Chapter 38
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
"It's not your concern; you should mind your own business," Wang Qi remarked. Glancing at Qin Wanshu, a woman dressed with elegance and a finely delicate appearance, she seemed like a person of exceptional wealth and distinctive charm. Wang Qi didn't believe, not for a moment, that she was acquainted with Zuo Qinghuan.
"Sister Qi, she is the woman who was with Zuo Qinghuan last time," Du Xiaoli murmured to Wang Qi.
Wang Qi looked at Qin Wanshu with some surprise. She turned her head to glance at Zuo Qinghuan, who had clearly avoided Qin Wanshu, as if unwilling to face her. The fierce aura from earlier had long dissipated, leaving Wang Qi somewhat puzzled. However, her predominant feeling was anger. She enjoyed seeing Zuo Qinghuan transform into a meek lamb, but that was only satisfying when directed at herself.
"I told you to let her go," Qin Wanshu repeated, her displeasure intensifying.
"So, you've hooked up with a high-class person, climbing the social ladder. Zuo Qinghuan, you are indeed more ambitious than your mother," Wang Qi's hand reached for Zuo Qinghuan's face, feigning intimacy but dripping with sarcasm.
Zuo Qinghuan turned her face away, disliking Wang Qi's touch. She wondered about Qin Wanshu's expression but was afraid to meet her eyes.
Shi Yunyang was evidently slow to react, but observing Qin Wanshu's clear signs of anger, she started to grasp the situation. She had contemplated countless times about the unknown woman Qin Wanshu might be acquainted with. However, not daring to hire someone for surveillance or investigate Qin Wanshu herself left her curiosity unfulfilled. The current scene hinted at some hidden secrets.
Qin Wanshu, seeing the woman before her refusing to release her grip, took out her phone. “This is Qin Wanshu. Bring a few people to the XX parking lot within five minutes."
Qin Wanshu. Wang Qi was stunned. Obviously, she is familiar with this person. The Qin family is so powerful in this city that she couldn't afford to offend her; the most favored daughter of the Qin family.
"Zuo Qinghuan, you are really capable. You can even seduce Miss Qin. Let's go." Although Wang Qi was extremely reluctant to let go of Zuo Qinghuan, the situation was stronger than her. She really couldn't afford to offend the Qin family, especially against Miss Qin, particularly given the unpredictable nature of Qin Teng. The Qin family held significant influence in legitimate and illegitimate circles.
Shi Yunyang was once again surprised. Qin Wanshu went as far as revealing her identity to protect the little lily.
After those people left, Qin Wanshu approached Zuo Qinghuan, who unconsciously retreated. Zuo Qinghuan kept moving backward until she had no more room, unable to meet Qin Wanshu's gaze.
"The Zuo Qinghuan I know is not that cowardly." Qin Wanshu said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Zuo Qinghuan finally lifted her head to look at Qin Wanshu. Whether she genuinely didn't know or was pretending not to know, for the first time, she disliked Qin Wanshu's meddlesomeness.
"Yes, it's that look – angry yet unsatisfied with the current situation, not hiding in the corner and feeling inferior," Qin Wanshu said. She wasn't a good person, knowing well that Zuo Qinghuan's wounds were still bleeding, yet she continued to rub salt in them. Zuo Qinghuan was irritated with Qin Wanshu; she shouldn't have appeared, and even if she did, she shouldn't have added insult to injury. Feeling inferior – that was her right, so why couldn't she be? Qin Wanshu would always be that kind of woman, forever looking down on others. She would never understand the feelings of those who lurked in the darkness, afraid to step into the light, burdened by labels and marks like a branded disgrace.
"Alright, your face is all swollen, you don't look like a fairy sister anymore. Let's go back and apply some compress," Qin Wanshu said, looking at the angry expression on Zuo Qinghuan's face. She gave a faint smile, then extended her hand, offering it to Zuo Qinghuan.
