The old-fashioned kerosene lamp hanging outside the restaurant swayed in the wind. Inside, we had been silent for a long time, immersed in the gloomy atmosphere, until finally I broke free from the sorrow temporarily and asked the woman, “Why did Robin ask you to handle this matter?”
“He felt that you wouldn’t suspect me because I’m completely unrelated to your circle. More importantly, he felt safe handing over the money to me to purchase the restaurant. He said this restaurant is like his life. Everything else can vanish from this world, but not this restaurant. No matter what it takes, he must protect this restaurant and its business model.”
I sighed deeply and glanced at Leyao beside me. At this point, we didn’t need the woman to explain much further. Since the money had originally been left by Robin, naturally he wouldn’t want the truth to surface because he couldn’t bear to let CC fall hopelessly in love with him without being able to return her love.
The woman continued, “Actually, he had already sensed that transferring the restaurant was just a way to find out who had left that sum of money. But since he wasn’t entirely sure, he asked me to take over the restaurant. Whether you were sincere about transferring it or just pretending to search for the truth, he could handle everything without hurting the restaurant or the former owner. However, his friends didn’t seem easy to fool, and you saw through it. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked a woman like me, a mere courtesan, to handle such an idealistic matter. How could I possibly have the inclination for something so unrealistic?”
Leyao said, “Because he trusted you. Taking over the restaurant and maintaining its operation is a huge investment. Although Robin earns a little money, it’s not easy. Although he has many friends around him, there are actually very few he truly trusts.”
I nodded and took a deep drag of my cigarette before asking, “Do you know why Robin said this restaurant was like his life?”
“Perhaps he loved the restaurant owner, but he was destined not to express it. He had too many regrets, too many to even confess his feelings to the owner. He could only pretend not to care. From my perspective, he was complicated. I wonder how you, his long-time friends, viewed him?”
Leyao and I looked at each other, unsure how to answer the woman’s question. We realized we weren’t truly close to Robin’s soul—we didn’t understand him deeply at all.
Finally, I told the woman, “In my eyes, Robin is a man wild enough for anything to happen to him. His life is a legend!”
“I think you’re only half right. He can be wild, but also cautious like a rabbit. He seems free, yet he’s locked in his own self-made cage, unable to find a way out. At least from my perspective, he loved the restaurant owner, deeply. His love for her was no less than for his fiancée, although he often refused to admit it even to himself.”
My nerves were shaken again. Having known Robin for years, this was the first time I heard someone say that his love for CC might be equal to his love for Weimanwen. I found it hard to believe and ended up staring wide-eyed at the woman and everything in the restaurant. Leyao and I wore the same expression, both of us unable to imagine how things would develop to this point.
…
The woman had already left. Leyao and I remained seated in the restaurant, not knowing how to resolve the trouble we had stubbornly uncovered for Robin and CC. According to the script of time, Robin was supposed to marry his beloved Weimanwen in just over a week. But now, an unexpected outcome had emerged—perhaps Robin’s heart still held a deep love. If this were true, I didn’t know whether it was CC’s fortune or misfortune. I also couldn’t determine whether a man could truly split a heart filled with love into two parts—one growing in the sunlight and the other sprouting beneath the soil.
Finally, Leyao asked me, “Zhaoyang, what should we do now?”
After weighing my thoughts, I replied, “Since things have gone this far, we might as well go all the way and help Robin, CC, and Weimanwen reach a conclusion that reveals the entire truth.”
“If what the woman said is true, what should Weimanwen do? Should she continue to tolerate that bastard Robin? And what about CC? Should she waste her youth becoming his secret lover and fulfilling his sordid romantic whims?”
I didn’t know how to defend Robin, but as a man, I somewhat understood his sense of helplessness. His intentions weren’t dirty or flirtatious. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have repeatedly avoided CC’s advances, always trying to minimize the harm to her. He had even once solemnly told me that he didn’t have romantic feelings for CC.
At this moment, Leyao angrily pulled her phone from her handbag and made a call. Naturally, I knew she was calling Robin. Sure enough, her tone on the phone was furious, demanding that Robin come to the empty city as soon as possible.
…
A short while later, Robin arrived at the restaurant wearing his favorite motorcycle jacket. He stood before Leyao and me without sitting down, his voice low as he asked Leyao, “What’s so urgent that you had to call me here?”
“Don’t pretend. Didn’t that woman call you after leaving the restaurant? We already know now that it was you who left that money at the restaurant back then.”
“I knew I couldn’t hide forever. You were bound to find out eventually.”
“So why did you involve such a pitiful woman to deceive us?”
Robin’s voice remained calm, “I just wanted to delay things for as long as possible.”
“Do you know how painful CC feels? Do you know how much Weimanwen has sacrificed for you? How can you shamelessly love both of them?”
Robin slammed his fingers heavily on the table in front of Leyao and shouted, “Damn it, are you going to believe everything others say? Can’t you use some of your brain instead of just your chest? Come on!”
Leyao didn’t get angry at Robin’s outburst. Instead, her voice became calmer as she said, “If you’re a real man, swear to me right here that you don’t love CC at all.”
I didn’t understand what kind of emotions or views on love Leyao had at this moment, but pressuring a man to swear was inappropriate. I tried to mediate by saying, “Let’s talk calmly. Fighting like this won’t lead to any resolution.”
My mediation didn’t calm them down. Leyao kept pushing, “If you’re innocent, why fear a simple oath? I hope your courage isn’t only in your limbs but also in your heart.”
Robin furrowed his brows and finally said, “I don’t want any more complications right now. Please let me marry Manwen in peace, okay?”
Leyao replied, “You say you don’t want complications now, but who knows what will happen after you marry Weimanwen? Will you grow bored of the monotony of marriage and turn to CC, creating a tragedy for three people, even two families? I’ve always believed in honesty—love cannot tolerate lies and requires clear choices…”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage