Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 15

Thinking of all this, Yiyang longed so much for time to go back—so that the figure downstairs would be her mother instead of this young and beautiful woman. Then she could run to her mother’s arms and play happily in the garden, instead of standing now behind a glass window, looking on with no love in her heart but only deep hatred.

Yes, she hated. She hated Heaven for being so unfair—taking away her mother’s young life and leaving a small child without a mother’s love.

When she grew up, it took away her lover as well, leaving her no longer believing in love. And now it had even placed a stranger into the house filled with her mother’s shadow, even letting that stranger take over the flowers and plants her mother had tended. Yiyang’s world had always been gray, just like the sky that had suddenly changed today.

The bright blue sky was quickly covered with dark clouds. Rain began to fall, and droplets dotted the glass window. She saw that woman outside hurrying into the house.

Yiyang lifted her head to the gray sky.
“Mom, I miss you so much. Do you think I will ever find someone who loves me? Can I still find happiness that belongs to me? How should I go on from here—can you teach me?”

That day, after Yiyang went into her room, she never came out again. Usually on her days off she would go downstairs, chat with Liu Ma, and have afternoon tea. But now it felt unnecessary.

Ever since that woman had entered their home, Liu Ma always sided with her, laughing and chatting with her, constantly praising her. Perhaps right now they were talking happily downstairs.

In her current injured state Yiyang could do nothing but sit by the window, staring blankly at the rainy sky outside. This had been her habit for many years.

Whenever she was alone, Yiyang liked to let her mind go blank. To outsiders she seemed an introvert, even aloof and unapproachable, but in truth her heart was slowly being eaten away by something called loneliness. That was why she wore this cold, unsmiling mask.

Since childhood she had been used to being alone, except for Liu Ma—who treated her as a daughter—and that person who had once appeared and then suddenly disappeared, Lin Wei. Yiyang gave a bitter smile. After all this time she still thought of that woman, still hadn’t let go. But then she thought: maybe now the love is gone, and even the hate has faded.

Sometimes she would think of her, perhaps only because Lin Wei was her first love—an affair not exactly soul-searing but unforgettable. And it was precisely that heartbreak and abandonment that made her lose faith in and desire for love.

She remembered what her mother had said before she died: “Look for someone who loves you more than you love them.”
But ever since Lin Wei left, the people around Yiyang loved her money and beauty more than herself. She knew it, yet she didn’t refuse. Maybe she just wanted to fill the emptiness in her heart.

Today’s bruises all over her body had taught her a deep lesson. “If you often walk by the river, your shoes will get wet sooner or later.” Love is not something you can toy with casually. No matter how humble or ordinary, everyone has the right to love and be loved.

Maybe the person you’re looking for is not the one in front of you now. But one day you will find them. Yet in Yiyang’s life, that “she” was nowhere to be found. Sometimes, late at night, she wished there were someone who could hold her close, to love each other and silently grow old together.

Thinking of the word “embrace,” an inappropriate image flashed in her mind—this morning’s scene of that “old woman” quietly nestled in her arms. Yiyang broke out in a cold sweat.
“Damn it! How can I be thinking of that woman?”

As Yiyang leaned her head against the wall, lost in her world, someone knocked on the door. After hearing no response, the knocking came again, several times.

“Yiyang, are you inside? Liu Ma says it’s time to come down for lunch.”

This woman really was like a lingering ghost. Even Liu Ma had become lazier. Before, she herself would come upstairs or call Yiyang down to eat. Now she sent a helper—someone she knew Yiyang hated to the core.

Yiyang slowly stood up and reluctantly opened the door.
“Please tell her I have no appetite and don’t want to eat. That’s all. Goodbye!”

Then she shut the door again, threw herself on the bed, pulled the blanket over her head, and went to sleep. But about ten minutes later the door was knocked on again. She ignored it.

Suddenly Liu Ma stormed in, lifted her blanket, and gave her a light slap on the butt.
“Daring not to eat again? Did you forget what I told you? No appetite or not, you still have to eat!”

“I don’t want to eat—especially not with that woman at the table!”

“You… honestly! What did Zhi Yu ever do to you?”

“Everything! From the moment she came to this house, I haven’t liked her. Eating at the same table makes me lose my appetite. Going out with her ruins my mood. In short, she and I are like water and fire!”

“You little brat, talking about ‘water and fire’… You’re rich enough—if you’re so capable, move out yourself, then you won’t have to see her.”

