Chapter 57: Personal Hell
There was a man who went by the name, Shams Tabrizi. He once said: "Don't search for heaven and hell in the future. Both are now present. Whenever we manage to love without expectations, calculations, negotiations, we are indeed in heaven. Whenever we fight, hate, we are in hell."
But is there a love that doesn't expect anything? Doesn't seem to be. Is there a time when we don't try to calculate our benefits? Definitely not! What about negotiations? We live in an age where we even negotiate with our parents much less anyone else. All we do is spread hate and then we start fighting without any reason or rhyme. So are we living in our own personal hell?
And oddly, we seem to enjoy this personal hell of ours. The world has enough power to feed every single hungry person around the globe. But we use this power to destroy each other instead.
Xu Mey didn't want to live in her personal hell but people forced her to live in hell. It was up to her to decide whether she wanted to be burned by this hell and perish or to rule this hell like a devil. Xu Mey originally chose the former one. She wanted herself to burn and perish. Every person who blames himself for every wrong thing in life tends to choose the burning path.
Xu Mey was just a fortunate person to have met someone who made her realize that becoming the devil to rule this hell was a lot more exhilarating.
She stopped expecting anything from her father. She calculated her relation with Ye Jie before negotiating it with him. She only had hate in her and a fire that could burn everyone. A person like her was the true definition of living in hell.
Since Ye Jie accepted the invitation on behalf of Xu Mey, both of them drove to the Xu Residence. Ye Jie swiftly swapped his sports car with Audi today. He wasn't dressed in his usual tailor-made suits. Instead, he was wearing washed up jeans with a round collar full sleeve shirt in white color. He paired it with a checkered shirt in black and red leaving the buttons unfastened. He looked young and carefree.
Xu Mey was wearing a loose knitted sweater with checkered pants. Her long hair was tied in a low bun and face was clean without any make-up. During the car ride, both didn't talk much. Ye Jie could feel how much she despised going to Xu Residence with the way her body was fidgeting.
The housekeeper greeted them at the door and brought them to the living area where Fu Lan and Xu Chen were waiting for them. Xu Cheng greeted Ye Jie and walked to Xu Mey. He was intending to hug her but she instinctively took a step back. Xu Chen was disappointed but didn't say it.
Fu Lan, on the other hand, was gushing over Ye Jie. "Aiyo! Our Ye Jie is such a nice person. He even remembered to bring all these fruit baskets and gifts for his in-laws." She was looking at the stuff Ye Jie brought with him. The way he handled things showed his noble bearing. "Although, our Xu Mey should have been the one to do all this but... " She clicked her tongue making a disappointed face. "You don't worry. Xu Mey will learn with time." She maintained her hypocrite behavior.
She was praising Ye Jie while making him realize how much Xu Mey was lacking. But the drama didn't end here, she walked to Xu Mey's side stroked her hair lovingly and smiled sweetly. "Son-in-law! Even though our Xu Mey is a bit dense and doesn't understand things easily, you need to be patient with her. She's such an obedient child. All the rumors about her are completely untrue. You must not believe them." Actually, she was trying to bring Ye Jie's focus towards the fact that there were rumors about Xu Mey in their circle. She knew saying it like that will get Ye Jie's attention.
And she was right, Ye Jie was indeed curious now. But he wouldn't show it on his face that easily. "Auntie is too polite. Auntie and Uncle don't have to worry about a thing. I like my dear wife just as she is. I don't need her to change anything at all. But what Auntie said is true, my wife really is very obedient indeed." Only Xu Mey could hear the sarcasm in Ye Jie's voice and really wanted to laugh out loud. It took a bit of effort to not let her emotions control her.
"Oh this is my first time in Xu Residence, I was hoping Auntie will show me around." Ye Jie's politeness and respect were a perfect combination that struck Fu Lan's heart like an arrow.
'I'm definitely gonna have you as my son-in-law. Who doesn't want a son-in-law like him? I'll make you fall for Xu Liqing at all costs.' Fu Lan was making a happy house for her daughter in her dreams while Ye Jie just wanted her to stay away from Xu Mey. He could see how much repulsive Xu Mey was towards Fu Lan.
