Without Me

However, when Yao Xi entered the living room, she did not see Li Ye Han, but someone she did not expect there completely.

Ruo Yan sat on a soft leather couch, slowly sipping tea from an expensive porcelain cup and browsing lazy magazines. The low coffee table in front of her buckled with various kinds of snacks, and the servants were still adding something new that would satisfy Ruo Yan. They were bustling around her, asking if she wanted anything else and whether everything matched her expectations. The service treated Ruo Yan almost as much as Li Ye Han himself. As if she was the Empress herself.

This behavior was so different from how Yao Xi was treated that at first she thought she had entered the wrong home. And although she was able to bear all the criticism and insults from all sides that were cast on her, it would be a lie to say that she was not sad for the sight.

Yao Xi watched as several servants were serving Ruo Yan with the utmost care and could not help but feel the prick of jealousy. Never, literally, has she ever been treated in this house, even in a fraction, as well as Ruo Yan. She did not even think that anyone except Li Ye Han and members of the Li family could get such good care.

Yao Xi always knew that she was an outsider, but today this awareness hit her with double strength, as if she had been slapped. Nobody even noticed her presence.

Despite the sting of regret, Yao Xi composed herself and took a deep breath to expel all unnecessary thoughts from her mind. There was no point in crying over spilled milk. Taking a firm and indifferent expression on her face, Yao Xi came closer, her steps echoing off the marble floor, attracting everyone's attention in the room.

Ruo Yan raised her head. At the sight of Yao Xi, her eyes widened in astonishment, but quickly swept over and took on a false smile: "Yao Xi, you come back?"

Yao Xi was too lazy to answer, she preferred not to waste her breath on such an irrelevant person, she went straight to the dining room, because only so she could get into the kitchen. She had not eaten anything since morning, and her stomach had already claimed food.

But she did not manage to take two steps before Ruo Yan's hasty voice stopped her: "Oh, are you hungry? Forgive me, but Li Ye Han invited me today for lunch. We did not know you would come back today, so the servants prepared a meal for only two people. You know, he wanted to make up for my suffering when rumors about your marriage spread out at the banquet. But Ye Han is really amazing, he personally took care of the matter and denied everything. Now no one even dares to mention it, afraid of Li Ye Han's anger. You know how hot temper he can be when someone tries to hurt his people. " Ruo Yan looked at her with an innocent expression, but the hatred that flashed through her eyes did not escape Yao Xi's attention. "Do not worry. I will order the cooks to prepare something for you. I'm just afraid that this may take a while. Why do not you come back to your room and I will tell the servants to bring you a meal when it's ready? "

How could Yao Xi not understand Ruo Yan's intentions? This white lotus wanted to let her know that she was a guest here and that she, Ruo Yan is even considered by the service as Ms. Li. In addition, she wanted to get rid of her, having her return to her bedroom? Was she a dog who would listen to her and wait politely? So what if Li Ye Han took care of gossip to save his beloved's reputation? Yao Xi expected it to be so. Still, it hurt her heart that he preferred to suppress the rumors than to catch the one who tried to kill her. Although, on the other hand, it could have been expected. Why would Li Ye Han look for the perpetrator? If he did, his loved one would be in danger. Of course he could not take a chance.

Yao Xi's face became increasingly colorless when Ruo Yan's ruthless words touched where it hurt most - in the very center of her repeatedly crushed and re-glued heart.

Yao Xi's lips twisted unconsciously in an ominous smile as she turned to Ruo Yan and gave her an amused look.

Yao Xi: "Oh, have you already been married to Li Ye Han, that you have already taken over that house's duties? I think I should ask grandfather if he knows anything about my divorce. How did it happen that I do not know anything about it myself? "

Ruo Yan's face took on a maroon color, boiling with anger, and Yao Xi was overjoyed to see her in this state. She wanted to add something even more sarcastic, but suddenly the indignant voice of one of the maids interrupted her: "How dare you speak to Miss Ruo? Everyone knows perfectly well what position Miss Ruo has in the young master's heart. Do not think that it's only because you used dirty tricks to beg Elder Li, you're worthy of Ms. Li's title. Your status is much worse than ours, servants! We get at least a salary for our work, and you have to do everything for free! If the young master even cared little about you, he would not let you be treated worse than a servant!

Yao Xi with her arms folded over her c.h.e.s.t, watched the poison-spitting maid in silence. Never before has any of the servants dared to insult Yao Xi loudly. Usually, they simply ignored her, or laughed quietly, sarcastic remarks, and Yao Xi guessed that Ruo Yan had to give them some benefits. She admired the keenness of Ruo Yan, who thought she would bribe maids to make Yao Xi's life miserable. Pretty clever move.

It is a pity that it did not work on Yao Xi. She turned to Ruo Yan with a smile, then Yao Xi took a few steps forward and stood before the brazen maid. She raised her pale hand and aimed the girl with a powerful cheek, so strong that even her hand hurt.

The maid caught her face, completely stunned. She did not expect that this weak woman who would never respond to their words could be so wild.

She stared in disbelief at Yao Xi, as if she were a ghost. She had such a ruthless and cruel aura that the girl began to feel fear. And the eyes of Yao Xi were so frighteningly empty that they did not even reflect a bit of light in them; they were so black that they could absorb the maid's soul in one piece.

Yao Xi: "Would you like to say something more?" Discharged from human emotions, Yao Xi's voice sent shivers down her back.

Without hearing the answer, Yao Xi raised her other hand and aimed the other woman's cheek, and the force of the second blow tilted the girl's head to the side.

Everyone in the living room s.u.c.k.e.d in cold air and froze. For the first time, they saw Yao Xi so menacing and dispassionate. And her light smile, which was not a bit cheerful, was even more terrible. A small crowd of servants wondered if they were going through a collective mirage.