Rose Lock - Chapter 36

Jiang Yin hung up the phone and stepped out of the phone booth. The night wind made her calves feel cold. Next to her was a cafe. Originally, she had planned to meet A Yan today to talk things over, but in the end, she stayed alone until the evening.

Jiang Yin comforted herself that the other party might have been too busy and forgotten about their appointment.

She hadn’t walked more than two steps when a car stopped beside her. The car door opened. Jiang Yin looked at the person inside, struggled internally for a moment, and finally got into the car.

“Sister Jiang Yin, have you made up your mind?” Huo Suqiu took Jiang Yin’s hand, which was resting on her lap, and gently massaged it.

Jiang Yin looked at her worriedly, “She said if she finds out we’re together again, she won’t let you off, Cousin.”

The fact that she and Huo Suqiu were cousins was revealed after the collapse of the old dynasty, when an old woman, who claimed to be the wet nurse of the Huo family matriarch, exposed the events of that year. The Huo family matriarch and Jiang Yin’s mother were biological sisters. They were separated during the war years. The wet nurse only took Huo Suqiu’s mother, and Jiang Yin’s mother’s whereabouts were unknown. It wasn’t until the wet nurse saw Jiang Yin, whose striking resemblance reminded her of the past, that a subsequent investigation revealed Huo Suqiu’s mother and Jiang Yin’s mother were sisters.

However, very few people knew this. Before this, Jiang Yin had always regarded Huo Suqiu as a close friend, but some things had exceeded expectations. Both Gong Shulan and Huo Suqiu had special feelings for her. One only wanted her to become her private possession, and the other promised her a future.

“What can she do to me?” Huo Suqiu was dismissive.

Jiang Yin, however, gripped her hand, wanting her to take it seriously, “She said she would make you end up like my father, Cousin. Why don’t we just forget about it? I can’t escape in this lifetime, that woman won’t let me go…”

“Are you stupid?!” Huo Suqiu spoke with exasperation. “Look how she’s tormented you! Come with me. Even though we are cousins, I, Huo Suqiu, would never torture you like that. I will cherish you and love you…”

Saying this, Huo Suqiu leaned in to kiss her, but Jiang Yin turned her head away, dodging the kiss. “Cousin, wait a little longer. I’ll go with you after this matter is over…”

“Then what about the marks on your body?”

Jiang Yin pushed her hand away and said indifferently, “I’ll do it myself.”

Huo Suqiu watched her with her arms crossed as she unbuttoned her shirt and pressed marks onto her chest, one by one.

After about a quarter of an hour, Jiang Yin buttoned up her shirt, covering her neck completely. “I’m going back now.”

“I’ll drive you.” Huo Suqiu smelled her hair fragrance before slowly starting the engine.

At the intersection leading to the small western-style building, Jiang Yin asked her to stop. “Here is fine.”

Huo Suqiu had no choice but to stop. Thinking of the underlying reason, her gaze towards Jiang Yin unconsciously carried approval. “That’s true, being too obvious would make that woman suspicious. But…”

“But what?” Jiang Yin turned her head in confusion.

The next moment, Huo Suqiu lifted her chin and sealed her lips with hers. Jiang Yin struggled.

It wasn’t until the exquisite lipstick was smeared that Huo Suqiu released her, satisfied. “But you always need to add something to provoke her.”

Jiang Yin closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she saw her swollen lips in the rearview mirror. Such an obvious mark. Thinking of Gong Shulan, her heart trembled.

“I’ve already found the person,” Huo Suqiu tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. “It will be fine.”

Jiang Yin opened the door and got out. After walking for about a minute, she arrived at her own doorstep. She hesitated for a long time before taking out the key to open the door and enter. Stepping onto the path paved with pebbles, she saw the lights on in the main hall through the gaps in the trees. Her steps became slower and slower until she finally stopped. She took out a tissue and lipstick from her bag…

The sound of a key being inserted and turned in the lock broke the silence at the door. Jiang Yin pushed the door open, the light shining on her, making her appear alone and isolated.

