The Li family Mansion.
9:00 am.
Li Weiyoung stood in front of a table. On one side of the table was a picture of a woman who wore a blue suit. She kept a straight face as she looked into the camera. Her grey hair was neatly styled to the back.
On the other end of the table, the same picture of the woman was in a small frame. But this time, a young girl with brown hair was with her.
As the woman looked at the girl, she smiled.
Li Weiyoung felt her blood boil as she stared at both pictures. This was how her mother had always been. With Mei Ting, she would always smile, she was always in her best mood.
The files and laptops on the table had been pushed to the floor by Li Weiyoung a while ago.
Shards of glass sparkled on the floor. She pulled the hand gloves she wore and slammed them on the table, her eyes glinting as she walked to the chair which was behind the table.
She trailed the edge chair with her finger.
"This lioness has fallen." She said in a mocking tone.
From this very seat her now late mother had yelled insults at her, rebuked her. She could still vividly remember the last conversation they had in this room. It's funny how it was just three days ago, but now, the once fierce woman was no more.
"Apologies, Mom, but your biggest fear is about to come to pass. Since you didn't give me a chance to prove my worth to you when you were still alive, I hope you'll give me a chance now that you are dead?"
She pulled the chair backwards and sat on it. Swivelling the chair from left to right, Li Weiyoung felt a wave of relief wash through her.
All her life she has always wanted to do this.
She took a deep breath, relaxed into the seat and kept moving. Placing her hand on the armrest, she began humming in a low tone. Her head slung backwards causally.
She would become the chairwoman of the Li Corporation today.
It was a dream come true. Her stomach bubbled with excitement. Her chest tightened with joy.
She had been so happy that she had ordered the chef to make the best meals. But she couldn't eat. Her eyes darted between the food and the clock on the wall. Her mind raced with the countdown to the big event.
So she came here and smashed everything her mother once adored.
A knock on the door and she stopped humming.
A few seconds passed before she raised her head.
"Come in." She ordered.
The door pushed open and a girl with short hair resting on her shoulders walked in. She held a bottle of wine and a glass.
She wasn't amazed at the condition of the room.
"Chairwoman Li, I brought your favourite wine to congratulate you on becoming the chairwoman," Sara Wang said.
Li Weiyoung stopped swivelling and sat straight.
Sara popped the bottle and poured some drink into the glass before handing it over to Li Weiyoung.
If there was one person who understood Li Weiyoung so well it was Sara.
Sara stood at a considerable distance. Li Weiyoung took a sip of the wine.
"Have the guests started arriving?" Li Weiyoung asked.
"Yes.
"And Mei Ting?" That was her concern. After their conversation yesterday, she was sure Mei Ting's spirit must have been crushed.
At the thought of that, her lips curled upwards.
"I just spoke to Sergeant Mo, Mei Ting is still in prison. How long do you plan to keep her there?" Sara inquired.
"For as long as I want." She took another sip from the wine, "And Doctor Qin?"
"I made sure he signed the NDA. He won't say a word to anyone. No one will know the truth of Madam Li's death. He has also agreed to write a report that can easily get Mei Ting convicted."
"Good." She downed the remaining content of the drink. "The day can finally start."
"There are some people from the media outside," Sara informed her.
Li Weiyoung straightened her clothes. Her eyes moved to the biggest frame in the room, that of her mother with another woman, the biological mother of Mei Ting.
"Watch me get everything and trample upon Mei Ting for the rest of her life."
"Have all photos of her removed and thrown away." She ordered as she stepped out of the room.
"Yes, ma." Sara gave instructions to the maids. They were to clean the room and replace the photos of the study with Li Weiyoung's picture.
Before Li Weiyoung stepped out, she made sure to put hot balm under her eyes. The heat made her eyes hot and teary immediately.
A slice of sunlight broke through the clouds, casting its glow on the building.
Li Weiyoung held a handkerchief to her face; her makeup had been expertly done.
Immediately, her car drove out of the gate, and a sea of reporters gathered it. All pointing cameras at her as well as holding the microphone towards her as he stepped out of her car. Two men walked side by side protecting her from the sea of reporters.
"How do you feel today?"
"Isn't it too soon to have her Will read?"
"Is there a reason it is being broadcast?"
"What will happen to Mei Ting? Do you think Madam Li gave her any inheritance?"
All sorts of questions were thrown at her.
Keeping a considerable distance between them, Li Weiyoung bowed to the reporters.
She sniffed.
"I know you all have so many questions." She paused and turned to the side making a show of wiping her eyes.
"I'll answer all of them after the Will has been read. My team has prepared a meeting with you all, so please, I beg you to be patient before then." her voice cracked, followed by a low sob. Sara was quick to throw her arms around her.
"As you can see, she is still grieving. Don't you think it's too much to gather around her like this?" She spoke. This caused the reporters to back down.
Li Weiyoung was led back to the car. The reporters made a path for her. Immediately, her car was out of sight; they immediately entered their van and went after her.
No one wanted to miss a chance of getting an exclusive.
The entire city was interested in who would become the next Chairwoman. It was important for everyone; after all, The Li Corporation was only second to the Luo Corporation.
While the Live was yet to start properly, the team in charge showed photos of Li Weiyoung and Madam Li. They tried to make the viewer focus on Li Weiyoung's good relationship with her mother. The comments section was filled with praise directed towards her.
There were still a few bashing Mei Ting.
Meanwhile, inside the car, Li Weiyoung was already beginning to get tired.
"How is the rating of the live?"
"It's going well. Everyone is praising you."
"What about Mei Ting?"
"Of course they are hating on her." Sara showed Li Weiyoung some of the comments, and, seeing so much hate from people who barely knew Mei Ting, Li Weiyoung was content.
The car soon stopped in front of a big black gate. A few seconds passed before the gate opened allowing them to drive in.
A car was in front of Li Weiyoung.
"Who has the car in front of us?" She asked. She knew she had invited a few businessmen, but who would dare show up in such a flashy car?
She wasn't dumb, she was aware that all these people were trying to be in her good grace, and none would want to do anything to paint them out as being inconsiderate.
The car stopped in front of theirs.
Li Weiyoung was the first to step out, followed by Sara.
At that same moment, a man dressed in a black suit with sunglasses stepped out of the Ferrari and walked around to pull open the door.
A lady stepped out of the car wearing a designer gown. Li Weiyoung recognised the dress; there were only two such in the world.
The girl's hair has been styled and Li Weiyoung refused to move until she saw her face.
And then she turned. Her makeup was natural.
The aura was different, but the face belonged to the girl Li Weiyoung would never have guessed.
She squinted her eyes, then clenched her fist. Sara quickly rushed to her side.
"What is she doing here?"
"I have no idea. I was told she was in prison." Sara whispered back.
Why did she step out of that car? What's happening? Li Weiyoung wondered.
"I don't care how she got here; throw her out. After the gathering is over, I want her in prison for real this time." She threw one last look at her before turning away.
"You have nothing to worry about. This event is strictly by invitation. There's no way she'd have an invitation with her."