Chapter 121

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=1363950 This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

This distant attitude of Qin Wanshu made Zuo Qinghuan feel very suffocated. Despite having many things she wanted to say to Qin Wanshu, she couldn't say a word at that moment. She just held Qin Wanshu's hand tightly and stared into her eyes, as if trying to find any trace of affection that Qin Wanshu might still have for her.

Qin Wanshu didn't avoid Zuo Qinghuan's gaze; instead, she remained calm, allowing Zuo Qinghuan's scrutiny.

As Zuo Qinghuan looked into Qin Wanshu's calm and tranquil eyes, she couldn't see into Qin Wanshu's heart. This made Zuo Qinghuan panic. She had always been afraid, afraid that three years later, Qin Wanshu wouldn't love her anymore. In fact, she wasn't so sure about Qin Wanshu.

Qin Yu, who was coming out of the parking lot, saw this scene: Zuo Qinghuan holding onto her younger sister's hand tightly. There seemed to be a subtle flow of emotions between them, yet also a sense of deadlock. Qin Yu opened the car door and walked over.

Seeing Qin Yu, Zuo Qinghuan had to let go of Qin Wanshu's hand and suppress her own weakness and helplessness in front of Qin Wanshu. She would only show weakness and vulnerability to Qin Wanshu, but in front of the Qin family, she had to appear strong.

This subtle move was insightful because everything needed to be considered contextually. Qin Wanshu felt that Zuo Qinghuan had indeed grown up. Zuo Qinghuan could be willful in front of her, but she couldn't afford to be willful in front of others.

"After three years, you're finally back." Qin Yu smiled at Zuo Qinghuan, admiring her perseverance over the three years. Although Grandpa's proposal of three years was somewhat cruel to Qin Wanshu, making her wait for three years, in the long run, it would benefit both Qin Wanshu and Zuo Qinghuan.

“Mm, three years, I finally came back." Zuo Qinghuan said lightly, using the word "finally" to tell Qin Wanshu that she had always wanted to come back and that she hadn't spent a day without thinking of her.

Compared to Zuo Qinghuan's nervousness and unease in the past, her current calm and composed attitude impressed Qin Yu. Regardless of whether there was still a gap between her and Qin Wanshu, at least she couldn't be too weak in terms of mentality and momentum. It indicated that she had grown a lot inwardly over these three years. Without an internally enriched foundation, it wouldn't work. Now, Zuo Qinghuan was much more reassuring than she was in the past.

Qin Wanshu was actually pleased with Zuo Qinghuan's return, but she had to punish Zuo Qinghuan for easily leaving her in the past. She had to make Zuo Qinghuan realize that leaving wouldn't be easily forgiven. This way, the next time Zuo Qinghuan wouldn't dare to leave easily again, because Qin Wanshu knew she definitely didn't have the patience to wait for Zuo Qinghuan for another three years.

"Brother, go ahead and get in the car. I'll talk to her for a moment." Qin Yu tactfully went back to the car by himself, leaving Qin Wanshu and Zuo Qinghuan alone.

"The most appropriate time for picking flowers has passed. At the most brilliant bloom, neither of us was by each other's side. This goes against the original intention of us being together. Missing it is just missing it." Qin Wanshu said somewhat coldly. She cared about Zuo Qinghuan's most beautiful growth and transformation, but she couldn't be there by her side during that time. Zuo Qinghuan wouldn't understand that profound sense of loss.

"Although we missed the flowering season, I will wait for the next bloom with the time left. We definitely won't miss it again." The past three years cannot be reversed, but for the remaining three years, thirty years, she will be by Qin Wanshu's side.

Qin Wanshu smiled slightly after hearing this. She slowly approached Zuo Qinghuan, reaching out to touch Zuo Qinghuan's face. Her fingertips gently traced Zuo Qinghuan's cheek. Actually, she was somewhat satisfied with Zuo Qinghuan's response, but it wasn't enough to forgive her.

Zuo Qinghuan felt Qin Wanshu's proximity and smelled the faint fragrance emanating from her. Her heart couldn't help but race, feeling Qin Wanshu's fingers glide across her cheek as if carrying an electric current. She was completely bewildered, her remaining sanity unable to analyze the intention behind Qin Wanshu's sudden gesture.

"Zuo Qinghuan, do you think it's so easy to come and go as you please in this world?" Qin Wanshu gently whispered in Zuo Qinghuan's ear. Her voice was extremely gentle, making Zuo Qinghuan feel like she was dreaming.

Before Zuo Qinghuan could snap out of the sudden tenderness, Qin Wanshu had already moved away from her and got into Qin Yu's car. Zuo Qinghuan thoughtfully watched the car disappear from her sight. After thinking for a long time, she finally understood the message conveyed by Qin Wanshu's actions and words. Qin Wanshu didn't stop loving her, she just didn't intend to forgive her so easily. Zuo Qinghuan touched her cheek, still feeling the warmth from where Qin Wanshu had touched her. She brewed in her mind how to make Qin Wanshu forgive her. She had to go back and plan carefully.

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=1363950 This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

"Tonight is a long-awaited reunion for you both. There must be a lot to talk about," Qin Yu said with a smile. He could see clearly from the car, observing Qin Wanshu's intimate gesture toward Zuo Qinghuan and their secretive whispers. Just from this scene, Qin Yu could confirm that Qin Wanshu still loved Zuo Qinghuan. His sister had never been so intimate with anyone else.

