Rose Lock - Chapter 45

Early the next morning, Hua Manyi went to the Prison Administration again, and as expected, still had no results. In the evening, as night approached, Hua Manyi took a rickshaw to the agreed meeting place to see Lu Nian, as arranged the previous night.

“I found out that my brother is having coffee here tonight, and we’ll go straight to him then,” Lu Nian said.

Hua Manyi wasn’t surprised. Lu Nian… Miss Lu, from the first time she saw her on the ship, she knew the other person was wealthy and of high status; an average family couldn’t afford to send a daughter abroad to study.

“Alright,” Hua Manyi nodded.

They met outside a high-class café. Hua Manyi was wearing a sleeveless, dusky-blue qipao, her two slender arms placed primly across her chest, holding a handbag. She had a rare finger-wave hairstyle, exposing her delicate, fair right ear adorned with a small earring.

“What is your brother’s name?”

Lu Nian replied, “His name is Lu Yu. He’s a workaholic. It’s rare to see him not busy with work and out for coffee today, that’s why I brought you to see him.”

“Lu Yu…” Hua Manyi mouthed the name, feeling a slight bitterness in her throat. She immediately mocked herself, sighing that it was a small world. If nothing else, Lu Nian’s brother was the same Lu Yu mentioned by Old Mrs. Gong and the matchmaker.

Lu Nian suddenly remembered, and suggested, “Wait for me here. I’ll go in and ask the waiter if there are any seats. If not, we’ll go sit across the street for a while.”

“Okay.”

After she left, Hua Manyi stood in place. The evening breeze blew, moving the hem of her ankle-length qipao, revealing her delicately boned, beautiful ankles.

Pedestrians came and went in front of the café. A car stopped, and Hua Manyi heard the sound of the engine being turned off. She subconsciously looked over, and instantly turned her back, hiding herself in an inconspicuous corner.

The woman who got out of the car was someone she knew all too well; they had slept in the same bed last night. Being close by, Hua Manyi vaguely heard the broken conversation between Old Fu and Mother Gong.

“Madam, Mr. Lu is waiting on the second floor,” Old Fu said, following Gong Yan.

“Mhm.”

Listening to that level “Mhm,” Hua Manyi unconsciously gripped her handbag. The two behind her, unaware, entered the café.

“Old Madam instructed that you and Mr. Lu should have a good talk, Madam.”

“I know.”

The sound of their conversation faded. Hua Manyi slowly turned around, her eyes dim. Mother Gong was likely here for a blind date tonight, and she just happened to run into it. This woman, even without Jiang Yin, would still have other excellent people—men or women—standing by her side.

Hua Manyi closed her eyes deeply. Just then, Lu Nian came out, approaching her. “Yiyi, let’s go. There was just a seat available inside. The previous guest left, and I reserved it right away.”

Lu Nian said and walked straight towards the café. After taking two steps, she realized the other person hadn’t followed. She walked back and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Hua Manyi suppressed the troubling thoughts in her mind, forcing a smile. She shook her head. “Nothing, let’s go in.”

The two went up the stairs and walked right. Drapes hung between each booth, obscuring the view. They followed the waiter to a booth and sat opposite each other. Soon, two cups of coffee were served.

“My brother seems to be discussing something with someone. Yiyi, maybe we should wait a bit, just until they finish talking,” Lu Nian signaled with her eyes to look behind, telling her not to make a sound.

Hua Manyi’s body stiffened. She hadn’t realized that the booth behind hers was…

“I only just saw my brother’s face clearly. I thought they would be in the VIP section,” Lu Nian shrugged, looking helpless, as she added a few spoonfuls of sugar to her coffee and slowly stirred.

Hua Manyi nodded numbly.

The soothing piano music flowed through the café. Time passed little by little. Hua Manyi lowered her gaze, unconsciously stirring the coffee with a small spoon.

The surrounding area suddenly became very quiet for some reason, even though the music was still playing.

“Miss Gong… marriage… respect your choice… you can start by dating, getting to know each other…”

The man’s fragmented words drifted into her ears intermittently. Hua Manyi put down the small spoon, her hands resting on the edge of the table, her fingertips touching the cup. The heat of the coffee permeated the porcelain cup; it was very hot. She switched to occasionally tapping it with her fingertips.

The man’s voice continued, polite and gentle. Just by listening to his voice, one would imagine a well-mannered gentleman in a suit.

The coffee was no longer as hot, or maybe her fingers were a bit cold, so she didn’t feel the heat.

The woman separated from her by two layers of booth dividers finally responded. She said, “I will consider it, Mr. Lu.”

Hua Manyi heard every word of that sentence. She picked up the coffee and took a sip. It was very bitter, so bitter that her mouth felt dry and sour.

“What’s wrong, Yiyi? Is the coffee too bitter?” Lu Nian noticed her frowning and distressed look, and couldn’t help but worry.

