Chapter 70 The Colors of Love
Chapter 70 The Colors of Love
Li Xin arrived in a flashy red sports car to pick up Yan Ruoshan, a gift from Li Yuandong to welcome her back home.
Seeing the ostentatiously bright red car, Yan Ruoshan couldn't help but frown. She preferred low-key, while Li Xin was all about flamboyance and standing out. The car parked at the hospital entrance was extremely eye-catching. If the Qian family saw it, she would likely be drowned in their criticism again, especially after the previous incident with Li Xin had caused quite a stir.
"What's wrong?" Li Xin couldn't stand seeing Yan Ruoshan frown.
"Nothing," Yan Ruoshan replied. Although she didn't particularly like some of Li Xin's habits, she rarely voiced her displeasure. It was precisely because of this that those small dislikes had accumulated over time, forming her less-than-favorable impression of Li Xin.
"Do you like red?" Yan Ruoshan suddenly asked. In her memory, Li Xin was always dressed in bright red, almost as if no one could ignore her striking beauty as much as Yan Ruoshan did.
"You don't like the color of the car?" Li Xin asked, realizing that her sports car, currently the most eye-catching, might be the issue.
"It's fine, just a bit too flashy," Yan Ruoshan said tactfully, but Li Xin understood that she didn't like the color.
"Then I'll have it repainted tomorrow," Li Xin said. If Yan Ruoshan didn't like the color, she would change it.
"No need to trouble yourself. If you like it, that's what matters," Yan Ruoshan replied. After all, it was Li Xin's car, and she could choose whatever color she preferred.
"Everyone has a color that suits them. Zuo Qinghuan suits pure white, Qin Wanshu suits noble yellow, and you suit aloof blue, not black," Li Xin said, showing her keen sense of aesthetics.
"Oh," Yan Ruoshan responded indifferently. Her wardrobe consisted of only two colors: black and white, mostly professional attire, with very few casual outfits. She wasn't particular about fashion, as long as it was appropriate.
Zuo Qinghuan Yan Ruoshan had some impression of her. Li Xin had mentioned her a few times, and they had met once or twice. Zuo Qinghuan's appearance was more pleasing than Li Xin's, with clear and bright features. Yan Ruoshan was somewhat surprised that Li Xin knew Qin Wanshu.
"Actually, I've bought you many clothes. I think they would look great on you..." Li Xin still wanted to change Yan Ruoshan is style. She believed clothes could change one's mood. Yan Ruoshan is outfits were too dull, making her seem rigid and lifeless.
"How do you know Qin Wanshu?" Yan Ruoshan, uninterested in Li Xin's fashion theories, shifted the topic to something she was curious about.
"Do you have feelings for Qin Wanshu?" Li Xin asked, as if facing a formidable enemy. It was rare for Yan Ruoshan to show interest in someone else, and this was not a good sign.
Yan Ruoshan nodded. Her feelings were purely admiration for Qin Wanshu's way of handling things. She was one of the few women Yan Ruoshan respected, completely different from Shi Yunyang one exuded nobility from the soul, while the other was a spoiled rich kid. However, Yan Ruoshan is simple admiration sounded different to Li Xin, who now felt a sense of crisis, thinking Yan Ruoshan might be attracted to Qin Wanshu's type. After all, Qin Wanshu was an incredibly formidable woman.
"Don't even think about Qin Wanshu. She and Zuo Qinghuan are a couple," Li Xin felt the need to immediately curb Yan Ruoshan is admiration.
Hearing this, Yan Ruoshan realized Li Xin had misunderstood her. She thought relationships between women were coincidental, but Li Xin's tone made it seem inevitable. This was the difference between someone naturally inclined to same-sex relationships and someone who was originally straight. Still, Yan Ruoshan was shocked to hear that Qin Wanshu and Zuo Qinghuan were a couple. She knew Qin Wanshu was married and didn't seem like the type to cheat on her husband. This slightly tarnished Yan Ruoshan is impression of Qin Wanshu, but thinking of her own complicated relationship with Li Xin, she felt some understanding. Perhaps Qin Wanshu had her own struggles.
"Actually, Zuo Qinghuan was originally Han Shibin's mistress. Qin Wanshu found out and, disappointed in Han Shibin, somehow ended up with Zuo Qinghuan," Li Xin explained, not wanting to smear her potential rival.
