Chapter 117
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=1363950 This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
Tokyo, three years later.
A woman playing the piano, slender like bamboo, with long straight hair cascading behind her, exuding an ethereal aura, as if she were clear water flowing in a mountain stream, serene and translucent.
"Sister's piano playing is getting better and better," Kitano Aoba said, speaking softly like most Japanese women, her voice as gentle as cotton candy.
"Don't make fun of me," Zuo Qinghuan closed the piano lid. Aoba's piano skills surpassed even Qin Wanshu's, her talent in music was exceptional, and she felt like teaching in front of Luban*. She chose to learn the piano because she wanted to play for Qin Wanshu one day. Aoba said she looked beautiful when playing the piano, perhaps Qin Wanshu would find it beautiful too.
*Ancient Chinese carpenter, revered as a master craftsman and is often considered the god of carpenters and builders in Chinese culture.
"Three years have passed, sister can finally go back to see her." Kitano Aoba was also happy for her sister. She knew best the hardships her sister had endured for three years, her transformation after experiencing pain, and her stunning beauty blossomed only for that one person, who was now happy and fortunate. Zuo Qinghuan never had much guard against Kitano Aoba; she had told her early on about her purpose in coming to Japan. Whenever Zuo Qinghuan missed Qin Wanshu terribly, she would describe Qin Wanshu to Kitano Aoba, describing her appearance, temperament, and everything about her. So, Kitano Aoba was not unfamiliar with Qin Wanshu at all. In Zuo Qinghuan's descriptions, Qin Wanshu was an extremely perfect woman. She liked how Zuo Qinghuan depicted Qin Wanshu; she could feel Zuo Qinghuan's infatuation with that woman, which was a beautiful emotion. She admired Zuo Qinghuan's perseverance and effort in love, sincerely hoping they could be together. Kitano Aoba's feelings for Zuo Qinghuan were similar to Guo Xiang's feelings for Yang Guo, while Qin Wanshu was like Xiao Longnu*.
*characters from Return of the Condor Heroes (Second Part of the Condor Trilogy) by Jin Yong, Guo Xiang has an unrequited love for Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu love each other
"These three years have really been short, I always feel like I haven't learned enough." Thinking about returning home, Zuo Qinghuan's heart trembled as if every cell within her was shaking, the desire to go back never felt so strong as it did at this moment.
"Time is limited, but learning knows no bounds," Kitano Aoba said with a smile. The most important learning is the refinement of the soul. Her sister's soul is much stronger than when she first arrived. The resilience of the soul is the most important.
"I'll go change my clothes now and bid farewell to father." Kitano Mine had taken her in as a foster daughter a year ago, treating her as his own. Over the past three years, Kitano Mine and Kitano Aoba had taught her many things, and the gratitude she felt could never be expressed in words.
Kitano Aoba had already prepared a white kimono with cherry blossom patterns and began dressing Zuo Qinghuan earnestly. Although Zuo Qinghuan had been in Japan for three years, she still couldn't dress herself in a kimono alone and often needed Kitano Aoba's help. Zuo Qinghuan found Kitano Aoba's hands surprisingly skillful, almost capable of anything, possessing all the qualities of a virtuous woman.
Looking at Zuo Qinghuan, who was already dressed in the kimono, Kitano Aoba realized she might not have another chance to dress her like this again. The thought of her leaving made Kitano Aoba feel a bit lost, but she quickly suppressed it; she should be happy for her sister.
Zuo Qinghuan and Kitano Aoba walked through the backyard filled with cherry blossoms. It was March, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, incredibly beautiful. It was said that because one of the female owners of the Kitano family loved cherry blossoms, the master ordered the yard to be filled with them. Zuo Qinghuan, wearing a kimono with cherry blossom patterns, seemed to blend into the cherry blossoms, as beautiful as a fairy.
"Father," Kitano Aoba and Zuo Qinghuan called out together.
Kitano Mine was barely in his fifties, with some gray hair, but he looked older than his actual age. Yet, his dignified features still hinted at his former handsome self. He had once fought fiercely for love and family, though he had lost. As he aged, all intense emotions settled but grew heavier. Initially, his selflessness towards Zuo Qinghuan stemmed from his deep love for his beloved woman back in China, but as they spent more time together, he genuinely grew fond of the girl.
"You're going back to China, aren't you?" Kitano Mine asked with some reluctance.
"Yes, thank you for taking care of me these past three years." Zuo Qinghuan knelt and bowed gently to express her gratitude.
