Love Finds Its Time - Chapter 42

When they walked back to their own spot, the fathers’ group had started a game of chess, while the two mothers had taken out a laptop to watch a movie they had downloaded the night before. On both stone tables sat plates of barbecue. The elders ate and entertained themselves, but this suddenly made Jian Yizhi and Fu Anran feel a little uneasy.

Catching sight of the two children returning, Fu Shujing quickly waved her hand and called out, “Anran, Yizhi, come quickly, it’s just getting exciting.”

Fu Anran shook her head. “Mom, you and Auntie watch it. I don’t want to.”

Jian Yizhi also smiled. “I’ll pass too. I’ll walk around a bit and come back later.” After she finished, she turned her head toward Fu Anran, a little reluctant, and softly asked, “Anran, want to come along?”

Fu Anran readily agreed. “Sure.”

It was rare to be close with Jian Yizhi like this, not because of their parents, but purely from their own interaction, from slowly getting to know each other. To gradually grow acquainted with someone one admired—it felt truly wonderful.

Behind the barbecue area was a river. Going down the steps led to the embankment where guests and tourists could stroll. Some barbecue guests, once they had eaten enough, would come down for a walk to digest.

Jian Yizhi carried a cup of tea with her as she descended, sipping occasionally as they walked. The whole way, no words were exchanged. She couldn’t help but glance sideways at Fu Anran, just as the other turned to look at her.

Jian Yizhi took the initiative. “Don’t you want some tea? Since we’re having barbecue today, my mom specially prepared it. It clears heat and detoxifies.”

Hands clasped behind her back, Fu Anran nodded. “I’ll have some later, when we go back up.”

Jian Yizhi smiled, lifting her chin slightly as she looked at the stone bench ahead. “Let’s sit here for a bit.”

They stopped and sat down. Fu Anran turned to study the soft lines of Jian Yizhi’s profile, finally voicing the question she had been holding back. “Senior, that person just now, was she your friend?”

That woman’s gestures toward Jian Yizhi had seemed rather ambiguous. From afar, she had only thought the woman appeared very close to her. And though Jian Yizhi wasn’t overly warm, she hadn’t refused her either.

Jian Yizhi, who had been watching the fishing boats on the river, turned back at the question. “No, she’s Qinghan’s client. A while ago, she filed for divorce because her husband cheated. Why, you know her?”

“No. I just saw you chatting with her for a while and thought she might be your friend.”

Even if Fu Anran did know such people, she wouldn’t be close to them. She didn’t like frivolous types. If it was just occasional banter after familiarity, that was different, but judging from Jian Yizhi’s introduction, that woman was probably the overly forward kind.

“If you met every one of my clients, you’d probably think we were all friends.” Jian Yizhi’s lips curved slightly. The smile didn’t carry warmth; it was faintly cool, as if forced rather than genuine.

Because of this expression, Fu Anran rarely frowned. She bit her lip and asked softly, “Then… can we be considered friends? The real kind?”

Real friends—able to talk about anything, to invite each other out, and to confidently answer “She’s my friend” when asked, not with a cold “No.” Fu Anran wanted to become that kind of friend with Jian Yizhi. Perhaps it was something she had wished for long ago, only buried away because of the distance they had kept.

A low laugh sounded. Holding her glass cup of tea in both hands, Jian Yizhi looked at Fu Anran with interest, her smile instantly bringing a sense of closeness. “When you ask me so directly, if I feel embarrassed to refuse, then what should I do?”

“Ah…” Fu Anran froze, her hopeful look dimming.

Amused, Jian Yizhi reached out and gently patted her head. “We’re friends. I’m not embarrassed to refuse. Is that better?”

Her touch was light and soft, fingertips gently brushing through her hair with a strange attraction. Fu Anran’s cheeks quietly flushed, and she blinked a little unnaturally.

“Anran, you don’t strike me as bold. You even seem shy. But strangely, sometimes you express your thoughts directly.” Jian Yizhi withdrew her hand, gazing at her thoughtfully. “Clients come in all kinds. With your personality, you’re not really suited to take cases yourself.”

“I’m not like this with strangers. And I believe ability determines whether I’m suited.” Fu Anran met Jian Yizhi’s eyes earnestly. When the latter showed a trace of surprise, she mischievously added, “I can’t possibly approach everyone with the mindset of becoming friends. Without that mentality, I don’t think I’ll let you down.”

Jian Yizhi nodded with satisfaction. “Seems I judged by appearances.” Fu Anran said nothing in response, but Jian Yizhi didn’t look away. Her gaze stayed, lips curving with a faint smile. “Actually, when I was in a bad mood before, I used to think, maybe I should just go along with my parents. Refusing is exhausting, especially when you have to keep finding ways to refuse. And between us, there was no real grudge. Trying it out wouldn’t have been impossible.”

Her words made Fu Anran’s heart pound, but she knew there was a reason Jian Yizhi hadn’t gone that route. So she stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

Jian Yizhi paused, her eyes growing a little unfocused. “But then I didn’t dare think like that anymore. I was afraid such a decision would hurt too many people. Me, you, and the ones we might come to like in the future. That’s why I never intended to try.”

It was the first time Fu Anran had heard Jian Yizhi speak of such thoughts. Parents considering things for them was natural, but as Jian Yizhi had once said, no one knows better than oneself what path to take.

With curiosity and hesitation, Fu Anran asked, “Then… do you have someone you like?”

Someone she liked? That vague feeling, she had once experienced it. But now, she could no longer recall exactly what that flutter was like. How strong yet tender must a longing be, to give one the courage to persist, to protect, to wait silently?

Perhaps back then, she hadn’t truly liked Qi Yue that much. It was just that fleeting moment of heartache that clouded her mind.

Jian Yizhi curved her lips. “Not now.” She no longer looked at Fu Anran, her gaze returning to the fishing boats on the river. With a sigh, she patted her knee and smiled. “Let’s head back. I’m getting hungry. This time I’ll do the grilling and let you try.”

That feeling—she didn’t know if she would ever experience it again. She had never longed for it, nor expected it.

***

The sky was gradually darkening when the crew of Inside and Outside the Drama finally arrived at their third and final stop in the evening.

They had started from a village, then walked out to the town, and now arrived at this small county. After this stop, a new group of actors would take over.

In the last round, Shi Qingqiu’s team once again took first place, followed by Yu Shushen’s team, then Lu Sizhou’s, while Qin Wang’s and Xu Zhi’s teams came in last, finishing almost at the same time.

If things went as expected and Shi Qingqiu’s team won again in this last stop, then the championship of this episode would be firmly in their hands. But this time victory was clearly not going to come so easily. After arriving at the hotel, everyone first tidied their luggage in their rooms and took a short rest.

That night, the actors and their partners gathered in one room to discuss.

Back in the village a few days ago, they had found envelopes according to the given hints, and inside each was a stiff card with the task written on it.

The cameraman carried his equipment, moving around the circle of actors and partners, giving a close-up shot of the card in their hands.

This time, Yu Shushen spoke first. Smiling at the card in Du Lingmeng’s hand, she said, “Lecturing. This isn’t too difficult for me. Besides acting, I can at least talk a little about calligraphy.”

Du Lingmeng shook her head. “Mom, the problem is, where are we supposed to find students to attend the lecture?”

On the other side, Lu Sizhou and her younger sister stared at their card in deep thought. She muttered, “Urban management… could it be they want us to experience the work of city inspectors? Chasing away vendors with unlicensed stalls?” With a long sigh, she tossed the card to the center. “What a joke. Vendors are like wildfire, you can’t stamp them out. The moment the inspectors leave, they come back again.”

Yu Shushen shook her head with a small laugh and turned to the first group, who had remained silent. “Qingqiu, Qinghan, what about you two?”

Wen Qinghan’s brows furrowed slightly as Shi Qingqiu showed everyone their card. Written on it in bold characters were two words: Street Performance.

This didn’t sound nearly as hard. Qin Wang pointed at the card and said, “Come on… that’s easy. Just go to the street, belt out a couple of notes, sing a song, and you’re done.”

Shi Qingqiu tapped the card against Qin Wang’s hand, hitting once for every word she said. “How could it be so easy?”

“Alright, alright, stop, stop…” Qin Wang swatted the card away, his tone laced with envy. “But isn’t it? Street performance—singing is art, isn’t it?”

Wen Qinghan took the card and shook her head lightly. “The audience’s recognition matters. The task has to be completed successfully. If the quality isn’t good enough, it won’t pass. But between Qingqiu and me, the only one connected to art is Qingqiu.”

“So I have to perform a play on the street?” Shi Qingqiu tucked back a lock of hair that had slipped down from behind her ear, the simple gesture carrying a touch of charm.

“If necessary, why not? With Qingqiu on stage, the audience will definitely buy it. I think it could work,” Xu Zhi said thoughtfully.

“I’ll need to discuss the details with Qinghan first.”

Shi Qingqiu didn’t yet have a concrete plan. If it was as the others suggested, she would need to find a crowded place to perform. Acting itself didn’t trouble her—in fact, as a qualified actress, performing without props or stage was a skill she naturally possessed.

Back in their room, Shi Qingqiu sat on the edge of the bed and asked Wen Qinghan, who was rummaging through clothes, “Qinghan, have we decided that I’ll perform a scene? Then let’s plan it out, see where’s best to do it.” She got up and went to the TV cabinet to take the map of the county.

Wen Qinghan took out her night robe and slip for the evening, placed them by the pillow, and then sat beside Shi Qingqiu, who was murmuring to herself over the map.

“The most crowded place in this county should be this square.” Shi Qingqiu pointed at a spot on the map, thought for a moment, and said, “But how do we draw enough people over? Either the voice has to be loud enough, or I perform something long enough to keep them watching.”

Wen Qinghan hadn’t said a word the whole time. As Shi Qingqiu spoke on, she suddenly sensed something strange and turned her head, only to find Wen Qinghan smiling faintly at her, like one would at a child talking to themselves.

“What are you laughing at? Did you even hear me?” Shi Qingqiu scolded playfully, grabbing Wen Qinghan’s hand and shaking it hard against her leg.

“I heard you.” Wen Qinghan nodded seriously, then caught Shi Qingqiu’s wrist and analyzed, “But don’t you think? Your way is laborious, yet the result may not satisfy. Because of the circumstances, we might end up with very few in the audience.”

Everything Wen Qinghan said was obvious, nothing Shi Qingqiu hadn’t thought of herself.

With a sigh, she lay back on the bed, the burst of energy from earlier drained away by Wen Qinghan’s reasoning. “Then what should we do? Between you and me, I’m the only one with even the slightest link to art. Our professional knowledge doesn’t help at all.”

“That’s true.”

Wen Qinghan’s smile deepened slightly. After setting the map aside, she lay down casually beside Shi Qingqiu, only she turned to face her. In her eyes settled a deep, indistinct emotion.

After a moment, she reached out and placed her hand over the back of Shi Qingqiu’s hand. The voice in her heart overlapped with the words she spoke aloud. “Then… would you like to hear me sing?”