Sleepless Spring Tides - Chapter 2 – Freud 2

Yi Siling was utterly baffled, watching the figure walk out of the restaurant with a puzzled expression. Only after the person had disappeared from sight did she realize how annoyed she was.

She had never been so coldly ignored by anyone in her life. She angrily threw her lipstick into her bag with a bit too much force.

Just then, Yi Leling returned and witnessed the scene, though she didn’t know the details. All she knew was that a man had picked up Yi Siling’s lipstick for her.

She said to Yi Siling, “That handsome guy earlier was quite stylish, your type.”

Yi Siling deliberately asked, “Handsome guy? Who?”

Yi Leling replied, “The one who picked up your lipstick.”

“Oh…” Yi Siling drawled lazily, then commented, “Too average.”

Yi Leling teased her, “It’s not because he wasn’t captivated by your beauty, so you’re just being mean, is it?”

Yi Siling’s face suddenly flushed red. “You’re so annoying today, daring to side with an outsider to bully me!”

Yi Leling clasped her hands together and raised them above her head, begging for mercy. After coaxing her for ten minutes and promising to help Yi Siling acquire the ruby they had missed at the auction, Yi Siling reluctantly let it go.

After the meal, the two sisters parted ways. One went to work at the Group headquarters, while the other headed downstairs to the hotel.

The Yi Family was involved in many industries, with real estate, shipping, gold and jewelry, and hotels being the four major sectors. Among the ten hotels, Star Top Hotel was the first one founded by Yi Kunshan, holding the most sentimental value. That’s why he gifted it to his eldest daughter as her eighteenth birthday present.

While other wealthy fathers might give their daughters jewelry, designer clothes, luxury cars, or watches, Yi Kunshan gifted a top-tier luxury hotel. This gesture made Yi Siling famous in their social circle, and countless young ladies envied her-not because of the hotel itself.

Yi Kunshan was an “oddity” in the wealthy circle. He had no sons, no mistresses, and no illegitimate children-only four daughters, each cherished dearly. As the eldest, Yi Siling enjoyed a level of affection that girls from families with numerous brothers, legitimate or otherwise, could hardly imagine.

The hotel was managed by professional executives, so Yi Siling didn’t visit often. She had plenty of her own affairs to attend to.

Every year, she received hundreds of invitations from major brands, magazines, clubs, social organizations, or private individuals. Attending dinners, parties, fashion shows, and various high-profile events was routine for her. Thanks to her prominence in these circles, Star Top Hotel’s performance had soared over the past four years, even securing a partnership with the century-old jewelry brand Bariya. Bariya’s chief designer had personally designed the hotel’s Christmas decorations for four consecutive years.

This collaboration had significantly boosted the reputation of Star Top Hotel, placing it at the forefront of luxury hotels on Hong Kong Island. Her philosophy had always been to have fun while making money, but the idea of working a regular nine-to-five at the Group headquarters? She’d rather die.

After her usual rounds at the hotel, signing a few documents, she returned to Yi Mansion just in time for dinner.

“You’re back?” Aunt Li emerged from the kitchen, surprised to see Yi Siling, as she rarely stayed home for dinner.

“Have you eaten? The kitchen’s got soup simmering. Would you like some?”

Aunt Li, whose full name was Hu Lili, was about a decade older than Yi Siling and had been taking care of her since middle school.

Yi Siling declined, saying she’d just have a cup of sugar-free yogurt for dinner. She had specifically come back to confront Yi Kunshan and Liang Yongwen. She refused to believe they could keep this from her much longer.

“Neither of the bosses are back yet?” As she spoke, Huahua came bounding over, rubbing against her legs. She bent down to pick the cat up.

Huahua was a tabby-and-white female kitten with a sparkling sapphire necklace around her chest. Five years ago, this cat had been a stray who accidentally wandered into the backyard of Yi Mansion. Yi Siling had discovered her, and from that moment on, Huahua’s life had taken a turn for the extravagant-from struggling to find food to wearing jewelry.

As for the name, Yi Siling had racked her brain for three days before settling on “Huahua.”

Because when you petted her, her little paws would “bloom” with happiness.

Aunt Li poured the yogurt while chatting. “Mr. and Mrs. flew to Beijing late last night. Didn’t you know?”

