Chapter 16
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
"Do you think she will care?" When Li Xin asked this question, she was very anxious. She hoped the answer would be yes but also feared that the answer would be yes.
Actually, Zuo Qinghuan felt that Yan Rouwen might not necessarily care. Yan Rouwen wouldn't care too much. Zuo Qinghuan had only seen Yan Rouwen from a distance. At that time, she felt that the woman’s heart was too big, a heart too big that could not contain romantic feelings. In Li Xin's case, whether she was there with Yan Rouwen or not was just an embellishment; if not, it would be fine. But right now, she didn't want to say such words to hurt Li Xin. Li Xin was already sad enough. Sometimes, she felt that Yan Rouwen was too cruel to Li Xin. If there's no love, then don't keep stringing along Li Xin's heart; this would make Li Xin suffer endlessly. Li Xin, although seeming to carry an air of misfortune, seemed destined to suffer for love throughout her life.
"Maybe." Zuo Qinghuan gently patted Li Xin's back and said comfortingly.
“Maybe not, although she told me to take care of myself, it's because she's afraid of causing trouble for herself," Li Xin self-mockingly said. She felt very pitiful, but she believed that anyone pitiful must have something detestable about them. Li Xin felt she was acting foolishly.
Zuo Qinghuan sighed secretly in her heart. Li Xin understood all the truth in her heart, but she just couldn't get over the confusion in her heart. It was useless for others to say anything.
"When I first saw her, my heart raced, and my face felt like it was burning up. I knew I was doomed. She possessed all the qualities I liked. She had the appearance I prefer—sharp eyes, and delicately thin lips that seemed cold but exquisite. She rarely smiles; in all this time, I've seen her genuinely smile no more than three times. Her gaze is always somewhat cold, a bit dominant, and very charismatic. Once she decides to do something, she must achieve it. She has a strong personality and never shows weakness easily. I always hoped for a woman who could conquer me, and she completely has, effortlessly capturing my heart..." Li Xin recalled the first time she saw Yan Rouwen. At that moment, she felt that Yan Rouwen was a woman specially crafted by heaven for her.
In fact, this is just Li Xin's way of venting emotions, and Zuo Qinghuan knows it. That's why she simply listens quietly. Once Li Xin vents enough, her emotions will gradually stabilize.
When Li Xin talked about Yan Rouwen, her eyes sparkled brightly. Zuo Qinghuan felt there was no hope for Li Xin. Although Yan Rouwen's temperament is unique, her appearance is just above average compared to Qin Wanshu's delicacy. Most importantly, Qin Wanshu possesses things that can bring calmness to her—confidence, gentleness, thoughtfulness, elegance, and an unruffled demeanor, all of which she admires. Yan Rouwen lacks every aspect that Zuo Qinghuan appreciates. She has a certain level of self-disgust and, therefore, doesn't have a favorable opinion of Yan Rouwen. Intuitively, she feels a certain level of similarity with Yan Rouwen, building high walls in their hearts, striving hard to change their origins and current situation, living against their true desires but without true happiness. They seem strong on the surface but harbor inner conflicts, being weak in places unknown to others. Yet, Yan Rouwen's desires are even greater than Zuo Qinghuan's, and her heart is larger. This leads Zuo Qinghuan to harbor a certain level of self-loathing, which results in a lack of favor towards Yan Rouwen.
Li Xin kept talking, for almost three hours straight, and all she talked about was Yan Rouwen. Such love is too intense. But listening to Li Xin's descriptions, Zuo Qinghuan feels that compared to Li Xin's deep affection, Yan Rouwen's feelings are incredibly distant. However, it's like Zhou Yu striking Huang Gai*—one willing to strike, the other willing to bear it. What more can outsiders say?
*a historical anecdote depicted in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where strategist Zhou Yu and General Huang Gai staged a feigned surrender to fool the enemy camp. This involved the two pretending to be at odds and Zhou Yu ordering Huang Gai to be flogged, left bedridden, and then eventually ‘defecting’.
Li Xin's emotions finally settled down and fell asleep. Zuo Qinghuan covered her with a blanket and left her home. While driving, Zuo Qinghuan felt quite heavy-hearted. In Zuo Qinghuan's view, Li Xin is undoubtedly a foolish woman, but she feels a bit sorry for her. Li Xin reminded her of that woman she was extremely reluctant to think about, who was even more foolish than Li Xin. That woman spent her whole life pursuing these elusive romantic feelings. In that woman's heart, love occupied all her thoughts, making even her daughter seem unimportant. Zuo Qinghuan felt that such women were incredibly foolish.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Her car turned onto that dirty and messy old street. As it approached the familiar dark alley, it braked, made a U-turn, and returned to the original road. She drove to the bar she and Li Xin often frequented and ordered many drinks. She also mixed several types of drinks. She could mix drinks too; she had worked in bars and had done almost every job there, so she knew a bit of everything.
