Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 7

The sharp, cutting words Yiyang had spoken, especially those about Zhi Yu’s parents, tested Zhi Yu’s patience to its limit. She walked over and, facing the young, impish face of the child with a devilish streak, lightly slapped the other cheek—but she still couldn’t bring herself to hit hard.

“My patience has its limits! And you—a little brat—have the nerve to lecture me? Your father just said it yourself: I am now your elder. Show the respect due to your senior, not behave as insolently as you are right now!”

As she spoke, Zhi Yu felt her whole body trembling uncontrollably. This was the first time in her life she had been verbally attacked to the point of losing her rationality.

Even though she knew deep down that none of this was real, that it had all been part of a staged act, the child’s words were far too venomous. Even her usually gentle temper couldn’t contain the rising anger, and she reacted with such intensity.

On the same day, Yiyang—having been slapped by two different people—was now fully sober. She cornered the woman who had slapped her and spoken such harsh words, pressing her against the wall with hands on either side, her eyes red and staring directly at her.

Zhi Yu was trapped with nowhere to retreat. Facing this little brat, who was now taller than her and looked like a roaring lion, she felt uneasy, fearing some extreme reaction.

“You… what are you going to do? Don’t act recklessly!”

“Do? What can I do to you? I just want to warn you: don’t think I won’t dare to deal with you just because you’re with that man. Besides, I’ve never cared about him at all, let alone you! I’ll remember this slap today. Were you trying to establish your authority? Then you’re wrong. I, Zhang Yiyang, have never been an obedient child. If you think you can control me, you might as well forget it!”

Having said this, Yiyang turned and strode off with flair, glancing back at Zhi Yu: “And I’m not a little brat! I’m twenty-six. Who wins or loses isn’t decided yet. We’ll see, old woman!”

“Old woman? You…” Zhi Yu had finally started to breathe easier as Yiyang walked away—only to hear that final remark. Her bl00d boiled. After all that, she still didn’t get a proper explanation.

What kind of person had she gotten herself involved with? Taking on this “task” was going to be a headache. On the very first day, it had already become this chaotic—how would the days ahead go?

Zhi Yu worried about facing this difficult little brat every day. She could only hope that the arrogant, domineering young lady would soon take over the company, so she could escape this misery. But judging by the first encounter, things were unlikely to go smoothly.

Their first meeting ended on a high-tension, unpleasant note. It could be summarized as disastrous; both parties were left with extremely bad impressions.

Zhi Yu’s first impression was that this person was brash, disrespectful, and a heavy drinker—her goodwill vanished immediately. In Yiyang’s eyes, Zhi Yu was no different from the rich men’s kept women outside—greedy, willing to do anything for money.

After the argument, the two went upstairs separately. By the time Liu Ma brought some ointment to the living room, the two were gone. Yiyang, rubbing her sore cheeks, walked ahead and noticed, passing her mother’s room, that the long-sealed door was open. Looking inside, the bed linens had been changed. Her suppressed anger flared again, and she was instantly furious.

From a distance, Zhi Yu saw her standing at the doorway. She didn’t dare approach, knowing all too well how terrifying this child could be when angry.

At that moment, Zhang Guodong, freshly showered and fully dressed, passed through his room and walked into the space. Yiyang, seeing him, didn’t enter but instead shouted at the person inside: “Why? Fine, let her stay here, but why must she take my mother’s room when the guest room is empty? Is this deliberate?”

“Yiyang, I don’t want to argue. Your mother has been gone sixteen years—you should try to let go. And Zhi Yu is my fiancée, so naturally she stays with me,” Zhang Guodong said, stepping out to comfort and persuade her.

“You heartless, fickle man! Or no, a man who’s never had a heart. You can just let go so easily—but I can’t! I can’t! Why are you so cruel to me? You’ve taken my mother from me, and now you even occupy the last place with her scent…” Yiyang’s grief poured out as tears streamed from her eyes.

