Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 5

When Zhang Guodong said those words, Zhi Yu saw on his face the pride of a father toward his daughter, as well as the hidden sense of loss and melancholy.

Although she knew that their father-daughter relationship wasn’t very good, all parents love their children in some way. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have resorted to a method that might even make his daughter dislike him more, just to provoke her. Truly, the heart of a parent is a pitiable thing!

After chatting a while longer, Secretary Chen reminded them that it was almost time. So, the group went through security and waited at the boarding gate, and soon boarded the plane.

The plane took off and eventually stabilized in the air. Zhi Yu kept looking out the window, watching the hometown she had lived in for twenty-eight years shrink under the blanket of white clouds until it disappeared from view. She felt a swirl of emotions she couldn’t quite describe. Hong Kong, I’ll be back soon!

Hong Kong and Shanghai weren’t far apart, so two hours later the plane safely landed at Pudong Airport. Zhi Yu silently followed behind them. After collecting their luggage, the lawyer and secretary went home separately, while Zhang Guodong took her to the underground parking lot.

A driver was already waiting there. Seeing them approach, he hurriedly got out, took the luggage, and loaded it into the trunk. Zhang Guodong politely opened the car door for Zhi Yu to get in first. Once she was seated, he drove toward home.

On the way, he briefly explained what he had learned from Liu Ma about his daughter’s personality and temper, so that Zhi Yu would have some preparation and know how to handle her. Zhang Guodong felt like a failure as a father—he had to learn about his daughter from the housekeeper.

In no time, the car stopped in front of a large villa. Zhang Guodong led Zhi Yu inside. Hearing the noise, Liu Ma hurried out to greet them: “Sir, you’re back! I’ve prepared the meal; it’s ready for Miss as soon as she returns.”

“Mm! Where’s Yiyang? It’s so late and she hasn’t returned yet,” Zhang Guodong said, glancing at the time. Almost eight o’clock—he worried she might be at some inappropriate place again.

“She said she had to work late today,” Liu Ma explained.

“It’s better if it’s truly work. Once she returns, she’ll see the truth. Give her a call and urge her to come home,” Zhang Guodong said.

Liu Ma picked up the landline and called Yiyang. After a while, the call connected: “Miss, when are you coming home? Sir just got back, and he’s waiting for you to have dinner together!”

Today Yiyang had taken on a wedding photoshoot. The bride insisted on her as the photographer and offered a good price. She had no choice but to go herself.

The client’s demands were high—unsatisfied with the background here, the lighting there—leaving Yiyang and her assistant exhausted. By the time the shoot ended, it was around eight in the evening.

Just as she was packing up to return home, she received Liu Ma’s call. Hearing Liu Ma’s words, her smile froze, and she replied: “Uh… Liu Ma, you don’t have to wait for me to eat. Some colleagues invited me out; I’ll eat with them first.”

Liu Ma relayed her words to Zhang Guodong, whose face immediately darkened. Meanwhile, Liu Ma noticed the woman standing behind him and asked in surprise, “Sir, who is this lady?”

“Oh, right, I forgot to introduce her. This is my fiancée, Shen Zhi Yu. She’ll be living here from now on. And this is our housekeeper, Liu Ma, you can just call her Liu Ma,” Zhang Guodong introduced them.

Liu Ma was stunned. In all these years, she had never seen Sir bring a woman home. She had assumed he was busy with work, but now realized… he had a secret mistress! She worried about how Miss Yiyang would react.

Since Yiyang said she wouldn’t be home for dinner, Liu Ma served the meal directly. Zhang Guodong asked Zhi Yu to sit, and the two of them chatted idly while eating.

After dinner, he took Zhi Yu upstairs to show her around the house. Finally, they arrived at a familiar room. Seeing that nothing had changed inside, he frowned slightly.

“This was my late wife’s room. I hope you don’t mind. Liu Ma has always kept it clean—it’s exactly as it was sixteen years ago. You’ll be staying here. Try not to touch the vanity or decorations. If my daughter finds out, I don’t know what she might do.”

“Will she react strongly if I stay in her mother’s room? I… I’m a little worried,” Zhi Yu admitted.

“I chose this room deliberately, to provoke her a bit. If she does anything against you, just tell me. My room is right next door; the two rooms are connected by a single door. That way, for the pretense of being a couple, you can lock the door at night. We won’t actually sleep together, so you can rest assured.”

“Mm, okay! I’ll follow your arrangements.”

Meanwhile, unaware that an unexpected guest had arrived at home, Yiyang finished packing and grabbed a convenience store meal to tide herself over. Not wanting to see that person too soon, she drove again to the familiar bar.

Ignoring the flirtatious and disdainful glances, she found a seat and ordered a dozen beers. Having been there many times, the regulars knew not to bother her—she was a difficult person to provoke. Anyone who had previously tried to tease her knew she had a “double” personality and stayed away.

Yiyang was unaware of their thoughts, leaning back on the sofa, drinking while observing the crowd—some couples cuddled, some were flirting—she watched coldly as an outsider.

A stranger approached her: “Miss, can I buy you a drink?”

“Of course!” Yiyang gestured for her to sit.

The woman sat, gradually moving closer and touching her provocatively. Yiyang didn’t stop her, emboldening the woman.

The woman first placed her hand on Yiyang’s thigh, then moved toward her zipper.

Though drunk, Yiyang sensed her intention. She grabbed the woman’s hand and threw it off, then stood unsteadily, left a pile of money on the table, and walked out.

The woman, infuriated by Yiyang’s cold attitude, shouted after her: “Don’t think you’re so great just because you’re pretty and have some money! I still don’t like you!”

Yiyang smirked and left the bar. The woman’s curses didn’t bother her; she didn’t even consider arguing back.

The regulars, used to such scenes, were indifferent, some even mocking the woman for overestimating herself.

Yiyang hated anyone touching her. The previous attempt to touch her thigh was already the limit; trying to touch her more private areas ensured that woman would never return.

Exiting the neon-lit bar, Yiyang swayed slightly, her head spinning. Driving in this state was impossible. It was late, and if she waited to sober up, Liu Ma would have called her relentlessly. She tried to hail a cab when her phone rang—it was Liu Ma again.

“Yiyang, why are you still out so late? Nothing happened to you, right?” Liu Ma asked anxiously.

“Heh… what could have happened? Are you worried someone would rob me… or worse?”

“You’ve been drinking again, haven’t you? How many times do I have to tell you? How can a young girl be so reckless?”

“Perhaps the person who could cure me hasn’t been born yet, haha…” Yiyang collapsed on the ground, giggling.

Hearing the noise, Liu Ma panicked: “Where are you? I’ll have the driver pick you up.”

Yiyang, still disoriented, gave the bar’s location. Liu Ma called the driver to pick her up. Since her mother passed away, Yiyang had always been headstrong; even advice from her long-time housekeeper often fell on deaf ears.

When the driver arrived at the bar, he found her leaning against the wall, eyes half-closed. Fortunately, the area was sparsely populated. He tapped her to wake her and helped her into the car.

By the time they got home, it was nearly ten o’clock. When the driver tried to assist her inside, she refused:

“Master Huang, you’ve worked hard tonight. You can go home and rest.”

“I’m Driver Liu,” he corrected.

“Uh… whatever, I can manage on my own… Good night!”