I like it when Shi Yi gives hints of a more playful side of her. 🙂
Chapter 14.3 – After Magnificence Has Become But Emptiness (3)
This story was translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only. All forms of reproduction, redistribution, or re-posting are not authorized. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the copy is unauthorized and has been taken without consent of the translator.
Please do not repost this anywhere.
Two days later, she and Zhousheng Chen went to visit Wenxing.
Her condition appeared to be good, but she still was not meeting the criteria. In just this half a month, she had already missed a suitable donor heart that had become available. These were facts that Zhousheng Chen had told her earlier in a brief summary. She was not knowledgeable about organ transplants, but she did know that the dangers of congenital heart defects were much higher than heart disorders acquired later in life. Hence, she could not help feeling for Wenxing. It would always seem that the healers of others could not heal themselves.
This time, she ran into Mei Xing there.
Wenxing’s hospital room had its own separate sitting room and couches. While Zhousheng Chen went to speak to the doctor, she headed to Wenxing’s room first. A light blue tracksuit jacket was draped over Wenxing’s shoulders, and she was laughing quietly. Mei Xing was also laughing as he shook his head, pulled off his glasses, and wiped them with a handkerchief from his pocket.
“Sister-in-Law?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Sister-in-Law, I have some nice tea here, and I’ve brewed two cups.” Wenxing took her own cup and gently slid it over so it was in front of Shi Yi. “I can’t drink it. You drink.”
Shi Yi was amused. “Indeed, you really should not drink tea. Why did you make a cup for yourself, then?”
“I saw Mei Xing and I was so excited I forgot.” Wenxing’s gaze drifted over to Mei Xing. “Source-of-Calamity[1] Mei.”
Mei Xing smiled, but it was a silent smile.
A nurse came in to perform a routine check on Wenxing. Shi Yi sat down on a single sofa and reached for the cup of tea, but just as her hand touched its base, Mei Xing also placed his hand on the other side of the teacup base and held it down.
Mei Xing’s eyes were dark, as if they had been dabbed with ink, and the expression in them was deep and unfathomable as they glanced over at her.
Perplexed, Shi Yi stared back at him, but hearing Wenxing calling for her, for the time being, she did not think on this further.
Later, when Zhousheng Chen arrived, he and Mei Xing spoke for some time in the small sitting room. Before he left, Mei Xing casually instructed someone to pour out the two cups of tea. As she watched the disappearing outline of his back and remembered the moment earlier on when their gazes had met, she was influenced by the atmosphere Mei Xing had exuded and actually started to think that there had been something wrong with that cup of tea.
Comparing him and Wenxing, it should be clear who should have the closer relationship with her…
She should not have any misgivings.
<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only. Please do not repost this anywhere, including, but not limited to, on Wattpad, on personal blogs, as distributable electronic files, etc.
When Shi Yi was feeling a little better, she began making up the work she had dropped during her two months away and made plans to go to the studio the following week to record. Hearing that she was starting work again, Mei Lin ran through her work with her while complaining in between that the various producers were going to cause her to kill herself soon. That afternoon, the latest file of work was couriered over, and it was as thick as a book. In accordance with her vocal timbre, most roles were from a period or ancient setting.
She casually flipped through the file, familiarizing herself with the roles.
Her own book that she was writing, on the other hand, had been set aside.
The book was nearing its ending, and she was writing very slowly because she could not really remember his ending.
She was unable to recall why or how he had died. Since she was unable to remember, she could only go back to edit the earlier parts. However, because she cared too much about what she was writing, she struggled and agonized over the words and sentences chosen and would end up changing them over and over again.
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Zhousheng Chen was very busy of late. Most of the time, she would eat by herself, and she was very used to him coming home late. That morning, after they visited Wenxing, he took her home and then left again.
She read through some scripts for a little while but then grew distracted and began to revise her own draft. Her editing ended up carrying on until past seven olock.
In her mind, she was deliberating over wording. Her hands gripped the stack of papers while she unconsciously drummed the table lightly with it. After a while, she turned her head and laid her cheek against the desktop. Her brows furrowed together, relaxed, then slowly furrowed again. Thoroughly absorbed in her own thoughts, she did not even notice that Zhousheng Chen had returned.
He hung up his coat that was still dripping droplets of water, and then, through the open door, he saw her in the study.
He stepped into the study. “What problems have you run into?”
Shi Yi instinctively closed her file folder and was about to stand, but he placed a hand on her shoulder.
