During this time, she remained silent, only listening quietly to the two brothers, Hongli and his brother, chatting.
Yunmeng, being very perceptive, poured tea for everyone. Su Yushan politely thanked her, secretly lamenting that such a good girl had fallen into prostitution, and wondering if Hongzhou was truly sincere towards her, and whether she would find a good home in the future.
Time seemed to fly by as they chatted and drank. After enjoying the scenery on the lake, they decided to go to the back mountain to see the maple trees. As they disembarked, Su Yushan looked around but did not see the figure from before, which put her at ease.
Hongli witnessed this scene. He felt that she was hiding something from him, but he also thought that he might be overthinking it.
Just as he was about to ask, Yunmeng said she needed to use the restroom, and Su Yushan offered to accompany her. Hongli then had no chance to ask and waited with Hongzhou by the hexagonal pavilion.
On their way to the restroom, the two were not very familiar with each other, and it was inevitably a little awkward to walk together. To break the awkwardness, Su Yushan took the initiative to ask her name.
Thinking of her surname, Yunmeng hesitated and did not dare to say it outright. "Aunt Cai said that once you enter Liuxiang Tower, you must sever all ties with your past and have no further connection with it. I have no surname now, so please just call me Yunmeng, Princess."
Judging from her tone, she probably also had a difficult past. Su Yushan smiled gently and comforted her, "It's alright. A name is just a label and it's not important. But life is your own, and you have to make the most of it."
Others might still have a chance to change their fate, but she seems to have lost that right. "Trapped in prostitution, do I still have a choice?"
Even Su Yushan couldn't change her identity, let alone Yunmeng, who was in Liuxiang Pavilion and would likely be even less free to act as she pleased. But even trapped in darkness, one's heart must still turn towards the sun.
"Life is full of choices. I believe that no matter where you are, you should try your best to please yourself and not make yourself suffer too much."
To please oneself? This was the first time she had ever heard such a thing. In Yunmeng, one could only please guests and could not act according to one's own wishes. Take accompanying Fifth Master on this trip today, for example; she did it with a purpose, not out of her true desire.
Even though she was bathed in bright sunlight, she felt damp all over, and her heart was filled with darkness. Su Gege's words, though ethereal, gave her a glimmer of encouragement.
“What Gege said is also my dream. I hope that one day I can break free from my shackles and see the light of day again.”
As they spoke, the two arrived at the outhouse. There was only one outhouse there. Su Yushan went first, and then waited for Yunmeng under a big tree nearby.
Just as I reached the tree, I suddenly heard a sweet, clear voice calling from behind, "Sister----"
There was no one else around. Who was that "sister" calling out to? Su Yushan turned around curiously, only to see a little girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old looking at her with a delighted smile.
"Sister, it really is you! Brother Zheng said it was you, but I thought he was mistaken!"
Brother Zheng? Su Yushan's gaze slowly moved upwards, and what came into view was a handsome face filled with melancholy. It seemed she hadn't been mistaken at the bow of the ship; that person really was Zheng Lin!
Zheng Lin had just caught a glimpse of a familiar figure, but the boat was too far from the shore and the light was against him, so he couldn't see it clearly. He thought it was just a hallucination caused by his intense longing.
She was right in front of him, so real. He longed to take her hand and call her name affectionately, just like before. But he knew he no longer had the right to get close to her. His heart was surging with emotion, but he couldn't utter a complete sentence. His throat ached with a dull pain.
Every time Su Yushan saw him, she felt guilty and looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Instead, she looked at the young girl in front of her.
"You are...my sister?"
The little girl was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Sister, Big Brother said you lost your memory, but you still remember me?"
This whole thing is incredibly awkward. She told everyone she had amnesia, but only told Zheng Lin she didn't. Now that she's being pressed for an answer, she doesn't know how to respond.
After hesitating for a moment, Su Yushan finally shook her head. "I don't remember you, but I've heard my elder brother mention that I have a younger sister, about twelve or thirteen years old, named Yuchan. You look somewhat like me, so I suppose you must be Yuchan?"
Nodding obediently, Yu Chan took her hand and said pitifully, "It is indeed me, sister. I miss you so much! I've always wanted to see you, but everyone said you got married and couldn't come back. They also said it was a high-class family, and I couldn't look for you. It's truly a blessing from heaven that we can meet here today."
Judging from the situation, the original owner and her sister must have had a very good relationship. Although it was the first time Su Yushan had met her, she found the little girl's eyes bright and lively, and quite adorable. So she took her hand in return and softly comforted her:
"I really can't leave the manor often. How are you, my elder brother, and my second brother doing? Do you have enough money? If you have any difficulties, be sure to let me know."
Yu Chan smiled slightly, "Sister, don't worry, we are all fine. Today is my birthday. My eldest brother is busy studying, and my second brother has found a job and can't leave, so Brother Zheng took me out to play."
When Zheng Lin was mentioned, Su Yushan was speechless. She glanced at him and gave a dry laugh, saying, "Thank you for taking my sister around, Young Master Zheng."
During this time, Zheng Lin's gaze remained fixed on Su Yushan's face. More than a month later, when he met her again, she seemed to be in much better condition than before. Already possessing outstanding beauty, she was adorned with pearls and silks, adding an air of refined elegance.
She was still herself, but she was no longer the one he remembered. Now, she looked at him with the coldness of a stranger, devoid of the tenderness she once had.
Zheng Linming knew he shouldn't have any more expectations, but he still couldn't suppress the turmoil in his heart and said softly, "Why should we be so polite between us?"
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