"There's no need to say everything at once. We'll have plenty of time in the future," Qin Wanshu said calmly, knowing that her brother wouldn't understand a woman's mind.

"Indeed, 'Fine water can flow for a long time.'* I wonder if Grandpa is satisfied with the current Zuo Qinghuan. However, Zuo Qinghuan has indeed grown a lot thicker than three years ago, not like the thin and delicate girl back then that made me worry about handing you over to her." Perhaps what Wanshu needs most is not to be cared for and protected, but someone to accompany her. However, as her brother, Qin Yu hopes for someone who can take good care of his sister. Even though his sister is strong enough, no matter how strong she is, she is still his sister, a woman who needs to be protected and cared for.

*¹ using property sparingly so that there is always no shortage of use.

² doing something step by step without interruption, careful arrangement, and long-term planning. It also mostly refers to long-lasting love or friendship

….

"Sister, you're back," Aoba stood up and fetched slippers, handing them to Zuo Qinghuan. Deep down, Aoba was a very traditional Japanese woman. In fact, Zuo Qinghuan often felt embarrassed by Aoba's care, despite being four years older than her and feeling indebted to her.

"Thank you," Zuo Qinghuan brought Aoba back to her place. In Japan, Aoba took care of her in every detail, so when she came to China, Zuo Qinghuan still brought Aoba back to her place. Although she lived in a single apartment, which was inconvenient, Zuo Qinghuan couldn't bring herself to let Aoba stay in a hotel, which lacked personal touch. She could only reluctantly share a room with Aoba. Zuo Qinghuan planned to move to a larger apartment after some time, to make it more convenient for future guests.

"Um, when will Aunt Xiao come back?" Zuo Qinghuan saw several neatly arranged photos of Aunt Xiao on the table, which she guessed were given to Aoba by Xiao Yuandao.

"Sister Xiao said she should be back from Thailand next week," Aoba said with a smile, feeling happy at the thought of seeing her mother next week.

Zuo Qinghuan sensed Aoba's excitement and felt happy for her.

"Then we'll be able to see Aunt Xiao soon." Zuo Qinghuan picked up the photo of Xiao Qinan. In fact, Aoba didn't look much like Aunt Xiao. It was strange that Xiao Yuandao, who had no blood relation, looked more like Aunt Xiao than Aoba, who did.

"When I was young and thought of my mother, I only remembered her voice. I completely forgot what she looked like. I always blame myself for forgetting my mother's appearance." Today, when she saw the photo of her mother, she realized how beautiful her mother was.

"You were too young at that time. It's normal not to remember." Zuo Qinghuan comforted. Aoba loved Aunt Xiao very much, at least she never blamed Aunt Xiao.

"Sister, did you talk to Sister Qin?" Aoba changed the topic, shifting the conversation to Zuo Qinghuan and Qin Wanshu.

“Mm, we talked a bit." Zuo Qinghuan thought of Qin Wanshu, and her expression softened.

"Is she still angry?" Aoba asked with concern.

"She should be." Being angry means she still cares. The angrier she is, the more she cares about my leaving. Zuo Qinghuan naturally sought justification for Qin Wanshu's anger.

Aoba looked at Zuo Qinghuan with some worry, feeling anxious for her. She knew how much her sister loved Qin Wanshu, and she hoped Qin Wanshu could understand her sister's departure was out of necessity. However, she didn't have the authority to speak to Qin Wanshu about these matters, so all she could do was worry.

"You don't need to worry about us. We'll reconcile just like before," said Qinghuan, looking even more anxious than her, a truly kind girl, Zuo Qinghuan thought to herself.

"Sister, haven't you taken off your evening gown yet? Wouldn't you feel uncomfortable?" Aoba reminded her when she noticed Zuo Qinghuan still wearing her evening gown.

"I almost forgot until you mentioned it. Could you help me with the zipper?" Zuo Qinghuan turned around, letting Aoba unzip her dress.

Aoba felt her emotions stir slightly when she saw Zuo Qinghuan's pristine and delicate back, but she quickly suppressed them. Kitano Aoba, she's just your sister, she can only be your sister, Aoba kept reminding herself.

Because there was only one bed in the room, Zuo Qinghuan naturally let Aoba sleep on the same bed with her.

Sleeping on the same bed as her sister, being so close, Aoba felt a greedy desire to absorb her sister's scent, to look at her so closely. There was a sense of satisfaction in Aoba’s heart as she watched Zuo Qinghuan sleeping. She dared to reveal her emotions only because she didn't want to cause her sister any distress.

If it weren't for Qin Wanshu's ambiguous actions today, Zuo Qinghuan wouldn't have repeatedly replayed scenes of Qin Wanshu approaching her and touching her face, leading to insomnia. Nor would she have noticed Aoba staring at her while she slept. In fact, Zuo Qinghuan also faintly felt Aoba's care for her, but neither of them would dare pierce this layer of paper. Aoba wouldn't, and neither would she. This way, everything remains undisturbed, which is best for Aoba and herself.

Author's Note:

I still like this child Aoba very much. I have to find a good comrade for Aoba in the future, otherwise, I will be very sorry for her…

Aoba and Shi Yunyang have nothing to do with each other. I'm wondering whether to give Xiao Yuandao to Aoba. Xiao Yuandao belongs to Xiao Qinan. It's troublesome…

Qin Wanshu was teasing Zuo Qinghuan, but Zuo Qinghuan couldn't resist it and was so disturbed that she had insomnia...