Behind the Mask - Chapter 27
Chapter 27: Finale
Before they knew it, the autumn wind had turned the leaves yellow, then rustled them to the ground.
As the morning sun rose, a distinct chill filled the air.
Chu Ye saw Bai Ning standing under the eaves, gazing into the distance as if lost in thought. She drew near and lazily wrapped her arms around Bai Ning from behind, holding her tight.
A sudden warmth enveloped Bai Ning. Without turning, she knew Chu Ye wasn't fully awake yet; otherwise, she wouldn't be clinging to her outside the house, unafraid of being seen by Chu Lan and the others.
Chu Ye rested her chin on Bai Ning's shoulder. "Why are you up so early?"
Bai Ning turned her head, smiling softly at her. "It's you who's the sleepyhead."
"I was out with Elder Sister and the others all day yesterday. I'm a little tired," Chu Ye said.
Upon returning to Xizhou, Chu Ye was like a bird returning to the forest, the gloominess she'd worn in Jingzhou completely gone. Bai Ning knew this was the real Chu Ye. She reached out to caress her cheek. "Then go back inside and sleep a little longer."
Chu Ye didn't move, just held Bai Ning. She felt for Bai Ning's hand and said worriedly, "It's autumn now. Don't stand in the wind, you'll catch a cold."
"My health is much better now," Bai Ning said with a smile. Perhaps it was the change in her state of mind, but since coming to Xizhou, her body had recovered a great deal, helped by Chu Ye's constant, thoughtful care.
Chu Ye thought about it and realized it was true. She recalled how, in the beginning, even the slightest indulgence at night would leave Bai Ning's body so weak she'd nearly faint. Now, however, it was Bai Ning who would cling to her, refusing to let go.
"A'Ning, do you miss Jingzhou?" Chu Ye asked, noticing that Bai Ning had been lost in thought earlier.
Bai Ning shook her head. She turned to face Chu Ye. "I was wondering when it will snow. When it does, I want to paint a snowscape of Xizhou."
So that was it. Chu Ye was relieved; her only fear was that Bai Ning might be unhappy. "It will snow soon."
"Mm." Bai Ning gazed into her eyes. "Ye'er, I like it here."
Chu Ye smiled. Bai Ning was truly too "cunning," able to see through her thoughts with a single glance. She tightened her arms around Bai Ning's waist, holding her in a clingy embrace.
Bai Ning laughed at her. "How are you getting so shameless?"
"We're about to be married. You'll be my wife, so what does it matter?" Chu Ye said bluntly, her words sweet. She had once watched Bai Ning from outside Linglong Workshop for so long; she never could have imagined that she would one day marry her.
Bai Ning smiled without a word, letting Chu Ye hold her in her roguish embrace.
Their small courtyard home was almost completely furnished. Soon, they would be able to move in.
Someone entered the courtyard, and only then did Chu Ye release Bai Ning. They looked over together to see Chu Lan and Meng Zhu emerging from their room.
After a stalemate that lasted several months, Chu Lan and Meng Zhu had finally reconciled.
Sitting by the stone table under the parasol tree, Meng Zhu pounded medicinal herbs for Chu Lan's eyes while Chu Lan kept watch beside her. Though her blind eyes remained ethereal, the smile on her lips was captivating.
Meng Zhu carefully applied the poultice for Chu Lan, covering her eyes with a strip of gauze.
Chu Lan had to apply this medicine every few days. She had never let anyone else touch her eyes before, always insisting on doing it herself, but Meng Zhu was the exception—she would only allow Meng Zhu to touch them.
Chu Lan had begun to treat her eye condition proactively. She was overjoyed by even the slightest increase in the light she could perceive. She was no longer as placid as dead embers.
Chu Ye took it all in. Though Chu Lan had always appeared unruffled over the years, as if nothing had happened, she must have spent every single day of those four years missing Meng Zhu.
Finally, the bitterness had passed, and sweetness had arrived. She was happy for her Elder Sister. As long as two people cared for each other, they would never bear to be apart.
Linglong Workshop had opened for business again in Xizhou.
Yao San managed the business with impeccable order, leaving Bai Ning more time to compose music in peace. Nuan Hua had stayed on at Linglong Workshop; she was clever and a quick learner, and was soon able to be of great help.
