With a self-deprecating laugh, Song Youcheng said in a low voice, "Yi Ning is right. I overestimated myself."
Mu Xing asked, "What happened? Tell me in detail, and don't hesitate to help if you can."
Shaking his head, Song Youcheng said, "It's a business matter. Mengwei is already helping me with it. I'm busy with your business today, so I won't go into details."
"Then let's talk about the annulment of the engagement." Li Yining continued, "Ah Xuan, I don't know how you and You Cheng discussed it, but let me just say this: if you don't resolve this matter soon, it won't just be the two of you who lose face."
Mu Xing was also preoccupied with this matter. Although she had reconciled with Song Youcheng in terms of personal feelings, there was still the issue of her family's reputation. She could understand Song Youcheng's willingness to cover for him as a friend, but if this dragged on any longer, where would she place the family's honor?
Song Youcheng lowered his head and said earnestly, "I know, I'm trying to find a way. All the mistakes are my fault. No matter what happens, I will definitely protect Ah Xuan and the Mu family's reputation first."
Before Li Yining could say anything more, footsteps suddenly came from the stairs, and the three of them immediately fell silent, each changing their expression.
Madam Mu came downstairs and exchanged pleasantries with Song Youcheng and Li Yining for a while. After a short while, a maid came to announce, "The chefs from Caiyun Pavilion are already waiting outside."
Upon hearing this, Mu Xing's previously troubled heart immediately became uneasy. She sat up straight and stared intently at the door.
With Madam Mu's approval, the maid went out to lead the woman in. As soon as the female tutor entered, Mu Xing stared intently at her, scrutinizing her closely.
Mu Xing only looked away after the female master led her apprentice into the living room, greeted everyone, and stood aside with her head bowed.
She thought with some disappointment that even though this female master was quite beautiful, she had neither three heads and six arms nor any imposing aura. From any perspective, she was just an ordinary woman.
Why would an ordinary woman defy public opinion and openly marry another woman?
What gave her such courage?
Unable to figure out the reason, Mu Xing couldn't help but glance at his female master again, only to meet her gaze.
The two exchanged a glance. The female chef's gaze was open and generous, as if she was already used to being looked at.
She smiled politely at Mu Xing, who immediately looked away, feeling her face instantly burn with shame as if she had been caught gossiping about someone behind their back.
She wanted to take back what she had just said. How could someone who could maintain such a calm attitude amidst all the gossip be an ordinary person?
If it were her, I'm afraid...
A thought suddenly struck Mu Xing, who snapped back to reality: Wait, why did I make such an assumption?
Chapter Forty-Four
When Master Ye returned to the inner room, he inexplicably felt that the atmosphere was even more eerie.
Looking at the two speechless people with puzzlement, she said to Bai Yan, "Miss, I've looked at the order form. Because we still need to rush to make Miss Mu's wedding dress, your dress probably won't be ready before the 15th. At the latest, it will be the end of next month."
With a slight frown, Bai Yan was about to say forget it when Mu Xing suddenly said, "Let's postpone my... sister's order and finish making Miss Bai's dress first."
Master Ye hesitated and said, "But..."
Mu Xing interrupted Master Ye: "It's alright, I can make the decision."
Meeting Bai Yan's gaze, Mu Xing smiled at her.
If Miss Bai's wish is to wear a wedding dress and marry a man who can provide for her, then perhaps the only thing she can do is stop at this wedding dress.
Even if, even if…
A woman's voice suddenly came from the doorway: "Honey! I'm back. Are you inside?"
Is this... Paanie?
Mu Xing couldn't help but look towards the door.
Under the gaze of the two people inside, Master Ye's face flushed red. She apologized and quickly turned to leave.
The door wasn't fully closed, and Mu Xing turned his head, vaguely seeing two figures in the outer room, while hushed whispers drifted in:
"I told you not to call me that when there are other people around, you really are..."
"How would I know? I don't have clairvoyance. I almost got into a fight with the chef just now. I told him not to add ginger and garlic, but he still put them in. I'll pick them out for you in a bit. Here, try this. It smells amazing fresh out of the pan. Open your mouth..."
"Stop it! The guests are still here... Okay, okay, alright—"
The aroma of sesame cakes wafted in through the crack in the door, and a dim, warm light shone through the glass doorway, illuminating the two people behind the counter and casting lingering shadows on the wall. Shadows that belonged only to the woman.
Light fades quickly, shadows don't last, and even smiles don't stay forever, but this scene was forever preserved in Mu Xing's eyes.
Is it shocking? Is it despicable?
At this moment, how are they any different from ordinary couples radiating love?
If heaven and earth could accept such a couple, then she and Miss Bai…
As the thought raced through his mind, Mu Xing was startled and snapped back to reality.
What is she thinking?!
Miss Bai has always been infatuated with men! She's already deceived Miss Bai, and now she's even…
Moreover, even if Miss Bai were willing, she wouldn't be like Paanie, who was all alone. Her parents, relatives, and clan reputation... each of these things was enough to inspire fear.
But if Miss Bai is willing…
Not daring to think any further, Mu Xing looked away, no longer glancing at the person outside the door.
With a flushed face, she came in from the outer room. Master Ye then asked Mu Xing to go out and prepare to take Bai Yan's measurements.
When Mu Xing went out to the outer room, he deliberately avoided Pa Anni's gaze, sat down on the sofa and took a fashion magazine as a cover, secretly sizing up Pa Anni.
Perhaps because Master Ye wasn't there, Pa-ni, who was sitting in the outer room minding the shop, wasn't as lively as before. She reverted to her usual indifferent and impatient expression as she laid out the food she had bought one by one, picking through the ginger and garlic.