He crouched down in front of her, motioning to her just to speak as she was.
After mulling for a moment, she had to admit to him, “Tangled in a trap of my own mind.”
“A trap of your own mind?”
“I’m writing something, and I want to write it in the best way possible so I’m overthinking the wording and sentences.” She exhaled lightly. “It’s a trap by my own mind.”
“Mm,” he said, indicating that he understood. “Let me think how I can help you get out of it.”
She laughingly scoffed, “I won’t trouble you, the great scientist, with this.”
“Shh… Let me think. I think I’ve come up with something.”
Amused, she nodded.
“Do you remember how I answered you in regards to what the second lunar month is known as?”
“Gan Xiang [Fragrant Violet].”
He nodded. “That was actually spoken out of my habit. If you delve into this more seriously, the second lunar month actually has many alternate names, and each of those names has a different origin. Wouldn’t it be very difficult, then, if you were forced to decide which is the better name?”
She admitted that what he was saying was true.
“Just like in the laboratory, I never require students to completely copy me. Everyone will have their own methods that are appropriate to them.” He contemplated briefly and then continued, “I am not very good at literary writing or essays, but I do know that the scholarly and literary persons of the past each had their own preferred or habitually used phrases and words. For both research and writing, the key lies in this.” With his finger, he lightly tapped his own temple and said, “Use the ways and styles you are used to using to write what you want to write.”
“Mm.”
“You haven’t had dinner?” He patted her stomach. “Hungry?”
She answered honestly, “Yes.”
“Let’s go.” He straightened. “We’ll go out to eat.”
“Now?” Simply from listening to the noise of the rain, she could imagine the weather outside.
“I looked at the weather forecast. The rain will stop in an hour. We will drive slowly and go to eat somewhere that takes a little longer to drive to.”
“The weather forecast?” Shi Yi had always had a bad impression about weather forecasts. “What if it’s not accurate?”
Shi Yi followed his foosteps, keeping along with his pace as she spoke to him.
Zhousheng Chen suddenly stopped and turned around. “There’s also the probability associated with rain stopping, right?”
Still hesitating, she said, “I’m just worried that we’ll trouble Uncle Lin. It’s such a rainy day and he still needs to come pick us up and take us to dinner.”
“This time, I’ll drive.”
“You’ll drive?”
He could not hold back a laugh. “I know how to drive.”
It was not that she did not trust him, but she really had not seen him drive before. Even after she was sitting in the front passenger seat in the underground parking garage, she still could not refrain from eyeing over the way he looked with his hands on the steering wheel, and she just seemed to feel that there was something discordant about the picture. After the vehicle had driven onto the overpass, though, she gradually became accustomed to it. He was very focused in everything he did, including driving, which he also did quietly and steadily.
The windshield wipers swayed back and forth incessantly, but the rain appeared to be easing up.
By the time their vehicle had driven out of Shanghai, the rain really did come to a stop.
There were many little towns surrounding the outskirts of Shanghai that were similar to the one the Wang family’s old courtyard home was located in. She had only been there the one time, and it had been late in the night, so as yet, she still had not figured out what the name of that place was. She also did not know this place that he had driven to tonight either.
He parked the car in the car park at the entrance of the little town.
The rain had just stopped, and water was still pooled on the pavement.
Fortunately, she had not worn high heels, so with his hand supporting her, she leapt over the bigger puddles.
A few boats were moored along the riverbank, and there was a small, charming restaurant right on the shore where they were. The boats were not very big, and at most, each had room enough for only two tables. Zhousheng Chen had reserved one of them. When the two of them sat down inside the boat, a boatman handed them a menu.
“This was the only boat tonight that was not occupied. You two are very lucky.”
Shi Yi smiled, lowering her head to look through the simple menu of only two pages. They did not have the option of being choosy. Coming to this sort of place meant that what they were “eating” would really only be the scenery and setting.
Worried that he would not be full even after they had eaten, she deliberately selected some dishes that were heartier and more filling.
“Please wait a short while. When the food is ready, we will pull away from shore.”
The boatman hopped back onto the shore, leaving the two of them on the boat. On each side of the boat, there was only a chest-high railing. There were candlesticks, but no other lights. The most comfortable part of the setting was the seating. A pair of deep red, sofa-style seats faced each other, and a smaller person would be able to completely lie down on one. Even sitting upright like this, a person would sink right into the seat, and it was so comfortable it made you want to sleep.
