Chapter 118
“Buddhist prayer beads? Let me see.”
Gu Yanqiu took the tablet and studied the magnified area closely. The photo had been taken a few years ago, so the resolution was decent, but no matter how good her eyesight was, she still couldn’t possibly mistake that tiny shadow for prayer beads.
If they were that easy to make out, she wouldn’t have failed to notice them after holding onto the photo for so long.
“Doesn’t look like it, does it?” Gu Yanqiu said.
Lin Yuewei studied it for a while longer, zooming in and out. She wasn’t sure anymore; it had only been a sudden hunch. Plenty of people liked collecting and handling little objects, and there were all kinds of wrist accessories. Agate and pearl bracelets that resembled Buddhist prayer beads were hardly rare.
“I was so impressed by the prayer beads on your wrist that it was the first thing I thought of. Does this person believe in Buddhism? Did Mr. Liu say?”
“No, she doesn’t,” Gu Yanqiu answered. If believing in Buddhism were that obvious a trait, neither she nor Mr. Liu would have overlooked it.
“Does she usually like collecting and handling things?”
“Mr. Liu didn’t mention it.”
“Should we ask?” Lin Yuewei frowned.
“I’ll send him a message.”
Gu Yanqiu passed the clue on to Mr. Liu, who said he understood and would make it a key point of consideration.
“There’s actually another method,” Lin Yuewei said after Gu Yanqiu finished talking with him.
“What?”
“Does your dad know your mom’s ex-girlfriend?”
“That…”
The heating in the house was strong, and Lin Yuewei was getting a little warm, so she simply threw back the blanket and sat cross-legged. “If I’d married a wife whose heart wasn’t with me, I’d definitely quietly investigate everything about her.”
Gu Yanqiu drew in a soft breath. “You mean… start with my father.”
Lin Yuewei saw that her expression wasn’t very good and said, “I’m just making a suggestion.”
Gu Yanqiu thought about it, then still shook her head. “Forget it. The last time I asked him about my mother, he reacted very strongly. Besides, my dad recently… doesn’t seem to be in very good health. I don’t want to stab him in the heart over this again.”
Lin Yuewei said, “Then forget it. Hey, your dad isn’t in good health? Since when?”
“Ever since my mother passed away, he’s been a bit unwell. No, that’s not quite right; I’m not sure either, because I wasn’t in the country at first, so I don’t know when it started.” As she said this, worry crept into Gu Yanqiu’s face. “You know my mom died of illness. I’m afraid something might happen to my dad too.”
“Have you asked him?”
“Yes. He said he was fine. I even secretly went into his room and checked his medicine; there wasn’t anything strange.”
“Don’t think too much about it,” Lin Yuewei comforted her.
“Mm.” Gu Yanqiu pressed her temples.
Lin Yuewei patted the pillow beside her. “Come on, lie down.”
Gu Yanqiu thought she was going to continue what they’d been doing just now. After a moment of hesitation, she lay back down. Two hands, slightly cooler than her skin, pressed against her temples and massaged them gently.
Lin Yuewei said, “You’re already a few years older than me. Thinking about so many things will make you age faster. Relax and go to sleep.”
Gu Yanqiu looked up at her from below.
Lin Yuewei smiled. “What? Close your eyes.”
Gu Yanqiu took the hand resting against the side of her neck and brought it up to kiss it. Then she pecked at it again and again, from her wrist all the way to her slender fingertips.
Lin Yuewei shivered and threatened, “If you still don’t sleep, then there’ll be no sleeping at all.”
Gu Yanqiu stared at her without blinking. “Then I won’t sleep.”
Lin Yuewei: “…”
Fine.
***
The next day, there was no need to go to work. Gu Yanqiu slept in at the Lin residence. Even so, it wasn’t that late, since Ran Qingqing was still at home. At 8:30, she got up and went downstairs to greet Ran Qingqing, who was on the sofa teasing the cat and dog, with a good morning.
Ran Qingqing called for an auntie to prepare her a fresh breakfast.
