Destined to be his Wife

Chapter 2 - The First Step

TangShi tried not to fiddle with the thin belt of her simple white dress and stood upright and poised for fear of her father's anger this morning. They had been waiting around seven minutes in the bright, sunny hallway, for the arrival of the Leng grandfather, master of the family Leng, and his entourage. She had already experienced so many harsh words. Just by being present it seemed she irritated his mood. Her stepmother glared her way, not bothering to conceal her dislike when in the presence of her husband and her sister sneered at her for her chosen outfit.

"You couldn't have dressed up and made an effort? Are you trying to make us look poor?" her nasty tone fell over TangShi, igniting no response, because she refused to engage. Biting on her lower lip and turning her chin down as she looked over her clean and pressed dress. She had learned over the years to never talk back, never defend herself. It would pass quickly if she submitted to silence and let them say whatever they wanted without looking their way.

Her dress was a basic and long classic style, one of her favorites. She had never been given any kind of allowance by her father to indulge in personal things, so all she owned she had to buy for herself. Clothes of decent quality were not cheap, and she tried to spend a little more to buy things that would last. The dress wasn't that bad. A stark contrast to her designer clad sister who was blinged out and looked ready to walk a runway.

She had been selling her art in the form of prints for a number of years online, and it afforded her small luxuries. This dress was not the cheapest, it was a good quality fabric in a nice timeless cut, but compared to her female kin, she looked like the poor relative. It was not flashy, provocative, or gave an impression of being a daughter of Lei. It wasn't this seasons style or a named brand, it wasn't even a trending colour.

Her hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail today, with delicate dark brown curled tendrils framing her face. Revealing a pure expression with bare hints of makeup and rosy lips. TangShi always liked to stay natural, as she felt it was when she looked her best, but it only seemed to anger her father who turned his attention to her. Pulled by his daughter's criticism as he appraised her outfit, he barely gave two glances when she came down here so hadn't noticed.

"You should have told me you needed a dress for this. I can't have you mocking our family by dressing this way. It's too late to change but go get a shawl or something to cover up. Juefeng find her something of yours, quickly." he clapped his hands together, urging Juefeng to jump to it, and she knew better than to argue with him. He was a bad mooded man, quick to flash tempers and even Juefeng was wary despite being often indulged by him. TangShi's father had no qualms about hitting the women in his life.

Juefeng rolled her eyes, huffed at being ordered about, and ran off quickly for fear of igniting their fathers rage further. TangShi ignored the sizzling atmosphere, and the angry tension aimed her way and focused on the marble floor instead. Counting down the minutes until this torture would be over.

The hallway was grand, wide, and well-lit by the large south facing windows across the front of the entranceway. If it wasn't for all her bad memories in this place, it would be a beautiful place to live. Grand and opulent with classy décor. Her family were rich enough to be important anyway.

Her nerves were already frayed as they stood here watching the clock tick slowly on. Their guests due at any second and her heart was thundering behind her rib cage in anticipation. Waiting for the first moments of meeting her fate and tying herself to the Leng family for the near future.

She had spent last night by herself after getting back here, browsing the internet for more confirmation that YuZhi might be Yoonie after all and gave up. Unable to take the pain in her heart any longer by stoking embers of unwanted memories. She had to forget that night, what his kiss and words had done to her soul. It was all a lie and maybe he just resembled him, and it was just a coincidence that he was so like him. Fate taunting her with her old scars. The chances of him being Yoonie, in a population the size of China was slim. Yoonie hadn't even met her in Shanghai, but in Beijing instead.