We drove back to Wu Chi overnight, arriving just as dawn broke. As soon as we reached the private road, I began to feel afraid. He comforted me: “We agreed on our story, right? As long as we speak with one voice, they won’t know what we’ve been doing.” I nodded, trying hard to steady my breathing. The car had already turned the corner, and we could see the lights on the first courtyard wall. After passing the sentry post, we immediately saw the brightly lit mansion. With all the lights still on at this hour, something serious must have happened—and I knew that something was my absence all night.

I was about to cry. Mu Shiyang patted my back and whispered: “Don’t be afraid, we’re fighting with our backs to the water.” I forced myself to sit up straight and took a deep breath. The car finally stopped in front of the house, and Director Liang personally opened the door. When he saw me, he let out a sigh of relief. “Young miss.”

I nodded, got out of the car, and walked into the living room with Mu Shiyang. I painfully swallowed. Father stood in the living room with his hands behind his back, his face completely expressionless. Uncle Lei stood behind him, along with Director Shi, Secretary You, Grandfather Mu, Uncle He… They all stared intently at the two of us, especially Father, whose gaze was like a knife as if he wanted to carve transparent holes in my body. I heard Mu Shiyang softly call out: “Sir.” Father glared at him ferociously—I had never seen Father so fierce before. The veins on his forehead bulged one by one, looking truly terrifying in the light. He gritted his teeth and said: “Good! You two are something!” He stared at Mu Shiyang as if he wanted to kill him with his gaze. “You’re quite capable, aren’t you!”

I shuddered, and Father’s voice finally thundered like an explosion: “Nan Nan! Come upstairs with me!”

I frantically looked around for help. But Uncle Lei couldn’t help me because Mu Shiyang was his nephew. Uncle He had just called out: “Sir…” when Father glared at him so fiercely that he didn’t dare say more. Father turned and went upstairs, and I had no choice but to drag myself after him. I secretly glanced at Mu Shiyang, who winked at me, encouraging me.

Father entered the study, and I slowly followed him in. Father asked: “Tell me yourself, where did you run off to?”

“Come now, why are you getting so angry talking to your daughter? Dr. Cheng said your blood pressure is high and told you not to get upset.” A soft voice sounded behind me. I suddenly turned around—it was her! She was still wearing a qipao, dark blue with a floral pattern, with a deep blue gemstone brooch pinned at the collar. She walked over gracefully, wearing the same smiling face. “The young miss has finally returned.”

I turned my head back, and Father’s expression grew even worse. “How dare you enter without knocking? No manners!”

She looked a bit embarrassed, glanced at me again, and smiled: “Nan Nan, did you enjoy yourself out there? How did you get so caught up in the fun that you forgot to come home, spending the night out with a man, tsk tsk…”

This was truly adding insult to injury, pouring oil on the fire. Father’s gaze cut across like a knife, making my heart go cold. Father glared at me, then turned to her coldly and said: “Get out. My daughter is none of your concern.” This made her lose face, especially with me present. She grew angry with embarrassment, her voice shrill and piercing: “Murong Qingyi, I won’t stand for this! Don’t try to intimidate me with your posturing! I kindly came to show concern for your precious daughter, and you bite the hand that feeds you…”

This time Father was furious, but he smiled instead—a smile that made my blood run cold. I knew this was a sign that his anger had reached its peak, and once he exploded, it would be an earth-shattering rage. Sure enough, when he got angry, he even slipped into Shanghai dialect: “Ten three points! Don’t take people for fools when you don’t understand the situation!”

“How do I not understand?” She was stubborn in her words but didn’t dare look directly at Father anymore. “Tell me!”

Father snorted through his nose but didn’t say anything. This emboldened her, and she glanced at me, saying sarcastically: “That’s right, I can’t compare to her in any way. I’m not as pretty as her, I don’t know how to scheme, I don’t know how to seduce people, but at least I haven’t given you a bastard child…”

Before she could finish, Father had already slapped her, making half her face swell up. She was stunned by the slap and only after a while did she start crying. Father was so angry that his whole body trembled. “Get out! Get far away from here! If I ever hear such words from you again, I’ll skin you alive, and I’ll skin that tennis coach of yours too.”

