Love Finds Its Time - Chapter 48

Today, many netizens on Weibo shared photos of Shi Qingqiu and Wen Qinghan that they had taken by chance. In the pictures, the two were sometimes holding hands, sometimes with Shi Qingqiu holding onto Wen Qinghan’s arm.

What drew the most attention was when Wen Qinghan held up clothes or pants in front of Shi Qingqiu to compare them, and Shi Qingqiu’s expression was gentle and compliant, while even Wen Qinghan’s usually calm face carried a rare trace of softness.

Even when they were eating at a snack shop, netizens captured the moment when Wen Qinghan took advantage of Shi Qingqiu stepping away to get condiments to neatly arrange her chopsticks and place a straw into her drink.

Among the photos, the one most frequently reposted was of the two of them biting straws and looking at each other with smiles. Even the actors who had recorded Inside and Outside the Drama together with Shi Qingqiu reposted it, not forgetting to promote the two of them at the same time.

They had dinner outside. Afterward, the sun had already set behind the mountains, the sky deepening from shades of orange into nightfall.

Shi Qingqiu sat in the passenger seat scrolling through Weibo, looking at the photos taken of them today. Many had been taken while she and Wen Qinghan were simply talking, their expressions natural and relaxed. In particular, there were quite a few candid shots of Wen Qinghan smiling, which were especially pleasing to the eye.

Putting her phone away with a smile lingering at her lips, she said leisurely, “Qinghan, do you think we were too high-profile today? From morning until just now, basically everywhere we went, someone took photos.”

Driving, Wen Qinghan kept her gaze fixed ahead, her beautiful thin lips curved slightly. “Maybe it’s because we have nothing to worry about now, so it doesn’t seem very low-key.”

Shi Qingqiu turned to look at Wen Qinghan. The joy of today still lingered around them, replacing yesterday’s sorrow and the panic in her heart. She simply gazed at Wen Qinghan, the sweetness overflowing within her seeming to mend yesterday’s wound.

Instead of heading straight back to Phoenix City, Wen Qinghan drove to the area near the middle school they had attended and parked. Showing her ID to the guard, she explained she had come to visit an old teacher. The guard let them in.

It was evening self-study time at the school, the playground brightly lit but completely empty. Holding Shi Qingqiu’s hand, Wen Qinghan strolled with her along the old paths from the school gate. A few cicadas chirped now and then, only making the classroom hours feel more tranquil.

Shi Qingqiu couldn’t help but steal glances at Wen Qinghan, until after several tries, Wen Qinghan caught her in the act.

“If you want to ask something, just ask,” Wen Qinghan said softly.

“I just wanted to ask… why did you bring me here?” Shi Qingqiu lowered her head, watching the flat path as she walked slowly, leaving the task of leading entirely to the hand entwined with hers.

The sky was now completely dark, but within this campus she hadn’t set foot in for over a decade, Shi Qingqiu felt an unusual attachment to the rare peace. It was as if she had returned to her junior high days more than ten years ago, when every day was carefree and joyful. Even Wen Qinghan hadn’t been as cold as she was now, occasionally smiling of her own accord.

Looking toward the distant teaching building, Wen Qinghan raised her hand and pointed. “Qingqiu, behind that building there’s a swimming pool, and further back is the sports field. Do you still remember?”

Shi Qingqiu lifted her head. Every classroom in the teaching building was lit up. Following the direction of Wen Qinghan’s finger, she looked toward the swimming pool beyond. “Of course I remember.” She smiled lightly. “I even remember during one sports meet, the teacher wanted you to run six hundred meters, but in the end thought you were too scholarly and probably wouldn’t manage, so they swapped in someone else.”

Back then, Wen Qinghan was quiet and polite, flawless in conduct, admired by countless classmates, and even deeply cherished by the teachers.

Withdrawing her hand, Wen Qinghan looked at Shi Qingqiu, her face appearing unusually soft in the night. “As it turns out, the teacher’s decision was right. I couldn’t even finish in practice. If I’d really joined the meet, what would have happened?”

From then on, she couldn’t run anymore, but each time Shi Qingqiu finished her race, Wen Qinghan would be there waiting, rejoicing together with the other students when she crossed the finish line. Having known Shi Qingqiu since childhood, she naturally preferred to spend much of her time with her.

