing's way, the middle-aged woman hollered in anger.
"Shen Beiqing! Are your eyes for decoration?! Don't you see how sad your younger sister is?? Come here and apologize!"
"... …"
From the very start, the young woman had not said a word but stared at the performance of these three strangers.
Sensing the numerous stares all locked onto her, the young woman narrowed her eyes as it flitted past each person's expression.
Greed that remains unhidden shown on the father's portly face. Fraudulent tears that stream between slender fingers of the young daughter. The protective gesture created by the mother who genuinely believes that her child is being mistreated.
But most important of all, the furtive glances that kept moving towards Jiang Zuoqing's face from all three faces.
Heh.
Pale lips curve into a light smile as Yan Beiqing finally spoke in a careless tone.
"I don't know who you are. Please leave."
Rather than serving as a calm invitation for the trio to leave, this sentence had the opposite effect instead. As the three uninvited strangers broke out into varying levels of cries and hollers that even the people outside of the chamber could hear.
Curses, blames, pleads all flowed out like an orchestra of raucous noises which made Jiang Zuoqing furrow his brows with displeasure.
"That's enough!"
His low growl erupted in the chaotic chamber which turned the area silent in an instant as the trio revealed an expression of shock.
"Son-in-law, you-"
"As I've said, I don't know who you are." Jiang Zuoqing has become increasingly impatient with these troublemakers. "I'm not someone you can randomly act friendly with. Get out before I count to three or else."
The young man strides to open the doorway with a silent motion towards the door.
But these troublemakers are not quite done yet, as the mother ran to cling onto the leg of our young president. Despite the clear show of surprise in the father and daughter's faces, they entered into their roles rather quickly.
"One."
The mother: "President Jiang! I-"
Before the middle-aged woman could say another word, her body flew out of the chamber.
Bang! Crashing onto the floor with an inelegant sprawl on the ground.
"Two."
The father: "Wife! President Jiang, how can you-"
The middle aged man also flew out of the door with flailing limbs akin to the scene of a flying pig. Landing right on top of the middle-aged woman with nary a foot amiss.
The daughter: "... …"
"Three."
Almond eyes which narrowed into a dangerous glint pierced in the direction of the trembling young woman.
"How about you?"
The young president asked in a cold voice, "do you want to walk out or fly out?"
"I, I'll walk!"
The steps of a fluttering butterfly turned into the scramble of a mouse as the daughter ran out in fear. Hoping that the youth would not use violence on her after already kicking her parents.
Throughout the chaos that had happened both inside and outside of the chamber. The familiar figure of a young assistant appears, confused at the scene.
"Oh? What is this? What happened while I was gone?"
The tall figure of our trusty assistant appeared into the scene with a baffled expression. The plastic bags in hand rustle from each steady step that approaches closer with a more clear view of the area.
Eyes whirled from the pile of bodies on the ground to the furious expression on his boss's face before landing onto the bewildered looks of bystanders.
Pondering in silence for a few seconds, the young secretary waved a nearby nurse closer while sighing in a helpless voice.
"Look at these two elderly sleeping in the middle of the hospital ward, can someone drag them away? This is a private section of the hospital. Please refrain from having such individuals enter the area."
In the end, the daughter of that couple could only lower her gaze while following her unconscious parents out.
_____
"The couple and daughter seem to be from the Shen family."
Secretary Zhang placed a bowl of rice porridge in front of Yan Beiqing and one beside Jiang Zuoqing.
Taking a glance at the two quiet individuals, the trusty assistant proceeded to speak in a pondering tone.
A few months ago, the Shen family found their missing daughter. The news was widespread and the couple held a large welcoming party for her."
"... …"
Not knowing if he should proceed on this sensitive topic, secretary Zhang glanced at Yan Beiqing first before looking at Jiang Zuoqing.
Seeing his boss's affirmative nod, the young assistant continues to fill in the details of this story. Not understanding why Yan Beiqing seems just as curious about the tale as his boss.
But nonetheless…
"The rest of the story isn't uncommon. The real daughter returns and the adopted daughter is neglected."
"Although Miss Yan was the adopted daughter of the Shen family, you were never officially introduced as one. Not legally or publicly so many people thought that young Miss was only a relative."
"It wasn't until one incident in which the real Shen daughter "accidentally" leaked the news that everyone within the circle became aware. Thereafter, incidents when Miss Yan was publicly humiliated during events became more frequent."
"Until the news that the adopted daughter was chased away from her home spread throughout the community."
Jiang Zuoqing raised his sights to look at the quiet young woman who revealed an expression of nonchalance. She does not seem affected by the details of this story as slender fingers fiddle the lid of her styrofoam box.
Perhaps it was because of her poor background or current state of health but Jiang Zuoqing felt a sudden thread of pity for the young woman.
Leaning forward to unclasp the lid, well structured fingers clasp as the handle of the spoon to bring the porridge close to her lips.
"Your arm is injured, I'll feed you."
Yan Beiqing: "... …"
Sharp eyes blinked in surprise for a moment before rolling once in their sockets in ponderment. Finally curving into an amusement arc, pale lips open to accept in a steady tone, "thank you."
While serving the young woman with small bites of porridge, the young man began an assessment of this incident with his secretary.
"How did the Shen's know which hospital we are at? I specifically asked for our presence to be hidden in this attack?"
Even secretary Zhang is confused as he had done his job properly in order to make sure no one would come to bother their president.
"Either way, I'm sure your past family members have something unpleasant in mind. Why would they come here otherwise trying to create a fuss?"
"Just ignore them if they come looking for you again. But by that time I would have guards around this place, they wouldn't be able to step into the room."
"... …"
Yan Beiqing listened to the conversation in silence. Eyes narrowed to a gentle curve as she observes the annoyed expression of the man.
Seemingly impatient but each action taken to feed her are careful and cautious to the point of being extremely slow.
But the young woman did not mind at all.
She doesn't care about the sudden appearance of the Shen family nor of the fact that she was injured.
These are small problems that can be taken care of.
However, there is one thing that no matter how much the young wonder ponders. The answer seems vague but laced with a familiar shadow of someone she might know of.
That faint thread that compelled her and the elderly Jiangs to meet are quivering.
Almost as if telling the young woman that someone from the past is nearby.
Pondering for a moment, the young woman made a slight request to the man.
"Jiang Zuoqing, I want to go back to work."
Jiang Zuoqing: "Absolutely not!"
The young man did not even need to hesitate before rejecting the request.