Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Juan Niang’s desperate, life-risking gamble finally made Liu Xingzhi give up on the idea of divorcing her.

Red lanterns illuminated the entire courtyard, and the sounds of celebratory music echoed through the streets.

That night, Liu Xingzhi wore a suit of red. With his handsome features, he looked every bit the noble young master.

Only a few days prior, this man had called me a little capitalist.

Yet he was the one who belonged to the proper landlord class.

Facing Juan Niang, he asked her three times, “Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

Each time, Juan Niang nodded.

Standing among the crowd of guests, I saw Liu Xingzhi glance my way.

I wanted to offer a smile to show I was fine, but my tears fell before I could.

I must have looked hideous.

And yet, I had wanted to look a little prettier today.

From Beijing to Wuxi, the distance was over a thousand miles. I had actually come all this way just to watch you get married, Liu Xingzhi.

The next day, Liu Xingzhi took me away from Wuxi.

The journey from Wuxi back to Beijing was entirely by water. Liu Xingzhi bought the most expensive tickets. I feigned happiness, standing on the deck to let the wind blow against my face.

After a long silence, he spoke with a solemn expression. “Yu Ge, I’ve done you wrong.”

As the river wind whipped around us, I summoned my courage and said, “Liu Xingzhi, lend me your shoulder. I just need to cry for a little while.”

But I couldn’t stop at just a little while. I sobbed so heart-wrenchingly that I nearly choked on my breath.

After returning from Wuxi, Liu Xingzhi and I cut off all contact.

I nodded at Juan Niang. “I remember. You are Mr. Liu’s wife. What brings you to Beiping?”

She hadn’t brought an umbrella, and her clothes were covered in snow. I led her into the room to warm up.

“Miss Yu, my husband… he’s gone. His funeral is in a few days. I wanted to ask you-to invite you to attend.”

Liu Xingzhi was dead.

He was only thirty-three.

My heart thundered, feeling as though a mountain had succumbed to an avalanche.

Juan Niang suddenly cried out, “Miss Yu, your glove is catching fire!”

I snapped back to reality. I had been leaning too close to the stove, and a spark had landed on my cotton glove. Juan Niang rushed to swat it out with her hands.

Then it hit me.

Given the things Liu Xingzhi did in these turbulent times, he had long since put matters of life and death aside.

I picked up the thermos on the table and poured a cup of hot water for her.

While she drank, I took the opportunity to speak. “Juan Niang, I won’t be going to Wuxi. Liu Xingzhi and I haven’t been in touch for a long time.”

Juan Niang gripped the cup tightly. “But, Young Master Xingzhi always thought of you.”

She pulled a large paper bundle from her coat.

“He told me to burn all these letters, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I opened them, and they were all written to you, Miss Yu.”

Skeptical, I opened the bundle and immediately recognized the school stationery.

There were dozens of letters, all addressed to Ah Ge. He had written them, but he had never sent a single one.

The one on top had been written four months ago:

“Ah Ge, I might be dying. My work is unfinished, yet I must depart. You and I will not be able to see the spring breeze of liberation reach Jiangnan together. I have no chance to send these letters, so I intend to destroy them. I don’t know if Juan Niang will listen to me, but if you happen to see them, remember to burn them for me.”

I gripped the letter, my knuckles turning white. A lump of air seemed trapped in my chest, blocking my throat.

I cried.

Only upon seeing this letter did I truly feel that the Liu Xingzhi I knew was really gone.

Amidst my sobbing, Juan Niang sat up straight, looking lost and even more constrained in her movements.

When my crying finally subsided, she patted my back.

“Miss Yu, after that falling out years ago, the Master didn’t return to Wuxi very often. Could you tell me… what was he doing all that time?”

I hadn’t lied to Juan Niang; Liu Xingzhi and I truly hadn’t been in touch.

In over ten years, through various coincidences, I had only crossed paths with him a handful of times.