Lin Yuewei was much more casual about it. She slept until 9:30, then came swaggering down the stairs in a snow-white robe tied at the front, one hand on the railing, her descent crooked and loose-limbed. She looked like a snake: languid and alluring.
Ran Qingqing was dazzled by her and, at the same time, reflexively covered Schrodinger’s eyes. In a low voice, she said, “We must not look at what is not fit to be seen.” Then she turned toward the staircase and called, “Hey, hey, what are you doing? There are other people here besides the cat and the dog; can’t you see that?”
Lin Yuewei said, “Are there?”
Ran Qingqing looked toward Gu Yanqiu. “And you don’t say anything?”
Gu Yanqiu gave a wry smile. “Auntie, I can’t control her.”
Lin Yuewei laughed and came down elegantly. Fortunately, once she reached the bottom, she changed the way she walked. She put a hand to her waist and said, “That twisting wore me out.”
Gu Yanqiu made room for her. Lin Yuewei sat down beside her and rested a hand on her leg, glancing at the phone in her hand with its screen lit.
Gu Yanqiu immediately turned the screen off and looked at the television as if nothing had happened.
Lin Yuewei: “???”
Gu Yanqiu’s phone vibrated twice. She didn’t look, and Lin Yuewei reminded her, “You’ve got a message.”
Gu Yanqiu remained unruffled. “An ad.”
Lin Yuewei’s hand found the back of the hand holding the phone. Gu Yanqiu bit her lower lip.
Lin Yuewei pried the phone from under her fingers and raised her eyebrows. “Password?”
Gu Yanqiu gave her a string of numbers. While unlocking it, Lin Yuewei asked, “Does it mean anything?”
Gu Yanqiu said, “The last six digits of my old phone number.”
Lin Yuewei swiped open the screen and, sure enough, the green WeChat interface appeared. What met her eyes was a chat window, with the nickname at the top: Big Kite.
At first, Lin Yuewei couldn’t tell who it was. After reading the chat log, she immediately understood.
[Big Kite: I saw the muscles on your wife’s hand at the set last time [drool]]
[Big Kite: At the time I thought, you must be living a very good life. I kept meaning to ask you later, but then I forgot]
[Big Kite: How was the experience?]
[Big Kite: ???]
Lin Yuewei held the phone in both hands and glanced at Gu Yanqiu, who was sitting upright with perfect posture. “Want me to reply for you?”
Gu Yanqiu’s ears were already red. “Maybe not.”
Lin Yuewei handed it back. “Then you reply.”
The moment Gu Yanqiu’s stiff expression eased, Lin Yuewei said, “I’ll watch you reply.”
Gu Yanqiu: “…”
Cheng Guiyuan sent another sticker over. Since it was the weekend, she was probably free too and had time to chat slowly with Gu Yanqiu. Gu Yanqiu gritted her teeth and replied: [Pretty good]
[Big Kite: Hahahahahahaha]
Seeing those words, Gu Yanqiu knew the matter was not over for the time being. Sure enough, Cheng Guiyuan’s follow-up questions came one after another, each more blush-inducing than the last. Lin Yuewei watched the screen with great interest, more curious about how Gu Yanqiu would respond.
After considering it for a moment, Gu Yanqiu typed a few words:
[Xi Gu: If you want to know, go find another one yourself]
[Big Kite: You’re very good at killing a conversation]
[Xi Gu: If it dies, it dies. It’ll come back to life next time]
[Big Kite: Better to bring it back to life now. I’m bored at home; any fun things you’d recommend?]
Lin Yuewei watched for a while. Their topic had already run off somewhere she wasn’t interested in, so she stopped looking and went to tease Ran Qingqing and the Schrodinger in her arms.
The phone suddenly dinged. It was close to Gu Yanqiu, so Lin Yuewei asked her to take a look at who it was. Gu Yanqiu leaned over and glanced at it. An unfamiliar name: “Zou Heng. He’s asking if you’re free.”
Lin Yuewei took the phone and typed back at lightning speed, her attention completely focused.
