Standing next to her friend, Zhao Ya'Er was rooted to the floor by everything Ji Chu Hua had said. Even though the words said were not directed at her, she was angry for Yue Ling. She looks at her friend, and to her surprise, she sees no emotion in Yue Ling's face.
"Yue-Yue…"
Yue Ling stood unmoving as Ji Chu Hua's taunting words enter her ears. She stares emotionlessly at the sales floor in front of her, but one can see she was staring into the unknown.
Like a vast wall had suddenly appeared, no one can read her thoughts.
Ji Chu Hua continues to throw taunting words at her like a mother lecturing her daughter. She didn't care if Zhao Ya'Er had heard or see she had turned into a completely different person. It was so long as no employees saw her acting this way.
With each word she used, she anticipated that Yue Ling would undoubtedly get angry. Any person who hears bad things about themselves or their family will turn into a wild animal. Yue Ling included.
It was only a matter of time before Yue Ling's perfect image shatters, and she (Yue Ling) lashes out at her (Ji Chu Hua). When that happens, she (Ji Chu Hua) will scream for help and show the world the real face of Yue Ling.
Ji Chu Hua's insides itch at her thoughts, but in the end, it was all her wishful thinking.
"Move."
Yue Ling's expression remained the same as she calmly tells Ji Chu Hua to move away. It was like she found Ji Chu Hua to be disgusting and didn't want the woman near her.
She would be lying if she weren't angry by what Ji Chu Hua said. However, her parents and grandparents raised her to be a better person, and she can see through Ji Chu Hua's actions.
Ji Chu Hua scoffs a sneer when she heard Yue Ling's word but unknowingly takes a step back.
"Oh my, are you angry because of what I said?"
She chuckles loudly like an evil witch, and Zhao Ya'Er darts her head with a murderous glare.
"Ji Chu Hua, you are going too far. If you have nothing nice to say, don't open your mouth."
She looks back at Yue Ling and takes the retired model's hand.
"Don't listen to her nonsense. Let's go."
Ji Chu Hua glares at Zhao Ya'Er. She could tell that the short hair woman was not acknowledging her at all. A thought came to her mind, and she laughs like a crazy woman.
"I'm utterly amazed. For someone who gets beaten up by her man, you sure do have a mouth to argue back."
Hearing her words, Zhao Ya'Er stops in her tracks. She felt like the room had turned gray, and thunder had struck her entire being.
Her hand holding onto Yue Ling tightens, and she tells herself repeatedly to ignore Ji Chu Hua. Indeed, Wei Hongyi would always beat her when he is angry, but she isn't with him anymore.
She takes a calm breath and continues with her way while pulling Yue Ling with her.
"Slut! I never said you could leave!"
Seeing that they were ignoring her again, blood rush to Ji Chu Hua's head. She screams after with the loud clacking of her high heels.
If she could, she would have wanted to harm Zhao Ya'Er for trying to play the hero. However, if she did, she would get on the wrong side of the Lu and Zhao family, which she doesn't want.
Knowing this, she stretches her arm out to grab Yue Ling.
"My father was right. Your mother was a slut, and you are just like her!"
*Slap!
Ji Chu Hua's words had yet to fall when Yue Ling spun around and slaps her hard across the face. She (Ji Chu Hua) was taken back by surprise and lost her balance.
Afraid of falling, she tries to steady herself. However, luck was not on her side. She trips on the hem of her red dress and falls onto the floor.
"Y-You!"
She quickly covers her cheek that Yue Ling slapped, and she looks up with tears and rage in her eyes. Never once has anyone raised their hands on her, yet Yue Ling dares to hit her again.
She forces herself not to cry, but her lips continue to tremble from shock.
"How dare you hit me!"
Anyone who saw her (Ji Chu Hua) at this moment would rush over to help her. They would see her as an innocent girl getting bullied by Yue Ling and Zhao Ya'Er.
"Hit you?"
Yue Ling's angelic voice sounds with a threatening aura but her expression the same. Void of all emotions.
She had been holding herself back from striking the woman dead. She didn't want to scare Zhao Ya'Er and did not want to cause any trouble for Lu Tian, Madam Lu, and Madam Zhao, who was waiting.
If she had been alone, the second Ji Chu Hua opened her mouth, she would have silenced her.
However, for now, she can only hold herself back and not make any problems for others.
She takes a step forward, and her head slightly tilts to the side. The look on her face was as Ji Chu Hua had fallen by herself.
"If I had hit you, I guarantee you wouldn't be talking right now."
The slap she gave Ji Chu Hua was of little strength but harsh enough to leave a handprint.
She stops in front of her so-called cousin and squats down to be at eye level. She raises her hand as if to caress the woman but strikes another slap on the other side of Ji Chu Hua's cheek.
"Y-You!!!!"
Ji Chu Hua struck in shock with a tear sliding down her eyes from anger. However, Yue Ling remained unfazed with the eyes of the dead staring at her.
"This one is for Ya'Er."
Her hand that had slapped the woman raises a little, and she stroke Ji Chu Hua's head like a mother putting her child to sleep.
"You can say whatever you want about me, but never say anything about my family."
Those who know often talked about her parents' death and think it would anger her, but she learned to ignore them because it was true.
Her parents are no longer in this world, and death is a natural part of life.
However, to speak ill of her deceased family is one she will not tolerate.
Yue Ling's words and expression were as calm as the sea, but it made Ji Chu Hua shiver in fear. She (Ji Chu Hua) didn't know why but she swore it was like she was in the presence of the Angel of Death.
Her lower trembles even more than they already were, and she stutters.
"H-H-Han Yue Ling…. Y-You… wh-what are you p-planning to do to m-me?"
See her scared expression, the mask on Yue Ling's face finally shatters as a smile that did not reach her eyes appears.
"We may be related, but we are not close enough for you to address me so casually."
She answers Ji Chu Hua with the words she (Ji Chu Hua) had said to her and lowered her (Yue Ling) hand on the woman's head. She pinches Ji Chu Hua's chin and tilts it up to look her in the eyes.
The smile on her face curls up until it reached her eyes, and her words continue.
"This is my final warning to you. Cross the line again, and I will make your life a living hell."
She let go of Ji Chu Hua's chin and stood up. As she turns around and takes a step away, she suddenly pauses and gives another warning.
"This time, it was a slap. If you touch me again or so close as to go near my family, I will let you know how it feels like to be hit."
Her words came if undying promises, and she walks away from the fitting room with a dazed Zhao Ya'Er.
Behind them, Ji Chu Hua remained on the floor with a face as pale as a ghost. She stares at Yue Ling's departing figure until she couldn't see her anymore.
She slumps more onto the floor like something heavy had suddenly dropped on her, and she stares blankly at the base.
"How…"
She could only choke out one word before the rest of her words were quickly swallowed down with difficulty.
When Yue Ling's smile widened at her, she (Ji Chu Hua) was sure it was a smile that could take any person's breath away. However, it terrified her (Ji Chu Hua) to the point of no return.
Yue Ling's eyes that stared at her were cold and ruthless. It was as if those bluish-green eyes that stand out so much had turned into two black holes.
So black that she (Ji Chu Hua) thought was starring into the eyes of the devil and could never return.
