316 Rage!

"Ying Jie, what are you doing?" 

Xiu didn't even realize when she started addressing Ying as a sister. Perhaps it was because Ying was older than her or perhaps, it was because of the comfortable aura around her. However, one thing was certain that Xiu had called her sister on instinct without realizing it herself.

"Oh, I'm making some tea. Would you like some?" asked Ying as she looked at Xiu who followed her.

"Which tea is it?" inquired Xiu as she tried to discern from the scent that was lingering in the air.

"Oolong tea," answered Ying and added, "Zizi and Yi both like to drink tea after their meals." She was trying to tell Xiu about the different habits of members of this family. "Can you bring some cake from the pantry? Weiwei can't drink tea without her favorite pastries." Xiu nodded and immediately turned towards the door of the huge pantry that was located at the side of the kitchen.

Holding the tray with two teacups, Ying had just turned when a resounding slap was landed on her cheek making her stumble. Because the impact came so suddenly, her hands trembled and the hot tea fell on her hand. Luckily, she was still wearing her sneakers otherwise her feet were going to burn as well.

She didn't even have to look up to know who was the person who slapped her. That's why she kept her head down to restraint herself from erupting with fury. But the other person wasn't even trying to be calm and rational as her since Qiu Meihui held her arm and shook her violently. Coincidently, her fingers were wrapped around the same place where Ying already had a bullet wound. It made her wince in pain.

"Can you drop this act of yours already?!" Qiu Meihui screamed at her in loud voice. "You deserve a Grammy for this performance of yours yet again."

"Performance?" Ying raised her head as she repeated her words.

"Yes! Performance! This I'm miss goody-two-shoes act of yours is getting old now! Get over it already!" Qiu Meihui shrieked making Ying close her eyes in frustration. "You can convince everyone with this act of yours but I won't fall for it!"

"Good riddance! I wasn't trying to impress you in the first place," rebutted Ying with a smile while trying to hold in her pain. Her hand was trembling because of the severe burn and her wound was stinging badly now all over again. Oh, how badly she wanted to slap the other woman as well but couldn't!

Qiu Meihui scoffed at her in mockery, "Are you that desperate for attention? Why can't you leave my family alone? Because of you, my mother is not even willing to look at me!"

"Because of me?" Ying's brows quirked up in mock amusement. 

"Yes! It's because of you! It's because of how perfect you had been in her eyes that she never saw anything good in me. You stole her love from me. And you're doing that even now!"

"YOU!"

"Lower your voice!" Ying retorted with her eyes changing from a mild annoyance to full-blown rage. "I can also raise my voice and I can do it better than you. But I won't do it since there are other people in the house." She took a long breath before saying, "You really think I stole your mother? I barely meet her once or twice a year. How can I steal her from you? I don't even want to steal anyone!

"It's your own incompetence that pushed your mother away. Who told you to be so headstrong? When your mother asked you to marry Ah Li, you fought with her and ran away from home. Then you suddenly brought a man and announced that you'll marry him at any cost. Weiwei tried to convince you so many times that he wasn't a good person but did you listen? Apparently, not! You went ahead and cut off your ties with the family. Then after a year or so, he divorced you with nothing but a pregnant belly. Weiwei still held on to you. But what did you do?"

Ying was circling around her as a predator while she spoke everything that made Qiu Meihui's face darken. However, Ying wasn't done yet.

"You repeatedly insulted your mother. Because of you she even stopped socializing with others because she didn't want to be embarrassed again. Do you think I impress her with my white lotus act? Then let me remind you that there is another girl in the house who seems to be your mom's favorite at the moment. Is she also trying to steal your mother from you?" 

Ying definitely was referring to Xiu since she had already seen how fond Weiwei appeared to be of her. Besides, in her own opinion, there was actually nothing not to like about Xiu. And if one says that she was acting, that'd be bullshit!

"Just because your act of push and pull works on Ah Li, don't test me! Only Ah Li is fool enough to love a person like you who only knows how to love herself! I, however, can be the fool who loves him even knowing his desperation for you but I still am not dumb enough to actually bear with your spoilt brat act. Last time, I let you slap me because Ah Li was involved, this time I'm letting it go because it's your family house. Next time, touch me and watch me burn your whole life into ashes."

For the first time, Qiu Meihui saw the intimidation in Ying's eyes. She had always seen Ying in a kind and gentle demeanor. It was her first time realizing that Ying was really not as simple as she seemed. And it actually made her heart to jolt in fear.

Ying finally picked up a towel and wiped her hands as she said, "I've never hated you but I'm warning you, don't get on my nerves. I'm really not as nice as I appear to be. And trust me, you won't be able to handle the other side of me."

Saying that she shoved open the backdoor and walked out without looking back. Every person had a limit, she had hers as well. When she never thought about hurting others, why would others still blame her? Was it her fault that Zhao Wei didn't want to talk to Qiu Meihui who on her own accord had walked out of this house? Was it her fault that she just wanted to make everyone happy? If her one smile could make others feel better, was she wrong in doing so?

In fact, Ying never even thought that she wasn't good enough for Xin Xiaoli. She knew she had flaws as well but she was proud of those flaws that made her who she was. If Xin Xiaoli couldn't see the goodness in her, it was his loss. She could cry for him, but she wasn't willing to beg for the love that wasn't hers, to begin with!

"Shit!" Ying cursed out as she hit her head against the wall lightly. This outburst of hers was so uncalled for. She felt something on her cheek and raised her hand to touch her cheek only to realize that she was crying. "Wow! Now you're acting like a crybaby! Fool!" she scorned at her own behavior.