Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Huang Yuanrui ordered another slice of strawberry cake.

Zhang Qiong felt like her mind was about to explode. She couldn’t understand how Huang Yuanrui could still be in the mood for cake while discussing such shameless and absurd matters.

After a few bites, Huang Yuanrui said with her mouth full, “Sorry, I’m just so hungry. I’ve been so busy messing with you lately that I haven’t had the heart to eat. Look at my eyes,” she pointed to the area under her eyes. “I stayed up so late that I got dark circles. I even had to pay for a filler injection.”

Zhang Qiong turned her head to look at a group of female students at another table. One of the girls happened to look over, and their eyes met briefly.

Perhaps in that student’s eyes, a middle-aged woman and a young girl sitting together for coffee and dessert, chatting idly, looked just like friends.

Only Zhang Qiong knew the horror and despair she was actually experiencing.

Finally finishing the cake, Huang Yuanrui wiped her mouth with a tissue and sat up straight, looking quite dignified.

Huang Yuanrui said, “Right. This last thing I’m going to tell you… I actually stopped before I finished it.”

Zhang Qiong replied, “Go on.”

Huang Yuanrui leaned in mysteriously. “The day you moved into 616, I was hiding in your wardrobe.”

Zhang Qiong shuddered.

Huang Yuanrui continued, “Do you remember? I asked if you wanted to stay on the 6th or 8th floor. You said your friend’s hotel only had six floors, so I knew-you were coming to Tianfeng. I wanted to hide in your wardrobe ahead of time, but I overslept! Hahaha! By the time I got there, you were already in the room, so I hid in 618 first and ordered a delivery for you. While you were picking up your food, I slipped into your wardrobe…”

Zhang Qiong asked, “What were you planning to do to me?”

“What could a girl like me possibly do to you?” Huang Yuanrui laughed. “I just covered my face in a white clay mask and stood there smiling, waiting for you to open the door! But my legs went numb from standing, and I accidentally made a noise. Hehe, when you looked toward the wardrobe, I was watching you through the crack in the door.”

Zhang Qiong asked, “Why did you run away later?”

Huang Yuanrui lowered her voice. “I guess I just got tired of playing. Plus, I was afraid I’d scare you to death. If you died in 616, I’d be held responsible.”

Zhang Qiong pressed, “But how did you first think of using the identity of Liang He to get close to me?”

Huang Yuanrui replied, “I told you, I’ve been following you for a long time. I saw you when you bumped into him at the bank entrance. I saw you staring at him like a lovestruck fool. It’s honestly hilarious-if an impatient animal like a man wanted your WeChat, he’d ask for it right then and there. Why would he wait an entire night? And the most ridiculous part is, ‘Liang He’ chatted with you for so long without asking you to a hotel, and you didn’t even notice anything was wrong?”

Zhang Qiong leaned forward. “What is the point of all these wicked things you’re doing? Aren’t you afraid of karma?”

Huang Yuanrui said, “It’s simple. I want you to leave City A. As long as you do that, I promise I’ll never mess with you again.”

Zhang Qiong argued, “Leave? Why can’t I just break up with Qin Song!”

Huang Yuanrui scoffed, “Do you think this is a game of house? If you stay in the same city as him, how can I be sure you won’t rekindle your old flame?”

Zhang Qiong countered, “My business with him is only a tiny part of my life! My whole family of four is in City A, and my job is here. How do you expect me to just leave?”

“That’s your problem,” Huang Yuanrui said.

Zhang Qiong was incensed. “Why should I be the one to leave? You’re the one harassing and threatening me! Why don’t you go back to wherever you came from? Why do I have to be the one to go!”
Huang Yuanrui rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Sometimes I really think you’re hilarious. I don’t know what that dog Qin Song sees in you. How old are you, still asking me ‘on what grounds’ and ‘why’… Just on the grounds that you stole my man. Isn’t that reason enough?”

Zhang Qiong let out a cold laugh. “Your man… Are you his wife? This is just a case of one mistress not being able to stand another.”

Huang Yuanrui nodded. “Exactly. I’m a mistress who can’t stand other mistresses. When it comes to being shameless, I’m much better at it than you.”

“I can’t understand your logic,” Zhang Qiong said. “I’m not that shameless.”

Huang Yuanrui laughed again. “What did I tell you? In front of men, you’re always so soft and gentle, weeping and wailing, acting scared of this and that at the drop of a hat. You’re an expert at saying and doing exactly what pleases them, playing the ‘girl next door’ housewife all day, cradling men in your arms and feeding them like they’re children. You’ve played the part so long and so well that you’ve actually started to believe it. You really think you’re innocent… Let me remind you: before you knew Liang He was actually me, you were actively interfering in the families of two different men. You knew they had wives and chose to be the other woman anyway. And you also cheated on your little darling, Qin Song. No need to play innocent. You’re shameless. I get it, because I’m a bitch too.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Zhang Qiong said. “Your little tricks are over, and I’m not afraid anymore. I’m not leaving City A.”

“You’re in no position to negotiate with me, beautiful. You’re wearing shoes and I’m barefoot; what do you have to threaten me with?”

“I’ll tell Qin Song everything you’ve done,” Zhang Qiong countered. “Do you think he’ll still like you then?”

Huang Yuanrui’s voice turned flat. “Your daughter’s name is Zhang Siqi, first grade, class four. Your son is Zhang Tianyang, fifth grade, class one. Your daughter’s homeroom teacher is a woman named Ma, Ma Huijie…”

Zhang Qiong stood up abruptly and grabbed Huang Yuanrui by the collar. “What are you trying to do! Don’t you dare touch them!”

The table of female students nearby looked over in surprise.

Huang Yuanrui gave a lazy smile. “I haven’t decided exactly what to do yet. But I can tell you this: if I can mess with you, I can mess with them. I understand you very well. You’re afraid of many things, and my methods go far beyond just knocking on doors or hiding in closets.”

“I can call the police,” Zhang Qiong hissed.

Huang Yuanrui’s expression turned sinister. “Go ahead and report it, but I probably won’t get the death penalty. As long as I’m alive and can find you and your brats, you’ll encounter the next Liang He, Zhao He, Li He, Wang He… Your daughter will keep finding dead fish, dead cats, and dead dogs in her bag…”

Zhang Qiong’s resolve instantly deflated. “If I leave, can you guarantee you’ll never bother us again?”

Huang Yuanrui looked at her with feigned sincerity. “Of course. I have my own things to do; I don’t have time for you. Oh, right-your breakup with Qin Song must be clean and decisive. If there’s even a hint of lingering or if he’s still pining for you, I won’t let you off. Remember, as long as things are good between me and Qin Song, things will be good for you. But if he ever leaves me, you’ll be all I have left, sister. I’ll follow you for the rest of your life.”

Zhang Qiong stared at Huang Yuanrui for a long moment before saying, “You’re truly vile.”

“Thank you for the compliment,” Huang Yuanrui replied. “I’ll give you one week. In one week’s time, you must have left Qin Song and City A. Don’t try to be clever; I have plenty of ways to keep an eye on you.”

With that, Huang Yuanrui picked up her bag and walked out of the cafe.