Une jeunesse errante

Chapitre 99

So where is Qingfeng?

He was lying in the bathroom, enjoying the soothing hot spring water with his eyes closed. Winter plum blossoms filled the lotus pond, their rich fragrance lingering in the air. Meixiang was helping him wash his hair, while Lanxiang was constantly adding hot water. Meixiang was one of the four beauties from the Song and Dance Hall, while the other two had been sent to the Cai Mansion. Since they had caused a ruckus in the Peony Garden, calling on the Grand Lord and the Fourth Lord to openly solicit prostitutes, they might as well stay and serve as concubines and maids, and see who dared to say a word against them.

The wintersweet blossoms were in bloom, their fragrant aroma filling the entire peony garden. He thought of that woman again, the woman he had loved, who had caused him pain, suffering, and hatred. He sat in the Plum Blossom Pavilion, listening to the beauty's songs and drinking the wine she had brought, but his heart remained restless. A deep, despairing darkness filled his heart, and he hated his own weakness.

Without warning, everything happened so suddenly. He Yunya suddenly stood before him. Her beautiful face seemed to be covered by a cold mask, her deep, dark eyes staring straight at him without any restraint. Because she had come so quickly, even though she stood there motionless, her long, glossy black hair still fluttered in the wind, highlighting her indescribable mystery and ethereal beauty. However, she came quickly and left quickly. When she left, what left the deepest impression on Qingfeng was her deep, luminous eyes, and that innocent yet mischievous aura fluttering in her black hair.

Lü Ying quietly entered the bathroom. Qingfeng trembled slightly and suddenly opened his eyes. Lü Ying bowed and said, "Young Master, Liu Mei has arrived. I've arranged for her to wait in the living room."

Upon hearing the woman's name, Qingfeng's face remained expressionless. At this moment, he was still shocked by He Yunya, who had appeared in the plum garden that afternoon. Was that He Yunya hiding behind another mask?

Emerging from the bath, steaming vapors emanated from his naked, pink body, and glistening water droplets dripped from his dark hair, sliding down his slender, beautiful body... Zhu Xiang and Ju Xiang lowered their heads, their faces flushed, but no matter how shy they were, they couldn't stop themselves from peeking.

His tall, slender body, with no excess fat and muscles, slithered across his broad chest, arms, and legs like shimmering little snakes. What was particularly captivating was his six-pack abs, which, without any exaggeration, fully displayed his masculine charm.

The two women grew increasingly fond of him, and naturally, they couldn't help but caress him while he combed his hair and changed his clothes. Qingfeng didn't blame them; he did indeed need women to relieve his tension. His mind was in turmoil, and he spent the entire afternoon thinking about He Yunya, finding an inexplicable strangeness in her presence.

After washing and grooming himself, Qingfeng emerged from the bathroom and, accompanied by Ermei, entered the plum garden. Because of Liu Mei's constant pleading letters, he had impulsively agreed to see her that evening. Of course, revenge also played a significant role. However, as he approached the living room, he suddenly felt bored, refused Ermei's offer to serve him at bedside, and headed back up the stairs to his bedroom.

Entering the bedroom and closing the carved door, he took off his cloak and casually threw it on the ground. Walking around the large screen, he saw Liu Mei lying shyly on the large bed, covered only by a thin garment. In the lamplight, her curvaceous body could be vaguely seen.

Qingfeng's mood immediately soured, and a cold glint of anger shot from his eyes. "Miss Liu, if I remember correctly, you should be in the living room, not sneaking into my bedroom and shamelessly spreading your legs like a prostitute."

Liu Mei's face flushed red as if she had a fever, but she didn't cover her face or feel ashamed. Instead, she moved off the couch and knelt gracefully on the ground, saying, "You're back."

Qingfeng walked over slowly, crossed his arms, and bent down to look at her. Suddenly, he let out a cold laugh, "Alright, put on your clothes and go back. I'm tired, I don't want to deal with you anymore."

Liu Mei grabbed the hem of his robe and said in a trembling voice, "Feng, I know how wrong I was. I'm not doing this to ask for your forgiveness. I owe you too much, and even death can't make up for it. I just want to serve you, I'll do anything for you, be your slave. Please, Feng, please don't send me away."

As Qingfeng gazed at her tearful, pitiful face under the lamplight, a flood of past affections, resentments, and bitterness welled up in his heart. He couldn't help but grab her arm.

Overjoyed, Liu Mei threw herself into his arms, crying, "Feng, Feng..."

With a soft click, almost imperceptible, yet it rang like thunder in Qingfeng's ears. His gaze quickly swept over the wardrobe carved with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, and when it returned, he saw Liu Mei frantically undressing him with trembling hands. Unexpectedly, Qingjian Yue's words flashed into his mind.

"I really don't understand you rich kids. What's wrong with you? You're always so bored and have nothing better to do than hate and love all the time. Aren't you tired of living like this? Liu Mei betrayed you and didn't want you anymore, right? Well, it's good that she betrayed you. If she hadn't betrayed you, you would have married her by now. You married a scheming liar who doesn't love you, who cheated you out of your money and your body, turned you into a used-up woman, and you'll never find a better woman to love you again. That would be a huge loss."