Yi Siling really didn’t. Last night at midnight, she had been dancing at a friend’s birthday party.

Besides, the two bosses never reported their schedules, making them nearly impossible to track down.

Aunt Li sprinkled a handful of washed blueberries into the yogurt, served it in a lily-of-the-valley-patterned porcelain cup in shades of pale gold and grass green, and handed it to Yi Siling. “I heard it was something very important, so they took a commercial flight there overnight.”

“Something important…” Yi Siling stroked Huahua’s fur, running through possibilities but coming up empty. Was it business-related? Unlikely. Both of them going together for a business deal seemed too extravagant-it sounded more like arranging a marriage.

Her instincts told her something was up.

After finishing the yogurt, Yi Siling went back to her room to rest. A little later, the Fourth Child, Yi Qiongling, came to chat with her. Somehow, the conversation circled back to her marriage.

“The day before yesterday, I hid by the study door and overheard them discussing your dowry! And the brand of alcohol for the wedding banquet! What’s going on?”

Yi Siling froze for a moment. It seemed like bad news just kept piling up.

She flopped backward onto the bed, sprawled out like a starfish. The ostrich feather slipper on her left foot fell onto the carpet, while the other one dangled precariously from her toes.

The mischievous kitten couldn’t resist playing with the slipper still on Yi Siling’s foot. A few soft pink ostrich feathers were plucked out, floating lazily in the air.

“…Della, I’m so annoyed. Stop talking about it.”

“I feel for you, Mia. Only twenty-four and already heading into the grave. I’m definitely not getting married.”

Yi Siling rolled over and looked at her. “You’re only fifteen…” Wasn’t that a bit too mature for her to say?

Yi Qiongling replied, “Fifteen isn’t that young.”

Yi Siling sighed weakly. “If you’re not getting married, then you’ll just date. Be careful, or I’ll tell Daddy you’re having a puppy love.”

“You always use that to threaten me. Like I’m scared of you,” Yi Qiongling giggled. At fifteen, calling it puppy love was an understatement-she’d had boyfriends since elementary school. Back then, she’d even juggled two at once, spending Saturdays with one at the botanical garden and Sundays horseback riding with the other. When the two boys found out the truth, they both decided to ignore her.

She propped herself up beside Yi Siling, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes filled with rosy fantasies of the future. “Who says dating has to lead to marriage? I could just date forever! Men? If I don’t like one, I’ll just swap him out. I’ve got money-how great is that?”

Yi Siling couldn’t help but laugh. “…Little Pig, where did you even learn all this?”

“Don’t call me Little Pig,” Yi Qiongling kicked her lightly, her youthful voice taking on a mock-serious tone. “Anyway, marriage is a big deal. Princess, don’t let Daddy lead you around by the nose. You don’t even love that guy-why should you marry him?”

All three of her sisters called Yi Siling “Princess.”

Yi Siling stayed silent. She thought to herself that this Little Pig just didn’t understand.

“You hear me?”

“I know…”

Yi Siling covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers at the French crystal chandelier on the ceiling. Her voice was distant, carrying a deep weariness, as if all the glamour had been stripped away.

These past few days had drained her completely.

The kitten boldly nibbled at her toes, but she didn’t move.

Of course, she knew marriage was something to approach with caution. It wasn’t just about liking someone-a little love wasn’t enough. You needed a lot of love to have the courage to step into the grave of marriage.

But in families like theirs, love was the least important thing. As the eldest daughter, the possibility of having autonomy over her marriage was zero. She had already fought for a lot of freedom for herself. She couldn’t enjoy the privileges of a golden mountain and then turn around and blame it for being a shackle, a cage.

Among the four sisters, if she didn’t enter into an arranged marriage, one of the others would have to. She couldn’t just dump the mess onto someone else.

After graduating, Yi Leling had initially planned to start her own business abroad, but she returned to Hong Kong for Yi Siling and joined the Group.

Yi Siling rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. The bedding had just been changed, and it carried a faint scent of lilies, as if it had been baked in the sun.

Fine, if she had to marry Zheng Qijun, then so be it.

She had actually liked him once, but in the end, she found that kind of affection laughable, and the more she thought about it, the more she disliked him.