Gu Yanqiu glanced at her several times without getting any reaction. A sour feeling rose in her heart. When Lin Yuewei finally had time to look up and roll her neck, Gu Yanqiu asked casually, “Who is it?”
Without noticing anything odd, Lin Yuewei lowered her head again to type. “Just one of those rich kids I met last time.”
“Which time?” Lin Yuewei did a lot of activities; sometimes she ate out, and she didn’t go into detail every time.
“The time Teacher Qu took me. I ran into your friend then, too.”
“Oh. So what does this Zou Heng want with you? Is he a man?”
“He’s asking me out to play.”
“Play what?”
“He has a horse ranch and asked if I was free to go riding,” Lin Yuewei said. “I was going to learn how to ride properly with you before going, but I didn’t expect him to message me so quickly.”
Lin Yuewei stood up. Gu Yanqiu’s expression changed with her. “You’re leaving?”
Lin Yuewei walked around the sofa and headed upstairs. “Of course. Since someone asked me, how could I not go? I’m going to change clothes.”
Gu Yanqiu also stood. “Can you ride?”
Lin Yuewei said casually, “If I can’t, I can learn. They have instructors at the ranch.” She finally noticed the worry on Gu Yanqiu’s face and came over in a few steps to kiss her cheek. “It’s fine. Be good and wait for me at home.”
Gu Yanqiu puffed out her cheeks slightly and watched her go upstairs. Then she suddenly remembered and shouted after her, “You haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“No time. I’ll grab something on the way.” Lin Yuewei waved her hand with her back to her.
Gu Yanqiu lowered her lashes and sat back down.
She didn’t feel like replying to the messages Cheng Guiyuan had just sent her anymore. Her spirits had gone dim.
Lin Yuewei was already fully dressed when she came back down and greeted the two of them. “I’m heading out. I should be back for dinner tonight. If I can’t make it, I’ll call you. Muah.”
Ran Qingqing blew her a kiss back. “Muah.”
Gu Yanqiu forced the corners of her lips up in a smile and rose to her feet. “I’ll see you off.”
Lin Yuewei said, “No need. That’d be too high-profile.”
Gu Yanqiu said, “Weren’t there those inexpensive cars?” The Volkswagen Lin Yuewei had bought earlier to fit her “identity.”
Lin Yuewei smiled. “I meant your being my driver would be too high-profile, not the car. Go on.” She lifted a hand and brushed Gu Yanqiu’s cheek; it was smooth and tender. With a sigh, she said, “I want to stay home and keep you company, but I have to go out and socialize. Sigh.”
Gu Yanqiu could only say in a low voice, “Bye.”
Outside, tires rolled over the cement road as Lin Yuewei drove away in her car.
Gu Yanqiu remained listless. Ran Qingqing tried to comfort her. “She’s already grown up. You don’t need to worry about her so much. What’s yours is yours; what isn’t, you can’t guard against.”
Gu Yanqiu understood what she meant and felt embarrassed at once. “Auntie, I’m not saying I don’t trust her.”
Ran Qingqing asked, “Then you mean…”
Gu Yanqiu said, “I don’t trust other people. I’m afraid she’ll be taken advantage of.”
Ran Qingqing said, “Isn’t that still not trusting her? Do you always think of her as a child who needs you to protect her?”
“I don’t…” Gu Yanqiu pinched each knuckle of her own fingers in turn, then let out a heavy sigh.
“Don’t worry,” Ran Qingqing said. The moment the words left her mouth, she asked, “Huh? Where are you going?”
Gu Yanqiu was already several meters away. “I’m going upstairs to change. Auntie, I won’t be back for lunch either.”
Not long after, Gu Yanqiu also left the house.
Ran Qingqing sat alone on the sofa, looking left and right before sighing helplessly. “These two…” Schrodinger curled up on her warm lap. Ran Qingqing scratched its little head. “Only my grandchildren are obedient.”
Corgi the dog: “Woof.”
