Chapter 100 Love Against Time

Chapter 100 Love Against Time

Zuo Qinghuan wandered aimlessly, somehow finding herself back in her childhood home. A sudden realization struck her: Zuo Yan was gone.

"Qinghuan." Xiao Qinan approached, looking at the house. She was in the process of selling the property that had belonged to Zuo Yan, assets that were originally hers.

Zuo Qinghuan turned to see Xiao Qinan, who wore a dark, mysterious black qipao.

"Aunt Xiao," Zuo Qinghuan said.

"I was just about to call you. Your mother left a few things with me, and I haven't had a chance to give them to you until now." Xiao Qinan walked to her car, retrieved a metal box, and handed it to Zuo Qinghuan.

"Thank you, Aunt Xiao," Zuo Qinghuan said, a deep sense of gratitude toward Xiao Qinan filling her as she took the box.

"Would you like to come back to my place for a while?" Xiao Qinan asked. With her keen eye for people, she sensed Zuo Qinghuan was troubled and thought she might offer some guidance. This young woman had always held a special place in her heart.

"That sounds nice," Zuo Qinghuan agreed with a nod.

Xiao Qinan boiled water and brewed a pot of tea, her movements as graceful as Qin Wanshu's. It was then that Zuo Qinghuan realized Xiao Qinan was also skilled in the art of tea. She had only ever seen her drink alcohol before, and Xiao Qinan had an impressive tolerance, able to out-drink a table full of men with strong baijiu without even a hint of intoxication. Zuo Qinghuan had never seen her drunk; Xiao Qinan always remained clear-headed, her smile a constant mask. Both she and Qin Wanshu had exceptionally beautiful hands, but they were different. Qin Wanshu's fingers were long, elegant, and pale, unadorned by nail polish – hands that exuded nobility. Xiao Qinan's fingers were equally long and beautiful, with well-maintained nails that seemed too youthful for a woman in her forties. Her vibrant red nail polish added an alluring charm, though it was a different kind of allure than Li Xin's.

"Are you troubled?" Xiao Qinan's voice was soothing, like aged sake, possessing a certain magic that encouraged openness.

"Yes," Zuo Qinghuan replied, accepting the tea Xiao Qinan offered. Xiao Qinan exuded an aura similar to Qin Wanshu's, though their natures were entirely different. Yet, both were equally powerful.

"Is it about Miss Qin?" Xiao Qinan guessed immediately.

Zuo Qinghuan nodded.

"Her family doesn't approve of you," Xiao Qinan stated, as if it were expected. She had always doubted the Qin family would allow Zuo Qinghuan to take Qin Wanshu, their rare and precious gem. Qin Wanshu wasn't just anyone; she was a treasure cultivated by the Qin family. How could they let her be taken so easily?

"Aunt Xiao, you've guessed everything. Today, Old Master Qin invited me to the Qin family…" Zuo Qinghuan recounted the day's events to Xiao Qinan, whom she considered a mentor.

Xiao Qinan listened quietly until Zuo Qinghuan finished.

"Aunt Xiao, what do you think I should do?" Zuo Qinghuan asked, hoping for an objective perspective.

"Old Master Qin has identified your insecurities and laid a trap for you. Three years can change so much. Love fears time, distance, and wavering resolve. There are too many uncertainties in love. Moreover, the high standards he's set for you, without the right environment and support, make achieving them highly improbable. The old fox is indeed cunning. His move is clever. If you leave, his granddaughter won't blame him; it will only be because you weren't steadfast enough." Xiao Qinan believed the Qin family's current standing was no accident. Old Master Qin was a master strategist, balancing inner strength with outward authority.

"Then I…" Zuo Qinghuan's heart sank. She knew it was a trap, yet she had walked right into it. She was no match for Old Master Qin.

"Although it's a trap, as an elder, I suggest you take the leap," Xiao Qinan said with a soft sigh.

"Why?" Zuo Qinghuan asked. Deep down, she didn't want to accept Old Master Qin's conditions. She had hoped for objective advice against it, something to give her strength.

"Flowers that bloom too quickly tend to wither just as fast. Love can burn brightly for a while, but without a solid foundation, it won't last. The gap between you and Qin Wanshu is real, and it will inevitably lead to you looking up to her, which will only deepen your feelings of inferiority. In the heat of passion, everyone believes their love will last forever – that's why there are so many vows of eternal devotion. No one thinks the differences will be a problem. But after love comes life, and life brings many challenges. Your values are vastly different. Can you find common ground? Do you share common interests? Can you integrate into her social circle, or will she have to adjust to yours? These are all valid concerns. And her family's rejection will, to some extent, affect her. No matter how exceptional she is, she's still human. Remember that. Leaving temporarily does carry risks, but it might not be entirely negative. If your love can't withstand three years apart, it means your hearts weren't strong enough to begin with. Even if you stayed, love might fade with the mundane realities of life. Unfulfilled love often seems the most beautiful. The reason you're suffering now is because of your insecurities. Insecurity is a poison that can warp you beyond recognition in love." Xiao Qinan analyzed the situation with a calm, almost cold clarity.

"But I can't bear to let go," Zuo Qinghuan said, her heart aching as if it were being twisted.

"Twenty years ago, I fell in love with the heir of an ancient Japanese conglomerate. Our love was passionate and intense. I followed him to Japan. That family, with its strict traditions and hierarchy, opposed us even more fiercely than the Qin family does now. I was once bold and unrestrained, but for him, I suppressed my flamboyance and sharp edges. I nervously learned everything required to fit into a prestigious family, but I still couldn't gain their acceptance. My background destined me to never be acknowledged by his family, and it also made me feel deeply inferior. I was unhappy, and even though we still had love, it couldn't bring me joy. He was under immense pressure too, knowing I was unhappy. That family twisted me into someone unrecognizable, far from the person he had initially fallen in love with. I feared that one day his love would wear thin. So, in the end, I tearfully begged him to let me go. At the time, we had a three-year-old daughter. He asked if I wanted to take her with me – he was kind, knowing I couldn't bear to part with her. But I shook my head and refused. My daughter was my only anchor in that family. How could I bear to leave her? But I did. I left her in that family. She might not think being the heiress of a great conglomerate is necessarily better, but I didn't give her a choice. As a mother, I believed it was the best decision for her." Xiao Qinan spoke as if those heart-wrenching memories were now just fleeting clouds. Back then, she had been too weak, and she had paid a heavy price for it.

"But I'm afraid I can't do it," Zuo Qinghuan said, tears suddenly streaming down her face, revealing her vulnerability.

Zuo Qinghuan reminded Xiao Qinan of her own daughter. Her hardened heart softened slightly, and she sighed softly as she pulled Zuo Qinghuan into an embrace. She decided to go the extra mile and be a good person one more time, ensuring that her own regrets wouldn't be repeated in Zuo Qinghuan's life.

"How about going to Japan? I can have that man take you in as his daughter," Xiao Qinan offered. She knew he wouldn't refuse her request.

Zuo Qinghuan looked at Xiao Qinan in confusion, unsure of what to do.

"Go home and think it over carefully," Xiao Qinan said. She believed the decision ultimately rested with Zuo Qinghuan. Perhaps fleeting and uncertain happiness was still better than none at all.

After Zuo Qinghuan left, Xiao Qinan picked up the phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in twenty years.

"Kitano Mine, this is Xiao Qinan." The person on the other end was stunned. He had never expected her to call after so many years, and it took him a long moment to react.

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