Chapter 86
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=1363950 This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
Because Zuo Qinghuan had been lying bored in bed for a long time and wanted to listen to stories, originally Qin Wanshu was supposed to tell her One Thousand and One Nights. However, after listening for many days, Zuo Qinghuan finally realized that it wasn't to her taste. So, at Zuo Qinghuan's request, Qin Wanshu brought a copy of ‘The Decameron’ from home. She would tell Zuo Qinghuan three stories a day. Qin Wanshu was somewhat surprised that Zuo Qinghuan would enjoy stories from ‘The Decameron’.
Zuo Qinghuan really liked Qin Wanshu's serious expression when she read the stories, serene and elegant.
"When you finish telling a hundred stories, can I leave the hospital?" Zuo Qinghuan asked Qin Wanshu. Although Qin Wanshu took good care of her, lying in a hospital bed was still not a pleasant thing.
"Almost there."
Li Xin said Zuo Qinghuan was recovering well. As long as she rested in the hospital for another couple of months, she could go home to recuperate. Compared to the hospital, it would be much more convenient to recover at home, and Qin Wanshu also hoped Zuo Qinghuan would recover and leave the hospital soon.
"Are you tired? Do you want to rest before continuing?" Qin Wanshu put down ‘The Decameron’ in her hand and considerately asked Zuo Qinghuan, who was staring at her.
"I'm not tired, but you've been with me in the hospital all this time, so you're the one who's been working hard," Zuo Qinghuan said tenderly as she gently stroked Qin Wanshu's face. Taking care of a patient was indeed a very tiring task. Qin Wanshu never let the caregivers handle her personal hygiene; she always did it herself.
"I feel relieved seeing you recover well," Han Shibin said as he entered with a bouquet to see Zuo Qinghuan. Although Han Shibin still looked sharp in his suit, the untrimmed stubble on his cheeks and the fatigue he couldn't hide in his eyes made him appear somewhat disheveled.
"It's a good thing you didn't hit hard enough," Zuo Qinghuan said sarcastically, clearly indicating that neither she nor Qin Wanshu welcomed Han Shibin's presence.
Han Shibin couldn't hold back his embarrassment, but he managed to force a smile.
"I suppose many men would lose their rationality in my situation back then, but regardless, I was in the wrong, and I've done my best to make amends," Han Shibin admitted feeling somewhat remorseful for his actions, but he also believed they were partly at fault.
"If you're here to apologize, we'll accept, but we don't welcome you," Qin Wanshu said coldly.
"Wanshu, please ask Qin Teng not to cause any more trouble. Can we just put an end to this matter?" Han Shibin's tone carried a hint of pleading. If it weren't for Qin Teng's underhanded tactics behind the scenes, taking advantage of Han Corporation's significant investment in a major project in Europe, the company's financial situation wouldn't have been so strained. Qin Teng spread rumors about Han Corporation's financial difficulties, sabotaging the loan negotiations with the bank, which could lead to significant losses for the company if it continued.
"I haven't pursued your legal responsibility; that's already going above and beyond. As for what Qin Teng wants to do, I can't control that," Qin Wanshu felt she had shown enough mercy.
"Qin Wanshu, do you bear no responsibility at all in this matter?" Han Shibin hadn't expected Qin Wanshu to still consider pursuing his legal responsibility. It seemed Qin Wanshu was even more ruthless than he had anticipated.
"Yes, when you make a mistake, you should face punishment. You almost killed Zuo Qinghuan, which is punishment for her and for me as well. And you've also made a mistake, so shouldn't you face some punishment too? Money means nothing compared to people; after all, any problem that can be solved with money isn't really a problem," Qin Wanshu replied with a smile, counter-questioning Han Shibin.
"You only see the harm I caused to her, but what about the harm you caused to me? I've realized that there's such a stark difference in treatment between love and the lack of it. If you had treated me with the same affection and love as you did with Zuo Qinghuan from the beginning, perhaps I wouldn't have strayed. But now, saying all this is pointless. Perhaps you're right; when you make a mistake, you should face punishment. The heaviest punishment for me isn't how much money I've lost; it's that I've lost you," Han Shibin said heavily, finishing his words before turning and leaving the hospital room. Neither Qin Wanshu nor Zuo Qinghuan wanted to see him anymore, and he felt the same way about them.
Qin Wanshu felt conflicted. Indeed, to some extent, she had been unfair to Han Shibin.
"Qin Wanshu," Zuo Qinghuan gently called out to the silent Qin Wanshu.
“Mm?" Qin Wanshu met Zuo Qinghuan's gaze.
"Do you regret it?" Zuo Qinghuan asked, because there was a crack between them, it allowed her to intervene. If there hadn't been a crack, perhaps they would have been a loving couple. Zuo Qinghuan understood Han Shibin's feelings to some extent. Qin Wanshu probably didn't truly love Han Shibin before, and because of her lack of love, no matter how polite they were to each other, that distance always existed. That's why Han Shibin sought passion elsewhere.
Qin Wanshu shook her head. "I don't regret it. I just feel like I'm quite selfish, actually."
"If one day I accidentally strayed too, but still loved and cherished you, would you forgive me?" Zuo Qinghuan curiously asked because, without love, even one instance of betrayal isn't allowed. But what if there is love?
"No," Qin Wanshu answered without hesitation. Just thinking about that scenario made Qin Wanshu very uncomfortable.
"Qin Wanshu is a strict person," Zuo Qinghuan laughed, realizing that Qin Wanshu could also feel jealous. Zuo Qinghuan adored Qin Wanshu now, feeling very close to her.
