Mud beads

Manager Chen walked past Yu Zhu without stopping, only whispering, "Be careful."

Yu Zhu immediately lowered her eyes: "I'm sorry."

Half an hour later, Yu Zhu was transferred to stand guard in Chun Shen Hall, where she would go in every now and then to refill tea.

Chun Shen Hall is very large. Upon entering, there is a huge screen depicting an old-fashioned dock, with people in long gowns standing by the boats and a gray-blue river in the distance.

Yu Zhu, standing behind the screen, could often hear Etsuya Toru speaking.

He was more adept than she had imagined. He knew who should address him by his title, who should call him uncle or elder, which words he could respond to, and which he should just smile at. When Secretary Shen mentioned that Grandpa Yue used to be stubborn, some people at the table echoed his sentiments. Yue Jianche didn't join in the sympathy, but simply said in a low voice, "Grandpa had a straightforward temper and offended many people, but he also received a lot of help. I'm young, so please give me your guidance if I do anything inappropriate in the future."

He knew exactly how to strike the right balance. A touch of humility, a touch of arrogance, and all the guests gave him face. He raised his small white wine cup, emptying it in no time. The lamplight shone on his raised chin, softening a sharp shadow.

The banquet ended around 9 p.m.

The lobby bustled with activity again. Cars drove in one by one through the iron gate, drivers getting out to open umbrellas, and security guards quietly checking license plates. A light drizzle fell on the winter night; the fine raindrops glistened on the black car roofs.

Yu Zhu and two other concierges stood by the door to see the guests off.

Secretary Shen walked at the front, his face flushed, his hand tightly gripping the shoulder of Yuejian Che beside him. Yuejian Che supported him with one hand and held a black umbrella in the other, the umbrella covering Secretary Shen while he himself was completely exposed to the rain. Raindrops quickly soaked into his suit, darkening a patch of it.

"Xiao Che, you're busy, but you also need to take care of yourself." Secretary Shen got into the car and looked at him. "I didn't ask earlier, how's your dad?"

"I understand, Uncle Shen." Yuejian Tetsu smiled and closed the car door for him. "My father has his plans."

Echizen Toru said calmly, "I'll handle things at home for now."

Secretary Shen looked at him for a few seconds, nodded, and said nothing more.

The car window rolled up.

The black sedan slid into the rain, followed by other cars, one after another. Its taillights left long red trails on the wet ground before quickly disappearing outside the park.

Echigo stood at the door, waiting for the last car to drive away before returning to the front hall and handing the umbrella to Yu Zhu at the door.

"Come with me," said Toru Echizama.

His expression remained calm, even a slight, polite smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. But Yu Zhu noticed his Adam's apple bob slightly. It was a very subtle movement, obscured by the lamplight.

Yu Zhu followed behind Yue Jianche.

He walked slowly, his shoulders and back still straight, only his fingers briefly touched the dark wood veneer as he passed the wall before quickly releasing them. A waiter nearby asked him in a low voice if he wanted tea, but he shook his head and went straight into the restroom at the end of the corridor.

Yu Zhu stopped at the door, and the next second, she heard a muffled retching sound coming from the sink. She hesitated for a moment, then turned and went into the men's restroom.

There was no one else in the restroom, and the lights at the sink were dim. Echizen Toru was hunched over the sink, his shoulders bowed low. The tap was running continuously, the water gushing out, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of liquor.

Yu Zhu watched Yue Jianche's retreating figure and took a step forward. However, before she could get close, he lowered his head again, and the sound of vomiting started again, deeper than before, as if it were being forcibly pulled out from the depths of his body.

"How is it..." Yu Zhu's heart tightened, and she quickly grabbed a few tissues from the side and handed them over.

Echizen Toru reached out and took it, his head still down. He hastily wiped the corner of his mouth twice before throwing the crumpled paper into the sink.

"Get me a glass of water."

Yu Zhu didn't say anything, just nodded and walked out of the restroom.

The tea room was right next door. She poured herself half a cup of warm water and asked a waiter for a clean towel. When she returned, Yuejian Tetsu was already standing in front of the sink, rinsing his mouth. His wet face was reflected in the mirror. The light fell from above, casting deep shadows on his brows, and his narrow eyes were a deep red, devoid of the gentle and composed demeanor from before. His tie was off, the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, his lips were pale from the water, and his hair was wet, falling across his furrowed brows.

Yu Zhu handed over the water.

Echizen Toru took it, drank two sips, and his Adam's apple slowly bobbed.

"Thanks."

Yu Zhu paused for a moment, then slowly asked, "Should I call a driver to pick you up?"

"No need," Echizen Toru replied quickly. "The driver has taken the person away."

"And what about you?"

Koshima Toru turned around, placed the cup by the sink, and looked up at her: "You'll give it to me."