“You’ve been here before?” She looked at him curiously.
Smiling, Zhousheng Chen shook his head. “My first time here. I asked someone last minute.”
She had reckoned this was the case. This Eldest Young Master was definitely not someone who would take pleasure in this sort of lifestyle.
The boat rocked slightly. The boatman had headed back over, and in a rather apologetic tone, he asked them, “There are two young people on the shore, and they would like to come up on the boat. I told them this entire boat has been reserved already, and they… wanted me to consult with you whether you might let them have the empty table?”
The boatman pointed in the direction of the shore.
The two of them glanced over at the same time at the young couple, who looked to be little more than twenty years old.
The boy was nervously staring at them, and when he saw that they had turned their heads in his direction, he was quick to secretly bring his palms together, begging them to please agree. Shi Yi giggled and heard Zhousheng Chen say, “I have no problem with it, and I believe, neither does my wife.”
“Mm-hmm. Let them come up.”
The boatman’s impression of this kindly looking couple grew even more favorable. He called out to the two youngsters to step onto the boat. Between the two tables was a bamboo curtain, and when it was lowered, the tables would be in separate spaces. The dishes were served, and the boat started to move.
Shortly after pulling away from the riverbank, it began to rain again.
She could hear the boy and girl behind the bamboo curtain quietly conversing, essentially calculating out their expenditures of this day and checking over the amounts carefully. From beginning to end, the girl would lament that more had been spent on this so more should be saved on that. “Look at you. You have so little money already, yet you still wanted to eat on this boat…”
Their voices were low, but Shi Yi still heard them clearly.
She remembered, when she had just graduated and started work at the recording studio, there had been an intern recording engineer and his young girlfriend. The two of them would carefully calculate out each day’s expense. From Monday through Friday, every meal would be planned out to simply save save enough so that on the weekend, they could enjoy a good meal or perhaps go for an outing in the surrounding area. This was most certainly the type of romance that belonged to young people.
She could not resist giving him a look, and then, she laughed quietly.
“What is it?”
Zhousheng Chen leaned back against the back of the sofa, his right arm resting off to the side on top of it as he glanced puzzledly at her. Shi Yi slipped over so that she was next to him, and then in his ear, she quietly repeated the girl’s words. When she was finished and was about to briefly describe what she was feeling, Zhousheng Chen’s face showed an expression of comprehension. “Envious?”
She laughed, “Mm-hmm.”
A smile spread across his face.
Outside, the rain was not showing any signs that it would be ending soon. The boatman brough their boat to a temporary stop under the cover of a “curtain” formed by the branches of the old trees on the side of the river. He told them that they would be sheltering from the rain for a while to avoid water splashing into the boat and wetting their clothing.
There, against the shore and with a wind blowing, they could see waves slapping against a rocky wall.
The candlesticks cast flickering shadows on the bamboo curtain.
“Have your ever seen a hand shadow show?”
“Hand shadow show?”
“Hmm… I’m guessing you haven’t.”
She remembered, watching television as a child, there had been a hand shadowgraphy program that had aired for several seasons. On the television, two people would manipulate their own fingers to form animal and human shapes and use these to create a short story or mock things of real life. Back then, as she watched the program, she would vaguely remember that in the library tower of the past, she had also used the light cast by candles to make shadows when she was bored.
Because she was self-taught, the number of shapes she had known how to make had not been many.
In fact, when she had followed along with the television program, she had learned to make quite a few more.
Shi Yi formed the shape of a rabbit and was about to say something when she suddenly paused. “Today is the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar[2]?”
No wonder there were “double-ninth rice cakes[3]” amid the dishes on the table.
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He gave an “mm-hmm,” and then asked, “Are you making a rabbit shadow?”
“You can tell?” Grinning, Shi Yi wiggled her fingers, and the ears of the rabbit on the bamboo curtain also fluttered slightly in unison. She improvised a voice for it. “Oh…… The Vast Cold Palace[4] is so dreadfully cold and lonely. In the blink of an eye, the Moon Festival[5] has passed and it is the Double Ninth Festival already. I may as well go to the mortal world to walk around.”
Worried that the young couple on the neighbouring side would see, her voice was rather quiet, but the sense of drama in it was very ample.
He turned so he was sitting sideways, and he watched her performance closely.
Shi Yi blew a soft breath on the candle.
