Chapter 127 - Clueless Seductress
Chen Ying called to her Manager, ordering her to arrange for a dress. She herself rushed back to her apartment, changing out of a fancy dress into moderate clothing.
A quarter before an hour pa.s.sed, Chen Ying was already waiting by Gu Jianguo car.
Fu Jianguo"s feet carried him in rapid steps, his face scrunching into a scowl. He paused, surprised at finding Chen Ying standing by his car at the garage, anger erupting in his heart.
Before he could say anything, he caught a glimpse of Chen Ying"s pitiful expressions. His words got stuck in his throat.
"Brother Fu, I am so sorry..." She bowed. "It"s my fault, I shouldn"t have thought of surprising Ling"er. If only I knew that Ling"er favorite brand would be so crowded... No, I shouldn"t be finding excuses, it"s my fault in the end." That tenderness could elicit the soft side of a man.
"What happened?" An hour ago, Fu Jianguo had lashed at Chen Ying, he had been very irritable.
For some reason, his company"s stocks had been going down.
On top of that, his grandfather had expressed dissatisfaction with his lack of progress.
In fact, there was a rumor in the office. Fu Entertainment CEO would soon be reelected.
His grandfather was also gradually favoring his cousin.
"I... It"s my fault." Chen Ying looked at her feet ashamed, appearing soft and docile.
Fu Jianguo experienced a pang of guilt. He shouldn"t have been so harsh on her.
When Chen Ying persisted in apologizing and refused to answer, Fu Jianguo directed the question at her Manager. "What took her so long?"
"CEO Fu, this morning Ms. Chen had personally gone to Zabwa boutique to collect their finest dresses. I offered to do it instead but she refused, saying she wanted to personally choose the best for CEO"s younger sister." The Manager was astute, realizing where and when to use exaggeration. Sighing in pity she said. "We just didn"t know there would be such a huge crowd, it got us late."
Fu Jianguo realized what had happened in reality, his eyes widening in shock. "Ling"er had just mentioned in pa.s.sing that she liked Zabwa. You didn"t have to..."
Chen Ying gave a coy smile. "Since Ling"er is someone important for Brother Fu, how could I have done the injustice to her by not treating her as my own sister?"
"I"m so sorry, I misunderstood you." He wasted time in engulfing Chen Ying into a hug, caressing her back and apologizing profusely.
"Brother Fu, I was at fault too. Don"t blame yourself."
Fu Jiang heard his words, his heart constricting with guilt.
He formed a resolve in his heart, he would never ever misunderstand his Ying"er again.
Ying"er was not Yi"er. One had a soft heart, the other was such a malicious soul. She was such a considerate girl, how could he have thought for a moment that she would forget his family?
...
"Ling"er, how are you now. Are you alright?" Chen Ying"s eyebrows furrowed in deep concern, her eyes misty as if she could cry the next second.
Xu Yuyan was helping Fu Liling walk, supporting her along the way.
Fu Liling looked up. Finding Chen Ying before her, her smile vanished. She stepped back. Images from that night surfaced in her mind.
Cold bitter night, loud splash as she fell into the water, cold chill penetrating her bones, her pathetic attempts at calling for help and... the vicious smile at that woman"s face and her cold laughter telling her she deserved to die, the sinking realization that this could be her last moments when the water entered her lungs and she sank deeper.
"What"s long Ling"er? Why"s your complexion so pale?" Xu Yuyan seemed to have noticed something was wrong.
"I-It"s nothing."
"Oh my G.o.d, are you alright, Ling"er?" Chen Ying approached Fu Liling, raising her hand to touch her. "Oh, you are not so okay. I"m so sorry I couldn"t visit you more. I had been detained by my busy schedule. Let me have a look at you."
Fu Liling looked uncomfortable, looking around for a way out. She didn"t want to be in contact with Chen Ying.
Before Chen Ying could touch her, a slender arm reached out, covering Fu Liling protecting her from the unwanted approach.
Chen Yi... with a slight tilt of her lips, said. "Long time no see, cousin."
When the object of her nightmares appeared out of thin air, Chen Ying was shocked into a paralyzed state. Her hand froze mid-air, never managing to reach Fu Liling.
"You..." Fu Jianguo"s expression twisted. "What are you doing here?!"
"What is this tone, Jianguo." Xu Yuyan glared at her son. While one of her hands rubbed the back of Ying"er hand with affection, she expressed her disapproval. "At least there was someone who knew Ling"er is being discharged today."
Xu Yuyan was disappointed in her son and his so-called fiancee.
