Behind the Mask - Chapter 30
Chapter 30: Extra
Yao San was furious, incensed. After that day, she never set foot in the Drunken Red Mansion again. To make matters worse, while she was feeling down, she caught a cold and was bedridden for two days. It seemed nothing was going right.
Once her cold finally started to improve and her head cleared, she recalled what Qingliu had said that day and found herself gritting her teeth in anger all over again.
But why was she so incensed? On second thought, Yao San realized Qingliu had a point. Their relationship had always been ambiguous; it couldn't be defined as anything at all.
Just as she'd stormed off in a huff, Qingliu hadn't come looking for her or shown any concern. In Qingliu's eyes, she was nothing more than a disposable amusement.
Without her, Qingliu would just be intimate and flirtatious with someone else...
The more Yao San thought about it, the angrier she became, a tightness gripping her chest. She stared at the plain congee and side dishes on the table, her appetite completely gone. She had always been free-spirited and had never let anyone disturb her peace of mind like this. Qingliu, she feared, was the fated trial of her life.
"Miss."
The young maid, Huan'er, knocked and entered.
Yao San asked her, "What is it?"
"Qingliu..."
The moment Yao San heard Qingliu's name, her eyes brightened. "She sent someone with an invitation." Some of the frustration in her heart dissipated, only to be immediately choked by another surge of anger. What is that wretched woman trying to provoke me for again? she wondered. Is she lonely?
"No."
Am I the kind of person who comes when called and goes when dismissed? How ridiculous! Yao San snapped, "Tell her maid that I, Yao San, will never set foot in the Drunken Red Mansion again. Tell Qingliu to stop looking for me! I don't want to see her ever again!"
Seeing Yao San gritting her teeth, looking as if she intended to sever all ties for good, Huan'er hesitated awkwardly for a moment. "So, Miss, does that mean you won't see Lady Qingliu? Should I just send her away?"
Yao San was stunned. "What?"
"Lady Qingliu came in person. She's waiting outside," Huan'er finally explained.
Yao San: "..."
Huan'er wrung the handkerchief in her hands and asked weakly, "Miss, will you see her, or not?"
Yao San rushed to the mirror to examine her face. How had she become so haggard? She urged Huan'er, "Quick, fetch my rouge and lipstick! And tell her to wait a moment."
Huan'er: "..."
Yao San fussed in front of the mirror for a while, but she couldn't completely conceal her sickly pallor. The moment they met, Qingliu could see that she was unwell.
Qingliu, in contrast, was as radiant and bewitching as ever, her complexion glowing with health.
Yao San stared at her for a moment, then said coldly, "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" Qingliu walked up to her unhurriedly and said bluntly, "To see you, of course."
Yao San frowned. What is this old fox up to?
"I saw this guqin on the street the other day," Qingliu said. "The craftsmanship and style are quite unique. I thought you might like it, so I brought it for you today."
"You..." Yao San began, then trailed off. She couldn't understand how Qingliu could act as if nothing had happened, showing up today to give her a zither. She looked at the instrument; it was a style she had long admired, and its surface was exquisitely carved with willow branches, making it both unique and beautiful.
"I carved the willow branches on it myself, as a memento."
Hugging the zither, Yao San shot Qingliu a sidelong glance, grumbling inwardly, It's not like I asked...
Qingliu studied her face and asked softly, "Are you unwell?"
Yao San had planned to give Qingliu the cold shoulder, to unleash a torrent of harsh, cutting words to vent her frustration. But she hadn't expected that all her prickliness would be soothed away by Qingliu's gentle whispers. She found she couldn't bring herself to get angry.
"Our miss caught a cold. She hasn't had an appetite these past few days and isn't taking her medicine properly," Huan'er couldn't help but add.
"Who asked you to talk so much," Yao San muttered.
"The congee is cold. I'll go ask the kitchen to make some more," Huan'er said, looking for an excuse to slip away.
"No need, I have no appetite."
"Let me. You can try my cooking," Qingliu said.
Yao San was incredulous.
Huan'er was shocked. "You are a guest, my lady. How can we trouble you to cook yourself?"
But Qingliu said, "There's no need for such formalities."
In the kitchen, Yao San was genuinely surprised to see Qingliu preparing congee with practiced ease.
Qingliu saw Yao San's astonishment and smiled, her head lowered. "Did you think all I can do is play the pipa and sing ballads? I've done all sorts of things—I've been a scullery maid, and I've worked as a cook."
She spoke of it lightly, with the air of someone who has found peace after enduring many hardships.
Seeing her smile, Yao San felt a pang of heartache. A woman who ended up in a pleasure house must have faced countless hardships. When her own family's fortunes had declined, her own fate wouldn't have been much better if not for the kindness of a few relatives.
Qingliu's cooking skills were excellent; Yao San could tell just from the fragrant aroma wafting over.
"Have a taste."