The shadows from the candle flickered, and the rabbit disappeared. She turned and knelt herself down on the sofa, her own shadow now falling on the bamboo curtain, clear, yet frail. “This noble young master here, could it be that we… had once seen each other, in another place?…”
Light. Gentle.
It was the voice style she was most adept in, her ancient-style voice.
His lips turned up into a smile. Playing along with her, he asked quietly in reply, “Oh? Is that the case?”
“Noble young master, may I know your name?……” Her eyes sparkled and her voice became even lighter.
He pondered for a brief moment, then looked directly into her eyes. “Zhousheng, with the single character given name, Chen.”
<>Copyright of Fanatical, hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com. Translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only. Please do not repost this anywhere, including, but not limited to, on Wattpad, on personal blogs, as distributable electronic files, etc.
[1] 梅祸水 “Mei Huo Shui.” 祸水 “huo shui” literally means “water of calamity,” i.e. a great flood, and this is comparing a person, usually a woman, to a flood that brings disaster on the people. Here, Wenxing is not only jokingly calling Mei Xing someone who brings trouble but also teasing him by addressing him using something that would usually be reserved for a girl.
[2] The ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar is 重阳节 Chongyang Festival (重 “chong” means repeat, and the number “9” is considered the number of yang, as opposed to yin), also called the Double Ninth Festival in English, and has roots dating back a couple thousand years. Taking place in late autumn, during this festival, people go out hiking on the mountains, admire chrysanthemums, and pay respects to their elders because “9” sometimes also symbolizes longevity. In 2011, the year of this story, the festival corresponded to October 5 on the Gregorian calendar.
[3] 花糕 “hua gao.” Literally meaning “flower cakes.” Also called菊糕 “chrysanthemum cake” or 重阳糕 “chongyang cake”/“double-ninth cakes.” These are cakes made of a rice flour base and contain ingredients such as red bean, nuts (walnuts, almonds, chestnuts, etc.) and preserved fruits (dates, apricots, apples, etc).
[4] 广寒宫 “Guang Han Gong.” “Guanghan Palace” or “Vast Cold Palace.” Sometimes simply called “Moon Palace.” In Chinese mythology, it is the home of Chang’e, the moon deity. The legend of Chang’e has many variations, but in general, Chang’e drank the elixir of immortality and floated to the moon where she forever lives with only the company of a rabbit called the Jade Rabbit. Shi Yi’s hand shadow rabbit was supposed to be the Jade Rabbit.
[5] 中秋 “Zhong Qiu.” The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, takes place on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. On this day, the moon is at its roundest and brightest, and hence, the legend of Chang’E and the Jade Rabbit are often associated with this festival. In 2011, the year of this story, this corresponds to September 12 on the Gregorian calendar.
This story was translated with the express permission of the author for hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com only. All forms of reproduction, redistribution, or re-posting are not authorized. If you are not reading this from hui3r[dot]wordpress[dot]com, the copy is unauthorized and has been taken without consent of the translator.
Additional Comments:
“Use the ways and styles you are used to using to write what you want to write.” Such a simple principle, right? But I got caught in a trap of my own mind in translating, as well. Similar to Shi Yi, I’ve been trying so hard to make this translation the best reflection of MBFB’s writing that there are times I’ve written and re-written multiple versions of the same Chinese sentence for more than an hour, looking for the right words, debating author intent vs. honouring author’s words more literally. My hubby thinks I’m weird. :p Zhousheng Chen’s advice to Shi Yi was like a lightbulb moment for me, too. I feel like Teacher Zhousheng Chen and Teacher Mo Bao Fei Bao were talking to just little ol’ me. :p
Completed:
1 of 1 Prologue
46 of 56 Main story segments
0 of 3 Epilogues
Fanatical 
August 26, 2015 at 8:14 am
Thank you for the chapter.
August 29, 2015 at 4:54 am
You’re welcome. Sofa seat for you again. 🙂
August 29, 2015 at 4:58 am
😉
August 26, 2015 at 8:16 am
Thanks for the update. Seeing a side of Shi Yi – playful .
August 29, 2015 at 4:56 am
You’re welcome! I remember that Shi Yi had said somewhere that, even counting both of her lives, she had not had many happy moments. That’s why I love seeing these little playful, happy moments from her.
August 26, 2015 at 8:23 am
I love how they interact with each other 😀
August 29, 2015 at 4:57 am
Me, too. They’re so… different. Yet it feels “right.”
