The reason Xie Chengqing hurried to ask for a ferry ticket was simple: this was the last passenger ship of the He family for the year.
The ship departed from the port of Tsu, the largest in the north. Unlike southern ports, Tianjin Port froze over during winter. No ship would leave until spring, so navigation lasted only three seasons each year. Other shipping companies typically stopped sailing by late autumn; the He family’s last voyage usually concluded no later than November. This year, however, some special circumstance had delayed the departure to the present day.
She had arrived in Tianjin a day before the ship’s scheduled departure and stayed at the Lishunde Hotel, the finest in the British Concession, and among the best in all of Tianjin. Its proximity to the port made it ideal—not only for her, but for all passengers boarding the ship that evening.
The hotel restaurant buzzed like a festive celebration, reminiscent of the Chinese New Year—a lively gathering of distinguished guests, though on a smaller, more private scale.
He Wei, the owner of the boat, chose an inconspicuous table by the window, sharing it with Lianfang.
This was Lianfang’s first time leaving the capital. Everything she saw was fresh and fascinating, yet her delicate, timid temperament kept her from staring openly. She stole glances instead, smiling in delight.
He Wei, feeling motion sickness and without an appetite, held his chin, but her laughter was infectious. Softly, he said, “I’ll take you to the embassy and consulate tonight. There’s a whole street full of good things.”
Before he could finish, a sudden stir in the restaurant drew everyone’s eyes to a screen in the northwest corner.
He Wei looked and saw Xie Chengqing in military uniform, flanked by two young officers, moving toward an area enclosed by three screens. Two large Eight Immortals tables sat there, surrounded by people.
Briefly, handshakes were exchanged, pleasantries offered, chairs pulled out. Then, amidst the excitement, Xie Chengqing moved to the quieter side and took a seat. She could not see him from her angle. The initial lively reception faded, leaving only a calm, orderly corner.
He was in better form than expected, still recognized as a distinguished guest, tasked nominally with escorting his sister and nephew onto the ship.
“Has Young Master Xie seen us?” Lianfang whispered.
“Far away,” she replied softly, squinting toward him.
He Wei, still queasy, saw Lianfang finish her meal and excused himself, leaving the restaurant.
Outside, a familiar face awaited. The little boy who had delivered the letter at the Six Nations Hotel stood near the elevator, flanked by solemn young attendants.
He Wei recognized him and relaxed slightly. “Sister,” he greeted politely.
The boy frowned, displeased. “Where are you going?”
“To the room,” she replied kindly.
The boy looked down at the tiled floor, clearly unhappy with her curt response.
He Wei half-squatted, speaking gently, “I thought you were waiting for someone. I didn’t think to come over and talk.”
“You just happened to bump into me,” she said softly, coaxing him. “We really are fated.”
“Not at all,” he replied unhappily. “Mother asked me to find you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Find me? For what?”
“My mother said Miss He spent a lot of effort helping us leave Ronghua Cave. She wants to thank you in person—afternoon tea, she said.”
For anyone else, she could have refused, but today was an exception. Her natural affection for the Xie family made her agree.
She let Lianfang return to the second-floor room, went with the boy to the third-floor suite at the end of the hall.
“Mother will be here soon,” he said, retreating and closing the door behind her.
Inside, the back room was set for tea. Silver plates, teapots, and cups awaited her. The woman spoke softly on the phone in dialect, and she caught pieces of it.
“I didn’t suffer much,” the woman said. “Thanks to them, I’ve gained many treasures… over the years, old foxes stored countless jade artifacts from the eunuchs. I lost my temper once, and they compensated me, preserving valuable things for Brother Qing’s military use. Perhaps we can add a few items and buy him a new house—he lives mostly in hotels anyway, right? Brother Qing? Xie Chengqing?”
The voice went silent for a moment. Soon, the woman emerged, her expression shifting—kindness, surprise, confusion. “Didn’t you see someone?” she asked at the door.
Xie Chengqing had removed his uniform and handed it to the adjutant outside. Calmly, he entered, saying, “Call and make sure the door is closed,” and took a seat, his composure slightly embarrassing the two women.
Xie Chengyin muttered quietly, “Miss He Er is not an outsider, is she a benefactor?”
Xie Chengqing rested his elbows on the sofa, hands empty, face propped on his palm, watching her.
From ferry ticket arrangements to the hotel, the fourth sister had carefully overseen everything day and night.
