Chapter 4: Beauty, Fight, Secretary and Baby

When the young woman arrived at the shopping mall parking lot, she managed to park without difficulty, as she was accustomed to driving like a maniac to avoid being too late. She got out of the car and ran directly into the mall, paying little attention to the door she had left open.

Pingguo found a massive crowd in the cosmetics store; all the women were probably there for the same reason as her, but they didn't share the same level of fury. They jostled in the aisles to get a limited edition of a Beauty Skin product, engaging in a real battle. Pingguo maneuvered between these lionesses, extending her own claws, pushing and shouting at these cougars who didn't want to acknowledge their sixties, and they returned the favor. Pingguo finally managed to get her hands on the blush she desired so much, but that was without counting on another customer who ardently wanted the same product. As she was about to take it, the older woman in front of her cut in. Faced with a woman who could have been her mother, Pingguo first chose the path of conciliation.

"Oh, madam. I came from so far for this product, and I saw it before you, so could you please give it to me?"

The woman stared at her before clicking her tongue.

"Really, young girls these days have no respect for anyone," the lady exclaimed. "Do you really think you're the only one who came from far away? If the product is taken, then find another one!"

Upon hearing this woman's high-pitched voice, Pingguo felt a vein on her forehead ready to explode. However, accustomed to conflicts, the young woman once again attempted the path of reconciliation. In vain.

"But, madam..."

"There's no madam! Do I look like a granny, you ill-mannered brat? I really wonder what parents do these days, how can they raise girls so graceless!"

At this statement, Pingguo quickly understood that the path of reconciliation was not meant for this old lady. It was time to take matters into her own hands. In a second, Pingguo's once gentle face changed to become fierce and haughty.

"Yah!"

The woman held her heart, fearing it would jump out of her chest as Pingguo's scream scared her. Unknowingly, the cougar had touched a particularly sensitive point of the young woman's ego. In this life, the only person capable of criticizing her parents was Pingguo herself. And she didn't let anyone else have that luxury, not even her own sister.

"How dare you speak to me like that when we don't even know each other? I haven't insulted your parents, so do the same. Honestly, aren't you ashamed of yourself? Instead of taking care of your husband and great-grandchildren, you're here arguing over makeup vouchers!"

The woman began to sink into the ground, cornered by words and the indiscreet glances of other customers. However, she still found a retort, although not very effective.

"You're talking nonsense! I don't even have a husband or great-grandchildren!"

"Ah, there it is! It's not surprising, with the look you're carrying around. You look like a walking makeup palette, you old hag!"

"Who's calling an old hag, you! Say that again!"

"With pleasure, old hag!"

The older woman raised her hand and slapped her; although not significant, it landed directly on Pingguo's cheek. The victim opened her mouth, her head to the side as she held her cheek. The young woman was shocked by this completely unexpected and, above all, disproportionate act. At least, according to her perception, she had done nothing to deserve such treatment from a perfect stranger.

"I can't believe it; she just slapped me, right now?"

In her head, several things collided and looped, memories of her entanglements. But not once did the sequence of a slap come to her. Was this really the first time a person, a woman, had slapped her? In any case, her mother or sister had never done it, and it had never happened in any brawl. With this thought, the young woman saw red. Pingguo brought her face back with eyes even darker than usual, and she literally threw herself at the older woman without further thought.

"Yah! You dared to hit me," the woman shouted, holding Pingguo by the hair and shaking her in all directions. "You'll regret it, you old witch!"

The woman couldn't defend herself; it must be said that Pingguo had her Achilles' heel. She swung her around, shouting at her to apologize for her clumsiness, but despite her desperate situation, the woman refused. At least until Sarah found herself with one of her hair extensions in her hand. It was at this moment that the establishment's managers finally wanted to intervene, even if Sarah still scared them. They tried to defuse the situation, but Sarah was persistent. While the fight was in full swing, on the parking lot side, the atmosphere was relatively calm.

It had been four months since the baby was born; Yu couldn't keep him at home, or his owner would notice. The little one started crying louder every day, and she couldn't calm him down anymore. If she didn't want to live in hell with her boss, Yu had to get rid of him now. It was so painful for her to have to abandon such an angel in the street, but no one gave her a choice. Yu, covered with a shawl, traversed the city in search of a suitable place that could accommodate the infant. He was in a picnic basket that she carried at arm's length; the baby was a bit heavy, and she, a bit old. She limped as she carried him, pain and fatigue slowing her down. As she walked, even though she knew the little one was too young anyway to remember, Yu still gave him advice. It was a way for her to alleviate the pain she felt in abandoning this being made of innocence and to draw God's attention to the angel he had sent without a guardian.

