Chapter Twenty-Seven: Hidden Arrows and Setting Sun
The rain pounded against the window, making a thumping sound.
When Lin Tang woke up, her pillowcase was already soaked with cold sweat.
She sat up, groped for the water glass on the bedside table in the dark, her fingertips trembling violently.
Qiao Yuan stood under the streetlights in the concession, wearing that dark blue long gown, the silver thread on the cuffs gleaming. Suddenly, several Japanese ronin rushed out of the alley, guns pointed at his chest. He turned to look at her, a faint smile still on his lips, and then a gunshot rang out, blood splattering on the back of her hand, burning her so much that she screamed.
"Qiao Yuan..." she called softly, her voice swallowed up by the sound of the rain.
The thunder outside the window was deafening. She threw off the covers and got out of bed. Her bare feet touched the floor, and a chill ran up her toes. She realized that she was shivering all over.
She walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and the wind, carrying raindrops, rushed in, making her pajamas stick to her back, chilling her to the bone. She stared at the rain outside the window, remembering how she used to dream about Bai Mu, about the scene of him being shot during a march.
Now that Bai Mu has returned as Chen Kan, she no longer has those kinds of dreams.
only……
She only saw glimpses of the former Bai Mu in Chen Kan on very rare occasions; most of the time, she felt a sense of unfamiliarity with him…
Did he change, or did she change, or did they both change?
In the darkness, Lin Tang let out a long sigh.
...
As dawn broke, the rain stopped.
Lin Tang got up, walked barefoot to the wardrobe, took out a light blue cheongsam, put it on in front of the mirror, combed her hair into a low bun, and applied some makeup to cover the dark circles under her eyes.
Ah Xiu had already gotten up and cooked shrimp porridge. Seeing her come down, she hurriedly went to greet her: "Miss, the porridge is warmed up, would you like some?"
Lin Tang nodded.
Ah Xiu then brought the bowl over.
Looking at her face, Lin Tang suddenly sighed and said, "Ah Xiu, you'll be eighteen after the New Year, right?"
Ah Xiu was taken aback, then blushed and lowered her head, saying, "Yes, Madam."
Lin Tang smiled faintly as if she had remembered something, and said, "Yes, the young lady is already thinking about getting married!"
Ah Xiu was still trying to argue shyly, but Lin Tang had already shaken her head. After taking a few sips of porridge, she stood up and said, "I'm going to the Chamber of Commerce."
...
Lin Tang didn't actually have anything urgent to do today, but after registering a few new companies, she went to the Chamber of Commerce to take care of the matter.
After finishing her business, she walked to the door of Chen Kan's office. Just as she was about to knock, she heard Uncle Zhong's voice from inside.
To Lin Tang's surprise, the old butler's tone towards Chen Kan was not polite at all, "Young Master, what have you done in the past six months since you returned to Jiangcheng? You shut down opium dens, investigated brothels, and offended so many people! You were appointed chairman of the Chen family to win people's hearts, not to offend people!"
"Uncle Zhong, that opium is poisoning the Chinese people, and how many of those girls went to brothels on their own initiative?" Chen Kan was quite exasperated. "Does the Nanjing government just stand by and watch Jiangcheng deteriorate like this?"
"What the government needs right now is money! Taxes! They've been turning a blind eye to these things for a long time, so why are you stirring up this mess?" Uncle Zhong interrupted him. "Do you think you're still that student you used to be? That a red heart is enough to be patriotic? You're now representing the Chen family to raise money for the government! To raise funds for the military!"
Lin Tang's expression darkened slightly upon hearing this.
"And another thing," Uncle Zhong said coldly, "you must bring Lin Tang to the dance in a couple of days. Don't forget, the Chen family sent you here because of your past relationship with her. We went to so much trouble to get the government to award her the property; if Qiao Yuan fights with her so fiercely, all our efforts will have been wasted! You'd better hurry; the old man isn't satisfied with what you've been doing lately! Do you still want your mother's memorial tablet to be placed in the Chen family's ancestral hall?"
"Uncle Zhong, I understand." Chen Kan's tone was impatient.
“I’m not trying to criticize you, Third Young Master, but she’s entangled with someone like Qiao Yuan from the Green Gang, and she’s injured and has a limp. Right now, you’re just putting on an act for the sake of this business in Jiangcheng. Don’t take it too seriously! The Chen family will find you a suitable lady from a prestigious family in the future. Just focus on playing your part well right now.”
"Uncle Zhong!" Chen Kan's voice rose, "Jin Tang and I are not acting, nor is this a transaction!"
"Not a deal?" Uncle Zhong sneered. "Then what is it? You almost lost your life for her back then, so isn't it only right that she helps you now? Besides, she might not even appreciate your good intentions!"
Lin Tang's fingertips were still on the doorknob, and the conversation inside was like a dull knife, cutting her ears again and again.
Lin Tang took two steps back gently, her high heels clicking on the carpet with great effort, trying to make no sound as her heels hit the floor.