There was another crack, this time a little louder than the previous one.

"As for why the lord of the fortress stole your woman, that was Heaven's command. Because Heaven wants to tell you, boy, you're wrong. That woman wasn't arranged for you. I created a perfect woman for you—gentle, kind, brave, intelligent, and most importantly, she has a heart that loves you, even willing to give her precious life for you. You choose: Liu Mei, or her?"

Qingfeng suddenly burst into laughter and abruptly shoved Liu Mei away. Liu Mei screamed and fell to the ground in a disheveled state, staring at him in surprise and doubt. Qingfeng chuckled and said, "Forget it, Miss Liu, just preserve your dignity. I no longer love you, and there's no way we could get back together."

Liu Mei panicked and lunged at him, but missed. In her anxiety and distress, she said in a heart-wrenching voice, "Feng, I really didn't dare to ask for anything. I told you the truth. I just wanted to atone for my sins."

"There's no point in atoning for things like this, no point in regretting it. Once a relationship is broken, no matter how you try to mend it, the cracks will always remain." Qingfeng said coldly and ruthlessly, "To me, you're already in the past. Go now, while I'm in a good mood, or I'll have someone throw you out."

Liu Mei felt as if her head was about to explode, her body was alternating between hot and cold, she didn't know if her heart was still beating, and she forgot she was breathing. What to do? What to do? If she didn't seize this opportunity, there would be no next time. She was frantic, but she didn't dare to push too hard. She knew that Qingfeng meant what she said. Helpless, she stood up and said, "Please allow me to change my clothes."

Qingfeng turned her face away, her gaze meeting the carved cabinet. "Please."

Liu Mei silently took off her only outer robe. She glanced furtively at Qingfeng, who was intently staring at the carved wardrobe. Liu Mei was greatly disappointed. She picked up her clothes and slowly put them on, constantly thinking of a strategy. By the time she was almost dressed, she had already formulated a plan in her mind.

"Are you dressed yet? I don't have the patience to wait for you." Qingfeng walked to the carved wardrobe. "If you're dressed, hurry up and get out of here."

"Feng, I won't bother you anymore. But before I leave, I want to tell you something, as a way of making up for my sins."

Qingfeng sighed, turned around and leaned against the cabinet door, saying with disgust, "Speak quickly."

Liu Mei lowered her head, pretending not to see the disgust in his eyes, "It's about your real birth mother."

Qingfeng remained silent, wanting to see what other tricks this woman could pull.

Liu Mei seemed to have made up her mind as she said, "Madam Yan is not your biological mother."

Upon hearing this, Qingfeng was slightly taken aback, then sneered, "Is this all you wanted to tell me?"

Liu Mei said in a trembling voice, "I know you don't believe me, but I have enough evidence to prove that Madam Yan is not your biological mother."

A surge of uncontrollable disgust welled up from the depths of Qingfeng's heart. He truly hated himself for being blind enough to fall in love with this woman. He turned his back, not even wanting to look at her again. "Get out."

A chill ran from Liu Mei's feet to her scalp. She shook her head and cried out urgently, "Feng, believe me, I'm not lying to you this time."

Qingfeng said in a sinister tone, "Once someone's heart has changed, you can't get them back no matter how much you beg. When I begged you before, the words you said when you refused me were even harsher than they are now."

Liu Mei seemed to have been struck a heavy blow, and gasped, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

"Get out!"

Qingfeng spoke those three words with unwavering resolve, leaving no room for negotiation.

"No. I won't leave. I'd rather die than leave you." Liu Mei rushed over frantically, grabbed his robe, and cried, "Even if you kill me, I can't leave you. I won't leave you."

Qingfeng could no longer bear it and shouted, "Someone come here!"

Lu Ying rushed upstairs and immediately saw the short Zhou Lan eavesdropping by the carved door. She scolded, "Zhou Lan, how dare you!"

Zhou Lan jumped back in fright, her comical appearance resembling a turtle cowering in fear. "I heard the young master calling for help, so... so..."

Lu Ying scolded, "Young Master called for someone, why aren't you going in yet?"

The two pushed open the carved door and entered the room.

Qingfeng shouted, "Drag him out."

Lü Ying and Zhou Lan grabbed Liu Mei and dragged her away without any pity. Liu Mei burst into tears and screamed shrilly, "Feng, I love you, I really love you so much. Be careful, Feng, be careful of Tong Fengxian."

As the carved door closed, Qingfeng slowly closed his eyes as well. When he opened them again, a terrifying darkness filled the depths of his eyes. He walked slowly towards the carved cabinet, his trembling hand touching the door. Suddenly, a deathly glint flashed in his midnight-black eyes. With lightning speed, he flung open the cabinet door, grabbed a woman, and, as if lifting a kitten, threw her onto the bed, then viciously strangled her.