Senior Sister Chapter 5
It is fortunate in this lifetime to have the opportunity to encounter a good person.
These past two days, Song Shuqing has been extremely happy, experiencing firsthand the joy of “spending money like a boss.”
The chef at Chunfeng Tower is skilled, and Song Shuqing happily ordered a variety of dishes from the menu, tasting and appreciating each one with Zi Yan by her side.
Not only can she listen to Zi Yan’s music at any time, but after eating, she can lazily lay on the courtesan’s lap, basking in the sun for a nap. In her free time, she even teaches women how to play Xiangqi.
In short, it has been two incredibly sinful days.
“Why? Why? Zi Yan, what do you think?”
As Song Shuqing put on her hood and prepared to leave, she grabbed Zi Yan’s sleeve, reluctant to part ways, “Why? Why do the good times always pass by so quickly?”
The shameless shadow guard almost knelt down and clung to the woman’s leg, crying and begging her not to leave.
“Lord Song…” Zi Yan looked calmly at the person beside her who was as clingy as chewing gum, “It’s time to go. If you don’t leave, someone will come up to rush you out.”
The burly guards stationed at Chunfeng Tower were accustomed to using their fists to 『escort』 customers who spent all their money, drank irresponsibly, and caused trouble.
“Those people can’t beat me anyway.” Song Shuqing released her grip, looking unconcerned, “Zi Yan, my dear Zi Yan? When do you think someone will invent a time machine for me to stay in this moment forever, so I don’t have to go back to work?”
“…”
Although she didn’t quite understand the nonsense in front of her, Zi Yan reached out to adjust Song Shuqing’s robe. She lowered her eyes to hide the improper reluctance, swallowed hard, and softly said, “…If you want to listen to music, wait until after sunset, I’ll be in the room.”
Despite not seeing the woman discreetly biting her lip and the difficult-to-detect expectation in her tone, Song Shuqing sighed and gracefully declined.
“Probably not a good idea.” She turned her neck slightly, with a look of imminent sacrifice, “I have to stay obediently at the teahouse these days. Although Ah Yun has a good temper, it’s quite scary when he’s truly angry.”
With a firm grip on her hood, Song Shuqing’s bright eyes showed beneath the shadow. She raised the corner of her mouth in a faint smile, “Besides, I’m in debt up to my neck now, I have to go back and make money.”
She casually waved her hand, as if her earlier reluctance was all an act, and swiftly left, pushing open the door.
After a while, the brothel owner, smoking a cigarette, peeked into the room, looking at the clean and tidy space. Blowing a smoke ring, she remarked, “Oh? This man seems quite restrained, huh? Could it be that he’s really just here to listen to music?”
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“Could it be that he wants to become your confidant and good friend?”
Most women who have lived in the dust and turmoil understand the fickleness and empty promises of men, so the brothel owner’s tone was light and playful, with a strong sense of humor, as if even she found her own words amusing.
But Zi Yan simply looked out the window, watching the fading dark shadows on the street. Her expression subtly changed, and she sighed softly, “If I were fortunate enough to encounter a good person in this lifetime…”
“It would only be her.”
Walking on the street, Hong’er never thought he would have such a streak of bad luck today.
Even buying a steamed bun turned out to be spoiled, being chased by stray dogs while walking down the street, and even stumbling and falling flat on his face on a flat road.
He was puzzled, feeling like he and this place just didn’t get along.
Darn it, he thought his sister would have a chance for a better life as a maid in a rich household, hoping she could introduce him to an opportunity in Shu, but it turns out she didn’t even have a proper job…
If this were to get back to their hometown, it would be so shameful…
I need to save face!
The money I brought from home is almost gone… so annoying…
The sun has set, and in a huff, the skinny man kicked the pebbles in front of him, preparing to return to the inn where he was staying temporarily.
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice the woman in a black robe in front of him, and before he could react, he was bumped into and fell to the ground.
“Ouch, that hurts…”
On the ground, Hong’er regained his senses and furrowed his brows as he looked at the woman whose face was covered. “Who are you? Have you no eyes to see…?”