These bits and pieces accumulated over the years, gathering weight, until during freshman year of college they became heavy enough to make Wen Qinghan realize how important Shi Qingqiu truly was to her.

Wen Qinghan led Shi Qingqiu to a bench by the track near the teaching building, their backs to the school gate, facing the swimming pool. The summer breeze brushed through their hair, as if carrying them back to a night more than ten years ago, when after evening study they had sat on the playground, watching the girls play around and the boys chase each other.

“I remember classmates saying the food on the second floor of the cafeteria was delicious, but usually it was only open to teachers. Qinghan, did you ever eat there?” Shi Qingqiu asked curiously.

Wen Qinghan shook her head. “No, I usually ate on the first floor.” Then she curved her lips slightly. Back then, she had also liked being closer to Shi Qingqiu.

“Hey, Qinghan, do you remember? There was this one time during evening math self-study, the math teacher brought his computer, hooked it up to the projector, and played a TV drama for us.” Shi Qingqiu nudged Wen Qinghan with her elbow as she thought aloud. “I can’t remember the name, but even now I think it was so embarrassing—it was one of those ridiculously melodramatic romance dramas. The whole class was laughing, but he just sat there, happily writing lesson plans…”

Smiling faintly, Wen Qinghan replied, “So what? Just because the math teacher was old, he wasn’t allowed to watch romance dramas?”

Shi Qingqiu bit her lip and laughed, lightly patting Wen Qinghan’s arm. “No way! That’s not what I meant—I meant the drama itself, okay?”

Under the lights, Shi Qingqiu’s face looked even more striking, her eyes seeming to sparkle with starlight. For a moment, Wen Qinghan found herself staring, dazed. Only when Shi Qingqiu’s smile gradually faded did she come back to herself, blinking unnaturally, pressing her lips together slightly.

Memories stirred in Wen Qinghan’s expression. She shifted her still-intertwined hand lightly and said, “I remember the math teacher praising you during the sports meet—saying appearances are deceiving, that you looked delicate but actually managed to finish eight hundred meters.”

“Hm? He praised me?” Shi Qingqiu asked in surprise. “When was that? Why don’t I know?”

“You had just finished running and were resting, so you didn’t hear.”

“No wonder. You really do remember things so clearly—no wonder you’re the top student.” Shi Qingqiu laughed, praising her.

Wen Qinghan didn’t continue the topic. Instead, a faint smile appeared on her lips, the warmth reaching her eyes, blending gentleness with her usual composure. “Qingqiu, do you remember when we trained for the eight hundred meters in PE? You were always far behind the others. But every time, I waited for you at the finish line. No matter how many laps you ran, how many times you lost, I was always there, waiting for you to run to me. At that time, I didn’t understand anything. But thinking back now, I wish I could have helped you understand something through those moments. No matter how many times you lost, I was always waiting for you at the finish line, waiting for you to set off again. Until the last time, when you won and would never run again—then I would be your finish line. If I say it like this, can you understand?”

Shi Qingqiu remained silent, her wide eyes fixed blankly on Wen Qinghan. As the fog in her heart began to clear, the towering building inside her that was already on the verge of collapse sprouted even more cracks.

Wen Qinghan let out a soft laugh, taking in Shi Qingqiu’s dazed expression. Then, in a gentle voice, she said, “Let’s treat every day as if it were the last. You have to think this is the last day, so you must tell me everything on your mind, or else there will be no chance. You also have to think this is the last day, so you should treat me a little better. That way, as we work hard to live each day well, how could we ever be separated?”

Shi Qingqiu couldn’t hold back a laugh, her eyes reddening, her voice trembling slightly. “Isn’t that just like the end of the world?”

Wen Qinghan gazed at her, her tone tender. “It’s just a metaphor. As long as we can treat each other like that, it’s enough. And then, from time to time, you can remind yourself—I am your finish line.”

She had not uttered a single direct word of confession, yet every sentence was so moving, so reassuring, as if she had already paved the road ahead for Shi Qingqiu, waiting at the end with her hand outstretched.

Slowly, Wen Qinghan’s fingers slipped into the spaces between Shi Qingqiu’s. She curled her fingers slightly, brushing against hers, and finally stretched them out, intertwining tightly, ten fingers locked together.