Outside the window, the night was thick, and if she listened closely, she could hear the angry crash of the waves against the shore. Yi Qiongling felt the silence was too empty, so she turned on the Bluetooth speaker and connected it to a song. Music began to flow through the quiet space.

It was a Cantonese song.

“But when love turns into resentment,

It becomes as filthy as dirt,

Don’t mention the silent, smiling rose,

Its thorns are a gift of defense…”

…

The next day, Yi Siling regained her spirits and, as usual, slept until 11:30 a.m.

She wasn’t the type to dwell on troubles. Besides, no matter how big the problem was, stepping into her walk-in closet would make it vanish. No woman could remain troubled when faced with mountains of beautiful clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry.

Yi Siling stretched lazily, the silk sleeve of her pajamas sliding down to her shoulder, revealing her smooth, tender arm.

After unlocking the door with her fingerprint, the sliding door of the closet automatically opened, and a fragrant breeze wafted out, brushing against her face.

Aunt Li had replaced the flowers in the vase early that morning, and the scent of Freud Roses filled the air.

Yi Siling adored Freud Roses. Everyone who knew her was aware that when she liked something, she became obsessively devoted to it, dismissing everything else. As a result, her bedroom, closet, and study were always adorned with these flowers.

The walk-in closet spanned two floors, totaling 800 square meters, meticulously organized and filled with an array of dazzling items. Huahua often ran freely (and destructively) through this space.

Clothing was categorized by occasion-everyday wear, sportswear, evening gowns, and after-party outfits-and further divided by season and material. Three entire walls were dedicated to bags and shoes, while separate sections housed hats, scarves, socks, sunglasses, accessories, perfumes, and even rare collectible dolls and quirky trinkets. Under the dazzling lights, it was a spectacle that left first-time visitors in awe of the sheer opulence.

At the deepest part of the closet, the lighting was the brightest.

A Persian rug lay on the black walnut parquet floor, and atop a rare Brazilian cloisonné stone table, velvet and leather jewelry displays were arranged, showcasing over two hundred glittering pieces of jewelry and watches. It was more breathtaking than any jewelry museum.

Yet, this was only a small fraction of Yi Siling’s jewelry collection.

Only the most precious and expensive jewelry would be locked away in Yi Siling’s safe, such as the Russian emerald and diamond tiara from the Tsarist court that her mother gifted her when she turned nineteen.

As for the three hundred-plus haute couture gowns mentioned by the Hong Kong Media, they were all crammed upstairs, as they would take up too much space otherwise.

What Yi Siling cherished most was her walk-in closet-a secret garden she had meticulously cultivated. From the smallest incense burner to the largest sofa and table, every item had been carefully selected and sourced from around the world. To maintain this space, she had hired five dedicated staff, all of whom had signed confidentiality and security agreements.

The thought of having to move her closet after marriage drove her to the brink of insanity.

In that sense, marrying that shameless womanizer Zheng Qijun had its advantages. Since he lived right next door, she wouldn’t even have to move her closet.

An hour later, Yi Siling was fully dressed. Her breakfast had gone cold, so Aunt Li reheated it. After hastily eating a few bites, she grabbed her car keys and headed to the garage to drive herself.

Her driver had taken the day off, and she rarely drove herself.

The gates of Yi Mansion slowly opened, and the white Bentley glided out, merging onto the winding mountain road. By mid-morning, the fog over Repulse Bay had dissipated, the waves crashed against the rocks, and the lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see. In the distance, the golf course was a vast expanse of green.

Almost at the same time, the gates of the neighboring Zheng Mansion opened, and a blue supercar slipped out, its engine roaring like rolling thunder.

Zheng Qijun hadn’t expected to run into Yi Siling’s car. He stepped on the gas, trying to catch up, but the Bentley suddenly accelerated, leaving him far behind.

“Beep!”

“Beep! Beep!”

Zheng Qijun pressed the horn repeatedly while furiously stepping on the gas to chase after her.

The supercar’s superior performance allowed it to close the gap quickly.

Yi Siling glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the car relentlessly pursuing her. On the empty mountain road, golden sunlight filtered through the trees, and the palm leaves rustled violently in the wind whipped up by their speed. She suddenly jerked the steering wheel to the right and slammed on the brakes, skidding the car to a halt by the roadside.

Zheng Qijun’s temple throbbed as he cursed under his breath, both angry and worried. He immediately hit the brakes and stopped his car. Slamming the door shut, he strode over to her.

