Rose Lock - Chapter 24

Gong Yan chose a bottle of vodka in the wine cellar, turned and went out. The door closed behind her, cutting off the light from above, and the corners were plunged back into darkness.

Jiang Yin’s delicate and serene eyes trembled slightly, her thick lashes fluttering, and a rolling tear slipped from the woman’s face so close to hers, slowly receding. The four lips, having been pressed too tightly, made a slight sucking sound as they pulled apart. Jiang Yin raised the back of her hand and wiped her mouth uncomfortably. Just as she was about to speak to remind her, “It’s getting late, I, shouldn’t we go back… um—”

A low groan involuntarily escaped from the corner of her mouth. Jiang Yin heard that embarrassing squelching sound again. She could even feel the hem of her cheongsam feeling heavy and sticky from having absorbed moisture.

The cheongsam’s side slit had a few stitches torn along the opening. Jiang Yin felt regretful and heartbroken; after all, this was her favorite cheongsam.

“Get down.” Gong Shulan suddenly withdrew her finger, her voice becoming extremely cold, yet her eyes seemed to be struggling to restrain something. The sudden withdrawal brought a momentary emptiness. Jiang Yin bit her lower lip, scrambling off the wheelchair as if grasping for salvation, quickly buttoning up the messy diagonal placket on her chest, putting on the two high heels from the floor, and finally tidying her appearance. Her makeup was ruined; she had cried for so long, she probably couldn’t be seen.

“I, I’ll go back first…” Jiang Yin, stepping on her high heels, hurried up the wooden staircase.

The large wine cellar returned to its cold silence, only a few traces and scents lingering in the air. Gong Shulan closed her eyes in contemplation, and when she opened them again, her eyes had returned to their usual cultured and graceful demeanor. Her hand rested on the wheel, preparing to leave, when she unexpectedly spotted a piece of black lace fabric on the ground.

It should have been whole, but now it was too torn to be worn again.

…

Hua Manyi intended to change back into her own clothes, but after searching, she couldn’t find where her clothes from yesterday had been placed. After asking a maid, she learned that her clothes had been cut and were too tattered to wear, so they had been thrown away. Hua Manyi sighed; although she had expected it, she still felt a little regretful.

This wine estate villa was spacious and grand. Walking along a corridor, you could see the scenery of the outside courtyard everywhere. To the east, it backed onto a small hill. The area below the hill was part of the wine estate’s large grounds, with a developed back garden about four or five acres in size, a shady ginkgo tree, and a vast rose field.

She thought it would be even better to put a woven swing under the ginkgo tree. Then, when autumn arrived, the ginkgo would turn golden, scattering leaves everywhere. Just thinking about it felt blissful.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone in a wheelchair in front attempting to pick up something. Hua Manyi noticed it, took a few quick steps forward, picked up the item from the ground, and handed it over, “Here you go.”

It was a very small ear ornament, set with a square ruby-like stone. Hua Manyi didn’t look closely before the person took it.

“Thank you.” Gong Shulan took it, tucked it away properly, her eyes gentle, “I am Gong Shulan, Gong Yan’s younger sister. What is your name?”

“Hua, Hua Manyi.” Hua Manyi stammered for some reason. She hadn’t been mistaken earlier in the reception hall; this was also the woman next to ‘Mother Gong,’ but at the time, her attention hadn’t been on her.

Now that the person was right in front of her, it immediately reminded her of the photo in the room. This wheelchair was too distinctive, and combined with the women’s similar features, and the fact that she looked much the same as she did when she was younger, it was almost 100% certain that what she said was true.

“Hua Manyi?” Gong Shulan gently repeated the three words, “The Man from ‘Peach face is long and horizontal amidst the green water, jade skin is fragrant and greasy, showing through the red gauze’? The Yi from ‘No dependence on power to act tyrannically, no reliance on law to oppress’?”

Hua Manyi was stunned, her face instantly flushed with embarrassment. She quickly rummaged through her brain for knowledge, only to realize after a while that she didn’t recognize a single line of poetry.