August 26, 2015 at 8:25 am
Thank you Hoju for the great read in the morning (at least where I am now it is morning). Have a wonderful day ahead
August 29, 2015 at 4:58 am
You’re welcome. 🙂 We must live on opposite sides of the world. Best wishes for your day ahead, too. 🙂
August 26, 2015 at 9:24 am
Your translation brings sunshine to an otherwise dreary day! Thank you…
August 29, 2015 at 4:58 am
Aaaaw… thank you. 🙂 Such wonderful motivation for me. Hope you have a great day!
August 26, 2015 at 9:31 am
Hmmm… Did the tea have poison again? So Mei Xing didn’t want Shi Yi to drink it. But Wenxing was the one that brewed the tea so it should be “safe”. I’m also confused with these two sentences, “Comparing him and Wenxing, it should be clear who should have the closer relationship with her…
She should not have any misgivings.” I’m not quite sure I understand what shi Yi was implying in those sentences…
I can’t believe we only have 10 more story segments (about 3 more chapters). Hopefully, there’s more Mei Xing’s story in the last 3 chapters. 😊 Thank you for the translation!
August 29, 2015 at 5:02 am
Take those sentences literally, exactly as Shi Yi said it.
Me, too! Can you sense that everything is converging onto something? A result, a revelation, a conclusion… just something. You like Mei Xing. A worthy fandom to be part of, in my opinion. 🙂
August 26, 2015 at 9:43 am
Hehe I feel you Hoju! Zhousheng Chen’s advice really hits the spot 😀 Their little dinner date on the boat sounds sooo nice, there’s something about the rain that adds to the atmosphere too – as far as I can imagine it haha – and I’m not usually one to like the rain….I wanna go on one~~ >__<
August 29, 2015 at 5:04 am
I’m sure you can relate from your translation, as well. 🙂
I often love the rain, as long as it’s not days and days of it. I could take my umbrella out and walk in a drizzle or a storm by myself for hours, with the caveat that I’m dressed appropriately. Atmosphere-wise, the misty feeling and the swaying of the boat must have been nice, but I hope they had heaters on board. It is October, after all. :p
August 29, 2015 at 10:20 pm
Aw you make it sound so cute enjoying a little walk in the rain haha, too bad I live in England where it almost rains all year round -_- if not I would definitely appreciate the rain more XD The atmosphere sounds perfect, with Shi Yi’s little shadow show too, and ooh I didn’t even think of that lol it must have been chilly with rain in october too
August 26, 2015 at 9:55 am
Feels like the advice may have originally come from Chemistry Professor…. I am suspicious 😉
Thanks for translating, this chap seemed particularly difficult to translate.
August 29, 2015 at 5:09 am
You mean THE chemistry professor? :p I wouldn’t be surprised, although, I feel like it could have come from MBFB and her experience as author and screenwriter. I do wonder about the scientific terms and all, how much he contributed. I know all that description on the research lab’s experimental apparatus actually came from another university’s site, but I’m thinking about Zhousheng Chen’s description of the impact of POE composite materials and how, practically, they could impact China’s big cities. Doesn’t sound like something MBFB herself would know.
Haha… was the translation so bad that you noticed?
August 29, 2015 at 10:58 am
Not at all, I find cultural aspects difficult though. Somehow you seem very good at Chinese culture, surely you have spent a good amount of time in China(???), or at least it seems that way. This novel just seems so difficult whenever they talk about ancient literature. Also Im super impressed that you translated all the songs from really really miss you…. must have taken a looooong time… and all the pop culture references that mustve been in them! Thanks!!
September 2, 2015 at 10:51 am
I LOVE China and wish I could be there more, but unfortunately, I’ve only spent a total of 1 month or so in the country, spread over 3 trips. It’s my own personal hobby and fascination with my roots, so I just like learning about it.
Some days, I still think I must not have gotten enough sleep the night before when I chose this novel to translate. :p
You read the RRMY translation, too? I need to go back and re-read it, now that I’m a bit more familiar with the 2-D world. Thanks for the encouragement!
September 2, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Wow, I’m even more impressed. Do you use Chinese on a daily basis? I find that sometimes Chinese is very subtle with wordplay and it’s difficult to catch and translate, you must spend a lot of time on phrasing with novels. I really like how well you capture the original text in your translations.
