Kapitel 5: Chapter 5: Life Is Hard (Part 2)
Huang MeiRong woke up groggily, feeling heavy and out of breath. It felt as if something heavy were weighing down on her chest. She sat up abruptly, coughing as her soul re-settled within her body. When she finally managed to draw in a full breath, she swung her feet off the bed and attempted to stand, holding her head. The room eventually stopped its spinning.
Once she regained her balance, and was able to stand without stumbling, Huang MeiRong looked around. She realized she was in a spacious room, with a standard queen-sized bed covered in pristine white linens. Despite how luxurious it looked, the room felt cold and impersonal, like a guest bedroom.
Huang MeiRong moved to the window and gazed out, realizing she was high up in a tall building, one of the upper floors, though not the penthouse. The city lights glimmered and glowed beneath the night sky. When she looked at the moon, she felt light-headed as a sudden wave of dizziness almost made her faint.
And that's when it happened.
Her mind filled with memories of her first life. How she was cheated on by her husband, abandoned by her family in favor of the real daughter, and dying alone in a prison cell from cancer. How her life was ruined not by one person (because it wasn't just Huang MingXi who participated in her demise) but by the people whom she loved and called family all her life.
The feelings of being wronged and enraged filled her heart as the memories crashed over her in waves. However, in all the anger, there was one emotion that was stronger than most, and it was sadness. She was sad that she had given her all for people who easily threw her away. Sad for her previous self who trusted them and died alone and cold, her reputation smeared and ruined to the point of being called a jealous murderer and evil woman.
But mostly sad for Grandma Fang, the only person who showed her unconditional love and kindness; who died in an unjust way, and whose real killer got away with it.
The time she spent in prison, she kept wondering how evidence was created against her. No matter how much she swore she was innocent, the wardens would just dismiss her claims and throw her into solitary confinement for daring to accuse the Huang family.
And just when her hoped vanished, she received the letter from Zhao Kai, which reignited her will to fight again. But by then, she was so sick that even the prison doctors felt sorry for her and secretly gave her a large amount of pain killers, expecting that she would end her own suffering. But that was unnecessary because she died the very next day.
On her birthday.
Huang MeiRong felt something wet her cheek, and when she realised it was tears, she wiped them away furiously as one feeling remained behind.
Vengeance.
Huang MeiRong wanted revenge for all she had suffered, and for Grandma Fang's death. She was going to ruin their lives the way they did her's, and she was going to do it with a big smile on her face, ensuring they knew it was all her doing. They were going to suffer the consequences of her lost life, and there's no way anyone was going to stop her.
Huang MeiRong smiled at her reflection in the mirror as a plan formulated in her mind. But just then–
Tap! Tap! Tap!
A small knuckle pounded against the window. Huang MeiRong opened it in surprise, and Xiao'xiao fell through, his face red and puffy with anger.
"Why did you take so long to open?" he huffed, furiously dusting himself off. "It is very cold out here."
Huang MeiRong's eyes filled with delight at the sight of the little fairy creature. "Oh, I'm sorry Xiao'xiao. It's my fault."
"You're right, it is your fault!" he snapped. "My wings could've gotten frostbite!"
Huang MeiRong couldn't help the amused smile that graced her lips as she watched him stomp about. "But Xiao'xiao, what are you doing here?"
"Of course, I'm here on official business on behalf of Lady TianTian'bixia." he said, puffing his chest out. "She said only I can do this job."
"And what job is that?"
"Assisting you."
"With anything I need?" Huang MeiRong asked, her brows slightly raised.
"Yes. As ordered by Lady TianTian'bixia."
"That means you're my little helper?"
Xiao'xiao stared at her, completely annoyed. What was she not understanding? "Yes, you silly–"
"That would make me your boss, wouldn't it?" She mused, before smiling at him once again. "So, why are you speaking informally to me? Why don't you call me lǎobǎn?"
Xiao'xiao immediately jumped into the air, his wings fluttering. "No, I won't, I'm your helper, your helper!"
"Then, how about you call me jiějiě."
