Chapter 71
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
The funeral quickly came to an end, and Zuo Qinghuan realized that from today onwards, she was an orphan. If one day she were to pass away, would her funeral be even lonelier than her mother's? The thought left Zuo Qinghuan feeling somewhat desolate.
"Are you okay?" Zuo Qinghuan's mood had been consistently low, causing concern for Qin Wanshu.
"I'm fine; it'll get better in a few days." Zuo Qinghuan tucked away her subdued emotions and offered a smile to Qin Wanshu. She was adept at restraining her feelings and disliked burdening others with her negative emotions.
Qin Wanshu watched Zuo Qinghuan's graceful smile, pulled her into an embrace, and Zuo Qinghuan leaned her chin on Qin Wanshu's shoulder. Qin Wanshu had known for a long time that Zuo Qinghuan was a strong woman – seemingly ordinary, yet with an exceptionally resilient heart.
"Qinghuan," Qin Wanshu softly called out by Zuo Qinghuan's ear, an intimacy they had never shared before. It made Zuo Qinghuan feel a subtle warmth and a tingling sensation in her heart.
“Mm?" Zuo Qinghuan liked how Qin Wanshu addressed her without using her last name. "Qinghuan" sounded ambiguously affectionate, and coming from Qin Wanshu's gentle voice, it added a unique flavor.
"I still think this name isn't good," Qin Wanshu said with a smile.
Clearly, calling her name so intimately and still complaining about it – talk about duplicity.
"By the way, will there be any issues with you accompanying me these two days?" Zuo Qinghuan asked with some concern, worried that Qin Wanshu might face difficulties.
"I told my family that I needed some time away to relax, so you don't need to worry about me," Qin Wanshu reassured. Every year, she took a few days to travel to various places, and her family was used to it. Even Qin Zheng believed that his granddaughter, having suffered emotional distress, chose to go on a trip to clear her mind. This misconception only fueled Qin Zheng's displeasure towards Han Shibin.
"Does that mean you don't have to go back for quite a long time?" Zuo Qinghuan's mood lifted at the thought of spending an extended period together, a prospect she didn't dare to imagine.
“Mm." However, it would be better to avoid public places to prevent running into acquaintances, as that could complicate things. "Do you want to go on this retreat together?" Qin Wanshu suggested, thinking it might be a good idea to accompany Zuo Qinghuan. It could help ease Zuo Qinghuan's grief over losing her mother and also keep them away from the Qin family and Han Shibin.
"Okay, I'll arrange it at the café tomorrow, and we can leave the day after," Zuo Qinghuan nodded, feeling that as long as Qin Wanshu was by her side, she wouldn't feel lonely anywhere.
"No need to rush; take your time. Where would you like to go?" Qin Wanshu asked.
"I'll go wherever you go," Zuo Qinghuan said earnestly, nestled in Qin Wanshu's arms.
"Aren't you afraid even if I sell you?" Qin Wanshu raised an eyebrow, running her fingers through Zuo Qinghuan's hair. She seemed to enjoy touching Zuo Qinghuan's long, soft hair with a faint fragrance. It was a sensation she couldn't find in a man. Qin Wanshu sometimes wondered if she naturally leaned towards liking women, but aside from Zuo Qinghuan, she didn't feel inclined to be close to other women.
"Not afraid," Zuo Qinghuan murmured softly, burying her face in Qin Wanshu's chest.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
"Zuo Qinghuan, why do you like women?" Qin Wanshu asked curiously.
"It has nothing to do with men or women, I only like you." After all, she couldn't find the same feeling that Qin Wanshu gave her in other men or women – a woman with a strong and gentle soul, a rarity.
"I think the reason you like me is because you lacked maternal love from a young age. Due to your longing for maternal love, you seek the feeling of a mother in me," Qin Wanshu earnestly analyzed.
"I also lacked paternal love from a young age!" Zuo Qinghuan was dissatisfied with this analysis. She never thought that Zuo Yan had anything worth admiring. Zuo Qinghuan always felt that her mother never matured as she should have, and some people could never mature in their entire lives.
Having encountered too many disappointing men in places like the entertainment district, Zuo Qinghuan never held hope for men. Even someone like Han Shibin, who could be considered an outstanding man, failed to evoke any emotions from Zuo Qinghuan. Subconsciously, she had a deep distrust of men. However, Qin Wanshu didn't articulate her internal analysis, especially since both she and Zuo Qinghuan preferred not to mention Han Shibin.
"Qin Wanshu, if you have a child, you'll surely be a good mom." Zuo Qinghuan had thought about it before. If Qin Wanshu and Han Shibin didn't have her interference, even if they weren't in love, they would at least be respectful to each other. But if Qin Wanshu had a child, she would undoubtedly pour all her love into the child, making that child the happiest in the world. Just thinking about it made Zuo Qinghuan jealous.
"Fool, it's just a hypothetical situation. Who can predict that?" Qin Wanshu chuckled. She understood Zuo Qinghuan's unease. Zuo Qinghuan was afraid of disrupting her own life, but at the same time, wasn't Qin Wanshu also influencing her in return?
….
