Love Finds Its Time - Chapter 18

The morning air was always fresher than at night, carrying less of that faint weariness drifting through the air.

Wen Qinghan pressed her lips lightly in the haze of waking, taking a deep breath. The air seemed to hold a fragrance that hadn’t been there before. She opened her eyes to a narrow slit, and right in front of her was Shi Qingqiu, the same face she had fallen asleep gazing at the night before.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, a faint glow illuminating Shi Qingqiu’s gentle features. Her black curls spilled across the pillow and her shoulder, her lips curved in the faintest trace of a smile—light, yet tender.

“Are you dreaming? Is it a beautiful dream…” Wen Qinghan whispered with a smile, reaching out her hand only to stop just above Shi Qingqiu’s cheek. Her slender hand closed slightly, as though cupping Shi Qingqiu’s face, brushing down from her ear to her chin. Though her palm touched nothing but air, it felt to her as if she had truly touched Shi Qingqiu.

Careful, delicate, not daring to disturb her in the slightest.

Suddenly the brows of the woman before her furrowed. Wen Qinghan quickly withdrew her hand, shut her eyes again, and let her smile fade. She felt Shi Qingqiu stir and heard a faint sigh. Playing along, she moved her hand slightly and slowly opened her eyes.

“Morning, Qinghan,” Shi Qingqiu greeted her lazily, burying her face back into the pillow. Hugging the quilt close, she pulled it up as if intending to keep sleeping.

“Good morning. I’ll get up and order breakfast. I’ll call you in a bit.” Wen Qinghan’s drowsiness had already faded, and she looked far more refreshed than Shi Qingqiu.

Seeing Shi Qingqiu mumble an “Mm” with her eyes still closed, Wen Qinghan carefully lifted the quilt and slipped out of bed. She walked to the window, pulled open the curtains, letting the light flood the room, then turned back to look at Shi Qingqiu’s back as she kept sleeping, her lips curved with a smile.

Wen Qinghan first made a phone call to order breakfast to the room, then went to wash up and change. By the time the server delivered breakfast, Shi Qingqiu had already gotten out of bed as well. After she finished washing, Wen Qinghan was already seated, ready for breakfast, waiting for her.

Breakfast was soup dumplings with soy milk. Wen Qinghan remembered that Shi Qingqiu had eaten them many times before. Handing her the chopsticks, she said, “Qingqiu, this place’s dumplings were recommended to me by someone else. Try them and see if they’re good.”

The small but plump dumplings still steamed hot. Shi Qingqiu took the chopsticks, picked one up, bit through the soft skin, and at once the savory fragrance of meat spilled out. After finishing one, her brows curved as she smiled, praising, “It tastes different from the ones I usually eat, but this one is delicious too.”

Wen Qinghan’s lips curved faintly. She placed another dumpling on Shi Qingqiu’s plate and smiled lightly. “Then eat a little more. If it’s not enough, I’ll order more.”

She lowered her head and sipped her soy milk. The sweetness spread from her mouth to her heart. She had wished countless times to be happy for Shi Qingqiu’s happiness—even if Shi Qingqiu chose someone else, she would still be glad for her. But only now did she truly understand: when Shi Qingqiu’s smile was because of her, that happiness was the purest of all.

As Shi Qingqiu ate, she watched Wen Qinghan’s elegant movements. Wen Qinghan took small bites of her dumpling, occasionally sipped soy milk, and with her free hand reached for a document nearby, her clean, fair fingers turning the pages slowly. She suddenly felt that when Wen Qinghan was with her, although not exactly warm, she was at least less aloof.

Picking up another dumpling, she asked, “Qinghan, what did you do in the meeting yesterday? How come it seems like you got so many food recommendations here?”

A night market, breakfast—at this rate, even lunch today might be covered.

Wen Qinghan casually closed the file and set it aside, replying calmly, “Of course I didn’t let my mind wander during the meeting. It was just during breaks, everyone chatted together, and some locals happened to recommend food.”

“You? Chatting with everyone?” Shi Qingqiu was surprised. For her to even exchange a few words with strangers was already rare—chatting?

Wen Qinghan shot her a glance and said evenly, “If people are chatting together, does that mean everyone has to talk? I can listen.”

Shi Qingqiu couldn’t help it and let out a soft laugh. It was clearly quibbling, yet somehow sounded reasonable. In every group, there were always people who didn’t talk much, just occasionally responded and spent most of the time observing. Wen Qinghan was surely the best among such people.

“In that case, I’ll leave my meals to you. You’re in charge of ordering food for me. Just avoid anything too high in calories—like last night’s supper, let’s not do that again.” Delicious as it was, if her body absorbed it too well over the next few days, that would be disastrous.

“Alright.” Wen Qinghan agreed seriously, then lifted her chin slightly and said, “Eat quickly. They won’t taste as good cold.”

Shi Qingqiu looked at Wen Qinghan’s unusually gentle expression, remembering how yesterday she had instantly turned cold at the sight of that Lawyer Cheng, and how serious her gaze had been when she asked her questions.

A thought sprouted in her heart like bamboo shoots after rain—the same thought she’d had yesterday when they first arrived.