She, Hua Manyi, was utterly uneducated QAQ.

It was bad enough that she had no Western knowledge; she hadn’t retained any traditional knowledge either. Had she read her books for nothing?

“The Man from graceful (man miao), the Yi from as before (yijiu).” A cold reply suddenly came from behind. Gong Shulan chuckled, meeting Gong Yan’s gaze, “I see, it’s a good name.”

Her name was praised, and Hua Manyi curved her eyes, “Thank you.”

Gong Yan sneered, raising her hand to grasp the wheelchair handle, when she heard Gong Shulan speak first, “Then Manyi, could you push me to the dining room? I might be a little inconvenient.”

Gong Yan: “…”

“Yes, I’d be happy to help.” Hua Manyi came behind Gong Shulan. Perhaps walking too close, she accidentally touched Gong Yan’s hand, but she didn’t pay it much mind and grasped the wheelchair handles. “Mother Gong, we’ll go ahead.”

“Is it this way? This is my first time here, so I’m not very familiar with the roads.”

“It’s okay, I know the way, first go left.”

At the end of the corridor was the harmonious conversation between the two, which sounded somewhat grating. Gong Yan stared deeply at the pale purple figure, taking a moment to swallow her irritation.

In the dining room, servants successively laid out a rich meal: red wine, pasta, and steak. The lavish Western-style lunch was exquisitely arranged. Each glass goblet was filled with one-third of red wine, emitting an enticing aroma.

As Hua Manyi and Gong Shulan took their seats, Gong Yan arrived just in time, gracefully sitting down. Hua Manyi tried her best not to look in that direction and began chatting and laughing with Gong Shulan.

“So Sister Shulan is already 28 years old, I really can’t tell.”

The two were discussing age, and Hua Manyi was surprised, “Sister Shulan looks so gentle and young.”

And she possessed the highly educated knowledge that made Hua Manyi envious and ashamed, radiating an aura of scholarly refinement.

“Sister Shulan, do you know, if my dad were to meet someone like you, he might have to respectfully address you as ‘Ms. Scholar,’ or even hire you to be my private tutor.”

Gong Shulan laughed at her exaggerated compliment, “You flatter me.”

Sister Shulan… Sister Shulan… Sister Shulan…

Gong Yan, with a cold face, poured herself a glass of vodka, then turned her head to instruct a servant, “Go and see why Jiang Yin hasn’t come down yet.”

The servant acknowledged and turned to go upstairs.

Gong Shulan’s eyes subtly changed when she heard the name, but quickly returned to normal, “I heard you were injured yesterday, Manyi?”

Hua Manyi’s face stiffened. Her gaze involuntarily flickered towards the woman at the head of the table before quickly retracting, “Yes, it’s nothing, just a minor injury.”

“Don’t pretend to be strong. It was a gunshot wound, wasn’t it? It won’t heal in less than a month or two,” Gong Shulan noticed her small movement. “The injury is on your scapula. You probably can’t lift heavy objects or exert much force for these two months.”

Hua Manyi found it incredible, “How did you know I was injured on my scapula?”

“Naturally…” Gong Shulan looked up at the woman who was drinking, her eyes playful, “My sister told me.”

Gong Yan knew what she meant. She hadn’t told her about this at all; Gong Shulan must have seen it this morning when she went to her master bedroom to get something.

Hua Manyi was probably not dressed at the time, and the bandage on her chest was so obvious that any discerning person would know.

“I apologize, I’m late. I hope I haven’t kept everyone waiting.” Jiang Yin came down in a change of clothes, and her makeup was reapplied; you couldn’t tell she had been crying without a close look.

“No matter,” Gong Yan gestured for her to take a seat, noticed the red wine at her place, frowned, and summoned someone, “Take away her wine and replace it with juice.”

“A-Yan,” Jiang Yin tentatively glanced at Gong Shulan across the table. Seeing that the person was expressionless and cutting her steak, she then looked at Gong Yan, “There are still a few days until that time. A little wine won’t hurt me.”

