The First Time (2)

The room next door was lit up in orange and soft music was playing as the two women lay side by side on the massage bed while the masseuses came over and began gently squeezing their shoulders and pounding their backs.

Wei Qinglian lay comfortably, enjoying herself while chatting. “Mu-jie is really blessed to have such a smart and ambitious son. You will have someone to depend on in the future.”

The words were pleasant to hear and Mu Wanli returned the kind words with pleasure. “Aiya, boys are very naughty. Your family’s two daughters are lovable and know how to love their parents. This is truly called a blessing.”

Wei Qinglian smiled bitterly. “Girls are closer to their parents, but they have to get married after growing up. A son is still more helpful.”

Mu Wanli glanced sideways at her. “Don’t say it like that. President Qin is so kind. I think he truly loves his daughters.”

Wei Qinglian sighed gloomily. “No matter how much he loves them, they can’t be compared to a son. Which men in this world don’t say daughters are good but desperately want a son in their hearts? After all, they have to carry on their ancestral line.”

Mu Wanli lay on her back and said to the masseuse, “Shoulder, shoulder– hey, right, right. Use more strength here.”

The masseuse obliged and increased the force in her hands. Mu Wanli grunted in comfort before turning her head and mysteriously lowering the volume of her voice. “Big sister, you should be glad you’re giving birth to girls. If not, it’ll be dangerous for you.”

Wei Qinglian became slightly nervous at her grave tone. “What do you mean?”

“The Qin family has a big business. There must be many family properties, right?” Mu Wanli looked solemn. “Since President Qin loves his son dearly, the family properties should be set to the eldest son. If you give birth to a son, he may remove the mother and keep the son behind to preserve the eldest son’s position.”

Wei Qinglian’s face froze and she frowned with shame and anger. “What nonsense is that? This isn’t ancient times. Why would he repudiate his wife for his son?”

Mu Wanli looked amazed. “Hey, it turns out this is not ancient times? It’s all the same for boys and girls in ordinary families. Look at how miserable you sound. I thought because wealthy families have a lot of money, it’s just like a court battle drama, where the imperial consort wants to kill the crown prince and the crown prince wants to kill his adoptive mother!”

The massage girl next to her couldn’t hold it in and let out a giggle.

Wei Qinglian’s face turned red and she wanted to retort, but she was so used to being reserved and gentle that her mouth wasn’t sharp enough. She couldn’t think of anything to say to counter her for a moment and could only hold it in until she almost had an internal injury.

Due to her frustration, an inevitably hostile fire lit up in her heart. She clenched her teeth and laughed softly. “If our Xiao-Yuan is the crown prince, your family’s Xiao-Ruan will be blessed. He has been following the dragon emperor around since he was young.”

Mu Wanli smiled and closed her eyes. “You flatter me. You flatter me. It’s good to have such a close friend at this age.”

“Our family’s Xiao-Yuan has been antisocial and not easy to get along with since childhood. He’s also heavily guarded against people.” Wei Qinglian sighed. “So, I’m saying that your family’s Xiao-Ruan is very amazing to be able to get along with him.”

The corners of Mu Wanli’s eyes twitched and she suppressed her burning anger. “Oh, our family’s child isn’t amazing at all. He has a sincere heart and is kind-hearted. So, he’s good to your Xiao-Yuan.”

She added slowly, “After all, he’s motherless and nobody loves him.”

Wei Qinglian was about to grit her teeth until they shattered and felt remorseful in her heart: I should never have talked to such a shrewish woman from the marketplace. Her mouth is so sharp. How could I ever beat her?

She closed her eyes silently and scolded the little sister beside her, who had been laughing earlier, with a cold face, “Use more strength. Don’t you eat? How about I look for your manager and complain?”

Mu Wanli was in this line of work herself. When she saw the aggrieved and afraid-to-speak look on the little sister’s face, she became even more furious in her heart.

She suddenly got up, waved her hand to stop her massage, walked quickly to the massage bed next door, and rolled up her sleeves. “Aiya, I’ll do it! I’m not bragging, but I’m famous throughout the west district for my skills. You have to try it out.”

She pushed the little sister to the side without allowing an explanation and held Wei Qinglian down. “Big sister, you have to bear with it. My strength is big. Although it’ll be slightly painful, it’ll loosen your bones and soothe your muscles, making you ache comfortably.”

“Ah!” Wei Qinglian suddenly cried out miserably in the quiet, soft music. “Don’t, don’t. Stop! It hurts so much!”

“Bear with it. The general rule is no pain. Pain is no good. The more pain you feel means you have many illnesses in your five viscera and six bowels*!” Mu Wanli diligently pressed her shoulder, twisting and pressing, and succeeded in hearing another miserable scream. “It’s okay. Screaming out can clear your throat, spleen, and lungs. Is it comfortable?”

*T/N: A term in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

***

There were several tea rooms outside the private little hot spring pool area. Guests would sweat and become thirsty after soaking in the hot spring, so tea was provided for people to take a break and drink.

The landscapes nearby were carefully selected, facing the lush green hills in the daytime and the cold moon overlooking the forest at night, showing off a great view.

Ruan Qingmu and Qin Yuan wrapped themselves in thick bathrobes, took their cell phones, and found a tea room with an excellent view to sit in.

Qin Yuan causally ordered a pot of the finest Hong Xiang Luo* and was waiting for the waiter to serve it to them when Qin Zhufeng and Uncle Yan with the children passed by the open doorway of the tea room.

*T/N: A kind of tea.