Chapter 411 Smile for Me

Qin Sheng, though having been here for four and a half years, had rarely hung out around this city. Landmark skyscrapers are usually considered to be the symbol of cities. For Shanghai, it’s those extremely high buildings in Pudong. But the city’s original style is embodied in the Nongtang alleys, showing Shanghai’s culture and tradition.

Qin Sheng was kind of familiar with Sinan Road. He rode on a bike, going along Sinan Road to the north. It only took a five-minute ride to reach Shangshan Ruoshui. Qin Sheng parked the shared bicycle and stood under a tree, looking at the building where he used to work, having a sense of half familiar, half strange. Ms. An, Yu Fengzhi, Lyu Yuan, and his other good friends were asked by him to move to Hangzhou. Now, he had no friends here, only enemies.

He thought about the friends that had followed him to Hangzhou, feeling sorry for them. It had been two months since he left Hangzhou. How were they doing?

There were few cars passing by, for it was not mealtime. He heard from Ms. An that Shangshan Ruoshui was slow compared to when it was run by Jiang Xianbang. It was hard to maintain its high level, and it might have transformed into a normal restaurant.

Qin Sheng felt dull when he was waiting and watching. He didn’t run into any acquaintances, like Wang Haichao, the manager, who used to be unfriendly to him and became a deputy general manager then; like Yan Chaozong, one of the two people who planned to kill him on Mount Jiuhua; or like Han Zhengdong, who was in charge of Shangshan Ruoshui; and Ye Muyang, the youngest son of Boss Ye. Qin Sheng would never forget them and would get his revenge one day.

Since he was at Shangshan Ruoshui, Qin Sheng thought of Jiang Xianbang, who helped him and supported him. The last time they got in touch, Jiang was in Singapore. How was he doing now? And his foster daughter, Qing’er, who was a teacher at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and was good at playing Guzheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, how was she doing? Uncle Jiang asked him to take care of Qing’er, but he even didn’t take care of himself.

Jiang Xianbang’s old foreign-style house was on Middle Huaihai Road, which was close to here. Qin Sheng said he was going to meet up with an old friend, and it was Qing’er. But he was not sure if she lived in Jiang’s house now. It was the Spring Festival Holiday, so she might have left Shanghai, celebrating the festival with Uncle Jiang in Singapore.

Qin Sheng didn’t have Qing’er’s phone number and had lost Uncle Jiang’s number. He only maintained no more than 20 people’s numbers. So even if he went to the house, he was not sure if he could meet her.

He took a taxi and arrived there a few minutes later. The door was closed and he couldn’t tell if someone was in there. There were Spring Festival scrolls decorated by the door, which made Qin Sheng relieved. Whether Qing’er was still there or not, this house was taken care of by someone well and these people would help him get in touch with the owners.

Qin Sheng walked to the door and pressed the doorbell, waiting for a response.

The decoration of the house was not changed much, while the valuable collections were sold and only cheap decorations were kept.

At this moment, a woman wearing a grey linen Qipao dress was sitting on the sofa, reading. Her hair was tied casually. A small oven was lit beside her to heat an old iron kettle, which was made by a famous craftsman and was bought by Jiang Xianbang. This valuable collection was not kept on a shelf, but used in daily life to make tea. A Guzheng was set in front of the woman with a music score on it. It seemed that she was playing just now.

The sun shone through the window and lit up the woman. Tea was heated in the kettle, boiling into steam. She was like a fairy out of Chinese mythology, but it was weird in such a modern city like Shanghai.

Her reading stopped with the ring of the doorbell. She frowned and put down the book. “Uncle Wang, go and see who’s outside. If it’s Liang Chen, tell him I’m not home.”

Uncle Wang, the housekeeper of this old foreign-style house, had been staying here and taking care of Qing’er, who was unwilling to move to Hong Kong, though the house owner, Jiang Xianbang, had left.

Uncle Wang checked the surveillance video of the entrance and saw Qin Sheng, a kind of familiar face. Qin Sheng had come here a few times, but Uncle Wang didn’t have a good memory to remember him after such a long time. He knew that this young man must have come to meet Jiang Xianbang. Only a few people knew that Jiang Xianbang was not in China, and sometimes his old friends just came and asked about him.

Uncle Wang walked over to the entrance, opened the small door, eyed Qin Sheng and asked, “Hello?”

When the small door was opened, Qin Sheng was relieved. At least someone was inside and could help him get in touch with Qing’er or Uncle Jiang.

Qin Sheng found that it was the housekeeper, so he grinned and said, “Uncle Wang, I’m Qin Sheng. I came often two years ago. When Uncle Jiang left Shanghai, he asked me to take care of Qing’er, do you remember me now?”