“What's going on with you? Did Han Shibin catch you in an affair, and now you're on the run?" Li Xin came to the coffee shop, noticing that Zuo Qinghuan's mood wasn't very high. She asked with concern, but coming from her mouth, the words sounded less serious. No wonder Yan Ruowen dislikes Li Xin's unserious nature.
"My mom died of cancer. Qin Wanshu plans to accompany me and avoid Han Shibin by going out of town to take a break." Zuo Qinghuan said calmly.
"Condolences." Perhaps due to being a doctor, Li Xin was used to the cycle of life and death, often feeling a numbness towards death. It seemed like fate played a role, just as patients encountered good doctors – a kind of destiny. While this sentiment contradicted scientific principles, even Newton believed in God, so there's no reason not to entertain notions of destiny.
"People always look forward, right? No one can escape the cycle of life and death. It's just a bit earlier in her case. Besides, she lived a hard life.” With Qin Wanshu accompanying her, her mindset has improved.
"That mindset is correct." Li Xin patted Zuo Qinghuan on the shoulder, trying to offer some comfort, though Li Xin wasn't particularly skilled at it.
"How about you? How's everything with Yan Ruowen, and how did the surgery go?" Zuo Qinghuan asked Li Xin, noting that Li Xin seemed busy lately and hadn't had much time to come to the coffee shop.
"The surgery went well. She promised me she would get a divorce, but she needs time to handle it," Li Xin mentioned Yan Ruowen, not in the best mood. After dinner that night, Yan Ruowen insisted on not letting her accompany her home, choosing to stay in the hospital to take care of Qian Shaowen. Although it had a resolution, Li Xin still felt a bit uneasy.
"Well, congratulations. Every cloud has a silver lining," Zuo Qinghuan said with a smile.
"Don't make it sound like I've been through so much hardship. I'm not that unfortunate," Li Xin retorted discontentedly.
"By the way, she looks so serious, do you think she would become your mistress?" Zuo Qinghuan curiously asked.
"It's hard to say. That girl might consider it a task and complete it diligently. You know, like those exceptionally obedient students in school who always finish the teacher's assignments meticulously. I think she's probably like that kind of student." Even though Yan Ruowen didn't know much about Li Xin, it didn't stop Li Xin from understanding Yan Ruowen. Imagining Yan Ruowen earnestly studying to be a mistress was quite amusing, and this thought made Li Xin burst into laughter, lightening her mood.
"You laugh like a lascivious person. It would be a nightmare to be your lover, always worrying that you might go out and seduce people," Zuo Qinghuan teased Li Xin, finding her flirtatious smile amusing. Looking at Li Xin, reminded Zuo Qinghuan of Zuo Yan, who had a similar appearance. Such looks made men uneasy, and not many dared to marry someone with that kind of appearance. Luckily, Li Xin was into women.
“Do you think I wanted this appearance? I also wished I could look like a fake fairy like you. Is appearance really that important?" Li Xin frowned and asked. Suddenly, she recalled the reason for her first love breakup—her appearance. She was told it attracted too much attention, making her feel insecure, and she chose to end it. Her first love came to an abrupt end. Now, thinking about it, that woman had an ordinary appearance but strangely captivated her. No wonder people used to say she had a conservative taste. However, being so attractive herself, she was still dumped by that seemingly plain woman. Nonetheless, Yan Ruowen should be much more outstanding than her first love. She would probably be confident, and Li Xin hoped Yan Ruowen wouldn't feel pressured about her appearance. Li Xin didn't realize she was overthinking, and jumping to conclusions.
"By the way, have you and Qin Wanshu rolled over each other or not?" This had always been Li Xin's focal point of interest.
Zuo Qinghuan didn't want to share it with Li Xin. Some things were meant to be savored alone and not even shared with the closest friends. It's best to cherish them privately.
"If nothing happened, you'd definitely say nothing happened. Not answering means something happened. What's Qin Wanshu like in bed?" Li Xin was extremely curious.
"What's Yan Ruowen like in bed?" Zuo Qinghuan raised an eyebrow, asking in return. If Li Xin was willing to share, she could be a bit more generous.
"Well, she..." Li Xin intended to say, but immediately shut her mouth. She didn't want to reveal that despite Yan Ruowen's conservative appearance, she hid a gem below, irresistibly enticing.
"Can't I at least ask who's the attacker and the receiver?" Li Xin inquired, driven by an intense curiosity.
"I won't chat nonsense with you. Qin Wanshu and I are going on a trip tomorrow. I've briefed the staff at the shop. If you have time, come by; if not, it's no big deal." Zuo Qinghuan hastily said her goodbyes and left like an arrow, leaving Li Xin alone to ponder in the coffee shop. She was extremely curious about Zuo Qinghuan and Qin Wanshu's roles in bed, leaning towards the possibility of them being versatile. After all, Qin Wanshu, at thirty, had potential given her developed sensuality, and Zuo Qinghuan was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Li Xin, having mischievous thoughts, quickly turned the focus to herself, realizing it had been a long time since she'd enjoyed the scent of meat.
Author's Note:
This could have been regarded as two CPs. Qin Zuo would have more focus, but Li Yan would not have less…
Zuo Qin and Li Yan are two pairs, and other CPs who appear will not occupy much of the scene…
I watched "I Do,” tonight and the lotus is truly beautiful.
