Chapter Text
June 14, 1959
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The entrance door creaked open with a soft groan as Luomen pushed it outward. The light from the morning sun spilled over the floor to Luomen’s flower shop. He wobbled with his cane and flickered on the warm lights that made the shop light up.
Maomao had grabbed the scissors from the storage room. Her routine in the morning was always the same; atleast ever since summer break as begun. she would walk with her father to his flower shop and wait for customers to arrive and purchase plants or flowers.
As a matter of fact, Maomao chose to help her father take care of his humble flower shop over the summer. he is growing old and Maomao insisted on starting to help him when needed. There are other reasons, too. His shop could easily get robbed for some reason. With an extra pair of hands, she could help her uncle with any given situation in the shop. Plus, she has nothing else to do.
Maomao stood at a stool she had grabbed from the corner of the room as she was now faced with rows of peonies. With the scissors in hand, Maomao started carefully trimming each leaf from the peonies.
Each flower or plant was treated with delicate motions to minimize the risk of accidents. She cut each leaf that looked dead, yellowish, or brown; to make the plant tidy and to prevent potential issues in the future.
The atmosphere in the flower shop was peaceful. Quiet enough for Maomao to hear the sound of her pop’s feet dragging as he walked, the snippets caused by the scissors Maomao was using, and the faint chatter of the sparrows outside. The silence was then interrupted by Luomen.
“The water is ready,” Luomen said. He dropped the watering can to the ground causing a thud.
Maomao nodded in acknowledgment. She stepped down from the stool, leaving the freshly trimmed peonies alone, and grabbed the watering pot.
Maomao began watering down each plant and flower with slow, steady movements, including the flowers displayed outside. Each flower and plant should be watered twice a week, although this frequency may vary depending on the type of plant, the size of the flower pot, and the weather conditions.
As Maomao finished watering down each plant, she stood behind the checkout counter and rested her arms on it. Sure, it was an improper posture, but no one was here except for her father. Maomao patiently waited behind the counter for any customers visiting the little shop.
Treating plants with care and being able to spend time with her pops, summer break as been peaceful.
Still, Maomao felt that sinking feeling in her stomach. She had a feeling something would happen. As her face shifted into a grimace her predication came true, for the silence lasted for a second till it was disrupted again.
The doors to Luomen’s shop flew open, as if someone had kicked the door down. Luomen didn’t flinch or move an inch, he always had his guard down.
”Maomao!” Pairin cried. She stomped her way to Maomao as her dress skirt swished with dramatic movements. Pairin made her way towards the check-out counter and slammed her hands on the counter.
Meimei stormed inside behind Pairin as Joka walked in with pure tiredness. From what Maomao could see, Pairin was the only energetic one out of the three, and it seemed that Pairin dragged Joka along towards the flower shop. Although Meimei looked spent, she almost matched Pairin's energy.
Maomao narrowed her eyes at the scene in front of her.
What could they want? Maomao thought to herself. Luomen sighed, as if thinking the same as Maomao.
“I’m busy at the moment,” Maomao quietly murmured. Pairin struck her hands to the counter again and leaned close to Maomao’s space.
“This is important! Important enough to waste your time,” Pairin fought back, her eyes filled with urgency as her gaze burned right into Maomao. Meimei came from behind, and stood next to Pairin, Joka doing the same.
The triplets, Pairin, Meimei, and Joka are sisters, though because Maomao has grown up with them, she has gotten close with them and gotten used to referring to them as her sisters; even though Maomao and the triplets are not biologically related. Her older sisters practically saw Maomao grow up.
”We need a favor, a big one I tell you!” Meimei shot back. Maomao’s jaw tightened. Maomao has also grown used to always refusing when her sisters begged her for a favor. She is always in some sort of trouble when she gets involved with her sisters.
”No,” Maomao replied, she had no time to do favors for her sisters. Even if it’s important.
“C’mon! You didn't even hear it,” Meimei reasoned. She looked at Maomao pleadingly and clasped her hands between Maomao’s hands. Maomao wanted to reject, though she wanted to hear what they needed to say. What was so important that her sisters would have to come to her for help?
Without Maomao’s approval, Meimei explained the situation. “It’s absolutely horrible! We have a show in two months, everything was going according to plan, but we recently found out one of our dancers got engaged. On top of all that, their wedding is on the same day as our show!!” Meimei whined, she isn’t usually so panicked. Maomao considered that she was just overreacting. “We were planning something special in the end, that dancer was supposed to perform a solo dance!” Meimei continued.
Maomao didn’t get why her sisters were making it such a big deal, Plus, what does she have to do with this?
