Chen Hua spat in anger, "That shameless slut! I hate her so much; she always gets to take everything from me." Ling Li cried, her eyes filled with hate. "Don't worry, Ling Li, he definitely wouldn't marry her... Young Master Feng can't stoop so low as to get married to a low-budget model," Chen Hua continued, her grateful words laced with venom.
Feng De sat eating his food quietly, his presence seemingly unnoticed. Chen Hua turned to face him. "Ling Li is also your daughter, but you never back her up with anything... I know you have a hand in setting up that bitch with Young Master Feng." Chen Hua spitefully said, rolling her eyes at him.
Feng De continued eating without saying a word, which further triggered Chen Hua's anger. "Stop being a coward and act like a man! She has to give up that space for Ling Li; Lili is the one he is supposed to be with." Chen Hua declared coldly. "Call her home and tell her you have an important thing to tell her... Young Master Feng is for my daughter, and that is final." Chen Hua yelled and angrily stomped out of the dining hall, Ling Li following immediately.
The dining room returned to its normal quiet atmosphere. Feng De dropped his cutlery and beckoned the house butler. "You heard the madam... send a message to Ling Mei, tell her I want to see her immediately." Feng De ordered before walking out of the mansion.
Wang Fu watched him in silence as he walked out, sometimes wondering what Chen Hua was using him for that made him do whatever she wanted.
They arrived in Country S midway through the occasion. Luckily for them, the pageantry had not taken place yet. Lady Margery of Country S was a very popular and influential woman. On every one of her birthdays, Ming Tian models always put up a show for her.
Ling Li was walking too and arrived extremely late. They got into the backroom. "Ling Mei, you are late... extremely late," Director Zhang scolded as she walked to her corner.
"I am deeply sorry for my lateness, Director," Ling Mei immediately tendered an apology.
Director Zhang sighed, "Get to work immediately; we don't have the whole day." Ling Mei nodded and immediately sat down.
Yan Yi whispered lowly, "It was grandfather, not me." Ling Mei scoffed, "Are you trying to vindicate yourself?... Aish, Yan Yi, you are really shameless." Ling Mei cursed lowly, and Yan Yi smiled at this.
"Be quiet and let the makeup artist do her job... we don't have the whole day," Yan Yi continued, mimicking Director Zhang. Ling Mei rolled her eyes and focused on her reflection in the mirror. Yan Yi went ahead to make sure all her outfits were in good state.
Immediately Yan Yi walked off, Jun Xinyi walked over. She was already done with her makeup and seemed ready for the show. The makeup artist left immediately as Jun Xinyi walked over.
Ling Mei sighed, wondering what Jun Xinyi had on all the other staff. "You are really late this time... so pathetic," Jun Xinyi said, taking her seat on the table.
Ling Mei ignored her and continued with her makeup herself. Jun Xinyi's eyes flashed with anger. "Am talking to you, Ling Mei; you should pay attention to me." Jun Xinyi stated and dragged away the makeup brush from Ling Mei.
Ling Mei smiled sweetly at her, knowing what this woman was up to. "Sister Xinyi, I didn't see you... did you just arrive?" Ling Mei asked, her face still plastered with that sweet smile.
Jun Xinyi was surprised; didn't this mean Ling Mei hadn't taken notice of her since she arrived? This bitch was really daring. "Quit the acting; we all know you are pathetic," Jun Xinyi replied, vexed.
Ling Mei widened her eyes in surprise. "We?... there are more of you?" Ling Mei asked again, this time turning fully to face her.
Jun Xinyi felt her heart clench with hatred for this woman; she felt like dashing her head over the table. "You think you are daring? You have nothing on me, nitwit," Jun Xinyi said, staring at her coldly in the eyes.
Ling Mei smiled more. "I would like to continue with my makeup; can I have my makeup brush, Sister Xinyi?" Ling Mei asked, making to collect the brush.
Jun Xinyi suddenly stood up from the table with a triumphant look on her face. "There's no need for that; you're not going to walk the runway today. We don't need your ugly face spoiling the show for us," Jun Xinyi continued.
Ling Mei scoffed, "Sister Xinyi, don't you think it's the other way around?" Ling Mei asked with an innocent look on her face.
Jun Xinyi's face reddened; did this woman just use her own words against her? "You....." Jun Xinyi's voice trailed off.
"Cut it, Jun Xinyi; it's too early to stir trouble," Ling Mei said, dragging the brush from Jun Xinyi's hand and continuing with her makeup.
Jun Xinyi watched with hate and angrily walked away. Somehow, Ling Mei always got under her skin, and it always made her feel a killing intent.
Yan Yi arrived with Ling Mei's different outfits for the pageantry. "Your outfits for the pageantry; hopefully, they are quite similar," Yan Yi said with a sense of guilt.
Ling Mei cast her a sideways glance and subtly looked away. "I'm really sorry for the delay... I was only following Old Master Bao's orders," Yan Yi said, her voice laced with guilt.
"You work for me, not my grandfather," Ling Mei replied coldly and walked to the backroom to change into her first outfit.
Yan Yi looked gloomy as Ling Mei walked away, realizing she had really triggered Ling Mei's anger this time.