Ignore Your Existence

She never expected that the things that made Lin Chao-xing anxious to tell to her, was regarding to her mother's divorce story.

Chen Ziyi's brow furrowed for a second, then loosened back, trying to digest whatever come out from Lin Chao-xing's mouth. She supported her chin with her left hand, and a pillow was put on her lap to support the hand.

"I got to know about your family from my aunt." A short sigh escaped from Lin Chao-xing's mouth.

"I never know anything much about your family until one day I mistakenly took Aunt Chen's case copy by chance. I saw your name on a paper. At that time, of course she took it back when I told her it was on my hand. At first I thought it was just a coincidence, but I was used to those kind of paper, you know. I mean, there were a lot of that kind of documents online and I always see those hardcopy sample in my aunt's room. Afterwards, somehow I heard my aunt was talking about your mother, and as I remembered about you, I asked her. The language in the report was quite difficult for me to understand as the case report use a lot of law term so I decided to just listen from her instead. So, from there, I got to know roughly about the incident, so it cover more and less about your family."

"My aunt- she did not go through much the detail so I have no idea much on what exactly the several things that Aunt Chen did to satisfy her anger at that time. You know- her anger towards -them. The things that the friends of your 'brother' said that day- my aunt might know about it specifically. It just she did not specifically mention to me. My mother said it might be so because of my aunt did not want to make her niece to think her idol was a bad person. That idol is your mom. My aunt is funny right. ha-ha." Lin Chao-xing ended her explanation with a dry laugh. Her fingers then seemed curled up at her blouse hem.

As Han Meirong listened to Lin Chao-xing, a thought crossed her mind. She later could matched the puzzle by herself of why Lin Chao-xing seemed dilemma to either go for the topic or to keep it secret. It was because the topic was about Aunt Chen's divorce case and she possibly want to avoid from talking about the issue.

Although Chen Ziyi had opened up with them, and although Chen Ziyi was aware of their knowledge on Chen Rumin's situation with the Zhengs, they would not so suddenly merely 'chat' about such topic that could be considered as a taboo. Hence, Han Meirong understand that Lin Chao-xing probably was afraid of the possibility of her offending Chen Ziyi by talking about such topic, thus ruining the good moment that they finally had today.

Han Meirong looked back and forth between Lin Chao-xing and Chen Ziyi. Contradict to Lin Chao-xing who seemed nervous about Chen Ziyi's response, Chen Ziyi appeared to have a calm expression. There was a subtle change on Chen Ziyi's expression, but she was sure it does not mean anything much.

"So-"

"Wait. I just want-"

"O-Okay. Go on."

"I just want you to know that I did not tell those things to others. I mean I do talk a bit about you with Peizhi, but just roughly. It was a coincidence and she also know it first from her parents. By that time, I assume each of us know by ourselves from our parents. And from how our parents converse about your mom like it's a normal thing, and from the content, we just assume the things about your mother did must kind of big things that everyone during that period must aware of them. But don't worry Ziyi. Our parents did not talk about it in any bad way. In fact, our mother kind of idolize your mother."

"Hearing that, I don't know what should I say though." Truly, Chen Ziyi was not sure what she was supposed to respond with.

"Ziyi... I did not intend to talk about this at first . I-"

"Chao-xing. It's-" It's okay. She wanted to say that, for Lin Chao-xing would not be so uncomfortable anymore and to be less nervous. But that word wouldn't escaped from her mouth.

"So,-based on what you heard from you aunt, what is your opinion? Does it match with how those guys talking about?"

"M-My opinion? What? about how your mom ruthlessly blocked your dad's company from few important negotiation with other company?"

An awkward silent filled the room. Chen Ziyi raised an eyebrow at that, as she tilted her to her right side.

"Sorry. Do you perhaps not aware of that?"

"Let's.... just assume I know." 'Doesn't matter anyway for her to explain herself.'

"Ha-ha. Of course you don't."

"So what do you think?" Chen Ziyi asked again the question that Lin Chao-xing had not gave her answer yet.

"Nothing much," Lin Chao-xing slowly spoke, few seconds later.

"Nothing? From all the things you heard, don't you think my mom kind of overbearing? I believe, compared to me, you might be more knowledgeable more about my mother's past."

Gulped. The last sentence of Chen Ziyi made Lin Chao-xing felt like it was a sarcastic remark, as she as the daughter should know better about the mother. But, looking at Chen Ziyi's expression, she seemed had no any such intention.

"I.. don't know. I don't remember well what was my impression at that time. N-No! I think I was kind of impressed with how - fine lets accept the 'overbearing' word. So, I kind of impressed with how your mother was so powerful and determined for using any means to satisfy her anger to your dad and his family. But later, my aunt made me understand better about the reason for those things that your mother did. Can you imagine she ask me what if the same thing happen to me? She even asked my mother the same question just for me know whether my mother would do the same thing as your mother."

"Ziyi, I don't have much opinion on this. I don't think it's a correct thing for me to make a judgement on something that I don't even know the full story. It happened like ten years back, and it's about your mother. Logically, it will not interfere with our lives. Geh! Sorry about this topic. We will not talk about this anymore if you want." Tired with explanation that she have to think thorough, Lin Chao-xing decided to stop.

"Uhm. Let's not talk about this."

"You're not angry with me for this right?"

Hearing that, Chen Ziyi raised an eyebrow like asking 'angry?' To be truth, Chen Ziyi was not angry and in fact, she did not feel anything. Her face expression during this time though was kind of stoic and nonchalant, and although Lin Chao-xing had been used to that, she still anxious of the unreadable Chen Ziyi.

"We still friends, right? You will not hate me for this right?" Lin Chao-xing could not help but to still ask. She need confirmation from Chen Ziyi.

"Yeah."

An awkward silence filled the room again.

"Awkward." Both Lin Chao-xing and Chen Ziyi turned their head to Han Meirong, upon a voice that had been silent for a while echoed in the room.

Han Meirong had been quiet when the two girls before her eyes had their serious talk, but as minutes goes by, she could not help but feel the air in the room was weird.

The tense air that was present at the beginning due to Lin Chao-xing, yes, it was more on Lin Chao-xing who was tense. Han Meirong could see that despite of showing a cold gaze, it was a normal calm expression coming from Chen Ziyi. However, to Lin Chao-xing who was not that close to Chen Ziyi much compared to her, and also because Lin Chao-xing had already in her own bubble, being nervous and afraid, unable to read that Chen Ziyi was looking at her with her normal gaze and there was no any upset or anger in her eyes.

"I don't hate you, and will not just because of this, if you wonder about that, don't worry."

"Still awkward." A soft laugh escaped from Han Meirong, before she looked at Lin Chao-xing.

"Chao-xing. Don't be so stiff. Look at Ziyi. She looked the same like in class, right? What she said is what she meant. You don't need to study her expression so much."

"Really, Ziyi?"

"Yeah. If I don't like you, I already ignore your existence." With a faint smile, Chen Ziyi gave an answer that she believe would be enough to express her feelings.

Upon she said that, both Han Meirong and Lin Chao-xing could not help but to connect it with how Chen Ziyi gave a cold treatment to Zheng Shuyu previously. To them, what they heard today was like a confirmation that she did not like Zheng Shuyu.

Considering the relationship between Zheng Shuyu and the result of Chen Ziyi's current family situation, they thought it is not uncommon for Chen Ziyi to have a stiff relationship with Zheng Shuyu. But, they still remembered how Chen Ziyi gave a cold shoulder to the later at FuGui that day.

They just nodded their head at the implicit declaration.