LC chapter 23

 

Gu Liufeng cut her long hair, which she had kept for years, leaving it short and parted 3:7 with light waves. Gu Huixue pulled a shell coral hairpin from her bag and pinned it in her hair, instantly making it look cool and elegant.

Gu Liufeng was delighted. She tied the cut hair with a red string and placed it in a box.

With their new hairstyles, the two naturally needed new clothes to match. Lin Ruan accompanied them to a department store, where they spent the morning browsing. At noon, they met a classmate from their girls’ school, and the four of them decided to go to the movies. Lin Ruan didn’t join the girls, but told Gu Liufeng and Gu Huixue to go home early.

Gu Huixue nodded and asked, “Brother Ruan, where are you going?”

Lin Ruan thought for a moment and replied, “It’s close to Shichahai Lake[mfn]“什剎海” (Shichahai) — a scenic area in Beijing known for its lakes, old hutongs, and relaxed atmosphere. It’s a common place for people to stroll or unwind.[/mfn]. I’ll go for a walk there and then stroll home.”

Gu Huixue nodded.

Shichahai Lake is the only large body of water in the inner city. Many residences of former Qing Dynasty princes are located nearby, and the lake in Prince Chun’s palace connects to Shichahai Lake.

During the two years that Lin Ruan spent at the palace, he had always wanted to visit this place. To him, this place represented the world outside the palace.

Things you couldn’t do as a child can become obsessions as you grow older. Even now, Shichahai Lake remains special to Lin Ruan.

In the winter, a thick layer of ice forms on the lake, thick enough for skating. The sunlight shining through the ice makes it gleam like a mirror, dazzling the eyes.

Now, with the spring ice melting, the lake’s waters have taken on an emerald green hue—clear and gentle.

Wait a little longer, until the weather warms up enough, and we can go on a spring outing. Lin Ruan stood on the cold, breezy shore.

Lin Ruan quickened his pace and ran to the end of the road. A car was parked at the end of the road. Just as he was about to run past it, the car honked its horn.

He paused and looked up. Zhan Xi was sitting in the driver’s seat, watching him.

Lin Ruan’s eyes widened slightly. “Sir?”

Zhan Xi, wearing a windbreaker with one hand still on the steering wheel, looked at him calmly. “What are you running for?”

Lin Ruan replied sheepishly, “It’s cold out.”

Zhan Xi gestured for Lin Ruan to get in the car. Lin Ruan took the passenger seat. To be honest, he had never seen Zhan Xi drive before.

“Why are you here, sir?”

Zhan Xi said. “Hui Xue called and said you were at Shichahai and asked me to pick you up.

Lin Ruan explained, “I told her I’d stroll back.”

Zhan Xi started the car. “It’s not your fault. I don’t know what she’s up to.”

Lin Ruan fell silent and just watched Zhan Xi quietly. Zhan Xi looked like he had just left home; he was dressed casually. He seemed less reserved than usual and more like someone around Lin Ruan’s age.

He glanced at Lin Ruan and asked, “Are you going home for business? If not, why not take a drive here?”

Lin Ruan nodded, and Zhan Xi drove around Shichahai. A cool breeze streamed in through the window and ruffled Lin Ruan’s hair.

In the gusts of wind, Lin Ruan felt incredibly light. Perhaps when you’re in the wind, you feel free.

Neither Zhan Xi nor Lin Ruan spoke, but the silence was easy to endure. As long as Zhan Xi was willing, Lin Ruan would stay by his side, not bothering to find conversational topics. Silence was the most comfortable state.

After circling Shichahai, Zhan Xi didn’t head straight home but drove to a music store to retrieve a jinghu left there for maintenance.

Traffic was bustling outside. Lin Ruan sat in his car and observed the people passing by. A familiar figure flashed through the crowd. He looked over and saw that it was Bai Zhenzhu. She was wearing a dark coat and standing under the eaves. Next to her was a man in a long gown: Song Shuangqi.

From a distance, Lin Ruan couldn’t hear what they were saying. A moment later, Song Shuangqi left. Lin Ruan watched him cross the street, turn a corner, and disappear. He looked back, but Bai Zhenzhu was gone, too.

Lin Ruan looked around, but he didn’t see either of them. Instead, he spotted the cake shop where he’d met Suanzi earlier.

Lin Ruan tilted his head and gazed at the shop, sensing a mysterious air about it, much like Suanzi. It felt as if Suanzi would appear whenever the shop appeared.

With this thought, Lin Ruan suddenly had an idea and glanced around. Zhan Xi returned with his jinghu and asked, “What are you looking at?”

Lin Ruan shook his head and asked, “Sir, would you like some cake?”

Zhan Xi had also spotted the cake shop. He pulled out two foreign bills and said, “Let’s buy a tiramisu.”

Lin Ruan took the money from Zhan Xi, feeling like a child being given pocket money.