“Qinghan, I…” Shi Qingqiu bit her lip and lowered her head, staring at their tightly clasped hands. Suddenly, she didn’t know what to say. Inside, however, the cracks in that towering building widened further.

She knew she could not bear separation—but even more unbearable now was Wen Qinghan herself.

“Alright, let’s sit for a little while longer, then head home. Otherwise, once the students finish class, it’ll be too crowded to get out.” Wen Qinghan chose her words carefully, saying no more.

***

On their way out of the school, both remained silent. Even when they drove back to Phoenix City, not a word was exchanged.

Just like the night before, Wen Qinghan parked the car in the Wen family garage before sending Shi Qingqiu home.

Tonight’s darkness was no different from last night’s. Stars glittered in the sky, and the summer breeze, cooled by the night, lacked the daytime heat.

Once again, they stopped under the streetlamp near the gate of the Shi residence. Shi Qingqiu didn’t want to go inside, and Wen Qinghan stayed quiet too—until, unable to bear the silence any longer, she reached out and held Shi Qingqiu’s hand.

She said, “Qingqiu, I have to go back to work tomorrow.”

“Mhm. Then go to bed early tonight.” Shi Qingqiu nodded, her fingers twitching slightly as she returned the grip on Wen Qinghan’s hand.

Wen Qinghan gave a quiet smile, then asked, “What I said just now at the school… do you remember it all?”

Shi Qingqiu was startled at first, then slowly nodded. She and Wen Qinghan continued to gaze at one another. At that moment, Wen Qinghan’s eyes were warm, without a trace of ice or coldness—gentle and focused.

Even her heartbeat trembled. She kept telling herself that they were together because of an agreement. Even if they had to do the things true lovers would do, at their core, they were still friends. Even if, someday, they embraced and kissed, it would only be because of the familial bond formed after so many years together.

But now, she felt with piercing clarity that the kisses and embraces she wanted to give Wen Qinghan were not from the mindset of a friend.

And with that self-realization, what came to her was not sweetness but the fear and panic of the past.

She didn’t dare gamble everything again—that their love could last a lifetime, that they would never tire of each other, that they would never face a day of parting.

Having once lost everything, how could she dare hope to win it all?

Her eyes, swollen from last night’s crying, throbbed faintly again. Lowering her gaze, Shi Qingqiu stopped looking at her, shook her head lightly, and murmured, “Qinghan, no… I can’t…”

Shi Qingqiu’s fragility and helplessness pierced Wen Qinghan’s heart easily. Since childhood she had never been close to many people, and after growing up, she distanced herself even more from those unlike her. Her mindset had long been different from ordinary people’s.

Yet all that uniqueness had never mattered before Shi Qingqiu. Her heart was unbearably soft. Finally, she loosened her hand, but then slowly, firmly wrapped Shi Qingqiu in her arms.

Her voice grew lower, thick with tender affection, murmuring by Shi Qingqiu’s ear. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t turn away from me. Your finish line is me. Your gamble is also me. Do you remember what I said? Even if victory isn’t certain, I will still give it my all—because I have a fifty percent chance. And I will never regret not trying. Qingqiu, I don’t know what our future will be. But I don’t want us to grow old and look back with regret, asking ourselves why we never tried. By then it would already be too late…”

Unable to resist, Shi Qingqiu threw her arms around Wen Qinghan, pressing her face against her neck, tears flowing down her cheeks. Her heart trembled, her lashes quivered without pause. “Qinghan, let me think… let me be quiet for a while…”

What should she do? She asked herself over and over. Should she run away without looking back, never seeing or contacting Wen Qinghan again, severing every budding feeling?

But it was already too late. Truly too late. They were already married.

Wen Qinghan lowered her head, silent for a long time, before speaking softly. “Alright. Then go back and rest well. I’ll come see you again before leaving for the filming crew.”

Shi Qingqiu shut her eyes tightly, forcing back her tears, then released Wen Qinghan, stepping back and turning away. Her steps faltered almost imperceptibly.

Just like the night before, Wen Qinghan watched Shi Qingqiu leave, watched the gate open and close again, her gaze unwavering. In her heart, she repeated to herself again and again. 

Even if I lose, I will have no regrets. But if I win, then you will be the most precious treasure of my life.