Colluded together

Caihong was staring at the night sky with the salty breeze passing by her made her shiver in the cold. The temperature had dropped by a few degrees, and now it felt chilly.

But to Caihong, her cheeks still felt warm as tears plopped out of her wet eyes. The whole time with Zhiyuan felt as if something was stuck in her throat. From the moment she saw him again, she was only raided by their memories, and the time they had spent together.

It was hurting her. It was painful to remember them and then realize that reality was so different and cruel now. She clenched her fists on the railing and took breaths.

Caihong faintly smiled. "I am happy that at least you married a good person, Zhiyuan…At least you are happy with Xinyi."

As for me…

'Are you happy with Xiaosi?'

She could think of nothing as an answer.

Now that she thought about it, she was never close to Xinyi in the past. She only knew her through Shuang and Zizi because they studied in the same class. She also thought of her as a shy and timid girl, but she had a good impression of her.

Caihong was shocked to know that Xinyi was Zhiyuan's wife now. That meant she gained the recognition of Han Huizhong otherwise it was impossible to marry Zhiyuan.

She pitifully laughed at herself.

I had tried so hard but I never got him to accept me for Zhiyuan. I still don't understand why he hated me so much, and why he liked Xinyi to the point of agreeing to make her his granddaughter-in-law.

She didn't resent Xinyi because of that, but she was curious to know what Han Huizhong had thought at that time.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed and she jolted a bit. She looked at the number and furrowed her brows.

"Aunt Guang," she said as she picked it up.

"Caihong! Finally! Gosh, I was trying for your number so many times already. How are you Caihong? I am so happy you are back!" Han Guang excitedly said from the other end.

She smiled. "Thanks, Aunt. I suppose there must be problems in the network here."

"Ah the same old issues again," then she carefully asked, "How is the cruise trip going on?"

Caihong paused.

Han Guang probed. "That silence tells me that you... met Zhiyuan, right?"

She said nothing.

"Caihong dear, I hope you are okay," her voice sounded strained to her. "I know you must be feeling terrible."

"...It's alright Aunt. This was going to happen one or the other day."

"Don't lie to me Caihong. After all you and Zhiyuan-"

"That's the past, Aunt. It has no bearing to the present now."

Han Guang smiled. "How come is it not when Zhiyuan was always searching for you crazily for the past seven years?"

She trembled.

"Not even one day went by when he didn't look for you. What do you have to say about that? Caihong…please don't get me wrong but-but he still loves you and I know that you too…"

Caihong inhaled a sharp breath. "Aunt don't be mistaken. I don't know about Zhiyuan, but I have moved on in my life with Xiaosi."

"By killing your feelings and happiness? That is not moving on. And I can tell you about Zhiyuan! He isn't happy at all with Xinyi!"

Caihong frowned. It didn't seem like that to her tonight.

"Aunt, trust me. They are happy."

She sighed. "Caihong dear, you are so innocent. He is only with her out of Uncle's forceful wish for him to marry her and then Siying's responsibility. Xinyi is using it to her advantage! Don't think of her as a pitiful or a good woman. I never liked her Caihong because she and Xiaosi, together, separated you and Zhiyuan," Caihong heard her sniffling.

"My poor niece...they destroyed your relationship out of their own selfishness. Xinyi always loved Zhiyuan and so she played tricks on Uncle! Zhiyuan is not happy or else he wouldn't be searching for you for seven years."

Caihong found it hard to imagine Xinyi and Xiaosi colluding together.

And love Zhiyuan? Xinyi always loved Zhiyuan? It is impossible.

They had studied two years in the same college, and if Xinyi had loved him but had any evil intentions towards them, then she wouldn't have stayed so silent in those two years. There were no fights and misunderstandings between them because of Xinyi.

But she found it too bothersome to explain it to her.

Caihong smiled. "Aunt, even if she really loved him so what? Without Grandpa Han's approval, it's all meaningless," she mockingly laughed.

"Who can understand it more than myself? So if Grandpa Han approved her, then Xinyi isn't a bad person. She couldn't be."

"So you want to say you were bad for Zhiyuan? I am telling you Xinyi is not as innocent as she looks. I-I just want you two to be-"

"It's impossible Aunt. Please don't stir things in the direction that will make everything messed up."

Han Guang was exasperated. "Alright. But I will still tell you to be careful and alert of Xinyi. What if she plots against you? You are back and jealousy can make one do anything."

"Aunt-"

"I am saying this because Shuang is also on the trip!"

Caihong blinked her eyes. "Shuang?"

"Yes. Your step-sister Shuang. Shuang and Xinyi were always good friends so it's no doubt they will do something to humiliate you. That Meiying sent her on purpose just for this! They are your step-mother and step-sister. They hate you, Caihong. They will do anything to bring you down. That's why I am urging you to be careful. And-and please don't give up on Zhiyuan. He really needs you…Please don't trust Xinyi."

Caihong got a headache. Her step-mother and aunt never got along because An Meiying was An Guoting's second wife. That's why Han Guang always openly favored Caihong over Shuang.

"Aunt. I am feeling tired. Will catch up with you later."

She hung up the phone and let out a deep breath.

Shuang is here too. But she didn't meet me until now.

Caihong could never put it into place just how her relationship with Shuang was.

They didn't love each other as sisters.

They didn't hate each other either.

They just kept to their own business and remained neutral.

But once at that time, just that one time Caihong had seen a different side of Shuang who seemed helpless for her. That was the morning after the storm when everything had changed forever.