Mu Xing watched quietly, a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of mixed emotions, often including regret or unease) welling up inside him.
What kind of person, what kind of affection, could make this former rich girl willingly sit in a small shop and pick out seasonings for her lover?
After quickly taking the measurements, Mu Xing paid the deposit and left the tailor shop with Bai Yan.
By this time it was completely dark, so Mu Xing decided to take Bai Yan back by car.
After exchanging a few casual words, when they reached the fork in the road, Bai Yan finally couldn't help but ask, "I noticed you seemed unhappy earlier. Are you unwilling to make that wedding dress for me?"
Mu Xing forced a smile and said, "How could that be? I was just thinking... about the marriage between Second Master Li and Miss Feilian that you mentioned. I am quite familiar with Miss Li, and my sister told me that she has a very good relationship with the Second Madam. If I attend Second Master Li's little wedding this time, I'm afraid I will offend Miss Li."
This is indeed something to keep in mind. It's Second Master Li's little happy occasion, and Yi Ning will probably have to attend. If she sees her and Miss Bai, she'll probably offend her again.
Bai Yan nodded and said, "This Miss Li is really something. Ever since Second Master Li took Fei Lian as his mistress, I heard that the Second Madam hasn't said a word yet, but the Second Madam's family has come to make trouble many times, causing unrest throughout the Li family. Miss Li couldn't stand it, so she simply went to Fei Lian's restaurant and had a big fight with her."
Upon hearing this, Mu Xing was taken aback.
She had never heard Li Yining mention these things before.
Previously, she only knew that Li Yining disliked prostitutes, but she didn't know why. She guessed that was the root of the problem.
The Mu family had never experienced anything like this before. Although Mu Xing could not imagine the situation in the Li family, Ning had always been most proud of his family, and such a disgraceful incident must have caused him great distress.
But she knew nothing about this and instead made Li Yining worry about her affairs. Moreover, because of her closeness with Bai Yan, she hadn't had time to meet with Li Yining for a long time.
Mu Xing sighed, feeling utterly exhausted, as he inwardly berated himself for his heartlessness.
She finally understood a little of the bitterness of Song Youcheng's struggles in dealing with three parties and his inability to consider all aspects.
After hailing a rickshaw for Miss Bai, Mu Xing said, "Go back now, and be careful on the road. I might be a bit busy for the next few days. Once Master Li's invitation arrives, I'll invite you to come along."
Nodding, Bai Yan didn't get into the car. She looked up at Mu Xing and suddenly reached out to hug her.
She nestled against Mu Xing's shoulder and whispered, "Would I make you feel tired?"
He wrapped his arms around her, and Mu Xing smelled the bittersweet scent of orange blossoms, which gradually soothed his weary heart.
She said, "Anything is worth it if it's for you."
"Okay." As if she had made up her mind, Bai Yan hugged Mu Xing tightly, let go of his hand, and got into the rickshaw.
Standing there, watching the rickshaw drive away into the distance, Mu Xing whispered, "But, are you willing...?"
…
We're almost at Yuejiang.
In the winding streets and alleys, the yellow glow of gasoline lamps shone down, illuminating the men standing at the alley entrances, beckoning customers. Their faces, yellowish-white, had blue eyebrows and red lips. Patches of nail polish, red and blue, stretched for miles, flowing like a greasy river, reaching further, deeper, darker nights, into futures devoid of light.
Someone was drunk, leaning against the wall vomiting; the stench mingled with the cheap scents of the street, making everyone want to vomit. Two overlapping figures were reflected in the window of the white house, leaving behind a series of emotionless, dull thuds.
Those fleeting, beautiful moments were still vivid in her mind, but a gust of wind blew them away. Only the familiar, naked filth remained, waiting for her to return and succumb.
Sitting in the swaying rickshaw, Bai Yan shuddered as if waking from a dream, and her back was suddenly covered in a thick layer of sweat.
She was suddenly filled with inexplicable terror and gripped the rickshaw handle tightly. Only when the leather was stretched so hard that it made a sound as if it were about to tear did she tremble and let go.
As if all her strength had been drained, she slumped back in her chair.
Five years ago, on a night just like this, she sold herself into the Yuhua Book House.
At fifteen, she knew that once she entered this place, she would no longer be sold, no longer have to return to that dirty and dilapidated "wedding room," and no longer have to cower barefoot in the alleyway, unable to sleep in fear.
Once inside this place, she could put her leather shoes back on, hide under the warm covers, and pretend everything was alright. Pretend she was still at school, returning home after class to find ham and tofu soup simmering in the kitchen. Pretend her mother was still doing needlework in the porch, counting down the days until her father would return from the war…
The world is too vast, and she only asks for a small corner to hold her cherished fantasies, even if the price is her own existence. Even if in the future, she can no longer shed tears for herself.
At fifteen, she took a gamble, openly selling herself for a price, and ultimately begged for four years of peace and tranquility.
Now? Is she still scheming? Is she still willing to gamble?
In order to secure a place for herself, she took advantage of Young Master Mu's gentleness and forced him to light large candles for her.
She wasn't sure what concerns Young Master Mu had that led him to ignore her hints time and time again. But she knew that if she asked, he would definitely agree to take her away.
She can use countless means to achieve her goals.
But does she really want to treat him like this?
He was the only one in this ignorant and dark world who was willing to illuminate her path.
The white lanterns at the entrance of Yuhua Academy were hung out, beckoning to her like ghosts.
Facing the evening breeze, Bai Yan laughed as if she were crying, turning the world upside down.
Humility and fear gnawed at her like maggots, draining her soul. It was laughable that she had nothing to begin with, yet she still couldn't let go.
"Forgive me."