CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN (47) Misconception
Rose might have learnt a lot from her parents, on her own and from teachers as well as relatives, but one thing was clear, she didn't learn how to sweet talk or suck up to anyone.
No. She found it utterly disgusting and repulsive. And she was never one to be seen doing it.
"Hunh?"
Her tone change was drastic but that didn't seem to shake Biyu.
"What is wrong?" Biyu asked. "You know I'm not wrong, right? Ying'er does all of these because she's worried about you. You're still younger than she is, and she has more experience. So that's why she always acts that way. She is not one to keep her emotion in check." Biyu spoke at length without Rose interruption.
'Has more experience my foot.' Rose held it in, she knows if she spoke as she pleased, Biyu will go running to her mother.
"Ying'er is my child, and I know her the best, hmm? Now she's badly injured because of that evil girl you're friends with, you didn't even come to check up on her..."
"First of all, aunt. I won't allow you refer to Grace as evil."
"And why won't you? Hmm?" Biyu was momentarily shocked. "She hurt Ying'er. She broke your sister's leg..."
"Lanying is my cousin. Point of correction." Rose loved straightening things out. She hates the word, misconception.
"Ahan. How can you say that? You two are still related by blood, unlike that girl..."
"Her name is Grace."
"I don't care what she's called." Biyu raised her voice. "Don't treat your sister bad because of a stranger, that's what I'm trying to say."
Rose wasn't dumbfounded, in fact, she found the woman dumb. Heavens forgive her, but yes, she had no reason to respect this woman sitting in front of her.
"I'm your mother's cousin, also. Do you think I'd lie to you?"
"Lie to me?" Rose asked. "I know what to believe."
"Don't talk to me with that tone." Biyu pointed at Rose with a stern face. "And as for that girl, I will deal with her myself."
"You're threatening my friend." Rose's eyebrows lifted. "That's very bad of you. As an adult and also as a mother..."
"Don't teach me mother hood, when you don't even know what sisterhood is!"
When you don't even know what sisterhood is!
When you don't even know what sisterhood is!!
This statement echoed loudly in Rose's head. And it resulted to her questioning herself over and over again.
Really?
Did she really not know what sisterhood is?
Is that what everyone thought of her?
Is she really that bad?
"You should tell her to wait for me. If she acts too smart, I'd meet with her mother then, and believe me, her mother can't escape me!" With that final statement, Biyu stormed out of the office and almost bumped into Xu Dandan at the door.
Rose remained on that sit, unmoving. Not speaking. It gave Xu Dandan a reason to panic.
Xu Dandan called one of the their floor workers to come take the tray from her and went into Rose's office.
She wasn't able to hear anything Mrs Peng had said, but one thing was clear; nothing good came out of those family members visiting early in the morning.
She carefully examined Rose, not wanting to scare her, she crouched down beside her and put her hand over her boss's.
Rose remained the same way, not flinching nor moving.
The two stayed like that for a long time until Rose's phone beeped twice.
Dandan took it out of the bag and passed it to Rose.
Rose's brows furrowed.
What exactly does he mean by that?
Did he take her offer?
And just like that, her earlier thoughts flew out the window.
Her phone beeped again and the message said.
Rose tried suppressing her laugh, but it wasn't working. Not even a hi or hello? Now, she was reconsidering the word gentleman.
He was one straight guy...
All of these tiny thinking moment, smiling and texting didn't go unnoticed by Xu Dandan watching from the sideline.
Xu Dandan made a quick calculation of whom her boss might be texting, and the content of the message but her brain didn't seem to be on the same side as her thoughts so she gave up.
"Who is that?" Dandan lowered her head, trying to peek at the text, but Rose immediately tapped on the power button by the side, making the screen go black.
"No one." Rose sat up and went to sit on her swivel chair and started checking her mailbox.
The atmosphere earlier had been gloomy, but now? Though Rose wasn't smiling, Dandan felt the air was better.
Xu Dandan narrowed her eyes at her boss, as if that would help see her better.
She soon gave up as it wasn't working.
*~~~*
On the other side, Yuanqi had been contemplating on what she would probably like but had absolutely no idea. So it resulted in him texting her. After the first two messagess was sent, he held his phone waiting for a reply.
It was seconds but it felt like forever, so he sent the third one with a big frown on his face.
His phone beeped, signifying a text has come in, he read it and the frown on his face dissipated.
The second text took him by surprise. That's no way to talk to a woman?
He asked inwardly. And she was using his words against him...
Yuanqi sighed and pushed his almost filled cart to the fruit and vegetable section.
"Young man, what do you want?" He heard the market woman ask.
"Coconut..."
"Oh," the woman bent and took it out of sack. "What do you need it for?" She asked.
"To cook," he had his eyes fixed on the baby coconut in her hand.
"Rice?"
"Yes,"
"Oh, baby coconuts won't do justice to it. Hold on a minute," she bent and brought out two coconuts with peeled exocarp. "This is the best, it's grown and will produce more milk than this," she said pointing to the baby coconut. "How many do you want?"
How many? It was just for one person...
"Two would do,"
He bought other veggies along with the coconut.
*
Yuanqi met with Changsu at the exit with filled carts.
"We bought a lot." Changsu informed.
"I can see that." Yuanqi smiled.
"It feels good to be back in the market."
They both heard Shen say from behind.