Chapter 20
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
"Qin Wanshu, do you hate me?" Zuo Qinghuan asked. In fact, Zuo Qinghuan felt that she hated herself.
"What do you think?" Qin Wanshu asked, feeling that Zuo Qinghuan was asking too much. Where did that confident person who asked her out yesterday go?
"So, you like me." Since there was no dislike, that meant liking, thought Zuo Qinghuan, throwing a flirtatious glance at Qin Wanshu. Unfortunately, she didn't have Li Xin's fox-like appearance. The flirtatious glances beneath her innocent appearance lacked electrifying charm; except for a little playfulness, they didn't mesmerize. Qin Wanshu found it amusing looking at Zuo Qinghuan, feeling like a young girl wearing her mother's high heels—a sense of mismatch. In reality, Zuo Qinghuan was essentially a young girl, concealing two very contradictory souls: one worldly, one sincere, switching between them from time to time. It had to be said, that Qin Wanshu had sharp eyes; in a brief time together, she had seen through the essence of Zuo Qinghuan.
"You haven't studied logic well. Not disliking doesn't necessarily mean liking; it could also mean neither disliking nor liking," Qin Wanshu smiled, correcting Zuo Qinghuan's presumptuous inference.
"But, I feel like you like me..." Zuo Qinghuan shamelessly said. She just enjoyed joking without boundaries with Qin Wanshu; a lie repeated a thousand times might become true, similar to a hint in her heart, possibly becoming true one day. Being liked by someone like Qin Wanshu felt marvelous; it would undoubtedly be the most vain and proud thing. Therefore, she didn't mind being a bit more shameless.
Qin Wanshu just smiled and said nothing. Zuo Qinghuan had a gangster's logic, arguing with her would only make it serious, and she wasn't going to act so immaturely. Except for that unexpected kiss from some time ago.
"If you don't eat soon, it'll get cold," reminded Qin Wanshu, also preparing to end their previous conversation.
"Qin Wanshu, you're the most special woman I've ever met," exclaimed Zuo Qinghuan sincerely, gazing at Qin Wanshu's graceful manner of eating.
"Everyone is special; you're also very special," Qin Wanshu felt that each person was unique and different from others.
Zuo Qinghuan didn't respond. She knew people like herself were a dime a dozen on the streets, but besides Qin Wanshu, there was no one else like Qin Wanshu in her eyes.
"Can I still find you in the future?" Zuo Qinghuan asked the same question she had asked last time, she didn't like Qin Wanshu's previous answer.
Qin Wanshu sighed inwardly; she actually wanted to refuse in her heart. She really wanted to answer that there was no need to come to her as much as possible. However, looking at Zuo Qinghuan's clear eyes at that moment softened Qin Wanshu a bit. She realized that she had no resistance to the clean side of Zuo Qinghuan.
"Qin Wanshu who seems perfect is just an ordinary person, nothing special," Qin Wanshu felt that Zuo Qinghuan didn't really need to be too curious about her. She is also a human being, not as perfect as she seemed. She could be selfish, she could have many flaws; it's just that she was better than anyone at disguising them.
"Then why don't I explore Qin Wanshu's imperfections?" Qin Wanshu was undoubtedly a person with strong inner strength. Zuo Qinghuan wanted to become someone like Qin Wanshu the most, but unable to become that kind of person, she was even more eager to get closer to this type of person.
"That's up to you." Qin Wanshu's response wasn't a refusal, nor was it an agreement.
Zuo Qinghuan noticed that although Qin Wanshu's response wasn't as firm as the previous resolute refusal, her attitude also couldn't be considered enthusiastic. Actually, Qin Wanshu seemed to have a strong sense of caution.
This meal quickly ended, and Qin Wanshu was about to leave. Zuo Qinghuan didn't find an excuse to keep her, so she escorted her to the door. Watching Qin Wanshu's departing car, she didn't feel anything specific. She just turned back to the kitchen to prepare for washing the dishes. As she turned on the faucet, she inexplicably drifted into a daze, letting the clear water flow away.