Yup, your RRMY translation was the one that started my Mo Bao craze… I was in a reading slump after Idk how many rereads of Lost You Forever. After the first couple of chapters of RRMY I read the whole rest of the book in Chinese, started listening to ancient songs, and binge read/listened to quite a few if her novels.. Might have been a bit obsessed. At that time I wasn’t yet tech savvy enough to comment or i probably would have! Recently I discovered thaf the WordPress app is kind of amazing for comments.
I wish 5sing worked better overseas. Music on there is so good! At least where I am, I can’t load more than 10 seconds or so without buffering probably due to regional restrictions. I totally have you and Mo Bao to thank for this hobby heheh ❤
September 5, 2015 at 11:03 am
Speaking wise, it’s 50-50 Canto/English in my household. Reading/writing wise, the only daily use I get is during translation.
Thanks. 🙂 I probably spend a bit too long on wording and phrasing. :p
RRMY is magical. Or at least, to me it is. It’s not sophisticated but gosh, it just makes me so happy. ❤ I'm crazy about ancient style music now. They're so poetic, the people are in their purely because of interest and talent, not because of their faces, and you have some gorgeous lyrics and music being composed.
5sing is hit and miss with me. In general, it works much better during Beijing's middle of the night and early morning hours. Midday Beijing time is awful. I often can't download anything.
MBFB created a ton of 2-D world fans with RRMY, including myself. :p
September 7, 2015 at 12:52 am
RRMY is magical! Her other 暖文 are not nearly as memorable, at least i dont feel that they are worth the effort to reread often.
September 7, 2015 at 9:44 am
I find I can draw a distinct line to divide her novels “before Together Forever” and “after Together Forever.” I really found that specific novel was a turning point in her writing, that after, somehow, her writing drew me in emotionally. Her other 暖文 i.e. Easily Ignited, 念念不想忘, with the exception of her 左手 series, belong to the “before” period. Those were just average. Easily Ignited had inconsistent characters and 念念’s characters were not distinct enough. In fact, 念念 was never written to completion, so I’m not sure if her part 2 would have made me change my mind, but that’s not going to happen anyway.
August 26, 2015 at 10:41 am
Lovely translation 😍
Thanks Much 😘
August 29, 2015 at 5:10 am
Thank you! ❤ And as always, thank you for the comment. 🙂
August 26, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Thank you so much!!! 😘😘😘
August 29, 2015 at 5:10 am
You’re welcome!! ❤
August 26, 2015 at 1:26 pm
Thanks for the chapter!
August 29, 2015 at 5:11 am
You’re welcome. 🙂
August 26, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Thank you 🙂
August 29, 2015 at 5:11 am
You’re welcome! 🙂
August 26, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Thank you….misteri about the tea….
August 29, 2015 at 5:12 am
Indeed, an interesting detail. 😉
You’re welcome!
August 26, 2015 at 2:56 pm
Thank you.
Again, a case of Shi Yi very likely being in danger because of her forced ignorance. She should have known not to take that coup of tea herself, but she didn’t because she has no clue about the attempts on her life. And what if Mei Xing hadn’t been there to stop her this time?
August 26, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Sigh. Posted comment too soon by mistake.
I wanted to add, it’s odd that Wenxing should be under suspicion… yet it’s not. If I think about it, she was in the boat with Shi Yi the first time she almost died, she was sick and monopolized Zhousheng Chen the 2nd time Shi Yi almost died… And now this.
Also, I really don’t see how someone desperately sick and waiting for a heart transplant can have a compatible heart become available yet reject the operation because her condition was “missing indicators”. What does that even mean?
August 26, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Exactly. Tell her!
It never occurred to me until now that Wenxing could be a suspect, though if you consider pportunity, she’s the main one.
I imagine “missing indicators” means that she’s too weak for a transplant. You have to be in good condition to have one. if you have a cold, your temperature is too high, your blood test has anomalies, etc. you can’t get a transplant. I think her recent illness has dropped her below the required levels.
Thanks for the chapter.
August 29, 2015 at 5:22 am
First, let me preface this by saying, I agree that he should not keep her in the dark.
In this scenario, however, I don’t think it would have made any difference at all. You guys all said that, prior to Mei Xing’s actions, you would not have suspected Wenxing, and you guys are looking at this from a bystander’s perspective. Given that Wenxing had said she had personally brewed the tea and they were outside of the manor’s setting, even if Shi Yi had been informed of everything, I think she still would have drank it if Mei Xing had not intervened.
