Chapter Forty-Nine: Amber Cufflinks

I suddenly asked, “How did you know we were here?”

At my words, everyone’s gaze instinctively turned to Yi Huayang. Uncle Du eyed him suspiciously, “Yes, Huayang, how did you know they were here? Don’t tell me...”

Yi Huayang hurried to explain, somewhat flustered, “It’s got nothing to do with me. I only heard from a friend who saw the two of them drinking at a bar. It just so happened that Lan Shan ran out of her stomach medicine, and my dad insisted on bringing it over. How was I supposed to know I’d stumble upon something I shouldn’t have?”

Du Fanchuan turned to my father and said, “Uncle, I’m willing to marry Wu You. Please give us your blessing.”

My father glanced at me, his mind surely in turmoil. Both his daughters entangled with Du Fanchuan—this matter was more difficult than any case he had ever handled.

Cradling A Jiu in my arms, I gave them all a clear signal to leave. “This has nothing to do with Du Fanchuan. I’m tired. All of you, please go home.”

Du Fanchuan wanted to say more, but Uncle Du patted him on the shoulder, signaling that there would be time enough in the future. Reluctantly, he left.

As soon as they were gone, my father’s face darkened. He demanded, “Lan Shan, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

Yi Huayang’s tone turned mocking once again, “Dad, what’s left to explain? Isn’t it obvious?”

I grabbed an apple from the coffee table and hurled it at her, snarling, “Enough with your disgusting attitude. I can’t stand it.”

Yi Huayang suddenly sprang to her feet, her finger gleaming as she pointed at me. “Lan Shan, who’s really disgusting here? You sleep with Du Fanchuan and think you’re not disgusting? You sneak around and think you’re not disgusting? No wonder you moved out of the dorm—you just wanted to make it easier to sleep around with men, didn’t you?”

I nodded coolly, “Yes, I’m sleeping around with men. You and I are two of a kind, so neither of us has the right to judge the other.”

My father’s patience wore thin; he glared at us both. “Enough. Tell me, what are you going to do about what happened today?”

I had already regained my composure. “I’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry.”

My father was exasperated. “What do you mean, I don’t need to worry? I brought you your medicine and even that was a mistake, wasn’t it?”

With Yi Huayang still present, I simply couldn’t bring myself to say anything grateful. I knew all too well that for the past two years, all my stomach medicine had been brought from abroad by my father through his connections. Even though he had friends overseas, it still required effort and care on his part.

Rong Luo was already leaving with Yi Huayang. The courtyard fell silent, leaving only my father and me. He sighed, “Daughter, how could you be so foolish? Du Fanchuan was with your sister, and now you’re involved with him. What am I supposed to say to you?”

I didn’t want to discuss it further. To ease the tension between us, I said, “Guangshan, I’m hungry. Could you make me a bowl of noodles?”

After my father went into the kitchen, I returned to my bedroom, stripped the sheets and duvet, and replaced them with fresh ones. Suddenly, something rolled off the bed onto the floor.

I bent down and picked it up—a single amber cufflink.

An item meant only for men, turning up in my bedroom—it was clear now that the man who’d come to my room last night wasn’t Du Fanchuan.

Du Fanchuan never wore cufflinks, and the previous night he’d been dressed casually.

I clutched the cufflink tightly, my heart pounding. Could it really have been him?

While I ate my noodles, my father busied himself cleaning the house. I told him to let it be, but he wouldn’t listen, muttering all the while, “You’re too stubborn for your own good. You’ll only end up getting hurt. Du Fanchuan’s indecisive nature doesn’t suit you.”

I laughed. “Guangshan, it’s not as if I ever said I’d marry him. Why are you so worried? My life and death are my own—why do you fuss?”

He pretended to be angry. “You wretched girl, I worry about you and you call it fussing? If you were as blessed as your sister and could find a good man, I wouldn’t need to worry at all.”

My mouth full of noodles, I replied, “All right, all right. Long life to you, a thousand times over.”

After seeing my father off, I slipped the cufflink into my pocket and headed out to catch a cab to Lan Feng Group.