Chapter 5: I Hope You Can Leave
After hearing this, Granny Zhang’s eyelids twitched. “That can’t be right. From what I see, the Master and Madam have an excellent relationship, and he treats Miss Jingya and Young Master Chengbin just the same. You and the Old Master have also been nothing but good to him. The family has been so harmonious for all these years, what other intentions could he have?”
Granny Zhang shook her head, not quite understanding.
Yang Yijun held a black Go stone in her hand, hesitating to place it, her expression unreadable.
“Are you perhaps overthinking it? She’s just a girl in her early teens. So what if she’s a little smart? Besides, she’s always been in the countryside and hasn’t seen the Master for years; they’re probably strangers to each other. The Master is a thoughtful man. He’s probably worried that if he left her to live alone somewhere, people would find out and gossip.” Granny Zhang knew the family situation best. Not to mention distant relatives, even the Yun family’s own relatives and friends would likely gloat, saying they couldn’t even tolerate a little girl.
Yang Yijun placed the black stone on the board, also feeling that she might be overthinking it. “It’s all Yun Lan’s fault. She’s always liked pretty things, even choosing a partner based on looks alone. Jingya’s biological father’s family was decent, but his character and actions were not as handsome as his face. One would think she’d have learned something after a divorce. But then she fell for Zhou Zhiru, whose family background is truly terrible, though thankfully he’s capable. But a man who is too capable is also a cause for worry. If Yun Lan were a bit more astute, I wouldn’t have to think so much.”
Thinking of her own daughter’s personality, Yang Yijun couldn’t help but feel helpless. “A woman is better off being smart.”
Granny Zhang just listened from the side, unable to say a word.
“Tell the kitchen auntie to make a few extra dishes today. The children are all back,” Yang Yijun said. The thought of her two grandchildren brought a look of overflowing love to her eyes.
Zhou Wanfeng didn’t go out. She hadn’t even had her fill of the scenery in the courtyard. The house was so large it was divided into a front and back yard. In the back, there was a row of locked houses.
In terms of scenery, the front was more beautiful.
Especially the small fishpond, where a few fat, almost immobile red koi swam beneath several water lilies. When they saw a shadow approach, they would gather in a flurry, their large mouths gaping, waiting to be fed.
Unfortunately, Zhou Wanfeng had nothing in her hands. She just squatted and watched them swim back and forth, their plump bodies looking endearingly clumsy, making her want to laugh for some reason.
She dipped her palm into the water, creating ripples. The few fat fish were startled and darted away, but seeing no danger, they slowly approached again.
When the first fat fish got close to her fingers, the others all gathered around. One even nibbled her little finger before swimming away, unable to eat it.
Back and forth they went, until one suddenly leaped out of the water, splashing her face. A laugh escaped her, and Zhou Wanfeng herself was stunned, subconsciously touching the upturned corners of her own mouth.
It seemed not long ago, she was still living in constant fear, always on guard. It was impossible for her to stay outdoors for long, especially in open spaces.
A car might lose control and crash into her on the roadside.
The people around her could be spies from the enemy, or her own people sent to watch her.
She was like a lone soldier on a battlefield. She never thought about tomorrow, only whether she could survive today.
Zhou Wanfeng stood up, her legs a little numb, but she was happy. It was a lightness that came from the depths of her soul, and she wanted to live like this forever.
Time passed quickly.
The morning flew by, and Zhou Wanfeng met the other people who worked in the house. There was Xiao Ling, who was in charge of cleaning, a slightly chubby young woman in her early twenties with a dark complexion and what seemed to be a problem with her left foot, causing her to limp. Another was an older woman in her early forties, called Auntie Fang, who was said to have been working for the family since she was thirty. She was tall, at least 1.7 meters, and worked efficiently, walking with a brisk pace.
She had seen both of them when she came downstairs in the morning.
There was also a handyman in the yard in his fifties, who did all the heavy lifting, trimming the flowerbeds, and so on. Granny Zhang called him Old Dong. He was a bit quiet and honest. Granny Zhang had him busy all morning, scrubbing the main gate, mopping the corridor, spinning like a top without a word of complaint. When he passed by Zhou Wanfeng, he would give a simple nod and a smile.
Zhou Wanfeng spent the morning silently observing the household.
There was also a cook in the kitchen. She had come out once in the morning when a delivery of groceries arrived, but otherwise stayed in the kitchen and was rarely seen.
Granny Zhang was like the housekeeper, busy all morning but not deliberately looking for trouble with her.
In a flash, it was past five in the afternoon.
Zhou Wanfeng sat with Yang Yijun in the living room. Granny Zhang had called everyone she could command to the entrance. An unknowing observer might have thought they were welcoming a foreign dignitary; all that was missing was a red carpet.
Until there was a commotion outside.
Yang Yijun smiled at Zhou Wanfeng and said, “They’re back,” while secretly observing her expression.
Zhou Wanfeng smiled back, noticing that the other woman was watching her, openly, as if trying to see some different emotion on her face.
As if she was certain there should be something? This undisguised thought seemed to be telling Zhou Wanfeng that she was in someone else’s house, on someone else’s territory, and the masters of the house would do as they pleased, openly and directly.
A moment later, the sound of running footsteps came from the corridor outside.
“Grandma, Grandma, I’m back!” A child’s cheerful voice came from afar, and the next second, Yang Yijun was smiling so widely that the fine lines at the corners of her eyes showed. The joy from the bottom of her heart was completely different from her earlier faint smile.
“Slow down, slow down.”
The door opened, and a chubby, fair-skinned boy of six or seven ran towards Yang Yijun with his arms outstretched, calling “Grandma, Grandma.”
Yang Yijun stood up and took two steps forward, catching the little fatty in a full embrace.
“Grandma, I’m back.” The boy wrapped his arms around Yang Yijun’s neck and snuggled his head against her affectionately.
“Did my grandson have a good time on his trip?” At this moment, Yang Yijun had transformed from a dignified and elegant noblewoman into an ordinary grandmother doting on her grandson. Her eyes were full of smiles, and her hands constantly caressed her grandson’s arms and cheeks.
Zhou Wanfeng’s gaze fell on the doorway, where a young girl had just entered. Her voice was clear and crisp, as if it had been soaked in candy, sweet and refreshing to the soul.
“Grandma, I missed you so much.”
Zhou Wanfeng’s eyes were locked on Yun Jingya. Her figure was graceful and slender, her fair and delicate face oval-shaped, her long neck as elegant as a swan’s. What caught the eye was not just her still-youthful beauty, but her gentle and graceful temperament. Her clear, watery eyes were so bright and pure, like a mountain mist untouched by dust.
The moment she saw the female lead, Zhou Wanfeng felt a stir in her heart.
And she understood even more clearly that if the original Zhou Wanfeng had seen the sixteen-year-old Yun Jingya, she would probably have been driven mad with jealousy.
“You two, let go of Grandma quickly, don’t push her over.”
Zhou Wanfeng’s gaze shifted. The woman was strikingly beautiful and charming, wearing a floral dress and a matching wide-brimmed sun hat. Her long, dark, curly hair was casually tied in a braid that hung to the side of her neck.
This was Yun Lan, her stepmother, the mother of the two children. With such looks, Zhou Zhiru was truly fortunate.
The heartwarming picture of three generations was somewhat marred by Granny Zhang and the others carrying luggage upstairs.
Zhou Wanfeng watched quietly. A clear dividing line was drawn at her feet, until she looked down and met the eyes of a little fatty.
Yun Chengbin’s face was round and white like a steamed bun, his moist eyes as bright as obsidian. She didn’t know when he had come over, but he was standing about a meter away, looking at her with curiosity.
This child was clearly well-raised, with no trace of arrogance about him.
It seemed the heartwarming moment over there had ended, and they had finally noticed the extra person in the house.
Yun Jingya seemed a little shy, glancing at her and then looking away, only to steal another peek a second later. Yun Lan put an arm around her shoulder and led her forward.
The little fatty, Yun Chengbin, turned to see his mother and sister approaching and took his mother’s hand as well.
Yun Lan saw the girl sitting on the sofa, her expression cool, looking straight at them. Even in her plain clothes, the girl’s presence was not diminished in the slightest. She was leaning back against the sofa, her posture not perfectly straight, but there was no laziness or frivolity about her.
The features on the small face under her short hair had a kind of androgynous beauty, and one could see a resemblance to Zhou Zhiru.
“Hello, Wanfeng. I’m your father’s current wife. You can call me Auntie Yun.” Yun Lan’s expression was not entirely natural. She had learned of the child’s arrival in Yunhai City during her trip. In fact, for a long time, she had forgotten that Zhou Zhiru even had another daughter.
Zhou Zhiru held a grudge against his mother back home and never mentioned the people or events from his hometown. Over time, she had forgotten too.
“Hello, Auntie Yun. I’m Zhou Wanfeng. You’re more beautiful than I imagined.” Zhou Wanfeng stood up. She was small in stature, but her demeanor was as composed as an adult’s.
Only when she stood up straight did she realize that Yun Jingya next to her was half a hand taller.
Yun Lan accepted the compliment with a word of thanks, then called her two children forward. “This is Jingya. You should be the same age. This little fatty is Yun Chengbin. He’s seven this year. Say hello.”
There was a strange feeling. Zhou Wanfeng looked at Yun Lan and noticed that she had not mentioned any form of address from beginning to end, as if it were a necessary introduction, but the most important part had been omitted.
Zhou Wanfeng looked down at the little fatty who had been peeking at her, then at Yun Jingya. A smile touched her lips as she reintroduced herself. “Hello, I’m Zhou Wanfeng.”
The little fatty pouted and muttered, “I know,” before running to hug Yang Yijun.
Yun Jingya smiled and nodded, saying “hello,” still seeming a little shy.
Granny Zhang came down after putting away the luggage, her face wreathed in smiles. “Madam, when you’re not home, the whole house feels off. When you’re not here, the old mistress just stays in the Go room all day.”
Yang Yijun smiled and retorted, “It’s not that exaggerated.”
The awkward meet-and-greet session dissipated at once.
Yun Lan began to talk about the interesting things that had happened on their trip, and Zhou Wanfeng was once again forgotten.
In the spacious living room, the U-shaped sofa seemed to have become two separate worlds. On one side, three generations were happily reunited; on the other, Zhou Wanfeng sat alone.
The kitchen auntie brought out fruit platters and desserts one after another.
Everyone deliberately chose to forget Zhou Wanfeng’s existence.
No, one person hadn’t forgotten. Granny Zhang kept looking at her with a triumphant expression, as if to say, You are nothing in this family.
“Mom, did you know? We happened to be abroad during a performance by the ballerina, Isa. She’s opened her own ballet studio, specifically for talented girls. I took Jingya over just to get an autograph, but she could tell at a glance that Jingya had studied ballet and even asked her to dance a little. She praised Jingya’s talent and said that if she wanted to continue her studies, she could come to her dance studio.” Yun Lan was particularly happy talking about this, holding Jingya’s hand and not letting go, as if admiring a work of art she had created. She murmured to herself, “My daughter is truly amazing. I’m so proud to be your mother.” She didn’t forget to pat the little fatty’s head. “Brother, you have to work hard too, learn from your sister.”
“Miss Jingya has always been amazing. She’s a good dancer, plays the piano well, and can also draw. All her teachers praise her. The word ‘multi-talented’ was made to describe our Miss Jingya.”
As Granny Zhang spoke, Zhou Wanfeng noticed that her gaze ultimately fell on her, as if all those were things she could do.
“Miss Wanfeng, what kind of interest classes did you take back in Dongshan? If you learned the same things, you could exchange pointers.”
Granny Zhang’s smug face reminded Zhou Wanfeng of a lackey who had followed her nemesis in her past life, always using someone else’s power to act arrogantly.
Seeing Zhou Wanfeng’s expressionless face,
Granny Zhang’s eyes lit up with triumph. “Oh, look at me, I forgot. You don’t live in Dongshan city. The schools in the countryside probably don’t have these interest classes. You probably just run wild in the fields and ditches after school.”
Zhou Wanfeng looked at her and nodded, acknowledging that she was right. “Yes, climbing trees to catch birds, wading in the river to catch fish, running wild.”
Yun Lan said nothing, just motioned for the kitchen auntie to peel some more fruit for the little fatty.
Yun Jingya looked from side to side, feeling that it wasn’t right for Auntie Zhang to speak like that. She looked at her grandmother with wide eyes.
Yang Yijun smiled at her and blinked a couple of times.
Zhou Wanfeng saw everything. Granny Zhang wasn’t finished yet, seemingly unwilling to let this opportunity to show off pass so easily. “It’s good for girls to learn some arts. Girls who dance ballet have better posture and temperament. Look, even when they’re just sitting, don’t you think Miss Jingya’s posture is particularly graceful? Oh, the old saying ‘stand properly, sit properly’ wasn’t for nothing.”
“You’re right.” Zhou Wanfeng stared at Granny Zhang, then her gaze shifted to the kitchen auntie peeling fruit nearby. She stood up and walked over.
Granny Zhang was a little stunned. Yun Lan, Yang Yijun, and Yun Jingya all watched her quietly. Even the little fatty with his mouth full of fruit looked up at her.
“I’m from the countryside. I haven’t taken any interest classes, and I don’t know how to dance ballet. Let alone the piano, we didn’t even have music class in elementary school. I’m not artistic, but I am multi-talented in one thing.” With that, she reached out her hand without even looking, and heard the kitchen auntie exclaim as the knife disappeared from her hand.
Zhou Wanfeng held a fruit knife in one hand and a whole apple in the other. She placed the apple on the table.
She looked at Granny Zhang, her head held high, and the hand holding the knife suddenly began to move.
Up, down, left, right, like a dance, like a magic trick.
In the blink of an eye, the apple was neatly peeled and sliced.
Everyone stared in shock as her palm slapped down, the knife flew over her head, spinning and flipping between her fingers like a butterfly in a flower garden.
The next second, with a flick of her finger and a twist of her wrist, the blade was pointing down, the handle held firmly in her palm.
Yun Jingya’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands in applause. The little fatty stared at Zhou Wanfeng’s face, completely stunned.
Zhou Wanfeng glanced at the apple on the table. “This is the only thing I can show off. It can save my life in a critical moment. But Granny Zhang, does your Miss Jingya’s excellence have anything to do with you? Does it have anything to do with me? You can’t just go around saying this to everyone you meet, can you? You sounded so excited, I thought you knew how to dance ballet and play the piano.”
Granny Zhang stared at the knife in Zhou Wanfeng’s hand, her breathing erratic, her eyes fixed on the blade, afraid it would come flying at her head.
Yang Yijun clapped her hands, her expression calm, and even offered a word of praise. “Where did you learn this acrobatic trick? It’s quite good for peeling fruit. You can teach the aunties in the house in private. But it’s not good to hold a knife, so put it away.”
The kitchen auntie quickly took away the fruit platter and the knife and brought them to the kitchen.
After speaking, Yang Yijun looked at the silent Yun Lan, as if to remind her. “Yun Lan, didn’t you say on the phone that you bought some clothes for Wanfeng? Take her upstairs to try them on.”
Yun Lan stood up, her expression heavy. She took Zhou Wanfeng’s arm and said, “I forgot. I bought you two dresses. Come upstairs with me to try them on.”
Yun Jingya also stood up, but Yang Yijun held her down. “You stay and talk with Grandma. Tell me what other interesting things you encountered.”
Zhou Wanfeng was pulled upstairs to the second floor and into a bedroom. The bedroom was large, with a set of sofas and chairs.
The luggage had been neatly put away in the closet.
Yun Lan opened the closet and took out two new, unwrapped outfits, but instead of opening them, she turned and sat down on the sofa.
“Come and sit down.”
Zhou Wanfeng sat down opposite her, in the same posture as downstairs, her gaze quiet and cold.
Yun Lan placed the clothes on the coffee table, her hands clasped, her thumbs circling each other. Her eyes were downcast, as if she didn’t dare to look at Zhou Wanfeng’s face.
Her voice was low and soft. “I… I never thought you would come.” She looked up for a moment, then quickly looked down again, a hint of struggle and hesitation in her brow.
Zhou Wanfeng listened quietly.
“When your grandmother passed away, your father said you would stay in your hometown. I… I don’t know why you came, but… you can’t stay here.”
Zhou Wanfeng’s face was cold and stern. “Why?”
Yun Lan summoned her courage and looked up again. “Because this is not your home. I am your stepmother, I suppose. I have Jingya as my daughter. Before you came, it was me, Jingya, your father, and Chengbin. We were a family of four, and we got along very well. If you are added, the harmony of this family will be broken. I won’t hide it from you. You and Chengbin are siblings, but in my heart, Chengbin’s only sister is Jingya, and for the rest of his life, he can only be close to Jingya.”
“I… I hope my family can be the same as before. I don’t want you to live in my family, so please go back. After you go back, I can give you living expenses separately, and you have your uncles to take care of you back home.”
“What if I live alone? I don’t have to live here. I won’t disturb your lives.” Zhou Wanfeng’s brow furrowed slightly, her throat feeling tight.
“That won’t work either. If you stay in Yunhai City, you’ll have to go to school, and eventually, relatives and friends will find out. You may not understand, but my family is very large. The smallest thing can become gossip. It would be better if you didn’t show up. Your very presence in Yunhai City will disturb us. In fact, to Zhiru and Chengbin, you are a stranger. Apart from blood ties, you are not family.”
Yun Lan continued in one breath, “If you are unwilling to go back to Dongshan, I can help you live in another city. How about Nan City? It’s a big, bustling city. You can live and go to school there.”
Zhou Wanfeng sneered. “So, no matter what, I just can’t stay in Yunhai City, is that right?”
Yun Lan looked at Zhou Wanfeng’s cold eyes and chose to look away.
Zhou Wanfeng stared at Yun Lan, as if trying to see right through her. “I don’t want to live alone. I want to change, to live a different way. I actually don’t like living with people. I’m even afraid of getting close to people. But I still came. Zhou Zhiru is my father, isn’t he? I’m a little curious what it would be like to live by my father’s side. We don’t have to be too close. When I need living expenses, when I need pocket money, can’t he just put the money in my hand? He’s alive and well, not dead. Can’t he even do that for me?”
“I will contact your relatives in Dongshan to come and pick you up.” After stating her final conclusion, Yun Lan pushed the clothes towards Zhou Wanfeng, stood up, and went downstairs.