"I know you are brave; you have already been through so much, but you have remained strong despite everything. But please, don't give them a hard time, because you will probably overflow with energy due to your unwavering courage. Don't confuse courage and strength; don't become a rebel without faith or law. Be careful and intelligent at school. You won't get rich from it, but you will be free to make your choices with diplomas, or at least free in your mind."

Yu whispered to him non-stop, tears streaming down her shawl. She walked, and the sun became stifling. The baby felt that she couldn't go any further; it was so hot. She was so weak; she leaned against a wall. In front of her, she saw people, families coming out of the mall. Mothers held their children's hands, and they laughed out loud. Yu prayed that this little angel would find the same happiness one day, the one of laughing despite everything, in the arms of a loving mother. She observed again, inevitably, if she left the little one here, he would fall into a good family because only wealthy people could afford this kind of car.

On this thought, the old lady walked towards the mall's parking lot. She discreetly slipped between the cars to find one that resembled its owner, a wealthy person who could offer a good life to a child. Suddenly, her attention was caught by a car. A midnight blue sedan that looked sharp; it had a beautiful cut. Yu approached it, and upon closer inspection, she saw that the driver's door was open. The old woman looked inside; the car was as impeccable as the day it was bought, as clean as its owner. The lady noticed the lipstick tube on the car's dashboard, and besides, it belonged to a woman. Yu felt a melancholic joy; this baby deserved better than a future decided by a car's appearance.

Yu opened the basket; the baby had just woken up. It was as if he had sensed that he was being abandoned again. He looked at the baby's big eyes, but he didn't cry. It was rather strange for a child; normally, they always cried after waking up. He wasn't like that. From him emanated a certain impression of awareness of the situation; he seemed to understand what was happening around him. He might have realized that he was unlucky and that he couldn't behave like other babies and stay strong, whatever the situation. Looking at him like that, Yu started crying. She didn't dare to hold him for fear of not being able to let him go anymore; she just watched him sadly.

"Be strong, my angel. Everything will be fine for you now; I'm sure you're in good hands. You'll find a beautiful family that will love you as you deserve, believe me."

"Eh...eh! What are you doing? Hey, leave my car, what are you doing?"

Yu turned her head and saw a young woman running towards her; she looked proud in her heels. She felt reassured; maybe she hadn't been wrong. Before she reached her, the nanny ran away.

After a long and perilous ordeal, Pingguo came out almost victorious. She had finally obtained her blush, and the store even gave her a makeup palette as compensation, or rather so that she could release her poor victim caught between her sharp claws. The young woman then completed the task for which she had come and returned to her car, with difficulty. When Pingguo arrived at the parking lot, she was stunned to find the car door open; she had been so hasty that she had forgotten to close it properly. But even more shocking for the young woman, a suspicious person stood near the vehicle, covered with a shawl, standing in front of the door.

"But what... damn, what's going on? Hey, hey! What are you doing there? Hey, move away from that car immediately; what are you doing? You better not steal it; it belongs to a CEO!"

"If they steal the dark wizard's car, I'm screwed, for sure!"

Pingguo rushed as quickly as possible, but unfortunately, she was slowed down by her groceries. The person ran away, and Pingguo tried to catch up, but after careful consideration, she decided to give up. The threat had apparently worked, and she congratulated herself. The young woman returned and closed the door. She then came to put away her groceries in the car trunk to finally leave, happy that everything had worked out wonderfully for her. But when she reopened the door, Pingguo froze at what she saw before her amazed eyes. Her blood froze in her veins, her vision blurred. No other reaction came to her to express this. Nothing, except a shrill scream.

"Ah!"

There was indeed a baby, a real baby who started crying in fear in the car. As soon as his scream echoed, Pingguo stifled hers by placing her hands on her mouth, but it was already too late.

...

Yuanwei hung up after an unconvincing call with his clients, but a second meeting was promised. Exhausted, he slumped into his seat. Noticing that his assistant had been absent for over an hour, he tried to contact her, but his phone rang in his hand. It was Pingguo, who called him first.