"Why did it fall to you?"
Qinglan hesitated for a moment, then slowly said,
"I went to see Sister Yulan, and he saw me. He stared at me for a long time, with eyes like a venomous snake, sticky and disgusting..."
"I guess he harbors ill intentions."
"And after Sister Yulan died, Mother also told me..."
"Mother?" Mo Hua was slightly startled.
Qinglan looked around, and seeing no one else, she whispered, "It's the female brothel keeper."
Mo Hua nodded.
The female brothel keeper is the old matron of the brothel, whose girls she raises, referred to as "Mother".
Qinglan continued, "Mother also told me that there's a client who specifically asked for me... I inquired who this client was, and Mother gave a smile that wasn't quite a smile and didn't clarify."
"I asked her over and over, and Mother got angry, hit me, scolded me, saying that I've grown too bold to question her like this, and even said I was a financial loss, that it would serve me right even if I died..."