Entangled Love GL - Chapter 11
The man called himself Lin Mo, claiming he had studied under an itinerant monk since childhood. Now, having completed his studies, he was taking this mountain path to the capital. Firstly, to see the world, and secondly, his ancestral home was in the capital, and he wanted to return to see the old residence and complete some unfinished business of his father’s generation.
Duan Min listened to him speak, her eyes unreservedly fixed on the scar on his face. Her gaze was neither fear nor disgust, but rather seemed thoughtful. Lin Mo felt awkward under her scrutiny. He cleared his throat, his face slightly flushed, and asked, “This lady looks familiar. Have we met somewhere?”
Duan Min smiled, “How could we have met?”
Lin Mo’s face turned redder, and he hesitated to speak.
Yang Mei originally had the intention of recruiting him. Seeing Duan Min’s intimate attitude towards him, seemingly paying extra attention, she couldn’t help but feel a little resistant. Noticing that Lin Mo only ate vegetarian dishes, she asked, “Why don’t you eat meat? Are you practicing Buddhism as a layman?”
Lin Mo gave a self-deprecating smile, “No, my Master said my worldly ties are not yet severed, and it is not yet time for me to take refuge in the Dharma.”
Yang Mei nodded, flashing a smile, “In that case, it shows you will eventually return to Buddhism. It would be better to clarify your mind and see your true nature sooner and avoid unnecessary detours.”
Outside the window, thunder roared and rain poured heavily. Inside the room, the dim light from the two lamps cast flickering shadows. The coarse tea and simple food on the table were served in delicate and clean cups and plates. The window next to them was bright and clean, and the furnishings were antique and elegant. Lin Mo pondered for a moment and sighed, “Heavy rain and thunder, a secluded courtyard deep in the mountains. The two young ladies are beautiful and graceful, and I have always wanted to ask, are the two of you human?”
Yang Mei burst into laughter. Duan Min also smiled and teased, “Why ask? Our taking you in now is a good karmic connection. Knowing too much is not a good thing.”
Lin Mo’s expression turned serious. He stopped pressing the matter as instructed. After finishing his meal, he returned to the guest room.
Duan Min finished tidying the table and was also about to leave. Yang Mei reached out to stop her, her smile entirely gone, “Just as we were halfway through our discussion, this person came in, and you have the leisure to joke with him!”
Duan Min pushed her arm away, “I’ve said all I need to say. The decision is entirely up to you.” With that, she withdrew and left.
The next morning, the thunder and lightning had stopped, but the rain had not. Duan Min walked out of her room and saw Lin Mo, dressed in clothes that Duan Youchang used to wear, standing on the veranda looking out.
Duan Youchang favored light green and light blue colors. His clothes were neither the long robes of a scholar nor the short jackets of commoners; they were neat yet elegant when worn. In his final years, Duan Youchang was thin and cold in temperament. He was reserved and seldom smiled when dealing with others. From afar, he seemed to possess an ethereal, ascetic air, but up close, he was often critical and ungrateful. However, what was he like when he was young? The past is unknown, and people always change.
Duan Min watched Lin Mo from a distance. Lin Mo immediately sensed her presence, turned his head, and smiled at her. Duan Min walked over to him and asked, “So early in the morning, what are you looking at here?”
Lin Mo pointed across the way, “What is that over there?”
Duan Min looked over faintly, “That is a pavilion, just like this one…”
Lin Mo was startled, “Why does it look like a pile of rubble to me?”
Duan Min couldn’t help but smile, “That pavilion collapsed two days ago. Now it’s just rubble.”
Lin Mo smiled, lowered his head, and after a moment of silence, asked, “What is your esteemed surname, Miss?”
Duan Min replied, “My humble surname is Duan, and my given name is the single character ‘Min’.”
“‘Min’ as in ‘Minhui’ (intelligent)?”
Duan Min’s eyes flickered, “No, ‘Min’ as in ‘Lianmin’ (compassion).”
Lin Mo was slightly surprised, nodded to show he understood, and didn’t press further.
Duan Min, however, didn’t let the topic drop, “Ask whatever you want to ask. I also have a doubt about your name that I want to ask you.”
