Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Miss Liu, it's bad, it's really bad."
The assistant from the pottery shop wiped the sweat from his brow, panting as he spoke in a stammering voice. "Miss Liu, you should escape quickly. There was a problem during the inspection at the checkpoint; they said there are secrets hidden inside our ceramics. The master and madam have already been taken away, and the Japanese have sealed our shop. I heard they are about to raid the Liu family..."
As he finished that last sentence, Liu Jingjing felt a tightness in her chest, her face turning pale as her hands instinctively clenched.
Perhaps her sister still didn't know. Thinking of Liu Momo revived a glimmer of hope in Liu Jingjing's heart.
Liu Momo was her half-sister and the makeup artist at Pineapple Garden, skilled in her craft. Pineapple Garden was a place frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles; at least she knew some influential people.
After leaving the Liu residence, Liu Jingjing anxiously made her way to Pineapple Garden, her steps hurried and her expression frantic.
The world had turned upside down; the Japanese had captured her parents, and soon their pottery shop would be sealed as well. She might not even be able to enter the gates of the Liu family. The thought sent a chill through Liu Jingjing, causing her body to tremble slightly.
The entire theater was deserted.
She knew she would have to wait until nightfall for the lights to come on.
Seeing this scene reminded Liu Jingjing of her parents' capture. The Japanese were ruthless; she couldn't help but worry whether her parents could endure the various tortures they might face. Her brows furrowed deeply, and concern filled her eyes.
As soon as she shifted her body, a series of honking sounds echoed through the air. Liu Jingjing cleverly ducked under the platform in the pineapple garden, crouching down and widening her bright eyes to follow the source of the noise.
She saw an old-fashioned car stop outside the iron fence of the pineapple garden. The door slowly opened, and a pair of shiny, oversized leather shoes appeared in her line of sight. Then, a man stepped out of the car.
Liu Jingjing rubbed her eyes and squinted, focusing intently on the man's face.
Wasn't that Fang Lansheng?
After leaving the pineapple garden, Liu Jingjing found herself at a loss for where to go. With her heavy heart, she wandered around for a while before reluctantly returning to the Liu family home, which was surrounded by Japanese soldiers.
She slipped through a corner of the wall in the backyard, moving cautiously as she sneaked into her room and pulled out her uniform from Beiping Girls' School.
Guomin Street was still damp and dark with its bluestone pavement, and the sky was overcast, hinting at impending rain.
"Jingjing."
The familiar voice startled Liu Jingjing, causing her to turn around with her body tensing slightly.
“Fang Lansheng.” She had a pale face, holding his gaze for a long time, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and confusion.
“Didn’t I tell you? Don’t wear such conspicuous school uniforms; the Japanese will notice you.” The man’s face was etched with an unspoken fear as he reached out, quickly grasping the girl’s wrist.
“Come on, I’ll take you to change your clothes.”
Liu Jingjing suddenly shook off his hand, swinging her arm forcefully, her expression cold and hollow, her eyes glinting with frost.
“Are you a spy for the Japanese?” On the chaotic streets, she shouted at him in a low voice, trembling slightly.
In his clear eyes sparkled tiny stars, neither angry nor agitated. He held onto the girl’s wrist firmly, not loosening his grip despite her struggles.
He held her cool fingers as they stopped in front of a qipao shop.
His gaze swept over the vibrant qipaos before settling on a pale white one.
The shopkeeper took down the dress; it bore no patterns, just a simple embroidery of plum blossoms about to bloom at the hem.
"Go inside and change," he said, almost like a command. Despite a thousand unwilling thoughts, when faced with those expressive eyes, Liu Jingjing took the qipao from his hands and turned to walk into the changing room.
After changing, Liu Jingjing stepped in front of Fang Lansheng, stealing a glance at him. Her cheeks flushed quickly, and her gaze turned shy.
"The only difference between you and your sister is your innocence," he remarked. Mentioning Liu Momo brought back memories of their moment stepping out of the car.
A warmth surged in her eyes, threatening tears that she dared not shed, her eyelids slightly reddening.
"Jingjing." As they exited the qipao shop, Fang Lansheng placed his hands on her shoulders, looking at her with deep affection.
"Jingjing, I will take care of you. Don't worry." He pulled her into an embrace, but this was also a familiarity he had shared with Liu Momo.
Thinking of this, Liu Jingjing pushed him away with force, tears streaming down her face.
"I know your parents were taken away. I visited your father's ceramic shop before it was sealed; there were indeed large stocks of ceramics inside. But your father said those were not made by him."
"You traitor!" Liu Jingjing glared at Fang Lansheng, her clear eyes seeming to blaze with fury as her teeth clenched tightly.
"You are the spy! Everyone in Beiping knows your father has a remarkable skill. As he ages, it’s only natural for that skill to be passed down to you. Now that fine powder has been found on the ceramics, if you’re not the spy, then who is?"
Liu Jingjing was so furious that she clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as a cold snort escaped her nostrils, her body trembling slightly.
"You’re talking nonsense..." Before she could finish her sentence, a series of gunshots rang out.
Fang Lansheng hurriedly pulled her behind him, hiding them around the corner of an alley, his arm protectively wrapped around her.
The once-bustling street had suddenly descended into chaos, with citizens running for their lives amidst the cries of panic.
Hiding behind Fang Lansheng, Liu Jingjing stretched her neck to look out onto the street. A line of Japanese soldiers marched steadily towards them from a distance, leading three students dressed in Beiping Girls' School uniforms.
The three girls had their hair disheveled and their clothes torn, with fresh bloodstains still visible on their heads and faces.
Liu Jingjing shut her eyes and buried her head into Fang Lansheng's back, trembling uncontrollably.
The man turned around and gently cupped her face, tilting it upwards.
With a mischievous expression, he said, "What do you think, Liu Jingjing? If you insist on not changing your clothes, you might have already been captured by the Japanese army."
The man gently tapped her nose and affectionately added, "Are you still calling me a spy for the Japanese?"
His nose was almost touching her lips, their warm breaths mingling in the air. Despite the smoke and chaos of war, there was an undeniable tension between them.
Suddenly, several gunshots rang out again, jolting Liu Jingjing from her thoughts.
She saw three female students, blood streaming from their heads, collapsing heavily to the ground.
You always said you would take care of yourself. Is that what it means to be a "brother-in-law" taking care of his sister-in-law?
Fang Lansheng, why do you like Liu Momo? Why?
Comment 0 Comment Count