The Golden Cane and the Wild Rose - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Yun Ran didn’t immediately recognize the person she was looking at as Jiang Musheng.

In her mind, Jiang Musheng didn’t have a specific face, but he was definitely a vicious, evil presence—someone who could scare you half to death with just one look.

But the person in front of her was just too… too…

Yun Ran couldn’t find the right words to describe him.

He had a sharp yet somewhat effeminate face, a rare and handsome look on a man.

Her first thought was of the ancient term “beautiful,” used to praise a handsome man, like the legendary Prince Lanling. She also thought of male models on the runway in fashion magazines, but none of them were quite right.

Unlike other powerful or successful men who sported slicked-back hairstyles, Jiang Musheng’s black hair reached his neck, slightly curled. It looked like an artist’s hairstyle, but unlike the casualness of an artist, his hair was neat and clean with a hint of refinement, perfectly in place. A wisp of black hair blocked the area around his Adam’s apple, making him look both alluring and reserved.

His skin was as pale as his sister, Jiang Xueyu’s, an icy white like a noble vampire.

“Sister-in-law, you think my brother is handsome and beautiful, too, don’t you?”

Jiang Xueyu’s voice rang out beside her, with a touch of pride.

Yun Ran suddenly realized it was rude to stare, especially at a man who had only existed in her imagination as a feared and powerful figure—Jiang Musheng.

She quickly averted her gaze.

“Come sit down, breakfast is getting cold.”

Jiang Musheng said leisurely, leaning back in his chair.

Yun Ran assumed he was talking to his sister. She stood rigidly, motionless. Jiang Musheng’s voice was also different from what she had imagined.

Someone pushed her. Xueyu directly pushed her into the seat next to her brother and made her sit down.

Yun Ran felt like she was on a bed of nails. She stared straight ahead, not daring to glance to the side.

Jiang Musheng seemed to pretend she didn’t exist, simply sitting up slightly to scoop a bowl of white congee for his sister.

Yun Ran looked down, watching his long, white fingers grasp the bowl and pass it over her to his sister.

“It’s not hot anymore. I won’t blow on it for you today.”

His voice was like a thin wisp of smoke, very low and slightly hoarse, passing over her heart like a pianist lightly pressing a key—brief and lingering, ending as quickly as the small porcelain bowl was placed on the table.

Yun Ran came back to her senses, her ears slightly red as if from an invisible smoke.

When Jiang Musheng sat back down, Yun Ran was still looking down, not daring to meet his eyes, even holding her breath.

“Brother, get a bowl for my sister-in-law, too,” Jiang Xueyu said with a smile, holding the small bowl with both hands and forming a heart shape.

Seeing that Jiang Musheng was actually about to move, Yun Ran suddenly gasped for air and, as if to escape, quickly reached for the porcelain spoon.

She touched it.

And Jiang Musheng reached out as well, his hand landing on her thumb and index finger.

His was cool, hers was warm.

The warm one was the first to pull away.

Yun Ran’s heart thumped as she hid her hand, completely afraid to move.

But Jiang Musheng’s every move was incredibly clear to her.

Because of Xueyu’s arrangement, she was closer to Jiang Musheng.

He didn’t need to get up to scoop her a bowl of congee, otherwise she would have probably stood up with him.

A bowl of white congee, no different from his sister’s, was placed in front of her.

“Thank you,” Yun Ran said sincerely, wishing she could stand up and bow to show how undeserving she felt.

Jiang Musheng looked up at her.

“Yun Ran, you claimed to be my woman to others, so why are you so reserved in front of me?”

Yun Ran buried her head as low as an ostrich.

Her desperate little trick was suddenly exposed, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

She took a moment to calm down, then decided to look up and apologize properly to the powerful figure she had taken advantage of.

“Brother Hangyi!” Xueyu’s voice rang out first.

Zheng Hangyi raised his hand, smiling as he greeted Jiang Xueyu, then walked straight to Jiang Musheng, curiously glancing at Yun Ran a few times.

Yun Ran sat quietly in her chair, trying to make her presence as small as possible.

“What is it?” Jiang Musheng asked, getting straight to the point.

Zheng Hangyi pretended to be in pain, clutching his chest. “Shouldn’t you first ask me if I’ve eaten?”

Jiang Musheng was unmoved.

“Brother Hangyi, have you had breakfast?” Jiang Xueyu asked sweetly.

“Only you, little sister, care. My brother didn’t raise you for nothing.”

“But brother has already had breakfast. I’m here to see him about something. You can eat slowly.”

Jiang Musheng wiped his mouth with a dark blue handkerchief, stood up, and motioned for Zheng Hangyi to step outside to talk.

Zheng Hangyi smiled at Jiang Xueyu, then turned to leave, but was grabbed by the arm by Jiang Xueyu.

“Brother Hangyi, let me introduce you. This is my sister-in-law, Yun Ran.”

Yun Ran was as shocked as if she had been struck by lightning but survived unscathed.

Zheng Hangyi, giving face to his sister, bowed politely and extended a hand to Yun Ran in a friendly manner.