Pairin, Meimei, and Joka are founders of a popular band. They had already been the talk of thousands of people the day they released their first album. Their style of music had everyone hooked. They have been the cover of magazines and are the topic on the first page of newspapers.
“We need you to fill in the spot of the absent dancer, so we will appreciate it if you accept with no problem,” Joka explained, her arms crossed.
So that’s what they want from me, Maomao thought, Maomao sighed exhaustively.
”Don’t you remember how we used to dance without a care in the world? You were amazing at dancing back then!” Pairin added. Her eyes searched around Maomao. As if she were looking for any signs of approval on helping them.
Maomao used to dance when she was a child. She wasn’t taught, though. When she was alone and bored, she played with the shadows on the walls. She would sway and watch how her own shadow moved; she was fascinated by it as a child, and fell in love with turning movements into a special meaning.
When she met her sisters, the sisters’ dream was to become dancers. Little Maomao, who had just found out that the little game she would play was similar to dancing, Maomao started practicing by herself.
She was no amazing dancer, Maomao would consider herself an average dancer at best. Plus, who can say she still has her skills? Maomao hasn't danced ever since she entered high school.
Maomao placed her hands on her chin to debate with herself whether she should consider her sister’s need for help. The thought of dancing in front of a crowd, with all the attention towards her, made her shiver. Though, she hated making her sisters stressed. Maomao didn’t want her poor older sisters to be a huge rabbit hole of pressure.
Paris seemed to assume what she was thinking, for she added, “We will pay you! Five hundred dollars,”
“Five-hundred dollars!?” Maomao gasped out. While she didn’t care about money, the fact that her sisters are so desperate to the point they’ll give away that much money, Maomao felt that she was scamming them.
The triplets looked at Maomao with a look of confusion, as if five-hundred dollars wasn’t much. Maomao cleared her throat before giving out her answer.
“Fine, I’ll do it.” Maomao said, giving up on refusing her sisters. Even if she were to refuse, her sisters will still force her to agree, so Maomao didn’t have much of a choice anyway. She knew who her sisters were.
Pairin and Meimei squealed in allusion. Maomao felt her lips curve softly at the scene of their excitement.
Joka, who was almost quiet the whole time, gave Maomao a hug and smiled at her. All while her two other sisters were distracted. Pairin and Meimei turned to Maomao’s direction again.
“We will make you look amazing! We’ll cover you up with makeup and bust up your chest,” Pairin said. Maomao felt her smile falter. As long as her sisters don’t make her unrecognizable… and bulking up her chest? Come on!
As much as she didn’t want to do this, not only is she getting cash out of this, but she is also helping her sisters with a huge favor. Including the fact that she needed the money right now.
Maomao and her pops, Luomen, live comfortably in their one-story home. Though, they are running tight on getting the right amount of money for bills for not only the home they live in, but the flower shop her pops owns. Maomao needs all the money she can give and her father's support.
The triplets each tightly hugged Maomao with gratitude, they kissed their little sister’s cheeks; leaving lip-stick prints that would most likely be an issue to wipe off.
“You have two months to practice,” Meimei said, her hand reaching out and waving Maomao and Luomen goodbye as Pairin, Meimei, and Joka left the shop. “Meet us at the dance studio at one PM!” Pairin shouted out as the three sisters walked out the store.
Maomao quietly waved back whilst she was rubbing her hand against her cheek. Trying to smear the lipstick off her cheek. Luomen softly waved goodbye to the triplets.
A moment of awkward silence filled the room, Maomao paused a minute before she spoke again, as if making sure no one was around before she spoke.
”I got myself in trouble, haven’t I?” Maomao murmured. She looked at Luomen, and he chuckled softly at Maomao in her face of regret.
“You got yourself involved, I never knew you would be the type to give in when money is mentioned…” Luomen replied, his eyes softened, and he slightly patted Maomao’s head.
“Do you even know what five hundred dollars really is?” Maomao talked back, forgetting how careless her father could be about money. “Five hundred dollars means not having to worry about house bills for the next seven months.”
“You sure are right,” Luomen agreed as he snickered again.
Maomao felt her stomach form into a pit, as she realized what she had just gotten herself into. She will for sure get loads of attention. Not only is she getting all this unwanted attention on the day of the gathering, but she will have to do a solo performance. All eyes will be on her!
Maomao’s shoulders slumped, she had just accepted her sister’s need for help and had already regretted it two minutes later.
————
Jinshi attended more banquets than birthday parties and has grown tired of being dragged to them. Each banquet he attended was the same; lanterns glowing bright enough to make the sun jealous, the smell of wine and laughter that gave Jinshi a headache every time, and the music that felt too polished.
