Chapter 99 A Love to the Test
Chapter 99 A Love to the Test
Zuo Qinghuan offered no response, waiting for Qin Zheng to continue.
"Good tea needs good water, otherwise the flavor is ruined. Wouldn't you agree?" Qin Zheng asked, his voice still gentle.
Zuo Qinghuan recognized this as a trap. Whether she said "yes" or "no," it would be the wrong answer, but she couldn't very well avoid answering altogether.
"Grandfather, if you have something to say, please be direct," Zuo Qinghuan replied, fully aware of the metaphor in Qin Zheng's words.
"The old saying goes, 'Parents who love their children plan for their future.' She's the eldest daughter of the Qin family. They've paved a path for her, and undeniably, with the Qin family's influence, she'll face fewer obstacles in life, achieve great success, and accomplish remarkable things. But what can you offer her?"
I can give her a lot of love, Zuo Qinghuan thought, but kept the words to herself. Perhaps in their eyes, love was insignificant. At the same time, she knew that being with her might cost Qin Wanshu many opportunities.
"Wanshu has already weighed the pros and cons. She doesn't care about these gains and losses," Zuo Qinghuan replied. She believed that when Qin Wanshu chose her, she had carefully considered everything. Zuo Qinghuan's strongest support was Qin Wanshu's unwavering determination.
"Indeed, being raised in wealth and with a proper upbringing has given Wanshu a level of grace that most people lack. For example, she can wear expensive brands or cheap streetwear with equal ease, completely indifferent to whether her clothes are luxurious or not. She doesn't mind wearing streetwear as long as it's comfortable, but who would want to give her streetwear? Those who love her, how could they bear to see her settle for less?" Qin Zheng countered.
His words struck a nerve with Zuo Qinghuan. It was true that Qin Wanshu might not care whether Zuo Qinghuan was outstanding enough, but those who loved her wouldn't want her to settle for someone who wasn't. Qin Wanshu deserved the best, both in things and in people. But as she was now, Zuo Qinghuan couldn't give her the best. In fact, for her sake, Qin Wanshu had to give up many things that were rightfully hers the Qin family's wealth and the opportunities it provided. Although Qin Wanshu had appeared calm over the past three months, Zuo Qinghuan could still sense a faint hint of disappointment beneath her composure. Qin Wanshu was destined for great things; she was meant to soar.
"Women naturally tend to rely on those stronger than themselves. Since you're both women, she can provide you with plenty of support, but what about you? What strength can you offer her to lean on? She could have aimed higher, but now she has to lower her sights to match yours. Why can't you rise to her level and fly alongside her?" Qin Zheng pressed.
"I will work hard to become stronger," Zuo Qinghuan said. She might not be strong enough now, but she was willing to strive for Qin Wanshu's sake.
"Right now, you're overly reliant on her protection. But under her wing, your growth will always be limited. You might feel justified in becoming her burden, and perhaps she's even willing to accept you as one. But as her family, this isn't something we're happy to see. Do you think I can accept you as you are now?" Qin Zheng's words were all phrased as polite questions. He knew that direct criticism might provoke resistance, but posing questions would make her more likely to agree with his perspective.
Zuo Qinghuan remained silent, realizing she had no rebuttal. As long as she couldn't become a "prize" worthy of Qin Wanshu, Qin Zheng would never accept her. His words hit her where it hurt, deepening the crack in her already fragile self-esteem.
"You don't need to convince me. Maybe I'm not good enough, but as long as Wanshu doesn't reject me, I won't leave her!" Zuo Qinghuan declared firmly. She wouldn't let Qin Zheng intimidate her into backing down. Her words were as much for herself as they were for him, a reminder not to let his words break her.
"So far, you haven't given me any reason to approve of your relationship. Although Wanshu has always been strong-willed, if she insists on being with you, there's nothing I can do to stop her. I won't force you two apart, but I will never accept your relationship. A relationship without the family's acknowledgment and blessing is incomplete. And from my perspective, it seems you're just clinging to her because she's Qin Wanshu, the eldest daughter of the Qin family, not because you truly love her. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so selfish as to bind her with your feelings without even trying to win her family's acceptance." Qin Zheng had set a trap, making Zuo Qinghuan feel as though he wasn't entirely opposed to her, but only if she could meet his expectations.
"Then what do I need to do for you to accept me?" Zuo Qinghuan asked. She understood that Qin Zheng's rejection wasn't because she was a woman, but because she wasn't outstanding enough at least, that was the message he was conveying today.
"I want you to leave her for three years. During that time, make something of yourself. If you can achieve that, come back, and I will sincerely accept you. If you can't, then stop interfering in Wanshu's life. Of course, the standards will be measurable, so you don't need to worry about that." Qin Zheng wanted Zuo Qinghuan to leave willingly, without his granddaughter blaming him, while still achieving his goal of separating them. He believed that relationships between women were too frivolous. After three years apart, their feelings might fade, and the matter would resolve itself. More importantly, reaching the level of excellence he demanded in three years would be extremely difficult for Zuo Qinghuan.
Zuo Qinghuan hesitated. Three years was too long. She couldn't bear to be apart from Qin Wanshu, even temporarily.
"What's wrong? Are you afraid your feelings won't stand the test of time, or are you afraid you can't meet the challenge?" Qin Zheng raised an eyebrow.
"If I truly become successful, will you agree to let us be together?" Zuo Qinghuan asked seriously.
"At my age, do you think I would joke about such things? My word is my bond." If love truly had the power to transform someone, then he would accept it.
"I need to think about it," Zuo Qinghuan said, torn. She believed Qin Zheng wouldn't go back on his word, but three years was neither a short nor a long time. She couldn't bear to be apart from Qin Wanshu, and what if she failed? Most importantly, Zuo Qinghuan knew she was deeply insecure, and this insecurity disgusted her.
Qin Zheng was shrewd. From start to finish, he had been polite and reasonable, even speaking from an objective standpoint. He didn't focus on the fact that Zuo Qinghuan and Qin Wanshu were both women, which went against societal norms. Instead, he emphasized the mismatch between them, exploiting Zuo Qinghuan's insecurities while offering her a glimmer of hope. His psychological tactics were effective Zuo Qinghuan's resolve was already wavering.
As Zuo Qinghuan left the Qin residence, she ran into Shi Yunyang, who had come to see Qin Teng.
"Did the old man summon you?" Shi Yunyang asked with a raised eyebrow. If Qin Zheng had intervened, things were about to get interesting. She couldn't help but find the thought amusing. In some ways, Shi Yunyang had always been a bit of a troublemaker, and karma would eventually catch up with her.
Zuo Qinghuan nodded. Truthfully, she wasn't in the mood to deal with Shi Yunyang.
"To be honest, I don't like you. It's one thing to overestimate yourself, but to actually get this lucky..." Shi Yunyang didn't bother hiding her disdain for Zuo Qinghuan.
"So you also think I'm not good enough for Qin Wanshu, is that it?" Since Shi Yunyang had already dropped the pretense, Zuo Qinghuan saw no reason to be polite either. If Shi Yunyang disliked her, the feeling was mutual.
"Who can claim Mount Fuji simply because they love it?" Qin Wanshu shouldn't be owned by anyone, and even if she were to belong to someone, it shouldn't be Zuo Qinghuan. With that, Shi Yunyang turned and left.
Zuo Qinghuan was momentarily stunned by those words.
After leaving the Qin family, Zuo Qinghuan didn't go straight home. Instead, she wandered aimlessly through the city, feeling lost in the crowd.
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