Chapter 197 - The Devil In Disguise

One month later,

As Li Juan and Lee Tae Yang continued living happily in Jing city, on the other hand, Tang Wei Sheng's life was falling apart.

He was reluctant believe that Tang Wei Lan was the one who made the post on the student forum.

No matter how hard he tried to recollect, he was unable to a reason which could have pushed his beloved sister to turn against the people whom she cherished the most.

It was an impossibility. 

When the whole world was against Li Juan, Wei Lan was the one who stood in support of her.

Though Tang Wei Lan was familiar with girls from elite families, none of them were able to become closer to her the way Li Juan became her best friend.

They were inseparable to a point where Wei Lan asked his brother to marry Li Juan, so that she could become a part of Tang family.

But when did things went wrong?

"Young master," Yang Xiong's voice woke Tang Wei Sheng from his thoughts,

"What are you trying to achieve by shutting yourself from others ?" He interrogated the man who appeared drunk even during the broad day light. After knowing the truth about his family and his  sister, Tang Wei Sheng lost his will to stay alive.

He believed that once he become the CEO of Tang Corporations, the top dog in the business world, he could lead a life as he wished, a life with Li Juan.

But on the rat race to achieve the power, he lost the only person who believed and loved him.

He want to give Li Juan all the happiness of having a family, something which she never had, however in the end she found her family and people who cherish her existence. On the other hand, he lost everything.

His happiness and the little bit of peace which was left in his troubled life, he lost everything.

He was betrayed by his own family and the news of Tang Wei Lan whom he cherished the most, joined the suit of betrayers was enough break him down.

For the first time in his life, Tang Wei Sheng tasted the bitterness of loneliness. 

"Young master, are you listening to me?" Yang Xiong shook Tang Wei Sheng's shoulders,

"I have been living alone for a while and I've never felt that it is scary," He sniggered while grabbing to the alcohol bottle and chugged down a mouthful, "It is so scary to believe that you got no one to hold onto,"

Yang Xiong got no words to console the man who has found alcohol as his solace.

"Now I know, how my Juan would have felt when she lost her parents," He tried to take another gulp but Yang Xiong snatched away the bottle from him. 

"For God's sake, please stop drinking," 

"God's sake... Do you think there is a God?" Tang Wei Sheng laughed a bitterly. "I don't think so..if there is a God she wouldn't have gone through all the sufferings. Bro Yang, she was alone all these years and it kills me to admit that I am the sole reason for it,"

"If you starts to believe that you will end up hurt," 

"What else is there to hurt me, Bro Yang? I've lost everything...I've lost everyone,"

"I am still here," Yang Xiong said with an indifferent face. 

Tang Wei Sheng stared at the expressionless face of the man who stood beside him.

Well, it was true. Even after knowing everything that has been going around in Tang Wei Sheng's life, Yang Xiong chose to remain with his boss amidst the chaos,

Even though Yang Xiong was just another employee in Tang corporations, the CEO's assistant, he clearly knew that his boss treated him differently from others.

Not every man can accept the fact they have to take orders from a person who is younger than themselves, but Yang Xiong was willing to serve who is more like an younger brother for him.

"Why did you stay, bro Yang? You could have also leave me like everybody else did,"

"Young master nobody left you. It was you who decided to stay away from everyone. Eight years ago you did the same thing  and continues to do it even today. Hiding from your fears," 

"Are you blaming me?" Tang Wei Sheng asked in a desolate tone.

"I am asking you to stand up for yourself. The moment you start facing your  fears, you will be able-" Yang Xiong swallowed his words when his eyes met with a pair of flaring eyes.

"I am not hiding away. I am restraining myself from killing anyone," His voice had an unusual coldness,

"Wei Sheng," Yang Xiong called out when he realized the change in Tang Wei Sheng's demeanor.

"Hmmm," Tang Wei Sheng's eyes softened as he recognized the caring tone laced in Yang Xiong's voice.

"I won't do it, bro Yang," He smiled tenderly, "If I do what they have done to me, then what is the difference between me and that blood sucking monsters,"

"Will it make any difference if you stay home and ignore your duties?" Yang Xiong dragged his attention to something else which need immediate action.

"I am done playing the almighty CEO of Tang Corporations," He twitched his mouth in displeasure, "Sometimes I think that my life would have been better if I was born in a normal family. I would have married the girl I love and led a normal life,"

"Grass will be always greener on the other side, young master," Yang Xiong reminded with wary smile. "I was born in a normal family, senior Ahn was born in a normal family. Miss Li has lead a normal life for twenty six years and where are we now? It is our fate. No matter how much we try to avoid it will be come around at our feet in the end,"

"Fate...destiny...all these words, I hate them...I hate it," Tang Wei Sheng uttered in detest.

"Young master, it is better that you talk it out with your family," Yang Xiong tried to advice,

"I will talk to them...i will definitely talk to them. I am just waiting for Wei Lan to return,"

"What are you planning to do young master?"

"I only have one question for her," Tang Wei Sheng closed his eyes and leaned back on the couch,

Yang Xiong looked at him in silence. When he informed Tang Wei Sheng about the involvement of his sister in the rumor which destroyed Li Juan's life, he thought that his boss will flip out in anger. But to his surprise, Tang Wei Sheng demanded to stop looking any further into that issue.

For a moment, Yang Xiong believed that, his boss cared for his sister's life more than his own doomed fate. But it wasn't the case. Tang Wei Sheng refused to listen to any third party version of the incident and want to confront Tang Wei Lan regarding the same.