Jinshi was more of an extra at these parties when his father forced him to attend. All he did was sit at the tables next to his father, drink his drink, and stare at the crowd of apprentices to his father’s guffaw.
Still, as much as he tries not to draw any attention to himself, woman around him stare at Jinshi and swoon and giggle at the sight of him. And by the time to partner up to dance, they would “accidentally” trip and fall on to Jinshi, then ask to dance.
Unfortunately, today, his father, Yang, dragged him to attend this special gathering, arguing that he doesn’t socialize enough. His father invited everyone he could think of, and the room was pooled by people whom Jinshi couldn’t recognize.
His father went so far as to the point where he hired a band to sing at the center of the party stage. Jinshi sat at a table with his father and mother next to him. Including his father’s best friend, Lakan.
Jinshi has no idea how his father met Lakan, and how they became best friends. They are completely different from each other. Though he never gave it much thought, he didn’t really care who his father was friends with or not friends with.
People were crowded on the floor. The scene of men with suits with slick-back hair and women with red lipstick the color of blood, and dresses that matched the men. They all looked the same, Jinshi rubbed his fingers in his temples for he feared that it might cause vertigo.
The three women performing on the stage whom Jinshi’s father hired for tonight seemed to catch the attention of everyone in the room and for once not at him. Jinshi never really paid attention to the television, but apparently, their names are Parin, Meimei, and Joka.
Jinshi, bored as ever, traced the rim of the glass bottle in front of him with his fingertips and spun it around as he slumped in his chair like a melted ice cream.
Jinshi checked his watch to observe the time tick, only to find out that time was running slower than expected. Jinshi fought to stiffen his groan, as It seemed like it had already been a month. He would rather watch paint dry.
As the three women performing finished their song, they all started suspiciously shuffling back to the backstage. Jinshi didn't seem to care, he continued zoning out at the arranged tableware.
The people who were watching the show joyfully just ten seconds ago, turned their heads confusedly towards the people around them as if they thought the audience had an explanation for what had happened. Lakan, though didn’t seem to care at all as well, grinned from ear to ear. It wasn’t a look Lakan should be investing in.
“My dearest daughter is performing a solo! Isn't that incredible, Yang?” Lakan whispered as if he was dropping a big secret. Lakan looked up at the stage with sparkles in his eyes. Jinshi’s father ignored Lakan, whilst Jinshi looked at Lakan with a confused expression.
Lakan has a daughter? Since when?
Jinshi’s father turned his head to Jinshi and leaned towards him to whisper something in his ear.
“I’ve heard from Lakan that she’s one year younger than you, Yue. This is a chance to finally find yourself a girl!” Jinshi’s father joked as he laughed loudly, causing a few people to look in their direction; Lakan especially.
Jinshi scoffed in response. Has his father always been a romantic? No, he has always been one to watch drama and romance, who is he kidding?
“You’re pulling my leg, Father,” Jinshi replied, he felt his cheeks burn at the thought.
Suddenly, the music shifted. Instead of the polished music he was so used of, the music transitioned to a rhythm that would make Jinshi’s head at ease. Jinshi stared up ahead in curiosity due to the sudden switch-up.
A woman emerged onto the stage. The woman standing on stage was wearing a red ruffled dress that swayed with each movement. Her lips were printed with a color of crimson and her cheeks were dusted with blush. Including a small amount of eyeshadow on her eyelids that completed the look.
The mysterious dancer paused to stand still for a second. Her eye twitched as she softly took a deep breath for herself. Jinshi may have been the only one noticing the slightest movements. Jinshi kept his watchful eyes at her at the moment, as if analyzing her.
Her blue sapphire eyes lowered and she started to step forward more towards the center of the stage to prance and sway.
Her dancing matched correctly, yet perfectly uneven with the music as if this choreography was made for her. Her body swished with delicate swifts, like a shawl in the wind. Next to Jinshi, he could hear the freak (Lakan) sniffing and wiping his tears as he looked at her daughter with pride. Jinshi, on the other hand, lingered his gaze on the performance a little too long.
The woman took the stage and caught the attention of the people carelessly. Everyone stopped to gaze at the performance in awe, the world seemed to stop in its tracks at that moment just to let her dance and have her moment.
Behind the graceful moves the woman left, her face was relaxed as she kept her eyes closed the whole time; it made her dancing more ethereal. Her arms swayed and her legs spun as she kept her head high.
Despite the perfection in her movements, Jinshi noticed the slightest tremble of her hand. Like a shivering leaf withstanding the wind. It was almost a soft reminder to Jinshi that the performance he was witnessing is not in fact a dream.
