Love Finds Its Time - Chapter 23

While waiting for the reality show to start filming, Shi Qingqiu continued her vacation, and Wen Qinghan kept on with her work. It wasn’t yet time for her break, and Wen Qinghan showed none of the excitement one would expect before a holiday. In fact, she never revealed any anticipation for vacations at all.

Meng Siqi stopped in front of Wen Qinghan’s desk. After observing for a moment, she said seriously, “Lawyer Wen, the résumés we received have already been screened by Liu Yi and me according to the hiring requirements. When do you want to hold the interviews?”

The partners of Yihan Law Firm were all leading figures in the legal field, having achieved much at a young age. As soon as the job posting went out, many people applied for the chance to work there. Meng Siqi and Liu Yi first had to filter out those who met or exceeded the requirements before moving to the next stage.

Wen Qinghan was planning to hand off a case she had accepted before the symposium to Jian Yizhi. While sorting through the files, she asked, “Did Liu Yi notify Yizhi and Li-ge about this?”

Meng Siqi nodded. “Yes, they were notified.”

“Then let’s do the interviews the day after tomorrow. Let the lawyers know.” Wen Qinghan tapped a stack of files upright on her desk, lost in thought.

“Um… Boss Wen…”

“Hm?”

“Why are you suddenly taking a vacation? And an indefinite one at that. You rarely ever take time off.” Meng Siqi faintly sensed something was off. In all the years Wen Qinghan had worked, apart from weekends and statutory holidays, she basically never took breaks. She didn’t even use her annual leave every year.

Still, since Wen Qinghan was one of the bosses, as long as the other two partners had no objections, she could rest whenever she wanted. Meng Siqi’s curiosity was just on behalf of the staff. 

Hearing this, Wen Qinghan’s expression remained blank, which made Meng Siqi uneasy. She leaned closer, her voice lacking confidence. “Boss Wen, don’t look at me like that, I—”

Finally, Wen Qinghan curved her lips into a smile. After putting away the files, she clasped her hands together on the desk and said, “You’ll know why I’m taking a vacation after some time.”

She never talked about her relationship with Shi Qingqiu. The joy quietly flowing in her heart and her expectations for the future—she preferred to savor those feelings privately, protecting them with care. That had always been her way.

“Looks like something unexpected is about to happen.” Meng Siqi nodded solemnly.

“Instead of wasting time guessing, you’d better get back to work. You won’t hear anything from me anyway.” Handing over the sorted files, Wen Qinghan added leisurely, “On your way out, please give these documents to Yizhi. Thanks.”

The dismissal was obvious. Meng Siqi pouted, took the files, and left.

***

When Jian Yizhi saw the new stack of manila folders piled on her desk, she nearly blacked out. Still, she could only accept it. After all, she had watched Wen Qinghan work so hard for years, finally making progress. How could she refuse her now?

Unrequited love was like a flower blooming in a corner, confined to the shadow of the wall from the moment it sprouted, unable to bask in the sun. Yet despite the harsh conditions, it still grew strong—perhaps only hoping to catch a whiff of sunlight before it withered.

But Jian Yizhi could never relate to such emotions. Just like Wen Qinghan, she understood that love could become a burden, a shackle that disrupted the freedom one should have had to enjoy life. Once you willingly put on that shackle, all your thoughts and actions from then on must yield to it. To Wen Qinghan, such an outcome was sweet; to Jian Yizhi, it was something to avoid at all costs.

So she understood, but she could not empathize. She had never intended to sacrifice her freedom for such things—neither now nor in the future.

“Just now the others kept guessing what Boss Wen is up to. Hey, Boss Jian, do you know the inside story?”

Liu Yi was brimming with curiosity. Gossip about Wen Qinghan and Jian Yizhi had always been the hottest topic in the firm. Lately, Wen Qinghan’s gossip attracted slightly more attention than Jian Yizhi’s.

“Do you really want to know?” Jian Yizhi raised an eyebrow. Still writing, she glanced up at Liu Yi and saw the same mischievous look that had been plastered all over the office all day.

