Lin Wan stared blankly at the scene before her.
Fu Xiuhuai, in a black trench coat, was hidden in the dim lighting. His stern, cold face made his emotions hard to read.
Liang Bin was still sizing up the newcomer. Although he did not know him, after soberly looking him over, he saw that the man was tall and handsome, with a steady aura. His every gesture was extraordinary. Liang Bin was certain this person was absolutely not simple.
“This elder brother, do I know you?” Liang Bin mixed in karaoke halls and had seen all kinds of people, good and bad, so he immediately struck up a conversation.
Fu Xiuhuai ignored him and only stared fixedly at the woman by the edge of the booth, his deep eyes burning.
“Put the drinks, snacks, and fruit plate for this booth on my account.” Seeing that Lin Wan had no intention of speaking with him, Fu Xiuhuai did not voluntarily reveal his identity either. He only turned to Liang Bin and said, “I know your brother.”
“Oh, oh, all right!” Liang Bin thought to himself that this person must be a wealthy businessman or high official his elder brother knew. Just look at that temperament—it was different. His face nearly split with smiling. “Elder brother, you’re really generous!”
Fu Xiuhuai said no more. As he turned to leave, he instructed the waiter: “Bring coconut juice to the lady on the far left.”
Once the person left, everyone in the booth facing one another instantly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that they could finally breathe freely.
“Who was that person just now?”
“I don’t know why, but as soon as he came over, I didn’t dare breathe.”
“He’s so handsome! Could he be some singer or movie star?”
“Oh, is he that actor from Hong Kong City? Super handsome. I’ve even seen his movies…”
“No way, he doesn’t seem like it.”
Everyone was chattering and guessing Fu Xiuhuai’s identity. Lin Wan did not join in. The man’s gaze seemed to flash before her eyes.
“Lin Wan, do you know him?”
“He just drank the wine Liang Bin gave you.” Except for a few people, the rest of the university classmates did not know Lin Wan was already married.
Lin Wan was just about to speak when He Qiumei pressed her hand and took the initiative to change the topic: “What movie star or singer? Let’s just listen to the songs! Hey, Jacky Cheung’s!”
The just-ended dynamic disco song stopped, and in an instant, melodious and moving singing drifted through the karaoke hall:
[…I waited until the flowers wilted too. Do you know, do you know, I waited until the flowers wilted too. Everyone says this kind of love has no result. I also know you will never be able to love me…]
The men and women dancing and swaying in the middle of the dance floor pressed close together, gently swaying along with the long, tender love song. The atmosphere suddenly quieted quite a bit.
Lin Wan’s gaze uncontrollably moved slowly from the central dance floor, swept one by one across the dim booths, and finally landed on the seat diagonally ahead.
The man seated in the booth was talking with several men in suits and leather shoes. It should be business. His tall body was relaxed, and every gesture was full of mature, elegant charm.
Lin Wan’s gaze lingered for several seconds. The man politely declined a cigarette handed by someone beside him. He seemed to be teased, and the corners of his lips rose slightly. Yet he suddenly looked in her direction, startling Lin Wan into immediately looking away.
……
When it was time to disperse, Lin Wan did not forget her purpose. Taking advantage of Liang Bin seeing guests off and welcoming them, she hurriedly spoke: “Liang Bin, have you not seen Fu Mingjun recently?”
“No. It’s been quite a while. They say he’s busy with something.” Although Liang Bin did not know whom Lin Wan had married, he understood that this was not right. “Lin Wan, aren’t you already married to someone else? Let me tell you, Fu Mingjun won’t be your kept man.”
Lin Wan: “…”
Hearing this, He Qiumei almost laughed out loud: “Liang Bin, what are you thinking? Everyone here is decent! What’s wrong with an old classmate asking a couple of questions?”
Liang Bin only knew that Fu Mingjun had suddenly mentioned that Lin Wan was getting married, and the groom was not himself. It was truly cruel and inhuman.
After the group of Jiangcheng University graduates finished reminiscing, they left. One after another they paired off and took taxis from the Golden Phoenix Karaoke Hall. In the end, only Lin Wan and He Qiumei remained.
“Lin Wan, how are you two getting back?” A male classmate who had just flagged a taxi kindly offered to let them go first.
“Thanks, but we’ll go by ourselves. Don’t worry about us.” Lin Wan seemed to have some premonition in her heart.
A few minutes later, a black Santana slowly drove up and stopped at the karaoke entrance.
“Qiumei, get in. I’ll take you home first.” Lin Wan tugged He Qiumei’s hand.
At this hour, the bus for He Qiumei to go home had already stopped running. She had originally planned to grit her teeth and take a taxi home herself, but in the end she yielded in the struggle to save five yuan by riding in Lin Wan and her husband’s car.
This was Lin Wan’s boyfriend’s uncle. Why should she feel embarrassed?
Don’t be afraid!
It was just that as soon as she got in the car, He Qiumei became restrained.
