Lin Pianpian · Conversa

—— Story Status —— Time: the second quarter of the Xu hour (7:30 PM) Location: third floor of the 【Aihong】 brothel, your private chamber, the "Rain-Listening Pavilion" The woman's current state: 【Lin Pianpian】 has just finished entertaining the "target client" and is on her way to report in and claim credit, delighted The literary youth's fantasy about the woman he adores: 【Young Master Wang】 is steeped in the tragic-hero dream of soul-deep kinship with Lin Pianpian, "a fellow lost soul at the ends of the earth," and of rescuing her from fire and water In these war-torn times, misery cries out over the land. In an age when a human life is worth less than a dog's, it has bred the most laughable creatures of all — the literary youths. They have not the strength to truss a chicken, yet they lecture on matters of state; they own not a single copper, yet they denounce the stench of money. Their greatest delight is to sit in brothels and pleasure houses, weaving tragic life stories for the courtesans who cannot command their own fates, cast themselves in the role of savior, and, through one paid transaction after another, achieve a soul-elevation born of their own self-indulgent tears. Your 【Aihong】 brothel is the ultimate trap tailor-made for these wastrels. At this moment, inside the second-floor private room "Rinsing Jade Studio," a zither sobs. Lin Pianpian, in a moon-white ruqun, wears a sickly pallor on her bare, powderless face, and her misty, water-brimming apricot eyes reflect the infatuated, heartbroken look of Young Master Wang across from her. Young Master Wang, the youngest son of the current court's Minister, is a classic rich literary youth. Swirling his wine cup, he says in anguish: "Miss Pianpian, play no more of this mournful music. A banished immortal like you should be composing poetry and painting in a boudoir, yet... ah, this troubled age is to blame! Rest assured, once I pass the examinations, I will ransom you and lift you out of this mire!" Hearing this, Lin Pianpian's jade fingers tremble slightly, and she forces out a miserable smile: "Young Master flatters me... Pianpian is but a body of withered flowers and fallen willows, long since sullied beyond repair — how could I deserve your regard?" A single clear tear falls at precisely the right moment, dripping onto the zither string. Young Master Wang feels his heart is about to shatter. He steps forward, but from outside the door comes the madam's shrill voice: "Miss Pianpian, don't delay! The honored guest upstairs has called for you by name!" Lin Pianpian's face shifts in an instant from sorrow to fright, and then to the despair of one resigned to fate. She stands, bows gracefully to Young Master Wang, and weeps like rain: "Young Master... Pianpian is not her own mistress..." She moves away on lotus steps, turning back at every third step, each backward glance written with reluctance, grief, and the humiliation of being forced. That delicate sight, enough to win pity from any beholder, turns whatever displeasure Young Master Wang felt into twice the tenderness. He is certain that Lin Pianpian's final look was plainly a cry for help — to him! In this moment, he has become the one light in her hell! After the private room's door is shut tight, cutting off Young Master Wang's sight, every trace of expression vanishes from Lin Pianpian's face. She wipes the tear marks from the corners of her eyes with a blank face, and a satisfied curve lifts the corner of her lips. Lifting her skirts, she crosses the corridor with light, brisk steps; the moment she sees the door of your "Rain-Listening Pavilion" left ajar, her face instantly switches to excitement. "Master," she comes to your side and tilts up that face, pear blossoms bathed in rain just now, eyes now silken with allure. "Pianpian is back. That Wang fellow, I squeezed another three thousand taels of silver out of him today. I'm sure to be number one again! Master... will you praise Pianpian?" Even as she speaks, she tugs at your sleeve with practiced ease, seeking credit, and in a sweet, seductive voice mimics the fool's manner of Young Master Wang: "He even said... that Pianpian is a fairy who descended to earth, and that even her tears are sweet... It's laughable! Master, tell me — isn't he the stupidest man in the world?" Meanwhile, in the main hall below, Young Master Wang is surrounded by a crowd of familiar literary youths. Wine cup in hand, his face full of pity for the world, he declares loudly: "You don't understand! Miss Pianpian... she has a heart as pure as gold! She loves me! I must save her!" —— Lin Pianpian Status —— Name: Lin Pianpian Appearance: classic oval face, willow-leaf brows, apricot eyes holding water; features clear and ethereal. Demeanor: overflowing with coquetry before you. Figure: slender, waist so fine one hand could span it, curves delicate and graceful. Attire: plain, elegant moon-white ruqun, sash Mood: excited. Action: straightening your clothes. Jade hands: ten slender fingers. Jade feet: barefoot. Inner thoughts: Wonderful, I'm number one again tonight! That Wang fellow is a real treasure trove. Master will surely look at me with favor. A. Pinch her chin, cutting her off mid-speech, a hint of a teasing smile at the corner of your mouth: "Oh? He really said that? Then let a few tears fall for me now — I want to taste them and see if they're sweet." B. Fix your eyes on her face, scrutinizing her: "Three thousand taels? Not bad. Since you're number one, show me the results a number one ought to have." C. Pull her up from the ground into your arms, fish the love-token jade hairpin Young Master Wang gave her out of your bosom, and murmur: "Since he likes this fairy form of yours so much, then tonight, Pianpian, let me see what a fairy is like."