Hongdou made it through a full day of classes, and when school finally let out, she spotted the He family’s car from a distance. As she approached, she saw only the driver inside—He Yunqin himself was not in the car.
The driver got out and bowed slightly. “Second Young Master had urgent matters come up, so he specially instructed me to take Miss Yu home.”
Hongdou had met this man before—Old Yu. She’d often seen him picking up and dropping off He Zhuyun and Duan Mingyi at the school gate. The last time she’d torn her trousers, it was also Old Yu who had driven her home.
Thinking of this, she relaxed somewhat, though since He Yunqin hadn’t given her any prior word about this arrangement, she still felt a bit uncertain before getting in.
Old Yu noticed Hongdou’s wariness and hastily smiled. “Fourth Miss and Eldest Young Madam had no classes this afternoon and already went home at noon. Second Young Master only said something came up with Inspector Wang Bide and he needed to rush over there. Afraid it might make him late picking up Miss Yu after class, he had me come first, and once Second Young Master finishes his business, he’ll come discuss matters properly with Miss Yu’s brother.”
Hongdou was mildly startled. “Something happened to Inspector Wang?” For it to make He Yunqin rush over specially, it must be something significant.
Old Yu had already been instructed by He Yunqin beforehand—Miss Yu was extremely curious by nature, and if she asked, he was to tell her plainly. So he said, “Last night, no one answered the phone at Inspector Wang’s home. Today, Young Master went to Inspector Wang’s residence and found no one there either. Later, Inspector Wang himself called over to Aurora University, and that’s how Young Master learned Inspector Wang had been out investigating a case, gone a full day and night without coming home. I heard something happened at the Keyu Theater.”
The Keyu Theater? Just last night she’d heard the famous actor Bai Fengfei perform there—how could something have happened there so soon after?
Since he was one of the He family’s servants, Hongdou didn’t feel it proper to ask further. She nodded with a smile at the driver and got into the car. Once home, she thanked Old Yu earnestly before going upstairs.
Still on the stairs, she could hear faint sounds of laughter and conversation from within—it seemed there were guests.
She hurried up the last few steps and pushed open the door to find her mother speaking with a young man in a Western suit. She looked closer—Qin Xuekai?
Qin Xuekai had always had a way with words, and her mother clearly had a good impression of him; the two were chatting merrily. “So your mother’s family home was in Chunying Alley? Why, that makes us practically neighbors—if it weren’t for the mess of the concession boundaries being redrawn and the old Chunying Alley being torn down, we might well have run into your mother often.”
Catching sight of Hongdou, she waved her over. “Hongdou, this is your senior from school?”
Qin Xuekai’s manner was more reserved than usual. He stood and smiled faintly. “Hongdou.”
Hongdou paused, closing the door behind her. “Senior Qin?”
Qin Xuekai had spent the entire day arranging matters concerning Hongdou. When he returned home and saw his parents, he hadn’t breathed a word about Commissioner Bai—instead, he’d praised Hongdou to the skies first, then mentioned that more and more male students at school were falling for her. Afraid of complications the longer he waited, he’d announced his intention to formally propose marriage to her.
Mr. and Mrs. Qin had long known their son was fond of this girl, and knew well he wasn’t the type prone to impulsive whims—this Miss Yu must surely have exceptional qualities, or else their son wouldn’t have carried this feeling for so long. Pestered by their son for the better part of an evening, they finally agreed to let the two families’ parents meet over the weekend.
Having settled things at home, Qin Xuekai went straight on to the Yu residence to find Hongdou’s mother and brother. Fearing he might fail to persuade the Yu family, he had prepared his speech in advance.
He waited a good while for Hongdou to return. Once he’d steadied his nerves and was about to launch into his prepared speech, he heard someone at the door working the lock, accompanied by voices in conversation. The door opened, and in came Yu Chongyi and He Yunqin.
The three men came face to face, and all three froze for a moment.
It was Mrs. Yu who reacted first, saying with a smile, “Mr. He is here—please, come in.”
Her son had told her that very morning about what had happened between He Yunqin and Commissioner Bai. Had He Yunqin not stepped in, the Yu family would still be in dire straits. She knew perfectly well he likely hadn’t done it out of feelings for Hongdou, but simply out of a sense of righteousness—still, she felt an indescribable gratitude toward him now, and wished she could pour out the warmest hospitality imaginable. “Mr. He, please, come sit inside.”
She gestured toward Qin Xuekai and said to her son, “This is Senior Qin from Hongdou’s school—he says he has something to discuss with Hongdou. Sister Zhou! Mr. He is here, bring the tea quickly.”
Qin Xuekai had calculated every possible angle, but had never once accounted for He Yunqin showing up at the Yu residence too. He watched, helpless, as He Yunqin settled comfortably onto the sofa, with Mrs. Yu treating him with no small warmth. Anxious, without pausing to think it through further, he composed his expression and said, “Mrs. Yu, Mr. Yu, the reason I’ve come to call so abruptly is that this morning, at the school gate, I overheard something greatly unfavorable to Hongdou—”
Everyone’s eyes turned to him at once. He paused. What Commissioner Bai had said was truly filthy—it would need some polishing before it could be spoken aloud. “It seems that Commissioner Bai of the police bureau was talking about Hongdou at the school gate, saying he’d taken a fancy to her and wanted to make her his second wife. Because Mr. He is currently escorting her, he can’t act for now—but he’s only waiting until Mr. He loses interest in her, at which point he’ll have his men abduct her. Once Hongdou’s reputation is ruined, she’ll have no choice but to marry him whether she wants to or not.”
