CITM - 15

A week later, Bai Wenfu gradually gathered the items listed on the note. There were several kinds of buttons, camel down, and he even gave Ye Yun a delicate sewing kit. The most surprising to Ye Yun was that the fabric Bai Wenfu chose was a plain base patterned brocade satin with orchids woven into it.

Actually, when she wrote the list, Ye Yun had listed several fabric options because she wasn’t sure how expensive a garment Bai Wenfu planned to make as a gift, so she left the decision to him.

The brocade satin was something Ye Yun had overheard other women talking about in the bathhouse a few days ago. They said Li Yan wore a piece made of it; the shiny material looked very high-end. Sensitive to fabrics and styles, Ye Yun only caught those words and roughly knew this material was quite popular now — and, of course, expensive.

Unexpectedly, Bai Wenfu picked the brocade satin from among the fabrics. Ye Yun touched the smooth and delicate cloth, guessing what kind of woman it might be for. Whatever she was like, she must be very cherished by the eldest brother.

So after more than two months without sewing, Ye Yun had a reason to pick up needle and thread again, and she became so absorbed that she lost track of time.

Tong Mingfang noticed Ye Yun had been holed up in her room all day and hadn’t come out for dinner even after dark. Finding it odd, she went to knock on her door.

Ye Yun opened it, and Tong Mingfang saw the sewing scattered all over the bed along with such expensive fabric. She shouted, “Why aren’t you eating? What are you making, and for whom?”

Before Ye Yun could answer, Bai Wenfu pushed the door open and said, “I asked her to do it.”

Tong Mingfang looked surprised and turned her gaze, “This is women’s fabric, what are you making?”

“For someone.”

Bai Wenfu went to the table to get food. Tong Mingfang, surprised, followed and asked, “Big brother, have you gotten together with some girl?”

Ye Yun also came to the table, distractedly picking up chopsticks but glancing at Bai Wenfu.

Bai Wenfu calmly said, “Not with anyone.”

Tong Mingfang immediately raised her voice, “If you’re not together, why are you giving such expensive fabric away?”

She looked heartbroken, worried her son was being taken advantage of.

Holding his bowl awkwardly, Bai Wenfu replied, “If I don’t give it, how can she be with me?”

His few words left Tong Mingfang speechless, almost convinced by his reasoning. Since big brother is lame and doesn’t have a steady job, he has to be proactive.

Later, Tong Mingfang felt happy about Bai Wenfu wanting to give clothes to a woman. That year, she secretly arranged his marriage. Among her two sons, big brother always had his own ideas and made decisions for himself, except for marriage, which she decided for him because she wanted him to settle down early.

But things turned sour, and the other side even came to cancel the engagement. Tong Mingfang always resented this.

In recent years, big brother went out early and returned late, spoke little, and lived like a monk. Tong Mingfang no longer expected him to find anyone. Now hearing he had a girl in mind, she was naturally pleased. The little brother was gone, no hope left, so if the eldest wanted to marry, it would be a good thing.

Because of this, Tong Mingfang became more tolerant of Ye Yun. She let Ye Yun stay in her room making clothes or occasionally go out to buy things without suspicion.

This matter of Bai Wenfu helping Ye Yun gave her life a purpose beyond just muddling through. Having something to busy herself with, she felt more fulfilled.

One day, Lu Ping had a day off and saw Tong Mingfang leave the house, so she ran upstairs to visit Ye Yun. Ye Yun opened the door and led her inside. Lu Ping, seeing the beautiful patterned brocade satin, loved it and asked, “Who are you making this for?”

“Not sure.”

Lu Ping was surprised, “Not sure? How can you not know who it’s for?”

Ye Yun pressed her lips and then leaned in to whisper, “Actually, big brother asked me to help.”

Lu Ping’s eyes flickered as she looked at Ye Yun, “Does big brother Wenbin have a woman?”

Ye Yun shrugged, “Sounds like it’s a gift for a girl he fancies.”

Lu Ping looked at her confused expression, then took the smooth fabric and gently rubbed it against her cheek. “Big brother Wenbin is the kind of guy—what girl could really get his heart?”

Ye Yun blinked, “What kind of guy is he?”

