Chương 2: Such a handsome bitch

Agony consumed Mei Xing's heart once again as the painful memories of her parents' divorce resurfaced. Her father had been a foolish man with no sense of responsibility. He abandoned his wife and adopted daughter, Mei Xing, leaving behind only two remnants of his presence - his mansion and a car then nothing more. The weight of their abandonment pressed heavily on Mei Xing and her mother, causing their souls to ache in despair.

Mei Xing, seething with anger refused to cry after her parent divorce. Eventually, the car was sold, and the huge sum of money obtained from the sale was used by Mother Mei Ling to establish a humble eatery. It was her mother's idea, born out of necessity and fueled by determination. With her remaining savings, she scraped together enough capital to bring her vision to life.

Mother Mei, fiercely independent and wary of outsiders, chose not to employ anyone other than herself and three additional waiters to assist in the bustling kitchen. She was determined to protect her simple life with her daughter from any potential havoc that any outsiders might bring. Mei Xing, at the tender age of sixteen, quickly learned the art of cooking and became a skilled chef. Working tirelessly became a usual thing to her and it made her feel solace, refuging from the pain that threatened to consume her about her parent divorce.

"Mei Xing...Wake up!" Mother Mei Ling's voice pierced through Mei Xing's slumber, jolting her awake from her dreams. "Just five more minutes, Mom! I promise I'll wake up before then," Mei Xing responded lazily, her voice laced with sleepiness as she rubbed her eyes.

"Mei Xing! Wake up or...I will burn your cherished collection of books that line on your bookshelf!" Mother Mei Ling exclaimed, her voice filled with a seriousness that brooked no argument. She knew her daughter's love for literature and understood that threatening to destroy her beloved books was the surest way to rouse her from sleep. Mother Mei understood her daughter's passion for reading was ingrained in her very being, just as DNA is an integral part of human existence.

"I'm up! I'm up!" Mei Xing leaped out of bed, her movements swift and determined. She rubbed her pretty azure eyes with her smooth, delicate hands, her actions a testament to her graceful beauty. Letting out a weak yawn, she stretched her slender arms, demanding justice for the abrupt awakening imposed upon her by her mother.

[Author's Note: Our beautiful protagonist, Mei Xing, has blossomed into adulthood. Your support and encouragement are needed to help her continue to grow. Now twenty years old, she resides with her youthful-looking mother, who despite appearing younger, is in fact in her forties. Let me give you a glimpse of what lies ahead - the reverse harem is on the horizon...]

"As bright as the sun is right now, you lazy brat is still clinging to your bed," Mother Mei roared in impatience.

"I'm gonna di-"

'Wait? Did mother just say; as clear as the sun?' Mei Xing wondered, her mind racing. She quickly glanced at the pink clock hanging on the wall, revealing the merciless truth that it was already past eight in the morning.

"Ahhhh!!!!! I'm gonna be late for work!" Mei Xing screamed at the top of her lungs, a mixture of frustration and panic consuming her.

She darted like lightning to the bathroom, shedding her nightgown hastily, eager to immerse herself in the warm, soothing water of the bath. The drop of water landed gently on her skin enveloping her in a comforting embrace, washing away the remnants of drowsiness and urging her to wake up fully.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier, Mom!?" Mei Xing asked, her disappointment evident in her voice, as her mother entered the bathroom with her toothbrush in hand. "Xing'er, I've been telling you to wake up, but all you ever say is the same word, over and over again! Five minutes... five minutes," mother Mei responded mockingly, her tone came like a playful jab at her daughter's perpetual plea for just a few more moments of sleep.

In a flurry of movement, Mei Xing rushed into the dressing room as soon as she finished her invigorating bath. She skillfully changed into her chosen dress for the day, swiftly adjusting each garment with practiced precision. With a few deft strokes of a brush, she applied a touch of makeup, enhancing her features just enough to exude confidence and grace. Satisfied with her appearance, she snatched her bag without hesitation, ready to conquer the world.