Fu Lan happily became the tour guide for Ye Jie showing him around the whole Residence. Only Xu Mey and Xu Chen were left behind. "Is he treating you well?" Xu Cheng asked with his fatherly concern visible in his voice and on his face.
"Does it matter to you?" Xu Mey retorted. "You already sold me for a damn promise. Why is it your concern how I am now?"
Her sharp tone and vexation in her eyes were hurtful to Xu Cheng but he had no way to reply. He couldn't tell her why he sold her for a promise. He couldn't tell her why he avoided her. He couldn't tell her why he couldn't be a father he was supposed to be. So, he stayed quiet instead.
Xu Mey and Ye Jie stayed at Xu Residence from noon till dinner time. At the dinner table, Fu Lan kept putting food in Ye Jie's bowl. "Our son-in-law is so thin. You should take care of your diet. I know, you're a diligent worker but let the employees do some work as well." Then she turned to Xu Mey. "Xiao Mey, you should take care of your husband's meals. You're his wife. It's your responsibility." She facepalmed herself. "I almost forgot, Ye Jie! Our Xu Mey doesn't know how to cook. So, don't mind ha. Xu Liqing spends hours in the kitchen but Xu Mey was pampered from the young age so she isn't well-versed in house chores."
Xu Mey and Ye Jie choked on their food at the word 'pampered'. but Fu Lan didn't think much about it. She picked up a pineapple cake with her chopsticks and stretched her arm towards Xu Mey's mouth. Since Xu Mey couldn't refuse at that moment, she ended up taking a bite.
She knew the consequences of eating the cake but sigh... She couldn't do anything at the moment. Taking actions too early and too late are both worthless, we have to wait for the perfect time. And if the waiting is not what you can do, we should just make this time as the perfect time.
Just as Xu Liqing entered the dining room, Xu Mey smirked. 'And our perfect time just walked right to us.'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
XiaoMeeHee
XiaoMeeHee It's true that we have made our present our own hell. But no one can blame us. There is a saying that 'laziness feels good today. Hard work feels good later.'
Our today's hell is so pleasing that we don't want to think about our future heaven.
-----
Tomorrow we will have a glimpse in Xu Mey's past. The dark one. The one that haunts her.
XoXo!!!
Chapter 58: A Dramatic Queen
"Ah, Liqing! Come here." Fu Lan beckoned her daughter towards herself. "Take a seat here." She gave her own seat to Liqing which was in the middle of Xu Mey and Ye Jie. "Ye Jie, our Liqing is really like you. She loves to work. Today is Saturday and she was still working hard at the company."
"Mom!" Liqing pretended to be angry. "I can not be like Mr. Ye Jie. He's such an accomplished person. Although he's my role model I'm still far from him." Xu Liqing was in perfect sync with her mother.
They really took Ye Jie to be just a noble, polite and kind person. But every person has a side they don't want others to see. Ye Jie also had that side. He had already done his study on both Fu Lan and Xu Liqing. He was aware where Xu Liqing spent her time. Even today, he knew that she was out on a shopping spree with her socialite friends.
"That's a good thing." Ye Jie started. "But I heard Xu Liqing was rejected for the role in Director Yang's film." Ye Jie was putting her being kicked out of the crew nicely. It was a blunt taunt but both mother and daughter were too oblivious to that.
Fu Lan laughed waving her hand. "Oh no... It was just that Xu Liqing wanted to focus on the company work now. The entertainment industry is not for people from our circle."
Ye Jie nodded indicating that he understood. Inwardly he was sneering. 'She doesn't even know how to read balance sheets. How will she focus on your company?'
After the dinner, Ye Jie accompanied Xu Chen and Fu Lan to the living room for tea. Xu Mey was walking behind them. Xu Liqing intentionally stretched her leg to trip Xu Mey but as they say, 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.' Xu Mey swiftly avoided the mishap. But it just infuriated Xu Liqing even more.
She grabbed Xu Mey's arm with extra force. Xu Mey raised her brows as her eyes held disdain for her. "Don't be so happy, elder sister. You won't stay as Ye Jie's wife for long." Xu Liqing sneered.