“Yiyang, sixteen years have passed. Everything has changed. Do you really think the scent remains? You shouldn’t be so stubborn…” Zhang Guodong felt helpless before his daughter’s persistence.

Zhi Yu watched the father and daughter converse at the doorway. Seeing the lonely figure, she felt a sudden surge of compassion and stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Yiyang’s shoulder: “Your mother may have passed, but she will always live in your heart, right? She’s always protecting you. Your memories with her are yours forever.”

The gentle words reached Yiyang’s ears, but she swung Zhi Yu’s hand away violently, crying: “I don’t need your pity, or your false kindness to comfort me! I hate you!”

She then turned and slammed her bedroom door shut. The loud bang echoed through the silent hallway, leaving everyone unsettled.

“Zhi Yu, I’m so sorry you had to witness that. Today she spoke more to me than she has in years—but it was a quarrel, not reconciliation. I feel like such a failure,” Zhang Guodong said, looking dejectedly at the firmly closed door across from him.

“Mr. Zhang, your daughter’s temper is something else. I’ve experienced it firsthand. This mission is going to be tough—I’m worried I won’t do it well.”

“I trust your abilities. Take it slow. Let’s not talk about it now. You should rest; I have some business tonight and won’t be home. Tomorrow’s the weekend—you can stay here, get familiar with your surroundings. I’ll inform Liu Ma. If you need anything, ask her. On Monday, I’ll take you to the company,” Zhang Guodong said.

“All right.”

After closing the door, Zhi Yu connected Zhang Guodong’s words with his daughter’s behavior. Something told her he was hiding something from her daughter—he was still fully dressed in a suit late at night, going out.

A social engagement? Didn’t seem like it. Could he have another woman outside? No—that wouldn’t make sense. If he really had someone, why call her all the way here to play this game with his daughter?

The more she thought, the less sense it made. Whatever. Zhi Yu decided she just needed to focus on her main task and let everything else go. This thought eased her mood slightly, and she went to take a hot shower.

Meanwhile, Yiyang, after returning to her room crying, curled up on the carpet beside her bed. She didn’t turn on the lights and silently wept in the darkness. Liu Ma knocked several times, but she didn’t answer.

“Mom… I miss you so much! What should I do?” Yiyang longed for her mother’s embrace, someone to comfort her softly in moments of sorrow—but now, she was alone, embracing only darkness.

Yiyang lay on the cold floor all night, hardly sleeping. By morning, she stared blankly at the ceiling. Her tears had dried, her cheeks no longer hurt, but her heart still ached, reminding her of the previous night’s events.

“Yiyang, are you awake?” Liu Ma hadn’t slept well either, worried that Yiyang might sneak out to drink. She had slept on the living room sofa, and as soon as dawn broke, she went to check on her.

Yiyang, dazed and indifferent, initially didn’t want to respond. But hearing Liu Ma’s worry, she reluctantly got up and opened the door.

Seeing Yiyang’s bloodless, red-rimmed eyes and the untouched bed, Liu Ma couldn’t hold back her tears: “Yiyang, you didn’t sleep all night again, did you? Please don’t do this—I feel so heartbroken, my child!”

Yiyang reached out and hugged Liu Ma, who was not a relative but had always been close to her. She patted her back silently, holding her tightly. Liu Ma cried even harder.

“Yiyang, don’t stay silent like this—you scare me more, you know? After your mother passed, you would lock yourself in your room for days without speaking. We were terrified. I beg you, please don’t do this again…”

Listening to Liu Ma’s sobbing, Yiyang felt the weight of her pain. She didn’t want to burden anyone else. Licking her dry lips, she forced a small bitter smile: “Liu Ma, I’m all right now. Please don’t cry, okay?”

“Really all right? Actually, it’s not been easy for your father these past few years. Finding a woman to come back is understandable…”

“You don’t need to say more… I’ll take a shower and then come down for breakfast,” Yiyang interrupted, not wanting to hear anything more about him—for now, she didn’t want to think about that man at all.