Chapter 128 - Elaborate Lie
It was not only Chen Yi who had weird expressions.
Even Fu Liling and Xu Yuyan wore incredulous looks over their faces.
Chen Ying felt secret joy when Fu Jianguo insulted Chen Yi without fear. They misinterpreted the shocked expressions on everyone's faces as something else.
For a moment, no one spoke a word.
All of sudden, Xu Yuyan turned around and apologized. "Yi'er please don't take it to mind. Fu Jianguo is just...I don't know where I went wrong." It's a mother's natural instinct to take their children's side. But in this situation, Xu Yuyan was finding it hard to follow that natural instinct.
Chen Yi had a long chat with Fu Liling back in her hospital room. Fu Liling had questioned why was Chen Yi dressed in that way. Chen Yi had told her about the audition, telling her literally everything happening in her life excluding a certain dangerous man.
"It's alright." Chen Yi was hardly containing her laughter. Her cheeks were turning red from having to put so much effort into keeping a natural face. Even her eyes had gathered tears, she feared if she constrained herself a little more, her lungs would burst.
"Mother, don't apologize to her. You have no idea what kind of insane person she is." Fu Jianguo noticed Chen Yi reddening cheeks, her tear-filled eyes.
He eyed her expressions with derision. Now what? She was going to cry? Did she really think she would play such an obvious trick and he would not expose her? If she assumed he would pity her after she shed crocodile tears, she was very wrong.
"Brother Fu, please go easy on Sister Yi." With eyes full of pity, Chen Ying jumped into the conversation to take her role. "She doesn't mean you any harm. Sometimes I blame myself. If not for me, you too would be happy together."
"Ying'er, there's is nothing for you to be apologetic for." He caressed her back, his actions tender and attentive. His eyes were full of affection. "We two were fated to be. You are my fiancee now. If anyone holds intentions that are not reciprocated, he is the one at fault." He looked at Chen Yi, his piercing glare contrasted the soft look he gave to Chen Ying.
"It's just...Brother Fu, can you excuse her behavior for my sake. After all, she is a family to me. Even if she hates me..."
"Someone who wants to hurt our relationship, I can't excuse them. Even if you ask for it."
"Silence!" Xu Yuyan's ears were on the verge of bleeding. Her furious eyes landed on her eldest son, her breathing laborious "Do you have any idea how much of an embarrassment you are being to me right now?"
"Mother, If you do not believe me I can—"
"Yi'er is dressed in this manner because she has an audition a few hours later." Fu Liling dropped the bomb, she could not endure it anymore, her brother's behavior was bringing her second-hand embarrassment.
"Auditi— What?" Fu Jianguo was speechless.
He looked back at Chen Yi. Her dress was dark, her hair framed into an eloquent style, her makeup noticeable yet bringing a certain air around her.
A fantasy character, almost exactly like a Vampire.
So...it was the case?
Another pause of silence transpired. A very long one. No one spoke a word. Not a single whisper for the whole time.
After struggling to suppress her laughter, Chen Yi had finally regained control of herself, her cheeks returning to their normal color.
Fu Jianguo's mind had gone blank.
Chen Ying's situation was not any better. Together with Fu Jianguo, she had pulled out such a perfect performance.
The prideful eldest son of the Fu family, the revered CEO of the Fu entertainment, and the apple of the eye of his grandparents was totally and utterly humiliated.
"Oh...that was the case..." Chen Ying broke the painful stretch of silence, laughing and attempting to act casual. She was feeling very awkward. "I wonder what role Sister Yi is auditioning for? I will have brother Fu make a call for you to settle things for you."
Settle what?
That I don't get the role? No, thanks.
"I am confident in my qualifications to pass. I won't want to inconvenience you." Chen Yi said, amusement manifesting in her eyes.
"Oh, I see..." Chen Ying's eyes flashed, her thoughts moved rapidly. Qin Chanpu hadn't informed her anything regarding Chen Yi's audition. She remembered clearly instructing Qin Chanpu not to let Chen Yi get a role easily.
How came things progressed to such a state?
Fu Jianguo finally snapped back into reality.
He had suffered such a major humiliation by Chen Yi's hands, he was even more determined to get back. However, when he opened his mouth, no word came out...
...he had nothing to lash at her.
