226 — The Mantis Stalks The Cicada

Bai Meixiang too felt touched and her face took on a sorrowful look even as she tried to coax her mother-in-law, "Mother, don't be like this. You need to take care of yourself, else Zhi Ge would not be happy in heaven."

Her voice shook delicately when she pronounced her husband's name, and the trembling of her eyelashes perfectly matched the sorrow etched on her face.

Satisfied, Liu Zhizhen tightened her grip on Bai Meixiang's hand as she finished her argument, "That's why I need you here. Due to your presence here, my Zhi's spirit will feel comforted in heaven. Now that Zhi is gone, you've become my daughter, not just daughter-in-law. Please don't think about leaving."

Bai Meixiang nodded her head quickly, "You can rest assured Mother. I'll stay here to accompany you. I've also taken you as my Mother. I promised Zhi Ge that I would take care of you, and I can't bear to disappoint him.

"That reminds me, I got some tickets to Lu Di's concert this weekend. Let's go together, and afterwards, we'll go to BaiFu mall. I saw some designs that would just be perfect for you."

At her words, Liu Zhizhen brightened up and her smile became more genuine, "You and your sweet mouth. Alright, I'm excited too. Your family always produces the best designs I know. I can't wait for Saturday."

The Bai family in the Capital were not as rich as the Han family, but they firmly controlled the fashion industry.

At that time, apart from the fact that they were rushing to let Han Zhi have a child, the reason they eventually settled on Bai Meixiang was because the Han family patriarch was considering partnering with the Bai family to launch a new sports clothing line, so it was considered as killing two birds with one stone.

The Bai family were only too happy to agree and marry their daughter over. She would be the First Lady of such a large and powerful aristocratic family, it was too good to be true.

But then, her husband died.

Although it was unfortunate that he died too soon, the Bai family patriarch, who was Bai Meixiang's grandfather, was satisfied that they had manged to achieve their goal of being tied to the Han family.

The Han family also gave their daughter face after her husband died, letting her do whatever she wanted and subsidizing the Bai family. Due to this, the two families now looked more tight knit, at least on the surface.

In private, Bai Meixiang's mother cursed the Han family regularly, particularly Han Zhi, who she referred to as the short-lived ghost that came to ruin her daughter's life and turn her to a widow in her prime.

Her mother was firmly against her return to the Han house, but her former mother-in-law had summoned her under the pretext of wanting to sort out the couple's things, how could she not go?

These thoughts were firmly hidden under Bai Meixiang's eyelids, and she only smiled before saying, "Great, let me go and call my the mall to prepare. Mother must not be slighted."

Liu Zhizhen smiled very widely as she nodded, "Good girl, go quickly." The more she looked, the more pleasing Bai Meixiang was in her eyes. Such a good chess piece must not go to waste.

Bai Meixiang stood up gracefully and walked straight in the direction of the stairs to her room, looking as if she could not wait to go and make things more comfortable for her mother-in-law.

But when she got to the second flight of stairs where her figure could no longer be seen, she slowed down and curved her lips.

This Han family were so hypocritical!

What mother-in-law and daughter-in-law drama? What 'I treat you as my daughter now?' It was such a poorly crafted lie that Bai Meixiang wanted to vomit on the spot!

If she had really called her just to sort out their belongings, why hadn't they started doing that since she arrived over a week ago? If she really cherished her as a daughter-in-law, why did she never bring her back all these months?

As for the talk about treating her like a daughter, what nonsense! Was this how a mother treated her daughter? Bai Meixiang wanted to express that there was no need for this useless identity, she certainly knew who her mother was!

Did Liu Zhizhen really think she was a fool? To follow her every whim all day long? Bai Meixiang chuckled in a low voice.

She came back because she wanted to see the tricks her former mother-in-law was playing. As long as it did her no harm, it won't be difficult to play along. She was still the default Young Madam of this powerful family anyway.

Her only regret was that she didn't have a child for Han Zhi before he died. As a matter of fact, she was on a trip abroad for an IVF procedure when she suddenly got the news that her husband had passed on, that was why she couldn't rush back immediately. The Han family was also looking forward to the good news, so they didn't urge her back.

Unfortunately, it failed, and they were back to square one.

Or not exactly, since that old fox who was her father-in-law could produce a grown-up son from thin air. It was shocking to say the least.

Thinking about the young man she just met, Bai Meixiang's eyes held a glint of interest. With such a build, even the indifferent look in his face didn't detract from his handsomeness.

That face, that aura! Bai Meixiang got slightly excited just thinking about it.

Coupled with the fact that he was able to stay firmly in this house and even make Liu Zhizhen respect him and tuck in her tail, he was definitely not a fuel efficient lamp— not simple at all.

But she had always liked a good challenge. She just had to bide her time and watch the direction of the waves before making her move.

Her final action would depend on the kind of person this "brother-in-law" would turn out to be. It would determine whether she would seduce or frame him.

Anyway, she had to gain a foothold in this family and use the people well, at least until they outlive their usefulness.

The only person she felt some pity for was her deceased husband. Although they didn't quite love each other and theirs was a marriage of convenience, Han Zhi sincerely respected her and treated her well. It was a pity that good men died early.

He left her to face the wolves and cannibals in his family. Anyway, it wasn't a problem. She could handle them.

Infact, she was looking forward to a good play.

They had better not disappoint her high expectations.

*****