3 Chapter Three

Zhou Hua Fan woke up with a quiet hiss of pain after accidentally turning in her sleep onto her slightly red and purple cheek. With a faint irritable groan she opens her eyes to blink up at the ceiling above her with a hand to her cheek. Hua Fan smiles bitterly and her mind stops buzzing once she recalls her surroundings. Her left eye blurs breifly but Hua Fan does not let it bother her and nonchalantly brushes the tear away while standing up to look around her room. It was the same... Hua Fan felt disgusted with her surroundings. Revulsion towards herself and the ones who gave her these things to keep her content with her meaningless life.

"Young miss?" Aunt Li calls out tentatively from the door, in her arms a towel and medicine. Two maids stood behind her nervously, the three of them all nervously look at each other when they hear no reply right away. "Miss?" Aunt Li calls out again a bit louder with furrowed brows, "Come in." A soft and childlike voice answers making them let out sighs of relief. Aunt Li puts on a smile before entering the room, giving the peopler behind her small hints to also follow her lead. Almost reluctantly the women smile back much to her satisfaction.

"I've brought medical cream for your cheek, the doctor was also kind enough to make sure it wasn't a strong smelling paste so the miss doesn't have to smell like a hospital patient all day. Isn't that great young miss?" Aunt Li's eyes full of motherly love falls onto the girl sitting inside. Her actions casual and intimate, hoping to ease the loneliness she thought the young girl would be feeling at the moment. Yet, Aunt Li's smile falters uneasily and her eyes widen a fraction at the sight before her. Instead of a aggrevated ball cruled up in bed like sh had expected, the girl sat at her desk without a pout on her face nor a tear in sight. Hua Fan's cheek was still red and currently turning purple but she didn't even seem to notice or care. She was calm and composed as she read even under their gawking, she wasn't smiling but she wasn't frowning either, looking rather gentle. Still, in her nightgown Hua Fan resembled an abused princess locked up by her stepmother like in the fairytales.

Her aura had changed since the night before, quite drastically becoming someone even Aunt Li hesitated to say if she recognized anymore. It was as if the girl who only knew how to be an arrogant beauty was suddenly enlighten and her temper had mellowed out into a mature young woman. Aunt Li and the two maids were stunned into silence by this serene picture of grace on this early morning when the young miss would usually still be asleep refusing to get up from the bed. Hair falling into her face, Hua Fan turns to look at the frozen group with a faint smile. And although it doesn't reach her eyes and make them sparkle like it use to.  Her words were soft and patient towards the older woman still staring at her with a strange expression, "Aunt Li, you can leave the medicine on the table, Ill apply it after eating."

The smiles the three tried so hard to muster up fell upon seeing her appearance, the two maids glance at each other before quietly walking towards the bathroom to draw Hua Fan's bath for her. Hua Fan's smile towards became a bit more gentle before she turns back to her books demurely. Aunt Li who was staring at her silently the entire time felt her nose sour again, her heart aching even though her had Hua Fan smiled at her. "Young miss...." "Aunt Li, please have the driver wait for me outside at half past seven, I need to do somethings in the city today and would rather not see my mother grovel at my feet asking me to do something I hate again. If she asks me to forgive "that man" I feel as if I may cause an accident involving the police." Hua Fan jokes lightly giving Aunt Li a humourous glance but the look in her eyes made it seem as if she wasn't. Aunt Li gave Hua Fan a startled look but seeing she was serious and wouldnt take back her earie threat, the woman sighs softly before akowledging her orders.

"If thats what the young miss desires." When Aunt Li left the things on her table and exits the room Hua Fan smile curls faintly before she returns to flipping to the next page of her book. Though she was still uncomfortable with Aunt Li's orgins and purpose for serving this broken family, she didn't alienate herself from her. Unconsoled in her heart but thinking logically, she knew that Aunt Li was her only true ally in this home. "Miss, your bath is ready for you." Hua Fan places a bookmark in the book, while standing for the maid to assist her in undressing. In her bath Hua Fan leans back against the tub while the maid carefully washes her hair for her, she was truly treated like a princess. Hua Fan's eyes slowly open, she stares at herself in the mirror, a useless spoiled princess. 

