The Evil Stepmother

Ring…. ring….

Zhao Mei's phone started ringing. She picked up the call after seeing the caller ids.

However, before she could say, 'Hello,' the other side burst out in a loud and chirpy voice.

"Xiao…. Mei…. Xiao Mei guess what?"

Hearing the voice was enough for Zhao Mei to put the phone away from her ear, for the protection of her eardrums.

The voice was loud enough for Ye Qing to hear who was on the call. She smiled and excused herself.

"Oh my! Lanlan, will it hurt if you speak a little lower," Zhao Mei chided her bestie. "The whole Huawei's going to listen to you, even if I don't put my phone on speaker."

However, a small smile was playing on Zhao Mei's lips. Even though she was chiding her bestie, she was happily talking to her. Her voice was enough to indicate that the person on another side of the phone was someone very important and dear to her.

"Well, it is really a reason to shout," Li Roulan said from the other side. "You will not believe me, but your favorite Mr. X's new book is going to be released soon…."

"I know that," Zhao Mei sighed, thinking it was not something new. She was already updated with everything about Mr. X.

"What's with your sighing and all?" Li Roulan said in a fake angered tone. "Let me finish before interrupting me."

"So, where was I?" Li Roulan questioned herself. "Ahhh! Yes, book to be released soon…. Listen, I got huge insider news that he will be meeting investors for investing in his upcoming last book. There was news that this book will be adapted to a film. This will be your last chance to meet Mr. X as after this book, he's going to quit writing."

"W.H.A.T?" Zhao Mei shouted. "Why?"

"I do not know other things. However, all I can say if you want to meet him, then meet as an investor. Because till this day, no one has known, who was Mr. X? How did he look?" Li Roulan said with a serious tone.

Li Roulan knows that for Zhao Mei, Mr. X's books were like a ray of sunshine.

Even what he wrote was children's fiction, but the way he portrays the emotions telling there was no fairy tale ending in the world, gave hope to her bleak and lifeless life.

Mr. X wrote more about the world that children and sometimes a delusional adult need to see instead of a helpless princess who was always in need of a prince.

His book's main character was always evil or grey character which, clearly depicts how complicated human nature can be.

Because no one can remain innocent in this cruel world.

Even baby animals know in this world if you can't hunt your own prey, soon you will become a delicious pray for others.

"OK, then do you have details…" Zhao Mei said with a neutral tone. "Of when and where he will be available."

"I have faxed all the details to Ye Qing. She would be bringing it in…." Li Roulan was saying this. Suddenly, there was a knock on Zhao Mei's office door.

"Boss, Miss Li has sent some details about Mr. X," Ye Qing said while bringing the documents to Zhao Mei. She then excused herself after handing over the documents.

Zhao Mei picked up the document and glanced at the information about Mr. X. However, much to her disappointment, there were only details of…. When and where he will be having a meeting with investors?

"Only this much," Zhao Mei said in a sad tone to her bestie.

"What do you mean only this much?" Li Roulan asked.

"I painstakingly collected this precious information for you and what I get. Hah! Only this much," she scoffed.

"Not a word of thank you. Where did my lovely Xiao Mei had gone?" Li Roulan said dramatically.

"O.K. thank you, dear Lanlan," Zhao Mei tried to pacify her dramatic bestie. "I know you have done a wonderful job. Love You. Now bye."

"Tch…What a ruthless and bootlicking friend I got," Li Roulan said. "I bet if your Mr. X is handsome you will pounce at him. So please control yourself..."

"You...." Zhao Mei said angrily.

"Hahahahahah! Bye Xiao Mei..." Li Roulan laughingly said from another side. "Don't forget to wear a sexy dress, after all, you are going to meet the idol of your dreams."

Li Roulan ended the call before Zhao Mei can say another word.

'How did she know if he was young or old?' Zhao Mei thought.

For her meeting him will be her biggest encouragement. His books have given her strength and the will to live. She wanted to thank him in person, but there was no info about him anywhere.

He did not even held a fan signing event, despite being so popular.

She cannot trace him even with her exemplary tech skill. He was like a phantom who has cut his every single connection from this world.

Mr. X's started publishing his book four years ago and, now, he was going to retire.

She cannot miss this opportunity to meet her ray of sunshine.

Thinking about all this, she picks up one of Mr. X's books. It was the book on Cinderella's Stepmother. However, the point of view was different.

The story depicts the way the stepmother has lived in an era where women were dependent on a man and what caused her to be harsh. He has described the story in his own twist.

The Evil Stepmother after marrying for the first time for love faced the harsh reality of the world. The second time she married thinking this marriage will provide her comfortable life for her and her daughters. But her husband turned out to be a huge spender even he was of noble background. It was not only limited to this he even died, leaving behind a huge pile of debt with a daughter as a burden. She was frustrated, depressed, disappointed with everything.

In the midst of these, she found that she cannot rely upon anyone in this world because you can rely on and trust no one in this world, except for yourself.

However, despite all that, she raised three girls on her own with no support. Even if she treated Cinderella a little harshly. Cause if she wanted, she would have thrown her away in this cruel world for hyenas to prey on her. Because she did not have any obligation to take care of her anyway.

She tried to stop her from going with the prince. Why?

Because in reality, no parents would want to marry off their daughter to a man they have met only for few hours even if he was a prince.

However, in fairytales, it was the evil stepmother who was cruel.

She did not want her to marry the prince. She was jealous. But no one sees that side of her that every parent in the world will portray if they were in her shoes.

But in the end what she got for all this;

A lifetime imprisonment and her daughter's life ruined.

Mr. X portrayed the story from the viewpoint of the evil stepmother and, this was the world where the give-and-take relationship works because nothing is free of cost.

So, the evil stepmother had Cinderella worked for them. In turn, she would provide her roof and food. Because if she had left the house with her two daughters. It was no doubt that Cinderella would be sold to pay off her father's debt.

Unconditional love may happen to one in a million. So, live in reality instead of a dream.

The world will not take pity on you if you do not have worth.

There will be only few loved ones but there was no guarantee that they will stay with you till your last breathe.

So, be brave and stand up on your own feet, cause no one was going to support a worthless person.

For Zhao Mei, this story was eye-opening. Because that what had happened to her five years ago.

It was this particular story that made her came out of her cocoon of misery, and, made her what she is now.

His other stories together with those past incidents, have made her like a twisted psycho/ villain, who cares about no one in the world. Only about herself and herself.

Even in the hardest times, she always reminded herself if you do not have worth people will discard you like a used tissue paper.

But throughout the years of struggles, she also came to the realization. Some people will still love you unconditionally, just like her Grandpa and Lanlan.