Thank you guys all for the comments! 🙂
August 27, 2015 at 1:07 am
I agree with you again. It seemed that Wenxing is always connected with SY’s “accidents”. What’s up with that? She was the one that wanted to be on the boat, ZSC was with her when SY almost died because of the poison and then she brewed tea & tried to have SY drank it.
I think the “missing indicator” relates to how her body needs to reach a certain level before a heart transplant can be performed. So whenever they were doing this pre-surgery testing, she might not meet this requirement & so the transplant surgery would be delayed because of this. That’s my opinion. This whole thing is weird too. We know how difficult it’s to find a donor match in real life but yet, somehow she already missed two opportunities to have a heart transplant. But I wonder if this “missing indicator” is actually some kind of another plot to delay yet ZSC & SY’s wedding. After all, we still have 3 or so more chapters to go.😜
August 27, 2015 at 4:58 am
Sian said: “But I wonder if this “missing indicator” is actually some kind of another plot to delay yet ZSC & SY’s wedding.”
You mean, the “missing indicator” is the writer’s ploy to increase reader anticipation by delaying Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi’s wedding–or it’s the Zhou family’s plot to use Wenxing’s illness as a pretext for delaying the wedding and thus the handoff of power? 😉
August 29, 2015 at 12:27 am
It definitely can be both ways. 😜 You’re good at reading my mind. 😊
August 29, 2015 at 5:16 am
Apologies, first of all. I’m not well-versed on medical terminology, and I tried to search but couldn’t come up with any proper English terminology. Yes, it’s some sort of pre-operation health requirements she has to meet before she can get a transplant, as Sian and urban scrappy mentioned.
Just a little note: she only missed *one* donor heart, and this happened some time in the last half a month.
August 26, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Thank you hoju for your hardworks.😊
August 29, 2015 at 5:26 am
❤ You're very welcome.
August 26, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Hoju, thank you for this chapter! I wonder what was in that cup of tea…could it be poison!?
August 29, 2015 at 5:28 am
You’re welcome! Perhaps… or perhaps Shi Yi was being paranoid… or perhaps Mei Xing was being paranoid… or perhaps… 😉 Tehe… definitely an interesting detail in the story.
August 26, 2015 at 5:25 pm
thank youuuuu ^^
August 29, 2015 at 5:29 am
You’re welcome. 🙂
August 26, 2015 at 5:39 pm
Thank you for the translation! I think that anyone who writes will tend to agonise over words and phrases, but ZSC’s advice is good – write in your most comfortable voice and your meaning will become clear. Interesting observations of Wenxing in this chapter as well – ShiYi is a little too trusting of people at times. 😀
August 29, 2015 at 5:34 am
Yes, it’s a common “problem” of writers. 😉 Actually, my problem, besides agonizing over the words and phrases, is that I want this merely to be a translation of MBFB’s novel, and for a while, I was trying not to leave any of “hoju’s signature style, words, and phrases” in this translation. In reality, it was a silly “trap of the mind” because every translator has their unique style and I can’t prevent leaving my mark on it because if I try not to, like you said, the meaning comes out less clear. So, Zhousheng Chen’s advice was very nice… if it could have been earlier in the novel, it would have been better, though. 😀
Also, yes, very interesting. I really like how such a small incident inserted by the author caused all of you to start thinking backwards about the various events and who possibly could be involved.
August 29, 2015 at 9:19 am
Hmmm… Hoju, your second paragraph’s answer to Rebecca made me re-think this whole Wenxing & Shi Yi’s accidents connection. I know you’re not going to give us any spoiler. But it made me wonder if Wenxing was indeed involved in those accidents to scare off ZSC to not take over the family business. I think her reason though will be totally different than the uncle or Zhou wenchuan’s reason. I think her reason maybe genuinely not wanting her beloved brother to take over the family business because she wants her bother to live happily ever after with Shi Yi without worrying about the mafia affairs. This is totally speculation on my part. This novel made me think like a detective. 😉
August 26, 2015 at 6:46 pm
From my first impression of Wenxing, she seems to be an ally, but it’s questionable that whenever Shi Yi gets in danger, she’s always around.
Could it be that she’s jealous of Shi Yi getting her brother’s attention?
August 29, 2015 at 5:37 am
It’s an interesting observation, isn’t it? It makes you start thinking about, what is that person’s story?
August 26, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Hoju thanks for the upadate 🙂
August 29, 2015 at 5:37 am
You’re welcome!
