Love Finds Its Time - Chapter 35

With that, the segment in the small village came to an end. The next morning, assistants went to each actor’s room to help pack their luggage, and the group bid farewell to the villagers before heading to the nearby town.

Shi Qingqiu never asked Wen Qinghan why she had given an answer so unlike her personality the previous night. But she knew very well—Wen Qinghan’s words had stamped themselves onto her heart like a seal. Not heavy, not light, yet impossible to erase. Along with the expression on Wen Qinghan’s face at that moment, it remained vivid in her memory.

On the bus, everyone’s phones were returned, giving them a short time to use them freely.

Everyone buried themselves in their screens, occasionally exchanging a few words. Wen Qinghan was checking unread messages, while Shi Qingqiu, seeing nothing urgent, sent a message home to assure her parents she was safe, then greeted Pan Jiawen, before scrolling through Weibo. Among the trending posts, aside from news of new film releases by a few actors, most were about the cast of Inside and Outside the Drama. Of those, the hottest topic was a post about Shi Qingqiu.

【Inside and Outside the Drama has begun filming. Newlywed Shi Qingqiu appears on the show with her spouse. The two are in perfect sync, their affection through the roof. Rumor has it Shi Qingqiu’s stunningly beautiful spouse is not only graceful in public but also skilled in the kitchen, cooking delicious meals. I’ll just ask one thing—are you eating this dog food?】

The accompanying photos showed Shi Qingqiu and Wen Qinghan holding hands and smiling at each other, as well as shots of the fish soup and braised fish Wen Qinghan had cooked. The angles were well chosen, and the dishes looked excellent.

Shi Qingqiu couldn’t help but laugh as she tapped open the comments. She had expected to see an outpouring of vicious remarks—after all, it wasn’t uncommon for fans to lash out when their idol left single life behind. But the result surprised her. There wasn’t a single insult. Relieved, she continued reading the comments.

Wen Qinghan slipped her phone back into her pocket, only to turn and see the irrepressible smile tugging at Shi Qingqiu’s lips.

“Qingqiu, what is it?”

“Ah?” Shi Qingqiu snapped out of it, glanced at Wen Qinghan, then laughed. “Nothing, just looking at the Weibo comments.” She handed over her phone for Wen Qinghan to see, her eyes fixed on her, curious how she’d react to so much praise.

Wen Qinghan started reading from the top, her gaze calm at first, then gradually less focused.

【LingfengChenxiHJ: Honestly, I think Lawyer Wen and Qingqiu are a perfect match—from head to toe. As long as Qingqiu is happy, that’s what matters. We should stay close to her works, not her private life.】

【FafaIAmYourSumei: Going crazy for you! Wild for you! Headbutting a wall for you! [righteous.jpg]】

【BirdLovingCat: Whatever the goddess loves, we love too! The goddess’s wife is our wife! (…wait, what am I even saying?)】

【TammyHou: Never once hated the goddess for getting married—like this if you’re a true fan! [hesitant gaze.jpg]】

【IncredibleFeather: Am I the only one guessing who’s top and who’s bottom? Am I the only one who thinks the goddess looks like the one being doted on?】

【SweetNSourPeachCookie: Lawyer Wen’s fans, like this! Let me see how many are standing for Wen as top!】

The comment section was harmonious, with nothing unpleasant to be seen. Wen Qinghan handed the phone back to Shi Qingqiu, and seeing her gaze still fixed unwaveringly on her, asked, “Is there something on my face?”

“No, it’s perfectly clean.” Shi Qingqiu looked at her with a half-smile, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her smile softened into a quiet sigh. “The second round is about to start. There are only three rounds in total. Once we’re back, I’ll have to go into filming.”

Wen Qinghan leaned back in her seat, stretching her neck slightly, letting out a long, soft breath. A low “Mm” slipped from her throat before she said, “I’ll explain everything to your parents. Just take care of your health.”

Shi Qingqiu gave her a sidelong look, half amused. “It’s not like I’m leaving tomorrow. Why are you reminding me so soon?” After she said it, Wen Qinghan’s earlier words resurfaced in her chest, stirring and sinking at once.

Filming would take months. Until now, she had only told the uncle and aunt that she was doing a reality show; she hadn’t mentioned how long the filming of a drama would keep her away. Their marriage was still something the two families were celebrating. Her parents would be fine—they already knew she had taken on a new role—but the uncle and aunt might not take it so well.

Wen Qinghan noticed her silence. She reached over, took Shi Qingqiu’s hand, and placed it on her lap. In her familiar, cool voice, she said calmly, “That’s enough. Don’t overthink it. I’ll handle it.”

“Mm.”

Shi Qingqiu shifted the hand that was being held. Wen Qinghan’s grip was neither too loose nor too tight—firm enough that it couldn’t easily be shaken off, yet never forceful. But Shi Qingqiu didn’t mind. To her, this kind of gesture had already become natural.

***

Most of the time in the car, everyone was dozing. The past few days’ activities had taken their toll in both time and energy.

When they entered the small town, Wen Qinghan once again observed the buildings outside the window, firmly memorizing the more distinctive structures and their features. But this time, it wasn’t only Wen Qinghan—Shi Qingqiu was also secretly observing.

Yet this preparation didn’t seem of much use. The car stopped in front of a white building inside a school campus. After parking behind the playground, everyone got out.

The host picked up his loudspeaker, cleared his throat, and said, “Our second segment is about to begin. Everyone, perk up! Don’t fall asleep, you’ll have plenty of time to sleep later!”

The groups gathered together, waiting in silence. A few people glanced at the white building until the host’s booming voice pulled their attention back. “We all live in big cities, sometimes spending entire days flying through the skies without ever setting foot on the ground. It’s been a long time since we truly sat down to think about life. So this time, you’ll have three whole days to reflect.”

As soon as he finished, silence fell. Qin Wang suddenly murmured, “My gut tells me it won’t be that simple.”

“Exactly!” The host pointed at Qin Wang, speaking loudly with excitement. “For these three days, you’ll be locked inside that building, each of you in your own room. And every group will have a guard to watch over you. But—you must use your wits to get out, and not just any way. The guard must willingly open the door and let you out!”

Lu Sizhou asked, “Any method works?”

“Yes, any method at all. As long as the guard is willing to let you out, the task is considered complete. And if even one member of a group makes it out, both members pass.”

Shi Qingqiu blinked. “So you want us to break out gently? And until we get out, we’re supposed to live like prisoners?”

“Smart.” The host gave a thumbs up. “But the time limit is three days. If any group fails to escape, the mission you obtained yesterday will be taken back and replaced with a new one. Which means the new task will be even harder. So watch the clock, and show us your skills starting now!”

“Since any method works, then this should be easy.” Qin Wang clapped Ji Lan on the shoulder with confidence. “Just wait for me to save you.”

“A-Wang, don’t talk too big. If you can’t get out, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Remember, the guard has to willingly let you go.” The host’s tone was earnest, worried that Qin Wang had misunderstood.

Indeed, while any method was allowed, the result had to be that the guard opened the door willingly.

Once again, everyone’s phones and luggage were taken away, and they were made to change clothes—white tops, white pants, and slippers. The look was strikingly similar to that of prisoners. Luckily, when assigning rooms, each group’s members were placed next to each other, though between groups there were either two rooms of distance or a staircase landing.

While going upstairs, Wen Qinghan secretly squeezed Shi Qingqiu’s hand, then slightly moved her lips to mouth the words “Let me handle it.” Shi Qingqiu understood, but replying wasn’t so easy.

She had just opened her mouth when the host led her into her room, shut the wooden door, and locked the barred iron gate outside. She quietly pushed the wooden door open a crack, and heard the same locking sound from the next room—Wen Qinghan’s room.

After everyone was settled, the host began asking for thoughts, starting with Team One—Shi Qingqiu’s group—but he went into Wen Qinghan’s room instead.

“Lawyer Wen, how do you feel?”

“Not bad.” Wen Qinghan withdrew her gaze from surveying the surroundings and said calmly, “This should be a student dormitory building. There’s a bookshelf over there, and even a couple of books.”

“That’s right. This building was just renovated, the walls repainted, the floors retiled. Before the students move in, we borrowed it to let you experience the feeling of breaking out.”

Wen Qinghan smiled faintly, hands clasped behind her back without speaking. Her natural aura of detachment, paired with the all-white outfit, made her seem even less of this world. Though her profession was one of confronting entangled disputes up close, looking at her now, one could hardly imagine her as a lawyer who often dealt face-to-face with sin.

“This test won’t be easy. Lawyer Wen and Qingqiu just got married—what better time to test your tacit understanding? Good luck!” The host patted Wen Qinghan on the arm, even winking at her as if sending a secret signal.

Leaving Wen Qinghan’s room, the host went on to visit the other “cells.” Once the cameraman finished recording the environment, he too left, locking the door again.

Wen Qinghan furrowed her brows slightly as she sat on the wooden bed. She wondered if Shi Qingqiu had caught the message she mouthed earlier.

This segment had come without warning, leaving no time to plan a strategy. If both she and Shi Qingqiu tried to deal with the guards separately, they would likely fail. That was why the host had called it a test of tacit understanding.

She stood and walked to the door, casually opening the wooden door. The iron-barred gate outside was locked.

A boy, about ten years old, turned when he heard the door open. In a childish voice, he said, “Why are you opening the door? Close it right now.”

Wen Qinghan studied him for a moment, then asked, “Little one, who are you?”

The boy replied, “I’m the guard for these two rooms. I won’t let you or the person next door come out.”

So the “guard” was this child. Whether other groups had children too, she didn’t know. With a cameraman filming nearby, Wen Qinghan pressed her lips together, then opened the wooden door a little wider and smiled faintly. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Of course not! Do you know what time it is? I’ll eat when dinner comes. Hurry up and close the door…” The boy rushed forward, reaching in to push Wen Qinghan, one hand grabbing for the handle of the wooden door.

A flash of realization crossed Wen Qinghan’s eyes. She stepped back just in time, pale lips curving slowly upward. “All right, I’ll close it myself. Don’t worry, I won’t go out.”

The boy released the handle, and Wen Qinghan shut the door again. But as the sound of the door closing echoed, her mind was already racing.