"How complicated," Yan Ruoshan said, then stopped discussing them. She wasn't one to gossip, but who would have thought the golden couple of high society wasn't as loving as they appeared?
"Qin Wanshu seems to be divorcing Han Shibin," Li Xin shared the latest gossip, clearly shocking Yan Ruoshan.
Yan Ruoshan was beyond surprised. She knew many couples in high society led separate lives, but few actually divorced due to the intertwined interests of their families. Qin Wanshu, the epitome of a high-society lady, divorcing would shock many. Yan Ruoshan never expected Qin Wanshu to sacrifice so much for a hidden relationship, making it hard for her to judge.
"Is love that important?" Yan Ruoshan asked. Important enough to make such sacrifices? She never thought Qin Wanshu would be the type to lose her head over love. It was all quite unbelievable to her.
"Some see it as a seasoning nice to have, but not essential. But I think it's like a drug, hard to quit. Didn't you divorce and become my mistress for Qian Shaowen?" Li Xin retorted, her tone sour. She had done no less for Qian Shaowen than Qin Wanshu had for Zuo Qinghuan.
"That's different," Yan Ruoshan immediately retorted. She didn't quite like this kind of equivalence.
"How is it different?" Li Xin asked, her jealousy slightly abating.
Yan Ruoshan pursed her lips and didn't answer.
"When will you divorce Qian Shaowen?" This was what Li Xin cared about most.
"After Shaowen is discharged from the hospital, I'll talk to him. Don't worry, I'll keep all my promises, including holding a press conference. I just need some time to arrange things," Yan Ruoshan answered without evasion. All her past efforts might come to nothing, and it would be a lie to say she didn't feel some regret.
"Okay, I'll give you time. I'll wait," Li Xin said. She had waited five years; a little more time was nothing.
"Thank you," Yan Ruoshan said politely.
Li Xin frowned. She hated the word "thank you" it felt distant and cold. She had gotten ahead of herself. Whether or not she was taking advantage of the situation, it wasn't the first time. Her impression couldn't get any worse.
The meal wasn't enjoyable for Li Xin, and Yan Ruoshan remained silent throughout.
Zuo Yan's funeral was very quiet, with no relatives attending, only a few of her former colleagues. Aside from Wang Qi, only Auntie Xiao and a young woman accompanying her came.
"My condolences," Xiao Qinan said solemnly to Zuo Qinghuan.
"Thank you, Auntie Xiao," Zuo Qinghuan replied, her emotions somewhat calmer. She found the young woman next to Auntie Xiao familiar but wasn't sure if it was the same person. The timid Jin Hua from the past was now a confident woman.
"Qinghuan, I'm Jin Hua, but Auntie Xiao changed my name. Now I'm Xiao Yuandao," the woman said. Though the name was somewhat neutral, she liked it.
"I almost didn't recognize you," Zuo Qinghuan said politely, honestly.
"Auntie Zuo was a good person. It's a pity she's gone," Xiao Yuandao said. She wasn't close to Zuo Yan but felt it appropriate to say something fitting for the occasion.
Qin Wanshu was surprised to see Xiao Qinan, who had a good relationship with Qin Teng and was a formidable figure. They had met once before. Xiao Yuandao was also familiar to Qin Wanshu a rising socialite in high society, almost as controversial as Shi Yunyang. Xiao Yuandao moved among the sons of wealthy families, a rare high-class courtesan. If compared to ancient times, she would be a top-tier courtesan, her virginity still intact, waiting for the highest bidder.
Xiao Yuandao's beauty was subtle and enduring, fitting Eastern aesthetics. Many described her as the embodiment of "a beauty like jade."
Zuo Qinghuan was amazed by Xiao Yuandao's transformation. This was the kind of woman Auntie Xiao could mold. What would she have become if she had stayed under Auntie Xiao's guidance? Zuo Qinghuan was curious but certain of one thing: she would have become a dazzling commodity. Auntie Xiao, having experienced much in life, had a heart hardened like steel. Zuo Qinghuan felt she had made the right choice.
Xiao Yuandao might not have known her worth initially, but she did now. Even if she pretended otherwise, Auntie Xiao was always there to remind her.
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