Reminded by Qin Sheng, Uncle Wang recalled something and said, “Oh, I remember you, Qin Sheng. Your face is familiar. You’re coming to meet Lao Jiang, right? But he’s still abroad.”

Qin Sheng smiled slightly. “I know. I’m coming to meet Qing’er. I have been away from Shanghai for a long time and wonder about her situation. Uncle Jiang asked me to take care of her, but I got into some trouble and had to leave Shanghai. I failed to take care of my responsibility and feel regretful. Since I’ve come to Shanghai now, I must see her. Uncle Wang, what about Qing’er? Is she here or did she go to Singapore for Uncle Jiang?”

Uncle Wang said, “She’s here. I’ll take you to meet her. She’s so stubborn. She insisted on staying in Shanghai to accompany me. She said that this was her home, and someone has to be here during the Spring Festival.”

Qin Sheng was surprised. He thought that he might not be able to meet Qing’er today and didn’t expect that he would be so lucky. It seemed that he was becoming luckier since he went back to Beijing.

Uncle Wang let Qin Sheng in and led him into the house. The woman wearing the grey linen Qipao dress was definitely Qing’er, who had heard the footsteps and was wondering who the guest was.

Uncle Wang then took Qin Sheng into the room and said excitedly, “Girl, we have a guest.”

Qing’er looked at the entrance and remained still when she saw the face of Qin Sheng. She dropped the book in her hands unconsciously, feeling astonished.

It was hard to start a conversation after a long time of separation between old friends.

Qin Sheng walked over to Qing’er and smiled. “Qing’er, long time no see. How are you doing these days?”

Qing’er looked a bit dull, for she was too astonished. “Why have you come?”

Uncle Wang nodded to Qin Sheng and left. “You just chat. I’m going upstairs to put things away.”

And he left with a smile.

Qin Sheng eyed Qing’er, the old friend he hadn’t seen for over a year. She was as beautiful as a fairy in a legendary story, but lacked a sense of earthly beauty.

“I didn’t expect that you’d be here and thought that you were celebrating the Spring Festival with Uncle Jiang. I lost my cell and lost your numbers. I went back to Shanghai. I’m so lucky to meet you,” Qin Sheng laughed and explained.

Qing’er was surprised to see Qin Sheng, but she didn’t have a good impression of him. They had quarreled a lot in the past. Qing’er felt unpleasant by Qin Sheng’s casual attitude, and Qin Sheng disliked that Qing’er was being distant.

“What’s the matter?” Qing’er frowned and asked. Uncle Jiang used to tell her to ask Qin Sheng for help when she was in trouble. But when she was in need, she found no way to get in touch with him, which made her more dissatisfied with him.

Qin Sheng felt awkward. “We’re friends, right? No poker face. At least you should have me take a seat and make me a cup of tea.”

Qing’er said casually, “Fine, take a seat.”

Qin Sheng sat on the sofa beside Qing’er. She poured a cup of tea for him. Qin Sheng took the cup and said thanks. He raised his head, looking at Qing’er. “It has been a year since we met last. How have you been?”

“It’s none of your business. What’s your reason to come here? If you want someone to chat away with you, I’m not good at it.” Qing’er was distant as usual.

Qin Sheng only cared for his friends and family. He treated Qing’er as his friend, but Qing’er didn’t treat him as her friend. Qin Sheng felt uncomfortable by this, and he would never bear that.

Qin Sheng’s smile froze. “I didn’t come to see you. I lost Uncle Jiang’s number. I need to get in touch with him. I have something to talk to him about.”

“What’s the matter?” Qing’er was not willing to give Uncle Jiang’s number to Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng said slowly, “Like, to make him come back.”

“What? Can you make him come back? Really?” Qing’er was so excited that she stood up at once and stared at Qin Sheng with an astonished face.

Qin Sheng didn’t expect that Qing’er would be so excited. He sighed deliberately. “I thought that you would be willing to talk about this with me. Since you don’t want to see me, maybe I should go now. I don’t need to worry that much. Sorry to disturb you.”

Then Qin Sheng put down the cup and was about to leave.

Qing’er was flustered and regretted her distant attitude toward Qin Sheng. She held Qin Sheng’s hand. “Sorry. I shouldn’t speak in that way. I’m asking for your forgiveness. You can make Uncle Jiang come back, really?”

Qin Sheng grunted. “It’s none of your business.”

“Qin Sheng, sorry. I’m really sorry. I was so wrong. Please tell me.” Qing’er stopped him. She was not sure whether Qin Sheng was telling the truth, but it was a chance for them anyway.

Qin Sheng turned back and eyed Qing’er with a smile. “You really wonder, huh?”

“Mmm.” Qing’er nodded firmly.

Qin Sheng stared at Qing’er, giving her a tacit stare. Qing’er stepped back a little, feeling fearful. Qin Sheng said, “Smile for me.”

Qing’er froze…