She was so frightened that her whole body shook, and she didn’t say a single word in her defense. I had never seen Father so fierce before. I thought he would do as he said, and my heart shuddered. Just now she said… about my mother… No! It couldn’t be like that! There must be more to the story!

She left, and the sound of the door closing made me jump. I raised my head, and Father looked truly terrifying. He suddenly grabbed a ruler from the desk. “Today I’m going to beat this senseless thing to death!” I was too shocked to move. By the time I reacted, I had already been struck once, the burning pain rising. I whimpered and tried to shield myself with my hands. He cursed angrily: “Senseless thing! Have your wings grown so strong? You dare to shake off your escort and run out to play? Are my words just wind in your ears?” I sobbed as I took two more blows. I didn’t dare say a word in my defense, but he grew angrier as he hit me, striking harder and harder. “I’ll beat you to death! Save me the embarrassment! Running off with a man for a night! Who taught a young girl like you to be so vulgar?!”

His words pierced into my ears one by one, my heart bleeding. The ruler burned on my skin, the pain making me dizzy. Finally, I couldn’t help but retort: “Go ahead and beat me to death!”

This enraged him further. “You think I don’t dare? Without you, I’d know how much peace I’d have! Without you, this vulgar thing, I’d be so much happier!” His roaring voice echoed in the room. I heard Secretary You knocking at the door, calling: “Sir! Sir!” Father shouted: “Who dares to come in?!”

Secretary You, seeing the situation was bad, came in anyway. Greatly alarmed, he rushed over to try to restrain Father. Father, like an enraged lion, threw him aside with one motion. Secretary You ran out again, while Father grabbed me and struck me hard several more times. Secretary You, Uncle He, Uncle Lei, and Grandfather Mu all rushed in at once, which only made Father hit harder. The uncles rushed forward to restrain Father, shouting: “Sir! Sir! Stop hitting her.” Father struggled and roared: “Today I’m going to beat this wretched child to death!”

I cried until I could barely breathe, in unbearable pain, and screamed: “Let him beat me to death! After all, I’m just a vulgar thing like my mother! After all, I’m not his child!”

The room suddenly went quiet. Everyone stared at me with wide eyes. Father’s face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled as he pointed at me, his hand shaking slightly. “You…”

He suddenly collapsed backward! The room instantly fell into chaos. Uncle Lei’s face turned white with fear as he hurried to undo the buttons at Father’s collar. Secretary You stamped his foot and shouted: “Someone come quickly!” Director Shi grabbed the phone and shouted: “Quick! Get me Dr. Cheng!”

The attendants all rushed in. I was too shocked to move. When I tried to go over to see Father, they stopped me and forcibly took me out of the study, returning me to my room. I heard the sounds of cars, voices, and urgent footsteps in the courtyard all mixed. My doctor quickly arrived to treat my wounds. I asked him: “What about Father? What about Father?” He shook his head and said: “I don’t know. Dr. Cheng has already arrived.” I cried and insisted on seeing Father, struggling to get out of bed. The doctor panicked, and the nurses held me down. I heard the doctor call: “Inject a sedative!” I cried and screamed as they held me down and gave me the injection. Everything before my eyes grew blurry, and sobbing, I finally fell asleep.

When I woke up, it was dark. The bedside lamp was on, and a nurse was dozing on the couch. The room was deathly quiet, frighteningly so. The pale blue light of the bedside lamp glowed dimly, and my heart contracted into a ball. I pulled out the IV from my hand and sat up. I couldn’t find my slippers, so I got out of bed barefoot.

I left the room. The corridor was also quiet. Only the wall lamps were lit in solitude. I walked through the long corridor and ran to the master bedroom, which was pitch black. I turned on the light. The room was neat, the bed was also neat, but no one was there. I turned and ran to the study, but there was no one there either. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead one drop at a time. I ran downstairs, but Father wasn’t there either. Director Liang came from the other end of the corridor. “Young miss.”

I grabbed him tightly and asked: “Where is Father? Where is he? Where have you taken him?” I swayed, seeing stars. I was so afraid! Afraid he would give me a terrible answer. He said: “Sir has gone to Shuangqiao.”

Oh! I was going to go crazy. I asked: “How is he?”

