Yunying stirred awake to a racket echoing down the hall. Her brows knitted together, the loud, incessant banging grating against her half-dreaming mind.
Dragging herself out of bed, she padded into the bathroom, splashing water on her face and relieving herself before realizing with a groan, she'd forgotten her toothbrush and other essentials in her old room.
Slipping on her slippers, she yawned and trudged down the corridor. But as she rounded the corner, her irritation sharpened into something colder.
Madam Wang stood outside her old room, her fist pounding the door, her voice shrill and commanding.
"Xu Yunying! How much longer do you plan to laze in bed? Get out here and make breakfast! Do you think this house feeds itself? Useless girl, the least you can do is cook!"
Her screeching grated against Yunying's already thin patience.
After yesterday's salt incident, she still wanted her to cook?
"Keep it down.." Yunying's voice cut in, low and edged with warning. "There are people trying to sleep."
Madam Wang whirled, her face twisting in disdain. "Sleep? That's all you're good for! You live off this family like a parasite, and you dare talk back? You think being born into the Xu family gives you the right to sit around? You're nothing...nothing but a disgrace! Now get inside and..."
Yunying stepped closer, the air around her dropping by several degrees. At 175 cm, she towered over Madam Wang's 159 cm frame, and the sheer difference in presence made the woman's tirade falter for a second.
"Listen carefully.." Yunying's tone was icy, each word deliberate. "Who the hell do you think you are—coming to my door, banging and screeching like a fishwife, demanding I cook for you? Are you paying me? No. You better remember your place around me… or I'll be the one to put you in it."
Her eyes glinted dangerously as she leaned down just slightly, close enough for Madam Wang to feel the weight of her words.
For a beat, Madam Wang blinked up at Yunying, startled by the shift in her demeanor. But then her face twisted, sharp and mocking.
"Oh? So the useless eldest miss finally grew some teeth?" she sneered, crossing her arms. "Don't think raising your voice makes you important. You're still the same good-for-nothing Xu Yunying. Do you think anyone in this house respects you? You're nothing but an eyesore your father barely tolerates. And you dare try to scare me?"
Her laughter was shrill, almost triumphant, like she was poking a wounded animal for sport.
"Breakfast won't cook itself..." Madam Wang pressed on, chin jutting forward. "Even trash has to earn its keep. Now stop wasting my time and do something useful for once in your life!"
The house was quiet save for her grating voice. Yunying's eyes darkened, the weight of her glare pinning the older woman in place.
She took another slow step forward, forcing Madam Wang to tilt her head up just to keep eye contact. The difference in aura was unmistakable, this wasn't the same weakling she'd bullied for years.
"Listen here.." Yunying's voice was low and sharp, "if you want to die a really silly death, go ahead and eat anything I make. Yesterday's salt wasn't enough? Fine. This time, I might just poison you."
Madam Wang stiffened, but Yunying leaned down, lips curling into a cruel smile.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll cook for yourself or get the damn cook to do it. That's what she's being paid for. And I dare you..dare you..to bang on my door again tomorrow. Just try me."
Her gaze cut like a knife. "And one more thing, don't parade that ugly face around me. If you've got energy, go ask my father for more money. Your stitches are starting to come loose."
The words landed like a thunderclap.
For a split second, Madam Wang's hand flew to her face, her eyes wide, the tips of her fingers brushing over the skin she'd sworn no one knew had been altered.
Then, realizing what she'd done, she dropped her hand quickly, fury flashing across her features as she tried to mask her panic.
The servants hidden in the corridor exchanged shocked glances. None of them dared whisper, but their widened eyes said everything..how did Miss Xu know?
Yunying, satisfied with the silence, straightened and brushed past her without a backward glance, slippers dragging lazily against the floor. "Make your own damn breakfast.." she muttered, heading in to take her things.
Madam Wang stood frozen in the hallway, her face burning, caught between rage and fear.
"What are you looking at? Don't you have jobs?" she hissed as the maids quickly scrambled back to their works.
She stared at the door, what exactly did this girl know for her to be this daring?
Madam Wang clenched her fists, she turned around and left the hallway. As she got to the stairs, she brought out her phone, dialing a number. It rang for a few seconds before the call connected.
"Get me info on all Xuelan Yunying dealing this past few days.." She seethed, determined to find the source of Xu Yunying's confidence and snuff it out. Her daughter's superiority depended on it.
"What's in it for me?"
Madam Wang frowned, she was already paying him what more could he want.
"You're getting paid. What more do you want?"
There was a pause at other side of the phone. Like they were deliberately.
"Give me Xu Yunying for a night. My buddies and I want a taste.."
-_-
Madam Wang frowned, how disgusting.
"I'm sending the payment. Don't waste my time spilling out this bullshit.."
Before the man could continue, she ended the call, as she walked down the last flight of stairs.
Rape? No, her past experiences made her draw a line there. Even if she hated Xu Yunying to her core, she wouldn't sell her out for rape.
"Huang Ma?! Huang Ma!.." Madam Wang called out angrily, soon a middle-aged woman wearing a black and white uniform.
She scrambled to where Madam Wang was, bowing quickly. "Here I am, Madam.."
Madam Wang eyes her, crossing her hands. "Just when are you going to make breakfast? What am I paying you for?"