“Qinghan, if you want to make our relationship public, then let’s make it public.” Shi Qingqiu set down her chopsticks, her voice soft but solemn. “It’s not just about yesterday. We can be more natural. So if you want to, I have no objections.”

Wen Qinghan looked at her deeply, as if trying to see through her exterior to her heart. “Why say this all of a sudden?”

Shi Qingqiu smiled faintly, pressing her lips together, her mouth curving in a steady arc. Lowering her head first, then lifting it again, she smiled at Wen Qinghan. “It’s not like we have a way out anyway, do we? I never intended to hide it forever. Sooner or later, it’ll be public.”

Indeed, there was no way back. Shi Qingqiu’s smile was natural and warm. When they registered their marriage, their path backward had already been cut off—for both of them.

“Let’s finish breakfast first. We’ll talk about this later.” Unexpectedly, Wen Qinghan didn’t give a direct answer. Instead, her gaze seemed to grow even fainter.

With those few words, Shi Qingqiu had touched on the very origin of their relationship. They hadn’t yet reached the kind of tacit, natural state of true lovers. Even Shi Qingqiu’s willingness to go public was not from desire, but because there was no retreat. Since when had the things they did stopped being about their own wants and thoughts? Wen Qinghan suddenly wondered—was it right or wrong that she had proposed marriage? That burst of courage—was it right or wrong?

But as she watched Shi Qingqiu tuck her stray hair behind her ear, her tranquil face bathed in sunlight, beautiful and serene, her doubts faded.

Right or wrong—it was too soon to know. All Wen Qinghan knew was that the future stretched long, and Shi Qingqiu would have countless chances to decide whether to stay or leave. Whatever Shi Qingqiu wanted, she would give.

***

After breakfast, Wen Qinghan packed her documents and left for the meeting, while Shi Qingqiu stayed in the hotel. She had no urge to go out; this trip, though called a getaway, was really for the sake of their relationship.

So it was for Wen Qinghan, and so it was for her.

If their relationship became public, Shi Qingqiu could imagine her parents’ surprise—and joy. Yes, joy. Since childhood, she and Wen Qinghan had been subtly placed together. As a child, she hadn’t thought much of it, but looking back after growing up, she could see the elders’ intentions. Now, after all the turns and circles, they were still together, at least fulfilling their parents’ wishes. Did this mean that everything she had gone through from birth until marriage was only illusion—that she and Wen Qinghan were destined to be together?

Finishing the last sip of soy milk, Shi Qingqiu looked at the empty breakfast boxes glowing in the morning light. She smiled, a touch of bitterness flickering across her lips before fading quickly.

Why think so much? Things had come to this; there was no way back.

During a break in the meeting, Wen Qinghan went to the break room to get hot water. Since people outside were gathered in small groups chatting, she leaned against the doorway, gazing distantly—not clear whether at her colleagues, or beyond.

“Lawyer Wen.”

A warm male voice sounded beside her. Wen Qinghan turned her head slightly, her thin lips curving faintly. “Lawyer Cheng.”

It was Cheng Haotian. After greeting her, he too poured himself hot water, a trace of tea fragrance wafting over.

Wen Qinghan pressed her lips together, turned, and said, “Break’s almost over. I’ll head back first.” With that, she turned to leave.

“Wait, Lawyer Wen.” Cheng Haotian’s voice was a little urgent, stopping her.

“What is it?” Wen Qinghan turned to look, her face as cold as frost and snow, her clean fingers wrapped around the cup, steam still rising from within.

Even in such simple form, Wen Qinghan was enough to make people pause. She had unknowingly drawn countless gazes, stirred countless hearts—though she had never realized it.

“About last night, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were married. And I’ve often been a bother to you recently.” Cheng Haotian wasn’t one to cling endlessly. Though he felt regret, just glimpsing that rare gentleness in Wen Qinghan made it worthwhile.

“It’s fine,” Wen Qinghan replied. “I didn’t take it to heart.”

Those words were both hurtful and soothing. Hurtful, because his hints had never been accepted. Soothing, because she didn’t resent his presumptions.

Married—clearly for some time now. When he had been eager to pursue her, her heart had already belonged to someone else. Following that line of thought, Cheng Haotian felt like crying without tears.

“That’s good. But since you haven’t made it public, you must have your reasons. Should I keep it a secret for you?” Not daring to dwell further, Cheng Haotian quickly changed the subject, hoping he could still do something for her—even just keeping her confidence.

About secrecy…

“It’s not just about yesterday. We can be more natural. So if you want to, I have no objections.”

Shi Qingqiu’s words from that morning echoed in Wen Qinghan’s ears. She pressed her lips, a rare softness settling in her cold eyes. “Please do as you like. Either way is fine.”

“Alright. Then if someone tries to pursue you or teases us again, I’ll play it by ear.” Cheng Haotian smiled. He guessed Wen Qinghan didn’t like broadcasting it everywhere, or perhaps she just wasn’t ready yet.

“Okay.” Wen Qinghan nodded politely. From the corner of her eye, she saw someone in the distance waving for them to return to the meeting room, and so they ended the conversation.

Just then, she glanced at her watch, suddenly recalling something. With a few minutes still left, she sat down, took out her phone, and began ordering lunch—sending it to the hotel and their room number.