FACE OFF

"Director Yang, a woman downstairs says she wants to talk to you. She is actually a beautiful woman in person."

"What do you mean in person?"

"The woman we investigated, Wu Suyin is waiting for you at the lobby."

Meixiu blankly looked ahead of Meiying. A few days had passed since she overheard Chaoxiang and Suyin were calling each other late at night, after the interview. She also found out last day that before Chaoxiang fetched her from her office, he actually had some shots with Suyin. And now, she's here and wanting to talk to her? What for?

"Should I let her in Director Yang?"

"Sure. I am sorry. I was a light year away."

"I'll call her in. If you would excuse me."

She just nodded and focused herself on suppressing the tension building up in her every muscle. The way Chaoxiang blamed her for Suyin's departure is still bothering her.

"Why would he accuse me of something like that? Where did he get such idea? At that time, I was only a third year college who is so wrapped up with schooling. How can I do that when at that time, she is the only one I can trust?", those questions are boggling, taking her away from the reality.

"My beloved sister, how've you been doing lately?"

The woman with a plastered smile in her face showed up in front of Meixiu. She has gone more daring and sexy than of the last time Meixiu saw her. Her black top only covers her breasts, no side straps to hold it in place and no cloth to cover her stomach and belly button. Her white skirt has a long slit that runs almost up to her hips, revealing her thigh every time she steps forward.

"Meixiu, what's with you? Are you contented of being like this? You could've chased Jianguo and lived a life with him. Why marry Chaoxiang who is basically not into you?"

Suyin started the discussion. Of course, she is expecting Meixiu to keep silent as she's always been like this in the past. Meixiu is always taking everything in, she absorbs even humiliation and embarrassment and she never dared objecting the people around her.

"I am expecting your marriage is as bad as hell.", Suyin continued.

"Did he kiss you the way he kissed me?"

That question of Suyin snapped her out. She just can't let herself lose like this. After all, regardless if Chaoxiang is treating Suyin with more affection, she is the lawfully wedded wife of Chaoxiang. But how is she going to answer Suyin's exact question if Chaoxiang only kissed her once, without feeling any affection for her?

To gain her strength, she placed her hand on her table, attempting to stand up. It was when her hand pressed onto something. "A handkerchief?", she thought and saw the name Chaoxiang embroidered in it.

For a minute or two, she found herself smiling about it. So this is the reason why Chaoxiang's scent is all over her office. His handkerchief was left there, maybe it was sprayed all over with his perfume. Suyin however finds her weird to be smiling at a time like this when she is trying so hard to piss her off.

"My husband must've forgotten this here. Maybe he got too worried about me that as soon as he saw me sleeping out of fatigue, he immediately carried me home. Such a sweet guy.", she chuckled and Suyin got shocked about it.

"So Chaoxiang is visiting her here?", she said to herself.

Meixiu is just looking at her, amazed with her reaction. She seems stiffed about the information Meixiu shared just now. "Is my statement so absurd for her to be shocked like this?", she thought.

"You seem so puzzled about it Suyin. You want some explanation?", Meixiu teased her.

"I confess, we never did it yet but we actually talked about it. Without it, Chaoxiang and I are still working out. Once or twice a week, he visits me here. If I can't come home, he'll drive his way here and if I was already asleep, he'll carry me in his arms. This room of mine, his scent actually lingers here. He cuddles and hugs me as the night gets colder and kept me warm until I wake up..."

She paused in the middle of her words. "He did hug me many times. But why? I thought he hates me. Should I expect something from him?", she thought.

"So I guess, my marriage isn't really as bad as hell.", she winked and teased her even more.

"Meixiu, do you really want to go against me?"

"I won't. After all, I have nothing to prove to you. Chaoxiang married me."

Suyin got so enraged that she walked out due to humiliation. Meixiu is right, she and Chaoxiang are now married. Even they don't have feelings for each other, a relationship bonded by law is something that is hard to break. And throughout those span of time that they are living under the same roof, Meixiu has collected her sense of pride for herself. Who would even be a coward if you married the young, successful Zhao Chaoxiang?

Meixiu admits she misses her sister but Suyin didn't come back for that reason. She came back to get Chaoxiang from her so Meixiu needs to step up her game as well. She needs to fight back and stand for herself, especially because no one's going to do it for her, not even Chaoxiang.