The man was past middle age, with a pinched, ungenerous face. His features were not those of someone destined for great wealth or rank, yet an aura of eminence clung to him.
His clothes were plainly expensive. Beside him stood a young woman.
She looked about my age. A purple dress gave her an elegant air; her hair fell in a cascade, and she had bright eyes and white teeth.
Delicate features adorned her small, oval face. The moment she entered, her wide, lustrous eyes settled on me.
Her small mouth parted in surprise.
Perhaps Lin Yueru, too, was startled to find herself with a fiancé she had never asked for.
I had feared she would be unable to accept it. But she must have known about the betrothal already; otherwise, she could hardly have been so composed.
'So this is An! Look how you've grown. Let your uncle have a good look at you. When I first saw you, you were still in your parents' arms. All these years gone in a flash, and now you're such a fine-looking young man.'
Lin Xianguo came over smiling and patted my shoulder.
But I could see the reluctance behind his smile. My heart sank.
His expression told me he was unhappy with the marriage.
Perhaps he had truly meant to honor the childhood betrothal at the time. But many years had passed, and he was now one of the most influential men in Binzhou.
As a person's standing rose, their views could change with it.
I glanced at Lin Yueru again. Her lovely eyes were moving over me, but there was little resistance in them.
She did not seem as opposed to the marriage as I had imagined.
Though I had never met either of them, courtesy required a greeting.
'Uncle Lin.'
Uncle Qiu led us further inside to sit down. I discovered that behind the funeral shop was a tastefully furnished interior, complete with a tea room.
We sat there, and Lin Yueru continued to study me.
Her attention made me self-conscious. I looked down at my clothes.
This was one of my newer outfits. But I knew that to her it must look like something a beggar had picked up by the roadside, hardly worth a glance.
Uncle Qiu poured everyone a cup of tea before speaking. 'Mr. Lin, you remember the agreement made all those years ago. I asked you here to find out whether you'll honor it, and confirm the marriage between my nephew and your daughter.'
He had called me his nephew. His meaning was clear.
He feared that Lin Xianguo would learn of Grandfather's death and go back on his word.
The news could not be concealed for long. From Lin Xianguo's expression, I suspected he already knew.
Uncle Qiu was making it clear that I had someone behind me. I gave him a grateful look.
Lin Xianguo chuckled and drained his tea. 'There's no hurry. We can wait another two years. My daughter has only just come of age. It's too early for marriage. Why not leave it a little longer?'
It was a polite evasion, but Uncle Qiu would not let him off so easily. 'It's true that you can't have the marriage officially recognized yet. But with your resources, surely that would be a simple matter? And even without legal recognition, you could hold an engagement ceremony and announce it publicly. That should present no difficulty.'
'Well... Enough. I'll speak plainly. An, I came today to tell you to put aside the marriage your grandfather and I arranged. I owe him a great debt, that much is true. Ask me for anything you want. But as for the marriage, I need to think about it.'
My heart dropped. I had not expected him to break his promise.
Even Lin Yueru spoke up, watching me with those wide eyes. 'Yes, An. Perhaps we really aren't suited to each other. We've only just met, and this must be your first time in the city. There's so much here you haven't seen. I don't think we'd be a good match. Why don't you stay for a while and see what the city has to offer? You might fall in love with someone else.'
She sounded sincere. I looked at her.
She wasn't looking down on me because of my background. She simply believed what she was saying.
Bitterness filled me, and I did not know how to answer.
'An, you came to the city to make something of yourself, didn't you? Whatever you ask for, your Uncle Lin can provide. If you want a university education, I can arrange the best university for you. I can even send you abroad. When you return, I'll give you an excellent position in my company and help you find a beautiful, intelligent wife. You'd never have to worry about anything. What do you say?'
Lin Xianguo pressed his advantage, offering one tempting prospect after another.
Uncle Qiu gave a cold snort and set his cup down hard on the table.
'Are you going back on your word, Mr. Lin? You dare break an agreement with the Plain-Robed Ghosthand? You've some nerve. Do you know what it means to accept his final divination? You think you can break your promise without bringing disaster on yourself?'
There was unmistakable displeasure in his voice, and a threat.
Lin Xianguo hesitated, clearly apprehensive. Then he recovered his composure. I could not imagine what gave him such confidence.
He sneered. 'You needn't concern yourself with that. I'll decide how to handle what follows. An, let's leave it there for today. Come to me if you need anything, and I'll provide it. For now, consider this 5 million yuan compensation.'
He pushed a bank card across to me, then led Lin Yueru toward the door.
Just before leaving, she came to my side. I caught her delicate scent and heard her speak softly.
'An, think about what my father said. It really would be best for you. Even if we aren't lovers, we can still be friends. We could go out together sometime.'
Then she followed her father out.
I stared at the bank card on the table. I could not blame Lin Yueru.
She had not despised me. She simply thought we were unsuited to each other. She had the right to choose.
But Lin Xianguo had broken his word, and there would be consequences for him.
As he was about to step through the shop door, I saw a dense, dreadful black mist gather above his head.
It hung over him like a dark cloud.
It had not been there when he arrived, or while we were drinking tea.
It had come only after he made his decision and spoke those words.