"I want to know why did she ruin our lives...I want to hear it from her what did she gain from slandering her friend like that. I will ask her...I will definitely ask her," Tang Wei Sheng repeated like a madman, "Once I confront her about the truth, I will go and meet Li Juan,"

"Young master, is it necessary to meet miss Li?" Yang Xiong suddenly pointed out, "Miss Li has moved on with her life and-"

"She needs to know," He bellowed, "Or she will continue treating Wei Lan as her friend. Li Juan...she is to naive, bro Yang...she has to know what kind of monster was the person whom she once loved and believed as her solace,"

Yang Xiong let out a sigh and reported mechanically,

"Young miss was supposed to arrive tomorrow, but for some reasons, she came took the earliest flight and reached Jing city today morning,"

As he heard Yang Xiong's words, a murderous glint flashed in Tang Wei Sheng's bright almond eyes.

"Bro Yang, get my car ready," He ordered and stood up from the couch with a tensed demeanor. He headed directly towards his bedroom leaving a worried Yang Xiong,

He wasn't a highly religious person, yet Yang Xiong couldn't help but pray for his boss.

Tang Wei Sheng may forgive his sister for ruining Li Juan's life, but his alter ego who is crazy about her will not leave anyone who tried to take away his moon from him.

Within one hour, Tang Wei Sheng's matte black Bugatti Veyron crawled into the entrance of the Tang mansion.

At that time, Wang Fang, Tang Wei Sheng's mother and his aunts were the only family members who present at home apart from Tang Wei Lan,

"Ah Sheng," Wang Fang was surprised to see her son at an odd time. It was nearly afternoon and according to Tang Wei Sheng, he must be working at this time,

"Where is Tang Wei Lan?" He didn't cared to share any greetings or words or pleasantries with his mother and quickly cut the chase.

"Lanlan is in her room," His aunt casually said,  "Sister in law, how many times did you try to get in touch with Ah Sheng regarding visiting us. Every time his assistant said that he is busy, look at him now. It seems like he ran all the way to meet his little sister,"

"I will go and meet her," Tang Wei Sheng headed towards the staircase, without giving a face to his mother who was silently observing him.

"Ahh she might be awake now, bring her down to afternoon tea," 

None of their words fell into Tang Wei Sheng's ears as he climbed the stairs with a pounding heart,

"Did you feel anything different with Ah Sheng?" Wang Fang immediately asked her sister in law as soon as Tang Wei Sheng's figure left her sight.

"What difference? He looks fine to me,"

"Something is off...the look in his eyes...it appears distant," She fidgeted her fingers in fear, "Let me inform his dad and grandpa that Ah Sheng is here,"

While Wang Fang contacted her husband regarding the change she has seen in her son, Tang Wei Sheng was knocking at the door of his sister's room.

After a few minutes, Tang Wei Lan's sleepy figure opened the door,

Even with the disheveled hair and simple pyjamas, Tang Wei Lan looked like a fairy who descended on the earth.

"Gege!!!," She wrapped her arms around him with an angelic smile,

"I was about to call you. Come inside, I bought you so many souvenirs," She grabbed his arm and dragged a startled Tang Wei Sheng inside her room,

"I thought gege will pick me from airport," Tang Wei Lan complained as she rummaged through the various paper bags kept on the couch beside her bed, "I even tried to call you various time, but your number was switched off. Did you go for partying yesterday?" She enthusiastically said as she walked towards him with a white paper bag,

"Happy new year, gege...I hope you have a great time this year," She handed over the bag to him,

Tang Wei Sheng looked at the smiling face of the girl before him.

Her smile with dimples and half crescent eyes has always left an unforgettable impression on everyone who met the young miss of Tang family. 

She was considered as fairy by everyone, however at this moment Tang Wei Sheng could only see a mask which covered her disgusting inner self.

"Gege, open it and take a look," Tang Wei Lan persuaded her brother who appeared frozen,

Tang Wei Sheng peeled off his eyes from her and mechanically opened the bag to collect a blue velvet box,

He opened it with a plain face, hiding his surging emotions and found a marvelously crafted wrist watch.

"It is custom-made, did you like it?" Tang Wei Lan's blissful voice reached his ears,

Tang Wei Sheng nodded in agreement,

"Ah then, where is my gift?" She scanned her brother with curious eyes and found out that he came bare handed to visit her, "Don't tell me you didn't bring me anything," 

Tang Wei Sheng took a deep breath and took out an envelope from his blazer's inner pocket.

"This is for you," He handed over it to his sister and fixed his eyes on her pretty face to capture her reactions.

"What is it?" Tang Wei Lan asked while opening the envelope,

Her smiling eyes skimmed through the white paper she held in her palms.

"He acted like a saviour and took advantage of me," She unknowingly read the lines loud and all of sudden the sunny smile in her face vanished into thin air.

"The forgotten flower, care to explain?" His voice rang in the silent room like death bells.

In a glimpse of moment, Tang Wei Lan regained her bearings and looked at her beloved brother as if she is looking at her enemy,

"It took you a while to find me," Her voice lacked any endearing emotions as she spoke out.

Tang Wei Sheng stared at the girl who stood before him in incredulous disbelief.

The Lanlan whom he was familiar was no where to see, instead of his lovely sister, all he could see is a devil in angel's disguise.