Chapter 2: Changes

After hugging for what felt like an eternity, Qin Qianyu finally let go.

She had become overwhelmed at the sight of this woman.

Her name is Ouyang Zihan, she married Qin Qianyu's father 5 years ago when Qin Qianyu was 10.

Qin Qianyu's birth mother had passed away when Qin Qianyu was 7 during an earthquake.

Ouyang Zihan is a kind woman with a good personality and she's also a dutiful wife, but in her previous life, Qin Qianyu hated Ouyang Zihan.

This was all due to Murong Meimei's meddling. But this time round Qin Qianyu was determined to make things right between them and treat this new mother of hers with the utmost love that Ouyang Zihan never got because of all the misunderstandings that occurred.

"Yu'er let's get you home."

"Mhm,"

The pair hailed a taxi and headed home from the police station. The ride back was quiet until Qin Qianyu's phone started beeping.

Qin Qianyu looked at the messages she had gotten and her face changed immediately. It became really dark and Ouyang Zihan picked up on this.

"Meimei seems worried for you, if not for her call I wouldn't have known you were at the police station."

"She's not worried for me but herself."

"Huh!? What do you mean?"

Qin Qianyu saw the puzzlement in Ouyang Zihan's eyes. At first she wasn't going to tell anyone about Murong Meimei. But then, while she was thinking about how scheming this little white lily is she didn't want her family hurt again because of Meimei.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, whatever you want to say, please confide in me openly."

"Were you the one that told father that I skipped class to see the idol group Lost Prophets?"

"Yu'er, I have no idea what your talking about,"

"What about my shredded gown for grandmother's birthday last year?"

" . . . "

Qin Qianyu could see that Ouyang Zihan was having a hard time figuring out all these things that Qin Qianyu was saying to her.

The list went on and on but Ouyang Zihan had no idea what Qianyu was talking about.

"These things, all these things were told to me by Meimei. She told me that you did all these things so that you could have father all to yourself. She even told me she had heard you talking rubbish about our family and putting us all down to others. Today's incident was no different."

Qin Qianyu described to Ouyang Zihan the events that transpired today. After saying as much she then told Ouyang Zihan how it was Meimei that had made Lu Mingxi act.

"I've finally noticed that Murong Mei is not my friend, she's not a good person, she's a user that likes to hide behind a mask while causing others pain."

"That bitch!"

Hearing this, Qin Qianyu snapped out of her thoughts and looked towards her step mother. Seeing the anger in her eyes, this sent a stir in her heart.

"Uhh!"

"To think the misunderstandings between the two of us came from the meddling of such a person."

"I'm glad you've told me this and I'm even proud that you're being so mature and clear headed about being betrayed by your friend, no, ex friend."

"From now on just concentrate on yourself, since you want to cut ties with Murong Mei, I support you 100%. You need no such person in your life."

"Mhm,"

Suddenly Qin Qianyu's phone rang. The id was Murong Mei. Qin Qianyu made a "shh!" gesture to her mother and answered the phone on speaker.

"Yuyu! What happen? Lu Mingxi just called me saying you're at the police station."

Qin Qianyu screwed up her face, she was disgusted at the sound of her voice, she now understood how she became a leading female artist in the film and television field, he acting was impeccable.

Hearing her acting like a concerned friend sent shivers down both Qin Qianyu's and Ouyang Zihan's spine as she described to Meimei what had taken place with Lu Mingxi.

"Meimei, It's fine, she just done something she shouldn't have and has paid me compensation for it. So there's no need to worry."

"She really did that!? Wow, she's a psycho! You should be careful of her in the future. I wonder why she would target you."

Qin Qianyu and Ouyang Zihan both clenched their fist at the statement as they knew it was all because of her that Qin Qianyu was targeted.

"Hey Meimei, if you see any of my family can you just tell them I'm still at the library! I don't want them to worry about me. I still have to fill out some forms here at the station."

"Sure, even if I saw that step witch of yours I wouldn't even speak to the slutty bitch, so you, don't worry. Hey Yuyu, Which station are you at? Should I come and get you?"

"I'm at central, you don't need to, with the compensation from Lu Mingxi I'll be able to take a luxury hired car let alone a taxi home."

"Okay Yuyu, No problem, call me later okay,"

"Sure."

Qin Qianyu hung up and as soon as she did, Ouyang Zihan's phone started ringing. The pair look at the Id on the screen.

Murong Meimei.

Ouyang Zihan done the same as Qin Qianyu and answered with the hands free speaker on.

"Meimei! How are you? If your looking for Yu'er she's still at the library."

"Aunty I'm fine, but Aunty,"

"What is it Meimei?"

"Ahh Aunty, Yuyu isn't at the library, I'm here but she isn't. Just now, I just got a call from a friend, they said that Yuyu snuck into a club and it was raided by the police. Yuyu was taken away while fighting with the police. I think she maybe in trouble. There's a rumour going around saying she . . She uses her body to get money. One guy bragged that he just gave her a whole lot of money just now for "services", Aunty I'm scared for Yuyu."