Actually, Zuo Qinghuan didn't like drinking, but looking at the tempting colors of the alcohol, she uncontrollably drank it all. Mixing different types of alcohol makes it easier to get drunk. Zuo Qinghuan had a good tolerance for alcohol, but after several consecutive drinks, she was starting to feel a bit tipsy.
"Beauty, want to drink together?" Several men approached to strike up a conversation.
"I'm waiting for someone; she'll be here soon," Zuo Qinghuan declined. She was more adept at self-protection than Li Xin. Although she wasn't as principled and loyal as Li Xin, she wouldn't fall for any scam like that 419* situation.
*419 aka advance-fee fraud. It involves enticing individuals into sending money or personal information under pretenses, often promising a large sum of money, inheritance, or rewards in return. The term "419" is derived from the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code that addresses fraud schemes.
At this time, Han Shibin's call came. She didn't like Han Shibin calling at this time, so she turned off her phone. Suddenly, she remembered she had another phone, and on that phone, there was Qin Wanshu's number. Thinking about Qin Wanshu, Zuo Qinghuan didn't even think and dialed the number.
Qin Wanshu just got back home and had just enjoyed a relaxing bath, brushing away today's gloom, she was all set to sleep soundly. However, she noticed Zuo Qinghuan's call coming through. Initially not wanting to bother, but as the phone continued to ring, she somewhat displeasedly picked it up.
"Qin Wanshu, do you want to come out for a drink? The drink I made is very tasty, really tasty, I've already had a lot..." Zuo Qinghuan, somewhat tipsy, asked. With this mild intoxication, she dared to keep calling Qin Wanshu.
Qin Wanshu glanced at the clock, it was almost one in the morning, and that woman was still at the bar drinking, a bit tipsy. Hearing the sounds of argument in the background, Qin Wanshu furrowed her brow slightly. This woman really lacked restraint. However, considering that Zuo Qinghuan was just a mistress, not a virtuous woman, hanging out in a bar wasn't entirely inappropriate.
"I'm not going. I don't like that kind of place," Qin Wanshu declined. At this moment, a mistress should be calling her lover, not calling the original wife. In fact, Qin Wanshu was often quite distant. Her initial kindness towards Zuo Qinghuan was indeed very rare.
"Qin Wanshu, you really are a high-and-mighty young lady. Well, of course, you wouldn't look at us lower-class people. Haha, Zuo Qinghuan is really crazy, thinking that Qin Wanshu would be different from ordinary wealthy people..." She self-mockingly said.
Qin Wanshu's brow furrowed even tighter. She really disliked Zuo Qinghuan's tone. Clearly, Zuo Qinghuan was at fault first. Setting aside her current status as her husband's mistress, coupled with the previous teasing, Qin Wanshu was already being quite polite by talking to her like this. Yet, with Zuo Qinghuan's words, it seemed as if she was the one at fault.
Qin Wanshu wanted to say something, but the call suddenly disconnected. She told herself not to bother with that woman; she had no relationship whatsoever with her, and even if there were any connection, it would be an antagonistic one. However, the thought of a young and beautiful woman staying so late at the bar, and being quite drunk, made Qin Wanshu toss and turn in bed, unable to sleep.
She reluctantly got out of bed and changed into a different set of clothes and prepared to go out. She really wanted to curse someone in her heart, but with good manners, she forcibly restrained herself. Then, she dialed Zuo Qinghuan's number.
Zuo Qinghuan realized she was indeed being foolish. She and Qin Wanshu had no relationship whatsoever, yet it was this awkward situation. Why should Qin Wanshu care about her? She drank even more heavily. Even though she felt she was already seven parts drunk, her mind was still quite clear. When she saw Qin Wanshu's incoming call, her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a bit nervous as she answered the phone.
Qin Wanshu didn't speak immediately, which made Zuo Qinghuan even more nervous.
"Where are you?" Qin Wanshu's tone remained as gentle as ever. Even though she felt reluctant inside, she believed that once a decision was made, she couldn't let the other person feel neglected. Actually, it was the first time she detested her own good manners. After all, she felt sick to her stomach at that moment; in the middle of the night, she had to worry about whether the mistress would bring a green hat* to her husband. Qin Wanshu felt she could qualify as a saint with her kindness.
*cheat/cuckold
Zuo Qinghuan felt that Qin Wanshu wasn't like ordinary people. Was she really coming to pick her up? Moreover, judging by Qin Wanshu's tone, it didn't sound like impatience. Thinking about this, she suddenly felt better.