Indeed, the whole firm was speculating about Wen Qinghan’s leave.

“Of course!” Liu Yi bent down eagerly, her face practically spelling out “gossip.” With a mysterious tone that made the atmosphere strange, she added, “You two are our treasures! If one of you is taken, of course we want to know by whom.”

“Oh, please.” Jian Yizhi capped her pen and lightly tapped it against Liu Yi’s forehead. “I know you too well. Gossip is gossip—don’t try to butter me up.”

“Then at least give us a hint! We’re one big family—what if we can help?” Liu Yi was so desperate for gossip she had almost dropped her composure. She only dared to speak this way to Jian Yizhi; with Wen Qinghan, she would at most crack a joke or two, never daring to let her spine bend.

Leaning back in her chair, Jian Yizhi clasped her hands together and sighed. Seeing Liu Yi’s expectant look, she suddenly changed her tone and said seriously, “Prying into me won’t help. I don’t know either. If she says she’s taking time off, I can’t stop her. It’s not even paid leave, and it’s not like she’s quitting. Who doesn’t have a lazy spell now and then? Alright, get back to work.”

She waved her off and turned her eyes back to the files, looking as though she didn’t want to be disturbed. Liu Yi left the office still dazed by the sudden shift. They had been talking just fine—why had she hit a wall so quickly?

***

At the end of the day, since Jian Yizhi and Wen Qinghan lived in different directions, they said goodbye and went separately to fetch their cars.

Jian Yizhi was still living with her parents. To her, the only annoyance of that arrangement was being awkwardly tied to Fu Anran. Other than that, she got along with her parents without any friction, their relationship harmonious since childhood.

As soon as she walked in the door, she saw Jian Yushan’s caring face. Naturally, she took her briefcase and said with a smile, “Yizhi, you’re home pretty early today.”

“Mm, not too bad.” Jian Yizhi changed into slippers and followed Jian Yushan into the living room.

The work Wen Qinghan had handed over couldn’t be finished in just a day or two anyway. So she might as well leave work on time and put in more effort during office hours. Pacing herself had always been Jian Yizhi’s way.

“Go wash your hands and come eat. I made your favorite tonight.” Jian Yushan put her bag away and called her into the dining room.

Jian Yizhi blinked, pressing her lips together. Something about Jian Yushan seemed off. Her instincts kept her from relaxing too much. But when she walked into the dining room after washing her hands, she was puzzled—Fu Anran wasn’t there. Then what was going on now?

Han Zhengping was already seated. When he saw his wife bringing Jian Yizhi over, he put down his wine glass, poured her half a glass, and patted the spot beside him. “Yizhi, come. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a drink with you. Tonight your mom specially asked Aunt Wang to prepare a few extra dishes for you. Eat more.”

Jian Yizhi narrowed her eyes slightly, a glint flashing across them. Something was wrong. Definitely wrong.

Usually when her parents acted this unusually, it was related to Fu Anran. But since Fu Anran hadn’t come over today, Jian Yizhi couldn’t figure out what they were up to. Still, if her parents didn’t bring it up, she certainly wasn’t going to walk into the trap herself.

Her thoughts spun quickly, and by the time she sat down, she already had a plan in mind. She picked up her glass and clinked it lightly with Han Zhengping’s, smiling as she said, “Sure. I’ve been tired from work these past couple of days. A few drinks will help me sleep early tonight.”

After the toast, Jian Yizhi took a sip. The wine’s fragrance lingered in her throat. Even though she was wary of her parents setting her up, she couldn’t help but praise it. “Not bad. Dad, where did this wine come from?”

The slightly worried Jian Yushan immediately seized the opportunity. She slowly placed some food into Jian Yizhi’s bowl and said casually, “Yizhi, you don’t know this. This wine was brewed personally by your Aunt Fu—it’s not available anywhere else. She delivered it to us today and told me and your dad to keep an eye on you so you don’t drink too much.”