Lin Ruan ran into the cake shop and looked around. Seeing no sign of the fortune teller, he told the clerk, “Tiramisu, please.”

In the window were beautiful, flower-shaped chocolates with liqueur fillings. Noticing Lin Ruan’s interest, the clerk asked, “Would you like some chocolates with liqueur fillings, sir?”

Lin Ruan thought for a moment and nodded.

The tiramisu and chocolates were packaged, and Lin Ruan walked out of the shop, holding one in each hand.

Before he could step onto the street, he heard someone call his name. He turned around, but no one was there. Before he could react, someone bumped into him. As luck would have it, the tiramisu fell on him.

“Hey,” Suanzi said in a frivolous voice. “I’m so sorry I knocked your cake over.”

Lin Ruan took two steps back and saw Suanzi standing before him, his hands in his pockets. He wore a black, double-breasted jacket with a rich, dark pattern. His hair seemed to have been styled with wax, perfectly highlighting his fine features.

Suanzi had actually appeared. Lin Ruan thought, “This cake shop is truly unusual.”

Suanzi saw Lin Ruan assessing his attire and grinned. “I just went out for work, so I’m dressed nicely.”

Lin Ruan nodded in understanding. After all, Suanzi was a master.

Suanzi kicked the tiramisu box and said, “Tiramisu isn’t good; hazelnut cake is.”

Lin Ruan then remembered the tiramisu he had knocked over. “That wasn’t what I wanted.”

He glanced at Zhan Xi, who was sitting in the car with the window down. Zhan Xi folded his arms across his chest and looked over at Lin Ruan. His eyes were dark and unclear.

Suanzi followed Lin Ruan’s gaze and smiled nonchalantly. “What a coincidence.”

Zhan Xi opened the car door and walked over to them.

“What’s wrong?” Zhan Xi asked Lin Ruan.

“I accidentally dropped the tiramisu,” Lin Ruan said.

“Just go buy another one.”

Lin Ruan said, “Oh!” He looked at Suanzi, then at Zhan Xi, before turning and walking back into the cake shop.

Suanzi leaned back against the door. Though elegantly dressed, he still carried an air of guilelessness. Meanwhile, despite his casual attire, Zhan Xi stood tall and proud, his every movement betraying his refined upbringing.

These two men were so different that even if they were placed side by side, they could be divided into two distinct groups.

“I know you,” Suanzi said, leaning against the door with a smile hidden in his peach-shaped eyes. “Young Prince.”

Zhan Xi glanced at him politely. “Master Suanzi, I’ve heard a little bit about you.”

“Has Lin Ruan ever told you about me?” Suanzi asked with a smile. “We’re childhood sweethearts.”

Zhan Xi glanced at him. “Lin Ruan came to my house when he was eight. Where did you come from, childhood sweetheart?”

Suanzi smiled. “It seems that the young prince doesn’t know everything.”

Zhan Xi remained calm. “Not much. Three days certainly doesn’t qualify as a childhood sweetheart.”

Suanzi’s eyes narrowed slightly and his smile faded.

“Back then, Lin Ruan stayed with my master for a few days.” The fortune teller looked at Zhan Xi. “My master read your fortunes and found that you are destined to be together. I also read Lin Ruan’s fortune and found out that you two are destined for a bad ending.”

Zhan Xi glanced at the fortune teller. “I don’t believe it.”

The fortune teller chuckled with a mocking look on his face. “What does it matter whether you believe it or not? Some things are just going to happen.”

Zhan Xi looked at the fortune teller, his expression cold.

Lin Ruan emerged from the shop, and their eyes instantly fell on him. He paused.

Suanzi reached out and pulled him out, smiling and asking, “What are you afraid of?”

Lin Ruan didn’t answer. Zhan Xi glanced at him and asked, “Have you finished shopping?”

Lin Ruan nodded. Suanzi interjected, “Didn’t you order the hazelnut cake?”

Lin Ruan glanced at Suanzi, who always had a nonchalant look on his face.

Zhan Xi looked at Suanzi and nodded politely. “Goodbye.”

Seeing this, Lin Ruan jumped past Suanzi to chase Zhan Xi. However, before he could lift his foot, he tripped and sent the tiramisu flying out of his hand. He needed Suanzi’s help to steady himself.

Zhan Xi turned around and Suanzi let go of Lin Ruan’s hand. With a smile, he said, “Oh, you’re so careless. You dropped it again.”

Lin Ruan suspected that Suan Zi had tripped him. He looked at Zhan Xi, who calmly said, “Forget it.”

Suan Zi said casually, “Would you like to try the hazelnut cake? It’s better than tiramisu.”

Zhan Xi kept walking, and Lin Ruan didn’t have time to respond, chasing after him.

Suan Zi stood at the entrance of the cake shop, watching Lin Ruan walk quickly over to Zhan Xi and follow him into the car.

 

Tiramisu: But what did I do wrong?