Yao San stared blankly at Qingliu, once again at a loss in the face of this sudden display of "thoughtfulness." The unspoken questions were suffocating her. Now that they were face to face, she asked directly, "What are we?"
Qingliu thought for a moment. "If you don't mind, can we be considered friends?"
Friends? Yao San let out an exasperated laugh. Qingliu was always calling her "sister," but what kind of sisters... kissed?
"Afraid your elder sister will poison you?" Qingliu teased. She scooped up a spoonful of congee, blew on it gently to cool it, and held it to Yao San's lips. "Try it. See if you like it."
Yao San didn't eat it. She asked in a low voice, "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Still angry?" Qingliu gazed at her. "I came to apologize, didn't I? Eat your congee, take your medicine, and you'll get better faster."
This gentle side of her was even more alluring. Yao San had to admit, being coaxed like this by Qingliu felt wonderful, and she liked it a great deal. But when she thought of their undefined relationship, she couldn't bring herself to accept this tenderness with a clear conscience.
Qingliu fed the congee into her mouth.
Once again, Yao San's resolve crumbled. She let Qingliu feed her, dazedly finishing half a small bowl.
Qingliu took a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth. Her finger accidentally brushed against her lips, but she quickly pulled her hand back.
Yao San realized that Qingliu would say suggestive and explicit things to her, would hold her and kiss her passionately, but she would never meet her gaze for long. It was as if she didn't want to expose something—or rather, as if she didn't want to admit something.
"Qingliu..."
Qingliu looked at her.
"Let me be direct. I like you," Yao San said bluntly. She knew exactly what she wanted. Though she had once genuinely disliked Qingliu, what she felt now was affection, and admitting it was no great matter.
Qingliu's smile faded, and she fell silent.
"So you need to give me an answer. What am I to you?" Yao San lifted her chin proudly; she had never lacked the courage to face reality. "If you like me too, then let's stop playing games. If you're only looking for a diversion, then we should never see each other again."
Qingliu was taken aback by Yao San's bold and sincere words. But how could someone like her, whose life was not her own, have any right to speak of affection?
She was silent for a long moment before she finally said, "I come from a house of pleasure. Aren't you afraid of sullying your good name by being with me?"
"My good name?" Yao San scoffed. "Is my reputation something that can be determined by the gossip of others?"
Qingliu had never met a woman so fiercely independent, one who could so completely disregard the judgment of the world.
"Just tell me this," Yao San pressed stubbornly, "all those times you provoked me—was it because you like me?" From the very beginning, this was all that mattered to her.
Qingliu fell silent for a moment. Finally, under Yao San's insistent gaze, she admitted it in a near-whisper. "Yes." She could flirt with anyone at a moment's notice; she had thought her heart would never be moved...
With the truth finally out, Yao San felt a wave of relief. She immediately followed up, "Then do you want to leave?" She could tell that, deep down, Qingliu despised having to feign compliance and flattery.
"Leave..." Qingliu gave a bitter smile and shook her head. From the moment her family sold her, she had lost her freedom. If she had been her own master, she would have fled this world of intrigue long ago. She smiled at Yao San again and said softly, "Yao San, in the end, we are not of the same world."
But tenacity was one thing Yao San had in abundance. "I can get you out of there."
Qingliu had heard those words before. Buying out her contract would cost an immense sum of silver. She caressed Yao San's cheek, her smile once again full of flirtatious charm. "There's no need."
Yao San could understand her reaction. Qingliu had met all sorts of people; of course she wouldn't be easily swayed by empty words. But Yao San vowed, "When I, Yao San, say I'll do something, I do it."
Qingliu said no more. She believed Yao San's feelings were genuine, but she didn't want her to act rashly. Many things in this world were simply harsh, unavoidable realities.
But Yao San was different. She was a woman of her word. True to her promise, she spent a fortune to "poach" Qingliu from the Drunken Red Mansion.
The moment she flew from her cage, the sunlight was perfect. Qingliu took a deep breath, and for the first time, the familiar scents of flowers and powder felt fresh and clean.
Yao San brought Qingliu back to Linglong Workshop.
"Thank you," Qingliu said to Yao San, her words sincere.
Yao San looked at her, happy from the bottom of her heart.
Qingliu smiled sweetly. "Keep a good record of the silver I owe you..."
"There's no rush," Yao San cut in. "As it happens, my Linglong Workshop is short-staffed. You can stay and help me. Pay me back slowly. We have all the time in the world."
"All the time in the world, you say." Qingliu leaned in close, her voice a low, suggestive whisper. "So this is where you were waiting for your elder sister, hmm?"
Yao San turned her head, her nose brushing against Qingliu's. A deep, sweet gaze passed between them. She lowered her own voice, her tone feigning disdain. "There you go again, being improper."
Qingliu wrapped an arm around her waist. "And I think my little sister quite likes it when her elder sister is improper."
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