“He’s fine now. Dr. Cheng said it was just extreme anger causing high blood pressure. After one injection, he was fine…”

Oh! My heart dropped to the ground. But… the world was spinning, and I collapsed from dizziness…

I stayed obediently at home. Since that day, opportunities to see Father were pitifully few. I felt very guilty, and he also seemed reluctant to talk much with me. He would come home briefly and leave again shortly after. Although I felt sad, Father never again asked me where I had gone that night. But Mu Shiyang had fallen into misfortune. I heard that Uncle Lei had transferred him to Pumen Base and demoted him six ranks, reassigning him to serve as a mere chief of staff. I was dejected and couldn’t lift my spirits for many days. When my aunt came to visit me, I asked her to plead with Father on Mu Shiyang’s behalf. My aunt refused, saying: “Your father is still angry. Do you dare to pull the tiger’s whiskers?” I felt truly guilty—he had been implicated entirely because of me. I said gloomily: “Pumen is so far away and so harsh. He’s been demoted too, he must be extremely unhappy. It’s all my fault.” My aunt looked at me in surprise. I frowned and said: “Anyway, I’ve ruined him. A pool fish scorched by Father’s anger.”

My aunt laughed and said: “Don’t say that in front of your father—I guarantee he’ll be even angrier and might take that pool fish out for another roasting. If you plead for Shiyang again, I bet he’ll be demoted to Java.”

I was discouraged. “Father is punishing the innocent this time.” My aunt just smiled. “Any father in the world who sees a brat who has taken his little daughter away for a night would want to kill him on the spot—that would be normal. Sir was actually showing face to the Mu family, and Minister Lei knows how to handle things—before Sir could say anything, he already demoted him to Pumen.”

I recalled the scene that night. When Father glared at Mu Shiyang, there was murderous intent in his eyes. I couldn’t help but shudder in fear. My aunt said: “When I heard about it, I was shocked. You don’t know, in those days, Sir was just…” She suddenly stopped speaking. I stared at her blankly. She had let something slip! I knew she had let something slip! What happened to Father in those days? What had happened? Was it related to my mother?

I called out “Aunt,” and her expression turned very unpleasant. She said: “Nan Nan, I don’t know. I don’t know anything.” I grabbed her hand and begged her: “Aunt, you care for me the most. I’ve liked you the most since I was little. Tell me, what exactly happened? I have the right to know. It’s about my mother, isn’t it?” My aunt shook her head, and I pleaded with her: “I’m grown up now. You shouldn’t keep hiding things from me. If you don’t tell me, I’ll imagine all sorts of things.”

My aunt shook her head. “I can’t tell you.” I looked at her and quietly stared at her until she started to feel afraid. She struggled to call me: “Nan Nan!” I said softly: “I know. I know I’m not Father’s daughter. I’m the shame of this family, and Father’s shame too—he hates me, dislikes me, he wishes he could kill me.”

My aunt cried out: “How can you think that way? Silly child! How can you guess such things? Your father loves you the most and cares about you the most… it’s just… you don’t know.” I shook my head. “I can’t see that. I only know he dislikes me.”

My aunt took me into her arms. “Oh! Nan Nan, he doesn’t dislike you. He just doesn’t want to see you. You don’t know how much you resemble your mother… At first, he always told me: ‘That child, that child’s eyes are killing me, I don’t want to see them.’ When he thinks of your mother, he feels pain. You don’t know how heartbroken he is.”

Half-believing and half-doubting, I said: “Because I’m not his daughter, so he doesn’t want to face, this shame.” My aunt said: “Nonsense!” She hugged me tightly. “You are the pearl of our Murong family, your father’s treasure.” I said glumly: “But… he said he wanted to beat me to death.”

My aunt gazed at me. There was still a faint bruise on my forehead. She tenderly kissed my bruise and said: “Good child, he was furious, wasn’t he? When people are extremely angry, they can do anything without rationality. Besides, you don’t know when I came, you were already asleep. Your father had just woken up, and the doctor told him to rest quietly, but he wouldn’t listen. He wanted to see you, and several people couldn’t stop him. I helped him go to you, and when he saw you sleeping soundly, he was willing to go back… You don’t know how afraid he was then. He was afraid you would…” She suddenly stopped speaking again. I thought she had let something slip again. I looked at her pitifully, and she closed her eyes. “Ah! Nan Nan! You are so much like your mother!”

