Rose Lock - Chapter 28

Half a month passed just like this, the willow branches at Haicheng pier sprouted even longer shoots.

One day, the handwritten envelopes Hua Manyi received were no longer in the English letters she couldn’t understand, but in graceful and elegant Chinese characters. She was surprised as she read the contents of the envelope, only then realizing that during these days, while recuperating from her injury, Ian had been diligently studying Chinese, putting her astonishing language talent to full use.

Not only could she write Chinese characters, but she could now also speak, read, and understand what was said, leading her to dismiss her own translator.

Hua Manyi was deeply impressed. During her evening performance, she was halfway through her song when she noticed a figure in the audience that looked somewhat familiar. The lights shifted, and it wasn’t until the person suddenly raised the glass of red wine in front of them in a toast towards her that she recognized Ian by her sensual red lips.

“Miss Ian?” Hua Manyi came down from the stage after finishing her song, politely declining invitations for drinks from others along the way, and walked to Ian’s table, sitting down gracefully.

“Yiyi, you are truly beautiful today.” Ian rested her chin on one hand, examining her. Sure enough, she was no longer speaking a string of English, but in a uniquely charming Chinese accent. Hua Manyi was briefly unaccustomed to it and could only sheepishly nod, “Thank you.”

“By the way, is your foot better?” Hua Manyi suddenly recalled the reason for Ian’s disappearance over the past month and couldn’t help but worry. Ian’s red lips curled slightly, “Yiyi, are you worried about me?”

“Of course, if I don’t worry about you, who should I worry about? After all, you got injured because of me.”

“But, you didn’t even come to see me once after I got injured…” Ian feigned sadness, her pair of olive green eyes darkening, losing their luster. “Does Yiyi not consider me a friend?”

“Miss Ian…” Hua Manyi had never caused an ‘older sister’ like this to cry before, and her heart instantly fluttered with panic. She placed her hand on Ian’s jade-white hand, grasped it, and comforted her, “That’s not what I mean. I actually ran into something this month.”

Ian looked at the hand on her hand, raised her head to listen to her explanation intently, yet quietly flipped her hand over, palm against Hua Manyi’s palm, soft and delicate.

“What happened? Was it serious?” They were sitting close. Ian slowly leaned in. Her nose bridge, even more exquisite than an ordinary person’s, looked particularly elegant under the flickering light. Hua Manyi could even smell the fragrance of the young girl’s hair and body scent.

Hua Manyi shook her head. When she looked up, she belatedly realized Ian was so close. She subconsciously lifted her head, only to unexpectedly brush her lip against the other person’s red lips. The instant cool touch made her blush with shyness, “Miss Ian…”

“Just call me Ian, Yiyi. Don’t move, you have my lipstick mark on the corner of your mouth, let me wipe it for you.” Ian spoke without any reservation, raising her hand toward the corner of Hua Manyi’s lips, lowering her gaze and carefully wiping it for her.

Hua Manyi’s body couldn’t help but stiffen and tighten. Her round, almond-shaped eyes were slightly furrowed as she stared blankly at the beautiful and sensual foreign sister in front of her. Ian’s hand was not cold, even a little warm, and her fingertip pressed against the corner of her mouth to wipe it, which felt somewhat intimate. The perfume she wore smelled pleasant. Westerners generally have thinner lips, and in Haicheng, people usually assume that thin-lipped individuals are cold and heartless, like Madam Gong.

But she didn’t get that feeling from Ian; she was passionate and understanding. The cold, bright red lipstick on those lips, aside from being noble, added a touch of sexiness and allure. Hua Manyi was slightly lost in thought, failing to notice the red lips gradually drawing closer.

“What are you two doing?” A familiar voice sharply broke the silence. Hua Manyi jolted awake, turning her head awkwardly to look at the woman standing by their table. Ian, however, calmly withdrew her finger from the corner of Hua Manyi’s lips and slowly returned her leaning body to its original position.

“Madam Gong, why are you back?” Hua Manyi looked at her, puzzled. Her expression seemed normal, but for some reason, Hua Manyi felt an indescribable emotion hidden beneath that calm face.

Gong Yan raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, then her gaze fell on Ian next to her. “Can’t I come back?”

Hua Manyi felt there was an underlying meaning to her words, but she couldn’t figure it out. She looked at Ian, and seeing Ian smile at her, she returned a smile and made the introductions, “Madam Gong, this is Ian. Her foot is better now.”

Gong Yan met Ian’s eyes. The other woman smiled slightly. “Long time no see, Mrs. Gong.”

“…Miss Ian.” Gong Yan saw this woman again. In just these few days, she had actually learned Chinese. The fingers holding the cigarette tightened slightly, and her brows furrowed. If she hadn’t been mistaken, this Ian had just been trying to kiss Hua Manyi, and Hua Manyi hadn’t shown any resistance…

Ian seemed to recall something, taking two invitation cards out of her bag. “My uncle held a Sino-Western goods auction a while ago. To celebrate its success, he is specifically holding a grand evening party tomorrow night. Barring any surprises, he will return to Bohemia after the party.”

“Then what about you, Ian?” Hua Manyi asked subconsciously. “Will you also return to Bohemia?”

Ian smiled lightly, and right under Gong Yan’s nose, she gently placed her hand on Hua Manyi’s, looking at her sincerely and earnestly, “If Yiyi doesn’t want me to go back, I can stay for Yiyi.”

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