Gong Shulan was in the living room with her back to her. In front of her was a pot of brewed tea, the hot aroma of the tea rising in wisps. Hearing the sound, she turned her wheelchair to face her, her gaze lightly sizing her up, and then pushed the wheelchair towards the kitchen. “Come and eat.”

Jiang Yin softly hummed in agreement, placed her bag on the sofa, and followed her into the kitchen.

On the small round table were three or five dishes, and a large bowl of fish head and tofu with mustard greens soup. The soup looked like it had just been served, piping hot and steaming. Two bowls of rice were set at the two seats.

Jiang Yin lowered her eyes, picked up her bowl, and ate a little rice. She didn’t have much of an appetite.

The telephone rang in the living room. As Gong Shulan put down her bowl, Jiang Yin also put down hers. Gong Shulan glanced at her. “Eat properly, I’m going to answer it.” With that, she pushed her wheelchair out to answer the phone.

Jiang Yin had no choice but to pick up her bowl and continue eating. But after a few minutes, the woman outside hadn’t come back in. Jiang Yin felt faintly uneasy, and was about to put down her bowl and get up to go out when Gong Shulan’s figure appeared in the doorway. The pressure in her face had dropped several degrees, and her gaze was cold.

“Shulan…” Jiang Yin took a step back, unaware that this action, in the woman’s eyes, was a sign of guilt.

“Who drove you back?” Gong Shulan laughed coldly.

Jiang Yin’s face turned pale, and she anxiously clenched her fingers.

“Huo Suqiu, isn’t it?” Gong Shulan pushed her wheelchair closer to her, restraining her anger. “Was it very enjoyable doing that in her car?”

“Shulan… I didn’t…” Jiang Yin vehemently denied it.

Suddenly, the dishes on the table were overturned with a crash. The hot fish soup splashed a few drops onto her calves. Jiang Yin closed her eyes in fright, and when she opened them again, she saw the woman in front of her had a red mark on her right hand, covered with sticky fish oil, a shocking sight.

She was yanked out of the kitchen, and before she could stand steady, Gong Shulan pulled her into her arms. A rough force undid the diagonal buttons of her cheongsam. The chaotic, indecent marks on her collarbone that came into view caused the surrounding air pressure to drop sharply.

Jiang Yin tightly clutched the lapel of her clothes, looking at her calmly with downcast eyes, oblivious to her anger. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the hand scalded red by the fish soup, and an inconspicuous fish scale brand mark on her elbow. Her eyelashes trembled.

“Jiang Yin, well done…”

Slap—

A stinging pain immediately spread across her cheek. Jiang Yin covered her face, tears silently streaming down. Her body unexpectedly lost balance with a thud and fell from the wheelchair. Jiang Yin cried out in pain as she braced herself on the floor, looking utterly distressed.

“Jiang Yin, you are truly filthy.”

Gong Shulan coldly spat out the words, and unable to contain her rage, she slammed the door shut and left the small western-style building.

The cold night deepened. In the empty living room, the light reflected Jiang Yin’s thin and fragile body. A few coughs sounded out of nowhere. Jiang Yin slowly propped herself up, leaned against the foot of the sofa, and curled up in the shadowy corner, feeling both sad and happy.

The next day, Gong Yan woke up in bed and rubbed her temples, which were aching from a headache. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a sachet on the bedside table. She was stunned for a moment, and vague memories from last night flashed through her mind.

Hua Manyi…

Gong Yan changed her clothes and walked down the corridor to Hua Manyi’s door and knocked.

Soon, the person inside opened the door. She looked like she had just woken up, unadorned but captivating and pleasant. Gong Yan looked at her expression. “Did you come to my room last night?”

“Ian sent a few sachets and gave one to Aunt Gong as well,” Hua Manyi said softly, looking down. “If you don’t like it, Aunt Gong can give it back to me, and I’ll give it to someone else.”

Hearing that name again, Gong Yan frowned slightly. “No, I quite like it.”

“That’s good.” Hua Manyi prepared to close the door, but found the woman at the door didn’t seem ready to leave. “Does Aunt Gong have anything else?”

“Did I… do anything else last night?” Gong Yan recalled the sensation and asked uncertainly.

“No.” A definite answer.

