Chapter 40: Boarding the Pirate Ship

Shen Hui is a dance teacher at the Chongqing Art School. She lived with her grandparents from a young age after her parents passed away in a tragic accident. At that time, Cao Weihua personally handled the funeral arrangements for his brother and met the eight-year-old Shen Hui. The little girl was incredibly strong; she didn't shed a single tear.

After the funeral, Cao Weihua asked, "Xiao Hui, would you like to come with me to the Mountain City?"

"Where is the Mountain City?"

"Chongqing is the Mountain City. It's very big and a lot of fun."

"I want to go," Shen Hui said firmly.

Her grandparents agreed, as they were advanced in age and unable to care for their granddaughter indefinitely, and it was, after all, their son's final wish. Thus, Shen Hui followed Cao Weihua to Chongqing. When she first set foot in the city, she was stunned by its splendor. It was far more vibrant than the village she had lived in, and there were new things to see everywhere.

Cao Weihua cared deeply for his brother’s daughter. He not only sent her to the best schools but also fostered her talents. Shen Hui loved music and dance, so Cao Weihua enrolled her in piano and dance classes. From middle school through high school, college, and eventually her master's degree, Shen Hui remained in Chongqing, partly because she liked the city and partly to take care of Cao Weihua.

Shen Hui had a particularly cold demeanor, always appearing aloof and distant, like a fairy from a moon palace, untouched by the mundane world. Cao Weihua was often troubled by this, wondering what kind of man would ever be worthy of her.

After asking the housekeeper, Shen Hui learned that Cao Weihua had been asleep for two hours. She went into the kitchen, put on an apron, and prepared two bowls of tomato meatball soup. As she brought the steaming soup into the living room, Nie Yunyang and Cao Weihua woke up—whether from the noise or the aroma of the food, it was unclear.

Nie Yunyang, eyes heavy with sleep, mumbled, "I think I see a fairy..."

"Ah Hui, you're back?" Cao Weihua said, sitting up with a smile.

Shen Hui’s lovely face frosted over. "Uncle, you know your health is poor, yet you drank yourself into a stupor. This is really too much!"

"Ah Hui, you've misunderstood. I had intended to quit drinking, but this boy kept forcing it on me. Next time he comes over, you help me keep a close eye on him," Cao Weihua said, his face unchanging.

Nie Yunyang glanced at Shen Hui and then at Cao Weihua, silently cursing the old fox for shifting the blame onto him. Seeing Shen Hui’s reproachful gaze, Nie Yunyang felt like he was being trampled by a thousand horses. His initial impression on her was already poor, and now that he’d been framed by Cao Weihua, he figured he had thoroughly offended the girl.

"Uncle Cao, it was clearly you who were fond of the cup. What does that have to do with me?" Nie Yunyang argued desperately.

Cao Weihua stood up and stretched. "Don't forget your current status. Wasn't it you who urged the drinks?"

"Yes, yes, yes, it's all my fault," Nie Yunyang conceded, admitting defeat.

Cao Weihua laughed heartily, like a general who had just won a battle.

"Alright, Uncle, stop putting on a show in front of me. I made tomato meatball soup for you both. Eat it while it's hot. I'll go make two glasses of lemon juice to help you sober up." With that, Shen Hui turned and walked back toward the kitchen.

Cao Weihua gestured. "Yunyang, come and taste Ah Hui's cooking. You’re lucky tonight; others wouldn't be able to get a taste even if they wanted to." He picked up a bowl and began to eat with gusto.

Nie Yunyang was also hungry, so he picked up his bowl and devoured it, finishing it in no time. "Tangy and spicy, truly a delicacy," he said, licking his lips and savoring the lingering flavor.

***

Hearing the noise, Shen Hui poked her head out and asked, "Would you like some more? There is still some left in the pot."

"I definitely would," Nie Yunyang said shamelessly.

The nearby housekeeper immediately went to the kitchen and brought back another bowl of soup. Cao Weihua couldn't help but laugh, saying, "You really don't treat yourself as an outsider, do you!"

After finishing two bowls of soup and a glass of lemon juice, Nie Yunyang felt satisfied and prepared to leave. Cao Weihua had wanted him to stay in the guest room, but Nie Yunyang insisted he had matters to attend to and needed to leave tonight, promising to be at work on time the next day. Earlier in the day, Cao Weihua had already made the arrangements and given Nie Yunyang the contact information for the manager of the Jinxiu Huating Club, so he could go directly there the next morning.