Yu Zhu looked at Yue Jianche, remained silent for a moment, and took a deep breath: "I can't send it."

Upon hearing Yu Zhu's reply, Yuejian Tetsu tilted his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his scarlet eyes. The next second, his hand suddenly reached for the back of her neck, pulling her close to him.

Before Yu Zhu could react, he hoisted her onto his shoulder like a crutch. The scent of sandalwood mixed with the smell of alcohol assaulted her face. She instinctively tried to break free, but Yue Jian Che held her even tighter.

"No." Echizen Toru's voice drifted down from above, tinged with pleading. His hand gripped her slender arm tightly, his palm burning hot. "I'm dizzy."

Yu Zhu looked up at Yue Jianche's profile. His eyes were closed, his brows were furrowed, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, as if he was suppressing the nausea churning in his stomach.

Yu Zhu looked at him for a while, then stopped struggling and hesitated before saying, "I haven't finished get off work yet."

Echizen's lips twitched slightly, as if he found her words amusing. He raised his eyes, his voice lowering, "I'll say it."

Yu Zhu did not respond.

She knew he could do it.

At Jinyuan Mansion, he sat in a private room drinking and talking, while she stood by the door bowing and leading the way. Manager Chen would deduct her pay for being late and remind her that the welcome was a beat too slow, but Yuejian Che could borrow her from class with just a word.

Wherever he went, order followed. Within his order, she was once again easily arranged.

Somewhat unwilling, Yu Zhu spoke again: "Why should I give it to you?"

Koshima Toru did not answer immediately.

He seemed to dazed for a moment, his head drooping as he moved closer to her. His profile was bathed in the pale light, his eyes somewhat unfocused. After a few seconds, he said, "Weren't you going to return it?"

Yu Zhu's back stiffened.

Echizen looked at her, his voice indifferent: "Pay back a little first."

This statement is more effective than any command.

Yu Zhu helped Yue Jianche out of the restroom and they ran into Manager Chen from the front hall. Before she could greet him, Manager Chen walked over quickly and bowed slightly to Yue Jianche.

"Chairman Yue..." Manager Chen hesitated for a moment, then smiled obsequiously, "The young lady is still a student."

Yu Zhu didn't understand the meaning of those words, but Yue Jian Che quickly replied, "Yu Zhu, my sister."

Manager Chen smiled awkwardly, glanced at Yu Zhu, and stepped aside to make room for her: "I'll call a car for you."

A business vehicle arranged by Jinyuan Mansion was parked at the entrance.

The driver opened the car door for them. Yuejian Che got in first, leaned back in the seat, and closed his eyes. Yu Zhu closed the door for him, put away her umbrella, and got into the passenger seat.

There was a faint smell of leather in the car, along with the lingering scent of alcohol from Echizen Toru. The alcohol smell had been diluted by the rain and was no longer pungent; it mixed with the woody aroma and, though present in the enclosed space, made it difficult to breathe.

The driver asked, "Mr. Yue, where to?"

Koshima Toru did not open his eyes: "Moon Garden."

Yu Zhu paused for a moment as she fastened her seatbelt. Yueyuan was their old house where they used to live.

The car slid out of the park.

The rain was still falling, and the wipers kept shoving the water off the windshield. Streetlights swept past the car window, casting flickering light and shadow on Etsuma Toru's face. He shifted his position many times, sometimes raising his head, sometimes lowering it. He curled up, then stretched out again.

It looks very uncomfortable.

Yu Zhu shifted her gaze from the rearview mirror to the window.

The winter nights in Chang'an are damp. Outside the convenience store, people in raincoats are unpacking goods, plastic crates piled on the ground; the roadside barbecue stalls close late, the charcoal embers in their metal buckets suppressed by the rain, their red glow muffled in the ash. She had just stood in the lobby of Jinyuan Mansion, watching the cars come and go, so quiet there wasn't a trace of smoke. Now, as the cars drive back into the city, the fumes, horns, rain, and footsteps of night shift workers all rush back, and it feels like the world she knows.

Koshima Toru suddenly spoke up: "How much do you get paid for standing all day?"

Yu Zhu knew he was asking about part-time jobs, but she still felt uncomfortable listening to it.

"five hundred."

He chuckled softly.

Yu Zhu turned her head: "Is it funny?"

Echizen opened his eyes.

The carriage was dimly lit, but his eyes were unusually clear. The embarrassment he had just experienced in the restroom seemed to have been washed away by the water, leaving only the darker, more intense look in his eyes after drinking.

"No," he said. "It must have been tiring."

It's impossible to tell whether that's true or false.

Yu Zhu looked at him for a while, then turned back and said nothing more.

When the car arrived at Yueyuan, it was almost eleven o'clock.

