Qin Fei trembled with rage when she heard Lily's laugh that was full of mockery. "And do you think he will pick you over me?" she asked while taking another step back.
"No… why would he choose me over you? It's not like I am not the only woman around him. So you have to be very careful. After all… Xuan Hui has the tendency to be easily swayed," Lily was quick to answer.
Lily laughed inwardly at how self-centered Qin Fei was at this moment. Had she ever considered that karma would get to her one day? Ever since the day Lily was born, the whole Qin family, with the exception of Old Madam Ye, Lily's paternal grandmother, treated her as if she was a scum of the earth. For the simple reason that she was born out of wedlock and her mother was deemed as a nobody, someone beneath the Qin family. Qin Fei grew up innocent of the adults' prejudice against Lily but was soon brainwashed into believing that Lily was indeed wretched.
Lily remembered all the nasty things that Qin Fei had done to her. Qin Fei had embarrassed her in front of her so called elite friends countless times and she could not forget how Qin Fei framed her for stealing examination papers in school.
As Lily was growing up, she felt that she and her mother didn't deserve any of these. However, she was helpless and powerless to defend against all the schemes and attacks from the Qin family then. But that was not the case now. She was no longer the helpless and powerless Qin Jinghua of the past.
All this while, all Qin Fei could think about was to keep Xuan Hui away from Lily, thinking that Lily truly had designs on her husband. How foolish! As if Xuan Hui was worth any of her time and affections. Lily might have had some feelings for Xuan Hui in the past, but those feelings were long dead, along with the old Qin Jinghua.
For Lily, Xuan Hui was just a pawn; a pawn in her war against Qin Fei. Since Xuan Hui held such an important place in Qin Fei's heart, she would strike where it would hurt Qin Fei the most - her husband, Xuan Hui.
"He would not do that to me," Qin Fei said, unaware how the conversation had turned in a completely different direction. Why is she defending herself against Lily now when she was the aggressor earlier? How did it become like this?
"Of course he wouldn't." Lily smiled. "After all, he is a saint. Someone not capable of cheating and lying. Xuan Hui is-"
"Stop it! He will never betray me!" Qin Fei shouted with finality. It was stern and loud, like a declaration. At this point, Xuan Hui happen to come back with a glass of water that Qin Fei had requested. Noticing the commotion, he immediately went to both Lily and Qin Fei. Fear was apparent in his eyes. What if Lily was bullying his wife?
"Fei Fei, let's go home," he said the moment he reached his wife's side. "Let's talk about all these at home." Xuan Hui was aware of Qin Fei's true character. He knew how scheming and manipulative she was but this didn't stop him from loving her. Surprisingly, Xuan Hui found these qualities of Qin Fei attractive but he knew that others might not think the same way. He knew his wife was not a saint but he still adored her. At this moment, he couldn't wait to bring his wife away from the party for fear that his wife might embarrass herself again in front of everyone.
While Xuan Hui was worrying about his wife, Qin Fei already had a scheme in mind. "Miss Qin," Qin Fei said, her voice full of self-righteousness. "My mother loved you and raised you like her own. Yet, here you are, being ungrateful. You can insult me but I cannot stand for you insulting my mother."
Qin Fei's words send shivers of shock down Xuan Hui's spine. 'How could Qin Fei think about scheming against Lily even after knowing her identity? How could she still scheme against Lily in front of everyone here? Qin Fei is pregnant with his child. Hadn't it crossed her mind how dangerous it is for a pregnant woman like her to engage someone in a confrontation? With Lily no less?'
"I am actually a very kind person Miss Qin. But the moment you touch my mother, I would become someone else," Qin Fei said, her words were hinting at the insult that Lily threw at them earlier on the topic of the bracelet. By now, their confrontation had already drawn a crowd around them. At the same time, Tang Lingyun became alarmed at the commotion and decided to put a stop to all this. She originally thought that Qin Fei would only have a peaceful talk with Lily. She trusted her daughter to be able to control herself. Who knew that this would happen?
Lily looked at Qin Fei with pity in her eyes. She pitied the child inside Qin Fei who would be born to a mother like her. Even at a young age, Lily was someone who loved kids. She always wanted a child of her own, a husband, a family. Yet, this was taken away from her seven years ago. Like Xuan Hui, Lily also thought that Qin Fei was being careless to seek a confrontation when she is heavily pregnant. How could Qin Fei not care about her child? Seeing as Qin Fei still had not changed her ways even though she was going to be a mother soon somehow made Lily feel a little angry inside.
But Lily did not show her anger. In fact, she even had a smile on, as if Qin Fei's words had nothing to do with her.
"First and foremost Mrs. Xuan, you really cannot afford this piece of jewelry. It would be a waste of both of our time if we discuss this further," Lily said, feeling her irritation building inside. Did Qin Fei think that she could provoke her with her words? If the same situation happened seven years ago, maybe she would have reacted and turn this to an even bigger confrontation. Her heart had grown so much stronger over the years and so Qin Fei's words had no effect on her at all.
"Second, I can reimburse your family back for all the expenses incurred when my mother and I were living in the Qin family. Like the food and rent for that old maid's quarters that my mother and I lived in. Don't say that I am ungrateful. I can assure you that my lawyer can make arrangements."
"Third, you speak of love? About how your mother raised me like her own? All I remember is how your mother kept preventing me from going to school. I wasn't given the opportunity to attend classes and pick up some skills like you did when we were children. Do I have to be grateful to your mother for stalling my development?"
"Fourth, I don't have any interest in your husband who is beneath me. Call me ruthless but why would I be attracted to or want to be with someone who cannot bring me any benefits?"
"Fifth, I know your ego can't take this but since you insist on buying my bracelet, I shall be kind to name you a price. I will even wait for you to raise the required amount of money before I sell you the bracelet," Lily said, gesturing Yang Mi with her eyes.
Yang Mi nodded as she quickly wrote down the price of the bracelet on a piece of paper and handed it to Lily. Holding out the piece of paper to Qin Fei, Lily taunted, "Here is the price of the bracelet. If there are any other items on my body that you wish to buy, please feel free to let me know so that I could quote you a price."
"What are you waiting for Qin Fei? Take it…before I decide to donate it to someone else."
Editor: Swaning