She would love him in every way.
In the blink of an eye, half of the scene had been watched. Zhang Derong initially remained calm and continued talking to Mu Xing, but gradually became somewhat agitated.
He glanced at the leisurely young man sitting to the side and couldn't help but wonder if he had inquired about the wrong information.
Everyone says that Mu San was originally the legitimate son, but was fostered by that Lady Fuxue, and was not close to either of his birth parents. Now that he has returned, even if one of the legitimate sons has entered politics, there is still a second son to inherit the family business, so it is far from Mu San's turn.
The second young master has been back for two months and has never appeared in social circles. On the other hand, this third young master Mu is showing off his talents and has even become acquainted with the second young master Tang. It seems that he wants to stand out and attract the attention of the Mu family.
He had initially thought that Mu San was a greenhorn, a naive and impetuous young man. After hearing from Tang Ershao that Mu San was also interested in cooperating with him, he had secretly planned to put on airs. Unexpectedly, now that he had met him, this adopted son was not inferior to the legitimate son in many ways, and was probably not someone who could be fooled.
Moreover, judging from what the prostitute said, there were clearly other people who also wanted to make connections through Mu Sanba. If that's true, and someone has already gotten there first, wouldn't the bargaining chips he can offer be greatly reduced?
Zhang Derong pondered to himself, growing increasingly anxious, and his attention to Mu Xing's movements became more and more frequent. Bai Yan observed this, and pondered the situation as well.
Just as the play ended, she stood up and said to Mu Xing, "Young Master, I'm going to touch up my makeup."
Mu Xing looked at her, and she blinked before pulling Fei Lan, who had been eagerly waiting, out of the private room.
After the two left, there was a moment of silence in the private room before Zhang Derong finally spoke: "Young Master Mu..."
Fei Lan bought a soda from the theater's vending machine, gulped down most of it, and then let out a satisfying burp.
"Watch your image," Bai Yan said, touching up her lipstick. "There are plenty of young gentlemen here, don't scare them."
"What's there to be afraid of? Unlike you, Sister Bai, I don't have so many people who know me. I'm much freer." Wiping her mouth, Fei Lan continued, "Sister Bai, you and Young Master Mu have been together for over two months now. Will he light big candles for you?"
Bai Yan snapped the hand mirror shut and ruffled Fei Lan's curly hair: "Don't worry about it."
"I'm not worrying unnecessarily," Fei Lan said. "I've heard that the more pushy a man is, the less reliable he is!"
Looking at the blinding light outside the theater, Bai Yan said softly, "Is that so?"
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Negotiations with Zhang Derong were not as difficult as Mu Xing had imagined.
Skipping over pleasantries and empty compliments, Zhang Derong first analyzed the current state of the pharmaceutical industry with her. Fortunately, Mu Xing had prepared well before the meeting and was able to answer a few questions without appearing timid.
Zhang Derong then discussed the situation of his several pharmacies, noting that the Desheng brand was performing well. Furthermore, amidst the nationwide boycott of Japanese goods, he had learned much from the experiences and methods of Japanese companies, gaining knowledge of advanced pharmaceutical technologies, especially in Japan, thanks to his previous experience operating under a Japanese company. Regarding cash flow, because of the good business performance, there was no serious backlog of medicines...
In short, as long as Mu Xing can persuade Mu Gong to support him in the pharmaceutical industry council, the entire pharmaceutical industry in Wenjiang and even the area to the north will be completely under the Mu family's control, like taking candy from a bag.
Zhang Derong launched into a long, eloquent speech, portraying himself as unparalleled and implying that missing out on this deal would be a huge loss for the Mu family. However, although Mu Xing was a novice in business, she wasn't easily swayed. Moreover, she understood at least one principle: in business, the worst thing is information asymmetry; and what you should take advantage of is also information asymmetry.
So even though Zhang Derong spoke eloquently, she simply smiled and said, "I know what Mr. Zhang is saying, but the pharmaceutical industry is booming right now, and everyone is doing very well. This is a serious matter, so we still need to think it over carefully."
She neither agreed nor disagreed, leaving Zhang Derong plenty of room to guess. A seasoned businessman, Zhang Derong knew that no collaboration was easily agreed upon, but he couldn't help but think that he had underestimated this Third Master Mu. He also secretly regretted not being well-prepared today, having no decent small gift to offer Third Master Mu as a gesture of goodwill.
Finally, the play ended. The troupe took their bows on stage, and amidst the commotion, Bai Yan and Fei Lan slowly made their way back.
"It's a pity that the show ended after we wandered around outside for a while longer," Bai Yan said, glancing at Mu Xing. Mu Xing smiled slightly and nodded at her, and Bai Yan knew that the deal had been struck, so she couldn't help but feel happy for Mu Xing.