“Yun Ran, hello. I’m Zheng Hangyi, Musheng’s best friend.”

Yun Ran braced herself and shook his hand, trying to show a natural smile.

“Hello, Mr. Zheng.”

They let go of each other’s hands at the same time.

Zheng Hangyi walked out side by side with Jiang Musheng. He raised his hand to put it on Jiang Musheng’s shoulder, but before he could touch him, Jiang Musheng brushed his hand away.

Yun Ran found this a bit strange. It was normal for men to put their arms around each other’s shoulders. This was the first time she had seen someone reject it.

Having been rejected from a casual physical touch for what seemed like the hundredth time, Zheng Hangyi didn’t get angry and put both hands in his pockets.

“Musheng, I see that little sister Xueyu really likes that Yun Ran.”

“Mm,” Jiang Musheng responded flatly.

“What about you?”

“Did you come today to be a gossip columnist?”

“No, I’m just curious myself.”

Zheng Hangyi complained in his mind: I’ve never seen you give any unrelated woman a second look, let alone pick one up and bring her home like you did last night. It would be weird not to be curious.

“Get to the point,” Jiang Musheng said, bypassing his question.

“I knew this would happen again,” Zheng Hangyi sighed in disappointment, then became serious. “We’ve found the mastermind behind tricking little sister Xueyu.”

Jiang Musheng’s gaze instantly turned murderous.

Zheng Hangyi also became serious. “He’s just an ordinary high school boy with no powerful connections. I don’t know how he bribed Scarface. The Governor and I couldn’t get a word out of him. He’s got a hard mouth.”

“I’ll go interrogate him myself.”

When they reached the foyer, a servant respectfully handed Jiang Musheng his gold-handled walking stick with a snake head.

“What if even you can’t get anything out of him?”

Touching the snake head on the walking stick, Jiang Musheng’s thumb rubbed the sharp fangs.

“Then there’s no need to waste resources. Throw him in the ocean to feed the great sharks.”

…

After standing to watch Jiang Musheng and Zheng Hangyi leave the dining room, Yun Ran collapsed into her seat.

“Sister-in-law,” Jiang Xueyu called out softly.

Yun Ran said nervously, “Ms. Jiang, please just call me Yun Ran.”

“No,” Jiang Xueyu said, tilting her chin playfully, naturally acting spoiled, her face saying: I don’t care, I’m going to.

It was clear she was very pampered at home, well taken care of by Jiang Musheng.

Perhaps Jiang Musheng had a bad reputation outside, but he must be an excellent brother.

Yun Ran felt a little helpless.

After calming down, she still spoke seriously to her. “Jiang Xueyu, I already explained to you in the room why I said that. I didn’t mean to offend Jiang Musheng or take advantage of him. It was a desperate act to save my life, and I hope you can understand.”

“I can understand, so I don’t blame you.”

“My brother doesn’t blame you either.”

Yun Ran was stunned for a moment.

For a second, she felt it was too easy to take advantage of the Jiang family, but this was only the surface. Who knew what price she would have to pay for it later?

Given her identity, there was no point in arguing with Jiang Xueyu. It was better to just go along with her for now.

“Little sister Jiang Xueyu.”

“Yes, what can I do for you, sister-in-law?”

“I’d like to know about my upperclassman—the one who was hurt protecting me yesterday. Where is he now? Is he okay?”

“Yesterday, I immediately had my brother send someone to take him to the hospital. I don’t know how he is now.”

Yun Ran felt very anxious. After all, her upperclassman was beaten so badly for protecting her.

“Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll call to ask.”

Yun Ran nodded heavily.

Seeing her urgency, Jiang Xueyu immediately took her to the living room. On a mahogany table by the sofa was a black rotary phone.

Not knowing the hospital’s contact number, Jiang Xueyu quickly called for Alan, the bodyguard captain Jiang Musheng had assigned her.

“Alan, who was in charge of taking my sister-in-law’s friend to the hospital yesterday? Did he have a phone with him?”

“Miss, it was Ah Biao. He had a brick phone with him. I’ll contact him right away.”

As Alan took out a bulky brick phone from behind him to call Ah Biao at the hospital, Yun Ran clasped her hands in front of her chest and prayed for her upperclassman.

“Miss, Ah Biao said that gentleman’s life is no longer in danger, but he is still in a coma. There’s been a bit of a dispute there. The gentleman’s parents have arrived at the hospital and called the police, insisting that our people were the ones who hurt him.”

Yun Ran was even more worried. She felt that because of her, the Jiang family was now in trouble and might have to be investigated by the police.

Jiang Xueyu comforted her. “It’s okay, sister-in-law. The police have to look at the facts and be reasonable.”

That’s right, Yun Ran quickly realized her worry was unnecessary.

Not only did the Jiang family help her and her upperclassman last night, but even if the Jiang family had done something bad, with their deep roots and connections in Hong Kong, nothing would happen to them.

Thinking of this, she began to worry about her upperclassman’s family.

If his parents got into a conflict with the Jiang family in their agitation, would the Jiang family forgive them?

“I want to go to the hospital to see my upperclassman,” Yun Ran said.

“Sister-in-law, I’ll go with you.”

