Ghost Bride 2

Chapter 36

I was carefully blowing on a sausage when a blonde woman walked towards me and knocked me over.

Wow—Europeans must eat a lot of butter, even the women are so tall and imposing?! I stared at the blonde beauty in front of me. Her eyes were huge, like she'd drunk a lot of seawater, her blue eyes shimmering. She had a high nose bridge, full, glossy lips, a bit like the sexy beauties in Maybelline commercials. She was so tall too. I'm not short in China, but here my eyes were only level with her chest. If an apple were facing her, it would probably die of anger; the contrast was too great. Wow—such big breasts…

Before I could even finish my exclamation, the blonde beauty had already charged towards me like a rocket. But not at me, though; she was aiming for Mingyang behind me: "Geliebter!"

If a spectacular animated scene were to appear at this moment, a bright red heart would surely burst forth from the center of this super-hot embrace. But what does "Geliebter" mean? I didn't know at the time; later I asked Da Senlin and learned it's German for "darling." This blonde beauty is Mingyang's classmate, Lewis.

That's right! How could I forget? It appeared in my dream the day before. This must be a character I had a premonition would appear!

But... I'm a little heartbroken about my grilled sausages. I haven't even had a single bite!

Mingyang said to me, "It's okay if it's lost! I'll go buy you another one."

But the blonde beauty wouldn't let him go; she insisted on showing off her friendly international relationship in front of me. I heard her gradually switch to Chinese. So she can speak Chinese? That's amazing…

Section 93: The Castle's Lost Dream (9)

In the golden autumn of October, we were all bundled up in heavy winter coats, while Lewis's tight black leather outfit couldn't contain her voluptuous figure; her two mounds of white flesh looked as if they were about to burst out of her bra. I could sense her disdain and voyeurism; in short, she looked at me with extreme displeasure. "My Chinese is improving rapidly now, you can test it! My little teacher..." I heard her say, he was still her... teacher?

I excused myself, saying, "I won't disturb your reminiscing. I'll be going now, bye-bye."

[JP3] I walked towards the dry cleaner at the street corner, leaving the two chattering people far behind. Just as my dream foretold yesterday, this Lewis has a unique fondness for Mingyang, clinging to him like glue. I glanced up again at the little bear statue sign on the telephone pole; it was smiling so brightly, happier than I was… [JP]

I didn't see the forest from the dry cleaner at the street corner, and I sat down on a bench by the street, feeling dejected.

"What's wrong?" Someone was standing behind me?

Without turning around, I knew from the sound that it was a vast forest.

"Are you very concerned about the woman next to Mingyang?" It turned out he had seen everything. "They have a better relationship than ordinary classmates. Mingyang once taught her Chinese, and she even took Chinese as an elective. She speaks it quite well now."

I turned around and smiled at him: "Big Forest, let's buy some ingredients and go back to cook something!"

He didn't ask any questions, he just said, "Okay!"

The market was well-stocked with all sorts of seasonings, including a wide variety of Indian curry spices. Next to the market were many export shops, where many high-quality cotton T-shirts were heavily discounted. Like a country bumpkin who'd never seen anything like it before, I darted around, shouting, "The Great Forest is here!"

He turned around, smiling as he rested his chin on the base of his hand. Westerners are so big! I never expected to find clothes that fit perfectly in a children's clothing store; they're absolutely adorable.

Passing by the apple stand, I saw those bright red American apples again, and my heart ached, my nose stung, and I almost cried. Big Forest didn't ask anything, but quietly handed me a tissue: "Missing home?"

I nodded, thinking of Apple. I was wondering when I could take Apple on a world tour; she'd be so happy she'd faint. "Let's go!" I nudged Big Forest, who was already carrying a bunch of brown paper bags. "We're making Chinese food today!" I'd already decided what to make…

It turns out that such a dashing man is adorably clumsy in the kitchen. I asked him to peel potatoes, but he didn't know how to use a peeler. He even tried to chop eggs with a knife. I laughed so hard I almost fell over, reaching out to brush the potato skins from his hair. My hand was grabbed as soon as it touched his face. We stared at each other, almost holding our breath. I chuckled, "Are you so afraid of me seeing my face behind those sunglasses?" Although I had no intention of taking them off.

[JP3] He forced a bitter smile, trying to look away. My heart ached; what was wrong with his face? [JP]

“Great Forest,” I said, taking out the string of prayer beads from my pocket, “Here, take this back. And thank you.”

He didn't take it: "You keep it! I don't have ghost eyes, I won't see anything scary or strange. Besides, I'm leaving."

I was stunned: "Where are we going?" It was so sudden.

"estuary."

"What are we going back there for? We've already left..."

“But my business isn’t over yet.” He turned to leave.

I blocked the kitchen doorway: "You're lying! You've already brought me to the Di family, so you think you've accomplished your mission and want to leave?"

[JP3] The Great Forest laughed, a laugh with a deeper meaning: "Yes, I've successfully retired; you were originally from Mingyang." [JP]

"No! Only a fool would like that jerk." Tears streamed down my face as I grabbed him and hugged him tightly, refusing to let go. "I won't let you go! If you leave, you'll just disappear like a bubble..."

