With only a month left until the start of school, Huayan and her father had been bustling around, leading a hectic life filled with uncertainties. However, their efforts didn't go in vain; they reaped some rewards.
When they were selecting a location for their shop, they came across a two-story building on the bustling H University street. The elderly owner, who was frail and planning to retire abroad with her children, was selling the property.
Situated near H University and several other prestigious institutions, the location guaranteed a steady flow of customers. Moreover, with a variety of high-end and affordable shops for every need, along with convenient access to subway and bus stations, the area was second to none in terms of popularity, only second to the busiest shopping street in the city.
The old lady had maintained the house exceptionally well, with its walls still pristine white. Due to her previous business of selling incense on the ground floor, a faint scent of sandalwood permeated the house, creating a serene ambiance. Influenced by the monk's divination, Huayan particularly liked this calming fragrance.
The second floor comprised four bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and two bathrooms, all well-lit and thoughtfully designed. Upon closer inspection, Huayan found the room layout sensible, with optimal use of space and excellent soundproofing from the ground floor. To address this concern, the old lady even played Teresa Teng's "The Moon Represents My Heart" on her cherished wooden hand-carved phonograph.
Impressed by the antique charm of the house, Huayan's genuine fondness didn't escape the old lady's notice. With mutual sympathy, the old lady warmly invited Huayan and her father to listen to music and bask in the sunlight on the ground floor, where three bamboo chairs with silk cushions surrounded a delicate sandalwood round table—a cozy spot for reading and enjoying afternoon tea with the old lady's homemade whole grain snacks. As the old lady and Huayan's father engaged in lively conversation, Huayan occasionally chimed in, eliciting continuous laughter from the old lady.
In the end, the old lady sold the house to Huayan and her father for fifty thousand dollars, fifty thousand less than the originally agreed upon seventy thousand. Furthermore, she insisted that all the antique furniture and decorations in the house, except for those she held dear, remain. Upon observation, Huayan realized that the old lady's family was quite well-off, so she didn't mind the small sum.
Three days later, when the old lady's belongings were moved out and Huayan was handed the keys, they had one last tea session together. The old lady sighed, expressing regret at not having met sooner. If circumstances had allowed, they might have become lifelong friends. Seeing the old lady off as she left in a car, Huayan felt a strange melancholy in her heart. It was rare to encounter a kindred spirit in life, and she hadn't expected to meet one so much older than herself, only to part so soon.
Upon inspecting the house, Huayan discovered a well-preserved antique phonograph and a dozen or so out-of-print vinyl records, some dating back over twenty years. Reading the letters on the desk, Huayan learned that the old lady had noticed her particular fondness for these antique items when they listened to music together, so she decided to leave them to her as a memento.
In honor of this late-life friend, Huayan had a calligraphy master write out the poem from the old lady's letter: "Green and dim, red and sparse, Phoenix City emerges; Amidst evening clouds, ancient and modern emotions arise. Travelers, don't listen to the palace-front water, For it flows away with the years." She had it framed and hung it in the study on the second floor as a tribute.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
With too much sorrow associated with Changle City in her father's heart, and with Huayan not wanting to encounter the Cheng family again, they decided to rent out their villa in Changle City. They helped Mrs. Chang move to the seaside city to take care of their lives while having a place to stay. After sorting out the belongings in the villa—throwing away what wasn't needed and selling what they could—the three of them were finally done after four busy days. Most of the belongings were just a few large boxes of books belonging to Huayan and her father. Mr. Chang took Mrs. Chang to the seaside city first to settle in, while Huayan stayed behind in Changle City to deal with the last batch of valuable handbags and clothes. The villa was also rented out.
On the day before leaving Changle City, Huayan went to the orphanage and left five hundred thousand for the director's expenses. With everything settled, Huayan didn't inform her father and went to the cemetery to retrieve her ashes. On a beautiful day, she climbed to the peak of the serene De'en Temple and let the wind carry away her ashes.
Her soul found rebirth, and she hoped her physical remains would drift freely with the wind, marking an end to her previous life.
Upon returning to their new home, the familiar scent of sandalwood and tranquility still lingered, now accompanied by a sense of joy. The wooden display cabinets on the ground floor, crafted according to Huayan's request by her father, illuminated by soft lights, exuded elegance even without any ornaments. The second floor was also tidied up, with only the newly purchased bed being replaced, while everything else was kept as it was left by the old lady.
Chang Ma, treated the antiques left by the old lady with great enthusiasm, considering them as treasures. She attributed this excitement to her own experience, having served as a maid for the large families for years.
After resting for a few days in the new home, Huayan called Gao Ruqing to negotiate business. She purchased a batch of exquisite jewelry from him and had her jade stone made into a set of jewelry. Additionally, she and Gao Ruqing procured a large amount of leftover materials from their workshop, as Huayan wanted to try making bracelets and pendants herself.
Gao Ruqing subtly hinted at inviting Huayan to join their company, offering her a procurement job as needed. Although Huayan declined politely, Gao Ruqing expressed his regret but didn't press further. He had already investigated Huayan thoroughly the next day.
Upon discovering Huayan's gambling ability, Gao Ruqing began to suspect that she had her own secrets. However, after uncovering the truth, he could only sigh and smile, feeling that this woman had endured so much hardship that heaven finally bestowed some good fortune upon her as a small compensation.
After finalizing the deal, Gao Ruqing arranged for the jewelry to be delivered to Huayan, along with her jade stone incorporated into the design and the leftover materials as per her request. However, Huayan requested that the hairpin made from her jade stone be completed within three days. She planned to sell it at a low price on the opening day, believing that many would come upon hearing the news.
That evening, Huayan posted pictures of the hairpin and the jewelry, along with a certificate of authenticity, on the guild's website of the upper class that Gao Ruqing had provided her. She announced the sale at a discounted price in three days but omitted the address of her boutique. Despite having money, no woman could resist such luxurious, exquisite items at low prices.
Exhausted from the day's activities, Huayan collapsed on the sofa upon returning home, looking deflated. Seeing her in such a state, her father and Chang Ma felt heartbroken. Both elderly people attended to Huayan, with her father massaging her back and Chang Ma serving her wild chicken soup from the kitchen. Enjoying their care, Huayan closed her eyes and reflected on her conversation with Gao Ruqing. She realized that talking to these old foxes was mentally taxing; although she appeared relaxed at the time, every nerve in her body was taut, afraid of being ensnared by their words. She also decided to avoid gambling for the time being unless necessary. Her next steps were to focus on her studies and ensure the successful opening of her boutique.