Chương 24: Zhang Liling's plan to stay away...

"Thank you," Zhang Liling said stretching out her hands to take the photocopied notes from Tungmei a few minutes after meeting in a cafe.

"I helped you take attendants today, so can you start talking?" Tungmei demanded with her folded arms while staring straight at her.

Zhang Liling put the notes away first, before saying anything.

"I told you my mum came to the house. She made my father give me the same amount of money equivalent to my 5 monthly allowances."

"She did that?" Tungmei asked with a look of surprise. She seemed hard to believe it and couldn't help asking for confirmation.

She was not ignorant of how negligent Mr. Zhang has been to Liling since she came to live with them.

"She did which surprised me that he just listened to her without arguing. I really need to find out more about how my mother managed to have that kind of power over him." Zhang Liling replied as he leaned back on her seat.

She was unsatisfied with her mother's response and was thinking that if she got her hands on her secret, perhaps, she could use it on Mr. Fang.

"I don't think you need to dwell much on it. It's very obvious that your father still loves your mother and still listens to her because of guilt," Tungmei explained.

In one sentence, she managed to dissect the whole matter.

"Can that man love anyone? I doubt that. His ambition is always first on the list." Zhang Liling refused to believe that her father still loves her mother like in the past.

"Then how do you explain the contrast difference? His ambition must be topping the list, but your mother is obviously next in line because of his guilt."

Tungmei was aware of Zhang Renshu's love affair in the past, thanks to Zhang Liling who informed her about it, and with that, she was able to ascertain his feelings.

"Whatever, I'm not interested in his reasons," Zhang Liling said and threw her face away.

Leaning in close to her, Zhang Liling asked, "How did the money your father give to you make you skip classes?"

Zhang Liling remembered the important question and a smile appeared on her face once again.

"I got an idea and asked my mum for more money to rent a house. When you called, I was taking a look at houses with an agent. At last, I managed to get one in a good area, which cost me an arm. I could only do a little furnishing for now."

Tungmei thought this was her escape plan from the Zhang family and asked happily, "Are you finally going to leave that house? This could be a good way to hide from your stepmother."

"Tungmei this is a secret and no one must know about it. In case anyone should ask you where I stay, just them I'm living with you."

"Will that work?" Tungmei didn't deem it surprising that she was going to hide this from everyone. As long as her biological mother knew about it, then everything else was fine.

"It should, for at least up until our graduation. I'm going to tell them I need to focus on my studies so I will be living with you for the next 2 months."

After thinking things through, she believed that her plans would work smoothly if she asked her mother for help, which she would do immediately after she gets back home.

Tungmei seemed even happy now as she congratulated her on acquiring her own apartment. "So, when are you inviting me over for a housewarming party?"

"That..." Zhang Liling trailed off.

"Why, are you going to hide your new place from me?" Tungmei teased.

Zhang Liling shook her head as a brilliant smile appeared on her face. She seemed even more excited as she was about to break a piece of special good news to her.

"I found a job today, and even signed a contract."

"You found a job?"

What kind of job is that?"

When did you start thinking about it?"

Tungmei looked shocked while asking those questions. She was so carried away that she didn't notice she was being loud. Zhang Liling had to shush her at the end.

"Don't ask too many questions, I don't have the time to answer all of them. Anyway, I will be absent tomorrow as well, please help me take care of the notes and attendance. Tomorrow will determine if I get to keep my job or not after my Boss sees me for the first time."

Staring into the distance with a calm gaze, Zhang Liling envisioned Mr. Fang's facial expression when he sees her in his house, working as his housekeeper.

Would he be shocked? Angry? Confused?

A smile hung on her lips as she pictured that scene. But after leaving her fantasy realm, she discovered that he might even send her away that very minute and sighed with a depressed look on her face.

Tungmei had so many questions for her, for example, who her Boss was, what kind of job she got, the address of her workstation, and so badly wanted a response from her, but since she said she was in a hurry, she chose to let her off.

"Take me out for a good meal if you finally get to keep your job,"

Zhang Liling smiled at her and responded with a wink, "Not only that, I will throw a house-warming party just for the two of us, where we get to drink to our hearts' content."

"If we are going to drink, then fix the date on a weekend," Tungmei replied with a smile.

It would be so fun, and a big relief to take some time off schooling and studying just to relax and have a good drink with her close friend.

Zhang Liling picked up her backpack and got ready to leave when her phone started to ring. Glancing at the caller ID, she smiled and showed it to Tungmei. "My mum is calling she is probably worried since I left home very early and hasn't come back yet when it's past 5 pm."

"Go ahead, see you on Friday, and don't forget to do Mr. Fang's assignment if you don't want to get in trouble," Tungmei reminded kindly.

She guessed that she must have forgotten about it, given her busy her day was.

"Ah! I almost forgot about it, I will start working on it tonight, thanks!" Zhang Liling said gratefully before turning to leave while picking up her mother's call.