“I was wondering who it could be,” taking off her hood and revealing her face, Song Shuqing smirked disdainfully. “So, it’s Zi Yan’s spineless little brother…”
“Who do you say is spineless?!” Hong’er was angered, but recalling memories of being unilaterally oppressed in the past, he controlled himself from shouting, “What do you want from me?”
“What do I want?” tilting her head with a light smile, Song Shuqing looked nonchalant. “Probably… to kick you up to the sky to feed the birds, or to strip you naked and parade you at the Chunfeng Tower for everyone to see, after all, I am not a person of conscience.”
“You… you wicked woman.” Hong’er scrambled back on all fours, looking disheveled as he spoke.
“Bingo! You truly live up to the title of a scholar. You’ve got it right. I am indeed not a good person. Now that we have reached an agreement on this matter, everything else will be much easier,” Song Shuqing said, crouching down to face the pale man.
“Unfortunately, as much as I would like to, you are Zi Yan’s brother after all. If I were to actually harm you, I worry that dear Zi Yan would revolt against me.”
“But, I cannot turn a blind eye to you either. If you cause Zi Yan any more sorrow, I would be deeply troubled.” Frowning, Song Shuqing subconsciously adjusted her collar and extended two fingers, appearing composed and businesslike.
“I have two proposals here…”
“First, you willingly leave this place and do not show your face until Zi Yan voluntarily returns home.” Lowering her index finger, leaving only her middle finger raised, Song Shuqing playfully made a hand gesture commonly used internationally in the 21st century.
“Second, if you refuse to leave on your own, I will give you a beating, take your belongings, and ensure you can never set foot in this area again.”
With a chilling glint in her eyes, the woman stood up straight, disdainfully looking down at the man on the ground. Her tone carried a clear threat as she skillfully flicked the dagger from her waist.
“Don’t doubt me, I can really do it…”
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The frail man, who had never encountered such ferocity, trembled at the sight of the weapon, not to the point of losing control, but enough to flee in panic.
Watching his hurried departure, Song Shuqing rubbed her stiff face, muttering to herself in disbelief, “Is he really that scared? My dagger skills are actually quite poor.”
Putting away her weapon, she then confidently returned to the teahouse.
Casually picking up a brush and some letter paper, Song Shuqing wrote a few lines before stuffing the letter into a bamboo tube and heading to the pigeon loft.
“Off you go.” She released a plump pigeon into the night sky, watching as it flapped its wings towards the direction of Jiangnan. Only then did Song Shuqing rub her hands together and enter the house.
Seeing Cao Yun’s face covered in frost as if it could be scraped off, the woman flashed a pleasing smile. “Hehe,
Ah Yun, don’t look at me like that.”
Turning to the man who was alone in running the shop, she patted his shoulder and massaged his legs. “My bad, I’ve been hard on you these past few days. I promise to work diligently tomorrow.”
“…We need to hire more people.” Ignoring her flattery, Cao Yun said indifferently, “Running the teahouse with just two people is still a bit overwhelming.”
“I know, I know.” Song Shuqing nodded emphatically, exuding confidence. “In five months, we’ll have an amazing new staff member!”
Although the frequency of visiting Zi Yan had significantly decreased, every full moon thereafter, Song Shuqing would don her hood and cloak and promptly appear at the Chunfeng Tower.
Disguised as a mysterious swordsman, purportedly willing to spend a fortune to buy two nights just to listen to music from Zi Yan, every time Song Shuqing graced the establishment, the other girls in the Chunfeng Tower couldn’t help but tease…
“Ah, how envious we are of Sister Zi Yan.” A young woman painted her lips in front of the mirror, sighing, “Not making a fuss, just quietly watching her play the guqin and drink tea. When will I encounter such a man?”
“Do you think Sister Zi Yan’s guest is handsome?” Another girl propped her face up, looking curious. “He always covers his face, never letting anyone see clearly. Could it be because he is so strikingly handsome that he hides his features?”
