Chapter 8 - Meeting The Flies

When Lina woke up from her beauty sleep, it was already lunch time.

She sat up in her bed thinking of all the things that had taken place in the span of 24 hours.

She moved far away from her parents and friends but she made a new friend even before she left the country. Then she met a beautiful creep midair and now she's back in the house that she spent the first 12 years of her life in.

Getting off her bouncy bed, she moved around the room. Touching the small trinkets on her dresser that she had once treasured but were left untouched for about ten years.

These were the cheap trinkets that had inspired her to start designing her own jewelry.

To be able to make something new that could become someone else's prized possession. That was what she desired for her creations to be.

She picked up a box and opened it to find jewelry made out of simple items you can find at home. They were her initial designs that she had made with her own hands as a young child.

She smiled thinking of how her dad used to sit with her and color in her designs according to her instructions.

She then walked to her closet and saw that the maids had already arranged her clothes in the order of a rainbow. But half the closet was filled with black clothes.

If anyone asked her the reason why she wore black so often. She would always answer in the same way.

'Black is such a versatile color, it can be worn with any color and it will make the other color pop. That's why it's my happy color.'

She even had a sweatshirt that said, "Black is my happy color."

Since she was gonna laze around the entire day, she chose a mint green silk pj and tied her hair up in a ponytail.

After finishing her morning cleansing ritual, she left her room and walked to the kitchen.

The first person she saw was Old lady Ping, who was her grandmother's personal maid and now she managed the kitchen.

"Hey Mrs. Ping, still managing the kitchen with an Iron Fist?"

She chuckled and gave her a hug.

"Young miss, the old man told me that you've returned. Let me look at you properly. Wow you're taller than me now."

She observed as Lina twirled around for her.

The Old man that Mrs Ping was talking about was her husband, the Butler of Yang Manor, Butler Ping.

"I've brought so many things for you guys. Mommy also sent a few things. Let's go unpack my luggage after lunch"

"Ok ok.. go sit down, I'll get the dishes out."

Soon a large variety of dishes that she missed eating these years were placed on the table. She dug in without any reservations, as this was the place that she could be her true self without fear of being judged.

Walking into the house with a bunch of freshly cut red roses in his hand. Butler Ping passed it onto his wife to arrange them into a white vase kept on the sofa table.

"Young miss, I've managed the roses you had planted all these years. Now that you are back you must help me take care of them." He said as he smiled at her.

"Um.. Sure, sure Butler Ping."

Lina said with her mouth filled with food.

"Don't talk with food in your mouth! "

Mrs. Ping admonished.

"Ahhh" Lina quickly chewed her food then opened her mouth to show that her mouth was empty now.

"You sounded just like mommy!"

Looking at her actions, the same as when she was a child. Both Butler and Mrs Ping laughed.

"Who do you think taught and trained your mother, little girl?"

Saying so, Mrs. Ping raised her eyebrows.

"How could I forget that! Your student has now become my master. A very strict and dangerous master."

Lina shivered thinking of the etiquette classes that she received from mommy Yang.

After eating, she helped Mrs Ping clear the table then took her along to unpack her luggage.

At about two in the afternoon, Lina had put on a green tea sheet mask and was lying on the couch in the Hall binge watching her favorite Tv series and eating her sour candy strings.

She heard a series of high pitched laughs and then heard the loud sound of heels clacking on the floor.

She sat up and looked at the two women who walked in from the exterior block of the manor.

One old and the other young had similar features. You could guess that they were mother and daughter at a single glance.

They stopped their conversation when they noticed someone sitting in the Hall.

"Who are you? How did you get inside the house?"

Lina heard the high pitched voice of the older woman.

'I could ask her the same question but I think I already have an idea of who they might be!' Lina thought then rolled her eyes.

Seeing the stranger rolling her eyes, the younger woman also got angry.

"My mother asked you a question! How did you enter the manor? Who gave you the permission to sit here?"

No one had raised their voice at Lina in a very long time so she forgot how annoying it was.

'Ohh the drama started the day I came back home?' Thinking of this, Lina had an evil smile that quickly disappeared.

