Volume 1: Fleeting Smoke and Fire Chapter 5: Mother's Humiliation

  "Tang Mianmian, in this mall, anything you like can be packaged and taken away. Today, my sister is being generous, take this credit card and swipe it!" Miss Cheng Meili generously handed a gold card to Tang Mianmian's palm, Tang Mianmian looked down at the card in her hand in surprise, she knew that this card was not even used by Cheng Meili herself, now that she was completely independent and didn't rely on the Cheng family's economy to survive... how could she use it?

  Today, wearing a sexy V-neck micro-pleated skirt with a floral hem, the charming Miss Cheng Meili sensually brushed away the hair hanging on her shoulders, her red lips slightly parted, and she gave Tang Xiangxiang a flirtatious glance: "Don't worry, this card was given to me by my stepmother. Since she wants to please me so much, I'll let you use it to express that I don't dislike her. Let her know that Miss Cheng Meili has a broad heart, even though I deeply love my late mother, but I have no opinion on her marrying my 48-year-old old father at the age of 20."

  “Hmph——” Tang Xiangxiang's very unflattering smile was immediately wiped away by Cheng Meili's stern expression, and she smiled sweetly as she looked up at the tall shopping mall: “Since Miss Cheng Meili is so sincere in inviting me to serve her, then I won't be polite!” With that, Tang Xiangxiang excitedly rushed into the mall. Who made her now penniless, without clothes, house, money or job? A woman who doesn't rely on herself can only rely on others!

  Cheng Meili smoothed out her luscious long hair, wearing high heels elegantly as she chased after Tang Xiangxiang's fiery figure.

  Tang Mianmian saw the clothes she liked and had the sales staff hold them, then went into the fitting room to try them on one by one for Cheng Meili to admire. They were still the same style as before: simple, plain, clean, and elegant dresses and T-shirts. Tang Mianmian flipped through the prices but couldn't help but gasp in shock. To be honest, she rarely bought clothes and didn't have time to go shopping, so much so that she couldn't even remember when she last came to the mall. All the clothes in her closet were either bought by herself on Taobao or by Zhang Haoran's secretary according to her style, but it seemed like they had been wearing those same clothes for years.

  T-shirts, long skirts. Because she rarely accompanies Zhang Hao Ran to banquets, even though she is in a wealthy family, she seems to be an invisible wife, every day just doing laundry, cooking, and serving her mother-in-law at home. People outside know that the Zhang family has a daughter-in-law, but few people have seen her.

  "What's wrong with you?" Cheng Meili took the credit card from Tang Xiangxiang, impatiently rolling her eyes at her. Seeing her expression, she knew that she was thinking of that "Jian Nan Chun" again and couldn't help but feel annoyed at Tang Xiangxiang's lack of backbone.

  Tang Mianmian knew that Cheng Meili had seen through her, and the forced smile on her face stiffened involuntarily. Meanwhile, Cheng Meili pretended to be unaware, pointing at the clothes on the counter: "This one, this one...and this one too, wrap them up, I don't want any of the others."

  Tang Mianmian raised her head and took a glance, and couldn't help but gasp in surprise. She immediately reached out to press down on the pile of clothes on the counter, looked up at Cheng Meili with an uncertain expression: "You... are you sure?" The three remaining pieces of clothing were the most expensive, and she had never worn anything like this style before.

  "I'm sure, get out of the way!" Cheng Meili cut off Tang Xiangxiang with a stern tone, then ruthlessly stretched out her hand and pushed Tang Xiangxiang far away. Tang Xiangxiang watched as those elegant yet knowledgeable long dresses, shorts, T-shirts were hung back up, while those clothes that she had only curiously tried on were all put away one by one.

  "You, go and change into this for me." Cheng Meili handed over one of the yellow ones to Tang Xiangxiang, who looked uncertain: "I... now...?"

  "Yes! Now!" Cheng Meili nodded patiently, but with a strange smile, she kicked Tang Xiangxiang into the dressing room with three feet and two feet.

  Several waiters were smiling with their mouths closed, although they thought the beautiful lady was much more fierce than the lovely lady, but the lovely lady didn't seem to be angry at all. The relationship between the two people looked so good that it seemed like there was no gap in their friendship, which was enviable.

  "Miss, here's your card and your clothes, please take them." The bag of clothes that had been packed up and paid for was handed to Cheng Meili, who nodded and was about to turn around when she heard the door to the changing room creak open from inside. Cheng Meili looked up and saw a yellow figure standing in the doorway, and her eyes lit up with warmth and laughter.

  She nodded slightly and Cheng Meili sincerely praised: "Tang Mi, it turns out you have the qualifications to be a beauty."

  Tang Mianmian's face turned red, it was really hard to be praised by Cheng Meili, and this time her generosity represented that she thought her outfit was really good.

  Couldn't help but turn around and look at myself in the mirror.

  The yellow velvet dress, however, only reached a third of the way down her thighs, and any slight movement would expose her, but it revealed Tang Mianmian's perfect, white, and slender legs. Tang Mianmian was very pale, this paleness was even more beautiful when set off by the yellow dress with a hint of fresh spring air, her skin as pale as cherry blossoms, her lips as red as cherries, if not for her slightly ordinary facial features, if not for the few freckles on her face, Tang Mianmian would also be a delicate and charming woman.

  "Beautiful..." Tang Siyi turned around to look for Cheng Meili, wanting to ask if she could change back into her clothes and wear them next time, but as soon as she turned around, there was no sign of Cheng Meili.

  Where is the person? Tang Mianmian looked left and right, suddenly, she saw a familiar figure, and that person was also stunned when he saw Tang Mianmian, as if he had not expected her to appear here.

  "Mrs. Zhang, what's wrong?" The woman beside her called out softly, and Mrs. Zhang immediately came back to herself, turned around with a smile towards the woman, then turned back to look at Tang Xiangxiang with a hint of scrutiny, while the surprise and astonishment on her face had completely disappeared. As a well-educated and noblewoman, this kind of adaptability was the simplest ability for her, so even though Tang Xiangxiang stood there without respectfully calling out to her, she suppressed the anger in her heart and didn't show it.

  "What are you doing here?" Mrs. Zhang asked, glancing over with a neutral tone. Tang Xiangxiang nervously tugged at her skirt, and indeed, she had an inexplicable fear of this mother-in-law. Whether it was verbal or mental stimulation, the hurt and harm inflicted by her were enough to quickly break her down. Every day, she served her mother-in-law in her apartment like a cow, even if it was humiliating, but she never complained to Zhang Haoran when she went home, precisely because she feared this mother-in-law's intimidating power.

  "I... I..."

  "Don't tell me you're buying clothes again, are you...?" Mrs. Zhang looked up and down at the new dress on Tang Xiangxiang's body, and Tang Xiangxiang's heart suddenly jumped, feeling a bit guilty, she lowered her head.

  "Who is this?" Mrs. Zhang's companion finally asked curiously.

  "Our family's maid." Mrs. Zhang replied with a smile to her companion, "These two days don't know what's wrong with her, she actually didn't come home to collect and sweep. I think she just doesn't care anymore, but as a servant, you should have the rules of being a servant, it's really shameless, and yet she ran here to buy these high-end clothes, doesn't she know how expensive they are? She has no money herself, but wants to enjoy the luxurious life of the rich that is completely incompatible with her own, what a ridiculous idea!"

  Mrs. Zhang's reply was flat and bland, but every word hurt, piercing Tang Siyi's heart.

  Why does she have to suffer from Zhang Jia Ran's mother's insult here?

  She suddenly remembered that she and Zhang Hao Ran were already divorced, so why was she still afraid of his mother? She had been working hard all these years because she loved him, but they didn't have a relationship anymore... Why did she still... put on this obedient appearance?

  "It's really shameless, are you trying to seduce my son? I think your family's son is just too excellent..." The woman companion didn't know the inside story but also joined in to add fuel to the fire. Tang Xiangxiang's fist was clenched so tightly that her veins were visible, it's... enough!

  Digression

  Back late again today, orz...... sorry...... hehe!