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<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="292" data-orig-width="490"></figure>Fei Wo Si Cun’s introduction thrusts us into the most angsty part of the story, perhaps to force us to read at full speed in order to get to the portion of the novel in which this actually happens. When reading the first part of the introduction, I was asking myself who Shi Cui was, because she most certainly was not in the drama. This second part of the introduction is less description and we meet our OTP, Murong Feng and Yin Jing Wan, though the relationship shown below is definitely not a loving one. Don’t worry, the romance and sensual scenes come later. ^.^
Too Late to Say I Love You is my first Fei Wo Si Cun novel and it has been a bumpy ride for someone who has just come from reading the exquisitely poetic verses of Tong Hua. Fei Wo Si Cun’s writing style is a good deal choppier and while I tried to make the sentences flow better during this translation, I’m afraid that I will never achieve the smooth eloquence of ockoala in her translation of Da Mo Yao. Fei Wo Si Cun’s overuse of similes and the same descriptive words began to annoy me halfway through the translation of the chapter (count how many times I had to use the phrase ‘trembling slightly/faintly’) so I began to leave out some phrases that I thought were unnecessary.
Background info: Murong Feng was originally called Liu Shao (Lord Six) in the book because he was the sixth child of his father. The producers of drama were afraid that SARFT would deem this term unsuitable because the historical warlord Zhang Xue Liang was also know as Liu Shao, so they changed his nickname to Si Shao (Lord Four).
Shi Cui’s heart had also jumped to where her throat was, and when someone finally opened the door, a refined and handsome man walked in, though he was wearing everyday clothes, his gaze was piercing. Shi Cui shivered again from the cold, and saw that the man’s gaze was quickly passing over each person’s face, until it finally landed on that of Miss Yin. The depths of his eyes lighted up with a slight smile and his words also appeared to be full of warmth and politeness: “Miss Yin, I finally was able to find you. Please come with me.”
That Miss Yin seemingly tried to stand up, moving slightly, but appeared to not have any physical strength. Shi Cui did not dare to go and help her up. She was ashen and as frail as a fragmentary branch of chrysanthemum; short of breath and weak, she gripped the lace covered sofa tightly as a handrail, seemingly conserving all her strength, her entire body trembling slightly. At this moment, the sound of many footsteps once again came from the hallway and several people following one man entered. The man at the head was dressed in military attire, except that his thick, black hair was not covered by a military hat. In contrast to his handsome face, for he seemed to only be about twenty-eight or twenty-nine, though his countenance had an air of coldness. Once the men saw him enter, they called out: “Liu Shao!”
There was a buzzing sound in Shi Cui’s head; she never imagined that she would be able to meet Murong Feng. In the nine provinces of the north, there wasn’t a soul who had not heard of the illustrious Murong Liu Shao. After Murong Chen had died, it was he who had assumed the position of military governor and essentially became the chief commander of the Cheng army. It’s no wonder that the city of Yong Xin was on such high alert, as he came from the military governor headquarters in Cheng Zhou to the southern barracks. Murong Feng stared intently at the Miss Yin who had shrank back into the corner of the sofa, and after a few seconds, he slowly enunciated each word: “Yin Jing Wan.” That Yin Jing Wan had shrunk into the depths of the sofa with her head bowed as she pretended not to hear him. The corners of his mouth downturned slightly as he walked forward a few steps and hauled her up. She was as feeble as before, light like a paper doll, and weakly looked at him. The only thing she could focus on in her hazy vision was the ice cold, metallic luster of his epaulet. His voice was like the muffled thunder in a summer day, he clenched his teeth in anger and rumbled: “Tell me…” His entire body gave off an aura of coldness and the roomful of people watched him, terrified, as he seemed like a cornered wild beast, and his eyes appeared to be about to spurt fire: “What did you do to the child?”
She inhaled weakly, because his hand clutched her so tightly that she was unable to breath. The man by his side worriedly called out: “Liu Shao!” Murong Feng suddenly turned his head: “Shut the hell up!” That man is actually Murong Feng’s trusted officer, He Xu An, and understanding his lord’s temper very well, he went silent at once. Murong Feng glared fiercely at Yin Jing Wan: “Speak!”
That Yin Jing Wan was as frail as a wisp of smoke, like one that can dissipate with a single breath. Unexpectedly, she smiled, a calm smile that spread thoughout her ashen face, like a strange flower blooming. She spoke disaffectedly, yet each word was as powerful as a thunderbolt: “Do not hold such vain hopes anymore.” He flew into a rage, the veins in his forehead pulsing, his eyes full of unrestrained anger, yet slowly, a thread of sorrow and despair seeped out. The hand that was clenched around her neck tightened uncontrollably, so that she could not even gasp for air, yet the smile on her face gradually grew wider and she continued to giggle aloud. Shi Cui’s only thought was that the situation was both bizarre and terrifying. Murong Feng’s body was actually trembling slightly and his eyes showed such despair seen on the verge of death. He suddenly let go and Yin Jing Wan was so weak that she staggered, using the sofa to support herself though she was still unable to stand steadily. He suddenly slapped her hard with a loud ‘pa’ sound. She, like a frail paper doll, crumpled onto the carpet, and laid there without moving. Murong Feng flew into a hopeless rage, reaching behind him to grab the gun strapped to his waist and cocking with gun with a loud ‘ka-cha’ sound, he aimed the gun at her head.
The person by his side saw that the situation was getting out of hand and hurriedly tried to stop him: “Liu Shao, wait until Miss Yin wakes up and question her thoroughly before punishing her. Please think this through.” The middle finger that Murong Feng placed on the trigger was trembling faintly. Her long hair messily fanned out on the carpet, just as if a strong breeze had blown on it but she continued lay there as still as death. He remembered the bleak look in her eyes just now, their previous brightness dimmed; the only thing remaining was enough despair to fill a bottomless abyss. When he looked at her, she seemed like an illusion, almost as if she had never existed. This kind of nothingness is enough to make a person go crazy, she was so vicious – she knew how to throw a fatal blow, and even had the mettle to go through with it. He felt like someone had stabbed a sharp knife into his heart and was slowly carving it as his boiling blood gushed out. She was the one who forced him into this hopeless abyss.
He looked at the woman on the carpet unconcernedly, even though her breathing had become inaudible and she just laid there, so weak that she had fallen with a single blow. But, just then, a single sentence from her had forcefully shoved him into an unending hell; he will make sure that she pays the price! Since she can treat him so viciously, he will make sure that she accompanies him to this purgatory, and endures this never-ending torture forever. He gradually released trigger, and slowly let the gun fall to his side.
He calmly said: “Let these people leave and call a doctor.”
He Xu An made a sound of affirmation, and flickered his eyes meaningfully at the men on his left and right, who led the rest of the girls out. Shi Cui was the last one out and boldly glanced back, but only saw Murong Feng bend down to gather Yin Jing Wan in his arms. That Yin Jing Wan had already lost consciousness, her long hair falling over the crook of his arm, the pallor of her face hiding her tearstains. Shi Cui did not dare to watch any longer, and quickly left the room.
Congratulations! You are now officially 2 minutes and 6 seconds into the first episode of the drama!