Finding Chen Hede is the easiest; he's in the private room in the center of the second floor of the Pear Garden almost every night.
Even though Mei Heming had long since gone abroad for a tour, Chen Hede still came to the opera house to listen to the performances without fail, though he rarely gave tips.
When Cheng Muyun arrived at the pear orchard, two large lanterns were already hanging high at the entrance, casting a dim yellow light on the ground.
He vividly remembers that when Xu Zhuohua first came to the pear orchard, she was attracted by the golden lanterns inside. Her eyes seemed to be filled with golden light, so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
The golden lamp still shines, but the person is gone.
Cheng Muyun shook his head and stepped inside.
Chen Hede was still dressed in a well-fitting black long gown, sitting upright in a pear wood official's hat chair, listening with his eyes closed to the melodious singing on stage.
His fingers tapped the armrests gently in time with the sound of the clapper, his expression relaxed, as if he were completely immersed in the opera scene with its flowing sleeves.
Cheng Muyun walked in, bypassing the carved screen. The jade pendant with the kapok flower at her waist swayed slightly with her steps, colliding with the buttons of her trench coat and making a crisp "ding" sound, which just interrupted the rhythm of Chen Hede's hands.
"Mr. Mei is gone, yet you still love opera so much." Cheng Muyun stood three steps away from him, his gaze sweeping across the stage, his tone somewhat nonchalant, "Have you taken a fancy to some rising star?"
Chen Hede slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Cheng Muyun's face.
That faint smile, though subtle, was enough to put his mind at ease—Xu Shinong had persuaded him.
With that, he was relieved, knowing that at least for the time being, Cheng Muyun would no longer be obsessively thinking about suicide.
"The newcomers these days lack a certain spark in their voices; they're not even one ten-thousandth as good as Heming."
He withdrew his gaze and returned it to the stage, his tone tinged with melancholy, "I've always been a sentimental person."
Cheng Muyun's eyelashes trembled slightly.
Newcomers can never surpass old ones; this is generally true of the world.
He ran his fingertips along the edge of the jade pendant and said softly, "I'll go and pay my respects to Miss Hu when I have some free time. After all, Zhuohua didn't have many friends when he was alive, and Miss Hu was one of them."
Upon hearing this, Chen Hede looked up, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry: "Aren't you the person who hates opium the most?"
A faint smile played on Cheng Muyun's lips: "I won't allow anyone around Zhuohua to be addicted to opium."
He paused, then looked calmly at Chen Hede. "Although I don't know why you would deliberately smear Miss Hu, I suppose you must have your own reasons."
Upon hearing this, Chen Hede's hair stood on end, and a thin layer of sweat instantly seeped out from his back.
He gripped the armrest tightly, forcing down his rapid breathing to keep his voice steady: "There's no particular reason. Hu Moli was framed, but I haven't had time to clear her name."
Cheng Muyun did not ask any further questions.
Right now, he's too lazy to worry about anyone else except for matters related to Xu Zhuohua.
He picked up a plate of almond cookies from the table, popped one into his mouth, and mumbled, "You didn't call me here just to keep you company while you watch the opera, did you?"
Xu Zhuohua liked the pastries from Liyuan and even secretly hid a few for Xinghua.
It's really delicious, melts in your mouth, and is fragrant, crispy, sweet, and soft.
Chen Hede called Cheng Muyun over because he was thinking that if Xu Shinong couldn't persuade Cheng Muyun, he would tell Cheng Muyun the truth.
But now it seems there's no need to say anything more.
Chen Hede's gaze fell on the jade pendant on Cheng Muyun's waist.
Kapok flower.
He said, "This jade pendant belongs to the Xu family, doesn't it?"
Cheng Muyun touched the jade pendant. "It belongs to the Xu family; it's Zhuohua's keepsake."
Chen Hede had a sudden inspiration, "Do you know what a kapok flower is?"
Cheng Muyun naturally knew that there was a towering kapok tree in the old man's courtyard, and there was also such a tree in the old house of the Xu family in Dongzhou. It was a testament to the friendship between the two families.
"Know."
Chen Hede smiled and said, "The kapok flower falls with its head cut off, unlike other flowers that wither slowly and die ugly and stunted. When the kapok falls to the ground, it is still beautiful and charming. Who can say for sure whether it is dead or not?"
Cheng Muyun looked up in confusion, staring into Chen Hede's smiling eyes, his mind filled with doubts.
"What do you mean? Speak plainly."
Chen Hede's smile deepened. "It's nothing, I'm just a little curious about the habits of kapok flowers."
Even someone as clever as Cheng Muyun needs some time and a hint to figure out Chen Hede's implication.
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