CITM - 20

Ye Yun had a very strange dream. The dream was fragmented, without a complete sequence, jumping from one scene to another. Strong muscles, rough touch, but the face was unclear. Suddenly, two high walls appeared in her dream, the dark sky sliced into thin strips. Her body was dragged by someone, and fear surged again. The next moment, she was covered by a broad figure—again, the face was indistinct. Then it jumped to the very bed she lay on; someone was holding her from behind, that place tall and hard. In the dream, she thought of Wen Bin and tried to turn her head to confirm, but she was pinned down, unable to move. Heavy breathing was by her ear; her body was burning. Emptiness crept in, both familiar and strange. When she tried with all her strength to turn her neck, what she saw was sharp, narrow, and piercing eyes.

Ye Yun suddenly woke up with a start, sitting upright on the bed, a fine layer of sweat on her forehead. She thought the images from the dream would vanish after waking, but to her confusion, though the images were gone, her body remained hot.

She didn’t know that this kind of dream was caused by excessive stress. She had never had such dreams before. Anxiety and shame almost overwhelmed her. Clutching the bedsheet tightly, she felt helpless facing the physical signals her body was sending.

The noise from Ye Yun waking startled Bai Wenfu. Thinking she had woken from a nightmare and was frightened, he pushed open the door and saw Ye Yun sitting motionless on the bed, her cheeks flushed as if feverish.

He walked over quickly and asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Just as he reached out to touch her forehead with the back of his hand, Ye Yun shyly shrank back into the corner of the bed, not letting him touch her.

Bai Wenfu had no idea what kind of dream she had. Thinking she was still shaken from the earlier events, he gave her some space and asked, “Are you hungry?”

Ye Yun buried her face in the quilt and nodded. Bai Wenfu turned and went out to heat some food.

When he brought the bowl back into the room, Ye Yun still looked absent-minded. She didn’t say a word while eating, kept her head down, wishing she could turn her back on him. Her unusual behavior made Bai Wenfu suspect she might have developed a trauma related to men.

While Ye Yun ate, Bai Wenfu leaned against the doorframe outside the room. After she finished, he came in to collect the bowl. To avoid upsetting her, Bai Wenfu didn’t speak and left as soon as he took the bowl.

Just as he was about to walk out the door, a whisper sounded behind him: “People say… you’ve killed someone. Is that true?”

Bai Wenfu stopped in his tracks. The air was thick and oppressive, and his back looked somewhat desolate. After a long silence, he turned around, his gaze cold and sharp, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his lips: “Scared?”

He didn’t deny it — that was already an admission. Ye Yun’s internal struggle was completely broken. Her gaze flickered, wavering between resistance and avoidance.

Bai Wenfu was long used to such reactions. A self-mocking smile appeared on his lips as he withdrew his gaze and turned around. But from behind him came her reply: “Not scared.”

Bai Wenfu’s spine stiffened. He didn’t look back but only said, “Go to sleep,” and shut the door.

She should have been afraid — afraid of staying under the same roof with him, afraid of his bloody past. Yet at this moment, Ye Yun felt only relief; relief that it was him, so she could survive.

She didn’t know what her answer meant to Bai Wenfu.

He had seen her scared to interact with others when she first arrived in the city; scared to show weakness when encountering unfamiliar things; scared of being seen as poor; afraid to step outside after Wen Bin’s accident; and afraid of all the gossip and rumors.

She hadn’t experienced life-and-death struggles, bloodshed, or chaos. Her world was simple to the point that even a slight disturbance would make her uneasy. Yet this timid girl, upon learning of his past, told him, “Not scared.”

And how did those people back then treat him? He reluctantly allowed Tong Mingfang to handle things for him, but the girl insisted on marrying him and persuaded their family to arrange it. After he got into trouble, everyone avoided him as if afraid to be tainted by him. Childhood friends gradually distanced themselves, even pretending not to know him when they met.

A murderer, a labor camp convict, the target of public scorn.

Bai Wenfu was used to how others looked at him. He never expected that the timid Ye Yun would not run away frightened.

