Just then, I spotted a familiar person with a beautiful woman holding a two-year-old girl in a red coat.
The family of three sat by the roadside eating wontons.
I rubbed my eyes, confirming I wasn’t mistaken. This familiar person was Duan Chang, the young master I had a romantic encounter with when I was sixteen. After some reflection, it seemed he had ultimately recognized his true orientation and returned to the ordinary path of marriage and children.
I felt somewhat emotional. If he had recognized this earlier, perhaps the woman sitting beside him holding their child would have been me. Even though I had seriously considered marrying him back then, I now felt this was just a side branch on my tree—unable to bloom or bear fruit.
An Jin was still moving forward in the queue, occasionally looking back to check on me. I felt reassured.
Duan Chang’s family finished their wontons and walked towards me. I wanted to lower my head and pretend not to see, but our eyes met. He looked surprised, said something to his wife, and then walked towards me.
His wife smiled at me, which I returned with a nod. Duan Chang sat beside me and said casually, “Long time no see.”
After some small talk, I learned that he had married soon after our separation, to a well-born official’s daughter. His wife was virtuous, skilled at playing the qin, and they quickly became inseparable, having a beloved daughter.
He knew I had married An Jin and praised his youthful achievements. I modestly said, “He’s just somewhat good-looking.” Duan Chang insisted I was being too modest. “No official in Qi State’s history has been promoted to the second rank within three years of entering the court. An is truly a once-in-a-century talent.” He looked at me with slight sympathy. “Being his wife mustn’t be easy.”
I felt it was quite easy.
After chatting a little while longer, he stood to leave. I glanced at his wife and daughter waiting nearby and advised him, “Now that you have a lovely child and beautiful wife, please don’t go to Linglong House anymore.”