***
“Aren’t you bored? Want to go to the horse ranch?”
When Cheng Guiyuan got Gu Yanqiu’s call, of course she was more than willing, but she still asked an extra question: “Aren’t you at home keeping your wife company? You even pushed work aside. Why do you suddenly want to go riding?”
“Heh.” Gu Yanqiu let out two cold laughs, then quickly realized that was rude and apologized. “Sorry.”
Cheng Guiyuan said, “I’m not mad. Why are you acting weird all of a sudden?”
“Am I?”
“You are. You sound so snide.”
Gu Yanqiu dodged the question and asked, “Who is Zou Heng? Do you know him?”
Cheng Guiyuan said, “The name sounds a bit familiar. Wait a sec, let me ask. My dad’s right here.”
There was a faint rustling sound, then Cheng Guiyuan took her finger off the microphone. “Zou Heng is Zou Yuandao’s son. His family’s business is about the same as ours, just focused in different areas. Why are you asking about him?”
“Lin Yuewei went to the horse ranch with him and the others.”
“Huh?”
“So I have to go too.”
“Going to catch a cheating spouse?” Cheng Guiyuan blurted out.
“…”
Cheng Guiyuan slapped her own mouth lightly. “Uh, I misspoke. I’m going too. Should I pick you up, or will you pick me up, or should we go separately? What’s the address?”
“…”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“I’m already on the way to your place. I don’t know which ranch it is; I didn’t ask.”
Cheng Guiyuan was silent for a second. “This is the first time I’ve seen you this impulsive; you ran over here without preparing anything.”
Gu Yanqiu: “...I’ll ask now.”
Cheng Guiyuan said, “No need. I’ll ask. My friend knows him.”
She had mixed into quite a few circles since returning to the country and had met Zou Heng before, though they weren’t close, so she hadn’t immediately remembered who he was.
Gu Yanqiu said, “Thanks.”
Cheng Guiyuan said, “No big deal.”
She made a call and quickly found out the horse ranch Zou Heng usually went to; it was also their family’s private ranch, called Xing’an Ranch. It was built on the eastern side of Yanning and was one of the more famous local ranches. It had hosted many competitions. Besides equestrian enthusiasts, many young masters and ladies went there to pass the time, since it had a certain air of prestige.
She informed the smiling President Cheng, Cheng Papa, then went upstairs to change clothes. Just after changing, she received another call from Gu Yanqiu.
“I’m here.”
“So fast?” Cheng Guiyuan dashed out the door and said to Gu Yanqiu through the lowered car window, “Did you speed?”
“No. I was right on the speed limit.” Gu Yanqiu couldn’t wait and leaned over to open the passenger door for her from inside. “Get in.”
Cheng Guiyuan: “…”
She sat down and fastened her seat belt. The car swerved, and she quickly grabbed on.
“Calm down,” Cheng Guiyuan said.
Gu Yanqiu drove like the wind, her brows steady. “Am I not calm?”
“You’re not. Slow down.”
Gu Yanqiu eased off the accelerator. At last Cheng Guiyuan could breathe again. “Besides her going out to play with those friends, did anything else happen?”
“No,” Gu Yanqiu said with a frown. “Isn’t that enough?”
“Enough for what? Enough what?” Only now did Cheng Guiyuan realize it was just this small a matter. Gu Yanqiu had been so frantic that she’d thought Lin Yuewei was about to run off with someone if they were a step too late.
Cheng Guiyuan called for the car to stop, and Gu Yanqiu had no choice but to pull over by the roadside.
Cheng Guiyuan helped her put the prayer beads on. “Calm down. If you go over there looking like you’re catching a cheating spouse, you’re definitely going to fight. Can’t you trust each other a little?”
“I’m not distrusting her,” Gu Yanqiu had already answered this more than once. “I don’t trust those young rich men.”
“In broad daylight, under the bright sky, could they still forcibly abduct a lady in public?”
“…”
“You’ve got persecution delusions or something?” Cheng Guiyuan said. “Why are you so volatile whenever it has to do with her? You look at everyone like they’re a bad person.”