At first Ouyang Zihan thought that maybe Meimei and Qianyu were just having a little disagreement with each other and that later it would all pass and the pair would be back to how they use to be, but after hearing from Qin Qianyu and listening to Meimei now, she really saw how terrible a friend this person was to Qin Qianyu.

This made her so mad. This made her think about her own struggles she had with trying to bond with Qianyu as a stepmother. Only now did she realised that her efforts were being thwarted by the wench on the other side on the call.

"Haha Meimei, I think your friend may have seen someone else, I was just speaking with Yu'er after you called the last time, if she were with the police they would have called me instead of her calling."

"Ahh, really!? But I'm sure it was her, my friends dad is an officer at central she had seen her there."

"Oh really!? Okay, Meimei can you give me your friends name and their dads name too please. I'll give Central a call and sort it out."

"Ahh, ummm,"

"Hello? Meimei?"

"Oh sorry Aunty, Yuyu just sent me a text she's in a private room inside the library."

"Ohh that's such a relief, okay then I need to get back to work I'll talk to you later Meimei."

"Okay Aunty, I'll talk to you later. Bye."

"Sure, Bye."

The backseat was quiet. The pair just stared at each other in silent.

"What kind of freaking drama was that!?"

" . . . "

" . . . "

The silence was shattered by the Aunty driving the taxi. The pair in the backseat turned their shocked heads towards the driver.

"Girl, that type of person is too two faced and conniving. You should steer far away from her least you find a knife in your heart."

Qin Qianyu nodded as did Ouyang Zihan after acknowledging the drivers thoughts.

The taxi stopped at a bunch of shops close to the building Qin Qianyu live in with her family. After paying the fare Ouyang Zihan had Qin Qianyu sit and wait while she bought some medication for the scrapes on Qin Qianyu's limbs.

Ouyang Zihan cleaned and dressed the afflicted areas there on the side of the street then bent down in front of her offering her back to Qin Qianyu.

"Ahh, mother, what are you doing? I'm able to walk."

"This maybe the first and only time I'll be able to do this, Yu'er, please indulge in this selfish wish of mine."

Qin Qianyu thought for a moment,

"There's going to be a lot of changes happening in my life from today onwards, so, starting today I'll start by fulfilling my mother's wish."

"Mhm, okay,"

Qin Qianyu gave a throaty groan as she straddled her mother's back. Her heart started to stir a little from feeling the warmth of her mother's back passing through their clothes.

Ouyang Zihan held Qin Qianyu tight as she walked slowly towards their home.

"Am . . Am I not heavy?"

"Don't worry, it's bearable, Ahh! . . I . . I mean you're light as a feather."

"Haha, mhm,"

The pair made it to their door just as Qin Haoran was getting home.

"Zihan! Yu'er! What happened!?"

Qin Haoran rushed the two women in panic and fright. Qin Qianyu's heart trembled as did her eye lashes at the sight of her father.

Ouyang Zihan smiled at her husband she cocked her head a little to look back at Qin Qianyu. As if reading her mind Qin Qianyu nodded in affirmation and in a calming voice Ouyang Zihan stated,

"Let's go in first, we'll explain everything then."

"Mhm, okay,"

The family of three entered the home. Qin Qianyu was seated on the couch with both parents as she and her mother detailed what had happened including the drama with Murong Mei.

"How could a child be so evil hearted!?"

Qin Haoran was aghast at what he had heard. He consoled his daughter but both he and Zihan quickly became surprised when Qin Qianyu got up and kowtowing towards the pair.

"Yu'er what are you doing get up quickly!"

"Mother, Father please accept this apology, you daughter is not worthy. Everything that has happened isn't wholly Meimei's fault, it's also mine."

"What do you mean? Get up and speak plainly."

"What I'm trying to say is although Meimei tricked me time and time again, I'm at fault for allowing myself to be taken in and listening to her words and lies. Please . . Please forgive me. From this day onwards I swear to show proper fidelity and filial piety."

"We accept please get up your hurting our hearts."

Ouyang Zihan stammered as she went down and helped Qin Qianyu up. She was both excited and angry. Excited that her bond with her step daughter has become deeper, but angry that a so called friend would betray her step daughter.

Qin Qianyu's face was red as tears streamed down her face. It took a while for her to face both her parents afterwards but when she did, she felt a huge weight lift off he heart.

"Silly girl, put those tears away. Use them for when I'm dead!"

"Brother Haoran!"

"Father!"

"Alright, sorry, sorry, sheesh!"

Both parents gave Qin Qianyu a cuddle and kissed her forehead.

"Go wash up I'll start on dinner."

Qin Haoran nodded leaving the two women to continue bonding with each other while they were preparing dinner.

When Qin Haoran returned both Qin Qianyu and Ouyang Zihan went to wash up together. When they were done the family of three sat down a harmonious meal filled with good vibes and cheer.