He Wei responded politely when called, while Xie Chengqing observed the girl intently.
That first night, she had thought his eyes were like Shichahai in the winter night—reflecting everything, hiding what lies beneath.
He quietly poured a cup of milk tea, offering it to her. She accepted with both hands, escaping the fourth sister’s endless chatter.
Xie Chengyin, observing discreetly, noted her poise. The girl in white reminded her of a winter-blooming begonia—gentle, refined, yet alive with color.
“I have an unfinished phone call,” she whispered, and Xie Chengyin left, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Alone with him, He Wei inhaled the faint fragrance of milk tea, exchanging glances with Xie Chengqing.
“I saw you in the restaurant,” she said, smiling. “You didn’t see me?”
“I did,” he said softly. “There were too many people; I didn’t notice.”
“Yes, it was crowded,” she said. “Everyone wants to board the last passenger ship of the year.”
He leaned back, listening. The ferry business mattered little to him, yet he observed politely.
“Have you been here before, Li Shunde?” he asked.
“I have,” she replied. “When I was a teenager.”
“Oh,” he said, calculating her age carefully.
“The food is excellent—quail, lobster,” she added.
He nodded. “The seating is tricky,” she said. “In such a place, money alone can’t solve everything. There are many dignitaries.”
He Wei drank half his tea, noticing Xie Chengqing had poured hers but not touched it. He refilled her cup.
“Thank you,” she whispered softly.
He picked up a silver fork. “If you wish, I can arrange a seat for dinner as thanks for the ferry ticket.”
“No, I have plans tonight,” she shook her head.
He Wei, understanding, smiled. “Every passenger ship in our family has special tickets for friends. Hundreds are sent each year, free of charge.”
“And you’re Bai Jinxing’s old classmate—don’t judge appearances,” he added lightly.
Xie Chengqing nodded silently.
Finally, he put down his fork. “Where will you go tonight?”
“To take my family to a good place,” she replied. After the ferry set sail, she intended to stroll through the commercial streets with Lianfang.
He adjusted his cuffs. “Are you familiar with the streets?”
“I know them well,” she said. “I’ve never taken Lianfang, though. We’ll shop near the embassy—she loves hats.”
Xie Chengqing envisioned the commercial street near the French Embassy. Tianjin’s thriving trade lined the streets with countless shops. He knew the streets intimately—every building, height, shadow, ambush point.
“There’s an intersection on this high street,” he noted silently. A two-story hat shop stood on the southeast corner, perfect for a girl like her.
“Be careful,” he reminded her.
“It’s just shopping,” He Wei reassured.
Xie Chengqing dipped his finger in his cup, wrote a three-digit number on the coffee table, then looked at her. He Wei didn’t understand, but she recognized it as a code not present in the room.
“I should look after you while in Tianjin for Lao Bai,” he said softly, then entered the inner room.
This room belonged to him. The fourth sister lived next door, with no phone, so he lent the space for family reporting.
As he unbuttoned his belt, intuition made him pause and re-fastened it. Tired of the restaurant crowd, he changed into casual trousers and a shirt.
Unexpectedly, He Wei had already arrived. With a young girl present, changing freely was impossible. He picked up a newspaper, reading quietly.
The phone rang. He answered, low and tired.
“Brother Qing,” the second sister asked softly, curious, “is the girl in your room as beautiful as a Xifu begonia?”
Xie Chengqing paused. “If you like begonias, I’ll send one another day,” he said coldly.
“Nine years ago, you risked your life for the country,” she murmured. “Today, live for yourself. These ferry tickets aren’t trivial. Girls take risks—you should appreciate it.”
Outside the house, He Weishi didn’t want to eavesdrop, yet he found himself unable to turn away.
At first, he only caught a single sentence about sending begonias. Naturally, he thought: if flowers are being sent, they should be given to girls.
Xie Chengqing’s voice seemed to confirm her assumption. Then he added calmly, “There’s no need for her to see it with me—just think of it as it is.”
After a pause, his voice softened slightly. “Yes… I spent time alone with her in the same room.”
He Wei’s mind raced. The rouge pile, Ronghua Cave—what Bai Jinxing had mentioned—and what Miss Xie Si had said about Xie Chengqing being tricked into the room… it all clicked. At this moment, she was probably struggling to explain the situation to her prospective suitor, ensuring he didn’t misunderstand the circumstances.
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