The woman took the stage in just a few seconds. Her dancing displayed in a way that seemed like she forgot where she was for a moment.
Jinshi wasn’t sure why he was so intrigued by the performance. The woman is an amazing dancer, of course, but what makes this performer any different from others he met? Jinshi wasn’t sure what, but Jinshi couldn’t keep his eyes away from her for even a mere second.
He then realized, this is Lakan’s daughter? The freak’s daughter sure has taken after her mother. It seems that Lakan’s daughter only received her father's eyes. By this thought, Jinshi couldn’t help but wonder what Lakan’s wife looked like.
He kept staring at the scene in front of him. The girl’s green emerald hair was dressed as a high bun, her blue eyes looked like an endless ocean, and her gracefulness made Jinshi stricken by her. He didn't even notice the woman had already finished off her show and returned backstage. Jinshi blinked at the once again empty stage.
The red curtains closed softly. Jinshi was able to witness a small fragment of her dress exit the stage. Before the curtains closed after the woman.
“It’s over?” Jinshi mumbled to himself and frowned. For some odd reason, he felt blue at the thought of the performance finishing up so quickly. Surely, he could wait till the party was over to introduce himself to her?
He would ask Lakan for her name, though Jinshi’s fear for the freak is stopping him from doing so... He could imagine Lakan planning his death if he asked a singular question about his precious daughter. Lakan is a military strategist after all. Jinshi shivered at the thought and held his arms together as he shifted uncomfortably in his suit. Just by Lakan talking about her daughter, Jinshi could tell how much Lakan loves the woman.
He knew nothing about the woman. Her name, her hobbies, or her interests. But Jinshi felt that there was something, possibly destiny, telling him to get to know her. Even so, what was wrong with learning about her? There is no problem with it.
Jinshi suddenly snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the music shift again to a somewhat intimate and romantic song. Jinshi stood up and headed outside before everyone gathered in the middle to dance; in order to avoid having to dance with someone.
He would head to the bathroom and hide there, but not even the bathrooms are safe. And he doesn’t want to explain any further.
Formal parties are hell, Jinshi thought as he picked up his pace.
————
Maomao stood behind the red curtains, for she had just escaped from the stage just in time. Maomao must’ve gone too far; she was breathing like a gasping horse and she could feel her heartbeat reach every corner of her body. Maomao stared at the ground as she tried to catch her breath.
Maomao felt that she had lost control whilst she was dancing. Back at the stage, she closed her eyes and let her feet and arms take over her body. Her mind was flowing the whole time, the thought of leaving as fast as she could disintegrated the moment she started dancing. In the end, though, she realized she was dancing in front of a crowd and left before she could cause more attention to herself.
Her three sisters stood in front of Maomao, each sister having a different look on their face; Pairin covering her mouth with her hands in surprise, Joka looking at Maomao with an expression that would describe pride, and Meimei smiling at Maomao who had just witnessed her performance.
None of them spoke for a moment or two. Maomao stared at her sisters, waiting for them to spit out at least a few words. Surprisingly enough, Pairin was the first to break the awkward silence; Maomao could have sworn she heard crickets with the awkward silence.
“Maomao! Who knew you could dance like that!” Pairin started, she ran towards Maomao and shook her shoulders back and forth. “You could make this your career!”
“I’d rather not..” Maomao replied. While she would get easy money if she were to succeed in a career like dancing, there is absolutely no way she would be able to endure having to dance in front of crowds almost every once in a while.
That was also one of the reasons why Maomao would have declined her sister’s request for help. In a crowd, Maomao can never deduce what everyone is thinking behind their forced, polite, smiles. At least, when she closed her eyes, she wasn’t able to see their faces.
Pairin pulled out an envelope from her dress pocket while Maomao was stuck in thought, shaking the envelope right in front of her face to snap Maomao out of her thoughts.
”I almost forgot, here is your money!” Pairin reminded her, dramatically dropping the envelope of cash on Maomao’s opened hands.
”Thank you guys.” Maomao thanked her sisters as she tried to hide the grin she was holding back. Maomao could already think of the multiple necessities she could buy with five-hundred dollars.
“You shouldn’t thank us, we need to thank you for doing this for us.” Joka reassured Maomao and placed her hand on Maomao’s shoulder.
”I suppose you're right,” Maomao replied. She grabbed her left-out jacket from the hooks and wrapped it around her shoulders. “I shall be heading home now,”
Maomao grabbed her keys that were hidden in her jacket’s pocket and headed out to the back to where the exit door was located, escaping the scene. She waved her sisters farewell as she walked out the building.