“Mia, driving like that is dangerous!”

Yi Siling rolled down the window, her gaze fixed straight ahead. “There’s a pesky dog following me, after all.”

Zheng Qijun’s expression darkened, but he softened his tone. “Mia, if you’re mad at me, take it out on me. Don’t mess around with your safety.” He paused, his voice gentler now. “…I know I was wrong. I’ve already broken things off with that woman. I’m here to apologize, okay?”

Yi Siling couldn’t help but laugh, baffled by what game he was playing.

Was he putting on a good show before the wedding to save face for both families? Or had he truly had a change of heart, turning over a new leaf?

“It’s simple. We’ll just live our own lives separately.”

She couldn’t even bring herself to say the word “after marriage.” It felt like bad luck.

You do your thing, I’ll do mine. Couples putting on a facade, living separate lives-that’s how most arranged marriages in this circle go.

Zheng Qijun didn’t catch the underlying meaning in Yi Siling’s words. He thought she was cutting him off completely, going their separate ways. He had heard the rumors, the gossip that Yi Siling was getting married. Then last night, he heard she had a new boyfriend. He hadn’t slept a wink.

He had checked with his father several times. Initially, the Yi Family had shown interest in an alliance with the Zheng Family, but for some reason, that interest had recently faded.

He still had feelings for her. When he pursued her, he had been serious. During their time together, he had unconditionally doted on her. That argument-he had let his so-called friends’ provocations get to him, stubbornly refusing to back down. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.

Those friends had said-

“Young Master Zheng, you’re a big name in Hong Kong Island. Sure, you can spoil a girl, but you can’t let her walk all over you!”

“What’s the Yi Family got? They should know their place in front of our Young Master Zheng.”

“A man can’t spoil a woman too much, or she’ll get out of hand!”

Zheng Qijun cringed at the memory of those words. What a mess.

So what if Yi Siling had a temper, was spoiled, high-maintenance, and difficult to please? He liked her. When she got angry, she could be relentless, but when she was being sweet, she was adorable. When she was clingy, she’d look at you with those enchanting, pleading eyes.

No other woman had her peculiar charm, and certainly none could match her beauty.

She was too beautiful. Suddenly, Zheng Qijun felt like he could tolerate anything.

“Don’t live separately… Break up with that loser, and let’s start over. I’ll be the one to back down from now on. I won’t look for other women to make you jealous either.”

Since when had Young Master Zheng ever been this humble?

“…Baby, I don’t even like her. I only got close to her to make you jealous. She’s just a prop, don’t take it to heart, and don’t be mad at me anymore…”

Damn it! He even called her “baby”!

Yi Siling glared at him, fuming. “Well, I’m sorry to say this, but I’m absolutely in love with my current boyfriend. He’s taller, more handsome, and richer than you. I’m going to tell Daddy that I’ll marry no one but him.”

“He’s the love of my life!”

With that, she smoothly started the engine, shifted gears, and pressed the accelerator. The Bentley roared like an arrow, speeding off into the distance.

…

[Do you know what he said to me? He said he got close to that woman just to make me jealous! I’ve got wagyu beef, Basque cheesecake, French cuisine, and Michelin-starred meals to enjoy-why would I waste time being jealous?]

[I actually feel sorry for that little model he was with!]

[I can’t believe I misjudged him. Turns out he’s got water for brains!]

Yi Leling was in the middle of a battle with a group of old-fashioned executives at the company when she received a message from Yi Siling. She couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Let’s stop here for now,” Yi Leling said, raising her hand to the people in the conference room. “We’ll continue this discussion next time.”

After everyone had left the room, she called Yi Siling back and asked her secretary to bring her a cup of Americano to wake her up.

“So, he already knows you have a boyfriend?”

“I’ve made it clear. Whether he wants to go through with this marriage is up to him. If he doesn’t want to become the laughingstock of all Hong Kong Island, he’d better call off the wedding.”

“Starting with him, this wedding is probably doomed,” Yi Leling said, taking a sip of her coffee.

Yi Siling thought so too. She scooped a spoonful of Basque cheesecake into her mouth.

Taro-flavored Basque cheesecake was her favorite. Whenever she was in a bad mood, she rewarded herself with half a slice.

