Fanshu lowered her head, applying powder to her face with a compact mirror, her heart fluttering with nervousness. She had indeed waited for this day, yet stage fright still gripped her. She felt her attire today was flawless, and even the makeup artist beside her smiled and said, "Miss Xie, you look truly beautiful today."
During her stage performance, she naturally gave her all, every smile and frown perfectly executed. During a break in the act, she glanced at the audience—a sea of dark figures filling the hall. Guards with rifles stood along the sides of the auditorium seats. He sat in the front row, his face strikingly resolute, the golden tassels on his military uniform shimmering dazzlingly under the lights.
She recognized him from having seen his photo in the newspaper.
Suddenly, he turned his head, his sharp gaze shooting directly toward her. Fanshu’s heart raced in panic, nearly causing her to misstep and fall half a beat behind. The stage manager was startled, but fortunately, she reacted quickly, catching up with a few swift steps and placing her hand in the male lead Wei Changping’s palm. Under the blazing stage lights, she still smiled like a flower, light as a butterfly.
He left after watching only half the performance, and the guards outside withdrew with him. When she reappeared on stage, she saw the front-row seats were empty. Instantly, her energy for performing drained away, replaced by an inexplicable sense of defeat, and she nearly misspoke her lines.
When the play ended, Fanshu took her bow and exited the stage, only to hear backstage chatter about how the playwright Liang Qiu’er had been taken away by several guards. No one knew what had happened, and unease hung thick in the air. Could a mere play have crossed the government’s bottom line? Fanshu felt a wave of anxiety herself and, disheartened, packed her things to head home.
Xinping was waiting for her outside the school auditorium.
Naturally, she was surrounded by numerous guards. Spotting Fanshu emerge, Xinping waved her over. Fanshu approached and noticed Xinping’s eyes were red-rimmed. After a long pause, Xinping said, "Sister Fanshu, my mother sent a telegram saying she wants me to go to America by the end of this semester. I can’t bear to leave you."
Xinping always called her "Sister Fanshu" when she was upset, her soft voice filled with affection.
Fanshu smiled and replied, "My father also said he’ll send me to study at an American university after I graduate."
Xinping’s eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"
Fanshu nodded. As Xinping joyfully departed, surrounded by her guards, Fanshu watched her retreating figure and suddenly felt she was a pitiable child. So this was the only descendant of the Yu family—the heroic Yu Changxuan had no heir to follow in his footsteps.
As Fanshu turned to hail a rickshaw home, someone stopped her. It was He Junsen, the chief of the aides-de-camp who had visited backstage that afternoon. Startled, she clutched her handbag, countless chaotic thoughts flashing through her mind. He Junsen spoke politely, "Miss Xie, we’ve been waiting here for you for some time."
By past ten o’clock at night, she had arrived at Maple Terrace.
Maple Terrace was Yu Changxuan’s private residence, heavily guarded. The car drove inward, passing through several courtyards before she finally stepped out, her feet touching the solid asphalt road, still feeling as if she were in a dream. Along the driveway, clusters of azaleas bloomed in vibrant red, burning like fire.He Junsen escorted her all the way upstairs. Pushing the door open, they entered a spacious bedroom where vibrant red brocade curtains cascaded to the floor, embroidered with golden peonies that dazzled the eyes. Most of the furniture in the room was imported. As she stepped onto the carpet, her footsteps grew unsteady, and her heart fluttered nervously. A sandalwood burner emitted fragrant incense, its scent making her slightly dizzy.
She sat on the sofa for a long time before hearing the door open. Yu Changxuan entered and casually hung his military uniform jacket on the coat rack. When he turned around, she had already risen to her feet, clutching her handbag tightly, her head slightly bowed, her entire body stiff and visibly uneasy.
The room remained silent for a long while before he spoke in a low voice, "Should you call home?"
Her heart raced wildly, her tense body trembling uncontrollably. She whispered, "My parents have gone to my grandmother’s house and won’t be back for several days."
The bedroom was unlit, his face shrouded in shadows, his tone faint. "I won’t force anyone."
She stood silently before him, the white moonlight streaming through the window behind her illuminating her slender waist, her delicate curves as exquisite as a pipa placed on a gilded table. She glanced up at him, a faint smile gracing her brows, her expression naturally charming and tender.
Even though she had prepared herself, she still tensed when he began unbuttoning her clothes. Her fingers clenched the bedsheet tightly, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. In his embrace, she trembled uncontrollably, like a small fish just pulled from the water, flailing helplessly in his grasp.
Under the moonlight, her bare shoulders glowed with a soft radiance, her youthful, supple body seeming on the verge of melting. He showed no mercy, intensifying his movements. The pain, as if her body were being torn apart, drained the color from her lips. Desperately, she reached out to struggle, but it was futile—he effortlessly restrained her with one hand, completely in control.
Xie Fanshu returned home in the dead of night.
Afraid of being seen by the household servants, especially the strictest, Mother Wu, she quietly skirted around the front and made her way to the rear garden. The garden was enclosed by swastika-patterned railings, thickly entwined with wisteria vines adorned with small blossoms, their leaves glistening with dewdrops. Using her key, she unlocked the garden gate and slipped silently back to her room. The next day, she woke very late. Fortunately, it was Sunday. As she descended the stairs, she spotted Chongye sitting in the living room, dressed in the newly issued military uniform of the Southern Bright Military Academy, looking dashing and heroic. She rushed over, snatched his military cap, and placed it on her own head, spinning around in place. She wore a Western-style pleated skirt embroidered with plum blossoms, its hem swirling like scattered petals from a celestial maiden. Chongye laughed, "Slow down, or you’ll get dizzy."
She finally stopped, but dizziness overcame her, causing her to stumble. Chongye reached out to steady her, withdrawing his hand once she regained her balance. His features were clear and handsome, his smile naturally spirited. "It’s rare to have a day off today. Let me treat you to Western food at Qishilin."Fanshu knew he usually lived on campus, and military academy regulations were extremely strict. He must have specifically rushed back to accompany her upon learning their parents weren't home. She smiled, "What time do you need to return?" Chongye replied, "I requested five hours leave. I just need to be back by 3 PM."
Worried that Maple Terrace might call while she was out, Fanshu beamed, "With such limited time, let's not go out. I still have unfinished homework - will you keep me company?" Chongye chuckled, "You'd better not be planning to have me do your math problems for you."
Still wearing his military cap perched on her head, she playfully pulled his hand as they went upstairs. Since she was quite unruly and usually studied under her father Xie Zhaohua's direct supervision, all her books were kept in his study. Settling at her father's desk, she first had to copy two pages of delicate calligraphy as daily practice per her father's instructions.
Chongye sat nearby keeping her company, occasionally selecting books from the glass-fronted bookshelves. However, the leftmost glass compartment that was normally locked happened to be unlocked today. Fanshu had only copied a few lines when she heard Chongye exclaim in surprise. Looking up, she saw him holding a book with an astonished expression. She grinned mischievously, "Did you find Father's copy of 'The Golden Lotus'?"
Chongye glanced at her. She smiled winsomely while he sighed helplessly, though the curve of his lips made even his sigh seem affectionate. He pulled an old photograph from the book. She immediately dropped her brush and rushed over to look. The photo showed a single girl with beautiful double buns holding a pot of early spring plum blossoms, her features carrying an ethereal purity like pear blossoms on snow.
Her first glimpse of the girl in the photograph struck her with awe, and she unconsciously murmured, "How beautiful."
Realizing they might have stumbled upon their father's private matter, Chongye hurriedly said, "Let's put it away." As he tried to slip the photo back into the book, Fanshu grabbed his hand, exclaiming, "Wait! Let me see first. Do you think this might be Father's former lover?"
Chongye replied, "Then we should definitely put it away. Mother would be furious if she found out." Fanshu snatched the photo, examined it again, then tucked it into her pocket. Placing both hands on Chongye's face, she laughed, "Let me see which of us resembles the girl more. Perhaps one of us was born from her."
Chongye stiffly pushed her hands away and said after a long pause, "Stop fooling around." Fanshu burst out laughing, "How strange - Chongye, you're actually embarrassed!" Amid their banter, they heard Nanny Wu's voice outside, "Fanshu, your phone call! I've transferred it to your bedroom."
Nanny Wu, who had raised both Fanshu and Chongye from childhood, held considerable status in the Xie household and always addressed them by their given names. The Xies never treated her as a servant.
Fanshu's eyes lit up as she dashed toward the door. After a few steps, she turned back, removed the crooked military cap from her head and placed it properly on Chongye's head. Her dark eyes sparkled like a cheerful deer's as she said, "Chongye, you should return to school. I don't have time to play with you today."
She had completely forgotten that Chongye had specifically taken five hours leave from the military academy to come keep her company.Chongye was taken aback as Fanshu had already pushed open the door and run out, leaving behind only the lingering scent of Chanel No. 5 perfume in the room—subtle and delicate, like the fragrance of a tuberose placed in a vase. He touched his cheek, where the warmth of her hand seemed to linger, and he remained lost in thought for a long while.
The call was from Yu Xinping. Fanshu was utterly disappointed. Xinping spoke at length over the phone, finally murmuring affectionately, "Sister Fanshu, I wish you were truly my sister."
Bored, Fanshu twirled the telephone cord around her slender fingers. A thought suddenly crossed her mind: how would Xinping react if she knew about her relationship with Yu Changxuan? A chill ran down her spine, and a wave of guilt toward Xinping washed over her.
She had no desire for Yu Xinping to call her "stepmother" or "auntie." Regardless of her initial intentions, she genuinely cared for Xinping.
She waited in her bedroom all afternoon, but no call came from Maple Terrace.
She remembered he was still asleep when she left. After dressing, she stood by the bed, gazing at his resolute face and thick, dark eyebrows. Strangely, it stirred a thrilling sensation in her. As she turned to leave, she accidentally stepped on the military boots he had carelessly kicked to the floor. She carefully bent down to straighten them, like a gentle and devoted wife.
She whispered to herself, "This is my man, a great hero." Her heart leaped with boundless joy.
Yet he hadn’t even bothered to leave her his phone number. Couldn’t he have had his aide-de-camp inquire about her home number?! So careless, she grumbled inwardly.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
When the student protests erupted at Jiangye University, she was at home sulking and knew nothing about it. Later, Chongye returned from the military academy to fetch some clothes and casually mentioned that the superintendent had ordered the arrest of several professors leading the unrest and was planning to give a speech at Jiangye University. Instantly, her spirits lifted.
The superintendent Chongye referred to was Yu Changxuan, who also served as the superintendent of Southern Bright Military Academy.
She dragged Chongye along, pretending to be Jiangye University students to attend his speech. Security was extremely tight, and they couldn’t squeeze into the auditorium, so they hid outside the window. The golden sunlight bathed her fair cheeks, her skin as smooth and translucent as a peeled hard-boiled egg. Chongye suddenly felt his face flush and his heart race.
She turned around abruptly, called out "Chongye!" with a laugh, then stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek. The surrounding students let out a soft chorus of teasing. Blushing furiously, he whispered, "What are you up to now?"
Leaning her arm on the windowsill and resting her chin in her hand, she gazed at him with a lazy, coquettish smile. "I like you!"
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