The security guards at the gate had changed, and Yu Zhu didn't recognize any of them. The iron gate slowly opened, and the car drove in. The lights in the yard were on, the lawn was neatly trimmed, but the pavilion in the middle of the lake was dark, with only a row of cool-colored light strips under the eaves. She had lived in this place for a year, so it shouldn't feel unfamiliar, but looking out the car window, she felt as if she had returned to a glass cabinet that had been resealed.

Aunt Wang is not here.

Grandpa Yue is not here.

Even Echizen Toru is no longer the boy who could run out and set off fireworks wrapped in a blanket.

There's probably nothing worth reminiscing about.

Moth

The lights were on in the old house, but there was no sound. The living room was emptier than she remembered; the potted plants that used to be in the corner were gone, the coffee table had been replaced with a dark stone table, and a painting she couldn't understand hung on the wall. The temperature control system was running quietly, and the air was clean and odorless, devoid of the fragrance of flowers.

As soon as Echizen entered the house, he collapsed onto the sofa, his leather shoes scattered on the carpet, still wearing his suit jacket.

Yu Zhu silently put the shoes away in the entryway, dimmed the main light in the living room, leaving only a floor lamp next to the sofa, and then went to the kitchen.

The kitchen hadn't changed much, except that the running water that was always on was gone. She took a glass from the cabinet, washed it, filled it with warm water, and then pulled open the drawer under the island.

Aunt Wang used to categorize and store her commonly used medicines here.

The medicine boxes in the drawer were neatly arranged. She found the hangover medicine, checked the date, and took it back to the living room.

Echizen Toru changed his position, lying face down on the sofa, leaving her with only his broad back, like a large feline.

Yu Zhu placed the cup and medicine on the coffee table next to the sofa and said quietly, "Get up and take your medicine."

Echizen Toru rolled over and lay on his back, placing his hand in front of his eyes to block out the light from the ceiling.

Help me up.

Yu Zhu stood by the sofa, without moving.

Echizen lowered his hand, opened his eyes, his brows still furrowed, but the redness in his eyes had faded somewhat.

"Yu Pandi," he said slowly, "has grown up and become independent."

The long-lost address rang in her ears, and Yu Zhu froze in shock. Her heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly, pulling at her internal organs and dragging them downwards—below lay the muddy sheepfold in the Qinling Mountains after the rain, the endless pig feed, the never-ending fodder, and the slaps that would fall on her face for the slightest mistake.

Yu Zhu looked into Yue Jianche's deep and unfathomable eyes, and her breathing gradually quickened.

"Many people have told me bad things about you." She tried her best to control herself, but her voice still trembled. "I never believed them."

Before his eyes, Echizen Toru's gaze grew increasingly clear.

"I'm only just realizing this now." Yu Zhu paused, then gritted her teeth and said, "You're really cruel."

Outside the window, a flash of white light appeared, followed by a belated rumble of thunder and a downpour that shattered the silence.

Amidst the thunder and rain, Yu Zhu watched as Yue Jianche suddenly stood up.

His large hand gripped her chin, easily pulling her close.

He looked down at her, his angular jaw raised, and a delicate curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"You've forgotten everything I said." His voice was gentle and calm. "I don't like disobedience."

"open!"

Yu Zhu instinctively shook her head and grabbed Yue Jianche's wrists with both hands. But his wrists seemed to be made of iron, and no matter how much she struggled, they didn't budge.

Echizen stared at the girl's face, which was flushed with anger, and the smile on his lips slowly faded.

She has indeed grown up.

The old timidity on his face has lessened; his eyes are still dark, but when he stares at people, he no longer avoids them as he used to.

He recalled Ji Yong's casual remark in the group chat that day—

As you can see.

"Toru Koshima!"

Enraged, Yu Zhu released her grip on Yue Jianche's wrist and slapped him hard across the face: "Let go!"

A crisp slap landed on the face of the person in front of me.

Echizen didn't dodge or flinch; after taking the slap, the light in his eyes shone even brighter.

Yu Zhu's hand froze in mid-air, her eyes widened, and she was completely stunned.

The last time they were this close was when he was drunk.

Back then, looking at his slightly tipsy face, her heart pounded softly and fluttered. But now, looking at him, her heart beats fast and rapid, all because of fear.

The face in front of me hasn't changed at all.

Still beautiful, with a carefree smile and a hint of madness in her eyes.

She was just too slow to notice before.

Suddenly, the sound of an electronic lock opening came from the entryway.

Click.

The door was pushed open from the outside.

"It's raining so hard, and you're not answering my calls—"

A woman's coquettish voice came from the doorway.

Cheng Fu walked into the front hall in high heels and stopped when she saw Yuejian Che and Yu Zhu on the sofa.

The hands that were gripping Yu Zhu's cheeks suddenly loosened. She jerked backward and fell onto the carpet.

In my field of vision, a woman wearing a fuchsia coat and a white cashmere skirt stood not far away, holding a slender silver handbag that was still swaying slightly in the silence.