But not this time. This time, she would use everything that is within her grasp before it's taken away by that person she called "father". This time, she refuses to give in without an actual fight. In a new dress that was was a beautiful navy blue with lovely black flowers sewed on the top and a black silk ribbon tied around her waist. Hua Fan examines herself in the mirror critically for any flaws with her outfit. Before she lost herself to her jealousy, did she always look like this? Hua Fan frowns at her reflection, Having not seen this face in a long while, its hard to belive this is truly me anymore. "Miss?" The maid behind her spoke up cautiously, Hua Fan ignores her call and sat at her vanity after grabbing the book she had set down previously. The woman who was to assist her in dresses up caught a glimpse of the cover and was puzzled before clearing her thoughts quickly. It wasn't her job to question her miss's preferance in books, although the miss is pampered and unruly she never had troubles in school. The woman scolds herself, Even if shes spoiled it doesn't mean she is unlearned. While having her hair dried and not caring for her thouhts, Hua Fan lazily gave the woman behind her another order. "Make sure my sheets and the entire room are devoid of this color before I return." The girl even sent the pink blankets and sheets a dismissive glance full of distaste, a frown alighting on her delicate features. "I despise pink."

The maid hesitates before obidiantly uttering a quiet, "Yes miss." Didn't the young miss love the color pink and her room? But once more, it was not her job to question the people who were in charge of her paycheck so she could only follow her wishes with a lowered head. The Hua Fan of the past did love the color pink, thinking it was girly and cute. Yet seeing it now only gave her bad memories. Her long brown hair swirls at her waist, Hua Fan also pauses at the sight of the long locks in the mirror. "Call a hairdresser for me, I want my hair cut while I am out too." The maid accidentally pulls on her hair causing Hua Fan to narrow her eyes sharply at her. The woman panic was obvious under her cold look, her knees shook as she took a step back bowing briskly almost shouting her apology. It's over! The young miss was already in a bad mood and I actually made a mistake and hurt her! Its over!

If she lost this good paying job and was fired wouldn't no other household dare to hire her because of it?! Feeling despair and fear eating at her heart she could only lower her upper body further and bit her lip to hold in her grevances. But the girl, strangely enough, didn't dismiss her. Instead, she only took her gaze away after looking the maid up and down a few times before easing her pressure and blandly ignored her apology as if it was just a minor issue. "Cover my bruise up a bit for me." She gave Hua Fan a dumbfolded look before grinning and wiping her teary eyes her words oozing gratitude and relief, "Yes miss!" The things that she used to make a big deal of were no longer big to her anymore. Hua Fan laughs grimly to herself staring own her mirror, It seems the words about death changing a person is really true. With her bruise made out to be a bit smaller than it really was, she didn't look to be hurt very bad compared to how it looked without makeup.

Walking down the staircase was Hua Fan, Aunt Li, and the two maids trailing after her like an entrouge of courtladies flattering a young royal. Over Aunt Li's shoulder was a bag full of snacks and some refreshments for Hua Fan on her tiny trip outside. Although Hua Fan wanted to decline, seeing the things inside were all her favorites from when she was young she bit her tongue and stopped herself from saying no. To Aunt Li she was still just a child, she had turned eleven this year so it wouldn't be a exaggeration. It was clear from the way the snacks were so soft-looking and warm to the touch Hua Fan was sure Aunt Li had worked overtime to make these for her. Internal conflict enters her gaze as she looks between the carefully packed bag and the smiling older woman holding them. She really was a fool to take Aunt Li's sincerity as mockery in her past life.

On her way down the stairs, she spotted someone who ruined her good mood from Aunt Li's efforts. A boy stood at the bottom of the stairs beside a dressed-up Feng Ming, it was obvious they were waiting for her to arrive. Hua Fan doesn't hide her frown of disaaproval and disgust directed at Zhou Feng Ming. Seeing as things weren't looking good Aunt Li anxiously came closer to Hua Fan wanting to put her arm protectively around the young girl but it wasn't her place. In fact, the girl didn't seem to be frightened at all which Aunt Li didn't know if she should be relieved about or not. The look in her eyes showed she held animosity towards her father, but not the simple one where she would get over it in a few days. The young miss...looks as if she realy would live up to her threat from this morning of stabbing Zhou Feng Ming and her mother.

