"I’ve kept you waiting." Zhao Lifei walked into a frameless glass wall meeting room where she pressed a button and the glass became frosted for privacy. No one could see inside the meeting room and no one could see outside. It was pretty faulty in that sense and after thinking about it, she decided to make a mental note and contact an architect. Maybe a mirrored glass would be a lot better.
Sitting in one of the comfortable chairs was a woman who carried herself with class and confidence. Her slender legs were crossed over one another and she was wearing a modest-length pencil skirt. It wasn’t a surprise, seeing as she had to return to work after this.
"No, I recently arrived less than a minute ago." Su Meixiu amicably said, standing up at the presence of Zhao Lifei. "Thank you for inviting me here, President."
Zhao Lifei closed the glass door behind her and sat down in a chair opposite to Su Meixiu. "I’m sure you’re confused as to why I called you here." She folded her hands together. The reason why she went through Yang Feng’s phone was to retrieve Su Meixiu’s contact information. He didn’t have her phone number, but she did find her work email.
Su Meixiu was beginning to see this woman in a better light. When Zhao Lifei strolled into the room, the air changed. Power. Class. Arrogance. So many words could be used to describe the woman sitting across from her. Her presence overwhelmed the air.
"I have an idea of what it might be."
"Hm, is that so? Well, enlighten me." Zhao Lifei tilted her head, her lips drawing into a crafty smile.
Su Meixiu’s forehead creased. "Didn’t you call for my presence to curse me for what happened that night at Madam Yang’s birthday banquet?" When she received the message yesterday, she began to prepare herself for the worst outcome possible. After all, hell hath no fury like a scorned woman.
"Huh? What happened?" Zhao Lifei feigned ignorance. She knew Su Meixiu was testing her to see if she stayed behind to eavesdrop or not.
"I...I confessed my feelings for President Yang." Su Meixiu said. She didn’t drop her shoulders or avoid eye contact with Zhao Lifei. Both the women were too self-assured in themselves to look away. "But he shot me down without a second thought and I have moved on now." The delivery of her words was confident. She was stating the truth.
"Is that so?" Zhao Lifei’s smile deepened. "Well, I hate to admit it, but I did overhear the conversation between Yang Feng and you." She clicked her nails on the table. "You were partially right. I did call you in for that matter, but it’s not to insult you. I want to have a proper conversation with you."
Su Meixiu felt like she was wandering down the rabbit hole of confusion. ’A proper conversation...? Then what is with all of the bodyguards she passed by earlier?’ On her way to this room, there were already men stationed by the elevator.
"Pardon me, but I don’t understand what you’re trying to say." Su Meixiu stared at Zhao Lifei with a bewildered look in her eyes.
"You know, Su Meixiu, you remind me of my former self." Zhao Lifei rested the side of her face on a propped up arm. "Neither of us had a choice in who we would fall in love with. We were both programmed by our family to think and behave in a certain way, so much so that our parents have already decided on whom we should get married to."
Su Meixiu’s lips parted in shock. At a loss for words, she could only sit and listen to what else Zhao Lifei would say. She never thought about how controlling her family was until today.
"We have both worked diligently for the company of the people we were programmed to love. And what did we get in return? A slap in the face and a demotion." Zhao Lifei’s smile softened and became more genuine. "I will not apologize for Yang Feng’s behavior towards you, for you pursued a taken man without hesitation."
"That’s alright, I never expected an apology for the way I behaved. It was unacceptable, I-I know. I rashly acted out of desperation." Su Meixiu held her breath as guilt weighed her down.
"I can’t make any excuses for Yang Feng, because he... well, you already know the kind of man he is." Zhao Lifei winced. "Seeing the way he treated you that night reminded me of my previous fiance, Zheng Tianyi. However, they’re also completely different. Yang Feng has taught you many things in life and was gracious enough to train you into a flawless personal assistant."
Her words stabbed right through Su Meixiu’s heart. "In the end, we are different. You got your happy ever after with a better man."
