Chapter 6 - New Family

After all the commotion, Daiyu was treated with first aid while Mei was led out by the security.

On the way, Paparazzi surrounded her like wild prey and bombarded her with questions and accusations.

"Aren't you that one trainee from the video?"

"Are you jealous of Daiyu?"

"Why did you hurt China's sweetheart?" one yelled, shoving the mic in her face, causing Mei to flinch.

Her energy drained all out, she couldn't even tremble anymore. Going straight to her car, she waited in silence for the paparazzi to disperse and return back to Daiyu.

Mustering up the remaining strength she had, Mei drove back home, barely avoiding a crash when her hands started shaking and causing the car to veer tremendously on the street.

She locked herself in her room and ignored all of Lien's calls and messages that day since she was certain she would receive nothing but meaningless sympathy.

"Why did I open my mouth? I should have just ignored her, I should have just screamed for help the moment I went in that pathetic woman's room."

Mei dared not pick her phone up, which was already filled with notifications of Daiyu's bluff.

"It's my fault...mine...mine..." she fell asleep, repeating in her head.

The next day, her stepmother knocked on her door, yelling loudly, her voice echoed throughout the house, "Get out here and look at this."

Mei was well aware that her family had already been informed by the news and hesitated softly, "I'll...I'll be there in a second.

"NOW!", Suyin screamed, startling Mei, who in an instant got up to open the door.

Soon as she unlocked it, Suyin grabbed her hands and violently pulled her towards the living room where Xinyi was already seated on the sofa with the news blaring on the screen, her eyes turning around to face Mei in disgust.

Photos and videos of Mei and Daiyu flashed through in a matter of seconds while the reports stated, "Apparently this woman assaulted Daiyu as they previously encountered and she spilled wine on her dress by accident."

Xinyi scoffed out, "What a petty lady you are Mei!"

Suyin looked at her and jeered, "We warned you, didn't we? One last mistake, and that's it."

Taking a deep breath, she sat down, dismissing her away, "No need to show your pathetic face here anymore. Your father is waiting for you in his office."

Mei did not utter another word and walked, her mind wrapped around the thoughts of her regrets.

"I should not have gone there, I should not have gone there."

As she stood in front of her father's study, she looked at the door and barely grazed it with her hands in a feeble knocking attempt.

A tired voice called out, "Come in."

Mei stepped inside and saw Feng with a bunch of folders lying next to him.

"Have a seat", he said, calmly, going through some of his papers.

Without any hesitation, Mei obliged and sat down. Nervously she looked down and fiddled with her fingers.

"You are very well aware of the reason why you are here now, right Mei Ling?', sighed Feng.

She looked up at him with weary eyes while she silently nodded her head.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

"What do you expect me to say? This is the first time you tried talking to me properly since your new wife arrived.' replied Mei.

Feng frowned, pushing a stack of papers aside and resting his palms on the desk.

"There's no use in arguing for such trivial matters. You're 23, Act like an adult, and take on your responsibilities. How long do you think I am willing to cover up your disgraceful actions?" he reproached.

Taken aback at her father's words, she raised her voice, "Cover Up? Exactly what have you covered up?"

Banging the palm of his hand on the table, Feng fumed, " Enough is enough Mei, stop escaping the consequences of your mistakes. You very well knew what this would result in, yet you continued on this path."

She quivered, slowly gritting her teeth as she tried forming a sentence, "If...if this is what you intended on doing, why did you even bother calling me here? Wasn't I humiliated enough already?"

"We are done with this conversation here Mei, Don't forget to hold up to your part of the deal," Feng replied in an exhausted tone, his hands pulling out a file from the bundle and placing it in front of her.

A shiver ran down her spine when she recalled the last time she saw that file.

Three years ago,

Mei Ling was trembling with excitement for it was the first day she would finally get to meet her father after his year-long transfer to Japan had finally come to an end.

It was a beautiful day as she ran throughout the entire house, making sure everything was in place.

Wearing a brand new dress she had bought recently with Lien, she walked out and she looked at her watch, clapping her hands together in anticipation.

"He should probably arrive by now."

Mei stood near the entrance as an hour passed but still no sign of her father.

She tried calling him several times, to no answer.

"The plane must have gotten delayed, I'm sure he's alright." she pondered while sitting down on the stoop and looking out in the distance, her eyes eagerly searching for her father's car.

Another two hours pass by when the sun began to set.

Mei stared at the ground, feeling doubtful whether or not something might have happened.

Suddenly she saw bright headlights flashing her way as a car approached the driveway.

Mei got up when she recognized the car and hurried up to it keenly, waving her hands impatiently.

Feng stepped out from the back as Mei rushed to hug him but stopped midway when she saw a woman stepping out of the car with her hands around his arm.

"Long time no see Mei, Meet your new mother, Suyin Ling."