Lu Ping put down the fabric and chuckled lightly, “Don’t you think he’s pretty arrogant?”

Ye Yun furrowed her brows but didn’t answer. She didn’t think Bai Wenfu was arrogant. Maybe the first time she met him at the washroom she was a bit afraid, but after spending time with him, she felt Bai Wenfu wasn’t as aloof as he looked.

He bought her a washbasin when he saw her washing her face with cold water. When others thought Wenbin bought her shampoo, Bai Wenfu helped her out of that awkwardness. When she was burned, he gave the burn ointment to Wenbin.

These things Wenbin didn’t notice after living with her every day, but Bai Wenfu saw. How could he be arrogant?

Perhaps thinking too much during the day, Ye Yun had insomnia at night. She imagined the owner of this garment. If big brother treasured her so much, if one day he married her, he would surely spoil her.

Once she started imagining, it spiraled out of control. Bai Wenfu, who cared for her though she was not yet officially his sister-in-law, would definitely take his own woman to fun places, buy her the best things, hold her at night, giving all his tenderness and madness...

Thinking this made Ye Yun blush, her heart beat wildly, and she dared not think further.

Along with this came the thought of how she would live in this family — probably even harder times ahead.

Besides making clothes, Ye Yun frequently went to the supply and marketing cooperative to ask Ma Jianliang if any letters from home had arrived.

Finally, near the New Year, she received a reply. When she got the letter, her hands trembled, and she repeatedly thanked Ma Jianliang, who urged her to hurry home to read it.

Ye Yun didn’t wait to go home but ran to a deserted alley and shakily opened the envelope. It was the ninth month since she left home. After nine months, she finally had a letter connecting her to her family. She was so moved her eyes were wet.

But inside, the letter contained only a few words. Her mother was illiterate and had to find someone to write on her behalf. Perhaps the message was unclear, or the writer didn’t explain well. The letter had no substantial content — just saying they received her letter and telling her to take care.

Ye Yun read the few lines repeatedly but found no clues. In her letter, she had clearly asked for their thoughts on the situation and what she should do next. But the reply she longed for was sparse and without focus.

All her hopes were instantly dashed, and a chill spread through Ye Yun’s heart. The sun was high and bright, the glaring light making it hard for her to open her eyes. She clenched the letter tightly, feeling as if she had been abandoned in the depths of the sea, surrounded by endless waves, her body sinking continuously, with no end in sight and no shore to reach. Her moist eyes turned completely red.

She stayed like that for a long while before folding the letter carefully and putting it back into her pocket, then walked out of the alley in a daze.

People were coming and going on the street, but Ye Yun didn’t head home; instead, she aimlessly wandered through unfamiliar streets, just like her mood—drifting and unsettled, without a place to belong.

Her gaze floated over unfamiliar faces without focus until it landed on a broad, sturdy figure at a street corner. She recognized him as Bai Wenfu. He was standing in front of a shop, talking to a few people. When he noticed her, he put out his cigarette and turned his head. Ye Yun hurriedly turned around and slipped into a narrow alley, where clotheslines hung haphazardly, and garments fluttered overhead. Her steps quickened.

She didn’t dare look back, walking straight to the alley’s end before finally turning around to glance behind. No one was there. She then slowed her pace, her shoes scraping the cobblestones, her mind in turmoil, heavy with sorrow.

Soon she reached the alley’s end and, without thinking, turned left—only to have a figure block her path. She lifted her eyes and saw Bai Wenfu leaning against the wall, his deep gaze fixed unwaveringly on her.

Ye Yun’s breath caught. She stared wide-eyed, locking eyes with him.

Bai Wenfu’s eyes scanned her face once, then he straightened and lowered his gaze. “Why are you crying?”

Ye Yun hurriedly looked away. “I’m not.”

Her trembling lashes and the moist glimmer in her eyes made her delicate face look pale and fragile.

Bai Wenfu frowned. “If you’re not crying, why are you avoiding me? Did someone say something unpleasant to you? Tell me.”

Ye Yun bit her lip and shook her head. “No one. I just... I’m in a bad mood and went out for a walk.”

She took a deep breath, swallowing all her bad feelings, forcing a light tone. “Really, what do you do when you’re in a bad mood?”