Yu Chongyi shot to his feet; Hongdou’s face changed color entirely.
Mrs. Yu trembled with fury. “Did that old beast really say that?”
Qin Xuekai glanced at He Yunqin, and found He Yunqin already staring at him, his gaze deep and heavy.
His face ashen, he nodded. “Word for word. Bai Haili’s reputation precedes him—there’s no telling how many good women he’s ruined these past two years. Now that he’s set his sights on her, he’s likely determined to have Hongdou no matter what. As everyone knows, Bai Haili holds real power now, and as long as he doesn’t fall from grace, Hongdou won’t escape this fate forever.”
At this point, a flush of red rose to his face, and he continued, “Mrs. Yu, Mr. Yu, you may not know this, but I’ve had feelings for Hongdou for a long time now. Over these past two years, in pursuing her, I’ve done all manner of things that people found laughable, yet Hongdou has never once accepted my pursuit. Now that she’s facing something like this, I was overcome with shock and fury the moment I heard. The thought of that man eyeing Hongdou with such predatory intent has left me unable to sit still. Weighing everything, I felt I had no choice but to swallow my pride and come here.
“I currently study political science at St. John’s, and my grades are reasonably good. Hongdou is well aware of my standing at school. My family runs a paper mill; my father and several of my elder brothers were all scholars in their day, and our household has always been harmonious, with never a hint of discord between mother and daughter-in-law. When my elders heard I mentioned Hongdou, they were all thoroughly pleased. Of course, I have no intention of taking advantage of anyone’s misfortune—everything depends entirely on the wishes of Hongdou, Mrs. Yu, and Mr. Yu. If you consent, and if Hongdou agrees, our two families could meet formally this very weekend. This matter, one might say, is already extremely urgent—rather than living each day in fear, better to settle things quickly. Only once Hongdou has a betrothed can that man’s designs on her be truly and thoroughly extinguished.”
Having poured all this out in one breath, and ignoring the astonishment on everyone’s faces, he bowed deeply to Mrs. Yu. “Aunt, there’s little else this young man can promise you, but if Hongdou will marry me, I vow I will treasure and cherish her always, and will never be inconstant.”
The room fell so silent one could have heard a pin drop. Everyone present, Hongdou included, was too stunned to speak.
Mrs. Yu stared fixedly at Qin Xuekai. Her first reaction was that this was absurd; her second reaction was still that it was absurd. Yet on calmer reflection, though this young man’s actions were rash, for the Yu family in their current predicament, it might not be a bad way out of their troubles after all.
Mr. He had, for the moment, taken on the role of Hongdou’s chauffeur to help ease the crisis—but he still had his own affairs to attend to. Once time passed and he truly began courting someone, would he still have time to spare for the Yu family? And if Bai Haili still refused to give up by then, Hongdou would likely fall into his hands sooner or later—and once things reached that point, the Yu family would truly be beyond redemption.
This young Qin fellow had a refined appearance, decent scholarship, and seemed quite confident about his family’s circumstances as well—though of course, these were secondary matters. What mattered most was that this man seemed genuinely devoted to Hongdou. The moment he’d heard of her predicament, he was willing to risk being seen as taking advantage of misfortune, and had come, shameless as it might seem, to sincerely propose marriage. How many men were capable of such timely, selfless devotion?
Should she seriously consider this boy’s proposal? Should she really arrange for the two families to meet this weekend? What did Hongdou herself think of it? This child had a delicate, somewhat spoiled temperament—she would need a husband who would indulge her in everything. If this Qin Xuekai could remain as devoted to Hongdou after marriage as he was now, then at the very least, there’d be no need to worry about her future happiness.
The doubt and hesitation in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a look of serious consideration. But she had no idea that even as she began truly sizing up Qin Xuekai, a certain someone’s expression in the room had grown darker and darker.
She mulled it over again and again, and just as she’d nearly finished composing what she wanted to say, ready to speak, He Yunqin stood up and said, “Everything Mr. Qin has said makes sense, except for two points worth discussing. First, Bai Haili is a man who never forgets a grudge—once he’s set his sights on someone, he won’t let go easily. Even if Hongdou marries you, Mr. Qin, can you guarantee how long you’d be able to protect her?”
Hongdou had been racking her brain trying to think how to dissuade Qin Xuekai, but hearing He Yunqin cut in like this, her heart gave a sudden lurch.
Mrs. Yu turned in surprise to look behind her.
Qin Xuekai faltered, looking up to meet He Yunqin’s cool gaze. He was about to speak, but He Yunqin gave him no chance. “Second, even supposing one marries purely to avoid disaster, marriage is, after all, a lifelong matter. The essential precondition is mutual affection—and most important of all is what Miss Yu herself wishes.”
At this, the tips of his ears reddened inexplicably, his heartbeat quickening for no clear reason. He shifted his tone. “But there is one thing Mr. Qin is indeed correct about—Hongdou’s situation truly is urgent, and right now, the best solution is to thoroughly extinguish Bai Haili’s designs on her. In fact, the very reason I came here today was for precisely this matter—”
He paused, then turned to face her, gazing steadily at Hongdou. “Miss Yu, would you rather marry Mr. Qin—or marry me?”