"Whenever you have time, come back to Japan to see me and Aoba. Spend more time with Aoba; she's probably the one who will miss you the most." Kitano Mine wasn't talkative. In fact, he was someone who disliked facing farewells. Each parting reminded him of his most beloved woman leaving, leaving him powerless as he watched her go. Eventually, under pressure from the family, he remarried another woman, although she was virtuous, she was not the one who held the deepest place in his heart.
"Father, I want to go to China," Kitano Aoba suddenly spoke up.
Both Kitano Mine and Zuo Qinghuan looked at Kitano Aoba in surprise.
"I want to see my mother. I miss her a lot. I know Father misses her too. Father, please let me go see Mother," Kitano Aoba pleaded earnestly. For a long time, she had wanted to visit China, her mother's homeland.
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=1363950 This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
Kitano Mine hesitated for a long time before nodding slightly. He also wanted to know how she was doing.
....
Without saying a word, Zuo Qinghuan hurried back to Japan, without even saying goodbye, which made Li Xin very angry. Zuo Qinghuan apologized numerous times over the phone, and Li Xin reluctantly forgave her, so when she received the call from Zuo Qinghuan saying she was returning to China three years later, she was still stunned. She reluctantly got up from Yan Ruowen's body, scolded Zuo Qinghuan angrily, and then drove to the airport to pick her up.
The plane from Tokyo finally arrived at the airport, and Zuo Qinghuan felt a mixture of emotions, but she tried her best to maintain calmness. "Qin Wanshu, I'm back," she silently whispered in her heart.
From the crowd, Zuo Qinghuan quickly recognized Li Xin, who hadn't changed much from three years ago, still with that devilish charm, exuding a bold beauty that caught the attention of countless people.
"Li Xin!" Zuo Qinghuan called out to Li Xin.
Li Xin followed the voice and saw Zuo Qinghuan, whom she hadn't seen for three years. Her hair was even longer than before, still well-maintained, still with that deceitful face. But she had transformed from a small-time fairy to a big-time fairy, leveled up. Was this the result of three years of cultivation?
"You finally decided to come back. I thought you went to Japan to flirt with Japanese girls and forgot about Qin Wanshu!" Li Xin hugged Zuo Qinghuan when she saw her, then scolded her without reservation. She had planned to go to Japan this year on vacation with Yan Ruowen, and incidentally check on this carefree woman. But now that Zuo Qinghuan had decided to come back on her own, there was no need to go to Japan anymore.
Zuo Qinghuan couldn't help but laugh. It felt good to be back, and it felt good to see Li Xin unchanged.
"This is Kitano Aoba, my foster sister. And this is Li Xin, my best friend," Zuo Qinghuan introduced Kitano Aoba to Li Xin.
"Hello, I'm Kitano Aoba. Nice to meet you," Kitano Aoba smiled and greeted Li Xin. Li Xin's appearance was completely different from her sister's, two extremes. It was really strange that they could be best friends.
Did you really bring a Japanese girl back? Li Xin just noticed Kitano Aoba beside her, such a tender beauty, and she looked so gentle and docile, could it be that Zuo Qinghuan has moved on? Thinking of Qin Wanshu, Li Xin noticed some similarities between Kitano Aoba and Qin Wanshu, but couldn't pinpoint exactly where.
"I'm Li Xin. Wait a moment, I'll have a private chat with Zuo Qinghuan," Li Xin smiled at Kitano Aoba and then pulled Zuo Qinghuan aside for a whispered conversation. "Zuo Qinghuan, a sister, you know how wicked a word that is, but your sister really gives off a charming vibe..." Li Xin, at the level of a mature woman, was increasingly reminiscent of a creepy uncle.
"I only take a scoop in the River of Three Thousand Weak Waters,"* Zuo Qinghuan interrupted Li Xin's increasingly wicked words, Aoba is just my sister.
*famous line of a story in the Buddhist Scriptures, it means that you may encounter many beautiful things in your life, but as long as you grasp one of them carefully, it is enough. It also refers to loyalty and single-mindedness in love.
"Still thinking about Qin Wanshu?" Li Xin asked unexpectedly and expectedly.
“Mm," Zuo Qinghuan nodded.
"Are you sure she'll still love you after you left for three years?" Li Xin asked.
Zuo Qinghuan remained silent.
Seeing Zuo Qinghuan like this, Li Xin frowned slightly. Because of Yan Ruowen's connection to the Qin family, she still knew a bit about Qin Wanshu's recent situation. That woman's heart is too vast, she's not just an ordinary woman anymore, she's a true goddess. Petty love affairs in her life probably mean less and less.
