Rose Lock - Chapter 13

Outside, the snow was blowing and the wind was howling. Haicheng, the small town, was slowly sinking into slumber, with only the sporadic flicker of neon lights remaining on throughout the night.

The bright electric light was switched off with a snap, and the small bedside lamp was turned on. A dim, yellow hue poured out, casting the girl, who was wearing only a cool, thin-strap nightgown, in a painterly, oil-canvas texture.

The details in her mind became clearer and clearer. The escape from Yuelai Hotel, that single call of “Gong Furen” (Madam Gong) suddenly matched the voice of the woman at the Baimen Cabaret. That private room originally had two people, and the wine glasses on the table were also exquisitely set for a pair…

What were they planning to do…

One, a boss of the Fenghai Dance Hall, the other, a cabaret singer at the Baimen Cabaret. What kind of business could they be discussing…

Hua Manyi rolled over, burying half her face in the quilt, trying to scatter the images in her mind, but the more she tried not to, the more they surfaced. A sour ache welled up from her stomach to her chest, making her so uncomfortable she wanted to cry.

That singer was truly beautiful, and very much the type that inspired a desire to protect.

Yet, she didn’t cry after all. She lay with her eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling for a few seconds, then got up and rummaged through her dresser.

She remembered asking Ahua for a string of numbers once, written on a small piece of paper. Where was that small piece of paper?

She finally found it, but a sudden fear arose in front of the red-wood, bronze-plated telephone.

After a moment of internal struggle, she couldn’t control herself and began to dial the numbers. After a while, the call did not connect.

She refused to give up, cradling the receiver with both hands, holding it to her ear, waiting and waiting.

A pair of jade feet shivered on the wool rug. She had forgotten to put on her shoes when getting out of bed, and her feet were now cold. The bare arms exposed to the air were covered in a layer of chill.

But she still wouldn’t give up. She didn’t know what she was trying to verify, only that she was cold and distressed.

“Hello…”

A familiar voice suddenly came through the receiver. Hua Manyi’s eyes brightened as if stars had been poured into them, and the hand gripping the receiver unconsciously tightened.

Just as she was about to speak, another voice suddenly sounded on the other end. That voice was gentle and refined, “Gong Furen, the flowers you sent are beautiful. I like them very much.”

“Jiang Yin…”

Never had Hua Manyi felt such cold. Her hands felt stiff, likely frozen, even the receiver was hard to hold. She pulled her feet up, curling up alone in the chair, her mind roaring…

“What is it?” The woman on the other end probably remembered the phone call.

“I…” Hua Manyi was speechless. Tears had somehow escaped her eyes, splattering onto her arm, blurring her vision.

Her throat somehow caught with a sob, “Gong Ma (Mother Gong)… I, I sprained my ankle. Can you…”

…come back for a moment.

“Gong Furen, could you help me unfasten my necklace? It seems to be tied quite firmly…” The singer’s voice cut in without warning. Hua Manyi’s eyes glazed over. She couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation and hung up the phone hastily and in embarrassment.

In the silent room, the woman who was burying her head and sobbing in the chair remained motionless for a long time.

After an unknown amount of time, a car drove past on the street outside the window. The headlights illuminated the deserted street corner, making it appear chilling and desolate.

Thump, thump, thump, the room door was suddenly knocked. “Hua Manyi, it’s me.”

Gong Yan’s voice came from outside the door, startling the woman still in the chair. Hua Manyi looked up in a daze, somewhat bewildered, suspecting that the voice was a hallucination caused by her own mind.

“Open the door.”

This time, Hua Manyi was absolutely certain she hadn’t misheard. The woman, Gong Ma, was truly back outside the door.

But her foot wasn’t sprained now. If Gong Ma found out she had lied, would she think she was a liar? Would she get angry and kick her out of here?

She had been in Fenghai for about half a year and had a good sense of Gong Ma’s temper. On matters of principle, she would show no mercy…

She ran barefoot to the shoe cabinet, found one of the highest heeled shoes, put it on her left foot, took two steps, and then gritted her teeth, intentionally and violently wrenching her foot to the side. Excruciating pain shot from her ankle throughout her body. Hua Manyi drew in a sharp breath, her small face instantly turning pale, but she fiercely held it in, not making a sound. She used the dressing table to prop herself up, and then put the high heel safely back in its place.

“Coming…” Hua Manyi almost bit through her lip, stumbling to the door to let the person in.

The woman outside had clearly just rushed back. Fine snow was still clinging to her black nylon trench coat. Her red lips were cold and stunning, while the cigarette in her hand was the only source of warmth.

“Gong Ma…” The girl inside suddenly smiled, her small face full of stubborn endurance. Upon seeing her, she naturally snatched the cigarette from her hand and took a puff herself.

As if that could ease the pain.

Gong Yan took in the scene, her brows tightly furrowed. The look of scrutiny in her eyes vanished completely when she saw the swollen left foot.

“How did you sprain it?”

“I slipped coming out of the bath,” Hua Manyi leaned against the wall, supporting her weight on only one foot.

“Why were you so careless?” Gong Yan took hold of one of her arms and lifted her up by the waist. Hua Manyi let out a small gasp, wrapping her arms around the slender neck, “Gong Ma…”

Gong Yan gave her a lazy glance, carrying her towards the bed, “Keep quiet. I can certainly carry your weight.”

Hua Manyi looked up blankly at the side of the woman’s face, nodding obediently. So this was what it felt like to be pampered.

“Doctor Ma, it’s me, Gong Yan. Is it convenient for you to come over?” After setting the girl down, she turned to make a phone call, her gaze complex as she looked at the person on the bed, saying, “Yes, a girl here has sprained her ankle.”

Hua Manyi watched Gong Yan hang up the phone and walk straight toward her. She nervously pinched the corner of the quilt, “G-Gong Ma, am I disturbing you?”

Gong Yan didn’t reply. She moved a chair from nearby and sat by the bed, looking at her with an indifferent gaze, “Put your foot out.”

“Ah?” Hua Manyi was stunned, but quickly reacted, quickly extending her left foot. Unexpectedly, just as she extended it over the edge of the bed, her calf was grasped and her foot was placed on the woman’s lap.

“Gong Ma?” She was aghast.

“Don’t move. Doctor Ma told me to use ice to reduce the swelling first.” Gong Yan took her cigarette back and continued to smoke, taking out a cloth from behind her, wrapping some crushed ice, and tying it onto her ankle.

When the woman, Gong Ma, lowered her eyes, she was serious and aloof, and her every gesture always carried an aura that made it impossible to refuse.

Hua Manyi rested her hands on her knees, the quilt covering her lower body, her eyes constantly sneaking glances at the woman. She couldn’t help but hiss when the ice pack was applied—it was too cold.

“So cold…” she whispered.

Gong Yan paused, glancing at her curled and tense jade feet, the toes plump and smooth, delicate and exquisite, “If you’re cold, pull up the quilt.”

“Oh…” Hua Manyi rubbed her nose sheepishly, pulling the quilt up to her chest, feeling slightly warmer.

“Gong Ma… tonight you…” Hua Manyi lowered her head, staring at the quilt surface, trying to keep her voice normal, “…where did you go?”

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