Cruel Romance Chapter 1.3

Who is this?

In that moment, Jin Xiu forgot that she was unglamorously lying on the ground, looking intently at this face so close to her, how could anyone be so good looking? And with such a mesmerising, soul stealing pair of eyes?

Only when she felt her body float up, did she realise that he had carried her in his arms! Jin Xiu panicked, “Let go, put me down!”

“You this little wild kitten,” he acted so affectionately, “You knocked into me, yet dare unleash your claws?”

“Ying Shao (Ying Young Master)!” Ah Jie had already rushed here after hearing the commotion, “She’s not one of us.”

“Is it?” That guy named Ying Shao (Ying Young Master) seemed a little surprised, letting Jin Xiu down, “There are outsiders here?”

Ah Di smiled, “From Ah Jie’s hometown, she was leaving.” She turned to face Jin Xiu, “Your trunk is still in there.” Jin Xiu only then remembered that old leather trunk that she dragged all the way from Zhen Jiang, was left forgotten in the living room.

This entire mess, had finally calmed down at this moment.

Jin Xiu gained her senses and looked, she couldn’t help but move two steps back, since when had she gotten so close to a man, she was leaning so close to his chest.

“She was shocked by you, Ying Dong.” Another gentle voice said. Jin Xiu only then realised there was another man beside Ying Shao (Ying Young Master). He didn’t look all that threatening, and was wearing a casual yet expensive rice white linen suit. With short hair, and a handsome, calm and leisurely face.

That faint calmness about him, soothed Jin Xiu’s exploding heart and harried breathing.

What it this? Jin Xiu questioned herself, she was already about to be chased out like a beggar yet she stayed at the front door not budging. She lowered her head, bit the bullet and went back into the living room to retrieve her leather trunk, all the way through burying her head and rushing.

She would rather starve to death on the streets than stand here and let people from who knows where humiliate. The owner of this place, is her only blood kin on this earth, the only person she could rely on, yet she still faced the miserable fate of being abandoned. Jin Xiu didn’t know if the stabbing pain in her heart was because of the indignity or disappointment.

Just as Jin Xiu walked out the door, Xiang Ying Dong and Zuo Zhen had already entered the living room. The floor covered with money, Ming Zhu’s dark expression, an unusual quietness about the place. Usually during this time, Shuang Xiu and Ah Xi would have been overjoyed, calling out Ying Shao (Ying Young Master) and Er Ye (Second Master) to welcome them.

“What opera is this?” Xiang Ying Dong laughed as he sat ont he sofa, sitting comfortably with his legs spread out. “Was that lady here to thrash the show?”

Ming Zhu’s expression softened a little, “Could she even? Shuang Xiu, ask someone to clean this up. Ah Di, Cheng Zhen, why are you both in a daze, get some tea and snacks for Er Ye and Ying Shao.”

Once Zuo Zhen sat down, a pair of gentle orchid scented hands had already landed on his shoulders, helping him to ma.s.sage the muscles on the nape of his neck. Ah Di smiled and said, “Not visiting for consecutive ten days, Er Ye, are you busy or have you forgotten us?”

Zuo Zhen let out a comfortable sigh, “Even if I forget how to get home, I’ll still be able to find my way here.”

Ming Zhu smiled, “Look at your tone of voice, it is so like Ying Dong’s, not even a little serious.”

Zuo Zhen replied, “To speak with seriousness is such a ch.o.r.e.”

“Looks like Er Ye’s mood is not bad today.” Cheng Zhen served the red tea, honey grapes and melon seeds, as Ah Xi sat on the hand rest beside Xiang Ying Dong. She used the small spoon to scoop honey into the red tea before sending it into Xiang Ying Dong’s mouth, “Ying Shao, today’s weather is cold and dry, soothe your throat with this first.”

“Yes, I’ve already given orders to the kitchen, tonight they will serve ice rock sugar pear dessert to clear the throat and soothe the lungs.”

Cheng Zhen asked, “Didn’t you mention that Mr Xiang would be here, I don’t see him around?”

Xiang Ying Dong replied as he drank the red tea from Ah Xi’s hands, “He couldn’t walk away as it was so busy, he’ll be here later, just nice to give Ming Zhu time to bathe and smell absolutely wonderful while waiting for him.”

“Truly ivory cannot be expected to emerge from a dog’s mouth!” Ming Zhu smiled in annoyance, “Brought out our finest wine and dishes for you yet you tease me openly and in the dark.”

Standingon the main streets as dawn broke, Jin Xiu’s legs were sore with exhaustion, she still had some small change with her. She first bought a bowl of fried noodles to fill her stomach but where could she go next?

Crowds swarmed around here, it was very lively. There were neon signs every where, in the night neon green meshed together with reds, an array of bright colours. Truly Shanghai’s night scene was beautiful. No wonder the lyrics of a song went,”Shanghai night, Shanghai night, You are a city that never sleeps…” Such luxury, such extravagance.

While she was looking all around her, someone suddenly knocked her down from the back. Jin Xiu let out a sound of surprise, completely unguarded, she staggered a few steps forward and almost fell. “Who was it?” She turned back and saw a man pick up the leather trunk she had left on the floor and run away.

“My suitcase, return it to me!” Jin Xiu was shocked, shouting as she chased after him. But a lady like her, who had never gone far from home, at this moment was already beyond exhaustion, how could she possibly catch up. The sky was dark, roads were unfamiliar, after chasing for a short distance, that person was soon out of sight. Jin Xiu knelt down on the roadside, panting while crying, yet the people around her went about their business, rushing around, at most glancing curiously at her, not a single one came by to ask, what had happened.

Jin Xiu was tired from the crying and slowly crawled up, faintly remembering an old saying, “Human empathy is as thin as paper.” Yes, she felt that she was no more than a piece of thin paper in the autumn wind, going along with the breeze, without a single bit of weight. This half a year, the happenings at home, her father pa.s.sing away, debtors came knocking, unable to get help from relatives, Jin Xiu finally understood, that not all misfortunes would come to a positive conclusion. Truly there are times, that even a bit of hope and courage seem beyond reach.