Lu Feiran couldn’t understand Lady Lang’s reaction. Her face paled once she heard about her daughter’s difficulties, and yet she didn’t dare to show herself to her own child.
According to Zheng Yue’s story and Qiao He’s investigation, Lady Lang had purposely left Zheng Yue at a public market at the age of six. The child wasn’t able to speak their local language, and the director that managed the orphanage didn’t bother to seek proper care for the young Zheng Yue.
“What do you mean? Will she be in trouble if she couldn’t settle the rumors?”
Shen Yi and Lu Feiran heard the hint of panic on Lady Lang’s voice.
“Hmm… depends how she plans to deal with it,” Lu Feiran replied, finishing the Omurice in his plate.
Lady Lang stared down on her clasped hands, deep in her own thoughts.
“It isn’t like I don’t want to see her…” she mumbled but was loud enough for the two to hear.
Lu Feiran froze in his seat. He’d known of course that she was Zheng Yue’s mother, but to admit it openly was something they hadn’t expected. He looked around them making sure no one was eavesdropping.
Fortunately, most patrons had left already, and only a few were left to drink in the private areas. It was almost time for the bar to close for the day so the bartender had left the bar to Lady Lang as he checked after their remaining customers.
“Lady Lang, does this mean you are…” Lu Feiran didn’t finish his question, but the old woman understood him clearly.
“Yes, I’m the one she’s looking for,” she admitted.
With the way she pressed her lips together and how her eyes lost its radiance, it made the woman looked older in an instant.
Shen Yi stared at the old woman for a few seconds before turning his head away.
“Then why didn’t you…?” Lu Feiran asked.
Lady Lang smiled bitterly.
“Like I said before, I’m not fit to become a mother. I left her during the lowest time of my life. When I arrived in this country, I knew no one except the woman who brought me here to work. I was forced to work on a bar to ‘entertain’ guests. It was during that time when I got pregnant and had her.”
She paused and wiped her tears.
“I tried to keep her and raised her alone. I don’t even know who her father is… when I heard the news that my father passed away… the only reason why I work hard here, I just lost it. Then one day, she came home with bruises on her face and arms. She was bullied in school because of me. People talked behind our backs and mocked me as her mother. It was really hard for the two of us back then. I can barely support her and can’t even buy her new clothes for the season.”
In here, Lady Lang started to sob a little.
“I wanted to kill myself to end all the sufferings. I initially planned to take her with me, but I changed my mind at the last minute. I couldn’t… I couldn’t kill her.”
Her tears flowed down, wetting her cheeks.
“And you didn’t kill yourself, too…” Lu Feiran pointed out.
“Yes, because I was such a coward. I wanted to take her back when I came back to my senses, but it was already too late for me. Someone had adopted her. I didn’t dare to show myself because I don’t want to mess up with her life again. If her adoptive parents can love her and treat her well… that was already enough for me…
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lu, Mr. Shen…”
“No, it’s alright. I should be the one who should apologize to you, Lady Lang,” Lu Feiran had settled down and sighed. How was he supposed to deal with Zheng Yue now? ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
“The truth is Zheng Yue sent me to find you. Do not worry though as I haven’t told her anything about you yet. Zheng Yue isn’t asking you for anything. She just wants to know how you are faring and why you left her. Guess I now have the answers for her,” Lu Feiran confessed.
As expected, the old woman gaped at him in surprise. It took her a few minutes before she fully comprehended what he meant. Lady Lang calmed down and dried her tears.
“Then tell her I’m doing just fine and how cowardly her birth mother is.”
“I’m really sorry, Lady Lang. We didn’t mean to deceive you.”
The old woman shook her head. The smile on her face returned.
“I know for a reason that the two of you weren’t here to just have some drink. I have already anticipated that this day will come, and she will be able to find me…”
“Do you want to meet her?” Lu Feiran asked.
Lady Lang respectfully declined the offer, saying that she wasn’t worthy to become Zheng Yue’s mother. However, if Zheng Yue herself wanted to meet her and to seek more answers, then she’d be waiting here at Club Fantasia.
Shen Yi and Lu Feiran bid goodbye and thanked Lady Lang. They left the club and got inside the car waiting outside for them. Seeing that his wife was thinking, Shen Yi knew that she wasn’t ready to go home yet.
“Where do you want to go?”
That question brought her back to reality.
“Bring me to where Zheng Yue staying right now,” she replied.
Shen Yi eyed his assistant, and Qiao He understood what their young madam wanted at once. He whispered their destination to their driver and arrived in the place within fifteen minutes.
It was already three in the morning when Zheng Yue woke up, hearing her doorbell rang at this ungodly hour. She forced herself to slip out of her bed, covered her nightdress with a robe, and checked the door. She was surprised to see Lu Feiran with a good-looking man waiting outside her door.
“Mr. Lu, what brings you here?” she sounded annoyed.
“I found her,” Lu Feiran replied.
Zheng Yue snorted and crossed her arms. She leaned against the frame of her door.
“And this couldn’t wait until morning?”
Lu Feiran threw a pen voice recorder at her, startling Zheng Yue.
“I know you want to know her reasons why she abandoned you so why don’t you hear it yourself?” Lu Feiran pulled out a business card of Club Fantasia and handed it to Zheng Yue, “Just in case you want to meet her, she’ll be waiting for you. I already fulfilled part of our deal so I’ll be expecting you to sign the contract within twenty-four hours.”
Lu Feiran turned his back ready to leave with Shen Yi when Zheng Yue called her back.
“Wait! Tell me why you are doing this. Why did you help me find my mother?” she asked in confusion.
Lu Feiran shrugged and buried his hands on his side pockets.
“No reasons, Miss Zheng. I’m just doing the part of the deal. Now, I’ll be waiting for yours. Oh, and by the way, please do your best. The only reason why I put my bet on you is to crush Starlight Collections completely. Miss Zheng, you must help Flair Apparel win. I’ll be counting on you.”