“This is my home. Why should I leave? And besides, would you really bear to let me go?”

“That’s my point. Both Zhi Yu and you are part of this family. Can’t everyone just get along?” Liu Ma said, trying to pull her out from under the blanket.

“Who said she’s part of this family? She has no name and no status. Maybe one day the old man will just kick her out.”

“You’re just hoping they’ll split up! Now get up—Zhi Yu has already eaten and gone back to her own room.”

Hearing that the woman was no longer downstairs, Yiyang finally got up and followed Liu Ma down to eat.

After lunch, everyone went about their own business. Liu Ma busied herself cleaning every corner. Yiyang went back to her room to read photography magazines. Zhi Yu called her parents and then sat on the sofa in her bedroom reading a book.

Time at home always passed quickly. In the blink of an eye it was dark. A car sounded outside. Zhang Guodong put away his umbrella, patted the rain off his clothes, and entered the house.

After asking about Zhi Yu’s whereabouts, he went straight upstairs to find her. The door was open. She was flipping through books left by his ex-wife. He sighed.

Hearing the sound, Zhi Yu looked up.
“Mr. Zhang, you’re back!”

Zhang Guodong quickly closed the door and hushed her.
“You’ve forgotten again. Right now we’re supposed to be engaged. How can you call me Mr. Zhang?”

“Oh, right—sorry, I forgot for a moment.”

“Be careful next time. If Yiyang hears, the whole thing will be exposed. By the way, how have things been the past two days? How are you getting along with my daughter?” he asked curiously.

“Don’t even mention it. Your daughter is really something.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Stubborn, cold, arrogant, sharp-tongued… In short, just these two days with her and I already feel mentally and physically exhausted. I really don’t have the confidence to accomplish what you’re asking me to do.” Zhi Yu recalled the past two days and felt it had been far more tiring than work.

“Haha, so in your eyes my daughter is nothing but flaws. That’s rare indeed. Actually, she’s just cold outside and warm inside. Once you get to know her you’ll find she’s kind, lovely, and considerate.”

“Forget it! And how do you know? Isn’t your relationship with her not so great?”

“I have my ways. You don’t need to ask. The next step is you going to my company tomorrow. Everything’s arranged. I’ve transferred the original general manager to your company in Hong Kong. You and he will simply swap positions…” Zhang Guodong began explaining the preparations for tomorrow.

Unknowingly, the two talked in the room for a full hour until Liu Ma called them for dinner. Just as they were about to go downstairs, Zhang Guodong suddenly asked,
“Where’s Yiyang? Did she come down?”

Liu Ma’s eyes flickered evasively. Zhang Guodong guessed what was happening and ordered firmly,
“Go call her. Tell her if she doesn’t come to dinner, we won’t start. We’ll all wait for her.”

In the end Liu Ma had no choice but to repeat his words exactly to Yiyang. Upon hearing them, Yiyang flared up.
“What does he mean by this—forcing me? Fine, let them wait!”

“Yiyang, your father just wants the whole family to sit down and eat together. Think about it—these past years you two have been estranged, barely ever sharing a meal. He’s getting older. As the saying goes, ‘The tree longs for stillness but the wind won’t stop; the child longs to care for the parent but the parent is gone.’”

“Wow, Liu Ma, you’re amazing—quoting sayings like that. I, Zhang Yiyang, salute you! For your eloquence I’ll reluctantly go along. But that whole ‘treating my family kindly’ thing isn’t for me—treating you kindly is more like it.”

In the end Yiyang was persuaded downstairs. When Zhang Guodong saw the bruises on his daughter’s face and hands his expression immediately darkened. He stood up, asking anxiously,
“Yiyang, what happened to you? Who did this? I’ll get justice for you.”

“My business is none of your concern!”

“My daughter gets beaten—how can I just stand by?”

“Have you ever treated me like a daughter? Where were you when I was born? When I first learned to walk? When my mother was driven to jump off the building before my eyes—where were you then? And now you come to meddle in my affairs? Mr. Zhang, don’t you think it’s a little late?”

“I admit I missed too much, far too much. But all these years I’ve been trying to make it up to you. You know that—it’s not that you don’t, it’s that you’ve never given me the chance, isn’t it?” Hearing his daughter’s accusations, Zhang Guodong truly felt guilty. This matter had been a knot in his heart for many years.