I wouldn't be bothered by something like this on any other day. I could just have made a call and all will be settled but the probability of a supervisor in the mall picking on me out of everyone there was 0.000001. There were about ten thousand people in the mall, why me?
On the screens in the mall, I saw my irritated self and it got me more angry. In the few pictures of me that are on the internet, I was always smiling. I tired to put on my signature smile, it worked a little.
Taking in the reactions of the people around me,I knew that this matter will spread. Paparazzis loved news like this.
"Is that all?" I asked.
Sis Fang look even more smug now. Good I will take her to the high and bring her to the low today.
Besides me, grandma Mo was very calm. As an astute woman, she must have seen where I was headed. She just seeped the tea that had been offered to us earlier. It was just the right temperature.
Whispers filled the mall. Those around us were feeling vexed for the inconvenience and our calmness in response.
"Look at her. She's so beautiful. How can she be shameless?"
"Yes, see how poised she looks. She must be someone's mistress who thinks fortune has descended upon them and decided to shop here."
"It's true, if not how can she even enter the mall"
"Look at the grandmother too. Sipping tea without a care in the world. Shameless."
"Don't be like this. Didn't you see how serious she is just drinking tea? I bet she has not tasted anything so sophisticated."
They laughed.
I just looked on.
"Say something!"
"Yes, say something, you b**ch"
"Apologise"
"Apologise "
"Apologise"
"Leave"
I scrutinized the crowd and finally spotted the suspects I had in mind.
"To apologise, one must surely have committed an offense"
"You're still not admitting" Miss Fang shouted confidently.
"I, Li.. I didn't steal nor did I disregard the rule"
"Okay. Cecelia, did this miss or her grandmother show you a VIP card?"
"No, but"
"Everyone can see that she doesn't have a VIP card. Miss Cecelia, neglecting the rules and taking the customers to the VIP section to see the mall's future designs is very wrong. I will deal with your offense later."
The mall had turned noisy again. This is taking too long, just as wanted to end it, the well behaved attendant stepped forward, a look of determination on her face.
"Everyone, the Miss didn't need to have a card."
"She didn't ixnneed to? Is she the owner?" Someone from the crowd cut her off
"She's not..."
"Then is she your family?" Another interrupted again.
"Even if she's your family. She can't be in the VIP section" retorted SIs Fang.
"She's a VIP" Cecelia finally got the words out.
"What?" Sis Fang exclaimed
"Sis Fang, I have been trying to say this since the beginning but you didn't let me"
Another round of murmurs and whispers.
Seeing the flushed Sis Fang, I sighed. Ignorance doesn't always mean bliss.
"She is too... tooo.. she! She can't be! Just look at her" the truth is so simple that it is mostly unacceptable. If it had been the glamorous lie, it would have been welcomed.
" Everyone, I tried to explain to Sis Fang but she was too worried about the whole image. On behalf of Molly's, I apologise to everyone, especially this Miss and her grandmother whom we have maligned." She bowed very low.
Since the misunderstanding was resolved, everyone dispersed.
"I cannot let this matter go." I got up and walked to up to Sis Fang.
"Miss Fang, I cannot let it go." The dispersing crowd gathered again "my grandmother likes this story so much that if I let today's matter go. I will not be able to face her or my family."
"Apologise, sis Fang" declared someone
"No, this is more than an apology. Manager Lan, please step forward."
Manager Lan who has just arrived stepped forward.
"Madam Bai, we apologise for the ruckus that Miss Fang has caused. To satisfy you and our other customers, we will relieve Miss Fang of her duties." He bowed deeply
"No!" Screamed Sis Fang. "I will apologise but I can't be sacked"
"Why should Miss Fang be sacked. She should at most be punished. Afterall it was a misunderstanding."
"Yes"
Soon the crowd had echoed one another pushing for a soft punishment for her.
I was totally pissed.
"That miss over there" I pointed straight at a short plum lady with a very round face. Her face was so round like steamed buns.
"Me" she asked
"Yes, can you tell us why you think she should only be punished? My grandmother was innocent yet I had to listen without fighting back when she was been dissed and cursed. Can your grandmother take it?"
"I didn't hear that"
"But I heard it. I can even point out the ones who cursed us. All of them"
"I just voiced what the miss here said earlier" she pointed at a figure that I couldn't be more familiar with.
"Li Feirong, long time no see." I smirked
From behind me, Sis Fang's shrilled "it was her!"
"Who" I pretended not to understand
"She, she told me that you were a poor woman who had climbed into a rich man's bed and have just been abandoned"
Everyone one sighed simultaneously. So it was like this.
"Li Feirong is that so?"
"I was only talking about how someone did such a thing. I never mentioned names"
"Oh, I see. Let me introduce myself. I am Li Chaihong. I came out to shop with my favourite grandmother. As you all know, only my parternal grandfather is remaining in the family, that's why I am close with her. I have know Miss Feirong since high school. Her school was not too far from mine.She was once despised for her humble background. Out of pity, I had pretended to be poor to become friends with her butbhumans are humans. After not seeing her for some years now, she despises me for having a breakthrough. If only she had known. Thank you all. I'll take my leave. Please, support Molly's by removing every salesperson that cannot serve us well. Thank you."
Just my name alone had turned the whole situation around. Miss Fang, having realised who I was started begging sincerely.
The piper dictates the tune...