He Yunqin returned to the He family mansion and headed straight up to the second floor.
It happened that Mrs. He, leaning on a maid’s arm, was about to return to her room for her midday rest. Seeing her son, she froze in the doorway: “So you’re finally willing to come home. Have you eaten out there?”
He Yunqin paused his steps and went over personally to open the door for his mother, smiling: “I’m a grown man now, would I let myself go hungry?”
Mrs. He said with gentle reproach: “You’re always busy with who knows what all day, never staying home. As a mother, it’s not easy for me to even see my son’s face.”
She walked a few steps, then turned to look at her son’s clothing: “These clothes are still yesterday’s — you didn’t come home all night last night, where did you go?”
He Yunqin touched his eyebrow, following his mother into the room: “I was busy with something at a friend’s place last night, didn’t have time to come home, so I didn’t change. Is Father home?”
“In the study. Your father’s been troubled about something lately too, always frowning.” Mrs. He turned to instruct a servant to bring a change of clothes. “What do you need to see your father for?”
He Yunqin smiled casually: “Discussing arrangements for Mother’s birthday.”
Mrs. He was gentle and easygoing by nature, never one to overthink things. Hearing her son say this, she believed it readily, and pouted: “We celebrate my birthday every year, it’s a wonder your father still makes such a big fuss over it every time.”
Though she said this with her mouth, her eyes held a smile, clearly showing a kind of tender reliance on her husband.
He Yunqin’s smile faded slightly. He took the shawl his mother had removed and handed it to a servant, thinking privately that it was no wonder his younger sister was so simple and easy to fool — she took after their mother’s temperament exactly.
While talking, Mrs. He sat down at her dressing table, first looking at herself in the mirror from side to side, then raising her arms to smooth her hair. Suddenly she remembered something, her expression brightening, and she turned to look at her son: “This morning your eldest sister mentioned that the day before yesterday you sent Uncle Yu home to ask her for clothes. What’s this — have you gotten yourself a girlfriend?”
He Yunqin raised his eyebrows slightly: “Nothing like that. Those clothes were for a friend’s emergency.”
Mrs. He was taken aback: “You keep putting it off and refusing to get a girlfriend — what exactly are you thinking? You know, because you and Mingyi were middle school classmates, there’s still some gossip going around out there. If you married sooner, wouldn’t that shut those people up?”
He Yunqin said, slightly surprised: “I don’t have anyone I fancy right now. I can’t just find someone to settle down with to quash a rumor. Besides, my conduct is upright — why bother with baseless talk?”
Mrs. He glared at him: “You teach at the university now, and you’re always out socializing — you mean to say there’s no girl you like? Next week is my birthday, and I’ve specially told Zhuyun to invite more of her classmates over. Her classmates have all received a Western education, I imagine you’d get along well with them. If you take a liking to one, even if she’s a bit young it doesn’t matter — once you’re married, whether she wants to continue her studies or go abroad, as her mother-in-law, I won’t restrict her either way.”
He Yunqin picked up the comb on the dressing table and handed it to his mother, feigning seriousness: “Your son will remember that.”
Mrs. He laughed in exasperation: “You’re just humoring me with words, never a serious answer.”
She glanced toward the door, then said lightly: “Best find one who’s better than Mingyi in every way. Your mother would be pleased, and you’d be satisfied too.”
He Yunqin didn’t hear this last part at all — he was still thinking about the words “a bit young” his mother had said. For some reason, a person came to mind: bright, forthright, and sharp-tongued, someone who could go on at length when reasoning things out, who seemed steady on the surface, yet could sometimes be quite childlike — like how, even on a simple outing to a restaurant, she could study the menu with great enthusiasm for a long while. It utterly baffled him.
Coming out of his reverie, he said to his mother: “Mother, weren’t you going to rest? I’ll go change clothes first — I still have urgent matters to discuss with Father shortly.”
Mrs. He asked: “Will you be home for dinner tonight?”
He Yunqin said: “I’m busy, I’m afraid I won’t have time.”
At the study, He Yunqin raised his hand to knock. Before long, the steward came to open the door, and seeing He Yunqin: “Second Young Master.”
He Yunqin nodded and said to the steward: “Uncle Zhuang, I’d like to speak with Father alone.”
The steward paused, then hurriedly shut the door and left.
He Mengmei was standing by the window smoking a pipe. Hearing the noise, he turned and looked back, his tightly knit brows loosening slightly: “Why have you come home today? Don’t you have to teach at school?”
He Yunqin touched his chin and walked closer, smiling: “Father, your son wants to ask you about something.”
After He Yunqin left, Hongdou and Wang Bide sat in the study staring blankly at each other.
Because of what had happened a few days ago, there was still some awkwardness between them, and conversation couldn’t flow smoothly — the atmosphere felt somewhat stiff.
After a stretch of silence, Hongdou noticed Wang Bide’s tea was finished, and hurriedly picked up the teacup: “I’ll go refill your tea.”
In the living room, her older brother had already informed his uncle and aunt of the investigation results so far. Since Yuqi was still missing, her aunt began crying again.
Her brother and mother were busy comforting her when someone knocked at the door outside.
Since things were in disarray in the living room, Hongdou went to answer the door.
She opened it and saw it was He Yunqin.
“Mr. He.”
Yu Chongyi looked up and hurriedly stood, following He Yunqin to the study.
Once in the study, He Yunqin got straight to the point: “On the 20th, Chen Baidie went to burn incense at a Daoist temple in the suburbs. Since she went alone with a secret friend, neither the people around her nor anyone at the film company knew about it. On the 21st, she received an invitation from the Lu family of Nanbao Trading Company — the card said the Lu family was holding an evening party, inviting her to attend on the 23rd.”
Wang Bide said: “But Chen Baidie went missing on the 22nd, so naturally she couldn’t make this evening party.”
He Yunqin turned to look at Hongdou: “Miss Yu, how long has your uncle worked at Nanbao Trading Company?”
Hongdou thought for a moment: “Almost ten years now. He was promoted to comprador three years ago.”
He Yunqin pondered without responding. Wang Bide thought it over for a moment, then rose from the sofa and looked at Yu Chongyi: “Officer Yu, why don’t you invite your uncle and aunt in — let He Yunqin ask them about matters at Nanbao Trading Company.”
Author’s Note: Lots going on at home, posting one Hong Dou Sheng Min Guo – Chapter first, will try to write more for the second update, 10:30. Thanks everyone for understanding, mwah.