It's not that she disagrees with the girl's anomosity, but she just didn't understand Zhou Feng Ming's actions of spoiling Zhou Hua Fan while spoiling a different child with all his affection. Aunt Li sighs in her heart wearily after thinking this. Although I suppose, that is all he provided her with. No love or care was given after the novel of having a daughter was gone all these years. To have been given everything then have it taken away only to be given to someone else... Aunt Li understood why the young miss would despise her father so much. Feng Ming seemed to have willingly forgotten he had hit her the night before as his eyes did not fall onto her cheek once. He had no guilt.

Hua Fan clenches her teeth and gave him a freezing glance, the man shamelessly calls her down with a magnanimous smile. "Fan Fan, since Gou Heng is new to the school why don't you introduce him to your friends at school?" Before he could finish she already shudders out of revulsion for his affectionate tone, "You two can ride home together and leave with each other every day while helping him get adjusted to his classmates and teachers." School? The maids and Aunt Li who saw Hua Fan's unconcealed bruised face from this morning could not stop their faces from twisting into ugly scowls. He wanted her to go to school with a bruised-up-looking face?? Did he want Hua Fan to become a laughing stock and stepping stone for that wild boy?! Aunt Li even sneers at Zhou Feng Ming, unlike the two maids behind her she had a backing and even stood closer behind Hua Fan to show her support.

Wouldn't Hua Fan showing up beaten black and blue in the face with a random child untouched and dressed in expensive clothes be telling the world exactly who was more favored to Feng Ming and openly slap the young miss's face?! His actions made Aunt Li want to spit in his face. Hua Fan sneers at Feng Ming. "Go to school with a wild child? You must have lost your mind! Do you have eyes "father"? It really is like they say, who knew "father" is so willing to wear a green hat and bring another person's seed into his own home to raise as his own. Hahaha!!" Hua Fan laughs mockingly at him to Aunt Li's amazement, she snuck a peek at pretty girl. Huang Gou Heng stiffens up after hearing the girl's infuriating laughter, his gloomy eyes glance up at the lovely doll who didn't give him a single glance since the night before. Eyes wandering to the slightly swollen cheek of hers Huang Gou Heng's flinches and looks down no longer able to look at the girl without guilt eating at his conscience.

"Plus, with the new "accessory" "father has given me, isn't it a bad idea for me to go out in public right now? I am Zhou Hua Fan, the one and only heir to the Zhou family, after all. Wouldn't it look bad on the family if I went out like this?" She gave a sarcastic grin tapping her left cheek as a reminder of his cruel actions the night before making him grow angrier. Yer with her reminder, he hesitates pushing the crazy girl as if afraid Hua Fan would really go and cry wolf to people in her school about him. Hua Fan's eyes were as cold as ice, the sarcastic smile fell and her tone went flat in seconds as she walks past him and Gou Heng without another glance. "Find someone else to be his stepping stone "father" As a member of the Zhou family, I'm truly ashamed to have you as the Master of this household."

The silence that she left behind was suffocating, the slamming of the front door only made it worse on those left behind. The two maids and Aunt Li who followed her out were slack-jawed due to the one-sided beating Hua Fan had given her father. How come they didn't know the young miss was actually....so devious? She resembled a cold-blooded viper just then, unhesitating in her attack to even her own blood related father. Hua Fan sat in the car and recalls Feng Ming's stupid expression again, she felt glee and happiness in her heart. The girl giggled to herself a bit madly under Aunt Li's concerning looks not minding her madness slipping out under her scrutiny. All those years I had lived under his thumb afraid of stepping outside of my glorified cage, my past life was really tragic.

If she had been a little bit smarter, she would have taken advantage of the biggest card in her hand that she didn't even know existed till she had died. "Take me to the shopping mall." The driver being ignorant of what occurred inside nods his head hearing her orders. "Yes, young miss." She leans her head against the window to watch the world outside her pass by her as her thoughts wander to one of the dearest people she knew that she did not learn to treasure in her past life. "Ye Ye.....Have you been well?" She smiles sadly to herself, recalling the stern old man from her memories that stood by her side till the end. "Forgive me for only coming to pay my respects to you now..."