The man driving in the front row was Lin Wan’s husband, the father of the child in her belly, and also her ex-boyfriend’s uncle.
What a complicated relationship. He Qiumei was somewhat nervous and somewhat excited. She did not dare breathe. Her gaze was fixed firmly ahead, and for a moment she did not know how to address the person.
“Mr… Mr. Fu, hello.” She was solemn as if facing a teaching director.
“Miss He.” Fu Xiuhuai focused on the steering wheel and gave a polite slight nod, greeting her from the rearview mirror, then in an instant looked again at the woman beside He Qiumei. “Wanwan, what is Miss He’s home address?”
Lin Wan gave her friend’s home address. The Santana’s tires rolled over the late-night streets of Jiangcheng, kicking up a shallow layer of dust.
Along the way, Fu Xiuhuai dutifully acted as a driver. He Qiumei was restrained and solemn. Lin Wan, by contrast, was at ease. She chatted idly with her friend for a few sentences, talking about the changes in some classmates after university graduation. Before long, they arrived at Hushan Street in Qinglian District.
“Wanwan, Mr. Fu, goodbye. Be careful on your way home.” After getting out of the car, He Qiumei gently closed the car door and waved to the two of them.
Only after the car drove far away did He Qiumei let out a long breath and mutter to herself: “My heavens, Wanwan’s husband looks like that. Handsome is handsome, but he’s way too imposing. No wonder Fu Mingjun was out of the running.”
The Santana turned around from Qinglian District and headed toward the south of the city. As it sped along the whole way, Fu Xiuhuai slowly spoke, with a fair bit of helplessness: “Tonight I was originally having dinner with people from the Development Bureau. After dinner, the other side insisted on coming to the karaoke hall.”
Listening to the man in the driver’s seat, Lin Wan felt he seemed to be explaining something, and she found it somewhat inexplicable: “Mm. People talking business all seem to like going to nightclubs and karaoke halls.”
She had long heard that these places had high spending and were lively and exciting. Big bosses loved to go, and young people loved to go too.
Lin Wan said it casually and did not think much of it, but then she heard the man in the front row speak again: “I, on the other hand, do not like going.”
Lin Wan: “…”
Unexpectedly, that night Lin Wan did not get the expected questioning from Fu Xiuhuai about her going to the karaoke hall. She even thought that if he had heard her and Liang Bin mention Fu Mingjun in conversation, he had no reaction either.
That night, as Lin Wan lay in bed, she was still pondering. Perhaps Fu Xiuhuai really had been forced into marriage, so he did not much care about her asking after her ex-boyfriend.
On Monday, the city garment factory was loud with drums and gongs, and red banners fluttered in the wind.
A businessman from Country M visited. The factory leaders personally welcomed him, and the factory employees gave him a warm welcome. The foreign investor left his visiting figure in the factory office and various workshops.
By the afternoon, thunderous applause filled the auditorium, and the grand welcome ceremony began.
Lin Wan and seven or eight other factory office employees did not sit down. They were basically busy at the front and back of the stage, watching every part of the process.
Feng Tianjiao, the factory office director’s niece Feng Yan, accompanied the foreign investor and factory leaders the whole time, translating for both sides.
Looking at her niece, Feng Tianjiao could not help feeling smug. She said to the others in the factory office: “Yanzi speaks English fluently, better than many university students.”
Hearing Director Feng’s insinuating tone, Qin Fang could not help rolling her eyes inwardly. After the person left, she whispered to Lin Wan: “She’s targeting us, right? Deliberately saying it for us to hear.”
Lin Wan smiled somewhat embarrassedly: “Actually, I dragged you into it. She was really saying it for me to hear.”
Qin Fang was surprised: “Really? Then you’re still not angry?”
Lin Wan did not mind: “She’s the director. I’m new. Am I supposed to quarrel with her? As long as my monthly wages are paid on time, it’s nothing if she says a couple more things. Besides, isn’t this saving me trouble? I don’t have to tire myself out.”
What Lin Wan said was right.
Qin Fang looked again in the direction Lin Wan was looking and saw that Feng Yan’s expression between the foreign investor and the leaders was growing more and more rigid. From the shape of her mouth, one could also see her becoming more and more halting. In the end, she even got a glare from a leader with a stern face.
“Wanwan, now I think you’re right. Going to translate for leaders receiving such an important person will tire you to death. It’s more comfortable being an audience member.”
Feng Tianjiao had counted on her niece to win her face and, relying on the ability to translate for the foreign investor, to get an advanced worker title at the end of the year. She had imagined it all beautifully, but in the end something went wrong.
A few days later, everyone was working in the factory office when Sister Yang hurried in and loudly reminded them: “Everyone pay attention. The matter of attracting foreign investment has fallen through. Director Feng got a scolding from the factory director and is not in a good mood.”
In the office, Qin Fang was the first to speak in surprise: “Really? How did it fall through?”
