Chapter 69 - Schadenfreude

Yun Xiangxiang had the honor of visiting Suzhou’s Chinese garden in her previous life. It was exquisitely elegant. However, a lot of places had lost their glory after the flow of time left its mark on them. It was impossible to see the magnificently breathtaking elegance of ancient times.

However, the Song Family’s manor preserved all the original elements of the ancient era. Even the window panes were made of supple and strong shoji instead of glass.

On top of that, everyone was saying that Beijing’s air quality was bad. However, Yun Xiangxiang felt like a flower that bloomed at dawn every time she took a breath here. It was extraordinarily refreshing. God knew the reason behind this. It might have been because it was at a high altitude.

The Song Family’s manor truly took up tremendous amounts of space. Yun Xiangxiang didn’t even finish strolling around it after walking for half an hour with Song Qian.

“Eh, it’s the sound of Erhu...” Yun Xiangxiang unexpectedly heard the sound of Erhu being played during her saunter.

It was an unknown melody that was filled with sorrow. For reasons unknown however, Yun Xiangxiang’s first reaction when she heard this sorrowful tune was to laugh instead of feeling sad...

She immediately felt curious about the person playing the tune. She peered at the moon gate ahead, “Can I go over there?”

“Sure...” There was some hesitation in Song Qian’s voice. The young master did say that Yun Xiangxiang could go anywhere, “But only you can go in. We can’t simply enter Guiyi Courtyard.”

“Is it a taboo?” Yun Xiangxiang didn’t want to break any rules of the host.

“No. It’s because you are a guest. I am not,” Song Qian explained.

“Then I’ll go inside and take a look,” Yun Xiangxiang believed that Song Qian wouldn’t send her into harm’s way. Song Qian absolutely wouldn’t let her go if entrance was forbidden.

Yun Xiangxiang looked at the plaque on the top of the gate. It was engraved in small seal script [1]. She wouldn’t have known what was written there had Song Qian not said that it was Guiyi Courtyard. She did practice calligraphy. However, it wasn’t an ancient script like small seal.

Yun Xiangxiang thought she had strayed into the flower fairy’s kingdom once she stepped foot into the courtyard. Flowers blossomed in full bloom everywhere. The fragrance fluttered with the breeze. People couldn’t help but concentrate and close their eyes to take a sniff of the fragrance.

She walked along a path paved with cobblestones. The myriad of flowers were dazzling, she couldn’t see enough of it. They were also arranged in a very orderly fashion. They didn’t feel messy when she looked at them. The different flowers kept them from being repetitive and dull.

In fact, they looked prettier and even more enchanting the more she gazed at them. Yun Xiangxiang thought that no woman could resist such a gorgeous place. Its beauty was fantastical like a dream.

The Erhu tune was still going on. Yun Xiangxiang went in the sound’s direction and passed through a natural jardiniere. She saw a man that was about thirty years old sitting beside a pond.

Different-colored lotuses bloomed in the pond. A koi swam freely between the leaves of the lotus plants with small ripples followed where it swam.

“What do you think about the tune that I was playing, young lady?” the man stopped playing and peered at Yun Xiangxiang.

“Sorry to bother you, but I don’t really know how to appraise Erhu tunes,” She learned how to play Guzheng and piano. However, she never did come into contact with Erhu.

“The expert looks at the skill; the layman’s here to chill,”[2] The man placed his Erhu down, “Actually the layman’s the one with the most intuitive insight. You can just talk about how you felt when you listened to it.

Yun Xiangxiang’s expression became weird, “You want to hear my actual thoughts?”

“Naturally that is what I want,” The man nodded solemnly.

“I might not have the aptitude to admire. The melody of this tune is sad, but I can hear some hilarity in it...”

Yun Xiangxiang said in awkward honesty, “How should I describe it? It’s like... schadenfreude. Yes, it felt like schadenfreude.”

“Hahahahaha...” the man laughed cheerfully. He walked past the stone bridge from the lotus leaf pattern built on the pond to Yun Xiangxiang, “Young lady, you have great music sense. I am laughing at someone’s misfortune.”

Yun Xiangxiang smiled politely. She didn’t ask about the specifics of the schadenfreude.

This man looked a bit like Song Mian. Compared to Song Mian’s peerless beauty, this man’s features were a bit bolder. However, his aura was quite warm and reserved.

He might be someone along the ranks of Song Mian’s cousin or uncle, going by his age...

“It has been a long time since I met someone who understands my music. It is destiny that had us meet. Young lady, what kind of flower do you like?” the man kept his hand behind him. He asked Yun Xiangxiang while glancing through the flowers

“I might like flowers, but I don’t know how to keep it. Since they are growing so well under your care, it would be better if they stayed here,” Yun Xiangxiang declined the offer. She didn’t have time to tend to flowers. The few plants she had at home was easy to tend to.

“You don’t want it all for yourself even though you like it. Young lady, that’s a great quality.” The man praised.

This young lady should only be around her teens, yet she already had this state of mind. Many women in their twenties couldn’t help but pluck one flower for themselves if they saw a beautiful one. They never thought of taking care of it. It was only done on avaricious impulse. They would throw it away at any time.

It didn’t matter if it wilted. It was only a flower.

“I am flattered. Actually it’s just me being lazy,” Yun Xiangxiang wasn’t as noble as the man thought.

The man smiled. He beckoned Yun Xiangxiang before he went aside.

Yun Xiangxiang paused, but she still followed him.

Colorful orchids greeted her once she stepped through the antique door. Some were planted in the ground; some were planted in pots.

“Orchids suit you best. Pick a pot,” He disallowed Yun Xiangxiang from declining and said with a stern expression, “It is impermissible to decline what your elders give you.”

Yun Xiangxiang was in a dilemma. In the end, she still examined them seriously. Even though she was a girl, she didn’t understand a thing about flowers and plants. However, she knew that some orchids could cost tens of millions of yuan. However, the point was she couldn’t know which type was which.

She could only choose a pot that had an orchid bud in the end, “I’ll take this pot then.”

“Great taste,” The man smiled happily.

Even Yun Xiangxiang who was an actress couldn’t figure out the man’s emotions from his expression. However, it was clear that he did not have any hints of displeasure.

Yun Xiangxing considered the fact that Song Qian was waiting for her outside. She was also worried that the man would give her more flowers if she stayed any longer. Thus, Yun Xiangxiang bade him goodbye after a brief chat.

“Young lady, do come and play more often if you have time.” The man smiled at Yun Xiangxiang warmly.

Yun Xiangxiang continued to smile politely. She didn’t agree to that. In fact, she didn’t want to come to the Song Family’s manor again. This place was too elegant; it made her self conscious about her embarrassing inferiority.

Besides, the Song Family’s manor wasn’t a place that someone could come as they pleased.

“I’ll be going now, Uncle Song,” Yun Xiangxiang ruminated about getting a chance to give a gift in return for the orchid.

Since he said he was an elder, he was probably Song Mian’s uncle.

Yun Xiangxiang came out of the courtyard. Song Qian was indeed still waiting for her at the same spot. Her eyeballs nearly fell out when she saw the flower in her hands. However, she composed herself quickly. Song Qian’s expression had already returned to normal when Yun Xiangxiang got near her.

“I saw Mr. Song’s uncle. He gave me a flower pot,” Yun Xiangxiang explained.