Zhang Derong suddenly said, "Miss Bai likes to listen to opera, which is not a problem. I have a good relationship with Boss Feng. His next performance is at his own theater. I happen to have a few tickets here. They're not much. I'll have someone deliver them to you right away."
Knowing that he was trying to curry favor with Mu Xing, Bai Yan did not refuse and thanked him with a smile.
After the theater performance, Zhang Derong invited Mu Xing and Bai Yan to dinner. Mu Xing, preoccupied with his desire to confess to Bai Yan, naturally declined.
Zhang Derong was only being polite. When she refused, he said a few perfunctory words to appease her, and then left with Feilan.
Upon reaching the theater entrance, Mu Xing asked Bai Yan to wait a moment before heading straight to his car.
Uncle Song and Fu Guang were already waiting by the car. When they saw the young lady arrive, Fu Guang quickly opened the car door. Unexpectedly, Mu Xing waved her hand and did not get in.
"You guys go back first, I have something to do, I'll go back by myself later," Mu Xing said.
Upon hearing this, Fu Guang became anxious. She glanced at Bai Yan not far away and said urgently, "Miss, you've been out all day. If you don't go home for dinner, I'm afraid Madam will scold you. If you want to accompany that young lady, why don't you invite her home for dinner?"
Mu Xing would never agree to that. She said, "If Madam asks, just say that you spent the last half day shopping with me and Young Master Song. Just don't let it slip."
Fu Guang pursed her lips and whispered, "Miss, if you can treat Young Master Song with the same care you show to this young lady, then we won't have to worry."
"What are you saying?" Mu Xing glared at her and waved her hand. "Alright, alright, go on. I'll bring you a flower button from Wenfangzhai later."
She forced a smile, listlessly sat back in the car, and exchanged a glance with Uncle Song: Miss is really not right!
Seeing the Mu family's car drive away, Bai Yan knew that Mu Xing was going to stay and keep her company. She smiled and ran over, taking Mu Xing's hand directly.
Mu Xing was taken aback, but didn't say much, only saying, "Your foot isn't healed yet, and you're running around like this again."
Following Mu Xing forward, Bai Yan smiled and said, "Because I'm happy. Just thinking about running towards you makes me forget all the pain."
Hearing her say that, Mu Xing felt a sudden pang of bitterness in her heart. Clenching her empty right hand, she forced out a calm tone: "Let's go, let's go eat first, and I'll take you back later."
Bai Yan chose a Western restaurant, and the two ordered various dishes. Seeing that Bai Yan knew a lot about Western food pairings and was quite adept at using a knife and fork, Mu Xing couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect Miss Bai to know so much about these things."
Bai Yan smiled and said, "It was all taught to me by Lord Andrew."
Mu Xing had always been curious about the former military advisor and Bai Yan's relationship, but she hadn't had the opportunity to ask before, and her relationship with Bai Yan hadn't been this close. Now that the topic came up, she simply asked, "I've heard of this official before. I wonder how Miss Bai and he met?"
Since that man passed away last year and Bai Yan resumed taking customers, many customers have asked her about it, but she has only given vague answers and is unwilling to elaborate.
She felt that it was already disrespectful to use that person's name to elevate her own status, and if her deeds were to be spread by word of mouth, it would inevitably add many dirty and unsavory details, tarnishing his reputation.
But now it was Young Master Mu who asked... If it were Young Master Mu, she would never have needed to worry so much.
“I was only sixteen years old when I entered the brothel,” she said softly. “At that time, Lord Andrew was at the height of his power, a favorite of the General. That year, the war between Zhili and Fengtian was just over, and Yuhua Book House was the only brothel that dared to open its doors to customers, so Lord Andrew went there.”
She intentionally avoided mentioning her past, but Mu Xing's attention was instantly drawn to the phrase "only sixteen years old."
She couldn't help but think of herself at sixteen, in America, how carefree she could be, how she could throw tantrums over the smallest things. But sixteen-year-old Miss Bai had already been priced and was waiting to be sold.
How terrified Miss Bai must have been at that time!
"The master got drunk and was throwing a tantrum in the front hall, saying that no woman could understand him. I happened to have just entered the brothel that day and was negotiating with my mother in the backyard when I overheard him. So I gritted my teeth and ran straight to the front hall."
Bai Yan laughed: "Back when I was learning English in school, I never imagined that my first conversation with a real American would be in that kind of situation."
Across the table, Mu Xing hurriedly put down her silver fork and reached out to grasp Bai Yan's hand. She said remorsefully, "There's no need to say anything more. It's my fault for suddenly bringing this up..."
She truly hadn't expected that her curiosity would conceal such heartbreaking things. If she could go back to the beginning, she would have covered her mouth and suffocated herself rather than ask that damned question.
Holding her hand back, Bai Yan smiled and shook her head: "Young Master Mu, don't feel sorry for me. Just think of it as me sharing a story with you. I've been holding it in for so long, and I really want to tell you."