My mind was in chaos. I didn’t believe what my aunt said, but I hoped it was true. Father… the imposing Father was afraid? I didn’t believe it! Father had always looked down on the world. He had never been afraid of anything. Others were afraid of him, even someone as clever and capable as Mu Shiyang feared him. What could he possibly be afraid of?

My aunt stayed to have dinner with me before leaving. As darkness fell, I sat alone with my chaotic thoughts. Later I fell asleep, and when I hazily woke up, the night was already very deep. My curtains hadn’t been drawn, and I heard the sound of cars and saw several beams of light flash across the wall. Father had returned!

I jumped out of bed and ran to the window. Sure enough, Father had returned. I watched him get out of the car, ran out of my room, and waited at the stairs. Indeed, Father came upstairs. I could smell alcohol on him and saw that his face was very red. I thought he must have been drinking with one of the uncles. When he saw me, he only asked flatly: “Why aren’t you asleep so late, standing here like this?”

I licked my dry lips and said: “Can I talk to you?” He frowned. “Not even wearing shoes, what kind of appearance is that?! Go put on your shoes!”

Is this the father my aunt said loved me? I didn’t believe a word she said now! My stubborn temper rose again, and I said: “This is how I am!” Father said: “You wait for me to come back in the middle of the night just to talk back to me? You want another beating?”

I trembled, remembering how vicious he had looked that day, the pain of the ruler striking my body, his gritted teeth saying: “I’ll beat you to death!” I said coldly: “I’m not afraid! Go ahead and beat me to death.” Word by word, I repeated what he had said: “After all, I’m just a vulgar thing!”

He trembled with anger. “Fine! Fine! You weren’t satisfied with nearly giving me a heart attack that day! How did I ever give birth to such a thing?! Why didn’t I strangle you back then for some peace?!”

I said softly: “I’m not your child.”

He was stunned. For those few seconds, I was afraid he would faint like last time, but I quickly gathered my courage and waited for his reaction. I listened to his heavy breathing, expecting a slap, but surprisingly, it didn’t come. He stood there motionless, looking at me as if I were an alien. His voice was unexpectedly weak: “Was it Su Su who called you back? Was it her? Did she call you back to question me, to take revenge on me? She wants to get back everything she suffered, doesn’t she?”

I shuddered. In the quiet of the deep night, hearing Father’s gloomy voice, I was terrified. Father’s face was flushed red, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at me. His gaze made the hair on my body stand on end. “She wants to get back everything she suffered, doesn’t she?”

I looked at him in terror, but he turned his face away in pain. “I treated you so harshly, you must hate me to death, but why… Su Su! You don’t know!”

I thought Father was drunk and wanted to call an attendant to take him back to his room. I called out: “Father!” He paused, then slowly said: “Nan Nan, I beat you, beat you so severely. You hate me too, don’t you? You hate me just like your mother, don’t you?”

I swallowed and said: “Oh, Father, I don’t hate you.” He continued talking to himself: “I know you hate me, just like your mother! You don’t know how afraid I am. I’m afraid you’ll be like her! I was only reassured after seeing you sleeping safely with my own eyes. You don’t know how heartless your mother was back then… she drove the car straight out… how heartless she was… she hated me so much—so she took revenge on me this way—she used death to take revenge on me… how heartless she was…”

I was completely stunned as Father’s drunken words described the events of that year. I gradually understood what he was talking about. “I didn’t know… she would do this… I truly didn’t know she hated me!” Father’s tone was utterly despairing. “You were so little… you were crying in the room… she didn’t even look back… she drove the car out… she didn’t know how to drive… she deliberately sought death… she died to show me! She used death to prove her hatred…” Father looked at me desperately. “You were crying so loudly in the room, but she didn’t look back… she didn’t want me, and she didn’t want you either!”

My heart clenched. I looked at Father, and at this moment, he was so helpless and weak. My imposing, world-disdaining father! He was truly afraid! He was truly in despair… I felt so terrible I wanted to cry, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to hear anymore! I didn’t want to hear Father’s sorrowful voice anymore. I loudly called for the attendant, who quickly arrived. I said: “Sir is drunk, help him back to his room.”

Father obediently let them lead him away. I stood there alone, not moving for a long time. The hanging lamp in the corridor was on, its light refracted through the crystal, shining down so brightly it almost hurt my eyes. I just felt my face itching, with something cold crawling there. I reached up to wipe it, only to discover I was crying.

