Chapter 21

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<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="333" data-orig-width="500"></figure>I have yet to see Liu Shao lose his composure but he finally shows his emotions in this chapter, a testament of how much Jing Wan means to him. Both Liu Shao and Jing Wan seem to be hiding so much of their passion, that when everything is revealed, I’m sure that their love for each other will simply explode off the pages.

Quick note: In China, it is customary to eat ‘shou mian’ or longevity noodles on your birthday.

Encountering Love: Chapter 21

Without any hesitation, he said: “If I can do it, I will definitely agree to your request.” She replied: “Liu Shao and I, even though we have not know each other for long, we can still be considered as old friends. Liu Shao’s character is as just as the high heavens, and Jing Wan has admired you for a long time now. Perhaps Jing Wan is engaging in wishful thinking and thinking too highly of myself, but I want to become sworn brother and sister with Liu Shao. I don’t know if Liu Shao is willing to agree to this request.”

He just sat there, the atmosphere around him was like the water in a well, icily cold, without even a single ripple and tiny duckweeds floating on top, isolated in the shadows. He slowing began to smile, and said: “What do you mean by thinking too highly of yourself? I’ve always wanted to have a younger sister.” When Jing Wan heard him say this, she also returned his slight smile and called out: “Elder Brother.” He smiled elatedly and said: “This was a bit hasty, I didn’t even prepare a gift for you.” Jing Wan replied: “Elder Brother does not need to treat me like an outsider, we are friends.” He gave a sound of affirmation and said: “Since we are friends, it is better if I don’t treat you like an outsider.” He paused for a moment and then said: “For this kind of happy event, whether we follow traditional customs or Western customs, we should still drink a little.” After saying this, he got up to ring a bell, and Shen Jia Ping entered to listen to his orders: “Go and get some liquor – I want vodka.”

When Jing Wan heard that he wanted to drink, she became somewhat uneasy. She watched him take the liquor bottle into his hands to personally pour the liquor into two cups made of Western rock crystal, he handed the first cup, which did not have much alcohol in it, to her and said: “This liquor is very strong, women should not drink too much.” She accepted it with a smile, and he continued to pour himself a full cup. He said: “Bottoms up” and clinking his cup against hers, he proceeded to drink the whole thing down; after downing that cup, he smiled at her. Shen Jia Ping noticed that the smile did not reach his eyes, but he did not know what had happened. Seeing that Jing Wan’s expression was also unusual, he guessed that a problem had occurred between the two.

After dinner, Murong Feng still had some business to take care of, so he returned to the Commander’s Estate first. Jia Ping was already somewhat worried, and as it so happened, that meeting was very long and when the meeting finally ended, it was already about eleven o’clock at night. He saw that Murong Feng seemed weary, so he asked: “Liu Shao, should I ask the kitchen to prepare a midnight snack?” Murong Feng replied: “I’m not hungry.” Shen Jia Ping noticed that he seemed to be angry, so he could not hold back his curiosity and said: “Miss Yin, she…” He left this sentence unfinished, as Murong Feng already took out his handgun. Raising it, he shot twice with a loud ‘pa! pa!’ noise and a vase of cloisonné flowers shattered; a large piece of glass from the window behind the vase broke off with a clang, splintering into many fragments as it crashed to the floor. When the guards downstairs heard the sound of a gun, they immediately charged upstairs and thrusting the door open, they swarmed in with their rifles ready. Murong Feng saw that they were all very anxious, so he said with a smile: “There’s nothing wrong, you can all go downstairs now.”

With this, the guards were reassured and slinging their rifles behind them again, they respectfully withdrew in a single file. Murong Feng said to Shen Jia Ping: “I seem to have drank too much, it’s better if I go to sleep.” Shen Jia Ping took the finely crafted Browning handgun from him, placed it under his pillow for him and then called the servants to prepare bath water. He then said: “Liu Shao, I have something to say, but I don’t know if I should.” Murong Feng responded: “Since you have such doubts, it is better not to bring it up.” Shen Jia Ping had a lot of words that he forced back down, and seeing that he was at a loss for words, Murong Feng could not hold back his laughter and said: “Go ahead, you can speak.”

Shen Jia Ping said: “Even though this is a period of democracy and equality, but results are the most important. In the nine provinces of the north, what is not within your grasp? Moreover, the old commander has already set a precedence.” As it turned out, Murong Chen’s Fifth Madam had already married someone else, but with Murong Chen’s temperament, after he had taken a fancy to her, he simply had to obtain her so he coerced the husband’s family to write a letter of divorce, just so he could marry her. When Murong Feng heard him bring up this event, he shook his head and said: “This will not do, the melon forcibly taken off the vine is not sweet. Furthermore, with her personality, she would rather die than be forced.” He continued: “You are not allowed to take this matter into your own hands. If even a hair on that Xu fellow’s head is missing, I will hold you responsible.” After being rebuffed, Shen Jia Ping only responded with a “Yes”.

Murong Feng made arrangements for Jing Wan’s birthday celebration, and even though he did not make the event widely known, everyone knew that Miss Yin was highly favored by Liu Shao. Amongst the officers in the Cheng army, who would not curry favor with her? Jing Wan was fearless before, but at this critical point, she still felt a bit uneasy. That morning, Murong Feng came to see her, and because he had been busy the past few days, it had been difficult for them to meet privately. She saw that he was composed, so her heart also became calmer. He rarely came to see her without bringing a present, and that day, the servant following behind him was carrying a basket of flowers, which was full of her favorite roses. He said in English: “Happy Birthday.” He personally handed her a beautifully decorated box, and said: “Open this later by yourself.”

Waiting until all the servants withdrew, he then said: “In a while, if I don’t return…” Jing Wan interrupted him to say: “That won’t happen. I will wait until you return to eat noodles.” His eyes softened and he replied: “Your real birthday isn’t today.” Her only thought was that the depths of his eyes showed some wistfulness and a complicated kind of reluctance, and unable to continue looking at him, she said: “Today is my birthday, and I will wait for you to return to eat noodles.” She also took out his gold pocket watch and said: “I will wait for you here. You will return to join the celebration by noon, right?” He saw that her fingers were as white as jade, grasping the gold watch, while the diamonds in the intricate design of the cover enhanced the beauty of her delicate hands. A pink flush was slowly seeping through her hands, as if they had been gently licked by small flames. He gave a nod and replied: “I promise you, I will definitely return.”