Yue Ling and Zhao Ya'Er walked towards the back of Blush Tree's third floor. Although Lu Tian, Madam Lu, and Madam Zhao were on the same floor level, they were in a separate room designated for customers waiting. Due to this, none of the three people were aware of the situation that took place in the fitting room.
As Yue Ling and Zhao Ya'Er near the door to the room, both women looked like they had long pushed the situation earlier to the back of their heads. However, just as they were a few steps away from the door, Yue Ling slows to a stop.
She looks at the woman with a Pixi-cut hairstyle.
"Are you alright? Do you want to wait to calm down before going in?"
Zhao Ya'Er's heart shook at the questions. She knows that Yue Ling refers to the things Ji Chu Hua had said in the fitting room.
She turns her head to look at her friend but seeing a trace of worry in those bluish-green eyes, she sighs inside.
It was a small look of worry, but it was very noticeable from where she (Zhao Ya'Er) stood.
A tiny smile curls on her lip, and she turns her body to face Yue Ling.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'm alright."
If it had been the past her, she would have been hurt by Ji Chu Hua's words. She was once a coward who allowed Wei Hongyi to beat her black and blue while others ridicule her.
All she could do then was cry herself to sleep and hold everything. Even when others laughed and joked about her, saying a spoilt brat like her deserved it. Some even said she was asking for it by always making Wei Hongyi angry because women shouldn't talk back to men.
However, they don't know the entire truth, nor did they think to ask her side of the story.
It was never her fault. Every time Wei Hongyi got angry, it had nothing to do with her. She just happened to be there at the wrong time and knowing he couldn't take his anger out on anyone, he poured everything onto her.
When she couldn't put up with him anymore, she tried running away from him. She even went so far as moving overseas where he can't find her.
Yet, he still found her.
She is sure that if it weren't for her family background and that they weren't married, Wei Hongyi would have locked her away inside a cage.
Remembering how stupid she had been and all the tears she had shed for the bastard, she felt like punching herself.
However, not wanting to waste her energy getting worked up over someone like Wei Hongyi, she takes a deep breath.
She looks at Yue Ling, and seeing the woman's expression had changed from worry to doubt, she sighs a smile and takes hold of her friend's hand.
"Yue-Yue, I'm really alright. The things about my past do not hurt me anymore."
And that is the truth.
She is no longer the coward she was and isn't afraid of Wei Hongyi anymore. If he thinks he can step on her like a ragdoll, she will return the pain tenfold. Not just him, but all the people who claimed to be her friends.
Her entire being trembled at the thought, but thinking about something, she softens the more she looks at Yue Ling. Her hand gently squeezes the soft hand in her grasp.
"You're the only friend I need."
"…"
Yue Ling was truly worried about Zhao Ya'Er. However, when she heard the woman's last sentence, she was struck dumbfounded.
After what felt like an eternity had gone by, the corners of her lip curls as she chuckles.
"Mm. I'll take you on your words that you really are alright then."
She can confirm that Zhao Ya'Er has finally found her courage to be strong, and part of her believes that it has something to do with Xu Long.
With this reassurance, she decides not to talk about what happened. After all, they were still at Blush Tree, and Lu Tian, Madam Lu, and Madam Zhao are waiting for them.
Any longer, and she is sure Lu Tian will come to find them.
"Let's not keep them waiting."
Zhao Ya'Er wanted to ask if Yue Ling were alright, but hearing the retired model's words, she could only nod her head. Since she (Yue Ling) changed the subject, she (Zhao Ya'Er) won't push it.
"Wow!!"
The second Yue Ling and Zhao Ya'Er entered the waiting room, Madam Lu and Madam Zhao exclaimed together. Both middle-aged women jumped to their feet and skip over to the two younger women.
"Wow! Wow! Wow! My daughter looks like a different person. I almost couldn't recognize her."
Madam Zhao complimented as she stops in front of her daughter. Her head moves up and down like she was checking out Zhao Ya'Er to see if anything was out of place.
"Mm, mm. Good thing my daughter doesn't take after her father but me."
Madam Lu heard Madam Zhao's words, and she almost tripped on her own feet. She darts her head with a glare at her sister-in-law, and her nostrils flared.
Is she (Madam Zhao) trying to pick a fight by saying her (Madam Lu) family's gene is terrible?
She scrunches her face at her sister-in-law then turns her head with attitude. She looks at Yue Ling, and she softens to the core.
"Aiya, my Lu family's Ah Ling is more beautiful each time I see her."
Her words fell with her head held high, and she takes hold of Yue Ling's hand. She raises their arms together and twirls Yue Ling like they were dancing at a ball.
"Wow, my daughter-in-law is just like a princess."
"…"
Yue Ling didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the situation. At the same time, she couldn't help but wonder if Lu Tian and his family have a hand fetish. It's like, every time she meets them, they always hold her hand no matter what the situation is.
In a daze of her own thoughts, she unknowingly follows Madam Lu's hand and twirls. Due to the difference in their height, she needed to bend her knees to go under the woman's arm.
As the mother and daughter-in-law did this, Madam Zhao and Zhao Ya'Er did not get angry but broke into a burst of heartfelt laughter as they follow in pursuit.
All the employees standing in wait nearby couldn't help but smile at the touching scene. They can see how much Yue Ling and Zhao Ya'Er are adored by Madam Lu and Madam Zhao in their eyes.
After minutes pass, their laughter that echoed inside the room finally ceases.
Yue Ling looked around the room when she remembered Lu Tian, but he was nowhere in sight to her surprise. She frowns a little and looks at Madam Lu.
"Did Tian leave?"
Hearing this, Madam Lu felt like she had swallowed a jar of vinegar. She was just laughing and having a good time with her daughter-in-law, but she (Yue Ling) was so quick to think of Lu Tian.
However, as a mother who won't jeopardize the love between two people, she turns her head to the right of her.
She raises her chin and nudges an usher to a part of the room.
"He's over there sulking."
Yue Ling turned her head to look in the direction Madam Lu was pointing, but she furrows her brows more. She was confused but only for a quick second.
This area that Madam Lu had pointed was a shelf with decorations. If one did not know, they would have mistaken it as part of the wall.
However, she was able to see the top of Lu Tian's head behind the shelf as he looked to be sitting down.
Remembering Madam Lu's words, she couldn't help but smile and walks over to see if the man really is sulking and why.