“No, I’m fine,” Hua Manyi recovered her composure somewhat awkwardly. “It’s alright…”

As her last word fell, she suddenly heard the man’s voice, which had been several meters away, become clear.

“Xiao Nian? What are you doing here?” The man in the suit stood by their table. Unlike those greasy-faced young men, this man had stubble on his temples and chin, but it was all neatly trimmed, very gentlemanly.

“Brother, I came to find you for something, but seeing you were talking to someone, Yiyi and I decided to wait for you here.” Lu Nian was calm and composed, putting down her crossed leg. “Brother, let me introduce you. This is Hua Manyi.”

Lu Yu looked at Hua Manyi and nodded, extending his hand in a gentlemanly fashion. “Hello, I’m Lu Yu.”

Hua Manyi caught a glimpse of a graceful figure walking up beside the man. Seeing who it was, she felt a look of scrutiny from the other person’s gaze. She avoided it, forcing a smile, and shook his hand back with polite composure, “Hello.”

“Brother, are you finished talking?” Lu Nian was surprised to see Gong Yan, then looked at Lu Yu, seemingly understanding something. “If you’re not done, then please continue your conversation. Manyi and I will just have coffee here.”

Lu Yu frowned, not quite agreeing.

“If you don’t mind, why don’t you join us?” Suddenly, Gong Yan spoke. Hua Manyi’s gaze involuntarily went to her. The moment their eyes met, she quickly looked away again.

“What about you, Yiyi?” Lu Nian asked.

Hua Manyi shook her head. “I have no objection.”

The four sat down. While waiting for the waiter to move the coffee over, Hua Manyi excused herself to go to the restroom.

Only three people remained in the booth. Lu Yu went straight to the point. “What do you need me for?”

Lu Nian was about to speak, but seeing Gong Yan beside her, she paused and vaguely mentioned, “It’s about Yiyi’s parents.”

Gong Yan glanced at Lu Nian’s expression dismissively, pursed her red lips, and picked up her bag. “Please excuse me too.”

…

In the restroom, Hua Manyi had just stood in front of the mirror, not having time to check if she looked composed, when she saw Mother Gong walk in. She quickly put on a smile, turned around, and greeted her, “Mother Gong.”

Gong Yan stared at her with a complex gaze for a few seconds. But the Hua Manyi in front of her seemed to have changed somehow, no longer possessing the innocence of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, and no longer showing her emotions easily, allowing people to see through her at a glance.

She couldn’t understand her anymore.

Just like now, she was smiling and greeting her the same way as before, but it felt as if they were separated by thousands of miles, with a sense of distance in her words.

“What brings you here?” And with Lu Nian, too.

She left the rest unsaid. Gong Yan stood next to her, facing the mirror together, tidying her appearance slightly.

“I came… to deal with some matters.” Through the mirror, Hua Manyi saw Mother Gong looking listless and relaxed, just like always. She blinked, took out her lipstick, and reapplied her makeup.

“Do you need my help?”

“No need, Lu Nian is already helping me.”

Gong Yan’s expression cooled a little. She lit a cigarette, and her thin lips parted slightly. “Fine.”

“Mother Gong… Mr. Lu might not like the smell of smoke.”

Hua Manyi smelled the smoke. Thinking of the handshake just now, perhaps because she had spent so much time in nightlife venues, she gradually learned a few tricks. Lu Yu had sprayed on Terre d’Hermès perfume; smoke would ruin the bergamot top note of Terre d’Hermès. A man who wears this kind of perfume generally dislikes smoking, or at least doesn’t want to smell smoke right now.

Gong Yan gazed at her. Hua Manyi then expressed her deduction, offering a kind reminder.

However, the response she got was a scoff. “Are you telling me how to do things?”

Hua Manyi shut up, remaining silent, realizing that her kind reminder was an overstep. She bit her lower lip. “In that case, Mother Gong, I’ll go back now.”

Back at the booth, before Hua Manyi could say anything, Mr. Lu said he already knew the reason she had come to see him and was very happy to help.

Hua Manyi quickly expressed her thanks. After saying goodbye, Lu Nian took her away from the café.

The next day, Lu Yu drove a car to pick up both of them and headed to the Prison Administration.

“You said someone collected my parents’ bodies and handled the funeral?” Hua Manyi asked with surprise, standing in front of the prison guard. The previous uncooperative guard was nowhere to be seen, and this guard was clearly much easier to talk to.

“Yes, that person claimed to be a good friend of your parents. We were struggling with how to handle it at the time, so it was the best outcome that a relative or friend came to take charge of the funeral. We gave it to her without much thought,” the guard said.

“However, she left a note, saying that if their daughter ever came looking, we should give this note to her.” The guard flipped through several old books, found the note, and handed it to Hua Manyi. “Since you are Hua Qi’an and Li Zhi’s daughter, I’ll give this note to you.”