Suddenly, a sharp scraping sound of a knife against a porcelain plate was heard, and all three looked over.

Hua Manyi lowered her head, her hands resting on both sides of the table, one holding a knife and the other a fork, biting her lip with guilt, “I’m sorry… I disturbed everyone.”

“Eat mine, Manyi, I’ve cut it for you,” Gong Shulan set her knife and fork aside, picked up the plate of steak in front of her, and exchanged it with Hua Manyi’s. “Your hand is injured, so you shouldn’t exert yourself.”

Hua Manyi let out a quiet “Ah,” and seeing that the plates had been switched, she could only accept the kindness, “Thank you, Sister Shulan.”

The air fell silent for a moment. Jiang Yin sheepishly withdrew her gaze and no longer insisted on having wine. Gong Yan remained motionless, staring at the perfectly cut steak in front of someone, watching Hua Manyi fork up and eat piece after piece without any reserve.

Gong Yan indifferently withdrew her gaze and said coldly, “Eat.”

…

After the meal, Hua Manyi planned to call a rickshaw to return to Feng Hai. She picked up her handbag, ready to inform them and leave.

Uncle Fu said, “Miss Manyi, you don’t actually have to rush back. Your wound could become inflamed at any time, leading to a series of complications. If you stay here, Dr. Warner Shen can conveniently look after you.”

Hua Manyi shook her head, looking at the figure sitting and drinking tea in the reception room, and Jiang Yin pouring tea for her beside her. She forced an awkward smile, “I will take good care of myself, Uncle Fu. I don’t want to trouble you all.”

Uncle Fu sighed, having no choice but to respect her decision, “Then this way, please, Miss Manyi. I will see you off.”

“Jiang Yin, you should be well enough these days. Boss Sun just called and asked you to return to the Paramount.”

Before Uncle Fu could leave, Gong Yan suddenly spoke in the reception room, “Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the Paramount.”

Hua Manyi paused, slowly tightening her grip on the luxurious and elegant handbag. Not far away, Jiang Yin put down the tongs used for brewing tea and stood up, “Alright, thank you, A-Yan.”

“Uncle Fu, we’ll leave together later.” The Paramount and Feng Hai were on the way. Gong Yan turned and added, “Shulan, stay here for now. It’s getting late. I’ll have someone prepare a room and toiletries for you. I’ll probably be back very late tonight.”

“The Paramount?” Gong Shulan had been resting with her eyes closed in the wheelchair and only slowly opened her eyes when she heard the sound. “Is that the Paramount where Jiang Yin sings?”

“Mm.”

“Then can I go and see it too?” Gong Shulan seemed highly interested, pushing her wheelchair closer to the three of them. “I’ve never been to an occasion like that abroad. Does Jiang Yin have a performance tonight?”

Gong Shulan’s eyes shifted, and she humbly asked, “I wonder if I have this honor…”

Jiang Yin’s pupils contracted slightly. Where people couldn’t see, her palms trembled slightly, breaking out in fine sweat. She felt as if she was being watched by a venomous snake, making her feel uneasy and speechless.

“There’s no room in the car. You just returned today, you should rest well.” Gong Yan directly and plainly refused her the opportunity.

She glanced at Hua Manyi, who was standing motionless at the side, and as she passed, her red lips slightly parted, “Let’s go.”

The three got into the car. Gong Shulan remained where she was, watching the car’s rear end disappear from sight, her eyes dark and unfathomable.

The car slowly started. Hua Manyi consciously and actively sat in the passenger seat, her gaze lowered, her hands resting on her lap, looking obedient yet preoccupied.

Outside the car window was the lively and bustling scenery of the night street. Neon lights flashed across her face and quickly vanished.

Sometimes, she accidentally saw the reflection of the person in the rearview mirror, and when her eyes met those lazy, almond-shaped eyes, she suppressed a hint of inner panic and embarrassment, calmly and naturally shifting her gaze away.

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