That night, Bai Wenfu couldn’t sleep, not because of his usual troubles, but because of one answer — a warmth he had trouble reaching.

...

The next morning, Ye Yun got up early, tidied herself, and prepared to go to the tailor’s shop. Tong Mingfang, noticing how dazed she had seemed the night before, said, “You’d better not go. Rest at home for a few days.”

Ye Yun lowered her head, wiping her shoes as she replied, “I have to go, and at the usual time.”

She cleaned her shoes, adjusted her clothes, and left the house.

Bai Wenfu opened the door, and Tong Mingfang complained, “Look at that girl, running out again. She really doesn’t give us a moment’s peace.”

Bai Wenfu replied, “If she doesn’t go out, what will others think of her?”

Tong Mingfang seemed to relent and went to the door to look outside.

Chun Di was chatting with someone at the laundry room door, Aunt Huang was bent over tending the coal stove, Li Yan was stretching her arms wiping the corridor cupboards — the morning in the housing block began with the women’s busy routine.

Early in the morning, Ye Yun’s figure appeared in the corridor, and almost everyone turned to look at her. Her face was calm as usual, her clean, smooth long hair tied back, her plain blouse neat and fresh. She even had time to polish her shoes until they shone, showing no abnormality.

Chun Di had been watching Ye Yun, worried something might have really happened to her the previous night. But seeing how others looked with obvious curiosity, she deliberately greeted Ye Yun lightly, “Tailor Ye, off to work?”

Ye Yun smiled and nodded.

After this ordinary exchange, the others lost interest and turned back to their chores.

Tong Mingfang turned around and muttered, “She should go out, let those gossipy women see for themselves, so they stop talking dirty behind her back.”

Bai Wenfu sat at the table, speechless at his mother’s sudden change of attitude, and prepared to go out.

Tong Mingfang pulled a chair out, “Don’t go yet, I have something to say.”

Bai Wenfu sat back down and raised an eyebrow, “Go ahead.”

Tong Mingfang’s sharp eyes glinted as she leaned forward and asked, “Be honest with me. Do you have feelings for Ye Yun?”

Tong Mingfang was finally putting it all out in the open. Bai Wenfu lowered his eyes, wearing a world-weary expression, “What feelings?”

Tong Mingfang stared wide-eyed: "Don’t pretend to be dumb and play innocent with me. You had such a huge fight with her yesterday? Then you came back and washed her hair and cooked for her—how much do you care? I remember before, when I asked you to send a few zongzi to that someone, you said I was making trouble for no reason."

Bai Wenfu didn’t argue back, but sat there with a faint smile in his eyes while she scolded him. When she seemed to have said enough, he finally asked, “Finished talking?”

Tong Mingfang saw he didn’t respond and angrily said, “Don’t think you can leave; you’re not done yet.”

Bai Wenfu leaned against the wall behind him, crossed his legs: “Hmm, I’m listening.”

“Ye Yun has been staying with us for a while now. Honestly, that girl’s had a tough life, unlucky to end up with Wen Bin. But then again, she hasn’t been with Wen Bin for long. She’s young and pretty — in the future, when she leaves our home, she’ll be with another man. Our family’s already given the bride price. If you really have feelings for her, I can talk to Ye Yun. If that doesn’t work, you two can just be together.”

Bai Wenfu’s expression darkened. He tapped his fingers on the table and said coldly, “Say those things in front of me and it’s done. Don’t bring it up in front of her.”

With that, Tong Mingfang could only swallow her words, though she was very displeased.

...

Feng Biao had been beaten by Bai Wenfu so badly he hadn’t been able to leave his house for half a month. Given his wife Aijuan’s unreasonable temper, even though she didn’t dare confront Bai Wenfu, she inevitably caused trouble behind his back. But surprisingly, Aijuan kept quiet about that night’s incident, acted very low-key recently, and rarely went out. Neighbors living next door said they often heard pots and pans being thrown and smashed late at night.

After that incident, Tong Mingfang went to see tailor Zhang. Zhang was scared hearing that Ye Yun almost got into trouble and refused to let her stay late anymore.

