Spring always comes so late in Tianjin. Zheng Wanqing is walking slowly on Guyi Street wrapped in a cloak trimmed with sable fur.
The snow in the city was like broken cotton wool, stubbornly piling up in the corners of the eaves. It had not completely melted yet, but there was a hint of warmth in the air.
She stopped in front of a Suzhou silk shop. In the window hung a camel-hair-lined dress coat. The exquisite tailoring reminded her of Xie Yun's old coat that was torn by tree branches in the southern suburbs.
Zheng Wanqing was just about to push the door and go into the shop to take a closer look at the materials when she heard the bell ring and saw a familiar figure standing in the inner room.
"Hey, madam, what would you like to buy today?" The shopkeeper came forward with a big smile on his face, his eyes wandering over her exquisite makeup, and his eyes skimming over the jade pendant on her earlobe with experience, "We have a lot of Suzhou and Hangzhou fabrics here, all of which are in season in early spring."
Zheng Wanqing was about to speak when she heard a sweet voice calling out, "Sister Wanqing!"
Liu Tingting walked out of the inner room, wearing a light pink cheongsam with a stand-up collar and a white velvet shawl, which made her skin look like cream. The slit of the cheongsam was embroidered with a delicate butterfly pattern, which appeared and disappeared with her steps.
She walked lightly to Zheng Wanqing, with an expression of joy in her eyes and eyebrows: "What a coincidence, I actually met you here."
Zheng Wanqing looked at her inconspicuously. She seemed not to be affected by Zhao Qingshan at all. Not only did her complexion look rosy, but there was also a hint of lightness between her brows.
"Ms. Liu." Zheng Wanqing suppressed her surprise, raised the corners of her lips appropriately, and turned her eyes to the window. "I just passed by and saw that coat was nice, so I wanted to come in and take a look."
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately said attentively, "Madam, you have a good eye! This is a woolen material imported from Britain, which is windproof and warm." Then he ordered the waiter to bring a sample, "Please feel it. This feel and quality are second to none in the whole Tianjin."
Zheng Wanqing's fingertips gently stroked the soft wool inside, and the touch was indeed excellent. She asked casually: "Do you have ready-made clothes?"
"What a coincidence, there is a new one in the inner room." The shopkeeper turned around and told the clerk, and then said to Liu Tingting, "Madam, do you want to send the pieces of brocade and silk you just picked to the old place?"
Liu Tingting took the paper and pen and wrote down the address with a smile. Zheng Wanqing inadvertently caught a glimpse of the beautiful small characters and her heart trembled. This handwriting was exactly the same as the letter she saw in Xie Yun's drawer in the southern suburbs!
"Sister, why do you suddenly look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?" Liu Tingting approached with concern.
Zheng Wanqing forced herself to remain calm, digging her nails deep into her palms: "It's okay, maybe I left in a hurry." She took the coat handed to her by the waiter, her fingertips trembling slightly, "I want this one, pack it up."
On the way back home, Liu Tingting's bright smile and the affectionate words on the letter kept interweaving in front of her eyes, making Zheng Wanqing feel a buzzing in her ears.
The red lanterns in front of the mansion were swaying in the twilight, but Zheng Wanqing felt that the red light was very dazzling.
She mechanically stepped over the threshold, not even hearing Uncle Zhou's greeting. The maids wanted to help her change clothes, but she waved them away.
There was only one thought lingering in my mind: What is the relationship between Xie Yun and Liu Tingting?
It was late at night when Xie Yun returned from the government office. The leftovers from the late-night dinner had been cleared away, and the people who had stayed up all night in the mansion had also left. After he finished washing up, he opened the bedroom door and found Zheng Wanqing still leaning against the bed, holding a book in her hands, but she was obviously absent-minded.
"Madam, what are you daydreaming about?" Xie Yun walked over to the bed and sat down, reaching out to touch her cheek.
"Have you known Bai Mudan from the theater for a long time?" Zheng Wanqing's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, but her fingertips were tightly grasping her sleeves.
Xie Yun was startled, a hint of surprise flashed across his brows: "Yes." He answered straightforwardly, with a look of concern and confusion on his face, "Why do you suddenly ask this?"
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