Love Finds Its Time - Chapter 11

Just like Wen Qinghan, Jian Yizhi also kept the law firm’s anniversary in mind. The only difference was that for Jian Yizhi, it was much simpler. She just needed to tell her parents she wouldn’t be home for dinner that day.

But when she opened the door and saw Fu Anran’s serene profile in the living room, she thought perhaps she shouldn’t have come home for dinner today either.

“Dad, Mom, I’m back,” Jian Yizhi greeted them, trying to make her smile look natural.

“Senior, you’re off work.” Fu Anran quickly stood up to face her, almost looking as if she was about to bow.

“Mm, yes,” Jian Yizhi replied politely, one hand holding her briefcase at her side, the other gripping her car keys.

Fu Anran’s long straight hair was tied into a ponytail. She looked obedient and well-behaved, a few centimeters shorter than Jian Yizhi. After greeting her, she lifted her gaze again only to see Jian Yizhi turning to her family and saying, “I’ll go put my bag in my room first.”

The other two people in the living room were naturally Jian Yizhi’s parents, Han Zhengping and Jian Yushan. Once Jian Yizhi closed her bedroom door, Jian Yushan sat beside Fu Anran, took her hand, and patted it gently to reassure her. “Anran, don’t take it to heart. Yizhi has always been like this. She doesn’t have any prejudice against you.”

Han Zhengping chimed in, “That’s right, don’t feel restrained. Later at dinner, we can all have a nice chat.”

The two elders were warmly enthusiastic, leaving Fu Anran unsure how to respond. She didn’t want Jian Yizhi to misunderstand her because of this, but how could two young people possibly withstand this kind of matchmaking from both sets of parents?

From the moment Fu Anran first learned what “dating” was, she felt her parents, and Jian Yizhi’s parents, were constantly trying to set her up. When she was underage, they only encouraged her to spend more time with Jian Yizhi. Once she became an adult, the hints grew far more direct; they even told her outright they hoped she and Jian Yizhi would be together.

On Jian Yizhi’s side, it was exactly the same. Yet neither of them ever gave in. Jian Yizhi chose cold indifference, while Fu Anran just continued living life as she pleased. She had dated one or two boyfriends, and during those times at least she could enjoy some peace from her parents’ pestering. But once she broke up, her parents would start the whole cycle again. Her mother, looking all gentle and virtuous, would say things like, “See? In the end, you’re destined to be with Yizhi.” Even tonight’s dinner had only happened because her parents insisted she come, saying that Uncle and Aunt had warmly invited her.

Suppressing a sigh, Fu Anran forced a natural smile as she said to Jian Yushan and Han Zhengping, “Uncle, Aunt, I know. Senior is a very good person.”

And indeed, Jian Yizhi was. She had a stellar reputation in school, and now her name was widely known outside as well. When Fu Anran first entered university, she had already heard from teachers and students what a remarkable figure Jian Yizhi was. She admired Jian Yizhi deeply, never resenting her because of their parents’ arrangements.

What she didn’t know was whether Jian Yizhi, because of the elders’ meddling, held any prejudice against her.

“Sir, Madam, Miss Fu, dinner is ready.” The housemaid, Auntie Wang, came out of the kitchen to call them, pulling Fu Anran from her thoughts.

“Come, come, don’t just sit there. Anran, you must eat more tonight. Your aunt specially made the dishes you like.” Han Zhengping got up, picked up his cup, and cheerfully headed toward the dining room.

“Anran, let’s go.” Jian Yushan took her hand with the air of treating her like her own daughter.

“Alright.” Fu Anran could only comply.

When they entered, Jian Yizhi was already seated. The rice bowls were filled, and she waited for the others to sit and start before picking up her own chopsticks. Just then, Jian Yushan cleared her throat with some hidden meaning.

Jian Yizhi paused mid-reach for the vegetables, then smoothly placed them into Fu Anran’s bowl instead. Smiling, she said, “Don’t be shy. Take whatever you’d like, or just ask me.”

“Thank you, Senior, but I can do it myself.” Fu Anran smiled back, her irritation at being forced together softened by Jian Yizhi’s gentleness. Her senior’s temper was indeed very good, she thought secretly.

Meanwhile, Jian Yizhi was finally able to drop the false smile and eat quietly. Heaven knew how suffocating the awkwardness between her and Fu Anran was, and yet her parents never tired of trying to play matchmaker.

“Yizhi,” Jian Yushan suddenly called, placing a piece of rib into her bowl.

“What is it, Mom?” Jian Yizhi frowned, sensing trouble.

“Isn’t your law firm’s anniversary coming up soon? I remember it’s these few days.” As expected, Jian Yushan only opened her mouth when it was something serious.

“Yes, it’s in the next few days,” Jian Yizhi answered briefly, hoping her mother would drop it.

But clearly her wish went unheard. As she chewed on the rib, Jian Yushan said with deliberate weight, “Why don’t you take Anran with you? She already has her license, but she’s been at home for too long. It would do her good to gain exposure and meet more people. It will also prepare her for her career.” Jian Yizhi nearly choked. She patted her chest and set down her chopsticks. Before she could speak, Jian Yushan pressed on, “What do you think?”

After stewing for a while, Jian Yizhi finally placed her hands on her knees and said patiently, “Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to take her, but this is a gathering for colleagues. For someone new, it would be hard to fit in, don’t you think?”

No one at the firm knew Fu Anran. Having an outsider at an internal event wouldn’t make sense anywhere.

