PaoYin Prison...The inmates at PaoYin district prison, looked on with envy and unadulterated hatred as Guard Niu sought out various opportunities to get close to the Zhang heiress, whether they were a.s.sembled outside or indoors. Usually Zhang Mi would join the other inmates in partic.i.p.ating in sporting activities, mostly jumping hurdles or running. Ever since she was taken to the senior guard"s office, Guard Niu would throw out reasons for the Zhang heiress to be excused and it always happened everytime it was the start of outdoor activities in the open courtyard.
At first, Zhang Mi didn"t catch on, why Guard Niu would be calling her away from partic.i.p.ating with others during the usual game of sports, by the second and third time that was when she knew that Guard Niu had an hidden motive for seeking her out.
The first time, she would take Zhang Mi to her office, telling her that the wounds she had would heal faster if she had the needed care and was resting in a comfortable bed. That didn"t end there, for some time Guard Niu had known of the Zhang heiress aversion to prison food, but she was looking for the right chance to step in, so as not to draw attention to the preferential treatment she might be giving Zhang Mi.
That didn"t work out too well, because from that day onwards Guard Niu couldn"t hid her feeling regarding the Zhang heiress, that same day when the scuffle at the cell took place, she placed an order for some food to be delivered to PaoYin Prison. Even the guards were surprised when they saw the senior guard come out to take in stacks of white plastic packed plates containing a.s.sorted dishes. The men that kept watch on the outside, looked on in astonishment, never once had they seen her call for food delivery, it wasn"t her birthday because there was no announcement regarding that.
Unable to hold still any longer, one of them asked what the purpose was, that was when she replied by saying it was for a "friend", the men didn"t get that the person she was being vague about was none other than the Zhang heiress.
Guard Niu had to leave her office in person rather than asking someone else to get the delivery, not wanting to leave the Zhang heiress alone, but had no other option but to rush out and get the food that she would be serving Zhang Mi, before leaving Guard Niu strongly warned the Zhang heiress from going out of the office.
Zhang Mi sat on the cot, with a funny look on, not knowing whether to be upset by being told to do things that wasn"t making any sense to her or ecstatic that she had someone to look out for her, while serving her time in jail.
The rusting sound of plastic bag alerted her that someone was close to where she was, her eyes fastened towards the closed door, wondering if it was the senior guard or some other person that was pa.s.sing by.
The door suddenly swung open with Guard Niu carrying two full plastic bags on both hands. Surprised marked the face of Zhang Mi, she could see that it was food in them, based on the shape and the aroma coming from them.
Walking to where the Zhang heiress was, Guard Niu placed both bags by her on the cot, before turning to take a seat at her desk.
"Eat up! I got them for you, if I see that you haven"t began eating, I"ll leave what I"m doing and force everything down your throat!"
Annoyed by the way the guard was bossing her around, the Zhang heiress replied in anger,
"Why did you bring me here?! I never asked anything from you! I don"t know what you"re aiming for, but rest a.s.sured you are not getting anything from me!"
When Zhang Mi saw the hardened look on the face of the other woman, the look of annoyance changed to that of weary. Knowing that the guard could keep true to her words and spoon all the contents in the bag into her mouth.
Opening the first bag, the Zhang heiress laid out all nine plates in front of her, reaching into the bag again to pull out a bottle water and chop stick.
Guard Niu pretended to be looking at some papers on her desk, but unknown to the Zhang heiress, the other woman with a soften look in her eyes kept stealing glances across from where Zhang Mi sat to eat.
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Days after the trial of the Zhang heiress ended, Hong Ruolan was locked up in her room, cellphone was confiscated by her parents. To them, she was the daughter that held so much disappointment. No matter how much they disapproved of the Zhang heiress, countless number of times the President of Hongsheng Holdings and his wife would lecture their daughter on being as successful and even more than what Zhang Mi had been able to accomplish. All this fell on deaf ears, for their daughter wanted no part in taking over the family business, instead her pa.s.sion was to own a flower growing business or better yet to become an horticulturist. Such an outrageous career was frowned upon by her parents. Not giving in to her "petty dreams" they enrolled her to the best business school in the country, watching in grave disappointment as she came out with an average grade. Not that Hong Ruolan didn"t try enough, but taking over the family business just wasn"t for her.
Deep in thought and wondering which direction that her life was going to take, that was when she heard a knock at the door. Thinking it was the maids that came by to bring her breakfast, Hong Ruolan ignored whoever was at her door, because they usually came and left after knocking and fastening the door after they were done with their duty.
Back to her musing, as she stared at the window opposite from where the door was, only to be snapped back by a deep familiar voice coming from the other end, "Ruolan ain"t you going to say h.e.l.lo to your big brother?!"
Hearing the teasing undertone of the questioning voice, Hong Ruolan flew from the bed where she had previously being lying on, straight into the arms of the only person that saw things differently from her parents, the one who currently ran a branch of Hongsheng Holdings in another city about two hours from where she lived with her parents. He went by the name Hong Lian.