“Miss, please wait. Mr. Jiang said you must ask for his permission before leaving the house.”

“Then ask him quickly.”

Alan called Jiang Musheng directly.

Yun Ran looked at the bulky phone and thought of the pager her dad had promised to give her for her birthday this year, which could send short text messages.

It wasn’t Jiang Musheng who answered the phone, it was Zheng Hangyi.

Jiang Xueyu said in a pleading voice, “Telling Brother Hangyi is the same as telling my brother. My sister-in-law and I are about to leave.”

“Little sister Xueyu, I can’t make that decision. You’ll have to wait a little longer. Your brother will come back to personally give you an answer after he’s done with his business.”

Jiang Xueyu pouted unhappily, knowing it was a no-go.

“But my sister-in-law is very worried about her upperclassman.”

“Then let Yun Ran go alone. Get a driver to take her and two bodyguards to protect her.”

The call ended.

A car, a driver, and two bodyguards were arranged quickly.

Yun Ran wanted to change back into her clothes from yesterday, but they weren’t clean, so she had to wear one of Xueyu’s outfits.

A pure white mid-length dress, white socks, and black leather shoes. Yun Ran put them on with a strange feeling. They fit her surprisingly well.

She felt like she had also become a white doll.

“Sister-in-law, you have a great figure. The clothes fit you even better than they fit me.”

Jiang Xueyu smiled as she helped Yun Ran arrange her hair, letting it fall on both shoulders.

Yun Ran felt a bit awkward, but not wanting to make them wait too long, she said goodbye to Xueyu and got into the car, feeling overwhelmed by the bodyguards’ protection.

Jiang Xueyu also wanted to get in, but Alan quickly grabbed her.

As the car door closed, Yun Ran noticed that Alan, despite her short hair, was a girl—a strong girl who could be a bodyguard captain and protect Xueyu.

The car started. Yun Ran turned to look back, and the last thing she saw was Xueyu glaring at Alan, who was holding onto Xueyu’s white wrist tightly but gently.

Yun Ran let her lips curl into a small smile.

She couldn’t see anything else, so she turned back and slightly tilted her head to look out the window.

This was her first time riding in a car, and she found it very new.

Her upperclassman had once driven his family’s car and invited her for a ride, but she refused, wanting to keep her distance.

She never imagined her first time in a car would be in the Jiang family’s. It was unbelievable.

The car was spacious, bright, impressive, and gave her a sense of security.

It was much faster than walking or riding a rickshaw, and Yun Ran couldn’t take in all the street scenes flashing by the window.

Today, her life had sped up.

Yun Ran liked this feeling of acceleration. No matter how fast she walked, she would still pass through the unpleasant turns on her way home and breathe in the unpleasant air.

She remembered one time coming home and passing a corner where a drunk man mistook her for a prostitute and tried to drag her upstairs. She couldn’t break free. Fortunately, her dad’s friend was nearby, buying fish balls from a street vendor. He heard her cries for help and rescued her in time.

She still remembered how she felt, trembling, while eating that bowl of fish balls.

Tears fell into the fish ball soup, and she swore to herself that one day she would leave that place, and she would take her dad with her.

But riding in a car was different. The car sped through all those dark and dirty corners.

No one could drag her down again.

At this moment, she felt an unparalleled sense of safety and freedom.

” Yun Ran, we’ve arrived at the hospital.”

She didn’t even have to open the car door herself; someone did it for her.

Yun Ran thanked him and got out of the car.

Following the bodyguard’s directions, she arrived at her upperclassman’s hospital room, where she could hear a chaotic commotion inside.

“Mom, Dad, don’t stop me!”

“Hongfei, calm down. You can’t move right now.”

“Ah Ran, I need to find Ah Ran!” Gu Hongfei was agitated and pulled the IV needle from his arm, trying to get off the bed.

His parents tried to stop him but couldn’t.

Yun Ran entered the room at that moment.

“Upperclassman, I’m okay,” Yun Ran said with a smile, walking forward.

Gu Hongfei was stunned for a moment, then ran toward her, reaching out with both hands to embrace her tightly. Yun Ran didn’t dodge, but the two bodyguards beside her each extended a hand and blocked Gu Hongfei.

Seeing this, Yun Ran felt a little awkward and raised her hand to smooth her hair.

“Ah Ran, you…”

Gu Hongfei finally noticed how different she was, the extreme difference in her attire.

But in the instant that difference appeared, they also seemed so far apart, just like the black-suited bodyguards standing between them. It was as if the closeness he had felt with A’ran in the last two days was just an illusion.

“Ah Ran…”

Gu Hongfei gasped in pain, his shoulders still held by the bodyguards, yet he still raised one hand toward Yun Ran.

He hoped Yun Ran would hold his hand.

Out of some emotion—perhaps guilt, perhaps pity—Yun Ran also raised her hand.

Just as their hands were about to touch, a voice called out “A’ran,” like a suddenly raised knife that forcefully split them apart and pushed them even farther away.

Yun Ran’s hand fell. She turned to see Jiang Musheng.

Support The Golden Cane and the Wild Rose