Mu Xing looked at Bai Yan, and after a long while, she nodded, but did not let go of her hand.
Bai Yan continued, "I ran over and said 'hello' to Lord Andrew. He must have been really drunk, because Lord Andrew actually started talking to me. Everyone in the hall was stunned. But he spoke very fast and urgently, completely different from the English teacher. I had to use all my strength to keep up with him. In the end, he actually fell asleep."
She shook her head and smiled, "Who would have thought that from then on, Lord Andrew would come to see me whenever he had free time, and later he simply set aside a room in his mansion and took me there."
She glanced at Mu Xing and said intentionally, "But he didn't light any big candles for me."
Realizing that Bai Yan was subtly implying that Andrew hadn't touched her, Mu Xing felt a little embarrassed, but it was fleeting. She asked, "Then did Lord Andrew protect you all those years?"
“Yes, I spent most of my time at his residence in the past few years. He was actually very busy and didn’t have many servants. I usually read books and played the zither by myself. Sometimes when I went back to Yuhua Study, my mother would ask me to teach the girls English and some novel things, which saved me a lot of money.”
"Then...didn't he ever think about redeeming you?" Mu Xing asked hesitantly.
During such a turbulent time, to meet someone who could help her must mean that this person must hold a special place in Miss Bai's heart; but what about the reverse?
Upon hearing this, Bai Yan lowered her eyes and said, "In the end, I was just a playmate to him. He has his own family. If it weren't for last year... perhaps he would have returned to China by now."
She would only be a useless burden.
Without asking any further questions, Mu Xing squeezed Bai Yan's hand, and the two smiled at each other, which eased their sorrow.
After dinner, it was already late when we left the restaurant.
Bai Yan didn't say she wanted to go back, and Mu Xing didn't mention it either. The two walked along the commercial street as the lights came on.
Originally, Mu Xing felt extremely guilty and wanted to confess to Bai Yan about her deception today. But when the words reached her lips, she didn't know how to continue.
Isn't what she's doing just like Andrew? Appearing in Miss White's world on her own, giving gifts with self-righteousness, only to leave at the crucial moment.
A fierce internal struggle raged within her, a battle between cowardly selfishness and rationality. Finally, taking a deep breath, she made up her mind.
When they reached the fork in the road, Mu Xing stopped and turned to Bai Yan, saying, "Miss Bai, I..."
“Wait a minute,” Bai Yan turned to look at Mu Xing, then suddenly reached out and brushed a petal off Mu Xing’s shoulder. “There are cherry blossoms here.” She looked up and smiled at the sky above.
Mu Xing stared at her blankly, then turned his head and noticed that above their heads, a late-blooming cherry blossom was extending its fragrance over the wall. Because it was the wrong season, the flowers were weak and withered before they could fully open, falling to the ground in a flurry.
After looking up for a while, Bai Yan looked away and asked Mu Xing, "What were you trying to say?"
The courage she had painstakingly mustered crumbled in an instant. Mu Xing clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, saying, "I... I just said I wanted to tell you something..."
"Wait." Bai Yan interrupted her for the second time, looking intently at Mu Xing as if searching for a clue in her expression. She hesitated, then carefully asked, "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
Mu Xing was taken aback, and hesitated before saying, "...This is bad."
Bai Yan nodded, then asked, "Will you make Young Master Mu never come to see me again?"
Gritting her teeth, Mu Xing spoke with difficulty: "...Perhaps, but the initiative is in your hands." If Miss Bai never wants to see her again, then there is indeed nothing she can do.
Upon hearing this, Bai Yan remained silent.
Slowly, Mu Xing mentally sentenced himself to death. Just as he was about to speak, Bai Yan said, "Then I don't want to hear it."
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back abruptly, almost biting her own tongue. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Bai Yan: "What, what?"
Bai Yan looked at her seriously: "I said I don't want to listen. Young Master Mu said that the initiative is in my hands, right? I rarely have the opportunity to make a choice. Since I have this opportunity now, I choose not to listen."
While feeling incredulous, a corner of Mu Xing's heart secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Should we... be thankful?
She couldn't hold back and blurted out, "But, if you don't listen, it might..."
Bai Yan said, "I will bear the consequences myself."
At least for now, what consequences could possibly be worse than those of Young Master Mu?
Looking at the person in front of him with a firm yet gentle gaze, Mu Xing finally couldn't hold back any longer and reached out to hug her.
Cherry blossoms, blooming out of season, sway in the wind, their branches lacking vibrant color, and fall silently after exhausting their last bit of strength. But who can say that their efforts were in vain?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The day after meeting Zhang Derong, Zhang Derong hastily sent someone to invite Mu Xing. Although the stated purpose was to have tea, both parties knew that this was both an opportunity for Boss Zhang to demonstrate his strength and an opportunity for Mu Xing to further assess him.