"That doesn’t mean your happy ever after will never come." Zhao Lifei found it ironic that she went from hating Su Meixiu to offering her comforting words. She believed it was because the similarity in their situation and love life was too identical to ignore.
"You’re a bright woman with a lot of potential and one heck of a resume. Having Yang Enterprise as a company you worked for is equivalent to striking the job lottery. Any company you go to, they will hire you in a heartbeat."
"Why are you so kind to me after all I’ve done to you? I-I even tried to sabotage and disrespect you." Su Meixiu cried out, her chest heavy with guilt and prickly pain of remorse.
"Because we are both women and you remind me of myself. I guess I am selfish for wanting to speak to you in hopes of severing the ties of my past. Guiding you relieves me for some odd reason." Zhao Lifei shook her head. "I hate it when women put women down, but that mentality also makes me a hypocrite because of the actions I’ve done in the past."
"And also because you have helped Yang Feng a great deal. I don’t want to see potential wither away because of jealousy." Zhao Lifei knew her grandfather would be reprimanding her for even having this kind of conversation with Su Meixiu. But she wasn’t her grandfather and she never will be.
"I can see you’re on the brink of losing it all, whether it’s your sanity or your job and maybe even family. However, I do not see the problem in losing the latter if they were as cruel, abusive, and manipulative as my parents were." Zhao Lifei dished out her thoughts one after the other.
"Do not make the same mistakes that I have done. Do not foolishly continue to chase after a man because your parents want you to. Do not let love ruin you like it had done to me in the past."
Su Meixiu’s gaze dropped to her hands. She didn’t realize she was crying until hot droplets fell on her clenched hands. Guilt. Remorse. She was riddled with all of it. Her arms were shaking and she couldn’t control the tiny sobs that left her mouth. Her whole life, no one had shown her the patience and kindness that Zhao Lifei offered her today. She regretted everything she had ever done against Zhao Lifei. She regretted hating that woman to the core. She regretted all of it. No amount of words could express her anguish.
Insults and curses would’ve been a lot better than how Zhao Lifei killed her with kindness. It was the most effective weapon of all, for physical wounds can easily heal, but mental ones like shame and guilt could never be forgotten.
"Why... why are you so nice to me? It’s unfair." Su Meixiu cried out, raising her head to reveal her reddened eyes.
Even so, Zhao Lifei was not repulsed by the sight. "Life is unfair. I’ll let karma take its course. Besides, good deeds are rewarded with equally good deeds." She shrugged, "Also, it gets rid of one less problem for me."
This conversation would be one that Su Meixiu would remember for the rest of her life, whether she liked it or not. "I won’t be able to repay you for what happened today."
"I know." Zhao Lifei stared into the distance and towards the window. She couldn’t believe how much time had changed her. She didn’t know if it was for better or worse.
The two sat in silence, with the ticks of the clock on the wall being the sole sound in the room. After a long pause, Su Meixiu finally gathered the courage to say, "I’m sorry."
"Actions speak louder than words. I hope you demonstrate that apology through different means." Zhao Lifei smiled.
Su Meixiu slowly nodded her head. "Thank you. For everything. I really needed this conversation." She stood up and offered Zhao Lifei a hand.
Zhao Lifei stared at it and said, "But that doesn’t mean I forgive you." She shook it to which Su Meixiu nodded. "I didn’t expect you to."
- - - - -
Zhao Lifei stayed behind because there was a meeting scheduled in that room. Su Meixiu grabbed her bags and walked out of the door, but was surprised to see how many bodyguards were lining the hallways. ’It seemed the President truly treasured her...’
Su Meixiu was unfamiliar with their faces, which she found a bit odd since most of the bodyguards assigned to her were from the Underworld and she would’ve known a majority of them. Then she realized some of them might be from Zhao Moyao’s side as well. She shrugged and continued walking to the elevator. However, as the doors were sliding shut, she saw the bodyguards were making their way into the meeting room. ’Did something happen?’ Before she could do anything, the door slammed shut and the elevator began to descend.