Since he couldn't drive after drinking, Nie Yunyang left his Porsche 911 in the garage, instructing Cao Weihua to have a driver take the car to Jinke Jiuquhe the next day. He hailed a taxi and wandered through the city. The Mountain City was vast, yet he felt as if he had nowhere to call his own.

Getting out at Beicheng Tianjie, Nie Yunyang headed straight for the Chongqing Story Tavern. The tavern was even livelier than his last visit. Familiar with the place, he found a seat and ordered a single beer. On stage, the band was performing Jacky Cheung’s "Kiss Goodbye." Nie Yunyang listened intently while sipping his drink.

Suddenly, a man holding two glasses of tequila sat across from him. He was wearing a white T-shirt and black jeans, looking quite stylish. The man was young, around thirty, and asked with a smile, "Friend, drinking alone?"

"Who are you?" Nie Yunyang asked coldly. He was lost in memories and did not wish to be disturbed.

The man smiled slightly. "My name is Hou Chao, and I'm the manager of this tavern. I remember you well from when you sang 'Blue and White Porcelain' here last time."

"I was just singing for fun, don't mind it," Nie Yunyang replied.

"Would you like to have a drink together?"

"Sure."

Hou Chao pushed one of the glasses of tequila toward him and asked, "How did you know about the Chongqing Story Tavern? Was it recommended by a friend?"

"No." Nie Yunyang shook his head and explained, "Ten years ago, I used to drink here. A friend of mine was the resident singer back then, and the owner was a man named Qin Yu."

"Oh, a regular customer then. But Uncle Qin has immigrated abroad and sold the tavern to someone else," Hou Chao said.

Nie Yunyang had a sudden realization. "No wonder I didn't see anyone I recognized; everything has changed."

"You have a really good voice. Are you interested in being a resident singer here?" Hou Chao asked.

Nie Yunyang took a sip of his drink and smiled. "No, I'm just here to sit for a while."

"What a pity," Hou Chao sighed.

Just then, the band finished their set and left, and the tavern returned to a quiet hum. Hou Chao pointed toward the stage and smiled. "Want to go up and perform a song?"

"Forget it," Nie Yunyang refused.

Hou Chao persisted. "Come on, friend. Since you're already here, why not? Many customers last time thought your singing was excellent!"

"Just one song, then," Nie Yunyang said. He also wanted to vent the frustration buried in his heart.

***

Hou Chao laughed heartily. "One is enough."

Nie Yunyang downed the tequila in one gulp, walked onto the stage, and adjusted the strings. "I'd like to dedicate 'Jiangnan' to everyone!"

Hou Chao led the cheering, and other customers followed suit. They were there to relax, and they were happy to have someone perform. Once Nie Yunyang was ready, Hou Chao dialed a number and whispered, "Boss, that man from last time is here again and is about to sing. Would you like to listen?"

"Turn on the video," a gentle female voice replied.

Hou Chao hung up, opened a WeChat video call, and pointed the camera at the stage.

Nie Yunyang cleared his throat and began to sing.

"The wind becomes sticky here,
Sticking to the traveler's longing.
The rain turns into lines here,
Entwining our lingering attachment to the mortal world.
Being by your side is fate,
Fate written on the Stone of Three Lives.
Love has one ten-thousandth of sweetness,
I would rather be buried in this moment.
Round and round, circles and circles,
Day after day, year after year, I,
Deeply gaze at your face.
The gentleness of anger,
The face of complaining gentleness.
We, who do not understand the reversal of love and hate,
All thought love was as fickle as the wind and clouds.
Believing that one day of love could last forever,
Time froze in this very instant.
We, who do not know how to show gentleness,
Still thought that dying for love was just an ancient legend.
How painful can the sorrow of parting be,
When dreams are buried in the misty rain of Jiangnan?
Only after the heart breaks do we understand..."

After finishing the song, Nie Yunyang left the tavern. He wasn't one to show off, but this place held too many unforgettable memories. When he returned to the Jinke Jiuquhe villa, everyone else was already asleep. Nie Yunyang didn't disturb anyone and went straight to his room to rest.

The next morning, after waking up and greeting Mu Qingyao, Nie Yunyang left in a hurry.