“Have you been reading too many legendary stories? How could there be such a man?” Leaning against the door frame, the woman’s tone was somewhat acidic, showing a disdainful expression. “Even if he is truly good-looking, if he can still maintain his composure in front of Zi Yan, he’s either a monk with no desires or a eunuch who can’t perform. What’s there to admire?”
“Hey, you don’t understand, if he really is like that, I’d be intrigued too.”
“Yeah, it’s truly rare to find someone who appreciates our music rather than just lusting after our bodies.”
“You guys…”
At this moment, Song Shuqing, the center of the discussion, was unaware that she had become the topic of conversation among the women on the first floor. She also had no idea that several women had engaged in a heated debate over whether 『he』 was 『without desire』 or 『incapable』. Right now, she had more important matters to attend to.
“Hey, dear Zi Yan, please, I beg of you.”
“…I can’t.”
“I’m begging you, I’m really feeling uncomfortable.”
“You can’t, you have to endure.”
“Please, just once, just one time! I promise.”
“Don’t make it difficult for me anymore, hurry up and eat.”
“Let me listen to your new piece once, or at least let me enjoy looking at the score.”
“I said no, so it’s no…”
In the room, Song Shuqing looked eagerly at the sheet music in the woman’s hand, like a stubborn and petulant child, swinging Zi Yan’s empty hand left and right, “Let me listen, please, just quietly, play a little.”
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“Even a little is not possible.” Firmly rejecting, the woman’s ears hidden behind her hair roots turned slightly red, “It’s not the right time yet…”
Thinking of the melody she involuntarily composed when moved, Zi Yan suppressed the embarrassment in her heart, tightly holding onto the sheet music to prevent it from being taken away.
“Tsk, stingy.”
With a face full of regret, Song Shuqing sat down with a sigh and took a sip of tea, looking displeased, “Stingy Zi Yan.” Then, seeming to compromise, she spoke in a huff with a caring tone, “Stingy Zi Yan, what would you like for dinner tonight?”
“…anything is fine.” Facing the overly childish shadow guard in front of her, Zi Yan looked helpless.
“Oh, Heavens, 『anything is fine』 is the answer I hate the most.” Rolling her eyes, Song Shuqing put her arm around the woman’s shoulder, “This month is your last month at the Chunfeng Tower. Don’t you have any preferences for dinner?”
Without waiting for Zi Yan to respond, she answered her own question, “But then again, we’ve tried everything these past few months…” Tilting her head in thought, as if coming up with a brilliant idea, she suddenly exclaimed, “Hey! I’m so silly, we don’t have to stay in this room, do we? We can go outside, right?”
“That… that seems to be the case, I haven’t thought about it…” Each full moon was always torturous, and the beautiful courtesan had never had the luxury of thinking about this issue, answering somewhat uncertainly.
“Let’s go to Niujiao Street near the city wall. I passed by there last time, the shops stay open quite late, and there are some stores selling trinkets. Let’s go for a stroll and see what we feel like eating, okay?” Observing the woman’s reaction, Song Shuqing suggested, pointing at the table.
“I’m fine, but… I’ve never been out on the streets after dark.”
Walking alone in the darkness is always dangerous for women. Men with eyes full of desire could appear at any moment, ready to devour the weak who seem like lambs under their shadows.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m here.” Gently patting the courtesan’s head, Song Shuqing’s eyes held a tenderness she wasn’t even aware of, “Although this world, where the powerful prey on the weak, is filled with various disgusting tumors, my fists happen to be especially big.”
“Within a ten-li radius, aside from Qinqin, who is traveling, no one can give me trouble.” Leaning in close to Zi Yan’s ear, she whispered softly, “…and Ah Yun, like an old man, falls asleep early, so essentially, I have no opponent at the moment.”
With a mischievous smile, Song Shuqing donned a black robe, standing by the window and reaching out to the stiffened woman, “Let’s go.”
“But, just so we’re clear…”
As if remembering something tremendously serious, Song Shuqing suddenly turned serious.
“I don’t have money, so, you’ll be treating me, okay.”
LP: Re-translated on April 24, 2024