Way back to Our Past

11. Her Betrayal

Translator: Snowball

In the black Cayenne parked on the open land opposite to the alley, after watching Qu Wan running into the community, the driver said to Ling Mubai, looking at the latter’s reflection in the rearview mirror.

“Mr. Ling, that seemed to be Mrs. Ling?”

Ling Mubai snorted with a grim look. “She’s not Mrs. Ling anymore!”

As he was in a bad mood, the driver didn’t dare say too much. He hopped out of the car and opened the door for Ling Mubai before unfolding a map in front of him.

“Mr. Ling, the demolition and removal procedures of this residential area are being processed. We may get the approval in one week the soonest.”

“One week? So soon?” Ling Mubai muttered.

“The sooner we get the approval, the sooner we can start the project. Why did Mr. Ling seem unhappy at the good news?” the driver wondered in confusion.

Standing at the end of the alley, Ling Mubai stared at the buildings in front of him in a daze.

After quite a while, he came back to his senses and walked toward a noodle chophouse nearby.

Seeing the guests coming in, the boss immediately walked over. “May I take your order, sir?”

“Youpo Noodles[1].” Ling Mubai answered after taking his seat.

As the sanitary conditions in such small restaurants were poor, the driver couldn’t help but widen his eyes when he saw Ling Mubai sit down.

“It’s unbelievable that Mr. Ling would have sat down on the greasy chair! But we have just had lunch. How come he ordered a bowl of noodles?”

Youpo Noodles were very spicy and the mere sight of the red chili oil over the noodles would make people sweat. Ling Mubai picked up the noodles with his chopsticks, put them into his mouth, and swallowed them slowly after chewing a few bites.

He remembered one summer years ago when he saw a girl in plain clothes eating the same kind of noodles at the roadside food stall.

With her hair tied into a bun on the back of her head, she looked comely and neat.

Stimulated by the chilies on a hot day, she began to sweat on the forehead soon. Wiping off the sweat with a tissue, she went on digging her food, as if the noodles in the bowl was the most delicious delicacy in the world.

Ling Mubai had the impression that all women ate with grace and it was the first time he had ever seen a woman tucking into the chilies disregarding what other people might think of her, so he was attracted by her in an instant.

He had been watching her until she left after finishing her noodles.

The next day, he met her again on the path in front of the library of the college when he came to attend a public event.

She was still wearing her plain dress with her hair tied in a ponytail, full of youthful vigor.

He learned from someone on campus that she was Qu Wan, Xiao Yu’s girlfriend.

Ling Mubai had heard of Xiao Yu and knew he came from a wealthy family with business all over the country, far more influential than the Ling family.

What’s more, Xiao Yu wasn’t an ordinary affluent second generation. Unlike those foppish childes, he was not only knowledgeable, calm, and low-pitched but also was business-minded.

With his extraordinary talent, he had repeatedly made breakthroughs in his family business and donated most of the money he had earned to the children in remote areas. It wasn’t until the media reported that the teachers from the schools in those poverty-stricken areas brought the children to express their gratitude to him did people know that he was the heir to the Xiao family.

Everyone was shocked when they heard that this unremarkable young man had such a distinguished background and extraordinary experience.

“I can’t believe this rich guy’s girlfriend would be dressed in such shabby clothes!” someone said sarcastically out of envy.

Looking at Qu Wan, Ling Mubai recalled the rumors about the Xiao family. It was said that Xiao Yu took a fancy to a work-study girl, but his family opposed their being together and tried to force them apart.

It was hard to believe that a talented man with such a privileged background would have fallen for an ordinary girl from a poor family. However, the moment he saw Qu Wan, Ling Mubai understood why Xiao Yu was crazy about her.

When Ling Mubai saw Qu Wan for the third time, she was working in a greasy spoon.

A middle-aged woman who seemed to weigh over 200 pounds deliberately bumped against her when Qu Wan was bringing dishes to the guests, which caused the freshly cooked dishes and juice to spill onto her hand. The woman swore at her loudly, but Qu Wan only kept on apologizing to her with her head lowered. Ling Mubai had seen that woman before and he knew she was the servant of the Xiao Family. As Xiao Yu was unwilling to make a compromise, his family sent this woman to find fault with Qu Wan, trying to force her to leave Xiao Yu.

Qu Wan was grateful to Ling Mubai for helping her out.

Seeing the blisters on her hand, Ling Mubai was about to get her to the hospital but was refused by Qu Wan, who said it didn’t hurt at all.

Afterwards, Ling Mubai learned that Qu Wan had earned every penny of her tuition and living expenses on her own. Going to the hospital for treatment would cost her half a month’s living expenses, which was too much for her.

Because of the strong objection from the Xiao family, Xiao Yu and Qu Wan ended up separated.

Ling Mubai had been with Qu Wan in her most difficult times and finally won her heart. When he kissed her for the first time, he swore to himself that he would make her a lifetime of happiness and wouldn’t let her suffer anymore.

Since then, he had made every effort to provide Qu Wan the best, but one thing that bothered him was that his mother had always picked on Qu Wan. Mothers-in-law in wealthy families seem to be more difficult to get along with!

Ling Mubai had thought that the woman he loved and cared for with all his heart would stick by him forever.

However, obviously Qu Wan had betrayed him…

Apart from the twinge in his heart, he felt his mouth burning hot as well, so Ling Mubai put down his chopsticks and walked out of the restaurant. Watching him striding toward their car, the driver paid the bill and rushed out in haste.

After getting back into the car, Ling Mubai gulped down a bottle of water and felt a little better.

At this point, his cell phone suddenly rang with Jiang Xinyue’s number flashing on the screen. “Mubai, where are you? I have something very important to tell you.”

 

Translator’s Note:

A Shaanxi specialty which is made by putting the cooked handmade noodles in a bowl, and then spreading the seasoning as well as a thick layer of chili powder on them before pouring hot cooking oil on top.