Maomao immediately curved her lips to a smile once she saw no one was in sight. But then frowned when she instantly felt the cold air touch her arms. Her teeth chattered by the freezing weather. Maomao quickly put on her jacket properly to try to warm and cover her arms up, even though the jacket didn't help one bit. Still, she was grateful she was carrying a jacket with her. It took a moment for Maomao to spot her car. Her sisters and her were practically the first people to arrive at the gathering, so seeing the now pool of vehicles surrounding her car, it was hard to find her vehicle.
Before Maomao could take another step towards her car, she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder. Thinking she was the only one outside, she shrieked and jumped away from the person’s grasp. Resembling an angry cat hissing away an intruder.
“Sorry, did I frighten you?” The person’s voice purred as he spoke in a teasing tone. And Maomao can swear that figure has one of the most beautiful voices she had ever heard, it threatened to give her goosebumps. Their honeyed yet boyish voice filled the quiet night, and a gust of wind blew past them, causing Maomao to shiver once again.
Should have at least spoken before touching me! Maomao thought to herself as she grumbly looked over her shoulder to see the figure that caused her to yelp in fear.
Her eyes met with theirs, and Maomao merely stared at their beauty. The man had the face of a woman and the body of a man. They sure are a dreamboat, with amethyst eyes with long violet locks to match with them. Their face is charming, a face people would swoon and swing at the sight of them. Maomao couldn’t spot a single pore or mark on their face, and his hair seemed to shimmer under the bright moonlight above them.
The person was extremely tall, for Maomao’s head barely reached over their shoulder. Staring at him, she couldn’t help but wonder if he ever considered modeling at least once in their lifetime. He sure can earn a fortune with his feminine beauty.
If Maomao had to be honest, she wouldn’t have known that the person was a man if it weren’t for the suit he is wearing. Unless they are crossdressing…
No, it was unlikely.
He sure is beautiful. So perfect she couldn’t help but scowl in disgust at the sight of them.
Who is this arrogant man supposed to be? Maomao thought as she narrowed her eyes at him. His apology didn’t even seem genuine! Maomao shuddered, though it was because of him instead of the freezing weather outside.
“Is there something you need?” Maomao asked as she held an annoyed expression. She wanted to leave, but this person was stopping her from doing so!
Maomao couldn’t quite figure out the expression on his face. But they had a confused face with a mix of surprise. And their eyes seemed to have sparkled the moment she scowled at him..? She couldn’t help but scowl deeper, staring at him as if she had spotted a leech. Why is he looking at her like that?
Maomao couldn’t do anything but stare at him grimly, waiting for the man to hurry up and reply. She just wanted to head home and sleep…
Finally, they broke the silence and spoke.
“Yes!” He spoke, then immediately paused as his face shifted to have a puzzled expression. “I mean, not really?”
Maomao frowned, then what did they want?
“If you insist, then I will be on my way sir.” Maomao grumbled as she gave a nod of farewell, awkwardly taking a step back; shuffling towards her car. Maomao didn’t waste another second, for she turned away till she was finally not facing the man; hastily speed-walking to her car.
Maomao focused on the clicking of her heels hitting the ground each step she took, ignoring the man who was calling out to her but made no attempt to approach her again.
Though it felt like forever, Maomao finally reached her car. While she doesn’t own this car, her pops does. But Maomao uses it much more than her father, so she considers the car hers.
As she slid inside her car, Maomao pulled the envelope and took out the money to look at it in her hand, her eyes shining with the possible items she could buy.
”At last!!” Maomao squealed as she held the money close to her chest. “I could finally purchase some new herbs!” Maomao kicked her legs up with excitement, practically gawking at the thought of buying some herbs for herself.
Of course, she wouldn’t spend all the money for herself. Maybe she’ll steal about fifty out of the five-hundred bill to buy new herbs for herself, and she’ll use the rest for monthly grocery shopping and bills needed to pay. The more thought she puts into it, she realized Maomao will have to wait before she spends money for herself. Although she’ll spend a minimum of fifty bucks, Maomao truly doesn’t know how much her father and Maomao will need the money at the moment.
The herbs will have to wait… Maomao thought to herself before sighing out of exhaustion. Wondering to herself why she’s still at the parking lot of this ridiculous party.
She would’ve driven away sooner, but she had to handle a rather sparkly person of a leech.
Maomao quickly turned her car on and drove off as quickly as she could, thankfully not fast enough to get a speeding ticket.
I sure hope I won’t see this place again, Maomao thought, her hands tightened on the wheel and she felt her lip twitch.