The next afternoon, Father called home. “Come with me to Uncle Hou’s house for dinner tonight. Choose a nice outfit, do your hair properly, don’t look like a mess.” I was greatly surprised. Father had never instructed me about clothing before. After Grandmother passed away, my attire was completely handled by specialists hired by the attendants’ office. Even when occasionally accompanying Father to diplomatic events, I had never heard him give such instructions. Why did Father attach so much importance to this casual dinner at Uncle Hou’s house?

Father hung up the phone, leaving me full of suspicion. What kind of treacherous banquet would this dinner at Uncle Hou’s house tonight be?

While my mind was racing with thoughts, I called A-Zhu to open the wardrobe door for me. Since Father had instructed me so solemnly, I didn’t dare wear any of those messy outfits. I obediently selected a short apricot-yellow satin qipao embroidered with gold and silver begonia threads. I also invited Aunt Feng to do my hair, applied light makeup, and looked in the mirror—only to feel I looked too old-fashioned. But this was the style that people of Father’s generation appreciated most, so I had no choice.

Before six o’clock, the attendants’ office sent a car to pick me up, saying Father still had some matters to attend to and asked me to go to the Hou residence first, and that he would arrive shortly. Despite my reluctance, I had to obediently get in the car. Fortunately, Hou Mingyou from the Hou family was my senior schoolmate whom I had known since childhood, so being with him at the Hou residence wasn’t too boring.

Father didn’t arrive until almost eight o’clock, and the formal dinner began as soon as he arrived. The Hou family maintained the style of an old aristocratic family. As the saying goes, “The first generation focuses on eating, the second on dressing, and the third on education.” The Hou family had never lost their status for decades, so they had a full measure of dignity. In their home, authentic Suzhou cuisine was available, which even satisfied my picky father. I thoroughly enjoyed a meal of dishes that pleased my heart.

After dinner, Father seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, because he suggested: “Nan Nan, play a piece for us to listen to.” I was stunned for a moment and stammered: “I didn’t bring my violin.” Uncle Hou enthusiastically said: “We have a Stradivarius in our house. Mingyou, ask them to bring it for Nan Nan to see. If it’s usable, let’s listen to Nan Nan play a piece.”

It seemed I was forced into a situation with no retreat. I reluctantly took the violin that Hou Mingyou brought, a delicate Stradivarius. Indeed, everything in the Hou family was a timeless treasure. I tested the sound and, as if possessed, actually played a melody from “Butterfly Lovers.” I startled myself and quickly glanced at Father. Father never listened to “Butterfly Lovers,” though I didn’t know why. This piece was strictly forbidden at home. I remember once accompanying Father to a concert where the orchestra improvised a section of “Butterfly Transformation” at the end. Father’s expression changed immediately; he just said he had a headache and hastily left under the escort of his attendants, causing many journalists the next day to make wild speculations about Father’s health condition.

When I looked over, Father’s expression had indeed changed, but he quickly acted as if nothing had happened, even smiling at me and saying: “This piece is good, just play this one.”

In my astonishment, I could only obey. Although the beginning was quite stiff due to lack of practice, it became increasingly fluent as I progressed—besides, there were no experts present. I played two sections with confidence, and everyone applauded. Father seemed somewhat absent-minded, whispering something to Uncle Lei, who then walked away. I felt something strange in my heart, an indescribable feeling, a premonition that something was about to happen.

After the dinner, there was a small reception. Father went to discuss matters with a group of uncles, and I slipped away to the Hou family’s orchid house. The Hou family’s orchid house, though slightly inferior to the one at Shuangqiao Residence, was truly one of the best in Wu Chi. I remembered they had a “Tian Li” orchid here that was better than the ones at Shuangqiao Residence. Now was the flowering season for the ink orchids, and I might have the good fortune to see them.

The orchid house had yellowish lights, which was truly disappointing. I might encounter several uncles pretentiously “appreciating flowers and tasting tea.” Turning past the sparse flower screen formed by hibiscus, my gaze fell on the “Tian Li” orchid, where someone stood gracefully as if admiring the flowers. She heard footsteps and suddenly turned around. I stood there stunned.

White clothes like snow, a person as ethereal as an orchid.

