Chapter 724 Invisible Rival

Chapter 724 Invisible Rival　　*Flashback Continued*

"Keep your distance from me," said Qian Yin.

Tang Hebe's outstretched hand was left hanging in the air. She felt so wronged at that moment. 

"Auntie, I don't know what my family did to make you hate them so much," started Tang Hebe. "But how is it any of my fault? You are known to be a kind woman. You're always reasonable and sensible. Why is it that you become like this with me?"

"If I were being really unreasonable, I'd have long gotten rid of you," said Qian Yin. "Consider it my benevolence that you're even able to stay in my son's life. Do you really think I have no way of getting rid of you just because my son loves you? Don't be mistaken. I'm only not doing it for my son's sake." She pushed her hair back and sighed, "Also, stop looking like a bullied daughter-in-law. Yes, I'm an evil mother-in-law but I haven't bullied you yet."

Tang Hebe sniffled as she looked up at Qian Yin and said, "Auntie, your acceptance means a lot to me."

"You think you can get acceptance by asking for it?" retorted Qian Yin. "People have to work for it. Nothing is free in this world."

Tang Hebe closed her eyes and said, "I know you have some misunderstandings about me. I understand that. I know I have shortcomings. But I can assure you that I love Shui Xian more than my own life." She took a pause and faced Qian Yin, "Whether you believe it or not, it was only a joke when I said to Xian that we can run away together. But I forgot that he always takes things seriously. That's my mistake. I'm sorry for that. However, loving Xian isn't a mistake. And I'll prove you wrong by staying with Xian through every thick and thin."

Qian Yin sneered, "I don't believe that. But I'll give you the chance. Let's see if you really stay true to your words." 

Qian Yin knew every well that she was prejudiced when it came to Tang Hebe. She knew she was being kind of unfair to Tang Hebe but she couldn't help it either. Whenever she looked at Tang Hebe's face, she was reminded of everything that turned her into such a bitter face. If only Tang Hebe didn't have such an uncanny resemblance to that person. 

The maybe... Just maybe her prejudice wouldn't have been so great.

But whether it was her prejudice or not, she didn't like Tang Hebe for her son. She knew how much of a fool her son was in love. It was very easy for her son to be manipulated in the name of love. In a way, he was just like her. He was oversensitive and a very emotional person. As a mother, she didn't want her son to go through the pain she had been through. 

And it didn't mean she didn't trust Tang Hebe's love for Shui Xian. If she had a doubt about Tang Hebe's feelings, she'd have really shown what an evil mother-in-law looks like. But since she didn't, it meant she at least had faith in Tang Hebe's love for Shui Xian. However, she also knew love wasn't enough to make it work. 

Tang Hebe was a soft persimmon born in a family of vultures. It was too easy for those vultures to take advantage of her. And when that happened, no matter how much Tang Hebe loved Shui Xian, it won't be enough to protect their relationship.

*End of Flashback*

But the reality was that Qian Yin was right back then. Tang Hebe couldn't stick with Shui Xian as she had claimed to do so. Whether she loved Shui Xian as much as she said she did could be debated but it was true that she wasn't able to walk on the journey of life hand in hand with Shui Xian. She was really the one to leave him first.

Tang Hebe had watched Qian Yin leave that day, not knowing that that was the last time she'll ever be meeting Qian Yin. And the next time she saw this woman was at her funeral. For years, Tang Hebe couldn't forget the fact that before Qian Yin's death, her last meeting with her was an unpleasant one. 

And it was also true that even till her death, Qian Yin wasn't willing to accept Tang Hebe as her daughter-in-law. 

Since Qian Yin was Shui Xian's mother, Tang Hebe couldn't hate her for anything. So, she shifted all her hatred toward Raelle whom she never even met. She only saw that one photo of the young girl who was already a beauty. But later on, she went to every length to keep track of Raelle's achievements. 

She perhaps didn't even know why she did that. Why did she get so obsessed with knowing about Raelle but she did? It was like Qian Yin's unacceptance left a shadow on Tang Hebe's mind. And that shadow took the form of Raelle to oppress her. Raelle's presence was a reminder to Tang Hebe that she wasn't the one whom Qian Yin liked. And Raelle's brilliance was the oppression that kept reminding Tang Hebe how much of a gap they had between each other.

It was like Tang Hebe made Raelle her biggest rival even though they had never met each other. But even without meeting each other Raelle became her nightmare.

Even after getting married to Shui Xian, she couldn't get rid of that nightmare. No matter how hard she tried to remind herself that Shui Xian was hers now. She couldn't get rid of Raelle's invisible presence that made her insecure.

Of course, Raelle was completely oblivious to these complicated matters. She had never even met Shui Xian before the night of that party where she decided to marry him. And even if she knew about it, she won't be able to understand Tang Hebe's thoughts. After all, Raelle's thoughts weren't all that complicated and instead of trying to overtake anyone else, she always worked on improving herself more.

It was already hard enough for her to find a balance to live like a normal person. Why would she waste her time trying to become better than others?