“…”

“Aunt Gong, you’re awake?” Fang Yu’s voice came from the end of the corridor. Gong Yan looked over and asked, “What is it?”

“A woman named Gong Shulan just called you. I figured you probably weren’t awake yet, so I told her to call back later.” Fang Yu walked up to Gong Yan, seeing the sleepy-eyed Hua Manyi. “Manyi, you’re awake too? The sachet you gave is really effective; I’ve never slept so soundly before.”

Before Hua Manyi could speak, she heard the woman beside her ask back in a strange tone, “You have one too?”

“Yes, not just me, Xiaoxiao and the others each have one,” Fang Yu laughed. “Seriously, it’s great. Thank you, Manyi. It’s still early, Manyi, you’re still growing, remember to sleep more.”

Hua Manyi nodded. “I understand, Sister Fang, walk slowly.”

With that, she closed the door, leaving Aunt Gong standing alone outside the door.

Gong Yan: “…”

After standing for a moment, she recalled Fang Yu’s words: Gong Shulan had called her. Gong Yan frowned slightly. She hadn’t seen her for days and couldn’t control her. She wondered if her sister was calling because she needed a favor.

Gong Yan gathered the shawl around her shoulders and elegantly walked downstairs. Butler Fu was already waiting at the door. She glanced at the pedestrians coming and going on the road, then slid into the back seat and skillfully lit a cigarette.

Before starting the car, Butler Fu’s tone was somewhat cheerful. He spoke, “Madam, I heard that Miss Manyi returned yesterday.”

Gong Yan’s eyes suddenly froze, and she coldly countered, “Do you think I didn’t know?”

Butler Fu realized that saying this was like mocking Madam, and he quickly shut up awkwardly.

“Go to Fushou Teahouse.”

“Yes.”

Fushou Teahouse.

“Shulan, why are you looking for me?” In a teahouse room, Gong Yan looked at her younger sister and asked, “Staying at Jiang Yin’s place all these days, freeloading food and drink, aren’t you ashamed?”

“Don’t mention that woman.” Gong Shulan’s eyes flashed with a sinister look, which quickly disappeared. Gong Yan frowned. “What did Jiang Yin do?”

However, Gong Shulan quickly returned to her usual gentle and refined demeanor. “Sister, do you know anyone who can read Morse code?”

Her father’s situation was kept a secret, so she couldn’t possibly ask her father for help.

“Why are you asking this?”

“Sister, do you remember? That Huo family impeached our Gong family in front of the court back then and almost caused Father to lose his official position. Although our two families are no longer in contact, and the Huo family has declined deservedly since then, some scores still need to be settled. Guess where the Huo family is now?”

“That Huo family in Haicheng?” Gong Yan’s expression slightly changed.

Gong Shulan just smiled without speaking.

“Don’t let anyone catch you,” Gong Yan lit a cigarette, which counted as agreeing to her request.

“Sister, don’t you trust my ability to handle things?” Gong Shulan smiled.

Gong Yan suddenly remembered, “Jiang Yin went back last night, right? I drank too much yesterday and forgot about my appointment with her.”

“What appointment?” Gong Shulan’s eyes deepened, and she asked naturally, “She didn’t say anything when she came back yesterday. I don’t know what happened to her.”

“She asked me to have coffee,” Gong Yan felt guilty and stood up. “Never mind, I owe her. I’ll give her a call to see how she is.”

There was a telephone in the teahouse private room. Gong Shulan watched her stand up and dial a number, her eyes complex.

“Hello, Jiang Yin, it’s me, Gong Yan. I’m very sorry about last night… Tomorrow night? I’m free tomorrow night, then I’ll pick you up.”

Gong Yan hung up the phone and sat back down. Gong Shulan casually asked, “Did you make an appointment with Jiang Yin for tomorrow night?”

Gong Yan nodded. Gong Shulan’s expression remained unchanged, and she suggested, “Sister, I have a gift that I want you to help me take to her tomorrow night.”

“What gift? Why don’t you deliver it yourself?” Gong Yan glanced at her.

Gong Shulan: “I moved back to your place today. I feel bad for bothering Jiang Yin all these days, so I want to send a gift as a token of appreciation.”

“Alright.”

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