The Vanishing Beauty - Chapter 10 - 6
Chapter 10 - 6
Upon receiving Yu Jia's call, Luan Chengyun wished he could sprout wings and fly straight to Myanmar. In reality, however, he could only take it one step at a time. First a plane, then transferring to a coach, and finally riding a motorcycle to reach the small town attached to Moon City.
Moon City lay nestled in a mountain hollow. Because of the ongoing conflict, construction had come to a halt, and worst of all, a significant portion of the building materials had been looted. It was the peak of the monsoon season; flash floods had erupted, and the main structure of the first phase was sinking deep into the mire, looking completely beyond saving.
Luan Chengyun had no time to negotiate. Finding people took precedence.
The fighting was still ongoing, and the occasional crack of gunfire could be heard in broad daylight. Luan Chengyun paid a hefty sum to hire a translator, but after negotiating for a long time, they still couldn't find a guide. No one was willing to venture into the forest to risk their lives at a time like this.
He was burning with anxiety and heartache. Left with no other choice, Luan offered even more money, hoping that heavy rewards would attract brave men. Finally, an elephant-taming family agreed to lead Luan on a trip—they were planning to head into the mountains to log timber. In Southeast Asia, only the people of Myanmar still utilized elephants for logging, though the government had currently banned forest harvesting. The elephants had been resting for quite a while, and having finally stumbled upon an opportunity amidst the "chaotic times," the family intended to make a big push.
The translator was a middle-aged man who had worked in China and understood Mandarin. He followed the leader of the elephant-tamer family while riding the largest elephant. Luan Chengyun followed at the very rear, riding the smallest elephant. When they reached the river, they had to bathe the elephants. Luan Chengyun seized the opportunity to ask whether there were any places nearby where one could hide. The translator asked around and then turned back to tell Luan that there were some simple huts used by the elephant tamers.
Luan hurriedly asked if there was food and water inside. They replied that there was a little, but it couldn't be guaranteed—animals frequented those kinds of huts, after all.
Luan Chengyun grew even more worried about Yu Meng. Night was falling fast, and the elephant tamers were unwilling to continue moving forward. Luan Chengyun had the translator negotiate, stating he was willing to pay extra if at least one elephant and one person could guide the way. After much deliberation, the elephant tamers agreed.
They searched four different locations throughout the night, but found nothing. The forest was vast and boundless. Luan Chengyun feared that Yu Meng's fate was already sealed for the worse. The next day, the elephant tamers remembered there were cat-ear caves along the mountainside that could also be used for hiding. Luan Chengyun immediately said they would go look, offering more and more money.
At the foot of the mountain, "liberation flowers" bloomed everywhere.
A ball of fire suddenly erupted in the distance village, accompanied by intense gunfire. The elephant tamers refused to advance any further. The translator also advised Luan Chengyun not to be reckless.
"This is a great opportunity. Everyone's gone over there, so we'll head to the cat-ear caves," Luan Chengyun said.
No one listened to him. No one was going to joke with their own life.
If you lose your life, what good is money?
Now was an opportunity not to be missed. He would do it himself! Luan Chengyun gritted his teeth and walked toward the foot of the mountain, searching cave by cave.
Nothing.
No one.
Not a single person.
He flicked on his cell phone flashlight.
There were three caves left—the more secluded ones.
He ducked low and crept inside, and a loud scream immediately rang out from within—it was a woman's voice. The flashlight beam swept over her. The woman's face was covered in mud, making her look like a wild macaque.
"I'm a good person, I'm a good person! I have money, I have money!" It was Yu Meng.
Luan Chengyun let out a dry laugh. "I'm a good person too."
Yu Meng rubbed her eyes, recognized him, and instantly lunged forward, throwing her arms around him and bursting into loud tears.
...
Yu Shuang held up her phone, played the recording to the end, and then looked up at Kang Long. "Understand now?" It was her conversation with Dr. Songzi in the office that day.
Kang Long looked blank and wooden. "Is this supposed to be funny?"
Yu Shuang asked furiously, "This is her true face, a green tea—" She couldn't bring herself to say the bitch word.
"Are you done talking?" Kang Long was as cold as the Antarctic.
"How is she better than me?" Yu Shuang shouted.
Kang Long said, "She cares about me, worries about me, puts me at the center of everything, and feels that I'm worth investing in and loving. She's willing to marry me and have my children. I shouldn't have to repeat the same things over and over again."
"It's not like that!" Yu Shuang threw herself forward; she was determined to win him over. "I know you're not like this. Marriage is about finding someone who can make each other happier; it doesn't mean you can just marry anyone as long as you can live together."
Kang Long pushed her away and said earnestly, "You need to grow up."
Yu Shuang cried out in anguish, "I've said it a thousand times, ten thousand times, that it was my fault, my oversight! In the past I was selfish and didn't think things through, but you're important to me—very, very important." Her words tumbled out in a jumble.
"I'm a child, and you're a child too," Kang Long said. "If we're together, we can't survive. Neither of us can save the other."
"I can grow up!" Yu Shuang pleaded.
Kang Long gave a bitter laugh. "Don't be foolish. It's easier to move mountains than to change a person's nature."
Yu Shuang grew anxious. "You don't love her! We have true romance."
"We had it in the past, but it's gone now." There was a trace of sorrow in Kang Long's tone.