I didn't realize there was someone behind me. When did Mingyang return?

[JP3] Today's lunch was sumptuous, but we remained silent. Mingyang, usually so active, was unusually sullen and barely ate anything. Father Di specially put food on his plate: "The sweet and sour fish today was really good. Ruoxi's cooking could rival that of a professional French chef. Mingyang, try some, you haven't even touched your chopsticks..." [JP]

"I'm full, you can continue eating!" He stood up, threw away his napkin, and walked away towards the garage. A moment later, he saw an orange Ferrari pass by outside the window. Young Master Di was wearing sunglasses, with a cigarette in his hand outside the window, looking very arrogant.

But I had no time to pay attention to his little mood. My mind was focused on the great forest. After lunch, I eagerly asked him, "Why do you want to go to the river mouth? Why, why?"

Section 94: The Castle's Lost Dreams (10)

He packed his luggage unhurriedly, and smiled faintly: "Mingyang's pride has been hurt. Aren't you going to ask him to come back and comfort him?"

"He's a young master, and young masters always have tempers. Besides, his blonde beauty will help him solve his problems."

"Ha! So you're still jealous."

"I'm not jealous. Only a pig would be jealous of him." I was unconvinced, but I was really anxious. "Big Forest, don't pack yet. Tell me why you're going to the river mouth, okay? I'm getting so nervous when I see you packing your luggage."

He looked up at me and said very seriously, "You've grown up now, you should cherish what you have! Mingyang really likes you, I've never seen him get emotional for any other woman..."

"Can't we not talk about him?" I shook my head frantically. "Can you promise me you won't leave?"

"No." He answered without hesitation, his voice firm and resolute.

My tears welled up uncontrollably, and I turned away to wipe them away: "I'm sorry, I've been so pathetic lately, I've become such a crybaby..."

He dismissed it, saying, "Girls are made of water and have the natural right to cry. But if Mingyang cries, then there will be big trouble."

"What?" I don't understand.

He pinched my chin: "You two are both children, one of you has to soothe the other. How can I feel at ease if you both cry!" He picked up his luggage to leave, but I blocked his way: "If you really want to leave, then put me in your suitcase too." Maybe I'm childish, but I want to stay in a place where I feel safe.

He simply wiped away my tears with affection and repeated the same old words: "Mingyang needs you! He really needs you!"

He still left; I couldn't stop him. A gaping hole suddenly opened in my heart, and I felt a heavy weight sinking down inside.

Section 95: The Ball Horror (1)

Ball Horror

In the afternoon, I was reading in my study when the butler came to say, "Young Master has instructed that he will come to pick you up in a little while. Please get dressed and wait for him."

Before I could even finish my questioning, several cool-looking women in suits approached me carrying delicate little boxes. The butler instructed, "These are stylists; they'll take care of making you look beautiful. Don't worry."

Before I could even ask why I needed to get dressed up, the butler had already left, and the stylists opened their exquisite boxes, revealing all sorts of colorful powder puffs, lip glosses, hair dryers, and combs. Then they pressed me into a chair and started fussing over me. Good heavens! Is this all the suffering it takes to be a lady of high society?

As dusk settled, Mingyang returned. I was standing in the courtyard, dressed in a simple white brocade cheongsam, staring blankly at the falling maple leaves, wondering what the Great Forest was up to at the river mouth. It was at this moment that Mingyang honked his car horn, the blinding white light shining on me. He grinned mischievously, like he'd pulled off a prank: "Get in, little girl!"

I reluctantly ran to the car and rubbed my eyes: "Why should I listen to you?"

He jumped out of the convertible and sat on the high seat: "Because I like it."

"I don't like it." I wasn't going to listen to this silly kid's nonsense, so I turned around and left. "I'm going back to sleep. You can play by yourself."

He opened the car door, jumped out, and chased after me: "Stop messing around, I'm taking you to a party tonight."

"Why should I go to the party with you?" I hate being treated like a doll for no reason.

“It was Lewis’s father who invited me. The Di family has always had business dealings with the nearby merchants. Now that my father’s leg is paralyzed, only I can go. I hope you can come with me.” He said this without smiling, his eyes full of sincerity.

“That’s perfect, you can invite Lewis to be your dance partner.” I said stubbornly, even a little unreasonable.

He gripped my wrist very tightly, and the pain made me bite my lip, but I wouldn't cry.

"You win." He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me into his arms. "Of course I have to bring my wife to social events, it's only natural."

"Who's your wife? Lewis?" I felt like I was doomed, and my arm was hurting so much it felt like it was going to break.

"Are you deliberately trying to upset me?" His face flushed red. I remembered what Da Senlin had said—that he only felt emotional ups and downs because of me, but...

"It hurts! Let go!" I was so anxious that I wanted to kick him.

Having learned from his previous experience, he became smarter. He turned me around and pinned me against the car, squeezing me so tightly that I couldn't move at all: "Beg me, and I'll let go."

