172 Don't lie to me

Lei Zhao swallowed his grievances since these women have team up to bully him. He harrumphed and crossed his arms across his chest with a sullen look on his face.

Ying Sheng looked at her cousin behaving like a child and chuckled. She never thought she would one day see Lei Zhao behave like a puppy abandoned by it's owner. He looked cute though.

"You did so well. Well done!" Yan Mei said as she patted Ying Sheng's head.

Ying Sheng beamed and grabbed Yan Mei's arms.

"Thank you,sister Mei." Ying Sheng said as she broke into a big smile.

Lei Zhao rolled his eyes at how docile Ying Sheng is in front of Yan Mei.

"Let's go and eat. It's time for lunch." Lei Zhao said.

"Alright."

*****************

"Ying Sheng, how is school?" Lei Zhao asked once the waiter brought their food.

Ying Sheng shrugged and turned to look at Lei Zhao.

"Oh, I dropped out." Yan Mei and Lei Zhao exchanged a look. Lei Zhao heaved a sigh.

"Why did you drop out?" He asked as he started removing the bones from the fish for his wife.

Ying Sheng bit her lips and stole a glance at Yan Mei. She didn't really care about other's opinion but for the first time she was afraid someone would misjudged her.

Yan Mei had her head lowered as she ate so Ying Sheng couldn't see her expression.

"I-I don't want to do medicine! Why should I waste time on a program I totally despise?"

Ying Sheng said with her tone laced with venom. 

"What about your mother? Did she agree to this?"

Hearing Lei Zhao mention that witch Ying Sheng remembered the day she slapped her. She thought once she didn't come home her mother would panic and call her but nothing.

That heartless woman! People says stepmothers are scary but for Ying Sheng, her mother was scarier. 

"I don't have a mother." Ying Sheng mumbled almost inaudibly but Lei Zhao heard her.

Lei Zhao scrunched his face in confusion at her words. He knew Ying Sheng's mother wasn't the best mother in the world but Ying Sheng has never complained or seemed bothered about it.

What happened for her to say, that she has no mother?

Yan Mei who also heard Ying Sheng paused for a while and looked up at her. She knew she was just a wife and she couldn't take part in certain family matters but….

"Why did you say you have no mother?" Yan Mei asked with confusion laced in her tone. What could make a daughter say such bold words.

Ying Sheng fidgeted nervously and played with her food. She swallowed the uncomfortable feeling gnawing inside her.

"Well, that heartless witch doesn't deserve to be called a mother!" Ying Sheng said angrily. Her chest moving up and down.

"Okay, what the hell is going?" Lei Zhao asked this time. He knew Ying Sheng's mental health was really bad and all this bad girl image started because she wanted to get her parents attention.

He had found a therapist for her when he once walked on her trying to cut herself while she was still high. 

Lei Zhao was so petrified at the scene and up till now he still hasn't been able to get the scene from his mind. Who would have thought his pumpkin would grow up to be a self-harm inflicting manic.

He had asked her why? Why hurt yourself? Are you crazy?! 

Lei Zhao still remembers his outburst as the adrenaline pumped through him that day. Fortunately he arrived before she could slash the blade across her arms.

Ying Sheng had laughed. Lei Zhao had never heard a laugh filled with so much pain and suffering before. 

"Pain always replace the emptiness." Ying Sheng had said just said five words but it had meant so many things.

"Lei Zhao, hey!" Yan Mei who was sitting closer to him shook his shoulders.

" You asked a question and completely zone out."

Ying Sheng avoided Lei Zhao's gaze because she knew he was probably remembering that day.

"Sorry...Ying Sheng I'm still waiting for you to tell me what's going on." Lei Zhao said sternly.

"Nothing." Ying Sheng quickly retorted.

"Don't lie to me. Should I find out myself?" Lei Zhao snapped at her.

Yan Mei saw Lei Zhao was getting angry. He really cared about Ying Sheng and seeing her keep things to herself was hurting him.

Yan Mei stretched out her hand and placed it Ying Sheng's which was on her lap.

"Hey, you can tell us anything. We are here for you."

Ying Sheng looked at Yan Mei's hand that was on hers and looked up at her. She looked up and met Yan Mei's warm eyes. Yan Mei smiled softly at her and Ying Sheng felt tears welling at the back of her eyes. 

"I-I have to go to the bathroom." Ying Sheng said and excused herself to the bathroom.

Yan Mei looked at Lei Zhao and sighed. 

"She is hiding something from us. Maybe she doesn't want to talk about it." Yan Mei said softly to Lei Zhao.

"Hmm." Lei Zhao said looking at place Ying Sheng left.

"I will talk to her, don't worry." Yan Mei said and stood up from her chair.

When Yan Mei got into the bathroom, she saw Ying Sheng standing in front of the mirror.

Ying Sheng turned around when she saw Yan Mei behind her.

"Is everything okay?" Yan Mei asked softly.

"Sister Mei….y-yes."  Ying Sheng replied.

Yan Mei nodded.

"Alright. You know, your cousin cares about you. And you not telling him what is wrong is hurting him. It's like you're telling him, you don't trust him."

Yan Mei said calmly, looking at Ying Sheng.

"You don't push away those who cares about you. When you realized you need them, you might have already pushed them too far away."

Ying Sheng stiffened as she continued to stare at Yan Mei.

"I really like you, Ying Sheng. You're stronger than you think."