Fu Liling was Xu Yuyan"s precious daughter, her jewel. Her father could not be present today for genuine reasons. But what about Fu Jianguo? Did he not have a responsibility towards her? Did his fiancee not have a responsibility?
If Chen Yi had not come, how embarra.s.sing it would have been to walk out her cherished daughter all alone and that too after she recovered from a life-threatening condition?
What would people say?
Was that the value of her daughter?
"Mother, that"s not what happened. Let me explain." As Chen Ying winced and stumbled back, hurt, Fu Jianguo put his arm around her.
Shooting an accusative glare at Chen Yi, he explained. "We were late because Ying"er wanted to get the best gift for Ling"er at her discharge. Do you know she waited in line on her own for G.o.d knows how many hours just to make Ling"er happy?" Despite the best attempt to stayrespectful, his tone could not help but raise a few notes. Chen Ying was being wronged, how could he endure?
Chen Ying chimed in. "Mother, it"s my fault. I"m sorry..." Her posture was faultless, her misty eyes that could shed tears any second were seen more moving. She had her face down, not daring to face Xu Yuyan as if scared of her anger.
"Oh, that was the case..." Xu Yuyan was not unreasonable who would make things difficult for someone based on feelings.
She might not like Chen Ying but...
...in the end, that woman was her son"s fiancee.
She had to accept her eventually.
"Chen Ying, Mrs Fu is no longer angry at you, cheer up!" Her Manager had followed them all the way. "After all, you guys are going to be a family. Unlike others who can get by bringing little trinkets, family members should go to lengths to do special things for each other." Her meaningful eyes moved from the flowers in Fu Liling hands to Chen Yi.
"I had to be thoughtful. Things value does not matter, it"s the sentiment behind that matters." Chen Ying said.
Of course, when it came to sentiment, Chen Ying made it appear like she had suffered a lot to get that article of clothing.
But when it came to Chen Yi, where had she gotten those flowers from? Just a random stall on the way here?
Be it sentiment or value, Chen Ying went farther than anyone would.
Chen Yi could not suppress her smile. In front of the Fu family, Chen Ying loved to keep this immaculate appearance.
Even when Chen Yi had been the one engaged to Fu Jianguo in the past, that"s how Chen Ying would behave.
"Ling"er," Once again, Chen Ying approached Fu Liling. Now that Madam Xu temper had cooled down, she had no fear. "It"s the dress from the Zabwa brand. Did you not tell me once you were a fan of their designers? I specially bought the premium membership to get this for you." Chen Ying pushed the shopping bag in her hands, whilst attempting to take away the flowers planning on throwing them in a bin right before Chen Yi"s eyes.
However, Fu Liling didn"t let go of the flowers, pulling them to herself.
Met with Fu Liling"s reluctance, Chen Ying"s smile faded.
"I hope you can forgive me for being late, despite the premium membership, the place was very crowded."
Xu Yuyan"s eyes softened. "I don"t think Ling"er would mind, she is not the kind to hold grudges for small things."
Encouraged, once again Chen Ying attempted to take away those flowers.
In response, Fu Liling shoved Chen Ying, pushing a distance between them. She did not let go of the flowers, getting away from Chen Ying to stand beside Chen Yi.
Chen Ying appeared shocked, expressions of hurt emerged over her face.
Fu Jianguo put his arm around Chen Ying, anger flared in his eyes. "Ling"er, you are my sister. Exactly why I can"t see you stand in the wrong company." Fu Jianguo scoffed. "Just have a comparison between one beside you and the one who is offering you her sincere concern." He looked at Chen Yi. "The way she is dressed, do you really think today, she came to the hospital for your sake?"
Chen Yi had been silent until now. "What are you implying, Mr. Fu?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Do you really want me to reveal your disgraceful intentions to everyone?" Fu Jianguo"s face scrunched up in disgust. "Fine! Mother should also see what kind of desperate being you are and why I left you. Tell me, what kind of a person goes to see a patient at the hospital in such extravagant attire. I don"t believe you didn"t know I would come to the hospital today."
Chen Yi face changed into a confused frown. She still couldn"t understand where he was getting at. "What exactly do you mean?"
"You bothered so much dressing well...used the excuse of meeting Ling"er just so you could get a chance to b.u.mp into me and Ying"er. So that we can get to see you in your new appearance? Do you think that can move someone?" Fu Jianguo looked like a man who had deciphered all the secrets of the world. With such confidence, he proclaimed. "You are disgracing yourself, but you are also being an embarra.s.sment to the Chen family name. I can"t forego my in-laws" reputation damaged because of someone"s desperation."
With great effort, Chen Yi got her head around what he meant, her lips parting in shock.
He did not just mean what he said....