Mei Ting sat in a corner in the dark room she was placed in. She drew her legs close to her chest wrapping her hands around it. The place she was in was cold, her eyes looked out of the iron bars in front of her.
There was no one in her cell she was placed in, she had slowly gotten comfortable in the dark over the past hour she had spent here.
Her eyes were clouded with tears, her cheeks wet by it. She laid her head on her legs as her mind reverted to the conversation she had with Li Weiyoung earlier when Li Weiyoung came to the cell.
Just as she did before, Mei Ting threw herself at Li Weiyoung ready to explain things to her. But Li Weiyoung didn't listen.
She had always known that Li Weiyoung didn't like her, since she came into the Li family house, Li Weiyoung had tried all she could to throw her out. When she couldn't, she resorted to small tricks to make her life miserable.
Mei Ting had never been able to tell her motive all this while.
She has never been mean to Li Weiyoung. When they were young she tried all she could to mend their relationship, trying to win Li Weiyoung over, but Li Weiyoung would always push her away.
Mei Ting only stopped trying when she was poisoned while still in the Li mansion. Though there was no evidence pointing towards her, Mei Ting suspected that Li Weiyoung was the mastermind.
She finally confirmed her suspicions. It was indeed Li Weiyoung.
Li Weiyoung confessed to poisoning her earlier.
Mei Ting could still remember her exact words, "I know you didn't kill my mom, but you'll pay for it since being poisoned couldn't take you out of my life, then at least being imprisoned for murder would."
Li Weiyoung had also confessed the reason why she was after Mei Ting.
The thought of it still sends shivers down Mei Ting's spine.
Li Weiyoung has always been portrayed as the heiress of the Li family. Everyone knew she was next in line and she was trained to act like one.
However, the very existence of Mei Ting was a threat to her and she had begun to nurse hatred for Mei Ting as a result of her baseless fear.
Mei Ting, on the other hand, has never been after the family fortune. She was already grateful that the Li family had accepted her and treated her like a daughter, and she couldn't ask for more.
She has never wanted to take Li Weiyoung's position from her.
Mei Ting felt utterly lonely and afraid. Each time she thought about having to face a panel of judges for the murder of the woman who had loved her like a daughter, her chest tightened.
Mei Ting placed one hand on her chest, hoping that this pain would go away.
Her eyes were beginning to sting.
*
A black car pulled up in front of the police station. A man in a black suit stepped out. He held a suitcase in one hand, his other hand smoothening his suit before he dropped it into his pocket and strolled into the police station.
He kept a straight face as he walked. Stopping in front of the door where one policeman stood, he raised his ID card and was immediately granted entrance.
His every step was graceful, stopping in front of a desk which had two policemen behind; he took off his shade, hanging it securely in his white shirt underneath his suit.
"I'm here for Olivia."
The policeman raised his head, a growl beginning to form on his lips as he stared at the man with so much audacity.
"And who are you?" He asked, his tone dripping with irritation as he took him in.
The man pulled out his ID card; he raised it, showing them its content. The officer who once had a proud look as he took the ID stood immediately, signalling the other man close to him who had no idea why his superior behaviour suddenly flipped.
"Go get the girl," he ordered.
"But…" the other office looked between both men before stepping closer to his superior and whispering in his ear, "she was brought in here by Li Weiyoung, is it all right if we -"
"Do as you are told, don't ask questions." The older man reprimanded before shifting his gaze to the man in front of him.
Who would dare go against anyone directly under the Luo family?
"I'm sorry about earlier." He scratched the back of his head. "We didn't know she was connected to you; we didn't treat her roughly and had given her the best care," his lips pulled up in a smile after speaking.
Jiao Runchu simply hummed, his attention fixed on the hallway where the officerhad entered a while ago.
Leaning forward, the officer looked around before asking, "Is this case a serious one? Seeing as you are here yourself, I guess it must be serious." Upon seeing that the man wasn't ready to share any gossip with him, he looked around, ready to save his ass.
"The truth is that Li Weiyoung asked us to," the mention of that name got Jiao Runchu's attention.
The man looked around again before continuing, "Keeping her here, and though there is no strong evidence suggesting that she murdered Madame Li, we were told it would be soon provided."
The man was quick to try to clear his name. If this matter was to blow out of proportion, he needs to make sure he won't be affected.
"I see." The man nodded, his smile returning as he moved back.
Just then, Mei Ting walked out with the sergeant.
"Don't tell Li Weiyoung that Mei Ting has been released."
"I won't, but may I ask for the reason?" Jiao Runchu squinted his eyes, "no no, that was a joke," the man released a nervous laugh.
Mei Ting came to stand in front of an unfamiliar man, "Luo Chen sent me, he didn't come because you…" his words trail, but Mei Ting already understood.
Relief washed through her as the man processed her bail. She never expected Luo Chen to come to her aid.
Although Luo Chen had given her his words, she still held doubt, after all, it's hard to trust a stranger after the man she had once loved turned his back on her.
Fifteen minutes later, both settled in the car.
"I'm sorry I took so long," Jiao Runchu spoke after a while of being silent. Mei Ting was curled up on one side of the car, her eyes closed.
Opening her eyes, she met the gaze of the man through the rear mirror. She gave him a slight nod.
"Boss would have been present here himself, but he had to sit out because of the agreement you had earlier." Jiao Runchu explained again.
"I understand. How did he find me?" That was the part she didn't understand.
"The boss has his way." Jiao Runchu replied
What she didn't know was that after Luo Chen left earlier, he had sent some men to watch over her. However, she had already been arrested when they got there, and it took a while for them to trace her.
The car soon took a turn, driving through a driveway which had flowers on both sides.
Soon, the car came to a stop in front of a tall dark gate which opened by itself after scanning the plate number of the car. The car drove into the winding driveway leading to the entrance of the mansion.
A water fountain stood in the middle of the mansion.
Jiao Runchu stepped out first and then opened the door for Mei Ting.
"Welcome home madam." He bowed slightly in respect as she stepped out.
Mei Ting was wowed by the beauty and magnificence of the building in front of her, but she was in no mood to take all this in.
She could still feel her chest tightened from time to time. The change in her new reality still feels unreal.
She didn't bother observing the living room nor did she listen as the head maid and butler introduced themselves. All she wanted to do was bathe and lay on her bed.
If she falls asleep then, it won't hurt as it did now.
She was grateful they didn't hold her back by more introduction.
She was shown to her room, which she shared with Luo Chen.
After taking a warm bath, she was invited to come to have dinner by the head maid, but she refused, stating that she would come down when Luo Chen arrived.
Contrary to what Mei Ting thought, she couldn't sleep. After turning and tossing for a while, she stood and walked to the window.
Standing in front of the window, which was opened with their curtains pulled apart, she held herself with her hand.
Her hair danced as a cool breeze rushed into the room. She stared blankly into the night.
She was so engrossed in her world that she d
idn't notice when Luo Chen stepped into the room until he wrapped his warm hand around her and pulled her close to his chest.