Xu Mey didn't try to escape from her clutches. "Well my dear little sister, are you enjoying being a laughing stock? It must have been fun to be kicked out of Director Yang's movie at the last moment. Right?" Xu Liqing saw the smirk on Xu Mey's face that made her tremble.
'Did she do something? No no... She doesn't have the resources to do anything.' Xu Liqing immediately kicked the idea out of her mind.
"Don't try to be smart with me. If you were able to play a game with me at your wedding, it doesn't mean you can play it again. You're just a mouse whose tail is under my feet. I can crush you anytime." She glared with contempt in her eyes.
"Oh my dear sister, you're really naive. Have you heard about: 'What you do not want to be done to yourself, do not do to others.'" Xu Mey didn't lose her smirk. Instead, it was more prominent now.
Xu Liqing laughed menacingly. "You think you can put me exactly where I placed you years ago? That's your wishful thinking."
"There was a time, you made me look like a liar. Today, I'll make you a liar." As Xu Mey's smile broadened it scared Xu Liqing for some unknown reason.
In a second, the smile was gone. Xu Liqing felt like it was just her mind playing games with her. Xu Mey's whole demeanor took a 180 degrees turn. "Little sister, please don't take this from me." Xu Mey's eyes were watery while her face was completely red. She deliberately raised her voice. "This bracelet was a gift from my brother-in-law. I can't give it to you. I'll get you another one if you want." Xu Mey scratched her own neck while ruffling her hair making the low bun loosen up. "Liqing don't hit me. I'm still your elder sister."
Xu Liqing was in shock. It took her a while to come around. She tried to let go of her arm but Xu Mey held her hand at that place to make it look like it she was trying to escape from Liqing. In anger, Liqing lost control and raised her hand at Xu Mey. Xu Mey being the drama queen fell even though Liqing's hand barely grazed her cheek.
"What do you think you're doing?" The booming voice belonged to Ye Jie who came because of the noises. But seeing Xu Mey fall to the ground made him seethe in wrath. He bent down to help Xu Mey stand as her body was trembling terribly and her face was stained with tears. Blood-shot eyes, reddened face, streams of tears, all of this acted like oil to the fire.
He hid her in his embrace and looked at Xu Liqing with a fury gaze. "How dare you touch my wife?"
Fu Lan came around to soothe things out. "Ye Jie don't be angry. They are sisters and it sometimes happens between sisters." The whimpering body in his embrace made him lose all rationale.
"I don't care. She is my, Ye Jie's wife now. I won't give just anyone a chance to hurt her like this. Even if that person is her own sister." Ye Jie's voice was resolute that made a flash of light appear in Xu Cheng's eyes.
"There must be a misunderstanding here. Liqing, tell me what happened?" Fu Lan inquired in a gentle voice. But before Xu Liqing could speak, Xu Mey said.
"Little sister liked this bracelet of mine." Xu Mey showed the bracelet on her wrist to Ye Jie. Her voice was hoarse. "I told her it was Ye Jun who gave it as a present to me. But she insisted on taking it." Her pitiful eyes looked up at Ye Jie. "I couldn't give it to him. Ye Jun won't be happy and that will hurt your feelings as well." Xu Mey started crying at the end of the speech. Ye Jie rubbed his hand on her back to comfort her.
Xu Liqing was speechless. She didn't know how to refute. But when she opened her mouth to say something, Ye Jie spoke up. "I don't want anyone else' explanations. My wife's words are the truth for me." He glared at Liqing making her cower in fear. "You better remember who she is from now on. I won't be this polite next time." Ye Jie didn't listen to anything else and walked out of Xu Residence with Xu Mey. He didn't pay heed to Fu Lan's attempts to stop him.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
XiaoMeeHee
XiaoMeeHee
Friendship for me can only be defined in one way. You are either there for your friend when the world doesn't want him or you shouldn't be there for him when the whole world wants him.
For the chapter, of course this was just had a dramatic performance by our Xu Mey. And no, she's not weak. She's just a player who gives you the wrong idea of his cards to play you instead of playing with you.
That's a bit confusing.
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I'm still awaiting for reviews.
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