Zuo Qinghuan stared at Qin Wanshu's hand. Despite the seemingly indifferent and even cold words earlier, Zuo Qinghuan was sure she didn't see a trace of disdain on Qin Wanshu's face. This eased her heart a bit. After hesitating for a while, Zuo Qinghuan couldn't resist the yearning for warmth and finally grasped Qin Wanshu's outstretched hand.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Shi Yunyang's mouth hung wide open. Tonight's unexpected events left her speechless. The most exaggerated moment was when Qin Wanshu extended her hand, quite pretentious and nauseating, but one can't deny that at this moment, Qin Wanshu truly played the role of a goddess, rescuing the girl struggling in hell.
"I won't go back tonight. Take care of the aftermath for me," Qin Wanshu instructed Shi Yunyang. Afterward, she drove away from the parking lot with Zuo Qinghuan, leaving Shi Yunyang alone at the scene. The security guards, who hurriedly arrived, were left displeased. Shi Yunyang had to tell a lie to send them away. The guards looked at her with dissatisfaction, unable to voice their anger. They all felt played by this unreliable Miss Shi, leaving Shi Yunyang feeling quite speechless. These seemingly serious matters were now tangled up due to Qin Wanshu's affair, all while she was cheating on her husband behind his back. Shi Yunyang found herself innocent in all this confusion.
Later, Shi Yunyang called Han Shibin, claiming she accidentally had a drink with Qin Wanshu, fell asleep, and was now at her own place, choosing not to return. Han Shibin seemed displeased, but like the security guards, he chose to keep his dissatisfaction to himself. Shi Yunyang didn't expect that after helping Qin Wanshu clean up the mess tonight, she would be resented by so many people. Blaming her poor reputation and Qin Wanshu's good one, she found herself in this unfortunate situation.
During the ride, neither Zuo Qinghuan nor Qin Wanshu spoke. The car was eerily quiet, with Qin Wanshu driving seriously. Zuo Qinghuan glanced out the window, pondering how long Qin Wanshu had been there and what she might have overheard.
"Did you hear everything?" Suddenly, Zuo Qinghuan's voice echoed in the car. Qin Wanshu looked at Zuo Qinghuan and noticed she still faced the window.
"Not too much, not too little." In fact, Qin Wanshu heard everything, but she chose a more tactful expression.
"How much is 'not too much'?" Zuo Qinghuan didn't appreciate Qin Wanshu's vague response.
"Not too much and not too little." Qin Wanshu felt this was a fitting description.
"Qin Wanshu!" Zuo Qinghuan turned angrily toward Qin Wanshu.
"Hmm?" Qin Wanshu looked at Zuo Qinghuan innocently, responding in a light tone.
"How much did you actually hear?" Zuo Qinghuan growled at Qin Wanshu with displeasure.
"Do you really care? People will say whatever they want. The more you care, the more satisfaction you give them. Ignoring them is the best retaliation against enemies," Qin Wanshu said calmly.
Zuo Qinghuan didn't respond. Many years ago, she understood this principle, but being attacked like this after such a long time made her forget how to pretend to ignore the enemy.
"Understanding and actually doing things are two different matters." Zuo Qinghuan awkwardly turned her head to continue looking outside. Qin Wanshu hadn't answered her question yet. However, judging from Qin Wanshu's words, she probably heard everything. Thinking about this, Zuo Qinghuan felt uneasy.
"We're home. I want some time alone." Zuo Qinghuan didn't want to face Qin Wanshu at the moment. The feeling of embarrassment hadn't faded, and she wanted to retreat, lick her wounds, and rebuild her fragile self-esteem in solitude.
"Give me the key," Qin Wanshu said earnestly, paying no attention to Zuo Qinghuan's dismissal.
Zuo Qinghuan refused, and the two stood firm at the door. Qin Wanshu shook her head slightly; it seemed she needed to resort to some drastic measures. She approached Zuo Qinghuan.