She just stood there, yet her beauty penetrated to the bone and marrow, almost making it impossible for me to look directly at her. Behind her were the world’s most beautiful and precious orchids, but surrounded by all these orchids, she appeared even more dazzlingly beautiful.

I had never seen such a beautiful person. Even though time had left traces on her face, when she finally smiled gently at me, what surfaced in my heart was only one phrase: “One glance topples a city, another glance topples a nation.”

Her voice was also very gentle and light, though with a hint of timidity: “Are you Nan Nan?”

I murmured: “Who are you?”

She answered softly: “My name is Ren Yingying.”

Ren Yingying?

I looked at her in confusion.

“Ren Susu is my cousin.”

Ren Susu!

I murmured: “My mother is your cousin?”

She seemed to sigh: “Yes, your mother is my cousin.”

I stared at her like a fool, speechless. She raised her hand, her entire body seemingly enveloped in mist. I gazed at her hand dazzledly; it was as white as if transparent. Was she real? Was she truly human? Was she an orchid fairy? I heard her voice: “The ‘Tian Li’ has bloomed, it’s truly beautiful. Has the ‘Guan Shan’ in Shuangqiao’s flower house bloomed this year?”

I was dazed, instinctively answering her: “Not yet. It might not bloom this year.”

She sighed lightly, her voice truly like the sound of a flute or phoenix song. Yet the expression on her face was helplessly bewildered. That confused appearance made one unable to bear looking at her. She murmured softly: “Yes, it might not bloom this year…”

I was about to ask her when suddenly I heard Hou Mingyou calling my childhood name: “Nan Nan!”

I turned and responded: “I’m here.”

Hou Mingyou walked in and said to me: “You little imp, hiding away by yourself again.”

I pouted and said: “Who says I’m alone here? There’s also…” I turned around but was stunned. In front of the perfectly blooming “Tian Li,” the air still lingered with the fragrance of orchids, but where was the person?

Where had the orchid fairy in white gone?! I was speechless. Had I truly encountered a fairy?

Hou Mingyou laughed heartily: “Who else is here? No wonder Mu Shiyang says you’re a little monster. You truly get more mischievous as you grow up!”

I smiled bitterly, and he said: “Let’s go.” I followed him out of the flower house. The band was still playing music. He bowed gentlemanly: “Miss, may I have this dance?” I gave him a sidelong glance and placed my hand in his. The music was a foxtrot. After turning several circles to the melody, I suddenly saw a familiar figure and couldn’t help exclaiming: “Oh!” Hou Mingyou, being so astute, immediately followed my gaze. He just smiled: “Do you know him?”

I shook my head: “No.” I noticed that the people chatting beside him were all children of our family’s old friends, occasionally bursting into laughter, already appearing quite familiar. Hou Mingyou just smiled and asked me: “Why do you keep staring at him?”

I glanced at him again and said: “It’s rare to see a new face. Can’t I look a bit more?” He suddenly stopped dancing and said: “Well then, let me introduce you.” I had no choice but to let him lead me by the hand, lamenting internally. Sure enough, when Zhuo Zheng saw me, he raised his eyebrows in surprise but didn’t speak. Hou Mingyou had already said: “Come, Zhuo Zheng, meet our Murong young lady. Nan Nan, this is Vice Captain Zhuo.”

He extended his hand to shake mine. “Pleased to meet you.” I also politely said: “Pleased to meet you.” His gaze was sharp and penetrating. For some reason, I felt a bit guilty inside. Several young men from our circle spoke to me: “Nan Nan, your violin playing was good today.” But I just kept staring at Zhuo Zheng, who looked at me calmly. Finally, he asked: “Miss Murong, may I have this dance?”

I nodded, and we walked onto the dance floor. Honestly, he danced quite well; perhaps this was another trait similar to Father—skilled in all forms of entertainment. We matched very well, and people on the dance floor all turned to look, truly making quite a spectacle. When the music ended, he said: “Come with me.” He pulled my hand past the rose trellis toward the back. How domineering. He asked: “Who am I?”

His appearance was so comical that I couldn’t help laughing out loud. He also laughed, saying in frustration: “I know this question sounds stupid, but I can only ask you.”