"Mr. Lin?" The receptionist's secretary passed by and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Lin Tang's mind was wavering. When she heard her secretary's question, it took her a long time to come back to her senses. She smiled faintly and tidied the stray hairs at her temples with her fingertips: "I have something to do, I'll be going now."
She turned and walked towards the elevator. When she pressed the button, her reflection in the mirror showed a pale face.
The moment the elevator doors closed, she heard the office door open, and Chen Kan's voice came through: "Who's out there?"
She closed her eyes and heard the sound of the elevator descending, as if her heart had sunk into icy water.
...
The evening breeze, carrying the lingering scent of rain, drifted into the living room. Lin Tang sat in a wicker chair, her fingertips tracing the rim of her teacup. The jasmine tea in the cup had gone cold, the tea leaves settling at the bottom, like unfolded memories.
The door was gently pushed open, and Chen Kan appeared in the doorway. He was carrying a light brown paper package, and a stiff smile appeared on his lips: "Jintang, I..."
"Come in and sit down," Lin Tang interrupted him, pointing to the chair opposite him.
Chen Kan walked over and placed the paper package on the table. The package still had some rain stains on it and the words "Fuxingli Honey Dates" were printed on it. He sat down, his fingers unconsciously stroking the corner of the package: "I was passing by Fuxingli and remembered that you used to like to eat these, so I bought some."
"Thank you," she said, pushing the paper package back. "My stomach hasn't been feeling well lately, so I can't eat sweets."
“You…” He hesitated, then took out a gold-embossed invitation from his pocket and placed it on the table. “I would still like to invite you to the Far East Business Association’s ball.”
“I know,” she said softly, “this dance is good for our business.”
Chen Kan's face stiffened. "Jin Tang, I didn't..."
"No need to explain," Lin Tang interrupted him. "I'll go."
Chen Kan breathed a sigh of relief, and the smile on his lips finally became more genuine: "Then... I'll wait for you at the door tomorrow night at seven o'clock."
Lin Tang nodded, "Okay."
Chen Kan walked to the door, then stopped. The setting sun cast a long shadow on the floor, like a blurred past.
Ah Xiu came in and started clearing the teacups from the table. She noticed the packet of candied dates and asked, "Miss, should we keep these candied dates?"
Lin Tang shook her head. "Throw it away."
Ah Xiu paused for a moment, then picked up the paper package and headed to the kitchen.
...
Ah Xiu brought over a pair of light brown low-heeled shoes with velvet covering the heels. "Miss, these shoes are soft and won't hurt your feet when you walk in them."
Lin Tang nodded and sat down in front of the dressing table, letting A Xiu comb her hair into a low bun, insert a jade hairpin, and tuck a white jasmine behind her ear. In the mirror, her makeup was exquisite, her lips were painted with a bean paste color lipstick, but her eyes were like ink soaked in water, so indifferent that no emotion could be seen.
She had just put on her pearl bracelet when the doorbell rang. Ah Xiu went to open the door, and Chen Kan stood there, wearing a dark gray suit with a white rose pinned to his lapel.
The rickshaw stopped in front of the Far East Hotel. A waiter opened the door, and jazz music poured out like a stream, while the lights shattered into diamond-like fragments and scattered on the marble floor.
Lin Tang took Chen Kan's arm and went inside. Her low-heeled shoes made a soft, almost inaudible sound as they clicked on the floor. Her legs hurt a little, and she frowned subconsciously. Chen Kan noticed and slowed his pace. "Would you like to sit down for a while?" She shook her head. "No, let's say hello first."
Chen Kan led her through the crowd, saying, "This is Mr. Smith from the British Consulate." "Mr. Zhou, Miss Lin's factory has recently produced new fabrics; you may want to take a look."
Qiao Yuan also saw her. His gaze slid from her face to her legs, as if burned, then quickly lifted, only to fall back down again, staring at the hem of her cheongsam.
Lin Tang noticed and instinctively tugged at her cheongsam, pulling her legs further into the shadows. Chen Kan asked, "What's wrong?" She shook her head, "Nothing."
Cheng Qing followed Qiao Yuan's gaze, smiled, and tugged at his arm. "Amu, isn't that Miss Lin? Why don't you go say hello?"
Qiao Yuan didn't speak, but Cheng Qing pulled him over. "Miss Lin, it's been a long time."
Cheng Qing stretched out her hand, her nails painted with bright red nail polish. "This dark green cheongsam really suits you."
Lin Tang shook hands in return, "Miss Cheng's red dress truly outshone everyone else." Cheng Qing laughed, "Miss Lin is still so eloquent."
Qiao Yuan stood to the side, his whiskey sloshing around, spilling onto the rim of his glass.
Lin Tang looked at him, "Mr. Qiao, it's been a long time."
He snapped out of his daze and reached out his hand, "Miss Lin."
His hands were very cold, like a piece of jade soaked in ice water, and Lin Tang's fingertips trembled slightly.
"Is your leg injury any better?" Qiao Yuan asked, his voice low, like rain falling on flower petals.
Lin Tang nodded, "Much better, it doesn't affect my walking anymore."
He stared at her legs. "Does it still hurt?"
She paused for a moment, then shook her head. "Occasionally."
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