Qingliu's pipa became the signature attraction of Linglong Workshop, though she no longer performed in person, playing only from behind a screen. This was her own decision. She actually enjoyed having an audience, but she detested that people only saw her face and figure.
Yao San understood Qingliu's heart. That frivolous, damn woman was, in fact, proud to a fault.
Everything was starting anew, and it was all going smoothly.
Their wedding preparations were also going smoothly.
The wedding date was approaching. Qingliu had dragged them out to pick the fabric for their wedding attire, and Yao San had hand-sewn the gowns, stitch by stitch.
When Chu Ye saw the wedding gowns Yao San had sewn, she was truly astonished. Perhaps because Miss Yao San always seemed so carefree, it was hard to imagine her embroidery skills were so superb.
Bai Ning told Chu Ye that Yao San had originally been the young lady of a prominent family. After her family's fortunes declined, she started her own business in Jingzhou. Her real name wasn't Yao San, either; she simply disliked her original name and had changed it herself.
A woman of true character. Chu Ye found herself liking Yao San more and more. She also felt that Xizhou was a wonderful place; even the perpetually frivolous Qingliu had become endearing.
Their small home was not as spacious as the Bamboo Manor in Jingzhou, with only a single courtyard and a few rooms, but they had arranged everything to be warm and cozy. They planted many flowers and plants in the courtyard, which were sure to bloom magnificently the following spring.
The day before the wedding, Qingliu's maidservant arrived. Hearing that she was there to deliver a music score, Chu Ye hastily took it before Bai Ning could and offered her thanks.
Back in their room, Bai Ning said curiously, "Let me see."
Chu Ye clutched the thick book in her hand. Thinking of the bawdy text and explicit illustrations within the supposed music score, she felt too embarrassed to show it. "It's nothing," she said. "We can look another day. You've been composing for days and haven't rested properly."
Bai Ning couldn't persuade her and noted her secretive behavior.
In the afternoon, once Bai Ning was napping, Chu Ye secretly opened the package from Qingliu. As soon as she opened the so-called music score, she saw it was exactly what she'd suspected—content she could hardly bear to look at.
With a stern expression, Chu Ye closed the book, wondering if she should return it. A moment later, however, she quietly flipped through it again.
Bai Ning had only dozed for a short while. Seeing Chu Ye sitting by the window and not resting, she got out of bed and walked over.
Hearing Bai Ning stir, Chu Ye immediately snapped the "music score" shut. She turned to look at Bai Ning, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Bai Ning glanced at the book Chu Ye had her hand on. Why be so secretive about reading a book? "Are you reading the music score?"
"Mm..."
"What kind of music score has you so engrossed? I'll play it for you," Bai Ning said, bending to take the book from Chu Ye's hands.
In the end, Chu Ye failed to hide it, and Bai Ning took it from her.
Bai Ning opened the first page, paused for a moment, then continued flipping. She understood instantly. She turned several more pages. The illustrations were detailed, and all of them depicted women with women—
Chu Ye's head was buzzing. She didn't dare look at Bai Ning's face. "I was just flipping through it casually."
Bai Ning quietly closed the book, replying with considerable composure, "Mm."
"Qingliu never has anything decent," Chu Ye muttered.
Seeing her blushing furiously, Bai Ning said "Mm" again, then couldn't hold back a small laugh. She pushed the book back into Chu Ye's hands. "Here."
Chu Ye took it back, bewildered. A moment later, she realized what was happening. Why give it back to me? The book felt like it was burning her hands. She looked up to see Bai Ning smiling, which only made her feel more mortified.
"Don't laugh."
Bai Ning lowered her eyes and laughed even harder.
...
It snowed on their wedding day.
Large red lanterns swayed gently under the eaves. Amidst peals of laughter, dancing snowflakes landed on their wedding gowns, a fresh accent to the passionate red. The scene was as beautiful and romantic as a painted scroll.
The snow was just as beautiful as the snow that had fallen during the Lantern Festival in Jingzhou.
The courtyard was bustling with activity all day.
It wasn't until night fell and the two of them were ushered into the bridal chamber that things finally quieted down.
That evening, Qingliu and the others had made them drink a great deal of wine. Bai Ning was already a lightweight, and the wine of Xizhou was particularly strong. After a few extra cups, her cheeks were flushed and she reeked of alcohol.
Chu Ye sat Bai Ning down on the edge of the bed, her arm around her. She gazed at Bai Ning's exquisitely made-up face and gently massaged her temples.
