The Double

Jiang Li looked at him, his eyes were more serious than ever before, he wasn’t lying, what he said was true.

"I’ve never thought selflessness was a good thing," Jih Heng said softly, "But I think it’s fine if you can’t learn to be selfish; I can do those things. You just do what you want to do."

Jiang Li lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously gripping the fan in her hand. It was a fan given to her by Yin Zhiqing. The summer heat in Yanjing City was intense, and since the fan was useful, Jiang Li carried it with her. Her movement caught Jih Heng’s eye, and his gaze fell upon her fan. He hesitated for a brief moment before taking the fan from her hand.

"Was this fan a gift from Yin Zhili?" he asked.

Jiang Li nodded, then shook her head, "It was from Yin Zhiqing."

A smile lingered on Jih Heng’s lips as he slowly unfolded the fan, which had pear blossoms on it, but a tiny lotus flower was engraved at the base of the fan handle. The handle itself was made of white jade, of fine quality and snow-white color. The delicately carved lotus on it was indeed charming and exquisitely detailed.

With calm composure, Jih Heng said, "Yin Zhili is really extravagant, though his taste is somewhat questionable. What lotus flower? It’s clearly the man-eating flower that doesn’t spit out bones."

Jiang Li was initially shocked, then realized the implication of Jih Heng’s words. She quickly regained her senses and said, "How did you know what Yin Zhili said to me? Is Zhao Ke still staying at Jiang Residence?"

"I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving you alone in a place like Jiang Residence," he said, "Of course, I had to have someone keep an eye on you."