Qin Wanshu's face got closer to Zuo Qinghuan, making her feel somewhat uneasy. Suddenly, Qin Wanshu reached out, embraced Zuo Qinghuan, and, taking advantage of her momentary confusion, reached into the coat pocket, retrieving the key. It wasn't the first time Qin Wanshu had been here; she knew Zuo Qinghuan habitually kept her key in her coat pocket.
When Zuo Qinghuan snapped out of it, Qin Wanshu had already distanced herself and entered the apartment. Inside, Qin Wanshu went to the kitchen and boiled some eggs. When she came out, she saw Zuo Qinghuan rushing to the bedroom. Could that person be hiding under the covers when she's upset?
Qin Wanshu pushed open the door and found Zuo Qinghuan in the bathroom showering. The most exaggerated part was that the bathroom had transparent glass, and the misty steam surrounded Zuo Qinghuan. However, her naked body was still visible. Qin Wanshu took a glance, feeling uneasy, and awkwardly retreated. Afterward, she felt something was amiss. Both she and Zuo Qinghuan were women; shouldn't looking at Zuo Qinghuan's body feel the same as looking at her own?
Zuo Qinghuan tends to spend a lot of time bathing when she feels embarrassed as if there's a religious belief that bathing not only cleanses the body but also washes away sins. Therefore, Zuo Qinghuan has always enjoyed bathing. Allowing the water to flow over her body, the warm sensation brings her considerable comfort.
Qin Wanshu sits on the living room sofa, checking the time. Zuo Qinghuan has been bathing for over an hour. Qin Wanshu thinks Zuo Qinghuan's bathing might be a kind of compulsion. She unconsciously stands up again, slightly worried, and pushes open the bedroom door. At this moment, Zuo Qinghuan, with her naked body, walks out of the bathroom, lifts the quilt, climbs into bed, and covers herself tightly with it.
Qin Wanshu involuntarily shakes her head. Is Zuo Qinghuan behaving like an ostrich?
"Get up and apply some compress; otherwise, you won't be presentable tomorrow," Qin Wanshu gently nudges the lump under the quilt.
"I'm not meeting anyone tomorrow," a muffled voice comes from inside the quilt.
"Still, you should apply some." Zuo Qinghuan's face is too swollen, and she can't feel at ease without applying something.
"Qin Wanshu, do you know? I least want you to see me in such a state tonight. I wish you could always see the good side of me," Zuo Qinghuan feels sad. Suddenly, she can understand the feelings of Lady Li*, who, in her old age, didn't want Emperor Wu to see her decline. Even though they are different, the essence is the same.
*is a favored concubine of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. At the end of her life, Lady Li became gravely ill. She refused to allow Emperor Wu to see her face, citing the loss of her beauty.
"Why?" Qin Wanshu might understand, but she still chooses to ask. Hearing and understanding something is different.
"Don't you understand?" It's not that Qin Wanshu doesn't understand, it's because she doesn't want to acknowledge it.
"You're not saying it; how would I understand?" Qin Wanshu gently touches Zuo Qinghuan's back. Through the thick quilt, Zuo Qinghuan can't feel Qin Wanshu's affection at this moment.
"If you don't understand, just forget it." Zuo Qinghuan said in frustration, clutching the quilt tighter.
"Maybe you can try to make me understand," Qin Wanshu smiled and looked at Zuo Qinghuan, who was about to suffocate to death.
When Zuo Qinghuan heard this, she was suddenly stunned. Although she couldn't see Qin Wanshu's expression at the moment, she knew that Qin Wanshu's expression must be serious when she said this.
"Really?" A crack appeared in the quilt wrapped around Zuo Qinghuan.
“Mm." Qin Wanshu found it funny when she saw her, Zuo Qinghuan really looked like a cracked egg at this moment.
Author's Note:
The next chapter should be a chapter about love…
I'm so depressed. I wasn't satisfied with the hair done yesterday. I had it redone today and I still feel unsatisfied. Unfortunately, my hair was damaged twice. I hate that hairstylist so much…
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