60 Chen Slaps Changying

"I better get back to work," Changying said into the silence. "Thanks for lunch Baozhai, I'll take you out next time," she smiled and went to rise.

"Not having dessert with us," Baozhai said with a slight smile, "That's probably for the best."

"We had a vote while you were gone and decided against dessert," Ben said darkly frowning at his sisters comment. "I'll walk you back, Changying. I need to see D. anyway."

"No, you can't," Baozhai exclaimed making all three of them turn to look at her. "I wanted to talk to you about the holidays. I was thinking of just going home for one or two days rather than a week."

"Come over for dinner tonight, Emily is making that gnocchi you like," Ben said with a shrug. "I'll give her a call. We'll expect you around six."

"I've gotta go as well. Do you need a lift, Baozhai?" Jack offered.

"No I think I will do some shopping, I don't get an afternoon to myself very often," Baozhai said. "You should come with me Ben, it's been ages since we just hung out, and let's face it your wardrobe could use some updating."

"You wish you looked this good," Ben chuckled. "Come over tonight and we can hang out with Emily and the kids."

"Alright Changying, let's get you back to work," he stood. "bonus is leaving Jack with the cheque," he chuckled and helped her navigate around the table.

"Wait," Baozhai said.

"Is there a reason you don't want me walking Changying back to work?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow.

"What? No," Baozhai said quickly.

"Something is obviously up with you, so I'll stay a bit, and Jack can walk her back," Ben said with a frown.

"I don't need a babysitter, it's only a few blocks for goodness sakes," Changying laughed. "I'll see you all next time there's a family lunch." Seeing Ben about to argue with her she put a hand on his arm and said slowly. "I'm fine, honestly." She knew what was going on and knew what to expect after Baozhai had worked so hard to keep Ben from walking with her.

She turned and walked from the restaurant blinking into the bright afternoon sun. Walking quickly, she looked around as she went assuming Chen would be lurking somewhere along the way to make a public scene. What they didn't realise is that after years of living with Chunhua there was little they could say to her that hadn't been said before. Had she been at lunch and trapped with Baozhai a scene could have been crushing, as it was she was prepared.

She was about to turn the corner into the main street on which the Auction house lay when Chen stepped out of a shop and into her path.

"So the little mouse lives and lives well by the look of it," Chen sneered. "Haven't you come up in the world. I bet your white trash mother is loving riding on your coat tails and fucking a whole new class of men."

"Aww no one to bully in your new job that you have to come looking for your old punching bag? Go ahead, nothing you can say or do can hurt me now," Changying sounded stronger than she felt and she pulled her shoulders back fighting the urge to run away. "You know she's just using you, right? She has no power over who Wang dates or sees. Do you think he will want you after the way you treated me? What do you think he will do to Baozhai when he finds out she sent you to do this?" She paused as Chen stared at her with unbelieving eyes. "You didn't think this through did you?"

"You stupid mole, Wang will believe Baozhai over you. They're family, twins, and in that family blood is thicker than water every time," Chen seethed. "So you need to get the fuck out of his life, or we will destroy you, your reputation, your job, everything, and you will have nothing."

"I don't have time for this," Changying turned to walk away, and Chen grabbed her arm and reeled her back toward the shop entrance.

"No one's here to save you now you fat cow. No one even notices you on the street I could murder you here, and no one could care less. You are a forgettable, ugly, fat fuck and Wang will wake up one day and realise that you are the worst kind of white trash."

"No one may notice me but they certainly notice you. Do you think we didn't see you at the restaurant?" Changying laughed. "You think Jack didn't recognise you when Baozhai practically jump out of her skin when you arrived. What happened? Ben showed up and ruined your plans so she told you to ambush me here so she could deny all knowledge? She won't back you up, your expendable in her life. She will save herself and leave you out to dry, just like last time. Wang will hate you for this."

"You know nothing," Chen spat. She was still angry, but a shadow of doubt had crept into her thoughts.

"Walk away Chen," Changying said without emotion. "Go live your life and I will do the same. Tell Baozhai to fight her own battles. Wang likes short, fat and frumpy. Louisa has more of a chance with Wang than you do regardless of what Baozhai wants." She shrugged her arm free of Chen's grip. "You know he has eight brothers right? They are all tall, dark and handsome just like Wang. Maybe you should ask your good friend Baozhai to introduce you to one of them instead. I doubt she would but you could ask." She turned then and began to walk away. She had only walked a few steps when she realised she had pushed the woman too far.

"You don't get to walk away from me you fucking bitch," Chen yelled and when Changying turned to look at her Chen slapped her so hard she knocked her from her feet making her head spin. She fell heavily onto a patch of broken flagstones and pain flared through her hip and back.

"Go ahead hit her again?" A male voice cut through the pain and dizziness Changying felt, and she looked up seeing Dante hovering over her before helping her to her feet. Emilio stood a small distance away with his phone in his hand. "Assault charges always stick better if there is more than one blow."

"Speak of the devil's," Changying mumbled standing unsteadily beside Dante. The blow had caught her entirely off guard.

"Now Chen," Emilio said. "You have two choices. You can come and talk to us about this little tiff, or I can send this video directly to Wang and drive Changying to the police station to press charges."

"You see why he's the nice brother, I would have sent the video already," Dante shrugged.

"I'm fine. It's okay," Changying said. "I said some horrible things I probably deserved it. Just let it go," she paused and looked at the twins, "Please. It's fine really. It was as much my fault as hers."

"No one deserves being hit like that you fruit loop," Dante rolled his eyes. "Let's have that little chat shall we?" He said to Chen, who nodded woodenly not comprehending how this had gone so horribly wrong. It was supposed to be easy. She would insult the mousy little freak and threaten to expose her as the white trash she was, and the girl would run away like she always did and hide in some research basement somewhere. She let Emilio take her arm and lead her up the street to the Auction house.