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<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="750" data-orig-width="491"></figure>This chapter is heartbreaking as we finally see the depth of consideration Liu Shao gives to Jing Wan. I find it incredible that a man like him can so selflessly send the woman he loves into the arms of another man, just to grant their happiness. Jing Wan also realizes that even if she returns to Jian Zhang, she cannot completely put Murong Feng out of her mind.
Encountering Love: Chapter 22
Although Jing Wan did her best to stay composed after he left, her cheeks still felt very hot, as if she were running a fever. She first went to wash her face and carefully reapplied her makeup, before going to open the beautifully decorated box that he gave her. As it turned out, there was a small, Western-styled pistol inlaid with gemstones inside. Even though it was exquisitely small and looked like a toy, it was fully loaded with bullets. An envelope laid underneath the gun, which contained a receipt for a ¥100,000 cash deposit under her name at a foreign bank and a train ticket scheduled to leave at twelve thirty in the afternoon from Cheng Zhou to Qian Ping. Her heart was thumping wildly, her mind full of numerous thoughts, and she leaned heavily against the sofa, trying to focus on logic rather than her own feelings.
It was about nine o’clock in the morning, and because they were preparing for the birthday feast, the Tao Estate was already extremely lively. Outside, a Russian orchestra was playing music to welcome the guests while the Third Miss was preparing to receive them, entrusting a manager from the Military Governor’s Estate to make the rest of the arrangements. At ten o’clock, a long row of cars had already parked outside on the street leading to the Tao Estate’s main gate, and the peddlers selling shaobing and fruits were interspersed between the rows of cars, selling their wares to the chauffeurs. The whole street was filled with the sounds of horns, laughter and conversation, firecrackers; it was so lively that many people stopped to look around. The manager led the Tao Estate’s guards to organize parking, welcome and entertain the guests… they were kept so busy, until finally the densely packed crowd was arranged in some semblance of order.
Once Jing Wan changed her outfit, she went out to greet the guests. The female family members of the officials in the Cheng army have already arrived, one after another. When Madam Chang saw Jing Wan, she praised: “Miss Yin is certainly radiant with happiness today. Aiya, this necklace…” Clicking their tongues with admiration, the madams and young ladies all loved this kind of jewelry, and they clustered around Jing Wan. That necklace had three tiers, and each tier was decorated with diamonds as large as sparrow eggs and gems the size of a fingernail. Even though there was little light, the jewels shimmered around her neck, even brighter than the sun. Madam Xu said: “Miss Yin is too beautiful. Even this kind of necklace can only embellish what is already beautiful.” Smiling, Jing Wan asked: “Where is Xu Tong Zhi? Today, we invited Lu Yu Shuang, Boss Lu, to sing at the celebration. Since Xu Tong Zhi loves to listen to the opera so much, he mustn’t miss this performance.” Madam Xu replied: “I heard that Liu Shao called them over for a meeting.” Jing Wan, acting like she had just remembered something, replied: “Of course, Liu Shao told me this morning that he might be a bit late today.” When Madam Xu heard her say this, she pursed her lips at the Third Miss to hid a smile, both thinking that the couple had such a good relationship, they even went to see each other so early in the morning.
After eleven o’clock, most of the guests have already arrived, and even though Jing Wan was socializing with the guests, listening to the hubbub of laughter, she felt as if heart were in hot water, thumping loudly. The Third Miss was unaware of the situation, and walked over to say to her: “The party will start in twenty minutes, if Liu Shao cannot make it in time, we can wait a while longer.” Hearing that it was twenty minutes until twelve, with the atrium was a hubbub of voices and laughter, and the reception hall filled the music of the orchestra, all of which disrupted her composure, Jing Wan could no longer endure it anymore and said: “I’m going to fix my makeup, it’s too hot in here.” The Third Miss carefully gazed at her and said: “Hurry up and go. Add a little bit more power and rogue, for today is an auspicious day.”
After that, Jing Wan walked back to her little building, which was decorated with numerous colorful streamers and pennants, and the door was bedecked with Japanese rhodea. The upstairs was adorned with multicolored silk flowers very beautifully, but because most of the servants had gone to receive the guests, the place was extremely quiet. When she walked in, only Lan Qin was there, cleaning the upstairs, and suddenly, she heard someone call out: “Miss Yin.” Jing Wan recognized the person as Murong Feng’s trusted aid, He Xu An, and she quickly asked: “Has Liu Shao returned?”
He Xu An responded quietly: “Miss Yin, please come over here to talk.” Jing Wan ordered Lan Qin: “Go upstairs and bring down my makeup box.” She then followed He Xu An, and passed through the corridor to a small reception room in the back. The drapes of that reception room had all been lowered and the room was very dark as no lights had been lit. Two people were standing there and even though the room was completely dark, one of the men could not appear to be more familiar. Her mind was buzzing, her tears were about to gush out, and she pounced on him as he held her in his arms: “Jing Wan.” She look up with tears in her eyes: “Jian Zhang, I cannot believe that it’s you.” Xu Jian Zhang held her tightly in his arms: “I also feel like I am dreaming… Jing Wan, it’s really you.”
He Xu An coughed lightly and said: “Miss Yin, Liu Shao ordered to release Mr. Xu and bring Miss Yin here, if he still had not called by eleven thirty.” He handed her a train ticket for the same train as the one she had. Jing Wan’s heart quaked; even though the train ticket was just a normal sheet of paper, when she held it in her hand, it was heavier than a thousand pounds. She thought back to that morning, when he said goodbye to here at this exact place. His eyes had reflected his own image, as deeply passionate as the sea. The day that they had become sworn brother and sister, when he had thrown back his head to gulp down the liquor, pain had flashed through his eyes, as if the alcohol had been the deadliest poison. Still, he had planned so carefully for her, and even this last matter, he had made such thorough arrangements. As these thoughts went through her mind, she did not know what she had been thinking.
Xu Jian Zhang saw that she was distracted, and his own heart was full of doubts, so he had to ask: “Jing Wan, how did you get me released? Whose connection did you use? Who would have such prestige?” He continued to ask: “Where is this place?” She could not answer even one of his questions, as she was in no position for such a lengthy explanation. Her only response was: “Wait until we leave this place. Then, I will tell you the whole situation.” She then turned around to ask He Xu An: “Where is Liu Shao? Is he still in the Commander’s Estate?”