Lin Wan was filling in materials. Hearing this, she also raised her head and looked toward Yang Guifen, waiting for what came next.
Yang Guifen held her enamel mug and gulped down a large cup of water before finally easing that urgent breath: “That day, Feng Yan did not remember at all many of the things the foreign investor said in negotiating the contract. She also did not dare tell her aunt. As a result, yesterday the foreign investor sent someone to ask, and only then did the factory side learn that the prepared materials were wrong. The foreign investor was already being fought over by many factories to begin with. Now our factory has given a bad impression. It’s hopeless!”
Everyone knew the factory wanted to attract foreign investment. Now that the matter had been botched, it was easy to imagine that the factory leaders’ expressions would not be good.
When Feng Tianjiao returned to the factory office, everyone tacitly glanced at her expression, then immediately pretended to each be doing their own work, firmly refusing to poke a hornet’s nest.
Lin Wan was even more detached from it. No matter how much she was targeted, it was impossible for her to be blamed.
When work ended, Lin Wan was the first to go out. Carrying her small black leather bag, she walked outward, but was called back by Feng Tianjiao: “Lin Wan, wait a moment.”
“Director Feng, what is it?”
“The factory needs someone to translate for receiving the foreign investor… The organization has arranged for you to go.”
Lin Wan was silent for a moment: “Director Feng, I’m a newly graduated university student with not much ability. You’re handing such an important task to me?”
Feng Tianjiao’s face stiffened. Lin Wan was using the very words she had once used against her to block her back: “Newly graduated university students need even more training. Besides, this is the time to contribute strength to the factory. I heard you… even won first place in an English speech contest at school. This time is just right for you to show it.”
Lin Wan thought of the benefits she had fought for her niece, and her heart stirred. She spoke rather playfully: “Since the director trusts me, I will certainly do my best and not fail the director’s trust, nor fail the bonus and year-end advanced worker quota the director applied for.”
Feng Tianjiao had initially found the first half of the sentence fairly agreeable. Her niece had failed to live up to expectations and botched the matter. The factory leaders had criticized her severely. Now she could only mend the fold after the sheep had been lost and let Lin Wan, whose foreign language was better, give it a try.
It was just that who had said anything about giving her an extra bonus and a year-end advanced worker quota?
That was something she had specially fought for her niece…
“Comrade Lin Wan, you…”
“Director Feng.” Lin Wan’s apricot eyes were limpid as water. As her lashes blinked, a trace of slyness showed through. “Could it be that if I go to translate and Comrade Feng Yan goes to translate, the rewards are different? If they really are different, then clearly the factory does not value my ability much and thinks I am unworthy. Then I still won’t go. Better not to really botch it and affect the factory’s development.”
Feng Tianjiao was left speechless by Lin Wan’s words. Beside her were several new and old employees of the factory office, and before her was the eloquent Lin Wan. She could only grit her teeth and agree: “Fine! I’ll apply for it for you! You translate well for me!”
“Rest assured.”
Lin Wan returned to the Fu home in a good mood, pondering how to celebrate if she really got an extra bonus. The smile on her face had not come down at all.
Fu Xiuhuai returned home after finishing business negotiations. What entered his view was a woman in a yellow plaid dress watering flowers in the garden. The golden crow was setting in the west, bits of shattered gold falling between her charming brows and eyes, dancing on her slightly upturned cherry lips.
“Very happy today?” Fu Xiuhuai parked the car, then turned his steps and walked toward the garden.
“Oh, I… ah!” When Lin Wan raised her eyes, her eyes were full of laughter, but at the instant she opened her mouth, her expression suddenly changed.
“What’s wrong?” Fu Xiuhuai’s expression became solemn and he pressed: “Where on your body feels unwell?”
Lin Wan carefully raised her hand and placed it on her own belly, sensing a fleeting, barely perceptible movement.
It was movement coming from her belly. At nineteen weeks of pregnancy, she felt fetal movement for the first time.
Something she had never experienced, a trembling fetal movement.
Hearing the man’s inquiry beside her ear, Lin Wan suppressed the wondrous feeling in her heart and slowly raised her eyes: “I’m not unwell. It’s just… my belly moved just now. I…”
“The baby moved?” A faint shock rose in the depths of Fu Xiuhuai’s eyes. His broad palm seemed about to come close. “May I touch it?”
In Lin Wan’s current memory, she had never had any physical contact with Fu Xiuhuai. Hearing this now, her heart indeed tightened.
It was just that she seemed to have no proper reason to refuse.
The man’s long fingers with clearly defined joints slowly pressed against her abdomen, strong and forceful, yet she could detect a trace of deliberately lightened pressure. Following it came the warm palm, broad and dominant, claiming a piece of heaven and earth.
Her lowered gaze fell on her slightly bulging abdomen, on which was the man’s palm. The thin dress fabric seemed unable to block anything. Lin Wan clearly felt the width and warmth of the palm.