But clearly, Jian Yushan wasn’t seeking her daughter’s approval. If she were, she wouldn’t have only asked after already deciding. She set down her chopsticks with a frown. “What’s so hard about fitting in? You’ll be there, won’t you? Besides, Anran will need your support in the future. What’s wrong with making friends? Didn’t your seniors help you when you were starting out? Have you forgotten how your uncles and aunts treated you back then?”

This was going completely off-track. Jian Yizhi rubbed her temples in frustration.

Seeing her frown, Fu Anran unexpectedly put down her chopsticks too, siding with her for once. “Auntie, please don’t listen to my parents. Senior’s event really is an internal gathering. I shouldn’t intrude. I’ll always remember how kind you are to me, but let’s leave this matter aside.”  Her expression was sincere, and when Jian Yizhi glanced at her, her irritation eased. 

Clearly, it was their parents’ scheming again. And truthfully, arranging a guest at the anniversary wasn’t that hard. It was all a matter of her and Wen Qinghan exchanging a few words. If she claimed Fu Anran as her friend, Wen Qinghan would have nothing to say. After all, they did have a lot of contact, albeit orchestrated by their parents.

But still, why should she do this favor?

“What do you think, Yizhi?” Jian Yushan’s once-kind face hardened, and even her usually obedient husband stayed silent, both of them staring her down.

Helpless, Jian Yizhi ran her fingers through her long hair. At that moment, Fu Anran nudged her with an elbow. She turned to see the younger girl’s delicate brows furrowed tightly, shaking her head ever so slightly—Don’t agree.

Heh, at least she’s thoughtful. For that alone, fine, she would go. The families were so close anyway; there was no need to push back too hard.

“Alright, I’ll take her.” Jian Yizhi picked up her chopsticks again, unwilling to say more.

Seeing this, Jian Yushan let it go, shooting Fu Anran a look. “Eat, eat. Anran, when the time comes, listen carefully to Yizhi.”

To Fu Anran, Jian Yizhi didn’t seem nearly as difficult to get along with as the classmates described Wen Qinghan to be. Despite all their parents’ meddling, Jian Yizhi never lost her temper. Whenever they met, she would still nod and exchange a few words. So subconsciously, Fu Anran always followed Jian Yizhi’s lead. When Jian Yizhi kept her distance, she would use her parents as an excuse and avoid things too. And now that Jian Yizhi agreed to take her along, she naturally had no objection. Instinctively, she just went along with Jian Yizhi’s decisions.

After dinner, of course, Jian Yizhi was asked to escort Fu Anran home. Her place wasn’t far, just the next building over, on the same floor. From their balconies, the two families could wave to each other.

Because of the guest, Jian Yizhi was still in her heels from work. After stepping out of the elevator, she walked behind Fu Anran, their footsteps echoing together in the quiet corridor, making the air more awkward.

At the stairwell, Fu Anran stopped and turned, hands clasped in front of her, apologizing sincerely. “Senior, I’m sorry. I really didn’t know things would turn out like this.” If she had known it would trouble Jian Yizhi, she never would have come.

Jian Yizhi didn’t seem to mind. Stopping before her, she smiled lightly. “Don’t think too much. Since I agreed, I know what I’m doing. But my partner isn’t easy to approach. She doesn’t like talking to anyone except clients. On that day, just stay close to me.”

Knowing she meant Wen Qinghan, Fu Anran obediently nodded. “Mm, I understand.”

Looking at her gentle and harmless expression, Jian Yizhi pressed her lips together, then asked curiously, “So… from what my mom said, you’re preparing to officially work? Ready to enter the legal profession?” She hesitated over what to call her. Using her full name felt too distant, just her given name too intimate. So she skipped titles altogether.

“Eh?” Fu Anran was surprised that Jian Yizhi was initiating conversation. After a moment, she replied, “I’ve been preparing since my internship. I really want to be like you, Senior. Someone who can help those in need.” Her eyes sparkled with youthful hope, like an eaglet yet to take flight, dreaming of the skies.

Jian Yizhi curved her lips in a faint, unreadable smile. With her hands behind her back, she strolled out of the stairwell. Hearing the footsteps following her, she spoke slowly. “In many professions, you meet all kinds of people. For us, inside and out, we must convey trust and reliability, so clients will feel they can depend on us.”

Watching Jian Yizhi’s back, Fu Anran nodded silently. Though only five years separated them, that gap suddenly felt like a vast gulf. Even without the elders’ matchmaking, even if she truly liked Jian Yizhi, the distance between them seemed insurmountable.

Turning back under the streetlight, Jian Yizhi glanced at her face and laughed softly, as if to herself. “You’re still young. Why am I even telling you all this?” As she said it, moonlight and lamplight spilled over her, her long hair tucked behind her ear, showing her clean profile.

It was the first time Fu Anran had spoken so much with Jian Yizhi, and the first time she realized that besides her good temper, under the moonlight she was truly beautiful. 

Her face flushed as she whispered in protest, “Senior, I’m not that young. I’m only five years younger than you.”

Jian Yizhi laughed again. “Exactly, younger than me.” She checked her watch, then tilted her chin toward Fu Anran’s building. “Go on, it’s late.”

Fu Anran nodded. Between leaving silently and saying goodbye, she chose the latter. “Then I’ll go. Goodnight, Senior.”

“Mm,” Jian Yizhi answered, watching her turn away. Then she lifted her gaze to the round moon above, shook her head slightly, and headed back home.