"The same way anyone comes in. Through the door." Lina said, then pointed to the door.

By then the Ping couple had come out of their room which was right next to the kitchen and stood at the side trying to control their laughter looking at the women's expression.

'Young miss has only improved her talent of infuriating people as she grew older.' Mrs Ping complimented her inwardly.

"And as for who brought me here. You might want to ask Patrick about that." She then shrugged her shoulders as if she could not care about them any longer.

She omitted the word 'uncle' on purpose to create a misunderstanding so that she could gauge their reactions. And her plan worked successfully.

Lina saw their expressions turn from shock to anger and fear. But none of that was the expression that she needed to see from them.

The expression you would have when you know that your man has brought home another woman. The expression of despair and jealousy.

'Looks like they really are the flies that mommy told me about!! They are trying to bully my uncle. Let's see how they plan on doing that while I'm here.'

"Hmph!"

Lina then went back to watching her show.

But soon her earphone was yanked out of her ears.

"Ouch!" She mumbled.

But it was loud enough for others to hear.

The other servants who had gathered after hearing the women talking were huddled in a corner fearing for their lives.

Before leaving for work, their master, Patrick Yang had given them strict instructions to take good care of Lina as she had a delicate body and he wanted her to be safe and far away from those vicious women.

Immediately, Butler Ping started panicking while Mrs Ping ran to get a heat pad for her ear.

Seeing the servants run about just because this unknown girl made a sound. Their faces were dark and menacing.

'We've been here for two months and no one even gave us a second glance. With what right is this bitch getting all the attention?' Thought the younger woman.

"Stop with all the fuss!" She yelled out when her patience ran out looking at the servant's distressed faces.

"Who the hell is she that you are giving so much importance to her? I'm the young miss of this manor but you have never treated me with such care! What right does she have to get all this?"

Not being able to control her emotions, she exploded but soon calmed down after looking at her mother's glare.

"Yes, Butler Ping I demand an explanation." The older woman voiced out in a calm tone.

"My daughter and I have been here for the past two months but we have never felt such care from you. Why this discrimation? I know that what happened in the past was not nice but we are already here now. Why must you still be so cold to us?"

Looking at the mature white lotus acting out impeccably in front of her, Lina had the urge to applaud her acting skills.

'So the mother still has some skills. That stupid daughter of hers would have spoiled the act if the old woman did not stop her in time.'

Thought Lina while minutely analysing their strategy.

A few of the younger servants were swept away by her acting and felt bad for this pair, as they were indeed part of the family but were not treated in the same way Miss Lina was being treated.

" Yes, Master even made them stay in the Exterior block. That is just one step above the servants boarding." One maid mumbled but she was heard because the room was silent.

Listening to her, a few maids nodded their heads while the older ones glared at them causing the maids to put their heads down.

Observing all their facing, Lina made a mental note to talk to Uncle Pat about this later.

"Tsk, I'm bored now!" Announced Lina. Then picking up her phone and snacks she smiled at the older servants and started walking to the stairs.

Before she could step on the stairs, her hand was forcibly pulled and she would have tumbled to the floor if she hadn't caught onto the banister.

Pulling her hand away from the younger woman who was now seething with anger, she noticed bright red nail marks on her arm.

'Stupid skin, bruises like a peach.' She lamented , then looked at the woman who had just manhandled her.

"The next time you touch me, I'll make sure to break those beautiful nails of yours."

Lina was always taught to be forgiving, but she knew that she wasn't a saint who could just forgive anyone who tried to harm her and hence decided to forgive them only twice.

She firmly believed in her "Three Strikes" policy.

'This woman has already put her hands on me twice. The third strike and she's out!'

Pushing the woman who was blocking her way, she walked up the stairs.

Stopping midway, she turned back and saw them watching her like a hawk.

"If you want to know, with what right I'm going up the stairs, then patiently wait till Patrick gets back home. Then you'll get your answer."

Then looking at Butler Ping, she said, "I'll be in my room. Call me when it's time for dinner and I don't want to be disturbed in the meantime."

Casting one last look at the mother-daughter pair, she strode up the stairs like she owned the place. Well, technically she did.