Q'ling strolled into the room with several piercing eyes of the most intimidating people she had ever encountered in her life.
There she was, standing before the man who had asked her to address him as "Father" and her new family members whom she was now a part of.
Her eyes trailed around the room, and suddenly it felt as though she was standing before judges waiting for trial.
She just stood there registering the faces of everyone there in her head as her heart raced.
The room was nothing but silent as everyone watched her not saying a thing.
What do I do? She thought as she stared back.
Seated on the table with eyes on her was the beautiful lady she had met earlier, and beside her was an older woman who looked so young with glowing pure white skin as though she'd been deeped into milk.
And seated opposite them was a petite beauty with the prettiest eyes, young and looked quite observant. Then a man with a striking yet slight resemblance with Lu Jiangsu. He also stared at her with judgemental eyes.
Something about him convinced her that she was going to have to be careful around him.
Suddenly, the voice of Jiangsu echoed throughout the hall.
"She is my surprise to all of you...".
Just as he mentioned, Lu Anna dismissed his words with a scoff. "This! Is the surprise you had for us? Tsk, you've got to be kidding me".
"Lu Anna!" Lu Gaoshen scolded.
"What? We have been waiting all this time for that? Who is she? And what business does she have in this household?" Lu Anna blasted, making everyone on the table curious too.
"She has every reason to be in this household because, Q'ling is my daughter in-law!"
Lu Jiangsu added, already losing patience. He'd had enough of Anna's ruckus.
"WHAT?!" They all exclaimed, taking their eyes back to her. Anya and Gaoshen with raised brows, and Lu Sue with a dropped jaw.
It was the first expression Lu Sue had made that day.
"W-wait, hold on... Who now?" Anna stuttered. "Daughter in-law?"
"Come have a sit, my dear". Jiangsu smiled warmly as the rest watched the tiny physique walk towards the long large table nervously.
Anna on the other hand kept staring at her as though she had seen that face somewhere before.
Quietly, Q'ling took a sit beside Lu Anna as her eyes wavered mindlessly on the table. Even though Jiangsu was nice to her, she knew the rest would not hesitate to show their emotions, after all, she had only just been introduced to them as a part of their family.
"Have we met before?" Lu Anna questioned the moment Q'ling sat next to her. " It feels like I've seen you somewhere".
Q'ling didn't say a word at first. She knew that Anna had not been able to recognize her because Feng Peng did a thorough job on her.
Earlier when Anna saw her, she was an absolute mess, dirty, smelly, and unapproachable. Now she looked almost like a doll.
"Perhaps we..."
"Oh?"
As Q'ling opened her mouth to talk but Anna clasped her palms together, cutting her off with a raised brow as though she had suddenly remembered.
She took a closer look at Q'ling's face and smirked with a scoff.
"I knew there was something familiar about you... You're the slump pig from earlier!"
She said suddenly with an evil smile on her face, taking her eyes from Q'ling then back to Jiangsu who watched her childish behavior.
"So this was your plan all along, dear Uncle?"
Her words erupted a smile from Jiangsu as he laid back on his seat
"Yes, and starting today, you will address her as Sister Q'ling". Jiangsu stated, leaving the rest of the family members displeased.
Lu Anya with her pretentious smile suddenly cocked her neck to face Q'ling.
"She looks likeable... Tell me child, what family do you come from?"
Lu Anya asked and Q'ling's heart raced to her question.
Her family?
What should she say?
How can she tell them that her family hated her guts and because they never accepted her as one of them, they sold her off to them?
Q'ling opened her mouth to speak, but her words came out inaudible, causing the rest to exchange glances.
"What? Is she suddenly mute?" Lu Sue scoffed.
She was the quiet one from earlier so how come her first words directed to her sounded like bullying?
Q'ling's eyes remained on the table before Lu Jiangsu stepped in.
"Q'ling is probably not yet comfortable around us, so treat her nicely, will you Sue Sue?"
His eyes trailed down to Lu Anya who also exchanged glances with him as they both smiled.
It was like a smile of contentment.
Lu Anya was obviously pleased with Jiangsu's choice. The girl whom he picked was one who was easy to control. She thought, feigning her smile of mockery.
Jiangsu continued. "I assure you she's from a good family because she is the daughter of my good friend, Gao Fanshao".
He added, grabbing Anna's attention as her eyes lit up in surprise.
Wait, so she's the sister of Gao Shin Li?" Lu Anna gasped, taking her eyes back to Q'ling who looked as though she was about to pass out.
Her blood ran cold.
She couldn't believe it!
Lu Anna knew Shin Li?
Suddenly, Q'ling's mood that was already gloomy became even more deferred.
She felt nauseous, feeling nothing but absolute hatred. The bitter taste in her mouth came suddenly as her fingers began to tremble.
It was like Shin Li's shadow followed her wherever she went.
"I think I see the resemblance now?"
Her eyes remained on Q'ling as though observing a specimen.
Suddenly, Gaoshen who had also been quiet croaked his throat, directing his words to Q'ling.
"Welcome child... And please excuse Anna's rude behavior... She just a little bit protective of her family".
Q'ling managed a nod as her eyes slowly strolled towards him.
"Welcome to the family,". Gaoshen added and she mouthed calmly, "Thank you". Leaving everyone staring.
"Shall we dine now?" Jiangsu broke their stares with his word, smiling warmly.
~~~~
After dinner, Q'ling returned to her quarters, heading straight to her bed.
She didn't care if she was still in her outfit, she just laid there, thinking about everything that happened in the dinning hall.
Her new family whom she thought she was going to be accepted in were no different from her previous one, even though they tried to act politely.
She could see through everything!
Their pretentious smiles, and even their fake acceptance.
Worst of all, she couldn't believe that Lu Anna knew Shin Li.
What she feared and thought of during her time in the shower had come true.
... And to think she was done with everything concerning her past live only to be smacked in the face with this surprise.
Great!
Anna only treated her nicely after discovering that she was Shin Li's sister. And by the looks of things, it seemed like they were good friends.
What if Anna finds out from Shin Li that they were not in good terms and that they were nothing but step sisters who never for once got along.
What if Anna hates her after hearing all of Shin Li's lies? Because Shin Li would most certainly do so and won't stop until she ruins her life at all cost.
Q'ling rolled on the bed, her eyes facing the ceiling as she stared blankly on the chandelier.
Instantly, her eyes trailed to something which had caught her attention.
The drawing on the ceiling... More like a painting.
She wasn't really familiar with art, but it was certainly an art by Leonardo Da Vinci. This one wasn't a popular piece, but it was a very interesting art.
The painting described two baby angels touching fingers opposite one another, and the background were nothing but flowers.
It was so captivating that she kept staring at it until her thoughts drifted to the one who had been enjoying this piece before her.
Was it her supposed husband? The one who she was married to?
Was he an art lover or was this painting just for the the interior decoration of this room?
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize when she dosed off staring at it.
Who was he?