Zhang’s tailor shop had some old clients who ordered expensive clothes. When those clients couldn’t come pick up their clothes on time, Zhang would personally deliver them and even make adjustments on-site.

Since Ye Yun arrived, the errands were given to a younger person. Ye Yun enjoyed going out. During the year she’d been in the city, aside from Bai Wenfu taking her to some places, she rarely had the chance to go out.

Once Zhang asked her to deliver a qipao to Jinli Restaurant. This qipao was sewn with French lace and beaded strings. From embroidery to piping to hemming, Zhang did it all herself. Now that she was older, she seldom made qipaos — they were too labor-intensive. This one took a lot of her effort and was the most luxurious dress Ye Yun had ever seen in the shop.

Besides delivering the qipao, Ye Yun had to collect the payment. Before leaving, Zhang told her the restaurant staff recognized the order slip. When she handed it over, they would escort her inside.

Ye Yun felt the name was familiar, like she had heard it before. When she arrived, the staff saw the slip and said the boss was upstairs, so they took her upstairs. The crystal chandelier above was dazzling and luxurious, the carpet underfoot soft and clean — Ye Yun had never been to such a high-end restaurant. She followed the staff to the private room door.

The staff knocked and entered. Ye Yun held the qipao waiting outside. The door was half open, and she heard the staff say, “Someone from Zhang the tailor shop came to deliver the dress.”

Inside, a woman replied, “Let her in.”

The staff beckoned Ye Yun in. The room suddenly felt spacious. She raised her eyes and was about to greet the boss, but her expression froze.

Inside the private room, two people sat opposite each other drinking tea. One was Su Hong, whom Ye Yun had met before at the dance hall. Opposite Su Hong sat none other than Bai Wenfu.

When Ye Yun stepped in, Bai Wenfu glanced up at her.

Su Hong’s eyes shifted from Bai Wenfu’s face to Ye Yun’s body and smiled: “Didn’t you say you’d bring me the qipao?”

Ye Yun came to her senses, avoiding Bai Wenfu’s gaze, and said to Su Hong: “Good afternoon, Boss Su. If you’re busy now, I’ll just leave the qipao here and you can try it on when you’re free.”

Su Hong gave her a sidelong glance and reminded, “You should call me Sister Hong.”

Ye Yun lowered her head, her lips pressed tight. Bai Wenfu’s tea cup lightly tapped the table with a soft sound.

Su Hong immediately stopped smiling and stopped teasing Ye Yun. She leaned over toward Bai Wenfu with a coquettish look and said, “Don’t mind waiting for me a bit, okay?”

Bai Wenfu nodded and let her be.

Su Hong took Ye Yun to an empty room, took off her large skirt. Her full figure was enticing, making Ye Yun feel a little embarrassed.

Su Hong put on the qipao, and Ye Yun went over to button the frog closures for her.

The qipao had a diagonal front with frog buttons. When Ye Yun bent over, she caught sight of Su Hong’s bra. Most women around wore cotton corsets or binding cloth, but Ye Yun had never seen this kind of bra — thin straps hanging, creating a sexy cleavage with nylon fabric and sheer chiffon. Ye Yun’s eyes darted away.

Su Hong looked down at her youthful face, smiled, and asked, “Do you like it? Men like it even more.”

Seeing Ye Yun’s increasingly flushed face, Su Hong laughed softly.

Zhang tailored many clothes for Su Hong, so the measurements were perfect. After trying on the qipao, Su Hong checked herself in the mirror repeatedly but thought the shoes she wore didn’t match.

She asked Ye Yun to wait in the private room while she went to change into a matching pair.

Ye Yun returned to the private room, still thinking about Su Hong’s voluptuous figure and that sentence. Su Hong said men like it — but did she mean Bai Wenfu?

After going back inside, Ye Yun glanced hurriedly at Bai Wenfu and stood aside waiting.

Bai Wenfu picked up a clean cup, poured tea, and placed it in front of Ye Yun.

The tailor shop was not close. Entering the rainy season with its hot and sticky weather, Ye Yun was really thirsty but kept a stern face and didn’t take it.