I sighed and said: “Honestly, I don’t know either.” I asked him: “Why are you here?” This question of mine was also stupid. He shrugged: “I’m on leave. Zhao Liliang invited me.” Zhao Liliang was also one of my childhood friends. I nodded, and he hesitated before asking: “Has Sir said anything to you?” I could hear the hesitation in his tone; he had already begun to have suspicions. I wonder how much he had guessed.

I shook my head. “Father treats me like a child and never tells me anything.” He paused and said: “When you came to find me last time, I thought you knew something.” I was startled, and he said: “The first time I felt something was wrong was recently when he came to the fleet. He arrived very suddenly that day, without prior notice, and happened to visit our ship. The captain was on leave and couldn’t return in time, so I accompanied him…”

I remained silent. It wasn’t just a coincidence—a series of coincidences all happening together. No wonder he was suspicious. He looked at me in confusion, and I looked back at him. We stared at each other, at a loss. He said softly: “Your mother…” My mouth went dry. I thought I had found a key clue, but I didn’t understand why he was here too.

I took a breath, trying to calm myself: “As you know, my father’s current wife is his second marriage. My mother, according to the official statement, died in a car accident when I was less than a year old.” I said: “Zhuo Zheng, see if you can find any clues on your end.”

He said: “I’ve already checked the orphanage, but it was demolished long ago. There are no traces left.”

We stared at each other again in bewilderment. At that moment, footsteps suddenly came from behind the flower screen. It was Uncle Lei. Seeing us standing there, he paused for a moment, then smiled and said: “Nan Nan, it’s time for you to go home.” At the same time, he looked toward Zhuo Zheng. Zhuo Zheng remained very composed and called out: “Minister Lei.” Uncle Lei nodded and said: “Young Zhuo, come with me. I have something to tell you.”

I smiled and asked: “Uncle Lei, this Brother Zhuo is very nice. You can’t scold him.” Uncle Lei glanced at me and said: “You little clever one, hurry up now. Your father is waiting for you.”

I returned home in the same car with Father. He was silent the whole way, though his mood didn’t seem too bad, as he even started smoking in the car. He asked the accompanying attendant to lower the window. The attendant lowered it just a little, refusing to lower it further for safety regulations, but Father didn’t get angry. He was almost happy; in all these years, I had never seen him happy, so I couldn’t be sure of this emotion.

When the car arrived home, I got out, but Father didn’t. I heard him tell the head of the attendants’ office: “I’m going to Duanshan.” Duanshan Residence wasn’t far from Shuangqiao Residence. I had never been there, but I heard it was the house Father lived in when he was young. Director Shi answered: “Yes,” and went to make arrangements. I suddenly noticed that Director Shi wasn’t surprised at all. Normally, when Father changed his plans so casually, he would show a difficult expression and sometimes even try to dissuade him.

I turned around and called: “Father.” Father carelessly made a sound of acknowledgment without looking at me. I steeled myself. Regardless of whether my guess was right, regardless of how absurd my conjecture might be, I was going all in! I said, word by word: “I want to see my mother.”

Father raised his head, and under the streetlight, I saw the sharp light in his eyes. I wasn’t afraid and repeated: “I want to see my mother.”

Father’s expression was very complex; I couldn’t describe it. I gathered my courage: “Aren’t you going to see her now? Is she at Duanshan Residence?”

Father didn’t get angry, which made me feel an inexplicable timidity. I didn’t know if I had guessed correctly—or if this absurd idea was completely groundless… I finally heard Father’s voice. His voice was hoarse as he said: “Your mother—you want to see her?”

My heart pounded wildly, like a small drum beating loudly. I felt like I was standing in the eye of a typhoon, with everything around me being rapidly destroyed, and I might be next. Nevertheless, I was going all in. I didn’t know who Ren Yingying was, but she made me feel an indescribable longing. She couldn’t be unrelated to me; she must have the deepest connection with me.

Father finally sighed and said: “Get in the car.”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears. Too easy—he agreed? Had I guessed correctly? Was that orchid fairy in white her? Everything came too suddenly, too quickly, too surprisingly. I couldn’t believe it.

The convoy drove toward Duanshan Residence. In the night, the tall trees on both sides of the road were massive deep black shadows, and my heart was also shrouded in this huge shadow. I didn’t know if what awaited me was my mother, and even if it truly was my mother, I didn’t know what else, besides my mother, I was about to see.