I stubbornly bit my lower lip, refusing to open my mouth.

He laughed: "You really don't know what's good for you."

"He's just asking for trouble!" I thought to myself, emphasizing each word. Suddenly, I missed the Great Forest terribly; he wouldn't act so recklessly for no reason.

Mingyang finally let go, giving up, but opened the car door to let me get in. I pouted and rubbed my arm, which had just escaped death, still unwilling to admit defeat. He, however, smiled contentedly: "I know what you're thinking. You're probably thinking, 'This kid's a Javanese idiot, always so unreasonable, unlike Di Luo, who's so polite!'"

"You know that's good!" I refused to get in the car.

He started acting spoiled again: "If you don't go up, I'll throw you up like a ball." He glanced at the slit in my cheongsam on the side of my thigh and said slyly, "It wouldn't look good if it got lifted up like this!"

I nervously clutched the sides of my cheongsam and obediently climbed into the car. He got in from the other side and started the car with a smug look on his face. I pouted at him, "What's with the arrogance?" He leaned close to my ear and whispered something that made me blush, "You're such a pretty girl, you're absolutely stunning!"

I quickly turned my head away, pretending not to hear, and shouted into the wind, "Do you know what the big forest is doing at the river mouth?"

He said he didn't know either. No one could stop Di Luo from doing what he decided to do. It had always been like this since he was a child. If he didn't want to talk about something, you couldn't find out even if you pried him open with pliers. You could only let him be. He winked at me: "Everyone says I'm the young master, but actually he is. He's incredibly cool."

The car sped like a rocket in the wind, and he asked me, "What are you going to do if your hair gets messed up?"

I leaned against the car door, squinting at the world around me: "The breeze feels so good! I love the outdoor wind, it's so refreshing."

I was asking about your hairstyle.

"It's okay." I took a pure silver hairpin out of my small handbag and waved it in front of him. "I have this." It was left by those stylists. My hair is soft and doesn't need styling. All I need is a hairpin to tie it into a bun.

"Women's affairs are truly amazing." He didn't understand, but he gave me an analogy: "A delicate orchid, its fragrance spreading far and wide. I've always believed that the beauty of Eastern women is the most elegant and noble."

Oh! If the proud and arrogant Lewis heard this, he'd be furious enough to faint.

The Lewis family was quite distinguished; their grand gate could easily accommodate carriages side by side. As Mingyang's car approached, a waiter came out to greet us. When the waiter opened the door, my long hair billowed out like silk, a strand brushing against the waiter's face, startling me so much I quickly apologized. Mingyang pulled me aside, saying, "Go inside quickly! He won't understand your apology." He simply smiled at the black waiter, who nodded politely in return, then climbed into Mingyang's car and drove away.

I asked him, "I only let some of my hair fall on him, you don't have to pay him back with your car, do you?"

He laughed heartily, "Of course not, he's just a parking attendant." He ran his fingers through my hair, and I quickly took out a hairpin and fixed it up—done in three seconds. Mingyang stared at my new hairstyle in amazement: "Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Let me tell you, let's go! Even you have your awkward moments. I often saw my grandmother style her hair in a bun when I was little; almost every girl raised with traditional Chinese education knows how to do it. My new hairstyle makes me look refreshed, slightly mature, and dignified, and the plain white brocade dress also enhances Mingyang's appearance. As soon as we entered the hall, he lowered his voice and said to me, "Little Crow, your skirt hem is covered in eyeballs; all the men must be green with envy."

I retorted, "Not only that! There's also a bewitching beauty staring at me the whole time. If looks could kill, I probably would have been killed hundreds of times over by now."

He knew, of course, that I was talking about Lewis, and he glared at me with wide, angry eyes, as if he wanted to twist my little neck into a pretzel.

I glared back at him and said, "Your followers are here. I need to go to the restroom." Then I turned and ran.

Lewis had already gracefully arrived, watching me leave with disdain. I glanced back at the restroom door; the woman looked like the daughter of an arms dealer in some movie—a red dress, fair skin, both strong and alluring. She seemed to be looking in my direction too. My heart pounded, and I nervously slipped into the restroom. Looking in the mirror again, Xiao Yuan was no longer there. I lowered my head and stroked the Buddhist prayer beads on my wrist, thanking the Great Forest. But what on earth was he doing at the river mouth?

After leaving the restroom, I sneaked out to the courtyard. It's so stuffy in crowded places! I'd rather stay on the lush grass, gazing at the deep red maple leaves in a daze. I don't like noise and complicated social interactions.

What is the little girl thinking about all by herself here?

I turned around and saw Mingyang. He deliberately puffed out his chest and acted cocky: "Who are you thinking about?"

Section 96: The Ball Horror (2)

"No comment." I walked with my hands behind my back.

"Why aren't you going in to eat? The desserts and cheeses are already served," he said. "Let me tell you, the British always say their desserts are great, but the really good desserts are in Switzerland. Don't you want to try them?"

I looked down and thought about it; I was indeed a little hungry, but...