The thought that Yi Liang may have brought the fan back for his master to see terrified me. I didn't want Zheng to know that I dancing for a courtesan house.
At the same time, the idea that Yi Liang may have thrown it away made my heart ache.
It was the thing that held the glimmers of hope I had that something may have come out of... Whatever Zheng and I had.
As winter grew colder, and snow began to pile up on the floors, all the girls drank alcohol and wore fur to keep warm. I avoided drinking, but huddled up with them before sleeping anyway to keep warm.
Jing Se, Li Mei, Chun, Hong, Nian Zhen and I gathered in Hong's room. As the biggest and most popular courtesan in the house, she was provided the biggest room on the third floor.
The wintry air that slipped through the gaps of the window made us all shiver. We all sat in a small circle on the floor, giggling at the joke that Chun had just told us.