Lin Mo frowned this time, folded his arms, and turned to the side, his sharp eyes fixed on Duan Min. Duan Min did not shy away, meeting his gaze frankly.
“What does Miss want to ask me?”
“Have you changed your name?”
Duan Min’s question was very casual, but Lin Mo listened seriously. After a long pause, he said in a deep voice, “I have.” He then immediately asked, “How would you know about this? Have we actually met before?”
Duan Min was about to answer when Lin Mo suddenly turned and asked sternly, “Who is behind there?”
Yang Mei strolled over, looking at Lin Mo with a playful smile, “Tell me, aren’t you too biased? We both took you in. Even if you don’t try to get close to me, do you have to yell at me like this!”
Lin Mo was overly tense just now. Seeing that it was her, he was already ashamed, and hearing her words made him feel even more mortified.
Seeing Lin Mo’s embarrassed face, Duan Min tugged at Yang Mei, offering a way out, “It’s time to make some food. Come and help me.”
Yang Mei shook off her hand, “I’ll go. You two continue chatting.” With that, she turned and left, never looking at Duan Min once throughout.
Duan Min watched her turn into the kitchen at the end of the corridor and explained to Lin Mo, “She just likes to joke. You don’t have to take it to heart… I should go give her a hand.”
Yang Mei had no idea where the pots and bowls were. She just stood in front of the stove. Seeing Duan Min follow her, she moved to the side of the rice jar, opened the lid, and looked down with empty hands, saying aloud, “I’m already this considerate, why are you still following me?”
Yang Mei felt quite upset. To her, Lin Mo was just a man of unknown origins who suddenly appeared here, coming between her and Duan Min. Heaven knows she had just sent away the spies she had kept by her side yesterday. But Duan Min’s attitude towards Lin Mo was strange; it was as if there was some connection, or perhaps a special liking.
“Thinking back, how cold you were to me at first, and even now you’re indifferent. Why are you revolving around him! Being with him first thing in the morning—are you trying to make me angry enough to die!”
Duan Min came over with a small pot to scoop rice. Yang Mei grabbed her wrist, angrily shouting, “Can’t you just listen to me properly!”
Duan Min’s wrist hurt from her grip, but her face remained calm. She slowly said, “You are truly capricious. Just now you asked why I came, and I came to cook, not to listen to you talk.”
Yang Mei furrowed her brow and tightened her grip. After glaring at her for a long time, she released her hand in frustration and turned her back, refusing to look at Duan Min.
Duan Min quietly rubbed her wrist, then continued to rinse the rice, start a fire, and cook the plain porridge. When everything was settled, she saw Yang Mei still sulking by the side like a child. After some thought, she still addressed her, “Go back to your room and sit, or wait in the dining hall. It will only get hotter here with the fire burning.”
Yang Mei turned around, her face full of grievance, “Don’t bother with me. Go find him then. Just get more and more fond of him right in front of me and see when I get angry enough to kill him!”
“You’re just saying willful things today.” Duan Min didn’t bother to argue. After a pause, she patiently advised, “When you have time, think more about your own matters. Only irresponsible children let their emotions run wild. You are a clever girl. Know what’s good and what’s bad; don’t confuse yourself.”
When Yang Mei had been quiet just now, she had actually been thinking: How could I act like a child throwing a tantrum? How dare I be so openly jealous? But as soon as she thought of Duan Min and heard Duan Min speak, she couldn’t help but feel impulsive and want to indulge herself.
And Duan Min was always so sober.
Yang Mei suddenly felt bored. All the anxious, frustrated emotions blocking her heart dissipated, but the feeling of sadness became heavier.
Yang Mei suddenly smiled, “You truly are a fool. If you were willing to coax me, perhaps I would do things for you that I never thought I would. You could have misled me, but you chose to enlighten me. What a good opportunity! It might not come again.”
Duan Min accompanied her with a smile, swallowing the words “I don’t want to use deceit as a means” before they could be spoken. Duan Min had already understood that some things, although unwanted, would still be done. It was just a matter of reluctantly maintaining a balance between one’s intentions and the desired effect.
If she had truly enlightened Yang Mei, she genuinely didn’t know if Yang Mei would ever let her go.