Xu Yuyan observed the tense atmosphere. She took the role of an elder, acting as a moderator, she said. "Ling'er Chen Ying suffered so much to get you the dress. Won't you even check it out? Don't you think it's rude?"
Fu Liling did not want to. She had not even taken the shopping bag if Chen Ying had not forced it into her hands. But Fu Liling was also very obedient to her mother, she nodded at her mother.
Her hands opened the shopping back, taking out a classic grey dress.
The dress was expensive, a luxurious piece of article. The fabric was smooth, flawless to the touch.
If the situation was different, Fu Liling would have erupted in joy. But this dress was gifted to her by the same person who attempted to kill her. There was no joy in such a gift.
"Ying'er you have such a nice taste." Xu Yuyan tried her best to moderate the situation, melting the tense air. "Haha, in the future spare some time to go shop with me."
Chen Ying was delighted. This was the first time Fu Jianguo's mother had showed her a kind gesture, "I'm at your beck and call, Mother." Chen Ying sent a fleeting glance at Chen Yi, expecting her ugly expressions.
But Chen Yi was not even listening to their conversation. Her eyes were locked at the dress, a contemplative frown over her face.
"I had accompanied Ms. Chen while she looked out for the dress. Ms. Chen's dedication astounded me, she wouldn't even sit to rest until she got the dress she wanted for Eldest Miss." Manager Jing found the moment precise to butter her up.
"Oh, Manager Jing, don't embarrass me. I only did what I thought was right. You are making it sound so big." Chen Ying's cheeks gained a touch of red.
Xu Yuyan's impression of Chen Ying improved considerably. Maybe she was not as bad. Maybe she could replace Chen Yi...
It was just that Fu Liling and Chen Ying didn't get along well. That was Xu Yuyan's biggest reservation towards Chen Ying.
But...it could have been a fault at her daughter's side.
Encouraged by Chen Ying's response, Manager Jing decided to give an elaborate story to their lie. "Just when she selected the one she wanted, making sure it was up to Eldest Miss taste, a mistress from some elite stuttered towards us and claimed the dress. She offered ten times the price. The shop worker was so confused, he brought up the Manager." Manager Jing laughed.
"Oh, how did you get around then?" Xu Yuyan's eyes softened at Chen Ying.
Xu Yuyan smiled at Chen Ying and frowned towards her daughter. Later, she would have a discussion with fu Liling to fix her attitude with Chen Ying...
Manager Jing's words also had an effect on Fu Jianguo. He passed Chen Yi an affectionate glance... To think he was so rude to her when she had been tiring herself for his sister's sake, he would have to make up for her in the future.
"Well, things solved themselves when that Manager turned out to be a die-hard fan of Ms. Chen. He even offered to gift the dress for free but we only accepted it after paying the price."
"Haha, why would he not be? Among the actresses, our Ying'er enjoys the best reputation." Xu Yuyan praised, calling Chen Ying, Ying'er for the first time.
Chen Ying was overjoyed but Fu Liling was not. When Fu Liling found her Mother loosening up to Chen Ying, her heart dropped.
What was she supposed to do? Her mother was not aware of Chen Ying's affair with Jiang Li... Worse than that, now Chen Ying realized Fu Liling had knowledge of that affair... Would Chen Ying try to come at her again? What if Chen Ying decided to kill her to silence her.
All thought thoughts circulated in her mind, her heart growing a suffocating unease.
In desperation, Fu Liling looked at Chen Yi, her eyes asking for help.
She was terrified of Chen Ying.
Chen Yi passed her a reassuring smile, her hand giving Fu Liling a light squeeze. There was a silent promise in there.
Chen Yi would not let her cousin hurt Fu Liling.
For Fu Liling meant for her more than just a friend... if things went as planned, she would one day perhaps be Chen Yi's sister-in-law...
When Fu Liling calmed enough, Chen Yi looked ahead, her eyes manifesting amusement. "Manager Jing, according to what you said, this morning you were with Chen Ying at the Zabwa boutique?"
Jing Cuifen felt something was off. Chen Yi's interrogative tone struck her rude.
If it was somewhere else, Jing Cuifan would have ignored Chen Yi. But in the presence of Fu Jianguo and Madam Xu, she replied in a somewhat polite tone. "Yes, is there anything wrong?"
Chen Yi's lips curled up into a faint smile, her eyes were flashing with a cold expression.
Chen Ying had an ominous feeling about that smile.