After tidying up the kitchen, Zuo Qinghuan called Li Xin. She wondered how that silly girl Li Xin was doing.
….
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Just as Qin Wanshu arrived at her doorstep, Qin Teng popped out.
"Sister, you didn't come home last night. Where did you go?" Qin Teng had come early in the morning, surprised that his sister, who never stayed out overnight, was actually not at home. It was quite an unprecedented occurrence.
Qin Wanshu shook her head; the lock on her own door was as good as non-existent when it came to her younger brother. Ignoring Qin Teng's question, she took off her shoes and put on slippers before entering the house, with Qin Teng following closely behind.
"You smell like another woman," Qin Teng leaned in close to Qin Wanshu, sniffing like a dog and drawing a conclusion. Since the age of sixteen, Qin Teng had been mingling among women, able to distinguish which perfume they used. Apart from the scent of perfume his sister usually wore, there was another scent of a different woman on her, one that didn't belong to his sister's social circle. Qin Teng was indeed skilled; he could recognize and remember the perfume used by women around his sister, truly living up to his reputation as a "love saint."
"Your nose is as good as a dog's," Qin Wanshu shook her head. Qin Teng was extremely intelligent, but unfortunately, he didn't use his intelligence in the right direction, always involving himself in shady dealings or miscellaneous matters. No wonder Grandpa was so frustrated about not being able to turn him into something better.
“Sister has a new friend?" Qin Teng curiously asked. His sister had never stayed overnight at the Shi family's place before, and considering the decades-long relationship between the Shi and Qin families, this new friend held some significance in his sister's mind. Qin Teng was a bit curious about this mysterious woman.
"When did you ever explain your friendships to me?" Qin Wanshu raised an eyebrow and countered. Qin Teng's circle of friends was definitely the most complicated; he had connections with all sorts of people from different walks of life.
“Couldn't I care about my sister?" Qin Teng said with an apologetic smile. He knew that his sister didn't like him interfering with her affairs, but as the Qin family's favorite person, they would naturally pay more attention to her. Though his sister was definitely not someone easy to deal with, both he and his elder brother would always unconsciously assume the role of protectors.
"It's good enough that you don't let Grandpa worry about it. Don't mess around with my affairs, otherwise I won't spare you." Qin Wanshu warned Qin Teng.
Qin Teng is really a mess, he does things without any rules, and he can do things like steal his brother-in-law's business, but all the profits are deposited into the account he set up for Qin Wanshu. In Qin Teng's view, Han Shibin was an outsider after all, and it was naturally better to put the money in his sister's account. Han Shibin was very aggrieved, but he only dared to be angry with Qin Teng, his younger brother-in-law but dared not speak out. Once he thought he was messing around but then he messed around several times in a row, it wasn't just messing around anymore. He couldn't surpass his younger brother-in-law in business matters, something embarrassing he naturally wouldn't disclose to Qin Wanshu.
Han Shibin kept quiet, and naturally, Qin Wanshu pretended not to know. She had also discussed with Qin Teng privately a few times, but Qin Teng continued to act as he pleased.
Everyone knew that Qin Wanshu didn't meddle in the Qin family's business, spending her days with antiques. However, little did they know that Qin Teng was actually taught by Qin Wanshu herself. It's just that in Qin Wanshu's view, teaching Qin Teng back then was as good as not teaching him at all. He had learned the skills, but he liked to act against the rules.
Qin Wanshu found her younger brother's habit of making a big deal out of small matters somewhat annoying. Since childhood, anyone or anything that displeased her would sooner or later disappear or meet a dismal end. Qin Wanshu didn't want Qin Teng to know about Zuo Qinghuan. If Qin Teng were to investigate Zuo Qinghuan, everything would blow up due to his nature. Qin Teng wouldn't spare Han Shibin and Zuo Qinghuan according to his temperament.