Yu Shuang immediately pressed on, "A relationship isn't just about romance; there's other stuff too—family ties, gratitude, all sorts of other things, so much more. Old Kang, I don't know whether I still have romantic love for you right now, I can't say for sure, but I definitely have deep feelings for you. These feelings can sublimate into family affection, and we can spend our whole lives together... After you left, I realized how important you are—so important. I care about our connection, I care about you. It's time to reach a milestone... Let's get married, okay? Don't hesitate... There are so many things in life that require a bit of impulse... so many things where we can compromise."
Kang Long stared at Yu Shuang, feeling as though he had lived through past and present lives in the span of a single instant.
"Say something!" Yu Shuang demanded an answer.
"No."
"Why?!"
Kang Long waited two seconds before speaking. "I promised Dad I would take care of her for the rest of her life."
Yu Shuang was instantly struck speechless, her heart churning like seven or eight huge waves. She understood now—she saw it clearly. Dr. Songzi had completely replaced her, right down to "fulfilling filial piety" before Chairman Kang passed away. Her stubbornness had given Dr. Songzi an "opportunity to exploit." Yu Shuang felt regret, hatred, and resentment. Why hadn't anyone told her beforehand? But wasn't it obvious? Before Chairman Kang drew his final breath, how could there possibly be two prospective daughters-in-law standing guard?
Chairman Kang had been deceived! How could a green tea... bitch like that take good care of Kang Long? How could she ever bring Kang Long happiness?!
"I'm going to go talk to Chairman Kang!" Yu Shuang was agitated, tears already streaming down her face.
"This was Dad's own wish." Kang Long delivered the final verdict.
It seemed there was no room left for redemption. Dr. Songzi had obtained the "imperial decree," acting with Mandate of Heaven authority, and practically had Kang Long in the bag.
Kang Long had business to attend to and left. Yu Shuang stood there alone for a long time before she remembered she needed to leave. Leaving this heartbreaking office—this was the second time she had suffered defeat right here; it was not a lucky place for her. Yu Shuang packed up her bag and walked out in a daze. As she reached the door, it pushed open. Someone called out for Teacher Kang.
Raising her head, she saw Dr. Songzi standing right in front of her, carrying a large bag.
Yu Shuang paused.
Songzi immediately flashed a victor's smile.
Yu Shuang wanted to curse her out, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.
Songzi fired the first shot. "Still putting up a dying struggle? Is it any use? Even if you invited the Eight-Nation Alliance here right now, you couldn't breach my impregnable fortress." She followed it with a light chuckle. Yu Shuang pulled out her phone and played the recording; Songzi's sharp voice immediately drifted out. Dr. Songzi's eyes widened behind her spectacle lenses. "Insidious, cunning, and shameless!"
Yu Shuang counterattacked, "You're the one who deceived the Chairman."
Songzi paused for a second. "Do you take the Chairman for a fool? He saw right through you long ago! A woman as selfish as you, who only thinks of herself without considering anyone else, has no business being the Kang family's daughter-in-law!" She paused briefly. "I can't be bothered to waste words with you. Just wait to receive my wedding invitation."
She had the heart to slay the enemy, but lacked the strength to turn the tide. Yu Shuang had no choice but to pull her water bottle from her bag, unscrew it with the speed of lightning, and splash: Take this! Tea leaves mixed with water lunged toward Songzi. Who would have nimble eyes and quick feet, dodging cleanly out of the way with effortless ease. Following right after, she also pulled a water bottle from her bag.
The exact same method. Unscrew it, and splash.
Yu Shuang didn't have time to dodge and took the hit full-force. Not only did water splatter across half her body, but a few wolfberry fruits even clung to her clothes. Dr. Songzi turned and walked away without looking back; she had no intention of cleaning up the battlefield.
Yu Shuang stood there in a daze, feeling utterly lost as she looked all around.
She was the defeated nation.
Returning home meant a massive crying session. Yet, what good would it do? She genuinely couldn't think of any way to make Dr. Songzi give up this juicy piece of fat that was Old Kang. Compared to Songzi, she was far too naive. Romance could not withstand being rubbed raw; in the past, she had been far too confident and too selfish. Songzi had advanced step by step while she retreated in steady defeat. Pine nuts and chestnuts harmonized like the zither and the flute, leaving her as a superfluous fifth wheel. Chairman Kang had been muddle-headed!
Chuner, being thoughtful, handed over a towel for her aunt to wipe her face. Yu Shuang embraced Chuner and burst into a fresh round of massive tears.
Chuner asked, "Did Uncle make Auntie angry?"
Yu Shuang wept torrents. "He... is unwilling... unwilling to be your uncle."
Chuner replied, "Is it because I'm a burden to Auntie?"
Yu Shuang stopped crying and hurriedly explained, "No, no... it has nothing to do with you."
Chuner added, "I'll go talk to Uncle."
Yu Shuang burst into a fresh fountain of tears. "Don't go..."
She thrashed about on the bed, crying her heart out—just cry it all out once and for all, forget him, forget him, Yu Shuang forced herself. Yet, after sleeping through the night, Kang Long's image still lingered relentlessly in her mind. Only what could not be attained was truly precious. Wearing her wireless earbuds, she listened to song after song. Don't think. I won't think. But just as Sandy Lam sang, Because you don't understand, as long as there is love there is pain, her eyes began leaking again like a living spring, bubbling over with tears.