Bai Ning smiled back at her. "Ye'er."
Chu Ye's red lips curved into a smile as lovely as a painting. After the day's commotion, they finally had a chance to truly look at each other.
Bai Ning wrapped her arms around Chu Ye's waist and pulled her close, her soft whisper tinged with intoxication. "You're so beautiful today."
"You too, A'Ning." Chu Ye's heart stirred. It was the first time she had ever seen Bai Ning drunk. Her usual elegant aloofness was gone, and the slight flush at the corners of her eyes was utterly bewitching.
Bai Ning leaned close to her lips and asked in a husky voice, "Do you like it?"
Chu Ye had no time to answer. Smiling, she removed the golden hairpin from Bai Ning's hair and took the opportunity to press a light kiss to her lips.
Bai Ning smiled and pecked at the corner of her mouth in return.
Once their lips met, they were unwilling to part. The light, fleeting touches gradually deepened into a lingering, passionate kiss. Mingled with the scent of wine, it was enough to make one's head spin.
Chu Ye leaned over, pressing Bai Ning down onto the bed. Bai Ning undid her coiled hair, letting the black silks cascade down her back and spill beside Bai Ning's face.
Bai Ning looked up at her, her eyes flushed from the wine. Her slender fingers threaded into Chu Ye's hair, stroking and toying with the strands as she asked with a soft laugh, "Did you learn yesterday's music score?"
Chu Ye froze for a second. "You're teasing me again."
Bai Ning only smiled gently, her gaze softening in an instant. Her palm slid down to Chu Ye's waist as she pressed her lips to the shell of her ear, then took the lobe between her lips and began to suckle gently.
Chu Ye let out a soft moan. She turned her head, sighing as she found Bai Ning's lips again, her tongue prying past her teeth to sweep inside, sometimes urgent, sometimes slow.
Bai Ning's voice trembled. "Let's try all of them tonight, shall we?"
"Mmm—"
Red candles, wedding veils, festive gowns, joyous quilts—the room was a blaze of brilliant, fiery red, transforming their love into its most direct and potent form. It was a passion they would remember for a lifetime.
Before long, the snow season arrived in Xizhou.
At this time of year, the blizzards were always fierce. For a while, people wouldn't even leave their homes, forced to stay inside.
Chu Ye used to find this time of year incredibly dull, but not anymore.
They would light the stove in their room, shutting out the wind and snow. They would brew a warm pot of tea and lazily while away the hours in their own little home.
Chu Ye also got her wish of raising a small pet: a pure white rabbit that looked like a snowball when it curled up. She simply decided to call it Snowball.
Snowball was very well-behaved. They had found it on the mountain when Chu Ye took Bai Ning to watch the sunrise. The little rabbit had an injured leg, so they brought the tiny creature home to nurse it back to health. Now, not only had Snowball's leg healed, but it had also been fed until it was plump and round.
In their idle moments, Chu Ye would pester Bai Ning to play the zither for her, just as she always had. She would hold Snowball and nestle against Bai Ning, listening to her play. It was a warmth that surpassed even the fire in the stove.
Whenever she heard a piece she particularly liked, Chu Ye would ask Bai Ning to teach her to play it.
Bai Ning was exceptionally gentle when she taught her to play the zither. No matter how many times they did this, Chu Ye's heart would flutter, just as it had back in the Bai Manor. It seemed some things would never change with time.
"You're never focused when you practice the zither. You were the same way before." Bai Ning turned to look at her. "Why do you keep looking at me?"
Chu Ye rubbed Snowball's head and answered with a smile, "Because you're beautiful."
Bai Ning smiled as well. "Such a sweet-talker. You must have learned that from Yao San and Qingliu."
Chu Ye had certainly witnessed those two being affectionate and flirtatious more than a few times, but she wasn't a sweet-talker; she only spoke the truth. She insisted, "But it's true."
Bai Ning's fingertips brushed across the strings as she teased, "You see me every day. Eventually, you'll get tired of the sight."
"Never!" Chu Ye replied without a second thought. After a moment, she asked in return, "A'Ning, will you get tired of looking at me?"
Bai Ning turned to the side and stroked Chu Ye's hair. "I want to see us grow old and gray together."
A smile touched Chu Ye's lips. In those eyes, so close to her own, she felt as if she could see their distant future together.
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