“Cough, cough…” Having just taken a sip, Jian Yizhi nearly choked. As expected, something was going on—and it wasn’t a small matter.

The Aunt Fu in question was Fu Anran’s mother. Their families were close, and Jian Yizhi had often seen Fu Anran’s parents since childhood, so she knew them well.

Uncle Fang and Aunt Fu did like encouraging Fu Anran and her to spend time together, even playing matchmaker a few times, but they were not the kind of people to force matters through connections. Most of the enthusiasm usually came from her own mother.

Jian Yizhi set her glass down, picked up a piece of pork tenderloin, and asked coolly, “Just say it directly.”

Jian Yushan had spent all afternoon preparing and waiting for this moment. She added another piece of tenderloin into Jian Yizhi’s bowl, her tone now carrying the authority of an elder instructing the younger generation, “Yizhi, Anran is planning to start working soon. Isn’t your law firm hiring? Let her go and learn from you.”

Jian Yizhi had suspected that tonight’s lavish dinner carried unspoken expectations. Every so often she had to reject some arrangement her parents made for her, and most of them involved Fu Anran.

But this time, since it involved work, the matter became more complicated.

She put down her chopsticks and looked at her parents seriously. “The firm is indeed hiring, but with Fu Anran’s qualifications, I don’t think her chances of outperforming the other applicants are high. Besides, Dad, Mom—did you even ask if Fu Anran agreed to this kind of arrangement?”

Jian Yizhi was confident that Fu Anran would never ask her parents to bring this up on her behalf.

But she had clearly underestimated her mother. Jian Yushan patted her hand and raised her chin, signaling her to keep eating while they talked. Jian Yizhi glanced at her bowl, then picked it up again and continued eating.

She had just taken a small bite of tenderloin when Jian Yushan said something that nearly made her bite her tongue.

“Of course Anran wouldn’t agree if we arranged it for her. But if you take the initiative to invite her to work with you, then she definitely will. Right, Dad?” She nudged her husband with her elbow, and he nodded repeatedly.

Jian Yizhi turned her head, nearly choking on the meat in her mouth. So her parents actually wanted her to be the one to bring it up? What a joke!

“No, wait… Dad, Mom.” After swallowing the bite, she set down her bowl and chopsticks again, exasperated. “You’ve been trying to set us up for so long. Aren’t you tired? I’m tired just watching you. Have you ever considered that both Fu Anran and I are fed up with it? The more you push, the less we want to see each other.”

She was bluffing a little. She didn’t really know what Fu Anran thought. But from the looks of it, she didn’t enjoy the parents’ meddling either. Almost every time they were forced to meet, she could see the same helplessness reflected in Fu Anran’s eyes.

Jian Yushan and Han Zhengping exchanged a glance, and the playful mood from earlier vanished. They seemed to be seriously considering whether they should persist in this course.

But sometimes people are like that. They know they shouldn’t, yet after so many years, their persistence had become a kind of obsession.

Jian Yushan sighed, her mood sinking, which made Jian Yizhi feel guilty, though she didn’t know how to comfort her.

The three of them ate quietly for a while. After who knew how long, Jian Yushan spoke. “Yizhi, Anran really is a good girl—excellent in many ways. If you truly can’t accept it, then I won’t mention it again. But we’ve watched her grow up. If she goes out to work on her own, neither we nor her parents will be at ease. It would be better for her to be with you. Just looking at it from a work perspective, nothing else—would that be alright?”

Whether it was a roundabout approach or genuine compromise, Jian Yushan’s earnest expression made Jian Yizhi feel even guiltier.

Her parents’ request wasn’t really a big deal—just taking on a new trainee. But because it was tied to something she had always resisted, it felt heavier.

Fine, fine. She would do it. Since they had already said as much, what if they keep arranging things behind her back later?

“Alright. I’ll find a time to talk to her. But let’s be clear. I’m only agreeing to the work matter, nothing else.”

Jian Yizhi emphasized her stance very seriously. Seeing her parents nod, she finally let out a sigh of relief, as though a weight had been lifted from her heart.