“Mm," Qin Wanshu nodded. She always felt that the closer she was to someone, the more strict she became. She could indulge Zuo Qinghuan in every way, but she couldn't compromise on fundamental mistakes.
Not long after Han Shibin left, Shi Yunyang arrived, dressed in fur, exuding elegance and sexiness, which clashed with the hospital atmosphere.
"You seem to be in good spirits. It looks like the Miss is taking good care of you," Shi Yunyang said with a charming smile. Even Zuo Qinghuan had to admit that Shi Yunyang was very charming, just like Li Xin, belonging to the type that was popular with everyone.
Zuo Qinghuan didn't like Han Shibin's visit, and she liked Shi Yunyang's visit even less. When she was with Qin Wanshu before, although Shi Yunyang would sometimes tease her, she never took her seriously. But now, Zuo Qinghuan felt a barely perceptible hostility from Shi Yunyang.
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=1363950 This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
"I'll go wash some fruit," Qin Wanshu said, leaving Shi Yunyang alone with Zuo Qinghuan in the hospital room. In Qin Wanshu's mind, she and Shi Yunyang were childhood friends and best friends, who would unconditionally support each other, right or wrong. So, she shouldn't cause trouble for Zuo Qinghuan, just as Qin Wanshu unconditionally indulged Shi Yunyang in all sorts of questionable things.
"The Miss has never served anyone like a maid before. You're really lucky," Shi Yunyang said with a hint of envy, mixed with a casual tone, as if it were just a joke.
Zuo Qinghuan was someone who could read people's expressions and intentions from a young age. Sure enough, Shi Yunyang harbored animosity towards her now. There hadn't been this hostility before; it was just because Shi Yunyang hadn't taken her seriously before, thinking that Qin Wanshu wouldn't take her seriously either, even if she did, she wouldn't care too much. The reason for this animosity, Zuo Qinghuan reflexively thought of only one reason: Shi Yunyang liked Qin Wanshu. If she liked Qin Wanshu but acted so carelessly, it seemed a bit unreasonable. Or did Shi Yunyang not even know her own feelings for Qin Wanshu? Or was she overthinking it?
What was she probing for? Shi Yunyang felt uncomfortable under Zuo Qinghuan's probing gaze, and her gaze turned cold as she stared back at Zuo Qinghuan.
"She's going to wash the fruit for you to eat," Zuo Qinghuan said with a smile, breaking the subtle tension. She wouldn't antagonize Shi Yunyang. Even if she couldn't be friends with Qin Wanshu's friends, she wouldn't embarrass Qin Wanshu.
Qin Wanshu returned after washing the apples and didn't notice anything unusual between the two.
"Here's the apple you like," Qin Wanshu tossed an apple to Shi Yunyang. After receiving the apple, Shi Yunyang's gaze softened a bit, and Zuo Qinghuan became more and more convinced that her speculation was correct.
"Do you prefer bananas or apples?" Qin Wanshu asked Zuo Qinghuan, knowing that Zuo Qinghuan liked both fruits equally.
"Apples," Zuo Qinghuan replied, choosing an apple too.
Qin Wanshu then peeled an apple and handed it to Zuo Qinghuan.
"Miss, you're not peeling one for me, you're only peeling for Zuo Qinghuan. That's too biased," Shi Yunyang jokingly protested.
"You are used to eating apples without peeling, but Qinghuan isn't, it's not favoritism," Qin Wanshu didn't mind, taking it as a joke.
"I don't care, you still have to peel one for me," Shi Yunyang handed the apple she had already bitten to Qin Wanshu, saying stubbornly.
Qin Wanshu reluctantly took the apple from Shi Yunyang and started peeling it.
Zuo Qinghuan felt a twinge of sourness in her heart, but she couldn't say anything. After all, they were childhood friends, and this level of intimacy was normal.
….
"Qin Wanshu, let me ask you, what would you do if Shi Yunyang liked you?" After Shi Yunyang left, Zuo Qinghuan asked Qin Wanshu.
"You're overthinking it. That girl is most fond of herself, selfish to the extreme," Qin Wanshu replied dismissively. She knew Shi Yunyang very well. Qin Wanshu raised an eyebrow, feeling that her relationship with Shi Yunyang was somewhat similar to Zuo Qinghuan's relationship with Li Xin – they could confide in each other, but being lovers was out of the question.
"I'm just asking hypothetically," Zuo Qinghuan needed to confirm if Shi Yunyang posed any threat.
"Her liking someone is her business. What's it got to do with me?" Qin Wanshu asked back. If Shi Yunyang heard this, she would probably be hurt. Regardless of whatever feelings Shi Yunyang harbored for her, when Qin Teng liked Shi Yunyang back then, she said the same thing. So, what goes around comes around.
"You seem particularly interested in her today?" Qin Wanshu knew about Shi Yunyang's irresistible charm; she was always the center of attention, something Qin Wanshu herself might not have.
"I'm only interested in the people around Qin Wanshu," Zuo Qinghuan said with a smile. These interests were all based on Qin Wanshu.
Qin Wanshu just smiled.
Author's Note:
Shi Yunyang's feelings towards Qin Wanshu are actually quite unclear, even to Shi Yunyang herself. It's probably something between friendship and romantic love. She doesn't want to be Qin Wanshu's lover, yet she also doesn't want Qin Wanshu to be exclusively with someone else. Shi Yunyang's emotions are quite confused and tangled.
As for whether to write another chapter tonight, that's also a dilemma…