August 26, 2015 at 11:02 pm
Thank you for translating yet again another wonderful chapter of ZSC and SY. XXM, it is freezing sitting in a boat when it is raining outside. My hubby and I sat in one many many moons ago, instead of enjoying the food and scenery passing by us…we were freezing and giving an excuse to snuggle up to one another…while the food on the boat gone cold…but it was a beautiful experience…not sure whether we will do it again though…hahahha
August 29, 2015 at 5:39 am
You’re welcome. Think it was Zhousheng Chen’s attempt at being romantic?
I think, theoretically, the drizzly atmosphere on the water is very romantic. On camera, it would make a beautiful scene. In all practicality, I guess it’s like going for a horse-drawn carriage ride in the snow. Looks great, and I think I would have enjoyed it if I wast too busy thinking about getting off before I got frostbite.
August 27, 2015 at 5:55 am
Thanks for the translation! 🙂
August 29, 2015 at 5:39 am
You’re welcome!
August 27, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Hello there Hoju. I will try to comment once in a while.
So it seems like anything given to Shi Yi in terms of food and who gives it should raise some suspicions. All these possible death threats are a tad bit frustrating. I wish Shi Yi is a bit more careful during this time. Yet, it seems like Wenxing is the least likely person to poison her,but who knows, everyone except Zhousheng Chen seems to be hiding something(from the subtle hints that MBFB gave in the story).
As for Zhousheng Chen’s advice, I could use some of it a couple years back when I had to write a paper from a character’s perspective. I understand the feeling of trying to “perfect” the character or the original author’s intent ,but often I strayed a bit from the author’s style of writing ( got to work on consistency,heh). 😛 I do understand the frustration and effort in trying to translate. One simple word can quite easily give off a different type of meaning or indication.
Thank you Hoju for the chapter. Although I cannot read chinese(very, very poor understanding), but I felt that your translation does fit the story as the main points are being carried across nicely to us readers .
August 29, 2015 at 5:45 am
🙂 No pressure. I love comments, but I’m not demanding.
Like you said, to Shi Yi, Wenxing would be the least likely person to do anything to her, so I think even if her guard was up, she still would not guard herself against Wenxing.
Haha… I wish Zhousheng Chen had said it earlier in the story.
Thank you! Conveying meaning, of course, is of foremost importance in a translation, but, particularly with this story, the atmosphere woven by the author is so much a part of the reading experience. Trying to maintain that misty, sometimes eerie, often poetic atmosphere has been my greatest challenge. I can say my abilities as a translator have been stretched like never before with this novel.
Thanks for commenting!
February 18, 2016 at 11:56 pm
Thank you again for your lovely translation. I have really enjoyed it, you have done an excellent job catching someone else’s flavor. I really appreciate the links & foot notes, you have given me days worth of rabbit holes to fall down.
February 20, 2016 at 7:12 am
Thank you for reading. I’m so happy you’re enjoying the story. I’ve done my best, but when I read the original Chinese, the beauty of the words is simply amazing, and my translation is but a shadow of it. I’m glad the footnotes are helpful, and thank you for letting me know. 🙂
October 23, 2016 at 5:04 am
I think your translations are amazing. It’s clear you put a lot of effort in every single one of them ❤
Thank you so much, hoju~
August 5, 2017 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for the effort u take in translating this. Also really love reading your thoughts on the chapters…..
August 10, 2017 at 12:36 pm
Thank you for reading (both the story and my personal thoughts). 🙂
February 20, 2021 at 6:04 pm
Mei Xing knew….
I’m very disappointed in Wenxing. Because of what she did, I’m actually not sad.
August 27, 2021 at 8:09 pm
Oh no. This is the second time I’ve had misgivings about WX. 😧 The first time being when SY fell into the water and not this. I really hope it’s not her but the implications of MX throwing out tea that she had personally made for SY cannot be ignored. Why would SY brush it off and not mention it to ZSC?? That is such a strange to thing to have happen that she herself thought it was strange. Why not mention it? Sigh.
August 27, 2021 at 8:15 pm
ZSC holds some responsibility here for SY’s ignorance. Why, why, why won’t he tell her that her life is in danger? She is in this nest of vipers that is his family completely unaware of the perils around her. I always hate when people who say they care about you don’t tell you things you absolutely should be aware of with the pretext of “I don’t want you to worry”. It’s a common trope in dramas too. Didn’t expect to meet it here in this novel. SY is a grown woman and his wife. She should know that his family/someone is trying to kill her.