Su Hong came back wearing new high heels, glanced at the untouched tea, and smiled meaningfully: “Did you two have a fight?”

Ye Yun lowered her head silently. Bai Wenfu didn’t respond. Su Hong went to Ye Yun and asked, “How about these shoes?”

Su Hong swayed her hips seductively. Ye Yun’s ears flushed and replied, “They fit well.”

Su Hong was pleased and asked, “How much do I owe you?”

“50.”

Su Hong turned to Bai Wenfu: “You pay.”

After saying that, Su Hong sat down, leisurely brewed new tea, and ignored Ye Yun.

Ye Yun stared intently at Bai Wenfu. He took money out and handed it to her. She quickly took the money, said goodbye to Su Hong without stopping, and hurried out.

Outside the restaurant, the heavy, humid air pressed down on her chest, making her eyes sting.

This qipao was made with expensive materials and delicate workmanship. Zhang told her the payment, and Ye Yun was shocked. The price of this dress was higher than the monthly salary of many workers.

What surprised her more was that the one truly willing to pay was Bai Wenfu. What kind of relationship did he have with Su Hong for her to speak to him so casually?

Back at the tailor shop, Ye Yun handed the money to Zhang and sat silently at the sewing machine, not saying a word all afternoon. Zhang thought she wasn’t feeling well and told her to finish the work then go rest.

When Ye Yun got home, she went straight to her room. She thought Bai Wenfu would come home late, but unexpectedly, he came back shortly after she arrived.

Tong Mingfang was surprised: “Oh? Why did you buy these? I don’t have good teeth; I can’t eat sweets.”

“They’re not for you.”

After a while, Tong Mingfang knocked on the door: “Ye Yun, come out quickly, see what your big brother bought.”

Ye Yun couldn’t resist curiosity and opened the door slightly. Tong Mingfang shoved a pack of candy at her — rare imported candy. Bai Wenfu had once given her one. The wrapper was pretty, and Ye Yun still kept it. She had looked for it at the supply store before but couldn’t find any and didn’t know how Bai Wenfu got them.

She placed the candy beside her dresser and stared blankly for a moment. Hearing Tong Mingfang moving around in the hallway cooking, she opened her room door.

Bai Wenfu sat by the table fiddling with screws. Recently, Tong Mingfang often complained the lock was hard to turn, so he was going to replace it by taking it apart.

Ye Yun walked over and stopped beside him, holding up a handkerchief.

Bai Wenfu stopped his work and glanced at her. The handkerchief was one he had given her during the New Year. After that, Ye Yun hadn’t approached him voluntarily, but now she suddenly handed him the clean, folded handkerchief.

A faint smile appeared on Bai Wenfu’s lips as he took it.

Ye Yun was about to pull her hand away, but Bai Wenfu took the chance to hold it firmly.

“Are you angry?”

The door was still open, and the smell of cooking oil floated in the air. Ye Yun quickly pulled back and denied, “Not angry.”

Bai Wenfu didn’t let her go. Instead, he tightened his grip and pulled her closer, saying, “I asked Su Hong to help me connect with a boss in Zhejiang. Before you came here, I was still negotiating with her about this. It hadn’t been settled yet. She asked me to pay for the tailoring as a sign of agreement. I have to show some goodwill when I ask her for a favor.”

Ye Yun’s mood became unsettled. She only vaguely heard the meaning and hurriedly said, “Why are you telling me this? I don’t know what you’re doing.”

Compared to Ye Yun’s nervousness, Bai Wenfu was calm. No matter how she tried to pull back, he still held her hand steadily. His hands were strong, warm, with veins showing clearly. Ye Yun’s cheeks flushed rapidly.

“Want to know? Come with me tomorrow.”

Footsteps appeared at the door. Ye Yun’s heart nearly jumped out. She hurriedly said, “Let go quickly.”

Bai Wenfu’s eyes clearly smiled. He looked at her relaxed and flustered face.

Ye Yun compromised, “I’ll go with you, let go.”

Only then did Bai Wenfu release her hand. At the same time, Tong Mingfang came in with a plate. Ye Yun lowered her head and walked past her.