Hua Manyi took the note and opened it. It was an address: Seaside City Back Mountain

No one lived in the Back Mountain of Seaside City, except for the numerous graves. Didn’t that mean this person had buried her parents on the Back Mountain?!

“How is it? Seaside City Back Mountain? Where is that?” Lu Nian asked, confused, seeing the words on the note.

Hua Manyi suppressed the excitement in her heart. She was somewhat eager to verify. If it was true that her parents’ friend had handled their funeral for them, then the thought that their bodies were still unburied and no one had seen them off was just her being overly anxious and foolish.

“Lu Nian, Mr. Lu, thank you so much for your help this time. If it weren’t for you, I might still be foolishly searching…” Hua Manyi expressed her gratitude after leaving the prison.

“Thank me for what, Yiyi? We are friends.” Lu Nian hugged her. Seeing her laughing and crying, she felt terribly sorry for her. “So, Yiyi, are you going back to Seaside City now?”

Hua Manyi nodded. “Yes, I’ve booked a boat ticket. I’ll go back first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll come back to see you when I have time.”

After bidding farewell to Lu Nian and Lu Yu, Hua Manyi returned to the Gong family mansion to pack her luggage. Mother Gong happened to be absent at that moment, which was good; it saved her from having to figure out how to face her.

Having packed, Hua Manyi rented a room nearby, intending to make do for the night. This bustling city of Nancheng was ultimately foreign to her. She had originally thought this trip to Nancheng would be a happy family reunion, but all she had gained was heartbreak and sorrow.

Hua Manyi lay in the tiny, cramped hotel room. The bright moon hanging outside and the outlines of the tall buildings were reflected in her eyes, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face. She stubbornly wiped away the tears with her fingertips. She thought of Lu Nian, and also the person who handled her parents’ funeral. It was good, it was good. She, Hua Manyi, wasn’t completely out of luck. Although she was heartbroken to learn of her parents’ death on this trip, the fact that her parents had a proper burial and that she gained a friend was a great fortune amidst the misfortune.

The small hotel was not soundproof. The street outside was noisy and bustling. Pedestrians came and went, and vendors called out, waking her up while it was still slightly bright. After washing up, Hua Manyi carried her small leather suitcase downstairs and hailed a rickshaw. “Driver, to the pier, please.”

“Alright!” The driver tied his towel around his waist, lifted the rickshaw poles, and ran into the crowd.

The wheels rumbled over the smooth pavement, making a clatter. They went from one end of the street to the other quickly. As they turned into another lane, the Gong family mansion came into view. The rickshaw passed by the entrance, the body shaking slightly, but Hua Manyi did not look sideways.

The next time they meet, Mother Gong might be someone else’s wife… or a mother.

And she, Hua Manyi, was no longer young either. Her eighteenth birthday was approaching soon. Once her birthday passed, she would have no excuse to be willful and temperamental. She should go back and continue being a dancer, and she should cut off all improper thoughts.

Returning to Fenghai was right around evening. Hua Manyi exchanged greetings with Fang Yu. There was a performance scheduled for her tonight. Fang Yu, thinking she had just returned, originally planned to cover for her for another night, but Hua Manyi disagreed. She insisted on performing herself. Fang Yu couldn’t talk her out of it and had to agree.

She sang until midnight. Fenghai was unusually packed until twelve. Ah Qiang finally sent away the last guest at two o’clock.

Hua Manyi was extremely drunk, yet very clear-headed. She didn’t even need help going upstairs.

In the room, Hua Manyi leaned with one hand on the back of the sofa, her head resting on her arm. She straightened the neckline that had been slightly pulled open by a disgusting man. He hadn’t managed to take advantage of her, but she had forced him to pay for two bottles of red wine.

The small leather suitcase was still standing in the corner. Hua Manyi glanced at it, got up to find two nightgowns to get into bed. She opened the small leather suitcase and hadn’t rummaged through it much.

A hard object knocked against the back of her hand. With blurry, drunken eyes, she picked it up, unfolding it. It turned out to be a calligraphy and painting scroll.

The scroll Old Mrs. Gong had asked her to give to Lu Yu, a scroll painted by that woman when she was 20—an age she had never witnessed. She didn’t know if she had forgotten to deliver it or intentionally hadn’t. However, she was certain it was the former, so the scroll had, by accident, remained with her.

It wasn’t her fault.

The alcohol was taking effect. Hua Manyi felt so dizzy that she had to squat down and lean against the corner of the wall. She struggled to roll up the scroll, and just as she tied it, she suddenly threw it away, and it rolled into the corner.

Her eyes shimmering, Hua Manyi gave a half-drunken, half-sarcastic smile. She grabbed two nightgowns, struggled to her feet, quickly washed up in the bathroom, and then stumbled out, heading straight for the bed. The moment her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.

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