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墨書 Inktalez
When Ling Long woke up, she found herself lying on the bed in Li Jinghuan's home. The simple room was filled with a faint aroma of incense. Li Jinghuan stood at the door, his back to her, bending over to prepare medicine. Upon hearing her stir, he carefully filtered the medicine through a gauze and poured it into a bowl, bringing it to her.
His expression was not good; he lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry, I can't swim."
She took the bowl of medicine and replied softly, "It's just a false alarm." Although she tried to appear calm, she couldn't hide the chill in her heart. Li Jinghuan, could he really be someone worth entrusting her life to?
Her eyes remained as clear as glass, untouched by dust, yet the reflection of the man within them showed his troubled expression, as if he were holding back his breath. Suddenly, Ling Long remembered the Foreigner who had saved her and understood the reason—he still minded that the Foreigner had performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her. Even though it was now the Republic of China, traditional values still held sway; to any Chinese man, such an act would feel like being publicly humiliated. What man could endure that?
But who could she blame? Who made him hesitate when she was drowning? Who made him helpless when she was on the brink of death? Now he was irrationally jealous. With this thought, Ling Long could no longer contain the grievance in her heart.
"Are you blaming me?" Li Jinghuan asked cautiously.
Ling Long remained silent, her face darkening as she closed the door and walked straight out. Until dawn broke, she left alone without saying another word.
The next day, Ling Long went to the fruit shop as usual but kept quiet and focused on her work. Aside from discussing accounts, they barely exchanged three words throughout the day. The cold war lasted for three days; on the fourth day, Ling Long did not show up. Li Jinghuan appeared distracted; when customers came to buy fruit, he either shortchanged them or miscalculated their bills, leaving them quite displeased. Yet even as the sun set in the west, there was still no sign of Ling Long.
He began to reflect quietly and realized that he was indeed in the wrong and owed her an apology.
In the evening, Li Jinghuan closed up shop early and bought a roasted chicken from the meat market on West Street before heading to Ling Long's home. Unfortunately, only her father was there. He struggled to sit up and said, "That girl hasn't been home for several days. When I asked where she went, she wouldn't say."
Li Jinghuan set down his things and persuaded her father to lie back down before chatting with him for a while before leaving.
In Qingyuan Town, Ling Long had neither friends nor relatives; where could she have gone? As he pondered this, he overheard several women chatting in Jiangpan Teapavilion nearby.
“Have you heard? The girl from the the Bai Family has started seeing a foreigner.”
“Really? What about that guy from the fruit stand?”
“Oh, they probably broke up. After all, they’re worlds apart. The foreigner is wealthy and powerful; even a blind person can see who to choose. Besides, this girl values money above all else and wouldn’t let a single penny slip away.”
The mention of the the Bai Family and the foreigner made his heart sink. His hands clenched into fists, knuckles turning white. He stood in the narrow alley that Ling Long had to pass through on her way home, waiting in agony. He repeatedly reminded himself that it couldn’t be true; Ling Long was not that kind of person. Yet, the scene that entered his view pierced him like a dagger.
It was indeed that foreigner.
They walked side by side, Ling Long made up and dressed in a new-style qipao, exuding a faint scent of wine. Her swaying figure resembled that of a wealthy lady.
“Come with me,” he suddenly jumped out, his tone firm, startling both of them.
She paused for a moment before regaining her composure, leaning closer to the foreigner and curling her lips into an exaggerated smile.
“What are you doing here?”
“Why?” Each word from her felt like a blade, as if standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to shatter him at any moment. She wore a smug expression: “Why? My gentleman is treating me to clothes and dinner, while you—hmph—since you’re so jealous, I’ll let you experience it for real.”
...
“Ling Long, stop messing around. Can’t I admit I was wrong?” His tone softened, his expression resembling that of a child caught sneaking candy.
But she turned a blind eye, linking her arm with that of the Foreigner and walking straight past him.
He clenched his teeth, rooted to the spot, trembling with anger but unable to utter a word. Memories flooded back of that woman who had once risked her life for just twenty coins, of the river lantern washed ashore by the currents, faintly inscribed with the words "Seeking a lifetime of glory and wealth." Could it be true that she was the kind of person who valued money above all else, as the neighbors had said?
Suddenly, he slammed his fist against the wall, pain shooting through him instantly. He despised his own pettiness; if it weren't for that, he wouldn't be in this situation today. His eyes felt sore, as if chili pepper had gotten into them. Ha! Ever since he met her, he had become less and less of a man.
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