Huang MeiRong didn't know that Xiao'xiao's face could get any redder, but to her shock (and amusement), he turned a deep crimson shade and puffed out loudly. "No! Only my Lady TianTian'bixia is my jiě, not you. You caused my lady trouble, she even gave you her precious fruit. No no no!"
"Well then I suppose I'll just tell TianTian that you didn't help me at all." Huang MeiRong shrugged, moving to close the window.
"Huup!" Xiao'xiao swallowed a mouthful of air. "Then Lady TianTian'bixia will be upset with me, and she'll wring my wings."
"Well, there's nothing I can do."
Xiao'xiao's face furrowed as he took deep consideration of what she said. With a frustrated cry, he plopped down on the ground, his ears and wings droopy, and said: "Alright, jiějiě. I'm sorry for being so rude."
"I've already forgiven you, Xiao'xiao, only because you're cute." Huang MeiRong said, reaching forward to stroke his fluffy pink hair. "We're going to make a great team."
Xiao'xiao's face lit up as he nodded his head. Huang MeiRong couldn't help but think that he very much resembled a cute puppy; if he had a tail, it'd be wagging excitedly. He was very easy to appease too.
"What are we going to do now?" Xiao'xiao asked.
"Before that, I have a few questions to ask." Huang MeiRong started. "How am I still alive?"
Xiao'xiao looked at her thoughtfully before explaining. "You have been reborn."
"Reborn?"
"Yes, you have been reborn to a point in your life where you haven't died yet."
Huang MeiRong nodded her head, before asking another question. "What year is it?"
"Year 20xx."
Huang MeiRong thought back in her memories. In 20xx, she had been twenty-one years old, living in America after being sent away by her family as soon as she graduated high school. This was because of the incidences where Huang MingXi always seemed to fall victim to her bullying. Huang MingXi had only lived in the Huang residence for three years, but she seemingly had everyone on her side.
As a result, after the accident at home where Huang MingXi fell down the stairs, and she was blamed for it because they believed that she was jealous that Huang MingXi became valedictorian over her, and tried to stop her from delivering her speech, she was sent away to studying at an American university. Her parents hoped that the three years away would make her grow out of her childish behaviour.
Huang MeiRong not only tried her hardest to prove she wasn't anywhere near Huang MingXi when she fell, and that she was actually supposed to be Valedictorian, but her paper was switched. No one believed her. They didn't even see her off at the airport, where they made her fly economy class, instead of on the family jet, to teach her to be grateful.
After all, she was the dove that occupied the magpie's nest.
This was also the year she graduated university. She worked hard, studying to the point of nosebleeds, but it was worth it because she graduated two years ahead of schedule. She got a degree from a prestigious business school in America, and with all the knowledge she gained, she used it to help Shen ZhiShang prosper.
Goodness, no one could regret it as much as she did at that moment. If only she had focused more on herself, then on being the perfect wife for Shen ZhiShang.
Speaking of, she remembered that they were yet to marry, so they were still engaged. Even though the real daughter was back, the marriage agreement was still between Shen ZhiShang and Huang MeiRong. She spent a lot of her childhood at the Shen residence, so that when she became their daughter, she wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
It was to also help in creating a bond between the two who had a three-year age gap But in the end, it was all for nothing because Shen ZhiShang still ended up with Huang MingXi.
Huang MeiRong scowled. "What a waste of my precious time."
"So, what do you want to do now?" Xiao'xiao asked her.
Huang MeiRong jumped onto the bed and lay on her back. She reached for her phone on the side table, unlocked it, and opened the red and orange app. She typed in Huang MingXi and scrolled through the pictures she posted until she found the one dated from their shared birthday last year.
A lavish banquet was held in honor of Huang MingXi's twentieth birthday, while all Huang MeiRong had received were well wishes and some money. If she recalled right, this year, the party would be just as lavish, and it was to be held in three days' time. She didn't attend it because Huang MingXi told her the family weren't ready to see her yet, and Huang MeiRong regrettably believed her.
This time, Huang MeiRong was not only going to attend, but was going to deliver Huang MingXi the best birthday present ever.
With a smile, she looked to Xiao'xiao, who had perched himself at the corner of her bed. "We're going to go to a birthday party."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein