The Vanishing Beauty - Chapter 10 - 4
Chapter 10 - 4
Standing on the mountainside and looking down, Yu Meng felt like a god.
A female god.
It was about time a woman played the role of a god.
Whatever she said went. There was light, all things, people... and Moon City. The moment Boss Min's funds arrived, construction on Moon City went into full swing. She had confidence in this project. The confidentiality was well-maintained, she had the backing of the local government, and the surrounding environment was favorable. Most importantly, capital flows frequently "passed by" in this region, and anyone might get an itch in their hands and come play a round.
Several locals followed behind Yu Meng, including bodyguards, a guide, a translator, and a supervisor sent by the local partner. Last night, she received the news passed along by her sisters in the women's enterprise association, and only then did she learn that Old Han had been barred from leaving the country.
Yu Meng fell into deep thought. She roughly knew about Old Han's situation from within their circles; playing the way they did, trouble was bound to happen sooner or later. Yu Meng felt a sense of fortune. This had two layers of meaning. First, after breaking up with Liangcai, she had originally intended to target Old Han, and she was grateful for Old Han's initial "frosty indifference." If she had truly conquered that mountain peak back then, she would now be Old Han's mistress and would inevitably face investigation. Never mind Moon City, even the wind power plant project would likely have been dragged into the mess. Second, she was grateful that after Old Han's incident, the Group no longer interfered in the Myanmar project. This meant a clean cut; even during subsequent investigations, the disaster would not "implicate the fish in the moat."
She was safe.
Yu Meng sighed with emotion. Through a bizarre twist of fate, this was life! Who could have known? Perhaps just to fulfill her, Old Han had fallen, the Group was ruined, and the world was in chaos, yet she alone reaped the benefits.
Yu Meng couldn't help thinking of the story of the fallen city and romance written by Eileen Chang. With the world turning upside down, she didn't feel her position in history was particularly delicate.
Min Jianzhong's deputy called to discuss the capital injection. Yu Meng exerted herself with a lengthy explanation, the core idea being: as long as the first phase of the Moon Palace was built and the license obtained, operations could begin. Once things were running, the money would start rolling, and subsequent phases would become much easier. Everything was legal and compliant, permitted by the Myanmar government... They also wanted to make money off foreigners... Victory was in sight, victory was in sight...
Yu Meng encouraged Min's man. The deputy didn't say much, merely indicating that the second tranche of funds would arrive very soon. "Don't worry, I'm keeping an eye on it, nothing will go wrong." Yu Meng chuckled, then remarked a moment later that the signal was poor and they should hang up.
Yu Meng truly knew how to endure hardship! She was building a hotel, but before it was finished, she lived right in the construction shack, eating and sleeping alongside the workers. Most importantly, she didn't trust anyone else. Moon City had to be absolute perfection. There were many mosquitoes locally, but fortunately Yu Meng brought a mosquito net; even after setting it up, a buzzing sound persisted in her ears all night long.
The signal in the mountain hollow was poor, coming and going intermittently, making it impossible to access the internet. Yu Meng had the translator teach her to sing Myanmar folk songs. The translator taught her "The Seagull," saying it used to be very popular and loved by the overseas Chinese as well, and that even Guan Mucun had sung it.
Yu Meng asked what the lyrics were about. The translator said it was in praise of the Irrawaddy River. This was Myanmar's largest river. "Is that that river?" Yu Meng remembered passing by it, though she hadn't remembered the name. Hearing the translator put it that way, she grew restless again and wanted to go take a look at the river.
The rivers in Myanmar were different from those in China. They were both rivers, but perhaps due to the latitude, the rivers here ran deeper and darker. The vegetation on both banks grew dense, and the river, sandwiched in between, took on a sense of mystery. Yu Meng stood by the riverbank with the forest behind her. The translator reminded her to move a bit closer to the open ground because he was afraid of snakes. Yu Meng hurriedly shuffled over.
The bright moon hung high in the sky. Insects and frogs called out all around. It was a unique, exotic atmosphere.
Yu Meng suddenly began to sing casually, humming Teresa Teng's "The Place of First Love": "I remember there is a place, which I will never, ever forget; he and I made our pledge of love there, and spent wonderful times together..."
Her singing stopped abruptly. She didn't want to sing anymore.
The place of first love... she actually thought of Luan Chengyun. Her very first formal romance had ended in marriage. Her first love was with Luan Chengyun, and the location was a hospital—how inauspicious! Stop singing, don't sing. Luan used to insist that she was his first love too. Was that even possible? Who would believe it? Yu Meng took a deep breath, wanting to banish the unpleasant thoughts as quickly as possible.
Suddenly, a rapid rat-tat-tat sound erupted from behind.
"Who's setting off firecrackers?" Yu Meng turned to ask the young male translator, "Or is someone farting?" She still possessed a shred of humor.
Instead, the translator grabbed her fiercely, causing Yu Meng to lose her balance and take a clumsy header, slamming flat onto the ground. She ended up eating dirt.
"Are you crazy?!" Yu Meng snapped, furious. What was the meaning of this? She was the boss! He was an employee, how dare he be so rude!
Another burst of rat-tat-tat rang out. It sounded somewhat like a tractor.
The translator pressed Yu Meng's head down.
Yu Meng reached out and slapped him across the face. The translator pressed a finger to his lips, whispering, "Shh—" Rat-tat-tat-tat—the sound grew denser, seemingly drawing closer.
Goosebumps broke out all over Yu Meng's body. She finally realized this was no tractor sound at all. It was gunfire!
...
When she received the "inside intelligence," Yu Shuang felt as though her heart had been riddled by a machine gun. It was passed along by an old classmate who had heard it from Bai Yuankai. Yuankai couldn't "leak" it directly, but through a careless slip, he achieved "national salvation through a roundabout way."
Kang Long and Dr. Songzi showed signs of a "reconciliation." The two went out gathering inspiration for their art together, ate together in the cafeteria, and went to the movies together. Word had it that Kang Long even went to meet Dr. Songzi's mother. Students on campus had already given them a nickname: the "Condor Heroes."
Kang Long was Yang Guo. Dr. Songzi was "Auntie."
Disgusting! Yu Shuang felt miserable. Was she jealous? A little, she admitted. Ever since they met, in her relationship with Kang Long, she had always held the upper hand. Now, a reversal had caught her unawares. She was part of the vulnerable group. No way, she had to fight back!
At the classroom entrance, Yu Shuang stood gracefully.
Class ended, and Kang Long walked out of the classroom. Yu Shuang stepped forward. "We need to talk."
"I have class this afternoon."
"It won't take up too much of your time."
Students began hooting and hollering; their handsome male teacher had a new development on his hands.
Time to grab some melon seeds to watch the show.
Kang Long quieted the students down, then led Yu Shuang to his office, telling her he had some business at the department office and asking her to wait a moment. The wait ended up lasting half an hour. Yu Shuang felt distressed. He used to not be like this. Did he really not care about her anymore? Just because she hadn't married him before his father passed away? Because she hadn't fulfilled the old man's final wish? But she hadn't known! If she had known the situation, she definitely would have bravely sacrificed herself!
Kang Long returned. He looked travel-worn and hurried.
"Speak." He was a teacher, currently reviewing academic reports from students.
"There's a misunderstanding between us."
"There's no need to discuss that issue," Kang Long said coldly. "Is there anything else?" Yu Shuang grew anxious. "You can't be this unfair! I honestly didn't know your dad was sick! You guys didn't tell me! If I had known... how could I possibly... it wouldn't have come to this... seriously... let's look forward!" She stepped forward.
He stepped back, crossing his arms. "Thanks for the reminder, I'm already looking forward." He glanced at his watch. "Sorry, I might not be able to treat you to lunch today." He made to walk out.
Before Yu Shuang could finish her sentence, she cried out, "Wait a second!" She grabbed his arm. He gently shook her off. "Why on earth is this? I'm innocent, I didn't know anything. Things happened, ignorance is no crime—why are my offenses unforgivable?"
Kang Long said, "There's no need to keep spinning the same old wheels. Everything was made clear long ago. You did nothing wrong; I'm the one who changed. Marriage requires matching family backgrounds, and right now I just want to find a woman who supports me, loves me, is willing to give for me, and can cook and bear children for me."
"I can do all that!" Yu Shuang burst into tears.
"You only love yourself!" Kang Long erupted with thunderous fury.
His phone rang, and Kang Long went to answer it. There was an urgent matter at the department requiring his attention. He composed his emotions, turned back to tell Yu Shuang to remember to lock the door when she left, and then hurried away. Yu Shuang sat alone in Kang Long's office. She sat in Kang Long's chair. This was an old-style office building. The desk was also an old model, topped with a large glass pane with photographs and newspapers pressed underneath. Suddenly, she noticed two train ticket stubs tucked near the edge of the glass pane.
They were left over from that time they took a boat across the river to the small island to ride the Ferris wheel and watch fireworks. He had kept them after all. Yet, human circumstances had changed drastically... Yu Shuang wept even harder. Why the hell did romance have to be so torturous? How wonderful life would be if people had no feelings at all!
The door pushed open. A woman entered, carrying a few books and a folder. She called out for Old Kang the moment she raised her head. Stepping further in, however, she discovered that sitting in Kang Long's chair was also a woman. Yu Shuang raised her head and quickly scanned her.
Plain-looking, short in stature, wearing a pair of glasses.
Dr. Songzi?
That woman closed the door properly, smiled, walked step by step toward Yu Shuang, and extended a hand. "Hello."
Yu Shuang refused to shake it. A weasel paying respects to a chicken! Remaining silent, she flipped her phone over, wedged it onto the desk, and stood up.
The woman withdrew her hand and spoke as if taking attendance in class, "You're Yu Shuang."
Yu Shuang shot back, "And you're Dr. Songzi."
The woman gave a light chuckle. "Right, I study pine nuts [Songzi]. Pine nuts and chestnuts both grow in the forest—a match made in heaven."
She had already started showing off her dominance. The flames of war were about to ignite at a touch.
Yu Shuang said, "Do you have any idea what kind of behavior this is?"
"Oh?"
"It's being a homewrecker."
The woman's expression flipped in a second as she swiveled her body ninety degrees. "From what I understand, you and Old Kang broke up."
"Nonsense!" Yu Shuang realized she was utterly hopeless at arguing.
" women like you," Dr. Songzi chuckled, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to strike a devastating blow to Yu Shuang, "think that having a bit of looks allows you to do whatever you want? Men get tired too. Don't overestimate yourself. Is there really that much difference between women? What do you have that I don't?" Her tone shifted to a severe, sharp edge. "I knew from the start you weren't any good! Badmouthing me to Old Kang! Did it do any good? It only makes you look exceptionally low!"
What was this? Where did this come from? When had she ever badmouthed anyone? When you want to condemn someone, charges are never lacking! It seemed this woman was simply here to pick a fight.
Yu Shuang rolled up her sleeves.
The door opened again. Kang Long walked in. Dr. Songzi immediately put on a smiling face, turned toward the water dispenser, swiftly pulled out a paper cup, drew some water, and walked toward Yu Shuang while calling out to Kang Long, "Have some water, sit down for a moment. It's almost time to eat, Old Kang. Teacher Yu went to all this trouble to come visit, let's eat together."
Yu Shuang swung her forearm, swatting the paper cup away and splashing water all over Dr. Songzi.
Songzi let out a cry of alarm, her face full of grievance.
Was this a university teacher?! Yu Shuang cursed inwardly. She was even more of a green tea bitch than a green tea bitch! Kang Long liked this kind of trash?! Was he blind?!
"Enough!" Kang Long bellowed. "You're not allowed to throw tantrums here!"
A tantrum?! He actually used that word on her! Yu Shuang snatched up her phone, roared at Kang Long and Dr. Songzi, "Aren't you just wonderful!" and bolted out the door.
Dr. Songzi hurried after her, wearing a look of distressed difficulty as she said to Kang Long, "Old Kang... look at this..."
"That's enough!" Kang Long didn't want to listen to her explanations either.