“…”
“Don’t go silent on me. Have you calmed down yet?”
“I have.” Gu Yanqiu kept a straight face.
Cheng Guiyuan folded her arms and glanced at her. “Keep calming down. What was that line again, ‘heaven clear, earth tranquil’ or something? Say it a few times.”
“That’s Daoist,” Gu Yanqiu said, then closed her eyes and recited the Heart Sutra several times.
After a long while, she slowly let out a breath. “All right. Let’s go.”
***
Lin Yuewei parked her car among a cluster of luxury vehicles and followed the directions Zou Heng had sent her on WeChat. She had only taken a few steps inside when she saw the same courteous young man from last time, Mr. Chen, coming to greet her. He was obviously the kind of person who paid great attention to manners.
A bit like Gu Yanqiu; only Gu Yanqiu’s politeness came with distance. Still, Gu Yanqiu was better. Lin Yuewei thought.
“Miss Lin, this way.” Mr. Chen beckoned to her.
Lin Yuewei walked over and greeted him.
Mr. Chen said, “A Heng and Xiao Qiu are all inside.”
Lin Yuewei followed him into the VIP lounge, which led straight out to the viewing stands. Groups of young masters and ladies stood around in twos and threes; some had already changed into riding gear and were preparing to show off their skills at the racetrack, while others were chatting freely.
Mr. Chen took Lin Yuewei over and introduced her to several unfamiliar people. After the first one heard Lin Yuewei say her name, he waited for a while and, when no follow-up came—no “my father is XXX” or “my mother is XXX”—he was even stunned for a moment. Only because of Mr. Chen’s face did he reluctantly shake her hand.
After the last time, Lin Yuewei felt her adaptability had improved a great deal. Aside from her initial discomfort, she could now actually ignore some people’s direct or subtle contempt. That was a good thing. In the adult world, one could never live forever inside an ivory tower. Even if she were a daughter of the Lin family, there would always be people above her who cast that sort of look her way. She might as well treat it as training, Lin Yuewei thought optimistically.
As one of the hosts, Mr. Chen asked considerately, “Would you like to go to the viewing stand?”
Lin Yuewei swept back her long hair and smiled faintly. “Sure.”
Mr. Chen froze for a moment.
Among his small circle, he was the oldest and had always played the role of big brother. He counted as someone experienced and worldly. Lin Yuewei had hidden it well last time, but he had not failed to notice the restraint she’d forced down beneath her unbending, neither-humble-nor-assertive attitude; she wasn’t all that different from anyone else trying to cross class lines and climb upward. But this time, there was an extra trace of… composure that made him unable to help lingering on her a little longer.
“Mr. Chen?”
Mr. Chen came back to himself and smiled. “I’ll take you to the stands.”
The view from the stands was wide and open, with the lush racetrack spread out below. Several men and women in riding clothes were already galloping across the field, helmets on and faces hidden. Mr. Chen pointed at the outermost one, the one in the lead, and said, “That’s A Heng.”
Lin Yuewei narrowed her eyes. “He’s fast.”
Mr. Chen’s eyes curved. In a gentle voice, he said, “A Heng has a more outgoing personality; he likes this kind of sport, so he’s trained more than the rest of us.” As he spoke, Zou Heng urged the horse beneath him into a leap, clearing an obstacle.
“Nice!” Cheering and applause rang out beside her. Lin Yuewei turned her head and immediately felt annoyed.
What bad luck; it was the bridge-playing scrap-metal Miss Qiu, who had taken a fancy to Qu Xuesong and made her into a rival in her own mind. After applauding, Miss Qiu’s gaze wandered casually before naturally meeting Lin Yuewei’s eyes.
Miss Qiu rolled up her sleeves and was about to come over.
Lin Yuewei didn’t want to bother with Scrap-Metal Qiu, but she also couldn’t let her just walk over. So she tensed up, one hand already clenched into a fist behind her back. Mr. Chen blocked Miss Qiu’s charge with one arm, and Lin Yuewei relaxed her fist.