Bai Wenfu looked at her skeptically. “Drink.”

Unexpectedly, Ye Yun asked, “Where can one go to drink?”

Bai Wenfu lowered his head, the short, stiff bangs on his forehead standing defiantly. A helpless smile brushed his lips. “Come with me.”

Ye Yun hadn’t expected to come to the dance hall again—not to dance this time, but to drink with Bai Wenfu. She saw he bought two seats, almost ten times the price of the entrance ticket, and as soon as she sat down, she regretted it.

After Bai Wenfu got the drinks from the staff, Ye Yun quietly and nervously said, “I thought you meant buying a bottle to drink somewhere private.”

Leaning back in his chair, Bai Wenfu told her, “Drinking needs the right atmosphere.”

When the drinks arrived, Bai Wenfu poured some into Ye Yun’s glass. “Have you drunk this before?”

“No, it’s my first time.”

So he only poured her half a glass.

Ye Yun sniffed the drink; the scent was sharp and pungent. She lifted the glass and asked him, “Why are you willing to let me drink?”

The music was loud, and Bai Wenfu didn’t catch her clearly. He tilted his head. “What? Come here and say it.”

Ye Yun moved her chair closer. “I said, why did you agree to bring me here to drink?”

Women drinking always drew gossip. The aunt who lived above them often secretly drank a little, and people nearby would say she was irresponsible, lazy, and improper. Ye Yun had heard Tong Mingfang say the same. Ye Yun thought Bai Wenfu probably wouldn’t approve of women drinking either—but he still brought her here.

Bai Wenfu filled his own glass and clinked it gently against hers. “Life is short, just a few decades. You should try more things, not live for others’ opinions.”

Ye Yun imitated him and raised her glass. Bai Wenfu was generous with drinking; he downed his in one go without a grimace.

He put down his glass and said to her, “But it depends on who you drink with. If it’s others inviting you, I don’t advise you to let your guard down.”

Ye Yun took a sip. The sharp taste spread across her tongue, making all her features scrunch up. Bai Wenfu asked, “How is it?”

“Not good. Too bitter.”

Bai Wenfu half-smiled. “Then better not try again.”

Ye Yun’s mood soured; stubbornness made her want to defy him. She lifted her chin, held her breath, and drank down the remaining half glass.

Bai Wenfu clicked his tongue. “You’re reckless. You’ll get drunk like that.”

The rhythm of the music struck her heart; the dim, flickering lights made her body warm, and her expression relaxed a little.

She turned her head and asked Bai Wenfu, “If I get drunk, will you carry me back?”

Bai Wenfu just looked at her with a faint smile and didn’t answer.

She quickly denied her own words. “You can’t carry me back. If someone sees, I won’t be able to explain.”

A captivating light glimmered in Bai Wenfu’s eyes. “I promise to just leave you there.”

Ye Yun frowned. “That won’t do.”

Because of her careless drinking, Bai Wenfu this time only poured her a third of a glass.

Knowing she couldn’t get drunk, Ye Yun sipped slowly. Even so, her face soon flushed with a rosy, slightly tipsy charm.

Bai Wenfu played with his glass in his palm, casually asking, “Now can you tell me why you’re in a bad mood?”

Ye Yun’s gaze fell on the swaying shadows of the lights, eyes dreamy and distant.

“Big brother, will you get married?”

Bai Wenfu was surprised. “Why ask that?”

“Will you?”

She repeated the question.

Bai Wenfu took a sip of his drink, silent for a few seconds, then replied, “Only if I meet the right person.”

“And if you do? Will you get married?” Ye Yun lifted her eyes, staring intently at him. She desperately needed an answer. The family had given her no clear direction, so this answer would affect her future place in the Bai household.

“Maybe.” Bai Wenfu put down his glass, calm and composed.

But Ye Yun’s heart sank instantly. Thinking about the life she might face, she looked on the verge of tears. She didn’t know how Bai Wenfu had endured night after night when she was with Wen Bin. But if their roles were reversed, she was sure she couldn’t stay calm living next door to them.

Bai Wenfu quietly studied the complex emotions flashing across her face. Interest flickered in his eyes. “If I get married, why would you be unhappy?”