A whole cake was too much, and she felt guilty finishing it, so she always ate only half, leaving the other half to go to waste.

“Once this is over, I’ll take you to Monaco.”

“Perfect. Next month isn’t too busy. I’ll see if I can clear a few days.”

After hanging up, Yi Siling got up and walked out of the café, her purple satin heels stepping into the sunlight. The dessert shop was tucked away in a small alley in Central, and her Bentley was parked across the street. Before getting into the car, she glanced back unintentionally.

Through the bright glass window, she saw the waiter clearing away the remaining half of the Basque cheesecake, which would eventually end up in the trash.

She suddenly thought, if there really was a man, he could finish the cake she left behind.

Two days later, Yi Siling finally encountered the elusive Yi Kunshan and Liang Yongwen at Yi Mansion.

It was midnight, the clock had just struck for Cinderella, and the Bentley carriage had whisked the princess away from the dazzling world of fame and fortune.

Yi Siling returned home after a glamorous evening event.

She was still wearing an extravagant haute couture gown, the hem adorned with fluttering ostrich feathers. The jade cabochons on her wrist and neck shimmered under the moonlight, their green hue mesmerizing and intense.

Her parents were sitting in the living room, waiting for her. She was startled.

“Why are you still up so late?” she exclaimed, clutching her chest and glaring at them. “You’re like ghosts appearing out of nowhere.”

Liang Yongwen smiled warmly and beckoned her over. “We got back this afternoon. Come here, sweetheart. Daddy and I have something to discuss with you.”

Yi Siling had a pretty good idea what it was about, but she pretended not to know and obediently walked over.

“What’s so important that it has to be discussed this late?”

She sat down on the sofa, her voluminous gown pooling around her feet. She hugged a pillow to her chest, feeling drowsy.

Liang Yongwen nudged Yi Kunshan, who rubbed his hands together, his fatigue from the journey unable to mask the glow on his face. “Sweetheart… here’s the thing. Your mommy and I have already discussed your marriage. It’s set for the month after next, and the 28th is a lucky day.”

Liang Yongwen nodded excitedly, “So, sweetheart, are you happy?”

Yi Siling was stunned for a moment, then horrified: “-The month after next?!” This completely exceeded her mental capacity, and her drowsiness vanished instantly.

“I don’t want to marry someone from the Zheng Family. Absolutely not. Not in my dreams!”

Yi Kunshan and Liang Yongwen exchanged a glance. “What Zheng Family?”

“Huh? Not Zheng Qijun?” Yi Siling suddenly felt like she had fallen into a void, blinking in confusion.

Liang Yongwen caught on and chuckled, “What does Zheng Qijun have to do with this? Your daddy respects your opinion and stopped considering him a long time ago. This time, your daddy and I have picked the best husband in the whole world for you. You can rest assured.”

The best husband in the whole world-that line wouldn’t even fool a three-year-old.

“…Who?”

Yi Siling clenched her damp palms, nervously staring at Liang Yongwen. Her heart was pounding anxiously, as if waiting for a death sentence.

It couldn’t be the youngest son of the Zhuang Family, could it?

Or Chen Weiqi’s Big Brother? Or someone from the Lu Family? The Li Family? The Yu Family?? Every possible candidate rolled through her mind.

Yi Kunshan smiled, calm and composed, “Xie Xunzhi.”

“The Eldest Young Master of the Xie Family in Beijing. Lan Yao Group belongs to his family.”

Beijing. The Xie Family. Lan Yao Group.

Just these three qualifiers explained why her parents were so thrilled. The Yi Family was already prominent, but for them to want to climb even higher, it couldn’t be as simple as the Zheng, Lu, Zhuang, or Chen Families.

“The Eldest Young Master of Lan Yao! Surprised, sweetheart?”

“…”

Yi Siling felt like her head had been blown apart, opening her mouth in stunned silence.

She had vaguely heard the surname “Xie” somewhere recently, a fleeting impression in her mind, but she couldn’t recall it. All her attention was on Beijing.

Beijing, which was worlds away from Hong Kong Island.

Not the distance from No. 28 Repulse Bay to No. 29.

It was the distance from Hong Kong Island to Beijing.

Yi Siling suddenly stood up, both furious and terrified, “Are you serious? You want me to marry some outsider?”