Mr. Chen said, “Lin Yuewei is A Heng’s invited guest. He hasn’t even had a chance to entertain her yet; what are you trying to do?”
Miss Qiu said, “What guest? She’s just a…”
Mr. Chen shot her a look. Miss Qiu shut up unwillingly and walked away.
Mr. Chen turned to Lin Yuewei and said, “I’ll apologize on Xiao Qiu’s behalf. She’s been spoiled by her family and can be a bit domineering, but she’s not a bad person by nature. Please be generous and don’t take it to heart.”
“That’s too kind.”
A strange glimmer flashed through Lin Yuewei’s eyes. Why did this Mr. Chen seem especially friendly toward her today?
The two of them stood in the wind on the viewing platform, occasionally commenting on the scene below. Lin Yuewei was a complete outsider, while Mr. Chen, though not especially skilled himself, had solid theoretical knowledge and a witty way of speaking; before long, they had chatted for quite a while.
Lin Yuewei rested both hands on the railing. Her black hair was blown up by the wind, revealing one small, translucent ear.
Something stirred in Mr. Chen. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then forced himself to shift his gaze to the racetrack. Zou Heng had already crossed the finish line; he dismounted with easy grace, handed the reins to the stable attendant, and lifted his helmet to wave toward a certain direction in the stands.
Not toward Lin Yuewei, but toward the other side, which instantly drew a burst of shrieks.
At the sound, Lin Yuewei’s first thought was: Showy.
Then she turned to look and saw a whole crowd of young, bright girls in short skirts despite the dead of winter; every one of them had big chests and V-shaped faces, and just by their clothes and aura you could tell what they were here for.
Lin Yuewei looked away.
Mr. Chen said, “Those are all A Heng’s admirers.”
Lin Yuewei failed to control her expression and gave a perfunctory nod.
Mr. Chen cleared his throat, seeming as though he wanted to say something but held back.
Lin Yuewei’s brow furrowed slightly as if she’d sensed something. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a commotion behind her. Mr. Chen frowned and went back, and Lin Yuewei followed him inside.
The rich second-generation heirs who had been scattered in small clusters just now were now gathered into a small circle. Two people were standing in the middle of it, and from the strands of hair visible through the gap, Lin Yuewei’s heart gave a little jolt.
“What are you all crowding around here for? Did a new friend arrive?” Mr. Chen said with a smile as he stepped forward and parted the crowd.
Lin Yuewei met the eyes of the young woman with the prayer beads.
Gu Yanqiu had already been introduced to everyone present through Cheng Guiyuan, and when she saw Lin Yuewei, her face brightened as if suddenly lit from within. She stepped forward on her own and said politely, “Hello. I’m Gu Yanqiu.”
She even gave a hat tip, though she wasn’t wearing a hat, then took Lin Yuewei’s hand and kissed it lightly, her smile shallow and elegant. “May I ask the honor of this beautiful lady’s name?”
Lin Yuewei: “…”
Gu Yanqiu had turned her back to the others, so no one could see her expression; only Lin Yuewei could see that she was blinking at her, mouthing impatiently, Say it.
Beauty loves beauty. A generous invitation on a first meeting; this performance immediately stirred the interest of the young masters and young ladies around them. Some of the onlookers even whistled.
Lin Yuewei gave her name. Gu Yanqiu naturally wrapped an arm around her and led her over to Cheng Guiyuan’s side, away from Mr. Chen and the others.
Lin Yuewei no longer knew what Gu Yanqiu was up to. Why was she here? Why was she suddenly acting like this? And why was her acting still so… greasy?
Even with the benefit of affection coloring her judgment, Lin Yuewei had to admit: Gu Yanqiu was not suited to such a frivolous expression.
And as for her daze, the answer she got was the tightening arm around her shoulders.
Author’s Note:
The rumor probably started that way _(:з」∠)_
Everyone in Yanning now knows that the married President Gu is chasing after a young actress ﹁_﹁