"Mei Xing!" Mother Mei's voice sliced through the air, halting Mei Xing's momentum before she could even reach for the doorknob. "You forgot this," her mother chimed in, offering Mei Xing a Blue Pendant. Mei Xing's eyes widened with surprise as she realized her neglect. How could she have forgotten such a cherished possession? This pendant, bestowed upon her by her grandfather during a visit to the countryside abode, It held an immense sentimental value even though it already looks old.

Mother Mei was now a successful restaurant owner, after she had long moved on from her failed marriage to Lin Jun, Mei Xing's estranged father. Mei Xing had deliberately shut him out of her mind, refusing to acknowledge his existence or delve into his past transgressions against her beloved mother. "Thanks, Mom," Mei Xing whispered tenderly, her voice filled with gratitude. Her mother's next words struck a tender chord in her heart. "Here, let me put this on you." Mei Ling gently cradled the beautiful blue pendant, its hue perfectly matching Mei Xing's mesmerizing azure eyes. Without protest, Mei Xing yielded to her mother's request.

"But I'm going to be late—" Mei Xing attempted to interject, but her mother silenced her with a finger pressed against her lips. "Shush, Darling, I insist." Mother Mei guided Mei Xing to the couch, her nimble fingers skillfully fastening the necklace around her daughter's neck. As soon as the clasp clicked into place, a sense of completeness embraced them both.

With an affectionate smile, Mei Xing rushed towards the door, her mother's voice trailing behind her. "Bye, Mom!" she called out, her eagerness palpable. Mother Mei then responded with a final warning. "Don't come home late, and be careful!" Mei Xing's smiled in response to her mother serious word. Without further thought, she set off to seize the day, leaving her mother with a bittersweet sentiment. "That girl grew up so fast," Mother Mei murmured as Mei Xing disappeared into the world outside.

She frantically dashed towards the nearest parking spot, desperately seeking a taxi to transport her to her workplace. After a few tense minutes, a taxi came to a halt, and she wasted no time in leaping inside, hoping to make up for lost time. Yet, her eagerness was thwarted when the taxi became ensnared in unyielding traffic. "I'm nearly late for work," she muttered nervously, contemplating her next move.

Without hesitation, Mei Xing exited the taxi as she observed the gridlocked road, choked with a sea of impatient vehicles. Determined not to be stopped, she made a swift decision and took off, running with pulsating urgency coursing through her veins. As she neared the building of her workplace, her focus became laser-sharp. However, fate had other plans as her trajectory abruptly collided with a solid, muscular chest. Toppling backward, she landed unceremoniously on her butt, a sharp pain jolting through her.

"Ouch, my poor self! Are you blind, sir?" she exclaimed, a mix of anger and discomfort evident in her voice. Though the man offered his assistance and, Mei Xing remained seated on the ground, her gaze fixed upon him with a fiery glare intensified by the impact and her brewing irritation.

"What the hell, mister!" she shouted at him. "Excuse me? You bumped into me first! I was minding my own business, and suddenly you come barreling into me," he retorted, a flicker of annoyance clouding his brows. Mei Xing's gaze darted to her fallen bag, quickly snatching it up as she prepared to sprint away.

However, her escape was stopped yet again as she felt a searing pain in her hair. The young man had a vice-like grip, pulling at her scalp mercilessly. Mei Xing attempted to pinch his hand, but her efforts were futile, the pain escalating as he continued his assault. "Stop..." she managed to utter weakly, her voice tinged with desperation. Eventually, the man released his grip, a cold smile playing upon his lips as he looked at her. Mei Xing raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Shame on you, mister. Your good look only seem to match your shamelessness," she jeered, her voice dripping with mocking disdain. Yet, the man remained unfazed, a smile still lingering upon his features. Something about his unnerving calmness sent a shiver coursing down her spine.

"Thank the heavens that you already recognize my handsomeness, my beauty." he taunted, pushing Mei Xing to her breaking point. With teary eyes and a surge of frustration, she spat at his face. Moments later, he nonchalantly produced a handkerchief, calmly wiping away the saliva. As he attempted to speak, Mei Xing chose to flee, determined not to engage with him any further conversation. The man's voice rang out coldly, "Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Ignoring his words, Mei Xing sprinted away.